Three months ago...

"Ah man. I can't wait to eat."

Two men walk along the shore of the beach. They have guns strapped across their backs and have donned their military uniforms. They've been on patrol for hours now and it's almost time for their shift to end.

The blond looks bored and doesn't care much for his job. He comes from a wealthy family and isn't used to manual labor of any sort. However, the man with the pink hair adores his position. It was always his dream to become a marine and serve to protect citizens from harm.

"I wish we had the morning watch instead, Coby." The blond complains.

"I don't mind which we get. As long as I get to be out here and protect citizens, I'm all right." Coby replies with a small smile.

The blond rolls his eyes at Coby. Both clearly have different mindsets. Coby ignores him and continues to keep watch of their surroundings.

He freezes when he catches sight of a small boat, wrecked by a storm. He quickly unslings his gun from his back as the blond keeps ranting about all the work they have to do. Coby shoots him a glare and gestures silently to the small vessel. The blond's eyes widen and he quickly quiets, following Coby from behind.

Coby steadily approaches the boat, weary of the small thing. He doesn't know if there's anyone still inside it. It could be an enemy or a fisherman who simply went out to sea on the wrong day. Whatever the case may be, Coby was not taking any chances.

A soft cry comes from inside the boat. Coby and his companion stiffen and glance at each other in worry. Who could it be?

Coby clears his throat authoritatively. "To whomever it may be inside the boat, get out with your hands raised."

The blond angles his gun, pointing it at the boat cautiously. His fingers are shaking a bit, but he holds firm.

The boat creaks as a figure slowly lifts itself out of the vessel, shaking arms raised. In the dark of the night, it's impossible to see any physical features. Coby narrows his eyes.

"Keep your hands up and walk forward slowly," he commands in a slow voice.

The person obeys and upon closer inspection Coby sees that the build looks feminine. She appears to be shaking as if she's crying. This softens his companion's stance.

"Ha, it's a poor girl." The blond says sympathetically and begins to lower his weapon. "We should help her."

"No, wait—," Coby calls out, but it's too late.

The second the gun lowers, the girl darts in the direction of the forest, sprinting full force. Coby lets out a yelp and starts after her.

The girl is fast, easily making her through the tangle of bushes and deftly jumping over gnarled roots. Coby does his best to keep up, but he's still too far behind.

He quickly glances up, eying the tree branches. He makes a split second decision and starts climbing while his friend continues to chase on foot. Coby lifts himself into the bushes and jumps from branch to branch, remembering his training.

He keeps his eyes on the lone girl running as fast as she can. His brows furrow as she sprints aimlessly, moving in a zig zagging pattern. He watches her closely. A small smile lights his face as he figures out where she'll be next.

He moves through the trees silently, cutting in a different direction from the girl. Her running pattern will eventually lead her where he is. Coby waits expectantly and eventually the girl comes into view.

Her breathing is labored and he can faintly hear her crying. He can't comprehend why and focuses solely on stopping her.

When she's right below his tree, he leaps down toward her. The girl doesn't see him until he slams down upon her, knocking her into the dirt.

Coby grits his teeth from the impact, and pins the girl's arms down. Her long hair partially covers her face and he can't make out any of her features.

"Who are you?" Coby asks, out of breath from the chase.

The girl doesn't reply. Coby quickly swipes her hair to the side and his heart stops.

"How?" he whispers, horror in his eyes.

~

The Present...

"Where's (F/N)-ya," Kid snaps at Yuki, pacing the room in an agitated manner.

Yuki sits with at the rickety kitchen table, a glass of beer before her. Her eyes are red and swollen from lack of sleep. She lazily holds a cigarette in hand, staring at the glass before her while lost in thought.

"I already told you," Yuki scowls, looking up and glaring at Kid. "There are only two places he could've gone. The place where he and (Y/N) used to train, or the beach where he departed when he became a pirate."

Law cooly gazes at the two of them. "Luffy and his crew split up to check both places. (F/N) couldn't have gone far."

"It's been days," Kid spits. "That's plenty of time to run off somewhere." He turns his vicious gaze toward Yuki. "If it hadn't been for you telling us to leave him alone the day he left, we would've caught up to him easily."

Yuki doesn't back down from his fierce eyes. In a deathly low voice she says, "You have no right to interfere with my kids. You're lucky I'm even allowing you to be here in my household."

Kid huffs in annoyance, but reluctantly backs down. He leaves the kitchen, muttering under his breath and seats himself in the living room.

Law sighs, pulling out the chair across from Yuki. She looks at him with a raised eyebrow.

"At least one of you has manners," she mumbles, putting out her cigarette and moving to pick up her drink.

"Why aren't you telling us anything about, (Y/N)?" He pries, leaning back in the chair with his arms crossed.

The woman looks at him with tired, grief filled eyes. "I respect her wishes."

Law stares at her expectantly, refusing to back down.

She shakes her head at me. "(F/N) may want to find her now, but I'll tell you now that he won't in the end."

"But why?" Law presses, desperate for more information. There has to be something big that they're hiding.

Yuki's expression pulls taut. "None of you should meddle with our lives. I shouldn't have allowed (F/N) to invite any of you here."

"What's with all the cryptic information you keep spouting," Kid calls from the room over having heard everything because of the close quarters.

I look up and see him at the threshold, watching us with narrowed eyes.

"You keep spouting nonsense," Kid accuses, glowering at Yuki. "Give me one good reason we should leave (Y/N) alone."

"Because she wants to be left alone!" Yuki shouts, slamming her glass down at the table. The glass shatters and her drink spatters, but she doesn't break eye contact with Kid.

"How do you know what she wants?" Kid sputters, spit flying. "Who are you to tell us to leave her alone?"

"I'm her guardian. Hell, I'm practically her mother," Yuki seethes. "I've known all her life and you've barely known her a year. Who are you to question me?"

"Did you even read the article?" Kid is screaming now. "Do you know what'll happen to her?"

Yuki's eyes flicker. She hasn't read the article for fear of what is says.

Kid catches the change in her demeanor and his eyes narrow further. "You haven't read it, have you?"

Yuki reaches a shaking hand into her pocket and pulls out another cigarette. She fumbles around and finally lights it.

"I haven't," she says in a weak whisper, after a long moment.

"You should," Law says calmly. "It's something you should know. It can change everything."

Kid snatches the newspaper from the living room and tosses it in front of Yuki. "Read it," he demands.

Yuki looks at the two helplessly. "I don't want to know," her voice cracks, tears springing to her eyes.

Nonetheless, she stares blankly at the paper before reaching toward it. Kid and Law watch her closely as she reads. The woman is barely keeping herself together by the end.

Law's eyes soften as he sees the strong woman break down in shambles. Kid stares at her with a hard expression, waiting for her to say something.

"I can't do anything," Yuki finally says. "I have to—I have to respect her wishes."

"Well just because you respect them, doesn't mean that we do," Kid says wickedly. He looks over to Law. "You know where we're going next, don't you?"

Law nods solemnly before glancing at Yuki sympathetically. "We'll bring her home to you."

The woman gets up and heads over to the stairs. Before she goes up, both men think they imagine it when they hear a soft, broken voice.

"Please do."

- - - -

A/N

It feels so odd to be back.
I'm glad I'm here though.
( ◠‿◠ )
I'm sorry for being about a week late with this update! I hope you enjoyed it.

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~ mwzxxx

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