THE TRUE CONFESSION OF TERACHI SHINYA

by Kurara

+part 6+

Shinya finished moving his things into the sailor's barracks before
getting Mouse-san. Die helped him transport the rodent and they
walked silently. The rain had not stopped yet and they were told
that, because of the increased speed, they should be to America in
six weeks. Everyone was eating, but Shinya wanted to hurry and Die
said he wasn't hungry.

They got to the barracks and settled Mouse-san before Shinya sat on
his bunk and sighed. "That's the last of it. Arigato, Die."

Die nodded. "Sure."

They sat in uncomfortable silence until Shinya couldn't stand it
anymore. "So.. um.. Die?"

"Hmm?"

"Why did... why did Kaoru want to keep his relationship with Toshiya
a secret?" He hugged his knees. "And why did Yoshiki do what he
did?"

Die was quiet for a time, and Shinya was beginning to think that he
wasn't going to tell him, but he cleared his throat and began. "A
couple of years ago, right before Toshiya came, there were two
others: Mana and Gackt. Mana was the cook and Gackt was first mate.
They were together." Die stopped for a bit. "Normally, Yoshiki
would've been fine with it, but Yoshiki had lost his love the year
before to the sea. Yoshiki snapped after that and has become
unreasonable more and more as time goes by..."

Die paused momentarily before continuing. "Yoshiki saw Mana and
Gackt together and everytime he was reminded of hide and himself. He
became extremely jealous of Gackt as time went by and once.. once he
found Mana standing on the edge of the ship. He felt that Gackt
should feel the pain he had. He pushed Mana over." Shinya
gasped. "Gackt... Gackt jumped in to save Mana. They both drowned."

"My God..." Shinya bit his lip. "So.. is that why he killed To--"

"No." Die shook his head. "He killed him as a warning."

"Warning?"

"When he found out about the Round Robin, the mutiny symbol you saw
in Toshiya's bag, he knew we were going to do something. Since he
didn't know who else was on it, he went to the only one he had
anything on: Toshiya. He knew because you said it was in HIS bag.
He killed him to tell us that we're not standing a chance." Die
brought his hand up to cup the side of Shinya's face and he stared
him straight in the eye. "Shinya... I'm probably the only one that
will talk to you besides work purposes... everyone else is too afraid
that you'll leak to the Captain about whatever is going on..."

Shinya nodded while dropping his eyes. "I understand."

"But..." Shinya looked up, uncertain, as Die's face softened and he
spoke softly. "You can always come to me... I'll talk to you... even
if it's about nothing... even..." he dropped to a whisper, "even if
it's everything... I'll be here..."

Shinya felt a knot in his throat and he was about to open his mouth
to speak when he heard the voices of the other sailors approaching
the barracks. He smiled. "Arigato." And he pulled away just as the
door opened.

***

In a week's time, everyone got used to Shinya's presence as a fellow
sailor, and his previous activities with Kyo had significantly made
it easier for him to feel at ease with the idea as well. Shinya
found the barracks to be rather cold compared to his other room, and
he would usually shiver as he drifted off to sleep, but wake up with
an additional blanket on his body. He thought it was Die at first,
but Die completely denied it, and Shinya could sense that he was
serious. After a few nights, Shinya just figured someone must be
doing it out of sympathy and he made sure to be even more helpfull to
everyone.

He turned all his old dresses into additonal sailor's clothes and was
very proud of his handiwork. Kaoru was still avoiding of Shinya, and
Shinya was still avoiding of Yoshiki, as whenever he worked he could
feel the cold stare of Yoshiki burning into him.

What was it Yoshiki hated so much about his working?

Was it the fact that he was taking the sailor's side now?

Shinya decided that that had to be it. //Oh well.. just five more
weeks... and the storm is clear...// He looked up into the sky and
smiled at the clear sky. It was a cool day as well, and his work was
going by at a fast pace due to his higher feel.

Suddenly, he felt arms drape around him from behind and hug
him. "What you thinking about?" He heard Die's voice. "Could it be
me?"

Shinya spun around and lightly hit Die's stomach. "No! Why would I
think of you?" He grinned.

Die smirked. "Cuz I'm so damned sexy, that's why!"

"Says who?"

Die threw a glance to Kyo. "Kyo!"

Kyo glanced up. "Hai?"

Die struck a pose that almost reduced Shinya to laughter then and
there. "Aren't I sexy?"

Kyo held up a fish. "About as sexy as Flippy here!"

Die pouted and Shinya giggled. "I see I'm not loved."

Shinya patted Die's head. "Poor Die. He'll never get any. The dead
fish will get laid before him."

Die blinked. "Aren't you supposed to have been raised a proper lady?"

Shinya blushed. "Miyabi is a bad influence..."

"Miyabi? Was that your lover? Who is she?"

Shinya laughed. "Miyabi was my servant at my old school... He...
he's my first kiss too..."

"Oh! Shinya swings that way too?"

Shinya laughed. "I don't know..."

Die raised an eyebrow. "You don't know?"

Shinya blushed. "Well... I guess I like guys... otherwise I wouldn't
have kissed back..."

Die patted Shinya's shoulder. "Well, Shinya, you are on a ship where
everyone likes guys."

Shinya's face shot up. "Everyone?... you?"

Die nodded. "But, you know... Yoshiki has been the only single
one... hah... I'm undersexed.."

Shinya poked Die's forehead. "America is the land of opportunity."

Die smirked. "I guess. Anou.. but what WERE you thining about?"

Shinya blinked. "Nani?"

"Before I came up to you, you were looking in the air with a smile.
What were you thinking?" Die prodded.

Shinya smiled. "It's so clear. The storm has left."

Die's face went dark. "Iie. It means we're in the eye of the
storm. We'll get a break, but then we're back to the storm, possibly
worse. And... Yoshiki is taking more risks... he doesn't want to
stay in a safe route.. he wants to challenge the storm..."

"Die?"

"We're gonna have to work hard to get to America alive... this is why
we never wanted you on the ship in the first place... we didn't want
you in danger..."

Shinya looked into Die's eyes. "I'll work hard to help. If I die...
at least I'll know that I met the greatest people to die with."

Die suddenly hugged Shinya. "Sh---"

"Shinya." Yoshiki's hard voice spoke up, causing Die to quickly
detatch himself. Shinya looked up to Yoshiki and stood at
attention. Yoshiki's eyes narrowed at seeing the look in Die's
eyes. "Shinya, come to my quarters now." He turned and walked away.

Shinya threw a glance at Die who looked at him worriedly. Shinya
smiled slightly and mouthed, "I'll be fine," and walked away,
following Yoshiki.

When Shinya got in the quarters, Yoshiki threw him down onto a couch
and threw a dress on his lap. "This is your last chance Shinya. Put
on that dress and forget this sailor nonesense. Return to your
parents with your dignity intact. The next five weeks will be so
intense that you're sure to die if you keep this up." Yoshiki's face
came so close to Shinya's he could feel Yoshiki's breath on his
face. "Don't do this. They're not worth it."

Shinya bit his lip. Yoshiki actually seemed to sound like he
actually cared, but the image of him beating Toshiya haunted at him.
He was afraid to go against Yoshiki, but he gripped his hands into
fists and took a deep breath before standing up with the dress and
handing it back to Yoshiki. "I have to do this... not for anyone but
me... I'm sorry..." Shinya waited until he knew Yoshiki had nothing
more to say. "I need to do my chores now. Excuse me..."

Shinya started to walk off, but Yoshiki gripped his wrist and pulled
him close to himself, and Shinya could feel the cold steel of a knife
blade being pressed against his neck. Shinya whimpered and tried to
get away as he felt the knife pressing more and more. Yoshiki's eyes
were full of malice and Shinya could see Yoshiki's intent in them.
Shinya struggled to get away, but Yoshiki's grip was stronger. "You
remind me so much of him... that fire... that persistance.. I can't
bear it... stop bringing him back to haunt me..." He pressed more
and Shinya knew anymore and his skin would break.

"Yoshiki! You'll get arrested if you---"

"Really? You know, it's the ocean... we were through a storm... you
were a sad person.. all alone... suicide..." A smile spread across
Yoshiki's lips. "You died of suicide... no dignity in that, right?
Pretty Shinya..." Yoshiki let go of Shinya's wrist unconciously to
stroke his cheek and Shinya took that chance to escape out the door.

Yoshiki didn't follow and Shinya ran at full force, tears forming at
his eyes as he reached the barracks. Die was in there and stood upon
Shinya's arrival, rushing in to embrace the shaking man as Shinya
cried out his fear and Die spotted the red mark where the knife had
resided. Anger and determination filled Die's body as he decided it
was time to talk to Kaoru.

***

That's all for now!
Sorry it's so short!
::yawns::
bed...
C/C?? hopefully I can respond tommaorw! Stupid school.. ::grumbles::
~kurara

to be continued~

comments to Kurara

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