DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ONE PIECE

Chapter Four

On the third day of the four that were left, there was nothing significant that happened. I visited the Tavern again, where Loo continued to try and get me to rethink my decision, and where I assured Josie that I spoke to Marco and some of the nurses that are a part of the crew and made sure that everything was as safe as can be.

"Just promise me," Josie spoke up over the usual nighttime buzz, leaning her mouth towards my ear and placing a reassuring hand on my forearm. "That you're not gonna let those guys bully you or anything, okay? Don't let that ship be the same as the idiots here."

And that was the last night that I saw Josie. At the end of the night, when I went to go to the house, I surprised her by running into her legs and hugging her around her waist. She returned the hug and patted my head, and I found it hard to let go all of a sudden. Because Josie had been the first to be there for me after the incident, and she was one of the few that stayed even after the Priests spread the rumors of my 'curse' around the island. And I never really thanked her for that, because I couldn't find the words and didn't know how to thank her. So this hug was what showed my feelings, and she understood them because she whispered out that I didn't need to thank her at all. And then I was gone.

But of course, with everything going so well my last few days on Scarlet, things had to go to crap on the last day I had. And it all started that morning when I woke up to the boards covering the kitchen window being pelted with rocks and various glasswares that shattered on impact. It was a rather rude awakening, getting me up just before the sun rose when I would have much rather preferred getting up when it was high in the air.

I didn't let that bother me, though, because I was very happy on that fourth day. I was finally leaving the island! I had never left before, and I was a mixture of nervousness and excitement, with the feeling that I might throw up before the day was over, even though I found it hard to stop the smile from spreading over my face.

Dressing for the day, putting on a pair of pants and a shirt, I made my way out of the house about an hour after the throwing of the rocks and glass stopped. Nobody was around the house, and I was able to make it out of there before any of the pirates could come and see me. It was kind of weird, not seeing Thatch or Stafford or even Jade as soon as I woke up, but it wasn't unwelcome. In fact, when it happened, I was kind of freaked out by seeing a grinning face as soon as my eyes opened to a new day.

Today was my last day, and it really hit me the night before that I may never come back. I wasn't exactly sad, but I felt odd. Two years ago, leaving Scarlet never crossed my mind because I always thought that I would stay here, get married, have kids, and just grow old in a small house somewhere near the beach. It was a fantasy that I relayed to my mom many times that only got me laughed at and patted on the head. "Of course, honey." Mom would say, hiding her chuckles beneath her hand. "Do whatever makes you happy."

And even though I wasn't staying on the island, like I had originally planned when I was around four or five, I was still doing what would make me happy. And that was all mom had wanted, right?

With my thoughts on my mom, I had set my plan for the day quickly. And it would start with a tradition that I had dropped a year before because my tradition partner, my mom, was gone. I walked down the silent streets, sandals slapping against the cobblestone roads, and made my way towards the bakery that was across the street from the Temple. I entered the building, making my way to the counter and earning the attention of the woman decorating a cake. She cast me a wary glance, slowing her movement and cocking her brow.

"Can I help you?"

I pulled a couple of coins from my pocket, setting them on the counter and smiling. "One hot chocolate, please."

Sitting down on the bench in front of the shop next door, a clothing shop that had yet to open, I swung my legs happily and held my hot chocolate in my hands, the warmth spreading over my palms from the cardboard cup. The sun was coming up just behind the Temple, casting small rainbows over the streets and buildings. It was a pretty sight that I remember my mom always commented on, and I never really paid attention until now. And I was happy. And I was feeling great as I sipped my beverage.

But when the doors of the Temple opened in one fluid motion, and the eyes of several people locked on my form, I could feel that everything was about to turn upside down. There was a thought that entered my mind, as the hooded figures of the Priests approached, that I could just get up and get away. I could run. I could probably even walk and still get away. However, there was also the thought that I wasn't going to see them anymore after today. And I might as well go through this one last meeting one last time before leaving.

"Child, come with us." The man in the front, with a clean shaven face full of wrinkles and eyes that were sunken and black as coal. Father Haley. The head Priest. He smiled, showing his teeth that were white and straight. It was a kind smile, really, but whenever I went with them, I didn't think they were that kind. "We're going to try another exorcism."

I shook my head and sipped my hot chocolate. "That's fine, Father Haley. I'm not cursed, so there's no point."

His eyes hardened. "You are cursed. It is in your demon blood. Now, come with us into the Temple so we may help you."

"If I am cursed," I began, cocking my head to the side. "Then wouldn't the exorcism have worked the first time?"

Father Haley leaned down closer, hands clasped in front of him and his smile gone. "You will not leave with those pirates, and you will come to the Temple. Do not cause a scene, child." There was a threat laced in his words, and I didn't argue because if I did cause a scene, things would go bad quickly. People already didn't trust that I was safe to be around, and if I fought against the holy men of the island, I would be seen even worse. And that could cause trouble for the Whitebeard Pirates, and I didn't want that at all.

I allowed them to lead me to the Temple, standing in the center of the group of eleven robed men, and held my head high. I wouldn't have this be the same as every other time I had come with them to the Temple in the past year. I wouldn't let them hurt me physically or emotionally, though the former only happened on accident sometimes.

Father Haley brought me to the front of the Temple, past the pews and staircase that led up to a balcony like structure that overlooked the room, leading me to the altar in the front. At once, they began what they had to do. I was placed in the middle of the group, my hot chocolate still in hand until one of them reached out and grabbed the cup, throwing it away before I could protest. Though I did gape at him in anger and annoyance.

Incense began burning without further ado, and the prayers started in a language that I couldn't hope to understand. I stood silently and looking between every face around me, hidden by the shadows of their hoods that were pulled over their heads. Something was different this time. Their heads were bowed instead of looking directly at me, as they had in the past, and there was a feeling of apprehension washing over me as I watched them. What were they planning? And why did the incense smell so different this time?

Father Haley's voice rose over the sounds of everyone else, praying in the same language as them, but using different words. The smoke from the burning incense held in their hands swirled around my body, entering my lungs and causing a cough to come out, wet and nasty. I was ignored as my eyes began to water and my nose burned.

"I'm done." I choked out, moving to walk between two of the people that formed the circle. I just passed them when their hands grabbed each of my arms, pulling me back into the circle by force, never once breaking the prayers. "Hey!"

"Silence, child!" Father Haley shouted. My shoulders jerked from his sudden loudness and I felt tears prick the corners of my eyes. "You will not leave until we are finished! I would be a disgrace to the Gods if I allowed a cursed being such as yourself off this island without successful treatment."

I coughed again, pounding my chest and wiping my watering eyes to clear my blurry vision. And it angered me so much that they wouldn't let me leave that I used a word I had heard many times, more recently from Thatch when he stubbed his toe yesterday. "Fuck your treatment."

Father Haley's red face was very visible through my blurry vision, and I didn't realize he was getting closer until his hand grabbed ahold of my arm. "You will not use that foul language in this holy place you demon."

"Father stop!" A voice hissed from my left.

You know the feeling of something descending towards your face? Or something coming towards you in general? I knew that something was about to make contact with my face, and I closed my eyes for the impact.

The impact that never came.

"Oi, I don't know what's going on, but I didn't think that a Holy man would strike a child." The familiar voice, though appearing to be at ease, was shaking with anger. And when I wiped my eyes one final time, I saw that the circle around me had dispersed, each robed figure standing a good ten feet back while Father Haley's wrist was locked in the grip of Marco. His usual droopy eyes were hard with a glare, and his hand holding Father Haley's wrist was shaking. "That seems to a sin in and of itself, doesn't it?"

"What does a pirate like you know? You're existence is a sin." Father Haley hissed, and cringed when Marco's grip visibly tightened on his wrist. "Just as the existence of her people is a sin."

Marco hummed and cocked his head to the side. "So that's it." I frowned at his sudden tone of seeming to know what was going on when I was still confused as ever. "So, was it you guys that really killed her family? Were you behind it?" Father Haley vehemently denied this as I looked between the both of them with wide eyes, not quite understanding what was going on. "And your 'exorcism' is really just a cover up because that isn't incense, but really those poisonous flowers that grow on the mountain. Right?"

I looked at the other Priests and noticed that they all had surgical masks hanging from their necks, as did Father Haley. And it made sense why they all had their heads bowed and why the incense smelled different this time. "You guys...tried to kill me?" Before Father Haley could answer, I shook my arm from his hold and reached towards Marco, grabbing ahold of his unbuttoned shirt and tugging him as I walked to the door. Both men looked down at me in confusion. "Let's just go, Mister Marco."

"Ah, whatever." He dropped his hold on Father Haley's wrist and walked by my side out of the Temple. Behind us, Father Haley shouted for me to come back, but he was ignored. We walked down the street and towards the house. "You alright, brat?" I nodded. "You lying?" I shook my head and almost smiled. "Where are we going?"

I released his shirt and looked up at him. "Sorry, I forgot I was holding you." He waved it off and repeated his question. "I was gonna go say goodbye to my parents and brothers."

We walked in silence, past many buildings and past the house until I got to the gates of the cemetery. I paused at the gate and frowned. I hadn't visited at all, the only time I ever came was when the funerals were happening. Marco noticed my hesitation and planted his hand on my head. "I'll head back now. Just come to the ship when you're done. We leave in the morning."

"Yeah...I'll be there." I waited until his footsteps were no longer audible before I entered the gates of the cemetery, maneuvering around tombstones and large structures until I reached the four graves that were marked with the family name. I looked over each one, reading the birth and death dates of my mom, dad, Kai and Yuvi. If things had turned out differently, my name would have been on a stone beside theirs. Or maybe Margie's name. An awkwardness clung to me as I stood before them, and I felt very out of place. "H-hey guys."

My legs shook so hard that I had to sit down before I collapsed. And I just sat. For a long time. In silence. Reading over the names and dates over and over again and whispering them to myself. I couldn't seem to bring myself to address my family yet. Because my throat was constricted. And if I spoke too soon, I would break down into sobs and they wouldn't understand me. So I waited. For how long, I don't know, but I waited. And when I was finally able to speak around the lump in my throat, everything just...spilled out.

I told them about everything that's happened in the past year. About Josie and Loo staying by my side. About how Father Haley and the Priests were spreading rumors about my curse. And I asked them if they knew anything about that 'Will of D' that Marco and Whitebeard had mentioned, which I believe was also the reason behind the Priests trying to kill me and calling me a demon. I didn't get an answer, though. Of course I didn't. And when I talked about how I would be free from the island and the darkness that was swallowing me by staying, I felt a breeze lift up my knotted hair. Almost as if they were all encouraging my decision. And I was incredibly happy again. Happier than I had been in a year, and I found myself reminiscing on the past with them, as if they were all sitting across from me. And I was laughing. Laughing and crying and simply being with my family one last time.

There was no way to know how long I had been sitting there before I realized it was dark out. All day. The entire day was spent sitting in front of the tombstones and talking to my family. And it was, honestly, the perfect day. I loved it. Every second was happy, even as I remembered the sadder things, and I found it hard to leave them. I was done talking, though. I was simply sitting again, legs crossed and hands clasped in my lap, enjoying the silence. Over the course of the hours spent here, a few people came by to see their own loved ones. They didn't look at me, and I didn't look at them. That's why, when footsteps sounded behind me, I didn't react at all.

No reaction until the person sat beside me. I looked from the corner of my eye up to Stafford, who was leaning back on his hands and reading over the stones carefully. "All on the same day, huh?" I said nothing. "That's pretty sad. Sorry about that, kiddo." I pursed my lips. What was he doing here? As if reading my mind, Stafford looked down at me and grinned. "Marco said he left you here and, even though he's a grump and wouldn't admit it, he was worried about you. So, I came moseying down here to make sure our dear little friend wasn't in any more trouble."

"Sorry," I apologized, standing up and dusting off the butt of my pants. "I guess I got caught up talking." He hummed and watched me from the corner of his eye as I went to the tombstones and brushed my hand over the tops of each one, kissing them all. "Bye guys. I'll come back and see you again one day, and when I do, I'll talk for days about everything that happens."

Stafford stood next, taking a few steps away from the graves before turning back to them and bowing at the waist. When I questioned his actions, he ignored me and, instead, addressed the people buried beneath our feet. "Presea, Leono, Kai, and Yuvi." I raised an eyebrow at the way he made sure to speak each of their names. What was he doing? "I promise that I'll take care of Mara while she's with us, so don't worry."

He then left without another word or a backwards glance. I was left to look between him and the tombstones before following after him, running until I was by his side and looked up at his face. "Y'know, that wasn't necessary..." He shrugged and didn't even bother to look down at me. I nodded and looked forward as well. "So...we leaving in the morning?"

"Yeah, as soon as the Log Pose is for sure set, we'll shove off to the next island." He yawned and began to clean out his ear with his pinky. "It might be early, so we gotta go back now and be sure to wake up refreshed in the morning."

A bubbling excitement reared it's head in my stomach and the next thing I knew, I was grabbing Stafford's hand and jumping up and down while walking beside him. "Oh! Will you wake me up so I can see us leaving the island?!"

Stafford laughed loudly. "Yeah yeah, I'll get you up." I cheered with a fist in the air and stopped jumping, walking by his side calmly, though my hand still squeezed his. "I see that almost being poisoned improved your mood drastically." I gave him a questioning look. He shrugged. "Marco mentioned it."

"I'm just happy I talked to mom, dad, and my brothers." I admitted as we walked on the docks, moving to the gangplank. "I haven't gone to see them yet, so I think seeing them before going made me happier." He nodded and let go of my hand, moving on to do whatever it was he needed to do. Maybe to go to his room? And as he waved over his shoulder, I tried to say that I didn't know where my room was, but he already disappeared behind a door.

And I was left in the middle of the deck.

Crap.

At random, I moved to a door and threw it open, walking into the mess hall where the eyes of a great handful of pirates all turned to me. I met their stares with my own, a blush coloring my cheeks as I became the center of attention. And just as I was about to move out of the room, my name was called, and Jade was skipping over with Heather and Lynn following leisurely behind her.

"Oh you cute little thing~! Are you here for food? Are you hungry? Thatch! Make Mara some food!"

I waved my hands before me and shook my head quickly. "I'm not hungry. Mister Thatch, I'm not hungry!" The white wearing man poked his head out from the doorway to the kitchen and gave a thumbs up. I turned back to Jade and frowned. "I...can't find my room..."

"So that's why you looked confused when you came in." From behind Jade, Marco walked up and grabbed my arm. "Come on, I'll show you. Jade, you three finish getting Pops' food all set. No sake, got it?" They saluted him seriously. I was led from the room and brought to the deck once more, where Marco brought me to a different door and down a hallway. "You should really remember where things are."

I nodded and blushed again. "Sorry..."

"It's fine. I'll show you around tomorrow. Even though I thought Stafford did it..." I wanted to say that he did, but I would either look like an idiot, or he would, so I kept my mouth shut. Marco opened the door to the room that I recognized as mine. "You sure you're not hungry? I don't need you starving to death in here."

I shook my head and flinched at the mention of dying. "No, I'm fine." I was really too excited to eat anything because I felt like I would throw up. Marco nodded and turned to leave, but I stopped him by wrapping my arms around his thighs and resting my cheek against the side of one of them. Marco froze. "Thank you guys. I-it means a lot that you're bringing me away from this place."

"Well after what I saw earlier, I wouldn't leave anyone with the D initial there." I smiled and let go, giving him a large grin. He looked shocked for a moment, but shook his head and smiled ruefully, ruffling my hair and turning to leave. "Get some sleep, brat."

But I couldn't sleep for a long time that night. I laid awake in my bed, occasionally getting up to look out of the window, glancing at what I could see of the island in the darkness. Other times I listened to the crew outside on the deck, talking loudly. Probably drunk. And when I finally got to sleep, it was only for an hour of two because the next thing I knew, my door was thrown open and a body was jumping onto the bed beside me, flapping the blanket around and cheering.

"Wake up wake up! We're leaving, kid! Get up and come see!"

His hand reached to grab my wrist, gripping tightly and pulling. I hissed in pain, jerking my hand back and cradling the wrist to my chest, fully awake and sitting up, inspecting the bandages to check and make sure I hadn't bled through. The cut I accidentally gave myself with the scissors only days earlier hadn't fully healed yet, and it was sore.

A second voice chimed in at the doorway, speaking a single word before marching up and slapping the person on the bed beside me, I discovered to be Thatch, on the head. I turned to the newcomer. It was Jade. "You can't just grab her anywhere, Thatch. She has bandages all over, so there's obviously some severe injuries beneath them." Though she came in angrily, her voice was calm sounding. Almost like she was mildly scolding a child. "Mara, are you okay? I can look at those for you. I am a nurse, after all~"

"No no, I'm fine." I held up my hands and jumped from the bed. "I, uh, he just grabbed too tightly. I'm fine though. Really, Miss Jade." She narrowed her eyes, not believing me. Thatch yelled out in woe, dropping to his knees before me and slamming his forehead to the floor, apologizing loudly through sobs. Panicking, I reached a hand out and patted his odd hair. "It's fine, Mister Thatch. I'm not hurt. See?" I held up both arms and grinned.

Jade reached her hand forward and grabbed my arm. "Not hurt? You're bleeding, Mara!" Sure enough, the cut had bled through the bandages, and no matter how much I tried to convince her I was fine, I ended up being dragged by Thatch and Jade to the infirmary, a large room that reminded me of the hospital. I sat on one of the beds with my arms crossed. "Let me see." I shook my head. Jade glared and stood, knocking her stool back so it clattered to the floor. I jumped and, seeing an opening, she grabbed my hands and smiled. "Thank you."

Thatch clapped, sitting on the bed across from me, his face poking around her shoulder to see what she was doing as her back was to him. "You're pretty good, Jade." I scowled at her trick and didn't fight anymore. They would find out sooner or later, and sooner was probably better. "Aw, don't make that face, kid! You're not gonna miss anything. We're all just getting set to go, so we got about an hour until we really leave."

Still, I pouted and would have crossed my arms had they not been held in Jade's hands as she unravelled my bandages.

"Gah, these are done so sloppily!" I shrugged indifferently. I knew I wasn't good at it, but my job was enough in my opinion. "I swear, some people should not be allowed to be doctors or nurses. Idiots..."

I sat quietly, though I wanted to comment on what she would see or, rather, what she wouldn't see beneath the bandages. But I couldn't find the words. What could I say? 'Oh yeah, about this, I'm not really injured anymore, but I keep these on because I'm too much of a coward to take them off.'

But from the confused hum coming from Jade when she finished uncovering my arms, she had already discovered the uninjured skin. And as she continued to unravel bandages from my arms, moving on to my legs, she made another noise of discovery. Thatch, out of the loop, leaned over her shoulder and frowned. "Why do you keep doing that?"

"Mara," She ignored him and turned her eyes to me. "Who was doing your bandages?" I said nothing and bit my lip. "Because no doctor would waste supplies like this, bandaging nothing."

"Nothing?" Thatch looked down at my exposed arms and legs, eyes bulging from their sockets. "Holy shit you're healed! It's a miracle!"

Jade lifted a fist and got him directly in the center of his face. "Shut up or get out, idiot." I had never heard her voice move on to something more serious, so I was scared when she turned her eyes back to me and narrowed them. "You did this yourself, right." She didn't need confirmation. She knew. "Why?" I shifted on the bed and avoided eye contact. She repeated her question more sternly.

"I don't wanna talk about it..." I mumbled, my chin moving to my chest.

Silence in the room. Then she released my arms, wrapping a small amount of bandages on my injured wrist, then patted my head. I looked up with wide eyes and she smiled. "Don't worry about it. Talk when you're ready." I nodded dumbly. Her usual cheerfulness was back and I liked that. "Now, you and Thatch head up on deck. We'll be leaving soon."

The white wearing man needed no further words of encouragement to swoop around the nurse, grabbing me carefully around the waist and tucking me under his arm. "Off we go, kid!" He ran from the room, slamming the door open and earning a yell from Jade as he stampeded down the hall and out the door onto the deck, causing a commotion that brought several pairs of eyes our way before they started to get back to what they were doing.

On deck was very lively. Much different than how I had seen it the last few days. Everyone worked like a well-oiled machine, pulling ropes, barking orders, and lifting the anchors from the water. I watched in awe from under Thatch's arm as everyone moved around the deck, never bumping into one another and seeming very used to the routine of leaving an island. And Thatch provided commentary as we made our way to the edge of the deck, commenting on what everyone was doing, but I didn't listen much. I had been too transfixed on their movements rather than the details.

It wasn't until I was pulled from under his arm and sat down on the railing, my feet hanging over the edge with my back to the deck that I stopped watching them and stared out at Scarlet. My home.

"Last chance to run back over there." Thatch commented, leaning down until his elbows rested on the railing and his chin was cradled in his palm. "No way we're gonna be able to turn around a bring you back once we leave."

I thought for a moment, watching the island with narrowed eyes. People wandered around, some watching the ship while others completely ignored it. I looked to the Temple. The general area of my house. The hospital. The prison. The cemetery. And I thought about leaving it all behind and never coming back. And that didn't bother me at all. I felt no sadness. No regret. Just...happy. Adventurous.

"That's okay, Mister Thatch." I spoke as the call was made to move away. And the ship moved slowly from the docks, the island getting farther and farther away with each second. When the island was nothing but a speck on the horizon, I grabbed his shoulder and turned around, jumping onto the deck and giving him a small smile. "I already said my goodbyes anyway."

[A/N]: Aaaaaaand she's gone. Goodbye Scarlet Island, hello adventures with the Whitebeards!

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