DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ONE PIECE
I hope you guys like this chapter~
Chapter Fifty-One
People mulled about the room, talking about everything from politics to piracy. A small waterfall type fountain rested in a corner of the room, and a larger version of it sat smack dab in the middle of the room, acting as the backdrop for the bartender who was serving up drinks faster than one would believe. Behind this larger waterfall fountain laid the stairs, which started straight, and then curved out into two separate staircases, one going to the left while the other went to the right. A chandelier was in the center of the ceiling, swaying slightly for some unknown reason and lit with candles.
This mansion, overall, was very beautiful. It also belonged to the man that we had come to kill.
I was sitting at that bar in front of the waterfall fountain, nursing my glass, but not drinking from it. If the plan was going to work, I needed to be sober. I gave a cursory glance around the room, hoping to see Kaeli somewhere, but couldn't. I had seen her a moment ago chatting with some woman about their dresses, but lost her after that. I wasn't worried, per se, I just wanted to get this whole thing over with, and hoped that my new look would attract Watori's attention.
The dress I was wearing was a pale pink color, hugging every curve I had. It pushed my breasts up until I was almost suffocating if I looked down at them. It was also strapless—something I really didn't like about it. I wasn't one for dressed in the first place, I didn't even like skirts, so when I saw this one, I immediately said no. I would have gotten the blue one with thin straps and matching shawl, but Kaeli insisted that it was a very Mara-like thing to get that one, and I was supposed to be someone else right now. I think it pissed me off more because I knew she was right.
Thankfully, the heels that she forced on me weren't too high, but still high enough for me to wobble slightly if I didn't have something or someone to hold onto. A few men had come up and asked to dance, and I did dance, even though I hated every second of it. I didn't like dancing. When I found that none of them were Watori, I would make the excuse of waiting at the bar because my feet hurt—which they truly did—and none of the men put up a fight about it. Well, one did say he could sweep me off my feet and make other parts of me 'hurt so good', but one look from the bartender and he was running off to dance with another girl. I thanked the bartender and got back to holding my champagne glass, taking in everyone in the room.
"Are you waiting for someone?" I dragged my gaze back to the bartender, unsure at first if he was even talking to me. When I met his eyes, he raised a brow, and I raised mine back. "You keep looking around, like you're looking for someone. So, you're either an assassin, or wanting to dance with someone specifically."
I laughed, bringing a hand up to cover my mouth—a move Kaeli taught me as we got ready in the hotel room. The bartender blushed and handed a glass to a man, who took it without even tipping. Bastard… "I actually am looking for someone, Mister Observation."
"Well, who are you wanting? I could probably help you find him."
I looked from his eyes to his hands, taking in the way he wiped the glass, as if I was embarrassed about being found out. I was actually thankful—he was making my job so much easier. I looked back to his eyes and saw that he was blushing even harder. "Would you really do that for me? Help me find him?"
The bartender nodded, leaning closer as he did, giving a grin that made him look ten years younger. "Of course I would, gorgeous."
"I want to find Watori." He looked confused by the way I said it, and I realized that I maybe sounded a little too much like an assassin. I smiled and brought my hand up to rest my elbow on the counter, resting my chin on my hand at the same time, pouting slightly. "My friend said that I just had to meet him before I left the island. She said he's super cute and very friendly." I smirked at the last part, trying not to gag at what I was implying.
Kaeli's flirting lessons seemed to be coming in handy, because the man before me now saw me as nothing more than a girl who wanted to be brought to bed by a rich and handsome man.
"Well, he hasn't come down yet." That was why I couldn't find him! "If he's acting like he usually does, he's still in his room, getting ready. I think it's his hair that takes the longest, but that's probably just a rumor." I leaned closer. He seemed to be under some sort of spell. Was this what being a flirtatious woman felt like? Because if so, this shit rocks!
"Where's his room? I'll go surprise him."
"The end of the hall on the left."
I brought a hand down on his and grinned, slipping so Beri into his palm and standing. "Thank you so much." He said something more, but I was gone, heading around the waterfall fountain to get to the stairs. As I rounded the corner, I ran into a body, both of us gasping and grabbing onto each other to ensure neither of us fell. "I'm sorry—"
"I'm sorry—"
Kaeli's honey eyes made contact with my jade green, and the both of us smiled at each other.
"I really am sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going." Kaeli said, releasing my hands and stepping back.
I wobbled slightly and shook my head. "Its fine, I was in a hurry and didn't pay attention." Her eyebrows rose and I hoped she knew that the plan was ago.
"Hey, would you ladies like to dance?" We looked over to the two guys that were standing to our right, both very handsome and very ready to dance with us.
Kaeli went to answer, probably to say yes, but I cut her off, shaking my head. "I'm sorry, but I have someone waiting for me upstairs." I made sure to point to the left. Kaeli was watching me from the corner of her eyes, and from the way her eyes became hard, I knew that she knew. The men looked disappointed, and I smiled at them. "Maybe later? Save me a dance."
At the foot of the stairs I looked back to Kaeli, who was watching me now with wide eyes. I smiled once again and started up the stairs, hoping that she would get into position and pull through with her part of the plan. I wasn't sure if I could trust her completely yet, and if this went right, I would change my mind altogether and trust her with my whole being. She had been proving herself more and more while we have been on Horona, and I was beginning to think that forgiving her couldn't hurt anything. If Margie could do it, then why couldn't I?
When I got to the top of the stairs, I held the banister and looked both ways. The two hallways were identical to one another, each having pictures in the same places. I hoped that the pictures were different from one another, but I didn't have time to go right and find out. Instead, I turned to the left, released the banister, and started walking.
"Have you seen this woman?" Law held up, for the fifteenth time, Mara's wanted poster, dangling it in front of yet another innkeeper.
The man, just like all those before him, shook his head, eyes raking over the picture and contents of the paper two times. "Sorry sir, but I can't say that I have." Law turned on his heel, Killian and Tino moving out of the way of the dark, menacing aura that hung around their captain. "But sir," The innkeeper spoke up again, causing Law to stop and the two brothers to look back to the guy behind the desk. "If it's a lady you're looking for—pirate or not—she'll be over at the party."
Killian raised an eyebrow, looking to his little brother, and then his captain. "Would she really go to a party at a time like this?"
"Everyone goes." The innkeeper continued, grabbing a flyer from the desk and showing it to the pirates. He hoped that if he helped out these pirates then they wouldn't kill him for not having seen the woman they were looking for. "Watori throws the best parties, and I even plan on going later."
Law stiffened at the name and turned back to the innkeeper, his eyes burning with rage. "You said Watori." The poor innkeeper nodded, fearing that maybe he said something wrong. Law looked to his two navigators, who wore shocked, yet understanding expressions. "Let's go."
The innkeeper sagged in relief when the pirates left the room. He wouldn't be able to handle it if the Surgeon of Death wanted to kill him, and from the rumors he heard about the man, knew that he would get a slow, painful, torturous death.
Outside, Law stood with the group he chose to come with him. There was Bepo, who held Law's weapon and sniffed the air, constantly trying to find Mara's scent. Killian and Tino followed him from the inn they just left, both having volunteered to come along. Nate was there, more because the engineer wanted to kick some sense into Mara alongside Law, which the captain would allow. Penguin and Shachi came along as well, volunteering as well to be out and looking.
"She's at a party."
The group, save Law, Killian, and Tino all sweat dropped at the whereabouts of their girl.
"She's at…a party?" Nate asked for clarification, wondering how she could be so dumb. Sure she had her moments of smartness, but it was mainly idiocy when it came to that woman, and Nate just couldn't seem to understand.
Law elaborated on Killian's explanation. "She's at a party for Mister Watori." Light bulbs went off above the heads of the Heart Pirates that were gathered around their captain.
"Well, let's go then." Penguin pumped his fist in the air, and after a moment, Shachi followed suit. Bepo tried to be a part of it, but couldn't with his hands full, so he apologized, much to the chagrin of the two engineers.
Nate rolled his eyes. "We don't even know where this party is."
"Found it." All eyes went to Tino, who was staring at something in the distance. The group followed his gaze to a mountain. On this mountain, halfway up to be exact, was a mansion that was lit up as bright as the sun itself in the darkness. Even from down here the group could hear the music floating in the wind.
The music stopped abruptly. Law started to move before the screams drifted from the mansion, and when he heard that, he began to run, using his Devil Fruit powers to get there faster. The crew followed behind, sprinting as if their lives depended on it.
Watori wasn't in his room. I had knocked several times, waiting patiently the first few times, and becoming increasingly frustrated the longer I waited. When I gave up on knocking, I reached for the doorknob and gave a twist, both happy and scared that it opened under my hands. I pushed the door in, peeking over my shoulder to make sure no one was watching, and slid into the dark room. I should have been on edge, thinking it was a trap or something, but I was too sure that no one was in here. Light was streaming in through the window from the moon, and there was no movement. There was no feeling that someone was here.
"Uh…" I scratched the back of my head and moved forward, hands at the ready just in case I was wrong. Confusion overcame me as I flipped my hair over my shoulder, looking from the large bed to the opened closet door, and finally to the opened bathroom door. There was nothing. I stopped walking in the middle of the room, putting my hands on my hips and sighing. "This is all very anti-climactic."
Still, nothing happened. I shook my head and moved forward, fumbling around the room in the darkness and grabbing at the top of the fireplace. There were several pictures there, and when I tried to look at them, I saw that the frames were empty. It was odd, but I guess it was better than picking them up and ending up staring at pictures of me. That would have sucked and been incredibly creepy.
I looked out the window, still well aware of the fact that someone could walk in at any time, and watched the moon. Kaeli should be in position right now. I wasn't sure what she would do, but she said that if she got her timing right, we would get out of here and he would be dead. I was ready to get everything done, but he wasn't here, so I could do my part—
"Sorry, sorry, I just forgot something in my room. Give me one minute and I'll be ready. God Hikaru, you're so impatient."
I stiffened and couldn't seem to move. That voice had to belong to Watori, and he was turning the doorknob to his door right now.
"Come on, Watori, I wanna dance with some ladies."
"I said hold on." He chuckled and the door opened. Light spilled onto my back and I cringed. "I just need—" He saw me. I know he saw me. I wasn't sure if he knew it was me, but he saw that someone was standing in the middle of his bedroom. "I just need, like, twenty minutes now."
"What? How could you possibly need twenty minutes to get your cuff links?"
"Twenty minutes, Hikaru." The door to the room shut and the light flicked on. I flinched against the harshness of the light and still didn't turn around. I couldn't move. I was paralyzed with fear and anticipation. "So, who are you, angel?"
I would have used the name Angel if he didn't call me that. Now it would be too suspicious. Instead, I racked my brain for a second before blurting out the first name that came to mind. "I'm Nami…ko. My name is Namiko."
"Namiko, huh? That's cute." I heard him shift slightly and the wall groaned under his pressure. He was leaning back against the wall. "Are you gonna turn around so I can see your face?" I turned my head and looked over my shoulder, eyes widening instantly and tears welling up. A choked sob made its way to my throat and I had to force it down. He chuckled and gestured to his face. "I know—I'm handsome. Don't get embarrassed. Plenty of women are speechless when the first laid eyes on this level of perfection."
The first thing I spotted was the red braid that hung over his shoulder, intricately done in a way that seemed impossible. His green eyes seemed amused, a look I had seen many times. Instead of that God-awful bright blue, he wore sensible colors—black, with a light blue undershirt. My chin wobbled as I continued to look at him, and I had to look away to compose myself before I blew my cover.
"Aw, come on Namiko, don't be shy!" He laughed and I heard him move closer. My body stiffened and I clenching my hands into fists, my nails biting into the flesh of my palms hard enough to draw blood. "What are you doing up here? You wanna have some fun?"
I felt that his hands were about to touch me, and I couldn't do it anymore. I moved away from him, taking several steps forward before whirling around and looking him in the eyes. Our eye colors were nearly identical because when I was telling Kiro how I wanted to look, I had his eye color in mind.
"You're trying to play hard to get, honey?" He moved closer again, and I took another step back. He chuckled and pressed a palm to his cheek. "Don't be like that. I told Hikaru I would be done in twenty minutes, and if we don't want him to come up and interrupt, then we should—"
"You're Watori."
He paused, confused for a moment before nodding and smacking his forehead. "Yeah, I didn't think I had to introduce myself, but I guess I did. Hello, my name is Marue Watori. It's a pleasure to meet you…again…" My eyes flicked up to his face and he grinned. "…Mara."
My eyes widened and a pain, the same burning sensation I got on the roof of Kiro's shack, coursed through my body. My disguise was going away now. Marue, err, Watori—whoever the hell he was—was laughing at my expense. I gritted my teeth and forced myself not to cry out as the pain intensified while it coursed from the tips of my fingers, toes, and nose back to my heart.
"Did you really think I would fall for that, sweetie? Mara, I know you, believe it or not. Do you think I wouldn't know the look of your eyes? Even if the color changes, the emotions behind them stay the same. I knew you would come tonight. I knew your sister would come to get you. This was all a part of my plan, honey. That's why I'm prepared for this."
As soon as he said it, my pain stopped. At the same time, I herd terror-filled screams from downstairs. Seconds after that, there were explosions that rattled the room and I lost my balance, falling onto my side. I looked to Marue and watched him stride to the door, locking it before turning back to me and giving that grin again that I once believed to be the grin of an idiot, but now saw as the grin of a madman. Betrayal and fear gripped at my heart as he leaned against the wood of the door, watching me with those eyes that I once believed were the eyes of an ally—a friend.
"So…how about we have some fun?"
So, did you guys expect that? Is it cliche?
I figured I would put some Heart Pirates POV in as well again since some people seem to like it and asked for it again through some PMs. Next chapter will be out sometime between now and Wednesday. It's already completed, I just need to go through and fix some things.
Please tell me what you think and what you hate. I appreciate all kind of reviews!
Love you guys and see you soon~
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