Orange and red flames licked the roofs and building sides on the large island, the town of Bayton burning to ashes. The inhabitants of the island were around in fear, trying to bustle children into hiding or running to save themselves. The cause of the fear and fire was docked at the port, a ship with dyed gold sails with a black flag. The design of an upside down pyramid with an eye in the middle and crossbones adorned the middle mast. The ship had docked no more than hour before and nobody knew or cared who they were. Not fifteen minutes later the crew raised the colors and at the appearance of it the panic began. The pirates cheered at the sound of the screams and others chased some of the prettier girls around the port.

Three men stood at the front of the ship, watching their men as they terrorized the citizens. In the middle of the captain, a white-haired, sharp, brown-eyed man who barely looked to even be seventeen. He stared with amusement over the town, his eyes drawn to the mansion built at the highest point on the island with a dirt road leading up to it in the design of an 'S'. He turned to the two other men, one on his right and the other at his left. The one on his right looked the same age as himself, though one shorter and the other taller than himself. The taller had spiked out and bleach blonde hair with lavender eyes, black make-up sharpening his eyes to a point. The shorter had three different colors of hair with eyes the color of blood.

"Who don't my two first mates have a little fun in this town? It'll be a while before we reach another worth terrorizing and you've definitely eared it more than these dirt wastes," he remarked, gesturing towards the rest of his crew on land.

The tri-colored teen turned his eyes towards the sight of the burning town and smirked, his deep voice in contrast with his small size. "I think I could enjoy myself, Captain Bakura. Perhaps I'll find a nice lady or two to toss around before dumping her into the deep blue." An devilish smirk formed on his face before he turned on his heel, his long black coat swishing around him with a purpose as important as the crew member himself. He disappeared at the end of the dock, behind a building, shoving one of his own crew mates out of his way with a forceful shove.

"And you, Marik," Bakura questioned, turning to his first best friend. His voice was raspy and held a malice that was ever present in his person.

"This is just a waste of time. I suppose I could just get a drink though," he answered, pointing to a bar that sat on the water's edge. He pulled off his three-point hat and shook his long hair from its flat state, ruffling it up a bit before he was content. Setting his hat down he headed off the Sennen without another word to his captain. His only wish was that they didn't stay here nearly as long as they did in the last port. Three days ashore was just too long and he opted for being on the waves than on stationary land. Kicking open the door of a tavern, he waited with an annoyed expression for the few hiding people inside to run out before letting himself in.

The captain smirked and felt his chest swell in a sense of pride as the Sennen was mentioned. The wonderful, yet potent name he'd decided to call his fine ship. A name all would remember and was as powerful as the three main crew members aboard it. No man survived when sailing commanders found the gold-sailed ship at sea and nothing remained of the ship they sailed in when the Sennen left. Only a year into the path of piracy it took before the great ship became a renowned and feared ship. Any other pirate who dared to take it over or even mimic the unique look of the ship would only be paid a worse debt.

Bakura turned back to the chaos that was unfolding around him and his eyes once more followed the swerving path up to the mansion on the hill. That was where his treasure was being held. His brown eyes sharpened and he licked his salty, chapped lips at what awaited him at the governor's house.

It's going to be a fortune there, for sure. He walked off the ship and strolled through the town as if his men weren't drunk by a fountain, or one wasn't rutting with a woman only feet away from him, that a dead man at his feet with a sword in his gut wasn't what he just stepped on. He only had eyes for one thing.

B R E A K

A small boy gasped for breath as he hid himself in a small in the somewhat popular inn he worked at. He rubbed the back of his hand across his cheek and smudge of dirt smeared onto the pinked skin. Staring out the crack in the door with his violet eyes he briefly wondered if he'd even been followed.

He'd been at the general's house when the attack started and his best friend and secret crush, Ryou, had pleaded him with teary eyes that he run and hide, making sure his boss and fellow works at the inn were safe from harm. In response, Yugi had told him to hide and make sure he stayed well out of sight as well before reluctantly climbing out the closet window.

The teen was seven months past his sixteenth birthday and his tri colored hair was matted with sweat on his forehead and unique amethyst eyes were dull with fear. He worked in the inn for his deceased father's sake, who'd wanted him to have a good future. Yugi hadn't cared for his life though. In fact, the only reason he agreed was that the timing couldn't have been better for Ryou's birthday was only two weeks away. Unfortunately, after that, he'd been stuck with the job for over a year and couldn't stand it but had no other place to go.

As he was racing towards the building he worked he saw some pirates drinking in front of the door. He was lucky to sneak in through an open window on the second floor and decided to hide in case he'd been seen. When he finally decided it was safe enough to come out and nobody had actually followed him to the inn he ducked out of the closet and tiptoed down the hall. He passed by a mirror and his heart leaped as the sight of movement. When he realized what it was though he rested against the wall and put a hand to his racing heart.

Easy, Yugi he breathed deeply. It's only a reflection. Stupid mirror!

Checking under desks and knocking on locked doors, he slowly made his way to the bottom of the stairs and to the front lobby. Loud cheering and laughing were echoing off the walls and Yugi peeked around the corner of the doorway.

Gasping as he saw all the pirates inside, he watched for a few seconds to scan the room. Most of the men were looting the booze and heading out the door, probably to the ship, and only one was sitting and drinking from a mug like a civilized man. He had long bleach blonde hair and was dressed slightly nicer than other pirates and barked at a few men who dared to bother him. Yugi supposed he was higher up on the ship than the rest of the men in the room.

Backing out of the room, Yugi quickly but quietly headed back upstairs and through the open window once more. He wanted to check on Ryou again, now that he knew most of the pirates were stealing from the stores now. He was just about to make a run up the dirt path when a boot shuffling in the dirt caught his ears and he froze, jumping behind a barrel just in time to catch a white-haired man walk by with a steady speed and fixed gaze. Following his line of sight, Yugi bit his lip.

Ryou…

B R E A K

Unlike the other residents of the island he lived on, Malik Ishtar, the general's best friend's second child and first son was excited about the pirates' sudden arrival. It put some thrill into his life and he had a plan forming in his twisted mind to get him off the island and away from his responsibilities. Just the thought of the woman his parents insisted he marry by the end of the month had his nails scraping wood to get away as quickly as possible even if it meant stowing away on the next ship that came in. It just made it more interesting that it happened to be a pirate ship.

"This must be destiny or some shit like that, Malik joked, his eyes glued to the gold sails and black flag. "Makes it all the better."

"Oh, Malik! This is horrible! We're supposed to get married next month and everything's going to be a mess from this awful attack," a screechy voice complained.

Malik sighed and wanted to slap his hand to his face and bang his forehead against the nearest wooden crate. Just the sound of his fiancé's voice grated his nerves. A lady indeed he rolled his eyes. I thought ladies were supposed to have gentle voices that made you feel calm, not put hot nails to your eyes.

A girl with shoulder length, brown hair and bright blue eyes stared into his soft purple eyes. She seemed nice enough when they first met and thought it wouldn't be so bad to be a husband to such a sweet girl….until he got to know her. All she ever talked about was friendship and cuddling into his side.

Where's the adventure? I'm going to die being smothered like this Malik immediately thought when he found out his parents and future in-laws marital plans. No, it certainly wouldn't do if Malik couldn't settle down with someone who was all hyper and no action; he needed movement in his life and not movement that involved tight arms strangling his neck in suffocating hugs.

"Tea, please be quiet," he asked of her politely, using all strength he had in him to not forget his manners he was taught growing up. Not yet he told himself. Not just yet to let loose. "Do you want them to hear you and have them treat you like that," he pointed to where a pirate with a bandanna and an ear pierced at least ten different times was cornering a woman and feeing her up with a stubby smirk.

The girl shuddered and grabbed at Malik's loose shirt. "Oh, Mali-kins, you wouldn't ever let them touch me like that, would you? You'd fight them with your excellent sword…thing….wouldn't you, Mali-kins?" Her voice was desperate and her blue eyes teared up dramatically.

Rolling his light violet eyes, Malik forced himself to nod and continue his well-brought up manners he only wished he could forget quickly. "Yes, love," he gagged mentally at the thoughts. I can't wait to get off this island and get away from her at last. Adventure, here I come!

"Oh, Malik! What a horrible man he is," she cried, watching with repulsion in her eyes and he watched the pirate pull the girls skirt up with his pants bunched down to his ankles.

Please have an opportunity to escape faster Malik begged silently.

B R E A K

Yugi reached the open window to the general's house as quickly as he could with his short legs, trying to beat the pirate heading towards the mansion. He only hoped he could get there faster even taking the longer way. He looked around and listened carefully that anybody who might be on that floor before carefully calling out Ryou's name. When no answer came forth his heart quickened beats and his feet started moving faster, heedless of the sounds he was making. Checking his bedroom, he called again and the teen peeked out from the closet door. He breathed a calming sigh of relief and moved closer to him, closing the door behind him.

"You're back sooner than I expected, Yugi. Is all well at the inn," Ryou questioned, his English accent heavy in his heightened fear. There was also relief to his voice though and Yugi was happy that Ryou was just as happy to see him safe.

"Just pirates looting the booze from the storage room. Are you okay?"

"Yes, nobody's come in here. I heard noise downstairs, but I was too frightened to look."

Just then the front door slammed open, causing both teens to jump and freeze, grabbing each other's arms for courage. The door was thrown open before they could recollect how to use their feet once more, but they were relieved when it was the general who stood in the doorway. The man's grayish hair was tossled and there was a sword in each of his hands, having been well-learned in the way of twin blades. He dropped them both when he saw his son and his friend.

"Father," Ryou breathed, hurrying over to his only living family relative left and hugged him tightly.

"Are you boys okay," the general asked, holding his son closely to his side and petting Yugi's hair with his free hand. "No pirates have come up here yet."

Just as he finished his statement gun shots echoed from downstairs and gleeful laughing followed afterward. The general turned his front towards the door in case anyone came running up the stairs, but it seemed whoever came in was taking their sweet time either coming up or staying downstairs for the time being.

"If this isn't a fancy room for you rich types than I don't know what is," a raspy voice taunted, whistling with a cocky tune from behind the teens. All three turned rapidly, staring as the captain stood on the balcony of the open window, eyes sharp and staring at the three with a glint of victory. He did so love catching his targets by surprise. "With all the available cash you people have in your pockets you could at least do a descent job with the windows. A blind man could open these locks with ease," he mocked with a smirk that accented his high cheek bones.

The general grabbed his son by the arm and half-dragged, half-pulled the albino teen behind him. "Son, stay behind me," he ordered. "Yugi, do you know how to use a sword."

Nodding nervously, Yugi answered, "I've had some practice." Biting his lip, his violet eyes never left the white-haired, harsh-eyed captain still leaning against the side of the wide-open window. Not even close enough to beating a pirate though, but I've got to protect Ryou!

Chuckling, Bakura mocked, "Only some practice? What a boy you must be." His eyes drifted from the boy's childish face and impossibly wide eyes, interest peeking in his russet depths. "The resemblance is almost uncanny," he spoke more to himself but his words obviously reached the ears of his adversaries. The captain returned his full attention to the group of three. "As well as your son, sir general," he scoffed, bowing his head slightly with a smirk," your son also has a startling resemblance to a very handsome someone I see in the mirror every day."

Yugi saw from the corner of his eyes that Ryou shivered at having been compared to a pirate as evil as Bakura. The looks, the way he spoke, his coolness and how easy it had been for him to reach the second-floor bedroom from the outside with ease. There wasn't any way that he couldn't be the renowned captain of the pirate ship Sennen.

The general growled and tossed the shorter of his two swords at Yugi, the short teen pleased with even himself when he managed to catch it. The extent of his 'practice', though he hadn't wanted to say it aloud, was actually when he was much younger a customer at the inn had once left his sword in his room and he asked Yugi to retrieve it for him. On the way down Yugi had pretended he was a great swordsman and did a few slashes in the air as he mock-killed opposing threats on his great journey to deliver the ancient artifact. It was the first and last time he had touched a sword until now.

The general grit his teeth as he glared at the pirate captain. He held his other sword up and pulled a pistol from its belt holder, holding each up to Bakura.

Smirking, the captain pulled out his own sword. "I quite agree with you, sir general," he sneered. "The time for talk is over!" He jumped from the window and charged at the protective father. "Allow me to test your skills!" The swords clashed and a loud metal-to-metal ring echoed around the room, causing both Yugi and Ryou to flinch.

The frightened Ryou had his back to the wall with dread and fear-stricken eyes. He had hoped he'd never have to come this close to a pirate unless his father had taken him to jail to see one behind bars. At least that way they're chained away from the doors and completed weaponless. Now here he was with his best friend who'd probably only touched a sword once or twice in his life being relied on by his father to fight someone as advanced in fighting as the legendary captain of the Sennen, Bakura.

The worst part about the entire thing was that Ryou knew the awful truth that his father didn't want him knowing. He'd overheard his father talking to a businessman in the library the other day and how he'd injured his knee some years ago while fighting off an attack and that it would never work the same again. Still more to go the bullets for his father's old-fashioned pistol had long since been out of date. The only one that could be relied on was Yugi and with those chances Ryou could only fear the worse.

Suddenly a shadow jumped in front of him and grabbed him by the way. His whole body started shaking with fear before he'd even registered who was holding him.

"The stakes have suddenly changed, general. I have struck down your swords-boy," Ryou's brown eyes shot open and he glanced over to where Yugi had been standing, now lying unconscious with his sword some feet away from him. "…I have proven that am the better." He moved his arm from the teen's waist and took him roughly by the wrist. "And now I shall take my leave." He shot from the room just as the general took a step forward to stop him.

"My son!!"

B R E A K

Finally Malik thought with relief as he as last came up with an idea to help him reach the pirate ship's unnoticed. He stood from the window and went over to where he'd put his sword down, tucking it on the sheath on his belt. Tightening the buckle on his waist before heading towards the day.

"Mali-kins? Where are you going, love?" Tea asked, standing up abruptly as she noticed he was leaving.

Thinking quickly, Malik turned back to his betrothed with a fake loving smile plastered on his face. "Love, I can't just sit here and watch innocent people get hurt. You'll be safe as long as you stay here. I'm skilled enough with my sword that I'll be able to help others that are trying to fight. Just stay here and no matter what, don't move." Afterwards, he turned and swiftly went out the door.

B R E A K

Groaning quietly to himself as he came back into consciousness, violet eyes glanced around and caught sight of white hair as it whipped around the door. He looked around and saw the general on his knees, banging his fists on the floor.

I've got to help Ryou. I can't let my only love get taken like this. Yugi struggled to get up, arms shaking and legs wobbly. He grabbed up the sword that lay on the floor and ran forward, racing around the corner and catching up just as they were about to head down the stairs. As he struck Bakura blood splattered on the wall and Ryou shrieked.

Bakura moved just in time to only get grazed on the side. Nonetheless he decided it'd be better to get back to the Sennen and call the rest of the crew. The general was coming around the corner so the captain had to think quickly. He pulled Ryou to his front and held his sword to his neck. "Either of you come any closer and I'll slit his throat," he threatened, effectively stopping both Yugi and Ryou's father.

"Those are good lads," he said when the general's pistol dropped to the floor with an empty thud and Yugi's sword clanged on the wood panels. "If you would be so kind general as to give me an escort of your shack so whatever troops you might have snooping around don't jeopardize your son's life."

Walking quickly past Bakura, the general was quick alerting his men of the situation at the hand. Ryou was the only thing he had left that his wife had given him and he'd rather have him kidnapped with a chance to get him back than have him left for dead.

Yugi was at a loss as to what to do. He stood there, lost, as he watched Ryou dragged out of the mansion by the white-haired pirate, sword still aimed at his throat. The only one he'd ever cared, the only one he'd ever had care for him.

As soon as he was sure they were out the front door though he ran to the window that Bakura had climbed in with and used the vines to use as a ladder to get down. They snapped halfway down though and he ended up sliding the rest of the way down. Shaking himself off from the dirt he started running down the steep hill and stayed on the skirts of town until he reached the docks.

He would've made it onto the ship to save Ryou if it hadn't been for that one person, the one person who just happened to be heading towards the same place, the one person with red eyes and spiked up hair and a look that could kill if he so willed it.

"A look-a-like, how sweet," Yami sneered, grabbing the collar of Yugi's shirt as he tripped over his feet. "I never knew I had such a young admirer that would go to such lengths."

Yugi tried to push away from him, to reach the ship and rescue his friend, but the ruby-eyed pirate had a firm hold on his wrist.

"You're lucky I'm in such a good mood right now. Otherwise I'd just slit your throat and be done with it. Now leave, before I change my mind." He released the pale, child-like hand from his grasp.

Falling to the dock, Yugi scrambled to get up and as far away as possible, make it to the ship without any further run-ins with pirates or anyone else. Sneaking quietly was hard enough when there were so many people running around that could easily beat him up and worse. To avoid being captured while trying to get into the very nest of the enemy: such a feat could never be easy. As luck would have it he truly didn't have any other problems. There were a few occurrences where he had to hide behind large objects when someone walked by, but other than it had been pretty easy.

He found stairs leading further down the ship and he crawled into an empty barrel to wait for a chance to rescue Ryou; he only hoped that the captain was going to bring Ryou on the ship or he would've gone through all that for nothing.

Stupid Yugi, you're supposed to think of these things before you rush into things. He could easily get away without having to bring Ryou on board once he got to the docks. If that happens…then what'll happen when I get found out? He gulped audibly around the large ball that had suddenly formed in this throat. Positively thinking, if he does get brought onto the ship than this will definitely prove to him how much I love him and, perhaps, he'll start liking me that way too. He blushed at the very thought of him and Ryou finally being together.

Closing his eyes he waited patiently while ignoring the stench of rotting fish and old alcohol in the air.

B R E A K

Malik dashed by so many people he'd lost count, not that he'd been trying to but after a few close encounters by lowly pirates he decided to be careful. It wouldn't do to get caught, at least not until he had the guarantee that he would be taken on ship.

It's strange though. These pirates don't even seem to care that I'm getting by them or that I'm running towards their base of operations…

He made it to the docks with little problems, only skipping once around a corner, but other than that no one gave him the time of day. Finding the stairs, he slid into the one of the barrels by the door and landed in rotted, old fruit. Sleep will definitely be the only way to get over this. Closing his eyes, he tried desperately to get rid of the disgusting stench in the air and go to sleep. When I wake up I won't be docked he swore silently.

One way or another I owe these pirates just for giving me the hope of escaping that fiancé of mine. I'll work hard if I can stay here and if they boot me off than let it as least be on a different island.