Disclaimer: I do not own One-Piece or the original One-piece characters
Dedication: This story is for Meg Lynch, the inspiration for my main character
Pairings: Sanji/ OC
Summary: When a shooting star brings sarcastic and independent Kree to the Straw Hat crew, things begin to change on the Going Merry. With only the tattoo on her shoulder being the clue as to where she has come from, her tight lips and guarded secrets bring no help. Questions are raised in the crew. Who is Kree? What is she? Where did she come from? What does she want? When the secrets unfold, a myth becomes truth and a whole new problem and a new adventure comes to life.
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Chapter 1: Wishing
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The wolves howl in the darkened distance, calling their brothers to the battleground. They shall sing for the dead tonight, as I have done. I close my eyes to listen to the clear notes of the wolves. Their howls so simple and pure will do what my prayer cannot. I wonder how they can stand the sight of us, souls fighting, and for what? I don't even know anymore, I don't think I ever did.
Sound the bugle now - play it just for me
As the seasons change - remember how I used to be
Now I can't go on - I can't even start
I've got nothing left - just an empty heart
It has hardly been a year since I returned to Kyuuen, and yet, I can't stand to stay here. Is it right for a Captain to be ashamed of her subordinates? Is it right for me to stand here and weep for the lost when my arrows helped turn the land red?
No, I have no right to cry for the dead, to sing their souls back to the land, not when I helped speed them on their journey. I stand here, looking out over Hisan. There is not one patch of land left untouched by the carnage of the fight. I guess the field has been aptly named, The Hisan Cliffs, seeing as happiness is stolen from any who set foot there.
I'm a soldier - wounded so I must give up the fight
There's nothing more for me - lead me away...
Or leave me lying here
The howls begin to grow quiet as the song finishes. The darkness still chokes the land; I can feel it suffocating me when I try to breath.
"Have we not lost enough?" My lungs burn as I shout to the silent sky. "What is the point of this meaningless fight? Why must we paint the earth red?"
My legs can hardly hold my weight anymore and soon collapse beneath me. I am tired of fighting, tired of the bloodletting, of returning to the town with news of more death. I'm tired of seeing the pain in the faces of the families who have lost husbands, brothers, fathers and friends to this fight. I don't know how many more children I can hold as they cry over the loss of their parents and siblings.
My voice is rubbed raw from the cries of battle and from singing every night for the past year. Will this darkness ever cease?
Sound the bugle now - tell them I don't care
There's not a road I know - that leads to anywhere
Without a light I fear that I will stumble in the dark
Lay right down - decide not to go on
I stand, at the edge of the royal camp, and stare at the silent sky. The dawn approaches too fast, bringing the sounds of clanking metal and groaning soldiers who have slept far too little.
"Hisan looks incredible," one of the men grins, staring at the same sight I am. I wonder how two people can look at one sight and see something so different.
"It looks like more Reikon blood spilled because of greed."
The voice is dry, raspy as it tries to snap at the soldier. Is that really my voice?
"What do you know? You're only a child," the soldier spat. I felt the spit at my feet. I don't care if the men respect me or not, I don't need it.
"Oi! Gin! Show some respect for the Captain!"
"Leave it Hotaru, I don't need their respect."
I could feel her surprise as she stared at my back. I haven't cared for a long time and still no one sees. This is how it is here, in Kyuuen, if you care about respect, then make a point of showing off. You don't stay yourself in the camp if you want respect.
Then from on high - somewhere in the distance
There's a voice that calls, "Remember who you are"
If you lose yourself - your courage soon will follow
"When do you leave?"
"Why does it matter to you Commander?"
"The Admiral is calling for reports; you said last night you would start infiltration at dawn."
"The men are gathering now. If I said I would leave at dawn, I will leave at dawn."
She is newly promoted, shocked that, even though above her in rank, I still have the gall to snap at her.
"Don't look so surprised sweetheart."
She looks even more shocked.
"You are a Commander in the Hunter's army, doesn't mean you are above getting snapped at by your superior."
"Hai, Captain." She bowed and left without another word. The Admiral will be having words with me when I return. He always does when I anger the soldiers.
"Captain, we are ready to leave."
So be strong tonight - remember who you are
Yeah you're a soldier now - fighting in a battle
To be free once more - yeah, that's worth fighting for
::Eternity::
The laughter drifted in from the deck. He knew he should be out there, knew he should pretend to be happy like the rest of them, but he couldn't. Staring out the window at his nakama and how close they all were how happy they all were, he didn't know how he could be a part of that today.
Normally, when he got into one of these moods, he could count on Zoro to relive some the feelings, but even the marimo was happy, watching their carefree captain running around the deck with Usopp and Chopper. He wondered if Luffy realized how much Zoro would do for him. If Luffy begged, Zoro would play with him, when Luffy had a nightmare, Zoro would hold him.
Robin and Nami were off on their own somewhere, their laughs gentle in the light breeze. Laughs like bells, sweet to the ears as he chopped the tomatoes for dinenr. However, even that couldn't keep his mind off his troubles. Normally he would be doting on his lovely ladies with the sweet silver bell laughs, but he knew it was hopeless. No matter what he did, the two would carry nothing but friendship for the cook.
He looked down at the food he was working with and immersed himself in work. His thoughts focused on the recipes for dinner, push away his problems for a while longer.
He didn't know how long he worked for when he heard shouts.
"Sanji!" He looked up and grinned at the beautiful red head standing in the door.
"Nami-swan!" he cried with little hearts in his eyes. "Are you hungry, Nami-swan?"
"Storm!" she replied and rushed back out. He followed her out and stopped at the sight.
Rain fell hard on the deck of the ship as thunder crashed, and lighting shone throughout the sky. It sounded like the heavens were fighting. Each crash of thunder was the sound of two swords, the lighting the flash of metal on metal. This storm didn't feel natural, bringing the sense of fear, and pain with heavy tears.
"You sense it to," a familiar voice sighed. "This storm isn't natural, the shinigami fight, and their tears are shed."
These would be a few of the only kind words he would ever get from the swordsman.
"You can hear the clashing of their swords and the flash of their arrows. When we hear the songs of the wolves, then their fight is over and the storm will be gone."
The two men threw themselves into the fray of their crewmates.
Everyone on the Going Merry was running back and forth, keeping the small boat steady on the rough waters of the Grand Line. Nami shouted orders from left to right, trying to keep the ship from capsizing. The men ran back and forth on the deck, following each order the best they could. Even Luffy was trying to help, though often getting himself into trouble. Zoro was heard more often than once calling for his young lover as the straw hat slipped.
Sanji was finding the fight against the storm a good way to avoid his thoughts, the thoughts that had been plaguing him every time he had a quiet moment.
Hours seemed to pass as the crew fought to keep their ship floating. Suddenly, he was pushed back, thrown across the deck until he hit the wall between the stairs. He threw his head to the sky just in time to see the flash of lightning that would have hit him if he hadn't been pushed back a second later.
When the lightning flashed, Sanji saw something in the clouds. It was a brief second, but the sight was clear. Two figures stood facing each other at the edge of a cliff. One held a swrod to the others throat, forcing the figure back to the edge.
The storm began to calm, the lightning ceased and the thunder went silent. Slowly the rain got weaker and the clouds rolled away. Behind the clouds was a clear night, the stars shining brightly, tiny points of light glittering in the sky. The crew could finally sit back and relax. The night was calm, lulling the crew into a feeling of safety and joy. Even Sanji felt his soul become lighter at the sight of the glittering stars.
Sanji heard a splash and spun to find Zoro jumping into the sea after the missing captain. The men were back on board in minutes, Luffy laughing as Zoro grumbled.
The storm had raged for hours and Luffy had too many close calls to count, and yet, it was only when things were calm that he fell into the dark sea below. Just looking at the pair, you could see the fear in Zoro's eyes as her wrapped a fresh towel around Luffy's shoulders, and pulled the boy to his chest.
Sanji felt the familiar jealousy pierce his heart as he watched them. He flirted, because he just wanted to find someone. He doted on women and complimented them because he hoped he could find one girl that saw him. He was a gentleman and he would always be kind to women, but he wanted to find someone he could hold as well as care for.
"Look!" Nami cried out, pointing at the sky. Everyone's eyes moved to the spot the navigator pointed at, grinning at the falling star.
"It's a shooting star!"
Luffy grinned the widest at Usopp's exclamation.
Robin smiled at the sky, "if you make a wish on a shooting star, it is bound to come true one day," she said and closed her eyes.
The rest of the crew closed their eyes and took a deep breath. Each had their own dreams, their own wishes. Many wished for their dreams to come true, others wished to see loved ones again, but one wish reached the sky, a wish so desperate, even the heavens could hear it cry across the stars.
Wishing is a load of shit, but I will give anything a try to find her. Fucking shooting star, I wish I could find a woman interested in my heart as much as my fucking food, a woman to talk to and hold, a woman to love.
The star fell out of sight as the crew finished their final thoughts. Seconds later, something crashed into the sea sending a large wave against the side of the ship.
"What was that?" Nami cried as water shot into the sky a mile off.
"Should we go and see for ourselves, navigator-san?" Robin asked as the Merry rghted itself. Nami nodded her head in affirmation and sent Zoro to the helm.
"Sharp turn to port," she shouted to the swordsman. The boat jerked to the left sending anyone not holding onto anyting into the rails of the deck. The Merry once again evened out and was slowly moving towards the scene of the crash.
::END CHAPTER 1::
Kyuuen- eternity
Hisan- Misery
Reikon- Soul
Sound the Bugle – Bryan Adams
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