I did manage to finish this chapter, even though I has been at work this weekend. It totally helps me to relax, writing this to you guys. I do hope you like it so far.
I do not ... well I've told you the first 12 chapters.
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I sighed and sat down on my bed. My thoughts were on Ace and what Vista had heard one of the men said. The pet of Joker's niece. That had to be Ace. Doflamingo knew I was with Ace since the war. And Shanks had told me that a man called Joker was interested in me, so all around there were men lurking for me. He and Benn had chased many of those men away. I had noticed some strong presence around me sometimes, but I also knew that Shanks and Benn were right there to help me. I had felt the same from that ship and that was why I didn't want to go with Marco's idea. Now I understood why and yet I had to persuade those idiots. I had to go to Dressrosa.
A knock on the door.
"Come in," I said.
Marco and Vista walked in. I wasn't surprised at all, since I told them where to go.
"Tell us," Marco demanded as he sat down on the only chair in my room.
I glazed at the door.
"Jozu is in charge. I can't rush into Dressrosa without knowing what I'm getting into. Donquixote Doflamingo is in charge of that Island, but you know that. Why are we going there? What's the connection?" asked Marco.
"3 years ago I learned the true color of Uncle Doffy. I saw it in his eyes, after a semi-meeting. Only three Shichibukai's were there and they were the only ones called to that meeting. Kuma, Doflamingo and dad. The reason; me. Sengoku wanted to know my true strength at that point, but dad told me not to show it all. I didn't, but Doflamingo saw right through it and so did Kuma, but none of them told Sengoku the truth and he was somehow disappointed that I wasn't much stronger, but still stronger than most 16 years old swordswoman. Doflamingo wanted me from that moment. Wanted me to join him, but I was still young and under the protection of dad. He told me that he would love me to come visiting him on Dressrosa, once I left my 'nest'," I said and closed my eyes for a while. I hated that time.
"Go on," said Marco encouraging.
"After the war, when dad came and brought my backpack, he told me to lay low for a while. He also said Doflamingo offered me to come to him. Dad didn't like that and I know why. I'm not sure what dad and Shanks talked about before I came out after changing my clothes, but somehow the agreed on letting me sail with Shanks for a while, learning to trust my feelings and act on those feelings. To gather social skills. After a while Shanks took me back to dad because he wanted to talk with him about something important, something concerning me. As we sailed to the New World again, Shanks told me what. There are men in this world, sailing around and trying to capture me or something like that. Strong men, so I had to be careful. At the last few Islands I went on with Shanks and Benn, I felt it, so I agreed with him. Earlier today I got the same feeling from that ship," I continued.
Vista gave Marco a confused look, but Marco just waved his hand and urged me to continue.
"When I was with dad again, before Shanks told me about the men, dad told me that I had to be careful around Doflamingo's men. Most of them don't know who they are working for, since Doflamingo uses another name in the underworld. His underworld name is Joker. Since the men said that they had caught the pet of Jokers niece, I assume that this is a trap to get me to Dressrosa, but I have no choice. Ace is my friend and he means more to me than anyone, beside dad, ever has. How long will it take until we arrive?" I asked.
Marco and Vista were stunned and looked at each other. This was not what they wanted to hear. Going up against a Shichibukai? But they would do it none than less. Ace was their nakama and they would do anything to rescue him, again. I knew this and I wanted to be right there too.
"It would take us 3 weeks to get to Dressrosa," said Marco after a while.
"I better call dad. I promised that if I ever had to go there for some reason, I would tell him," I sighed.
"Keiko … What do we do? I mean it's not the marines, but a Shichibukai we are up against. We know practically nothing about Doflamingo," said Vista.
"I'll tell you what I know. We have 3 weeks to plan what to do, once we have arrived at Dressrosa," I said.
"We are going to free him. We are stronger. All of us and we only need to free him form the chains. He would be able to fight on his own once he is freed," said Marco.
"You weren't there. Those guys are strong and dangerous. Even if we were sober, I'm not sure we could beat them," said Vista.
"We can do it together. Teamwork is what it takes. I know we can do it and if you're not sure if you can fight Vista, then you'll have to stay on the ship," I said, looking into his eyes.
He sighed. "I'll fight. I can't let Doflamingo do what he wants or take what he wants. Keiko whatever you think, you're my nakama. You're my little sister as Ace is my little brother. No one shall ever get away from harming you," he said with determination.
I smiled. "We can do it."
I went to the den Den Mushi and called dad. It took like forever for him to pick up the snail, so I was wondering what the hell he was doing, but them remember the only one to call him was the marines or Shanks. And he hates to talk to either one of them. I almost had giving up as he took it, but didn't say a word.
"I know you hate to take the damn snail, but for once I wished you would have hurry. Listen dad. I need to go to Dressrosa. I have no choice, so in 3 weeks from now I'll land there. Joker got my best friend," I said.
"… I see," said dad.
"I did promise to tell you," I said.
"You're true to our word. 3 weeks? I'll be watching you," he said.
"Don't worry Keiko. We'll back you up," said another voice I knew too well.
"Shanks? What are you doing by dad?" I asked surprised.
"Another time, Keiko. We'll be there," Shanks said and hung up.
I looked stunned at the snail and then shook my head. I would never understand dad's and Shanks' relationship. Were they friends? Or just rivals? I didn't know and frankly right now I didn't care at all. I needed to find out how to find Ace at Dressrosa and then free him, without causing too much trouble.
"Sounded like we got some strong back up if we get in too much trouble," said Marco.
"Yeah. I knew dad properly would do anything to get there and help me stay out of Doflamingo's grasp, and lucky for us, Shanks is with dad and heard it. And he sees me as a daughter too, so he would do anything to help me," I smiled.
"Would you have called Shanks?" asked Vista.
"No. He might be an ally and good friend, but this is our mission. Well, now he heard I can't do anything to get him to stay away, so we just have to be grateful. He will however do what I want him to do," I said.
"Good luck with that," said Marco.
I rolled my eyes as we went up to deck. Marco gathered the commanders, so they could hear what I knew about Doflamingo. I hated the fact that I needed to do this. If only I had known that he would take Ace I would have warned him. Somehow I didn't surprise me though. If you wanted to get to me, but couldn't, the best way was to take something that I cared about.
"Alright. Doflamingo possesses the Ito Ito No Mi, also known as String String Fruit. It means that he can manipulate strings. He can use this ability to manipulate with peoples movement and make them their puppets. So be careful, because he can manipulate more than one person at the time. He can also use Armament Haki and he possesses Conquers Haki. Doflamingo is a strong and dangerous man," I said.
"Strings?" asked Haruta.
"Yes and they are almost invisible. You've tried it right Jozu?" I asked.
"Yes. And there is nothing that you can do about it at all. Once trapped you can't control our body," he said.
"Well I know how to avoid that, but you need to … smell like a woman for it," I smirked.
"Eh?" they looked confused at me.
"Well, only those of you that doesn't have the power of a Devil's Fruit that is. I got some crème which neutralize the power of Devil's Fruit. It smells like flowers," I smirked.
"Hell no," said Haruta.
"Well it is up to you," I said and leaned back.
"Now we know what we are dealing with, but we will still pushed forward and free Ace," said Marco.
All nodded. They were prepared to do anything to save Ace. Like two years ago, when the marines had captured him and was about to execute him. This crew was really strong connected to each other and it felt great. I knew they saw me as one of them, even though I never official was their nakama. Marco had not asked me to join them. I wonder why though.
"I would say the first thing we have to do, is to locate him. Keiko, Vista, Haruta and I can do that. We need some disguise. Also Kaiko talked to her dad and we're sure that he'll be there to protect Keiko from getting in the hands of Doflamingo. Even the Red Hair pirates will be there and help, but it's up to Keiko what kind of help she'll need," said Marco.
"Hawkeye and the Red Hair pirates? That would maybe end in chaos," said Jozu.
"That's why we need to be caution. First we need to find out where Ace is, how to free him and how to avoid Doflamingo. It might be difficult, but we'll have to trust that we can do it," I said.
"Good. When we have located Ace and found a way to free him, we'll either come back to the ship or call you," said Marco.
There was nothing more we could do right now, than just sail towards Dressrosa. I don't like the way things had turned out and I hate myself for not being more alert and concentrated when we were on an Island. And why didn't I take caution? I should have known that Doflamingo would use Ace to get to me. I knew he wanted me to come badly.
"Don't be harsh on yourself, Keiko," said Marco and sat down beside me.
"I can't help it. Why wasn't I more alert and why didn't I think of that Ace might become a target to get to me?" I sighed.
"Keiko. Even if you had told Ace, what should he have done? Stay near you all they time? Stay on the ship? Near as many nakama as possible? We know there's a risk being a pirate. Not only from the marines, but from bounty hunters and other pirates as well. Don't be hard on yourself here. I know how close you and Ace are, but you couldn't have done anything different. Ace is strong and so is Vista. I'm not sure you would have done any different in that fight," said Marco.
"You're properly right Marco. Still Doflamingo is after me," I said and leaned against him. He put his arm around my shoulder to comfort me.
"I know. Ace might feel more down than you. He knows we'll come after him and that you'll be there too. Going right into the trap of Doflamingo, because we have no other choice," he said.
"If I get the chance, I'll kick Doflamingo's ass back to the void century," I growled.
"And I'll be there to help you. Don't worry too much. We'll somehow manage to do this. Maybe we'll get lucky again. We did get lucky two years ago as you decided to mingle in the war to our advantage," he smiled.
"Well, let us hope we can pull this off. And I got my dad on my side," I smiled.
We sat in silence for a while, before Marco had to return to his duty as captain. It felt good to be comforted by him. Even vista, Haruta and Vista came to me to comfort me and to encourage me. I knew I was loved here as well. I closed my eyes, remembering my dreams. I wanted to sail the world, experience adventures and have friends. I have it now, but not like I wanted to. I couldn't call someone my captain yet. Shanks and Marco hadn't asked me to join them.
The journey was long and I felt sick, not knowing how Ace was doing. If he was alrigth, if they treated him badly and only let him barely stay alive. I was worried, but I also had to be more caution when we docked at an Island. All was caution and we didn't stay long. Only until our supplies were filled up. There wasn't much drinking and I felt the tense air all around.
Finally there was only a few hours to we come to Dressrosa. It was early morning and I went outside. The weather was alright, with the sun rising and some clouds drifting all around. A news goose dropped the newspaper down on the ship and I picked it up. I was stunned, confused and then suspicion. Marco came over and took the paper, as I was finished.
"What the hell? Doflamingo resigned from the Shichibukai? Luffy and Trafalgar formed an ally? More rookies form allies? And first now they tell the world your true name, while raising your bounty once more? What is going on?" Marco asked confused.
"I bet that Trafalgar have something to do with the news about Doflamingo's resign, even though I don't think that it would do anything different. But why they decided to let the world now know who I am, that makes me suspicious. Why now? I haven't done anything since that last bounty raise. And then the rumors telling that Ace might be alive. Somehow I think it is all connected to Doflamingo. How and why, I don't know, but that's what my guts tells me," I said.
"I wonder what your dad would say and do know? Do they want to provoke him somehow?" Marco said.
"I hope not. But I think the war will come sooner than later. A war between the pirates, marines and revolutionaries. They are preparing for something big. Did you read what they said about the rumors about Ace? That they never had the chance to confirm his death, but he had been really badly wounded, so they just assumed he would had died from that. They really are cautious right now. Something big is going on," I said.
So they are on the way to Dressrosa at the same time as Luffy. How will this end? Will Keiko end up as a slave to Doflamingo or will she finally be free from his longing? Will Mihawk have to make a move to protect Keiko or can she do it herself?
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