Chapter 3

The boy who made front page headlines with the most daring of deeds stood at the center of the auction. At one glance conveys the impression that he is the social type, with the innocence and gullibility of a simple minded child. I have not seen someone like that in years.

His unwavering attention is focused on the mermaid who is the final item of the auction. He then proceeded to make a mad dash towards her. For a second, everyone is too stunned by his explosive appearance to move.

From my disoriented state of mind, I lost track of the following events. But I registered a gunshot fired into the air. Followed by shouts and cries, people then rushing and stomping out of the auction. The vigor of it all almost feels like a lynch mob. Despite my raging headache, I hide behind between the rows.

This is a good opportunity. The straw hats have shown up at the right time. Whatever ruckus they have created allows me the luxury to free the slaves. Nobody will know that a marine did it.

Today is a good day after all. I slowly crept to the side aisle of the auction and made my way down a discreetly as I could. The fighting between straw hats and the auction guards ensured. I crept down the steps and into the backstage. I did not see the two prisoners escaping and walking towards the center of the stage. Neither did I sense the oncoming approach of Killer and Wire, who identified me as the troublesome marine who took their navigator.

Two guards were behind the last room. I have searched everywhere. But before they could do anything to me, they were knocked flat out by the sudden rush of the energy coursing through the air. I felt it too, the force tearing through my inner being. Instincts flared up as I formed defenses of my own. Haoshoku haki. I felt it before. But instead of the chilling solemn nature of his willpower, this one felt edgier and stronger. Someone stronger than the rest was in the auction. The presence that I tried to tail just now suddenly blossomed into full prominence. Putting two and two together, I steeled myself and dialed the number to alert the rest of the troops stationed outside.

And went straight down when the crushing blow was dealt to the back of my head.

As fortune would have it, I stumbled over someone's scattered clothing, crashing into a pile of chains and neck rings nearby. My headache soared to new heights. I can hear killer's and his comrade's voice in the background.

"You caused us quite some trouble a few weeks back. I imagine that you will pay with your life, little bitch." The puppet-like man began.

"She's looks washed out already as she is. She wasn't as strong as she was the last time." Killer stated. He lodged a punch into my stomach. I grasped, slipping out of consciousness. I tried to call to mind my armament haki and deflect his upcoming attacks to no success.

Killer smirked at my attempts.

" Using haki I see. So we have a real fighter. Wire, don't kill her, it's not like our navigator is coming back. I have a better idea."

Although I have no intentions to stay to see what this "better idea" is, I'm powerless against the two members from Kid's crew. Killer kicked me aside and strode over to the pile of chains and neck rings.

I felt the cruel metal braces inserted onto my hands and neck. I grasped.

Wire let out an innate laughter in the background.

The following battle between the three captains and my marine comrades began and ended in a blink of an eye. Obviously with their total and completely humiliating defeat. As I was being dragged outside by Wiper, I glimpsed him standing alongside the two captains, devious smile on his face. So he had lived after all. He would not lift a finger to help me. Nobody would. Not the marine snobs back at the base who thought that being a marine is a prestigious job which puts them on the fast track to get credits and riches. I myself would not trust anyone to cover my back after all that trouble.

The pirates are winning, despite everything. I, dragged around in chains, could only close my eyes in silent defeat and wait in darkness, uncertainty clouding my future. I couldn't do anything to help my powerless state. The kid pirates had seen that I was semi-conscious when they emerged with me out of the auction house.

The kid pirates would have probably made off with me. However, things were never exactly how they are supposed to be. A laser beam filled with murderous intent shot through in the air and made good work out of Kid's pants. It was the shichibukai. I couldn't keep my bearings with me by then. I was bleeding through the wound Killer gave me back in the slave house. I hear shouting, barking orders in the background before I gave way entirely to blackness.

In my dreams, I see myself forever in that same place. That same classroom where he and I stayed enclosed from the world beyond, quiet, content and satisfied. The time which I would always look back to. That peaceful period before everything that came soon after. Before the tragedy, before the slavery.

I awoke with a start to a sound of beeping machines. An isolated, cold white room. A smell of antiseptic permeated the air. A half giant lay unconscious on the table next to me. Strangely enough, the room seems surreal and bright, like one of those queer houses described in stories I use to read in the libraries back home. Too stark and cruel.

An uncomfortable premonition of fear ran through me. With the grace of a bull in a china shop, I shifted my body with great strength and busted out of the iron doors, making a mad dash down the long, winding hallways. I vaguely heard startled shouts before coming into the open space down the staircase. Falling down the stairs would be a better phrase to describe my ungainly entrance.

My face would have taken the full blunt of my clumsiness if it were not for the obstacle positioned at the bottom of the staircase.

"Are you all right?" He asked. I looked up. Curly red hair covered his eyes, the cap pulled firmly down only made it look longer.

"Get off of me, where am I?" I demanded, flustered with the thrill of alarm sitting on my chest.

19 pairs of eyes turned and stared at me. I suddenly became horribly aware of the unwarranted attention.

" You are on a submarine, Saiko." A surly voice came from the center of the huge room. I feel my pertaining sense of dread shot up my spine.

The owner of the voice smirked.

"Welcome onboard the Hearts pirate ship."

-XXX-


A/N: Law at last.