Thursday, November 15, 2007
(Chapter 7: Military Force With Home On The Horizon)
Tohma sauntered past the guards in front of the throne room and burst through the doors. The Emperor was lazily sprawled across his throne and jolted awake at the sound of the large wooden doors slamming against the stone walls. Clearing the sleep from his eyes the fat and lazy emperor put on an amused smile.
"What brings you to my humble castle, Seguchi-san?" Stroking his long, stringy beard and leering at the short blond, his gaze drifted behind the businessman to the woman who looked equally as pissed as the blond. "Ah, Mika-san to what do I owe this pleasure?"
Mika repressed the urge to shudder openly at the emperor's lecherous gaze. "I am here on the same business as my husband." She put herself in a stance that said, 'Don't fuck with me'.
Seguchi cleared his voice, "We are here to ask the assistance on the royal navy." Seeing the emperor's eyebrow raise in interest Tohma continued. "My brothers-in-law, Eiri and Tatsuha Uesugi, have been taken hostage by a pirate. We would like the royal navy's assistance in the hunt for our brothers."
The emperor sat up a little straighter and eyed the blond businessman with suspicion. "Why is that you could not go after them on your own with your own navy?" The Emperor scoffed and rested his chin on the heel of his hand. "It is common knowledge that your force and prowess is rivaled only by mine. So why ask for my help?"
Seguchi tried not to seem too annoyed with the barely competent ruler. "Our brothers were taken captive by the Ninth Pirate King." The emperor's eyes widened.
"You mean The Pink Death?" His laughter broke through the tense air further annoying the dangerous blond. "Well Seguchi-san, I think you can kiss your brothers good-bye. No one survives Captain Shuichi. I'm surprised you survived him." His laughter continued to echo in the empty room.
Seguchi snapped. In a flash he had the emperor by the throat and had slammed his head against the back of the throne causing the laughter to halt abruptly. Mika calmly watched her husband hold a sharp and gleaming dagger against the emperor's throat, a small smirk spread across her lips. "Emperor, I suggest you allow us to use your navy or my husband will leave a permanent 'love' mark on your neck."
The Emperor was now trembling. Tohma had a mad glint in his eye and an ominous black aura permeating the atmosphere. The Emperor audibly gulped as the miasma drifted closer to his nostrils. "I will ask you this one last time, Emperor. Will you permit us to utilize your navy or am I going to have to slit your throat?" Tohma spoke softly and clearly.
The Emperor gently nodded careful not to scratch the skin of his throat against the blood thirsty blade. Tohma gave a brilliantly fake smile and eased his grip on the Emperor. After smoothing out the incompetent man's lapels Tohma stepped down off the throne and strode over to his now satisfied wife.
"It's been a pleasure doing business with you, Emperor. I expect I will be dealing with General K-san?" The emperor whimpered and Tohma smile his back still turned to the frightened man. "Very good. I look forward to our next meeting Emperor."
Tohma draped his arm around Mika's slim waist and strolled back through the large wooden doors past the guards like he hadn't just threatened the Emperor's life.
Once the Seguchi's were out of sight and out of the building, the Emperor rang the bell for his servant.
"Yes me-lord?" the servant bowed low nearly scraping the ground with his nose.
The Emperor shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Bring me another pair of pants and under garments. I seemed to have soiled mine."
The Servant stood up in surprise and nodded quickly exiting the room leaving the emperor to wallow in his self pity.
"Oi! Captain, it's Pleasure Port ahead!" Shuichi looked up at the crow's nest and smiled. They were finally home!
Granted few could call such place like Pleasure Port home, but to the crew of Bad Luck it was more than any home the orphaned and abandoned sailors could ask for. When ever they docked it was like a welcome home party was assembled just for them. More like all the "companions" from the local "hospitality house", The Chicken Ranch, would swarm the dock in anticipation of the only pirates on this side of the hemisphere that smelled and acted like humans.
None the less the crew members were ecstatic to finally be able to see the run down grungy port after so long.
"Hurry up boys! Home is on the horizon and the faster we get there the sooner you can celebrate!" Shuichi enunciated the syllables of "celebrate" so that the men would catch the full meaning. Giggling to himself as he watched the pirates scramble about on crew he picked out one lone static figure on deck. A pair of deep golden eyes bored into him with such an intensity Shuichi could barely breathe.
The Pink Death was shaken from his hypnosis when his first mate and best friend placed a hand on his shoulder. Jumping a bit in surprise Shuichi spun around and clasped at his chest as his heart raced. "Jesus, Hiro, you scared the shit out of me!"
Hiro leaned his head back and laughed at his friend. "We should be arriving soon so would you like to come and discuss trading with Fujisaki before we dock." The look of disgust on Shuichi's face didn't go unnoticed. "Come on Shu. The sooner you get it over with the sooner you can get to The Chicken Ranch." Hiro smirked at his friend knowing he'd said the magic words.
Shuichi's face grew a slight blush. Hiro's smile slipped and he leaned closer to his friend. "How long has it been since you've seen her?"
Shuichi turned his back to his friend and gazed out at the steadily approaching landscape. Sighing heavily he said, "It's been way too long." Turning back to his friend Shuichi leaned into Hiro's chest and inhaled the calming smell of his companion. "Do you think she'll forgive me?"
Hiro sighed, wrapped his arms around his best friend and hugged him. After being sure his friend was no longer on the verge of tears he drew back and looked into the now nervous and serious face of the Pirate King. "Come on Shu its better to get the nitty gritty stuff over with so you can get to the fun stuff." Smiling at his friend Hiro took Shu's hand and began to guide him down the stairs to the main deck.
Shuichi was glad for the change of subject, but grudgingly let his friend lead him toward the main cabin to discuss trade at Pleasure Port.
From the main deck of Bad Luck a short green haired accountant's eyes landed on his captain and the first mate embracing on the helm deck. His breath caught as it felt like his heart was shattering. He knew Hiro and Shuichi had a special relationship and that he would never come as close to Hiro's heart as Shuichi has. Suguru still held love for the long auburn haired Hiro even though his love would never be returned. Fujisaki saw that Hiro only loved Shuichi.
Taking in a shuddering breath he could no longer stand to watch his two closest friends in the embrace he so wished to share with Hiro. Fighting back tears he quickly walked across the deck to enter the cabin so he could await his captain to discuss business.
Taking one last look up at the embracing friends Suguru thought, 'I will always love you Hiro; even if you do not return my feelings.' then with a small muffled sob he stepped into the cabin.
Eiri was busy securing the sail on the mast when he felt eyes staring at him. Looking up he caught sight of bright violet orbs studying him form the helm deck. His breath caught as they locked gold with violet. He was so perturbed with his apparent weakness that he cursed himself every time a pair of violet eyes or full, sweet lips impeded into his mind.
Eiri was about to march up the stairs and kiss that pink headed brat senseless when he caught sight of Nakano stealing the Pirate's attention. The curious blond watched closely as the captain and first mate conversed over what seemed to be a rather sensitive subject to the Pirate King. Eiri was about to loose interest just as he watched Shuichi through himself into Hiro's arms and they shared a seemingly tender moment in plain view of the whole crew.
His stoic expression turned into a heavy frown as a sudden spike of jealousy ripped through him. Eiri didn't know why, but he felt the urge to march up those steps and rip the "love birds" apart followed with a punch to the long haired man square on the jaw.
Just as the two friends separated Eiri realized he was acting like a scorned lover. Feeling disgusted with himself he muttered curses under his breath and stormed off to busy himself some place where the pirate captain couldn't interrupt his thoughts.
Tohma Seguchi picked up a rather heavy paper weight and hurled it at the wall of his sleek, neat office. It met a somewhat unpleasant fate as it bounced off the wall then shattered on the hard stone floor. Seguchi had both hands flat on his solid wood desk as he panted heavily in anger and frustration. It had been a week since the NG was stormed by Bad Luck and his brothers-in-law had been taken by that little punk of a pirate captain.
Just as he was about to pitch his ink well at the door it opened and Mika Seguchi appeared at the thresh hold.
"You know the ink well didn't do anything to you." Mika lazily leaned against the door jam and eyed her husband.
Tohma collapsed into his big leather chair and dropped his head into his hands. "Mika, it's been a week and no leads on that cursed pirate!" Leaving the door jam Mika strolled toward her angry platinum blond husband.
"Tohma, we'll find them. Don't be so hard on yourself." Flicking Tohma's signature bowler hat to the floor she laid a hand on his head and began stroking her fingers through his neat, meticulously placed hair. "Making yourself sick over this won't help my brothers."
Seguchi lifted his head and looked into Mika's strong honey brown eyes. Mika leaned down and brushed her lips against Tohma's partially open mouth. His eyes fluttered closed and he relaxed into the kiss taking solace in the tender touch that he and Mika rarely shared.
As the kiss deepened Tohma slid his arm around Mika's waist and pulled her closer to him. She straightened her posture forcing Tohma to stand up and pull her against his chest. Mika linked her hands behind his neck and pressed her hips against his steadily grown erection.
Feeling the new and wonderful friction Tohma grabbed Mika's thighs and lifted her onto the desk top. Moaning, Mika opened her mouth and thrust her tongue deep into Tohma's mouth. He welcomed the stimulus, engaging her tongue in a battle for dominance. Mika gripped at Tohma's lapels and began to hurriedly unbutton the expensive silk shirt.
Tohma glided his hands down Mika's toned thighs and slipped them up her skin under her knee length pencil skirt. She spread her legs in invitation causing her skirt to drift up to her hips.
When Mika's hands began to slide down Tohma's now bare chest to work on his restricting belt, the steaming couple heard an amused throat being cleared. Both Tohma and Mika stilled and turned to look at the intruder.
He was a tall foreigner with long blond hair tied loosely in a pony tail. He wore a smirk that spread across his lips and his piercing blue eyes met with Tohma's ocean greens making Tohma's annoyance obvious when the scary businessman's scowl was gone in a second replaced by a pleasantly fake smile.
"Ah, K-san; it's so nice to see you again." General K smiled brightly and he quickly averted his gaze letting the powerful couple adjust their clothing in semi privacy.
Mika jumped off the desk and pulled her skirt back down to her knees where it belonged. Tohma turned toward the window to button his open shirt and adjust his pants. He resituated his displaced bowler hat atop his head and turned to address the still smirking General. "Well, K-san, what news have you brought to me?"
K glanced toward Mika with apprehension. Tohma, understanding the unasked question and cleared the air, "Don't worry about Mika. She is tougher than most men and will be part of our dealings till the end."
K's smile reemerged. "Good, I can't stand delicate, wimpy women. That's why I married Judy-"
Tohma knowing the man could talk until the sun grew cold quickly intervened. "Yes, well, the news K-san?"
K blushed then stepped toward the still warm desk and spread an intricate map of the Western Sea across the top. Pointing to a phallic peninsula, K began to explain.
"I alerted all my connections in the Western Sea ports to notify me if any pirate ships docked. My connections in a place called Pleasure Port just sent me word of a beat up, but heavily armed pirate ship that pulled in just this morning." Tohma nodded and waited for the other foot to drop. "My connection informed me that the ship has the name of Bad luck and is captained by a pink haired Pirate King."
Tohma's face contorted into an evil grin. Having seen that look on many a man before now, K preceded with extreme caution, "Seguchi-san, Captain Shuichi is powerful. He has friends in high as wall as low places. Pleasure Port is where Bad Luck makes birth, if you choose to go after him there you are asking for failure. He trades and lives there when he isn't sailing. The whole town loves him as will as his crew. Go after him there and suffer the wrath of the roughest port on this side of the sun."
Tohma's smile transitioned into a concentrated frown. "What would you suggest our plan of action be, K-san?"
K frowned, "I would suggest you give up. We have knowledge that your brothers are well and unharmed. Why not just let them stay with Shuichi and move on?"
Faster than the eye could catch, Tohma had whipped out his dagger and stabbed it into the map straight through the center of the phallic peninsula. "They are the only family I have! Giving up on them would be like loosing a part of my heart." Tohma had a pained look on his normally impassible face. Used to his out bursts Mika just stared out of the window with a forlorn, far off look. She wanted her little brothers back more than she needed to breathe.
K looked from one angry, pained spouse to the other and sighed. "I will help you get your brothers back, but..." Tohma waited and Mika turned to study K, "we will move when they debark from Pleasure Port."
Tohma straightened and gave K an almost genuine smile. "Thank you. It has been a pleasure. I will wait for your next word, in the mean while you shall prepare your troops as I will prepare mine."
K bowed to Tohma in the custom of Japan and inclined his head to Mika who simply nodded.
After closing the door to the office of the powerful mafia like businessman, K let out a sigh of relief. "Man! That guy is scary and I know men that can kill you seventeen ways with a fortune cookie." K shook his head and laughed remembering the sight of the most powerful man on this side of the hemisphere in such a compromising position. Well, even Tohma Seguchi would need to spend some quality time with his gorgeous wife.
A/N This took me a while to write. I had some major writers block. But it's all gone now! I took the name for the whore house from a famous old whore house that used to be in central Texas. I love Tohma and Mika in this chapter! Tohma is such a bad ass. But how Will Shuichi escape with the military interference? Who is "she" that's waiting for Shuichi in Pleasure Port? Will Suguru ever get the man he loves? You shall just have to wait and see in the next chapter. Hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing! Review, I love to read ya'lls comments!