[Closed Log] Itachi, Kisame & Deidara Part 002
Character(s): Itachi, Kisame & Deidara
Date: Summer Monsoon Season
Setting: On the Open Sea
Summary: Itachi and his crew are on guard duty when he sees a suspicious ship and moves in for a routine investigation.
Warning(s): Sword play, mistreatment of prisoners, gender confusion
Deidara frowned at the exchanging going on. He gave Kisame an ignorant snort at his threat earlier and went back to pushing his ship over board. Several guards pointed their guns in his direction, but Deidara made a shushing motion. "I'm escaping from the pirate, un," he told them. "They kidnapped me."
"Pirates?" the men said in surprise. "Pirates, sir!" they shouted to Itachi, guns poising at the men around them.
Deidara glanced in Kisame's direction with a smirk, loosening the rope to let the ship drop down into the churning water. He could sail through a storm he was sure. Several arms grabbed him and dragged him up, rather gently to stand him before Itachi. "Sir this woman was the pirate’s prisoner." Deidara rolled his eyes at the gender mistake.
Inspecting a few of the storage containers around the ship with Kisame's watchful eye on him, Itachi couldn't see anything suspicious or at least anything that would give them away but looks were always deceiving. Glancing down into one container that was in front of him he laid his boot into the side with something clinking from the knock inside, last time he remembered boxes don't clink. Cautiously he removed the lid getting a few splinters in his finger from the decaying wooden lid, a quick wince but nothing that wouldn't stop him as he opened it up. Bottles... lots of bottles. Opening up one of the lids and inspecting it he sniffed the substance and retreated at the vile smell. "You are bootlegging rum?" he asked Kisame questionably with the mass amount of it. There was more than the amount required for personal drinking of one crew with cratefuls of it just lying around.
Hand up in the air pointed at the taller man his finger waved back and forth motioning him to come over, looking forward to the explanation he was going to give for this but as the calls came from his men in warning of pirates it made him drop his hand. Swift movements unsheathing his sword without even looking at the other, spinning around with the tip instantly going for target to his throat, pressing it into the skin enough to pierce the skin. "Move and you will be a dead man, pirate!" he spat him, utterly despising him for just that fact.
Keeping his back towards him not worried about any movement from him at all, the Lieutenant brought the blond over to him almost placing him in front of his eyes for him to see. That women reeked of rum, if she was a prisoner then she was at least being well treated on board unless she was employed of the role of a wench to the men but Itachi knew better with a quick eye he could tell that she was in fact a he. His cousin at least frolicked around in the opposite gender's clothing when he as attempted to go undetected from others.
"Prisoner?" he questioned, tightening his grip around the handle of his sword to make sure that the other didn't answer in his place.
Deidara could see the recognition in his face. He wasn't fooled by gender. Good. He gave him a look to show that he hadn't meant for him to call him like that. "Aye, sir," he said with a nod, being on his best behaviour. "I was sailing on my ship and fell asleep in the sun. They dragged me on board saying it was a friendly gesture because they thought I was dying from heat stroke, un. They haven't let me off the ship when I want to though..." HE was pleased to say at least he didn't look like something that crawled out of a drinking hole. Yes, he smelled of rum, but today at least, he was sorry to say he did not have any to drink. The crew had dumped it on him.
(-That at least, was not Kisame's doing.)
Kisame felt the prick of a pinching blade- they reminded him of thick rapiers and he did not like them at all. Nothing lethal as everything that the British military, Navy or ranking in general was meant to imply superior trade, cargo and a reflection of gentlemen-like stature. It was weird in the sense that not a single person on the face of the ample but raped land could ever seem tame when savagely deciding what one can and cannot do. "You'd believe someone Drunk enough to drown on his feet?"
Maybe sober at the moment, but it wasn't that Deidara just reeked of rum from just a bath his idiotic crew brewed the blond in- really, who wasted rum on someone like that? - it was that he was always a bit tipsy and he had a stomach that churned in hells coals. Really. Not even Kisame would drink that much, it was sickening.
A firm movement of his head looking away from the blond to the other, this pathetic excuses weren't appeasing him at all being a drunk or not he was a prisoner, taken captive by him and his crew and therefore should be released. "And why would they keep you on the ship?" he asked the blond trying to take in all information that he could so he wouldn't jump to accusations. He wanted stories from both side and then he will make his decision on what was to happen.
But they would have to make it quick with the storm approaching at a rapid rate.
"I don't know, sir," Deidara said, shaking his head. "Every time I'd try to lower my ship into the water, I'd get pulled back and tossed around like a rag doll." He crossed his arms, glaring at Kisame.
Turning his head to the bigger one's direction Itachi motioned that it was his turn for a rebuttal, so far everything was leaning towards Deidara's story so he better have been something damn good to prove him to be wrong.
"That man stole from me. I was putting him to work until he repaid his debt." He nodded, leaning his head a bit further back, the blade at his jugular more irritating that nought at the moment- Kisame was itching to pull his own and to tear at the young Commanders neck, but he considered his chance to still make it out of this through a bit of eloquence that he was hissing madly glaring at Deidara.
Deidara shook his head. "That is a lie," he told Itachi. Why would anyone steal off a run down brittle ship like this? Especially with his own ship, perfectly alright. The water under them pitched angrily with the approaching storm. "Sir I cannot prove the false accusation, but it is a lie." He ducked his head slightly so his hair spilled over his shoulders a little. "I've just wanted to leave and be on my way, un..." He wasn't stupid enough to make up some sob story about families back home worrying about him.
"Che." Kisame shrugged and stepped only slightly back to keep the protruding tip of finely- sharpened and carved, the blade was bent; a horrible imitation of a blunt edge- "You stole bottle after bottle of my rum, you're not following your end of the bargain in gambles- bad business- and you have had time and time again to leave the ship." Kisame didn't really care anymore. He didn't like Deidara. He whined, he waltzed into his quarters without invitation and he was an over all trouble.
More trouble than he was worth.
Deidara stayed silent when Kisame accused him. Actually it was the other way around; he stole his rum and everything else that was in the boat. Good thing he kept all of the more important things on his person. He looked at Itachi with a solemn expression of one who's been cheated and tormented as well as locked down with the inability to get away. He would wait for the judgement of the Navy commander, and then he would fly like the wind to get away.
Kisame looked over the blond and then the brunette, rolling his eyes. It was obvious that the Navy Commander- by whom he still did not know what to call, arrogant, pompous child- was paying more attention to the 'captive' so he lowered his eyes, hilt fisted by his hand, pulling out the gnarled and twisted shape of his own sword;
It was no longer than a European rapier- stretched to four feet long with the hilt and nubbly thumb cover- but it was thick and the core of the blade was littered with spikes that were sorted upwards, meant for easy penetration but difficult extraction. It was made for a very painful kill. Each spike was just as wide as an inch but thin as a centimetre. The external and more exposed curves of the spikes were dull- but the under was rigid with a thin but very sharp razor edge.
Kisame hoisted it up- it was normally fasted in a large, loose leather sheath- and stroked it along the pretty brunettes neck before darkly scowling- tugging just enough to have him realize that he was worse off than himself- free hand wrapping around the length of the foreign sword.
The thunderous crack from the lightening overhead with the storm now on top of them made a few of his men jump with the sudden hit, they were already on edge with the confrontation between the two groups but now with the Captain's bold move against him they all rushed forward to his aid only to be rejected with a hand raising up. Itachi still didn't face him; he knew the threat already so there was no need to acknowledge it.
As clear as it was now Itachi was more inclined to believe the blonde's tales of events over his so called captors and even if it was a ploy to escape unscathed he would allow him that option, the raised hand now signalling to the crew. "Take him aboard... restrain him and don't let him out of your sight" he barked, looking back over at Deidara not with one glimmer of trust in his eyes.
Now that his decision was made his focus was brought back onto Kisame, a slight growl from the chunks of metal protruding the skin but if that was what he wanted to do then Itachi would certainly meet his challenge.
Deidara's eyes widened a little as the men dragged him away. The men seemed to think that their commander’s attitude towards the blond being uncaring was that he would be a prisoner so they weren't being none too gentle. Shoving him up into the Navy ship they secured him to the mast, arms restrained around it. His arms weren't long enough to go far around the mast, but they used extended cuffs to make up for the distance. Wincing with the still not quiet long enough reach around, Deidara peered over at the other ship, watching the fight about to break out.
Kisame looked back down- the Lieutenant-Commander was almost two thirds a foot shorter than him- and challenged him with a spark of amusement in each eye as the lightning shocked the visual senses again, thunder cracking shortly after. There was another flash of lightning, the bolts directed mostly somewhere in the far distance- sheet light brightening everything for a fleeting and flickering moment. He was always one to enjoy a fight and he would be interested to see how the smaller one faired in a fight (and if he could prove that the Navy men would resort to dirty tricks and savagery when faced with extreme issues- it was never quite as fun when a person was no longer holding to cards. So to speak.)
He nodded and pushed his sword along the neck so he could free the neck of the hooking spikes, bringing it back just enough for him to sheathe it, grabbing another he kept on his person. It was shorter by only half a foot, but it was more slender, lacked the added foreboding accessories and it was waving instead of the standard stiff length. It was cork screwed, but only a half helix, the blade itself rotted with chipped winds and curves in the length.
"Are you so thirsty for a fight Commander- that you would threaten me so rudely?" His other hand now took over the other blade turning it aside 90 degree's an unforgiving intent in his eyes. He was in the mood for a fight.
Kisame looked over his shoulder and nodded at the dumbly standing crew man before turning back to Itachi. "Well?"
This was seemingly going to be unavoidable with one revved up pirate looking for the fight rather than focusing on the fact that they were on a leaky, poorly made ship that would capsize as soon as a harsh wave crashed against it. A shift of his eyes looking at the others crowding around at a distance to come to his defence if needed but he motioned to watch the others all through the motions of his dark eyes.
Turning his head back to Kisame with a slight turn up at the corner of his mouth, he slowly backed up to move the blade from his neck, the slick swish noise as he carefully sheathed his weapon. British issue weaponry lacked what was needed in a battle, while elegantly crafted with all the intricate patterns to enhance the beauty of the metal it lacked the usability that he was accustomed to. Heavy to swing, not as flexible, all show with no purpose.
Concealed behind the casing of the other lied another sword hidden away from the eye, a hand behind his back to grip the handle tightly pulling it up over his shoulder, poising it across his body in a defensive movement from any sneak attacks. The weapon of his home land, the sword brought to recognition by the great Samurai Warriors that defended their land. Now that was a sword of beauty, screw refinement.
One hand on the hilt with the other down at his side, a quick flick of his wrist bringing it into position pushing it out in front of his body with his intent to take the offensive, his movements slow at first but quickening with his readiness. "You won't win"
"Not intending to win." He rebutted, nodding slightly. If everyone fought to simply win there would be no point because it would be over instantly- Kisame loved the challenge. It was thrilling as well as amusing.
Looking over at his men still hovering around some with protests, some watching intently to see the action but all of them waiting for the actions of their Commander, whether to set sail away from the storm that was pounding down on them furiously now or to take out the other crew. One of the men jumped the gun faltering his step taking one closer but Itachi waved him off. "Call off your men and I will call off mine" he called out calmly over the harsh wind that was whipping his hair against his face irritating the skin.
With the storm it was causing problems with the two ships together rocking and smashing into each other with each wave that hit, he had to get it out of there with his men included but he wasn't planning on stranding himself with that blonde's ship still secured to the other, the sturdiness of that would surely survive the elements but looks were always deceiving.
A step around to the side crossing his feet over to change position, this fight would be pointless if they didn't get out but he wasn't going to back down until he got a response.
Kisame looked back at his men with a smirk, noting that a few had swords drawn as well as pistils armed and loaded- there was one who was still stuffing the small orb of lead into the barrel and downing it with gunpowder but he nodded. He just eyed them with his stare and they backed down. Obediently.
Kisame looked back at Itachi. "And you, kid." He said. It was obvious on whose side they both were and they knew enough of each other not to care about courtesy or respect- asides. The lieutenant-commander WAS a kid.
His sword met and caressed the others and he nodded, just taking it in. Katana and the handle was Japanese. It was a nice sword, he decided- he might take it if he had the opportunity.
He was resenting being called 'kid' all the time while he looked young and in fact was young for being a high ranked officer, he was more than capable of handling his men and his maturity was well above that of a petty teenager. Looking at the ones that were slowly advancing to take the tactical advantage Itachi shook his head and ordered them back onto the ship, they were not needed and common curiosity would be displayed by him, not one to back out on his word.
Reluctant to do so at first they agreed to his orders without complaints and backed up towards the ship keeping their eyes steady on the other crew but the ones on board already had their weapons ready to fire for cover. Itachi didn't move until they were all retreated and back on the ship, once they were he looked back over at Kisame and nodded. "The odds are still stacked against me but is this sufficient?" he asked not caring either way.
"Sufficient would be you leaving my ship and sailing on your merry way, Lieutenant." He said now, stepping back until he could wave his hand for his men to back off, retreating into the little nooks and cranny's they normally pitched themselves in. He stroked the unicorn horn of the swordfish nose crafted sword and looked back up at Itachi. He was obviously someone who didn't think of the opposing side very much- Kisame was planning to have his crew, as disgusting and maggoty as they were, jump and assault at the first sign of a wavering inequality with the pendulum a mess with influence of the storm- which he could simply assume was confidence as well as the pompous arrogance that 'gentlemen' were raised with.
His skin was calloused from the fights at sea and so it didn't much bother him to feel the worn hilt over the blade- the next port he would have his weapons sanded and polished, if only for comfort. Glinting from the polished blade that Itachi- Kisame considered himself lucky to have experienced Asia's mediums for warfare-the lightning burned his eyes until he squinted and flicked his sword.
Stepping his boots over the damp surface of the deck, he came close enough to slide his sword up and begin. They were chatting and commending each other- but it was starting to get annoying. Fight or die.
Only problem was that Itachi was not a gentleman, he was not raised that way nor would be ever revert to that way. If he was he would have bowed out of battle and retreated with the rest. This was his pride, his traditional upbringing, the once proud model Uchiha that was looked upon as one of the greatest in their small clan. He knew how to back down from a fight with the odds were against him but he also burned that desire to test his skills to show that he would not go down or run that easily.
And since he was neither going to wait around all day with the lack of patience that he suffered from listening to incessant rambling and bickering over the previous events he was ready to take up arms and commence. Never the one to take the first move unless provoked, Itachi broke his own rules with a twist of his wrist to push the blade away from his own, swinging upwards in a precision strike marking the first move against him. There was no parry, thrust, one hand behind his back in the gentleman manor with stiff positions to move into a lunge, this was the way sword play was meant to be, giving Kisame a crash course in the way a true warrior fights. He would show him the elegance and grace of the artistic fluid movements of his katana.
Kisame watched Itachi and smirked. He was pleased to know that the brunette knew his stuff and he hoped it was not all just style but actual ability that was showing through. Painting a picture with fire and water shooting down on you was never easy, especially not on a ship like this; Rusted knot threaders, brittle wood at every step(it made the deck feel like thick broken down board or paper) and creaking hull guards.
Kisame was still more than interested with the glints that reflected off of the katana so he struck back, his own sword more for stabbing, puncturing and deep, fatal wounds unlike a precision cutter like an elite katana.
However, it was still strong enough to withstand the strength in the stiff bone of the flat sword so he pushed back. Kisame did have more muscle and physical ability but he was more than intent to avoid a rivet cut that could slide up- he didn't wear armour or gloves unless he was assured there was a need for it.
He leaned back on his footing, feeling the leather of his boots stiffen under the slosh of cool rain and he could smell the dry hide begin to create that burning autumn aroma. Kisame just laughed though, happy this way as he pushed back with a dark intent, striking his own sword towards the colourful clothing that the young man was dressed in.
A step back, arching his back over to avoid the impending strike from the oncoming sword to only barely knick the cloth, not even enough to break the finely knit stitching of his clothes. But his intentions were known to him now, this was no play fight it certainly was do or die.
The sword had two angles to use, offensive and defensive each depending on the density of the blade, the steel only cut so deep with the unsharpened edge but still in the defensive it was able to take a man down and leave him writhing in pain for days with lesions. That was the angle that Itachi took, low eyes on his feet watching for the twitch of movement, head ducking under the impending blow with a slice towards the mid section, dragging horizontally and out past their bodies and to the side leaving himself completely open to him but at the close quarter range and the side of his weapon, it was useless against him.
Kisame took the opportunity to swing his arm back, keeping the blade vertical with his sword hand twisted in an awkward position- simply to be able to defend himself. His sword did not stop the swing, but it slowed it enough for his eyes to note the loud sound of metal clashing on metal, stepping back to prevent himself from being caught between the two.
He had his better blade at his side and he was prepared to take up arms with his left hand, before pushing back against Itachi, stepping back towards him- indeed noting the watchful stare on the eyes.
Defensive moves seemed to be all that he was doing towards him with no sign yet of an attack, either he was waiting for the moment or planning on wearing him out with his own strenuous attacks but Itachi didn't wear that easy.
Compared to most people Itachi's speed was phenomenal with his teachers constantly praising him for his quickness and agility which is a one on one battle gave the edge for escaping oncoming attacks without the use of a block, leaving the sword open for the strike. The traditional British ways of fencing never showed these skills, leaving the body unguarded for the attack and diving for cover if the metal was to snap.
Charging back in with a step to the side to avoid any incoming attacks that he might have been blindsided with, the young Uchiha crossed his katana over his body to block the sparks of metal from the friction between the two, his knee raised up between the closeness of the bodies and a short kick to push him back and further away again, using the power of his leg muscles as he extended it to his far reach.
Kisame smirked and felt the pressure, moving back with it before leaning back in again, swinging his right hand as his left rest on the hilt cover on his hip. Kisame was left handed, but he could still use his right perfectly, though he was used to using his thicker blade with the right. It was easier to have a lack of precision with it, clubbing around something with extra weapons on an already deadly blade. The sword he was using now was best in his left hand which could master angles without the need to stare at it and strain his eyes.
He didn't switch though; it was possible that he could use his precise skill on the left after if he had a chance to switch- if he needed to. "Hmm..." He purred to himself, fucking slightly with Itachi's continuous assaults, leaning back in again to over power him with the strength that the raw muscle had. He did a standard attack, assuming he was simply injuring his own pride with his hesitance to move hands. (It was just going to be trouble some to unhook the stronger of blades from his left side with his right feeler. Troublesome.
When it came to sheer brute force Kisame had him beat with his body weight clearly outweighing his own. From the looks of him with the bulky frame and the strong chiselled outlines, he would be a slow oafish target but he was quite fast in his speed so much that it even impressed the young Uchiha, taking a second look making sure never to just by visual impressions alone as clearly looks were deceiving.
Taking a step back to assess the situation briefly he relaxed the tight grip on the handle, the colour returning to his knuckles getting the blood circulating back to them. The furious wind slashed at his body, his eyes stinging from the harsh cold rain beating down upon them, a brief shift of his eyes over to his men and then over to the others that appeared to be slowly advancing on him and then back to Kisame. "I haven't got all day pirate" he growled, readying his position again.
"Sir!" the second in command on the ship with Itachi called, the storm raging around them. "Sir we must return to the ship before it's impossible!" The ships were pitching next to each other dangerously, the threat of the masts tearing each other off very close. Deidara grumbled to himself, squinting through the rain and his long hair plastered to his face to watch the fight between the two men. The rain was beating on him, but he couldn't shield himself from it with his hands pulled back around the mast. In a frenzy of shouts and rolling objects a wave rose up to crash onto the deck of the Navy ship, dragging a few poor souls off as well as a few things not tied down. Spitting out a mouthful of the salty water, Deidara shook his head to try and rid himself of the water, looking around at the men scrambling to prepare the ship better.
Another ferociously crash against the ship almost made Itachi loose his footing but a nearby crate prevented that. The spray from the waves crashing up on board showered his as he looked back at his ship and then over at Kisame debating the decision... to let a pirate just go like that or to protect the life of his men. The answer became more apparent with the two ships knocking together again with the violent knock breaching the ship's hull with small parts of rotting wood breaking off into the water.
Shaky steps back towards the ship from the violent rocking of the boat not giving anyone of them a chance to advance while he back was turned, he looked at the bigger man and silently cursed since he was getting away from him but he would be sure that he would get him again. Glaring at him to say in his own way that the fight was not over yet and that he would come after him again, Itachi backed up the plank adjoining the two ships, katana still reached out not allowing himself to put it away until he was on board.
Kisame himself panted and just watched, eying his rival carefully. He did not trust the Lieutenant any more than the Lieutenant trusted him. He was not going to call for the cannons- as it was obvious that all the gunpowder was going to dampen and dud and that would result in a lack of stock (which would call for an early porting); something he could not afford.
He could not make port any time soon, the ominous look in the 'kid's weird eyes silently warning him of that much. Once the ship was partially aside, he looked at the lagging members of his crew, tsking as they had lost a hostage. "What? Would you all like to drown?" He asked with a sugar coated voice, glaring at them all.
Of course he was angry, he had failed to pursue a fight until there was a conclusion- without one, the story was never complete and the introduction and only a few body chapters were foretold, there was still much to uncover and history had to be written by the winner- and he was more let down by the lack of action with his already disgusting number of grotesque men on the ship. His only amusement was gone and he did not want the foul mood to be his last on a wild stretch of enraged and scorned ocean.
Squinting through the heavy drops of rain, Deidara watched the battle come to an end, watching the Navy officers return to the ship as it pitched into the storm. The Lieutenant gave orders to his men to get the ship away from the other and batten it down for the storm. The rain caused his hair to be plastered to him in the most annoying ways until a rather large wave crashed onto the deck of the Navy ship as it dropped lower into the sea, causing all his hair to hang over his face like a sheet of blond.
".......A little help here, un?" he said in frustration, though no one seemed to give him a second though.
Finishing out his barking orders to the rest of the men, the Lieutenant joined his commander at his side once he was back on ship but Itachi didn't even look at him with his intent glare back at Kisame as the two boats began to drift apart. His eyes did the speaking for him to let the other know that no filthy pirate was going to get out of his grasp and that he would certainly be back again to settle the fight but at a time on convenience, not when they were threatened by mother nature with one mistaken move and your life will be at an end.
Swiping at the long bangs that clung to his face from the spray of the squally ocean, Itachi gave the pirate one last look and turned on his heel moving back to port side to head back to his quarters, his feet squelching from the regulation leather boots as they were soaked to the very tip. He wanted to dry up before a chill would come on.
The Lieutenant ran to his side once again trying to grab his attention that he craved to received especially since the only time he did was went an order was given, he wanted to be recognised for his hard work and effort wanting that extra something that he could put to the higher officials to get that promotions so he would then have his job. By the gruff look on his superior’s face he could tell that he had his attention now, informing him of damages that were suffered during the brief encounter, men lost at sea and other details that he thought he should be aware of.
Itachi took mental note of it all even so as far as to make sure that the families were notified of the ones lost at sea but he didn't speak to any of it until he heard the words "What should be do with the prisoner?" ...He did not give any order to take anyone captive so when he turned his head in the direction pointed out for him to see a complaining blond confined to the mast he finally understood. "Once we are at a safe distance... release him" he informed his subordinate in an official tone. He certainly did not give any orders to tie up someone who had seeked refuge with them and he was blatantly being mistreated with just being left out in the harsh elements but it was a precaution none the less, his size was not fully revealed to them and he still harboured some suspicions about him.
"But Sir! He is a prisoner... a common uncouth pirate and we..." He didn't have time to finish with the eyes of the Lieutenant-Commander piercing right back at him making him swallow hard. The looks from him were enough to bring a person to their knees begging for forgiveness and he was one of them but he kept his composure, staying very still bracing himself for the scolding he was about to receive.
"Release...him!" was all that Itachi commanded of him, moving past and going to his quarters.
The stunned Lieutenant blinked a few times once everything had sunk in, taking a look over the girlish looking blond and then back at his commander walking further away with a look that showed him to be utterly perplex. "Huh? Him?"
Deidara coughed sea water that had smacked him in the face, shaking his head of water as he glanced around at the people rushing around. This was a set off, though also beneficial of sorts and also very bad. While he'd gotten away from the pirates, he was now on board a navy ship, not sure how they thought of him in the slight - he could already be a dead man if they suspected him to be a pirate and worst of everything was: his ship was still attached to Kisame's. How inconvenient. He glanced up as some shiny important person came up and barked an order to release him. Oh, good! His arms were getting sore.
Despite the looks of confusion and distrust in the decision, the shacks were taken off and Deidara pitched forward on the deck of the ship, not realizing how tight they'd been on his wrists and shoulders. He sat up and wrapped his arms around himself to rub his aching shoulders, but was grabbed from behind by the collar and dragged over to the Captain's quarters. "Sir, what do you want me to do with him?" he asked through the door, keeping a firm hand on Deidara's neck and collar to keep him from standing up.
It would have been more of an inviting entrance if he had decided to knock and announce himself first, Itachi's unruly hair hung low out of it's confinements from the band that held it together from the brief towel over. "Let him go for starters" he told him calmly, dragging the damp hair back with his hands, smoothing it neatly into a loose ponytail and securing it.
"But Sir! He could be a pirate" he protected, making sure that the grip on the blonds’ neck didn't cease. He didn't trust him, the rest of the crew didn't for that fact either and here they were harbouring him when he should have been thrown to the fishes and left to rot and putrefy in the depths of the ocean to be feasted on at leisure. But yet their Leader was telling them otherwise, the Navy did not take pirates lightly and nor did Commander Uchiha normally so why was he being so forgiving and trusting of this one person.
"...Did I make myself unclear?" Itachi stated lifting his eyes staring straight at the officer, narrowing darkly at him to make sure that he understood what he meant.
A sigh of defeat was what he gave as he released the dirty scamp, shoving him forward closer towards Itachi before taking a step back, saluting and apologising for his rudeness, leaving the dark and light haired men alone.
He studied the blonde carefully not one to take anyone lightly, trying to discover anything that seemed out of place that lead his men to believe that he was a pirate. If he was a pirate that would be another matter to deal with but now he was under the protection of the British Royal Navy… plus there was something about him that Itachi couldn’t put his finger on, something interesting about him, enigmatic if you will. Only time would tell during his stay if he was a pirate.
Date: Summer Monsoon Season
Setting: On the Open Sea
Summary: Itachi and his crew are on guard duty when he sees a suspicious ship and moves in for a routine investigation.
Warning(s): Sword play, mistreatment of prisoners, gender confusion
Deidara frowned at the exchanging going on. He gave Kisame an ignorant snort at his threat earlier and went back to pushing his ship over board. Several guards pointed their guns in his direction, but Deidara made a shushing motion. "I'm escaping from the pirate, un," he told them. "They kidnapped me."
"Pirates?" the men said in surprise. "Pirates, sir!" they shouted to Itachi, guns poising at the men around them.
Deidara glanced in Kisame's direction with a smirk, loosening the rope to let the ship drop down into the churning water. He could sail through a storm he was sure. Several arms grabbed him and dragged him up, rather gently to stand him before Itachi. "Sir this woman was the pirate’s prisoner." Deidara rolled his eyes at the gender mistake.
Inspecting a few of the storage containers around the ship with Kisame's watchful eye on him, Itachi couldn't see anything suspicious or at least anything that would give them away but looks were always deceiving. Glancing down into one container that was in front of him he laid his boot into the side with something clinking from the knock inside, last time he remembered boxes don't clink. Cautiously he removed the lid getting a few splinters in his finger from the decaying wooden lid, a quick wince but nothing that wouldn't stop him as he opened it up. Bottles... lots of bottles. Opening up one of the lids and inspecting it he sniffed the substance and retreated at the vile smell. "You are bootlegging rum?" he asked Kisame questionably with the mass amount of it. There was more than the amount required for personal drinking of one crew with cratefuls of it just lying around.
Hand up in the air pointed at the taller man his finger waved back and forth motioning him to come over, looking forward to the explanation he was going to give for this but as the calls came from his men in warning of pirates it made him drop his hand. Swift movements unsheathing his sword without even looking at the other, spinning around with the tip instantly going for target to his throat, pressing it into the skin enough to pierce the skin. "Move and you will be a dead man, pirate!" he spat him, utterly despising him for just that fact.
Keeping his back towards him not worried about any movement from him at all, the Lieutenant brought the blond over to him almost placing him in front of his eyes for him to see. That women reeked of rum, if she was a prisoner then she was at least being well treated on board unless she was employed of the role of a wench to the men but Itachi knew better with a quick eye he could tell that she was in fact a he. His cousin at least frolicked around in the opposite gender's clothing when he as attempted to go undetected from others.
"Prisoner?" he questioned, tightening his grip around the handle of his sword to make sure that the other didn't answer in his place.
Deidara could see the recognition in his face. He wasn't fooled by gender. Good. He gave him a look to show that he hadn't meant for him to call him like that. "Aye, sir," he said with a nod, being on his best behaviour. "I was sailing on my ship and fell asleep in the sun. They dragged me on board saying it was a friendly gesture because they thought I was dying from heat stroke, un. They haven't let me off the ship when I want to though..." HE was pleased to say at least he didn't look like something that crawled out of a drinking hole. Yes, he smelled of rum, but today at least, he was sorry to say he did not have any to drink. The crew had dumped it on him.
(-That at least, was not Kisame's doing.)
Kisame felt the prick of a pinching blade- they reminded him of thick rapiers and he did not like them at all. Nothing lethal as everything that the British military, Navy or ranking in general was meant to imply superior trade, cargo and a reflection of gentlemen-like stature. It was weird in the sense that not a single person on the face of the ample but raped land could ever seem tame when savagely deciding what one can and cannot do. "You'd believe someone Drunk enough to drown on his feet?"
Maybe sober at the moment, but it wasn't that Deidara just reeked of rum from just a bath his idiotic crew brewed the blond in- really, who wasted rum on someone like that? - it was that he was always a bit tipsy and he had a stomach that churned in hells coals. Really. Not even Kisame would drink that much, it was sickening.
A firm movement of his head looking away from the blond to the other, this pathetic excuses weren't appeasing him at all being a drunk or not he was a prisoner, taken captive by him and his crew and therefore should be released. "And why would they keep you on the ship?" he asked the blond trying to take in all information that he could so he wouldn't jump to accusations. He wanted stories from both side and then he will make his decision on what was to happen.
But they would have to make it quick with the storm approaching at a rapid rate.
"I don't know, sir," Deidara said, shaking his head. "Every time I'd try to lower my ship into the water, I'd get pulled back and tossed around like a rag doll." He crossed his arms, glaring at Kisame.
Turning his head to the bigger one's direction Itachi motioned that it was his turn for a rebuttal, so far everything was leaning towards Deidara's story so he better have been something damn good to prove him to be wrong.
"That man stole from me. I was putting him to work until he repaid his debt." He nodded, leaning his head a bit further back, the blade at his jugular more irritating that nought at the moment- Kisame was itching to pull his own and to tear at the young Commanders neck, but he considered his chance to still make it out of this through a bit of eloquence that he was hissing madly glaring at Deidara.
Deidara shook his head. "That is a lie," he told Itachi. Why would anyone steal off a run down brittle ship like this? Especially with his own ship, perfectly alright. The water under them pitched angrily with the approaching storm. "Sir I cannot prove the false accusation, but it is a lie." He ducked his head slightly so his hair spilled over his shoulders a little. "I've just wanted to leave and be on my way, un..." He wasn't stupid enough to make up some sob story about families back home worrying about him.
"Che." Kisame shrugged and stepped only slightly back to keep the protruding tip of finely- sharpened and carved, the blade was bent; a horrible imitation of a blunt edge- "You stole bottle after bottle of my rum, you're not following your end of the bargain in gambles- bad business- and you have had time and time again to leave the ship." Kisame didn't really care anymore. He didn't like Deidara. He whined, he waltzed into his quarters without invitation and he was an over all trouble.
More trouble than he was worth.
Deidara stayed silent when Kisame accused him. Actually it was the other way around; he stole his rum and everything else that was in the boat. Good thing he kept all of the more important things on his person. He looked at Itachi with a solemn expression of one who's been cheated and tormented as well as locked down with the inability to get away. He would wait for the judgement of the Navy commander, and then he would fly like the wind to get away.
Kisame looked over the blond and then the brunette, rolling his eyes. It was obvious that the Navy Commander- by whom he still did not know what to call, arrogant, pompous child- was paying more attention to the 'captive' so he lowered his eyes, hilt fisted by his hand, pulling out the gnarled and twisted shape of his own sword;
It was no longer than a European rapier- stretched to four feet long with the hilt and nubbly thumb cover- but it was thick and the core of the blade was littered with spikes that were sorted upwards, meant for easy penetration but difficult extraction. It was made for a very painful kill. Each spike was just as wide as an inch but thin as a centimetre. The external and more exposed curves of the spikes were dull- but the under was rigid with a thin but very sharp razor edge.
Kisame hoisted it up- it was normally fasted in a large, loose leather sheath- and stroked it along the pretty brunettes neck before darkly scowling- tugging just enough to have him realize that he was worse off than himself- free hand wrapping around the length of the foreign sword.
The thunderous crack from the lightening overhead with the storm now on top of them made a few of his men jump with the sudden hit, they were already on edge with the confrontation between the two groups but now with the Captain's bold move against him they all rushed forward to his aid only to be rejected with a hand raising up. Itachi still didn't face him; he knew the threat already so there was no need to acknowledge it.
As clear as it was now Itachi was more inclined to believe the blonde's tales of events over his so called captors and even if it was a ploy to escape unscathed he would allow him that option, the raised hand now signalling to the crew. "Take him aboard... restrain him and don't let him out of your sight" he barked, looking back over at Deidara not with one glimmer of trust in his eyes.
Now that his decision was made his focus was brought back onto Kisame, a slight growl from the chunks of metal protruding the skin but if that was what he wanted to do then Itachi would certainly meet his challenge.
Deidara's eyes widened a little as the men dragged him away. The men seemed to think that their commander’s attitude towards the blond being uncaring was that he would be a prisoner so they weren't being none too gentle. Shoving him up into the Navy ship they secured him to the mast, arms restrained around it. His arms weren't long enough to go far around the mast, but they used extended cuffs to make up for the distance. Wincing with the still not quiet long enough reach around, Deidara peered over at the other ship, watching the fight about to break out.
Kisame looked back down- the Lieutenant-Commander was almost two thirds a foot shorter than him- and challenged him with a spark of amusement in each eye as the lightning shocked the visual senses again, thunder cracking shortly after. There was another flash of lightning, the bolts directed mostly somewhere in the far distance- sheet light brightening everything for a fleeting and flickering moment. He was always one to enjoy a fight and he would be interested to see how the smaller one faired in a fight (and if he could prove that the Navy men would resort to dirty tricks and savagery when faced with extreme issues- it was never quite as fun when a person was no longer holding to cards. So to speak.)
He nodded and pushed his sword along the neck so he could free the neck of the hooking spikes, bringing it back just enough for him to sheathe it, grabbing another he kept on his person. It was shorter by only half a foot, but it was more slender, lacked the added foreboding accessories and it was waving instead of the standard stiff length. It was cork screwed, but only a half helix, the blade itself rotted with chipped winds and curves in the length.
"Are you so thirsty for a fight Commander- that you would threaten me so rudely?" His other hand now took over the other blade turning it aside 90 degree's an unforgiving intent in his eyes. He was in the mood for a fight.
Kisame looked over his shoulder and nodded at the dumbly standing crew man before turning back to Itachi. "Well?"
This was seemingly going to be unavoidable with one revved up pirate looking for the fight rather than focusing on the fact that they were on a leaky, poorly made ship that would capsize as soon as a harsh wave crashed against it. A shift of his eyes looking at the others crowding around at a distance to come to his defence if needed but he motioned to watch the others all through the motions of his dark eyes.
Turning his head back to Kisame with a slight turn up at the corner of his mouth, he slowly backed up to move the blade from his neck, the slick swish noise as he carefully sheathed his weapon. British issue weaponry lacked what was needed in a battle, while elegantly crafted with all the intricate patterns to enhance the beauty of the metal it lacked the usability that he was accustomed to. Heavy to swing, not as flexible, all show with no purpose.
Concealed behind the casing of the other lied another sword hidden away from the eye, a hand behind his back to grip the handle tightly pulling it up over his shoulder, poising it across his body in a defensive movement from any sneak attacks. The weapon of his home land, the sword brought to recognition by the great Samurai Warriors that defended their land. Now that was a sword of beauty, screw refinement.
One hand on the hilt with the other down at his side, a quick flick of his wrist bringing it into position pushing it out in front of his body with his intent to take the offensive, his movements slow at first but quickening with his readiness. "You won't win"
"Not intending to win." He rebutted, nodding slightly. If everyone fought to simply win there would be no point because it would be over instantly- Kisame loved the challenge. It was thrilling as well as amusing.
Looking over at his men still hovering around some with protests, some watching intently to see the action but all of them waiting for the actions of their Commander, whether to set sail away from the storm that was pounding down on them furiously now or to take out the other crew. One of the men jumped the gun faltering his step taking one closer but Itachi waved him off. "Call off your men and I will call off mine" he called out calmly over the harsh wind that was whipping his hair against his face irritating the skin.
With the storm it was causing problems with the two ships together rocking and smashing into each other with each wave that hit, he had to get it out of there with his men included but he wasn't planning on stranding himself with that blonde's ship still secured to the other, the sturdiness of that would surely survive the elements but looks were always deceiving.
A step around to the side crossing his feet over to change position, this fight would be pointless if they didn't get out but he wasn't going to back down until he got a response.
Kisame looked back at his men with a smirk, noting that a few had swords drawn as well as pistils armed and loaded- there was one who was still stuffing the small orb of lead into the barrel and downing it with gunpowder but he nodded. He just eyed them with his stare and they backed down. Obediently.
Kisame looked back at Itachi. "And you, kid." He said. It was obvious on whose side they both were and they knew enough of each other not to care about courtesy or respect- asides. The lieutenant-commander WAS a kid.
His sword met and caressed the others and he nodded, just taking it in. Katana and the handle was Japanese. It was a nice sword, he decided- he might take it if he had the opportunity.
He was resenting being called 'kid' all the time while he looked young and in fact was young for being a high ranked officer, he was more than capable of handling his men and his maturity was well above that of a petty teenager. Looking at the ones that were slowly advancing to take the tactical advantage Itachi shook his head and ordered them back onto the ship, they were not needed and common curiosity would be displayed by him, not one to back out on his word.
Reluctant to do so at first they agreed to his orders without complaints and backed up towards the ship keeping their eyes steady on the other crew but the ones on board already had their weapons ready to fire for cover. Itachi didn't move until they were all retreated and back on the ship, once they were he looked back over at Kisame and nodded. "The odds are still stacked against me but is this sufficient?" he asked not caring either way.
"Sufficient would be you leaving my ship and sailing on your merry way, Lieutenant." He said now, stepping back until he could wave his hand for his men to back off, retreating into the little nooks and cranny's they normally pitched themselves in. He stroked the unicorn horn of the swordfish nose crafted sword and looked back up at Itachi. He was obviously someone who didn't think of the opposing side very much- Kisame was planning to have his crew, as disgusting and maggoty as they were, jump and assault at the first sign of a wavering inequality with the pendulum a mess with influence of the storm- which he could simply assume was confidence as well as the pompous arrogance that 'gentlemen' were raised with.
His skin was calloused from the fights at sea and so it didn't much bother him to feel the worn hilt over the blade- the next port he would have his weapons sanded and polished, if only for comfort. Glinting from the polished blade that Itachi- Kisame considered himself lucky to have experienced Asia's mediums for warfare-the lightning burned his eyes until he squinted and flicked his sword.
Stepping his boots over the damp surface of the deck, he came close enough to slide his sword up and begin. They were chatting and commending each other- but it was starting to get annoying. Fight or die.
Only problem was that Itachi was not a gentleman, he was not raised that way nor would be ever revert to that way. If he was he would have bowed out of battle and retreated with the rest. This was his pride, his traditional upbringing, the once proud model Uchiha that was looked upon as one of the greatest in their small clan. He knew how to back down from a fight with the odds were against him but he also burned that desire to test his skills to show that he would not go down or run that easily.
And since he was neither going to wait around all day with the lack of patience that he suffered from listening to incessant rambling and bickering over the previous events he was ready to take up arms and commence. Never the one to take the first move unless provoked, Itachi broke his own rules with a twist of his wrist to push the blade away from his own, swinging upwards in a precision strike marking the first move against him. There was no parry, thrust, one hand behind his back in the gentleman manor with stiff positions to move into a lunge, this was the way sword play was meant to be, giving Kisame a crash course in the way a true warrior fights. He would show him the elegance and grace of the artistic fluid movements of his katana.
Kisame watched Itachi and smirked. He was pleased to know that the brunette knew his stuff and he hoped it was not all just style but actual ability that was showing through. Painting a picture with fire and water shooting down on you was never easy, especially not on a ship like this; Rusted knot threaders, brittle wood at every step(it made the deck feel like thick broken down board or paper) and creaking hull guards.
Kisame was still more than interested with the glints that reflected off of the katana so he struck back, his own sword more for stabbing, puncturing and deep, fatal wounds unlike a precision cutter like an elite katana.
However, it was still strong enough to withstand the strength in the stiff bone of the flat sword so he pushed back. Kisame did have more muscle and physical ability but he was more than intent to avoid a rivet cut that could slide up- he didn't wear armour or gloves unless he was assured there was a need for it.
He leaned back on his footing, feeling the leather of his boots stiffen under the slosh of cool rain and he could smell the dry hide begin to create that burning autumn aroma. Kisame just laughed though, happy this way as he pushed back with a dark intent, striking his own sword towards the colourful clothing that the young man was dressed in.
A step back, arching his back over to avoid the impending strike from the oncoming sword to only barely knick the cloth, not even enough to break the finely knit stitching of his clothes. But his intentions were known to him now, this was no play fight it certainly was do or die.
The sword had two angles to use, offensive and defensive each depending on the density of the blade, the steel only cut so deep with the unsharpened edge but still in the defensive it was able to take a man down and leave him writhing in pain for days with lesions. That was the angle that Itachi took, low eyes on his feet watching for the twitch of movement, head ducking under the impending blow with a slice towards the mid section, dragging horizontally and out past their bodies and to the side leaving himself completely open to him but at the close quarter range and the side of his weapon, it was useless against him.
Kisame took the opportunity to swing his arm back, keeping the blade vertical with his sword hand twisted in an awkward position- simply to be able to defend himself. His sword did not stop the swing, but it slowed it enough for his eyes to note the loud sound of metal clashing on metal, stepping back to prevent himself from being caught between the two.
He had his better blade at his side and he was prepared to take up arms with his left hand, before pushing back against Itachi, stepping back towards him- indeed noting the watchful stare on the eyes.
Defensive moves seemed to be all that he was doing towards him with no sign yet of an attack, either he was waiting for the moment or planning on wearing him out with his own strenuous attacks but Itachi didn't wear that easy.
Compared to most people Itachi's speed was phenomenal with his teachers constantly praising him for his quickness and agility which is a one on one battle gave the edge for escaping oncoming attacks without the use of a block, leaving the sword open for the strike. The traditional British ways of fencing never showed these skills, leaving the body unguarded for the attack and diving for cover if the metal was to snap.
Charging back in with a step to the side to avoid any incoming attacks that he might have been blindsided with, the young Uchiha crossed his katana over his body to block the sparks of metal from the friction between the two, his knee raised up between the closeness of the bodies and a short kick to push him back and further away again, using the power of his leg muscles as he extended it to his far reach.
Kisame smirked and felt the pressure, moving back with it before leaning back in again, swinging his right hand as his left rest on the hilt cover on his hip. Kisame was left handed, but he could still use his right perfectly, though he was used to using his thicker blade with the right. It was easier to have a lack of precision with it, clubbing around something with extra weapons on an already deadly blade. The sword he was using now was best in his left hand which could master angles without the need to stare at it and strain his eyes.
He didn't switch though; it was possible that he could use his precise skill on the left after if he had a chance to switch- if he needed to. "Hmm..." He purred to himself, fucking slightly with Itachi's continuous assaults, leaning back in again to over power him with the strength that the raw muscle had. He did a standard attack, assuming he was simply injuring his own pride with his hesitance to move hands. (It was just going to be trouble some to unhook the stronger of blades from his left side with his right feeler. Troublesome.
When it came to sheer brute force Kisame had him beat with his body weight clearly outweighing his own. From the looks of him with the bulky frame and the strong chiselled outlines, he would be a slow oafish target but he was quite fast in his speed so much that it even impressed the young Uchiha, taking a second look making sure never to just by visual impressions alone as clearly looks were deceiving.
Taking a step back to assess the situation briefly he relaxed the tight grip on the handle, the colour returning to his knuckles getting the blood circulating back to them. The furious wind slashed at his body, his eyes stinging from the harsh cold rain beating down upon them, a brief shift of his eyes over to his men and then over to the others that appeared to be slowly advancing on him and then back to Kisame. "I haven't got all day pirate" he growled, readying his position again.
"Sir!" the second in command on the ship with Itachi called, the storm raging around them. "Sir we must return to the ship before it's impossible!" The ships were pitching next to each other dangerously, the threat of the masts tearing each other off very close. Deidara grumbled to himself, squinting through the rain and his long hair plastered to his face to watch the fight between the two men. The rain was beating on him, but he couldn't shield himself from it with his hands pulled back around the mast. In a frenzy of shouts and rolling objects a wave rose up to crash onto the deck of the Navy ship, dragging a few poor souls off as well as a few things not tied down. Spitting out a mouthful of the salty water, Deidara shook his head to try and rid himself of the water, looking around at the men scrambling to prepare the ship better.
Another ferociously crash against the ship almost made Itachi loose his footing but a nearby crate prevented that. The spray from the waves crashing up on board showered his as he looked back at his ship and then over at Kisame debating the decision... to let a pirate just go like that or to protect the life of his men. The answer became more apparent with the two ships knocking together again with the violent knock breaching the ship's hull with small parts of rotting wood breaking off into the water.
Shaky steps back towards the ship from the violent rocking of the boat not giving anyone of them a chance to advance while he back was turned, he looked at the bigger man and silently cursed since he was getting away from him but he would be sure that he would get him again. Glaring at him to say in his own way that the fight was not over yet and that he would come after him again, Itachi backed up the plank adjoining the two ships, katana still reached out not allowing himself to put it away until he was on board.
Kisame himself panted and just watched, eying his rival carefully. He did not trust the Lieutenant any more than the Lieutenant trusted him. He was not going to call for the cannons- as it was obvious that all the gunpowder was going to dampen and dud and that would result in a lack of stock (which would call for an early porting); something he could not afford.
He could not make port any time soon, the ominous look in the 'kid's weird eyes silently warning him of that much. Once the ship was partially aside, he looked at the lagging members of his crew, tsking as they had lost a hostage. "What? Would you all like to drown?" He asked with a sugar coated voice, glaring at them all.
Of course he was angry, he had failed to pursue a fight until there was a conclusion- without one, the story was never complete and the introduction and only a few body chapters were foretold, there was still much to uncover and history had to be written by the winner- and he was more let down by the lack of action with his already disgusting number of grotesque men on the ship. His only amusement was gone and he did not want the foul mood to be his last on a wild stretch of enraged and scorned ocean.
Squinting through the heavy drops of rain, Deidara watched the battle come to an end, watching the Navy officers return to the ship as it pitched into the storm. The Lieutenant gave orders to his men to get the ship away from the other and batten it down for the storm. The rain caused his hair to be plastered to him in the most annoying ways until a rather large wave crashed onto the deck of the Navy ship as it dropped lower into the sea, causing all his hair to hang over his face like a sheet of blond.
".......A little help here, un?" he said in frustration, though no one seemed to give him a second though.
Finishing out his barking orders to the rest of the men, the Lieutenant joined his commander at his side once he was back on ship but Itachi didn't even look at him with his intent glare back at Kisame as the two boats began to drift apart. His eyes did the speaking for him to let the other know that no filthy pirate was going to get out of his grasp and that he would certainly be back again to settle the fight but at a time on convenience, not when they were threatened by mother nature with one mistaken move and your life will be at an end.
Swiping at the long bangs that clung to his face from the spray of the squally ocean, Itachi gave the pirate one last look and turned on his heel moving back to port side to head back to his quarters, his feet squelching from the regulation leather boots as they were soaked to the very tip. He wanted to dry up before a chill would come on.
The Lieutenant ran to his side once again trying to grab his attention that he craved to received especially since the only time he did was went an order was given, he wanted to be recognised for his hard work and effort wanting that extra something that he could put to the higher officials to get that promotions so he would then have his job. By the gruff look on his superior’s face he could tell that he had his attention now, informing him of damages that were suffered during the brief encounter, men lost at sea and other details that he thought he should be aware of.
Itachi took mental note of it all even so as far as to make sure that the families were notified of the ones lost at sea but he didn't speak to any of it until he heard the words "What should be do with the prisoner?" ...He did not give any order to take anyone captive so when he turned his head in the direction pointed out for him to see a complaining blond confined to the mast he finally understood. "Once we are at a safe distance... release him" he informed his subordinate in an official tone. He certainly did not give any orders to tie up someone who had seeked refuge with them and he was blatantly being mistreated with just being left out in the harsh elements but it was a precaution none the less, his size was not fully revealed to them and he still harboured some suspicions about him.
"But Sir! He is a prisoner... a common uncouth pirate and we..." He didn't have time to finish with the eyes of the Lieutenant-Commander piercing right back at him making him swallow hard. The looks from him were enough to bring a person to their knees begging for forgiveness and he was one of them but he kept his composure, staying very still bracing himself for the scolding he was about to receive.
"Release...him!" was all that Itachi commanded of him, moving past and going to his quarters.
The stunned Lieutenant blinked a few times once everything had sunk in, taking a look over the girlish looking blond and then back at his commander walking further away with a look that showed him to be utterly perplex. "Huh? Him?"
Deidara coughed sea water that had smacked him in the face, shaking his head of water as he glanced around at the people rushing around. This was a set off, though also beneficial of sorts and also very bad. While he'd gotten away from the pirates, he was now on board a navy ship, not sure how they thought of him in the slight - he could already be a dead man if they suspected him to be a pirate and worst of everything was: his ship was still attached to Kisame's. How inconvenient. He glanced up as some shiny important person came up and barked an order to release him. Oh, good! His arms were getting sore.
Despite the looks of confusion and distrust in the decision, the shacks were taken off and Deidara pitched forward on the deck of the ship, not realizing how tight they'd been on his wrists and shoulders. He sat up and wrapped his arms around himself to rub his aching shoulders, but was grabbed from behind by the collar and dragged over to the Captain's quarters. "Sir, what do you want me to do with him?" he asked through the door, keeping a firm hand on Deidara's neck and collar to keep him from standing up.
It would have been more of an inviting entrance if he had decided to knock and announce himself first, Itachi's unruly hair hung low out of it's confinements from the band that held it together from the brief towel over. "Let him go for starters" he told him calmly, dragging the damp hair back with his hands, smoothing it neatly into a loose ponytail and securing it.
"But Sir! He could be a pirate" he protected, making sure that the grip on the blonds’ neck didn't cease. He didn't trust him, the rest of the crew didn't for that fact either and here they were harbouring him when he should have been thrown to the fishes and left to rot and putrefy in the depths of the ocean to be feasted on at leisure. But yet their Leader was telling them otherwise, the Navy did not take pirates lightly and nor did Commander Uchiha normally so why was he being so forgiving and trusting of this one person.
"...Did I make myself unclear?" Itachi stated lifting his eyes staring straight at the officer, narrowing darkly at him to make sure that he understood what he meant.
A sigh of defeat was what he gave as he released the dirty scamp, shoving him forward closer towards Itachi before taking a step back, saluting and apologising for his rudeness, leaving the dark and light haired men alone.
He studied the blonde carefully not one to take anyone lightly, trying to discover anything that seemed out of place that lead his men to believe that he was a pirate. If he was a pirate that would be another matter to deal with but now he was under the protection of the British Royal Navy… plus there was something about him that Itachi couldn’t put his finger on, something interesting about him, enigmatic if you will. Only time would tell during his stay if he was a pirate.