The Bearer of Devil's Tattoo

One Piece fanfiction

Description:

Mandy was known as the Devil Phantom, always coming and going as she pleased. Nothing was holding her down until she found a solid purpose in her life – for someone to keep her together before she lost herself in this madness. Then an unexpected run-in with a certain stubborn rubber captain, joined by seeing an old face Mandy didn't expect to see, ever again, complicating things for her even further. Slowly, she starts to realize nothing can stay hidden for long enough...

A/N:

I'm back~~!

My lovely readers, I'm sorry for leaving for so long but I'm back. I'm now slowly taking my old stories back up and attempt to finish them, I feel bad for leaving them alone for so long. Didn't even realize it until I saw one person constantly adding a certain story to favorite/follow. But yes, I'm also indulging into One Piece, Bungou Stray Dogs and couple of other anime fandom worlds...holiday is coming up, which means at some point I have more time to focus on writing as well. If anyone is interested I do have wattpad account SmallLily. Where I write original work, so that was one of the reasons why I didn't update. Although I haven't been overly active in publishing any story...

But I'M BACK!

Chapter 1: Meetings in Baratie

Once upon a time, there was the most feared pirate king called Gold Roger, the man who had acquired everything in the world – wealth, fame and power. The final words that were said at his execution sent countless people to the seas.

"You want my treasure? You can have it! I left everything I gathered together in one place. Now you just have to find it! I'll give it all to the one, who finds it!"

These words lured men (many failed due to not being prepared enough for the dangers that await for them) to the Grand Line, pursuing dreams greater than they ever dared to imagine. This is the time now known as the Great Pirate Era started by the very feared Pirate King Roger.

I wasn't expecting my life to change.

If at all, then only for the worse and not for interestingly deadly fun. But that came with me running into a novice pirate captain, aspiring to be the king of pirates of all things. His goofy smiles and stubborn refusal in me refusing his offer to join him; with me telling him that I already was part of another pirate crew turned out to be completely useless. And to think all I'd wanted was a small, peaceful break from my occupation as a pirate and enjoy a good, satisfying meal in East Blue's famous Baratie Restaurant (I'd heard whispers of it from Marines, who had been boasting about their expensive trips with their significant other, apparently not noticing a pirate, who sat nearly right under their noses. It had been a fun evening for me).

Unfortunately for me, it turned out to be a double wrong mistake.

"So, how do you and that love-struck cook know each other?" Grass green haired swordsman asked, holding a pint of beer in his hand as he attempted to read me. Also effectively ignoring the loud protest of the said man in the question, it was...surprising to see that love-struck blond haired man behaving in such manners. Then again, I haven't seen him in years.

Roronoa Zoro was a name I'd heard more often than I could remember to count upon entering East Blue, once I asked around if there are any names I should watch out for in these parts. This specific ocean might have been the weakest of them all, however, even so, there were people who eventually ended up as legends in the surprisingly short amount of time. Both pirates and marines, who originated from East Blue, had turned out to be greatest and most feared in their generation. East Blue might be weakest and most peaceful of all seas, but it sure did create many formidable names.

One particular man still sent shivers down my spine, I did not enjoy the sight of him. Not that I was fearful of him but dealing with that particular 'grown-up' man ended up with me in a horrible headache and avoiding the areas he was known to frequent it.

This certain novice captain and his newly formed crew members joined me on my table (I was now regretting on not getting a smaller one, however, I had arrived alone and without announcement, so all they could give me was one big table) despite the constant glares I kept sending them. And to make matters worse, I'd stumbled upon a face I'd thought I'd never see again.

At least not for as long as I was alive.

"In a way," I begrudgingly admitted, thinking of all the trouble I'd get if people back at … home knew who was standing before me. The first time I saw Sanji standing there, working in this restaurant I had found myself frozen on the spot. Unwanted memories from the past had resurfaced with a vengeance, putting me at unease. From the way Sanji had stared back at me, I could confidently say he felt similarly, however, he recovered much faster than I did.

The swordsman glanced at the said cook, who was currently acting love-struck at a group of random ladies, who had come in as customers and had been intentionally ignoring me. A part of me wondered if my presence, my intrusion to his current peaceful life made some sort of impact on Sanji before I shoved that idea to the deepest part of my brain. He didn't even look affected at all, so there was no point in me over thinking about it. Then there's that tiny fact...one I'm not looking forward to him finding out. My insides were currently turned into complicated knots, blood pumping in my veins in a way it hasn't for years.

Perhaps I should've listened to the whispers of my intelligence in coming here.

"Huh?" Zoro looked annoyed that I wasn't giving him a straight answer, but then again, I doubt either of us wants to explain to anyone just how exactly we know each other. It's not a story of a fairy tale. He glanced at the cook of Baratie and the rest of the noisy bunch of Strawhat pirates. Before giving me his full attention, once more.

"What do you mean?"

I grinned as Zoro finished his pint of beer, demanding for another one, fondly remembering some of my own crew members, who enjoyed the hell out of a good alcohol. Especially beer and sake. It was always fun to stay with the crew, those guys certainly knew how to have a good time. Part of me regretted leaving them straight away and wanted to run back before I remembered Captain's words to enjoy my time off (that I'm always welcome back on the ship, no matter how long it will take me to return). It's not like a pirate such as me can allow it often, most of the times when I run into Marines, they are hell-bent on either killing or arresting me.

"It just means that it's a long story," I responded, leaning my chin against my palm as I positioned my hands comfortably on the table, giving Zoro a small mysterious smile. "Would you even want me to bore you with all those sad little details how we met and then got separated, Zoro-kun?" My voice was sweeter than honey, promising him a certain amount of pain if he dared to pry for more than I was willing to share.

Our story's not one I wanted to relive, again and again, much less to tell it to someone, whom I only just met. Zoro's dark eyes widened slightly before he grunted in displeasure.

"...You're just like that witch over there, aren't you?" He pointed a lazy finger at the orange haired girl, who was currently being pestered by the man of our topic. I cast a slightly annoyed glare at Sanji. "You look innocent but in reality, you're just a shark."

"Shark?" I repeated, blinking in a slight shock of having been described like that. It sure was the first. Bitch. Witch. Amazon gorilla - I've been called all those names (and more) before but not a shark. It was an amusing upgrade.

Zoro eyed me carefully, before shrugging. "It seems fitting. You never know when they attack."

I nodded, "Indeed. This crew looks like a fun one, why be stuck here?"

"Because our idiot of a captain broke part of this ship," Zoro responded, sounding amused at the situation as he watched the said Strawhat attempting to be an errand boy.

I chuckled, somehow knowing things were going to be more fun than anything else for a long time. My own crew was fun to travel with, they kept my mind off of the fate I was doomed with. But the novelty of being amazed at what they did ran out at some point and I got used to their antics. Dare I say I even missed them, their company and infectious laughter. Maybe I shouldn't have left?

Suddenly, the boy who had caused me a partial headache had twirled to be between me and Zoro, he was fully ignoring the said swordsman. I couldn't help but smirk at the way how Zoro bristled. Annoyed.

"Madeline, don't waste your time on this lowlife," my heart has a heavy pang at the way how he said my full name. Not Mandy. But Madeline. Not a name many knows, not even the crew I'm still officially with. Perhaps only Pops and that Blue Bird.

Zoro had stood up now, growling in distaste at being called lowlife by the love stuck cook. He voiced it out as well, and I leaned back as I watched the two boys arguing.

"Sanji~," I drew out his name on purpose, instantly capturing his attention.

"Yes, my dearest Madeline?" My eyebrow twitched at the way how affectionate he was suddenly acting. Way contrast to how he was mere minutes ago. Did he not like the way I was looking at Zoro? The way how I had leaned towards him, knowingly exposing my cleavage. I hummed.

"Please call me Mandy," I spoke, trying to remain calm and not show how he still affected me. The way his appearance shook me. "I'd prefer not to be reminded what the name brings."

Zoro looked curious, while Sanji knew what I meant. He knew the past, bits of it. Behind us the rest of the crew Zoro was with were making fun of their errand boy of a captain. I couldn't see any waiters running around with food so I wondered if Sanji was supposed to waste his time with us since it looked like he's the only one working here.

"Is that what you're going by now?" He looked like he was conflicted with something, pouring me a glass of red wine. I never was a fan of color red, nor the wine. But didn't have the desire to tell him so.

Years have shaped him into a good-looking boy, yes. A boy. He's still not mature enough to be called a man. There's that air of innocence surrounding him that pulls me in. And yet, he knows nothing about how the separation has shaped me. How I've changed.

I watched as the red wine took its rightful place in the glass, being reminded of blood. Zoro mumbled something about Sake or beer is the better choice of an alcohol and I agreed with him. Sanji really didn't know a thing about me anymore.

"It's a pity, I quite love Madeline. It's beautiful."

"She just said she doesn't like being called so, dumbass," Zoro butted in, smirking at the tall blonde. This merely resulted in another argument which only ended when Sanji was called away.

But not before spouting some sort of compliment directed towards me that caused me to raise my eyebrows, confused and irritated.

"I pity you for knowing him, Mandy," Zoro commented as he took a large sip of his beer.

I smirked, twirling the red wine I disliked but wouldn't allow it to go waste, "I pity you since it looks like your captain is interested in Sanji."

Zoro stared at me. "Fuck."