Chapter 9: Surprise, Surprise!

Disclaimer: Me no own. I love pirates. They so sexy! Oh sorry.

When they got back to the tavern everyone was nearly finished and Kira suggested getting to bed before anyone got too drunk and started trouble. He was looking at the Three Trouble-Making-Buccaneers (as they called themselves): Dearka, Mwu, and Yzak, as he said this.

Luna and Meyrin both escorted them to the Inn and gave them the best rooms.

"Thank ye again, I'm very grateful for all that you're doin' for us." Kira said and bowed to them. They blushed. "Please, 'tis the least we can do! We are honored t' be in your presence and that you've decided t' stay with us!" they replied and curtsied.

He smiled and kissed them both on the cheek before going off to find Shinn. They gasped and touched their cheeks, looking at each other before giggling madly.

Kira was such a pimp. And he knew it too! WORK IT PIRATE BOY! Oh, sorry, eh heh.

Kira grinned to himself as he strutted into Shinn's room to see the boy lying on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. He was slightly drunk, but seriously troubled, and Kira's smug expression softened as he slowly walked into the room.

"Shinn." He said, getting the boy's attention. Shinn immediately sat up. "Sir." He replied uneasily. Kira smiled and sat down on the bed next to him.

"How are ye feeling, lad?" Kira asked after a pause. He glanced at the boy to see the troubled look again. "I dunno. Confused, I guess. I just don' understand why Yzak has t' be so cruel to me. Does he hate me or somethin'?" Shinn asked and looked into Kira's beautiful amethyst eyes.

Kira sighed and brushed some hair out of Shinn's own crimson eyes. The boy froze, surprised at his Captain's actions.

'Great, I have a bad feeling about this.' Shinn thought and didn't meet his captain's eye as his soft fingers brushed the cut on his cheek.

"Tis a shame this will mar your handsome young face, lad, as I've said before." Kira said after a while. He sighed when he understood that Shinn was uncomfortable.

"I don' know why he be shootin' his mouth at ye all the time. He's a sour one, he is, saltiest sea dog out of all of us, wouldn't you say?" Kira asked and smiled. Shinn also smiled and chuckled quietly.

"Aye, that he is." He answered and smiled.

"Ye have a beautiful smile, Shinn. No wonder so many people like ye." Kira said suddenly with a wan smile.

Shinn's eyes widened and his smile faltered in shock. Kira frowned. "I'm sorry if I upset ye, lad." He told him. Shinn blushed and looked away.

"I understand your feelings, ye be a young lad, with ragin' hormones. You're just tryin' to make sense of things, I'm still going through that, and so is the rest of 'em". Kira said.

"I bet none of the rest of 'em is accused of bein' queer." Shinn grumbled, curling up into a ball on the bed. Kira sighed and leaned back on his arms, staring at his Second Mate. (A/N: I'm sorry it just sounds so gay! Can't you hear it???)

"Would ye like me to talk to Yzak?" Kira asked after he couldn't take the silence any more. Shinn looked at him and shook his head slowly.

"He'd only think me a pansy, runnin' to his mommy. No thanks, Kira." He snorted. Kira's eyes grew stern. He didn't appreciate Shinn being so cross with him when he was just trying to comfort him.

"That's Captain Kira, Shinn. Remember that, lad." Kira replied harshly, a little harsher than he wanted. Shinn looked up at him, but with only a small trace of fear, his red eyes dared Kira to punish him for his insolence.

"Don't give me that look." Kira growled. "Go away then!" Shinn said. "Excuse me!? Did you just order me to do something!? I believe 'tis the other way around, boy." Kira barked and stood up. (He, he, he, talk about sea dog.)

Shinn only glared at him but said nothing. Kira crossed his arms, waiting for an apology. Shinn looked away and refused to be commanded.

"I understand ye feelings, lad, but ye still have t' obey me, ya hear?" Kira asked, getting unusually irritated at the boy.

Shinn finally stood up and glared at him. "Not anymore. I quit." He said and crossed his arms. Kira looked shocked.

"What!? Ye can't quit Shinn! When ye joined me crew ye joined for life!" Kira yelled, angered beyond belief that Shinn could possible think the life of a pirate was that easy to give up.

"I said I quit! I'm tired of being pushed around like an unappreciated dog!" Shinn shouted, tears threatening to slide down his cheek.

Kira understood then, but he still didn't like it. He held his ground as Shinn looked away, breathing heavily; waiting for the punishment.

Kira sighed deeply and closed his eyes, looking dangerously on the verge of losing his nerve.

"Shinn, ye can't quit and that's that, no matter what ye feel. I know you're just going through your rebellious stage, but ye still need to learn your place!" Kira finally said, louder than he wanted.

Shinn flinched and finally looked into Kira's eyes, afraid of the unnaturally strong, fast, and intelligent Pirate Captain in front of him.

'Great Shinn, look what ye got yourself into this time! Ye might as well go mute and join a monk's convent!' he yelled at himself. He only had a few choices in that instant: beg for forgiveness, take the punishment, or run away. He thought heavily about the first and last options, and then decided.

He threw himself at Kira and started crying miserably. "P-Please, d-don't hurt me, C-Captain Kira!!! I'm sorry!!" he cried. Kira looked beyond shocked and couldn't move for what seemed like ages as Shinn clung to his lithe body and cried overdramatically.

So much for what little dignity he had left.

"Uh, Shinn, please stop crying. Calm down lad, for goodness sake control yourself!" Kira whispered loudly, looking over his shoulder to make sure no one was there.

Unfortunately for them both, Yzak was standing smugly at the doorway, smirking with his arms crossed, giving Kira a look that said, "I told you soooo!!!" Kira growled at him and made a cutting motion at his throat and Yzak scurried away.

"Shinn, listen to me, Shinn, stop this! SHINN!" Kira yelled and Shinn looked up at him. For once Kira didn't see a rebellious teen trying to reach manhood. He saw a small boy who never had much of a childhood, and was reminded of himself.

He wiped his tears away and held him close until he stopped sobbing and only quietly sniffled, still clinging to him.

"Yzak saw." Kira said. Shinn gasped and looked at him with horror. "Shinn, don't start up again." Kira commanded and Shinn bit his lip and looked down.

"We might as well tell 'em, lad, the truth about…us." Kira said quietly. "Athrun and Cagalli would be angry." Shinn said even quieter. "No they won't." Kira replied and lifted his chin.

"I can't keep this secret anymore, Shinn, I can't ignore our relationship any longer…brother." Kira replied. Shinn hugged him. "I miss mom." He said quietly again. Kira closed his eyes and hugged his little brother tightly.

"Me too lad. Me too." He replied.

"Blast it! Where could they be on these accursed seas!?" Rau bellowed as the storm roared overhead. As they were following the Freedom a squall started a-ragin' and before they knew it the winds were howlin' and the salty water was dancing with the crew on deck!

"I dunno Cap'n, maybe we should look on the map for the nearest port; this storm is looking dangerous!" Natarle told him. He growled and scowled at the see before him.

'He's gotta be out there somewhere, I can see him, drinking his ale and laughing with his pirate friends, a right fool he prolly thinks me is. I'll show 'em, Him and his meddling little brother, they'll regret the day they ever swore vengeance against me!' Rau thought and slammed his fist on the wooden railing.

"Sir?" Natarle asked, making him come out of his reverie. "We're not stopping until we find that blasted scallywag! Keep moving! Quit yer whinin'! Hoist the sails and let this beast carry us to where those blasted devils be hidin'!" he bellowed.

"He's gone crazy!" One young crew member shouted in a panicked voice. "He's been crazy boy, ain't ye noticed that yet?" a surly older man said. The young boy looked shocked and then scurried away to hide in his cabin.

Siegel Clyne shook his head and went back to tending to the ship.

-Author's Note: DUN DUN DUUUNNN!!! Wasn't that a nice surprise!? You can tell there was absolutely no plot whatsoever in this story when I first started writing it can't you!? Please review and tell me what you think! Argh ye mateys!-