The Price Of Loyality (Inazuma POV)

friendship / angst

Spoilers for episode 448.

"Inazuma."

Yes. I know exactly what you need me to do, Iva-san.

I immediately turn and run up the stairs, snipping the walls with my scissors as I pass. I don't stop until I reach the top and turn to face the ribbons of wall that I just created. After years and years of my ability, I don't even have to think about what I'm doing to get it right. My lines are never anything less than perfectly straight, and my creations are always most pleasing to the eye. That's just how it is.

I'm about to start cutting the floor to seal the opening when I hear Gerry's voice behind me.

"But Iva-sama is still down there!"

"Never mind that," I reply curtly. "Get off this floor."

He does, and I stick the tips of my scissors into the floor. I make quick work of the concrete stones, only stopping when there's a couple of inches left. A few inches left of the opening that will ensure Iva-san's safety, rather than lock him in there. I bite my tongue until I can feel the coppery taste of blood in my mouth, pray that I won't come to regret this, and then I cut the remaining stone.

As I step back after making the last few arrangements, I can watch the opening close before me.

"Iva-san... please survive," I whisper, clutching the glass of wine in my hand.

That summer when you found me, I was young and naïve. I was in that age when you think that no goal is impossible to reach—that you'll be able to accomplish anything you put your mind into, no matter how big. The age when you try to do everything by yourself, and when every part of you screams that you deserve more recognition for it. I worked hard for that recognition too, mind, but to no avail.

You see, I had been politically active ever since my school years, but all projects I had been involved in had eventually ebbed out into nothing. People lost interest and left, and then it was only me. It was frustrating, and had led me into taking things in my own hands. If people weren't going to stay around me, I'd go to them. So as soon as I finished school, I started travelling all the cities I could afford, raising money and arranging demonstrations, starting foundations and petitions. I wrote letters to officials, spent hours sitting outside of their office buildings to make sure they received it, and so it went.

That day, I was collecting names for a petition against the new law passed down by the government .I wasn't doing particularly well, but I refused to give up. You were the largest person I had ever seen. It was impossible to miss you and your purple hair, purple make-up, purple everything. Even back then, you were striking. When you looked at me, it felt as though you looked right through me.

The first thing you did was to insult me and my hard work.

"Vyou don't really know what vyou're doing, are vyou?"

"That's none of your business," I'd snapped and turned away, because I knew you were right. I was fighting in the dark, had always been. I was alone, a soldier without his army.

But you didn't care about my dismissal.

"I like vyour spirit, Boy," you said instead. Then you held out your large hand. "Vi'm Ivankov. Let's be friends."

A few hours and a fair amount of wine later, I was putty in your hands.

Things only got better after that.

I found my place in the Revolutionary Army, the strongest organization opposing the government. With your help and guidance, I realized that some things couldn't be done if you didn't have other people to fall back on. That some things need to be done in group—and that together, we can be next to invincible.

You gave me the Choki Choki Fruit for my protection, which soon became a large part of me. You gave me a tangible purpose with my life through my work as a Revolutionary. You gave me an outlet for my most hidden side, my female self, which made me feel complete for the first time in my life.

You gave me everything.

And ever since, I have never doubted you.

Yes, Iva-san. I have always believed in you, always followed your orders, and always been loyal to you — no matter what. I'm not about to stop now. But nothing can make me leave this spot until you're here to join me.

/ You're stupid. /

Am I really? What if he needs me again?

/ Iva-san knows what he's doing! / Ina argues. / He wouldn't take unnecessary risks! /

I know. But if he's going to risk his life because he finds it necessary to help Luffy-kun escape, I'm not going to let him do it on his own. I'm going to stand here as long as I have to. After all, there's no point for me to go back to Kamabakka Kingdom without him.

/ I still think that you're stupid. /

I'm not stupid—I'm being reasonable. You won't be able to get out anymore either, you know. The only reason you can do that now is because of Iva-san. Are you really prepared to go back to life as it used to be?

/ Wow. You really need to cheer up, 'Zuma. You're starting to make me worried as well. /

My inner dialogue with my female self is interrupted as the stone barrier starts crumbling in front of me. Oh good, Iva-san made it through. I should have known not to worry.

"POISON ROAD!"

No.

No, no, please no…

Even as the purple silhouette of Warden Magellan appears and my attacks are rendered useless against his poison, my whole body covered in the fatal liquid, all I can think of is that Iva-san lost. My partner and savior lost.

And then everything goes black.