Disclaimer: Still don't own Dragon Knights. Still love pirates. Still love Jack Sparrow; I have two posters now.

Yoru: Hello again! I am Yoru! Hear me roar! RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWR!

(Cricket. Cricket.)

Kuronue: You are really weird.

Yoru: The crickets like me. I give them lots to chirp about.

(Cricket. Cricket. Cricketcricketcricket.)

Yoru: This is more of a filler chappie, so if you were expecting long…sorry.

"And so now we're being chased by a bloodthirsty pirate," Rath finished. Lykouleon, the King of Dusis and Rath's constant advisor, scratched his chin.

"And this is new, when?" he asked. He threw up his hands as Rath glared at him scathingly.

"This is serious."

"I know. Where's Gil?"

"I left him on the ship. He still doesn't know about this. It would make him go back into reclusive mode. I'm still not sure how much he trusts me." Rath sat back in his chair and laced his fingers together. Lykouleon watched him for a moment.

"If you stay here, he'll find you here, where we have an army."

"Yes, but for how long? What's my excuse to Gil?"

"You should tell him what's going on or he may stop trusting you anyway. Remember, Nadil told him he wouldn't hurt him and lied. So if you lie to him…" Lykouleon let it hang there. Rath sighed.

"I know."

He found Gil in the galley, helping Tetheus, the cook. Gil saw him and came to him.

"Tetheus and I found a new way to dry beef so it'll last longer," he chirped, smiling brightly. Rath smiled back, a bit halfheartedly.

"Gil, there's something I need to tell you," he said softly.

"Can it wait?"

"No." Rath led him to his cabin and shut the door. Gil sat on the bed and watched Rath carefully. Rath could already see the apprehension in his eye.

"Gil, Nadil's coming after us. He found out where you are."

"…What?" Gil's eye widened in fear. Rath opened his mouth, but couldn't think of anything else to say. Finally, it came to him. What he needed to say.

"Gil, I'll protect you with my life."

"That's not enough. You haven't seen what he can do! He'll kill you all and get me! I don't want to see you die for me, Rath!"

It was the first time Gil had said his name. Rath blinked.

"Gil…"

"He doesn't take prisoners. I've had to watch him kill children, Rath! Children! He's strong and skilled and evil…" Gil started crying. Rath went over and wrapped his arms around Gil.

He was just holding him.

Gil looked up at him with that shining golden eye.

Rath kissed him.

Gently and yet passionately, he kissed him.

Gil's eye widened, and he pulled away as though scalded. Rath blinked.

"Oh…I'm sorry, Gil. I wasn't going to…no…Gil…"

Gil stared at him, shaking a little.

"Haven't you ever been kissed?" Rath asked quietly.

"P-please…don't…"

"I'm not Nadil, Gil." Rath held out a hand to the trembling slave. Gil looked at it for a moment before turning away, shaking.

Lykouleon welcomed the crew into his castle warmly. Thatz and Rune immediately went to their room after dinner. To Rath's surprise, Kai-stern invited Alfeegi to his room. It was an even bigger shock for Alfeegi to accept. Rath sighed. Gil hadn't said a word to him since the incident in the cabin, and Rath knew that he had ruined any trust he had gained from the young slave.

He went to the room he shared with Gil to find the slave already asleep. He was tossing and turning, whimpering a little. Rath went to him and touched his face, startling him awake. The golden eye widened.

"M-master…"

"Gil, it's all right."

"I…I…please don't use me tonight…"

Rath grabbed Gil by the collar of his shirt and yanked him close.

"I. Am. NEVER. Going. To. Use. You." He looked deep into Gil's golden eye, knowing he was scaring him but no longer caring, "Don't even say it."

"How do I know?" Gil whispered. Rath let go of him, and the slave scuttled away to the wall.

"You kissed me. Only those who were going to use me ever did that."

"Gil, I'm falling in love with you. Can't you even accept a kiss as a declaration of love anymore?" Rath felt like crying suddenly. He turned away so Gil wouldn't see his tears.

"No. He told me he loved me."

"I'M NOT NADIL!" Rath shouted. Gil tried to press himself closer to the wall.

"I'M RATH! Just…Rath. I didn't buy you to use you. I bought you because you captured my heart. I freed you…because I fell in love with you." As Rath said it, he knew it was true. He had loved Gil from the first instant.

Silence reigned for a long time as they stared at each other. Finally Rath just turned away and climbed into bed.

A few minutes later, a warm body climbed in next to him.

Not too far away, a ship lurked in the ocean.

"We're not far, Shydeman," Nadil sneered. His first mate leaned against the railing.

"No, Captain. Soon, you'll have Gil back."

"He's going to pay. No one runs from me, Shydeman. Not and gets away." Nadil pulled out a telescope and peered through it at the landmass not far from where they floated.

"He's there. And I will have him."

"SHIP APPROACHING!" The call woke everyone in the palace. Rath turned from the window, to see Gil curled up in bed, eye wide and body shaking. Rath wrapped his arms around him.

"Gil, it's all right."

"He'll get me…don't let him get me…" Gil sobbed. Rath held him close, entwining his fingers with the crying slave. The door to his room burst open. Thatz ran in, but stopped short at the sight of Rath and Gil.

"Erm…"

"What?" Rath snapped. Thatz looked at Gil. Rath nodded, holding him tighter. Thatz took a deep breath.

"It's the Kainaldia, Captain."

"Thank you. Please…Thatz…"

"Yes, Captain." Thatz left the room, shutting the door firmly. Rath cupped Gil's chin and made him look into his eyes.

"You have to trust me. I won't let him have you. I promise. I will protect you."

"Because I belong to you?"

"No. Because I love you, and I don't want you to hurt ever again." Rath leaned down, but stopped when Gil flinched away. Rath settled for kissing the fingers of the hand he held. He felt Gil relax just a little bit.

"You promise?"

"I promise. Do you trust me?" Rath waited with bated breath.

"…Yes."