-Lilith POV-

Inazuma - as a female - and I - as a human - were talking over drinks. Inazuma - naturally - having wine and me with just plain juice. And don't think that it's because I can't handle real booze - I can, and I quite enjoy it - but I have a slight tendency to go overboard and I can't afford to do that now. I'm supposed to be saving Ace, despite this ten hour long distraction.

"So, tell me about Ace," Inazuma started. This is going to be hell. I thought frantically.

"We're just friends!" I protested.

"I never said you were anything other than friends. What made you jump to that conclusion?" Inazuma swirled the wine in her glass. Damn her.

"You're doing this on purpose," I accused, eyes narrowed. "I mean it. We're. Just. Friends. Nothing more, got it?"

"So you've been friendzoned?" she asked. "That's horrible."

"I have not been friendzoned!" I protested. "We're just friends and that's all I want to be, okay? Can you hear what I'm saying to you through your strange haircut or is it blocking your ears?"

"Don't try to change the subject, Lilly," Inazuma accused. "So you're friendzoning him, is that it?" she asked.

"Nobody's friendzoning anybody!" I protested, "And DON'T CALL ME LILLY!"

"Iva~" I whined, turning to the older man, "Zumi's picking on me~!" I knew using my nickname for him was petty, but revenge is revenge is sweet. And absolutely necessary.

"Did you ask her if she thinks he's hot yet?" Iva asked.

"I hate you both. I'm getting more juice." And I left fuming. I couldn't actually hit them because I liked them, and I only hit people who pissed me off. Those two were practically family, though they would never replace what I had originally, I'd still spent about a year training with and fighting alongside them and the rest of the Revolutionaries. In the grand scheme of things that might not be so long, but it had been the first time since my mom died that I'd felt safe and - dare I say it - loved, so they all meant a lot to me. Some of them though - most of them really - I was allowed to beat up because they were on my Dumbshit List. Sabo was included on this list. Dragon was constantly teetering on the edge - intellectually smart but emotionally clueless - so he only got beat up half as much. Well, in reality he just let me hit him every now and then when I was pissed to make me feel better, but I accepted that. I could probably beat him up now though. I thought ruefully.

I returned with more juice as promised. Apparently Iva had wandered off. "Oh? You're awake?" Inazuma called my attention to Mr. Bon Clay, who'd just woken up apparently and looked very confused. "You sure slept for a long time," she commented, "It must have been at least ten hours.

"Ten hours?" he asked, "What are you talking about? Who are you?"

"My name is Inazuma. Don't be so rude. I was the one who carried the two of you here when you were on the verge of freezing to death."

"Actually I did most of the carrying," I argued under my breathe, "You just showed me the way." I was ignored. Why did people always do this to me? Such a cruel fate.

"The two of us you said - does that mean Straw-chan is here too?" The man's face lit up with hope. I strongly suspected Iva had fixed his makeup slightly while he was unconscious seeing as it was still on his face after sweating his way through the Third and Fourth Floors. "Where is he?" Bon Clay demanded, "Is he safe? Who are you guys? Prison Staff? Where is this place?"

"Now, calm down," Inazuma calmed him, "He'll tell you everything you need to know." Somebody hit the lights. I knew exactly where this was going. "Let's go to the front."

"Let's not. I don't want to have to sing." Inazuma grabbed my wrist as we started moving forward, taking me against my protests. Gir.

"Did vyou sleep well? Candy Boy." Iva had created yet another nickname. Thank god it wasn't me this time. I couldn't imagine anything worse than 'Kitten' but I'm sure Iva could. "Or rather, Mr. Two Bon Boy?"

"What? How do you know my name?" Because I told him. I thought, irritated. And it was all over the prison systems. Duh. Iva's not that much of a miracle worker, he just works with what he's got.

"VI'm impressed vyou made it here. This is…" Yeah. I knew where we were. If I wanted to avoid singing with Iva I needed to hide. Under the table would do. Everyone was shouting 'yee-haw' again. It was annoying.

"What's with this army of perverts?" I burst out laughing under my table so hard I hit my head. Ew! Gum! I dashed out from under the table. It was a total pain getting gum out of long hair - nearly impossible. I chewed it myself, but at least I had the courtesy to find a trashcan.

"I need to complain to Iva about that," I muttered.

"Iva? You mean Iva-sama! The legendary Queen of Okamas? Emporio Ivankov!"

"It's just Iva to me, and yeah," I confirmed. "What about him?"

"Is that really… Iva-san?!" he muttered under his breathe, apparently awestruck.

"Yeah. I just said that," I informed him. "Keep this up and I'll put this on my Dumbshit List. Oh, time to clap." Iva pretended to be exhausted and then stood up delightedly. Everyone was surprised. Again. "Saw that one coming. Like Iva could ever get tired of dancing. Just not possible."

"Are you really Iva-san?" Bon Clay murmured again.

"Did you hear anything I just said?"

I was still being ignored. "Vah? So vyou know who vI am?"

The newkamas started correcting him about how it was 'Iva-sama' because it mattered. I never bothered with honorifics other than -chan if I could help it. Pain in the ass if you ask me. Not that anyone ever asked me. I was so often ignored. Oh the cruelty. Not that I minded. I didn't pay attention to people much either.

"I don't want to be called poop!" Case in point. I hadn't been paying attention for five seconds and this happens - whatever this is. Iva was great, but Iva was Iva. Iva was exhausting sometimes.

"Emporio Ivankov!" He was a big guy with a large scar across one shoulder. He had bigger muscles. I could sense violence was iminent. Nah. Let's leave it as Iva's problem. No need to bother getting involved. I sat on one of the tables - screw manners - so I could have a comfortable seat. "I hear you're the Queen of the Drag Queendom! My dad was a king fifteen years ago until he set foot in Kamabakka and came back as an Okama!"

I snapped a little bit there. I had decided not to get involved, but that was before I knew the guy was a sexist. Sexists piss me off nearly as much as racists. Or xenophobics. Or basically any judgemental people of any kind. I slammed my drink down on the table next to me and started to move forward but Inazuma put a hand on my shoulder. "But he's pissing me o~off," I whined. She raised an eyebrow and I reluctantly sat back down. Iva didn't need my help and probably never would. I still wanted to punch the guy's face in though.

"Because our king was an Okama, our pride and royalty was lost! And I turned from a prince into a pirate!" Mental list of this guy's offenses : (1) hating on Okamas - just because I was lucky enough to be comfortable with my sexual identity didn't mean I couldn't sympathize with people who wanted to change. (2) Ex-royalty - 'nuf said. Rich people piss me off. (3) Hating on pirates. My sentence: Beat with a stick until something breaks. Either him or the stick. Didn't matter which one. Now, where to find a nice strong stick? Ah yes, my weapon… "I never expected to get my revenge in here! Now you're gonna pay for ruining my life!"

Iva was faking fear, saying how he was gonna die. Then he said he wasn't gonna die. Everyone was surprised. I was irritated. Then the asshole actually shot the mini-cannon thing - who knew where he got it from here in Impel Down, but whatever - and the room burst into a flurry of motion. Iva death-winked the projectile away. It would have definitely hit the intruder if I hadn't already been beating him over the head with my bat. He was on the ground. Therefore the cannon was coming towards me. I caught it with one hand - gently as to prevent the explosion. "Hey, watch it, Iva!" I shouted. "I'm trying to beat the guy to death, what more do you want from me?" The music and dancing continued like nothing happened.

Iva jumped off the stage, apparently a little bit irritated because he shouted, "Emporio Onna Hormone!" and injected the man… well, you know what I mean. He used to be a man - for a while there anyway. "So vyour father vwanted to become a woman. What's wrong with that? Two mothers and one daughter, doesn't that sound lovely? Vi hope vyou'll get along." He was officially a she. "A man a woman (yeehaw) or an okama, vyou should just be what vyou want, right?! Sex doesn't matter here! Vi, no, vwe are a new race…" I blocked Iva out.

"Oi, girlie, you want my jacket? I think the man in the reindeer costume would prefer if you didn't take it, but it's up to you." She snatched it almost before I was done taking it off. Didn't even say thank you before running off like a little bitch whining about being too embarrassed.

"Overcome with shame… she has a long way to go," Iva commented.

"Can I beat her up some more?" I asked, "Now that she has less muscle I bet it'll hurt more!" That sounded fun. She was a sexist anyhow. Iva gave me a look that said no, and we'd talk about my violence later. I rolled my eyes. "Don't be such a mother hen. It's not like I was gonna kill her, just rough her up a bit. I know you don't like revenge but she did insult you and everyone here. I think a small beating is called for." Iva obviously disagreed, but didn't get the chance to scold me for once.

"Miracle worker, Emporio Ivankov!" Bon Clay - or Bonnie as I had just dubbed him because his name was too long - was on his hands and knees. "It's an honor to meet you! I'm so glad to meet you, really!" Damnit. He's fangirling. It's kind of annoying. "Forgive my insolence, but I have a favor to ask!" Does this guy say everything with exclamation points? It's also annoying.

"A favor?" Iva asked. Bonnie explained about how his friend was dying and he needed saving. Yeah. We're already on top of that one.

"Are vyou talking about Strawhat boy?" Iva guessed.

"Because we can show you where he is," I offered. Bonnie hugged me around the legs. "Agh! I don't like being hugged without permission! Get off!" I shouted.


As we walked I looked at Bonnie. He seemed okay. Actually, he seemed like a loyal friend, perhaps an honorable man. "Do you know why Iva and I saved your life?" I asked him. I didn't give him a chance to answer. "It's not because I'm nice or anything. I'm really not. But Strawhat begged us to save your life."

"Eh? Straw-chan did?" Bonnie asked.

I nodded. "He could barely speak much less breathe but he did it. Your life was not saved because of my kindness, but his. You owe him your life now, keep it in mind."

"Kitty, why must you always bring debt into this? The flower of friendship is a beautiful thing, even in prison. If vI had ignored that request, vI'd be no more than a demon." Bonnie sniffled a little. "Strawhat Boy's treatment has been going on for a little over ten hours now," Iva pointed out.

"Really?" Bonnie looked delighted.

"Yeah, and Iva hasn't let me leave for those ten hours - now wasted. I should be out saving Ace, not waiting for a near stranger to recover. Why is he here anyway?"

"Straw-chan wants to save his brother, Ace."

I was glad I hadn't been drinking anything because if I had I would have just done a spit take and that would have been nasty.

"Ace has a brother?!" I shouted. "That's impossible! If ace had a brother then there'd be two of him running around! The fuck do you mean brother?!"

"Straw-chan wants to save his brother," Bonnie repeated. "That's all I know." We walked in silence for a bit, my mind spinning. "What's that screaming?" he asked.

"Strawhat is going through the treatment. I'd be more worried if he wasn't screaming." I said simply. "He should be here for another two days. I've got to save Ace before then. We've only got another sixteen hours before his execution, damnit!"

"Vyour staying here where I can look after you," Iva cut me off.

"T-ten hours! You've been screaming out in pain for ten hours, Straw-chan!"

"Spirit and hormones." I'd heard this speech before. I chose to ignore it. Bonnie gave us a petrified look, like we'd kicked his puppy or something. The only man I'd ever met who actually kicked puppies - literally - was Admiral Akainu. "Vyou can go check on him if vyou want," Iva added with as little pity as he could manage. I'll admit - he looked quite pitiless - but I also knew better. Iva felt terrible about this, but knew there was no other way.

Bonnie scrambled to the door, ignoring his injuries, a searched frantically. I walked up behind him and opened the peephole with one finger. Just as he looked in Strawhat gave a particularly loud scream and fell back. He hugged Iva's legs. Is this some sort of habit with this guy? "He's gonna die!" Bonnie screamed. "His boddie's all battered!" I lost track of what the fuck he was saying after that through the snot and the tears. Just because I didn't know what he was saying didn't mean I didn't get the jist.

Naturally I kicked him in the face - I didn't use the spikes though, just the side of my boot - I wasn't that mean. "Quit your sniveling!" I ordered. "Iva's all done he can and that's more than would normally be humanly possible. The pain is necessary if you want him to live. There's nothing that can be done for him right now so don't ask it of us. And I'd think you would have more faith in the guy! He's obviously strong, and - quite frankly - I expect him to be strong enough to beat this. If he's not then he'll be of no use to anyone. Those too weak to live die and nobody should be blamed for that!" I accidentally got into personal areas there. Iva gave me a sympathetic look but Bonnie looked scandalized.

"Straw-chan is not going to die!" he cried out, half in terror and half in affirmation.

"Then stop crying," I ordered. I tried to make it sound harsh but it didn't work. "Crying does nothing so don't bother." I turned around, glaring angrily at the floor. "I'm going back. My gum has lost it's flavor" I said. It was nearly a whisper. "There's only sixteen hours." I took a few steps. "Oh," I added, not turning around, "half of the screams Strawhat is giving out are from his heart, not his body. I can tell. Just so you know." And I left after that. I didn't want to be here, listening to someone else's heart. It reminded me too much of my own.


-Mr. Two / Bon Clay / Bonnie / Bon-chan POV-

I'd heard enough. I didn't care about the prison. In all honesty, I didn't even care about Ace's execution other than it would be hard on Straw-chan. I needed to be closer to Straw-chan. To my surprise, I saw that red-haired girl from before already sitting there on the ground cross legged in the centre of the room, just listening. Listening to Straw-chan's screams.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. "And what's your name, since you never actually told me."

"I'm Lilith, not that it matters," she introduced herself. "And I'm here because Iva won't let me go. I've got seven, maybe eight hours before they take Ace away and I can't get to him. I could break out if I wanted to, but I haven't. I don't know why that is. It feels like I'm waiting for something, but I don't know what. I desperately don't want to be here. I hate waiting. I hate listening to this kind of scream. But I'm still here. Listening to the Strawhat. Do you think I'm torturing myself or something?" That was a lot more honesty than I'd been expecting.

"Straw-chan will recover," I insisted. I wasn't really sure what else to say and it was the only thought in my mind at the time. It didn't seem to comfort her.

"I have no doubt that he'll recover. But not in time," Lilith replied sadly. "Not for Ace. I cannot just wait here, but that's what I'm doing. Ace doesn't have two days. Hell, I don't have two days worth of patience for anything. He needs to recover. And he needs to do it now." She fell silent then.

"What did you mean," I asked, trying to understand the girl, "About what you said earlier, 'he's screaming from his heart'. What's that mean?"

"The body holds physical pain. He's tolerating that well. I've recovered using Iva's healing hormone before and he seems to be taking that just fine by the sound of it. The only trouble is coming from his heart, from his emotional pain. It's slowing him down and clouding his vitality." She shrugged carelessly, but her face remained serious, watching the door. "His heart is in chaos, probably bringing up bad memories, bittersweet faces. I can tell it's getting to his head and driving him crazy. I can't say I know the cause for sure, but my guess is he's afraid of losing his brother. Family is irreplaceable after all. My guess is he knows that." Lilith hesitated. Straw-chan screamed some more. I waited for her to say something else and wasn't disappointed. "Strawhat needs guidance right now. He's fighting but he's confused and he's not sure what for or how hard he needs to work. The heart is a dangerous thing. It might just kill him despite his strength."

That was something I couldn't take. "HANG IN THERE!" I shouted, half on instinct and half in terror at the thought of Straw-chan dying. "HANG IN THERE! HANG IN THERE! STRAW-CHWAN!"

"What are you doing?" Lilith asked. "It's unlikely he can even hear you. Trust me, I know. The pain is too much for him to stay truly conscious for long."

I found myself ignoring her. I needed to be here for Straw-chan in whatever way I could. Lilith said his heart was in chaos, then I'd give him something to fight for. Nakama.


-Lilith POV-

I had gone through two pieces of gum watching Bonnie scream and was currently leaning against the doorframe with my arms crossed when I heard some of the others come up behind me. "Has he been doing that the whole time?" one asked.

"Pretty much," I agreed, "Won't listen to a thing I say either. I'm being ignored again."

"What an idiot. That won't help at all," another laughed.

"I wouldn't be too sure, actually. Straw hat's got to be at least partially conscious sometimes. Hearing this may actually lift his spirits. His screams have gotten slightly less tortured since Bonnie there's been screaming like that."

They didn't seem to hear me. They'd already left.

In another hour they came back. By now Bonnie was practically coughing up blood, his voice spent, his legs giving out from under him. They moved to rush forward but I held an arm out. "Would you interfere with his resolve?" I asked coolly. But they rushed past and knelt beside him. Was I invisible or something? "Bonnie here's in just as much pain as Strawhat. This isn't the kind of thing that you can help him with. They've both got to suffer alone. That's how these things work." I insisted, finally getting their attention. "This kind of pain is something to be kept private. Don't interfere."

"They're trying to make a miracle happen!" Iva shouted, coming up behind me with a herd of newkamas. Does he have to do that so close to my ear? His vocal chords and therefore his volume is proportional to the rest of him.

Bonnie stumbled forward, which involved him hitting his head and much startling of men wearing fishnet tights. He resumed cheering. Most - if not all - of the newkamas were moved to tears and joined in. So did Iva. So did Inazuma, despite her tendency to keep her emotions to herself - oh, wait. I mean 'his' apparently. He'd switched again. I did not join in. They all screamed and cheered until they were left there, panting heavily.

I watched them. It was irritating. I did rash - sometimes embarrassing - things when I was irritated. "OI STRAWHAT DUMBSHIT! GET YOUR ASS UP AND OUT HERE SO I CAN SAVE ACE OR I'M COMING IN AFTER YOU AND BEATING YOU CONSCIOUS! YOU HEAR ME?!" He stopped screaming. Oops. No - that wasn't my fault, right? Just a coincidence. I definitely didn't mean to kill him. Oh wait...

"If he falls silent before the end…" Iva said. Blood leaked out from under the door. I was irritated more. On the other hand, why should I give a crap if the dumbshit died? He was never my responsibility and I owed him nothing. Bonnie was on the verge of a breakdown. Wait a second… I narrowed my eyes. According to my Observation Haki - which was always right by the way - something which very much so resembled Strawhat's lifeforce was still alive in there. I was probably the only one who didn't jump when the door banged outward. Smirking I though, Called it. The odds are never zero when you've got the will of D.

I pushed off the wall. "I imagine he'll be needing-"

"FOOD!" a voice roared out from behind the door.

"Yeah, that." I agreed. "And lots of it."