Chapter 9

Nana's eyes widen in surprise as she looked over the rails and to the creatures in the ocean. They were big and blue. "Kizaru-san! Kizaru-san!" Nana ran over to the Admiral and jumped onto his shoulder, pointed her cuffed hands into the water excitedly. "What are those?"

"Hmm," Kizaru hummed at the odd demon. She was far more cheerful than Cal. The light-man walked to the edge of the ship and looked to what Nana was pointing at. "Oh those? They're Blugori and they're strong enough to take down a sea king." Just as he mentioned their strength they watched as a group of blugori defeated a lizard sea king and drag it towards the prison.

Nana's jaw dropped at the creatures. "They're amazing. What else is in the water?" The redhead leaned forward on Kizaru's shoulder only to have him pull her back.

"Hmm can't have you falling into the water now." He drawled out. Letting her stay seated on her shoulder. "You're an odd demon."

Nana glanced at Kizaru and saw his calculating eyes bore into her. She just shrugged her shoulders and replied, "Well, for starters, I wasn't locked away."

Kizaru hummed and folded his arms. "They say Garp-san defeated you."

"Defeated?" Nana snorted, "Well, I guess that's not a lie. He's the only man that's been able to defeat me. Left me broken and bloody that day but it was a glorious fight." Nana recalled the memory faintly. "I did fall first but he was never able to catch me. Managed to run away before his backup arrived to take me away." Nana flashed a wicked grin to the Admiral. "He's an old man. He won't be able to stop me now."

Kizaru's eyes widened a fraction. "Oh how scary." He turned his head once he heard his men say the ship was docked and headed towards the prison. "Once we get there I'll start counting down."

"Oi oi don't leave us behind." Doflamingo leaped out from the ship and landed behind the duo. He looked up to Nana who was happily chatting to the humming Kizaru and frowned. She was nothing like the other demon-user. Nana seemed in control of her rage and bloodlust. Whoever her master was must be a powerful foe to keep in her line and hidden all these years. Doflamingo had heard of the old stories about the demon fox that leveled an entire island and wanted to know what sort of power Nana possessed.

Nana jumped down from Kizaru's shoulder and allowed the female guard to pat her down in front of everybody. "She's cleared." The woman saluted to her superior.

Nana ignored the woman and looked up to Kizaru again. "I wonder what sort of monsters you've got in here." She commented and followed him into the lift.

"You're not sitting on me again," Kizaru spoke, seeing the glint in her eye. Though he chuckled when she grinned at him. "Monsters from all over the world are held here. Some legends and others unknown to the world and they should stay unknown."

"They're angry." Nana felt their rage seep through the thick stones. "A demon should never be imprisoned here. It's too dangerous."

Doflamingo encased Nana in his cuffed arms and pulled her to his chest. "You have outstanding control, fox lady." He grinned and chuckled when her cheeks flushed. "Cal would've rampaged the second he saw Impel Down."

"Oh stop it." Nana laughed and jabbed Doflamingo's gut in both annoyance and jest. "I'm not like that rookie."

"Doflamingo." Kizaru warned the shichibukai. Though the man didn't remove himself from the redhead. Kuma had been silent the entire time and only spoke when Nana was curious about something and showed it to him. "Where have you been hiding, Nana?" The Admiral was curious. "You disappeared and resurfaced a decade ago before going incognito."

"Hard work." Nana shrugged her shoulders and bit her lip when the elevator screeched open. Revealing a dank stone level. Rows upon rows of heavily fortified cages with seastone bars. "What is this place? Isolation." Nana muttered to herself and followed behind Kizaru. She ignored the lecherous hollers from the male inmates and held her head up proudly.

"Oi you have a guest," Kizaru spoke up and stood to the side of the jail cell.

"Mama?" Ace whispered in disbelief as he looked at the woman standing before him. She was looking around the prison in disgust before looking at him. Ace shivered as those familiar red eyes zoned on him. "You're alive?"

Nana bit her lip harder at the sight of her beaten and chain adoptive son. "You idiot." Nana hissed as she walked closer to the cage and sat just at the edge. "Do you know how worried I've been since I heard the news of you?" She whispered harshly to the young man. She felt her eyes burn as she took in the grown man before her and offered a rueful smile. "You've grown up so much."

Ace stood and pulled at his chains in an attempt to get closer to the woman before him. "Mama!" He choked out. "You shouldn't be here." Falling to his knees as he saw her cuffed arms and glared at the powerhouses surrounding her. "They're going to kill you!"

"They're going to kill you too," Nana replied back and reached between the bars. Her finger barely grazed his face before she gave up with a hopeless sigh. "I raised you better than this."

Ace snorted as he held back tears. "You raised me with a temper that rivaled your own." He chuckled quietly when he saw her ears turn red. "I've been looking everywhere for you. Gramps wouldn't tell me where you went but I know he knew."

"Ace," Nana whispered and shook her head.

"I know what you are, Mama, and I don't care. I became strong enough to be able to protect you!" Ace leaned forward, desperate to hold her gaze. "I prayed every day that you'd come and find me when you saw how far I've gotten."

"Ace," Nana said firmly and looked deep into his eyes. "I wasn't the one that needed protecting."

Ace gritted his teeth at what she said. "I know all about demons-"

"No, you don't!" Nana shouted and silenced the entire level. "You're a brat that doesn't know a damn thing." Nana raised to her knees and slammed her hands against the bars above her head. "You may not be my blood, Ace, but you're my kit - my boy. I'll destroy everything that's in my way. To make sure that you're safe. Even when it means slaughtering the innocent and young. I won't stop till I stop breathing. Do you understand me, Ace?"

Ace's eyes widen as the tears were close to spilling. "Mama." he whispered, "Please, don't come back for me." He leaned his body forward till he couldn't see the redheaded woman. "I don't want to be saved by you."

Nana looked down at the bowing young man. "You're my precious boy that took care of Luffy when I had to leave you both. I'm not going to let my boy die before me - I absolutely refuse." Nana crouched down and whispered gently for only the two of them to hear. "Ace, daisuki."

Ace froze as those words rang through his head. "Mama-" Ace snapped his head up and saw nothing but empty space. He looked around in confusion as Kizaru was already giving orders to search the prison and close off all exits. "Mama." Ace gritted his teeth as the tears streamed down his face. "Daisuki."

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Nana slammed her fist deep into the wall. "My boy..." She hissed out as the tears flowed freely and splattered on the carpeted floor. "You swore to take care of him." Nana pulled her fist out and made another hole in the wall. The silence in the room was deafening as her sniffles broke the wind. "When he became a pirate, you swore to me that you'll take care of him when he came to the New World!"

"I'm not going to force my son into hiding. He does what he does with passion and didn't regret his choices. You should be proud of him." Whitebeard scolded the sobbing fox lady before taking a swig of his sake. He was alone in his cabin when the woman barged into his ship and caused a ruckus. "Honestly, after all these years and this is how you treat me. You were a lot nicer before you became a demon." He commented as he recalled the days of the sunny brunette that was eager to help heal his crew after a tough fight with the Roger pirates in exchange for knowledge about the world. Both drinking the days away and bickered in each other's presence. "Besides that, you haven't changed at all. Still a brat."

Nana glared at the giant man.

Whitebeard took another swig of his sake before throwing the bottle at the lady. "Here, I remember you love this stuff. No point in sulking around right now. The plan's already in action."

Nana caught the giant gourd and sat down on the floor. Letting the familiar rice drink flow down her throat. Nana gasped, feeling refreshed and said, "Better than wine." She placed the gourd down and looked at the floor pitifully. "Was I wrong to leave them, Edward?"

Whitebeard arched a brow at hearing his name. "You were doing what you thought was best at the time. Had the marines come to you it would have risked the identity of Ace and once they knew he was raised by the demon fox, they would've killed him." He spoke freely and heard her click her tongue in annoyance. Whitebeard moved his eyes to her neck and asked, "You still haven't made a bond."

Nana looked up at Whitebeard with a sigh. "No."

"You will be a hindrance during the fight." He gestured for the sake and took a need drink. "Anyone of the enemy that knows how to obtain a demon can mark you." He noted how she covered the place between her neck and shoulder protectively. "Everyone from our generation is getting old. Have you considered finding a lover?"

Nana turned as bright as her hair. "L-lover? Haha, how proposertious. Who would want to love a demon?"

Whitebeard regarded her carefully. Watching how her blush refused to go away and how she looked more embarrassed than annoyed. A broad grin appeared on his face and barked out in laughter, "Gurarara! I see now."

Nana grew suspicious of her old friend. "What do you see, Old man?"

"None your business. Gurarara!" He laughed and tossed the gourd to the pissed kitsune. "The eldest sister yet still so innocent. No wonder Tabitha and Serena were so protective of you."

Nana threw back the rest of the sake. Tossing Whitebeard her middle finger as the last of the alcohol left the bottle. The redhead slammed the bottle to the floor and gasped out after her drink. "You used to be cuter. Don't forget I'm older than you, Punk. Show some respect."

"No thanks." Whitebeard rejected and both laughed at the idea. Whitebeard saw the lady as a precious sister. "I'm sure Roger would've like to meet you."

"Gol D Roger?" Nana arched a brow as she folded her arms. Pushing away the anxiety of the impending fight. "Ace's papa."

Edward nodded. "I can see you two as great friends. He was bloodthirsty but a good man. Just like you."

Nana stood and stretched her back. "Well, we'll never know. I'm gonna take a nap." Nana stepped forward and easily transformed into the smaller version of the nine-tail fox and jumped up onto Whitebeard's shoulder. Leaving her clothes piled on the floor. Curling herself around him and locked her tails comfortably around his neck. Nana nuzzled closer to his neck and whispered, "Thank you for taking care of him, Edward."

Whitebeard snorted and ran and finger along her chin. "Don't mention it, brat."