Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece, just the OC(s)
Chapter 39.
"Hey Latte, are you—"
"Don't. Call. Me. That." Charlotte interrupted with a warning glare.
"But the kids call you that." Shachi interjected again with a pair of finger guns directed at the only two who seemed to get away with calling Charlotte 'Latte'. Why? They had no clue, the Hearts wanted to get a nickname going too now that they were closer. "It's cute. What about Char then?"
Charlotte ignored the comment, instead responding with, "Shouldn't you be with the other two mechas fawning over Grebbon and his work?" Cole and Penguin were there to observe while Charlotte continued her hunt.
"I would have but Kozu was adamant that I come along to cockblock yours and Captain's date." Shachi threw back with a sigh, remembering the hit the little kid did to his pride. It was either Shachi or Penguin since Cole would just pick fights and cause trouble. Apparently, he wasn't a potential threat or love rival. He grabbed his head, beading over backwards with a groan, remembering the once over the kid gave him. "I'll get back at him for that!"
Charlotte stared at the other quietly, completely lost in the male's strange action. "I'm glad you came though." Her words jarred the other out of his anguish and he spun around to look at the huntress as if she was a godsend. "Otherwise, we would have all starved or died from food poisoning." His face dropped, gaze drifting back towards the large pot of curry he'd made. Shachi was deemed the chef for the night when the twins started complaining about being hungry and a quick cooking test proved him the best choice amongst the three of them.
"My cooking isn't that awful." Law defended as he brought in the remaining plates. The two shot him a look, faces grim as they recalled the black and purple sludge. He flinched at their faces. "At least it was something I made." He added quickly, remembering Charlotte's food option of just eating bread.
"Hey! At least mine's edible!" Charlotte snapped back immediately. "What if you gave the kids food poisoning?!"
"I'm a doctor! I can fix that!"
"That's why you're a doctor?!"
Shachi sighed as he watched the two growling at each other now, faces shoved against each other. The fuzzy edge of Law's hat pressing against Charlotte's forehead. A married couple's argument. He deadpanned, turning away from the two and picking up the stack of plates that the two had brought in. He turned on the faucet, crying silently to himself. He wasn't a cockblock, he was a third wheeler. A slave who did all the chores. He started washing the dishes while the other two continued to bicker behind him. He was a maid.
"Why were we cooking for the brats anyway? I thought you said their parents would be here!" Law exclaimed, exhausted and Shachi perked up at that. That was a good question. When they arrived back at their house, the place was empty. Deserted for a while based on how things looked. Charlotte explained that they've been away busy with a job but should be returning today.
"I didn't know they weren't back yet! They're scheduled to come back today. Maybe something came up and delayed them! How am I supposed to know everything? Why don't you start pulling your share?" Shachi sighed at Charlotte's comment, keeping his thoughts to himself. Cole's right. She's like a stalker.She even figured out the parent's schedule for the day.
"Mommy's back!" Came a shout from the dining room and Charlotte's face twisted into a smug grim. Told you so! She shot before the sound of chairs scraping and the door unlatching spook the three pirates. How did they know she was back if the door hadn't been open yet? Shachi and Law turned towards the huntress, taking in her equally surprised gaze. Howdid they know someone was here before Charlotte did?
"Wait, kids!" Charlotte was the first one out of the kitchen rushing forward to intercept them at the door should whomever on the other side be unfriendly instead. Law hid from view, ready to call his room at any unsavory sounds from Charlotte's first address. His trusty nodachi already by his side while Shachi dried his hands, keeping the water purposefully running in case they were listening in.
Charlotte cursed when she caught sight of Kozu stretched out, fingertips just scrapping by enough to turn the handle open while Kora stood by the door's edge pushing it wide open. The door swung open, and Charlotte froze on the spot, eyes blown wide at the person standing on the other side.
"Latte, sweetie, are you okay? It's okay, don't cry. Mommy's here." Her mother murmured into the crown of her child's head, sapphire eyes darting towards the large burn on her back with unease and worry. They need a doctor, fast.They'll be a scar…she realized disheartened at the idea of Charlotte growing up bullied by the ugly scar. But that was a problem for another day. Today, they needed to get away and somewhere safe first. "Mommy will fix everything. Just stay behind me, okay Latte?" She placed a gentle kiss on the teary-faced child. "Stay behind me." She murmured, pushing the trembling child behind her as she turned to face their assailant, a pained expression on her face.
Charlotte could barely remember her mother leaving her side—her mind overwhelmed by the pain searing through her trembling body. She could barely recall the conversation that took place, her cries and trembles drowning out the loud screams and shouts—people were fighting. Charlotte could barely remember anything that happened until all time seemed to freeze.
Teary eyes seemed to dry instantly, along with the pain, the noises—everything stopped—insignificant except for the sound of her mother screaming, the warmth of red blood splattering across her face, and the sight of her pale mother, limp on the floor, one blue and one platinum eyes frozen in shock and pink lips parted in half gasp and half scream. The blue contact she wore on the floor and her eyes dulled to black.
She was probably wrong. Terribly wrong. Charlotte knew better than to believe the sight before her. Yet, she found herself unable to look away—to even blink in case the action does away with the image, the cruel illusion. Still, she couldn't help but hope that this was reality and somehow, she had been awfully, terribly wrong these past fifteen years.
She knew better.
Yet. She couldn't help it.
"Mom?"
Her gut twisted uncomfortably—bitterly and Charlotte felt incredibly stupid when the woman's lips curled into a sad understanding smile. "I'm sorry for your loss." Kora's mother said softly. She reached out to touch Charlotte's gloved hands gingerly. Tears pooling around her kind eyes, unshed by sheer willpower. "Sorry, I didn't mean to have pried into your memory like that. It sort of happens automatically because of our abilities, but we can stop it if we're fast enough. I just wasn't expecting… I'm terribly sorry. My name is Elora, mother of these two." Elora explained softly, and Charlotte inhaled sharply. She bit at her bottom lip in realization. Those tears were hertears. "My children are also quite adept at picking up strong feelings."
A pair of arms wrapped around Charlotte's leg from behind and Charlotte turned back to see Kozu at her side, burying his face into her thigh. "It's alright. I'm here to protect you." He promised, tears falling from the corner of his eyes. Kora started sniffling next to them. "I won't call you Latte-nee anymore."
Great. They knew. They all knew. God, did she hate their abilities. Charlotte tilted her head towards the sky, inhaling deeply and forcing her wet eyes to dry. She plopped a gloved hand against the Kora's head. "It's fine. Call me whatever you like." She breathed, still looking up. Her words sounded so far away from herself. Don't you dare cry, Charlotte!
Meanwhile, Shachi elbowed Law from where they were spying in the kitchen, "Why are they all crying?" He murmured, slightly disturbed. "Was crying when opening the door some kind of greeting here or did they just really miss each other that much?"
Law stared silently at the huntress who seemed to hold the most weight despite being the only one silent.
Charlotte's gaze flickered towards the woman as she returned from having put the children to bed. She was a beautifully stunning woman with the same black hair as her children that she styled in two skinny fishtail braids that ended around her collar. Her bangs swept gently to the side, showing more of her small heart-shaped face. Gentle ruby red eyes stood out on her face, contrasting with her naturally pink lips. Charlotte tucked her chin into her chest, angry with herself. So, what if they look similar and gave off the same vibe? The colour's all wrong!
Elora only gave her another soft apologetic look. No one would fault her for being reminded of a memory because they saw something familiar. "I believe you had a question for me?" She nudged gently sitting before the huntress.
Law watched Charlotte's behaviour silently. Her sudden hesitation or lack of motivation was a startling contrast to her earlier earnest and speed at hunting for her heart. Something had happened in the moment the two of them met. Unlike Shachi's assumption, Law didn't believe for one moment that crying was a normal greeting here. Despite the puffiness around the family's eyes, Charlotte's dry ones seemed heavier than theirs and he could probably guess why knowing the town's unusual ability.
"We're looking for something." Law started when Charlotte didn't and Elora's gaze shifted towards him, though not without hesitation. Red eyes lingering as if not wanting to part from Charlotte. When it finally did, Law was able to see the panic that filled her eyes. Their ask and why they were there finally settling into the Empath. "We're looking for a hu—"
"The relic." Law and Shachi turned towards the huntress, confusion on their faces. Wasn't Charlotte looking for her heart? "I'm looking to the ancient relic: a heart encased in glass."
Law sucked in a breath at the phrasing. Was this why Charlotte had been able to get different results than them? Because while they were looking for a human heart, she was looking for a heart encased in glass. The item of interest, the same, but what the phrasing meant to the audience was completely different. He knew the moment he saw Elora's reaction.
What was this heart encased in glass? He supposed that would be a more beautiful way of addressing his ability. The blue box could be mistaken for glass, he supposed if viewed from afar, but anyone would be able to tell from touching it that the material was clearly not glass.
"… what makes you so certain that I would know where a folktale legend of an item be?" Elora started after a moment, her voice trembling slightly. She played with the hem of her skirt. Her hands suddenly clammy.
Charlotte's gut twisted at the woman's reaction. She knew that Elora wasn't—that she was someone else apart from her own mother. Still watching the other's woman uneasy because of her hurts."Your job." Charlotte forced the two words out of her mouth, feeling sick as the other jolted. Red eyes snapped to platinum ones. "Where did you put it? My heart?"
The pirates tensed suddenly. This was the woman who had Charlotte's heart?! How did Charlotte know that? When did she find out? Was this why she's been hanging out witch Kora, the daughter of the one who took her heart? But the woman had been away had she not? She also wasn't carrying anything with her when she returned. Where would she hide a beating human heart? So many questions popped into Law's mind from the simple interaction.
Elora's lips faltered. Tears budded at the corner of her eyes, and she gave the huntress a genuine smile. "It was yours." She breathed, relieved. She reached out to grab the other's hands and Charlotte inhaled sharply. The feeling so familiar despite it being their first time meeting. "You are such a kind child. Thank you." Now it made sense why she felt such a deep connection with Charlotte. Why she was able to peer so deeply and vividly into someone she had just met. It was because, they didn't just meet. It was because Charlotte had been beside her for the last few days, ever since that heart showed up.
Now it was Charlotte's turn to be confused. "Kind?" She felt like throwing up. She and her plan were anything but kind. She was here to take away the relic of their people. The heart that gave birth to their ability and the one that they revered and gave them solstice.
Elora nodded. "Yes. I'm alive here today and able to see my children because of you." Elora explained, only adding more confusion amongst the pirates. This was the first time they have ever met the woman. "Your heart gave me courage, directing me away from dangers and keeping the Wilderbeast at bay as I crossed the Undead Forest." She exclaimed with a soft smile, commenting lightly on how terrifying it was for her and completely missing the stunned air around the three pirates as they took in her words.
"Um… and where is that heart now?" Shachi asked, face pale and hoping with all his might that he was drawing the wrong conclusion. That he was wrong.
Elora turned towards the other. A smile plastered on her face and Law scowled at the expression. "Why in the forest, of course! My job was to leave it there as an offering."
They paled. Charlotte's heart was in the middle of a man-eating forest where none was to enter.
"Why would you do that?" Shachi exclaimed, jumping to his feet quickly. They needed to move quick or else Charlotte could collapse at any moment.
Elora folded her hands over each other. "There is a legend here on the Wilderbeasts' origins. According to this legend, the Wilderbeasts were once docile and calm. Tamed by a lonely deity called Cephenrene. The Wilderbeasts and Cephenrene lived in harmony together. It wasn't until Cephenrene was hunted and her bodily pieces consumed by humans did the Wilderbeasts, who had witnessed everything, turned vicious."
"Why would people want to devour her?" The pirates asked and the Empaths eyes grew eerie bright. The colour like blood.
"For the powers that came with it." The Heart Pirates tensed, drawing parallel with Joval and the cannibal tribe. Elora's glare dropped, replaced with a much more humane look. "No, we're not cannibals. Yes, our ancestors were the ones who stumbled upon Cephenrene's heart and with it we gained our abilities to read hearts. But we weren't the only ones. Cephenene's blood that soaked the soils of the forest gave birth to the Undead Forest; the trees became vampiric, drunk on the blood of a god. It's not that different than those who consume Devil Fruit for abilities." Her eyes locked at the two Devil Fruit user, words pointed and sharp. She knew.
"But with all powers, there comes a cost. The Wilderbeasts hate us for reasons I'm sure you can guess. To placate them, I figured I return to them the heart of the one whom they're calling revenge for." She gestured to Charlotte. "I hadn't thought that it could have been someone else's heart. To think another could live on without a heart." The heart wasn't the first organ of Cephenrene to be removed; she had offered up her body pieces for the beasts she called her treasures when food became sparse. A mistake on her part as then the people grew to realize what they could gained from consuming her—a being beyond human.
"Why are you telling us this? Your ability should have easily caught up on our intention by now." Law spoke, a sinking uncomfortable feeling coiling in the pits of his stomach. She hadn't shown a single sign of worry as she spoke despite knowing that they came to take away the item she worked so hard to put away.
Elora turned towards the tall doctor, eyes calm and steady as she spoke. "Because I know that you and your crew will be unable to retrieve it. The Undead Forest is a blood thirsty, man-eating forest filled with vampiric trees and the Devil's spawn. Even Empaths with our abilities to read through intents, and thus, attacks, can barely make it through the forest alive. If you lot try to go in searching for something you don't even know where, you'll be easily done in by the trees or the Wilderbeasts." The smile on her face mismatched to the prophecy spilling from her lips.
Law scowled at the words and despite the prideful part of him wanting to say that the woman was wrong. That his crew and him was tough. He saw the woman when she thanked Charlotte earlier. She was terrified. And if their ability really allows them the clairvoyance they project, then she should have an accurate gauge of their abilities already. In other words, only those with Kenbunshoku Haki mastery had even a smidge of a chance of survival. "Why did you go into such a dangerous place?" She mentioned an offering.
Elora turned back towards the silent huntress and beamed again. "Thank you for offering your heart to the forest as sacrifice. I'm sure the beasts will become docile again once they consume your heart. They would be reunited forever and together, and then we can live great free of the beasts."
The chair scraped loudly and uncomfortably against the floor. The thud noise it made as it toppled over echoed loudly in the tense air. "What?! If they do that then, Charlotte here…!" Shachi exclaimed, anger flaring at the knowing smile Elora gave. He turned towards the quiet huntress and their grim captain. "We'll definitely get your heart back before a beast eats it! I promise you. Don't you worry one bit, Char! Ain't that right, Captain?" His cheeky grin faltered at the dark look that Law wore. "Captain?" He repeated, unsurely when the other looked away.
Law clicked his tongue and his nodachi reappeared in his hand. "You've been in and out of that forest. What is keeping us from making you go grab it again?"
Elora folded her hands in her lap and straightened up. "I wouldn't do that if I was you. My husband will be home soon. I'll warn you now. He's a marine." Shachi scoffed. Since when do Marines scare them? Elora's gaze turned towards the pirates. "He's a vice admiral in training." She answered just as the door behind her opened up.
"I'm back, Honey! Did you miss me?" The large male exclaimed as he entered. He sat on the floor to yank off his leather boots. He spotted the extra pairs of shoes next to his. "Do we have guests?" He turned towards their guests and the smile on his face disappeared.
Along with the rest of him.
Charlotte slammed into the far wall, breath escaping from her with a cough upon impact. Her arms quivering and the table she pulled with her to block the blow snapped in half. "I guess the rumors are true. You two are working together." The husband and marine hissed, red eyes drifting towards the captain Charlotte had ungracefully kicked out of the way. Another pirate was by his side, checking for injuries while the two of them stared up at their hunter pinned under the larger marine. He was impressed with the woman's speed. To think she managed to get Law out of the way before he reached him. Too bad for her, all she managed to do was take the hit instead. He lined up his finger against her.
Charlotte gasped painfully. I've been shot?! Charlotte thought quizzically, the cries of her team a blur in the back as her eyes landed on the single finger prodding out of her. It wasn't a bullet. But the pain and speed certainly felt like one.
"Charlotte!" Shachi called when Charlotte coughed up blood from the hit. Law was quick to set up his room and shambles Charlotte to them. Their eyes dropping instantly to the single puncture wound embedded into the flesh just under her collarbone. The wound inches deep and quickly filling with blood.
"Idiots! Don't keep us all gathered in one spot" Charlotte scolded when her mind caught back to reality. She kicked one of them away again and quickly flipping out her blade to block in the incoming slicing kicks. She grunted at the heavy impact and blood poured out profusely through the hole in her shoulder. She knocked back into Law and the two of them tumbled into the wall.
"Captain! Char!" Shachi called from the other side and paled a moment later at the ominous aura behind him.
"I don't think you have time to be worrying about others." Ignacio warned from behind.
"Shambles!" Law cried loudly, appearing where Shachi just was. Hands held before him, thumbs facing each other. "Counter Shock!"
"Did we get him?" Shachi called excitedly, popping his head out of the rubble from where he and Law had traded spots. He helped Charlotte up, mindful of her weakened side, but keeping his focus on the smoke puff from where the other was electrocuted.
"That would have been dangerous. Tekkai doesn't cover for elemental attacks." Igancio's voice echoed through the shadows and the pirates clicked their tongues. Law narrowed his eyes at the implication of the words just then. He was able to keep up with Law shamble and combo just now. Something that most weren't able to.
"You forget, you're at my home and my people know exactly what you're thinking of doing next." He said, appearing next to Law with his leg already drawn back for another slicing kick. He grinned at the surprise on Law's face, grey eyes wide on the incoming shin right before his face. "Ryankyaku!"
Igancio's eyes widened when a purple blur appeared between them, black tinted silver glinting in the light as blades that weren't there before blocked his kick. This time only being pushed back slightly. His lips jeered to the side at the fierce glare the huntress shot back at him. "You're a speedy one. Did you train in Soru?"
Soru?The two thought and the vice admiral in training decided to answer their unspoken question. "Soru is one of the six techniques of Rokushiki where users can move at extremely high speed. It's twice now you kept up with me." He paused and continued. "Yes, both the slicing kick and the bullet finger as you called it are forms of Rokushiki."
"Chatterbox." Charlotte and Law commented in annoyance, much to the other's annoyance. Their thoughts were being read. How were they going to attack to get in if he could pre-read their moves?
"You can't." He grinned from behind them, and Law cursed. Both male's eyes went wide when Charlotte moved forward throwing a punch directly and right at where the other had appeared. Ignacio cursed as he was sent flying into the staircase. If he had properly mastered kami-e, he could have dodged that. No, maybe not.He corrected, wondering how the huntress was able to react so quickly. He didn't even have time to get a read of the attack from her heart. It was like she… moved on instincts!"How feral of a monster you are." He commented with a sly grin. Instincts in retaliation to what? Could she see the future?
Charlotte flinched. "You know nothing of me!" Charlotte screamed, pushing off the balls of her feet charging forward, blades flipped out and ready to maim.
"Wait! He said Rokushiki, there should be six forms! We don't know it all yet!" Law's warning falling on deaf ears as Charlotte continued her barrage, keeping the other at bay. Though her attacks didn't seem to do much damage to the other. Almost as if he had hardened his skin. Law's eyes widened when Charlotte leaped up, both arms raised for a downward slash, leaving her center open. An opening the vice admiral in training easily picked up on.
"Shambles!" He swapped Charlotte's spot with a pudding that they had set aside for dessert. The pudding plopped against the ground upon impact while the Ryankyaku kicked continued onwards to the wall behind. A clean cut appeared across the wall, separating the top from the bottom.
Charlotte's eye widened as the top floor started to shake and slide. "Law!" Charlotte's voice echoed through the debris and Law frowned at the command. He was the one who gave orders not following them. Regardless, the blue film shot out around them again. The house around them wasn't going to last. The last attack compromised the structure of it.
"I have the twins!" Shachi shouted and Law nodded. "Shambles!"
Ignacio pivoted on his heel quickly. "Where are you taking my family?!" He roared, reading her intent. Law and Shachi disappeared along with the twins whilst Charlotte bounded towards Elora. The two of them tumbling through the open door Ignacio had entered from.
The house collapsed around the marine.
"Daddy!" The twins cried, dramatically. Kozu started thumping his tiny fists against Shachi's shoulders only to have them freeze when his dad popped out of the rumble of what was once their house unscathed.
"How dare you hold my family hostage!" Igancio roared, red eyes locked in on Shachi with his twins in each arm. "This is why I cannot stand pirates like y—" His shouts interrupted when a hand smacked against the top of his head, knocking his chin into his collar.
"What is wrong with you? Attacking our guests suddenly like that!" Elora huffed as Charlotte place the petite woman down gingerly.
Ignacio deflated, tending to the sore spot on his head sheepishly as he turned back to his wife. "G-guests?"
"Yes, G.U.E.S.T. Guests! Guests who were so kind to watch over our children while you wondered off to do who knows what! Didn't you take vacation so I could go drop off at the offering? Then why have these pirates been looking after our kids since yesterday?!" She repeated punctuating each question with a stab to the larger male's chest. "You know Kora! She's just like me, she picks up on other's wavelengths way too easily! Ah, no, she's worst! She's also curious. What would happen if she walked up to some strange and weird people?"
The pirates stared at the scene in utter silence, unsure whether to let Elora know that they wereweird and strange people. Criminals, actually, like Ignacio was trying but failing to explain. The Heart Pirates wanted to laugh when Kozu and Kora jumped into the squabble, more upset that their father had attacked their Latte-nee than the fact that their father had taken the brunt of the house collapsing on them. Kozu cried about how he wasn't able to protect his Love. Much to his father's further disdain to the huntress. An emotion that was easily picked up by the rest of the family and resulted in another scolding.
"ALSO, WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT FIGHTING IN THE HOUSE? WHERE WILL THE CHILDREN AND I STAY NOW?"
The Hearts swallowed at the sight sparking memories of their own troubles with their mother in the past. It had been a while since, but this was a clear reminder that moms were scary. Only Charlotte remained quiet towards the scene.
Ignacio paused, eyes catching onto the silent huntress just as she turned away. He wrapped one hand each against his twin children, pulling them closer to him and ignoring their cries of wanting to be with Charlotte. His glare hardened against the woman silently leaving. That woman reeked of danger. "What brings you here, Trafalgar Law?"
Law waited until Charlotte was out of earshot before answering, keeping a tab on her with his Haki. "I want a word with your wife before we leave." Law turned toward the woman who Ignacio immediately shoved behind him.
"And why—"
"I want the information in her head." Law interrupted and stepped forwards towards the shorter woman. It was about time he started pulling his weight in the hunt. "The decision is ultimately yours."
She looked up at the young man whose gaze was so hard it was steely, and she chuckled. "You got to work on that mug of yours, else people may think you're scary." She teased. The man wasn't really honest with himself. "I'm afraid I can't tell you what happened when Charlotte and I first met. It's not my story to share." She apologized with a smile. Her voice was stern and unwavering.
Law clicked his tongue. The woman wasn't afraid of him. She knewhis threat was empty. "Your ability is rather annoying." He commented, scratching his head in annoyance.
She simply smiled back. "As for your next question, the heart is placed in the center of the Undead Forest. There is an altar there and upon the altar is the heart you seek." She outlined anyway, while gently stroking her husband's chest as if to calm him from lashing out again now that he knows what they were seeking for—their people's treasure. "I did not lie in the place. There is no need when I know that you won't be able to reach it." Again, the eerie small smile fitted across her face.
When she spoke next, her words carried with them a strange wisdom. "Before you go, Mr. Handsome, there is something else I can tell you: That woman knows neither friend or foe, only survival."
"You're saying she has killed friends before." Law rephrased.
"I'm just saying it may be in your best interest for you and your crew to part ways at this chanced fork on the road."
With that, she bid the Heart Pirates away, promising that her husband would cause them no further issues after tonight. He would be too busy rebuilding them a house for all the trouble he's caused. It wasn't until long after the pirates had disappeared into the night, far outside of earshot did the Empathic family started speaking again.
Kora came up next to her mother. Their blood-red eyes glowing in the dark night. "Mommy," she called, tugging on her mother's pants leg. Both of their gazes still focused on the direction the pirates disappeared to. "She won't be able to say no to you. If you are the one to go and ask her about it. She can't say no."