Author's Note:

Do you know how fun it is to wrote during the reign of Gol D. Roger? Very fun, I say!

Anyway, this one took a bit more clean up than the last one. With the introduction of Mare Barrel and such, it seemed like a lot to cram in without coming out to wordy. Plus, I tried my hand at dialect and have discovered that I have to say 90% of my dialogue out loud or it sucks entirely.

Thanks in advance for reading!

Ibis

Chapter Two: The Apology Letter

"I heard from Sammie's mother that the Pirates in your place the other day all had big guns with them!" Mare, my sister, walked ahead of me on our way to the café three mornings after Tasman's little show. I sighed, it would have been better if she didn't know, now that's all I hear about. While I struggled her into the bath, her dress or under a comb all she could do was ask as many questions as she could about the brief tale. Only to throw a fit of disappointment laced tales of what she'd have done in the situation.

"Well, yes. But nothing happened."

"It would have been cool to see a fight."

"Right, then I could have…thrown plates?"

She giggled. "If only you knew karate."

"And you do?" I reached down and squished her sides, her ticklish spot. She giggled as I stood back up. "Besides, if I had picked a fight, they'd come back around and then where would I be?"

"Learning more karate." She's ten years my junior, but liked to talk like our ages are flipped. She pushed open the door to the café. "Where's Lucy?"

"In the back, she said she'd come in early today." I hung my coat on the rack. "Mare, get over here and put up your jacket."

"Yes, ma'am." She trotted over and threw her coat at the rack, it heaped on the floor beside it. "I hope she is, she said she'd let me blend the dessert mixes today."

"That's a question for J-"

The door to the kitchen slammed open and Lucette came rushing out. Skidding a halt in front of me, she shoved a small bunch of paper in my arms and began to bounce up and down. The morning costumers were looking over their teacups and shoulders with smug looks. Lucette was wearing a bright grin and was holding Mare's shoulders.

"Look!"

"I will once you stop bouncing." I looked down at the bundle of paper. "What is it?"

"A letter! Claude wrote to me! Read it!" She skipped back over to the counter with Mare on her heels and I sat in a near by chair and read. Through squinted eyes too, lack of coffee and his ridiculously slanted writing was turning this into some kind of puzzle.

"Dear Lucette,

Let me first of calm your tense nerves by saying I'm just as fit as I was when I left. A few battle scars, but nothing you couldn't receive at home. So please release your breath, my dear. I do hope you're just as well as you were when I left, though I suspect you don't get a healthy amount of sleep. Perhaps I should write to Navy and ask for her assistance in knocking you out at sundown? Or maybe you should just go ahead and rest for me, since I have important news.

In the coming month, I will be returning to the Water 7 port for quite sometime. Within that time, I fully intend on marrying you and buying you a safer home than the top of the shop. Somewhere secure that you and I can rest, I'm hoping you haven't become to attached to the upper level of the café, because my heart is set on giving you the best I can. Not that the company of the lovely Barrel sisters isn't a remarkable asset, but I want you to have your own things. Selfish, right?

Though, I do have news that is tearing my head apart so badly, that I need to write it down on paper in order to keep my head level. Let me start at the beginning and fill in all details as to not have you worry yourself into the peak hours of the morning. While stationed on a darling shopping island in West Blue, I was directed to a small jewelry shop on the main street of the town. It took hours, but I finally picked out what I was going to give you as an engagement ring. Since I could not find one to satisfy my thirst for perfection, I decided to not select the wedding ring right away. Plus, I'd enjoy your input on that selection. The ring was as gorgeous as you are, and I felt like I had just bought the secret to youth and the world when I walked out with the box. I even pocketed it to try and preserve that feeling until I saw you again.

Perhaps that was my mistake. While we sailed off the island, we had not been traveling for more than four days before we were raided by pirates. I was called to the deck by the Captain of the crew and was frisked in front of my own men. And yes, love, I was beaten up a bit but it wasn't anything you should be alarmed about. (No doubt you will anyway, but I feel you should know.) As they ransacked my pockets, to my heart-crushing misfortune, they located your ring in my breast pocket and kept it in their haul. They then did the same to my men and left the ship without a word. Not burning our ship down was evidently "their style."

Lucette, it pains me more than I can say that they took that from you. Though I know you care only about my safety than a ring, it was still something I wanted you to have. There is nothing else I could say other than I'm sorry and plan to purchase you a wonderful replacement ring. I will not take no for an answer, you don't even have to wear it. I just feel terrible for knowing your exquisite ring is now in the hands of some filthy pirate. I'm sorry. (It takes me a moment to write those words, for it was entirely my fault it was lost.)

Now that the story of the ring is off my chest, I do want to remind you of how much I love you and miss you everyday. In less than a month I get to see you again and hope that it is wearing a well rested smile. Send my best regards to Miss Ibis and my hopes she is well when I return. And to the younger Barrel, please share with her that I have many small shells and such she'll adore. I love you, Lucette and cannot wait to see you again. I'm sorry again.

Your Loving Fiancé,

Captain Claude Vie"

I flipped the letter over and folded it back. It was really nice to hear that he was well, yet gut wrenching to think the pirate who took the ring was in my café only three days ago. A sick feeling filled my stomach and I stuffed the letter back into the envelope. Standing up, Lucette swayed over and reached a hand out for the note wearing a the same enormous grin.

"A month! Just a little month!" She put the fold into her apron pocket. "Oh…I cannot wait. Should I get a haircut? It's gotten so untidy since he left."

"Lucette, take the day off."

Her face fell. "What? Why?"

"Because…I don't know. You need rest and just some time to put your feet u-" I was up on my feet retrieving my own apron from the counter.

"I knew you'd say that!" She crossed her arms. "Don't worry about me! I'll get plenty of rest before he comes, so you don't have to over work or anything."

I searched her up and down. "Lucette, are you sure? You still seem shaken up about the other day."

"What? Those Pirates? No!" She gave an exaggerated wave of her hand, tilting her head back. "I had practically forgotten about it until now!" Skipping back to the kitchen, I followed her while tying my apron.

"You seem like you're cheerful about this."

"Of course I am!" She beamed at the mug she was getting out for me. "Claude is returning this month! If there's better news than that, please share it with me."

"Yeah…" I took the mug and set it on our table. Mare was already seated there eating what looked like toast with eggs on top, the only thing Lucette can cook without causing a smoke out. "But are you okay with it all?"

"With all what?" She filled my cup with coffee, whenever she's happy, she likes to do things for others. Why, if a costumer asked her to dance on their table for tip, they'd better ask today.

"The ring…the new home…you know." I reached for the sugar and cream. "I can tell you're a bit uncomfortable with it."

"I'm fine with it, I'd enjoy to have my own little place. Not that I don't like living with you!" She threw her hands up, going red. "I'm just ready to start my own life, you know? Have a couple of babies, a nice window garden in the front window, the works."

"And that ring?"

"I…don't want it."

I sipped my coffee thoughtfully. "Why not?"

"I don't know. It just feels so forced now."

"You do want to marry him, right?" As if I needed to pose the question.

"Of course!" She let another wide smile escape her. "That's part of my dream."

"Heh, dreams." I pushed Mare's hair behind her ear to avoid any more food from sticking to it. "It would be nice to have safe ones."

"We can't all want to figure out where Roger is and t-" Lucette realized her blunder and slapped a hand over her mouth once I threw my dirtiest scowl at her. Though, to my relief, it had seemed Mare hadn't heard and was too busy building a mountain of eggs to push over to notice. "Sorry." She half mouthed to me.

"Well, another month without the Marines around…do you think those Pirates will come back?" I asked her.

"I hope so!" Mare jeered, shoving her fork into the mound on her plate. "I want to see one up close."

"Honey, they aren't animals." Lucette sighed.

I scoffed, stopping my cup before it hit my mouth. "Might as well be, the way they acted. I had throw that table cloth away. Do you know how much those pretty things cost? Loads!"

"At least it was just covered in food and not blood." Lucette inquired, taking a mug down for herself.

"Which reminds me. Mare?" I set down my glass and crossed my arms atop the table. "Would you mind going a refilling the condiments on table six?"

She swallowed her mouthful of food. "Okay. Do I get to be paid?"

"Yes, you can have something in return." I laughed as she pushed her chair out and ran to gather what she needed to refill the bottles. "Make sure that the lids are on tight, try not to ruin the cloth and, for love of it all, do not eat the sugar packets!" I added as she threw open the entry to the dining hall.

"Are you sure we should let her out of our sight?" Lucette said, spooning large quantities of sugar into her coffee.

"I do every night. She'll be fine." Then, I rounded on Lucette, who dropped her spoon with the fastness of my change of expression towards her. "What the hell was that, Lu?"

"I'm sorry, Miss Ibis! It just slipped!"

"Mare cannot know what I'm saving up for!"

"Well, she's bound to find out. She's so smart!" She sat down at the table. "When you keep losing money because you have to pay for information about Gol D. Roger from strangers!"

"She doesn't know what I make or spend, she's better off not trying to help me or worrying!"

"You're right…" My friend looked at me sideways with trepidation behind her face. "But, Ibis? Please don't go asking that Tasman for any information…"

My mouth fell open, I hadn't even thought about it. "Of course I wouldn't."

This didn't convince her. "I know you're bent of finding Gol D.…but…you don't even have a ship if you did."

She was right. "Tom said he'd provide me with one when I got the money." Tom, a resident shipbuilder whom I had caught Mare bothering a few times, even have graciously bumped off some of the price. Though I still didn't have enough.

"And you have no one to help you."

She was right again. "I can find a few wash-ups around here who want to leave." This stupid city was filled with failed shipbuilders in need of jobs or escape.

Her expression changed to grim. "Mare won't have anywhere to stay."

She was right, of course. "By the time I find him, she'll be out on her own, won't she?"

Lucette nodded slowly with her brows tented. "I'm sorry, Ibis…"

"Not like I hadn't thought about it…It's just…I don't know if I-" My hand went to my forehead. "I need to ask Tom for another discount."

"Ibis! That isn't what I meant!"

"I'll go now and-"

"Don't do this, Ibis, please…"

"If he can bump off about one-fourth of it…."

"Ibis!"

"Lucette, hold down the shop for a bit, I need to go speak to Tom."

"No! I refuse to-"

"SIS!" Mare came bursting in. Her face was screwed up with excitement, fear and what I saw to be flecks of sugar stuck to her cheeks. "Sis! There's someone here for you. Two guys!"

"Someone here for…?" I looked at Lucette who looked back at me. If you were to read our minds, they would have been thinking the same thing: "Don't panic."

"Miss, do you want me to come with you?" She mustered before sticking the tip of her thumb into her mouth to chew its nail.

"No, watch her." I pointed at Mare. "Stay here."

"But!" Protested Mare.

"STAY."

Taking a deep breath, my hand automatically pushed the door open. If this was that filthy Tasman again, I am going to summon some authority. Joe hadn't come into work yet, and he was the biggest man on this street. Therefore all my hope of physical protection were dashed. My eyes searched the room before they were summoned to a table by the window. A large man with a perfectly bald head was waving me over, his friend with a bandana tied firmly around his head was staring cross-armed at me. A couple of Tasman's men. Joy of all freaking joys.

"Good morning, boys." I feigned a hospitable tone. "Can I get you anything?"

"Sit down, lady." Bandana said, pushing out a chair with his foot. My back would face the kitchen, meaning my eyes couldn't tell Lucette to get assistance if I required it. "We have somethin' ta tells ya."

"It's Ibis." I sat.

The bald one blinked slowly. "I'm Chyuk." His voiced was unnaturally high pitched, it took every ounce of my being to not giggle. "This here is Tight Eyes. You remember us, right? We want to talk to you about your little show the other day."

"Go…on." Damn it all.

"You sees," Tight Eyes seemed to be staring at my forehead. "We really respect our Captain, we'd follow him until death, ya know. So, you best do was we tells ya, if you want to able to live peacefully anymores."

"What is it?"

Chyuk crumpled a sugar packet. "We want a full apology to our boss or perhaps…some sort of payment?"

"Payment? Apology?" Catching a choke, my shoulders dropped. "What for? You lot came in here and tore apart my humble abode so-"

"We're Pirates, ya think you'd gets that." Tight Eyes turned his fox face to me. "Now, ya gots a few days to think of this pretty sorry ya gonna say, aight?"

My lips pressed into the thinnest line. "We'll…no. I will not."

Chyuk smirked and shook his head. "Then we'll be coming around to remind you. But just know, we don't beg, so you better give in before I feel like forcing you. Let's beat it, T."

The two boys stood up, Chyuk made extra caution to throw the sugar packet in my lap before they stepped out the door. I let out a cry of aggravation and stomped back to the kitchen. Great, now this is all I'll hear from Mare for another month.

Lucette's man better get here soon, I don't want to know how you can force an apology out someone.

A/N:

For some odd reason, I listened to Black Milk by Massive Attack on repeat during the writing of this chapter. Gave me a nice mellow mood.

Chyuk's voice is so perfectly pitched in my mind, that it's a shame I can't share with you all how it sounds to me. His name is also my favorite, since the tradition spelling of "Chuck" seemed to normal for the style of One Piece.

And I used to eat sugar packets when I was seven, so I felt like Mare had to. Chyuk just has the brain of one and likes sweets.

Also: Holy mother of it all! Will I bring in a CANON character? Hell yes, Tom! For anyone who doesn't like Tom, I have to ask: "What is WRONG with you?"

Hope you had fun reading this!

Coming Soon:

Chapter Three: Discounts and Demands