"Momma, why are those people so afraid of you?" I stared up at the woman with coal black hair that was tied up into a loose braid. Her eyes resembled the beautiful gemstone called rubies and they had a sharp look that would frighten any beast. "They are not afraid of me Darling, they merely respect me." Her voice slipped off her tongue in a silvery tone. Her hand grasped mine and she tugged me down the street, a basket full of fruit resting on her other arm. It was quite a sight to see my mother, who usually dressed in fancy dresses, now wore tattered navy colored overalls and a white t-shirt underneath. Her high shoes were replaced with flats. "But they always seem so nervous." I looked up at her figure as she stopped to look at some blankets. "Sometimes respect causes nervousness." She replied as she felt the fabric with her free hand before her eyes fell upon me, "Never demand respect. You must always make yourself as someone who commands the respect of people placed upon your shoulders." "Commands respect?" I mull over her words as we continue down the street. "Do people respect Father?" A soft smile changes her normal stoic facial expressions, "Yes, they do." She pointed over to a booth that had flowers, "Why don't you pick some for when Father comes home?" I glance over "Okay!" I skip my way over to the booth and rest my arms on the wooden top, "Can you help me pick flowers??" "I sure can." The young man smiled warmly at me, "What are looking for?" I grin at him, "My father is returning home after a long trip!" "Ah, well let's see, what's his favorite color?" He asked. I smile, "That's easy, yellow is his favorite color." "Yellow?" He tapped his chin as he looked over his flowers before grabbing a bunch of bright yellow flowers, "Here, sunflowers!" I watched as he turned them into a beautiful bouquet. "You're so good at that." I awed and he plucked a small daisy, placing it behind my ear "There, now you are quite the beauty." I blush lightly as I take the bouquet from him, "How much do I owe you?" "Oh, you can have them." The young man smiled at me. "Oh, no, I couldn't take them without paying." I reached in my little pocket purse. I glance up quickly at the sound of coins being placed down roughly on the wooden top of the booth and turn slightly to see a mountain of a man. "Here, I'll pay for them." "Oh uh, thanks?" I gave him a confused look. I felt my mother's hand enclose around mine and tighten a bit, "Akumazoku, what are you doing here?" It sounded like she was forcing the pleasantries through her teeth. "Why, shopping, of course, a man has to eat." He replied with a gentle smile. Her grip tightened like a vice, "Well if you will excuse us." She tugged me away from the booth and the man, "We have groceries to buy." "Give my regards to your husband." He stepped forward, his large hand placed on my shoulder, his hot breath beat against my neck, "You look so delicious~" His voice had an odd velvet tone to it. My cheeks sudden burn with a fiery heat as my mother tugs me away from him. I turn to glance back at this strange older man  as he mouths "See you soon." I shudder and step closer to my mother. "Who is that man?" "Hopefully someone you never have to meet." Her tone dripped with venom but she didn't turn around as she wrapped an arm around my waist, keeping me close. "He is a very dangerous man, Clarity, stay away from him."

I jolt up and glance around, seeing that I was in a bedroom. I rub my shoulder, letting out a soft breath that had built up in my chest "I'm getting tired of this..." I stand up and reach over for my walking cane to make my way to the wooden door of the soft pastel room. "How many times am I going to wake up like this?" "Hmm?"
I turned to see Tashigi stretch in her cot that she had dragged into the room placed near the  bed that I was occupying. "Oh, I didn't mean to wake you." I felt guilty that she had to sleep on such an uncomfortable cot.
"It's okay." She raked her fingers through her messy hair. "What are you tired of?" "I'm just tired of all of these memories coming back to me." I let out huff, "No wait- that's not what I mean." I rub my tired face as Tashigi moved over to open the door and leading the way out into the living room, "Ah, good morning Captain." Smoker was sitting on the couch with his legs propped up on the ottoman, a newspaper open in his hands, and a lit cigar hanging out of his mouth. He glanced up at both of us before shifting his feet back to the floor. "How do you feel?" His eyes holding an all business look. "Still sore but better than the last couple of months." I rub my back. "Good." His curt reply snaps me out of my drifting thoughts as he stands up straight and places one hand onto my shoulder, cuffs in his other, "I'm sorry Kana." "Sorry-?" I gave him a confused look. "Turn around and place your hands behind your back." He gave me a look of sorrow as I step back, "Smoker? What do you mean?" He lets out a loud sigh and Tashigi makes her way back into the room, "What's happening??" "I have no choice but to arrest you." Smoker closed his eyes briefly. "Arrest her?" Tashigi asked as she hurried over, "Smoker?" The confusion was loud and clear in her tone. "I don't have a choice. The World Elders went over Sengoku's head, calling for your arrest for high treason." He answered honestly. "Treason? But I didn't betray anyone? Why are they accusing me?" I ask him, pleading for answers. "They have discovered that you have been protecting the Whitebeard Pirates by relaying information of warship whereabouts." He replies. "What! But-" Tashigi starts and then turns to me "-Kana would never betray the Navy! They must have forced her hand! And there will be a trial!" She turns to Smoker, who shakes his head, "There is no trial. Kana will be executed in two days." "No-!" Tashigi takes the words right out of my mouth as the air slowly leaks out of my body, "...Executed...?" "That can't be right!" She takes the cuffs and throws them across the room. They bang loudly against the wall. "They can't do this!" "Tashigi, you have to understand that the World Elders have an even more twisted sense of justice." Smoker speaks softer. He had been teaching us about proper justice and that the Navy was a bit twisted in doing things their own way. A prime example was the aftermath of Alabasta. Tashigi turned back to me, her eyes widened, "You have to run." "What?" I shook my head, still trying to recover from the initial shock. "You need to run, escape!" She gripped my shoulders, a panic in her that I had never seen before. "I'll help you-!" "No, you can't!" I step back away from her. "You'll get in a lot of trouble." "I don't care! I won't let them kill my best friend!" She exclaims as she turns to Smoker with a pleading look. "Please Smoker..." He had been quietly listening to the conversation and let out the smoke that was swirling around in his lungs, pulling out his Nanashaku Jitte. I yelp as he swings at me and Tashigi quickly blocks his attack with my walking cane. My eyes widen a bit as I realize that he had decided. "Kana, run!" She yelps, her arms shaking slightly as Smoker was much stronger than her. "But-" I start and Smoker glances in my direction, his eyes shifting slightly towards the door. "There's a boat sitting at the docks, take it as far away from here as you can." I let out a heavy breath before turning towards the door, rushing out of the safe house. Thank you both. They were risking their ranks, and possibly their lives, helping me escape from the Navy's clutches. I stumble my way towards the docks; the freshly scarred tissues on my left thigh pulling tight and tingling. If I could feel pain, I bet I would have collapsed already. I begin to rapidly untie the little boat as Smoker comes rushing out of the small safehouse, beelining straight towards me. He has to play the part! I quickly remind myself as he shouts, "Kana, stop right there! You're under arrest!" I push the boat into the water, "You'll have to catch me first!" The cold ocean water begins to lap at my calves as I duck slightly to avoid his smokey fist that he had launched at the back of my head. "Get back here!" He rushes towards the shore but I had already jumped into the boat, drifting back away from the island. I glanced back at Smoker, he couldn't go any farther as the ocean water was his weakness. He looked angry as if he had just missed his chance to catch me. He puffed out some smoke "Don't think you got away!" I took his words to heart. This meant I was now on the run from the World Government and I was very high on their shit list. Tashigi ran over, standing slightly in front of Smoker. She also stood in a stance like she had just missed a grand fight, but she had tears down her face. Guilt struck me hard. For the past couple of months my presence has done nothing but make Tashigi cry. I turned around to stare out at the horizon, trying to figure out where I was going. I needed to completely disappear.
"SMOKEY LOOK OUT!"
I jerk my head back to Tashigi's loud yell only to be blindsided by a smash to the side of my head. I let out a loud groan as my ears ring and my vision blurred slightly. Blood dripped down onto the deck of the boat underneath me before my head is jerked backwards and I come face to face with Akumazoku's glaring look. "H-how'd you find me?" I huffed and the wide grin nearly split his face in half, "I always know where my wife is."  I grit my teeth, "We aren't married!" "No, not yet, but I can't allow you to die at the hands of the Navy." He gestured back over to the shore, gripping my hair tighter with his hand and forcing my head to see Smoker and Tashigi fighting back against Akumazoku's henchmen. "Or else you'll lose the money." I snarl and shove my shoulder back into his chest. "You better behave." He hissed back; the cold blade of a knife pressing against my throat sent fear spiking through my heart. "I would hate to mess up your goddess like body again." He pressed his nose into my hair and took in a very deep breath, "Ah~ you always did smell like summertime rain." "I would rather die than be with you!" I bare my teeth as I rear my head back into his nose. He jolts backwards, gripping at his re-broken nose, "You bitch!" I leap off the small boat and trudge my way back to the shore, "Tashigi!" I grab a small stone and chunk it at the man attacking my best friend. He raises his arm to block the stone before glaring at me "You stupid-" Tashigi smashes her sword's hilt into the side of his face, knocking the man unconscious. "We need to get out of here!" She hollers, hurrying over to pull me out of the water. "Captain!" I glance over to see Smoker rushing in our direction, pointing back towards the safe house, "Quick!" He started to make a smokescreen.