Guilty Desire
(Innocence is guilty)

Chapter 1: The town of the beginning and the end

Can you remember how it all began…….

Remember how this sticky situation started...

A soft rhythm, played by the waves hitting the sand, mixes with the silent breeze of the salty air. The concert of the ocean fulfils the shore at this gloomy evening. Reds and Yellows of the sinking sun colour the skyline of the bay.

"Somehow I don't remember what forced me to come all the way back...it's just...strange..."

A thought that came into his mind everyday since they arrived the harbor of Loguetown. It took so much of time to chase and find his enemies so why coming back. Questions that are indeed unsolvable since instinct sometimes leads you further than mind. Just before the calm could finally touch the soldiers mind a yell broke through. He sighed lightly and walked back to join some men of the crew that awaited his order.

Just a single word, better said a single growl, was enough to show them that his mood was more than worse. "b...but the Strawhats...", were the last sentence of his crewmembers. "Whatever you wanted to say...Shut the fuck up okay?" he barked back. Quick enough before another stupid question could follow he walked off into the central place of the city.

A silent groan escaped his throat while his eyes blankly chased a stone, which he was kicking in front of him. Right now there was something else they should worry about. The government planned a big banquet for all kings and their subordinates. For sure Smoker and his crew was chosen to guard the whole party, undiscovered if possible, since he administrated Loguetown longer than anybody else. Only the imagination of that evening lets him shiver.

"All those noble punks in one place...god spare me...", were his last mumbled words before he entered the marine base in the middle of the city.

The night wandered into the town and threw her dark coat over the sky. Only spot wise some stars glimmered behind slim grey shades of the clouds. A nearly full moon threw his light on the streets.

The city hall was already filled with beautiful decoration and dim light. Only the dance floor was covered in brighter light. The orchestra played a comfy and slow melody to invite the guests. A silent tipping against his top hat was the only thing noticeable of the silently waiting guard. He took place on a table further in the back of the hall, his head resting on one of his hands, to observe the whole celebration. Already expecting a many hours taking boredom his look finally caught something unexpected. Even if this whole party here is a masquerade, something on the persons that entered the hall just now seemed familiar. He awaited the moment when the group of newcomers went into the brighter light but even then the masks gave them enough cover to hide the hint that might have shown the truth.

His hand wandered to the cigar, that's resting on the border of the little ash-tray, and tipped of the ash. Even though Smokers mind clearly told him something's not right he kept calm and waited.

As long as the masks cover their owners there was no chance to interfere.

It didn't take long until all the guests arrived and the main doors got closed. The orchestra changed to a quicker melody for heating up mind and heart of the visitors.

Not warm enough for his mind though. The unchanged, cold gaze still rested on the people that were in the main hall.

Again out of nowhere that familiar feeling hit his mind while he examined the people.

For a short moment it seemed like he saw something well known but still hidden like a by fog embraced memory. A look out of ice blue eyes met his from one of the visitors that passed the table. Her dress already woken the interest of him since it didn't really fit in that kind of banquet but the look was definitely even more striking then that. It was long enough to turn him sceptical but far too short to remember where he might have seen or felt this before. Slightly irritated he lifted his head to follow that untypical look but before his eyes had the chance to find again what they lost somebody placed a hand on his shoulder.

Smoker closed his eyes in a sigh and shook his had slightly like he wanted to get that thought or even that look out of his mind. It didn't took him long to find out who the interrupter was.

"Oh wow, if I wouldn't knew that this is your place for this evening I wouldn't have recognized you in this outfit Sir. The mask and the jacket same as the top hat, impressive!"

He needed only one sharp look in her eyes to break her mirror of delusion. It was clear as crystal water for him that this sentence only hid something bad. She noticed that and bit slightly on her lip in nervousity.

Tashgi placed her mask on the table and pushed it slightly over to him.

Her superior first looked at the mask before he examined her.

"You know the order..so...what about that than?", he asked calm and tipped at the mask while lifting an eyebrow in sceptism.

She nervously ducked a little under his look and firstly didn't dare to answer.

"I'm...well...I can't wear it Sir. You know, ehm...my glasses"

He silently grumbled something as he placed his forehead against his hand while slowly closing his eyes. The young lieutenant blinked slightly and broke a little sweat. As if she needs another apology she started to stammer, " But...as you see, I at least wear that tuxedo so it isn't as clear to see who I might be!"

He lifted his hand slightly so his look could meet hers. There was nothing more needed to show her what he thought of the last sentence she said. Tashgi shivered slightly and backed one step away. "It would be better for all of us if you get on your position and do your work", he answered calmly but definitely pissed. She nodded heavily, saluted quickly and dashed off through the visitors to her guarding place.

"This will get a long, boring and 100 percent uninteresting evening that only costs my nerves...", he mumbled silently.

Author's note:

Hi and welcome first of all. I finally decided to share my fanfiction here too since I only have a german server for that and my homepage. Hope you like what you read.
Have fun and stay tuned!