Chapter 14. I'm guessing that I will write at least 20 chapters for this story, wow.

Morning:

The door to the fore-castle opened slowly. The first two figures were the dogs; they looked around and continued walking. Next was Momo who slinked out of the door and went up the stairs to get to the forecastle deck. Noticing that Momo went up the stairs, the two dogs followed, both of them determined to make sure that no one- presumably Torshiro- would not bother her today.

"Alright so I was just remembering that after we passed the Path of Death we sailed on until we reached an atoll (1). That atoll opened up a huge door and we were able to enter the realm of the sea witch."

"Awesome…" Momo said unenthusiastically.

"Hey cheer up Momo." Hyorinmaru started. "After you get the book you'll be on your merry way to marry your prince."

"Awesome…" She repeated.

Tobiume bit Hyorinmaru's ear, the retriever yelped. "What was that for?"

"It'd be best if you shut up Hyorinmaru." The spaniel warned him.

The princess shook her head. "No, he's right. I should cheer up." She took a deep breath and released it. "Besides, I've had the adventure I've always wanted, and this is enough to last me a life time." The dogs smiled up at her.

"Um…" Kira's voice ranged out. The three turned their attention onto the 1st ship mate. "Captain is asking for you." Momo turned her head away.

"If he wants an audience with the princess, he would have to talk to us first." Tobiume insisted.

Moments later, captain's cabin:

Torshiro rubbed his temples with his fingers as the female demon continued to rant.

"And another thing, you are a lowly pirate! You should better respect a princess! Especially one that saved all the men on this ship including yours!"

"You've already said that Tobiume." The white retriever told her.

"Because it's true!" She yelled. "I mean even though you are a pirate you should still respect her! I mean really! And if you can't respect her because she is a princess or a woman then respect her for your savior, and if you still can't do that I expect you to show respect to her as an old friend."

The pirate captain stopped rubbing his temple to look up at the finished dog. Damn her last words. "I know."

"No you don't- what was that?"

"I know. You're right. I shouldn't have reacted the way I have. I will respect her, but as an old friend who saved all of my men's lives."

"And yours too Torshiro." Hyorinmaru added.

"And mines too."

Tobiume smiled greatly and nodded. "Well, psychotic rants always work." The spaniel then turned and walked out of the cabin.

A laugh came out from the retriever. "She had a point. I remember all of the things she got because of her rants. But surprisingly in all of those rants she makes great points." He then turned and left the cabin, leaving Torshiro to his thoughts for a while.

In what he would say was 10 minutes, Momo came into view, arms crossed over her chest, head turned away and eyes closed. The captain sighed. He sat back farther into his seat. In all of those 10 minutes he could not think of an apology that would actually work. He played them in his head and saw what could have happened next, all ended in another argument and the princess even madder at him, if that was even possible.

"Well?" Her voice sounded impatient, like she actually had better things to do on this ship. "I'm waiting." Her royalty clearly stated behind her voice, her foot started tapping, her head still turned away, as well as her eyes that were still closed.

This is going to go great. Torshiro thought as he pulled out the apology that was better than the others. "Momo, I thank you for saving the lives of these men. I'm also sorry that I over-reacted on you about the ship. It could be easily fixed but I just didn't enjoy the fact that it got damaged in the first place. I'm sorry."

"You know stupid men don't think about their actions, normal men think but don't comprehend what is going on, smart men think and comprehend but never seem to even care about those around him, but a man that is his own and knows what he must do to survive in this world are called the greatest of all men; you Torshiro are one of these men."

What looked like a small smile came across his face. "So that means you forgive me?" He stood up, his hands palm down on his desk.

She opened her eyes to reveal a far out look. She then sighed as she turned her head to look at him. She thought about what Tobiume had said. Both of the female's story are alike in so many ways, the only thing that would be different is how Torshiro and her will resolve their argument. She thought a little longer, what she thought was minutes but in truth was only a few seconds. She slowly nodded her head.

The next moment was unpredictable. Torshiro smiled and practically ran towards the princess, quickly engulfing her in a hug. Momo felt her eyes widen as the hug continued. This wasn't Torshiro the pirate; this is Torshiro my best friend. His grip on her strong; as if he was afraid to let her go. She stood with her arms still crossed over her chest. This can't be comfortable. She thought as she snaked her arms out from the hug. Quickly after her arms went around him, her grasp nearly not touching him. She gave him enough room to back away from her, enough room to become a pirate. He never backed away.

He held onto her. He had no idea what brought him to do this. He had no idea what brought him to even let her stay on the ship but for the moment he couldn't care less. Realization finally sunk in. He has not seen her since he betrayed her and stole her birthday present. He wasn't there all those years to watch her slowly grow and develop into such a strong woman and princess. One who was courageous and certainly had enough stupidity to step foot onto a pirate ship, unbeknownst of what pirates could do to her. What he could do to her. Realization once again sunk in. He would never harm her. Not even if he wanted her. But the solid truth is that he already has. Maybe not physically but he hurt her emotions and maybe even mentally. He hurt her when he stole her ship when they were younger; hurt her with all these arguments, and maybe even now. In this unexpected hug of his. Sure she was hugging back- something of which he quite enjoyed- but that could be to hide what pain he is causing her once again. Hell maybe she doesn't even know about it, maybe she does. Who knows? He sure as shit doesn't know. What he does know is that she's not hugging him as hard as he is hugging her. He then slowly pulled away; her arms fell to her sides. Now was on to the awkward silence, one that will be broken by Torshiro. "Do you want to learn how to sword fight?" His smile dropped to a small smirk. He's Torshiro the pirate once more.

Totally random, out-there question but it worked. A small smile came across her lips. "Defiantly."

"Find your sword and meet me on the upper deck." He grabbed his sword from on top of his desk and walked out of the cabin. Momo followed behind him, her destination going towards the fore-castle.

In the fore-castle:

Momo walked into the room totally unprepared to what she was about to see. "… Uh… Tobiume? Hyorinmaru?"

Currently Hyorinmaru was above Tobiume, she lying on her back and her front paws on the retriever's shoulders. Both dogs quickly broke apart, both of them having a hint of blushing on their faces.

"We weren't doing that!"

"Don't say it like that! Now she's going to think we did do something."

"But what that something is she doesn't know."

"I can just imagine what she's going to think."

"You don't know that!"

"I'm certain that if I walked in on something that looked like that I'd think of something."

"Shut up! You know we weren't doing that!"

"I know that I know but she doesn't know that!"

"But…"

"Woah!" The princess interrupted. "I know you guys didn't do that. I trust you both. But next time, make sure no one walks in on whatever you guys were doing." She stretched over and got her sword.

"We got into a fight." Hyorinmaru answered.

Tobiume quickly nodded. She found another subject to talk about. "So how'd it go and where are you going with that sword?"

"It went well and Torshiro's going to teach me how to sword fight." Momo exited the fore-castle.

"Oh may I watch?" Tobiume asked as she trailed behind Momo.

"I don't see why not."

"Yay!"

Hyorinmaru was left behind in the fore-castle. Realizing that he was alone he quickly ran after the two females. "Wait for me!"

Upper deck:

"Just keep straight on the line (2)." Torshiro told Kira who was steering the ship.

"Alright." Kira kept his left hand on the wheel while his right hand brought a cup of rum to his lips.

The princess walked up the stairs and spotted Torshiro and Kira. "Hey."

Kira looked over to her. "Hey. Ready for your lesson?" She only nodded. "Good luck then. He never goes easy on you."

"I'll go easy on her, only because she's a female." Torshiro said with a small smirk on his lips.

Momo made a sharp laugh. "You will not go easy on me."

"Is that an order?"

"Defiantly."

The pirate captain shrugged. "Fine. I was going to tell you the basics but if it's an order." He pulled out his sword.

Momo followed his move but she threw her sword's holster to Tobiume's feet. Both dogs were sitting near the stairs, just in case they need to make a quick escape. Torshiro moved up closer. "I must tell you that in civilized sword fighting, the two opponents raise their swords up and let their blades touch before they start."

"And I'm supposed to fall for that and place my sword up while you swipe at me from below. Torshiro I'm not stupid. Pirates don't fight civilized though what you said was true."

A short laugh came from the pirate. "Good. You can read your opponent, that's the first lesson." He swung his sword at her.

She moved her sword up at the right angle and stopped his sword. "Actually I must confess, I just know you." She pushed back his blade with hers and swung at him.

He blocked her attack and swung at her again though this time she just moved out of the way. He kept on swinging at her repeatedly. She then just stopped moving and then she rose her sword to block the attacks. She held her ground causing Torshiro to stop chasing after her with his sword. "You understand the concept of blocking. If you would have kept on moving you would have been pinned onto a wall or in this case the railings of the ship."

"Oh I didn't know that."

"Did you know that by just standing in one place you're not using that much energy as opposed to actually moving around and swinging?"

"So you just wasted more energy a few moments ago."

"Exactly." Her sword quickly scrapped his as she swung at him from all directions. She swung at the midsection, lower torso and legs and also at the upper torso. Suddenly he started swinging at her from all directions as well. She blocked them but was stepping back at each block. She then was pinned to the railing, just as Torshiro said. "Want to know how to get out?"

"That would help."

"When the other person's going to swing, find the direction you should swing at and go for it. For example, if they aim higher, you aim lower and vice versa. If they're aiming for the midsection, the best thing to do would be better to swing higher." After receiving a nod he threw in a random direction. Momo caught the direction and attacked the legs, actually cutting him in the process.

"Are you alright?"

"Heh, good. But if I was anyone else they would have killed you." He swung his sword again at her. She let out a yelp and blocked the attack. The two continued on with the sword fighting lessons.

Nighttime, upper deck:

Hyorinmaru let out a great big yawn. The two humans were still at it. It was practically nonstop except for the lunch and dinner break. He looked down to Tobiume who fell asleep right before lunch. Poor girl. He thought. She's going to be so hungry once she wakes up… Poor me. She's not going to sleep all night because she slept during the day. Great…

Kira leaned on the wheel. What fun… keeping a wheel straight. Though it is entertaining to watch the princess sword fighting but something so amusing can only be fun for so long. So far she has been cut at least 6 times, Torshiro 2 times. Kira expected this, she having more cuts than him, but he expected her to have much more cuts than just 6. Even though he said he wasn't going to hold back he is, and she doesn't even know it. In fact when he (an: Kira) sat down by her at lunch he asked her how was the lessons and she was practically tired. He sighed and yawned at the same time. I didn't know that was possible. He thought.

"You're holding the hilt (3) to hard again." Torshiro told her.

Her arms moved up and then down in a gesture of 'Oh I I've up…' kind of way. "Well…I just don't know how to hold it."

Torshiro shook his head. "You're holding it right; don't get me wrong, you just need to loosen your grip and space out your hands a little bit more." Momo did what he said but when she looked back up at him he was shaking his head again. "Here." He went up to her and placed his left hand on hers. He pushed her hands in the right positions and he made her loosen her grip. "There." His hand left hers. Momo kept on looking at her hands. She was doing two things at once. One would be memorizing the hand positions and two would be just starring at her hands. His hand touched hers. First a hug and now this? She was being creeped out. Sure when he acts like this he's 'best friend' Torshiro but the fact is that he's a pirate and nothing can change that. "Earth to Momo." Torshiro's voice called out. "Wake up."

She shook her head quickly and looked up at him. "I'm awake."

"Heh. I beg to differ. Either way that's enough for today."

"But I'm not tired." Yawn.

Torshiro looked at her. "Get some sleep."

"But…"

"I'm not going to hear it. Get some sleep." He commanded.

She put a smug face on but quickly shrugged it off. She got in some good sword fight at least. She walked over to the dogs.

"Finally." Hyorinmaru rose to his feet.

Momo threw her smug face towards Hyorinmaru. "You could have left you know."

"I know but…" His eyes looked down at Tobiume for a slight moment. "There's nothing else to do on this ship.

Momo smiled at the retriever. "Whatever you say." She kneeled and shook Tobiume awake.

"Huh?" Yawn. "Are we there yet?"

"No but I'm done with my sword fighting."

"Oh…" Another yawn. "… I missed lunch."

"And dinner." Hyorinmaru added.

"… Oh I'm hungry!!" Tobiume whined.

"Could you go take her to get something to eat Hyorinmaru?" Momo asked him.

"Sure."

"Thank you."

"Eh…" He turned and made his way down the stairs.

Tobiume rose to her feet slowly and followed the retriever, to hungry to complain.

"I'd best be off to bed then."

"You and I both sister." Kira said as he walked down the stairs.

The princess laughed. "Good night Kira!" She called out. After receiving a wave from him she turned her attention Torshiro who had already put his sword away. She stood up. "Thanks for teaching me how to use a sword." Torshiro only shrugged as he walked over and picked up her sword's holster for her. "Thank you." She told him as he handed her the holster. She slid her sword into the holster.

"You did well." He commented.

"Thanks." She said again.

"Now go to sleep."

"I was heading there."

"Sure you were."

"Whatever. Good night." She turned and walked two steps down.

"Good night Momo."

She looked back to see him already at the wheel. She smiled slightly and continued towards the fore-castle.

10-15 minutes later:

Tobiume and Hyorinmaru ran up the steps to get to the upper deck.

"What is it you two?" Torshiro asked.

"You see the atoll ahead?" Hyorinmaru asked him.

"Of course. I'm going around it."

"Don't. Go straight towards it full speed."

"Are you crazy? We'll crash."

"No we won't." Both demons said at the same time.

Suddenly the sky ahead lit up.

Chapter completed. What is going to happen next? The only thing I can tell you is 'Encounter with Unabara.'

1: Atoll- an island that is partially or completely made out of corral.

2: "Straight on the line" is an old saying that was replaced by "Stay on (the) course." Usually traditional captains use the old saying instead of the new but nowadays more people just use the new one only because anyone can understand it.

3: The place on the sword where your hand goes.