Sham of the Sea

Chapter 15

They immediately called for Ryujin and put Yeji on Jennie's bed, the captain quick to rip away any excessive clothing. Yeji's bronze skin would have been beautiful if not for the gory sight of her back and the blood covering her all over. It did not deter Jennie at all, but Y/N found herself pointedly looking away, stumbling around the room on weak legs as she collected her clothes. Jennie threw them on without any care, looking not really put together with just her black lace bra, her pants and an unlaced shoes.

Minji came bursting in through the door mere seconds later, Ryujin at her side with some stolen doctor's bag at her side. General confusion erupted immediately.

Jennie was yelling first. "What happened, where did she just come from?!"

"She left the ship earlier to get something for me. I told her not to go alone." Minji was speaking quickly and breathlessly, gently turning Yeji's peaceful face to the side so that she could breathe better.

Ryujin was emptying the contents of her bag on the mattress next to Yeji's hip, getting to work immediately. Her hands were calm as she cleaned the cuts and stitched up the worst ones. Depending on how good they would heal Yeji might have that message etched into her back forever and that thought made Y/N all the more queasy.

Jennie was pacing the room like a tiger in its cage. Her face had gone back to murderous real quick, and Y/N feared the consequences. It was her name that had hurt one of the pirate's crew members.

Ryujin grits her teeth as she focuses on her task. "They have never been this aggressive... Is it time for us to act?"

Jennie let skittish fingers run through her hair, watching Ryujin like a hawk. "We do not know who we are dealing with... Multiple crews have been sending us threats, this could be the work of any of them. And as much as I want to wipe out all of their ugly faces right now, there are still rules we abide by."

"They knew she is our weakest link. And they knew Y/N is here. Not many do so, it reduces the number of possible enemies."

Y/N did not dare to speak up, just leaning against the desk and fiddling with her hands while she watched everything with big eyes.

Ryujin scoffed angrily. "How very heroic of them to attack the fucking wimp. Anybody care to tell me what's written here? Not as if that would make treating her easier."

"It says 'Nice to meet you, Y/N Saito.'" Jennie locked eyes with Y/N again, wordlessly looking at her while her face seemed darker than any storm cloud.

"I never told anybody here my last name." Y/N whispered anxiously, barely hearing herself.

Minji turned around towards her curiously while the captain was openly stomping closer, making Y/N cower against the unyielding wood. "Speak louder, I don't have the patience to deal with this right now."

"She said she never told anybody on board her last name before." Minji said with a barely audible warning in her voice, making Jennie halt again. She opened her mouth already for another harsh accuse when suddenly a distinct groan was heard from the bed. That voice was much deeper than the cave, making everybody in the room turn.

"Shh, stay calm. Don't move yet." Ryujin calmly patted Yeji's side, resuming with her work.

Jennie hurried to Yeji too, kneeling down next to the bed where she could see her. "Are you- No, of course, you aren't. Anything you need?"

Y/N felt a stab of guilt hit her hard when Yeji just barely shook her head, biting her teeth hard against the pain. Ryujin obviously tried not to hurt her that much more, but there was sometimes still fresh blood trickling down on the ruined sheets. Minji calmly leaned her hip against the desk next to Y/N, listening to Yeji attentively.