See You Later, Alligator | Roronoa Zoro

four

Eiko’s blood was a storm under her skin the moment her eyes found Hiraya.

All those years, those memories of that dark, cold cell came crashing in like a wave she couldn’t stop. The sting of fresh wounds still burned in her memory—the ropes, the taste of her own blood, the crack of the whip slicing through the air.

And Hiraya, standing there, no mercy in her eyes. Just hate.

Eiko had escape over and over the years that Hiraya tried to kill or lock her up in one of the Navy's headquarters.

But every attempt had failed. And every failure ended with Hiraya’s whip, her cruel voice sinking deep into Eiko’s soul like a knife.

"For three years, Eiko Red, you've been too damn lucky." Hiraya's voice was like poison, seeping into Eiko's mind. "But now look at you. Who’s begging now, huh?" Her words cut deeper than the whip ever could.

Eiko hung there, hands bound, the chains cold against her skin, stripped to nothing but her undergarments. She was exposed, humiliated. But what stung worse was that Hiraya loved every second of it.

"Why so quiet? Scared?" Hiraya’s laugh was cruel, mocking. "Ashamed?"

Eiko's tears burned, and she hated herself for it. She hated how weak she felt as Hiraya swung the whip again—50 times now, maybe more. Every hit made her scream, but Hiraya wanted more. She fed off the pain.

"Scream, damn it! Beg!" Hiraya demanded, her breath heavy, her face twisted in that sick grin. "I wanna hear every last scream from the woman with the highest bounty. Come on!" Her voice was breathless, like this torture was the best thing she’d felt in a long time.

The room echoed with Eiko’s cries. Her body shook, and still, Hiraya didn’t stop, not until she was out of breath herself. It was only then that the beating stopped. Hiraya stood there, wiping the sweat from her brow, looking over Eiko like she was proud of the mess she’d made.

“I’ll be back tomorrow,” Hiraya said to one of the guards, her voice still full of that sick joy. "Keep an eye on her."

Eiko never forgot that. How could she?

Now, sitting at that bar with the Straw Hats around her, Hiraya was back again. Of course she was. Always chasing, never giving up. Eiko could feel Hiraya’s eyes on her back even before she turned around.

"Oh, how fitting," Hiraya scoffed, stepping into the tavern like she owned it. "I always knew the Straw Hats would end up dragging in trash like you. Completely unworthy, the lot of you." Her laugh was just as sharp as it had been back in that cell.

Luffy didn’t hesitate. He was on his feet, standing between Hiraya and Eiko like he was ready to take on the whole damn Marine fleet himself.

That was Luffy—always protecting, always ready to throw down if someone messed with his crew.

"Who are you?" Luffy asked, his eyes narrow.

Hiraya smirked, like the name alone would make them all shiver. "Hiraya. Vice Admiral. And if you want to stay out of the mess she’s caused, you’ll hand her over now."

Usopp, bless his heart, stood up too, shaking his head like he was ready to go to war himself. "No way! We’re not giving her to you!" His voice cracked, but it was brave. Nami yanked him back down before he made things worse, and you could see the regret hit him immediately.

Hiraya didn’t care. She sighed, like she was dealing with a bunch of kids. "Always so difficult. Do you even understand the kind of person you’re protecting?" She shot Luffy a look, like he was the biggest idiot in the world.