Chapter 10: Tainted Heart

It was well into the next day before Momo finally woke from her sleep, finding Kyoko snuggled next to her and Shanks staring out the window—obviously standing guard. Her slightest movement caught his attention," Gonna sleep another day away?"

Smiling inspite of herself the cook just mumbled under her breath," Nice to see you're alive would have been better, you know..."

" Nice to see you're alive..." teased Shanks, leaning against the wall." For a while the doctor wasn't really sure you'd make it...but I knew it would take more than that to keep you down for the count."

" How flattering..." the chief grumbled before changing the subject." How's Masafumi?"

Rubbing his neck uneasily the red head shook his head," He's gonna make it but...because he lost so much blood he's in pretty bad shape. Doctor said he's in a coma."

Not wanting to show just how painful that news was Momo began to stroke Kyoko's hair," What about Eiwa and my father...?"

" Your father...he's dead."

" Can't say it wasn't what he deserved.."

Taking a seat next to the bed, he crossed his legs and sighed," And Eiwa...he got away." Seeing her expression turn to alarm Shanks held out his hand." Don't worry though! We're not gonna let him take you or Kyoko...which reminds me. Momo...er...nevermind."

" What?"

" I was just thinking..."

Although curious Momo looked down at the little girl that was snuggled up to her," Shanks...why are you so intent on protecting us? Why did you come to my rescue...?"

" You're not one that trusts in others very well...so I wouldn't expect to understand..."

" I can trust enough..." countered the sea geen haired woman." Now what were you thinking? It must have been important...if talking about keeping us from Eiwamoto reminded you of it."

Not sure whether he should ask or not Shanks sighed," Who are you exactly?"

Taken aback Momo just stared at him in confusion," I'm Momo Harada...who else would I be? That's quite a strange question to ask, you know."

" Yeah...I thought so too..."

" Captain!" shouted Yasopp running into the bedroom." There's a young woman here that claims she knows something about the Harada Family...and about Eiwamoto."

" Something about my family?"

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Despite Shanks wanting her to remain in bed and rest Momo wouldn't have it—arguing that anything about her family she had every right to know what it was.

Standing across the room, dressed in Asian-like garments, blonde hair kept pinned to the back of her head. The girl looked quite a few years younger than Momo, but she looked worn from experiencing something horrid. As they entered the room she frowned," So you're Momo Harada...you look just like your mother and her people..."

Before she could say a word Shanks offered her a seat and Momo took it hesitantly," What do you know about my mother, for that matter...what do you know about me? Who are you for starters?"

" You don't beat around the bush do you?" Sighing the young blonde forced a smile, although a bit grim." I'm Jaklynn Dahl, I'm an assassin from the North Blue...but I'm here more or less on a special order. To keep you from the people that would use you for their own greed. That would include Eiwamoto and whoever he's working under now."

" Use me...?"

Jaklynn gave a curt nod," Yes...I'm afraid your nothing more than a key to many people that know about your mother...Eiwamoto was one of them. Your father knows and so does your brother, before your mother died she had intended to tell you...sadly she was not able to."

" Use me for what?" questioned Momo, getting sick of waiting to know everything." Just spit it out!"

" You can unlock a Sacred Cavern that holds a forbidden treasure, if someone does use you to unlock it you'd be crystalized...in otherwords you'd die. It would also start the ritua—nevermind...all you need to know is that you're a danger to mankind as we know it...your mother knew that she was and she..."

Too stunned to say anything the chief stood, uneasy on her feet," My mother...you mean she...and I'm..."

" Momo..." Shanks was already there after seeing her face turn pale, letting her lean against him for support." Ben...Yasopp, Jaklynn tell them everything you know and let me take care of this. I think that was too forward...even for Momo."

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Woohoo! I've made it past Chapter 10...that means the story will make it to the end. I'm so happy...for a while I was begining to doubt I'd ever make it. I was just stumbling into the black void of writers block...struggling to grasp my creativity! (dramatic music) Nah I'm kidding...well not really but you know what I mean.

Ahhh...I love merging stories...at first Jaklynn wasn't even supposed to be in this story. Eep...maybe I've said too much. Later on though, if you also read my other One Piece fanfiction, you'll begin to see similarities...and after both stories reach their end...muhahahahahaha...the production of the final story shall begin.

Chapter 11: Coming to Terms—can a warm heart help Momo overcome her fears and pain? What is Jaklynn's plan to keep Eiwa from getting his hand on the only key left to open the Sacred Cavern? When it comes down to it...is there anyway to stop the future that lays ahead.

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