Chapter 10

Zoro's day had thus far, been eventful. Being ambushed by Cipher Pol, arriving in a new city. Only to feel a vaguely familiar presence, (though he hadn't found out who it was. They kept moving too quickly whenever he tried to catch up to them.) watched as Ace passed out in his own lunch, and now Zoro found himself dining and dashing with the crazy straw hatted dwarf kid.

A wave of smoke swarmed the path. Luffy barely managed to block a kick to the face. It did drive Luffy back, giving the smoke a chance to move. A humanoid raced from the smoke, attacking Marco with some kind of jitte, the jitte gleaming with silver. Marco dodged the blows, growling lowly.

Ace looked stunned, staring at the pair with wide eyes, before shaking his head. Zoro ignored him, drew his sword, ready to back up Marco if the vampire needed him. A yell drove that idea from his thoughts however.

"YOU!"

Zoro froze. Everyone did actually, the smoke elemental glanced back, puzzled. Zoro, ever so slowly, turned on his heel, every nerve on fire.

If Tashigi's glare could kill, he would have exploded into ashes.

She was the Angel Huntress who had been chasing him for centuries now. She, who reminded him way too much of Kuina, who had also been an Angel. If he didn't know better, he would say Tashigi was her reincarnation.

But Kuina had never been this determined to murder him.

Zoro did what any reasonable person would do in this situation. He ran. There was no reasoning with Tashigi. Once the damn woman had an idea in her head, she went all out in order to fulfil said idea.

"GET BACK HERE, RORONOA ZORO!" Tashigi screamed. "GIVE ME BACK MY SWORD!"

"IT WAS PERONA WHO STOLE IT!" Zoro cried.

"LIKE HELL IT WAS!"

"SHE'S A FOLLOWER OF THE OLD TRICKSTER GOD! SHE SET ME UP AS A PRANK!"

"I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!"

.::.

Ace blinked, just as the vampire cackled.

Ace had never seen the demon look so terrified, or run so fast. Luffy raced in, swinging at Smoker, Smoker who let the blow go right through him. He back handed Luffy, and charged once more towards Marco. Marco smirked lazily, opening his mouth to reveal with growing fangs.

"Vampire! Your reign ends here!" Smoker barked.

"Smoker, stop!" Ace yelled, stepping in between them.

Smoker skidded to a stop, the jitte mere inches from Ace's head. Smoker's expression darkened, the smoke elemental scowling.

"You're under an enchantment, Ace." Smoker growled lowly.

"I'm not! You just have to calm down and listen. That's coming from me."

"Relax, sweetheart," Marco teased, wrapping his arms around Ace's waist, tugging him close. "I'll treat your hunter friend nicely yoi."

Smoker growled, as Ace shoved at the arms around him.

Smoker was a hunter, one who had helped train Ace from time to time. The man was a smoke elemental who protected Loguetown from any dark creatures trying to enter East Blue, or leave, in their case.

"Shut it!" Ace snapped, before raising his hand, the one with the Chosen symbol. Smoker froze, staring at his hand as if it had just slapped him silly. "I got chosen with these idiots. So I have to ask you not to kill them, Smokey."

"Smokey?" Marco frowned.

Ace ignored him.

"Sabo reported your kidnapping in," Smoker said, frowning. He didn't lower the jitte, but he didn't look so ready to try bash in Marco's skull with it. Not that he'd likely succeeded, though given Marco's track record lately, maybe Smoker would.

The vampire had been getting hit by a lot of silver lately.

"Sabo?" Ace startled, then grinned. "Is he here?"

"No. Still returning from your last mission."

Ace deflated. "Oh... Well, at least he's heading home, right?"

"He is. Ready to rally up the other hunters. Ace, you shouldn't be with these guys by yourself," Smoker said, grimacing. "Especially with a vampire. If it loses control-"

"He yoi," Marco chimed in.

"Your kind doesn't get a say," Smoker growled.

"Um," Ace began to cut in. "Do you think you could call back Tashigi? Before she tries to kill Zoro?"

"He's apparently the demon who stole her sword," Smoker snorted. "She won't even listen to me now."

"Ah, yeah, that's bad. He's a Chosen too." Ace winced.

"I heard that the beacon in the Kingdoms went off, signalling the Chosen ones return," Smoker said, grimacing. "I understand the need for all of you, but I dislike the idea you're with so many darker creatures, Ace. They know exactly who you are, don't you?"

"He's a Portgas," Marco purred.

"By the Gods, the damn vampire smelled you out," Smoker complained. "Ace, this is going to drive Akainu crazy. You know what happened to Rouge."

.::.

Marco twitched. Rouge. He recognised that name. Something to do with both Pops and Roger, but when he tried to reach for the memory it tore away from his grasp.

He couldn't remember her.

This was bad. He couldn't remember and Marco knew that she wasn't from his distant past where his mate had lived. Rouge had been much more recent. The Spirit Healer, he needed to talk to Law. He could ask Ace, but something told him that was a dangerous topic. Ace was tense, fire flickering off his shoulders, eyes dark and burning.

Ace scowled. "Of course I know. But I also know if the Old God of Darkness corrupts the world, none of this will ever matter. Mum would never want to see that happen. I have to work with them, even if it endangers my life."

Smoker grunted. "Dammit. Spoken like a true huntsman I suppose."

Ace grinned, growing softer. "You're the one who told me our duty was to protect people."

Marco scowled. He wanted to pull Ace away from the bastard. They looked too fond of each other and Ace was his. Luffy had his head tilted, blinking at Smoker, but Marco ignored it. He'd break the bastard's hand if he reached for his pet.

Wait. Marco blinked. He was jealous. He usually didn't get jealous over pets. Although, usually he was the only one using them.

He really was a possessive bastard.

The thought nearly made him laugh.

Still learning new things about himself, even after all these years.

By the Gods, if he was like this with his pet, he couldn't imagine what he'd be like with his mate. If they ever came back. Marco would hold them tightly, and kiss them senseless. He'd never let go again.

Smoker sighed heavily. "Alright, you've learned off me too well. Akainu's going to be so pissed off that I'm willing to let you leave."

"Aww, Smokey, you trust me!" Ace laughed. "I never knew you were such a big softy."

Smoker groaned.

"Shishishishi, Smokey's a softy!" Luffy teased.

Smoker slammed his jitte into the ground, earning yelps. Ace stumbled back, bumping into Marco, who almost purred in satisfaction.

"Get lost, brats! Before I change my mind."

"But we've got a hotel paid for here!"

"Don't tell me the location!" Smoker spat. "And you know I'll have to report this to Akainu, Ace."

Ace grimaced. "Oh joy."

Marco smirked. "Would you like me to stop him, Ace dear?"

"Try it, bastard. I've been dealing with your kind for years-" Smoker sneered.

"He's an ancient vampire," Ace cut in swiftly.

Smoker blanked, all while Marco struggled to hold back a cackle. Instead he just smirked smugly at the smoke elemental. That's right. He was the powerful one here. He had been around for centuries.

"I'm not comfortable with this, brat," Smoker scolded. "You're in a lot of danger."

"But we know he's also very good at being in control of himself," Ace said, laughing nervously.

"I am good at being in control yoi," Marco said, chuckling.

"I..." Ace frowned at him. "Y'know, I'm not sure if you mean that in a good way, or a bad way."

"My enchantments are very good too." Marco winked. "You should know that from experience yoi."

Smoker's eyes darkened. "Excuse me?"

"Don't worry," Ace said surprisingly cheerfully. "I broke free of it!"

"WHAT?" Smoker choked. "From an ancient vampire? How in the hell-"

"Yeah! But when I tried to burn him he used these blue flames on me which stopped my fire," Ace huffed. "I still don't get how those things work."

"Honestly I don't either yoi." Marco shrugged.

"Dammit, Portgas. Only you could get yourself stuck in a situation as insane as this," Smoker scowled, shaking his head. "Dwarf, try to keep Ace alive, would you?"

Luffy tilted his head. "Of course? I planned to."

Ace pouted. "I can keep myself alive!"

"Without Sabo here? I wonder," Smoker grunted. "Brat, what do you want me to tell Sabo?"

Ace tilted his head, pondering, before he shrugged. "Tell him I'm fine?"

"God you're the worst."

"How was that bad?" Ace whined.

"He's your Guardian. At least write him a letter or something!"

"I'll try to soon. Things have been a bit crazy the past few days."

Smoker snorted. "I can imagine. Now, I'll try get Tashigi off your back. But get out of here soon. I'll be reporting to Akainu when I get the chance." He turned to Luffy. "And you, don't steal again. Chasing you is a pain."

Luffy laughed.

Smoker scowled, but disappeared in a whirl of smoke.

"He was funny," Luffy said, grinning brightly. "He cares about you a lot too, Ace!"

"He was one of my trainers when I was younger," Ace explained. "He's cranky, but a nice guy."

Marco hummed. "But he's also going to tell Akainu where you are yoi. You should have just let me bit him."

"No biting my friends," Ace scolded. "And that's fine. At least Akainu will know the situation. He won't interfere with the Chosen after all. That would be daft."

"You make him sound so friendly yoi," Marco snorted.

Akainu was anything but friendly. The bastard was murderous and relentless. He tortured 'corrupted' people to 'purify' them by burning them alive. He was sadistic and cruel.

"Well he wouldn't be friendly to you," Ace scoffed. "And yeah, sure, he's not friendly. That's not what his job is though-"

"Have you ever set someone on fire to purify them, Ace yoi?" Marco asked.

Luffy scowled. "Of course he hasn't!"

Just as Ace protested. "Of course not!"

"What do you do then?" Marco asked.

"I take them to the Church?" Ace said. "Tashigi said the priests and priestesses can help them overcome their problems through confessions."

Marco pondered for a quick moment, and decided against starting an argument. He and Ace were actually getting along for once, and it was a nice change. Although, he did want to find out more about Ace's hunter beliefs someday.

A lot of those things probably needed correcting.

Marco chuckled. "Oh yes, the whole 'sit down' and 'drink tea' while we chat. It's always been adorable yoi."

Ace blanched. "You've been to a confession?"

Marco cackled. "It was great fun! I started confessing all my sins and the more priestess freaked out yoi."

"You're the worst," Ace groaned, rubbing his forehead.

Luffy laughed. "That sounds like a great idea!"

"You know those priests and priestesses are full of themselves," Marco teased.

Ace rolled his eyes. "Maybe sometimes, but some of them are really nice."

"Still fun to torment them yoi."

"Shishishishi, I want to try that someday."

"By the Gods," Ace groaned.

Marco smiled. He had to admit, he was glad Ace wasn't a horrible fire elf like Akainu was. The bastard had tortured so many people over his lifetime, to the point there was always assassins after him. It didn't matter how many times he said he was 'cleansing' someone. Smart people wouldn't believe him.

So I need a little hand! I've been playing around with the blurb for my upcoming fantasy book 'The Wardens of Strar' and wanted to see what you all thought of it. Here it is:

Life vs Death

Light vs Darkness

Yasmiel's life has so far been simple, until the day the Commander of the Warden's of Strar walks into Horntale on a cold Summer's morning.

Now she fights the God of Death and his undead minions, the Mortem, who hunt her at every turn.

Will she survive and uncover the Gods' secrets, or will she be lost to the darkness?

I hope it's alright. The blurb is so hard to write and oh jeez it's driving me insane trying to think of what would sell my book to people xD