Author's Note: Well, the beginning to the Mr. Chung-Feng Arc is up now, since I didn't feel like working on anything else yesterday.
Disclaimer: I only own my OCs.
Ch. 69: "Out of Danger, Into More Danger."
A few minutes later, Yuki-Rin, Molly, Kazuma, and Hana were saying good-bye to Molly's parents.
"We're gonna have to say good-bye now. If Saint Ayame gets here by morning, then she would see us," Yuki-Rin explained. Molly's mother gave Yuki-Rin a basket filled with food.
"Take this. We packed you a picnic basket filled with food from this island. I had a feelin' that you'd need this for sustenance and so Molly has a bit of Erin Island with her," Molly's mother explained before she hugged her daughter. "Molly, no matter what you do, don't go back to Saint Ayame. She's not your real mother, she doesn't love you. I'm your real mother, since I love you."
Molly's father then hugged Molly.
"I'll see you around, Molly. Don't forget to write," Molly's father explained.
"Where are you and mum hidin'? Are you gonna be okay?" Molly asked her father.
"We change our location every year to throw the Tenryuubito off. We're goin' to an island in the Calm Belt this year to hide. But, as soon as we can come home, we'll write a letter to you as soon as possible. Alright, love?" Molly's father asked Molly.
"Yes, da," Molly said. Her mother wiped away a tear.
"Thank you for comin' back to the home island, even if it was for a couple of days. Your father and I are so glad you were able to get out of Saint Ayame's household," Molly's mother told her daughter.
"And, you, Yuki-Rin, keep protectin' our daughter. We don't want any of those Tenryuubito bastards reclamin' her ever again," Molly's father explained.
"I will, Mr. O'Flannigan, because Molly is my half-sister," Yuki-Rin said as she put her arm around Molly. Mr. O'Flannigan chuckled.
"You be careful out there! Good luck on your voyage!" Mr. O'Flannigan said.
"Goodbye, mum! Goodbye, da! I'll return someday!" Molly said before she ran off with Hana, Yuki-Rin, and Kazuma.
On the Hyperion, the Sarutobi boys were asleep, when somebody knocked on the door. Soren slowly awoke.
"Baby bro, can you get that?" Soren groggily asked Heathcliffe and Holden, who were slowly awakening.
"I don't have a shirt on," Heathcliffe said groggily. With a sigh, Holden got up, put on his robe, and answered the door to Yuki-Rin.
"Hey, Yuki-Rin. Where have you been?" Holden asked Yuki-Rin.
"That's not important right now. Please wake up your brothers. There's a chance your own father will be at this island," Yuki-Rin explained. A few minutes later, Sebastian was leading Yuki-Rin, Molly, Aria, and the Sarutobi siblings into the kitchen.
"Alright, since Yuki-Rin's Tenryuubito mother is coming to this island – and maybe Saint Sarutobi as well - , I will let you guys hide in here," Sebastian said as he guided the group into the pantry.
"But, we wouldn't be able to fit in here," Aria pointed out. With a sigh, Sebastian walked over to the back shelf and moved it, revealing a door.
"Just head on downstairs. I'll come get you in the morning when we leave the island. Although it's unlikely that Saint Sarutobi will be here and just as unlikely that Saint Ayame will come to the Hyperion, we're better safe than sorry," Sebastian explained as he turned on a light inside of the cargo hold.
"Sebastian, wait!"
Aki and Kazuma – clad in their pajamas – ran up to Sebastian.
"You guys need to hide, too?" Sebastian asked.
"In a way, yes. We need to protect Yuki-Rin and Sarutobi-kun. I heard about what Yuki-Rin's mother and Sarutobi-kun's father have done, and it's frightening," Aki explained.
"I suppose you can join them. We promise to come get you when the danger's passed," Sebastian explained before Yuki-Rin, Kazuma, Heathcliffe, Holden, Soren, Aki, Molly, and Aria headed downstairs into the large, cargo hold.
"This place is larger than I thought," Yuki-Rin commented as they sat down.
"A perfect hiding place, I might add," Aria added.
"Where are we supposed to go next?" Aki asked everyone as she cuddled up to Heathcliffe.
"Hana said we're supposed to go to a place called Longjing Island. Molly's parents gave us an Eternal Pose there," Yuki-Rin explained. "Does anybody know anything about the island?"
"It's a Spring Island where the sun shines most of the year and the temperatures are comfortable. Because of the climate and the blending of cultures on the island, many people live there, making it one of the most populated islands on the Grand Line," Aki explained, as if she were explaining it from memory.
"Woah. Aki, how do you know all of this?" Heathcliffe asked. Aki sighed.
"I was born there. I visited that place a few times. In my opinion, it's not a place I really like," Aki explained.
"Why? Longjing Island sounds like an awesome place," Soren asked. Aki sighed again as Heathcliffe glared at his older brother.
"Soren, do you want to go down this road? You're probably going to make Aki cry because you made her tell the story of why she doesn't like Longjing Island," Heathcliffe sternly asked his older brother.
"No, no, it's fine, Sarutobi-kun. I actually have something I need to get off of my chest," Aki explained.
"Okay, then. Tell us," Yuki-Rin said. After a moment's hesitation, Aki spoke.
"My father lives on Longjing Island. While he is my father, I don't consider him my father at the same time, since he raped my mother. That rape… Resulted in me, an illegitamite child. Despite that, my father – a wealthy man – wants to marry me off to a man of similar social and economic standing. I thought my troubles with arranged marriage ended when Heathcliffe snuck Gareth and me away from my aunt, but I guess not," Aki explained. Everyone was silent.
"You… You poor thing. Marriage is supposed to be a free thing, really. I mean, would you rather be wealthy or be happy with my baby brother?" Holden asked Aki, who looked up to Heathcliffe.
"I'd rather be with Sarutobi-kun. He makes me happy, and we were meant to be lovers. If my dad could arrange a marriage to him, that would be the only arranged marriage I'd follow. I know that I'm wealthy since I inherited my mother's money and estate and I know that the wealthy usually arrange matches, but, when Sarutobi-kun and I are married and have a family, we'll let our children decide who they can love and marry," Aki explained.
"Well said, Aki. When we start a family, we're not gonna force any of that arranged marriage crap onto them," Heathcliffe said before he kissed Aki. "As for me, Heathcliffe Sarutobi the Butler is back in business."
Everyone laughed.
"Well, Sarutobi-kun, we're going to have to go to sleep. We possibly have a long day tomorrow," Aki said. Heathcliffe laughed.
"Looks like I have some job security in case I'm not with the Capricorns for some reason," Heathcliffe commented.
"Baby bro, don't say that! If you become a butler, you'll leave us behind!" Soren cried. Heathcliffe laughed as he kissed Aki.
"It's just for a few days. And, this job may not happen if things come up," Heathcliffe explained.
"I doubt that will happen, Sarutobi-kun. My dad sent me a letter telling me to come visit him shortly before my mother died," Aki sadly explained. Heathcliffe tilted Aki's head so that she was facing him.
"Listen, Aki, I will go with you to your father's house. It sounds like he wants to do what your Aunt Sheena wanted to do to you – Break you and separate you from the Capricorns. I'm not going to let that happen to you again," Heathcliffe explained as he stroked Aki's hair.
"R-Right," Aki said. "And, I'll resist whatever my dad makes me want to do. If I can escape the rules of Auntie Sheena, I can escape the rules of my own father. Heck, even Showtarou wouldn't want me to visit my dad."
On the upper levels of the Hyperion, Showtarou sneezed.
"Are you catching something?" Enlai asked Showtarou.
"No. I just have a weird feeling about this island. And, it involves Aki and her boyfriend," Showtarou explained.
Ending Note: Review if you want to see Aki meet her father.