Chapter 48

"TOSHIO!" Kaido howled.

Whitebeard scowled and swung his bisento at Kaido's side. "Don't take your eyes off me!"

Kaido snarled and swung round, but he was too late, the blade slashed his side, biting in deep. A bullet struck him from behind, and Whitebeard spotted Izo marching their way, face furious. Yes, this was as much as Izo's fight as it was Whitebeard's, given his history with Kaido.

"You-" Kaido growled. "Fucking Omegas-"

Izo smirked, and Whitebeard lunged again, but Kaido quickly retreated back, scrambling. Izo took more shots at him, but Queen got in the way, forcing them both back so Kaido had more breathing room.

"Protecting the big, bad Alpha, huh?" Izo mocked.

"Watch your mouth, Izo, otherwise we might just have to put you in your place again," Queen sneered.

"You didn't manage it the first time," Izo huffed. "I doubt you'd manage to second."

"We were gentle with you as an Omega, unlike Oden's other idiot followers." Queen scowled. "But I see that was a mistake."

"Please," Izo scoffed. "You assholes forcing yourselves on me was hardly gentle. Sure, not painful, but you were all assholes if you thought I'd give any of you a baby, especially when you murdered my family!"

Whitebeard snarled. He owed these bastards a lot of payback, but what they did to Izo and Oden's men always boiled his blood. Oden's family too. But before he could say a word or move a muscle, a nasty scent bludgeoned him, startling him. Thatch came out of nowhere, swords in hand, and stabbed Queen right in the back. Queen screamed, earning yells from Kaido's men, and Whitebeard grinned.

"Thatch!" Izo gasped.

"You've had this coming for a long fucking time!" Thatch snarled, twisting the blades, earning a screech. He ripped out a blade, stabbing down again. "Nobody touches my family and gets away with it!"

Queen grabbed at Thatch and managed to snatch the end of his hair, yanking him down. Whitebeard moved in, swinging his bisento, just as Queen aimed his gun at Thatch's face. Izo's gun went off first, knocking Queen's out of his hand and sending it flying. Whitebeard struck, cutting right across Queen's face and chest, and his cry cut off when Whitebeard swung again, cutting off his head.

"Fuck!" Thatch scrambled back out of the way as Queen's body fell.

Whitebeard breathed out heavily. He wasn't used to moving about this much anymore. Damn he felt old. But he paused when Izo suddenly collided with Thatch, hugging him tightly.

"Thank you," Izo said, sighing softly. "You reckless idiot."

Thatch softened. "Love you too, beautiful."

Whitebeard couldn't help but smile, but Izo pulled away, smirking as he raised his gun.

"Now let's go kill Teach."

Thatch grinned hungrily. "Hell yeah!"

.::.

Law groaned when he saw all the explosives lining the walls of the Charlotte's home. Kidd looked delighted, far too delighted actually, It was a bit unnerving. So this was apparently the plan Killer mentioned. Blow everything up.

Yeah, that sounded about right for Kidd and his gang.

"I was hoping for something a bit more detailed than 'blow shit up'," Law admitted.

Kidd scowled. "What's wrong with that?"

"It's not really a plan," Law pointed out.

"It is too!"

"A plan is far more detailed."

"Yeah, if you're a boring old fart."

Law sighed. "I was actually a bit hopeful for once, but I see that was a mistake."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean!?" Kidd snarled.

"We don't know where Portgas is, and if he is on any of the floors above us that means when we set these explosives off we'll kill him," Law said. "And that means the Whitebeards will kill us."

"Okay? So we go find Portgas first," Kidd grunted.

"And if someone finds these explosives first?"

"We'll blow them up-"

"And if we aren't out before then?"

"Shut up and just enjoy a fucking explosion," Kidd snapped, shaking his head as he approached. "You're such a pain in the ass, always so naggy."

"I wouldn't have to be if you had a few more braincells," Law snorted.

"Oh fuck you."

"You already did, Eustass-ya."

Killer groaned. "I don't need to hear this."

"Then don't listen in!" Kidd scolded.

"It's hard not to when you two are talking right next to me, Kidd," Killer sighed.

Law crossed his arms. "He's got a point."

"Shut it." Eustass scowled.

He paused when footsteps walked down the hall, a leisurely set of steps that put Law on edge. They all froze at the grating of metal, as if something was being sliced apart, and around the corner Doflamingo emerged, his strings dripping with blood. His grin was huge, wild even, and his scent was nasty. It made Law wince. It hadn't been this bad since Doflamingo had found Law and Cora. Law stepped back, shivering, and Kidd snarled.

"I told you to run, Law. But it looks like you haven't." Doflamingo flicked his wrist, and Law pulled Kidd and Killer down as the metal string flew right above their heads, tearing through more of the walls.

"Bastard!" Kidd drew his gun, but Law yanked his wrist down.

"Just run!" Law yelled, shoving Killer forward. "If we fight here we risk setting off all the explosives!"

"Dammit," Kidd cursed.

"Fufufufufu, that's right, mutt. Run. Run as fast as you can. It's all you'll ever be good for," Doflamingo mocked.

"Bastard!" Kidd bristled, but Law yanked him back, dragging him.

"Just be patient then you can fight," Law snapped.

.::.

He needed to find Yamato or Law. Yamato would hopefully know where Law was, and Law would hopefully know where Ace was! Ace had said how all three of them had a good relationship during meeting with each other. Marco kept pushing through the crowds, cutting or shooting down any idiots who got in his way.

He still didn't see the flash of yellow, but finally he did see Yamato fighting King.

"Get out of the way, Yamato!" King snarled.

Yamato's eyes narrowed. "I'm not letting you interfere in this fight. If Whitebeard can bring that shitty bastard down then I'll be delighted."

"Yamato!" Marco called.

Yamato froze, then grinned. "Marco! We need to talk. Ace-"

Marco rushed in, kicking King back when he tried to attack Yamato from behind. He fired a few shots at him, driving him back. "You know where Ace is yoi?" Marco frowned.

"Yes! After Law and Ace tried to escape from Teach they were captured by Doflamingo. Doflamingo gave Ace to me as a gift-"

"He's been with you all this time?" Marco gasped.

"Yes. I've been keeping him safe, but he misses you and the others a lot," Yamato said softly, them beamed. "Oh there is so much to tell you!"

"Where-"

"He's in a guest room. I can lead you there after we take out King!" Yamato said.

Marco smirked. "Good. And thanks for taking care of Ace yoi. Now let's deal with King and go get Ace back."

"Sounds like a plan." Yamato grinned.

.::.

Koala could smell Sabo's scent turning nasty and bitter. He and Teach were battering each other, Sabo swinging his pipe off Teach, and Teach leaving cuts behind with his claws. Koala would watch closely. She would watch Teach's downfall, and if Sabo couldn't win, if he was dying, Koala would step in. She would fight by her mates side, even if it meant dying.

.::.

Sabo ducked beneath a swipe of a claw, snarling as he whacked Teach's stomach with his pipe, forcing him back. "You've been tormenting Ace for years!" he spat. "And now I can finally get rid of you for good!"

"Tormenting?" Teach sneered. "I've given him everything he could ever need. The perfect home. The perfect pack. The perfect mate! I am his, and he is mine!"

"Perfect?" Sabo grunted when one of the claws sliced across his shoulder, but he managed to block the next blow, rolling out the way of another. "You've kept him in a cage! Pretty on the outside, but inside it's a nightmare! It's suffocating. It's terrifying. And you put Ace through all that! Everything you did to him ends today-"

He gasped when Teach grabbed his neck, choking him. Sabo swung his pipe, but Teach grabbed his wrist, squeezing tight. Sabo yelled, his bone snapping, but he held on. Their home. Teach destroyed their home. Made Ace cry. Scared him. Kept him chained and collared and had gone after people Sabo cherished more than anything in this world.

He kicked out, booting Teach's face, earning a snarl, but Teach held on, squeezing his throat even tighter. Sabo's sight blurred, but he kept struggling, clawing at Teach's hand. He could see a blur of pink sneaking up behind Teach. Koala. Mate

Koala pounced, grabbing Teach's head and jabbing his neck, choking him. Teach instantly let Sabo go, and Sabo sucked in air as he hit the ground, coughing and gasping as Teach grabbed at Koala. But she stabbed his back, twisting a dagger in, and he yelled.

"You nasty bitch!" Teach managed to grab her hair and yank her down, throwing her right into Sabo.

Sabo grunted as she hit him full force, knocking the breath from him. He froze though when a gun was aimed right at them, Koala tensing in his arms.

"I'll just shoot you down together!" Teach spat.

.::.

They had found the armoury. Nami was stunned, baffled by all the weapons, but Ace marched right in and grabbed a sniper rifle, and walked straight out. She followed along numbly, because Ace still had that cold look on his face.

He was still going to try and kill Teach.