Sab is relieved as soon as Eustass Kidd left her house. With him around, she cannot do anything but be cautious in case he decides to snoop around. This house is her front, this is where most of her classmates know she lives and in her school records as well.
"Are you going to move tonight?" Koala's voice rings in her ears as she prepares herself to leave.
"Yes." Her mission tonight involves capturing evidence against the World Government about the recent drug deals in the Souther part of Grandline.
"I thought your cohabitation will last longer."
"It's not cohabitation. Stop, okay?" Koala's been teasing her non-stop about her situation with Eustass Kidd. "It's not like I'm going to see that person again."
"The street is a small world. You are bound to see him one way or another."
It sounds like a jinx when Sab heard that and she curses when the Koala's words came true because, in one of her part-time jobs, she crossed paths with him again.
She doesn't need the part-time job in a convenience store, but to put up the front of a poor scholar law student, she has to, at least thrice a week and it just so happens that his group dropped by in the convenience store to buy drinks.
Why they chose to go to a convenience store, she has no idea. She reckons that they must be in the area. But if they are going to buy something, why this convenience store? For the love of all things, why this convenience store when they can choose others nearby?
Sab specifically chose one of the remote stores to work just so she can avoid being seen.
"Ahiru, take the registry, please. I have to pile the stocks at the back." She called one of her co-workers to replace her at the counter so she can avoid the hell out of him.
"In 15 minutes, Sab. Let me just finish the inventory real quick!" Ahiru, a student part-timer answered. She's been working here for about a year, just like Sab, she's part of the Revolutionary Army and currently a medical student, an orphan who works part-time in this shabby convenience store.
She had the guts to wink at Sab, clever enough to know why she wants an out in the cashier area because the next customer in line is none other than Kidd Eustass.
'I will Koala for this' she thought to herself. Her best friend must have spread the word in their group, and now, all of them are ganging up against her.
"Oi, hurry up!" Sab looks up only to see the tall figure of Kidd looming over one of the customers in front of him. The poor man in glasses scurried off to put all of his stuff at the counter, bowing at Kidd.
"I-I will, sorry! Sorry!" The poor man is scared because just one look and anyone will know that Kidd and the men he's with are part of the streets.
"Wait in line and don't scare other customers, Mr. Customer." Sab said, glaring at him before scanning the items.
"Uhm, Miss, it's okay. It's okay - " Sab ignored the man in front of her.
"That will be 190." She said and the man gave her the exact amount before bolting out of the door.
Next is Kidd who placed a few items on the counter - a few rolls of duct tape, alcohol, and a few beverages.
"Even your workplace is shabby." Sab stopped scanning to look up to him.
"Didn't ask for your opinion, did I?" Then she continues.
"I never liked that smart mouth of yours." He said. Sab was about to answer when they heard gunshots from outside. As if on instinct, they all got down, taking cover from the raining bullets directed at the convenience store.
"Fuckers! Killer, call the men!" Kidd shouted, then another series of bullets were shot. "Shit!"
"Kidd! The heck! Take cover!"
Sab does not know what is going on outside, but from what she can gather, one of them might have been injured.
"This is nothing. Go, get the men and chase kill those fuckers!"
The bullets stopped after about 15 minutes, then Sab heard the door of the store opening. She took a peek and saw a few of Kidd's men are running outside, guns are out, and chasing after the people who fired at them.
When she looks down, she saw Kidd with blood on his arm.
"Did you get injured again?" She asks.
"It's just a scratch."
Seeing him injured, she didn't hesitate to check on the wound. Unlike the previous injury he had, it's just a scratch indeed.
"We will pay for the damages here." That was the last thing he said before taking one of his men outside. And just like that, gunshots were heard from the distance. Sab is looking at the damaged convenience store and sighed.
A week after that incident, true to his words, he came back to pay for the repairs of the convenience store.
"They have insurance, we don't have to pay for this." A man named Killer grumbled from the side. "We're not even the ones who fired those guns."
"They're directed at you, though." Sab never failed to talk back. Why would she anyway?
"Here." Kidd gave her a stack of cash. "I placed extra in exchange for the security cameras recording."
"I knew you would want those. Fine. I'll get it." Sab led them to the management room of the convenience store and took the data they need.
"You seem to be very familiar with this."
"Many people like you came here asking for the security camera recordings. This is a remote place after all and most people passing by are part of your world. They will pay for the recordings, and that's it." There's no need to lie because this convenience store is not the only one getting money out of these kinds of transactions.
"Hmm... There's a vacant building at the back of the convenience store. Who's the owner of that building?" Kidd asked.
"Why do you ask?"
"We're going to take it as one of our base here. We took over the area from those fuckers. Just took a lot of time to finally clean their shit." Kidd smirked, satisfied that he was able to get rid of the local Mafia group ruling these parts. Now, it's his.
"Why that area? Can't you choose somewhere else?"
"She's right. Choose somewhere else, Kidd. Not here."
"I want it here." Kidd is looking at her with amusement in his eyes. He knows that he's getting into her nerves and he loves the reactions coming from her eyes. "If I ever get injured, I will just call you."
"I am not your personal doctor." What Sab got was just a burst of laughter.
From then on, just like he said, he took the building at the far back of the convenience store. For weeks, Sab didn't see many customers coming to the store because people knew that a Mafia Group is using the building next to it. The only ones who buy in the store are the residents nearby, but even then, the purchase is minimal.
For weeks, Sab let it be, figuring that they will have less work, but what didn't appreciate is that Kidd keeps coming back to the store at midnight before closing, striking a conversation with Sab, or more like pissing her off. The more he is seen in the store, the more they are losing money.
One time, Sab had enough of it. She stormed off to the next building, disregarding all armed men who were looking at her with shocked expressions.
"Where's your boss?" She asked, no, demanded.
"Uh, inside." One of the men said. "Uhm, it might not be a good idea to see him since - "
Sab didn't let him finish, opting to walk inside as if it is her own. She's about to shout at Kidd when she saw him being attended by his trusted men.
"What happened?"
"Hey, Sab. Did you miss me?" Kidd manages to pull off the usual flirty attitude with her even at his state.
"Did you get injured again?! How many times does that make it this month?"
"It's lessened compared to before. I used to get injured every day." Kidd answered. "What, worried about me? Did you hear I got injured and run off because you care?"
Sab rolled her eyes at him. It's always like this.
"Why don't you call a doctor instead of tending to the wounds like quack doctors? Not even one of you knows how to stitch a cut?" She sounds like a mother hen as she points to the 6-footer men around her.
"The last doctor we called were hired to poison us. So, no thanks." Kidd shrugged. There's a doctor who will treat anyone, but the price is high. The Surgeon of Death. There's no way that he will ask him to drop by for a small cut.
Sab sighed.
"Let me check that wound."
"You're going to treat me again, huh?" Kidd sounds so happy.
"I can't stand how shitty this dressing is! And by the way, I came here to tell you to stop coming to the store."
"Why?"
Sab took the medical supplies they had, ignoring the looks coming from the people around.
"Because you are a nuisance!" She slammed the box in front of Kidd, almost hitting his foot. "Don't you know how many customers we lost because you kept showing up there? Have some decency to hide that you're part of a Mafia group! You look like you're inviting your enemies to kill you and attack you in our convenience store." While she was nagging, she treated the small cut on his arm.
Her hands never stopped even while she's talking.
"Ah, ouch! Can't you be gentler?! Damn it!"
"I thought this is a small wound for a big guy like you?!" She purposely pressed the wound, making Kidd wince. "Stay still!"
"Why the fuck are you so rough to an injured person?!"
His complaints fell to deaf ears as Sab stitched the open wound with less gentleness than he was asking. When done, she stands up to tell him off again. "Stop coming to the store, you got it?!"
"Oi, I'm a customer. Where do you go off telling a precious customer like me to never come back there?"
She stormed off as soon as she said that, ignoring the calls from Kidd.
True, he didn't come back to the store, at least not where it's visibly seen from other people. Instead, he used the backdoor to constantly pester Sab.
It had become a regular occurrence that she grew used to when she drops in the convenience store to work only to find Kidd sitting comfortably at their mini-office, waiting for him.
And at some point, his men started referring to her as Lady Boss even though they are not dating.
Because of how it is publicly known that his base is right next to the convenience store, Sab began seeing World Government agents constantly in disguise while they drop in the store. Their eyes are on Eustass Kidd, a very infamous Mafia leader.
"You know the Mafia Group behind this building, don't you?" Sab stopped in her tracks on her way out of the part-time job. There's an alley where one of the Agents is waiting for her.
"They used it as a base." She answered straightforwardly.
"Anything else you want to tell us?" The man took out a gun, a threat to her that almost made her scoff.
"Nothing more than them disrupting the store I am in."
"Brave, aren't you? Why not be a spy for us? Get as much - "
"If there's one thing I learned from living here is that accepting the role of a spy will likely get me killed, so you can ask others, but I humbly decline. I am busy with my job interview as it is." With that, she walked away. Thank goodness that no one followed her.
Since that encounter, she's been on high alert and even investigated as to who the instigators could be.
She found nothing but pieces of evidence pointing to the World Government, but why would they even fixate themselves to Kidd Eustass?
With her connections, she somehow found out about the secret raid that the World Government will do against Kidd Eustass. No wonder the agents were approaching her.
The night before the raid, she sneaked into Kidd's lair, careful not to alert any of his men. There's still a possibility that one of them is a spy.
The building at the back of the convenience store has been renovated so there is plenty of room to sleep and be used by the elite members. Sab is very careful while using the fire exit to navigate her way to Kidd's room. She's been in here several times that she knows the building at the back of her mind.
It was fairly easy because she knows where the CCTV cameras are.
With careful hands, she approached Kidd who is sleeping on his King-sized bed but before her hands can reach him, he suddenly grabbed her hand using his right hand while the other went straight to her neck.
"You..." Even with the dim lighting of the room, Kidd recognized her.
"Get your hand off my neck. Are you trying to kill me?" She hissed in a whispered tone and he did.
"What are you doing here, sneaking into my bedroom in this hour?" The volume of his voice matches hers. He may have taken off his left hand off her neck, but not the one on her arm.
"I came here to warn you."
"Warn me about what?"
"World Government agents are on your trail. They approached me one time to get information from you. They're going to raid this place tomorrow, you have to be careful."
Surprisingly, Kidd scoffed at her words.
"You came to warn me about that, going as far as sneaking like an assassin?"
"Look, I know you're doubtful about my intention, but I have no choice but to sneak into your room. If one of your men is a spy, they will alert the World Government, then, they will be after me as well." Sab explained. For some reason, Kidd's smile remains.
"Heh~"
She blinks but before she can ask what he finds funny, he dragged her on top of him so she's sitting on his lap.
"What - "
"Worried about me, Sab?" His face is too close for comfort.
"I - "
"Speechless, aren't we?" He leaned closer, their faces are a few centimeters away. "I've known, though. About the raid. We have our means of getting information."
"If you knew, then why are you still here?"
"Simple, to dish out those that are spies in the group. World Government won't launch a frontal attack against us. They don't have enough resources to do it."
Sab thought so as well, but against the better judgment, she went through the trouble of sneaking here to inform him alone.
"If you knew, then my purpose here is done." She attempted to push him off her but his hands are firmly wrapped on her waist refusing to let go no matter what.
"You still haven't explained yourself. Sneaking here, effortless if I may say so, just to tell me. Worried, aren't we? Hmm?" He's teasing her and she hates it. She hates how her cheeks are getting warmer just by the proximity of his face to hers or the way she can smell his breath.
"I am not."
"Uh-huh~"
"Let go - "
"Nope, not until you tell me why." Sab is pouting because he still won't let her go. Talk about stubbornness here.
"Just because. I did it just because."
"Alright." Sab thought that he will let her go now yet he didn't. His next actions made her wide-eyed. He pulled her closer, claiming her lips and even taking the opportunity of her surprised gasp to plunge his tongue inside, coaxing her to respond to the heated kiss.
"Hmp - " Sab is losing the battle, slowly letting herself fall into the temptation that he brought to her.
Kidd hummed in satisfaction when he felt her lips moving to match his. The moans that escaped her throat are just making him feel more excited than he already is. He gotta admit it, he's been attracted to her the first time they met. There's something in her that he cannot explain.
He knows there's a mystery surrounding her, but that doesn't matter, does it? She's here, risking her life just to warn him.
The kiss stops when they heard footsteps from the hallway.
"Wait, I have to go now. No one is supposed to see me here - Kidd!" Sab hissed when she felt him suck on her neck, leaving a few kiss marks on her skin. His hot lips never stop, constantly discovering a few sensitive spots.
"Hmm, nope~" Kidd mischievously smirks, bringing their lips together for another heated kiss which she accepted despite the hesitation. While they succumb to the feeling of each other's lips, the door slammed open, revealing Killer and Wire at the door, staring at them.
Sab was quick to get off Kidd's lap, pushing him on his bed.
"Oh, my~" Wire was the first one to react.
"Tsk! Get out!" Kidd waved his hands at them.
"Kidd... You... and her..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, get out already." Wire dragged a reluctant Killer out of the room before locking it. As soon as they're alone, Sab wanted to scream from the embarrassment but decided not to. "Hey, where are you going?"
"Leaving." She answered.
"Not interested in continuing where we left off?" Kidd got off his bed and just made her realize that he's wearing nothing but boxers.
"N-No."
"You sound reluctant." Once again, Kidd wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Look, I have to go."
"That's a bit of a shame. Stay for a while. Just a few minutes." His whisper sounds hoarse, seductive, and tempting the hell out of her. When he leans in for another kiss, she didn't resist this time, she lets it be, even going as far as automatically wrapping her arms on his shoulders.
Sab only stayed there for about 15 minutes, making out with Kidd before leaving.
That was the start of their secret relationship. Kidd stopped going to the convenience store and neither does she visit him anymore, at least, not where all of his men can see.
They had rendezvous from time to time. Only his most trusted men knew about them.
"I don't trust her." Killer keeps reminding Kidd about this whenever he meets Sab.
"Killer - "
"No. Just it doesn't feel right. Come on, Kidd, don't tell me you're not wondering how the hell she sneaked into our basement without being detected? Did you ever wonder how she managed to know about that raid? Or the times when she's missing and you can't even contact her?"
"She's busy with her job interviews and her graduation upcoming, ah, that reminds me I still haven't chosen a gift."
Kidd never listened, not even once. It's not like he does not wonder about it, but he chose to trust her.
And that led him to his downfall.
(Flashback - To be continued)
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
SHP Group of Companies, a rising Group in the business world known for its unique methods and strategies. Where common sense is not applied at all. Their strategies left companies in bewilderment, yet they produce profits like no one's business.
It's a business that emerged out of nowhere 4 years ago. They started buying stocks from companies that almost hit bankruptcy. From then, they started taking over the companies one by one and bringing profits by doing so.
And the person leading this company is none other than Nami Mikan, a well-known financial mogul. Anything money-related and she turns them into gold.
Recently, they started investing in the Medical field with the help of Doctor Tony Chopper.
And the shipping and logistics company is being led by Franky.
Those three were the top Executives of the company, or at least that's what everyone thought about.
Little did they know that the real owner of the SHP Group of companies is the infamous Mafia Leader, known as the 5th Emperor, Strawhat.
There's an ongoing debate if Strawhat should be named as '5th Emperor' when clearly, there's Marshall D. Teach to consider, but most of the people argued that Marshall D. Teach is leading a group of terrorists rather than a Mafia Group, a group of killers and assassins. While they might be part of the underground world, their means of business involves deaths rather than earning a territory or money.
As for the other officers of the Strawhat group, their names are tied to Mafia members from Grandline, hence, they cannot publicly announce their membership in the company. They are bent on keeping the company as Mafia relation-free as possible.
Sanji's real name is Vinsmoke Sanji, the third son of the Vinsmoke Group. Even if he will legally change his name to reflect that of Zeff's - his adoptive father - it still won't do as Zeff himself used to be a leader of a Mafia Group before retiring.
Usopp is another case. His father is one of the executives in Akagami Mafia Group.
Robin, a known criminal, can't be in the legal papers. They will only attract the attention of enemies.
And finally, Luffia. Technically, she can be part of the company as she has no ties to the Mafia Group outside of Strawhat, but she chose not to.
"I just don't wanna. I like my part-time job. Shishishi!" She explained nothing about it, so Nami just let her be. She will be called when something major happens anyway.
Right now, everything is going as smoothly as they expected... Or not.
Nami's been frowning while looking at the files in front of her. She's at the executive office of the company building at the moment.
"Why do you look so stressed?" Robin asks. She and the other members of the Strawhat group can use the secret elevator that Franky built for them when getting inside the building.
"Those people. I still can't get any information about them."
"You mean the people who ambushed us?"
"Yes. Did you get anything about the group? They are no doubt World Government Agents, but I don't understand why they would send a group after us."
"They are sensing the danger that we can bring to the balance of Grandline." Robin answered before sipping on her tea. "The balance is fragile, one group may fall anytime."
"I know that but why us? They could have chosen other groups that they can easily eliminate."
"It's the same reason why they want to eliminate us now. They are preventing us from growing more than we already do. Think about it, Luffia's rise to her fame is short compared to other Emperors. Some of them took decades before they arrived at where they are, yet here she is, not even 4 years since she started, and she's already labeled as the 5th Emperor."
Success is welcome, but it doesn't mean that Nami the cons that come with it.
"We have to be careful about this group hunting us. They've been out in the streets, getting more information. We just need to find out who they are so we can attack them when they least expect it."
"About that... I've been wondering. One of the agents that attacked Luffia used swords."
"Swords? At this time and age? Really? Swords?" Nami scoffs, almost baffled at the thought.
"You may find it funny, but there are still less than 10 people using swords when they fight in close combat."
"And you're saying..."
"I am saying that we can narrow down the people who use swords in the streets. We can get a hint from there."
"Right... Any ideas?" Nami asked.
"The most famous ones are part of the Mafia Groups already. Vista from Whitebeard, Shiryuu from Blackbeard, Akagami, but it's almost impossible that they are the ones that attacked Luffia. They won't be working with the World Government just to eliminate our group when they can do it themselves."
Nami nodded, understanding the logic behind Robin's reasons.
"If that person is not part of the streets, it is possible that he's a trained agent."
"Ugh, this is giving me a headache." Nami massaged her temples. "And worse of all, Luffia just brushed this topic off when I brought it up!" She whined.
"Did she, now?"
"Yes! I called her last night, but she said not to be too concerned about that group and she said that we should just stop any means of investigation. Can you believe how happy-go-lucky she is?! That brat! Sometimes I wonder why I even followed her, ugh!"
Robin only chuckled at Nami's whining. This is not the first time that Luffia's easy-going decisions made them go mad, but for the first time, Robin is puzzled why Luffia explicitly instructed to stop the investigation.
Then, an idea came to her mind...
'It can't be...'
But she didn't voice it out to Nami. If Luffia said not to be concerned, then, they must follow her. Although, Nami didn't do so as she still conducted her investigation.
'She must be in a tough position now. To be in an unexpected situation with him...' Robin thought to herself, amused by Luffia's reasoning.
If she's right with her assumptions, and she's usually right, then Luffia must have known who the group is, or specifically, who the person that injured her was.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
AN: Here's the chapter you all have been waiting for. I figured I have to cut the Flashback because their story is quite long, so I might add it again in the next chapter. I just have to insert a little bit of background about Luffia.