"Luffy and His Riddle"
(c) Mei Evelyn
A One Piece Fanfiction
One Piece (c) Eiichiro Oda
Summary: In which Luffy asked thoughtful question to people he met without actually being the thoughtful one./ Every chapter will have different character, won't be very long, stand alone. Mostly stick to cannon. Mark as complete, but new chapter will always be uploaded once I have it written./ RnR?
Ch. 1: Makino
I hardly get enough sleep. My body is tired yet my mind refuses to put my day into rest. My position on the bed switches from side to side in a matter of minutes. My mind keeps on recalling a certain smiling face. A smile worth a thousand suns. It is Luffy.
My head recalls a scene just yesterday on the evening. It was in the bar, when the room was empty but Luffy and me. Luffy was sitting in his chair, a glass of water in front of him, and as always he had his strawhat sitting on his head. I couldn't miss that gleam on his eyes, the spark of excitement. I was cleaning some glasses when Luffy called out my name.
"Makino." I looked up to see his face. He had his sunny smile on.
"Hm? What is it, Luffy?" I smiled in return.
"Say, what is at the end of the sea?" he asked with wonder on his eyes.
I was pondering the question for a while, until I gave up and shook my head, "Sorry Luffy, I don't think I know the answer for that."
His face suddenly fell flat, and in that instance I regretted for saying that. I dislike it when Luffy lose his smile. But it lasted for just a second, as his smile was back on his face. "Oh, really? It's alright then," he said with clear joyful voice.
"Why are you asking that, Luffy?" I asked him.
"I'm just wondering, that's all. I just want to know if there is an answer to it," he said.
"Maybe you'll find out someday, Luffy. I'm sure you can," I said.
His face lit up with more excitement, he blurted out, "I WILL find it, Makino. And my adventure will begin tomorrow. I'm so excited!"
I just smiled at his antics. It is so Luffy to be so full of spirit when it comes to adventure. We spent the rest of the evening with mostly Luffy telling about his days on the mountain forest. He left for the night, and I went back to my house, right behind the bar.
I know Luffy will sail out to the sea this morning, and I know nothing will stop him from going. But everyone on the village knows the matter all too well, and I fully realize that it is useless to worry about him by now. I know he will be fine even in the open sea.
But one thing keeps me from sleeping. It is the question Luffy asked me. All night I find myself looking for the answer. What lay in the end of the sea? Does the sea even have an end? What is the meaning of 'the end of the sea' then? Just one simple question from Luffy gets me thinking real hard. In the end I have no answer to any of those questions.
Then it is morning that greets me. Few villagers go to see Luffy set out to the sea. The Mayor and I get the front row seat to watch Luffy as he sails his small wooden boat. I still have some worries of Luffy's well being in the sea later, but I try no to show it in my face, for Luffy's sake. I am petrified when the Sea King surfaces right beside Luffy's small boat. But fortunately Luffy is more than able to knock it out quite easily.
That is the last time I see Luffy. I go on with the business in the bar, as well as the other villagers. Days pass by, and then one day the paper arrives. The poster that shows wanted people, alive or dead, with their bounty on it. Luffy is in one of it. Printed in big font is his name as well as his very first bounty. But what catches me is the picture of Luffy. He is smiling his usual sunny smile. I miss his smile so bad.
I think I stare at the poster for far too long, because Mayor snaps me out of my thought with concern plastered on his face. Then I realize something. Luffy is on his way to reach his dream. He might as well get the answer for his question back then. I unconsciously look at one certain chair that Luffy used to sit on back in the last evening we spent together. Warm fills my heart with all thoughts of Luffy.
Luffy will make it for sure. I believe that Luffy's will is all the evidence needed for him to reach his dream. I will patiently wait for the day. The day when once-a-kid Monkey D. Luffy will be known as the Pirate King.
Next chapter: Coby
Unimportant side question: Who is your favorite mother or mother-like figure throughout the series so far? I like many, like Makino, Bellemere, even I found myself liking Dadan, but this far I simply admire Portgas D. Rouge in all kind of aspect, even when we got really short scene about her. Maybe someday when Luffy's mother is gonna be introduced, the list will likely shift a bit. So, tell me who's your favorite! *wink
03/16/2016
Edited: 05/06/2016 (for grammar fixing, because a kind Guest pointed it out for me. To be honest, I was contemplating so hard about the suitable grammar for this one, that I went fixing the story several times. I'm deeply sorry if you still find mistakes, please tell me if you do find any, I'm trying my best to write so the readers may enjoy the story. Thank you.)
-Mei Evelyn