[with the Whitebeards]
"Ace, are you absolutely positively certain that you two aren't related?" Thatch asked for the millionth time since the mysterious girl they met left for the city.
Ace was getting fed up with his best friend's interrogation, "Yes, Thatch. I am absolutely positive that I am not related to her!"
"Not related to who?"
Ace and Thatch spun around to make their arguments to the new arrival.
Thatch covered a struggling Ace's mouth, "I think he's related to the girl we met from the island," he grinned, "Haruta, they looked identical! Well... Maybe not the long hair."
Haruta tilted her head to the side, "Is that so?"
"Yup, just as stubborn too," Thatch grimaced as he thought back to the conversation with the girl, "She stood up to Marco."
Haruta's eyes widened before she grinned, "I'd like to meet this mysterious girl, where is she?"
Ace had somehow gotten out of Thatch's hold and knocked him to the ground, "She's getting supplies for us."
"Why aren't you two doing it?"
"Don't know really. She said we would get ourselves killed. Made it sound like something was out there." Ace shrugged.
"Yeah," Thatch agreed brushing the sand off his shoulder like he wasn't just punched into the ground. "Said she was the only person still alive on the island."
"That's odd," Haruta thought for a moment, chewing her thumb, "there were several reports from a neighboring island saying that about a year ago no one could get into contact with the island. They sent out search parties but none of them returned."
"Scary." Thatch muttered, he didn't really think it was scary himself, more like he was growing concerned for Marie.
[with Marie]
"Fuck." I quickly shot behind me, not slowing down. I heard the disgusting sound of brains splattering on buildings and pavement. I got one, but there were still about twenty more behind me, and I only had about fifteen minutes to the beach. I need to get rid of them before then.
I couldn't bring any back there. I can't put anyone else in danger. The zombies didn't typically come anywhere near the beach - unless they were following prey.
Another shot, another splatter.
I continued to shoot until I broke through the trees and onto the sand, I could here one last one, still in hot pursuit. Diving to the ground I twisted onto my back and shot. I missed, hitting it's chest. It jumped. One last shot.
The blood and organs splattered all over my body and the sand. It was gross, but better than becoming dinner.
Taking deep breaths, I got up and walked towards the approaching throng of pirates.
Thatch, Ace, and a boy with red hair came running. "I got what I could." I said, pushing the sack into Thatch's arms. "Oh, do you think I can add a shower onto out agreement?" They nodded. "Good." Grinning I turned to the newcomer. "Who're you?"
That was when Thatch and the red haired boy looked to Ace, "Definitely related." They muttered.
"What the hell is that?" Someone asked.
"That," points dramatically to the zombie, "is why I went instead of you guys." They all stared at it, silent, "It's a zombie, or, at least that's what I've been calling them."
They all looked at me like I had grown three heads, before bursting out in denials.
"Fine. Don't believe me if you don't want to, but-" I was unfortunately cut off by my stomach screaming for nutrients.
Thatch just laughed, "How'bout that home cooked meal I promised?" He turned around and gestured for me to follow, so I did. Ace and the red headed boy followed as well.
"By the way, I'm Haruta. Twelfth division commander." He greeted.
"B'couda D. Marie."
"Well, uh, Marie... You may want to take a shower before dinner." He looked rather awkward in saying that, which, was opposite of the vibe I got from him. He seemed like a normally bubbly and wild person.
I did need a shower though... I just nodded, too tired to say anything at the moment.
Since the ship was too large to be docked on the shore, there were row boats. Only one was left since the rest of the pirates had already left when we were talking. And thankfully someone put my stuff in the boat, otherwise I would have left it behind.
"Uh, Thatch?" Smiling sheepishly, I pointed to the bag with the supplies. "I put something of mine in there." He handed the bag to me. I hurriedly shuffled through the contents, pulling out the sports bra and quickly stuffing it into my own bag of supplies.
The trio laughed as my face got red. "The one I'm wearing is the only one I have! I need it!" They laughed harder.
It was a few moments later, when a rope ladder was dropped on my head, that I noticed we had arrived to the whale-like ship. Someone yelled an apology down the side, I assumed they were the one that dropped the ladder in the first place. The pirates in the rowboat were now howling at the hilarity of the situation as I scrambled up the side. I still don't know what was so funny.
Clambering over the edge I noticed just how large this crew was. I only saw about a hundred on the beach, and there was about twice that on the deck right then! And all of them were looking at me. Instincts kicking in, I slowly started reaching for the dagger tucked in my waistband.
"Hey, everyone!" Thatch shouted, slinging his arm around my shoulder, effectively stopping my instincts, but I couldn't repress my flinch at his contact. He didn't seem to notice. "This is Marie! She's a guest, so be nice!" A chorus of what sounded like approval followed the announcement.
Next thing I knew I was being whisked off by women, nurses - I think. I grabbed Thatch, so I wouldn't be alone with people I didn't know... Not that I knew Thatch either, but something about him made me trust him immediately... I must be getting soft.
We were in a room that was presumably the infirmary. "Thatch! Ace! Leave, now!"
"Um, I would..." Thatch raised his arm and surprisingly I felt mine rise with it. "But Marie kinda has a death grip on my wrist." I looked over at the offending appendage and sure enough my had was still wrapped around it in a white knuckled embrace.
Slowly, I got my hand to release itself, "Sorry," I turned to who I thought was the head nurse. "Can they stay? Please?"
The woman sighed, "Fine." She pointed to a door on the other side of the room, "Wash up in there and go out on a robe, after we check you over we'll get you some clothes."
I nodded, heading into the room. I quickly scrubbed the blood, grime, and organ bits off my skin and out of my hair. I put my undergarments back on, took one of the robes, and headed back out into the room.
"Okay, sit here." The nurse gestured to one of the med bay's many beds. I sat down on the edge while she pulled a chair around to face me. "My name is Debbie, I'm the head nurse in this ship. As long as you follow my rules in my infirmary, we'll get along just fine!" I could tell that her sweet smile hid a raging demon, so I just smiled and nodded back.
"B'couda D. Marie, nice to meet you."
"Okay, Marie. I need to do a physical examination. Can you take off the robe?" Debbie looked over my shoulder and made a spinning gesture with her finger. Ace had turned around so that his back was to me. Debbie, though, was making the gesture to a drooling Thatch.
I roundhouse kicked him into the wall, "Perv." Neither of the others in the room blinked. They were all thinking the same thing: he had it coming.
Debbie turned back to me, "Strip." I closed my eyes as I peeled the thin robe away from my body.
"Survival has its own stories." My voice replaced the silence that had taken over the room. "But some will always remain mysteries."
The rest of the check up passed quickly, the nurses gave me clothing - jeans and a tank, then dinner came. I was introduced to all the division commanders. There are sixteen freaking divisions... Sixteen! Though there were only fifteen commanders and the moment.
I was sitting between Ace and Thatch, both were talking to other commanders. One was trying to get them all to agree that I was Ace's twin, the other was talking about how I quite literally kicked a commander's perverted ass.
Most of the commanders were friendly enough and - with the exception of Namur who was ignoring me altogether - were trying to make conversation and engage me.
Haruta, and Izo were sitting across from me, we were making small talk when one of them decided to ask me about the strangely shaped scar on my neck.
"I really don't know," I shrugged, hoping they wouldn't see through the wool*, "I don't remember much from before I washed up on this island." Trying to change the subject I mentioned how good the food was... Which was apparently the right move because Thatch came to my rescue. He told me all sorts of things about cooking, the conversation was actually really interesting.
"Oh, by the way," Thatch swallowed the rest of the food in his mouth, "when was the last real meal you had?"
WHY DO PEOPLE ALWAYS CHOOSE THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE HARDEST TO ANSWER?!
"Well, thanks for the delicious food. But I don't want to intrude further, so I'll be on my way." Smooth, Marie. Smooth. "It was really nice to meet you all... Maybe I'll see you guys again." I stood up from my seat, "Thank you again for your hospitality."
This time it was Ace that slung his arm around my shoulders, "Nonsense! Hey, Marco, can Marie stay the night?"
"Pops already said she could, yoi."
"Whoot!" Ace started to drag me away, "Night guys!" We ran through corridor after corridor until finally we reached a room with two beds.
I was out before I hit the matress.
XX..o..XX
*see through the wool is an expression my family uses when someone is lying... It's another form of the saying "pulling the wool over someone's eyes"
And in the first part it refers to Haruta as a "she" in the next it refers to her as a "he" so, to clear confusion I'll explain. Haruta is a girl, Marie just doesn't realize that fact yet.
So, that was the second chapter! Thanks for reading it!