Notes: The following is wild, twist, fanfiction for One Piece. Please be aware that this will be a strange story and I will bend it to my own desires for the story. I do not own any of the characters One Piece, but the plot and characters not in the manga are mine. Thank you very much and please enjoy. (Please forgive my imperfection within my work.)

AN: Um... I hope you enjoy! I will update today or tomorrow with illustrations on tumblr!

Edit: Check tumblr! One of several illustrations has joined the group. :)


One Piece: The Kairoseki Incident

Chapter Six: Truth and Lie

The clock reads 5. The bold green letters shining in room's dusky light as Axis sits with more work than she should be accomplish in one sitting. Her face was smudged with graphite and ink stains the slender fingers. Various items are scattered around the desk in hazardous chaotic mess.

Without her black coveralls, Axis's clothing is filthy. Her furious detail scrawls ink, graphite, and erasers shaving all over the grey jacket and jeans. Her head hurts, her eyes feel severe pressure from behind the soft squishy balls, and her heart is heavy. She finally lets her head drop onto the desk and sighs.

The Navy moved in two or three days ago. They must have been tracking Ace and her movements across the ocean. More than likely, the Navy was aware that she and Ace would meet up with the Whitebeard pirates and then had tracked Whitebeard. Only Whitebeard was on the neighboring Island. If the Navy had not figured out they were both on the Black Islands, they would soon.

Despite being angry her best male friend, Gavroche, left maps, information, and some exotic chocolates from his home in South Renaissance on her desk. He was not her lover, but they had grown up very close. He was married with a wife and kid. Not to mention his brother-in-law/ nanny to his daughter. Gavroche had even made Axis his daughter's Godmother. Not that it was good.

He was about as good a parent as Axis was, which is to say a bad one. However, he was sincere when he said things and demanded a certain level of respect from the the criminal enterprise. Those sickly souls they worked with. No one could say he horrible person. Life had not been kind to Gavroche and Axis knew most of his life's story from first hand experience, just as he knew hers. Mostly because of what they were, but according to the rules of survival it did not matter. What matter was a person's ability to survive the curve balls life saw fit to hurl to them. Good news; both Gavroche and Axis were professionals at survival.

She sits up and shoves herself away from the desk. The map is marked in with ink symbols some still glistening from the drying ink. The sketches of scapula as well as the surrounding structure lay complete in a messy stack to her left.

Did she mention she had a headache? Her brother was helping to add to that; Ace and all his niceness. Why couldn't he be an asshole who did not want anything to do with her? Why couldn't he leave her to rot in all her messy madness. That's what everyone did! They left her to fall apart, then they would pick up the pieces. But no. Ace was putting duct tape on every crack and she was starting to feel fragile like a house of cards. Soon not even his patchwork help would be able to keep her together. Axis throws all the thoughts out of her mind.

She wonders around in her room, searching out her soft pajama pants and t-shirt. Unfortunately the t-shirt did not work and she ended up with a sweater Gavroche had left her with last time they bumped into each other. He had a habit of leaving his jackets for her. Probably because he knew how cold she was all the time.

Once Axis finally made it to the bathroom, she shut the door, and left the light out. The blue emergency light plugged in at the sink is all the light she can tolerate. She dumps her clothes by the toilet and turns on the shower.

The clothing was stripped off in a hurry and even in the dim light; the large mirror reflected the abused body of the young adult female. The scars raged from old to new and all had a distinct story to tell. Only a glance was needs to send Axis into the shower to hide from her reflection.

Once the hot water hit her tension-ridden body, her mind goes blank. The sudden change in sensation dims her thought process and she is lost to the world for a long period of time. When she snaps too again she is crawling into the mound of blankets she claims to be her bed. She buries her face into the pillows and suddenly the world is black.


"Dad…Daddy…Dad? Dad? Dad? Dad? Dad?" chirps Rodger clambering on his father's back, "Dad? Daddy? Daaaaddd?"

Ace groans and buries his face in the pillow.

"Daaaaddd!" he whines.

"Come here, Squirt!" Marco groans grabbing the brunette off his boyfriend.

"Paaaapaaa." Whines Rodger, "Lemme go!"

"No. Go back to sleep." Urges Marco tiredly snuggling against the squirming little body.

Rodger struggles vainly, "But Papa!" he yells clawing at the blankets.

"Rawar!" barks Edward bouncing onto the two men.

"ACK!" squeaks Ace as he gets stomped. He rolls over and grabs the blonde haired child who squeals with delight, "What are you doing this early in the morning?"

"Daddy!" giggles Ed, "Leggo!" he twists turns and worms desperate to get out of his Dad's vice grip.

Over the last two weeks since they were introduced, Edward has more than warmed up to his parents. Because Marco took the hint and Edward awoke to his elder's sleeping form in the middle of a bad storm, he has given his trust. Marco's serene nature and Ace's playful attitude keep the children giggling and laughing as children. For them, they have achieved all they wanted and more.

"No." Ace wraps his arms around the little boy, "You're gonna be my new pillow." He snuggles against Edward's back pulling the little boy in like he would Luffy.

Ace really loves his kids. He does indeed call them both his kids. Marco's son, while guarded and serious is loving. He wants to be loved so badly, that when he caved under comfort of his Papa, Ace was an automatic. Ace knows it has something to do with his own giggling and shrieking child. The pair plays off of cues they give each other.

"I like that idea." Agrees Marco, "We can have little pillows." And he balls Rodger against his chest nuzzling the soft curly black hair.

"NOooo!" both children screech happily.

Ace casts a weary eye at the clock. Six in the morning. Of course. Their kids have too much energy, "Alright alright! I'm up. I'm up." He sits up letting his back 'pop'. He sets Edward free on the bed.

Together, the brothers attack Marco who is still under the illusion he can get away with sleeping in. The moment little hands catch a hold of him, he shrieks. The kids have found a particular ticklish spot on his neck and sides. Flailing, he gets tangled up in the sheets and the children laugh harder.

Ace snorts and rolls his eyes. He reaches out and grabs the two devils off his boyfriend, "You two are bad." He chides with a grin.

Marco sits up. He shivers, shaking his head as chills run up his spine. The last time someone tickled him was when Thatch was here. He pushes the thought out of his head not ready to admit the sadness that weights in his heart. He shoves the blankets off his legs and slouches to the side, "Morin'." he greets grabbing Ace by the hair and kisses him.

"Eeewww." Rodger moans.

"Gross." Groans Ed.

"Yeah, do that some other time." Encourages Rodger.

Ace smiles at them, and looks up at Marco. There is a mischievous glint in the first commander's eye. The little twats did come in and wake them up.

Marco always kisses him first thing the morning. It was one of the strange things they had agreed to. They wanted to be happy every morning they saw each other. The kiss was a reminder of that.

"Go get dressed." Ace says gently batting at the blond tuff on top of Edward's head. Then he ruffles Rodger's back curls.

"Noooo-wa." moan the boys. They frown bemoaning the fate of putting on clothes. Getting them dressed is a morning battle that requires reinforcements. Usually Atlas or Miguel pop in and help throw them into jeans and t-shirts before setting them free in the garden.

Marco's brows go up and he looks sideways at Ace, "Well I guess you two can sit there and watch us kiss each other." He smirks.

"Good bye!" and both children scramble off the bed and go running down the hall.

Both men laugh. Kids are so predictable.

Ace grins and leans forward, "I'll take another kiss."

"Even if it is gross?" chuckles Marco pecking him.

"Even if it's gross." Agrees Ace returning the favor. He slings his feet over the edge, "They have too much energy."

"If I could bottle it up and sell it, I'd be rich." Agrees Marco, "Phew. I don't know how much more I can take. I need a day of sleep." He yawns and climbs out of bed. He grabs his navy cargo pants and fishes for the purple long sleeved shirt.

"I hear ya." Ace gets out of bed and search for his jeans and red t-shirt. The weather is rainy and cold. Even with his devil fruit abilities, clothing is still needed to block out dampness that seems to infiltrate his bones.

After some hazardous stumbling, he starts down the hall and finds his children up to no good.

"Aunt Axis!" calls Rodger.

"Da fuck you want?" mutters Axis sleepily.

Ace peers into his sister's room and watch her emerge from under a mountain of blankets. The dark circles never seem to leave her eyes and despite having recover most of the way in the last week, she still seems overly fatigued.

"Get up! It's time to get up." Ed beams.

"I don't recall asking for an alarm." Growls Axis vanishing under the blankets.

Rodger throws up the blanket and sticks his face under the covers. His voice becomes muffled, "But Aunt Axis, today we're going grocery shopping with Aunt Atlas!"

Axis lets out a moaning groan.

"Axis!" chirps Rodger again.

Axis sticks her head out of the blankets and Rodger falls backward onto the floor, "Get the fuck outta my room. I'll be down in a minute."

"Yay!" and the two flee the room and dash past Ace for the stairs leading down.

"You don't have to get up." Ace says gently considering his sibling.

Axis more or less rolls out of bed into a pile on the floor. The hooded sweater she wore to bed makes her look like some form of bull dog with folds of heavy skin. Her pajama pants are low on her hips and one black sock is on and one is off. Her feet 'thud' onto the floor as the appendages finally find their way to the floor and she looks gloomily at her brother.

"You obvious underestimate the power of your children." She groans. Sluggishly she reorients herself to sit up and shoves down the sweatshirt. She squints at the clock on her desk and after determining she can't see it, gropes blindly under her pillows for the heavy framed glasses she pulls out. Her heavy lidded grey eyes glare at the clock then at Ace.

Ace raises his eyebrows, "Do I?" he didn't know she wore glasses. That seemed to be the case every day though. I didn't know… Always there is some new little fact or story he does not know about her. Oh sure his kids have lots to tell him, but so do Axis's family. They tell about some of her misgivings they know specifically about.

"Yes." She responds flatly and slides her hand under the frames rubbing her face.

Ace walks over and offers a hand, "Need help?" he asks.

"No." but she accepts his hand anyway as he pulls her to her feet. The glasses perch on her nose and she shoves them up so they don't fall off.

"I think you're a polar bear." Snorts Ace looking at her, then the mound of blankets.

She turns around and looks at the unmade bed. It has a cavern appearance at the moment. "They're warmer than I am." She answers back, "I wish I were a bear." She slouches against her brother, "Uaghhh. Yer kids were better behaved before you."

Ace laughs and loops an arm around his sister's frame, dragging her out the door, "Maybe you weren't around enough to know. They tell me you're gone most of the time."

"I have shit to do." She groans, "And they're not my kids."

"You really have no parental instincts." Marco teases warmly coming up behind the pair, "I take it you got a six o'clock alarm as well."

"FuckyouMarco." She slurs rubbing her fingers under she glass over her eyes, "It's too damn early."

"What time do you normally get up?" he laughs as they trot down the stairs, "Earlier this week you said that ten o'clock was too early."

"That' s because it is." She moans, "I'm nocturnal. I don't fuckin'…get up until what? Like… five or six at night?"

"Shit." Snorts Ace, "You're up reeeally early aren't ya?" he says guiding her to kitchen.

"Fuck yer face."she mutters grumpily.

"That's Marco's job." And Ace sprints away only too aware of what may come.

"ACE!" howls Marco beat red chasing him.

Axis blinks several times, snorts, and rolls her eyes. Its gonna be a fun day.


After several minutes of mindless arguing, milk juggling, and food orders the group sits at the table with breakfast in hand. Both little boys like milk, cheese, and bird-in-the-nest toast. Edward eats his plain and Rodger slathers on a healthy dose of butter over the bread and part of the egg. Macro joins his sons in their favorite dish, enjoying jam rather than butter with a cup of coffee. Ace has almost everything he can find with black tea.

Axis stuffs an eighth of a yellow apple in her mouth as she pulls out toast out of the toaster, "Where is the damn list?" she mutters to herself.

"What list is that?" asks Marco looking up, "Ed, don't chew with your mouth open."

Ed stuck his tongue out with the chewed food on it.

"Edward." Warns Axis grabbing the jar of peanut butter from the cabinet, "Don't be an ass."

"Axis, he's a kid." Laughs Ace. He would have done the same thing. But, Damn! Marco was cute in his Papa mode.

"And he can still be an ass." She retorts spreading peanut butter over the dried bread.

"Don't call them that." Marco requests rolling his eyes. His brother's sister is far too blunt. What part of Please don't curse around my kids doesn't she get? Probably the 'don't.'

She shrugs, "In answer to your question, in this house, they keep a grocery list and once a week we go grocery shopping." And add under her breath, "If you recall from past weeks."

Marco nods missing the last part, "Oh right, I forgot about that." He reaches over the table and begins cutting Rodger's toast, "Rodger your mouth isn't big enough to shove the whole toast in." he sighs. The sticky yellow dribbling egg is smeared all over his face. He groans and grabs the napkin on the table and begins wiping his face, "You are a mess."

The black haired child grins up at his Papa. His big brown eyes admire Marco's care silently.

Marco finishes with a sigh and balls the napkin up. He tosses it to the side while he settles himself back in his chair.

Rodger's attention has been stolen. He's staring curiously at the floor. "Aunt Axis?" he quips.

"What Reggie?" Axis answers Rodger taking a bite of toast and peanut butter. She dumps the rest of the apple slices onto the plate.

"What is…" he hesitates and pulls a paper from the floor, "Love Lube?"

Both of his fathers cough loudly and spit out their food.

Rodger blinks up innocently Axis holding a long piece of paper.

"Oh, there's the list." She takes two steps and takes the paper scrolling down, "Where do you see 'Love Lube'?" she asks reviewing the information.

"Its on the back." He answers.

She flips the paper, "Ah! Sure enough." She squints at it, "Ace is this your handwriting?" she inquires looking at her brother.

Ace is red in the face. He knew about the list. How could he forget? When he told Miguel he needed something for personal matter (and if such personal matter were okay in the house) Miguel laughed and said it was fine. Just put it on the list, he said. Fuck.

Of course, Ace does not have to look at Marco to see the annoyed fluster look on the first commander's face.

"Sooo what is it?" quips Rodger again.

"Stuff grown-ups use when they have sex." Axis answers blatantly still examining the list, "Fuck we're out of cream again. Butter too. We'll hafta stop by the dairy on the way home."

"AXIS!" gapes Marco.

She looks at him, "What?"

"Oooh… What's 'sex'?" Rodger blinks. Being this innocent has to be a crime.

This time his aunt looks at him and says, "It's the process by which people show intimate affection for one another and the way the species procreate in order to maintain and continue their species."

Marco practically throws his plate at her, "This is not for kids!" he protests.

"He asked." Axis points out, "The truth is what it is."

"You neglect to state that its something that adults do. And is not pertinent to children!" he gapes.

"You mean what the Navy guys did with the nurses at the medical office?" Rodger continues, obviously curious.

The room goes silent. Both men look at the little boy.

Axis nods, "Yes. But your Papa is also right. That is not something for children."

"That's what the nurses said." Edward returns.

Axis nods, "And they were right then."

"Why do we need 'Love Lube'?" questions Rodger knitting his brows together.

Axis rolls her eyes, "Because…" she gives Ace a quick look (Ace hopes he looks mortified), "Someone in the house would like to show affection to their partner."

"Oh." Rodger blinks and looks at his egg, then at his Dad, "Is it you?"

Ace buries his face in his hands. No parental instincts exist in Axis's brain. The basic concept of censoring ideas and facts do not even cross her mind. For all the brains she has (and she certainly has quiet a bit) apparently child proofing does not occur to her.

"Yes." Axis answers and returns to the list. She changes the subject, "Miguel wrote on here new boots for both of you. Did you kill the last pair we got you?"

"Out grew them." Ed answers.

"You two are growing like weeds." She comments.

"Mori-san doesn't like weeds." Frowns Rodger.

"Like weeds. I'm not saying you are a weed. You're just growing really fast." She explains continuing down the list.

Ace is staring at his children and then at his sister in utter disbelief. The conversation is continuing like his and Marco's interjections do not exist. Axis is still not editing the information she is giving them and children are simply receiving the information and continuing. He has a problem with this, but does not see a way to argue with her at the moment.

Axis chomps the last of the toast, "Alright then. I'm gonna go change and then we can go." She sets the list down and grabs a pen from the counter and pushes the list over to Marco, "Put boots for Marco and Ace. I saw the state of your shit. Let by gods be by gods and lemme buy you a decent pair of shoes." She grabs the apple slices and walks out of the kitchen back the to the stairs.

Marco stares at the list and writes the information down. Then he glares at his boyfriend, "I'm going to kill your sister." He warns.

"Pff. Only if you beat me to it." Ace retorts.

"But I like Aunt Axis." Edward chimes in.

"Ed, this is one of those Papa and Daddy are talking moments. We won't literally kill her. We're just angry." Marco frowns.

Rodger shovels the last of his egg and toast in his mouth, "Why?"

Both men look at one another in exasperation. Clearly the children did not pick up on the whole 'Shut up Axis' part of the conversation.

"Love Lube." Mutters Edward.

"Oh." Rodger nods.

"Edward!" barks Marco.

And that's how the conversation is left. Marco takes two steps outside and runs in to find the pair of jeans. Ace retrieves the bright orange hoodie Dr. Siphonophore gave him. He tosses it over the red t-shirt. The weather is damp in the way where you feel it in your bones. It's not necessarily cold in temperature, but the dampness (or humidity) of the morning seems to cling to everything. Neither man is inclining to wonder shirtless on this island. At least not while its cool.

Atlas comes in through the kitchen door. She's muddy and in rain boots that are cover in dark grime. Her good nature helps to lessen the tension, although she doesn't miss the atmosphere. She helps the kids crawl into their boots and hooded rain jackets while teaching Ace and Marco how to lace the boots.

"They pinch my toes." Grumbles Edward.

Atlas hooks the last lace and grins, "That's why we're getting you new ones. You just have to wear these until we get you new ones. Kay?"

"What about breaking them in?" asks Rodger, "Aunt Axis says you'll get blisters if you don't."

"Aunt Axis also says if you wear to pairs of thick socks you won't feel it." Reminds Atlas, "You can switch between the shoes, but you gotta wear them at least an hour a day until they break in."

"No wonder my feet hurt after I get new boots." Mutters Ace.

Atlas laughs, "Barefoot is the other option, but when you go up North that'll become murder."

Ace winces. Yeah he's seen snow. But the way Atlas and Axis talk about where they're from, he can only cry. Cold, damp, with tons of snow, black sandy beaches, and hot spring of water teaming with fish and tropical life. Snowy island with tropical water… this sounded horribly weird.

Marco finishes tying Rodger's little shoes, "All done."

"Yay! Thank you Papa!" and he bounces down off the bench and kisses Marco on the cheek. The action, although like the flit of a butterfly's wing, is as powerful as a punch.

Marco feels the innocent affection his new found child has for him and smiles, "You're welcome."

Edward bounces down too, "Thanks, Atlas." He grins.

Atlas ruffles his hair, "You're welcome."

"Hey!"

Atlas calls, "Hey Axi! Lets get out of here you got the list?"

"Yes." Both men say simultaneously in a tone that wards off any answers from Ace's sibling.

Atlas looks at one then the other, "What the hell did she do to you two?" she asks blankly.

"Love Lube." Chime in the children.

Atlas whips around and at the kids, "Hey!" she warns, "Not again or you get soap in your mouth." Its not a curse word, but their parents are clearly bothered. Particuarlly the way they both wince with the children's words.

The children cringe because Aunt Atlas will stick a bar of soap in their mouth and they will stand for an hour before she is satisfied.

Atlas looks at the men in their aggravation. She nods for a second, licks her teeth with her tongue, and says, "I'll talk to her."

"Please." Begs Marco tartly.

The group head out as soon as Axis comes down the stairs with the list. She like her brother and his boyfriend, has jeans, t-shirt, and jacket. The steel toe boots she wears are waterproof with scuffs from the many years of wear. They clunk heavily down the stairs and Axis in her usual near drunk weave, attempts to walk.

Marco and Ace walk ahead with Edward swinging off his father's arm. He talks excitedly about the bugs he found yesterday and about the centipede that Atlas killed with a spade. Rodger, riding on Ace's shoulders, says very little as he clings on his father's long hair. He and Ace laugh and giggle at Edward's excitement and relax in early morning sunlight. Behind them, a fair distance away, are Atlas and Axis.

"So the weather man is calling for a hurricane today." Says Atlas pleasantly admiring the loose sunlight that begins to filter between the bright green leaves.

Axis nods and fingers the crumpled list in her pocket, just to make sure she did not forget it.

Atlas continues, "Although, I noticed we have the beginnings of hurricane in the house." She hears Axis groan, "Wanna explain that one to me?" she looks sideways at her younger cousin with high raised eyebrows and a stern expression.

"The kids asked what 'Love Lube' is." Axis shrugs, "So I told them." She looks around, "Then Rodger asked what the word sex means, I'm assuming for clarification, and so I briefly explained what it is."

Atlas groans, "With their fathers sitting there?"

"Yes." Nods Axis.

Atlas sucks her cheeks in and bites on the inside, then says, "Did Ace write that down?"

"Yes." Agrees Axis again.

"Does the concept of censoring mean anything to you?" she inquires tartly, "I'mean for the love of fuck these kids are what? 4 and 6?"

"Yes." Agrees her cousin again.

"SO they don't need all their information. Despite it being available." Alas points out in a heated tone.

"I know."

That stops Atlas and she glares at her younger cousin, "Apparently not! You've officially pissed your brother and his boyfriend off."

"Am I supposed to alter the way I speak to these kids, just because I found out they're related to me?" Axis reasons coldly.

Atlas considers the idea. She frowns. Valid point to Axis. Children need people to be consistent. More so than adults. As people get older, people get used to seeing two faces or more on people. The business face, the parent, the lover, the child at heart are just to name a few labels, but most children only ever had one face. It is as plain as day.

"The one thing I can promise those kids is that I will be honest with them. They've been lied to plenty. If their parents wanna fuckin shelter them, that's cool. But don't leave them with me. I'm not changing just coz the kids are related to me. That's not how I do shit." The vulgarity is a sign that this is something she is not moving from.

While Axis may be able to be reasoned with and coaxed into a different opinion, there are some things better left to her. Quirks and opinions are what make different people, people. Atlas has become relatively accustom to picking part social behaviors Axis does not understand or know about to things she does not observe because they are part of her personality.

Glowering at Axis, Atlas tries again, "But this is what their parents want." Ah-ha! Score one for Atlas.

"Doesn't matter." Axis responds crushing her older cousin's argument with her insensitive response, "This is how I've always worked with them."

"Yes and we can see how well that worked." mutters Atlas darkly. However she knows it is pointless to continue this conversation. Axis was just too damn stubborn and this was quirk and not a misunderstood formality.

There is a warm hum, insect buzz among the trees and bird sing gloriously all around. The path wines smaller into cobblestones which give away to large well worn stones and turns into primitive, in appearance, town. Town is busy and bustling with activity. Shops and stalls advertizing everything from fishing hooks to native fruits and vegetables were splayed out for the public to see. The world of brightly colored booths fits in this tropical world. The cold morning air is lifting letting the heat roll off in great waves. As if the shops, decked out in there brilliant array were not vibrant enough, the sun kissed people of this island paradise are dressed in equally bright apparel.

Atlas in an attempt to cool the on coming war, herds Ace and Marco, plus kids, to the shoe store where a busty blonde haired woman explains options and fits them.

Axis wonders through the market place gathering groceries and supplies. The sellers are polite and offer no resistance as she places quick orders going from vendor to vendor.

She makes a stop into the art supply store having received a phone call from a client when she went up to change. This store is small and tightly packed with supplies ranging from expensive oil paints and gold leafing to the crayons and coloring books her nephews adore. The man behind the counter chuckles at the sight of her and waves casually.

She waves back and wonders through the shelves picking up graphite sticks, conte crayon, and ink.

When she wonders around the edge of shelves she sees a man carrying a long black coat with golden spots. A coat, which she observes, is obscuring what appears to be a long black lacquered blade scabbard. He is dressed in a simple yellow and black hooded sweatshirt that stops three quarters of the way down his arms and spotted blue jeans. The jeans are fitted so that his body shows off its fineness. The pants taper off over black leather boots. They're square toe, matte, and more than likely steel toe like her own. The pair he wears have a nice inch heel, sturdy, but very stylish.

The tattoos are tribal in style from the north with strange twist. It appears southern, but Axis can not be certain. The skin is the color of caramel and the hair is navy blue almost black peeking out from under a fur spotted newsboy cap.

He turns at her approach and those stormy blue eyes gaze curiously down at her. The scruffy goatee and long sideburns are not normally her style, but he pulls off the half street boy half professional look well.

She gives him a polite nod, which he returns and moves around him to wire racks laden with watercolor paper. She squats on the ground and runs her fingertips through the paper searching silently for the correct weight. A pad catches her attention and is pleased to note it not only the correct weight, but it won't kill her budget. She fidgets with the pad and groans. It has been tangled in wire from the back.

Axis glares at the wire from the next side over and reaches under. Her slender fingers quickly twist through the wire, freeing her paper from the confined space. However she looses her balance and has to throw a hand behind her to steady herself. Despite feeling better from the jellyfish stings, the left hand catching her is still badly tearing and splitting.

Unlike her brother and his boyfriend, she was up as soon as she was able. Unable to lay still or contain herself, she made the soft blisters pop and tear frequently. The scabs would frequently pull themselves off her skin and blood would ooze over everything. She had only recently managed to get the skin to heal and did it ever itch. Now it tore painfully at the weakest point, between the junction on the fingers, and she winces as dirt rubbed into those open crevasses.

"Allow me." Says a voice behind her.

She looks up and sees the man with stormy blue eyes.

His hands vanish under the coated rack and disentangle the paper from the rack. The navy haired man hand slides out, grasping the sheaf of paper, and Axis sees more tattoos.

The tattoos are the same style as the ones on his forearms, but the lettering on her fingers sends a shiver up her spine. D-E-A-T-H is splayed across the digits. Out of any information she manages to retain about potential enemies, that small detail she has noticed… is the bucket kicker.

She closes her eyes and lets her head lull back grimacing.

He loops an arm under her arm and pulls her to her feet.

"Thank you." She says politely. She looks quietly at him as she straightens.

"My pleasure, Axis." The paper slides in her hands and one of his hands slides up quickly to the side of her neck. He draws her ear close to his mouth. A brief surge of panic is replaced by his words, "The Navy is livid with you and your brother's flight. They are harbored around the island surveying for the pair of you. Go home." And lets go of her neck.

She draws away from the man she knows is a doctor and surgeon, "Excuse me?" she blinks.

He smiles smoothly, "I haven't seen many women wear a mohawk." He says louder, "Oddly enough, it suits you." His voice is pleasant.

Self-consciously she reaches up and runs her fingers through her hair, "Eh, hehe." She laughs nervously trying to discern his moves. She does not know him, and therefore can't make assumptions. It's frustrating.

The doctor seems to realize she's mentally stuck on his previous words, "Don't worry." He assures her in a low tone, "Getting out now, is not a problem."

"I don't really care how handsome or charming you are," assures Axis with narrowed eyes (might as well admit the truth if you're going to die), "I'm not going to just jump through fire because you tell me it's a good idea."

There is a glimmer of delight at the compliment, but his eyes narrow to match hers, "Go home." He repeats in the same even tone.

Axis purses her lips.

He turns on his heel and is stalks away with a fancy new pen in hand. She hears the clerk as he checks out and leaves.

Glowering Axis shakes her head and quickly checks out. The clerk is pleasant and offers a 'goodbye' as she leaves.

However, everywhere she looks, from there on out, he is there. His black coat is on his arm, the long lacquered case of a blade perched under and his quiet blue-grey eyes looking cold and troubled.

Finally after a half an hour of seeing him everywhere, she checks out from the Dairy and feels him right behind her and stops. What she realizes she picked up on was the sound of his fashionable shoes: The heeled boots that click-clack slightly on the ground. She turns and finds him directly behind her.

"I don't want help from you." She says politely, but inside she in rolling in inner turmoil. The paranoia that never stands down in her body has reared its ugly head. She can pass most of what she feels and sees as hallucinations from some of her medication, but not this.

He takes several of the bags from her arms and threads his arm around hers, "I'm afraid you have to accept." He breathes and urges her to walk with him.

Axis finds the man slowing his stride so she can walk comfortably with her, but feels insistent tug and pull as he guides her through the crowd. It's uncomfortable to be so close to him, this privateer, but she feels that way about anyone. However, she has learned that sometimes its best to see where people's intentions lie. So she allows him to coax her where he will.

He stops by the road leading back to Siphonophore house and lets her go, "Go home." He repeats.

She stares at him coldly, "I can't. I need to go get my brother." She sets the brown paper bags by a tree along with the white plastic bag containing her art supplies.

The man drops the bags he carried besides hers, "I will go." He insists in a low voice beside her.

"Forgive me if I don't trust you." She says continuing her respectful tone, "But I'll get him." There really is no point or reason for this man's care. They've never met.

He reaches out and grabs her arms, "Leave." He insists in a cold tone, "There is no need to further-"

"I have too." She cuts him short, "You cannot protect him." she straightens and shakes his arms off hers, "Thank you for your concern."

His hands latch onto her face.

Axis feels a strange panic in her system.

He opens his broad lips again and says, "This is vital for your survival at this time." He reasons, "At this moment, you must trust me."

She stares again.

"I will got get them." He promises, "And bring them here."

She opens her mouth to ask how he knows about them. Marco, Edward, and little Rodger were never mentioned during their conversation. But his thumbs press against her mouth.

His face is grave, intent, and those eyes are soul searching. Its as if he is trying to will her to see some truth. She realizes he knows the question she wants to ask, but they both know he cannot say it out loud. Finally he says, "Smoke in the wind."

The friends she has made over the years who are Devil Fruit users place their hands on her face as submissive and often in a desperate attempt to make her listen. The touch of bare skin turns off the abilities of the user and left them vulnerable to her often-brutal techniques. Smoker was actually the original person to decide this was effective. He did not do it often, but when he did it meant he was inconsolable.

His grip becomes firmer as he feels the tremor.

"Okay." Is all she says and his hands leave her face. Black and yellow coat disappears into the crowd.

There are signals people use. Discrete movements, speech patterns, and sounds that a variety of people she knows use to say when something is safe, wrong, or needed. Right now, just about everything the good doctor is doing are signals. The face thing is Smoker's: His undeniable technique to force her to listen to him. The steadiness in his voice may be there naturally, but its Mori's technique for soothing over Axis's constant panic. The lip thing, well… that was his own… perhaps 'signal' is better than 'thing'. It conveyed a lot by the pressure and gentleness of the movement.

She groans again. Someone talked and convinced the Surgeon of Death to keep Axis out of trouble.

Axis wonders over to the groceries and sits down staring up into the leaves. The panic that is welling up inside her body is forced down as a wave of sleepy dizziness which wails over her brain. She feels the strange contentment that only her medication brings as it suppresses her ability to feel.

She glances at the open brown bag he carried and sees a white box sitting on top of the garden supplies (rope, string, bamboo sticks, ect.). The pulls it out and notices the sloppy scrawl that Smoker passes off for handwriting. She opens one end and pulls out two new plastic pill bottles. One has long white pills with an indent in the middle and tiny numbers pressed into the back. On the opposite are violet translucent gel capsules with black number and letters. The bottles are tapped together with a single note.

When the tape comes off and she opens the paper, the note says in Smoker's messy scribble;

Be safe. Keep him safe. Tell the chitlens I say 'Hi'. Good Hearts never lie.

-E.S.

That the note really means is;

Last time I saw you, were about to get killed. Yah, I didn't like that. Cannot ya not make my life hard and stay alive? Fuck you. Tell Ace to quit being a pirate because now I feel guilty about hunting him. Rodger and Edward are in danger. The Navy identified your family to be the fucks that decided to shelter them from the Navy. I sent Trafalgar, Law. He's trustworthy.

She jiggles the medicine and note and stuffs them back into the white box and buries it among the gardening supplies. She looks up and sees Atlas laughing with Ace and Marco. Ace is strutting around in his new black boots and Marco is rolling his eyes. Rodger and Edward are carrying their shoeboxes listening to the adult chatter.

Atlas sees Axis and waves, "Hiya!" she beams, "Get everything?"

Axis wonders for a moment if Trafalgar found them, but then sees the swish of his black coat in the crowd, "Y-yeah." She nods catching herself. She finds his gaze and realizes he did not have too. Their group was already on their way back.

He nods silently and disappears as someone passes in front of him.

"What?" Axis blinks looking down at the giggles children.

Rodger grins from ear to ear, "I found boots just like my Daddy's!" he repeats.

"Oh." She looks at Ace's black boots, "They'll be more than comfortable." She nods. She looks at Edward, "Find something?"

He opens the box and shows the brown leather creations hidden inside.

Axis nods, "You can put more than one pair of socks on under those when you come up North…"

"You've been busy." Praises Ace looking at bags, "I suppose you need a hand or two?" he reaches down and grabs two of the largest containing slabs of giant green snapper and squid.

"Uh, sure." Smiles Axis standing up. The pair seemed to have forgiven her for earlier in the day, although they might as well not. She has no intention of changing.

"Ms. Gol?" enquires a stoic voice.

Axis slowly closes her eyes and let's loose a groaning sigh. According to the work she did all night the Navy would either show up today or tomorrow. Unfortunately it had been today. She bit the inside of her mouth and exhales. She spins on the ball of her foot and looks up wearily at the man.

He's in his late forties. The salt and pepper colored hair is cropped short and his blue eyes stand out brightly against his sun tanned leather skin. In one hand he charters a long silver bo and in the other he carries a yellow envelop. The black suit with blue tie has a white and gold cape resting on his shoulders.

"Hi." She grumbles taking in the man.

He nods slightly, "I am Officer Nyugen." He informs her tartly.

"Wayne?" asks Axis repeating what she thinks she has heard.

He nods, "Yes." He offers a letter to her, "This is your official letter of arrest for piracy, arson, murder, and –"

"Don't make me kill you." She interrupts, "Since when does the Navy offer official letters."

"The new requirement made by the Renaissance governments." He states, "As such, you are also required to submit and come with us." He pulls cuffs out from behind his back, "If you just place your arms in front-" and that's all the man gets before Axis's foot collides with the side of his jaw.

She hears the mandible crack under her pressure and is instantly aware of being surrounded by the Navy.

Everything from this moment on is a fast pace blur. The blood curls down the faces of the assailants as Marco and Ace are forced to go on the offensive. There are flashes of Axis's nephews are being thrown around and out of the way.

Atlas's motherly nature comes into full view as she shields and keeps the children from the barrage and onslaught of attacks.

Ace is startled to see his clothing is fire proof. This is his first clue the Siphonophore family knows more than they let on. His attacks are aimed at the waves of men (and some women) of attacking figures. Marco is at his back blocking and protecting him. Ace is a sword and Marco is a shield and together they feel a strange determination to remove any potential problems.

Axis is barely aware of her surroundings. The paranoia of having the Heart Captain follow her around the shops of the Black Islands transforms into her actual talent; knowing where people are and breaking bones. She fights bare handed taking on many and breaking bones in the wrists, knees, and ribs. Her heart is in her ears and each time she blinks there is a new face: Some new soldier who is only following orders. Hell bent creatures foaming at the mouth with annalist ambitions.

In another place, another time, maybe she would have been a friend with many of these people. Axis often thinks about the fact that she did not know these people. She assists in the endless senseless slaughter of people just to stay alive. Then all these lives seem to not satisfy her blood lust because she sleeps with knife just so that she can destroy more at any given moment. However, as another body crumbles under her skilled hands, she also knows that allowing these dedicated misled soldiers to kill her, would not solve anything.

The flash of gold in her vision is what jerks her out of her daze. She sees Edward's golden locks and wide green eyes as he barely manages to dodge the swipe of a solider. It's only then that she also becomes aware of the orders being barked.

"Get the children. General Ingli wants them returned unharmed!" barks an officer hidden under his white and blue naval cap.

"Edward!" barks Axis willing the child to hear her over the noise and roar around them in the open war at the edge of the market place.

Miracle of miracles occurs. Edward hears his aunt's shriek and those green eyes turn up briefly and he dodge around another swipe of a naval officer.

Axis's foot collides with another marine's patella. The crunch is lost as she makes a mad dash for the little boy scrambling awkwardly around the sea of enemies. If Ace and Marco had not been keeping the marines busy, Axis never would have been able to slip, slide and gather Edward tightly against her as she went under some officer's legs.

The little blonde child clutches desperately at Axis's jacket as Axis jumps up, stumbling at dodging around the butt of a gun. She trips and Edward is flung from her arms.

Dead bodies prove to be good for something, as Edward bounces off the flesh sack of bones and organs. He is uninjured if shaken.

In her view, Axis sees Dr. Nyugen advancing towards the child. Cursing her luck, she gets up and scrambles over to him. Axis clutches the fabric of Edward's jacket, pulls him from the ground into her arms. She spots a petrified Marco whose eyes beg for her to give him his son. She curls his body into ball, he grabbing his knees, and tosses him towards Marco. Marco's arms encircle the small boy and his mouth opens to yell something that never comes.

The wide pipe like bo crashes down and splits the soft flesh of Axis's head.

Axis feels the blood roll down. The pain goes numb in her body. The fragrance of red substance drooling down from the injury hangs in the air around her and grinding of bones rolls into her head as the Naval commander winds up for another swing.

Her eyes glaze over and from the tear ducts to the outer side of her eyes, blackness began to seep in. It spreads with a final blink turning the scleras of her eye black leaving grey rings hanging suspended in the inky color. The world turns silent and still. Her eyes roll to the side and see Officer Nyugen.

Then everything is on fast forward. Her body caves and ducks to avoid the next blow. Her head pulled down, body bows down, and suddenly her arm shoots up. Her long fingers catch around the ankle of the thick leather boot and she uses his momentum to pull the his body to her. Her legs swings up and catches the man in the crotch nailing him cleanly in the balls and no doubt injuring his manhood at the same time.

He howls in agony, but Axis is far from done. She pulls him closer and he looses his balance, falling back instead of forward. That's when she see's his foot caught on the large tip if the rock, buried under the dark earth. She feels the crack in the toes of the opposite foot she holds before she hears it. Then her foot moves down in a sharp arc and collides with the side of the knee. There is a sickening crack as her mind rings out her trainer's warning 'It only takes five pounds of pressure to break any bone in the body.' Says his words over and over inside her head.

The officer's body bows and he topples backward as Axis's releases his leg. Then those long slender fingers find his thick neck, locate the second vertebrae of his spinal cord, and then there are a deafening crack. His body goes limp and his head hits the dirt ground and blood spills out his throat.

Ace freezes. Those long delicate looking fingers are so deadly. With a careful and sure grip a person would perish indefinitely.

Axis turns ignoring the head injury. Those hollow near black eyes with their grey rings choose their next target before she can be struck again. She jumps in time to miss another attack and her hands camel clutch the next marine officer's head. Her legs wrap around him from the back and there is another deafening crack as his neck is broken. Her long legs release him and shove him forward and rebound out of the way of the next assault.

She takes a gun shot to the shoulder, which stops her momentum. At the pain in her arm, and Axis turn lifts her fingers and they go rigid. In fact, her whole body goes rigid as Ace witnesses what can only be described as the Marionette Bone technique. The surrounding officers loose their voice and freeze like statues in their place in odd positions.

Ace glances at his sister again and has to do a double take. She is gritting and grinding her teeth, her own skeletal frame strains against her skin giving her a deathly appearance. Those near black eyes are dilated with concentration and he is not sure he can handle the monster staring through his sister's eyes.

He opens his mouth to call to her, but suddenly there is a ripping cracking noise and the bodies around him twist in drastic bizarre shapes as their bones are smashed from the inside out. The larger bones strain and some protrude out through the skin as they shatter, break, bend, and demolish themselves. The soldiers' eyes roll into their head and their mouths fall open in silent screams. Then they collapse like puppets. Their strings cut from their final performance.

Axis's bones stop straining against their flesh bindings, but she does not move. She shakes as she struggles to remain standing, her eyes close and open still black. She is no longer grinding and gritting her teeth, but all the color she had is gone from her skin.

"There you lot, are." Says an oddly cheerful voice.

Ace's head whips around to see the gardener in her black overalls, "Dr. Siphonophore wondered where you lot got too." She chuckles.

"Mori?" quizzes Marco blinking at her.

The strange wise smile and calm demeanor is so out of place on this body riddled battleground, "Hello." She waves. Her eyes flick to Axis as she collapses. Those long champagne colored eyes lashes stare quietly at her friend, and then she says, "Why don't you go back? I'll finish grocery shopping and get the bags already collected."

Ace is drug out of his stupor by his sister collapsing. He walks over silently and stoops down. He gathers his hands under her body and instantly feels the change that has occurred in her body. Where rigid organs normally push and shove against him, he feels nothing. There is a strange stiff softness to the body.

"Ace." Calls Mori.

He looks at the woman with the heavy lidded eyes.

"Its easier if you treat her like a baby. Ya know? How they flop everywhere?" Assures Mori gathering up a stunned and worried Rodger from Atlas, "You need to support them a little more."

Ace nods stiffly and wraps an arm under her head and neck and curls her into his body as he supports her rear-end and lower back. It works well and he has her against his body when he notices water on her skin. It's only then that he realizes he's crying.


"Tell me the truth." Ace begs long after his children have gone to bed, "Please." He adds as Marco's grip on his hand tightens.

Across from him is the lovely, calm, and polite Mori. This gardener, whom he has rarely seen, has always struck him as odd. In the middle of madness she as still as stone and as sure as a blade. The deep browns of her eyes reflect none of her thoughts and words that drip from her lips are always soothing. This is why Ace finds her scary. Nothing gets under the gardener's skin. Not even as she bandaged him, Marco, Atlas, and Axis.

She helped clean their injuries; all of them minor, with a gentle smile speaking in soft tones. The children, still in state of shock, gradually awoke in the arms of their parents as Mori spoke whimsically.

Ace half expected them to break down at the realization of what they had been through today; to his surprise he found them relaxing under the mummers of the gardener. That was when door banged open and in came the most monstrous man Ace had ever seen.

He stood maybe seven feet. He was enormous in size. The bulging sculpted musculature did not thing but make a beast out of him. Although, his skin was soft golden color his cropped blonde hair was longer with sweeping tresses. It was probably the only soft thing on him. His eyes were an unnatural red, set deep into his skull. When he opened his mouth Ace saw the jagged pearly white canines that lined his entire gum line. No, Ace really did not want to fight him. Not now.

Despite his initial impression, the ripped short-sleeved army green shirt and dirt blue jeans were unassuming. The jeans were tucked into brown cowboy style boots were an eye catcher because of how simple he was.

He introduced himself as Medici Gavroche. Oh boy did Ace know that name. He was an architect, artisan, and pirate. He was expensive to commission, impossibility disagreeable, and well known for not being human. He was under a classification of people that simply called themselves Sea Devils.

Sea Devils are like humans, but have both gills and lungs. Their teeth are ground sharp, all their eyes are red, and they're all known for being powerful warriors and swimmers. Fishmen do not play with these counter parts because of their moody disposition and or their tendency to be… blood thirsty in battle and eat people.

In any case, Gavroche yelled back and forth with Adam, the doctor, before Siphonphore got the boot. The Sea Devil presented aquatic medicine to the gardener muttering about 'stupid human medics'.

Mori merely thanked him and continued to care for the group, minus Axis who was comatose upstairs.

Once again his children startled him by going and greeting Gavroche with hugs around his legs.

He had rolled his eyes, sighed and scooped up them up. "You'd better not be getttin into any trouble." He warned in dark tone.

They both shook their heads vigorously to show how serious they were.

He chuckled and ruffled their hair before setting them down and sitting beside Mori, where he had remained.

Now, the blond haired man with the cold red eyes studies him for a moment then says, "Alright, whadda wanna know, Fire Fist?"

Ace flinches at the revelation. Gavroche, knows all about Ace. "What is she?" he says before he can politely revise his words.

"Human." Assures Mori with a smile screwing on the lid to the medicine.

But Gavroche, with no intent on lightening the mood says, "Do you know what a Kairoseki is Mr. Portgas?"

"The thing the Navy uses against Fruit Users. It makes us weak." He frowns. What the hell did this have to do with his sister?

"That's what it becomes; A weapon against its opposite." Agrees Gavroche not denying the truth in Ace's words, "But do you know what it is?" presses the man coldly.

Marco answers up this time, "Kairoseki or sea stone, start off as people. They born under certain circumstances determined by the time of year, placement of the stars and moon. When they die, their bones become a malleable stone that has unusual properties."

Gavroche smiles sadly at Marco, "Yes." He inhales and his face becomes a mask "And the older a Kairoseki is, depending on the person, the stronger it gets. The bones' major determining factors are the obvious training, and the not so obvious, torture each person go through."

"Kairoseki… are people?" breathes Ace.

Mori nods, "Were people… Is more accurate." She sighs, "Unfortunately for them to be of use against Fruit Users they must be pulled from within the body. However these bones must be tempered. This process is brutal and time consuming."

"Tempering is a process that makes things stronger by, usually, subjecting them to harsh conditions then calmer ones." Clarifies Gavroche sounding more and more like a dictionary as he attempted to explain the complications in his world.

"They slaughter them…" translates Ace, "Like elephants. Wanted for nothing more than the bones in their bodies? And the bones have to be in the body to be tempered so they are strong enough to be used?"

The pair across nods.

"The Navy has an underground sector completely dedicated to it." Gavroche snorts, "Pisses me the fuck off. Your sister and I have both been subjected to long hours of torture and training. We are highly praised for Kairoseki."

"My sister… is a Kairoseki…?" he asks and translates.

"Yes." Mori agrees, "She puts everyone at risk she knows because of it. So does her Uncle Miguel." She motions to the man beside her, "As does Gavroche and his wife Anna. All these people are Kairoseki."

"Are you?" Marco asks weakly.

Mori gives him a smile again, "You flatter me." She assures him, "No. I am a monster of another sort. I don't have a name." she shrugs, "Couldn't tell you."

It seems the tension is too thick because Gavorche rolls his eyes, "Damn good thing you are. I know no little fuckin' girl who can toss five tons of rock as people like a baseball." The man groans looking off to the side.

Mori looks thoughtful, "Maybe Captain Ciguetera?"

"Tooth Fairy? Naw." He shakes his head," She's more about poking your organs through your body."

"My sister does that." Ace says distantly.

"Where do you think she learned it from?" snorts Gavroche irritably, "That's not h Axis's technique. No. She's all about bone breaking."

Ace looks at the floor.

"Ace?" Mori breathes.

He looks up at Mori with her brown eyes and champagne colored hair. There is a calm politeness with which she deals with people. He appreciates that formality, but also finds himself wishing he could understand and see everything she does. His mind so riddled with questions is forced to try to pick apart this conversation with devastating results.

"Being a Kairoseki is not like anything else in the world." Mori's eyes lower and she looks at her laced fingers, "The moment you are discovered… your rights and privileges as a human being are revoked and you are hunted; Like an animal. Those who survive up to older ages are queer in nature, distrustful, cold, and confused." Mori struggles to convey her knowledge to Ace, "There is so much that goes into this. So much pain and terror."

"Is that why I can't even coax her into loving me? As her brother?" his voice is rising with anger.

"That'd be part of it." Shrugs Gavroche coldly, "Only the mentally disturbed survive wars like this." From within his pocket, the red-eyed mammoth of a man pulls a pill bottle, "This is one of four medicine she has to take." He turns the bottle to Ace: Tranylcypromine.

Mori attempts to sooth the tension, "Besides… if you break… you're useless to the Navy as a future bone weapon in their arsenal. They have to keep you alive and use you in the Navy."

Ace snorts ruefully, "Rather have a dead body to store than a living one to take care of. Is that it?"

"You could say that." Agrees Gavroche tiredly.

Ace buries his face in his hand as he tries to digest the information. He inhales shaky breaths and finally looks at Mori, "Is that why Marco and I floated when we were in the water? Why my abilities shut off when I touch her?"

"Yes." Agrees Gavroche, "It's a defense mechanism. Kairoseki can turned off a Devil Fruit user's abilities and change their own if you were to train with one of us for a long period of time. You would always be able to float in water if one of us touched you. But we might no longer be able to shut your abilities off course, sometimes we loose our ability over a Devil Fruit user entirely."

Marco's brow scrunches, "I didn't know that. When?"

"The most common is: Lovers. Physical inmate relationships usually result in a change of control. The body chemistry of a Kairoseki is set up for change. Which is to say, if one of us let someone in that close we would be altered. No one deserves the control over another's life, especially when it comes down to a relationship. This is a sort of fail safe." He sighs, "And it differs from person to person."

"Fuck…" mutters Ace.

The group looks at the black haired male.

"That's why she's a virgin. She can't risk exposing herself to someone who might stab her in the back…" there is horror in his mind, "But she won't even risk a relationship for the fear of being changed."

Gavroche swallows thickly, "Most surviving Kairoseki are virgins for the that reason Ace," he looks into his hands, "And your right. I'm kinda surprised how fast you figured that part of your sister out." He sighs, "We've lost a lotta people because they became numb to people and lost sensitivity. Then the Navy used those people against our kind."

"That makes sense." Nods Marco and he tries to help steer the conversation away from the more intimate parts of life, "Any others?"

"Siblings." He points at Ace, "The two of you are blood related. Therefore how your abilities react to one another are going to be different. Long time allies or friends who fruit users are also at risk of altering a Kairoseki. Like I said before, when you train with someone for a long period of time, our bodies alter. Consider it our will. Our desire to protect our comrades often give the fruit users new ideas and control on their abilities."

Mori smiles, "Kairoseki are not worthless or less valuable because they were altered. In fact that is sometimes an unexpected side effect of the training. Sometimes that's why the Navy lets Kairoseki live."

"In order to make them a weapon?" growls Ace.

Mori nods.

Ace in angry, hurt, sad, and overwhelmed. He lets the anger deflate out of him and he sinks into the sofa staring blankly at the ceiling.

"I… just can't bring you any closer than you are." That's what she had said to him two weeks ago.

His heart burned and ached. Suddenly the coldness, which he interpreted from her, he saw as loneliness. When every move you make can destroy your survival, what do you do? His sister had figured it out. You kick ass, take names, and shut yourself off. And now… and now Ace wanted the Navy to pay.

He couldn't have a sister. No. Not right away. He couldn't risk her safety, his boyfriend's, or their children.

Axis was a Kairoseki. Kairoseki died like animals so their bones could be ripped from their body and used against Fruit Users. There was something very wrong with this. After all, even the various species of being that were not human, were given more respect than these people with stone bones.


AN: So if you were wait for Law to make an entrance, here he is! I'm sure you'll be delighted to know there will be more of him from here on out. Thanks so much for the follows, favorites, and reviews! Like every author I am spurred on to write with the support from everyone here!

A brief explanation of characters just in case you are confused (and if you are please please please review and give me that note within the 'improvement' part of the review.)

Axis: Female 1/2 sibling of Portgas D. Ace

Siphonophore: Axis's mother's side of the Family.

Dr. Siphonophore Adam: Axis's uncle and doctor

Siphonophore Miguel: Axis's uncle who raised her and music teacher

Gavroche: Axis's best male friend. Sea Devil, and Kairoseki

Mori A. : Axis's best female friend

Atlas: Ace and Axis's mutal cousin by blood

Edward: Marco's child

Rodger: Ace's child