You like it? I'm trying to keep it short, though now that I think about it my G.I. Joe story was short in my opinion and that was 44 chapters...

Chapter Ten: Laki, Friend or Foe

Avery put her head down. What should she do? This man that was behind her was her enemy and she could easily take him down. But then there was Wyper. He was in front of her and would see her every move. Should she save herself and show him the disgusting person she'd become? Or just let him think she was weak? Forever needing his protection.

But was that what she wanted? To continue to be his wingless little bird? Yes, she did. But that wasn't who she was anymore. She couldn't be that girl anymore. She'd come to accept that with her talk with Nami. When Nami learned who she used to be she didn't care, when Nami knew she was strong she didn't care. So Avery was going to chance it with Wyper. If he didn't accept her now, she'd still have a chance to return with her nakama.

"Ow!" Avery falsely cried. She was no drama queen or an expert liar or anything, but she could be convincing at times. "Please, stop it hurts." She whimpered. Her eyes were emotionless. Another reason she grew her hair out. Her eyes always betrayed her true emotions. She reached up to her shoulder with her free right arm. Wyper was shaking with anger. The quivering that she saw could be nothing but that emotion. Her fingers hit several places on her metal shoulder and she felt some pressure. The soft hiss of air could only be heard by her because of the maniac's laugh behind her.

The feelings from the arm were gone. She'd put it back latter, after Wyper saw her. After the asshole behind her was down. "Why little girl, I'm sorry. Should I do this?" He pulled at the arm and kicked her away. He flew back, not expecting the arm to pull free so easily. Wyper yelled on protest but a second later she was dashing for Kero. Her left shoulder hit the him and she pushed until they rammed into a large tree. His torso was cut up along with Avery's sleeve. The blood spots were obviously not from her. If it had been the entire sleeve would be covered.

She stomped hard on the mans chest and her spiked shoes cut him up. Then with a swift kick to the mans head he was knocked out. Avery looked at Wyper for a second before looking away. She was scared. Wyper reached her and he set a hand on each of her shoulders. Her left shoulder felt different. More bumpy like. Moving his hand down he could feel that where the open wound should have been there were sharp pieces and something else.

He gripped the sleeve and pulled. It offered little resistance before tearing off. Her shoulder was made of metal. He touched several parts. It couldn't be. How had this happened? Why had this happened. He took a step back from her. He didn't know what to think or feel so he was numb. That's why her tattoo was gone. The arm no longer existed. She reached down and gabbed something from the ground. Her arm. Wyper felt slightly sick thinking about it. But then he remembered it was metal, not a real arm.

She had trouble opening her bag but she managed it, she'd been doing it long enough. She laid the broken arm on the ground and put her foot on it then pulled. There was a pop and the arm was back in the right position. She bent it at the elbow and shoved it in the bag before shouldering the bag.

It was when she started to head for the broken waver that he snapped back into reality. "Come on." Called his gruff voice. She turned her head slightly to indicate she was listening. "We're retreating for the night. Let's go." She looked at the waver and sighed. She was in no position to argue right now so she did as bade. She reached his side and he took her bag. It was heavy. Heavier than his metal bazooka. He looked at her arm and he realized that she'd, and he had no idea how but, she'd tied the end of the ripped sleeve making the metal not able to be seen.

He looked away. Thought's consumed him. Avery watched him. Her bangs hid her eyes so that no one could see them not him not the enemy not an ally. She was hidden from everyone, just like she wanted. Her face was the mask of calm but her eyes were brimmed with tears she wouldn't shed. Her bangs were her safe place. She could hide behind them and no one would notice her, she'd be just another freak among the throngs of them.

"Kiri!" She called when she caught sight of Kamakiri and Laki. It was her nickname for him when she'd been around him and Wyper. There was a glare on Laki's face but her eyes told Avery what had happened. Kamakiri's injuries were Laki's fault. Or that's how Laki felt. Kamakiri's eyes held no such thing but he was tired.

"Avery." His voice held the same tiredness as his eyes.

"We're calling the retreat." Wyper announced. He passed Avery her bag back and went to help his friend. Avery shouldered the bag. She'd leave soon. She never planned on returning with Wyper and now she had the chance. "Avery." He called and handed her his weapon. She had a feeling he knew her plans but she'd never steal his weapon of leave it somewhere because then he'd be weaponless. It was when they made it to the white sea that she stopped.

Everyone was racing past her. "Hey." She said and a guy stopped. She didn't know him but she recognized him. She passed the weapon to him and turned to leave. But the man grabbed her. He grunted. For a small girl she was heavy. He passed the bazooka off to someone else and jumped off with her. "What are you doing?" She called out.

"He wouldn't want you left in there." Was the man's strained reply. She resigned herself to this fate and stayed rigid. As dead weight she'd weigh more and the man had enough weight already. When they reached land he set her down and she took the bazooka from the other man. A few woman cried when they realized their men had not returned. That their men had been the first few casualties that this battle had caused.

Avery wasn't able to bare hearing their cries so she headed off towards Wyper's tent. She could hear the voices yelling before she saw them. Laki was furious at Wyper. "How could you!" She screamed. "All for Avery! That girl should be dead to you by now. Hell she should be dead. You were supposed to call the retreat an hour ago! But you extended it for her." Laki cried out. It was like she'd felt all the pain of the missing and dead. "We lost too many people because of her! She left, you should have just let her go."

"Now?" He said in a solemn voice. "Or then? Laki what time are you talking about. When I just got the girl I loved back or when I'd just lost her?" His voice was eerily calm.

"Both times!" Laki called out. "When they said she'd died and sank into the white sea you should have let her go too. And when she obviously no longer likes you and left you should have let her go. She's probably screwing that crew of pirates and you know it." Wyper had nothing to say to that.

Avery tossed the bazooka at their feet and while Wyper just stared at it expressionlessly Laki looked in horror at Avery. She'd obviously heard the entire conversation. Her eyes soon locked onto Avery's arm. "She's right Wyper." Avery finally said. "When I died six years ago you should have given up. There was a good chance that I'd never make it back here. The first two tries of mine failed and it was only chance that I stumbled upon this crew and luck was the only reaason that we made it up here." Wyper still couldn't bring himself to look at her. "I nearly gave up on myself. But I always believed in you. But even though you didn't give up on me you obviously didn't believe in me."

She turned and walked off even though she had no where else to go. Wyper looked after her. He didn't understand her words but Laki must have. She scuffed and turned back to Wyper. "Come on, it's been six years and she's been with pirates. You can't honestly believe she's still pure."

Wyper blinked. Never once had he questioned that until Laki brought it up and even now he doubted his female friend. "I do." He finally said. "I believe it." He entered his tent efficiently ending the conversation.