A/N: Last of the super long chapters. We're in the final stretch. 3 chapters left. Not much to say this time except thanks for all the support. Love you all.
Seriously, guys, it's not mine.
Chapter 14: Storm
Kyoko found herself back in Kuon's cabin, only instead of her beloved captain, she was faced with the two individuals she would rather never see again.
Shotarou was an irritant, capable of causing her to lose her temper in seconds. However, he wasn't as troublesome as Reino. The Frenchman had a bad habit of staring at her as if she were an interesting insect that had crossed his path and he was contemplating whether or not to squish her. The sensation left Kyoko feeling distinctly uncomfortable and as a result, she considered him the more dangerous of the two captains. Shotarou, she could handle, but Reino could be a problem.
"So," drawled Shotarou. "Show me this treasure of yours."
Kyoko glared at the fatuous young man sitting behind the desk. As soon as they had entered the cabin, he had commandeered the captain's chair and that sent a tremor of rage through the cook. How dare he! Kuon was 10 times the captain he could ever hope to be.
Her anger simmered beneath the surface as she witnessed the greed that consumed her former friend. Kyoko couldn't believe that it had taken her so long to see this...boy for what he truly was. A vain and selfish spoiled brat.
"Well?" Shotarou was becoming impatient with her continued silence. It wouldn't be long before he started shouting.
Kyoko sighed and crossed the space between them. She approached the chest sitting on the desk and opened it. Inside lay the three things that could possibly save her friends: the original scroll from the Pirate King, her translation, and the compass. She reached her hand out for the translation, but hesitated.
She decided to have a little fun with Shotarou first.
Grabbing up the scroll, Kyoko tossed it at the brat. To her disappointment, he caught it deftly. He unrolled it and began to study the writing within. After a moment, he lowered the parchment and scowled at her. "What is this?" He growled.
"Latin," she retorted.
He slammed the scroll down angrily and shot to his feet. "You know damn well I can't read Latin!" He shouted, jabbing his finger towards her to emphasize his point.
She smirked. "Oh, I know."
The brash young captain swelled up like a bullfrog. Before he could vent his anger on her, Kyoko retrieved the translation and threw it to him. This time he fumbled it and she felt vindicated.
With a healthy amount of skepticism, Shotarou took the paper and scanned it. His wariness disappeared when he saw the English words before him. Resuming his seat, he began to read in earnest. Kyoko watched as his eyes skimmed the passage, his brows furrowing as he neared the end.
Once finished, he looked up, confusion writ upon his face. "I don't understand."
"Well, there's a surprise," she snarked.
"This says nothing about the treasure or where to find it."
Kyoko rolled her eyes. "You really are thick, aren't you?" Fury in his eyes, Shotarou opened his mouth to retort, but she cut him off. "Here," she said, leaning over the desk and pointing at the top of the paper. "The author's name. Aura." She pulled back as he lowered his head to examine the translation. "In Latin, Aura derives from the word aurum, which means?" She rolled her wrist, trying to prompt a response from the confounded boy.
"Gold."
The answer came from an unexpected corner. Kyoko and Shotarou both turned and faced Reino in surprise. The Frenchman was leaning against one of the empty bookcases, arms crossed and appearing bored. He raised one hand and examined his nails. "Is that not what it means?"
Dumbfounded, she nodded. "That's right." Then she smirked. "Good doggie." Kyoko may dislike the privateer intensely, but at least he was intelligent.
Reino's hand flopped over as he raised one silver brow in disbelief at the nickname she had bestowed on him. He opened his mouth, surely to deliver a blistering rejoinder, but he was interrupted by an impatient captain.
"That's all well and good," Shotarou huffed, annoyance lining his face. "But where is it?"
Turning back to the translation, Kyoko pointed out the section pertaining to the island and resting place of the Heart of Gold.
The young man sputtered, "But that's just nonsense."
"Not if you have this." Kyoko revealed the final piece of the puzzle.
"A compass?" Shotarou asked, brows lowered in confusion. "A broken compass?" He added contemptuously after Kyoko handed the instrument to him and he opened the top.
"It only appears broken, because you don't know how to use it," she explained.
"And you do?"
The boy was learning. "Yes," she replied confidently. Thanks to Juliena, Kyoko was now an expert its operation. Without her help, Kyoko would still be in the dark about many things, including the depth of her desire for her captain
For when they had experimented with the compass back on Barbados, it had pointed unerringly at Kuon. Thankfully, Juliena was an understanding individual and had helped her mask the truth of the matter. Kyoko didn't think she would ever recover if her captain discovered how deep her feelings went and rebuffed them. It could quite possibly destroy her.
But those were tomorrow's problems. Time to focus on today.
She met Shotarou's gaze head on and lied brazenly. "And I'm the only one who knows. So if you want me to take you to this," she rapped a knuckle on the parchment, "you won't hurt any of my crew mates."
Shotarou narrowed his eyes and glared at her, which Kyoko gladly returned. Their staring contest was only broken by the sinister chuckling of Reino.
"She has got you, mon ami," he chortled, the sound grating on the cook's nerves. "Oh, very well played, ma petite."
The young captain maintained his silence for a moment longer before sighing deeply. "Very well, Kyoko," he conceded with surprising grace. "You win. We'll do this your way. Reino." He turned to the Frenchman. "Tell the men to prepare to set sail. The arrangement we discussed earlier."
The privateer gave a mocking bow and swept grandly from the cabin, leaving the two old friends alone for the first time since their estrangement.
Kyoko did her level best to look everywhere but at Shotarou. The awkwardness could only increase with eye contact. "So," she finally ventured. "How did you become captain?" Her eyes widened in sudden horror as the worst possible reason occurred to her. "You didn't...you know?" She paused ominously.
He frowned at her insinuation. "What? Kill him?" He shook his head. "Give me at least a little credit. No, Captain Akatoki happened to take ill and when he died, I was the one to benefit, that's all."
She snorted. Naturally, it would be such a case of serendipity. That was just typical of Shotarou's luck. "Good fortune always seems to favor you, doesn't it, Sho?"
He shrugged one shoulder. "I suppose."
The young woman slumped into one of the remaining chairs. She slouched down, ignoring all of the good posture that had been drilled into her since she was a child, and interlaced her fingers over her stomach. Finally, she met Shotarou's curious eyes. "Why did you send that bastard after me?" She asked.
He cocked his head to the side. "You mean Reino?"
She nodded and lowered her gaze, overcome with shame. "Was it because I deserted?"
"What?" The young captain appeared genuinely confused. Then his expression cleared. "Oh, I suppose you did do that, didn't you?"
Kyoko's jaw dropped and she struggled to sit up straight. "Then why-"
"I wanted to make sure you got back to London safely, alright?" Shotarou turned his face away. There was a distinct red tinge along the top of his ears.
She blinked in astonishment.
Silence reigned.
"I'm sorry," he finally blurted, whipping his head back to her.
"For what?" His eyes drifted to the side of her face. "This?" She trailed the back of her hand over her cheek. There was only a faint reminder of pain left and she supposed it was still marked by his handprint. He nodded. "Don't be."
He grimaced at her dismissal. "I didn't mean to strike you. You made me angry and it just happened."
Her lips quirked in a half smile. "Yes, well, perhaps we're even now," she admitted, thinking of the flour sack.
Shotarou returned the smile with one of his own. After a moment though, it morphed into a thoughtful frown. "We won't ever be friends again, will we?" He wondered, sadness in his tone.
Kyoko felt her expression harden as she rose to her feet and braced herself against the desk to snarl in his face. "Not after you threatened me, my captain, and my crew, we won't."
"I didn't think so." Sighing, he stood and grabbed the compass from where he had placed it. He came around the desk and gazed down into her face. Kyoko stared back with conviction. She would not be moved.
The fingers of his free hand twitched as if he wished to reach out to her. She took a step back and that motion was aborted. Instead, he handed her the compass and gestured to the door. "Shall we get started then?"
She nodded vaguely, confused by his strange behavior. "Yes, let's get this over with." Kyoko then turned and exited the cabin, her former friend following in her wake.
O.o.O
Three days.
Three of sailing towards the empty horizon and Kyoko was beginning to fear that they would never reach their destination. Three days of her crew being imprisoned on their own ship. Three days of Shotarou and Reino bickering over the leadership of the expedition like children over a contested toy.
It was interesting how the dynamics between the two captains affected their respective crews. Shotarou was clearly under the impression that he was in charge, while Reino showed open disdain for the foolish boy. If it weren't for the fact that the crew now manning the Dark Moon was an even mix from the other two ships, there surely would've been a mutiny.
Several fights had already broken out between the opposing factions. Every time Kyoko was dragged above deck, she kept an eye out for any sort of contention between the ranks that could be taken advantage of. There were plenty of opportunities for her spywork as she was brought out quite often, at least three times a day, in order to verify their heading. In fact, she was almost due for another turn.
Kyoko was currently awaiting her summons wedged in the corner of the brig, between the iron bars and the hull of the ship. The Dark Moon's brig was on the lowest level of the ship, just above the bilge. Located to the aft of the deck, it wasn't really much of a jail; simply an iron partition and gate cordoning off the last ten feet or so. Honestly, they didn't even use it properly. Instead of disobedient crew members, it usually held the more valuable pieces of cargo. This was actually the first time Kyoko had even seen people locked within.
Her fellow inmates were spread about in various states of idleness. Some were sitting, like she was, some were standing. And some were pacing back and forth like a furious caged animal.
"Kanae," Kyoko called as her friend's circuit brought her past the cook again. "Would you please sit down? You're making me dizzy."
Her friend whirled around causing her long braided hair to smack her in the face. Kyoko covered a laugh behind her hand as Kanae growled her annoyance and clawed at the rebellious hairstyle. Once she'd subdued the braid, the female pirate stomped over and flopped down next to the cook.
Drawing her knees up and resting her arms on top, Kanae leaned her head back to thump against the hull. "I don't know how you can remain so calm. I'm going stir crazy," she sighed.
Kyoko glanced at her friend. "It's not so much calm as resignation," she finally admitted. "There's not much that can be done at this point, so why fret?"
Kanae stared at her before shaking her head with a wry smile. "I guess I'm not as accepting as you. I never was one to sit idly by and not act. I admire your level headedness."
At the compliment, Kyoko's heart swelled. It was difficult at the best of times to elicit praise from the stubborn and prickly woman, so this statement was like pure gold. The cook's eyes began to sparkle with happiness. "Oh, Kanae," she gushed, suddenly latching onto her friend.
The female pirate realized the danger an instant too late and she was now trapped. "No, get off of me!" She cried as she struggled valiantly to no avail. She was stuck in an enthusiastic embrace.
A deep chuckle drew the women's attention upwards. "I'm glad you ladies haven't lost your good humor," Kuon laughed, highly amused at the display.
"Captain, I beg you," Kanae pleaded desperately as Kyoko's grip tightened. "For the love of God, help!"
The cook pouted. "That's not very nice."
Kuon gazed down at them, apparently pondering the request. After a moment, he sighed theatrically, "Very well. If I must." He fixed a stern, yet mocking, look on the cook. "Ms. Mogami, if you would please?"
She thought about defying the vague order, but she could see hints of the diabolical Pout around the corners of Kuon's eyes. Reluctantly, she relinquished her hold on Kanae.
The female pirate fell away from her captor, gasping for breath. "My thanks, captain," she panted.
He nodded, amusement still infusing his expression. "Of course, Kotonami. Now if you don't mind, I must speak with our cook."
The young woman inclined her head, rolled to her feet and padded away, leaving Kyoko and Kuon in relative privacy.
The captain crouched down next to her, concern now lining his face. "I wanted to check in with you, see how you're handling...him."
Kyoko arched a brow and a smile curved her lips. "Now which 'him' could you be referring to, Kuon? As I recall, there are two 'him's you could mean."
He gave her a flat stare, which she laughed at. In truth, she found his nervousness in this situation endearing. Whether it was about Shotarou taking advantage or Reino laying a hand on her, Kuon was always anxious whenever she left the safety of the brig. It was sweet, but completely unnecessary.
"Don't worry," she said, patting his arm consolingly "They've been exceedingly polite for the most part." He scoffed. "It's true," she protested.
"If you say so." Kuon didn't sound convinced. He settled himself into a more comfortable position next to her. "I just hope you know what you're doing, Kyoko."
"I do," she proclaimed confidently before lapsing into a thoughtful silence. Her doubts began to creep forward in the quiet space between her and her captain.
Did she really know what she was doing? There was so much riding on this gambit of hers. Not only her life and freedom, but also those of her friends. The knowledge sat heavily in her gut.
"Kuon," she whispered, allowing her insecurities to enter her voice. "What could happen if this doesn't work?" She tilted her head sideways to take in his profile.
His lips pursed as his brow furrowed over his pensive green eyes. The expression was one of trepidation, but somehow just knowing that Kuon was by her side made it seem as if it could all work out for the best.
Finally, her captain spoke. "It's hard to say. If we were dealing only with Reino, I'd say we would be doomed as soon as he got his hands on the treasure." He sighed noisily and began chewing on his thumbnail. "But your friend," he bit out the word, "is something of an unknown. I don't know how he will react." He faced her. "What say you?"
"I believe Sho will keep his word," she replied. "He likes to be seen as an honorable man, even though he rarely is. My concern is Reino." Kyoko bared her teeth. "I don't trust him as far as I can throw him."
"Then it seems we have even odds of getting through this unscathed." Kuon's tone was light, but Kyoko could sense the underlying foreboding. The fact that her captain was uncertain caused a slight tremor to run through her.
A heavy weight dropped across her shoulders. Kuon had draped his arm around her and was tugging her closer. Kyoko allowed herself to be drawn to his side. She relished the heat and scent of his body and snuggled closer. She felt his head rest against hers.
"I won't let anything happen to you," he whispered softly into her hair. "I promise."
She pulled back enough to look up at him. "I promise, too. I will do my best to protect you as well."
The softness of his expression enthralled her and held her rooted to the spot, a tingling warmth flooding her limbs. His forest green eyes flitted over her features as if he were trying to memorize everything about her.
Kyoko's breath quickened and her tongue darted out to moisten her lips. Kuon's eyes followed the motion and the young woman felt that she could take no more. Her promise to herself, to remain silent, was straining against the pressure. Her captain gently cleared his throat. "Kyoko," he breathed, his voice husky and thrilling. "I-"
"Ms. Mogami?"
Lt. Aki's voice cut through the moment like a hot knife through butter. Kyoko had never hated a person more than at that very instant.
Kuon withdrew his arm (reluctantly, she thought) and glared at the lieutenant. "Can we help you?"
Looking at the lieutenant, Kyoko thought she could detect the faintest tick in his brow. Apparently, Lt. Aki was still miffed about the incident a few days ago.
Now, he simply sniffed and ignored the captain, addressing the cook directly. "We have need of your services, miss," he said, offering a polite bow.
It was odd how diffident the naval officer was towards her. Was it because she was a woman or had Shotarou said something? Perhaps the lieutenant was simply a gentleman. In any case, Kyoko found herself liking the man in spite of everything.
With a curt nod, she rose to her feet. As she turned to head towards the gate, her hand was suddenly grasped. Her head swiveled back to her captain.
"Be careful," he cautioned, squeezing her fingers lightly.
Kyoko smiled reassuringly at him and stepped away, her fingers trailing along his until the contact was lost and both of their hands dropped. She could still feel the warmth on her fingertips and she clenched her fist tightly closed to preserve the sensation.
She made her way to the exit where Lt. Aki stood, waiting. When she approached, the officer unlocked and swung open the door, allowing Kyoko to pass. Once she was through, he secured the gate again and motioned for her to follow. They made their way up the first flight of stairs in their customary silence. Upon reaching the middle deck however, Kyoko was surprised when the lieutenant halted abruptly, causing her to run into his back.
"Lieutenant?" She asked when he made no move to continue forward.
The officer turned clear gray eyes onto her. "Your captain cares a great deal for you, does he not?"
Kyoko blinked at the non-sequitor. How was she supposed to interpret that kind of comment? "I suppose," she hedged, uncertain what information he was angling for with his query.
He quirked his lips up in a smile. "I'm sorry to say it is rather obvious." Was that a hint of sadness in his gaze? "I believe he would do anything to ensure your safety."
This statement immediately put Kyoko on her guard. She narrowed her eye in suspicion. "If you're threatening me-"
"Oh, no. Nothing of the sort." The lieutenant seemed genuinely distressed by the very thought. "It's just that-" He paused, thinking. "That kind of devotion is rare and there are some," here he gave her a significant look, "who would be jealous of such a connection."
The cook stared, wondering what exactly Lt. Aki was trying to say. Was this about Shotarou? Why would the first lieutenant be warning her about that idiot? Kyoko opened her mouth to ask that very question, when the officer spun on his heel and continued to the upper deck.
"Hey, wait," she called, trotting to catch up. The lieutenant turned and the sunlight coming from the doorway illuminated his fine features. Kyoko was once again struck by the sensation that there was something about this man that she couldn't quite grasp. Shaking off the thought, she frowned deeply. "What are you telling me, lieutenant?"
He met her gaze calmly. "Just that you should be aware of your effect on those around you, Ms. Mogami." With that, he ascended the staircase, with Kyoko tripping along behind him.
They emerged from the hold and the cook blinked in the brightness of the early afternoon. Clear blue skies and a refreshing sea breeze greeted her. Kyoko closed her eyes and breathed in the salty air, glad of the sun on her face. A lance of guilt shot through her as she thought of her friends still locked up below. Hopefully, this venture would be resolved soon and in a beneficial manner.
Opening her eyes showed the joint crew from the Vie Ghoul and the H.M.S. Prisoner all working with a will and in relative harmony. Kyoko wondered idly about what would happen if the status quo were to be disrupted. A glance off the port side revealed the two ships that were standing sentinel.
'More like playing nanny for a group of unruly children,' she thought, eyeing the rows of cannon ports along the hulls. 'God forbid they should have to discipline us.'
A hand at her elbow jolted Kyoko out of her increasingly maudlin thoughts. Lt. Aki looked at her inquiringly, at which she shook herself and squared her shoulders. Preceding the lieutenant, she made her way up to the wheelhouse.
She could see Shotarou and Reino standing by the railing, pointing off into the distance and obviously arguing. As she approached, the cook listened attentively.
"I'm telling you that has to be it," Shotarou was saying, his face screwed up in anger. "It's right in the path that we've been following for days. You're a fool to not see that."
Reino calmly rested his hand on the handle of one of his flintlock pistols (black, naturally) and faced into the wind. His silvery locks were blown back and if Kyoko hadn't hated his guts, she would've thought he was very picturesque. "Call me a fool if you will. We shall still wait for ma petite to confirm the direction. I will not risk my men for your folly."
Shotarou growled, "Will you stop calling her that? You have no right." The privateer glowered at the young captain before rattling off a few sentences in French, which only served to anger Shotarou further. "I don't know if you realized this," he ground out, "but I don't speak French!"
"He said you were an idiot," Kyoko said, announcing her presence to the two captains. "Plus several unflattering things about your mother's parentage."
Surprised by her appearance, Shotarou spun around and almost over balanced. Reino, however, maintained his calm. Only his slightly widened eyes indicated his reaction and even that he managed to disguise with aplomb.
Shotarou reacted much as she expected. "There you are," he barked, striding to where she and Lt. Aki stood. "Took you long enough. We need you."
"I'm sure you do," she sneered and brushed brusquely past him and stepped up to the rail, next to Reino. "What were you looking at?" She asked, gazing out over the waves, trying to ignore the Frenchman creeping up beside her.
"One of the men spotted an island," Reino said, angling his body towards her, trying to invade her space. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see a lupine grin spreading over his face and she had the feeling of being a helpless prey animal in the sights of a predator.
Refusing to be so reduced, Kyoko whipped her head around and glared fiercely at the irritating man. "Shall I break some more of your toes, dog?" She said in an icy undertone. "I'll gladly oblige you if you don't. Keep. Your. Distance."
Surprisingly, this only caused his sinister smile to widen. He raised a hand as if to caress her hair. Kyoko stiffened and was prepared to stomp down, when another hand shot out and gripped the Frenchman hard about the wrist.
"What did I say about touching her, Reino?" Shotarou growled.
Reino stared placidly at the naval captain for a drawn out moment before inclining his head a fraction. Seemingly satisfied, Shotarou released the privateer, who took a step back, bowed, then stalked off.
Kyoko stared in disbelief at her former friend. Had he just...protected her? It seemed so and she wasn't sure how she felt about such a turn of events. However, Good Manners dictated an acknowledgment of the act, so she went with that.
"Thank you," she muttered with ill grace. "I can handle that creep, but thank you anyway."
There was a flicker of...something in the young captain's eyes, but it was gone too quickly for her to identify it. He nodded in acceptance, then reached into his pocket, removing the compass. He passed it to her. "If you would," he said.
She took the compass in hand, opening the lid and staring at the windrose. The disc swept round and round and as she watched, it slowed and came to a stop, pointing in towards the hold. 'Kuon,' she though longingly, before she turned her attention to the task at hand.
Closing her eyes, Kyoko focused on what she wanted at that very moment: a way to save her friends. The Heart of Gold was the only way she could help them, so what she wanted, what she needed, was to find that blasted treasure.
Kyoko opened her eyes and looked down. The disc had stopped and was now pointing out to sea. She followed the direction provided and looked to the horizon. Barely visible, she could just make out a gray hummock rising from the ocean. An island.
"There," she stated, pointing at the land mass.
Shotarou grinned smugly. "I knew it." He glanced down at her. "Thank you, Kyoko."
She frowned back at him. It seemed that he had forgotten that she was doing this under duress. She held out the compass. He accepted the item with a nod and was about to turn away when Kyoko brought up a final concern.
"What about the storms?"
The young man paused and looked back at her, confusion on his face. "Storms?"
The cook rolled her eyes. "Yes, Sho. The ones warned about in that scroll."
He scoffed derisively. "Don't tell me you believe in that ridiculous superstition."
She shrugged. "I believe that whoever wrote the warning had just cause. You would be a fool to discount it."
Shotarou smiled condescendingly at her as if humoring her silly notions. Kuon would never do that. "Then I'll be sure to keep an eye out. Would that make you happy?"
Kyoko huffed a sigh. She had tried. "If that's all, I'd like to go back to my friends." She spun on her heel and marched back to Lt. Aki. If those storms were imminent, she wanted to be somewhere relatively safe.
And nowhere felt as safe to her as by her captain's side.
O.o.O
Ren waited patiently for Kyoko to return. Well, maybe patiently wasn't the right word. His anxiety level was high and he couldn't quit thinking of worst case scenarios. Although he was pretty confident that Fuwa wouldn't allow harm to come to her, Reino was still on the loose. That thought alone caused his nerves to be on edge.
"Will you stop twitching?"
The captain looked up as Yashiro joined him on the floor. "Hmm? What do you mean?" He asked perplexed.
His first mate nodded towards his knee which was jerking up and down at a fast pace. Ren blinked. "Oh." He stilled his jiggling appendage.
"She'll be fine, sir." Yashiro said. "She's strong."
Absently, Ren nodded. It wasn't Kyoko he was concerned with, per se. He knew she could take care of herself. It was the two other captains he had to worry about. Reino had an unhealthy fixation on the young woman and Fuwa seemed to regret losing her. Why else would he hire the Frenchman to track her down?
A clattering at the stairs drew everyone's attention. Ren stood as Kyoko appeared, trailed by Lt. Aki. The lieutenant unlocked the gate and bowed the cook in before relocking it and disappearing.
"Kyoko," Ren called, making his way to her. "Are you alright?"
She nodded, tension evident in her shoulders. "I think we're almost there," she said as the crew gathered around for the news.
"To the Heart of Gold?" Hikaru asked.
"Yes, there was an island. I think we can reasonably assume that's where it is." She ran a hand through her hair nervously.
Tom stepped forward. "What is it, lass?"
She sighed and managed a bright, if slightly strained, smile. "It's nothing, I'm sure. We're almost out of this." This received a hearty 'aye' from the others, who then dispersed, leaving Kyoko, Ren, and Yashiro to huddle in conference.
"Captain," Yashiro began in a low voice. "There's still the storms to consider." He nervously adjusted his glasses. "They should sweep in as we approach the island."
Ren sighed heavily. "We can do nothing except hope and pray that that part of the legend was exaggerated." He turned to Kyoko. "How were the two idiots?" He asked, referring to his rival captains.
Kyoko shrugged. "As expected." Her brows lowered. "Although, Reino did try to pet me." She spat out the word. At his low growl towards the audacity of the privateer, the cook smiled. "Don't worry. He didn't come close. Shotarou stopped him."
That was even worse. Ren felt a burning start in his gut. It was the same feeling he had gotten on their first day in Barbados, when the handsome Lt. Brown had handed Kyoko into the carriage. The same as when she had danced with anyone other than himself at his homecoming party.
'Jealousy,' he thought philosophically, "is a dangerous emotion.'
"Well, that's good, isn't it?" Yashiro asked, unaware of Ren's inner turmoil.
"I suppose," Kyoko agreed reluctantly. She glanced up at him and Ren tried to smooth his features into a calm he didn't feel. His lips quirked into a half smile, which she returned. He watched as she left to join Kotonami and the Ishibashis on the far side of the brig.
Yashiro's disapproving gaze was burning a hole in the side of his head. The captain turned and met his friend's eyes. "What?"
"You still haven't said anything to her, have you?" He asked. Ren opened his mouth to respond hotly but was halted by Yashiro's hand. "Don't bother with excuses." His expression turned melancholy as he switched his attention to the cook, who was currently laughing at something Hikaru had said. "Just remember that, if this storm hits, it could be the last chance you get."
With a final glance at the captain, Yashiro departed, leaving Ren with a pit in his stomach and a great deal to think about.
O.o.O
It was hours before the first peal of thunder rolled across the waves. Ren glanced up and cocked his head to the side, trying to listen for the telltale sounds of the storm
It was difficult to get a feel for the weather down in the brig thanks to the lack of port holes, but Ren knew his ship. The slap of water against the hull was different from the usual cadence of waves. That could only mean heavy rain. The whistling shriek of wind through the boards soon rose to a deafening level. Thunder crashed down again as the ship began to see-saw violently.
"This is it, men," he cried warningly as his crew scrambled to secure themselves. "Prepare for a rough ride." And hopefully not their last.
Even without witnessing its ferocity for himself, Ren could tell the storm would be a killer. Waves higher than the Dark Moon along with torrential rain and hurricane gusts strong enough to blow a man overboard.
Ren felt sorry for the poor bastards on deck, working the sails and rigging. Not only did they have to worry about the weather, but they had to be careful of any snapped lines. He had seen firsthand what could happen when a rope broke free and whipped into an unsuspecting sailor's face. The worst his crew had to concern themselves with was being thrown against each other.
Well, that and drowning.
The captain looked around and was pleased to see that his men had all managed to wedge themselves along the walls, either in corners or clinging to iron bars. He, personally, was doing both. He decided that he much preferred facing a storm directly rather than hiding below deck. The sensation of not knowing what could happen next was extremely unsettling.
The rocking of the ship had increased in intensity, not quite vertical each time it shifted, but still much too close for Ren's tastes. This made him afraid. Afraid that this was truly the end. Afraid that he would never see his parents again. Afraid that he would never have the life he wished for with Kyoko.
At that thought, he cast his eye around until he found the frightened face of his love. She was squeezed along the wall kitty corner from him, situated snuggly between Tom and Kotonami. He was amused to notice she was grasping the female pirate's arm for all she was worth and her friend was grimacing at the death grip.
Then, as if Kyoko had sensed his gaze, she swiveled her head around and caught his eyes. Ren tried to convey reassurance and some of his love for her through that connection. A portion of his concerns must have also been transmitted for she turned to Kotonami and spoke to her. Judging by Kotonami's distressed expression, the cook was about to do something reckless. Again.
He watched helplessly as Kyoko stood shakily, braced against the wall. She paused and Ren hoped that maybe she had changed her mind. But alas, she was only waiting for the next swell to angle the deck down and away from her. Soon enough, the waves cooperated and she cast herself across the open space.
Once he had been sure she was going to complete the fool action, Ren had stood and leaned hard against the hull, arms outstretched to catch her. Before she reached him however, the ship tilted in another direction and she was sent stumbling into some of the other crew mates. They steadied her and when the waves rocked favorably, they pushed her in their captain's direction.
This time Kyoko barrelled straight into his chest and Ren wrapped his long arms around her. She was safe. There was so much noise from the storm that talking was useless, so he simply slid down to the floor, folding them into a sitting position with her perched across his crossed legs. She tucked her head beneath his chin and turned into him, her hands fisted in his shirt.
Ren sighed deeply. If only it didn't take life threatening situations to get her in his arms. But he wasn't going to complain too much. She was here now and that was what mattered. If they died in this storm, at least they would be together.
The question of whether the storm was supernatural in origin was still bouncing around his head unanswered and he had a feeling it might never be. The strength and swiftness with which it had hit seemed almost like divine will, but Ren was a skeptic.
Still, what could it hurt to pray just a little?
Which god to pray to? The captain supposed that a clergyman would insist on his God (capital G, thank you very much), but he rather thought a pagan route was the way to go. And who better than the creator of the very treasure they were seeking.
'Calypso,' he thought as the thunder crashed and the wind howled. He tightened his grip on the young woman he held. 'All I ask is that you spare her. She has done nothing to deserve this, except try to save her friends. Do what you will with me, you damn goddess, but leave Kyoko out of it.' He lowered his head and dropped a kiss on her hair. Was it his imagination or was she whispering 'please' over and over?
The loudest crash of thunder yet shook the ship and even his battle hardened crew cried out in alarm. They were thrown almost vertical and only the fact that everyone was packed so tightly together stopped them from being flung everywhere. The rain and wind continued to beat at the hull and Ren was certain this was it.
But, surprisingly, the next peal of thunder sounded more distant and the howling wind dropped in volume. The back and forth motion of the ship seemed to be gentling. Slowly, oh so slowly, the storm began to dissipate. It was a miracle.
Cautiously, his crew became optimistic. The Ishibashi brothers peeled themselves from their places and began to cheer. Yashiro, Kijima, and Ogata all wore identical looks of relief and were beginning to check on the rest of the crew. Kotonami sprawled across the deck, limbs akimbo, and simply grinned while Tom cackled at her.
There was one person who had yet to realize that they were in the clear. Kyoko was still plastered against Ren's front and, while he wasn't averse, he felt it would be better to rouse her. "Kyoko," he said softly, shaking her shoulder. "Kyoko, we made it."
He kept alternately calling her name and rubbing at her arms until, finally, she fluttered her eyes open. She raised her face and blinked owlishly up at him and it took all of his self-control to not kiss her senseless. "We...made it?" She asked, not quite believing it.
Ren smiled in relief and huffed a gentle laugh. "Somehow."
She pulled away and he immediately missed her warmth. "What now?"
He was about to answer when the sound of stomping feet came down the stairs. Fuwa came into view, followed by his first lieutenant. With soaking hair and uniform, he appeared rather worse for wear. The fact that it seemed he had ridden the storm out on deck raised Ren's estimation of the puppy.
The young captain's eyes searched the brig before finally falling on Ren and Kyoko. His outraged expression would have been funny in a less dangerous situation. "We've arrived," he announced arrogantly.
Kyoko clambered to her feet and crossed to the iron grate in front of the brash young man. "We're leaving now?" She questioned disbelieving.
Fuwa shook his head. "No, in the morning. I just wanted-" he paused and Ren was sure that whatever came out of his mouth next would be a lie. "Just wanted you to be prepared for the expedition."
Ren snorted. If that was true, then he was a spotted tiger. Chances were that Fuwa had come down to check on Kyoko after the storm. He could respect the inclination, if not the man.
"To use the compass?" Kyoko was saying. Fuwa nodded. "Then I have one condition."
The young captain crossed his arms and sneered at her. "And what's that?"
"Captain Tsuruga comes with us."
Both of the captains blinked at this pronouncement. Fuwa turned his attention on the pirate captain, who had risen to his feet. Ren could literally see the cogs turning about the boy's head as he considered the risks involved. He could also see that his rival was leaning towards refusing, so he took a calculated risk.
He smirked. Ren knew that Fuwa would see it as the challenge that it was. It really was much too easy to manipulate this puppy.
"Very well," Fuwa said, turning back to Kyoko. "He can come. We will depart first thing." With that, the young captain spun on his heel and exited the hold. Lt. Aki stayed long enough to give Kyoko a nod of approval.
Yashiro crossed to the pirate captain. "What just happened?"
Ren glanced at his friend. "I believe I'm going on a treasure hunt, isn't that right, Kyoko?" He grinned over at the young woman.
She gave him a smug half-smile. "Shotarou always was easy to dupe into almost anything."
He chuckled. "My thoughts exactly."
The first mate just smiled and shook his head at the two of them. Then he sobered. "So what should we," he indicated the rest of the crew, "be doing while you're off on a deserted tropical island?"
"I think Escape Plan Beta should suffice."
Rubbing his forehead, Yashiro sighed deeply. "Really? That hasn't worked for ages."
The captain shrugged. "It's worth a shot." He faced Kyoko. "You should probably get some sleep. Tomorrow looks to be a busy day."
The young woman nodded. "You too, Kuon." Then she padded over to Kotonami and settled next to her friend.
"You really think we can talk our way out of this situation?" Yashiro asked, doubt in his voice.
"Who knows?" Ren answered. "But we've got to try something." He clapped a hand on his first mate's shoulder before going off to try and find some sleep himself.
Tomorrow would come all too soon.