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Lost in the Smoke:

Chapter 3: Truth

The ship had sailed well out of sight of Logue Town and it seamed both Garp and Hina had succeeded in covering their escape. Smoker took a deep breath, "Tashigi," he called, "Come with me."

"Yes sir," Tashigi replied fallowing him down into the hull and into his room.

"Shut the door," he told her as he took a seat by a standard wooden desk, "Remember in Arabasta? I told the world government to eat shit?"

"Yes sir, I do."

"The world government is pulling some strings and has framed you for those charges. With the world government behind it you don't have a chance in court. Their trying to punish me for what I said by going through you Tashigi," he said taking his cigars out of his mouth.

"I don't understand," Tashigi's eyes were wide.

"The government is going to destroy you to hurt me. You are my Petty Officer, you're someone I trust. They want to take that from me and make me watch as they destroy you, if they don't try to make me do it instead. I have helped you escape; this makes us both fugitives now. So we have to run. We can not expect any mercy from our fellow officers on these high seas. They have to do as their ordered. Hina and Garp are working to clear our names, but none of us know how long that's going to take. From this point on I am not your Commander. You will call me Smoker. Is that understood?"

"Yes sir," Tashigi replied her voice shaky. She held her tears inside. She loved her job and now they were trying to destroy her. It crushed her soul to hear the words.

"Tashigi, stop holding it in," Smoker spoke softly. Tashigi let go, letting her tears flow like rivers. Smoker had to force himself from getting up and embracing her. He held tightly to the desk, gripping it with all his strength, but never letting on that he was straining. He didn't want Tashigi to know how much her tears effected him, how they changed him. He had to be the tuff guy for her. He was her rock, he had to hold firm so she would have some place to stand. Not to mention Tashigi is a tom boy if there every was one. He couldn't show her that affection, that would only make her recoil from him. When a boy cries you stand their and ignore it, so as not to hurt their pride. If you try to comfort them they pull away and you lose their trust, the same would be so for Tashigi. The thought of Tashigi hiding anything from him drove him to stay planted in his seat. He gritted his teeth and bared it.

She sniffled and wiped the tears from her eyes with her sleeve, "I'm sorry sir," she hiccupped.

"I should be the one apologizing, I got you into this mess," Smoker said calmly, leaning back in his set looking completely comfortable and calm, but that was far from reality.

"No commander! I would do anything for you!" she boasted.

Smoker's mind: Anything, Tashigi? You have no idea what you offer so freely.

"I'm not your commander anymore, start calling me Smoker," he said frowning with his thoughts.

"Sorry sir. I mean Smoker. That sounds strange."

"You'll have to get used to it," he replied staring off. Tashigi nodded. "Go rest," Smoker ordered in a drained voice. Tashigi left the room to head for her own. As soon as she was out of ears distance he punched the desk, jumping to his feet he cursed, "Damn it Tashigi! Why can't I just comfort you like everyone else? Why can't I just," he stopped. He knew why not. He didn't want to drive her away. He feared her rejection, the only thing he has ever feared. The fact that they worked together just offered a convenient excuse, but those who knew him, knew that wasn't what was holding him back. It seamed the only one who didn't know about Smoker's feeling for Tashigi was Tashigi herself.

In the next chapter Smoker can't sleep. What does he do and what happens? find out in Chapter 4: Night