Chapter 28

It was dark when the Whitebeards returned. Zarhi had come back a bit earlier after having led 4 batches through the maze of the cemetery. Having enough people, the men had set up a space for waiting at an empty field and even a chair for their Captain to sit on the outskirts of the cemetery. The large set-up was more of a habit by now, that their captain was to rest. The men from the first division even brought with them the medical devices that Whitebeard used to use. Now it just stayed there in the corner.

The 4th division were a friendly bunch with old man Reid. To the point that the next wave of the 100 men that comprised said division came to say their final farewells as well. Along with the second wave, was the packed dinner and sake.

When Whitebeard returned to the simple house, he returned to a tuckered out Luffy and a strangely subdued Dadan. Immediately, he knew something had happened. Something they'll have to talk about later. Rein was tucking in bed while Zarhi thanked Dadan one last time as she sent them out.

They returned back to the ship, while some of his other sons decided to stay in an inn and the others to the brothels. Moby was comparatively silent, with only a few people and two nurses on duty that night.

"Dadan," Newgate calls, while Luffy was safely tucked in Magra's arms. Ready to go back to their room at the second division. Dadan looks to him, with hopeful eyes even. "Would you like to sleepover at my room? There's something we need to discuss…" More about her issues than his.

"Magra, go ta' sleep. I'm sleepin' at the infirmary tonight. Don't wait up." She says before following the Captain to his quarters. Missing the sad look on Magra's face as he lingers looking at the back of her head.

Whitebeard had settled her at the infirmary's doors just next to his room, "Get ready for bed, I'll pick you up later."

"I can go ta' yer door like a regular person Newgate. I ain't an invalid." She pouts as she enters the infirmary door, closing it shut without another word from the captain.

The two nurses on duty were Nurses Cotton and Josephine. "Dadan-san!" Josephine greets, launching herself at her and wrapping strong slender arms around her arms and center. It's been such a long time since she's met-up with them! Foosa's team has just docked a while ago and the nurses there were sent back to the main ship to relieve the current nurses.

"Jo- Josephine?" More of a question, having forgotten the name of the nurse.

"Yes! You remember me! XD" She cheers. Still hugging the woman tightly.

"What are you doing back?" She asks, still stunned and very quickly running out of air from the tight hug of the energetic nurse. "How's the island?"

"The island is well! Just did a check-up on the inhabitants, did some health and safety trying and we're good." She finally let go. Dadan breathes, relieved she wouldn't die from lack of air.

"Good to see you back." She says in labored breath. Josephine smiles, but her smile suddenly turned devious… A shiver ran up Dadan's skin.

"Dadan-san," she starts, sweetly, "What's this I heard about you and our Captain? Hmmm?" Because- Josephine would be one to listen to gossip.

"It's nothing." She assured, "We're just friends. Good friends, really." Dadan smiles. "He'll let us stay in a mountain, in an island under his protection. We'll be fine."

"Yes, I know Oyaji is a really REALLY good man. But, that's not what I've heard Dadan-san." Stars sparkling in her eyes, "Or should I call you Ma?"

Dadan's eyes widen into plates. "W-Where did you hear that from?!" She flounders. This is the first time she's heard of this.

"Don't act like you aren't happy Dadan-san! Oyaji is a great guy! GREAT GUY! You'd be lucky to find a lover like him, you sly minx!" She says it like she was teasing her, good-natured and actually happy Dadan is a couple with her captain. To Dadan however, her world was… "So… have you and the Captain, you know…" She does the universal sign of the coin and the stick, and Dadan loses it.

"We are not a couple." She states firmly. All tease and joy gone from her tone. Her expression a straight face. And Josephine loses her smile. "You should know not to believe such things about your Captain, Josephine." Dadan states. "Those are rumors. I'm tellin' ya'! Know we are just friends. You should know better than ta listen ta rumors." She scolds instead. "I'm not mad at you,-" she takes a step for the infirmary restroom instead, "however, if you believe and spread those rumors, the crew an' marines might get the wrong idea. They might actually target me to get ta' yer' captain. And-" The last part of her sentence goes unsaid as she closes the door to the restroom. 'I'm not strong enough for that.'

When Dadan emerges from the infirmary, freshened up and ready for bed, Josephine apologizes. Bows low like Ace and uses proper speech to say she was sorry for believing such rumors and telling the nurses about it. She promises, not to partake in such behavior again. Dadan accepts her apology. However, when she was about to step out on deck to go to the Captain's cabin, coat and shawl on. She was asked by Josephine. "Where are you going Dadan-san?" She asks in pure innocent concern. Dadan responds honestly.

"To Newgate's. We have something to discuss." Before she closes the door.

On the deck, Dadan hears a girlish squeal from inside the infirmary. Ignoring the squeal, she walks towards the Captain's Cabin at the far side of the deck.


Three knocks on the door before Newgate opens it for her.

The door was a big ass door. Too heavy for her, she'd said. So he knows to open it for her when he hears her knock. She enters unceremoniously to the heated warm cabin. It was of moderate size, would have been bigger if their Captain weren't already a half-giant. As such, everything in his room was constructed to accommodate him.

She positions herself near the hearth, sighing when the warmth hits her back. The short walk on deck was hell! She has never been more glad that she didn't walk much this morning, and that Newgate was there to carry her everywhere. "That was one hell of a walk on deck. It's freezing out there!" She comments.

"Hey, I offered you a ride, you said you were- what was that again?" He says with a teasing smile as he sits down in front of her to stroke the fire in between them. "Aint' invalid? Was it?"

"I know, I know." She says, but grumbles, "I should have asked yer' old man ass to go back an' fetch me in the cold."

"Well, I'm glad this ass is finally free from a wheel chair." He says, "And what a fine ass, it is may I add."

"Haha! Keep telling yourself that Newgate. I'm sure it'll turn into a decent ass one day."

He feigns hurt, "Are you saying my butt is ugly? How have I not known this? I've lived 72 years with my ass, and no one has told this to me!"

"That's what friends are for Newgate. Yer' welcome." Dadan says. They both end up laughing at their horrible joke.

The atmosphere in the room was light, as light as any other time they had to talk. Newgate almost doesn't want to bring up the issue. Thankfully, it was Dadan who confessed.

"Rein… He drank milk I made and he started smoking like you did." Dadan says, straight to the point.

"What happened to the boy?" Newgate's concern. "He was barely 10, wasn't he?"

"He didn't shrink!" She replies in haste, "He's fine. Better than fine, I think."

Newgate stays silent, his eyes still looking at the hearth, but Dadan knows, he was thinking. All wise men think, and this was what she'd expected to see from Newgate. She wonders, when did she begin to imagine the faces he'd make. When did she start to catalog the faces she'd seen him put on? Storing it all in her memory for the time she'd have to use her imagination to remember him.

"We shall visit the boy tomorrow, with Deuce and Marco." He says. "Dadan, how are you feeling? Does it bother you, was there any backlash to your body?" He asks, concerned eyes on her instead, and Dadan remembers what Josephine had said, 'Oyaji is a great guy!'

"I'm fine." Her short reply, "I- I was just a bit shocked, is all. I didn't think I would… I really have no idea how something I made would…" She stares into the fire. "I don't know how to use my powers." The realization dawned on her. "I was so scared Newgate I didn't know what was happening, that I caused it and I didn't know what I did. He was only 10, and I thought… He wasn't gonna make it." She chokes, clutches her shawl tighter around her, feeling the biting chill of guilt. If something were to happen to such a young innocent. "It's-"

"Terrifying." He completes. "Everyone who's eaten a devil fruit would know…" The way his eyes look into the fire, reminiscing a memory only in his head, "I would know." Because he would remember something so terrifying. "I- I've killed a lot of people, by accident." He confesses, "They didn't deserve it… And I would never forget them."

Dadan finds herself standing, walking over and sitting right beside him, stroking his arm for comfort, silently telling I'm he isn't alone.

"Thanks. For sharing." She says.

"Thanks. For listening." He responds.

As the night grows cold, the two find themselves in comfortable silence. Both were far from alright, both still in lament. But they were sure, if there was one person they wouldn't mind knowing the worst of them- it was the person sitting right beside them.