Captured!: Chapter 5

And things get a teensy bit heated up here. So, shield yee eyes fool!

-:-

Hikari did not know what in Stars she was doing.

It was as if her body had gone into auto-pilot because she felt like she was out of her body currently. She felt like she was watching herself from up above, not partaking in the actual actions of it but instead, a mere witness. Quietly, she mimicked Takeru's agile movements through the ship, her legs a bit sore and wobbly from not having walked in weeks.

She followed him up a set of narrow, dank stairs and she stopped briefly at the gentle sea breeze that engulfed her frame when she finally surfaced outside the ship. She marveled at how large the moon was tonight, bright and full and the stars were endless, it seemed, sparkling down on her as if to make up for all the lost time.

Her eyes widened considerably when she felt her hand snatched up in a larger, warmer one and it began to pull her away. Takeru didn't look back at her, staring straight as if he couldn't bring himself to do so. The eighteen-year-old was silent as the boy swiftly guided her along the pathways of the vessel, hand squeezing tight on her to never let her go.

It made her feel all sorts of fuzzies and warm feelings inside.

However, she couldn't help to notice the rows of men and pirates sprawled atop the deck, surrounded by fallen chalices and spilled grog. Her nose crinkled at the heavy scent of alcohol that met her senses.

They came to a sudden stop, in front of a large wooden door. Takeru finally turned back, face apologetic and lightly painted red from chagrin.

"Sorry it's a mess." He murmured quietly, reaching out with his free hand for the knob and pushing it open.

The room wasn't large by any means, but not tiny either. It was surprisingly warm, compared to the rest of the ship and seemed more befitting in a cozy little house than a mighty vessel such as this. In the center of the room was quite possibly the largest bed she'd ever seen, the sheets and coverlets done up in a deep forest green, seven or so feather-down pillows lining the headboard.

There was a large wooden trunk situated right before the bed itself, and a single night stand at the bedside that was scattered with old cups and sheets of paper. The hardwood floor was near spotless had it not been for the small but noticeable pile of clothing in the far left corner and the plush white throw rug placed near the bed. The walls were bare, aside from the circular little window the revealed that they were under water levels, showcasing the wonders of the ocean depths. And then, at the far right was a medium sized door that had it not been for the door knob itself, would blend in perfectly with the wooden panelings.

"It's..." She struggled for a moment, feeling out of place from her small cabin and barely sizable bedding back home.

"Lovely."

The Captain's son smiled happily at that, then faltered, as he realized he was still quite tightly holding her hand. He quickly released it from his grip, absently rubbing the back of his neck in nervous habit. Maybe if he wasn't so preoccupied by his own quaking nerves, he would've noticed the look of disappointment settle her face.

"Erm, well..." He started off, moving towards the trunk before his bed and lifting it open. Rummaging through the contents, he suddenly swiveled around with a slightly worn blue tunic like top and a pair of terry white pants made into shorts, the bottom halves of the legs ripped off.

"These'll be a bit big for you but it's the smallest I have," He continued, talking incredibly fast for some reason, as if to get this entire ordeal finished. He hurried to the other door, easing it open and gesturing for her to enter.

"You can bathe here. It isn't much and we don't have those fancy smelling...parfumes or whatever it is you ladies like to wear. But it's the best I can do."

The tiny auburn-haired girl could barely contain herself, smiling ear to ear as she tentatively inched her way into the other room. Along the way she had absently grabbed the offered garb from Takeru, stopping briefly to look up at him with shining grateful eyes.

"Thank you."

The blond nodded and waited for her to enter the bathing quarters, the door closing behind her before he spun around and collapsed face first into his bed, muffling his groan of embarrassment.

"Parfumes...Stars, I'm an idiot."

-:-

The showering room was as simple as the previous, everything done up completely in wood panelings. There was a circular tub situated on a raised dais on the far right, akin to that of a small pool of sorts, coming up to just Hikari's shoulders. There was a a single shelf fixed above the showering devise, four buckets full of warm water along with varying bottles and tubs as well as some larger drying cloths lining the shelf itself.

Hikari released a sigh of absolute relief as she allowed herself to sink into the warm waters shoulders deep. The first shower in weeks and it felt absolutely wonderful, feeling the sweat and grime of the horrid dungeon melt away from her flesh. She flinched as the thought skimmed her mind, realizing, this liberty and comfort would be short lived because she couldn't go run off. They were at water, for Christ's sake!

The girl scowled darkly, shaking her head to rid the treacherous ideas and dunking head first into the waters.

She resurfaced a moment later, gasping for breathes. Reaching over towards the ridge fixtures at the wall, she extracted a small tub full of a blue sand like substance. Curiously, she brought the container up to her nose and reveled at the familiar scent of the blanket that had kept her warm these past nights.

She generously scooped up a handful of the sand and scrubbed it onto her body, ridding the filth from her person and beaming as she saw the familiar porcelain flesh underneath.

The aroma of the soap suddenly filled the room in a warm mist, fogging the air ever so slightly. Now everything around her smelled like the blanket, like Takeru.

The slight brunette felt her face flush as his face came to her mind, ever smiling with that familiar mop of lemony gold spikes.

Hikari was, simply put, confused out of her mind about the golden-topped boy.

She felt so...comfortable with him, as if they'd been companion since they were babe, not the son of the Captain that held her captive for the past month. And most of all, this overwhelming feeling in her belly...that she was so safe with him. Though young at her passing, Hikari recalled her mothers story of how she feel in love with papa.

"It was raining and we were miles out of town. We had no certain way home and the walk was quite far, though he insisted he knew a way back, as men are wont to do." Yuuko paused as she was suddenly consumed by a wave of coughing, snatching a near by cloth to cover her mouth.

"But strangely darling, I believed him. I felt...safe."

Suddenly those round crimson orbs widened to the size of saucers, realization settling in their depths mixed with a good portion of fear.

Did this mean...did this mean she was in love?

-:-

Takeru hadn't thought out this idea, entirely.

He had just been spurned up into the moment and he knew, desperately so, in himself that he absolutely needed for her to stop crying. He needed her happy.

Because it hurt him so, to even fathom otherwise.

But now, now he was sitting on his bed nerves shot and rattled beyond belief, absently rubbing his palms at the front of his breeches to try and rid the clammy, sweat that was accumulating there. What was he supposed to do? Sleep? Clean his room?

There was a girl - scratch that - HIKARI in his wash room, right now.

Naked.

The boy shivered at the thought, feeling his mouth go bone dry as he wondered what exactly was underneath that yellow shift and how supple it must-

The door wafted open and a cloud of fog fluttered out of the room. He was happy for the moment because he wasn't sure he could see her after such thoughts. Hikari emerged through the haze and Takeru inwardly cried at what he saw.

The girl in question was still slightly moist from the cleaning session, her long heavy skeins unbound and wet as they clung to her forehead, neck and shoulders. Little droplets collected at the curves of her long, long eyelashes and seemed to make her eyes sparkle even more. His tunic was far too long, too big, too everything on her, both sleeves rolled up several times to her elbows, one of them constantly slipping off her shoulders. The hem fell to her knees and if he hadn't been the one to give her the shorts, he'd think she was wearing nothing underneath.

Stars, help him!

"Sorry I took so long," She murmured, standing awkwardly across from him and looking positively helpless.

He swallowed heavily, his throat parched and he really, really, could use a drink at the moment. Or a shower. A really, cold shower.

"N-No, it-it's fine, Hikari." He managed and suddenly turned around, fiddling with the blanket on the bed, adjusting it so it was spread neatly across the mattress.

"Yeah."

And silence. Unbearable, heart-wrenching, nerve-racking silence.

He could swear that he was staring at him, he could feel her eyes boring into the center of his back curiously, helpless again and he felt his stomach churn. Suddenly, still adjusting with the coverlets, he felt a weight ease into the mattress.

"Who's this, T.K.?" Hikari inquired, gently easing herself onto the mattress and lifting a small picture frame off his nightstand. The blond softened considerably, nerves and worries forgotten as he perched himself next to her on his bed.

"That's my mother and father." He started softly, reaching over to take the little frame from her hands and settling it onto his lap.

It was the only image he had of his mother, only way he knew what she looked like. It was of the earlier days, when it had only been she, Captain and Yamato. She was tiny, small and had long golden locks that almost looked like honey pouring from a pot. And her eyes were the deepest shade of blue, more like the fair oceans Captain had fallen in love with. It was a candid shot, one of her sitting on Captain's lap and they were both laughing about something. Honestly, it was weird to see Captain so carefree...so happy.

"It's the only thing I have so I know what she looks like. She had passed birthing me, so I never got a chance." He mumbled, tracing his fingers over the images as they were more than just that, as if he tried hard enough, he could actually feel her back.

A tiny, paler hand reached over his own larger one, fingers lacing in between his.

"I'm so sorry, T.K." She whispered so tiny, he could barely hear her. Cerulean blue depths widened, somewhat startled though as to the sudden contact or the jolt it sent throughout his body, he was unsure.

Against better judgments, Takeru dared to allow his gaze to lift and meet hers and Heavens, she looked as terrified as he felt, it seemed. He didn't know how long he could deal with this, the physical contact, flesh against flesh - the sheer proximity of her entity, it was driving him mad. And it was all so damned foreign to him, this girl stuff and Yamato as well as the crew had only told him one thing -

Girls were of headaches and confusion, not much more.

He certainly was confused, he knew that much.

One of the damp locks of hair slipped and tumbled rakishly in front of her face, plopping down onto her nose with a faint splatter. Her eyes screwed around a bit, focusing inwardly to the offending strand and efficiently producing the most adorable, cross-eyed expression Takeru had seen like ever.

The blond chuckled at that, reaching over with his free hand and gently plucking the hair away from her face, carefully tucking it back behind her ear. But, Hikari had closed her eyes in that moment, allowing her cheek to turn and rest into the palm of his hand.

She felt so soft. Like nothing he had ever touched before.

"Takeru..." She was breathing his name and something tingled him, something very primal and virile.

The tiny captive trembled, actually trembled under his heavy stare, lost in her own maelstrom of emotion.

Hikari was warm all over and not because of the shower or the room temperature, but something in her knew it was because of the cute little blond before her. His fingers were now entangled in her still wet mop of hair, fingers massaging at her scalp in the most soothing motion ever. It was as if she was melting into his hands.

"Takeru.." She breathed again and it almost sounded a little desperate, a little needy and he liked that, a lot.

And suddenly, his lips were slanted on hers. She released a faint squeak of surprise, eyes flaring open and his were clenched shut tightly, because he knew if he saw her he might lose any kind of braze to do such an action.

His hand was raked through her mane, keeping her somewhat still under his movements, as he allowed his mouth to massage delicately over her own. He didn't know what in Heavens name he was doing; just that she felt really good and that he might just explode from the little sparks tingling across his body.

Meanwhile, Hikari was hot. She was just burning, everywhere, after all these lonely nights and cold darkness, she felt like she was completely submerged in the heat, in his light and she nevereverever wanted to leave. She knew Taichi would kill, not her, but poor Takeru on the spot and might possibly attempt to resurrect him just to kill him again, that's how mad Taichi would be.

But she was quite preoccupied, at the moment.

Tentatively, in some weird notion, her tongue darted forward and easily slipped past his closed lips and into that hot cavity of his, exploring every inch, slowly claiming him to her. He moaned, moaned and it just set her aflame completely. Something broke in him, whether it was common sense or restraint or will power, but Takeru mimicked her motions, avidly so, almost wildly.

He needed her touches, her breathing his name in just that way, he needed her. She gave him companionship, understanding - hope.

And then, he leaned fro, Hikari fighting little as he gently eased her back onto the mattress and settled his weight a top of hers.

-:-

OMGZ, what's gonna happen? Is it gonna happen? Eh /shrugs/ who knows, really.

I KNOW tubs and showers aren't exactly plausible on a boat, but, I winged it and it's my story so, sorry _

I KNOW well, I don't know for certain, about photos in that time? But, yeah.

Funkymonkey713: Oh wow! I can't believe you waited this long _ I'm sorry I kept you waiting so long, but I am glad the chapter I posted satisfied you ^_^ I hope this wasn't too...ridiculous, but sometimes I lose myself in my writing and forget my point .

KoumiLoccness: Thanks so much! I feel ya, TaKaris are those things that are nice, selectively, because otherwise it gets almost sickening. I hope you know, some Koumi will show up in later chapters ;D I hope you enjoy it!

S0l1tary0ne: Yeah. The showering concept threw me off a bit. I tend to get lost in my writing and sometimes, forget the validity of certain actions or 'machines' of the time or era -_-; But, I hope my 'bathing' scene was believable. I try to keep it authentic, but yeahh...

Navaka114: Will someone catch them? At some point, it always happens :D Who? I can't tell you, yet, it'd ruin the surprise xp

I want to thank the other reviewers of the last chapter, digitalmonster911 & Mike Kromer, as well as everyone else who reviewed this story, period!

Please review more, thanks!