Kaizoku wa Kaizoku desu… A Pirate is a Pirate
Part 1 of a 4 part series
by Aoikami Sarah
Chapter Six – Marina Has Had Enough
Outside, Ace strolled down the street with his hands in his pockets. "That slow-in-the-head brother of mine..." he muttered aloud. "He's probably in the tavern again." He frowned and looked up at the position of the sun. "I better make sure he's not gonna be late." Ace rounded the corner and watched as a man leading a large group of what appeared to be pirates or bandits or some sort of out-law kick the swinging door of the tavern completely off its hinges.
Ace made a face. "Oh for pity's sake. How much do you wanna bet Luffy's in there?" He debated trying to go in and get him out, but decided that if Luffy was there, so were a bunch of his well-armed friends. He sat down on the porch-front of the butcher's shop across the street, watched the tavern doors and waited. After ten long minutes, at last the bandits emerged, laughing, but not bloody or angry. Ace breathed a sigh and headed across the street.
The scene inside was typical. The only thing out of the ordinary was Makino cleaning up something that had spilled and pestering Shanks, asking if he and Luffy were alright. 'I don't wanna know, I don't wanna know…' Ace repeated internally. His brother's eyes were red-rimmed. Luffy pouted and stared at his hands. When he spotted Ace he rubbed the back of his hand over his eyes and gave him a big smile.
Ace breathed a sigh of relief. "Come on, Luffy. We'll be late."
As they left, Shanks approached his first mate.
"That was different," Beckman smirked, lighting another cigarette.
"Must be nice to be hammered right about now," Shanks moaned. Beckman handed him his bottle and the captain sucked down a few shots. "That's it," he said, handing it back. "We're out of here."
"Just like that?" Beckman asked.
"You can't be that drunk." Shanks eyed him. "When Marina finds out what happened today, we're as good as chucked outta here. Might as well announce we're already on the way."
"You're the captain," Ben muttered and put the bottle to his lips, disappointed to find that Shanks had drained it.
"Yeah. I am."
"Hey, Ace!" Luffy called, jogging to catch up with his older brother's longer legs. "Wanna see something cool?"
"If it's the gash under that band-aid, then no."
"Nope. Somethin' else!"
"What?" he asked, not stopping or turning around.
Luffy jogged in front of him. "Pull my finger!"
"Um, no?"
"Ok ok, pull my arm, or my foot or my face!"
Ace stopped. "You get clonked on the head or something?"
"No!" Luffy laughed. "Come on, Ace. Please!" he grinned, pouring on the eight-year-old-kid charm.
Ace sighed heavily. "You asked for it." He grabbed either side of Luffy's face and pulled. The cheeks stretched out to Ace's full arm-span of nearly five feet. Alarmed and frightened, Ace let go and the flesh snapped back, sending Luffy into a giggling fit.
"That's not funny!" Ace hollered. "There's something seriously wrong with you!"
"No there isn't! I ate the Gomu Gomu fruit!" he cackled.
"Fruit…? You mean, one of the Devil Fruits! Then you're… you're a…!"
"I'm a Rubber Man!" he crowed.
Ace fell down on his butt and looked up at his proud younger brother. He took his arms in his hands. "Luffy, do you realize what you've done?"
"I didn't know what I was eating. I thought the pirates we're giving me a treat."
"The pirates gave it to you…" Ace moaned. "Luffy… Mother is gonna freak out when she hears this!"
"No she won't. She'll say, 'that's nice' like she always does."
"Not for something like this." Ace stood, looked towards their little house and bit his lip. "She's going to be very upset."
Marina didn't say 'that's nice.' She fussed slightly over Luffy's condition. She seemed more concerned about the cut on his face than the devil-fruit's effect. They had dinner and went to bed as usual. The next morning, Luffy got ready go out on his errands. His brother cautioned him to avoid the pirates because of the drama the day before. Luffy agreed, grudgingly, and went outside. The sun shone down, birds chirped and all seemed right with the world. Ace hung back and watched him go; his own errands would take him further into the country to buy milk, cheese and eggs directly from a neighboring farm. He turned to get his hat from the coat rack and was surprised to find his mother directly behind him.
"Mother…"
"Excuse me, Ace. I'm going out."
He stared, unblinking at her. "Out? Like… Not-just-in-the-yard out?"
"Yes. I'm going into town," she replied. She looked out at the sunshine, the light making her pale irises seem white.
Ace frowned. "I'm coming with you."
"You have errands to do," she reminded him quietly.
"And I am the man of the house. I must protect you. I'm coming with you."
Shocked, Marina looked down at her oldest and more responsible son. He always did as he was told. He was always so helpful to her. "Ace…" She looked down on him and smiled. "Alright, if you insist."
Ace held his mother's hand and looked ahead. His eyes were narrowed and serious under the sunshine. As they walked, he squeezed her hand tighter, fretting. They ambled down the dirt road, but only a few hundred feet into their journey and already his mother was short of breath. Ace tried to read her face, but from the upward angle he couldn't see her eyes clearly.
"Ace," Marina said softly with a smile. "Careful. You're hurting my hand."
Shocked, Ace let go. "I'm sorry!" he cried.
"It's ok," she said, not breaking her stride.
"Mother…" Ace began. "Must you really go see the pirates yourself?"
Her shoulders slumped a little. "Who said anything about pirates?"
"I'm not as naïve as you wish I was. Because of Luffy you're going to have words with the pirates."
"Is there anything strange about a mother trying to protect her children?"
"There is when she's too ill to make it back home!" Ace stopped and cried out.
"That's nonsense…"
"Mother! Luffy might be oblivious, but I've noticed. You shouldn't walk so far, it won't be good for you!"
Marina stopped, turned, crouched down and reached out for her son. He walked slowly into her arms where she smoothed her hands over his head. "I'm sorry, Ace. Regardless of what condition I'm in, there's someone I must speak to."
"So, have me take a letter to Mr. Mayor again," Ace protested.
"Saaa…" she rolled her eyes. "You knew about that, too, eh? I need to see him in person."
"So have him come here!"
She bowed her head and sighed. "I'll never let him in my house again," she said quietly, her eyes trained on the ground. She stood slowly and continued towards town.
"Mother…" Ace watched her go for a moment then sudden wave of fear came over him. He jogged to catch up.
When they reached the center of town, the normally bustling streets were vacant. The voices of busy people were replaced by the cries of the wounded. Makino gripped the doorframe and played with the hinge that used to hold the left-hand door to her tavern. She watched the dead being taken away and waited for the pirates to return.
"Shanks…" she whispered. "Be careful!"
Her heart skipped a beat when she heard someone shout from further up the street, "Where is Luffy!" in a demanding, authoritative voice.
Makino's blood ran cold. "Oh my God… It's his mother!" Her first instinct was to run and hide, but she stepped down off the porch and hurried towards her. The woman's loose bun of auburn hair shone gold in the sunlight. Her other son clutched her skirts, protectively, not in fear. His eyes surveyed the carnage and didn't look away.
"Ma… Marina?" Makino, who was almost half the other woman's age, stuttered.
"Where is he?" she asked again, turning her fierce eyes on the barkeep.
"The bandits had him. The pirates fought them but their leader got away with him…"
"You are not listening to me," Marina stepped closer. Makino stepped back. "Where is my Luffy!"
Makino lost her ability to speak. She pointed toward the ocean and Marina hurried down to the harbor. The young woman sank to her knees, shaking slightly. Ace stared at her, incredulously. "S… sorry," he muttered and chased after his mother.
More to come...