1,887Haruta, the Twelfth Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, walked into the War Room, with Vista at his side.
"Early risers I see." Vista mused. Curiel raised a cup of coffee as Jozu nodded their way. Haruta felt the towering swordsman pat him on the shoulder as he saw him walk away towards his seat. The smell of Eggs Benedict was ambrosia to the auburn haired young man as exchanged greetings with the commanders already present. Haruta took his seat beside Curiel, Tenth Division Commander, and started on his much-needed breakfast. As he ate, more and more commanders joined them; until only two seats were empty. Second Division as usual, and Sixteenth Division as of late.
Haruta leant back in his chair, and closed his eyes. He could still feel the bruise under his sleeve from yesterday. In the dark he could still see Yamato's face, her snarling teeth, her weeping orange-sapphire eyes; the anger, and the self-loathing.
The thought of seeing that expression on her previously cheerful, endless optimistic face, it broke something in him.
He opened his eyes, as a waitress collected his plate. A moment later the doors clunked open, and Whitebeard and Marco strode in.
"Good morning, my sons," Whitebeard called out, nodding as he strode over and took his throne, Marco taking his seat nearby.
"Now," he said, sitting down. "I want to get everyone's thoughts."
"About what happened with Melville?" Blenheim asked.
"Yes. First it was that trouble we had with Breed three months ago. And just yesterday, we had an anklebiter crew invading Melville." Newgate's tone was very calm and controlled; enough so to make Haruta nervous.
"I looked through the wreckage of their ship, or what's left of it," Namur spoke. "It had an underwater coating, given the barrels inside. That's how they got through unnoticed."
"I talked with the crews on patrol," added Kingdew, elbows on his armrests. "They're ashamed as hell. They can't figure out how it happened."
"There's no fault here, and I'll tell them later," Whitebeard replied. "Our enemies are getting smarter, and we have to adapt. I was thinking of leaving a Division here on rotation, just to keep an eye on things. And the possible implementation of mines."
"That would mean one less on the Moby, Pops," Rakyo said. "We're already down the Second and, well…" His eyes drifted to the empty seat of the Sixteenth, as Haruta gritted his teeth. Izou's old division had been disbanded, and its members had bonded with their new units without any serious problems. But the thought that his older brother had such…hate in his heart made him sick to his stomach. "If we're really serious about going to war with Kaido, we can't afford to stretch ourselves too thin."
"If it's one Division for a month, it shouldn't be too bad," said Jozu. "Unless we can find a way to stop an underwater ship, all we can do is leave someone to guard Melville. And we can't have our allies do it; they've got their own stuff to deal with."
"I suppose it can work." Jiru added. "We're all in favor then?"
"Let's put it to a vote. Any opposed?" Marco asked. No one spoke, and Marco wrote it down in the logbook. "Alrighty, we'll transfer over whoever wants to go first, right before we set out. Let's move on to the next matter." He looked to Whitebeard, who took a deep breath.
"Shiki has returned."
The room went quiet. Haruta saw Vista and Jozu's jaws drop.
"Shiki…the Golden Lion?" uttered Curiel.
"He's back? Where's he been?" demanded Rakuyo.
"On a Sky Island named Brahmapura. He aided a noble family in seizing power," explained Whitebeard. "He is almost certainly using that connection to raise an army, and return to conquer the world."
"How do you know this?" Vista asked. "Was he at Kaisafjord?"
"No, we learned it from Izuku's new companion Drona; who is from Brahmapura."
Haruta longed from one to the other of his fellow commanders. The older ones were clearly shocked, and Haruta wasn't surprised. He knew of Shiki only by word of mouth, but what he had heard gave him no comfort. Every pirate on the Grand Line knew of Roger's deadly rival; and the Battle of Edd War was spoken of only in hushed tones. To some, Roger and Shiki, along with Pops and Wang Zi of Beehive, had been the first of the Four Emperors.
"That Drona fellow must have had a lot to say if he met Shiki," commented Thatch. As he spoke, waitresses came in with water, juice, and coffee.
"Fill your boots," said Whitebeard, taking up his grog. "It's a long story."
"Pops," Haruta spoke up quickly, and all eyes fell on him. "Before that, I think we have a right to know what happened to Izuku and Yamato." He could feel his father's gaze like the heat of a forge; but he would not back down. "We all know about the battle, but something…happened there.
Whitebeard's eyes softened; and Haruta felt his bruise twinge again.
"I don't hold it against her," he said. "I just want to know." He looked down at the table. "I mean, those two fought a war and look what happened. Yamato's smile, it…" He felt a hand on his shoulder, and turned to see Curiel giving him a sympathetic look. "And Izuku, I've never seen him so…"
"It…didn't end well," replied Marco. "Tell me, would you still accept Yamato as your sister if you knew what had happened?"
Haruta's mind churned, remembering last night. Remembering when he read the paper detailing the Kaisafjord War. If Izuku was the Black Beast, and Drona was almost certainly the Three-Eyed Fiend, then Yamato was the Storm Demon.
"If that wolf form was her Zoan…does that mean she almost lost control?" he asked aloud. Marco nodded, and Haruta winced; kicking himself mentally. He remembered her fury, her fear, her self-loathing and despair.
"You didn't answer my question though."
Haruta took a deep breath.
"She's my sister, Marco," he replied. "I have a right to know, because I want to help her. And I want to help Izuku, my little brother."
He had grown close to the green-haired boy. He had been the youngest of the crew until Izuku came along. He had wanted to have a little brother, to bond with someone that way. Izuku was kind, his smile as bright as the sun; just as Yamato had been before Izou's little stunt.
"We all do," said Namur, regarding him with a somber expression. "We get how you're feeling, Haruta. But this…it's gonna take more than a hug and some kind words."
"So how can I help them damnit!" cried Haruta. "She nearly became a failed Awakened Zoan! She could have been lost forever!"
"Haruta."
Whitebeard's voice cut through his anguish. He blanched, feeling the Emperor's eyes upon him. "Namur is right. It'll take more than kindness, but kindness will still help." There was a soft look in his eyes. "It'll mean a lot to them, Haruta."
Haruta took a long breath. He was both comforted and saddened.
"I suppose I should tell Drona's tale, at least in brief," Whitebeard went on. He told them of Drona's Sky Island of Brahmapura, how it had been isolated for two thousand years before Roger and Rayleigh went there fifty years ago and fought a massive monster. He told them of the schemes of the Duryo Family, their slow corruption of the Brahmapuran Court, culminating in the destruction of the Triarch System and its replacement by a God King.
And he told them of Shiki, and his part in all of it.
"And now…Izuku means to return to Brahmapura, to help Drona save those the Duryo Court has enslaved."
Whitebeard took a long swig. Haruta looked him in the eyes, and shivered at what he saw there.
"Shiki will be there, with as many as six Devil Fruit users at his side; and the Duryo Court to back him up. Their army has technology unlike anything this world has seen, and its warriors are the same as the God Tribe from the Red Line, the Lunarians."
The room went cold.
"Lunarians…" Blenheim said, awestruck.
"You sure Pops?" Jiru asked. "Are these Duryo guys and the God Tribe the same?"
"I'm not sure, and neither is Drona," replied Whitebeard. "The God Tribe was likely a splinter group; who left Brahmapura and settled on the Red Line centuries ago. No doubt the whole God thing was them imitating their former masters." He sighed through his nose. "And they paid for it."
"An army of Lunarians," Vista said, with a fear in his eyes Haruta had never seen there before. "King the Wildfire's people…and they're the grunts."
"I doubt they're all on King's level" Marco cut in before the realization can set in. "No way in hell every soldier there has the strength of a billion Berri bounty pirate. But they'll be tough all the same"
Haruta did not like that notion. An entire army…an entire tribe of Lunarians, and two more races that had kept them in subjugation for thousands of years. What were they capable of?
"It's been fifteen years since I last saw Shiki, and he said his plan would bear fruit in twenty." Whitebeard narrowed his eyes. "Assuming he's sticking to that plan, we have five years to stop him. And he needs to be stopped yesterday."
"So you're letting Izuku go then?" Vista stroked his moustache.
"Law says he's going too, along with our newest sister Reiju. Drona already has a Lunarian rebel group onside numbering in the hundreds, so…"
"You're sending Izuku back into another war?!" Normally, Haruta would never have interrupted Whitebeard; but he couldn't stop himself. "Another war, this soon!?"
Silence reigned.
Haruta looked away, cheeks burning. "I…I should have gone with him."
"No, you shouldn't," interjected Jozu. "You have a bounty of 213 million on your head, and the world knows you're a Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. If you had gone, and the Marines had spotted you, which I guarantee they would, word would've gotten to Doflamingo, and from him to Kaido. Even if the Marines decided to let it go this once, we'd have the Beast Pirates to contend with; and you know what that means."
Haruta glared at the taller man. He wanted to curse him for being so calm, so callous. Yet he couldn't argue either. Kaido was determined to find Izuku and Yamato, and would ravage every island and ship that got in his way.
"I don't like it either," Jozu went on. "But it is what it is."
"There was nothing to be done for it," added Thatch. "Midoriya made the best decision he could."
"Best!? Are you kidding-" spluttered Haruta. "Did you not see what happened!?"
"Yes, I did." Thatch's eyes were hard and his tone of voice did not raise. "It's easy to second-guess with hindsight. But Jozu is right; what's done is done. We can only live with the consequences, and do the best we can."
Haruta glowered, his heart burning; all the more so because he knew they were right. At the very least, Kaido would have thrown everything he had at them; himself included. He believed in Whitebeard and his brothers and sisters with all his heart, but it was a war they couldn't hope to win; not by themselves anyway.
Jozu was right. Hundreds of thousands, maybe millions would die. Whole islands would be laid waste. Glassed. Flooded. It was a war not worth winning; for there would be nothing left to protect.
But…
"We still shouldn't send Izuku out like this!" he protested. "Pops, do something! Say no! Ground him! Anything!"
"I can't," replied Whitebeard gravely. "I don't want him to go, but he is my son; the same as you. But, he wants to help Drona save his people, and prevent a war that could eclipse what we face against Kaido. If you know Izuku at all, you know no words, no actions of mine will stop him."
"But what will happen to him!?" barked Haruta. "You saw what fighting Germa did to him! What do you suppose will happen if he fights Shiki!?"
"Shiki isn't what he was," Whitebeard assured him. "I knew it the moment I saw him. His time in prison sapped his strength."
Haruta felt his heart explode.
"They're going to fight in another war damnit!" he shrieked, leaping to his feet. He couldn't stand this any more. Pops was just sitting there, talking about all this like it was nothing at all. Did he not understand!?
"Haruta!" cried Curiel in surprise. Even Vista looked shocked. But Whitebeard just sat where he was, his aura as calm as his countenance. The room was completely silent, but for Haruta's hoarse breaths.
"Pops…let me go!" he heard himself plead. "Let me go with them! Let me help! I can't let them fly away into danger again, not after Germa! No way in hell!"
"You're a Commander, Haruta," said Fossa sternly. "You have a responsibility."
"I know!" Haruta snapped back. "But I have a responsibility to my baby brother too!"
He leant forward, resting his hands on the table, breathing hard; as a horrible thought entered his mind.
"Or what, Pops?" he asked, raising his eyes to stare at Whitebeard. "Or is this the way things are going to be now? Is Izuku going to handle all the dirty work; the work you need doing, but can't admit to? Is he our Cipher Pol now?"
Haruta could see their eyes staring at him, feel their gaze boring into him. Vista sucked in his lips and shook his head just a little, while Thatch's jaw was tight. Marco was glaring at him.
"Haruta."
The word cut through Haruta's anger, driving it away like smoke on the wind. The air around him felt heavy and tense, and Haruta felt like a hand was pressing hard on his back; pushing him down into his chair.
"Midoriya Izuku is not my weapon, he is my son." Whitebeard narrowed his eyes, and Haruta's stomach coiled. Without the fury, the outrage that had fired him just a moment ago, he felt only a cold, sick dread. What had he just said? What had he just accused his lord and father of?
"Do you think your little brother is a fool?" Whitebeard growled. "Do you think he doesn't know full well what he's walking into? He wants…he needs to do this, and he knows in his soul what the consequences might be. I saw it in his eyes when he said he would fight Shiki; just as when he said he would cast Kaido down."
He wanted to fight Kaido too!?
Izuku, the rising young star within the Whitebeards, yet one many on the crew don't want to admit loud and proud in taverns. After all, he's latched onto the hip of Kaido's daughter.
Loose lips sink ships, but this wouldn't sink ships. If Kaido found out, it would burn whole islands to glass.
And now he's going to fight Shiki first. Is he… insane?!
"T-Then why!?" Haruta clamored. "Why can't you make him see reason!" Marco was rubbing his forehead.
"Because you're demanding that he stand by and do nothing while people are enslaved and a madman raises an army to conquer the world," concluded Whitebeard. "Good men do not stand idle while evil prospers."
Haruta was silent, breathing hard. He felt so… small. Shiki was up there on Brahmapura, gathering an army of warriors each one of whom was worth a ship's crew by himself; at least. And down below, there were forces almost as terrible, forces he might ally with.
Big Mom, and her slowly-growing mafia of an empire; like a bloated Black Widow spider slowly and patiently spinning her web.
Kaido, and his armada of brutal war machines, packed to the gunnels with frothing berserkers and damned souls; leaving fire and ruin wherever they went.
He shivered, as a terrible cold filled his being. Was he afraid? Or was this something worse?
Was this… joy? Excitement?
Had the prospect of such a battle, of fighting such mighty enemies, swordsmen a plenty, awakened something within him?
Did he want this?
Then he saw Izuku and Yamato in his mind's eye, on that day they had spent in Melville; eating ice cream, smiling and laughing, full of innocent joy.
And then their wails and cries just last night.
The shame flooded his core.
"I…can't take back what I said," he forced himself to say, looking up at Whitebeard again.
The pressure had eased, the room was warm again. Those old yellow eyes looked into his own; looking into him, and through him, as they had always done.
"You spoke from your heart. Don't be ashamed of it," the old Emperor said. "Besides, I asked for your honest opinion, and you gave it. If I wanted bumbling yes-men, I'd have joined the Marines."
The Commanders chuckled, and Haruta could tell they were glad of it. He saw Vista look his way, and tip his cap.
"So you want to help him, do you?" Whitebeard asked.
"Yamato can't come, not in the state she's in. Izuku needs a big brother at his side, and I want…no, I need to be that one." His heart was hammering again. "If I can't do that, then how can you ever be proud of me!? How can I stand among your Commanders, if I'm not worthy even to be your son!?"
He could see their eyes. He could tell they were impressed, and sensed that he had passed a test. If he had backed down there and then, after what he had said, they would never have taken him seriously again. They would have looked at him and seen a boy, not a man.
Whitebeard closed his eyes, and Haruta could just make out a smile behind his great white moustache.
"Oi, Vista," he called out.
"Yeah Pops?"
"How would you feel about babysitting Haruta's division for a spell?"
"I think I can handle that." Vista smiled, winking Haruta's way. Haruta stood frozen, not quite believing what he had just heard.
"You'll accompany Izuku when he's ready. I'll talk with Derby about loaning him a ship." Whitebeard sipped from his keg. "I'll be counting on you, Haruta."
"Yes Pops." Haruta's heart swelled. "Thank you, Pops."
He sat down, and the meeting continued.
(X)
Another day passed, and still Yamato hadn't woken up.
Izuku stepped out of the infirmary. He had slept well since his return, and spent most of his waking hours resting. Thatch's meals had been a godsend, as had the familiar faces around the Moby Dick. But he had not stayed far from the infirmary; except to use the Head. Otherwise he had sat by Yamato's bed, watching her sleep.
Before too long, he would be off again; to Drona's homeland, to help save his people. It had to be done; of that, Izuku had no doubt. The peoples of Brahamapura had to be saved from tyranny, and from the wiles of Shiki.
Shiki, who had fought with Roger and survived. So had Kaido, no doubt, in the past.
Just another step.
He strode down the hall and up the steps onto the open deck. The sun was warm, and the wind was cool on his face. He stopped beside the Moby Dick's whale-head prow, and looked along the seafront. Melville seemed to be back to normal; the people coming and going, the shops and taverns open. Only a few broken windows and that one trashed shop remained to remind him of what had happened two days earlier.
He floated up onto the figurehead, and sat down, closing his eyes. He took a breath, and centred his mind; focussing on the power within him.
It arose, straight to fifty per cent. Push to fifty-five…
He was in another place, a place within. He was inside a storm, a vortex. Izuku turned, seeing the faint glowing thread he had reached onto before. He would reach it there, in times of deep concentration.
Whether meditating, or when he was carrying the submarine. During the battle in Gemra, he had latched onto it in the gale.
He reached out, forcing himself against the winds, found the thread, and held onto it. He could feel the rush of power, warmth rushing through him like a flood. Izuku opened his eyes, as lightning cracked over his flesh.
Fifty-five percent. Perfect.
He closed his eyes, and found himself holding that thread again; no longer gossamer-thin, but thick like a rope.
Push beyond. Focus.
The storm inside his mind roared, winds blowing like a tornado around him; faster and faster, louder and louder. And through the winds, he saw it, shining like a star. He had to focus, to reach that threshold and grasp it. He had to get stronger, he had to!
But it was so far…
He sensed someone watching him, and paused, lowering his output back to fifty as he turned.
"Such power within you," mused Drona, standing a little way away.
"Good morning," Izuku greeted him, feeling a little put out. First the animals on Sphinx, now Drona wandering up!
"And good morning to you too," returned Drona with a nod. He had his hands behind his back, and was watching him with searching eyes. "Your powers are unlike anything I have seen before my time in Vimana."
"Yes,," admitted Izuku. "It was given to me, by someone I admired greatly. But…it's not only this power I'm trying to master." He looked at his forearm and took a deep breath, focussing.
"And what would that be?" Drona asked mildly. Izuku thought about it, and remembered when he first used Armament Haki; to protect Law from the Vinsmokes.
It flooded into his arm, warm and strong. Izuku looked down, and his heart leapt at the black sheen that covered it.
"Ahhh, Pravah."
"Pravah? I'm using Haki and-" Izuku paused, seeing his forearm return to normal and he felt a flush surge from his arm back to his core. "Darn, it's gone."
"You call it Haki I see. In Brahmapura, we call it Pravah, the flow of our will made manifest." Drona said as he looked out to the great blue sea beyond Melville's shores. "Once obtained, it will always be there for you, although you are still learning to keep a grasp on it"
"Yeah. Thatch said once I awaken it, it'll be easy to turn on and off." Izuku focused again, the black sheen returning as he flexed his arm, moving his hand and fingers around. "But it seems that every time I shut it off, it becomes harder to turn back on."
"No will is infinite," Drona said. "Like a well, it needs time to replenish. Drink too deep and too hastily, and it will run out and leave you dry."
"I see…" Izuku nodded. "Like how a car's engine needs gas." Drona quirked an eyebrow. "Or…how a lamp needs oil, or a body needs food," he corrected himself. The Deva nodded.
"A fair analogy." He clambered onto the prow, and sat cross-legged opposite Izuku. "Pravah, or Haki, is strengthened with adversity; just as iron is worked in a forge. As you use it in battle, your spirit will strengthen; forged in the fire of adversity."
"Iron sharpens iron, huh," Izuku mused aloud.
"Mr. Drona, I'm sorry to ask…but would you spar with me?" He looked into the old man's golden eyes.
"You wish to get stronger." Drona stood up. "Very well, I would be happy to oblige."
"Thank you." Izuku dropped down onto the deck and focussed; hardening his arms with Haki. Drona did likewise, all four arms black with Haki. "I need to get stronger. I can't…I can't…"
"Allow yourself to need saving?"
Drona's arms moved. They were fast, but not lightning-fast; not so fast that Izuku couldn't see them. Izuku blocked; black sparks flying as the Haki-covered hands met. Izuku countered with a quick jab; which the elder blocked.
"I know. Heroes… need to be saved too. But because I was weak…" He struck again, and Drona blocked again, "It led to all of this! And…"
"You feel guilt for the rage Yamato unleashed, leading to her despair."
Izuku remembered that terrible night, in that freezing cave, when he had embraced her long snout and begged her to come back to herself, to him. He had tried to heal her, but he had brought her only pain.
He had failed her.
He punched harder this time. Drona grabbed his fist and held it fast, wind whistling between them.
"You feel useless."
Izuku gritted his teeth, trying to force his fist onward, but he could not break Drona's grip.
Or deny the truth.
"I was there for her. I've always been there. So why isn't she…?"
"Getting better?"
Izuku yanked back his fist, and punched again, and again. Drona stood still, deftly parrying every blow.
"My boy, what you saw has been burdening her for a long time." Block, parry. "No words, even from you, could rid her of that darkness; not just like that." Parry, block, parry. "Her Kara needs time to heal. But for what it's worth…"
Izuku reared back and kicked, and Drona had to use both left arms to block it. "Your presence helps her greatly."
"Some help!" Izuku snarled, kicking and punching, faster and faster. "She tried to-!"
"I know." Drona's upper arms caught Izuku's fists, and wrenched him hard to the side. Izuku found himself flat on his back, Drona's palm against his neck. "But you brought her back that night. And here too. You, and her father, brought her back from the brink."
Izuku lay on his back, staring up at Drona as he stood up, offering his hand. He took it, and let himself be helped up.
"Only by offering your hand can you help her," the old man said, smiling. "Or anyone else, for that matter. Tell me my boy, how do you build a house?"
Izuku blinked, taking a deep breath as he thought. Drona looked at him, smiling akin to how Midnight or Cementoss-sensei would ask him a question to figure out. But nothing this philosophical. "Well… you have to make a foundation first?"
"Yes. And?" Drona asked, eyes expectant.
"You need materials. Wood, and brick."
"Yes. Then?"
"You need to make it… one brick at a time." As it clicked for Izuku. The sage nodded.
"Exactly." The man said, pleased. "You saved her in the cave in the North. You gave her moments of respite during our voyage in the Calm Belt, gazing at those brilliant stars. I saw it in her eyes. The hope and relief. In the flow of her Kara." Drona smiled. "There will be days when her thoughts spiral yes… but she's on the road. But it's going to be a long one."
Izuku looked back at him, then sighed. He is making sense. Still…
"I only wish I could do more. But… what more can I do?"
"You reached out, and you're still reaching out. Your being there is more than enough," Drona said. "Now…" he spread his palms again as it shined black. "Focus. Strike at my hands with your Haki. As you said, iron sharpens iron."
Izuku looked down at his hands, as the black Haki covered them. He felt drained, but he attacked; boxing at Drona's palms. He had to master this power. He had to get stronger, for those who needed saving, and for Yamato.
"Will you help me… hone my Haki?" he asked. Drona paused, but for a moment.
"You are helping me to save my kingdom from itself. Aiding you in mastering Pravah, and to guide you to enlightenment and peace of mind, is the least I can do for you, young man. Besides, these old bones are gladened to help another achieve such heights."
He smiled. Izuku nodded, and began again; striking faster and harder, forcing his mind to focus, and his Haki to flow. Drona blocked every blow, as lightly as if he were catching a falling leaf.
The sun was setting, when Izuku finally hit his limit. He slumped down, drenched with sweat, his body as heavy as lead. He couldn't remember ever feeling quite so drained.
"Now you feel it. The drain Pravah places upon you. You did well keeping it up for so long," said Drona, standing with his hands behind his back. He sighed through his nose; and Izuku wondered if he was tired too.
"So I can't use this again for a while?" Izuku looked at his hand, and tried to bring out his Haki again. But it wouldn't come, and he only felt more drained. He sighed, and flopped back onto the deck. "This is worse than that time I cleaned a whole beach."
"Call it Pravah or Haki, it is drawn from your willpower," Drona went on. "As great as your spirit is, it is a finite resource. Dig too deep and you run dry. But the deeper you dig, the more will come forth for the future."
"So it's…like a muscle. I was overtraining." Izuku panted, and took a deep breath; remembering All Might's warnings. Drona offered two hands, and again, Izuku let himself be helped up. "It needs time to replenish."
"Indeed." Drona smiled a wide smile. "You learn quickly."
Izuku laughed, and rubbed his cheek. "I've had good teachers."
Drona nodded, then chuckled as a rumble came from Izuku's stomach.
"Come. We must replenish your strength and rest your mind." Drona fell in beside him as they strolled along the deck. Izuku smiled lightly, feeling better for it all. The training had been a good thing to focus on.
"That it has."
Izuku hesitated. He knew that voice.
"Second?" he asked aloud, turning around.
Nothing.
"Izuku?" asked Drona, looking at him curiously.
Izuku stood in silence, remembering Whitebeard's words. They had been giving him space.
"It's nothing. Let's go get lunch. I think Thatch is making halibut on rice. Oh, and you said you wanted to try the booze, right?"
"Indeed I do." The old man chuckled. "Lead the way."
"Hey Midoriya!" Izuku turned to see Badger, one of the shipwrights, waving at him. "You getting something to eat!?"
"I am. What's up?"
"I needed to ask you a couple of things." Badger held up a notepad. "About what we might need in a ship for sailing the White Sea. We can go over it while you eat."
"Sure, let's go over it together!" he enthused. Drona chucked.
"This will be interesting."
(X)
Two days later
"Will you be okay living here?" Reiju asked, as the maids stood before a simple house. Izuku had lent them five million Berris to find a home in Melville, with enough left to start over.
"Yes, something big enough for all four of us," Eponi replied, nodding. "We can look around for simple work." She paused, her smile fading. "I only pray you'll be safe, Princess. You, becoming a pirate…I don't know what your mother would have said."
Reiju shrugged. "Well, the Whitebeards aren't like most pirates. And they did save our lives." She smiled. "I consider myself a hero first, pirate second." Eponi chuckled at her words.
"Well, be sure to visit us here." She turned to Law. "Thank you for helping us with the furniture, Mr Law."
"Don't mention it." Law shrugged.
"Easy for you to say!" yelled Shachi, from one end of a sofa; Penguin at the other as they marched to the house. "Why can't you help!?"
"I will. Just get the heavy stuff inside," replied Law.
"Yeah it ain't too bad," Bepo added, carrying a whole mattress by himself.
"Will you be okay carrying that upstairs by yourself, big guy?" Azmel asked.
"Yep, I always carry the big loads," Bepo replied happily. Azmel gave a cheeky grin, and gave his ears a rub; making the bear grin.
"That's the spirit."
"No faaaaair~" Shachi whined.
"Quit whinin' and keep on moving!" Azmel yelled.
"I-It's okay you two. Just don't hurt yourselves, okay?" Fantina added, following behind them.
"Fantina you're an angeeeeel~!" Shachi exclaimed.
"Amen to that!" Penguin added.
"Knock it off with the buttering up you two!" Azmel yelled again.
"Having our own home… never would have imagined it…" breathed Cosette, looking up at the house.
"We'll come by whenever we can," Reiju said. "Thank you Eponi, for everything."
"No, thank you Princess," insisted Eponi. Reiju knew she should correct her mother's old maid, get her to stop calling her Princess; but a part of her knew it wouldn't work.
"I should get myself ready," the old woman went on, blushing suddenly. "Drona said he would be stopping by. We'll be going to that little cafe on the main street."
Reiju had to force herself not to giggle. At long last they were free; free of their stuffy noble upbringing, and the servitude they had endured under Germa. It was time for them to enjoy their freedom, and their new, normal lives; be it setting up a new house, or getting ready for a date.
She couldn't be happier.
"I'll leave you to that, Eponi." Reiju nodded, and the old woman hurried away. The letter turned towards the black haired man who was leaning against the tree, arms crossed.
"You sure you know what you're doing?" she asked, once she was sure no one else could hear.
"You mean coming along on this mission?" Law asked, looking up.
"You sound eager to go against one of the Pirate King's rivals."
"It won't just be me."
"I know, but this is someone who was feared around the world." Reiju paused. "My father told me about Shiki's conquests, with his fleet of fifty ships. They were the stuff of legend."
"You said you're coming too," retorted Law, making her wince a little.
"War is something I know about, reconnaissance especially," she replied. "And I get a clear shot at Shiki, my poison could finish him."
"Funny, I was thinking of lopping his head off. But if this was someone who fought Roger, and got out alive multiple times, it won't be that easy."
Law gazed up at the twilight sky. Reiju wondered, as she had before, just what was going on behind those eyes.
"Do you think we can do this?" she asked. "With Drona and Izuku? Will that be enough?"
"It won't just be us. Whitebeard won't let Midoriya go without help this time. Believe me, I saw the way he looked at him. That was heavy."
It had been. Reiju knew, now, that the talk of the Whitebeard Pirates being a family wasn't just rhetoric. Edward Newgate really did look upon his crew as his children, and they upon him as their father. He would rather die than forsake any one of them.
"But Yamato won't be coming," Reiju went on, lowering her eyes. "We…we can't ask her to come, not after everything that's happened."
Law gave her a hard look.
"You're blaming yourself again," he said. "I know she's suffering, but it doesn't change the facts. If she hadn't done what she did, we'd all be dead; and Germa would still be out there."
"You're not afraid of her? Not even a little?"
"Of course I'm afraid," Law scoffed. "I think the only one of us who genuinely isn't is Midoriya, but that's just the kind of guy he is. I'm not turning my back on her; not when I did no better."
Reiju winced, as she remembered the state she had found Law in; lying broken and blasted in the rubble, while her father and brothers mocked and tormented him.
"I suppose I'm a hypocrite," she mused sadly. "I can't bear to see what she's going through, but a part of me wants her to do it all again. I can't ask her to use that power, but I'm scared to face Shiki without it."
"We're all hypocrites, Reiju." Law's brown eyes glared straight ahead.. "You can't live a normal, reasonable life without some hypocrisy. The only folks I've ever seen who weren't…were Doflamingo and your brothers."
Reiju sighed. Yes, her brothers had been many things; but they weren't hypocrites. If they saw power, they would use it; without hesitation or remorse.
"You don't think much of people then."
"I take them for what they are." Law closed his eyes, and pocketed his hands. "And I take my hope where I can find it."
He looked away, and Reiju followed his gaze. There were some children nearby, playing some kind of ball game. Just three days ago this place had been under pirate attack; yet there they were, like nothing had happened.
"That same hope Midoriya is trying to fight for… right?" she asked. Law pulled his cap down over his eyes, and she couldn't help but chuckle. "You're a good man, Trafalgar Law."
He groaned, and looked away, making her chuckle even more.
"Whatever. I'm gonna see if there's anywhere that does onigiri round here. The guys could use some grub." He looked at her. "Wanna join me?"
Reiju closed her eyes, and smiled.
"Don't see why not."
(X)
A wooden ceiling.
That was all Yamato could see; all she had seen for…she didn't know how long.
She knew she was in a bed, and aboard a ship; most likely the Moby Dick. But she hadn't moved since she had woken up; and she couldn't remember how long ago that had been.
A part of her supposed she should get up, or at least sit up and look around. But she couldn't bring herself to do it. She didn't have the strength.
No, that wasn't true. She just didn't want to. She didn't see the point of getting up, or moving in any way. There was nothing out there but pain, and shame. She couldn't bear to face the others after what she had done; to Izuku, to herself, to them.
She could vaguely hear voices; but she couldn't make out what they were saying. That was odd, for her nearing was normally very good; better than that of a normal human. They must have been trying very hard not to be overheard.
They didn't trust her anymore. And why should they have done? She had finally come back, and she had greeted them by trying to saw her own horns off. Little wonder that they wouldn't talk to her directly. They were probably afraid she would do something crazy, like lose her temper and rip their heads off. That was what an oni did, right?
Or did they think she was no good anymore? Were they tired of seeing her lying around like a useless moping lump? Did they only love the old, bright, happy Yamato who enjoyed every day?
She heard a sound to her left, and in the corner of her eye was a flicker of movement. Curiosity overcame her melancholy, and her eyes drew left to see.
"Oh…"
There was someone sitting there. An old or old-ish woman, she couldn't quite tell; wearing a kimono and a head-wrap.
A kimono and a head-wrap? Here?
Yamato blinked, and blinked again, surprise and curiosity cutting through the fog that clouded her mind. It was indeed a kimono; though it looked cheap and thin compared to what the geishas and courtesans had worn back on Onigashima. And she couldn't remember seeing anything quite like it outside of Wano. Was this woman from Wano?
She focussed on the face. It was lined and thin-skinned with age, but it was well-formed, and…firm somehow. It wore a gentle, almost motherly smile, and the eyes were warm and welcoming; if a little sad.
And there was something…familiar about it. She had seen that face before.
"Oh!" She remembered. "You're Herzla, right? From the mountain?"
"Yes, dear." The old woman's smile widened. "You helped me to the shelter, during the storm."
"Yes, I remember." In spite of everything, Yamato felt herself smile. That night, Herzla had been thin, almost skeletal; worryingly light to carry. Now she looked healthy, and even cheerful. "I'm….I'm really glad you're okay. But…what're you doing here?"
"I never got to thank you in person, and I heard you were in port," replied Herzla, with a shrug. "But you don't seem so well these days."
Yamato's heart sank. The old woman's eyes were warm and sad, but she couldn't read anything in them. How much did she know?
"Your outfit," she said, trying to change the subject. "Are you from Wano?"
"My mother was," said Herzla, still smiling. "I've never been there myself. She left when she was young, and all I know of the place is what she told me, plus some things I've heard."
"I see." Yamato cleared her throat. "I…I only actually went to Wano once, when I was very young."
"With Kaido?"
Yamato jumped, her blood running cold. But Herzla reached over and laid a gnarled hand over hers.
"Dear, you don't have to pretend with me," she said. "Besides, the horns are a dead giveaway."
Yamato gasped, and her hands flew to her horns; as if she could somehow hide them, and make Herzla forget seeing them, even though she had seen them at least twice already.
"I suppose you must've lived on Onigashima," Herzla went on. "That's where the oni live these days, or so I'm told."
Yamato hesitated. She didn't want to reveal any more of herself to this kindly old woman; who would surely recoil from her if she knew the truth.
But…there was just something about her; something that made her want to say more.
And even then, there was something familiar about her; something she couldn't place.
"I lived on Onigashima until a few months ago," she said, looking away. "Kaido was…is…gathering oni there. He wants to give Wano back to the oni, and for me to be its Shogun."
"Strangely generous of him," the old woman mused. "I'm thinking there's a reason for it."
Yamato's heart clenched, and her throat tightened. Did she dare say it? Could she not say it?
"Kaido is…my father." There, she said it. "I don't know who, or what, my mother was."
She forced herself to look at Herzla; half-expecting to see her recoil in horror. But there was no fear in her eyes, no condemnation. Just that same warmth, that same sadness.
"That must've been hard," she said. "Having no mother, and a father like that."
What was wrong with this woman? Why wasn't she afraid? Why wasn't she appalled? What kind of life must she have lived if this didn't bother her at all?
"I…it was hard," she admitted. There was no going back now. "My father wanted me to be just like him, to see the world the way he does. But I wouldn't…or rather, I couldn't."
"I expect he didn't take that lying down."
"He didn't. He beat and starved me, and when that didn't work, he put me in seastone cuffs." She held up her wrists, showing the red skin. "I didn't break, but…sometimes I wanted to."
"And then you escaped?"
"Yes, with Izuku." Her heart clenched as she remembered those days with Izuku; nursing him back to health, telling him about Oden and her dreams, plotting with him to escape from Onigashima. The journeys they had made, the saving of islands and kingdoms as they went about their way.
Her jaws crushing down, her fang in his shoulder…
"And so you came to be a Whitebeard Pirate, and on that day you saved my life," Herzla concluded, breaking through the white haired woman's plummeting train of thought. "But the Yamato I remember and heard about was cheerful and full of life. I think something bad must have happened, when you were away fighting those Germa villains."
Yamato was taken aback. How did she know about them going after Germa?
"I have ears, dear," Herzla assured her. "And the fellows on this ship talk of little else. You've won fame, at least on this ship, and in Melville."
Fame. For a victory no one beyond this place could ever hear about. A victory won by a monster.
"We saw what Germa had done to an island, two in fact," she went on. "Izuku and I went after them, and we met Reiju, and Law and the Heart Pirates, and Drona. We went after Germa together…and we beat them."
"You certainly did. Genocidal Germa gone to the grave!" she held up her hands theatrically, and laughed. "You did the whole world a favour in ridding it of those troublemakers, I can tell you."
Yamato was silent, looking ahead. And Herzla's laugh quickly died down.
"It…wasn't that simple, was it?" Herzla half-asked. Yamato drew a breath, her stomach churning. She couldn't say it ...but she couldn't not say it. Something inside her was forcing out the words, while something else was forcing them down.
"I…I…I lost control." Her whole body clenched as the words finally escaped. "My friends were in danger, hurt. Izuku was hurt. Germa was winning. I…I…"
"You went berserk." Herzla's face was like stone as Yamato's hands went to her head. "You suffered the Oni Bloodrage, and you unleashed your Devil Fruit power at the same time."
'I couldn't stop myself!" Her horns were burning, and tears ran down her face; as she slammed down her fists on her legs, again and again. "I felt so alive! I felt so strong! I just wanted to destroy Germa utterly! Every last bit of it! Every last one of them! I wanted to rip them to bloody pieces!"
"And?"
"I…I almost killed Reiju…Izuku tried to stop me…and I…I…"
She let out a sob. She had bared her soul, and it was a horrible sight. Surely now Herzla would condemn her. Surely now, after all this, she would back away. It was normal! It was right!
"And you hate yourself for it."
Yamato looked at Herzla through tear-blurred eyes. Her smile was gone at least, but there was still no horror in her eyes. Only sadness, and a terrible weight.
"Dear child, believe me, you've nothing to hate yourself for," insisted the old woman. "After what I've seen and done in my life, I ought to know."
"How?" Yamato stared at her, surprised. Herzla sighed, and something in her manner changed; as if a shadow had fallen over her.
"Because when I was your age, I was a pirate," admitted the old woman. "A real pirate, not a play-pirate like your family here."
"Play-pirate?" Yamato was too shocked to even feel angry. "What do you mean a play-pirate?"
"Since you joined him, have you ever captured a ship?" Herzla asked. "Have you raided a port? Robbed a bank? Taken any treasure at all? Sacked an entire island?"
"Well…no!" There was that time with Breed, but that wasn't what she clearly meant. "We don't do that kind of thing!"
"Well, that's what pirates did in my day," retorted Herzla. "We were in it for the treasure. We killed and robbed people who didn't deserve it; and we slept with one eye open in case the Marines found us, or another crew jumped us, or someone was in a bad mood that night." She sighed. "My boyfriend at the time was quite the raider… always on the hunt for treasure. Especially Devil Fruits."
Yamato shivered. Now she was the one who was scared.
"I'm not proud of any of it," Herzla went on, sadly. "It was after my daughter was born that I actually started thinking about it; about what I was doing, and why."
Yamato's mind was running in circles. This kind, warm-hearted old woman had been a pirate! That kind of pirate! She was admitting to the kind of things the Finalems had done!
And yet…she seemed so sad, so regretful.
"So don't go acting like you're the worst, Yamato," the old woman went on. "There's plenty in this world who've done far worse, and never regretted a moment of it. And from what your brothers tell me, you've done far more good in your time than I ever did in twice your years."
Yamato wanted to believe her. She wanted to accept it. This old woman, who had borne so much, and so clearly understood her, was forgiving her. Not from on high like some saint, but as someone who knew.
The headphones, the scent. Her jaws snapping down…
"But…but you never hurt a friend!" she cried, as the horror flooded back into her mind. "You never betrayed anyone!"
"Oh, you never saw me fight," replied Herzla. "You never saw what I did when the Bloodrage took me, back when I was young. Believe me, I know what happened to you that night. There was nothing you could've done."
"No, you don't!" Yamato shrieked as she sat up and faced her. "You don't know! You can't know! You're not an oni! You're a human!"
She trailed off, overwhelmed by what she had said. What was she doing, shouting and raging at this poor old woman? And why was she just sitting there like it was nothing?
The old woman didn't recoil. Didn't even flinch. She simply raised her hands to her head wrap, and slowly undid it. She pulled it away, revealing long white hair, remarkably thick, bound up in a Wano style.
And, rising from her brow, two purple horns.
Yamato opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Her mind whirled, her heart clenched, her whole world seemed to have stopped.
"You're…"
It all made sense now. It all fell into place. No wonder she seemed to understand.
"You're…" Her lip wobbled, the tears came again. "You're like me."
"Yes, I am." Herzla managed a small, sad smile. She reached out, taking Yamato's scarred, bandaged hand in her own. "My mother was an oni, from Ringo Province in the Land of Wano. She died when I was very young, and I don't remember her well. But there was one thing she said that always stayed with me. Those who hate the most, hate themselves the worst."
She sighed.
"She hated Wano because of the way its people treated her, and herself for being an oni," she went on. "There were times I hated myself too, and took it out on anyone my kanabo could reach. But all it brought her was death, and all it brought me was shame. So please, child, don't go down that road." She looked back at her.
"Cut off your horns, and the rest of you will remain. Deny the Bloodrage, and one day it'll burst out of you. Hide your strength, and you'll never do any good with it. All these things, and so much more…this is who you are." She gave a soft smile. "Not a monster, but a hero. Their hero…and my hero."
Yamato's heart broke. Her breath became a racking sob, and she let out a terrible wail. She hunched over, shaking as she sobbed, as Herzla leant forward and put her arms around her. She buried her head in the old oni's shoulder, shuddering and keening, as a lifetime of loneliness, shame, and rage poured out of her.
"There there, little one." Herzla whispered. "Let it all out…"
The memories of that horrid night pounded against her. Yet the warm embrace of this woman, it reminded her of that time when it was her and Izuku.
She let out a shuddering sigh and wept, feeling the old woman's hand on the back of her head.
She'll never forget that night and all the ill that came.
But the good it came with…
The tears felt good coming out.
(X)
Outside the infirmary, Izou leant against the bulkhead; his face wet with tears as he looked at the ceiling.
What had he done? What pain had he wrought on Yamato, that she had become like this? What had he done to her innocent heart? Her dreams?
And he had done it; there was no denying it. He had rejected her, cursed her for a monster and a traitor, tried to kill her; just because she was an oni, and Kaido's daughter. All to deny his own pain, his own guilt. All so he could cling to a past that never existed, and deny his own misdeeds.
He knew what he had done. He had done to her what had been done to him. At least she hadn't wasted half her life denying the truth.
If Oden were alive… he would have been devastated.
He almost sobbed, as he heard Herzla begin to sing; the same lullaby she had sung to him, and to her own children long ago. He could only hope that it would comfort and soothe her, as it had done for him. Maybe, just maybe, it would help her find a way forward; a way out of the darkness.
And maybe, just maybe, he could ask her forgiveness.
Izou straightened up. His whole body felt heavy, in a way mere tiredness could not make it. He wasn't the same Izou any more; Herzla had been right about that, at least. But he was still responsible, and there were still things he had to do. He had to explain himself to Whitebeard, and apologise to Yamato and Izuku. It was the least they deserved.
But what then? Would Whitebeard take him back? And if he did, could he really be a part of this crew anymore?
Did he even want to be? At least on Melville he had something useful to do, and he belonged. The people knew what he had done, but they didn't hold it against him. They knew, as Herzla did, that he was sorry, and that he had changed for the better. That was enough for them.
Here, on this ship, he would have to face the others again; every minute of every day, every one of them remembering.
He couldn't face it. He couldn't bear it. This wasn't his home any more. They weren't his family any more. He didn't deserve the Moby Dick, or Whitebeard, or them. He was Izou of Melville now, and that was enough.
Besides, how could he stay here, knowing what Herzla had told him? He couldn't lie to Whitebeard, not after everything else he had done; but he couldn't break faith with Herzla either, not after all she had done for him.
"Izou…" said a voice, as he started down the corridor. He froze, as Whitebeard emerged from the shadows like a bad memory.
"My lord." He bowed, and cleared his throat. Now was the time. He had to do at least this much. "My lord, I…I…"
He trailed off, his mind a blank. He had rehearsed this moment a thousand times, yet now he couldn't think of what to say.
"Izou?" The enormous man strode forth, and Izou's heart almost broke as he saw his face. That old, kind, sad face, the same one he had worn when Whitey Bay had come back from Sphinx, looking like the bottom had fallen out of her world.
He stood over him, his massive calloused hand reaching out as Izou closed his eyes. It was better this way.
"My lord…I have…betrayed you." He was shaking. "I have…broken faith with you. I have…"
Whitebeard's tree-trunk of an arm wrapped around his back, and pressed him to his shoulder.
"Are you trying to break my old heart, Izou?"
Izou was stunned.
"I am not your lord, you foolish boy" Whitebeard sternly admonished. "You're my son, or did you forget?"
Izou held back a cry of anguish. He didn't deserve Whitebeard's embrace. He didn't deserve to be his son.
"Your little sister needs a bit more time," the older man said gently. "It's been hard on her, all that's happened. I think Herzla's been a help to her…but this is only the beginning. Let her choose the time."
Izou nodded, understanding.
Sister…
Yes. How fitting. He failed Kiku once. He failed Yamato too.
'Some brother I am…'
"Good." Whitebeard arose. "In the meantime, get your things and say your goodbyes. We sail in two days, and we wait for no one."
Izou's heart stilled, and his jaw almost dropped open.
"But…"
"Your room is right where you left it," Whitebeard went on, turning away. "But you're not a commander any more. For all his faults, the old Izou earned that rank; and if you want it, you'll have to do the same."
"I understand." Izou sniffed, rubbing his eyes with his sleeve, and nodded. Whitebeard turned his head, and he could see a smirk under that moustache.
"I'll miss the old Izou," he said. "But I'm sensing something good about this new Izou. I'm thinking, if he tries, he can make something of himself. One day I might call him Commander…or maybe even Captain…if he tries."
Izou drew himself, and bowed.
"Izou of Melville is at your service…Pops."
Whitebeard chuckled, and strode off down the corridor. Izou glanced around the infirmary door, and watched Herzla gently humming Yamato to sleep; just as she had done for him.
He allowed himself to smile. He would talk to her in the morning, if she was ready. Otherwise, he would wait his turn, until the time was right.
Big thanks to the team once more. Juubi-K , IKnowNothing and WildJoker000
But yeah, after the crash outs our heroes have had, they are undergoing improtant first steps to healing and improvement. The Maids have a home, and Izou is welcomed back. Herzla maybe an old lady, but she's coming through when it matters.
Next chapter will be the last one in Melville, and we're off into the brink once more. Hope you all enjoyed this one! I'll see ya then.