Searching For Where I Belong – Chapter 1
At that moment my life changed forever, that day was two weeks ago when my father died. My father was a well know swordsmith in the East Blue, so I was taught from a young age how to wield a sword. I was never able master using the three sword style that was created by the well known pirate hunter turned pirate Roronoa Zoro, but it is just another height i must reach. However I do know how to use two sword style at a high level, but I'm not vain enough to think I am unbeatable, I know that there are people out there that are miles stronger than me. I don't have a dream or a goal to work towards, at least I didn't until the day I found an envelope in my father's office. At first I didn't think anything of it, thinking it was one of my father's business documents, but having a closer look I see my name written on it. Why would there be a envelope with my name on it, I open it and realise its a letter from my father. My eyes begin to water as I start to read it, knowing these are his last words to me.
"Dear my Darling Daughter,
If you're reading this it means I am now dead, and I'm sorry for leaving you on your own but hopefully it won't be for long. I'm sorry to say I have been lying to you, I was scared that if I told you, you'd hate me. I'm sorry for being so selfish, you're my little warrior and I never wanted to lose you. Okay, so here it goes, I'm not your real father… I'm sorry for never having the courage to tell you.
When I met your mother I was a travelling sword smith, I fell in love instantly as did she. However she told me she was pregnant after meeting and spending the night with a pirate captain that had stopped at her island for supplies, she didn't want to burden me with having to bring up another man's child. I told her that loved her and that I would raise you as if you were my own, and I did for sixteen years, and I couldn't be more prouder of you. Your mother told me the name of the pirate captain on her deathbed, his name is Shanks, Red Haired Shanks.
I hope you don't hate me, I kept this from you for too long. It was selfish but I was scared that you would leave to find your biological father. However I believe this is what you should now do, I believe you will learn more about who you are. In your search you will grow and learn more about the world, and meet new interesting people. Shanks deserves to have you in his life, so he will know what I knew the first time I looked into your beautiful brown eyes, that you are a very special young woman.
Live your life, find your father, become who you want to be. Find where you belong.
Never doubt that I love you my daughter."
I had read it again a few times to let it all sink in, my father wasn't my biological father. Even weirder my biological father is THE Red Haired Shanks, Captain of the Red Haired Pirates. He's a legend here in the East Blue, and I have his blood running through my veins. I felt inspired, maybe my father is right, maybe meeting Shanks with help me find out who I am and where I belong. The next day I began my research, I had no clue where shanks could be found, or how to even get to the grand-line, though I was sure that is where I should start my search. After a couple of days asking around I had found out that to get to the Grand-Line I should start at a town called Loguetown, the last island before you reach the pathway to the dreaded sea.
Currently I'm in Loguetown, that is also famous for being the town where the famed King of the Pirates Gold D. Roger was raised and executed. For the next part of my journey I need to find a ship so I can make my way to the grand Line, which is where Shanks is rumoured to be. At the moment I'm lying on the beach, about to pass out from hunger. I haven't eaten in a week, the food I had originally packed to last my journey didn't actually last that long. I look up to the sky and sigh, what now? I have no clue what to do next. I need to get to the Grand-Line but I don't really want to ask a random Pirate for a lift, you don't know who you can and can't trust these day. I sigh again, my eyes begin to droop, I can't stop myself as I drift into darkness.
A unknown amount of time has passed as I awaken, I blink a couple of times before I realise that I'm no longer lying on the sandy beach. I am in fact lying on a nice comfy bed, I look around and by the looks of it I'm lying in a hospital of some sorts. I begin to sit up as I hear someone enter the room, panicking I begin to look around for my swords, I see them resting against the chair that is next to my bed. There wasn't enough time for me to grab them, hopefully whoever was entering my room wasn't a threat to me.
"Ah! So your awake are ya!" came a gruff sounding voice from the other side of the room, I look up, and to say I'm intimidated is an understatement. I could tell just by looking at this guys outfit I was found by the navy, and this guy is pretty high up, he has a lot of medals. "My name is Monkey D. Garp, Admiral of the Navy. What's a pretty little lady like yourself doing lying on a beach, passed out from hunger, in a well known pirate spot". Damn it, this is not good, just my luck to be picked up by a Navy admiral and a famous one at that. What do I do now? I can't tell him that I am the daughter of Red Haired Shanks, they'll probably put me in jail. My fist tightens, I look him in the eye determined not to say a word. "stubborn one aren't we, I'm not going to hurt ya, I just want to help. I know your probably heading to the grand-line, but what I don't understand is why"
"I have my reasons" I say stubbornly, he lets out a big, booming laugh.
"Ah so she does have a voice, tell me young lady what is your name?" he asks slightly serious.
"my name is Kira, and I'm heading to the grand-line to find a certain pirate" I say pushing as much hatred into my eyes as possible so he'd think I really hated Shanks. " I won't let anyone stand in my way, I have to find him. I just sorely lack transport to the grand-line"
"Is that why you were in Loguetown?" he asks as if analysing my reaction, my eye widen when I realise what he had just said.
"Was in Loguetown? What do you mean?" a loud, booming laugh again erupted from the gigantic man in from of me.
"follow me and I'll show you" I get up off of the bed, look up at him and nod my head. As I walk follow Garp, I find myself being stared at by members of the navy. What have they never seen a girl with two swords before, I glare at them as I continue to follow Admiral Garp. It isn't long until we reach the deck of the ship, and I'm awestruck at what I see. A huge waterfall coming down a mountain, the current unbelievably strong, and there seems to be an arch way at the bottom where it meets the sea.
"what is that?" I ask looking up at Garp.
"that it the path to the grand-line, the arch way is its exit" I look back at the pathway my eyes widen, wait.. did he say exit. I turn my attention back to Garp, looking at him again with wide eyes. He smiles down at me "Welcome to the grand-line little lady" I smile up at him, I feel tears building up in my eyes "and as a thank you, end an old mans curiosity. Who exactly is this pirate your looking for?"
I muster as much hatred into my eyes as can as I glare at the admiral. "His name is Shanks, Red Haired Shanks" the admirals eyes grew very serious " I have to find him, I will not let anything get in my way"
"that's a big name that your looking for. I can also see that I can't change your mind, just be careful. We're half a day away from an island that may be able to help with your search, just be careful" I smile kindly at him, I can tell this big tough exterior was just a shell, underneath I can see a sweet older man who just likes to help people. Without his help I may have still been in the Loguetown searching for a way to get to the grand-line, but now I'm here one step closer to finding my biological father. "your best bet on finding Shanks is to find White Beard, he always seems to know where Shanks is. My sources tell me there is a member of his crew on the next island, find him and he'll help you on the next chapter of your journey"
"thank-you for your help Admiral Garp. What don't understand is.. why you've helped me, you don't even know me" I ask slightly curious as of why he helped me.
"Couldn't leave a pretty little lady on her own now can I" he smiles down at me "plus I know if my grandson met you, he'd help you. He's just that type of person, though recently he's been making my job really hard" I have a feeling there is something big that he isn't telling, just who is his grandson? "keep yourself occupied it wont be long till we reach the island". With that said he turns around and walks to the other end of the ship, shouting at his subordinates along the way. I chuckle to myself, I find a spot at the back of the ship, and sit down. I rest my swords in arms and sigh as I close my eyes. I might as well get some sleep, I don't even know what stands ahead of me. I'm kind of excited, first I need to find white beard then I'll find Shanks. I will then hopefully find where I belong.