A desperate papa

(Unedited)

The sight of the pulsating blob of flesh, constrained by a serpent of bones was one of the few oddest things Akane had ever seen on her journey across the sea.

And she had seen a lot.

She had crew mates from other worlds, a former slave from the mink tribe. Hell, one of her crew mates had even become a son of the Yonkou Whitebeard.

Yet this thing, squirming about in front of her... It made her feel uneasy.

The girl was not dead yet, but it wouldn't be long if this odd creature had anything to say about it. Even Akane's presence seemed to irritate it, as it lashed out towards her, trying to attack her.

Unconcerned by its feeble attempts, Akane drew closer.

Slapping its attacks to the side, Akane let her eyes track where it had burrowed so far, seeing it spread in all directions, burrowing deeply in the cavity of the chest.

When she reached out her hand, wanting to touch it, she could feel a set of claws draw near her, her observation haki kicking in to punch backwards.

Her fist slamming hard into a firm mass, the werewolf behind her crouched down on the ground, his arms covering his chest as he vomited blood.

The werewolf growled in anger, his fangs gleaming threateningly under the sheen of his own blood.

"Don't touch her! Don't you dare touch my daughter!"

Lunging forward once more, the werewolf dashed forward to attack Akane. His attacks had become sloppy, more erratic. Something that was easier to deal with than his previous attacks.

Grabbing the werewolf's arm, Akane slammed him over her shoulder and pinned him to the ground.

The werewolf struggled fiercely under her hold.

Drawing Tsukuyomi once more, she stabbed it down, driving in through the werewolf's shoulder and pinning him stuck to the ground.

The werewolf howled in pain, the wound bleeding less than expected, but the pain being more on the level of his soul being torn apart.

"Don't struggle. As your body it too resilient, I had to use another approach. Struggle if you want your soul to become damaged and perish."

With her words, the werewolf stopped moving, his angry howls having become gut wrenching sobs.

The werewolf deflated, becoming the scientist he once was, though more cut up in appearance.

"Don't... kill my daughter.... I'm begging you..."

The man's sobs continued softly, his body trembling in pain and despair.

"That depends. So far as I am concerned, you are the cause of my with disease inflicted crewmate. If I can kill you and it disappears, I will gladly do so. You see, while your daughter is your treasure, my crew mates are mine."

Akane tapped Tsukuyomi impatiently, the sword sinking down deeper with every tap, cutting the man under her feet even deeper and deeper. Not enough to kill, but enough to make him suffer.

"They are mine. Not yours to do with as you want. They joined my crew, so they are my responsibility. To make stronger, to enjoy my time with, the share their burdens, as well as to bury them should they fall in battle. I will not let some depressed sociopath be the end of them. Now give me the antidote or I will kill you and find out if that works."

Pressing down hard, Akane made the scientist scream in agony.

Yet no coherent answer was heard out of the man, only the sobs of a despairing man.

"Not my daughter.... Please....Not her..."

"Haah, I'm not getting anywhere at this rate."

Drawing Amatersu once more, the room was set ablaze in blue fire, slowly encroaching the three of them, if you could count an undead girl amongst them. With Amaterasu drawn, the heat began to climb up in scale, turning from light whitish blue towards a deep clear blue. The Stones around them began to show signs of melting, yet it left the people not touched by them unaffected.

"On the count of three, I will burn you, her and anything in this place to the ground."

Staring down coldly at the quivering man, Akane began to shrink the normal space around them, letting the fire creep in closer.

"One"

Not a single reply.

"Two"

Sweat began to form on the man's face as the heat brought him back to reality, his eyes darting towards his daughter.

"Three."

"Stop! I've destroyed it! I've stopped the disease!"

About to swallow the two of them whole, the man finally spoke up, screaming above the raging fire to get Akane's attention.

With the flames still flickering around them, Akane stared down at them man, her gaze not leaving him for a second.

"I don't belief you."

How could she when all he had done was cry on the ground, begging at her feet like a dog.

"I've done as you asked. Please, don't harm my daughter!"

The man once more begged, his hands grasping Akane's legs tightly in desperation.

"You want me to belief you when you have shown nothing."

"Trust me, go to your friend and see for yourself. He if fine!"

The man continued, his hands tugging hard on the trousers, gaining a hint of distaste from Akane.

Kicking his hand aside, Akane let the flames flicker out, the heat still remaining as the room had taken on the form of a molten wax figure.

Looking over her shoulder, Akane pulled Tsukuyomi from the man's shoulder, eliciting a pained groaned in response.

"If you have lied to me, I will kill you and your daughter. I promise you that."

Backing up her words with a response, Akane stabbed the girl with Tsukuyomi, her body disappearing from sight.

The man's eyes widened, panic flashing through them as she stared at Akane.

"Now follow me. I don't have time to waste on you."

"Where..? Where is she?! Where is Alice!"

"She is alive and that is all you will get to know. Now shut up and follow me."

Akane glared at the man, getting only a weak response as she walked back towards her ship, as well as to the place her crew was patiently waiting for her return.

*

*

*

Having arrived at the ship, she was greeted by her crew mates, as well as a healthy looking Soren. No signs of the disease were seen. The surroundings had cleared up as well, as the previous weeping trees had once more become humans.

The people spread out near them and further were weeping in joy, hugging each other as they rushed back to presumably their town, no doubt looking for their friends and loved ones.

"So how did it go, captain? I mean, Soren is back to normal, so I guess we already know, but still."

Dazai stepped forward, a big smile on his face as a conspicuous glaring head handprint was gracing the left side of his face.

"Had an accident?"

Spitting out filled with sarcasm, Akane handed the scientist to Shinobu.

"He's the cause. Find out with Lafitte what happened. If he won't talk, just remember I still have his daughter."

This earned Akane more than a few confused stares, but she didn't mind as she boarded the ship.

Ban quickly followed after her, striding a bit behind her as he crossed his hands behind his head.

"We found something interesting as well, little fox. An old hag with a devil fruit power. Lafitte found out which one, namely the Yaku-Yaku-no-mi. A medicine human. She's been treating the villagers. Curious thing is, she has done a lot more than just that. The people disappearing not from just the disease have spiked as well. Makes you wonder what she does in her free time."

Ban grinned, still following after her as they entered the captain's cabin.

Akane had a lot to think about and she had a feeling all the puzzle pieces were slowly falling in their place.