The Night I Found Home (The Forever Pirates) #1

009

Seonghwa 

I groaned as Wooyoung ripped me from my hammock, my lack of sleep borderline causing deliriousness. 

"Come on, today's t'e day!" Wooyoung exclaimed, his excitement infectious. 

"Today is what day?" I asked. 

"T'e festival be today." He answered. "We're docking for it. T'is town holds one every year." 

"How do you even know what day it is?"

"It's t'e first full moon of t'e summer." He explained which I wasn't keeping up with very much. "I'm going t' bring something back for t'e kids t' play wit'. T'ey be running out of t'ings t'ey can use in place of toys."

My brain was still spinning, "So, we're docking right now?" 

"Not right t'is second." 

I dug my heels into the floor, stopping us in our tracks. "So why on earth did you wake me up so early?"

"I asked him t'." San said when he walked down the steps to meet us. "We're training before we dock. I need ye t' be able t' defend yerself." 

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not a child, San." 

"No offense, but yer knowledge be severely lacking. Pardon me for wanting ye t' stay safe." He bit back coolly. 

I scowled at him but still let him drag me up the stairs. He handed me a sword as we hit the center of the deck. 

"I had to say it, but with how many times you've beaten me, I'd say I'm a bit of a lost cause." I got into position. 

He scoffed, "Ye're good at t'is. Stop yer bitchin'." 

"Fine." I said and lunged forward. 

I laid on my back, breathing harshly as I tried to rest. The sun blinded me so I opted for keeping my eyes shut. 

"I quit. Let my opponent claim my soul for all I care. I'm fucking exhausted." 

I could hear the smile he wore as he said, "T'is be important, princess. Ye need to be able to protect yerself. Fight to kill if need be." 

"Me? Killing another person? Very unlikely, think of reality, San. I'm not killing anyone. Probably ever. I just don't have it in me. I'm no killer. Even if it means I die in the process." 

"Seonghwa-" 

"I know, it's quite pathetic, San. Believe me. I know." I sighed through my answer. 

"Fine. But ye stay with someone at all times, understood? Even if that someone don't be me." 

"Why wouldn't it be you?" I asked. 

Silence. 

"Ah...I see. You plan to ditch me, huh? Well, isn't that just rude." 

"I am a man who has needs, Seonghwa. Just because ye don't understand yers just yet, doesn't mean I don't need mine to be satiated. Alright?" His voice came closer as he crouched right next to me.