and we are back with another exciting chapter! things get real and personal for both Ryu and Levi this chapter. and sorry this chapter isn't as long as the last one. I promise the next chapter will be a little longer.

Guest-

thank you. yes, I did leave it like that. the chapter is sad, but Levi and Ryu are getting close and it is cute. I thought everyone would enjoy getting to see more of Levi's past, and we still have more of it to cover later in later chapters as well.

Kent: yes, it was sad. the poor captain.

I'm glad to hear that you had a good weekend. my weekends have been good. learning to drive and hopefully, I can get my hours and go for my licence soon. here is the next chapter! I hope you like it. this chapter is, um...

Kyousuke: confronting?

yeah, confronting for Levi. we learn more about him and his family, which will brought up more and during futures.

theotakureader101-

Kyousuke: the chapter got dark really fast?

Kent: yes.

it did.

Kyousuke: oh, I never noticed.

anyway... yes, things got dark really fast. thank you, the backstories do help give character to Ryu and Levi don't they? it's all roght, I get what you're trying to say. I think.

mysterious lady: Sarah! my name is Sarah, not Alex!

Antagonist? what's that? *dodges ice* I'm kidding Levi, I'm kidding. who is she? well, keep reading to find out. Antagonist, crew member. all will be relived soon enough.

Eren: we need an angnoist for the arch!

Levi: it's antagonist Eren.

Eren: oh... my bad. anni-tago-ness!

Levi *sighing*: close enough.

Kent: I think we are all want to know how she is connected Eren.

Kyousuke: oh we all know there is going to be some kind of romance between Levi and Ryu. it is so obvious that they like each other.

Eren: they're relationship is rushed? how?

I will only say one thing to all this. Teenagers. that is all, not offended by what your saying. you're all good. anyway, thank you. I thought it was a good chapter too. i think everyone is excited to see how this progress. thank you for the luck.

Kent: i agree. it is a little bit awkward. especially if your a guy who likes girls and-

I said that is all I am going on the matter. next review!

Supreme Kai of Writing

I don't think anyone was ready for this emotional rollercoaster. and people wonder why Levi doesn't like being Lev and why Eren doesn't do it, like at all.

Kyousuke: I agree, all of the times when someone has called Levi, Lev, are a lot less funny.

Eren: I know right? Levi-nii and Ryu-nii are sickingly cute together, aren't they!

Ryu *blush in groundground*.

Levi*not even listening as he wants a smoothie*

Eren: well here is the chapter! it was a cliffhanger, wasn't it?

And Eren stole my line... *sigh* okay, next review.

WhitewolfLune

thank you! I know right? Poor Levi. we did get to see more on our dear captain's past and what happened with Henry, though, there is a little more to the story that will saved and relieved at a later date.

Kent: it was sad for the captain and Eren, wasn't it?

Kyousuke: the captain and our resident babysitter are cute aren't they?

Eren: I know right? who is poor Ryu! my big brother is going to kick their ass!

Sheaon13: how could we leave it like that? by doing it! *laughing*

Levi: since when were you here?

Sheaon13: I've been here the whole time, I was just in the corner reading.

you would have done the same too WhitewoldLune. PS, can't wait for your next chapter. anyway, here is the next chapter!

The Gaming Geek Gina

Kent: your mind was totally blown?

sweet!

Kyousuke: I guess it was a sad chapter and it did most certainly have lots of interesting backstory stuff and other things in it.

Kent: I don't think a lot of people were expecting the romance between Ryu and Levi.

Kyousuke: but it is cute.

I know, I think Henry's death made a few tear up a bit. I know it made cry a little when I wrote it.

Levi: Henry was a good man

Eren: yep. is does explain why Levi-nii blames himself for Henry's death and why I felt so bad and ran away, right?

thank you. I hope you enjoy this captain as much as the others. I also hope you have a nice day. anyway, that's all of the reviews, now on witht he chapter! enjoy everyone as we found out who is hurting Ryu!


Chapter 10: Revelations

Eren struggled against the man who was holding him as Kent and Kyousuke both froze. Shit, Eren got caught! Levi was going to kill them. Though the fact they were caught too wasn't helping matters. The marine that caught them had easily over powered them. Damn, they were strong for marines, they can't be from here if they're this strong. Kyousuke and Kent were both sure that the marines had to be from the New World, or at least, the Grandline. Normal Blue Marines shouldn't be and aren't this strong!

"Let me go! Don't hurt Ryu!" Eren shouted as he struggled.

"He's the one I've been targeting! Of course I'm going to kill him! But first I'm going to savor his screams," the well dressed marine stated. Ryu slowly opened his eyes, groaning in pain from the sea-stone, after effects of the pain in his core, and the cut along his neck. The well dressed marine had made the cut to wake Ryu.

Kyousuke felt like he had seen this man before, but he wasn't sure where or how or why. Who was this man and why did he scare the swordsman? Kent was wondering where Levi was. Where was their captain right now when they needed him? When Eren needed him.

"Good morning descendant of Monkey D. Luffy," the marine was smiling sadistically. Those words woke Ryu up fully almost immediately. He glared at the man, there was an underlying hint of panic in his eyes.

"Descendant of who…?" Kyle asked in shock. Ryu was a descendant of Monkey D. Luffy, THE Monkey D. Luffy? As in the second pirate king? Why didn't he tell him?

"Awe, you didn't tell the man that had been taking care of you all these years about your heritage, how sad," the marine grabbed Ryu's hair roughly. "Because he's going to be the first to die. Let's watch shall we?"

Kyousuke looked at Kent. Ryu was a descendant of Monkey D. Luffy? Well, that was interesting. Kent sighed, of course Kyousuke wasn't worried about the situation they were currently in, despite the fact that the marine had caught them had just said Kyle was about to die. It truly didn't surprise him.

"Don't touch him!" Eren shouted as things started floating in the air and most of the marines were holding onto their heads. They were in pain and they had no idea why, it was like there was a jackhammer trying to destroy their brains. The only one that didn't seem to mind it was the well dressed marine, in fact he seemed to be grinning like a maniac at the pain. That confirmed some of the other marines suspicions that he wasn't only a sadist but also a masochistic.

Kent wasn't sure if it was luck or skill that Eren wasn't getting everyone with his powers right now. Kyousuke froze as his thoughts were coming together on why this well dressed marine was so familiar. Oh sea gods no… please don't let Kyousuke be right, because they were going to be royally screwed if he was right.

"It's been awhile since someone was able to hurt me. For that I'll let you live. Along with those two," The well dressed marine stated. "I'll also give you my name, it's Admiral Malic Raloof."

Was that lucky? Kent wasn't sure. It lucky, as well as unlucky. Kyousuke let a sigh, oh thank gods it wasn't the person that he had been thinking but still, this guy was dangerous since Kyousuke knew who he was.

"Bloodbath Malic," Kyousuke said, only knowing the man by that name. Though, last time Kyousuke knew and had heard of with the man, he was an Vice Admiral and not an Admiral. "I know you, kind of. You earned that name ten years ago after slaughtering an entire village for harbouring pirates. I heard along the grapevine that it was a bloodbath, which is how you got your nickname. Though, you were only a Lieutenant then."

"I have a different one now that I am Admiral, but yes, that's correct," Malic told Kyousuke. "And which grapevine did you hear that?"

Kyousuke smirked. "Oh wouldn't you like to know." Not that he was going to tell the marine. Though, he was sure the marine would be able to work it out if he was smart enough.

"It was you..." Ryu said slowly as he glared up at the man and everything was making sense. Why he knew that Ryu was a descendant of Monkey D. Luffy. "It was you ten years ago that killed everyone!"

"Guilty~" Malic sang as he grinned. Ryu thrashed desperately at the cuffs as it caused Malic to grip his hair tighter.

"I'll kill you! You murder! You bastard! I'll kill you!" Ryu snarled.

"Leave Ryu alone!" Eren shouted again as he kept struggling against the marine holding him. Some of the weaker marines collapsed from the huge spike of pain in their heads.

"Someone put sea-stone on the kid, he's interrupting my fun."

"My brother is going to kick your ass when he gets here! LEVI!" Eren screamed as the house was shaking from Eren's powers, Kent, Kyousuke and Kyle could all feel Eren using his powers this time. Zero was protecting Ryu from it, absorbing it himself. The blond marine holding Eren put sea-stone cuffs on him, doing so gently. Everything died down suddenly as Eren looked about ready to pass out.

"Kyousuke," Kent whispered to him, since they were right next each other. "Should I…?"

"Not yet Kent," Kyousuke told him in a low whispering. Knowing what Kent was saying, he was asking if he use his fishman blood. It wasn't the right time to use that card yet. They needed to wait for their captain. "Wait for my signal. Right now, that is our only secret weapon and can't use it till the moment is right. Okay?" Even if the marines knew or worked out that Kent had fishman DNA in him, they wouldn't know what his abilities from it would be. They needed to keep that secret for now.

The marine holding Eren placed him at Kent's and Kyousuke's feet.

"Now, behave nicely boys or I won't be letting you live after this is all done anymore, understood?" Malic said to the Sky Raider crew.

"Go to hell!" Eren snapped weakly.

"Please sir, forgive him, he's just a kid and doesn't know who you are or any better than this," Kyousuke said as the marines let him and Kent go. "We understand. We will be good." They needed to play along for a little bit, once Levi gets here then they use Kent's fishman octopus poison and fishman strength to stun the marines for a moment, so that they can get away. At least, that's how the plan was going to work in theory. But things don't always go to plan, so only the Maiden knew what was going to happen.

"Ryu's our friend!" Eren yelled. "He's going to join our crew! So leave him alone!"

"Eren shut up!" Kyousuke said as he covered the younger's mouth. Is the kid trying to get them killed?!

Levi and Eren?! Was someone playing a sick joke on him?! Those were his nephews names. He didn't like whoever decided to call them that. He would play along, for now.

"You're pirates? That changes things. You're all dead. First I'll kill the caretaker, then the brat, then the beggar, then the one with the fish blood. You get to watch descendant. You'll be last." Malic stated.

"Oh like hell you are going to touch Eren!" Kyousuke growled. "Our captain will kill us!" It seems they might have to change plans. "Kent, if things go south before the captain gets here, take Eren and run," Kyousuke whispered very softly to him. "I'll give you as much time as I can."

"But he knows about my blood!" Kent said in a low whisper back.

"It doesn't matter if he knows of your blood, he can't know of your powers and abilities from it because that doesn't show in blood," Kyousuke told him. "You head right to the Skye Ryder and leave. Got it?"

"What about you and the captain?" Kent couldn't just abounded Kyousuke.

"Eren's safety is our top priority," Kyousuke told Kent. "Just hope you two run into the captain on your way to the ship. Leave with or without captain, we have to protect Eren no matter what or we're going to have face the wrath of the captain and I know you don't want that. As for me… I don't matter. No-one thinks twice about what happens to the trash they throw away. So I am any different? Trash is trash after."

"And Ryu?" Kent asked as he looked over at the younger teen. Eren in the meantime was trying get Kyousuke's hand off his mouth, but he was struggling at trying to do it since he was feeling so tired and weak.

"I'll try, but I can't make any promises," Kyousuke sighed. He would try to set Ryu free but he wasn't sure if he was going to be able to save the kid, distract the marines from Eren and Kent while buying them as much as time as he can to get to the ship and escape. Though, that doesn't mean he won't try.

A whimper escaped Ryu's mouth so did blood that came from biting down hard on his tongue, as some of his blood was drawn from his neck by the marine admiral.

"Stop it!" Kyle shouted at the marine admiral. "You're hurting him! Leave my son alone you asshole!"

One of the marines looked at Eren closely, noticing the kid's necklace and the two charms on it. One being the mark of the Sky Raiders, their wing of freedom and the other being a key. It looked oddly familiar... Oh shit…

"Admiral, we have a problem," the marine said.

"What problem?!" Malic snapped, as he was about to kill Kyle.

"This necklace is the same as Checkmate's. You know the one that she says she gave to her brother, that she made by hand," the marine told Malic. "I recognise that key anywhere. Have a look yourself."

Eren looked at the marine funny. Checkmate…? Who was that? It sounded familiar. A image appeared in his mind. A younger him was was facing a blurry figure.

"Why do they call you Checkmate onee-chan?" he asked.

"Because my strategies always get a Checkmate," the blurry figure told him.

Eren's vision returned to normal as he blinked his eyes. That was the first time he ever had one memory return to him. He latched onto it. He has a sister… an older sister…

"Checkmate?" Kent said. That name sounded familiar to him, but he wasn't sure why.

'You have to be kidding me,' Kyousuke thought to himself. He was going to have a talk to Levi about this. Checkmate was dangerous.

"And they're the Sky Raiders," the same marine told the Admiral, looking him straight in his eyes. "As in the ones that Vice Admiral Lux is looking for. Their captain is Ice Demon Levi." Emphasizing on who the captain was so that Malic realised who it was. "I recognise the blue wing charm, it's the same one that use the Sky Raiders fly as their wings of freedom, along side their jolly roger. This isn't good Admiral Malic, we have orders to not touch them." Though, the marine that told Malic knew he wasn't going to touch them after finding out who they were with and that Eren was that Eren. Malic suddenly felt sick, he almost killed his nephew? He was immediately glad the marine interrupted him. He didn't let the sick feeling show on his features. He was really glad the marine he trusted the most pointed that out.

There were orders to not touch them? What? Why? What was going on? Maybe Kyousuke could use this to their advantage? Maybe he can get out of the marine who put the order out to not touch the Sky Raiders and why and… wait, Lux? As in Vice Admiral Rivaille Lux?

Wait a minute... Rivaille…? Isn't that Levi's last name? The captain has family in the marines?! Kyousuke wasn't sure what to think or made of that information right now… right now though, he needed to use it to their advantage that the marines aren't meant touch them.

"Well, I guess since you're not meant to touch us that you'll just have to let us go then," Kyousuke said smugly. "Since you have orders to not touch us. Ryu is included that 'no touch order,' since is a member of our crew. And I would suggest taking the sea-stone off our youngest member as well."

"I better report to Vice Admiral Lux that they're here," the marine said reluctantly. He actually didn't want to do it, but if the Fleet Admiral finds out that he didn't do it. Malic and him were going to be in huge trouble. Malic may not get punished as severely though, since the fleet admiral had a soft spot for the admiral. That soft spot was only ever shown to Malic. Not even his birth children were shown that.

"I have been searching for the brat for a long time like hell I'm not going to touch him! I may not be able to touch you three brats but I'm not giving up the boy I have been searching ten years to find!" Malic snarled. He wasn't going to ever hurt Levi and Eren, but Ryu was another matter. "Let me speak to Lux, he knows I've been searching for the brat. I do like him, no matter how it seems. I'll let the Sky Raiders go but the descendant and his caretaker are mine. And we're not taking the sea-stone off the kid till I have confirmed you guys are the right crew and till I'm done with the descendent and his caretaker. You are free to go after that," Malic took the phone handed to him. He wanted to take it off badly, but he knew Eren would try to stop him. He was now speaking to Lux.


Aboard Lux's ship…

"Lux," a marine captain with black hair said. He was Lux's right hand-man, his go to guy. The young captain like a son to him, though, if anyone asked, the 25 year old was Lux's son. "You have a call. It's from him again."

Lux wanted to throw the snail out the damn window. What the hell did that damn Bloodbath want now!? Can't he stay out Lux's family business?! Lux didn't consider him family, despite the adoption. He didn't know Malic didn't feel the same. That he considered Lux family and that was that. He cared for Lux like all his family. Levi did consider Malic family though, that's why Lux hated Malic even more. Not to mention Levi knew Lux's feelings towards Malic and refused to consider Lux family until he considered Malic family.

"Thanks Chester," Lux sighed as he took the snail from the young man. He might as well get this over and done with. "Rivaille here."

"It's Malic," the admiral said, sounding annoyed. He didn't want to call him about Levi.

"Oh really? And here I thought I was talking to the tooth fairy."

"Don't get sarcastic or I'll just go and kill the people you were looking for. They just happened to be on the same island as the one I was looking for," Malic wouldn't ever do that, but he liked to mess with Lux this way.

"You're with Levi and Eren?! Put my nephew on, right now."

"Your nephew is somewhere else, don't know where. Eren is here though," Malic wanted to add that Levi was his nephew more than Lux's. But he didn't, he knew it would only cause Lux to point out he was just adopted. That Levi wasn't really his nephew since they weren't related by blood.

"..." Lux has never really spoken to Eren. He saw him a few times when he tried to see Levi when he was living with Henry and that was about it. Levi never saw him, refused to, or Henry said it was bad timing and sent him away. Malic went to see Levi more often than him and was actually allowed, it pissed Lux off. Lux's captain was clenching his fists in anger. He looked towards Lux, asking a silent question if he's with him. "Put Eren on then." Lux mouthed- 'I don't know. Let me find out.'

"Fine, brat you have a phone call," Malic had the marine he trusted the most hold the phone to Eren's ear. He liked Eren a lot, he had seen him a lot before and thought of him as a nephew as well. He just hoped the kid didn't recognize him. This wasn't anything against him or Levi. It was personal for Malic. Besides, he warned Levi, he wasn't the same when he was chasing pirates. The kid probably didn't recognize him with the way he was dressed right now. He dressed really casually around Levi and Eren. Plus he wore his jacket to jokingly entice the two to join the marines. Malic blamed Halt for making Levi to go with Henry for the teen becoming a pirate. If Halt never sent the kid away from him, he would never have became a pirate. He couldn't change it now and he would always support his nephew. He was just biased against pirates. He may even get used to the tri-colored teen if he didn't kill him. But the admiral still wanted to make the teen suffer like he had.

Eren looked at Malic and the marines funny. What? Who was wanting to speak to him? And why did this marine Admiral remind him of someone who use to visit Levi before he and Eren left the island after Henry was killed? "Hello…?"

"Hi Eren, you might not remember me. We only meet briefly when Henry was alive and we didn't really talk or say anything to each other. But I'm Levi's uncle Lux."

"Ask about Ryu, ask him if he's with him," the captain begged.

The Vice Admiral covered the speaking part of the snail so that Malic couldn't hear him."I will in a moment Chest."

"Hi..." Eren said, not sure what else to say. Levi didn't talk about his family much, saying he didn't have or want any besides Eren. That and he felt that he couldn't trust them, well except Uncle Mal, but Levi never said why. Eren doesn't really remember Uncle Mal though, it's been too long since Eren saw him last. But he remembered Lux, because Levi looked so much like him. Eren didn't even know how he felt about Lux. Lux hated Uncle Mal and Levi loved Mal so Eren automatically loved Uncle Mal as well. "You're the one who Levi-nii looks like..." If it wasn't for the fact that Levi looked like his mother and Eren knew that Lux was her brother and they looked alike. The 8 year old probably wouldn't even remember Lux.

"That's right buddy. Where's Levi?" Lux asked the boy gently. "And how are you two going? Are you two okay? Bloodbath hasn't hurt you, has he?"

"We have new crewmates..." Eren answered slowly, unsure of what he should or shouldn't say. Levi would know what to say and what not to say. But the kid was smart enough to realise that if guy was Levi's uncle, that meant he was on their side. That means that he can talk to this admiral dude and get him to stop hurting Ryu! There was something he knew he could say. "Though the admiral is trying to kill Ryu, one of our new crewmates." But he wasn't going to say anything about Levi, especially since he didn't know where his big brother was.

Lux frowned. Was it a coincidence or was it faith? Was this Ryu the same one that Lux has been looking for in secret for Chester? If Malic thinks he can get away with hurting or killing the kid, he was going to have another thing coming. Their orders were to not touch the Sky Raiders. Then again the fleet admiral gave Malic full permission to do what he wants to the boy he was searching for. The fleet admiral didn't want to loose so a valuable marine, and son. He knew that Malic would quit the marines just to settle an old score. The devil fruit the kid ate just made that worse. Well actually if the devil fruit wasn't there Malic likely wouldn't be as worked up or wouldn't be willing to go against the marines to get to the kid. Lux couldn't figure out why, same reason why he couldn't figure why Malic acted so different around her. This was a tight spot- Ryu was Levi's crew who the marines weren't allowed to touch till Lux had talked to Levi, but Malic had free rein to do whatever he wanted to Ryu at the same time. Lux could also never understand why Mal was so against him being the one to look for and talk to Levi.


"He can't do anything about it kid. He can't stop me. My orders don't extend to this kid, he's mine. He ate that bastards fruit, he deserves death," Malic growled. Malic couldn't understand why Eren liked Ryu so much. Why was the kid so hell bent on protecting and saving Ryu? Minus the whole 'crew' thing. There had to be more to this than Malic knew! Not that he cared right now.

That's where I knew you! Your his son! I'm sorry for what he did to you and her, Zero looked very guilty and upset.

"Ryu is a Sky Raider! So the order has to extend to him!" Eren argued. Malic inwardly flinched, but the teen had the bastard's fruit. He couldn't let him go! He needed him to suffer!

"I don't care! I'll kill him even if I have to go against the marines!" Malic snarled then turned towards Zero. "And you! You're Zero, right? My dad's little ghost follower? The one he said could put me in my place if he ever let him? So I would kill you too if I could."

I refused to ever touch you! You were just a hatchling! Zero argued.

"Zero? Who the hell is that?" Lux asked- not understand what Malic was saying right now. "Eren, I'm serious. Where is Levi?" Worried that his nephew was going to do something stupid, if he was anything like his parents, which he was, then he was bond to do something stupid sooner rather than later.

"Goodbye Lux! I'll let your stupid pirate crew go but Ryu is mine!" Malic snarled as he slammed the phone down. He didn't want Lux to ever talk to Levi. Lux didn't care for him! Malic did!

"Wait Mal-! Damn that man to hell!" Lux growled. He didn't know if Levi was okay or not. He didn't know where they were. He thought Malic was always like how he was with pirates, cold-hearted and blood thirsty. He was different, though, with that reporter girl and that marine that has been with him since the younger marine was a kid. Lux had only seen it once, he was nicer, friendlier too. He heard Malic's subordinates mention how they thought it was creepy that, that happened around a certain marine kid and some girl by the name Janet. He didn't realize she was a reporter until later, after looking it up. He didn't realize that softer side extended to Levi and Eren. "Chester, get Harry. Find out where they are, now."

"He has Ryu doesn't he?"

"Yes. So we better be quick it."


With the Sky Raiders…

Eren struggled even more in the cuffs. He wasn't going to let Ryu get hurt! He wasn't going to let this man kill him! Levi liked Ryu! Eren won't let Levi loose him! Levi has lost too many people he has cared about in the past, Eren won't let him loose another one! Wait, so they have a free pass…? Kent let out of a breath of relief. That meant they weren't going to die today then. Kyousuke was going over everything he could in his head, there had to be a way to get Ryu and themselves out of this. Kyousuke was sure the captain was not going to be happy if they let him die. They needed to think of something, and fast.

"I'm going to kill your caretaker kid. With your own blood," said blood was floating above Ryu's head. It has been since Malic took it from his neck.

"Leave Kyle alone!" Ryu shouted.

"It's okay Ryumi," Kyle told him. "If you're trying to make me regret taking him in, that is never going to happen. Ryu is the best thing in my life. I would die a thousand times for the kid if I could."

"Please, Kyle, I can't… I can't lose another father!" It was the first time Ryu ever referred to Kyle as his father. The first time he ever told him how he really felt about their relationship.

"Better me than you mate," Kyle smiled to the redhead. "You're young, you still have your whole life ahead of you. Old men like me are only good for protecting kids like you. You won't lose me, I'll always in your heart Ryumi. Besides, it's a father's job to die for his son. I don't regret helping or taking you in Ryu. I never have and I never will, I would do it all again if I was given a chance."

"How sweet," Malic said. "Not. Now, let's take care the two of you. Make peace with whatever god you believe in, because you two are going to die."

"NO!" Eren struggled. Levi! Where are you!?

'Why?! Why does Eren care so much about him?!' Malic thought in his head.

"Leave him alone! Please! Leave him alone, please, please, please!" Ryu thrashed violently.

"It doesn't matter if I die Ryu, because I know you will go on living," Kyle told him. He knew that Levi wasn't going to get here in time to save him, but he knew that the teen would get back in time to save Ryu and that's all that mattered to Kyle. That his adoptive son would been able to live. "After all, you have Levi and your new friends to take care of you."

"Kyle..." Eren, Kent and Kyousuke all said. The man was willing to die and he trusted them, despite the fact that he doesn't know them.

"Take care of him for me," Kyle smiled to the Sky Raiders.

"No! Please! I don't want to live without you! Please! Kyle!" Ryu cried.

"Keep him safe and out of trouble Zero," Kyle smiled to the ghost. He never understood him or how he worked, but Kyle was glad that Ryu wouldn't be on his own. "As one father to another. Keep our boy safe."

Kent felt really cold suddenly, his blood being more sensitive to the change in weather and temperature than the others. Why was he feeling cold so sudd- The captain! The half fish thought to himself. That was the only reason he could think of. The captain is nearby! Come on captain, hurry!

Malic had had enough of all this talking, it was time for the descendant and his caretaker to die. Putting his left hand out, he formed Ryu's blood into a scythe as he muttered blood-blood scythe and killed the caretaker. Taking his head clean off in one swing of the blood scythe.

Kent covered Eren's eyes. He was sure that kid has probably seen this kind of thing or worse before, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to try to protect the kid from it. Malic was glad the half-blood did that. Eren didn't need to see this. The temperature started changing again. This time it was scorching.

"Kyle!" Eren screamed, knowing what happened without really seeing it. Kent had just covered his eyes before the marine had taken off Kyle's head.

Ryu couldn't think, all he could feel was rage and sorrow. His emotions were causing his fruit to go haywire. The only reason why it was just the heat being affected right now was the sea-stone on him. It hurt, Kyle was his only family left and the marine took him. Kyle may not have been family by blood but he was still family. He lost his only living family left. It hurt, it hurt too much. He wanted it to end and to take Malic down with him.

Kyousuke noticed the windows icing over. Levi was very close by and he was not happy. 'Come on Captain, hurry up. Your boyfriend is in danger.' The two first mates and the cabin boy might not be in danger, but Ryu most certainly is.

Kent held onto Eren more as the kid was struggling and fighting even more. The kid was bound to do something stupid and he couldn't do anything while he had sea-stone on.

"One down, one more to go," Malic grinned as he turned to Ryu. "Now, how am I going to kill you? With your own blood? With your precious little dead caretaker's blood. With the blood one of your friends?" Ryu gave off a very inhuman roar of anger. It sounded dragon-like. It wasn't loud or anything, but it was clearly angry. His pupils had turned to slits and his eyes blue. He may not be able to fully transform because of the cuffs but that doesn't mean his eyes couldn't change. "Oh? Is someone angry? You've only got one person to blame for this mess kid, and that's yourself." Malic tasted Ryu's blood then tasted Kyle's. "Ah, young blood always seems to taste so sweet. While old blood seems a bit on the sour side." which made him looked over at Eren, Kent held the 8 year old closer to him. "That makes me wonder... I wonder is what the youngest's blood tastes like?" He had only said it to scare Eren to stop struggling, he wasn't actually going to hurt Eren. He would never hurt Eren.

Kyousuke stood in front of Kent and Eren, he had no idea why the Admiral said that or what he was planning, but he wasn't going to let him to touch Eren because of it. That's when the windows shattered because of the cold and it started snowing. A figure walked towards them, Levi was clearly here now.

"Oh? An ice zoan type, huh?" Malic commented, he could tell the difference between the three types of devil fruit eaters. Especially with eaters whose devil fruits might get confused with another one. For example, an ice logia and an ice zoan type. Malic even knew which fruit it was; after all, it was because of Levi that he knew the difference between an ice logia and an ice zoan type. Levi's fruit, which many confuse for the Ice-Ice Devil Fruit, is really the Demon-Demon Devil Fruit- Model Khutsomier. Named after the ice demon ruler of old myths and fairytales. 'It is you, Levi,' Malic couldn't help but think to himself.

"Levi-nii!" Eren said sensing his brother by his strings, since Kent was still covering his eyes so he couldn't see his brother. "They killed Kyle!" Eren seemed so upset. It broke Malic's heart. Killing the old geezer really hurt Eren that much?

Kent and Kyousuke could both tell that Levi was pissed. It was evidenced by the red tint in their captain's blue eyes.

"Get away from what is mine!" Levi shouted as he put his hand up. Clearly enraged. "Spears!" Ice spears flew at the marines, making them back right off Eren, Kent and Kyousuke, one ended up breaking the sea-stone cuffs on Eren's wrists. Then much bigger spears went towards the Malic since he was near Ryu. It forced the marine away. He couldn't attack the black haired teen because of his orders, though he didn't need the orders to not attack the teen. He cared a lot about Levi. He had to retreat. He knew was stronger but the problem was he couldn't hurt the brat, not that he would, though what really pissed Malic off was that the kid looked so much like his damn uncle Lux. It was easy to tell that this short teen was the one that Lux was looking for, they have the same black hair and striking blue eyes, well at least that the marines with Malic thought that anyway. It made Malic wonder where Chester got his eyes from, probably Lux's wife, whoever that was. He never bothered learning about Lux's personal life. Chester didn't act anything like his father though, he was quiet and very hard to anger. Malic hated the kid because he wasn't any fun to tease because of that. None of the marines, except the fleet admiral and Lux's best friend who was his sister's husband's blood brother, knew Chester was adopted. Not even the admiral that Lux was under knew.

Ice cut the marines off from both Ryu and Eren, Kyousuke and Kent. Levi stood in front of them. "That's my crew you're hurting, and you never hurt what is mine." Kyousuke went to work at picking the lock on Ryu's cuff, since he, Kent and Eren could move to the tri-colour haired teen easy. The Senior First Mate wished the marines good luck in trying to break Levi's demonic ice, he hasn't seen anything but Ryu's dragon scales break it.

"I'll be back for the descendant, for now, know I'm only retreating because I have orders not to touch you," With those words Malic turned to leave, creating a shield of blood around himself out of Kyle's blood. This only served to make the already angry dragon angrier. Though that was a lie, he wouldn't touch Levi even if he was ordered to.

"What orders?!" Levi asked. "From who?!" Why were the orders that the marines weren't meant touch him?

"From the marine fleet admiral himself, he's the only one that can give me orders and get away with it," Malic responded, he didn't mention that he thought of the fleet admiral as family. Or that the fleet admiral practically raised him. The fleet admiral was truly the only one that could get away with ordering him around, even if he retired. And Malic wouldn't let anyone kill the fleet admiral, he'd rather die first. The fleet admiral was his only precious person, he'd be damned if he let anything happen to him. He knew why the Fleet Admiral had ordered that no-one was allowed to touch the Sky Raider Pirates. He didn't want Levi to know yet.

The Marine Fleet Admiral…? Levi froze in place, that was his father's father. That was his grandfather. Why would he give such an order? The man didn't care about Levi!

Malic sighed, the marine he trusted was giving him a look. He had to tell Levi. He really didn't want to. "Spitfire, I'm sorry. About your dad, Eric. Halt didn't tell me exactly what happened till after I gave you to Henry." The Fleet Admiral only had two blood sons- James, the youngest, who was not interested in dating or women and Eric, who had married a lovely young lady many a years ago. Malic had heard what that asshole did to his family. Halt, the fleet admiral told him. Malic only puts up with Lux because his sister Sky married Eric. Okay maybe it's more than puts up, he actually cares for Lux, but they bump heads a lot. He cares for his foster siblings a lot. So maybe the fleet admiral being his only precious person was bull shit.

Levi's eyes flashed red as he shattered a spear near him. "Don't say that bastard's name! He is not my father!" Eren was getting scared, Levi was really angry. The only time he has felt Levi this mad was when Henry died or when people bring up his father or when someone hurts Eren himself. The temperature in the room was dropping rapidly. This really was his nephew. Malic knew he would've reacted the same way. Wait… did the marine just call Levi, Spitfire…?

Malic knew he and the kid weren't much different, they just went down two very different paths. It was no wonder that the Fleet Admiral was trying to protect Levi and bring him to their side. Though, Malic will never understand why Lux is the one doing it. He knew he would've been the better choice, Levi trusted him more. Though he always encouraged whatever Levi wanted to do. He would always do so, maybe that was why. "You know that thing I said we'd talk about when you were older? It's about my father. He killed my best, and only friend. Right as she confronted him about my scars and bruises. The scars and bruises he gave me. He even force fed me my devil fruit, saying it would make me stronger quicker. She was all I had. So I know how you feel, I won't bring him up again for you. I guess you don't remember who I am? Do you? Or at least you don't recognize the way I look. You called me Uncle Mal."

Levi grabbed at his heart again. He didn't even want to think about the wounds from his own father. The bruises. The scars. He didn't want to think about the ones he use to get from his own father, and the permanent ones he still had from his childhood from his father. Spitfire… Uncle Mal…

"Ryu, you okay mate?" Kyousuke asked as he still picking the lock. "Captain?" As he saw the movement of Levi grabbing his shirt from the corner of his eye. Was the captain okay? Why was he grabbing his shirt and heart?

Levi was confused. This was Uncle Mal from his childhood? It couldn't be! Could it? He didn't remember Uncle Mal ever looking like that. But Mal was the only one that the seventeen year old remembered who ever called him him Spitfire…

"Your heart still acting up from stress?" Malic asked, looking worried. Levi had always grabbed at his heart when things were stressful. Eric never noticed, neither did the others, but he did. He could tell that Eric was just like him, his father. Even then, it was easy to tell. Malic always had a soft spot for Levi, not matter how much he may protest not killing him. No matter how mad he was mad at Levi for inviting Ryu to join his crew. Even if Levi made a stupid choice in being a pirate. "I always called you Spitfire, mainly because you were a little spitfire. You were always quick to anger. You couldn't say Malic when you were younger, so you and your brothers all called me Mal instead."

Kyousuke could only think one thing- Levi had one of the most interesting families ever. Seriously, Admiral Akaiokami was his uncle. Marine Fleet Admiral Halt was his grandfather. That would make Burakkubatafurai (Black Butterfly) his uncle too! His father was someone called Eric, just who the hell was he? Just what the hell is up with his captain's family?

Uncle Mal…?

Levi's head hurt as an early memory came to him. About the guardian he was living with after his godmother's death, but before he went to live with Henry. Because not many of the times before he went to live with Henry were happy and were filled with mostly terrible memories, Levi tried his best to block out most of the first nine years of his years because of all of the deaths. Though, he still nightmares a lot.

"Why are you sending me away?!" an almost nine year old Levi screamed at a tall figure who was blurred out. "I want to live with you! Don't send me away!"

"I don't have a choice spitfire. Halt is ordering me to. Believe me I would stay by your side if I could," the man sighed, he stayed by the kids side as long as he kid. Even as he went on that mission almost two years ago. He made sure the marines on the boat didn't let the spitfire see what went on there. Halt finally decided enough was enough though.

"You don't have to listen to Halt! I hate him! And Uncle James! Don't send me away Mal!" Levi cried. It was probably the most emotion the kid had showed in the two years of living with Mal on his marine ship.

"I don't want to, I really don't want to," he hugged Levi tightly. "But it's going to be too dangerous for you Levi, even I know that. How about this? The moment you're strong enough you can join me?"

"You mean it…?" Levi snivelled.

"Of course, you're my little spitfire"

Levi nodded his head. "Okay! You're my favourite marine Mal! But… who are they sending me to live with this time…?" Levi said getting an dead look in his eyes. He hated all of the moving, all the changes.

"Your Godfather, his name's Henry. I think he used to be a pirate. Just don't listen to any of that pirate non-sense he tends to spout. Pirates are bad guys, people like Monkey D. Luffy and his crew only exist in fairy tales. The previous pirate king was likely as bad as the rest of them. Though if you do become a pirate I know you'll be the only good pirate out there. I may be a little biased of some of your crew at first, if you decide to become a pirate, and you'll likely see a different side of me. Just give it time, they'll grow on me. I can't promise I won't try to catch you though. It's my job as a marine after all"

"Don't really plan on being a pirate. I'm going to join you, remember?" Levi smiled as he hugged Mal. "Love you Mal."

"Promise me something kid. Promise no matter what you hear about what I have done, promise me you'll always remember that when I'm with you this how I truly am. Not that other person I become when I'm chasing pirates."

"Right! I promise! When… when will they come for me…?" Since it was always James and Halt who took him to his new guardian.

"Tomorrow, so let's make our last day count, kay?"

"So I don't to spend my birthday with you…?"

"I practically begged Halt to let me spend that with you but he refused, saying something about needing to toughen you up. I hate it. But we can celebrate your birthday today, if you want?"

"Yes!"

"Make it stop… make it stop..." Levi muttered as he grabbed at his head and heart. His heart and mind were at war with each other. They didn't want to believe was going on right now. That Uncle Mal was here, that he was the enemy. He was so happy to see Mal again, but at the same time, he wasn't happy to see him.

"For what it's worth, spitfire, I was hoping you never met the kid. Or this side of me. I was hoping you never had to see it. Remember what I told you? Remember the promise I had you make?" Malic looked conflicted. He wanted to kill Ryu but at the same time he would die if Levi hated him. He couldn't take the chance that Levi would hate him.

Levi remembered. He doesn't know how he forgot. "I remember…" Levi said quietly but he stood his ground as he put his poker face back on. This wasn't the time to let his guard down. "But that doesn't matter. I will protect what is mine, and this crew is mine." Talking about his friends behind him. "They're my friends."

"Did the captain just admit that we're his friends?" Kyousuke said in a little shocked that he would admit it so easily.

"The captain called us his…" Kent shockingly stated.

Eren hugged Ryu. "It's okay now Ryu. Levi won't let him hurt you anymore. I'm sorry about Kyle." Eren didn't say anything about Uncle Mal, he didn't want to think about it. This man wasn't the same that Eren kind of remembered. Ryu only let loose a low growl. He couldn't think, he was too mad. But Eren was happy to see that Levi had admitted and saw Kyousuke, Kent and Ryu as his friends.

"Alright Spitfire, I don't want to hurt you. I won't touch your crew. Fair warning spitfire, Lux is looking for you. He and Halt intend to get you to join the marines, by force if they have to. They may use your crew and little dove to do it," Malic always called Eren little dove. Doves represented peace, and that was Eren was, Levi's peace. So the kid was little dove. He called all those he cared about deeply by nicknames.

Levi cursed under his breathe. Of course they were getting Lux to come to talk to him about joining the marines, out of his blood family, Lux was the one that the teen liked the most and got along with. Mal was family, just not by blood and it annoyed the youth how much Lux used that against Mal. But that didn't stop Levi from liking Mal, or the man being his favourite marine and uncle. "I'll be careful, thanks for the warning Mal." The ice wall coming down since Levi could tell that Malic wasn't going to do anything to Ryu with him here. He knew how much Malic cared for him, and Eren too.

"Of course, it'll take a long while before I warm up to your newest crewmate. He ate the same fruit as my father so be prepared, spitfire," Malic let him know as he walked over to Eren. He was talking about Ryu obviously.

"Admiral, shouldn't you say something to him?" the marine who had pointed Eren's necklace to him. This marine was probably one of the few that didn't mind Malic, since he knew all of the sides of Malic- the good, the bad and the ugly.

"Little dove, I'm sorry you had to see this side of me. I made spitfire promise before that he would remember that when I'm chasing pirates that's not the real me. When I'm with you and him that's who I am, got it? I'll always be your Uncle Mal, just not when I'm chasing pirates. It'll take me a while to warm up to your crew. So don't sweat it," Malic ruffled the boy's hair. "I'm sorry for the sea-stone. You're alright, right?"

Eren nodded his head as he just hugged Ryu more. Worried that Malic might go "bad Malic" again and try to kill or hurt Ryu. "I'm fine..."

Ryu growled again, he didn't seem to be calming down in the slightest.

"Here's the key to his cuffs. Just don't let him out till I'm far away. It's going to take me especially long to warm up to him. He ate my father's devil fruit. He hurt me. Really bad. You know how I hold grudges. It's going to be hard." Talking about his father, the man had hurt Malic really badly.

"That's not what I was talking about," the marine sighed as he shook his head.

"Then what Rookie?" Malic asked the marine he trusted the most. The marine had been a rookie once and the nickname stuck for Malic. He was the one that looked after Levi when he had to leave the boat to go pirate hunting. Malic liked the man more than friends, not that he'd ever let him know that.

"Archie…?" Levi slowly said, remembering who Malic called Rookie, as he looked at the man. He was in his late twenties around 188 centimetres with blonde hair and goldish-brown eyes, his left ear pierced. He was wearing a grey suit shirt, black suit pants, black dress shoes, dark grey socks, a black belt and a black tie.

"I was wondering when you would remember me, brat," Archie smirked as he ruffled Levi's hair, which he got a protest from said teen. Ryu growled again, he didn't like the marines. He didn't want them touching his Vi.

"You look old now, old man," Levi smirked.

"Well I never!" Archie said pretending to hurt by Levi's comment about him 'being old'.

"Are you and Uncle Mal together yet?" Levi asked plainly. He didn't know how else to ask the question.

The marines all looked shocked by the sudden question as Archie's mouth dropped, trying to say something but couldn't. He couldn't believe Levi had just asked him that. Malic was about as red as a tomato, yep there goes whatever image he may or may not have had around his subordinates. It was clear to all the other marines now that their admiral liked Archie.

"Levi," Archie said recovering and able to stop himself from blushing hard. He didn't look at Malic, he couldn't, or he was going to blush hard and loose what words he was about to get out right now. "You shouldn't ask such questions. The admiral isn't interested in those kind of things. We are just friends and work colleagues. You must have misunderstood something from when you were kid travelling with us." Wanting to protect Malic's image as much as he could, even if it was hurting himself and maybe even Malic. Archie was going to make sure to talk to Malic about it later in private, just the two of them. He didn't want to lose his old mentor, the one person who trusted him without failure. Malic even trusted Archie with Levi. He knew the admiral wouldn't even trust the fleet admiral with Levi. It was one of the greatest honours that the younger marine got, was being entrusted with Levi. No-one else was ever given that chance or honour. It was extremely hard gaining Malic's trust. He would be damned the if he lost it. But protecting the admiral's image was important as well. He didn't want the other marines thinking the admiral was soft. Or for pirates to get word of the admiral's feelings and use him against Malic.

Okay that wasn't even remotely true for Malic, he was interested in Archie, as so much more than a friend and a work colleague. He cared for him and that comment stung. Did he really think so little of him? Was he just like the others?

"I don't know what to think, nor do I know what kind of deal Lux, James and Halt have planned for you, so be careful Levi," Archie told the young pirate captain. "Really careful."

"Right..." Levi nodded to Archie. His father's family and mother's family were planning something? That could not be good.

"Let's just go," Malic perfectly masked the hurt in his voice as he hugged Eren then Levi. "Spitfire, Little Dove has an older blood related sister. You might meet her soon enough. I've heard she's been around these waters, looking for her brother. Even if little dove might not remember her. She'll likely attack first ask questions later, she's like a female version of you. His key is the same as hers, she made it by hand. She looks like an older female version of little dove."

"Oh gods no..." Kent whined. The last thing they needed right now, or ever, was another Levi.


dum-dum, cliff-hanger! Levi's family keeps getting bigger and bigger and more interesting as we go. doesn't it? I wonder what will happen chapter. and who Checkmate is?

Archie: 23 favs

Malic: 26 follows

Kyle: 70 reviews

Zero: over 1, 915 views

Ryu: and we will see you all next time on Dragon Ball Z- I mean, we will see you all next time on Sky Raider Pirates! A One Piece Tale!