It has been ten long years hasn't it, Luffy? I keep a close eye on the clock as the minutes pass by. My mind wanders back to the last memory I have with him. It still seems as if it were all a nightmare. I turn away from the grandfather clock on the corner of the room to the little girl covered in a thick blanket on the bed. Her dark raven hair clings to her face. Her cheeks flush from the fever that refuses to go down.
I hold her hand tighter to me as tears threaten to spill. I just have to follow a couple more orders, then she will get her treatment. I grab the washcloth from her forehead. I place it in the pink bowl next to me. The ice has already melted, but the water is still cold enough for her. I rinse it out and put it back on her forehead just in time to see two piercing blue eyes.
"Sissy," She breaths. I bite the inside of my cheek, fighting the sobs building up in my chest.
"Hi sweetie." I say, caressing her cheek with my knuckles. Her fever is still too high.
"I'm sorry I went and got another fever on the day we promised to go to the zoo." She gives me a weak smile.
"Don't worry about it, next time I return to the Holy land we can go to Sabaody park and the zoo. We can go anywhere you like."
Please be alive. Please be here when I return.
"Is Hikaru is going to come with us?"
At the sound of my other little sister's name, I feel as if the air has been punched out of me. They took her away from me. The demons of this hell took my little sister. Blue eyes gaze at me as she gives me a gentle squeeze.
"Hikaru," I take a deep breath. "She might come. I'll talk to her about it."
"Good, then we can all go together. I really want to see the polar bears. " I look over to her side as a huge white teddy bear takes up most of the space on her bed. She named him Blizzard.
"We will see them." I promise her.
She nods as she closes her eyes, soon I hear deep breaths. Her grip on my hand loosens.
Her hair is always in tangles. No matter how much I brush it, it returns to being a pain. I fell for the second time today what with the great weight on my shoulders.
I stand up, feeling the jacket brush against me. I grab the cap from the bed stand. I pull it over my eyes. I open the white door of her room, I give her a last glance. I do my best to memorize every bit of her. I just hope this won't be our last memory together.
I close the door behind me, making sure it makes no sound as it closes with a soft click. Next to the door, sits her nurse. She has her head down as she holds on to the rosary, muttering a prayer. I clear my throat.
She looks up quickly brushing the tears off with the back of her hand. She fixes her glasses with shaky hands.
"Miss Sora, will you be taking your leave?" She questions as she gulps down air.
I thank the heavens for Melody. She always takes great care of Hotaru. She had put on a maid uniform, saying it would be for the best. In the white apron pockets of the uniform, she keeps puppets to cheer my sister up.
"Unfortunately." I respond.
"Well, just as long as you come back with great tales about all the pirates you capture, it's good enough for me." She says in a gentle tone.
"I'm going to go see if Dr. Vegapunk can make a quick visit." My heart beat freezes at the thought of seeing two dark brown eyes. I have no choice, Hotaru needs her medication.
Melody looks down, she understands my situation. Her hazelnut, mixed with some gray, hair brushes against her shoulders. I could tell she was close to crying again.
"Take care of her." I blurt as I begin to walk away from her.
The hallway seems endless, but it's all a trick. This mansion is full of tricks. I learned that on my first week staying here. The first thing you will notice about this mansion is there are only windows on the first floor. I finally turn at a corner, there stands two great oak doors. I make my hands into fists to get rid of the shaking. This room always terrifies me.
I grab the crystal doorknob, turning it slowly as I hear my own heartbeat in my ears. I push it open. I step into the room, focusing on the fire in the fireplace. A single chair stood in front of it. The person sitting on it made me wish I nevered enter. I stop and stare at the fire before sneaking a quick peek at her.
Her dark red locks cover her eyes as she slowly moves her head towards me. A smile forms on her lips. She wears only a black nightgown.
"Ah. Sora, it's always a pleasure to see you." She muses.
The sound of her voice made my skin crawl, I fight the urge to cover my ears.
"Grand Master, I've come for my orders." I say, softly.
"Orders?" She repeats as she grabs her long wooden pipe from the table next to her. She places it between her lips as her head turns back to the fireplace. The flames reflect in her eyes. There were no other sounds other than logs crackling as they burn.
"Sora." She breathes out the smoke from her pipe. "Leave for now, go anywhere you desire, but return to the Grand Line within a week."
I grind my teeth together, she just doesn't want me near Hotaru. Right at the moment when she's weak.
"Dr. Vegapunk will look at Hotaru this evening. Now, get out." Her voice echoes in my ears, she used her voice voice devil fruit powers. I bow down to her then turn to leave. How many times has she ordered me to do anything with her powers? Cities I have torn to the ground just by the sound of her voice. The countries I have reduced to nothing more than ash. The lives I have ruined all because she ordered it.
Hikaru is no exception to it either. Both of our hands are tainted with the blood of all the lives we have taken. I stop in front of the staircase. I hadn't realized I had begun to move. I make my way downstairs where the sunlight is visible to all of us.
I take a deep breath, locking up all my emotions. I put on my mask as Admiral Hikari. The silly and goofy Admiral, always smiling. I open the front door feeling the warmth of the day spreading through my body. I lift my cap a bit enough to show my eyes. I look up to see the rose bushes in full bloom. They surround the short path to Marineford.
I cross my arms as I make my way. I could see the great building of the base. I always am amazed at the sight of it, I almost feel as if I'm about to see the emperor of this empire. I lower my gaze, as the short path ends at a staircase. I could hear the daily duties at work.
I went up the stairs, making sure to keep everything hidden, to the soldiers I'm one of them, not a prisoner. The one thing I hate the most is they think I hate pirates. They believe I hate my own family, but then again, they know nothing.
The road before me fills with new, eager, young, and naive soldiers ready to take on the Grand Line. They were all running through routines in case of emergency. I stood up straighter feeling a couple of curious eyes on me.
I keep on my way, sneaking a peek here and there. Snipers sharpening their eyes as they fire at the flying plates. Swordsmen dueling against one another. Hand to hand combat caught my interest as I thought about a certain rubber boy getting his ass kicked by his brothers. I bit my lip to stifle a giggle. I hope he can finally hit something other than himself with his gum gum pistol.
I focus back on my walk, as I look up at the sky thinking about the grin he has, that can easily imitate sunshine. As I think more about him and the memories I treasure with all of my heart, I feel a bell go off in my head. It isn't time for lunch and we aren't being attacked. No, I feel as if I forgot something. Before I get the chance to think of it further, one of the new Marine soldiers comes up to me. He doesn't salute me like any of my men. Instead, he crouches down in front of me then places his hand on my shoulder.
"Are you lost little girl?" He asks with a smile.
A vein immediately pops on my head. That's right, to the newbie's I look like a child playing soldier. I hate this, I truly do, it's not my fault I have to be in this body to keep my powers limited.
"Soldier, you better go back to your training." I order, feeling irritated.
"Oh, don't worry about me. Are your parents around?" He looks around the field, where thousands of fresh soldiers are working their hardest to live up to expectations.
"I'm fine, now go back to work, that's an order." My hands were ready to take a swing at him.
He starts to laugh at me and pats my head. "Okay kid, but first, let's find your parents."
I feel the flames inside me burn as the urge to hit him becomes stronger. I don't think about how much trouble I will get in. I just want to show this idiot the reason I'm ranked as an Admiral.
He stands up still looking over the field, muttering under his breath. My body moves before my mind is made up. I take a swing at him as my fist becomes engulfed in flames.
I don't get to punch his stomach as a sword made of pure light comes down stopping my attack. I move my gaze over to the most laid back Admiral. I take a couple of steps back. The young soldier sits on the ground shaking as he looks between me and Kizaru.
"Don't you have someone else to bother?" I grit.
"Now, now Admiral Hikari. It is rude to be scary to the newest members of the Marines." He chides in a mellow tone.
I glare at him, finally letting my flames go out. I take notice of the entire field looking over at us. Well, now they get to hear I'm an Admiral. Kizaru looks over to the terrified soldier.
"It's best not to call Hikari a kid or a child, that will make her mad." As an example to the new soldiers, I try to kick Kizaru only to see him use the glint glint devil fruit power and move to the other side within a second. My kick lands on the ground making a few cracks.
"You don't hold back anything. You're very scary."
"Oh, shut it." I snap.
"Scary." Kizaru repeats.
The way he said it made feel as if he were mocking me. My hair went from blonde to red as I crack my knuckles. Kizaru holds up his hands in defeat.
"This is not the time to fight." He points out.
He did have a point. I calm down a bit as I notice he's wearing his usual yellow striped suit with a dark green shirt and mauve tie. I don't get why we all have to look as businessmen. I look down to my own suit, a white button shirt with a sky blue tie and skirt.
Instead of letting it go like any adult would. I threw one last tantrum, I snap my fingers catching the young soldier's pants on fire. I walk away as Kizaru began to give the instructions to the young soldiers about not messing with me.
I knew the moment I had done it Sengoku would send out one person to come after me. So, after twenty minutes of walking, the floor underneath me had turned to ice along with my feet. In front of me lay Aokiji, the laziest Admiral. I don't get why he loves to nap so much. Not to mention he always wears a sleep mask.
"Are you coming with me quietly or do I have to..." He paused as he thought about it. "Well you get it."
"Oh come on, use your brain." I argue.
"You always snap at the newcomers, if you just use your adult form it wouldn't be a problem." He says as he sits up, yawning.
"You mean the sexy form, as you called it." I glare daggers at him.
"Anyways, just use your other form."
"And you should stop napping, but both things are impossible."
He stands up, dusting his pants from any dirt. "Then we might as well take this to my office. The ground is too hard and it's difficult to nap." I take a step toward him as my hair turns red and inhale deeply. I pull my hand back then push it forward with all my strength as the flames surround my fist. Aokiji easily puts out his hand turning it into ice. He catches my fist ignoring the heat.
"Not bad, Reaper." He chuckles.
"I wasn't trying, Pheasant." I smirk at him.
Both of our powers create a steam around us. I pull away, feeling satisfied. I might get away with it since Aokiji is only thinking about naps.
I start to pass by him, thinking only about getting a battleship ready. I might just sail around the New World. The other side of Grand Line is full of rookies believing they will be the one to find the legendary treasure, One Piece, only to have their dreams crushed by the ruthless sea.
One moment I'm walking away from Aokiji, next thing he throws me over his shoulder. I guess I'm going to hear about it.
"You suck, sleepy." I snap using the nickname I gave him.
"One of us need to act like a... well you know...it's that word" He yawns.
I bet his head is full of cobwebs from him sleeping everywhere and anywhere. I punch his back refusing to go down without a fight.
"Did I mention I ordered you a strawberry shortcake?"
That sentence alone made my struggling stop. As I thought about red strawberries covered in whip cream and soft bread filled with jelly containing strawberries in it. My mouth watered at the thought of getting a spoonful of it, tasting the heavens.
"You did it again." Aokiji said as he stares me down.
I did my best not to squirm under his stare. Instead I pretended to be interested in my golden pocket watch. I open it to see three disks appear, all three contain pictures of my loved ones. Each time I open my pocket watch, it feels as if I were looking into my own memories. The pocket watch's face stood in place behind the disks. My strawberry shortcake had been devoured within seconds. Aokiji knew better than to talk while I had my favorite dessert in hand.
Now here we are, going on about me, burning one of the newest soldier's pants was a very bad thing. Oh, sure it was bad, but at least they know not to mess with me.
"Can't you at least try to see it from their point of view?"
I close my pocket watch and place it back in my inside pocket of my jacket.
"It's not my fault I have the appearance of a ten year old. Dr. Vegapunk said it himself, I must remain in this form to contain my power." I grumble as I take out a lollipop and rip the wrapping off it. I almost threw it at his face but thought about it and made my hand into a fist instead.
I look around his office, the only thing that really caught my eye is the futon behind his deck. Laziest Admiral indeed, but he does act like an Admiral when it counts. Such as keeping me in control. Akainu had the job at first, but our fights had gone way over the limit. We almost burned an island to the ground. Kizaru and Aokiji were called in, but even so the fight went on for at least a month.
"The famous Admiral Hikari, the merciless Admiral. Rumors say she looks like an angel but has the personality of a demon. The reaper of pirates." Aokiji chuckles.
I have golden curls and big brown eyes, I think it just adds to my innocence, which works for me, I use it as an advantage. I have nothing else that screams angel. Then again, my adult form might be the angel part. Who am I kidding, all of these perverts make up stuff from their dirty fantasies. The main one sits in front of me.
"I don't get the rumors, not even once have I ever shown my true form. I'm only seen as a harmless child." I smile as I look out the window.
Aokiji opens his mouth but I hear nothing as my Time Time devil fruit powers show me an image. My breath catches in the back of my throat. My heartbeat quickens as excitement rushes through my veins. An image of a strawhat fills my mind. The owner of it wears a grin as he proclaims his dream to the heavens. I turn my head to the calendar on the wall. I focus on today's date, May fifth. My body shakes as I smile, a real wide smile. Today he turns seventeen, which means today he sets out on his journey to be the Pirate King. Aokiji must have sensed my excitement. He knows the truth about my situation. He knows about a certain monkey.
"Your ship is ready to sail Sora." Aokiji answers my unspoken question.
I turn to him, as my eyes light up at his words. I give him a stiff nod and stand.
"Remember you cannot let him know the truth about you." At his words my smile falters, but I refuse to let my good mood go.
"Roger that."
I leave his office as the excitement bubbles up at the pit of my stomach. I don't fight off the urge to run to the harbor. I run with all of my strength. No one got in my way, I'm guessing word got out about my earlier prank on one of the new soldiers. The harbor is in a crescent shape. Around it, battleships are lined up and getting ready to set out. The one in the middle is mine. The soldiers were already lined up and saluting. Their caps cover their eyes. The captain of the ship stands next to the plank of wood to get on the ship.
I push my legs to go faster as an image of Fluffy becomes vivid in my mind. I want to see him. I want to see Luffy. I want to talk to him. I want to be a part of his adventures even if we are enemies. I want to see him become the Pirate King.
"Spread the sail!" I yell.
Immediately all the soldiers move at my words. They move around the ship preparing everything. They pull up the anchor. The Time Time devil fruit keeps flashing the straw hat into my mind. I jump on top of the ship's rail then run over to the cannons that rest at the front of the ship. The wind blew hard, I grab hold of my cap. The smell of the ocean fills my lungs. I want to scream with excitement as my heart beat jumps for joy. At the same time, I want to cry.
"Set sail!" I yell.
A gust of wind blows hard as the ship begins to move. I sit down cross-legged on the cannons. East Blue, I wonder if it's still the same, I wonder if he has changed.
"Ma'am what are our orders?" My captain speaks from behind me.
"We're heading to East Blue." I answer as I take out my golden pocket watch. I focus on the sound of ticking. My vision from the present time of the battleship changes. My surroundings morph as they shape Windmill village at the edge of Goa Kingdom on Dawn Island. There stands a boy on a rowboat as the villagers stand at the edge of the island. I look over the villagers
My eyes widen as they get teary, Makino and Mayor. Mayor seems older and upset about Luffy becoming a pirate. I remember he warned him to stay away from pirates. Typical Luffy never listened and spent all of his time with Shanks.
I turn my head over to Makino, she looks the same. I thought about the day we met. That's a day I will never forget. I turn to each person in the crowd. I bite my bottom lip preventing myself from crying. I hadn't realized just how much I missed this place. I slowly turn to look at Luffy. His eyes full of energy as he chuckles at something one of the villagers said. Then he turns to the sea and sky lifting his fists up to the sun.
"Sabo! Watch over me! I'm going out to sea now!" He yells. I smile as I think about the nicer brother. "Sabo was first. Ace was second. And I'm third, I'm going to surpass them. Wait for me Ace. I'll catch up to you soon!"
I hold in the cries building up in my chest. Is this how Dadan felt, when Luffy took off early in the morning? I remove a handkerchief from my inside pocket. I wipe away the tears, where did the time go? I remember he was shorter than me when we were kids, now he's taller than me. The image shifts following Luffy in his row boat. This is a perfect day to set sail. I wish I could have seen this happen with my own eyes instead of a memory.
I see the water go up then part as the sea king appears. That's the one that took Shanks' arm. By the sudden change in Luffy's mood, I can tell he remembers as well. Now I get a glimpse of Luffy's strength.
"Here comes our local sea monster." He places a hand on his strawhat. "You don't know who you're messing with."
Yup, he remembers.
"Look at this technique I've been training for ten years!" With that said, he stretches his arm. No way, could it be, I lean closer.
"Gum gum pistol!" My jaw drops as I see him punch the sea monster. Your fists are as powerful as a pistol. He really has become strong, to have beat the sea monster with a single punch. I expect no less from him. I guess this means he's finally stopped hitting himself with his own gum gum attacks.
"Let's start with finding a crew. I want at least ten of them. And the jolly roger. Alright, let's go! I'm going to become the King of the Pirates.!" He declares.
I blink slowly as my vision focuses back on the battleship. I let out a couple of giggles. I'm too excited to see him. I have to keep myself in character as an Admiral, but to finally see him after ten years, this must be a dream.
I close my golden pocket watch and put it away, back into my pocket. I stand up to see soldiers keeping an eye out for any other ships. The deck seems mostly empty, only the cannons occupy the sides of it. I walk over to my office, seeing the calm waves and sunshine shining down on us.
I open the door to my office, it's a small room with a desk and two chairs in front of it. On my desk stood two den den mushis. One white labelled Marineford, the other a red one. I sit lifting up the receiver from the red one. As the snail starts to ring, I put up my feet on the desk as I lean against my chair placing the den den mushi on my stomach. Finally a clank sound is made as someone answers.
"Hello little red." A voice greets.
"Hello little boss." I return, feeling mischievous as I keep an eye on the door. "I have some news, about Monkey D. Luffy."