I have made this chapter about two pages longer then the others and added some of Tashigi's thoughts. I hope you like it.

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Lost in the Smoke:

Chapter 5: Mind Games

Smoker woke up and looked around. It had been a long time since he had slept so well. As he looked around he noticed an alien object that went by the name Tashigi. He had slept so soundly he had forgotten she was there let alone he was sleeping on her lap. She lay passed out on his bed and more radiant then ever. Her glasses were barely hanging on to her face and her open palm was twitching slightly with signs of stirring. The sun illuminated her white flesh like that of a sunrise in the Artic. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. The sight of her blocked out all sound. He slowly got up so as not to disturb her. He sat down at his desk. He had draped his jacket over the chair sometime last night and was now pulling two cigars out of it. He laid the cigars on the desk and looked back at Tashigi. He didn't want to disturb her, but it looked as though she was about to wake up and things were going to be awkward enough. If he didn't have at least one cigar in his mouth Tashigi would know something was up. So he pulled a lighter out of one of the desk drawer and lit his cigars. He turned to his desk and began charting their course. It didn't take long for Tashigi to wake up. He could hear her stirring, "Morning," he greeted not turning around.

"Morning Smoker," Tashigi smiled proud f herself for leaving off his title. She stood up completely refreshed and glowing and out the door she went with out another word. As soon as the door was shut Smoker swung around in his chair, his jaw hanging open, his cigars hanging by a thread, and his eyes as wide as they had ever been. Smoker's Mind: What the Hell was that?! Was that really Tashigi, she acted way to cool and collected to be the real Tashigi! Have I crossed into the twighlight zone?! WTF!! He was frozen for a good five minuets before he jumped out of his chair, put his jacket on and rushed out into the hall slamming the door behind him. Smoker's Mind: I'm going to find out what the Hell is going on here! A poor subordinate was minding his own business when Smoker pushed him out of the way as he stormed down the hall, smoke barreling behind him like a locomotive.

"What's up with the commander?" the subordinate asked another.

"Well, I saw Tashigi leave his room this morning," the other replied.

"So?"

"She was in her nightgown."

"What?! No way!"

"That's what I saw."

"You might want to forget what you saw," growled Smoker behind them like a pitch black demon with glowing eyes. He scared the shit out of the two men.

"Yes sir," they replied their hair standing on end like a Halloween cat.

"Good," he hissed almost disappearing like a shadow down the hall, but just outside Tashigi's door he stopped. Smoker's Mind: What the Hell am I doing?! Why am I getting so worked up? If I just rush in there it will frighten her. Damn it. He clenched his fist tight, Damn it Tashigi your naivety is starting to get really fucking annoying!

Meanwhile in Tashigi's room. Tashigi sat collapsed on the floor. Tashigi's Mind: What did I do? I just spent the night in my Commander's room! Oh he'll never forgive me! Her mind raced a million miles per second. She was torn. She enjoyed last night, but she now feared the out come of it. Her face was beet red, At least I was able to play it off in front of him right? Ahhh! What do I do?! She didn't want to leave her room, but then everyone would know something was wrong including Smoker. She couldn't do that, not after she had just acted so calm. The embarrassment was tarring her apart. Calm down, calm down! Pull yourself together Tashigi! You can do this. If you act cool then everything will be alright. She comforted herself. Trying to trick herself into reassurance. She reluctantly got up off the floor and got dressed. She left her room and headed above deck. "Sir." She sounded her presence.

"Tashigi, what took you so long?" Smoker asked looking out to sea through some binoculars.

"Sorry, I was just getting ready. I'll be quicker next time."

"Tashigi, look here," Smoker handed her the binoculars and pointed out to sea, "What do you see?"

It took some time to focus the binoculars, but when she did she saw what Smoker was talking about, "It's a Marine ship, they found us."

"Yes, but the question is how," Smoker pondered. He grabbed his Jutte from his back and aimed it at one of the five solders. "You there!" He sounded as the other solders aimed their guns at the traitor.

"You are breaking the law commander. You must be stopped." The man's whole body shook with fear.

Smoker lowered his weapon, but the other men kept their fingers on the trigger. "What have you told them?"

"You're location and nothing more."

"Do they know who helps us, or that this crew is loyal to me?"

"No Sir," the solder replied tears filling his eyes.

"You are a fool for betraying us. Kill him." Smoker ordered.

"Commander!" Tashigi yelled, "Why does he have to die?!"

"Men," he addressed his loyal solders, "once the traitor is dead, I am g66oing to knock you all out. When you're taken in for questioning you will say I forced you to sail this ship. And that his man died trying to stop me. Is that clear?" Smoker barked.

"Sir, yes sir!"

"Tashigi, if he lives, these men will be put to death for helping us. We can't escape in this ship, and we can't all fit in the lifeboat," Smoker replied. The shot was taken and the soldier's limp body felt to the ground.

"Commander!" Tashigi yelled, her face covered with tears. "Commander! You didn't have to kill him?!" She shrieked. The shear stress and shock of what had just happened overwhelmed her and she fainted. Smoker caught her with one arm and leaned her against a crate. The four remaining soldiers stood back erect, ready to receive their blow.

"You men are brave, you are strong, and you are loyal, never lose sight of what you stand for," Smoker preached just before knocking them out could. "You are all good men." Smoker picked Tashigi up and took her to the lifeboat. He laid her safely inside and grabbed the maps in his room and a compass before getting in himself. He lowered the lifeboat down to the water then using the power of the Smoke Smoker fruit to send a fog over the water to cover their escape. Smoker took one last long look at his ship that held the four loyal soldiers aboard it and he said good bye to his life before. Smoker would never be able to rejoin the military now, not when he had killed a soldier loyal to the world government. He knew by ordering that mans death he was signing his life away, but he could do it with out regret if it was for Tashigi's sake.

It was around 6:00 PM before Tashigi regained consciousness, "Commander?" she called still laying on her back and looking up at the sky. She laid her arm across her face to shield her eyes from the sun, "Is he?" she asked, her voice showed she was on the brink of crying again.

"Yes," he replied short and sweetly, "I'm sorry you had to see that Tashigi." She jumped up and began punching Smoker's chest.

"Why, Why did you do it?!" She cried still punching him. Smoker just took the blows as they came. Smoker's Mind: I disserve this. (Tashigi's Mind): why Smoker? Why? Now you'll never be able to return! Why did you do it! Tashigi wasn't so much upset about the soldier's death as she was about the fact that Smoker was now a real fugitive of the government. She grieved for the dead man, but her real sorrow was for Smoker. She knew how much he loved his job. Not because he worked for a just government, but because he felt could make a difference in another person's life, because he wanted to protect the innocent and now the world was going to see him as a criminal. She stopped punching him and was now grasping him by his jacket and crying into his chest. All he could do was look at her. He wanted to speak, but the words wouldn't come out. "Why?" she continued to cry. Smoker cracked, he couldn't take it anymore. He gently took her hands into his own which caused her too look up at him. At the sight of Tashigi's face Smoker let her hands go, wrapped his arms around her shoulders and hugged her. He resting his chin on the top of his head and let himself cry. Tashigi could hear his sobs though he tried to hide them; the cold, wet flow of his tears dampened her hair and confirmed his pain. She didn't say anything; she just wrapped her arms around him and snuggled into his warm chest and tried to stop his tears.

Find out what happens next in Chapter 6: A New Life