The sun beat down relentlessly on the back of Kaida's neck; even sitting in the pitiful shade of a palm tree, she could feel a sunburn start to settle in on her skin. This was a terrible day to stop in port... She wiped her forehead and looked over to Click who was sitting hunched over a book, his brow furrowed in concentration. "How's it coming?" She asked him.

“Not great,” he mumbled, “what’s this one?” He held the book up to Ryo with his finger pointed at a particularly difficult word. “App-rocks-mate-lie?”

“Approximately,” Kaida corrected. “That was pretty close though, you’re certainly getting better.”

“If you say so.” Click closed the book, running his hands along the worn cover. “I still don’t get why I need to read these, It’s just extra wording for that stupid test. I already know how to navigate, and I can tell you a heading without needing to tell you the… approximately degree of latitude when I can just say we’re heading south by southwest.”

“Approximate degree,” Kaida corrected with a chuckle. “The more knowledge you have Click, the more power. Plus if you want to be a captain someday, knowing how to read and write will be beneficial.” She looked at him and cocked an eyebrow. “Unless this is you giving up and just admitting I’d make a better captain?”

Click scoffed as he set the book to the side and stood up. “Reading and writing alone don’t make a good captain Ryo. You have to know and understand your crew, when’s the last time you ran rigging? Swabbed the lower decks? Hauled anchor in the hull? A good Captain knows their crew, and the crew knows their captain.” He smirked down at Ryo, “don’t worry, when I get my ship you can still be first mate and I’ll put you right to work.”

Kaida rolled her eyes and stood up as well. “I never said it did, but it sounds like we both have things to work on.” She stretched and wiped the sweat from the back of her neck. “If you wanted, you study under my uncle for a week while I take up your duties on deck? Walk in the other’s shoes for a bit.”

“That's…. Actually a good idea, can we do that? Would your uncle let us?”

“He may need some convincing, but it’s worth a shot.”

Click wiped a few beads of sweat from his brow and shielded his eyes as he looked up to the blistering sun. “Gods this sun, I’m in need of a good cool off, you?”

“Ah-” Kaida’s face flushed and a familiar discomfort began to form in her stomach. “Suppose I wouldn’t mind getting my feet wet before we head back to the ship…” she said hesitantly.

“Come on, there’s a small stream coming down to the beach, if we follow it up i’m betting there’s a pool inland a little ways.” Click started heading towards the tree line, signaling Ryo to follow him in. The sudden sense of adventure giving him new energy after nearly being put to sleep by the book. “So will you put in a word with your uncle?”

‘I certainly can,” Kaida said, the pit in her stomach growing as she followed Click towards the tree line. Just have to be casual about it, don’t make a big deal of it and say you’re just not getting in. Her eyes fell on Click’s back, sweat starting to seep through the cotton and her stomach twisted. “... we probably shouldn’t be too long, Nabasu wanted us back within the next hour.”

“Plenty of time for a quick dip to cool off once we find this pool.” The stream was beginning to widen while the plants around them grew thicker, Click knew they were getting close to the source. He nearly fell into the pool when the trees and bushes suddenly stopped at the water line. Skirting the edge for the moment, they managed to make their way to a more open area along the border where Click finally stopped to dip his hand in the water. It was crystal clear, and refreshingly cool, a perfect spot to escape this midday heat. “See, that took no time at all, plenty of time now to spare cooling off.”

Kaida fiddled with the top button of her shirt nervously, not looking at Click but trying to calm her nerves. She glanced around to find somewhere to sit, spotting a small boulder she could rest against. “I’m… I won’t be getting in all the way,” she said weakly, sitting down on the rock. She immediately set to work on removing her boots, too nervous to look up at Click or listen for his response. “I’ll just put my feet in.”

Click pulled his shirt off and tossed it to the side before setting to work on removing his own boots. “Seriously? Ryo you’re dripping sweat I can see it from here, sticking your feet in is going to do nothing for you.”

One boot off, Kaida set on the other one, glancing up briefly to see him taking off his own boots and her face burned with embarrassment to see him shirtless. “I’ll be fine, I don’t want to get out wet and try and get into dry clothes,” she said, trying to be casual.

“You’re already soaking wet with sweat,” Click remarked as he took the rest of his clothes off. “I’d rather be cool and getting back into clothes wet, then sticky, mucky, and hot the rest of the day. Besides I am not carrying you back if you faint from the heat.” Click approached ryo and stood in front of him waiting for him to see logic. He had this strange aversion to getting into water period without his clothes on. ‘Probably a bit nervous of his body, but on a ship you needed to be comfortable, otherwise you’ll always be uncomfortable.’

Kaida finished rolling up her pants and heard Click approach her; she looked up again, her eyes growing wider as they fell below Click's waist. She darted her attention quickly elsewhere, feeling the heat of shame grow over her whole face. "You're not carrying me anywhere, I'll be fine," She said firmly, she stood up and made her way to the edge of the pool, making it a point to not look at him.

“You’re bright red, probably going to have a nasty burn. You really need to…” he shoved Ryo forward into the pool, “cool off.” He didn’t shove him too hard, just enough to make him stumble till the water was up to his waist.

Irritation rushed over Kaida for a moment as she straightened up in the water. “You little shit-” she pushed out her hands in the water to splash him with water, but she could feel herself a bit less embarrassed now that she was in the cool water and had a distraction from looking at him.

Click laughed as he walked past him into the pool and swam out to the center. “There ya go, see, this feels great doesn’t it?”

“You’re a real pain in the ass sometimes. You know that?” Kaida asked with a grin, still keeping her distance from him. Despite being more comfortable in the cool water, she couldn’t bring herself to get too close or really look at Click.

“Yes, yes I know.” He splashed a bit of the cold water on his face, still chuckling at Ryo’s embarrassment at getting undressed. “You do realize that at some point, you’ll have to take off those clothes with a woman. If you can’t undress around your best friend how are you ever going to make a woman happy?” He gave Ryo a teasing smirk which Ryo continued to ignore.

“I’ll worry about that when it becomes relevant,” Kaida mumbled, crouching down into the water until it reached her chin. “It’s not like I’m interested in anyone at the moment anyway…”

“No one?” Click said while swimming till he could stand on the bottom, “We’ve been in how many ports and you haven’t met anyone who’s caught your eye? I find that hard to believe.”

“Why is that so hard to believe?” Kaida raised an eyebrow. “Why fall for a girl when you just leave port soon after? I'd rather have something that would last longer and be more meaningful,” she said a bit hesitantly. Not like it matters anyway... She never liked having these kind of conversations with Click. It was hard to hear when a beautiful girl caught his eye and listen quietly as he spoke about her.

Click sighed, “I said hard to believe not impossible, I feel the same to be honest. Don't get me wrong, I notice the looks I get every now and then from the girls in the ports we've stopped in, but none really interest me, especially when I'm just going to head off in the morning. Guess that's why so many of the men head to the brothels as soon as we dock, little desperate and dirty if you ask me.”

“Yeah… I think so too,” Kaida gave a small sigh of relief. “But you’ve never seen a girl that you’ve been interested in? Nabasu says romance is kind of a waste in this type of life... Maybe he's right.”

“Not yet, but unlike your uncle I’m not giving up just yet. Every girl I’ve met so far is ordinary, looking for the next strong young man to leave the sea and marry them. That doesn’t interest me in the slightest, I want adventure, I want excitement, and I want someone to share it all with. Not someone who just...waits at home, staring out a window at the rolling sea, hoping for a glimpse of sails on the horizon.” Click stared up at the light breaking through the canopy overhead, lost in thought for a moment before shaking his head and heading up towards Ryo. “I need a girl who likes a little adventure ya know?”

“Yeah,” Kaida mumbled. She stood up straight again and tried to discreetly turn her head away as he moved towards her into more shallow water. “I want something like that too-”

Click placed his hand on Ryo’s shoulder, interrupting him, “I’d hope so. If you’re going to be my first mate you’ll be going on plenty of adventures.” Before Ryo could respond, Click laughed and placed his hand on Ryo’s chest, giving him a playful shove back down into the water. He landed square on his back in the water, and Click laughed even harder as he headed for the edge of the pool where his clothes were. “You’re feeling a bit squishy there Ryo, need to get you working some oars again, build back up those muscles before you get too soft.”

Kaida consciously put her hand up to her chest as she pulled herself up to a sitting position in the water, her throat tightening with mixed emotions. No one had ever touched her chest, the feeling was strange with the bandages but a part of her was torn between yelling at him and crying. She didn’t look at him while he got dressed, she couldn’t be angry with him, he didn’t know. She was more angry with herself, she decided. If he knew… She shook the thought from her mind before giving it a chance to grow and forced a laugh. “Piss off.”

“Ah come on now Ryo I'm just teasing.” He finished pulling his boots up and leaned against a tree waiting on him. “You tease me about reading and my shit handwriting all the time. As well you should to be honest. I'm pretty sure I'm hopeless and you just refuse to accept that.”

Kaida wiped the water from her face and wrung out her hat before plopping it back on her head. She pulled herself out of the pool and grabbed her boots. Click grinned at her and her heart leapt in her chest. “Why would you think that?” Kaida asked as she pulled her boots over her feet. “your handwriting is shit, don't get me wrong,” Kaida chuckled. “But you're smart and a quick learner.”

“Aye, I suppose I am,” a sly smile played at his lips but it quickly faded. “but that means nothing in the tests to become a lieutenant or captain. If I can't read and write properly, or gain even a basic grasp on mathematics I'll never make it far. Yet no matter how pointless teaching me seems, you refuse to give up on me…” Click looked up through the trees again, getting his bearings and a rough idea of the time of day. “You're a good friend Ryo, and an honest one at that. If you do win our little bet, I'd gladly serve as your first mate. It would be the least I could do after all you've done for me.”

Kaida's eyes fell on him, a soft smile playing at her lips as she watched him stare up above them. Click underestimated himself, he was confident in many ways, but there was a vulnerability about him when it came to his education. Kaida wanted to help him because she saw potential in him and she wanted him to have his best chance at passing his test to become lieutenant and captain. Even if she wanted to be a captain as well, deep down she didn't really care if she served as his first mate.

He looked back at her, curiously awaiting her response. His bright eyes shone against the shade of the trees as they walked back to the ship, and Kaida bit her lip nervously before speaking. “Honestly Click, I don't care too much on who becomes captain first. I just want to help you…” she said, staring straight ahead now, too nervous to look at him. “I just want us to sail the seas, share wild adventures together.”

Click laughed heartily and clapped Ryo on the shoulders, pulling him down the path and pushing him ahead of himself. “And we shall my friend, we’ve only just begun to discover the caribbean, there’s a whole ocean waiting for us to sail. Unless you end up getting lovestruck and settling down in some port town with some, over powdered, rosy cheeked lass.”

“Oh I wouldn’t worry about that,” Kaida chuckled to herself as they broke through the line of the trees and spotted Nabasu’s ship.

“If you say so my friend, if you say so.” Click patted him on the shoulder once more as they neared the boat. “I’m off to meet the boys at the beach camp, come find me later on and let me know what your uncle says about switching duties for a time.” He grasped Ryo’s forearm before turning and heading towards the small campfires along the shore, singing a little tune as he went. “Farewell and adieu, to you spanish ladies, farewell and adieu, to you ladies of spain.”

Kaida watched him leave, the ghost of his touch still lingering on her arm, and a small sadness came over her. Really shouldn’t worry about that, Click…

***

Back on the ship, Kaida snuck her way through the deck to her and Nabasu’s quarters as discreetly as she could, trying to make it to her room before he spotted her in her soaked clothes. Much to her dismay, as soon as she stepped through the main cabin doors, Nabasu was coming out of his room, papers in hand, and frowning at her with a puzzled expression.

“Why are you drenched?” He asked, setting the papers down on his desk and raising an eyebrow at her.

“Ah, yes- well you see, that is an excellent question-” She said, inching towards her room. Nabasu’s frown only deepened and Kaida finally stopped in front of her door. “I… it was hot today…”

“Weren’t you working with Click on his reading?” Nabasu asked, still watching her carefully, but moving to his desk and taking a seat. “Am I to assume that he’s also off somewhere, just as soaking as you?”

“We just wanted to find a river or pool to cool off, that’s all,” Kaida said, starting to get defensive as she stepped away from her door. “Nothing happened, I only took my boots off.”

Nabasu let out a soft sigh and leaned onto his desk, “Kaida, you know I care about Click, but- I don’t think spending so much time alone with him is a wise decision…”

“Why? He’s trustworthy and good. He’d never do anything to hurt me,” Kaida stepped closer to his desk, her heart starting to beat faster in her chest. She rarely argued with her uncle, but something was giving her the courage to speak up for herself and for Click. “He’s my best friend, If I could just- tell him, maybe… he, we’d-”

“He’d what?” Nabasu said, raising his voice a bit. “Fall in love with the person he thought was a boy for nearly two years. Someone who had kept a significant part of their life from him? I know you want to believe that things could work between you two, but Kaida, you’re putting yourself at risk because of it-”

“How? By being honest?” Kaida said, her voice raising now to match his. “Would it be so wrong if I told him? I trust Click.”

Nabasu scowled at her, his fists clenched. “So you reveal yourself to be a girl, and then what? This sea is full of unsavory men, even some on my own ship that I don’t trust. You put yourself in danger if you reveal who you are.”

“Yes, but if I only told Click and he kept my-”

“Then you put the both of you in danger- if you act too comfortable with each other, if your guard is down. People would only see two boys, and either punish you for that, or your secret is exposed to everyone then-”

“But, Uncle I-”

“Enough.” Nabasu stood from his desk, his tone was now quiet, and a brief glimpse of anger flashed in his eyes, replaced by fear. Kaida stood across from him, now shivering from her wet clothes and her uncle’s unsettling tone; his face was tired, aged. The years of carrying too many sorrows and burdens now visible. His mask that he wore in front of Kaida so often was slipping and for a moment, she saw the face of a man who chad cried outside of her room the day he realized he was alone to raise a child. The face of a man who didn’t know what to do, but was just trying his best to raise a daughter he never expected he would be.

Guilt fought against Kaida’s own anger as she watched her uncle and she lowered her eyes to the floor. She wanted to tell Click, but she wanted to obey her uncle’s wishes. He only wanted what was best for her, but by her following what he wanted, Kaida wondered if there was anything left for herself. Or would everything she cared about slowly be stripped away from her? “I’m sorry,” Kaida said quietly, holding her hands behind her back.

Nabasu walked around the desk and laid a weary hand on Kaida’s shoulder. “I am too…” he gave her shoulder a feeble squeeze before letting go. “Go get changed… I don’t want you getting sick.”

Kaida clenched her jaw and nodded slightly, trying to keep her emotions under control. She inhaled and put on her mask, the one that she wore in front of the others, the one that she was getting so tired of wearing; Ryo’s mask. “Yes, sir.”

Nabasu walked out of the cabin, leaving Kaida alone again and she made her way into her bedroom, allowing her emotions to escape once she was alone. Hot angry tears streamed down her face as she tore the wet clothes from her body and threw them onto the floor. She clawed the damp bandages away from her chest, reluctantly taking fresh ones from a chest near her bed and wrapping them tightly around herself. Her vision blurred with tears as she secured the bandage and she wiped her eyes before catching herself in the mirror.

A boyish figure stared back at her, toned but still petite with the hint of maturing curves hidden in loose pants. Her shaved head devoid of any silver hair; she could hardly remember the last time she had hair on her head that was longer than the pitiful fuzz that grew back before her uncle shaved it again. She had seen this reflection everyday, but now it was unfamiliar to her; a body she didn’t want. An identity she didn’t desire. Why would he want you anyway? Look at you. Kaida wiped a stray tear that fell down her cheek and pulled a clean shirt over her head.

Once more, she slipped on her mask, though she wanted nothing more than to be alone. As she made her way back onto the deck, it was nearly devoid of any crew members so she slipped off of it and down towards the shore where the beach camp where Click was waiting for her. She spotted him among a few other younger crew members, laughing and joking against the dying afternoon sun. She hesitated and slowed her footsteps, instead veering away from the camp towards the beach, losing her courage to face the others at the moment. “You're a good friend Ryo, and an honest one at that.” Kaida sighed as she sat down, digging her bare feet into the soft sand until they disappeared. I’m sorry Click, but I’m afraid I’m just a coward.

“Looks like we had the same idea, get as far from Johnny’s cooking as possible.” Click stood behind Ryo, the soft sand making his approach silent. He’d watched him turn away from the camp and head down the beach, a sign that things had probably gone poorly with Nabasu. “We’ve told him you can’t just add gunpowder to help cook things faster but, he doesn’t listen.”

Kaida stared straight ahead at the water, her throat still tight and untrusting to speak yet. She wasn’t expecting Click, she had hoped he hadn’t seen her. She finally glanced back at him, “He really is a terrible cook,” she mumbled, smiling slightly despite her mood.

He noticed the small tear streaks on Ryo’s face, Nabasu always had high expectations for him, and being his nephew meant he was often the hardest on Ryo. He’ll mold you into a good Captain, but even Captains are allowed a little fun aren’t they? “His rat stew isn’t all that bad, although I think that’s due to the gunpowder making rat taste...well not like rat.” Click took a seat in the sand next to Ryo and offered him the small bottle of rum he had. “I take it the chat with your uncle didn’t go so well?”

Kaida took the bottle and took a sip, though she didn’t care for alcohol, every once and awhile she’d drink some to spite her Uncle’s wishes to stay away from it. It felt like one small way she had her own freedom to do something she wanted. She handed it back to Click and shook her head at his question. “...Didn’t even have the chance to ask him… I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, clearly it was not a good time to bring it up.” He took a swig from the bottle himself before setting it down in the sand between them. There was a moment of silence between them before Click spoke again, “I’m going to ask if you’re all good, you’re going to say you’re alright. But we both know that’s not the case because something is clearly bothering you, so whats going on Ryo? Why was your Uncle so hard on you this time?”

“I…” I want to tell you. Everything. Kaida looked at Click, into his calm, bright eyes that she had come to love. I want to tell you so you don’t have to call me that name anymore. She clenched her jaw as silent tears came to her eyes. Her uncle was right though, she hated to admit it, but it was selfish of her to tell him. She was safer keeping this secret and ultimately so was Click, but knowing that didn’t make it any easier. “I’m sorry, Click… My uncle is a good man, he’s just- expects a lot. And that takes a toll… sometimes. I’ll be alright.”

Click nodded and laid down on the soft sand, it was a warm night, the stars were out and twinkling while the calm sea continued to lazily roll in. “Well, you have the ability to be a Captain far sooner than the rest of us if things keep up. I’m sure he’s just trying to keep you on that path so you don’t waste any time… That being said, once you’re a Captain it’s a whole new life. You’ll be able to go anywhere you really want and do the things you want, but you also have a ship and a crew to look after. Right now in our lives, this is when we can enjoy being selfish, being truly free of any cares but our own. I know why he’s hard on you, but sometimes I wish he could put aside being a Captain and let you enjoy the selfish moments before they’re gone.”

“... I do too.” Kaida looked over and gave Click a sad smile before she laid down on the sand, putting her hands behind her head and staring up at the stars above them. It was as close as she could get to him, and though it hurt to have to accept that, Click still had the ability to calm her whenever she was with him. He may not know the truth, but his words were comforting just because she knew he was always there to listen when she needed it. “I just think I need a distraction from those things right now,” she said. “I don’t want to think about duties or becoming a captain or any of that at the moment.”

“Then don’t,” Click laughed. “You aren’t on the ship right now, we aren’t sailing. There are no duties to be done right now and no expectations to….Ah there it is!” He said pointing up to the stars, “been looking for you ever since we came to the Caribbean.”

Kaida smiled at Click’s excitement, he loved the stars more than anyone she had met before. She glanced over to where he was pointing and grinned at him. “Looking for what?”

“Draco, just there, ya see?” Click scooted closer to Ryo so he could better help point out the faint line of stars. “It snakes through the two bears, but it’s stars are softer so it doesn’t show up as often. We’re in a good spot tonight that they can shine through.”

“The dragon?” Kaida asked, holding her breath once Click had moved closer. She looked between the faint constellation and Click’s eyes, shining mirthfully at her. She let out a soft sigh and looked back to the night sky, focusing her attention there instead of him. “Is that constellation meaningful to you?”

“In a way I suppose, my father showed it to me once, on the voyage from London to Africa. I’ve just, I guess always had a soft spot for it. Such a powerful name, Draco, the dragon, yet its stars are soft, more distant than the ones surrounding it. It’s always there but hidden, just out of sight until the clearest of nights.”

“Sounds a bit lonely,” Kaida responded with a sad laugh. “But it’s beautiful.”

“The most beautiful things are often the least noticed...But aye, it does seem a bit lonely doesn’t it? Maybe that’s why I like to look for it, make sure someone sees it.”

Least noticed… Kaida couldn’t help herself and glanced back at Click who was watching the stars with wonder, admiration and curiosity in his eyes. If I told you the truth… would you eventually look at me like that? Would you notice me too? An odd but familiar feeling formed in the pit of her stomach; a feeling that she got when they stopped in ports and saw how girls looked at Click. It was a feeling that she didn’t think she’d have now, but as she watched Click look up at the stars that he so clearly loved, she couldn’t help but be jealous.