The Reason to Fight

Chapter 2

Initiating flashback sequence…..

12 years ago…

Shell had managed to get out of Doflamingo's mansion without him knowing. She had been thankful that he allowed her to stay with him for the past three months. She sighed and lifted her backpack over her shoulder and headed towards the dock for her dingy.

She had thrown her bag into the small boat and was beginning to untie the ropes when a voice stopped her. "Not even a goodbye?"

The brunette glanced up and saw Doflamingo standing there, his seven-foot tall frame against the moonlight. Even in the darkness, she could see the black pajama pants and the low cut shirt he wore. She sighed and stood up, rubbing the back of her neck. "I didn't think a goodbye was necessary."

"Psh," the tall Warlord scoffed. "You really think I would let you leave without getting a goodbye?"

"I was actually hoping you would be asleep while I was leaving." She confessed, going to rub her arm nervously. "I'm not good at saying goodbye."

The blonde grinned, his eyes gleaming from behind his purple-tinted sunglasses. "Shell-bell, I did not expect you to stay here for a long period of time, but I did expect a farewell, at least. So….." the man opened his muscular arms to her.

Shell sighed, but smiled faintly. "Alright," she walked into his welcoming arms and locked her own around his waist as his went around her back. She always thought his arms were safe and comforting to her.

When a few moments passed, the two pulled away from each other and she fought to keep the blush down. "Well, I'd better get going. I wish you the best of luck with the Shichibukai and-,"

When she had lifted her head to look at him, his hand had cupped her cheek and before she could do anything, he leaned down and crushed his lips to hers, immediately deepening the unexpected kiss.

Shell felt her face flush as she blinked to realize the sudden events. She felt the overwhelming feeling to return his kiss and she just caved in. Her eyes fluttered close, her heart was pounding rapidly and her body pulled itself closer to his as she returned the kiss and had to stand on her tip-toes to even attempt to reach his neck.

The blonde grinned against her lips and placed his other hand around her waist, effectively pulling her closer and deepening the kiss even more. She felt his tongue flicker against her teeth, begging for entrance into her mouth. With her body weak enough as it was, she allowed her lips to part and she couldn't help but moan as the tongue slipped into her mouth, over her own and wrapping around, massaging.

There was a battle for dominance and as the French kiss continued, both of his arms locked around her back tightly and pulled her body flush against his own. When they finally pulled back apart for air, she breathed. "That's one hell of a goodbye."

"I have one more thing for you." The blonde grinned and pulled something out of his pocket. It was a beautiful purple gemstone that was the width and length of her pinkie. She glanced at it in awe, her mouth slightly dropped. "Think of it as a parting gift." He spoke and clipped the chain around her neck.

She touched the gemstone and looked up at the blonde, who smirked. "Good luck to you and your travels love. Hopefully we'll meet up again." And he left back to his mansion.

Shell stared at his back and looked back down at the purple gemstone, smiling a little. "Yeah, hopefully." Then she untied the rest of the rope and got into the dingy, letting the waters carry her somewhere.

Initiating second flashback…..

5 years ago…..

The 25-year old looked down at the redhead in the sand and crouched down, poking the girl's shoulder. "Hey, you alive?"

The redhead let out a scratchy groan and lifted her head, crystalline blue eyes meeting hazel ones. Shell reached into her backpack and brought out a cold bottle of water, handing it to the girl. She immediately snatched the water from the older woman and chugged the whole thing down in a matter of 5 seconds.

Shell blinked, but then smiled a little as the girl searched her backpack for another bottle. "I guess you were really thirsty huh?" she questioned the girl as she took out another cold bottle of water.

The girl only drank half of the second bottle and closed the lid, wiping her lips on her sleeve. "Uh-huh, I've been traveling in this desert for days and I ran out of water…"

"What's your name? Mine's Shell."

The girl brightened up. "Lillianne."

"Well, Lillianne, I'm looking for crew members of my crew. Wanna be the first?"

The dirt-covered redhead smiled widely and nodded, glomping the older girl. Shell only sighed softly and patted Lillianne's head. "Alright, let's get a move on. I found the perfect ship."

End flashback sequence….

"What the hell do you mean you don't know the outcome? You're the best surgeon I know of!"

Law sighed heavily, scratching his head. "The blade had nearly been centimeters away from piercing her heart. Plus, she had lost a lot of blood and had gone into shock by the time you got her here."

The blonde curled his hands into fists and fumed. He couldn't lose her! He nearly did once and it wasn't going to happen a second time!

"Mr. Doflamingo," Law spoke formerly. "I will do everything in my power to make sure Miss Shell will survive. Right now, she is resting comfortably and Lillianne is beside her."

The tall Warlord cursed himself. When he first found Lillianne, barely conscious and wounded, he had taken her back to the mansion so Law could tend to her wounds, considering he had also been greatly injured. But then when he found Shell….

He had felt her own heart stop. But then Law had managed to get it beating again and tended to her wounds.

"Considering how strong Miss Shell is," Law spoke as he tore the bloodied gloves off his hands. "She has an 83 percent chance of recovering."

"What about the other 17 percent?" Doflamingo questioned the younger Warlord.

"The other 17 percent doesn't matter. It's the 83 percent that matters."

In the infirmary, a bandaged up Lillianne sat by Shell's side, watching as she slept comfortably. The redhead had her hair in a messy ponytail, her bangs covering the left side of her face. She just wanted her captain to wake up.

Lillianne sighed heavily and rubbed her tired eyes. All of a sudden, she heard a sharp intake of breath and a long sigh. She glanced at the brunette, hoping she would've woken up but her face fell when she realized she hadn't.

And then Shell opened her eyes.

Lillianne's face broke into a smile. "Captain-sama!" she exclaimed and hugged the older woman around the neck, effectively choking her. "Oh captain, I'm so glad you're okay! We thought for sure you weren't going to wake up!"

"Lillianne, that's nice and all…." Shell wheezed. "But I can't breathe….."

The redhead immediately released her mother figure and she was able to breathe again. Shell coughed and massaged her neck, gaining her air back. "Well, yer an idiot then. Did you really think someone like Kidd could kill me?"

Lillianne could feel the tears, but she kept them away. "You worry us too much Captain-sama. I'll go get the others!" she rushed out of the room and quickly came back with the two men.

"SHELL BELL!"

Lillianne had to trip the running flamingo as he tried to glomp the injured woman and he fell to the floor, face-first. "Sorry Mr. Doflamingo, but you can't hug Miss Shell too much. The injury in her chest could still very well open again if you excite her too much."

"I was almost killed!" Shell shouted angrily, her face still red from Lillianne's choking hug. "You'd think I would like my fiancée to at LEAST hug me to make sure I don't-!" she then cringed as blood spurted from her chest and began to stain the bandages.

Law had to kick everyone else so he could tend the reopened wound. About an hour later, Doflamingo was allowed to go in, but he couldn't stay long because she had to rest.

"Like I said to Lillianne before, yer an idiot. Did you really think someone like Kidd could kill me?"

"He's dead now." The blonde grasped her left hand and kissed the ring on it. "..I'm sorry I didn't get there earlier love. If only I had…."

"If I could smack you over the head, I would." She snorted. "Look at me. I'm way too strong to die."

"Did you ever see a white light?"

"Yeah, but I didn't go towards it. I saw my entire life flash through my eyes, the good AND bad memories." She sighed, wincing a little. "But thanks to my strong will, I'm still here."

He chuckled and got out of the chair, sitting on the edge of the bed. He brushed a lock of her dark brown, highlighted hair out of her face and then leaned down, giving her forehead a sweet kiss. "It's too bad yer injured like this…I would fuck you right here, right now, fufufufufu."

"Just be like that until we get married." She grinned.

"We'll discuss that later angel. Let's worry about you recovering for now." He spoke. "I love you Shell."

She closed her eyes, smiling. "I love you too."