Chapter 6 – Serious Conversations
Luffy finished changing in the Infirmary and looked down at herself. She wore her white suit with red and black striped shirt and was complete with a solid black tie, her Marine jacket had been thrown casually onto her now empty bed. 'Too formal' she thought, and promptly took off her suit coat and tied the sleeves round her waist to hold it there. She also rolled up the sleeves of her shirt until they were past her elbows, on a final thought she took off her tie and undid several buttons, once finished her re-assessed herself. Luffy might be about to talk to the most powerful man in the sea but she didn't want to look too much like her old Marine self. Whitebeard was a pirate and even if she was limited with her wardrobe she wanted to make a good impression which meant looking as informal as possible. Satisfied she placed her straw hat on her head and picked up her jacket which once again contained her Devil Fruits. As Luffy made her way to the Infirmary door she saw her brothers, Marco and Thatch were waiting for her.
"Ready?" she asked her two siblings, they both nodded mutely and they all turned to leave the Infirmary. After a few moments of walking to the deck Sabo turned to his younger sibling.
"Luffy, are you sure your feeling alright? You only woke up last night, you don't need to have this meeting right away"
Luffy shook her head, "I'm fine. My head is a little sore but that's about it. Also I need to talk to Whitebeard as soon as I could." She said and gave both her brother a direct look. "Sabo-nii, Ace-nii I need you to promise me that throughout this meeting you will be quiet and not interrupt. I'll need all my wits about me when dealing with the strongest man on the sea. Also this is a meeting between two captains, my first mate and navigator are not to interfere." Luffy added with a smirk.
Their reactions were both immediate and comical. "What do you mean you're captain? I'm the captain!" They shouted at her in unison.
Marco and Thatch stated to chuckle as they watch the two brothers argue at why they would never let their sister be their captain. Thatch was happy that Luffy was showing more personality than he had seen during their meetings in the dungeons under Marineford. Marco was also smiling, watching the three teasing each other reminded him of how he and his siblings interacted. Their arguing ended when they had reached the deck, all three siblings fell silent as Luffy went first and Sabo and Ace followed closely behind her.
Whitebeard was sitting on his throne-like chair on the deck, casually sipping on a huge bottle of sake, while all of the commanders, with the exception of the Fourth and First who had arrived with the three siblings, were present and were scattered about the deck. Luffy noted that there were very few lower level crew members present which confirmed her suspicion that not only did Whitebeard see her as dangerous but that this meeting was important enough to have all of his commanders present.
Luffy came to a stop before Whitebeard and waited for her brothers to settle in positions to her left and right. Once she was sure everyone was in position, she got to her knees, placed he palms before and bowed low so that her forehead touched the deck. Taking the cue from their sister Ace and Sabo bowed from their standing position behind her. Whitebeard and the commanders felt their eyes widen. A Marine bowing to a pirate was unheard of.
Luffy rose from her low bow and settled into a formal seiza* sitting form, she had wore the cold, expressionless mask she had used for the four years she had been a Marine. Luffy hated having to become cold and unfeeling again but she knew she had little choice if she wanted this meeting to go in her favour.
"Thank you for taking us in and providing medical treatment when I needed it. It is thanks to this that I was able to live when I was at death's door and I am eternally in your debt."
Whitebeard watched the girl as she spoke in a cold voice. He had heard a lot about her from his son while she had been unconscious, and he couldn't help but smile internally as he saw her iron resolve in the way she spoke. 'This brat wants something that only I can give her. I can see why she was Sengoku's successor, her mind is sharp as a blade and she intends to convince me to give her what she wants. Very well brat, let's see what you want'.
Luffy read the thoughts in Whitebeards mind and cringed internally, he reminded her of Sengoku with how sharp minded he was. She was going to need every ace in the hole she had in order to win. The one thing Luffy took comfort in was the reassuring presences of her brothers beside her, and their faith that they had in her.
She turned to her jacket which she had put on the deck beside her and started removing the Devil Fruits in the pockets and lined them up in front of her. Finally she placed the former Shichibukai's, Blackbeard's fruit in front of the line.
The commanders were in shock and their eyes grew wider and wider as the girl lined up a total of six fruits in the deck in front of her. She had just shown them a fortune in Devil Fruits and even Whitebeard had raised his eyebrows in surprise as he saw the Marine girl place the items from her jacket pockets onto the deck. The commanders finally voiced her shock as she placed the final fruit in front of the neat line she had made. The only exceptions were Thatch and Marco since they had seen the fruits the night before.
"Firstly I would like to return the Dark Dark Fruit to your Fourth Commander, if was originally his before Blackbeard stole it and turned him into the Marines. It has no part of the deal I wish to make with you since I'm simply returning stolen property."
"Brat," Whitebeard spoke up, silencing the shouts from the startled commanders. "Why do you have that fruit?"
Luffy looked Whitebeard in the eye, "How familiar are you with the cycle of Devil Fruits?"
Whitebeard frowned at the simple question, "Devil Fruits take the form of a fruit until they are eaten. When the user dies they reappear somewhere in the world as a fruit again."
Luffy nodded. "That is correct, but not completely accurate. Over a hundred years ago the Government conducted a series of experiments to determine how far a Devil Fruit would travel when it replaced an already existing fruit. They murdered two hundred Devil Fruit users and came to the conclusion that 90% of fruits that left users when they died, replaced a fruit that was closest to them."
Luffy paused as she waited for the outraged cries from the division commanders to die down. Even her brothers looked shocked since she had never told them, this unknown fact about Devil Fruits.
"Brat, why do you know this?"
Luffy paused choosing her words carefully. "I made a point of finding out as many secrets that the Marines and Government had kept hidden while I was a hostage. Holding such information gives me an edge since if it was leaked, it would be a blow to their reputations and the faith people placed in them."
Whitebeard nodded in understanding. It made sense to make the most of an unfavourable position and from what the brat indicated she had gotten hold of a fair about of information that was harmful to the Government. He smiled at her cheek as he wondered if Sengoku ever realised that his successor had been searching for a way to destroy him.
"So what is it you want brat, that you're willing to exchange a fortune in Devil Fruits for?" The commanders tensed at Whitebeards question. This was the whole purpose of the meeting and why they had all gathered.
'Here goes nothing' Luffy thought. "I would like you to take my brothers as part of your crew."
Luffy statement was met with several moments of silence, before several things happened. Whitebeard burst out laughing, Ace stumbled backward and fell over and Sabo turned his head to his sister so quickly that it caused his neck to cramp.
"Gurararara! How interesting so you want these brats of yours to join my crew?"
Luffy nodded again. "Yes, however should you refuse I will understand. We were held by the Marines for just over a year, there are more than enough reasons for you not to trust us. If so all I ask if for you to give us a ride to the first half of the Grandline, from there we will be able to track down my brothers old crew members. After that you'll never hear from us again."
Whitebeard was impressed. The girl had considered the option of him refusing and had prepared an alternative option to the deal she presented. He knew how badly Thatch had wanted her to join the crew and that the other commanders were grateful to the three after hearing that it was thanks to them that Thatch was alive. What he found most amusing was that he had planned to recruit them as soon as the girl was well enough to leave the Infirmary. The fact that she had beaten him to it by striking a deal with him made him want them in his crew even more.
Luffy was distracted from her focus on Whitebeard, by the blazing thoughts of the commanders, but mostly from the fierce thoughts from her siblings. Both were sat cross legged on either of her sides glaring. They might not voice their protests because they had promised her, but they knew that if they thought about it loud enough Luffy would hear them clearly. They were furious since she had for obvious reasons, not told them about any of the details that she wanted to talk to Whitebeard about. She was brought out of the silent shouting rants directed at her when she heard the Captains booming voice.
"I noticed that you only wanted your brothers to join, why didn't you include yourself in the bargain?"
"My brothers from the beginning were pirates, it is obvious that they should be returned to the world of piracy. Under your flag they will have the protection they need from the Marines who will want to kill them. I however, was a Marine, and a Rear Admiral. I was never a pirate and so the rules of piracy do not apply to me. Deal or no deal you are under no obligation to take me on as part of your crew, furthermore the world thinks that I'm dead. Once word gets out that I am actually alive not only will you have entirety of the Marines aiming for you but the World Government as well. I intend to either live a quiet life or to join the Revolutionaries."
Thatch was shocked. The fact that Luffy was prepared to face the world alone was unacceptable to him. After she had saved him, he had sworn to himself him that he would keep her alive and safe. As much as he wanted Ace and Sabo to join the crew he knew it was meaningless if they didn't have their sister with them, since he suspected that both the brothers would go out of their minds worrying about her. Marco was also worried, he knew that if things went as the Marine girl wanted them she would be on the run for the rest of her life, constantly worrying about who would betray her next. Such as life was something he would not let a child live, especially when she had chosen it of her own free will despite being given an option of being safe with them.
"Gurara. Cheeky brat, you know you'll never be able to live a quiet life. You'll be chased from the moment you leave this ship till the day you die."
"What of it? It's no concern of yours what I do." Luffy paused, probing Whitebeards mind, she knew that she couldn't control his mind, since like the Marine Admirals he was too strong for her and she knew she had to be even more careful now. The cards had been laid on the table but there was one that both of them knew that Luffy hadn't put down yet. Her Devil Fruit abilities. "You and I both know that I'm too dangerous to have on your crew." Her gaze flickered to Thatch, "How much do you know about my abilities?"
"My son gave me the basic outline of what your fruit can do, he also said it was the reason you were taken hostage."
"So you see my point in that I'm too much of a threat to keep on your ship."
Whitebeard threw back his head and laughed loud and deeply. "Gurararara! I'd hate to see you die kid. If you still want to live and fight in this world then take my name and roam the seas wild and free!" Whitebeard knelt in front of Luffy and her brothers and held out his hand to them. "Become my children!"
All three of the siblings looked at the pirate captain in shock. Luffy masked shattered as she felt her eye widen and she was sure that every emotion she felt was written on her face.
Luffy's throat locked and she barely managed to whisper out a single word. "Why?"
Whitebeard chucked at the looks of confusion and shock on the three brats faces, "I told you didn't I? You've been my child the moment you set foot on this ship, brat."
Luffy stared up at the huge man before cracking up and burst into hysterical laughter. Ace and Sabo crawled over to her side where she rolled round clutching her side laughing as if she had gone insane. The brothers exchanged worried looks and they weren't the only ones, Marco and Thatch looked at each other both wondering what had caused such a reaction after she had been so composed throughout the meeting.
Luffy lay on her back and pressed the palms of her hands into her eyes. "As expected from the most powerful man on the seas. Hours of preparations and hundreds of simulated conversations, all blown away with a single statement. Incredible! I'm absolutely no match for you!"
Tears ran from her eyes under her palms to fall onto the deck. Luffy was no longer laughing and her throat had once again locked up. When she did manage to speak it was choked, filled with tears and emotion that revealed just how much what Whitebeard had meant to the former Marine.
"Thank you."
Whitebeard chuckled as he saw the girl break down and started to cry openly. Her brothers picked her up till she was in a sitting position and hugged her.
Still hugging their crying sister Ace and Sabo turned to Whitebeard. "Thank you." Sabo said quietly, he knew the captain heard him while Ace just nodded his eyes locked on the huge man.
Smiling Whitebeard sat back down in his throne and saw his sons and daughters greet the new members of their family. Marco and Thatch sat down with the three siblings immediately, when their captain had returned to his chair and watched with amusement as two twenty-one year old men trying to calm down a crying eighteen year old girl.
The problem was finally solved when Ace lost his temper and punched his sister in head. "Stop crying! You know I hate cry-babies!"
Luffy immediately stopped crying, pulling her lips in a tight line and clutched her head where a large bump had started to form.
"Now, now Ace, there's no need to get mad." Sabo made calming gesture trying to be the peacemaker between his two dark-haired siblings. "You know that this has been stressful for Luffy, she just relived that we can be together and safe."
Luffy looked at her blonde brother before diving into his lap and wrapped her arms tightly around him. From her position she glared at Ace, "Sabo is a much nicer brother than Ace." She then buried her head in her brother's shoulder and tightened her hug. With a smile Sabo returned the hug before smirking at his brother, who was currently looked both embarrassed and angry at his two siblings.
"So, welcome to the family-yoi." Marco smirked, watching the three.
Thatch placed his hand on Ace's shoulder with a smirk of his own, "If you want to get revenge on them I have the perfect prank in mind."
This caused Ace to give Thatch an evil grin and the two sat with their head bent over while Sabo threw the two worried glances. Not wanting to be left out the other commanders eagerly introduced themselves, and Sabo was forced to do the talking for all three of them since Ace was busy plotting with Thatch and Luffy had fallen asleep on his lap.
The atmosphere was friendly and relaxed and both the brothers were enjoying themselves, they had expected the other commanders to be tense since they were outsiders and Luffy had made it clear that her Devil Fruit was dangerous. Not only that but one of their crewmates who had been with them for years had betrayed them only a few short months ago. Apparently they trusted their captain's decision and it was clear that they fellow commanders of the first and fourth division trusted them as well.
Ace and Sabo had been tense throughout the meeting, they knew that they could trust Luffy and her decisions but they still had been shocked and angry when she had revealed that she had wanted only the two of them to be safe by joining the Yonko's crew. The week that luffy had been in a coma had been hell for both of them, even though they had sailed out separately and built up crews all three siblings had secrets that they had shared with no-one but each other. The fact that Ace's father had been the previous Pirate King, that Sabo's parents were nobles and had helped kill hundreds at the old home in East Blue and that Luffy's father was a Revolutionary and the most wanted criminal alive. Luffy trusted Whitebeard and they trusted Luffy's decisions without question, but some secrets were best kept secret until they knew they could completely trust the crew which they had just become a part of.
The conversation eventually turned to the Devil Fruits that were still lined up on the deck. "So…" Marco asked turning to Thatch, "What are you going to do about your Devil Fruit-yoi?"
Thatch looked at Marco with a horrified expression. "I don't care so long as I never see the thing again!"
The other commanders laughed and turned to the brothers "That is a good point." Izo said. "Oyaji accepted you so there was no need to take them, they're still technically yours. Though Thatch's fruit will have to be kept for safe-keeping since it's too dangerous to be sold and Thatch certainly doesn't want to eat it."
Ace and Sabo looked at each other in confusion, they hadn't considered Whitebeard not taking the fruits as exchange for them joining the crew. "Truthfully I don't really care." Sabo said after a few moments. "It might be useful to keep one to sell off, since we have no money but thinking about it, the fruits belong to Luffy. We'll have to wait for her to wake up so that we can ask her about it.
The conversation ended when they heard a shout coming from the crow's nest.
"Oyaji, there's a ship approaching!"
"Who is it?" Whitebeard called back. "Pirate or Marine?"
"It's a pirate ship!" The caller paused for a few moments for they assumed the caller was trying to identify the incoming ship.
"It's the Yonko, Red-Hair!"
The two brothers looked at each other in confusion, both having the same thoughts, 'What on earth is Shanks doing here?'
* An upright kneeling position which is traditionally used in Japan
