Café Curious

16

My eyebrows pulled together.

"Your mother was supposed to marry Doflamingo-ya?" I asked. Aka nodded.

"She just finished med school and grandpa told her that she'd never use it. She was sent to Kuroshi, where we met, to meet Uncle Doflamingo. Uncle fell head over heels in love with mom at first sight. But mom hated him from the day they met. But she and dad loved each other from the start." She explained.

"Remember back at my graduation? When Uncle said that the arranged marriage for me and Bellamy was "my duty as a Donquixote" and "since my father refused to follow tradition"? That's what he meant. And why Uncle Doffy never married. He was supposed to marry mom while dad was supposed to marry some other woman. Mom and dad ran away and eloped. Then had me." Aka said. She sighed and stared down at her lap.

"And... from what I saw in his office that one day... according to "tradition" if one brother died and they had no children, then the bride would marry the other brother. I think Uncle always knew where mom was. And him marrying me off to Bellamy was his way to get her. Bellamy would beat me to death, Uncle would find mom and mom wouldn't have a choice. Even if Whitebeard defended her." Aka sighed and turned her attention to the ceiling.

I stood up and picked her up bridal style, then sat down with her in my lap. I wrapped my arms around her waist and held her close to me. She looked at me with tears in her eyes.

"I won't let that happen. And I'm sure that should anything happen we can call on the Revolutionaries to help us out again. After all, we have Dawn-ya, Sabo-ya and Ginger-ya in our contacts." I said. She smiled at me as the tears peaked and ran down her cheeks. I reached up and brushed them away.

"Don't cry, Aka-ya. You look more beautiful when you smile." I said. I pulled her head down and kissed her.

"I love you." She said. I smiled and stroked her cheek.

"I love you, too, Aka-ya. With all of my heart." I said. She buried her face in my neck and I held her tight. There was a knock at the door. I sighed as Aka climbed off my lap. I stood up.

"I've got it this time, love." I said. I walked over to the door and answered it. Shachi stood there with a bright grin and a leashed Bepo.

"Captain!" He cheered in greeting. I scowled at him.

"Did I do something wrong?" He asked.

"Bark! Bork!" Bepo barked excitedly.

"Is that my buddy Bepo?! Come here, boy!" Aka called. Shachi released Bepo from his leash and the dog ran to Aka.
Aka immediately began to pet the dog.

"Oh, who's a good boy?" She asked as she rubbed him. I let Shachi in the house.

"By the way, Aka-chan. Why did you get home before Captain and why didn't you have your key?" Shachi asked.

"What do you mean, Shachi? I came home at 5:00am with Law." She said.

"Then... who was that woman at 10:00 last night?" He asked.

"You let a stranger in my house thinking she was my girlfriend?" I asked. Shachi swollowed hard.

"Ho-hold on, Law! It was an honest mistake! She wore her hair the same way and her eyes were the same! Her voice sounded similar to Aka-chan's though it was more proper, but anyway-" Shachi's panic was cut off by Aka's giggle.

"It's okay, Shachi. The woman you let in was my mother. It's alright. Law is just playing bitter." She said. I rolled my eyes.