A/N: I'm on vacation in Hokkaido so I had to track 3 miles in the snow to find this WiFi connection in order to post this chapter! Uphill! Okay, so there's no snow but it still makes for good drama.
And I freely admit that I used google translate for the small amount of Latin used. So to any Latin aficionados, please forgive any mistakes. Hope you enjoy.
Disclaimity, disclamity.
Chapter 5: Mystery
The next few days began to take on a sense of routine for Kyoko. Every morning, Kanae would come by at 6 am, clanging her bell four times to signify the time. As cabin boy, it was her job to make sure the crew was awake and ready for the day. She also ran errands for the captain and helped Kyoko in the galley. Thankfully, she was a better assistant than a cook, although she was improving due to her new lessons.
After the bell, Kyoko would rise to begin preparing breakfast for those coming off the night shift and those going on shift. Breakfast was served at eight bells or 8 am and she was kept busy for the next hour or so serving the crew. She also prepared the captain's tray.
Mr. Yashiro hadn't been joking when he'd said the captain had a small appetite. It was a challenge everyday to try and tempt him to eat a bit more. She'd begun to keep notes on what he finished, what he barely touched, and what he outright refused to eat. Honestly, it was becoming a bit of an obsession.
After breakfast and the resultant clean up, Kyoko and Kanae would set up the items she intended to dry or smoke. The apples had been first, along with the bacon. They were now working their way through the carrots and onions. When they reached the next port, she planned on getting some cabbages and turnips to pickle.
Lunch was at 1 pm or the second afternoon bell. She went through the same motions as for breakfast, only a bit more portable. Slices of meat or fruits and vegetables on that constant of any naval diet: sea biscuits or hardtack. The hard, board-like bread was a staple on every ship and hated equally by pirates, merchants, and naval officers. But Kyoko had a trick, taught to her by Taisho.
If she cooked up the meat or fruit and created a bit of juice to soak the biscuits in, this made the hardtack easier to chew and ultimately swallow. It also added flavor to the otherwise bland bread. This trick had made her very popular among the crew, who had begun to sing her praises at every meal.
The afternoon was Kyoko's favorite part of her day. This was when she practiced. Sometimes it was sword practice with Kanae and sometimes it was sailing practice with Hikaru and his brothers. The trio had adopted her almost like a younger brother, showing her the ins and outs of working on a ship. They taught her all the finer points of sailing and, since Kyoko had never had a sibling or similar relationship, she adored the interaction with them.
Her time with Kanae was equally as precious to her. She had yet to reveal her true gender to her companion, but sometimes Kyoko got the impression that she already knew. It was little things that Kanae would say or do that had raised the cook's suspicions.
Kyoko was reluctant to reveal herself, but not because she was afraid of their reaction to having a woman on board. Some sailors believed in the silly superstition that women were bad luck on a sea voyage, but the presence of Kanae negated that fear.
No, she was afraid because she had hidden the fact for so long. She was coming to view the crew of the Dark Moon as the family she'd never had. Kanae was a sister while the Ishibashi boys were her brothers. Tobacco Tom had taken on a grandfatherly role, with all the times he had taken her aside and shown her some new rope knot or told her another story. The rest of the men she considered as cousins or the crazy uncles that liked to embarrass you. And the captain...
Well, the captain defied description in her mind. She wanted to please him with her cooking and her hardwork like she imagined she would've with her own father, but whenever she saw his flashing green eyes, the jolt in her stomach was definitely not a child-like reaction to a parent. Likewise, the blush that rose whenever he complimented her sword work or one of her meals was not the same reaction as with the Ishibashis, whom she considered brothers.
These reflections would vex her as she prepared dinner, usually a stew (as long as the water remained fresh) or salmagundi, which was a hodgepodge of whatever she wanted to throw together. It was usually olives, sausage or salami, and onions with carrots and potatoes boiled with spices. Sometimes, one of the crew would fish and she would include the catch of the day.
In the evening, when everyone was resting from the hard day's work and before turning in, Kyoko would go up on deck and stare at the stars. Looking up into the vastness of the universe always helped put her life in perspective. In comparison to that enormous existence, her complaints were miniscule and yet she was a part of something much larger than herself.
Occasionally, one of the crew would join her. Usually it was Tom and he would tell her stories of his life and tales from his home country. She particularly loved the tales of Anansi, the trickster spider.
Mr. Yashiro and Kanae had come a couple of times. The first mate liked to speak of what improvements could be made to the ship and her plans for the galley. Kanae spoke of swordcraft and what they would do the next day.
And tonight, Captain Tsuruga had leaned up against the rail and spoke with her at some length. He'd asked how she was adjusting to life aboard the Dark Moon and she could honestly reply that it was the best time of her life. They'd spoken of some other inconsequentials, then he'd begun telling her of some of his more daring escapes and rescues. He'd recounted how he'd helped a few of his crew out of their dire straits.
With every story, Kyoko became more and more convinced that this was a man truly worth following.
O.o.O
The following morning, Kyoko was putting the finishing touches on breakfast, when Hikaru came rushing in. "Kyo," he gasped, bending over to catch his breath. "I have a request for you from Mr. Yashiro."
"Oh?" She asked as she scooped the last bit of porridge into a bowl.
"Yes, he asks if you could serve the captain his breakfast," Kyoko froze for a moment, then restarted her task. "You see, he still has much to go over in the accounts before we land tomorrow."
She glanced over to the tray she'd already set up. This morning she was trying fish on the captain. One of the men had had some luck in catching a few mackerel, so she had prepared a light wine sauce and poached a tiny filet. Accompanying it was a small salad of carrots and dates with a cider vinegar dressing. She hoped this would appeal to his palate.
Turning to the boatswain, she beamed at him. "That's no problem, Hikaru. Please tell Mr. Yashiro that I'll take care of everything." The young man professed his thanks and bolted back out of the room.
"Kanae," she called, removing her apron and hanging it on a convenient hook. "Take care of serving. I have to deliver the captain's tray." After receiving an affirmative from her friend, Kyoko picked up the tray and made her way to the captain's quarters.
'Funny,' she thought as she emerged on deck. 'I've been on the ship for over a week and have yet to see his cabin.' She'd been everywhere else on the ship: the gun deck, the powder room, the cargo hold, even the bilge which had been unpleasant. Although, she hadn't had any business that required going to his cabin until now, so maybe it wasn't so surprising.
She wondered what sort of accoutrements would decorate Captain Tsuruga's personal space. 'Maybe he has trophies from his exploits hanging everywhere.' By the time she reached his door and knocked, her imagination had run away with her. She had worked herself up with images of every sword of every enemy he had defeated hanging on the walls and overflowing chests of gold coins and jewels and exotic treasures. Therefore, when he bade her enter, she was heartily disappointed.
Instead of the trophy room she'd envisioned, she was confronted with a rather plain room. Everything was dark wood and of oriental design like the rest of the ship. An actual bed was to one side with a chest at its foot, undoubtedly holding the captain's effects. The opposite wall was lined with book shelves holding many volumes behind glass doors that locked so the books wouldn't fly about.
In front of the large bay window that faced where they had come from was a large, parchment-strewn desk with three heavy chairs. And in one of these, with his back to the window, was Captain Tsuruga.
He had his head lowered over an enormous book and kept glancing between it and a piece of parchment. He was so busy muttering to himself that he didn't bother looking up. "Et...pro...via...amoris? For road or love? That can't be right. Thank you, Mr. Yashiro. Just leave it there." He gestured vaguely to a spot on the desk.
"Aye, sir," Kyoko answered by reflex.
Captain Tsuruga's head popped up at hearing a different voice than the one he expected. "You're not Yukihito."
Kyoko giggled at the baffled expression on his face. "No, sir, I'm not." She crossed to the desk and set the tray down. "He was busy with some account issue and asked me to come instead."
"Ah," the captain replied. He glanced curiously at his breakfast. "What have you brought for me today?"
She pushed the tray towards him. "Poached mackerel with wine sauce and a carrot and date salad."
He clapped his hands together in anticipation. "Wonderful. I love mackerel." Kyoko smiled as he picked up the knife and fork and took a bite of fish. "Mmm, delicious. I think I've found my new favorite dish of yours, Miss...ter Mogami."
She blushed furiously at the compliment. "Thank you, sir. I've been trying my best."
"I know you have," he replied, trying the salad this time. "Hmm, lovely. I'm sorry to cause you so much trouble with my pickiness.'
"Oh no, sir." She waved her hands in denial. "I actually appreciate the challenge."
"Do you now?" He smirked. "Somehow I'm not surprised." He continued eating, soon finishing off the fish and working through the salad.
As he ate, Kyoko tried to glance at what he'd been studying. It was rude to pry, this she knew, but she thought he'd been speaking Latin and this made her curious. It was difficult to make out from so far away and upside down. Finally her curiousity won out and she just asked. 'I'm sorry, sir, but I can't help but wonder what it is you're working on.'
"Hmm? Oh, you mean this?" He pointed at the scroll. "Just a translation the Pirate King asked for help on."
"The Pirate King?" She cocked her head questioningly.
"Yes. You've actually met him."
"What do you-" She gasped. "You mean- That man was... Oh dear." She felt a bit faint.
Captain Tsuruga chuckled at her flustered state. "No worries. Lory's relatively harmless and it seemed like he took a liking to you. Asked me to keep an eye out for you."
"He did?" Kyoko was stunned. A man, and the Pirate King no less, that she'd only run into (quite literally) once had asked Captain Tsuruga to look out for her? She couldn't believe it. "Why?"
"Well, I guess he..." He paused, considering the question. "You know? I'm not entirely sure." He huffed a laugh. "Well, that's Lory for you. Anyway," he tapped the scroll in front of him. "I've been struggling through the Latin on this scroll since we left Tortuga and this one phrase keeps escaping me."
"May I see?"
The captain looked up at her earnest face and shrugged. He passed the parchment over and pointed to a specific part. "Right here. I keep reading it as 'for roads or love' which makes absolutely no sense."
Kyoko looked where Captain Tsuruga had pointed. The penmanship was horrible, so she could see how he had read it as 'via'. "I think the word is 'vita', not 'via'," she ventured. "So it would be 'et pro vita amoris'." She passed the parchment back to the stunned captain. "I think 'and for the life of love' would be the best translation, sir." She leaned over to pick up his tray. "If you're finished with this, I'll be on my way."
She had just reached the door when she heard a clatter and scraping from behind her. "Wait, wait a moment." She turned to face the now standing man with an incredulous expression on his handsome face. "You understand Latin?
"Aye, sir. Since I was young," she answered.
The captain crossed to her and stared down into her face. He was so close she could feel the heat coming off him and smell the salt of his skin. 'Don't,' she warned herself, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves.
"Would you be willing to help me with this translation along with your other duties?" The look in his eyes was dangerously close to pleading, like a puppy begging for food. "Most likely after dinner?"
It was hard to resist such a look or such an opportunity to aid her captain. "Aye, sir. Would you like to start tonight?"
Captain Tsuruga released a sigh of relief. "Yes, please."
"Alright," she said. "I'll return this evening." And with that, she escaped back to her galley, wondering what exactly she'd agreed to.
O.o.O
After Mogami exited, Ren returned to his seat and slumped in his chair to think. 'What an interesting development,' he thought, a smile creeping over his face.
It turned out that not only was his cook a young woman, but she was a highly educated one. Reading and writing was something that even the lowest classes had access to, even if they didn't partake of the opportunity, but Latin? That indicated high society or a clerical upbringing. However, he was inclined to think the former was correct.
For one, Yashiro had heard her refer to a 'Lady' Fuwa. Ren had not been familiar with any family named Fuwa while he'd lived in London, but then he had only been a child at the time. Then again, perhaps Fuwa was a country squire who never made it into town. For some reason, though, he kept associating the girl with London.
Another reason pointing to high society were the girl's manners. Her way of speaking, her bows, even the way she held her head all spoke to the little lordling that still resided in him somewhere. 'I guess old habits are hard to break,' he thought, smirking. 'I should try calling her by her christian name, see how she reacts.'
But that was the problem. He didn't know her christian name, or even if Mogami was her true surname. 'One more mystery to solve.' He sighed. 'Speaking of mysteries...' He thought of Lory's insistence that he take care of Mogami. 'There's no way that he could've known she was female, was there?' Ren wouldn't put it past the Pirate King to have some secretive way of obtaining such information.
It wouldn't do any good to speculate on Lory's mysterious ways. He had enough on his plate as it was. He spent the rest of the morning rereading his notes on his translation so far, checking to see if it made sense. He didn't acknowledge any deeper reasons behind his actions other then surface ones of making the task easier for his new helper.
As lunchtime rolled around, Ren found himself hoping that Yashiro was still busy with the accounts. He was disappointed when, instead of the tentative knock from that morning, Yashiro's customary rapping was heard. Thankfully, his friend didn't notice the slump to his shoulders or the disappointment on his face.
They chatted through the meal, discussing their plans for when they arrived in San Juan on the morrow. Eventually, Yashiro departed with the tray and Ren picked up his final mystery.
One thing he had noticed about the compass was that it only spun wildly when he held it. If he left it open on his desk, the disc floated lazily, but as soon as he took it in hand, it began to spin quickly.
Ren palmed the instrument and watched its dizzying spirals. In a way, it reminded him of himself. At first, he had been drifting with no real direction, no options. Then he had been taken in hand by Lory and he had spun out of control, going in every direction, not just one.
He sighed. 'The story of my life.'
The only time he'd felt like he knew where he was going was the few short weeks he'd spent playing with Kyoko. The young servant had given him purpose and a reason to truly live. Every moment after had been mere survival. 'Ah, Kyoko,' he thought morosely. 'I wonder where you are now.'
It took a moment to realize what he was seeing. When he did, he sat up in shock. The disc had stopped moving.
It still wasn't pointing north, but it was definitely pointing to something. Ren stood up and rushed out of his cabin. He had to see what the compass was pointing at!
He threw open his door and dashed up to the quarterdeck, where the wheelhouse was and startled his helmsman.
"Afternoon, captain," the pale man greeted. "Anything I can help you with?"
"Just a minute, Mr. Ogata." Ren stared at the compass. The disc was now pointing out behind him, so he turned. He could see the whole of his ship, his crew going about their various activities. He looked past the horizon, hoping to glimpse some land in that same direction.
"If you're looking for Puerto Rico, sir, it's on that side," Ogata offered, pointing in the opposite direction. "We should arrive in San Juan just after mid morning tomorrow."
Ren shook his head. He knew where the port was, and that wasn't where the compass was pointing. "Thank you, Mr. Ogata." He needed time and quiet to figure this out. Turning to his helmsman, he offered, "Why don't I take the wheel for a while? You go and get yourself something to drink."
Ogata perked up at the suggestion. "Why, thank you, captain. Much obliged." He passed the wheel off to Ren. "I'll be back soon." With that, the pale young man scurried off.
The captain lay a hand on the wheel and contemplated the compass. It was still pointing in the same direction, only adjusting itself slightly. Ren followed the line of sight.
On the lower deck, directly in front of the pointing arrow, Mogami and Kotonami were having their daily practice session. He had to admit that the girl was quite good. Her form was precise and her reflexes were quick. The only issue was her clothing.
The baggy shirt and breeches concealed her feminine form quite well, but the looseness of the material hindered her fighting abilities. She would lunge then have to pause to roll her sleeve up again. It was also a danger during sailing. If a strong enough wind came up, it could catch her clothes and blow her overboard. Or they could snag on an outjutting bitt and send her reeling. The possibilities were endless. When they reached San Juan, he would have Yashiro or Kotonami find her some better fitting clothes.
He had just turned his attention back to the issue of the compass, when a loud cry of "No!" came from below. Suddenly he was clutching his head, having been pegged by some sort of flying projectile.
"Ow," he muttered, rubbing the sore spot. "What the hell?" Glancing down at his feet revealed the culprit; a small leather pouch attached to a severed thong. He leaned over and picked it up, feeling something hard within. He opened the pouch and dumped its contents into his palm.
Then he stared.
'It can't be,' he thought in disbelief. 'How is it possible?' In his hand was the very same sapphire he had given to Kyoko all those years ago.
"Corn!'
He jerked in response to that long lost name. Hurriedly, he replaced the gem, just as Mogami's head cleared the stairwell. She scrambled up and proceeded to search the deck. She barely seemed to notice the captain.
"Oh no, where did you go? Not overboard, I hope." She kept muttering to herself. Finally, she noticed Ren. "Oh. Excuse me, captain, but did you happen to see a little brown pouch come flying this way?" She was now on the far side of the deck, looking over the railing in despair.
"You mean this?" He held up the pouch.
She was by his side so fast it could have been magic. "Oh, you found it?" Thank you!" She beamed up at him, her eyes flashing gratitude.
Ren stared. He hadn't really taken notice of her eyes before; now he wondered how he could've possibly missed it. The soft warm golden brown that had been his comfort, so unique in their kindness. He was surprised that he hadn't realized it before, even though it had been almost 10 years.
But he had to be sure. "Did you used to live in London?'
She blinked at the non-sequitor. "Yes, sir," she answered, brows furrowed in confusion.
"By Hyde Park?"
"No," she said, shaking her head. Ren drooped at her response, before perking back up at her next words. "But I played there most days. Why do you ask?"
The gentle smile that caressed his face seemed to confuse the girl. A single word crossed his mind, solving one of his many mysteries: Kyoko.
Her name was Kyoko.
He didn't even notice the compass point fixed solidly on the figure in front of him.