A/N: Yuuuuuup...chapter two...HERE it is...I liked it actually...well better than chapter one, that's for damn sure. XD
'Of Booty and Honor'
-Phase One: Audition of Fate-
Chapter Two
Hours of waiting, and the entire ship was silent enough to DEAFEN QUIETNESS. At least, that's how Riku put it when he walked up on deck with his small dim lantern, avoiding even putting on his boots as to assure his own silence.
He took a glance around, noticing Reno asleep against the banister with his arms crossed over his chest, and snoring. Rude was in and out of consciousness, trying not to forget his objective as lookout, and now having to compensate for the loss of his Port-Watcher.
Unfortunately, the Captain's quarters are on the Starboard side of the ship, and even with Rude's fading attention-span it was hard to get around the taller male.
Riku put down his lantern, realizing the depleting actual need for it and tried to tiptoe around Chrome Dome and open the captain's doors... He did so as quietly as he could, finally reaching the door.
Before he had even touched the door handle, he was lifted off the ground by the back of his collar, followed by a gruff voice asking the age old question, "What are you doing?"
"Ah, Rude! My bestest buddy, my piratey-pal!-"
"Don't get pissy. What are you doing sneaking around so late?" He was placed back onto the floor followed by the taller man crossing his arms over his chest.
Riku sighed, resting a hand behind his head and glancing up at him, "Tidus is hiding something; I know it sounds...distraught, but you have to trust me!"
Rude snorted, "No doubt he's hiding something; but it's that same Captain's orders to keep the deck clear after dark."
"B-but Rude-"
"No buts. Keep all crewmen below deck, that's what Tidus said."
"But I'm no ordinary crewmen, Rude-ole-pal." Riku began crossing his arms in an attempt to make himself seeming of a higher class. "I'm the Retriever." Riku opened his eyes, glancing up at Chrome Dome and meeting his seeming not-impressed eyes.
"Get to the cabins, Riku."
"Aww, but Rude!"
The taller male scoffed, standing up straight and towering over the silver haired boy. Riku grunted in frustration, heading back toward the entrance of the cabins. He glanced back and noticed Rude pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing. There was no way around the big oaf; not this time.
-AoF-
Squall looked up at the silver haired boy in amazement as he stood toward the bow of the ship and glaring out over the water. "It's not even noon yet, Riku. Whatcha doin' up?"
"I'm trying to think of a way to get around Rude and his...oaf-iness." Riku sighed. "I tried to see the map last night and he was the ONLY thing standing in the way!"
"What's so special about that map anyway?" Squall asked, resting against the banister of the ship next to the older boy.
Riku glared down at him, "...What do you honestly think I was trying to do last night? Doodle all over it?"
"Oh...well sorry." The younger boy stuck his tongue out at the Retriever, the older boy springing back his hand in an attempt to hit him.
The double doors of the Captain's quarters swinging open was what stopped the older boy from mercilessly slapping Squall into next week. "We have our headiiiiiiing!" He sang out, bringing out his compass. The ship halted and crowded around the short captain and all became quiet as the needle stopped jumbling around. Tidus turned around in his spot a few times, following the needle delicately until he stopped, looked up and across the water. "Northwest!"
"Aye-aye!" The ship lit up suddenly as the crewmen went back to their posts to redirect the ship's path. Riku snorted, making Squall look up at him, "And just what's so funny?"
"Tidus. He thinks he knows what he's doing. He's supposed to use the map and compass at the same time not JUST the compass..."
"Maybe Tidus knows something you don't."
"Will you ever stop trying to stick up for him?"
Squall smiled, "Doubt it."
Riku sighed deeply, and watched over the deck as the ship slowly turned it's path Northwest. A familiar red-head walked by and was tying a rope toward the port side of the ship.
"Hey Reno! Can I talk to you for a second?"
-AoF-
Again, Squall was dumbfounded by the older boy's early uprise for the day. But Riku wasn't standing at the bow of the boat this day. He stood near the doors to the captain's quarters with a scowl on his face.
"And again, you are up early..."
"Tidus has a lot of explaining to do." He said calmly, trying to focus on glaring at the base for the mast in the center of the ship.
"Why? What happened?" The younger boy gasped, "Didja look at the map?"
"Reno got me in. He let Rude sleep and took over the ship and let me go to Tidus' room." Riku said, sighing and glancing at the double doors and waiting for them to open.
"And...well, where are we goin'?" The younger boy put his hands on his hips playfully.
Riku's glare shot daggers through the wooden mast, "Into Japanese territory."
Squall shot up straight, "What?!"
"You heard me...Ninjas."
The double doors burst open, and sure enough the blond boy waltzed out happily. Riku, being unseen for the first few moments, moved behind the younger boy and nabbed his chance at grabbing Tidus by the collar to make their eyes meet, "Where are you leading us, Tidus?!" He spat out before being yanked from the younger boy by Wakka and held back by the arm.
Tidus sighed and straightened his clothing, clearing his throat before speaking. "Well, it's simple... I've heard rumor of the most vast treasure anyone has ever laid eyes on..." The ship silenced itself and another crowd formed around them as Tidus spoke.
"More valuable then The Cave Of Wonders and Aztec Gold and larger than the treasure of the Scorpion King...The Mikado treasure located in Hokkaido, Japan!" The younger boy stuck up a hand to amplify the affect of the story as the other one was placed on his hip.
Riku was not impressed. "You're leading us into Ninja territory, we could all be killed!"
"Oh, there's nothing to worry about-"
"Well, just WHO are you planning to send out there and seek out the location, Tidus?!" Tidus stopped, and turned toward Wakka's current captive, and tapped him in the chest.
"You."
-Deadline-
A/N: Incredibly short, I know...I just dunno what happened. I'll try to make it longer next chapter...
Just so we're clear? Sora is INDEED coming soon...