Author's Note: I am getting way too many ideas for this arc.
Speaking of arcs, this is the last arc in the Noblesse Oblige Saga. But, have no fear, the Karakuri Island Saga is going to be next, and i'm either going to start it with the School for Wayward Girls Arc or Triad Arc, both of which will have new members joining the crew. So, enough rambling, let's begin this chapter!
Disclaimer: I still don't own One Piece, yet again.
Ch. 35: "Take me Back... Back Home."
That night, after a long day of discussing ways of how they could get off the island and get to safety, Aki and Heathcliffe were preparing to go to sleep.
"I can't wait to get out of this place, Sarutobi-kun. Even this chateau is depressing," Aki said as Heathcliffe tucked her in for bed.
"Don't worry, Aki. We can go out for a picnic or a shopping trip into town tomorrow to cheer you up. Plus, we need some new clothes to disguise us as we leave the island," Heathcliffe explained as he stroked Aki's hair.
"That's a great idea, Sarutobi-kun. I would like some new clothes," Aki said Heathcliffe grinned and gave Aki a hug.
"Anything for you, my love. Good night," Heathcliffe said before lying down and turning off the light.
"Good night, Sarutobi-kun," Aki said before she fell asleep.
"Aki, it's time for breakfast!"
Aki awoke and found herself in a totally different place many miles from the Shinohara Chateau – Her own bedroom back at her house in the East Blue.
"All of this... Was a dream?" Aki asked herself as she got up from her bed and walked over to her closet, where her many clothes were still inside.
"Maybe the whole nightmare of mother dying and me getting married was all a horrific dream," Aki said. After changing into a red, Chinese-styled shirt, black pants, and black flats, Aki went to the kitchen, where she saw the last person she expected to – Her own mother, who was standing over a plate of breakfast pasteries and a cup of tea.
"Happy birthday, Aki! You are a year older, and you get even prettier by the year!" Aki's mother said. Aki stood there in confusion. Was the scenario she was in right now a dream, or was the whole voyage with the Capricorns a dream?
"Thank you, mother," Aki said before she hugged her. The two then sat down for breakfast.
"Are you ready for your party tonight?" Aki's mother asked Aki.
"My birthday party? Yes, mother, I am," Aki anwsered.
"You don't seem so excited about it. I mean, you'll be wearing a nice dress with your hair done and you will probably get to dance with that Teinosuke boy you're always talking about," Aki's mother explained. Aki figured that now was the time to ask her about that one boy who was on her mind ever since she woke up.
"Mother, do you know any boys named Heathcliffe Sarutobi?" Aki blurted out.
"Heathcliffe Sarutobi? With a last name like 'Sarutobi', he has to be one of the descendants of Celestial Dragon Saint Sarutobi. Why do you ask?" Aki's mother asked her. Aki sighed.
"I had a dream I was forced to become a pirate in order for my survival, and I met this Heathcliffe Sarutobi boy. He was really handsome and kind, and we both fell in love. We didn't even kiss for the first time when you woke me up," Aki explained with a sad sigh.
"Aki, I don't personally know this boy you're talking about, but, he does sound like a very nice boy," Aki's mother said before she got up. "I'm going off to work. Do you need me to pick up anything at the store on the way home?"
"No, mother," Aki said. Aki's mother ruffled her hair and kissed Aki on the cheek.
"Well, i'm off. If you're going out, please be sure to be back around five so we can get you ready for the party," Aki's mother explained before she left the house.
"See you later, mother!" Aki said to her mother.
Later that day, Aki left the slightly large house she and her mother shared so she could go for a walk. As she was walking, somebody ran up to her.
"Yoo-hoo, Aki!"
A girl with short, blue hair and black eyes ran up to Aki. She wore a black tank-top, black jeans, and white sneakers. Joining her was a boy with short, black hair and black eyes. He wore oval-shaped glasses, a dark-green, long-sleeved shirt, blue jeans, and black shoes.
"Oh! Hello, Yuno. Hello, Teinosuke," Aki greeted her two friends.
"Hey, Aki. Listen, I can't come to your birthday party tonight, so, happy birthday!" Yuno explained as she gave Aki a box. Aki opened it, and pulled out a light-blue cheongsam with orange, green, and purple flowers on it.
"It's pretty. Thank you, Yuno," Aki thanked her friend.
"No problem. It comes from the heart, really, since I have capoeira lessons tonight and I can't come to the party. I'm sure it will be fun," Yuno explained.
"You're just looking for an excuse to not wear a dress," Teinosuke pointed out.
"Oh, shut up, Tei-chan! It's not my fault sensei scheduled the capoeira lessons for Friday nights!" Yuno argued. Aki giggled.
"Can't you two get along? It's my birthday, after all," Aki explained.
"Yes it is, Aki-chan. I certainetly can't wait to dance with you tonight," Teinosuke explained as the three walked into town.
"Well, Teinosuke, about that..." Aki said as she rubbed the back of her head nervously.
"About what?" Teinosuke asked Aki.
"There's this boy I met in my dreams, and I am in total love with him," Aki explained.
"Let me guess; Is it Black Leg Sanji?" Yuno asked Aki. (1)
"No! There's no way i'd love a pervert like him!" Aki cried.
"Then, who is it? Tell us, please!" Yuno begged. Aki just sighed.
"His name is Heathcliffe Sarutobi, and we fell in love in my dreams," Aki explained as a blush slowly developed on her cheeks.
"Heathcliffe Sarutobi? As in, that relative of Saint Sarutobi who died?" Teinosuke asked Aki.
"Yep. He was alive and well in my dreams," Aki explained.
"Aki's got a boyfriend! Aki's got a boyfriend!" Yuno sang out loud.
"Do not! Heck, I don't even know if I really know him," Aki said. Teinosuke chuckled.
"Well, you did spend time with him in your dream, right? So, you must know him," Teinosuke explained.
That night, at the party, Aki stood alone in the crowd, since her mother fell ill while at work and she needed to rest. Aki was now wearing a green Chinese dress with yellow bamboo stalks on it and black high-heels. She saw no sign of Teinosuke and definitely no sign of Yuno.
"Hey there, beautiful, do you want to dance?"
Aki turned back, expecting to see Teinosuke. Instead, she saw a familiar boy with soft, spiky-ish, black hair, and black eyes who wore a black suit with a black tie and a white shirt.
"Is this... Heathcliffe Sarutobi?" Aki thought to herself before she decided on dancing with this person. "Yes, I would love to dance."
Aki grabbed the hand of the boy, and they began to dance a waltz. All Aki could focus on was how much she was reminded of Heathcliffe.
"I can't believe it! I must be dancing with THE Heathcliffe Sarutobi! I knew he was that handsome boy in my dream!" Aki thought to herself. It seemed as soon as the dance began, their dance stopped as the orchestra finished their music number.
"You're a beautiful and lovely girl. I want you to be my lover," The Heathcliffe look-a-like said before leaning in to kiss Aki. Just as he was about to kiss Aki, Teinosuke ran into the ballroom looking panicked.
"Aki, come quick! Your mother is dying!" Teinosuke pleaded. Aki gasped and sank to her knees.
"No... She can't be... Mother was fine this morning!" Aki cried as tears began to form.
"She was fine, but, my father – a doctor – discovered that your mother recently contracted a fatal disease. Since she is in the late stages of the disease, it is unlikely that treatment will help. I'm very sorry," Teinosuke explained. Aki cried even harder.
"No! Mother can't die! She's the best person in the world, and she can't leave me behind! No! No! No!" Aki sobbed. Then, she awoke next to Heathcliffe back at the Shinohara Chateau on the Island of Blue Bloods on the Grand Line.
"No!" Aki cried, awaking Heathcliffe.
"Aki, what's wrong?" Heathcliffe asked Aki.
"I had another nightmare about my mother. This time, I dreamt I was re-living the last days I saw my mother alive," Aki said, on the verge of tears. Heathcliffe hugged her.
"Don't cry, i'm here. There's nothing to be sad or scared about," Heathcliffe explained as he dried Aki's tears.
"I... I want my mommy," Aki said.
"You do have your mother. There's a little bit of her as your soul on the inside and as your beauty on the outside," Heathcliffe explained.
"Sarutobi-kun, that was one of the most touching things you have ever said," Aki pointed out before she gave him a kiss on the cheek. Heathcliffe blushed before kissing Aki on the their lips parted, Aki smiled.
"Thank you, Sarutobi-kun. I feel much better now," Aki said. Heathcliffe ran his fingers through her silky hair.
"I'm glad you are. Now, go to sleep. We have a big journey back to the Capricorns coming up, and you don't want to be tired for that," Heathcliffe said before giving Aki one final kiss before heading to sleep. After sitting in the dark for a few moments, Aki layed down and fell asleep, Heathcliffe's words still fresh in her mind.
"You do have your mother. There's a little bit of her as your soul on the inside and as your beauty on the outside."
Ending Note: (1) - Yeah, I just had to throw in a reference to Sanji. XD
Review if you want to see the escape finally happen.