Author's Note: And, now, the Triad Arc has come to a close. The next arc, the Time Traveller Arc, implies that we're gonna explore some Capricorn backstories! So, let's begin!

Disclaimer: One Piece is the property of Eichiiro Oda.


Ch. 49: "My Hero."

"Aki. Aki. Aki, please, wake up."

Aki awoke on her bed in the Hyperion,with Ageha standing above her.

"Ageha… What happened?" Aki weakly asked the doctor.

"You got pretty exhausted back in the Golden Lotus. I heard about what happened in there. It was pretty amazing," Ageha explained. Aki jolted up.

"What about Sarutobi-kun? Is he okay?" Aki asked Ageha.

"Heathcliffe's fine. In fact, you can go see him if you want to," Ageha said.

"Thank you," Aki said before she began running to the sick bay. "I… I wonder what Sarutobi-kun would say about this. It's not everyday that I fight, but…"

As soon as she knew it, Aki was now sitting next to the asleep Heathcliffe. His shirt and vest were buttoned open, and his hair and clothes were covered in ash.

"Sarutobi-kun, can you wake up? It's me, Aki," Aki whispered. "I… No, Kartik – no, Kartik and I – managed to get you to safety. I… I…"

Aki began to cry.

"I didn't want to lose you! I love you, and I want to protect you just like how you protect me! I want to become… Your hero!" Aki sobbed.

Heathcliffe then slowly awoke, putting his arm around Aki.

"Your mother says 'hi'," Heathcliffe said, his voice weak from sleep.

"Sarutobi-kun! You're alive!" Aki said as she hugged Heathcliffe.

"Of course, I'm alive. I guess it was my will to live that brought me back to everyone – the Capricorns, my brothers, and you," Heathcliffe explained. "I can't leave you guys behind – I still need to fufill my dreams and protect you. I can't bear to see you in pain."

"Me neither, Sarutobi-kun. That is why… I want to fight. I want to get stronger," Aki explained. The two grew silent. "Did you… Hear about what I did?"

"You mean… YOU'RE the one who defeated the Dragon Lady?" Heathcliffe asked excitedly.

"Yes… And with your own scythe," Aki said a bit sadly. Heathcliffe grabbed her hands.

"Aki, that's wonderful! You shouldn't be sad that you defeated the Dragon Lady, you should be very happy! I mean, you took down a potential Shichibukai ALL ALONE! You probably made Yuki-Rin jealous!" Heathcliffe explained. Down the hall, Yuki-Rin sneezed.

"No, it's not that. I just… I just don't like to fight. I was never a good fighter, too. Plus, as a girl, I don't like to get –" Aki said before Heathcliffe patter her on the shoulder.

"Don't say things like that, Aki! You have potential to grow as a crew member and you could be a powerful fighter. Hell, you might even change the schematics of the world if you could! All of that is waiting for you, Aki. That is the destiny of anybody who comes here to the Grand Line!" Heathcliffe explained.

"You mean it?" Aki asked Heathcliffe.

"Of course, I do! What dreams did you have going in to the Grand Line?" Heathcliffe asked Aki.

"Don't laugh because it sounds silly, but… I want to be beautiful and famous," Aki said. "Also, there's this one dream that I now have as a result of tonight… To get stronger so I can protect you, Sarutobi-kun."

"You… Mean it, Aki?" Heathcliffe said.

"Yes. I love you, Sarutobi-kun, and I don't want… I don't want… I don't want to lose you!" Aki yelled before she beagn to cry, again. Heathcliffe kissed her.

"Don't cry, Aki. If you protect me, then I'll still be here. I'll always be here for you, and you'll always be here for me," Heathcliffe said as he hugged Aki.

"Thank you, Sarutobi-kun. Plus, maybe we can fight together if the situation calls for it," Aki said as a smile began to grow on her face.

"Maybe. All we need to do before we begin fighting together, however, is to find you a weapon. You can't protect me willy-nilly with my own scythe, now can you?" Heathcliffe asked. Aki giggled.

"No, I guess not," Aki said.

"Well then, my beautiful warrior, we have A LOT to –" Heathcliffe said before he got cut off.

"BABY BRO!"

Holden ran into the room and tackle-hugged Heathcliffe, all while crying.

"Soren and I thought you died! We wanted to go back into the brothel after searching the town, but the whole building was on fire! Never scare me like that again, baby bro!" Holden sobbed as he rocked Heathcliffe in his arms. Soren entered and sweatdropped.

"Bro, please don't scare us like that again. We seriously thought you died back there and we couldn't find you," Soren explained.

"Don't worry, bro, it won't happen again," Heathcliffe said with a wave of his hand.


"You want me to do what?" Enlai asked Wolfgang. It was the next morning, and Wolfgang was at the Li household.

"You heard me right. You and me will join the Capricorn Pirates as their merchants," Wolfgang explained. Enlai looked sadly to Ling and Mai-Yee, who were eating almond cookies.

"Wolfgang, I just got Mai-Yee back safe and sound. I don't want to part from her again, even if it is for my job," Enlai explained. Wolfgang put his hand on Enlai's shoulder.

"Enlai, I know you still need some money to help with Mai-Yee's medical-realted expenses. So, I propose this – If you go with me and the Capricorns, I will not only give you a raise, but I will also promote your sister to the head of the Katsuragi Trading Compound in my absence. How does that sound?" Wolfgang asked Enlai, who pondered over this for a few seconds.

"Alright, then, I'll go. Plus, if we go to new locations, it could mean money for my family," Enlai said with a smug smile. Wolfgang hit him.

"You idiot! Always thinking about yourself!" Wolfgang yelled.

"What about for the company, huh? You'll get money, too!" Enlai yelled back. But, he stopped arguing when Mai-Yee tugged at him.

"Tell Uncle Daisuke I said hi. He's my knight in shining armor!" Mai-Yee said. Enlai smiled.

"I will, Mai-Yee. I will," Enlai said, not forgetting the reason why he was going to sea.


Ending Note: I know this is one chapter early, but... Happy 50 chapters of "One Piece: Parallel Works"! We made it! Fifty chapters!

Captain - Yuki-Rin
First Mate - Molly O'Flannigan
Musicians - Heathcliffe, Holden, and Soren Sarutobi
Fisherman - Hatori Chidori
Swordsman - Kazuma Miyafuji
"Resident Ghost" - Isabella Sarutobi
Shipwright - Kartik Abingdon
Snipers - Karin Kotetsu, "Blind" Drusilla, and Z.G.
Singer - Maki-chan
Tailors - Matsu Takeshima and Aki Chung-Feng
Navigator - Hana Yakushi
Gunner - Aria Yakushi
Thieves - Yulia Tadase and Daisuke Saburo
Chef - Sebastian Hozuki
Chroniclers - Kaoru Kimura and Mina Nishikori
Boat Rigger - Showtarou Shinohara
Mascots - Ajax and Alec
Doctor - Ageha Midori
Dancer - Akari Shimura
Helmsman - Thierry Brighton
Archaeologist - Gareth Archer
Blacksmith - Dewey Kirihana
Merchants - Enlai Li and Wolfgang Katsuragi

Review if you want to see the 50th chapter and all of it's surprises!