Author's Note: Be warned: You probably WILL tear up at this chapter (like I did). Yes, it's very surprising, since it is coming from somebody who mainly writes crack fics.
Disclaimer: Oda-sensei owns One Piece and Utada Hikaru owns the song "Simple and Clean".
Ch. 32: "Family Values! Showtarou vs. Aki!"
Later that day, the Capricorns were docking at the Island of Blue Bloods, the island where Aki's aunt and Showtarou's mom lives on.
"Alright, as promised, you will get to see my aunt. But, be warned, she is pretty mean and scary," Aki explained.
"How wealthy is she?" Hana asked Aki.
"She's pretty wealthy, but, not wealthy enough to be a Tenryuubito," Aki explained.
"Good, good. We won't have to worry about our covers being blown, being sold into slavery, or murdered," Hana said as they approached an arch that said "With wealth, power, and prestige come responsibilites – Noblesse Oblige".
"'With wealth, power, and prestige come responsibilities'? Huh?" Heathcliffe said to himself as they passed under the threshold of the arch. Aki smiled.
"It's this island's motto. This island is the richest island on the Grand Line, but, yet, it isn't populated by any World Nobles. Because of that, pirates like to pillage this island and steal from the rich," Aki explained.
"Cool! I hope we get to fight some fellow pirate crews for their loot!" Yuki-Rin said excitedly.
"You probably will, Yuki-Rin. You probably will," Aki said before somebody grabbed her shoulders. Aki looked up, and she saw that it was one of her aunt's butlers.
"Huh? What the –" Aki asked herself before the butler cut her off.
"There you are, Mistress Aki. Your aunt and your future husband have been expecting you. Go wash your hair, put on a dress, and be ready to meet your future husband," The butler instructed before he let go of Aki. Aki looked to her nakama, who were stunned that Aki and Showtarou were really going to leave them. All Aki could do from crying in front of her nakama was bite her lip and do as she was told.
About a half-hour later, Aki emerged onto the decks of the Hyperion wearing a lavender cheongsam with black trim and black frog clasps and black high heels. Despite wearing an outfit that reminded her of home and her mother, Aki was really sad and nervous.
"Ready to go, Aki?" Showtarou asked her cousin, who turned to her fellow Capricorn Pirates.
"Can't I say good-bye to everyone?" Aki asked Showtarou.
"I suppose. It's not like mommy dearest has anything better to do than sit around with a random man who is marrying you," Showtarou anwsered.
"Alright then... Everyone, I wish I could've stayed on this crew longer. I learned over these last couple of weeks that piracy isn't THAT LOW or THAT BAD, and, if I had my way, I would stay with you guys. Unfortunately, things happened, and we have to part ways here. Even though i'm not to blame for this whole marriage deal... I'm sorry I have to leave all of you behind. I'm sorry for listening to my evil aunt. And, most of all... I'm sorry that I will most likely never see any of you again," Aki told the crew before turning her back on them. But, Yuki-Rin stopped her.
"Aki, stop!" Yuki-Rin ordered. Aki, with her head bowed, just ignored her. "Aki Chung-Feng, by orders of your captain, come back here!"
Aki turned back and Yuki-Rin approached her.
"I know you and Showtarou may have just been sailing with us as temporary passengers, but, in the processs, you got caught up in our crazy adventures, and, well, you became our nakama. We don't want to see you leave forever, so... You and Showtarou are official members of the Capricorn Pirates," Yuki-Rin said.
Aki grinned slightly, but, she was still very heartbroken.
"Thank you, Yuki-Rin. I feel very honored," Aki said with a bow.
"We promise to write to you and tell you everything about the Grand Line," Kartik promised.
"We'll also send you exotic gifts from all of the places we go to," Hana added.
"Don't worry, Aki, we'll always be waiting for you to come back," Kazuma said.
"But... Will I ever come back to you guys?" Aki asked everyone. Heathcliffe stepped foward.
"Aki, let me tell you a couple of things. You are going to come back to us, and, if not, we will come to you. Just don't be scared," Heathcliffe advised Aki.
"S-Sarutobi-kun... Don't leave me!" Aki cried, finally breaking down into tears. Heathcliffe grabbed her.
"I already told you, we'll meet again. Now, you should go out there and do what is expected of you," Heathcliffe said.
"He's right, Aki, maybe we should go now," Showtarou said, almost mockingly. Aki glared at him.
"I won't do it! I hate my husband, even though I haven't met him! And, do you know why, Showtarou?" Aki asked her cousin.
"Do you miss your mommy?" Showtarou asked Aki, who slapped him.
"You don't understand! These people are my friends, and there's no way I can part from them!" Aki shouted. Showtarou got up from the ground.
"Aki Chung-Feng, you listen to me! I am your cousin, the son of your Aunt Sheena – who has given me strict orders to bring you here for your marriage -, and you will listen to me!" Showtarou yelled.
"I won't, I won't, I WON'T!" Aki shouted. A moment passed in silence before Showtarou's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fainted.
"What... What happened?" Aki asked herself, trying to regain the elegant, lady-like composure she had before.
"I dunno, but, it seemed like you said some pretty harsh things to him," Sebastian said as Ageha began checking over Showtarou.
"It appears that Showtarou is probably suffering from some exhaustion. I'll have him rest up in the sick bay for the time being," Ageha explained before carrying Showtarou off.
"Well, then, I suppose it is time for Mistress Aki to go," The butler said sadly.
"I can't, yet. I need to tell somebody on this crew something very important," Aki said.
"Go ahead," The butler said. Aki turned to Heathcliffe.
"Sarutobi-kun, out of everyone on this crew, you're the one I feel the closest to. I want you to know this one thing before I leave. I... I love you. Don't leave me," Aki pleaded. "You're kind, loving, brave, and, most of all, handsome. Please, don't leave me."
"Aki... You are the most beautiful girl I have ever met. In fact, I am in love with you. I will go with you, no matter what," Heathcliffe explained as he pulled Aki closer to him. Just as they were about to have their first kiss, the butler grabbed Aki by her dress collar.
"She's her husband's property now. As members of the wealthy elite, Aki is doing good for her family and her husband's family. That is her noblesse oblige to her future family, the society of this island, and the world," The butler explained before he walked away.
When you walk away
You don't hear me say, "Please,
Oh, baby, don't go"
Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight
It's hard to let it go
"SARUTOBI-KUN! HELP ME!" A tearful Aki cried as the butler carried her to an awaiting rickshaw.
"Aki! No! COME BACK!" Heathcliffe yelled as the rickshaw cruised out of sight. Heathcliffe sunk to his knees and began to cry. "WHY?"
"Cheer up, bro, i'm sure she'll be okay," Holden said as he pulled Heathcliffe up and gave him a hug.
"Your touch... It reminds me of – That's it! I'm going after her alone!" Heathcliffe yelled.
"Heathcliffe, what do you mean?" Yuki-Rin asked Heathcliffe.
"She's my beloved – Our beloved! I'm going to go get her back for us, and I am going to do it alone!" Heathcliffe explained.
"Are you bloody crazy? You can't just go and –" Molly asked Heathcliffe, who cut her off.
"If you need me, I am going to go suit up, since there's no way in hell that I am getting caught rescuing the girl I love," Heathcliffe said before making his way to his room to prepare for rescuing Aki.
Ending Note: I had the T.V. on to some random song countdown when I was working on this chapter, and, when I got to the Aki x Heathcliffe parts, Rihanna's "Umbrella" came up on the countdown and I teared up.
And, so, that is how I almost cried when writing one of my own fics.
If you want to see something funny after reading this chapter, go check out my new One Piece fanfic "Of Vegas Marriages, Genderbends, and Kenan and Kel". It is seriously a very funny and random fanfic that includes fem!Shanks, a trip to Las Vegas gone VERY VERY wrong, and, for the yaoi fans, Doflamingo x Crocodile.
Review this fic and "Of Vegas Marriages, Genderbends, and Kenan and Kel"!