Chapter Eleven:
Friend's Quarrel:
May emerged from the bathroom while vigorously rubbing her face with a towel, she was going on about it for awhile now with no wished results, the ink wouldn't fade no matter how much she washed her face. Izo watched amusedly as the woman stopped and glared –once again- at the towel like everything was the fault of the poor piece of cloth. He shifted on his chair and faced the drawer's mirror fixing his black hair,
"So what's ' Chestnut Trio' stands for?" The words were wrote on the back of Marco's head, he obviously didn't notice them and no one was willing to tell him since every person approached him, after what May did, received a deathful glare.
May chuckled taking a strand of her bangs then rolled it playfully between her slender fingers "The hair color is our only mutual point."
He knew that she was referring to her, Thatch and Haruta. They're the mastermind of all the troubles above the ship no wonder they planned the prank together, and honestly Izo think that the hair color isn't the only communal thing May has with his two brothers, take for example her passion to rile Marco, Izo snorted then simply uttered "Figures."
Frowning, May continued attacking her face with the towel then eventually and with a huff of annoyance she gave in "Don't you have something help me remove this shit?!" The sixteen division's commander had a load of cosmetics lined up on the dresser, he just had to have something there she could use.
Izo slowly moved his orbs so he could stare at the female from the corner of his eyes then stated "It depends."
She met his gazes sharply not believing he let her almost peel her skin from rubbing while he actually had a solution "On?"
The cross-dresser sighed deeply, he turned entirely to face her then commanded "Move your mouth right then lift," he obeyed his owns order giving an example to the female who blankly cocked her head. Although puzzled May complied, though when she did the cat whiskers on her cheeks shifted. Izo sweat dropped wondering what the hell was Marco thinking when he drew on her face, if he didn't knew his brother he would say killing her from overload cuteness. He waved his hand in front of him then shamelessly lied "Nah, I don't have."
"Liar!" She spouted crossing her arms into her chest while childishly pouting.
Izo rolled his black orbs, she looked cute and he would give in if it wasn't for the certain fact that his brothers were the ones who told her to use her faked hurt expressing against him –yes, his soft point- "Yeah, whatever." He thought that the more she stays with Thatch and Haruta the more she influence with their bad habits.
May sighed in defeat sulking isn't for her and she knew beforehand Izo won't buy it but she had to try anyway, besides, now that she have the chance she rather discuss an important subject with the cross-dresser other than her plain face "Umm…" She cleared her throat attracting Izo's attention once again. She rubbed the back of her neck completely lost of how she could brings up the said subject, she considered the option of just throwing hints subtly and knowing Izo's perceptivity he would definitely comprehend her objective then she sighed wondered when the hell talking was this hard for a straightforward person like her, when did she lost her confident to speak her mind freely not bothering what the other will feel or think?
True relationships had proved that they're scary just as she imagined, they impose fear upon all of her actions which is why she had to attentively think of her next move, word or expression like the whole relationship thing is based on that simple act, its tiring though and for a lonely person like her who never cared what the others thought about her it was quite uncomfortable.
She feared Izo would thought she approached him just to use him, she feared he would hate her and push her away. Yes, she had turned to a coward still the thought of been a coward didn't set right with her 'Hints, my ass.' Then she spoke on a whim loudly challenging herself "I want my guns back."
Izo who was watching her struggle and waited for her to sort things in her head patiently, knotted his eyebrow and his red painted mouth curved downward, a sign that May had messed up. He got up from his chair and marched toward her leisurely with elegant steps, the wolfish glare never leaving his face and once he reached an arm length he halted. The silence was unnerving, and May found herself creating numerous dire scenarios of what the cross-dresser would do next, cowardice or not, she cared and her heart ached after all he was her first friend above the ship, her first friend since years.
The cross-dresser snatched his poor towel from her hands causing the woman to jump slightly, he growled at her then shouted "You mean your useless toys."
For a split-second the brunette eyes widened in shock seeing as nothing of her gloomy assumptions happened, then she tilted her head mouthing 'huh' from sheer bafflement, Izo crossed his arms then retorted explaining "Even though I numerously pulled their triggers they shots no bullets."
May sweat dropped and the silly urge to laugh overwhelmed her down to her relief "Did you check the safety catch?" Though she regretted asking since the majority of the guns she saw on this world were flintlocks which had no safety manual.
"Huh?" A puzzled shadow passed across his white powdered face then he snapped "What the need for safety in a murderous weapon when you posses it to kill?" he glared at May like it was her fault "You folks are stupid or what?"
The female sweat dropped several times, she wanted to tell him that there is some people who wrongly shot themselves or their friends but bite her tongue since that is actually will prove his point "It's for the safety of the children who may come across a gun or such," she sighed tiredly when Izo deadpanned with pursed lips, he won't let go of the subject easily now won't he?
He exhaled noisily "I'll give them back," then he confidently smirked "Once you show me their mechanism."
May has no choice in this matter since the cross-dresser won't accept 'no' as an answer, and she had missed her weapons so it wasn't a bad deal. She smirked back mirroring him "Okay!" She snatched the towel from him, then headed toward the bathroom "Wait till I wash out the ink."
And that will take forever so…"No fucking way," he chokingly grabbed her from the collar and literally dragged her out his quarter completely ignoring the bluish color of the female's face and her struggle to breath.
The first division's commander stood supervising his brothers on the main deck as they adjust the sails and Jozu took over the wheel to adjust the rudder, they've got the wind at their back as they sail downwind. The Moby dick glided with its full speed thus they will most luckily reach the island tonight and the drop of the temperature verifies that, however they can't relax and as the head navigator Marco has to watch over the changes of the wind given that a slight vary of its direction could cause the vessel to capsize.
His lidded blue eyes were surveying the knots thoughtfully when they fell on Thatch who bolted out of the galley then headed toward Whitebeard, and after a small exchange they both went to the officer' quarter. Marco raised an eyebrow wondering what could be so serious and worth discussing privately, eventually he heard his father's laugh echoing then a grinning Thatch emerged from the quarter, the blond sighed dramatically at the chef who looked like a child who received his favorite toy.
After less than fifteen minute, Haruta appears at the main deck while cheerfully whistling a harmonic melody. He ambled toward the officer' quarter, the youngest knocked the mahogany double door then waited causing Marco to proudly and satisfactory smirk thinking that at least he still has some manners on him –Contrary to Thatch- Then after Whitebeard gave his constant Haruta went inside and similar to Thatch's case Whitebeard's laugh roared couple of times then an extremely happy Haruta came out.
Even if his father is involved, Marco has a bad feeling about the whole scene, he sighed then returned his attention to his tasks.
All the pirates who witnessed Izo smirking and dragging May across the Moby paled and cleared the path murmuring sympathetic words thinking that the female would be skinned for whatever she did, some even prayed for her soul to rest in peace –How nice of them- May was certain she swapped the floor of the whole hallway with her body.
Once they reached the destined quarter the cross-dresser factually kicked the door open with his wooden scandals and just then that he let go of the female's collar, he pointed toward a door of the two inside the quarter enthusiastically totally ignoring May's cough "Yosh! Empties the shooting range for us right away," his black eyes were sparkling, two pirates saluted then moved quickly toward the pointed room to notify the pirates there about their commander's order.
Vista who was training swordsmanship to some pirates stopped instantly then dashed to help the woman, he crouched in front of her and quizzed concernedly "Are you alright?"
The brunette turned toward him with her gray watery eyes which were like raining storm's clouds, her full lips were parted to gulp more air and her cheeks were reddish making the cat whiskers standing out even more, then she nodded hesitantly. Several pirates on the background cheered with pink painting their faces, Vista rooted in his spot a shade curtaining his eyes. May innocently tilted her head then asked back "Are you Okay?" however before she receive any response Izo pulled her once again by the collar and went inside the room.
Vista got to his feet, composed himself then headed to the main deck. He had an important subject to discuss with his father, they absolutely can't abandon such an innocent cute creature, the thought of him acting exactly like Izo when he saw cute things popped into his head then he laughed heartily earning confused stares from the other pirates.
Izo sealed the door shut while May examined the spacious area, it was astonishing that the walls were soundproofing and have bullets traps. There were five windows for good illumination and to drive out smoke, gunpowder and lead particles out of the room when the training finish, and then May watched as the cross-dresser happily replaced the used human-like wooden targets with new ones at the other side of the room, when he finished he picked earplugs, earmuffs and shooting glasses then threw them to the female.
He retrieved May's twin handguns then handed them to her smirking devilishly "How about a small duel?"
May was sure as hell the commander planned the whole duel thing the moment guns were mentioned on their earlier conversation, though she had no opinion on the matter. She sighed taking hold of her weapons then smirked as well, it would be a lie if she said she wasn't excited "Alright."
"Six bullets," Izo said while pointing at the targets "The most X scoring is the winner," The human silhouette has teen rounds, five at the center and five at the head which mean there was two of X (The inner ring or bullseye), then the cross-dresser swiftly added "We will only consider the center, is that Okay with you?"
May nodded eagerly then intensely gazed at one of her Beretta 92fs guns, the firearm has a silvery metal except for the grip that was covered with black leather. She really had missed their weights on her hands and the mental reassurance the weapons gave her, though she had surpassed the need for the latter. She dexterously pulled the gun's magazine, then sweat dropped when she found exactly six rounds –bullets- there which proved that Izo was planning this long ago maybe even before she bring up the guns' topic. She pushed the magazine inside the gun then grinned when she heard the sound that assured the rounds' chamber was secured, next she disengage the safety by simply moving a switch then looked at Izo who was interestingly watching her, when their eyes locked he frowned and then with a huff he darted to the opposite direction pissed that he didn't figure out such a simple trick, May chuckled at his childish behavior.
After they agreed that Izo would go first, they both wore their ear and eye protections. She pulled back the slide loading the gun then smiled at Izo who mouthed 'Watch me.' and she did just that.
May was totally impressive after all flintlock pistols were used for short ranges and had many disadvantages however if Izo was anything then it was extremely fast, the flint swung sparkly as he pulled the trigger swiftly and skillfully, the follow-through points when he should prepare for the next shot were expertly short. She watched in awe as the firing halted within seconds, the commander glanced at her dumbfounded expression then she snapped out of it when he smirked knowingly.
It was her turn.
She took a deep breath then held her gun, she aimed aligning the front sight with the rear sight and focused all of her attention at the target -at the bullseye to be exact- with her dominant eye ignoring her surroundings. The world slowed its motion, she heard nothing but her steady heartbeats, and saw nothing other than her prey. May loves that split-second when her sight pierce the aim since an ecstatic addicting doze of adrenaline shots in her veins, she held her breath then pulled the trigger freeing the bullet with a rowdy noise she couldn't hear but knew was there.
She repeated the motion, making the follow-through as minimum as she could manage, she wasn't fast as Izo since there was no hurry and she certainly wanted to get accurate hits, all of them. Equivalent to her repetitively feat cylindrical empty rounds rolled out of the firearm and tagged next to her feet, one after the other.
When she finished, she let a long breath she didn't knew she was holding, then darted toward Izo with the same smug smirk he gave her before, their positions seemed to reverse seeing as he was looking at her shockingly.
Grinning they strolled toward the targets while removing their protection, and once they reached the human silhouettes they both frowned, May's target and Izo's were both hit on the X six times.
The cross-dresser had to give it to the female, she was something. He sighed then ruffled her hair while smiling affectionately "It's a draw."
May's frown deepened, she dismally slapped his hand "No need for syrupy talk, I handle defeat just fine," She shrugged while smiling at his confused expression, he looked at the target once again and it was draw as he first saw, then she added chuckling when he raised a delicate eyebrow at her "believe me if I used a flintlock gun it wouldn't be the same result."
Izo rolled her eyes but didn't comment, he was stubborn and she was the same so they wouldn't agree on the same result no matter what. May easily spotted her third gun placed on a table beside flintlock guns and rifles, she held the heavy firearm and checked it and thankfully her SIG550 Assault Rifle was in a good shape. Izo glance at the weapon then grinned "Show me how that works too."
"Can't do, we need outdoor range," She said while rolling the gun on her hand then added chillingly smirking "and a living target like some huge blue turkey."
She obviously was hinting about Marco, Izo sweat dropped "Won't you guys get along already?"
She chuckled "Never!"
Marco was discussing with Jozu the list of the things they need to purchase from the next Isle and the persons in charge of the task when he felt a shudder run down his spine then he sneezed, the 3th division commander raised an eyebrow at his brother, he would say it was the cold doing but Marco's devil fruit provide him warmth and moreover health.
"As they say someone is talking about you," Jozu uttered sluggishly.
If the myth is true then the blond has a good idea who it was, beside they would be planning something not just talking about him "I need a lock for my quarter yoi." Jozu nodded chuckling.
"Hey gentlemen," Vista joyfully greeted earning a nod from both of his brothers then he asked while caressing the tip of his black mustache "Where's Pops?"
Marco and Jozu traded a look then the first answered pointing to the quarter in front of them "The officer's quarter yoi."
Once Vista excused himself, the blond rubbed the back of his neck wondering what the hell is going on with his brothers today, maybe someone's birthday; he shook his head then helpfully glanced at the 3th division commander who shrugged in response.
As promised, Izo returned the twin guns to May, their leg holder and the bullets. She decided to leave the Assault Rifle at the shooting range room and take it later when they docked since it would be awkward to wander the ship with such a big weapon. May sighed contently when she secured the guns on her sides then turned to Izo "Is that all? You didn't found anything else?"
The 16th division commander cocked his head "Like what?"
The female's eyes narrow, there was a veiled 'yes' on his question since Izo would have denied if there was nothing else however he wanted her to spill it out, that much she knew about Izo. She broke eye contact with the commander then answered courtly "Paper."
May wasn't surprised the slightest when Izo rummaged his red sash then took out a folded piece of paper, she just watched him with melancholic eyes as he offered her to take it however she didn't move an inch "So you've read it."
Izo thought May would be angry, well she had the right to since he just went and read her mother's letter, he didn't do it intentionally of course but he doubt the brunette would want to hear his silly excuse "I'm truly sorry, I didn't mean to."
Seeing the commander closing his eyes and slightly bowing his head in a remorseful manner made May felt more vulnerable, she sighed reaching for the letter then forced a smile "Its fine."
"Did she return?" He asked when she took the paper then looked at it sorrowfully and somehow fearfully, there was no enthusiasm in their conversation and the dialogue was coldly soft.
"No," She shook her head then a shadow of uncertainty passed her eyes she dived her hand in her bangs pushing them backward, Izo noted that it is a subconscious act mean that she was deeply confused "I doubt she did," She shrugged freeing her bangs then awkwardly smiled "I don't actually knew since I've left."
"So why still clinging to her letter? Why waiting for her?" He questioned with his eerie calm voice, he himself had problems with his family so he kind of understand. May looked down at the paper in her hand she wasn't waiting or searching for her and deep down she knew that her mother has started a new life where May no longer belong however she hoped for another meeting to tell her that she was doing fine without her, which was a lie. May lips parted then closed without uttering a single word and that added fuel to Izo's rage.
"You're in different worlds now right?" The cross-dresser frowned. May was surprised when he grabbed her shoulder and shook her, she defensively hide the letter behind her causing Izo to snap at her "let it go already!" He outstretched his hand and gripped the letter in spit of that the female didn't let go of it, it was a miracle the paper didn't chop up.
They glared at each other for minutes then Izo closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, they won't reach anything by doing this then he glanced down at the bloody letter and May hands which were stubbornly clutching on it for dear life then and for the first time he noticed something on her wrist, his eyes widened "The hell?" he let go if the paper and instead gripped her hand and turned it to have a clear view of what seemed like a healed suicidal cut, he stuttered in an attempt to form an accurate sentence. He was sold to the red distract when he was just a little brat by his family to pay off their debut, the simple thought of him been sacrificed was torturing let alone living as a slave however he never ever thought of killing himself "Is she even worth it?" he asked faintly, tiredly even.
May gazed at his black hollowly eyes, they were like a mirror reflecting her grief as if he was wounded the same way she was. She forcefully pulled her hand from his grip snapping "It's not what you think it is," She unintentionally covered the scar on her wrist with her hand shouting "She has nothing to do with this, Okay?" It was the truth, she had felt betrayed when her mother left leaving her behind with a glacial promise which she took to the heart, yes she waited and endured for the sake of it however looking at it from another angle it was what kept her going until Shine entered her life with yet another promise "It's because I lived for revenge but when I achieved it I…" She bite her tongue when she saw Izo wide opened eyes.
May hates talking about her past, it was nothing but shameful mistakes. After Shine's death she did what she was suppose to do long ago and gathered evidences about her father's shady business then handed them to Shine's brother who helped throwing him into the jail however he was killed there and Lela took over the house and his money, May didn't really care as long as she fight for what her friend died for: her freedom, but it all crashed when she heard the woman talking to a man and contentedly confessing that she was the one who cut the car's brakes and that she paid to murder May's father. Even if she didn't mean to, Lela was the one who killed Shine. When the information sink in, revenge blinded May.
"So you don't have anything to live for? You're lost? But no matter what you are you don't have to be alone, you don't have to take it all upon yourself," Izo approached May who in her turn took a small step back but stayed in an arm length, he took hold of her shoulder gently as if fearing she would break any second "Stay with us May, the majority likes you and I'm sure Pops would love to have you as his daughter," the female shook her head knowing what was next, she didn't wanted to hear the words not again however Izo vocalized exactly what she feared "we'll help you," the 16th division commander was lost upon seeing her aghast expression, then he reasoned "maybe you're here because it's here where you belongs."
The shade of her bangs curtained her eyes, it was for the best since Izo would have seen how badly she wanted to accept his offer "No, I can't." Even if she blamed Lela and even revenged, Shine's death was her entire fault. She should've refused when he offered his help, after all she would've been satisfied with just his light knocks on her window, hears his stories and sees his bright smile "I don't want to be anyone's shadow."
Izo's hands fell immediately to his sides, he was shocked and hurt "Is that how you see us? Shadows?" May hated herself for many things, now she added been the reason for Izo's wounded reaction but it was for the best. She didn't response, pushed the letter into her pocket then headed to the door but stopped by his muffled question "so you were pretending this whole time?"
"I guess you are right, maybe I don't belong there," May had a hard time believing her own words, she can't just simply let go of what seemed reality to her for years, the heartbreaks and the scars all over her body are evidences that she wasn't merely dreaming. Izo stared at her back hopefully but then she added "Neither here! I don't belong anywhere," she opened the door "True I was selfish but…" then turned to face him, her eyes were resolvedly determined "I've never pretended, I was fucking trying."
Before she closes the door and after snapping out of his shock Izo shouted at her retreating back "I'm bi!" upon hearing the statement May flushed at the memory of her snuggling with Izo, it wasn't her fault he was cuddlesome.
"I didn't need to know that!" She retorted then left slamming the door shut.
Izo leaned on the wall staring at the wooden ceiling he sighed then a grin broke into his powdered face "Stupid May, pirates are the masters of selfishness." Even if she pushed him he won't easily give it up, he is the kind of determined –and persisting- man who stood his ground. He fixed his kimono and hair then went toward the main deck, he was bothered by the fact that he would tell his father everything he learned about May, sure he was a talkative person but he never took other people's secrets lightly.
May concluded that relationships are scary and just then it hits her hard that she was a coward, true she never feared death however living was scarier and death was nothing but a running way. The brunette wandered the ship aimlessly, she considered going to Thatch's quarter however despite the man's stupidity –that she thought faked at some point- he could see through her which was uneasy, she missed been masked behind her rough, blank façade and in any case she craved her loneliness too, she yearned for an empty space however after awhile of walking May found herself standing in front of a blue door.
At first she hesitantly knocked but there was no answer so she turned the doorknob and went inside, the quarter was empty. She sighed pacing toward the fluffy bed then collapsed there, the room was dimly light giving a vibe of sacred consolation, May figures that maybe that was the reason behind the absence of portholes and not because Marco cows –maybe-
She swung her head left then her eyes caught a glimpse of the wine's bottles, Marco won't mind would he? Well, he will definitely mind but she wanted to see if it would make her feel better, although just the thought of riling Marco improved her mood slightly.
Hello Guys! How're you doing? Wish you're fine.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter and didn't hate me at the end, after all they say 'A quarrel with friends, when made up, adds a new tie to friendship.' ;))
Well, wish I didn't screw up the guns' part since I never had or seeing one -mom had a good scare when she saw me googling them -_-' - Though they're interesting in a way. Unfortunately there was no Thatch in this chapter, including him in each chapter turned to be a habit :3
Sousie: I'm glad you enjoy this story :)) and its makes me happy knowing you have a good time reading it, thank you so much for your review and support.
StorytellerD132: Yeep, I think Izo likes playing matchmaker but guess he knew what his doing ;)) Thank you for reading this story and I'm happy you enjoy it. Thanks for reviewing :D.
Guest: And here is your update :D Now Izo -and Whitebeard- knew little about her and the cross-dresser won't let her off the hook easily, Thank you so much for your review :))
Strangeranger: First and foremost I like your pen name it reminds me of 'Power Rangers' series -oh beautiful youth T.T- Thank you sooo much for your nice review and constant support. I've never thought of dragging someone else with her to OP and I'll consider your idea its great :D (Lela for example Lol) but it'll have to wait for now at least till Ace enters the picture :)) Thank you again for your nice review and putting your signature ;)) its good to recognize you (y).
Thank you all for reading, following/favoring and reviewing :*
Ciao Next Chapter.