Rebellious Duo (#Wattys2016)

4: Undercover

"Well? Does this look familiar?"

"Yeeeeeeaahhh... I think so."

Nori and Kaine were standing in an old Vagans tavern. "So do you remember anything particular from here? You said you came here with your crew," Kaine said, pencil poised.

"Uh, hang on." Nori snapped her fingers at the barista, who recognized Nori, jumped with fright, and hurried to bring two bottles of rum to their table. Nori pulled the cork out with her teeth and took a swig. "You were saying?"

"I don't drink." Kaine's nose twitched. This was almost like a personal insult.

"Sure you do. You're living with a pirate. It's like a law." Nori spat out the cork. "Lemme see, something peculiar from when I was here... " She peered around the dusty tavern. A few oil paintings. A strong scent of cheese. Some shady-looking men in cloaks. "I think... I think I remember Masa telling me that he kept seeing someone staring at us from the corner wearing a coat like that," Nori said. "That he was following us."

"You didn't think that was suspicious?"

"I never really listen to Masa. He's annoying."

Kaine fought a strong urge to roll her eyes. This Masa seemed like the only sensible person in Nori's crew. "Do you know them? The men in the coats?"

Nori squinted at them. Suddenly, her eyes widened. "Hang on! That tattoo-- on his neck! See it? Kind of a swirly shape? Dark blue? He's an Anacrusis!"

"Sorry?"

"They're another pirate crew," Nori explained.

Kaine scribbled something else down. "Do you remember ever making contact with them? Maybe angering them?"

"Huh. I think I remember... "

--

"Let's dock the ship and charge!" Reiko shouted gleefully. The townspeople, who saw their ship coming, had retreated and called in a militia. Each militia member held a quivering bayonet at the Motley. Nao tied up the ship while they all ran on shore, yelling war cries and brandishing weapons.

"Wait, what's that?" Kei held up a hand. There were more war cries, coming from the Motley's left. Nori turned in the direction he was looking. Another crew of pirates was sprinting from the other direction. And now Nori realized-- it wasn't the Marziale Motley that the townspeople were afraid of, it was these mysterious people in cloaks.

"Hey!" Nori bellowed, stomping over. "What's going on here?"

Their leader stopped and glared at her with light green eyes and a pale pointed face. "A raid, what does it look like?"

"My crew got here first!" Nori shouted indignantly.

"No way, mine was here before!" He shouted back. He suddenly crossed his arms. "Do I know you?"

"Maybe you've heard of me. Captain Nori Akagi. You know, from the wanted posters."

He raised his eyebrows. "I must say, I'm impressed. Did you know that you have a 50,000 pastil bounty on your head?"

Nori smirked. "You aren't thinking of turning me in. You aren't that stupid."

"Stupid? Are you calling the Anacrusis pirates stupid?"

"Maybe I am, wise guy. Get out of my way." Nori shoved him to the ground flames coming out of her hands in anger. "And tell your crew to stand down. I'm taking this town, so you'd best remember that."

"What was that all about?" Michi asked Nori as she trotted back. Nori looked over her shoulder. The captain was massaging his shoulders, which were clearly burned, and ordered his crew to turn around.