In the Eye of the Storm.

Well this is the second chapter, and it took me a while to type. It might be long and… I don't know, maybe tasteless, but I felt it necessary, and typing this was kind of nice. I wonder what you people would think.

Next chapter Hikaru/Akira interaction, yaaah!
I just waited so long to type this.. I love next chapter. I WILL love it even more when I'm typing it, and no, I am no narcissist- at least not about fics, but damn.. vicious Hikaru is just the best.
Truly.
I love this RP. Long live the sex! (yah, it was a hint for next chapter –smirks- lets see if you can figure what it means! –gasps-)

Enjoy… I think.
Raven.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Heaven; was the first thought that crossed his mind.

It was wide and chaste and endless, and amazingly liberating. As wind blew through his hair, messing his neatly trimmed bangs, Touya Akira knew; this was freedom, and he could have not been any joyous at the knowledge he finally achieved it.

It's been his first time away from his house; from his land, and it felt positively refreshing. At the beginning he couldn't believe to what he was hearing, given that he knew what it meant exactly.

His being an only child, heir to the Touya dynasty, has made it almost impossible for him to acquire autonomy. Ever since he was a little kid, he's been told how to act; been given servants and maids to do everything for him, never being able to do things on his own or be independent.

He always thought it was funny; the fact they were jealously supervising every step he took, thinking they were protecting him until that care itself made him ill. He still remembered the way his parents almost lost their minds as the doctor informed them that the isolation he was in was the cause for it. That was the cause of his salvation, and ever since that incident, they were using more precautions to make sure his condition won't worsen.

Wrapping his arms around himself as the warm wind engulfed his body, Akira was feeling at peace. Finally, a place with no servants or other people that would offer to help him with slicing his meat; or pour juice into his glass every time he sipped all its contents.

He felt relieved, isolated in a different kind of way; a free kind of way, where he could go wherever he wanted to and see new things. Where he could feel the wind caressing his cheeks without worrying one of the servants would force him back inside.

It really was heaven.

…

Taichi was watching his young master from afar, wondering if the kid was even aware of the fact he was drawing all the crew's gazes to him, making it impossible for them to continue with their work or ignore the rare sight.

It's been years now, that he served the Touya family; ever since he was seven and lost his parents, when the parents of the beautiful, cheerful kid he grew to love so much took him in and raised him as their second child.

He swore to protect their legitimate son as he grew up and learned how to use a bokken and a sword; in order to be a good guard and make sure nothing bad would happen to their child.

Therefore most he knew was Akira, as he spent all of his time being with him, telling him how was the world outside and teasing him as he seemed so enthusiastic to hear about the sea and tanning, saying 'you'd probably only burn yourself to death, since you're so damn pale'. Akira never liked that line, as you can already guess.

Now, looking at the pale, joyous kid, Taichi felt his heartbeat fasten. There was nothing in this world to him more than he; seeing him smile with such happiness, it made his heart ache. He knew it wasn't going to last forever, this cruise. His master and lord let him a whole week to enjoy the air in the sea, and after this week ends, they're going back home, to where the young man was halfway a prisoner; unable to wander outside the mansion or act freely, with the ongoing concern he might get sick and return to his previous, severe isolation.

He sighed and paced slowly towards the bowsprit, where Akira was currently at, his eyes gazing to the horizon as the sun begun to set.

"Akira-sama." He called softly, the young male turned to face him with a bright smile lighting his features; a smile that made Taichi feel as if he couldn't love the kid any more.

"Would you like to join me, Yagami-san?" the kid asked with his calm voice. He never saw such a beautiful thing in his life, and he wanted to share it with the person most important to him.

"I will spare you for calling me that when we are alone, but only because the captain said dinner is ready and served in your room." Taichi scolded. As Akira sighed and stepped towards him he put his hand on the kid's shoulder. "Don't you dare giving me that look, Akira-sama, you have to drink your pills."

Akira scowled almost instantly. "I won't die if I delay in taking them, and stop calling me Akira-sama… makes me feel old and pretentious."

As they started to walk together towards the stairs that led to the lower deck, Taichi laughed. "Well, you don't look that old to me, and I am older than you, so it shouldn't bother you so much." He hummed while stroking Akira's hair. "Do you like this view?" he suddenly asked.

Akira pondered for a while before answering. "Yes, very much so. I wanted to wait a little bit until the sun is completely out of sight, but it seems like I will have to miss it today, as well."

Taichi sighed. Suddenly he felt the bad guy, for not letting his young master have his way, but the pills were not a thing to play with.

"Let me promise you this- you won't put your leg down on a patch of soiled land before you watch the sundown."

Akira smiled at him, "And when that happens, we will do it together." He replied, blinking as Taichi poked his nose.

"You better share it with me or else I'd be very, very angry."

"You would?" Akira asked with confusion. He couldn't think of a possibility of his guardian and only friend to be mad at him. He never was, no matter what has happened.

Taichi hummed in thought and then a smirk lifted the corners of his lips up. "No, angry is an overstatement. I'd be pretty disappointed, though." He opened the door to their room and gestured him to get inside first, as he usually did, then stepped inside after him.

"Well, we still have three more days to spend here, so there are lots of opportunities to watch it together." He smiled and he sat in front of the table. "And who can I ever watch it with if not you? You're my only friend, and the only person on this ship that knows me personally. The captain knows my father, but he never met me before three days ago."

Taichi chuckled as he sat down across from his beloved young master. "Well, true. Which makes me happy, really. Feels special to be the only, don't you agree?"

Akira nodded silently and grabbed his fork and knife, wondering if he really could eat everything that was on his plate. "…did you make sure there would be meat on the ship?"

Taichi smiled apologetically. "I know you can't stand meat, but it really is essential for you to eat some."

Akira didn't respond to that; instead, he slowly begun to eat and started thinking. Taichi was eyeing him while eating his own food, wondering what filled the little fellow's mind. He really wanted to spare him from eating things he did not like, but it was necessary for his health to remain as it was.

"…Yagami-san," Akira's voice surprised him with its suddenness and Taichi raised his head and gazed at the kid, waiting for him to continue. "You know it, don't you? The reason for this cruise." He muttered in a quiet voice. "They never let me out of the house, so this was fairly surprising. Not only out of the house, but also out of the country… it's weird. Something ought to have happened."

Taichi stiffened and stared at the teen's aqua, beautiful eyes, wondering how he should tell him what's going on. But as he sees plain worry in those youthful orbs he just couldn't have brought himself to lie to him, or soften the news.

Therefore he just spat it out. "Your fiancée turns eighteen in a few months. You'd be marrying soon after." He blurted it out, unable to look into Akira's eyes any longer, but even less able to turn his face and detach the eye-contact. "…at the moment we're back, you're going to meet her."

At the quiet addition Akira blinked surprised. "Is that the reason this cruise if for? Setting me free for a week?" he then sighed. "Well, that can’t be helped, can it?" he shrugged it off, making Taichi raise both his eyebrows. Was he really accepting it as it was? No fight? No objection? "I always knew I'm going to marry by matchmaking, so it does not really affect me that much anymore. Wasn't I born for this cause?"

Taichi sighed and shook his head. "I wish it could have been different. I wanted you to marry someone you truly love, not some fancy girl… I really hope she's a nice, non-spoiled brat."

Akira laughed at that. "Well, I don't mind whether she's spoiled or not, expecting things would only make it worse, especially if she's the opposite. I have to marry that girl no matter what, so I prefer not thinking about it too much." He smiled, "Though it seems you do, rather a lot."

"It's because I care."

"I know… you're the only person in this world whom actually sees me the way I am, with no labels or status." He knitted his eyebrows with something akin to sadness. "I really appreciate it. I don't think I could ever go on without you."

"Well good thing you won't ever have to find out." Taichi grinned reassuringly. "And finish your food, you have pills to drink and if it'd get cold I'll have to force you to eat the rest."

Akira nodded again and remained silent for the rest of the meal; as they both finished Taichi took their plates on trays down to the kitchen and as he returned they both had a nice, short conversation that ended when Taichi retired to his bed, making sure Akira was well-covered as he left him.

Akira laughed. "You're like a mother-chick."

Taichi joined his laugh. "Well, I like to see myself as a father-chick, if you don't mind."

"I don't."

Taichi smiles warmly at the gentle, beautiful features of his young master and bent down, pressing his lips to the kid's forehead. "Good night, Akira-sama." He hummed softly.

"Good night, Yagami-san."

______________________________________________________________________________________

Morning arrived unexpectedly fast, and as they both finished showering, each one alone, of course, Taichi got quickly dressed up and picked Akira's clothes.
"Would you like to wear something long? It might be cold outside on such an early hour." He hummed while pulling out of his suitcase a pair of cotton, white long pants and a black, long sleeved blouse.

"I don't mind either way." Akira replied as he dried his hair with a small towel, a long bathrobe wrapped around his slim body. "Would you like us to sit outside and enjoy the sun together?" he smiled while taking his clothes out of Taichi's hand, pulling the pants up his legs and over his boxers. "I can't get myself to tan but I really like the breeze and the warmth of it."

Taichi chuckled and pulled out of the luggage a hairbrush, turning his back around to Akira as he unwrapped the bathrobe and slid it off his long arms, pulling on the black shirt; yes, they took showers together when he was younger, and yes, he used to rub his back and help him with dressing up, but right now he knew that Akira needed his own privacy, and that even if he didn't mind Taichi seeing him naked as he already did in the past, Taichi didn't want to take advantage of it. He was already old enough to do it himself.

As Akira was fully dressed he pulled his long hair out of the shirt and let it flow down his back, turning to Taichi and blinking as he sees the hairbrush already in his hand. "You really are prepared for anything, aren't you?" he remarked.

Taichi grinned smugly at him, "I know you best." He chuckled and grabbed Akira's shoulders' gently, turning him around and beginning to comb his long, silky hair. "Do you want me to braid it, too?"

Akira nodded curtly and closed his eyes, enjoying the small shivers that ran down his spine every time Taichi played with his hair. "I didn't bring a hair band, though." He incoherently commented as he felt the older male's fingers starting to split his hair into three long groups of glossy, dark hair.

"Does not matter, really, it'd take time for it to go loose again even if you move a lot." He chuckled and as he finished braiding all of its length he patted Akira's head. "Done."

Akira smiled thankfully as he turned around to face him, "Thank you, I seem to be really bad at braiding my own hair, so…"

"I already happen to know that." He laughed. "Now lets not waste time; it's already ten o'clock. The sun is nice and warming in this kind of hour, and an hour from now it's pirates season." He teased.

Akira gaped, "Pirates season? Is that true? As in, real pirates?"

Taichi laughed and shook his head, "Oh boy, you are so easy to deceive! So cute and innocent." He hummed amused, "Don't worry, if pirates would ever come, I will hand you over without a fight so there won't be any unwanted battle." He smirked at Akira's bewildered look. "You do know I am kidding, don't you?"

He gripped Akira's hand and pulled him out of the room, chuckling as the teen found it hard to follow his quick steps. "You really are a lazy brat."

Akira pouted at that, "I most certainly am not!" and started fastening his paces in order to keep up. "You are bullying me..!" he puffed his cheeks.

Taichi slowed down and then completely stopped, turning around and pressing his lips to Akira's nose. "Yes, I am. Teasing you, and it's fun. And you also like it, so don't complain." He smiled and Akira returned the gesture, kissing his guardian's cheek, making a slight flush appear on his cheeks. "What was that for?" he asked confused.

"Everything. Now come or we're going to change roles!... lazy brat." He teased.

Taichi gasped. "Oh you didn't!"

______________________________________________________________________________________

They were both resting now; sitting on chairs with glasses of fresh orange juice, Akira's containing a straw, as well as a cube of ice.
Finally being able to sit in the sun and not burn himself, he was feeling so serene and content. This could've never happened back home. He really hoped this cruise could've been longer, but he knew it was impossible. He also knew the reason now.

Unbeknownst to him, Akira was staring at mizzen, where that man got thirty lashes two days ago for sexually harassing him… he was really shocked to see how they got him punished for doing such a thing. He might have crossed the line, but really… that was just over-exaggerated.

The mere sound of the strike made him sick and as he remembered the man's screams he shuddered and felt a sudden nausea.

"Yagami-san… can you do me a favor?"

Taichi blinked and sat still, then straightened up. "Of course I can… what is it?"

"That man from our second day on this ship… how is he?" he asked quietly.

Taichi frowned. "Why do you even ask about him? That man was doing things he shouldn't have and got punished for it. He deserved that, and if milord would have heard about that I can assure you the man would have lost his head instead."

Akira shook his head, "He is not going to find out about that incident, then!" he urged, getting up from his chair and biting his lip. The thought of the man headless made him shiver and he stared at the blue ocean surrounding the ship. "Yagami-san, I don't want my father's hands dirty with blood. And that is it. What I want to know is how that man is doing. Those strikes seemed too painful... Can you find out for me?"

He sighed and got on his feet, walking towards the worried teen and wrapping his arms around his slim waist as he hugged him from behind. "Come on… don't look so sad…" he rested his chin on his shoulder. "I understand. I will go ask the captain in a few moments."

Akira nodded and remained silent for a couple of minutes. It felt nice; just like the previous times he did that. Taichi knew it made him calm. It had worked each and every time he tried, and was very useful at times Akira felt uneasy.

Really, who ever thought a mere hug would make him feel so at ease. "You're cheating. You know that, don't you?"

Taichi smirked. "Of course I do." He chuckled and pecked his cheek, "but at least it's working."

Akira smiled and pressed back against him, "It really does. Well, it's the only real human touch I ever had, so I guess I got used to it." He chuckled. "Also, you're warm. I dislike the cold."

Taichi laughed, "Exactly! And that's why I have more reasons to spontaneously hug you."

Akira was about to reply when a loud call was heard and then a fuss commenced. Straightening, Taichi began listening to the crew's conversation, his eyes darting towards the captain, examining his troubled expression. Something was happening, wasn't it?

"Is something wrong?" Akira asked as he felt Taichi's figure tensing behind him. He eyed his features, paying attention to the scowl that marred his forehead and the lip he bit. Blinking, he heard some unrelated pieces of conversation, something about 'a ship', 'close', 'flag'; that was when Taichi's arms unwrapped from around his waist and he pulled away from him. "Yagami-san?"

"Wait here for a moment." He hastily said, half-ordering, turning to face his confused, young master and sighed at the concerned look he was given, leaning down and pecking the kid's forehead. "I will be right back, okay? Everything will be alright. I promise."

Akira nodded slowly at his words and watched him walking towards the group of sailors and their anxious-looking captain. Something was really going on, and it wasn't something good.

…

Taichi wasn't amused by the things he heard at all. Of course, he was kidding about it with Akira before, but he never really expected for such a thing to happen.

From the shreds of conversation he has just heard, there was no mistake; trouble was coming.

"What is all this commotion about?" he asked at the moment he reached the group of men, all looking worried and unsure.

"A ship, a few miles away from us." The captain answered, "It's heading right towards us. The flag is not Japanese, nor is it any other that is known to us." He sighed and rubbed his cheek and forehead. "Sora-kun did not notice it until now, and we are already too close to turn the ship around and go back. He said he does not recognize the ship's flag, therefore we know not who it belongs to."

Taichi frowned at that. Was something like that even possible? Such bad karma… "Could it be pirates?" he questioned bluntly.

The captain sighed and scratched his beard while considering his answer. "It might as well be pirates. But in that case… we'd be very unlucky. This ship is not a one built for battles."

Taichi took a deep breath in, raking a hand through his hair. "Okay. Then what are we doing in case they really are pirates?"

"They really might be just passing by, they don't have to be pirates!" interrupted one of the crew, a small man that looked fairly terrified.

The captain glared at him, "Don't disturb us!"

Taichi sighed. "I know you want to be all optimistic, but really… it won't help if they are pirates." He looked back at Akira, as the young man's hands grabbed his elbows in an anxious self-embrace. No, he would make sure there is no damn threat to his master and protect him with his life if needed, in case there is. "There might be an option it's an innocent ship, however, if it's not, we will have to evade it. We have to be prepared for the worst scenario."

The captain nodded in agreement and Taichi sighed, "We should look for swords other than mine. Are there any sharp things on your ship besides the cutlery?"

"There might be three, four katanas downstairs, but it won't be enough."

"That does not matter." Taichi's hand moved unconsciously down to rest where the hilt of his sword should have been if only he had it with him. Damn, he never imagined to himself such a thing would happen, so he just left it downstairs in their room, but what would have happened if the pirates were already aboard when they got out?... that could've been dangerous… from now on he'd take his sword everywhere with him.

…

Akira was holding his breath for some long moments now without even noticing; Taichi never seemed so alarmed about anything before. Of course, he was worried sick when he fell ill, but that was different, this time it was a different kind of worry. It was almost fretful.

The crew and the captain came out every couple of moments to see how he was doing, seemingly following Taichi's orders, after he tried convincing Akira to go back downstairs and return to their room, for safety's sake, and he declined.

He hated being treated like a kid; he was no longer twelve, and he loathed being kept out, oblivious to what was going on. He was a man, first and foremost. He could take whatever it wasn't and just deal with the problems. Being protected each and every time… it really made him feel useless.

He was really surprised when he saw a ship coming right towards them, since he was not told at all what was going on, and found it awkward, for a ship to sail right through their route. He was wondering if what he has heard before was connected to its appearance.

When it was close enough to rub against the ship's aft, a sailor's voice was heard, loud and with a tint of distress to it, as he quickly pulled out a kitchen knife.

A loud 'thud' was heard as a blond banged male leaped off the other ship's board, a group of old, also bearded men came on his wake, but did not follow his path.

The man was very high; much higher than Akira, and had broad shoulders and a seemingly very muscular, big body; his black beard and moustache covering his full lips as he smirked and stepped lazily towards Akira, who blinked at the threatening figure, confused at the male's appearance and demeanor.

Flinching as the unfamiliar male got closer to him; his hand darted up like an arrow and grabbed Akira's chin roughly, tilting his head up with force. Staring at him with fear in his eyes, Akira did not even try releasing himself. He wondered why did the air suddenly turn cold, and had no idea why, but he smelled danger, as if emitting from the man, and the trace of a strong fragrance of alcohol in his breath.

As he felt the male's hand possessively wrapping around his waist, pulling him closer, Akira's eyes went wider. Especially as the man spoke, with his deep, low voice, smirking impishly down at him as he muttered three words that made Akira freeze.

"Hello, little kitten."

______________________________________________________________________________________

Well that was to be expected. I can't believe this chapter took me two days… but I was so sure it'd turn out so damn boring at some moments… -pouts- but it can't be helped, boring parts are necessary.
I still hope you liked it.
…man I can't! I am just so enthusiastic about the next chapter cause I remember what happened on the RP and I am frigging impatient to get to it!...
So, yaoi haters… away!

I will just love typing next chapter.
All aboard!