Chapter 3 - Indelible Marks

Vivi forced herself to concentrate on the work at hand, but her mind drifted back to Kohza. Friends didn't act like she had. She'd have to apologize when she saw him again even he didn't deserve it. But why hadn't he answered at least one of her letters? She'd been so worried about him – until she remembered a conversation she'd once had.

[Take a chill pill, Vivi! You can't carry it all on your shoulders! They can do it. I believe in them!]

Well, he wasn't too worse for wear if he had the energy to get into a fight with her. She smiled. Fight? Not much of a fight at all; she didn't even have a bruise to show for it.

Terracotta's distinctive knock rattled the door on its hinges.

"Come in," Vivi said.

"It's almost time for the dinner – you'll want to get ready soon so you can socialize. We have three visiting mayors, the head of a trading company and the usual hoi polloi, so I would wear something nice, but not formal. Half an hour – dining room. If you need assistance, call one of the maids, dear. I'll be in the kitchen." Terracotta bustled back out.

Vivi went to her wardrobe and threw the doors open wide. She viewed the countless dresses, skirts, and robes. She wavered on what to wear; she wanted to make a good impression.

And for a second, she rebelled and wished she could wear a T-shirt and pair of shorts.

[You can borrow anything you want. I have plenty of clothes, more than enough for the both of us.

As you'll find out when it's your turn to do laundry.

Shut up, Usopp.]

Carue, always quick to sense her mood, nosed past her and pulled on the sleeve of one of the dresses. "Aren't ducks color-blind?" she teased, ruffling the feathers on his neck. She took the hanger out and viewed his choice critically. "You have excellent taste, Carue. This is the one."

As Vivi slipped out of her skirt, she came to a decision. She would undertake her plans for the tour of the kingdom tomorrow. Her father had been hinting for the past couple of weeks that they should begin it soon, but she'd been putting it off. There had been very good reasons – all those thank you notes for example.

She remembered one in particular. It was sitting in a drawer in her desk. The card from Drum Island, addressed to her and signed by Acting Mayor Doldon, had brought her to tears the first time she'd read it. It hadn't been what he'd written; he'd been very discrete and kept the contents to congratulations and pleasantries. Her tears had sprung from her memories of the icy kingdom and her adventures there and the friends she had been with at the time.

Vivi sighed. She was devoted to her kingdom, but right now she resented it for having such a hold on her heart that she could not reconcile her love of it and her love of her friends. Why couldn't they both have a place in her life?

She stood in front of the full length mirror and studied her appearance. The red dress was conservative by Alabasta's standards, with its high neck and cap sleeves. The long full skirt billowed away from her legs, barely brushing her skin. The length meant that she could wear comfortable slippers instead of heels this evening.

Terracotta said that she looked more like a princess with her hair down. Vivi pulled her pony tail holder out of her hair and begin combing it. The starkness of her left arm surprised her. It was washed clean now, but something remained.

Vivi chastised herself for her melancholy thoughts. She picked up her shawl and threw it around her shoulders rakishly. Her reflection lifted one eyebrow and put on a saucy pout, which changed to an unladylike guffaw.

It reminded her of the time she and Nami had been really bored and they'd decided to play dress-up with Nami's extensive wardrobe. They'd wasted an entire morning, acting like children…

Her reflection's grin faded.

Vivi hoped that desert solitude and a few weeks of travel would clear her mind.

She made her way down to the dining room and reveled in the sight of the setting sun. It cast flames on the polished marble walls. The air was dry and at a temperature where she couldn't even feel that she was moving. It was like she was walking through a dream. The fringe of her shawl brushed her elbows like fingers while the scents of spiced meats, roasted vegetables, and fragrant rice filled the air.

[Nami, Vivi, I have a special dinner for you. Please allow me, Nami. My goodness, I've forgotten something. It totally slipped my mind. Could you beautiful ladies excuse me just one moment? HEY YOU STUPID S.O.B.s! SOUP'S ON! Vivi, would you like some wine this evening?]

The dining room was already full. She had forgotten how long it took to walk from one section of the palace to another.

Vivi wended her way through the crowd, oblivious of the admiring glances that followed. She made small talk with the people she knew and introduced herself to those she didn't. She hoped that she wouldn't make a mistake; these men and women represented all parts of her country and she wanted them to have a good opinion of her so that they would take it back to their people. She wanted all the people of Alabasta to think well of her.

She was jostled from behind and felt the hem of her dress rip. "Excuse me. I'm sorry," she said politely and turned around. Her smile remained, but her heart started leaping against her chest. The inflection of her voice dropped another ten degrees. "I didn't know you would be dining with us this evening."

Kohza grimaced. "Me either."