Follow The Current

Chapter 34

Today was their last day on the island before they set out for their next destination. They were spending their last day gathering last minute supplies before they set sail once more. "Please come with me Kin," Tanya asked when she showed him the list of things she needed for her latest invention. He looked it over, and knew some of it would have some weight to it. He nodded, "Okay."

She smiled and they left the ship together. As they shopped around, they cracked jokes and shared the occasional kiss. Eventually they noticed they were being followed by some men, and over time the amount of men grew. They began to make their way back to their ship, but they kept having to make various turns because another group would cut them off. Until they got to a dead end in an alley. "You kids aren't going anywhere," the leader of their group said as he cracked his knuckles. 

"And why is that," Tanya asked them, hand on her hip. Deep down she was scared. 

"We think it's time for you Shadow Pirates to be taken down a few pegs, starting with the two of you," he told them. 

"Is attacking the two youngest members of their crew supposed to stroke your ego or something," Kin asked them. 

"We're not stupid. We know you two and the First Lady have some of the highest body counts in your crew. We know you two took out a whole group of Marines just the two of you," he told them. "Dealing with the two of you first will help increase our reputation." 

"If you were successful in doing so, your rep would only be increased for a few minutes before the wrath of Captain Lux is on your doorstep sinking your ship and crew," Tanya told them. They didn't seem to care. 

Talking was buying them time, because they knew they couldn't take on this many in a cramped alley. "Tanya, can you climb over the wall," Kin asked her softly. "Yeah but-," she began but cut herself off when she realized what he had planned. He knew he wouldn't make it over the wall fast enough, but he could hold them back long enough for her to get over it and run for help. 

She feared he would be dead by the time help got to him. She didn't have any flares on her or she'd shoot one up for the crew to see. "Be careful," she whispered to him before she began to climb quickly as the group began to jump Kin. He was a skilled fighter but there were so many. She landed on the ground on the other side and quickly glanced at the building they were behind so she could tell whoever she finds. She took off in a run, trying to keep the tears back, her fear for Kin in her throat and clutching her heart in a tight grip. 

"Tanya," she heard a voice call out to her. She skidded to a stop and turned around. She saw Igiel and Pince. "Kin's in trouble," she told them. She quickly told them where they could find him and they took off. 

By the time Pince and Igiel got them, Kin was badly injured but he was still standing. A couple of guys were unconscious, but there were still too many. A mountain of a man went to grab Kin from behind, but a woman with wings came down, heels of her boots slamming into the guy's face. Pince and Igiel began to take on some of the others. 

Soon Dio, Lance, and Muris were showing up. Lance got to Kin as he dropped to his knees. "I got you," Lance said as he caught him. Lance helped Kin stand. Kin leaned heavily into Lance, his body in so much pain. Lux stood at the entrance of the alley, fury coming off of him in waves. "Which one is the leader," Lux asked Kin once Lance and him got to him. "Bald guy with the tattoo on his head," Kin answered. "He may have already bled out. He said somethings about what he planned to do to Tanya once he got his hands on her, and I ensured he couldn't." 

Lux nodded, "Get to the ship. Brian is with Tanya." Lux then stepped into the alley while Lance helped Kin to the ship. 

Tanya gasped softly when she saw him. "Who do those bastards think they are," Brian asked as he opened the door to Lance's office. "They wanted a reputation for taking on some of us on," Kin said with a soft groan. Brian helped Lance remove Kin's shirt so he could properly see Kin's wounds. 

He had a couple of knife wounds, but nothing too serious. He was just going to be incredibly sore for a little bit. Lance finished patching him up and gave him something for the pain. 

"You should be okay enough to rest in your room," Lance said to him. Brian helped him off the examination table. 

Tanya was waiting on the deck for him. She was relieved he was okay. They went to his room and she helped him take off the rest of his clothes. "Are you okay," he asked her. "Did any of them chase after you?" She shook her head, "I'm fine Kin." Her eyes then watered with tears, "You're an idiot. You should've tried to get over the wall." 

"I wanted to make sure they didn't hurt you," he said to her cupping her cheek. His thumb brushed away a tear that slipped down her cheek. She gave him a kiss then tucked him into bed. She stripped off her own clothes and put on one of his shirts before slipping into the bed with him. 

Brian and Lance were sitting on the railing of the ship, waiting for the crew to return. They saw Trish, Laya, Sunny, and Pyra carrying heavy looking bags. "What's that," Lance asked them. "Since the others had the fighting taken care of, we went and robbed their ship," Laya answered. 

"How is Kin," Trish asked them. "He'll be sore for a bit, but no major injuries. He's resting right now," Lance answered. 

"Why did they attack them," Pyra asked them. "To increase their reputation," Brian answered. "Did they not think we wouldn't get them back," Laya asked with a scoff. 

"They were hoping to take them both on which would have allowed them to possibly walk away without issue, but Kin held them off so Tanya could get help," Lance answered. "Apparently Kin killed the leader before we had gotten there. The leader claimed to want to do more than just beat Tanya up like they did him." 

"Yeah, he literally blew the crotch off of the guy with his ability," Muris said as he and the others boarded the ship. 

"A very fitting punishment," Brian said with a nod and everyone agreed. 

"How is Kin," Lux asked Lance. "He's resting," Lance answered. "No major injuries, but he'll be sore." 

"Any signs of poison," Lux asked him. He and Brian tensed. "Not that I could see. He only had a couple of shallow knife wounds," Lance answered. 

Lux held out something wrapped in a cloth, "We found this on one of the guys." 

Lance took it and unwrapped. It was a dagger with a poison chamber in the hilt. Blood was on the blade, meaning someone fell victim to it. Lance unscrewed the cap on the dagger and dipped his finger in the poison. He tasted it and made a sour face. "That's disgusting. This poison can't kill anyone. I think one of them was trying to make their own poison and the only thing it can kill is small rodents. If it's in his system, it'll just make him sick for a day or so." 

"We saw a lab like room with dead rats," Laya said. "So that's probably where they made it." 

"They probably felt satisfied with themselves when they saw it killed the rats," Sunny said and the others agreed. 

"We'll keep an eye on him, and warn him he could get sick," Lux said with a nod. "Let's get ready to set sail."
 

"Aye Captain," they said in unison.