To Paradise
Chapter 02
"Number to Name: Nova"
Consciousness returned slowly as did her senses to her arms and legs. Stiff and sore. It was as if a dozen marine warship had decided to run her over a few times. Slowly, she opened her eyes and blinked.
A wooden ceiling, sunlight filtering through the window beside her. A clean sheet covered her, soft and light. Bubbles rose from outside the windows, floating up slowly in the air and canopy of the towering striped trees.
A surreal view.
She blinked.
This was not what she expected.
"Oh, you're awake." She jerked as a voice rang out from the side, a warm and baritone voice of an elderly man. "You slept for quite a while there."
Sitting up was a painful process, every bone and muscle screamed as she moved them. But she did, and after a few minutes of struggling, she saw the face of her rescuer.
She blinked again.
It was indeed an elderly man, with hair long gone white, it hung around his neck and shoulders in messy waves. His beard was arranged in the oddest stripe-like pattern she had even seen and round glasses sat upon a sharp, angled nose.
Ah, it was a face she was terribly familiar with. How many times had she seen his bounty poster before? More than a thousand perhaps. A humourless laugh escaped her cracked lips, hoarse and dry, earning a quirked eyebrow from the older man.
Fate sure had a twisted sense of humour.
Of all the people who could find her and then save her, it had to be the Pirate King's first mate and right hand.
Dark King Silvers Rayleigh.
If it had been only a mere week ago, she would have stood, fought him and got her arse beaten a hundred-no, probably a thousand years into the future but now…She closed her eyes. No…she didn't want to fight, not anymore. She felt…hollow and empty, as if her insides had turned into ash.
So she simply opted to ask the most prominent question in her still muddled brain, "Where am I?"
"You're at Sabaody Archipelago." Rayleigh replied as he took a drink from his flask, keeping his eyes on the girl.
"…I see."
Rayleigh watched as she stared across the room in what seemed like a daze, "So what was a young woman like you doing passed out in the lawless area? With such injuries no less." He eyed the bandages wrapped all around her body with a slight frown.
A brief moment of silence.
"I…got into a fight." She finally replied half-heartedly. It was a blatant, obvious lie, both of them knew it but Rayleigh accepted it anyways with a nod.
"Well, call me Ray-san." He smiled warmly, "What is your name, young lady?"
She gave him a suspicious glance from the corner of her eyes and then deflated, no point in getting her guards up now "I…am Dieci."
"Hmm." Rayleigh's expression turned thoughtful, "That means the number ten is that correct?"
At this, her fingers twitched "…Yes."
"And who gave that name to you?" Rayleigh pressed.
"I believe that it is none of your concern." She retorted with a scowl.
Silence reigned over the small room, and after a moment she lowered her gaze, "I…apologise." Her fingers fiddled with the blankets in her lap, and she stared blankly "It was given to me by my superiors, it is the only one I have."
"I see."Rayleigh smiled again and then stood, "Since you're awake now, I'll go see if Shakky can get you something to drink and eat."
He closed the door behind him.
Walking down the hallway Rayleigh pondered the girl's words. Nameless, only given a number to identify themselves. He had heard of people like her before, occasionally from pirates or marines that visited the bars he went to. They were a project of one of the largest organisations in the world, the silent agents that carried out their biddings without question.
Although he knew nothing of the girl he had found bleeding and unconscious in a paw-shaped indent on the ground, seeing the expression on her face…
He swept down the stairs.
It was something he did not approve of.
A few days later.
She blinked, and unceremoniously tilted her head to once side "Nova? What's that?"
Rayleigh gave a laugh, "It's your name." At her confused look he smiled and elaborated, "I thought that having a number as a name was inadequate, and you seemed a bit sad with this so I thought of one for you myself."
A pause.
"I seemed…sad?"
"Yes."
Grey eyes blinked slowly as she digested the new piece on information. Finally, she asked quietly "What does it mean?"
Rayleigh smiled at this, having already known she would ask "It means new, and in astronomy, it is a star that shines very brightly." He watched as her expression changed into one of interest and added "Quite similar to the colour of your hair."
Her hands were immediately curling into her messily cropped hair which was a peculiar shade of grey, almost the colour of platinum.
"I think it is a very nice colour." Rayleigh stated after a moment of silence.
He folded his arms, "And what are you supposed to say?"
She gave him a comically bewildered look, and so he laughed, loud and heartily. Then placed a hand onto her shoulder and smiled warmly
"What do you say when you receive something from another person?"
For a moment, she floundered and wracked her brains for the words Ray-san was asking her for, "Uh…thank…you?"
Rayleigh placed a hand on her head and ruffled her hair, "Correct."
"Ray-san."
"Yes?"
"I am…happy." She finally concluded, "I have not received something to truly call mine before," Looking up, she felt something warm expand in her chest, "Does those words express how I feel?"
"You say 'thank you' to express your gratitude to something." Rayleigh explained and watched as she soaked up the information and gave a curt nod.
"Thank you for the name, Ray-san." The girl, now named Nova, said sincerely, "I will…treasure it."
Rayleigh nodded, and gave her a light ruffle on the head.
"You're welcome."
One month later.
Rayleigh picked up the slip of paper sitting on the counter.
Thank you.
From Nova
Rayleigh let out a sigh and rubbed a hand over the bridge of his nose, all the while smiling "Kids these days always rush off too fast."
Author notes:
Chapter two is finally up! Finally, let's get te plot rolling with the appearance of the Kid pirates in the next chapter! Many thanks to everyone who favourited (if that is a word) and followed this story and special thanks to Ellielyse, The Silver Oak and Ryuka for your reviews. I really appreciate it!
Thanks everyone for reading and I hope you enjoyed it! I'll see you next time :)
