Chapter 3- Risks and Chances

I was still fast asleep when Jack burst into the room the next morning. I bolted upwards, smacking my head on the top bunk as I did so. Aki sat up slowly and said, "This better be important, Jack."

"It is important, Aki." Jack replied, then looked at me. "Kiro, Xavier is doubling the watches. It's going to be hard for all of us to sneak out at night, almost harder than it would be during the day."

I cocked my head to the side. "That can't be. Aki and I went out last night; no one saw us."

I heard Aki's feet hit the floor as she hopped off the bed. "That's true," she started. "Xavier has no reason to be doubling the amount of men on watches, unless," she cut off, as she generally did to make sure I was paying attention.

"Unless?" I asked.

"Unless he found your rap sheet in Captain Tanner's office." Aki said.

Jack scoffed. "Impossible; all files are locked in the filing cabinet, ESPECIALLY Kiro's."

I stood up slowly. "Wait," I said. "My rap sheet…was on the desk yesterday. Tanner had me look over it or something as he was telling me off." I rubbed my head. "It's not like the old geezer to forget to put something like that away, though."

Jack and Aki both stared at me.

"What?" I asked.

"How many incidents are on that sheet?" Jack asked.

"Well," I started. "On a technicality, it's not 'a rap sheet', it's more like seven sheets of paper that are called 'a rap sheet.'"

He sighed. "I'm sorry I asked…"

I started to laugh, but Aki elbowed me in the gut. "Kiro, you realize that Xavier is one, out to get you, and two, making it impossible to escape, right?"

I rubbed the spot where she had elbowed me. "It's not impossible, I mean…my brothers and I have been able to sneak in and out of highly guarded places. Besides, I already know the Commodore is out to get me; I have the scars to prove it."

Aki sighed, but Jack nodded. "Alright, Captain," he said, starting to grin. "What's your plan?"

"I can't believe you talked us into this." Taro and Kyoka said, crouching next to me on the tree branch.

"Technically, Aki talked you into this," I replied, wearing a very Ace-like smirk. Taro rolled his eyes, but his twin laughed along with me.

It was after dark, and just like Jack said, double the guards were on watch. Most were not that happy about it, as it was supposed to be their sleep cycle. Others seemed overjoyed; they saw it as an opportunity to prove themselves and advance in the ranks.

I was about to hop out of the tree and begin our plan, when Ky caught my arm. He pointed ahead of us, and I followed his finger to the figure that was leaning against the back wall.

"What is he doing here?" I hissed a little too loudly.

Kyoka covered my mouth with his hand, but it was too late. Someone had heard me, and alerted his buddy.

"Vice Admiral Garp!" one of the men shouted, running up to the man on the wall. "It has been called to our attention that a voice was heard, however, we don't know where it came from!"

"Well, I don't think it was a ghost, now was it?" Garp replied. "Go find them, and take them straight back to me, don't go to Tanner; I have an idea about your 'voice.'"

"Y-Yes sir!" the young soldier said, scampering off and gathering the men of his squad. It was only a matter of time before they found us.

"Taro, Kyoka. Stay here." I ordered. "When the guards are gone, go find Aki and Jack; tell them to meet on the roof in one hour. If I'm not back by then," I said, taking a breath. "It probably means I met a certain death."

Before either one of them could object, I jumped down from the tree, directly in front of a Commander. "Congrats, boys, you found a pirate." I said, grinning and holding my hands up.

This was not the first time a bunch of people dragged me across a field giving me a lecture about how sneaking out of bounds was against the rules and potentially dangerous. However, none of the other times left me face to face with a Vice Admiral.

"Guard outside." Garp ordered the men.

"Yes sir!" was the firm reply, unlike the stuttering one I'd heard earlier.

After they'd left, I crossed my arms. "Hey gramps, long time no see."

I dodged the first punch but the second got me good. "Monkey D. Kiromi!" my grandfather shouted. "What the hell is your problem?"

"I have many," I muttered, thinking back to a similar conversation I'd had with him years ago.

He glared at me, and I glared back stubbornly. "Bwah! Too much of your father in you!" He muttered. "And too much like your brothers! Reckless!"

"I prefer the word, audacious." I said, shoving my hands in my pockets, looking up at the ceiling.

"Kiromi," my grandfather warned, and I fell silent. "You realize how much danger you're putting yourself in? And don't you give me that look, young lady!"

I had subconsciously begun to roll my eyes, and received another smack. "Damnit gramps," I said. "You started sounding too much like the boys."

"Quit sassing me!" Garp bellowed, but I could have sworn I saw some pride in his eyes. I bit back a smile. When my grandfather and I argue, we somehow bond at the same time.

I felt the clock ticking in my head. I needed to speed up this conversation, but that was near impossible; after all, this was my grandfather. "Sorry, gramps; old habits die hard, can I go yet?"

"No."

Well that figures, I thought. If I said anything else, he would know that something was up. Why is he here?

"I'm here to make sure you're staying out of trouble…which clearly, you are not."

I laughed. "I can't deny that."

Garp laughed a bit. "I expect no less from my granddaughter!"

There was a knock on the door, and it opened. Captain Tanner stood in the doorway, glaring at me. "Sorry for the intrusion on this family conversation, sir." Tanner said, nodding to my grandfather. Garp just waved it away.

"Ah, no need for apologies." He said simply. "Except maybe for not looking after my granddaughter."

Tanner cracked a smile. I glanced behind me-the door was still open; I could make it.

"I always forget how much trouble she is until-" Tanner started, but I was already out the door, laughing like a toddler crazed on sugar.

Man, who knew escaping would be this much fun?