A Life For A Life
"Aiko, you are under my command now, and you are to do exactly as you are told. Now if you wish to refuse to be stationed in Impel Down, I will have you thrown in there for insubordination, for the duration of what you would be working there." His voice was low, but cutthroat, leaving no room for argument.
"I understand, Sir." She bowed her head as politely as possible, regardless of how infuriated she was about the/em wholeem situation, to start. Slowly she turned her feet, and started towards the door. Almost as if to add some salt to the wound, Aiko heard a deep sigh from her superior. The conversation wasn't over, no. He was the type of person who, is he had nothing else pressing to do, he drug these things out...just a bit.
"Is there anything else?" The voice of the annoyed woman across the room, spoke sharply- not even bothering to turn around and address him.
"I had this made specifically for you. It is not a gift, nor any type of reward. It is a training tool."
Surpressing the ever escalating irritation, she made her way back across his office, and looked at the small steel box on his desk. Her face was emotionless, as she started at the small trinket. He nodded once as if to silently tell her to, 'hurry up and open it'.
A small shurg of her shoulders, and unspoken words, she picked up the cold metal square, and unlocked the clasps that kept it shut. Inside, eight small rings, made of an all too farmiliar substance stared her in the face. Curiosity was starting to replace her irritation, as her eyebrow quirked up with question.
"Like I just told you, it's for training purposes. Now put them on."
"Hesitantly she slid each ring over a finger, feeling lightheaded, and slightly limp with each piece.
"I assume you can feel the l effects almost instantaniously...that being said, it is not just for your training, but as well as getting a better grip on the untapped potential of the, Chishiki Chishiki no Mi. Sure you may have learned how to/em useem it, but i feel liie youre barely scraping the surface. Now, I want you to never remove them from your body, you are expexted to use then daily."
Aikos face bore a confused, and weak expression. "And please, do tell me why?"
She watched the corners of her Admirals lips, curve in a slight upward direction.
"You are an intelligent woman, I know you will figure it out own your own. That is why I chose you to be my subordinate. You are free to go back now." And just like that he ended their, less than hearfelt, meeting.
I could feel my hands grip tighter against the sheet across my body, it was midday no doubt. I had forgotten completely that I had managed to fall asleep...somehow. I could see the slowly setting sun, placing downcast shadows across the wooden floor where my napsack was placed.
My body felt heavy as I outstretched my arm, towards the ceiling. A soft glint came from one of the rings on my fingers. Damn even to this day, I still haven't taken them off...its like they've almost become a part of me. But remembering the dream I had just had the pleasure of waking up from, I threw it to the back of my mind, to think of it no further.
I pondered my next move, as I brushed out my dripping wet hair in the mirror. If this person was right, and people were after me, for whatever unknown reasons...shit.
Third Person:
As she looked into the mirror Aiko noticed things she had overlooked for her whole life. Coffee black hair, tanned skin. Normal traits. Fairly tall, but 5'7" isnt that bad, for a womans height. None of that bothered her, but her eyes did. Ice blue, you could spot then quite easily, even in a crowd. She cursed herself for the genetic alterations that had gone down for hundereds of years on her home island. Hundreds of years of genetic alterations, and even when they had stopped the experiments on the citizens, it had somehow managed to become a key factor in everyones DNA. A hundred years after the experiments ceased, it was now a part of everyone, still.
If she wanted to stay hidden, she would have to go down the beaten path, of the road less traveled. And by less traveled she would have to go into the not so friendly part of town. Regardless it would also be easier to find information...or at the very least a place to stay, or a way off the island.
Once the sun had almost completely hidden itself beyond the oceans horizon, she made her out the front door, giving Mona one last farewell, until she returned. With a thin hoodie covering the top half of her body, she could hide her eyes under its shade.
Soon the pretty rows of lush greenery, and flowers started turning into brick walls, and warped, rotting, property barriers. She was headed into the slums...well it wasnt so bad...at first. The farther in she went, the sleazier and dirtier it got- all the while, she didnt feel the least bit uncomfortable.
Splintering wood, cat-calls, screams of passion, and the sounds of fights. Damn. It reminded her of the life she gave up, but this time, she was on her own mission. No subordinates, no authority, and sure as hell no bullshit fucking 'code of ethics', to follow either. Finally a free woman. She smiled to herself, wider than she had anticipated. She had no idea how the thought of that, woukd make her smile so much, but it did, something she hadn't done in quite some time.
Her sandaled feet continued in some unknown direction, and as she looked up she had unknowingly stopped in front of a tavern. The sign was faded, it was warped every which way you looked at it. The paint was chipping, and fading as well, the only thing that looked worth its salt, was the door and possibly the windows, but who knows how much longer that would last. Considering the condition on the surrounding area...not much.
Sitting herself upon one of the stools at the counter, she drummed a slight tune as she waited for the old man, to take her order. She herself wasn't a bit drinker, but every now and again it was alright to cut loose. She was even considering getting quite tipsy, but it would only make her problems at the moment worse, and that was the last thing she wanted to do.
"May I get you some something to drink young lass?" The old man finally called out to her over his shoulder, as he continued to wipe down more glasses, and growlers.
"Gin." She smiked wryly, leaning herself onto the tile counter.
"Gin is a harsh mistress, young lady, are you sure?" The bartender replied to her selection of liquor.
"Life is a harsh mistress, old man, a little gin isn't even in comparison." She spoke back, shrugging her shoulders, letting her hood fall down.
"What a morbid thing to say, for someone young, such as yourself."
Another shrug of her shoulders, she didn't even want to get into that right now; and she very much didnt feel young.
She watched the man reach for a bottle mid-shelf, and stopped him right away.
"From the top. If im going to drink, Im gonna make it worth my while, price is no factor."
He nodded, as he quickly put ice in her glass, and poured the hardly bought liquor for her.
With a smile, she grabbed the glass, brought it to her mouth, a took a gulp. She felt a small shiver gown awkwardly down her spine, maybe it had been awhile since she had a drink. The shiver, turned to warmth in her gut, a warmth that started spreading quickly throughout her body, with a plethora of it going to her face.
Three drinks later, and listening to the noise of the bars' patrons behind her.
Pirates, pirates, pirates. Money. Bounties. Money. Marines. Pirates. The world government. A fight. Hooting, for loose women. Drunken singing.
Interrupting her thoughts, but a guffawing, and loud voice, she snarled as she sipped the last half of her drink.
"Captain! Look here, I found us some nice women for the evening, you can have first pick!" The voice cheered louder.
Out of boredom she turned to look a few stools down from her at a chestnut haired boy, in a boiler suit. He looked young, couldnt be older than twenty. The man he was referring to as, 'Captain', also didn't look much older, but his facial expression and features seemed a lot more mature.
Gold earrings, glinted under the light of the bar, as she turned her attention to the spectacle next to her.
"Mister Shachi, how much ever I do not condone these actions, nor want to take part in your merriment with town floozies, I am going to have to deny your request. I do not have time for such things, I would like to take this time and relax. So please, take your women, and have a good time." He replied flatly to his subordinate, as he slowly sipped in a glass of red wine.
The boy shrugged, flinging his arms over both the girls' shoulders and disapperaring into the crowd again.
Aiko couldn't help but laugh, it was indeed one of the funniest thing she had seen in awhile. But much to her surprise, the man, previously said to be captain, turned to her and sneered.
"Is there something you find amusing?" His low, and almost husky voice spoke, barely loud enough to go over the sound of the drunks in the place.
She shrugged with a wry smile. "Nah. Ive been out of touch with the world for awhile, so maybe it just me, or maybe its just the liquor. Didn't mean to offend you, 'Captain'." She snickered more, oh yeah it was definitely because of the alcohol.
His eyes narrowed at the flippant, dry sarcasm in her voice, but he said no more.
Once again she found herself, listening to the ruckus that ensued behind her, and still...the same nothing that helped her in anyway. She sighed, calling out to the old man, pouring more wine for the man down from her.
"Know of a place within a twenty block radius I can stay for the night?" She slurred slightly, but still keeping her straight face.
He seemed a loss for words, at her obstinate look, and the seriousness in her voice.
"Um..young miss, this part of town well...its awfully-" she cut his words off with a soft chuckle.
"Sleazy? Yes, I am well aware of that. But I have business in this part of town." She smiled plainly at the perplexed man before her. Knowing she wouldn't get a quick reccomendation out of the man, she decided to do something she hadn't done in years.
She placed a hand atop his own, gently, for a short while then smiled, as if satisfied about something. "Thank you. That's all I needed." She smiled once more, before throwing down her tab onto the counter.
" Err..Wait..but Miss, I didn't tell you anything! You will get lost, or worse..." he called out to her, as she placed her bag over her shoulder to leave.
"You didn't have to. Now, I don't think any such thing will happen, I will promise to be back tomorrow just to ease your worries, Cyril."
Now this man was confused. How did she know his name? He never told her, or anyone tonight for that matter. He was about to open up his mouth again, but she stopped him.
"It's a secret. I shall see you tomorrow evening. Same time. Take care." And with those final words she exited the bar. All the while not noticing, a pair of steeley grey eyes, watching her leave.