Kaizoku no Shou Part 8

Wufei frowned and looked at his watch again. It was still five minutes past noon. Five minutes into lunch. Duo should have been there ten minutes ago. Sure, it was possible Duo was still asleep, with the way those two were carrying on last night he wouldn't have been surprised if he didn't wake up for a week.

But for some reason Wufei still didn't like it.

Sighing exasperatedly he put together a plate of food and walked to the captain's cabin.

Wufei knocked on the door and waited for an answer. When none came he opened the door, intending to put the food on a table for when the braided boy woke up. He did not expect the cabin to be empty.

He placed the plate on Heero's desk and surveyed the room. It was quite messy, as if there had been a struggle. That wasn't too suspicious, he knew that the Japanese boy had certain kinks. Pinching the bridge of his nose Wufei dispelled the images that formed in his brain. He did not need pictures of that floating around in his brain.

It just looked like Heero and Duo had gone off somewhere together. His eyes narrowed. Wufei didn't know why but something nagging at the back of his mind told him that this wasn't right. Then he realized- Heero was with Trowa. Duo was not with him.

It wasn't like there were many places to go on the ship. Wufei walked out onto deck, and almost got plowed over by an irate Quatre. "Quatre! What is wrong?"

The blonde was positively fuming... as much as he could. "Muller! He was supposed to relieve me from the Dogwatch [1] twenty minutes ago!"

~Curiouser and curiouser~ [2] "Calm down Quatre, I'll find him. I'm already looking for Duo." He turned and walked back toward the galley. If Duo wasn't on deck he had to be below somewhere.

A quick peek inside the galley proved that the braided boy hadn't shown up so Wufei continued further into the depths of the ship. The further he went the more he frowned. The only thing beyond this point was the galley... there would be no reason for anyone to go there...

"HEELP!" a muffled but recognizable cry emanated from the heavy door of the galley.

Wufei wasted no time in kicking open the door. The scene he saw was worse than he ever expected.

Duo, obviously badly beaten, lay naked and prone on the plank floor. Muller kneeled behind him, violating the boy with one hand, while unfastening his trousers with the other.

It took less than a second for Wufei to draw his sword and sever the hand that reached for Muller's pants.

In shock and pain, Muller jerked away from Duo, and cradled his bloody stump to his chest.

With a swift kick to Muller's face, Wufei sent the man sprawling into one of the cells. He quickly locked it, trapping the man inside.

With the enemy neutralized Wufei turned back to where Duo lay. He stripped his own shirt off and carefully covered Duo's shivering body. He carefully lifted Duo into his arms and made for the door.

"You goin' to have your own fun with the whore now?"

Wufei stopped and turned to face the taunting prisoner. "Duo never has, nor never will be a whore." Wufei fixed his deadliest glare upon Muller before turning and quickly taking the precious burden to Quatre.

~*~

Wufei looked from Duo's face to the door when he heard it slam open. He rose from the chair he'd kept his short vigil in to allow a wrecked Heero to take his place.

He'd never seen his captain look so... so... emotional over anyone. It pained Wufei to see such anguish on Heero's face.

"Who. Did. This." It was bit out between clenched teeth as if every word was made of the filthiest bile.

"Muller." Wufei kept the answer concise. Eager to let the couple be alone.

Heero was furious, but he tenderly clasped Duo's hand in his as if the boy were made of porcelain. "You know my wishes. Deal with him immediately."

Wufei simply nodded and turned to go. As he closed the door he caught one last glimpse of the pair as Heero gently brushed Duo's bangs from his closed eyes. ~Justice must be served.~

~*~

Trowa silently offered the ropes to Wufei who accepted them just as solemnly. To execute Muller they decided to execute one of the most used methods among pirates... keelhauling, but with one small twist.

Wufei securely tied Muller's wrists and ankles with the heavy-duty rope. There would be no escape from his fate. The only sound was a low almost growl that originated from the other sailors on deck. Everyone had come to love the bright violet eyed boy they'd picked up from G's ship. For anyone to dare harm him was unthinkable.

But the unthinkable had happened.

And now they would have their vengeance.

Wufei tugged one last time on the ropes to ensure they were tied tightly enough. He then slowly walked in front of the prisoner and smirked. "You are probably familiar with keelhauling... being drag under the ship until dead?"

Muller nodded.

"Well, we thought that would be too good for you. So we've added our own little twist to it. Instead of being drag under the boat you will be secured just above water level in front of the boat." Wufei paused and looked Muller squarely in the eyes. "Your death will be very slow and painful. It will be from either drowning because of the constant battering of the waves... or from the pressure of the water pressing on your body as we move through the water. Either way, it will be quite a while."

Wufei watched as the once calm Muller began to blubber like a child at the prospect of his imminent demise. Once the man broke Wufei signaled the men to begin lowering him down the front of the ship. When he was at the right level the ropes were secured.

With baited breath the crew waited.

Then the screams drifted up from where Muller's head poked above the water. But it was soon cut off by a wave of salt water. Then the screaming returned only to be abruptly cut off again.

So the cycle continued, and the satisfied crew went back about their business ever so often listening for Muller's tortured cries.

Wufei stared out onto the ocean for a minute before turning to go below deck. He found himself face to face with a worried Quatre.

"How is he?"

Quatre worried his lip between his teeth, a nervous habit the blonde had picked up some time ago. "He has multiple broken ribs, bruising to the face, arms, and waist, possible internal injuries, and he still hasn't woken yet."

Wufei carefully hugged the slender boy before he collapsed to the deck. "It will be fine. Duo is tough, and will pull through. Especially with Heero to live for."

"Hn. Moving in on my man Chang?"

Wufei and Quatre looked to the left where Trowa stood, his arms crossed and a mock scowl on his face.

With a teasing smirk Wufei decided to go with the joke. "You better believe it Barton." He then comically leered at the first mate. "Unless you would like to join us?"

With a small giggle Quatre wrapped an arm around both Trowa and Wufei. "Group hug!!!"

Trowa easily joined the circle while slightly smiling at Wufei. The message was clear, 'Thanks for taking his mind off Duo.'

Wufei nodded, 'Anything for a friend.'

"So who's bunk do we crash for the orgy?"

Wufei stared down at the diminutive blonde- undecided as weather to blush or continue with the joke. Deciding instead to bow out gracefully, Wufei disengaged from the hug. Before he left he bowed politely to the pair. "I think I'll sit this one out."

Wufei had almost made it all the way back to the galley before he heard the beginnings of Quatre's laughter.

TBC...

[1] Uhhh what it sounds like... a short period of watch duty.

[2] Heh... Isn't that like Alice in Wonderland? I hate that movie, but I like the line...

 

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