Weeks had passed now and Seychelles had gotten used to being on the ship. She was slowly getting used to sleeping next to a naked man each night, waking up in his arms, legs stretched around his body. As embarrassed as she was she couldn't help but think she was slowly beginning to care for the man. Yes, he constantly teased her and groped her here and there, but he never advanced more than that. It all seemed like an act to her.

Opening her eyes, she looked at the man before her who was sleeping; his face looked so serene. Seychelles couldn't help but smile as she imagined devil's horns on his head. As she was smiling, the Frenchman opened his eyes, and grinned, "Qu'est-ce qui se passe, mon amie?" [What's up, my friend?]

"Rien." [Nothing.]

"Were you falling for me again?" He asked, pulling her closer to his body and then propping himself up with one hand.

"Not at all!" She responded flustered as she stared at the man's blue eyes, and didn't fight back as both of their bodies touched.

"Well, I'm not surprised," He sighed removing his hand from her body and then removing himself from the bed, "You are just a child..."

"Excuse me?"

"Well, how else is it that you couldn't fall for my charm?" He said, pouting at her and she wanted to laugh but held it in giving a stiff smile; this Frenchman was something else. After he changed and left, Seychelles removed herself from the bed and changed as well, she wasn't very hungry much to her surprise but she went to breakfast with the rest of the crew, and once that was over she began her cleaning duties. After staying on the boat for a week, the girl felt obligated to help around the boat and begging the captain for work that didn't involve being naked, was allowed to help in the kitchen sometimes and also cleaning the deck with the other crewmembers.

As Seychelles began mopping the deck she stopped and sighed, looking up to find the captain staring into the sea; she couldn't help but stare. Despite sleeping practically naked in the bed with the man, she barely knew him. She had found that he was the leader of all pirates and the top most wanted pirate out on the seas. What had given him that title though? He seemed caring and although he teased her, she couldn't help but feel like she was just a mere child to him.

Seychelles gave yet another sigh; it wasn't that she was in love with the man, she just had a lot of respect for him and his crew since she had been on board. She had slowly gotten to know Feliciano more and enjoyed his company as she helped him in the kitchen. They would talk about everything, and he was always there to make her laugh; he was the perfect friend. She had found that Lovino wasn't as mean as he seemed, despite his serious attitude and constant cursing. In fact, he was very kind as well in his own way, and the doctor, Antonio, was very sweet as well. Kiku was very gentle, but very quiet and sometimes Seychelles wasn't sure how to approach him, but she found ways to talk to him and he seemed to be one of the wisest of the crew. The crew also kept care of her as well, they would help her with chores when they had completed theirs, and they would even protect her from the captain's flirtatious jokes sometimes, sparing her from becoming red again.

She smiled to herself and then looked back down at the deck; it wasn't going to clean itself after all. As Seychelles started mopping the deck, she thought about the captain again. Why was the captain so nice to her? Yes, he was very flirtatious and seemed to have many women at his beck and call apparently. This she had seen once they had arrived at a foreign port to fix the ship from the storm. She was about to help the rest of the crew pick up things that they had needed when the captain had wrapped his hand around her waist and dragged her to the bar with him. As they had sat in the bar, several women came up to them and frowned at Francis, complaining that he had left them, and then glared at Seychelles asking who she was.

As Seychelles had tried to explain that she was just a crewmember, Francis immediately took over and said that they were lovers. Her face red, she had looked at the captain in astonishment and tried to deny it but the captain gave a look that said not to say a word and go with it, and Seychelles obeyed. She knew very well, that the captain had been trying to save himself from being killed, and had used her as a scapegoat, but still it annoyed her. She remembered having to run away from the bar and back to the ship with the captain as the angry heart broken women chased after them, and unable to run fast enough she had been picked up by the captain.

Remembering this memory, Seychelles gave yet another sigh; this captain was honestly too much. As she continued mopping, she heard footsteps move towards her and she looked up; it was Antonio.

"What's wrong?"

"What do you mean what's wrong? Nothing's wrong. Why?" Seychelles asked tilting her head, she was very confused.

"You've been sighing a lot lately… Is something on your mind? Are you not feeling well?" Antonio touched her forehead to feel her temperature.

"No, it's nothing…"

She felt the Spanish man ruffle her hair and she looked at the man who was smiling gently and she smiled back. "I'm fine, really, I was just thinking, that's all."

"About what?"

"Well, about the captain…" She replied looking toward where the captain was standing; he was busy looking at the sea still.

Antonio looked in the direction of the captain as well and then turned her attention back to her with knowing eyes and gave a sigh, "What about the captain?"

"Well, I don't know anything about him still. I talk to you, Feliciano, Lovino, and Kiku, and I know a lot about you guys, but the captain? Nothing, except his name basically and that he's the most wanted pirate out there and that he's a philanderer…"

"Seychelles, just be careful, okay? The captain's a man of a great deal of secrets, you should be cautious around him all right?"

She nodded, and let him continue to speak, "You know, he cares about you though…"

"Really? It doesn't seem like it all! He constantly teases me and treats me like a child…" She looked down and sighed again.

"It's true though, he does care. You know, he was different before you came aboard this ship. He's always been more private about his personal life, though."

"Ah… I see."

As Seychelles was about to ask more questions, Lovino called for Antonio, and Antonio sighed, "I think Lovi needs me, he might be hurt…"

Seychelles nodded, "Before you leave though can I ask one more question?"

Antonio nodded at the girl and Seychelles continued, "How can I help the captain then? Is there anything I can do?"

Antonio turned to the captain and then back to the coffee-colored girl, "I think that the best thing you could possibly do is just stay by his side, Seychelles."

"That's it?" She asked, perplexed because it was such an odd thing to do.

Antonio laughed at her reaction, "Honestly when you're late for breakfast or any of the meals, the captain gets pretty flustered and waits for you before he eats."

Seychelles, confused by this just sighed and smiled as Antonio left to attend to Lovino. As the girl continued to clean the deck, she couldn't help but wonder why the captain cared for her? She didn't think she was of that much use. Wondering about the captain's past, she decided to ask him about it later tonight. Maybe he would actually answer her questions this time. Usually he would evade her questions ever so smoothly and Seychelles would get annoyed.

As the day passed by and the stars covered the night sky, Seychelles sighed to herself as she went back to the captain's quarters for the night. Sitting on the bed instead of his desk was the Frenchman; he was drinking like usual. Moving toward the desk, she sat down in the chair and stared at the captain who was looking at her; his blue eyes were so clear they pierced her.

"Captain?"

"Oui, Sesel?"

"Why are you the leader of all pirates?" She asked unsure of how he would answer her. He laughed at her question and then spoke, "You certainly know how to entertain me, Sesel." Taking another gulp of his drink, he looked at her, "Why do you want to know?"

"I was just wondering. It's been in the back of my mind for sometime…"

"Well," Francis looked up and appeared to be thinking and then laughed, "I have done a lot… But I can't tell you."

"Eh?" Seychelles was shocked, she was sure he was going to answer this time, "Pourquoi pas?" [Why not?]

"Only pirates can know this secret that's why I can't tell you."

"But I am part of the crew, so technically I am a pirate. " She said trying to justify him telling her why, "Besides is it that big of a deal?"

Francis grinned and then beckoned her to come near him, "Fine, I'll tell you."

"Really?" As Seychelles approached him, he told her to come closer until she bending down near the bed so that his lips were right next to her ear; he whispered, "I can only tell you if you lay down next to me naked."

Seychelles, with her face turning a darker shade then usual quickly stood up straight and glared, "You're teasing me again, captain! How unfair!"

The man started to laugh loudly and Seychelles sighed crossing her arms in front of her chest. As his laughter slowly started to cease he spoke again, "What's the point in telling you, ma petite chatte? Are you planning to take over my spot as leader of all pirates?"

"Non! I was just curious! That's all…" She looked down at the Frenchman who was staring into her dark brown eyes; they were still close to each other. Seychelles hesitated, "Captain, you have so many women who love you just at one port, and I'm assuming you probably have more at other ports…."

The Frenchman looked shocked at what she was saying, "Oui… What about it?"

"Nothing. It's just that…" Seychelles hesitated again trying to find the right wording for what she was about to say, "Aren't you ever lonely?"

Francis's face turned serious, "Why are you asking me this?"

Flustered, Seychelles looked down and tried answering, "I remembered when we were at the last port, and the women there said you were a lonely man…"

"They said that?" He asked, astonished, his eyes seemed to show a hint of sadness and Seychelles nodded.

"I'm sorry… I shouldn't have said anything, I was just concerned…."

"Why?" He asked, "Are you in love with me?"

Seychelles blushed again, "No! It's not like that!"

"Then? What?"

"It's just that you're very important for this ship and the crew, and we don't want to lose you." She answered looking down still.

"Look at me." He answered, his voice stern and commanding, Seychelles looked up to find his face just as serious as his voice. She felt her heartbeat starting to increase. Suddenly she felt herself being thrown on the bed and the Frenchman on top of her. His face was serious, "It's wrong for a man to ignore a woman's advances…"

"Eh? What are you talking about? Get off of me!" She exclaimed; she was frozen in fear.

"Don't play coy… You've given me hints this whole time." He placed his lips on her throat, and Seychelles could feel her heart pounding now, her breath was getting thinner and thinner, "Do you want me to make you a woman? I can easily do so, you don't need to fool around and flirt with me. Just say you want me."

"That's not what I want at all!" Seychelles screamed and tried wriggling free and unable to get him off, without thinking she slapped his face. Her eyes widened as she felt her hand stinging and saw his face turn red where she had slapped him; what had she done? The man removed himself from on top of her and started to laugh again, "Even a girl reacts like a woman…" The Frenchman touched his face, "That had a sting…" He left the bed and sat down in his chair and stared at his maps again that were on the desk before him, "You should be grateful I'm not interested in children."

Getting up from the bed, she stared at the man as she felt her chest start to tighten and could feel her eyes starting to water, "Excuse me?"

"Sesel," He said not looking up from his desk, "I'm sure you are curious, but remember, curiosity killed the cat."

Seychelles turned away from Francis, as she felt the tears leave her eyes; her hand was still burning from when she had hit the captain. Running out of the room and slamming the door after herself, she started walking toward the stairs to the lower part of the deck. She could sit there and cry she thought to herself as the tears started coming down her face.

Awww... Poor Seychelles! What do you guys think? Things should be getting interesting from here! Please continue to read and review! Merci!