Pirates of the Makai

Pirates of the Makai
Part Three

The air aboard the Black Dragon was so thick with tension, on the hour that Capitan Hiei returned that it could’ve been cut with a knife. The captain and his first mate stood toe to toe on the deck.

“We all know what you’ve been doing with the captive,” Seiryu said coldly, “and that is your purgative as captain-- so long as you keep the greater good of the company in mind. But you forgot that; let your lust cloud your judgment. Now you’ve let Kurama the Red steal him away.”

Hiei growled, “The Black Dragon is faster than Kurama’s ship by far, if you would just get out of my way, we can still catch him and take back the prince.”

“Of course we will take him back. But when I say we, I mean this crew and myself,” Seiryu told him.

“What are you saying?” Hiei balked.

“I’m saying that some of us are questioning your competence to be the captain of this vessel,” Seiryu told him simply, “And after this debacle, some think you should be relieved of that duty. I, of course, will humbly take command.”

The crowd, that until then had only been spectators to the confrontation, closed in on Hiei. The men drew their blades.

“This is mutiny!” Hiei said enraged.

“We prefer to call it a change of management,” Seiryu smirked to his men, “Away with him, now.”

One of the men made a grab for Hiei, but too quickly Hiei drew his sword and cut the man’s arm. The man fell back into the crowd, screaming in pain as he inadvertently held back his comrades. Hiei kicked him in the gut sending the whole rank falling over each other. A second wave of men came at him. The master swordsman he was, he had little trouble fending them off. But then as he jumped up on the railing to avoid a powerful swing, he heard a click from behind, like the sound of a pistol being cocked. He turned to find the deck littered with armed men, ready to fight… his men… ready to fight him.

“As you can see, there is little point in resistance,” Seiryu told him.

And damned if he wasn’t right! Even if he could take on every scurvy dog onboard, what then? A captain without a crew who will follow him was like a guard dog with no teeth. Dejectedly, Hiei dropped his sword and let a couple of men take him under the arms.

As they were hauling him away Seiryu gloated, “It’s a shame really, with your skill you could have made a good first mate, but your temper and pride would make you too much of a liability. Farewell. Oh wait one thing.” He reached into Hiei’s coat and pulled out the lacy little bra Hiei had stuffed in there. He frowned at the bra and said, “Eh, ya little weirdo!” He put it back and found the folded piece of parchment, he‘d been looking for. “I’ll just be taking this map of Maze Castle off your hands. You’ll not have any more use for it.”

The men jostled Hiei into a row boat with four other men. Hiei of course recognized his former crew members, the pretty boys Suzuki and Shishiwakamaru, the drunkard Chu, and the young Rinku.

“What are you doing here?” He asked as they were lowered down to the sea.

It was the boy who replied, “We’re being set out to drift with you because we refused to go along with that jerk Seiryu’s plan to betray you. The bastard’s been planning it from the shadows for a long time, apparently.”

“That’s not all,” Suzuki put in, “When he was trying to sway Shishi and me, we asked why anyone would turn against you after all these years of prosperous sailing and this promising venture to the legendary Maze Castle coming up. He assured us that you would mess it up before we left Hangman Island-- like he had the whole thing set up.”

“Of course, Kurama wouldn‘t have taken the prince if he hadn‘t known who he was. This explains how he found out. My enemies are allying against me,” Hiei mused.

“You should probably say that in the past tense, mate,” Chu despaired, “Seiryu’s gotten the ship, crew, and the map. And we may as well be dead already, set adrift out here, without so much as a compass, no food, water, and not a drop of rum in sight.”

“We’ve got oars though,” Hiei pointed out, “May as well use them.”

Out of habit the four men jumped to his order to start rowing, despite how pointless it seemed. Hiei took the tiller. He slipped his hand into his pocket and felt the bundle of silky material in there. A faint smile touched his lips. Seiryu didn’t have as much as he thought he did.
* * *
Seiryu-- that is Captain Seiryu, feeling inflated with his accomplishment retired to his quarters, which were Hiei’s quarters but a few hours ago. He sat down behind his new desk and penned on his new stationary.

Gray Stone,

My complements on the successful completion of your role in stage two of our master plan. It would not have worked, if not for your skillful leaking of information to your captain. Him stealing our guest away was just the push I needed to cement dissention among the ranks of the Black Dragon’s crew and spring a mutiny. I am glad to say that out of all the crew only four remained loyal to the previous captain. I would say I was surprised, but he was always such a taciturn little runt, it made it difficult for the crew to become personally attached to him.

My thanks again, for your aid in my rise to power. As soon as White Tiger is in position the favor shall be returned. --Blue Dragon.

Seiryu folded the note, set it aside, and started the next.

White Tiger,

Our plot has so far been successful. Be sure that your currant employer is aware of Captain Hiei’s termination and what that implies to a curtain young lady. His reaction his key for Gray Stone to obtain the position we‘ve promised him, which will, in turn, yield you yours. --Blue Dragon.

He penned the final note.

Red Sparrow,

All is going according to plan. I am in possession of the map to Maze Castle and the Black Dragon. Gray Stone now has the young man who will fetch us the Makai Whistle and will have the Whip-Lash Fury as soon as White Tiger is in place. Assure that the Makai Whistle is turned over and we shall reign supreme! --Blue Dragon.
* * *

“Aaachoo!” Yusuke rubbed his nose with the back of his gloved hand and complained, “Dang, someone must be talking about me.”

“All things considered, I wouldn‘t be surprised,” Kurama said as he led him through the crowded city streets.

It was so much like the city he knew as his home. He supposed that all cities were essentially alike, though most urbanites would contest this. They had different landmarks, different architecture, histories and claims to fame. And which city was the best depended on who you asked and which city he was from. But all cities had the same basic things, the things that define it as a city; buildings, shops, businesses, houses, and people, lots and lots of people. Rich people living uptown, poor people living downtown and in between people living in between, each and every one going about their lives like they thought it was all that mattered. And maybe they weren’t wrong.

It was almost a marvel to Yusuke how he and Kurama slipped so simply through those streams of humanity. Oh, they did attract some looks. But those who looked their way only saw a damper young redheaded man escorting a raven haired young lady. Surly they’d never imagine that this handsome couple was in fact a pirate captain and the stolen young man who was pretending to be a prince, pretending to be a woman. How easy it would be Yusuke thought, to call out, “Help I’ve been kidnapped by perverts!” Or suddenly push Kurama off his arm and make a break for it.

But Yusuke had to keep in mind that this was not his city, it wasn’t even in his country of Reikei under the rule of King Enma the First. This was Makai ruled by King Enki. And the relationship between the two countries was tenuous at best. There was no trade or passport between the two. So even if Yusuke managed to escape from Kurama the only ship that would take him home was a pirate ship!

Kurama squeezed his hand as if he sensed his thoughts, “Some thing wrong, Ko-chan?” He took to calling Yusuke Ko-chan because calling him Your Highness or Prince Koenma would have been a bit conscious.

Yusuke shook his head, “By the way, what are we doing here?”

“Ah that, it’s the most important of matters, so I want you to be on your best behavior,” Kurama told him sternly. “This is it.”

They came to a fair sized townhouse, not as big and fancy as the ones that nobility inhabited during their winter migrations to the city, but still fairly comfortable. Yusuke estimated it to be a wealthy merchant’s abode. Why Kurama bought him there…?

“Oh Shuichi you made it!” A pretty middle aged woman with brown hair and green eyes exclaimed when she opened the door.

Shuichi? Yusuke was taken aback, until he remembered what Captain Hiei told him of the man, his name used to be Shuichi Minamino.

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world, Mother,” Kurama kissed her fondly on the cheek.

The woman noticed Yusuke, seemingly for the first time and asked brightly, “And who may this be?”

“This is Ko-chan,” Kurama said it like it was a matter of fact, “You have been hinting that I should bring a lady friend around, and Ko-chan was kind enough to oblige. Ko-chan this is Shiori Hatanaka, my mother.”

His mother! He brought him to meet his mother! What kind of psycho was he dealing with here? And she seemed like such a nice gentile lady too-- did she even know what her son did for a living?

“It’s so nice to meet you, Ko-chan,” Kurama’s mother grasped Yusuke’s hands with both of hers as if she were afraid he would take flight.

Kurama narrowed his eyes ever so slightly in a warning fashion in Yusuke’s direction Yusuke jumped and in the best feminine falsetto he could muster he responded, “It’s nice to meet you too.”

“Well let’s not stand out her on the landing like a bunch of hoodlums,” Shiori laughed lightly, “The other’s are waiting for us inside.”

“Others?” Yusuke squeaked to Kurama, who waved him inside.

Inside, Yusuke had the uncomfortable pleasure of meeting Kurama’s entire family. There was Mr. Hatanaka, who had married the widowed Shiori, and his son, also named Shuichi. As well as Grandma Minamino who was hard of hearing when it was convenient and had super hearing when it wasn’t, and Uncle Yomi and his spitfire of a son Shura.

“This is indeed a surprise,” Uncle Yomi was saying in a knowing tone, “for Shuichi to bring such a fine young lady to dinner.”

“You sure are tall for a girl,” young Shura cut in, “your shoulders are too broad too.”

“Well, uh,” Yusuke started to respond lamely.

“Don’t be rude, Shura,” Shiori gently scolded.

“Sorry,” Shura hung his head.

“I have to say I’m curious, how did you and our Shuichi meet?” Yomi said. Yusuke almost thought he smirked as he spoke.

“Uh,” Yusuke glanced at Kurama hoping the redhead had a story for him. But Kurama was lazily sipping his wine and acting like the conversation didn’t concern him at all. “We were introduced by a common acquaintance.”

“Someone having to do with his work I bet,” Shiori supposed, “It must have been. Shuichi gets so caught up in his work that he neglects social necessities.”

“I’m actually not certain what it is Shuichi is supposed to do for living,” Yusuke said mischievously and was rewarded by the sight of Kurama choking on his wine.

“To tell the truth, I’m not sure either,” Shiori laughed, “Appropriation of free goods is what he calls it, but I really have no idea what that means. Though, I am proud of him. He started out as a deckhand when he was thirteen. He took the job to help me out after his father died; god rest his soul. I tell you Shuichi was my hero-- what with all those doctor bills, funeral costs, and of course the debt collectors are like vultures at times like that.”

“There’s no need, Mother,” Kurama muttered, looking legitimately embarrassed by his mother’s praise, or perhaps he thought she’d be less proud if she knew what sort of work he was really doing.

Yusuke remembered from his conversation with Captain Hiei that Kurama inherited his station as captain from his retired lover. He must have been a deckhand on the Rose-Lash Fury and caught the eye of the ship’s captain, Kurama the Sliver. Who knows it might have been his pretty looks that secured him his job on the ship. Yusuke always suspected there was a reason why they called boys on ships ‘cabin boys’ (cabin as in the bedroom) and not deck boys or something like that.

“Back to the matter at hand,” Yomi interceded, “Have you and Shuichi known each other long?”

“No,” Yusuke said hesitantly. He’d just meet the man yesterday. “Not long at all.”

“Then I suppose it’s still too soon for him to have properly proposed,” said Yomi.

This time it was Yusuke’s turn to choke on his wine. Kurama came to his rescue, patting him on the back and admonishing Yomi, “That’s more then a little obtrusive for dinner conversation, don’t you think?”

“My apologies,” Yomi said without sincerity, “It’s just that your mother, I consider her like a sister and wish to see her happy. And she has been so hoping that you would settle down with a wife and start siring some grandchildren for her to dote on. Now you’ve finally brought a young lady home-- even if she is tall and has unusually wide shoulders. I suppose I just got over excited.”

“Uh-huh,” Kurama glared at the older man.

“I think she’s a man in a fancy dress!” Grandma Minamino suddenly exclaimed. At that point everyone choked on their wine, save for Shura who wasn’t drinking wine and looked as if he were contemplating crawling under Yusuke’s dress to check.

“Mother, have you been abusing your medicine again?” Shiori huffed, “I’m so sorry Ko-chan. The medicine the doctor gave her for her aching joints seems to have corroded the filter between her brain and her mouth. I do hope you won‘t hold it against Shuichi, if he does decide to propose one day.”

“Mother,” Kurama groaned.

Yusuke was nearly in stitches by the time the visit concluded. As he walked arm and arm with the man, down the avenue, Yusuke laughed, “Man I see why you didn’t want to bring a real girl over. I mean it’s obvious that they love ya and stuff-- but that was mortifying!”

“My family can be a little over zealous, it’s true,” Kurama nodded seriously, “But you should know by now that that is not the main reason I don’t have many women to bring around.”

“Huh? Why’s that?” Yusuke asked vaguely.

Kurama looked shot for a moment before laughing, “You’re a thick headed one aren’t you?” He reached out gently cupped Yusuke’s cheek.

Yusuke, being so slow on the uptake didn’t think to react until he felt Kurama’s lips pressed hotly against his. As most men do when surprised, Yusuke gasped and Kurama used that as his opportunity to press his tongue forward into Yusuke’s mouth. Yusuke’s tongue shot forward to intercept the intruder, out of reflex. But then when contact was made… it was like a wave of warm water washed over his entire body. Yusuke nearly could have let the sensation overcome him, could have surrender and let this man do what he would. But no, not with Kurama. In a rush, Yusuke brought his hands against Kurama’s chest and pushed him away.

“We… we’re in public,” Yusuke said by way of explanation.

Kurama returned, “You didn’t seem to mind when Hiei did it in public.

“Uh,” Yusuke turned his face to hide his blush.

Kurama absently fingered the lace about Yusuke’s collar as he mused, “If I didn’t know any better--”

His speech was abruptly cut off by a harsh bellowing voice, “Kurama! Where are you? Get out here, Kurama! I’ve got a bone to pick with you! There you are.” The man found them where they embraced in an alley way. He was a very tall young man. Probably Yusuke’s age. He was gangly limbed and his face was rugged. He wouldn’t be considered handsome on most standards, but he wasn’t grotesque either. All and all he was a common looking guy, whose most distinct feature was his mop of curly orange colored hair.

“Kuwabara, what a surprise,” Kurama said airily ignoring the man’s obvious outrage. He told Yusuke, “Ko-chan this is Kazuma Kuwabara, He’s the captain of the Naus Spiritus Sword. Though I don‘t suppose you‘ve heard of him, he’s sort of a young upstart as far as pirate circles go. However he has been building something of a reputation for himself and very quickly, might I add. Some of us more seasoned seafarers believe that he‘ll become serious competition in the next year or so.”

“Hey didn’t you hear me?” Kuwabara bellowed.

“You’re right I’m being very rude,” Kurama gestured to Yusuke, “Kuwabara this is Ko-chan, my escort for the evening.”

Kuwabara started indigently “That’s not what I-- Wow. That’s a fancy dress she’s got. You bought yourself a high class one, didn’t ya?”

“High class? Bought?” Yusuke balked, “You calling me a whore?!”

Neither man seemed to hear him as Kuwabara puffed up like a roster getting ready to pick a fight, “Hey, don’t try to change the subject. I’ve got a bone to pick with you.”

His fist flew for Kurama’s face with every intention of ridding him of his good looks forever. But Kurama sidestepped it and Kuwabara’s fist just barely missed Yusuke’s right ear.

Kuwabara howled with rage, “Hey, you can’t dodge and punch and let a lady take it. It don’t matter how much you’re paying her.”

“Stop calling me a whore!” Yusuke growled, but Kuwabara ignored him in favor of pursuing Kurama.

Kuwabara advanced on Kurama, “I hope you paid her in advance, cuz your dead!”

“I said, stop calling me a whore!” Yusuke grabbed Kuwabara by the shoulder, whirling him around as his fist flew threw the air. In the next second Kuwabara was laid out on the ground, dazed.

“Now,” Kurama calmly leaned over the orange haired man’s prone body, “What is that I have done to upset you so?”

“Not me,” Kuwabara fingered his left eye, which was conspiring to blacken, “I heard that yesterday on Hangman Island, you played a dirty trick and stole something from Captain Hamster Legs.”

“Hiei you mean?” Kurama said as if he were bored by the whole thing, “So what if I did? General pirate code does not forbid stealing from each other. That is unless Hiei and I had contract of alliance, which we did not.”

“So you think what you did was alright, because no one said it wasn’t?” Kuwabara’s face turned red with righteous indigence.

“Don’t you think you’re blowing this a little out of proportion?” Kurama pointed, “And why do you care, anyway? I don’t ever recall you and Hiei getting along.”

“It ain’t about me and him!” Kuwabara said, “Listen I don’t know what it was you took, but it must have been real important, cuz his company was pissed he lost it. They mutinied on him and left him adrift at sea!”

“They did that?” Kurama gasped. He didn’t think it was that big of a deal. But that still didn’t explain Kuwabara’s concern. Then it occurred to him, “Ah, now I see why you’re so upset. This is about that girl he keeps from the Koorime House Brothel. Without him to pay her retainer she’ll be sent back to work.”

“Excuse me, what about Captain Hiei? Shouldn’t we go look for him or something,” Yusuke cut in.

“It wouldn’t do any good. He lost all his assets when he lost his ship and crew,” Kurama told him, “So he still couldn’t pay.”

“That’s right.” Kuwabara agreed, “I’d pay it myself, but I don’t have that kind of money. My lovely Yukina is doomed and all I can do about it is challenge the man who’s responsible to duel to the death!”

“We don’t have time for that shit, Hiei will die out there!” Yusuke blurted out, surprising even himself with his concern over the diminutive rogue. Again he found himself ignored as Kuwabara reached for his sword and Kurama did the same. Yusuke shouted, “Hey! Listen to me!”

Overcome with rage when neither responded, he through himself in front of Kuwabara. His fist came up, catching Kuwabara under the jaw. He grunted in surprise as his head jerked up and back, but Yusuke’s fingers knotted in the hair atop of his head, roughly jerking his head back down to crush on Yusuke’s rising knee. Then Yusuke grasped the stunned man by the shoulder and elbow, spun him about and flung him right into a bewildered Kurama.

Both pirates were down and Yusuke made a break for it. He ran, not really knowing where he was going or what he planed on doing when he got there. But then it became very clear that he wouldn’t get far easily. The lady’s walking shoes he was wearing were not made to run in and the corset that Kurama made him wear prevented him from breathing deeply, so the exertion of running was making him dizzy.

Yusuke ran uphill and over a bridge where he paused for the curiosity he found there. On that lonely bridge was a large man, made bulky from the layers of muscle that covered his arm, legs and abdomen. He was ungodly pale and his hair was a dirty fair color that almost looked green. He had a long hunting musket tucked against his shoulder and he was looking through the sight with the kind of focus one finds in a tiger getting ready to spring on its prey.

Yusuke’s eyes shifted to see what it was the man was aiming at. And to his surprise he saw the captains Kuwabara and Kurama in the courtyard below, circling each other about to fight, having no idea the danger they were in. The assassin’s muscles tightened as his finger drew back on the trigger.

“Kurama look out!” Yusuke shouted as he threw himself on the shooter.

The shot went off, and a patch of ground not two feet from Kurama’s left exploded in a hale of dirt. Kurama looked up to find Yusuke struggling with the great white behemoth. He called out “Ko-chan! Hold on. I’ll come for you!” and dashed from the courtyard.

At the same time Kuwabara exclaimed, “Byakko?”

If the man could have gotten any paler he would have when he realized he‘d been spotted, He spat, “Rats! Oh well, change of plans. As long as it looks like you two killed each other-- Get off me woman!” He swatted Yusuke aside.

“What the heck do you think you’re doing, Byakko? You can’t hit ladies! As your captain I forbid it. Apologize!” Kuwabara shouted, but quickly forgot the order when Byakko’s riffle swung around to his direction and with a sound like a thunderclap a bit of ground exploded at Kuwabara’s feet. Kuwabara danced away yelling, “Gyhhh! What the heck?!”

Byakko took another shot and another. It was a lot harder to hit a target once it was aware it was under his sights. But he had driven his captain back into a corner and was about to take him out. When suddenly a sharp pain drove through his foot causing him to yowl and miss his shot. He looked down to find a defiant sneer. It was Yusuke. He’d taken off his shoe and used its hard heal to hammer on his foot.

“You little whore!” He roared and brought up the butt of his riffle. Just then there was a flash of light and before Byakko could land his blow on Yusuke, the broad side of a sword snapped against his hands causing him to drop the weapon. He gaped, “What?”

Holding a blade level with the man‘s heart, Kurama said calmly, “Don’t call Ko-chan a whore.”

“Kurama,” Yusuke gasped.

“What is this Byakko, trying to kill your captain? A mutiny?” Kurama mused, “Another one. Seems like more than a coincidence, two mutinies in two days.”

Byakko smirked, “Only two? Better check your math.”

From his vantage Yusuke saw the great hulking man of Kurama‘s mate, Genbu, come up behind Kurama, but it wasn’t until he heard Byakko’s words and saw the glitter of a knife in his hand that he sensed the danger and yelled, “Kurama, behind you!”

Kurama turned, but it was too late. Kurama’s body stiffened as the blade disappeared into his stomach.

“Why?” Kurama implored.

“I was mate on that ship when the Silver captained it. I should have been the one to be given command, not his pretty little bed warmer! I deserved better!” Genbu spat as he threw Kurama off of his knife, “Me, Seiryu, Byakko, we all deserved better then scraping under some whelp’s command. Then He came long, told us how we could band together to take the power we deserved. We’ve already got the men on all three of our ships on our side by promising them wealth you could never give them. Captain Hiei’s already out to sea, now all we got to do is get rid of you and that overgrown child Kuwabara and we will be captains!”

“That’s all you wanted; to be captains?” Yusuke exclaimed. All this fuss over such a trivial matter.

“At first,” Genbu sneered, “But since our friend came along we’ve set our sights a tad higher. And that’s were you come in, Prince.”

“You traders!” Kuwabara yelled as he stumbled onto the scene. He had heard everything. “I won’t let you get away with this.”

“You’re going to stop us?” Byakko laughed and rounded his rifle on Kuwabara.

“Damn tooting!” Kuwabara brayed as he dove for Kurama.

He plunged his hand into the man’s coat as if looking for something in particular, and produced a pair of things that looked like small gray apples. He struck them on a patch of sandpaper on his belt. The ends of them sparked and sizzled. Kuwabara let the things fall on the ground as he shouldered Kurama’s weight. The apple things then started issuing a thick grey smoke that caused the two mutinous first mates to cough and lose sight of there targets.

“Come on, it’s time for a tactical retreat,” Kuwabara called, taking Yusuke’s hand and leading him away.

“What were those things?” Yusuke gasped out, struggling to run in his corsets.

“Kurama’s smoke bombs,” Kuwabara called back, “Kurama’s been confounding opponents with them for years. I figured he’d have a couple on him. Lucky I was right. But don’t go thinking I run away from fights! It’s just Kurama’s real hurt and there ain’t no honor in winning a fight if ya gotta let a guy bleed to death while you do it.”

“Where will we go?” Yusuke implored, “Remember what they said; your crews have already turned on you, so we can’t go to your ship or his.”

“I think I know a place that should be safe,” Kuwabara said glancing back, “Hey, you don’t look so good.”

“I don’t… feel so good,” Yusuke stumbled in his stride. He couldn’t breathe. His head started to swim. Yusuke knew only seconds before it happened that he was going to faint.

TBC…
A/N: Yes, finally another chapter finished. Sorry for the wait. My area has been getting pummeled with thunder storms and that’s been keeping me off the computer. Well, hope you like, don‘t hesitate to review if ya do. See ya next time.