Chapter Text
Even though the sun had long since set and the skies were so endlessly black, the heat never dwindled. In fact, it seemed like it only intensified. Or at least that was the case with Koushuu. He leaned against the pillar on the balcony outside while fanning his face, but it hardly helped at all. He only found comfort in the chilling breeze from the ocean that swept across his damp face every so often.
Every time it caressed his neck, it made him long to be anywhere else than where he was at the moment. However, wishes never seemed to come true for Koushuu.
Koushuu turned back to the grand hall when he heard the crowd roar. Lords, soldiers, merchants, and politicians alike were all gleefully dancing around the ballroom. Koushuu couldn’t stop his eyes from rolling as he watched his father in the center of all with a wide grin on his face.
That was one of the main reasons he couldn’t stand to be inside for too long. That and the other countless people crammed together, all wearing layers upon layers of their elegant attire. Koushuu never minded donning his many layers when it came to his armored uniform. But for nights like this? He loathed the outfits he was forced to wear. He could hardly breathe in them, much less feel any comfort of a breeze in the middle of this sweltering, hot summer.
Koushuu faced the ocean again, hoping a breeze would soothe him until a voice spoke up abruptly behind him. “S-Sir Okumura?”
Koushuu stiffened immediately, knowing exactly what was about to happen. His father had dragged him to too many of these events for him not to understand the true meaning behind them. To find Koushuu a suitable partner for marriage.
He slowly turned around, making an effort not to grimace as the woman bowed in greeting. He politely bowed in return. It wasn’t like he wanted to treat them coldly. He simply wanted nothing to do with the type of marriage his father wished for him. Therefore, no matter how many women were sent his way, he would never take to any of them or give his father the satisfaction of a win against Koushuu.
“Pleasure to meet you.” Koushuu’s gaze flickered back to the sea as the woman blushed shyly. He recognized the usual nervousness that came with every lady seeking the future governor’s wife. Unfortunately for them, it would never happen.
“The pleasure is mine.” The lady followed Koushuu’s gaze. “It’s a lovely evening, isn’t it?”
“Hmm.” Koushuu mumbled, hating that he had to go through this for the tenth time only that night. Because he was at his limit, he calmly faced the lady and blurted out, “I’m sorry miss, but I’m not feeling well tonight. I think I’m just going to head home early tonight. I apologize once again.”
The maiden’s face crumpled, but her composure remained calm. She gave a half-hearted bow. “Of course, sir. Hope you will feel better. Good night.”
Koushuu bowed once more as he watched her take her leave. If only his father could be so understanding when he tried to explain himself. He glanced back inside to see that man shaking hands with another desperate mother. With a sigh, Koushuu did as he said and left the party. He slipped through the back of the crowd and took the exit furthest from his father and disappeared into the night.
By the time he finally arrived in his room, he was soaked to the bone in sweat again. He went straight for his window and threw it open, letting the cold air wash over him like the never ending waves crashing against the sand. He was about to turn away when he noticed a large ship in the distance, heading for the docks. What struck him as unusual was that there was a lantern swaying back and forth above the gaff of the main sail.
Koushuu knew for a fact there weren’t any ropes made for that spot for lanterns to hang, namely because it could cause the sail to catch fire. Therefore, there had to be a person walking on the gaff with a lantern in their hands. No soldier much less crewman of any ship would dare to do something so stupid. Which meant it could only be a pirate ship.
Koushuu sighed as he turned around and crawled into bed, hoping he would remember to inform his overseers of the incoming pirates in the morning.
In the middle of flipping through the new recruits’ documents, someone knocked on his door. He glanced up to discover Seto Takuma, his longtime best friend, opening the door with a warning raise of his eyebrow. “The governor is here to see you, sir. ”
Koushuu frowned at Seto’s sarcastic emphasis at the end but didn’t bother getting onto him for it. He would need all of his energy to deal with-
“Why hello, my dear son.”
“Father.”
Koushuu rose from his seat with a slight bow as his father came waltzing into his room like he owned the place. And for once, he didn’t but it never stopped his father from acting like it. “What’s the occasion for visiting me today?”
The governor glanced around his office with distaste. “Can’t I come by simply to say hello?” Koushuu gave him a flat look which caused his father to sigh. “I heard that you had left that ball early last night. Is there a reason for that?”
“I didn’t feel well.”
“Really?” The governor gave him the exact same flat look Koushuu had given him. “Then why didn't you inform me of this?” Koushuu shrugged, noncommittal. “Well, did you see to a doctor?”
“No.”
“So then you weren’t really feeling bad, were you?”
Koushuu set down the documents with forced patience, trying his best not to crumple them up. “Father, I am telling the truth. Besides, you know I didn’t want to be there in the first place. I don’t know how many more times I’m going to have to keep telling you that I’m not interested in marriage, much less becoming the next governor.”
Politics had never been the world for him. He had seen plenty of the false promises those with money gave to those with none. He saw how anyone and any secret could be bought or done away with for the right price. He hated it, all of it. Which is why he joined the military. At least he was fighting for something admirable, not filling his pockets with dirty money.
His father sharply turned to him with the angriest glare Koushuu had ever seen. “I’ve about heard enough. You’re still too young to know what you really want. I know what’s best for you and for our family. I’m not going to have you galavant around the country for the rest of your life. I understand that you wanted your freedom and your fun. Well you got it and now’s the time to get serious.”
“Have fun?!? Freedom?!?” Koushuu snapped with shaking fists as he slowly rose from his seat. “What the hell would you know about serving this country?! All you do is kiss people’s asses everyday!”
“Koushuu!” The governor bellowed as he slammed his fist on Koushuu’s desk. They both glared at each other, unwilling to back down. Eventually, his father regained his composure and turned his back to his son. “You’ll become the next governor and marry a suitable woman whether you like it or not.”
“I’d rather run away than ever go through with that.”
“Don’t you even think about it.” His father snapped, viciously as he slammed the door behind himself as he left. Koushuu glanced at his fists, still balled tightly and tried to release them and noticed the marks his fingernails left on his palm. He still couldn’t believe that even though Koushuu was a grown man, his father still treated him like a child.
“So I guess he’s not letting the whole ‘making you the new governor’ go?” Seto joked as he stepped back inside with a wary glance at Koushuu.
Koushuu sat with a heavy sigh. “Guess not.”
“Is that why he’s issuing to the rest of our men to be on your guard duty?” Koushuu blinked, confused, as Seto gestured to the hall where several soldiers were standing outside his door. He stormed out of his room to chase after his father, but his men in front of his door blocked his way.
“Sorry sir, but we’re on strict orders to not-”
“Who’s your commanding officer?”
The men stared at each other nervously until one spoke up, “Y-You sir!”
“Did I give you that order?”
“N-No sir!”
“Then I’m going to keep walking past you-”
“B-But sir, it’s the governor-”
Koushuu pushed past them, roughly. “To hell with the governor! He doesn’t own the army. Until he does, you take orders from me and the other officers only. Understand??” The men dropped their heads in shame as they nodded. Koushuu was about to chase after his father again until Seto pulled on his sleeve.
“How about we go for a walk?”
After dealing with the rest of the soldiers, making sure they understood not to listen to the governor, Koushuu and Seto walked along the streets near the docks. Koushuu was grateful for a break of fresh air as they walked in calm silence for a while.
“You really don’t like any of the women you’ve met so far?” Koushuu shook his head as Seto gawked at him in disbelief. “Is it just because your father sent them your way?”
“I just know they’re not interested in me but what I represent. I want something different, something real.”
“Ah, would ya look at you!” Seto nudged with a teasing grin. “Never thought you’d be such a sucker for love.”
Koushuu didn’t bother answering as Seto continued to tease him. Koushuu had never been interested in anyone to even know what loving another was. He hadn’t really cared for any kind of relationship honestly. He preferred being on his own so he never saw the point in pursuing anything else, but Seto never understood that.
“Since you’re being so dry, why don’t I tell you about this woman the men and I met last night. She…”
Koushuu turned away, letting Seto drone on while he people watched. He was about to walk over to the market stalls when he caught someone sprinting down the street towards him. The person was carrying several bags with coins and jewelry falling out. Koushuu would usually stop the thief immediately, but when he saw that the person who was robbed was one of his father’s sleazy political advisors, he decided to turn the other way.
At least he started to until he locked his gaze with the thief. His entire face was covered with colorful bandanas so all Koushuu could see were his eyes. Koushuu had never seen such a striking gold color before and for some reason, it made him pause. The thief and Koushuu continued staring at each other intensely until the politician shouted and broke the moment.
“..shuu? Koushuu, are you even listening?”
He blinked out of whatever reverie that was and turned back to his friend. “Sorry, what did you say?”
Seto shook his head in exasperation. “Nevermind. He already got away.”
Koushuu glanced back once more to find the thief had disappeared. He felt like something about that man was making him remember something from last night-
“Oh shit, we need to get back now .”
Koushuu was drowning his sorrows in the third glass of wine at the refreshment table in the back of the party. After he informed his overseers about the pirates, they had been giving him hell all week for waiting so long to tell them. Every time he replayed the lectures from the past week, he downed another glass, hoping it would make him forget. (It didn’t.)
“Well if it isn’t Okumura-sama.”
Koushuu internally cringed as he turned around to face the woman who had been kissing his father’s ass for years in hopes that at least one of her daughters would marry Koushuu. “Um, I need to-”
“May I have this dance?” Seto jumped into the rescue. The woman scowled but took Seto’s outstretched hand anyway. Koushuu mouthed his thanks that Seto only laughed at as he spun the woman onto the dance floor. Koushuu just did not have the patience to deal with anyone tonight and was grateful Seto understood that.
Honestly, he was ready to head home even though it just started. As he made his way to the exit, none other than his father blocked his path. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Home, move.”
“No.”
They stood at a stalemate and those nearby were starting to stare. “Stop making a scene, Koushuu, and do as I tell you to.”
“I’m not a child, and you are not an officer. I don’t take orders from you.”
Koushuu’s father’s eyes flared with fury, but he managed to keep a smile plastered on his face for the crowd to see. “Koushuu please, I’m just trying to do what’s best for you.”
Maybe his father was at once, but somewhere along the way, they couldn’t understand each other anymore. He did care for his father, but he couldn’t live the same life he did. Koushuu wanted more. “I’m sorry, but I can’t do it father. I can’t be you, so please stop trying to make me. Mother- mother would’ve never wanted this-”
For the briefest second, his father’s eyes shone with such intense grief and longing that Koushuu thought he might’ve gotten through to him. However, his father blinked it away just as fast as it appeared. “I won’t let you leave.”
Koushuu turned to the closest open balcony, hoping the ache in his chest would subside so he could go through with what he had to do. “I can’t stay.” Without further explanation, Koushuu sprinted towards the balcony and without another thought, leapt off of it. He heard screams behind him but didn’t pay it any mind as he grabbed hold of his country’s banner hanging off of the balcony.
He didn’t even feel the burn on his hands from it slipping through his fingers and landed on steadied feet. He hoped his father would understand and let him be, but unfortunately, he didn't. The sound of boots pounding and weapons being loaded signaled that Koushuu needed to flee.
He sprinted down the streets, from one dark alleyway to the next, hoping they wouldn’t catch up to him. As he turned the next corner, he felt someone pull his arm back and immediately slapped their hand away.
“It’s me!” Seto shouted in a whisper as he held his hands up in assurance. Koushuu let out his breath in relief. “You’ve really gotten into a mess this time, huh?” Koushuu scowled at him. “S-Sorry.” Koushuu glanced at his surroundings, making sure none of the soldiers were nearby. “I think you should leave.”
He had never expected for Seto to blurt something like that. “Excuse me?”
“Look, your father is obviously not backing down. You need to get away and lie low for a while.”
Koushuu knew it made sense, but- “But this is my home. Why should I let him make me leave? I’m not going to take a coward’s way out. If I run, it’ll just prove that I’m the child he thinks I am.”
“I know, Koushuu, but you can’t stay either.” Koushuu paused, staring at Seto’s empathetic expression. “Of course I don’t want you to go, but it’s the only option. I’m not saying don’t come back. Just lie low until he cools down and return when you have a plan of how to work it out with him.”
Koushuu felt guilty for taking Seto for granted. He was definitely wiser than Koushuu had been as of late, and he wouldn’t have been able to make it anywhere without him. “You’re right, thank you, Seto.”
Seto patted his shoulder with a grin before pulling him behind the corner with his finger over his mouth. They both slowly glanced back down the alley to see the men coming, and Koushuu noticed that the rest of the street they were on didn’t have any other alleys. He was trapped.
“Promise me you’ll come back, okay?”
“Okay. Wait Seto-”
“Hey!!” Seto jumped into the alley, startling the other men. “I just saw him running behind you! He went down that street!” They all quickly turned in the direction Seto pointed and disappeared. Koushuu vowed internally to return to properly thank his friend.
After a quick glance down the alley, he sprinted towards the docks. As he passed past several groups of people, they all whispered and stared after him. He realized that his clothes stood out and immediately took a sharp turn down an alley with a bar at the end of it. He found a man at the edges of consciousness and offered a handful of coins for his outfit. Even in his drunken state, the man instantly rose to agree.
When Koushuu finished changing, he scratched through his hair, hoping all signs of his nobility had vanished before heading down the next street.
He was so close to the port that he couldn’t focus on anything else. Like the arms that shot out and pulled him behind a shed. “What the fu-”
“Shh.” The person hushed as they covered Koushuu’s mouth with their hands. He immediately fought back until he locked his gaze with the man. It was those same beautiful, striking golden eyes from before. However this time, his face wasn’t covered anymore. He had dark brown hair with the front covering his forehead, the back reaching the end of his neck and the rest fell loosely in layers. A couple of strands were even in braids, with a couple having strings and beads linked through them.
Koushuu couldn’t see the man’s face completely since the sun had already set and there weren’t any lanterns around. But he could make out the strong set of his jaw, the polished planes of his face, and the handsome features that accompanied. H-Handsome..??
“Sorry to startle you, but I couldn’t help noticing that you were on the run.”
Koushuu broke out of his trance to shove the man back so Koushuu could breathe. “W-Who the hell are you?”
The man laughed without any sort of remorse, and Koushuu hated how nicely it sounded. “I think it’s pretty obvious.” Koushuu stared blankly at the man, waiting for him to explain. “I’m your savior.”
“Screw yourself-” Koushuu began as he stepped out from the shed, but the man pulled him right back with another hush as Koushuu heard boots clanging near them. He hated that once again, he was too distracted to notice them and that this man saved him.
He waited until the soldiers passed to slap the man’s arms away and took a step back. This man really had no sense of personal space. “Thanks.”
The man chuckled again as he patted Koushuu’s arm. “No problem. Let’s get going before another group comes.” He grabbed Koushuu’s hand and ran down the next street. Koushuu tried to shake the stranger’s hand off, but he had a surprisingly strong hold.
“Where are we going?”
The man threw Koushuu a smirk as if he thought Koushuu was playing dumb. “To my ship of course.”
“W-What?! I don’t want to go to your ship-”
“It’s fine. Plenty of deserters are a part of my crew. We welcome anyone who wants to be free.”
Huh?? Koushuu had no idea what this man was saying, but he needed to get on his own ship before he was caught. “Look, I’m not interested in whatever you’re saying. Plus, I have no idea who you are-”
He couldn’t finish as Eijun abruptly stopped in the middle of the street and pulled Koushuu to the nearest wall and pressed him against it. He caged Koushuu in his arms and leaned in so close to Koushuu’s face that their lips were barely an inch apart. “What the-”
Again, Eijun covered Koushuu’s mouth without warning and moved his mouth on top of it. Koushuu’s face flamed with heat and his body shook with anger. He moved to raise his fist to the stranger’s jaw until he heard a group of men walk past, their katanas clattering. He realized that this man must’ve noticed them first and put them in this position because of it.
Even so, Koushuu wanted nothing more than to throw him to the ground. When the men finally passed around the next corner, Koushuu did just that.
“Ow, I was trying to help!” The man explained as he slowly rose to stand, brushing off the dirt from his trousers while Koushuu crossed his arms with a scowl. “I’m sorry, okay? I’m Sawamura Eijun, there you know me now so let’s go.”
“Okay.”
As Koushuu followed Eijun to the docks, something finally clicked in his brain as he noticed the enormous ship they were about to board. No- it couldn’t be- “I’m sorry did you say-”
“SAWAMURA!!!” Numerous men on the ship waved at Eijun excitedly while others laughed and pointed at him. “Finally decided to arrive, did’ja?”
This can’t be happening- I can’t believe this-
“I knew ya wouldn’t leave without your captain!!” Eijun teased as he bounded onto the ship and pulled Koushuu along with him. The men immediately crowded Eijun, patted his back, and laughed with him.
Holy shit. He’s-
“Is everyone here?” Eijun asked as he made for the steering wheel and shouted orders like this was any other day.
“Everyone but Kuramochi, sir!”
Eijun shook his head with a chuckle. “Well he knows the code. If he can’t make it on time, he’s left behind. Ready the sails! Make for a quick exit!”
Koushuu was frozen on the spot as everything Eijun had been telling him began to make sense. Sawamura Eijun was a pirate. A pirate so famous that everyone knew his name. There were too many tales about the infamous Sawamura Eijun that Koushuu had thought he was only a myth. A ridiculous story passed around the fire when the elders got bored. And yet here he was, right in front of Koushuu.
“I think I’m going to be sick…”
“SAWAMORON!! Don’t you leave without me!!”
Koushuu turned around to discover a man with bright green hair sprinting towards them with coins falling out of his pocket and soldiers on his tail. The crew all laughed at him as they continued following through with their tasks and sailing away from the port.
“OI!! WAIT FOR ME!!”
Koushuu watched as Eijun continued grinning like an idiot as he spun the ship in the opposite direction of the docks. “You can always catch up to us!!”
“Bastard!!!”
The crew chuckled even louder as the man, Kuramochi, Koushuu guessed, was sprinting after them. Even though pirates were the sworn enemy of everyone ( literally everyone ) he felt a pang of guilt for leaving the man behind. At least that was until Kuramochi ran to the edge of the dock and jumped, barely catching the rope that was swaying at the back of it.
Kuramochi quickly climbed up the deck to flip everyone off before slinging the rifle Koushuu didn’t see a second ago and fired on the soldiers that were firing back at them. Thankfully, Kuramochi was a good shot and the wind was strong enough to propel them forward.
They were out of range in no time and off for the open sea. The crew cheered happily as they saw that they were safe. Now that Koushuu finally had a second to think he realized that he couldn’t be here. He couldn’t let them think he wanted to become a person his upbringing had taught him never to become. He would rather die than become a pirate.
However, just as he debated jumping off of the ship, Eijun suddenly appeared next to him with his arm slung across Koushuu’s shoulders. “Oi!! Everyone listen up! I want you all to meet our new recruit. Give a warm welcome to the newest pirate of our crew!!!”
At that moment, Koushuu wondered if this was all some horrible nightmare. That any second now he would jolt awake in the military’s barracks and go about his usual business training the recruits. Yet no matter how hard the pirates shoved him and slapped his back, he wouldn’t wake up.
“Go on, introduce yourself!!”
The rest of the crew nodded in excitement as Eijun pushed Koushuu forward to address them. He glanced at the railing behind him and considered running for it, however, a short man with the most unusual shade of pink hair blocked his path with a smile that Koushuu recognized as anything but friendly.
“I-I’m..” He paused, considering if it was wise to reveal his true name. What if they knew he was the governor’s son? What if they held him for ransom? He knew exactly what his father would do if he paid for Koushuu’s release. Therefore, he remembered a name only whispered in the dead of night when he was wrapped in a warm, loving embrace. “Kou. My name is Kou.”
The crew waited for more but he didn’t give away anything else. Most of them shrugged while others looked suspicious, most of all, Kuramochi. “Huh? That’s it?” Everyone turned to watch him bound down from the helm and stood right in front of Koushuu. “Why’re ya here anyway? Sawamura, where’d you find this guy? And why is he here?” He narrowed his eyes at Eijun’s innocent expression. “You thought you could replace me since you tried leaving me behind??”
“Of course not!” Eijun insisted with a pleading look, but Koushuu could see the twinkle of amusement in his eyes. “I could never replace you, Kuramochi-senpai!”
“Flattery isn’t gonna convince me!” Yet everyone could see the slight puff of Kuramochi’s chest when Eijun gave his ego a boost. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to sway him. He glanced over Koushuu as Eijun explained how they met, but Kuramochi didn’t seem convinced. “Kou, is it? No family name? Or you just won’t give it to us?”
Koushuu panicked at how to respond, but Eijun came to his rescue again. “You never told anyone here your name until after three months of working here!”
“T-That was different!” Kuramochi protested indignantly while Eijun crossed his arms and shook his head. As Koushuu watched them bicker, he could tell just how close their bond was. If Koushuu didn’t know better, he would’ve thought they were brothers. “You already knew me and trusted me! Are you saying you trust him already? You just met him!”
“Are you saying you don’t trust me?”
“Of course that’s not what I’m saying,” Kuramochi rushed to explain, “but he’s a deserter. How do we know if he won’t betray us or sell us out to the navy or worse, the East India Trading Company? I trust you, not him .”
“But you were a deserter, too!!”
The entire ship broke out into laughter, pointing and nudging Kuramochi. “Ah shut the hell up!!” After he repeatedly slapped them and pushed them all away, Kuramochi gave Koushuu another skeptical once-over. “Fine, he can stay only if ya let me watch over him.”
Eijun agreed immediately with a grateful pat on Kuramochi’s back. “Perfect! I was already gonna ask you to take care of him, so thanks!”
“W-Wait no! I thought you would say no!” He hurriedly glanced around him until he saw the man behind Koushuu. “Why don’t you give him to Ryousuke? He’ll shape up this boy better than I could!”
Koushuu scowled at the insult, but Kuramochi didn’t pay any attention as Ryousuke quickly yet silently moved next to Kuramochi with a vicious smile. “What was that? You want to shirk off your duties onto me ??”
“A-Ah what was that Kawakami?” Everyone stared at him in disappointment as he obviously wasn’t being called but started running away anyway. “I’ll be right there!” They all parted like the sea for Ryousuke to chase after him while only Eijun laughed at their ridiculousness.
“Kou,” Koushuu whipped his head to Eijun, noticing he was much too close again. However, that didn’t stop his heart from suddenly beating so fast at being called by his nickname so softly. “Kuramochi is my second mate and Ryousuke is my third. They’ll both take good care of you, I promise.”
Koushuu could’ve cared less. He wasn’t staying here for long. As soon as he saw an opportunity to escape, he’d take it. But he did appreciate the sentiment so he bowed in thanks to Eijun. Eijun seemed to take that as a correct response and nodded with a slight pat on Koushuu’s head to which Koushuu immediately glared and growled.
Eijun flinched with a chuckle. “That’s what you remind me of: a wolf!” His crew laughed only with him in agreement. “Men, he really is like an angry wolf boy, ah ha ha..” Before Koushuu could snap back at him another man suddenly appeared. He looked exactly like Ryousuke yet his eyes were completely open, and he appeared a bit younger with softer, more genuine features. He whispered in Eijun’s ear and after Eijun nodded several times they moved to the captain’s quarters.
“The men will show ya to your quarters. Make sure you get some rest. I’m sure Kuramochi will have you up earlier than you’ll expect. Don’t join the men for drinks and gambling no matter how much they insist!” The crew all groaned and whined, saying he ruined their fun for the night. “Or you can do whatever the hell you want like them, anyway goodnight Kou!” He waved as he walked away with the quiet pink-haired man.
He was slightly disappointed that the only person he talked to was now gone and he was left with complete strangers. They kindly introduced themselves, but there were too many names for Koushuu to memorize so he simply nodded and listened until they were ready to show him to his “quarters.”
“There ya are.” Maezono, a stern, angry-looking man with baggy trousers and cut-off sleeves that exposed numerous tattoos. “It’s one of the cleaner ones.”
Koushuu glanced down at the old, stained hammock in disbelief. This couldn’t be happening. He could not be expected to sleep in this with a deck full of other people who were snoring and grumbling as loud as they could be. The rare times Koushuu was assigned to naval warfare, he was allowed to stay in a cabin. Alone. Not in a place like this!
“Are you sure this is the only place?”
The other crew members chuckled as Maezono gave him a condescending look. “You want to try fighting the captain for his quarters? Be my guest. But I’ll warn ya, the last person who went against the captain was left on an island alone to fend for themselves, so good luck.”
For a brief moment, Koushuu wondered who was idiotic enough to do that, but when he asked, they only laughed and walked away. Without any other choice, Koushuu climbed into the hammock and stared up at the chipping wood above. As he thought the night over, he concluded that he could’ve ended up in a situation much worse. And he could’ve been stuck on a ship with pirates that were much worse.
He supposed he had some luck for managing to join Sawamura Eijun’s crew. If Eijun was famous for anything, it was for never being captured. No matter how many ships or armies were sent, nor how many battles occurred between these pirates and the navy, Eijun was never captured. There was one rare occasion that Koushuu heard about where Eijun was taken to jail. However, supposedly, he wasn’t kept there for even a day. He escaped.
If Koushuu needed anyone, it was Eijun. Only for the fact that he could never be taken in by his father. He would wait until they had sailed far enough for Koushuu to slip away when no one was looking. So he’d take their teasing and Kuramochi’s “care” until then.