Follow The Current

Chapter 23

Tanya looked over the supplies Kin had gathered while the rest of the crew was still resting, none of them having woken up yet. "Kin, you should rest," Tanya said as he sat down another crate. "We're stuck here until the crew wakes up and can sail. I want to ensure we're good to go," Kin said to her. "You tore your stitches twice today," she said to him. "I can handle it Tanya," Kin told her. "Quit being so damn stubborn," she said, hands on her hips. "I wasn't just gathering supplies Tanya," he told her. "I had to find out why this island took part in the marines' plan." "And what did you find out," Tanya asked him. "The Marines threatened them," Kin answered. "Forcing them to do as they said. When I went to get supplies, they were terrified I was out to get revenge. We should be able to go about easily enough for now. They're going to let us know if they spot any more marines." She nodded, "That's good and all, but if the crew isn't awake, we won't be able to sail to get away from them." 

Kin nodded, "I'm aware. If it comes down to that, we'll figure it out." 

It took a couple of days before the crew began to wake up. The entire time, Kin and Tanya barely slept, wanting to ensure someone was always up to watch over everyone, as well as change their bandages when it was needed. Tanya was working on a small invention on the upper deck while Kin was reading a book, when Lance came up the stairs. "Glad to see you're awake," Tanya said as she looked down at him. "How do you feel?" "Better. How long were we out for," Lance asked as he came to the upper deck. "A few days," Tanya said. "You're actually the first to wake up." She then held up his glasses, "I fixed your frames for you." He nodded and took them, "Thank you Tanya." Lance looked around the ship, "How did we get back to the ship?" "Kin brought you all back," Tanya answered. "And then he took care of everyone's wounds." "You did a good work on the stitching," Lance commended to Kin when Lance looked at the stitch in his arm. Kin nodded, "Thanks." 

"Yours on the other hand, not so much," Lance said, seeing Kin's torso since he was shirtless. "Yeah, I was never taught how to stitch," Tanya said to Lance. "It doesn't help that he's ripped it couple of times when we went to go get supplies." Kin shrugged, "It's fine. It's clean and not bleeding that's what matters." Lance went to say something but then Brian appeared from below deck. Tanya went down to hug him. He held her tightly to him. He then held her out at arm's length. "Trish gave you the chance to run! You should've taken that chance and got the hell out here." 

Tanya rolled her eyes, "I don't leave my family to die!" Brian hugged her again, "Thank you." She hugged him back, "You don't need to thank me. I'm just glad we got there in time." They went to the upper deck and Brian sat down with a sigh. "What's that," Brian asked Trish. "It's a cane for Trish," Tanya answered. "She was shot in the leg. Luckily the bullet went completely through and only hit muscle area."

"I'll have to inspect it once she wakes up," Lance said and Kin nodded. "I did what I could with what limited knowledge I had," Kin told him. Brian looked around the upper deck and noted the pillow and blanket off to the side. "Have either of you gotten proper sleep," Brian asked them. "We didn't know if reinforcements from the marines would show up so we've been keeping watch," Kin answered with a shrug. "Kin has also gone and gathered supplies and information," Tanya answered. "Anything good," Muris asked as he came up the steps. "The islanders were forced to set up the trap. Scouters saw us sailing and knew we'd eventually come here, so the marines were waiting," Kin answered. "The islanders are scared we're going to get revenge on them. I assured them that it's not their fault the marines bullied them into it. They're going to inform us if they see anymore headed this way." 

"You kids surely were stupid," Laya said as she came onto the deck with Sunny. "I agree," Lux said and glared at Kin. "I gave you an order to get out of the way." "I decided to hell with your order," Kin said. "You've taken enough hits," Lux told him. "I will take whatever hits it takes if it means protecting my family in the end," Kin told him. Lux dropped his anger and gave his youngest crew members a soft smile, "You kids did good work." 

Tanya went to say something but a blinking light caught her attention. It was an invention she had made for Trish to use to signal when she woke up so she wouldn't put pressure on her leg. "Trish is awake now," Tanya informed Lance. Lance nodded and stood, "I'm going to inspect her leg." Before he went down, Pince and Igiel came up. Lance gave them a smile, happy they were okay. "How are you Pince," Lux asked him. "You got more of a shocking than the rest of us." "I'm fine," Pince assured everyone and his brother nodded. Scarlet came up and did a head count with her eyes. "Lance and Trish are below deck. She isn't able to walk due to a bullet in the leg," Lux told her. She nodded, her throat still sore from when she had been choked. Lux wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her head. 

Kin then shared all of the information that he gathered while they were out of it. Lux nodded, "The marines are cruel bastards who won't stop till they've achieved their goal." "Hello?" A voice called out. Everyone looked down at the dock and saw a man with wire framed glasses looking slightly nervous. "I wanted to inform you that Kin 'The Kid' and Tanya 'The Inventor' got their posters in." Lux went down to see them. Like the rest of the crew, their bounties were high. They had a warning though. It said to not underestimate their age and appearance, they were still armed and dangerous. To every pirate, that was basically the marines confessing they got their asses handed to them by a couple of kids. They weren't ordinary kids though, they're Shadow Pirates and that makes a world of difference. 

Later that night Pince made dinner for everyone, Trish having been carried to the upper deck to join the others. As they all ate and enjoyed themselves, they couldn't help but notice Kin and Tanya had fallen asleep leaning against each other. Brian scooped Tanya up and Lux scooped Kin up. Lux put Kin in his bed and covered him up. 

"Thank you Kin," Lux whispered despite Kin was asleep. Lux turned on the small light he knew Kin kept on while he slept to help chase away the night mares he would get. Lux shut the softly on his way out. Lux went back to the upper deck. 

"They took out an entire task force that was set out to eliminate us," Igiel pointed out. "It tells me, that one little surprise in a crew, can easily throw their plans down the drain. Not only that, but they knew they wouldn't be able to take us all on at once so they got us when our guards were down." "You know they'll come after Kin and Tanya because they made a fool out of the Marines," Brian said, eyes on the table.

"We just have to get stronger and do what we can to stop the Marines the next time we see them," Muris declared. They all agreed. After that they all went back to their rooms.

"What's on your mind," Scarlet asked as Lux watched her brush her hair at her vanity. "We can't really consider them kids," Lux said as he looked at the floor. "I feel like that's partly my fault." "But it's not," Scarlet told him. "Kin never was a kid, even before we met him. As for Tanya, she stopped being a kid when the Marines killed her parents. None of that is your fault. I think they would be rather pissed of if they heard you talking they way you are. It's because of you inviting them to the crew that Kin isn't getting a beating every day, that Tanya isn't starving on the island filled with debris and the dead. You are an amazing captain who has improved everyone's lives on this ship. Including mine." She turned to him as she spoke. "Yes we've all hit some hard times every now and then, but honestly, it could be a lot worse. It was your amazing leadership that got us through it all."

Lux let her words sink in before sighing softly. She went and straddled his lap. He ran his fingers over her bruised throat. "I'm sorry I wasn't there," he whispered. "It's okay. I shouldn't have had my guard down or left my swords on the ship." She thought it a blessing to have left her swords or she would've had to try and retrieve them.

He gave her a soft kiss before they decided to lay down for the night. Lux held her close to him as he fell asleep, his guilt not lessened.