A Rose in the Ocean
Disclaimer: Don't know, don't own, don't sue. Shanks and his crew are Eiichiro Oda's. Not mine (unfortunately).
A/N: Kerika is my own personal character. The rest of the characters that appear in this that aren't cannon are my friend's characters. Azukina is Danielle's, Shiori is Tara's, Shiteru is Onnolea's, Nathan is Joe's, and Zexx is Mark's. The idea for this fanfiction started as a role play we had started in highschool. We wrote in a binder that we'd pass along to each other between classes. Yep. We were cool.
As per a reviewer's question, this story does take place before Shanks meets Luffy, I'd say two years before he arrives in Fusha Village.
Also, it's been a (really, really, re- you get the drift) long while since I originally posted this story, but I have always wanted to finish, and it appears quite a few others agree with me, so here goes!
I will be taking the chapters I do have and revise them a bit (making them longer, as per one reviewer's request) so I'll be leaving notes up here as I work, letting you know that the chapter's been revised. New and improved! *kirakira*
Also, I lost the notebook I'd been writing this story in (which makes me sad, I had the thing near full) so I will add in as much as I can, and improv the rest.
Also, I would like to thank anyone who's still following this, and thank you so much for waiting such a long time. You guys deserve this at the very least. *bow*
Something interesting I just discovered- a painting from 1905 by Howard Pyle that looks exactly like Shanks. Keeps deleting my link, so do a google search if you're interested.
Without further ado...
Chapter 1 [UPDATED - 7/7/14]
The life on board a wooden vessel was not at all glamorous. One's hair would become a tangled, frizzy mess, dampened by the moist air that arose from the waves. But the one thing Kerika loved most of all was the dead of night, when the moon hung in the sky, as serene and full as a mother with child.
She would sit out on the deck, long after her crew had retired to their chambers, stomachs full, and comatose from the drink. She would sit on the deck, alone and still, and she would think. And she would think of him.
His red mane swishing in the breeze. The scent of him filled her nose, though he wasn't even there. She daydreamed of him sitting next to her, of placing her head on his shoulder, of him placing a steady hand on her waist.
She sighed, and longed for him.
She stood, stepped over to the wooden railing, placed her hands upon it to steady herself with the rocking of the ship.
She peered over the edge, scying into the inky black waves.
Shiteru had stirred, coming above deck. "Hey, Cap'n." She said, jostling Kerika from her thoughts. She stepped up beside Kerika and propped her elbows on the railing.
"You miss him, don't you? It's why you stay up every night and stare out to the horizon." Kerika's eyes became unfocused.
"I do hope we find him." Shi continued. "I know how happy it would make you."
"Me too." Kerika confirmed. "Me too."
"Him" happened to be the Captain of his own crew, Captain "Red-haired" Shanks, who Kerika had been secretly enamored with since childhood. She reminisced of the times she'd had with him when they were only kids. They lived in the same village together in the West Blue. They took their turns pranking each other, the villagers, and getting into all sorts of mischief. One day they both received quite the stern talking to because they had not only rigged a bucket of water on the governor's door, but had also stuffed a frog in his secretary's desk and dumped a pail of pink paint on the founder's statue in the town square. It was water-soluble paint, in their defense, and the governor surely needed a shower for being such a workaholic. He hadn't left his office in what seemed like weeks. As for the frog in the secretary's desk, however...
Most of the pranks were Kerika's hair-brained ideas, and Shanks went along with them because he had such a fun-loving disposition. She would have never admitted it, for the thought of saying it out loud made her blush, but Kerika had in her mind that they'd be together forever. Maybe one day they'd mellow out, settle down, perhaps even start a family. But that was adult stuff, and it made her squirm to even think about voicing such mature topics.
On the day of her fifteenth birthday, Kerika realized she couldn't deny her feelings for him any longer. She often caught herself staring at him in the midst of whatever adventure they were in the middle of, whether they were hunting for fictional treasure in the outlying forest with the other kids of the village, chasing rabbits, playing the now occasional prank, or even just sitting at the dock in the harbor. She imagined herself reaching for him, running her fingers through his cherry red mane, allowing her fingers to brush his cheek. The thought gave her chills. Not to mention the other thoughts that had begun crossing her mind.
So on this particular day, the dock had become their choice of venue. It had grown to be her favorite place, because it was the only one where she was completely alone with him. She had abandoned her sandals at the foot of the dock, and now her bare toes were dipped in the cool water of the bay. The only thing she could focus on was how close her hand was to his. Her fingers twitched, hesitant, but wanting ever so badly to inch over and interlace with his. Her heart raced madly.
"Here." He said abruptly, breaking her concentration on his hand. He held out a small parcel wrapped crudely in crumpled paper, but tied with a red ribbon.
"You've never given me a gift on my birthday..." She pondered aloud, her mind running a marathon and her heart doing flip-flops in her chest. This has to mean he has feelings, too. He's had to have realized they were meant to be, she thought.
Her hands trembled as her fingers clumsily fumbled with the ribbon, she prayed he couldn't see how nervous she was. She unwrapped the paper as if it were made of the finest silk, and uncovered a trinket. It was a silver skull and cross-bones, attached to a leather thread. Her heart was still pounding against her ribcage.
"Thank you." she managed at barely a whisper. Jewelry. She had never been given jewelry. Especially not by a boy. Especially not by Shanks.
"I thought you would like it." he said, "And I was going to tell you..."
"Tell me what?" Kerika cocked her head and furrowed her brow, hoping to look stern instead of hopelessly hopeful.
"Here, let me help you put your necklace on." Shanks said, making a twirling motion with his index finger.
His fingers brushed lightly against the back of her neck as he hooked the latch. She shivered with excitement.
"Well, you know that pirate that docked here a month ago..."
"Gold Roger?" Kerika's heart sank. "Yeah. I caught a glimpse of him as he and some of his crew mates were going into the tavern. He looks scary. And Christie says she overheard him talking about recruiting more pirates from the men in the village."
"...Exactly." Shanks confirmed the gossip. "I want to join his crew. I visited him while he was in the tavern and spoke to him about it. He said I'm a bit young, but he's going to take me on as a cabin boy."
It took a moment to register to her, but as soon as it did, Kerika wished it hadn't. Shanks was leaving. Her heart not only sunk, but capsized as well. He continued talking, about exploring the world, and she watched how animated he became. He had always been happy in their adventures, but it paled in comparison to how excited he looked now. The butterflies in her stomach were suddenly replaced with sailor's knots. She knew she hadn't it in her to say everything she wanted- she couldn't beg him to stay, to say she wanted him for herself when the sea mistress beckoned him.
Two days later, Gold Roger and his crew, Shanks included, set sail for the open seas. Kerika hated that she didn't have the nerve to give him a proper farewell, for he'd spent the remainder of his time drinking with the guys of the village. Kerika drank as well, but only to drown out the upset that had overtook her. Whenever she caught his eye, she plastered on the best smile she could muster. She was happy for him, no doubt about it. But it was the worst feeling in the world as well.
Remembering the look on his face when he left her alone on that dock, waving goodbye ever so happily with not a single clue of how she pined for him, brought tears to her eyes even now.
She wiped them away just in time as the large, yellow fire orb turned the sky all shades of red, pink, and orange. She looked down into the water to see the scene mirrored in its waves.
"'Allo, Cap'n!" called the lookout, Azukina Mitsuvitsi, as she began to climb skillfully up to the crow's nest.
"'Mornin', Azu." Kerika replied happily, masking the nostalgic sadness that lingered.
"And to you, too!" Azu said gleefully. "Weather looks to favour us this mornin'." Lyson followed faithfully behind her as usual, swooping and circling around the nest before settling on the edge. Nathan Zachary, the navigator, stepped above deck and cat-called to her as she climbed. Azu shot an annoyed, disdainful look down at him. Nathan's sugar glider came out from his pocket, sniffing the briny air and using his tiny claws to groom his small, furry face. Nathan handed him a cheesy-coated cracker which the glider took happily and nibbled on.
Kerika tipped her head and headed below deck to wake Shiori Sylhca, the cook, as her stomach was already rumbling with hunger. And a meal will be need to be prepared too, because with Azukina, the crew came alive and came to deck, one by one, resuming their chores.
Kerika knocked gently with her index knuckle as she stepped past Shiteru Sanyo's quarters. She was the first mate and Quartermaster, and also a late riser if Kerika weren't at watch. She needed to be on duty to make sure tasks were being completed. Kerika passed by Nathan's office and leaned into the open door, peering in. The bed had been made, and several maps were sprawled across his desk. Kerika then arrived to Shiori's room, rapping with her index knuckle again, but no answer came. Sweat-dropping, she tried once more. Bristly fur brushed up against her leg, startling her. Looking down, it was Beth, Shiori's grey Somali cat.
"If you're looking for someone, they're not going to be in my room." Shiori called from the kitchen. "Tihihihihhi!" tinkled her laughter.
"Dahahaha!" Kerika laughed back, more at herself than anything. Shiori was always two steps ahead of Kerika. Well, it seemed that these days everyone was. She guessed it was just because they had all been sailing with each other for so long, that they could practically read her thoughts by now. Or that a certain red hair had been preoccupying her thoughts even more so as of late. Kerika shrugged and stepped into the kitchen, peering over Shi's shoulder.
"Whatcha cookin' fer us?" Kerika asked.
"You'll see when it's time to eat." Shiori stated, resting a fist on her jutted hip and shaking a wooden cooking spoon at her.
Kerika laughed again and headed back towards the deck. Opening the door, the sun flooded the underbelly of The Underline and Kerika could see it was now fully up and she couldn't help but close her eyes as she was enveloped in its warmth. Just about all of the crew was awake now, and Nathan sauntered up to her with a map in one hand, a compass in the other, and a piece of sourdough in his mouth.
"Shiori's been feeding you before breakfast! No fair! I'm the captain and I don't get a scrap before then!" Kerika scoffed.
"Ve fould reach 'and real foon." Nathan spoke into the bread, ignoring the captain's comment, "And fat's a good fing 'ecause I 'ave fhe fongest feewing fat a form's coming uf from fe easf."
Kerika was about to reply something smartly along the lines of knowing how to speak food fluently, when Azukina suddenly shouted, "SHIP AHOY! COMING FROM THE STARBOARD SIDE!" from the crow's nest. Kerika squinted and raised her hand above her brow, trying to make out the ship's colours. Was it a pirate ship, navy ship? It was...
A black flag. A pirate ship. As it came closer, she could make out the familiar symbol of a skull with crossed swords, three red lines crossing the right eye. She'd seen the symbol once before, when he'd made it big and had a bounty on his head.
"It's him, alright." Kerika smirked.