No pov
Marco stared down at the city, the night lights bounced off the ocean water and gave it a beautiful glow. He rested his arm against the edge of the ship. "Hey Marco, why don't we run in town for a drink? Check out the local spots?" Izo suggested as the small group of the crew stood on the shore. Marco glanced at the cross dressing man and tried to put on a happy face "Sounds good to me!" Maybe he could drown his sorrows until today was over. He waved to Whitebeard before he jumped off the ship with Izo right behind him and they joined the small group on the ground. Marco put his hands in his pockets as he followed the group around the city, going from bar to bar to drink the day away and dance with women. Ace pulled Marco onto the crowded floor and they both just jived with the music playing in the club.

"Heeey, why don't we check out that one?" Ace asked as he pointed over to an empty building. It was well into the early morning and the group had partied until they couldn't see straight. "I think it's time we head back to the ship." Marco muttered and pulled the younger man down the street. "But I'm super hungryyy!" Ace whined to the elder and tried to pull him in the other direction. "We'll get Thatch to make you a snack once we get back to the Moby." Marco grunted in return, keeping a tight hold on Ace. "But I don't wanna wait that long." Ace jerked his arm and let out a surprise yelp when his back met the hard sidewalk. "Marco?" Izo called to the blonde, who was staring into the distance like he had just seen a ghost. Marco licked his dry lips "It can't be..." He started down the darkened road, slowly picking up his pace. "Marco, where are you going?" Izo pulled Ace to his feet and the group quickly raced after their First Commander.
Marco turned down an alleyway and then came to a halt. His eyes widened with shock as the woman in front of him held out her arms to him. "Marco." His name sounded foreign coming from her lips and it felt as if his heart had stopped completely. "But how- I saw you die!" The unwanted memories rushed to the front of his mind and he put a hand to his head as if he had developed a sudden headache. "Marco, it's okay." She spoke up, "I am alive." She put her arms down and careful gestured to her stomach, where a long scar sat "I had nearly drown but the ocean swept me away to an island where the town nursed me back to health." "Marco, who is this lady?" Ace asked from behind him but Marco ignored Ace and glared at Kairi, "How could you stay away!" He took a few steps backwards, gripping his own shirt near his heart "You died! I know you did!" He couldn't stop the tears. Was it because he was angry to see her in the flesh or because he was relieved? "I am sorry that I could not return sooner. I had a debt to pay to the doctor that saved my life." Kairi spoke calmly as Marco barked out "Why didn't you reach out to us!?" The look he gave her made her heart wrench in pain. "I had no knowledge that you even survived!" The calmness had given away to the pain "I thought you had both died at the hands of that stupid Vice Admiral!" Her eyes glazed slightly over, "For years I cried myself to sleep. Begging that you two had survived!" Kairi began to wipe away her tears as her knees shook. Marco let out a breath, all the anger suddenly leaving his body, before pulling her into a tight hug, "I can't believe you're alive!" More tears pricked at his eyes. "I know." She whispered softly and rubbed his back gently "I know and I'm so sorry." He pulled back to get a better look at her. "You've changed."
Kairi's once beautiful ebony hair had been cut very short. Her forehead had a few wrinkles and her beautiful pink eyes didn't sparkle exactly like they used to. Marco noticed that she was wearing men's clothing and realized that she had disguised herself. "I had to. The Navy "executed" me." She replied and then pulled back a bit more, "Let me get a better look at you." She placed her hands on his cheeks, carefully moving his face back and forth; taking in his features. He had grown taller and more muscular. He no longer dawned that baby face but a sturdy jawline and sharp bone structure. He still had his blonde hair that resembled pineapple leaves. Kairi took notice of the cross/mustache tattoo upon his chest. "You have grown into quite the man."
"Okay, Marco...?" Izo pulled Marco back by the shoulder, concerned for him and this strange woman. "I guess I should explain." Marco rubbed the back of his neck before he gestured to the small group, "Kairi, these are my brothers." Then he gestured to Kairi, "Guys, this is Kairi, the first person to run with Pops." Marco explained. Kairi placed her hand on his shoulder "...I heard what happened to your father." She gave him the same heartbroken look he had seen all those years ago from Pops. "What do you-" Marco was interrupted by the city officers walking up towards the group "Whose there? It's passed curfew." Kairi glanced at the officers before gesturing the boys to hurry back to their ship before they were seen. They didn't need any unnecessary trouble. Marco grabbed her arm and pulled her close, "Will I see you again?" "Of course." Kairi gave him a devilish smile before walking over to the men to distract them. "Oh Officers, there you are. I have been looking all over for you." "Let's not stay." Ace pulled Marco out of the light and down the streets; the group now heading back to the Moby Dick.

"Don't breathe a word of this to Pops." Marco narrowed his eyes at the group as they wandered back towards the Moby Dick. "You want us to lie?" Izo started before Ace interrupted him "Why can't we tell him? Also why is this the first time we have even heard of her??" "Because something isn't quite right." Marco stopped and turned to them "Years ago after I had joined Pops, we were jumped by the Navy. Kairi had stepped in to save me from an attack and supposedly drown with her ship, the Moby. The Navy claimed that they had captured and killed her but as she had just said the ocean swept her away to an island."
"Okay, but why can't we tell Pops?" Ace asked again. Marco rubbed his face in annoyance "She acted like he was dead. She must have seen the headline that the Navy printed out the day Pops official became an Emperor." "She thinks Whitebeard killed him!" Izo quickly putting two and two together "Do you think she will recognize him? It has been a few years..." Marco just gave a shrug, he honestly didn't know, "Until I can explain to her the situation, we don't tell Pops, understand?" He looked at each one of his brothers. Slowly but surely, they all agreed not to speak a word of the woman. "Now let's go home."

Kairi pov
I watched from afar as Marco led his brothers back to Whitebeard's ship. I frowned as it had reminded me of my own ship, "Don't worry Marco, I will save you from that murderer." I stood up and jumped back down into the street, heading off to the inn I was staying at. I needed to come up with a way to get onto the ship and make Whitebeard pay for killing Newgate. I wanted to make him suffer so badly, but I needed to be patient.

No pov
The next morning, Ace sat on the railing of the ship. The usually loud and obnoxious boy was rather silent as he thought of the encounter from the night before. Kairi was Pops very first mate. Was she more to him than that? He wanted to know. He glanced up at his father, who sat in his chair like he did everyday, just observing his children. "Hey Pops?" Ace sat up more, moving his large hat back slightly so he could see better "Was there anyone special in your life?" Ace caught Marco glaring at him out of the corner of his eye as Whitebeard shifted in his seat. He rubbed his chin a bit before he nodded slowly, "Yes, there was." He kept the answer vague. Ace frowned at the response, expecting a better answer. He tapped his own chin, trying to figure out how to reword his question. "She was the one who designed our home." Whitebeard gestured to the Moby Dick, "The first ship I had ever sailed on was built by her. She named her Moby." Whitebeard smiled fondly at the memory from their first encounter "That ship was roughly built but was more seaworthy than any other ship I have ever sailed upon." He stood up and made his way to the front of the ship, looking at the white whale. Those who were awake early enough listened to Pops as he recalled his memories of this special someone. "Where is she now?" Ace asked him. Whitebeard closed his eyes, remembering that day like it was just yesterday.
"Ah-!" Newgate spat out water as he resurfaced, an unconscious Marco in his arms. He glanced around trying to find something to climb onto to get out of the water. A small rowboat floated over and the vice admiral laughed loudly at Newgate struggling to keep the young boy out of the water. "Oh how the mighty Newgate has fallen." The man grinned widely as he pulled out his gun, aiming straight for Marco. "Back off!" Newgate growled, shielding his poor boy with his own body. "I could turn you both in and finally get to be an admiral!" The vice laughed again before cocking the gun. Newgate stared him down, waiting for the bullet.
"Rah!" A voice shouted and Newgate's eyes widened as he watch Kairi tackle the vice admiral off the boat and into the water. "Kairi!" He called out, swimming to the boat and putting Marco inside before climbing out of the water. He looked all over for both of them but as far as he could see was just debris from the broken ships sinking in the water.
"Kairi!" He called out, "Kairi, please!" He hated that he sounded desperate but the special woman in his life just disappeared. He heard someone coughing up water and turned around to see the vice admiral clamber up onto a piece of driftwood and then glare at Newgate, "This isn't over!" He looked like he had quite the battle underwater but was all out of energy. The vice admiral began to paddle away from the wreck and in a different direction. Newgate turned back around "Kairi!!" He couldn't see her. There was no reply. Hours had gone by and there was nothing. Newgate lowered his head before grabbing a piece of driftwood to use as a paddle.
He moved the rowboat in a different direction of where the vice admiral had gone. After a few hours, they had stumbled upon a small island. "It will do." Newgate mumbled softly as he jumped out and pulled the boat up onto the shore. He set Marco out on the ground and felt relief as the boy coughed up all the water from his lungs. The first thing he asked about was Kairi and Newgate told him the painful truth. She had died in battle.
Whitebeard sucked in a breath and then looked out on the ocean. He suddenly stumbled back as a cannon ball had just smashed into his face. "Pops!" The crew shouted before they rush around to see what had happened. Marco rushed to Whitebeard's side, making sure he was alright before Thatch yelled from the crow's nest "It's the Navy!" He pointed out at the ship that was rushing it's way towards the Moby Dick. Two men rushed to the anchor and raised it as another yelled "Hard to port!" The Moby Dick lurched at the sudden request but swiftly began to move away from the island and out into open water for a easier fight.
"Fire!" Ace yelled at those manning the cannons before he pulled back his own fist and sent a fireball towards the Navy's ship. Whitebeard stood back up, he was fine other than being extremely pissed off.
He headed over to the edge of the Moby to see which vice admiral was on their tail and glared at him "Uragirimono." His voice filled with venom. "I told you it wasn't over Newgate!" Uragirimono cackled out as he pointed at the Emperor of the Sea, "Now where is she!? Show me the Lady of the Water!" Whitebeard kept a steady look. He had no idea what this crazed man was talking about. "FIIIRE!" The mad man screeched out to his scattered crew. They had fear for Whitebeard, the strongest man in the world. Whitebeard pulled back his fist and smashed the air, sending the cannon balls straight back to the Navy ship. "Even if I knew who you spoke of, I would never turn anyone into you!" He roared with anger.