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lil-meow-meow-goes-rawr · 2 years

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New Allies

⚓︎ Previous Parts: Betrayal, Doubts, The Race, A Challenge of Fate, Strange Happenings, Blurred Reality, Negotiations, Attack at Sea, Stormy Waters

⚓︎ Pairing: Jungkook x OC

⚓︎ Genre: Fantasy, Pirate AU, magic, time travel, romance

⚓︎ Warnings: none

⚓︎ Rating: General

⚓︎ Word Count: 1.8K

⚓︎ Synopsis: Aoi is presented with an offer she can't refuse. There's only one catch . . . the offer is made by Jungkook's biggest rival on the seas.

Masterlist

The crew was nothing like she was expecting. The ship was at least twice the size of Jungkook’s, but the crew was smaller, consisting of only thirteen members. They stared at her as she boarded the ship behind Chan who had an unconscious Jisung slung over his shoulder, each of them with a different expression. Some stared with apprehension. Others with pure curiosity. While a fair few appeared excited at the prospect of having a woman on board. They all stood impressively tall, apart from the one in the middle who stood at least a foot shorter, but his height spoke nothing of the power he radiated. Aoi didn’t know what his gift was, but she was certain it was powerful. She could feel his energy from where she stood, pressed up against the railing.

“Captain,” Shua greeted, stepping up to the shortest of the men and dipping his head respectfully.

“Joshua,” the man, who stood at least a head shorter than Aoi, looked her up and down with so much judgement, she felt her knees shake, “who’s the girl?”

“We found her a few lengths down the beach. Apparently, she’s the one Jungkook left to retrieve three years ago.”

“Then what is it you are doing on this beach when Jungkook’s ship sails the other direction.”

“That’s what we would like to talk to you about, Captain. It seems as though she’s lost her way.”

The captain didn’t look convinced, but he trusted Joshua enough to agree to speak with them. “Jeonghan, bring our guest to my cabin. I’ll be with you shortly. Joshua, your task is to ensure her companion stays alive. Do what you can for him now, but then meet us in my cabin as quickly as you can. Seungcheol, come with me.” Without another word, he turned on his heels and strode away.

One of the crew, assumedly Seungcheol, broke away from the others and dutifully followed his captain up the first flight of stairs to his cabin.

The only blonde among the crew stepped forward, his hair tied back into a ponytail which was slowly becoming unraveled in the sea breeze. His smile was stunning, but not quite as warm as Joshua’s had been. “When you said you were going out to gather some things for our next voyage, I didn’t think you meant a female. I should have went with you instead of sending Chan.”

Joshua rolled his eyes, taking the unconscious Jisung from Chan. “She’s not here to stay, Hannie. Just wait until you hear what it is she needs from the captain. Your excitement won’t hold for long.”

Jeonghan’s smile only brightened. “A dangerous female, huh? I like it. You know, I’ve been saying things have been a little too dull around here lately.”

“Don’t do that, Hannie,” one of the crew scolded, Aoi wasn’t sure which one as her eyes remained fixed on the one directly in front of her, “the last time you started complaining, the ship almost sank and we had to spend six months on land while Vernon repaired her.”

“Relax, Gyu, I’m not going to curse us. Though this new female here might. You know what they say, females aboard a ship are bad luck.”

Aoi actually scoffed at that.

“But I’m willing to put it to the test.”

Joshua hit Jeonghan upside the head, “Just get her to the cabin before Jihoon gets angry. Or I have a feeling you’ll be spending more than just six months on land.”

“Alright, I’m going.” With an exaggerated bow, Jeonghan gestured for Aoi to follow him, “This way, Milady.”

Aoi would have preferred to stay with Joshua, but she decided it was better to follow orders until she could get a proper grasp on what was happening. She felt tiny aboard their massive ship. A single order from Joshua sent the entire crew scurrying off in every direction to resume their tasks. There may have been fewer of them, but they worked seamlessly together. The way they handled their tasks so effortlessly made Jungkook’s crew look sloppy.

Joshua and Chan carried Jisung below deck while Jeonghan escorted Aoi to the captain’s cabin. Jihoon was inside, pacing before his desk while Seungcheol sat in the captain’s chair, his mind clearly far away from port. When Aoi and Jeonghan entered, they both lifted their heads to stare at her. She felt like a sitting duck, but she kept her head held high and her shoulders back. She wouldn’t reveal to anyone just how frightened she was. That would only succeed in giving them the advantage over her.

“Let’s start with the obvious,” Jihoon said, resuming his pacing, “if you’re Jungkook’s muse, what are you doing so far from his ship? Last I heard, The Bangtan was docked at one of the Northern ports.”

“Akira attacked out at sea. Jisung and I were taken captive.” Aoi answered honestly.

“I suppose that means you’re anxious to return to your captain.”

Aoi hesitated.

“You are not?”

Seungcheol sat up straight. “Have you run away?”

“No, nothing like that. I am simply seeking answers.”

“Answers?” Jihoon stopped, turning to face her in confusion. “What sort of answers?”

“Answers to questions regarding who I am and what I’m doing here.” There was something about the men in the room that invited her to open up. They may have been Jungkook’s rivals, but she felt as if she could trust them. “All I know is that Jungkook appeared in my life, claiming to know who I was and promising to return me home. Which didn’t make any sense at all since I already was home. Then he went and took me away from my home to bring me here. I’m still not sure where ‘here’ is, but everyone seems to know who I am while I don’t know anyone. Jungkook has since not been able to answer my questions, but Akira has. That is why I am seeking counsel with him.”

“Overall, Captain,” Aoi jumped at the sound of Joshua’s voice as he entered the cabin behind her, “her story seems a bit too far-fetched to be made up.” He came to stand beside her. “We know Jungkook was gone for several years. No one knew where he was. It could just be that he’d been sent to a different time. The idea isn’t so far off. Stranger things have happened.”

Seungcheol and Jeonghan nodded their agreement eagerly. It took a moment for Aoi to notice their eyes glazed over and the subtle way their bodies had become a bit more rigid.

Jihoon scowled, “Stop with the fancy speech, Joshua. Release the two of them. You don’t need to use persuasion to get me on your side. I had long since decided to believe her.”

Joshua bowed his head respectfully. Immediately, the other two returned to normal, not seeming to notice that anything had happened at all. Aoi watched Joshua with a new sense of respect. Words held power, everyone knew that, but in Joshua’s case, it seemed the power they held was greater than most. She’d been told he was the healer on the ship. It was rare for a person to be born with two gifts, but it wasn’t impossible. It seemed as though Joshua may be one of those people.

“So what do you plan to do about it?”

“I do not wish any harm to come to Jungkook.” Aoi spoke up, the look on Jihoon’s face having made her uncomfortable.

“The Bangtan has stood as a rival to The Fallen Flower for as long as this ship has been sailing, but I hold no intention of destroying Jungkook or his crew just yet. Two rivals with a common enemy hold much greater power than if they were to stand on their own. And you, my dear, hold the key that connects them both.”

“What are you saying, Captain?” Seungcheol asked, leaning forward across the desk.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Jeonghan grinned. “The captain’s got a plan to finally get rid of that bastard, Akira.”

“Why is Akira so hated among you all?” Aoi asked, finally becoming fed up with her lack of knowledge.

“Akira has killed more of our brethren than the sea has claimed.” Jihoon explained. “He actively seeks us out and demands our allegiance or our heads. Pirates have died in the most gruesome ways under the watchful eye of Akira. To rid the seas of that vermin is the greatest goal of any pirate.”

“So where do I play into all of this? How do I know you aren’t all lying to me?”

“You don’t.” Jihoon shrugged. “It is your choice. You have the ability to leave now and seek Akira out on your own but I would not advise it. If I’m not mistaken, Akira’s goal has always been to have Jungkook’s head hung at the bow of his ship. He even went as far as to raise you with the sole purpose of luring Jungkook to his death. Akira does not care for anything outside his personal ambitions.”

“Akira is my father?” Aoi struggled to process everything Jihoon had thrown at her. If what he said was true, her history with Jungkook was a lot more intricate than she’d first believed. It went deeper than any relationship status they may have had. But that still left the question of who she was and where she came from.

“I have a few ideas, but before we go any further, I must ask if you are willing to join us or if you will stand against us. Akira is your family and I will not force you to go against him.”

“Pardon me, Captain,” Joshua ventured, “but perhaps it would be wise to first earn her trust. Aoi may be a bit more willing to help if she were to regain her memories.”

“Perhaps you’re right. By chance, does Seungkwan still know where to find the sorceress?”

“That was nearly two years ago, but I can ask.”

“Good. Go find him. If he still knows how to find the sorceress, Joshua, I want you to take Seungkwan, Soonyoung and Seokmin with you to find her. Take the girl with you as well. We’ll aid her in her quest to return her memory before asking for her final decision.”

“You want me to take booseoksoon?”

“They might be a bit annoying, but together, the three of them are unstoppable. It’s safest to bring all three. Especially since the young lady here has no memory and will be of no use to you should anything happen.”

“Very well.”

Jeonghan grinned, enjoying Joshua’s suffering far too much.

Aoi felt her heart swell at the idea these random men had presented her with. They barely knew her and yet they were prepared to risk everything to help her. Perhaps her involvement in this endeavor against Akira was far more valuable than she’d first imagined.

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lil-meow-meow-goes-rawr · 3 years

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Stormy Waters

⚓︎ Previous Parts: Betrayal, Doubts, The Race, A Challenge of Fate, Strange Happenings, Blurred Reality, Negotiations, Attack at Sea

⚓︎ Pairing: Jungkook x OC

⚓︎ Genre: Fantasy, Pirate AU, magic, time travel, romance

⚓︎ Warnings: blood, death, fighting, explosions

⚓︎ Rating: General

⚓︎ Word Count: 4.2K

⚓︎ Synopsis: Jisung finds himself aboard an unfamiliar ship with a captain who would rather see him swimming with the fishes than remaining aboard his ship.

Masterlist

Jisung surveyed the new ship through careful glances, keeping his head down to avoid catching anyone’s eye. He’d woken a few minutes ago - his head pounded angrily, and his lungs burned from coughing up half the ocean onto the deck. Any attempt to stand or escape was proven useless. His leg throbbed beneath him even now as he held it carefully still. He was completely at the mercy of the crew surrounding him.

Akira’s crew was smaller than Jungkook’s. That alone should have meant more work for the sailors, but no one seemed to be doing much of anything. Two men sat cross-legged playing a game of cards only a few feet from Jisung. Another flounced across the deck, strumming lazily on what Jisung assumed was a guitar. Or what remained of one. The sound it produced grated against his rising nerves with every strum of the three strings.

Akira himself was locked away inside his cabin. The lack of interest in the crew confused Jisung. Shouldn’t a captain concern himself with everything happening aboard the ship?

More confusing still was why Jisung had been taken at all. With a broken leg and an elbow that showed off more bone than skin, he’d been unable to keep himself above the water’s surface. They should have simply allowed him to drown. Any other opponent would have. So why hadn’t they? He was of no use to them in this condition.

“Hey,” A large leather boot kicked Jisung’s side.

Wincing hard, Jisung grabbed his ribs which, judging by how badly they ached, weren’t in much better shape than his leg. Looking up, he was met with the rough face of one of the sailors. The man was nearly bald and the little hair he did have looked as though it’d been chopped off with a rusty blade. A large scar ran through his bottom lip, baring a disturbing resemblance to one of the hooks Seokjin used to catch dinner on occasion.

“Cap’n wants to see ya in ‘is cabin.”

Jisung lowered his head, fighting simply to take each breath, “I decline.”

“Wer’nt an offer. Unless you want that pr’ty head of yours strung up on the bowstrip and your body swimmin’ with the fishes, I wouldn’t defy a direct order from the cap’n.”

Jisung didn’t like the idea of speaking with Akira on his own, but he disliked the idea of his own beheading even less. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he struggled to his feet.

The sailor rolled his eyes impatiently. “Come on. Hav’nt got all day.”

When Jisung didn’t move any faster, the sailor took him by his collar and dragged him across the deck.

Jisung made a few involuntary strangled noises, doing his best not to cry out against the pain of his leg being dragged across the rough wood.

When they reached the door, the sailor threw Jisung to the ground and raised his fist to knock, but Akira’s voice cut him off.

“Bring him in.”

Jisung’s entire body trembled as he was shoved inside the room. Fighting back an onslaught of tears, he scrambled to his feet, only just managing to catch his balance. The cabin appeared much nicer than Jungkook’s cabin aboard The Bangtan. White walls enlarged the small space. Lush, comfortable furniture pulled at Jisung’s weary body, inviting his aching muscles to rest, but despite the luxury and everything lined with golden accents, the room felt cold. There were no maps scattered across every available surface. Any book Jisung could see was placed neatly in its place and not left open on the desk or marked with any random object lying nearby. Nothing about the room spoke of Akira’s position as captain of the ship.

The biggest difference was the lack of view. Jisung couldn’t see the sea from any of the three windows. Instead, they each displayed views of the ships deck. Akira sat at his desk, watching as his crew slacked and said nothing. It didn’t sit right with him. A captain should be vigilant, attentive and commanding. Everything Akira wasn’t. In fact, he didn’t seem to fit in on the seas at all. Jisung had only met Akira a handful of times and each occurrence had been on land. Seeing him now, out on the open sea where a captain should be, Akira appeared far less intimidating. His skin was pale and glistened with sweat. The confidence he expressed aboard The Bangtan earlier was gone and in its place was a man resembling a fish out of water.

“Jisung, wasn’t it?” Akira motioned to a chair with the softest cushions Jisung had ever seen. “Make yourself comfortable. I have a few questions I would like to present you with.”

Jisung licked his lips nervously. “No thanks, I’d rather stand.”

“It looks as though you can hardly manage that. Are you certain you won’t sit?”

“I’m fine.”

“Have it your way then.” With a wave of his hand, Akira sent the other two men from the room, leaving Jisung alone with the worst captain to ever sail.

Jisung’s mouth went dry. He couldn’t say anything that might compromise anyone aboard The Bangtan. He wasn’t good at keeping secrets. Even when he didn’t mean to, he spilt out information he shouldn’t. It was better simply to remain quiet and hope Akira didn’t demand an answer from him by any physical means.

What Akira said next was not what Jisung had prepared for.

“I suppose it’s less of a question and more of an offer. You see, I have no real use for you. My target had been another, you simply happened to be in the way, and she refused her cooperation if you were to be thrown overboard.”

“She?”

Akira nodded to the far corner of the room.

Jisung turned, shocked to find Aoi seated in one of the soft chairs, legs crossed and a contemplative expression coloring her features as she leaned her chin on the palm of her hand, her elbow braced against her knee. She’d changed into a dry outfit and the men’s clothing gave her a strong sense of authority. Sitting there now, she looked nothing short of powerful.

“She has agreed to cooperate so long as you remain safe while in my care.”

Jisung tried his best to make sense of the strange situation. His head spun with questions. Wasn’t Aoi part of Jungkook’s crew? He’d assumed they were on the same side. So why was she cooperating with Akira? What angle was she playing? Had she given away any secrets? Could he really trust her?

“As such,’ Akira continued, “I’m proposing an offer. Make the decision now to join my crew or leave the ship at the nearest port. Of course, if you should choose to leave, you will no longer be under my protection, and I would have you hunted down and killed. The choice is yours.”

“Are you certain there isn’t a third option hidden in there somewhere? You know, something where I walk away and you don’t kill me?”

Akira laughed.

Jisung’s leg shook beneath him, desperately working to keep him upright. He didn’t like either option. Staying on board meant betraying Jungkook, but leaving would mean abandoning Aoi. He decided he feared Jungkook’s wrath more than anything Akira could throw at him.

Holding his head high, Jisung spoke in the strongest voice he could manage, “As long as Aoi remains on this ship, I will as well.”

Akira sighed as if disappointed in his decision. “Very well then. Welcome aboard. For now, you will sleep on the deck as there is not enough space for you down below. Until further notice, you are under Kujo’s command.” Stopping, he looked down to the gaping wound on Jisung’s leg. “No injury will exempt you from doing your part and you either work as a team or you become fish food.” Akira finished with a tone of finality, ending Jisung’s audience with his new captain.

Looking to Aoi, Jisung attempted to read her expression. He’d always been able to read Jungkook like an open book, but Aoi was different. Apart from a small crease on her forehead, there was nothing to give away her thoughts. He could only hope he’d made the right decision and that Aoi really was on Jungkook’s side. If he’d gotten it wrong . . . he didn’t want to think about it.

Sleep eluded him that night. Aoi had yet to emerge from Akira’s cabin, though the candle had long since been blown out. Jisung’s heart sank as they sailed right past the main harbor. They’d been heading due east ever since.

From his place propped up against the bow, he surveyed the skies. Dark clouds blanketed the stars, restricting his only way of tracking where they were headed. A hazy outline of the full moon was all that could be seen and even that was slowly disappearing. Jisung shivered. The night air was disturbingly still as was the sea beneath them. The crashing waves from earlier had quieted and he hadn’t seen a single sign of life outside the ship for hours. He’d never shied away from a storm, but he couldn’t fight the feeling in his gut that told him to seek shelter. Something was coming and it wasn’t friendly.

Struggling to his feet, Jisung hobbled across the deck to the Akira’s cabin. Pressing his ear up against the door, he closed his eyes and listened hard. Silence was the only reward for his efforts, just as it had been every other time he’d tried to find out what was happening inside the small room. Heavy drapes covered the windows, blocking his view. Akira had pulled them closed as soon as the sun set and the candle was lit inside. A sense of dread settled down around him. Was Aoi even still inside? There was a chance he simply had not seen her leave.

Blowing out a breath of frustration, Jisung hobbled back toward his place at the bow. His leg had gone numb a while ago. He wasn’t sure whether to take that as a good sign or not. For now, it meant he wasn’t in quite as much pain. He would deal with the consequences later.

The first roll of thunder stopped him in his tracks. A single strand of lightning lit up the dark sky directly overhead. Every other concern left his mind. Survival instinct took over and he hurried as fast as he could on a numb leg to Akira’s cabin. His fist pounded against the door as another round of thunder rumbled, much closer this time.

The door swung open, revealing an angry and half-asleep Akira. “What is it?”

“I suggest calling the rest of the crew to the deck. A storm is coming.”

Akira rubbed the back of his head, suppressing a yawn. “We’ll ride it out, just like any other storm.”

Jisung put his hand against the door, keeping Akira from shutting it. “No. This ship won’t survive if we sit back and do nothing. You need to call the crew.”

Akira angrily threw Jisung’s hand away. “If you’re so concerned, than do something about it yourself. Don’t throw your concerns onto me.”

Jisung stood, mouth agape as Akira slammed the door in his face. He wasn’t able to manage an entire ship on his own. Not when the storm was already so close. Especially not in his condition.

Helplessly, he turned back to the deck. Lightning flashed every few seconds and there wasn’t much of a pause between each blast of thunder.

Jisung had been sailing long enough to know they wouldn’t be coming out of this storm unscathed. A part of him wanted to jump ship before the storm hit, find land and take shelter, leaving Akira and his crew to fend for themselves. But that would also mean leaving Aoi behind. Jisung couldn’t do that. Jungkook would kill him. So instead, he set to work. Using every ounce of strength he had left, he managed to tie down the riggings, secure the sails and ensure everything aboard deck was safe from flying overboard.

The winds shifted as he climbed the rigging, his bad leg dangling beneath him. His arms shook from the strain. Rain began pelting him as he secured the largest of the three sails. His movements were sloppy, and his fingers fumbled with the ropes but he managed to tie them down well enough they should survive the storm.

Sliding back down the ropes, his feet hit the deck just as lightning struck the crows nest, setting the wood aflame. Jisung cursed, hoping the rain would put it out quick enough but the fire had other plans. Despite the rain, it managed to light the sail below it and before Jisung knew what was happening the entire mast was engulfed in hot flames.

Akira appeared outside his cabin then. Jisung could hardly hear over the pounding rain, but he was certain the captain was cursing him out. It wasn’t long after the remainder of the crew stumbled onto the deck, most likely having been awoken by the ever-growing waves.

Despite the imminent danger however, Jisung struggled to keep his focus. Without warning, his vision blurred and all he was able to hear was a sharp ringing in his ears. Disoriented, he attempted to grasp ahold of the situation but the harder he tried, the further from reality he slipped. At some point, Aoi appeared next to him. She kept repeating something, but he couldn’t understand what it was. In a desperate attempt to communicate, she gestured down to his leg.

Frowning, he looked down to find that he was standing in a growing puddle of his own blood. Since his leg had grown numb, he hadn’t realized the wound had opened again.

A giant wave crashed into the side of the ship, lifting it several feet in the air before crashing it back down to the sea. The entire crew was thrown from their feet. Unable to fight against it, Jisung was thrown helplessly over the side, sinking down below the waves. The ship swept over him at an alarming speed, crashing up over another wave.

Jisung pushed his muscles, forcing them to carry him to the surface where I gulped in a deep breath only to be thrown back under. A current, too strong to battle against, swept him up, throwing him in every direction until he became so disoriented, he couldn’t tell which way was up or down.

There was no time to think. The second he was able to, Jisung picked a direction he assumed was up and swam as hard as he could. Arms wrapped around his middle, yanking him back in the opposite direction. His first thought was that the stories Yoongi told of the Kraken were true. He was being dragged to his water death by an eight-legged monster. Fighting with everything he had, he attempted to break free but the force was too strong. He was helpless against his attacker.

He was growing tired. His muscles ached and it wouldn’t be long before his lungs gave out and he would drown. Perhaps it was time to give up. Was it even worth fighting to survive? Would he live past the injuries he’d retained?

His body went limp, allowing the force to drag him freely through the waves. His chances of survival were minimal. It was time to accept that he would not be rejoining his crew.

That’s when his head broke the surface. Gasping in as much air as he could, he shook the water from his eyes and turned to see who his rescuer was. To his surprise, he found Aoi struggling to hold him afloat. Her face was red with exertion as she towed them both toward the bit of land in the distance.

Ignoring the fire burning in his muscles, Jisung shifted in her hold to allow himself to help. He couldn’t contribute much, but he could ease her burden. His heart swelled at the thought of Aoi rescuing him. He’d assumed she wouldn’t care. She had no memory after all. She had no reason to trust him or risk her life to save him like that.

It took every ounce of willpower to remain conscious until they reached land but just as his feet touched the sand, relief settled in at the realization he was alive and his body finally gave into fatigue. Darkness closed in around him and there was no fighting it.

Aoi collapsed onto the sand. Her muscles screaming at her from dragging Jisung up out of the water. The waves still crashed angrily against the shoreline but the worst of the storm seemed to have passed. A bit of morning sun began poking through the clouds as they thinned out. Akira’s ship somehow managed to survive the storm and she watched with regret as it sailed further away. There were still so many questions she needed answers for. Akira was not someone she trusted completely, but she knew he would tell her anything she wanted so long as she agreed to her submission.

Beside her, Jisung groaned in pain. Resting the back of her hand against his forehead, she grimaced at the heat radiating off his skin. He was running a fever. That much was certain and if she didn’t find him help quickly, he would be in serious trouble. Aoi had healed fevers before, but that was back in her own world. Did things work differently here? Healing had never been her gift. She’d only picked up a few skills in order to get a job. Would those skills work here on him?

Cautiously, she attempted to cure his fever with one of the many spells she’d been taught but his condition remained the same. The wound on his leg no longer bled but it oozed a greenish liquid Aoi was certain wasn’t meant to be there. Most likely it was infected and if not treated properly, he could lose his entire leg.

Hovering her hand over his leg, she concentrated until her head hurt but nothing happened. Why wasn’t it working now? Had she lost all her abilities since coming here?

“This is so frustrating!” Digging her fingers into the sand, she clenched her fists as hard as she could.

“Your friend looks a bit ill there,”

The softly spoken words enticed the same reaction from her as if they’d been screamed in her ear. Aoi leapt to her feet, spraying sand in every direction as she did.

The man standing behind her held his hands up innocently. “I won’t hurt you. I’m only here to help. That is, if you need my help. I happen to be a healer myself.”

“You can help him?” Aoi looked the man up and down a few times. He was tall and his skin seemed to radiate a golden glow in the morning sunlight. His friendly smile was the deciding factor in choosing to trust him.

“If you’ll let me.”

“Please, don’t let him die.”

“Don’t worry. Shua is the best healer around. You won’t find another like him. Jungkook really thinks he’s unbeatable with that non-magic-healer of his, but there’s a reason he’s never bested our cap’n. You just can’t beat natural talent like this.”

Aoi jumped, not having noticed the other man with him. He was shorter than the first guy and his hair shone bright pink. The strangest part about his appearance though, was the fact that his eyes matched his hair.

“Chan,” Shua rolled his eyes, “stop bragging and get down here. I’m going to need your help.”

Shooting a wink at Aoi, Chan dropped down next to his friend. “What’s the diagnosis?”

“It’s not good.”

“Wait,” Aoi said, her mind finally catching up with everything that was said, “you know Jungkook?”

“Sure,” Chan shrugged, “doesn’t everyone? He’s only the most feared and well-respected pirate on the seas. Everyone knows his name.”

“But you spoke as if you knew him personally.”

“Chan used to be a part of Jungkook’s crew before he joined ours.” Shua explained. “Our captains have always had a bit of a rival between them. During one of our last skirmishes, Chan was captured by our captain and Jungkook captured one of our men, Jeongin. Instead of fighting over it further, we decided just to accept the trade off.”

“That doesn’t really make much sense. Weren’t you worried about secrets being spilled?”

“Nah,” Chan grinned, his hair and eyes fading to a dark green, “they already know all of our secrets and we know theirs.”

“I’m so confused.”

Shua sighed, “You wouldn’t be the only one.”

“So if you know Jungkook, than maybe you’ll know Akira.”

Both men froze. Shua’s hands hovered over Jisung’s leg as he turned to stare at her. Chan’s hair turned a deep shade of orange. As he stared up at her, his eyes did the same.

“Why would you be looking for Akira?” Shua asked slowly.

“Wasn’t he the one who originally took you away from here?” Chan looked between Shua and Aoi, confusion written plainly across his face.

Aoi hesitated. They reacted to Akira’s name the same way most of Jungkook’s crew had – with fear and trepidation. She’d known Akira for years; worked under him and seen the way he fought to save lives in the hospital. How could someone like that be so feared by these people? No matter which way she looked at it, she couldn’t make it make sense. Was Akira not the person she thought he was?

Rocking back onto his heels, Shua stood. He’d become weary of her, that much was certain. The kind, gentle look he’d given her just moments before had been replaced by one that was cautious and uninviting. “Answer the question. What is it you seek from Akira?”

“Answers,” Aoi answered honestly.

Chan’s hair slowly faded to a deep blue. Aoi had to keep from staring. The frequent changes in color were distracting. She’d heard of gifts like his before – ones which fed off the person’s emotions. If she had to guess, he was able to read the emotions of the people around him, but at the price of his own emotions being openly displayed for everyone to see.

“What sort of answers are you seeking that you must find them with likes of Akira?”

Aoi fought the urge to take several steps back. There had been nothing intimidating about Shua just a moment ago, but fear was slowly taking over her as his suspicion towards her grew. “He is the only person I know after having been dragged through the spaces of time. I’m more than a bit confused and if I’m honest, lost and scared. I need to understand what’s going on. So many different people are telling me who I am and where I should belong. I don’t know who to trust or which way to turn.” She gestured to Jisung, her voice growing louder and more desperate with every word that left her lips. “I saved him from drowning just now because he was the only person I’ve met here who not only was nice to me but has yet to act as if he owns my life. I don’t know who he is, but I couldn’t bear to watch him die.”

Shua took a slow, deep breath, regaining control of his emotions. “I believe you.”

“You do?”

“You would have to be absolutely crazy to come up with a story like that. Besides, you’ve given us no reason not to believe you. I knew Jungkook had been sailing with woman he’d picked up along his voyages, but I’d yet to meet her before she disappeared. If I had to guess, that woman is you.”

Chan’s dark blue hair was proof he still didn’t quite believe her. “Time and space can be a tricky thing to navigate. There is a very good possibility she lost her memory somewhere along the way.”

“My memory is fine, thank you.” Aoi crossed her arms stubbornly.

“Really?” Chan challenged, rising to his feet. At full height he stood eye level with her but that did nothing to make him appear less intimidating. “Why is it then that everyone else seems to know who you are and yet you know no one? If you think about it, it’s far more logical that you’ve lost your memory rather than entire group of people have had their memories altered.”

Aoi wanted desperately to dispute what he was throwing at her, but she couldn’t. Everything he’d said was true and if she were to be honest with herself, she felt as if she knew these people just as well as they claimed to know her.

“Alright, before either of you become too upset over this, let’s get your friend here to the ship. Jihoon will have a better idea of what to do. A fair bit of warning though, Miss. Until we are able to speak with the captain alone, I would advise refraining from speaking about Akira. Avoid his name entirely unless you wish for the entire crew to be at your throat. Akira is a not a name taken to kindly around here.”

Shaking slightly, Aoi nodded.

“Good. Now let’s go meet your boyfriend’s rival, shall we?”

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