Disclaimer : I don't own One Piece.
Inspired by: Mercy by ShivaVixen.
Chapter 1:
The very first memory he could remember was not his birth family, but a big ship, she was very beautiful and well cared for. He did not know how old he was, but it should be around 5, maybe less. Her passengers were pirates, of course, most of them at the time were, and they called her Oro Jackson. Not that he knew, but he would always treasured that memory, not because it linked him to his old life, but it was the one that gave him his dream, to become a shipwright.
Not long after, his island was attacked by some nameless pirates, he was taken to an orphanage, where he later met his new family, a little bit dysfunctional, but still family. Most of the children there later became CP9 agents, like him. Although the training was hard and time consuming but worthy if he would become an agent like his seniors, he would always spare little of his leisure time in the library, searching and reading books about ships and how to repair or make them. He knew that becoming a shipwright was an impossible dream, but it was still his, not the government's, not the other CP9 agents', but his, and nothing would stop him from learning.
He was not as young as Lucci for his first mission, but still young enough to kill. He moped around after that, having nightmares and depression. However, whenever he woke up after the night terror of the man he killed, he would always found a cup of milk, sometimes hot chocolate on the dining table, with a note of 'Get over it soon'. It was not signed, but he knew it was from Lucci, that man, or boy, had a soft heart too in rare occasion.
A CP9 agent was only a tool, and he found that out the hard way. All his books collection was burnt in front of his eyes. Tears threatening to pour, but he held them up. He asked in small and innocent voice of a child, why was Spandam doing that. The answers he got was a sneer and yelled at him for wasting his time for that, for he was only a tool, nothing else and his dream did not matter, he buried his dream down after that and never talked or even thought about it anymore.
To his surprise, Jyabura backed him, said that it was his hobby, like him reading some questionable books, so it was up to him what to do in his spare time. He was ecstatic, he read all the books he could find later, and memorized their contents, though he never brought them home, in fear that they would be burnt again. He did well on the mission, so Spandam could not complain anything.
All CP9 agents were his seniors, as he was the youngest, although not necessarily the weakest. However, it was true that he was the most naive. He knew many of the world darkest corners, but he never really experienced any of that. In some way, the other CP9 agents were the one that protected him. Lucci was the loner older brother figure, Jyabura was an annoying but protective uncle, Kumadori, Fukuro and Blueno were uncles too, Kalifa was an older sister, and Hattori was a pet, no matter how much Lucci sulking at that.
So, not wanting to be called cry baby (Jyabura really liked to call him that), he changed his way of speech. He searched how to speak like a mature person once after he finished his mission, only to be called an old man by Kalifa when he got back. It was frustrating, but at least he was not a cry-baby anymore.
When he got his assignment to undercover at Water 7 as a shipwright, he once again felt happy, though he concealed it better than a few years ago, because he would not want to be replaced. His dream came true, he thought, although it was some kind of mission to search for Pluton, he could still be a shipwright for a short time.
He did his job wholeheartedly, happy in doing so. Little did he knew, the others were watching him worriedly. There was once Blueno raised his eyebrows in warning, he just ignored it, there was nothing could stop this, he had thought. And so, when Nico Robin was spotted in the area, he was having a little panic attack, which of course Kalifa saw.
"Kaku, get yourself a grip, this is a mission, not for fun," she lectured, somehow her voice was soothing.
He evened his breath, "yeah, I know."
She smiled sadly at him, "come on, the others are waiting on that place."
When he boarded the train, he buried his dream again. Well, he threw it away this time. The choice was either his dream or his family, and he would pick family over his dream anytime. They were the one that protected him, and in turn he would repay them. It was only fair that way.
It was official that the Strawhats were crazy. Why would they start war with the World Government only for a crewmate? The psychological reviews on pirates said that they only cared for themselves. After seeing this, he would say that that review was wrong. He knew that Spandam was insufferable, but he would not dare to offend him (the image of books on fire burnt to his mind), for fear that he would do more than what he had done before. He would like to be friends with them, but in other world, other time, where he would be free from the shackles of the Government.
He lost, it was not the first time, but it was the first time for him lost to an enemy. When the green haired swordsman relayed the message from Paulie, he almost choked back his tears, to say sorry, but held his comment back. The words "you guys are fired," played again and again like a broken records in his mind.
He smiled sadly to himself, what if he betrayed the CP9 that time? Would the end be different? He shook those thoughts off quickly, CP9 was his family, his home, and nothing would change that. He blissfully closed his eyes, embracing the familiar darkness, and lost his consciousness.
This is my first time writing a fanfiction. I hope this is not bad and I am sorry if there is any OOC-ness. Review would be apreciated and welcome!