Scars
A prequel to Telling the Truth
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Scar (skär)
n.
1)A mark left on the skin after a surface injury or wound has healed.
2)A lingering sign of damage or injury, either mental or physical: nightmares, anxiety, and other enduring scars of wartime experiences
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-0OoO0-We each have our scars to bear-0OoO0-
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It was a gruesome scar, too say the least. Right after Luffy had defeated the Baron is when they first discovered it but when they did they asked no questions, all of them feeling as if it were something Luffy would share if he believed it to be of importance to them. It was a scar that traveled from where his neck met his shoulder on his left side, all the way down to his upper right thigh. It was deep and gruesome, and looked as if it had been opened and reopened with malice before being stitched back up with shaking hands.
It was a horrible scar that appeared years old; just beginning to fade around the edges and some of its former malice fading along with time. But Luffy would always remember the day he received that scar, as he refused to allow himself forget.
And this is the story behind that scar. The scar that taught Luffy everything he ever felt he needed to know about the world and twice as much of what he didn't.
In order to see the origins of this scar though, we must go back in time, long before he first set sail on his adventures and discovered his Nakama. We must go back seven years in time, to when Luffy was of the young age of eleven.
-0o0-Flash Back: Seven Years Ago, Luffy's Hometown-0o0-
"MAKINO!" A younger Luffy exclaimed. He was running excitingly, with one of the biggest smiles anyone had ever seen. One or two of the villagers smiled fondly at the boy, but most of them scowled angrily, those who were near him walked briskly to the other side of the street. Mothers grabbed their children and dragged them inside before slamming the doors shut and locking them. But the worst offenders were those who refused to even look at him, refused to acknowledge him, refusing to believe he even existed.
But Luffy was used to it and he ignored them right back.
Makino smiled warmly at the youth, for as soon as she heard her name being called she spun around to face him. She was wearing a blue top and black slacks. Her hair up in it's usual bandana and a basket of vegetables in hands, she had just finished buying the vegetables and was off to the fish monger to purchase some fish.
"Makino-neesan! Makino-neesan!" The youth continued to yell as he rapidly closed in on her. It had been about four years since Luffy had eaten the devil's fruit. He was quite used to his rubber body now but he was still experimenting with his new abilities. Currently Grandpa Garp was away on another of his important missions for the Marines. Again. It was always like this. But Luffy had always had Ace before. It was different now, what with Ace off to follow his dreams and all, but Luffy didn't seem to mind. In fact, it seemed to make him want to get out to sea sooner. So that he could catch up with his brother and surpass him eventually.
When he reached Makino he stopped suddenly and grinned at her. Makino was always good to him. She never judged him harshly and always listened to his side of things. He held out both hands in front of him in the standard 'give me' position; Makino smiled again and placed the basket of vegetables in his arms. He grinned and the two of them continued through the market. Many of the villagers looking at the young woman as if she were crazy, and others glaring at Luffy, muttering something about trickery and deceit, of course, they were all ignored as the two shopped and laughed together.
As they walked together a pair of kind green eyes followed them. Eyes filled to the brim with pride and joy as they took in the young boy happily helping Makino. They were the only eyes that followed them with kindness. Soft eyes that seemed to know everything there was to know in the world and while still holding their own childish innocence despite it all. And though these eyes were kind and soft and innocent there was an unmistakable trace of stubbornness and protectiveness and mischievousness within them as well. Those same eyes may change color and shape as the generations past and blood mixes with blood, but it is no mistake that these eyes hold an uncanny likeness to young Luffy. The same eyes that her son would have in a few years time were present on her face. She loves the boy and will protect him no matter what.
So swiftly and defiantly, the young woman walks toward her son and Makino; a smile on her face as she walks past those her glare hatefully at her son.
"Luffy! We have to get going now!" The woman called toward her son. He spun around quickly, an even bigger grin stretching his small, boyish face. Makino turns too with her ever-present smile as she greets the young woman.
"Azumi-oneechan! It is nice to see you out walking today!" Makino called out happily.
"Ka-san!" Luffy yelled excitedly, running towards to young woman, now identified as Azumi. Luffy quickly threw himself at Azumi, hugging her around the middle. Azumi laughed happily and reached down to return the hug her hands shaking slightly in the effort.
"Hello to you too Luffy, Makino-chan," She replied breathlessly, as if she had just run a great distance. Her pale face was slightly flushed and she was panting lightly but she grinned happily at her two most precious people. Luffy didn't seem to notice his mother's slightly labored breathing and flushed face, but Makino did. She gazed worriedly at Azumi, who silently shook her head at the younger woman.
"Ka-san, I was helping Makino-neesan with her shopping today!" Luffy interrupted the silent conversation, "Can I keep helping Makino-neesan?"
"I'm sorry Luffy, but we have to get back home. Dinner's almost ready anyway," Azumi replied to her son. Luffy pouted slightly but then quickly brightened at the prospect of food.
"Sorry Makino-neesan, I've gotta go now," Luffy said to Makino, "Maybe I can help you next week!" With that Azumi and Luffy said their goodbyes before turning around and began the trek uphill towards their home.
Along the way some quiet murmuring could be heard following the two. Words whispered with a malice that was unmistakably cold. But the two were oblivious to it as they continued their walk uphill. They talked and laughed as they spoke of how their days were going thus far. But Azumi was quickly tiring as her breathing began to come out in gasps and her face continued to redden, while Luffy seemed to be having no trouble at all. Luffy noticed his mother's trouble soon enough though and quickly feigned his own exhaustion so that they may rest for a while.
As they sat on the wooden bench the two stared up at the beautiful blue sky, commenting occasionally on a strange cloud that crossed the sky. Nine birds entered their line of vision as the sky began to darken. The two watched the birds pass before Azumi stood up and stretched, brushing long locks of raven hair from her face.
"We've been sitting for too long Luffy! Dinners gonna be cold!" She exclaimed as her son stood up with her. At the prospect of a cold dinner their faces turned into identical grimaces before hurrying up the hill toward their home.
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-0OoO0-Both the visible and the not-0OoO0-
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"Hurry up Makino-chan!" Azumi called excitedly from where she stood in an open field surrounded by woods, Luffy right by her side as shifting impatiently from foot to foot as they waited for Makino to catch up to them. Makino laughed under her breath as she deliberately slowed down and swung a brown picnic basket at her side. The two patrons before her groaned in impatience as Makino slowed down, both of them, shifting in childish impatience before a red and white plaid blanket that they had lain out.
Eventually, Makino reached the two of them with an innocent smile on her face as they glared childishly at her. Makino giggled and set the basket down. Quickly Azumi and Luffy sat down and began taking food from the basket, filling their plates as much as they could before waiting impatiently for Makino to finish filling her plate as well.
Three identical calls of, "itadakimasu!" filled the air before the three began to eat their meals. Azumi and Luffy immediately plowed into their food at a fast pace while Makino watched them in amusement before beginning to eat her own food. Soon though the two were done their food and stared longingly at Makino's plate. Azumi and luffy shared a quick glance before nodding dertimenly.
"Makino-chan! What's that!" Azumi cried in fake shock as she pointed in a random direction. Makino, deciding to play along with their scheme, looked in the direction Azumi was pointing. Swiftly, Luffy stretched his rubber arm and snatched some of Makino's meat before giving half to his mother. The two brigands quickly gorged down their reward as Makino continued to be 'distracted'.
When Makino looked back at her plate and noticed most of her meat missing she glanced at the two before her and asked, "Do either of you know where my food has gone?" The two of them shook their heads, "Than what's that stuff around your mouths?" Quickly the two of them put their hands to their mouths, rapidly rubbing away evidence.
"Crap! Leftovers!"
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-0OoO0-So don't go comparing whose pain is greater-0OoO0-
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Luffy stood in front the door way of his mother's room; half of him hidden as he watched her in secret. He wasn't sure what was wrong but Azumi had not moved from her spot on the windowsill for the past several hours. She just sat their, gazing longingly outside into the rain. It looked as if she were waiting for someone. Her warm breath fogged up the glass slightly, but she didn't seem to notice as she continued to sit there. Her emerald eyes were glazed over slightly and she had a far away look about her. Azumi shifted slightly and several strands her raven colored locks of hair fell across her face. She sighed quietly and continued to gaze out side.
Luffy had no idea what his mother was thinking about. All he knew was that she was sad for some reason or another. Was she missing Ace? That would make sense. He had left just the year prior to go on his own adventures. But for some reason Luffy felt as if it was not his brother that was causing their mother to be so sad. Luffy continued gazing at his mother and took her in as best as he could. Her pale face was flushed slightly with another fever, she was very nearly always sick but that never seemed to affect the way she lived her life. Luffy remembered overhearing some of the villagers talk about her. Apparently she had been a very sickly child as well.
Apparently giving birth had made her worse.
She was wearing an emerald sleeping kimono with golden designs in the shape of climbing vines. Luffy tried to remember where his mother had gotten that outfit. They didn't have very much money so Luffy doubted she bought it herself. It appeared old and threadbare though, hanging loosely on his mother's petite body, even smaller now as her latest illness caused her to loose some more weight. Another sigh from his mother snapped Luffy out of his musing as he returned his attention to his mother. His stomach growled lightly but he ignored it.
"Dragon…" His mother's barely-spoken whisper cut through the silence.
Dragon…Dragon…Dragon…
His Father. Luffy felt a surge of anger course through him. The sleeping kimono had been a gift from his father. His father had left when it was raining. His father had given his wife two children before disappearing without a trace. Luffy clenched his fists tightly. If he ever met his father he would give him a good gomu gomu no pistol right in the face for doing this to his mother. How could he do this to her, to them! Up and leave without so much as a letter in eleven years.
Why would he leave the woman that the villagers said 'Made his eyes light up with her very presence and never failed to bring a smile to his stony face'?
Luffy had never met his father, but he heard stories from Ace sometimes and the villagers occasionally talked about him too. Ace had been young when their father left, around five years old at most, he had left right after Luffy had been born. When Ace spoke of their father he always seemed so happy and angry at the same time. Luffy couldn't understand why he would leave. Everyone said that he was very, very happy with his life in the village. He had a beautiful wife, a beautiful son, a home and good neighbors; they were never rich but never poor either. Everything seemed to be going great for the man. A man that everyone said that prior to meeting Azumi was "Colder than the coldest of ice and showed less emotion than a rock".
And then Luffy was born.
No one knew why Dragon left. He just up and left about a week after Luffy had been born. No note. No Goodbye. All evidence that he had even existed was destroyed, from his birth records to his photos. Everything that held a picture of Dragon or bore his name mysteriously disappeared. Even photos from the Albums of their neighbors! The only evidence that he was ever there were two young boys and the villagers' memories of him.
A thought suddenly came to Luffy's mind.
'Why did he stay when Ace came and leave when I was born?'
Luffy backed away from his mother's room; he didn't want to disrupt her memories of him. He turned swiftly and as quietly as he could he walked across the hall and into his own room. He laid himself down on his futon without changing and closed his eyes in an effort fall asleep.
For some reason he wasn't very hungry anymore.
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-0OoO0-Because you have never felt their pain before-0OoO0-
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"SENSEI! SENSEI!" Luffy yelled as he ran bare-footed through the village. People jumped out of his way, glaring at the boy while mumbling something about 'demons' before walking swiftly away from the screaming boy. Luffy ignored these villagers as he continued running down-hill towards the doctor's home near the port. Panic was fitted across his face as he ran without stopping.
When he reached the doctor's worn down house he slammed his fist rapidly calling out to the doctor.
"SENSEI! OPEN UP! PLEASE DOCTOR HURRY! KAA-SAN! PLEASE DOCTOR YOU HAVE TO HELP HER!" Luffy repeated over and over until the doctor slammed the door opened with an angry expression on his old wrinkled face. Seeing the boy in such a panicked state immediately calmed his anger as worry took over and his white eyebrows furrowed together as he tried to make out what the boy was saying.
The doctor grabbed Luffy's shoulders roughly, "CALM DOWN LUFFY!" As Luffy took in deep pants and quieted down the doctor continued, "Now what's the matter my boy? Why are you poundin' on the door, lookin' like the devil's after ye'?"
"Norio-sensei! Quick! Kaa-san! She's sick! Kaa-san won't wake up Norio-sensei! Please! You HAVE to come!" Luffy yelled in panic. All those in the vicinity looked towards the boy in alarm. Most of them may hate the boy but they all cared deeply for Azumi, even if they didn't care for her choices.
Norio quickly grasped the situation, and with surprising speed, the old man grabbed his medical supplies and ran towards Luffy's home. Luffy quickly caught up to him and they both stared determinedly a head of them as they ran. Norio was one of the few people in the village who cared for the boy and he'd be dammed if he allowed a sweet young woman like Azumi pass before her time.
Soon the two of them made it to the home. Luffy slammed the door open and ran towards the stairs, leading Norio to Azumi. Luffy ran toward the end of the hall and slammed open another door leading to Azumi's room. Luffy and Norio quickly made there way to her side and knelt down next to her.
Azumi's breathing was coming out in great wheezing gasps, as if she couldn't get any air, her face, neck and shoulder were flushed as sweat dribbled of her face. Despite how hot she seemed she was shivering as if freezing and a blanket laid a top of her. Her skin was clammy and seemed to have a greyish tinge to it. A wet cloth was placed on her fore head, most likely placed there by Luffy before he ran to get Norio, but it was already warm. Her face was pulled in a grimace and she moaned in pain.
Norio removed the wet cloth from and placed his wrinkled hand on her forehead to try and gauge her temperature. He pulled his hand away swiftly, hissing softly at the heat. He opened his bag swiftly and began digging through it. Luffy was on her other side, replacing the wet cloth after dipping it in the cool water. He grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly gazing at his mother's flushed face as she fought to hold onto life.
Norio glanced at Luffy, there was no time to try and shoo him away when he could use his help. He placed the stethoscope above Azumi's heart listening to her rasping breaths and racing heart. Azumi coughed harshly, bloody fluid coming from her mouth and staining her lips red. Norio looked up in a panic as he saw what was happening. She was bleeding into her lungs. She would drown in her own blood if something wasn't done. He went back to his bag and pulled out several different bottles of medicine as well as some herbs. He threw them into a metal bowl and began to crush them all into a powder. When the medicine was fine enough he looked toward Luffy.
"Go an' get Azumi some water would ye'?" Norio asked Luffy. Luffy, who had been transfixed by the blood coating his mother's lips, snapped out of his gaze and nodded feverantly in Norio's direction before running out toward the kitchen.
Norio sighed quietly, running a hand through his wispy white hair. He removed the wet cloth from Azumi's forehead and replaced it with another cooler wet cloth. Gently, Norio brushed some of Azumi's hair away from her sweat-soaked forehead.
"Azumi my dear, what has happened to ye'?"
Soon, Norio heard Luffy's pounding footsteps as he rushed back with a glass of water. He ran back into the room and plopped down on the ground besides Azumi, spilling a good amount of water in the process. Norio snatched the glass from Luffy's hands and quickly mixed in the grey powder. He lifted her chin up opened her mouth before placing the glass to her lips and slowly pouring the liquid in. As an automatic reaction, Azumi swallowed half way before coughing violently, some of the laced water coming out in the process, when she was done coughing Norio continued to give Azumi the water.
Soon, Azumi's breathing calmed down to a light panting. Not ideal but surely better than the horrible wheezing gasps she had been taking before. Her fever had yet to break though so Norio and Luffy silently agreed to stay by Azumi's side.
It was going to be a long night.
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-0OoO0-You have never seen their scars before-0OoO0-
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End of Part One
Azumi-Safe Residence
Norio- Man of principals
Sensei-Teacher or Doctor
Neesan-Big Sister (informal)
Oneesan-Big Sister (Formal)
kaasan-mother (informal)
Okaasan- (formal)
itadakimasu-Thanks for the food
Chan- term of endearment usually used for those younger (girls mostly)
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I have just gone through this chapter again and fixed as many mistakes as i could find, if I missed any please review or PM me and I'll fix them.