Rebellious Duo (#Wattys2016)

5: Making Deductions

Akira took them inside a dark narrow building. "This is where they meet every night. They discuss what they've stolen from the townspeople. But as far as I know, they don't go out on the sea. I'd say this was a small branch of the Anacrusis, not very important," Akira told them quietly. "Here we are." He took them into a large dimly lit room. A man sat in a large chair in the center while more people in coats muttered around the edges of the room. "Sir! I brought the spies!"

"What spies?" Nori asked, kicking him in the shin.

"The spies who were trailing us."

"Oh. Yeah, that's us."

The man waved his hand lazily. "Execute both of them, I s'pose."

"Sir, one of them isn't from around here. She looks suspicious."

"Suspicious, eh?" The man's eyes passed over Nori and fell onto Kaine. His brows knit together. "She don't look like no pirate to me. What are ye, lass, British?"

"Kaine Kiln, sir. Detective. Please feel free to execute Nori at any other time, but right now she's helping me solve a case."

"Hey! Don't throw me under!" Nori told her angrily.

The man stroked his small beard. "I think I've heard of you. Yer that famous detective, right?"

"Yes." Kaine's eyes flicked from one dark figure to the next, all of whom were murmuring even louder. She repositioned her hat. "I am working on a rather curious case right now. My client's crew mates were taken hostage unexpectedly. We suspect that the Anacrusis pirates are behind it."

The man sighed. "If you help me, I'll tell ye all I know."

"That is fine." Kaine took out her notepad and pencil.

"I was first mate in the Anacrusis crew. My captain and I had been close for years. But just a few months ago, he... he went strange. His skin paled, eyes never blinked... like he was on a drug or somethin, y'know? But he watched ships go by, never doin' anything to help. We couldn't attack any towns. And one night he just... was wild. Lost control. Went on a killing spree, of his own crew. Then he took a lifeboat and escaped. Only me and Bo were left. Bo lost 'is arm, poor bloke." He frowned. "We disbanded, what else could we do? Bo went back home to Wenig, and I stayed here. Found a few more Anacrusis."

Kaine finished her notes. "What do you want me to do?"

"Find him. Make sure he's alright. Tell 'im I got out safe. I never checked up on 'im because... well..." He leaned forward into the light. His legs had been torn off into two uneven stumps, cloth tied untidily around them. Kaine grimaced.

"I'll give him your message. I appreciate your time." She closed her notes. "Nori, we are done here."

"Fine. Come on, Akira." To the disbelief of the Anacrusis, the three marched outside carelessly. Kaine was just glad that they didn't try to stop them. Maybe their legless leader had something to do with it. Nori conjured some fire again to light the way to the ship. "So I guess we're going to Wenig, huh? I've never been. I think it's a tiny peninsula that branches off Fuoco. By the way," she added, turning to Akira, "you've got to show Kaine the ropes. She hasn't helped me once casting off, or even sailing the Oxblood."

"Roger, captain," Akira replied eagerly.

"Can't you do it, Nori?" Kaine asked. She glanced uncomfortably at Akira. "I think you'll be a better teacher."

"Nonsense! Akira's my best man! And my only man. But whatever man he is, he knows how to sail a ship. I'll be mapping out our course, anyways." Nori lowed the gang plank for Kaine. "I'll be inside. Don't get us killed," she warned Akira, and shut the galley door.

"I wouldn't dream of it," Akira called after her, and looked back at Kaine, grinning again. "Heh. Fresh meat."

"Excuse me?"

"Have you ever sailed a ship before, Miss Kiln?"

Kaine shook her head. "Never, but I know the theory."

"Intriguing. I never heard of someone learning how to unfurl some sails from reading a book."

She frowned. "You think this is a game or something? Your crew is missing. Nori hired me to find them. So you had better not underestimate me, for your own sake."

"My own sake? Ooh. You've got me scared now." Akira bent over and started to hoist the anchor up. He wasn't as strong as Nori, so his arms shook slightly. "A little help, please?"

"I suppose." Kaine grabbed the end of the chain. With unexpected strength she helped him pull the dripping anchor up onto the deck. "There. Not too hard."

Akira stood up again, pulling off his coat once again and throwing it carelessly onto the deck. "And you said you couldn't sail a ship."

"You're mocking me."

"How can you tell?" He leaned back on the railing.

Kaine rolled her eyes. "Your posture says that you weren't raised in a proper environment. And your accent suggests that you were mostly self-taught. Now onto your clothes. Sloppy, but your hat and hair are clean. You want to deceive people into thinking that you aren't exceedingly vain. But obviously this is a lie." Akira's smile broadened, but Kaine continued. "Nori said that you don't have a last name. You're trying to hide your past because something happened-- no, you did something that you deeply regret. You joined Nori to escape your fears. But it didn't work. It still hurts, doesn't it? Lines around your eyes. Premature aging. The sign of stress." Kaine paused in her analysis to appreciate the surprise and bemusement in Akira's eyes. "Now you see why you shouldn't underestimate me."

"Two can play at this game, Miss Kiln." Akira swept his hat off. "Unless you're too scared to look me in the eyes, of course."

Was that a dare? Kaine glared up into his face defiantly. "Good girl," he said quietly. "Now. You have extraordinary high standards for yourself. But you're slipping. London is failing, falling into disrepair. You hate to see your city ridden with crime and you want to stop it. You don't want to disappoint Mr. Frank's memory. And now you feel your logic crumbling. It's all too much for you. You can feel your sanity slowly slipping away." Kaine broke the gaze. She folded her arms across her chest. "Ooh, I see," Akira told her softly.

"See what?"

"You were the one who underestimated me." Akira touched the ends of Kaine's hair. "A word of advice-- never underestimate pirates."

"Done!" Nori came back onto the deck. "I've charted a course! And why aren't we moving? I thought you were training the new recruit, Akira!"

"I was," Akira said, removing his hand from her hair and loping away. "I'll unfurl the sails, shall I? We'll be in Fuoco in no time, captain."

Nori noticed Kaine's foul expression. "You'll get used to him. He's always like this. But it's a good thing that we've got another member of the crew to help, right?"

"Yeah. Good thing." Kaine glowered in Akira's direction. "Now how about you tell me how to sail this bloody ship?"