Arthur's eyes widened and he rushed to get his sword, "Why didn't you tell me immediately?" not waiting for an answer, he rushed up while grabbing a pistol.
Up in the deck, Alasdair was quite busy in attacking and fending off the pirates of the other ship when he saw Arthur, "'Bout time ya wok' up!" he shouted then proceeded to push a small man off the ship.
The blonde captain started to join in the fun and began fighting and stabbing all the intruders while shooting some who planned to get near him, "Where in the bloody hell is Witlock?" he managed to shout back at his first mate.
"You don't have to shout it at Alasdair, Kirkland." Arthur shot another man in the head and turned his head to the direction of the voice
A big man with long black beard which looked like an opium addict (Arthur's perspective; either that or he's Russian) stood on the other ship that seemed to be sailing to the opposite direction, smiling.
Arthur grimaced, "Witlock."
"Off to Dragon's Lair?"
"None of your business, wanker." Arthur shot then smirked, "Do you really want me to demolish your dear ship twice?"
Witlock laughed again and signaled someone, "Do what you want, if you do, then your little Asian dies." Then someone that seems like his first mate walked to his side while holding Kiku and placing a dagger near his throat, "Don't underestimate me, Kirkland. I know that hard shell of yours; you have a very soft spot just below it."
Arthur's eyes widened as he saw him. Did he really try to escape? That didn't matter right now; what mattered is that someone else got a hold of his treasure and he wouldn't back down to get it back.
He then glared at the other captain, "What makes you think I'd care for him?"
"I don't think mermaids lie, laddie." Witlock chuckled, "They can, but they don't when their lives depend on it." With that, his right hand drew the dagger closer to the pale skin of the Japanese.
The blonde captain gulped as he looked at the options. First, he could continue to attack and kill the enemy ship then kill Kiku along with it; second, he could leave them be and make sure the prince was safe. This was hard; he couldn't let that damn Witlock win, nor would he risk Kiku getting hurt or worse, killed.
Then his eyes were caught with Kiku's, who was silently telling him to go on attacking. He had a stern look in his brown orbs that assured Arthur he had a plan. It was now or never with the both of them.
Arthur climbed up to the edge of the boat, holding the rope; at the same time, the dagger was already touching the prince's neck. They had to work on timing if they both wanted to survive.
"If that's how you want it, Kirkland." Witlock said dimly.
Kiku watched and calmed down for ten seconds as he exchanged looks with the captain and nodded. It was time. He swiftly elbowed the first mate while holding the hand away from his neck as he did so the dagger won't touch his skin. And after that he kicked him into the stomach and instinctively evaded Witlock's sword maneuver behind him by ducking then crawled quickly away from the two as Arthur jumped and fought with the rival captain.
As Arthur fought with Witlock, he tossed a sword to Kiku who immediately caught it as he leaped then crossed swords with the first mate while knocking one of the random crew members off the boat.
They fought more until a tight and slick rope strangled Arthur's neck and made him fall on the hard wood. Air was slowly being taken out from his lings as the matter started to tighten around his airways and he was being pulled to the sea.
"Arthur-san!" Kiku immediately threw the sword which he stole from the first mate and used it to cut the foreign matter and Arthur was able to pull it off his body and rasped for air.
As he tried to get up, Arthur felt his shoulder being penetrated by a cold metal then was released and exposed to warm air. His left shoulder was bleeding severely but that didn't stop him for a bit. He picked up his sword again and charged at Witlock when the same slick substance choked him and brought him to the floor.
Witlock chuckled and stepped on his wound, making him hiss in pain, "Mermaids are very helpful in these times, aren't they?"
Arthur's hissing made Kiku turn and look at him worriedly, "Arthur-sa-," then he was hit by a hard shovel on the back and made him fall on the ground, hard. Different sailors came and aimed their guns at him, some with their swords. His head was aching and his body was all sore, add it up with the first mate stepping on his head. Fuck these pirates.
"K-Kiku…" Arthur gasped as Witlock stepped with more force unto his wound.
"Now, now, young laddies," the bearded captain chuckled and released his feet from stepping on Arthur's shoulder, "you two make a great team, y'know?" he smiled then turned to Kiku, who was beaten down to the ground and was too weak to fight back as he was distracted with Arthur's condition, "But not really that effective. Yet this little Asian brat is very talented and good looking as an addition too. I'd like him on my ship."
"Don't you dare, agh-!" Arthur groaned more as the elder captain stepped on his wound again.
"Arthur-san…" Kiku called out, making Arthur turn to him.
The blonde's face was painted with pain and concern with the prince, "G-go escape. I'll t-take care of this."
After hearing that, Witlock laughed again, "And you say you didn't care! Well then, I'll be more considerate now." He looked at Kiku and stepped more unto Arthur, making Kiku automatically twitch in worry as he almost felt what Arthur felt, "Kiku, isn't it? I have an offer."
The first mate released his foot from Kiku's head and the others stepped back as Witlock gave them a look. He took this opportunity to look at Witlock, half-glaring.
"He escapes, you will become our prisoner."
Then he took out a gun and loaded it, "Or you escape and he dies." He pointed the gun at Arthur's head then looked casually at Kiku, "I'll count to five; I'll pull the trigger if I don't get an answer."
"Go escape." Arthur rasped out as he felt more force was added by the heavy foot.
"One." Witlock started counting.
Kiku didn't know what to do know. He needed to be fast. His life or Arthur's?
"Two."
"I said go!"
Should he go?
"Three."
He wanted freedom right?
"Four."
"GO FUCKING ESCAPE!"
"Five. Say your last goodbyes to your friend, Asian." Then he cocked his gun and-
"Don't!" Kiku screamed on the top of his lungs then he was automatically chained with heavy metal chains and was pushed down to the ground again.
"KIKU!" Arthur couldn't believe it. He looked in disbelief as Witlock shrugged and walked away from him. At the same time, Alasdair leaped to his side and helped him stand up, "C'mon, Artie."
Witlock signaled his men to retreat and watched to cousins as they got up, "And no worries 'bout your treasure; your luck is as trashed as your ship." He laughed manically.
Alasdair had to hold Arthur tightly as the younger man was trying to struggle out, "Calm down, Artie! Ain't gonna do ya any g'd."
"You demonic son of the devil. I hope you burn in hell." Arthur hissed while his cousin grabbed the rope and made sure they were both ready to jump.
"But how could the son of the devil himself burn in the place where he should be staying?" Witlock smirked and looked at Kiku who was thrown back at the ground, his strength quickly being taken away in large amounts from his body.
"We'll ge' 'im back soon, Artie. Just wait; we go' yar wounds an' tha ship t' treat." Alasdair reminded Arthur and they jumped back to the Sonnet which looked like a disaster area.
Back in Witlock's ship, the captain walked past Kiku when his first mate, who was a thin man with a malicious smirk on his face, came up to him while holding Kiku's head up with his head, "Captain, what would you like to do with this very attractive prisoner?"
Witlock turned his head and waved his hand dismissively, "Do anything you want to him. He's all yours boys." Then he walked up to his cabin with a smile, "Seeing how Kirkland was earlier was enough for me."
The rest of the crew cooed maliciously and hi-fived each other while the first mate looked at Kiku hungrily, "Glad to have a new toy on board."
BK123: Crappy chappy is crappy. There isn't so much in this chapter. What will happen to Kiku? What will Arthur do? Who will help them?
I kinda suck at the action part and I was like "fuck this shit let's just summarize this shit" so this chappy is shorter than the others :3 I'll try to update as soon as I can.
Guys, okay, the 30th reviewer will get a prize. Whether you're anon or not, you will decide what will happen next in the story~
So yeah.