"They can protect mejust fine." (Y/N) snapped at the King. "They are amazing! I trustthem with my life, do not ever disrespect them!"

(Y/N) wore a wild face, scrunched in anger and frustration, but the pirates looked on with awe and adoration.

"Did... did you just slap me?" Kazuyuki asked stunned in astonishment.

"Yes! I will not hesitate to do it again either if you ever doubt these men again."

Kazuyuki was silent for a minute as he searched over (Y/N)'s face, realizing he had never seen her so fierce before.

So, I could not get my bumblebee to love me back, but she found four demons to fall in love with instead? Well, she certainly has found her voice with them.

Kazuyuki's gaping mouth closed into a smirk.

"I must apologize for my ill-mannered banter," Kazuyuki looked back to the pirates. "But I am not sure the woman who dares slap a king at his own table needs much protection anyhow." The man laughed standing from the table.

"Koyuki, have Yukine show our guests to their respective rooms. And my condition still stands." Kazuyuki waved behind him as he and his shell-shocked sister left the dining hall leaving the five in silence.

(Y/N) regained her posture and calmed herself quickly.

That man is so insufferably rude! I pity the woman who would ever marry him.

"I am sorry everyone," (Y/N) turned with her smile returning to her. "I caused a scene during your meeting; I apologize for acting so out of character." She bowed her head.

"You..." Leven mumbled. "You slapped the king?" He still could not believe the ever so gentle (Y/N) could even raise her hand to someone.

(Y/N) giggled nervously.

"Yes, he is quite annoying."

"You defended us." Leopoldo pointed out lovingly.

(Y/N) blushed a little, with a shrug.

"It was only the truth, I did not like his tone."

Ivo suddenly started giggling himself, nearly sounding crazed.

"I simply cannot believe you slapped a king on our behalf." He managed to giggle out.

"Though I was picturing doing something much worse to him, that was very satisfying, little dove."

Ivo stood from his seat and made his way over to the girl, embracing her in a tight hug.

"Thank you..." He whispered in her ear for only her to catch.

It almost sounds like he is about to cry. (Y/N) the thought worried over Ivo.

"(Y/N)..." Kazumi caught her attention, and she saw he stood from the table as well.

Ivo released her and the captain pulled her into a hug as well, holding the back of her head with his hand.

"You were brave but let us be brave for you, it not wise to strike a person in power like that, who knows what would have followed. Old friends or not." He said softly.

So says the man planning on killing the most powerful people this side of the world. (Y/N) thought sarcastically to herself.

She shook her head slightly.

"I think I am going to have to disobey you, Kazumi, someone needs to be brave for you as well." She replied gently.

Kazumi slowly released from the embrace and she was immediately swept into another one from behind, with a possessive hold on her.

"My dear (Y/N)." Leopoldo rested his chin on the top of her head. "so sweet..."

It was as if Leopoldo was inhaling as much of as he could, raptured by her entire being, her entire existence. Everything she did was awe-worthy him, from the way she walked to the way she dared to slap a king.

The only one of the four that did not give her a warm hug was Leven, who remained seated and abashed by his behavior earlier, as well as her words towards him.

The dining room door slid open, alarming the pirates who were ready to kill anything about now.

Standing in the doorway, however, was a young boy. He wore a kimono and a distant expression, (Y/N) felt he had sad eyes.

"My sister sent me, I am here to show you to your rooms," The boy softly said bowing his head, his short black hair covering his eyes as he did. "This way." He quietly added, leaving out of sight.

The five quickly collected their bags to keep up with the boy who did not seem to wait around for them.

The group followed after the young boy, the pirates unnerved by the atmosphere around him and his unsettling silence compared to his loud siblings.

"This room can sleep two." The boy stopped suddenly and gestured to the room on the right of him.

The pirates looked between each other with disdain, except for Leopoldo who excitingly looked to Leven.

"I suppose I can share with Mr. Scary again," Ivo dramatically pouted leaning against the wall next to the door. Kazumi said nothing but cut his eyes to Ivo.

"Very well," The monotone boy nodded. "This room can sleep one." He gestured toward the room on the opposite side.

"He will take it," Leven instantly pointed behind him to Leopoldo with his thumb, who feigned hurt.

"You do not want to sleep with your dear older brother?" Leopoldo gasped.

"Very well, you will be in this room." The boy assigned Leopoldo the single bedroom and walked a few steps down the hall.

"You two may sleep in here," The boy looked up to Leven and (Y/N), both their jaws gaping open.

"What?!" Leven asked, astonished.

"I second that," Ivo added in the background with a smile.

"I third," Leopoldo agreed.

Kazumi just stood watching the scene unfold.

"This room is the last room, it sleeps two, so you both will be sleeping in here." Yukine calmly explained.

"Then I will sleep in there with Leven, and (Y/N) may have the single bedroom." Leopoldo offered but Leven took a step behind (Y/N) as if she would protect him.

"I don't want to sleep with you, pervert!" Leven exclaimed. "You touch me in weird places!"

(Y/N)'s cheeks flushed with heat as she looked at Leopoldo with shock. "Leo?"

Leopoldo's face flushed bright red, rarely does it.

"His neck! I tickle his neck! Do not make it so lewd, Leven!" Leopoldo scolded.

The boy, Yukine, uninterestingly looked on as well unimpressed with the behavior of the foreigners.

"It is fine, I do not mind sharing a room with Leven." (Y/N) nervously cut in, almost scared for Leven.

She also wanted time to apologize for her behavior towards him today, so she ushered the young boy into the room despite Leopoldo's protests as she closed the door.

Again, Leven and (Y/N)'s lips parted in shock as they looked over the room; one bed.

"I thought that brat said it could sleep two!" Leven snapped out.

"Well, it looks king-sized, so technically it could sleep more than two." (Y/N) giggled.

The bed was large and imposing, maybe even larger than the average king-sized, and had many pillows of whites and blues decorating it.

"If you're uncomfortable with sleeping in the same bed with me you could go take your chances with Leopoldo." (Y/N) teased, dropping her bag on the floor before squatting to find a pair of pajamas.

"N-no, I am not uncomfortable with sharing a bed with you, idiot." Leven stammered as he walked to the bed to get his change of clothes.

(Y/N) settled on a nightgown, it was silk, emerald green slip that came down to her mid-thighs, and a small slit on the right side; of course, it was another suggestive gift from Ivo.

Leven picked out a simple, thin white long sleeve and a pair of loose cotton dark blue sleeping pants. His movements were slow, rigid as his heart raced in his chest.

I am going to be next to that idiot all night, in the same bed... I can't even think straight.

"Leven." (Y/N)'s voice beckoned him out his warped thoughts.

He turned to see she was standing right beside him, and he jolted, he was so focused he did not realize she had walked over.

"Can you unzip me?" She asked pointing over her shoulder to her back. Leven's mind went blank.

"Huh?" He breathed out.

"My dress," She chuckled slightly at his reaction. "I cannot unzip it myself."

Leven blinked rapidly and scoffed trying to regain his composure.

"How'd you get it on then idiot? If you can get the stupid thing on you can take it off yourself." He went back to fixing his clothes in his away bag.

(Y/N) chuckled again.

"Ivo zipped me into it."

That perv! Leven's hands froze in his bag as his brow twitched.

"It is okay, I can go ask him since he is the one who put me into it." (Y/N) brushed it off and began towards the door but did not get far when she felt a hand grip her arm at her elbow.

"Just stay still," Leven grumbled with a bright red face.

(Y/N) had managed to unzip the dress to just above her shoulder blades, but her aching and injured arm prevented her from reaching further.

Leven gripped the zipper with an unnoticeable gulp and began to slide it down at an excoriating slow rate.

(Y/N) blushed herself at his actions, but Leven was not trying to be seductive with a slow unzipping of the dress. He was simply that nervous, he did not want to do unzip her quickly and seem rough, and anything past this speed seemed rough in his frazzled mind.

Finally, the zipper reached its limit, and Leven could not help back sneak a peek at the curves of her now exposed back.

I adore her skin... Leven thought as (Y/N) stepped away to scoop up her nightgown laying across the armchair in the room.

"Thank you," She quietly said.

"Yeah," He muttered back.

They changed in opposites corners of the room, with their backs to each other.

(Y/N) slipped her nightgown on before she removed anything on her lower half. Leven heard her boots tapping against the ground as she set them aside while he slipped on his nightshirt.

When they were finished, they turned at the same time and looked into each other's uncomfortable eyes.

Leven was the first to move towards the bed, acting as if he was not flustered with the prospect of sharing a bed with her. (Y/N) followed quickly after, beginning to take the decorative pillows off the bed, Leven watched her curiously.

"Why are you putting the pillows on the floor?" He finally asked, annoyance lining his voice.

(Y/N) looked down to the throw pillows, and back to him.

"They aren't sleeping pillows, they're just for looks." She smiled.

Leven looked away embarrassed with his ignorance of the topic and began to follow after her.

(Y/N) pulled back the several layers of blankets and climbed into bed, Leven followed after.

They laid down on their backs staring at the ceilings, feeling each other's presence in the bed with them, but did not acknowledge it. Both of their hearts were beating so loud they feared the other would hear it in the dead silence of the night.

"Leven..." (Y/N) finally whispered.

She received a questioning hum in reply.

(Y/N) gulped before she continued.

"I want to apologize for being so harsh to you today." She spoke.

Leven did not respond so she continued.

"I was unreasonably upset, and I shouldn't have let that affect my tone towards you. I have never experienced cold weather or anything like snow, it was growing frustrating to me. You all are always slowing down for me, especially you Leven, you always wait for me... and that is not fair. I want to be able to walk through the snow with you without falling behind, that is why I did not want your help. I am sorry." She finished but was met with cold silence.

(Y/N) felt her heart sink in her chest, assuming Leven was so mad at her that he would not accept her apology.

Leven however was smiling like a fool, attempting not to show it, and remained quiet so he would not expose himself that he was relieved by her words.

Brother was right, she hates the snow, not me! Why did I ever doubt that idiot? Or myself? Of course, we will be together forever, I can handle her prissy attitude towards the cold. I hate the cold as well; we are perfect for each other.

When Leven felt like he could control the tone of his voice he finally replied to the girl on the verge of tears.

"Whatever, idiot. You didn't hurt my feelings." Leven lied through his teeth.

A weight scurrying across the bed shocked his eyes wide open, and he did not have time to stop the tackle that crashed against him.

"I am so happy!" (Y/N) squealed as she hugged Leven close to her chest. "I was so worried you would never forgive me."

Leven felt like he fainted for a second, coming to with his face pressed into her cleavage.

"H-hey," Leven pressed his hands against her shoulder. "Get-get o-off me." He stammered as he felt his face and neck light on fire with red.

"Let me hug you, Leven." She whispered back. "You're warm."

Leven's eyes widened by a fraction as his whole body tensed.

She... she thinks I am warm?

Now Leven felt like he could cry, being moved by a simple two-worded statement.

He has spent his whole life feeling ice-cold, even after leaving Fubukimouth, he would find himself shivering at night in his bed. The cold was all he knew, right down to the way he acted. He was much worse off before this mysterious girl boarded their ship, and from the first time, she smiled his way he felt warm.

She is my warmth, my sunshine, I am not supposed to make her feel warm... I am nothing but the snow melting under her. Leven felt his lids sag, half-lidded.

But if the snow could touch the sun... if it had a chance to love her... could it? Without being utterly destroyed by her?

(Y/N) felt Leven ease out of the hug, for the first time parting from her embrace without being rough. She looked down at him confused, but he slipped his hand to her cheek, his fingers splitting between her ear and burying themselves in her hair.

"Leven?" She asked the half-lidded boy who seemed transfixed on something on her face.

"I am sorry..." He whispered back as he closed the gap between them, pressing his cold lips to hers.

(Y/N)'s eyes almost popped from her skull as her heart collided into her ribs, never expecting this from Leven.

Her hand went to his wrist gently that held her face in surprise.

Leven did not move his lips or try to enter her mouth to feel her tongue against his, he simply pressed his lips to hers. He was taking in her warmth.

When Leven pulled away (Y/N)'s face was bright red, and her heart was going wild inside her.

No... I cannot... not Leven too.

(Y/N) felt the shame itching at the front of her mind.

I am so selfish.

"Thank you..." Leven earnestly said, and (Y/N) took note of his voice when it was not angry or laced with annoyance, nor throwing insults.

It was a sweet voice, the voice that could feel like home and rock you to sleep with sweet nothings. It was not as deep as the other pirates, but it made her ache to hear it in that tone more often.

"Thank you," (Y/N) replied with a soft smile.

Before Leven or her could say anything else the door to their room creaked open at a haunting sluggish pace. Both their heads snapped to the door, looking into the darkness of the hallway.

(Y/N) could see nothing, but Leven groaned as if he were annoyed again.

"What is it?" (Y/N) asked Leven.

"A pervert." Leven laid back down pulling the sheets over his head.

A pervert? (Y/N) whipped her head back to the door watching as the culprit came into view.

"Oh, Leopoldo." (Y/N) smiled as the tallest pirate came into view.

"Hello, dear brother and (Y/N)." He smiled closing the door behind him, confusing (Y/N).

"I have decided that I will sleep with you two tonight." Leopoldo smiled, and Leven shot from the bed.

"Like hell you are!" Leven snapped, but that did not stop Leopoldo's advance on the bed.

"Come now," Leopoldo pulled the covers back on (Y/N)'s side. "It will be fun."

Leopoldo climbed into the bed. Leven released an angry sigh and crashed back into the bed.

"Wouldn't you like to sleep in a bed not so crowded?" (Y/N) giggled as she watched the man trying to get comfortable.

"I am fine, dear," Leopoldo responded. "Lay down, we have a big day ahead of us."

(Y/N) did what he said, slipping back down between the two brothers, a light blush creeping onto her face.

Oh, gods, I have kissed both of them, is this awkward?

"That stupid wild king and his stupid hunting trip," Leven muttered.

"Yes, I, myself, do not like to hunt. I see it as a major waste of time." Leopoldo agreed with his brother.

"Kazuyuki is just a showoff; he will be happy to do all the hunting himself. He just wants an audience." (Y/N) mumbled.

There was a pause in the conversation, they all shifted around in the bed trying to get comfortable.

"Was everything he said true?" Leven finally asked (Y/N), Leopoldo's ears perked up.

(Y/N)'s guilt squeezed her heart with its unforgiving grip.

"Yes."

"You had no idea he was a prince?" Leven turned over to face her.

"No," (Y/N) quickly replied.

"Why does he call you that silly name, dear?" Leopoldo slinked his arm around her waist and pulled her into him.

"Uh—" (Y/N) was so flustered by his actions she forgot the answer herself.

"He said it was a funny story, so make us laugh." Leven maneuvered closer to make up for the gap Leopoldo created when he pulled her in.

"It is only funny to him," (Y/N) said.

"We want to hear it." Leopoldo countered.

"Just spit it out," Leven grumbled, grabbing her hands to hold.

(Y/N) released a sigh.

"We were arguing, maybe I was madder than him admittedly, and out of anger I threw a cup at him."

(Y/N) thought about it embarrassingly, it was so out of character for her, Kazuyuki always brings out the worst in her.

The argument was over how a king should be the ruler and a queen should be an image for the country and stay out of politics.

(Y/N) has always had an issue with women being looked down upon, and Kazuyuki made it worse. So much worse, (Y/N) reactively picked up her teacup and hurled it at the man. It had missed and flew over his shoulder landing in the bushes.

"It missed him by a fraction and went into the bushes. Unfortunately, into a beehive."

(Y/N) wanted to die telling such an embarrassing tale.

"We got stung so many times, and Kazuyuki had to pick me up and run. He thought it was so hilarious, and since then has called me that stupid name."

Leven and Leopoldo became hot with jealousy, the heat raised to their neck and down their backs.

They were so jealous (Y/N) and Kazuyuki had a friendship they could not with her, and that Kazuyuki had fond memories of her.