The Betrayed Marionette

~.~.~

By the time Amu, Yaya and the prisoners had returned to the armoury the night was cool and calm - an ominous contrast to the chaos that had ensued throughout the midnight hours. Though some voices could still be heard towards the front of the compound, many had become far and faint to their senses, replaced by the rustling palms and roar of the surf, here on the leeward side as they were. But it was, however, plain enough that the dawn was not far off. Perhaps not even a few hours at most. And so they were delighted to find their companions still in one piece.

"Whew, that's quite the crowd, Hinamori!" Kukai whistled in amazement when the heiress and her group finally made it back. His mood seemed to have greatly improved, owing to their pillaging, no doubt.

Amu glanced back briefly to observe as the band of girls clustered together, hugging their siblings and dearest friends like a flock of baby birds flown too far away from the nest - like ducklings floating as one beside their mother, feathers ruffled and feet frantic as they paddled to keep up. They were huddling up against the side of the building where, owing to the passing of the moon as it arced neatly over the inky night, darkness gathered under the lip of the roof. Their focus was scattered however, darting about in all directions as they scanned the area for danger, but, though frightened, Amu found with pride that their courage did not fail them. Their eyes glinted like little flares under the lantern light as Kukai held it aloft.

"Evenin' girlies!" He chirped cheerfully. A couple of them blushed pink at this, obviously not used to such direct charm from a member of the male species. Or, perhaps more likely, struck with social anxiety at being addressed so familiarly by a pirate. But, whichever it was, Kukai was unperturbed. Though Amu caught a twinkle of amusement flicker within his gaze, he kept it graciously to himself. "Me an' the boys are all stocked up an' ready to go! Take ya pick, ladies."

Yaya laughed brightly at this, for anyone could've seen that Kukai and the other men were positively bristling with armaments from nearly a mile away! Honestly, like kids in a candy shop they'd gone to town and rifled through Ramira's best provisions. All wore two baldrics over each shoulder, crossing in an 'X'-formation over their chests and filled to the brim with pistols and knives and many daggers inlaid with gold and copper, tipped with what appeared to be crushed garnets - opulent and perhaps only reserved for ceremonial use, but deadly keen and polished nonetheless. Many more they'd secured wherever they could carry and each had two long cutlasses or rapiers at both hips. What was more, someone had thought ahead and clearly taken the time to find supplies of another sort nearby, for one man had a large woven sack over his shoulder into which he gave them the peek to show off a whole cache of food - tack and biscuit and dried meats for the most part, but fruit, cheeses and flatbreads too which were, of course, absolute delicacies of the most luxurious kind for any kind of voyage. If they and even but a portion the girls could all fit themselves likewise, then Amu thought that the Shining Black could quite adequately recover from their losses following their unfortunate skirmish with the privateers.

Hopes raised quite fantastically, Amu set about arming herself and the girls in her care. She and Yaya grabbed a pair of cutlasses and two baldrics full of guns and powder for themselves like the men had done. Knowing that the youngsters would be much too small to carry such things comfortably, they offered the others more manageable items. There were some more, smaller portions of food to be carried which Pepe gladly took. The others, however, looked understandably disconcerted when proffered even the least offensive things such as simple powder flasks or unprimed pistols. They had most probably never held anything more dangerous than a kitchen knife. Nothing fit for battle.

"We don't expect you to have to use them." Amu told Miki reassuringly, though really it was directed towards all of them as they weighed the perilous items in their palms in turn. "But we must take as much as we can carry. Our provisions aboard need restocking."

Hopefully, the pirates all thought as one, there would be no need for an impromptu self-defence lesson for any of these vulnerable girls, but, regardless, it was considered better all round to downplay to some degree the real possibility that they might yet have to fight for their lives. At least for now. Even Amu, for all her faith and delight in their bold natures, didn't entirely trust them not to turn around and bolt, giving in to their fight or flight instinct, should the worst occur tonight. None knew what to expect, after all, but one thing they did know with certainty: these girls were in their care right now. And they would do their damned best to protect them no matter what.

Kukai effectively rounded up the troops, sending the other two pirates ahead to scout out the darkness, urging them to clear their path where necessary, and off they crept like thieves in the night so silently that the sound of their careful footsteps could have been but the whisper of the breeze. Meanwhile, the girls all have been persuaded to take up arms, they followed in silence shortly behind, listening for any sound that might have broken the silence with breaths held in their throats.

And so it was in this way that they proceeded, dashing like spirits through the night as they flitted from building to building with upmost urgency, the young girls protectively under their wing as they fought to protect them on this most dangerous passage through the easterner's fort. But it did not take long before their task was inevitably disrupted. They had been pressing on, reassured as the sound of the rolling sea had began to sound so near to their position that they almost expected to find it at their feet whenever they turned a corner. The docks were getting teasingly close - they could feel it; smell it in the air, for o' how it called them so! Freedom felt as though already within their grasp before the first of their foes appeared before them.

They would learn later from the youngsters in their charge that there was a little arrangement of soldiers quarters down by the docks, for oftentimes they ferried their cargo out to their waiting ships even well into the night when the perseverance of the moonlight allowed it. Which was why as they neared the rear of this stronghold, the apparent quiet was so utterly deceiving.

To begin with, only two guards were left to defend the gate. They could see the blessed waters of the ocean behind, glittering like sapphires beneath the stars above. Without pause the pirates descended upon them. The rusty-haired pirate took one by the collar and made short work of the unfortunate fellow, but to their dismay the sound of shifting sand and an almighty scuffle signified that their companion was locked in some desperate struggle with some fiercer foe.

But this one was putting up a fight.

Kukai dashed forth with his teeth grit, for their desperation was growing louder and louder, turning into some distracting din that struck fear in the pirates' hearts, and by the time the girls had caught up with them they were aghast. The second guard was a powerful ox of a man - riddled with muscle and armed to the teeth. It was taking all three of their friends to wrestle him into submission, but he resisted nonetheless! He made to yell - to shout for his own men, but someone locked a hand over his mouth. He wrenched a hand free, grasped his pistol resolutely. Kukai hissed, lunged-

"Oh, no ya fuckin' don't-!"

But it was too late.

There was a 'CRACK!' an echo. A bone-chilling crunch and a 'thud!' as the man hit the floor…

In the quiet that followed, one could've heard a pin drop even upon the sand itself. The air was cold. Their blood was frozen.

And then lights upon the beach began to flare to life. And so the pirates learnt of the existence of the dockside barracks where those eastern men kept greater watch over the comings and goings of their own industry upon this isle. Followed by the rise of many distant voices, Amu swore fouly, feeling as though she'd been shot herself. Damn the bastard and his one, dirty pistol! To be thwarted so close to their escape felt like such a great injustice to all present that night, but there was no time to feel wronged. Before they could so much as duck into the relative safety of the nearby shadows a handful of figures had appeared, black and silhouetted against the night sky as they began to form groups, making to stalk up the rise of the coastline and towards the wary pirates. Whistles were raised. Firearms glinted in the starlight.

They'd been spotted.

There was no time to lose.

Aiming to finish this off nice and quickly before any further reinforcements could arrive, Kukai and the men reached for their own pistols and began to fire out into the night, but their flintlocks were puny in comparison. The former princess would have taken up her own gun then, but she feared that she would simply waste bullets, for she'd never fired a shot in her life. Feeling useless, watched as their rivals only grew in number and her heart sank.

She knew then that their plan had been folly.

"There's too many! I think it's time for Plan B!" She uttered, flattening herself against the corner of the building as bullets began to fly, lodging themselves into the nearby walls. "Front gate?"

And then the sand beside their feet seemingly burst out of nowhere, dirt kicking over their boots as they narrowly dodged a volley of shots.

Kukai almost choked, face spattered with blood; "Front gate it is!"

All understood. Nodding grimly, Amu immediately grabbed the nearest girl by the arm (which happened to be Ran) and waved to catch all the other's attention: "To the front gate! Now!"

There came a chorus of affirmations towards their change of plan much fiercer than Amu had expected (which may have gladdened her heart had they not been so pressed) and just like that they were running, adrenaline pumping through their bloodstreams; heels pounding the dirt; blades and cutlasses gleaming in the ruddy lantern light as they fled eastwards - towards the heart of the lion's den.

It was utterly surreal - a completely nonsensical scene! - with the princess up front and all of her maidens trailing behind her, flanked by the men who were shooting wildly into the night behind them as Ramira's men gained steam and raced in pursuit, but the fugitives were by now too bold to care. Amu caught in the corner of her eye a blur of silver light as Yaya broke formation to swipe her cutlass over the chest of an oncoming soldier, shrieking a war-cry in earnest as she did so, and then hop-skip-and-jump breezily back to catch up with the group like it had been absolutely nothing! Though Amu looked back briefly and saw the man stagger back in the distance, clearly winded, but not gravely wounded, it did nothing to knock her confidence, for just the mere act of steadfast courage was enough to fuel the fire in the pit of her stomach and so, invigorated and determined, the heiress did not stop to hesitate when she finally caught sight of the oncoming resistance.

Up ahead the front entrance with its big iron gate (the very same through which they'd initially come) was now within sight! A wave of Red Coats lay in wait, teeth bared and snarling; a sea of ruby red flickering menacingly under lamplight. And they did not waste time.

The first Amu heard was the unmistakable crack of gunfire echoing from somewhere up above along the high walls of the fort followed by a shrill squeal from somewhere behind. The princess turned, feeling ice cold, for a small chorus of young women's voices followed, but it appeared that Suu had cried out only in shock, for there was not a scratch on her. And a good thing too - or otherwise Ramaria's men would find themselves aghast at the sight of one once so noble overcome with a rage so furious.

But there was little time to dwell on this. Shots were coming in thick and fast now and the girls had found themselves ducked behind carts or barrels or the pirates themselves. Dia had Kukai's back whilst he fired with two pistols in each hand up at the men who patrolled the bordering wall, her dagger raised and eyes on all who crept near. Yaya was engaged with a mean-looking miscreant, yelling obscenities as Pepe clung to her leg. The pirates were clashing at a daunting ratio of about three-to-one, but before Amu could so much as think to rush to their aid she had become quite busy herself.

Letting go of Ran's hand (though she had not even been aware that she'd still been holding it), Amu's cutlass shook furiously as a young Red Coat dove in for the kill. She parried him with an expertise she still couldn't quite believe herself to be capable of and swooped, aiming for his unguarded flanks to no avail. Amidst the chaos, she caught in her line of vision the sight of three more as they sprinted towards their comrade. Obviously there was a clamour as to who should be the one to apprehend such a prize captive, but Amu had no time to feel worried, for to her surprise Ran - that plucky young girl! - stuck fast by her side and without a moment's warning unveiled her most unexpected prize.

It was long and sharp-edged, yet not long enough that it became too unbalanced for a young girl such as her to struggle to grip, and curved from the midway so that when she lunged forth with the weapon in her grasp she could be sure to afflict wounds upon places that would otherwise have been out of reach. And, sure enough, Ran and her scimitar soon became the bane of these Eastern men. The girl was light and as quick on her feet as any had ever seen and, though no doubt the rush of adrenaline must have had a play in the way she pushed through her fear, it had to be said that each and every pirate there that night almost wished they could pause to witness such a sight.

Presently, two of the three approaching foes were on their knees, not dead (for of course Ran's aim was not that true), but nonetheless incapacitated. Ran had shocked them, sure enough, and a couple of quick blows to the skull was all that she needed to have them unable to rise back onto their feet. Ran said something to Amu then, but the former princess could not hear it. She was just dragging her blade out of her opponent's back, kicking him roughly face-down into the dirt and moving onto the next. Her blood pumping, forehead dripping with sweat, Amu briefly looked around and cursed, for there must have been near-fifty or so men remaining that night who firmly stood between them and their freedoms.

"What," - Amu turned abruptly, taken aback by the booming voice that resounded even over the calamity of battle - "is the meaning of this?"

Obnoxious, pompous and utterly deplorable, she felt her skin bristle as none other than Ramira emerged through the crowd a short distance away, just noticeably disheveled and undeniably disgruntled owing to this long night of cat and mouse. This was a man most probably used to being in bed by sundown, she thought, and yet here he arrived as a golden beacon to find his men scuffling with not only the pirates, but his own escaped slaves in tow. Those nearest parted like the seas in obedient reverence as he swept through the courtyard. His face was red - as furious as any had ever seen it! - and positively steaming with the scalding heat of his own irrepressible ire. He saw her in the crowd almost instantly. Amu braced herself, knuckles turning white on the hilt of her blade. She knew exactly what was coming next.

Ramira broke attention from her only once to berate his men, yelling foreign obscenities over the square as he marched forth, though he did not break his stride, and when he came within but a few feet of his prize, laying eyes at last on the main conspirator behind this most unsightly uprising he snarled.

"After tonight… You will be lucky to make it to the Emperor in one piece, my love." He said. He drew his sword in one fluid motion. "May His Holiness forgive me."

'How fitting,' she thought as she took in the sight of this most deplorable man; 'that it should come to this.'

Which was why, when Ramira first made to strike, she was ready.

True and piercing was the song of her sword as Amu deftly deflected the first blow. Truthfully, she wondered for a minute if Ramira didn't think her capable of holding her own, but he must have been gravely mistaken, for a dirty sort of sneer left his curled lips. Whatever mirth he might have held upon watching her fight though, it was fleeting, retreating like the tide as she narrowly missed the side of his neck with her blade. It skirted upwards along his collar bone and nicked his ear lobe. When she pulled back, his countenance was like thunder.

"My…" He whispered. "What confidence. How vulgar."

But Amu fumed; "No distractions!" And, face darkening, the princess decided that two cutlasses were better than one. The 'shing!' as she slid them both from their sheaths was like the most reassuring music known to man, but, on the contrary, her opponent broke out into a callous, mocking chuckle.

Fire lit within her, Amu was firmly on the offensive. Sweat beginning to drip from her brow, she clashed double-handed against his blade time and time again until the sound of their combat could be heard like a thunderstorm throughout the whole compound; 'til the flashing of the firelight upon steel became as blinding as a that of a terrible bolt of lighting amidst the trees. She beat against him relentlessly, daring a few feints here and there as she tried with all her might to best this most sordid man. But, though beyond contempt he might have been, she had to concede that Ramira was indeed a worthy opponent.

Amu's fatal flaw was that the very sight of him had been enough to rile her into a frenzy. To be truthful, none could have blamed her, for the memories of their first interaction that so continuously played within her mind over and over again would have been enough for any to throw all good judgement to the wind and allow themselves to become consumed with the burning shame that his snake-like words had so deliberately ignited, for was what he did. It was what he enjoyed - to rile his enemies to the point of no return. To borrow his way inside their minds and watch with twisted pleasure as the seeds of doubt he had planted began to bloom into fruition. But, though none who were familiar with his dishonourable tactics could've blamed her, it was to be her downfall.

"My," Ramira crowed as he parried her with ease; "I wonder what Tsumugu would say if he could see his daughter now."

"Shut up!"

Frustrated, Amu realised only too late that her hatred had clouded her better judgement. Only too late did he realise that he had used it like a disorienting fog against her as she missed her target, taken utterly unawares as she missed the telltale signs of his latest feint.

Ramira, watching as his victim lost her balance, looked positively delighted. Amu stumbled, cutlasses flailing uselessly as her ankle rolled beneath her and, as she faintly realised with a jolt that she was about to be bested, all of a sudden a wave of fierce desperation overcame her - frantic voices in her subconscious urging her to move; to fight; to spring back up like naught had happened and stick that gloating devil straight in the gut, for he deserved it more than any..!

But, alas, she could not right herself in time, for it was true that, for all her resolve, her body had begun to fail her. It had been a long time since she - or any of her companions - had managed to find rest since they had left the last island on their voyage. Heart sinking, stomach turning, Amu hit the ground with a cloud of dust. Gritting her teeth, she held her weapons tight with both hands nonetheless, though both of her wrists had been rattled in the fall, and stared up defiantly as Ramira's shadow fell across her face.

"Well." He breathed heavily, jaw clenching. All around him the chaos of battle seemed to fade, falling away until there was nothing to be heard save for his cruel, poisonous tone. "Beneath me last." And he leaned down, the end of his jewel-hinted rapier waving dangerously in front of her face. "Right where you belong. Wench."

"Beneath you?" Amu panted. She tried to ignore the point of his sword long enough to cast him a dark sort of look. "A man who chains up young girls? I believe you're mistaken. Nobody can stoop any lower than that." And, though she'd never so much as dreamt of doing something so vulgar to another human being, Amu almost spat on him, but held herself at the very last moment. "Filth."

But Ramira just crowed, low and menacing. "What a cocky little madam, eh? You really thought that you could vanish from my quarters? That you could blindside my men as quickly as you did your utter fool of a father?"

'CLANG!'

Ramira drove his blade close to the heiress' neck, his countenance changing, rage flaring like the strike of a sudden thunderbolt, but Amu countered him just as quick. Lying in the dust with her back assaulted by rock and stone, she found herself pinned fast to the ground, wrists shaking with effort as she fought to keep his sword at a distance, her cutlasses crossed above her prone form. She praised her reflexes, but still found herself in quite the dire pinch. A bead of sweat rolled down the back of her neck and gathered uncomfortably at her collar, but, for all her efforts, somehow she felt as though he wasn't really trying. A cold wave of déjà-vu overcame her. For a moment she was back in the blaggard's private quarters watching him circle her with that devious, dancing gleam in his eye…

That bastard, she thought as she glared up at his greasy visage. He was toying with her again, all but a game, for it was undeniable now that, of course, he had the advantage. Time and practice aplenty, not to mention his strapping male physique, he had over his victim and yet he chose to draw such an unpleasant business out for his own amusement. He must have been ever one for unnecessary dramatics.

"Hinamori!"

Amu heard one of her companions' voices followed by the cries of some of the girls echo somewhere amongst the growing din all around them. They sounded desperate, but distracted with their own opponents, but she paid them no mind. For now it was just her and Ramira's blade as she fought desperately for her life.

"Well, you're a plucky little swashbuckler, aren't you, Your Highness?" He continued. "Perhaps I might contain myself tonight if only to watch the expression on your pretty face as His Holiness deals out whatever punishment he sees fit!"

Amu yelped, the sound leaving her lips unbidden as this most devious foe dug his boot between her ribcage, hoping most probably that the weight would persuade her to loosen her hold on the cutlasses that still held fast between them. To his disappointment it did not, though her wrists shook tremendously. Amu promptly bit her lip, but not before cursing harshly;

"Fucking brute."

"Ah-ah-ah!" Ramira tutted. "That's no language for a lady whether fair or not!"

And quick as a flash he withdrew both his boot and his rapier only to bring them down with more force than before. Amu had no time to fly to her feet. The pirate had only managed to make it up onto her knees before the golden blade was cascading down towards her. She locked him with one cutlass, but near damn fell back through the force and so now she struggled down on one knee, one hand on the ground to balance her weight. But she did not cry out. Not once. And it appeared that her enemy was greatly displeased to have not found tonight a regretful maiden begging for forgiveness.

"But fair were you once? Or did this defiant streak lay dormant within you all along?" He mused, applying as much pressure as could make her nervous whilst he leered; "No… No fair damsel are you! I will refrain myself from renting your most alluring body in two tonight - so help me God! - and I shall see to it that His Holiness knows of all your tricks, Miss Hinamori, after this night of trouble you've caused for us!"

And he went in for the kill once more, retreating for but a second with the intention to redouble his efforts, but this time it was enough for his prey to recover. In those precious few heartbeats Amu sprung from the dirt, leaping to her feet like a newborn doe and with a war-cry lunged with two blades aloft towards her opponent. Ramira parried, but it was no matter. His countenance was full of fury - red as any had ever seen it! He retaliated without a moment of consideration. Before Amu knew it they were duelling like true buccans in tales of old, blind to all else, both intent on the other's end whether it cost them their own or not. Two cutlasses the princess had, but Ramira was perhaps even more skilled with only the one. Their dance was rapid and sporadic and yet still her foe shouted obscenities in both languages, plus any others he might have known, for the drive to best her now transcended his mere distaste for the woman or even of the chaos she had wrought here tonight. No… Ramira's resentment reached far beyond her part here on this tiny isle. It encompassed her country; her King; it stretched far beyond recent memory and all recall, back over the hundreds of years of bad blood that had marred the two nation's relationships for millennia. She saw it in his eyes, close-up and bulging as he breathed heavy as a dog;

"His Holiness shall make quite sure… To put you in your place! And, you believe me…" And he punctuated each word that followed with an almighty clash of metal-on-metal; "Seiyo-Will-Bow-!"

The contempt in her chest overflowed in that moment. Amu bit her lip so hard that she tasted blood. Her limbs were shaking-!

But it was at that moment that there came an almighty 'BANG!' from atop the border wall. Amu saw the flash and billow of smoke and somehow instinctively knew that she was in trouble. Her body reacted before it could fully register in her mind - and a good thing too because as soon as she'd flung off Ramira and side-stepped around him the ground burst into a shower of dust and debris, smouldering as a musket ball pocked the earth like a miniature meteorite. Whilst the eastern Commander was whirling back towards her (for she was quick on her feet!), she chanced a look back up at the source of the fire and smoke. Her stomach coiled with dread as she saw the marksman responsible reload his firearm, primed for another shot.

"Stay down, wench!"

Panic rose within her anew as an enraged Ramira lunged for her once again. It was all she could do to keep him at bay, but now that they were locked together once more she could not keep watch on the man with the musket! Desperately she tried to flick her attention between the two, but it was to no avail! Ramira had her in a pinch! She was pressed up against the side of a wooden cart; her enemy was advancing; she stole a glance up towards the wall of the fort and saw that the solider had his hand on the trigger-

'BANG!'

A flash of white. A cloud of acrid smoke. A spattering of red…

And Amu watched, heart pounding, as the marksman fell face-first down into the courtyard.

Once more, it was as if time had stopped. The fighting faltered for just a split-second. Men's heads were turning; Red Coats diverting the points of their blades; Ramira was cursing in his own tongue…

And then Amu saw it - the source of their distraction.

Her heart swelled!

She saw it out way past the front gate. For a minute it looked as though the trees were moving - as if the whole jungle itself was coming to life, disturbed and outraged at the devastation their battle had wrought on this once spectacular isle and ready to seek revenge. The princess saw shadows amongst the trunks; heard familiar voices on the breeze; witnessed the very night itself shifting as they came gradually into view. It was almost unbelievable… But her eyes were not playing tricks on her. And so she watched with barely suppressed joy when out of the darkness came a sight for sore eyes.

Backup had arrived!

Ikuto's flintlock was smoking as he marched furiously at the head of the group. Utau could be seen to his right, armed with a cutlass and the remaining two of their companions as well, but that was not the most astonishing - most awe-inspiring - sight of the night.

No, the most astonishing sight in that dark hour was that of perhaps half of the remaining crew of the Shining Black behind them, all armed and brimming with fierce determination looking for all the world as if they had not just suffered grievously at the hands of the privateers - like a phoenix risen from the ashes; as though nothing could have marred the defiant gleam that shone bright from the surface of their diamond flag!

And bright that white-stitched diamond shone from the face of their Captain's blue hat - an unmistakable, unmissable icon to all who beheld it. They came like a force of nature, sweeping across the clearing beyond the stronghold like a tidal wave breaks upon the rocky shores. Behind her Amu heard some of her companions clapping with loud bravado and truthfully he might have been tempted to join in with them had her breath not been so caught in her throat, for she was so overcome with relief that all former fear was washed away.

Ramira began barking orders urgently, temporarily distracted from their fight. He was red in the face, gesturing wildly, and his men looked ashen-faced in the firelight. A band of them made to form a defensive wall of troops across the mouth of the entrance, falling into line like toy soldiers, indifferent to the fact that they had been reduced to cannon-fodder, but by the time they were in formation the pirates were upon them. Ikuto raised his pistol, fired up into the cool night air and precisely on queue there came a hail of lead bullets from the onslaught of buccans on either side. A humiliating portion of Red Coats slumped to the ground, crimson leaking into the dirt, and just like that the dam had burst.

The pirates broke free of their own ranks and charged the fort for all their worth, cries echoing, reverberating off the high slopes of the island's interior and spreading out to sea. Cutlasses were glinting like molten metal in the firelight. Steel was clashing deafeningly all around. Amu caught the high-pitched squeal of a young voice rise shrilly above the growing din and briefly saw a flash of blue similar to her Captain's own hue before her attention was caught once more. Amidst the ferocious clamor and the blow of swords and the utter disorder as those less well armed hastily threw themselves into the fray and swung their own fists for good measure, the heiress found herself grow emboldened. Even to her right she caught a glimpse of her girls jabbing their blades more like pitchforks at a band of what looked to be young recruits, but none could have found fault with their rudimentary techniques. Forced to duck and sidestep manoeuvres clearly not commonly used in the heat of battle, they had made great progress. Feeling encouraged, a new, well-needed surge of courage invigorated her weary soul and, lip curling, she caught sight of Ramira's back before her and pounced.

He parried her quickly, but it was of no matter. Blow after blow; swing after swing she fought to cut down her foe. O', the wonders that fateful little flicker of hope could do! This was no longer a losing battle, it seemed. Not now with her crew behind her and her Captain somewhere amidst the rabble!

'Clash!' - One strike for Amu!

'CLANG!' - She smirked deviously as the tip of her blade trailed a fine tear in the fabric of his sleeve, catching one of his numerous medals as it went and tossing it to who-knew-where in the dirt.

Ramira's eyes were wide now. A fine sheen of sweat glinted on his greasy forehead. He was becoming erratic now, overcome with disbelief at the way this night was unravelling all around him, no doubt. Rage was slowly taking a hold of him. His wrist was shaking, boots scuffing in the dirt as he fought for control over his balance. He was going to make a grave mistake any moment now - Amu could feel it; prayed for it! A sequence of metallic clunks rent the air as their blades locked over and over again. Amu was wielding both cutlasses now, pushing against his attacks; resisting as forcefully as her own form would allow, but, though still he fought her, she knew full well that he could not hold out for much longer.

He growled, though she could barely hear it, and seethed;

"How dare you!" He spat. "You dirty little runaway! Seiyo will bow to His Holiness!"

With a quick disengage, he attempted to thwart her once more with another feint, but Amu was faster. Her opponent was wide open. With a swift riposte, she finally struck her foe, blade tearing in one fell, diagonal swoop across the front of his uniform, a trail of red staining his coat in its wake.

The shock on his face was a picture.

But more so as she grabbed his now-bloody collar and, with conviction, she whispered;

"Seiyo will never bow."

And with that she struck him between the ribs.

Ramira fell with his face frozen in a stark contrast of fear and fascination.

'Finally.'

Amu stared down at his fallen body for just a moment, glistening with fresh blood, and breathed as though she'd been held underwater for days. Though relieved and victorious she might have been, the adrenaline in her body was threatening to leave her. The cutlasses were shaking in her palms, ears thumping incessantly. It took a few heartbeats for the deafening commotion in the rest of the courtyard to reach her again.

That is until a nearby soldier was near thrown off of his feet and faceplanted the ground about a foot away from where she was standing. A bloodstained dagger protruded from his back. Turning sharply, Amu saw the culprit stood out amongst the crowd.

"Ikuto!"

"Good evening." Ikuto's voice was silky and smooth even as he came over and calmly wrenched his dagger from the dead man's back. He wiped it briefly on his crimson coat. His gaze lost a little bit of its firmness as he lay eyes upon his beloved.

"Thank god!" Amu could barely keep herself from throwing her arms about him, but somehow she restrained herself.

Amu's heart skipped, still giddy and drunk in relief that his group had made it. Ikuto's face was smeared with blood and soot (among other questionable materials from their time out in the undergrowth of the jungle), but right then he looked as attractive as ever despite his disarray.

"That's just the kind of reaction I was hoping for." He said cheekily, chuckling as she fought an eye-roll.

Someone fired a shot close by then and they found themselves downwind of the acrid fumes. Pressing his hand to the small of her back, he pulled her a little way to the side where they found a small gathering. Ran, Miki, Suu and Dia were pressed up against an outhouse and Utau along with a young boy with blue hair were just joining them, having taken out a small group of easterners who'd been pursuing them.

Ran grasped her hand immediately: "Your Highness! We were so worried!"

Amu was quick to offer reassurance, but Utau brushed them off. "Never mind that!"

The blonde took in the mayhem around them. Nearly a third of the Red Coats still stood to fight, joined by their fellow comrades who had followed them from the docks. The pirates were fewer in number, so this was an admittedly impressive feat by anyone's standards, however their fatigue was beginning to torment them. Not all still stood to fight. Faintly, whistles could be heard in the distance and they were not familiar. With the realisation that the last of the patrols were returning to the fort, they swore amongst themselves. Time was running out.

Utau wiped the gore from her forehead, brushing away the hair that was stuck to her brows and shook her head; "We need to break free, Ikuto." She said. She sounded out of breath. "There's too many of them."

Normally, defeat would be a humiliation, however after the past forty-eight hours that they'd endured, Ikuto couldn't have cared less. He nodded without hesitation.

"You've read my mind. After all, we got just what we came for." And he smirked; "That's all your friends now, kid?"

The blue-haired boy nodded with a toothy kind of grin and with that the Captain took a deep breath, motioned for the others to stay close and let out a distinctive, low-toned whistle that reached the ears of all close by. They began to jog back out towards the action in the courtyard, blade swinging in his wake. Utau cut down four Red Coats as they went. The boy (whom Amu still had not spoken to) had his own machete and stuck valiantly close to the girls who in turn stayed by Amu's side. Ikuto was calling out to the pirates between short-lived skirmishes with a few rogue soldiers and, sure enough, they understood him immediately.

They needed to retreat. Gradually the buccaneers each abandoned their own individual battles and tried their best to push through towards the inner courtyard before reinforcements arrived. At some point, Kukai and the two pirates who'd been a part of the original scouting party joined them. At another, Ikuto was forced to fire his flintlock into the neck of a man who'd tried to ambush them all with a bayonet. Amu did a quick headcount of all the young'uns, feeling like a frantic mother who'd lost track of her children in the middle of a marketplace, and let out a grateful sigh of relief as Yaya ran over carrying Pepe in her arms (who had been busy biting the ankles of one of their enemies).

Finally they were all regrouped. Ikuto was yelling; ordering for them all to most out with haste; telling them to flee, to break into groups if necessary as they stole away through the trees, but to make for the Shining Black, for their lives depended on it! To their backs the remaining eastern soldiers were still advancing, following with firearms and swords aloft, although Amu was unsure whether they were following in pursuit or simply trying to drive them out now that their Commander had fallen.

They had just made it to the gate itself. A lone Red Coat atop the boundary wall had sprinted forth and tried to lower the heavy, iron-wrought bars to thwart their escape, but Ikuto's aim was true and he had but a few precious shots left. They watched as the soldier fell dead, his fallen form illuminated in the light of the moon as the stream of gunpowder dissipated, but it turned out that there was in fact a bigger threat standing between them and their freedoms.

A new, higher-pitched whistle and a cacophony of eastern voices announced the arrival of maybe four search parties who had all returned from their patrols. The soldiers clad all in red stood out like rubies upon a pearl necklace, snaking as they were in a half circle around the outside of the fort entrance, making to trap them in as wolves ensnare a sheep.

"Oh, you're joking!" Yaya's voice could be heard amidst the curses of their companions.

Amu thoroughly shared her sentiment as they stood back-to-back, trying in vain with the rest of the pirates to keep watch on all sides for the first attack. Nervousness was rising again in the pit of her stomach; smothering her breaths; choking her pulse in her throat. She had no idea how they would break free of the enemy's clutches. Even Utau looked utterly torn - voice imperceptibly strained as she urged the other members of their party to hold their ground…

But Amu could not see a way out.

Was this to be it? Was their already foolish endeavour about to be all for naught? For all their courage and valour? O', how cruel a fate it was to be, she thought with lament! Stood between Ikuto and Kukai, Amu took a mental pause to remind herself how grateful she was to have met her end (if this was truly to be it!) amongst such wonderful and welcoming company. As the troops closed in, the dim, orange light growing stronger as it rebounded off the keen edges of their swords, she stole a glance at the men either side of her in the hopes that their determination would ignite some renewed bravery of her own, for she could not deny that by this point she had been pushed to her limit…

Only Kukai didn't share Ikuto's focus, it appeared. Kukai's jaw was slackening, head cocked. Slowly Amu saw his eyes widen with what might have been some twisted excitement. She followed his gaze and immediately felt that same flicker of deviant delight (or perhaps relief) that he must have.

There, towards the left - set back a little from the main courtyard where the ramshackle arrangement of little buildings and outhouses begun - was a small structure. A couple of Red Coats emerged from inside, baldrics glinting and clanking under the weight of fresh, new powder flasks.

It was a magazine.

But of course, Amu thought! Why would there not have been a smaller store of arms nearby for the men left to guard the front gate of the fort? Even the King's men back at the palace in Seiyo kept their own provisions for drills and the like!

Oh, Amu understood now. They had found precisely what they needed: a devastating kind of distraction.

Kukai crouched, muscles coiled, looking ready to pounce.

"Do not stand down!" Ikuto was ordering his men in the background as the first few soldiers tried to break their defences. The Captain himself had already begun to fire his weapon. "Cut them all down! Make an exit!"

Beside Amu, Kukai grinned. "Oh…" He uttered, just low enough for her to hear. "We'll make our own exit alright."

"Kukai-!"

The words were barely out of Amu's mouth unbidden before he was off - quick as a flash! Cries came from their comrades who were by now wholly distracted as they locked swords with the eastern men, but Kukai was too determined to turn back now. He sprinted, dodging spears and rapiers with ease as he cut his way through the hoard of crimson. His target was set. A lantern was hanging on a peg beside the iron gate. Before the Red Coats had time to intercept he had it in his hands! He let out a yell in triumph, drew back his fist-

"Get down!"

The lantern trailed in a tiny, golden line as it arc'd through the sky and into its target.

'BOOM!'

The blast was almost deafening. Soldiers threw themselves to the ground, hands over ears as the powder kegs within the walls of the magazine ignited with fury. Dirt was flying in all directions. Many were struck down with wooden shrapnel sticking out of their fallen bodies. Kukai's aim had been true that night and he emerged from the ensuing dust cloud wincing, but triumphant as the courtyard was consumed in a fiery blaze. The pirates watched in awe, the blast reflecting in their eyes - singed by the wave of heat as the flames leapt out to torch the surrounding walls; nicked by flying splinters as they whizzed through the air.

But it was the chain reaction that was most deadly.

Kukai was still running, puffing and panting as he went, covered in muck, but shouting-

"Move! MOVE! RUN YA NUMBSKULLS!"

Amu remembered with a jolt of horror the size of the main armoury within those garrison walls. Oh, it was time to go, alright! Grabbing what girls she could, she turned on her heel and ran as quickly as her body allowed, followed quickly by the rest of the company as they broke through the wall of stricken soldiers. Far too aghast to retaliate with much precision, they did little to stop them, for at that moment the spark had been lit, consuming the walls, swallowing buildings, torching their quarters until at last it hit that remaining jackpot.

The following blast could be heard for miles out to sea. By the time the smoke had settled they would realise that it took out a quarter of the boundary wall - blown clean away, blasting wooden debris out into the bay, setting off rogue canons in its wake!

The fire remained hot and glowing on their tails for miles. The guards were beginning to cry out behind them. But it was too late.

They were off and into the darkness.

~.~.~