Welcome back, my dears!

As announced, you'll hate me for this one.

Disclaimer: Still Oda's...

Enjoy

Marco searched solitude and let the rest of the group go ahead. The black haired woman from the Strawhat crew gave him a look. Nico Robin fell into step and linked her arm with him.

The phoenix raised an eyebrow at her but didn't try to get away. The archeologist was one of the most interesting members of Luffy's crew. Though Marco had originally been up for another type of distraction, maybe a little conversation with this woman would help too.

"Let's go in there, phoenix-san." The woman led him to a small bar on an even smaller road. When turning around the corner, Marco lost sight of his crew and was strangely glad for it. He loved his nakama, really did. But getting some time away from them was a nice change.

They sat down and Nico Robin leaned against him. "How did I get the honor to be kidnapped by the most feared archeologist in the world?" She chuckled lightly. "My dear captain, I am neither blind nor stupid."

Marco sighed and looked at her. "You truly are dangerous, yoi." Two mugs of rum were placed in front of them and soon after, the next followed. At some point, the phoenix just started to speak. Robin sat there listening, still with the first mug.

"I missed him. More than I ever thought I could miss someone. Even more than Oyaji and I have been sailing with that man. For a long time. Years, ages even. And then he was suddenly back. I still can't believe it. The walls I build just crashed the moment I saw him."

It was true. When he had seen Ace and then felt that it was truly him, the same fiery devil ability, the same presence, all had been crushing down on him. The feelings he had tried to forget were back like they had never been away. "And it hit full force." Marco sighed and emptied his mug.

His vision slowly got blurry and the reasonable part of his mind screamed at him to go back to his ship. The black haired woman paid and led him out of the bar. He briefly thought that it should have been he who paid.

They reached the Black Moby Dick pretty easily thanks to Robin's devil fruit ability. She had supported Marco's slightly wobbly walking. The phoenix pointed a finger into the direction of his cabin and she led him there.

He collapsed onto his bed, pulling the black haired woman with him. He rolled over and brought his body to lie above her. She arched an eyebrow at him and smiled. Marco looked at her, his expression slightly pained. "It is a distraction, nothing more, nothing less. Remember?"

At her words, Marco crushed his lips on hers, shutting out the desperate feelings that were his every-day companions. Robin pressed her body against his in the same desperate need.

In the mean time, Ace and Luffy had joined their crews for the party. The night was young still and they would leave a lot of Money in the bars and pups of the small town.

As always when the Strawhat pirates were taking part in a party, the whole thing ended up being one big village fair. Nami and Zoro were engaged in their traditional drinking competition, Usopp told his stories and in the center of all interest were the two D – brothers.

There was no force in heaven or hell that could have separated the two brothers at the moment. The man that watched them was nearly invisible in the shadow of a few trees. His broad grin exposed a row of shiny teeth.

It wasn't time yet. Not quite. Maybe on the next island or the one after. Cause even for him, the whole Whitebeard and Strawhat crew was a bit too much to handle on his own. "Soon, Strawhat, soon I'll get your head. Zehahahaha…" The man dispersed into darkness without noticing the commander that was standing a few trees away.

The laughter set Vista's teeth on edge. Never in his life would he forget that sound. He needed to find Marco. The fourth division commander searched the island for the individual presence he would now recognize everywhere. But the man was no longer here.

He would find Marco in the morning. For now it would be enough if he kept his guard up and continued to search the island for any signs of his reappearance.

Wait! Don't kill me. Otherwise this is the last scene you can read! ^^

To the pairing: Yes I know, extremely wierd.

But! Can anyone tell me a woman that could keep up with Marco? (except fem!Ace, of course XDD)

She's just mysterious enoug for it. And she is freaking clever!

If I happen to survive the next day, we'll see each other in the next chapter!