2 Chapter 2

"You bastards! Let my brother go. I swear, I will rip you to pieces if I lay my hands on you." I screamed as blood oozed through my wounds. "Oye, look what we have here. The kid is still alive after taking two arrows; it seems like he wants more."

The man who shot the arrow at Doffy mocked me and turned his attention to me as he nocked a new arrow onto his bow.

"My children are innocent! Please aim your arrows at me." I heard the pleading words of our father, who was responsible for our ordeal; if not for his foolish act, we might not have to suffer, and our mother would have been alive today, but my concerns were more about Doffy's condition. I tried to break free from the restraints, and although the bind held firm, I knew if I tried I could break free.

But my resolve was tested further as another arrow found its mark, piercing through my legs with a searing pain. The leader of the mob, sensing my attempts to break free from my restraints, aimed to quash any resistance with a cruel and calculated strike.

"Ptui! These vermins are sure annoying," he spat, his words dripping with contempt. "Quick, finish them off before the marines arrive!"

"Aaaaaargh!" I couldn't help but scream in pain and frustration. It was then that I realized my eyes had been bound, but somehow I could still observe what was happening outside with clarity. Amidst all that pain, I had missed this crucial detail. Using my newfound senses, I tried to probe my brother's condition.

And that's when a sudden, soul-freezing chill emanated through the entire mob. "I will get even..." Doflamingo's demeanor had completely shifted, and all I could feel was hatred in his voice.

"I'll get even with you idiots," he continued. "Brother," I called out in concern, though I knew what was about to happen, so I couldn't help but sigh a bit in relief.

"It's okay, little brother. I'm not gonna die," Doflamingo addressed me, his words filled with determination. "I'm going to survive, no matter what these guys do to me. Stay strong, little brother. Someday, I will come and kill every one of these jerks who have harmed us!"

The entire mob went silent at the blatant declaration of the young boy pinned to the wall. Everyone realized that he meant every word. Some instinctively retreated back a few steps due to fear, while others aimed their weapons at me and Doflamingo, eager to bury these two little monsters.

Contrary to everyone's expectations, a sudden burst of energy erupted from Doflamingo as he screamed, "I will kill you ALLLLLLL!" A surge of Conqueror's Haki rippled through the mob, and I could clearly observe, even with my blindfold, how the mob fell like broken twigs. Even our father was knocked out by the pressure. Only myself and my brother Doflamingo remained conscious.

Though I had innately awakened my Observation Haki, the range was not very large. Still, I picked up the life signal of a boy about our age who hid amongst the rubble. He was outside the radius of Doflamingo's Conqueror's Haki, so he remained conscious. My distraction was cut short as I heard my brother's voice calling out to me in concern.

I struggled for quite some time, and despite the pain, I broke free from the binds. I fell almost 20 feet, but I didn't take any damage. I was puzzled, but I related it to the physique in this new world.

I struggled towards a sword that now lay on the ground and cut the ropes that bound me. Although I was battered and bruised, I quickly made my way towards Doffy.

"Brother, wait, let me help you down." I searched among the fallen mob and was luckily able to find an old, tattered pistol. With trembling hands, I took aim, but the experience from my past life didn't fail me. With a single accurate shot, I severed the rope that held my brother to the wall.

I rushed towards where my brother fell. His current condition was much better than mine; the only major injury was an arrow, but it was not fatal. I quickly helped Doflamingo out of his binds, and when he undid his blindfold, fatigue caught up to me, and I fell unconscious.

As consciousness slowly trickled back into my senses, I stirred from the depths of the weakness that had engulfed me. It felt like I had been sleeping for days, my body wrapped in bandages that hinted at the severity of my injuries. Blinking away the haze of sleep, I took stock of my surroundings.

I found myself in a shabby little room, its walls adorned with peeling paint and cracks that snaked across the ceiling. The dim light filtering through a small window cast long shadows, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the unfamiliar place. It was a stark contrast to the luxurious settings I was accustomed to, and I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of my stomach.

"Oh, you are awake? "

A voice, strangely high-pitched and tinged with humor, broke through the silence, pulling my attention to the corner of the room. There sat a man, his figure looming large despite the cramped space. His features were obscured by a mask, carved with intricate designs that spoke of a hidden strength.

Slowly, I sat up from my bed, every movement sending a jolt of pain through my battered body. As I struggled to orient myself, my eyes met those of the large figure in the corner, and recognition dawned upon me. It was young Pica.

Despite the pain, I managed a weak nod of acknowledgment, my mind racing with questions. How did I end up here? And why was Pica, a member of the future Donquixote Pirates, in this unfamiliar place? The answers eluded me, buried beneath the fog of uncertainty that clouded my thoughts.

As realization dawned upon me, a sense of urgency flooded my veins. If my brother had already encountered Pica and the rest of the crew, he might have departed to confront our father. Though I understood the gravity of such a decision, I couldn't bear the thought of familial blood staining Doffy's hands. Determination fueled my actions as I pushed myself out of bed.

"Where is Doffy? Take me to him," I demanded, my voice brooking no room for denial. Even Pica seemed taken aback by the firmness of my tone, though a glimmer of appreciation shone in his eyes for my directness.

Pica simply gestured towards the door, and I wasted no time in following him. As we entered the room next door, I spotted Trebol sitting on a chair, draped in a black suit. On the table before him rested a peculiar white fruit adorned with swirling patterns—the Ito Ito no Mi. However, what caught my attention was the empty pistol holster lying next to the fruit.

"Where is my brother?" I questioned Trebol, who regarded me with a curious gaze. To him, I was merely the younger brother of their future King, lacking in both respect and fear.

"Oh, young Doffy has ventured out to administer some punishment," Trebol replied casually. "He has chosen to embrace his destiny and take matters into his own hands."

With determination coursing through my veins, I wasted no time in leaving the shabby confines of the house behind. Ignoring the pain that still gnawed at my body, I relied on my honed instincts and activated my Observation Haki to its fullest extent, allowing it to guide my search for my brother.

Every step I took sent a jolt of pain through my weary frame, but I pushed through, driven by the urgency of finding Doffy before it was too late. My senses heightened, I scanned the surroundings with acute focus, scrutinizing every shadow and sound for any trace of my brother's presence.

Through the bustling streets and winding alleys, I pressed on, my determination unwavering despite the obstacles that lay in my path. With each passing moment, the weight of uncertainty pressed down upon me, fueling my resolve to reunite with my brother and ensure his safety.

As I continued my search, my heart pounded in my chest, a constant reminder of the bond that tethered me to Doffy.

Just as I was about to cross the street, I chanced upon young Vergo and Diamante, who had concealed themselves and were observing something. My instincts led me in the direction where they were spying.

Approaching cautiously, I witnessed a distressing scene unfold before me. Homing, bruised and battered, lay on the ground, while Doffy stood next to him, gun pointed at the man's forehead, poised to pull the trigger. Fearing the worst, I rushed forward with all the speed I could muster.

"Bang!" the pistol fired. Luckily, I arrived just in time. The bullet pierced my shoulder, leaving behind a nasty wound. Despite the pain, I firmly held onto my brother's wrist, denying him the chance to fire a second shot.

"Let me go!" Doffy's anger was palpable, his temper rising with each moment I withheld him. But I refused to let him tarnish himself with unnecessary bloodshed.

"Stop it, Doffy! He's not worth it," I pleaded, attempting to reason with my brother. However, the recent events had changed him, filling him with an overwhelming thirst for vengeance. Our father had become his primary target, as Doffy saw it as a chance for redemption.

"Let me kill him, little brother. All our suffering was because of him. If we return to Mary Geoise with his head, they will take us back." Doffy's voice dripped with hatred, his eyes burning with fury.

"SMACK!"

A resounding slap echoed through the air as I struck my brother hard across the face. The onlookers, including Doflamingo himself, were taken aback by the sudden action.

Anger surged through Doffy once more as he wrenched his arm free from my grip, pointing the pistol at me, dangerously close to pulling the trigger.

"Go on, shoot me. Why did you stop?" I challenged him. "You'll have two heads to offer when you try to negotiate with those who abandoned us. Don't be naive, brother; they will never accept us."

I knew deep down that the Celestial Dragons, especially the Donquixote family, would never accept us back, regardless of our actions. Our return would only tarnish their so-called honor further.

Despite the overwhelming hatred brimming within Doflamingo, his love for his meek and petite little brother, who had always followed him, outweighed the animosity he held for Homing. With a heavy heart, he slowly lowered his gun, casting one last venomous glare at the fallen figure of our father before turning to leave. A sigh of relief escaped my lips as I watched him depart.

"Rosinante, forgive me..." Homing's voice, filled with remorse and regret, pierced the tense atmosphere. He knew that the recent events had irreversibly changed both his sons for the worse.

I stopped in my tracks, turning to face my father with eyes filled with hatred. "Mother died because of your decisions. We lost everything because of you. Your foolishness brought us to this point. The Rosinante you once knew is long dead. Never again show your face in front of us. Remember, the next time, I won't be stopping Doffy from pulling the trigger."

I knew, deep down, that there was no chance of reconciliation between our father and my brother. After everything we had endured over the past two years, I couldn't fault Doffy for his actions. With my final words echoing in the air, I followed Doffy as he made his way towards our new abode, leaving our father to his own fate.

After returning to the shabby house, the atmosphere within the room was heavy with tension. Doflamingo sat in the center, surrounded by the rest of us.

"Kid, you shouldn't have interfered with Doffy's decision," Young Diamante admonished me, his voice tinged with disapproval. He clearly believed that Doffy should have been allowed to follow through with his actions.