My vacation was pretty fucking awesome. I've decided to move to San Diego by the end of the year, and maybe start college there. I think I fell in love with a boy at the Pennywise concert, some cliche 'love at first sight bullshit'. Though it's pretty mutual. Nevertheless, I am very distracted and he's all I've been thinking about, it's even affected my finishing this chapter on time, like I wanted to. *sigh* so here I am sitting on a plane, typing this out. But it's keeping the boredom at bay, which is nice.

Savage Kill: the answers you seek shall be revealed within the next few chapters :) my mush brain, might even make it hold off until the next one. blah

And to all my lovely readers out there, Enjoy!

Misconceptions

The announcement of fireworks had the trio rather excited - mostly on Aiko's behalf. The reflection of the sky's beauty reflected in her eyes, the sparks and explosions of gun powder sparkled luminously. It had been far too long since she saw something explode, that wasn't a ship, cannon, or a building. Sakazuki really deprived her of fun, and it stunned her that she even remembered how to have any.

Aiko comfortably leaned her head on Izo's shoulder, closing her eyes. A smile was plastered on her face, as she listening to the explosions in the night sky, echoing throughout the town.

"Are you tired darling?"

"No. I'm...content. I wish this night could last longer. That's all. I'll...really miss you all...so thanks."

"Don't fret, we will see each other again!"

'Again? One can only hope...maybe.'

"Yeah...of course we will. Maybe when I'm done with my excursion."

Even with her eyes closed, and a soft smile, that seemed more strained by each passing moment, Marco could tell she was lying. If she wasn't lying, she was hiding something. He thought it best not to ask, though it was bothering him a great deal.

Aiko arose from the bed she was borrowing, the sun still not peeking over the ocean, but soft patters of feet scuttling around the ship as everyone got ready for the day. With the last of the cargo loaded onto Hiro's ship, Aiko did the final count of stock and then went back to her room.

They weren't going to set off for at least two hours, that much she was certain of. Falling back into the bed, face down into a pillow, she mumbled to herself. Not knowing how much time had actually passed, she reached over to the pink silk folded on the nightstand. Once again, it was cold to the touch, yet so very soft. She smiled, tracing over the embroidery- that is before realizing, that it wasn't her own, and she needed to return it as soon as possible.

Scrambling out of bed, she slipped on some clean clothes, her sandals, grabbing the folded fabric and hurriedly ran up onto the deck.

"Hiro! I'm going out for a really quick second, I promise I'll be right back, Izo will hate me forever if I don't go and return it!"

The older man turned to look at her, he smiled when his eyes landed on the apparel.

"No rush, go say your goodbyes and then we will leave. Just don't take too long, I'd say you'd have about 30 minutes."

She bowed deeply, before waving to him.

"What're you doing here young lady?" A voice boomed down from the large wooden vessel, at the small woman.

"Jozu! Is Izo around?" She yelled back, running up to the plank, that was placed to enter and exit the ship.

"What do you need him for? Is it important?" He replied in a softer tone, seeing as how she was now approaching the vicinity of where he was standing.

"Kind of..I just need to return something-"

"Return what?" Another voice rang out behind her.

"Oh...Just his kimono.." She replied. Looking over her shoulder, she spotted the First Division commander slowly approaching the two.

"Oh that? Well he should be back soon."

"I don't have much time.."

"I think he would be pretty pissed, and throw a hissy fit at me all night if I just let you drop it off, and not have you say your goodbyes. I sure as hell won't hear the end of it."

"20 minutes. That's how much time I have until we leave. I understand your dilemma, Marco, I do, but you might- ...Izo!"

Running past the Phoenix, she grinned, throwing her arms around his neck, all the while making sure the kimono was gripped firmly in her hand.

"Darling! As much as I like surprises, especially if they're beautiful ones, but aren't you supposed to be leaving?"

Pulling back from the tight embrace, Aiko's smile curled down a bit. "Well I came to return this..." She spoke slowly, holding out the pink silk towards him.

He smiled, in return, As she jabbed a finger in the direction of the blonde man.

"He said you'd throw a hissy fit, if I didn't wait until you returned. So I waited, and well you kind of popped up when I was explaining to him he might just have you yelling at him later."

"I most certainly would have. Without a doubt." He paused gently cupping her cheek with one hand. "We will meet again. Promise me that, alright?"

"Don't worry, we will. I don't know where, and I don't know when, but it will definitely happen."

'...and maybe I'll sail with you all again..'

Izo hugged her, satisfied, and very happy. The sweet look in his eyes, was enough to make her want to cry, and just say 'fuck it, I wanna stay'.

"Now, be good and stay safe." He reminded her, placing a hand atop her head.

With a curt nod, and a sheepish smile, she turned towards the other commander behind her.

"Marco."

"Aiko."

She couldn't help but shake her head and snicker under her breath, as she walked up closer to him, giving their bodies on a few inches of space between one another.

"It's been fun, seeing you all was very nice."

"Are you sure you're going to be safe? I swear, I'll get my ear chewed off if Izo hears anything bad happens to you, or god-forbid a fucking bounty on your head."

"A bounty is the last thing I need, Akainu would probably just come find me and do the killing himself." She laughed, halfheartedly at her own words.

Marco didn't find it anywhere near, something even remotely comical to laugh about. The expression he wore, was one mixed with irritation, and something of concern.

"That's not fucking funny Aiko." He sneered in a harsh tone that she never heard him speak in.

"Sorry, just trying to lighten the mood. I didn't mean to say anything that would make you angry." She sighed, running her fingers through her hair.

"...just seriously. Don't do anything stupid, or reckless. You know, like sneaking aboard a pirate ship, and pretending like it's no big deal." He smiled, placing a hand atop her head.

"Dammit I am not a child!"

"Hm? Oh really? Could've fooled me."

"That child is long gone and has grown up. Why can't you just accept it?" She yelled rather harshly, not meaning to come across in such a bad tone.

'Shit.'

"Look sorry..." She mumbled quietly under her breath.

"It's alright. Now you should go, or you'll be late."

He was right, she shouldn't spend anymore time dawdling, and making the merchants who were kind enough to let her tag along, wait.

"Thanks for everything!" Aiko grinned, wrapping her arms around Marco, pulling him into a tight hug. In turn, he wrapped his arms around her midsection with the same intensity.

As she pulled away slowly, she planted a soft kiss on his cheek, smiling as she did, before sprinting off the deck.

"I'll see you again someday!" She waved back, before disappearing down the dirt road alongside the docks.

"Well that was certainly...unexpected." A voice spoke next to the baffled commander, who really couldn't even find words to describe what had just happened.

Izo quirked up a nicely preened eyebrow, and continued speaking for him.

"I think the little darling likes you."

After a few more moments of silence, finally able to piece a sentence together, the first division commander muttered something, as he ran a calloused hand through his golden locks.

"Certainly not in the way you're thinking."

"Oh? Maybe, maybe not."

"What do you think you're even implying?"

Izo smiled. "Nothing at all, but I do have eyes Marco. Whether she realizes it or not, the way she looks at you now, is very different from the way she looked at you when she was a young girl."

"What're you talking about?"

Izo sighed out of annoyance.

"Dear Aiko is not that small child anymore, shes a grown fucking woman now. You realize that much don't you?"

Marco leaned against the railing on the side of the ship. "Of course I realize she's an adult...anyone with eyes can see that."

"A adult woman. Can you honestly say that you don't see that part of her? Can you honestly say there was no sort of emotion when she kissed you?"

"This conversation is over."

"You're an idiot. Whether or not either of you see it, she is attached to you. More so than before. That's all I'm saying." Izo finished before taking his leave and disappearing below deck.

"Fucking asshole.." Marco muttered to himself, leaning back and looking up at the sky.

'...she is attached to you. More so than before.' Marco sighed, replaying his fellow commanders' words in his head.

There was no way, no way in the nine gates of hell, that she feels anything remotely intimate for him. He groaned again. Damn that Izo for planting ludicrous ideas into his head; and the more he thought about it, he started seeing a bit of truth in his words. As much as he knew she loved being around Izo, she seemed a lot brighter and even let her guard down around himself a bit more.

"Fuck." Maybe it was that he didn't want to see her in that light, they had been friends for years, plain and simple. Right? Maybe it was a good thing she had her own things to attended to, otherwise... No. He pushed thoughts down, and told himself he wouldn't think that far.

Four fucking days, and who knows how many islands still left to go, Aiko was getting quite restless. The eternal pose she had for her home, would just take her there, but that would require her own boat, which she didn't have. She was happy to hear that Hiro had eternal poses for all the islands they make their trips to, which in turn made it a hell of a lot faster to get where they needed to go.

She had been informed that afternoon that the next stop would be a winter island, and they would be docking in Swans Cove. A winter island would mean cold, and even if she liked the cold weather, she was not too happy about having to bundle up. It made it really hard to move, especially if she was going to be working outside, early in the morning. It would mean shed need extra protection against the sleety winds.

Once they finally docked, Hiro gave each one of the people in his crew their new orders, before handing his clipboard to Aiko once more.

"Hiro? I thought you only were gonna let me take inventory that one time?"

"He shook his head, I have some business to take care of in town, so if you'd be so kind, I'm gonna leave it to you again."

Aiko nodded, taking it from his hands, before waving him off. It seemed like every island they had been to, they were picking up more crap, than what they were unloading. Lost once again in her own thoughts, she watched the last barrel for the day be unloaded.

Informing one of the crew members that she was going to take a look around, she mindlessly left the ship.

It was a cute town- not too big, but not too small. The dome shape on the homes was quite interesting to her; It was almost like a city of wooden bubbles. The children outside were happily playing around in the cold white powder, adults sipping on hot beverages, and clouds of smoke puffing from every single building.

"Isn't this a surprise?"

Aiko quickly turned around to see who had dared to come so close, they could whisper in her ear.

"Son of a bitch!" She sneered, gritting her teeth together.

"Excuse me? No friendly hello, Miss Aiko?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Friendly my ass! If you think I'm gonna let you try and take me away, you're dead fucking wrong."

That same, cunning smirk of his was now creeping on his face. "Oh? And what makes you think I'd still want you after you tried to humiliate me? In public no less."

"Why else would you approach me?"

The mischief was dancing in his eyes once more. "Touché, Miss Aiko. Though I have a proposition for you."

"I happily decline."

"Sorry, but I won't except that kind of answer until you listen to me."

"Why should I listen to you?"

"Because you have something you're going after, and I'm willing to help, at least for a short time."

Aiko's eyebrows knitted together, eyes growing every narrower, with each growing second. He could be lying, but why would he bother. He isn't the kind of man to waste time making propositions, unless he has something he could potentially gain in return.

"It's cold, let's talk somewhere else, alright? If my boss sees me talking to more pirates, he won't be too happy with me."

'More pirates? So maybe...Hm... How interesting.' He smiled inwardly to himself.

"If you'd feel more comfortable doing that then, shall we?"

Aiko rolled her eyes, but nodded in agreement.

Another bar, but this one was a hell of a lot nicer than the one in the Marina's Red Light District. That being said, she still wasn't too keen on drinking again, especially now what had happened previously.

Law took a seat in a booth farthest from the door, the less distraction and interruption, the better. Aiko slid in across the table, staring him down like a hawk. He chuckled darkly to himself as he observed her watching him.

"What is your proposition, Mister Law?"

Well it was obvious she wasn't going to beat around the bush anymore. And as cold sounding as her question was, all he could do was smile inside.

"I will take you to the island you want to get you, faster than making all these stops."

"...and how do you know what island we are stopping at?"

"You don't need to worry about that. That is to say, I will need your assistance."

"Tell me something I don't already know? Let me guess, you want me to exploit my Devil Fruit abilities for you, so you can get some information about someone, or something."

'She's sharp.'

"...and if I say no, you'll use that demonic power of yours to make sure I say yes. I am not in your grand master plan for you to become Shichibukai, but however you are more than willing to use me to achieve that."

"It seems you know a lot more about me than you let on...but that was expected as well. Especially after you pulled that shit in the last city I saw you in, I assumed you saw a lot more."

"You're a smart man Trafalgar Law. Cunning, and manipulative. However much I like how much thought you put into your plans, I have a job to do."

"They knew you'd leave eventually, and hell I won't make you do back breaking labor. Now what do you say Hm? You know I don't like hearing the word, 'no'."

He was right, and smarter than she allowed herself to give him credit for. Knowing that it might take her long even if they had Eternal Poses- simply because they weren't on a straight path.

"Fine. I accept your offer. But I have a few conditions."

His eyes narrowed into thin slits as she finished her statement.

"Conditions?"

Aiko cleared her throat, and leaned her arms onto the wood that separated the two.

"First, you must let me say goodbye. Second, once we reach that island, I am taking my leave, no questions asked. Third, I will not use my powers if you are planning on killing whomever you want answers from. Fourth, I will not be taking orders from any o your crew, unless I hear them from your mouth."

"That's a steep bargain, Miss Aiko. However I am feeling rather...generous today, so I'll grant you, your conditions."

"As it should be. I will return in awhile with my things."

On a large galleon, two men, and a bustling crew sailed along the ocean.

"Haruto, we are on course Kensei Island. It should be about a week to get there, but if the wind and current is on our side, it could be as soon as five and a half days."

"Good to hear." Haruto replied with a stern nod, and a devilish smile on his lips.

"She might not do this willingly, you realize this right?" The brutish man next to him spoke out.

"You really have no brain. It's a wonder you've made it this far in life. If Aiko is headed towards Providence, she would probably be subject to agreeing with us. Especially since we are on a set course for home. Who actually ventures near the New World besides Yonko, or that damn World Government?"

"What about the Supernovae?"

"After what happened at Marineford, I assume most of them are hiding, or training. She would have very little luck finding someone who wants to go that far out, especially without the proper experience. The New World, and the island's closest on this half of the Grand Line, know better than to be foolish enough to take it lightly."

Kasmir thought it over in his head. "You're right. We are literally her only bet."

"Now you get it." Haruto smiled, matter-of-factly.

This chapter took a hell of a while to write. Brain is still mush, like frigging watery oatmeal. But I hope I managed to capture everything I had in store for this chapter. Hope you enjoyed it!