{oneshot} the oriental surfer (part three) ; ryoda

[kyjr]

The kitchen smelt of stewing meat. There was smoke rising from pots, the sound of water bubbling over quickly reaching Ueda's ears as he descended down the stairs. "Koki?" he called through the steam.

"Cabin boy?" Koki answered, looking up from a pot he was stirring. "What're you doin' 'ere?"

"Want me to do anything?" he asked, gazing at the mess on the benches. There were saucepans everywhere, the remains of breakfast still clinging to the sides of them. Knives were left out, just lying on the bench; plates and bowls stacked atop each other in perilous towers.

"Nah," Koki said, shaking his head. "Jus' come an' taste this for me?"

The soup was the best thing Ueda had ever tasted. It was a strange mix of flavours, but everyone seemed to enjoy it, finishing the entire pot off at dinner time. The meal was quiet, the atmosphere subdued, and Ueda could see Nishikido's eyes slide over to the empty seat next to him every so often.

No-one wanted to fill that seat.

After dinner, Koki forced Ueda to go and see Koyama. Even though he had told Ueda that he didn't need any help in the kitchen, Ueda had been washing dishes, and practically 'hobblin' around the place', as Koki had put it.

So he was now once again standing on deck, wrapped in bandages, the night air softly blowing his hair about his face as he looked out to the sea. The sea was a funny thing, he thought to himself. There was just all this... nothingness out there. He knew there were creatures within it's depths, but he hadn't seen any. Nothing in the past week and a half he had been here.

"Trying to find the answer to life?" a voice asked, and Ueda was shaken from his, albiet strange, reverie. Nishikido stood a little way off, the ghost of a smile on his face. He looked haggard, his eyes rather red and his hands fidgeting with his scarf, which he had taken off his head. "You won't find it in the water, though. I've already tried."

Ueda smiled faintly. "No, it wasn't that..."

Nishikido walked over to him, joining him in staring at the water below them. "Can't sleep again?" he asked, nudging him in the side.

"No," Ueda answered, shaking his head. "I haven't even tried."

Nishikido said nothing in return. He just pressed closer to Ueda, his arm against Ueda's own. It should have been uncomfortable. It should have been weird and Ueda should have wanted to squirm away, but he didn't. He found that he actually liked the warmth coming from Nishikido's body, and sighed a little.

"Thankyou," Nishikido mumbled.

"For what?" Ueda asked, knowing full-well what he was thanking him for.

"For... before." Nishikido coughed a little. "You didn't have to do that."

"It's okay," Ueda murmured.

"Did I hurt you?" Nishikido asked, and Ueda could feel his good eye on him. He shook his head, but Nishikido knew he was lying. "Ueda. Did I hurt you?"

Ueda winced at his tone. "Only a little," he admitted finally, shrugging his shoulders. "But I've been worse."

"Oh..." Nishikido trailed off, looking apologetic. "Koyama tells me he patched you up."

"It was nothing, really. Just a few bruises," Ueda explained. It was the truth; Koyama couldn't do much to the bruises dotting his body. All he could do was change his bandages, and send him on his way.

"You sure? I didn't exactly hold back," Nishikido added, concern flashing across his face as he peered at Ueda's face.

"I'm fi--"

"You've got a black eye," Nishikido said suddenly, gently pressing his fingertips to Ueda's jaw and turning him to face him.

"It's not really black...it's kind of yellow," Ueda countered, trying not to meet Nishikido's eyes. His fingers were surprisingly soft against the skin of Ueda's cheek. Ueda was confused; there was a gentle kind of expression on Nishikido's face, not unlike the one he wore earlier that day, when he was asleep.

Ueda's heart pounded in his chest. Nishikido was looking at him with this soft gaze, kind of thoughtful, as he cupped Ueda's cheek in his palm, stroking his skin with his thumb. Ueda's breath caught in his throat, suddenly finding it hard to breathe. Nishikido lowered his head, pausing when he was just a hairsbreadth from Ueda's face.

Ueda could feel Nishikido's breath ghosting across his skin. He could feel the slight tremor in his breath as he touched Ueda's forehead with his own, his nose brushing against Ueda's tenderly. It was a poignant moment, something he never expected to share with Nishikido.

Nishikido's lips brushed against Ueda's own lightly, before drawing away. He gazed at Ueda, his eyes dark, and kissed him again.

Ueda hesitated, Nishikido's lips motionless on his own. This was a bad idea. It was a very bad idea. But... if it was so bad, why did he find himself sighing, and giving into the kiss? Nishikido was so gentle, holding Ueda as though he would break, and Ueda's resolve cracked, moving his arms to take hold of the hem of Nishikido's shirt.

The kiss deepened, turning hungry and desperate. Nishikido wound his other arm around Ueda's waist, bringing him in closer, his hand sliding from his cheek to the back of his neck. Ueda shuddered, but whether it was because of the closeness of their bodies or the sea breeze, he didn't know. All he knew was that he was getting lost in the kiss, in the way Nishikido's lips were soft against his own, the way his fingers were playing with the ends of Ueda's hair.

They didn't know how or when they moved to Nishikido's quarters.

Ueda yelped in pain as Nishikido practically threw him onto the bed, every bruise and cut complaining. Nishikido crawled over the top of him, kissing him passionately, already moving his hands over Ueda's body. Ueda couldn't get enough of it, running his hands through Nishikido's hair and arching into his touch.

Nishikido hastily removed Ueda's shirt, throwing it to the floor and pausing, staring at the bandages. "It's okay," Ueda panted, but Nishikido just ran his fingers over the bandages wrapping Ueda's upper body.

So Ueda took charge, slipping a hand under Nishikido's shirt and splaying his palm out on his stomach. He sat up, locking eyes with Nishikido, and curiously touched his other hand to Nishikido's face, briefly brushing his trembling fingers over his eyepatch, checking to see whether it was alright with the other. When Nishikido said nothing, he carefully lifted the eyepatch, tossing it aside.

A wide scar stretched across Nishikido's eye, from his eyebrow down to his cheekbone. His eye itself was unharmed it seemed; he gazed back at Ueda, lust and something that seemed a little like uncertainty shining within it. Ueda lightly pressed his fingertips to his eye, tracing the length of the scar. He placed a hesitant kiss to Nishikido's eye and drew away, but Nishikido cupped Ueda's face in his hands, and pulled him back in, kissing him softly.

"Can-- can you see-- ah-- out of it?" Ueda asked between kisses. Nishikido chuckled against his lips, nodding slightly.

"A little, but-- let's not talk, right now," he said, voice deep with promise as he lowered Ueda to the mattress once again. His kisses trailed down Ueda's neck, licking at the junction of his neck and shoulder while Ueda grasped his shirt and tugged, trying to pull it off. Nishikido sat back to strip his shirt off, quickly covering Ueda's body with his own again and running his hands up and down his arms.

Ueda's own hands were practically all over Nishikido's upper body, mapping out the muscles in his back. The room was full of the sounds of their panting and the creak of the ship as it crashed over the waves, but the two didn't care, too lost in each other. Nishikido sucked on Ueda's collarbone, nipping sharply at his skin, and Ueda threw his head back, moaning. Nishikido looked at him, expression open and full of want.

"Fuck, that was hot," was all he said, before sealing their mouths together once more, all tongue and teeth turning Ueda on more than it should have. Nishikido ground his hips down upon Ueda's, causing them both to cry out in pleasure. "Pants--"

Ueda didn't have to be told twice. He quickly rid himself of his pants and shoes, watching Nishikido do the same from the corner of his eye. Ueda finished first, and moved so he was sitting behind Nishikido, placing gentle kisses to his shoulders, noting the numerous scratches and scars he had all over his body.

When Nishikdo was done, he spent no time in turning back around and kissing Ueda passionately, once again moving over him. Nishikido's hands were all over, but he was very careful to avoid Ueda's bandages. Ueda threaded his fingers through Nishikido's hair, pulling him closer, until their bodies were touching completely. "I'm not gonna break," Ueda said, before kissing Nishikido harshly, swallowing his deep moan.

Nishikido cautiously turned Ueda onto his stomach, guiding him with the lightest of touches to Ueda's hip. "Just being careful," Nishikido said, "Because of those cuts." Ueda rested his head on his crossed arms, feeling rather embarrassed and exposed; redness crept into his cheeks, causing Nishikido to chuckle.

"You're infuriating," Ueda said boldly as Nishikido moved his head to the side, so he could kiss him once more. Nishikido paused, but as Ueda let out a breathy laugh he let it go, leaning down to nip at Ueda's lips.

"But you love it," he teased, earning a moan from the other as he licked the shell of his ear. Ueda's stomach flipped with what he assumed were nerves when he felt Nishikido's hand on his hip, the other drawing circles on his shoulder. "This is gonna hurt--"

Even as he said it, Nishikido pressed a finger in, Ueda flinching and trying to squirm away. "Stop--"

"I told you," was all Nishikido said, adding another finger. Ueda groaned, the stretch making itself known, but Nishikido just ignored him, breathing heavily behind him. And maybe it was because he couldn't see what Nishikido was doing, but it was undeniably hot, especially when Nishikido leant over, his fingers going deeper than before, and whispering, "You're so tight, cabin boy."

Ueda could only try to muffle a moan as Nishikido pulled his fingers out and crawled back up his body, plastering his chest to Ueda's back. Ueda could feel the trepidation rising up, but when Nishikido reached around to wrap a hand around him, it fled from his mind. "Ah-- Nishikido--"

Nishikido kissed the nape of his neck, slowly pressing into him, grunting. Ueda whimpered - a sound he would never admit to making; the stretch burning and just bordering on pain. But Nishikido didn't stop; he pulled right out before thrusting back in, groaning as Ueda clenched around him.

It was uncomfortable at first, but when Nishikido's hands lifted his hips off the bed and the angle changed, he was a moaning mess, reaching back for Nishikido to pull him into another kiss. He had never had sex like this before. The other men he had been with were rough, very rough. Nishikido was unrefined and indelicate, sure, but he had these moments that just made Ueda's breath catch in his throat; little, gentle moments like now, when Nishikido softly kissed the skin behind Ueda's ear.

Nishikido's pace fastened, and Ueda gasped, bucking his hips back. He heard Nishikido groan and felt him shudder, biting down onto his shoulder. Ueda cried out, the mix of pleasure and pain becoming too much, and he came, dirtying the sheets underneath him and clenching around Nishikido. Nishikido himself groaned again, panting, mumbling something under his breath, before coming inside Ueda, pulling out and causing Ueda to wince.

As Nishikido collapsed next to him on the bed, exhausted, Ueda could feel the come trickling down his legs, but he was too tired to do anything about it. Nishikido sighed, turning to his side and watching Ueda, who tried to move onto his back. His bandages were sweaty and disgusting, and he just wanted to unwind them from his body, but he was too tired. Now he just wanted to sleep.

His body was calming down, now, and he was starting to feel the cold air. Ueda was about to get off the bed, ready to forget everything that had just happened, but Nishikido was pulling the sheets up before he could move, grunting and lying on his back.

The room was quiet, the sounds of the waves outside seemingly so much louder than they were. "You didn't kill Pi," Nishikido murmured, rubbing his forehead. Ueda turned his head, surprised at what he had just said.

"What?"

Nishikido cleared his throat. "You said you killed Yamapi, but you didn't. It was his decision; his own fault. You see," he said, coughing a little before throwing his arm over his eyes, "he knew that if I had tried to shoot Subaru, I could have killed you instead--"

"So he jumped in front of me deliberately?"

Nishikido nodded. Ueda replayed the scene in his head - the way Yamashita had glanced over to Nishikido; Nishikido's slight shake of the head. He saw the look in Nishikido's eyes, cautioning Yamashita against it. And then Nishikido's words - "You did good."

"So, it's not your fault," Nishikido was saying, and Ueda turned his head so he could see him better. "He knew what he was doing."

There were hundreds of questions rolling about in his head, tumbling over each other, but none of them were asked. Ueda just lay there, feeling fuzzy and tired and rather sore, and all he could think to say was, "You should hate me."

Nishikido shifted on the bed, leaning on one elbow and just looking at Ueda. "I don't hate you," he said in a strangled voice. Ueda just gazed up at him. Nishikido's eyes were soft, but he said nothing else, and just lay down again, turning his back to Ueda. "Go to sleep, it's been a long day."

And so Ueda drifted off to sleep, staring at the scars criss-crossing over Nishikido's back. He had seen too much today. Not just what had happened earlier, but this sensitive side of the captain; this side that he hadn't expected. He had held Ueda so gently, so gingerly, even though just hours before he was punching him to the floor.

Nishikido was one contradiction after the other, but Ueda found that he didn't mind all that much.

>>><<<

When Ueda woke up, Nishikido had gone. Which was alright, he was fine with that. Obviously the night before had meant nothing to Nishikido. It meant nothing to Ueda, either. Nothing at all.

But when he thought of the way Nishikido had looked down at him, something tender deep within those eyes, his heart seemed to constrict and-- No. No, this wasn't going to happen, he thought to himself, standing and getting dressed, the ache in his lower back going ignored. There would be no falling for the captain of this ship, he told himself. Not at all.

It was a ridiculous thought, loving Nishikido. The man had caused him nothing but pain and humiliation; the lashes, the stupid rules about eating, the punches. He would only be used. Nothing good would come from falling in love.

And so Ueda continued on as he had, sneaking out of Nishikido's quarters and wishing he could have a bath. He felt sticky and disgusting, and he just wanted to wash it all away.

"Ueda?" Nakamaru asked, coming around the corner, his expression suspicious. He looked from Ueda's face to the closed door of Nishikido's sleeping quarters behind him and back again. "What're you doing?"

Ueda froze, eyes wide. "Uh... nothing," he lied, shifting. Nakamaru just knotted his eyebrows, and Ueda knew that he could see right through him.

"New bruise?" Nakamaru said, moving past him, gesturing to his eye.

"Mm... It's just a small one, though," he answered, following Nakamaru out and into the sunlight.

"Who hit you this time?"

"...No-one," he said, welcoming the usual sounds of the other pirates working. Nakamaru let the conversation drop, understanding that Ueda didn't want to talk about it, and left with a small nod in his direction.

Ueda supposed he should go back down to the kitchens, but he stopped dead as he noticed the ship coming closer. He knew that ship. He knew those sails.

That was Jin's ship.

What was he going to do? He couldn't very well just stand there and wait for Jin to find him. Ueda knew he was after him. But he couldn't go back - that was the reason he was here in the first place. Suddenly, Nishikido was beside him, a steady hand on his back, pushing him gently down the stairs to the kitchen, eyes locked on the approaching ship.

"Stay there," he said, before walking over to Koyama, who was waiting with his arms full of books. Ueda nodded, even though he knew Nishikido couldn't see him, and disappeared down the rest of the stairs.

Ueda quickly went to work washing dishes, with Koki rushing here and there attempting to make breakfast for everyone, muttering under his breath about Koyama every so often. He was rather scatter-brained this morning, Ueda noticed. He was talking to himself more, tripping over his own feet and scowling whenever Ueda got in the way. From Koki's rambles, Ueda understood that Koyama was asking him to help with some of the manual labour and as such, didn't have enough time to prepare the meals.

Breakfast wasn't much, as they were running out of food, and had to do with hastily made crackers and something unidentifiable and grey and Ueda really didn't want to know what it was. But they all ate it without complaints, every morsel gone by the time everyone had disappeared again.

Nishikido kept sending Ueda glances out of the corner of his eye. Ueda tried to ignore them, not liking the way his whole body would freeze when he caught his eye, but every so often he would find himself looking back up, unconsciously searching for Nishikido's gaze. Nakamaru elbowed him, and sent him a knowing smile, which just confused Ueda more.

Ueda caught himself staring at Nishikido, replaying the images from the night before in his head and feeling the heat rise to his face. Every time he saw Nishikido smile, he thought of those tender little moments and had to look away, finding the food suddenly very appealing.

After the meal, which was finished quite quickly, the crew left, going back to their usual back-breaking work. Ueda was sent to work immediately, cleaning up after the pirates. Koki had gone with Koyama, who had needed him to help with something, leaving Ueda alone to scrub at the pots and pans. It was quiet by himself, without Koki muttering obsenities under his breath, the sounds of the ship creaking and the scuttle of rat's claws somewhere in the cupboards the only noises to accompany him.

"They'll be here by tomorrow."

Ueda jumped and whipped around at the voice, even though he knew who it was. Nishikido was leaning against the bench, lazily toying with one of the ladles which had been left out. "Tomorrow?" Ueda repeated, trying to calm his rapidly beating heart.

Nishikido nodded, putting the ladle down again and moving to look at Ueda. "Jin. His ship should reach us tomorrow, according to Koyama. Tomorrow, you're to go down to where Pi sent you - the storage room - and stay there." Nishikido moved closer, backing Ueda up against the sink. "Do you hear me? You will stay there and not move until I come and get you."

"But I can--"

"Just. Stay. There," Nishikido interrupted forcefully, grabbing onto Ueda's shoulders and staring him right in the eye. "I don't want a repeat of yesterday's performance."

A pause. Nishikido's hands went from Ueda's shoulders down to his hips, and Ueda felt a shudder run through his body. He wanted to push him away; place his hands on Nishikido's chest and just push, but he found that he couldn't.

And then Nishikido was kissing him, passionate and rough, pressing him into the kitchen bench. Ueda could only kiss him back, grasping onto Nishikido's shirt and feeling the strange desperation in the kiss, losing himself once more. He found his fingers entwined in Nishikido's hair, his fingertips grazing the strap of his eyepatch again. Nishikido made a noise, and suddenly lifted Ueda up, much to Ueda's surprise, and set him down upon the bench, still kissing him.

"Last night was meant to be a one-time thing," Nishikido murmured between kisses. "Get the fuck out of my mind, you leech--"

Ueda just drew him closer, winding his legs around Nishikido's body; Nishikido groaned into Ueda's mouth, his hands grabbing at Ueda's waist; Ueda sighed, his fingers dancing over Nishikido's cheek, pressing lightly at the old scar over his eye--

"'Scuse me, jus' need that towel, gonna squeeze in here--"

Ueda pushed Nishikido away, panting for breath and both of them feeling the heat rise to their faces as Koki reached around them, picking up a large, checkered towel. Nishikido was hiding a grin, Ueda could tell, but he saw nothing funny about it. Nishikido wasn't the one who was facing Koki, red-faced and embarrassed.

Nishikido nodded to Koki, still trying to hold back a laugh. "Right, well, I should be off... Koyama needs to see me or something--" He ran into the corner of the bench as he tried to leave, muttering his apologies to Koki and rushing up the stairs.

Ueda kept his head down, still bright red, and staring at the floor. Koki, however, bustled around the kitchen, murmuring to himself about the lunch preparations. When Koki's feet appeared in his sight, though, and Koki cleared his throat pointedly, he looked up slowly, meeting his eyes.

"Could you move? Only, I got a knife in there that I need, an' you're kinda in the way," he said. Ueda stared at him, before jumping down off the bench and moving to the side. Koki nodded at him, picked up his knife from the sink, and went back to his vegetables. He paused, wiping the knife with a teatowel, and looked up at Ueda. "What're you doin', jus' standin' there like that?"

"Huh?"

"Get a knife, help me chop these," Koki huffed, throwing the teatowel at Ueda, who caught it in surprise. "Come on, don't look at me like that. Look at the time, we best hurry or else we won't make it for lunch..." Koki continued to ramble, shuffling over so Ueda could fit in next to him, to help him with the vegetables.

They said nothing for a while, until Koki stopped and chuckled.

"So. The captain, huh?"

"Oh, shut up."

>>><<<

"You needed to see me, captain?" Koyama asked, peering into the room. Nishikido stood there, stroking his bird, who clicked his beak and closed his eyes happily.

"Yes. It's about Jin," Nishikido said, and Koyama moved to sit down.

"You sure it's not about that cabin boy you've--"

"Stop talking now," Nishikido interrupted sternly, but Koyama only laughed. Nishikido softened, and perched himself on the corner of his desk, facing Koyama. "...What about him?"

Koyama had an annoying knowing look on his face when he started speaking. "There's that look again."

"What look? There's no look!"

"Right there," Koyama said, laughing slightly, and leaning forward to flick Nishikido on the forehead. "There is a look, sir, and you only show it every so often. Shige's noticed, too."

"You told Shi-- I told you not to tell anyone!"

"Shige doesn't count!" Koyama said, waving his hand, before changing the subject. "You look rather ruffled, Ryo. Where have you been?"

Nishikido coughed. "Just-- I was just telling the cabin boy that--"

"Ueda."

"--Jin would be here by tomorrow. Do you have a problem with that?" Nishikido asked, trying to seem intimidating.

"No problem at all, sir," Koyama said, shaking his head. "Did you want to go over the plans for tomorrow?"

"Yes, that's why I called you," Nishikido said, glad at the distraction. Koyama nodded, straightening his clothes out. Nishikido smiled - Koyama would always tug at his clothes when he was thinking.

"What do you want us to do?"

"I've already told the cabin boy--"

"Ueda--"

"--to stay down in the storage room. Will you stop that," Nishikido snapped, but Koyama only smiled. "And I'll get Koki, Nakamaru and Pi to stand and fight."

The room was silent, until Koyama sat straighter and cleared his throat. "Who're you getting to fight?"

"I-- Nakamaru and Koki. Just-- Just Nakamaru and Koki," Nishikido said, realising his mistake and stumbling over his words. "Nakamaru and Koki..."

"I'll get Tegoshi to help me," Koyama offered. "We'll try to talk to him - try to banter with him. There must be something he wants from us."

Nishikido was quiet, thinking deeply. "There is something he'll want. Maybe he'll leave us alone if we give it to him."

"What is it?" Koyama asked, intrigued by the flash of determination in Nishikido's eye.

"You'll see tomorrow."

>>><<<

Jin announced his arrival the next morning with gunfire, jolting Ueda from sleep. Blearily, he saw Shige getting dressed hastily, casting worried glances up to the roof as if he could see what was happening on deck. Tegoshi was being pulled out of the room by Koyama, who was also shouting at Ueda to get up.

Ueda quickly stood, taking in the situation and realising what Koyama wanted him to do. He rushed past he and Tegoshi, and headed for the storage room. He paused, however, when he heard the heavy footfalls overhead; the yells of the men from both crews reaching his ears. He was never a coward, never one to back down from a fight.

He was about to turn back, but suddenly he remembered Nishikido's words. Yamashita's face swam before his eyes, the moment when Subaru rushed at him replaying through his mind. And so Ueda found himself squeezing into the store room quietly, slipping between the crates and boxes till he reached what he figured was the opposite wall. Ueda crouched, worried over what was happening above on deck.

He supposed he just had to sit there and wait for Nishikido to come and get him...

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