Chapter 13: Fall from Grace
Koby sneaked through the street's fog-filled morning, carrying pastries from Minny's favorite bakery. Eventually he reached SWORD's new headquarters; Hina's mother's apartment.
-Oh, thank you! Minny jumped forward to hug Koby, before calmly stopping herself and taking the pastries.
-Calm down! We're discussing important stuff! Smoker grumbled. He wasn't in a good mood; an incredibly important mission had been blown, forcing him to sleep on the floor in a cramped apartment.
-If you want to barge into my apartment and start discussing your idiotic mission, do it somewere else, Hina's mom, who Koby had learned was named Lizzy, complained.
-But you don't have any other table; where are we supposed to sit? Smoker raised an eyebrow.
-Not my problem, but I'm reading the newspaper here, so no spy stuff! Stopping himself from punching his girlfriend's mother, Smoker swallowed his pride and sat on the floor. The other's surrounded him.
-In order to avoid being recorded, I'm unable to contact Drake, but I'm willing to bet that he'll be here tomorrow. When they arrive, it won't be long before we're discovered, so it's best if we discover Cassho's headquarters before then, Smoker explained.
-Minny, do you know anything that could help us? Minny thoughtfully chewed on her cinnamon bun.
-No, but you could go ask Uncle Julan; he lives in these neighborhoods. A couple of years ago he put it all on taking down Capone Bege for murdering grandpa, but he failed and was arrested. Dad bailed him out, but he was kicked out of the family.
-That's perfect, he has the motivation to want to betray his brother! Hina dryly explained.
It took half an hour for Smoker and Hina to find the address Minny had given them; it was an apartment building that stank of cigarettes. Taking in a deep breath, Hina knocked on the door; Julan Cassho's reputation was that of a terrifying gangster lord. The man that opened the door was wrinkly and withered, his eyes covered by massive glasses.
-Who are you? He asked in a coarse, high-pitched voice.
-Are…are you Julan Cassho? Hina raised an eyebrow.
-Yeah, that's me; you can read the sign on the door! Julan answered, obviously offended.
-We have some business to discuss?
-You're taking on my family? You come in here and expect me to act like the Navy's lapdog? Julan tried to sound intimidatingly furious, but the effect was more that of a whining child.
-Why would I ever do that?
-Why? Because your brother has stabbed you in the back, taken your title and exiled you to this craphole. Why not? Smoker spoke the harsh truth.
Julan tried to hide the fact that he was considering Smoker's words.
-Well, I won't gain anything from it, so no thanks.
-What you will gain is not being thrown in jail by us; you are still an old criminal. Just tell Hina where Marcus has his base, and we'll allow you to walk away scot-free when all is said and done, Hina grabbed Marcus's hand.
-Wait, whose Hina? Julan turned to look at Smoker, both eyebrows raised.
-Oh, she has a strange habit of referring to herself in the third person. Picked it up from her father, Smoker explained.
-You know, Hina would like it if you didn't…
-Fine, Julan interrupted Hina's retort.
-I'm tired of wasting away in this old shithole. The family's base of operation is the old Seashell Hotel.
-Seashell Hotel?
-It's an extremely successful hotel that overlooks the entire town from Love's Peak; Hina's not surprised that it's Cassho property.
-Will you leave me alone now? Julan turned to look at the clock.
-Hina, I feel like we're being too easy to trust. Why shouldn't I think you're going to call your brother as soon as we leave this room?
Julan's eyes sank to look down at his tea.
-My brother was surprisingly merciful, letting me live after damaging our family's reputation. If he learns that I told you about the Seashell, he wouldn't give me it again.
-He's not lying. Marcus Cassho is a man that doesn't hesitate to kill to protect his family, Hina spoke from experience. Satisfied, she and Smoker returned back to the apartment.
-Aaaaaaaand I folded, Koby put down his cards on the kitchen table. Lizzy triumphantly pulled the prize pool (a couple of yarn balls, matchsticks and cigarettes) to herself.
-How are you so good at this? Tashigi asked.
-Well, I don't have much to do all day, so me and the other ladies in the neighborhood play a couple of rounds then and there. We've gotten pretty good, Lizzy shamelessly bragged.
Surprised to see her mother happy, Hina sat down next to her.
-Hina will join; She's got an unbreakable poker face!
After a couple of more games, everyone went to sleep in high spirits. The sounds of her hometown's nightlife rocked Hina into a deep sleep. All was well, until a sharp gunshot rang out from the street outside.
Effective like a machine, Hina jumped off the floor and slammed the window open. On the street outside stood Marcus Cassho, holding a beat-up, bloodied Julan.
-Clever trick you tried to pull, turning my own flesh and blood against me! Sadly, this pathetic fool tried to sell you out to get on my side! And once I realized that you were Oliver Media's daughter, tracking your address was easy! Hina cursed herself for her naïvete.
-Now, enough tricks! Bring out Minny!
Before anyone could stop her, Minny had rushed out the apartment and onto the street.
-Father! I'll hand myself over and never disobey again! Just don't hurt them! She declared, tears gushing out of her eyes. Marcus sighed and clasped his hands behind his back.
-I'm sorry, sweetie… He said in a soft, calming tone.
-But I can't forgive any more betrayals! Without a moment's hesitation he pointed a gun at his daughter. Koby leaped towards the window to save her, but was pulled back by Smoker. A flash of light; a boom. Smoker slammed into the ground, coughing up blood.
-Black Bar Rope!
A cage shot out from Hina's hand and destroyed Marcus's guns before rushing out to help Smoker, followed by Tashigi, Koby and Lizzy.
-Give it up! There was a series of clicks as men in Navy uniforms readied their guns.
-Hina, listen to them, Smoker wheezed out.
-If you leave me behind, you could…
-No! I refuse! Hina turned to look at her surrounders. Koby had seen the eyes of vicious pirates, ruthless mercenaries and even the Navy Fleet Admiral as he prepared to kill, but none had been so determined as Hina's.
-Come at me!
Valentina, fourteen years ago…
The crowd was so large that the newspaper stand nearly fell over as they pushed to get closer. All of them were there to see the unbelievable headline: "The Cassho vs. Capone Clash! Callous Criminals Caught!" "After Cassho's Failed Payback, the Navy is on the attack!" "Valentina's Most Wanted Nr.1: Julan Cassho!" There was shouting and tears of joy; a ray of sunlight for the mafia-controlled island.
Hina pushed her way through the crowd and bought one paper. She riffled through it to find the article; while her father wasn't mentioned by name, there was a picture of him holding Julan Cassho by the handcuffs and smiling. He was quite handsome; olive skin, beard stubble, large build. Under, there was a little text; "Thirteen years of hard work, but they've finally gotten Cassho behind bars!" Hina put the paper under her arm and walked home, wanting to show it to her mother.
When she got home, she was met by complete darkness and radio silence.
-As usual, she sighed.
Over in the living room sat Lizzy, reading in the dim light of an old lamp.
-Mom, you can't keep doing this. It's terrible for your eyesight, Hina lit up the rest of the room.
-Ah, whatever! I might as well save on some of the electricity bill. All the same to me!
-Mom, have you gone out today? Liz broke eye contact.
-Oh, come on!
-Well, I'm waiting for your father!
-He always works late! He's been pursuing this case for thirteen years; he can't keep neglecting you! I'm going to be busy at school for now, I don't want you to be left alone all day.
Just then, the door flew open.
Disheveled, overworked and anxious, Hina's father, Oliver, was everything but the handsome man in the newspaper.
-Oh, you're home early. Look, dad, Hina wants to…
-Before that, Oliver needs to talk to you as well! Oliver looked at Hina before looking at Liz.
-Preferably alone.
Oliver shoved Hina into her room and handed over a large envelope.
-W-what's this? Dad, what's…
-Honey, Oliver needs you to listen to him. In this envelope is all of the information Oliver has gathered about the Five Families of the West; don't ever, ever let anyone else know about this, not even your mother, Oliver looked over his shoulder.
-Dad, what is going on!? Why are you giving this to me? Oliver looked away from Hina.
-I'm…I'm leaving.
Hina furiously slapped her father.
-No, you're not! Hina refuses to let you do that! I've barely seen you for so long, and now you're…
-Listen to me. I am sorry for not being present all of the time, but I did it for this island and this family's safety. It's inexcusable, but it was for a good cause, Oliver continued talking before Hina could question him.
-I've done all I can, but they're after me. These are powerful people, with a lot of control on this island. I'll be gone, gone for a long time. Perhaps forever. I leave you with this information, and it's your choice at what you do with it.
Hina started stammering, searching for something to say. Oliver didn't hesitate to turn around and walk out the door.
-Where are you going? Oliver turned around, biting on his lip to not cry as he saw his wife in the eye.
-I'm going to work. Take care of yourself.
-Stop giving me those weak excuses! You've already done enough on that case; can't you at least tell me what it is you're working on!?
Oliver gave Liz one last, long look. Holding in his tears, he silently left the apartment.
Days became weeks, and weeks became months. Slowly the incident with the Cassho was forgotten; the newspapers returned to covering the usual gun violence and drug trade. One day, in the bottom corner of the obituary section, it was written "Oliver Media's body was found washed up on the beach." Hina wanted to cry, but deep down she knew that he was already dead. All she could do was light a cigarette.
In the middle of the funeral, right in front of friends and family, Liz stood up and walked out. Hina excused her and ran after.
-Are you crazy!? Get back in there!
-If you think that I am in some way going to grieve for a man that leaves me to raise a child alone in an old apartment for thirteen years while he works at an impossible case, and then has the gall to die without saying goodby then you're just as much of a fool as him.
Hina wanted to refute her mother, to reveal all the information Oliver had put his life on the line to gain in order to protect. But she saw the man dressed in a black suit, watching them silently from afar. Her father was serious when he said that she couldn't say anything to anyone.
-Fine then, Hina swallowed her tears.
-If all your hard work only led to your death and mother's tears, I won't let it be for nothing. I'll become the Navy captain you never could; I'll protect my mother from every pirate, every gangster, every Emperor of the Sea!
-Black Cage Explosion!
In the present, Hina blasted out a wall of cage bars, tying up the bribed Navy men.
-Smoker, how bad is the wound? Hina crouched down next to him.
-It's pretty baGODDAMN! While he was busy answering, Hina sealed up the wound with an extremely tight cage bar; it hurt like hell, but it allowed Smoker to move. She then tied Lizzy up, put her under her arm and zipped away across Valentina's rooftops. Koby and Smoker followed, bridal carrying Minny and Tashigi respectively.
After a long night of Moon Walking, Koby flew over to Hina.
-Wow, I sure am tired! Do you know… Before Hina could warn him, Koby had already crashed into an oncoming flock of birds.
-Koby, Koby! Hold on! Tashigi screamed, but after a full night's exhausting physical activity, the softness of the birds and their calming death screams lulled Koby into a deep sleep. He only awoke when he felt the uncomfortable sensation of smashing into the ground.
-Jeez! What's going on!? A familiar voice screamed. Koby's vision was blurry, but he could make out silky blonde hair and a massive butt cheek.
-I've never been this happy to see you, Helmeppo.
-I feel that I'm going to need some context for this.
Sorry to have a break week right at the beginning of a new arc! That's just how it is sometimes. I may have made Hina's Devil Fruit a bit too OP. Ehm, between you and me, it has a secret drawback; "Narrative tension" Don't tell Hina though.
