Thank you to all the ducklings who reviewed last chapter and a big thank you to all the ducklings who have followed/favorited the story thus far!
HesperideIsis- Thank you so much! :D And yes, big things are going to happen verrrrrry soon...
Guest: Balrock- I know, I'm sorry duckie! *sad face* I'll try to keep you in the loop if I go off the radar like that again, but hopefully it won't happen like that for a lonnnnng time!
Roxie14- Thank you! I'm so glad to hear it! :D And interesting question. Hmm, I'm not going to say yes, but I'm not going to say no either. I'd say at this point, it could happen in the future. Then again, it may not happen, you'll just have to keep reading to find out!
Guest: Cocobear- Ugh I know! The next few chapters are going to be pretty rough...
I Love My Chewbacca Family- Uwahhhh thank you so much duckling! *hugs you tight* You're too kind! *happy tears* I just hope I don't disappear like that again for a very long time, I miss writing and interacting with all of you awesome duckies!
XxFire-PhoenixxX- YAY! I was missed! *strikes a dramatic pose* I'm sooo glad to be back too! *hugs*
OnePieceDoesExist- Yes! I live and finally updated! *does the happy dance* I'm glad you liked it, and yes it did have its sad moments too... Unfortunately it can't always be happy and fluffy as much as I wish it could be because, well... I'm just too mean to my characters! I don't know why!
Guest: pharoah999- Yeah, I'm sad it's going to be ending soon too, but the next part of their story will have just as much drama, angst and romance in it... Oh and did I mention the drama and angst? Because there's going to be PLENTY of that in the next part as well. I only hope you enjoy the sequel too. :D
And a big thank you to ArtRat for being so lovely with all of the reviews you've been sending my way! I hope you keep reading along and enjoying the story as it progresses! :)
Chapter 37
Felicity lightly nibbled on her piece of raisin toast as she walked on the upper deck, searching for any sign of Marco. When she had woken up earlier that morning, she had discovered he had already left for the day as his side of the bed was ice cold.
So now here she was, eating her toast as she tried to find her lover wherever he was...
"Here you are, Duckling!"
And apparently the spirits decided today just wasn't her lucky day whatsoever. Stifling the groan that threatened to escape, Felicity glanced over her shoulder to find Izo smirking down at her and rolled her eyes. "What is it now, Izo? Are you going to tell me once again that I look like the crypt keeper and could use some basic makeup first thing in the mornings?"
"Well, actually..."
"Or is it my hair today?" She ran her free hand through messy curls. "Is my hair too wild and unkempt for your liking this morning?"
"No, I was going to just say..."
"Or perhaps it's my choice in wardrobe that's not your cup of tea today? Hmm?"
The cross-dresser's arms slowly crossed, a perfectly manicured brow arching as he looked Felicity up and down before letting his eyes rest on her face. "None of that, if you must know. In fact, I was just going to compliment you and tell you that you look positively radiant today."
Well, whatever Felicity had been expecting Izo to say, it certainly wasn't that. Her jaw slowly hung open, cheeks turning a soft red as she tried to find the words to respond with. "R-Really? Thank you..." Now she felt like a complete jackass for saying all of those snarky things. But just before she could apologize...
"It must be all of the sex you and Marco have on a constant basis now. After all, an active sex life does wonders for one's complexion." Izo quickly began to inspect his fingernails as though they were the most interesting things in the world right at that moment, ignoring the look of complete horror and embarrassment Felicity now wore.
Mere seconds later, Izo wound up with a piece of toast plastered against his face.
Honestly, did he have no filter whatsoever?! Felicity could feel her entire face warm up as she glowered at the kimono-clad male who gingerly peeled the toast off of his cheek and dropped it onto the ground.
"The hell, Izo?!" Felicity was seething from pure rage.
He gave her a pointed look as though to say: 'What have I done this time to deserve your wrath?'
"I'm just being honest," he finally held his hands up in a defensive manner. "You really do look quite lovely this morning, even if your hair could use a good brushing. It's almost as if you've got a glow of sorts about you. Which is exactly what a good romp in the sack will do for you, so good for you!"
"Yeah, sure I do," she muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes. "I'm just so darn radiant that everyone's taken notice, right?"
"Well..."
A finger was pointed in Izo's direction. "Don't even think of lying to me! I know you and your sneaky ways! You've probably been going around telling everyone all kinds of things!"
Izo appeared nonplussed. "Now why would I ever do such a thing? Really, Duckling..."
Oh, but Felicity knew better than to take Izo at his word. Especially when she took into account all of those other times he swore up and down he would never do something awful to her.
And then there was the day he finally tracked her down and demanded to know about hers and Marco's relationship status.
Several weeks earlier...
"Ah, just who I was looking for~!"
Felicity froze in place hearing Izo's familiar sing-song voice calling out for her. "Yeah?" She began to nervously fidget in place, one arm swinging around to rub against her shoulder in a weak attempt to keep herself calm.
She just knew that Izo was up to something, he was smiling far too much for it to be anything innocent he wanted out of her.
"How are you doing today? My, don't you look just lovely~!"
Yup, Izo was definitely up to something... Plastering a smile on her face, Felicity gave a jerky nod. "Thanks, I guess?"
"Oh but you're welcome," Izo purred, smiling all the while as he inched closer and closer to her. "I was actually wondering if you could help me with something?"
"Y-Yeah?" Felicity felt herself scooting backwards, soon feeling her back hit a wall. Her head whipped from side to side and she quickly realized she had nowhere to run.
"Don't look so scared, Felicity. I just want to know if you've seen Marco anywhere recently?"
Lips coiled into a frown and Felicity quickly shook her head. "Why would I know where he is? You'd know sooner than I would, right?"
Izo's knowing smirk only widened as though he were the cat cornering the mouse and he had her exactly where he wanted her. "Well, normally I would, but you see..." He leaned in closer seeming to take a sick pleasure in the way Felicity shrunk back away from him. "I'm not the one who keeps walking into breakfast late, and walking in with Marco."
Felicity swallowed, the sinking feeling in the middle of her stomach seeming to grow. "A-About that..."
"And Kingdew told me something very interesting he walked in on."
The raven-haired woman paled. "H-He did?" She managed to squeak this out, her arms flattened against the wall behind her as she prayed that Izo was only trying to get a reaction out of her and he didn't know shit.
"Oh yes~ he mentioned seeing boxes filled with your things. Want to take a guess as to where those boxes were?"
"...Marco's quarters?" Felicity mumbled, already regretting answering the question posed to her.
"Exactly! Marco's quarters! Now I asked myself," Izo placed a finger against his chin as though in deep thought over this conundrum before he continued. "Why would Felicity's things be in Marco's quarters? And then I heard something that made all the sense in the world to me."
A strangled breath managed to escape as Felicity heard a statement that embarrassed her to her very core.
"I was informed that my brother was on top of you while you were naked."
"That's not true," she immediately wailed out. "I had some clothes on! Not very much, b-but I had some on, and I'm still getting used to the fact that Marco's so passionate like that with no warning... And... And..." And why was Izo giving her a shit-eating grin as though he had just won something?
"I knew it!" He crowed, head craning over his shoulder. "Did you all hear that?"
Brown eyes blinked. Wait, what did he just say?
"Yup! Every single word," came Haruta's response before he snickered. "Sorry Lissy, but we just had to hear for ourselves!"
"Wh-What..." Looking around Izo, Felicity was horrified to find several of the other Commanders all grinning at her. Had they all been hiding in the shadows, waiting to hear her confirm for herself that she and Marco were in fact...
A pair of arms wrapped themselves around her, cradling her and pulling her flush against another body. "You did so beautifully, Duckling!"
Oh how she wished the ground would open up and swallow her right in that moment... And Izo too for that matter. Where the hell was Marco when she needed him?!
Felicity gave an involuntary shudder at the memory of Izo cornering her for information. The man was far too devious for his own good, and the bad thing was that he was able to make it work in his favor more times than not.
"Looks like we've docked already."
Brown eyes blinked as Felicity looked over the railing alongside Izo. "Docked? Since when were we supposed to dock somewhere?"
Izo hummed before responding. "Maybe if you weren't so concerned with getting your carnal needs met all the time, you'd have heard the news a day or so ago that we were set to dock at this island."
And again Felicity felt her entire face flush, trying her hardest to resist the urge to smack Izo hard upside his head. "Y-You are so-!"
"Time for us to go onto land and stretch our legs for a few hours! Marco's orders."
Felicity opened her mouth to retort when she felt a grasp on her wrist dragging her off the ship and onto the docks. "I promise, Marco really did have things to take care of back on the ship and wanted me to take you out onto the island for whatever you wanted to do today."
Well, if Marco really wanted her to enjoy a day out on this summery island, then who was she to argue with his orders? With a smirk, she jabbed a finger right into Izo's ribs before walking ahead. "Fine, but we're doing things my way this time."
Izo snorted. "We'll see about that," his tone was one of disbelief, but there was a faint smirk across painted lips that indicated he really didn't mind all that much if they did what Felicity wanted this time around.
A few hours into their excursion later, Felicity was walking side by side with Izo, a wide grin on her face while the cross-dresser sighed and huffed dramatically. "Are you done yet? I swear we were in that store for eternity!"
She laughed. "Yes, I think I should be good on books now for quite awhile," she lifted the bags on her arms for emphasis. "And besides, it wasn't all for naught on your end. I did end up buying that book you insisted I get, didn't I?"
Izo perked up immediately and gave his companion a sly smirk. "That you did. And I do believe Marco will thank me for it as well."
Felicity's cheeks instantly flared up as she scrambled to try and correct her friend on the matter. "Th-That's not-!"
"You're welcome at any rate," Izo acted as though he hadn't heard a word Felicity said at all. "I know Marco will be very appreciative if you were to use any of the techniques mentioned in that book for the bedroom. Especially the ones on page one hundred seventeen. That'll have Marco eating out of the palm of your hand in no time at all."
She grumbled under her breath, trying to act as though Izo had no idea what he was talking about, that she hadn't already thought of that herself. After all, she had seen a few things within the pages of that sexy little book that she may have been curious to try out with Marco for herself.
They continued to playfully banter with one another just like that, back and forth for some time and all was right with the world and with the pair. If not for Izo's sharp eyes, they wouldn't have seen the attack coming at all.
"FELICITY!" Izo's arm moved out, shoving Felicity out of the way of a piercing beam of light that seemingly shot out of nowhere. He instantly reached inside his kimono sleeves, grabbing hold of his pistols and holding them out in front of himself as he stood before Felicity in an effort to shield her.
Felicity lay face first on the ground, wincing as she tried to prop herself up before freezing at the sight before her. Izo was standing over her while countless Marines surrounded them. But that wasn't what terrified her the most...
"...U-Uncle Borsalino?"
She almost couldn't believe that she was actually seeing the feared Admiral Kizaru she had known her entire life standing before both she and Izo.
Kizaru hummed, head tilting slightly to one side as he stared down at Felicity. "Well well, seems like you've changed quite a bit, haven't you Felicity? I didn't believe it at first when I heard all the rumors and whispers, but now that I've seen it for myself..."
Several bullets whizzed through the air only to pass directly through Kizaru's head, causing no damage to the Admiral whatsoever.
Izo didn't seem phased in the slightest that the bullets had no effect on the much larger man, still holding his pistols up and aiming them at Kizaru. "I know what you're here for, and you can't have Felicity back. You might as well turn right back around and go about your merry little way because she's one of us now."
And just like that, the men of Izo's division suddenly appeared from all around, ready to attack should their division commander give the order. Izo's lips turned upwards into a smug grin. "I do believe you're surrounded, and as I said before, the Whitebeard crew is not giving our Black Swan up without a fight."
Kizaru appeared nonplussed and hummed thoughtfully as he tilted his head to one side. "Is that so?"
Izo's thumb pulled on the hammer at the same time Kizaru lifted a finger. The two stared at each other, not saying a word until the Admiral suddenly turned his attention toward Felicity, aiming right at her.
Izo seemed to realize just what Kizaru was intending, and whether or not the other actually meant to do harm to Felicity, that didn't matter to Izo. He had to protect his friend.
Realization finally set in Felicity's mind. "Izo, don't!" But the other dove in front of Felicity without a second thought and winced as a foreign pain pierced through his side. Felicity shrieked with her arms instantly wrapping around her friend.
"Izo! You stupid idiot! Why did you do that?!"
Izo managed a weak grin as he shook his head once, hand clutched against his chest. "Y-You're family, and we take care of our own... No tears now. You've always had an ugly crying face, I have to be honest with you."
Felicity sobbed even harder at that. "I-Iz...!"
"Hush," he interrupted her and winced as he shifted slightly. "You have to get to Marco. He'll protect you no matter what, but whatever you do, don't stop for anything. Just go straight back to the ship, find Marco and the others."
"No," she wailed. "I can't leave you behind!" But Izo didn't respond, his eyes slowly closing as he finally lost consciousness from the blood loss. Felicity continued to hold onto him until members from Izo's division knelt before Felicity.
"We have to take him back to the ship! He needs treatment immediately!"
With a weak nod, she managed to release her grip on Izo and watched as several of the men ran off as fast as they possibly could with Izo.
Felicity's eyes slowly widened as she turned her attention back to the situation at hand. This wasn't what she wanted to happen, not at all! She didn't want her friends, those she considered family to be hurt because of her!
"Stop it," she whispered, her fingers curling into the dirt in front of her.
One by one, men from both sides began to fall.
"STOP!"
Her cries fell on deaf ears as the sound of weapons and battle continued to wage on. Finally, she had had enough and realized that she couldn't sit idly by as more and more innocent men fell on her account.
"No!" She shrieked, her arms latching onto Kizaru's leg as tears continued to steadily stream down her cheeks. She knew Izo had told her to return to the ship and to Marco, but she couldn't continue to just stand by and do nothing. "Uncle, I'll do anything! Just please, please end this!"
That seemed to catch the Admiral's attention. "Oh~ you say you'll do anything?" Kizaru seemed to be intrigued by Felicity's choice of words as he focused on the woman attached to his leg.
Felicity sobbed, nodding her head quickly as the Admiral knelt down to eye level with her. He grasped her chin with his finger and thumb, eyes locking onto her own from behind his sunglasses.
"So, does that mean you're willing to come back home to your father and start being a good girl? He's decided that he's more than ready for you to come back, you know."
She froze in place as that hadn't been something she had expected to hear at all. "He wants me back?" She couldn't believe it, why would her father want her to come back to him when he had given her a bounty and epithet already?
And then Kizaru said something else that made Felicity's heart hammer even harder.
"If you come back willingly, then there shouldn't be any reason for us to continue our attack on the Whitebeard crew. Do you honestly think that you can keep this up, hmm?" He shook his head, as though pitying the smaller woman sitting before him. "You're no hardened criminal. These pirates don't honestly see you as one of them, they never will and they won't be satisfied until they've completely corrupted you."
It wasn't as though she actually believed what he was telling her, not for an instant; but she had to consider if things would be better for everyone if she just left them all behind in order to end the attack...
She glanced over at the motionless forms of her brothers, and in that single moment, all of the happiness she had experienced over the past several months flashed before her eyes. Felicity saw every single fight she had ever had with any of the members of the crew and Marco. She saw the laughter, the tears and anger; she saw the feelings that had started off first as burning hatred but had slowly turned into love for the first division commander...
Felicity knew what she had to do and the words came out of her mouth before she could stop herself. "I'll go back without a fight," she whispered weakly, her shoulders sagging in resignation. "Just... Promise to leave them alone. For good. Don't go after them on my account anymore."
"Of course," came the smooth response. "If that's what you really want."
And just like that, cuffs were placed on her wrists with Marines on either side of her as they led her away from the rest of the unconscious and battered men of the Whitebeard crew. She was doing this for them, it was all to protect them. Felicity kept telling herself that it was all for the best and that it would have never lasted anyway.
But it didn't help the fact her heart was completely shattering with each step she took away from the only happiness and love she had ever known.
Next chapter brings about the reunion between father and daughter...
Grr, I'm so mad I wasn't able to update last Sunday... Curse my writer's block! Chapters may be every other week, and may not even be updated on Sundays at all until this story is finished, just to warn you all. Updates may be very sporadic and random whenever I find the inspiration hitting me. :( As we get closer to the end, I'm finding it's getting harder and harder to write and I want to deliver the best quality chapters that I can.
How many of you missed Izo's sassy self? I know I seriously have missed writing my sassy Izo out so much! I need more Izo in my life! I'm even tempted to someday write out an AU series with Izo, Lissy and the WB's in modern times. Can you just imagine all the shenanigans they would get into? LOL
And finally, last night I got back from a convention in Birmingham, AL called KamiCon. I cosplayed as Levy McGarden from Fairy Tail and everything at the con was amazing. I wound up getting so much awesome merchandise, including a Marco figure and a Law figure! I was so shocked to actually find a Marco figure, so I snatched it up as quickly as I possibly could. :D Best con I've been to in a long time!