Author's Note: For those who do not know, the prior chapter's ending has been edited. Go back and read that if you will and let me know your thoughts before you read this chapter. Go do that, and enjoy.
Melville
From the air, Melville looked fine. But as Marco flew down, he could see some damage on the seafront.
He'd departed from the Moby Dick the minute the call came in; of an unaligned pirate crew attacking Melville. For a weak crew to challenge Pops' flag like that was either outstanding bravery or absolute stupidity.
Likely the latter.
He saw the sunken ship in the harbor, and the figure hovering over it. It was Izuku, using his black tendrils to pull the wrecked ship out of the harbor. He let out a sigh of relief.
"Hey! Izuku!" he called out, flying down. Izuku saw him, and touched down on the pier. Marco joined him, shifting back into his human form.
"You're back! And-!" Then he paused, as Izuku turned to face him. He looked tired. Scratch that, he looked about ready to collapse right there. Marco was half-tempted to sit the kid down and use his flames before tossing him into the nearest bed.
"You look ready to collapse. You okay?" he asked. Izuku seemed to relax, and there was a gleam of recognition, of welcome in his eyes. But they were dimmer than they ought to be.
"Hey Commander," Izuku greeted him as Marco raised up, arm raised for a bro hug. Izuku accepted it, sighing as he leant into him.
"Guess you took care of our guests?" he asked. "Anyone hurt?"
"They roughed up the locals, but no one was hurt too badly, thankfully." Izuku paused for a moment, looking like he'd swallowed a lemon. "Izou was defending them when I arrived. We heard cannonfire, so I flew over with a couple of friends."
"So…where's the submarine?" Marco asked, looking eagerly around. He was intrigued by the idea of such a vehicle.
"It's in the harbor, somewhere." Izuku glanced awkwardly around.
"Any stragglers? Survivors?" Marco asked. Izuku looked to a warehouse, to which some dockworkers were dragging unconscious pirates.
"They're… being handled." Marco looked at Izuku, eyebrow quirked, as a shapely young woman with pink hair and a white dress that stopped mid-thigh strode into the warehouse and shut the door behind her.
"Handled how?" Marco asked. Then he gawked, eyes wide, as he saw pink fog behind the windows.
"Is she-!"
"She's erasing their memories."
Marco stopped, and turned to stare at Izuku.
"Excuse me what?"
"She's making a Shellfish Poison Gas. It causes mild discomfort, but also…short term memory loss. Once it's done, we can just take their gear, dump them in jail…let them have a second chance."
He looked off into the sunset.
"Short term memory…" Marco uttered, blinking. Then he remembered.
"I told him it got easier but… I don't think he took it well." Those were Thatch's words the night of the Breed incident.
"I'm so grateful…" Izuku uttered, sitting on the bench. "I was almost… ready to get rid of them all but Reiju she…" His hands went to his head, looking about ready to snap right there.
"They'll forget everything about Melville… everything they've seen." Marco said aloud. "You thought of this?"
"Reiju suggested it."
"Reiju?"
"Vinsmoke Reiju. Judge's daughter."
Marco took a deep breath. And haymaker after another.
"Tell you what just… save that story when Pops gets here." He sighed. "So what made you…not take them out?"
"Because I didn't want to. I… I felt at the time I needed to but…" Izuku trailed off, shaking his head. "He told me not to do it and… it snapped me out of it."
"Who did?" Izuku's face contorted into something Marco couldn't describe. Confusion, anger, resentment.
Shame.
"Izou…I saved him, but he also saved me. He shot a pirate who was about to shoot me; and he saved two other people too. I was too-"
"Easy. You did good."
"Good? I almost murdered over three dozen peo-"
"You were trying to protect this place; Pop's second home," insisted Marco. "No one would've blamed you, not one bit."
Especially not with what was hiding in that shipyard. Pops hadn't told Izuku or Yamato about the new fleet.
"That fact you feel this way, that you made the effort, that's just proof of who you really are," he went on. "Hero first, pirate second. Hell, I bet your buddies back home would be just as proud."
Izuku looked up at him with pleading eyes. Marco smiled.
"You're one helluva guy, Midoriya Izuku. Don't let anyone say any different."
So…Izou, of all people, had saved Izuku, and fought for this town. It looked like Derby was right after all.
He saved Izuku, in more ways than one.
"You did good." He patted Izuku on the shoulder. "You and Izou, and your friends." But Izuku didn't smile. He just looked morose.
"But… they knew who I was," he said sullenly. "Their leader recognised me as Deku."
Just like Breed.
"Was he tied to any Emperor?"
"If he recognized me he was the same as Breed. Down to a stupid Paramecia power," Izuku growled. "Likely tied to Doflamingo."
"Oi, got something against Paramecias now?" Marco asked with a quirked eyebrow. Izuku blinked.
"I… no…I just…" Izuku sighed. He looked so very, very tired. "Sorry, I've…I've been dealing with a lot lately."
Marco looked down at him, and a sudden whim made him grin.
"I can tell. You're getting a lil' gray hair." Izuku recoiled, and his face morphed into something that made Marco stifle a laugh.
"That isn't funny!" For the first time all day, Izuku actually looked and acted like a teenager.
"Welcome to growing up, Brother!" Marco patted him on the back.
He glanced back towards the seafront. Reiju was walking out of the warehouse, pink smoke wafting out of the door behind her. She stumbled, and the man with the spotted cap caught her; offering a canteen.
"Dehydration," Izuku explained.
"Well, I've seen worse," Marco mused. "How long will those guys be out?"
"Reiju mixed in the shellfish poison with knockout gas, so they'll be out for a day and change. With all that gas in there, they may forget anywhere from a day to a week."
"Ah, plenty of time," declared Marco cheerfully. "We'll take what's left of their stuff in the harbor and on their persons, then dump them on some small island. Who knows, maybe after losing everything they'll start over. Reconsider their lives." He grinned, as an idea popped into his mind. "I'll ask the Lady Snow's master if he'll do it."
"The what-now?"
Marco grinned, like the cat that swallowed the canary, and pointed along the dock. Izuku looked, and saw the Lady Snow riding at anchor; her crew standing guard, lest a second wave of pirates come knocking.
"Oh!" Izuku's eyes widened. "Is that…?"
"The Finalems' old ship," answered Marco proudly. "Refitted, repainted, renamed. Now she makes an honest living hauling cargo. She got a fresh start too."
Izuku stared at the ship, and Marco saw sadness in his eyes; sadness, and regret.
"Where's Yamato at?"
Izuku flinched, and for a moment Marco feared the worst. "She's… ok. She should be out of the sub by now."
Marco did not like the look on his face. Pops had told him and the Commanders of Izuku's Snail call, and what had happened at Germa.
"Do you wanna talk about it?" he asked.
"I… I don't even know where to begin. I…" Marco put a hand on his shoulder.
"Tell you what. Let's finish the clean-up. I need to talk to Mayor Stanwix and Derby. And Pops should be here soon." He smiled. "If you wanna talk to him, we can go together. Talk to him about everything."
"How far out is he?" Izuku asked, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
"About an hour, maybe less. Weren't you going to stop at an island to have Yamato call in?"
"The island we were on had a magnetic field that messed with the Snail," explained Izuku. "I flew hard and fast to get away."
"How long were you up there?" Marco asked, feeling a pit in his stomach. Izuku winced, as his stomach growled on cue.
"Izuku. How many hours?" he asked, in a tone he used when he saw cookie crumbs on Chris' shirt.
"Twelve…I think."
"Fucking hell man!" Marco scolded. "Ever learn to take a break? I-"
"I know. I… I just wanted to get back here To Pops. Marco… Anything I try to do to reach her I…" Izuku sucked in his lips, and Marco sighed as his hands went to his head. Brew Island. Germa. Yamato. Now this…
"I don't know how to fix this. Yamato she-"
"Hey hey hey, easy." Marco drew him into another hug. "You don't have to do this alone, you know. You're home, and you're here with us." He put his hand on that mop of green hair. Izuku sighed, still forcing himself not to break down. But Marco could feel the dam cracking. "You get something in your belly?"
"Let me finish up the clean up first. The harbor-"
"Can wait." Marco put his hands on his shoulders. "Look at me." Izuku looked up, unsure emerald eyes looking into stern brown ones. "Namor and his division can deal with the wreckage and salvage. You've done more than enough. Now rest. Get something to eat, and once we talk to Pops it's bedtime. Understand? Or do I need to start pulling rank?"
"Alright." Izuku stood up, and headed away towards the town. After all he had done for these people, he wouldn't have to pay a Berry for it; ever again.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Snail.
"Marco?" It was Jozu. "How's Melville?"
"It's fine, nothing too serious. The anklebiters got destroyed, and their memories are going to be erased, so we'll need to call in one of our friends to take them and dump their sleeping butts over to some island. I'm going to check in with Derby and Stanwix; see what they know. They're not tied to an Emperor as far as I know, but they knew Izuku as Deku."
"Hmm…" the Snail frowned, taking it all in stride. "Underworld ties then. I'm coming in as fast as I dare. "
"Alright. See you soon and listen, first thing is for Pops to talk to those two." Marco glanced down the pier, watching Izuku as he made his way towards the town. "He needs to talk to them; yesterday."
"I know. Nobody comes out of a war without scars. See you soon."
Marco shut off the call, and sighed; leaning back on the bench. He was just glad those two were alive, after all they had been through.
But seeing Izuku like that…he didn't want to imagine what state Yamato was in.
He stood up. Time to find Stanwix and Derby, and see what they knew.
The rest would have to wait until Pops arrived.
(X)
Edward Newgate stood at the bow of the Moby Dick, as it lurched into Melville's harbor. The sun was setting, but the seafront was lit up; lights glowing from every window, and every street lamp.
And in that light, he could see the damage. Marco and Derby had assured him it was only minor, but he could see a warehouse wrecked, and a lot of doors and windows broken. Jozu reckoned he was a small fry on Doflamingo's payroll; like the late Breed, and the Finalem brothers.
Marco was waiting on the dockside, as dockers secured the mooring ropes. He waved as Newgate strode down the ramp.
"How's everyone?" he asked.
"Nothing a little ointment and a good night's rest won't heal," Marco assured him. "Mr Croft's warehouse got trashed, but that's the worst of the damage." He gestured at the ruin. "This is the second time in a month we've had trouble near Melville."
Newgate forced himself not to sigh. He could see where this was going.
"We'll talk about this later." Newgate scanned his eyes over the seafront. The people seemed to be in good spirits, at ease with his presence; as they tidied up the wreckage and got on with their lives. He saw Derby and Stanwix nearby, and he nodded to his old friend. Derby nodded back, clearly glad to see him.
Then he saw Izuku, sitting on a bench, with some people gathered around. The boy perked up as their eyes met, but Newgate's attention was on his companions; those who had stood with him in the North Blue.
There was Trafalgar Law of the Heart Pirates; just like his wanted poster. With him were a couple of young men in jumpsuits, and a white-furred bear mink. Nearby was a young woman with pink hair, with a group of young women dressed in what looked like maid uniforms. All were looking at him, awe in their eyes.
Then he saw her, leaning on a lamppost, looking away.
"Hey Pops," Izuku greeted him, standing up and trotting towards him. Yamato turned, and Newgate's heart sank. Her amber eyes were dim, their lids baggy and bruised, and her usual beaming smile was completely gone.
"Izuku, you feisty pup." He knelt down and ruffled Izuku's hair. The boy relaxed,clearly relieved. "Yamato…"
For a moment, he thought she wouldn't respond. Then she straightened up, walked slowly towards him, and settled into his open arms. She shuddered, and Newgate held her tight, wishing he could draw out all her anguish and take it on himself. He had to resolve this, now.
Only then did he see an old man with beige skin and dark brown robes, standing near the maids. He had a bald head with a bandage over the brow, and a short beard; which he stroked with one hand as he regarded Newgate.
There was no awe in his eyes, not like the others.
"Pops…" whimpered Yamato. "I broke the code. I-"
"Enough," Newgate said softly. "We'll talk on board." He smiled down at her. "You're home. That's all that matters."
She sniffled a bit, and Izuku reached out to hold her hand. She recoiled, and broke away, running to the ship. Newgate straightened up, watching her go.
"Has she been getting any sleep?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
"I don't think she has…" Izuku uttered. "Pops I've talked to her, I-"
"Izuku, we should talk with her. Together and in private." Newgate turned to Law, and the younger man flinched. "You must be the 'Doctor of Death', yes?"
"Y-Yes." Law mentioned, trying to look strong for his crew's sake.
"You helped my children avenge a friend of mine, and ensured their survival afterwards. For that, I am grateful." Newgate gestured to the Moby Dick. "Come aboard my ship. We have much to talk about."
"Children," the old man mused. "Are Izuku and Yamato your children, Lord Whitebeard?" Newgate resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
"Just call me Whitebeard, and that goes for all of you," he ordered as he pointed at the Hearts and the Maids who shrunk. "None of this Lord nonsense. I imagine you all have questions, but we have some matters to settle first."
He looked back towards the Moby Dick, just in time to see Yamato vanish down a hatch.
"Her spirit is in torment," the old man said. "You must go to her." His tone was mild, but firm; his jaw tight.
"How would you know?" Newgate asked, half-suspicious, half-curious. There was something odd about him.
"This is Drona, he helped us along the way," Izuku quickly interjected. "He's really good at reading people too."
"It's fine. I think we can wait for a little while longer," the pink-haired woman said. "After all, you guys are family." She smiled lightly; and her eyes meant it.
"Well, you're my guests upon the Moby Dick. Come, we have much to discuss."
Newgate led the way, Izuku at his side, the others following behind. He could hear the Heart Pirates and the maids whispering.
"You've had quite the adventure up there in the North," Newgate surmised.
"We did. And… I…" Izuku paused. "I'm not sure if I did it all the right way up there. I-"
"Save it until we're inside," insisted Newgate, looking Izuku up and down. His clothes were worn, his skin battered, his eyes exhausted. "Marco told me you flew for twelve hours straight from wherever you landed. You didn't think to call?"
"We tried but… we land-"
"Pops! Pops!" yelled a voice. Newgate looked up as Garen came running onto the deck. Normally a proud young man, his eyes were frantic; and Newgate knew in an instant that something was badly wrong.
"It's Yamato!" he gasped. "She's getting into a fight!"
"A fight?!" Izuku shouted in shock.
"Who?" demanded Newgate.
"Her Kara… it's an abyss…!" Drona hissed.
Kara? Abyss? What's the old man talking about?
"Teach! They're in the tool room!".
Newgate focussed his Observation Haki, and he shuddered as he felt it. A black shape near the middle of the ship.
"Yamato…"
(X)
Two minutes prior.
Yamato ran through the Moby Dick, heedless of all around her.
She hadn't slept a wink in two days. The nightmare of that day, her jaws holding Izuku, the scent of his blood in her nose, was too much. She wanted to see Pops, to be in his arms, to be safe.
But she couldn't. She couldn't even look him in the eye. She was home, yet it felt alien to her. She didn't belong here. She didn't want to see the eyes of her crew, her siblings. She didn't want them to see what was inside her, what she really was.
She tripped on a loose floorboard and crashed into the bulkhead; so hard that the nearest porthole cracked. She groaned as her horns burned, and tried to straighten up, to right herself. But then she saw the broken glass on the deck. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she saw her reflection; distorted, monstrous, inhuman.
She was Kaido's daughter after all. She was a beast, just like him; an animal that snarled and bit. She was a demon…a monster.
Voices echoed down the corridor, calling her name. Terrified, she stumbled on, desperate to get away, until she saw an open door. She staggered inside, kicking the door shut, praying they wouldn't find her.
She paused, breathing hard, looking around. She was in the carpenter's storeroom, the walls lined with racks and worktops; the tools all neatly arranged. There were mallets and drills, adzes and braces, rulers and planes.
And saws, of all shapes and sizes, hanging from the racks; their blades gleaming in the evening light, streaming in through a single porthole.
Yamato looked down at herself. Her brown jacket, her black blouse, and long black skirt down to her knees; her bosom, and her wide hips.
"I… I am… Oden."
It felt easier to say that. A reminder of a simpler time, when she didn't have to feel this way.
Except it wasn't true. Oden was a man, and she was a woman. She had a woman's body, and people treated her as a woman. They looked at her as a woman, and talked to her as a woman.
Even Izuku…
But Oden wasn't an oni. Oden didn't have horns that itched and burned. Oden was a man.
Taking another glance in the mirror, Yamato reached over, and took a saw down from the rack.
First… the horns.
"Hey Yamato, what's the big idea? I was calling out to you when…"
Yamato froze, and turned to see Marshall D. Teach standing in the doorway, as jolly as ever.
And then he saw what she was doing, and his smile vanished.
"Yamato…what're you doing with that saw?"
Silence.
"Yamato…" Teach looked nervous. "Yamato…put that down, right now."
She shook where she stood like a cornered deer, clutching the saw.
"Yamato…" Teach put his rum bottle on the nearest worktop, and stepped slowly forward. "You're not supposed to use it like that. That's for cutting wood."
Yamato reached for her horn, then let out a yell as Teach darted forward and grabbed her arm.
"Gnnnghr! LET GO!" she roared, glaring as she flailed.
"No! I'm not gonna let you!" Teach's grip held firm. "Stop it!"
She could hear yelling and running outside, but she didn't care. She had to get those firepokers out of her skull. She had to!
She roared, and slammed Teach against the wall. He coughed, but he held on.
"Teach!" cried a voice from the door.
"Haruta! Help!" yelled Teach. The boy darted in and grabbed her other arm. Yamato snarled, yanking the young pirate up high. Their eyes met, and Haruta's bulged in terror as she growled like a beast.
Black tendrils burst from the doorway, wrapping around her chest and arms. She snarled and hissed and struggled, but the tendrils were too strong.
"Yamato! That's enough!" And she felt another set of arms around her, and another. These arms were familiar, and warm.
"Yamato, please stop." It was Izuku, hugging her from the side. She could feel him shaking, and knew he was crying.
Then she felt something wet on her brow, and looked up. Whitebeard was there, holding both of them in his mighty arms, pressing her head to his chest. There were tears in his old eyes.
"Yamato…," he breathed.
"I'm here… I'm right here…" Izuku uttered over and over again, his voice hoarse and weak.
Yamato heard a groan, and looked to see Haruta helping Teach to his feet. There was a bruise on his cheek.
She did it again.
"Haruta…" she whispered.
"Yamato, it's okay," Haruta said. He looked like he was about to cry now. "You're home now. You're safe. So just…stop this, Yamato."
Yamato howled, and buried her face in Whitebeard's chest.
"Pops!" she sobbed. "Pops, I…!"
"No more." Whitebeard held her tight. "No more."
"I hurt Haruta!" she wailed. "I hurt Teach! And I hurt Izuku! I bit him! I ALMOST KILLED HIM!"
She shuddered and sobbed, as days of shame and anguish flooded out of her. Yet neither recoiled, nor loosened their embrace. They did not turn from her, or reject her.
She didn't deserve them, or anything of them. But they gave it all the same.
"Close your eyes and sleep young one." It was Drona. "Your spirit needs rest."
She felt his hand upon her neck, and a finger press down.
(X)
The mood was grim in the infirmary.
Yamato lay in one of the beds, attended by nurses, an IV attached to her arm. Izuku had watched, heart sinking ever lower, haunted by their words.
Insomnia.
Stress.
Exhaustion.
One thing after another.
"You okay?" Izuku looked up to see Teach standing there. His normally jolly face wore a frown that made Izuku feel even worse. He looked down.
"I couldn't… help her."
"Ah, but you did," Teach said. "I saw the look in her eyes. You got her home to her family, her Pops. That's what you need after fightin' in a war like that." He patted Izuku on the shoulder.
"You gonna be okay?" Izuku asked, and Teach smirked.
"What? That? Zehahahaha! Nothing but a scratch! You shoulda seen some of the kitchen scraps I got into when I was your age! That was nothing, honest!"
Izuku sighed, and felt a little better. There was no deception in Marshall D. Teach, nothing hidden.
Still…
"I tried," he said, looking down again. "But…"
He felt sick, as the terrible vision loomed in his mind's eye. What she had been about to do…
"Listen to me lil' brother." Teach squeezed his shoulder. "I know you've gotten used to doing things fast. You fly around, and you settle things with one punch; cuz you can. But bein' a pirate, it ain't always like that. You wanna sail somewhere, it takes weeks or months. All that time cooped in a ship, with nothing but your crew for company, prayin' the food hasn't gone bad. It takes another kind of strong, lil' brother. It takes patience."
He sighed, and Izuku saw something in his eyes; like that time when they'd sat on the Moby Dick's deck, and looked up at the stars.
"What she's got, I've seen it before," Teach went on. "No two people have it the same way, but I've seen it oft' enough. We've all got our demons, and they come out at times like this. All kinds of things, from the past." He paused, and gave Izuku a knowing look. "It's not something a hug and a talk can fix, not on its own. It just takes time, for her and for you."
Izuku closed his eyes.
"What's done is done lil' brother." Teach patted his head. "You just be there for her. I know the way you look at her… and I know the way she looks at you too."
He smiled playfully. Izuku blushed, and Teach let out a laugh. "Keep your head up lad. I know you can do it. You and her… are gonna be doin' great things together."
"Midoriya." Izuku turned, seeing Law standing in the doorway. "Whitebeard wants to have the meeting now; while Yamato gets her rest."
"Okay." Izuku nodded, and looked up at Teach. "Teach… thank you."
"What's family for?" Teach smiled with a shrug.
He turned, and looked out of the porthole at the night sky.
"We're all but lone trees upon an atoll in the middle of a rough sea, swayin' back and forth against the winds and the waves, ready to break if the gales are too strong and the tides greedy. We need rope and twine to hold us together, rocks to keep us in place." He grinned at Izuku. "We need others, lil' brother. We all do."
A small smile formed on Izuku's face. He'd never never had an uncle in his life. He wondered if this was how it felt to have one.
He smiled sadly, clasped wrists with Teach, then followed Law out of the infirmary. He could hear Teach humming to himself.
"Midoriya… I'm sorry," Law said softly. "I should have given her something to help with the sleep."
"What's done is done, Law. Don't apologize," Izuku murmured. "We'll just get through this… one step at a time."
"I know but…" Law paused, looking ahead; eyes full of guilt. "After everything. The submarine pilo-"
"It's okay." Izuku urged. Law could blame himself all he wanted, but Izuku knew he was the one to blame. He should have noticed. He should have tried harder.
She tried to harm herself because of him. Because he wasn't strong enough.
They reached the War Room door. Reiju and Drona were already there.
"The maids are in town with the Hearts," Reiju said. "That Blenheim fellow's giving them the grand tour."
Izuku nodded. "Alright…" He turned to Law. "I'll let you speak to Pops too, on what you plan to do."
"Yeah," Law murmured.
There was a long, awkward silence.
"I saw the signs, the cracks in the dam," Drona murmured, his eyes closed. "But I never expected it to burst like this. Izuku, please forgive my laxity. I've never seen such Kara break like that in a long time." His eyes opened. They looked haunted. "I only wish I-"
"It's fine," insisted Izuku. He wasn't sure how much more of this he could take. This day just couldn't seem to just end. "Let's get down to business. I want to get this done tonight."
He wanted nothing more than to go to his room, fall on the bed, and sleep for a week. But he had to talk to Pops, and get this over with.
He opened the door, and led his friends into the vast War Room. Whitebeard was seated on his throne, Marco by his side.
"You've had a long day, haven't you," commented the Emperor. Izuku rubbed his eyes in reflex, and found he was too tired to be embarrassed.
"Yeah." He looked to his friends. "Do you guys want to…?"
"My concerns can wait," Law replied. "You go first." Izuku sighed.
"I never got your name, young lady. And you, old timer," Whitebeard cut in. "I thank you both for aiding in the defense of Melville. The same goes for you too, Law." He nodded to the younger man.
"Only doing what's right," Law replied, awkwardly. "I took an oath after all, even if I am a pirate."
"Well… my name is Vinsmoke Reiju," Reiju added. Whitebeard blinked, and Marco turned to the Emperor.
"She helped erase the memories of the Silver Pirates. So we'll need to call McGuy or Bay to pick them up and dump them somewhere."
"Hmmm. I see." Whitebeard nodded, his eyes going to Izuku for a moment before settling on the pinkette. "Fill me in on those upstarts later. Go on, young lady."
"Well, Izuku and Yamato saved me," explained Reiju. "And Law freed me from my father's control. I'm a free woman thanks to them." She smiled, but there was no mirth in it. "I only wish I could have done something for Yamato. It's…it's my fault it happened."
She hung her head, and Law gave her a hard look.
"Let's get on with the story," Marco cut in. "What did you mean when you said Law freed you? What did Judge do to you?"
Reiju gulped, and took a long breath.
"My father turned me into a living weapon, in my mother's womb. My body and mind were enhanced beyond human limits. With my younger brothers he went even further, altering their emotions to make them the perfect warriors."
She looked away, and Whitebeard breathed through his nose.
"Well…the world's a better place with him gone," he said. "I only wish I could've been the one to send him on his way. But now that you're free, young lady, what would you like to do? If it's within my power, your wish is my command."
Reiju straightened up, and took another breath.
"I wish… to join you. I want to help people. Repay what Izuku and Yamato did for me and… atone." Reiju uttered, looking to the deck. "If you'll let me, at least."
(X)
"If you'll let me?" Newgate scoffed. "Don't be foolish, girl. We'll have a room ready for you right away."
Reiju perked up, and for the first time since he had returned, Izuku actually smiled.
"I… So I am… in your pirate crew? Like that? No paperwork or… drinking contest or ritual?" Reiju asked. Newgate lifted up his keg of grog, setting it on his knee and taking a sip.
"Of course! Those two found you worthy, and you want to do good to the world. Who am I to deny all that?" He sighed, and took another drink. "Marco, do we have any rooms going spare? We celebrate tomorrow, after everyone's had a good sleep."
"Plenty." Marco smiled as he strode up to Reiju. "Welcome to the Whitebeards, Vinsmoke Reiju. Or should I say, Little Sis."
Reiju blinked, overwhelmed. Izuku stepped up to her, still smiling.
"Happy to have you," he said. Reiku turned, and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tight. He returned it deeply too, head deep in her bosom.
Law pulled down his cap, while Drona smiled ear-to-ear.
"Reiju… thank you…" Izuku uttered again, eyes wet. "For…"
"I should be thanking you…" Reiju looked down, the two looking into each other's eyes a bit before she ruffled his hair. "After all… I'll be happy to be your Big Sis. Rely on me, okay?" She winked.
Izuku blushed, and Law turned while Drona chuckled.
"Gurararara." Newgate chuckled. "So, now that that's out of the way, welcome to the family, daughter." He gestured with a nod.
"Oh, uhmmm…" Reiju stepped back from Izuku, and rubbed her eyes. "Well. Captain, what are my orders and-?"
"Pops," insisted Whitebeard. "You're my daughter now. As for the rest, don't sweat on it. We'll figure it out as we go along."
He nodded. Reiju sniffed, and stepped back. Her countenance had lightened, and her eyes were bright.
"I should tell Yamato when she wakes up," she said. "That'll make her happy, right?"
Izuku looked down, and Newgate sighed through his nose.
"Yeah, hopefully," Izuku replied; his happiness was dulled again. Law looked away, and Drona's face was set in stone.
"Izuku…" Newgate leant forward. "Tell me, in your own words, what happened when you went north. How did you meet Reiju, Law, and Drona here?" He gestured to Marco, who started pulling out chairs for them to sit down. "You three may contribute as we go along, if you like." He went back to grab some refreshments, drinks and the like.
He scanned his eyes over the three, as they nodded.
Izuku sighed, sat down, and began his story. He told of their meeting with Reiju, of their flights around the North Blue. He described their meeting with Law and the Hearts on Swallow Island, and how the Germa-66 had subsequently destroyed the place. He spoke of their time in Flevance, when they met Drona.
"So Flevance was a cover up," Marco growled. "Figures." He looked to Law. "All those people… I'm sorry for what happened to your family and your city."
"I managed to find closure, to properly say goodbye," replied Law, looking over to Izuku. "I couldn't have done it without Izuku and Yamato. They helped me then, and I mean to help them now."
"And how do you mean to do that?" Newgate asked, resting his chin on his fist. "You might have been hot stuff in the North Blue, but this is the Grand Line; and the New World to boot. You're weaker than most of the anklebiters here; and most of them don't last long, as seen with those Silver punks."
Law looked down, clenching his fists.
"I… I don't want to join you," he grumbled. Marco tilted his head in surprise.
"The last time I was someone's underling…they took someone precious from me," Law went on. "I swore that from then on, I would be my own man; that no one would take advantage of me again." He gritted his teeth. "But you're right. I'm weak. There's not much I can do… So…I want to make a partnership with you." He said, standing tall.
"Do you… know who you're speaking to kid?" Marco asked, utterly baffled. Newgate was the opposite.
He was impressed.
"Humor me; who was this person?" he asked. "Who was this tyrant?" Izuku looked at Law, clearly worried. Law took a long, deep breath.
"It was Donquixote Doflamingo. After I escaped from Flevance he took me in, and I served under him; back when he ruled the North Blue."
That made sense.
"Feh! That blithering peacock punk?" Newgate sneered. "Well, given your situation I suppose you had no choice. But I assure you, you'll face no such treachery from us."
"I told you I won't be your subordinate," insisted Law, eyes hard. "But I'll be your partner. That's the most I can offer. I have my own obligations; to my crew, and to Midoriya, Yamato, and Drona."
"All the more reason to accept," pleaded Newgate. "What you yearn for is right here. What you lost, I am offering to you."
"Offering what?" Law was taken aback.
"Isn't it obvious, dummy?" Marco chuckled. "He wants you to be his son."
Law recoiled, stunned. He looked away, blushing.
'"I-I never said I wanted to be your… son," he stammered. "I don't need a parent I-"
"You need a family," Newgate cut in. "You've stuck by Izuku and Yamato through thick and thin for a promise, right? Sounds like something a dutiful brother would do."
Marco grinned cheekily. Law clenched his fists, lips twitching with unspoken words. Izuku stood up and moved to his side, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"How about you sleep on it? You're still Pops' guest."
He smiled. Law smiled through his nose.
"I'll…I'll think on it… But I won't be your underling." He gulped a little. "Anyway, thank you for treating me as your guest."
"My sons aren't my underlings. They're my children, foolish pup. Gurararara…" Newgate chuckled. He knew Law's type. An independent streak a mile wide and deep, but longing for connection regardless.
It was almost like looking in a mirror. Almost.
"Law," he said, looking the younger man in the eye. "I know what it's like to lose everything. It's hard. But take Izuku's advice. Sleep on it. You and your small crew are welcome on my ship."
Law tugged his cap down."Fine…" He sat down. "I'll… consider it." He looked to the side, before looking cross, puffing and pointing at the Emperor. "But no promises! You may be an Emperor… but I'm my own man! Got that!" He pointed to his chest, and sat down.
Newgate stifled a chuckle, while Marco was holding back laughter.
Yep, definitely the hard-to-get-type. He couldn't like him more if he tried.
"Of course." He looked back to Izuku. "So, you met Drona in Flevance."
"Indeed. I came down there via Sky Octopus, after many months of navigating the White Sea above, Drona explained. Newgate perked up.
"You came from a Sky Island?" he asked, and Drona shook his head.
"I came from somewhere else. But, I feel we should stay on topic, allow Izuku to finish his tale." The old man nodded.
"But you said you came from 'up there'," protested Izuku, pointing upward.
"I did."
Newgate stared at Drona. There was no deceit in his eyes, or his aura. Intriguing…
"Later then." Newgate looked back to Izuku. "Go on, son."
Izuku continued with his tale; relating how they infiltrated a Marine base to steal a map of the North, and then found their way to Kaisafjord. He described how they had discovered Reiju's past, and how Law had cured her of her genetic conditioning.
Then, at last, he came to the attack on Germa. He told of how he, Yamato, and Law had attacked the Vinsmokes in their own dining hall, while Reiju, Drona, and the Hearts had gone below to rescue the imprisoned maids. The battle had gone awry, as the Vinsmoke brothers proved stronger than anyone had foreseen; and a Marine fleet arrived to attack.
"So much for a military exercise," Marco mused. "I always wondered how much longer the World Government would put up with Germa."
"I wasn't strong enough. I got poisoned midway in, and Reiju saved me; but the brothers were too much. That's when Yamato…" Izuku paused, hanging his head, "...went berserk."
"Berserk?" Marco asked.
"Her Devil Fruit," answered Newgate. "It took the form of that wolf, right?"
Izuku was blatantly the Black Beast, on account of his Black Whip. Now this made Yamato the Storm Demon.
"Yeah." Izuku nodded. "She took down the brothers single handedly and…tried to attack Reiju."
"Why did I wear those stupid '66' earphones…" Reiju muttered.
"She was so afraid of losing you all," breathed Newgate, understanding.
He's seen it once before, back on Rocks' ship. Kaido had been young then, with only one person in all the world he truly cared for. She hadn't been a member of the crew, but Rocks had used her all the same. That was his way. For Newgate it had been Sphinx, for Linlin her children, for Kaido…that woman.
John and Wang Zhi learned the hard way that day when they so much as said her name.
"I took the blow and… my words reached Yamato, enough to bring her out of her rage." Izuku's hand touched upon his bandaged shoulder. Newgate deflated; now it all made sense.
"She ran… I found her and I brought her back." Izuku went on. "Then we took the sub that we stole from Germa and made our way out of the North. I called you at Plunja right before we dived under the Calm Belt."
Izuku fell silent, looking down at the deck. Newgate did not need Observation Haki to see that he was sick at heart.
"I screwed up," he said.
"You did not," Newgate replied.
"We… we could have split up the Germa Fleet, waited another day. We could have sunk their ships to panic them, hit and run."
Only then did Newgate realise that something had changed. He could not sense the Vestiges anywhere around Izuku. They had gone.
No, not gone. He could just sense them, like faint wisps, in the shadow of Izuku's countenance.
They were hiding.
He scanned his eyes over Reiju, Law and Drona. They likely didn't know of One for All. He would need to talk about this in private with him. Alone.
"If we could have lured them into a trap I-"
"You made the best call at the time," Newgate cut him off. "People like them don't get lured into traps. They trust no one, assume nothing. They would have gone in fully prepared and with support close to hand. Ambushing them at dinner, in their own hall, was a good plan; about as good a plan as anything I could have come up with. Things only went wrong because the Vinsmokes were stronger than you knew - not to mention the Marines gatecrashing. There was no way you could have known about either."
"Yeah, besides," Marco cut in. "If you hadn't been there, Judge might've straightened things out with the Marines, and you'd have both of them working together to contend with. And if you tried wearing them down a few at a time, it would've taken forever; and the Government would've come looking for you."
"But if I was stronger… if we hadn't lost control of the battle we… Yamato…" Izuku gripped his fists. "She's…"
"In a dark place," Newgate finished. "Izuku, she never meant to hurt her first true friend. Someone she cared for, someone she was willing to face Kaido for." Law and Reiju's eyes went wide. This must've been the first they'd heard of it. "She spent her childhood chasing the memory of a dead man, trying to be him, because it was the only way out of that place. And in the end…"
He didn't want to say it. But he could tell that Izuku understood.
"If she hadn't used that power, they'd have killed us all," Izuku went on. "She lost control…but I can help her control it."
"Remember what I said," Newgate warned. "Her powers are completely different from yours."
Izuku looked like he had swallowed something rancid.
"And still… she doesn't want me to fight Kaido… we promised we would take him on together…. And she doesn't want me to fight." Izuku's face twisted. "She's doubting me!" He barked.
"I don't see the problem here," Newgate cut in, and Izuku lifted his head, eyes wide. "She knows what Kaido can do better than most people. Doubting anyone to fight Kaido? Sky's blue and so is the sea."
"But…I need to defeat him!" pleaded Izuku, teeth gritted. Drona regarded him with hard eyes. "It's the only way for us to be free! It's the only way! I have to win!" His eyes were wide. Frantic. "I need to win, because if I don't-"
"Boy."
The word stunned Izuku into silence. Newgate looked right at him, right into him. He was going to put an end to this, now.
"Did you seriously think I would let you fight Kaido, alone?" he asked, glaring at Izuku. "Are you that daft?"
"N-No… I wanted… we promised we'd fight him together…"
"Yes. You and Yamato." Newgate nodded. "But things have changed. You two aren't the only ones with scores to settle with that fire breathing punk in Wano." He leant back. "I intend to teach him a lesson. Personally."
Izuku said nothing.
"Kaido is an Emperor for a reason. You might be powerful my son, but Kaido is another beast entirely. Another world ahead of you in strength and experience. I doubt even with ten years of training you could match him alone; and you shouldn't have to."
The young boy's body started to shake. Newgate stepped down from his chair, and laid his hand on Izuku's shoulder.
"No human is ever a one man show. Always remember you are never alone in this fight. Understand? Or you'll do your class and that man I respect a disservice. So let's walk forward on this, as a family, alright?"
With wet eyes and a grateful smile, Izuku nodded. Newgate smiled, and sat back in his chair.
"So. You entered the Calm Belt, but you didn't land on any island and called us? What happened?" he asked, picking up his keg and taking a sip.
"About that…" Izuku composed himself, rubbing his eyes as he stifled a yawn. "We landed on Lodestar."
"Excuse me?" Marco's eyes looked like they would pop out of his head. Newgate lowered his keg, and focussed all his attention on Izuku.
Again, no lie.
"You landed on that island?"
"Yeah. It was by accident too. We hugged the Red Line inside the submarine, then we navigated via Eternal Pose back to Melville, and we got dragged into the island's magnetic field," Izuku explained.
"Was it surrounded by violet mists and thunderstorms?" Newgate asked with narrowed eyes. "Were there ancient ruins?"
Izuku nodded, and the old man closed his eyes.
"I'll be damned… you actually ended up there of all places. Was there ancient scripture there too?"
"Yes."
"Pops?" Marco asked as Newgate lowered his head, still trying to process it all.
"That island had many clues that would have helped you find the treasure Roger left behind," he rumbled. In the corner of his eye, he saw Drona perk up. "The One Piece. Didn't you want to find it?"
"No. I had to get back to you as soon as possible," Izuku said resolutely, without hesitation. He sighed lightly. "And Yamato… she needed you and..."
He trailed off, but there was no doubting what he meant. Newgate smiled as he leaned back in his chair, looking down at the boy.
'Roger… you'd like this kid.'
"I flew on for twelve hours from there, going as hard and fast as I could," Izuku went on. "We reached Melville, I saw what was happening…and here we are."
Newgate nodded. "Right then… that explains a great many things. Now, what to do about those Silver Pirates?"
"They recognized him too, Pops," Marco replied. "Bill was likely tied to Doflamingo, which means if any of his crew reported back…"
"Kaido would have gotten word." Newgate sighed through his nose, and turned to Reiju. "You did a good job erasing their memories." Reiju nodded, and sipped some water.
"It was the least I could do. We've caused enough death already. We only intended to destroy Germa, not those Marines."
Drona closed his eyes. Newgate got the vague impression that he was ashamed.
"We'll move forward on this, together," he said firmly. "Izuku, you made a good call; whatever anyone else might say. Snuffing out a life is no small matter, but sometimes you have no choice."
"I know," Izuku replied. "But I'm still a Hero. I don't want…"
He trailed off again, and Reiju and Law stepped up behind him, putting their hands on his shoulders.
"You're not alone," Reiju said softly, with a smile. "We're behind you, all the way."
"She's right. I may not be as strong as you Midoriya, but I'll protect you however I can. Whether it be from Kaido or Doflamingo," Law stated. He paused, and gulped.
"Midoriya?"
"Yeah?"
"You saved me. And Reiju. You and Yamato are our heroes… and our friends."
Izuku looked ready to cry. Drona sighed with relief, and Marco shot Newgate a grin. The Emperor leant back his chair, eyes closed, thoroughly relieved.
Yes, he would be proud to call those two his children.
"Let's move on." He set his eyes on Drona. "Now for you, old man. Why are you here, if I may ask?"
"I understand you do not wish to be addressed as Lord. Is that so?" Drona asked.
"I'm no Lord over anything. Just a Father," Newgate assured him. Drona stood up and walked forward, standing to attention before him.
"Well then, Whitebeard. Izuku and Yamato saved me, as did Law, from my situation in Flevance. I came from my homeland above the sky to search for two humans. They said you could help me with this matter."
"I can, if it's within my power. That said, might I ask you a question, Drona?"
"Of course."
"The paper called you the Three-Eyed Fiend," Newgate mused. "I assume you're a member of the Three-Eyed Tribe?"
Drona shook his head, and shuffled his robes. Newgate stared, amazed, as two more arms emerged from underneath; reaching up to undo the bandage around his brow. The bandage fell away, revealing a third eye.
He remembered the story Roger had told him, the last time they drank. Of a people with four arms, who had the power to awaken a third eye. It was their first adventure…
"No. in truth, I am a Deva. I come from the land above the White Sea, from an island in the Celestial Sea," Drona said solemnly. "I am seeking two people who came from the Blue Sea to our land fifty years ago. Two humans of immense strength, named Raja and Rali. You even said his name when you spoke of that treasure." He looked to Izuku. "The One Piece."
"Wait, you mean…" Izuku spluttered, wide-eyed. "Raja is… Roger? Then that would mean…!"
"You speak of Gol D. Roger, and Silvers Rayleigh," Newgate interjected. Drona perked up. Law and Reiju looked on in amazement, and Marco was double-taking.
"What's the name of your homeland?" Newgate asked, feeling something stir within him.
"My homeland is situated upon the Astral Island." Drona had his hands behind his back.
"It is known as the Kingdom of Heaven, Brahmapura."
Big thanks once again to the team for this one. IKnowNothing , Juubi-K , and WildJoker000
So ends the Homeward Bound Arc.
Next: Stairway to Heaven Arc.
So yeah. The horns subplot finally boils over and Yamato reaches her near breaking point. Last chapter, Izou saved her. This one, it was fucking TEACH of all people before Izuku and WB came in and gave the best cooldown hug she can ask for before she finally got much needed sleep. Note this was written before the knowledge of King Harald had sawed off his horns in Elbaf, but even then I consider that decision ghastly and wrong in scarring yourself for some perception to be made reality even before Harald's knowledge.
But regardless, Reiju joins the crew. Law is kind of sort of considering it. And Newgate loves em both. And Izuku is picking up the pieces.
Shout out to Haruta too.
But yes, we are going to One Piece India next. The Astral Island upon the Celestial Sea, Brahmapura. This has been an arc me and IKN been talking for the better part of a year, with it being a great nod to the One Piece arcs in canon. Was inspired a lot by FGO's Indian servants, IKN's telling of the stories of Hindu Myth, and the heroes within. Indian Myth is fucking GNARLY.
Anyways, hope you enjoyed this. I'm gonna watch A Few good Men now. And I'll see you all in the next one.