Chapter 3

'I love you Lovi'...

Not the nicest thing to wake up remembering. But no matter how hard I tried the words were burnt into my brain with a branding iron. I was afraid to open my eyes and see Antonio so I kept them shut, it wasn't until I felt the bed move did I chance a peak. Antonio was sitting on the edge of the bed with his back to me, his head in his hands and his back tense. You would think he was a statue if his breathing didn't give it away. Finally he stood up, the sudden movement making my eyes slam shut, I heard him move to the other side of the room, the rustle of fabric, then booted footsteps leaving and the door closing. I got up too, grabbing a shirt from the wardrobe and slipping it over my head; I had to sit down quickly because of the pain in my back. That bastard was gonna get it when he came with my lunch!

To my surprise at lunchtime, it wasn't Antonio, but two kids.

"Hullo!" said the little boy cheerily; there was a girl behind him.

"Uuuhh... Hey?" I was confused as to why there were children on board a pirate ship in the first place.

"I'm Peter, and this is Lili" the boy gestured to the girl, who added, "Pleased to meet you mister" and bowed her head. At least someone around here had manners.

"Uh, Lovino. What are you doing here?" I looked over the two, both short; the boy looked younger, the girl probably no older than 13. The boy had messy blonde hair and blue eyes that were topped by large eyebrows; the girl had green eyes and boyish blonde hair, in fact, if she wasn't wearing a purple ribbon in her hair or the simple maroon dress she could definitely pass as a boy.

"The Captain asked us to bring your lunch, he's really busy, and he looked a bit sick today didn't he?" Lili nodded in agreement. Sick. HA! At least that bastard feels guilty for what he did to me!

"Oh! That's right he also said to tell you he's not sleeping here tonight, I think he doesn't want you to catch whatever he's got..." Good! Wait, what?! The COWARD! How dare he run away from me! Deny my right to yell at him! I swear I'll...

"A-are you o-okay?" a sweet, timid voice broke my concentration and I realised I was ripping the sheets in my anger.

"Oh, um yeah, sorry"

Despite the throbbing pain in my lower back, the next few hours where probably my best on this damned ship. Peter and Lili seemed like good kids; apparently Peter ran away from his father and Antonio picked him up and looked after him. Lili's brother is the first mate 'Vash', Antonio picked them up too. All the stories of Antonio I've heard so far are about how generous, brave and kind he is, if I didn't know any better I'd probably think so too.

Dinner was brought by a beautiful woman with long brown hair and a little orange flower on the right side of her head, she seemed friendly enough, but the way she was carrying that frying pan around scared me. I ate in silence, apart from the occasional creak of the ship and wind shaking the window planes. After dinner I got ready for bed and waited, half-expecting Antonio to creep in while I was sleeping. I woke up in the morning to an empty bed and I felt lonely, I guess I kinda got used to that idiot and his absence was bothering me. Wait... Lonely? His absence bothering me? What am I some frigging woman! Damn him for making me think insane things! Stupid pirate! In my fury I threw the pillow I was biting towards the table, and I noticed it. A dagger. Right there, stabbed in the table holding the map in place. I trip over in my haste only to find it was JUST out of my reach, the stupid chain was to short! I stretched as long as possible as low to the ground as I could; I could touch the hilt... Almost... Got it! I had to hold in my 'whoop' for victory in fear of waking up the whole ship. I bring the dagger to the key hole on the shackle. Wouldn't budge. I change my approach and turn my attention to the chain.

"Come on, bastard!" I use the dagger to break the loop closest to the shackle with much effort. Once I was free, I shoved on the crappiest clothes I could find, a large floppy hat to hide my face, worn out boots, and slung a bag over my shoulder with the dagger inside.

Luckily for me it was early morning so there wasn't many people around. I threw some rope from the deck into the bag and made my way to the kitchens. I found my way easy enough, and stole three days worth of supplies before someone entered the kitchen.

"Morning!" it was the woman from dinner.

"Mornin'" I quickly exit the kitchens hoping she wouldn't suspect anything.

Once I was back on deck I began looking for a place to hide, I started hearing movement below my feet. The crew were waking up. I figured I had about thirty seconds to hide before I got caught.

"Mmmmooorrningggg! Alright men, I can't hide forever, I'm going to bring Lovi his breakfast and beg for his forgiveness. Wish me luck!"

"Good luck Captain" replied a number of voices.

That. Was. Close. I thought I was a goner for sure. In the end I ended up literally going over-board. So that's how I got here, panting and breathless, hanging from the front of the ship. I swing myself up to sit between the figurehead of an angel with a dagger in her chest, and the ship. Her wings cover me from most of the water or from anyone if they were to look. The perfect hiding spot. Sometimes I surprise even myself with my genius; that being said I pulled the rope from my bag and tied myself down for security. A crash and yell reminds me of my motive for being here in the first place.

"Search the ship! Lovino is gone! Look everywhere! I don't care if you have to rip the ship apart! Just find him!" Antonio was in hysterics. It took the crew a second for the knowledge to sink in before I heard frantic running all over the ship. After what felt like a lifetime and a few close calls later, Antonio got the bad news.

"We can't find him anywhere Captain, I'm sorry, he must have..." he was cut off before he could finish by Antonio.

"Don't you dare! He would never... Now check again!" Lovino couldn't see it, but Antonio had started crying.

"Yes... Captain"

.O

Three days... Three god-dammed days I've been sitting on this frigging angel, and I haven't felt my ass for two and a half. Not to mention I'm slowly but surely running out of food; if Antonio doesn't make port soon I'm gonna have to give myself in and that's the last thing I want to do.

"Captain, we are running low on supplies, we need to replenish our stock. I'm sorry, but I don't think Lovino's in this world anymore, this is not worth starving for!" I heard a woman's voice; the only woman I'd seen so far was the brunette frying-pan psycho. It took a while for Antonio to respond.

"Vash!"

"Yes Captain?"

"How long would it take to get to St. Veronica's Cove?"

"We'd be there by nightfall, sir"

A heavy sigh.

"Set a course, tell me when we're in sight. I'll be in my cabin, nobody is to disturb me until then. That is all"

"I'm sorry captain, it needed to be said..." the harshness of the woman's tone disappeared and was replaced with sympathy. There was silence for a moment, as if the whole ship was eagerly awaiting a response from its captain.

"I haven't seen Antonio so upset since Roma died, rest his soul"

"Ya, I feel sorry for him, he's lost so much..."

"I've always respected him in his... Preferences... But he really out did himself this time; that Italian was no better than a child, stubborn and selfish. I bet he never even thought how much he would hurt Antonio"

"He seemed to really love that boy, I've never seen him so... well, stupid, and that's saying something because he is naturally and idiot"

"Get back to work you mangy sea-dogs! What are you? Gossiping ladies at a fancy tea party? Get moving before I shoot you!"

The crew immediately ran for cover, the frantic scurrying of booted feet against creaking wood.

.O

As promised, when the sun was sinking into the sea the fires of a small settlement were seen dotting the shore of a small island. I waited till only a few remained on the ship before using the rope to lower myself and swing across to the boardwalk, tugging my hat down and limping towards what sounded like a bar. I could tell by the loud laughter and the smell of rum, dirty men and vomit. Before I could get closer, a certain Spanish Captain appeared in the doorway and looked me directly in the eyes.

"Lovino?!"

Fuck.

A/N: Aaaaaaaaaaaaannnddddd cue cliff-hanger! What's he gonna do!?

Umm... Hi guys... Sorry it took me so long to update but it wasn't my fault! Trust me, if I could, I would have wrote the whole thing non-stop till my fingers bled. Painful, but worth it! I lied it wasn't exactly three weeks but if sure as hell felt like it!

So the other day, my good friend Dysstopia showed me the Spain character song from the drama CD and I literally died… Full on fell to my knees and face planted the ground in the middle of the corridor at school. If you haven't heard it already, look it up! I love Romano's input and the good tomato song at the end! *Fangasim* It just makes me love them more and more!

Now, to business, I want to ask for your opinion, should I do an extra chapter in Antonio's POV? It'll be about the ending and probably his background and how he became a pirate (warning: it will be sad)