[CLOSED Backlog] - Remnants of the Past, Part 3

[steel_mistress]

Character(s): Tenten [Light Blue] and Gaara [Red]
Date: Tenten at age 15, Gaara at age 13; Spring 1655
Setting: Caribbean, Merchant ship owned by Gaara's father
Summary: Heading out on a hunt with an unknown pirate, Shirou leaves his daughter in the care of an old friend where she meets and spends time with Gaara.
Warning(s): PG-13, I guess [They're only 13 and 15 O_o]



Several times she had tried to put in a word in her defense, but it was clear that he would have none of it. Gaara had his opinions about her and seemed bent on keeping them where they were no matter what she said. There was so much anger and rage in his eyes, in his body language that she just could not find the energy to fight it nor did she wish to, knowing where it would most likely end up. Arguments tended to run in circles, and she had been in enough of them to know, especially on a ship with a crew that viewed her gender as good enough cause to pick a fight, out of earshot of her father of course, because to enrage the man about his one true treasure was truly a death sentence. But he never caught wind of her battles because then the cruel words that they said would have been right. And she would have to learn to fight her own wars, because Shirou would not be around forever.

"Tch...everything, huh?" She spoke softly, mumbling, grumbling softly to herself and letting the roar of the falls drown out the sound of her voice as she watched Gaara stomp away with his fiery temper. "...Not even close."

Frowning, arms crossed over her chest in frustration, she turned back around to the falls to take a moment and calm her emotions. Gaara had said the ship would leave soon, and though she could not imagine it leaving without her after the promise the merchant sailor had made to her father, she would not take the chance. So it was with a sigh that she bent to pick up her previously discarded shoes, slipping them delicately back on her feet before making her way to the ship. She ignored the glances and stares of the pedestrians that passed her by, murmuring about her state of dress. She could care less about the tattered and frayed edges of her clothes. Her pride and her patience were already worn beyond repair.

=====================

Gaara had been sitting in his usual spot, his arms wrapped around his legs in the tight closed off corner of his sleeping area. A bed fit for an animal being saved for the captains next meal. He was not in his right of mind, during these free times he was normally engulfed in an adventure, reading to a hearts content...but now, he had nothing. The only thing remaining in his foul mind was the thoughts of that woman taking away what little hope he had left in this world, and even the night before basking in the hospitality of the man himself. Doing god knows what behind closed doors, he was a filthy man when it came to woman, old and young alike. Tenten was a child and the daughter of the pirate lord, yet it did not stop him from visually praying on her young flesh. Even the thought of that, even the way she had boiled the young man's blood to no end... That above all else angered him beyond the sharp tongue a woman should not hold, the books she had stolen, the treatment she was getting from everyone around her like she was the god damn queen of England.

"Boy..." Gaara was snapped from this haunting thoughts into the cool brisk voice of a sailor reaching his hand out to shake the boy from his daze. "The crew has prepared something for you, it is good to do it now since the captain is lost in the company of a young lady picked up from the last stop." He lifted his head from where his forehead was dropped to his knees, squinting in silence to the man half his features drowned out by the darkness the other half by the small dim flicker of candle light. He hesitantly pondered what this could have been about, after all, what else did he have to loose besides his own life. "C'mon' boy or you will miss this chance." with that Gaara shifted from his spot slowly, leaping from the crate covered in hay that made up his bed and followed behind.

It was moments later he had set foot on deck, the full moon in the clear night sky tainting the ships deck and the few figures he had managed to trace from the dark blue shade. It was a flicker of yellow that caught his eye, drawing them to rest upon something strange. His eyes grew large, his stomach began to growl as he licked his lips at the delicious sight dowsed in a dim candle light. A small feast set on a table, more food than he had ever seen in a long time. Maybe once or twice when the merchant captain had made him sit and watch him eat a grand meal only to send him away starving when he was finished. He glanced over the pictures a moment, noting two chairs not just one. He brushed the thought the side and turned in confusion to the sailor that had brought him up.

"We figure you work harder than any, you need a decent meal boy... You need the company too you are far too quiet." He gave alight push to the young mans shoulder to edge him forward, a stumbling in his footsteps took him closer to the meal that awaited.

Curled in her bed and humming quietly to herself, she quietly turned the page of the book she was reading, a collection of Greek mythological stories that had been passed through the generations. This particular one told of a man named Jason and his crew of men who were simply referred to as the Argonauts, off on a quest to pilfer a stretch of fleece made of gold. Her hair had been taken down for the night, left to flow freely over the curve of her shoulder as thin fingers proceeded to idly brush through the long strands. The Iliad still rested untouched on the table next to her bed. She had found little cause or want to pick it back up again after what had happened nights before. Gaara's struggle and his father's slurring threats were enough to turn her away from ever touching the pages ever again.

She closed the pages of the book at that thought. He had failed to speak with her after that day at the falls, even refused to look in her direction from what she could gather between her avoidance and constant invitations to dine with the captain (it seemed he had doubled his efforts to be in her company since they left port that same day). Could he truly believe that she would take away his books when, thus far, she had done absolutely nothing to him save share the same living space on his father's ship? What grudge could he hold against her for doing simply that and nothing more? Granted, she would take the blame for the display of that night on the deck of the ship, prolonging their recitation of Homer's The Iliad long enough for his father to catch him. How was she to know the cruelties he had been subjected to all his life? She had only known any of them for a few days, left in their care with the guarantee that they would keep her safe until he returned. "Tch, the arrogance..."

A knock at her door instantly pulled her away from those spiraling thoughts, drawing all attention at wondering who would be seeking her out at this time of night. Perhaps it was time for the evening meal, she wondered, and even in that instance she began to dread the answer, presented with the prospects of having to dine with the merchant captain once again. But surely, the wench he had picked up at the last place would occupy his time tonight at the very least. Rolling out of bed, she stood and hesitated for another moment before calling out softly. "...Yes? What is it?"

"Apologies for both'rin' you miss, but we were wond'rin' if you could read to us ag'in tonight?" So polite, she noted, and was instantly suspicious because though they were good men at heart, they were a bit shy of manners. But she supposed it would be nice to read to them and see their interested faces while hearing the adventures that unfolded to their ears. Tilting her head just a bit to regard her options just a moment more, she finally settled on a decision. "...I'll be up in a moment."

Gaara was still very much at a loss at the sudden kind gesture of the crew he had worked beside nearly his entire life, this was the first they had shown kindness in the open to the young man for fear of drawing too much attention. A few kind words were few and far between, they knew their bounds and had not wished the ill fate that followed regardless. The amazement humoring to the elder men to see the boy so entranced with something as simple as a proper meal. His tongue lapped out grazing his bottom lip in disbelief as both his hands spread flat against the rough wooden surface of the table. His eyes wide as saucers with utter delight, imagining the taste that was about to fill his stomach. He hesitated a brief moment lifting his head to shadow his gaze among the remaining sailors that seem to move silently back into the shadows of the night, as if to give the boy his privacy.

"What..." He hadn't even finished the sentence with his wondering eyes fell upon something he had not expected stepping up on deck, the tainted blue light of the moon casting a lovely silhouette half over her already pale skin. Long brown locks swaying with the gentle gusts of the calm Caribbean wind, even as mad as he was with the woman that had taken over the merchant vessel with the mere sound of her voice, she looked like something from a fairy tale. He felt his entire body shudder, his ankles locked with one another under his own chair to prevent the nervous shakes, the darting eyes shooting back and forth for an answer the sharp hitch in his breath was hard to mask against the waking dream he had been swept into. Only to be drowned out by the sound of his own rumbling stomach he could not lock his eyes with hers for long, embarrassed at the loud growl that invaded his hunger.

Thick boots thudded against the wooden planks as she listened to the sailor walk away and up the stairs that lead to the deck where the men were no doubt waiting. With a purse of her lips, she mulled over the stories she could read to them. Perhaps the legend of King Arthur would satisfy their interest; glorified tales of men in armour riding through the countryside, completing feats of honour and valour for the good of mankind, facing dragons and sorcerers in order to save the kingdom from falling under the rule of the invading Saxons...competing against one another for the prestige of being called the greatest Knight in all the land. Or perhaps the Lady of the Lake, the one that was to bring the fallen boy king to the mystic place of Avalon, would draw their interest. Perhaps she could call on a story from the far east, of emperors and warlords fighting in century-long battles for control over the lands and its people, of the unsung heroes that died for noble causes.

"Or...maybe..." She turned to the table next to her bed and the thick book of text that had sat there untouched for several days now, only gathering dust with each passing hour. The men had seemed enraptured with the epic story of Achilles and Hector, and the Trojan war that seemed to span over thousands of miles of sea and land...all for the sake of a woman who was said to be more beautiful than the Goddesses of Olympus themselves. "Hm...always the woman's fault, isn't it?"

Bitterly, she regarded her options one last time and finally, reluctantly, settled on continuing the story of the Trojan war. The tale was nearly done and it would be unfair for the crew to hear the entirety of the epic without allowing them to hear the tragic ending. So it was with a sigh (and perhaps a small smile as well when she imagined their astonished faces when she would read the final word of the tale) that she grabbed the once discarded book and made her way up to the deck. Along the way, she took out a strip of cloth and was in the process of tying back her thick locks of hair when the crew surrounding her parted in her wake, revealing the vast table of food set out before her, eyes widening when they spotted Gaara of all people sitting at the head. "...What..."

Utterly confused, she looked to the men for an explanation but only found them muted and reserved, hands reaching out to nudge her to sit down. With no other foreseeable choice presented to her, she was inclined to follow their wordless offer, setting the thick book beside her plate. "What is the meaning of this?"

"I don't know," He followed with a slight shake in his quiet verbal tones, tilting his nose up to her in question. She spoke again and again, though his hunger getting the far better of him to note the royal like demands, it still irritated him... just a little. His eyes fell to the book she placed down, the cover tattered and ripped at the edges from reading it one too many times. The Iliad, as he would be as bold to admit such thing, had became a story he would not soon forget because of what she had done, even as she did not mean to leave the impression the story would now forever remain his most cherished. The boy would not forget a woman with such a beautiful tone reciting one of his favorites like a playful performance, encouraging him to join as he had never done before.... Asking him to spread his wings as a child and become something more than what he was.

His thin fingers, now slights dirty from the hard days word, slinked across the table as if to hide his need for the delicious, juicy emerald colored grape just begging to be trapped between his teeth in a crunch of savoring flavor. A glance over his shoulder to the praying seaman behind, noting the shake in his head of no. Gaara was not stupid, he knew to wait for a lady to sit at take her first bites before he had. It was only polite for whatever the sneaky bastards had planned, he waited and his stomach responded with a hungry rumble begging Tenten to sit and eat before the young man starved to death in front of her. "Please miss, sit..." The sailor was gracious enough to ask for him, as Gaara seemed very much inept to the concept of quality time with someone his own age, let along a pretty young girl of the east. He straightened himself, watching closely if she would take the offer and tolerate this time together.

For whatever reason the crew had been inclined to make this extravagant dinner for the two of them, she was hesitant to join for the simple fact that...well if she were to be completely honest with herself, she was not sure why she was so hesitant. It was just a simple meal, something she had suffered through countless of times with the boorish merchant captain while bound by the agreement he had made with her father. Gaara at the very least was more pleasant company, although the way the two of them had parted ways during their last meeting told otherwise. Why he was even willing to suffer though her company now was something she found odd...but soon resolved by the quiet sound of his stomach growling from across the table.

She suppressed a soft chuckle, muffling a snicker from behind her hand before taking the offered seat. It would be a shame to decline and deny herself the meal as well, especially when it was being offered to her with the best intents (at least from what she gathered, the men's intentions were good). Besides, it was just a meal. There was no reason that they could not simply sit and eat without exchanging a word to the other. The both of them lived in general solitude, though perhaps Gaara more so than she did. So it was with a nod in thanks to the sailor who had gestured for her to sit that she easily slid into the offered chair, taking a moment to listen to the sea-salt spray of the ocean gently crashing into the hull of the ship that seemed to lull the senses into a calmer state of mind, the dim light of the moon and the candles only adding to the mood. "Thank you..."

Long lashes fluttered and wandering eyes scanned the plates of food that had been set out for them, taking up her napkin and wordlessly setting it in her lap. The aroma of the soup that had already been set on her plate drifted up to her nose, calling out to her hungered stomach and prompting her to forget formalities and just EAT. Her self control was more tamed than that though, taking her time to pick up a spoon and scoop up a portion of the soup to bring to her mouth, sipping the liquid up quietly into her mouth and feeling the corner of her lip twitch upwards as she felt the heated sensation of the soup flow so smoothly down her throat.

It was like slow, but sweet torture watching as she took her time in taking her first spoonful. His pale eyes wide with an intense stare waiting for her lips to suck back in order for him to have the permission to proceed with his own, and that soup was looking awfully good. Which was odd only to the fact that it was probably the same soup he had ever so often as a meal when dining with the rest of the crew, but for some reason, the atmosphere the company the kind gesture from the men whom watched over him, some since the time he was born, and seen the hardships no child should have had to endure.

It as then as he watched carefully, the elegant way she fed herself no doubt much practice from having spending evenings in conversation with her father. He teaching her the necessary qualities of life that would get her by to survive in such a world. A woman, of course was regarded as nothing more than a burden, a whore only good for one thing; to please men. Her movements now, her enchanting presents told a whole different story as she was able to manipulate and control a man's desires as she saw fit with the mere look of her eyes, the sound of her voice and her graceful gestures. To use men as she pleased, or so it looked her father had taught her well of getting what is needed for survival.

He slowly reached for his own spoon in a very child-like grip, hovering it over the broth a moment to exercise the thought of how precisely to go about this. He had never eaten in the presents of a woman before, not even as his father had brought maids aboard for his own pleasures they were treated in his cabin like queens until he had received what he wanted. He titled his head slightly as hairless eyebrows knitted together on how to approach this like a gentlemen instead of a starving ship mouse begging for food. It was a few moments of hard thinking, of having his arm suspended as if ready to attack the vicious bowl at any moment that the boy ran the different tactics to use in this type of situation. Curse them for putting me in such an awkward position!

It was out of some age old programming still lingering in the dark corners of her mind, called back from her recent time dining with the merchant in his quarters, that she was so flowing and flawless with her eating habits out of respect to the man's station and status as the ship's captain. But it was as polite and gentile she was willing to go, because in growing up with around a crew of men that possessed neither manners nor the common courtesy to care of such things in her presence, she had been allowed to act freely without concerns of being scolded about not acting like the lady she should be. And in return, she was not forced to continue with the needless facade that the Chinese had implemented on her, to be demure and delicate in order to capture the interest of the controlling men. It was far from who she really was, and it was certainly not who Gaara was either, glancing with some amount of sympathy in his direction as he seemed to struggle at playing to the standards she had unintentionally set up.

To be so proper...was to be so unmistakably uncomfortable in ones own skin. And she preferred that the two of them simply be themselves, the way it was meant to be. There were no pretenses between them before other than the knowledge of her position as a Pirate Lord's daughter and his position as the merchant's son. And there should not be any now when they were in all essence still too young for such titles to matter. So it was with that thought in mind that she gave a faint smirk before reaching out and tearing off a drumstick from the plate nearby, biting into the meat with the pointed edges of her teeth instead of using the knife that sat beside her plate. In between bites, she continued to sip at the soup broth with her spoon, not as careful or slowly as before, but still perfectly polite. She would not abandon all manner for the sake of comfort, but she would at the very least make the evening fair game for the both of them to enjoy.

The atmosphere did seem to change when ever this woman was around, he beginning to see that she wasn't his enemy set out to break down what spirit he had left. She was sent here as a comfort, a girl of his own age to give the boy some kind of sense of what his childhood should be like. Proven as much when she allowed much of her proper manners and he had finally felt himself relax somewhat.

With that in mind he had begun, a bit slower than what he would have liked for fear of coming off looking like a savage in her eyes. "Thank you." He found himself whisper in her presents, the broth of the soup catching in his throat making a gargling statement. Feeling that swell of guilt and embarrassment to the way he had acted towards her a few days prior. But he had half wonder why she would even take the time to stay even after the fact, and why was she not with the captain on this fine evening?

"I thought, you'd be with him for dinner..." He stated bluntly, an inward scrawl at the thought of that sickly man praying on such a young woman Gaara's age. He curled his lip in disgust, though the cool night seemed to hide his facial expressions well against his inner anger, at the image of that man wondering his hands over her perfect skin... Elder men are such pigs at times. Snorting this time in a gesture of irritation reached for a piece of bread roguishly practically spilling the bread over in it's wooden bed. It's amazing how ones own mind can be their worst enemy.

Small fingers clenched tighter around the bone of the drumstick in her hand and for a split second all movement stopped as the words finally registered in her mind. It was no surprise that he would expect such a thing, the merchant captain having seemed relentless in having her join him for almost every meal imaginable since they had left the port of Tobago. His reasons behind such a sudden change in demand was still a mystery to her, but the young piratess thought it was better not to let her thoughts linger on the man longer than necessary, which in her opinion would have been never if she could manage it. "He...has a new toy to entertain him tonight. Besides, I would prefer to limit my time in his company as much as possible, if it's all the same to you..."

She would leave it at that and hope he did not press on about the matter, choosing not to mention how she had caught the man staring at her on several occasions that made her skin crawl and writhe in want to escape from them. Even from across the dining table, she was never far enough away to smell the cheap scent of alcohol that seemed always perfume his breath now. And always he would insist that she remain a moment after the meal was over, to speak of 'pointless issues of interest' as he called them, always seeming to grasp at any reason to be around her, speaking softer so he could move in closer. Always to a point where she would make up reasons to leave right there on the spot, mostly in the form of an oncoming illness. The female body was complicated enough to render some understanding without too many questions, though she suspected he did not believe a single one of her excuses. "I'm sure you'll understand that small want in life."

"Understand?" he snapped back with a semi aggressive hiss of his words. "I understand perfect, that man gets what he wants, how should you be any different." Damnit! Even that sight of her beauty against the pale moon light upon her face didn't help in the wavering thoughts that seemed to constantly point back to this woman who had the nerve to take what was his and lie about it. Those passing thoughts of her, floating farther from his mind the longer she sat across from him, as he was still far from forgiven after his books had gone missing just days before.

Curling a lip in disgust in the mind set that elder Sabaku would go as far as to attempt something as stupid as try anything with the pirate lords daughter, he was a pig of a man when it came to woman, but his value for his own hide came first and foremost. He scowled reaching for a grape between his fingers drawing the fruit o his lips in a harsh bite, sucking back against the releasing juices making damn sure he missed any drops, after who knew when he'd have a chance to eat like this again.

"The only think I don't understand is why you still have not given me back what is mine." he followed in a less venomous tone.

And so the spell of what she had hoped would be a quiet dinner for them was broken by that old subject matter, forcing her to place down the spoon and drumstick in her hands to fully address Gaara's suspicion. She had hoped to avoid it for at least one night as the young lad had been adamant in asking -- no demanded to have them back for the past few days ever since they had left the Tobago port with little to show for his efforts. It was hardly possible to return them in this case when they were not in her possession to give back in the first place, although, it did bring up the question of where they could have gone. But that was a matter for another time, when she was not too busy defending her own innocence to someone who would sooner blame the winds for his troubles than believe the innocence of an outsider like her.

Placing her hands flat on the tabletop, she leaned forward so as to make sure that Gaara could hear her from the other side of this feast of sorts that the crew had assembled for them. "For the last time, I did not take your books. How could I when I was with you the entire time? What reason would I have, as you say, everything I could ever want?"

She did little to hide the sarcasm in her tone, speaking as freely as he seemed to be, if only to level the playing field just a little bit. Normally she was a patient and tolerant person, but when faced with false accusations with hardly a chance to defend herself, she was as fierce as the tigers of her homelands, fixing her eyes on the prey that was to be Gaara and waiting to see what his rebuttal would be.

He snorted at her intensity, a the tone of her voice was all too familiar for the past few days upon hearing the young man repeat himself time and time again. Each time he loosing more and more of his short fuse, the reputation of fiery red heads as quickly becoming a reality the farther she had pushed his buttons. He ground his teeth turning his gaze from her in a deep growl of annoyance.

"Whatever you say," He breath a little more calm, though still a hint of irritation against his quivering throat. "I'll get new ones when we dock." He turned back to her, a small smirk tugged the corner of his lips with a matter on intent. "five finger discount." Even though he had wished he'd have enough money t pay the old man for what he had taken through out the years, it had become habit and Gaara had become very good at taking things in silently that didn't belong to him. Soon branching off from books to other goods mainly food whenever he could sneak by a market stand and snatch something undetected, becoming proud of his juvenile achievements.

"Fine, do what you will and leave it at that. No more of this nonsense about accusing me of something I did not do." And with that she leaned back into her chair, resting an elbow on the arm so that Tenten could prop her chin on the palm. Although for the most part, she was against stealing material items such as books and other trinkets of entertainment, she had no place to speak out against it. After all, part of the charm that comes with the pirate life was plundering for the things you otherwise had no means to get, including clothes, jewels, food, and whatever else you could grab before the authorities came rushing in to spoil the fun. That was the reason why fleets of men had been sent out time and time again to track down her father and his crew. And it was for that reason that she had always been left behind on the more dangerous hunts for treasure.

"Like useless dead weight." she mumbled quietly to herself as she continued to pick at her food, already having lost her appetite after their brief conversation.

Ironic. Her life was filled with so many contradictions, one after the other, existing side by side through every day living. But because she was raised in both the restrictive society in China and the freedom that piracy granted, she had been raised in two worlds that were based on principles that were constantly conflicting with each other. Even her father acted as a catalyst for what she already knew was true. She was a child of two worlds, neither able to escape or fully embrace either one. And she could not help but wonder as she glanced across the table at Gaara whether she would be able to find a balance between the two.

Eyeing her plop back in her chair ‘dead weight?…’ It was amazing how the simplest words to roll off her lips had meant so much, he had felt the same way more often than not. A burden to his father and crew than then anything else, but he did become a stronger seaman as time passed, working hard to gain the slightest amount of affection. But the harder he had tried the farther he had fallen into the dark depths of despair, to have the hope of someone family to care for him. It never came, in the deepest lonely parts of his mind, loosing to the demon dragging him down into the sad lullaby that sang the tune of his life.

"I know what you mean." He stated bluntly reaching for yet another piece of bread. Breaking it to small pieces to fit into his mouth better as the crust found hardened from being exposed to the cool air for far too long crumbling at the edges as the chips floated to his lap like a flaking flurry. Cocking his lips to the side as he chewed in thought, somewhat confused as to why she would have such an intake on a free life as she had, was it not as free as he had thought. The life of a pirate in the books he had read stated just that, freedom (as she even stated herself) to do and travel as they pleased. To hunt treasures, fight those who would dare cage them like beasts when all they were doing was tiring to survive as he was in this world.

"I just want...." He shook h head of the thoughts, 'love?' to be loved? To feel love for another? He snorted under his breath, there was no room for such emotion in a life of ducking an hiding from the very person he was to receive it from. ".... To eat..." He finished; reaching for an apple to the far corner of the wooden table to stuff his mouth from continuing to speak.

For a moment while her eyes were unfocused on a single spot on the table, she began wonder if her father would ever take her off of the pedestal he had placed her on ever since she had come seeking him out so many years ago. She was the last memory of the woman he loved, something that was more real than the memories that kept him sane at night when all his heart wanted to do was to scream out in agony at the lost. For that, she could understand his protectiveness. He had not been there to save her. And even though Tenten had been there, she had been able to do nothing either, forced to leave her mother behind while she fled for her own life. If only for that motivation alone did she turn to piracy, so that she would no longer be a nuisance to everyone around her...and yet still... she was not trusted to do so for the simple fact that Shirou could not leg go of the past. And for that same reason, neither could she.

Shaking her head, she snapped out of the her daze in time to catch the end of Gaara's sentence, regarding him with little more than a glance as he seemed to dig into his meal with hunger and purpose. And it was only then that she was reminded of her own softly grumbling stomach. There was little else to say on the matter concerning either him or her, so she simply reached out a hand to grab a round fruit that she had heard the other men refer to as an orange. Fitting enough, she supposed as that was the color of the outer skin. "...Go ahead, I'm not stopping you."

He cocked an amused eyebrow in her direction, swallowing the bite of apple he had just broke from it's core. Raising his free hand in question as the sly smirk did not waver from his features. He knew he was getting under her skin now, the change in her tone with him her pissed off glare she would shoot in his direction from time to time. He d to admit, it was rather enjoyable to be entertained in such a way the thoughts had not crossed his mind whether he would step too far over the line or not. But the fact still stood she could have easily ran to the captain himself and rated him out at anytime, knowing full well the old man would most definitely believe her over his own son. He had every right to since it would be true, but again this was way to amusing to let pass by, besides she looked kind of cute when all fired up.

"I don't need a woman to tell me that." He responded. "nothing but a nuisances on a working vessel anyway. Must be nice to find protection all the time, the weak woman you are, I would not expect anything less." Satisfied, straitening himself in his chair to grasp a plump, lime colored grape between his fingers. He had thought about grabbing a orange himself but he never liked having to peal away to get to the real flavor wrapped inside. He might as well have not eaten if having to take that much time to do it without getting caught. The mental image of the poor girl biting into the extremely bitter layer of the fruit came in his passing thoughts, fighting the slight tug against his lips as he remembered years ago when he had done the same. A burst of disgustingly bitter tastes in an explosion of just.... nasty. "Eat it like an apple, it's actually quite good."

Fingers gripped tight around the arm of the chair at his implication, the nail of her thumb even digging into the skin of the orange in her hand while she tried her best to contain any reaction to his words. She never took it well when anyone would deem her as weak and useless. It was one thing to think that of herself, but it was a matter of pride when someone else freely made such a comment. But he had wanted a reaction out of her as most did when making such taunts against another. She had been on the other end enough times to know how it worked, had been taught by the most surly of men on her father's crew and had seen what such mocking words could lead an unkept man to do. And she would show him that she held more control than that if only for her own pride and dignity. "I might actually take your words seriously if not for the fact that you know absolutely nothing about me."

For a moment, she eyed the orange fruit in her hand, not at all trusting to the suggestion of one who only seemed to see her as a 'nuisance' as he so eloquently put it. There was no cause or reason to trust him any more than he had reason to trust her intentions. But she knew her actions to be genuine, and for a moment in time while they spent their afternoon under those falls, she had thought that he did as well. A pity really. She had seen a friend in him, a kind heart that had been able to thrive under the harsh conditions of his father's treatment. There had been hope, if she had to place a name to it, where she had once thought there was none left. Then again...what could she expect from one who grew up in the environment that he did?

"I think I've lost my appetite." Frowning from across the table, she slammed the orange in her hand down and stood in that same motion stood up from her seat with the intent to leave. It was too early to return back down to her quarters, and her stomach was far from being full with what little she had managed to eat in the peaceful silence that had existed between them, now only a distant memory. "And did you honestly think I'm so naive to believe a word that comes out of your mouth after a comment like that?"

He took a moment to snuff the rising humor, suppressing the first real laugh in a matter of days. It was peculiar the boy was never known to smile or laugh for the sake of it, but this girl no matter what they had been doing, under the falls in a calm conversation or at dinner across from one another shooting venomous words in attempt to annoy. Either way it was highly entertaining to the young man as shown by the forced grin plastered in his face as the rattle of utensils on the table cluttered from the impact of her frustrations. He had hit a sensitive spot with calling her down on such things., but complimenting another was far from something Gaara was use to. Only harsh hurtful words were leaned throughout the years, something of a Nature as appose to Nature.
"Relax." He stated bluntly, his chuckle to a dull shake "As who you are I would have expected more tolerance from mocking," He shrugged his smile fading into his usual flat frown in realization that he had, in fact, scared her off.

The soft thump of her boots echoed against the planks of the deck as she wandered quietly over to the side of the ship, leaning against the rail while dark eyes gazed down at the shadowed water. It was a deep blue that stretched out as far as the eye could see towards the horizon where the reflection of the moon glowed and wavered in the surface. Beautiful. And at the very least it was enough of a distraction for her to forget about the dinner of torment, thought for a brief few minutes it had been nice. Gaara had been that same young boy she had enjoyed an afternoon with under the hidden garden of the falls, that is, until they had climbed down to discover that his books were missing. Tolerance she had and in vast amounts, but there was only so much a person could take. Accusations piled on top of ridicule were dishes she preferred not to indulge in even out of courtesy or some false sense of pride, especially when her mind was already in a state of doubt and using every opportunity to let her thoughts drift off to the internal battle that had been raging for years.

It was thoughtful of the crew to do this for Gaara, and for one brief moment she had let herself be happy for him, for the simple fact that he could enjoy at least one night without fear of his father finding out. She had been nothing but a problem for him since the beginning. Though unintentional, apologies did not erase the marks and bruises he had received. Quietly, she muttered to herself, her voice barely above a whisper in the wind. "...Perhaps I am as useless as he says...but all the more reason to change that, I suppose."

His pale hallow like eyes followed her movements to the deck side, in a sly narrow stare as if she were about to turn on him and attack for the insolent tone towards the great pirate lords daughter. He snorted at the thought, if only her tattle would mean the end of his pathetic life it would be all said and done. But his father was not so merciful in a sense of being humane to a 13 year old that barely reached the length of his leg. He must have fell pride then, like a greater being above all else to be able to strike down a child. Disgusting. Even in the brief times Tenten had spent with him, her initial intent was not to harm, her sharp tongue was not because of who HE was, but who SHE was in her own defense. For that Gaara had to give her respect, as they seem to endure the same trials in different manners.

After careful consideration, mauling over in his head of the harsh words he had spoken to crawl under her skin (which he had done very well from the looks) deciding to finally back off the book issue and allow her to enjoy the rest of the few days left, free from his taunts and bothers. Huffing removing himself from his chair grasping the orange she had slammed down on her passing sliding his elbows to the rail next to her in a gruff puff of annoyance. "You should learn not to let things get to you so badly." Gasping her wrist up in his hand turning over to pace the orange in her palm. "I don't apologize to many... Only him... I don't say much in general." He told her in a rather sloppy attempted at apologizing.

Because of the hollowness of the boat and the echoes that it carried, she had known of his approach, had been able to hear the easy scrape of the chair against the wooden planks and even feel the thud of his steps on the deck. What reason he would have to approach her when it was clear that he wanted nothing to do with her was a mystery. But as it was, Gaara was free to do as he pleased, just as she was free to choose either to listen or ignore anything else he chose to direct towards her with a downturn of her lips that almost formed a pout of all things. But as her gaze lifted to the night's sky and the stars that glittered around the crescent face of the moon, she had not expected to feel his fingers curve around the slender bone of her wrist, almost jerking her hand away until she felt the weight of the orange in her palm.

Fingers twitched in reaction though she was quick enough to still them before they reached to pull out the dagger that was tucked safely away on her body, always there as a last desperate line of defense should something sudden come about to harm her. She did not want another incident like before when he had caught her by surprise at the river, and thus saved her from the carnage of what he had called piranhas. Instead she only allowed a fleeting gaze in his general direction, catching the tips of his red hair fluttering in the breeze from the corner of her eye before the image was replaced by round fruit in her hand.

"And what makes you think this has anything to do with what you said?" Tilting her head to the side, she turned the orange around in her palm, finding little interest in neither the shape nor the texture. However, the smell of it seemed promising at the very least. "What you speak, I already think true of myself, so take no credit in my misery."

"You are a liar." He stated loud and clear to make sure she heard his voice above all else. "If my words mean nothing, why did you act like such a baby instead of letting it roll off your back, or like a REAL pirate and cut my throat" sticking his tongue out the side of his mouth dragging his thumb across the vital length of his pale neck. A light breath passed his lips in vibration turning to lean his back against the rail in mimicking her gaze to the clear dark sky over head. The pale tone it casted painted her completion a oddly shade of blue against it's dull rays.

"Why should the voice of a ship rat matter to a princess anyway." Turning his attention fully to the woman at his side. "You won't have to put up with me for much longer, we port in Trinidad tomorrow night. Then you will never see me again." He snorted eyeing her frame half blanketed in a shroud of the night. Despite her stealing his books, mouthy attitude and princess like aura prancing around this ship like it was her own, he had to admit having someone around his own age did help him to verbalize himself much more than he was use to. This was probably what the old sailor had in mind for the evenings events, his conversation had not turned out they way they had probably wished but it was a door way in opening to the young man's true nature.

"Call me what you will. I know the truth well enough for my own sake." Another sigh as it seemed that the young boy appeared intent on pushing the matter further than she was willing to discuss it while she only wanted the matter to be dropped. It was not his business to pry or to investigate, certainly none of his concern to give advice or make a comment on. But to all these reasons, she kept her mouth shut. The more she said the more he would comment, thus was the cycle of conversation that he had been adamant to avoid since before she had stepped foot on the merchant ship. "Besides, I prefer to earn the respect that is given to me and not take it by the edge of a knife. Only then can I truly call myself a pirate."

"You were born a man so you would not understand. Some opportunities are still open to you despite what you think." Orange still in hand, she folded her forearms over the rail and leaned down to rest her chin on them, back arching and popping from having kept it straight all day while following the captain around the ship. Gazing out over the water's surface, the young piratess allowed herself to smile just a fraction at how the stars seemed to dance in their reflection. "I however am a woman, daughter of a pirate lord or not. The world is nothing more than a cage simply waiting to close around me. Without the reputation of my father what chance would I ever have of gaining anyone's respects beyond what little satisfaction I could give them?"

"I was not born a man, I was born a slave, and I will remain a slave until the day he dies." He followed almost intimately after her strong rebuttal. "At least your father loves you enough to want to protect you instead of harm you." He was true and censer in his words, there were no harsh hisses of resentment, it was a stating fact and it was clear to whom gazed on her in the presents of the pirate lord himself. To be love in such a way, father and daughter, was something even the first day she set foot in Gaara's life that he had envied above all else.
"Well..." He shifting a smirk in her direction, eyes glued to her as he found himself lost in study of her pale outline against the faint light. ".... Woman are considered to be demon as themselves, in ancient Latin terms have categorized them under sinister meaning left or bad. So who knows' I being a man considered Ortho meaning right or good." He grinned turning himself more towards her in a more intense stare. "you're telling me that ancient text is wrong?" Honestly Gaara had not cared much for written words such as this, for one to tell another they are less important than themselves was a life he lived through every day, and truly had no wished the same fate on another unless it was the man in question himself. "I think since meeting you only a few weeks ago you have overstep that reality that men have set. You are not like any woman I've seen. Not that it was many, aside from the ones the captain brings aboard."

Thin brows furrowed together in thought, taking on more of a look of worry and concern than perhaps the anger that he might have expected, though still she faced forwards towards the distant horizon. Maybe she hoped to find the answers there written in the stars and heavens that surrounded them in the dark blanket of night, though it was doubtful. "I understand that, Gaara, and I am sorry that has been the whole of your life." Only at that moment did she think it fitting to finally turn her head, gazing deep into his misty green eyes that shined so brightly against the light of the moon, easy to find because of the dark ring that encircled them. "But slave or man alike, at the very least your bonds will be forgotten the moment he leaves this plane of existence. As much as he loves me and as much as he prepares me for what is to come, my troubles will remain with or without my father. It is only his presence keeping me grounded that makes it worth tolerating the closed minds of 'civil' society."

A shake of her head at the notion and a roll of her eyes took the young girl's gaze towards the other end of the boat to where the men seemed to be disappearing below deck with what was left of the feast they had set out for the two of them. Her stomach shifted and churned silently in protest, having not gotten its fill of the banquet and still calling out for more food to get it through the long night that stretched out before them, not a moment doubting that she would be awake in bed pondering pointless thoughts she had pondered a thousand times. To satisfy her stomach's argument, Tenten glanced down at the orange in her hand once more, promising that at the very least if not another late night trip through the food stores like she had done several times on this trip already when she had been forced to go without food for fear of dining with the merchant captain once more, quieting the rumbles of her stomach long enough to take Gaara's words into consideration "Tch, ancient text for ancient beliefs that were never true to begin with. Just another way to keep women in their place. I'll be damned and burn before I let them cage me again."

"Cage you?" He quirked an eye brow in question, noting the change in her gaze to the orange in her hand. He had not forgotten his initial plane to have her bit into it without removing the peal, for his own entertainment. He would just have to be patient, that would make it all the more sweet in seeing her perfect face scrawl up in disgust. "It is not just to cage one or the other, much of what was written was by man, men in powerful positions, men who placed themselves higher on God's pedestal than any other, man and woman alike." the corner of his lip tugging slightly upward, eyeing her movements calmly, his argument he had come to found as more truth the longer he walked through this path of life, seeing men fall subject in the name of a religion or customs that did not apply to them, what was written in text long ago was law to everyone believing in them or not, ending in their own death if had not submitted.

"You need to stop whining and work with what you have." He shrugged turning to make his way back to the table. The thud of his bare feet hitting the wooden planks as he walked, drawing his stomach back to the food offered out. "You have more power in those perfect little hands of yours." grasping the back of her chair tugging it out, silently offering her to sit once again. "Your father gives you protection, be grateful you have it in this cruel world. They pamper you like a princess? Use it to your advantage don't cry over it. Men look at you for your beauty and nothing else? Give them a show, and strike when least expected. You hold more cards than you think if you get over the whole suppressed woman thing. Even now on this ship, I have heard the mere sound of your voice to stop the Yondaime in his tracks."

"If not for my father and his reputation, my mere word would only result in a swift blow and punishment for speaking out instead of holding my tongue in the presence of men, thus is their control ensured in the society I was born and raised in before my life as a pirate began." Her reply was quick and embittered, defensive almost as she had felt a twinge of anger from his words. There was truth in them, of that she knew, but it was hard to agree with them when they seemed to only make light of her own experiences over the years. Since her birth, she had been bred and raised in the custom of the Chinese where women were told to keep their heads down when they walked, always trailing behind a man as he lead the way towards their imprisoned lives. Her mother had been understanding of that plight, having lived it herself and finding a way out of it by falling in love with one who understood the beauty of freedom. But though she had managed to escape it, she was still a witness to it. And had Tenten's father turned her away when she had came to him, her fate would have been the same as theirs. There was no pity for those resigned to a lifetime of servitude. "You are a child of the Caribbean so I will forgive your ignorance on matters you obviously do not understand."

With a huff, she turned away from him, refusing his wordless offer for her to sit, crossing her arms defiantly over her chest though there was a hint of sadness as well. She had hoped that one person would at least sympathize with her internal strife, just this once. She was expected to be a strong woman, but did that mean she would have to give up all forms of comfort that any normal human was entitled to for fear of being called weak once more? More riddles, and more uncertainty that drove her mad beyond imaginings, though her own fight for understanding was slowly loosing steam with every passing moment. "Call my ranting drivel whining if you wish, it will not change how I feel. My words as a woman were never taken seriously in the first place, after all, even in my own home. Why should I expect it to be any different here?"

"...But...you are right in one thing, that much I will give to you." Sighing, she continued in a softer tone, perhaps more to herself although she spoke just loud enough for him to hear. Her head tilted down in idle thought while her eyes ran along the outlines of the planks that covered the surface of the deck, finding something to focus on to keep her nerves somewhat calmed. "If I am to prove anything I must take the opportunity for myself, no matter what you or anyone else says. I will prove my worth in this world."

"Your take on my thoughts only goes to show how ignorant you are. how fitting. grow up, the life you lived before your father has long since passed you are his pride and joy to protect... USE IT." He scrawled against the swelling annoyance building up in his chest. to have what she had was nothing but a passing dream to he young red head, if he had what she had there would be no way in hell he'd be complaining if he were born man or woman.

"Stand their and wallow in your poor me syndrome, if you choose, or you can make something of the events handed to you. you can no help what race, what gender you were given. All you can do is work with the tools that are given."

It was amazing a girl of her stature, of her beauty could hold so much nonsense in her complaining words, she sounded like a broken record. even so as he released the chair roguishly with a grunt of utter irritation, "There are people who die everyday for things far less than 'being a woman'. Now, you are making me think twice about how I feel about them...crying over something of the past that can not be changed, you are an ignorant piece of work yourself." He spat, in a harsh grasp for the remaining apple to the center of the table taking a bit before starting his way back below deck, grumbling under his breath. Why on earth does the captain put up with such things if he is unable to do it with his own son... it was a wonder.

For a moment while she simmered in a slowly boiling anger at his thoughts, spoken so freely like he had not been able to speak while his father was close at hand, she watched him storm off towards the stairs where he would more than likely enjoy the rest of his meal if the apple was any indication. He was done with her and would leave the issue at that, leaving the young girl to withstand his reprimand without hope of reacting. Her hand shook with contained fury at such a thought, fingers gripping around the orange in her palm and squeezing it as if to imprint herself in its skin. And then without any other thought or conscious intent, she threw the orange in her hand, watched it hit him squarely in his back between the shoulder blades. It was a childish thing to do and for a moment she felt embarrassed at having let it happen. But it did well to express her untold emotions which she more than felt had been necessary. And if nothing else, at least it made her feel the slightest bit better about the situation. "Then we are both have some ignorance in this matter, it would seem."

Without waiting to see his reaction or hear any further word he would have to say to her, any comment at her immaturity and foolishness for Tenten had heard enough harsh words from is lips, she strode off and plopped down in her seat at the table, folding her arms over her stomach to stare at the patch of sky that sat just over the port side of the ship. With no further thought of the few plates of food that still remained (though her stomach still groaned in protest), she grumbled and muttered curses under her breath in a tongue that only handful of people had ever heard her speak, her native tongue having been mostly reserved to the private corners of her own mind.

He was standing a moment in time, to argue in his head about what had just occurred. Had she really thrown that orange at him? He would have taken that time to maul over in amusement, hauling back in a light chuckle.

But not, Gaara. He clenched his own fist around the apple at hand, his knuckles, if could be seen from under the pale moon light, turning white with anger. If she was in her right mind she would have replaced that orange with the dagger she hid under that damn dress of hers and did them both a favor. He turned sharply just as she took her place as it was at the table in a childish huff he made his way in a swift ghostly stride to her back grasping the orange in his free hand.

Of the light crash .His frame leaning over her shoulder his lips close to her ear to be sure she heard him speak against his clam whisper. "I would love to sit here and exchange sob stories with you, hearing how the world has done us injustice since our time of birth. but I can far assure you that my woes would undoubtedly out weight yours if you choose to admit or not." He grumbled, the growl in his chest becoming deeper with each passing second. "You have no idea what it's like to smell the melting of your own flesh while being branded as another crate of his cargo." He paused taking a quivered intake of salty sea air, hearing the calming waters against the haul of the ship. "You will not sit here and tell me you were starved for days in front of a feast, only to have a reason for the next beat when reaching for what is in human nature to do when you are hungry. You do not know what it's like to not know of a mother whom was accused of adultery because my features do not resemble what the Sabaku gene pool does, as he puts it. I am her mistake, I am his mistake. I have kept quiet for far too long to let a simple woman like you spout her sympathy stories to me."

It was a loud slam on the table as the orange was place in front of her with a loud clutter to follow. "You should not waste food, it's a precious necessity whether you have access to it when ever you please or you don't....-"

"BOY ....y're Fathers awake." And like the times before, Gaara had not needed be told twice when he was gone, leaving a chill in the brisk air in his wake. Taking the apple as a nice snack for later.