"I. Don't have time." Leeteuk nodded his head, trying not show panic. Jongdae pressed the edge of the sword against the skin of the captain, cutting into the skin. A drop of crimson blood beaded at the wound. He knew the precious blood that pumped in through the jugular vein just behind his sword's blade. "A-alright," Leeteuk gulped, staring straight into Jongdae's eyes. He retracted the blade. 

Like a lightning bolt, Leeteuk swiftly grabbed a sword that was lying on the ground and swung it towards Jongdae. However, he had already seen it coming. Almost as quick as the strike, he blocked the blow with his sword. In a short moment, Jongdae twisted the blade expertly, also knowing that it would twist Leeteuk's wrist. The captain dropped the sword instantly. "If you want me to join your crew, either you or your other crew members fight me tonight. If you win, I'll gladly join," Jongdae said firmly. Leeteuk glowered at him, but he did not attack. 

At the corner of his eyes, Jongdae noticed the same boy who had been watching him since afternoon, standing in a corner. He had a face of an angel, but Jongdae somehow got the feeling that the boy was a wolf in sheep's skin. As Jongdae walked out of the quiet back stables, he gave the boy a side look. The boy gave him a knowing smile. Ignoring it, Jongdae walked into the tavern.

The pungent smell of rum and beer hit his nose. The rowdy guests made way for him. Jongdae walked through, unsmiling. A wooden mug flew through the air and crashed onto a bald guy, who spewed out expletives. Jongdae tended not to be affaected by all these. He had been doing this for the past five years of his life, fighting people for money, for other people's entertainment. Hardened by the brutal attacks and murders he had seen, rowdy environments were another plain sight for Jongdae. This world had no place for kindness. 

The cotton shirt and pants he had been wearing were blotted with sweat from the stuffy environment. Jongdae quickly made his way to the stage. It was just a round ring made of dirt and dust. The owner of the tavern smiled crookedly at him as he patted Jongdae's back heavily. He tensed his back, for he didn't like getting any physical contact. It took him all his will to refrain from chooping the owner's fingers off.

"Yah Jongdae. Good luck for tonight. Dark Seas' on."

"I know. I've fought Taemin before, shouldn't be a difference."

"Don't know. Taemin was a young lad. These folks are the terror of the China seas."

Jongdae noticed the angelic guy in the crowd. He seemed to have rolled his eyes at the owner's comment. Jongdae put on his hard look, "Well, I don't give a damn. I win, get paid, and bye." With that, Jongdae turned and walked into the circle, which was lined with wicker torches. A bunch of people roared supportively. Another guy stepped forward from the other side. His eyes were as sly as a fox's, and he had a gun hanging from his belt. More people yelled in support.

Quickly taking down the guy mentally by flitting his eyes up and down, Jongdae planned out his attack performance. "Kim Jongdae," the guy said, giving a smile. Jongdae just tilted his head without much emotion. "Yesung, first mate of Dark Seas." Jongdae gave no reaction, instead, he sped towards the guy and cleaved towards his head. Yesung quickly parried it. 

In a split second, Jongdae swung his sword with force. The other guy just blocked it and leapt backwards. They circled around each other like hawks before Yesung jumped expertly and swung his word in a circular motion. Jongdae ducked and rolled on the floor. In the moment of confusion, he got up and hit Yesung on the back of the head with the of his sword. Yesung's knees buckled, but he didn't collapse like Jongdae expected. Instead, Yesung glared at him, anger radiating off his eyes and stabbed down towards him who was still lying on the floor.

Jongdae rolled aside in time, the blade only grazing the skin. In times like these, making use of the human body was important. A little sorry for Yesung, Jongdae kicked his right upward, kicking Yesung's balls. He yelled in pain, dropping the sword. The crowd cheered. Jumping to his feet, Jongdae kicked his back, causing him to collapse. Suddenly, his vision blurred for no reason. He nearly dropped his sword, but he concentrated and tackled Yesung to the dusty ground. Without hesitation, he pointed his sword at Yesung's chest.

The air turned still and quiet. "The rules clearly state that I can kill off an opponent, or I can let him go," Jongdae enunciated clearly, so his voice rang throughout the tavern. Hie eyes were fixed on Yesung, who was sweating profusely. His pupils were dilated in fear. "Since your beloved leader has been giving me troubles lately, should I just kill you off?" Jongdae sneered, pushing the tip of the sword into Yesung's chest. "Stop it," Leeteuk's voice rang out. 

"If you let me kill him, I'll join Dark Seas. If I don't, you can get him back, but I won't join." At that sentence, Leeteuk looked lost for words. All the people looked at him. "Let him go," Leeteuk said quietly. Jongdae retracted the blade. The air turned noisy again as people cheered. A few guys rushed forward to help Yesung up. A moment later, there were collective loud gasps. 

A lady screamed, "Watch out!" Jongdae turned around to see a guy charging at him with a wicked sharp dagger in hand. He ducked but the guy kicked him to the ground and rested the tip of the dagger on the flesh where his heart would have been. "I think I'll kill you, for Leeteuk and Yesung." he said thoughtfully before raising his dagger. Jongdae braced himself for the impact and extreme pain, but it never came. He realised that the atmosphere was filled with a shocked silence.

Opening his eyes slowly, he realised that the angelic guy was pointing a sword at the guy's chest, and the dagger was lying on the floor. The guy asked in a strong yet a little shaken voice, "Who are you?" The angelic guy pointed at Jongdae, and said, "This guy's under my protection." What?! He didn't need any protection he was freaking fine- A hot wire like pain shot up the side of his chest, causing Jongdae to wince. "We rightly won the agreement! He will join Dark Seas!" Leeteuk shouted infuriatedly.

The angelic guy looked at Leeteuk amusedly. "Let's fight. Whoever wins, can take him." he said, casually picking up the dagger. "Who the hell are you?! You dare to question Dark Seas?!" one of the members glowered. Jongdae watched the angelic boy. He just smiled and picked up Jongdae's sword. He wanted to yell at him, Hey! That's mine! But the pain was getting worse, causing him to flinch even more. "Let's fight, then talk." 

Leeteuk roared in anger and picked up a sword and lunged at the guy. Jongdae watched in horror and admiration. The angelic guy was fighting like a whirlwind, with blades sparrying so fast, they blurred. Within a short while, the guy had disarmed Leeteuk. Everyone stared at him in utter shock. There was a stunned silence. Then the owner stuttered, "Un-unbelievable! Who are you, my young lad?" 

The guy just smiled and said, "You all should know. Leeteuk. We had a very fun time raiding your hideout." All of Dark Seas' crew gasped. Jongdae looked at them in bewilderment. Leeteuk spat, "You!" "Yes. Me." he replied softly, then looking at Jongdae. "Since you all know, you better scram better I call the rest of them here." For the first time, Leeteuk looked afraid. He took a step backwards and hissed, "We'll get you all one day." 

Then he stormed through the crowd, with the crew in tow. The tavern returned to its rambunctious mood. Jongdae felt utterly dazed. The pain shot right through his side again. The guy walked over and knelt down beside him. "Go away," Jongdae said curtly. The guy raised his eyesbrow, "Are you sure? By yourself?" "Yeah. I can-" The pain came stronger than just now, and he just collapsed back onto sandy ring. 

"That guy's blade was poisoned. The poison is going to reach your heart in no time." the guy said thoughtfully, "Oh well, if you don't need help..." He got up to go. "Wait!" Jongdae shouted. The guy stopped walking.

"How sure are you?" 

"I know."

"Can you... Help me then?"

It took Jongdae a lot pride to say that. The famous young fighter asking for help. However, he could really feel fainter by the minute. Somehow, he felt like punching the smug look off the guy's face. He had a velvet cape on his back, and a silver glinting dagger hanging at his belt. The guy knelt down again, and looked at him. "I have a friend. He can cure that poison of yours." he said, while holding out his hand.

Jongdae shifted his attention from the dagger to his hand, then to the guy. "I don't touch people." he answered simply, struggling to get up. The wound flared yet again, and his vision blurred. "You're quite stubborn huh." the guy said, "I don't care. You come with me, or you're dead in the next hour." Jongdae was sure he was commiting the worst treason in his life by trusting a complete stranger who could kill him in second but he still took his hand.

The guy helped him up as Jongdae stryggled to see straight. Fire light spots were dancing around in his eyes. The damn poison must have been strong, he cursed mentally. They weaved through the crowded tavern, avoiding drunk men. If Jongdae wasn't feeling this ty, he would have busted out his sword- His sword. "My sword. Sword." he told the guy in a weak voice, trying to hold his ground. He couldn't forget that sword.

"Are you sure? You're-"

"Just get it, ."

Giving Jongdae a disgusted look, he left him leaning against a wooden pole. The noise of the tavern seemed almost unbearable to him, making him feel even worse. Soon the guy returned with Jongdae's sword. He reached out and grabbed it. The feeling of the worn leather hilt made him more comfortable. It always did. It was the last- Jongdae. Concentrate. he told himself. "Why am I following you again?" he grumbled. "Beacause you're going to die any moment." With that, another wave of queasiness surged through him.

"Steady," the guy said, catching him before he could fall face flat on the floor. Jongdae decided it was the worst point of his life. Gripping his sword, he tried to concentrate on walking. The guy opened the door, and a cold blast of cold air hit his face. Jongdae almost wanted to cry in relief. He'd never felt so longing for fresh air before. Stars spangled the dark navy sky, the streets were dimly lit with torches, and shadowy characters were sitting on the road. They looked at them hungrily as if they wanted to steal.

The stones on the dirt path rattled as they walked past. Jongdae felt like a drunkard while his vision and ability to think continued deteriorating. A bullock cart rumbled past. The last thing he remembered was being put on a horse and riding away down the street.

------

"...Poison?" Jongdae woke up hearing that. It sounded like the idiotic guy. He wondered if he was kidnapped, but his wrist weren't tied together. Sighing silently, his mind suddenly froze. His sword. Where was it? Looking around frantically, he saw it leaning against a wall beside the hammock he was lying in. "Cobra poison."

"Dark Seas are known for their trickery." a third voice said, filled with distaste.

"You got him here in time, if not he would have died."

Silence. They were talking about him. Him. Jongdae kept quiet as the second person spoke, "I told you to not bring any more people to us, Minseok."

"Trust me. He's a good fighter. He won Yesung rightfully."

"We'll see."

What did the guy want him for? Jongdae tried to play down the suspicion. There was silence for a while.

"Oh yes. Where's Chanyeol?"

"Somewhere in Korea."

"I think he's in town, listening in on news. We were looking for the crown for five months."

A slam of the door could be heard. "Well he's back." Jongdae then heard a clang of metal. A deep voice rumbled, "Nothing. We've got nothing to do." There was a collective sigh. Footsteps could be heard as they got louder as if someone had just stepped into the room.

"Who's that?" the deep voice person asked. "The fighter from Jeonsang. Minseok brought him back." Someone walked over and stood beside Jongdae. "He's unconscious?" 

"Cobra poison. Fight with Yesung."

"He looks so dead."

Jongdae felt a rough hand touching his cheek gently. As a natural relflex, he turned his head and bit at the hand. The guy took away his hand in surprise. Jongdae glared at him. "Don't touch me." Everyone in the room started laughing. "He's a warrior all right." one of them said. If only Jongdae could take his sword and slice up all of him.

A pale looking guy walked over with a crease in his eyebrow. "Don't make fun of him. The poison is still strong." Jongdae looked at him with slight interest. At least someone sympathised him. "You feeling better?" he pushed the guy who had touched Jongdae on the cheek and turned to him. Jongdae nodded his head stiffly. Then he realised that the hammock was made of a pristine white cloth, instead of the usual rope. The room was made of wood and was lit up by a single lamp, not a torch. The people must be rich. 

"Can you sit up?" the guy asked. Jongdae did as he was told, and surprisingly, he could. "Thank you." he whispered. the guy grinned and stood up straight, "Don't mention. I'm Yixing." Jongdae nodded, not bothering to look up. Suddenly, a voice shouted from somewhere outside, "Yah! Food's ready!" "Yay! He's done!" one of the guys cheered and all of them rushed out, except for the angelic guy. He stayed behind, looking at the rest of them running out.

Jongdae rolled his eyes and walked over to where his sword was. "Yah," the guy said. Jongdae didn't look at him. Instead, he picked up the sword and spun it around by the hilt experimentally.

"You okay?"

"Well I am." 

"You can join us for breakfast. Kyungsoo won't mind." At that, Jongdae stopped spinning the sword. "We won't bite." "How am I supposed to trust you all?" Jongdae snapped back. The guy seemed a little startled by his anger, but his face softened, "I see... But at least join us for breakfast." "Fine," Jongdae sighed, walking in the direction the rest took. "Wait." the other said. "What?" "Your sword. Don't bring it there."

Jongdae looked down at his right hand that was gripping the sword tightly. He placed the sword gently on the wall and walked out. "Fireplace's on the right!" he yelled after Jongdae. "No that's the stables!" 

------

Jongdae couldn't help but feel intimidated by the eleven other guys. Once he'd seen how accurately Luhan throw the knife back into the wicket basket, Jongdae knew they were good fighters. With all of them together, they created some scary feeling. Even Kyungsoo he guy who cooked, Jongdae knew he could turn the knives used to cut meat into deadly weapons. They chatted casually while a guy and Kyungsoo were cutting out shapes on a piece of meat.

Jongdae decided to melt into the shadows behind Minseok. That was his name, apparently. Just then, Junmyeon asked him, "Jongdae?" He looked up questioningly. "Do you need to go soon?" Jongdae stared at him as if he had gone mad. "No..." "Your parents won't be worried?" That question made him want to laugh bitterly. But he didn't say anything. 

The fireplace got quiet, with only the flames crackling, the embers floating up into the air. "Where are your parents?" a guy whose name he didn't know asked. Jongdae didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "They're not here. They're gone," he blurted out. Somehow, he felt compelled to tell these guys. His eyes teared up as he thought about the sword. "Since... What age?" "Five..."

Five. Minseok thought that heaven was too cruel to some people at times. He couldn't imagine any kid alone in this blood thirsty world. Everyone was silent, although they knew too well this kind of situations. Jongin's mother died of Malaria. Kyungsoo's only sister was taken captive by the Chinese. To cut it short, they had a remorseful history, but five... It was too cruel. 

The mood dipped for a while and conversations became muted, as if they went into another dimension. Minseok cast Jongdae a worried look. The crew had only planned to stop over at Korea after their last expedition to England. Minseok never expected to find Dark Seas and Jongdae in the tavern. He'd seen how Jongdae handled Leeteuk and Yesung, and he instantly found potential in him. Just that Minseok never expected that Jongdae had such a terrible past. Now, he concluded that Jongdae had to learn how to fight because he had defend himself. 

After breakfast, Kai, Chanyeol and Baek went out to get more bullets for their guns. Minseok went with Junmyeon to find out any juicy gossips in town, to give them an idea where to go next. The rest of them stayed at their hideout. Korea was a rather messy community, with the North. But they were not stupid enough to go there. It had a beautiful scenery and the people were polite. And it was their home country. 

The walk to the marketplace was quiet. Both of them had worn hooded cloaks to disguise themselves. Word could not go about that Shadow was in town. They were quite... Notorious... And after that stunt of stealing the Queen's crown jewels... Minseok knew that they would be hung the moment they got caught. They were both hunted in Asia and Europe, yet greatly feared and respected at the same time. 

The smell of fresh fresh catch from the sea filled his nose and the multitude of people started to grow. Anything Minseok saw, he probably saw it personally. The chime spice from India? Saw it. Grew it. The diamonds and rubies? Went to England. Made the East India Company fly after them. The spears and swords from China? Got silver and gold ones from illegal merchants. Oh yes. And diamond studded ones from burning ships.  You can see why they were very much on the wanted list.

As they weaved through the people with hoods down, Junmyeon asked quietly, "Are you suggesting to me that we should take Jongdae in?" Minseok shrugged, "I hope so. He's a good fighter, and he doesn't mess up. We need less clowns on board." He raised an eyebrow at Junmyeon. "Hey are you accusing me?" Junmyeon hissed, suppressing a smile. "Sorry dear captain. But the holy first mate, Wu Yi Fan and you, were drunk and shot cannons at a British ship," Minseok replied with mock respect. Junmyeon didn't say anything else, but Minseok was sure he was embarrassed.

They passed by a wine house and heard a familiar voice shout, "They're dead! We're going to hunt them down!" Minseok and Junmyeon looked at each other. Leeteuk. Pulling the hoods lower, the stepped into the wine house and sure enough, the whole crew of Dark Seas were there. About all of them except Shindong were drunk. Leeteuk was sitting on a table top. Someone's boots were on the table and Eunhyuk was sleeping soundly on the floor. Minseok shuffled to a table near to them, dragging Junmyeon along. 

"Once we get the Phoenix's Heart, we're going to be famous." Leeteuk slurred, slamming the ceramic wine bottle onto the table. His crew cheered. Eunhyuk seemed to have a nightmare and kicked Sungmin in the shin. Sungmin scowled at him but did not give a damn. Yesung said sluggishly, "We're going to trash Shadow, and capture them, give them to the British." 

"Shhh... Quiet. What if word about the Phoenix's Heart get out?"

"I don't care! Once we get that Jongdae, we kill him and get the map, we'll be off."

Junmyeon shot Minseok a shocked look. Minseok shrugged his shoulders. He was bewildered as well. No wonder they wanted Jongdae to be part of their crew. "Yeeaaaahh! Heard that Shadow?! We're going to trash you all... Freaking motherf***ers!" Leeteuk yelled, taking another shot. Minseok saw the worry flare in Junmyeon's eyes. Junmyeon stood up from the seat and hurried out. Minseok ran to catch up with him. 

They almost ran down the street, knocking into people. "Junmyeon. What do we do now?" Minseok huffed. The captain looked pretty frazzled, "We have to beat them to it. And I trust Jongdae." "You sure? You sound like you only care for the treasure." Junmyeon shot him a glare and replied, "No. I've heard a story about the Phoenix's heart. It's Britain's lost crown jewel, and it's said to be in Asia. If Dark Seas really manages to find it, and brings it to the British, they will tell on us. And we'll get killed."

"Are you sure they're serious?"

"If there's one thing I respect about them, they never joke about anything."

"Then we better hurry. According to them, Jongdae's got the map."

------

Minseok opened the trapdoor at the corner of the field and descended. Junmyeon followed, and shut the door. They ran through the dark and musty corridor that was dripping with water. They finally reached a door and flung it open. Kyungsoo and Luhan got a shock and stood up. Sehun got startled and he let go of his knife and it impaled itself into the wall above Minseok's head. Junmyeon pulled it out and asked, "Where's Jongdae?"

Luhan looked at both of them with curiosity and answered, "He left a while ago."