Chapter 10: A Question

Disclaimer: Don't own One Piece.

Dusty slowly opened her eyes and blinked a few times. She was back in Kirsty's home, in one of the guest rooms she had. With a stifled yawn, the fox girl climbed out of the comfortable bed and walked out, looking for the others. She reached the bottom of the stairs and as she neared the living room, she could hear voices.

"Man...she is one heavy sleeper...,"

"Wish I could say the same for me...what were you doing last night?"

"Hmm?"

"When we got back...what were you doing?"

No reply.

"Hellllooooo,"

"She's up...you wanna come out into the open or what, kid?"

Dusty jumped about a few inches before leaning into the walkway. Kirsty and Devon were sitting comfortably on a couch while Austin read quietly. She waved and smiled nervously at them, "Hey...guys, what's going on?".

"We were waiting for you to wake up and see how you were doing, Dusty," Kirsty explained as she got up from the couch and walked over to her. Dusty sweatdropped as Kirsty checked some minor details, but soon waved her off, "I'm fine, Doc...just tired as hell...," she told them.

Devon cleared his throat, "Good...cuz I'd be pissed if you died after all the crap I went through to help you out...,". Kirsty stomped on his foot, "You didn't even know she was there!" she hissed at him. The blonde man rubbed his foot and glared at Kirsty while Dusty's stomach growled loudly.

"Hehehehe...," she rubbed the back of her head nervously.

Bera bera bera bera bera...bera bera bera bera bera

"Excuse me...," Kirsty put down her drink and walked into her study as Dusty and Devon continued eating their lunch. On her desk, was a snail with a box connected to it. This was a Den Den Mushi, or Communicator Snail to some people, and it was ringing. She picked up the reciever and pressed the call button, "Moshi moshi...,"

"Doctor? It's Amelia at the clinic...there are some people here who'd like to talk to you and your new friends...,"

"What people?" she asked slowly.

"I...I think that you should come down and talk to 'em...they're making everyone uncomfortable...,"

Before she could ask anymore questions, Kirsty heard a click on the other end. She gathered her sai and white coat and returned to the kitchen area, where Devon and Dusty both had a fork speared into a piece of steak, and they were glaring each other down.

"My steak...,"

"No, my steak,"

"Doc...he's not being fair!"

Kirsty sighed and shook her head, "Forget the meal, you two. You both have to come with me to the clinic,". The two bickering meal goers both raised an eyebrow, then looked at each other.

As soon as they all entered the clinic, Kirsty's assistant, Amelia came rushing up to them, a very nervous look on her face. "Thank the Lord...they're in your office...," she whispered, pointing to the back room.

The small group entered the office to see four people either sitting or standing around. Dusty's eyes widened at the sight of three of the strangers while Kirsty took note of the black clad stranger from the days before.

"Can I help you, in some way?" Kirsty asked slowly. The man in black jerked a thumb to his companions, a fat man, a slim woman, and a large ape man, "Yeah, they're here to find a friend of theirs...,"

"DUSTY!"

The woman with dark blue hair rushed over and hugged Dusty closely. As she was picked up off the ground in the process, Dusty could feel the air being cut off. She lightly tapped the woman's side, "Porche...can't...breathe," she gasped.

"Oh...sorry Dusty...," Porche immediately let go of the girl, smiling nervously. Kirsty looked at the other two men, "Who are you, and what do you want with her?" she demanded.

"Dusty...," the fat man said slowly, crossing his arms. The poor fox girl tried to avoid the look he gave her and twiddled her fingers, "Yeah, Oyabin?". Devon and Kirsty looked at her, then at the fat man.

"He's your boss?"

Dusty nodded, "Yeah, Devon, he is. See...this man," she pointed to the fat man, "is Foxy, the leader of the Silver Fox Pirates...the crew Dmitri belongs to. The crew I used to belong to,".

The fat man tapped his foot loudly, making an uncomfortable air in the room. "So, what do you want?" Devon asked, finally breaking, what seemed to be an hour's worth of silence. Foxy stopped tapping his foot, "I'd like to take Dusty back...she is still part of my crew, after all,".

"But Oyabin...," Dusty started.

Foxy held up a hand, "I know what happened, Dusty...but that doesn't give you the right to leave the crew...," he scolded. Dusty looked at him hard, "That's not the only reason why I left, Boss! I didn't really want to be a part of the crew anymore. I do have dreams of my own...,".

Porche put her hands on Dusty's shoulders, "What dreams?" she asked her quietly. The fox girl looked down at the floor, "I wanna be a star...a big star," she said lowly before looking up at her former captain, "I want to travel around and try to make a name for myself other than that of the Silver Fox Pirates! I have an act and everything!". Silence filled the room again. Dusty stared at Foxy, and he stared at her.

"Well, what do you think, Foxy my man? You gonna cage her up after all she's been through or are you gonna give her the full freedom she wants?"

Kirsty glanced at the man in black before looking back at the others. The Fox captain let out a big sigh and walked over to Dusty, his hand held outward, "You can go...but you have to give up the mask, Dusty,". The fox girl slowly reached up behind her head, and undid the knot that kept the thin piece of black material over her eyes.

She held it out, a look of sadness in her eyes. Foxy took it and stuffed it in his coat pocket, "Let's go, Porche..Hamburger...,". Hamburger? Kirsty looked at the large ape like man and realized that had to be his name.

The three pirates said their goodbyes and left the clinic, leaving Dusty standing quietly in the office, her hair covering her eyes. Devon walked up to her and nudged her slightly, "You gonna be ok, kid?". She nodded slowly and wiped her eyes before looking back up at them, "Oh yeah...I'm good...,".

Kirsty could see some tears in her eyes as she smiled. Even after all those bad things...she's still going to miss them...poor girl. Dusty sniffed and turned to the man in black, who was leaning back in a chair, "So who the hell are you?".

He looked at the group in front of him and grinned. "My name, is Axe...and I'd like to ask you all a very important question,". Dusty, Devon, Austin and Kirsty looked at one another before looking back at the man, "What question...?".

Axe brought the chair to the normal position and grinned more widely, "Will you guys join my crew?".

Kilnorc: sorry if it's bad, but if it's good, you're welcome! LOL!