A/N: please don't use the fire fighting skills described within. I have no idea if they actually work. I just googled stuff to find a possible 18th century alternative for stopping grease fires. Google has been my research pal for this fic. Also, think Cap'n Jack's compass
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to someone else.
Chapter 4: Set Sail
A distant clanging bell intruded into Kyoko's dreams. She slowly blinked her eyes open, trying to remember where she was. A drooping piece of canvas drifted in front of her eyes, swinging back and forth. That's when she noticed the gentle rocking motion slowly lulling her back to sleep.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The bell was closer and Kyoko was beginning to hear movement above her head. The fact that noise was coming from above meant that she wasn't in her attic room with Sarah and the swaying was similar to when she'd slept on that Navy ship.
That's when it hit her. She'd made it. She'd successfully joined Captain Tsuruga's crew. She was on her way.
Kyoko stretched, enjoying the swinging hammock that was her bunk. This had been her favorite part of sailing. The rocking of the waves and the motion of the hammock had always granted her the best night's sleep. She had never had any trouble with gaining her sealegs or sea sickness. That had been Shoutarou's problem.
The mere thought of that horrible boy was enough to send her mind into a spiral of hate and rage. She was so absorbed in that dark vortex that she failed to notice when someone approached her berth.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The bell ringing right next to her ear shocked the poor girl so badly that she tried to bolt. Unfortunately, a hammock was not designed to be exited that quickly. With an undignified squawk, Kyoko found herself tangled up, feet in the air and head on the deck.
A snort came from somewhere above her toes. "That was graceful," said a sarcastic feminine voice.
After a brief struggle, Kyoko managed to free herself. Ignoring the laughter, she knelt on the deck and tested all of her limbs. Once she was sure she was whole, she glared up at her tormentor. "Gee, Ms. Kanae, I would think you would have a little more courtesy towards the person who saved your life last night."
The young woman towering over Kyoko scoffed. "I don't need any man to save me, much less a boy. Besides," she grunted, looking away with an embarrassed blush. "That pan needed to be thrown away anyway."
She chuckled as she stood. "You're right. That pan was terrible. But at least the ship didn't burn down." As Kanae glared then turned on her heel, Kyoko thought back to the brief and slightly dangerous encounter she'd had with the female pirate last night.
X.x.X
After separating from the captain, Hikaru led Kyoko towards the stern of the ship, pointing out his fellow pirates.
"That there is Bill, he's had that eyepatch for a while now. And that's Gregorovich, we usually just call him Vicky." At her confused look, he just shrugged. "Long story. Oh, and those are my brothers." He pointed towards the two sailors with ropes over their shoulders swarming up the webbing into the rigging.
"How many crew members are there?" She asked, curious as to how many she would be cooking for.
"We're a relatively small crew," Hikaru answered as they reached the stairway leading into the bowels of the ship and descended. "With you, we number only twenty. But don't worry, we're all pretty good fighters. In fact," he said, reaching the bottom of the stairs and continuing through the crew berths. "We're going to see one of the best sword fighters on board, save the captain."
They finally came to a door at the back of the hold. Clatters and bangs could be heard from the other side, along with some very colorful curses. When they opened the door, black smoke poured out along with the smell of burning.
"Kotonami!" Panicked, Hikaru ducked into the room, shouting, "Where are you?"
Kyoko followed quickly. If these pirates weren't used to cooking, then surely they wouldn't know the proper precautions to take in a galley. Fire was one of the deadliest mishaps to occur on a ship. If they weren't careful, they could burn everything down.
Sure enough, Hikaru was about to throw water into a flaming pan on the stovetop. "No, stop!" She cried. The boatswain and another figure turned their attention towards her, confused. "That'll just make it worse." She glanced around, looking for a bag of salt. Spotting one sitting on the counter, she grabbed it and crossed to the stove.
"Put it here," she ordered, indicating the counterspace next to the stove. Hikaru complied, sliding the pan in front of her. She opened the bag and began pouring its contents into the flames. She watched as the flames began to gutter out, revealing a charred lump of what, she guessed by the smell, was meat. "Find me a rag and wet it down."
The next moment, a soaked rag presented itself. Kyoko took the fabric and wrung out the excess water. Once that was done, she covered the pan with the damp cloth to prevent any more smoke from escaping.
"That's a hell of a way to introduce yourself to a galley, kid." The as-yet unidentified second body was standing to her right, hands on hips and a kerchief covering his nose and mouth. Kyoko turned to face the pirate, who was undoubtedly Kotonami and began to give him a piece of her mind.
"Mr. Kotonami," she began, wagging a finger under the pirate's nose. "What do you think you were doing? You could've killed everyone on board! Don't you know anything about cooking? And you, Mr. Hikaru," she turned to face her guide. "What you did was equally as dangerous. Never put out a kitchen fire by throwing water on it. It could splatter and burn the ship down."
Once she saw that her message had gotten through to the young man, she turned back to the other guilty party. While she'd been scolding Hikaru, Kotonami had removed the fabric covering his face. To Kyoko's great astonishment, this revealed, not a gruff male countenance as she'd expected, but a beautiful young woman.
Kotonami shook out her long, straight, black hair and glared at the cook. "Who are you calling mister, boy?" She growled fiercely.
Kyoko blinked in surprise. 'That's what she's mad at? Not my yelling at her?' The girl then bowed in apology to the angry pirate in front of her. "My apologies. I just assumed..."
"Yeah, well, don't." Kotonami slammed the kerchief she'd been wearing down on the counter. "I don't need to explain myself to anyone, let alone the cook." She held Kyoko's gaze for a moment longer, before rolling her eyes and sticking out her hand. "I will say thank you for stopping this idiot," she hooked her other thumb over her shoulder at Hikaru, "from burning down the ship."
"Hey!" The young man cried in indignation.
Chuckling, Kyoko shook the outstretched hand. "You're welcome, Ms. Kotonami. My name's Kyo Mogami, I'm new."
The female pirate smirked. "Funnily, I figured that out for myself. You can call me Kanae or Quickblade, if you prefer."
"Quickblade?"
Finally feeling on solid ground again, Hikaru piped up, "Yeah, she's the fastest blade on board. Only Captain Tsuruga can best her."
"Shut it, Ishibashi." Although her words were harsh, Kyoko could tell she was pleased with the compliment. "Well, Mogami, if you're the new cook, I guess that means I can return to my normal duties."
"Oh?" She asked, curiosity piqued. "What duties are those?"
It was hard to tell in the low light, but she could swear that Kotonami was blushing. She muttered a response too low for Kyoko to hear while Hikaru burst out laughing. The female pirate glared at the boatswain before stalking off.
Kyoko was confused. She glanced over at Hikaru, who was still laughing. "I don't get it. Was it something I said?"
Wiping a tear from his eye, he clapped her on the back. "No. It's just that, while she's an amazing sword fighter, Kotonami is a terrible sailor."
The confusion continued to grow. "O-kay, so what's her job then?"
The boatswain covered his mouth as another laugh managed to sneak out. Luckily, Kyoko was able to understand his response.
"Cabin boy."
X.x.X
"Oi!" A hand swapping at the back of her head brought Kyoko back to the present. "Come on," Kanae said, already turning to climb the stairs, the bell she carried making a soft ringing sound. "Time for roll call."
Kyoko followed the female pirate up and out into the morning sun. After blinking the brightness from her eyes, she glanced around. It appeared that the whole crew was milling around on deck. She did a quick head count and come up with nineteen, including herself. The only one missing was the captain.
She turned to question Kanae, but the woman was scowling with her arms crossed, her bell lodged in the crook of her arm. Not sure what was invoking her wrath, Kyoko wisely decided to not bring attention to herself by asking questions. Instead she studied her companion.
Meeting in low light and dangerous circumstances was not conducive to making a study of a new acquaintance. Although she was pleased to note that she had been right: Kanae was beautiful. Her long black hair, now braided back into a tail, and her delicate Asian features made her an exotic beauty. Even her thunderous expression couldn't hide that fact.
She appeared to be around Kyoko's true age of seventeen, perhaps a couple of years older and was clothed in a rather scandalous (to some) outfit. Not because of its revealing nature, oh no. In fact, she was covered all the way from her neck to her toes. No, the scandal was the utter practicality and masculinity of her garb. Tight brown breeches were tucked into soft black leather boots. A long burgundy waistcoat that hung to her thighs and reached up her neck was snug against her curves and covering an ivory linen shirt, the collar open to catch the breeze. Dark brown leather bracers covered her forearms, pulling the shirt's billowing sleeves in tight to prevent accidents. An ordinary cutlass, polished to a shine, hung from a wide black belt that cinched at her waist.
Seeing that weapon caused an idea to form in Kyoko's head. She was pondering the repercussions of her brainstorm, when Kanae noticed her staring. "What?" She asked, a faint trace of irritation coloring her voice.
Kyoko jerked in surprise and threw her hands up in distress. "N-nothing," she stammered, embarrassed at having been caught. At Kanae's disbelieving look, she lowered her arms and began wringing her hands. "It's just that..." She paused, unsure how the prickly young woman would take her proposition.
After a lull, Kanae sighed in annoyance. "Well?" She demanded. "Out with it."
Taking a deep breath, Kyoko released her nervousness. "You're a sword fighter, right?" At Kanae's nod, she continued. "Will you teach me?"
The female pirate blinked, appearing slightly flattered against her will. Which wasn't really a surprise as most males would balk at being taught by a woman. Then suspicion clouded her expression and Kyoko's heart sank. "I don't have time to teach a complete novice all the basics-"
"I already know the basic forms," Kyoko interrupted eagerly. "I studied under a master for a while."
"Oh?" Kanae asked, her curiousity getting the better of her. "And what master was that?"
"Steel Taisho."
The young woman gaped in astonishement. "Steel Taisho? The Steel Taisho? Taught you?"
Kyoko cocked her head to the side, thinking. "I've never heard of another so, yes. For a couple of weeks at any rate."
The pirate considered the girl in front of her. "Alright." She finally agreed. "I guess I can show you a few moves. On one condition." She extended one finger.
"Name it." Kyoko was so thrilled with the prospect of training again that she was willing to promise anything.
"Teach me to cook?"
The surprise request was interrupted by a fair-haired sailor wearing spectacles calling Kanae's name. The young woman turned her head and nodded in acknowledgement, before turning back to Kyoko. "Sorry, I've got to go. We'll talk later."
Then she rushed up the stairs to the upper deck, clanging her bell. "Alright, you worthless dogs!" She yelled, bringing the attention of the entire crew to her. "Time to see if everyone's still alive." A few jeers and catcalls were sent her way to which she responded with a rude gesture. "Shut it, you lot." She then proceeded to call out the names of the crew, receiving a hearty "aye" after each one. Reaching the end, Kanae clanged her bell one final time. "Now that that's finished, pay your respects to the captain."
The hooting and hollering only grew louder as Captain Tsuruga emerged from where he'd been hiding in the shadows. He waved, acknowledging his crew. Kyoko's breath hitched as the morning sun glinted off his dark hair, seemingly turning it to gold.
"Alright, men." At a glare from Kanae, he amended his statement. "And woman." He got a few chuckles from the rest of his crew. "We're about to set sail. I just have one announcement. We have a new cook." He glanced around, looking for her. "Mr. Mogami?"
She raised her arm tentatively over her head. This brought everyone's eyes straight to her. She barely contained the nervous yelp that threatened to escape. "H-hello," she managed finally.
She was saved from further embarrassment by the captain. "Yes, our new cook. Please treat him with the same respect as your fellow crewmates."
"You mean none?" came a voice from the crowd. All the pirates broke into laughter, including Captain Tsuruga, who grinned widely at the snarky comment. Kyoko couldn't help but admire how laughter wamed his handsome features. Realizing where her wayward thoughts were taking her, she shook herself vigorously. 'What's wrong with me?'
The captain brought the crew back to business. "OK, settle down. The tide is with us. Let's get under sail. Stations!"
"Aye, sir!" With that resounding response, the crew broke off to get the Dark Moon sailing. Kyoko was so intent on observing the controlled chaos, that she didn't notice the man approaching her.
"Mr. Mogami?" His soft voice caused the girl to jump and spin around guiltily.
"Yes, sir?" She squeaked.
It was the fair-haired sailor who had called Kanae away before. He was dressed simply in black trousers, white shirt and cravat, and a dove gray waistcoat. His hair was cut short, unusual for a pirate ship, and hung over his eyes. His spectacles winked gold as he pushed them up his nose and he carried a bound ledger under one arm. "My name is Yukihito Yashiro. I'm the first mate abroad the Dark Moon." He extended his hand, allowing Kyoko to shake it. "Have your duties been explained to you?"
The girl blushed vividly. "Ah, not entirely. Just that I was to be cook." She had a vague idea of how to take charge in the galley, having watched her former superiors, but this would be the first time she was head of a galley by herself.
"Alright. Follow me and I'll show you around." Mr. Yashiro then led the way into the hold and proceeded to the galley. Kyoko hadn't managed a good look at her new space last night, what with it being dark and the urgency of stopping Hikaru and Kanae. Now she allowed herself to soak it all in.
It was amazingly spacious for such relatively small ship. Her last ship had been much larger, but the galley hadn't been this well equipped or comfortable. The cooking area was in the back with a dining area in front. Four trestle tables with benches were where the crew would eat, each table able to sit six men. There were two port holes along each wall, letting in the morning light. One side was lined with racks for plates, bowls, and cups while the other was occupied with some barrels of various supplies. Examining the barrels showed several casks of water, wine, and rum, one of pickles and one of apples. Since fresh apples wouldn't keep very long, Kyoko determined that her first task would be to dry out the fruits for better preservation.
Beyond the barrels was a larder, filled with sacks and crates. The sacks she could most easily identify by their labels were beans, lentils, and oats, salt, sugar, and flour. There were several more she couldn't see. In the crates she found several more candidates for drying: potatoes, onions, and carrots. She would have to investigate further and take an inventory.
There was a long island partitioning the cooking and dining area, above which hung rashers of bacon, strings of sausage and salami, and even a smoked ham or two. "Weren't you able to get any salted beef?" She asked the first mate, who was standing to one side and allowing her to get her bearings.
"Not this time, I'm afraid," he responded. "Our next port is about 10 days sail, with a fair wind. We'll restock there."
Kyoko nodded and continued exploring. "You might also consider some wheels of cheese and maybe a few chickens."
Mr. Yashiro glanced up from jotting down notes in his ledger. "Chickens?" He asked with some surprise.
"For the eggs," she explained, as she opened a cupboard under the island, revealing bottles of vinegar and oil and small casks of olives. She closed the door and faced the back wall. "I would suggest a cow as well, but I don't think you have the space."
There was large cast iron stove, commonly called a fire hearth, next to another long counter. This stove would allow Kyoko to, not only cook, but to bake bread and pies as well. She had been half afraid the only cooking fire she would have access to would be an open fire box. This was a revelation.
"Is there anything else you think you'll need on the next supply run?" Mr. Yashiro asked as she examined the different pots, pans, and cooking dishes that were hanging above the back counter.
"Hmm," she muttered, now searching through the spice rack. "Not sure completely. I'll make a list and bring it to you later, if that's alright."
"You can write?" The surprise in Mr. Yashiro's voice was warranted considering most poor orphans barely had any education, much less reading and writing.
"Yeah," she replied, distracted by the drawers full of knives and other cooking utensils. "Lady Fuwa taught me alongside her son while I was training to be a maid and cook in her house."
Kyoko was so absorbed in her study of the galley that she didn't notice her slip of the tongue. Or the first mate's reaction.
O.o.O
Yashiro managed to cover his shock quickly. Thankfully, the cook was still immersed in his...her explorations. He cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses. "Well then... Mr. Mogami." The...girl didn't notice his hesitation in the slightest. "I'll leave you to your preparations. Breakfast is at the eighth morning bell, with lunch at the second afternoon bell. Dinner is usually after the first dog watch, around the fourth bell of the evening." The girl glanced up and nodded her understanding.
Now that he looked more closely, he noticed the more feminine features hidden behind the boyish disguise. Originally, he had placed her age at about 14, but he now estimated she was closer to 17 or 18. He wondered what could have caused this young woman to adopt such a ruse.
He continued with his instructions. "If you could make up a tray for the captain at those times as well, I will deliver it to him. I'm afraid he eats very little, so if you would plan accordingly, that would be much appreciated."
Mogami saluted the first mate. "Aye, sir. Breakfast at 8 bells, lunch at second, dinner at fourth. Separate tray for the captain."
"Good lad." Since he didn't have near enough information, he opted to aid the girl in maintaining her charade, at least until the time came when it proved detrimental to continue doing so.
As he turned to leave, a single thought occurred to him. 'I wonder if the captain knows.
There was only one way to find out, but it would have to wait. There was a tide waiting for them and Yashiro had work to do before he could satisfy his curiousity.
O.o.O
"I swear this scroll makes no sense," Ren muttered to himself as he perused his newest task. He was trying to work his way through the convoluted Latin grammar and verb tenses that he hadn't bothered studying since he was a boy.
'I hated it then and I hate it now.'
Ren growled and decided to put the scroll safely away before he tore it to shreds. He reached for the small but heavy chest he kept on his desk for important documents. Opening the chest revealed his other conundrum. The broken compass.
It was rather typical of its kind. The casing was a black square with the corners sheared off, making it octagonal. A domed lid covered the windrose and tiny sundial housed within.
The mystery of the item lay in the fact that, no matter what he did, the windrose would just spin and spin and spin. He'd tried shaking it, opening and shutting it, both quickly and slowly. He'd even tried throwing it across the room, which helped relieve his stress if nothing else.
A knock at his door interrupted Ren's musing. "Enter," he called, already knowing who it was.
Sure enough, his first mate walked in, carrying a tray. "Morning, captain. Our new cook has prepared breakfast for you."
"Wonderful. Set it there, please." He indicated a spot on his desk relatively free of clutter. Yashiro crossed and put the tray down. Ren looked over the offering. "Mr. Mogami seems to be settling in well," he commented as he pulled the bowl of porridge towards himself. Taking the spoon in hand, Ren tasted the food.
It was slightly sweet, redolent with cinnamon and nutmeg. There was a crunch, which he realized were apple chunks. He raised his eyebrows in surprise. This was definitely superior to any porridge he'd had before. "Amazing," he commented, taking another spoonful. "Who knew oats could taste so good?"
"Yes," Yashiro agreed. "The crew quite enjoyed it as well." His first mate joined him at the desk and began to give his report from the morning, while Ren ate.
The Dark Moon was well under way to their next port of San Juan, Puerto Rico and their new cook was already making himself popular. Everything was going well. Except for that damn quest of Lory's.
"Captain?" His friend's voice broke into his darkening thoughts. Ren dragged himself back and gave Yashiro his full attention. "Yes?"
His first mate shifted in his seat, looking decidedly nervous. This was yet another unprecedented show of emotion. 'First, last night and now this?' Ren thought bemusedly. 'If he's not careful, Yukihito runs the risk of becoming overly emotional.' His friend glanced up and away one more time before Ren broke the silence. "Come, man. Out with it."
With a deep breath, Yashiro began. "Sir, how much do you know about young Mogami?" The captain blinked. That was not what he was expecting.
"Not much," he admitted. "Only that he is an orphan, served on a Navy frigate for two years, and stayed with Steel Taisho for about a month." Then he added silently, 'and that he was desperate to join my crew.' But that tidbit seemed much more private than the rest.
"He stayed with Taisho?" This information actually seemed to relax his friend.
Ren nodded. "And learned swordcraft from him or so I gathered. The old man even bequeathed the kid his prized weapons."
Yashiro's eyebrows climbed into his hairline. "Really?"
"Saw the blades myself." He leaned forward, pushing away his partially finished breakfast. It had been delicious, but Ren's stomach tended to be smaller than a mouse's, in direct opposition to his father's legendary appetite. "Now why do you ask?"
His first mate sighed, raking a hand through his hair. "It's just that I believe that Ms. Mogami neglected a few details in her history."
Ren blinked. "Miss? Her?"
"Aye, captain. I am of the opinion that your new cook is actually a young woman of about 18."
The captain narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure? What proof have you?"
"Well," Yashiro considered. "I can't be absolutely certain without confronting her, but something she said this morning led me to this conclusion."
"Oh? And what was that?" Ren raised a questioning brow.
"She mentioned how she had been training to be a cook and a maid. Now I know that men can become cooks, but I've never yet heard of a male maid."
Ren settled back in his chair once again. Yashiro's conclusion was sound given the circumstances. Focusing back on his friend, Ren said, "Alright, let's say it's true. What do you want to do about it?"
"Do, captain?" Yashiro was confused.
"Yes, Mr. Yashiro. What to do. Do we continue in supposed ignorance or expose her deception? Should we turn back and abandon her in Tortuga or go on as we are?" He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm agreeable with any of these scenarios." He fell into silence to allow Yashiro to think. He knew what he wanted to do about the situation, but he wanted to see if his friend would reach the same solution.
After a few moments of consideration, Yashiro raised his head. "I think," he began slowly. "That we should keep her aboard and allow her to continue as Mister Mogami." He sighed and removed his spectacles to clean them. "I mean, she obviously feels the disguise is necessary for some reason. I say we allow her her deception until such time as necessity or her will causes it to fall away." He replaced the glasses and glanced at Ren. "What say you, captain?"
"I concur. It harms no one and as you said, she deems it necessary. I would, however, advise Ms. Kotonami of the situation. Ms. Mogami would surely benefit from female companionship, even if it is Kanae." He and Yashiro shared a laugh at the thought of the brash young woman attempting to be a chaperone for anyone.
"Aye, sir," the first mate chuckled. "I shall do so right away." With that, he left, leaving his captain alone with his thoughts.