I always work alone (Eustass Kid x OC)

Chapter 23 : Killer smiles

Everything was different out there. It took Lanniya some time to get it all : how the people talked, did and acted. For some weeks, she snuck out around the Shogun's residence, which gave him some useful informations. The fact that Kid was now captive was a big subject of conversation. She learnt that they had put the Victoria Punk in a port in Kuri, not far from Udon. She knew that she couldn't loose too much time. God knows what they could do to them. Every day passing by was making her more anxious.

She made her way through Ebisu and towards Udon. It was a long trip and she was walking every day all day. She finally saw the Victoria Punk on a cliff. After another snuck, Lanniya found that they lived in the boat. Kaido's men were coming to feed them. One night, she waited that they were out to come and talk to them. Heat was there, but she couldn't see Killer.

- Heat, you whispered, taping her fingers against a window.

He heard and went to see who it was.

- Crane !

- Shh, she said.

- You're alive ! How come ?

- We don't have time. How are you all doing ?

- Us ? It's going. We have enough food but we are kinda... held prisoners.

- Where is Killer ?

Heat's face had become paler. Lanniya could feel that something went wrong.

- Crane, you've come too late. We didn't know you were alive. Don't scuff him, please. He did it to protect us.

- What ? What happened to him ? Don't tell me they tortured him, please, tell me he's alive.

- Someone's talking, they heard some men say.

They heard them coming her way so she slipped in a rift while turning herself into a dead corpse, almost invisible. Meanwhile, Heat talked with some other members of the crew.

- That's the other creep. He's talking really loud.

They hit the window violently.

- Speak lower !

They laughed and went away. She sighed and went back to Heat.

- For Killer... He's mostly out there in the mountains. He'll be coming tomorrow night, if you manage to wait until that.

- Heat, tell me what happened.

- You heard about the Smiles ?

- The false Demon Fruits ?

- You know the consequences about eating one ?

Lanniya had heard rumors about that. She didn't want to believe it. And in a second, she remembered the people in Ebisu.

- Nine fruits out of ten are making you smile forever and don't give powers, right ? she said with a shaky voice.

- He did it to protect us, Crane, I promise, don't be mad at him.

She fell on her knees, her eyes full of tears. Heat called her, but she could not hear him.

No. They haven't. They didn't do that. They can't.

Heat sighed. Killer's story was a secret for no one, and despite her kind of hate towards him, Lanniya had a huge respect for that aspect of him.

- Well, I guess I'll let you see, Crane.

- Tell the others that I'm there, she said standing up. But they can't say it out loud in front of the Beasts. They don't know I'm alive.

Lanniya hid in the forest, close to the border of the Floral Capital. There, she could reach everything easily. As the next day passed, she climbed on a tree, pretty close to the Victoria Punk but far enough from the Beasts to be able to talk freely. The night fell and she looked at the mountain, waiting for Killer to come. Around midnight, a mysterious person came. He had a high pony tail and traditional clothes. He was walking slowly, as if every step was painful. Lanniya jumped down and went in front of him. Yes, from the gait, it was clear it wasKiller. But when she could finally see him correctly, she had a shock.

His face was covered with messy strips, like a mummy out of its grave for too long. His eyes and mouth were visible. He didn't seem fine at all, but had a huge smile on his face. When he recognised her, he fell on his knees and laughed hysterically.

- Crane... You look terrifying.

There were tears running down his face but he kept laughing. It was horrible to see.

- I didn't want to. I had to protect them.

Lanniya had her mouth covered by her hand and tears coming down her face. He was still laughing. It reminded her of the people in Ebisu. It was unbearable.

- Killer...

Lanniya wanted to take him in her arms, but was too afraid at the same time. She could feel how it was a torture for him. She wanted to help him, free him, but she couldn't.

- Kill me, please, he asked.

- I can't. Kid will kill me.

It was completely stupid, but nothing else came out of her mind.

- He loves you. He won't.

- Killer, I need your help for the others.

He didn't say anything else. She took his hands.

- It must be horrible. I'm so sorry. If I would've come earlier, you would be safe.

- We thought you were dead.

He started to talk nonsense so she helped him to reach the boat with the others. There, he helped her to get on the boat and they went in his room. He had food and water. Lanniya helped him to recover, and once he was calm again, he looked at her with a huge smile, but she started to get used to.

- What did they do to you ?

His head fell.

- They forced me, Crane. Kaido uses me as an assassin to scare the people to sneak out of their houses at night. The Beasts chase me since I'm not part of their army.

- Why ? You ate a Smile !

- But Kid did not surrender. And he will not.

- I know. You know where he is, right ? Did you see him.

He shook his head.

- They would know it's me. I can't.

He looked at her.

- They searched the whole boat. I hid your clothes and we said it was Heat's room. I think Kid wanted you to stay out of our crew to them.

She looked down.

- I don't know. He just wanted to save me.

- We thought you had died. You didn't make a sign and you're not the type of person who gives up like that.

- I wanted to make sure that I was dead for them. And I should stay so.

Killer laughed.

- Your things are still here. I'll help you stay covered, if you want. You are our last hope.

Lanniya looked at the factories in the far. The last hope... Yes, but how would she do to free them all ?