Chapter 37
There was sand everywhere. Thatch could feel it in his shoes, his trousers, his sleeves, and worst of all, his hair. His precious hair. Rouge at least had found a friend, or better yet, another one of Ace's brothers. This time Sabo who was eating in a restaurant. Rouge had immediately sat down next to him without asking and stole his food, so Thatch sighed and sat down on Rouge's other side.
"So you're one of the Whitebeards who kidnapped Ace," Sabo teased, but it sounded strained to Thatch's ears, full of worry and stress. "Any news yet?"
"Still using his vivre card to track him down," Rouge said. "It was pointing here in Alabasta for a while, but either he's left already or he's deeper in."
All the chatter from the customers around them grew silent, and Thatch's haki instantly locked on to the Marine at the doorway. Sabo smirked, glancing over his shoulder, while Rouge tilted her head, eyeing Sabo.
"What are both Twin Blade Thatch of the Whitebeard Pirates and the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army doing here?" A smoking guy asked, glowering at them.
"Surprised you knew who I was for a small East Blue marine," Sabo teased, turning around in his stool. "You're fishing a bit too high above your pay grade, Smoker."
"We're on a date," Thatch added. "No filthy marines around."
"Yeah, shoo!" Sabo waved his hand dismissively. "I'm here for Thatch's hair and Thatch's hair only."
"I knew this relationship was just based on my hair!" Thatch mockingly gasped. "I have more to me than just hair, y'know!"
Rouge snorted.
"I don't know what you two are up to, but I'm not just about to let you walk away," Smoker growled.
"Boring," Thatch groaned.
"Are you sure you want to go down this route?" Sabo raised a brow, his eyes growing cold. "Because I will admit, I'm not in a good mood, and when I'm not in a good mood, I'm rather mean."
"I'm a Marine, and you two are wanted criminals. I'm not just about to let you walk out of here without a fight." Smoker eyed Rouge. "Miss, step back, unless you're with them?"
"-FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDD"
Thatch yelped when Rouge's hand grabbed him, yanking him aside, just as something crashed into Smoker and went flying into Sabo, and where Thatch had been sitting seconds ago. Now he clung to Rouge's arm, staring wide eyed at the kid who might have just murdered Ace's brother and a marine.
"Of course it's Luffy," Rouge groaned.
"Eh?" Thatch blinked, then looked at the kid again. "Oh, hey, wait!" Thatch grinned. "You're Ace's little brother!"
Luffy, who had already stuffed his mouth with food, paused. Before he could talk Rouge planted her hand over his mouth, glowering.
"Swallow before you talk," she growled.
Luffy paled, then nodded and gulped it all down in one go. Jeez, that was one insane devil fruit. Most people would have died trying to inhale all that in.
Luffy grinned as he pulled his face away from Rouge's palm. "Shadow Lady!"
"Shadow Lady?" Thatch blinked.
"I used to be a shadow of myself when Ace was a child," Rouge said. "And Luffy, you might have just murdered Sabo."
"Eh?" Luffy blinked.
She grabbed his head and turned it towards the big hole in the wall.
"I did that?" Luffy blinked.
"YES!" All the patrons yelled.
Thatch laughed. "Ace wasn't kidding. Your are a wild one."
His laughter died off though, because shit, Ace wasn't here to enjoy this. Thatch bit his lip at the thought, grimacing.
"Sabo and a marine were right in range of you," Rouge chuckled. "You knucklehead."
"Shishishishi, it's so good to see you, Shadow Lady! You said Sabo was here. Where's Sabo? And Ace? You're always with Ace-"
"STRAW HAT!"
Luffy screamed when Smoker climbed out the hole, his face livid. Rouge winced as Luffy grabbed all the food, including the bloody plates, and stuffed it all in his mouth in one go. Thatch stared blankly at him. Because what the fuck? How? HE WAS RUBBER BUT STILL!
Luffy bowed, thanking the chef, as muffled as it was, then bolted.
Smoker was on his heels, eyes locked on Luffy and Luffy only. That was reckless for a marine, ignoring the bigger threats. Guess this guy had some personal beef with Luffy then.
Thatch threw a large sum of beli on the table as Sabo ran past, cursing. Rouge laughed and joined them, as Thatch chased after them all.
What in the world was this chaos?
By the seas, he wished Ace was here to enjoy it.
.::.
It took ages to finally get rid of everyone chasing them, but between Thatch, Rouge and Sabo, they managed it. Now they were sailing aboard the Going Merry, a cute little ship, but Thatch could already tell she wasn't going to make it to New World. That journey would be too rough for the sweet girl. Thatch saw Rouge approaching the blue haired girl, bowing her head, as the other Straw Hats all introduced themselves.
"You know each other?" Nami tilted her head at Vivi.
"This is the first time we've met, but we're both from witch clans," Vivi explained, then smiled warmly. "Hello, sister," she greeted Rouge, bowing her head.
It took a moment for Thatch's head to catch up. Right, the royal family of Alabasta was a witch clan. Of shapeshifting? Something like that. They could apparently turn into animals, which Thatch had to admit, sounded very cool.
"You're from a witch clan too?" Nami asked Rouge.
"Yeah, the Portgas Clan. We're elemental witches."
Thatch did see Rouge's eyes briefly go to Sanji, and Sabo had noticed it as well as Sanji, who subtly shook his head, eye desperate. Rouge barely nodded, but Sanji must have caught it, because the desperation eased off. None of the Straw Hats had caught that interaction, which was alarming. How oblivious were these kids?
"What I still can't believe is that you're related to such a well mannered guy, Luffy..." Zoro muttered, eyeing Sabo suspiciously, like he was an alien lifeform or something.
"Thanks for handling all those guys," Sanji said.
"Shishishishi, aren't my brothers great?" Luffy grinned, then paused, eyeing the shoreline, then Rouge, then tilting his head. "But where's Ace? You're always with him. He should be here too."
Rouge's face crumbled. Thatch reached over and squeezed her shoulder gently, wincing at that pained look on her face. Luffy's grin slowly fell, and he tilted his head at her. Sabo patted her back gently, sighing as he took off his hat.
"Shadow Lady? Sabo?" Luffy blinked. "What's wrong?"
Zoro frowned. "What is it?"
Thatch shared a hesitant look with Rouge and Sabo. Sabo sighed, but nodded, but before Thatch could begin, Rouge stepped forward.
"I'll explain," Rouge cut in, her eyes growing sharp. "Luffy. Pay attention."
Luffy instantly straightened up. All the Straw Hats stared at him, their faces a mix of impressed and confused.
"How does she do that?!" Nami screeched.
"What I am about to tell you all is serious," Rouge said, silencing the Straw Hats. "There was a man aboard Whitebeard's ship, the crew Ace joined, who betrayed us. He stabbed Thatch in the back and kidnapped Ace."
Luffy's face went blank. "What?" he blinked.
Rouge scowled. "Really gonna make me repeat myself?" She shook her head. "Marshall D. Teach, once a subordinate of Whitebeard, stabbed one of his brothers in the back and kidnapped Ace," Rouge repeated firmly, eyes sharp.
"Ace wouldn't have been kidnapped!" Luffy snapped. "Liar!"
"Luffy-" Sabo began, scowling, but Rouge's haki grew murderous, making Thatch and Sabo both wince. All the Straw Hats backed up, their faces pale, all except for Luffy and Zoro, but even they looked nervous.
Rouge stormed up to him, her face dark, Zoro went to go in front of Luffy, but Rouge shoved him aside with the hilt of her sword. "Do I look like I would joke about something like this?" Rouge hissed in Luffy's face, grabbing his shirt and shaking him. Luffy grabbed her hand. Face growing paler. "Would I ever tell somebody for fun that my son that I died for had been kidnapped by some backstabbing bastard?! Well, Monkey D. Luffy? IS THAT SOMETHING I WOULD DO?!"
Luffy bit his lip and his eyes looked damp.
"Rouge, give the kid a break-" Thatch began.
"Shut the fuck up!" Rouge barked, not even glancing at him. "You're the Captain of this ship, Luffy! You're supposed to have grown up. If I was an enemy I would have killed you and your entire crew for that insult. You're lucky you're one of my kids, because otherwise you'd be fucking dead!"
Sabo's frown deepened at that.
"It's Ace..." Luffy breathed out shakily. "H-He can't have been kidnapped!"
"Well he was! I was separated from him!" Rouge dumped him back down on his feet. "None of us can find him either. Not Sabo. Not Law. None of us! He's alone." Her voice wobbled. "Teach took my son, Luffy. He took Ace, and I have no idea what he's done to him."
"I'm sorry..." Luffy apologised weakly.
Rouge sighed. "Normally I'd like to just say 'fuck your apology', but you're lucky I actually care about you." She went back over to Thatch's and Sabo's side and crossed her arms, leaning against the railing of the Going Merry. "Ace and I were the ones who found Teach and Thatch, but by this point Teach had held a knife to Thatch's throat."
"Damn him." Thatch's fists clenched tightly, shaking at his sides.
"He forced Ace to hand over his grimoire in order to get Thatch back alive-"
Luffy bristled. "But witches hate having other people hold their grimoires without permission!"
"That's horrible!" Vivi gasped.
Sanji went pale while Nami's and Chopper's faces twisted with disgust and horror. Zoro and Usopp didn't seem to understand what was wrong, only watched their friends' reactions with growing concern.
"Ace handed it over to save my life." Thatch deflated.
He winced when Rouge smacked the back of his head. "Stop blaming yourself, idiot."
"Rouge-" Thatch complained.
"This will be alarming for you witches, nature as Nami, and clan as Vivi, so I suggest getting ready to steady yourselves, and the others to catch you," Rouge suggested. "After Teach got the grimoire, he shoved Thatch at Ace, and before either of us could do anything, Teach cut himself and spilled his blood on to the Portgas grimoire."
Vivi gasped, growing rapidly pale, then her eyes rolled and she collapsed. Nami and Usopp had been ready, because they caught her with a twin set of yelps. All the Straw Hats however were startled when Sanji went down too. It was Zoro who just caught him in time, shocked. Vivi and Sanji were breathing heavily, gasping and breathless, and Thatch could see their faces both quickly growing flushed and sweaty.
"What the hell, Love Cook?" Zoro yelled.
"What happened to Sanji?" Nami gasped.
Rouge sighed. "Shit, well, I might have just outed him."
"Dammit, Rouge." Sabo shook his head, smiling fondly. "This is why I would never tell you my secrets."
"Rude." Rouge pouted.
"Do you know which clan he's from?" Thatch asked.
"I have a well educated guess..." Rouge's frown deepened. "I remember being told a terrifying tale when I was a child about the Vinsmoke Clan, who were punished for the past three hundred years."
"The Vinsmoke Clan?" Nami startled. "I don't know them by that name."
"I'm surprised you don't," Thatch muttered. "But saying that, you are all East Blue kids. What I didn't know was that they are a witch clan. I've always known them as the Vinsmoke Family."
"For a long time they pretty much weren't," Rouge admitted. "Which is why people stopped referring to them as a clan in the first place."
"What do you mean?" Nami's brow furrowed.
"First let me help out your friends," Rouge insisted. "They are running some nasty fevers, and with those fevers will bring about dreams."
"Dreams?" Usopp startled.
"It doesn't matter right now. What does matter is that I can heal them," Rouge said, kneeling down beside the pair. "But I will need to speak the words."
"So not like Traffy's healing?" Luffy blinked.
"No. Not for two people," Rouge said, then breathed in deeply, then a thousand voices echoed from her as she spoke up again. "I call upon the healing magic of the Trafalgar Clan. Please heed my call, soothe their fevers, ease their pain, let our siblings heal."
A gentle, warm glow filled her hands and seeped into Sanji and Vivi. It glowed briefly over their skin, before sinking into them. Their breathing began to ease, both of them relaxing. Vivi rested against Nami, her head pillowed in her lap, while Sanji's head rested on Zoro's.
"Will they be okay, Shadow Lady?" Luffy asked. "Do they need meat?"
"No. They need a bit of rest," Rouge sighed, leaning back on her heels.
"Well I have to admit, I'm curious to learn about this story of yours, Rouge," Thatch said.
Rouge rolled her eyes. "Of course you are."
"I haven't heard it either," Sabo admitted. "It certainly wasn't taught in school."
"You think Sanji is a Vinsmoke witch?" Usopp frowned.
Rouge sat down, crossing her legs as she hummed. "Let me begin with the Vinsmoke family. They are a royal family that rules over the Germa Kingdom," Rouge explained. "They once ruled nearly all of North Blue three hundred years ago, but after some time, they were forced to release their claims over it, and became a wandering kingdom instead."
"They're royalty?!" the Straw Hats screeched.
Thatch rubbed his ears.
Rouge sighed. "If the story I was told was correct, then three hundred years ago the Vinsmokes used their head witch and witch heir to take over the North Blue and turn it into the Germa Kingdom."
"But how?" Nami frowned. "Are they a really powerful clan?"
Sabo shook his head. "They couldn't be that powerful, right? It's not like a powerhouse clan like shapeshifters or elementals, or even death-"
"No, they are Empaths," Rouge sighed. "Which made this crime even worse."
"Crime?" Usopp paled.
"They used a sacrificial ritual to bring themselves good fortune, good health, and overwhelming strength." Rouge's tone was carefully void of any emotion.
"A sacrificial ritual?" Nami paled. "That sounds terrifying!"
"Yeah! That's scary!" Usopp cringed away from Sanji. "What did they do?"
"They burned their head witch and witch heir alive at the stake."
Thatch froze, his heart skipping a beat, while the Straw Hats stared blankly at Rouge. Nami went white as a ghost and shook her head.
"N-No way..."
Sabo looked horrified. "But they are empaths! If they were together and felt each other dying-"
Thatch choked at the thought. The head and heir would have felt each other die. A parent and their child.
"And in return they were cursed by the other head witches to never have another witch in their bloodline for one hundred years," Rouge said, voice still blank of emotion. "But the curse must have lasted longer, their spirits still seeking revenge, for which I do not blame them for, because the curse has lasted right up until Sanji."
Luffy was sat next to Zoro, staring at Sanji, as did all the others.
"If you see or hear of another Vinsmoke I would advise you take Sanji and run for the hills," Rouge said coldly. "Because they haven't gotten any kinder throughout the years."
No, from what Haruta said, they had only gotten worse.