Sunshine on a cloud-free day. School started just a week ago but the summer heat had lasted and it was perfect for a lunch with your friends in the school ward.
"Hey, Mika. Can I have some of your water?" Alice asked and looked at me with her brown dog eyes. I laughed at her but threw her my bottle.
"Sure!" I said and got up. "I'm just going to throw away this in the trashcan." I said and showed them a used napkin. They all nodded and started talking again. I started walking across the crass and though about all kinds of things, mostly questions like: "Where do I come from? Who were my real parents?"
I was abandoned by my parents when I was 2 years old so I don't remember anything about them. My "mom" had found me on a bridge a cold winter night and since she can't have any children of her own, she took me in.
I reached the trashcan and dropped the napkin in it. Without warning, in return a note flew up from the trashcan.
Weird! I thought and caught the note. I unfolded it and read the words written on it.
"Do you want to experience an adventure? Yes or No?" it said. I giggled and for the fun of it, I took out a pen from my pocket and made a ring around Yes. Then I threw it back in the trashcan and turned around to walk away. I didn't even take a step before I was pulled backwards. By reflex I got ready to hit the ground but it never came. I turned around to see only darkness and I was falling?!
If I hadn't been so surprised I would probably been screaming my lungs tired, and the moment I did remember to scream the ride was over and I hit solid ground.
For a moment I thought I was dead but the sun bugging my eyes and the sound of seagulls made me open my eyes.
Wait. Seagulls? We didn't have any seagulls near our school! I thought and sat up. That made me realize I was no longer at the school but in a dock. Surprised as hell I stood up and took a look around. Sea, ships and the smell of fish. Where was I?
Okay, never sign a note with the word adventure on. Look at my situation!
No point in standing here… I thought and started walking. I soon left the docks and the fish smell, thank god, to look for people I could talk to. I reached an inn and opened the door. The place was crowded and you would not believe the manners of these men! So disgusting! What are they? Pirates?
The bar was pretty empty and the woman working there seemed nice so I walked over and took a seat. She came over and gave me a friendly smile. She was tall and skinny, wearing a pair of jeans and a tank top that showed a bit of her stomach. She had short brown hair and green eyes, she was very pretty. Middle-aged maybe.
"What can I get ya?" she asked and started drying a beer glass.
"Help." I said and sighed. "I have no idea how I got here or where I am"
The woman looked at me for a while and then nodded. "Crazy things happen on the Grand line." She said and took a look at me. I still was in my uniform and stood out a bit.
"Can ya serve drinks?" she then asked. I just nodded for an answer.
"Can ya sing?" she asked then and made me confused.
"Look, I need a waitress and someone who can sign on Fridays, ya want the job?" she then asked. I thought for a moment and then said yes. I didn't know where I was but I needed money and a place to sleep. Send from heaven, the woman turned around once again.
"You can use a room upstairs, for free of course!" she said and gave me a key.
"I'm called Cherry by the way. You start once you've changed. There should be clothes in the drawer."
I smiled and thanked her before I headed for the bedroom.
It was pretty much half the size of my room back home but I could manage. I went over to the drawer and pulled out the top to find a black skirt that probably reached to over my knee, a white blouse and a hip apron. I put them on and they seemed to fit.
"Time to work!" I said and went downstairs.
"Table 5." Cherry said and handed me a tray with drinks. I nodded and went trough the crowd. The inn, called Black Hand, was popular and a lot of people here came to eat or get drunk. Surprisingly, there were a lot of families with kids that came to have dinner too. Even crazier, there were a lot of pirates too. Pirates! Just where had I ended up?
I started to serve the drinks and felt the guys' hungry eyes lying on me. A pirate crew. Alice used to tell me that I was either crazy, brave or stupid since I always faced dangers head on. As long as they kept their hands to them selves, it was fine. I quickly went back to the bar and took a seat. The memory of Alice made me miss home and something was wrong. I knew I had heard the name Grand Line before, but I couldn't recall from where. It didn't exist on our maps, I know that much. I got a B in geography.
Suddenly the door slammed open and a boy my age entered.
"A RESTAURANT! MEAT!" he screamed and got hit in the head by a redhead behind him.
"Luffy! Don't scream like that, baka!" she yelled at him and entered. People had started to whisper and point at the pirate crew but they didn't seem to mind. I got up and headed their way. It was my job after all.
"Hi, welcome to Black Hand. Can I get you a table?" I asked the redhead. Now when I was standing closer I could see that her hair was more orange than red. Weird.
"Yeah, thanks!" she said and followed me to a table in the back. There were 7 of them so I went to get an extra chair. When I returned the blond guy with a black suit and curly eyebrow took the chair from me.
"A lady should not do this, let me." He said and helped the woman with black hair to sit down.
I sweatdropped a bit for being called lady but turned to the crew.
"Can I get you anything?" I asked and got my paper and pen in hand. The crew started to order things and I wrote them down. When the guy with black hair and a straw hat started to order I couldn't keep up with him. I sweatdropped but didn't say anything. I left the order with Cherry who sent it to the kitchen. I put my head in my hands and tried to rest for a bit but Cherry shook me awake.
"Girl, you gotta change for your performance. Wake up!" she said and gave me a package. Surprised I looked at it and then I looked at Cherry. She just smiled and put a cigarette in her mouth.
"A small gift from the inn. You can't sing in that outfit." She said and pointed at the door.
"Change!" she ordered me and I obeyed. I went to my room and opened the package. In it I found a small black dress. My favourite colour! I thought and put it on. It fit like a glove and I took a glimpse in the mirror. I put my hair in a sloppy bun and let a few curls frame my face. Good! I thought and went downstairs. Cherry smiled when she saw me and went on the stage.
"Hey, people! Listen, I would like to present our new singer to ya all. Here is Mika!" She said and waved me on stage. I got up and received the applauses. I started to get nervous when I saw every ones eyes on me but I shook it of. I had taken a few music lessons the last couple of years, thank god, and ignored the feeling. I had already chosen a song.
The room got quiet and I took a deep breath before I sang.
Oh, thinking about our younger years
There was only you and me
We were young and wild and free
Now, nothing can take you away from me
We've been down that road before
But that's over now
You keep me coming back for more
Baby, you're all that I want
When you're lying here in my arms
I'm finding it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
Oh, once in your life you will find someone
Who will turn your world around
Pick you up when you're feeling down.
Now, nothing can change
What you mean to me
There's a lot that I could say
But just hold me now
'Cause our love will light the way
Baby, you're all that I want
When you're lying here in my arms
I'm finding it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
I've been waiting for so long
For something to arrive
For love to come along
Now our dreams are coming true
Through the good times
And the bad
I'll be standing there by you
Baby, you're all that I want
When you're lying here in my arms
I'm finding it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
I finished and met a lot of applauses. I smiled and bowed before I started on the next song.
When I had finished the last song I went of stage. Cherry waited for me in the bar and gave me some water.
"Good job, girl! You can go and get some rest if ya want to." She said but I shook my head.
"I'm fine. I can help out a bit more." I said and picked up a tray with food. Cherry just smiled.
"The table in the back." She said and I started walking towards the back. When I got closer I could see that it was the crew with the straw hat guy sitting there. Hadn't they finished?
I reached their table and black haired guy took the food by stretching his arms. I froze for a moment. STRETCHED?
I couldn't do anything but stare, which I knew was rude, so closed my mouth and shook my head.
"A-anything else?" I asked and the green haired guy with three katanas answered.
"Sake." He said with a bored tone. What a fun guy!
"Ne, wasn't it you who just sang?" The girl with orange hair asked and I nodded as an answer.
"You are very talented! It was lovely." The woman with black hair said. A woman with manners… I thought.
"Hi~you were wonderful!" The blond guy said and got on his knees. I swear his eyes turned into hearts when he took my hand and kissed it. I released it from him and went to get the order when some one came up from behind and grabbed me by the waist. I turned around to see a huge drunk, ugly pirate smile at me.
"A treasure like you is fitting for a pirate like me. You're coming with us!" He said and laughed. I sighed and grabbed his wrist. By pushing a pressure point and twisting his wrist I got him to fall down on the floor. The inn was quiet and I took the opportunity.
"Rule nr.1: Never touch me!" I said and twisted his wrist so he let a small scream out.
"And please, work on your lines! They suck!" I said and let him go.
"You have 10 seconds to get out!" I said with a threatening tone. The giant got up and smiled.
"Do you know who I am? I am…" he started but I interrupted him.
"Look, I don't care. 5 seconds." I said and pointed at the door. The crew laughed and the giant pulled out a sword. He pointed it at me and grinned. I could hear Cherry gasp, she probably thought I was in danger. The giant raised his sword to attack from above. Perfect!
I avoided the first swing but attacked when he raised his arm for a second blow. By blocking and grabbing his arm I got him too drop the sword before I put my left fist in his face. It was strong enough to make him fly into the crews table. He got up fast but I was ready. By jumping up on a chair and jumping from there, I reached the height of his face. I kicked his left check as hard as I could, letting a Kai* escape my mouth. The guy flew a couple of meters and I could hear Cherry cheer me on from behind. Most people had escaped, parts of the giants crew too. Ha! I thought. What a crew!
I kicked out the guy and turned to face Cherry who came up and hugged me.
"God, girl! I was so scared!" she said and squeezed me. I hugged her back and saw beyond her shoulder that the Straw hat crew was still there. Wait! Straw hat crew?
A memory flew through my mind. I let go of a surprised Cherry and went over to their table.
It couldn't be! It couldn't…
They all started asking questions and giving me compliments but I only looked at the black haired boy.
"What is your name?" I asked him and he grinned.
"I'm Luffy. And you?" He asked but I was already passing out. Worried voices called out but I was gone.
(*Kai: Kai is the name of a sound you scream in order to get a stronger punch/kick ect, ect.
Used in different martial arts)