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Curse you, curse the sea, curse my luck, curse this glorious ship, curse…

The girl kept cursing mentally. Cursing mentally was good, you wouldn’t need to stop for a breath. On the other hand, the more she cursed, the angrier she got. Why? Her mouth was tied, just like her wrists, arms and ankles. She kept struggling but it didn’t work. Curse these thick ropes, she added furiously.

Actually, she was trying to speak but thanks to the ropes that shut her up, the only thing which could be heard from her was a long “Hmph-hmmh-hm-hmph”. Well, that way, at least she wouldn’t be beat up by the pirates that kidnapped her.

“Shut up already, will you?” One of the pirates who were ‘babysitting’ the girls got finally bored. “No one understands what you say anyway.”

The girl wanted to answer but still… “Hmmmph-hmm-rghhm!”

“Will you be quiet if I take that rope around your mouth away?” the man said tiredly. The girl nodded. The man stood up, came nearer and did what he said.

The girl took a very deep breath as if she was about to curse out at the top of her lungs. Seeing this, the man slapped her. The girl couldn’t move for a moment. No one had ever slapped her – not even her parents. How dare this man? She was too shocked to react, but another girl about her age wasn’t. She screamed “How can you hit a girl, you-” She was stopped by a quiet word.

“Don’t.”

She looked at the girl. Her cheek was red and her eyes were fixed on the ground. However, the man had got too angry and he raised his hand to hit the other girl’s face. His hand did hit a face, but not the face he wanted.

The girl he had just slapped was leaning to protect her, now with red marks on her both cheeks. “Don’t. You. Dare.” Her (eye colour) eyes were dark with a deep fury. The man stepped back unknowingly, then left not to seem scared.

The girl returned to her old sitting position and closed her eyes. The other one whispered a ‘thank you’, receiving a slight nod.

No one talked. Every single girl who were kept there was thinking of her beloved ones who would go crazy when they learnt what had happened. Only one of them wasn’t – the one who was hit twice. She had no family to go back to. She was just listening to the sound of the waves, trying to feel them. After a while, when she could almost sense the cold sea, a young boy about twelve rushed in. He had dark brown hair with a curl sticking out on the right of his head and amber eyes. He was wearing rather clean clothes, compared to the other pirates.

“Shut up, all of you!” he shouted at the other pirates in the room. “Captain’s coming!”

The pirates obeyed him and stood up quickly. The girls started to get closer to each other. They were scared of possibilities. The possibilities that would destroy their lives forever.

The girl who was hit didn’t. She had already understood what could happen to her when the pirates caught and dragged them out of their town. She didn’t have anyone to worry about. She could protect herself enough. The years she spent alone had taught her how to stand for herself.

So, she didn’t care about anything when she opened her eyes slowly to see the said captain.

The captain didn’t make her wait. As soon as she had opened her eyes, he entered the room. He looked pretty impressive. He was wearing what other captains wore –she had listened to enough tales to picture them– but he looked even better than she would think. He had long, brown hair which he had tied and he was wearing a mighty hat with feathers. His shirt was half-buttoned and his pants were tucked into his leather boots. He had a sword which was hanging around his belt. His coat wasn’t buttoned, either. He had a chain around his neck.

He didn’t hurry while walking. The girl thought it showed his pride. He stopped in the middle of the room and looked at his men. “Why is it so noisy here?” His voice was impressive, too. He was very confident and calm.

“S-sorry, cap-” one of the men began.

“No stuttering!” he interrupted sharply. Then repeated his question. “Why is it so noisy here?”

“Sorry, captain, but these girls, especially this one over there is such a pain in the neck and we h-”

“Which one?” he asked, calm again.

The man pointed at the girl who looked even calmer than the captain himself. “She kept murmuring so I had to let her speak, but then she would scream and I hit her. Then the other g-”

“You hit her?”

“Yes captain, bec-”

“How many times have I told you not to hurt women?” the captain shouted with a great anger.

The pirate started to shake. “But captain, she w-”

“Don’t speak!” he shouted again. “Get out! Lovino, make sure he doesn’t eat tonight.” He turned to his crew. “If there’s any trouble about our guests, you tell me and don’t get involved, you understand me?”

“Yes, captain!” all of the men said in unison.

“Good.” He turned to the young boy again. “Lovino, please call Francis over here. I need him to help me with this girl.”

Lovino –it sounded like an Italian name to the girl– nodded and ran out to find this Francis. It didn’t take him long to bring a blond. His wavy hair was surrounding his face and suited his azure eyes. His clothes looked better than the pirates’ but not as good as the captain’s. He had preferred white and blue clothes while the captain liked red and brown more.

“Yes, captain?” he said with a little hint of French accent.

“I want you to take this lady to an empty room. Help her clean and dress. Since one of my men has embarrassed me by hitting her, I owe her a quiet dinner. She’s going to eat with me tonight.”

Francis nodded. “Sure, captain.” He turned to the girl and untied her. He offered a hand and helped her stand up. The girl thanked with a nod. “This way, my lady.” He walked out of the room, but the captain stayed since he had orders to give. The girl followed him while rubbing her wrists. Keep cursing the ropes.

Francis led the girl to clean, middle-sized room. “What’s your name, dear?” he asked her politely.

“_______.”

“This is a beautiful name, _______,” he said. “There is water over there. Here, let me help you.” He took a towel and poured some water on it. He cleaned her face, hands and wrists. “Don’t worry, I had these wounds too. They don’t stay there long. Now come here.” He checked some drawers. “They really need to renew these clothes… can you believe this dress is still here…” He was talking to himself, then stopped. “Here!” He took out a red-brown dress. “Would you like to wear this?”

“Well, not really…” _______ said quietly, not sure how he was going to react.

He didn’t react badly. “Okay. Well, this one maybe?” He showed her a black dress.

“Isn’t it too… black?”

“You’re right,” he nodded. “It’s not like you’re a widow or something.” He kept looking for another one, and found. “What about this?” He was holding an elegant, plain white dress. It was very nice. She nodded, smiling a bit. “I suppose you don’t want me around while you’re changing?” He waited outside the room while she changed. then they looked at her in the mirror together. She looked like a princess.

There was a knock on the door. It was Lovino. “Francis, is there any problem?” He had a look at the girl. Suddenly, a smile appeared on his face, as if the girl reminded him of somebody else. “Good. Good. Okay, I have things to do. And Francis, you’re being called by our guests down here. So, um…”

“_______.”

“Okay. _______. You have to go to captain’s room alone. There are two rooms at the end of this hall. You will enter the one on the left. Got it?” She nodded. “Good. Francis, stop grinning like some idiot. Get your ass down already.”

Francis was shaking his head. “Don’t use a bad language in front of a lady, Lovi~”

“Don’t call me Lovi, damn it!” He stormed out.

Francis laughed, then left, but before disappearing he said something. “Be a good girl, _______. Or… good luck.”

_______ didn’t take this threat-ish thing serious. She checked herself at mirror for the last time, then went to the room Lovino had described.

She remembered to knock on the door before going in, but she didn’t want to. Instead, she quietly opened the door.

It was a big, rich-looking room. It looked like someone wanted to place a house there but failed, so every kind of furniture was in the room, but they were in harmony. In the far corner of the room was a double bed, a wardrobe and a mirror. Next to a window, there was a table with two comfy chairs. The carpets and the curtains –why would you need them in a ship?– were matching, too. There was another door, which had to be a private bathroom for the captain.

With a little hesitation, ______ sat in one of the velvet armchairs. She kept looking around until she heard the little door open. The captain walked out of his bathroom without noticing the girl sitting there. He stood in front of his tall mirror and looked at the wounds on his shirtless body. It was a nice scenery. While looking at the mirror, he saw the girl. “Oh, hello. Sorry for keeping you wait, but I’ll be with you in a minute.” Without hurrying, he opened the wardrobe and chose a clean shirt. He wore it and walked towards her, then sat down.

He could look at the girl properly for the first time. She looked very beautiful in that dress, but somehow her eyes were wary. Also, it was obvious that she wasn’t afraid.

“I’m really sorry for what my man did,” he started. “My name is Antonio.” He held out his hand.

The girl shook his hand, but she was still careful. “So you’re that Antonio,” she said, more like talking to herself.

“Ever heard of me?” Antonio asked, a bit curious.

“Well, yes. I’ve heard about a Spanish pirate around this sea and the ocean. Your full name was…” She tried to remember. “Oh, I found it. Antonio Fernandez Carriedo.” She was pleased to remember, somehow. “I’m _______.”

“_______,” he repeated. “It’s a pity I’ve never heard of you, considering you’re probably the most beautiful girl of your town.”

She was still watching him carefully. “I’m a hostage. You don’t have to be kind to me. Why are you?”

He sighed. “Just because I’m a pirate it doesn’t mean I’m rude to ladies and kids. Haven’t you seen Lovino? I could have left him in some shores, or sold him. But I haven’t, and I won’t. I’ll tell you why one day. Now, you must understand that you’re not going to be treated like a prisoner here.”

“Why?”

“What, would you like me to do the opposite?”

“No, I just wanted to know why, but forget it.” She gazed at the gorgeous room again.

“You’re not very patient, are you?” he asked this time.

“Not really.”

“How do your friends get along with you?”

“I don’t have friends.”

“Your family, then?”

“I don’t have a family, either.”

Antonio examined her indifferent expression. “You look calm.”

“I am calm.”

“No, you’re not.” The girl looked at him, not getting what he meant. “You’re not calm. You’re angry. Maybe sad, too.”

“I’m not.”

“Yes you are.” Antonio had leaned to look her in the eye. “You want to burn this ship down. You want to beat the crap out of the man who hit you. And right now, you want me to shut up.”

The ship shook as if something crashed it. At the same moment, Lovino was standing at the doorstep. “Captain, Brit is here!”

Antonio’s eyes widened. “Lovino, stay here. Lock the door when I get out and make sure both of you are fine.” He grabbed two swords and turned to leave.

“Wait, I’m coming too!” Lovino was holding another sword.

“No, you’re staying here.”

“I said I’m coming!” Lovino said angrily.

“LOVINO!”

He froze. And so did Antonio. They hadn’t expected the girl to shout out of the blue.

Lovino was first to recover from the shock. “It’s none of your busin-”

“SIT!”

He looked at her. Surprising Antonio, he did sit. The sword in his hand dropped. The girl walked over Antonio.

“I’ll be with him.” She gestured to Lovino. “And you better finish those Brits off or I’ll kill you before they can.”

Antonio smiled crazily. He had seen this potential in her eyes. He rushed out. _______ locked the door.

Lovino was still sitting silently.

She walked over him. “Listen, Lovino. I don’t know who are out there right now, but…”

Antonio couldn’t see his own nose. He didn’t know if he was still breathing regularly. He didn’t, because there was no time to check.

The famous British pirate Arthur Kirkland was on his ship with his men. The pirate he had beat two days ago. How did he manage to follow the ship here?

Well, the Brit was not giving him chance to ask.

Antonio had lost one of his swords already. He could only hope that one of his men would get and use it.

“Long time no see, Toni,” the Brit said, grinning.

“It’s only two days, Art,” Antonio replied, while dodging his attacks.

“Art? I thought you would come up with a better nickname, Toni,” he said.

Two swords were trying to outdo each other. Their owners were trying to control their breaths.

Antonio didn’t have time to look, but he knew his men were fighting with all their strength, for their captain. His men had never betrayed him because Antonio was a good captain.

He couldn’t hear his own breath over the sound of the swords and knives.

Naturally, he didn’t hear a door open. But he did hear a scream; a child. A young boy.

His eyes widened. He couldn’t run to see if Lovino was alright. Not before knocking the Brit down. His anger grew. He had to see Lovino.

He attacked Arthur with this brand new fury. Arthur was surprised by it, but he smirked. Antonio was too angry to notice and step back before he knocked him down. In a moment, he was lying on the floor, a deep and bloody cut on his leg, a sword leaning on his neck.

“That’s the end of the awesome Antonio Carriedo? What a shame… and that little boy of yours,” Arthur said, pushing the sword a bit more.

If only a porcelain bowl hadn’t hit him on the head.

Arthur shook, then turned to see who it was. Said little boy was standing there with a big slingshot in his hand and a wide smile on his face. Without him knowing, another piece of porcelain hit Arthur.

And without him knowing, a man behind him caught Lovino.

“Lovino!” Antonio shouted. He couldn’t straighten. He saw a few of his men in the same situation.

Arthur was back, and so was the shiny sword. “Well, I’ve told you before,” he said with joy. “He’s useless. You should have left him back at Canary Islands.”

“I never would,” Antonio responded hardly. His leg was very bad, and now his arm too.

“I would love to have a long chat with you… but I’m a bit busy, you know?” Arthur said. Antonio felt the sword start scratching his neck slightly. Damn, he thought. He had to protect Lovino. He had to protect his crew.

He couldn’t.

Arthur smiled. Both of them knew it was the last thing Antonio would see.

Well, they were wrong.

Arthur suddenly cried and stumbled, dropping his sword. His back had a cross-shaped scar now. He lost his balance.

_______ was standing behind him. Her beautiful dress’ skirt was ripped off as a line in both sides of her legs. She was holding two precious and heavy swords in her hands. There was a wry smile on her face. She approached Arthur while giving him more scratches. She was enjoying herself, but her smile was dark. “Never mess with the _______s.” She kicked the blond pirate in the stomach. She placed her swords around his neck quickly, then tossed her head and shouted “Attention gentlemen of the island of Britain; I’ve got your beloved captain!”

She caught the British crew’s attention with this one sentence. Seeing this, the ship’s men attacked them and luckily, managed to control them.

Lovino burst into laughter. In a few minutes, they gained the control of both ships.

Antonio was carried to a room to be taken care of. Meanwhile, the crew treated _______ like the second captain. They got Arthur and put him in the prison. Lovino was helping _______ order around. After setting sail, he said they could rest now. She just sat on the floor, so did Lovino.

“You know _______, you were pretty good,” Lovino said, making her smile. “How do you know how to use two swords? Not even one, two.”

“My big brother used to teach me.” She looked at the sea. It was calm now. She was calm, too.

“Can you teach me?”

She studied the boy. There was enough fire in his amber eyes. “Yep.”

He jumped with joy. “Yes!”

She just laughed. Then got serious. “Do you think your captain is okay?”

“I am sure he is okay, but you can go and see yourself.”

“Won’t you come?”

“Naah, I’m fine here. Go see him alone. I bet he’d throw something at me for ruining your romance…”

She punched him playfully, then stood up. “I’ll be right back. Don’t you dare to play with my sword.”

“Can’t promise~”

She shook her head, laughing again. When she entered the amazing room again, she got serious. She walked up to the man’s bed and looked at his face.

Antonio was sleeping peacefully. His hair was scattered on the puffy pillows. All of his wounds were bandaged. Still he looked charming. Curse you, she repeated mentally. She sat next to him.

Antonio opened an eye. He looked rather funny now. “You’re here to see me? How sweet…”

“I’ve always been sweet,” she stated indifferently. “I just don’t let people see it when I’m angry.”

“And you get rid of your anger by scratching people with swords?”

“I can see you’re much better now,” she said. “Why don’t you get up then?”

“It’s better in here, you know? By the way, you will tell me how you learnt using swords and kicking.”

“Later, but only if you tell me Lovino’s story.”

“Deal. Is he alright?”

“Better than alright. I promised him to teach him how to use two swords at the same time.”

“You should have asked me before,” he said, frowning.

“But I didn’t. And now, since you’re good enough to talk, I can leave in peace. Have a good rest, Antonio.”

“Wait, wait,” he held her wrist. “Before you go…” He reached out for his bedside drawer. He took out a necklace. “Take this as a sign of gratefulness,” he said. The girl stood up to leave. “And one more thing… will you stay with me tonight? I’m not feeling so good yet.”

She stood there for a minute, thinking. He was nearly pleading with his green eyes. She sighed. “Fine. Just let me get something to eat.” He smiled, it was a genuine smile indeed.

_______ wore the necklace when she got out of the room. She took some food on a tray and returned. Lovino was there.

“…and don’t start trolling again, please.” Antonio finished his sentence when she came in and put the tray on the table.

Lovino waved her. “I was going to ruin your moment of kiss, but he’s really desperate… I advise you not to make him wait too long; he’s ill you know…”

Antonio threw him a smaller pillow. Lovino ran away.

_______ smiled behind him. He was definitely Italian.

“Sorry,” Antonio apologized. “He’s like that sometimes…”

“It’s okay.” She helped him sit and sat next to him, with a bowl of soup. “Let’s feed you first. Then… we’ll see.”

Antonio wiggled his eyebrows. “I take that as a promise.”

They both heard a boy snicker outside the door.

“LOVINO, GO AWAY!”