Pirates of the Sanq 2/?

[AngelOfDeath]

So sorry people, I think that I should look into getting a beta reader VERY soon. (Writing from 1-2am regularly makes for some very sloppy mistakes that I apologize profusely for.) But now that the idea is in my head, I feel a need to keep going. Apparently stress makes me productive. But tomorrow I MUST work on school. ::tells herself this over and over::

Hopefully I'll go back and edit things later when I post it all in my own little forum (i.e. when I leark how to make htm documents)

Hopefully the next chapter will be longer too. Plech.

Standard non-ownership disclaimer for Gundam Wing and Pirates of the Caribbean.




Chapter 2




It was well and good to be ladylike and have a delicate lacy fan to match her elegant blue gown, but darn it all, Relena wanted something that could actually keep her cool. Said fan was mostly for decoration, and this mystified Relena who was in most things a practical girl, because that meant she was being forced to carry around something useless just for the sake of it. Life would have been much worse for her if she had not grown up on this island, for court would have been a nightmare of rules and styles that she did not like affecting. As usual she?s smile and bear it, for as the sister of the Governor she had a reputation to uphold for both of them and Relena would die before disgracing her brother.

Lady Noin approached with a deep frown marring her proud features. The good Lady was incensed, judging from that expression, and since she rarely hid what she was feeling, Relena felt that the guess was safe enough that it also had something to do with her brother. And they had only gotten to the party an hour ago.

?Ah Relena, I?ve been searching for you everywhere!? Relena was in an out of the way spot, ensconced in a corner where she could find some shade and maybe a cool breeze off the water. They were on a cliff overlooking the bay, here at Treize?s government awarded mansion. The commander of the island troops was almost equal in status to the Governor, but they served different if complementary functions. Treize and Milliardo had become fast friends in the years they had lived here. Lady Noin was a somewhat more complex story to relate.

Lucretia Noin had been married by proxy overseas as part of an arranged marriage agreement her father agreed to. She brought with her a dowry of some considerable sum over the water to the small Sanq islands and in turn Lucretia had gotten herself a husband in the nobility. Even though everything was all settled on paper, what her father had neglected to mention was that the husband she was expecting was quite a bit older than herself. It was with more than a little surprise that she found, once she had disembarked and found no one but crying servants in black greeting her, that her husband had died on her month long journey over.

With no living children and few relatives willing to contest Lucretia for the worthless property in an island far away from the center of culture, she found herself a widow almost before she had been a wife. Insisting that she retain her maiden name but taking the title that was now hers by right, she became Lady Noin and had a beautiful house at the edge of the town where she lived comfortably and bothered by few people. She was nineteen.

Three years later Relena and Milliardo arrived and an amusing series of events began. Milliardo, smitten with the dusky and rough hewn beauty, began to attempt to court her in the only way he knew how: the indirect courtly fashion that mainly involved sending her small useless gifts and often stopping by for intimate but excruciatingly boring conversations. Several months of this were enough to make the poor harassed Lady Noin about as irritated as she could be. One day she finally snapped, Relena had heard her recount the story enough times and it still amused her.

?. . . and then, of course, I had to tell the poor man that you had to address that concern to the judge before I could deal with it. It was quite droll at the time.?

?I ? I ? I can?t live like this anymore! You?re dull! Every word you say makes me want to stab my eyes out with the beak of that ridiculous and UGLY stuffed bird you sent me last month! Leave me alone, can?t you see that I just don?t like you!?

?Listen, Lady, you are by far the most difficult and belligerent woman I have ever had the displeasure to fall in love with. I?ve done my best over the past two months, but if that doesn?t get through to you then maybe THIS will!?

That was the part where they kissed. It was terribly romantic from Relena?s point of view and of course hilarious since Milliardo just wasn?t the sort of person to lose his temper like that. Of course Lady Noin slapped him after he kissed her, and they didn?t speak for three months, but soon enough they began to look back upon that time with more humor than irritation. Things went smoothly, if slowly with their relationship after that (or as smoothly as it could reasonably go with people like them).

However, right now she was facing a woman who by rights should be very happy and instead looked about ready to throttle someone. If Milliardo hadn?t told her yet then maybe he was waiting for the right time ? and somehow that connected to him needing to avoid his poor would-be fianc?.

?That brother of yours has ignored me. . . twice! I tried to practically corner him, but then he and Treize retreated into a parlor with a lot of the other men. Normally that wouldn?t stop me, but I just can?t bring myself to make an ass of him on his own birthday, though if he crosses me one more time. . .? The threat hung open in the humid air.

?Don?t worry about it, maybe he?s just distracted today. I heard Treize has some sort of announcement for tonight as well. Today promises to be quite a day.? Relena smiled and pushed at her side, willing the corset to conform to her ribs instead of the other way around. The dizziness was coming and going since she had left the house.

Noticing Relena?s strained expression, Noin gave her hand a kind squeeze. ?Don?t worry, Relena, this is almost over and then you can go inside to rest until dusk like everyone else. This heat is horrible for all of us.? If only Noin knew the real cause of her agony! As the older woman withdrew, Relena found herself assaulted by a couple of the local girls her own age. They looked at Relena?s dress with admiration and envy, asking where she got it, what fabric it was, if she knew if that color was very common.

Rather than mentally deconstruct her dress she just wished they go away and gossip about her like they usually did. It made her happy that they spread rumors about her and Heero. Maybe if one of them got back to him it would give him an idea, or better yet a clue.

?Pardon me, ladies, but may I borrow Miss Peacecraft a moment?? Trowa?s voice was soft but clear and the babbling girls become silent as they looked at him with longing. In his uniform Trowa did cut quite a handsome figure, but Relena merely gave him a smile of thanks for stopping the vocal torture she had been going through. The world rocked back and forth a moment, but then she accepted Trowa?s hand and made her way toward the lower stone wall that surrounded the mansion. At least it was cooler here overlooking the sea directly even if they were in the sun.

From a little ways away she saw the girls lean in and whisper, point quickly in her direction and then laugh uproariously. Great, just fabulous. Now they were angry that she was talking alone with the most sought after bachelor on the island. She did NOT want rumors about her and Trowa to reach Heero. This was extremely displeasing.

?Yes,? Relena gave a strained smile. ?Now you had something to tell me, Mr. Barton??

?Miss Peacecraft, I?ve known you for about five years and in that time I think I?ve gotten to understand your character a good deal.? The normally stoic officer was speaking a lot and looking at her in a way rather more intense than she was used to. ?You are a fine young lady, Miss Peacecraft.?

?Mr. Barton,? Relena?s fan was moving like a hummingbird?s wing in the face of his commentary. ?I?m not sure that?s entirely appropriate to compliment me so offhandedly. If you?ll excuse me, I?m feeling rather unwell and would like to go inside.?

?Wait, before you do, I have to finish.? Relena leaned against a thin, low fence that was set up along the cliff edge. She wasn?t just making excuses; she really did need to go inside. He turned away from her, seemingly not able to conjure words to fit his ideas.

A cool breeze passed over Relena?s forehead and she was seeing spots of light nowhere near where the sun actually was. She was sure this wasn?t a good thing.

?I spoke to your brother a few days ago, to make sure he approved. . . but I?m getting ahead of myself. You see, once Commander Kushrenada retires I am slated to take his place. This appreciable rise in rank carries with it more responsibility and more power, and I think that, young as I may be, it is time for me to marry.? There was a creak from behind him, but he thought little of it. ?After speaking to your brother he has given me permission to court you, so Miss Peacecraft, would you do me the honor of. . .? Upon turning around and finding no Relena and a toppled over fence he lost no time in rushing over to look at the water beneath the cliff. A misty white circle was forming from where she had hit. Running, he called for help as he made his way though the house.

This was a disaster.

*
*
*

Duo?s arrival into the harbor was not accompanied by a fanfare, screams of terror, or even a whimper of any type. It was accompanied, however, by the steady plop of oars as he rowed his way in with a steady determination that was somehow keeping him moving forward and neigh magically keeping his afloat.

?And row. . . and bail. . . and row. . . and bail.? It was a jolly little work chant, but then he was a rather carefree sort of person. As much as he loved the sea, this was getting quite painful to keep up and he?d be glad for some strong ale and some gullible gamblers. And proper food of course, but really alcohol ranked rather higher on his list of priorities at the moment.

At the periphery of his vision he caught sight of something moving in the strong breeze. Turning his head, he paused only a moment before standing up and taking off his hat to honor the dead. Swinging by their skeletal necks from grimy ropes, they as well as the sign nailed to one declared that this was ?The Fate of All Pirates.? The bastard who put that up probably thought he was damn clever. The poor bastards hanging there were probably no one he knew, but he shared an empathetic moment that was more about wishing for his own safety than sorry for their untimely deaths.

?Oh shit. . . . and bail. . . and bail. . . and bail. . .?

When he had finally beached the accursed little boat, he gave it a spiteful kick. The belabored boat promptly collapsed in on itself as his foot went right through the rotted wood. Falling on his ass, he first looked around to make sure no one had see what happened, and then got up and dusted himself off.

His arms felt like they were going to fall off and he was hungry enough to eat an entire school of fish but first he needed to rest. Rowing for three days non-stop did that to a person. Groaning at each step he made sure that all his things were in order before setting himself down beneath a nice tree when he was jolted out of the beginning of his sleep by the loud smack of something large hitting the water very hard not but a little ways away from him.

Opening his eyes he saw an arm flail and sink. Now he was more awake than he had meant to be.

?I guess it?s just that kind of day.? He told himself as he quickly shed his hat, jacket, gun, and sword onto the sandy grass.

The water that he had so assiduously been keeping himself from falling into the past days turned out to be surprisingly warm for this time of year. Of course the salt stung his eyes as he tracked the form that had sunk to the sea floor. Flowing hair and flowing skirts, all tinged a lovely blue green, but judging from the way the limbs didn?t move his rescue mission could be in deadly peril of failing. He wrapped his arms around the maiden?s waist and kicked off of the ground, propelling them up as quickly as possible even as the change in pressure made his face screw up in naked pain. Choking and spitting water, Duo dragged the poor thing to shore.

Of course, she wasn?t breathing.

Now if he had been less of a ladies man, he might not have known what the problem was. If he had been an unsuccessful man with the ladies, he also may have come into troubles. Luckily for Relena, Duo Maxwell had a full compliment of knowledge about ladies undergarments and their natures. Stumbling over to where he had dropped his belongings, he grabbed his sword and dramatically cut the stays on her corset (along with her once lovely but now mostly salty dress).

Still nothing.

Well, there was one more thing to try. Taking a deep breath he fastened his lips on hers and gave her, for lack of a better term, the ?kiss of life?. Pressing on her chest, he descended again upon her mouth, braid hitting the ground wetly at his side. It was going to be all sandy now and he?d be forced to wash it. What a bugger of a day.

Relena?s eyes flew open to glare into rather surprised purple ones, but before she could do anything else she began to cough up water loudly and ungracefully. Duo looked ridiculously pleased with himself. When she had her lungs under control again she looked furiously at the man squatting near her and examining her with great interest.

?Why were you molesting me, when I was nearly dead!? She gave another hack.

Duo?s eyes went wide and feigned great hurt at her ungratefulness, he walked over and got his things together again. ?For your information, Miss, I was saving your life. It?s called the ?kiss of life?, and the first time I had the great displeasure to receive it that was from a 300 pound ship?s cook named Handsome Roy ? whose name was more facetious than factual. You should be grateful to wake up to my rather comely face.? He cursed his Good Samaritan impulse.

?Then under the circumstances, I thank you, sir.? She was more upset over the fact that it had been her first kiss. Maybe she could say it didn?t count. ?May I know the name of my rescuer??

?Why don?t I keep that under my hat for now. . . and on that note I shall bid you farewell.? With a wink he began to saunter off when he turned to face the loaded guns of five serious looking soldiers being led by the even more imposing Trowa Barton. Duo?s smile fell, then righted itself once again in a flash. He backed away with hands raised.

?Miss Peacecraft, are you all right?? Trowa eyed Duo with more than a little animosity, taking in details of appearance and searching through his memory of faces. Something clicked and an unnerving smile quirked at the corner of his mouth. His eyes were still hard. ?Maxwell, what a coincidence. I had never expected to see you here. Mediterranean no longer to your liking??

?Oh, you know how it is. And that?s Captain Duo Maxwell, thank you.? Duo had almost backed into Relena, who had struggled to stand, clutching her sodden and ripped dress to her chest. ?There?s so much competition these days. Everyone thinks they can get a cut of the business ? and they are so despicably amateurish. Simply none of the flair or bravado that people expect. And of course the merchants themselves are getting so very bourgeois, they hardly even care when you board. One man actually had the gall to ask me to sign a document so he could claim insurance without trouble! Seriously, that?s when I picked up my crew and headed West.? As he talked he had been maneuvering himself slightly behind Relena, and as he laughed at his anecdote he pulled his gun and grabbed her, shielding himself with her body.

?You can?t run forever Maxwell. I nearly caught you once, and there are fewer places you can hide here, and no crew to back you up. I heard the rumors. You?ll swing by tomorrow, I swear it.? Trowa had never seemed so scarily determined. She feared him almost as much as the man who currently held a gun to her temple and she continued to protect her modesty and clutch at her dress. Under the circumstances, and considering the developments of the past ten minutes, she could barely get a grasp on the situation ? life was so disorienting.

?That?s a very nice speech, Barton, but I have some things to take care of before you put me in the noose that I probably deserve to swing in, even if I have no intention to do so. Now throw down your weapons, there?s a lovely little tide pool right over there.? He gestured with a flick of his head. Trowa only paused a moment before nodding at his soldiers. They dumped their weapons into the pool and Duo circled around them, giving them a wide berth. From the shouts and the pounding, he noted more soldiers descending down coming from his right. Now was the time to run, if any. ?Well, it?s been a pleasure. We really must do this again sometime.?

After pushing Relena into Trowa?s arms, bowling both of them over as Trowa tripped into his soldiers, Duo took off to his left.

?Don?t worry now Miss Peacecraft. It?s over and I?ll catch that man. I promise you.?

*
*
*

Heero walked out of the inn that doubled as a restaurant to sustain business among the locals. It had been a decent enough lunch, though nothing fancy, but he could not bring himself to take more than a bite of bread.

The timeframe was all wrong. He had expected by this time to have enough money saved to invest in better tools and actually make a real name for himself. For a while he thought that would mean moving to the continent, but he had decided that just investing in some moderately risky ventures would be just as fruitful, plus it had the advantage of keeping him near the goal and focus of his effort. Of course, it would be months before he even heard about some of those investments, and everyday when he was fixing farm tools (and sometimes working on a sword ? his real specialty) he would grow impatient.

He felt he had been very patient up until now, but Heero could not deny that when Relena popped into his mind these days there was a certain sense of urgency. Ideally, the ships would get here by next month with his tools and money and he would be in a stable enough position to finally approach her brother about. . . no he would go to Relena first. That brother of hers, though decently fond of Heero, never thought much of him as a possible husband for his Princess. Most of his life, Heero had agreed with that unspoken assumption, but he could no longer deny that life without Relena would be empty.

Groups of soldiers ran past him. They looked in a water barrel and overturned a table before continued to grumble and shout at one another and move on. Heero assumed it was some idiot who had broken out of jail. Not his problem. They wouldn?t get far on an island this small. The city and farms filled the whole thing. It was a military outpost, for crying out loud, and you couldn?t get any safer in the whole Sanq island chain. Every merchant stopped here. Where there was money, there were His Majesty?s guns to protect it.

He walked into his forge and took in the familiar sights. As he made his way to the stairs that led up to the second floor where he lived above the shop he noted that there was a sword missing from the rack on the wall, and some of his tools were on the wrong bench. Something like a second sense told him that he had better duck, and quickly. Just as he did a heavy object hissed over his head.

With a nimble dive he rolled over to the sword rack and popped up next to it, tossing his dagger from his belt at the door, while grabbing one of his favorite swords immediately after. It was thin, more for dueling that killing, but he liked the speed it gave him. As he faced his attacker, he narrowed his eyes and went into a stance.

?Really, I don?t think we have to do this. You look like a busy man, and I admit there?s a certain urgency to my life as well these days.? Duo lunged forward, and would have landed a hit if Heero had not been so ready for anything. They clashed blades, moving back and forth along the narrow open space the forge had.

?How does a blacksmith get so good at fighting?? Duo thought out loud while he fought. This man, so far as Heero could tell, must be the most annoyingly talkative criminal in all the Earth. ?Then again, this hasn?t been the friendliest of towns. I suppose one can?t always expect things to live up to their reputations. Rather like many of the women I?ve known ? although a reputation is not usually a good thing among the women I?ve known. I don?t suppose you know anyone that?s available?? Duo ducked as Heero swung wide and tried to give his head a nasty smack. ?Or maybe you don?t know anyone. . . that would explain perfectly why you?re so good at this. Though I recommend other sorts of exercise. It?s much more fun.?

Heero simply concentrated on what he was doing. Unfortunately, the sweat that was threatening to drop into his eyes and force him to be blinded for a crucial moment or two called for immediate action. Even as he wiped it away as fast as he could, it was enough time for Duo to have a handful of sandy dirt to throw into his face. As he finished coughing he heard the distinctive sound of feet running up the stairs. Eyes watering, but now able to see, Heero took off after him. There was nowhere to go but the roof, and the other buildings, afraid of fire, were much too far to jump to. The criminal was trapped.

Up one flight of stairs he saw the ladder and trapdoor leading to the roof wide open. Of course, this was terribly suspicious. A man as wily as the one he had just fought would not leave himself so open. Heero pulled the rope connecting the trap door, and as it slammed shut he saw the smirking pirate walk out of his bedroom, only to spot Heero watching him. Duo?s smile fell. He sighed.

?Must we??

?Yes.? Heero readied himself, while Duo seemed to similarly prepare. . . only to run down the stairs back to the workroom. ?Coward!? Heero called, more frustrated than anything at this man?s tactics.

?It?s a strategic retreat, I?ll have you know.? Duo yelled from below. Heero came down to find the pirate struggling to open the door that Heero?s dagger had firmly affixed close. ?That?s a cute trick.? Duo said with some surprise as he turned and faced his opponent yet again. ?But I?ve had enough of these games.? His serious expression was backed by the barrel of a gun now and Heero had no choice but to pause from advancing further. ?Now let me out before one of us does something stupid. Most likely you. I?d hate to kill a nice guy, like I assume you are. Everyone in towns like these are too wholesome for their own good.?

?No.?

?What??

?I won?t let you out.?

Duo got closer, gun shaking a little from the force with which he clutched it. ?This bullet is not meant for you, but a desperate man has been known to do what he has to. Now open that door.?

?Open up in the name of His Majesty!? The loud knock and course shout caught Duo?s attention for only a fraction of a second, but it was enough for Heero to land a clout with his sword handle that brought down Duo like a sack of flour.

It really was that kind of day.



[/b]

[Perfect Soldier]

Wow, I gues it really is one of those days. Nice job on this chapter i'm surprised to see you put up the 2nd chapter so soon but definitely happy about it. And there were very few errors and it was a very well written chapter. I can't wait for the next one. Keep up the good work and good luck with your school work.

Zero

[Faye Faye]

Beautiful Addition da'lin! Beautiful!!! I can't wait for more

[bookworm]

More! More! More! I want more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As for the fic, it is great. And as usual, I would say: MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Shinigamigrul]

I love this MORE!!!

[Kaili Charmer]

Yea! Cool, you made Duo capt. Jack Sparrow!! AWESOME!!! He fits the part so perfectly, doesn't he?

The chapter on a whole didn't have many errors, just some in the first couple of paragraphs that confused me, and perhaps a problem with syntax here or there, but that's perfectly fine and it didn't take anything away from the chapter! :razz: btw, if you need another beta reader...

Anywho, great job! Keep it coming, you're so cool!

[Lady Saffir]

*snicker* "oh shit...and bail, and bail, and bail...." I loved that line! And good - Heero got to take the pirate down. ^__^

*sigh* How many more days till Dec.2nd?



LS

[shadowcat]

Wow, another awesome chapter Angel!! The fic contains very few errors for a un-beta read fic!

[Tumbleweed]

This has been pretty fun so far. I never would have thought that GW and PotC could be crossed very well but, so far you've done a very good job.

I was particularly impressed with a lot of the background you added; it makes things less flat, like the world wasn't created 5 minutes before the prologue.

Duo's role didn't surprise that much but Trowa caught me off gaurd. You had me thinking (after ch1) that Treize would be the one proposing to Relena I'm intrested to see how you adapt it further - particularly what role you place Quatre into.

[Morrighan]

It's Captain Duo Maxwell!!!!!! He-he!!!!!!! *giggles profusely* That's so fitting!!

Love this chapter, AoD!! Always full of laughs!!

Can't wait to see more!!!