I do not own One Piece

..................................................
   3rd POV
................................................

The Sunny was unusually quiet. The normal goofing off and easy going nature wasn't present. All crew members were on edge as they stood on deck.

When Usopp had first came running to the ship in tears, the crew didn't know what to expect. Then he had dumped Katsu's sketchbooks and weapons down on the deck as he collapsed in a quivering heap. It was then that the crew learned that their artist had been blackmailed and taken.

That was a month ago.

They managed to catch up to the ship, but a week ago they had lost them again.

Luckily for them, Luffy still had Sato's vivre card. Which was the only thing that guided them to the island they were about to land on. Luffy, particularly, was angered to learn of the leverage hanging over Katsu. He couldn't wait to kick all of their asses for daring to do such a thing to his crew mate.

However, Sanji had drown the crew on deck for a meeting. He now appeared to look the most worried of the crew.

"I wanted to do some looking into before I was completely sure." Sanji said, taking out a cigarette.

"What?" Nami rose an eyebrow, glancing down to ensure they were indeed still on the right track.

"That mark we saw on the ship that had taken Katsu-chan." Sanji clarified, taking a drag of his cigarette. "I've got some news."

"Good or bad?" Robin demanded.

Though the woman has been mostly silent, the anger boiling inside her was waiting to lash out on the people who took Katsu. Robin couldn't wait to get her hands on those people. Nami was the first to notice, as she knew how close Robin and Katsu are.

"Both. Good, because we'll be somewhat warned." Sanji answered. "Bad because these are some powerful people."

Usopp's eyes bugged out as he gripped his hair. Though fear gripped at his body, an equal amount o worry filled him for their artist. Perhaps even guilt, maybe if he had tried something to help her she wouldn't have been taken.

"How powerful?" Zoro asked, his eyes narrowed on the chef.

"Let's just say a lot of powerful families, well established in the New World, don't want to mess with them." Sanji answered. "The Kiyomizu family."

This time it was Law that stiffened, his eyes widening as he looked at Sanji. "Katsu's involved with them?" When Sanji nodded, Law let out a breath and shook his head. This pact with the Straw Hats was becoming increasingly more demanding. He had never been sure as to why, but even Doflamingo had told all of his people to stay out of the waters involving that family.

It just dragged out the question, how dangerous was this family? And why was Katsu involved with them?

Caesar and Omasu sat quietly listening before the ladder began grinning and nodding his head. "Oh yes! That makes sense! That's why the experiments worked so well on her! Her bloodline must be superior!"

Both Luffy and Zoro reacted quickly, slamming the doctor down on the ground with orders to 'shut up'.

Chopper squealed in fear as he ran to Robin and clutched onto her leg. "Is Katsu gonna die?!"

"Not likely." Sanji answered, frowning. "They clearly need her, from what Usopp said. They blackmailed Katsu-chan by using her brother."

"But why would they need Katsu?" Franky demanded, crossing his arms.

Much like Robin, Franky was angry with the news of Katsu's absence. Though, he's been more voiceful about it. His anger was heard the entire night that the crew lost the ship.

Sanji sighed, "That symbol was from the Royal family. If they went through that to obtain Katsu, there's only one thought I have. They desperately need an heir."

"Wait." Brook held up a hand, making the chef turn to look at him. "Are you implying that Katsu is some princess?"

A puff of smoke left Sanji's lips. He took another moment to compose himself. Now wasn't the time to be fawning over Katsu.

"I'm going to assume so, yes." He answered.

Nami blinked, "I never took Katsu as one to be from royal blood."

"She isn't a princess." Zoro rolled his eye. "Katsu's a pirate through and through."

Zoro had lost his napping and training buddy, specifically after she was beginning to show some progress in healing. It was weird to him to think that it's harder to nap without Katsu. It felt colder and just uncomfortable now. Even his night watches were more lonely as nobody stayed up to keep him company. Overall, this resulted in a slightly crankier Zoro.

"it doesn't matter anyway," Zoro continued. "What makes the family so dangerous?"

Luffy remained silent. His face didn't contain the usual childish grin. Instead it remained completely stone faced serious.

"I'm getting to that Moss Head." Sanji growled, sending an annoyed glare towards Zoro.

"You wanna fight, bastard?!" Zoro stood up, only to be stopped by a look sent from Robin.

"They have been around for generations. There is some story that is told that they originated from the heavens. Descending with them is a family known to be their second in command, a better term would be a group of assassins." Sanji explained.

"Assassins?!" Usopp and Chopper shrieked.

"Assassins?!" Luffy's serious face broke to marvel at the news with starry eyes.

"The families swore loyalty to each other. The tale goes that the royal family saved the daughter of the head of the assassin family. To repay the debt, they swore their eternal loyalty. In exchange to always serving the royal family in whatever they need, the family lets them get a lot of say so with everything as well." Sanji explained, "Though I'm not sure if all of that is completely true."

"Okay, so they have assassins." Zoro shrugged, "Been there done that." Beside him Robin seemed to nod in agreement.

"I'm not done!" Sanji yelled, glaring at Zoro before composing himself. "They royal family had been rumored to have inhuman strength. They don't need to train to be able to lift a whole ship. With training their strength is rumored to be unmatched."

This made the crew grow silent for a moment. Their thoughts all following towards Katsu. Robin hummed, "Katsu has shown signs of strength. We just assumed it was either because of lots of training or because of the experiments." Their eyes landed on the doctor still on the ground.

"I never did anything to enhance her strength!" Omasu yelled out. "At least, nothing that actually worked.

Nami frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "We can't take his word. Technically, he doesn't even know if it did or didn't work, plus Katsu is related to Shanks. I wouldn't doubt she has potential to be as freakishly strong as you monster three."

Zoro remained silent, but frowned. If Katsu indeed had the monster strength, why wasn't she able to lift the weights he lifted? Surely she hasn't been messing with him and acting as if they were too heavy for her.

Law thought back to his time with her. He had seen some rather strange strength from her, but he had always assumed it had something to do either her training with Mamoru. Had he known about the experiments at that time, he would have written it off as that as well. Katsu has always been an anomaly to him, but he did admit he always found that anomaly interesting.

"But how are they so strong?" Robin mused, looking at Sanji for an answer.

He frowned and shrugged. "I don't know. It's a secret that only the royal family knows."

"So assassins and inhuman strength." Usopp trembled, crying silent tears. "Great. Katsu's family sounds lovely."

"Their fighting skills are something to worry of. Their kingdom is one of the largest and oldest in the New World." Sanji sighed, "I don't think it will be easy."

"None of that matters." Luffy said, the crew snapping their attention towards Luffy, who had crossed his arms over his chest. "They have our Nakama. It's time to get her back."

With any fear melting off, the crew looked at the Captain and nodded. Their faces all steeled over in determination.

"Oh ho ho, it looks like we've arrived." Brook announced, drawing the crew's attention.

..............................................

End of Chapter 109!

This is not edited.