EDIT: FANFICTION SEEMS TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH INTIMATE/M/ SCENES AS OF LATE, SO REGRETFULLY, I HAVE TO CUT OUT THE LEMON HERE.
Sorry, all.
A/N: YOHO! Another new chapter! Its a suuuuuper long one! Even longer than the last! And at long last, I've tried my hand at it! That's right! We finally get to see a long awaited lemon! Although being a skeleton...I HAVE NO EYES TO SEE! YOHOHOHOHOHO! SKUUUUUULLL JOOOOOKE! Alright alright in all seriousness this chapter covers a lot of ground, and with damned good reason! We'll be hitting the War of the Best VERY soon, and Naruto's going to play a key role in the events to come. We know this, but the question remains...on which side?
And with that being said...
...let the long awaited rebirth of this story continue! Onward with Prince of Darkness!
"You think I don't know what it feels like?! Eh?! Oi! I know exactly how it feels...to have that mark on your back..."
~Naruto D. Silvers.
An Empress in Love and a Burning Resolve
'Just how long is she going to keep me waiting, that Hancock?'
Such were the thoughts of Silvers D. Naruto as he sat cross-legged in the palace, flanked by Sandersonia and Marigold. Had he taken the time to take it in, he would've thought it a marvelous place; all silk and softness and such, but he really wasn't focused on this. He'd accepted the invitation and come as per Hancock's request but he was still wary. Surely she was up to something. She must be. I want to show you something. While he did not doubt his ability to handle any attack, he remained doubtful of the sister's intentions. He had an inkling of what she intended to show him; precisely why he was wary.
But he'd already accepted their invitation, and it wasn't as if he could just leave, so he crossed his legs once more and bid himself be patient.
"I should be thanking you." Sonia smiled suddenly from where she sat beside him. "Arigatou."
Naruto flushed briefly; he wasn't used to receiving praise from anyone other than his parents.
"Y-You don't have to thank me. It was the right thing to do." Sonia's thousand-watt smile didn't lessen in the slightest.
"If anyone had seen the mark on our backs, we wouldn't be able to stay in this country." Marigold confirmed, turning aside from the curtain placed before them. "We have you to thank for keeping our secret safe."
An old dread settled into Naruto's gut.
"About that-
"You may come in." Hancock's voice called from behind the curtain.
"Hmm?"
"I-I said come in, man!" Her words sounded strangled, forced.
Naruto had no intention of doing that. What if she were waiting to ambush him on the other side?
"Inside?"
"Inside the curtain."
"Alright...
His fingers closed on the gossamer silk drape and drew it back-
And froze.
Hancock reclined before him, laid back against the cushion that was her serpent. She was naked. Naked, as the day she was born. He could see nearly every inch of her, from those raven tresses strewn across her lush breasts to her flawless curves; all was laid bare for him to see. The sight of her, nude, for the second time this day, stirred something in him. When first he'd laid eyes on her he'd been too startled to feel anything other than shock and awe. Now, he felt something. This time, she was allowing him to see her like this. Were it not for the pink sash laid across her waist he might've taken her then and there. Oi. Oi oi oi! OI! Just where had that thought come from?
"If you're trying to turn me to stone, it won't work." He found himself cautioning, and immediately cursed himself for the lie. She totally could! If Hancock were to use her devil fruit powers now, he'd be stiff as a statue by dawn! Thankfully, she did not. She merely regarded him for a long moment, her crystal orbs boring deeply into his own sapphire.
"Rude as always." Hancock snorted at last. "But that's alright."
Slowly, tentatively she reached a hand back to her hair, parting the ebony curtain with her fingertips. Old memories welled up and unbidden, Boa felt herself begin to tremble. No! She couldn't do this! The sheer shame of it all was too much for her to bear! It was embarassing! Degrading! Humiliating!
"Oi, you don't have to show me if you don't want to."
Hancock froze. She...didn't have to? Didn't have to show him the mark that caused her such shame? The thought had never occured to her before. This man, whom she'd thought to be a simple savage, was offering her a way out of this. A way out of the sorrow and the sadness engraved upon her back. This man, he...isn't a savage after all. Somehow, the thought lent her strength. She would do this. She would show him, and then he would answer her questions.
Her serpent turned, presenting him with a view of her back.
"You said you knew about this mark." Hancock concluded. "Please, take a look at it once more."
Naruto stilled at the sight of it; the hook of the Celestial Dragons peering at him from her back.
"Where did you see this?" She demanded. "Do you know the meaning of this mark? Answer me, now!" Her expression twisted in shame. "It's not something I want to show people."
The Dark Prince held his silence. Beneath his scar he felt his own brand burn in silent shame. This wasn't something he wanted to show anyone, either.
"Why don't you tell him?"
Hancock jumped at the age-old voice.
"Elder Nyon?! When did you get here?!"
The wizened old woman showed no sign of remorse as she entered the room; if anything, she looked pleased.
"Nyou have seen clearly how tolerant that man is." she said, indicating Naruto with her staff. "Don't be afraid. Tell him everything you want to share." Abruptly she directed her gaze toward Naruto. "Nyou! Nyou are the son of the Dark King, Silvers Rayleigh, am I right?
There was a moment of awkward silence. Naruto sighed.
"Aaaah, you've gone and done it now, baa-san." His scowl slipped from his face like running water, replaced by a small smile. "Well, there ya go! You finally know who I am! My old man's the Dark King! Hmm...I guess that makes me the Dark Prince then doesn't it?"
"Rayleigh?!" The three sisters balked. This young man was his son?!
"He's related to Rayleigh-san?!" Mari gawped.
"B-B-B-But's that's impossible!" Sonia sputtered. "I was certain he didn't have a son!"
Hancock shared in her sibling's awe. Slowly, she allowed the curtain of her hair to fall from her fingers, obscuring the hated brand on her back mark once more. The smallest of smiles lifted at her lips. At long last. Now she understood. Only the son of the legendary "Dark King" could possess such immeasurable willpower and determination. And his strength...he clearly derived most of it from that of his parent. The Dark Prince indeed! A fine and fitting name for a man such as him.
"It all makes sense now...you do resemble him, of a sorts."
"Really?" Naruto tilted his head aside. "Shakky-kaasan always said I looked more like her than anything...
"How can you be so casual after you caused such a sensation back in Saboady?!" Nyon chastisted; the former empresses's snake-staff uncioiling from her wrist, drawing a newspaper into an awaiting hand. "Just look at this newspaper, Hebihime! Days ago, this man...at Saboady Archipeligo, near the center sea, caused a horrific and grave incident when he dealt death to a Celestial Dragon!" If the Boa siblings had been startled by that first revelation, then this one floored the three of them.
"EH?!"
"Che!" Naruto swore, sinking his teeth into a thumb, "I'd hoped no had the stones to report me! Pops is gonna be pissed...
"So you actually did it?!"
"Well, yeah!"
He thought back to the his progenitor's revelation to the Strawhats, their arguement, and his ensuing departure. Come to think of it...
...that was when his little spree had started.
(Flashback)
"I don't wanna hear it!"
Naruto stood woodenly, not taking enough care. So great was his haste, so great was his desire to be gone from here, that he knocked down the stool he'd been sitting upon; leaving it to shatter in a cloud of smoke and dust and broken timber. He nearly stumbled over the remnants in his haste, and, when Robin-kind soul that she was-reached out to steady him, Naruto cringed from her as though she were afire.
"Are you alright?" She asked gently.
"I'm not!" He bellowed, slamming the door shut behind him.
Shakky finished cleaning a glass, then set it down.
"You'll have to forgive him." he heard her through the door. "He's had...a hard life."
Whatever else they'd said, Naruto paid no heed to. He stormed down the path, leaving his parents, the Strawhats, and Caimie, far behind. Little did he know, that his sudden departure was not as sudden, nor as final, as he'd hoped it to be. He swore to himself that he wouldn't return, not until the Strawhats were off Saboady. Perhaps then would be the right time to address this issue. Until then he had no intention of returning, let alone joining some half-assed pirate crew! Not after what had happened to Itach-nii...
The Dark Prince shook his head fiercely, dispelling the memory.
"Never." He muttered to himself, stalking away from the door and into the grove. "I'm not a pirate, I'm...not a pirate. I'm not a-
"Stop, slave!"
"What in the name of kami-" Naruto froze, his blood inexplicably stilling in his veins. He frowned. Had he heard a voice just now? He had. He'd heard the words 'Stop' and 'Slave' used in the same sentence. Craning his neck, he spied movement in the far distance; a battle breaking out, perhaps? Tch, anything was better than standing here, listening to his old man prattle on about Roger. Drawing back his hood to conceal his face, he flickered forward in a burst of soru, rapidly placing distance between himself and his home, crossing the expanse between the pursuers and their prey in an instant.
That was when he saw her.
She was a young, tall, well-proportioned woman with long blue hair and rich black eyes. And she was running for her life. Beyond that he could see little of her; save her long white dress and a yellow headpiece holding a red gem-piece at the front. And then she saw him. Wide, wild eyes locked with his, those soft orbs issuing a silent plea.
Help me.
And then she was gone, running as fast as her legs could carry her.
Her pursuers weren't far behind; he recognized the slavers at once. He knew their smell; their scent was plain as the light of day to them. But what was this? There was a different scent among them. The scent of what might've been perfume, mired with antiseptic. His gaze swiveled, eyes narrowing. There. A woman, riding in a carriage. But what did she have to do with-
Naruto's teeth sank into his lower lip the moment he beheld the air bubble over the woman's head. Shit. A word noble. Of all the people to show up, it just had to be one of them, didn't it? He stood aside, allowing them passage almost before he realized it. He cringed as he saw the carriage she was riding on; because it was no carriage. She rode atop the backs of two men, thick collars tied to their neck. Those poor fellows, looked half dead and that was being generous. Even as Naruto looked on, the slavers caught up with the runaway lass.
One of the men caught the woman. Another knocked her down, forcing her to the floor. Then the beating began.
Don't get involved. he willed at his trembling body. This isn't your fight. You've caused enough trouble here already. Don't get involved. Don't get involved. Don't get involved...
The woman's chest began moving in earnest hitching in small gasps of fear. Tears welled out of her closed eyes. Her mouth opened in a ragged oval. She was crying with her head in a vise between her knees. She was frightened, terrrified, beyond belief. She was just a defenseless woman...damnit, she hadn't done anything wrong! Was her really going to stand here as those men railed on her, as they tore at her dress, and and and-
"!"
"Pascia," A cruelly familiar voice crowed over the din of her cires, "My brother purchased you for 7,200,000 berri! Did you really think you could escape?" Naruto frowned, his eyes widening in recognition. This girl...she must've been one of the slaves he and Rayleigh had set free! And that voice...
"I-I'm sorry Shaulia-sama," Pascia sobbed, "I promise won't try to escape again-
Shaulia?
It didn't take him all that long to recognize the party responsible for her tears. That was Saint Shaulia at the head of the group, the very same Tenryubito he'd nearly slain back at the Auction House before Rayleigh had stayed his hand. She held a collar tightly in her hands, her intentions clear. She was going to put that collar on her. Make her a slave again. Naruto hastened his pace, shoving his way through the crowd of spectators to reach the pair. The fools, thinking him a mere spectator, allowed him to pass, unaware of the turmoil raging inside the blonde's body.
His blood had been icy for so long, with only the occasioal flash of heat to prevent him from freezing. That same heat rose as he saw her. Now that blood was molten, scorching in his veins, warming him up. Sweat rose and beaded on his brow, between his shoulder blades and trickled down his stomach. Even his breath burned him, singeing his lungs and scraping at his throat. There was only one cure for the fever and he instinctively knew what it was. But he had to get closer to her first...
Pascia whimpered, her body quivering as the Tenryubito prepared to lock the collar around her neck.
"P-Please don't put that collar on me-
"Silence!" Shaulia struck her, sending Pascia sprawling, inadvertantly knocking the locking mechanism from her neck. "This is the price you pay for your defiance!"
At the last second, just as the scornful dragon moved to narrow the distance between her and her brother's former slave, Naruto reached over to tap Shaulia on the shoulder. The Tenryubito swung to face him, anger in her eyes. A sudden breeze tore through the grove at that very instant; ripping back his hood and exposing his face. Naruto nearly cursed. Cursed, as he saw the recognition, in her eyes.
"Remember me?" he asked with faux pleasantness, the words dripping with menace.
"You!" Shaulia bristled.
Pascia stiffened, hope shining in her teary orbs.
"Please!" She begged! "Help me!"
"You insolent-
Shaulia whirled to strike at her again. Naruto's hand locked around her wrist like a vice, holding her fast. The Tenryubito struggled against him, but to no avail; forced to stare into the bloodred eyes of her agressor. His fingers bit down with superhuman strength, eliciting a yelp as they crushed the bone beneath, hairline fractures etching across the length of her wrist.
"Get your filthy hands off of me, you commooooooof!
Naruto said nothing, but he struck like a serpent, yelling his fury and giving his body the sharp countertwist that made his kicks so blindingly fast and powerful. Even the girl, who was looking straight at him, barely saw the strike. Naruto's shin burst through the air bubble, and crushed against Shaulia's face. Crushed it, inward. The crunching squish of her nose being obliterated split the sudden silence and then she was gone; tumbling head over heels across the grove like a flopping fish, flipping forward into her unprepared guards. The crowd gasped. Someone cheered.
"He hit a Tenryubito!"
"He did!"
"Is that guy crazy?! He'll alert the navy!"
"You worm!" Shaulia shrieked as she picked herself up, clutching at the ruined remnants of her nose. "How dare you touch me?! HOW DARE YOU?! I'll bring the navy down on your head! Do you hear me?! I'll make life itself a living hell for you! I will have you squirm and writhe and suffer and beg for me to end your wretched existence! You'll regret the day you ever-
The rest of her words were lost in a yellow flash.
"Ittoryu: Nadegiri."
Naruto didn't hesitate in the slightest way; he stepped forward, unsheathed his sword, and lopped off her head in a swift, brutal movement. There was a sickening squelching sound punctuated by a bloodied gush of arterial spray as Shaulia's head rolled from her shoulders, and into the air, her expression forever frozen in arrogance; she'd believed her title would protect her, right until the very end. The Dark Prince didn't pause to admire his handiwork as he sheathed his blade, nor did he stop to care for the blood covering his body. Gore stained his visage; one that rounded on the remaining slavers as swiftly as a coiled serpent.
"Anyone one else wanna try and capture this young lady?" he challenged.
"He killed her!" Someone screamed. "He actually killed a Tenryubito!"
"Lets get out of here before an admiral comes!"
"Damn right!"
Naruto had to forcibly restriain himself from slaughtering them as they fled; he'd saved the girl-this Pascia-and in the end, that was all that mattered. She was safe now. He'd get her somewhere safe and then he would get the hell home, hunker down and pray no one was fool enough to report Shaulia's death. Extracting a rag from one of the many pouches of his vest, he began to dab the blood off his mouth and chin. It was not until her unfamiliar voice rang out that he deigned to remember the reason for slaying Shaulia in the first place.
"Ano...who might you be?"
Naruto turned, peered at Pascia for a moment and warred with himself; fighting the rising heat in his face. How should he identify himself? His heritage wasn't a well known fact and he preferred to keep it that way. But he had to tell her something...damnit!
"A friend." he relented at last.
He reached down and ripped the collar from her neck, reducing it to so much slag in the palm of his hand, cast aside in the next instant. Then he offered his hand. Tentatively, she accepted it, fingers curling against his own as he helped her to her feet. She stumbled at first, her knees knocking together as she struggled to stand.
"Careful." He cautioned.
He wasn't at all prepared for what Pascia did next.
She leaned into him with a small and sultry smile, curves pressing against his body. Naruto couldn't help himself. He shuddered. Gone was the frightened slave she'd been mere moments ago; in her place was a woman willing to repay him for his service in both body and soul. He could understand her earlier fear at being recaptured, but this? This baffled him. Extremely so!
"My hero." She whispered, planting a soft kiss against the blonde's whiskered cheek. Naruto sputtered in surprise, his earler bravado vanishing in the wake of this sudden and unexpected act. "How can I ever repay you for saving me; my master?" Her breasts rubbed up against his arm in a silent plea, her eyes heavy-lidded with desire. "Surely you've earned a reward for your noble actions...
Naruto nearly bit his own tongue off. Master?! Now wait just a damned minute! He was no one's master! With a supreme effort of will he took her by the shoulders and held her back at arms length. She blinked, clearly puzzled by what she perceived as a rejection.
"There's no need for that." he shook his head. "You don't have to force yourself."
Her smile, when it came, was unexpected.
"Ara, but I'd much rather repay you for your kindness." Pascia shook his arms off and stepped forward to ply her curves against him again, fingers playing across his chest, her lips brushing the outer lobe of his left ear. "After all, I'm very...grateful, for what you've done." Naruto felt a thin line of blood trickle from his nose, one he promptly sniffed back up as her hands trailed towards his face, cupping his chin. Kuso! Curse his weakness for all things woman! He'd always been this way and made a concsious effort to avoid them. No chance of that here! He was beginning to realize Pascia wasn't going to be dissuaded; she obviously had a serious case of hero worship going on.
"Well...if you insist...then who am I to refuse?"
The dancer smiled and took his hand, leading him along.
"This way, master...
(End Flashback)
Was it worth it? Yes. Did he regret it? No. Nevertheless, he still felt a tad uncomfortable beneath the sisters' stares. He'd done the right thing! Discovering Pascia was a dancer had been a bonus. Getting a lap dance out of the bargain and being called master? Well...that was something he preferred not to think about. As for Pascia's safety...well, he couldn't dwell on that, either. He'd brought her to a safehouse he'd prepared in case of such emergencies, leaving her with strict instructions and a den-den-mushi to contact either his father or mother if he didn't return in at least three hours.e.
He knew they'd arrange transport for her off the Archipeligo, which was good; Naruto didn't quite know how he felt about the woman referring to him as "Naruto-sama" whenever she was in his prescence. That, and he didn't exactly feel like explaining to Shakky-kaasan just how he'd come into her company. Don't get me started on the old man...
A swift glance at the his father's vivre card revealed that Rayleigh was at least in good health; the paper hadn't smoldered any since he'd found himself on Amazon Lily. He knew well enough that his father would never allow himself to be captured by the marines...but did that mean he
Thankfully, the kuja didn't give him all that much time to dwell upon either.
"Killed a Celestial Dragon?!" Hancock gawped.
"Nyes!" Nyon replied. "Quite frankly, its a miracle he managed to get away from the supreme powers at the center sea after that. And in only a couple of days he arrived here at Amazon Lily, so far away. Its all beyond our understanding."
"Just who are you?!" Marigold gawked.
"I already told you who I am," Naruto flushed, "And by the way, I don't feel one bit sorry for what I did to that Celestial Dragon. I may not be a pirate, but even I know when someone deserves to die." His eyes flashed with fury. "Trust me when I say she was long overdue."
Hancock swallowed nervously.
"T-Then...
"Ara?"
...it is true that you killed a Tenryubito?"
Naruto nearly facepalmed.
"Oh for the love of-!" He flung up his hands in exasperation, "Yes! I did it! I butchered her like a dog and I'd do it again!"
He wasn't expecting the tears.
"The ones who put their lives at risk to challenge these celestials...like him!"
All at once, the pieces clicked into place.
"Then...there are still fools like that...in this world...
"Wait, so I'm a fool now?" Naruto couldn't help but bristle at the insinuation.
"No...
Hancock shook her head.
"I'm sure you already know this much, but I'll inform you anyway; this mark makes tells everyone that whomever bears it is subhuman." Her lower jaw clenched in place and her tongue went still; refusing to form what she wanted to say. She nearly choked on those dreaded, awful words. "We bear it because we three were once...slaves of the World Nobles!"
For a moment, just a moment, Hancock though she felt killer intent from Naruto. It wasn't directed toward her or her sisters, just a nameless sense of menace and fury, itching to lash out. A seed of doubt planted itself in her mind. What had been done to him to make him so angry on a sudden? She knew many despised the Tenryubito for their cruel and callous deeds on a global scale but this...she sensed this hatred was deeper than even she knew. Much deeper. The way those irises flickered intermittently between sapphire and scarlet offered no clues to his thoughts.
At last, Naruto seemed to recognize what he was doing. He shook himself with an effort, his anger abating.
"Continue." He sat before her, folding his legs anew. "I'll hear everything you have to say."
Naruto said nothing as she told her tale; he listened patiently as she told him of how she and her sisters were captured, of the four years they'd spent in that hell; of wanting to die. Until that fateful night, the night that shook the World Government to its roots. The night Fisher Tiger stormed Mariejoa, freeing slaves of all races, including her and her sisters. As her story drew to a close Hancock noticed something in the man; there was an odd gleam in his eyes, as if he had something he desperately wanted to tell her, yet could not bring himself to utter the words.
Hancock continued.
"Surprisingly, when we were slaves, we were forced to eat the Mero Mero and Hebi Hebi fruits for their entertainment, and that eneabled us to deceive our nation and preserve the secret. If you didn't cover up Sonia's back at that moment, it would have been impossible for us to stay on this island." When the tears came this time she did not-could not-defend against them. "I don't want anyone to know about our pasts! I won't stop at deceiving a whole nation to hide it! We won't open ourselves at any price!" She curled her knees into her chest and buried her head between them. "We don't want anybody to take advantage of us again! I'm scared of being caught off guard. It terrifies me! I can't take it!"
"I...
Strong arms closed around her back, the hard notes of a strong body joining to hers. Hancock froze, her body going slack as Naruto embraced her. Because Naruto was doing just that; his scarred arms wrapped firmly around her waist, drawing her close to him. She'd been caught off guard. Her first instinct was to scream and strike him; to lash out and slap him aside. But she couldn't. Instead she found herself succumbing, growing weaker and weaker within his arms.
"Yosh," he cooed at her quietly, rubbing the small of her back in smaller circles. "It's alright. I understand. You...don't have to say anymore." Unshed tears stabbed at Boa's eyes, trailing down her cheeks to mingle with a small sob. When...was the last time a man had embraced her? Never. She couldn't recall ever being hugged by anyone other than her sisters; even Sonia and Mari hadn't held her like this. Though they were sisters, it was always fleeting. A touch on the shoulder, the occasional kind glance here or there; because they knew their sister couldn't emotionally handle anything more.
And yet this man had seen her in her moment of weakness and chosen to embrace her. Knowing the risk, he had still done so anyway. Uncaring for her nakedness nor her breasts pushing into his chest, he still held her like this, comforting her. Comforting! Her! Once, the notion might've galled Hancock. Now...she didn't know what to feel.
"Let go of me." she whispered.
"No." Naruto said.
"I said-
"And I said I'm not letting go of you until you calm down." His words were fierce. Adamant. Something about the way he said them...it stirred something in her.
"Do as you wish." She tried to say that, but it came out garbled, sounding like, "Doasyouwish."
"Sister!" Hancock heard Sonia and Mari gasp as one, baffled by her unexpected reaction to the man and his embrace. She could've sworn Elder Nyon was smiling, but she daren't raise her head to look. She felt naked in the man's arms, and not just because of her lack of clothing. It was as if all her baririers had been stripped away in an instant, leaving her bare before his gaze. And he wasn't even looking at her! She could feel his chin resting on her shoulder, refusing to take advantage of this rare opportunity. Hancock felt the tears coming again and was powerless to stop them.
This man...this man...!
A sob exploded out of the back of her throat only to be muffled by his shoulder seconds later. "You've really been holding it in, haven't you?" Naruto wondered aloud. Boa said nothing as he murmurred this into her ear; when he took a hand from her waist and began stroking at her hair it was all she could do to sit still, her fingers clenching against his cape. She had to remind herself over and over and over that he wasn't going to hurt her despite knowing nothing of th sort. She felt his calloused fingers trace across her back, not groping or touching, merely massaging the tense muscles beneath.
Somehow, the knowledge that he wasn't going to hurt her broke something inside Boa Hancock.
Naruto rocked her back and forth as she began to cry, whispering soft nothings into her ear. All the while the hairline fractures in her heart of stone began to spread; splintering into a break then a fissure, and finally an outright collapse until the tears finally stopped falling. She'd cried herself dry. Naruto released her-slowly-and her serpent drew her robe over her shoulders once more.
"Better?" The question was so inocuous it nearly brought on the tears again; thankfully, she hadn't anything left to cry.
"Ho!" Elder Nyon said suddenly, surprising them all by hopping up onto her snake staff, swaying too and fro, wrinkled lips quirked in amusement. "But this the first time in a long time that nyou've shown your emotions like that. Recently I thought nyou'd turned to ice, Hebihime!"
Hancock lurched to her feet, nearly knocking Naruto over in her haste to rise.
"Shut up! You're a traitor who left the country behind! I don't want to hear such things from you!"
"Nyou should be the one shutting up!" The elder retorted, ceasing her swaying at once to glare at her. As always, Boa nearly faltered beneath that icy stare. "Nyou three were miserable and didn't know how to return to this island after nyou ran away from the Tenryubito! Who brought nyou back?! Nyou should be thankful that I was living outside this country!"
"Hmmph!" Hancock whirled so no one-least of all Naruto-could see the rising flush on her face. "You speak of a small favor!"
"What did nyou say?!"
"Nyon-sama...
"I always kept an eye on nyou three as a mother would! And you call that a "small" favor, Hebihime?! Hey, get nyour hands off of me, Mari, Sonia!" Laughter resounded behind Hancock as her sisters gently restrained the comically enraged elder from throwing herself at their sibling and quite possibly, her death.
The Dark Prince chortled softly from where he had fallen.
"Quite the little family you have here."
"Y-Yes...
Hancock couldn't believe she'd managed to wring the words out before four years worth of foul memories consumed her. Memories of pain and chains and burning brands. Of harsh words and blows and old fellows who treated her like a mere toy for their sick and twisted amusement. Boa shivered at the mere thought of it; of what she had shown this man; what she had told him. He knew everything about her now, the awful truth of her past. And he spoke to her so lightly, as though he considered the matter closed. But Hancock had yet one more question for him. She felt her fingers clench around the hem of her gown, just above her breast, her lips trembling at the thought of asking.
"Are you going to...look down on me, a former slave?"
There was a silence.
"Hancock." Naruto stood abruptly, casting off the coat bequeathed to him upon his triumph in the arena. "You showed me your back. Now there's something I want you to see." His upper body was suddenly exposed, laid bare for their eyes to see. Abruptly he turned in place, offering her a second glimpse of that...that thing upon his back. She had seen it during his bout with Sonia and Mari, but that had been from a distance. Up close, the sight of it made her stomach lurch in revulsion, its bile rising in her throat.
"Look at this." He gestured to his back, indicating the horrific scar he'd inflicted upon himself. "Do you see this mark?" Hancock nodded, a swift, jerky bob. Such a horrrid wound. What manner of beast or blade could've possibly inflicted such an injury upon him? And it was in the exact same place as her mark...No. A snake of dread coiled in Boa's stomach, a snake, of losing everything she'd ever known. This man wasn't...he could not be...
"Where...where did you get that?"
"I...did this to myself when I was a kid." Naruto admitted, his voice rising over her gasp of surprise. "To cover something up." His chin clenched, a muscle jumping in his jaw. "It hurt like hell at the time, but I did it was either that or bear 'it' for the rest of my. You see...I...
He drew a deep breath and breathed it out in one gasp.
"I was a slave once, too."
"!"
Hancock's heart hammered in her chest. No! This man! He couldn't be...
Sonia's long tongue brushed her lips, showing her disbelief. "You're kidding! Right, sister?"
"It was like everything you just said." Naruto's teeth sank into his lower lip to stifle a sob. "When I first saw that mark on your back I knew you must've suffed, but to go through something like that at such a young age for four years and survive...it must've been harsh. No, it probably was harsh" He shuddered. "I was only ten when I was taken. You see, I was always strong for my age, and that attracted attention. I was taken before I knew what was happening; and a slave for two years before I managed to escape...but...during that time...
Hancock saw the ghost of sorrow flit across his face. What she did not see-could not see-was the ghastly memory he was experiencing.
"Don't leave me behind!"
Naruto shook himself and forced a laugh, banishing the voice from his past.
"Well, that's in the past!" He reached down for his coat, draping it across his shoulders once more. "But to answer your question, why the hell would I look down on ya? Sure you might've seemed uppity and everything when we first met, but I understand that now. And besides, did you not get the fact that I killed a Tenryubito? I fucking hate those guys!"
Hancock's fist unclenched. She sniffed, a light flush rising to her cheeks. A laugh slipped past her lips, incredulous and disbelieving. Silves D. Naruto...he truly was something else. Incredible. Remarkable. Arrogant, and yet oh so humble. She doubted she'd ever find another man like him in all the world
"I like you!" Hancock laughed, scrubbing at her eyes with the back of a hand. "Didn't you say you had one more wish? Very well then! I'll give you a ride!"
"Really?!" Naruto gawped.
"Of course." She smiled. "I do not lie. The Kuja Pirates will carry you to Saboady Archipeligo. You should rest well tonight to prepare for the journey."
"Ha!" Naruto laughed. "This is great! I'm getting off this island tomorrow!"
So ensorcelled was he in his own enthusiasm that he nearly missed it; Hancock suddenly faltered in her step, a strange look entered her eyes. They narrowed for the merest moment, misting with tears. She clutched at her heart with a hand, her fingers clenching over the fabric of her vest. And then it was gone, as swiftly as it had come, leaving the Dark Prince to wonder if he'd only imagined it.
"Sonia. Mari! Make sure Naruto has a seat for tonight's banquet!"
Naruto blinked.
"Banquet?"
"Crap, that's a lot of food!" Naruto guffawed some hours later at the sight of the banquet laid out before him. Come to think of it, he hadn't had a decent meal since he ate that boar yesterday. But Naruto wasn't Luffy; he didn't gorge himself. At least, not right away. He took the place reserved for him, doing his best to ignore the reserved grumbles ellicited by his prescence. Needless to say, the food proved deliciious. There was sea king meat and...ooh! Over there, steak, and pasta and-
"What's he doing here?"
There was tension in the air, so thick was almost palpable. He could feel their eyes boring into back; sizing him up, scrutinizing him. Apparently Hancock had neglected to spread word of his innocence to the rest of her people. A fact that he picked up on when his haki offered a split-second warning; several of the Kuja were reaching for concealed knives, under the mistaken impression that their Hebihime had sent him here merely to be executed while he was guard was down.
Not bloody likely!
While he could've easily disarmed and killed them at a moments notice, he knew as soon he did he'd prove himself to be no more than a brutal savage in their eyes. Naruto sighed. He was truly tired of putting on these airs just to prove he wasn't a savage. And he wasn't! Setting down the hunk of sea king meat upon which he'd been feasting, the blond gulped down another portion and heaved a mighty breath.
"Anybody got an instrument?"
There was a silence. Everyone looked at him strangely; some as if he'd grown another head.
"Fine, then!"
Raising his hands, he conjured up a violin and a string, each wreathed in black flames. He could create all manner of form from his hellfire, this was merely another manifestation of his powers. He struck a chord with it and there came a sursurus of whispers from the women.
"Did you see that?!"
"Out of thin air!"
"Is he going to play for us?"
He fidled with it-ha!-for a moment, wondering what, if anything, he should sing. Itachi had taught him an old marine song once, but somehow, he just couldn't bring himself to sing that. Not here, now now, surrounded by a host of unfamiliar faces as he was. Well, there was one other song he did now...and it seemed appropriate, given he was surrounded by pirates. It galled him, to know what he was about to do, but he simply could not stand the dreary atmosphere for one single second longer. Oddly enough, he had that damned Mugiwara to thank for the idea.
"Ahem," he coughed into a fist...
(Flashback)
It had happened shortly after his massacre of the slaver's camp, after his retrieval of Camie's backpack. Their trek to his home had been a long one-longer than he would've liked-and with Camie constantly fretting over Hacchi's injuries, the progeny of Rayleigh soon found himself trailing at the back of the group, careful to maintain his distance from this notorious crew of pirates. Easier said than done.
That was when Luffy took it upon himself to start talking. Again.
"Sooo-
"For the last time, no!" Naruto growled in reply. "I'm not joining your crew!"
There was a silence. Sweet, blessed silence. It didn't last.
"How about now?" Luffy asked.
"No."
"…How 'bout now?"
"Let me think about it."
"Really?" Luffy walked in front of him for another ten seconds, unable to keep the delight from his face. "Now?"
"No!" Naruto finally exploded, smashing the rubberman backwards with a hardy headbutt, sending him sprawling into a nearby tree. Silence fell instantly. The Strawhats groaned and sighed in relief; Luffy lay dazed in the corner, stars swinging around his head like a merry-go-round, but otherwise unharmed. For a moment, just a moment, Naruto dared to hope that would be the end of it; that he'd gotten his point across. Then the Gomu-Gomu boy bounced back to his feet and bounded back towards him.
"How did you do that?!" He asked in awe.
"Ummm...its called a headbutt?"
"I believe he's referring to how you were able to injure him, Naruto." Rayleigh piped up from where he walked at the front of their little group. Naruto glared bloody red daggers at his progenitor; like HELL he was going to tell this damned Mugiwara about Haki!
"Yeah, that!"
"I'm not telling you and I'm not joining your crew!" The Dark Prince bit out. "End of discussion!"
"But why noooooot~?" Luffy whined.
"Because I said no!" Naruto all but growled. "You wanna get set on fire or something?!"
"UWOH!" Luffy's eyes practically shone at that. "Then you're just like Ace?!"
"Ha?" Naruto blinked. "Who in the nine circles of hell is that?"
"He's my big brother!"
"Again, I don't know ay Ace.
"You'd probably know him as Fire Fist Ace now." Robin elaborated.
Naruto abruptly went still.
Fire Fist Ace...
"Mugiwara...that man...is your brother?" He felt a muscle jump in his jaw.
"Oh! Have you met him?"
"Oh, I've met him alright." Naruto growled. "That bastard, he-
"He?"
"Nevermind." The Dark Prince forcibly snapped his jaw shut; brother or no, this punk wouldn't understand the grudge he bore against that upstart. Fire Fist Ace. That bastard...he-
"Just leave him be, Luffy." Sanji cut in, blowing a thin line of smoke from his cigarette. "He doesn't look like the kind to have any sort of ambition anyway. Hell, he probably doesn't even have a dream." Just like that his reality returned with a deafening clang. That damned mustache-eyebrow! 'Make fun of me will you...
"Pah!" Naruto snorted. "Says the shitty cook!"
Sanji actually jumped.
"What...did you call me?"
"I said shitty cook!"
"Kono-!"
Zoro laughed at that one.
"Heh, I like this guy."
"Urusai, baka marimo!" Sanji snapped. "At least HE doesn't go left when he's supposed to go right!"
"Nanda?!" the swordsman growled. "You're getting awfully big today, shit cook!"
"You wanna go, shitty swordsman?!"
"Bring it on! I'll cut you in half!"
"U-RU-SAI!" Nami shrieked, her fists raising merciless lumps on both of their heads. "You guys are giving me a headache! Go argue somewhere else!"
"Hai! Nami-swaaaaaaan!" Sanji lover-boyed.
"So...?" Luffy began again. "He should join-
"NO!" Nami, Sanji, and several others screamed, whacking him over the head in unison. "Stop asking that!"
Zorro cocked his head, contemplating the blond.
"Well, I don't have a problem with-
"Shut up, Marimo!" Sanji snapped. "No one asked you!"
"I think he's interesting." Robin concluded with a smoldering glance.
Naruto flushed.
"D-Don't look at me like that!"
"Wouldn't you agree, cook-san?" the archaeologist asked.
"Of course, Robi-chwaaaaaaaan!" Sanji abruptly reversed his stance on the issue. "Whatver you saaaaaay!"
"I suuuuuuuper agree!" Franky echoed, striking a pose.
Usopp frowned.
"I dunno...
"H-He seems normal..." Chopper said timidly, throwing in his two cents.
"I disagree!" Nami barked, throwing the reindeer's two cents back down his throat. "He's a demon! Anytime and every damn time Luffy sees something or something cool he wants to make it a nakama!" their navigator muttered blackly, shouldering her climatact. "And it doesn't help that you lot keep agreeing with him! Just look at that guy! He blinked back there and set those marines on fire! Who does that?! A monster, that's who!"
"Hey!" Naruto cried! "I happen to be standing right here, miss!"
"Ah! Sorry!"
"Yohoho!" Brooke cackled. "She's harsh!"
"It's no use!" Naruto bemoaned his situation as their conversation continued without. "I'm going to get a bounty just by hanging around these guys! Oh cruel ordainer of fate! What have I done to desrve this torment?! Why must you make me suffer so?! Is it so wrong to want a normal life?! I just wanted to find a nice girl, settle down, get married, maybe have a kid or two...
"Why would you wanna do that?" Luffy exclaimed, laughing with pure, childish joy. "Being normal is boring! Its waaaaaay more fun to be a pirate. C'mon! Be our nakama!"
"Aaaaaargh!"
Left with little else to to, the Dark Prince reluctantly began to speak with the Mugiwara's in the meantime. He soon learned that Luffy-as if he weren't obvious enough-was deadset upon becoming the pirate king. Zorro; the world's greatest swordsman. Nami wished to make a map of the entire world. Usopp wished to become a strong warrior of the sea. Sanji-whom Naruto found too much of a loverboy for his own good-wished to find the legendary All Blue, where fish from all the oceans gathered.
From there he learned that Chopper wished to become a great doctor in honour of his fallen mentor. Nico Robin wanted to find and read the Rio Poneglyph to continue her mother's research. Franky-or pervy cyborg as Naruto was quick to call him-had already fufilled his dream by creating the crew's ship, Thousand Sunny. Now he merely wished to keep it in good condition. But when it came time to inquire as to the final member of the Mugiwara crew about his ambitions, the blond found himself hesitant.
He was leery of skeletons. Especially talking ones!
"It seems they've taken a liking to you."
"I'm not-" Naruto sighed. "Look," he asked aside, "Is he every going to stop asking me to join his crew?"
"Hmm...I think not." Brooke conceded. "Luffy-san was especially persistent in my case."
...I can see why."
"Because I am a splendid musician?"
"No, wait what?" Naruto blinked in surprise. "You can play?"
The skelton tilted his hat.
"Correct! I am "Dead Bones" Brooke, at your service! Pleased to make your acquaintance! Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho!"
"Yohohoho...hey!" Naruto perked up. "I know a song like that!"
"Oya?"
"M-My mother used to sing to me when I was little." He gestured vainly. "She even taught me how to play the violin. Can't really say I'm a master at it though...
"Yoho!" Brooke laughed. "I'd love to hear it sometime! Although...
"Although?"
"I HAVE NO EARS TO HEAR!" Brooke cackled. "SKUUUUUUULL JOOOOOOKE!"
"Skull Joke!" Luffy echoed with a laugh.
Naruto sweatrdopped.
"Skull...what?"
"So, c'mon!" the rubberman prodded. "Join our crew!"
"For the last time...I SAID NO!"
(End Flashback)
Damnit. Naruto thought to himself as he stood up from the table. You better not make me regret this, Brooke...
"Hai hai, minasan!" He called loudly, drawing all eyes unto him. "May I have your attention for a moment please!" He stretched the bow across the string, drawing forth a soulful note. "This is a song my mother used to sing to me when I couldn't sleep. Feel free to join in as ya please! "He drew a deep breath, pulled back the string once, twice, thrice, and when he was all but certain he finally had the damed rhythym down as best he'd be able, began to play.
"Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho!" he began softly, his voice little more than a dry whisper in the deafening silence."Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho! Binkusu no sake o, todoke ni yuku yo Umikaze kimakase namimakase. Shio no mukou de, yuuhi mo sawagu Sora nya wa wo kaku, tori no uta...
He paused, falling silent as the rest of the words escaped him. Argh! How did it go again?! It had been so long since he last heard the lyrics...
"Sayonara minato, Tsumugi no sato yo DON to icchou utao, funade no uta Kinpa-ginpa mo shibuki ni kaete Oretacha yuku zo, umi no kagiri!" Naruto nearly tripped over himself when Margureuite piped up with the next verse, her soft, feminine voice lilting in the sudden silence; aperfect harmony with his melody. She shot him a bright grin from where she sat across the table, silently urging him on. Naruto forced himself to continue, a slow, steady rythym rising as her voice joined with his.
And then Sweetpea was singing, her masculine voice providing a backdrop for the two of them as they sang.
"Binkusu no sake o, todoke ni yuku yo Warera kaizoku, umi watteku Nami wo makura nii, negura wa fune yo Ho ni hata ni ketateru wa dokuro!" The Dark Prince had to quell an inane bout of mirth; because Aphelandra had since decided to join them now, singing horribly off-key. "Arashi ga kita zo, senri no sora ni Nami ga odoru yo, DORAMU narase Okubyoukaze ni fukarerya saigo Asu no asahi ga nai ja nashi!"
Naruto barked out a laugh as Ran and Daisy then finally even Rindo, cast off their inhibitions and one by one, added their voices to his. He wasn't a pirate. He refused to become one. And yet, he couldn't help but smile as one by one, the rest of the Kuja joined in song.
"Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho...
"Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho...
Hancock could hear the singing all the way from the palace, even as she leaned against the balcony rail. It was almost enough to bring a smile to her face. Almost, but not quite. The knowledge that he would be leaving in the morning sorrowed her, somehow. She rather liked this man; he had a tendency to draw others to him. Whether by words or action or even strength of will alone, she found his charism remarkably contagious, the like of which she herself had never known. The first man not to balk at her beauty, and she couldn't-no matter how hard she tried-expunge him out of her thoughts.
She hadn't been able to eat or sleep for the remainder of the day; if she didn't know better she could've sworn she was falling ill. But that was ridiculous. She rarely ever experienced any sort of illness, even then it was nothing their doctor couldn't cure. It must be in her head. Yes, all in her mind.
In my mind...
Absently, she swirled the wine glass in her hand, peering into the white sake within as though she could somehow discern the depths of her unease by staring at her reflection. The visage that greeted her was beautiful, true, but there was sorrow there, lurking within the depths of her crystal orbs. Boa frowned.
"I'm finally getting off this island tomorrow!" Naruto's words ran in her mind like a clarion bell. "Yes! Oh, I can't wait!" They'd been plaguing her for several hours now, and she couldn't fathom why. He had held her. Comforted her, as no man ever had. He'd been a slave, too. She felt a strange sort of kinship with him, this Silvers D. Naruto. No, it was more than that. She could feel it even now, in the desire to go down into the village and join him; strangely something held her back from this.
"Tomorrow...
Boa blinked in surprise, alarmed to find tears staining her cheeks, falling into the glass. She touched a finger to her cheek stunned by the realization. She was crying. Oh no. A sickening thought swam through her mind and latched down onto her thoughts. No no no no. She didn't want him to leave. But he would leave. And there was nothing she could do to make him stay. Soon, he would be gone. But what did that matter to her? He would leave, and she would never see him again. That would be that, and life would move on, just as it should...
Tomorrow.
"Yadda." She whispered softly, her voice breaking with the words. "I don't...I don't want him to go...
Scarce had she spoken then a blinding pain erupted in her chest. Hancock cried out, clutching at her heart. It fetl as though a knife had been thrust through her breast cutting through flesh and bone! And yet try as she might she could find no wound. She knew only that her body had begun to burn, and the pain...oh the pain! It was growing worse with each passing second, twisting, warping...
Hancock swooned, her legs buckling, her body collapsing to the floor like a wet towel.
Instantly black cascaded through her mind. She floated...floated away...floated into nothingness. For a fleeting moment, she thought she could hear her siblings screaming.
"Yo-hohoho, Yohohohoo, Yo-hohoho, Yohohohoo, Yo-hohoho, Yohohohoo!"
Naruto grinned as he drew the string for the final time; the whole of the Kuja had joined him by this point, laughing and cheering at his raucous behavior. He could feel the warm burn of sake in his stomach, slowing his motions and dulling his thoughts, but it did little to cull his enthusiasm. When was the last time he'd had this much fun? He couldn't remember. At some point Marguerite must've sidled up to him; he could feel her body brushing up against his, the warmth of her skin spreading through the kimono. Without thinking, he slung an arm round her shoulder and drew her close, raising a glass of sake in toast.
"Whaddya think of that, ladies?!" he crowed triumphantly. Not bad for a man, eh?"
A chrous of laughter greeted his words.
"Funny! Men are funny!"
"One more time!"
"Oi!" He winced as the crowded him. "Whaddya pinching me for?!"
Eventually, all that attention became a tad overwhelming. Everyone wanted to touch him, poke him, or see him burst into flames. While the Dark Prince had no problem with the latter, he was not-not not not not!-keen on touching and being touched by so many women! Thankfully, Margaret managed to help him affect a quick escape to Elder Nyon's place at the edge of the village. He'd even managed to drag a rather large haunch of sea king meat with him!
"What's myatter, Margaret?"
"Naruto turned out to be quite popular among the women of the village." she giggled.
The Dark Prince groaned between bites. He had the pinch marks to prove it! Scary! Women were scary creatures indeed! Not only had they wanted to touch him, some had wanted to be picked up, others touched, and a choice few wished to kissed...it was too much for him to take in. And then they wanted to see his Devil Fruit ability...
"Well men are unyusual beings here after all."
Naruto made a squelching sound as he swallowed.
"Oi! I'm not tat unusual, baa-chan!"
"This place is at the cyolerner of the village. Take your time here. And who are you calling baa-chan?!"
"Sorry, you just look like a "baa-chan" to me, ya know?"
"Get him some tea or syomething, Margaret." Nyon waved the amazon away. "He's probably going to get thirsty after eating all that meat...
"Hai!"
"What's that you're reading?" Naruto asked, finally noticing the newspaper in old crone's hands.
"The News Coo don't deliver to the Calm Belt, so its become difficult to get thyese." Nyon explained, turning a page in the paper. "The empress of our kingdom is a Warlord, so wye should at least kyeep up with what's going on in the world." Naruto continued to chew on the meat, but at these words he frowned and forced himself to swallow.
"Who's a warlord?"
Nyon blinked, as though she somehow expected him to know this.
"Hebihime."
There was a silence.
"EH?!" Naruto gawped. "She's a shichibukai?! Why didn't anyone tell me this?!"
"Don't you read the nyewspapers?" Nyon asked.
"Nope." the blond shook his head. "How was I supposed to know something like that!"
"Hebihime became the empress of this kingdom and captain of the Kuja Pirates eleven years ago. She was still so young, but after just one voyage, a bounty of eighty million was put on her head. That, and along with the bad reputation the Kuja had already earned, made the World Government wary of her right away, and they offered her a position as a Warlord."
"Here's some tea." Naruto blinked as Margaret set down a glass upon the table.
"But now that title is in danger of being lost, because...
Naruto blinked.
"Because?
"NANDA?!"
Naruto's shout was loud enough to be heard halfway across Amazon Lily.
"The Shichibukai and Marine Headquarters are going to do battle with Whitebeard?! Are they insane?!" He knew enough about the world's strongest man from what Rayleigh had told him; just as he knew to face such a titan was tantamount to suicide. "When did this happpen?!
"Before I say anything else, nyou should look at this, Naruto." Elder Nyon offered him the newpaper she'd been reading. "There is something nyou should see."
"Hmm?" The Dark Prince accepted it with some confusion. "I don't see what could be more important than Shirohige starting a war-GAH?!"
Naruto blew a smoke ring and promptly passed out.
What's wrong, Naruto?" Marguerite leaned over his shoulder.
With trembling fingers, the blond showed her the page.
WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE!
"DARK PRINCE" Silvers D. Naruto. For the crime of assaulting a marine admiral, slaying a Tenryubito and being the son of Silvers Rayleigh...
And bellow that, the dreaded bounty amount with all those zeroes...
"Six hundred sixty six million?!" Margaret gawped! "Y-You've got a bounty that high?!"
Naruto stared at the newspaper for a long moment, his jaw agape, horror mounting. Oh no. No no no no! This wasn't happening! This couldn't be happening! He was staring at his own likeness, visage curled up into a cruel sneer, his body sheathed in black flames, wreathed in terrible power. It didn't take him long at all to realize someone must've photographed him in Saboady whilst he was fighting Kizaru. Most likely a marine. The damned bastard!
Over! His humble life as a ship coater was over!
OVER!
"But there's more!"
Naruto bit back a groan at Elder Nyon's announcement. What could possibly be worse than discovering he had a bounty on his head? Reluctantly, he picked himself up off the floor and began to listen.
"Although its only speculation at the moment, the battle will certainly happen sooner or later." Nyon glanced back to the newspaper. "And it would seem that the World Government has made the first move. Whitebeard is a man who would never allow his comrades to be killed. Even though they know that, they have announced the public exeuction of Whitebeard's elite subourdinate, Portgas D. Ace!" Naruto felt the blood blaze like hot flame in his veins at the mention of that name.
Ace...
Luffy's brother; he was the one who killed Itachi. He was the man who took his brother away from him. The details of their squabble remained sketchy, but he knew what he'd seen. Itachi dead, with Ace's hand through his chest. Ironically, Naruto held the power of two Devil Fruits as a result of that death; his own, the Goka Goka no mi, and Itachi's unamed fruit. To this day, he was still discovering just what manner of power his older brother had wielded; the foster brother that Fire Fist Ace took away from him. He was Luffy's brother.
On some level Naruto knew it wasn't right to just snuff out Ace's life for an old sin; it would surely make Luffy suffer. Wherever the rubberman was now, he was surely fighting against whatever forces that held his elder sibling captive, with all his might.
Even so, he had sworn vengeance against that man.
Undauted and unaware of the raging turmoil taking place within the young prince, Nyon continued, "I heard that a pirate called Blackbeard managed to join the warlords by captuing Fire Fist Ace. The World Goverment intends to take full advantage...
"Baa-chan."
...of this large chip...
"Baa-chan."
... they've gained against Whitebeard-
"BAA-CHAN!" The ceramic cup shattered in Naruto's hand, spraying tea in every direction. Margaret yelped. Nyon gawped. Gawped; as Naruto lurched forward to seize her by the shoulders, his fingers smoldering with tongues of impotent white flame. "He killed my big brother! He killed Itachi-nii-san!" he snarled, shaking her roughly. "I have to be the one to take revenge! Me! Not the marines!"
"What?!" Nyon gasped. "You were related to that man?!"
Naruto drew back with an exasperated hiss.
His 'brother' had been a great marine and an even greater influence upon his life. A vice-admiral at the age of twelve, everyone thought the man had been destined for greatness. Itachi of the Moon's Eye, they'd called him. Rumour had it you could die just by looking him in the eye. That had been years before they'd first met on Saboady Archipeligo. Naruto, recently rescued from the hands of the World Nobles, had been despondent with his life and the world by that point-he'd even tried to take his life several times-when they'd first met. Unbidden, he flashed back to the words that had turned his-then-young life around.
"Its easy to die." those had been his words. "But it takes strength to live."
"But I'm not strong." he'd protested. "I'm...weak."
...then I will make you strong."
Itachi's promotion to admiral was all but ensured, back then. He'd stopped by Sabaody to restock food and water for his crew. But for some reason upon their meeting, he'd done the unthinkable. Without so much as a single explanation, he'd retured to the harbour, slaughtered his crew to the last man, scuttled his vessel and simply left the marines. To this day Naruto couldn't understand it. What had Itachi seen in him that day that made him give up such a promising career? His family? His future?
For the next decade, that man never left Saboady Archipeligo. Not once. It was during that time that Naruto discovered the Goka Goka no mi; it had been during one of his many ill-fated attacks on the Auction House. Loathing the World Goverment for their tolerance of slavery, he'd taken it upon himself-under Itachi's training-to sabatoge the slave trade in whatever way he could. During this particular attempt, he'd happened upon a rather piece of fruit left unguarded in a chest. Without a second he devoured it and subsuquently wroudh havoc on the slavers; thankfully a tenryubito hadn't been present that day, else, his exploits would've almost certainly gotten him killed. As it were, he'd managed to free dozens of slaves before someone finally had the gall to call the marines.
By then he'd already dissapeared back into the groves, certain he would be praised for what he saw as being a true hero of justice.
Shakky and Itachi had scolded him for such reckless behavior, but when the latter took him aside and congratulated him some hours later, he felt his heart glow with warmth and admiration. Once he realized his 'little brother' had eaten the Hellfire fruit, he'd taken it upon himself to make certain he mastered it.
Naruto looked back on those days fondly: Raiyleigh and Shakky might've been his real parents, but Itachi was his brother in all but blood. And then Ace murdered him. Cut him down. He would never forget that terrible day. It had been raining outside, and he'd come home to an empty house; not surprising, consider Rayleigh's coating business involved him disappearing for hours on end, whilst Shakky's bar often required her to catch what little sleep she could, whe she could.
Then he'd seen them. Not Rayleigh, or Shakky. Itachi. And a man in an orange hat-roughly a few years younger than him-his smoldering fist thrust through Itachi's chest. He remebered looking on in shock, then horror as the stranger tore his bloodsoaked arm from Itachi's chest. There were tears in his eyes that day.
"Why...Why did you kill him?!"
"He told me to!"
"LIAR!"
The culprit had barely escaped with his life that day, but he'd gotte away regardless. Naruto would later learn the murderer's identity. Fire Fist Ace. A pirate. And in Naruto's experience, all pirates were born liars. All of them! But he refused to dwell on that now. He chose happier memories instead.
Naruto had loved Itachi. Loved him like a brother. The only thing that kept him from joining the marines in emulation of his sibling was the knowledge that they served the Tenryubito, whom he wanted dead more than anything else. Sanji might have claimed that the Dark Prince had no dream, but he did. His dream was to topple the World Goverment, the goverment that let cast Itachi out and then covered up his death, labeling him as a traitor and his demise as an accident.
"Where will Ace be executed?!" Naruto demanded to know! He wouldn't let this chance slip away! Even if, it meant infamy! Or worse, death!
"Hmm," Nyon returned her attention to the newspaper, "It says it will take place in the plaza of Marineford, where the navy hq resides, in a week, which would be six days from today."
"That's too soon!" Naruto exclaimed! "How long does it take to get to the Archipeligo from here?"
"Well, I think it takes more than a week...
"If it takes that long, he'll be dead before I get home! How long would it take to get where he is from here?!"
"Impel Down is where he's imprisoned. It would take a week by pirate ship. Or four days by a navy ship.
"Then-
"But!" Nyon interrupted! "There was a recent break by another infamous pirate: Monkey D. Luffy!"
"Luffy?!" Naruto forcibly bit his hand to keep himself from shouting. "That idiot!" He knew at once where the rubberman had landed. Impel Down! Kuma must've sent him there!
"No one knows exactly how he made it into Impel Down." Nyon peered at the page, "But it says here he was poisoned by the warden and confined to one of the lowest levels of the prison. He's almost certainly dead by now, or if not, he soon will be. They're refusing to allow anyone into the prison until the time of Ace's execution."
"So they haven't moved up the date?" Naruto mused, taking his teeth from his hand. Now that he'd calmed down, his mind was beginning to work again. Surprisingly, he felt a pang of sorrow for Luffy. The kid might've gotten on his nerves, but no one deserved to die alone like that.
"Luffy...
There was no way he would make it into Impel Down. Not with all that security. Which meant his only chance of taking revenge was when the marines finally released him for execution. At Marineford. There was bound to be even more security there, the three admirals and the warlords...
That's it!
It was a crazy plan, but it just might work!
"Naruto?" Margaret must've noticed his smile; because it was positively beatific.
"Why are nyou smiling?" Nyon frowned.
He told them his plan.
"You know how reckless this is," Nyon warned once he'd finished explaining this. "And how big this battle is going to be, right? It's as futile as a single ant jumping into a storm. You might get cast aside without even a chance of doing anything."
Naruto shook his head.
"Even so, I have to do this. I have to go...to Marineford!"
Nyon sighed.
"Until now, Hebihime has obstinately refused to answer the call for the warlords to assemble. If she were to respond, she could take advantage of it and use her status to aid you in your plan and sneak you aboard their battleship. There's a slim chance of it, but you just might succeed. But once nyou get on that ship, there will be nyo turning back! Nyou might be shot as soon as they see you!
"Well damn!" Naruto nearly laughed at this devilish luck. "You mean there's actually a navy ship here?!"
"Nyes." she conceded.
"Then there's no need to worry," Naruto grinned. "With my ability, I won't die easily. I'll come back as many times as I have to! I'll even sell my soul if that's what it takes!"
"Alright, alright!" Nyon sighed. "I suppose you should go ask Hebihime herself. If there's anyone she'll listen to, its you."
Everything started to go awry the moment they reached the palace.
A young amazon all but bowled them over the moment the doors opened. She appeared visibly relieved to see Nyon; although she practically ignored Naruto. Everything about suggested haste; she was covered in cold sweat, her pupils wided and dialated with fear.
"Nyon-sama!"
"What's wrong, Enshida? What's your rush?"
"Thank kami!" She heaved a heavy breath. "I was just on my way to get you! "
Naruto felt an familiar dread settle in his stomach. He didn't like the sound of this.
"Did something happen?"
"Its...," Enshida heaved a deep breath, struggling to compose herself. "Hebihime-sama...has collapsed from some unknown disease!"
"Collapsed?!"
"Whyat did you say?!"
"Nyou stay here." the old crone warded Naruto off with her stick almost as soon as they entered the room. "I will go see what is troubling Hebihime."
Much to her surprise, the man went without a word of protest. It was almost as if he recognized the direness of the situation. She waited until he had closed chamber doors behind him before approaching the bed. Sure enough the great Hebihime lay there, weak as a newborn kitten. Her face was flushed with sweat; her breath came in small, short, feverish gasps. As the late-late-late empress drew closer, the current empress actually sobbed in agony, such was her strain.
"It's...painful...
"She's been grasping her chest the whole time," the doctor informed her, despondent. "So I thought there might be a problem with her heart, but...I couldn't figure it out. I've never seen symptoms like these before. I have no idea which or what to use. She hasn't eaten anything either...and she looks like she's in so much pain...
Nyon pursed her lips in thought.
"Tomorrow morning...
Boa lurched upward, her back arching in agony.
Elder Nyon frowned. Could it be...?!
"Na-
"Ah!" Hancock moaned!
"Sil-
"Nggh!" Hebihime all but writhed in agony.
"Stop teasing her, Nyon-sama!" Sonia and Mari cried. "You're making her suffer even more!"
"I am nyot teasing her!" She slapped a hand to her forehead. "I see...to think this would happen again! Damn this virus for attacking at such an inconvenient time!"
"Virus?"
"Do you know what it is?"
Hancock's eyes fluttered open.
"Elder...it hurts so much! Am I...am I going to die?"
"Yes, you will die." Nyon replied.
"What the hell are you saying?!" Her sisters were all but distraught.
"The previous empress...died because of this as well. As did the one before her. In fact, I was once infected by the same disease, so I left the kingdom. That's how I managed to survive it. But we cannot ask Hebihime to do the same as I have done...it's already too late for that." She heaved a heavy sigh and returned her attention to Hancock once more. "Listen well, girl. I have brought Silvers D. Naruto with me. He is here, waiting just ouside these doors. Will you see him?"
A glimmer of strength returned to Hancock's gaze.
"I...will."
"Then I shall fetch him." Without another word, she turned toward the door. "In the meantime, Sonia, Mari. Get everyone out of this castle. Including yourselves."
"Nani?"
"Just do as I say!"
"H-Hai!"
"Hah?!" Naruto gawped. "I have to do what?!"
He stood before the doors leading to Hancock's room, glaring bloody red daggers at Elder Nyon; having just been informed of the one and only way to cure the fatal sickness that had infected Boa Hancock. A disease that would certainly take her life, if he did not act soon. To say he was irate was an understatement.
"I refuse!" he growled.
"If nyou do not do something to cure her of this love-sickness then nyou will not have a ride to Marineford!" Elder Nyon snapped, smacking him with her stick. "It is nyou who first caused this disease to rear its head in the first place! It is nyour responsibility!"
"Tch!" Naruto snorted, folding his arms. "Do you have any idea what you're asking me to do? You're telling me to lower my barriers and just...do that! With someone! Someone I barely even know! Do you have any at all idea how hard that is for me?! After what I've been through?!"
The old woman said nothing; she merely peered at him with those cold, steely eyes.
Naruto muttered something inarticulate.
"Ora!" With a snarl he kicked down the doors, exposing a stunned Sandersonia and an equally baffled Marigold beyond. He marched right past them without so much as a word, pausing only when he stood before Boa's bed. Quietly, so as not to disturb her, he sat down, his weight causing the large matress to creak ever so slightly.
"What's he doing here?" Sonia wondered aloud.
"He's going to cure her of course."
"Men can do that?" Mari blinked.
"Nyo, this is only something Naruto can do."
The sisters exchanged a glance.
"But-
"Nyou should leave." Elder Nyon said to Sonia and Mari. "This is not something nyou'd like to see." Without another word she ushered them out; for a woman of her stature, she was remarkably effective when it came to clearing a room. Within moments Naruto found himself alone with the empress. Alone. The thought sent a sudden jolt up his spine causing him to sit erect. The motion caused Hanock to stir. Ever so slowly, her eyes opened fluttered open and Naruto nearly gasped. Her gaze was weak and ferverish; she was a mere shell of her former self.
"Naruto," She gasped out, her bright blue eyes fluttering open. "Is that you?"
"Yeah." he squeezed her hand,tried not to flinch at the appalling chill there. "I'm here."
"Am I...going to die?" her voice was tiny and for the first time since he'd laid eyes on her she suddenly she seemed very small and very, very afraid.
"No." He shook his head. "You're not going to die; because," he swallowed, gulping nervously. "B-Because I'm about to cure you, Hancock." He slid a hand up the ridges of her spine and into her hair, fisting the strands and urging her to close the rest of the distance. Boa whimpered, her face aflush; was it the fever or...was it something else.
"N-Naruto...
"Close your eyes." he whispered.
She complied.
He hovered over her for another second, fighting back painful memories; those two awful years of pain rearing their ugly heads. He roared at them and they retreated into a corner, cowering. Steeling himself, the Dark Prince pulled his body the rest of the way onto the bed, took a deep breath...
And closed the distance.
Then he kissed her so hard the Pirate Empress moaned.
(AAAAAAAAND SNIP GOES THE LEMON)
(Some hours later)
"What is the matter with me?" Hancock wondered aloud sometime later. "I do not wish to refuse Naruto's request...so I said I would answer the summons. Even so, I do not feel bad about it!" She could still feel a faint burn in her cheeks, but it was a pleasant one; not a thing like the fever she'd just fought off. Naruto had since left her bed once he was certain she was alright; her people were none the wiser. All save Elder Nyon, who stood before her now, a smug smile adjourning her wrinkled face. Hancock had reluctantly dressed herself after their second love-making, and already, she felt herself hungry for another. For him.
"That is love!"
"Love?"
"The pain of yearning for the one whom you cannot see will weaken you until you eventually die." Nyon explained. "The previous empresses all fell in love, yet as empresses, they had no choice but to repress their each of their feelings and remain on the island. The pain from their suppressed feelings began to hurt them and eventually cliaimed their lives. However, your decision to go with that man will save your life! By answering the summons and maintaining your position as a Warlord, you will ensure the country's safety as well as help your beloved."
"B-B-B-Beloved?" Hancock sputtered. She hadn't dared to think of Naruto as such...
"That is what he is to you, is he nyot?" The old woman gave her a sly smile; and that was when Hancock realized it. She knew.
Idly, she thought back to what Naruto had said to her after they'd had each other for a second time. Of their discussion, brief and tenuous though it was.
"But why do you wish to go to Marineford?" she'd asked.
And so he told told her. Both of his past with Ace, and his inane plane to gain entry to the most secure headquarters in the world. He still wasn't sure whether he wanted to save Ace for Luffy's sake, or kill him for that of his own. He was certain of one thing, however. She remembered flushing as he cupped her cheek, before planting a chaste kiss on her lips.
"I won't let anything happen to you."
Hancock almost giggled. Love! She was in love! In love with Naruto! She'd never heard of such a thing before! Such a wonderful, indescripable feeling...
"I think I'll go see how he's doing." Without another word she all but skipped from the bed towards the door. "Naruto-kuuuun~! Where are youuuuu..."
"Hebihime, nyou cannot go out dressed like that!" Nyon gawped in disbelief. "Nyou need to tell the government you're answering their summons first!"
Hancock paused just long enough to snatch up a purple dress and her coat alongside a Den-Den-Mush. Then she was gone, donning the former and throwing the latter over it in a matter of mere moments.
Nyon shook her head in disbelief. In less than a day, this man had managed to melt the heart of possibly the coldest woman on earth. Hancock was hopelessly and irrevocably in love with him now, and nothing in this world nor the next could change that. She only hoped Naruto would never do anything to break her heart.
"I wonder, what star was that man born under?"
Vice Admiral Momonga was still nursing his wound when the Den-Den-Mushi rang.
Blip-Blip-Blip-Ga-chack.
"It is I." Hancock's proud voice replied through the transceiver.
"Boa Hancock?"
"I have decided to respond to the call to assemble." came her silken reply. "However, I have one condition. If you cannot meet this condition...
Momonga frowned.
"Go ahead and tell me this "condition" of yours."
"There is someone I wish for you to meet. You will hear what he has to say before you take any action against him."
Momonga didn't hestiate.
"Verty well then. I await your arrival."
Some hours later, he discovered just who this someone was. Scarce had Boan Hancock disembarked than another arrived beside her. He wore the white cape of the Kuja over his broad shoulders but that was where all resemblance ended. He bore a black vest beneath, crimson slacks the color of blood, bore a single katana at his side. Ultimately, it was his face, that attracted the most attention. Here was the face of the newly wanted "Dark Prince" himself, standing here before him.
"Silvers D. Naruto?!"
"Its a pleasure to meet you, Momonga-san." Naruto grinned, exposing his teeth as the man went for his blade. In an instant he'd drawn his own to meet him, steel clashed against steel as their weapons struck, spitting sparks against the deck. A booted foot barreled into his stomach, driving them apart.
"Why are you here?!" He glared at Hancock. "Is this the individual you spoke of, Hancock?!"
Boa merely smiled.
The Dark Prince reared his head and grinned a ferocious grin.
"Why, I'm here to lend you the power of hell, Vice-admiral."
"Speak clearly!"
"Gladly." Naruto grinned and disengaged with a flourish, sheathing his sword in a swift movement. "I'll be frank. I have an offer for you, Momonga-san. One you can't afford to take lightly. You see...
...I've come to offer the World Government my services as a Shichibukai."
A/N: FWAH! Suuuuch a long chapter! My eyes are KILLING ME! Although, being a skeleton...I HAVE NO EYES! YOHO! Now let us clarify some things. Pascia is not an OC of mine! She DOES exist in the One Piece world and is a former slave! Just look her up on the one piece wikia if you're curious for more. Getting a lap dance for saving a damsel in distress, ah, what could be better than that I wonder? How about banging the pirate empress? Naruto's getting an awful lot of lovely ladies, isn't he? This lemon was hard to write, ad left my ears burning! Hope you liked it!
And now start to see just why he loathes pirates in this story...his best friend and foster brother-Itachi-was killed by one! By...ACE?! What devilry is this?! Does he really mean to ensure the death of Luffy's brother by offering his services as a Shichibukai in the coming War Of The Best? Or does our infamous trickster have something else up his sleeve? Does he mean to deceive the marines aiding Luffy by betraying them and possibly ally WITH Fire Fist Ace as their fathers once did?! Regardless, he certainly seems cocky... Stay tuned to find out!
Next time: Flames of Hellfire! The War of the Best begins?!
Oh, and please don't forget to review until my ears fall off. Although, being a skeleton...I have no ears to listen! YOHOHOHOHO! SKUUUUUULLL JOOOOOKE! And just for those of you who might be wondering what the devil the english lyrics for Brook's Sake are...here ya go:
Going to deliver Binks' Sake! Following the sea breeze! Riding on the waves! Far across the salty depths! The merry evening sun! Painting circles in the sky as the Birds Sing Farewell to the harbor, To my old hometown Lets all sing out with a don! As the ship sets sail Waves of gold and silver dissolve to salty spray
As we all set sail to the ends of the to deliver Binks' Sake! We are pirates sailing through the Sea! The waves are our pillows, The ship our roost Flying the proud skulls on our flags and our sails
Now comes a storm through the far-off sky Now the waves are dancing, Beat upon the drums If you lose your nerve this breath could be your last But if you just hold on, The morning sun will rise
Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho,
Going to deliver Binks' Sake! Today, and tomorrow, our dreams through the night! Waving our goodbyes, we'll never meet again! But don't look so down, For at night the moon will rise!
Going to deliver Binks' Sake! Let's all sing it with a don! A song of the waves Doesn't matter who you are, Someday you'll just be bones Never-Ending, Ever-wandering, Our funny Traveling tale!
Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho!
Translation: Houou= Phoenix.
As I said, I worked uber hardo this chapter and the lemon. I really hope you guys and gals liked it!
So...in the immortal words of Atlas...
...Review, would you kindly?
R&R! =D