~Later That Night~

-Tori-

I lay on my back staring up at the wooden ceiling. Ace said almost everyone had one, the tattoo. Marco's was a sort of a blue silhouette on his chest; Ace had a replica of the symbol on the flag across his back, and most other peoples were very similar to Ace's on various body parts. Maybe I should get one… I mean I'm part of the crew/family now too. It makes sense. Doesn't it? "I'll ask about it in the morning." I yawned rolling onto my side as I curled into a ball.

~Next Morning~

I stepped onto the deck just as the sun passed over the horizon, there was almost no one awake yet, only a few crew members- I think they're Division Commanders or the people who were on watch- and Gramps sitting in his usual chair. "That's a good place to start." I crossed the cold wood, my new shoes dangling in my hands as I approached him.

"Tori what can I do for you?" Gramps boomed as I stopped in front of him.

"I want to ask about 'Your Mark.'" I quoted remembering the phrase Ace used to describe the tattoos.

"Guraha. Now why would you want to ask about that?" he smiled leaning down to be more on my level.

"Well everyone I've met has one, and since I'm a member of your crew now don't you think I should have one too?" I asked sitting down to fight with the shoes.

"Only if you want it Tori." He nodded sitting up straighter. "No one will force you."

I stood up as Ace stepped onto the deck followed by Marco and Thatch, the other two were laughing about something. "Can I think about it for a while?"

"Take as long as you need."

"Thanks." I dashed across the empty space to join the Commanders. "Ace, Marco, Thatch," I called catching up. "Do you always get up so early?"

"Of course –yoi." Marco ruffled my hair.

"Commanders have to get up early." Ace explained with a yawn and dark look in Marco's direction.

"But crew's allowed to sleep about an hour longer than the Commanders, so why are you up and about so early?" Thatch asked looking just as tired as Ace.

"I couldn't sleep… I had a bad dream." I followed them into the dining area as the three males' grabbed white mugs of a strange, steaming, dark liquid sitting out in rows on one of the tables by the door.

"Does that happen often –yoi?" Marco looked concerned as I joined them, still watching the funny drinks. It looked like their mugs were full of tar.

"Most nights." I reached across the table snatching his mug from his relaxed grip sniffing before taking a small sip. A hot bitter taste filled my mouth; it was like nothing I'd ever tasted before. I instantly reeled back coughing. "That's gross." I pushed the hot cup back towards Marco.

"It's coffee, designed to wake people up, it doesn't have to taste good." Marco smiled drinking some more of that black poison. "I'm more worried about your nightmares –yoi."

"I'm used to them." I shrugged noticing how the 'coffee' stuff seemed to be making Ace and Thatch more awake.

"What are they about –yoi?"

"Usually Mom and Dad, though sometimes the villagers are chasing me and I get hurt. But I'm not too worried. I mean they aren't real right?"

"No they aren't but if they're keeping you from sleeping that could be dangerous for your health." Marco frowned. "Maybe you should talk to the nurses about some sleeping pills if this keeps up –yoi."

"Shouldn't she be having this conversation with her Division Commander?" Ace grumbled glaring at Marco again.

"She would." Marco smiled over the top of his cup. "If he weren't currently half asleep in his coffee -yoi."

"Tori, next time you have one of these nightmares come to me, alright." Ace ruffled my hair in a fashion similar to how Marco had earlier. "Don't listen to a thing this pervert says."

"What's a pervert?" I asked frowning in confusion.

Ace turned a deep shade of red and started choking on his coffee.

"Thatch, what's a pervert?"

"Don't ask him! He's a bigger one than Marco!" Ace flailed his arms about madly shouting loudly.

"A person who's sexual behavior is regarded as abnormal and unacceptable -yoi." Marco answered with a sigh, seeming to be the only one not affected by my question as Thatch pounded the table, shoulders shaking in laughter.

"Sexual?"

"I think the food should be just about ready by now. Why don't we grab some breakfast?" Thatch stood up quickly followed by a still red Ace leaving me feeling incredibly confused and a chuckling Marco to follow behind them to grab our breakfast plates.

~Later That Day~

I leaned against the railing watching in front of us; Ace asked me to watch out for one of the Commanders, he was expected back sometime today or tomorrow. I honestly had no idea who or what I was looking for, not to mention I'm pretty sure the person in the basket on top of the 'mast' had a better chance of spotting this in coming Commander. With a sigh I turned around lifting my gaze up to the clear blue sky, the black background of the 'Jolly Roger' stood out with the mustached skull and bones behind it. "How can people think Pirates are so scary?"

*Flashback* (after leaving with Marco and Ace. On a random island)

"Let the girl go!" a girly voice shouted as I sat on Ace's lap seeing as there were no more chairs in the restaurant they'd brought me to for dinner.

Marco turned to the woman who'd spoken; a tallish skinny female with black hair pulled back out of her face, glasses resting on her nose, and a sword pointed at our table. "And what if the girl doesn't want to go –yoi?" he asked with a lazy smile.

"Of course she wants to go! Who would want to hang out with filthy Pirates like you? Even if you are members of Whitebeard's crew." She snapped.

"Pirates?" I looked between my companions as I was moved to the chair, both of them now standing. "What are Pirates?" I asked, I'd heard the term before but no one had ever explained it to me.

"Plundering, murdering, savages," The girl snapped, "the scum of the Earth, inherently evil creatures."

"Wait," I stopped looking up at my friends. "Aren't you Pirates?" I asked as Marco and Ace stood as a sort of shield between me and the lady with the sword.

"Yes, we are." Ace answered shoulders tensing.

"And you aren't evil. Right?"

"No Tori, we're not evil –yoi." Marco sent me a small smile.

"Well if they aren't evil how can you say that all Pirates are evil?" I turned back to the female. After all the Villagers said the evil ones, like me, had Demonic Powers.

"Because they aren't Marines!" she snapped angrily.

*End flashback*

Turning away from the front of the ship I made my way back to Whitebeard's side slinking along by the railing. They were part of my crew and therefor part of my family now because of it but large groups of people still made me nervous.

"Is something bothering you?" Ace asked as I came up behind him tapping his shoulder, still frowning at the memory.

"What are Marines?"

"Marines work for the World Government to hunt down criminals, such as Pirates." He explained simply. "What brought this up?"

"Remember that one lady who said Pirates were evil because they weren't Marines?" I sat down on the railing beside him as some people, I think they're from my Division but I can't be sure, carried boxes and crates passed us from the island we were still docked at.

"Yeah, that was an interesting fight." He trailed off looking at me with a worried frown.

"Don't let what she said bother you too much. The Marines can be pretty narrow-minded." Thatch said coming up beside us with a strange smoking stick in his mouth ruffling my hair.

I sat there for several more moments watching the crew interact, laughing and teasing, and just acting friendly in general. Everyone here, except for Teach- there was something weird about him- was so nice. And Ace and Marco had powers like mine but nobody seemed to care. "I've made up my mind." I nodded hopping up and flashing them both a smile before dashing off to talk to Gramps.

~Later, around dinner time~

I limped back onto the deck with the help of the third Division Commander, Jozu. Gramps insisted I take someone with me but I wanted to surprise Ace, Thatch, and Marco so he sent me with Jozu. He was a really big man who frowned a lot but he seems really nice. He was also Commander of the 3rd Division.

"You okay?" he asked as we crossed the gang plank back onto the ship.

"My leg hurts." I whined.

"That'll happen."

"Tori!" Ace dashed towards us with Marco and Thatch close behind.

"We were so worried about you." Thatch tackled me into a hug, sending us both to the wood as I hissed in pain as my leg burned.

"Are you alright –yoi?" Marco asked as he and Ace pulled Thatch off me in concern.

"Fine I think, my leg just hurts a little." I pulled up my skirt showing them the bandages.

"You let her get hurt? What happened?!" Ace rounded on Jozu looking furious.

"I got 'Gramps's Mark' like what you guys have." I explained letting my skirt fall back to around my knees. All three of the new Division Commanders turning to stare at me.

(Author's Comment: So new chapter. I know it's been awhile but with it being Senior year and family drama I had other priorities. I'm going to try and write/post more now that it's Summer but I make no promises. Might take a while to post, posting chapters as I write them isn't exactly working all that well but we'll see. Hope you enjoyed the read :) P.S. unbetaed- currently.)