Seven Seas Treasure

~.~.~

"YOUR HIGHNESS!"

Tadase's world was but a blur. His mind was locked fast in a whirlwind - in a haze of colour and sound, yet all seemed to die upon the gale; all seemed bleak and desolate, despondent as the murky waters of the dock beneath his feet. The waters were lapping gently against the side of the quay. The spray escaped through the slats in the boards, lightly showering his cheek, but he could not feel it, for his head and heart - they both drifted, lost and detached and still he heard his own voice replaying in his head over and over and over again;

"YOUR HIGHNESS! YOUR HIGHNESS!"

"IKUTO!"

Yet her voice was shrill. Her voice drowned out all else even as she vanished from sight; even as his own conscience became lost to the world…

What was there here for him now? What lay here upon this blurry quay? What was there to lure him from his reverie - frozen; struck dumb with disbelief; too tightly wrapped in his own anguish to focus on anything but the shifting mirage around him. He could make sense of nothing - feel nothing - even though the wind cast intrinsic patterns before his eyes. He could hear the sea… Or, at least, he thought it was the sea… Or was it not some gigantic leviathan breathing beside the docks? Some monstrous being settling beneath the swell, swallowing all trace of pink, draining the life from these waters?

No… No, it must have been the sea, Tadase reasoned somewhere in the back of his head, for he could smell the salt…

But what did it matter? His mind could hardly keep up. His heart could barely beat on time. His breathing was only just deep enough for that scent of brine to register…

"Commander…"

Ah, and the gulls ahead - he saw them now. Finally he heard them, their cries echoing throughout the air. They moved as dark spots in his vision, yet he recognised their voices - recalled how their wings spread so stark against the blue of the sky; how they rose and fell and rose again on the wind so free and light, unburdened, untroubled by the weight of the world-

"Commander!"

Tadase blinked. Something seemed to shift inside his head. For a fleeting, split-second, he thought he saw one of the shadows all about him shift into something recognisable.

"Commander!"

And, slowly, Tadase forced himself to blink again and suddenly his vision became awash with a shade of purple so vibrant that he almost struggled to focus. He felt a hand come to rest upon his shoulder, saw shades of brilliant, bloody red and, finally, Tadase's eyes began to focus. Frowning faintly, he watched his vision begin to shift and shape and, as one waking from a deep, all-consuming dream, he murmured;

"Fujisaki..?"

And Nagihiko's voice was soothing. Nagi's voice was gentle; it was soft and sensitive and so, so suddenly grounding that in a second Tadase was overwhelmed as the rush overcame him - as the scene oh-so quickly came flooding back. The world returned full and fast, punching him as a bullet in the chest. He steadied himself on his staff. Suddenly his feet lay firmly upon solid ground; suddenly he felt the breeze on his cheeks; he heard the chattering and the squawking of his fellow officers by the waters edge. His heart was pounding; his lungs burning; the world grew alive - vivid and tangible and too close for comfort.

But, above all, Tadase heard the guard's voice in his ear. He heard Nagihiko's breath - heard his apprehension and the steady beat of his own heart in his ears - as he said;

"Commander," Nagihiko began, looking earnestly into his eyes; "What are our orders?"

Nagi's hazel eyes were wide, yet they were nervous - laced with trepidation - as he waited on his Commander's order. Tadase opened his mouth (though what he planned to say he had no clue), let out a half-breath, but he could not answer. Despite his abrupt return to reality he felt as though his world had been turned upside-down. In just a single afternoon all had come crashing down around him so violently that he almost doubted its truth. It could not be. He kept repeating that same thing over and over and over again in his head, for it truly could not be! Her Highness - Amu, his Amu! - could not have thrown herself headfirst into those waters. She could not have fled from him, following the footprints of a pirate, yelling that fiend's unforgivable name as she plunged so recklessly into the deep, throwing away all abandon…

Faintly, Tadase heard Nagihiko's voice in his ear again and knew at once that he was in danger of drifting once more. He shook his head. Finally, in an attempt to draw himself back firmly into the present, he shifted his gaze. The sea spread out blue and boundless before him.

And there, in the distance, he saw sails. Black sails. Black as the night, billowing in the breeze, stark against the whitest diamond any had ever seen-

"The Shining Black!" one of his guards exclaimed, his mouth agape and face pale as he stared out at the horizon. "She is fleeing!"

"What of our fleet?" one of their companions along the quay burst out, whirling back to look at them all. "We must after them!"

"B-But, sir…" The youngest soldier said; "O-Our ships have been sent out for the search! The Emerald Line is our only craft remaining and she still awaits repairs!"

The man beside him gasped. "What?" he asked breathlessly, the colour draining from his face, for they all knew how utterly fruitless that two-decker had fared against the mighty pirate frigate. "No… It cannot be! What of the Shooting Star? The Lorelei? The Holy Crown? Ah! - The Seraphic Charm! She has been berthed in our waters ever since the Commander-"

"Nay, sire! She was sent out not a week ago to accompany His Majesty's dignitaries to the east! She and the others were called upon in pursuit of Her Highness's-"

"After them."

And the young soldier stopped his babbling, his mouth still hung open mid-sentence, for the Commander's voice cut across them as a knife, as dangerous and furious as a hurricane at sea;

"After them." The Commander said. His eyes flashed, alight as a fire in the midday sun, yet this time his voice had lowered - unusually monotone; dulled, for in that moment all reason left him. He did not know what to think. He did not know what to feel. All he knew was that she was retreating - that ship and his fianceé - they were retreating again! - and that, if he did not hurry, she would forever be lost to him. Never again would he see such shades of pink in the same light nor gaze upon gold with the same sense of awe… But, most of all, he would never understand… And, for all his efforts, he could not for the life of him express that growing turmoil into words as he uttered;

"We must be after them."

Nagihiko must have been the only man among them to sense his unrest. He must have been the only one to see deep into the depths of those darkened eyes; to sense the tension sparking deep within him as the beginnings of an electric storm; to feel the heat radiating from his anguished heart. He stepped forward urgently, his brows furrowed, his expression concerned; "Commander-"

"Send out the Emerald Line!" Tadase managed, though he was not sure how, for his breath was short and his words fell heavy upon his ears; "She is the only one left… Send her! Send whatever merchants may be called upon! Send messages to our fleets! We must…"

"Commander Hotori…"

Nagihiko's hand fell upon his shoulder again. Tadase shrugged it off.

"We must…" he gasped, his chest tight, his vision blurring - the blue of the sea forever lost to glowing, pastel pink; "We must find her..!"

~.~.~

When their feet finally lay firm upon the deck once more - when finally that heavy, lingering fear lifted and all around the sea spread far and wide - the atmosphere was light with relief; as fresh and free as the floating clouds above. A great weight seemed to lift from the heart of every man aboard as they hurried to help their companions up and out of their little boat, popping up over the gangplank, hauled up by many helping hands.

"Cheers lads!" Kukai cried, grinning from ear-to-ear as he sidled past the gangway. "Well, alright, gentlemen! Look who's back!"

And he raised a fist in triumph, punching the sky as the deck around him exploded, the crew cheering and clapping and breaking out into victorious song as they watched Ikuto and his group of men finally clamber up the ladder and stand once more, safe and sound, on the deck of the Shining Black. The breeze seemed to blow stronger about them. Their sails picked up on the spars. For a moment, the light of the sun pierced through the wisps of lingering cloud and Ikuto's eyes softened, gazing fondly upon these now-merry men as they came together once again. His cohorts were clapping along, one or two of them dancing joyfully on the spot, overwhelmed with relief and drunk on the life they had almost been denied. And, not for the first time, Ikuto could not deny that his heart was warmed.

Ikuto made his way through the crowd, chuckling, receiving many handshakes and hardy pats on the back for his peril. "An admirable effort, men," he said, smiling what was probably the most genuine smile they had ever seen grace his features. He jabbed a thumb towards the coastline and immediately leapt up to the bulwark. "Many thanks I'll give you later, but let's get going before we celebrate! They'll be pursuing us any minute!"

Their agreement was deafening. There was no time to lose. Whistles were blowing; men were yelling, but there was not an ounce of fear among them now. There was no terror - none of that heart-wrenching dread that had plagued them these past few days - for even though the line of the town still lay plain in sight nothing could outshine their glee now. Nothing could drown out their jubilant cries - not the distant chime of town bells nor the indignant cries of the guard carried over from the dockside - as they stood with their crewmates beside them once more, triumphant and giddy and lifted with such a delicious renewed hope the likes of which they had never tasted before. They finally seemed to come into their own, taking charge and working as one, for the first time unhindered by their former Captain's shadow. Finally the sea was limitless. Finally this ship was theirs to command. Kukai was barking orders with such outstanding confidence and authority that Ikuto was almost bowled away, but he had no time to dwell on it. Time was fleeting. Every second was a second in which their newly-escaped danger grew yet closer all over again. He lunged for the ropes, falling in line and hauling on the sails, directing the other men as he went. He breathed an almighty sigh of relief as they billowed, their shadows falling cool and refreshing across the deck. Ikuto turned to the crowd, scanning the flood of familiar faces for any sign of rusty-red or the blonde of his little sister's pigtails, for they had yet to assign a new helmsman and either of them would have had more experience at the wheel than he had…

But then, as he shielded his eyes from the sun and looked back out over the blue of the water in vain, he saw no red - no blonde nor olive green…

Ikuto saw pink.

And his heart faltered. Too quickly, the terror returned.

"Wait!" Ikuto gasped out, throwing the rope carelessly aside, scrambling back across the deck and flying towards the gangway, crying out as he went; "Wait!" And in his head he cursed freely, but not a word left his lips. They died on his tongue; there was a lump stuck fast in his throat; he could feel his pulse pounding incessantly throughout his body as he saw Amu bobbing about in her little rowboat on the waves, flailing uselessly, her cheeks pink with exertion and her oars spitting seafoam into her face. For the briefest of seconds, Ikuto felt his entire being wash with horror. For a moment, he felt his heart tighten in his chest… But there was no time. There was no looking back. If Amu meant to pursue the ship, then pursue she would and, by the looks of it, she had come so far now that she would never have the energy to row all the way back… And so he cried;

"Amu!"

Her form was distant, the features of her face faint, but Ikuto saw a flash of gold as brilliant a newborn sunrise as her eyes widened. "Ikuto?" - (His heart skipped a beat.) - "Ikuto!"

Then, caught by surprise and battling against the growing tide, Amu's little rowboat began to shake. Before Ikuto could so much as call back to her he was met with the sight of an almighty splash and a glimpse of pastel pink retreating beneath the rolling waves. The boat bobbed back to the surface belly-up. Ikuto immediately leapt up onto the top of the bulwark, feeling about ready to throw himself in after her, unable to stop the frightened edge that broke his voice as he called her name;

"Amu!"

But no sooner had she disappeared beneath the water, Ikuto saw her rise back up again. Amu drifted towards the sky and broke the surface as a bloom beneath the waves. He breathed an almighty sigh of relief, feeling his panic fading, and watched her beat against the sea, spluttering against the spray. He looked over fleetingly at a couple of men beside him, but they were way ahead of him. They were over the side and into a boat of their own before he even had to utter a word. And it was probably for the best too, for Ikuto felt as though all strength had been drained from him - all energy spent in that moment of terror - so that he could only watch, breathless, as his companions rowed towards her and brought the trembling Princess back to the ship.

With every inch that closed between them, Ikuto felt his will grow stronger - felt his blood grow hot; his courage strengthen. When their little boat finally came to bob beside the frigate and the Princess hoisted up to grab the ladder, Ikuto knelt down through the gangway, leaning as far down as his body would allow, and when his fingertips brushed hers he grabbed her hand so tight that she feared he would never let go… But Amu didn't mind. A rush of warmth spread throughout her chest. She felt as though a missing piece of her heart had filled - as though that gaping hole that had been allowed to grow in the absence of her Humpty Lock was finally shrinking; shrinking and warming like nothing else could - not the presence of her family nor the touch of the Commander nor even the comforts of her long-lost home. And, as Ikuto hauled her bodily onto the deck, soaked and dripping, the two of them were reluctant to ever let go.

"Amu!" the pirate released a breath he'd been holding unawares and took her by the arms, peering through hair drenched through to catch a glimpse of glorious gold, feeling his fear falter, suddenly growing bolder as the heat of her skin rushed fast against his own. "Amu, what the- Amu, are you alright? What what the hell were you-"

"I-Ikuto," Amu gasped, blowing drops of water from her lips and panting; "Ikuto, I'm sorry!" she burst out, her eyes wide and pleading, her cheeks as pink as her hair. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't stay! I couldn't…"

Apparently, it seemed that she could not find the breath to continue, but that didn't matter. Neither could Ikuto. He closed his eyes, willing his pulse to return to normal. They were quiet for a moment. For a brief while, he just watched her regain her breath, shaking her dripping skirt off onto the deck. Then he shook his head; "You shouldn't-"

"No… No, Ikuto..!" the Princess cut in. A sudden sternness overcame her. Amu frowned, her grip on his arm tightening, a sudden ferocity coursing throughout her veins. "This…" Amu shook a few lingering drops of water from her fringe and frowned; "This is my business too!" She spat so fiercely that Ikuto blinked, taken aback. "He has the Humpty Lock! He has it! And, if it takes me forever, I want- I-I-want to… T-To find…"

"Amu," Ikuto's pulse quickened horribly as he watched her waver, her shaking knees growing unsteady beneath her. He made to rest her against the gunwale, but Amu shook him off.

"He won't have it! He won't get away with this!" the Princess said. "He won't…"

There was a pause - a moment of uneasy silence as his gaze met hers. All around them the crew of the Shining Black quite kindly averted their gaze as Ikuto looked down upon her, drenched and chilled and gasping for breath… And then he sighed. But it was a sigh of relief. It was a sigh of welcome disbelief. Ikuto knew he should have been furious. He knew that he should have been beside himself - consumed by ire; run through with frustration; he should have shaken the girl in his arms until she saw some sense and cast her back in that little boat to drift back to the shore where she belonged - where she would be safe…

But, for some reason that Ikuto couldn't quite put his finger on, he felt none of that. He felt no anger - no remorse… Besides, he could feel that later. He could let those emotions overcome him later on - on some other day perhaps when all was well again and their peril didn't still lay quite so close to their door. Because, for now, it didn't matter. For now, all Ikuto could bring himself to feel was relief. Gently, Ikuto reached out and brushed her sodden hair from her face, letting his fingertips trail over her skin, cupping her cheek as delicately as he'd ever done. And then he shook his head.

"Thank God you made it…"

He sounded breathless - drained; like a man about to take his final breath… But happy - glad. He sounded as though his every wish had been answered as he lowered his head and whispered, muttering as if in prayer;

"Thank God…"

And before Amu could utter a single breath, Ikuto's arms were around her again - as warm and comforting as they had been beside the docks, yet firmer; tighter; so desperate and longing that the Princess honestly believed he would never let her go again.

And then he whispered, so low and unsteady - so slight that she was not even sure she was meant to hear it;

"Don't ever… Don't do that to me… Never again..."

"Ikuto…" Amu whispered, voice breaking, yet deep within her chest her soul was soaring high and free, dancing amidst the breeze, fluttering beside the white diamond that flickered against the clouds overhead.

But, of course, their moment together did not last for long. Amu pulled away first, reluctantly leaving Ikuto's arms and gazing back into his eyes. The Princess opened her mouth, went to run a hand through midnight hair, but it was then that the cry rang out around them, echoing down from the crow's nest above and resounding across the decks;

"Shooters!" the pirate cried; "Shooters atop the cliffs!"

Every pirate's attention snapped to port - every man allowed their eyes to dart towards the line of the cliffs on the edge of the bay, rising grey and green high above them, yet their top was far and out of reach. Ikuto stepped slowly away from Amu then and the two of them stood beside the bulwark, squinting into the sky. Just on the edge of the headland they saw faint, grey figures wading through the grass. Several of them jerked back violently and seconds later they saw the sea ripple soundlessly, marked by bullets, sizzling for but a second before succumbing to the tide. Amu felt herself frown. Ikuto smirked.

"Useless," he murmured. He recognised these men more clearly now - saw their coloured uniform stand out against the greenery. Tadase must have sent men up the cliffs in the hopes of hewing them down from above, but they were too far away - too puny and insignificant against the hulk of the frigate. They could barely even hear the shots as more bullets rained harmlessly down into the water metres away. "How futile," he said, louder this time. "But we must away! Hoist the sails!"

It was very fortunate for them that day that the winds were good - that their sails were full and the breeze behind them - for the land grew further and further away with every passing second, retreating as the ship made off into the wide beyond. But still Amu frowned - still she felt some sudden unease stir deep within her gut. She looked over at the blue-haired pirate and shook her head.

"It will not be just them."

Ikuto looked hesitant for a moment. Then he sighed heavily. "No. It isn't. Look."

And he pointed aft - back towards the line of the land and the ripple of the sea in their wake - and Amu saw them. Many ships were drifting out from the bay - schooners and sloops and vessels no larger than the two-decker they had fought the night their Captain had fled. Their sails were dirty; their crews feeble; and perhaps over half of them were weighted by net and line - by fishing equipment that dragged out languidly behind them, casting new waves upon the waters. They were no match for the Shining Black - not one of them would so much as make a dent in the mighty ship's side, Amu realised, yet as these crafts drew closer and their men more prominent against the masts, she saw the heat of the blaze in their eyes - bright and burning as the torches that had burned that night in the square - heard the edge in their voices carried over by the wind and she knew then that these men had no fear. They had no care - no consideration - for themselves. Amu recognised that madness. It was the same reckless ire that had fuelled their rabid witch hunt - that had had them dragging out that old gallows from the dust and flocking to it as birds to carrion…

These men did not care that they were of no match to the Shining Black. And Amu thought that the man beside her saw it too, for his eyes grew sad and sorrowful as they approached.

"Oh no…" Ikuto breathed, his chest heavy, his calm retreating. "No, don't do it..."

But it was not to be.

The first they heard was the whistle of the wind and the ripping of the calm as the first cannonball whizzed through the air. Every man jumped at the sound of the impact, though in reality it had been a poor shot. These assailants were inexperienced and barely worth their salt, but it was to the pirate's fortune. These were no naval men. This battle would be one-sided, yet, exhausted from this entire ordeal, the crew of the Shining Black still flinched as they heard the distant sound of oncoming fire. Another, even poorer aimed hunk of iron came smouldering from a merchant ship towards them, landing barely within reach and the pirates took a moment to let their fear overcome them. Several men ducked beneath the gunwale; Kukai cursed and lunged behind the mizzen mast; others were yelling, trembling as further shots fired uselessly over the horizon. Amu all of a sudden felt herself enclosed in a warm embrace - pulled towards a firm chest and cradled in Ikuto's arms as he turned his back on the line of the coast, bracing himself as if for some sudden impact, and, though his touch was comforting, she for a moment felt that same terror course through her blood too.

But it was brief. Just for a moment they indulged in that blind panic every corsair faces under the heat of the flame… And then, determined and steadfast and as functioning as a well-oiled machine, they set to work.

Ikuto released Amu from his grasp and turned towards the rest of the shellshocked, yet recovering crew. "Flee!" He cried. "Flee whilst we still can, but do not harm a single man on those vessels!" And his eyes were burning, alight with resolve, as he ordered; "Do not attack! Our quarrel is not with them!"

And even as the ships drew closer - even as Amu watched a group of retired sailors dragging an old, rusty cannon into place on their battered sloop, readying their powder, aiming straight for the pirate's hull - even as the danger closed in around them, still Ikuto yelled;

"We cannot kill these men!"

But his words were being drowned, consumed by ash and smoke as a misshapen, makeshift cannonball flew towards them and exploded with a wave of heat against the Shining Black's side. Amu was thrown against the bulwark, stunned, ducking and dodging as several bullets suddenly flew through the air about her. But she managed to scramble away, crawling towards the starboard side and leaning over the edge. The impact was not a devastating one, but it seemed that it had scraped their side. Several cannon ports had been blown open, wood splintering down into the sea below, and men were fighting to keep their guns from rolling into the depths beneath them. Behind her, Amu heard Ikuto's boots thundering across the deck, throwing back the hatchway and calling down into the darkness to check for casualties. Fortunately, it seemed that there were none, but Amu held her breath nonetheless as their assailants primed yet more powder, their eyes glinting demonically in the sunlight as they took their shot.

"Starboard aim!"

Amu barely had time to finish her warning before the air exploded once more and the smell of soot and smoke reached her nose. She and the surrounding pirates watched in horror as a cannon ball flew sailing through the air and clipped the edge of their stern. Faintly, the Princess heard the shatter of glass and a distant cry ring out from the cabins aft. It caught her off guard for a good minute or so, for their voice sounded distinctly feminine. With a jarring jolt Amu remembered then those sobs - those sorrowful, anguished cries that had kept her up night after night in her own little cabin - and her heart pounded with fear. She looked around frantically. Only now did she realise that someone was missing.

'Utau!'

Immediately she was up on her feet, dashing across the deck, ducking beneath the exhausted crew who worked until their fingers bled, struggling to gain speed to outrun their attackers. Amu ran towards the cabins, throwing back the doors, ignoring Ikuto's desperate voice as he called after her. But she could not stop - she could not pause to listen, for the closer she came to the end of the corridor the stronger the smell of smoke filled the air. The Captain's cabin door was thrown open, chains slithering against the deck as the ship rocked incessantly on unsteady waters, and Amu's heart was rent with panic as her imagination wrought all sorts of devilry in her head. Images sprung forth of Ikuto's sister laying stunned and bloodied on the floor of the cabin, glass flying about her hair as the cannonfire raged on outside.

But, fortunately, Amu was blessed with a particularly overactive imagination.

"Utau!"

The blonde's name passed her lips just as the woman herself appeared. The cabin door to her left (which she was sure still haunted her nightmares, for it was there from whence came all those sorry sobs) flew open, bursting beside her with all the force of the surrounding cannons, and Utau collided dead into her chest, eyes alert and wild with fear. She stopped only a moment to steady herself. Amu cried out in joyous relief and flung her arms around the woman's neck;

"Utau!"

She felt Utau stiffen for a moment, but that was brief - a reaction that quickly gave in to shock. Utau blinked, slackening in the Princess's grasp. "Amu?" she shook her head lightly, cautiously as if trying to wake herself from a dream, for she had thought that this woman had long passed - that she had left this ship to never return and yet here she was once again, pulling back to look into her eyes and grinning thankfully.

"Thank goodness!"

"What are you doing-"

"Utau, are you hurt?" Amu cut in urgently, taking the blonde by the shoulders as firmly as she dared. Her eyes were wide with alarm and her voice was shrill as she said; "It's the merchants! The navy has not enough ships - the townsfolk are pursuing us! Ikuto is-"

"Ikuto!" Utau gasped - her expression softening quite unlike Amu had ever seen before. She faltered, staggering back against the corridor. Her voice broke; "Ikuto? They did it? He's alive?"

Amu opened her mouth to speak, her expression glowing, when all of a sudden there was another almighty blast from somewhere outside. Tremors travelled through the planks. It felt as though it had struck somewhere near their forecastle, but it didn't matter because the two were thrown aside yet again, smacking hard and fast into the wall. The door to the Captain's cabin banged furiously shut, the chains lashing out like whips. Utau's ankle was smacked, but, though she winced, she somehow managed to stand. Amu was blown away by her resilience.

"We should have lost them by now…" Utau managed between gasps, picking herself up off the floor and staggering back down the length of the corridor. Then she turned towards the Princess. Her gaze was suddenly so determined and piercing that Amu felt it radiating from her like a cleansing flame. Utau held out her hand and yanked her to her feet. "Come on!"

And Amu had to fight back a sudden smile, nodding furiously. Her breath caught in her throat as she followed, her spirit lifted by that new, hopeful gleam in the blonde woman's eye.

When they reemerged into the sunlight, a cloud of smoke was lifting on the starboard side, the last of the seaspray beginning to settle below the hull. Men were picking themselves up off the deck and scrambling away, leaping to the line and capstan, recovering after what looked to be another close hit. Amu and Utau pushed through. The Princess saw Utau's expression falter for the briefest of seconds, for, amidst the chaos - just visible through the lifting steam and the haze of the sun and the onslaught of ragged, patchy sails - they saw it. A hint of green - striking and unmistakeable.

The Emerald Line was upon them once again… And she was gaining speed fast - the wind billowing in her sails, fluttering amidst the steam.

Utau turned, pigtails flying. "The Emerald Line!" she barked to some poor passerby. "What are we doing sat here?" she demanded. "Act fast! We might outrun her yet!"

Amu truly hoped so, but somehow she could not quite bring herself to voice that thought, for her eyes were transfixed by the sight of that frigate gliding smoothly towards them - her sails still charred and her decks still bloody, but yet she sailed onwards, cruising across the waters, her prow cutting into the line of the sea and splitting the waves as she advanced upon them like an oncoming storm. Swift and spry she flew from the line of merchant vessels lagging on the horizon and, though her repairs had clearly been hasty and her service unexpected, this time she appeared to them different. This time she was no mere two-decker - a dwarf in comparison. This time she was no underling of some greater naval force. No... This time she was a formidable opponent, for she was full of fury and propelled by the fires of some hellish hatred that they could not begin to fathom. And, as Amu looked back across the deck, she saw the pirates quail. Kukai cursed;

"Hoist them sails, lads!" He cried shrilly, baring his teeth at the men amongst the lines. "She'll be havin' us if we don't hurry!"

There was a brief scuffle - a sudden rise in the tone of their voices - and a race to the line of the sails when, cool and calm, a voice spoke up among them;

"No." Ikuto said and his voice halted almost everyone in their tracks. "Let her." And then he smirked, malevolent and devious, and for a moment Amu felt as though she was being given a taste of his darker side - the side that had adapted to this pirate's life; that had had to conform to his place amongst this buccan crew; that had fought so fiercely to survive under his stepfather's rein and against all odds survived. It was criminal. It was born of some unsatisfied need for swift and sudden retribution… And Amu wasn't entirely sure that he didn't deserve it. As if to prove her point, Ikuto almost snarled as he paced the line of the deck, swinging his dagger expertly in his hand, letting it catch the sun and shine menacingly in his eyes. "These men shall share a taste of iron if they so wish."

"Should we fire on 'em now, Tsukiyomi?" a pirate in the hatchway yelled.

Ikuto continued to glower at the approaching Emerald even as he responded, his voice grave; "Only if they think to fire first."

As it turned out, of course, neither side had to wait for long. All the while she had been pursuing them, leading the little line of inadequate troops behind her, priming her cannons and freeing up her hold for bound and tethered buccan men. And so, as Amu had suspected, it was not long before they began their assault.

An almighty clamour had the Princess clutching her head, covering her ringing ears as the first cannonball whistled through the air towards them. The shot landed harmlessly, yet only feet away from their stern, but it was all Ikuto or any of the other men needed. Ikuto jabbed his dagger in the direction of the hatchway and gave the order;

"Fire!"

His response was a hasty "Yes, sir!" and a series of commands, echoing down from the gun decks below, and only a minute or so later Amu felt the planks begin to tremble; heard the sizzle of powder and rope beneath her feet; she thought she saw the sea begin to steam as the ship exploded beneath them. Three cannonballs flew through the air at once, each whistling more furiously than the last, and before Amu had a chance to follow their path the Emerald Line was being rocked violently beneath the force of the blast. She did not think that they had landed any critical hit, but she saw men scatter along her deck, ducking beneath the bulwarks as she moved to show them her broadside, and the pirate's faces were alight with mischief - victorious smirks spreading about the deck as candles springing through shadow. Utau leant down through the hatchway;

"Again! Fire!"

Amu quickly realised their plot. The Shining Black had more guns than their two-decker - their reloading time far faster and more efficient - and so the men beneath the deck rotated, switching cannons whilst the others were primed and remade, stuffing iron and powder into those deadly devices faster than these naval men could pick themselves up off their feet. Thoroughly unawares they were caught as their second onslaught rent the air, rocking their ship and effectively undoing any effort to compose themselves. The Princess was almost ashamed of them. These were her father's men. She'd seen them do far better in battle practice many times before and yet the moment they were faced down by a single pirate ship (though damaged and outnumbered they were) they fell apart. If she ever made it home with some semblance of status still intact, she would drill her forces for all they were worth.

"Hoist the canvas!"

Amu was drawn from her train of thought as she felt the ship begin to pick up speed. She looked up to the sky and saw the sails swell to blot out the sun, casting shadow across the deck. The Emerald Line was apparently stunned and their merchant pursuers were by now well out of range. The Shining Black teetered on her side, making to cut diagonally across her opponent's path. Utau looked more on edge than Amu had ever seen her as she organised their men into position for a speedy getaway, yet Ikuto still clung fast to the ratlines, his line of sight still directly fixed on the two-decker, dropping his gaze only briefly down to the hatch where one of his men still awaited orders to pass down to their companions below. He looked as though he was waiting - his shoulders tense, his muscles twitching; as a coiled spring; as a fox waiting to pounce upon its prey…

But only when they were almost completely out of range did he think to cry;

"Fire!"

And when he did almost every cannon on the starboard side burst into life all at once. Amu was rocked unexpectedly against the bulwark, caught unawares and knocked breathless. The pirates stumbled, clinging onto their lines for dear life, watching with held breath as countless balls of smoke and iron flew like a flock of birds across the waters, the sea hissing in their wake, writhing as monsters beneath the waves…

The Emerald Line was helpless. The first cannonball struck her hull off-centre - a non-critical hit, but a hefty blow nonetheless. The second struck almost precisely the same spot, tearing through wood and steel until her portside was but a gaping hole, hanging slack-jawed and steaming… But it was the following blasts that ended her. Her prow was hit full-on - already damaged from their clash some nights before - and Amu saw a chunk of beams snap like twigs beneath her waterline; saw the sea begin to bubble and foam as the waters rushed to fill her hollow innards. Too many hits did she sustain to count - too much smoke and steam enshrouded her for any of them to guess with precision, but soon enough they saw she was foundering, slumping as some fallen beast headfirst into the water and through the veil of carnage Amu watched wide-eyed as her masts began to crumble, tangled in line, tearing apart her sails as easily as parchment. Caught in a current she began to drift, crunching sideways into several merchant ships, but Amu could watch no more, for the breeze was lifting and the sails rising and as the Emerald Line began to fade into the distance - as she found herself carried off once more across the waves and into the blue beyond - she tore her eyes away from the line of the coast and turned towards the endless horizon; to the glare of the sun on the water and the fly of seaspray, for here her restless heart was soothed and all her worries lessened.

And behind them the Commander stood atop the headland, his body stiff against the swaying grass, immovable amidst the wind that, even as he watched, pushed that flighty vessel and that treasured smudge of pastel pink further and further out of reach - beyond his grasp, tantalising, teasing…

And, as he watched - as Tadase stood as a statue, grey and motionless against the blue sky and the line of the sea - he felt something sordid blossom in his heart. Something seemed to come upon him - a newborn seed planted deep and dark within the confines of his restless soul - and he did not like it one bit, for it was a seed of doubt; of distress and disbelief and he knew that where such foreboding darkness spread, despair was soon to follow. It would follow as a storm to a gale; as thunder to lightning; it would spread across this land and before the sun had set all would be marred beyond repair.

But, for now, the sun still shone. The gulls still cried. In the distance, Tadase watched the last trace of black sail and white diamond slip below the horizon and vanish into nothingness - as ever a spirit; as ever untouchable and otherworldly as the legends said… And he thought to himself then that these bright and sunny days were over.

~.~.~

When the land had left their sight - when the sun shone brighter and the waves grew calmer; when the breeze had carried them beyond recall and all their beating hearts once more quelled - there was a moment of silence. A hush had come upon the deck - a welcome, awaited pause for breath, steady and untroubled…

And then, as the pirates of the Shining Black began to compose themselves - as they wiped their brows and shook their heads and revelled in the relief of the closest escape they had had in years - but one whisper broke the quiet;

"Freedom…"

Amu could not tell which man had uttered it, nor could she describe just how suddenly it lifted up her heart, but soon enough that single word - so struck with awe and relief and hope - had travelled as a wave of murmurs across the deck, flitting from man to man, whistling through them as an ocean current until-

"FREEDOM!"

It was the most glorious victory cry that Amu had ever heard and soon enough the crowd was consumed. The uproar was almighty; their celebration as joyful and merry as any gathering she had ever seen - greater and more uplifting than all the fancy balls and war parades she had ever attended back at the palace. The men were smiling, grinning from ear-to-ear, their faces alight with glee - ecstatic in their triumph! - and it was so contagious that Amu found herself grinning with them, for this was truly freedom! She laughed aloud as the men began to cheer; as they began to dance; clapping their hands and slapping each other on the backs, yelling loud and clear enough for even the clouds to hear, for there was no danger here - no opponents on their tail to hear their cries - and they were free to sing as they wished. The atmosphere - it was like wine: full and sweet and rich with ecstasy. Their song was enchantment at its finest, for it was impossible not to sing along. Their euphoria spread throughout her limbs and freed her heart - sent her soul soaring far up in the sky above - as she was enticed to dance along with them. One man grabbed her by the arm and spun her; the buccan she had spared in the market square dipped her playfully and whispered a thanks in her ear; Kukai took her hand, had her twirl beneath his arm and with him she swayed until her head spun - until this ship and it's deck and all it's men became a blur, dizzying yet dazzling, her heart beating joyfully as she swept from man to man, losing herself in the rhythm, letting her head grow lost in the thrill of the moment. At some point, Kukai spun her again, gave her a sneaky sort of wink and cast her out of the fray towards the bulwark…

And it was there that she found herself at once enthralled in cobalt blue, melting into the strength of Ikuto's arms as they snaked around her waist. Amu's breath caught in her throat. Her cheeks grew pink. All at once everything came flooding back like a wave upon her heart.

"Amu…"

Ikuto's voice was utterly drowned amidst the rambunctious cries of the crew around them, but Amu caught it clearer than anything she had ever heard in her life. Her mouth grew dry, the words stuck fast in her throat as she heard the waver in his tone. Ikuto's expression was unreadable. It was pale and shadowed and utterly spent after such an ordeal - after spending the last few days locked within a whirlwind from which he had never thought to escape… But there was a softness in his gaze. There was a beating in his chest. His eyes for the first time looked clear again - their light unhindered and breathtaking as a wash of starlight spread across dark waters.

"I-Ikuto…" Amu mumbled, though in truth she had no idea what to say to him, for her mind and mouth were working at two different rates. She felt herself flush. Something was tugging at the bottom of her gut, stretching at the strings of her heart until she shrank beneath his gaze, for she knew deep down that she deserved whatever scolding was sure to come. She knew that any criticism he held was just and true…

But, at the same time, Amu stood firm. Whatever he had to throw at her… She would take it. Because it was right; it was her own resolve; this endeavour and all its perils were hers to brave beside him…

"I-I know what you must think, Ikuto…" Amu began tentatively, edging away from his grasp only slightly. She looked down uneasily. "But I mean it… I'm staying here. I'm staying with you." And when she looked back up into his eyes her face was aglow in the blaze of the summer sun. "We'll find him Ikuto. We won't let him lay his greedy hands on that Lock for much longer."

Ikuto was quiet for a moment, his face glazed in what might have been some faded memory or some deep thought, but soon enough it was gone. Soon enough the breeze whistled through the sails and washed that wistful expression from his thin face. What was left was some great contentment - a welcome serenity - and Ikuto's lips twitched. A rumbling chuckle resounded throughout his chest. Amu's cheeks grew pink as the pirate hummed, drawing her closer, embracing her in a hold so secure that instantly her nerves were quelled. If she hadn't been such a woman of pride, Amu might have swooned. As it was, she'd be dead before she admitted aloud that just his touch had her head reeling; her heart pounding; that somehow just standing here beside him - feeling that warmth and breath and the callouses on his fingers - made her feel as grounded as a solid oak; as though all was well; as though she hadn't just leapt recklessly into the sea and succumbed to the infamous 'l'appel du vide', as if she hadn't so impulsively broken all bonds and left Tadase and her family and all remnants of her former life foundering in her wake.

Here on this deck, Amu felt complete. And something that had long been lost was alight in Ikuto's eyes again as he looked upon her.

"Well," Ikuto began, looking as though he was choosing his words particularly carefully as he trailed a hand along her jaw, tilting her chin towards the sun. Amu tried desperately not to shiver, tried not to let his touch distract her as he hummed; "Never did I expect such a determined captive…"

His eyes gleamed so mischievously that Amu scoffed. "'Captive'." She rolled her eyes. "If that's what you want to call it, fine. But this captive won't be caged so easily."

Ikuto raised an eyebrow, that pull tugging at his lips once again. "No... I have seen that."

Amu could not help the breath that left her lips as he leant in closer. She couldn't help the thudding in her ears nor the lump in her throat as Ikuto's forehead met hers, his hand against her cheek, and suddenly she was back in the dark in those damp, depressing cells, leaning through the cold iron bars, an horrible chill shivering down her spine at the unwelcome memory.

Ikuto sighed;

"I don't deserve you, Amu."

And just like that the spell was broken and the two of them were once more aboard the Shining Black, all darkness and despair cast aside and washed away by the rolling waves, light and free…

And then, as if that wasn't enough, Amu saw him smile. It spread like a sunrise across his face - fresh and new and warmer than any she'd ever seen, his eyes sparkling like stars caught in the haze before the dawn. This was not that smile that had brought her to tears in the cells - that foreshadowed something terrible and immediate to come… This smile was heartfelt. This smile was infinite and in the joy of the moment Amu's heart was caught up in all the possibilities yet to come - of her freedom on this ship; of his presence by her side; of all the paths that lay and stretched before them, leading off into the sunrise, into dawns new and nightfalls enchanting. Amu laughed lightly, giggling as their noses touched, her breath intermingling with his. In the end, she settled, leaning into his side, feeling her heart flutter as he held her close. Her breathing steadied. She felt him relax - truly relax as she had not seen in weeks… And then she felt him kiss her forehead.

"Thank you."

The roar of the crowd was so deafening, that Amu could barely hear it… But hear it she did. Her heart beat wildly. Overjoyed, Amu threw her arms around him, laughing freely, burying her face in his shirt and revelling in it all - in his warmth; in his hold; in the rise and fall of his chest as she felt him chuckle and, suddenly, everything seemed to fall into place…

But there was just one thing missing.

"You don't have to say it…"

Amu felt the crazy beat in her chest falter.

"Because I feel it too…"

She pulled away quickly. Suddenly her stomach was flipping, nerves beginning to pool in her gut like fabled serpents of the sea. Ikuto frowned. Amu decided to tread carefully.

"I…" Amu bit her lip in thought, her brows furrowing so adorably that Ikuto could barely keep his composure. She flushed for a good few moments, absently trailing her fingers down his arm, stuttering; "I-I… I want to say it this time, Ikuto…"

And the Princess looked up at him expectantly, like a child awaiting a parent's response. A silence stretched between them during which Ikuto made no move to answer and Amu wondered for a moment whether or not he would realise. She watched his face closely for any sign of rejection - for any fury or flicker of fear that she dreaded would follow. Never had she felt such nerves before. Never had she laid her heart so bare upon her sleeves. Never had she felt such trepidation in her step nor had she ever felt so close to walking on water, for his response would either set her free or pull her down into the deep…

But instead of whatever she feared - instead of whatever crippling slow she had been bracing herself for - Ikuto suddenly grinned, his eyes twinkling deviously, so playful and dazzling that her stomach flipped.

"Oh?" Ikuto purred, still smirking so roguishly that she couldn't help but blush. "Well then let me hear you say it, Amu… Let me hear you say it…" And he leaned down slowly - so tantalisingly slowly! - until his lips were flush against her cheek, his breath cool and slight against her ear, sending shivers down her spine… Then he took her hand. The playful spark died only slightly. Once again his touch was warm, their fingers intertwined, his other hand caressing her cheek and melting her heart as he finally whispered;

"Because I love you too."

And then, before Amu could even reply, he kissed her. Ikuto pulled her lips to his so suddenly and sweetly that her body froze, struck dumb with a sudden rush - struck with such glee and relief and desire that her thoughts were a mess; her breath was short; her knees were weak. And then her eyes were stinging - hot and wet and brimming with tears of happiness the likes of which she had never known. She gave a half-laugh, half-sob and wound her fingers tightly through his hair, revelling in the sensation, sighing as his arms returned to her waist and lifted her off her feet. And, when Amu pulled away, she cried freely;

"I love you, Ikuto."

Ikuto chuckled. He wiped a tear from her cheek, setting her down and cupping her face between his palms. His smile was breathtaking. "Thank you, Amu." Ikuto breathed. "Thank you for everything."

Amu just shook her head, brushed away those lingering tears and drew his lips once more to hers, standing on her tip-toes, savouring in the sweet delight of the man she loved as the embraced, finally safe - finally together! - finally free to revel in the others company without that dark foreboding that those cells had held; without the heavy drag of chains or the chill kiss of iron bars between them. But that was all behind them now. That was long passed. Liberated they indulged in that new moment together. Ikuto's arms were around her, his lips moving hungrily against her own; he tasted of sea salt and smoke and her fingers raked through his hair as the wind of a gale. At some point, Amu's back met the bulwark. At another, she could barely grasp for breath, but she hardly cared, for Ikuto's touch was as utterly all-consuming as the waves below.

When finally they parted, Amu felt utterly intoxicated. She barely heard the cheers of the crew anymore - barely felt aught else but the firm hold of her lover's arms. But, suddenly, she felt him still. A smirk spread across his lips. All too slowly, she began to feel as though his attention was not entirely hers anymore.

"Well, then, Kukai," Ikuto began loudly, looking back over his shoulder. Amu's gaze darted to the side a moment later and her cheeks reddened furiously to see rusty-haired pirate himself grinning cheekily, waggling his eyebrows. Behind him most of the crew were quite kindly pretending not to have noticed… But weren't fooling anyone. Their expressions were positively impish. Amu practically threw herself away from the pirate beside her, but Ikuto just chuckled at their knowing looks and stepped away. "You know, I hope you have a plan of action set out, Kukai. Or was breaking us out of jail the limit of your calculations?"

Ikuto's question was met by utter silence. There was a moment during which most the crew cast each other conspiratorial glances. A few whispers were exchanged here and there. Even Amu with her face still burning in humiliation fought her blush to look on, intrigued. And then, still grinning madly, Kukai clicked his fingers together and nodded at the two nearest buccans.

"Alright, lads, it's about time. Where's our lady? We all agreed to this now, you remember!"

The buccans nodded. The first stepped forward and merely motioned towards the stern. All heads turned and whilst their whispers settled and their sails filled, Amu and Ikuto and every man aboard the Shining Black stood and watched as the double doors aft slowly opened, groaning beneath the weight, and it was with awe that the Princess finally laid eyes upon the woman who had tormented her dreams for so many endless nights aboard that ship.

Utau appeared supporting an older lady - her cheeks grey and her shoulders slumped, weighed fast beneath the memory of countless years of anguish; blinking in the light of the sun and ghostly as a spectre, for she had not felt it's warmth for years, but her face was fresh and awestruck as she stepped out onto the deck. Amu saw her take a breath - a shaky sort of sigh - and caught the flash of lilac as her eyes fell upon her son. And suddenly she understood. Ikuto took a step back, whispered her name, but Amu could not decipher it, nor could she pay attention for long as she watched, entranced, as the women made their way down the companion.

"Ikuto!"

The blue-haired pirate barely had time to react before Utau's arms were flung around his middle, a mess of blonde and blue colliding as she stuck fast to his side, her shoulders trembling with barely-contained sobs as she beheld her brother alive and well and finally far from peril. Ikuto ruffled her hair and shushed her as he pulled away, but then his attention was caught by the spirit at his side.

"Mother…"

The fine, yet frail Tsukiyomi woman smiled softly, wordlessly, her hair dancing lightly about her thin face. But she still said nothing - she still did not breathe but a single word. Rather she bowed her head and from beneath her many layers and lacy shawls she produced a hat - an oversized tricorn; blue and frayed at the edges, yet trimmed with gold that still shone as beautiful and glorious as the day they were made. But above it all - stood out against the deep navy above all else - there was roughly stitched a diamond. A white diamond. An unmistakeable diamond.

Ikuto's jaw hung slack. His mother's eyes were beginning to glisten with unshed tears, for there in-between them lay an heirloom - a ghost of their past risen from the ashes; a memory that had up until now been smothered by smoke, choked by the lingering remembrance of ash dancing through the air as the curtain fell upon their glorious, golden days of old. Ikuto's father had never been a captain himself, but he had certainly sailed throughout his youth and only now did Ikuto recall it - this treasure sat upon the mantelpiece, gathering dust above the fire in the music room. The breath taken from his throat, he looked up at his mother. Then back at the hat. And then back to Kukai who still stood looking on with a twinkle in his eye.

"What is this?" He managed, but it was with difficulty. His words fell upon silence. Unsatisfied, Ikuto rounded on his crewmate. "What… Kukai… What have you been scheming?"

Amu watched with wide eyes, struck dumb with anticipation as the two exchanged equally pointed looks. She held her breath. Eventually, Kukai laughed;

"Well, ya see the thing is, Tsukiyomi…" Kukai teased. "You might be forgettin' that we need a new Captain."

Ikuto's eyebrows disappeared so quickly into his hairline that it was almost comical. His eyes darted over to his mother and to the hat in her arms which she had begun to cradle with a loving affection and then back to the crew. He didn't seem to understand.

"What are you-"

"How about it, man?" Kukai said.

Kukai could not have made it any plainer. The realisation seemed to strike Ikuto square in the chest, his breath hitching, blood pumping. For a moment, he grew pale all over again. For a moment, all light left his eyes as the weight of that single statement washed over him... But as he looked into every man's eyes - as the men of the ship all began to nod and smile and rub their hands together excitedly - he felt that desire settle deep within his heart. He saw the sea stretch out before them and felt the pull of the stern across the waters and in his mind he thought that he could envision - somewhere out there! - some far-off shore that called his name and promised him a lifetime of retribution; of long-awaited answers to his most desperate questions; of some just ending that he had never even dreamed to hope for…

Ikuto felt it all. And, when he looked back into Kukai's face, he sounded almost hesitant.

"Are you serious?"

Kukai laughed lightly - as if they were discussing something trivial in comparison - and nodded. "Yeah!" He said brightly. "O' course we're serious, ya half-wit!"

In the background, Amu drew an audible breath, pressing her hands to her mouth in an attempt to hold back a joyful chuckle. The pale Tsukiyomi woman was still smiling softly as Ikuto's hand finally reached out tentatively, his fingers brushed along the delicate golden trim… But he pulled it back just as quickly. Kukai scoffed.

"Oh, man, come on! You think we'd 'ave offered it up to ya on a silver plate if we thought ya couldn't handle it? Hear, what do we say, lads?"

And almost immediately the deck erupted once again. Ikuto couldn't believe it. He could not express the rush that travelled throughout his chest as he saw that crew so eagerly hearken to his command! His mind was reeling. Kukai was still rallying his support. Amidst the clamour Amu's hand brushed against his…

And, for some inexplicable reason, that did it.

Ikuto stepped forwards and all voices hushed. The tension in the air was palpable. His eyes swept over the crew who stood stock still, holding their breaths, waiting eagerly…

And when he took the hat from his mother's grasp and smoothly flipped it onto his head, they broke out into song and dance all over again. Their clapping was deafening, their cries echoing far and wide, and Ikuto's chest began to swell, his lips tugging into a roguish smirk as he stepped into the crowd.

"Alright, men!" Ikuto burst out and this time when he spoke his voice was as clear and definite as any had ever heard it; "It's time to get to work! Let's get the hell out of here! We've a new course to set!"

The crew cried out their approval, still drawling triumphant chanties and leaping with a spring in their step as they chanted out "Yes, sir!"; "Yes, Cap'n!"; "Yes, Captain Tsukiyomi!" over and over until their voices grew hoarse. The wind picked up in their sails; the sun shone strong on their faces; and it seemed as though their hearts were light enough to set this ship itself afloat - as if their souls alone were suddenly free enough to aid its course throughout these waters and they revelled in their delight as the sea foamed all about them. On the gangway, Amu was clapping along, laughing brilliantly and giddy, for never had she witnessed something so astounding! Glowing she watched as the new Captain of the Shining Black began to pace about the deck, running his hands across the rope; the line; across the rough grain of the bulwark beside him with a new perspective - with a clearer head and a lighter soul, for this ship no longer seemed quite as dark and foreboding as it once had been. Even the crew had felt it. More eagerly they worked - more favourably did they toil against the waves... And Ikuto, coming to a stop on the forecastle, gazing past the prow and the bowsprit and out onto the wide, blue line beyond, for the first time found himself truly in awe of all that had existed around him.

But, more importantly, for the first time it felt as though a brand new day - a brand new world - lay before him... A new path. A new purpose to live…

"So," Ikuto did not even realise Kukai had wandered over to him until he was already half-sprawled about the bulwark beside him, his hair ruffled in the breeze, his eyes ablaze with some new and fiery spirit; "Where to now, Cap'n?"

Ikuto opened his mouth. Then he closed it again. It was a good question. His gaze flickered only briefly to the man beside him before he focused once more on the swell of the ocean, blue and boundless.

"Wherever the wind will take us." Ikuto replied. "And as far away from this place as we can get."

Kukai hummed, nodding approvingly. But his agreement was only temporary. He leaned in, his tone low, his grin dark.

"We're gonna find him, right?" Kukai said after a moment. And, when Ikuto didn't respond; "Kazuomi. We're gonna track that thieving git down? Get some answers outta 'im?"

Ikuto looked over at the young pirate with a critical gaze. But, just as Kukai was beginning to quail, the Captain nodded.

"We're going to find him." He said gravely. "Find Kazuomi…"

And, privately, as the wind ruffled against his hat and swept back memories of silent sonatas and navy shades and the form of the Dumpty Key in the retreating man's grasp, Ikuto thought to himself;

'And find my father…'

To find the Lock. To protect the Key. To seek the answers to those mysteries before all chance had been utterly lost and to travel wherever the tide would take them in pursuit of the man who had wrought so much devilry about this vessel - who had preyed as a hunter upon their sorry souls; warped around him all that which he could; tormented those beneath him; who had blackened the heart of this Shining Black ever since the day she first set out on her sordid master's mission and vanished into the mist as a spectre, infamous forevermore…

That and more they would strive to do. That and more would fuel the fires in their hearts; would sweep the wind in their sails; those aims would deliver them across the seas to whatever end the stars had laid out for them in the innumerable constellations above and in their pursuit they would somehow find the respite they so craved and so on newborn wings of freedom they flew into the distance… And behind, grounded in their wake, watching fondly from the blissful glow of the room of many lights, the fortune-teller chuckled softly;

"Their light is brilliant…"

The fortune-teller said;

"Conjoined their blaze is brilliant - boundless…"

And, again, as many times before, the stars - they whispered;

'They are moving.'

"Ah, moving maybe…" the fortune-teller mused. "Move they might, but far off still sits their end amidst this tale. Dim is the glow of the sunrise beyond. Dimmer than their many points; dimmer than their fierce resolve; dimmer even than that glow of gold and jewel that rests still undiscovered against that Greatest of Treasures that all still seek…"

But, still, he laughed and in his eyes the stars formed the most dazzling of galaxies ever known to man, for they were as much as part of him as he of they. There amongst their glow he had wandered and there bathed in their blissful light he had seen the end of all - the end of the world; the end of their paths; the rise and fall of many men had all played out before him as dancers on a heavenly stage until he knew their tales in and out inside his head - until he could trace their paths and follow their course across the midnight sky with his hands tied and his eyes shut…

And follow them he would until the end of his days.

"The path is lit. The pages of the story are turning - fresh and new and awaiting the master's pen." Tsukasa said and the light of those two most beloved constellations lit up his face as a new dawn. "Go forth little Marionette. Write your own end…

"But remember… All will be revealed… In good time."

~.~.~

A/N: I… I can't believe it's done! I have waited so long for this!

Well, so sorry about the wait! This was a little overdue, but this chapter just refused to cooperate! It's not perfect, so it may be revised at a later date if needed, but for now thank you to absolutely everybody who read this fic! I've kept the idea for this pirate au since I first finished watching Shugo Chara… and I first watched this show in 2011, so I've had a looong time to plan out the details and now I can't believe that it's actually completed.

Thank you so much for reading, reviewing, fav/following, etc. – especially those of you who came back to read the updated version. I was really pretty nervous about rewriting it, but I've had better feedback than I ever could have hoped for. Thank you for encouraging me to continue!

But the plot just doesn't end here! This fic's sequel will be titled 'The Betrayed Marionette' and its first chapter / intro will be posted first thing tomorrow (or the day after depending on how much work I get done irl). After all, Kazuomi may have abandoned them for now… But I'm pretty sure we all want revenge, yes? There's still a lot to wrap up! I hope you'll look forward to it and stick around a while longer for the ending!

Your reviews and reactions have made this whole process worth it, so let me know what you thought! Thoughts on the ending and sequel are much appreciated!

Until then ~ !