DISCLAIMER: ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO EIICHIRO ODA

5 years later

The young boy took a deep breath before heaving himself up the window. He landed with a soft thud, years of training allowed him to remain unnoticed, the shuttering of the curtains were the only sign of his entry. He revised the map of the mansion he had painstakingly memorised the day before - 3 doors down the corridor, and Lord Meir's room on the left. He stood still and listened for any sign of servants trudging past, but the mansion remained silent in the night. With practiced motion, he moved down the hall.

Lord Meir's bedroom door opened with a soft creak, and the boy crept in soundlessly. The nobleman - no more than forty, slept soundlessly on the bed, his wife curled up at his side, a peaceful expression on her face. The kindest of all noblemen. Said all people. The boy took closer notice of the room, the decorations were simple, far less lavish than even the lowest nobles.

Behind his dark hood and mask, the boy looked at the couple sadly. What had these kindhearted nobles done to anger the Celestials? The familiar sense of guilt consumed him within every steps towards Lord Meir. But it was not his place to question those decisions, and this was not the first time he was about to dirty his hands.

With a shuddering breath, the boy wrapped his hand around the kind nobleman's neck.

And the sound of death echoed through the night.

"Oh, you're back, Dragon."

Monkey D. Dragon raised his head and was met with Kong's gaze. The corner of his mouth quirked up. "No need to state the obvious"

"How's life as a member of CP0? I heard you went on a mission." brushing aside Dragon's remark, the older man asked with a forced lightness. His eyes would travel to the heavy sack clutched in Dragon's hand before averted back elsewhere.

"Fine." Dragon shrugged, replaying the event last night in his mind. He doubted he could ever extinguish those images.

Kong looked at him sceptically before giving a forced grin. "See you later, then." with a last look on the sack, he trotted away.

Dragon sighed and continued moving down the glass-bordered hallway. The scenery beyond the glass borders was gorgeous, that he could not lie. Located on top of the Red Line, the Holy Land Mariejois was just like a jewel with all its glory and golden infrastructure - but with years of constant visit, it was more of a jewel built on top of countless deaths, lies and hatred.

As the main door came to sight, Dragon tightened the cloak around him whilst putting on his mask. The sack - now with blood seeping through its ragged cloth, banged into his knees every now and then, causing a bile to build up in his throat. He ignored it and strode forward.

The four guards located in front of the door gave him a tight nod, without any further question, they opened it and announced his arrival to whoever was inside the room. It was clear as day how they were trying to not look at Dragon's entire silhouette, his presence had been proven able to stir fear in even the strongest man, and it was no exception towards them.

Dragon, with his dark cloak sweeping behind him and his mask concealing almost the entirety of his face, stepped forward into the council hall.

Blood had successfully seeped through the cloth of the sack, thus leaving trails of blood behind. Dragon marvelled at how the shiny marble floors could be so easily tainted, but kept his thought for himself.

His black boot made no sound as he walked. The boy kept his chin up as he moved towards the far end of the room, ignoring that every eyes of the Celestial Dragons were fixated upon him.

After what seemed like years, he reached the far end of the room, where the round table was laid, and along the sides were seated the Gorosei - or rather the "Five Elder Stars". Dragon bowed. Funny, how the gesture which was supposed to represent respect meant nothing to him.

One of them broke the silence.

"I suppose the mission had gone well, 'Black Death'."

Dragon steeled his voice and stood as he answered. "Yes."

"Evidence?" Another one of them pointed at the sack he's carrying. Dragon nodded before reaching into the sack and showed them the severed head of Lord Meir. Murmurs arose among the Celestials, and from the corner of his eyes, he could see one of them doubled over and vomited onto the floor.

When the traumatised Celestial raised his head, Dragon felt a jolt of shame rising inside him. Donquixote Homing. As how Lord Meir was issued to be the kindest of all noblemen, Donquixote Homing was the only World Noble Dragon could tolerate - or even have sympathy towards. Dragon often looked at the older man and felt a pang of sadness and remorse, he could not understand how someone with a heart so pure and free of wickedness could be born into the line of monsters - of humans that lack every bit of humanity. He had seen how the man treated his slaves, how he cared for them when they fell sick, or how he provided refuge to those who were abused by their 'owners'. Donquixote Homing kept his eyes trained onto the boy, as if willing him to glance his way. For once, Dragon was grateful for his dark mask, he could not bare for the man to truly see him as the monster he was now.

One of the Gorosei interrupted his train of thoughts. "What's left in the sack?"

"Well, a human consists more than just a head." Dragon put the severed head down onto the floor, causing its rotten stench to intensify. "Needs to be travel-friendly, you see." He continued as he took out the Lord's severed limbs. "Ah, I seemed to have left his torso and his private part behind to burn in his fireplace." Dragon forced a twinge of amusement into his voice, even when he could feel his stomach tightened.

At that, the Gorosei paled, and Dragon could feel all the World Noble's eyes widened. Under his mask, Dragon smirked in delight, they wanted to create an obedient monster, and now they got one, let's see how they regret it.

"Any more instructions?" Dragon asked, still keeping the amusement in his voice.

"What about his wife?"

"In the same state as her husband, only that she is thrown into the bottom of the sea." Dragon answered flatly, giving them the impression of being bored. "Most probably had been eaten by the sea monsters by now."

"I see." One of the Gorosei spoke, his stiff posture betraying his calm voice. "Very good, you are dismissed then. Expect your payment in your room by tomorrow, the latest."

"Thank you, highness." Dragon bowed again. He held his breath when he came close to the remains of Lord Meir, afraid that his stomach will betray him. He had made a show of being bloodthirsty, inhuman and now, gracious - and the fatigue of it all was now hitting him like a tidal wave.

"Ah and, bring these with you. You may dispose them." Another one of them waved his hand towards the severed head and limbs.

Dragon nodded. He willed himself to stay calm and grabbed the head by its hair, as well as the limbs, and shoved them back into the now bloodied sack. He swallowed his disgust, and with another quick bow, turned around and stalked out the hall.

"Are you alright?"

Dragon wiped his mouth before turning around, only to find the concerned face of Donquixote Homing looking back at him. He sighed and rubbed his temples, it was always like this - almost after every mission. This was one of the lighter ones, there are times when he had to annihilate an entire family. No matter how he tried, he could never be prepared for every murder he would commit. It was an utter lie to be able to say that killing gets easier after the first time, if anything, it gets tougher.

"Disgusting, isn't it?" Dragon laughed. Literally laughed. He sometimes wonders how his behaviour could entirely contradict how he was feeling.

"..What?" The Celestial blinked in surprise and confusion.

"This. All this." Dragon raised his hand - now bloodied after getting rid of the severed head and limbs. Images of Lord Meir's severed head haunted his mind, not relenting even after how much he had willed himself to forget.

The older man was silent. Dragon laughed his humourless laugh. "It's okay, I'm disgusted at myself, too." He said before turning around.

Even the kindest had cursed me. Dragon sighed and walked through the hallway.

"You're not a monster"

Dragon stopped in his tracks and whipped his head around. He had expected hatred and fear directed towards him - even mockery and curses, but above all, not sympathy and compassion. He snorted. "Well, try and say that to Lord Meir."

Homing shrugged. "There's a saying that if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Dragon squinted his eyes at him.

The Celestial Dragon smiled. "You curse and hate your entire existence because of what you do, but that alone does not define who you are." Seeing Dragon's fazed expression, he continued. "You kill, that's what you do. But you also are a thousand of other and better things than that. For example, remember how you injured your hands trying to save Rocinante from the falling debris? You only recognised him as another 'World Noble' back then, but yet you saved him."

Dragon frowned. "It's only normal to save a 2 year old from danger."

"A 2 year old Celestial Dragon, one of the most, if not the most hated bloodline in the world, that is." Homing said pointedly. "Most people would gladly see a tragedy being suffered by the World Nobles, since we...you know how we are. Well, the point is, you have a good and selfless heart, Dragon."

"That does not justify anything." Dragon scratched his head.

"Well I guess to you it doesn't." The older man chuckled. "But you'll understand, someday."

Dragon couldn't help but smile, appreciating how a World Noble is actually trying to bring comfort to him. "Thanks, I guess." He rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand before turning his back around again. "I feel tired, see you later then, highness."

Donquixote Homing only laughed, obviously heard the teasing note on the younger man's words. "Make sure to pay Roci a visit later on today."

Dragon sighed dramatically. "I'm not feeling to pay a visit, especially since Doffy is still and will forever be a jerk."

The Celestial Dragon crossed his arms and shook his head, putting a show of being serious, though his smile was betraying him. "You shouldn't say such things, that kid is still my son."

Dragon laughed, this time - a real laugh, which felt like a breath of fresh air. He stopped and considered before telling this kind World Noble the truth. "Lord Meir's wife, I didn't kill her."

The older man's brows shot up, and his eyes widened.

Dragon just gave him another grateful smile and walked away. He didn't want to see how that fact could make him any less of a murderer - of a monster. He didn't want Donquixote Homing to try and convince him he was not responsible of the guilt and sin set upon his shoulders.

He was a murderer.

And that's all there was to him.

THAT'S ALL! I'M SORRYYYY I've been on such a long hiatus..but now I'm finally on my summer break :D

Poor Dragon, it's clear in the Manga that CP0 is a very secretive organization, so I figured that killing a nobleman is a mission to be kept in secret, and would be fatal if the information leaks out, which is why I made it as Dragon's mission (as can be seen in the first scene).

THANKS FOR READING! Don't be shy! Please review on what needs to be improved :)