Warning: Mature Themes ahead. As well as possible triggers of various types.
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Grunts were heard in the training room of the moving ship, as well as slashes.

You and Lucci circled around one another, concentrated looks on the both of you with sweat running down your bodies. Lucci was fully transformed in his Zoan leopard form, claws out and at the ready. You paced around each other, your hand around the hilt of Karasu as your shadowed eyes from your cap observed Lucci's movements.

A sudden whoosh was heard, your sword and Lucci's claws making contact. The noises echoing around the room. Your lips twitched upwards.

You haven't had this much fun with training in awhile. Lucci spotted it, his own lips forming into a smirk of excitement as the both of you continued to slash and claw at each other while constantly using Soryu to try confuse the other of one's whereabouts. But the both of you have been training together so much for the past few years, neither one could escape from the other.

A true spar.

Two different grunts were heard, one from you, now on the floor with your sword at the ready at Lucci's neck with your least dominant hand. One from Lucci, who was on top of you with his own claw at your neck;the other being held with your other hand, a tight grip around the transformed Zoan's wrist. Your eyes searched his, humor within them.

"Another tie, kitty." You said. Lucci's dark feral eyes slowly turned back to normal, the fur that you felt with your hand slowly receding to smooth tan skin. You released him, putting your sword down and him having his arms now at his side. But he did not get up from your form, only looked down at you.

"So it seems," he agreed, voice silky as always, "and the fourth time with you on the floor by me." Dark eyes began to search your face, analyzing. "Distracted today?"

"Marines don't kill silly girl. Not as much as you anyways...I wonder," Smoker sang, "how many children you've killed?"

Your eyes narrowed, turning cold once again to hide your emotions. That nightmare though...it made it seem like you killed children that were younger then thirteen. The oldest child you had to kill because of their actions was seventeen years old. He was abusing his noble power and even allowing pirates into his home, you had to deal with him personally. You internally shook your head.

'Just a meaningless nightmare.' You thought, (e/c) eyes looking up at Lucci.

"No. Nothing. It's not like you to be concerned for such things..." You observed with a raised brow.

Lucci gave a low growl of annoyance, his face nearing towards yours in a dark scowl. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm just starting to actually get tired from throwing you on the floor and wall, when you're not even fully focusing on our spar." His hands were on each side of your head now, face close with his breath fanning yours. You can even see the beads of sweat going down his temple and bare chest. Normally, you would turn red from embarrassment, but today is different. So you only stared at the mesmerizing eyes of the Zoan user.

"Tell me. Now. Is it the mission?"

Your brows furrowed.

'The mission? It's a simple mission, why would he think that?' You thought, and were about to question your thoughts until a 'Coo' was heard above them. You moved your eyes upwards, only to have Hattori already looking down at you with his beady eyes from atop your head.

Hattori blinked, tilting his head. You gave a dry small smile at the bird, lifting your hand up to pet Hattori's head.

"How's a going big guy? Lucci-neko treating you well?"

Hattori cooed, and moved his head closer to your hand for you to get his good spot. Only for Lucci to grab your hand firmly, making your eyes to move back towards him. Your noses were touching now. And Lucci looked irritated.

"Don't avoid me," Lucci lowly growled, "Hide anything from anyone else, but not me. Now, answer, (Y/N). Is it because of—?"

A sudden bang was heard from the entrance to the training room, quickly accompanying an obnoxious voice that grated your ears.

"Lucci! (Y/N)! Finally found you—WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!"

You thought Spandam's leather mask was going to break from how open his jaw was, its even touching the floor.

Then again, you and Lucci were in a questioning position. But that didn't mean he had to start screeching. You and Lucci's right brows twitched simultaneously. Both of you eventually got up, standing next to each other in attention for the Director to possibly stop his screeching and stutters of what he saw as probably a misunderstanding. Hattori flew back towards Lucci's shoulder.

'Still...' You thought, rubbing your arm from behind your back. 'It was warm. Is it weird that I wanted us to stay like that? Just because it felt warm?'

Perhaps. Since it was Lucci that was causing it, out of everyone, Lucci. Then again, if you had a choice between anyone else here and Lucci. You would always pick Lucci.

Cause he's Lucci-neko.

Lucci nodded towards Spandam.

"It seems you caught us in the middle of training, Director. Did new information come up for the mission?" The Zoan questioned, although his tone suggested he could care less. Odd how he would talk to you—mocking and and indifference—is different on how he talks to others—cold and arrogant. You personally don't know which is worse.

Spandam cleared his throat, trying to gain his composure and appear like a highly respected leader. Your eyes tightened behind your cap. Respect? Leader? What would he know about such words?

"A-ah yes! But," Spandam turned towards you with a critical eye, causing you to mentally prepare for his words, "It looked like the pirate's daughter was trying to seduce you." His grin turned mocking towards you, tone condescending. "Am I wrong?"

You swallowed your anger, and spoke.

"It seems you just caught Lucci and me finishing our training, sir. There was no other intent behind our positions." You answered, voice hollow to your own ears.

Spandam turned away with a bored scoff, already tired of the conversation even though he was the one that started it.

"Right. You gotten beaten by Lucci then."

You bit your tongue, hard. But you've done this act so many times, that you barely felt any pain
anymore. You tasted copper in your mouth.

'Stay quiet. Stay quiet,' you thought, 'Stay quiet.'

You clenched your hand from behind your back and went to open your mouth.

"It was a tie Director." A smooth voice corrected.

Your eyes widened behind your cap as you gave a sidelong look to Lucci. Spandam sputtered in surprise and disbelief.

"What?! A tie?! How can that be?!"

"It means we are equal in strength Director. Or should I elaborate further?" Lucci said, a hint of mocking in his tone as he looked down at the purple haired man. Spandam began to stutter and turn red from a mix of embarrassment and anger. Lucci rose an unimpressed brow. Spandam stopped and cleared his throat, sweat going down his temple.

"Y-yes well, I came to see if the both of you understood the assignment. (Y/N)," Spandam called, and you looked at him in attention but with a blank look in your eyes, "Why don't you state the information given?" Spandam was smirking in dark amusement, but you overlooked it.

You nodded and stated the facts.

"A sighting was reported of pirates in a village, who seemed to be helping the pirates for reasons unknown. All the citizens of the village must be eliminated immediately, as well as the pirates that were sighted if they are in the area." You answered robotically, not noticing Lucci's narrowed eyes.

'Just the village? Does she not know?' Lucci thought, looking down at you and then looking at the highly amused director. 'Ah...'

"But sir," you began carefully, "why must you join our mission? You've never done it before."

'I know.' Lucci thought, as he watched the Director try to hide his smirk and answered that he just wanted to look over this particular mission. The answer satisfied you, so you nodded. But Lucci saw your questioning eyes.

You didn't believe him.

You shouldn't.

Spandam eventually left you and Lucci alone, closing the door of the training room behind him. You immediately turned towards Lucci, only to see him sitting on the chair, leaning his arms on the backrest and his head towards the ceiling with his eyes closed. You went over towards him, standing in front of his seated position.

"You didn't have to butt in, you know." You said, referring back to when Lucci corrected Spandam that it was a tie.

Lucci didn't open his eyes as he answered.

"You would've said things you would regret like the idiot you are. You should be thankful, scum."

Your brows furrowed.

'But that's not like you.' You wanted to say, but instead you said this.

"I am thankful... Thank you, Lucci-neko." You gave a small smile, Lucci opened one eye a smirk on his features. A smirk that said he's planning something.

"The Director seemed to have forgotten something in your assignment."

You rose a suspicious brow at Lucci's demeanor, but a frown came onto your face. No wonder he was looking like that when he asked you to state the details.

"Well? What is it?" You questioned, curious to know what the horrible man left out. Probably more enemies and targets then stated? A whole different island?

Lucci's smirk widened.

"First, you must give me something in return. I didn't say that towards the Director just for a thanks from you. What kind of man do you think I am?"

You wanted to deadpan at him, but depressed lines just came over you.

'Of course! This is Lucci! He always does things to get what he wants!'

You didn't hold back a groan.

"You're a tough man to please, Lucci-neko. But," you crossed your arms, looking down at him as he still sat in the chair in front of you, "what do you want?" The Zoan's eyes glinted.

And with a swift grab to your arm, a flutter from the escaping Hattori, you were sitting in the man's lap with his breath tickling your neck and arms wrapped tightly around your waist.

You turned red.

"What the freaking hell—?!"

Lucci shushed you, you felt his smirk tickling the nape of your neck. In truth, you felt him all around you. His bare chest was touching your bare shoulders, for you were wearing your training tank top. You felt the muscles underneath, mixed with the sweat. Too close. Too close. By this point, the details of your nightmare was no longer in your mind as you felt Lucci's lips move to speak.

"Stay here for two minutes. No trying to escape, or calling me by that dreadful nickname. That's what I want."

Your brows furrowed down in a mix of anger and just complete fluster.

"W-w-wha?! But why?!"

You now felt Lucci's lips by your ear, the one that he bit the day you touched the scar on his back. A nervous sweat was already forming on your forehead. He wouldn't possibly want to do that again...would he?

"Do it. Or I won't tell." His dark voice whispered, almost coming out as a seductive purr.

You wanted to growl at him. But...the information may be important. So you nodded.
You felt Lucci's smirk widen on your ear, which was tickling it. And immediately felt a bite. You jolted, but Lucci's arms held you down. A growl left his lips in warning, so you tried to stay still without squirming. It became hard the moment his tongue played with the shell of your ear, you couldn't help but release a small mewl. Lucci purred in the back of his throat, and released his mouth from your ear only to tickle it with his voice.

"Say my name."

You tried to turn your head to give him a glare, only to see a smug satisfied look on his face.

"Why?" You questioned.

His lips quirked further upwards, a dark glint within his already dark eyes.

"Just do it."

You wanted to yell at him in anger, but you just turned around with a glare and a tenseness in your shoulders as your hands held Lucci's arms around your waist in place. Next thing you knew, he bit you again, but somehow softer this time. His teeth softly biting the shell of your ear all around. Then his tongue came again. Your face reddened to extremes as he switched back and forth from the pain but somehow changing it to...pleasure?

"L-Lucci!" You shouted, possibly hoping that he would stop. But you noticed your voice was weak. Lucci tightened his hold around your waist and brought you closer to his form.

You then felt something close to your rear. It was hard.

You widened your eyes. Your whole body turned red.

"O-OI! Control yourself Lucci! It's been two minutes! What was the missing information?!" You yelled in embarrassment. Lucci paused his attack on your ear.

"So it has. Fine." He released you, and you immediately bolted away from him, red faced.

"The hell is wrong with you?! You-your-!" You stopped, annoyed by Lucci's face that screamed he was enjoying this. And that he knew what you were trying to say. "GAH! Just say what I need so I can go—"

"It's not just a village we have to eliminate." Lucci interrupted, his arrogant smirk gone. You stopped your yelling and stared at him with furrowed brows. At your confused look, Lucci elaborated.

"It's the whole island."

You froze.

"What...?"

"Look at your hands."

You looked down, eyes widening. Your hands were covered in blood. It was still wet but sticky, the copper scent filling up your nose and you wanted to cough. You couldn't breath...!

Your dark eyes hid behind your cap as your nightmare came to your mind once again. Your hands...your hands are already filled with blood. Why the whole island? Why everybody? Why must you dirty your hands with innocents that could've just been threatened by the Pirates to help them in first place? At your silence, Lucci closed his dark eyes and rose up from his seat.

"Every citizen in the island was seen helping the pirates," Lucci opened his dark eyes, only to see yours still shadowed by your cap, "They did it voluntarily. Not one scout saw a villager harmed in the sighting of this."

That didn't make it any better. That didn't erase the blood that will come onto your already tainted hands. You've killed so many people.

And for what?

Justice? Approval? Acceptance?

The people who have accepted you aren't here, as well as the people who you've always sook approval.

No one here would ever do such things.

You bit your lip.

You will always be a pirate's offspring after all. Shadowed by his choices, even though you've tried to show to others that you are something more. What's the point? You've tried since you were a kid, and only a few accepted you as you and not as a daughter of a pirate. You've tried and tried here.

And tried and tried, and tried. Only to spot sneers and being faced with mocking tones.

What's the point?

Are these bloody tainted hands only for show? Or do they not exist? Has everything you've done in your life, worth nothing in their eyes? These hands...

'Why don't I use them to spill my own blood—'

You felt a gentle hand on your head, you froze and moved your eyes upwards. Lucci was facing his head away from you, but his hand still rubbed your head. Moving downwards to curl a few strands of hair around his finger.

"You're more then what you think, scum." Lucci said, tone hard but at the same time...soft. "Don't forget that (Y/N)."

And with the feeling of his soft foreign touch still on your head, he walked off. Leaving you with a sad but thankful smile on your face, your dark thought erased from your mind.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR'S!!! Another year with this story, and still going strong. ;D

I'd just like to thank all of you who have been here since the beginning of this story, when this story was just a nobody. When it only had a 100 views and what not, with just the first three chapters posted. And thank you to those who have just joined me in this adventure with Silver Blood and the other men. The adventure has become even more important and worthwhile now. ^///////^

There's more to come in this story, ALWAYS. So look forward to this story in the New Year!!!

LETS DO ANOTHER YEAR!!!

...You are more then what you think Reader-San. ALWAYS.

You are someone's reason to smile, to laugh, to be happy. You may not know it, but NEVER think for a second that you aren't. It may be from a person you least expected.

No mistake or number of mistakes is worth your life. YOU ARE WORTH EVERYTHING.

ALWAYS.

Now that I moved on from quite a serious topic... I apologize about that by the way...if I brought bad memories or if I triggered someone, that was not my intention.

Like I said before, I created this story originally not only for me to just enjoy, but to put valuable and important lessons to always remember.

My lessons shown in future chapters may also be serious like in this one, so I again apologize if I ever bring horrible memories or if I brought one with this current chapter.

I just...want everyone to remember, to KNOW...that someone cares about you and thinks your home to them, you know?

Anyways...it seems Lucci helped Silver Blood...but did he save her?

If someone doesn't understand, I'm showing the past of Silver Blood. Showing what happened in THAT mission all those years ago, and what exactly happened between her being in CP9 and becoming a pirate. Amongst other things. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

This is The Dark Mission Arc.

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Votes~~

Main Pairings
Shanks: 73

Side Pairings
Kaku: 6
Paulie: 6
Buggy: 7

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FANART CORNER

By: @Lucci