Curse of the Zodiac Serpent
The Ship

At some point during the night, she had managed to fall asleep. Not before she had lodged a chair under the door handle and barricaded the door. Her mind couldn’t rest knowing that someone might enter the room while she slept. They were pirates, after all. There was no telling what they were capable of.

The rising sun woke her as the rays of light drifted over her face through the porthole. Attempting to roll over she found herself tangled in the various layers of dress that had become rather loose during the night.

Frustrated with the garments she stripped off the top layers, leaving only the the light linen undergarments on. However, the skirt was still a trip hazard. She tore the bottom of the material so it fell to just below her knees.

Pleased with her now manoeuvrable attire Ayako turned her focus to the door. Clearing out the small barricade she had created she placed her ear to the wood and listened.

Silence. She had waited for this moment. The moment when the men would likely be sleepy off all the ale they drunk last night.

Pulling her hair out from the already messy array that had once been fashionable she retrieved two hairpins, stuffing the rest of the pieces including the two zanzi sticks down the front of her top. The small wooden sticks that had been decorations in her hair could double as a weapon if needed.

With the help of the hairpins, picking the lock took no time at all. Next, she was slow and precise with her movements, careful of her footing on the wooden boards as she slipped through the doorway and into what she assumed were the sleeping quarters for the crew.

Barrels full of supplies lined the floor next to sacks of grain and rice. Rows upon rows of canvas hammocks lay strung above, gently rocking to the boat’s sway. But they were empty... Where was everyone? Had she miss-calculated?

She felt her skin tingle as the hair on her arms stood on end. She’d felt that there was something off about this ship when she had been at the port. She couldn’t hear any footsteps on the upper deck, there were no men down here sleeping...

She needed to check the deck to be sure, hoping that she was wrong and they were all passed out up there instead. She buried the panic that was rearing its head and rushed to the tiny stairs that led upwards.

In her half-frantic state, she’d knocked over a barrel, normally such a small thing wouldn’t have stopped her as the rocking ship was sure to have a barrel or two fall on occasion. But the hiss that followed stopped her dead in her tracks.

Her hands were firmly griped on the narrow stair railing as she craned her head around to the side, trying to see the cause. The last thing she needed was the noise to be attached to something that could cause a commotion or explosion. There was gun power on board after all.

The hiss came again and she raised a brow, now she was sure that it was of animal nature. Investigating the area surrounding the barrel she noticed a scaly tail-like limb sticking out from under another another toppled-over wooden container to the back of the cabin. Was that... a snake?

“Sorry little guy.” She whispered as she made her way deeper to where the creature appeared to be trapped. It looked as though the barrel she had knocked over had tapped its tail, most likely startling it. She leaned down and picked the second barrel lifting it upright beside the first, freeing the slitering creature.

The snake coiled itself up as though trying to hug the injured parts of its body tight.

“How did you get on board, huh?” She muttered as she stared down at the poor thing, a part of his body had been squished almost flat by the barrel it had been stuck under. There wasn’t much more she could do without risking being bitten, and she wasn’t about to throw the poor thing overboard just get rid of it.

Deciding to leave it be, she darted up the stairs and onto the upper deck, her attention back on her mission from earlier. However, as her feet touched the deck she was once again surprised to see not a soul.

“What?” She muttered aloud.

Not even a helmsman by the wheel? She ran to the railing to see if they had docked, only water could be seen in every direction. The anchor was up and the boat was still sailing, but how?

A strong hand took hold of her arm pulling her away from the railing with a force that left her gasping in shock. Her arm was held raised slightly into the air as the man who had grabbed her was taller than her. Captain Kenji’s face was now only inches from her, his scowl burning into her.

“How did you get free?” He hissed.

“I picked the lock with my hairpin, I was hungry.” She returned his scowl with a glare of her own. “You don’t intend to starve me do you?” She added.

With a grunt, he tossed her to the deck. Her landing wasn’t graceful but she had caught herself enough to not cause damage. Sitting up she looked up at the man that now towered down over her.

“Have you no fear!” He spat angrily.

“Of you, no!” There was no point in acting the part of a Princess, she wouldn’t even know where to begin honestly.

The captain drew his sword as a disgusted expression crossed his face.

Standing she pushed her shoulders back and looked him square in the eyes. “Is that meant to frighten me? You forget I’ve lived through the war.”

His glare never left her as he swung the weapon, she didn’t even flinch as the blade came down cutting the rope that was attached to the railing holding the sail closed. The material cascaded down and ballooned as the wind caught the fabric. The ship veered in a new direction making her lose her footing slightly.

“Get back below deck, we’ll be arriving soon.” He spun on his heels and headed for the wheel.

No other crewmen were helping, was he manning the ship alone?

“Where is everyone?” She asked.

“GET BELOW DECK!” He ordered more sternly, clearly sick of her presence.

Something occurred to her, she might be grasping at straws but it was the only thing that made sense. “Were they mercenaries? Men for hire. It’s just you isn’t it?”

The others must have left the ship in the evening. His eyes narrowed on her as his anger only grew.

“Women! Always the same, never listening.” Undoing another rope nearby the sail angled slightly catching more of the wind, the ship was speeding up.

“I can help you! You can’t man this vessel on your own.” She pointed out.

Her response was a roll of the eyes and a shaking of his head. He clearly didn’t approve of her. But she was here now, might as well make herself useful, it was better than remaining downstairs and doing nothing. She could see what he was doing, he was trying to gain as much speed as possible, and the wind was good for it too, it would be a waste not to ride the strong north gusts.

She headed for the front sail, climbing the mast with ease. This one wasn’t used as much as it was smaller, he’d rigged the rest of the ship to handle most of the sails from the helm.

“What are yo-” He stopped as she undid the ropes holding the sail up. She wrapped her wrist in the now loose rope and used the open sail as a shortcut back down to the deck, her motions were fluid and experienced. His mouth was slightly agape as she tied the rope to the rail with the correct knot.

“What kind of Princess are you!?” He was shocked as she continued to help angle the other sails.

“A Shogun Princess.” She retorted with a laugh.

“You’re a prisoner that belongs below deck!” He protested.

“Unless you plan to bind me with rope, those flimsy door locks will not keep me in.”

With a disgruntled sigh, he admitted defeat and remained silent accepting her aid.