A/N: One chapter closer to the finale. Not as long as some, but I think you'll enjoy it. Except the end. Oh, will you hate me for this ending! I can hardly wait. Why, yes, I am evil. Why do you ask?
Disclaimer: Nope, zilch, Nada, nothing, zero. Deal with it.
Chapter 15: Treasure
The next morning was as bright as it could be considering the roiling thunderheads that still blocked out the sunlight. Kyoko glanced up at the swollen clouds and wondered if the storm from last night had been a mere warm-up.
A nudge at her shoulder drew her attention back down. "Don't worry about those," Kuon said. "They'll pass soon enough."
She nodded, not entirely convinced.
"This way if you please, Ms. Mogami, Captain." Lt. Aki gestured them to the port side of the ship, where she could clearly see Shotarou directing his men.
"Get that longboat in the water," he barked as they approached. "And load those provisions."
Kyoko stared apprehensively out at the mass of land that rose from the ocean not a quarter mile from their position. It wasn't large compared to Barbados or Cuba, but it was certainly more than she wanted to search. Rocky beaches led into a jungle which surrounded a solitary mountain at the center of the island. The vegetation was green, lush, and dense. It would take hours to navigate.
At least, it would have without a certain compass. With that instrument, this adventure became merely difficult as opposed to impossible.
She found herself actually excited to begin. One would think that, with all of the danger and near death experiences, her desire to be a pirate would be dampened, but Kyoko was feeling the opposite. After surviving that beast of a storm, she felt blessed, as if the goddess Calypso had personally saved her. She could take on anyone and anything that was thrown her way.
At the moment that threat would be the two captains who had taken them hostage. Kyoko slanted her eyes to the bounty hunter who was sharpening his blade off to the side, ignoring the activity of Shotarou's men. His nonchalance was causing her hackles to rise and she wanted her weapon in hand.
Kyoko grasped at her belt for a sword hilt that was no longer there. She sorely missed having her blades, but Shotarou had actually played it smart and disarmed the Dark Moon crew days ago. She had hoped his arrogance would have blinded him to the danger like Reino's had, but no such luck. Her old friend had taken no chances and had locked all of their weapons away.
Well, hopefully the Frenchman would be staying behind.
Raised voices drew her attention back to Shotarou, who was having a row with his first lieutenant. "Of course, I'm going," the young captain was saying.
"But, sir," Lt. Aki protested. "Shouldn't you take a few men along as backup?"
He scoffed. "I think I can handle two unarmed pirates, lieutenant. Besides," he sneered, glancing towards Reino. "You'll need the men aboard to keep the rabble contained."
The officer capitulated. "Very well, sir, but I still say you should take along at least one other person. To even the odds, as it were."
Shotarou sighed. "If it'll make you stop harassing me." He cast his eyes around. 'Not the dog, not the dog,' she prayed. "Reino."
Crap.
The privateer glanced over dispassionately before returning to his task. "I think not, mon ami." Kyoko silently cheered. "That was not part of our original contract."
Stalking over to the recalcitrant captain, Shotarou glared down at him. "It is if you want to be paid."
Silence reigned over the deck as everyone awaited the Frenchman's response. Reino blinked slowly up at the naval captain. After a moment, he sighed and stood, sliding his blade back into its sheath. "As you command," he said with a mock bow and a smirk. "But I shall expect a generous bonus."
"Agreed." The collective crew breathed easier. Shotarou turned on his heel and crossed to Kyoko. "Shall we?" He gestured towards the island.
She straightened her spine, meeting his cool blue gaze. "That's a mistake, bringing him with us," she warned.
"I can handle Reino," Shotarou bragged, an arrogant smile on his face.
Kyoko threw her hands up in exasperation. "Fine. But don't come crying to me when he stabs you in the back." She pushed past him, a smirking Kuon hot on her heels, and swung a leg over the railing to reach the ladder that dangled above the longboat.
There were two sailors already in the boat, rearranging the supplies and oars and waiting to row the party to the island. She reached the bottom rung, and with a small hop, landed gracefully. She settled herself in the bow of the longboat and was soon joined by her captain and the unwanted others.
Once everyone had taken their seats, the two sailors pushed off and began rowing towards shore. They made good time despite the turbulence of the sea and sooner then Kyoko expected, the prow of the boat thudded against the sandy beach.
A little too eager to be the first one to set foot on a new land, Kyoko caught her foot on the edge of the boat and would've crashed head first into the surf if it weren't for Kuon's quick reflexes. He looped an arm about her waist and steadied her. "Careful," he breathed in her ear, sending a shiver of pleasure through her.
She turned to respond to her captain, but caught sight of Shotarou's furious expression. Lt. Aki's words from earlier echoed in her head and Kyoko wondered what effect she was having on her old friend. Not a good one by all accounts. She freed herself from Kuon's embrace and tugged at her waistcoat, straightening it. With a quick nod of thanks, she climbed (carefully this time) out of the boat and made her way up the beach.
The others disembarked, following her. Supplies were unloaded and Shotarou ordered his men to maintain a guard of the longboat. Turning to Kyoko, he tossed the compass at her. Caught by surprise, she fumbled for a second before managing to clutch it to her chest. She glared venomously at the young man.
And she wasn't the only one. "A little more care, if you don't mind, Fuwa," Kuon warned, a dark look entering his eyes.
Shotarou laughed. "And why should I listen to a pirate, I wonder?" His eyes narrowed and he shoved Kuon's shoulder. "How I treat Kyoko is my business."
Her captain growled and would have slugged the brat, if the cook hadn't stepped in. She placed herself between the two captains and laid her hands on Kuon's arms, the compass digging into his bicep. "Don't," she whispered, gazing up beseechingly. "It's not worth it. Remember, they have the advantage." She paused significantly. "For now."
He looked down into her face and Kyoko could see the struggle being fought in those green depths. "Please," she pleaded. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. The exhale was slow and calming. When he reopened his eyes, his gaze was steady. Kuon gave her a reassuring smile, placing one of his hands on hers.
Laughter rang out from behind them. The cook and captain turned to find Reino with his head thrown back and grasping at his side. "Oh, it's simply too much," he eventually managed to say, wiping away tears of mirth. "The fierce pirate capitaine and his scrumptious little amour," he sneered mockingly, "attempting to comfort each other in their dire straits. Ah, so amusant."
Kyoko stepped back from Kuon and held her head high. "What we do is none of your concern, dog!" She hotly declared.
"Au contraire, ma petite." The Frenchman purred. "I find myself extremely concerned for your delicate well-being." He smiled menacingly, causally laying a hand on his rapier hilt.
"That's enough, Reino," Shotarou intervened. "You're not here for your amusement. You're here only as a guard, is that clear?"
The privateer swept a graceful bow as answer.
Seemingly satisfied with the response, Shotarou turned to Kyoko. "Lead the way," he said, gesturing to the forgotten compass.
Still leery of the Frenchman, Kyoko glanced up at her captain. He gave a short nod to encourage her, then returned his awareness to their captors. Resigned, the cook opened the box and concentrated fully on finding the Heart of Gold.
When the disc stopped spinning, she raised her head and pointed towards the mountain.
"That way."
O.o.O
The mountain was much farther then Ren had originally thought. After hours of trekking through the underbrush, he was quite ready to collapse. That was the problem with uninhabited islands. No beaten paths, no clear signs saying 'This Way to Treasure', nothing. In fact, if it hadn't been for Lory's compass, they would have been lost ages ago.
"Are we there yet?"
Of course there were some people that he would gladly see lost in a tropical jungle.
Ren glanced over at the whining captain. To imagine that a grown man, a sea captain much less, could be such a bellyacher. And he wasn't the only one annoyed by the never-ending complaints.
Kyoko came to a full stop and whipped around, hands on hips. "Like I told you the last dozen times you asked," she growled fiercely. "We'll bloody well get there, when we get there, dog."
Glowering at the young woman, Reino dabbed at his brow with a dainty black handkerchief. He was looking distinctly wilted in the heat and humidity of the jungle climate. Even though he hated agreeing with the Frenchman on anything, Ren had to admit that the weather was beginning to get to him as well.
Thankfully, the sun (which had finally emerged from the storm clouds) was setting. Soon enough, the cool of the evening hours would overtake the heat of the day. That was the good news.
The bad news was that Reino was still complaining.
"But how much longer?" He whined, sounding more and more like a petulant toddler with every passing moment.
"Look," Kyoko rubbed a hand over her face in frustration. "The compass only gives direction. It doesn't measure distance." She dropped her arm and glanced over her shoulder at the edifice looming over them. "We're almost to the base of the mountain. I have a feeling we'll be there soon."
"Oh, a feeling," the privateer responded sarcastically, making Ren want to punch him in the face even more than usual. "Did you hear, mon ami?" He called to Fuwa. "She has a feeling."
The younger captain, who had been bringing up the rear, shoved past the Frenchman. "Shut it, Reino. No one wants to hear your grousing."
"Hmph, shows what you know," Reino muttered and Ren could only sigh and roll his eyes.
"If you don't like it, dog," Kyoko said sweetly. "You could always go back the way we came."
The Frenchman glanced back at the thick foliage that concealed their tracks and the dimming light of sunset. He turned back to the cook. "I'm beginning to find your company irksome, ma petite." He smiled humorlessly.
She returned the expression. "The feeling's mutual, I assure you." Then she spun on her heel and began to make her way to the slope leading up the mountain, leaving the three captains to trail after her.
They found a barely discernable path, most likely used by goats, just as night fell. A few minutes rest allowed the party to eat and prepare the torches that had been packed. Then they began to climb.
Kyoko led the way, occasionally consulting the compass. Ren followed, one hand skimming along the rock face to maintain his balance on the treacherous path and the other carrying a torch to light his way. Fuwa was third with Reino at the back, his complaints now being muttered under his breath and thankfully not audible.
Eventually, the path widened enough to allow Ren to come abreast of Kyoko and speak softly with her. "How are you holding up?" He asked.
She drew her gaze from the compass and smiled up at him. "Very well, all things considered," she said before she blushed and averted her eyes. "Would it be strange if I said I was enjoying myself?"
Ren blinked. "You are?"
She nodded. "This is rather how I envisioned life as a pirate." A wide grin spread across her face. "Daring sea battles, using trickery to escape capture, hunting for hidden treasures. It's very like an adventure story, don't you think?"
Chuckling at her enthusiasm, Ren shook his head. "I suppose it is." Then he sobered. "However, please bear in mind that we are in a great deal of real danger."
The grin slid off her face and Ren was sorry to dampen her spirits. "I do realize that." Kyoko stole a glance over her shoulder. "We are unarmed and our friends are being held hostage." She faced forward and sighed. "I wish it was just the two of us on this venture."
His heart leapt in his chest and his face erupted in heat. Ren was certain she didn't mean what he wanted her to mean, but the sentiment was a step in the direction he hoped for. Perhaps his mother was right and his dream was within reach.
Ren was so distracted by the possibilities running through his head that he didn't notice right away that Kyoko had stopped moving. She was now behind him by several feet, staring at the compass in a confused manner. As he watched, she whirled around and backtracked down the path, elbowing her way past Fuwa and Reino.
"Kyoko?" Fuwa called, but she ignored him, now studying a section of the rock face.
The pirate captain shoved through the two other captains and approached her. "What is it?"
She glanced up from her examination. "There's something here," she replied, tuning back to run a hand over the stone. "The compass is pointing here." She tapped the wall.
"Really?" Ren's brows shot into his hairline.
Nodding absently, she tucked the compass in a pocket and continued to search. Seeing no other recourse but to help, Ren began his own perusal for...whatever it was they were looking for.
"What the hell are you two doing?" Fuwa demanded
They ignored him.
After several moments, Ren spotted an anomaly in the coloration of the rocks. "Kyoko," he called, angling his torch to better illuminate the section. "Here."
In the flickering firelight, it was difficult to make out the slightly darker patch of stone. But once seen, it was undeniable: a crab.
"Oh," Kyoko sighed and reached out a finger to delicately brush against the image.
At her touch, the rock face began to rumble and grind, causing all of them to jump back. The stone slowly shifted out of the way, revealing a narrow doorway leading into the mountain itself.
The four associates shared a look. Fuwa cleared his throat. "Well," he said to Kyoko. "What are you waiting for?"
She gaped at him. "M-me?" She stuttered, anger starting to seep into her features. "You're the one who wants the damn thing. You go first!"
"I'm in charge! And I say you're first."
"No, I refuse."
"You can't do that!"
"Watch me!"
"Enough!" Three faces spun towards the Frenchman. "Sacre Bleu! You are worse than children. I shall go." Reino cast a disdainful look at the cook and naval captain before disappearing into the dark opening, his torch guttering momentarily.
Ren stepped up to Kyoko, who was looking rather abashed. He squeezed her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile. Tilting his head towards the entrance, he asked, "Shall we?"
She nodded and entered the gloom, the pirate captain hard on her heels, leaving Fuwa to play catch up.
The way was narrow, causing Ren to angle his shoulders in order to fit. The ceiling barely brushed the top of his head and he dearly hoped there were no bugs or bats that could drop into his hair.
The glow from the torches flickered as a gush of wind came from ahead of them. As he protected his eyes from the flame, Ren thought that perhaps he should have left his behind. Reino's torch bobbing ahead of them created enough light for them to see.
He huffed a laugh to himself. To think that the bounty hunter would be the first to enter the spooky, magicked doorway. It surprised Ren to no end.
Eventually the tunnel widened and he was able to unfold from his contortionist pose. The echo of his companions' footsteps told him that they were approaching a cavern. Hopefully, this would be their destination.
Suddenly, he ran into Kyoko. She had stopped abruptly and seemed to be glaring at Reino's back. Ren grabbed her shoulders and twisted her so he could slip past. Thankfully, the area had opened up enough that such a maneuver was not...problematic for either of them. He squeezed by without incident (no matter how much he may have wanted one) and approached the Frenchman.
"Why'd you stop, man?" He asked, equal parts curious and angry.
Reino flashed a smug look at the pirate captain. "Because we have arrived, non?" His tone suggested that Ren was an idiot for even asking.
"Well, then what are you waiting for?" He growled and made to move forward.
The privateer's next words stopped him cold. "So you have no concern for booby traps?"
Ah, yes. That could be a problem. Ren had a feeling that whoever had hidden the Heart of Gold really didn't want it found. He raised his torch in an attempt to see into the cavern.
Even with the light from the torches, not much of the area could be seen. All he could make out in the immediate circle of light was the beginnings of a tiled aisle and a pair of columns.
"What are we waiting for?" Fuwa demanded from behind. He and Kyoko had crept forward and were now standing shoulder-to-shoulder at the backs of the other two.
Ren sighed and put a hand to his temple. He was getting really tired of the younger captain's voice, almost as much as Reino's. "We're checking for traps, Fuwa," he explained as patiently as possible. Then a devilish grin crossed his face. "Unless you'd like to be first?"
The young man glared at him and Ren chuckled.
"What's that?" Kyoko pointed towards an indentation just above eye level on the wall that Ren had missed in his initial once over. What appeared to be a shelf ran along the outer edge of the cavern, disappearing into the darkness. As far as he could tell, it went the circumference of the room.
Reino reached out a hand and dipped his fingers into the indentation. "It's a channel," he announced, silvery brows rising in surprise. "Filled with-" he brought back his hand and sniffed. "Lamp oil?"
Lamp oil? That seemed a rather odd trap. Unless...
Without a second thought, Ren applied his torch to the oil. Once lit, the fire raced around the channel, casting illumination into the cavern.
The four companions stared.
The temple (for that is surely what it was) was large, at least a hundred feet in length and roughly rectangular. The ceiling arched over their heads, painted a deep blue and dotted with golden constellations. Ren recognized several of the most common figures used in navigation.
The walls below the fire trough were painted frescoes depicting several different scenes from Greek myths. Which actually made sense seeing as the goddess Calypso had originated from those legends.
Down the middle of the room was a corridor lined with columns and a mosaic flooring of blue and green sea glass. Between the columns stood statues of women dressed in shifts. As far as he could tell, they were all of the same woman, most likely the goddess.
At the end of the corridor stood a white altar in front of a large mural. Raised up on a dias, the altar was festooned with what appeared to be dried flowers. It was hard to tell at this distance. But what could be clearly seen was the chest resting upon the altar.
The Heart of Gold.
Ren's attention was grabbed by Reino attempting to take a step into the room. "Wait," he cried, roughly taking hold of the privateer's arm. "Weren't you the one warning me about traps?"
The Frenchman looked down at Ren's hand still clenching his bicep. He then cast a half-lidded gaze on the captain and a slow smile spread on his face. "I didn't know you cared so much, mon ami."
Releasing his hold as if scalded, Ren growled, "I don't." He surreptitiously wiped his hand against his coat. "If you want to be the first to spring a trap, be my guest."
Reino considered the cavern for a moment. "You're right. Someone needs to go first." With that, he grabbed Kyoko by the arm and shoved her into the space.
The girl was caught unawares, as were Fuwa and Ren. They cried out in alarm as she was sent stumbling. She collapsed on her knees and all of them held their breath, waiting for the deadly traps to spring.
They waited.
And waited.
Evidently there were no traps.
Ren pushed the Frenchman out of the way and hurried over to Kyoko. He knelt down. "Are you alright?"
She was staring at the floor, breathing hard and wearing a look of shock. Ren heard scuffling behind him and figured Fuwa was dealing with the privateer, but his attention was on the young woman in front of him.
He placed a gentle hand on her arm, his concern increasing with her continued silence. "Kyoko?"
The cook finally glanced up. "Kuon, did that dog just do what I think he did?"
The pirate captain gulped at the fire burning in her golden eyes. He nodded. At his gesture, Kyoko shot to her feet, spun around, and stalked to where Fuwa had Reino pinned to the wall. His arm was pressed against the Frenchman's throat and he was growling into Reino's smirking face.
"Sho," Kyoko tapped the young man's arm. "Let him go."
Reluctantly, the naval captain released the privateer and took a step back, still glaring at the man. Reino coughed lightly and readjusted his collar. "My thanks, ma petite," he cooly said, tugging his coat sleeves back into place. "This ruffian could have damaged my perfect face." He turned to the cook. "Surely, you don't hold my actions against-"
The Frenchman was unable to finish his excuses, in thanks to Kyoko's fist connecting with his jaw. He spun and hit the ground hard. Ren could only stare.
Flexing her most likely bruised hand, Kyoko glared down at the man. "If you ever even think about touching me again, it won't be my fist that answers your insult. Am I clear?"
Rubbing his jaw, Reino sent her a look of cold hatred. "Crystal," he ground out.
She nodded curtly, satisfied with his answer, before spinning on her heel and making her way back into the cavern. She came even with Ren and graced him with a smug grin.
Ren could only shake his head and smile. The young woman was certainly a force to be reckoned with. It only made him fall more in love with her, if such a thing were possible.
Rising to his feet and taking his place by her side, they finally turned their attention to the reason they were there: the Heart of Gold.
Approaching cautiously, Ren and Kyoko made their way down the lined corridor. The columns were covered in scrollwork shaped like waves and several species of sea creatures frolicked among the carved oceans. Mermaids, fish, even giant squid were depicted on the pillars.
The statues between the columns were as Ren suspected: all of the same woman with a beautiful yet stern visage and braided hairstyle. The clothing was a simple Grecian shift gathered under the bust and falling in layers to the floor. However, each statue was posed differently. One had an arm raised over her head as if stretching while another had both hands extended out as if she were welcoming supplicants. A total of 12 statues in varying positions led the way to the altar.
The altar itself was simpler than he expected. A long block of white marble shot through with veins of pale gray with geometric patterns carved along the upper and lower lips. Crumbling floral strands woven together with sea grass and shells were perched on the surface of the slab. The scents of plumeria and gardenia rose faintly from the dried flowers.
It had obviously been a while since someone had attended the altar. Ren brushed at a shriveled hibiscus and the flower collapsed in on itself. He dusted the remains off and examined the chest situated in the center of the altar. Surprisingly ordinary, it was made of a light colored wood which had darkened with age. It didn't even have a lock.
Just as he was reaching out to open the chest, Kyoko called his name. Looking over, he saw that she was examining one of the statues closest to the dias. Ren joined her, momentarily forgetting about the treasure. When he reached her side, she glanced up. "This one's different."
Technically they were all different, but the captain could see what she meant. While all the other statues were graceful and demure, this one was an armored amazon, standing at attention. A scaled breast plate was moulded to the upper torso and attached to a divided skirt that hung in strips to the statue's knees. Greaves and bracers covered her lower legs and forearms and a plumed helm rested at her feet. A sword was attached to one hip while a round shield hung from her back. Curiously, the sword appeared to be an authentic weapon. Ren began to wonder if he could somehow pry it loose.
A crash resounded behind him causing the two friends to spin around. Fuwa had apparently gotten tired of waiting for his treasure and had opened the chest.
It was empty.
In his rage, the brat had swept everything from the top of the altar. "Is this some sort of joke?" He growled at Kyoko.
She stared down at the broken chest. "I-" she started, stumbling towards the wreckage of wood and flowers. "I don't understand. It should be here."
"Well, it's not and you know what that means." He sneered at her dismayed expression. "Your friends will pay the price. Starting with your captain."
Ren braced himself for a fight, but was distracted by Kyoko's reaction to the threat. Which was none.
It didn't even seem to register to the young woman. She was too absorbed in her contemplations to realize that her captain was soon to be in mortal peril. "Why would the compass point here if the treasure wasn't here?" She muttered to herself.
Then her expression cleared in realization. "Because it isn't here." She scrabbled for the compass as Ren tried to work out what the hell she was talking about.
Kyoko stared intently at the instrument in her hand. After a moment, she cheered, "Yes!" and began walking towards the mural behind the altar.
A beautiful work of mosaic art, the mural was a blend of blue, green, and red tile pieces in the shape of a enormous crab sitting amongst crashing waves. So cunningly were the tiles placed that it seemed as if the waves were actually rolling and that the crustacean could clack its claws at any moment.
The cook examined the artwork closely, her nose practically skimming the tile. She paused at a section and, with a soft 'aha', pressed one of the crab's stalked eyes. The tile sank into the stone and a rumble filled the temple. The mural rocked back and forth briefly. Then, with a resounding boom, toppled back to reveal yet another secret passage.
Ren was starting to question the sanity of whoever designed this place.
Excited, Kyoko beamed back at him. It was when her expression changed to one of horror, that the pirate captain knew that he was in trouble. A blinding pain hit the back of his head and the last thing he saw before the world went black was Kyoko's golden gaze shining with fear.
O.o.O
"-on."
Ren groaned, a pounding in his head. He shouldn't let Lory talk him into drinking so much. The hangovers were killer.
"-uon."
Where was he this time? The haze lifted slightly as he realized that there was a woman speaking to him. His mother? It didn't sound quite like her. Too light and the flip of his stomach was caused by something other than parental concern. Or nausea for that matter.
"Kuon."
His mind cleared suddenly as understanding hit him like a cannonball. The island. The temple. The empty chest. Being blindsided by something. Kyoko.
With far more effort than it normally took, Ren managed to force his eyes open. The first thing that came into focus was the relieved face of his love smiling at him from across the room. The next thing he noticed were the ropes binding her to one of the stone columns. It looked fairly uncomfortable, even if she had been immobilized in a sitting position. His final observation, before the full memories of recent events washed over him, was that he was in a similar state and that the pain in his head was most likely from a blow rather than rum.
Groaning loudly, he tilted his head back onto his pillar. Yup, definitely a blow if the large knot was any indicator. "Let me guess," he croaked out. "Sneak attack from our favorite bounty hunter?"
"Yes," Kyoko agreed. "He clubbed you, then threatened your life if I didn't cooperate."
"How long have they been gone?" He asked.
"Not long." She cast her eyes down in shame.
Ren raised his head. He knew what she was thinking without her saying a word. "Hey," he called softly, trying to catch her eye. "You did what you had to."
A tear trickled down her cheek and he wanted to stab that French bastard for making her doubt herself. She sniffled quietly. "I'm sure there was something I could've-"
"Stop that," he interrupted. "You were unarmed and your backup was unconscious." He began to wriggle in his ropes. Just a little more to the right...got it. "As your captain, I absolve you of any responsibility for this situation." He withdrew the small blade he kept secretly sheathed in his belt for just such occasions. He began to saw at his ropes.
He almost dropped their only means of salvation when Kyoko next spoke. "You're more than just my captain, Kuon."
Ren's heart came to a stop at her soft admission and he focused on her blushing face. Her eyes were intent on the ground and she was biting her lower lip in an endearing and entirely inticing manner. She cleared her throat and flicked her gaze up shyly. "I mean, we are friends." She paused uncertainly. "Aren't we?"
There was only one answer for that. Ren gave her a roguish grin as he went back to hacking at his restraints. "Of course we are." More if he had any say in the matter. "Friends to the end."
The final rope snapped and he shrugged off the remaining strands. Rolling to his feet, Ren crossed the corridor.
And began examining the warrior statue.
"If we're friends," Kyoko asked, confusion coloring her voice. "Why aren't you untying me?"
"Because," the captain said as he grasped the hilt of the sword and tugged. Surprisingly, the blade detached easily. Ren tossed it in his hand and made a few practice swings. Not great, but serviceable. He slid the weapon into his belt. "I'm going to go after the two idiots." He finally paced over to Kyoko and knelt by her side. "You are going to free yourself and head back to the ship, understood?" He held the small blade out to her.
Kyoko's eyes crossed looking at the tiny knife. "But-"
"Ah-ah," Ren chided, pulling the blade away. "Don't make me use the Pout."
She glared at him before huffing a sigh. "Fine."
"Good." He placed the blade in her hand and was about to move away when a thought struck. "One more thing," he said, turning back to the young woman. She glanced up with curiosity.
Ren grasped her face and kissed her soundly.
She made a small noise of surprise and tensed up, but quickly relaxed and began to move her lips against his. He had intended the kiss to be short and sweet, but once she reacted, Ren found it nearly impossible to pull back.
After a small eternity, he managed to detach himself and look down into her face. Her eyes were still closed, as if savoring the moment, but her brows were beginning to knit down in confusion. Slowly, her lids fluttered open, revealing the golden depths.
With more courage than he'd ever had before, Ren said, for the first time and hopefully not the last, "I love you."
Then he was up and following his enemies down the dark passage behind the altar.