I am so sorry for not writing for a long time! I just started school again and got all busy minded. I'm really sorry. So, where was I…ah, yes. They finished making the meal. Let's see what will happen next, shall we?
Smile was serving the plates, humming softly. She was proud of how the meal had turned out and couldn't wait to see how the crew would react. They are all staring at their plates. Are they scared of what they would find in it?
«You can eat, you know. If I had put anything in there, Heat would have known. Right, Heat?»
Heat doesn't answer. He simply sits down himself to take a bite. He chews a little, gulps and turns to her:
«It's good»
The crew look at each other and start eating. Smile looks at them, trying to find Kidd. He wasn't there at the table. As the crew was eating, she walks out of the dining hall, going for her brother's room.
«Now, where was it?»
She stops in front of the door. He told her not to get in, but that he would be there if she needed him or something. She lifts her hand and knocks three times on the door.
«Kidd…Captain…how do I even call him?»
There wasn't any answer whatever she called him. Curious, she smirks:
«Won't hurt to take just a peek»
She turns the handle slowly, not making a sound, and opens the door. The room was really dark. She could spot some curtains being closed over a wide window at the end of the room. There was a large bed close to the window and someone lying on his back on it. It was hard to see in the darkness, but Smile guessed it was Kidd. She enters the room a little.
«Kidd? You awake?»
No answer from him. As she listens, she hears a regular breathing sound. No doubt about it, he was sleeping. She walks to the bed to go look closer. She smiles at the sight of his sleepy face. His lips slightly open, his face totally calm, it looked somehow weird to see him with a frown or a huge grin. She lifts her hand and pokes his cheek softly. He twitches a little, but doesn't wake up. She chuckles and takes some step back before leaving the door, closing the door behind her. She could have been mischievous…but she thought she made him angry enough for one day. As she walks away from the door, she thinks she heard a noise in the room, but decides to ignore it.
Kidd groans a little and opens his eyes, passing a hand on his cheek. What was that feeling? Did someone just poke his cheek? No one was around. He sits down on the bed, a little grumpy. What time was it? Something smelled good. He stands up from the bed, passing his hand in his hair. As spiky as ever, good. He opens the door and turns his head to see Smile disappear through the kitchen's door. Could she be the one who poked him? Damn, why the hell did she even do that? He told her not to come in his room. He walks to the kitchen and opens the door in a swing. The whole crew was sitting around the table, talking and eating. Smile had sat next to Heat and was talking with him. First time he ever saw Heat being this talkative with someone. Someone was missing, though.
«Where the fuck did Wire go?»
Was he still scared of Smile? What the hell scared him like that? The others had no problem with her.
«Oy, Smile! I want some more»
Smile chuckles:
«If that's true, you'll have to stand up and come here to have a refill. I won't walk around with the pot, you know»
She lifts her eyes at him and smiles, but not that creepy smile she had the first time. A real smile. Kidd walks to her and looks at the plate she had just filled:
«What's that?»
She lets a smirk slip on her lips:
«Curious?»
He grumbles and it makes her chuckles a little:
«Teehee, if that's how you take it, you'll have to taste to figure out what it is»
She fetches a plate, fills it up and hands it over to him. He takes the plate, staring at it. What the fuck was that anyway? He goes to sit at his usual place and takes a fork.
Smile looks at him as he stares at the plate. Was he that unused to cooked meals that he would be suspicious about them? He pokes the meal with his fork, still staring at it, and takes a bite. Smile smirks as she sees his eyes widen. She toddles to him:
«So, Captain, is it to your liking?»
He doesn't answer, but takes another bite, making her smile:
«Teehee, I'll take that as a yes, then»
Coming from a darker spot, Meimu lands on her shoulder and cuddles, making Smile smirk:
«Well hello there. Where have you been?»
She shrieks a little and starts reporting a voice. It was Kan's voice:
«There is a bunch of marines following us on the sea. I'm not sure if there is anything special with them since their smell is too far, but they are getting closer»
Smile nods as Kidd lifts his eyes at the little bat:
«What the fuck is she talking about?»
«Kan is on the deck. Apparently, a marine ship has been following us for a while, now. She's not sure if there are any devil fruit users or strong Haki users, either. They are still too far for her to smell any differences»
Kidd frowns:
«Smell a difference? What the fuck? Doesn't everyone smell different?»
She chuckles a little:
«True, but Kan can detect a small smell specific to devil fruits and strong Haki. I'm not quite sure myself what is the difference, but I trust her sense of smell. She is a huntress and my guardian, after all»
Kidd raises an eyebrow as she mentions the guardian thing.
«Your guardian?»
She nods with a soft smile:
«She has been protecting me for quite a while, now. Had it not been for her, I wouldn't even be hear, right now. I would have drowned two years ago»
Kidd coughs a little on the bite he had just took:
«What the hell?! You almost drowned?!»
Smile blinks for a second:
«Yeah, I fell from the cruise ship upon meeting your crew»
The room fell silent all of a sudden. Kidd was staring right at her:
«You were the girl from back then?»
She nods:
«I had just left the house at that moment»
«If it really was you, why the fuck did you run away?»
Smile frowns a little:
«Are you seriously asking that? I hadn't seen you for years and you and Killer were trying to catch me. He even busted a door in pieces to get to me. I wasn't a warrior, at that time and had no idea that it was you I as running away from. I wasn't going to stick around when I thought I had no way of defending myself»
«You thought?»
«My devil fruit, I hadn't figured that I had those powers before I made some of your crewmates fall asleep. So, in other words, I thought I was defenceless. It might have been cowardly of me to run, but I changed since then. I won't run anymore. I already made a vow»
Kidd stays silent, then turns back to his plate to eat:
«Whatever, just make sure you don't act cowardly around me or I might kick you out»
Smile nods, her expression returning to the usual creepiness. She would do whatever it takes for her brother to be proud of her.
«Of course, Captain. I won't make such a disgrace to your name»
She toddles away as Kidd was turning back at her. She had left the room before he could say anything. She wasn't really hungry, so it didn't matter if she ate or not. She goes to the deck and finds Kan sitting on the front figure, her tail waving slowly. She goes to her friend:
«So, where are they?»
«Away to the left. They are trying to use the darkness of the night to get closer. They will try the sneaky way rather than attacking at daylight»
Smile chuckles:
«It is to be expected. They know what crew they are attacking, after all»
She sits on the front figure with Kan, looking out to the sea. A lot of things had changed since the events from two years ago. She lifts a hand to her shoulder and closes he eyes. She had vowed to never run away ever again. She turns her gaze to Kan and starts rubbing her fur. The panther purrs a little:
«Thinking about the past?»
«A little, I'll have to learn from it, after all»
Kan turns her deep black eyes to her:
«That's a good way of taking things, but try not to think too much about it. You aren't responsible for what happened back there»
Smile gets a little sad:
«I know that…I still need to be more careful»
She looks up at the sky. The sun was setting, already. That meant they would strike soon.
Smile opens her eyes, waking up from a bad dream. Talking about her past had brought back some bad memories. She looks a little around. She was still on the deck, but her back against the wall. She stretches carefully and stands up. It was quite dark outside, right now. Kan was lying on the ground next to her, Meimu sleeping in her fur. Smile goes to the side of the boat, thoughtful. Weren't the marines supposed to attack at night? Smile blinks and frowns, trying to see. There was a thick fog around the ship. That's when she heard the sound of moving water. She blinks, her eyes taking a normal shape once more.
«They're here»
She runs silently inside and goes to the kitchen. She felt a little discouraged as she found the crew…completely drunk. She looks around, completely lost.
«What's going on, here?»
Kan arrives next to her with Meimu:
«It seems they were celebrating your arrival in the crew»
«By getting drunk?»
«It would seem so, yes»
She feels a movement behind her and swiftly turns around. It was Wire, who wasn't really happy to see she was the only one standing firmly on her feet.
«S…Smile?»
«Hum, looks like not everyone got drunk. Well, that's better»
She completely turns to him, looking serious.
«A marine ship is about to attack us and I'm not sure if I can fight them all on my own»
Wire looks uneasy.
«You want me to help you?»
She opens her arms to show around them.
«You see anyone else? Other than Kan and Meimu, of course»
Some noises are heard in the room and Smile glances behind. Kidd had stood up to look at the both of them.
«Those fuckers decided to arrive now?»
Killer seemed to still be standing as well a little further. Actually, even though Smile was sure he had drunk just as much as the others, he seemed to be fine. He wasn't saying a word, though. Heat was staring straight at them as well, sitting at a chair next to the oven. Smile looks at them all.
«Well, this is better than being alone. But, are you sure you can stand up?»
Kidd grumbles.
«Just watch me. I'll beat those fuckers even with only one arm»
«Okay…»
She turns to Wire.
«Is it really a good idea?»
Wire gulps:
«He often fights when he is drunk»
Smile raises her shoulders:
«Well, if you aren't worried about it…»
She toddles out, followed by Kan and Meimu quickly. She wanted to make sure the marines wouldn't try to take the advantage while she wasn't watching. She walks out on the deck and arrives face to face with a marine. Her smirk widens creepily:
«My, my, what do we have here? A sea bird»
The marine steps back, trembling.
«The…the…the singing doll?!»
«Teehee, why yes, that is who I am. So, mind telling me what you are doing on board? This isn't your ship, you know»
Other marines appear behind him, jumping on board just as the first one was stepping back. They stumbled and fell in the water. She jumped on the railing and looked down, smiling in a creepy way.
«Oh, so you wanted to go swim? Let me help you, then»
She starts humming a little, than lets her singing voice resound, the air waving a little around her.
«He will go down, he will drown, drown, deeper down. The river will take your only child»
The water around the marines starts having strange currents, making them panic and try to swim, but it was impossible. They were listening to her voice and believing what they were seeing.
«He will go down, he will drown, drown, deeper down. The mills grind slow in a riverbed ghost town»
The marines were screaming in fear. Some had already started drowning deeper in the furious waters.
«He will go down, he will drown, drown, deeper down. If you want me, then do come across»
That was the end of the marines that had fallen in the water. He smiles gets wider.
«Kyahahahahaha! Kyahahahahaha! You didn't like the water? You should have told me sooner! Well, too bad, because it's too late! Kyahahahahaha!»
She turns on one foot happily and jumps back on the deck, waiting for other marines. Out of the ship came Kidd and the others.
«Oy, Smile! What was that, just now?!»
She smirks:
«Just some marines who wanted to try swimming. The water wasn't really cooperative, teehee»
The sound of a gunshot resounds and a ball it's the floor, passing right under Smile's left ear. She sighs and looks at the marine ship:
«Snipers who don't know how to shoot. I really wasn't expecting that»
Some marines jump on board, not being careful about noise, this time. They already knew there were people on the deck. Kidd arrives next to Smile and grins.
«Some action, huh? They will pay for even stepping on board. Attract!»
The marines in front of them lost some swords and bullets, the metallic objects forming a gigantic arm around Kidd's right arm. Kidd's grin widened as he went for the marines. He wasn't going completely straight, but Smile might have been the only one to notice. She sees Killer, Heat and Wire go after Kidd to fight as well and a soft smile appears on her lips.
«They'll be there if anything happens»
Kan growls a little by her side.
«Shall we fight, Smile?»
The creepy smile comes back.
«Let us bring fear back in the hearts of marines»
She makes a movement with her right hand and a dagger appears from the long sleeve. She flips it between her fingers and toddles to the marine ship. She wanted to go behind the group since Kidd and crew were taking care of the front. She jumps on the railing and then on the marine ship's deck.
«Come out, come out, wherever you are…»
It didn't took long. A marine came from the fog, sword in hand, and attacked her. She blocked with the dagger and poked a specific points on the marine' shoulder. The shoulder flopped, inanimated, to the marine's totally scared face.
«What's going on?!»
She didn't bother answering. She planted the dagger in his throat and pulled it out, letting the marine fall on his knees and then on the ground.
«Don't ever take your eyes away from your opponent. Haven't they taught this to marines before sending them out against pirates and bandits?»
Footsteps resound through the sound of battles and a marine officer appears. He didn't had anything special, at least for normal people. But Smile's expression turned frozen.
«It has been a while, singing doll»
A slight twitch deforms her expression and she gets serious, frowning.
«You…you are under that man's orders»
The marine looks a little bored.
«So, you remember. Good, but this won't change your situation. I was given orders. Orders to put an end to your life»
Smile grins.
«Oh? Is that so? I was expecting him to come personally, though. Did he chicken out? It would suit a wet bird like him, teehee»
The marine takes his sword out.
«I have no reason to answer you and won't get taunted by your little tricks. Singing doll, I will put an end to your life here and now»
Smile blinks a little and looks at Kan and Meimu.
«Kan, make sure no one does a dirty trick to me or the others. I want their guts and blood to color this very deck if they dare to try anything. Meimu, go up there and listen to everything. Please be my eyes and ears on this battlefield, once more»
Kan growls with a strange smirk.
«Yes, my lady»
Meimu shrieks and flies up in the air and Kan jumps away from Smile, starting her own mission as well. Smile's creepy smile gets quite wide.
«So, you are searching for a fight against a little doll? You better be prepared, marine, or this doll will execute you»
She makes a swift movement with her left arm and catches the dagger falling from the sleeve. She flips the two daggers, making the tip point away from her and the edge face her opponent. She lifts her right hand at the marine, the other hand staying lowered on the side.
«Bring it, marine. I am ready for you»
He steps forward, lifting his blade to strike at her head. She blocks the blade easily and tries to kick him, but he simply moves back. They exchange blows like this, Smile shifting from her left blade to the right one and trying to reach him as she could. She really needed some training at arm to arm combat. She was skilled with her devil fruit, but she had always fought with Kan and Meimu giving her a hand. As she was blocking a hit with her left blade, the marine let go of his sword with his right hand and swiftly grabbed her left shoulder. Fear appeared in Smile's eyes, making a smile appear on the marine's face.
«The game is over»
He squeezes her shoulder, pushing his fingers deep in the back of the shoulder. Smile screamed, feeling the scars' pain coming back to life. Her voice resounded through the marine ship and reached where Kidd and the others were.
That voice, wasn't it the girl's voice? Wire looks around, trying to find her. What was she doing on the marine ship?! He was the closest one…could he really go? No time to think, she was in trouble! Stabbing the marines around him, he jumps on board the marine ship and runs for Smile. She had fallen on her knees, her face completely destroyed by pain. She had even dropped the daggers she was holding. Where had the panther gone to? Wasn't it always around her? Wire spins his fork and aims for the marine officer, who simply ducks.
«And what do you think you are doing, pirate? This fight is none of your business»
Wire blinks.
«She is part of our crew now, so it is my business»
The marine seems to consider this information…then suddenly throws Smile at the railing. She hits her back, the pain clearly showing on her face once more. Wire could see some blood pearling at the edge of her lips. She was biting them to make the pain shift place. Was there something on her back before the marine hit her? He hears something shriek and spots the bat above his head. A huge roar resounds at the other side of the marine ship. The panther was coming. So was the marine officer. He blocked the marine's blade, not the least affected. If he could hold the marine just a little longer. He blocked every blow the marine tried to land on him, not even flinching, and saw a black form jump from the side. He stepped back, but the form wasn't aiming at him. I was the panther. It planted its claws in the marine's shoulders at started biting his sword arm, cutting every nerve that was letting him move the arm. The marine started screaming, but the panther didn't care. It bites off the arm and started pulling back its left paw, pulling on the other arm. It ripped it off. Wire was looking at this with his eyes slightly widening. What in the world was this?!
The marines were all falling under his metal arm. Even if he was a little drunk, Kidd had no problem beating the crap out of those fuckers. That's when his ears screeched a little. What was that damn screaming?! He sees Wire running off to the marine ship. Where the hell was he going? A little after, there is a huge roar resounding. There was only one thing that could make this sound. The panther following Smile around. Where the fuck did it go? Kidd glances over at the marine ship. Wire was fighting the marine officer…ah, no, now it was the panther. It looked mad. Wait, where did Smile go? He couldn't see her. Where the fuck did she go?! He sends some marines flying with a movement of his metal arm and walks in direction of the marine ship. He hears the marine officer scream in pain. Seems like the panther was having fun. He passes over to the other ship and spots the side. Quite a lot of fun. That was the second arm the panther was removing from the man. What got her this mad? He gets to Wire.
«Oy, Wire! Did you see…?»
Wire was kneeling next to Smile, who was sitting, some blood dropping from her lips and making sure her back wasn't touching anything. She seems to notice his presence and looks up at him. Her face, first painful, gets embarrassed and saddened and she looks down, wanting to stand up. He gets closer.
«What the hell do you think you're doing?»
«Standing up. I have to keep fighting»
«And how the fuck will you fight like that?»
She smiles.
«I'll find a way»
She was able to stand up straight, but Kidd could see her hands were slightly shaking, the left side particularly. What the hell was she thinking? She looks down behind him, making Kidd turn around. Was there a bloody red package there before? Oh, no, that's what's left of the marine officer. The panther was coming back to smile, some red blood falling on the side from the long fangs. It growls a little, but no voice resounds. Where was the bat? A little shriek resounds and the bat arrives, followed by Killer and Heat. So, the bat gathered the crew. With no more marines around, it was quiet.
Smile was finding this silent oppressive. She had failed. She had been taken off guard by a marine and was hurt. She was in a bad state in front of Kidd. Why? She had trained so hard, why was she unable to be strong? Meimu comes to land on her right shoulder. Smile glances at her a second, but that is all. Her back was still killing her with pain, but she wouldn't show it. Kidd walks closer to her.
«Oy, Smile!»
She smiles to him.
«What is it?»
He puts a single finger on her left shoulder. The pain gets worst and she fees her knees letting go. This was…too much…
Did she just lose consciousness?! Kidd caught her before she would fall to the ground. There was blood coming from her shoulder…following a line from the shoulder to her right hip. What that hell was that?!