As my eyelids open, I hazily wake up to see myself on the cold floor. What the-? "Did I fall off the bed?" I say aloud, as I rub my eyes sleepily. My vision clears and I quickly look at my surroundings. What the, why is it so dark in here? Slowly and a bit stiff, I pull myself off the floor and fumble around in the dark trying to find the door. RATTLE! Seeing that I found the door knob, I quickly try to open it. Locked. The hell? I sigh in disbelief. "Christopher! Eduardo! Nathan! Russell! Anyone?" I call out, hoping someone would here me.
Meanwhile,
"Sir, it seem the captive has awoke," a Moldor navy soldier informs a man masked with brown hair. The man smiles and turns toward the soldier, who's waiting for further instruction.
"Good, see to it that she gets a "heart-warming" welcome," he instructs, and the soldier turns to collet the captive. "My, my, my dearest Sakura, after all these years I've finally found you." The man chuckles maliciously, folding his hands while seating himself comfortably in his desk...
(Back to Sakura)
Impatiently, I continue my banter on the door, trying to hit and kick it open. ROLL! Suddenly, I feel the ground roll and I fall backwards on my bottom. Woah! Was that an earthquake? But this didn't feel like it. Immediately, the most obvious probability came to mind. At that exact moment, the door flings open with a bang, and in front of me is a face I know all too well. Expressionless, the man in front of me glares down and smirks evilly.
"Michaelis," I spit out, moving as far back in the room as possible, until my back hit the end point of my distancing. What the heck is he doing here! I thought he was left to rot in prison since my father and older brother took care of him the last time he showed up. Eyeing him carefully, Michaelis briskly walks towards me and squats, gazing at me like I'm a lost puppy.
"Welcome my little cherry blossom, to The Pearl, ship of the Moldor Navy," he slurs, lifting my chin up with his index finger. Roughly, I turn my head, scowling.
"Don't touch me," I snap and he stands, unfazed. He walks to the door and eyes me over his shoulder.
"Whatever you say, you two take her to the deck, you know what to do once you get there," he commands. Two soldiers come rushing in and mercilessly take hold of me. Forced to stand, I both elbow them in the chest, causing them to retreat backwards.
"Why you little-" a soldier barks, raising a hand above my face. I know I should've closed my eyes to get ready for the impact, but my stubbornness wouldn't allow any pained expression enter my face for their entertainment. GRAB!
"Now, now, it's improper to treat a lady roughly," Michaelis jeers. He grabbed his hand before it struck my face. "Isn't that right? Cherry Blossom?" Irritatedly, I scowl even more and he turns around. "Go." And with that, the two men lead me to the deck.
Up deck, I was once again, roughly treated, handcuffed to the main mast and under the blazing sun. It was already So, my guess was right, I was on a ship, just not my crew's. Man, it's so hot! Sweat pours down my forehead as the sun bakes me alive. "Sakura, daughter of the Moldor Navy general," I hear a voice speak aloud. My eyes widen. Brown, wavy hair, storm grey, power hungry eyes, and fair skin. My face glowers at the sight of the man who started it all, from being someone I used to hold dear to being someone who I wished was never born.
"Claude," I grimace at the very sound of the name. He sneers at my complete hatred towards him. Walking up to me, he cups my chin in his hand, making the proximity of our faces smaller as he delivers his smug look upon me.
"Oh my blossom, I'm so elated to having you remembered my name," he blows into my ear. "I'm so glad I could see you again, I've been desperate to find you again," he coos and I feel my tolerance level reaching it peak. Angrily, I knee him in the abdomen hard. Lurching back, he snares at me. "Still as feisty as ever I see," wiping some saliva from his face. Glaring daggers into him, I remain quiet and turn away, frustrated as to why of all people I had to encounter him. Seemingly bored with my disobedience, Claude calls over Michaelis and whispers something into his ear. Uncomfortably, I rest uneasy to what they are talking about in a hushed tone. "My little angel, I can't believe you didn't even notice, but we were keeping an eye on you from the very beginning since you stepped into Ocra. You were even talking to Danny boy, not remembering that Ocra Island was my hometown and the Island where I was destroyed by your stupid general of a father!" he snorts.
"Might've been best if you stayed destroyed Claude," I spit. Claude's expression changes and he signal Michaelis to do something.
"Yes My Lord," I hear Michaelis say. Briskly, he comes up to me and unattached my handcuffs from the mast while keeping my hands still bound behind my back. He brings me over to the side of the ship and whispers in my ear, "Hope you like the ocean." Eyes growing larger, I can tell where this is going. Michaelis pushes me onto the plank just above the sea. I turn to try and run back but Claude comes and points his sword at my chest.
"Na ah ah, it's either you be a good girl and jump right into the ocean or I run you through with my sword," he taunts, smiling at me. "Or I could spare your life, if and only if you agree to obey my every order, become my wife, and rule the world along side me. Aren't I nice?" I frown in disapproval of his choices.
"I'd rather eat dirt for the rest of my life than join you," I flare. Then I smirk, "You wouldn't kill me anyway, it's not your style to keep anyone prisoner for this long if you didn't need them. That just goes to show you need me."
"That may be true, but as long as your under my care, I will make sure your stay is an agonizing and painful experience," he jeers and I grimace. Oh how I wish the Sirius were here. Just as I think that, I hear men yelp in pain. Claude turns and looks behind him as well as me. A naval soldier is knocked out as well as the rest of the navy. What just happened? Ugh, no time to think about that, this is my chance. While Claude was busy, I grabbed the opportunity to make my escape. But not until Michaelis got in my way.
"I'm afraid I draw the line here My Blossom," He smiles maliciously. Claude's attention is pulled back to me and he smiles wickedly.
"Trying to escape are we?" Claude shakes his head amused. He thrusts the sword forward, making me jump back and almost losing my balance.
"Yo, who gave ya permission to kidnap one of our crew mate!" A familiar voice calls down at us. I raise my head to the crow's nest and see Russell's figure, smirking down at us. Oh thank you that they came! I sigh in relief and watch as the rest of the crew came out onto the deck. Russell jumps from the mast landing next to everyone. "Hey Sakura, we came to get ya back," Russell reassures and I nod.
"You certainly took you time," I respond. Suddenly, Michaelis comes up on the plank with me and pulls me backwards to the edge of the plank.
"I knew you Sirius pirates would come, so I've got a little gift for you-" Claude begins but is cut off by Eduardo.
"If you mean that weak army you just had below deck, yeah, they won't be waking up for a while," he smirks. In that instant, Claude's face goes all white. Taking this opportunity, the crew leaps forwards and attacks Claude, easily restraining him and knocking him unconscious. I breathe a heavy sigh and start to move from the plank when I forget that Michaelis is reframing me from moving. BANG! Suddenly, Eduardo shoots a bullet at Michaelis, which grazes the side of his temple. He doubles back a bit in pain, while I take this opportunity to elbow him in the stomach, causing him to fall into the water instead of me. Quickly, I run towards the rest of the crew, which they greet me with teases and sighs of relief.
"Ya know, you're such a troublesome woman," Eduardo says sternly, hitting me on the head lightly.
"I'm sorry," I apologize and Captain gives a hearty laugh.
"It doesn't matter, as long as you're all right it's fine!" he chuckles patting me on the back. Then Thomas comes up to me smiling.
"I'm so glad you're ok Sakura!" he chirps, grabbing both my hands. I flinch at the sudden pain shooting me from the wrist.
"Ow!" I squeak and clutch my deep, plump, tender wrist to my chest.
"Oh, sorry! Did you hurt your wrist?" Thomas apologizes. Christopher comes up and takes my injured hand, examining it carefully.
"It's just a small swelling, nothing a little cold compress won't fix," he tells me sweetly. I nod my head and I see Captain smile.
'Alright crew, let's get out of here before everyone wakes up!"
"Aye Captain!".
Later on, I'm back on the Sirius with everyone else, while Christopher treats my swollen wrist. Looks like they were able to fix the ship quicker than I thought, seeing as we were already ready to go out to sea again.
"Alright Sakura, that should do it, don't do any heavy lifting with your hands for a while," he informs, "Ask one of the guys to help you carry certain things till your wrist fully recovers," Christopher advices with a smile. I give my thanks to Christopher and head out towards the deck where everyone else is. I need to speak to Captain Morgan about today's events. I search around the deck but don't find him anywhere. Sigh, I guess he might be in his cabin.
"Hey," a voice calls to catch my attention. I look up to see Eduardo at the helm, steering the Sirius smoothly.
"Eduardo," I whisper, making my way up to the helm beside him. I position myself next to him and look out to the sea that's being glazed over by moonlight. I feel him eyeing me for a minute then he turns back to steering the ship. I take a deep breath, and let the silence and sea breeze envelope me into relaxing. I replay the activities of the day and think hard on the questions running through my head. How did Claude escape imprisonment? If Michaelis let him loose, then why now of all times? If they aim to destroy my family, I'm going to have to go back home as soon as possible.
"Stop," Eduardo's voice pulls me out of my thoughts and back down to earth. I swerve my head to look at him. Still looking out to see, Eduardo continues, "That scrunched up face of yours just makes you uglier, so stop." I roll my eyes and turn my head away. Geez, another one of his insults. I know it's a weird face but he doesn't have to point it out. I hear him sigh and speak again. "Whatever it is your worrying about, you can talk to the others about it," he says, then smirks, glancing at me for a moment. "Besides, I think you earned everyone's trust." I stare at him for a while, then look back out to sea. I took a deep breath.
"Claude," I start as I grip the helm railing tighter. "He used to be my fiancé, used to be." I stare down at the finger where my engagement ring used to be. I took another breath and resume. "Claude was always craving for power over the people. So he joined the navy hoping to reach the position of Governor-General. However, one day Claude made a mistake of firing a canon at the wrong ship during a fight with Yamato enemies. And to compensate for his carelessness he got scolded by my father, who was the General at the time, and Claude got put down from his high rank position," I stop and take another deep breath, Eduardo giving full on attention. I hesitate, but continue, "Everyday, Claude worked extra hard to gain back his position. He eventually did, but my father saw the blackness and greed in him. And as a result, my father chose my older brother to take his place as Governor-General. Seeing this, Claude went into a fit of rage, and vowed to take down my father and brother," I pause once again and my hands shake at the next part of my story. "One night, while Father and Brother were patrolling Yamato, Claude barged in and ransacked our house, taking my mother and I prisoner at an isolated area. My mother and I waited for several days for rescue. But during our time being hostages, my mother was forced to watch me get physically abused. Apparently, Claude was hoping to get my mother to go crazy from seeing me get hurt each day," I say with a shaky breathe and furiously wipe at my tears. "If she went mad, Claude would be successful in causing my father pain and misery through me and my mother. Eventually, help came, Father and Brother finally found us along with Yamato navy troops and they busted into Claude's hideout and arrested him. My mother regained her sanity after a few days, but both of us went into shock when we were rescued," I finish and lay my head limply on my arm lying on the railing. I breath heavily of remembering the pain of what my mother and I went through.
"I see, ya must've been through a hard time," Eduardo speaks up after a moment. I straighten up and wipe my tears away.
"Yeah, it's been a hard time then, but we pulled through it," I sigh as I smile thankfully. Eduardo turns to me and mumbles under his breath.
"A similar kind of hardship I went through."
"Huh?" I ask again, not quite catching what he had said. Eduardo waves a hand, dismissing the comment and starts to head below deck.
"Nothing, but don't forget that the crew will take care of ya, you're a part of our crew now," he informs. "If that secret hurts too much, it's better to let it out, and tell someone. Unlike I did," he finishes while patting my head lightly, and walking away. After I see him disappear, I sigh and stare out into the night lite by the moon. Why did I just come out and tell him my secret? Doesn't he think I might betray them since I'm a daughter of a former navy general? With all the questions running through my head I head down to find Captain and tell him everything I told Eduardo. The question of why I decided to tell Eduardo of all people my secret first was still bugging me as I went below deck...