Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Princess & the Pirate ❯ Here And Gone ( Chapter 4 )

PRINCESS & THE PIRATE

Sora looked over the water with a sigh. The speck on the horizon had grown bigger after a while, & she was certain it was coming for the ship. Her biggest fear was that it was someone from home, coming to rescue her now, when things had finally started to go well. Her arms tightened protectively around Autumn Hikari & the baby squirmed in protest. Sora turned her attention to her daughter to nurse her. Taichi walked out & indicated to her that he was waiting. She waved him off & he vanished. The redhead gently pried Autumn Hikari from her breast.

No sooner had she finished buttoning her shirt up then did someone climb over the side of the ship. Both figures were still for a moment of surprise before Sora's mind registered that it was Yamato, her betrothed. She looked at him like he was from another lifetime. The blonde finished climbing over the rail & took her hand. "Come, we must leave. I hath been looking for thee a long time." Sora allowed herself to be pulled up but would not go. When Yamato turned to question her she silenced him with a wave of her hand.

"Because thou hast done no wrong, I shall let thee go unnoticed, but thou must go now. Give my parents my love. Fly, quickly, before thou art seen." Yamato took in her words then shook his head. "I know not what fear drives thou to say that, but if we art swift thou shant need to fear this ship & its any longer." Sora pulled her hand from his. "I am lady of this ship as well as thy princess. Do not dispute my orders, or I shalt be forced to have them all come down on thy head." Yamato looked at her in shock, but did not release her.

After of moment's struggle for her hand back, Sora silently said a prayer for Yamato & cried out "Taichi!" Like a flood the ships many hidden doors opened & the crew appeared. Yamato let go of Sora in shock & attempted to get off the ship. Taichi got to him first. Sora picked up her daughter & hid her face. The rest of the crew, seeing that they weren't needed, left. Taichi contemptuously nudged Yamato's body with his toe before turning to Sora & ordering "Explain." The redhead choked out a response.

Taichi looked at her for a moment before telling her "Write a letter. Warn yer family away from here, by stating in it that this is what happens to those who disbelieve me. Any attempt to alert them to the opposite, that yer here, & yer daughter's life be it." Sora nodded. Taichi was not punishing her, & she would do nothing to make him. "I need paper & a quill." Taichi withdrew his dagger & indicated Yamato. "Write it on him." Sora gulped, uncertain. Taichi's expression hardened slightly as he held the dagger out to her.

With no other choice Sora wrote the warning across Yamato's chest. When she stood up Taichi took the dagger & wiped it on Yamato before returning it to its hiding place. "Go to my cabin. Put the babe to sleep & prepare yerself for me. I must return the captain to his ship." Sora exited quickly, stumbling. When Taichi joined her a bit later he was gentler then usual. When he had fallen asleep Sora figured out why. She had not gone with Yamato, proving her loyalty to him, & he had, in his own way, rewarded her.

A fortnight passed. The ship restocked & set course due west. Autumn Hikari turned a month old. Taichi showed one of his rare acts of kindness & gave her a toy he had stolen during the time they had docked. To Sora's surprise, a week later, on her birthday, he gave her too a gift, this time a necklace from the treasure already long stolen. Sora eventually found herself back on the dock at sunset, & made a resolution to herself. "So many bad things happened to me whenever I do this. If nothing happens tonight I shall see what happens if I come out here at sunrise."

But of course she was there at that moment. A boat appeared, one Sora recognized as the same one that Yamato had captained when he attempted to bring her back home. Sora swiftly made her way to Taichi's cabin, hoping that she had not been spotted. Her hopes were dashed when a few minutes later a man she did not know, wearing the emblem of her country, labelling him a guard. Her griped her by the wrist & forcefully dragged her topside, where a battle was already underway.

Taichi killed the man he was fighting with then turned on Sora's captor/rescuer. (?) He lay dead soon enough, & Taichi dragged her away before she was noticed. Once they were out of sight he threw her down roughly. "I told you not to send them a message for help!" the brunette growled before kicking Sora hard. The redhead shrank back, clutching her side. "I swear on Autumn Hikari's life- "Aye, & that be all ye have to lose," Taichi replied, turning to return to the deck.

"I didn't!" Sora cried. "I wrote nothing but what thou instructed me to!" Taichi turned back to reply but a voice rang out. "Of course she said nothing. We raised no fools. The mere act of writing told us what we needed. No pirate in the many seas can spell his name, much less write so well." Sora's father descended down to his daughter & hauled her to his feet, then addressed Taichi "Thy crew is dead, & unless my daughter speaks for you," He signalled, & a sword was pressed to Taichi's neck. "Thou shalt be run through on the spot."

Taichi's eyes blazed with fury, but he knew it was on Sora he depended. She was silent, uncertain. If she denied him, he would be unable to harm her, but if she let him live, only sent him away, he would come back for her. To her surprise, Sora's decision was arrived to when Autumn Hikari entered her thoughts. Regardless of what type of man Taichi might be, he loved his daughter in his own way, & to deny the girl the chance to meet her father seemed unfair to Sora.

"This man protected me, even betrayed & murdered his captain to unsure my safety. Let him up." Taichi rose unsteadily, surprise, gratitude & wariness in his eyes. Clearly this was the first time he had not been forced to fight his way out of such a situation, & Sora's mercy confused him. The king, sensing something, asked Taichi, "So, thou wouldst accompany her to our castle, as her husband?" Sora answered for Taichi "Yes, he will. Shall I fetch our daughter & prepare our things?" King Takenouchi nodded, & for the first time, it was Taichi who followed Sora to their cabin.

As soon as the door closed behind them, Taichi asked "Why did ye let me live? I certainly deserved the fate the man threatened me with." Sora rummaged through the chest of drawers for the few things they owned. "I spared thee so that they daughter could met thou, & because I feel it is but fair. Do me a favour & fetch the aforementioned daughter whilst I pack these." Taichi obeyed without complaint, a true measure of how surprised by this all he was. On the deck the bodies of both Taichi's crew & the king's armies littered it.

"This is the last look thou shalt have of thy friends," Takenouchi warned as they picked their way a cross the carnage. "The bodies will all be removed & burned by nightfall." Taichi rigidly looked forward. "I would remember my friends as they were living, strong & proud, then see them last as they are, broken in their death." Sora looked at the pirate in surprise. That had to be the sincerest thing Taichi said in kindness. The small group left the ship, & it was towed along behind them, on Taichi's insistence.

Almost a year later, Sora lay in bed, fawning over two baskets that rested beside her. Taichi entered the room, Autumn Hikari behind him. Sora scooped up her eldest daughter. "Look darling, they are thy younger brother & sister." The child looked amazed. "They are so small." Sora chuckled "Thou were smaller upon thy own arrival." Taichi sat beside Sora & sent Autumn Hikari away. "Ye hast done yer duty & whelped yer country heirs. Let us all leave, just ye, I & our eldest."

Sora looked at the newborn twins, a son & daughter before deciding. Palace life bored her now, after the excitement of the sea. Kissing her children farewell, knowing that they would be in good hands as they grew, she dressed & left with Taichi & Autumn Hikari on the ship Taichi had once captained, with a crew, & would captain again.

Hehe, bet you thought the last chapter was the final one, didn't you ;)