Chapter 5- the remake because I accidentally deleted the original *sobs loudly and slobbers all over the non-existent boyfriend*

I followed after Redhair and across the deck.

"So, what are we going to do for training today?" I was curious as to why Redhair himself had been so determined to take today's training, even with an island coming up.

He stopped walking suddenly, making me bump roughly into his back.

"Woah, don't just stop all of a sudden." I scolded him.

"Can you swim?" He asked, keeping his back faced towards me.

I stared at him quizzically, where was he going with this..? "Uh, yeah."

"How fast?"

"Uh, I dunno. I haven't really tried swimming as fast as I can. Back at home, I just swam laps around Kuraigana's shores." I smiled fondly at the memory.

The captain let out a 'hmm' sound before saying. "So mostly it was to training so you can spend long periods in deep water..."

"Yeah." I agreed. "Although, this one time, about a year back, I encountered a seaking while swimming but when I tried swimming away quietly it chased me."

Redhair glanced over his shoulder, giving me an amused look. "So can you out swim a seaking?"

I huffed. "No, I had to fight it in the water. No one can out swim a seaking. It's impossible." I stated, folding my arms over my chest.

He chuckled before he started walking again, "That's where you're wrong. Mermaids and fishmen can."

It took all I had to keep up with his long strides. "You still haven't answered my question." I pointed out, irritated.

"That's because that would ruin all the fun." Redhair said, cheerfully, leading us to the back of the deck. He walked over to the very back and I stopped.

Tied to the railing were two sturdy looking ropes. The ropes led down to the ocean, the ends floating peacefully on the salty waves, roughly twenty feet from the back of the ship.

I eyed the ropes suspiciously. "Redhair... You aren-" I turned and saw the evil glint in his eye as he took a threatening step towards me. "No." I took a step back from him.

I let the ropes drag me through the water. How long had it been since Redhair shoved her off the end of the ship? Two minutes. Two minutes and I had already given up. That was fairly pathetic in my opinion, but right now I didn't give two shits. It took all I have just to keep my head above the water.

"Oi." I raised my head to glare at my personal trainer, who had perched himself on the top of the Red Force's railing and had was watching her like a hawk from above. The Red Force was mighty huge, but from down here, I was seriously wondering how I survived the fall from such a height. "Oi, Jade." I continued shooting imaginary laser beams from my eye sockets as he continued. "Come on, you were doing so well. Don't just give up, it's no use if you don't try!"

I rolled my eyes at him, dodging a wave that came from the side. Phew, close one. "But I'm hungry." I complained. "You're going to make me do this without letting me eat breakfast first?! You were there! Laughing next to me, you are a witness. Making me do this before I've had a breakfast is just a new level of cruel! Even for you!"

He laughed loudly and tutted at me. "You should've told me before I tied you to the ropes."

I shot him a bland look before opening my mouth. "I did! Yo-" I had a mini heart-attack when a particularly large wave overpowered me and I drifted underwater for a second before resurfacing, spluttering and flailing.

"Pardon," The daft man called. "I didn't quite catch that..."

"I SAID THAT I DID AND THAT YOU IGNORED ME." I screamed, trying to hack up the sea water that somehow made it into my lungs.

Redhair paused for a second. "Ah, that's right, you did, didn't you." I sighed inwardly, taking extra care to keep my mouth closed. "That's a shame. How bout I make you an offer? I'm gonna go do a couple of things and then I'm gonna come back... Say, in about ten minutes. If, by that time, you have touched the Red Force, then I will lift you up and you can have the rest of the day off. How does that sound?"

I stared out over the water to the dark wood that could lead to my freedom. I thought about the offer, judging the distance and the speed the ship was currently travelling at. I don't think I'd be able to reach the boat, but my hands won't last much longer at this rate. I began kicked my legs fast and hard, only barely keeping up with the pace I was being tugged at, and felt relief wash over me as the pressure around my wrists lessened considerably.

"I'll take that as a yes. I'll see you in ten." I frantically yanked my head back up to see the captain climbing down from the railing.

"WAIT! WAIT, Redhair, what if the rope breaks and I'm left stranded in the middle of the ocean? What should I do if a seaking tries to eat me? I can't fight with my hands tied like this. What if I get tired and drown before you get back?" I babbled, panicking.

"Huh?" He leaned over the railing. "Could you say that again, Jade. I can't hear you very well from here."

I opened my mouth only for it to be filled with seaweed as another wave threatened to pull me under. I spat it out to the side and turned my face up again only to gasp in horror.
My so-called trainer had turned his back and begun walking away. "Don't worry, whatever it is, you can tell me when you get back."

I shouted after him, trying to get his attention, but it was too late. He had gone.

I groaned inwardly. I turned my attention back to the creaking wood a mere twenty feet ahead of me. All I had to do was pace myself the next ten minutes and I would be fine.

I thought about screaming some more before I realised it would be useless. All of the crew were helping with the preparations, they wouldn't be messing around on deck and so there was no chance of her pleads reaching their ears. Even if they were out on the deck, I could scream until my lungs gave out and they still wouldn't have heard me. The idiot captain could barely hear me when he was leaning over the deck, and he didn't have to deal with background chatter from other crew mates.

I could feel the water around me. It was cold. I shivered lightly, I better keep myself warm or else I'd get a cold. How long had it been since the captain had left? I couldn't even remember what it felt like to stand on dry ground, it felt like I haven't done it in forever.

I glanced back up at the Red Force in front of me. It wouldn't be too hard, would it? I'd only have to touch it once and then Redhair would let me up and I could spend the rest of the day chilling with Yasopp and Roo.

Mind made up, I kicked harder, focused solely on the ship. Harder and faster I kicked. I kicked even harder than I had in my entire life and then I kicked even harder than that. I felt myself slowly begin to gain on the boat. Soon, there was no pressure at all around my wrists, and I felt sweat begin to drop from my soaked forehead. Fifteen feet. I pushed to my absolute limit, putting my heart and sole into every power filled kick. Ten feet. It's getting closer. Closer and closer. 7 feet. I felt my muscles beginning to tire, and yet, I pushed through. Five feet. I can feel it, it was so close. My freedom, it was within reach. Two feet. I stretched out my fingers and I felt my eyes widen as my fingers brushed slimy wood. An odd sense of accomplishment washed over me and I stayed like that for a moment, kicking my legs as hard and fast as they would go, hands pressed up against the back of the Red Force.

I sighed, slowing down my kicking and allowing myself to drift back as far as the rope would let me. I did it. I actually did it. The rest of the day was mine to do with as I pleased.

I began kicking again before the pain around my wrists became unbearable.

I risked a glance up to the ships deck, the wondering pirate nowhere in sight. How much longer did she have to continue on like this for?

I found my glancing again at the wood directly in front of me, and a broke out a wild, evil smirk. If I were to touch the Red Force multiple times... that would result in me getting more days off, correct? I chuckled darkly to myself before forcing my already exhausted limbs into action.

Benn trudged across the food hall and towards their table. He had spent all day organising for their stay at the next island, and this was his first proper break.

He slammed his plate down on the table and dropped into his seat. Glancing up at Yasopp and Roo, he noted that they were murmuring quietly to each other. He sighed, returning his attention back to his meal. It looked tasty. He gingerly picked up his cutlery and got to work, slicing and stabbing before popping some of it in his mouth.

Benn moaned lightly, the heavenly taste tingling his buds. To say it was good would be a complete understatement. He munched and munched, shovelling a couple more chunks into his mouth.

Once he had consumed a decent amount of food, Benn raised his head, intending to join in whatever conversation his friends were participating in without him. However, when he raised his head he frowned. Two of their members were still missing. Yasopp and Roo took no notice of him, they were still deeply engaged in their conversation. It was strange, normally the two would be giggling every couple of sentences, but for the entire time he had been there, Benn didn't see them smile once. Now that he was more focused on it, he realised how intense it was.

Benn glanced around the food hall. Shanks and Jade still hadn't shown their faces yet and it made Benn uneasy. He had a really bad feeling in the pit of his stomach and he knew it was something to do with those two.

"Oi, do you two know where Captain and Jade are?" The two glanced at each other before turning to him.

"That's what we were just discussing. No one's seen them since before breakfast." Yasopp aspirated.

"No, that's not quite true. I saw Shanks at lunch." Roo argued. "He was boasting about his 'new training technique' and said that if Jade proved herself, she could have the rest of the day off. He seemed a bit tipsy at the time."

Benn huffed. Shanks had told him how excited he was to try out the technique yesterday. Benn had been curious about it, but hadn't asked, now he wished he knew what it was. Damn, the curiosity was killing him.

"What happened after that? Did he say anything about what they were doing?" They needed as much information as possible if they were to figure out where the two were.

"I have no idea, sorry, I had to leave for my shift, so I guess he did..."

"Then who was he boasting to? We need to talk to them. Now."

Roo seemed to think for a second, slowly lifting a chicken leg to his mouth and ripping the flesh from the bone. "He wasn't... really talking to anyone... He just kinda, you know, boasted loudly for anyone to hear. Although, when I left he was standing on that table over there." Roo pointed a stubby finger to a small table near the door to the deck.

"Let's go." Benn stood and made his way over to the said table. His gut was telling him there was something going on. And he wanted to make sure the pair were safe. His two comrades flanked him, not uttering a word as they made their way over to the table.

The table's chatter ceased and everyone's eyes turned to focus on the trio. Benn put his hands on the table's surface, leaning into it gently. "Did anyone here witness the captain's little boasting at lunch?" Behind him, Roo and Yasopp crossed their arms over their chests simultaneously.

One of the younger crew members gulped lightly at the intimidating vibe they were emitting. He raised his hand shakily, voice failing him when he tried to speak out. He was a new member, only joined the Redhair pirates about a month before they picked up Jade.

"Did he mention anything useful about his training except that it was really awesome?" Roo questioned.

The kid shook his head. "N-no, he said it was too epic to tell anyone."

Benn sighed inwardly, that sounded like the captain. "What did he do after that? Where is he now?"

"Uhm, well, he said that he was so AWESOME that he had to get wasted. Then, near the end of lunch he was smashed. Someone said offered him a biscuit and he laughed so hard he fell off the table and knocked himself out." Their information source babbled. He looked terrified to be so thoroughly interrogated by the first mate and two other main members of the crew.
Benn's stomach plummeted. "FUCK. Where is he now?!"

"I don't know, sorry I left the food hall then. I assume that someone took him to bed." The kid cringed away from Benn as he slammed his hands against the table, livid.

"Benn, that doesn't mean that Jade's still out there, does it?" Yasopp asked, terrified.

"Are you serious? She hasn't even EATEN anything today, captain took her to her training before she could even get anything."

The kid's jaw dropped. "WHAT?! Jade has been doing a new training technique since this morning and she hasn't even eaten?!"

"Ok, plan." Benn whirled around and grabbed his friends by their arms. "You two search for Shanks, he's probably in his room. See if you can get any clues about where Jade is. If you do, come find me. I'll search the deck. That's their usual training area, and she has to be around somewhere." He stalked towards the door, pushing them in front of him. "Go. GO!"