It didn't take long for Xaldin to lead them to the port. Roxas hadn't really been near a port like this before. It looked just like the ports in the nineteenth century. There were barrels, rope and people everywhere; the place was bustling. Namine held on tightly to Roxas' hand as Xaldin led them through the crowd. "Wait here." he said and disappeared into the crowd.
Roxas didn't mind being left there; it meant they had time to look around them. Namine was still frightened though. The blonde pair stood up from the rest of the crowd somehow. People walked past them and shoved them in the side purposefully. After a while Roxas started to get angry and when someone shoved him he shoved back. Unfortunately the man he shoved was larger… and drunk and so Roxas accidentally spilt his flask of whiskey all down his front when he shoved him.
"What do yer think yer doing boy?!" The man growled at Roxas and Namine.
"I'm sorry," Roxas said, keeping a straight face. 'His breath really stinks' He gagged. The man put his face close to Roxas'.
"Sorry ain't gonna cut it!" He yelled and tried to punch Roxas. Namine screamed and covered her eyes making it more difficult for Roxas as she still had a hold of his hand. "Draggin' yer girlfriend with yah!? Coward!" Roxas' face burned with embarrassment of having Namine been called his girlfriend.
"She's not my girlfriend and I'm not a coward!" Roxas snarled at the man. Namine whimpered as some men pulled her back into the crowd away from Roxas. It was only then that Roxas realised the crowd had formed a circle. 'Oh no, not good' He thought.
"So you gonna come at me boy?!" The man teased. Roxas glared at him and moved into a defensive position. Lucky for him, his dad had taught him tricks of how to deal with those bigger then himself. If the man came at him he'd know hot to trip him and pin him to the ground easily. The man let out a howl before he started to run at Roxas. The blonde boy prepared himself for an attack but before the man could get to him another entered the circle.
The man could clearly be called a pirate. His spiky red hair tilted back was covered by an enormous tri-cornered red hat with gold trimming. His long flowing coat was also red with gold trimming. He wore no shirt and left his scared chest exposed to all. He wore tight black pants and knee length boots and sitting attached to his belt was a sword. A large gold hoop earring swayed on his left ear. The man truly resembled the pirates of old times.
The man punched the drunk on the side of the face and watched as he fell out cold. A few of the spectators yelled at him for interrupting the fight but he didn't care. "Well now that that is sorted" He grinned and turned to a man with shoulder length silver hair. "Make note Riku that is how you deal with a drunken man!"
The silver haired man known as Riku rolled his eyes. "I'll try and remember that next time you take a few more swigs from the bottle" He joked. "But in all seriousness we have to leave soon and we still haven't found the rest of the crew so we need to go now." Riku urged him. The red sighed and waved his hand.
"Oh alright let's go" He muttered and started to walk away into the crowds. Roxas had been too stunned to speak when the red head had first appeared but now he was gone and he hadn't be able to say thankyou. Namine touched his arm gently.
"Roxas?" She whispered. Roxas touched her hand.
"I'm ok but I think we should go find Xaldin now" He looked around to see the large man making his way back towards them. "Look there he is" Roxas felt relieved now that the only person they knew was back.
Xaldin walked up to them grinning. "I found a boat that's leaving soon so you better hurry!" He urged Roxas and Namine to walk faster through the crowd till they reached a truly magnificent boat. The solar sails were out and waiting and there wasn't a soul on board. Xaldin placed a hand on Roxas' shoulder. "Take care of her majesty with your life" He said in all seriousness. Roxas turned to face Xaldin fully before saluting.
"I promise" He said. Xaldin smiled and nodded before bowing to Namine.
"Take care my princess, I wish you both a safe journey" Namine curtsied back before walking the plank onto the ship. Roxas waved good bye to Xaldin who soon left them and disappeared back into the crowd. Namine giggled and she looked around the ship.
"Wow!" She exclaimed. "It's so beautiful!" Roxas watched her and chuckled. 'As long as who ever owns this ship won't mind us tagging along' He thought. 'We'll be ok.' Just as he thought that Roxas turned to look at the crowd again and that's when he spotted them.
The man known as Saix and three others in black suits just behind him started making their way through the crowd and towards the ship. Roxas grit his teeth and ran to get Namine. She was still admiring some ropes on the mast when Roxas grabbed her hand and led her to the gulley. "What's going on?" She whispered fearfully. Roxas shushed her and hid her in the kitchen.
"Stay here" He whispered before heading back towards the entrance of the gulley. Roxas grabbed the nearest thing that could be called a weapon, a fork, and held it at the ready. He listened carefully and heard the sound of the wooden boards creak as the men in black made their way across to the galley. Roxas closed his eyes and waited, his heart beat quickening.
A sudden yell and loud thump made Roxas open his eyes and peer outside the door. He couldn't believe his luck.
The red headed captain from earlier had pulled out a sword and rather new looking gun and was pointing them at Saix. At his right was the silver haired man who was also pointing a gun at them and to his left was a tall man with dirty blonde hair and a mullet. He giggled and held his gun out. The red head hissed at him.
"Pirates don't giggle Demyx!" he scolded. Demyx smiled but kept quiet from then on. The red head looked at his intruders again. "Who are and why in gods name are you on my ship?" He asked as he cocked his gun. Roxas could see that Saix was nervous about dealing with pirates and smiled.
"I am looking for some children" He said, his voice low and menacing like that of a cornered dog. The red head looked around and held up his hands.
"I don't see any children… do you first mate?"
"No Captain" Riku answered, his eyes still on the intruders.
"And what about you Demyx… See any kids on board?"
The dirty blonde shook his head. "Not a single one Captain"
The Captain looked back at Saix and his men. "See? No children on here so you better move your asses before a stick 'em full of lead!" He shot up in the air and then pointed the gun back at them. Riku rolled his eyes at his Captains theatrics. Saix grit his teeth then grinned.
"As you wish, fall back men" The blue haired man led his men off the ship and away into the Lower Class area.
A girl with mahogany hair walked up to the Captain nervously. "You think that will be the last we see of them?" She asked looking around the ship.
The Captain shook his head. "That kind of scum always comes back Kairi but don't worry we'll give them a beating that won't ever forget! Now everyone on board; we left five minutes ago!" With his order everyone was aboard the ship and opening sails and tying and untying ropes. Kairi went to the helm and turned the wheel towards her Captain's direction.
"Sora! I want full throttle! We have a treasure to find!" Below deck in the engine road Sora saluted no one and pushed the big red lever up. The ship turned slightly before launching off into the air.
Roxas had been watching undetected from the door of the galley but once they had lifted off he realised they were stuck on there now. He hurried back to Namine in the hiding place and squeezed in next to her. Namine opened her mouth to ask him something but he shushed her again as he heard footsteps coming down the stairs in the galley.
The ships cook, a short looking man, had entered and was beginning to make a meal with some of the new ingredients he'd bought from the small town. He whistled and flicked his fringe from his eyes before turning to see Roxas and Namine. He paused and stared for a second before pulling out a knife. "Who are you" He said making it sound more like a statement then a question. Roxas put his hands up.
"We mean no harm" He said quickly and nudge Namine to put her arms up. Namine did so in a hurry. The cook glared at them both, clearly not believing them.
"We'll let the Captain decide that! Now up on your feet!" He jabbed the knife at them. Roxas stood up slowly and pulled Namine up with him. The cook forced them out to the deck and then up to the Captains quarters. The cook knocked on the door and Riku, the first mate, opened the door. His eyes widened slowly when he saw Roxas and Namine.
"Come in, thankyou Zexion" The cook nodded and went back to make lunch. Riku closed the door behind them and walked over to a large chair that sat in front of a table covered in maps and paper scarps. He whispered something then stood to the side.
"Welcome to my ship stowaways" A voice said from behind the chair. Roxas gulped knowing who it belonged to. The chair slowly turned and the red head sat with his hands in front of him, his fingers locked together.
"My name is Captain Axel…" He grinned. "Got it memorized?"