Twelve hours.
For twelve hours, Izuku flew on; bearing the Arctic Unicorn aloft as night gave way to day, the air growing colder and colder. Law's stimulant was working wonders keeping him going…though it made his eye twitch.
He glanced down at the deck, half-expecting to see Law leaning out of a porthole. He had been doing that all through the journey; providing course corrections and updates on Drona. Apparently the administering of the vaccine had gone to plan, and he was resting.
'We should find Kasandra soon,' the Second added. Izuku shivered. Sooner the better.
He slowed, and looked down. On cue the porthole opened, and Law looked out.
"What's up!" he called.
"Sorry I forgot to ask, what exactly am I looking for in Kasandra?" Izuku yelled over the wind. Law drew back inside, and Izuku looked around.
"It's a Volcano Island!" called Law, poking his head out again. "The port's on the south coast. We're looking for a crater lake at the very top!"
Izuku could see some rocky atolls and the faint outline of an island up ahead. As they drew closer, he could see what looked like mountains, with forests around the slopes. With one prominent island in the center with a lake at the top.
And there were ships too.
"Found it!" he called, and Law nodded.
"Take us to the crater at the top! We can rest there!"
Within minutes, he could see the crater; and the lake at its center. A few moments later brought the ship down.
Law and the others soon came out, clambering down onto the sandbar. Drona and Sora came out last.
"Another happy landing," quipped Izuku, stretching his weary arms. "Hope you enjoyed your flight."
"It would have taken us two weeks to get to Kasandra," replied Law, reeling a little over the quick arrival. "You're a lifesaver, Midoriya."
"No problem."
"Man… flying like this is great and all, but it gets cramped in there!" Penguin griped, stretching his legs out.
"Yeah. If flying ships ever come true, cabins should be much bigger than what we have!" Shachi added, before looking back at Yamato and Sora.
"You'd be surprised. Where I come from, we have more spacious cabins for travel," the old man commented. "Now then, I suppose this is where we part ways?"
"It is." Law stated. "I'll escort you and Sora down the mountain, and you can be on your way." Sora was off to the side, looking miserable.
She's been like that ever since Swallow… He walked up to her, offering his hand. The girl looked and shook it.
"Sora, it's been great exploring with you, but…"
"No, I understand," replied Sora, in a tone that fooled no one. Yamato walked up to her, her eyes sad. "Thanks… for everything."
"Yeah… We had a lot of fun, Sora. I'm sorry that… it had to end like this." Yamato rubbed her arm as Sora looked up, her blue eyes starting to gleam.
"Me too."
Unable to contain herself, Yamato quickly wrapped Sora in a hug. Sora hugged her back, sniffing as she teared up.
"Alright then. Midoriya, you need your rest after carrying us all this way. Go rest in my bunk." Law gestured to the cabin. Izuku nodded, and he held out his hand to Sora.
"Thanks for all your help Sora. You saved Yamato's life back then, and you've been an amazing guide for us." He smiled brightly. "I hope we get to meet again someday!"
"Yeah!" Yamato added. "Then we can go see the world together!"
"See the world?" Law asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm pretty sure our dad would let us explore around," insisted Yamato, Sora and Drona still present. "We are planning to get our own ship after all."
'She's wising up.' En mused.
"I see…" He looked to Sora. "In either case, I'll help escort you back into town with Drona. Yamato, can you watch the camp with the others?"
"Sure thing!"
"I must thank you all for rescuing me from Flevance too." Drona replied. "It pains me that people like you must go to battle." He looked off and sighed. "It is always a tragedy when bloodshed is the only option."
"We're doing this so we can help people. The ones we are hunting for need to be stopped" Izuku said.
"From what I have observed, they must certainly be quelled in order for peace to blossom," agreed Drona. "Do you lot know what you're getting into?"
"We know plenty, old man." Law mentioned, still a little on edge after what happened at Swallowtail. "And besides, our hunt has nothing to do with you. Let's get you and Sora into town. You'll be safe there." Drona closed his eyes and nodded.
"Well, if this is goodbye, then I thank you once more." Drona bowed, his ringed golden eyes looking back to Izuku's green eyes. "I pray for your good fortune and good health."
"You take care." Izuku yawned, and he felt it. The drain. He flew up to the deck and made his way to the cabin as Yamato and the Hearts set to work; lugging their camping gear from below deck. Drona nodded, and headed up the sandbar with Law and Sora in tow. As they reached the treeline, Sora paused and looked back.
'She seems like she wants to say something' Yoichi murmured as Izuku saw her.
'Bet it's that she has something to hide.' Bruce snarked, only to back off when Nana and the Second glared at him.
"Sora?" Yamato called out. But then Sora turned away, following Drona and Law.
'We'll meet with her again. I know so,' Nana whispered, as Izuku retreated into the cabin and began taking off her gear. He fell back onto Law's well-made bunk, and was soon asleep.
(X)
Reiju kept her eyes to the ground, as the group made its way through the forest.
"Sora, is it?" Said a voice, breaking the monotony as they walked down the slope. Drona looking to her. "There seems to be a great weight upon your shoulders. I can see it in your eyes."
Reiju looked away, wincing. Was she this easy to read now? She was impeccable during her stealth missions.
She knew what changed.
Reiju looked away, and her nails dug into her arm. "It…has been rough."
"From what I gathered in the cabin, you saw an entire community destroyed. That would be hard for any soul to bear." Drona's tone was gentle, kind, fatherly; unfamiliar. "Yet…I sense that it was…not unfamiliar to."
Her heart stopped.
"Why do you-?" Her blue eyes wide as Drona nodded, closing his eyes.
"Pain reflects the same in all eyes," He looked away. "I can see it clearly in both of you."
"Oh shut up" Law replied, not appreciating the sentiment as he led on. "You barely know me old man."
"Don't I?" Drona smiled, "You healed me when I didn't even know I was dying, what does that say about the doctor in question?"
Law rolled his eyes, and Drona chuckled.
Reiju looked ahead, and she could just see the town of Port Kasandra coming into view.
In a way, it was the best possible hiding spot. So close to her father, he would never think to look there.
"But silence does so little to soothe the souls in company, so Sora, tell us about yourself." asked Drona, smiling, saying much without a word.
"Well…I like to cook," Reiju answered awkwardly. It was a half truth. "And…I'm running from my family business. They tried to push me into a role I didn't like, so I left." Another half truth, but it felt good to say it.
"Interesting. Well, I myself like to teach," Drona admitted. "As for why I'm here, well…" He paused, and seemed to think about it. "It's less of me running, and more…I am lost."
"Lost?"
"Yes. Things have grown beyond my control in my home, so I left," Drona confessed, and he looked away into the sky, his eyes distant. "I spent a long time in the sky, trying to find a certain someone; but to no avail."
"Who are you looking for?" Law asked.
"Someone to help settle things. Make things right." Drona said aloud. "Particularly two people, who came to my land long ago." He stroked his beard fondly. "Ah, that's a Blue Sea settlement? And is…" he took a few inhale. "that… a pastry I smell? Reminds me of a Jamun Dumpling with… a fruit?"
Law sniffed the air. "Apple pie, by the smell of it."
"Fascinating!" Drona chuckled good heartedly. "I'd love to try this 'pie'."
They passed the edge of the forest, and the town was clearly visible; about fifty meters away. Reiju regarded it as they strolled closer, wondering what she would do with herself in this place. She would find work as a baker, or a waitress maybe. Something simple. Either way, she would never fight ag…
"Vinsmoke Judge commands you! Return at once!"
She stopped, her whole body freezing as the words slammed into her mind.
Then she turned on her heel, and started towards the harbor.
"Sora?" Law called out. "Where are you going?"
With a hint of a struggle, Reiju turned her head, looking Law in the eye, tears leaking down her cheeks as she struggled to maintain eye contact.
"Law…help me!"
(X)
"Sora?" Drona asked in confusion.
"Stop…me! Please!"
Law ran up to her and grabbed her hand. But a swift shove sent him flinging him away and into a nearby tree. He cried out, his back flashing with pain as he slid down the trunk.
What the hell!? How was she this strong!?
"Help…! Stop… me!" Sora cried.
"Wait no!" Law coughed out, as Drona ran up beside her. But the old man ignored him, his golden eyes hard, as he grasped her hand and held on. She stopped, her arm writhing in his grip; but he would not let go. He ducked under a backhand, and held both of her hands behind her back and stood still, even as Sora writhed.
"What's wrong child?" Drona asked, his tone still gentle..
"Take… me away from here!" she pleaded, struggling against the old man's grip.
"Vinsmoke Judge commands you! Return at once!" came the voice again. Law looked back to Sora, who despite Drona's grip was still trying to move away down the path to the harbor.
Then he saw her eyes. He'd never seen her so beaten. What was causing this?
"I'll be right back," he said, and Drona nodded. Law turned on his heel and trotted down the path into town. He made his way through the narrow streets, until he found one with a clear view of the harbor. Once there he ducked into an alleyway, and peered around the corner.
There was a Germa Snail Cruiser sitting in the harbor, and a group of Germa troopers on the docks; pushing a cart with what looked like an oversized Transponder Snail with speakers attached to the shell. .
"Vinsmoke Judge commands you! Return at once!" the Snail bellowed. That was the source, all right. The same voice, the same pitch, the same tone.
"A recording?" Law thought. He scuttled down the street until he reached the docks, then ducked behind some barrels. Peering over, he could see a well-dressed, older man waddling beside the troopers. He did not look happy.
"Do you have to keep doing this?" pleaded the man, almost certainly the mayor. "I'm getting noise complaints."
"Orders are clear," replied the foremost trooper. A unique design emblazoned on his shoulder; an officer maybe? "Rest assured Mayor, this matter does not concern your constituents. Carry on as usual."
"Well Captain Zeta, it does concern me!" retorted the mayor huffily. "Would you at least tell me who or what you are looking for? If you give me a description perhaps I or my constables could help in locating them and end this matter sooner."
Law ducked down as the cart rolled closer, his ears ringing as the recording played again.
"That is Germa's private business, Mayor Joseph."
"Well, yes, I understand, but maybe we can help?"
"As I said, Mayor Joseph, that is private."
Private? Was Judge looking for someone? Izuku and Yamato said they were looking for the Germa 66. Was the Germa 66 looking for them too?
No, that didn't make sense. Those two were Whitebeards. Judge was arrogant, but he wasn't dumb enough to pick a fight with Whitebeard.
The speaker went off again, and Law slunk away, his mind racing. The Germa 66 were slaughtering pirates left and right, and they were searching for someone. Their men were willing to kill themselves to avoid capture; and would not explain what they were doing to anyone, not even the mayor of a vassal town.
So whoever or whatever it was, it was important. But who? Or what?
He made his way back up the street, and scurried back up to the woods. Sora and Drona were still there; Sora struggling to move, Drona holding her fast.
Sora…struggling to move…to go towards the harbor…just as they heard that recording…
His blade moved out of the sheath as everything started to click into place.
"Law," Drona warned him, his tone stern, his golden eyes unyielding.
"Room," Law said, holding out his hand, the blue glow spreading around them. "Shambles."
And it was done. Sora fell to the ground, her severed limbs flopping towards the harbor. Drona was in his Law's former spot, and Law was standing behind her.
"Shambles," he snarled; and the flopping limbs were replaced by pine cones and rocks. This done, Law slammed one foot down on her chest, and held his nodachi over her throat.
"What's your deal with the Germa 66," he hissed as he glared right into her wide blue eyes. "Tell me. Now."
"She's moving against her will, Law," Drona said sternly, stepping up beside him. "Her body is being controlled. And what is this Germa 66?"
Law ignored him, glowering down into her bulging, terrified eyes, pressing his blade closer to her throat.
And then, quite suddenly, her limbless torso stopped moving. For a moment he was puzzled, then he realized he had not heard the recording. Was it too far away?
"If you want to try to kill me, go ahead," Sora murmured, her blue eyes shimmering. "… It's what I deserve."
He paused. What the hell was going on?
"Not until I get answers," Law growled, gritting his teeth.
"Withdraw your blade." Drona's hand was on his shoulder. Law glowered at him, but the man stared back; his eyes hard. "She acts against her will."
"You say that like you've seen this before," Law growled.
"I have. Unfortunately." He replied on the dot.
"But-!"
Another flash in Drona's eyes, and it took everything Law had not to jump was wrong. A moment ago Law had been angry, furious; but now he was nervous.
Who, what, was he?
"Get off her," the old man ordered. "Let her explain herself."
He looked down again at Sora. She just lay there, blue eyes staring up at him; bright with tears.
Practically begging him to lower the point down.
Gritting his teeth and burying his anger, he looked back to Drona, who nodded. Hesitantly, Law drew back his blade, and stepped off her chest. "Shambles."
With a quick snap, Reiju's limbs returned before he canceled the Room.
"Now, what ails you child?" Drona asked, kneeling down beside her with a hand on her shoulder. Sora took a deep, shuddering breath.
"Everything." She brought her hands to her eyes, and began to shake, a sight that set a quiver through Law's body.
"We're going back to the camp," he said firmly, shaking his concern for the moment. "And when we get there, you're going to explain yourself to Izuku and Yamato. They deserve the truth even more than we do."
The girl's eyes widened, and then the pain returned. Yes, she understood. She had been traveling with those two for longer; lying to them for longer.
"Why?"
Law looked back to her. "Why what?"
"Why didn't you-?"
"Because you're going to tell everything to them first" Law stated matter of factly. "And besides…"
He faltered and looked away. He couldn't stand that look; that submission to nothingness.
"I don't like killing." Law sighed. It was a pathetic reason, but….
Sora was silent, nodding.
He glanced back towards the town, as Drona helped Sora to her feet. There was no sign of pursuit, or any change at all. That sleepy little town hadn't even noticed.
"Law." Law turned to Drona. "What is this Germa 66? She moved against her will at the command of this… Vinsmoke Judge. Who is he?"
Law took a deep breath, hand running down his face. 'Me and my big fucking mouth.' He let out a frustrated sigh.
"They're a military branch in service to the Germa Kingdom." And Law began to tell him what he knew.
(X)
"Okay… next we began to train under Jozu and Marco…" Yamato mused aloud, her pen flashing over the page. "A lot of bruises we got there…"
She was seated on the deck of the Arctic Unicorn, while Izuku slept in the cabin while Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin made camp and cooked dinner with their rationed ingredients. She was supposed to be on lookout, but they hadn't seen a living soul since Law, Drona, and Sora had left.
A flicker movement in the trees drew her attention. She pulled her spyglass from her belt, and took a look. There was Law and Drona…and Sora was with them. They seemed to be in a hurry.
"You guys!" she called out. "Law's back!"
"Captain!" Bepo cheered, jumping up from the campfire. Soon enough, Law emerged from the trees; and Yamato faltered as she saw the look on his face. Behind came Drona, leading Sora by the hand. The girl looked as pale as a sheet.
"What's wrong?" Yamato asked, jumping down to meet them.
Sora looked from one to the other, looking as though she was about to cry, while Law looked miserable as well as angry. Drona took a deep breath through his nose, sounding like he was fighting off a headache.
"I'm gonna wake Midoriya," said Law. "He needs to hear this." He climbed up onto the deck, and headed into the cabin. Yamato looked again at Sora, but the girl would not meet her eyes.
"Did you… forget something?" Shachi asked, bewildered. Sora pulled down her mask, her eyes showing the agony within.
"No… It's… not that," she murmured, looking at Yamato; or rather through her.
"I'm up…" Izuku groaned, emerging from the cabin rubbing his eyes. "Law, what's going…on?" He paused as he saw Sora. Law leapt down to the ground, glowering.
"Fess up." he growled. Yamato gripped her fists. Why was he acting like this?
"What happened?" she asked. Izuku had jumped down to join them; alert, now that he had seen Law's mood.
"We were heading into town, when we heard a loud voice from a snail," Drona began. "When Sora heard the sound, she froze, and began to move against her will towards the harbor."
Yamato blinked, confused, as Izuku moved to her side.
"And the voice said, I quote," Law growled as he turned towards Sora. "Vinsmoke Judge commands you. Return at once."
Yamato felt her heart clench, and a shiver run through the assembled company
"Vinsmoke Judge? Is King Judge here?!" Izuku asked.
"Just a Snail Cruiser. The Germa 66 has a squad with a Recorder Snail in town, looking around for someone." Law glowered at Sora again, making her flinch. She was shaking.
"Sora?" Yamato asked. Sora took a deep breath, her lips trembling.
"Yamato…you said that friends shouldn't…have to lie to one another, right?" She sighed, knowing she couldn't hide anymore. "You saved me from that island but…I haven't been honest with you."
"Sora, what do you mean?" Yamato asked. Then she heard Izuku, along with Shachi and Penguin cry out and stammer as she unbuttoned her jeans and pushed them down. Yamato's heart froze, as she saw what was emblazoned upon her thighs.
66.
Izuku was dead silent.
"When I said the name Sora was special, I meant it," the girl went on. "It was my mother's name. My real name…is Vinsmoke Reiju, Crown Princess of the Germa Kingdom, Commander of the Germa 66. Codename…Poison Pink."
She smiled a scornful, heartless smile, and then her face crumpled and she slumped forward, shoulders shaking.
"Wait… then the Germa's actions… why they've begun acting up…!" Shachi babbled. "That was because of you!?"
"Yes."
"So you're a spy!?" Penguin barked, hand dropping to his pistol. Yamato glared and stepped forward, but Izuku grabbed her hand, making her stop.
"No…I was a scout, until recently," Reiju confessed. "I'm better at that than my brothers. So my father sent me to Brew Island…to scout for any sign of allegiances before we can conquer it for resources."
Yamato's mouth dropped open, and her blood ran cold.
"I found none, so I left." Reiju's voice was heavy. "And he sent in the invasion force."
"You… you did that to Brew?" Izuku asked, his voice sounding hollow.
No. Yamato couldn't believe it. Sor…no, Reiju could never have done that!
"I had no choice." Reiju reached down and pulled up her jeans.
"But why?" Yamato cried, appalled. "How can you serve him!?"
"As I said, I had no choice." Reiju smiled again, that same anguished smile. "My father bred me and my brothers for one purpose, to be his weapons in his war to conquer the North Blue."
Reiju's hands tightened in anger as she glared at the ground.
"I was born a monster."
Yamato felt something break.
"That's not true," she growled. Her horns were itching again, worse than ever before.
"It is. I…"
"IT'S NOT!" Yamato barked, as her heart burst. "You're kind! You…you're…you're not a monster!"
The camp was silent. Reiju shook her head.
"You don't understand," she said, her voice hoarse. "Before my father was a king, he was a scientist. A prodigy."
She gulped as she continued to reveal more.
"He altered me as well as my siblings's Lineage Factor, the connecting points from one generation to the next.." she went on, laying a hand on her breast. "I was the first child he modified, while I was still very young. He gave me my strength, my speed, my poison powers, everything; but he also altered my mind. Whenever I hear the sound of his voice, I cannot disobey."
She looked down at her hands.
"I killed when I was five, led a campaign at ten. Time after time I tried to resist. But my body was his, not mine. It obeyed him, every time."
"And after a while…you stopped resisting," said Izuku; his eyes haunted.
Reiju nodded hesitantly.
"But my father wasn't satisfied," she continued. "I couldn't disobey, but he knew that I was otherwise human. He wanted something more than me. He wanted sons, who would be exactly what he wanted them to be."
She smiled that horrid smile again, even as her eyes brimmed with tears.
"My mother was pregnant with quadruplets. Unlike with me, he altered them while they were still in the womb. He took away their compassion, their empathy, any trace of love or tenderness; the perfect warriors of his ideal."
"They… wouldn't be human…" Izuku's eyes were blank with horror. "His…his own children?"
Yamato saw his hands grip, and she felt her stomach turn.
"My mother tried to thwart him." Reiju was shaking. "She took a drug in the hope of undoing his alterations; that her sons would be born human. The drug ruined her body, and only managed to save one of them, Sanji. The other three are as I told you. Cruel, merciless, killing machines."
"But why would he do this to his own children?" Drona asked, sounding mildly confused. "Does he not care for his lineage? His legacy? If they are monsters as you say, why leave his kingdom to them?"
"When he wants grandchildren, he'll just buy wives for his sons," replied Reiju sourly. "There are plenty of princesses who owe him a debt. And by the time they realize what they've married, it will be too late."
Yamato felt sick. To have been utterly controlled her whole life. Even Kaido had not done that. To have been remade like that, they had even been born.
"I don't blame any of you for hating my father, and Germa," Reiju said sadly. "What he did to Brew, and Swallow, he has done countless times before. He would have done the same here if Drona had not stopped me."
"It was the least I could do, my child," Drona acknowledged her with a nod.
"But then, why?" Izuku came to himself long enough to ask. "Why come to us?"
"It was pure chance," answered Reiju, awkwardly. "My Snail Cruiser got damaged while passing along the Red Line, and we stopped for repairs. I took a walk along the beach, and there you both were."
"Then I stepped on that stonefish," Yamato cut in as her eyes widened. "And you saved me."
"I…I suppose I was curious." Reiju stopped, blinking the tears from her eyes. "I heard your real names when you called each other, but you gave me false names after that. When I saw your Eternal Pose in your bag Izuku, I realized you had something to do with the New World." She shook her head. "I never expected you to be pirates in an Emperor's crew, though."
She paused, and gulped.
"Yamato, saving your life…" Reiju smiled through her tears, a real smile at last. "After helping my brother Sanji escape, that was the only worthwhile thing I've ever done. And then you saved me, carrying me into the sky with you." She turned her tearful eyes to Izuku. "It was the happiest day of my life. Then we went exploring…and we shopped for clothes and food. For the first time in my life, I felt like a normal girl" She slumped down, hugging her knees. "But he won't let me go. He'll burn the world before he gives me up."
As she reached out to offer her crying friend a hand Yamato suddenly realized that her horns were no longer itching.
Maybe they did. Maybe it got so irritated it was maddening.
She didn't care.
Her mind's eye took her to a dark place, a dark corner of Onigashima that she knew so well. A little girl, wrapping her bruised and bloodied body in ragged bandages, weeping in silence.
That girl was…
"I didn't want to tell you… because I… I heard it… After all. I know what I am… ." Reiju looked up at Izuku, a rueful smile on her tear-stained face.
"And Monsters… deserve to be put down, right?"
Izuku's mouth fell open, his face ashen.
"If I am captured, he'll make me tell him everything about you all," Reiju said. "Then he'll remake me. Or else he'll unmake me, and use me for something else. And if I go with you to Germa, to fight at your side…he'll turn me against you."
She hung her head, and covered her eyes.
"For so many years, I looked for a place to die. But after all this, meeting with you, adventuring with you…I…I don't want to…." She let out a sob. She took a shuddering breath, her voice a pained whimper.
"I… I want to live!"
Yamato felt herself move. In the corner of her eye she saw Izuku do the same. They flung themselves at Reiju, pulling her into their arms, holding her tight.
"But…" Reiju gasped, starting to shake again.
"But nothing…" Izuku said, gently but firmly. " I'm…I'm so sorry, Reiju." Tears ran down his face. Reiju was stunned, utterly bewildered.
"But I'm a…!"
"You're not a monster," Yamato cut her off, holding Reiju to her bosom. "You just wanted to be free. That's not a crime. Everyone has the right to be free."
"We're here for you, Reiju, and we always will be." Izuku whimpered, and squeezed his eyes shut. "I'm so sorry, Reiju…I never knew…I'm sorry!"
"We'll protect you from him," Yamato added, smiling as Reiju looked up at her. "Not because we're heroes, but because you're our friend."
For a long moment, the pinkette said nothing.
Then, she let out a wail, and buried her face in Yamato's shoulder. Yamato held her tight, and Izuku did the same, and they held Reiju together.
A sniffling sound made Yamato look up. Shachi and Penguin were trying desperately not to cry; while Bepo sniffed and cuffed at his eyes.
"Reiju…oh man, Reiju…" Shachi's voice was hoarse.
"We didn't know," Penguin blubbered. "We didn't know!"
Law stood apart from them, looking away, his cap pulled down over his eyes, no anger that she could see. Drona looked on in silence, and took a breath.
"The Kara within her is flowing free, like a burst dam," he said, his wise old gaze settling on the trio. "Yamato, you have a great heart, as do you Izuku. Both of your souls shine bright like the sun in the sky." He smiled, his eyes full of pride.
"My heart wouldn't be half so great without Izuku," Yamato replied modestly, looking to her green-haired friend. "If not for him, I would still be alone in the dark, just like Reiju."
She looked down at her new friend. She would never abandon Reiju, not ever, and not for anything.
Which meant…
Izuku drew back from Reiju, clasping her hand.
"We will free you." Izuku stated. "I promise you that. Reiju."
Reiju finally smiled, a real smile. Yamato's heart swelled, remembering that night on Onigashima.
"Shachi, Penguin, would you mind going into town and bringing back food?" Izuku asked, patting Reiju on the shoulder. " I don't think anyone will bother you."
"Umm, sure, but we don't have a lot of money," Shachi replied awkwardly.
"I'll lend you two million berries, that should be-"
"TWO MILLION?!" The two gawked in unison.
"You have that kind of money?" Law asked, eyes wide.
"Yeah, about thirty-nine and a half million worth," replied Izuku casually, wincing a little at a particularly greedy voice in his head. "We spent a little during our trip when we picked up Reiju. And for inn repairs." He chuckled nervously. In spite of everything, Reiju looked amazed.
"Thirty-nine million berries…?" Shachi gawked. "Just… in your backpack?"
"Yeah, Pops lent it."
The Hearts' chins hit the floor. Yamato thought about mentioning their Doyle bank accounts, but decided against it. It wasn't as if they could use that money; not all the way out here.
"Reiju." She stepped back from Reiju, helping her to stand up. "I won't let you down… you will be safe. And I… we will avenge the people of Brew and Tailfeather. As well as your mother too." Reiju nodded, but her smile faded.
"If you guys fight them…you'll face my father, my brothers, thousands of troopers. I…"
"We'll handle it," Izuku insisted, grinning. "I've fought in a war, believe it or not. Just leave it to us."
"Yeah. Friends believe in each other. Just like I believe in you, Reiju." Yamato flashed a smile and a thumbs up.
Reiju's lip quivered, and she threw herself at Izuku, glomping him. Ordinarily he would have been squealing and stammering, but this time he just hugged her back, with a warm smile.
"Reiju," Law cut in. The three turned to face him. "You said your father… King Judge, he altered your Lineage Factor?"
"Yes…" She sniffled. Law nodded.
"Come with me." He gestured to the cabin. "Yamato, Midoriya, everyone; all of you are gonna have to sleep under the stars tonight. I'm using the cabin. We'll plan our strategy for attacking the Germa Kingdom tomorrow. Bepo, I'll need you to be my assistant."
"Aye aye sir!" Bepo saluted, beaming.
"So uhhh.. what does everyone want?" Shachi asked, feeling a little on the spot after the whole big emotional reveal. "Yo Pen, get some sacks. We're gonna need to bring back a haul."
"Rice Balls and grilled chicken," Law ordered.
"Oh, well, I'll settle for what Law is having." Drona added. "I know little of the cuisine of the Blue Sea."
"If they have Chicken Katsu I'd like that. If not, well, just what Law is having too," Izuku added.
"Me? Well… I'd like a lot of meat, seafood, oh and cookies, biscuits, cakes, and oh! If they have grog kegs, can get those too?" Yamato asked excitedly. "Oh and if they have wine or sake that'd be fine too!"
"Grog? Sake?" Drona asked. "Are those a kind of drink?"
"Yep! Wanna try a little Mr. Drona?" Yamato asked eagerly as the old man chuckled.
"I've had my fair share of sura where I come from. I wouldn't mind trying this sake."
"She does have a big appetite…" Shachi mused, silently thanking god that Izuku had so much money on hand to cover it. "Hang on, let me get a pen and paper and write all this down…"
(X)
Law looked down from the deck, as Shachi and Penguin got the sacks and took down everyone's orders. It would be a long hike up and down the mountain, and the food will be cold by then, but better than hardtack and jerky rations.
"Law?" Reiju said, climbing up the ladder to join him. "You said you wanted me to come with you for something?"
Law nodded, and gestured to the cabin. Izuku got into his sleeping bag on the deck and closed his eyes, no doubt aiming to catch up on much needed sleep as Yamato sat by his side, those journals in hand. He pulled out his bunk, then took a sign and plastered it on the cabin door.
SURGERY IN PROGRESS.
"I'm here!" Bepo exclaimed. He was wearing a pure white version of his orange jumpsuit as well as a surgical mask and hat. "Say the word captain!" Reiju blinked, and looked back to Law.
"Lie down here." Law gestured at the bunk. "I'm gonna cure you."
Reiju's jaw dropped. "W-What do you mean?"
"Reiju, I once had Amber Lead Syndrome," he admitted plainly. "I managed to cure myself by trial and error; so I know a fair bit about Lineage Factor. The way I see it, that bastard gave you a disease; a disease called Bondage." He looked her in the eyes. "I mean to cure you, if you'll allow me to."
He put on his Doctor Face; stern, yet approachable.
"But… why? And how?" Reiju asked. She looked nervous. "I mean…your home was destroyed because…"
She trailed off, and Law regarded her for a few moments. She couldn't be blamed for Swallow island. Even if Judge had a legitimate complaint against her, that was no reason to slaughter an island full of innocent people when she wasn't even there. But what about Brew Island? And all the battles before?
"Germa did that, not you," he said. "My father told me that where there is sickness, we must try to heal it. It's not for us to judge…to decide who deserves to be healed and who doesn't." He looked to the side, pondering. "Even if your father was my patient, I would heal him just as I heal you, or anyone else."
When he was young, they had just been words. But he had seen their meaning for himself.
"You really would?" Reiju asked, eyes wide.
"It's what a doctor ought to do," insisted Law as he remembered. "And what the person who gave me this power would have done."
Reiju stared at him…and then leapt on him and clasped him in a big hug.
"Law…thank you…" she uttered, her voice still hoarse from crying. Bepo was making a great show of looking away.
Law just stood there, bewildered. It had been a long time since anyone had hugged him; especially like that. He didn't know what to say or do. And yet…
"You're welcome," he said awkwardly. He disentangled himself and turned quickly to the cabin table; where his equipment and medicine boxes awaited. "If you want to sleep, I can give you a Sleepshroom draught."
"I wouldn't mind… It might… take a while, I imagine."
"It will, but don't worry."
He nodded to Bepo; and the bear mink headed to the door and closed it. Reiju clambered onto the bunk, while Law set to work on the draught. A few milligrams of Sleepshroom flakes in pure water, stirred until the flakes were thoroughly dissolved. He handed her the vial, and spent a few moments checking and laying out his instruments while she sipped it down.
"Alright then," he said, taking back the empty vial. "Room." He activated his power, the blue light forming a bubble around the bunk. He paused a moment longer, until he was sure the draught had taken effect.
"Beginning surgery."
Huge thanks to the team on this one. IKnowNothing helped a ton in cutting the fat in adding more subtlety(I left some stuff in which, could be a bit more on the nose but hey, better more than less so we can trim down right) and to Juubi-K and WildJoker000 of course. You can tell which parts were trimmed down as well, given some character's dialogue and some body language that we put instead of inner monologues going over every little thing.
So yeah, the big reveals all around! Reiju's joining the squad, Drona now has a clue what's going on, and Law's working his magic. Can he cure Reiju and alter Judge's conditioning? We'll have to see!
Gonna be working on comm'ing some art too, but mainly of the prior arc or so. Hopefully I can get to stuff on this arc too-ish. I do have a cover image in mind for Acclimation at least.
Next chapter will require plotting and planning, and then it's onto the action htnakfully.
Hope you all enjoyed this! See yall in the next one.