Aria's Point of view:
I rested my head on my arm. The sweat was trickling down my back and I just felt dirty all over. I was ridiculously sick. I brought my head back up off my arm. My arm was resting on the toilet I brushed my hair back with my other hand. I flushed my breakfast and last night's snack down the drain. I stood up and undressed and jumped in the shower turning the spray from warm to cool. I let the cool water run down my hair and back. Feeling much better and cleaner when I got out of the shower. I wrapped my bathrobe around me and decided what to wear. I had a few meetings today with people who were in touch with spirits or had some type of magic. I was trying to be optimistic about the meetings, maybe one of them could help me get Chopper home.
It was a nice day and I dressed for it. I was wearing a cute sundress it was short and flirty. I liked it which of course meant that Edgar hated it. I wasn't worried about that though because Edgar was in business meetings all day. I pulled out all my savings, savings that I started for myself way before Edgar. I frowned at the money, my last money that was mine. I just hoped that it would be enough to get Chopper home.
The maids avoided looking at me like always. I did feel the wet cool mist of the peppermint perfume that they sprayed on me. I wrinkled my nose up in disgust. The smell causing my poor stomach to roll and I was worried that I would have to run back to the bathroom and have another bout of vomiting. I breathed deeply through my mouth and then out my nose. I watched as the maid lifted the bottle to blast me with another spritz of the offensive odor. I smacked the bottle out of her hand. "No, no more. This is ridiculous. He isn't even here to smell me; I am not wearing this shit when he isn't here." The maid glared at me which I just returned as I stormed out.
The driver wasn't like the maids, thankfully. He was a friendly old man that actually used to work for my parents. Edgar was showing off his wealth when he hired him as my personal driver. It was nice because he didn't drive Edgar only me, so if Edgar and I went to a function together Edgar's driver drove. My driver was thankfully mine and mine alone. I really appreciated that he was able to drive me today though, since I was going several different places. He bowed to me removing his hat, as he always did. I smiled at him and bowed in return. The best thing about this was I know Mr. Martinez would never tell Edgar what I did. That privacy that it offered me was the best thing in the entire world.
Mr. Martinez held the door open for me and I climbed in with a thank you. I gave him the address for the first place. When we pulled up to the dark derelict building. I could feel Mr. Martinez reluctance to leave the car. I patted him on the shoulder offering comfort through touch. I climbed out of the car and pulled on the heavy door.
There was a weird noise when the door closed behind me. It was like a cawing noise and out of reflex I looked up and around for a bird, which are freaky. There it was a big black crow was eyeing me with its beady eyes. "Enter child" I jumped I was so busy eyeing the bird that I wasn't paying attention to the old woman that approached behind me. She was very out pf place looking. The building was very creepy as was the bird and the various other things that were scattered about. This lady was what I considered a stereotypical grandmother. She had a floral ankle length skirt on and a pink sweater. She had gray hair and some glasses that were on a chain that hung around her neck.
She was circling me. Even though her appearance would have normally set me at ease. There was something about the way that she moved that was almost predatory. I could feel the hair on the back of my neck and on my arms rise. I cleared my throat, "um do you know anything about black holes?" She abruptly stopped her odd pacing and left the room. I hesitated a second and then followed her. She was sitting at a table with a crystal ball on it. "There wormholes, holes that connect different dimensions. You visited a different dimension, didn't you? I can smell the otherness about you." She gave me an evil smile, "but that isn't the only thing I smell. You don't know about that though. My advice for you is to be honest. You are hiding your feelings, hiding them from yourself, and then hiding them from your loved ones. Tell them what you want and be honest with yourself. Once you do that the way will open before you."
I looked at her "that is it? That is your advice. To be honest with myself and to be honest with others? I know how I feel and it doesn't matter. I need help to get Chopper home." I could feel my anger start to peak. She reached out and grabbed my hand and I felt my energy leave my body leaving me curiously blank. I blinked a few times trying to regain my composure. "Don't you take that tone with me! There are some fates at work here, as they always are. We only have limited control of our own lives. Take my advice and be honest that will be taking charge." I nodded numbly I was still stunned what had she done to me? "Leave now, your driver is becoming very uncomfortable. He is about to come in here and make sure that you are okay. My bird doesn't want him to come in here, so hurry." With that there was a menacing caw that startled me to my core. I jumped up and hurried out.
I was blinded by the sun. I stood there blinking for a few moments. When I was able to see I saw that Mr. Martinez did leave his car and he was almost to the building. He was looking worried. I gave him a small smile trying to convey that I was okay but I wasn't sure that I was okay. I cleared my throat my voice was curiously weak. "Hey can we just go home? I am done with my business for the day." He nodded and then put his arm around my shoulders and led me to the car.
I was focused on my own thoughts and not paying any attention to where we were going. I looked up when the car stopped moving. We weren't at Edgar's mansion. We were at Kimberly's house. I stared at her house confusion on my face. Mr. Martinez cleared his throat, I looked up and met his eyes in the review mirror. "You told me to take you home, I think this is the place that you have always felt the most at home." His eyes were full of kindness and love. Tears blurred my vision and I smiled at him. Thankful that he knew exactly what I needed even though I didn't. I hugged him from the back seat and he patted my hand.
I left the car at a run. I really needed my friend, I needed her to know everything. I was seeing everything clearly. I shouldn't have to be unhappy and my friend was a great mom. We would figure something out to make sure nothing would ever happen to her baby girl. Before I was able to knock I heard a soul shattering bang. It seemed like time froze. I turned and saw that a man was holding a gun up and Mr. Martinez was on the ground blood was seeping out of a gaping wound. Ignoring the danger of the still armed man. I ran and apparently I was fast because the man didn't even have a chance to turn before I punched him. It was a good solid punch. His jaw made a satisfying clicking sound as all his teeth connected. The blood that dripped out made me proud of my strength. His shocked face quickly turned to anger. He raised the dun and pointed at me and before I could even react I heard a bang. The pain was amazingly intense. I was knocked off of my feet. My head bounced off the concreate. I saw straw hats. Three of them and they were on top of three very concerned looking Luffy's. That was the last thing I saw as my world faded to black.
Luffy's point of view
I was seating as much as I could. Thankfully Kimberly was a good cook, not as good as Sanji, no one was. Robin and Kimberly were trying to come up with a plan. I heard a familiar noise, a gunshot. In this world it seemed to be a much bigger deal then in my world. Kimberly jumped up and ran to the door. I could see her face from where I was sitting. The color left her face and she looked like she was going to die. "No" she screamed. She ran outside I got up to see what was going on. When I got to the door I saw Aria she was facing away from me. I watched as this man shot her. She was feet from me and I felt my brain explode. "No" I screamed and ran out. I watched as Aria's head hit the ground hard. I grabbed her face, cradling her face in my hands. Her blood was seeping in between my fingers dripping on the ground.
"Aria, please no. I am here don't leave me. I won't forgive you if you leave me." I pulled her to my chest tears were blurring my vision. I blinked and saw that the guy who shoot Aria was running toward one of those car things. He was going to get away! Not if I had anything to do about it. I was reluctant to leave Aria though and then I saw Chopper. I handed Aria's limp body to him. He began assessing her damage and putting pressure on her wound. I stretched my arms out and yelled "Bazooka" and then launched myself at him. They guy turned his head to see what I screamed and bam. I got him right in the face. The sheer force of my attack knocked him clear to the other side of the street where he hit someone's house going right through there window. I could hear the people inside screaming.
I turned back to see another car like thing arrive at Kimberly and Ralph's house. This one was square and had flashing lights on top and it was making a weird noise. There were men and they were loading a guy that had been shot and Aria on stretchers and placing them in the back of the car thing. "Hey don't take her, she needs Chopper. I ran to take her out of their arms." Ralph held me back and I was just about to punch him when I was passed on to Robin. She wrapped her arms around me and said "we are going to the hospital that is where they are taking her. They can save her; they have machines that can keep her alive. Chopper doesn't have his gear." I gave Robin a glare that let her know my pain. She placed an arm around my shoulder and led me to the car where Kimberly was waiting. Ralph was staying behind to keep Chopper company. The poor reindeer was heartbroken that he wasn't able to help Aria and even more so when he realized that he wasn't going to be able to go.
Kimberly was explaining why she couldn't take Chopper to me and Robin. Robin was nodding along like she was actually understanding what this woman was saying. I could tell by how hard Robin was clenching my hand that she was actually very worried about both of our friends. I held on to her hand tight and we listed in silence as Kimberly rambled on and I didn't understand a word. We arrived at the hospital and were immediately overwhelmed. Thankfully Kimberly knew what to do. She got information and then led us to a waiting room. She led me to a chair and pushed me down on it. I fidgeted hating the fact that I had to sit here and wait. Thankfully it wasn't too long before the doctor game out. He said that Aria was doing fine and that he called her fiancé and he was on his way. I felt my anger flare up just of the mention of that ass man. Apparently Kimberly noticed though and panicked. "You can't fight here. This is a hospital people are sick! If you are too noisy they might not get better!" I felt like she smacked me in the face. I wouldn't do anything that would prevent Aria from getting better, even if I had to wait to kick that guys ass. "Go downstairs and eat in the cafeteria, take Robin with you. Don't do anything too out of the ordinary. Robin whatever you do, do not let him stretch. You guys can't use your powers at all! If anyone were to see you doing that it would be disaster."
We both nodded and left. I ate some food and Robin read her book. After some time, I wanted to check on Aria again. So Robin and I made our way back up to the floor where she was. Before we made it though we saw that ass man go into a different room. I paused outside the door and in the bed I could see the man that I had punched. He looked like he was half dead. That guy was yelling at him. "What the hell were you doing shooting my fiancé? You were only supposed to shoot her driver and her friend. You could have killed her!" The guy in the bed coughed and cleared his throat. "I don't know man, she attacked me. You didn't tell me that she was violent. I think the bitch had what was coming to her." The asshole man reached out and slapped the man on the bed. Then he stormed out almost running into Robin.
I met Robin's eyes. Hers were filled with anger. "I will kill him." I said to her patting her shoulder comforting her. We went up one more floor where Aria was. She was asleep and resting peacefully. Kimberly was going to go home and check on Chopper and Ralph. Robin wanted to go with her but I didn't want to leave Aria. Kimberly seemed to be having an internal debate with herself. Finally, she sighed and said "look Edgar is gone and won't be coming back until tomorrow. As long as you don't use your powers and make sure to not bother the doctors or nurses I think that you will be fine."
I woke with a start; I had fallen asleep in the chair next to Aria's bed. I looked up and saw that Aria was still asleep. I reached out and held her hand it was warm and very small in mine. She was strong and fearless though. She attacked that man with a gun, even though she was unarmed. She had done it because he had hurt someone she cared about. She cared deeply about people, I wished she would stay asleep a little longer. As much as I wanted her to wake up and kiss her and hold her I knew that I would have to tell her that the man that had been shot didn't make it. I didn't want to be the one to tell her that he died, but I knew that it was better that I did it and no one else. I leaned forward and kissed her very gently. I sat back down and fell asleep.
Aria's point of view
I woke up in the hospital. You can always tell when you're in a hospital just by the nasty clinical smell that seems to perfume the air. I cleared my throat and went to sit up and pain ripped through me. I looked down and saw that I was bandaged up. There was a heavy bandage right under my left collar bone. I heard a knock on the door. A doctor entered a moment later. "Hey how are you feeling?" I thought about it for a second and then answered honestly. "I hurt but not even to make me think that I am dying. How is Mr. Martinez?" The doctor sat down on one of those rolling stools and rolled over to me. "Well you aren't dying. You are actually doing surprisingly good considering you were shot." He was hesitating in an odd way.
"Mr. Martinez?" My doctor cleared his throat, "I'm sorry but Mr. Martinez didn't survive." The doctor patted my hand. He looked like he was about to say something else but then the door opened and Luffy stood there. I felt my mouth fall open. He took one look at me and rushed over and then his lips were on mine. He was kissing away my hurt, his presence just him being there was better than any pain medication. My doctor stood up "I will come back later." He left somewhat abruptly. I touched Luffy's face right under his scar. "How are you even here?" Luffy gave me the loveable smile that he always did. "I told you that I would come and kick that guys ass, and then you can come home with me. We can sail on the thousand sunny and have lots of adventures." I smiled and nodded finally ready to be honest with myself. "I want to Luffy, I want to go home and be with you and all of our friends." I kissed him again and he kissed me back passionately.
