Shiana watched the waiter leave. "So let me get this straight Mariko. You convince us to go to some sketchy flea market only to have you abandon us almost the moment we get there, and then you show up at the end of the day, walking side by side with some guy. The type of guy, I might add, that can look any girl in the eye and make her heart feel as if it's going to explode. Then, just as I'm about to come over and meet this godly creation, you've said your goodbyes and he's left." She glared at Mariko. "And it never occurred to you that maybe your great single friend would like to meet him?"
Mariko frowned. "What part of, 'He'll leave you stranded in the middle of an unknown country in the middle of nowhere when he's done with you', don't you understand? Honestly, how is that a good idea?"
Shiana tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Because unlike some people, I've found this great establishment called a 'bank'. Maybe you haven't heard of it before. You know, you give them your money and they'll keep it safe so if you ever get robbed, you won't lose everything. So, as long as I kept my money in their hands, he wouldn't be able to take it. Therefore, I could spend a few months with a sexy guy and have something to get myself back on my feet." She sighed. "And what a wonderful few months they would have be."
"I don't really have any money, so I guess I would be fine too." Moku said shyly.
Mariko rolled her eyes. "You two are unbelievable."
Shiana shrugged. "Hey, it's who I am."
Mariko rubbed her temples and changed the subject. "So when are you two planning on leaving the island? I mean, it's a nice place and all but it'd get pretty boring after a while you know?"
Shiana leaned back in her chair. "Yeah, Moku and I were talking about that. I think we'll head off tomorrow, maybe the day after that. Moku wants to get moving as soon as possible, and I agree with her. The next island we're visiting is a favorite of mine."
Mariko groaned. "So basically, if my crew doesn't make landfall anytime soon, I'll be stuck here alone."
Shiana grinned. "Well, you could always give up your pirate ways and team up with me!"
"And you could leave with us and go on adventures!" Moku added.
Mariko sighed. "I'm really tempted guys, really I am. It's just…I don't know. There's something about that crew that just interests me. They're going to be a powerful force someday and I just feel like I should be with them when it happens."
"That's her way of saying she has a crush on her captain and she doesn't want to leave him." Shiana informed Moku.
Mariko blushed. "I do not! Besides, I left my cat on board and I can't just leave her there!" She stammered.
Shiana rolled her eyes. "Right, well whatever."
"So," Moku said softly. "This is probably the last time we'll be able to do this. Enjoy a nice meal together."
Mariko put a supporting hand on her friend's shoulder. "Well you know. It's a crazy ocean. You never know what's going to happen."
Shiana looked wistfully out the window. "You can say that again."
-"~"-
"You guys are my best friends, you know that?" Moku slurred, grinning like a fool. She slumped forward and Mariko had to quickly adjust her grip on her friend to keep her from falling forward and face planting into the road.
"Why didn't you stop her from drinking so much?" Mariko asked accusingly at Shiana.
Shiana snorted. "How was I supposed to know she wouldn't be able to hold her liquor?"
"I feel fine guys. Honest! Come on, let's do something crazy! It'll be fun!" Moku giggled madly.
Shiana looked at Mariko hopefully.
"No." Mariko snapped answering the question in her eyes.
Shiana pouted. "Spoil sport. You never let me have any fun."
Moku stopped moving, her legs shaking. "I don't…feel so good…" she moaned.
"Shit Moku! Don't puke on the road!" Mariko moved her off the sidewalk towards the grass and helped her down. She groaned. "It's going to take us forever to get her back to the estate!"
Shiana laughed madly. "Well, at least it's going to be a memorable time!"
Mariko scowled. "You're no help."
Shiana grinned. "Come on Mariko, you've just got to lighten up a bit! There's a world of possibilities out there and you're just not seeing it!"
"Oh I see it. It just doesn't appeal to me."
Shiana frowned. "What a boring life you live."
Mariko snorted. "You're acting like my captain, but he's a little more laid back. He just does whatever he wants, and no one stops him."
"Wouldn't hurt you to try and act a little bit like that."
"Trust me, that crew doesn't need anyone else like that. When they go drinking, the ship is pretty much abandoned." She thought for a moment. "Well, Jean Bart is still awake, and Bepo isn't such a heavy drinker, and there are a few others but there are enough people that it just slows down everything."
"And what about your captain, how's he after a night of drinking?"
"Law? He just sleeps it off. He'll go into his room and we won't see him for over a day. At least he's not like some of the others who just get under foot."
"I love you guys." Moku groaned from the ground.
Shiana snorted. "We love you too Moku. Do you think you can stand?"
Moku blinked sluggishly in response.
Mariko sighed. "Right, hang on a moment. Shiana you grab her by her right side and I'll get her left. At this rate we might as well drag her all the way back."
Shiana skipped over and smiled sweetly at Moku. "Enjoy the feeling right now while it lasts. Tomorrow, you're going to wake up with the shittiest hangover ever. And," she broadened her smile, "I'm still going to be waking you up early tomorrow so we can catch our ship out of here!"
Mariko chuckled. "You're just evil."
Shiana smirked. "I do what I can."
-"~"-
Mariko awoke with a start. After they'd gotten in and they'd all said their goodbyes, she'd made a quick call to Law and then fallen asleep almost as soon as her head touched the pillow.
Her Den Den Mushi seemed to be screaming at her to answer the call.
She groaned, who the Hell was calling? Using as much willpower as she could manage, she flopped out from under her soft, warm sheets and grabbed the receiver.
"Hullo?" She murmured.
"Mariko!" A female voice sang.
It took her a moment to identify the voice as Shiana's.
"Moku and I were just about to leave and I thought I'd give you a quick call and say goodbye!"
Mariko groaned. "You just called to wake me up didn't you?"
"Of course!"
"…Fuck you…Just…Fuck you."
Mad giggling burst out from the other end. "Do you want to say goodbye to Moku too?"
Mariko rubbed her eyes sleepily. "Sure, you'll just wake me up again if I hang up now."
"Jeez you're so grumpy! Hang on a moment."
Mariko heard the receiver being passed along.
"Please, just kill me now." Moku whined at her.
The corners of her mouth twitched. "Hang in there Moku. Shiana's just on her second wind. She'll crash and burn after you guys get on your boat."
"God, couldn't it come earlier? My head is killing me and I feel dreadful." Moku sighed.
"Alright Mariko, we'll let you go back to sleep now! It's been fun!" Shiana sang.
"Hey Shiana?" Mariko asked.
"Yeah?"
"See you later."
"Yeah, I'll meet up with you again really soon. Right when you least expect it."
Mariko smiled. "I'll look forward to it."
She heard the dial click and the Den Den Mushi went back to his own deep sleep. She lay there for a moment, still holding the receiver.
"Bye guys," she said softly, then rolled over and fell back to sleep.
-"~"-
Mariko stared at the ceiling. She'd been staring at it for over an hour. Her friends were gone. The party was over, what was she going to do now?
She sighed and rolled out of bed. She knew what she had to do.
-"~"-
The cool sea air relaxed her as she boarded the ship. The Hearts' hadn't contacted her yet, but she was leaving the island as quickly as she could. When Law called, she'd go back, but until then why not go on a little adventure of her own?
She sat down and dumped her bag on the ground. It was going to be a long trip to the next island.
"Hey, is this seat taken?"A voice asked.
Mariko looked up and was startled to see Anthony grinning down at her.
"Going on an adventure?" He asked.
She smiled. "Yeah, I guess you could call it that."
-"~"-
So guys, this is the sudden end to "Cursed". This is the last chapter I'm uploading for this series. I've kept this story going for almost 2 years now and it hurts to suddenly stop like this. But I just don't like where the story is going, so I'm starting over.
I'm planning on writing another story with Mariko, Law and the Heart Pirates. I'm planning on keeping the same cast of characters, so you can be sure that in the new story you'll see Anthony, Keiko, Tetsuo, Zeke, Bishamon, Arasoi and a bunch of other characters that haven't been introduced in "Cursed".
Writing this story was fun. I'd like to thank every one of you who has made it this far (and maybe ready to strangle me for this unforeseen notification). I'd like to thank all of the reviewers who wrote long and meaningful reviews that made me smile and make my day that much better.
I'd like to extend a special thanks to Arrowashi, Gothikeira and SniperKingSogeking0341, your reviews were the best to read and I loved messaging you guys.
The new story will be put up the first week of October 2012 titled "The Thief, the Citizen and the Recruit".
I sincerely hope you've enjoyed the story thus far and will join me as we step into this new story.
With my fondest regards,
MangaPirate
