(A/N: Thank you so much for your review jansesu. :) And to all those who followed, favorited, and added this story to their alerts. This is probably one of my favorite chapters just because it gives Smoker and Toffee's brother's more scenes. Their interactions with each other in my head just make me giggle. Plus, this part delves a bit more into Toffee and her family's past. I hope you all enjoy. ^_^)
At the sound of angered voices in the distance, Toffee released the now silent princess to see why the commotion had yet to die down. The explosion had been powerful enough to knock those engaged in battle to the ground, yet instead of being alarmed by what happened, they had chosen to stand and once again fight the closest person near them.
"How can they still fight...? It's as if everyone has lost their minds..." Toffee whispered, gripping tightly at Smoker's jacket. Did they not realize how close to dying they had come if not for their royal guard sacrificing himself...?
"Please...stop fighting..." Vivi pleaded, standing up and moving closer to the clocktowers opening. Her features were pale and exhausted, yet she shouted louder to the point where she sounded close to losing her voice, "PLEASE...STOP FIGHTING!"
"Vivi..." Zoro murmured, wearing a look of pity for the princess. No matter how much she screamed her heart out, no one listened.
"You dummy..." Nami whispered out with tears shining in her eyes. Letting out a sniffle, Nami started to roughly push at Zoro and Sanji to make them move forward. "You guys! What're you standing there for?! It doesn't matter if you have to punch or kick! Just stop the rebellion! Reduce the number of casualties!"
I'm sure Theo and the others have been trying to do that...but knocking out everyone still won't help Toffee pondered sadly, watching Nami cling to Usopp's bandages as the navigator seemed to be doing the princesses crying for her. If only...there was some way to amplify Vivi's feelings toward everyone...
With Vivi's cries becoming more and more desperate, Toffee pondered if she should join her nakama in the chaos below? Maybe she could force a good number of the rebels and guards' attention onto Vivi...About to head down the clocktower, Toffee instead froze when noticing buildings collapsing further away; her eyes growing huge at the startling sight.
A figure was floating up high in the sky from the edge of the city. His arms were outstretched, and his tattered green coat billowed under him. A stream of sand was at his feet and the sun gleamed from the golden hook that replaced his left hand.
Cr-Crocodile? Then Luffy beat him...he won! Thank goodness...!
Falling to her hands and knees, Vivi's voice trembled. "When our enemies already gone...Don't shed...anymore blood...PLEASE STOP FIGHTING!"
Having been propped up against a nearby wall, Koza panted. Cain had just finished removing the last bullet from his torso and was now stitching up his wounds. The fighting appeared to have escalated, and he needed to hurry and convince his men to cease in their attacks.
"Th-that's good enough...I need to head back-" Koza paused when something cool and wet hit his cheek. To the rebel leader's amazement, he realized it was a droplet of water.
"It's raining?" Cain murmured in awe. What had first started as a small drizzle had slowly turned into a downpour. It was as if the country itself was crying. Possibly the lands way of showing its own happiness that the monster who had been trying to destroy it had been defeated. "Amazing! It's like a miracle!"
"Yeah. It is...The battle will end..." Koza responded quietly, holding out his hand to let the refreshing water fall onto his glove. His own eyes grew watery behind his glasses. He could recall his father's words in his head reassuring him the rain would fall again. To think he had ever doubted him...
"It's about time they came to their senses..." Ashley sighed out. The fighting around them was starting to cease, everyone's attention on the darkened sky. And the silver haired male sat down on the ground beside Deimos who had collapsed onto his back.
"Do you think it was Theo who defeated Crocodile?"
Ashley shook his head and leaned back slightly with a smile. "The man would be a dead bloody mess if it had been big brother...Looks like Toffee's captain is a decent fighter. I'm not sure whether to be pleased by that or not, to be honest."
Chopper gazed around, noticing the billowing sands were starting to vanish. "The air is clearing up due to the rain..."
"PLEASE DON'T FIGHT...ANY MORE...!"
"Vivi's voice has reached everyone..." Nami whispered. Both rebel and royal guard had allowed their weapons to lower, their attention on the blue haired female.
Voices of surprise to see the supposed absent princess echoed around, and the confusion grew more pronounced when Crocodile landed hard enough to crack the pebbled ground beneath him.
"The rain falling right now...will fall again as it used to...since our nightmares...are all over..." Vivi proclaimed, her brown eyes shimmering to show she was trying to hold back from allowing any more tears to fall.
One rebel man scowled. "The nightmares are over...?"
"You can't be serious...?!" another shouted. "There's no way what just happened was just 'nightmares'!"
This statement led more of the rebels to shout and hold up their weapons.
"That's right! We saw the king attack Nanohana with our own eyes!"
"Koza-san was also shot by the royal army!"
"How do you explain the royal army's misconduct up until now?! That's not good enough for those who fell in this rebellion!"
Vivi's lips quivered seeing both sides ready to lunge at each other again. And just when it seemed the situation was hopeless...
"Drop your weapons! Royal army!"
"You too! Rebel army!"
Not only was a wounded Chaka standing atop the palace, but the once believed to be dead Igaram also made his appearance known. And the male was holding a young boy in his arms.
"Igaram..." Vivi sniffled out.
"I'm not sure how he survived...but I'm so happy for you, Vivi-chan," Toffee expressed gently to the emotional girl, recalling how the male's death almost broke the princess.
"Toffee-san, let's head downstairs!"
Shaking her head, the gray-haired woman leaned against the wall. "You go ahead, Vivi-chan. I'll catch up with you later." Once the princess was taking off, Toffee stumbled, her body getting far too close to edge. "Looks like...my exhaustion finally...caught up with me..." Her eyes closing, the former assassin ended up tumbling right off the clock tower.
"EIYEEEEEEE! TOFFEE'S ABOUT TO FALL TO HER DEATH!" Usopp screeched out, beginning to run around in circles in a mad panic alongside a screaming Chopper.
"Don't just stand there! Somebody catch her!" Nami shouted, gripping at her hair. Leave it to their klutz of a log keeper to fall right off the tower instead of coming down it the normal way!
Sanji growled and started to rush forward. "DON'T WORRY, TOFFEE-CHAN! I'M-" His words were cut off when a scoffing Zoro used Sanji's head as leverage to increase his jump, knocking the cook to the ground while he managed to catch the girl in his arms. Though the swordsman slightly winced since he landed a bit too hard back on his feet.
"You're a real pain in the ass," Zoro grumbled out to the unconscious slightly older woman. Between Luffy and her, he was starting to wonder who caused them more problems.
Letting out a breath of relief, Nami gave a faint smile. "At least she's okay. I guess she pushed herself too hard...Of course, I'm starting to feel pretty tired myself..."
Sanji glowered at Zoro, dusting off his clothes as he stood up. "I'll deal with you later, moss head...Right now, I'm more worried about Nami-san and Toffee-chan. Let's go find somewhere to rest,"
Nami nodded her head in agreement at this, glancing back at the tower where she knew the princess still was. "It's better to leave before Vivi gets here..."
Sitting upon a broken pillar, Theo sighed and scratched underneath his hawk's neck. "I must be insane...I should have killed both of those pirates when I had the chance..."
The moment he had arrived at the underground tombs of the royal family, Theo wasn't sure what to think when he first came across Straw Hat Luffy fast asleep. Wasn't he supposed to be fighting Crocodile? He had almost stabbed his blade through the unexpecting male's stomach due to sheer annoyance, but Lilith had pecked him painfully in the cheek; her way of knocking some sense into him.
When the idiot finally decided to awaken and take the situation more seriously, Theo had observed him. He expected Crocodile would kill the kid and then that would leave him to finish off Crocodile...To his immense shock, that wasn't the outcome. The brat had managed to not only beat a warlord, but he had enough strength to send the guy sailing through massive amounts of dirt and concrete and directly into the middle of where all the fighting was taking place.
"And even more...the kid was exhausted, yet he carried the king and that woman out of the tombs..." Theo murmured to himself, running a hand through his hair. "A pirate saving others...it really is like a bad joke..."
When Lilith screeched at him directly in his ear, Theo groaned and dug his finger in it. "Yeah, yeah. I know Toffee wouldn't align herself with anyone bad...Doesn't mean I have to like any of this..."
His pet taking to the sky where she easily flew in the rain, despite feeling the urge to take a nap, Theo jabbed his hands in the pockets of the black pants he wore and trudged off.
Might as well meet up with the others. There's no reason for us to be here any longer...And I'll let Toffee remain with those pirates...At least for now.
Six hours later...
"Honestly! Calling me here out of the blue like this! And what's the deal with this rain, Smoker-kun?! Don't tell me you used the dance powder?!"
Grabbing the marine coat one of his officers handed to him, Smoker scoffed at the irritated pink haired woman who stood before him as he pulled the jacket over his broad shoulders. "You idiot. I know better than to commit a crime. The Alabasta King kept his hands off of this powder. What's the point in me going against his morals now?"
Not only that, but he had also only arrived aboard the ship Crocodile had been using to fire the dance powder. Hina and her men were already here by the time he arrived.
"Oh, excuse me. I apologize," Hina voiced with a mild hint of exasperation. "I can't believe the 'White Hunter' of all men would say something sweet. I wonder if you've mellowed out a little..."
Sitting down in the captain's seat, Smoker peered back at the woman. "That's none of your business,"
"Smoke-kun is definitely a major softie!"
"Yep! He had the chance to arrest us and our sister, but he chose not to!"
"Seriously, Smoker-kun. You must put Tashigi through a lot of trouble with those rash decisions of yours," Hina huffed out, crossing her arms over her chest. The brown eyed woman blinked multiple times, only comprehending a couple of strangers had entered the vessel. "WHO ARE YOU AND HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET ON THIS SHIP?!"
"Has anyone ever told you how cute you look when you lose your temper?" Ashley mused with a flirtatious smile. When the long-haired woman aimed a punch at him, Ashley quickly dodged to see the marine officer had left a good-sized hole in the wall. "Ooh! And your feisty, too! That's always a good combination~"
"Try not to destroy the ship. I want you to take it in along with Crocodile when Tashigi brings him here," Smoker spoke up after letting out a puff of smoke from his newly lighted cigar. "And I figured you fools were in the middle of the battlefield. Why the hell are you here?"
"Oh, we were. But Theo wants to hurry up and leave as soon as possible, so we rushed over here," Deimos replied with a grin, his arms moving behind his head. "The ship we came on is around this area. Figured we'd come see what you were up to before we boarded."
Hina scowled at the three men. "I recognize you now...You're those assassins who caused a great deal of trouble in the East Blue. And now you're here on the Grand Line...I haven't decided to take in Crocodile yet, but I'll happily place all of you under arrest!"
"Don't bother. They're not worth arresting at this moment. And you wouldn't be able to if you tried," Smoker claimed, knowing first-hand the siblings were a lot more strong and deadly than they tended to act. "You three have no reason to be here. Hurry up and get out of my sight."
Cain bounced on his feet. "You don't have to be so cross, Smoke-chan! We wanted to thank you for helping our sister!"
"You're definitely still one of the strangest marine captains we've ever had the honor of dealing with," Deimos said with a laugh. "Helping both assassins and pirates...You could have arrested us all at any point, yet you let Toffee and her friends deal with the man your very hq is aligned with."
"Reminds me of when we first met. You were so set on arresting us, but then you changed your mind. I wonder if it was because of our cute little sister?" Ashley hummed out, his smile playful. "Granted she was only eleven then, but perhaps you were curious how she'd be when she was older? I certainly won't fault you for liking your women younger~"
"Eh?! Is that true, Smoke-kun?! Do you really have feelings like that for Toff-chan?!"
"Ah hah hah hah hah! You pervert! Guess it's true what they say about the quiet guys after all!"
His face red and his form twitching, Smoker sent his smoke at all three assassins, wrapping it tight enough around their necks that he made them gag and turn blue. The marine captain further added to their pain when he flung the siblings straight out the window of the front of the ship; not caring that their screaming forms went crashing far off into the sea.
"Didn't you just tell me not to destroy the ship?" Hina mentioned, her features matching her stoic tone. "Despite how long you and I have known one another, it seems there are still some secrets you haven't shared with me. What exactly sort of relationship do you have with those people?"
Leaning back in the swivel chair, Smoker pinched his temple before closing his eyes. "Nothing worth mentioning..."
"So you say, but it isn't like you to not take in criminals like that. Cold blooded murderers like them should be sent straight to Impel Down to suffer for their crimes!" Hina scoffed out, her closed fists moving to rest on her waist.
Unfortunately, I can't completely agree with that assessment...They may be actual demons, but they often protect others better than even us marines...
Eleven years ago...
A male of twenty-three gazed at the illustrious manor that stood before him from behind the thick tree where he concealed his form. This was one of the first assignments Smoker had been entrusted to lead. It was the reason for his current caution. He didn't plan on making a single mistake.
Still, the eerie quietness of the manor and the lack of guards was unnerving. Had they already been killed? The call navy headquarters received of the Rothhall estate under attack was cut short, and with Smoker being the closest to the location, he had been asked to head there and make certain Hercus and his family were safe.
Hercus was a ship merchant and had strong ties with the marines. If he was killed, not only would it look bad on the navy's part, but they would lose a close ally and supplier...
"I hear the group attacking this place are said to be assassin's..."
"I-is that really true?"
"If this is the man I've heard rumors about, he's already killed some prominent people..."
"Why the heck did they put some rookie in charge instead of sending someone like Aokiji?! Or even Kizaru or Akainu if this guy is that dangerous!"
Gritting his teeth, Smoker turned his attention on his 'cowardly' companions and caused many to jump when he spoke up roughly, "We're going to surround the manor. There's only supposed to be six of these so-called assassins while the building has three exits. Even if they try some crazy stunt like jumping out a window, there's over a hundred of us. Shoot them down before they have a chance to strike you."
The men scurried off when Smoker gave them the signal to move into position, deciding to screw caution to the wind as he moved to the front exit. Pulling out a large Den Den Mushi that would increase the volume of his voice, Smoker voiced sternly, "I suggest you criminals come out now! We have the manor surrounded! Send out all the hostages and you won't be leaving here in a body bag!"
Five minutes passed by, and Smoker narrowed his eyes. At this rate, it appeared he would have to enter the house. Even with his Devil Fruit, he might be struck down if they were waiting to ambush any marine foolish enough to enter...Yet continuing to wait here and allowing the family to be placed in further danger wasn't an option either.
"Hold your fire!" Smoker shouted at the resounding click of multiple guns being readied when the front door was opening. His brown eyes had noticed the hand was that of a child, and he was a bit taken by surprise when seeing a small boy with long blond hair coming out holding his arms up in a surrendering gesture.
"The hostages are coming out! So don't shoot, okay?" he said with a bright smile. The fact that he didn't appear frightened having a plethora of weapons directed at him made Smoker frown. Just what was up with this brat?
This wasn't the only shock Smoker would receive that night. He expected to see the Rothhall family being escorted out with weapons pointed at them, yet men, women, and children in tattered and dirty clothing were exiting the establishment; many of them giving the marines looks of fear.
"Wh-what is going on, sir?" one marine officer questioned as he approached the white-haired male.
Smoker was unable to answer. He was uncertain of that himself, but when seeing a male around his early forties leaving the house with an unconscious girl in his arms and three boys-one appearing to be around Smoker's age, another a teenager, and the other looking to be around the same age as the first boy who'd come out-he moved closer with a sharp glare donning his features.
"Where is Hercus Rotthall and his family?"
"Dead." the messy dark-haired young adult uttered out coldly, sending his own glare at Smoker.
Smoke swirling around the head marine's form, Theo reached for his own weapon, only to frown when Altair extended out an arm to stop his oldest from doing anything rash.
"I understand your job is to apprehend us, but your focus should be more on those poor individuals," Altair murmured, shifting the small girl in his hold. "Most of them have been locked in the basement for weeks, some even months. And from what they told us, they were barely provided with any form of nourishment. I gather they must be starving and cold. It's chilly tonight."
His cigar almost fell from his mouth when Smoker's lips parted. "What the hell are you trying to say, old man? That Rotthall was keeping these people locked up in his house...?"
"Yeah. These 'people' were being groomed to be sold into slavery. If you marines bothered to do any research into what his true merchandise really was or check out the people you associate with, maybe you could have stopped him sooner," Theo uttered out venomously. "Or maybe you knew and were just trying to keep it under the rug...?"
"Cut that shit out, Theo," Altair grumbled, giving a small smack to the male's head and causing the others to giggle at their older brother being scolded. "The shocked look on his face is enough to show he had no clue what was going on..." Unleashing a heavy sigh, Altair shook his head. "Your still young, so I'm sure you haven't seen the darker side of humanity yet."
"...How do I know any of this is the truth?" Smoker voiced lowly. Sensing their captains doubt, while most of the marines had lowered their weapons at the disturbing revelation, they once again pointed them at the assassins.
Theo and Ashley prepared to fight back, but they paused when a young boy, who looked no older than seven, ran up and tugged on Smoker's pants.
"You're not going to fight them, are you, mister? They helped get us out of those cages. And the girl even killed that mean man...Even if it was a little scary..."
Smoker's wide eyes focused on the child in Altair's hold. She was covered in more blood than the others, and at first, he wasn't certain if she was wounded or not...Now he was being told she was the one who had killed Hercus Rotthall. Just how was he supposed to take that?
"...If there's one thing I regret tonight, it's that I allowed Toffee to see that man. Let alone deal with him," Altair stated mournfully. "Her father hurt her and her mother along with countless others...I thought she'd gain some closure, but I was wrong..."
"And she ended up stabbing Hercus thirty times. She looked even more vicious than Theo normally does," Ashley added with a small shiver.
Gripping at his head that was trying to process all the information he was given, Smoker grumbled out, "...You're telling me that girl killed Hercus? And that she's his daughter...? I know that's a lie. Hercus only had two daughters and three sons..."
Cain gasped and leaned into his twin. "We only killed one girl!"
"Whoops! Guess she wasn't home! That might be bad..." Deimos said, pushing down on his fedora.
"Toffee's his illegitimate daughter. I imagine he didn't want anyone to know he bedded a woman in a brothel," Altair expressed in a bitter tone. "I suppose I have no right to ask this of you when we're enemies...but keep it secret that Toffee killed Hercus. It would only increase her bounty and put her in further danger if it's discovered..."
"Does it matter? This girl, those brats, and you will be rotting away in a jail cell any ways,"
While Ashley and Theo both glared at the punk looking marine, Altair snickered.
"You've got guts, kid. What's your name?"
"Tch! I see no reason to give a criminal my name!"
Even if he did save innocent civilians...
"Altair. Theo. Ashley, Deimos. Cain. Toffee," the bearded male said casually with a smirk, motioning to each individual. "You've got some manners, right? It's only polite to give a name back in return."
Grinding his teeth, the marine officer practically spat out, "Smoker!", something that caused his men to sweat drop since he almost sounded like a sulking child.
Hearing Cain and Deimos laughing about his 'silly' name, Smoker's body jerked around from annoyance. And he glowered at Altair when he placed a hand on his shoulder in a friendly manner, acting as if they were good buddies just having a normal conversation.
"Tell you what. Considering enough blood has been spilt today, if you feel so inclined to arrest us, we won't resist," Altair mused, his words not only making his kids cry out in protest, but those they saved as well. "But you learned today not everything is always black and white...My family are monsters, there is no denying that. Yet sometimes you have to commit heinous deeds of evil in order to stop far worse immoral acts..."
Staring down at a peacefully breathing Toffee, Altair smiled serenely. "Just make sure I'm the main one who suffers punishment. I turned these brats into killers, so I've accepted the fact that one day I'll be going to hell for it."
Smoker stared at the much taller male with an unreadable expression. He didn't like the doubts coursing through his head or the twisted sensation he felt in his gut.
"Just get out of my sight. You were already gone by the time I arrived, and the family was dead,"
"C-captain Smoker?!"
Altair was stunned for a brief moment, soon letting out a deep chuckle. "You're a good kid...We'll take the hostages with us. I hate to say this, but there may be some marines who would rather silence them than have it be learned Rotthall was trafficking humans...He'll still be seen as an innocent man while we were his heartless killers. That's how it should be."
"Papa...what happened...?"
Blinking for he hadn't even realized Toffee had awoken, Altair grinned down at her. "Nothing. We're about to head home...Thank Smokey here for letting us go,"
Tilting her head in confusion, Toffee peered over at the white-haired man who had his eyes closed, but veins were pulsing like mad on his forehead for some reason.
"Thank you...Smokey..." Toffee conveyed with a tired smile.
"...Hurry up and leave before I change my mind."
Often, Smoker wondered if he had made the right decision back then. The Rothhall manor had been a blood bath. Not only had the Shadow Strikers slaughtered the family, that including a five-year-old boy...but they had killed the maids and butlers as well. The sight had caused some of the men with him at the time to become violently ill while others had fled from the household, not able to handle the sight before them.
Yet every man there had sworn not to reveal the truth. A few even have resigned from the marines after they returned home, no longer able to serve those they once believed stood solely for justice...
Hercus had been the one to suffer the worst fatal wounds that eye opening day. His tear-stained face had been left in a state of open mouth horror while stab wounds covered his chest and stomach. He found it hard to believe Toffee had committed such a vicious act.
No wonder the girl was a little messed up...
"Reminiscing, are we?"
Smoker's closed eyes slowly peeked open to gaze at Theo who was leaning against the wall with a bored expression. "Were you listening to my thoughts? That's an invasion of privacy, you know,"
"You might not believe me, but I have no desire to know what goes through that head of yours. You are just easy to read," Theo commented with a small smirk. He turned his attention on Hina who was shakily pointing at him. "What?"
"H-how do you weirdo's keep sneaking on board?!"
Theo shrugged at this. "Probably because your marines out there aren't good at guard duty," Ignoring the fuming female officer, Theo yawned and wiped at his eyes. "Where are my brothers?"
"With any luck being eaten by sharks," Smoker scoffed.
"The sharks would spit them out before they end up devouring them," Theo mused, not even fazed by Smoker's rather dark words. "I saw that girl with glasses bringing Crocodile here..."
Smoker's brow lifted at this. "And you didn't intercept to try and kill him? Losing your touch?"
"...I thought about it. Then realized killing an unconscious man that I didn't fight wouldn't sit well with me," Theo mused, stuffing his hands in his jeans and sauntering off. "Make sure the bastard gets a proper punishment."
"I'm not taking credit for his capture. So, who knows what's in store for him,"
Theo paused in his steps and turned to give the marine captain a faint smile. "Something tells me marine headquarters won't have the same idea as you...They'd never accept that pirates saved an entire country...I don't even want to accept it because that just shows how fucked up this crazy world actually is..."
Not saying anything to this, Smoker folded his hands upon his chest and frowned up at the ceiling. Theo might be right about that, but there was no way he was going to accept praise for a feat he didn't accomplish...It pained him to say the Straw Hats had been the heroes today, and not a single person outside of this island would ever know of the feats that transpired this day...