Ch. 10- The Major Powers Stir

One Piece © Oda

Blizzard, Monkey D. Aika, Kumi, Lucky, and Kuro Diablo © Me

A double door with a huge purple star emblem opens, revealing Tesoro, soaking in a bath with three woman, two sitting on the edge besides him, and one more in the bath with him. Nearby was a tub of ice with bottles of fine champagne, with one of the women drinking some out of a glass. Soon, someone entered the room, and Tesoro took notice.

"Ah, so good of you to come," Tesoro began, "now...which Cipher Pol are you from, again?"

"Huh?!" questioned the one and only...Spandam. "Hmph! You just leave the Celestial Dragons' Heaven Tribute to me: Spandam of CP0! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Of course," Tesoro said. "Please, do. I feel so relieved, already."

That's when Tanaka phased right through the floor, to Spandam's shock.

"What the hell are you?!" Spandam questioned as Tanaka handed him a silver briefcase full of money.

"Here you are," said Tanaka.

Spandam stepped back a bit, taken back by this offer, before he turned and glared at Tesoro, who grinned smugly.

'This son of a bitch...!' he thought.

"Oh?" Tesoro questioned. "What's the matter? Don't want it?"

"Err...I'll just go ahead and take this, then!" Spandam answered as he snatched the briefcase out of Tanaka's hands and making a forced cackle.

"By the way," whispered Tanaka, "the Straw Hat Pirates are actually here on this ship, right now?"

"What was that?!" Spandam questioned.

"I heard they gave you quite a hard time back on Enies Lobby. Tsururururu!"

"Rrrrrgh...! Well, they better wait until I get my hands on them!"

With that, he turned and stormed out.

"Are we absolutely sure we should leave the matter up to that man?" asked Tanaka.

"Tell Cipher Pol to bring more useful people, next time," answered Tesoro, who stood up from the bath, revealing his naked body, while the women began to dry him. On his back...was a huge, star-shaped scar, almost like some sort of brand. "Oh, and while you're at it, have 10 Marine fleets to be sent here."

"Tsururururu! As you wish, my lord," Tanaka replied.

Unbeknownst to the two...there was a Black Transponder Snail hooked up to the wall.

XXX

On a huge ship, shaped like a roaring dragon...a certain blonde-haired young woman grinned as she picked up a mug of coffee.

"It figures," said Koala as she took a sip of her drink.

"So...any word about Max?"

"Well, I couldn't really get a hold of him."

Sabo smirked at this, lying in his hammock with his hat over his eyes, while Lucky snoozed on the floor.

"Well, you know he is," he said. "He's probably gambling in the casinos, like always."

Lucky seemed to snicker at this, despite being asleep.

"By the way," Koala began, "I heard some certain someones had arrived at the casino."

"Oh, really?" Sabo asked. "And who might these certain someones be?"

"...The Straw Hats, of course," Koala winked, causing Sabo to gasp silently before he grinned.

"...I've been wondering about how my little brother and sister have been doing," he said.

XXX

Concurrently, at Marine Headquarters...

"You want 10 Marine fleets?! Don't make me laugh!"

Fleet Admiral Sakazuki took out his cigar and stamped out the burning end into an ash tray.

"Why the hell should the Marines help scum like Tesoro?" he asked. "How long is CP0 going to act like his little lap dogs?!"

"...This isn't for Tesoro," said the man standing before him...with a little pigeon sitting on his shoulder. "It's for the sake of our mission...and I will be taking command. Now...why don't you shut up and send those 10 fleets, already?"

This only made Sakazuki seethe angrily.

"You son of a...!" he hissed. "Who died and gave you the right to speak to me like that?! You sure have gotten full of yourself...Rob Lucci."

That's right...it was Rob Lucci, whom Luffy had defeated back on Enies Lobby. He now wore a powder blue suit and a white coat draped over his shoulders, like a cape, and his goatee had grown longer with some sort of ball shape at the end. On his shoulder was Hattori, who was dressed up just like Lucci, and even had a white necktie.

XXX

Back at the Leoro, Kuro Diablo, still human, grumbled to himself as he walked on the roof, scratching at the claw marks on his nose.

"Dammit," he cursed. "I can feel some scar tissue. That wolf brat's gonna pay for what she did!"

As he looked up, he spotted Tesoro, now fully clothed and leaning against the railing, looking over the city streets below.

"Tesoro?" Kuro Diablo asked as he approached his older brother. "Brother, what are you doing out here? I thought you'd be asleep by now."

"...Hello, Plata," said Tesoro, distantly. "Sorry...I guess I was just thinking about...about..."

"Stella?" asked Kuro Diablo.

(A/N: It's not Carla's mom from Dressrosa, by the way.)

"... .. ..." Tesoro only screwed his eyes shut and clenched his clasped hands. Kuro Diablo sighed before he pulled out his pack of cigarettes and held them out to his brother, as if offering. A pause, but then Tesoro smiled as he took one cigarette out and put it in his mouth, and Kuro Diablo did the same. Then, the younger Gild brother lit the elder's cigarette, then lit up his own. They both simultaneously took a drag before they blew out a puff of smoke in the air.

"Thank you, Plata," said Tesoro. "You always know what to do to make me feel better, don't you?"

"You are my brother," Plata answered. "I know you better than anyone."

"...Do you think that if she were alive," said Tesoro, "do you think that...maybe...things would be different?"

"I can't say for sure," Kuro Diablo answered. "However...we can't change what happened in the past. Stella's gone now...and I'm afraid we can't change that."

"...I understand," Tesoro said.

"I suggest you get some sleep, Brother," said Kuro Diablo as he turned and left. "After all...we have a big show to put on, come midnight tomorrow."

Tesoro smirked and chuckled evilly at this.

"Of course," he said.

XXX

Meanwhile, at the Dice Hotel, the Straw Hats were going to be staying here for the night. However, it seemed it wouldn't be very restful tonight.

Most of the Straw Hats had gathered into suite that three bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a drawing room, courtesy of Carina. On the coffee table, Sanji was looking at a flyer. It was a picture of Zoro, trapped in some sort of golden star-shaped statue...and the words "EXECUTION AT THE LEORO" over his head.

"Tsk!" Sanji sucked his teeth. "That bastard has to make a spectacle out of everything, huh?"

"Man, this is going too far," Usopp added.

"I agree," Brook concurred.

"...Oh, Zoro," Robin whispered, worriedly.

"Don't worry, Robin," Chopper said. "Carina will help us get him back...she will, right?"

"I'm more worried about Luffy and Nami," Franky answered. "Ever since we first got here, all they've done is argue."

"I just hope they stay focused long enough for the heist," said Usopp.

"I'm mostly worried for Aika," Robin spoke up. "She's never seen Luffy and Nami fight like this before."

Blizzard sighed before he looked over the door which led to the bedroom where Aika and Kumi were staying.

XXX

Nami sat on the bed, gently petting Aika's head as the young D. Carrier lied on her lap. Kumi lied on the foot of the bed, watching in concern while Aika sniffled and hiccuped.

"I'm sorry you had to see us fighting like that, Aika," Nami said with the utmost sincerity.

"Why are you and Big Brother fighting so much?" asked Aika.

"Look, Aika," Nami started, "sometimes, a couple will fight over things they don't see eye-to-eye on, and when that happens, they have to try and work it out."

Aika looked up at her older sister figure, sadly, but Nami only smiled at her in reassurance.

"Don't worry," the navigator said. "Just because your brother and I are fighting, it doesn't mean we don't love each other. We just...can't be around each other very much, right now."

"You mean you'll make up, later?" Aika asked, hopefully.

"Well...we'll see," Nami answered as she got out of bed and prepared to leave. "I gotta go bed, now, okay? We got a big day ahead of us."

"...Bis Sis Nami?" Aika asked, causing Nami to look at her. "Zoro...Zoro isn't gonna die...right?"

A pause...but then Nami smiled as she approached her little sister.

"Of course he's not," Nami began, "because we're gonna make sure of it. If this plan goes right, Zoro will be back with us in one piece...and think about how much money will have leftover! We can buy so many things with it, like new clothes, and new toys, and...err..."

"A golden cookie jar?" Aika asked, hopefully.

"Sure! Let's go with that!" Nami answered. "And besides, Zoro's a Straw Hat, and you know that us Straw Hats..."

"Don't die easy!" they both exclaimed.

"That's right!" Nami praised as she hugged Aika, lovingly. "I love you, Aika."

"I love you, too, Big Sis Nami," Aika said before the navigator let go and left.

"Goodnight," Nami whispered as she closed the door, leaving Aika to sleep...but just as she was about to fall into slumber, she heard the door open again, causing her to sit up and see that it was Carina.

"Well, well," Carina said as she came and sat on the bed. "Looks like you and Nami are quite close."

"She's my Big Sis," Aika answered, proudly, causing Carina to chuckle.

"Well, aren't you cute?" Carina asked. "But...I'm gonna be upfront with you. You might THINK that you know Nami, but you don't know her like I do."

"What do you mean?" Aika asked.

"Look, kid," Carina said. "I've known Nami for years. Since we were kids back in the East Blue, honestly! And there's only two things I know Nami loves more than anything in the world: tangerines and money."

"...What are you saying?" Aika asked, worriedly.

"I'm saying that Nami doesn't love you like you think she does," Carina answered. "Why else would she jump at the chance to come to a place like this? So she can make tons of cash. In fact, that's probably why she and that brother of yours are fighting in the first place."

"...Big Sis...Big Sis loves me," Aika said. "She'd never pick money over me or Big Brother or anyone else!"

"It's okay if you don't believe me," Carina replied as she stood up. "I just thought I'd come and tell you the truth, that's all. It would save you the heartbreak. Come tomorrow, when she gets all that money, she'll leave you, Straw Hat, and all your other friends in the dust."

With that, she turned and walked out the door, leaving Aika stunned and hugging her pillow. Kumi, on the other hand, gaped in disbelief before she looked over at Aika.

"Aika, you don't believe her, do you?!" Kumi questioned.

"N...no," Aika answered. "I-I know that Big Sis Nami would never choose money over me!"

'...Would she?'

TO BE CONTINUED...

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