Rebellious Duo (#Wattys2016)

10: The Laboratory

"Now, I'm still not sure what we're looking for," Kaine said to Nori. She was sitting cross-legged against the railing of the deck with her notebook while Nori stood over her, pacing back and forth nervously.

"My crew, what do you think?"

"But I don't know your crew. I don't know what to look for. They may still be alive, after all."

Nori chuckled. "Right. Well, first up there's Kei. He's tall and he's got the whitest hair you've ever seen. The one with the hook. Used to be part of the Rose Marquis, I don't think you've heard of them, but I disbanded them too. You'll know him when you see him, anyways."

Kaine added this to her notes. "Next?"

"Next is Reiko. She's been with my crew the longest. Tall, kind of scary, but she's harmless as long as she likes you. Then there's Masa, the short one. He says he's smart but we don't really think so."

"I see."

"Then there's Michi. Used to be a princess. Her real name is Mayumi Watanabe--"

"Watanabe?" Kaine said sharply. "Then she was the princess of Colla Voce!"

"Exactly. But now her sister is in charge. Michi's great at archery, she's gotten us out of a lot of sticky spots. And lastly there's Nao. His name used to be Rika, but he's kinda touchy about that. Reliable. Very handy with a whip." Nori smiled at the memories. "Anyways. That's all of them."

"Do they know magic too?"

"Michi doesn't use magic anymore, but yeah. Every one of them. By the way, Kaine," Nori added, changing tone and stopping her frantic pacing. "You didn't want to learn magic, did you? I never asked."

Kaine put her pencil down. She certainly was fascinated by magic, but from what Akira said, she was having second thoughts. What if she couldn't control her powers and she couldn't be a detective anymore? Could she resort to piracy? No, definitely not. Kaine gave Nori a very small smile. "I don't think so."

Nori didn't seem to be put down. She shrugged. "Suit yourself. I think we're getting closer to Piacere, anyways." Her pacing resumed. "How can you be so calm about this? You can't even fight and you're just sitting there!"

"It helps me concentrate."

"Well, it's freaking me out. Can't you do it somewhere else? Or at least make me some food?" Nori chewed her fingernails. "Hate to admit it, but this guy scares me. Whoever took my crew has to be extremely powerful."

"Indeed."

"For the love of-- Kaine, you've got a plan, right?"

"Of course."

Nori's breathing was heavy and quick. "Well. Good." She stared at Kaine's motionless form. "Uh. Mind if I sit next to you?"

"Go ahead."

Nori hastily sat down next to Kaine, grabbing her feet and rocking back and forth slightly. All they could do now was wait for Akira to shout the magic words. And he did, sooner than Nori would have liked.

"Land ahead, captain!" Akira shouted from the crow's nest. "Dock here, I think the coast is pretty rocky!"

"It was nice knowin' ya, girlie," Nori muttered at Kaine. She stood up to examine Piacere. The water around the island was exceedingly shallow due to dark jagged boulders encompassing it. A cold sweat broke out under Nori's arms and on her neck despite the hot weather. They would have to navigate carefully unless they wanted to crash into the reef. "Kaine, you can steer the ship, can't you?"

She got up. "I haven't tried, but couldn't Akira do it?"

Akira climbed down from the mast. "We need to know where to go. Nori, can you help? There's got to be a passage large enough for a ship to fit through." The captain nodded and jumped over the side of the ship. She plummeted like a bullet into the lukewarm waves. Nori conjured a bubble around her nose and mouth. Peering around at the rocks, she could faintly see a clear path where the Oxblood could fit. Her head broke the surface of the water and she gasped for air.