I have to keep moving. My hand hurts. My arm hurts. Everything hurts.
I see no dirt on the floor, but I have to keep scrubbing. The rag in my stale hands may be tearing away but I have to keep working. If I stop working Master will hurt you. If you work too fast Master will hurt you. If you cry you die. I've never cried before but I saw someone do it. I know the stinging in my eyes and the clogging of my throat will make it happen, so I have to stop it. I have to keep moving. Why? Because I will die. I don't know what dying is like, but it looks like a lot of pain. And I don't like pain. So I don't want to die. I can't cry. I can't.
Why am I in here? In this large room with my master and his bubble, another person being used as a footrest? I remember that Masters heels digging into my bruises and if I made a sound or flinched-
Oh no.
The current footrest made a small, high pitched sound. It was one of the older ones. Master-I couldn't see him because I was behind his chair-pulled out his gun. I heard it clicking. Oh. I can't look away or at it dying, being shot while Master laughs. I have to keep working scrubbing, ignoring those screams! No! It's so scary! I don't like this! I don't-
BOOM
The wall!? It-it came down! There's so much dust! Why?! It was so clean there! I can't cough or make noise! Oh no, my eyes are stinging! I can't cry! I can't! The people in white and blue, I can't really see them, are moving into the dust cloud. I can't look. I have to keep working. I don't want to die. I hear the noise of the fist on skin and grunts of pain. The people in white and blue get pushed back, blood coming from their mouths. Oh, that one stopped moving. But master didn't kill them, who did?
"What is such a filthy creature doing here?!" shouted Master as the dust cleared to the point where I could see the sky. Oh, it's so blue. In the way of my view was a figure. Oh no! They will see me not working. I have to keep working!
"We came here to free the slaves and to kill you." said the figure in a rough voice. What does that mean? Who are the slaves? Kill Master? I've never thought of that before. Can you do that? I hear Master clicking his gun again. The figure won't live. Master fired the gun. I have to keep working.
Wait, the gun clicked again. And fired again. But...that scream of agony was Masters?! But-but!
Master is dead? Can...
Can I stop working?
"Brat, you are free."
Who said that? I look up to see the...legs? Of the figure from before. They are pink. I thought you only got pink from being boiled. His feet are weirdly attached, though. I look up, and up. His skin is pink! Was he boiled whole? That must have hurt. Wait! Is gonna hurt me if I stop working?! I have to keep working! I look down to my hands and rag as my nose starts to burn. I can't be caught not working and crying! I'll die!
I can see the man crouch down and his hand comes into view. I brace myself. Nothing happened. There is a large, pink, attached together hand on my small ones. I look up to the man, this time seeing his face. His eyes are round, not hard and serious. His nose is flat, not pointy like Masters. He had a thick, dark hair on his chin and side of his head by his weird ears. Is that a-a fin? On his head? Is he a normal person? He doesn't have a black mark where everyone has one on their chest. He must not be. It's red and like the sun.
"Brat, you can stop. Where are your parents?" he says, looking me in the eyes with a look I've never seen before. Was he angry? Or sad? What are parents, anyway? He wants an answer. Can I just speak? He isn't a person like me. Maybe I can talk to the men in white and blue? I hope so. I can speak when I'm asked a question, right?
"What are parents, mister?" I ask, croaking out the words. My throat is dry and my vice is he won't mind. He gives me another weird look. He speaks before the dread I feel can set, gives me another weird look.
"Parent's are the people who had you be born into this world. They are supposed to take care of you." He says. Take 'care' of me? Care means... kind, right? I remember the one time the man in the white and blue gave me new underwear. Do parents give you things? Like clothes and... and food? I want to have parents! The man gives me a resigned look. Ah! That one I know. "You didn't know that?" He says.
"Where are my parents then?" I ask, not even answering his question. Should I be so carefree? He seems to not mind. Is this kindness? He sighs, but he still answers me.
"That's what I'm trying to ask you, kid."
So he doesn't know? Is he tricking me? Are parents even real? No... I should trust him. So, if I have parents, where are they? Did they not want to care for me? The guy said they should though! So why? Are they dead? Did someone kill the people who are supposed to be kind? And care? My body shakes, shivering by these thoughts. No! I can't cry, crying means dying! My chest hurts, my lips are quivering. I look down and squint my eyes.
"Hey, kid." He says to me. I give him a short sound to tell him I'm listening, not trusting my voice to hold if I speak. I look back up at him. He takes one look at me, looks up to the sky and yells.
"It's okay to cry!"
What! No... no, it's not! But, I trust him. He isn't lying. He's giving permission. I can... I can cry? I let out a high pitched sound. I can't stop it now. My mouth opens, now wet and loud in sobs. My eyes feel good letting tears drop. My back loosens and all my pain hurts a little less. I cry for a couple minutes, making sure to breathe and wipe my eyes when I realize the man is still there. He's so strong. He... he freed me. That's the word he used earlier. Free. I like being free. I want to be strong and free forever!
"Mister!" I yell, my voice now smooth and high pitched compared to the mans. He looks down at me.
"What's wrong, kid?"
"I want to become as strong as you!" I want to live freely, strongly. I want to cry and be kind. I don't want to be a slave anymore. Master will hurt me no longer!
"You sure about it? The decision you are making is a life-risking one." He says as he stands up, looking down at me seriously, but not unkindly. I'd rather be free than a slave. I'd rather be free than live! I looked him back in the eye, as serious as he is.
"I am prepared for it," I say in an even tone. His face breaks out into a... smile? It's not like Masters smile, it's... it's a kind smile! I like this one a lot better. His face looks so amused but in a good way!
"What's your name, kid?" He asks. Name? That's something someone calls you, right? I was called many things by Master... but no. Those weren't names. Was my name something my parents would've given to me?
"Name? I don't have a name." I tell him, how does one get a name? What is this man's name? He gives me a weird look again, almost reluctant.
"You need some common sense, kid. My name is Fisher Tiger, I am a fishman, not human. Follow me."
We left the emptied mansion in the fire behind and arrived at the ship.
"This is my pirate ship. I'm the captain of Sun Pirates."
We ascended to the deck of the pirate ship. I was surrounded by a lot of fishmen. They all looked silently at me and their captain. I followed Fish Tiger. We entered the room and he picked something up and put in a kind of hot liquid.
"Show me your chest"
I showed him my chest.
He came closer to me with the object put it on my chest.
I screamed in agony.
Fish tiger picked me up by the neck and dragged me outside. His crewmates stood all before him.
"Everyone, listen to me. This kid is named Taiyou. Don't treat him like a human he is one of us now."
"BUT BOSS, HE IS A-" They all yelled.
I passed out of the pain suddenly waked up in a bed. My whole torso was covered in bandages.
"Don't move, Taiyou." said the merman.
"Taiyou?"
"That's your name, kid. My name is Aladine. Do you know how old you are?"
"I don't know, Aladine-san"
He gave me questioned look.
"I estimate you are 5-year-old. But you can take a lot on yourself, Taiyou. But it's going to be harder for you now."
"Why?"
"Captain said you are one of us but here are some guys who hate humans."
I looked him deep in the eyes.
"Don't worry kid, they will accept sooner than you think."
"It's okay. I want to be as strong as Captain saving slave from their misery. That's what I only want."
I gave him a serious look but ruined by my grumbling belly. I sheepishly laughed.
"Let's go, I will get you some food."
We went to the cafeteria. I grabbed some food and found an empty place to sit. I went to the seat but was interrupted by someone who tripped me. The one tripped me was a large, muscular, light blue saw-shark fishman whose most distinctive trait is his saw-shaped nose. He has long, black hair with a widow's peak reaching down to his shoulders, under a brown ushanka. He has a fin on his nape, surrounded by his hair, and the gills are located on both the sides of his neck.
"Kid, what are you planning to do if you can't even dodge that?! Are you even useful, weak human?"
I stood up and looked down.
"You're right, I am useless"
They looked at me.
"Only for now I am useless. If being human means being hated by you guys and being weak. Then I will stop being human. I will become as strong as you guys. And even swim as fast as guys."
They all looked shocked. But the saw-shark fishman wasn't convinced.
"You strong?! Don't make me laugh! If you even got strong, we fishmen will always be physically stronger than humans!"
I picked up my knife and pointed it towards him.
"Then I will cut you instead of fighting you with my fists."
I picked up my food and went to the still empty seat.
After dinner, they introduced me to the chores on the ship and gave me 2 heavy shinais to practice with.
6 years later...
I was looking at the destination for our next rampage.
"Are you ready, kid?" said Jinbe
"Yes!"
I was ready. I had my long hair tied up in a ponytail. I wore a HIPPO T-shirt that Captain gave to me, black pants and sandals and 2 kodachi strapped on the left side.
I saw Captain coming towards this direction.
"Taiyou and Jinbe, come here for a second"
We came to him.
"I want you to keep an eye on Arlong. Lately, he deals with the human ruthlessly. Try to keep him in check."
"Yes!" We both yelled.
We arrived at our destination.
"Attack"
We screamed our battle cry and attack the manor of the World Noble.
Jinbe said that he would keep an eye on Arlong so I could focus on slashing every incoming Marine.
Suddenly I had 5 Maine aiming for my neck.
"Two sword style: Dual Claw"
Hearing their screams made me convinced enough that they were defeated.
We had freed the slaves and regrouped at the deck. Three former slaves came towards us with a little girl around my age.
"Mister, could you do us a favour?"
"Mm"
"This girl escaped from Marie Jois like us 3 years when freed the slaves. Look."
They made her show her slave mark on her back. Captain's face turned serious.
"But her hometown where her parents are is far from here. We want to take her home but we don't think we can cross the sea safely"
The girl stepped forward.
"My name is Koala. I'm 11 years old. Thank you for helping me 3 years ago."
We took her on board and departed.
"She might be a kid but she is still a human! She is different from our other kid! Disgusting! Why did you invite such a puny human on board?!" Arlong said.
"Calm down, it's just how things turn out," I said
He gave me an irritating look. And he continued.
"Stop smiling! You're an aggravating brat!" he said while he punched her. She was sent flying.
"Arlong-san!" Hachi said while holding him back.
"Let go of me, Hachi! I want to pound her into a pulp! "
"He's right. She's constantly smiling and kind of creepy." inquired Chew.
Her nose started bleeding. She scraped a piece of her pants and started to clean the blood. Arlong calmed down.
"What are you...?" said Arlong.
"I'm sorry! I'll work! I'll without taking a break! So please don't hit me!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
Jinbe sits down in front of her.
"What are you doing?" Jinbe said.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
A bit of blood fell out from her nose!
"Hey, you're bleeding."
"I'm sorry. I'll never ever cry so please don't kill me!"
They gave a shocked look.
"Hey, stop it! Are you afraid of us?"
"Yes, I am. But I wanted to see my mother so I plucked up courage and got on board. If I stop cleaning, maybe you men are going to kill me. I'll serve you so please don't kill me!"
Jinbe stood up.
"She's used to living as a slave. She must have seen other slaves getting killed when they cried or took a break from cleaning. So, she has always been afraid that she might be next and she can't trust anyone. You were in the same situation, right?" inquired Aladine
I looked away from him.
Captain stepped forward as she kept repeating the same sentence over and over.
"Bring this brat to my room"
The girl was brought to the room. The rest started discussing what is going to happen. But it was interrupted by a girl's scream. Captain threw her outside the room.
"Stop the bleeding! I may have been rough on her she couldn't forget being a slave with that mark on her."
She was brought to the infirmary and was treated. She suddenly woke up.
"Oh, you're up!" Hachi yelled enthusiast.
"Oh, I passed out! I'm sorry! But I didn't cry so please don't kill! I'll never, ever cry so please don't kill me !" yelled the girl.
The boss stepped forward and grabbed her.
"It's okay to cry! Don't think that we're like those stupid Celestial Dragons!"
Everyone left as Boss took her outside. Boss threw his pistol in the sea.
"We won't kill anybody!"
That made everyone drop their weapons.
"Let's go, guys! We will take her to her hometown!"
Everyone started shouting at the girl starts to cry.
"Taiyou!"
"Yes!"
"She will sleep in the same room as you. It will help you get along with kids of your age."
"Yes," I said while sighing.
It seems that she stopped crying.
"Hey!"
She startled.
"I will show you where everything is. Follow me and don't get lost."
I showed her around the whole ship and gave her something to eat.
It was time to sleep so I dragged her to my room.
"Koala, this our bunk bed. I will sleep on the above one and you on the other one."
"Yes," she responded softly.
2 weeks later...
"We finally got an Eternal Pose to Koala's hometown!"
"Nyu! Koala, you can go back to your home!"
Hachi started laughing proudly.
"I can't believe my eyes, you've changed a lot"
Of course, she has changed a lot.
"You look like a girl now!"
Don't state the obvious.
"I don't normally wear these..."
It pisses me off that she talking like that.
They started laughing.
Because this pissed me off, I went inside.
Looking outside I saw that the ship stopped at an island.
"Taiyou, come and wave her goodbye"
I will pass on that.
"Your girlfriend is leaving"
"SHE ISN'T MY GIRLFRIEND"
They started laughing.
"I just need to wave, right?"
I waved as I saw her and Fish the distance.
Some of the guys even started to cry.
"I'll tell everybody in the village that there are many good Fish Men!"
"Thank you, everybody! Goodbye!"
When we departed, I finally noticed it that was hard to live without someone around my age.
BAM!
"MARINES!"
Tch, why now?!
We were engaged by 5 battleships. It was a loud and risky fight.
Then I suddenly passed out.
How did the fight end up?
Did we escape?
Am I dead?
I opened my eyes and I heard someone screaming.
"LET ME GO! IM GOING TO TAKE THE KID WITH ME!" shouted Arlong
"You can't take him with you it's too risky what you're planning to do!"
"What are you planning to do? Where's Boss?"
"HE'S DEAD. THE MARINES KILLED HIM."
Boss is … DEAD. My legs gave in and I started to scream.
"IT'S OKAY, KID. WE CAN AVENGE HIM. COME WITH ME."
"He is no condition to do that. Don't drag him into this" said Jinbe.
"JINBE, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? HE HAS THE RIGHT TO AVENGE HIS SURROGATE FATHER!"
"I won't allow it. Arlong, leave!"
As ordered Arlong left.
Surrogate father, he said.
Father.
He took care of me.
He made the new me.
He is my father.
I couldn't even protect him.
"Taiyou..." said my crewmates.
"Taiyou, I am planning to take over the Sun Pirates. Are you still up for it or not?"
6 years later...
I left the Sun Pirates and lived in the Ryugu Kingdom for a while. But because of certain circumstances, I left the Ryugu Kingdom and ended up in East Blue living on a ship.
When I was taking it easy, I heard someone screaming towards me. He was a tall and muscular man with childish freckles.
"Hey, that's a nice ship!" he said.
"I stole it. I left my island so I'm living here."
"Yeah? And what's your name?"
"Taiyou"
"I'm Ace! I think we were destined to meet, Taiyou!
"Destined?"
"Do you want to turn the world upside down with me?"
"Huh? The world?" I laughed "Who are you and where are you from? Go away!"
"Your ship is small but it looks like it can endure storms if you handle it right. It's perfect for us to set sail in."
"Us? Set sail? Don't decide for me. Why should I join you?"
He smiled brightly.
"Like I said, to turn the world upside down! Alright, let's set sail, Taiyou!" He said while laughing loudly.
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