Hey there. Here's the next chapter. I did manage to write it this week, though it had been a tough week. Still writing helps me calm down and forget all the toughness. So you guys are lucky ;)
I'm not going to ask for reviews from next chapter and until this story is over. Nobody gives a damn anyway.
Please enjoy.
He walked through town without any plan. The rain poured down and all around people was fleeing the rain. He didn't care, because he didn't noticed it. He was engulfed in his own thoughts or more likely memories. About the time before the Orphanage. Before he got a home. The loneliness and cold. The hatred and fight to survive. He felt those feelings so clear, as if it was yesterday. He always felt it, even though he was surrounded by friends and 'brothers' and 'sisters'. He never really let anyone get that close to him, not even his girlfriend or former girlfriends.
Who had giving him a change? Or yes he remembered. Shanks. It had been a rainy day like this. He was all alone, searching for food. Or rather trying to steal some food, but this time he had got caught and he had tried to get out of the situation. Shanks had helped him out, by buying the food and brought him to a bench, where he ate all of it. Then he had turned his head towards Shanks, waiting for the man to tell him the prize. It wouldn't have been the first time.
"Don't you have a home?" had Shanks asked.
He had shook his head lightly.
"What if I told you, I could bring you to a place where you can be safe, get a place to sleep, food and an education?"
He had stared at Shanks, some hope building up, but he had soon enough fight that hop down.
"I see you want that. Well, I'm Shanks and a friend of mine just opened an Orphanage for kids. There are already some kids there. Want to join them?"
He had nodded lightly, but still scared what this would mean. It sounded to good to be true. Shanks then stood up and help his hand towards him. He had taken it and they had walked in silence to the special police station. Shanks had been with him the whole time and after two hours, they had been on their way again. Shanks brought him to the Orphanage and it was a big house. He had listened to Whitebeard, who had been friendly all the time.
He remembered the first week. Constantly afraid of loosing his limps or to be abused or used. He never really slept. The therapist had helped and slowly he had started to trust Whitebeard and the others, living and working at the Orphanage. They were so friendly, warm and caring. And Shanks had brought more kids to the house afterwards. And he had been helping out, making those kids feel fine and comfortable.
He looked up at the sky, before looking around. His feet had brought him to that part of the city where he had lived on the street. He walked around, while looking at the old places. Not much had changed over the years, but it was a part of the slum, so it didn't surprised him. His feet brought him to the old shep where he had lived. It was still there. He looked inside and found it empty. It seemed that no one had lived there for a long time. He sighed relief and walked home.
"Did you walked out like this the whole time Kid?" asked Nami concerned as he walked in.
"I'm taking a bath," he responded and left her.
Nami gazed at him with concern, but then shook her head. Lately all had been down, due to the endless rain.
Kid walked straight to his room, picking up some clothes and walked to the bathroom. He didn't noticed Law looking at him over his medical book. Kid let the warm water pour down on him, lost in thoughts once more.
She ran as fast as she could, but just knew she wasn't fast enough. Soon they would capture her. All around the people just let her and them past them, not bothering helping her. A young woman being chased by two older men. It wasn't a rare sight in this part of the city, yet she hated to be in this situation. After all she had done nothing wrong, yet those men were after her.
A bar. She knew this sign and felt relief, before entering. Marco had told her that this was his favorite bar. Even if she wasn't old enough, she might be able to get help here. If she mentioned Marco. She gazed around. There wasn't many here, so she walked straight up to the bar. A man with black hair was washing some glasses.
"Aren't you a bit too young to be here? Please leave. I don't want to have trouble with the police," he said to her.
"Pleas help me. Some men are chasing me for no reason. Can I use your phone?" she asked, looking at the door, waiting them to enter at any moment.
"And who do you want to call?" he asked, reaching for the phone.
"Marco or Mihawk," she said nervously.
"You are a friend of Marco?" he raised his eyebrow.
"Yeah. I live at the Orphanage," she said.
"Oh. Follow me," he said.
She walked behind the disk. Another man sent her a short smile. She followed the black-haired man to a room, where there was a desk, a pc and some other stuff, indicating this was an office.
"Please have a seat. So young Lady, what's your name? I'm Izo," he smiled.
"I'm Koala," she answered.
"I'm going to text Marco. He responds to that a bit faster," said Izo.
She nodded and looked at the door, still afraid. She tried to figure out what exactly had happened.
"Want something to drink?" asked Izo.
"Uhm, yes please," she said.
Izo walked out and short after he came back with some tea. She took the cup and thanked him.
"Marco will be here soon, so you can relax," said Izo with a smile.
"Thank you so much," sighed Koala relief.
Izo just smiled and nodded, while he went to the pile of documents on the desk. koala drank her tea, wondering what she should tell Marco and Oyaji. She wasn't quite sure what had happened herself. She closed her eyes for a brief moment. As she opened them again, she was lying on a couch, Marco sitting on his knees next to it. His eyes worried.
"What happened?" she asked.
"You fainted. Must have been hard on you," said Izo.
"Koala are you feeling alright?" asked Marco.
"Yeah. I didn't realized how exhausted I was," she said.
"Can you sit?" asked Marco.
Koala nodded and let Marco help her up. He then sat beside her, an arm around her shoulder. She leaned her head against his shoulder.
"I want to go home," she said.
"I'll bring you," said Marco.
"Thanks for everything Izo," said Koala.
Izo just smiled and waved at her, as they walked out. The trip home went in silence, while Koala looked outside the car window. It was getting darker. How long had she been at the bar? She didn't know. Her and Marco walked through the lively house and to the office, where Whitebeard always was, when he was going through the papers.
"Oyaji?" Koala looked at him.
"Koala, Marco, come in," he said.
They walked in and closed the doors.
"Marco told me you were at a bar?" Whitebeard looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"I was being chased, when I saw this bar, remembering that Marco sometimes goes there." Koala looked down.
"Chased? By whom and why?" asked Whitebeard.
"I don't know. I was at a café having coffee, while studying. Suddenly three men came to my table and started to be unpleasant. I told them off. As I was walking home, they came behind me and grabbed my arm, trying to force me into an ally. I could get free and so I started to run," she said, her shoulders trembling a bit.
"Koala... You are safe now and that's what matters. Where did you have your coffee?" asked Marco, the policeman in him was awake.
"Sunny Go," she answered.
Marco nodded. The past few weeks he had heard that some women had been accosted around that era. Most of them had been lucky to get away, but there had been three women whom had been raped. Koala was lucky that she got away.
"Do you think you could recognize those men?" asked Marco.
"Yes," she said with confidence.
"Then I would like you to come down and make a statement and a phantom pictures of the men," said Marco.
"Sure."
"I'll come along. Give me 5 minutes," said Whitebeard.
Marco and Koala nodded and left. Short after came Whitebeard and they went to the police station. Koala left a statement and the she talked with Yasopp, who was the one drawing the phantom pictures. Afterwards Marco brought them home. The time for dinner had passed, but Thatch had made sure to save some for them.
Mia gazed out her window. Lately she had been at her room, staring out the window. Her door slightly opened. Shanks looked at his daughter, not knowing what to do. She was depressed and he had no clue why. Even Makino didn't know why. Mia had closed herself inside of her. It hurt Shanks to see her like this and he had called Koala and Nami to hear if they knew something. Both girls had been surprised and then they had tried to call Mia. Her phone lied on her desk. 15 missed calls. He sighed and knocked.
"Mia?"
She turned around and sent him a short smile. "Hi dad," she said, trying to sound cheerful, but failed.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
"I'm fine. Don't worry," she said, trying to avoid his eyes.
"You don't look like it. I'm worried," he said.
"I said don't worry dad. I'm fine," she said a bit angry.
He sighed. "Alright Mia, but you know you can come to me," he said, before leaving her room again.
She felt bad. Her dad only wanted to help her, but she was afraid to ask for his help. Even the help of any made her scared. She took a pillow and hugged it closed to her breast. This was so hard. How could she tell them? No. No one could know. It was her secret and it was allowed to have secrets, right? Even though it hurt? Tears fell down from her eyes, as she sat near the window, gazing out once more.
Makino looked at Shanks as he came back. She was worried too, but she had as much as Shanks, trying to talk to Mia. She hugged her husband and kissed him lightly. He pulled her close and kissed her back. She knew exactly how to cheer him up. Lost in the kiss, he didn't hear the doorbell, before someone yelled from the entrance.
"MIIIIIIIIIA. HOW ARE YOU?"
Shanks sighed. Short after came Luffy, Ace, Sabo and Roger into the living room. Roger looked excused, while he tried to knock some senses into the brain of Luffy. Shanks smiled at Luffy, as he went straight for Mia's room, not listening to Roger. He took the doorknob, but it was locked. He knocked on the door.
"Mia... Are you there?" he asked, this time worried.
"How is she?" asked Roger, giving up on Luffy.
"Sad. I don't know why though," said Shanks.
"She hasn't told you? But I thought she would tell you what's wrong. She hasn't told any of us it either," said Sabo.
"She won't talk about it. She is saying she is fine and that we don't have to worry," said Makino.
"She won't let me in," said Luffy sadly and sat down on the couch.
"It's the same as Koala. She is also sad, but won't tell us. Oyaji however knows why and told us to just let it be," said Sabo.
Roger and Shanks gave each other a short and worries look. They both knew what had happened to Koala. She had told all those who helped or worked at the Orphanage. What if something similar had happened to Mia? Or worse? They knew what was going on in that part of the town. 4 women had been raped, one of them even killed and countless women had been chased by some men. Mihawk and Marco had tried their best to find out whom, but even whith the pictures, the hadn't come closer to an answer.
Sabo saw the look and frown a bit. Then he went over to Mia's door and knocked.
"Mia... It's Sabo. Can we talk?" he asked politely.
"I'm working on something," she answered, even though it was clear to hear that she had cried.
"Are you feeling better? We've been worried," he continued.
"I'm fine. Thanks for the concern. I'm just in the middle of something. Please come another day," she said.
Sabo sighed and walked back. Mia did sound odd.
"It can't be because of Kid can it?" asked Ace.
"I don't think so. Maybe because of Jinx?" Sabo looked, but both Ace and Luffy shook their head.
"And here I thought you three could enlightening me. We have to hope that she will come around, but it does concern me that she even isn't talking to Nami, Bonney or Kaya," said Shanks.
"Sorry that we can't help Shanks. I'm also concerned. She never had been like this," said Sabo.
-xxxxxxxxxx-
Mia was lying on her bed. She heard them leave and Makino knock on her door, but she didn't respond. She felt betrayed, sad and hurt. Those feelings had swallowed her totally. Her tears had dried and she just stared at the wall. Loneliness overcome her and she trembled a little. After a while she heard her parents go to bed. She slowly walked out, used the bathroom and went to the kitchen to get some food. As she came back in the living room, Shanks sat on the couch with his back towards her. His shoulders were trembling. Mia bit her lip and felt guilty. She wasn't alone. She had her dad and mom. She sighed lightly and sat beside her dad.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Shanks looked at his daughter. "Don't be. You have the right to privacy."
"I'm making you sad."
"We are worried. Not just your mom and I, but also your friends," he said.
"I know, but ..." she trailed off.
"Mia. I won't force you to say what's on your mind, but I want you to not say it's nothing, when we all can see it's something," he said.
"I'm not feeling well. A couple of days ago I was walking through town near the Sunny Go and I saw... four men chasing a young women... Nobody helped her and they dragged her into an ally... I felt so helpless... As I told a police officer he only gazed at me like ... I lied ... How can I trust the police to do something, when they look at me like that and that they don't care?" Mia pulled her leg up on the couch and hugged her knees.
Shanks was shocked. Why hadn't she told Marco or Mihawk then? They were looking for witness.
"Did you get a good look at those men?" he asked.
"Not really. I was so scared, because ... Somehow I recognize one of them, but I can't place him," she said.
Shanks hugged his daughter. So this was what had bothered her. Not just the raping and the police doing nothing, but that she couldn't tell or draw who. She normally could do so and her memory was good. He rocked her gently.
"It's okay Mia. You can't save the world alone. I know for sure they have a good picture of two men that are chasing girls near Sunny Go. They will catch them," he said.
"Marco and Mihawk?" she looked at him with hopeful eyes.
"Who else? And maybe Zoro. He's a trainee you know," said Shanks and stroke her hair gently.
"I was so scared. And ... I should have told Mihawk or Marco, but the police officer ..." she trailed off again and started to cry.
Shanks hold her close and rocked her gently. It was so awful seeing his daughter like this. So hurt, disappointed and broken. Not only did she just break up with her boyfriend this week, but then she witness something that awful and no one would help. Her heart was so good and it was kids like her that should change the world. He felt how her cries slowed down and she felt asleep in his arms. He lifted her up and brought her to her room.
"I can't believe she actually experienced such an awful thing," said Makino sadly.
"Me neither. Benn is going to be near Sunny Go from now on. Mia, Koala, Nami and Bonny has classes near it. I won't risk their safety," said Shanks, putting an arm around Makino and bring her to their room.
"I'm going to talk to Rouge and the other. We have to protect our kids and especially the girls," said Makino.
"Do that my love," said Shanks and kissed her.
-xxxxxxxxxx-
"It's getting worse," said Garp and looked at Mihawk, Marco, Yasopp and Zoro.
"As if we haven't noticed. They are slippery," said Marco.
"We need a plan to keep the young women safe and to catch those guys. Even with Koala's testimony it's not enough. We need more witness, but the women are afraid," said Garp and walked around.
"They are not only afraid, but they accepted it happened. They don't want to go through it again. Better just forget," said Yasopp.
"And let other girls experience the same," said Mihawk.
"It's useless. We can't use resources on that problem. The chief had make it clear where our duties lies. Only to help the victims and the abused children," said Garp.
A knock on the door interrupted them. Alvida told them that Shanks and Mia was here to see them. They had some information on the situation near Sunny Go. Garp asked Alvida to bring them in. Shanks held Mia's hand and she looked sad. They had never seen her like this, not even at that time they first met her. She sat down and looked down, unable to look into their eyes. Slowly she told them what she had seen. Shanks stood behind her with his hands on her shoulder. As she finished silence filled the room.
"Sorry for not coming sooner," she whispered after a while.
"It's okay Mia. Don't blame yourself. You did nothing wrong," said Garp.
Mia looked up, eyes red and tears falling down her cheeks. They all wanted nothing more to hug her, but right now they were police officer and couldn't do so. Shanks still held his hands on her shoulder and squeezed them lightly. Mia looked tired and he felt how scared she was. That they would let her down, just like the officer at the street.
"Did you get his name? The officer?" asked Marco.
"Officer Morgan," she said.
"Thanks. We'll take care of it from now on Mia. Don't worry. You are safe," said Mihawk.
Mia nodded and stood up. "I ... was scared," she said.
"I understand. It's really a bad thing to witness," said Garp.
Shanks and Mia left the room. As the door closed behind them, Marco cursed. He felt sick that an officer had just shrugged it off. Garp was already at the phone, making calls to find out who this Officer Morgan was and to make him come here. Zoro followed every single step that was taken. He wasn't sure if he wanted to be a police officer, but he could learn a big deal here.
"Since I'm not technically employed here, I could keep an eye on the place around Sunny Go," he said after a while.
"It could be dangerous and if it comes to a fight, we won't be able to help you. Not even if you get arrested," said Mihawk.
"I can handle it. Besides I'm almost done with my guard education and as soon I have it, I'm going to watch that place," he said.
"Then there won't be that much trouble. Until then Shanks and Benn are watching the place, still it's a crowded place and things still happens," said Marco.
"We just have to settle with this," said Garp.
-xxxxxxxxx-
Nami sat at the table at Sunny Go. She was waiting for Nojiko and Robin. Both was at work and would soon come here and eat their lunch. Nami had a day off, so she wanted to spend some time with them. Robin and Nojiko had moved out and was sharing a small apartment together. It had been a while since they had been together. The kids were growing up. Some teen, some young adults.
"Hey there beauty," said a man's voice.
Nami looked up and saw a blue-haired man sitting down by her table.
"I'm sorry but the seats are taken. I'm waiting for my sisters," said Nami.
"They are not here well? Until then you and I can chat," he smiled.
Nami put down her book, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
"I'm not in the mood to talk to strangers today," she said.
He smirked. Nami didn't like those eyes. They gave her chills.
"Don't be harsh. It's good to meet new people," he said.
"You haven't introduced yourself," she said.
"I like to be mysterious," he said.
Nami's eyes narrowed a bit and she grabbed her book. Should she just walk away? Or should she stay and hope that her sisters would be here soon. Until then she could ignore him, even though she got a feeling he wouldn't like that and maybe do something.
"Say why don't we just leave this crowded place and go to the park? It's a sunny day," he smiled friendly.
"No thanks. As I said, I'm waiting for my sisters," she said.
He didn't listened to her as he grabbed her arm. Nami tried to resist, but he was strong. He pulled her up from her chair, so her book felt on the ground. She tried to free herself and call for help, but no one helped her. He started to dragged her along, people ignoring her around her. Tears build up in her eyes and she was scared. He dragged her out on the streets and towards an ally.
"It will soon be over my dear," he smirked.
"Let me go," screamed Nami.
He laughed a little and kept dragging her. Suddenly he was punched very hard in the face. He stopped and looked at a Red-haired young woman. Her eyes were cold and angry. He smirked and tried to grabbed her too, but hen she started to scream really high and soon two men was by her side. The man jumped a little backwards, still holding Nami. The redhead stopped her screams.
"Let my friend go," she said.
"She wanted to go with me. She like this," he said.
"Liar. Let my friend go, or I'll make sure you will feel pain," she said.
Nami trembled and looked at Mia, Benn and Shanks. All three looking deadly. Suddenly she got an idea. She place herself in front of the man, looking at him and then she kicked his balls as hard as she could. He yelled and let go of her arm, while his hands grabbed his balls and he was on his knees. Nami hurried over to Mia, Ben and Shanks, hiding behind Benn.
"That will teach you," said Mia and took Nami's hand and walked away.
As soon as the two girls were out of sight, Shanks squattered down in front of the blue-haired man.
"Don't mess with women like this again. I'll teach every single of them to do that. Tell your friends that," he said and then he an Benn walked away, leaving the man lying on the street.
Trouble in town and police ignoring it. What will happen next? Well, keep reading the next chapters.
Any idea's? Suggestions? Then leave a comment/review. I'll be so happy if you do.
