Chapter 11: Choices

Disclaimer: Don't own One Piece

Kirsty sat quietly in her office, hours after the meeting earlier that day. She wasn't thinking about her patients like she normally would. She was thinking about what that stranger, Axe, had requested of them.

Flashback

"Crew?"

Axe nodded, "That's right, Doc. See...I'm what you would call...a treasure hunter of sorts,". Devon scoffed, "Ya mean pirate...,". Axe nodded slowly, "Yes, I believe that's one word for it, but I prefer the term Treasure Hunter. Lemme explain my predicament. It's been a long time goal of mine to find all the greatest treasures of the world. Whether it be buried on an island, or sealed by some sort of myth or legend. But I can't do it, unless I have a crew. I came here to this island by accident on my way to meet up with some promising candidates...but then I saw you all fight and I knew, that you would be perfect for it,".

"Well, this is funny. I leave one crew only to get recruited again...," Dusty muttered, shaking her head. Kirsty looked at him, "Why us? What do we have that can be of use to you?" she asked. Smiling, Axe pointed to Devon, "His strength with the Katanas. I'd rather have Roronoa Zolo on my side, but I heard he's already part of one...," he then pointed to Dusty, "Her speed and agility, mixed with her illusions...," then he finally pointed at Kirsty, "I can always use a doctor...even one that can heal wounds without any medical equipment...,".

Devon frowned and looked at Kirsty, "Yeah, about that. How the hell did you do that?". The blonde woman smiled nervously, "I uh...ate a Cursed Fruit when I was younger...," she confessed, "It was called the Heal-Heal Fruit. Of course, I know that I can't swim anymore...but in exchange for that, I can help people much easier. I can heal about five people a day no problem...and...hehehehe,".

"Wait, you ate a Cursed Fruit too, Doc?" Dusty asked loudly. Kirsty raised an eyebrow at her, "You mean you ate one, Dusty?". The fox girl nodded and pointed to her ears and her tail, "What, you think I got these when I was born? Naw, I ate the Kit-Kit fruit!" she said with a grin. The two girls looked over at Devon with an expected look on their faces.

Catching the looks, he frowned and held up his hands, "Hey, what are you looking at me for?" he snapped. "What Fruit did you eat?" Dusty asked him. Devon shook his head and waved his hands, "Uh uh...no freakish fruit! I don't have any ability except what I use for my blade...,".

"Anyway...," Axe interrupted, a slight tone of annoyance in his voice, "If you join my crew, I swear that you will not regret it. You will see new people, new places, all sorts of gold and treasure! I can guarantee you that you will see things that most people in this world have never seen before!" he offered.

Dusty put her arms behind her head and looked up, "I dunno...I mean, I just got off one...,".

"Legendary treasure...?" Devon wondered aloud as he rubbed his chin.

Austin bounced up and down excitedly, pulling on his older brother's shirt.

Kirsty looked down at the floor, silent.

"Aw, hell. Why not? I'm in!" Dusty half-shouted. Devon looked at her, "But what about all that stuff that just happened with you? What about your dream?". The fox girl waved him off, "That was different...if he can guarantee us new places and new people, that means I can do my act wherever I go, and maybe someone will notice me and I'll be famous!" she gushed, stars covering her eyes.

The swordsman rolled his eyes, then turned back to Axe, "I'm in...if we have a chance of finding treasures like you say...I can't pass it up,". Axe nodded and clapped his hands together, then looked at Kirsty, who was still silent, "So...how about, Doc? You up for it?"

End Flashback

Kirsty idly drummed her fingers on her desk, the offer still very fresh in her mind. "What should I do...? I would love to go out and see these things...but I can't leave here. I'm the only doctor Tristram has. If I leave, no one will be able to care for the villagers...,".

"You ok, Doctor?" a quiet voice asked her.

She looked up and was surprised to see a large group of people standing outside her office door. "Um...yeah, I'm fine. Is there something you all need?" she asked, taken back that so many people were at the clinic. Amelia came into view after weaving in and out between the crowd, "We all know what that man asked of you Kirsty...,".

"Huh? How?"

One of men of the village lightly bonked Amelia on the noggin, "She overheard and then she told everyone else!" he explained. "I see...so? Don't worry, I'm not leaving with them," Kirsty assured them.

Amelia put her hands behind her back, "We think you should,". Kirsty was definitely surprised now, "What?". Her assistant walked over and planted herself on the desk, "We think you should go out and go with them, Kirsty. Hasn't it been something you wanted? To go out and see things that none of us have ever seen? Also, to find new ways of treating people? No offense, but we can't always rely on that ability of yours," she said, referring to the Cursed Fruit power.

Kirsty twiddled her fingers together, "Yeah...but...,". Amelia leaned down into her line of vision, "Also...think about Kyra...,". Kirsty's eyes widened at the name.

Kyra...

"So Doc...what's your answer?"

Dusty leaned against the side of the ferry supply boat, her bags at her feet. "One minute til this tub shoves off...she's not coming," she sighed sadly. Devon walked up to her, "You were hoping she'd come?" he asked. The fox girl nodded, her brown hair bouncing, "Yeah! I was really hoping she would. Me and her got along so great, and she was so nice..,"

"Even if you did want her to come, you can't force her...,"

The two of them looked behind them to see Axe walking up, a large bundle on his back. Devon nodded, "Captain's right...it was her choice,". A loud whistling made Dusty cover her ears, wincing, "Ow...!". Devon turned from the railing and started walking back to the other side, only to be hit with a large, bulging bag.

"Sorry, Devon!"

Dusty looked to the ramp and smiled widely as Kirsty walked aboard the boat. "DOC!" she shouted and ran over to her. Before Kirsty could do anything, Dusty glomped her and they both fell to the floor with a loud thud.

"YOU CAME! YOU CAME, YOU CAME, YOU CAME, YOU CAME!" Dusty yelped as she rolled over, still hugging Kirsty. The blonde girl wriggled an arm free and patted the kitsune on the back, "Yep...here I am...," she said, sweatdropping as some of the supply boat's crew stared at them.

Devon growled as he picked himself up and shoved the large bag to the wall, "What the hell do you have in there, Doc?". Kirsty, who had finally managed to free herself from the deadly glomping that was Dusty, walked over and checked her bag. "It's all the spare medical supplies from the clinic. I figured why not come prepared, eh?" she explained.

Axe leaned against the wall, nodding at the sight of the supplies, "That's a good idea, Doc...,". Kirsty smiled, "Thanks, Captain!" she said, mock-saluting him. Axe grinned and looked at the rest, "So...I guess this means that we're a team now, eh?".

Devon tapped his sword, Kirsty held up a V sign and Dusty's ears twitched. Axe held out his hand and put it in front of them, palm facing downward, "Everyone put your hand on mine...," he ordered. They all put their hands on top of his, and to everyone's surprise, Austin appeared out of nowhere and put his hand on theirs.

Axe looked at them all, "Welcome to the crew, everyone...you're all Axe-Head Pirates now,"

"What kind of name is Axe-Head?"

"Shut up, Dusty,"

"You shut up, Devon!"

On a distant island, in a large Marine HQ building, a woman with black hair sat quietly in the corner of her cell. She had been there for a few years now...for a crime she did not commit. She was changed from a pleading recruit, to a quiet and dangerous prisoner.

"So, when's the ferry boat gettin' here?" a voice from down the hall asked.

The woman with black hair turned her head slightly upon hearing the question.

"In about three days...,".

Footsteps echoed down the hallway and a lone Marine passed the cell the woman was sitting in. He stopped and banged on it, "HEY! You still alive in there?" he asked loudly.

As her reply, the woman gave him the middle finger. The Marine scowled and walked off.

Three days? Perfect...

The woman smiled and chuckled quietly to herself.

Kilnorc: there's that! hope it's good! ja ne!