A Moment

Summary: There was a moment where it began and where it ended. There was a moment where he laughed and she cried. There was a moment where both parted ways and there was a moment where they came back to each other. Kaku/OC

Prologue: The Unraveling
"'I don't love you anymore,' is all I remember you telling me; never have I felt so cold,
but I've no more blood to bleed 'cause my heart has been draining into the sea."
—Rise Against, Blood To Bleed

What does it feel like when your lungs are bursting?

That is a question that Aqua had asked herself so many times. Why, you may ask? Well, to put it simply, because she was too damn curious and wanted to know how painful it was. Was it an instance? Was there pain? In your last moments, could you feel the water rushing through your mouth and inside your body? Could you feel the claws and hear the chains of Davy Jones as he dragged you down to the watery depths of his locker? Would your eyes close or stay open, forever watching the world above?

However, it may be a question she asked herself, Aqua never wanted it to happen to her. Though, in this moment, if she didn't find the breath her lungs so desperately needed, the answer to her question would make her roll in her grave. With wide brown eyes and blood dripping from her face, Aqua stared at four familiar faces in shock. Dressed in black, her most beloved friends stood over Iceburg, his shoulder red from a wound made, undoubtedly, by the people he trusted most.

"What..." Her voice cracked, stepping forward before an arm shot out to stop her. The cream haired female turned to look at the redhead's back.

"Don't." Was all she said, her voice in a low growl as she stared at the group.

Aqua looked back at the four before letting her eyes stray to Paulie, battered and beaten with small holes in body. They must've done that Finger Pistol on him. "Paulie!" Her lungs screamed, leaving her throat to burn and the flavor of pennies to fill her mouth.

"Stay back, Aqua," the blonde warned, face pinched in agony. Never in a million lifetimes would he ever expect to be betrayed by them.

Breathe in, breathe out. Aqua thought, evening out her heavy breathing. This couldn't be happening; it was all a nightmare and she would wake up to arms wrapped around her and a warm body coiled around hers. But why did feel so real? Why did the blood on her face feel so warm and wet? Looking at her hands, she counted her fingers, reading somewhere that you have extra fingers in dreams. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine... ten. Throat clenching, the young woman clenched her hands into fists, her blunt nails digging in the skin of her palm. She slowly looked back up and glanced at each one of them, their faces forever burned in behind her eyelids. Her brown eyes met the black orbs that made a shiver racked her body every time because of their intensity.

But now, they were empty, just like all the things he said to her.

"Aqua," he whispered, mouth hot around her ear as his arm wrapped around her waist, bringing her closer to him.

"Hmm." She hummed in reply, letting out a small sigh of pleasure at feeling his feverish breath on her ear and neck. A familiar feeling curled in her stomach and scattered throughout her body. His chuckle shook her body, feeling her leaning in to him. He let his free hand rub her inner thigh, lovingly stroking the limb. She squirmed a bit before letting out a little moan. "Stop teasing me!" She whined, clutching at the hand and pausing it.

"But it's so entertaining in seeing you all flustered." He laughed, intertwining their fingers together. He placed an opened mouth kiss on her shoulder, his tongue coming out and licking at the mark he left on her. A gasp left her, her muscles stiffening until she relaxed against him. Smirking against her skin, he gently let go her hand and squeezed her breast and brought his mouth to the skin below her earlobe, whispering, "You are exquisite."

She chuckled, her brown orbs search for those black eyes she admired. When she made eye contact with him, she flipped them over so she was on top, smiling down at him. She dragged her fingers through his hair, taking in the delight of hearing his pleasured sigh and content expression. Biting her bottom lip, Aqua trailed her hands down his face and cupped his cheeks, rubbing small circles under his eyes. "I am the luckiest girl in the world."

He smiled, wrapping his arms around her waist and bringing her chest to chest with his body. He kissed her, long and sweet, savoring her taste and her little mews as he nipped at her tongue and lips. Raking his hands through her hair, he tugged, enticing a low growl of approval from the female's throat. Laughing, the young man broke the kiss as uncontrollable snickers left his body. After a second of staring at him, Aqua joined in, her small giggles turning into loud barks of laughter. Their sniggering mingled together, filling the room and echoed off the walls. Propping on his elbows, the young man let himself look over the young woman as she tried dissolving her giggles.

Chest heaving, legs straddling his waist, cream colored hair falling down in waves to her back, brown eyes staring straight into his, lips bruised and swelled from the slight abuse, and bite marks scattered all over her peach tinted skin. His rough palm journeyed up her thigh to her hip, pressing tenderly and tracing the tattoo with his thumb. She trembled under his hand, causing him to grin as the palm traveled further up, brushing her side and passing the curve of her breast and shoulder to her neck, trailing his thumb down the smooth column. Aqua let out a shuddering breath when he pushed her face towards his, eyes burning with something that she could only describe as desire.

"Aqua," he caressed her name with passion. She was lost for a moment, her heart beating loudly in her ears. She was sure that he could feel her pulse.

"I love you," she murmured, knowing that for the rest of her life, she wanted him beside her; to share a bed with her; to laugh with her; to form a family with her.

For a second, his face was unreadable and Aqua started to regret the words that poured from her mouth. Just as she was forming the words of a 'forget what I said', the young man gripped her chin and kissed her roughly; his teeth clashing with hers. Surprised by the attack, Aqua waited a minute to return the kiss. "Say it again," he muttered in her lips, teeth biting and tongue stroking every crevice of her mouth. "Please, say it again."

She smiled gently, running her hands through his hair. "I love you." And it was true and she wanted to declare it on every rooftop of Water 7. She loved him and if he asked her to say it again, she would gladly do so.

He brought her back to him, hugging her close and sliding his hands through her hair. Sighing contentedly, Aqua closed her eyes, her head in the crook of his neck. Her breathing slowed, her muscles relaxing and her body becoming nothing but pudding in his grasp. But before she let herself in the land of dreams, she could have sworn that she heard, "I love you." And then, she was gone.

"Kaku..." Her eyes welled up with tears, her teeth biting down on her lip. The ginger looked at her blankly, no more of that sheepish, sweet, and charming young man that stood in front of her. Now, there stood a cold blooded killer working for the World Government in the name of "justice". There stood, in the place of the man she fell in love with, one of the men that helped in the assassination of her mentor; her boss who she looked up to and loved like an uncle or older brother.

"Surprised, Aqua?" Lucci spoke, his voice cold and smooth as he turned his dark eyes on her. She stepped back, air leaving her lungs.

"No, no, no." She chanted, shaking her head three times. "This is just a-a nightmare a-and I'll j-just wake u-up and it'll b-be just another d-day of work." Her eyes glanced at Kalifa and Blueno, an unstable smile reaching to her face. "A-And I'll visit Blueno at his b-bar and then Kalifa w-will d-drag me back to Galley-La; this isn't re-real." Voice cracking and shoulders shaking, she laughed. Tears slid down her cheeks, hitting the floor and her stomach heaving; she wanted to puke.

Lucci smirked coldly at the female, turning to her slightly. "Oh, how you wish for this to be all a dream, don't you?" He took a step in her direction, but the redhead blocked her from his view.

"You stay away from her." Aurora snarled, claymore unsheathing in preparation of using it.

"But it is a dream! None of this is real!" Aqua screamed, causing the everyone to look at her. "I JUST WANT TO WAKE UP!"

"Finger Pistol," Lucci whispered, lunging forward and jabbing his finger through Aqua'a chest. Blood spouted from her lips, eyes wide in shock, Aqua gasped out a silent scream. Muscles tensing, she clamped her hand down on Lucci's wrist, trying to find balance. She witnessed the widening of Lucci's satisfied smirk and shrieked when feeling his finger curl, causing more blood to pour out. "It was all part of the job, Aqua," he said, enjoying the look of discomfort on her face. "Though, we were hoping to leave here with happy memories."

"Y-You b-bast-ard!" She yelled as best as she could, her brown eyes turning into a glare at the dark haired man. "I-I'm going to sk-kin you!"

Leering, he leaned in closer to her, whispering, "Would you really hurt me? One of the few who knew you and made you laugh? Would you really hurt your friend?"

Aqua sneered, tears still running down her face. "Anyone who brings harm to the ones I love are no friends of mine."

Lucci just chuckled, removing his finger and letting her drop to the floor, clutching at her chest. "It was a pleasant five years, Aqua, but it would seem that you know too much; you must die."

Aqua didn't move as her muscles tensed for the final strike. Her eyes closed in defeat, feeling her energy leave her. She couldn't stop them if she tried. She was just too tired and, plus, her chest was bleeding profusely with her heart mangled and crumpled —beating weakly in her chest. How? She asked herself, seeing their four faces flash through her head and remembering all the laughs they shared. She remembered how Paulie use to yell at Kalifa for wearing short skirts; Blueno having his arms out wide in a welcome when she walked in his bar; Lucci, when using Hattori as a puppet, helping her gain up on Paulie when he complained about money; Kaku talking in that strange way he did, sounding more like an old man and making her laugh and fall in love with him as each day passed. How could they be the same people I came to care for?

Biting her quivering lip, she brought her hand to her eyes, trying to stop the tears from tumbling down her face. She glanced through her fingers and saw Iceburg's angered expression. Aqua gave him a smile; her final goodbye to the person that took her off the streets and under his arm. She owed everything to that man and shame filled her body when she realized that she could never give him the gratitude he deserved. She was going to die; right here in front of five pirates, her boss and colleague, and four people she held dear to her heart. She was going to be killed by none other than one of those people. As Lucci prepared his final blow, one last thought crossed Aqua's head,

How could everything be so fucked up?

Hi guys! So I re-watched the Water 7 arc and I absolutely fell in love with Kaku! There's something about him that makes him lovable —even when he reveals himself to be one of the CP9 agents. I'm surprised there aren't more Kaku fanfictions! He's such an interesting character —having the appearance of a kid and talking like an old man! I JUST LOVE IT. Anyways, when I was watching the Water 7 Arc, I thought about what it would be like if Kaku was involved with someone over the five years he was there? Well, that was when I thought about Aqua (I came up with her name when they started talking about Aqua Laguna —I know, original right? But give her chance; you'll know why she was named that in later chapters [maybe chapter 1?])

So, I hoped I kept everyone in character, especially Lucci because he's kind of a toughie for me. I don't know why either. Hmmm... Welp, I hope you guys like this prologue. Remember:

REVIEW. I love to hear from you guys.

[Updates won't be as frequent since "Let the Shackles Fall" is my main priority and I have school breathing down my neck. It'll be nice if you guys would be patient. See you guys on the flip side; PEACE OUT!]