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aster-tiger · 7 months

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The Raging Witch

Zoro x OFC, Luffy x OFC, Law x OFC, Zoro x Luffy, Law x Zoro

Warnings: swearing, pr0n with plot, shameless smut, bisexuality, consensual k!nk, 3some, b0ndage, emotional slow burn, developing relationship, hurt/comfort, fluff, angst, bonding, mating (not abo), post Punk Hazard, post Dressrosa, changing pov (no head hopping), mm relationship, mmf relationship, english is not my first language, no beta we die like men

Chapter 26: Kidnapping

You can find the whole story on AO3

A silver board appeared in the sky, heading straight for the Sunny. Zoro held his breath until the board landed on the main deck. Luffy stepped off with unconscious Rage in his arms, and Zoro's heart leapt at the sight.

Rage's face was smeared with blood, which slowly dripped from her split brow. But she was here, on their ship!

"Chopper, take care of her," Luffy ordered with a grin.

The reindeer hurried over, swiftly changing forms to carry Rage to the infirmary.

"Luffy, what did you do?" Robin asked, her gaze switching between the captain and Reid.

"I kidnapped Rage, shishishishi" Luffy announced, placing his hands on his hips.

"Why is she here?" Usopp pointed at Reid.

"He challenged Rage for the captain's title, and she lost. We're under his command now," the silver-haired woman answered with a frown. She slipped a backpack off her shoulder, tossing it onto the deck right by Zoro's feet. "Here are some of her things. Take care of her."

"What? Did you know Luffy was going to do this?" Usopp pointed an accusing finger first at Reid, then at Zoro.

"No," Reid answered. "But Mira was hoping that one of the mates would take Rage away, so she packed her stuff."

It stung like a slap. Luffy wasn't even a mate, yet he did more to keep Rage by his side than Zoro.

"So you took over a crew of sociopathic bounty hunters, and you're just leaving them in Wano?" Nami got into Luffy's face, stabbing her fingers into his chest.

"I put the lady with the cool spear in charge!" Luffy explained with a proud smile.

"I'm going back," Reid stated, pointing her thumb towards the island. "Good luck. She's going to be pissed when she wakes up."

"Wait," Robin stopped her. "What were your crew's plans after we left?"

Reid's head snapped towards Robin and the women stared at each other, a tense silence hanging in the air.

Finally, Reid sighed in frustration. "We were going to use Pluton to destroy Mariejoa."

Everyone erupted in outrage, shocked by the revelation.

"But to get to Pluton you'd have to take down Wano's borders," Robin pointed out.

"We've already set up explosives. Kaido had enough bombs to level the island," Reid shrugged.

"How would you even navigate Pluton? It's an ancient ship!" Franky was furious. He was the one who destroyed Pluton's blueprints, ensuring the replica of the ship was never built.

Reid frowned, clearly unhappy with the questions. "We have many talents."

"Momonosuke does not want to open Wano's borders yet!" Nami protested.

Reid stared at her with a flat look. As if the Witches would ever be concerned with the wishes of some overgrown kid.

"There are thousands of slaves in Mariejoa," Robin's voice was calm, but Zoro knew she was shaken by the plan as much as everyone else. "They all will be killed if you use Pluton's full firepower."

"I'm sure they're already wishing for death," Reid stated, her voice hard as steel. "The world would be rid of the Celestial Dragons, the scourge that lasted for centuries. Sacrificing a few thousand lives is a small price to pay."

"Hey!" Luffy exclaimed, his gaze fixed on Reid. "I'm your captain now, and I won't allow you to go through with that plan!"

"Tch," Reid made an annoyed sound and crossed her arms. "Without Rage, we wouldn't be able to do it anyway."

"Why?" Robin inquired.

A door slammed somewhere on the upper deck, then another and another until all the doors were banging as if they had a mind of their own.

"What's going on?" Someone shouted as the ship began to sway, leaning precariously closer to the water with each wobble.

"She's doing this!" Usopp screamed, pointing at Reid.

She was effortlessly balancing on the wobbling deck, one of her fingers ticking from side to side in sync with the ship.

Zoro reached for his swords, unsure what the woman might do next. She obediently brought Rage to the ship, but it didn't mean the Witches didn't have any ulterior motives.

Reid stopped when all the crew's attention was on her. The banging ceased and the ship sailed smoothly again. The woman outstretched her hand, hovering her palm above her surfboard. The board floated in mid-air, gradually shrinking until it fit into her outstretched palm.

"I can control any mode of transportation," she revealed, dropping the board to the deck. It landed with a soft tap returning to its original size. "The plan was to retrieve Pluton, shrink it until we reach Mariejoa. Then bomb the rotten place until there's nothing left but a gaping hole in the Red Line."

"It would require an immense amount of stamina to use a devil fruit for such a long time," Robin commented, her posture visibly tense.

Reid nodded in agreement, maintaining a neutral expression. "Yes, that's why Rage's devil fruit is crucial for the plan. She could have replenished my strength until we reached the Red Line.”

"Rage can't use her powers that much," Zoro protested, tightening his grip on Wado. "It would shorten her life span or even worse."

"That's why you should be grateful to your captain for kidnapping her," Reid replied, her piercing gaze locking onto Zoro. "This mission would've been a one way ticket for all of us."

"You're all insane!" Nami seethed, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.

"That may be true," Reid replied. "But I think you don't understand us because you haven't suffered enough."

Nami recoiled as if she had been slapped.

"Stop that," Usopp protested, standing in front of Nami.

"You can return to your crew," Luffy's calm voice cut through the commotion as he stared at Reid with an unreadable expression.

"As you wish," Reid replied, stepping onto her surfboard. "Do you want me to pass any orders to the crew?"

"Stay put in Wano and don't cause any trouble."

A crooked smile crawled on Reid's lips. "Aye aye."

In a blink she was in the air, racing towards the island without glancing back.

Zoro released Wado and turned towards the crew. Everyone was silent and unmoving, until Nami threw Luffy a hurt look and walked off towards the girl's quarters.

"I'll make her favourite dessert to cheer her up," the cook took a last drag from his cigarette before putting it out and heading towards the kitchen. He paused beside Luffy. "I hope you have a plan on how to handle this situation. I'd hate to see Nami-san hurt."

Zoro was sure that Luffy had no plan beyond bringing Rage on board. Anger boiled inside him as he stomped towards his captain. He grabbed Luffy's arm and pulled him towards the men's quarters.

How could he not have realized that Rage was planing a suicide mission? He had let her go so easily, simply because he respected her wishes to achieve her goal. But she lied! Fuck her wishes, from now on, she was clearly not to be trusted. How could she have left him and Law behind, all the while claiming to love them?

He slammed the door so forcefully that it nearly came off its hinges.

Fuck her wishes! He was determined never to let her out of his sight again!

"Zoro," Luffy's confused voice cut through the furious haze clouding his mind. He spun towards his captain, pressed him against the wall, and smashed their lips together in a furious kiss.

Luffy let out a surprised gasp, but opened his mouth for Zoro and reciprocated the kiss with as much fervour. Their tongues tangled together as their teeth clashed and their panting breaths mingled.

Zoro jerked back, ending the kiss as abruptly as he started it. He locked eyes with Luffy, his breath coming in heavy pants. "You saved her," he whispered, then dropped to his knees.

He grabbed Luffy's shorts and yanked them down, leaning forward to suck Luffy's cock into his mouth.

"Oh, fuck," Luffy groaned in a strained voice as Zoro swallowed his cock to the base.

A pair of hands grabbed his hair, while Zoro sucked his captain's cock with everything he had, channelling all his anger and gratefulness into the act.

It took only a few minutes for Luffy to come with a strangled cry. Hot cum splashed on Zoro's tongue and he swallowed every last drop, lapping on Luffy's cock until his captain's grip loosened. He slid to the floor, facing Zoro. He panted heavily while watching the swordsman through hooded eyes.

"I almost lost her," Zoro uttered, something inside him crumbling. "You saved her."

Luffy's eyes widened, and he reached out, enveloping Zoro in a tight hug.

"It's ok," Luffy's voice sounded ragged. "Nobody's dying on my watch. Not anymore."

An explosion shook the ship.

They were both on their feet and out the door in a heartbeat.

"LUFFY!!!" Rage bellowed, fragments of the shattered door to the infirmary scattered by her feet. Her yellow eyes burned with fury as she scanned her surroundings. "Turn the ship back to Wano!" She barked at the crew.

"You're not going to Wano!" Luffy yelled at her. "I won! You and your crew are under my command."

She wasn't listening, fury burned in the bond, consuming any reason.

"Turn this ship around or I will sink it!" She threatened pumping haki into her fists

"Like hell you will," Zoro barked out, reaching for his bandana and stepping in front of Luffy. "Let me handle this," he said to his captain, tightening the bandana on his head and reaching for his swords.

"Do what you have to," Luffy replied as Zoro stepped towards Rage.

"Don't fuck with me Zoro," she growled through clenched teeth, falling into a fighting stance. "I'll do whatever it takes to get off this ship."

"You're not going anywhere," he replied, slipping Wado between his teeth.

The air cracked around him as a wave of raw power hit him through the bond. His body curled on itself under the pressure, he bit hard into Wado's handle, holding his ground.

STAND DOWN

The command came through the bond like a thunder, overwhelming all his senses. Conqueror's haki pushed into his mind, obliterating every thought in his head.

He felt his grip loosening on his swords, his body obeying the order.

He recoiled from the trance, his consciousness snapping back in place. He gripped his swords, focusing all his willpower into one strike. Enma sang in his grip, responding to the new kind of power that burst from Zoro.

He focused the energy on the bond and thrust it towards Rage.

How dare she use the bond to control him! He's nobody's slave!

She let out a stunned cry, and her hands fell to her sides, the armament dissipating.

"Zoro," she uttered in disbelief, her eyes going wide. "You have Conqueror's haki."

All the fight seemed to evaporate out of her at his display of power.

"You bitch!" Zoro shouted, pumping his anger into the bond. "You wanted to throw your life away!"

She recoiled at his words, shock written all over her face. "What?"

He yanked Wado from his mouth to shout at her. "Your fucking crew let you go! Reid brought you on board and told us everything," she took a step back, flinching from the force of his harsh words. "How could you, Rage?! We are bonded, and you choose to throw your life away!"

"I was-"

"Shut up!" he barked, fury swirling inside him, painting his vision red. "For how long have you planned this? How long have you lied to us?'

She gritted her teeth, keeping her mouth firmly shut.

"Answer me, Rage!"

"Since Usopp told me about Pluton, when we sailed for Wano!" She yelled back, balling her fists by her sides.

Zoro pinned Usopp with a glare and pointed the tip of Wado at the sniper. "You talk too much."

Usopp raised his hands in a placating manner and took a few steps back, his entire body shaking. "How would I know that she would take the ship to commit genocide!"

"Shut up," Zoro growled. Usopp yelped and jumped behind Jinbe.

Zoro pointed his swords at Rage. "You renounced your entire family, even killed your mother's mate to keep her away. You made enemies with the Red Hair pirates, convinced both me and Law to let you go, all with the sole purpose of throwing your life away. Too bad your crew abandoned you. You won't go back to Wano, and you won't be taking Pluton. Whether you like it or not, you're staying with us. I'll even put you in chains if that's what it takes to keep you here."

Rage squeezed her eyes tightly shut and her entire demeanour deflating under the weight of his words. Her will to fight crumbled.

"Robin, Franky," Luffy's calm voice carried over the deck. "Take her to my quarters and lock her up."

Zoro watched as his crewmates approached Rage. Robin placed a hand on his mate's back, gently guiding her towards the back of the ship. Rage obeyed, listlessly following Robin's guidance with head bowed in defeat.

Luffy stepped beside him, his hand resting on Zoro's shoulder with a firm squeeze.

"Good job," Luffy praised, catching Zoro's gaze. "Are you okay?"

"I will be," Zoro replied, sheeting his swords and removing his bandana. "Since when do you have your own room?”

A wide toothy smile spread across Luffy's face as he clapped Zoro on the shoulder. "Remember when we sailed with Romeo, and he gave me my own room? It was pretty nice to have a space when we didn't have to worry about anyone walking in on us. So, I asked Franky to make a separate room for me, you, and Rage."

"Well, fuck me," Zoro's brows shot up in disbelief. You actually had a plan to make her stay with us."

"Shishishishi," Luffy laughed contentedly. But then he leaned in, grabbing Zoro's shoulder, and their chests pressed together. Zoro's eye widened as he found himself pinned under Luffy's heated gaze.

"That was really hot what you did there," his captain's voice turned low and teasing. "I want you to fuck me with the same attitude you gave her."

Well, fuck. Zoro's lips stretched in a predatory smirk, while his cock shot up in reaction to his captain's words.

He pulled Luffy by the front of the shirt to the nearest empty room.

—-----------------

Rage paced the room. She had been imprisoned in many places in the past, some of them quite nasty, but as far as holding cells went, this was the nicest she had ever seen.

The room was spacious and bright, featuring a large window adorned with actual curtains and drapes. Curtains! Heavy fucking, dark green suede curtains! In Luffy's room! She growled in annoyance at the sight as she continued pacing

A large portion of the room was occupied by a bed. The thick mattress, big enough for five people, rested on a reinforced ornamental metal frame. The crisp white sheets were incredibly soft, and Rage was certain they must have cost a small fortune.

She turned away from the bed with a huff of annoyance and approached a heavy desk made of dark polished wood. It was a beautiful piece of furniture, with its shiny top completely smooth and devoid of even a single scratch. No wonder it looked unused, did Luffy even know how to write? The idiot surely had no need for a desk.

Pushing away from the desk, she resumed her pacing around the room. Her steps grew silent as she walked over a thick rug. She recognized the pattern immediately as her eyes fell upon it. She wasn't sure how the Straw Hats had come into possession of a Kashan rug, but she was certainly impressed.

She continued to pace, passing by a large upholstered armchair crafted from wood and fabulously soft velvet. Opposite the armchair stood a beautiful chaise lounge adorned with gilded decorative carvings.

Next to each piece of upholstered furniture were small, round side tables. The arrangement seemed perfect for spending relaxing time with a book or lounging with friends, carrying lazy conversations for hours.

She had to admit, the room came close to perfection. However, the fact that it belonged to Luffy was a significant flaw in her eyes.

Her pacing brought her around the armchair once more, and her gaze landed on the backpack resting on the plush velvet cushion.

Fucking Mira, it had to be her idea to compromise the plan. After all Mira went through, Rage thought she would be more than eager to obliterate the Celestial Dragons. But apparently the woman cared more about Rage than vengeance.

It never occurred to her that any of her girls would deem any personal sentiment more important than revenge. Hell, even she, with two bonded mates, had set everything aside to end slavery. And she never went through the things that Mira had endured before joining Team One.

She reached for the backpack and yanked it open. A piece of paper was wedged between tightly rolled clothes. She pulled it out and unfolded.

"If you have to choose between happiness and revenge, always choose happiness," the words were scribbled with Mira's slanted handwriting. Memories flooded her mind. Little child being slowly eaten alive by maggots crawling from their mother's decomposing body. Faeces being served on a silver platter. A woman's body being carved with a knife while she trashed against her bindings in agony.

A furious growl erupted from her throat as she crumbled the note in her hand.

What about their happiness? What about the people held captive, who can't save themselves?!

She flung the paper angrily, but it was too light and landed a short distance away with an unsatisfying rustle.

She crushed it underneath her foot and continued pacing.

No matter, Pluton remained in Wano with her crew. Even if the girls had let her go, they surely wouldn't allow anyone near the ship. Pluton was guarded, awaiting her return.

Luffy and Zoro sure as hell wouldn't let her go now that they knew of her plan. And she wasn't strong enough to fight them both. She touched the tips of her fingers to the bandage Chopper wrapped around her forehead.

She had yet to fully recover from the battle with the Beast Pirates. She wasn’t sure if she would ever regain her previous level of stamina after using the awakened technique of her Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, she was determined to utilise every ounce of her remaining strength to fuel the plan.

The fucking plan that was currently in shambles because of Luffy. No matter, all she needed was a backup plan, and a backup of the backup.

She figured Luffy had taken her on his ship because he wanted to bond with her eventually. The disillusioned fool. The bond between them had shattered once, only to return as they battled Kaido arm in arm. Luffy likely still believed it was possible for them to form a full bond, akin to what she had with Zoro. What he didn't know was that her hatred for him was infinitely stronger than the feeble connection they had.

She stood by the window, peering at the horizon. Mount Fuji's peak had already disappeared from sight as the strong wind carried the ship away from Wano.

All she needed to do was make Luffy and his crew's lives a living hell, so they'd be eager to leave her behind when they reached the next island.

A knock on the door echoed in the room. The lock clicked, and the door swung open. The smell of food wafted in as Sanji entered, carrying an overflowing tray.

"That's a first," she raised a brow, turning to the cook. "Out of all the cells I’ve been held in, this is the first time someone knocked on the door before entering."

Sanji crossed the room, and placed the tray on the desk.

"You are not a prisoner," Sanji explained, straightening up and shoving his hands in the pockets of his pristinely looking slacks. "Luffy said you have to stay in the room until we sail a bit further away from Wano. If the wind keeps up, you’ll be free to roam the ship in the morning."

Oh for crying out loud, this crew was so gullible. She strode towards the desk, stopping just a few steps away from the cook.

"I thought I'd get a ball and chain instead."

"We don't treat ladies in such a crude way," Sanji frowned, his words eliciting a low chuckle from her, which caused his frown to deepen. "I have a favour to ask of you."

"Oh?" She raised her brow in curiosity.

"Nami-san is still upset about the things you said to her in that club," Sanji's expression grew serious. She raked her brain to remember what she said to the navigator. "Nami had a hard life since she lost her mother. She said you remind her of all the bad stuff just by who you are and what you do."

Ah yes, she remembered the stuff she said about stealing from paedophiles. Frankly, Nami just chose a bad time to get on her nerves. Rage lashed out at her, but it wasn't anything personal. But since Sanji brought it up, the information could be useful.

"So Nami associates me with her trauma," she plucked a grape from the tray, and locked eyes with Sanji, giving him a small smile. "Don't worry. It won't take much to change that. I can make her associate me with something entirely more pleasant."

Holding Sanji's gaze, she slowly put the grape in her mouth. He stared at her in confusion until her lips curled into a seductive smile. His eyes grew wide, and a deep blush coloured his cheeks. No doubt, his perverted mind created an image of Rage and Nami together.

He was so easy to tease, this would be fun.

After Sanji left, she expected Zoro to show up and scold her. His side of the bond was simmering with anger, and she assumed he'd take it out on her. Besides the fact that she had lied to him, she had tried to control him through the bond. That was a major breach of trust. But frankly, she couldn't bring herself to care. Her own anger burned as hot as Zoro's.

When she woke up in the infirmary with a bruised face and a cracked sternum, she believed that Zoro knew about Luffy's plan to take her away. If he was going to meddle with her choices, she felt it was only fitting to give him a taste of his own medicine, but harder.

Apparently, Zoro hadn't been aware of his captain's intentions. But it didn't matter since he had sided with Luffy anyway, deciding to keep her on the ship. She hated when people interfered with her plans. She hated Luffy. She was going to end him, slowly, meticulously, taking everything from him, piece by piece.

Later in the evening, Robin came to take her to the bathroom. The older woman didn't try to talk to her, aside from a few pleasantries. She offered to take a hot bath together, and Rage agreed.

Sitting in the steaming bathtub, she watched Robin through hooded eyes. She had gathered enough information about the older woman. Robin was the last of Ohara, the World Government had killed her mother, she was hunted throughout her childhood, drifting between various crews and shady organisations until she joined Straw Hats. Luffy had declared war on the World Government to rescue her at Enies Lobby. The entire crew had fought tooth and nail to free her from the clutches of CP9. Robin possessed the unique ability to decipher the Poneglyphs, making her the key to guiding Luffy to Laugh Tale. Without her it would be infinitely harder for Luffy to find One Piece and become the Pirate King.

"How are you?" Robin's gentle tone disturbed her thoughts.

"Pissed," Rage replied without thinking.

Rabin gave a small nod and hummed in acknowledgement.

"Were you the one who designed Luffy's room?" she asked the woman as she sat up in the tub.

"I might have given a few suggestions," Robin replied with a small smile. "Franky did most of the work. Do you like the room?"

It sounded like a loaded question. Rage just shrugged. "It looks good. I'm not sure it fits Luffy though."

"He'll be happy to know you like it," Robin stated with a smile.

"Seems like everybody on this ship wants him to be happy," Rage remarked, keeping her expression neutral.

"Of course," Robin nodded again, smiling a bit wider. "We all love him."

Was that a warning, a peace offering or an invitation? She found it hard to see through Robin's facade. The woman had mastered hiding her true intentions to perfection.

That's why Rage liked her. She had a sharp mind and was able to see the world for what it was, unlike her crewmates.

She felt a kind of kinship with Robin, despite the fact that she was one of the Straw Hats.

She didn't expect to spend the night alone, but nobody came to her room. She managed to drift into a fitful sleep, comforted by the faint calmness from Law's side of the bond.

A knock startled her awake, and she bolted from the bed with a racing heart. Wide eyed, she scanned the room, searching for any sign of danger. Another knock on the door drew her attention. She sucked in a deep breath through the mouth, trying to catch the scent of the person on the other side. It brought up an image of a tall woman with dark hair and piercing eyes.

A deep sigh rose in her chest and she placed her palm over her racing heart. Memories of the previous day resurfaced and the panic subsided.

"Rage," a muffled voice came from the other side of the door. "Breakfast is ready. Will you join us?"

She glanced at the window. It was bright outside, with the sun already halfway towards its peak. She rarely slept through sunrise!

"Ye-yeah," she stammered, taking another deep breath and holding it in for a moment. "I just need to get dressed."

"Okay," came a short reply.

She sagged into the armchair, burying her face into her palms.

Her pulse slowed, but the grip on her stomach didn't ease. She wasn't supposed to be here. The entire plan had gone to shit. She needed to fix it, get it back on track, and return to Wano.

An overwhelming sense of exhaustion washed over her, the panic attack draining her energy despite having just woken up.

Forcing herself to move, she reached into the backpack, pulling out a sleeveless, deep cut t-shirt, underwear and black pants. After dressing, she tightly laced her combat boots, finger combed her hair, and left the room.

On her way to the galley, she stopped at the restroom. After washing her face, she glanced into the mirror and frowned. Her usually warm brown skin now looked ashy. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her lips were pale.

The fight with Luffy and the process of healing her cracked head and sternum drained too much energy. She knew she wouldn't be able to fight again until she fully recovered. She always felt better after Daria's treatments, and if she had received them consistently over the past few days, she would have been in significantly better shape. Due to the huge amount of pain she felt while using the devil fruit, Daria decided against draining people for faster recovery. Her body was too exhausted and the pain not only slowed down her healing but also led to other complications. They had decided that she would only drain people while they were sailing towards Mariejoa.

Now, thanks to Luffy, her health was fucked. Daria was in Wano, and there probably wouldn't be anyone for her to drain for a long while.

She let out a heavy sigh while applying moisturiser she found on a shelf by the mirror. Ugly, anaemic pallor covered not only her face but her entire skin. She noticed more grey hairs than the last time she looked, her clothes hung loosely on her, and she had lost weight again. Overall, she looked like shit.

Physically and emotionally, she also felt like shit. She braced herself before entering the galley. Zoro's side of the bond appeared calm and focused, but she was sure he was pissed at her for many reasons. She expected he'd give her the cold shoulder for a while; the swordsman could hold a grudge like nobody else. And this time, Law wasn't around to manipulate them into make-up sex.

As she entered the galley, a heavy silence descended, and all eyes turned in her direction.

For the first time in a long while she didn't know how to react. She wasn't exactly a prisoner, but her actions had caused friction. Nami hated her, she used Usopp to get intel, she knocked Chopper into a wall, she tried to control Zoro through their bond, she threatened to destroy the ship, and Luffy's presence only fueled her helpless anger.

The silence stretched, while she stood by the door. She dropped her gaze. She couldn't do it after all, she didn't want to be among these people.

"Sit down," Zoro's irritated voice cut through the silence, before she turned to leave.

"Do you want coffee, Rage-chan?" Sanji jumped to his feet with a wide smile,

"Yeah, she wants one," Zoro replied. "Black and disgustingly sweet. She likes it that way." He nodded at an empty spot beside him, then tugged on the bond. "Come here and sit."

He was sitting next to Luffy and opposite Usopp, wonderfull.

Reluctantly, she sank into the seat, too drained to resist. A cup of coffee appeared in front of her, accompanied by a bowl of sugar.

"Thanks," she uttered. Inhaling the divine aroma, she quickly added three lumps of sugar to the cup. The taste was sublime; Sanji's coffee was among the best she had ever had. As soon as her cup was empty, the cook was at her side with a refill.

"Help yourself to the food," the cook encouraged, nodding towards the spread of dishes.

"Thanks," she replied courtly, taking another sip. Luckily he didn't hover over her, instead, he danced away to refill Robin's cup. She didn't have much of an appetite; the sight of food made her feel nauseous.

"Eat something," Zoro gruffly ordered.

"I don't want to," she replied without looking at him. Why was he even bothering to talk to her?

"Rage," Chopper called in his high-pitched voice. "Can I check your injuries after breakfast?"

She shook her head. "They're already healed."

"Then let me do some tests," the small doctor insisted. "Just some basic blood work."

Again, she shook her head. "No need."

"But you don't look so good," Chopper persisted. "I just want to check what's wrong so I can help you."

She set her cup down. "There's no need for testing because I already know what's wrong."

"Then tell him," Zoro cut in, his tone firm.

"I don't feel comfortable discussing my medical history over breakfast," she retorted.

"You're not eating, so talk," he pushed a surge of power through the bond, urging her to obey him.

That made her look at him. "What was that?"

A slow, wolfish smile spread across his face. "What? Isn't forcing each other into obedience our thing now?"

She snorted. "We both have conqueror's haki, it cancels each other out."

"Whatever," he waved her off. "Tell Chopper what he needs to know."

She sighed. She didn't have the energy to stand her ground, so she looked into Chopper's hopeful eyes and listed the results of Daria's tests.

"Daria considered a bone marrow transplant for a while, but ten units of blood with boosters seemed to jumpstart healing. We stuck to daily IVs and four units of blood every second day."

Chopper stared at her without blinking. "I see now why Torao was so hostile towards your doctor." He turned to the cook. "Sanji, would you be willing to donate blood? You're the only one on the ship who has the exact same blood type as Rage. You're both universal donors."

"Of course," the cook replied without a moment of hesitation.

"Can you make her a protein shake with electrolytes and fifty grams of glucose?"

"Yeah," Sanji turned to the kitchen, taking out several containers from the cabinets and measuring ingredients into a shaker.

She felt dejected as she watched his every move. She really didn't want to drink a stinky protein shake; the artificial taste didn't agree with her at all.

"You look queasy," Chopper said as he rounded the table and grabbed her wrist. "Do you feel faint? Will you throw up? Please tell me you're not pregnant on top of everything else."

Zoro let out a choked sound and started coughing.

She considered asking Chopper for a pregnancy test just to fuck with the swordsman.

She turned to Zoro and held his gaze with a serious expression, watching his horrified face until beads of sweat formed on his forehead. They could've made an army of babies with the amount of cum he and Law pumped into her during the past week.

Movement next to Zoro made her glance towards Luffy. He dropped the meat he had in his hand and stared at her with a horrified expression. The thought that he assaulted a pregnant woman and beat her unconscious probably didn't sit very well with him.

For a moment she toyed with the idea of provoking a period and accusing him of causing her to miscarry. That would surely fuck with his head and cause a rift between him and Zoro.

"No," she turned to Chopper with an eye roll. "I got rid of all my eggs on Onigashima. It's not possible for me to get pregnant."

"Oh," Chopper's ears twitched, his expression turning worried. "Did something happen-"

She removed her hand from his grip. "Nothing you need to be concerned with."

"Here you go, Rage-chan," Sanji presented her with a tall glass of milky pink liquid. "Please drink it; you'll feel a lot better with nutrients in your stomach."

"Thanks," she accepted the glass. When the cook didn't move and continued staring at her, she took a small sip. He smiled widely, grabbed Chopper, and walked away. She turned to Zoro with a smirk. "You had a pregnancy scare for a hot moment, didn't you?"

He scowled with disapproval.

"It could've been Law's or even Kyoshiro's," she teased. "No need to stress when there's a chance it's not yours."

"It wouldn't make any difference," he replied, still scowling. "You're mine, and so would be anything that crawls out of you."

"Gah, enough," she felt disgusted at the mere thought of something growing inside her. "That'll never happen, so let's never talk about me growing a parasite."

"Parasite?!" Chopper exclaimed. "You have parasites on top of everything else? No wonder you look so anaemic!"

She dropped her face into her palm.

"She doesn't have parasites! That's not what she was talking about!" Usopp yelled.

"She said she's growing a parasite! Oh no! Is it a tapeworm? Sometimes they get so big they have to be removed surgically!"

She took a sip of the crappy, overly sweet shake, trying to block the stupid bickering.

She finished the drink as quickly as she was able to stomach the taste, but in the end, it didn't sit well with her. She bolted from her seat, running to the restroom. She barely reached the toilet before the shake violently left her stomach.

She slid to the floor and leaned against the wall. Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision. The few days without any treatment and the fight with Luffy had caused her to revert to the state she was in shortly after Onigashima.

A pair of big furry arms gently pulled her up to her feet. Chopper walked her to the sink, and urged her to rinse her mouth with mouthwash. The intensive smell sobered her up a bit, but black spots danced on the edge of her vision.

The cup with the mouthwash clattered into the sink; her fingers felt numb. Then she was hauled against a broad, furry chest, and the air rushed against her skin. The septic scent of infirmary hit her nose before she was deposited on a cot. The last thing she registered was a sharp sting of a needle being inserted into the crook of her elbow.

She drifted into consciousness to a sight of a wooden ceiling, the steady beep of a heart monitor, and a pleasant scent of cologne.

"Chopper, she's awake," a smooth male voice informed.

Turning her head towards the source of the voice, she saw Sanji lying on a cot next to hers, with only a small gap between them. Medical tubes connected their arms.

"How do you feel, Rage?" Chopper's voice came from her other side, and she turned her head. The movement caused her vision to spin, but luckily she was already laying down. Nonetheless, the sensation was unpleasant, and her heart raced painfully in her chest.

"It's ok," Chopper assured. "Don't make any sudden movements. You'll feel better in a while."

He removed an empty IV bag and replaced it with another. After securing the new bag, he injected something into it and adjusted the drip.

"Do you want me to get Zoro?" he asked.

"He knows I'm awake," she mumbled hoarsely, her throat dry and scratchy. "Can I have a sip of water?"

A straw was placed against her lips, and she took a small sip. The cool liquid flowed down her throat, clearing away some of the grogginess she felt. After another sip, she released the straw, not wanting to risk another bout of nausea.

"Daria didn't give me food for several days, only pumped nutrients straight into my veins," she mumbled out the first random thought that came to her mind.

Chopper scowled at the words but didn't say anything, just shook his head.

"You're so stinkin’ cute," she giggled under her breath.

"I'll be right back," Chopper scrunched his nose and disappeared from her line of sight.

"How are you feeling, Rage-chan?" Sanji asked.

She slowly turned her head toward him. "Why do you call me that? I'm older than you, and I look more like a milf than a girl."

"You still look beautiful, my dear," he replied with a toothy smile.

"Damn boy, if you weren't such a perv, I would totally do you, despite the fact you're blond," she replied, mirroring his smile.

The grin dropped from his face, replaced by a look of shock. Apparently her brain-to-mouth filter was gone.

"I could never," he flushed, the pink of his cheeks matching nicely with his blond hair. "You're Luffy's and Marimo's partner."

"And yet you still found a way to pump inside me," she giggled when his eyes grew wide. His face burned red.

"You look good when you're flustered," she mumbled with amusement as her eyes drifted shut.

Sleepiness enveloped her like a cosy blanket, and she drifted off to the sound of flustered protests.

A sense of urgency woke her up. Her bladder was painfully full, and she scrambled out of the bed towards the door, faintly registering a muffled groan of pain. She almost sprinted to the restroom, squeezing her pelvic floor muscles tightly, so she wouldn't piss herself on the way.

She moaned with relief the moment she reached the toilet. IVs were a blessing, but only when accompanied by a catheter.

She splashed water on her face, examining her reflection in the mirror. Her skin looked better; the ashy pallor was gone, but she still didn't feel quite right. The dark circles under her eyes were still visible and she felt tired.

As she stumbled onto the deck, an arm snagged around her waist, pulling her close against a naked chest. Zoro's scent hit her nose, stopping her from throwing a punch.

His hair was tousled, and he looked like he had just woken up.

"Let me help you back to bed," he mused, nuzzling into her hair.

His scent and warmth were comforting. She wound her arms around his neck, and when he grabbed her ass, she wrapped her legs around his hips. The way he effortlessly carried her to bed made her want to do all kinds of things with him. But that trail of thoughts passed the moment he laid her down. Her head sank into the pillow that smelled of Zoro, and exhaustion overcame her.

Zoro climbed onto the bed behind her.

"We're switching places," the swordsman grumbled while lying down next to her. "So you won't knee me in the gut when you need to go again."

"I didn't even know you were in bed with me," she mumbled, turning her head towards him. "Why are you in bed with me?"

"You had your one night alone to cool off," he replied, catching her gaze in the moonlit room. "You're stuck with me now."

"No complaints here," the words left her mouth without her thinking, and a heartbeat later the guilt slammed into her.

"What's going on?" Zoro sounded alarmed.

"I could've changed the lives of millions of slaves," she whispered, her gut constricting. "But I'm here with you. How can I feel this happy, when I know I'm failing so many people?"

"I don't want you to die," Zoro replied, his voice hard as steel. "You told me you were going to get revenge for your crew. That's not what would happen if you carried out the plan."

"Yes it would. It would be the ultimate revenge against slavers," she whispered listlessly, the dissociation slowly pushing out all feelings from her body. "I want them all dead."

"You are way over your head," the harsh words echoed in her head as she drifted into sleep, full of dreams of basements filled with screams and rot.

When she woke up, Zoro was gone, and the sun was high up in the sky. The Straw Hats were scattered all over the ship, busy with whatever work they were supposed to be doing. The moment Chopper spotted her, he hurried over, bombarding her with questions about her well-being.

"Coffee first," she silenced the furry doctor with a raised palm. "I'll meet you at the infirmary after my caffeine fix. And I don't want to hear a word about coffee being bad for me. Coffee is life; you'll have to pry it from my cold, dead fingers."

Someone laughed. She didn't care. It was too bright, she was tired, the wind was loud, her limbs felt heavy, her joints ached, life sucked.

She made her way to the galley, where Sanji was busy preparing lunch. She wished she could turn off her sense of smell; there were too many scents attacking her nose.

"Have a seat," Sanji greeted her with a blinding smile. He placed his palm on her lower back and guided her towards the table. "I'll have coffee ready in just a moment."

She watched him with a frown. He moved gracefully, handling several tasks at once, brimming with energy. It made her acutely aware how bad her shape was. She barely had the strength to walk. Fuck her life and the fucking devil fruit that had ruined everything.

A tiny porcelain cup was placed in front of her. No spoon, no sugar, no glass of water.

She blinked at Sanji. Why was he doing this to her? Hadn't his captain done enough to ruin her life?

"What's this?" she asked as he continued to beam at her. "Have I offended you in any way? Did Chopper tell you to limit my coffee?"

She didn’t know if she wanted to scream, cry, or throw a punch.

“Try it, my dear,” Sanji encouraged with a confident smile. “I’m sure you’ll like it.”

His beaming smile was too much. She focused on the tiny cup, tears pricking at her eyes. She reached for the cup, deciding that a tiny coffee was still better than no coffee.

The moment the liquid hit her tongue, her eyes grew wide. It was the most concentrated coffee she had ever tasted, and it wasn't bitter at all. Instead, the heavy sweetness of sugar cane flooded her mouth.

She turned to Sanji in shock.

“It’s a cafecito,” he explained, wearing a satisfied smile. "I'm glad you like it."

“It's so good I could kiss you!” she exclaimed, while coffee worked its magic, making the world a better place with just one glorious sip.

Sanji’s cheeks turned a soft shade of pink, but his smile didn’t falter. “Your joy makes me happy,” he replied, taking a step back towards the stove where several pots were boiling over. He quickly stirred the pots and adjusted the flame, setting it to a simmer. He grabbed the wok, tossing its contents several times before dumping it all into one of the pots. “How do you feel today?”

“Better than yesterday,” she replied, taking another sip of the cafecito. She closed her eyes and let out a satisfied sigh as the taste bloomed in her mouth. “All thanks to you. I hope you didn’t lose too much blood because of me.”

“Giving you blood was never a loss,” he assured. “I’ll be glad to donate as much as you need if it means you’ll feel better.”

She squinted her eyes suspiciously at him. He was acting so nice towards her, and he only blushed when she offered to kiss him. Was he really taming his perverted side because his captain was interested in her and she was Zoro’s mate? Was this some kind of bro code, because Luffy staked his claim? But Luffy slept with Nami, and Sanji never changed his attitude towards her.

“Do you find me repulsive because I’ve slept with Zoro?” she asked, watching Sanji’s smile drop in an instant.

“Of course not!” He replied seriously. “That stupid Marimo is lucky you’re willing to have him.”

“Then why do you act weird towards me?”

“You’re sick, Rage-chan,” Sanji replied, turning to the stove. “You need to be cared for, so you can heal.”

His words were kind, but his posture was tense.

She drained the last of the coffee and slipped out of her seat. She walked towards Sanji and stood behind him, leaving just a fraction of free space between them. “What aren’t you telling me?”

He jumped in place, as if he didn’t hear her walking. He tried to turn around, but his back bumped against her chest and he froze, his face just a small distance away from hers. He was the same height as her, so their eyes connected at an even level.

She slightly pursed her lips and watched as the cook's gaze drifted down. She parted her lips just a fraction while tilting her chin up.

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead while he held his breath.

“Chopper was mad at Zoro,” the words gushed from Sanji’s mouth. “He prevented you from getting treated while we were still at Wano. Your health degraded, and when Luffy attacked you, you used up the last of your strength. Chopper scolded both Zoro and Luffy, and it was agreed that nobody would touch or fight you until you’re recovered.”

“Oh,” her lips stretched into a deep scowl, her mood dropping instantly. “So on top of kidnapping me, you are deciding for me what I can and cannot do.”

She stepped back, turned on her heel and strode towards the door, ignoring Sanji’s distressed excuses.

For a moment she considered locking herself in her room, but ultimately decided against it. She decided to take advantage of the crew’s resources, especially what she needed most: medical treatment. She headed to the infirmary, where Chopper was waiting for her. She didn’t look at him, replied curtly to his questions, and lay on the cot without a word until two IV bags were empty.

The quiet time in the infirmary calmed her anger, leaving her tired. She was tired of fighting, of planning, of all the responsibility. She couldn't achieve her goal, even though she worked on it for over ten years. Following the Straw Hats to Wano and fighting Kaido ruined her health and took away ten years of her lifespan. She knew she would never be as strong as she once was before the Battle of Onigashima. What would happen to her next while she sailed with this cursed crew? Could she survive the journey and go back to Wano to carry out her plan? Or would the next battle be the end of her? She might die. If she had to die, she'd rather make a change in the world. Dying for some insufferable boy’s dream would be the greatest failure of her life.

She left the infirmary, ignoring Chopper's sad expression and drooping ears. She wanted to be alone, so she climbed to the small deck above the observation room. Dropping down by the railing, she gazed at the horizon. Vast sea stretched around the ship without any land in sight. Her body ached, she was drained, both physically and emotionally. Thoughts of the future filled her with despair. When she was captured by Doflamingo’s minions, beaten and whipped, she thought she was going to die in a mouldy basement, reeking of sweat and piss. She survived, only to fall into Cesar’s hands. On Punk Hazard her life almost ended several times, but she pulled through. Dressrosa almost killed her when she restored Luffy’s energy. She survived, but Wano crippled her. She went through all that struggle only to fail, she’d rather be dead.

A stream of music woke her from her dark thoughts. The tune was vaguely familiar. She got to her feet and looked down. Brook sat by the main mast, a guitar in his lap, his fingers dancing over the strings, bringing out a simple melody.

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Lookin' in your eyes

I see a paradise

This world that I've found is too good to be true

Standin' here beside you

Want so much to give you

This love in my heart that I'm feeling for you

Let 'em say we're crazy

I don't care about that

Put your hand in my hand

Baby, don't ever look back

Let the world around us

Just fall apart

Baby, we can make it

If we're heart to heart

And we can build this dream together

Standing strong forever

Nothing's gonna stop us now

And if this world runs out of lovers

We'll still have each other

Nothing's gonna stop us

Nothing's gonna stop us now

Oh, whoa

I'm so glad I found you

I'm not gonna lose you

Whatever it takes

I will stay here with you

Take you to the good times

See you through the bad times

Whatever it takes

Is what I'm gonna do

Let 'em say we're crazy

What do they know?

Put your arms around me

Baby, don't ever let go

Let the world around us

Just fall apart

Baby, we can make it

If we're heart to heart

And we can build this dream together

Standing strong forever

Nothing's gonna stop us now

And if this world runs out of lovers

We'll still have each other

Nothing's gonna stop us

Ooh, all that I need is you

All that I ever need

All that I want to do

Is hold you forever

Forever and ever…

That fucking old song was so nostalgic. Some of her grandfathers used to sing it to her grandma. Old deluded saps thought that the old bag was the most miraculous woman in the world. They had an entire repertoire of old love songs, which they gladly played on every possible occasion. Grandma was always amused by their antics, and sometimes she got that look in her eyes that made Rage feel jealous. She had so many mates who doted on her, cherished her, and truly loved her. Sometimes, Rage wished she had her own mates, people who would love her no matter what.

She swiped her gaze over the ship, searching for Zoro, but her eyes landed on Luffy. He sat on the lion’s head, it seemed to be his favourite spot to sit and stare at the horizon.

However, at that moment, he wasn't looking at the horizon. Even though they were on opposite sides of the ship, their eyes found each other. He smiled at her, that happy rueful smile, that made all the cares disappear.

The song changed to a more upbeat tone.

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Now I've had the time of my life

No, I never felt like this before

Yes I swear, it's the truth

And I owe it all to you

'Cause I've had the time of my life

And I owe it all to you

I've been waiting for so long

Now I've finally found someone to stand by me

We saw the writing on the wall

As we felt this magical fantasy

Now with passion in our eyes

There's no way we could disguise it secretly

So we take each other's hand

'Cause we seem to understand the urgency

Just remember

You're the one thing

I can't get enough of

So I'll tell you something

This could be love, because

I've had the time of my life

No, I never felt this way before

Yes, I swear, it's the truth

And I owe it all to you

Hey, baby

With my body and soul

I want you more than you'll ever know

So we'll just let it go

Don't be afraid to lose control, no

Yes, I know what's on your mind

When you say, "Stay with me tonight" (stay with me)

Just remember

You're the one thing

I can't get enough of

So I'll tell you something

This could be love, because

I've had the time of my life

No, I never felt this way before

Yes, I swear (yes, I swear), it's the truth

And I owe it all to you

'Cause I've had the time of my life

And I've searched through every open door

'Til I found the truth

And I owe it all to you

The skeleton was seriously pushing it. But for a moment, she wondered how it would feel if she followed the yearning and let the bond form with Luffy. How would her life look with him by her side? The boy who never wavered, who never let go of hope or his dreams and goals. What if she shared that same conviction? What would happen if she let herself be as happy as he was?

She forced her gaze away from Luffy and jumped down from the observation room, scrambling in a hurry. The moment her feet connected with the deck, her legs gave out, and she fell forward. A bony hand encircled her shoulders, preventing her from face-planting into the deck.

“Thanks,” she mumbled to Brook, pushing away from him, her gaze averted. Her ears burned with embarrassment and impotent anger. She cursed the devil fruit, that had ruined her life, making her as weak as a fucking child.

Zoro walked up the stairs, his expression filled with concern. One glance at her and Brook, helping her stand, made the swordsman frown. He fell to one knee in front of her, presenting his back.

"Get on," he said, glancing at her over his shoulder.

“I’m not a kid to be carried around,” she protested with a scowl.

“Either you get on my back or I’ll throw you over my shoulder, you choose,” he stated firmly.

“So much for free will,” she commented, wrapping her arms and legs around him.

“Sucks, doesn’t it?” he shot back, rising to his feet.

She sighed at the jab. “Don’t hold your breath for an apology,” she whispered, brushing his ear with her lips, eliciting a grunt from the swordsman.

“Then I just have to make it even,” Zoro replied.

She huffed. “I’ve heard of the no sex rule. I can’t say I approve.”

“Nobody’s asking for your approval. There won't be any sex for you until you get better.”

The galley doors swung wide open, and the bell rang calling everyone for lunch.

“We’ll see about that,” she smiled widely, when her gaze landed on the cook. “Sanji,” she called, and the cook swirled around, greeting her with an equally wide smile.

"Hello, my dear. I've made something special for you that should be easy on your stomach," he said, reaching for a bowl and presenting it like a trophy.

"Thank you, Sanji," she replied with a beaming smile, “but I think some vitamin D would make me feel even better.” She winked at the cook.

Zoro’s head snapped towards her, while Sanji’s jaw dropped and the bowl almost slipped from his grip. “Was that a pickup line?”

She burst out laughing when Zoro unceremoniously dropped her to the chair at the table. “Behave yourself,” the swordsman scolded.

She just snorted. “Have you met me?”

“You’re not getting any, and that’s final,” Zoro looked pissed.

“That’s your resolve to keep, not mine,” she replied, winking again at Sanji. “Oh my, did I upset you, Sanji? I don’t know what’s gotten into me, but I wish it was you.”

Zoro’s expression turned incredulous. “Where did you get that one from?”

‘Oh, I’ve heard enough pickup lines in Sin City to fill a whole book,” she grinned at the swordsman. “And on that note, you remind me of my job. I’m not doing it, but I definitely should be.”

“Are we disturbing something?” Robin asked, standing by the door with Usopp and Franky crowded behind her.

“Come in, Robin-chan,” Sanji put down the bowl jerkily and danced towards the door, guiding Robin towards the table, his voice louder than usual.

The meal was as loud as always, with Luffy stealing food from everyone, and Sanji slapping his hands away when he tried to steal anything from Nami’s or Robin’s plate. He didn’t touch Rage’s plate, maybe because all she got was a soup with meat and vegetables chopped into small pieces.

Usopp was animatedly describing his new project, which she didn’t pay any attention to since it was something about his plants. Nami asked Usopp to upgrade her weapon for storing the talking cloud.

The navigator had her hair pulled into a fluffy ponytail and was wearing a very nice, low-cut sundress that revealed the straps of a bikini top tied around her neck.

"Aren't you creeped out by that cloud?" Rage pointed at the Clima-tact.

"Zeus is not creepy," Nami protested, sending Rage a furious look.

"He's a part of Big Mom's soul; it's like she's still alive through him," Rage frowned at the thought. "Maybe he can enter someone's body, so the person will become possessed by Big Mom's spirit. Imagine waking up one day and starting to mindlessly eat people."

Big Mom eating a person was one of the most hideous things that happened during her time on Onigashima. She could still hear the garbled screams as the Yonko's teeth crunched the bones.

"The only one who gets possessed by mindless hunger is you," Nami retorted.

"You wanna fight, little girl? I'm weak enough for you to land a hit, but I'm still able to whoop your wimpy ass," Rage pointed a finger at the navigator with a challenge.

"How civilised of you, solving everything with brute force. Who needs to worry about Big Mom, when we have you?" Nami's eyes burned with anger, and she wasn't backing down. Rage thought she would storm away after just one comment, but she clearly wasn't that weak. Rage liked that. She let go of her grip on her Conqueror's haki, allowing it to flow freely around her.

"The difference is, I only eat people consensually," she replied with a smirk.

"Yes, that seems to be all you do - fuck and fight," Nami bit back with a disgusted look.

"I prefer to fight first, then fuck," she replied with a wolfish grin.

"How unfortunate for you that you're stuck with us, then," Nami sneered.

Rage snorted and waved her hand dismissively. "Please, you're severely underestimating me."

"Clearly you're not that sick, if your mind's in the gutter," Nami retorted, holding her hand up to stop Sanji's attempt to intervene.

"I mean, that might be Sanji's blood working in my system," she tapped her chest above her heart. "Who knows what could happen if I get more of his perv juice, Nami-swan."

Nami flinched, disgust and disbelief mingled on her face.

"You realise that blood transfusions do not work that way," Chopper interjected, as he poured syrup on his toast. "Blood does not influence your behaviour."

"He's an artificially enhanced human being; anything could happen. Maybe his blood could work miracles and speed up my recovery," she winked at Sanji, whose expression grew cloudy.

"The only instance in which his DNA might affect you is if he got you pregnant, and the foetus's stem cells entered your bloodstream through the placenta," Chopper explained while slicing his toast into small pieces and gesturing with a fork. "There are documented cases where foetal cells have aided the mother's healing from significant injuries, but that's the best-case scenario. In most cases, these stem cells can cause severe immune reactions in the mother's body, leading to autoimmune diseases."

"And here I thought that falling out vaginas and bad teeth were the worst outcome of pregnancy, aside from actually having a child," Rage pondered with a scowl.

"Pregnancy and childbirth can be very risky for women. There are numerous complications that can occur, such as eclampsia, blood clots, strokes, and haemorrhages. Losing teeth after giving birth might seem like a minor issue in comparison."

"I remember a time when I infiltrated an estate known for breeding and selling slaves. On my second day there, I had to assist a midwife with a birth. It was the girl's fifth child. The labour was going smoothly until she started pushing, and her uterus raptured during a contraction. She bled out in a matter of minutes. The baby died too, so I and the midwife received twenty lashes each for causing the master to lose profit. That girl who died was Mira's older sister. Mira was supposed to take her place in spawning the next generation of slaves."

"You've always been tight-lipped about your crewmates' pasts,” Zoro chimed in with a frown. "Why are you telling this now?"

"Luffy seems to think he's the captain of The Witches,” she stated nonchalantly as she sipped her coffee. "Shouldn't he know what he’s gotten himself into?"

"I don't think I'm their captain, I followed your rules and became their captain," Luffy's firm voice carried through the galley.

A nasty smile crawled on her lips as she caught his gaze. He was staring at her with those wide brown eyes, stubbornness painted all over his face.

"They would never accept a man to rule over them," she replied, her voice firm. "They allowed you to take me, that's all. But thanks to you, I am five crewmates short by now."

Luffy raised an eyebrow. "I told them to stay put in Wano. It's not my fault some of them chose to run away."

"They're dead," Rage snapped.

"You don't know that!" Nami barked, her words full of fury. "Don't try to play your stupid mind games!"

"I'm not playing," Rage replied, maintaining eye contact with Luffy. "Makonde is now in charge, and for the first time, she can act as she sees fit. Before, the rules were clear - no killing teammates. But those rules were established by my mother and then by me. Now, she can act as she wants, under the pretence that leadership has changed, and you haven't established any rules."

"Not killing teammates shouldn't even need to be a rule," Luffy replied with a deep frown. "It's common sense."

Rage shook her head in disappointment. "My team consists of several psychopaths and sociopaths. Most of the team is severely traumatised, and some of them are not mentally stable. Common sense doesn't apply, and rules have to be spelled out clearly. Makonde is probably the most stable person among the team. In her homeland she would've been a queen, but she left with her personal guard to protect her people. She came to Sin City with my grandma and joined the fight with the slave trade."

She remembered when she first laid eyes on Makonde when she set foot in Siny City. The woman had looked glorious, holding her head high with an air of calm composure surrounding her, as if nothing could faze her. Her orange hair was put into a multitude of thin braids and slicked back to cascade down her back. The jewellery around her neck was made of multicoloured beads woven into intricate patterns, and her leather armour was a thing of absolute beauty. The spear she carried glinted in the sunlight, polished and sharpened to perfection.

“Makonde deeply believes that psychopaths should be removed from society, otherwise they would lead us all to our detriment. But she recognized that they are useful during war, because war doesn't affect them as it does other people. Psychopaths have no empathy, therefore they can commit and witness atrocities without being emotionally affected, while others would return traumatised for life. They make great soldiers and spies. However, Makonde thinks that Karla and a few other girls are no longer useful because we allowed them too much freedom, and they are too far gone in their ways. So, by this time, I believe they are dead, either at Makonde's hand or due to Daria's poison."

“Don’t pin this on Luffy!” Nami protested. “You don’t have any proof if they ar actu-”

Luffy slammed his mug on the table, cutting off Nami’s outburst. The galley fell silent, and everyone’s attention focused on the captain. He stared at Rage until a crooked grin spread across his face.

“They would all be dead if you were in charge. It seems I’ve saved your crew’s lives. Five dead is a small loss in comparison. You’re too reckless to be a captain.”

Rage stared, speechless, while Luffy continued to smirk. She blinked, her brain working in slow motion.

“Did you just call me reckless?” she managed to recover her ability to speak.

“Do you have trouble hearing?” he cocked his head to the side.

“You called me reckless? You?” Her brows shot up in disbelief.

“I said what I said,” he laughed.

The adrenaline rushed through her body, making her forget her fatigue. She bolted from her seat, leaped on the table, and aimed a kick at his head.

He pushed back from the table, the legs of his chair screeching across the floor. He avoided her kick while still sitting, and he was grinning like a lunatic.

She jumped, aiming another kick, this time from directly above, but her foot landed on the chair, crushing it into pieces. She spun around, pumping haki into her arm to throw her elbow at Luffy’s face, but he deflected again, jumping onto the table.

“Get the fuck out of my galley!” Sanji roared at the top of his lungs.

“Ah sorry, sorry,” Luffy backflipped towards the door, managing to avoid knocking over any plates on the table.

He seemed to be enjoying himself more than he should have. She was going to make him regret everything he had said. She jumped after him, the plates crunching under her feet.

She slammed into Luffy, and they both fell through the open door.

“Don’t hurt her, Luffy!” Chopper distressed shouts followed them as they tumbled over the railing and fell towards the main deck.

Luffy’s legs coiled around her immobilising her arms, and she was hoisted into the air. He had stretched his arms to grip the main mast, boosting them upward. She struggled to break free from his hold but found herself lacking the strength. She kicked her legs out, trying to generate enough momentum to swing high and catch hold of any part of the rigging. However, Luffy’s legs stretched to wrap all around her, rendering her unable to do anything.

“Come on,” Luffy called to her. “You’re supposed to take it easy.”

She shot him a furious glare. As a last resort, she channelled all her anger into a burst of Conqueror’s haki, hoping to stun him for even a brief moment, allowing her to escape his grip.

The world spun around her, and she lost all sense of direction. Her vision blurred, and pressure built inside her head until something wet trickled from her nose. She closed her eyes, attempting to block the unpleasant sensation, but the vertigo persisted. Suddenly, her body went limp, drained of all energy. Her head slumped to the side, and more wetness streamed from her nose, dripping down her chin. She could smell blood.

“Hey, Chopper, I think she fainted!” That was Luffy’s voice.

“Why can’t you just get along!” the doctor sounded distressed.

The scent of grass mingled with the smell of blood, and she felt her body being gently placed on a flat surface.

"She won't get better if you keep fighting every day!" A blurry image of Chopper appeared above her. "She's awake. Rage, you have a massive nosebleed; we'll need to give you another blood transfusion. Can you hear me, Rage?"

She could hear him, but the words didn’t mean much, and she lacked the energy to reply. Things happened around her while she floated on the edge of reality.

Strong arms lifted her from the ground, and she was carried away, enveloped in the familiar scent of Luffy. It was a nice scent, she wanted that scent all over her. The desire to claim him surged to the surface from the deep place inside her where she shoved all her yearning for her third mate. She craved to see that bright smile every day for the rest of her life.

“Put her on the cot,” Chopper's voice interrupted her swirling thoughts, and annoyance flickered within her. All she wanted was to drift away into her dreams, where all her mates were with her. She wanted to see Law, she missed him so much.

“Sanji, could you lie down beside her? I’m sorry to ask for your blood again, but this is an emergency.”

The scent of cologne and cigarettes displaced the scent of her mate, and she wasn't happy about it.

“This wouldn’t have happened if not for you, shitty rubber boy,” Sanji sounded angry. “You trashed my galley, dipshit. You'd better go help Marimo clean up, or you won't get any more food today."

“That wasn’t my fault,” Luffy sulked. “She blows up at me no matter what-”

A loud slap echoed through the room.

“Cut this fucking crap,” it was Nami, beautiful and brilliant Nami, who looked so hot when she was angry. “You’re acting like an idiot around her, provoking her every chance you get. Don’t even try to play dumb, I know you do it on purpose.”

“That hurt, Nami. Why are you so mean?”

Another slap, followed by a yelp of pain.

“Look at her! She’s already one leg in her grave! Did you bring her on the ship just to watch her die?”

“Of course not, I made a promise!”

“Well you’re fucking it all up. Picking fights with her won’t make her fall for you, you’re only making things worse!”

“She’ll come around.”

“Luffy,” Sanji’s grave voice interrupted the bickering. “Listen to Nami. You can’t win Rage over with a fight. You don’t have to fight for every single thing in your life.”

The infirmary was enveloped in a heavy silence, interrupted only by the slow beeping of the heart monitor. Its rhythmic sound was strangely soothing, luring her toward the peaceful dreams of her mates.

“You said it wasn’t fair for me to hate her for what was done to me in the past,” Nami’s voice chased away the visions of her perfect life.

A prick of pain in the crook of her elbow was followed by a surge of foreign hormones entering her bloodstream. Her body swiftly assimilated these unfamiliar hormones, fueling the healing process.

“Maybe you should take your own advice and stop projecting your own trauma onto Rage."

"I don't do that!" Luffy sounded defensive.

"You never talk about your family or your childhood. All we know about you is what your brothers told us, and we’ve only met your grandpa once. You never met your dad, while Rage had many fathers, including the man who you idolise. Shanks never took you aboard, while Rage was born on his ship. She had a mom, grandma and a great grandma to take care of her. We don't even know if you know your mom. Rage grew up rich in a bustling city, while you had to fend for yourself in a forest and a garbage dump. She has a home she can return to, a family, and friends who would welcome her back with open arms. She rejected it all, while your dream is to create a family of your own. You have us, Luffy, we are your family. But all she seems to have for us is disdain. I'm sure it rubs you the wrong way, that the woman who had everything you didn't rejects the one good thing you managed to create for yourself."

A weak chuckle bubbled up inside her. She managed to crack open her eyes and fix her gaze on Luffy. He was staring at her with a displeased frown. Silly boy, they could've been bonded long ago if he wasn't such an idiot.

She decided she would tease him to his wits end before she claimed him. Her lips stretched in a content smile as her eyelids dropped. Finally, sleepiness came to claim her, and she welcomed it with relief. The last thing that she registered was the door slamming shut.

64 notes · View notes

aster-tiger · 11 months

Text

The Raging Witch

Law x OFC, Zoro x OFC, Luffy x OFC, Zoro x Luffy, Law x Zoro, Law x OFC x Zoro

You can find the whole story on AO3

Chapter 24: Aftermath

"Go away, brat. You'll only get an aneurysm if you stay here."

Daria took the last drag out of her cigarette and scrunched the butt against the wall she was leaning on. Then she let out a long, slow stream of smoke.

She had purple bags under her bloodshot eyes, as if she didn't sleep in days. Her face looked worn out and strained, but her hands were steady as she reached for another cigarette.

"That's why I need to stay," Law glared at the medic. "You'll kill her with your quack methods."

She lit up the cigarette, without looking at him. The flame from the lighter painted her face with an orange glow.

"Out of the two of us," she swung the cigarette between herself and Law, “which one has an actual medical license?”

“Where did you get yours? At a butcher's shop?”

"Funny,” she snorted dismissively, before taking a drag. “I've worked with her for six years before she met you, and I've never seen her hurt this bad."

"Did it occur to you that she's never fought a yonko before?" Law snapped.

She took a deep drag, the end of the cigarette lighting up bright yellow.

"She left Sin City and the next thing we know, she goes to fight a shichibukai. Apparently, her heart stopped during the battle. Then she came here to fight a yonko," she tilted her head and blew the smoke upwards. "Have you thought about what she'll do next? And if it will finally kill her?"

"You speak too much, Daria," Rita's voice sounded behind Law's back.

Law turned his head and saw the older woman standing in the middle of the corridor just behind him. He didn't hear her coming or sense her presence.

"He's a mate," Daria replied and pushed off the wall. She pointed towards the sliding door closest to her. "Rage is in there. Go see her, then fuck off. I don't want you looming over my shoulder and spewing your stuck up crap. She'll live, that's all that should concern you."

Law strode past Daria and opened the door.

He was greeted by a rush of warm air.

The well-lit room housed a heater in one corner, giving it a noticeably higher temperature than the rest of the palace. Amidst the array of machines surrounding the woman lying on the futon, a steady beeping emanated from the heart monitor. Thick blankets covered her, revealing only her head and palms.

Law's teeth ground together at the sight of the IV lines connected to her palms.

As he drew nearer, his heart sank at the sight of her face. Her lips and cheeks bore bruises and scabbed wounds, her once radiant and warm complexion had paled to an ashen brown shade. Singed hair served as a grim reminder of her battle with King the Wildfire. Though she hadn't taken him down single-handedly, it was Rage, according to Law's crew, who had absorbed the brunt of King's attack, allowing her crewmates to deliver the decisive blow.

However, it wasn't the visible marks, wounds, or singed hair that tightened Law's throat. It was the white streaks in her hair and the change in her features. Despite being only twenty-five, she looked a decade older. Her prematurely greying hair served as a clear indication to the toll her excessive use of the devil fruit had taken on her body and lifespan.

He sat next to the futon and gently took her hand. Despite the blankets and heater, her fingers felt cold. The skin on her knuckles was cracked and scabbed, and he noticed more scabs on the underside of her hand. He moved his hand and held her fingers carefully, to avoid aggravating her wounds.

"She looks just like Sin now," Daria's voice came from somewhere behind Law. "Sin is fifty-five this year and doesn't have a single grey hair or wrinkle."

Law remained silent. This was his greatest fear: the devil fruit taking its toll on Rage’s lifespan.

"As a doctor, would you let someone with damaged knee cartilage run a marathon?They'd probably never walk again if they attempted such a feat."

Law stroked Rage's fingers with his thumb.

"She awakened the devil fruit," Daria continued in her dry tone. "Before going to Onigashima, she used the devil fruit extensively. She even created a supply of healing balls for us. She made even more during the battle. The girls from the rooftop have already recovered, thanks to the remaining healing balls. She ran several marathons with bad knees. While any other doctor would advise her to stop running, I won't intervene."

Law's head snapped sharply, fixing Daria with a scathing glare.

Daria leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed and tapping her hand on her bicep while holding an unlit cigarette. She met Law's glare with disdain.

"She means a lot to me, so I'll let her decide how she wants to die."

Before Law could retort, Rita stood beside Daria and placed a warning hand on her arm.

"Kisa is leaving soon," Rita informed. "She's waiting for Marco the Phoenix outside the palace."

Daria’s gaze focused on the heart monitor. "I don't care. It's time for another treatment anyway."

Sensing that Rita wanted to prevent Daria from speaking to him, Law wondered if the crew had plans to take Rage away. While Kisa's departure didn't concern him much, he silently stood up and left the room to find the first mate.

He found Kisa sitting on the stairs to the palace's main entrance. She wore leather pants and a fur-lined jacket, with her hair neatly brushed back and braided. A backpack rested at her feet.

He sat down right beside her, close enough for their knees to touch. "Rita said you're leaving.”

"Yes, I am,” she replied with a small smile.

"I thought you'd want to wait until Rage wakes up to say goodbye."

Her smile remained as she shook her head. "There's no need. She doesn’t like goodbyes."

"Do you hate her?" he asked, searching her eyes.

She let out an amused huff and patted his shoulder. "I wish her the best. Take care of her, ok? She can be reckless."

"I want to take care of her," Law replied, his stare intense as he covered her hand with his own. "Is there anything I should know to keep her safe?"

He squeezed Kisa’s hand to emphasise his question.

She twisted her palm to intertwine their fingers, and for a brief moment, her gaze flickered to the side. But before he could follow her gaze, she pulled him closer, their lips meeting.

Law froze in surprise.

"They're watching," she whispered against his lips.

His gut feeling was correct. Rage's crew had schemed something dangerous. Daria wanted to pass a message to him, but her words were silenced by one of the crows. Now, Kisa was under close watch to prevent her from sharing any information with him.

He pulled her in, draping an arm around her, so the collar of his coat shielded their faces from prying eyes. She straddled his lap, cupping his face in her hands. The kiss was hard and intense, their tongues entwined in a way he hadn't anticipated.

"Grab my ass," she whispered.

He did and his face burned with embarrassment. To a bystander it surely looked like they were about to get into each other's pants on the palace steps.

"Don't let her leave without bonding with Luffy. He might change her decision," she urged.

Someone cleared their throat.

Kisa jerked back and got off his lap. Standing before them was Marco the Phoenix, wearing a good natured smile on his face.

"If you need more time to say goodbye, I can wait a few more hours," Marco offered, his gaze shifting between Kisa and Law.

Law's face was burning.

Kisa chuckled softly, her lipstick slightly smudged. She reached out and brushed Law's lips with her thumb, wiping off the lipstick from his face.

"Tempting," she remarked with a crooked smile. She leaned in and pecked Law on the cheek. "Goodbye, Law."

She picked up her backpack and stood up, ready to leave.

Acting on impulse, Law grabbed her hand. "Where will you go?"

"My daughter is still small," she replied with a soft smile. "But kids grow so fast. Soon enough, she'll want to play and we'll need to buy her some toys.”

Toys? Was she heading to Dressrosa?

She slipped her fingers from Law's grip and walked over to Marco.

"Didn't you mention being married?" Marco asked, his easy smile remaining.

"I am," she confirmed with a smirk. "But I never said we were monogamous."

Marco laughed. "Alright then, let's go."

She put on her backpack and held onto Marco. His arms transformed into blazing blue wings, and they soared into the sky.

A sharp whistle pierced the air.

Law turned his gaze to the opposite side of the plaza.

The Raging Witches stood on the palace wall, their fists raised in a silent salute.

"Rage, they woke up!" Maya burst into the sitting room just moments after Zoro's consciousness appeared in the bond.

"Yeah, I can feel it," she smiled at the petite girl with the neon green bob.

She put down her cup and prepared to get up, bracing for the pain. A broad hand clasped her elbow and helped her up.

She gave Denjiro a blinding smile. "Why thank you, my good sir."

The samurai had bandages all over his body, but he seemed to be in better shape than her.

Rage had woken up the day before, screaming in pain. Daria pumped her with painkillers, but it didn't work. Then Rita and Maya brought people for her to drain. The pain subsided and she healed her wounds, but she still felt a dull ache when she moved. Daria said it would get better with time and Rage hoped she wasn't lying.

She tightened her coat around her shoulders and, with Denjiro's help, walked to the room where the Straw Hat crew was recuperating.

"We're not that filthy though," Zoro's voice reached her ears as Denjiro opened the door.

"That's because I took it upon myself to cleanse you," Hiyori answered with a wide smile. "Is that exciting for you? Hee hee."

Sanji fumed at the princess' words. "Moss head, we need to have a serious talk!!!!"

"You can have him later," Rage interjected with a smile, glancing from Sanji to Hiyori.

The princess stumbled over her words, and Sanji gagged, but Rage paid them no mind.

Her gaze was fixed on Zoro, and the world seemed to fade away. The distance between them vanished as she wrapped her arms around his neck, and he pulled her close to his chest.

"We made it," she whispered with a smile.

"Yeah, we did," Zoro grinned sharply.

Resting her forehead against his, she breathed in his scent.

There were moments during the battle when she thought she would never see him or Law again. Either Kaido would win and kill them all, or she would die while taking down the yonko.

But they were alive. Kaido was dead, thanks to Luffy awakening his devil fruit.

He had come close to defeat when CP0 intervened, holding him down for Kaido to deliver a fatal blow. However, she managed to transfer her remaining energy to him before Kaido threw Luffy into the ocean. She was alive thanks to Reid administering CPR. Even though it resulted in broken ribs, it was a small price to pay for survival.

“-hot bath!” the words snapped her attention back to reality.

Zoro chuckled and tightened his embrace.

"Sorry," she sheepishly replied. "It's just that a hot bath sounds orgasmic right now."

Despite being layered in thick kimonos, she still felt a chill, while Zoro radiated warmth while half naked.

“Sorry, guys! There’s no mixed baths in the castle…” Yamato explained, visibly filthy and covered in grime. Rage could smell his stench from across the room.

"We'll manage," Rage laughed, giving one of Zoro's pecs a playful pat.

"Rage-san, there's a feast planned for later today!" Momonosuke declared. "But your crew declined the invitation!" The kid whined.

“How rude,” she replied with fake concern. "But truth be told, it's probably for the best. You wouldn't want their crude behavior defiling your palace."

“But Rage-san” the kid bemoaned. “They are throwing a party of their own!”

“Yeah, I’ve already asked Shinobu and Raizo to keep an eye on you, so you won’t go anywhere near that party.”

Momonosuke's face contorted in horror as he fell to his knees, bursting into sobs. "That's unfair!”

“Sorry kid, it’s at least ten years too early for you,” Rage patted him on the back. Then she grabbed his shoulder and squeezed until he yelped and looked at her. “And if you dare spoil the fun for everyone, I’ll trash your ass, are we clear?”

“You realize he’s a shogun now, don’t you?” the large fishman stated.

“I don’t care,” she patted Momonosuke’s cheek and turned to the fishaman. "You must be Jinbe, the First Son of the Sea."

He nodded in confirmation.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Rage replied, extending her arm towards the fishman. “I’m Rage D. Veshti, captain of The Raging Witches, a bounty hunters crew.”

“Jinbe is part of our crew now!” Chopper exclaimed, his excitement causing him to jump up and down. “Isn’t that so cool?!”

“So cool,” she laughed at the fluffy doctor.

As they settled into the hot rock bath, Rage couldn't help but let out a satisfied moan. "Wow, this feels amazing!"

Speed and Carrot frolicked around, while the young girls Toko and Tama laughed and admired Nami's physique. Hiyori and Kiku reminisced about the past, and Shinobu floated in the water, humming happily. The excited shouting from the men's bath filled the air.

The carefree atmosphere felt almost unreal.

The past three months had been tough. The Battle of Onigashima... She didn't want to think about it right now. Maybe one day she would reflect on it and find closure, but for now, she wanted to avoid dealing with it.

Kaido’s fall made it easier to reach her final goal. She couldn’t afford to fall apart yet. There was a job still to be done.

She had a few more days to recuperate and to say goodbye to Law and Zoro.

When she woke up, Law was at Tokage Port, overseeing repairs to The Polar Tang. She hesitated to reach out through their bond. She wasn't ready to face him.

He had been right. Awakening her devil fruit powers had been a mistake. The brief moments of power had taken a toll on her, and she deeply regretted it.

Law was already on his way to the Flower Capital, so she knew she had to gather her courage and face him.

"Rage," Nami threaded through the water and sat next to her. "What are your plans after the alliance is over?"

So nosy.

"I don't know yet," she replied, leaning her head on Nami's naked shoulder, hoping to make her uncomfortable.

"Will you come with us? Or do you want to join Torao?" the navigator seemed unfazed by the close contact.

Rage snorted and leaned her head back against the rock. "I have my own crew, thank you very much."

"But what about Zoro? You two are mated!" concern laced Nami's voice.

"Zoro will be fine," she answered with a dry tone.

At this point she wanted to walk away from the outrageous woman, but the water was too perfect to leave just yet.

"What about Luffy?" Nami persisted.

Would it look bad if she slapped the bitch?

"Do I pry into your life?" Rage snapped back at the navigator. "No! Because I don't care."

"But I care!" Nami fired back, matching Rage's energy. "I don't want my nakama to be heartbroken!"

"Just fuck off, will you?"

Hot water or not, she was getting out of the bath.

Nami grabbed her wrist. "You haven't even looked at Luffy once. How much longer will you pretend he doesn't exist?"

That was it.

She pushed through the pain in her limbs and broke free from the grip. Swiftly, she grabbed Nami by the throat.

"Would you prefer if I killed him instead?" She let the dissociation cut everything off so she could give Nami the coldest of stares. "I can do it now if you want."

"Unhand her," Kiku, Carrot and Shinobu loomed behind her back.

Not in the mood for a fight, she shoved Nami against the rock and stormed out of the bath.

Fucking bitch.

The dissociation faded quickly and anger washed over her. She didn't want to deal with anything the navigator had mentioned.

She didn't want to leave her mates. She wanted to stay with them.

But Wano presented an opportunity she couldn't pass on. She needed her mates to leave, so she could carry out the plan with her girls. If Law and Zoro found out what she had planned, they would do anything to stop her. She was sure of it.

They were her mates. The purpose of the bonds was to protect her. But if her plan succeeded, there was a chance she wouldn't survive.

But she had to do it.

Even though she thought she was done with missions and saving slaves, this was a chance to make a difference. It could change the world. Her own life was not as important as the lives of millions of people.

She wiped away her tears and draped the warm coat around her shoulders.

It seemed like the boys were finished with their bath too. She could hear Luffy demanding food.

She met them at the gate.

"What happened?" Zoro asked after one look at her face.

She couldn't reveal the reason for the emotional turmoil, so she decided to blame the navigator.

"Nami said some mean stuff."

Zoro threw her an unimpressed look. "Are you serious?"

"Don't cry, Rage," Sanji pushed the swordsman aside. "I'm sure Nami-chan didn't mean any of it."

She faked a sniff and let her eyes water.

Sanji's face fell and he seemed at a loss.

"Cut the crap," Zoro grabbed her hand and unceremoniously dragged her towards the palace.

"You're no fun," Rage deadpanned. She turned her head and called out to the cook. "Hey, Sanj! Will you come to the party? Veronica will be there. You could take her for a test ride."

She gave the cook a saucy wink.

Sanji froze, his brain seeming to short circuit. Then blood gushed from his nose.

"Sanji! Get it together!" Chopper scolded as he fussed over the cook.

Zoro yanked her hand, forcing her to face him. "Cut out the nonsense? He's not getting married to the doll!"

"Who said anything about marriage?" She asked, faking innocence. Then she smirked suggestively at the swordsman. "It's just sex. A whole night of kinky, no strings attached, uninhibited sex with a gorgeous woman."

More blood gushed from the cook's nose, and he sagged to the ground.

"With so much blood loss he won't be able to perform anyway," Jinbe commented with a stoic face.

Yamato burst out laughing while Brook let out a scandalised gasp.

Rage deliberately avoided glancing at Luffy.

She wiggled her brows at Zoro. “Do you honestly think he is dumb enough to marry into a West Blue mafia family?”

“Yeah,” Zoro deadpanned.

She burst into laughter, and Zoro pulled her along, grumbling under his breath.

The dining hall was empty and when the servant said it would take two hours to serve the dinner they all bounced from the castle. They raided and emptied the food stalls, explored every game stall, and had a great time. Yamato was especially excited since it was his first festival. He bounced around like a kid on a sugar rush. Brook played his guitar from a rooftop, flooding the streets with loud music. Zoro drank booze like he was a bottomless pit. At one point, Luffy jumped on top of the highest building and shouted his praise for everyone who had fought against The Beast Pirates.

It was the moment when The Heart Pirates and Kid Pirates arrived.

Eustass Kid yelled some nonsense about taking down Luffy and waved a wanted poster. Luffy didn't seem bothered by the threats at all. Instead, he wrapped his arm around Kid and pulled him up to the rooftop. Luffy's eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw his own wanted poster. He quickly regained his composure and shouted "kampai" while fireworks lit up the sky with colourful lights.

“Rage,” Rita appeared beside her. “Nico Robin is studying the poneglyph. She's accompanied by the Tengu, who revealed himself as Kozuki Sukiyaki, Oden’s father. He confirmed that Pluton resides in Wano.”

“Take me to them,” Rage ordered.

Soon, Rage found herself standing alongside Rita in a hidden chamber beneath the palace, where a previously concealed staircase lay before them.

“Law’s down there,” Rage mused. “He would sense me so there’s no point in sneaking around. I’ll handle this.”

Rita nodded and vanished.

Rage hurried down the stairs, pushing through the pain as she tried to catch up with Law. He was already ahead, descending alongside Robin and Sukiyaki. The ache in her body grew more intense with each step she took.

“Where is this dim light coming from?” she heard Robin’s voice.

In the faint light at the end of the tunnel, she caught a glimpse of Law's back and the handle of Kikoku.

Law vanished in a nook where the light was emanating from.

She came to an abrupt stop right by Sukiyaki’s side.

“Hi,” she managed to say between panting breaths. “I heard there was a tour around the secret parts of the castle.”

She smiled cheekily at Sukiyaki.

“Hello, Rage-dono,” he greeted with a calm expression.

She glanced above Law’s and Robin’s heads and noticed buildings on the seafloor.

Sukiyaki proceeded to explain that Wano had been flooded eight hundred years ago. Enormous stone walls had formed around the island, and it had become submerged in rainwater. The people of Wano had then constructed new land above the water, which became the present-day Wano.

Reaching the end of the staircase, Sukiyaki opened a door, revealing a chamber containing a red poneglyph. It was the third Road Poneglyph with the directions to Laugh Tale engraved on its surface.

She held onto Law's hand and stood beside him in front of the red slab. She could sense that it held significant meaning for him.

During the time she spent on his ship, he revealed his full name: Trafalgar D. Water Law. He also shared what Rosinante had told him about the "Will of D." Apparently people carrying the initial D were the natural enemies of the gods. Celestial Dragons would scare their own children with tales of the D coming to devour them if they misbehaved.

Law was determined to reach Laugh Tale and uncover the truth behind his name.

While she had never paid much attention to the significance of the D, when Law disclosed Rosinante's words, everything started to make sense. She realised that she, too, was a natural enemy of the Celestial Dragons. And now, she was on the verge of fulfilling her destiny.

Law squeezed her hand, likely thinking that her intensity stemmed from their pursuit of the road poneglyph and its significance. In response, she squeezed his hand back. This was a profound moment, but she couldn't explain to him why. He would stand in her way.

Her girls knew the plan and she forbade them to talk about any of it, especially to Law or Zoro.

“We’re now deep down in the caves at the foot of Fuji,” Sukiyaki explained in a serious tone. “It is further down into the earth where the ancient weapon Pluton is said to rest!”

Yes! This was the information she was after!

“I have never seen it for myself and I cannot show it to you now,” Sukiyaki continued. “In order to retrieve Pluton the walls will need to be torn down! In other words, “opening the borders” means destroying the country’s natural defence and unleashing an ancient weapon onto the world!”

Robin had more questions for Sukiyaki, but it was already enough for Rage. She had all the information she needed.

A sudden surge of conqueror’s haki made her jaw drop in disbelief.

“Law,” she tugged his hand and caught his gaze. “Take me to the surface, please!”

He looked puzzled, but he didn’t ask any questions.

With a series of tugs he brought them both to the front of the palace.

Rage fought against nausea caused by the teleportation and let out a sharp whistle.

Rita appeared in front of her.

“Bring me Reid,” she ordered and the woman vanished.

“What’s going on?” Law finally asked, he didn’t let go of her hand.

“You felt that surge of power, didn’t you?” she asked and he nodded. “It was Shanks’ haki! He’s nearby! I have to see him!”

Law searched her face. “Do you want me to come with you?”

“I’ll be fine,” she replied with a smile. “But thank you for the offer.”

She leaned in and gave him a soft kiss.

It felt like an eternity had passed since she last kissed him. She wanted more.

She licked his lips and he parted them to deepen the kiss. The same burning desire rose from his side of the bond. She longed to feel more of him, to mould her body against his, to be connected with him in every possible way.

But it was not the right time. An opportunity like this might not happen again and she wanted to confront Shanks.

She pulled away from the kiss and locked eyes with Law. A smirk crawled on her lips.

“I’ve heard you and Kisa had a heated goodbye,” she teased.

A bright red blush appeared on Law’s face.

She couldn’t suppress the amused giggle.

“Yeah it was good, wasn’t it?” she continued teasing and Law’s face turned a deeper shade of red.

“It just happened,” he managed to choke out.

“Sure it did,” she ribbed him further. “You liked her from the start, didn’t you?”

“Can we just drop it? Nothing happened, and she’s gone,” Law covered his face with his hand.

“Oh I don’t know,” she laughed. “Your reaction is so amusing, I want to tease you a bit more.”

In an instant, Law pulled her close against his strong body. She could feel the bulge in his pants pressing against her belly.

Law’s lips brushed her ear. “Maybe it’s you who needs to be the one teased, hmm?”

The low, seductive tone of his voice made her weak in the knees.

“Hey, lovebirds,” Reid's voice startled them.

Law let her go and she stepped back.

Reid flashed a teasing smirk as she stood confidently on her silver board. “Where to?”

“Do you still have Benn’s vivre card?”

"Yeah," Reid replied, reaching into her belt's pouch and rummaging through its contents. She retrieved a piece of paper and presented it to Rage.

“Good. Follow the vivre card. Shanks is nearby,” Rage ordered, positioning herself behind Reid on the board.

“Grab onto my belt, I don’t want you falling off.”

“That’s the worst insult I’ve ever heard from you,” Rage retorted, but complied and held onto the belt nonetheless. She didn’t feel steady yet and she didn’t want to fall into the sea, because she was too weak to ride with Reid.

She waved at Law and they were off, jetting through the night's sky.

The Red Force came into view just a few minutes later.

A bullet whistled through the air, ricocheting off the board.

Rage tapped Reid's shoulder and pointed towards the crow’s nest, signalling to take down the shooter. Reid smirked as air rushed around them when the board accelerated.

There was always some rookie who didn't recognize Reid’s distinctive board.

The pirate in the crow’s nest wasn't prepared for the attack. The board hit him square in the chest, sending him hurtling out of the nest.

Reid made a tight turn and the board landed a split second before the pirate hit the deck.

Stepping off the board, Rage faced Shanks. "Hi."

Benn stood by his captain side, while the rest of the crew crowded the deck, forming a circle around them.

"As unexpected as it is, it's good to see you, Rage," Shanks welcomed her with a gentle smile, then he nodded to Reid in greeting.

"I'm sure you never expected to see me again," she replied, mirroring his smile.

It stung to stand amongst the men she once considered family, knowing they chose to abandon her.

Shanks' smile faded, but he didn't avert his eyes.

"When I made the choice to deny Sin's request, I was prepared to face the consequences."

He decided to let her rot in prison, knowing full well how Doflamingo treated his slaves. Shanks' didn't owe her anything, but she thought that she meant something to him, to all of them.

Her heart felt as if it were being pierced by a thousand needles. It would’ve been so easy to turn the pain off. But she chose to feel everything while she faced The Red Hair Pirates.

"I killed Sin's mate three months ago," she declared and watched as Shanks' and Benn's eyes widened in shock. "I won't be returning to Sin City. I fought Kaido and my girls took down a solid number of his crew. But there won't be any bounties for our heads. We are a licensed bounty hunting crew."

"That's unexpected," Shanks' replied with raised brows. "You were never one to bow down to the World Government."

"Funny how things can change, huh?" she remarked, a sardonic smile playing on her lips. "You know what's even funnier? For the past few weeks, I've been undercover, playing the role of King the Wildfire's bastard daughter. It turns out he knew my true identity all along and he didn't care. Kaido said that my mother slept around so much there's no telling who my real father could be. It might as well be King. And for the past few weeks he was a father to me. A strict, demanding father with a heavy hand, but a father nonetheless."She glanced around, her gaze sweeping across the faces of the pirates she once considered family. Then, she locked eyes with Shanks once more. "I chopped his head off."

Reid let out a chuckle, a low, ominous sound that carried over the deathly quiet deck.

"I've come to realise that I used the term 'family' too frivolously. I even called Usopp my brother," she snorted, her eyes finding Yasopp's gaze. "You should've seen his face when Annika told him that having a pirate for a father basically meant being an orphan."

Yasopp's face contorted with pain, and he deserved every bit of it. He had dropped all his responsibilities, abandoning his wife and child for a life of adventure. He hadn't even returned for his kid when his wife died. He was just a regular piece of shit.

Her gaze then shifted back to Shanks.

"I'm not in the best shape right now and my girls are still recovering from the battle. So we'll let you go," she stated, eliciting snorts and laughter from some of the Red Hair Pirates. "But I have one more important thing to do, and after that, I'll come after all the Emperors and their crews."

"We'll be ready for you," Shanks replied with a serious expression.

"No, you won't," she retorted, turning to Reid.

They were in the air seconds later, soaring towards Wano and leaving the Red Hair Pirates behind.

As the wind rushed past, it whisked away her tears, leaving only a trail of dampness on her cheeks.

She had loved them once. They had been her first family, her home. She had been born aboard the Red Force and called them ‘dads’ all her life.

She did what she had to do, but it still hurt. Her heart hurt.

She buried her face in Reid's neck. The gushing wind carried away her tears and muffled her sobs.

Gradually, the board began to slow down. Reid turned around, took Rage in her arms and guided her to sit on the board, cradling her in a warm embrace.

The scenery changed and they were floating above a moonlit forest. The board glided gently, circling a large tree full of blossoming flowers.

No words were exchanged. Reid offered a comforting presence, silently offering her shoulder for Rage to cry on. And in that moment, that was exactly what Rage needed.

If she started speaking, she wouldn't be able to stop the river of grief.

She had lost everything she had ever considered as family. It was never perfect, but she had found a place where she belonged, with people she could call family.

Her threat to Shanks was empty. There was no way for her to survive the plan. To even attempt to strike their target, she would have to use her devil fruit extensively, which alone could kill her. And even if she managed to survive until the final step, the entire crew would likely be wiped out in retaliation.

Either way, she knew she would soon be dead.

Grief paralyzed her, making it impossible to take a breath. She gasped for air, but her lungs refused to work.

"Come on, Rage," Reid grabbed her face and forced her to look up. Reid's eyes were like dark silver pools. "Breathe with me." She took a deep breath, then let out a loud exhale. And repeated it until Rage synced with her.

Once the panic subsided, Rage let the dissociation cut off all her emotions.

"That's better," Reid praised, releasing her grip. "What now?"

"I need a haircut," she tugged at the braid that concealed the state of her hair. "And some dancing shoes."

"Coming right up, captain," Reid grinned and steered the board towards the Flower Capital.

"Hold up," the girl spy with a green bob stopped them by raising her hand. "There's a dress code you have to follow."

"What's wrong with our clothes?" Luffy asked, tilting his head to the side.

"For starters, no robes," she pointed at their kimonos. "And no 'himbo' look."

She was referring to Law, who was wearing a yellow tank top, jeans, and a feathered cape.

"Come on, we want to see what's happening inside," Luffy and Yamato whined in unison.

"First, we need to change your clothes," the girl wrinkled her nose and then turned toward the dark doorway. "Come on, don't slack off. Our guests are waiting."

A tall, scruffy man in a suit emerged from the shadows.

"Kin'emon?! What are you doing here?"

"I'd rather not explain," the samurai replied with a deep scowl.

"No time for chit-chat, there's a line forming," the girls scolded, then pointed at Law. "Black pants, white shirt, and a vest."

Kin'emon placed a piece of paper on Law's head, and the surgeon's clothes transformed into form-fitting pants and a button-down shirt with rolled-up sleeves. The shirt was partially unbuttoned, showing off Law's tattoo, and the black vest emphasised his waist.

"White shirt, black pants, and a leather belt," Zoro's clothes changed in a puff of smoke.

"Leather pants and a mesh top."

Luffy's and Yamato's clothes transformed into nearly identical outfits. Yamato's mesh shirt had an opaque fabric stripe over his chest.

"Go on, don't stand there like some dolts. You're blocking the way," the girl scolded and turned to Nami and Sanji.

Zoro followed Law. The heavy beat of the music could be heard from outside, but when they stepped inside, the music was so loud that Zoro was sure he would have to yell for anyone to hear him.

The interior of the club was exactly as Rage described when they sailed with Bartolomeo.

Zoro felt as if they had been transported to one of Sin City's famed strip clubs.

The focal point was a well-lit circular stage featuring a polished and shimmering pole. Tables with chairs were strategically placed around the stage and throughout the main area. The walls were lined with booths, some of which were already occupied by patrons accompanied by Rage's crew. Waiters seamlessly weaved through the space, delivering drinks from the opulent bar lined with bar stools.

"You're right on time," someone shouted, and an arm snaked around Zoro's. He met Mira's amused gaze. The blaring music began to quiet down.

"Come on," Veronica appeared next to Law. She took the surgeon's hand and led him toward the stage. "She'll be right up.”

The doll was wearing an obscenely short black strapless dress and a pair of high heels. The dress barely covered her round ass. The ass that Law's gaze was glued to.

Zoro knew the surgeon had been attracted to the doll from the moment he saw her, just like with Rage's first mate. It only confirmed Zoro's suspicions that Law's taste in women was completely screwed. He liked them curvy, dark-haired, and crazy.

Mira tugged on his arm, leading him to the tables positioned right in front of the stage. She guided him to a seat next to Law, so they both were facing the stage.

"Heads up," Mira levelled her head with him and Law. "Daria gave Rage a cocktail of painkillers. It only enhanced her mood. If you're not into fucking in front of an audience then step away and let someone else do her."

With a pat on their shoulders she was gone.

Luffy dropped into the chair beside him, and the rest of their group followed suit.

Zoro's eyebrow shot up at the sight of Nami's outfit. Her skin-tight latex pants had a zipper that ran from her bellybutton, down between her legs, and up her ass. The stupid cook was frotting at the mouth.

"What's this?" Yamato leaned over a bowl sitting in the middle of the table.

The bowl was filled to the brim with small foil packets.

"Condoms, lube and dental dams," Veronica explained with a pleasant smile. "Provided for everyone to safely enjoy the night."

She winked at Yamato.

She plopped next to the cook and offered him a sultry smile. "I hope we can get to better know each other."

"Yes, Veronica!" Sanji gushed. "Whatever you want to know, I'm an open book! I want to know everything about you too!"

Her expression transformed into a foxy smile. "That's wonderful, darling. However, I was thinking of something more suitable for the current environment," she twirled her finger in the air. "Look around."

Zoro turned in his chair to survey the club's main floor. At the table behind them, people were taking shots from a naked woman lying on the table. Nearby, a group of people laughed loudly and drank, while there was a person under the table whose head was bobbing vigorously.

A few tables away, a scantily clad woman was dancing on top of a table. She raised her foot and placed her toes in the gaping mouth of one of the men seated there. She poured alcohol over her tight and the liquid trickled down her tan leg into the man's mouth.

The entire club seemed immersed in various forms of sexual activity, ranging from groping and fondling to a full-blown orgy taking place in a corner booth.

"This is…interesting," Yamato stated with wide eyes. "Isn't that boss Cho?"

Zoro followed his line of sight to the largest booth. There, he spotted a tall woman with opulent hair, whom he recognized as one of the yakuza bosses. She was reclining comfortably in her lace corset. In front of her, a feminine looking guy was getting railed by a big muscular man.

"Yes, that's Cho. She's a marvel," Veronica confirmed. "This establishment is owned by the Kyoshiro family. Denjiro was intrigued by the prospects of expanding his business. Apparently, every idea Rage provided him with turned out to be a huge success. He wanted to learn more about Sin City."

"So you suggested he should open a sex club?" Nami raised an eyebrow and took a sip of her pink and yellow drink that had been placed before her by the waiter a few moments earlier.

"Actually, we gave him a crash course in managing a sex club," Veronica said, reaching for her own drink. "It's still in its early stages, unrefined but promising. What do you think, darling?"

She lightly brushed her manicured fingers against Sanji's forearm.

A whole body shiver went through the cook and his eyes turned into hearts.

The cook was acting like an idiot. He poured all his nonsense over the doll.

"Are you always like this, or is this a reaction to a new situation?" the doll finally asked, her lips pressed into a straight line and her brows furrowed.

"He's more excited than usual, but it's his default reaction to women," Nami rolled her eyes.

"I see," Veronica patted the cook's hand and stood up. "I don't think this will work between us. I prefer mature men. Have a great night."

She sauntered away without another glance at the cook.

Sanji turned to stone.

Zoro found himself gaining a newfound respect for Veronica based on how she handled the cook's behaviour.

"I feel sorry for you," Zoro laughed. "She had her legs open for you, all you had to do was act half decently, shitty cook."

"You fucking moss he-"

Suddenly, the music boomed and the lights flared to life. The curtain flew open and Rage walked on the stage.

Zoro's jaw dropped.

She had short hair on the sides of her head, and the rest was cut to half its previous length, falling in loose waves on her shoulders. Her warm, brown skin was flawless and glistened in the intense light, without any visible scars or bruises.

And there was a lot of skin on display since she barely had any clothes on.

She was wearing a simple black bra and thong set over a leather garter belt, paired with platform shoes that made her legs appear long and slender.

She sauntered to the pole, moving to the rhythm of the most obscene song Zoro had ever heard.

With a cunning smile she spun around the pole.

Link

Zoro had seen her dance many times on Polar Tang. On a few occasions, she had performed solely for him and it resulted in manic sex on the gym's floor or against the nearest available flat surface.

However, this time was different.

The clothes, the music, the ambiance of the club, the energy buzzing in the bond transformed the experience into something entirely new.

He watched her climb the pole, flip and slide, bend her body and splay her legs while she rotated on the pole. He couldn't tear his gaze away from her.

If she asked he would fuck her on that stage in front of all the people gathered in the club. In front of Law and Luffy.

The music faded out, blending into another song. This one was slow and sensual.

Link

Rage moved to the rhythm, slowly undulating her body. The lights changed, accentuating her muscular, yet undeniably feminine body.

She came a long way in such a short time. Just a few months ago, she had been emaciated, barely able to board the Sunny on her own. With the help of her devil fruit powers, she gradually regained her strength. However, what truly impressed him was when she trained meticulously every day to get stronger and faster.

Now, she proudly displayed her progress for all to see. She was beautiful, fierce, and so fucking seductive.

He couldn't wait to claim her on that stage, making it known to everyone that she belonged to him.

Right on cue, her gaze locked with his. She smiled that small, lustful smile that made him crazy. The bond throbbed with power and desire. She wanted to be watched, to be fucked.

Her pupils were blown wide and Zoro realised she was high as a kite.

It didn't matter. After the cookies incident on Polar Tang, they had a talk, and she was very firm that if she was drunk or high, she still wanted them to fuck her, regardless of whether they were sober or not.

Zoro knew she was overwhelmed, meeting Shanks was the final straw that tipped her into this mindles state when all she wanted was to be fucked into oblivion. It was her way of coping with stress. She was a grown woman and he didn’t question whether or not her actions were healthy. He was going to comply with her wishes.

She stretched out her arm and beckoned him with her finger.

He was out of his seat without a second thought.

In that moment screams and crashes drowned out the music. The club turned into chaos. The women from Rage's crew, the quiet ones, started a fight with a group of half-naked men. The music abruptly stopped, and people hurriedly ran towards the exits. Zoro looked around, trying to understand what was happening.

The men were subdued and dragged to the centre of the club, their heads were pushed against the edge of the scene.

"Please," one of the half-naked Wano girls dropped to her knees in front of Karla, the woman who collected body parts as trophies. "Please, let him go, I beg of you."

The girl's hair was in disarray and her make up was smeared. Her naked breasts were covered in cigarette burns and cum.

Several other girls, equally dishevelled and bearing various marks on their bodies, stepped forward, pleading for the men to be released.

"What the fuck is happening?" Furious Mira pushed her way through the crowd, giving her crewmates a thunderous glare.

"They are not here willingly," Karla replied, pointing to the wailing girls.

"This was supposed to be a normal party, not a lure!" Mira yelled, clenching her fists.

Karla responded with a deadly glare. She pulled up the man she was holding. Blood was dripping from his nose and split cheek. The girl with cigarette burns scuttled on her knees, desperately clutching onto Karla's legs.

"Please, have mercy, let him go," she wailed, tears and snot mixing on her face.

"Tell me, why should I?" Karla drew a knife from her belt and pointed it at the man's eye.

"Please spare him," the girl continued to wail. "My baby! His family will hurt my baby if something happens to him! Please let him go!"

"You," Karla pointed to another girl who was trying to fight the woman restraining another man. The girl bore a massive burn scar across her right shoulder and arm, as well as numerous thin scars scattered across her body. Zoro knew those were left by a blade.

"Leave him alone!" the girls screamed, clawing at the dark-skinned woman.

A quick punch knocked her to the floor.

Another woman stepped forward, gripping the girl tightly and forcing her arms behind her back.

"Tell me, why should we release him?" Karla demanded, her voice was eerily calm.

The girl spat out blood and met Karla's gaze with wild, glassy eyes.

"I love him! Let him go! He's all I have! I'm so ugly that no one else would ever want me!" She trashed in the hold, trying to break free.

"Who made you ugly? Who gave you the scars?" Karla's voice held a cold edge.

The girl stopped moving, her glassy eyes glided over the scene without comprehension.

"He did, didn't he?" the dark-skinned woman pulled upright the man she was restraining.

"I was bad, a disgrace," the girl squeaked out, freezing in place. "I deserved to be punished."

A surge of icy fury coursed through Zoro's veins. The girl had been tortured and manipulated to the point where she believed she deserved every ounce of pain inflicted upon her. What vile things had she endured behind closed doors?

He looked around the club, scrutinised all the men that were held down, beaten bloody. He knew more was coming and they wouldn't leave the club in one piece or even alive. They deserved everything that the Raging Witches would do to them.

"You will pay for this!" one of the men growled, his eyes filled with anger. "Every single one of you will be executed for this!"

His expression turned to shock as a knife plunged into his abdomen. The wild redhead who had previously attacked Sanji leaped towards the man, gripping the knife and pulling it out with a deranged grin.

"Karla," Mira growled, several of the other women were standing by her side. "This wasn't what we agreed on."

"I don't care," Karla retorted. "Rage doesn't seem to object."

Zoro's brows furrowed as his gaze landed on Rage. She was standing by the pole, looking down on the bloody scene. Her eyes were empty and so was the bond.

This wasn't like the usual dissociation, this was a complete shutdown.

Luffy climbed onto the scene and approached Rage. Gently, he took her hand and turned her to face him. In the platform shoes she was a lot taller than him, causing him to tilt his head upwards to meet her gaze.

"Come on," Luffy took a step back, pulling her along. "Let's leave this place."

To Zoro's surprise, Rage followed, allowing Luffy to lift her down from the stage, holding her by the waist. However, her movements were mechanical, as if she would have followed anyone willing to take her away. The bond remained empty.

A firm grip on his shoulder made him turn around, and there stood Law, his gaze fixed on Luffy and Rage making their way to the exit. "Go with them. Make sure she's alright. I'll stay here."

The icy stillness in the bond matched Law’s cold stare when his gaze switched from Zoro to the people in front of them.

Zoro wasn't sure if Law wanted to stay to help Mira get the crew in check or to join Karla in cutting up the bastards.

Zoro nodded in acknowledgment and turned towards the door, catching sight of Nami's vibrant orange hair.

She stood frozen, wide-eyed, her face a mix of disgust and horror as she observed the scene. She didn't see Zoro walking by and he wouldn't have left her there in that state, but Sanji was right by her side. The cook took a drag of his cigarette, as he locked eyes with Zoro. The hard stare assured Zoro that Sanji would do anything to keep Nami safe.

As Zoro made his way towards the door, he ran into Kin'emon. Pushing the samurai outside, he closed the door behind them. "There's nothing more to see here, Kin'emon. Go back to the palace."

"This is not right," the samurai’s expression grew grim.

"You're the shogun's vassal, think carefully what would happen if you choose to defend the men inside. What message would it send to the people of Wano? Would you be any different from Orochi or Kaido?"

"There should be a trial," Kin'emon protested. "They should be executed as a warning that such atrocities will not be tolerated."

"Listen to me," Zoro snapped. "You weren't here. Go back to the palace. What comes next is none of your concern or the shogun's. Rage will handle her crew, and they'll be out of your hair soon. If you want a trial to set an example, I'm sure she can provide you with plenty more abusers than the handful of shitbags inside."

"Listen to him, Kin'emon," Yamato chimed in, appearing beside them. "We weren't here. Let's join the others at the palace. We had a great time with Luffy during the festival, and let's leave it at that."

"One last thing before you go," Rita's quiet voice resonated in the night. She stood in the middle of the street, cradling a sleeping child in her arms. She approached them and positioned the child so that Kin'emon could have a look.

The kid could be no more than two years old, his head seemed to be too big compared to the rest of his thin body. Deep dark circles surrounded his swollen eyes, similar to how

Usopp's eyes looked, after he took a serious hit to the head during a fight.

"This child belongs to one of the girls inside," Rita explained. "This is the fate of children born into slavery. Remember this face, and may it inspire changes in the laws of this country."

Was this what Rage dealt with? How many children has she seen in such a state? How many women like the ones inside had she dragged away from the clutches of their abusers?

Zoro turned on his heel and followed the pull of the bond.

It didn't take long for him to catch up to them. Luffy held Rage's hand, guiding her through the streets of the Flower Capital. Both of them were dressed in kimonos and sandals, thanks to Kin'emon’s quick thinking to change their club attire into something more suitable for public appearance.

Rage was still shut down, following Luffy mindlessly. Zoro trailed a short distance behind.

Despite her state, the swordsman believed that Rage had some level of awareness of her surroundings and the people she was with. Her choice to follow Luffy sparked hope in Zoro that her hostility towards his captain could be resolved. Maybe this was an opportunity for their relationship to improve if Luffy didn't fumble the situation.

At the palace, Rage stopped and let go of Luffy's hand. Zoro stood just a few steps behind her, waiting for her reaction. The bond stirred slightly.

"Do you know what split children are?" her voice was almost unrecognisable, hollow and grave.

Luffy turned to her and stared without a word.

"It's what they do to make children easy to brainwash. They electrocute the foetus in the mother’s womb. If the baby is breached it's raped while it's still partially in the birth canal. The pain and stress causes irreversible damage to the child's nervous system, making them ideal slaves, easy to manipulate and program with anything their owner wants."

It felt like a punch to the gut. He was feeling sick and angry at the same time. Why did people commit such atrocities?

"Rage," Luffy's voice cracked. "Please, look at me."

"I'm looking at you."

"Do you? Be here with us. Leave the memories behind. Just for tonight. Be with us."

Was it a good idea to bring her out of her numbness? Were they ready to face the pain and sorrow she carried? Could they truly comfort someone so deeply wounded?

Zoro stepped forward and took her hand. It felt freezing cold.

"What do you need?" he asked.

She turned her empty eyes towards him. He didn't like that look on her.

"I want a break from everything," she hoarsely replied.

"You're safe with us, we won't let anyone bother you," he reassured her, gently squeezing her hand. "Do you want to go to sleep?"

"Yes."

"Okay.”

They managed to find her room without any help, which was a miracle. Did Luffy memorise where her room was?

The futon on the floor was only big enough for one person, but there were three thick covers.

Luffy untied the belt of Rage’s kimono and removed her clothes, leaving the last layer on.

She stood there shivering, as if she was cold.

Zoro undressed himself and pulled her down onto the bed. He wrapped his arms around her, pressing his front against her back.

Luffy slipped under the covers and embraced both Rage and Zoro, resting his forehead against Rage's.

She continued to shiver, her body tense and her skin cold.

"It's okay," Luffy silently reassured her. "You're going to be okay."

"Nothing is okay," she responded in that hollow voice. "It's been fucked up for too long."

"Give yourself a break," Luffy insisted. "Right now, you can let go. Try to relax, you're shaking."

"I'm cold."

"We'll warm you up," Luffy promised.

His hand rubbed her side as their legs tangled together. Somehow, Zoro's leg ended up trapped between theirs.

Rage was his mate, but in that moment, he felt like a third wheel. He didn't know how to comfort her the way Luffy did. Until now, he had always been the one to tell her to snap out of her wallowing. Soft care wasn't his specialty.

Luffy's hands caressed Rage, spreading warmth across her skin. He nuzzled her forehead and cheeks with silent affection. At some point, he guided Zoro's hand to trace over her skin, mirroring his own actions. It was slow, tender, and gentle.

Zoro closed his eyes and buried his face in her hair, searching for her scent beneath the heavy perfume she wore.

He allowed Luffy to guide his hand and let the sensations of the bond flow freely.

Rage's emptiness slowly melted away, replaced by warmth and heartache. The bond overflowed with so much yearning, it was suffocating.

A sound must’ve escaped him, because Luffy's fingers found their way into his hair, stroking him comfortingly.

He could handle it. He had taken all of Luffy's pain on Thriller Bark, so he could take on Rage's pain too.

Luffy held the back of his head, his fingers gently pressing into his scalp.

Beside him, Rage released a silent sigh of relief.

The intense ache in the bond receded to a dull throb.

Zoro lifted his head to look over Rage's shoulder.

They were kissing. It was a slow, tender kiss. Luffy had his eyes closed, and his face was relaxed.

It didn't feel or look sexual. There was no arousal in the bond. It was purely for comfort.

He wanted to be a part of it.

He placed a kiss on her shoulder, then trailed up her neck, leaving soft kisses along the rim of her earlobe before pressing his lips to her temple.

She sighed again.

Vulnerability appeared in the bond, along with trembling trust.

Zoro loosened his hold and gently guided her to lie on her back.

Her eyes no longer looked empty; instead, they held a helpless vulnerability.

He cupped her cheek and leaned down to press a reassuring kiss on her lips.

Luffy's hand glided along his spine, and then a set of lips pressed a kiss on his shoulder blade. Meanwhile, his other hand slipped into Rage's hair.

Where was this tenderness coming from? Luffy had never treated him like this before. They fucked and that was it. This was how he treated Nami—it was what she taught him.

But none of that mattered. It felt good, and finally, Rage relaxed into their touches.

She traced her palm along Zoro’s side, her cold fingers seeping warmth from his skin.

He didn't care; he would give all his warmth just to make her feel better.

He released her lips and leaned back to look into her eyes. The distressed yellow of her irises had almost faded, replaced by a soft brown colour.

She cradled his face in her palms, and the bond swelled with affection.

A smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

This was love—she didn't need to say it; it was all in the bond.

He brushed her hair away from her face and placed his palm on her cheek.

He had never experienced such a profound connection with another person. It left him feeling dazed.

Every emotion she felt, she felt it deeply—like the love that radiated from her side of the bond.

Zoro had loved her for far longer than she had loved him. He loved Law and Luffy, but his feelings were far less intense compared to what he sensed from Rage.

No wonder she shut down her emotions so often. With the ability to feel so deeply, she must have experienced pain just as intensely as everything else.

But not with him. In that moment, he wanted her to envelop him in the warm love that filled the bond to the brim.

This night belonged to them.

The corners of her mouth lifted in a gentle, grateful smile.

She turned her head and looked past Zoro.

He followed her gaze and found Luffy sitting beside them, wearing a contented smile.

Zoro reached out and pulled his captain into a one-armed hug.

Luffy chuckled softly and returned the embrace. He smelled of seabreeze and Rage's perfume.

Rage's arms encircled them, pulling them down to lie partly on top of her.

She caressed the back of Zoro's head and nuzzled against Luffy's temple. Her eyes fell shut, and contentment flowed through the bond.

Zoro relaxed on the futon, drawing Rage and Luffy closer. Rage rested her head on his bicep, while Luffy settled his head on Zoro's outstretched arm, so close to Rage that his lips brushed against her cheek.

They became a tangle of limbs, lying on a single futon and cocooned under thick covers.

A quiet sigh escaped from Rage's lips, and the sensations from the bond slowly faded into a gentle lull of sleep.

Zoro held Luffy's gaze over sleeping Rage. He squeezed the younger man's waist in silent gratitude.

Thanks to Luffy, Rage had broken free from the numbness and despair. Zoro knew he couldn't have managed it on his own.

Luffy squeezed Zoro's arm in return and a wide, sleepy smile appeared on his face.

His eyes drifted shut, and he fell asleep within seconds.

Zoro laid awake gazing at the two dark-haired people in his arms.

He had sex with Rage so many times he lost count, but he never felt this intimate with her. She had never behaved like this during sex, it was always about physical pleasure, never about emotions. The bond helped during sex, intensified the sensations and made it easier to know when something felt good for her. But she never got emotional during or after sex. She would always be content, smile, or tease him into another round.

This situation allowed him a glimpse into a hidden part of Rage that she didn't show to anyone. Zoro wanted to know that part of her—the good, the ugly, the vulnerable, and everything in between

And Luffy seemed to be the key to unlocking the part he knew the least.

He gently squeezed Luffy's side, causing the captain to stir and nuzzle his face into Rage's neck. In her sleep, she leaned her head and pressed her cheek against Luffy's hair.

With a smile on his face, Zoro drifted off to sleep, hoping for more moments like this in the future.

A forceful tug on his legs and a loud crash jolted him awake. Startled, he sat up straight and surveyed his surroundings.

The sun was barely up, casting a soft, dim light into the room.

Rage sat at the foot of the futon, untangling her foot from one of the comforters.

Did she just fall because her foot got caught? Rage was many things, but clumsiness was not one of them.

"Why are you up so early?" Luffy's voice sounded raspy from sleep.

"I'm always up early," she replied, getting up without sparing them a glance.

She opened a sliding door to a built- in closet and pulled out some clothes. The white robe slid to the floor and revealed her naked backside.

Zoro’s cock stirred at the sight of her fabulous ass. Memories of her dancing the previous night rushed his mind and all his blood went south.

"Later," Rage firmly stated, slipping into a pair of black underwear resembling boxers. "I have to sort out my crew first."

"I'll come with you," Zoro replied, reaching for his discarded kimono.

"Suit yourself," she absentmindedly replied.

Rage put on black leggings, thick socks, an undershirt, and a long-sleeved shirt. Over that, she donned the tactical gear her crew wore when they arrived in Wano—black pants with a leather belt, textile harnesses on both thighs carrying knives, a zip-up thick shirt with a high collar and another knife harness, and a heavy jacket with numerous pockets that she zipped up to her chin. Completing her attire, she put on her boots.

From one of the pockets, she pulled out a pack of gum, took a piece, and placed it in her mouth. She offered one to Zoro, which he took automatically without much thought.

She looked impressive in her outfit.

"What are you doing?" she asked, turning to Luffy.

He stood dressed in his kimono, ready to go out. "I'm going with you," he replied with a toothy smile.

"Why?" She looked at him with a flat expression.

"I've made a promise to Mira."

She stared at him for a moment, then shrugged. She tossed him a piece of gum and walked out the door.

The palace was still quiet, but the city streets were beginning to stir. He and Luffy were dressed in kimonos, blending in with the locals. However, Rage's clothes stood out and people were stopping to stare at her.

She ignored everyone until they reached the club.

"Good morning, Yosuke," she greeted a man leaning against the entrance wall.

"Good morning, Reiju-san," the man straightened up, his face turning pale.

"Rita," Rage turned her gaze towards the door, and the spy woman emerged from the shadows. "Is everyone here?"

The older woman nodded.

"Are they done?"

"Yes. Your mate helped keep things reasonable. Seven women and a child are kept inside for the time being."

"Yosuke, please inform Denjiro to take in the women that are currently in the building. Send someone over to escort them to a safe location."

The man nervously bowed and hurried away without a word or a glance.

Rage pushed open the door and stepped inside the building.

The club was empty and organised. The floors had been freshly mopped, and all the chairs were stacked on the tables.

Rage placed her fingers to her lips and let out a loud whistle.

A moment later people filed into the room from every available entrance.

To Zoro's surprise, Nami walked in, followed by Law and Sanji. They all looked rough around the edges as if they didn't sleep a wink all night. Nami held the child that Rita had brought during the night.

Law approached them, but instead of joining them, he took a seat on a barstool.

"Having fun meddling with my crew?" Rage asked him.

"You meddled with mine," he deadpanned.

She walked towards Nami and gave Law a pat on the shoulder as she passed him. Then she reached out and gently brushed the child's hair.

"Do you still think I fit with your crew?" she asked, looking at Nami.

"No," the navigator answered without hesitation.

"Told you," Rage turned to face her crew. "I met with the Red Hair crew last night. I informed them that they are no longer considered family and that we will be going after them soon."

Agitated whispers carried around the room. Some of the girls looked worried, while others smiled widely.

"So, I needed that night to decompress and instead you made it all about yourselves," she looked directly at Karla. "You know what happens when someone yucks my yum."

"You need to regain your strength, Rage," the stoic woman replied.

"I'll do what I want, when I want, and you will dance when I tell you to. No questions asked," her tone was calm, as if she was stating facts. "Sin City's rules no longer apply. You made a decision on that beach to follow me. If any of you have second thoughts, you can challenge me for the captain's title or leave."

"You talk big, while you barely have the strength to back it up," one of the quiet girls spoke up.

"Let's find out," Rage didn't sound bothered. In the bond she remained calm and collected. "Training in fifteen. Full gear, two clicks south-west from the south gate. Last one there gets paired with Kira. Reid's my ride."

"Hey, why do we all have to go when we didn't do shit?" The pink-haired mechanic objected loudly.

"Yeah," the medic chimed in, her face turning red. "I was up all night patching up the bitches in the back and the spawn here. I want to catch some sleep, not deal with your bullshit."

Rage turned to Sanji and reached into his jacket, pulling out his cigarettes. She took one and placed it between her lips. She brought up the lighter and lit the cigarette. After a long drag, she put the lighter into the pack and gave it back to Sanji.

She pulled the cigarette away from her lips and slowly blew out the smoke towards the ceiling. "Fourteen minutes."

Some of the crew watched her with wide eyes.

"Fucking Karla! You stupid cunt! I'm gonna euthanize you the first chance I get!" The medic screamed at the top of her lungs while running to the door with the rest of the crew.

The club emptied within seconds, leaving behind only the echoing sounds of the crew's stomping and yelling.

"I'll be done with them by sunset," Rage slid onto a barstool next to Law. She took another slow drag of the cigarette and blew the smoke away from Law. Then she turned to the surgeon with a small smile. "How about the three of us go on a date in the evening?"

Zoro blinked. Did he hear her right? A date?

She took another drag and winked at Zoro.

He didn't like seeing her smoke. It didn't suit her.

"Are you fucking serious?" Nami fumed. She handed the kid to Sanji and stomped towards Rage. "You're making plans for a date while there are literal body parts behind the house and tortured women sleeping in the back?"

"Denjiro's people will be here soon to take the girls away. The family will take care of them. I'll have to leave in a minute, so I'd appreciate it if you could babysit until they arrive."

"You act like you have everything under control, but you weren't here last night! You were fucking my nakama while your crew butchered those men!"

Rage snorted and took the final drag of the cigarette. "I'm sure you enjoyed watching them die."

A loud slap reverberated from the walls as Nami's hand connected with Rage's face.

Rage didn't budge, she stayed still and stared at the redhead. Her eyes shifted to the toxic yellow as the bond turned icy.

"Fucking hell! Step away from her, you idiot!" Reid yanked Nami back and stood between her and Rage. "I'm ready, let's just go," she pleaded, removing her necklace shaped like a small surfboard.

Why was she so frantic? It didn't feel like Rage would strike Nami back.

"You have been a thief for a pirate crew since you were ten, right?" Rage's gaze was glued to Nami's face. "You stole treasure to buy back your village from the fishman. I imagine there were times when you found yourself in a tight spot. Unable to obtain anything significant, you became desperate. Maybe you met someone who gave you the idea, or you saw some other kid doing it. You picked out your target, made contact and he offered to take you home. All you had to do was lay there until he was done, then cry for him to let you sleep in his house because you had nowhere else to go. Then, in the middle of the night, you cleaned out his safe and went on your way."

What was she talking about? Why did she have to say something like that to Nami? But one look at his nakama made his heart sink.

Nami’s horrified face went pale and her eyes turned glassy.

"You see, that's why I said you enjoyed last night. Because those scumbags were just like the ones you robbed. It's good to see that trash like them get the punishment they deserve. It's cathartic." Rage put out the cigarette in the ashtray on the bar and stood up. "But you seem to think you're better than this, that you should condemn me and my girls for what we do and how we do it. I don't appreciate the hypocrisy. Don't ever try to fuck with me again, because you won't win."

She nodded to Reid, and together they walked towards the exit. Just before opening the door, Rage turned to face Nami once again.

"Don't tear into Zoro. It was Usopp who told me everything about your merry crew. He tends to overshare after ten shots of tequila."

With those words, she left the bar.

The situation was a fucking mess.

"I'm off. See you tonight," unceremoniously Law strode out the door.

Nami kept her head bowed, her fists tightly clenched. The bar fell into silence, everyone was rooted in their spots.

Zoro felt torn. Nami was his nakama, but Rage was his mate.

Finally, Luffy stepped forward and spoke gently, "Can I touch you?"

Nami replied with a choked-up voice, "Why would you want to do that? She told the truth, and you should be disgusted."

"You're not disgusting," Luffy stated firmly. "I regret letting Arlog live. I should've killed him for everything he did to you."

Tears rolled down Nami’s cheeks as a strangled sob escaped her. "I almost forgot about all of that. I wanted to forget it so bad. It got easier when I was with all of you," she reached out and grasped Luffy's hand. "She brings out all the memories just by being who she is and doing what she does. This was the first time she did it on purpose, but I still hate everything about her and her crew. I don't want to be like them, bitter and hateful. I want to forget and move on."

Nami’s words struck a chord. "Rage tried that too, it didn't work for her,” Zoro spoke up.

The navigator raised her head, her eyes were red and puffy. She brushed away the tears with the back of her hand.

"I'm sorry, I'll get a grip and stay out of her way until we set sail. This issue won't be a problem because she's not coming with us."

"That's not your decision to make," Zoro gruffly objected.

"No, it's hers. I'm sorry Luffy, I know you've made a promise, but she has no intentions of joining us."

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