Disclaimer: I only own James, Edan, Sekorie, and now, Keiko and Mocha! Enjoy!

A Cat's Instinct

Chapter 3. Beginnings of a Journey

James woke up early. He was used to it, since his father always warned him about sleeping in. The sky still held the remnant of the night before, and as usual, he decided to put on his jacket, and take a walk.

As he walked through the deserted streets, he heard a crash from behind him, and swiftly donned his cat claws. He stood there, silent and unmoving.

"Who's there?" he asked softly.

"So, you are one of the Kuro Neko pirates." A female voice said from behind him.

He turned to see a familiar face.

"So, what are you doing, roaming the night?" she asked, stroking the cat she held in her hands.

"I'm leaving soon, setting out on my own adventure, as a pirate." He explained.

"That's neat. Could I come?" she asked.

James gave her a shocked expression.

"You? Its bad luck to bring a woman on board." He said.

She snorted in distaste,

"I don't care what those sailors have to say, but I was born and raised for the life of a pirate." She snapped, "Besides, your Captain didn't mind."

"Alright, but what's your name? I can't give you orders if I don't know it." James said bluntly.

"It's Keiko, and my cat here, is Mocha." She said

James chuckled,

"What's so funny?" she asked.

"That's a dumb name for a cat." He said.

Keiko, then made a fist, and punched him in the face, causing him to fall over.

"Never insult my cat! I don't care if you're the captain or not, you never insult his name!" she snarled angrily.

James, more startled than in pain, calmly stood up, and fixed his glasses.

"Geez, I'm sorry. You can come." He said.

"Good, because I would've hit you harder if you had said no." she said, giving him a smirk.

James sighed, and put away his cat paws.

"So, where's your ship, and your crew?" she asked.

"You're my only crew member, so far, and I don't have a ship. " James said.

Keiko stared at him.

"I can't believe that you don't have any idea about being a pirate!" she growled.

"I'm sorry that I'm not rich…" he said, sarcastically.

"Well, when are we leaving?" she asked.

"I have to head back home, but I'll meet you back, by the docks, at sunrise." He said.

Keiko nodded, and sprinted off.

"She is seriously weird…" James thought to himself, as he headed back to the small house.

"As James entered, he spotted Edan, his nose deep in the book he just recently purchased in the market.

"So James, where have you been?" he asked, his eyes not leaving the book.

"Mental preparation." James answered calmly, "A warrior must clear his head, before going into battle, or making any important choices in life."

Edan looked up, tears in his eyes.

"You did remember." He said, his deep voice, slightly broken.

"Of course I did. It's the first rule about becoming a successful and skilled fighter." James answered, as he fixed his glasses once again.

Edan stood up,

"I'm sure you'll be a great pirate. You are so much like your father when he was young." He said, "Why, it's not every day that a young boy gets such a compliment, from on e of the greatest pirates on earth, though he is gone"

Edan looked out the window, and continued speaking, as James stood silently, gathering every word in his mind.

"Well James, dawn is approaching. Sekorie wanted to see you off, but she is sleeping, since she cried most of the night." He said.

"I shall go and see her, before I set off." He said, heading into her bedroom.

"You're a good kid, James, a good kid." Edan said, sitting back down.

James headed into Sekorie's bedroom. The lights were off, and she was asleep, as Edan had said. He found a pen and a small notepad, on the side table, besides her floral themed bed. Gripping the pen lightly, he started to write her a note.

"Dear Sekorie,

I have thoroughly enjoyed my two years here, and have grown quite fond of my life here. I promise to return, after my father's honor is regained. I don't know how to thank you, for taking me in, besides the violin lessons, or Edan's fighting lessons, or my helpful education. My gratitude is limitless. I will try my hardest in my mission, and regret that I was unable to say goodbye properly, and to thank you for all you've done. Well, I thank you again, and leave y book here, as a promise of my return. I look forward to the crossing of our paths, please await it, and keep up hope."

Sincerely yours,

Captain James Ericko Neko."

After folding the note, he left it under his book, kissed her forehead goodbye, and headed off to the docks.

Before he went out the door of the small house, Edan stopped him.

"I know you have those cat claws of yours, but I want you to have this." He said, handing him a sheathed sword.

James looked at it, totally in awe.

"I can't take your best sword." He answered, "It's been in your family for over one hundred years!"

Edan shook his head,

"I wouldn't be able to sleep well at night, knowing that you didn't have this sword on you." He said, shoving it into James' arms, "It brings good luck to the owner."

James bowed graciously, and attached the sword to his belt.

"Thank you, Edan." He said, picking up his backpack, and headed out.

Edan stood in the doorway, as James headed down the road. He looked back several times, before Edan and the little house was out of sight.

He finally met Keiko at the docks.

She stood her cat in one hand, her pack in the other, as she glared impatiently at him.

"Where have you been!" she snapped.

"Sorry, I had to say farewell to my…" James started.

"Yeah, yeah, your parents, I know… Geez, not only are you a cruddy pirate, but you're a momma's boy!" she interrupted, "I'm defiantly having second thoughts about this journey."

"Well, you don't have to come…" he said, turning slightly red.

"And give away my only chance to get off this island! Are you calling me a chicken or something?" she asked, "Well, I'm not. In fact, I'm probably braver than you are."

James tried desperately to ignore her.

"I never said that, but I'd like to go over to the next town, before I go, and do anything. I have to steal a boat, and gather supplies." He said, calmly.

He started to walk down a small dirt path.

Keiko stood for a while, in slight anger, but then ran to keep up, clutching her bag, and her cat.

Mocha meowed softly, and leapt from her arms onto James' shoulder.

James looked at the black cat, and smiled, as fond memories flowed through his mind.

After a while, Keiko's stubborn anger calmed down, and she looked at James, who was busy fixing his glasses.

"You know James. You ought to get those glasses fixed. People might get suspicious." She said.

James looked at her,

"And you care, why?" he asked.

"Well, I don't want to get myself, or Mocha hurt. Captain Kuro fixed his glasses like that." She answered, thinking for a while, "Now that I mention it, you do remind me of the Captain, except you're stupid, I hate you, and you're a cruddy pirate, but your looks and the way you fix your glasses, and your fight moves, they're all like Kuro's. What are you, his nephew or something?"

James shook his head.

"No, I wasn't his nephew, but we were very close. I apprenticed under him ever since I was able to walk. My mother thought that I was born for a life on the sea. She died of a stroke, and the captain took me in." he explained, "Django always told me, how I knew, and brought out a part of the captain, that no one else did, and I guess he was right. Kuro treated me like a son, and taught me everything there is to know about piracy, and making plans. He was defiantly one of the most, if not, the most brilliant man that I know."

"Well, James, I have no doubt that the Captain wasn't brilliant, actually, he was one of the few men I respected, but now, I'm stuck with you, and it's terrible. We might get killed, with you protecting us." She said.

"Well, isn't that the thrill of being a pirate? Facing death everyday. That's what keeps me going…" he said.

"Maybe you're not all that bad…" she said.

James smirked.

"I never thought I'd hear you say that…" he said.

"Well, people change y'know…" she said, giving him a small smile.

They walked for a few days, and by the time they got there, they were exhausted.

"Okay, this is no way that pirates should be living…" Keiko complained.

"Oh well, when we get started and are on the water, I think that things will get much worse…" he said, laughing.

"Shut up!" she said, pouting, "At least let me and Mocha rest!"

James sighed, and the two sat down for a while.

"At least we're at the village." James said, panting.

"Look Mr. Sunshine, I hate when you try to put things into the light. It's annoying, and it really makes me want to throw something at you, like those rocks over there…" she growled.

"Alright, just calm down." James said.

He stood up, and started into the market place.

"We need to restock." He said.

"What, you're gonna just leave me here!" she demanded.

"Why not? You can take care of yourself, can't you?" he asked.

"Well, I don't want to be alone! You're the only person I know in this whole damn town!" she said.

"Don't just sit there, then." James said, starting to walk forward.

Keiko shot up, and went to catch up with him.

"I am really gonna start to hate this kid…" she muttered angrily to herself.