Chapter 15
-Someone is starting to get a little action. – Law commented as he handed the birth control pills to Alexis.
-What? You wanted to have a part in it? – She mocked playfully.
-I don't like sharing. – His tone was cold but there was a hint of joke behind it.
-My, my. You're a possessive fellow. – She chuckled and headed towards the exit.
-A lot more than you might think. – He sighed and looked at the red haired woman. – I'm leaving this island.
-Really? – She turned to face him, suddenly intrigued.
-Yes. I've been thinking about it a lot and I've come to the conclusion I can't just stay in one place. It's too tedious. – He leaned against the white wall of the clinic. – I'm going to become a pirate.
-I wish you the best of luck then. – She smiled at him.
-I'll be the strongest one in the world. – His expression was of pure confidence and that amused Alexis so much but she knew very well Law wasn't the kind of person to take things light-heartedly. She nodded in agreement before turning her back towards him and heading out of the clinic.
-Until we meet again someday Trafalgar Law. – She raised her hand in the air, waving goodbye at him. Even while not looking at him she could feel his smirk and his gaze never leaving her until she went out of his line of sight.
Alexis rushed towards the town's exit, meeting up with the wide smiling pirates.
-Finally! – Joshua complained before beginning to walk ahead of everyone.
-Sorry for the wait guys. – She breathed in deeply and gave them her widest smile. – I'm ready to go!
-It's a shame we didn't go to the hot springs. – Yasopp commented.
-I'm not willing to put my crew at risk in this town just because of some hot springs. – Shanks stated, and began to command the crew towards their ship that was about 20 minutes away from the village. – Everybody grab onto each other's cloaks! You don't want to get lost like it happened before. – He eyed Benn and Alexis, receiving deadly glares from both of them. He laughed in amusement. – If the blizzard gets too wild we'll try to find shelter as quickly as we can and wait for it to calm down.
With that, the Red Hair Pirates set course to their ship. Although cheerful and joking around they were at full alert in case the Seppen Bandits decided to attack once again. Alexis and Benn definitely didn't want to encounter them once again and Shanks wasn't willing to risk his crew member's lives just for two bandits.
The crew walked for 10 minutes but decided to stop since the blizzard was picking up its strength. They found a cave so decided to stop there for the time being.
As time passed by, their cheerful conversation began to die out until a cloaked man entered the cave, attracted by the noise. Alexis instantly recognized him as Portgas D. Ace because of his signature hat, the messy black hair and the freckles that bathed his cheeks. While Alexis relaxed her figure, Shanks was slightly tensed up at his presence because he was unaware of whom he was. The red haired captain took hold of his sabre. The Red Hair Pirates followed their captain's tense poise, ready for any future attack.
-Who are you? – Shanks asked coldly.
-I'm Ace, captain of the Spade Pirates. – The freckled boy answered somewhat nervous by being in a Yonkou's presence but he did his best not to show it. – I came to say hello.
-Spade Pirates? – Shanks pulled his sabre, still on its hilt, and raised it next to him. Alexis swiftly placed her own cold hand on her captain's knee trying to let him know he wasn't a threat. – The infamous super rookie came to say hello to me?
-It's not what you're thinking. – Ace waved his hands in front of him in a defensive manner, trying to calm down Shanks' uneasiness. – My brother was always talking about you as his life saver so I came to say thank you. – His poise relaxed when he saw the hint of a smile on Shanks lips.
-You're Luffy's brother? – The red haired captain's face lit up quickly, his previous attacking poise disappearing completely. Alexis sighed in relief. – I didn't know he had a brother! – Ace seemed somewhat surprised by Shanks' sudden change of heart towards him. – Great, I'm glad to meet you! Tell me all about yourself! – Shanks invited him to sit down with the Red Hair Pirates before turning to his crew. – Let's have a banquet!
-YEAH! – The pirates responded and quickly rushed to get some of the supplies they were carrying out and preparing a feast for Ace and his crew.
Alexis quickly went to get some wood to prepare a small fire and quickly lit it up in front of Ace's eyes. His stare didn't leave her until she was sitting next to Shanks once again. He found somewhat interesting a woman like her was part of the Red Hair Pirates: she looked so frail and weak it was almost impossible for her to be part of the crew but then again, she could be hiding some really nice tricks up her sleeve.
The cave echoed happy cheers and conversations as the time went by. Ace informed Shanks of everything he knew about Luffy, cheering the red haired captain even further when he mentioned Luffy's dream.
-So he's still talking about becoming the King of the Pirates? – Shanks questioned with a smile constantly present on his face.
-I guess that's his favourite phrase. – Ace answered before taking a sip on his sake. – I feel sorry for him... Because I'm the one who'll become the next King.
-Yeah? You think? – Shanks felt intrigued by Ace's determination.
-First, I'll let the whole world know the power I have.
-Oh... and how will you do that?
As the scene before Alexis' eyes unfolded she could just imagine an epic soundtrack to comply with this event and that a wide smile appear on her lips.
-By beating the strongest man in this world. – Ace's image was showing pure determination and resolution as he admitted his plan to become the best to Shanks.
-You mean Whitebeard?
The only answered the captain received was a confident smirk from Portgas D. Ace. Alexis chuckled lightly at his confidence as she recalled the moments in the anime where Ace attacked Whitebeard in an attempt to defeat him but ended up joining the crew. Ace's gaze quickly returned to her feeling somewhat insulted by her chuckle.
-You don't believe me do you? – Ace questioned her.
She looked at the raven haired man before her, innocently and, looking at her side she noticed Shanks' stare: he was surprised by her reaction.
-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound like I was mocking you. – She quickly explained. – I laughed because the amount of determination you have is outstanding and that is enjoyable to me. – It was a bit of a lie, she knew well, but it was better to keep that half lie up for her own well-being. She didn't want to be burned down although she doubted Ace would do that out of simple mockery.
The raven haired boy's poise relaxed as he took another sip at her sake.
-Who are you? – He questioned at Alexis. – I wasn't aware a Yonkou had a woman in his crew...
-Are you depreciative towards women? – She questioned raising an eyebrow.
-No, it's not what I meant. – He quickly rushed to explain and Alexis chuckled.
-I know, I know. I'm joking around. – A smile returned to her lips. – I'm Alexis.
-Just that?
-Yeah. – She looked at Shanks somewhat confused. – I don't believe I have a specific role in the crew. I can do about anything they ask me to.
-She's the singer! – Yasopp rushed to answer, patting Alexis' back.
-Singer? – Ace seemed a bit confused.
-Yeah, the singer! – Shanks continued with the conversation. – Every crew needs a singer and we found ours.
-I'd like to hear. – A devious smirk took over Ace's features and that amused Alexis.
-C'mon Alexis. – Roo cheered on, picking her off the ground, making her stand.
-You basically want to show me off. – She placed a hand on her forehead and sighed. – I'm not some mannequin to be show at a showcase.
-But you are someone that needs to be known. – Shanks commented in a lower tone, earning a smile from the red haired woman.
-Fine. – She chuckled. – I'll begin and to whomever I taught this song can join in.
-AYE! – The Red Hair Pirates cheered and waited for her to begin the all so famous song: "A Pirate's Life For Me".
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Quickly, nearly half the crew began to sing along with her, raising their mugs in the air and dancing around.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We exort and pilfer, we filch and sack
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Maraud and embezzle and even highjack
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Alexis couldn't help but the large smile that appeared on her face and the casual laughter in the middle of the song. Ace couldn't help but clap at the cheerful song. Even Shanks joined in on the fun, taking Alexis hand and dancing around at the sound of the song.
The cold and lonely island was now washed over by loud cheers and songs to light up the place.
And that disgusted Midori a lot.
She was standing outside of the cave, listening to the cheerful pirates.
She wanted her revenge.
She wanted to avenge Karasu's poor state. He was in agony because of those pirates and she would avenge him no matter what.
She casually stepped in the cave and suddenly any kind of cheer that was enacting from the pirates' throats ceased.
The atmosphere became heavy at the sudden presence of the green haired woman.
Alexis took a step forward, preparing to speak but Shanks raised his arm in from of her, stopping her on her feet.
-Having some kind of trouble, miss? – As much as Shanks wanted to sound warm and inviting, his tone was cold and distant.
-Yes, actually there is. – She began and took a step forward, kicking a plate with a chunk of meat on it. Ace twitched on his seat before standing back up and facing the woman. She eyed him from top to bottom before returning her gaze towards Alexis and Shanks. – I want you out of this island now or I will kill you right here right now.
-We'll gladly leave if that's what you want. – Shanks wasn't willing to get into another fight and get his crew injured once again.
-Actually… - She raised a hand in the air, creating ice spikes around her. – I'll just kill you now.
With that she commanded the spikes forward in order to attack the crew but it only hit a fire wall, melting away the ice.
It was Ace.
Alexis lowered Shanks warming hand and walked towards Midori.
-You're not going to kill us. – She started and rested her hand on the hilt of her katana. – We'll just leave now and you'll forget about ever meeting us, okay?
-You nearly killed Karasu! – Midori growled.
-And the village we were at has a brilliant doctor. – Alexis stated, never leaving her alerted poise. That woman was really unstable. – I bet he will be willing to take care of Karasu. He enjoys taking care of lethal wounds.
-I'll kill you all! – Midori began to shout at them, her eyes swelling up with tears. She was emotionally weak when she wasn't with the raven haired boy.
-Out! – Alexis stated once again and, unconsciously, awakening her Haoshoku haki, exercising a huge amount of pressure around her, causing Midori and the other pirates to flinch. Like a frightened child, Midori walked away from the cave in a rushed manner. With that Alexis took a deep breath before turning at the stunned pirates with a wide smile. She was somewhat confused when she took in their expressions. – What?
-That was awesome… - Ace finally spoke, amazed by the woman's strength. He finally knew one of the reasons she was with the Red Hair Pirates.
-What was? – She was seriously confused right now.
-You honestly don't know what you did? – Shanks seemed amazed by the oblivious stare she was giving him and that made him chuckled. He rested his hand on top of her head and messed with her scarlet hair. – I'll explain to you when we return to the ship.
A/N:
15th chapter! :D I amaze myself sometimes XD I never thought I would write so much!
Anyways: yes Ace takes an appearance on this chapter. I wanted to put him in the story, even if it was just a small appearance and now I feel complete! :3 why did Oda-sama had to kill him!? Dx
Anyways: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! The song was "A pirate's life for me" (I know a cliché but I had to put that song in this XD)
I do not own One Piece! I only own Alexis, Joshua, Midori and Karasu!
Yes I know I've been neglecting Joshua more on these past chapters but he will return on the next one. Don't worry!