Chapter 12

Standard disclaimer applies

Even after meeting the woman he'd called Imouto, Marco was still unable to believe what was happening. Crista and Angelo were, likewise, shocked speechless. They couldn't stop staring as the few pirates on the beach crowded around Marco and the young woman. Marco still couldn't remember any of their names.

 

"We were so worried about you... Some of the others thought you might have been killed, but no one wanted to believe it," Imouto said, wiping her eyes on the back of her hand.

 

"Our firefly wouldn't rest so long as you were out here somewhere," another man answered. He was portly, with black hair and a matching goatee. Marco vaguely remembered him as a chef.

 

"After Thatch, Ace and Oyaji right in a row like that... I couldn't lose you too."

 

"What in the blue seas have you been doing here for so long?" the one with the moustache asked.

 

"Who the hell are you?" Angelo demanded and everyone turned to stare at him. Crista was holding his arm, trying to keep him from attacking the pirates again.

 

"We're Marco's nakama," Imouto answered firmly. She sounded like she was pissed off, not that Marco could really blame her. Angelo had attacked first. Crista's expression showed apprehension, but a bit of relief.

 

"You're the ones he's been trying to remember?" she asked hopefully. A frown quickly adorned Imouto's face and Muscles turned to Marco.

 

"Trying?" he repeated.

 

"He's only just started to remember his life before he was shipwrecked here." Imouto gasped and looked up at Marco.

 

"You don't remember? I'm going to kill that Marine b*****d for shooting you out of the sky! He's going to be in so much pain, his great-grandchildren will be limping!"

 

"Hotaru, calm down," the portly one urged.

 

"No, Emile! That son of a b***h nearly cost us our brother!"

 

"You're in no condition to be fighting anyone. You shouldn't be walking."

 

"This isn't the place for this conversation," Muscles said and Marco nodded in agreement. He looked to Crista and she smiled.

 

"If you'd like, a couple of you may come into town and we can talk at my house," she offered.

 

"Crista, loro sono pirati (Crista, they're pirates)," Angelo hissed in objection.

 

"You'll be there, Angelo, and I won't let Crista be hurt," Marco answered.

 

"Non mi fido di te (I don't trust you)."

 

"I know you don't, but you should know I want to protect Crista as much as you do." The pirates all stared at Marco, a curious expression on a few faces.

 

"You've learned their language?" Muscles asked, sounding impressed. Marco nodded and the young woman, who he now knew was named Hotaru, turned to the big man.

 

"Jozu, can Vista and I go and explain everything to Marco? I'd ask you to come, but something tells me you wouldn't fit through the front door," she asked, a playful smile on her lips. The portly man chuckles as Muscles�"Jozu�"nodded.

 

"We'll return to the ship. Vista, make sure you both return before nightfall," he answered. The one with the moustache, Vista, agreed and the pirates returned to their ship. As promised, only Vista and Hotaru remained with Marco, Crista and Angelo.

 

"I can't believe this," Angelo muttered as Marco helped Hotaru climb on his back so he could carry her. It was obvious her injuries hadn't healed well.

 

"Hush, Angelo," Crista hissed. "How long as your crew been searching for Marco?"

 

"Since he disappeared a month and a half ago," Vista answered. "You have our gratitude for keeping him safe and healthy."

 

Crista grinned. "I'm happy you've found him. He's been thinking of you a lot lately."

 

"So you did remember us?" Hotaru asked Marco. He almost shrugged, but remembered her wounds.

 

"Bits and pieces. Only a few things stuck out," he answered.

 

"Like Oyaji?" Oyaji, Marco thought. Pops. It had to be that old man. So, he wasn't the only one that felt the old man to be fatherly.

 

"Is he... Was he killed?" Marco asked. Hotaru nodded and he could feel her arms snaking closer to his neck. Marco figured the close proximity must have comforted her.

 

"I'm sorry for your loss," Crista murmured and Marco saw Angelo hold back a scowl.

 

"Do you remember Anne, Thatch or Ace?" Hotaru asked.

 

"Not by name. What were they like?"

 

"I'm sure Anne was clear in your memory," Vista answered. "She was your spouse for a number of years. She had blond hair, was a great fighter and treated younger crewmates like her own children." Marco's eyes widened as his mind went directly to the blond beauty from his dreams.

 

"Scars all over her hands?" he inquired.

 

"Because of her Devil Fruit."

 

"Yeah, she stuck out."

 

"I'm glad," Hotaru murmured. "She would've been pissed if you hadn't remembered her. You�"ah�"you took her death really hard."

 

He'd figured that from the bile in his throat every time he'd thought of her death. "How long ago?"

 

"When I was thirteen, so eight years."

 

They arrived at the house and Crista opened the door, directing them to the living room. Marco set Hotaru on the couch and sat beside her, Crista on his other side. Angelo and Vista chose to remain standing. They were both guarding over their younger sisters and would be damned if anything happened.

 

"Who were Thatch and Ace?"

 

"Thatch was the Fourth Division Commander. He was killed by Marshall D. Teach, Blackbeard. You thought Thatch was an idiot, but he was our brother and we were all furious when Blackbeard killed him. Ace went after Teach in an attempt to avenge Thatch. He didn't make it and-" Hotaru stopped as a choked sob escaped her and the tears fell again. Marco figured Thatch was Dumbass and Ace must have been Freckles. If the nightmares were still true, then Ace must have been the one who had a hole punched through him. And Hotaru must have been the crying woman.

 

"I remember them. You were closer to Ace, weren't you?" Marco asked and Hotaru nodded.

 

"He was to her what Anne was to you," Vista clarified and Marco wrapped as sympathetic arm around Hotaru's shoulders. She leaned into him and traced her finger over the tattoo on his chest.

 

"What does the tattoo mean? He could never tell us," Angelo asked, his voice still sounding too hard for the situation. Marco could detect a bit of sympathy despite the show.

 

"It's our captain's Jolly Roger. Marco is the First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. With Oyaji gone, Marco is to lead us," Hotaru answered with a slight, hopeful smile.

 

"How did you find me?" Marco asked.

 

"Vista stole the Eternal Pose to this island from the Akuma Pirates. One of their men was here two weeks ago, trying to steal some powerful Devil Fruit for their captain."

 

"What?"

 

Hotaru pulled away with a confused expression on her face. "Do you know about it?"

 

"He tried to kill Crista!"

 

"Fratello, per favore. Non preoccuparti (Brother, please, don't worry)," Crista pleaded.

 

"Is that why you transformed into a phoenix?" Hotaru asked. "He said you tried to kill him unprovoked."

 

"Unprovoked?" Angelo repeated incredulously. "And he was after her Fruit?"

 

"Everyone needs to calm down," Vista urged. "Marco, I think you should explain to us what happened since you came here."

Author's Note

Translations have been added immediately after the spoken dialogue, per request of my readers on FFN.