The Crimson Tattoo
A One Piece Fanfiction
By Sacred Sakura

First Conceptualized: Early December, 2006
Written: 12/27-28/2006
Published: 12/28/2006

Rating: T
Genre: Angst (for now)
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece or The Scarlet Letter. The story and any concepts/characters not original to either of these titles do belong to me, however.

Dedication: To Darkmaster2, Lord of the Shadows, and AR-whatever-your-penname-is. (Sorry, but I can never remember.) Thanks for hearing out my weird ideas and putting up with my obsessive otakuness!

A/N: This fanfic is VERY LIGHTLY based on The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne; it's an incorporation of its basic concepts (sort of) and the main One Piece characters.
Since I currently have writer's block on Tomorrow's Promise, I'm putting that aside for a bit to work on this fic and the others.
This fic takes place sometime after the Skypiea arc, before Enies Lobby. (I think; I haven't gotten that far in One Piece—Only as far as the end of the Jaya arc. I should get going on catching up, then….)

Don't expect an immediate update after this… I have writer's block on the next chapter…. Gomen!!
I hope this fic turns out okay! Please R&R!

Chapter One: Perfidy

They stared at her, their eyes shadowed with the different emotions swirling inside of their hearts and minds. Accusing. Angry. Confused. Outraged. Clueless. Uncertain. Saddened. Regretful.

But most of all, betrayed.

Then again, how could she blame them? This was the second time she had broken their trust; for some, the very first.

Robin. The only one who understood her exasperation towards the rest of her nakama. The only other woman on the Going Merry. The only person with whom she could have an intelligent and enlightening conversation. Her dear friend and confidante.

And she betrayed her by saying nothing.

Sanji. The cook who would succumb to her every whim and desire. The man who cherished her above all else, despite his womanizing habits. A fighter, a culinary artist, a man of honor.

Yet she never pushed him away. Never told him that pursuing her was hopeless.

Usopp. A terrible liar at best. An excellent sharpshooter, yet human—normal—like her. The only one whom she could really identify with before Vivi and Robin.

But like with Robin, she had told him nothing.

Chopper. The adorable reindeer doctor. They were more alike than they seemed. Both afraid of revealing their true feelings. Both having lost dear loved ones to the corruption of the world. Both inexorably drawn to Luffy's warm heart, despite the obstacles.

When she first began to contract symptoms, she had lied and told him that it was the water, the food—not of any fault of Sanji's cooking, of course—, not enough fresh air, stress from those bakayarou's antics and loudness.

Luffy. Her beloved captain. An idiot, a moocher, a gomu human, a strong upholder of his beliefs. All about determination and nakama. Endowed with the qualities of both an immature child and a wise, experienced man. Had accepted her for who she was as a person, as a friend—not as a tool to simply be used until he got tired of her or she could no longer serve her purpose.

Had she ever said "thank you"? Ever told him how much she appreciated his being there for her? Ever showed him her gratitude?

Only once. At Arlong Park. Never again afterwards.

For then it was all about navigating the Grand Line. All about surviving. All about helping Vivi. All about stopping Baroque Works and Crocodile. All about trying not to get captured by the Marines. Then they'd been distracted by Bellamy at Jaya. Offered to help Montblanc Cricket restore his ancestor's good name. And they'd somehow gotten themselves mixed in Skypiea's affairs.

She'd simply forgotten. There'd simply been no time.

And last of all was Zoro. An idiot with a poor sense of direction. Like Luffy, possessing inhuman strength and stamina. Determined, a sword otaku, overloaded with testosterone. He slept too much, the lazy bastard. He didn't give a damn about your sex, so long as you proved challenging to fight. Damn it, fighting was all he loved to do, and nothing else.

It was a wonder whether he'd ever felt affection towards anyone in his entire life.

She frowned. Where was that damn swordsman, anyway? 'Probably sleeping.'

She shook her head. It didn't matter. It was time for her to face the problem at hand. Time for her to explain herself.

Time to explain what the child of three weeks was doing in her arms.

The child she had given birth to.

So…how was it? Please review!!!