On a day like any other, an ill wind passes over the bow of the ship, wood and metal creeks in a uneasy fashion, deep in the bowls of the vessel rest Akuma, getting a few winks in before heading to his studies. Suddenly one of the crewmen comes barreling down the stairs: "SIR SIR!! WE FOUND A SHIP RIPE FOR THE PLUNDERING" he bellows, kanji wiping the sleep from his eyes give a assuring grin fallowing him up the stairs. Just as the man said, there was the ship over the horizon, seeming to be stagnant in the water, not moving a inch even with the ever shortening distance separating them.

Once they're in range, they begin boarding the ship, not a soul to greet them with blades or guns, the ship void of all and any life, yet its deck clean and well kept, as if whatever or whoever was here just simply vanished off the face of the earth.

"search this place top to bottom men leave no stone un-turned i want whatever we can claim from this vessel" a few minutes pass and the crew one by one bring aboard boxes and crates of food and rations, "sir we cleared out the entire place, cept' for this chest we found in the captains quarters" aku approached the chest with no hesitation, seeming to be drawn in by the box, his mind going fuzzy the closer he gets, snapping out of it for just a moment, he orders the box to be taken aboard. Just as they are about to leave a voice riding on the wind, like a whisper passes aku's ear " keep your mind" it says, turning around akuma sees no one, rather startled he makes haste to get off that accursed ship as they sail away a fog envelops the lost vessel, never to be seen again.

Days past, the chest never opened or touched, yet the captain could be seen pacing back and forth beside it on late nights, muttering something to himself, eventually enough was enough, he could not bare the torment no longer, picking the lock he opens it to see a single greenish blue gem, nestled upon a bed of silk, picking it up kanji's eyes are mesmerized by it, seeming to glow and radiate with such beauty he has never seen, "sir?" a voice behind him mutters, it was one of the younger cabin boys checking up on him "w-what is it! what do you want!! cant you see i'm busy lad!?!?!" akuma shouts and barks at him, the boy is shocked, taken back by the disturbing display of his cool headed captain "s-sorry sir, you just seem to be all alone down here i just...thought you might want some company " akuma sighs for a minute then places the jewel in the chest " come boy " he waves him over, the lad sitting next to him as they watch the starlight trickles down below deck from the grates.

After a while the boy falls asleep in akuma's arms, dreaming of his home with a smile on his face, aku, getting a bit antsy decides to get one more look at the gem before dozing off, grabbing it from the chest he holds it like a babe, cradled in his hand, eyes fixated, the light from the night sky seeming to only enhance its beauty, the boy stars a bit, aku's eyes lock onto him, cold and focused " this gem" he thinks" its so valuable i bet...the wealth i can get from it..but..the crew.. im sure to want it for themselves, to kill me!! yes yes tha'ts there plan, kill me and take the gem, selling it for wealth, leaving my body to the sharks, but no...no they would'nt ...they would...but..what am i to do" the same voice he herd long ago tickled his ear once more "kill them....." he smiled a evil, crooked grin " yes...they all must die..none may have my gem, its mine yes ALL MINE!!!" he shouts, fully waking the boy.

"s...sir? did you say something? " he asked, aku forced a calm demeanor to hide his manic aneurysms " no...no child um..w-would you go over there for a minute and grab me that rope, i think while i have the time, ill work on some knots" the boy happily walked over rubbing his eyes awake, aku fallows behind clenching the gem in his grasp, as the boy bends over to grab the rope aku can imagine all to clearly wrapping it around his neck and choking the life from his eyes, his hands, inching ever closer until he notices his bent claws inches from the child's tender neck, reeling back in horror of his actions, he gasp "hm...something wrong sir?" the boy turns to aku with a worried expression, a vision of the child strung up by his neck, pools of blood and bodies scattered across the floor, then all vanishing" no....nothing....would you do me another favor child.... "aku asked "would you throw this over board for me, i tire of its sight..." aku hands the boy the gem shaking and trembling to be rid of it, the child nods slow, grabbing the jewel and heading upstairs to do as he captain commands, aku sighs clenching his hand to his heart in horror of what he might have done for that cursed rock.

The very next mourning, aku finds the boy mopping the deck "did you do as i asked child? " the boy nods happily tending to his duties, aku smiles petting his head then walking on toward the front of the ship "you shouldn't have.." aku turns " i..swore i herd.....hm...must have been the wind " continuing to walk the boys head turns looking over to a small sack next to the mast, giving it a crooked grin, the bag seeming to glow a bluish green,,,,,

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this took a while whew XD i mean really, this art took me i think 3 days to do >u< hope you guys like it <3

art/character ©  AKUMAKANJI

listening to this while working: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xls_H2FLJow