Chapter Fifty-Four: Fear

I tried to ignore the fear that welled up inside me...really I did...but when I was waiting for Polo to return, I had seen a ship at the docks...It was a ship I had hoped I would never see again.

They were HERE! Now of all times...It wasn't right. I was finally back in contacts with my captain...thingswere finally looking up and now...

"CAW!"

Thank god for Polo. That bird knew how to ruin any mood.

I fed the bird and opened the letter Ace had sent back to me.

Once again, I tried to ignore the negative feelings that seemed to be attacking me at every turn. Ace wasn't a captian anymore...

I felt better in a way...he hadn't forgotten me. I don't know what I would have done if he did. When I was taken as a slave...the only thing that really kept me, a child, from breaking, was remembering that I had a captain that I had to get back to...

I wasn't quite ready to tell him what had happened to me...where I had gone...

I shut my eyes and looked at my bird. Uncle Shanks had told me a bit about Whitebeard...It would be amusing to see how he reacted if I joined Whitebeard...

I'm not sure what I'd do if the crews ever fought. I was loyal to my captains, I always would me...but Shanks was the only blood relative I had at the moment.

"Well Polo...it looks like we're Whitebeard Pirates now."

The bird did not look pleased. From the bits and pieces I understood of what he was mumbling, he did not like my capt- He nin not like Ace that much.

I set to work writing a reply.

Dear Ace

Of course I'm alive, what kind of pirate would I by if I died this young? Sorry about Polo, he eats more than this one pirate I know. You'd probably like him. He wants to be pirate king, so your crew had better watch out~!

I think I'd like to meet your 'Pops'...And joining the Whitebeard Pirates doesn't sound all that bad either. Seems kinda fun, actually. It get's pretty boring sailing all by yourself. I've resorted to making friends with potentially dangerous people!

I'm not sure how long I can stay here in Loguetown though. I've made a few enemyies in the past ten years...alot of enemies. One of them is docked just down the street from me...I can see their flag from my window. Still, I can handle it. I've got a bounty for a reason!

Anyways...I can't wait to meet your captain. Hopefully he'll be my Captain too. If not...I have a couple options.

Let my know when you can send someone to get me.

Alice.

I signed the letter and rolled it up. I didn't give it to Polo...no, he needed a break. I planned to spend the rest of the day hiding in this Inn.

There was no need to risk it...I wouldn't go out there if I could help it. I knew I needed to find a weapon shop before I left, but that could wait until Ace's crewmate arrived...

Or maybe they'll have left by then.

"Alright Polo, you have the day off. Kick back, steal some food...steal some money...have fun." I said smiling at the bird. I patted his head gently before I left my room, heading down stairs to pester Roxanne.

I fiddled around with my hair, morphing the colour to change to its original shade. Then, I forced al my zoan features down. Touching the sides of my head, I felt human ears instead of my usual feline ears.

Looking behind me, I saw that my tail was gone as well. I grinned like mad. Finally, I had managed to pull it off.

With no ears and tail, and my old red hair, I felt somewhat safer. Those men had never seen me like this...Jane on the other hand...

"Morning Roxanne." I greeted, making my way to the counter. I reached into my pocket to pay for tonight's board.

"Hey- Oh! Did ya dye your hair?"

I chuckled, shaking my head, "Naw. Just turned off my devil fruit." I whispered quietly, so none of the other people in the Inn heard me.

"Shoulda known...you'd have thought the ears an' tail woulda told me."

I snickered, "Don't worry Rox. I've met stupider."

Before she could reply, the door swung open forcfully. I turned around to see a group of people walk in. My heart stopped beating. My blood ran cold. The world stopped turning.

I was back in hell.

The leader walked forward, standing tall in all his glittery, sequined glory. I quickly moved out of the way, forcing my Devil Fruit down so I wouldn't give myself away. I quickly pulled on a disinterested expression before they saw me, and waltzed away, towards a rowdier group of pirates.

I listened in as they spoke of their plans for Grand-line. It was amusing, hearing one man boast about his plans to defeat a member of Whitebeard's crew. I already felt proud of them...just by knowing that Ace was one of them.

I would be one of them.

I kept an ear on Roxanne, listening, but not looking, as she spoke with the man at the desk.

"Sorry, we're full." I knew she wasn't lying.

"Can't you just make some room?" I heard a woman say. I didn't need to look to know exactly who she was. I wanted to head upstairs again, but if I moved, it would draw attention. Too much attention.

I could feel panic wrapping its talloned hand around my heart, squeezing it slowly as more time dragged on; as I tried to ignore it.

"Listen, lady. I'm runnin' the place, and I'm in charge here. Now, we don't have any rooms free fer your crew. I'm not going ta go make room for ya either. Shove off an' try the next Inn." Roxanne replied darkly. I glanced around to see what was with the sudden change in her tone. I noticed both her eyes were lime-green.

The woman she was speaking to let out a crazed sort of giggle. She took a few steps forward, but her captain's hand shot out and grabbed her by the back of her dress. The woman stopped and looked back at him. She tilted her head, a vacant look in her deep brown eyes.

She wore a red-pink dress with many ruffles sequins. It stopped at her waist, flaring out like a ballerina's tu-tu. She wore stockings that matched the dress with thick black stripes.

Her caramel-brown hair was up in a bun with a little red rose on the ribbon holding it.

It was quite the change from her old maid's uniform...wasn't it? Of course, I had seen her wear dozens of different styles...depending on the show we threw.

"Jane, relax. Clearly, the young lady cannot help it if there are no empty rooms." The captain said in a slick, clearly mocking tone, "However, perhaps you could...clear up a few rooms."

A twisted smile graced the woman's face before she whipped out a pair of guns I hadn't seen on her person. Shots were fired less than a second after.

BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG!

I was already on the floor, behind the coffee table which I had flipped over.

THUMP.

I looked beside me, to see a man lying on the floor, his grey eyes already waxing over. A pool of crimson slowly spread out from under him.

I winced, but reached over and slid his eyelids shut. My eyes quickly looked around the room. Five other men had reached the same fate. I noticed that they had all been part of seperate groups. This meant they had six available rooms...

I looked over to my friend...and I was a bit surprised. Roxanne sat at the desk, her feet up and a bored expression on her face.

Her mismatched eyes, moved over the room, taking in the scene. Her eyes landed on me, and she shrugged before looking back at the crew, "Well...it looks like we now have six empty rooms."

"Ah yes, that would do just fine!" The captain said in a polite, happy tone. As though the nut beside him hadn't just killed six people...although...he did order it.

The other people in the room all stood stone-still, unable to take in what had just happened.

I stood up and turned the table back on its feet, picking up the shattered mug that had fallen from it. My eyes narrowed, seeing the bullet lodged in the table.

Right where my head had been after I ducked.

Jane let out a little giggle...a nervous noise. I looked over at her. She was staring at me. I narrowed my eyes again. She looked away, focusing on her captain with...

Her eyes were moony and wide...brown doe-eyes staring at him like he was god...

'Don't make me sick.'

"Hey, Red!" Roxanne called suddenly. I looked at her, guessing she was talking to me, "Mind helping the others get rid on those bodies? The Marines'll be 'round soon..."

I smirked and nodded, before shaking a few men out of their shocked states. Some of them looked like they were going to attack the crew.

"That bastard killed To-"

I grabbed the man by the shoulders, "Calm down. Attacking them will get us no where but prison."

He stopped and stared down at me, "Those people are strong...they've been to Grandline...you can't go diving into fights. They wouldn't have killed him if they thought anyone here would put up too much of a fight."

"But...Tom..." He calmed down. I stared at him with a frown.

"Listen...what's happened here is terrible...but if we don't move the bodies...it will be worse. You're a pirate, right? Now...if the marines come here and find you and these bodies, they'll throw everyone here into the slammer."

He nodded slowly. His crewmates all seemed to relax, but the pain and hate and RAGE still lingered in their eyes.

I felt eyes on me and turned to stare into insane blue eyes. I felt my heart stop in dread, but I forced myself to give a grin. It was probably the most distorted one I've ever given anyone.

Quickly, I led the other crews out through the back doors. Every group carried a dead nakama. I had never been through their pain...but I guessed it felt like losing Mama and Papa.

Family.

The man I had spoken to fell into step with me...he was carrying a boy who looked younger than me. Something in my chest tightened. It was an odd feeling.

I had never noticed how much I'd changed in my life until this moment.

As a child...I was loud, rude but extremely happy and friendly.

Then, I became a slave, and lost myself almost completely; I managed to keep the rude part.

Then...when I got out, I became cold. No one broke through the facade I showed them. I offered them small bits and pieces of a fake, and they took it without a word. I was always on guard and I was ruthless...I killed because it was the easiest option...

Slowly though, I opened up. I'm not sure when...but I started remembering who people were after I met them...I trusted people to watch my back...I stopped expecting people to kill me the first chance they got.

Now, here I was...feeling pain for someone I hadn't even met.

And you know what?

I blame Luffy. I'm not sure why...but I do.

I cast a glance up at the man carrying Tom. He wasn't really a man. He was a teenager, not much older than me. He bore a striking resemblance to the body in his arms. Both were brunettes, built to be tall and lanky, but watching the live one, I noticed the muscles in his arms. He was stronger than he appeared. A sword hung from his left hip. He had gold-brown eyes that were full of pain. I looked around at his crew and realized they all looked alike.

His Nakama reallywere his family.

My hand touched the coin around my neck and I smiled sadly. "Lucky."

His eyes snapped towards me with barely contained rage. He looked ready to attack me. "How am I LUCKY!? My little brother is dead!"

I almost flinched but forced a peaceful smile, "You're lucky because you still have family...people to share your pain and help you through it. Those people in there killed my entire family."

With that said, I opened up a man hole down another alley way and motioned for them to follow. Since I had met her, Roxanne had told me about the Inn, and explained she often had to help smuggle pirates out of town.

"This tunnel leads to the beaches. Just...lay low and don't cause too much trouble...and...I'm sorry for your Nakama." I adressed everyone before turning around and climbing out of the man hole.

I headed back to Roxanne's.


Sorry about the long wait...I've been kinda slacking off lately...

Please review!