Chapter IX

The Man-shaped Shadow

'Where's me grog?' Duo asked, barging into the captain's quarters completely outraged.

The door banged against the wall and Heero sighed quietly. There was no way he could pretend to be asleep after that entrance. 'Half of it was used in cleaning the crew's wounds. As for the other half… I needed an empty barrel. Officially, yer grog was contraband.'

'Ye needed a barrel, eh?' the braided man stepped closer even as the captain threw an arm over his face in an obvious sign that he was trying very hard to catch a couple hours of sleep. Duo was too angry to care. 'Ye needed a bottomless barrel?'

'Aye.'

'Dammit, Heero! It was still half-full! I spent almost all me readies on that bloody barrel!'

'Ye will thank me later, Maxwell.' Was all Heero said, unaffected by the other man's drama.

Duo snorted. 'Ye owe me.' He said, pointing his finger at the captain – even though the man could not see it – as he made his way out. 'Ye' will thank me later, Maxwell…' he mumbled under his breath making a mock imitation of Heero's arrogant tone.

'What was that?' Relena was right behind him when the braided man finished closing the door. She had an amused smile on her lips and a curious frown that told him quite clearly she had heard his impersonation.

'Oh, ahoy, princess!' Duo smiled brightly at her, putting his anger aside for a moment to greet her. 'I wouldn't go in there if I were you. He's being an even bigger arse than usual.'

She chuckled at his exuberance. 'Thank you, but I believe I'll take my chances.'

'Are ye armed? Well, ye might need it.' He patted her shoulder in solidarity before heading back to the main deck.

Relena followed him with her gaze until her eyes fell on Wufei who had been watching their exchange even as he steered the ship. 'What is he upset about?'

'We needed an empty barrel so we got rid of the spirits.' He said simply, turning back to the seemingly endless ocean ahead. She had no idea where they were going other than the fact that they were heading east. Heero had said he knew someone who could decipher the drawing Quatre had made of the strange woman's tattoo, but that had been all and weeks had passed since then. Relena assumed they were going after said someone, truth was she did not really care. It was something else she wanted to see the captain about.

Differently than Duo, she knocked and waited. He did not answer. She had not expected him to, especially if he was in a foul mood. 'Heero? Do you have a minute?' she asked politely. It bothered her that Wufei was there, obviously listening in and surely judging her… A woman who was about to be alone with a man in his quarters…

'Come in.'

Relena had been so distracted by her thoughts she almost missed the answer. 'Excuse me.' She said as she stepped inside, relieved to leave the first mate behind. It was strange to see Heero lying there, looking so vulnerable… She did not feel comfortable stepping closer so she stood by the door, waiting until he had turned his head to her.

'What is it?' he asked with a touch of impatience. It was hard for him to find the time to rest and soon he would be returning to his obligations. Duo had wasted enough of his time as it was. He did not know what Relena wanted, he did not think she would intrude upon his private time if it wasn't important, but he could not help but hope she would go straight to the point.

'How's your arm?' she asked.

He frowned down at the mentioned appendage. 'Healing.'

'Good.' She fidgeted a little, avoiding his gaze. It was all so intimate…being there in his bedroom alone with him. Maybe she was the judgemental one and not Chang. Her unease seemed to bother the captain for he sat up and straightened his clothes as best he could before meeting her eyes again.

'What is it?' he repeated this time more softly, the impatience replaced by the slightest hint of concern.

'I'm sorry. I shouldn't have disturbed you. I just…' Relena had to take a deep breath to straighten her thoughts. 'Is it a good time for us to have that conversation?'

Heero met her eyes, ready to say 'no', but seeing her there and hearing the hopefulness in her voice… It was hard to get him alone and he did not know how soon they would be able to speak like that again once the cypher had been solved. He nodded, watching with no small amount of surprise as she overcame all her sudden insecurities and took a seat beside him on the bed. His heart sped up when he realised just how close she was, it was like she had him cornered. 'What is it you wish to know?' he asked, regaining his self-control.

'What are you going to do after we find the treasure?'

He frowned. That was not what he had expected. 'With me part of the booty?' he asked, one eyebrow raised as he tried to clarify her question.

'Yes, that as well, but… Not exactly.'

'Ye wish to know about…'

'The future. Instead of the past, yes.' Her smile widened when she realised he had understood what she meant and what she wanted to know.

'I do not have plans.' The captain told her honestly almost sadly. He wished he had a better answer to give her… Lowe would have told her he meant to conquer the world or buy it, as it was, but that was not an answer Relena would have cared to hear. Heero might not know much about her, but he knew that much. She would have rather he say he would give his cut to the poor as some sort of Robin Hood of the seas. He suspected she must have similar plans herself, but he was far too selfish for that even if he wasn't very ambitious.

'Oh…' Relena could see he was telling the truth. That this life was all he had ever known and he had no desire to pursue any other life style, but surely… 'Isn't there anything you want? Something you've wanted your whole life? Something you dream of having or doing?'

'Nay.' he answered automatically. There had never been time to wonder, to dream or question… He would not dare give himself that time. There was too much to do.

'Well…' she chuckled. 'Looks like I've wasted my prize then.'

'What are you going to do?' he flipped the question back at her, making her raise her eyes again to meet his. She looked surprised and a little confused and Heero had to fight back a smile that threatened to twist his lips. Now she knew how he had felt at that question.

'I don't know.' Relena confessed blushing lightly. 'Is it really as much money as the others seem to believe?'

'I only know what I've heard, but… Aye. It's a fortune, indeed.'

'I've been rich all my life.' She told him. 'I've never wanted for anything…'

'Are ye afraid you will?' he was just as surprised at his question as she was. 'Because a small part of the loot is always destined to the treasury so crew and ship will want for nothing.' He quickly amended.

'No.' she shook her head, amused and – if she were entirely honest – also strangely pleased to realise he cared. The knowledge warmed her up inside. 'I do miss regular baths, but nothing more expensive than that.'

'However ye wish to use yer cut…' Heero cleared his throat, trying not to sound too caring. It seemed he kept forgetting he was supposed to keep his distance, especially when it came to her. 'The Peacemillion's funds will provide all you need.'

Relena's smile widened gratefully. 'I do wish to help others, much like Quatre does, but I'm not sure it'll be enough to make an actual difference… No matter how much gold and silver we find.'

'I'm sure you'll find a way to use yer part for the greater good.'

'Thank you.' She said wholeheartedly. He merely nodded, no longer trusting his voice. She waited a moment before breaking the comfortable, yet seemingly pregnant, silence that had settled between them. 'How long until we get wherever it is we're going?'

The corner of his mouth curved upwards in a ghost of a smile. 'It's hard to estimate with precision, but we're not far.' She stood up, brushing wrinkles off her skirt as their conversation seemed to approach its end. Heero felt almost sorry… 'Ye shouldn't worry about that. Knowing how long it'll take will only make ye more anxious.'

She smiled. 'I'll keep that in mind.'

XXX

Relena took a deep breath. She could feel the sweat gathering on her forehead and at the nape of her neck, but her focus was entirely on her target, a hay bale Trowa had fastened to the main mast. Her arm was steady as she held the pistol even though the others were watching… Heero was watching and she wanted to make him proud for having taught her to shoot. She could picture him smiling at her, a smile of the likes no one had ever seen on his face. A smile that was meant for her eyes only.

'She sure is taking her time.' Hilde whispered in Duo's ear as she sat on the railing next to him.

'Bet ye two pieces of silver she misses the target all together.' He turned to her with a smirk, his nose brushing her cheek as he whispered.

'Ye still got those pieces of silver?' Howard, who stood on the braided pirate's other side, questioned clearly amused. 'Well… Let me rid ye of them.'

'What's yer bet, old man?'

'Me money's all gone, but I bet ye a piece of bread she hits the target.'

'A piece of bread?!' Duo gaped incredulously at him. 'That's hardly worth one piece of silver!'

'I bet ye a piece of gold she scores a bull's-eye.' Chang surprised them all with his bet, but he did not seem to be mocking them, his face bore its usual scowl and his arms were crossed as he watched the blonde lady plan her shot.

'What's that? A new jinx?' the braided pirate asked Hilde.

'I don't think so, Duo…' she commented thoughtfully as she analysed the Chinese man's expression. 'I think he truly believes she can do it.'

Duo snorted. 'Chang? Believe a woman can hit a bull's-eye?'

'If she doesn't shoot soon, the sun's gonna set…' Howard sounded worried, he was really looking forward to winning two pieces of silver and a piece of gold.

As if she could hear their whispered conversation, Relena pulled the trigger. The bullet whizzed past the audience and straight into the hay bale. Immediately a wave of joy and relief came over her, she turned around, facing the quarter deck, and raised her beaming face to meet Heero's eyes. His lips twisted upwards in a ghost of a smile and he nodded at her. It was not as good and radiant as the smile she had imagined, but it softened his expression enough to make her feel elated.

'Ye may keep yer cursed silver, Maxwell.' Wufei's voice could be heard in the background. 'I don't want it.'

'What 'bout me bread?' Howard questioned. 'May I keep it?'

'Aye, aye. Keep yer mouldy bread.'

'That was a good shot.' Trowa was suddenly beside her, holding the wounded hay bale.

'Aye.' Relena agreed. 'Now I need to practice reloading so I can do it faster.'

He nodded, leaving the hay bale with her as he made to return to his post. She would keep it not only as a target for future practice, but as a sort of prize. A reminder of the day she realised she had finally earned her place on board the Peacemillion.

XXX

'Are ye sure this is the right way? I don't like how long it's taking us to get there.' Chang complained, pacing around the table.

'I've made the calculations three times!' Quatre – nearly out of patience at that point – bent over the charts with a pair of callipers in hand. 'This is the right way.' He stated with complete certainty as he ran his eyes over the table yet again. The Chinese man was one of the only people who could get in his nerves, there was something about him, something about the way he barked orders and questioned others that just reminded the blonde of his own father.

Wufei continued pacing anxiously as he threw displeased glances at the table. 'Does Yuy know where we're going?'

'He's the one who set the course, Chang.'

The Chinese man snorted. 'If we sail much further we'll have no provisions for the journey back.'

'The way I see it, there is no "journey back". We can only ever move forward.' Quatre paused for a moment. He understood the first mate's concerns and that sort of eased the anger he was starting to feel towards the man. 'I think… If forward does indeed lead us back, that you should ask Sally to join us.'

'Why should I ask Sally to join us?' he looked suspicious.

'After what happened to Hilde don't you think we need a qualified medic?' the blonde's tone was quiet, careful not to offend the other man, but Chang seemed relieved enough that his 'secret' had not been discovered and that he could keep pretending to be the emotionless self-centred merciless pirate he wanted the others to think he was.

'Mayhaps.' Was all he said and, giving the table a final once over, turned around and walked out.

Outside, the deck was quiet and the sky sparkled with stars. The blonde man did not even try to stop the Chinese man from approaching the captain, who stood at the helm, steering the ship absent-mindedly. 'Yuy! Do ye know where we're going?'

Heero turned to the approaching men with narrowed eyes, but – before he could answer – Trowa dropped down between them. 'A word, Capt'n?'

'Aren't ye supposed to shout, Bart'n?' Wufei asked him not for the first time.

'I wasn't sure if I should…'

'Why?' Heero frowned worriedly, having known the lookout the longest he was already familiar with his idiosyncrasies. 'What's happened?'

'There is thick fog ahead, and I can sense it… Something is coming.'

The captain and first mate exchanged serious glances before, surprisingly, turning to Quatre, who took a step back, intimated by the sudden attention. 'Can ye point out our position?' Heero asked him.

'Aye… I… I can. I just need a minute.'

'Barton, man the helm. Keep 'er steady on course.'

'Aye, Capt'n.' Trowa took the helm in hand as the trio disappeared inside the captain's cabin.

'What's goin' on?' Duo – ever curious – was already at the top of the stairs and glancing around the quarter deck.

'Ye'll know soon enough, Maxwell.'

The braided pirate snorted. 'Two seconds holdin' that wheel and 'e already thinks he's captain…' he mumbled under his breath.

'Duo, what are ye doing up 'ere?' Hilde arrived at the quarter deck with a frown. 'Do ye want Chang to yell at ye again?'

'Oy, Hilde! Have ye met Capt'n Bart'n yet?'

'Who made ye capt'n?' Howard shouted from the main deck, creasing his forehead. 'Ye said we'd take a vote, ye lying bilge rat! I vote for Howard!'

Trowa merely rolled his eyes. 'Happy now, Maxwell?'

Duo's smug grin said it all.

'What is this ruckus?' Wufei walked out of the captain's cabin with a scowl and the crew suddenly looked very busy. Trowa focused on steering, Howard checked the halyards and the braided pirate fixed Hilde's sling.

'There.' He said. 'See? Ye don't need Chang to fix yer sling when I'm around.'

The Chinese man's eyes narrowed. 'What kind of fool do ye take me for?' he asked them evenly.

But the approaching cloud of fog surrounded the ship at that very moment and, for a second, the world was quiet. 'What the devil?' Duo broke the silence, looking around with a frown. He could still see Hilde clearly, but Wufei – only a few feet away – was nothing but a blur.

The distant sound of feet pounding on the wooden deck had them all falling silent again. Someone was running and they were getting closer. The braided pirate drew his cutlass, turning towards the stairs that led down to the main deck, stepping in front of Hilde who was torn between tearing off her sling and risking her shoulder in order to defend herself or relying completely on the others. Did she trust them with her life? Should she? Whether she should or not, she realised – with no small amount of surprise – that she did and resigned herself to waiting.

When Relena emerged at the top of the stairs, holding Shadow protectively in her arms, they all let out a deep breath. Duo sheathed his weapon somewhat frustrated. 'Something's coming.' She told them. 'A giant.'

'A giant?' Hilde questioned worriedly as the others approached them. The blonde woman's eyes fell on Heero as he stepped out of his quarters. The cloud of fog shifted as the Peacemillion moved on, growing thin enough for them to see each other.

The captain turned to Wufei. 'Fetch the barrel.' He said quiet and cryptically. 'Just in case.' The first mate nodded briefly and disappeared down the stairs. 'Umibozu.' Heero said, bringing the others' attention back to him.

'Sorry, mate.' The braided man shrugged. 'But we're not all part of yer Asian club.'

'The Japanese believe that the souls of people who have no one to look after their graves take refuge at sea.' Howard started explaining as he climbed the stairs to the quarter deck cautiously. 'Umibozu is the spirit-turned-demon of a monk who drowned, a giant shadow that wanders the seas wrecking the ships of those who anger it.'

'And what's with the barrel?' Duo questioned the captain, crossing his arms with an angry frown. 'Me barrel of grog that ye wasted.'

'What?' the old man turned wide eyes from the braided man to Heero. 'There's no more rum?'

The captain let out a frustrated sigh as he prepared to explain, but Chang called from the main deck and when the crew turned his way they realised the ship had stopped, its bow trapped by the thigh of the giant shadow of umibozu, whose back was slightly curved as it gazed down at the tiny pirates. Its face was completely black, but for two big round red white rimmed eyes, and it was impossible to tell what the demon was feeling or if it had any feelings at all.

'Shiver me timbers!' Howard gaped up at the creature.

'What do we do?' Hilde asked him in a hiss, shielding her mouth with her hand.

'Just be quiet. Try not to anger it.' Heero advised as he made his way past them to join the first mate on the main deck.

'How're we supposed to tell if it's angry or not? Its poker face's even better than yers.' The braided man did not wait for an answer. It was clear to him the captain had either not heard him or purposefully decided to ignore him. He turned to Hilde. 'We can't just stand 'ere.'

'What do ye expect us to do, Maxwell?' Trowa questioned still standing at the helm. There was a touch of irritation to his voice, that betrayed the fact that he too disliked being unable to do anything.

'Ye think anyone's ever tried to kill it?'

'It's already dead, Duo.' The black haired woman reminded him, rolling her eyes.

'Well, I say, if it ain't lying at the bottom of the sea then it ain't dead.'

'Don't ye think those men, whose boats it wrecked, tried to kill it?'

Relena, who seemed to be the only one unfazed by their powerlessness, finally spoke up. 'The solution has something to do with the barrel.'

'Oh, me grog!' Duo moaned. 'Makes me want to kill it twice as bad.'

'Maybe it's friendly? Perhaps we should try talking to it.' The blonde woman suggested.

The others looked sceptical. 'Lass was right about the aspidochelone.' Howard reminded them.

'Heero told us to be quiet.' Trowa argued.

'And ye do everything the capt'n says.' The braided pirate mocked him.

'Please, stop arguing.' Quatre finally stepped out of the captain's cabin. 'Let Heero and Chang handle this. They know what to do.'

'No, they don't.' Hilde, who had been watching the captain and first mate argue for the past few minutes, saw it fit to inform them.

'Of course, they do! It has something to do with the barrel.'

'The barrel's for them to hide in and float away while the rest of us die.' Duo joked morbidly in his irritation.

'But it has no bottom!' Quatre protested. 'What would be the point?'

'Heero said "just in case"…' Relena mumbled thoughtfully.

'Just in case what?' the braided man shouted loud enough to attract umibozu's attention and, before anyone knew what was happening, Duo was in the creature's fist being slowly lifted towards its expressionless face for a closer inspection.

'Go, Duo!' Howard cheered him on. 'Stab it in the eye!'

'Me arms are trapped, ye old fool!'

'What the devil are ye doing?' Chang reached the quarter deck then following the lead of a just as mad looking Heero.

'Ye tell us nothing so we were trying to figure out how to help ye!' Hilde shouted back at him even angrier. 'What the devil were ye doing?'

'We were looking for a way to send umibozu away without angering it.' The captain explained evenly.

All eyes turned back to the braided pirate who was now only a couple metres away from the demon's face. Thankfully, he remembered Relena's words and used the only weapon he had left. 'Uh… Ahoy! Yummy… Uh… Bonzo? How fares ye this lovely evenin'? Ye have such pretty eyes! Has anyone ever told ye that?' the creature's pause did not last long though and, when a huge open mouth with sparkly white teeth surged on its face, Duo screamed. 'It's gonna eat me! Do something!'

'It's alright, Duo!' Howard shouted back. 'It's a spirit! It has no belly!'

'Ye don't know that!'

Heero looked around frantically, trying to figure out what to do, to find something that could help them. He had never heard of umibozu eating people before… Perhaps the demon was trying to sniff the braided man? Or scare him? Like a snake? They could not act harshly and risk angering the beast… He was not confident in the bottomless barrel story at all, but the seconds were ticking by and the crew's tension growing. 'Nobody shoot!' he warned, but a musket went off at that very moment.

'What?' Trowa asked, turning to him with a frown as he lowered the gun. Umibozu moaned, dropping Duo down on the forecastle, and clutched at its wounded eye.

'Nobody move!'

'Duo!' Hilde was already running down the stairs towards the braided pirate.

'Bloody hell…' the captain swore quietly.

In the silence that followed, they watched apprehensively as the demon whined painfully, almost melancholy, as if it were crying. 'It sounds like a whale…' Howard whispered to Quatre, earning a glare from Wufei.

It felt like forever until umibozu's hands dropped back to its sides. There was no sign of the shot, no entry or exit wound, no nothing, and the creature's face was just as blank as before. No one moved, no one spoke, no one breathed. The demon's eyes roamed over the ship until they landed on the lonely barrel, seemingly forgotten in the middle of the main deck. It paused, staring at the barrel for a moment, before reaching for it with its big black misty hand.

Relena held Shadow tighter as she watched umibozu dip the barrel into the sea then slowly bring it back up and drop its contents on the deck, but there was nothing, no water left, for the barrel had no bottom. They were sure the beast's anger would spike, but umibozu tilted its head lightly as if trying to understand what had gone wrong. It tried again, then again, but the results were always the same. There would be no sinking that ship. Tired, the demon dropped the barrel back on the main deck, the impact breaking it in pieces and scaring the crew. Umibozu did not seem to notice, it simply turned around and walked away vanishing, with the fog, into the night.

Heero let out a deep breath he had not realised he had been holding and ran a hand over his face, relieved. Relena was the first one his eyes sought. She was smiling widely in her own relief and, for a moment, he forgot about everything else. It was right then that he knew… He knew what he dreamed of having, what he really wanted. Thankfully, a scream from the forecastle distracted him from his terrifying realisation.

They were suddenly all dashing to the bow of the ship. Wufei listed in his head all possible injuries the braided man could have suffered and the material he would need to fix it, but the scene that met them when they reached the forecastle was worse than he could have possibly imagined.

'Ye could've died, ye idiot!' Hilde shouted as she punched him on the shoulders and chest with her free fist. 'Couldn't ye just keep yer damn trap shut?'

'Ow!' Duo complained. 'Ow, ow, ow! Somebody make her stop!'

The captain raised an eyebrow completely uninterested. Chang – angry at himself for having worried, if even for a second, about the braided pirate – snorted. 'Just take it like a man, Maxwell. I would've done worse.' Then he turned to the rest of the crew. 'Show's over. Back to yer posts!'

'Loose all sails!' Heero added, nodding gratefully at the first mate before returning to his own post behind the helm. If umibozu had graced them with its presence then they must be close to their destination… Close to a man he never thought he would see again.

XXX

It was a little isle in the middle of the Pacific ocean, a barren isle that looked like no more than a mound of sand amidst the nothingness. Relena frowned. Had they not been on their way to see someone? She had not heard of any reason why they might need to dock there and yet… Heero himself had dropped anchor and Trowa was already securing a rope for the captain to slide down. She did not understand, but would not dare ask questions either. The captain had been very secretive about their destination and she suspected that was because his past was involved in it somehow… She wondered if this person – whoever it was – would mind answering her questions or if Heero would even let her ask them.

'Are ye going alone?' the lookout asked the captain when he returned, his coat on and a shovel in his hand.

'Aye.'

'How long has it been?' Trowa questioned enigmatically. Heero merely shook his head. 'Shouldn't ye take Chang?'

'What purpose would he serve? Besides, someone must stay with the ship.' He paused, frowning when he realised the other man was actually looking out for him. 'I'll be fine, Barton.'

'I know ye will. I just thought ye could use some moral support.'

'I'm sure he'll want something in exchange for the favour he'll do us and, if he doesn't, a share of the loot will surely be enough to convince him. It'll be a simple negotiation.'

Relena could not understand half their conversation, but it never occurred to her to ask. She was eavesdropping and that fact was immoral enough for her. 'I'd like to accompany you, if that's alright.' Her confidence nearly faltered when both men turned towards her. 'To repay you for accompanying me into the siren's den.'

'There's no need to repay me.' Heero answered somewhat awkwardly. She could see he was surprised at her reasoning.

'Ye should let her do it.' Trowa advised. 'Or soon others will expect free favours from ye as well. Or take it as a sign of weakness from ye to favour her over the rest of us.'

The captain met Relena's eyes. Chang would surely think that… Hilde had believed the blonde was his concubine. If it became apparent that he favoured her in any way… He did not want her to be subjected to the rumours and whsipers that would surely follow. His crew might not be mean, but they liked to tease and taunt. A particularity he was sure Relena was not used to and surely would not appreciate much. He did not care much for it himself. 'Grab a coat and be careful on yer way down.' He told her lest she should burn her hands again and went ahead so he could help her from ashore.

'Thank you.' She told Trowa with an honest smile when Heero was out of earshot.

He merely nodded as he watched her run back to the captain's cabin to grab a coat and hoped she would not give up on Heero too soon.

XXX

As soon as they reached the centre of the little isle, Heero stopped and started digging. He did not have to dig for long to find the wooden trap door. There was a ladder leading down, but the well was so dark they could not see the bottom. Relena could not help, but wonder how long it would take – climbing down blindly – to reach it. It looked scary and it was suddenly no wonder why Trowa had wanted the captain to come accompanied. She wondered if it had been wise to volunteer… If there was danger at the bottom… If there were need to fight, she would be of little help. Besides, surely there had to be a reason why no one else had offered.

'If ye wish to stay up here…' Heero seemed to read her mind.

'I said I would accompany you, so I will.' She smiled confidently, deciding to ignore the suffocating feeling that black hole stirred in her.

He nodded. 'Follow me.'

They started their way down slowly and carefully. The darkness soon embraced them, heightening their senses just as it stripped them of their vision. Heero was paying special attention to Relena's breathing pattern afraid she might panic as the silence grew nearly deafening and the temperature dropped. He was not a big fan of small dark places himself. 'Heero?' she called him suddenly in a whisper.

'Hn.'

'I'm sorry if I step on your hand. It's hard to know where I am…' she chuckled lightly and he could sense her relief in speaking. The silence combined with the darkness and the narrowness of the space created a very oppressive atmosphere. 'Have you been here before?'

'Aye.'

'Are we far from the bottom?'

It was hard to know where he was, as she had put it herself, but he estimated they were half-way to the bottom already. It was not a very long descent despite what the darkness and their brains might trick them into believing and so he told her. 'I should've brought a lamp… I thought I'd be coming alone.'

'Oh, please, don't be sorry. It was I who offered to come, though I had no idea what I was getting myself into… I refuse to be a burden now.'

He would have told her she was not, that she could never be a burden, but his feet touched the ground. 'Careful now.' Relena's heart nearly stopped when his hands wrapped around her ankles. The touch was so light it made her shiver and she had to fight the urge to kick him in her momentary panic. Heero seemed to realise what he had done. He let go of her immediately and cleared his throat. 'I'm sorry.'

'It's all right, you just… Caught me off guard is all. Have you reached the bottom?'

'Aye.'

'Thank god!'

She finished descending carefully, sighing in relief when she was finally able to let go of the rough wooden ladder. The captain was close enough that she could feel the heat emanating from him. 'We'll go down a short corridor now. It's narrow so there's no risk of getting lost.' He explained patiently.

Relena made to take his arm, but he was closer than she had anticipated and, the moment the back of her hand connected with him, she was afraid that she had touched something forbidden. 'I am so sorry! What did I touch?' she asked horrified. To touch him at all already felt like a transgression…

'My hip. Don't worry about it.' He was glad she could not see his face, he was sure he must have looked nearly panicked when her hand connected with him so unexpectedly. To avoid any more awkwardness, he took her hand and placed it on his arm before she could apologize again.

'Thank you.' She said instead.

The corridor turned out to be a lot shorter than the darkness let on to imagination. A wooden door marked the entrance to their destination, the orange light of a lamp sneaking through its cracks and gaps. Heero reached out for the handle and they were temporarily blinded by the clarity as he pushed the door open. A familiar voice greeted him even before he had recovered his vision.

'I never thought I'd see ye again, Heero.' The man was clearly amused. 'And in the company of a lady nonetheless.'

As her eyes adjusted to the light Relena could finally see their interlocutor. The old man had long white hair, a moustache and beard that made his yellow toothed smirk all the more scary, a wooden leg and a hook for a left hand. Heero stepped forward, forcing her to let go of his arm however reluctantly.

'Jay.' He said seriously, as a manner of greeting, and reached into his coat pocket for the wrapped up cypher. 'I need your help…with this.'

The pegleg limped closer and snatched the parchment off the captain's hand. 'Mmmm…' he scratched his chin with his hook thoughtfully, raising the drawing in front of his face then distancing it and approaching it to his eyes as he saw fit. 'Mmmm…'

'Can you read it?' Relena asked him anxiously.

The pirate turned towards her, looking curious and rewrapped the cypher with his single hand as he examined her. She shifted uncomfortably, thankful that Heero was standing half in front of her. 'Is she the payment?' he asked neutrally, but found the muzzle of a pistol suddenly staring right at him. He chuckled. 'That is answer enough. Excuse the misunderstanding, lass.'

Too baffled by the captain's extreme reaction, Relena could only nod. 'It's of no consequence.'

'That cypher holds the key to finding Romefeller's lost treasure.' Heero cut in gravely.

'Ye mean to offer me a share of the loot? Of course, ye do.' Jay smirked, clearly uninterested.

The Peacemillion's captain's eyes narrowed. 'Name yer price then.'

'Take me with ye.' his smirk widened when he saw the surprise in the younger man's eyes. 'I don't care about no booty. There's somewhere I need to go.'


GLOSSARY:

Shiver me timbers! - expression of shock, awe or surprise. The timbers were the wooden support frames of the ship, which would be shaken when the ship was – for example – hit by a violent wave, startling the sailors. No one knows if real pirates actually used this expression, but it's all over pirate literature.