[color=gray]"Yeah, yeah; you're a dangerous woman with a dark and mysterious past. We're all very intimidated."[/color] The sarcasm and exasperation in Shigeuchi's voice should have been clear and obvious, but you couldn't always tell with some people; in either case, the pirates surrounding Lexi with swords and guns pointed her direction certainly didn't seem intimidated. He didn't bother to say that if she had decided to attack there probably wouldn't be as many bodies as she thought there would be, or that one of the bodies would surely be hers; there was no need to antagonise her more than he already had.

It was a little disappointing that the girl hadn't reacted more to the loss of her knife or the fresh cut on her hand, he'd give her points for keeping a strong poker face, but it was clear that this conversation was about over.

[color=gray]"Well, I'm afraid we're not going to be able to hand the prince over to you."[/color] Raising both hands up, Shigeuchi stood in a pose that almost suggested he was surrendering in spite of his words and tone saying the exact opposite. He didn't move to draw his sword and none of the crew moved to attack her; they couldn't, or wouldn't, so long as she continued to hold a knife to her hostages throat. They'd have to pick up more work if he died, after all. [color=gray]"But I can't just let you kill one of my crew either, so I'm going to have to ask you to leave."[/color]

In an instant Shigeuchi swapped himself with the crewmember in Lexi's grip, placing himself within her grasp and with a knife to his throat as the other pirate took his place in the circle. He'd rotated himself around as well as trading places with the hostage so that his back was to Lexi's chest and his raised hand was in perfect position to grab her knife hand, his fingers wrapping around her wrist with an iron grip that held the blade away from his skin. With his other raised hand he brought his arm back, driving an elbow back towards the assassin's stomach and hoping to strike her before she could react.

[@ladyonyx04]