[... I really don't have an excuse.]

Shinzo had gotten sick below deck. He had assured all of us he would get his sea-legs soon enough, but considering the fact that he had been down there for three days without any sign of life, I was mildly concerned.

My sister had been taking down food every few hours, and she always returned with a grey face and sullen eyes. Refusing to press her for it, the rest of us didn't speak to her about Shinzo.

"Shinji," I said, stabbing at another slice of cheese. "Do you know our first target?"

The wind blew around us, a soft screech in the distance. My companion kept his eyes forward as his hands guided the wheel.

"Yes. Her name is Nico Olvia."

"Nico?" I questioned, finishing off my food and setting the plate to the side. Shinji's form still didn't move to face me as he directed the ship.

"Correct. However, I'm not sure how it will help to pretend we're pirates..."

"And the other targets?"

"Arlong, Shanks, and Whitebeard," Shinji rattled off. "I'm doubtful of us getting to Whitebeard and Shanks, so might as well start with the other two."

The pitter-patter of footsteps caused me to turn. The young boy (Kiyohisa, I reminded myself) ran up to us two, picking up my abandoned plate with clumsy fingers.

"Shinji-chan! Jaxson-chan!" He exclaimed. "Shinzo-chan is feeling better!"

Resisting the urge to roll my eyes at the added honorifics (which was no doubt from the words of my sister), I risked a glance at the dark-haired man.

Having finally turned away from the wheel and have his back against the open, murky sea, Shinji's gaze rested on Kiyohisa.

"..."

Uneasily, the boy shifted his feet from one foot to another, his eyes straying back and forth between him and me.

"You stay at the wheel, Shinji," I ordered over my shoulder. "I'll see how he is."

In response to my command, he only tilted his head in the slightest.

The cold halls of the corridor didn't daunt me like it did Kiyohisa. The little
boy involuntarily squeaked after coming in a few steps, backtracking and clinging to my leg.

"There's nothing here, you know," I sighed, reaching down to unattach his arm.

He remained stubborn, and only shook his head, tiny fingers curling tighter into my pant leg.

"At least let me move," I sighed, and his hold remained just as tight, although he shuffled along with me as I walked down the hallway.

Upon reaching the farthest door, I reeled at the disgusting stench of what seemed like vomit and medicine. At my grunt of surprise, someone called through the door.

"Eh... who... is there?"

"Pardon me, Shinzo," I spoke, my words muffled. "You have your sea legs?"

"I don't think so," Shinzo groaned. "Couple hours, m'be... but I can try going above decks..."

The door opened, and I tried my best not to flinch. Shinzo staggered out of his room, looking more like a recently-turned zombie then a human being.

I pinched my nose and Kiyohisa cringed, only now letting go of me.

"There's nothing more scarier then Shinzo-chan looking like that..."

"Whatever you say, Kiyohisa," I sighed.

I followed after him, and found Shinzo talking to Shinji on the upper deck, with Kin sometimes lashing in a verbal insult. The redhead had taken the wheel as Shinji looked out upon the waters, chin nestled in his palms.

"Oh, Shinzo, so you're doing all right?" I addressed him.

He nodded. "I'm still struggling, but I can get up on deck without having the need to fall over and puke all over the ground."

"Fun," I commented, coming to stand beside Shinji.

He jerked. "Kin, stop the ship!"

It was the first time I had heard Shinji raise his voice.

The command was sudden, but Kin complied, and the smooth sail stopped instantly.

"Is there a reason why you stopped the ship?" Kin snapped at the dark-haired male.

He didn't focus on her. Instead, his gaze was fixed on a island in the distance, a frown on his lips at the sight of smoke wisps curling up in the air.

"Is that island bombed?" I asked, leaning over the edge of the ship, my eyes focused on the small island, aware of the dark grey smoke.

"Seems like it," Shinzo murmured, his tone all but cheerful.

"Call Ferphina and the others," I called over my shoulder. With a quick glance behind me, I noted that the youngest person of our group was no longer with us. "Although, you might want to keep Kiyohisa back.."

"I don't want to take orders from you," was Kin's scathing reply, but she left the wheel and whipped around on her heel, her red hair flying out behind her.

"... Shinji, is there a reason why you stopped us here?" I addressed the said personage.

His hands were white on the railing, fingers curving over it like claws, but his eyes were sharp as they shifted from the island to me, slicing through my soul.

"... if there's a bombing, we should try and save the survivors, shouldn't we?"

With that, he stepped back to the wheel, and the boat started again (how, I don't know), but now was carefully being guided towards the island by Shinji's practiced hand.

"Jax-kun, Shinji-kun-! Shinzo-kun's above deck!"

"Hey, Fer," Shinzo greeted with a tired smile, and a spark of irritation flickered in my mind as Ferphina embraced him (an action that nearly tipped the man over).

"... I ship them," Jin mumbled to me out of the corner of his mouth as he passed me. I sent a doubtful glance in his direction, but Kiyohisa's father kept his back to me, observing the state of the island.

In an instant, I could feel a cold aura next to my right arm, but I wasn't all that surprised when it was revealed to be Chiko, who had his head cocked to the side.

By now, I could make out buildings that had be torn down, debris spilling over the ground.

"This is terrible..." Ferphina murmured, her grip tightening on Shinzo's shoulder, who spared her a look, a hand settling over her own.

Without warning, Shinji hopped over the edge of the ship once it neared, landing fully on the ground. The sand gave under his weight, and the dark-haired male glanced over his shoulder.

"... I'll explore here with one other person. Split off into pairs of two. Explore the entire island. Keep your weapons on you."

"I'm with Shinzo," Ferphina said immediately, something that caused me to frown.

To my surprise, Chiko pulled Kiyohisa, who had been near the door, closer to him.

"Guess I'm with this guy right here," Kin sighed, the movement causing her bangs to blow out of her face, sending a glare over at Jin. "Hey, one wrong move, and I'll knock your jaw into outer space, okay?"

Jin gave a weak nod in reply.

"I suppose I'm with Shinji," I said, and hopped over the side of the ship as well, stumbling as I landed.

"Do you have your sword?"

I set my hand on the light-colored (and light weight-wise as well) sheath residing on my hip, nodding. In response, Shinji placed his own hand over one of his holsters, looking up at the others. "... take anyone you find back to the ship. Anyone with weapons will be put into a different room then people who don't have a weapon."

He turned back to the beach. "All right, Jaxson, let's go."