#orchestrashipping

“Yes, but if you don’t take into account the fluctuations...”

“Ah, you’re right of course, but then there’s the new policy on imports —”

The other man started to go into detail about his irritation regarding a series of new regulations, and Reiji decided not to try and finish his own thought, as no one was listening.  Instead, he smiled, and sipped at his drink instead, pretending to listen just like everyone else in the group was.  No one in this little copse of businessmen in their starched suits were actually paying attention — Reiji could see that look in their eyes, just waiting for a break in the conversation to inject their own thoughts about that policy or that market surge or that stock change.

He took another sip of his drink and briefly wished it was alcoholic, because it had only been two hours into this party and he hadn’t heard a single word that didn’t involve market fluctuations or numbers or whatever new fancy toy that these rich investors had purchased that Reiji had to pretend to care about.  He glanced behind him towards the other end of the ballroom, decked out in golds and whites and fancy chandeliers, to see his father on the other end of the room.  He looked uncomfortable in his suit; a lab coat had always suited him before.  Mother stood next to him with one arm wrapped pointedly around his, fake laughing at something that someone else had said with a practiced poise.  She was the only one who was really comfortable in this environment, after all.  Even Ray had disappeared already, probably to make out with her boyfriend in a bathroom or something.  

Unfortunately, that meant it was up to Reiji to stay where he was and make nice with all of the LDS investors that needed to be constantly pacified.  So he smiled blandly, nodded where it seemed appropriate, and tried not to count down the minutes until he was allowed to leave.

A hand poked his shoulder, snapping him to alertness.  Who was that?

Before he could even look, a second hand grabbed his other elbow, wrapping an arm around it.  His “conversation partner” stopped talking for a moment, clearly just as surprised as Reiji was by their new guests.

“Hi!” came the chipper voice as someone slung an arm around his shoulders.  “Sorry we’re late, Reiji!  Are we interrupting?”

It took everything Reiji had not to let his shoulders visibly slump.

“Ah,” he said, turning over both shoulders one at a time to confirm who he already knew it was.  “Yuzu and Yuya.  You are a bit late, aren’t you?”

“We got lost,” Yuzu said, smiling at him as she tightened her arms around his.  “Sorry, gentlemen, but do you mind if we borrow him?  We’re new guests and we need to be shown around.”

“Oh, well, uh...I suppose that’s all right,” the other man said, sounding flustered.

“Great!” said Yuya, nearly making Reiji lose his drink by tugging on his shoulders.  “So where do you rich people keep the food?”

Reiji rolled his eyes, but he let himself be turned around by the pair of them, guiding their little trio over to the main food table.  Yuya immediately snatched a plate and started to fill it up with way more than anyone else at this party had, causing Reiji to chuckle.

“Well?” Yuzu said, smiling at him.  “You feel better?”

“I presume you interrupted me because you believed I needed rescuing,” he said.

“You totally did,” said Yuya.  “What are these?  They look suspicious.”

“They’re just cheese balls, Yuya.”

“What?? Why are they covered in...whatever this is??”

Reiji chuckled, feeling a weight come off his chest.  Yuya squinted at the appetizer in question with a goofy face that Reiji was certain Yuya was exaggerating for his sake.  He looked good, actually.  Yuzu must have convinced him not to wear his Christmas print suit, which was slightly disappointing — but he filled out the nice, dark red suit well.  Yuzu looked resplendent as ever as well in a lovely pale violet cocktail dress.  They added a much needed splash of color to the otherwise rather drab party.

“Okay, so,” Yuya said, talking around a mouthful of the cheese balls.  “Tell me what happens at parties like this.”

“Talking, mostly,” Reiji said.  “About very boring things.”

“Ah, so you fit in,” Yuzu teased him with a soft elbow.  Reiji chuckled.

Yuya swallowed and wiped his mouth off with the back of his hand.

“Ugh, that’s way too boring, though,” he said.  “Wait til you come to my holiday party next week.  We’ll show you how it’s done.”

“I look forward to it.”

Yuzu tugged on Reiji’s arm then, her free hand balancing a small plate of her own food selections.

“Okay, I know it’s too cold to go out, but you’ve got to at least point out which direction the garden is.  I want to see.”

“It’s just out this window,” Reiji said, pointing to the large window just behind the table.  “You can see the hedge maze from here.”

Yuzu’s eyes lit up, and she scurried around the table to press her face to the glass.  Reiji and Yuya joined her, Yuya still popping more mini appetizers in his mouth.

“Do you guys even do like, dancing here?” Yuya said.

“Well, there is music, and a dance floor,” Reiji said, pointing out the string orchestra that had been hired for the night, currently playing a slow rendition of a Christmas song.  “Though people rarely do any actual dancing.”

“Well, we should totally fix that.  Next song they play, let’s dance!”

“Oh?  Are you going to organize a Broadway flash mob?”

Yuya laughed and lightly punched Reiji on the shoulder.

“Hey, we can do refined dances, too!  Yuzu and I learned ballroom dancing for one of our shows.”

Yuzu stood on her tiptoes at the window when they approached, her hands cupped around either side of her face to try and look through the glass.

“Ugh, there’s too much frost,” she said.  “And those big icicles are getting in the way.”

She pointed out the long, heavy spikes of ice that cascaded down the window frame on the outside.  A small puff of condensation faded from the window pane where Yuzu’s breath had been a moment before.

“It looks pretty, though,” Yuya said.  “A real white Christmas.”

“I guess so,” Yuzu said.  “Reiji, invited us back here when you have a spring or summer party, so we can see the garden!”

“You can come visit at any time, you know,” Reiji said.  “You both...add cheer to this place more than anything else does.”

Yuzu and Yuya exchanged a glance.  Then they smiled at him.  Yuya grabbed one of his hands, and Yuzu grabbed the other.  He felt a heat rush to his cheeks when, in synch, they both kissed the back of one of his hands.  Still holding his hands, they pressed in on either side of him, looking out at the cold white world outside.

“Well,” Yuya said.  “It cheers me up to see you, too.”

“Call us any time you need to get away from all of this,” Yuzu said, bumping him with her hip.

Reiji smiled, tightening his hands around theirs.

“Did you hear?”

“Akaba Reiji is involved in an affair!”

“With the opera singer?”

“He was out with her again!”

“No, wasn’t she with Sakaki Yuya?”

“Aren’t they married?”

“He’s despicable!”

It was the same kind of drama that framed the headlines of trashy tabloid magazines since it was considered news whenever he went out in public, even worse when he was in the company of another person. That’s when a certain type of rumor was born. The same sort of rumors Reiji had heard continuously as he strolled through the halls of Leo Duel School. The gossip must’ve been stale amongst the students if they had to resort to exchanging chatter about their almost never seen President. Reiji had never paid them any mind, knowing they’d get bored once a new scandal arose among them. The Akaba Family was squeaky clean so any sign of… unusual behavior meant it was worthy to be talked about.

Sometimes Reiji could imagine what normalcy looked like. What a child from an average family under no form of spotlight was like. The connections they were able to make, just being able to be around someone else without the whispering and the strange looks - unlike every interaction he ever had.

His phone dinged, and he glanced down, seeing a text.

I’m at your office.

Reiji smiled softly. Those kinds of fantasies were pushed away from the forefront of his mind. They weren’t important, just simple whims that passed his fancy every now and then. The ordinary and mundane wasn’t something he was used to. In LDS, they strived for excellence and innovation – at least he did, wanting more than just the simple tradition. Reiji always had the eye for the more… adventurous approach. The out of the box thinking.

His elevator doors opened.

“Sir, Hiragi Yuzu left you a message about the flowers, saying she’ll thank you properly in person.”

Reiji held his tongue, merely nodding as he was handed a pile of papers – regular company documents to leave at his desk as a part of his daily paperwork of statistics and reports. Personal matters regarding Yuzu and how she thought of thanking him were… to be thought of another time. Maybe later in the evening when he could talk to her privately.

He knew the look on his secretary’s face at being handed that message. It was a judgmental sort of look. It was no secret to anyone that Sakaki Yuya and Hiragi Yuzu were in a relationship of their own. How could they not be?

An entertainment duelist of his caliber and an opera singer? Such wildly different fields of study and yet were shown as the fairy tale couple, rising up from nothing together to the very top of their fields. And there he was… sending her flowers. Ordinarily, just the gesture of a fan, that was the view everyone had taken. But whenever she was in town, Reiji immediately was at her side; taking her out to dinner, parties, out to the sights. And oddly enough, those were perfectly in time whenever her husband was out of town…

Their relationship was less than private. Most had their reservations on whether or not Hiragi Yuzu had it in her to cheat on her husband. Such a sweet woman! They would cry out.

But Akaba Reiji…

No one put it past him.

A cold-hearted President of a major corporation?

One of the front-runners in the field her husband was at the top of?

Foul-play was suspected. A devious plot worthy of a drama straight out of a sleezy novel – a rich and powerful falling for an impoverished woman, offering her riches and popularity and all she desires if she spreads her legs and pleasures him. Giving her no choice but to go behind the back of her poor husband, all this to support them, doing this for the good of the family while the rich man exploited her.

At least, that’s how the rumors played it out. Every tabloid had made it out to be some sort sordid, tawdry affair of the ages. Reiji had never payed much attention to those kinds of rumors. But they were getting pretty tedious. Even walking about his building at regular business hours were giving him sour looks, especially after the latest venture.

PRESIDENT AKABA LOCKS LIPS WITH OPERA SINGER!

It was starting to interfere with his own daily work. Reiji sighed heavily at seeing the tabloid on his secretary’s desk. “Is there something else you forgot to mention to me?”

“Ah, yes.” The secretary smiled, smoothing out her skirt as she sat back down and typed away at her computer. “Sakaki Yuya barged into your office earlier.” Reiji took note of her smug tone, as though waiting for some kind of victory. He waited though, giving no sort of expression change and merely studying her own. Her disapproval in her features were so obvious, no attempt was made to hide it. “He said it was urgent, so I let him wait inside.”

He could laugh.

She wanted some sort of show.

There was a slight suspicion growing inside his mind. She had no reason to have the tabloid right out in front of her desk in plain view like this. No need to mention aloud that Yuzu had left a message for him, even the way she delivered that message left a bad taste in his mouth. And now how she said Yuya was waiting for him… There was no doubt she had planted some kind of camera in there, maybe a recording device or the intercom was on – anything to figure out what was going on and sell something to the press.

There was a trap in place.

Waiting for the moment he walked in and Yuya would make a scene, delivering justifiable violence toward him for kissing his wife – for the sordid affair that was becoming more and more public. No longer just a private, behind closed doors.

She wanted a performance.

Reiji smiled. “Thank you.” Reiji pushed up his glasses and opened his office door. He’d deal with her in a bit but for now, there was Yuya – reading the tabloid and sitting atop of his desk. He closed the door behind him, merely studying his stiff posture. “So… you saw that?”

“… hard to miss.” Yuya pouted as he rolled up the paper and tossed it in the wastebasket beside the desk. His red eyes were cast downward as his fingers clung onto the edge of the desk, his nails scraping against the wood. “This is getting annoying, Reiji…”

Reiji would’ve gone with tedious but annoying was a good word. Annoyance was something he felt toward this whole situation. But the look on Yuya’s face was not one of a man annoyed by the publicity. The way his eyes were clouded over and his shoulders tense – no, it wasn’t annoyance he felt. Now it was Reiji’s turn to have a smug look on his face as he approached him.

Slow, deliberate steps as he walked to the desk and leaned forward – placing his arms on either side of Yuya and pressed his forehead against his. “Are you sure you’re annoyed, Yuya? Barging into my office like a madman… are you sure there’s… nothing else?” His voice was low and sultry, as though enticing him into something different.

Performing a different sort of action.

Admitting to a different emotion.

Reiji moved his head, his cheek against Yuya’s and his lips right on his ear. “Is there… anything else?”

He noticed the chill, how Yuya shivered from the heat of his breath and his proximity – there was no space between them, no room to escape. In an instant, Yuya gripped the back of Reiji’s head and pushed him back – harshly, urgently pressing his lips to Reiji’s. Reiji happily reciprocated, wrapping his arms around Yuya and held him close.

Jealousy was the word Yuya wanted to say.

Jealous that such an intimate action between Reiji and Yuzu was captured and shared with the world – and yet, the affair between them was held secret. All their late meetings, the shows behind the curtains, anything Reiji had done with Yuzu, the same happened with Yuya.

And yet people only noticed the President and the opera singer.

Reiji pulled back and Yuya groaned, tugging at Reiji’s scarf to nip and kiss and suck on his pale neck. He held back his soft gasps, his hand stumbling upon the desk as he grabbed the phone and pressing it to his ear – connecting to his secretary. “Reserve a dinner at Michio’s.”

“… oh, for what time?”

“Right now-ah.” It was hard to bite back a moan of pleasure when Yuya was concerned. Or Yuzu, they knew how to make him weak. “If there’s any resistance, just-”

Yuya took the phone from his grasp, knowing exactly what he was going to say. “Don’t listen to President-san,” his tone was playful and teasing as his fingers stroked the scarf, “tell Michio it’s a favor from Sakaki Yuya… also, make it private.” Before there was any resistance from the secretary, Yuya hung up on the phone and Reiji couldn’t help but laugh.

“I was handling it.”

“You were gonna offer to buy the place. Which is dumb.”

Reiji crinkled his nose. “… I am sorry, Yuya.”

“Well… maybe you can make it up tonight.”

Tonight, he would spend time with Yuya. And the papers would come up with a new plan – how the amoral President involved both wholesome innocents of the entertainment world into a salacious affair in exchange for money and fame.

Reiji wondered if the truth would occur to them – there was no scandal or cheating affair of the century. There was no perverted President getting his rocks off on screwing both entertainers.

For the third time that night, Hiiragi Yuzu checks her stolen compass.

She’s ready to throw it away after two near-brushes with death since she took it, but something tells her that it will lead her to whom she seeks. Eventually it will steer her right.

The ship she’s on sways and bumps the gangplank, and as it does the compass arrow swivels to keep pointing faintly northeast--toward the derelict warehouse the people of Poole all whisper about.

It’s now or never.

Her prize is now resolute, and so is she. Yuzu slips off her ride with the smallest splash possible, swimming quickly to shore and the cover of some pathetically-shabby house. There’s barely time to pause and evaluate the best path across these outskirts, but it would be more suspicious to run pell-mell in the streets while dripping wet.

Hmm. Maybe the roofs are close enough together...?

Yuzu peeks down the street and--yes, the distance is manageable. The houses on this side of town have been crammed together to fit and segregate the poor, which is both cruel and convenient for her. Yuzu can, and does, huff and climb her way to the top of Shabby House A, back up and leap to the next structurally unsound rooftop, and the next, and the next. It’s a miracle she doesn’t fall through any of them on the way to her distant destination. That, or my swordplay and stamina classes from childhood.

But everything turns out fine in the end, and she’s able to drop into the warehouse’s second floor through a wide open window, silent as the grave. The compass even goes quietly nuts in her hands.

This place is meant to look common and disgusting to shake potential peacekeepers and other intruders. But even thirty more layers of dust and grime can’t dispel the rumors among the workers and the wealthy on Yuzu’s side of town--that one of the most famous pirates in the Seven Seas can be found here on occasion, forging new swords for his crew or sleeping off rum-comas.

Yuzu believes every whisper and it’s why she’s here. I won’t turn back until I’ve found him and secured his help.

Carefully, she tiptoes over the damp boards, moves to and down the stairs. Light and movement from the lower level draw her attention, and she slips behind a rusty old table to peek around--just in time.

A young man hums some creepy tune as he sharpens a sword with a crimson blade, pausing only briefly to nudge some of his bi-color Christmas hair back under his extravagant hat. Yuzu recognizes him as the Performer--a pirate so unpredictable that surviving an encounter with him on the seas is down to a coin toss. Skilled in acrobatics, brawling, petty theft and escaping custody--truly he is someone to be admired no matter which arm of the law one is nearer to.

Since she has slipped across the line of propriety and morality long ago, Yuzu feels justified in both standing in awe of him and doing whatever it takes to bend him to her cause. Including standing and moving to block the main exit.

“Sakaki Yuuya?”

He flinches; it takes him a small age to turn around and face her head on. But his words are almost cocky. “Occasionally I answer to that, yes. Among other things.”

“The other things is why I’m here,” Yuzu says bluntly.

“So you know whose tail you’re stepping on right now? Who you’re disturbing?”

“Performer, I need your help. I stowed away on a ship to find you, and I won’t leave here without you.”

Yuuya tilts his head so, so slowly. There’s a candle on the desk to light his work, and in its dim glow, the defender of the downtrodden looks a little sinister. This changes to seductive when he tilts his head again to look her up and down. Yuzu abruptly remembers that she’s only got one soaking wet layer on and flushes.

“Normally bedmates wait for me at the brothel,” he eventually says with a wink.

Yuzu insists, “I’m here for business. Something that would help me and be profitable for you.”

“And what if I’m not interested?”

Shit, Yuzu thinks, checking the room surreptitiously again for exits. “That’s not an answer I’m prepared to accept.”

“First time for everything,” Yuuya says grandly.

Gods, the mouth on him. In any other scenario Yuzu might have dragged someone so handsome and intellectually stimulating to the nearest brothel or bed herself. Here though, she knows nothing of the Performer’s more personal tastes or habits beyond hearsay. He might indulge her in name and then handcuff her to the bed, making sure as he escaped that they would never meet again. Losing him is not a chance she can take, at all.

Time for Plan B.

She pulls out the compass, lets it gleam and spin in the low light.

“Maybe you’ll be interested in this.”

Yuzu expects Yuuya to hum, or feign ignorance of his own misplaced possession--anything so a mysterious young woman doesn’t appear to have him at a disadvantage. What she does not expect is for him to draw the sword he’s been sharpening and advance on her.

“Where did you get that?!”

“So it is yours,” Yuzu half-taunts, but cautiously--her eyes dart about the room, searching this time for a weapon to commandeer. Her other hand holds the compass steady.

Yuuya’s gritted teeth gleam at her. “It is mine,” he confirms. “Nicked from me almost two weeks ago. You’ll return it, love, or lose the arm.”

“No. I think I’ll keep it as insurance--”

“It’ll ensure your death!” Yuuya snarls, and lunges.

Yuzu is ready now, though: she spotted a dull but trusty-enough sword resting near her hip, and brings it up now to parry the Performer’s furious first strike. Just like that, the fight is on.

She twirls, jabs at him and uses the old tables and trinkets in this place to her advantage, willing to toss or hold whatever will shield her and give her time to plan her next attack. The Performer is surprisingly adept with swords beyond maintaining them for his crew, as he slides and slashes just like Yuzu did the day she finally defeated her instructor.

Even so, it’s her who draws first blood--a small cut across his cheek that backs him up a bit, humming like he’s impressed with her.

Not that it would matter. Not that it does.

“Well done! You’ve marked me. Guess you aren’t just a pretty face with pretty words.”

“Now will you listen to what I need?”

“Not before I get my compass back,” he insists, and then they’re back at it: trading parries, taunting form, pushing and shoving. It’s after one well-timed shove that Yuzu gasps, because Yuuya has taken advantage of that shove to stab her dangerously close to her abdomen.

Shit. He’s serious about this compass. ...All the more reason I can’t let him have it until I have his aid.

“I don’t like killing civilians,” Yuuya says. “Messy. Wasteful. But I’ve done things that fit both those categories before.”

So have I, Yuzu thinks, using his merciful pause to charge him. She’s lucky; the move startles him, meaning she can push him to the grimy ground and hold her shaky sword in his face after kicking away his own.

“Listen up, Yuuya. You can help me of your own free will, or you can do it with a nice wound to match mine, but either way--”

Shing.

“Either way, you will stop moving, or I will be helping the Performer carry your corpse.”

The blood still in Yuzu’s body turns to ice. There is someone at the back of her neck, holding her tight and pressing a blade there. It’s someone she’s also never formally met, but like Yuuya needs no introduction. He is another of the most feared pirates in the world, while also being one of the most respected in multiple circles. Smooth, analytical, wealthy beyond counting, the Royal Navy’s worst nightmare and, just now, holding her life in his hands.

“The Pirate Prince,” she whispers, raw with awe and despair.

“Indeed.” Akaba Reiji adjusts his hands so one is over Yuzu’s wound, pressing--protecting her and letting her feel the pain. His silky baritone vibrates almost directly into her ear from his lips, and he doesn’t hesitate to flex one of the reasons for his nickname.

“Drop your weapon and kick it away, and we’ll get to hug for a little longer.”

Yuzu drops her sword and kicks it with a snarl. She literally can’t resist his order. No one can, not once he does whatever it is he’s been gifted with by the cruel gods.

“I appreciate it,” Reiji says in the same voice he’d use for a dog not shitting on his ship, probably. “Now we can have a nice little talk. Stay where you are and I’ll retrieve your sword partner.”

The warm, steady bulk of him behind her disappears, moves around to her front. Yuzu can’t move now, so she has plenty of time to study the Prince as he ambles over to the Performer. Shiny hair the color of a standard sword; cold violet eyes said to rival the sea in turmoil; missing his blood-red monocle, but still wielding the wickedly-sharp custom purple blade he had used to threaten her; and a flamboyantly royal blue coat to rival Yuuya’s rust-red one. If the Performer is handsome, his rescuer is breathtaking. Yuzu’s just glad he hadn’t asked her not to breathe.

Wait.

Now that she has time to think (and breathe, and bleed), she can’t help but... be puzzled. Why is Akaba Reiji here? How did he even know something was going on in this ratty old hideout? It doesn’t make sense on the surface.

Reiji kneels, offering his hand to Yuuya. The younger man is seemingly uncaring of their audience and gratefully accepts the lift up, grunting a bit.

“Thanks. But argh, why do you always come in when I’m getting my ass kicked?”

“There is no alternative,” Reiji responds, dryly. “You could start winning fights; perhaps then I’d re-evaluate my interventions.”

“Hey!”

Yuzu keeps her expression neutral. Now that I think about it... Just as there are rumors about the Performer’s schedule and habits and how to exploit them, there have also been whispers about the close company the Prince and the Performer keep. Two apparent opposites, attracting.

It shouldn’t be alluring, or cause envy. It is doing both.

Now the Prince has gently turned Yuuya’s cheek toward him and is examining the cut there, caressing the skin around it. “This... will heal soon on its own. Are you injured anywhere else?”

“Just superficial stuff, and my pride.” Yuuya signs. “This girl isn’t a pirate, but she’s good. I almost considered helping her with whatever just because of that.”

Yuzu can’t keep quiet any longer at those flippant words. “Almost?!”

And Reiji, fucking Reiji, glances over at her as though he’s forgotten he put her on pause. But his words are at least fair and measured. “I didn’t announce myself so you two would bicker further. This conflict was foolish, and now you will compromise.”

“Compromise?” Yuuya sputters. “This vixen marred my face!”

“And you nearly stabbed me in a vital organ!” Yuzu fires back, since she’d been coming to talk peacefully and he had escalated--

“Children, hush,” Reiji orders. He looks too amused. “Yuuya, I will kiss your face better once we’re on my ship. And you will accept the lady’s deal in exchange for your compass back, so long as the aid requested is reasonable.”

“Fine.”

“As for you, my dear... your name?”

“Hiiragi Yuzu.”

His eyes glint. “Yuzu. You will explain what it is you actually need from Yuuya, and then we will decide whether or not to help.”

Finally!

She makes him release her from the weird body-bind on principle before she starts.

“I did steal your compass from that bar you got plastered in, Yuuya. Sorry, but I needed it to find you later. There’s a man--you don’t need his name yet--who’s threatened my life. He’s one of the most powerful figures in England. No one’s stood up to him and lived--not politicians, not pirates, and certainly not some slip of a girl he’s taken a fancy to.”

“...Understandable,” Reiji hums, at the same time Yuuya says “Yeah, you are fucking gorgeous.”

Yuzu doesn’t have the time to feel hot or fluttery. She has to get this out, lance the boil. “I’d thank you, but the one he’s after is my baby sister--I’ve just been threatened for being ‘in the way’. I’ve had to hide her away from him and his men, but it’s only a matter of time before he uses minions or money to find her and hurt her. The only way I can stop him is to take everything he has: his followers, his resources, and his life.”

Yuuya--snorts. And looks much friendlier all of a sudden. “All that and you just want us to fuck up a rich wanker to protect your sister’s virtue? I’d almost do that for free. Especially the robbing part.”

“That’s not all. I need him dead. He can’t be allowed to get his hands on her or me, ever.”

Reiji steps forward, eyes on hers. “What does killing a man have to do with us, specifically? We are quite good at it, but we’re not the only ones with that trade out on the sea.”

Yuzu looks between the two--friends. Lovers. Something. “I’ve... heard stories about your compass. That it can find you or any mystical item you seek.”

“The walls really do have ears,” Yuuya murmurs strangely. He approaches too, hand held out for his compass, and Yuzu relinquishes it in a gesture of goodwill. And because his hand is very warm and feels nice to touch, even for a second.

“My family’s tormentor is protected by some kind of magic--he can’t be fought head-on, only killed with magical aid. I’ve heard tell of a sword that can cut any foe, put any man in the ground, and I’ve already stole, seduced and killed to find out how it may be found. Now I aim to get your help to find it, and use it.”

The air is quiet. Reiji doesn’t speak, just nods. Yuuya does too. Yuzu is willing to bet pounds that they both know the man she fears, and why she needs that particular sword. That they don’t push shows that even pirates respect privacy on occasion.

“If we help you,” the Performer eventually ventures to ask, “what besides my compass do we get out of it?”

“Any riches I find. I don’t care about them, I just want the sword.”

“Seems unbalanced,” the Prince observes, “but that is on your own head. Yuuya, I will lend her my crew and sword arm. There’s little danger in it.”

“You mean there’s a ton. Which you love, since you love rescuing damsels and kicking people’s asses, not necessarily always in that order. Yeah, all right Yuzu, if he’s in, I’m in. Scratch that, I’m definitely in.”

Relief overwhelms her--that and hope. “Thank you...”

“Don’t thank us yet,” Yuuya warns. “Like I said before, you’re a good fighter for an Englishwoman, but if you’re messing with someone who’s such hot shit, you need to have the best sword and kick it up to pirate-level fighting. We’ve gotta train you!”

“We have to get her a change of clothes first,” Reiji corrects, and hooks one arm around Yuzu. Yuuya grumbles good-naturedly and supports her other side, and she’s on the move toward locations unknown before she even registers leaving the warehouse. Or maybe that’s less their speed and more the bleeding.

“Wh--hey! Where are we--my clothes are--”

“Very seductive, but not practical,” Yuuya teases.

“We’re taking you to our ship,” Reiji explains in the meantime. “For the clothes and the wound, among other things. Don’t worry. If we were going to kill you, we’d have done it back there.”

“Thanks. I definitely feel better about you two flanking me now.”

The Prince smirks. “Relax, Yuzu. Think of this as a little pirate hospitality, and you didn’t even have to say parley.”

It sounds ridiculous. Mad. Frightening, even. But Yuzu watches Yuuya and Reiji exchange smirks and gentle bickering as they look from her to each other and hold her closer between them, and she doesn’t feel afraid. She feels exhilarated. She is one step closer to the end of her journey to leave her family’s predator powerless and lifeless. That will be such a burden lifted.

“You know?” He heard Yuzu ask on his right out loud while he continued to figure out how to make a particularly complicated combo to work, but he still nodded as a sign that he was listening seeing as Yuya on his left looked like he was spacing out again, although considering the way his hand was placed on top of his stomach, and the slight drool on his lip they may have to cut the activity for now in order to get lunch. “I’ve thinking for a while now... why aren’t there any rules for three-way duels?”

That seemed to pull Yuya out of his reverie and he bolted up to look at Yuzu with a questioning look.

“We do have them though? That’s what Battle Royale modality is for.” He said with a slight pout.

“Yuya, I don’t mean that!” She countered almost immediately, from the corner of his eye Reiji saw how he saw how the fan was resting on her lap ready for any… misshapen.

“But we’ve had duels between three people in those!” he said scratching his head. “It’s the same rules, the one who manages to defeat the rest wins.”

“You mean people ganging up against some poor sap and then tearing each other down afterwards?” She was now grabbing the fan with her hands.

“Uh? Well is not like it’s against the rules!” He talked back, and now Reiji was sure that his hunger was not just making him distracted but more irritable too.

“That’s exactly what I mean, that’s not a three-way duel, that’s just like a… ‘eat or be eaten’ duel!” Yuzu almost growled, coupled with her temper this situation had every chance to become very unpleasant for all the people involved.

So, he coughed a little to catch their attention.

That alone seemed to go a long way to mellow them out as they both stopped and looked up at him with a smile, and at the sight he coughed once more, this time out of necessity than for garnering attention.

“If I may…” He said making a pause waiting for them to nod and continued: “…Perhaps what Yuzu is talking about is a duel were the three participants are all against all…”

“I repeat that this is how Battle Royale works.” He said, supporting himself on his hands, looking both bored and moody.

“…If you would let me finish, Yuya.” He said. “This one would have to device rules in order to avoid any ‘ganging up’ as Yuzu said and probably need a triple board of sorts in order not to mix up the magic and trap cards zones.”

Yuzu nodded a little too enthusiastically.

“Exactly and since there wouldn’t be any teaming up against one of the duelist, the turns would also need to be structured, probably clockwise and one player wouldn’t be allowed either to directly attack or make damage to more than one duelist in order to balance things out!”

“Right!” Yuya interceded, looking happier now. “And the Trap and Spell cards would work the same! Unless they are continuous or field cards!”

“I suppose that we could call rounds every time one of the duelist has already had their own turn as well.” Reiji said, his interest truly piqued by now, already trying to decide if this would be a good mechanic to introduce in a tournament, or perhaps beta-tested first inside online dueling communities.

Then there was the sound of a stomach growling, perhaps a little too loud.

“…Maybe we can talk more about this over some snacks?” Yuya asked, looked accordingly embarrassed.

“Nu-uh, you promised Yoko-san no more junk food for lunch.” Yuzu chided and both she and Reiji crossed looks, a smile coming to her when it looked like Yuya wanted to make a case for his precious snacks.

“Besides, the last two times you and I choose where to eat, it’s only fair that Reiji chooses this time around.”

“Oh! Right,” Yuya said looking a little subdued but then he looked at him all too serious. “You better eat something solid this time too, sometimes it feels like if no one reminded you, you could for days on end without eating.”

Just as Reiji was about to give his turn to either of them he noticed Yuzu’s pout and Yuya’s eager smile, which sight were making coming to a decision difficult… it would be foolish of him to try to please only one of the two of them with their excitable tempers as they were.

And considering everything worked for the better when they reached a common agreement, Reiji liked to think of himself as no fool after all,

“If you don’t mind Nakajima taking us in the car I believe I know the perfect place, where the three of us can choose something fitting to their taste.” He said adjusting his glasses, before any of them could say anything else, Yuya jumped on his feet from their sitting spot and placed a quick peck first on Yuzu’s cheek and then on his.

.

.

.

Then rather than waiting for an answer, Yuya scratched the back of his neck, his face looking the same shade as his hair and rushed to the entrance of Yushow Duel School. Leaving both him and Yuzu to look after him, her with both a blush and a sweat drop and he assumed he had a similar expression too.

“Thank you, I know when Yuya and I start to argue about silly stuff, we can be such a handful.” She said as they walked side by side following Yuya.

“It’s quite fine really, besides I believe he will be far more agreeable once he eats at his heart’s content.” He said feeling more at ease. “I actually applaud both of your ideas, I might be able to convince the board to make a run for it.”

As an answer she perked up and dedicated him a blinding smile which had him swallowing a slightly bit.

“Mmmh, yes, and then we can start working on the three-way duel stuff too.” She said still smiling but looking a little deep in thought. “I think we work better like that right?” But then, her blush became more pronounced when she stood up and offered her hand to help him up from the floor.

He was acutely aware on the tiny squeeze she gave him before letting go and hurrying the same way Yuya had.

With that same hand he brushed his cheek, in the same spot Yuya had deposited a kiss before and knew he would have to take deep breaths before Nakajima would ask if he was coming down with a fever.