"How about-- WHAT DO YOU WANT?!"
Trowa frowned again. He could already see his captain getting annoyed by this loud mouth and throwing him overboard. Which he hoped...
"I'm just following orders."
The boy was ready to shout again, but froze when a dark image came to view.

".... You gotta be kidding....."
There it was... the "floating island." With its masts scraping the sky like trees and giant after-shrouds that was long enough to reach the heavens. The figure head of a winged angel was filled with pride. It was the most beautiful figure head the boy have ever seen. The giant ship made shivers run through the boy's body.

The great unsinkable WING Storm.

The boy stared, his eyes wide open, shocked. He never thought there will be a day when he could be this close to a masterpiece..

"You know the WING Storm.. Good. Then I suppose you know Captain Yuy.. It is he that wishes to see you."

The boy kept his eyes on the ship and couldn't clearly hear what Trowa said. But after a second or two, he violently turned to Trowa.
"WHAT!? Heero Yuy wishes to see me? Why?!!"
The boy backed up to the edge of the boat causing it to rock.

"Sit."
Trowa quietly commanded.
"No! Not until you tell me what the hell is going on!"
Trowa exhaled loudly for the third time and glared at the confused boy.
"Sit down."

The boy gulped unintentionally. He knew the authoritative voice took only yes as an answer. He quickly obeyed.
Trowa started to row again. Someone aboard the WING Storm threw down the Jacob's ladders for them to climb on. The boy with chestnut hair knew he was shaking, but couldn't stop. He didn't know what to expect from a legendary Captain who is rumored to be ruthless and killed every pirates in sight.
Trowa, realizing the boy's thoughts, opened his mouth to calm the boy.

"The Captain will update you with the information you need. Until then, behave."

"What have we got here? A new slave-pet?!"
Soon as the boy and Trowa reached the deck, taunts and laughter greeted them.
"Come here, boy! Introduce yourself to your masters!!"
Trowa sighed and glanced at the boy next to him. He was expecting the boy to explode and launch himself to the crews, but instead, the boy stood quietly. Smiling.

"What's wrong with you boy? Aren't you going to say 'hello'?! Oh, wait! I'm sorry. Could it be... because you're a girl? Oh, my! Where's our manners?!"
The biggest man in the crew bowed his head. The others laughed louder.
"That's enough."
Trowa commanded them. Still smiling, the crew went silent. The boy was amazed of Trowa's authority.
"This guy gives them orders?! He can't be much older than I am!!"

"But Trowa, who's the kid? I thought we had enough people to manage this ship."
The big guy who taunted the boy crossed his arms. He was obviously the leader of the crew. The rest nodded in agreement.

"Why don't you ask your captain?"
The boy with chest-nut hair finally spoke, not even afraid of the big-muscular leader. Instead, the boy walked up to the leader with his challenging eyes.
"Do you think I want to be here? With buncha empty-headed foul-smelling men like you?"
The boy stopped an inch apart from the man.
"I was taken away, abducted, kidnapped, while I was happily minding my own business with my master. Yes, my master! I am owned already! Now if you don't mind, I have to get back to my master. He should be worried by now and I'll-"

"You ran away from him."
Everyone turned their heads to the speaker. The boy with chest-nut hair turned to see a well dressed boy, probably his age, crossing his arms and smiling coldly at him. He looked as though he was looking down at the boy and it annoyed him.

"Ahh... I guess you were at the pub. Good. You saw my master then. You see, he told me to buy some food before we leave the island. So I went out-"
"He told you to get some more beer."
The boy with cold blue eyes interrupted. With his mouth still open, the boy with chest-nut hair blinked his eyes. This stranger heard what his master has said, but the only people who were close enough to hear were the card players around him. He doesn't remember seeing any young players around... Unless..

".... Were you... that... new player..?.."
The stranger nodded. The boy groaned. No more excuses. He knew the boy ran away from his master. The boy faced down, holding his hands up for surrender.
"Okay, okay. I did run from him."
The boy brushed his long chest-nut hair away from his face and smiled.
"The more reason I have to return. I'll just tell him I was kidnapped by you people... well you did.. But if you won't let me go, he'll be furious and-"
"You don't have to worry. That's already taken care of."

The smile faded from the boy's face. He was totally confused.
"... What do you mean... taken care of?.."
The stranger with blue eyes stepped forward.
"I won you on the bet."

"WHAT!!?"
The chest-nut hair boy shouted. He couldn't believe his master would bet him on a game... and lose.
He quickly walked towards the stranger and snatched his arm.
"You cheated."
The boy slipped out a card from the stranger's coat sleeve. The stranger shrugged, still smiling. Suddenly, he grabbed the boy's arm and reached inside his sleeve to find some hidden cards.
"Takes one to know one."
The stranger with blue eyes held the cards in front of the boy's face. The boy gulped. He couldn't win against this guy... But he still couldn't understand...

"... What did you bet on the game?"
The fact that his master would bet him on a game still bothered him. If his master was willing to give him up, it must be for something worthwhile...

"This ship."
The stranger flatly stated. The boy dropped his mouth open.
"The WING Storm?! He used the WING Storm on a bet!? What the hell was he thinking!!"
And suddenly, the boy's eyes went wide.
"..Wait..... then that must.. mean... this guy.. is.."
"The Captain of WING Storm?!!"
The boy yelled and quickly backed away from the stranger. He didn't want to believe it.. but....
"The one and only."
The stranger, Captain Yuy, bowed.

The boy wanted to jump off the ship and swim as far as he could, but instead, his legs gave up and fell.
"This guy is Heero Yuy?! The man who appeared in many pirate stories and the man everyone feared?!"
He imagined Heero Yuy to be big and muscular, kind of like the leader of the crew behind him.
But before anything, he just insulted the Captain of WING Storm in front of his crew. The boy held his aching head.

"You gotta be kidding..."
That was all he could say.

"AH~~HAHAHAHAHAHAHA~~!!!"
Suddenly, the crew behind the boy laughed out like thunder. The boy almost jumped up and turned around. The leader of the crew advanced to help him up.
"Here kid. Give me your hand."

The boy stared up at him for a moment but took his hand. It was large and very... warm.
"We were wonderin' how a boy like you could stand up to our captain like that.. Hahaha.. I guess it's your first time meeting him. It's a good thing he wants you alive... or otherwise..."
The big man slashed his neck with his index finger. The boy gulped, but tried to keep smiling.
"..Haha... I see..."
The man pulled him up and patted the boy's shoulder. The boy winced at the pain.
"Make yourself comfortable, kid... And uh.. sorry for insulting you like that...we just wanted to see how you'd react.. But no hard feelings, heh? You're going to be our guide from now on!"
The man took the boy's hand and shook it hard.
"The name's Hector. Nice t' meet ya kid!"
And then the man pointed at his crew.
"That short one right there's Mick.. Oh, and that tall n' skinny one's Bo, and that-"
"Wait, wait, wait! A guide?"
The boy waved his hand in front of Hector to stop and explain. Hector looked at the boy, confused, and turned to his captain.

Heero nodded.
"I didn't explain to him yet."
He looked at the puzzled boy.
"The reason you're here.. is because we want you to guide us to Treasure Island."

"..How..?"
The boy gasped. He couldn't believe what he has just heard. His master promised he wouldn't tell anybody about the Treasure Island. He swore on that day....
"I guess he told you.. then.."
Heero just nodded. The boy closed his eyes.
"Why? Why did he break my promise? He would never betray me..."
The boy observed Heero.
"What is it? What does he have that made my master betray me?"
"Alright, I'll do it. Not like I have a choice, right?"
The boy smiled and shrugged.
"I'm going to find out.."
The boy looked at Heero.
"I am going to find out who you are, Captain Yuy. He always had good judgment on people... I wanna find out what you're all about..."

"Hey, kid. I believe we didn't catch your name."
The boy turned to Hector. The boy grinned. It never occurred to him that he hasn't introduced himself yet.

"The name's Duo. Duo Maxwell."
"Well, Duo. Welcome aboard!!"
Hector grabbed Duo's shoulder and dragged him towards the others.

"Oh boy... what have I got myself into.. Oh well... I guess it's only for a little while..."
Duo sighed inwardly.

Lilinpo