Morg: Heyo! Are you guys ready for the next chapter?

Ikuto: Always.

Amu: Never.

Morg: Sounds about right.

~The Eighth Sea~

Amu woke slowly. The gentle shifting of the ship beneath her made her relax. She was still on The Lynx. The creaking of the ship was far too familiar for her to be somewhere else.

"Amu?"

Ikuto's voice was too nearby for him to be anywhere but in the bunk next to her. Amu wanted to groan and press her face further into Ikuto's pillows. She wanted to block out the light and pretend that it was still night and that she could sleep instead of dealing with her problems.

Instead, she turned her head and peeked one eye open to see where Ikuto sat next to her. "Ikuto?"

"Hey," Ikuto said softly as he lifted one of his hands to brush strands of pink hair out of Amu's face. "How are you feeling?"

"Rough," Amu admitted.

"I have some water for you."

Amu sighed as she pushed herself up. She sat cross-legged in front of Ikuto before taking the cup he offered her. "Thanks."

Ikuto watched Amu take a few sips in silence. "Amu?"

She winced.

Dropping her cup to her lap, Amu stared down at her water. "I'm sorry."

Ikuto wasn't sure what to do. Amu looked so fragile before him. He didn't know how to solve the problem she was dealing with. "You were saying that last night, too. But I haven't been able to figure out what you're sorry for."

Grimacing, Amu tilted her cup and watched the water swirl inside of it. "I couldn't understand what you were telling me until last night. I have so much to apologize for."

Ikuto frowned at that. "What are you talking about?"

Amu kept her head down. She couldn't face him just yet. "You told me and I didn't understand."

"Told you what?"

She could hear the trepidation in his voice. It made her want to curl up into a ball. Instead, she stared down at her swirling water. "About your friend."

"Amu?"

Wincing again, Amu lifted her head to meet Ikuto's concerned gaze. "I'm sorry, Ikuto. I knew you looked familiar when I first met you. When I came out of hiding because I knew you wouldn't turn around to take a stowaway back to the port. But I ignored it. How should I know who you are? We'd never met before."

Ikuto stayed silent as he stared at the pinkette before him.

Amu gripped the tin cup in her hands harder. She couldn't look away from him. "But we have met before, haven't we? You're my Ikuto?"

"Amu," Ikuto breathed. His eyes widened and he leaned forward but didn't touch her. "You remember me?"

"Of course, I remember you, Ikuto. You were my best friend," Amu said as she smiled sadly down at her water. "I used to sit by the window in our little house and watch the sea. I would tell my momma every day that you said you'd come to live in the colonies with us. It wasn't until I had to go to work to support our family that I stopped watching."

Slowly, Ikuto reached out to stop Amu's hands before she tipped the cup and caused the water to spill over into her lap. "We were going to try and find you, my mother and I. We were going to inquire at the different ports and see if we could find you. We wanted to bring you to our home if you weren't happy with yours."

"We would have gone with you," Amu said softly. She kept her eyes on Ikuto's hand as it held hers. "We hated our port. And then we got into debt and kept sinking further no matter what we did. And then Tadase came knocking. I tried for so long to turn him away. I never wanted the attention he gave me, but he decided that I was the one he wanted. So he made sure we couldn't afford to pay off our debts."

"That scoundrel!" Ikuto growled. "I should have known that he would pull something so barbaric. Any cousin of Kiseki's is capable of truly heinous things."

Amu felt the corner of her lips tip up at that. "You're not wrong. He was despicable. I literally stowed away on the pirate ship that was attacking our harbor to get away from him."

"It's a good thing you did," Ikuto muttered.

Gently, Amu pulled her hand away. "Can you forgive me for not recognizing you as you did me?"

"Amu, there's nothing to forgive. That was a long time ago."

"But you were so angry at first," Amu pointed out with a frown. "You wanted me off the ship right away even though I was proving to be an asset."

Ikuto sighed as he leaned back against the wall of his ship. "I was a little bitter in the beginning, but I realized that I wasn't being fair. You were much younger than me then. Obviously, your memories would be a little more indistinct than mine. Besides, it isn't the Amu from back then that I-"

Amu lifted her head at that. She felt her cheeks heat up as she watched Ikuto click his mouth shut. "That you what?"

Ikuto sighed again. He ran his hand through his hair before he sat back up and met Amu's eyes. "That I love."

Amu breathed a small gasp as she went still.

Ikuto shook his head with a self-deprecating smile as he reached out to take the cup out of Amu's slack hands. He really didn't want water all over his bed. "Surely you've realized."

Blinking, Amu shook herself out of her stupor. "I honestly hadn't hoped."

Ikuto looked back up at that. "Hoped for what?"

"That you would love me, too."

Shifting slowly, Ikuto moved until he was on his knees in front of Amu and cupping her face in his palms. "Since you were buried alive in my arms. Since you dove into the cove to save Utau from the sirens. Since you put on that stupid fucking dress and acted like a queen. Since you were kind to my crew and refused to leave that tree behind on that blasted island with the giant rats." Ikuto took a shuddering breath as he tipped his head down so their foreheads met. "Since you stood upon the deck of this ship after stowing away and defiantly said you'd earn your keep until the next port. Amu, I love you."

The sound that burst out of her was something between a laugh and a sob. She was embarrassed to have released it straight into Ikuto's face, but he only laughed and pulled her into a hug. "I love you, too."

Ikuto laughed again as he rocked her back and forth. "I knew when I was young that I would always love you. It wasn't until we met again that I began to learn what sort of love it would be."

Amu dug her hands into Ikuto's shirt before she pulled away to look up at him again. "I feel so foolish for not recognizing you faster."

"Don't," Ikuto said with a smile and a small shake of his head. "You couldn't have known what happened to me. I was the wrong age to be the boy you knew. Besides, I like that you've learned the me that I am now and you love me anyway."

"It isn't in despite of you, Ikuto," Amu said flatly. "I love you because you are who you are. Brave and loyal and true."

"And apparently," a voice cut in from over by the door. "A fool that won't let me marry his sister."

"What?" Amu asked as she pulled away from Ikuto to look at Kukai. "Why would Ikuto have any say in who Utau marries?"

Ikuto laughed as he quickly pulled Amu back into his arms and pressed a quick kiss to the side of her head. "I said the same thing."

"We explained the plan last night," Kukai said dryly as he leaned against the open door. "Some of the crew members have some questions that I can't answer, but most of them are excited about the subterfuge. Still, Ikuto is needed."

Amu shook her head as she looked from Ikuto to Kukai. "I have to admit that I stopped paying attention pretty early on."

Ikuto laughed again as he got out of his bunk. "It's fine. It was mostly your plan, anyhow."

"What?" Amu asked again as she watched Kukai and Ikuto head for the door. "I didn't come up with the plan," she said to the empty room.

XXX

Amu glanced back over her shoulder just before she and Utau entered the shop. "If they have the last two items that we need then this should be the last shop."

Utau huffed as she stomped her way through the aisles. "When my brother is back on his feet, I'm going to kill him."

Amu didn't have to try very hard to act like she was worried and annoyed. Once the plan had been explained to her, she'd been dismayed that everyone was referring to it as her plan. "As long as he survives this, I don't care what you do to him."

Not bothering to keep her voice down – since that was mostly the point – Utau grabbed a roll of linens from a shelf. They'd been cut down to the size they would need to use as bandages. They'd figured if they were going to go buy things then they might as well get what they could actually use. Even if they hoped they wouldn't ever have to. "I still don't understand what he and Kukai were thinking! A duel! On a ship! In the middle of the ocean! They're lucky I didn't take a pistol to the both of them!"

Amu grunted her agreement as she looked through a stand of needles. "My only hope is that the Navy doesn't catch up to us while Ikuto is out of commission."

"True," Utau said as she carried her armful up to the counter where a clerk was clearly leaning forward to hear every word despite them not being very quiet. "It would be much harder to fight them off with our captain injured in his bed."

Amu brought her selection up to the counter. She nodded at Utau before she turned to the clerk. "How much for this lot?"

The clerk shuffled through things before eyeing the two girls. Then he eyed the way Utau was scowling and Amu's hand rested on the dagger at her hip. "I'm sure we can come to an agreement that everyone is happy with."

"We better," Utau growled. "I've dealt with enough idiots lately."

Amu did her best to hold her laughter until they were well away from the shop. The plan might have left some things to be desired, but she could admit that it was fun.

XXX

Kairi really didn't like stopping in apothecaries very often. Despite being a doctor and the one in charge of everyone's health aboard the ship, he found he rather liked his duties when he could avoid these particular shops. Not because of the bits of dead things strung up and around the ceilings and walls, but because the shopkeepers were always trying to swindle people out of something.

The cures they claimed could work miracles were usually just spit and animal piss in a jar. It was disgusting and downright rude.

And Kairi claimed to be a pirate. He knew all about bad behavior.

He'd argued that he really didn't need to be seen in an apothecary but Ikuto had insisted. He'd claimed that the ship's doctor would do everything he could to save his poor captain. And he'd do it with tears in his eyes and worry in his heart but steadiness in his hands.

Kairi had suggested he actually shoot Ikuto and then they'd see what he'd do to save him.

In the end, it hadn't mattered. Kairi still had to steel himself and enter through the thick door.

The smell was overwhelming.

The pungent mixture of dead things, herbs, and flowers was almost disconcerting. Kairi took a second just inside the door to steady himself. Then he approached the counter.

"What can I do for a fine gentleman such as yourself?" The older lady behind the counter dithered.

Kairi pushed up his glasses before sighing. "My captain has been shot," he said flatly. "I need some herbs to keep away infection. I have a list."

"Herbs are great and all. I will help you find them, but what you really want is my new tincture. I just brewed it this morning, which means it is potent right now. It'll not only keep away infection but it'll help your poor captain heal faster."

For only a moment, Kairi considered buying the little vial she was gesturing to and then telling Ikuto he had to drink it. If he really thought he could force it down Ikuto's throat, he would. Instead, he shook his head. "I'm afraid I don't have enough money with me today and it was insisted that I return with these things and these things only. Perhaps I can return for some another time."

The older lady simpered as she took his list. "I only want to help. Please, do come back if you need it."

Oh, there was need of it. Just not the need the woman thought she was swindling him into buying it for. "Thank you."

XXX

Kukai sighed as he lifted his mug to his lips. He glanced over his shoulder at the ladies lining the wall of the pub. They were pretty and not wearing much at all, but his heart was set and he would not stray from his love. Not even to sell this story.

Still, he did need an audience.

So he looked and then looked away.

It didn't take long before one of the ladies approached him.

"What is a handsome stranger doing sitting all alone at this table?"

Kukai sat back in his seat as he looked up at the girl. She was pretty, scantily clad, and standing with her shoulders back to push out her chest. "I'm drowning my woes."

"What woes can be so bad that you look like a wet puppy?"

It took everything in Kukai to not laugh at her. She was playing her part perfectly, even if she didn't know she was playing it. "I was the first mate of a ship until recently. I fell in love with our sailing mistress."

The girl pulled out the chair and sat down. It was clear that she was hooked already. "Until recently? What happened? Did she spurn you?"

Kukai took another sip of his ale before shaking his head. He kept his eyes down to make himself look all the more miserable. "She is as much in love with me as I am with her."

"Then where is she?"

Kukai bit back another grin as he looked up at the girl. "Her brother was the captain of the ship."

The lady cocked her head to the side as she took in his miserable state. "I take it he didn't like that you were in love."

Kukai snorted into his mug before shaking his head as he lowered it back to the table. "He was fine with it, at first."

"So what happened?" The woman asked after a few moments of Kukai staring off into the distance and sipping on his drink. "Why are you here and no longer the first mate?"

The sigh that Kukai heaved was heavy. He made sure to exaggerate the movement of his shoulders to really sell his emotions. "I asked for her hand and he told me over his dead body."

The woman gasped.

Several people in the pub gasped.

Kukai smothered his smirk in his drink.

"Did you kill him?"

The almost whispered question had Kukai looking up at the girl across from him. "No. I did something far worse."

"What?" Someone else nearby asked.

Kukai shrugged as he leaned back in his chair and pouted at the table. "We had a duel. One pistol each at ten paces. We had it right there on the deck of the ship in the middle of the ocean. My hit landed. His didn't. But it wasn't fatal."

"And the sister? The woman you're set on marrying?" The woman asked from across the table. She was leaning forward on it so as to not miss any of his story. "What happened to her?"

Kukai played with his mug as it sat on the table. He sighed again but made sure it was smaller. He kept his eyes down as he slowly spun his mug in a circle. "She was furious when she found out what we'd done. She took over the ship, my beautiful Utau. She kicked me off at this port, along with any other crew members that wished to go with me. Then she took The Lynx and sailed away to find aid for her brother."

"The Lynx!?"

"Utau! Not Hoshina Utau! She's a fearsome pirate!"

"But that would make you Souma Kukai!" The woman across from him sputtered.

"Aye," Kukai said with a forced frown. He was definitely going to be bragging about his acting skills later on. "I am. I am also in need of a ship of my own. If Ikuto survives, Utau said she'd reconsider sending me away, but I will not sail under another captain again."

"There's a ship in the harbor," a man from another table said as he lifted his mug in salute to Kukai. "She's in need of repairs but she floats. I'm sure if you sought out the owner, they'd sell it to you. It's been moored here for quite some time."

Kukai dipped his head in thanks as he slowly got up from his table. "I'll have to see what kind of shape she is in. I don't want my Utau sailing around anything unworthy of her skills."

The murmurs that followed Kukai out of the pub had him chuckling to himself as he made his way to the inn where his portion of the crew was waiting for him.

XXX

"She isn't much."

Miki sighed as she took in the small ship that Kukai had managed to find for sale. "As long as we can sail it to the island then we'll be able to make whatever repairs are needed."

Kukai glanced around before lowering his head to speak a little more quietly with Miki. "Do you think Amu will be able to get it in good enough shape for us to use as we need it?"

"I'm pretty sure Amu could get just about anything to sail. Hell, she should have sailed one of those wrecked ships out of the siren's cove if she'd needed to."

Kukai couldn't argue with that. Amu did have a knack for knowing how to get repairs done in a timely manner. "Then we'll make an offer and start bartering. If we can leave port within a day or so then we should be far enough ahead of them that we could get started on some of the things you think will take the most time."

Miki sighed as she took in their soon-to-be new ship. "All right. Go start your bickering and we'll start gathering supplies. Don't pay too much for this, Kukai. It really isn't worth much."

"She will be," Kukai said with a wink. "After we get her back into glory."

XXX

Utau frowned hard as she boarded their ship. "Is everyone accounted for?"

"Aye, Captain!"

"Set sail," Utau called as the plank was pulled up behind her. She didn't particularly enjoy being the captain while Ikuto hid in his bunk, but she also didn't mind it. "I want us out of this port and into open waters! We need to find a safe place to rest!"

As she moved across the deck, Utau took note of how many people along the docks were watching them. Some with disinterest. Some with far too much interest.

Amu took her place at Utau's side as the riggers did their work. "I can't believe this half-baked infernal plan is working."

Utau snorted but made sure to make it look like she was still very concerned until they were far enough away from the other ships for anyone to really know what she was doing. "The rest of our crew better be at the rendezvous spot. I'm going to be pissed if I have to do this any longer than I need to."

"They will be," Amu said with a smile as she left Utau. "I'll let Ikuto know we've done all we can and are heading for the island."

"Tell him," Utau said as she took over the wheel. "To get his lazy ass out of bed and come help. We're down to half a crew. We need all hands on deck."

Amu saluted as she crossed the rest of the deck to Ikuto's door. She hesitated for only a second before she knocked.

"Come in!"

Amu opened the door far enough to stick her head inside. Yoru and Ikuto were sitting at his map table together. "We're leaving port. Utau said to tell you that we've done all we can. We're going to the island to meet with the others."

Ikuto smiled at Amu before nudging Yoru. "What did I tell you? Nothing to it."

Amu groaned and rolled her eyes but couldn't help her smile. "Utau said we're far enough away that you need to get back to work."

"Ah," Ikuto said as he got to his feet. "Did she mention the reduced crew again?"

"Yep."

"Then I better get to it."

Amu laughed as she stepped aside to let her ailing captain leave his quarters. She winked at Yoru before she followed him out the door.

XXX

Amu stood on the deck of The Lynx and frowned. She frowned at the sight of the other ship in the cove of the island they'd agreed to meet in.

"We spotted Ran. That's definitely the others," Utau said with a sigh.

"When we sent them to get the second ship, I thought they'd get one that was seaworthy."

Amu ignored the comments from the other members of the crew. Yes, the ship before them needed a lot of work. Yes, it was going to take a bit of time to get it back into good shape, but it didn't have to be in good shape. It just had to be able to sail.

"Well," Amu said as she turned to Ikuto as he joined her at the rail. "At least I'll be busy while we sail toward the dragons."

Ikuto chuckled as he wrapped one of his arms around Amu's shoulders to pull her against him. "When I told him that it didn't really matter what the second ship looked like, I didn't expect him to get something like this."

Amu shrugged as best she could while tucked under Ikuto's arm. "I suppose we should just get over there and see what needs to be done before we set sail."

"Do you think we'll be able to leave within a fortnight?"

Amu rolled her eyes as she turned to press a quick kiss on Ikuto's cheek. It still flustered her when she did something so bold, but it always made him smile. So she did her best to keep showing her affection. "Have a little faith, Ikuto. I'm sure it looks worse than it is."

XXX

"There have been multiple reports, sir."

Kiseki turned to face his windows. He watched the sea roll by as he clasped his hands behind his back. "Ready my ships. I want to investigate this for myself."

"Sir?"

"If Tsukiyomi Ikuto, the Black Cat, really is injured and possibly on his deathbed, then I want to make sure he is put out of his misery."

The soldier saluted before dipping into a bow. He made his way out of his commanding officer's quarters while calling out orders.

Kiseki turned to meet Tadase's gaze from across the room. "We won't let them escape this time."

"They better not," Tadase said with a scowl. "I will have my bride."

"Yes," Kiseki agreed. "And I will hang the pirates."

.

Morg: I'm trying to keep it interesting.

Ikuto: UHHHHH! Where is the smut?!

Amu: No thanks.

Morg: What?

Ikuto: We confessed! Where is all the hot, steamy sex?

Amu: Seriously. No thanks.

Morg: You're working up to it?

Ikuto: Unbelievable.