Burning Hearts [SEQUEL INCLUDED]

Sequel Chapter 12

Shimizu

I woke up, feeling fuzzy. It felt like I had slept for 3 days or even longer. I groaned softly a bit because a headache. I sat up, opened my eyes and looked around to see I was in a room. It was a cabin with 2 bunk beds, a wardrobe and a desk. I inspected the room and it looked quite safe. I then sighed in relief. The door was opened and Teach entered with a worried look. I waved lightly and he waved back.

"What's up? Did I pass out again? It's a regular thing. I'm always passing out but I've dealt with worse. Anyway, can I go now?" I asked.

"Why...?" Teach answered.

"Why? Oh, well, I may not be diagnosed properly but I have a handful of mental disorders. By then, it'd be too much to count-"

"Why'd you poison yourself?"

I looked at Teach with a confused look.

"Me? Poison myself? Please, I'm not stupid. I know the difference between water and weird liquids," I answered.

"Really? Then, that means you should know not to drink poisons, right?" Teach asked.

"Yeah, I know. Can I go now?" I answered.

"I'll let you go if you tell me what was this doing in your bag."

He took out a vial from his pocket and showed it to me. I had never been so shocked in my entire life. It was that one vial. The vial I had used to...

"Uh... That's... a... test tube?" I lied.

"I'm not stupid like my father, Shimizu. You tell me now or I'll inform the Straw Hats you tried to fake your death-"

"Ok, it's poison! There, happy?! God, I can't die in peace for once..." I blurted out.

Teach sighed and opened a window before he tossed the vial out to sea. He closed the window and then sat beside me.

"Shimizu."

I pursed my lip. Teach sighed and told me I could stay here for as long as I needed. He then left the cabin, closing the door behind him. I laid back on my bed and sighed softly.

"How did it come to this?"

ꕤ

Ember

Everyone was back to normal again. Well, almost everyone.

"Aiko! C'mon, you muffinhead! You need to eat! Your stomach isn't going to hold out being empty for long, y'know!" I shouted outside Aiko's door, holding his bento.

"Just leave it at my door. I'll collect it later. I'm busy now," He told me.

I sighed and did as he said. Aiko's been busy for the past 3 days. Ever since Law died and Shimizu went out of the grid, he started locking himself in his room and won't come out. Once, I heard him chanting incoherently and laughter. I thought he had gone insane. Luckily, he didn't and was just trying to remember something. It's a weird way of doing it but hey, what do I know?

"So, has he come out yet?" Zonji asked.

"Nope, he hasn't. I can't seem to make out what he's doing in there. One time, I heard chanting. Another time, I heard explosion. Another time, I heard... questionable noise. Still, it doesn't help me figure out what he's trying to do," I answered.

"Well, he'll come out eventually. Oh, and Hana's waiting for you at the bird's nest," Zonji told me.

ꕤ

Aiko

I had done it. I placed the tools down on my desk and admired the final product.

"It's beautiful... I'm sure everyone would like it."