Flock of Weight

People of the Dojo
Purupurupuru A Den Den Mushi under Dexter's clothes rang. Reaching into his jacket, he pulled the small communication snail out and picked it up. Before he said anything, he took in his surroundings, looking back at the ship which had been docked at the bay this region. Spitting to his side, he took a deep breath before letting out a big sigh.

"Hello." He said, waiting for the person on the other end to speak.

"Onii-san! Onii-san!" A female voice cried out over the snail. "Where are you Oni-san? I thought you said you'd be coming directly to Kuri? I'm looking around everywhere, I don't see you, Onii-san!" Each of her sentences overlapped each other because she'd been speaking so fast while also yelling.

Pulling the Den Den Mushi away from his face, Dexter couldn't deal with the girl's yelling. It seemed, even on Wano, the women loved him and loved to yell at him as well. Sighing once again, Dexter looked to Gerhard out the corner of his eye and the only thing he could see, was the Pirate's mask. "To-chan, why are you screaming? Especially when you're so close to me. I'm at Kuri's bay, if you slowed down and turned around, you would see me."

As he said that, a girl of blonde hair performed a complete three hundred and sixty degree spin before meeting with the eyes of Dexter. Eyes widening, she threw the den den mushi into her pocket and rushed over to Dexter's location. "ONII-SAN!" She screamed, opening her arms and wrapping around Dexter's body to give him a hug. "It's been so long, Onii-san!"

Dexter's seemingly bothered persona disappeared. He met her hug with a smile of his own but did not return the hug. "It ain't been that long. No need to overdo it. I did miss you though."

Removing herself from Dexter, she looked to the three individuals around Dexter. "Who are these people, Dexter? Are they your friends? Took you long enough!"

Handing out, he spoke, "Something like that. The tallest one with the mask is Blumenthal Gerhard. The red-head is Draco D. Alastor and the black-haired one is Xander." He said, taking initiative in introducing them to her so that they could move along with their conversation. "Where's the old man?"

"Who? Oh, papa?" Holding her finger on her lip, she looked towards the clouds. "Uh, I dunno'! He told me to meet you here because he had something 'very important to do'." Walking off, she waved her hand almost signaling the group to follow behind her. "Come on, I'll take you to the dojo. Mama's waiting!"

Alastor had set foot on Wano and his body had tensed up. He did not know this place. He did not want to know this place. Frankly, he couldn't care less. While he was here for his Captain primarily, there was one other objective he wanted to fulfill without fail. He knew that the moment he stepped foot onto this land that a particular person already understood where he was.

"Hey Captain, Gerhard, Xander. My father's here, so I think I should pay him a visit, over! I have a den den, so if I need to know where you guys are, I'll call you, over?" Alastor said cheerfully, though realistically a whirlwind of emotions were stirring up inside him. Before leaving, he waited for his crew members' approval, not wanting to involve them in his mess.

Stopping, Dexter looked back to Alastor. "His father?" he thought to himself, trying to grasp Alastor's message without being too obvious. He knew that much like Gerhard, Alastor's history to him had been unknown, but if he had chosen to go on and handle his business while they were on Wano, then the least he could do is not give him a hard time while trying to do so.

The ebony teen waved his hand at Alastor dismissing him, "Be back in two days." Dexter said, continuing to follow behind the blonde girl. "We've got stuff to do, Over."

Blumenthal Gerhard lifted himself from wherever he was on the beach, looking as if he had just woken up, eyes blinking quite slowly and hair messier than usual. He blew away the sand that surrounded him. "Tis' morning already?" He glanced around, spotting the rest of the crew quite easily due to their rowdy behaviors. "Father? Oooo shoot," Gerhard scratched the back of his head.

Having walked up to where Dexter stood, Gerhard stretched himself and promptly asked. "What now? I forgot what'cha told us, and who's this?" One arm against the other, he continued while looking at the blonde girl, "Whatever tis', I'll be here by yer side, Dex." Of course, Gerhard had missed the brief conversation Dexter had.

Xander looked to Gerhard while continuing to walk behind Dexter. "Let's not ask him, aight?" Xander held his forearm around his stomach, "I have to take a dump and if we have to halt again, it'll be all along the side of my pants, got it?" A wicked tongue and aggressive set of words for someone who had been technically the lowest rank present.

The group had been walking for about half an hour before they'd finally reached what appeared to be the entrance to a dojo. The kanji written over the door read "Ryutsume Dojo". While the blonde girl began to approach the feudal japan era-like building, Dexter stopped and just looked at it.

Without blinking once, memories of his past flicked in his head. The first was when he was eight years old, sitting atop a pile of dead samurai while being approached by a samurai taller than himself with a wild ponytail. Then, to the memory of him meeting a woman of crimson hair who bathed and clothed him for the first time. Nonstop images of the training within this same dojo took control before finally, Dexter returned to the plane of the living.

Behind the girl, Dexter followed and began to walk up the steps towards the door. Nodding his head, the girl slid the door open and at the moment she did a group of people shouted; "WELCOME HOME DEXTER!" In perfect tandem, half rushing towards him and tackling him down for hugs.

Fighting his way up, Dexter swung his arms, but their affection was just too much for him to overpower. "Alright everyone, thats enough." An older female voice said, behind the large pile of young samurai children that laid atop Dexter. Her orders were clear and as she made her demand, each of them got up and rushed back to their positions. Struggling to get himself to his feet, Dexter patted what he thought would be dirt off of his clothes.

All while this had been going on, Xander had already made himself comfortable and asked one of the dojo students to guide him to the restroom. Even he had little care for the little reunion unfolding, not as though he knew what had been going on anyway.

The dojo was silent for a moment. Dexter locked eyes with the crimson-haired woman who'd also been staring at him. The people within the dojo had their eyes transitioning from Dexter then to the crimson-haired woman, waiting to see who'd make their move or speak first. It was like an old western face where the bystanders anticipated to see who'd draw their pistols first.

Placing a foot out in front of the other, Dexter began to walk to the sitting woman. His speed picking up as he closed to the gap between himself and her until finally, he'd been in a full-on sprint. "Mother," he began, waiting for her response.

"It's been way too long my son, or should I say, King of Teens as they've been calling you now." Approaching the woman closer, Dexter reached out for her hand and grabbed it. Dropping down to a knee, Dexter lifted her hand to his lips and gave it a soft kiss. The woman coughed in response to her son's actions.

Standing back to his feet, Dexter turned with his hand held out at Gerhard. "I'm sorry everyone, this is Gerhard." Dexter began, introducing Gerhard as quickly as possible. "Gerhard, back on Wavecro I told you I learned how to battle with my sword on Wano, you recall do you not and it's also when you first met, Tenrairyū. You also told me that you lost your own Meito--Cala-"

Before Dexter could finish his sentence, the woman had already chimed in. "Caladbolg, I know of it." She said, eyes squinting while she brought her hand up to cover her mouth for yet another cough.

"This is the woman who taught me the way of the sword, Kazuha." Dexter introduced her.

Reaching to Dexter's hip, Kazuha drew the sword on his side out of its hilt and once she did, her mouth had completely dropped. "Its changed!" She said, surprised by the new black-hue the metal had taken. "Didn't think you'd be able to reach this level so quickly. You must've fought plenty of hard-battles while you were away, Dexter-san."

"She is the one," Dexter said, eyes watching as Kazuha completely analyzed his sword. "responsible for crafting Tenrairyū!"

Gerhard responded naught at Xander once he said some stuff, that could surely wait. They had all reached some kind of Dojo, but he himself was still paying attention to the surroundings. They were in the Black Widow Pirates' territory, the main one even, as much of a beauty as this stage held, they had to be wary, he supposed.

When everyone yelled out for Dexter, Gerhard smoothly rose his hands and covered his ears with his fingers briefly. It was then that Dexter introduced him. "Heya," He waved at them once, taking in everyone's appearances with his half-lidded eyes, "Y'did y'did." Gerhard nodded at each word, easily recalling the events of back then, their fight with the Marines and their bonfires. "Oh- Um-"

Patting the dust off his clothes, Gerhard extended his gloved hand at the woman, Kazuha. "Nice to meet'cha."

Holding his own hand up so that Gerhard could not touch Kazuha's own, it seemed extremely rude at first. Though, in actuality, it was the complete opposite. "You can not make contact with Lady Kazuha." Dexter said, walking to her side before she herself chimed in.

"I'm sorry, Gerhard-san. I can not make contact with you. I have a terrible illness which inflicts those that come into contact with me." Pausing, she squinted her eyes at Gerhard, "For some reason, it does not affect Dexter, but everyone else instead." Lettin off a small cough, she tucked her face into her kimono.

"Yes, that is why I've brought Gerhard along, mother." Dexter began trying to explain himself. "He's a doctor, a relatively skilled one at that. I'm almost certain that Gerhard will be able to remove it."

Resheating Tenrairyū into Dexter's sheathe, she reached to her side and pulled out a pair of gloves. Placing them over her hands, she slowly struggled to stand to her feet, leaning to Dexter's shoulder so that she could stand up fully. Taking slow steps towards Gerhard with Dexter guiding her, she touched his shoulder. "Tell me, Gerhard-san. What did Caladbolg mean to you?"

"Ah..." Gerhard blinked, his shoulders almost falling off his body, "That's okay." He retreated one step and looked very briefly over all of Kazuha's form. A blink. "Ah ye, a doctor." What kind of doctor claimed lives?

Static, Gerhard waved at them. "I'd gladly give a try, miss." Before he could ellaborate on how he could do it, Kazuha had directed him a question. Gerhard's eyes widened and he blinked rapidly. "What it means...? I- It was given ta' me by the person who's like, my biological father."

"I see," she began, eyes tracing Gerhard's figure until she'd gotten a full analysis. "Then, if you are Dexter's friend, I will see to it that you get a feasible replacement. You just tell me, what you want and I'll make it happen, Gerhard-san." Limping her way back to where she'd been sitting before, Dexter lent his hand to help her slowly get back to the cushoning set up she had.

"I know the other reason you came home too, at first, we thought you were not going to come when you mentioned you had something to take care of. She cried for two days hoping you were okay and would still show up." Eyes rolling, she sighed, "Only men could make such decisions at the last moment, especially when something so important is coming up. You'll have to explain to her why what you did was much more important."

Shaking his own head, he threw his face into his palm, "You didn't have to bring that up. I can assure you though, it was extremely important. I wouldn't let anything come in between that day unless it was."

The doors of the dojo slid open gently. "We're home, mom!" A gentle female voice said from behind it. A dark-skinned girl stepped through it, accompanied by a man of white skin with his hair tied into a wild ponytail. Once the girl turned around, she dropped the bags being held in her hands and widened her eyes to a point one would have never thought possible.

Both the girl and the man stood shocked for a moment. The girl's mouth dropped while the man stood expressionless. She began to shake, almost trembling as though she had been scared. Eyes watering, her mouth changed to a sad position before the tears poured out of her sockets then down her cheeks. "DEXTTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEERRRR!" She shouted, running towards him at first speed, her kimono flowing in the breeze she created herself, revealing her katana on her side. Crashing into Dexter, she tackled him and hug him with the strength of the gods.

"Dexter, why would you leave!" She shouted, crying a waterfall. "Then when you were supposed to come you said you couldn't. I-I-I didn't know what to think, you just hurt me you hurt me so much. I don't know, I didn't know what to do!"

Lifting himself up, he grabbed her hand. "Tsubaki, I'm sorry.. I'm sorry for the new life I've chosen to live, but even then, I love you. I love you so much."

"What I want..." Gerhard started, but the emergence of a very sudden visitor quickly shot him off. He eyed the newcomer, who fawned all over Dexter, surely, it was time for the latter to feel her up- Oh. Oh, that... wasn't happening, Gerhard rubbed his eyes with his left forearm. "Greetings," Gerhard tried, waving his hand a single time.

Tsubaki began to shower Dexter with kisses, before grabbing hold of his face with her hands and looking him directly into his eyes. "I can not believe you, Dexter. You have no manners." She's claimed, blowing hot air from her mouth before turning her nose up at him. Releasing him and standing back to her feet, she patted her kimono off before turning to face Gerhard. Approaching him, she extended her palm out.

"I'm sorry, you must be Dexter's friend. I'm Tokugawa Tsubaki, Dexter's fiancee." Waiting for Gerhard to grab her hand to shake it, she lifted her eyebrow, "Are you one of his ridiculous music friends?"

All while this had been transpiring, the man who'd entered the dojo alongside Tsubaki had his eyes locked onto Dexter, who'd also had his eyes locked onto the man. "Tch, a death stare?" Dexter thought to himself, not giving up one bit. He seemingly knew who the man was, but judging how he neglected to even address him, it could be noted that their relationship had not been a smooth-sailing one.

Kazuha noticed this ominous beef between the two and simply judge it with a chuckle. One the man cut short by dropping his own bags to the ground, slowly stepping towards Dexter.

Oh. Fiancee. Gerhard blinked a few times, looking back and forth between Dexter and Tsubaki. Thankfully, his mask hid his small chuckle. "Music friends?" He lowered his head and shook it lightly, then, looked at Tsubaki directly. "Nah, I'm- I'm just an acquaintance, nice to meet'cha, Tsubaki." Gerhard extended his hand yet again.

Though Gerhard focused the topic on Tsubaki, he glanced side-ways at the stare down between Dexter and another newcomer, a newcomer that felt... familar? Were they about to throw down? Gerhard had extended his hand not only to greet Tsubaki, but, in case anything happened, he was already ready to jump into action and intercept the man.

Drawing Tenrairyū from its sheathe, Dexter eyed the man but spoke to Gerhard. "Watch out Gerhard," he began, referring to the fact that Gerhard prepared himself to aid Dexter. "If you hesitate against this man, we lose." He ended, confirming that the duo would indeed be engaging in some sort of battle with the ponytailed samurai before them.

Without a breath's moment, Dexter kicked off the dojo's wooden floors, dropping to the ground with the forward momentum. He paused the joints in his ankles to keep his face from hitting the ground, keeping an inch gap from the surface. "Amaterasu Style —," he mumbled closing the gap between himself and the man at the same time it took a man to perform one round of breathing. With his sword holding hand, Dexter attempting a slash that would go from the man's groin all the way up to his chin. A strike that would surely split the man in two. "Hiraishin!"

"A samurai doesn't speak of defeat out loud," by the time the man had finished the first half of his sentence, Dexter had already been within striking range of the Hiraishin technique. He'd been so close, that from an angle, there wasn't anything that the man could virtually or humanly do to counter him. "He says it with his sword, boy!"

His straight stance change into thin lines of an afterimage. His true form had been nearly on the ground, matching the same stance that Dexter had taken up. The only difference was that the man had not drawn his own swords. With his right hand out forward, he lifted his index and middles fingers, completely stopping Dexter's sword from completing its strike. The wood boards of the floor crushed under his presence, yet he had not done anything to them physically. That alone showed he was indeed strong.

"He can do that!?" Dexter asked himself, caught completely off gaurd. "He completely stopped my sword with only his fingers!"

With his left hand, the man revealed a scabbard bringing it out in front as though it were his own sword. With a single thrust, though to those around, he looked like a blur, he struck Dexter in his shoulder stabbing the scabbard into his skin and slamming him into the ground.

"That was uncalled for!" Kazuha yelled to the man, trying to look through the small cloud of dust created by the collision of Dexter and the ground.

Pushing himself up, the man placed the hilt to his side. "What do you mean, Kazuha? He's pathetic.. Kid ain't worth any bit of that 1,040,000,000."

Panting heavily, Dexter used his sword wielding hand to lift himself up. However, much like Kazuha, he struggled to do so. "You dumb fu-.." Dexter caught himself, spoken rule that there was no foul language in front of Kazuha. "My shoulder, you dislocated it, Yoshitsune."

"No, you broke it. You're weak, Dexter. You weren't like this when you first left here." This man was Yoshitsune, the father of Dexter and the one responsible for explaining the sword techniques to him. "You could have shadow stitched out of it. I would have punished you either way, but you didn't even try." Looking out the corner of his eye to Gerhard, Yoshitsune simply grinned.

"Don't try anything, Blumenthal Gerhard. Your Captain told you didn't he? If you hesitate, you lose. You've already done that. But I mean go ahead and try." Yoshitsune lowered his eyes and grinned, "It'll come at your life."

Good, just more drama to be dealt with, Gerhard shrugged and rolled his eyes, Tsubaki had promptly ignored him anyway, there was no reason to let his arm remain that way. Then again, this was that man Yoshitsune just as he had suspected. There weren't many tales of that swordsman, but, there were still enough for Gerhard to keep a side glance on him.

"Yeah, fuck't," Gerhard approached Dexter to try and help him get up, trying to get ahold of his body properly. "I'mma' just leave ya' to deal with yer stuff, d'ya mind if I leave- Huh," Birds flew in the distance, the whole room shook lightly and dust fell off the ceiling, accompanied by loud rumbling, which soon ceased. "...I don't know if I should leave anymore."

Eyebrow lifting, Yoshitsune sensed the sudden shaking of the room. While he had been aware of it, he opted not to act on it just yet and instead continued on as though there was nothing wrong. He looked to Dexter briefly after taking his corner sight off of Gerhard. As his hand lowered, Yoshitsune let out a soft blow of air. Stepping forward, he walked around the broken Dexter, looking at him with the view of disgust.

"Clean yourself up and get some rest. There's someone you have to meet if you want this wedding to go smooth sailing and your notoriety has made this much more troublesome than I'd like." In all honesty, Yoshitsune had genuinely been angry that Dexter made this situation much harder than it needed to be.

Tsubaki rushed over to Dexter's side, "He's right, Dexter. You've gotten so sloppy with your sword. But, father, what do you mean about the wedding? Is there something I'm not aware of?"

Head shaking as he walked past Kazuha to the sliding doors behind her, they were access to the rest of the dojo, "As your mother, she knows. She's fully aware that even Kosaka Isshin can't help us in this one..." With that, opened the doors and walked through them, sliding them back close as he made his exit.

Looking to her mother, Tsubaki may have not said anything, but she wholeheartedly expected Kazuha to spill the information that Yoshitsune claimed she had. She didn't care how long it would take, but she wanted to hear it.

"Your father just can't let stuff happen in the shadows, can he?" Kazuha sigh, "Very well then, Dexter and Tsubaki... your wedding can't happen legally without the permission of the Black Widows Pirates' captain, Daddy L. Legs. Dexter, you coming here was very unsafe after you proudly claimed yourself to be an enemy of the World Government--a very wanted one at that. It's been virtually impossible for us to get in contact with Legs, she's dealing with a lot currently and we aren't trying to bother her too much."

Kazuha paused as she let her sights set onto Gerhard, after realizing there was some sort of shaking of the building. But much like her husband, she chose to ignore it. "Now we are in a tight spot because the wedding is set to happen day from now."

Gently removing Tsubaki's hand from his injured shoulder, Dexter mustered his strength to fully stand. "I didn't think I'd be comin' here to fight anyone." He said, opting against giving Kazuha a proper reaction to her statement. "We'll have it, even if I have to fight against a Yonko." Head slowly turning to Gerhard with a squinted eye in pain he said, "You ready Gerhard? We got more people to cut."

Entangled in the Past
It had been a number of hours that had passed since Alastor left from Dexter and company. He was briskly moving along the island, although he was soon feeling relatively exhausted. Finally, he managed to reach the port towards Jonzu, the island which Draco D. Indiana occupied. "I'm nearly there, over." Alastor said to himself, and the other residents of Wano chose to ignore him for the most part, despite his foreign appearance.

He went onto the ship, and in about another half an hour, the small distance between both islands had been covered. Finally, he was on Jonzu. Alastor looked around at its port town. Nothing was completely out of the ordinary, although he noted that this island felt a bit more "vintage" compared to the other one he had just been on. That must have been something Indiana implemented, no doubt. He was aware of his father's eccentric tastes.

Alastor continued to walk, however. He didn't know exactly where Indiana was, but he figured as the head administrator of the island, there would be something pointing to Indiana's location somewhere.

Ever since Alastor had stepped foot into the island, surely he could have felt the intense life energy emanating from the island itself. Eccentricity was just the tip of the iceberg. Whereas most inhabitants only glanced at Alastor once, a particular one had seen him... from quite a distance, even when his hair blocked off his eyes.

"Hah hah hah," A man with short purple hair, he panted while running frantically through the portuary town. His clothes were that of an archaelogist, he had found his true calling, indeed.

"A-Are you-" Standing before Alastor was a man called Joseyvisk, currently worth 50,000,000 and one of the Black Widow Pirates' newest members. "-The newest v-visitor? Gaaah," He panted yet again.

"I'm not a visitor." Alastor said frankly to the man. "I'm a relative. Has your boss said anything about me, over?" Alastor tone was fairly serious. He wasn't trying to be aggressive to the man. Although, looking at him closely, he recognized that the man used to travel with Gerhard. "O-oi, are you Ger-kun's subordinate, over?" Alastor asked him. He was wondering what had happened to the Notch ever since Gerhard had left. He guessed they truly had fallen apart.

Joseyvisk's blocked eyes widened. "T-Then you are just as Sir said-" He gulped dryly and moved aside for Alastor, however, he said no other word, for Alastor's comment made him freeze. "Eh?" Wait, wait, wait, this guy actually knew him?

"G-Ger-san?!" Joseyvisk asked, clutching his hand for a solid second. "He's here?! Oh god, he wants the other hand?!" Suddenly, Joseyvisk slapped himself, prompting a teeth to fly away. "A-Apologies, mister... l-like I was saying, I was told to guide you." Turning around, Joseyvisk pointed at a strange rock formation by the mountains, it had two large holes, almost like a skull.

"Ah. That's okay, over..." Alastor figured that pressing the matter might cause unnecessary animosity, so he quietened down. He saw the path that Joseyvisk lined out and grinned. "Of course he'd be there, over."

With that snide remark out of the way, Alastor made his way to the intended location, ignoring whether or not Joseyvisk was following him as intended. As it stood, Alastor didn't want to run away.

Joseyvisk merely nodded in a rapid manner at Alastor's comments, his mouth hanging open as the latter didn't even bother keep watch over him. Of course. Still, he tagged along and kept some distance between them, running up ahead so that his back stood to Alastor. Surely, standing behind would have been a bad choice, maybe Alastor would have been wary without the need to.

They both walked on for quite some minutes, passing by some intricate buildings, made of rough stone and possessing a large stature. Joseyvisk greeted some people along the way, merely rising his hand in an awkward wave. More minutes and they stood in front of the large skull, it had openings between its large teeth, allowing some light to come out.

Halting, Joseyvisk turned around and gestured at the gigantic stone. "We call it the Skullcrystal District, it's like," He scratched the back of his head and sweated, "A super market or something... it's got restaurants, two hotels, small museums, and Sir Jurojin's office-" Joseyvisk stumbled, rumbling echoed from the distance and shook the very atmosphere, his eyes almost burst out of his hair. "O-Office- What... what..."

"...Something is happening...over..." Alastor thought to himself, gritting his teeth. Perhaps he shouldn't have left so quickly. But it was too late. "So, Dad, when are you going to stop spying on me with these vines and look at me directly, over?"

"I-I..." Joseyvisk looked at the distance, only then noticing the split of the clouds, it was closer to the main island. "W-WHAT!!" Despite that, Alastor hadn't been paying much attention.

After all, something more important stood on the inside of the Skull. Cracking the ground gently, green and purple surfaced in front of Alastor through tendril-like shapes, vines. They came along a linear path and into the skull's teeth, forming some kind of open hallway in order to lead Alastor a specific path.

The moment that Alastor followed it and entered the skull, he would be surrounded with a greatly illuminated place. There were several light sources placed at the top of the skull's insides, providing light to the entire district. Around the entrance, there were a few restaurants and shops, styled just like the buildings outside.

Alastor walked on the illuminated path. The whole time, his eyes were tinged red and his hands were square on the hilt of his blade. He knew that this encounter could go one of two ways. Either his Dad intended to trick him, or kill him. Alastor wouldn't allow either.

The skull-like area irritated Alastor. It reminded him too much of the original hideout that the Draconic Mercenaries adopted, before they were abolished due to...that fateful day.

The minutes that Alastor spent following the trailed path created by the vines were not many, after but a few, he was already faced with an extremely intricate building, quite different from the rest. Atop it, there was a name banner: "Daily Vines".

An hotel. The vines led directly into it, its door was open, and a large person could be seen inside there. A man.

His arms were crossed, his legs glued together and straight. He wore a brown tuxedo. Alastor's animosity reached him even before Alastor's image did. "...Alastor," The man called out.

"Draco D. Indiana, my Dad and mortal enemy. How are you, after abandoning your family, over?" Alastor asked Indiana. His animosity poured out in the form of a dragon, and didn't hesitate to try and devour Indiana.

"Why, lad, that is a very specific way to phrase that question." Indiana closed his eyes in a chuckle, shaking his head sideways. His tuxedo almost fluttered open in the wake of Alastor's pressure, he gulped and steeled himself. "Over, right?" Indiana brought his fingers together and walked around, "To think you'd fully adopt that... farse!"

"OBABABABABA!!!!" Alastor couldn't help but laugh at his father. "To think you'd adopt this spider web as your home!"

"Adopt?" Indiana pondered for a solid second, grabbing his chin. "Yes, there was an adoption here, lad. But, it was me who was adopted!" He rose his gaze and met with Alastor's directly. "You're being more genuine now," A smile, "Do you truly think my old rear couldn't get a new place...?"

"At this point? The only person who would adopt you is an aged-care facility." Alastor sighed. "Regardless, your dead son is alive and well and this is the treatment I get? You treat me worse than Damon, and I AM a human."

"Ouch," Indiana tried another chuckle. "Bad treatment? Lad, you have been the aggressive one here," Before he could further say anything, he dropped his jaw and took a step towards Alastor.

The inwards of his brows furrowed and his lips curved down, "Don't bring that kid into this... this is no comparison to be done."

Motherquake
It wasn't unusual for Daddy L. Legs to personally meet with people who came to Wano Kuni, but it had been quite sometime that she traveled to the prisons south of the Royal Capital. However, after hearing that he was here, and the he personally requested her presence, she couldn't refuse him. The trip had taken hours, yet she had finally arrived; she stood face to face in front of a chained, Cain D. Abel, captain of the Holiday Pirates.

"An enemy of war comes to meet me in my territory," Legs begun, her voice authoritative, yet calm. "You must either be confident or stupid."

Legs' large figure completely filled Abel's visage, even before he had rose his head to directly look at her. Seastone chains, shackles, and blocks surrounded his body tightly, the chains connected the latter two to the walls of the room. Nothing less for someone such as him.

Though, whatever he was was just a thing in comparison to the one that stood before him. One of the Yonko, the four strongest Pirates in the entire world, and arguably the strongest amongst them.

A bead of sweat ran down his face, he remembered very well their past encounters, they were just another day for her. Abel had to choose his words properly. "Maybe I'm both..." Abel smiled, moving almost no inches, not that he could properly. "But, that's out of question right now, Koyuki-san... Koyuki-chan?" Purple and yellow flared from him, signalizing the presences of Kozuki Adaemon and Vryrch Seth. "You already know why I am here."

Legs' blue eyes flashed a bright red for but a moment when Abel uttered her name, Koyuki. She hadn't heard that from someone she considered an enemy in a very long time. However, her Kenbunshoku revealed to her the Abel's ruse. He wasn't who he seemed to be. Well, no. He was Abel, but he was also so much more than that.

Legs smirked. "Seth-sama," she begun. "It seems that the dead really don't stay dead anymore."

A single breath escaped Abel's lungs, but, it felt like the entire oxygen had left him. His eyes wide and mouth gape, he extended a hand out at Legs, only for it to be held back by the many restrictors. "Koyuki... child," The yellow from before intensified, as if trying to push over the other colors, Abel frowned, "You weren't there... when..." Still, the colors struggled.

"So I suppose... it's confusing."

Legs put her hand up into the air. In a moment, several security guards flooded the area, and removed the constrictors from Abel. Yet as quickly as they entered, they departed, leaving the two alone again.

"Seth-sama, stand, and speak your mind. You may have arrived as an enemy, but you are far from it. You are my beloved mentor, my former captain and brother-in-arm. You have nothing to fear from me."

Abel looked at each of the guards as they got rid of his shackles, his mouth slightly open by then. "Koyuki-chan, you're giving me much freedom while in this body," He rose a palm and cupped the left side of his chest, by budging his muscles, the room shook lightly, his body free. "I know that you've already met us beforehand... But, under very different circunstances." That time, Adaemon had taken full control.

"I'm very grateful, child, that ya' still hold me so dearest to yourself." Abel let a tender smile grace his features. "Even when I'm not fully myself." Indeed, much like he had said earlier, Legs was not with them by the time that Seth had perished, she had no clue. "If there is any difference in my behavior, you're knowin' now. After not seein' you for so long, the least I'd want is unwarranted anger."

Although Legs directed those words at Seth, those within Abel couldn't help but still hold their breath at the presence of such an Emperor. For all they knew, they had no business there, interrupting the talk was out of question. Abel crossed his arms, "Lad, do you know why we came here?"

Legs smiled. "Um...because you're bipolar and you need help?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "Look, I'm pleased you came to me, but look, my own damn doctor is a psycho. I don't know how much we could help. Mental health is a big problem in Wano."

"YAKORORORORORORORORORORORORORORO!" Abel didn't help it and his laughter filled the entire facilty, "It seems ya' haven't lost your humour, child." He waved a hand at her, while the other whiped the tears off his face. "That's not it, this... thing is actually a result of our Devil Fruit."

"Regardless, Koyuki-chan," Abel was back to crossing his arms, he chose to cross his legs as well. "What I came here for... concerns the wedding that'll be taking place."

Legs tilted her head to the side in confusion. "The Wedding? You don't mean the one between Dexter and the Tokugawa girl, do you?"

"Spot on, nice as ever, child!" Abel clapped a bit, eyeing Legs, though it was short lived. "Dexter has caused quite a few troubles to the allies of the Xros Pirates..." A bit of red flared from within the yellow. "I've been... trying to cut certain ties off, but right now I'm tasked with overseeing the Numerals, I'm sure you know them."

"Of course," Legs replied. "However, you don't have to worry about that anymore, Seth-sama. Your pirate organization will be leaving the Xros and joining the Black Widow Pirates soon enough."

Abel shifted the legs that were crossed, putting another over the other. "Koyuki-chan, I'm afraid I'm not alone in this decision... it is another me that rules this very organization." Rather than stop, Abel uncrossed his legs and pointed at himself. "The other one here, the one that you've met... is a hardass, takes a lot to convince."

Legs put her hand on her chin. "I see...so what you're telling me is that I have to convince...Abel? Or do I have to convince someone else? Whose the one who actually needs convincing? This is so confusing..."

Confusing, that was not new at all to them. Abel chuckled again, "So ya don't remember him lad? He doesn't want to manifest fully... He fears you." Of course, the only ones that didn't fear Yonko were the Yonkos themselves.

Right?

Abel couldn't stop relaying information, even as the subsequent one could bring out bad memories. "You may remember him as a... Kozuki."

The moment that Abel uttered that name, Legs was fully aware of who he meant. "Ah, yes, you mean Adaemon."

It made sense to why he was afraid. After all, Legs had slain all the Daimyo that ruled this country, including his own mother. Perhaps he thought he was next. However...

"He has nothing to fear from me. He and I were both victims of his mother's evil. I do not punish children for the sins of their parents."

Abel blinked rapidly. "Ya truly have a good memory!" Yet, he seemed to take one or two steps back, not even glancing at his own actions. "However, he speaks of the time that he came here," Indeed, long ago, when Adaemon entered a frenzy, the first thing he raided was Wano.

His heart beat louder.

"I will-" Purple surfaced yet again, Abel held his head. Suddenly, he was covered in sweat and hesitantly looked at Legs with half lidded eyes. "Fukuoka woman..."

Legs exhaled deeply before she begun talking; her very breaths pouring from her lips with the same sound as that of a steam-engine train. "Adaemon," she finally started, her tone and voice calm, and soft. "Tell me, can you hear me? " Legs inquired curiously, her voice sweet like sugar. "No, can you taste it? The sincerity of my tone."

Abel clutched his hands into fists and remained firm where he was, gaze drawn to Legs. A tremble threatened to force his body into motion, yet, her soothing words and the reasurrance both her and Seth gave at him... Abel held himself.

He nodded.

It was in that way that Legs had power. For, even a subtle thing such as sweetness could appeal to the senses. Even with words, she could make those around her taste them. In a way, she could literally make those around her eat her words.

"I hold no malice for you. Your mother was an evil woman, and the Wano you raided was one of her creation. It is no longer. This Wano, the one that you see now, is one that I sought to create from the ashes of the old. In this Wano, children don't starve. They don't fight, or die. Mothers don't betray their families, because, in this Wano, everyone is connected by something deeper than blood."

"...I, you..." Abel held in but another breath, his lips curved down as he bit into them. "You don't..." Head lowered a bit, he let the air out. "You have evolved beyond, much further." This time, Abel had spoken with a double voice, evident by the purple and yellow.

"However..." Abel closed his eyes, the image of the Numerals came into his mind. "...I have come to like some of the individuals that that bitch of a rookie attacked!" Suddenly, Abel stopped, waiting as if he got ahead of himself. "...Fukuoka... Nah, Legs, what is that fuckstar to you?"

"I..." Abel almost seemed to rise his hand to slap himself. "Those are some manners... But, I mean my question."

Legs smiled. "No need to apologize. I understand. However, that boy means much more to both of us than just me alone, Seth-Sama."

Taking the chance, Adaemon vanished within Abel, allowing Seth to contiue. "He means? What do ya' mean, lad?" Abel shook his head, "I haven't ever met him."

"Sure, you haven't met him. But his mother was a former five star," Legs continued. "She served together with me. Surely you know who I'm talking about."

"...." Abel let his eyes bloat out towards Legs, his mouth thin. He blinked not once nor twice, but several times. "Are you telling me Daikaku had children?!"

"........" Legs blinked. "It's Amaka."

"...Oh," Abel lowered his head and nodded while looking at the ground, of course, that made more sense. Way more. He tapped his head with his finger, yet, his eyes almost shot out of his skull again. "MAKA?!" The figure of a younger Amaka was an easy memory to both him and Legs.

"Yes, Amaka!" Legs responded, throwing her hands up in excitement. "She had quintuplets! All of them, at the same time. Shit must've hurt!" Legs paused briefly.

"Why did you think it was Daikaku? I don't think he even likes women."

"Quintuplets? Oh dear... but, I had no doubts towards Daikaku-kun, he-" Abel's tone had shifted yet again, the colors shifted around and red took charge. "Oh dear..." Abel leaned back, he bit his lips, more sweat dripped off his face, "S-So... you're the Yonko, Daddy L. Legs."

Legs tilted her head in confusion. "Y-Yes? I'm Legs? Who's talking now?"

"Y-Yeah, you're Legs, okay!" Abel breathed in and out, holding the side of his head, "I'm... one of the others... I... I was called Lambert Evelyn when alive." He eyed her up and down, despite having seen her through the others.

"Okay, Evelyn...Do you think that literally anyone else can come out and play right now?" Legs inquired.

"...." Abel blinked yet again, "I-I'm deeply sorry, Lady L-Legs..." Looking to his sides, he pondered on his options very briefly and quickly, after all, this wasn't just about anyone before him. "I l-learned that you had matters to discuss with me."

Legs exhaled. "Evelyn, are you the one who is trying to hunt Dexter?"

"...Both me and Adaemon are set on it, dear Lady." Abel responded almost immediately, trying to remain firm where he was sitting. "Like he said, we're the two that manage the Numerals..." Words, choices, they had to choose the proper ones. "However, I-I do know that Dexter has meaning to both you and... one of us."

"Yes," Legs responded. "He means a lot to us. Seth-sama included. Adaemon should always be made aware that Dexter was taught by Yoshitsune, as well. He's a citizen of Wano, or at least he is deeply connected to Wano."

Legs smirked. "I take it that you can make an exception, right, Evelyn-sama. After-all, you have come to Wano for my blessing. I take it that you hold my opinion in high regard, right?"

There it came again, that sweet, warm tone that tasted like chocolate.

"Yes, I really do. We have met you before, even if I haven't..." Abel continued, bringing his hands together and interwiening his fingers. "I was the one to give this idea of directly talking to you." This was... there was no word to properly describe this. Here they were, faced with her, and without many options to be considered, yet, it was not supposed to be an impossible situation, not for him.

Abel rose his gaze highly and was met with Legs once again. "Would you allow me to at least meet him?"

Legs squinted. "To meet the child, Dexter? Is that what you want?"

"It would be a disrespect to go against your wishes and hunt him down." Abel opened both his arms, palms faced upwards. "But I still hope to get some satisfaction from him..."

"I see," Legs responded. "Yeah, sure. I'll allow you to meet him under the one condition that you promise not to lay a single finger on him."

"Yes!" Abel got up from his seat, "Thank you, Lady Legs!" However, he soon laid back down. "...What if he attacks me?"

Legs smiled. "I think you know the answer to that, Abel-dono."

"I would actually like to hear what you think, Lady Legs, if you so allow it." Abel inquired.

"Come with me, and I'll give you my answer," Legs replied, turning around and walking through the door. She would lead Abel outside of the prison, to the outside world, where her men reunited him with his famed weapon. As they continued walking, Legs turned around, and faced him.

"If you're anywhere as strong as I remember seth-sama being, then Dexter should pose no threat to you, right?"

A nod was offered at what Legs said and Abel followed her instantly. Legs' footsteps echoed greatly through the region. Abel didn't even touch the Mabulrega, rather, it began to float towards him once he saw it. They all halted.

"To tell you the truth, Lady Legs, we have trained intensely with this body..." Flashes of the many fights and conflicts Abel participated flashed by once he closed his eyes. He opened them to look at Legs. "I understand it now."

There was no more words needed between them; for in that moment, Legs' very own Saisho simply appeared into existence upon her back as she pulled it into her grip with both hands. The sword itself was approximately 175 feet, and weighed approximately 8 tons. She stepped forward, establishing her right foot as her pivot foot, and brought her sword downwards towards the earth, and towards Abel.

Another breath made its way out of Abel's lungs, his muscles budged, veins bursting throughout his body, and the Mabulrega was within his hands under a second. It had been called forth by nothing more than his own power, the power of presence.

He opened his legs shoulder-length in distance, using both his feet to firmly estabilish his body, and looked towards above. With a swipe of his arms and press of his hands upwards, Abel put the Mabulrega over himself to intercept the blade of Legs' sword with its flat face.

Legs' sword clashed against the Mabulrega with the force resembling a small asteroid, which, in turn, generated an enormous shock wave of pure power that sent the men around them flying backwards in response. The winds churned into a ferocious storm around them; one soldier in particular went tumbling across the earth, slamming his sword into the ground to momentarily stop himself from rolling. He squinted as the winds battled against his body and the dust was spun into the air which obscured his vision. However, as he looked up, there was but one noticeable sight indicative of a battle between royalty. The heavens were split.

Though the both of them exherted an incredible amount of pressure, Abel and all of those dwelling within knew the difference between his and Legs' move. The ground beneath Abel had acquired myriads and myriads of cracks, they spread faster than fire through alcohol, many waves reverberated through the air as if it was liquid. His muscles were almost tearing through his armor, and beads of sweat left his face.

Truly, the Clash of Kings and Conquerors, but, even beyond that, the heavens themselves had acknowledged their presence and rumbled, roaring out for everyone else to do the same. Everything around them had darkened for those brief moments, sparks barely visible from their point of contact.

Abel skidded backwards several meters and, too, noticed the effects of their clash upon the heaven. "Hoooh? That is new..."

A rumbling was heard stones overturning, dust flying. As a massive cloud of land came sprawling across the terrain, flying past both fighters as the dust continued on, propelled by sheer force. Two thuds were heard and before they could even see what was there a voice shouted beyond the dust.

"Legs what the hell is going on?! I felt something was off and headed over as soon as I could, then this massive explosion of haki. Are you okay?" The voice was a mix of concern and anger, belonging to none other than Thatch Vincent. The man was slowly revealed as the clouds of dust parted and moved past. He glared up at Legs, demanding an answer. That was before the man to his left came into view. Thatch paused a moment turning away from Legs to fully face him. He adjusted his scarlet hair, blinking his eyes. There was no mistaking it. The hair, the body, the very feel of him.

"Abel...." Thatch's voice trailed off. He gritted his teeth, nodding. "I see what this is about, I insist on helping Legs." He stood next the the massive woman moving nary a hand as the ground beneath him began to crack and ooze purple. "I'll make sure you pay for Heili." His outstretched arm reaching to point directly at Abel. From his being 4 massive dragons of poison flew forth, diving towards Abel with wicked grins on their faces.

Legs eyes widened in surprise. "Thatch, no! Stop it! That's our beloved, Seth-sama!!!"

Meanwhile, in Impel Down...

"You don't have to be so tough, boy." A hard crunchy voice said in the dark crevasses of a prison cell. The lack of light completely shadowed the person from being seen, all that had been there was a visage of his floating white eyes and teeth. Even then, he had a wide grin as though he had seemingly been happy to be there.

On the opposing side of the cell, slumped in the corner with seastone chains wrapped around his hands, wrists, ankles, and neck, laid a man of dark skin with messy silver hair that drooped over his face. Scars and wounds all over his body, it seemed as though this man had just participated in a battle for his life. Ironically he did, yet he didn't at the same time.

Only half of that assumption had been correct. Yes, he fought in a battle for his life. No, it was not recent. An arrow with flames on its head shot through the cell bars and with a quick jerk of his head to the left, he managed to dodge its strike. Even though he did just that little bit of moving, he let out havy pants as though he'd just performed a million-mile run.

"KEEEEEEEHAHAHAHAHA!" A voice laughed, by its base, it was much different from the one that had spoken earlier. The newcomer approached the cell's bars and gripped them with both hands. "You've got some quick moves! No wonder you escaped death once! KEEEEEHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

The man laughed, but it was to no avail that he'd get a response out of the chained up man. "You used to be so high and mighty when I read about you at first. "Vader the Drake! Lays waste to yet another island and takes many Marine and innocent lives!" He shouted, reading the news headline word for word. "Your bounty was set at 415,000,000 prior to defeating and nearly Vice-Admiral Yamichō. I'm almost certain it was over 600,000,000 following that and image if you would have survived your battle with Fleet-Admiral Kurama."

Snicking he cheesed wide, sticking his head through the bars. "Look at you now! Look at where it's gotten you, going after the biggest of them all! Kurama was no joke was he? KEHAHAHAHA, YOU EVEN STILL HAVE YOUR WOUNDS FROM THAT BATTLE! KEEEEEEHAHAHAHA! I'll catch you later if you don't die from your own wounds." He said, giving his signature laugh as he walked away.

"Lonzo," he muttered softly, but the man could hear him. "When I get out, huff, huff, I'll kill you first." His words were hard to get out, his energy had nearly been completely depleted, but his will allowed him to get this out.

Waving his hand, Lonzo-- the prison guard said, "Good luck, Vader."

"You shouldn't be so bent up on fighting it, that's why ye can't breathe boy." The voice from earlier spoke once again. "Seastone counters devil fruits and makes you completely drained of energy. It's what almost all devil fruit users know and it's why they fall to it so easily. It's a mental game boy. Stop thinking it'll drain you and put you in a slowed state, and just be strong."

Breathing slowed, Vader got a grip of himself and took the man's advice. "In that moment he had a better handle on himself and managed to lift himself up. "How'd he know that?!" Vader asked himself, looking through the darkness to try and get a look at him. "We've been in this cell together for weeks, who are you old man?"

"Vehahahahaha!" the man laughed, before a flicker of light shined the cell the two laid in.

Eyes widening, Vader pushed against the wall and let out a subtle chuckle. "Well damn, I didn't expect to be in the same cell as such a legendary figure as yourself; Gambi Vincenzo."

Day of Fate
Poison was extremely dangerous to most that met it, even seasoned warriors who built resistance to it, like Abel, though, only somewhat. Still, one had to touch it to feel most of its effects. He wasted no time on brandishing his weapon, the Mabulrega, once again, first, he held himself with his left foot forward and drew back both of his arms to his right side, bringing it over his right shoulder.

Abel spun his torso and swung his arms, bringing the Mabulrega along, its dark appearance blurred in front of him and caused a wide wave of pure pressure to emerge. Given his motion, the wave was like a broom over the dust, wiping away whatever stood in its path. The poison would surely be pushed away before it even reached Abel, after all, it was liquid given shape.

"Heili?!" Abel inquired, taking a few steps back, he frowned at Thatch, though he didn't see him completely. "I am on your side, Black Widow!!"

The wave of pressure washed the dragons away, scattering them to drops of poison in the air. Thatch didn't bat an eye as the wind washed over his body, causing his bangs to flutter. But those droplets began to slow, standing steady as thousands of them hung loosely in the sky. "Seth is a corpse Legs, the dead are no longer our concern. Even if Seth was still around, it'd be our duty to put her to rest. You realize that yes." His tone was grim but he did not look at her, refusing to break eye contact with Abel. An aura of dread emanating from the Doctor.

"Abel killed Heili, your daughter and my crew mate. For that I cannot leave him alive, it would be in poor taste." His presence loomed over the area as the drops that hung loosely in the sky began to rain down on Abel, piercing bullets of poison falling like heavy rain.

"As for you Abel, don't play coy with me. If you've got a reason I should trust you, stay alive and say it." The ground around Thatch cracked, black ichor flying outwards. Then the ground changed, it was almost instant but if one had a quick enough eye they could see the earth bubbling away. Save for an area of ground where Legs stood, a sea of black liquid encompassed a majority of the wasteland they stood upon. Hard packed dirt replaced with a sea of poison.

"Thatch!" Legs announced, stepping forward slightly, making sure to avoid stepping into the sea of poison that flowed around her like a viscous tide. It wasn't Legs' first time seeing Thatch's awakened powers, and it surely wouldn't be her last, but seeing it again only served to remind her as to why the world addressed him as Thatch of the Black Sea.

"Stop this! That's Seth-sama, and Adaemon. You remember who we made Heili from; well that's her son!" Legs continued. "If anyone deserved to fight Heili, it's no one other than him.....besides, Heili is alive!"

Upon seeing the full visage of Vincent's appearance, Abel let his shoulders drop and his muscles relax, another one of the runts, of course, one that regularly stood by Legs' side. This all despite the wave of animosity that Vincent sent at him, he had all the reasons to adopt that kind of reaction, his captain was seemingly attacked. Still, Abel didn't back away and took it in, swinging his weapon the opposite way to its first strike, yet again in an attempt to disperse the many poison droplets. They had an even less tight form like this and were likely less manageable.

"I will agree that that corpse has likely rotted away by now, little Vin," He gestured with his hands and jumped over the Mabulrega, which oddly was afloat without being held by anything seemingly. "Heili? That woman attacked us first, was she your crewmate?"

How strange, after all, Heili was attacking him and Moses under the banner of the Marines, at no point she had talked about anything involving the Black Widow Pirates. Though, Abel cupped his chin, he had learned that she was actually Adaemon's mother, therefore, she must have come from Wano...

"Wait... wait, you have said, Koyuki, that she is alive?" Abel asked.

"Heili is alive," Legs responded with an exhale of utter relief. She looked towards Thatch. "She's alive, Thatch. However, she's not Heili, per say. At least, not anymore."

There was no doubt that there would be confusion revolving around Legs' words. Truthfully, she hadn't understood what happened either. But, there was one thing she was certain about. Heili was alive. She could feel that her illusion had still been cast, though it had been changed into something different and new. Perhaps it what Heili desired to be, and therefore the illusion mutated to encompass her ideal form, or maybe it was just a random occurrence.

"My illusion is still alive," Legs revealed outwardly, "And it has been changed to something different. I don't know exactly what changed and what became different, but the illusion is still around. I can feel it. We need to get Heili back at all cost before anything else happens to her; I would have her by now too, if that meddling Fischer hadn't built and given her one of the fastest ships in the world."

She folded her arms across her body as she shook her head in disappointment. "Regardless, there's no need for you two to go at one another. Not right here, at least. Heili is alive, so Thatch should have no grievances against you."

"Listen up you crone, I don't need to be freakishly tall to beat up your phylactery." Thatch replied, staring unimpressed at the second swing. The even further scattered dots of poison once again hung in the air. "You know they'll eventually be small enough to simply move through that wind. We can do this all day Abel." He did pause a moment as Abel questioned him about Heili.

"Yes Heili was ours, I think it's a little late to play senile." Though as Thatch stared at Abel, the raging sea of black beginning to slosh and rise, Legs' words made him pause. He stopped, the sea warping back to a calm state. He took it all in, staring at Legs in befuddled amusement. Finally as she finished her speech he let loose a low chuckle. "You're really telling me, this whole thing is a fucking joke. That this retainer for dead souls is in the right on attempting to kill our crew mate, a daughter you made. But oh now she's fine but not herself, just gone on another adventure. Of course it's like that. The entire reality of this crew operates like some manic game of 3D chess." His voice was dry and carried a hint of malice in it.

"How can you be so carefree about everything Legs. Ever since you've become Yonko it's just been getting worse. You spare so many souls, you entertain yourself on super rookies and marines. You barely seem to feel concern for yourself anymore, it's like this entire nation is going through the movements. That flame of rebellion your eyes once possessed is simmering out. I'm worried about you Legs. This irrational behavior needs to stop, we haven't won at all. Your dream is still so far away and you just stopped moving towards it." He let out a seething breath, staring up at her. He was frustrated beyond belief with a friend he cared so much about.

"I want you to look me in the fucking eyes Legs. None of the games, none of the fucking excuses. " His hands were curled into fists. The sea of black around them raged as if a storm was brewing over it. "I want you to give me one good reason why we shouldn't take Abel down right now. Our only benefit in even taking him alive is a bartering chip for Xros, and at this point I don't think our business with them is any good. So please make another excuse for that man, that's what you do now isn't it. You excuse our enemies."

Legs grimaced, and looked directly towards Thatch, refusing to take her eyes off of him. Even if she couldn't see the frustration on his visage, it was evident in his aura, and in his expression of his devil fruit. The black sea churned like a tsunami around them. However, Legs didn't fear anything. She knew that Thatch would never hurt her, and no matter what happened, she would never hurt him. All that was left for her to do was to tell the truth.

"You're right, Thatch. You're absolutely right," Legs said, exhaling in relief as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her being. "I don't feel any concern for myself anymore, and I do spare a lot of people, and my dream is still far away, and we haven't won yet. But, I don't think I want to, not anymore, Thatch."

As Legs spoke, her eyes remained focused on Thatch, yet they wandered endlessly, as if looking at something that wasn't right in front of her. Something...distant.

"Although I wanted to end all the fighting, there was some part of me that couldn't see myself without war. What point does a shinobi have in this world, if it is peaceful? So, I asked myself, was it truly peace that I desired. Or was it just a world where I was always the victor? I ruminated on those thoughts, Thatch. I honed in on them, and I realized that Koyuki is a piece of shit!" Legs continued, clenching her fist.

"So, i suppressed that part of myself. For the betterment of this world. However, I'm stuck now. In this world, where Amaka, Seth-sama; where big figures are emerging and my people are being threatened, I can't continue sitting here and being passive."

Legs exhaled deeply as a tear slid down the front of her cheek.

"I'm afraid of becoming the person I once was. But, if I don't, then I won't be able to save all of you."

Thatch frowned, he extended a hand towards Legs but then dropped it. "Le..no. Koyuki. It's been a long road to the present. I get that believe me, it's been 40 years since we started this. I get it, you're scared of what you once were. Sometimes I can be too." He paused letting out a sharp breath.

"We can't afford to play our games anymore though, you can't press her away into a dark corner. I think it's finally dawning on you. This world isn't really better, if anything its gotten worse with all the dreamers rising up from the seas. Every day we stand in silence, relaxing on our ivory thrones another path to our dream becomes crowded. Koyuki has to return, do not be afraid. Remember it's that same Koyuki that convinced a hateful man like me that there as more to this world, that we could do something better." A genuine smile began to crawl onto his face.

"You've been gone too long, I think you've forgotten who you even were. You're not some monster or some unrelenting warrior. You're a pirate, a pirate who's just trying to right the wrongs of this world. A pirate who's passion for a better life ignited the hearts of your entire crew. You are the Koyuki the Paradise Weaver. The single woman in this world that can stitch the ruins of our scattered world into a patchwork of true beauty." He glanced to Abel, smiling back to her.

"Once and for all, end this illusion. Stretch your web across these seas. Unravel our enemies at their core. Koyuki, let the legend come back to life."

"Koyuki... If you allow me to speak," Abel had stood there for most of the conversation, but, time ran and it came the one when things ought to be said. "I agree with little Vin, however, I think... fear is good." His lips were thin and his eyes stared at Legs' gigantic figure. "By fearing your past self, you strive to become an improved version, don't you? Yet, you are not consumed by it..."

Of course, of course she wasn't, there wasn't any ounce of doubt into any of those within Abel. "After all, you are who you are. You don't get dominated, you dominate," Then, he had turned over to Vincent once again, "And like I had said, I agree with you in many aspects, you have certainly grown," A brief smile graced his lips. "Even in regards to my actions... However," Abel opened his arms and tried a fierce expression. "Allow me to defend myself."

"...We are certainly not in the right for what we did against your crewmate, even if we didn't know. We have been punishing Adaemon for his reckless actions, something like that can't go away. We are to use you, Koyuki, as our inspiration."

Legs paused, taking in the words of both Abel and Thatch. Her breaths hastened, and sweat dripped from the edges of her hair. "N-No! I can't! If I break the illusion, my seal, the one I placed on my own strength will--"

Thatch turned to her, his red eyes piercing her false flesh. “It’s your power, isn’t it?”

Legs eyes widened, snapping her from her daze as she looked down towards Thatch. There he stood, that genuine smile plastered to his pale visage; the smile that he held when he first joined her. When she first convinced him to serve the world with his talents. He had tried to run away from it then, and it was the same as what she was doing now.

She closed her eyes.

"Yes....It is."

A gentle light dissipated from her giant frame, carelessly sliding from the pores of her flesh like a bedazzled dust. However, immediately following it was an explosion of Haki that erupted from her being like a bright aura, ripping apart the very earth with its weight. It was the Haki of decades that had been restrained; the repressed spirit of Koyuki that had been held captive for all those years. She was finally...free.

The muscles in Koyuki's body noticeably strengthened, as if they were finally being made active.

"Ah, yes," Koyuki begun, her voice noticeably lighter, "This is that strength. I remember it fondly, now."

She glanced out towards the black sea, and flicked her finger, summoning forth a raging gust of wind that swept through the viscous ocean, and splitting it with its sheer power as it passed through.

She smiled. "Yes."

Thatch's face lit up, a mix of admiration and pride at her display. That will he'd come to know so well. Unlike most who would collapse and break under it, this was the will of the woman he knew so well. He basked in it recalling the empires that once fell under the downpour she'd brought. It felt warm to him.

The sea of poison split apart, a wide gash creating two massive waves that rose into the sky, climbing towards a sky they would never reach. He waved his hand aside, the sea collapsing upon itself, scattering as a massive canyon was left in the wake of his display. Now all that ichor stood beside him, a floating guandao. He grinned across the marred earth at Abel.

"If you truly wish to stand under our flag, I'll only say this once Abel. I'd advise you allow us to take you in chains. Anything less would simply be disrespectful to Koyuki. If not I'm sure this canyon would make a dazzling tomb for your menagerie of souls."

To say Abel's eyes widened would be an understatement, an understatement to how his body had reacted. His mouth fell agape, his pupils trembled, his body shivered visibly, like it was struck by some kind of vibrational spell. Sweat sprouted all over his body, however, it did not fall, it surged along with his hair. No mere illusion, no, all of the beings within him stood awake at once.

The one that Adaemon had briefly met, the one that Evelyn had heard legends about, the one that Seth saw with her very eyes. The one that the two others just met. Abel's Haoshoku had burst forth without any of them even noticing, as if it was an instinctual response... but not to exhert his will over her, rather, to protect himself. His body hadn't moved, only his spirit.

"Fukuoka Koyuki..." Abel uttered out, eyes half-lidded and teared up, though, tears had yet to come out. Even as Vincent talked to him, Abel spared him no look, "I've agreed to it once and I'll agree to confinement again, if that is what you two wish."

Legs smirked. "No, there's no need for that. I am a liberator, a breaker of chains. I will not have my subordinates in chains."

She looked down towards Abel, her eyes piercing through his aura of Haki as her exploded forward yet again, pulsating like a heartbeat as it flushed across the land.

"Abel, Evelyn, Seth, Adaemon. I will allow you but one opportunity to swear your fealty to me, and to acknowledge me as the one, true Queen."

Her glare intensified. "Down on your knees."

There was no second, no breath, no blink, the world around them didn't move after Koyuki issued out her words. It had no chance nor choice, but to stare in silence under her presence.

But, not Abel. His figure brimmed with shimmering lights and auras that could top over most enemies, however, that who stood before him was no enemy. Even if that was the case, that route wouldn't be the one to be taken.

His left knee met the soil, his right one bent as his foot skidded forward, Abel hunched forward and extended his right arm over his right knee. Right hand open and facing upwards, Abel reached out at her. "We have come to love you," Dfferent colors passed by him, "Fukuoka, My Lady, Koyuki, Empress. Just as we would love a mother." Each one signalizing each person.