Trapped in the corridor with sailors closing in from both sides, Reiji didn't panic. He scanned the bulkhead—doors on both walls—stepped to one at random, and knocked.
Knock knock knock—knock knock knock.
A voice answered, the door cracked open—Reiji shoved through, took the girl who'd opened it to the floor, clamped a hand over her mouth, and set a knife to her throat.
"Don't move. Don't talk," he whispered. "Or this slips."
Shun slid in behind him and shut the door, holding his breath.
Boots pounded past outside. Only when the sound faded did Reiji finally look at who he'd pinned: a red-haired girl in a tiny single cabin—one bed, one wooden table—and a Wartortle perched on the blanket.
"Easy," Reiji warned the Wartortle, pressing the spine of the blade a little to make his point. "Try anything and this drops."
"Take its ball and return it," he told Shun.
Shun grabbed the Poké Ball—only for Wartortle to flare with blinding light.
"Now," Reiji snapped.
Shun recalled it and locked the ball. Reiji kept going: "Pat her down. All her balls—lock every one."
A girl with a Wartortle meant money or a new trainer with a starter. He wasn't looking to hurt her—just keep her from doing something that got everyone stabbed.
The girl thrashed when she saw Spinarak leap onto the bed. "Don't," Reiji warned again, pressing the flat of the knife. She shot him a furious look—then down at where his weight pinned her—and glared even harder.
Reiji glanced down, realized the implication, and grimaced. "Don't look at me like that. You're flat. I'm not interested."
"Mmph!" She flushed, furious—then sank her teeth into his palm.
He gritted through the pain, refusing to let go or shout. Only when Spinarak had webbed her wrists and ankles—and sealed her mouth—did Reiji pull back, flexing his bleeding hand.
"We're just using the room to lay low till morning," he said quietly. "Then we're gone."
Stinging palm and all, he didn't blame her. He had mouthed off.
Once her Poké Balls were locked and out of reach, her anger cooled to fear. She could only nod, eyes glossy.
Reiji had Spinarak bind her to the bedframe; he and Shun slumped against the bulkhead, finally able to breathe. The near-miss in the corridor, the sudden evolution—they'd almost wiped out. Best to stay put till dawn, then slip off by Pelipper once the sailors gave up their sweep.
They ate in front of her—rations and water—faces hidden behind Ditto masks. Reiji spread a map and compass on the floor and gave up after a long, silent minute: endless ocean, one cruise ship, no reference points. He set Spinarak to watch her and tried to sleep.
Every set of footsteps in the passage jolted them awake. Then came a knock.
Knock knock knock—knock knock knock.
"Guests, be advised—violent intruders are aboard. Please stay in your cabins—"
The longer the silence inside, the harder the knocking. The captain had ordered door-to-door checks in case intruders had taken hostages.
Reiji exhaled, drew the knife again, set the spine to the girl's white throat. "You know what to say."
She nodded frantically. He tore away the web over her mouth and pressed the blade just enough to warn.
"What's your problem? People are trying to sleep!" she yelled.
"Miss, there are intru—"
"Shove it and beat it!"
"…Ahem."
Awkward pause. Then the sailor moved on.
Reiji re-webbed her mouth and leaned back. After the last two days, any noise set their nerves on edge.
A minute later the shipwide siren wailed.
"Attention all passengers: pirates sighted! Return to your cabins and lock your doors. Do not go outside. Repeat—pirates sighted!"
Reiji and Shun traded a look. Great. Dawn was close; they'd planned to leave then. Now? Pirates. Which probably meant an inside tip—perfect timing to hit while the crew was exhausted from chasing intruders.
They were leaving anyway. Before they went, Reiji set a milk and a roll on the bed and had Spinarak cut the webs. Without a word, they slipped out.
Up on deck, the ship was chaos. Fast boats swarmed the hull; pirates in loud, mismatched clothes were still climbing; others rode Flying-type Pokémon in.
They could run. But Ren and his two goons were still in the brig—and the pirates had just handed them cover.
"Come on," Reiji said. They headed up toward the superstructure. A sailor barreled past; Reiji grabbed his sleeve. "We're trainers—put us to work!"
"Don't make it worse," the man snapped, shaking free.
"One thing—where's the brig? We can help guard it. Don't want the prisoners loose in this."
The question was risky. Wrong moment to ask and you got dragged off yourself.
"Bottom deck," the sailor tossed back, already sprinting away.
That easy. In this mess, two missing intruders were small fry.
They ducked into a storeroom, pulled on white sailor uniforms and caps they'd stashed earlier, and rode the lift to the lowest deck. The brig spanned the tiny bottom level; it took seconds to find Ren's cell—and only one sailor was posted there.
Reiji murmured in Shun's ear: "Go. Like this… then that… and I'll finish."
Shun went first, plastering on a rookie's grin and offering a cigarette. "Want one, senpai?"
"Haven't seen you before," the guard said, taking the smoke. He eye-flicked from Shun to Reiji and back with a knowing little smirk.
"Oh—sorry, forgot the light," Shun said, fumbling—exactly the kind of detail a scared newbie would botch.
"New?" the guard asked.
"Yeah. Pirates hit and I… came down here." Shun shrugged apologetically—and palmed a fat fold of cash into the man's hand.
The guard felt the weight and relaxed instantly. "Hiding out, huh? Fine. Stay out of the way."
Shun lured him a few steps off "to smoke." Reiji stepped in behind—chop to the neck—caught him under the arms, and hauled him back. Shun grabbed the feet. They dumped him inside an empty cell and slammed the door.
Keys off the belt. Cash, cigarettes, lighter from the pockets. Time to deal with the three who'd come to kill them.
(End of Chapter)
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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