Spring Song

Author's Note:
Hello, I'm Eri-pyon. This is my first One Piece fanfiction and I apologize if my writing is quite inexperienced. However, I hope you will enjoy my story with an SaboxOC. I suddenly got this idea because I find Sabo really mature and adorable, haha, and please give me nice friendly reviews! Thank you!

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.

Chapter 1

-FOUR YEARS BEFORE DRESSROSA ARC-

I've just arrived at a small town on an unknown island, miles away from my hometown. I decided to leave after I had enough of my parents' forceful decisions of marriage and manipulative ideas for my life. Without any money nor food, I took off and landed on an island in East Blue. I'd thought it's a good island for a fresh new start.

"Where should I start?" I asked myself as I nervously stared down at my clothes. They can hardly be called respectable and I absolutely look like a robber. I sighed. It's to be expected when I haven't changed for days as I snuck in a cargo ship as my ride to the island. Though I would've starved to death, I skillfully swiped food from the kitchen during the night. It was quite an experience as I would nev"er have done feats such as stealing or breaking the law if I was at my old family.

I smoothed my long wavy milktea-colored hair and walked into the town that is bustling with activity. First I should find a job? I wondered.

The market was very lively as I walked through the stone pavement. The brick buildings were very vintage and I spotted a castle in the distance, or was it a palace? I was very excited to have landed myself on such a pretty island.
But as I was walking down the pavement, an expensive-looking car speeded towards the crowd, leaving the crowd shrieking in surprise, including me. I gasped in annoyance as it stopped inbetween the pathway of the market.

The car's driver stepped off. It was a dark-haired young man, dressed in rich clothes that screamed nobility. I crossed my arms. Who would drive in such a dangerous way? Is he looking to hurt someone?

I looked around to find mutual agreement that the reckless young man was in the wrong but the crowd silently made way for the young man. I did the same as I decided to leave my personal opinions out.

"...commoners..." he said under his breath. "Move!" He gave a hard shove on a young boy. He fell to the ground and I instinctively yelled, "Hey!"

The crowd stared at me and apparently, it was a bad move. The young noble turned his attention towards me and glared at me.

"What did you dare say?"

"You heard me!" I spoke back, my voice slightly trembling which I hoped he did not notice. "You do not do that to anyone, especially a child. What are you, barbaric? A pirate? Tyrant?" The young boy was on the ground, quivering with fear.

"You do not have any right to say that to me!" he snarled back, "I will put you in prison for doing that! I am a noble and you are nothing!" He signalled the nearby police dressed in uniform. I was in awe; a police was present but they refuse to do anything for justice. The town I thought previously beautiful was becoming uglier. I was slowly disgusted. The signalled men grabbed my arms and I was unable to move. I struggled.

A bystander witnessing the commotion squeaked softly, "Apologize quickly! He might still forgive you!"

"I won't apologize! I don't believe I'm in the wrong!" I argued back.

"You..!" the noble shouted angrily, face distorted in anger as one of the policemen readied his fist to punch me. I clenched my teeth, bracing for the impact.

However, nothing happened. I slowly opened my eyes and he was on the ground. Another young man with blond hair and a blue hat hit him with a pipe.

"Wow, you are cowards, doing this to a girl," he disapprovingly growled as he beat up the men holding my arms. He turned towards the noble who quickly backed away.

"Do not come closer!" he yelled but my savior walked menacingly towards him.

"Nobility does not give you permission to disrespect others, remember that..." he said as he made a final punch that knocked the noble out.

"Oh my god, are you sure you want to do that? That guy is probably a noble and he might put you in jail..." I piped up worriedly. My savior smiled at me and grasped my cheeks with his warm palms.

"More importantly, are you okay?" he asked, "he didn't do anything to you, did he?"

"N-No, thank you for saving me..." I said, flustered that his face was close to mine. Then, I remembered that the young boy was still hurt on the ground. I glanced at him but a woman came and scooped him up. It was presumbly his mother.

"Thank you for standing up for him," she cried, "I thought Prince Phillipe was gonna kill him..."

"WHAT!" I shrieked, "he's a PRINCE?" I stared at my savior who laughed in a carefree manner. Okay, so I thought I could get away with just a noble but the fact that I just MESSED with a friggin PRINCE, I don't think I can be peacefully residing in this country anymore...I nervously realized what I just did.

"Well, you better come with me!" the blonde man heartily said as he grabbed my hand and ran out of the market towards the port.

"Wait, where are you taking me?" I confusedly asked as I stopped him in his tracks.

"To get out of this place before the royal police catches up and throws you into the dungeon, of course!" he beamed, his hands still clasped with my hands. I quickly broke the hold.

"I don't even know you?" I stammered.

"Well, you're probably not a citizen, right?" he observed, "you're not wearing any of the towns' traditional clothing. You're wearing what looks like a dishcloth!"

"Oh wow, thanks for that!" I hit him in his arm lightly, "I just arrived in this town, that's why!"

"Then, you're probably here to start over, right? You don't seem to carry a lot of possessions and you don't seem like a pirate. Otherwise, you would've been able to fight those guys off."

"Okay, fine." I gave in, "I'm here for a fresh start. I ran away from home."

"Perfect," he grinned, "then you'll come be my partner?"

"WHAT!" I stared at him, dumbfounded, "how can you easily decide that? You don't even know me and I definitely don't know you!" I protested.

"I'm Sabo, the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army. I invite you to be part of the Revolutionary Army, under my command," he introduced himself, giving me the warmest smile ever. How can he trust me this easily? He doesn't even know me! My mind screamed. But something about him seems so genuine, so sincere and so trustworthy that my instincts repeatedly told me to trust him to take me for the 'new start' I had always wanted.

But in the other hand, I was shocked at the revelation. He is the second-in-command of the Revolutionary Army, THE Revolutionary Army, THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMY! How strong can he be? I was surprised to meet a man of such position and so high up in the criminal list of the Government.

"I-I'm Haruna..." I murmured back, staring wide-eyed at him. He seemed so carefree, so nonchalant that I suddenly became interested. Though he probably fights battles and gets injured as part of his daily routine, I found him so cheery and mysterious at the same time.

"Then, Haruna, come with me to the sea?" he asked as he stretched his hand out for me to take.

"...How can you trust me?..."

"I just do..."

"I m-might kill you in your sleep, you know."

"You can try, but I don't think so..." Sabo's smile did not falter one bit.

"..."

"..." his hand awaited my response.

"Okay..." I finally grabbed his hand, "call me 'Haru', I don't want to be called 'Haruna'. I want a new start."

"Understood," he started running again, "Haru!" We headed towards the port. I suddenly came to believe that the place where my new beginning is, is where Sabo is taking me.