Chapter 8: Fighting Perplexed

Staring at the ground with cold death lingering around her, Momo couldn't find the strength to fight back. She knew if she looked up she'd be looking her father straight in the eyes...what a cruel, but fated, reunion. The smell of liquor was hard on his breath.

" I should have known..." muttered Momo with disgust." Akmei Village...it sounded familiar but damn me...for not realizing it sooner..."

When he finally spoke it was slurred," You've grown...but yer still the same..."

" What do want from me..?"

" Can't a father greet his own daughter?"

Feeling all the hatred she'd harbored for years burst inside her chest, Momo wanted so badly to sink a sharp object into his heart." Not you...you're not a father to me. Before mother died yes...but all the hate has replaced whatever love I once held for you..."

The man that had chased Kyoko came back empty handed, much to the captive's relief," She got away and headed straight for some pirate crew!"

Shoving his daughter into the arms of the other man her father paced," Take her to the house Masafumi."

" Ma-Masafumi...?" It had never occured to her that the stranger was actually family." Brother?"

Once a safe distance from their father her brother smiled grimly," Not a word...don't know who might be lurking around here. Captain Eiwamoto's been looking for you and has offered our father a large some of money if he's the one to return you to him."

" Always for the money..."

" Dad used to not be like this..." Masafumi said motioning for her to enter the house." Over the years he's become even more twisted in his thinking...if I didn't have a use around this place he would have sold me too." As she began to protest he took her hand and dropped a tiny silver key in it," Do you still remember? Now hurry!"

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Crying hysterically, Ben could barely hold the girl as she desperately searched for Shanks." What's wrong?"

" Momo!" she could barely talk between her sobs and the lack of air due to her frantic breathing." A man... took Momo!"

" What?" The mention of Momo had stopped Shanks dead in his tracks." Where'd he take her? Do you remember?"

Using her sleeve to wipe away her tears Kyoko pointed towards the forest," There...we were walking up the trail..."

With quick scan of the opening he realized just how easily an ambush could be pulled off. That still left the question as to just why Momo was targetted, it was obviously a planned attack...that much was for certain." Ben...take Kyoko back on the ship and Yasopp...come with me. If you see anyone acting strange you know what to do. Keep a close eye on the place..."

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However sweet the moments reunited with her brother it would remain bitter sweet in her mind. Ever since she was little, to escape the wrath of her father and to get out of doing chores, she'd leave the house and head for the river.

" If I remember correctly..." Momo mumbled stumbled through the tiny house in search of an almost invisible secret door that she used to aid her escape tricks." Here it is." Inserting the key she was surprised to see that it actually worked—even after so many years. Forcing all her weight on the tiny hidden door and seeing the faint traces of light from the above tunnel, she climed upwards and pushed away some foilage that had grown over it. Scanning the area to see if anyone was watching Momo heard voices coming closer—her brother, father, and...Captain Eiwa. They were around the front so she ran a random direction, hopefully she'd get to where she needed to be before something really horrible happened.

Sliding down the hillside Momo froze after a gunshot was fired and the cry of Masafumi echoed across the valley.

" Never was any good..." complained their father, kicking his son in the ribs before following Eiwamoto out the door." I'm sure she didn't get far...never was a gifted sprinter..."

Struggling to rise from the floor the boy grunted and snuck out, making sure not to let the door catch. After such a long time seperated there was no way he'd lose his sister so soon. Even if it meant turning on men that would kill him once they learned the truth.

" Where are you headed boy?" asked Eiwa, aiming his gun straight at the Masafumi's chest." Gonna try and prevent that girl from returning to my ship? Your father sees no use in you living...neither do I..."

Shrugging the father waved his hand," Do with him what you will."

Cocking the gun he pulled the trigger—grabbing her brother Momo shoved him to the ground and felt the gut renching pain shockwave of the bullet, which drove deep into her stomach.

" MOMO!" Shouted Masafumi along with another voice, Shanks.

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After a very long break I now have inspiration to continue on with RMH! Yay! YAY! Ahem, yes...well another random outburst to scare people away. lol I join the Shanks fanclub on Deviantart. WOOHOO! It's just really hard to come up with poses for art...because of Shanks missing an arm. (huggles Shanks)

I have no title in mind yet for the next chapter but...ya know...it will! ; Right now I'm not even sure of the plot so I can't give you an outlook for the upcoming adventures...either...I'm sorry!

I have a question! What do you guys think of Masafumi-kun?

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