Present Time...

(Y/N)'S POV

"Who?" I glare up at the girl, feeling weak and defenseless without my sword. I turn to my side and see that it fell a few feet away from me. I glance back at the woman who stares at me with a sense of familiarity.

"What do you mean by who?" The woman narrows her eyes, a look of hurt on her face. "What kind of sick joke are you playing at, (Y/N)?"

My eyes flicker again at my sword and back at the woman. Her eyes are full of bewilderment, and her stance is no longer defensive. If I wanted, I could easily shove her aside and make a grab for my weapon. However, I find myself paralyzed at the hidden relief behind the shock in her eyes.

In that moment, Aieko's words come back to me. When we first met, she claimed that she knew me. What if she wasn't lying?

"Who are you?" I spit back in a gruff voice. I can't hold on to foolish thoughts. It could get me killed. Father even warned that many would try to manipulate me since word leaked that I'd lost my memory. I can't trust her twisted act.

Father had also told me that pirates were the ones who took my mother away from me and that she died protecting me. How dare this filthy pirate spout nonsense while looking at me with those eyes? I may not recall the incident with my mother personally, but it angers me to think that pirates took away someone who was supposed to be important to me.

Despite my convictions, my body won't move. What if this woman holds the answers to the nightmares I suffer from each night? Faceless figures haunt my dreams, seeming like memories so far from reach.

Admist the battle raging around us, it's as of time has slowed. A droplet falls on my face and I watch as the woman's face contorts and a few tears slip from her eyes.

"Am I so insignificant that you would forget so easily?" Her voice cracks and I feel my heart twist. What if this is a trap? A part of me wishes it wasn't.

The woman is abruptly thrown to the side as a marine is flung in her direction by one of the other Strawhats. I waste no time, jamming my hat back on and scrambling for my weapon. Just as I reach for it, it's swiftly snatched up by another Strawhat.

"Looking for this?" A deep voice sneers before tossing it back at me. "Looks like you'll be my opponent."

I glower at him and point my sword in his direction. "You Strawhats must have a death wish."

"You'd think we'd be dead by now after all that we've been through, huh?" The man smirks, pulling out a third sword. "But we're strong enough to protect ourselves and others from the likes of you."

"I'll see about that," I sneer.

I lunge at him with my sword, and our weapons clash in a flurry of attacks. I find myself having a hard time against his vicious and precise attacks. His strength and skill are enough for me to be knocked back as I try to get in a decent blow.

"Is this really all you've got?" He yells, his eyes narrowing. "This isn't the you that I know." His voice softens so subtely I think I've imagined it.

"I don't recall our paths ever crossing before this." I shout, jumping back from his swinging sword.

I nearly falter as another Strawhat sweeps in with their weapon and I barely get the chance to deflect it. It's the orange haired woman again and her eyes are bloodshot. She looks angry and disheveled.

"Zoro may be directionally challenged, but it didn't stop your paths from crossing!" She yells, her voice fierce.

"Why do you all keep claiming to know me?" I cry out, gripping my weapon tighter. My head starts to pound.

"We're your friends." A strawhat who appeared behind me says. His dark eyes are serious and his slingshot is slack in his trembling hand.

"Friends? Why would the daughter of a marine be friends with pirates?" I laugh in disbelief.

"Is that what Akainu told you?" A softer voice says this time. The woman with the long dark hair approaches with her calculating eyes set on mine.

"He's my father, so of course he told me." I snap. I try to maintain a cold front but my mind starts to whirl. What if they're telling the truth?

My head feels like it's going to burst the more I ponder.

My hands start to shake as the panic settles in again. Who am I and how did I end up here?

I don't know who I can trust.

I don't know what's real.

I don't know anything.

"Who are you to me?" I shout, tightening my grip on my sword.

"Family." A new voice says.

Their captain sweeps in after sending a bunch of marines soaring into the water. His eyes are serious unlike the bounty photo I was shown. Despite that, he doesn't feel intimidating to me.

"My only family is my father." I say, suddenly feeling like a parrot by repeating the words I've been told for months now.

The man shakes his head firmly. "No, you're a part of my nakama, (Y/N)."

My eyes narrow in anger. Why do they continue to call me by the name of a criminal?

I shake my head at Strawhat Luffy's words, which makes me feel even more dizzy.

"I'm afraid you're mistaken, you lowly criminal," I snap in fury. "Heaven's Wrath (Y/N) is imprisoned in Impel Down. And my name is Akina."

The blond strawhat comes flying into view after deftly kicking multiple marines hard in the chest.

"How could I ever mistaken (Y/N)'s lovely face? It's one I'll always recognize and never forget." He says in such a sweet voice, my heart twists painfully.

"I'm not a pirate and I never have been." The piercing headache makes it harder to speak. My grip on my weapon starts slipping again.

"What did Akainu do to you?" The orange haired girl says, her eyes still filled with so much pain. "What did he do to brainwash you?"

I shake my head feverishly, still adamant that I'm being lied to. More marines start to ambush the ship and I begin to sway on my feet. I don't want to hear anymore of what they have to say. The pain in my head won't stop and I attempt desperately to pull myself together.

"I can't listen to your lies anymore." I try to say confidently, but my voice sounds so unsure and unsteady.

I need to go home.

I take a step back, ready to retreat. I won't stay conscious much longer in my condition.

I need to get back to the ship.

I run towards the ambush of marines and I hear shouts from the Strawhats behind me. Just as I'm about to leap off the side of the ship and onto my own, a hand circles around my wrist. It yanks me back with a hard tug and I find my vision going black for a moment.

"Let go of me!" I shout, blindly lashing out with my sword while trying to yank my wrist back.

"Why are you doing this?" An angry voice shouts. I look up to see a man with fiery red hair, and his angry eyes are locked in mine.

"Who do you people think you are?" I scream, ripping my arm out of his grasp. I stagger back unsteadily on my feet, nearly falling back.

The battle rages on around us, with the three pirate crews facing off against the Marines. I curse myself for thinking my fleet could handle them all on our own.

The man ignores my question, and takes a step closer. "Why did you leave, (Y/N)? Why did you join them." The pain in his voice makes tears spring to my eyes in frustration.

"I'm Akina!" I yell forcefully. "I didn't leave anyone."

"Look, I don't know where you hit your head, but this is ridiculous! You really think you're the daughter of that bastard?" The man shouts back, clenching his fist.

My breathing is becoming more shallow by the second as my mind races.

I need to get out.

I see more marine ships arriving at the scene of the battle, adding to the chaos. The screams and shouts of battle are oddly nostalgic and I can't shake the feeling that something is definitely wrong.

I turn back to the red haired man. "I can't be the person you're looking for."

I take off sprinting in another direction, hoping I can outrun any pursuers in my current condition.

"Room."

I abruptly find myself on the deck of the Heart Pirates submarine. Strong arms are wrapped around my waist, holding me tight.

"Oh hell," I mutter, feeling dizzy. The pressure in my head makes it feel as if its going to burst.

"(Y/N)," a deep voice murmurs in my ear sweetly.

I squirm and try to break free of his grasp. "You have the wrong person!"

"Hmm? I don't think I could be mistaken." He chuckles, his breath hot on my neck.

I grasp his arms and attempt to flip him over. It works to an extent by making him lose his balance which allows me to break free from his grasp.

I scramble to get away as a cannon ball is sent soaring in our direction.

I need to leave.

Now!

I make a run for it, leaping off of the submarine and back onto the Strawhats ship. I ditch my coat in hopes of blending in with the other marines before hopping back onto one of my marine ships.

My mind keeps replaying everyone's words like a broken record even after I've successfully made it back to my ship.

Who is telling the truth?

I don't get the chance to ponder more before I fall unconscious.

-----
A/N

Hello again, everyone!
I hope you're all well!

It's been quite a while hasn't it? I apologize for being away for so long. College life has been so hectic and so much has happened in the past few years. I'm glad to be back though!

I hope you all enjoy this chapter despite the length. I'll do my best to update more frequently!

Comment.

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Question:
How have you all been?

~ mwzxxx

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NEXT UPDATE: By November at latest