Note of the author:

This story is the first I post so please let me know if things are a mess or if the writing isn't good.

English isn't my first language so sorry for the miss translation or the grammar.

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Some chapters can contain language warnings and such.

HI! I'M BACK!

I'm sorry to have abandoned this fanfic for a while, I lost the joy of writing it and was not satisfied with anything I was doing.

But, lately, I managed to find some inspiration and ideas I want to explore and share with you guys.

Thank you for following my little story, it makes me happy to see that people enjoy what I write and do.

I don't have anything planned for the next of this fanfic, I'll just go with the flow and see where it takes us!

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Thank you for following me and showing support! :)

The Informer

Eighteenth chapter

The Heart Pirates was an odd crew. First, their ship was a yellow submarine that had in the beginning two teenage boys, a bear, and a child. Then, as the four of them sailed the seas trying to escape and survive as best as they could, odd ones were added to their companionship. They were mostly alone, some dreamed to travel, some only wanted a job, some were looking for a family, some were looking for freedom and some had been found without looking for anything. The Heart Pirates were a big and diverse family that would always stick together no matter what. They were loyal to a fault.

They knew each other better than anyone, from one look they could tell when someone needed to be left alone or if they had a problem of some sort. The captain being a doctor also helped. The surgeon could be overbearing at times but everyone knew that was how he showed his love for them. He would do anything for the well-being of his family.

But sometimes things were hidden or secret occurred like in every family. People were kept in the dark for their good or simply because it was not something to share. Privacy was something important, especially for the surgeon. Living in a small area with almost 25 people on board with no access to the outside for a long moment could be a lot for some. A room had even been strictly made to help people to get a bit of quiet. Anyone could go for as much time as they needed, they only had to write on the notepad on the door to let the people in the known. The infirmary was open to all when no one was treated, it was peaceful and quiet. The surgeon welcomed anyone too, as a doctor he knew how to keep it professional, and as the captain, he was glad to know what was happening to his crew in the good and bad times, especially during bad times.

The surgeon was often the one keeping secrets. He rarely shared what was on his mind and had no one to go to if he needed to talk. Well, he knew that everyone in the crew would listen to him but he refused. As captain, he couldn't share his doubt and trouble with his crew. Over the years only Bepo had to listen to his captain share with him some thought of some sort, but it happened only twice in the many years they had sailed together.

That could be a problem if things got out of control. It never did or the crew never notice when it happened. The surgeon had taken a bad decision in the past due to his overwhelming thoughts even though he managed to have a good outcome, but it was just luck. With time he got better and became able to divide his worries and doubts from his duty as a captain and surgeon. For anyone in the crew, their captain was the only person they could count on in a crisis thanks to his calm composure.

Last week's event proved that. The Zo protocol had been put in place for a reason after all, the surgeon knew that the crew thought that he was the only reason they were able to survive and sail out there. The trust in the Heart Pirate was the only reason the surgeon was alive. He recruited them because they were skilled people in ways the surgeon would never. The crew was the only reason the surgeon was sleeping correctly and eating, the only reason why he was stronger and able to use his devil fruit correctly. Without his crew, the surgeon of death would probably be dead by now.

It took the surgeon time to adjust and became the captain his crew deserved. He never showed it to them, especially in the beginning, how he was unsure of his decision or how he blame himself for everything going wrong. But he got better and was now the man he was today. For his crew, for his family. He had to, failing them or showing them doubt was not an option. They counted on him and put blind faith in his strength and capacity.

However, since Kate came on board, the crew has witnessed moments of doubt and stress. It was quick and never lasting but it showed that the surgeon wasn't always in control of what was happening. It wasn't a bad thing per se, but it made them remember that their captain was only human and didn't have a solution for everything.

It took the surgeon two whole days of sleep and a long hot shower to finally came out of his quarter and meet with his crew. He arrived in the galley during breakfast, Bepo had seen him first and ran to him, suffocating him into a hug. The surgeon only smile a bit before being led by other crew members to sit down with them and eat while telling them what happened. Kate hadn't shared a lot with them after all and looked as tired as their captain.

When Jean Bart had brought Kate to her bed two days ago he took it upon himself to go check on her the day after when no one saw her. She was still fast asleep. He did the same thing the day after that, a little surprised to see her wrapped into her blanket wide awake with a book. She still looked tired but reassured him that she was okay.

Kate wasn't there when the surgeon came into the galley, he didn't find it strange as she was kind of living at her rhythm in the morning. He expected her to come by later for a cup of coffee but she didn't appear. He didn't dare to ask where she was as he supposed she was either sleeping or working. Either way, the captain of the Heart Pirate had a submarine to run and a long dive to plan. Crossing Red Line for the New World was always dangerous if unprepared.

So, the surgeon gathered his crew and ordered everyone to make sure everything was up and running, and that the inventory was checked and storage full as they will not stop before the NewWolrd. The surgeon let them work as he went to do the infirmary inventory as it was high time to restock most of the things in there.

Why coming to this particular Island was asked soon after the surgeon stop speaking. His only reply was for medical supplies as the last island lacked a product he needed. Curious looks were exchanged between the member of the crew but no one said anything and got to work.

The inventory was done an hour later as the surgeon went out. Being anchored at the same island with time to kill, the Heart Pirate had restoked most of the items they needed before.

Kate emerged from her slumber a little bit after the departure from the Island, the rocking movement the submarine made as it sailed away. Machinally Kate grabbed a warmer pullover that she stole from someone in the laundry room and made her way to the galley. Whoever the pull belonged to never let himself none, so it was now hers despite the sight of the yellow Jolly Roger in the front. She would try the grey pull black once out of here.

Kate liked the submarine, it was a nice place to live if you didn't care for metals and cold places.

What she missed about sailing was the hot ray of sunshine hitting her skin as she tied some sails or work on deck as she let the currents guide her around. She loved how the wind would make the hit comfortable or blow some papers away if she was not careful to put paperweights on them. She enjoyed the smell of iod and salt in the air and the sound of seagulls when she was coming closer from land. She didn't like the mark the log pose made on her wrist though but the magnetic sound it made each time the middle would move was so unique and so different from the one the submarine made.

The submarine was nice, however, Kate was often cold in the morning and late at the night. Her long sleeves t-shirt or blouse was not warm enough and walking around with a blanket around herself was not practical. The only thing Kate enjoys about the submarine and would miss is the soft and immaculate floor. On her deck, she was obliged to wear shoes to not hurt herself and step on a piece of wood sticking out. Here, Kate could walk barefoot without a problem, she enjoyed it even more once she knew the surgeon wasn't okay with it.

They argued about it, nicely, but they argued. In the end, Kate was only allowed to walk without shoes if they were submerged. But today Kate didn't care, she didn't have it in her to put her boots on despite the cold making it hard to step out of her room. The smell of eggs and rice came to her the moment she stepped into the galley, her stomach growling at the smell. She settled down slowly after putting something together and serving herself a mug of coffee, Kate got the habit to serve herself and use the kitchen as if she was living there. The fact she was always cleaning after herself and using the leftover in the fridge made it okay for the cook and the surgeon for her to do as she pleased, especially when she was cooking something good and leaving a plate for either of them.

Kate stayed sat at her table completely lost in her thought. A lot had happened in the few days that had passed, she didn't even know where she had to start to figure everything out in time before reaching the New World prepared. The threat of Blackbeard was going stronger as a few of his high lieutenants had been seen roaming around near RedHead territories and attacking pirate crews. The rumor of Eustass Kid being one of their victims was spreading like gunpowder. Knowing a little about the man, Kate thought that it was just it, a simple rumor made to scare people away.

But what was scaring people was the marine and world government inaction toward the Emperor. Some whispers had arrived in Kate's ears about a possible "agreement" that might have been made between the emperor and the government. Kate had a hard time believing it, resolving the Shichibukai status proved that the World Government and the Marines were done letting slide pirate activities under their nose and were ready to strike back. The arrest of many pirate crew during the last year had been exponential, even the small ones without a bounty had been arrested and put in prison. They would not let anyone escape. No matter who they were and what they have done.

Kate's bounty had finally reached the 1 billion berries for no reason, as many others had been higher at the same time. Kate had not been seen in action since Wano or caused trouble of any sort. What happened in West Blue was unknown, the Heart Pirate saw to that. Unless...For some time now Kate had this weird theory that the marine was secretly following every high-risk pirate and crew. It seemed impossible, even for the marine to have that kind of resources and people to keep an eye on everything and everyone. Yet, if she could do it, why the marine wouldn't?

The marine problem of wanting her dead was causing her trouble. She would have to be even more on her guard, not that she wasn't before. Knowing that people were not out to kill you on sight was a little bonus she liked to have in her cards. It wouldn't change much as a lot of other people wish her death. It bothered her more for the safety of the Heart Pirate. They were also highly ranked in the list of people the marine wanted out of order as soon as possible. The surgeon is mostly the reason why with a devil fruit as powerful as his own. The marine would do everything to have it under its control. Maybe killing Law was not their priority then? Losing Law would mean losing the fruit with a chance of finding it again even less likely that to caught by the surgeon. If Kate was trying to get control of the fruit, she would oblige Law to use it for her with some leverage of any kind. Threatening his crew perhaps?

Whereas, the search for One Piece had never been more closed to an end than now. With the road pone glyphs being discovered people were in a hurry. The Strawhats, leader of the competition in Kate's mind, didn't seem to be in a rush as they kept stopping at every island possible for some fun and adventure. It was a miracle for Kate that the marine hadn't found them yet. Maybe they were too busy fighting and arresting others that attacking an Emperor like Luffy wasn't in their plan now. Or they were using him to find One Piece and killing two birds with one stone? From the beginning, Kate didn't understand why the marine wasn't trying to find the One Piece for themselves to either use it or destroy it. It was a good plan after all instead of chasing everyone around like a dog trying to catch his tail.

The Strawhat's behavior was funny to Kate as she knew how raging it was for the World Government to not be able to stop them. Luffy's affiliation with the Revolutionary Army made the Marines eat their hair once again. His making allies everywhere he went was a problem too. If the information of Strawhat Luffy being arrested and executed was being released, the marine would just collapse in an instant. Kate knew, for a reason that still eluded her sometimes, that every person Luffy had met would go and fight for him and his freedom. She would cause trouble for the man if it happened, no matter how he could piss her off her now and then. She would go and try to save him for Ace but for herself too. Losing Luffy would be a shame for the world.

Yet, something wasn't right in all of this. The possible closeness of the Government and Blackbeard was unsettling, rumor always came from somewhere. Moreover, One Piece almost being discovered and not troubling the World Government was something Kate didn't like. For as long as she could remember they had always tried to stop anyone from talking about finding it and becoming King of Pirates. The simple hope of it happening one day was the worst nightmare of every high figure of the institution. The last four years were a pretty good example if you asked her.

Kate needed to find what was going on and fast. Marco was trying to help her in her search, being more powerful and feared by the marine, he was less trouble to do some digging and going in the New World than she was. It was difficult to know what was true or what wasn't. The revolutionaries were quite busy at the moment and the line she had with them was cut for a while now. Kate hoped everything was alright for them and Sabo too. He might be a dick to her, she knew how important he was to Luffy and how he had been important to Ace.

In more important matter, Kate was getting impatient now. She was waiting for a specific call that should have arrived a month ago. Kate had finally admitted that she needed to step her game up and ask for help. Marco had been the one to suggest infiltrating the enemy's rank to dig for crucial information and intel on their whereabouts. Kate didn't trust the prosses, each spy should be ready to die to keep the situation unknown if they were caught. Marco had assured her that he would never send someone he didn't approve of. So, Kate had let him deal with it by giving place to send people in. The Blackbeard pirate had been infiltrated by three people: one in the Grand Line to report how he managed to recruit people, two in the New World. Even Kate and Marco didn't know where they were exactly as it was complicated to find information and contact others without bringing suspicions. So, now and then a call needed to be made. For a year now Kate had been reported back six times with much different information from the Island Blackbeard spend most of his time to where the sake they were drinking came from and how many times it was delivered.

At the same time, Marco had suggested someone infiltrate the marine. Kate had immediately turned him off saying that it would take years for someone to get a rank high enough to have access to useful information. The fact that she hadn't even thought about it had made Marco wonder if it was her selfishness that was driving her to go after Blackbeard and not the marine too.

"So Kate, can you help me in training?" The woman blinked at her coffee a few times as if she was just waking up before looking up. Brian was sitting in front of her waiting for some response to his question. The young boy had been sitting there when she came in, sorting spices and weighing them. Kate had been so focused on her thought that she had not seen him get up to come back from the kitchen with another round of food. If he was caught taking double ration he would regret it.

"Why?" Taking another sip in her mug Kate almost let out a little cry as she burnt the tip of her tongue.

"I should take as much advice and training as possible. It's better with different styles of fighting."

Kate watched him shovel the bowl of rice into his mouth. His young age and training were transforming him into a bottomless well always in need of food. Some had even started to give him some share of their meal which always made the teenager cheer in delight. His captain had given him an onigiri once and Kate almost thought that the young boy would have cried with joy while eating it. The gratefulness and respect Brian had for his captain would always amuse Kate a little. Bugging the surgeon about it had almost become her new favorite thing.

"You're not wrong." The more he knew and more diverse his style was, the more destabilize his opponent would be. Surprising your opponent and adapting were important. Kate knew he was fighting with a sword, she wasn't the best in that matter but she could teach him how to use a dagger and aim for vital points. Or even shot a gun. She didn't know what the other were teaching him but she could teach him a bit of her technic.

"Listen, ask Clione about it and see what he says since he is the one who trains you the most. Then, you'll have to ask your captain about it. I don't want any trouble."

"I'll ask him when he comes back!" The excitement the brat had was a bit exhausting so early in the morning. Her hand pinching the bridge of her nose happened alone as Brian started to tell her how it would be awesome if they could fight for real. She gave him all her attention when he mention his captain training him.

"He trains you too?" She asked surprised if she remembered Law told her he didn't have time for that. He must have changed his mind.

"I don't know if it's real training. He showed me how to take care of a wound and stuff. He taught me everything I needed to do in a battle in case of injuries if everyone else is busy. It was interesting, he even lend me a book."

"So, it's medical training."

"It was. But I think he wants to show me some moves with my sword. I don't know about it as he also talked about haki or something." He told her quickly before finishing his food in one go.

If Law wanted to test the kid in haki it meant that he must have sensed it somehow. Kate wasn't good at it, Ace had shown her how to manifest it and use it but she related to her dagger and skills fight more than anything else. She could hold her own against an enemy long enough to either incapacitate them or flee, but she needed to become better. So much better. Maybe the surgeon will agree on training her too but she doubted it.

Kate didn't wait for Brian to come back from cleaning his plate as she finished her coffee. She had worked to do and she needed to take care of it now. Kate made her way to the library a new cup of coffee in hand, knowing that she won't be going out of the room for a while.

Kate hadn't noticed the submarine making the white noise everyone was used to as it started to submerge. Later on, she heard the surgeon entering his quarter and leaving it again sometime later. Kate took a nap on the table, falling asleep after putting to place the last seen place some Blackbeard men had been. Blackbeard's location wasn't known, Kate had put question marks all over the maps with the possible ideas of what his plan was or next move could be.

Kate tortured herself for a day trying to come up with every possible way and eventuality. Each time she was thinking to have found a real lead, some new information or old ones kept in her notebook was making everything wrong and she had to start all over again.

After the second day ended, Kate couldn't handle being in the room anymore. The idea of a good meal and a cup of tea was more appealing that anything else, even a shower. So, leaving the room Kate made her way to the end of the hallway and made a left to take the staircase leading to the upper deck. She ran into a few crewmembers either smiling at her as a hello or nodding at her slightly. She was about to enter the galley when she heard a high-pitched voice call her name. When she turned around she wasn't surprised to see Brian, she could recognize his voice anywhere.

She watched him jog towards her holding a mop and a bucket filled with water and soap. He was always cleaning something these days. Kate admired how even after a few months he had never complained about doing the most disgusting chores of all. She had seen the state the crew was leaving the showers and toilet facilities and it wasn't needed to say that she was always making sure to use them right after being cleaned.

"I asked Clione and Captain, they're okay for you to train me!" He informed her with his big smile and shiny eyes.

"Seriously?" She asked a little bit surprised to not have heard the surgeon complain or even talked to her about it. Kate had been sure that she would have to argue to have the surgeon agree on this. She was kind of relieved, the both of them were getting along rather well for now, the idea of him getting on her nerves again was the last thing she needed right now.

"Of course! So, when do we start?!"

"I'm about to go grab a bite but...I'm free after that." Trustfully, Kate needed to release some rage, training would be more than welcomed.

"I'll have to finish cleaning the infirmary before. Captain told me it was urgent, something about someone vomiting." He looked down at the bucket in his hand a bit disgusted but it quickly fade as he told her that he would let her have the time to eat while he did his job. Brian jumped of joy when Kate told him to join her in an hour in the training room.

Kate entered the galley with an amused smile on her face. Brian was too joyful for being a crewmember of the Surgeon of Death. Thinking about it, most of the crew were kind and joyful people in general which contradicts the surgeon's appearance and personality. Speaking of the gloomy man, Kate noticed him sitting at one of the tables with a book and a cup of coffee in front of him.

Kate hadn't seen him since she had him to sleep. She knew that it would take a few healthy routines for him to go back to his usual sleep deprived and annoy looked. Kate went around finding some leftovers from last night's dinner while keeping an eye on the captain of the submarine. She eventually sat at the same table as him before to take the opportunity of his hyper-focus on his reading to take a good look at him.

His dark eyes were more pronounced than before, a sign that he was not having the sleep he desperately needed, and kept on staying awake at night. Kate wondered if he hadn't secretly started the study he wanted to the minute the little doctor got better. She had to stop him and force him to sleep once, twice would be a joke. How was he even paler than before, Kate didn't know but she guessed he was not feeding himself as he should. He also seemed thinner than before, but the only thing that was making her think that was his jawline being sharper than before. Maybe it's because he shaved neatly and got rid of this hideous bear that had grown.

Kate ate her meals slowly detailing each part of the man before her. The spotted hat he usually wore had not been found on his head or even around them, making Kate realize that he looked so out of character, almost sick.

"Miss Kate, if you don't stop right now I'll be obliged to take your eyes out of their orifice." The sweet monotone voice he used made her realize that he was joking even though the thought of it made a shiver run through her spin. Being dismembered once had been enough for her.

"How's your book?" She asked him. The surgeon looked up and tilted his head letting out a sigh, making his neck crack. He was looking ill. When he put his head back into his normal position she noticed how he hide a wince. The frown and his narrowed eyes gave him away.

"Good." He simply responded before looking back at his book. Kate saw him grab the coffee cup next to him and lift it to his lips. The annoyed look on his face when he came to the realization that it was empty almost made Kate smirk. She enjoyed seeing him being bothered by conmen things as if it was making him more human in a way.

She saw him get up and come back with a fresh new cup, Kate also saw him wince again after sitting back. This time a mocking smile on her face as she was finishing her meal. He glared at her quickly before finally drinking his hot coffee.

"Getting old already?" Kate asked amused. He gave her a death glare from above the cup before to start coughing, putting his hand on his mouth to keep the coffee in, swallowing it, and coughing loudly afterward. "It'll be sad for you to die like that doc." She smirked as he was still coughing. He finally managed to calm it down before taking another sip of coffee.

"I'm not in the mood." He told honestly passing a hand into his hair as Kate drop the smug on her face. He wasn't okay.

"I see that, you look like shit." He looked at her again with dead eyes before closing his book loudly.

"Let's say I had a rough morning." She saw him resting his head on his hands as he let himself show how tired he was. Was he dropping the mask? No, they've shown tiredness before.

"The famous surgeon of death and the great doctor wouldn't be developing some sort of virus by any chance?" He made a little noise of annoyance before closing his eyes. He heard Kate chuckle finding it almost ironic.

"I'm not...the last few weeks are just hitting hard right now."

"And you have Brian cleaning your mess. I guess being a captain can have its perk." The surgeon raised a brow before looking back at her. "I saw him with a mop, he told me he was cleaning the infirmary on your order...something about vomit or something." Kate saw him nod a bit as if he had just remembered the whole thing.

"He told you about the training arrangement I supposed."

"He did." She told gaining a curled lip for the surgeon. "We have training in a bit."

"Aren't you busy with whatever you are doing in my library?" He asked her. He would like to add that he could hear her groan in frustration sometimes.

"I need to focus on something else right now."

"I'll be glad if you didn't go too hard on him." Kate raised her brown in surprise. The point of her training him was to teach him a few moves and evaluate his skills during combat. Her going easy on him would do Brian no good.

"That's stupid." The surgeon frowned a bit.

Kate knew that her opinion didn't matter in the end. It was his crew member, Brian would be trained as his captain wanted. But Kate hadn't made a single comment to the surgeon on his young recruit. She didn't tell him that it was putting the crew in danger if they had to protect the kid in battle or endangering the kid who will mostly die. Yet, she was not about to let it slide this time, the kid needed proper training to give him the best chance possible.

"He needs to be able to defend himself on his own and be able to win. Letting him go on his own without...it would be like taking him to slaughter."

"I'm not going to put him in the situation he is not ready for." The surgeon replied a bit harshly. He knew how Kate liked Brian and even more to give her thoughts on matters that didn't involve her. However, they knew each other enough that she should know the surgeon would never put anyone of his crew in danger. "Moreover, I handle my crew as I see fit. You either help or not, I don't care. Don't start to talk about the way I do my job and how my crew does his." Kate might have felt frightened for a moment by his low tone and dark glare if he hadn't started coughing right after. She even gave him his coffee cup seeing that he was not able to stop himself.

"I was not telling you how to do your job. I was just expressing my point of view. Brian is young and almost inexperienced. He didn't leave the sub much and it's been a quiet few months with no marines to escape or other crew to fight. He doesn't know a thing about being a pirate. For all we know, he might think it's always peaceful and that he'll never have to fight for his life." Kate told a little concern for the young man as the surgeon regain his breathing. She saw him wince once more and close his eyes a moment as he listen to her.

"Careful here Kate, you sound as if you care." He replied with a little grin on his face despite the visible discomfort he was in. Kate's eyes widened a bit. Caring was a big word. Maybe she took a liking to the young man but caring was a bit much.

"I'm just tired of seeing young people die that is all." She confessed quietly.

"Of course." He was humoring her. No matter how blinded Kate was about her own emotion the surgeon knew that she cared about Brian. Maybe she even cared about the rest of his crew. She might even care for him and the Strawhats.

"If it isn't much trouble, report to Clione at the end of your training, I think he wants to talk to you."

After that, the surgeon opens his book again seeming more relaxed. The conversation was over and he showed her that he would like to return to the quiet moment he was having before she arrived. Kate frowned a bit before drinking her tea in silence. She started reading the book too out of boredom. From what she understood by reading upside down, the surgeon was reading something about lungs and cancer, maybe infections. Eventually, she finished her tea and before leaving to meet up with Brian, she put one hand on the surgeon's shoulder trying to get his intention.

"Go get some sleep before you drop dead somewhere."

"I wouldn't want to make you happy about that." He grinned.

"You need to get better soon, you look like a walking corpse and I need to talk with you."

"My, my, are you asking for some help?"

"I know you didn't go on this island for a medical reason. You are hiding something." She saw his face darken at her words.

"I don't step in your work so don't interfere in mine." He spat removing her hand from him violently. "You don't have to know everything that is happening around you and certainly not on my submarine. Keep in mind you can walk free because I let you Kate, having that taken away from you until we reach the Strawhat isn't something you want." Kate didn't move immediately, understanding that the threat wasn't just to have her back away. The surgeon would have her thrown in a cell if he decided that he has seen enough of her.

End chapter eighteenth.

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