"What are you staring at, Captain?"
The tall boy asked as he drank.
"...That boy..."
The boy addressed as captain, pointed at the small figure sitting on the fat man's lap.
The boy had long brown hair and big bright eyes. He kept his arm around the fat man's neck, and the fat man's hairy arm was around the boy's skinny waist possessively.
"Hn... Thought he was a girl..."
The tall boy shrugged.
The captain kept watching the slender boy as he pulled out the unwanted cards for the fat man. He couldn't understand why such beauty would be on earth with such an ugly creature. The stubby fingers stroking the smooth uncovered thigh annoyed him.
Finally, he stood up.
The tall boy sitting beside him watched silently as his captain walked to the table where the fat man sat.
"Jesus Christ! A full house!!"
The fat man laughed again as the small boy collected the prize around the table. He drank the whole glass of beer and threw his cards.
"Who's up for the next round!?"
The boy with long brown hair gathered the cards to shuffle.
"Count me in."
The fat man and his players turned to see a young boy, probably a teenager, pulling up a chair across the fat man.
"Well, well. What have we got here?"
The fat man licked his lips. This newcomer looked rather... "tasty".
"Do you know how to play, boy?"
One of the players asked, mockingly. The boy nodded in response.
"HEY!! I know you!!"
A bald man sitting next to the fat man suddenly shouted.
"You're Heero Yuy, captain of the WING Storm!! The man everyone calls Umi no Akuma!!"
Everyone in the pub gasped and started whispering to one another. They had no idea the Sea Devil was so young and small.
The fat man stroked his long beard and looked at the boy suspiciously.
"What a great honor, Captain Yuy... I've heard a great deal about you..."
The captain of the WING Storm just nodded.
"..Here's the deal... For this game, I will bet my ship.."
Everyone froze in silence. They knew about the great unsinkable WING Storm. Anyone willing to bet such a ship was insane.
The fat man closed his mouth and smiled.
"Surely... it isn't the gold you want, right? Something .... more.."
Fat man's smile faded.
"What do you want, Yuy?"
Heero Yuy smiled and eyed the boy shuffling the cards, who was completely oblivious to this situation.
The fat man blinked. And started his thunderous laugh. He couldn't believe it. A boy half his age, challenging him, risking his ship for a complete stranger?
He couldn't help but to laugh.
"Here boy! Go get your master a beer."
He took the cards from the boy's hands and pushed him aside. The boy shrugged and grabbed the glass on the table and walked away. Heero Yuy's eyes followed.
"Looks tasty, doesn't he?"
The fat man smirked and started to pass out the cards.
"No."
Captain Yuy collected the cards and took the rest from the man's hand.
"If you don't mind, I would like to play Black Jack."
Everyone sitting at the table started to laugh.
"No. I don't mind. Not at all, Captain Yuy."
The fat man smiled. Black Jack was his favorite game.
Heero Yuy passed the cards to the fat man and himself, and sat the stack in the middle.
The man looked at his cards and smiled.
"I'll stay. What about you, Captain?"
By this time, the tall boy was standing next to Heero. He wasn't really worried, but wanted to see the fat man's face when the game ends.
"Hit me."
The bald man tossed Heero a card. Heero picked it up, his expression unchanged.
"Hit me."
Bald man laughed and so did the others.
"I hope you know how to play, kid."
Heero picked up his second card.
The tall boy next to him sipped his whisky.
"Stay."
Heero said, quietly.
The fat man put his cards down and smiled.
"Ten and Jack. 20."
Some of the men started to cheer, but others were quiet. They were anxious to see Captain of the WING Storm's hand.
Heero set his cards down.
"King, 8, 2 and a Ace. 21."
The cheering men went dead silent.
Everybody in the pub was astonished. The fat man never lost. Especially in Black Jack...
"AAAAAGHH!!"
The fat man screamed and pulled his pistol out. But stopped short when he realized his "good" eye was looking at a gun.
"Surely, you don't want to be completely blind.."
Heero smiled, pointing his gun at him.
The fat man threw his gun down, grunting.
"...How did you know?.."
Heero twitched his eyebrow.
"What?"
"Don't play innocent, Yuy! You knew about the boy and the Treasure Island, didn't you?"
The fat man spat.
Heero cocked his head.
"..What are you talking about?.."
The fat man couldn't hide his amazement.
"...You don't know..... You really want that boy, don't you?"
The man smiled. He got up, supported by his crew.
"Ever heard about Treasure Island, kid?"
Heero nodded, putting his gun away.
"Well, that boy is the map. He's the only one that knows the way.... The key.."
"I thought Treasure Island was just a legend."
Heero crossed his arms. The fat man shrugged.
"..Well... I guess he was worth your ship, huh Yuy? For a boy your age, you have a good eye.. And besides..."
The fat man leant closer.
"... The boy is an angel.. I was going to keep him even after we find the island.."
Just when Heero was about to reply, the bald man yelled.
"Speaking of which... Where is that boy?"
Everyone looked around, but the boy had disappeared.
"I guess you have to find him first!!"
The fat man laughed again.
"Trowa."
The tall boy put his glass down.
"Find him. I'll be at the ship."
Trowa nodded and was out in a second.
Heero got up and placed two gold coins on the table and turned to the waitress.
"This is for our drink.."
And then he took eight more coins out of his pocket.
"And this is for the information... Thanks."
He got his bag and turned to leave.
"Captain Yuy!!"
The fat man called. Heero turned around.
"Take good care of him, will ya?!"
Heero nodded and left, not even asking for the fat man's name.
__________________________
"You don't give it to him. You pay for him!!"
The storeowner shouted. He was holding the crying boy while trying to grab the boy with a long brown hair.
"I would've paid until you hit him, you bastard!! He's only a little child, damn it!! Let him go!!"
The boy launched himself to attack the man, but the strong arm around his hip stopped him.
"I'm terribly sorry. Did he cause you any trouble?"
"What the...! Who are-.."
Trowa covered the boy's mouth.
"Are you his owner? Well, you have to train him, Mr. .. He stole my corn and gave it to this brat here."
The man showed the crying boy to Trowa.
"I would give it to them... The poor beggars... But corns are not cheap these days..."
The man tried to look sympathetic. The boy in Trowa's arm was moving violently now.
Trowa nodded.
"I apologize. He escaped from my ship and we've been looking all over for him... But because of you, I was able to find him.. Here.."
Trowa tossed six gold coins to the man. The boy with the long hair trapped in his arms stopped wriggling.
"And this is for the boy. Give him as many food as he needs."
Trowa tossed bagful of coins to the boy, who caught it smiling.
"Come on, boy."
Trowa half dragged, half carried the confused boy toward the harbor.