He swallowed a hard lump in his throat as he held the paper tightly. His pitiful excuse for a discolored Beach Ball 'Le' stood beside his throne smiling like the fool that he was. His crimson eyes moved over the weird markings on the paper. He knew they were words yet, he could not read them. So he handed them back to the insignificant fool.

"S..s..so... ?" He stammered before closing his eyes and wrapping his hand around his vibrant red tie pulling it tight along his neck as he could. He needed that familiar feeling of comfort tugging at his neck. It was like a hug, or cold steel. He needed it.

Quickly he tightened it up once more as the Beach ball waddled into his field of vision. The crowd in the background cheering his name. Their voices driving him mad. With their loud disgusting noises. Why did they cheer so? They were loud and annoying. As all pests are.

The blue and green man gave a tug at his now forming green mustache and leaned to the side.

"Well-cho! This says that the Marine I warned you about seems to have caught Morgen!" He stated sternly but with a smile. The man fell silent as Crimson eyes snapped to his stance.

The crimson eyes rose with the rest of his body beginning to speak before they looked down and with a sigh they sat back down.

"I...Fi..figured. she would." He mumbled before he glanced over the round and large man once more. "I...I...Want .you to fo..ccuse on the..those.. weapons...Morgen.. ...wasn't weak. But sh.. is .." He stammered, his eyes closed in remorse at his strain. "Forget it...he was we..we..weak"

Why was it so hard for him to speak! Why was he so worthless! The rage began to build up inside him as he noticed the people behind the beach ball had once again began to beg for their king to grace them. He could see their twisted faces of joy at how he stood over them.

He was a good king. His disgusting subjects loved him. And he loved them, He loved how they cleansed him of his anxiety. Those disgusting subjects would be his next obstacle. No matter how many times he cut them down they returned? Why? Why did they come back? No matter. He would cleave them in half all the same.

He felt his fingers run over the smooth silk comforting him around his neck while the Beach Ball stepped aside allowing the Crimson eyes to work up their courage to stand as he grabbed his long sword and gripped it in rough hands placing at his waist to lazily hang before he began to take his stride towards gracing his people.

"Raphael, with all due respect? With Morgen out of the way we have no go between, between, Master Russel and yourself, who will step up and distribute our weapons? If we can even make them with-out Morgens supplies-cho? And forgive me my lord, but who will take care of that dreadful marine Bitch-cho!" The beach ball called walking beside Raphael's long strides.

However they soon stopped as the Crimson eyed man went stiff. His long body beginning to over shadow the beachball shaped man. His disgusting face morphing in horror as he stared directly in to blood red eyes. They once seemed as if they had some resemblance of a light in them. However Le found himself staring into the cold eyes of death themselves. Even if Le wanted to breath, he dared not to.

"Don't call her that!" Death snarled his sharp canines revealing themselves and his crimson eyes snapping around the beachballs body debating on what was worth killing an old friend. He insulated the one person he was doing everything for.

Friend, worm, disgusting creature, Who? would dare say a single word but praise of his sister. God Damn any man who dare call her such words.

This beach ball just forfeited his life. How dare he say the things those...those...false rulers would call her at so young. How dare this man. How dare. How dare. How dare.

Raphael titled his head, his finger tips dancing lightly over the hilt of his long sword while viscous visions filtered through his mind. How would he cleanse such filth? The same way his former masters would? Chaining him up and lashing his back till his spine was exposed because he dropped a heavy sack? Holding him down while his sister was taken before his eyes because she sang a lullaby to whisk him to sleep? Or was he to be isolated leaving only the melodic hums of hungry machines waiting to be fed more coal to produce the same things he tried to recreate? No..no.. This man would deserve something much worse? No? Yes.

The beach Ball cowered in fear much to Raphael's delight. Ah. what sight to behold, one where your dearest friend mimicked the same face you made so often. Only for his sister to jump in front of the whip's lash's. How the sight of Le's face reminded him of the fear and screams he heard sending excited chills down his spine.

Calmly Raphael began to lift the sword from the weight against his hip. A friend was nothing compared to family. A friend would only betray you like what was done before. Family.. Family was sacrifice. So if this man wanted to be family, to speak like family, to know like family. He must be sacrificed.

Le watched the evil excited glint of Raphael's unhinged face in fear. Never before had he seen such disgust cross those sharp features. He watched how Raphael lifted his long sword up and Le kneeled with head down eyes focused on this mans shadow that loomed over him.

Then the shadow stopped...He stopped? The crimson eyes pulled back feeling something in them tug away from the bloodshed he craved.

If his sister was fighting these want's, these needs to kill. Then maybe he could to. Maybe he could...Maybe.

The Beach Ball snapped out of his fear instead he now focused at how the dark red tie swayed with Raphael's insecurities. He took his sole chance at forgiveness his body trembling but voice clear. "I am Sorry. I am so sorry-cho." He apologized while starting to place himself as far as he could against the sparkling clean floor.

This was the only time he had ever noticed such hesitation in those crimson eyes. And he would make it a point to never cause this again.

Raphael felt his hands move up to his tie and loosened it looking down at the green and blue ball of a man before him. "Goo..od..N..ow... about... .sisisissy.. Dom..." He sighed, and pulled his hand away from his neck and gripped at his hair in shame. He couldn't even bring himself to call her by her now chosen name. He only knew her as sissy, or her given name. Never had he known the woman named Domino, so he could not call her such names. Nor did this disgusting subject need to know that she was his Sissy.

"The...Marine...send whoever wants to go after her. If they return with he..er Alive...or Dead... then th..they will be spared. If...f n..not she would have killed them anyway." He stammered closing his eyes and trying desperately to speak correctly. The struggling of his words causing to much strain on his sanity.

When in reality he knew no one would be able to take his sister. He just figured he could send some men to get cleansed by her hands. He wondered how many more years he would have to go before he could free her chains? How much longer could she continue to hide who or what she was? And how much longer would she do it for her brothers? When would she do it for herself? If she cared for her self at all.

And how was Russel? How was he accepting the news of his sister becoming a Rear Admiral? How was he accepting the fact that their older sister, the woman who was sacrificing everything for them was now ruining their plans to free her?

No matter. The Crimson Tie had other things to do. Now. Raphael turned himself towards the growing and raging crowd before him his fingers trembling in excitement as he approached them. Now. To go about his day, and wait. For however long it would take.

Russel tightened his topaz eyes closed as his lovers finished up. They were there to please him not been seen by him. So why look at these toys? No instead he would rather focus his time on something else.

So quickly he pushed the toys away and tightly wrapped his blue scarf across his neck making sure the charred skin of his past was kept secrets from even his precious toys.

Then he swung his long and muscular legs over the King bed and quickly pulled his robe free from the banister. Intending to stand and go about running his growing kingdom. How else would Russel rule over all. Including his stammering little brother and his despicable older sister.

However, he stayed bent over his own knees staring at the scars around his ankles and how they clashed with his clean ornate rug beneath him. He took in deep breaths and felt tugging in his head at remembering the wicked sound of metal clashing against metal and flashes of red and yellow vibrant flames of their island behind them. As there darling sister continued to bash her cuffs against his, effectively breaking his chains but in exchange shattering her own wrists.

He remembered the sound of her pained cry's before she covered her mouth and shook her head smiling at how she learned a new trick before pulling her wrist free of her own chains however once free she stared at them panicked seeing the blood that coated them and quickly placed them back around her wrists. He remembered how her fingers trembled as she placed the cuffs back around her wrists before they stopped once feeling the warmth of the cold steel around them.

Russel found the feeling of sweet nostalgia wash away and began to push his fingers together and stood to move around the large bed to pull the curtains along his long floor to ceiling windows and look out at the grand empire of an island he was building.

He continued to tap his fingers as he looked from his elegant bath house resort. How the steam bellowed from the bath house below and how it dispersed by the time it got to his grand room.

He let out a content sigh at the bustling shops and small hotels lining the streets where pirates, marines, and items walked the streets peacefully. His plans were working. He found himself letting out his bellowing laughter while his signature frown found his face. Splitting his rounding cheeks before he laughed again.

The only thing that stopped his hearty and heart wrenching laughter, was the hands of his one true lover. She touched his skin lightly bringing his bare shoulders to a stiff stop as he looked down at her tiny stature. "My lord?" She asked him politely noticing the other woman shuffle from his bed and away to the beautifully decorated hallways. She gave a quick look of uncertainty tapping her own maid's outfit before looking up at the Topaz eyes that had found her looking down on herself.

The topaz eyes frowned. "Yes, love?" They asked with a smooth and melodic undertone. His frown not breaking from his face but his fingers now graced her cheeks. She took a second to take in his features before looking away. She was not worthy of such a look. She then looked down at the new reports in her hands. "It seems your sis.." She paused at how his face began to shift.

"Sister, has made some significant ripples in our plans." She started looking down and then handing him another piece of paper. He stared at it confused at the markings then nodded and moved to the bed sitting down and motioning for the woman to follow. She did so. "As you can see, she has taken down a few of our potential benefactors. One of which being Morgen the.."

"Who was that?" Russel asked now having laid down on his back before opening one eye staring at the woman who worked her way over him. Now Multitasking. "He was the man who supplied us workers for the bath houses. He also helped your brother get key parts he needed for his weapons." She added as Russel let out a heavy hum, His frown still on his face. "I see. Yet another succumbed to my sisters chains." He cackled almost causing the woman to stop.

Before she continued to massage the man. "She was never one to go down alone, I s'ppose her chains will one day bring us all down." He asked himself before blinking back up at his mirrored celling. He did hope nothing horrible happened to her while he took his time building his empire.

"Where is she by the way?" He asked snuggling against his feather pillows. His loves hands easing his sore body. Of course, living a life of pleasure would cause one such as him to be sore. And the kind of relief he wanted could only be provided by how he had been taught. His sister was not the only one who sacrificed herself for the better treatment of her sibling's. After all. Family was worth it? Even one as disgusting and pitiful as his.

"Last time our man checked in, she was clearing out the warfront of Grando Island, though I assume a Rear Admiral of her caliber should have no hassle with such a small war. After all we did pull out plenty of men beforehand, once we heard who was dispatched." She hummed absently working on his muscles.

Russel held out his hand abruptly stopping her. His eyebrows pulled down in confusion as he now moved to lift himself up, wrapping an arm around his lover and pulling her towards him in one fell move. Not caring how roughly he grabbed her arm. The motion alone would be sure to leave a nasty bruise.

"Rear Admiral?" He growled his topaz eyes narrowing at the woman who stayed stone faced at this pleasant pain.

"Yes, that is what I said. She has been for some time now, and if my connections are correct she should have been one sooner." She continued as Russel's frown deepened before he threw back his head laughing, "Oh, oh no my love! look's like we'll be needing another festive party to celebrate my sisters betrayal!" His haunting laughter boomed bouncing off the walls and reverberating through his chest.

"Yes, my lord. Now, this brings me to my last point of order." She pulled her arm back in his moment of laughter and began to kneed at his rough muscles, ignoring the scaring along his hips and thighs.

"Yes, yes." He hummed waving his arm before laughing again to himself. How dare she do such loud things? He continued to chuckle. She had fought for so long against getting her name out there but now she seemed to scream her being out to the world? What was she planning? Was she still trying to protect her brothers? Pulling all the attention to herself while they worked in the dark?

If so how daring she was. But still never could she be forgiven. If not for her, they would still have an island to call home, if not for her, they would not have been branded such objects. If not for her, then he...he...he would still be what he was. He was becoming a god.

No he would be more then a god. He would be a god slayer. And his sister? Well she was the one becoming the god. He would just have to wait for her proper ascension.

"We seem to have a man on the outside who says he has information on the Rear Admiral." She started before seeing Russel's frown deepen. She knew he secretly hated when people had put the connection between his family and desperately sought out to have them killed. He never did the dirty work for it was forbidden to kill on his island per his own rules. However, He owned this island, he owned every one on it. He could break his own rules. Who would dare stop him?

The maid nodded while adverting her eyes from his hearty laughter.

"Before we hunt, I do not expect that he knows your connection, still, he does seem to have his hands on something I believe would be useful in both you and Sir, Raphael's mission." She continued in one quick breath her dress not flaring as she moved in quick motions.

Russel moved his hands in a rushed motion, "Well go on, now yeah got me all worked up! Don't tease." He frowned. The woman nodded. "It seems he has access to the last remnant of the poisonous flower known as the Dominion?" She asked. She was unaware of such a plant or its uses.

However,

Russel stiffened. Swallowing the large lump that had grown in his throat then shook his head vigorously pushing the woman away. His body visibly shaking. His large fingers finding his arms and digging them like needles that now cut his skin. The beads of red collecting at his nails tearing of his skin.

"How...No..No.. Kill him." Russel whispered before shaking his head seeing the fear across his lovers face. "Wait no." He stopped her pulling his hands away and holding them towards her his blood dripping from his finger tips. "No, No.. what.." He took in a deep breath and shook his head his frown appearing as he began to laugh as he looked at his finger tips.

"What a wonderous thing this shall be. Tell you what." He went wide eyed pulling her closer again. "Keep him on our side and bide time. We must wait, none of us are ready, it's too soon.." He then tilted his head his topaz eyes going wide with an insane smile as he tapped her cheek his blood staining her face.

"We'll wait for Domino to make a move, till then, things go on."

"Yes, my lord."

The Whitebeards would never admit this fact but the days after the marines left to settle the waring island of Grando, were tense and no one dared breath. Then, when the newspaper came out revealing an uncanny Rear Admiral standing tall and looking away from the camera, and a short red head kneeling down her head down as if taking a second to breath, they partied.

The caption of the picture that appeared in that newspaper was as followed: "Rear Admiral Jane. Domino and the 'Femme Fatal' stand poised and ready for whatever injustices come their way. However the Rear Admiral refuses pictures in favor of inspecting the battle ground. The pairs arrival had quickly brought an end to a 3 year war, with minimum casualties."

Marco though enjoying the party had at some point snuck away to capture the first of many moments in the leather journal she had left so long go.

Months passed till he would she her next, and months more after that. The two had found themselves in a contineing pattern of Seeking silent and quick moments with each other.

Yet somehow as the years continued and the great Pirate Era picked up they found themselves pulled away further from each other.

But the harder they fought for their moments the sweeter they became. Neither one mentioning love in all these years, in all these words said, in all the islands they walked mindlessly side by side they never once mentioned the word love.

They couldn't. No matter how many breathless moments they had, they remind locked in their battle. Neither would lose while the other still stood so proud.

Him, one of the most dangerous pirates in the world.

Her sadistic smile had become a staple of fear to many pirates who challenged the marines in the New World.

However, Marco would find himself lingering over the old weathered leather binding of Domino's journal. He would find his fingers absently and slowly working over the pages over and over again, even now after all this time finding her simple words and preserved flowers comforting.

He would never even try to return it. Keeping it as selfish gift, a selfish treasure that secretly warmed him when he would glance at it. Much like the purple rose blooming in the corner of his desk.

Still and un-aging as much as the day he had first found it.