Can't Remember to Forget You

Things weren't going well with Soa Feng for Barbossa and Elizabeth. The problem was the handsome fellow with them had gotten caught trying to steal very special charts from a temple Soa Feng's uncle had been in charge of. Most people know that legendarily the charts lead to the world beyond, but I knew of a few other locations it led to. Was Barbossa really planning a trip to the underworld? Or had he learned of where else the maps led to?

"You come into my city, and you betray my hospitality," Soa Feng started, obviously in a fowl mood.

"Soa Feng I assure you I had no idea," Barbossa tried to reason but Soa Feng interrupted.

"That he would get caught!" he yelled. I took a few steps back. Soa Feng was scary as hell when he was angry. He was even scarier to people who knew what he did to people who made him angry. I shrunk back and stood near the thief they'd caught. He was certainly a looker. It would be a shame if Soa Feng killed him. He must've noticed me looking him over because he gave me a once over. When he met my face I smiled and he almost grinned back. I had the feeling if we were meeting under different circumstances he would have smiled.

"You can fight!" Elizabeth nearly shouted. My attention turned back to the commotion, as did the thief's. The girl had quite the mouth on her. I was starting to like her more.

"You are Soa Feng, the pirate lord of Singapore! You and I are in an age where bold captains sail free waters! Where waves aren't measured in feet but by increments of fear and those who pass the test become a legend. Would you have that era come to an end on your watch? The most notorious pirates from around the world are uniting against our enemy, and yet you sit here, cowering in your bath water!" she spieled. Soa Feng stepped toward her and she realized her mistake. She took a step away from him, and I saw fear in her eyes briefly, but she hid it quickly which was wise. Never smart off to a man like Soa Feng and then cower.

"Elizabeth Swann," Soa Feng drawled, "There is more to you than meets the eye. And the eye… does not go wanting." The thief struggled against the wood that bound his arms causing me to wonder of their relationship.

"But I cannot help but notice you have failed to answer my question," Soa Feng continued, pointing his finger at Barbossa, "What is it you seek in Davy Jones' locker?"

No one said anything for a moment. Elizabeth and Barbossa looked at each other as if unsure what to say.

"Jack Sparrow," the man who'd tried to steal the charts finally stated. My heart stopped. My version swirled. I nearly fell over at the mention of his name. I grabbed hold of a near by beam and prayed everyone was too focused on the situation to notice the state I was in. I closed my eyes and fought back tears. Jack was dead. I hadn't been prepared for that. I'd met Jack when I was fifteen years old. He was the reason I'd run away from home, the reason I'd become a pirate in the first place. I'd fallen in love with him and I believed that he'd fallen for me too. I couldn't say for sure now, but it had never stopped my heart from loving him. I'd been searching for him for nearly fourteen years, but with every rumor of his whereabouts, I was always one step behind him. Always a day too late. I'd given up for the most part, but secretly I still wished to find him. Suddenly that hope had been trampled on.

Barbossa was planning a trip to save him though. It was likely a fool's venture, for who had ever returned from the land of the dead? Good thing I was a fool then. I opened my eyes and was filled with determination. If they could get a ship, I had to go with them.

"Soa Feng I assure you our intentions are strictly honorable!" Barbossa said and just as he did, swords flew up through the floorboards, Hector and Elizabeth catching them. Everyone blinked in surprise. I couldn't help but grin. Barbossa never went unprepared.

Soa Feng suddenly grabbed a man and held a wooden spike to his throat.

"Drop your weapons or I kill the man!" he shouted. Confusion showed on Barbossa's face.

"Kill him, he's not our man," Hector shrugged.

"If he's not with you and he's not with us… who's he with?" the thief questioned. Suddenly soldiers from the East India Trading Company spilled into the bath house, firing their guns. Everyone scattered and fighting broke out. I drew my sword and pistol. The man who'd been caught stealing the charts knocked a few guards with the wooden plank he was tied to, but I knew he wouldn't have a chance if he stayed tied to it, so I cut the ropes. He gave me a small nod of thanks and we ran in separate directions, fighting off soldiers as we did. I headed towards the back of the bath house to escape through the tunnels beneath the building.

Everyone was making their escapes and most of the soldiers followed outside. A few moments later an explosion erupted, knocking me off my feet. When I was able to get back up I noticed the thief and Soa Feng speaking to each other. They stopped when I approached though so I couldn't be sure of what was said.

The three of us went below the house and Soa Feng handed him the charts. I couldn't hide the confusion on my face.

"Tai Huang, you and a group of men follow Mr. Turner. Assist him and Captain Barbossa in returning Jack Sparrow from Jones' locker," he ordered. Tai Huang led them down a corridor. Soa Feng looked to me then, and kissed me on the forehead.

"Do not worry, Sakura, I am assuring our safety through the approaching storm" he told me and then walked away. I wasn't sure what he meant, or whether he'd meant for me to follow him, but as soon as he rounded a corner, I bolted in the direction that Tai Huang had gone. I knew what ship Soa Feng would be lending them, I had to get to it before they left.

I made it to the ship with little time to spare. I knew Tai Huang wouldn't allow me to just walk on board since Soa Feng hadn't ordered me to go with them. He would never face Soa Feng's wrath, especially not for me. Tai Huang had always resented me for replacing him as Soa Feng's first mate. I slipped aboard the ship, with Barbossa and company not far behind me. I hurried below deck and fumbled toward a storage room in the dark. It wasn't a large ship by any means so luckily it wasn't hard to find the door. I lit the lamp inside so that I could arrange the crates inside for me to hide behind them in case they brought anything to the storage room first thing. If they found me, I would certainly be kicked off.

I blew out the light and settled in behind the crates on the damp floor. Luckily there weren't any leaks so it wasn't too wet. It wasn't long before we set sail and I could feel the ship moving. I let out a heavy sigh. I couldn't help the nervousness growing inside me. Either I was finally going to see Jack again, or I was going to die trying. I managed to fall into a light sleep with nothing but Jack on my mind.