So here's the next chapter. Enjoy
Ace and Sabo were talking and drinking together. They both looked happier than ever. Lucinda felt great. Family matters to her and suddenly she realized what the difference between Whitebeard and Shanks was. It was their way of seeing their crew. Shanks' were more like nakama, but here it was family. All were brothers or sisters and Whitebeard was their father. All would go through hell and pick you up, just to throw you back to life and take your place.
"Ed. I think I'm getting too old for this world," she sighed and leaned against his chair.
"Too old? Why's that?" asked Whitebeard.
"I guess it's because I want it to be as when I was young, but it changes all the time. No human can lived with so many changes. That's why we only live for a short time. Maybe I should go to Elfban. Talk to the giants about how they can deal with living longer than 100 years," she said.
"Never thought you were sentimental, Lu. But I guess that has something to do with your decision. You decided 75 years ago to stop living and just surviving. Therefor you had no relations or something keeping you to this world. You saw the changes from far apart and did not feel it on your body. And now that you've decided to live again, you feel the weight of all those years falling down. You have to let go of it," said Whitebeard.
"When did you become wiser than me?" she asked, gazing around.
"Just because you have lived longer, doesn't mean you are the smartest one on earth. You might have seen much and been with many, but you learn new stuff every day. And since you didn't really socialize before Roger came to the Grand Line about 27 years ago, you can't be up to date, if you understand," said Whitebeard with a smile.
"You're right. Kind of hard to acknowledge," she smiled.
She gazed over the ship, feeling kind of tired. Her heart was beating a bit faster than usual and she felt the thirst overcome her. She licked her lips lightly. Maybe she should leave for a while. It has been almost 5 weeks without blood and she could feel the urge to drink some now. She had hoped that it could wait to the next day, but sometimes she had to do it when she felt the thirst and when she had the opportunity. She sighed and looked at Whitebeard.
"I'm off for a couple of hours, Ed," she said and stood up.
"It has been a while eh?" Whitebeard could see her eyes turning red.
"5 weeks. See you," she said and took off.
Marco followed her movements. Her hair had turned white and she moved fast towards the jungle. He looked at Whitebeard, who gazed after her. Marco sighed and flew after her. Whitebeard didn't call him back. He landed in the jungle and saw Lucinda drinking the blood of a rabbit. Marco leaned against a tree, watching her with fascination. It was not brutal or so. Just as if he would drink from a mug. Only that she used fangs, buried in the neck of the poor rabbit. Lucinda looked at him, holding his gazed. As she finished, she laid down the rabbit and licked her lips, so no drop of blood were wasted.
"Scared?" she asked.
Marco walked towards her. He hadn't stayed behind because he was scared, but because he respected her and would give her space. He had a feeling that she wasn't proud of her thirst. He stopped in front of her. She hadn't let go of his gaze and he neither.
"No Lu. You can't scare me anymore. I just wanted to give you some space –yoi," he smiled.
"You're kind," she said and sat down, looking at the rabbit.
Marco sat beside her and watched as she took of the skin and slaughtered the rabbit. She looked at him with a smile. He raised his eyebrow, not really getting what she wanted. She pointed towards a small fireplace, she had built. Marco nodded in understanding and lightened up the fire. In silence they sat there, watching the rabbit get cooked over the fire.
"It's not poisoned or so. I only drank its blood. Want some?" she asked.
Marco nodded and took some of it. It tasted like usual. In silent they ate the rabbit. Lucinda leaned back afterwards, gazing up at the trees. She felt better now, but still she hated to have this thirst. If she wanted to drink less, she needed at least two or three rabbits more now. She sighed. It was a curse to her.
"Why did you eat the Devil's Fruit back then? –yoi," asked Marco.
"Why did you?" she countered.
"It was an accident. I was a child hungry and an orphan. So I stole food to survive. One fruit however turned out to be a Devil's Fruit. Your turn –yoi."
"My father died and I was so close to him. I felt so lonely, even though I had a loving and caring husband and two wonderful children. I wanted to die, so I ate a Devil's Fruit and jumped into the sea. My husband saved my life and brought me back from my self-pity. It was he who taught me to control my thirst for blood and because of him, I haven't drunk from other humans than myself," she said.
Silence. Marco didn't know what to say. He knew exactly what a pain a lost left behind. He had seen his parents got killed by marines and this was why he had become a pirate. He hated the world and marines. He lied beside Lucinda and let the silence fall upon them. He could hear the animals in the jungle and the sea. It felt somehow good.
"I need more blood," said Lucinda and sat up once more.
"Should I leave? –yoi," asked Marco, feeling that she wanted some privately.
"You are welcome to stay here. It seems you don't mind seeing me drink," she said, surprising herself.
"I don't. We all have some habit's we need to have, but don't want –yoi," he said.
Lucinda looked puzzled at him.
"My healing power is good to have, but that meant I was cocky. Well I'm still are cocky, feeling immortal. I use them way too often, even though it's not necessary –yoi."
"It's hard not to just use your powers. That's what makes it dangerous to be a Devil's Fruit user. I always try to get stronger without relying on my powers," she said.
Marco nodded. Lucinda looked around and in an instant, she had another rabbit. Marco was fascinated by her agility and speed. He looked at her, while she drank. The rabbit was dead. She had broken its neck before she started to drink. After she had emptied it, she walked away and came back with another rabbit. Marco sat and watched her do it one more time, before she sat down, satisfied.
"You feel better? –yoi."
"Much better. I really need to remember to drink more when I can. Life at sea can be harsh, but 5 weeks without blood … It's my limit," she said.
"Would you lose control and start to drink human blood? –yoi," asked Marco.
"First after 7 weeks. I will drink my own blood first, but it's just to cheat my senses," she said.
"Fascinating. If you ever come in such a pinch with us, feel free to drink my blood first –yoi," he said.
"You're too kind. Now let's go back and give those three rabbits to the cook," she smiled.
"I think Thatch got a drink or two too much by now, but we can give it to the kitchen. They know what to do –yoi," smiled Marco.
In silence they went back to the ship. Nobody had really missed them and most were already sleeping on deck. Ace sat up and slept, Sabo standing near the railing, gazing over the sea. Marco took the rabbits and walked towards the kitchen, while Lucinda walked over to Sabo. She stood beside him and together, in silence the most of the time. Short after came Marco.
"Would you help me get some of the men to bed? It will be a cold night and I don't want any to catch a cold. We have much to do -yoi," said Marco.
"Of course," said both Lucinda and Sabo.
I just wanted you to see some of the pain Lucinda feels and how she struggle to become a part of the world again. After just surviving, not really bonding with anyone until the day Ace was about to be executed.