Chapter Eight

I opened my eyes and immediately shut them. Sunlight hit me from the window. I groaned as I sat up. My head was spinning around. My throat was sore and dried. I licked my dry lips as I looked around to see anything to drink. Thankfully I found a glass of water right beside me. I was in infirmary room. I frowned when I realized my weapons was not in my sash. I grabbed a scalpel from the table and walked towards the door. Muffled noises came from the other side. I leaned my ear against it and listened.

"Come on that's not fair."

Snicker. "I won fair and square so don't be a sore loser."

"I'm sure you cheated." Mumble.

"By the way, what about the kid in the infirmary?"

"I know he is trouble. We already got shanks in our hands. Do you know why the captain laughed his ass off when he saw the locket from the kid?"

I paled when I checked myself to find the locket gone.

"Hm… I'm not sure myself. Captain is a strange guy."

"HEY! I THOUGHT I SAID TO KEEP WATCH!"

Slam.

"Oww…. I swear Rayleigh, you're going to have white hair before us."

Slam.

"Stop! We're going! We're going!"

Shit. I'm on a pirate ship. Just my luck. I grabbed my hair in frustration. What the hell am I supposed to do now? Their Captain probably got my locket. Shit mom. You're supposed to watch over me not throw more problems at me. I sighted and thought of a plan. Okay first priority is the locket. So it must in the captain's cabin. Find the boat and get the hell out of here. I checked for any sounds on the deck. Lucky there was none. I opened the door quietly and poked my head. I saw no one on the deck but there was two guys on the watch. No problem.

I closed the door and sneakily crossed the deck by hiding behind the barrels. I looked at a room. That must be the Captain's cabin. I listened for any sound and opened the door. I sighted when I realized there was no one. The room had homey feeling to it. It had a table which was covered in maps and paper. There was book case too. I searched the room. My locket was nowhere. I checked the drawers of the table again.

"Ahem." I snapped my head towards the cough.

He was a tall man. He wore a blue shirt and a white cravat around his short thick neck. A long red coat over his shirt with dark blue pants with a yellow sash around his waist. He looked at me with his intense eyes. A fierce grin with a weird mustache defined his face.

I firmly grabbed the scalpel and made a defensive posture. "Where is my locket?"

He grinned at me and held my locket in his hand. "Is this your locket? Well its mine now."

I snapped and rushed to him. I made a move to stab him in the heart and failed miserably. He moved so fast I didn't have the time to react. In a second, I was pinned to the floor with my arm twisted back. I squirmed and snarled at him.

"Let me go!"

He rumbled. "You really went after your mom." I widened my eyes.

He let me go. I picked myself and grabbed the scalpel. Never let go of your weapons when in fight. I narrowed my eyes at him and kept silent.

"Now that you got from your father." He pointed out.

"How do you know my parents?" I snarled.

He sighted. "That is a story for another time."

"Give my locket and boat back." I demanded him.

"You're in no position to ask for that." He snorted. "Besides you're joining my crew."

"I rather die than join you sea-scums." I sneered at him. To my frustration, he started to laugh at me. I gritted my teeth. He was no ordinary pirate. I felt intimated by him.

*BANG*

"Captain! The boy escaped from the infirmary room!" we both turned to see a boy who appeared to be in my age. He wore a straw hat at his head and wore simple cloths with slippers. He showed surprised when he saw me. I smirked and grabbed his hand. Time to use a hostage.

I pointed the scalpel towards his neck. "I'm going to ask you for the last time. Give my locket and boat back."

The boy was strangely staying calm as if this isn't a life or death situation. I looked back at the Captain.

"Do it." he said just like that.

Naïve old man. Never judge someone by appearance. My eyes turned cold and I was about to make slicing move when suddenly I felt pressure. It was as if someone was forcing something on me. I buckled slightly. I looked at him. I was shocked when I found out that he had the same aura as I did. He looked at me, interest and curiosity. The boy used the distraction and slipped away.

"How did you do that?" I questioned.

"Why do you ask, kid?" he countered back.

I ignored his question. "Can you control it?"

"….Yes." he answered.

I can't believe it. There's another one who has this ability and he knows how to control it. I felt hope. Maybe I can return home. I looked at them. The captain was reliable man. The boy felt no fear or terror in his eyes when I tried to kill him. He trusted his captain to make the right choices. I felt a slight admiration and respect towards him. I decided.

"I will promise to join you if you taught me how to control that aura thing." I declared.

He looked at me for a while and laughed. "Sure thing, kid." And passed my locket.

I grabbed it.

"Shanks! Show our new crew member around." He grabbed by our scruff of our shirts and pushed us out of the room. He closed the room at our face.

I felt awkward and guilty when he turned to look at me. Well I tried to kill him. He stood and gave me hand.

"I'm Shanks. What's your name?" he asked me.

"I'm Buggy. Nice to meet you." I mumbled out. Embarrassment and shame filled me.

"Hey are you blushing?" he laughed.

I reddened more. "SHUT YOUR MOUTH! TOMATO HEAD!"

"TOMATO HEAD!? YOU SHOULD BE THE ONE TO TALK! RED-NOSE!"

And that was the start of a beautiful friendship. Gag.