Hola! I really like this different greeting every time thing...

Sorry again about the lack of updates. It's just since this is a side project and I've been writing things that I haven't even released yet instead of this. But I've decided to put a stop to that and so I will not upload any of those others until this, As Long as We're Brothers and Britannia-Hime have finished. When As Long as We're Brothers is gone, this story will become more of a priority.

Until then...

Tanoshimu!

P.S I'm also sorry if I haven't responded to you, but that should all change soon. I hope I won't lose any reviews over it...

Chapter 6: Hero and Captain Eyebrows

Learning to show a little gratitude...

Weeks had passed since the new addition had been made to the crew and still Arthur had not shattered his confidence like intended. Hero, as they had nicknamed him, remained as happy and annoyingly carefree as he had been when first brought aboard the ship- a fact that made Arthur extremely frustrated when he ever even thought about it.

Every crew member knew him as Hero, and Hero knew the crew members he had met by his own personal names he had allocated to them. Francis of course was Frog, for that was what everyone called him. He called Ivan 'V man' which seriously annoyed Ivan to the point where he began to curse him every time the two saw each other.

And thankfully, that wasn't often due to the fact that Arthur had imprisoned Hero in the brig. Not many visited him. Francis did occasionally to 'lift his spirits' though it always turned out to be flirting- something which Hero couldn't quite understand. Ivan only visited him to curse him further and, every now and then, Toris (Ivan's servant who he had kidnapped along with two others) would visit him to deliver things like food and occasionally presents.

So Hero didn't have much way of knowing what was going on above ship. He had no idea that shortly after he had been taken aboard, another man had been found- practically worn out and paddling his way through the ocean on just a small yet sturdy piece of driftwood that had become a makeshift boat.

It was Wang Yao, the poor man being attacked in the harbour.

When he and the captain had first met, the Captain studied him carefully with a hint of disgust. Wang Yao's clothes had been ripped and torn, shredded by the harsh time he had spent out at sea. It was a miracle that he had survived, but this of course, didn't impress Arthur Kirkland. He looked down his nose at the Asian man as Yao stood there looking pleading and pitiful with Ivan Braginsky's firm hands placed on either of his shoulders.

"Ahoy thar, what makes ye think ye can beg to come aboard my ship and get away with it?" Arthur smirked.

"I-I am Wang Yao..." He whispered.

"Are ye now? Well matey, ye ain't gonna get yerself a place in my crew like that. Pitiful ye are, why should I let you in?" Arthur spat.

"Please-aru..." Yao whimpered.

"Hmm?" Arthur frowned.

Yao got into a bowing position at his feet, grovelling before Arthur Kirkland which surprised him greatly.

"Please. I want to join to get revenge on an old foe of mine-aru. I'll do anything." Yao explained.

"Is that right? Well I don't care about your revenge. Why should I? I have business of my own, landlubber. You're pleadin' with the wrong person matey." Arthur muttered.

He turned and began to walk away but Yao's face darkened into an angry scowl and he jumped up instantly, pulling out his wok and readying himself to strike.

"Don't test me-aru. I was trying to appeal to your good nature, your inner gentleman, but if you push me then I can be very violent-aru." Yao growled.

"Hmph. How is it that everyone sees through to my gentleman side? Look Yao, I'd love to help you, but tell me one thing: how does this concern me and my crew? We can't afford to waste time, not these days." Arthur sighed, stopping at the same time but not bothering to look back at the angered Chinese man.

"Because last I heard of my enemy, Honda Kiku, he's joined a pirate crew." Yao explained.

"Uh-huh. Look Yao, we've dealt with every crew out there with only a few exceptions. What makes this crew worth our time?" Arthur mumbled.

"Because this is the crew of Captain Ludwig."

Meanwhile...

"Huh, who's there?"

Hero had heard footsteps. They were vague, but definite so there was someone there. The steps weren't flamboyant or exaggerated enough to be Francis, nor were they slow and eerie like Ivan. It definitely wasn't Toris because he usually came at scheduled times but those three were the only ones that ever visited him. Well... Actually Arthur visited him from time to time but usually Hero would just insult him and he'd be gone within a minute. Who else could it be?

"Show yourself, filthy pirate!" Hero growled.

"W-well that's not very nice... I do wash and everything, just like Francis tells me to..." A voice whispered.

The source of the voice reached the bottom of the stairs and Hero frowned. It was a guy... That looked like him? His hair was a little longer and he had a curl which spiralled down weirdly but he still had the same hair colour and glasses. Although he did have one thing different: in his hands was a white polar bear staring at Hero intently.

"Who are you?" Hero asked.

The boy flinched a little. "Why does everyone always ask me that question...? Even the people I've met before..."

"Dude chill. I've never even met ya before." Hero laughed.

"Well... I'm... Matthew and I work as Surgeon aboard this ship." Matthew explained.

"Kay, so why are ya coming down to see me Mattie?" Hero asked.

"M-Mattie?" Matthew stuttered. "Never mind. I came to tell you to... To be nice to Mr Kirkland..."

"Why? He's a stupid pirate and I'll never be or work with a pirate!" Hero pouted.

"Well you may feel that way... But he still brought you aboard this ship and I think you should be nicer. After all, he never usually lets people on his ship unless they can benefit him in some way."

"Wait, really?"

"Really. Usually he'll just get rid of them and sell them off, even when they seemed able to work to his standards. It's really quite odd that he let you on board. You should be a little more grateful."

"Okay okay! Geez, you need to quit lecturing me like you're my mother or my brother or something."

At this point, Matthew flinched and froze up suddenly just as he had done before. He clutched Kumajiro a little tighter and smiled slowly.

"S-sorry I didn't realise."

Then Matthew left the room quickly without another word, leaving Hero completely confused.

"Realise what?" Hero frowned.

The next day...

Hero was awakened the very next day by a slightly louder series of footsteps descending the stairs. This time it wasn't Francis, Ivan, Toris or even Matthew. Hero groggily rubbed his eyes having just woken up and looked to the man who had just entered the room.

"Really. Still asleep. You do realise what time it is in the afternoon right?" The man sighed.

It was Captain Arthur Kirkland looking as mean and sour as ever.

"Huh?" Hero asked.

"Whatever." Arthur sighed. "So! Any new insults for today?"

"Wha-?" Hero began.

"Want to take a jab at my eyebrows? My clothes? My pirate accent?" Arthur suggested.

"What are you...?"

"Really, are you actually going to say something to me? Or are you just going to be stupid all day long?"

"Y'know you sound a lot better without the crappy pirate voice."

"What do you mean cra-? Hey at least I don't speak like I've never even heard of the Queen's English!"

"The Queen's wha-?"

"Just forget it. Aren't you going to insult me then?"

"Arthur I... Th-thanks."

Arthur was genuinely surprised. That was the nicest thing Hero had ever said to him since joining the ship. 'Thanks'... Arthur couldn't quite believe what he had just heard.

"Wh-what?" Arthur whispered.

"I said thanks. Happy?" Hero pouted.

Arthur smiled at the young boy's cuteness. Getting ready to leave, he stood up and reached his hand through the bars, ruffling up Hero's already messy hair. Hero just scowled and hugged his knees tighter as the Captain messed with his hair playfully.

"Very much so, young Hero." Arthur laughed.

Then he left the room, smiling to himself as he did so and- though he didn't mean to, Hero was smiling as well as he looked back over his shoulder at the pirate Captain. It sure was nice to see him being friendly. Perhaps showing gratitude wasn't such a bad idea.

Canada's getting a little more screen time! I just love him in this fic- he's such a help and he's very loyal to Arthur and Francis, even if they are pirates. Hmm... Now I'm picturing Kumajirou with a bandanna and eyepatch. He isn't actually wearing that but it's cute to picture right?

After updating, I actually feel a little more motivated to do this thing! I haven't even properly introduced the main plot yet! (Which, by the way, no-one seems to have figured out).

Thanks to Ashe-Kuro and MDWOLFGIRL for reviewing!

Sayonara minna-san!

~Neko