Thought you could get the next chapter already. Since I've so many chapter finished already. Enjoy.
Marco gulped. A vampire? So had she sucked the blood of Akainu and Kizaru? He felt kind of … scared. It had been so long since someone actually could scare him. Yes he was scared for the life of his nakama and especially Ace and Whitebeard, but he was scared in another way right now. He felt like he couldn't save anyone. That the real danger was her and not the marines.
"Don't worry Phoenix. I'm not going to suck you dry. My name is Lucinda and I'm pleased to meet you," she smiled.
"You know Oyaji? –yoi," Marco asked.
"Yes. I've met him from time to time. When he was still a young man, sailing with his captain, dreaming about a family. To see his dream comes true warms my heart. You all love him so much. And you stand together," she said with a smile in her eyes.
"A young man?" Thatch looked stunned.
"Yeah. Due to my Devil's Fruit power I do not age like a normal human," she said.
"Lu… You are wounded," pointed Shanks.
"Oh? A stray bullet?" She gazed at the wound. "Take it out, so it can heal, instead of point it out to me," she said annoyed.
"I'm not a doctor. Do it yourself," said Shanks.
"Coward," she teased.
Shanks rolled his eyes and pulled the bullet out. She didn't even flinch her eyes.
"Satisfied?" he asked.
"Thanks love," she smiled.
Slowly the wound started to heal. All Whitebeard pirates stared at it with awe. It was like when Marco was hit. He also healed fast, using his Phoenix power.
"So vampires can heal fast too -yoi," stated Marco.
"Some humans too," she said and looked at Thatch.
"Why do you look at me?" he asked.
"When I left Moby Dick that night, your bleeding had just stopped, but the wound didn't look pretty. Ed was furious. However I do not want to mingle in that. I'm only here to protect what is important to Ed," she said.
"When you left Moby Dick? Hey it was you who gave me first aid that night," said Thatch shocked.
"Yes," she answered bluntly.
Silence. Lucinda was puzzled. Hadn't Whitebeard talked about her to them? It didn't seem so. Was he afraid of their reactions? Because she was a vampire? Shanks had told his crew. Yeah they had been suspicious and some freaked out, but they had accepted her. Mostly as the lover of their captain, because every single one on this ship knew her and Shanks was lovers. Not a couple, she couldn't bind her wild heart to one man, but lovers.
"So Shanks, should we checked on the wounded?" she asked.
"Sure Lu. Benn, take over, would you?"
Benn nodded, as Shanks and Lucinda walked towards the infirmary. A smile on his lips, as Marco got his movement back and followed them. It was so like Lucinda to just throw in a bomb and leave like she hadn't done so. But he guessed it was because she was used to the reaction and that she had to give them time to let the facts sink in.
"Aren't you concerned about having a vampire onboard?" asked Thatch sweat-dropping.
"No. Lucinda wouldn't dare to drink human blood. She usually gets the blood of the animals we slaughtered," said Benn with a smirk.
"Don't scare them like this Benn. Lucinda only drinks blood when she feels like it, but she doesn't drink human blood. She does bite though. She eats like a normal human," said Yasopp.
"She did bite Akainu and Kizaru. Do you tell me, that she didn't drink their blood?" asked Vista.
"She bit them? That had to taste bad. I hope she do brush her teeth," said Yasopp.
"As I said Yasopp, she is crazy, dangerous and I'm glad she took a like in Shanks, or else we had been dead by now," said Benn.
"Yeah," said Yasopp before returning to his duties.
Thatch and the others looked at each other, sweat-dropping. That didn't sound promising at all. But then again she wasn't their enemy either. She just saved Ace and the rest. So they tried to relax and asked if there was something they could do or help with.
Marco followed Shanks and Lucinda to the infirmary. The doctor and nurses were helping the wounded. Whitebeard lied on the bed with bandages all over his torso. Ace was also bandaged and laid on a bed next to Whitebeard's. Luffy however was lying in a respirator, looking very pale and sick.
"Why haven't you told them about me?" asked Lucinda.
"How could I? I like to introduce people when they are around and you never stick around long enough," said Whitebeard.
"True," she stated.
"So I take it you did it yourself?" Whitebeard gazed a Marco, who still looked a bit pale.
"Yeah. Took the liberty of doing so. I think I've scared them too much," she said, her voice neutral and a bit bored.
"I can see that. I can assure you Marco, whatever you think you know of vampire, Lu is far from being like that. She does however like to tease people, but mostly she is bored and this war, was just some welcomed action for her," said Whitebeard.
"Welcomed? To see how corrupt and twisted the government has become is not welcomed. Maybe I should go visit them? Just for the fun of it," she said lazily.
Shanks shook his head. Lucinda hated how the world saw people, but she couldn't change that right now. Instead she changed the kids around. He wondered how long it would take for her to change the world. He looked at her as she went over to the bed of Ace, taking his hand and looked sadly at him.
"He had a sad, but also a great childhood. First loneliness, then a friend, no a brother, came around. To see this boy grown up like this … Roger would be happy to see this strength, yet sad to see how much the boy hates him. The world is cruel," said Lucinda, gazing at Ace.
"Lu?" Shanks was curious, but Lucinda went over to Luffy.
"The boy who changed the coldhearted Ace. You've grown too. The hat you hold so dear really fits you. Sleep my friend and become healthy," she said.
"You know them?" Shanks looked confused.
"I have watched them from time to time. Goa Kingdom… I've never thought that you would give him your hat, Shanks. That's why I wanted to see who he was and so I watched them and I understand. You are good to judge people, love," she said.
"Lu… Tell me how many years drained the war from me?" asked Whitebeard.
Lucinda walked over to Whitebeard, taking his hand and turned her eyes red. She looked at his hand, strolling her fingers over his lines and placed his hand down once more looking at him.
"5 years," she answered.
"I see. And how long?" Whitebeard gazed at her.
"Within the year," she answered.
Whitebeard sighed. Not enough time to see the changes he had hoped for. He didn't feel ready and it was way to short time to help his sons move on, if he should pass away. He had seen it under the war. No one cable of really leaving his side. Not what an old man wants from his sons.
"Can I ask a favor of you Lu?"
"I know. I'll give you 3 more years," she smiled and turned to a vampire.
Whitebeard nodded thankfully. She jumped onto his lab, putting the bandages by his chest, where his heart was, aside, looked at him and bit him. Marco let out a yelp, but was hold back by Shanks. Whitebeard didn't move a muscle and slowly he closed his eyes. He was tired and he knew that it would be best to rest. After three minutes, which seemed like hours to Marco, Lucinda let go and put the bandages back. Shanks threw a tissue to her and she wiped the blood from her face.
"You are too kind to an old man," said Shanks.
"I know. I have a soft spot for him," she smiled.
"As for many pirates," he smiled as she turned back.
"What did you do? –yoi," asked Marco, eyes narrowed.
"I added 3 more years to Ed's life," she said.
"What?"
"As a vampire I can take life or I can give life. I took 3 years of mine and gave them to Ed," she said.
Marco was stunned. "Why?"
"Because he is a friend of mine and he asked for it. I know all this must be confusing for you Phoenix, but don't worry. I will never harm my friends or their friends," she smiled.
"Lucinda is a friend. Don't treat her like a monster or so. And don't listen to what my men have to say about her. They love to tease people. I guess they have scared the rest out of their mind by now," said Shanks.
"Your crew is as wicked as you Shanks," smiled Lucinda and walked towards the door. "I need some fresh air. I'll stay until Fire Fist wakes up," she said and walked out.
"Why does she use our nicknames –yoi?" Marco gazed after her.
"Because she doesn't know you yet and it is her way of showing respect," said Shanks.
"I see. So when we allow her to use our names …"
"She will see you as a good friend and use it. She takes it as a sign of trust," said Shanks.
Marco nodded. "She is very beautiful and seductive –yoi."
"She is, but she can't bind her heart to one man. Instead she has lovers and yes she has more than me," said Shanks casually.
"Are you alright with that –yoi?" Marco was a bit stunned by his open mind.
"At first, no, but now … It is who she is. I can't change her and I did know it before I gave in to her. She is like the ocean. Loved by many and she loves those who treat her and life with respect. But sometimes she does challenge her loved ones," he smiled.
"You are a romantic –yoi." Marco shook his head lightly.
Shanks smiled and left the infirmary, followed by Marco. They wanted to give the wounded time to rest and heal. It hurt Marco to see Ace and Whitebeard so fragile and wounded, but to know they would be alright was comforting. And he wanted to know more about Lucinda. She was definitely a woman he find interesting in more than one way, which rarely happens.
Lucinda the lover of Shanks and who else? Well you'll know soon enough.
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