Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Proliferation of the Lotus Flower. ❯ Chapter 11 ( Chapter 11 )

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Jounouchi was not having a good week. When the human had woken up to hear the clash of swords; the echoes of screams and felt the faint breeze from his open door he groaned and rolled over.

The Elf had gotten loose.

Judging from the ache in his limbs; the fullness of his head and the dryness of his throat he'd slept six or so hours. This was enough time to recover a little of the important stores of magic in his body, but not all of it. He still needed rest but he knew that the crew would need him to contain the feral Elf.

This brought a small smile to his lips, Seto was one walking wet dream but he was a little scary when he got pissed off. Jounouchi hoped that the tall Elf wouldn't stay mad forever, it would defeat the purpose of kidnapping him.

"Well, I must at least be on his good side. I'm still alive." He grumbled.

Jounouchi was right; if the Elf had wanted the little human dead, he probably would have done it while Jounouchi slept. Then again, maybe he'd been too paranoid. Jounouchi could imagine the Elf sitting there, trying to figure out whether or not he should or should not attack the helpless mage.

Chuckling a little still, the mage rolled out of bed and went to the door, pushing it open to survey the happenings aboard the ship. His lock had been picked, he could tell this because the door was still slightly ajar; the fact that he no longer HAD a lock kind of gave it away too. Picking a lock with a long sword can be messy enough to take the handle with it.

The deck was total chaos, as usual; however it was not the usual chaos. No, it was an *unusual* chaos, that is to say; not being in the normalcy of the chaos *usually* presented when Jounouchi opened his door. Not that opening his door created this chaos but- damn, sidetracked didn't I?

Aside from the oblivious hands scurrying around with ropes, barrels and cloth, there was a gathering of pirates that formed a rough circle, and it was from this circle that jeering, taunting and laughter issued, as well as screams and shouts.

Jounouchi resigned himself and pushed through the burly circle without an 'excuse me' or begging of pardon. He was a pirate mage, if anyone wanted manners they could ask at the end of his fingers. What Jounouchi saw made him frown as he tried to make sense of it.

There were two unknown faces, a blonde butterfly-woman whom Otogi held the wrist chains to- for which Jounouchi felt grateful, the woman looked like a nasty fighter- and a little boy who eerily resembled the captain, aside from the fact that he seemed a bit too innocent and the shade of his eyes was much lighter. There was a third figure and Jounouchi clenched his fists when he saw the person. It was that fuckin' mage from the day before, to Jou's delight the kid looked much the worse for wear, the human could see bloodstains seeping through the white shirt the Half-Elf was wearing. It disturbed Jounouchi to see that the little kid wasn't in chains like the butterfly-woman or the mage, but then, Jounouchi would be searching for magical traces in the air already were it not for the shift in his attention. These three were clustered at one end of the circle; obviously they'd been getting a briefing.

The real show of the circle wasn't the new slaves; well at least not everyone else's slaves.

Yami was kicking the shit through the Elf.

Jounouchi's russet eyes followed the fight between the pair; Seto was bleeding from quite a few minor wounds and he was favoring his left leg (the right was probably broken) but his eyes were like fiery cobalt embers, alive with near desperate hatred. As Jounouchi watched Yami kicked the sword from Seto's grip and brought his axe clean down, about to deliver the fatal blow.

"Please don't!" Jounouchi startled; he had opened his mouth to say something of the same, but it was not him who screamed.

Russet eyes turned to the small child who rushed forward, not even fearful of the enchanted weapon that Yami held inches above the exposed flesh of the Elf's neck. "Please Yami? It's not his fault anyway! It's mine…" The kid clutched at Yami's tunic and to Jounouchi's surprise Yami's icy expression broke into a smile and he sheathed his axe, turning to embrace the child and mutter soothing sounds.

Everyone else looked about as caught off guard as Jou did. "I was about to ask if I was missing something… but I think I've missed it… care to fill me in, anyone?"

It was Bakura who answered him, smirking down at the hate filled expression on the Half-Elf's face below him when the chaotic blonde caught sight of Jounouchi. "Morning Joey! I see Marik still remembers you… the stick-up-his-ass Elf came out of your cabin a few minutes ago and attacked the captain."

Jounouchi approached his Elf and raised an eyebrow. "Mornin', Seto."

"My name is Kaiba!" The brown haired immortal wiped sweat from his brow, glaring fiercely at the dirty human.

"It wasn't last night." Jou smirked, extending a hand to help the frowning Elf up. The mage could be a real shit stirrer when he wanted to be.

"Bloody pirate." The cobalt eyed immortal hissed out venomously. Kaiba reached for his sword while he moved to get up.

Jounouchi smiled, flicked his fingers at the sword and sent out a small breath of magic.

The sword sailed through the air and paused at the rail when Yami barked. "Jounouchi avast!"

The human turned to the captain; body language tight as he looked a question at the man. The little kid was practically wrapped around Yami's waist, big violet eyes staring at the pirate mage.

"Let the Elf have his sword. Any man here can take him. He has a long way to go before he will ever match me in a fight." Yami purred, not even glancing at the enraged grunt that said Elf emitted.

The little kid looked up at Yami and smiled he whispered something. Yami ran his hands through the kid's hair, returning the smile as best he could, which wasn't comforting, but rather comical.

Jounouchi sighed and moved his finger back, the sword soared through the air; hilt stopping less than an inch from Seto's surprised face. The Elf was standing but he took a step back, almost falling into the ropes that lay on the deck behind him. He snatched the weapon from the air and turned on the slim human.

"Release the prince at once!" He spat out. Obviously he could take a few blows to his pride.

Jounouchi rolled his eyes and yawned, turning and walking off to the net that ran up to the crows nest, and flopped against it. "I'm not da' person ta' demand that o'."

Seto growled, advancing on the small human, although his steps were careful, he wasn't underestimating Jounouchi again. "What is this all about, then?"

Jounouchi shrugged, he took a loose grip on the riggings and then swung forward and up, feet nimbly wrapping around the lines just above his hands, then he let go with his hands and hung suspended upside down.

"I'd imagine it's obvious. We'er ransoming da' prince 'or da' diamon'."

Seto titled his head, trying to look Jounouchi in the eye from the angle the human was hanging at. "How did you do that?"

"'Hat?"

"That." He motioned at Jounouchi, who started moving again, bending his spine backward until he grabbed the lower riggings, bringing his feet back down to the deck.

"I'm… really… err…. Flexible." Jounouchi explained between movements.

"Will you teach me how to do that?" A small, polite flowery voice asked.

Jounouchi looked down at the little kid that had run over to him. The commotion around the prisoners had died down- Jou would bet it had been made to do so by a certain captain- and Yami was addressing the two chained prisoners.

"What's yer' name, lad?"

"I am the C-" The prince started.

"His name is Yugi and no, the cruel, heartless, butchering, murdering pirate will not teach you anything, milord." Seto took a knee and inclined his head.

"You may rise. But Seto! Yami is the captain and he said that if Lord Jou-nou-chi agreed, than he could." The kid sounded Jou's name out slowly.

Jounouchi blinked. He knew who this kid was now. The prince. It was scary to see someone so tiny command so much respect without even noticing it. "I got no problem wit' it. Migh' as well teach ya' sometin' useful in life."

"You're not teaching him anything, you lying little human!" Seto snapped, he gently pushed Yugi back and away. "You remember that talk about friends we had, Yugi? Well your father will support me on this too."

Yugi pouted, his eyes going watery. "Please, please Seto?" He stared up at the Elf and sniffed.

As if sensing an impending tantrum, Yami choose that moment to join them. "Oh, my sweet Yugi, what is the matter?" the pirate captain gently hugged the kid from behind and drew him artfully away from the Elf.

"Please can Lord… Jounouchi teach me how to do some of those flips and… things?"

"It's alright by me." Jounouchi said with a shrug.

"T'is fine then." Yami glanced at Jounouchi. "What was the problem?"

"He's not learning anything from anyone aboard this ship! The King would forbid it!" Seto stamped his booted foot with a fierce frown. He was actually standing up to Yami. The same Yami that had killed someone for disagreeing with him about the color of wood; the same Yami who never let any chase escape. The same Yami who held the crown prince against his chest in a very intimate embrace.

Yugi sniffled more, turning those big, watering eyes on Yami himself. "Please?"

Yami frowned, he didn't like this Elf. "You don't seem to realize this, Elf, but I am in command here. What I say goes, if I say my charge can learn something far more useful than anything in a book, then he can." There was no room for argument in the captain's voice.

"Yugi is not your charge! And how dare you! The King is the ruler of all!" But Seto obviously didn't care what tone Yami used. These lubbers had no clue when they marched on thin ice.

Yami detached Yugi from his hold and stepped forward, although he had to look up to meet the Elf's eyes, he was still intimidating. "I don't see the King here; in fact, I don't give a fuck were he here. This is my boat, my crew and my fucking rules. As far as I am concerned, I will do what I like. And you don't exactly seem to be in a position to stop me."

Seto's sword flashed as he drew it from its scabbard. "You foul mouthed buccaneer, how dare you swear in the presence of the Crown Prince!"

The pair of them were standing so close that Jounouchi knew if they fought, someone would be dead. The blonde drew the prince away from the pair, "Let's leave da' idiot an' da' capt'n to tis' lil' spat, 'kay? 'M not all that fond of immortals 'neway." The prince shook his head.

"No, this is my fault. Seto's job is to make sure I do not get into any trouble or have any friends."

Yami frowned and turned, his mouth had been open to deliver a retort to the insolent prisoner, but this information stopped him. "You're not serious, my pet?"

Yugi blinked and nodded. "It is too dangerous for a Prince to have friends. They are security liabilities."

"Aww, say dat' big word 'gain, it's so cute." Jounouchi patted the kid on the head.

Yugi blushed. "Liabilities."

Jounouchi laughed. "Oh, 'or someone so young, ya' sure are smart, tell ya' what, I'll be your friend while yer' here."

"Umm, how old are you, Lord Jounouchi?"

"'M 15 autumns dis' winter."

Yugi smiled politely. "Then we are the same age, Lord Jounouchi."

Jounouchi stared at the pipsqueak dumbfounded while he heard the soft chuckling of the Elf and captain. "Da' fuck…"

"Don't worry Joey; you're not the first one to mistake his age."

Having seemingly forgotten their differences for the moment Seto interjected. "What is the human's name, exactly?"

Jounouchi smiled and slid over to the Elf, leaning his head against the man's muscular arm casually. "Me name's Jounouchi, but me friends call me Joey, when they're in a good mood."

The Elf looked at the blonde skeptically, bending slightly and whispering into the kid's ear. "I'm about 3,000 years your elder, human."

Jounouchi shrugged. "You make it sound like I'd care." He whispered back without any trace of his strange accent.

Yami rolled his eyes and pointed upward. "Jounouchi, since you've decided to join the world of the waking, care to take a shift, I want to know how long it will be before we land."

Jounouchi sighed and nodded. "Alright Elf, come with me. I s'pose ya' want me ta' explain everytin' ta' 'im, capt'n?"

Yami nodded. Jounouchi mocked saluted and turned, motioning Seto to follow him up as he nimbly and easily climbed the lines up to the mast, yelling a greeting to the current lookout. Seto glanced upward and ungracefully began to climb, steadily and slowly.

The day past pleasantly, probably because Jounouchi and Marik managed to avoid each other, probably because there wasn't much the Royal Guard could do, Yami was really looking after the kid, probably because they were separated mostly, probably because there's always a lull before a storm.

You know what some old pirates say, the more peaceful the lull, the bigger the storm.

~To be Continued…

Sweet notes: Done! Review plate is now passing around…

Yami: Er… I don't like the sound of those last two paragraphs.

Yugi: I do! I read her draft!

Malik: Well I don't... I read it too!

Seto: I don't… I'm really high up!

Jou: What, afraid of heights?

Seto: No! *nervous glance down* not all the time…

Marik: Hahahaha! The BBK is afraid of heights!

Bakura: BBK?

Malik: Big Bad Kaiba… my Yami is such a dork.

Marik: Am not!

Gang: Are too!