Author's Note : This is my first fanfiction, so please be patient with me. I'm sorry if English is not my mother language and it would be some mistake grammar. I know it's SI/OC, but I promise it will different because this story will have major changed from canon, a lot. Because...well you will found out soon. Happy reading, minnatachi :D
Pairing : Eventually Zoro x OC (Can't you blame me? #plak)
Disclaimer : Art is not my talent, so it's impossible to own One Piece. It belongs Oda-sensei.
Chapter 1
It was one of those winter days in that year. All of the people wore a same cloth. Long coat, scarf bundled at their neck, ear puff, thick glove, with gray and black color dominated among them. Walked same rhythm, bored eyes as said 'I have business and don't disturb my way' were the right word to describe the crowd faces. The sky turned shade of gray and a slight gentle breeze enough shivering people which didn't wear winter gear. That was including a grunted mind of young teenage girl while walked down the road to her favorite book store nearby.
Light brown wavy hair framed her round face shape till shoulder;a short bang covered enough her right eye revealed her intelligence within ebony eyes almost like onyx gemstone. She wore black line turtleneck shirt and white linen pants. A black low heel boots clacked in soft vox while she walking. A long white coat like military reached her half thigh unbuttoned showed her petite body.
She puffed cold breath as her glove hands rubbed to get a little warm. 'This cold is killing me. Talk the irony of my name' When she was birth, a single flower bloomed in winter season which really rare and made her 'big' family perplexed. And that was the reason how she got her given name, 'winter flower'.
'I prefer spring than winter. And how can I forget my scarf?' sighed defeated for her eternity enemy, proceeded to continue her destination while attempting heed the winter season that came to her home town, Osaka.
Her home town was a typical modern city. Crowds which always in rush, iron-steel skyscrapers in variant intriguing shape, and chummy horn sounds from irritated driver or important busy peoples in their least, the winter slackened their normal activity a bit according the fluffy white covered buildings and the road like smoothie bushy blanket.
The light-brown head raced up following grey-block footpaths, not even bother to glance salespersons who was offering their wares with business smile until she saw red brick two floors building at edge crossroad. A letter 'Ichirou Book Store' written at window glass, several thick books displayed to attract bells jingled a soft melody to alarm the workers if their customers had arrived. Smell fragrant old books spread inside the room, attained her nose in glee.A fainted illumination from chandelier radianced like creamy hot chocolate from floor's and wall's material.A wooden spiral staircase was at left corner room. A lot of bookshelves in natty row displayed variant leather books each particular section. Her beat increased, could not handle astonishing sight of books that she went in Lala-land.
"Welcome Maeda-san. Long times no see"
She turned to face an old aged man who gave a grandfather smile behind the counter. The owner's book store, Inoue Ichirou. "I gave you permission to call me Fuyuka, Ichirou-san. I'm your loyal customer, am I right?"
He had grey-white short hair with warm dark brown jaw lines around his face witnessed his tough of life. He wore a plain white yukata for man, folded his hands inside the sleeves. Throughout she knew this man, the old man across her really healthy despite his real age, just like her only that, he was so hard to read, warm and polite, yet so secretive. Not intended to sniff other business. But, it was intriguing her and confusing her at same time. He was second figure that made her confused and intrigued beside her grandfather.A small smile addressed her until a chuckled voice filled the room.
"Hai hai, Fuyuka-chan. This old man is just happy to see you again. What books are you looking for? A myth, a legend or an old fairytale?"
She let her legs toward counter which was at left side, not far from spiral staircase, and plopped a vacant high chair at there. "This time I want an old history book, Ichirou-san. Is anything new to add my new collection? I'd like Egyptian history if available"
"Wait here. Maybe I have interesting book what you wanted",said Ichirou before motioned to specific section, gone behind book racks.
While waiting the owner store, her ebony eyes trailed to find something for dispatch her boredom. Fuyuka recognized a pile of books upon the counter, started to sorting those books. Her eyes caught a Greek Mythology book and decided it was the book she wanted to read then. Maybe she was a nerd one. She liked history, legend/myth story, stars and the planet. She also read some novels which not particularly true because she had two racks full of novels she liked. She knew some stories was lie or had a bit truth, but it was always alluring her to imagine herself in adventure. Not because she didn't grateful her daily peaceful life, but sometimes she could not help it with her skill she she got a chance, she wanted to see the world, had her own adventure and acquired in action, and finished it withal write a book about her own adventure.
The first one it could happen but she needed a lot of money. The second one was impossible because this world was in peace. Well, do not remind her with some nations which declared their own civil war but at least, still in peace. And that was connecting the last part.
A tapped on her shoulder made she stop her reading. A frown displeasured whoever dare disturbed her reading world. It changed drastically when she saw a thick red book in Ichirou's hand. The old man gave it which accepted pleasurably for the brown head after put off the book she was reading several minutes ago. Fuyuka palpated peculiar leather from her tipsy finger to the golden title 'Egyptian History'. The cover had Pyramid, Sphinx and Anubis picture.
"This is what I've got for you, Fuyuka-chan. The price's little bit expensive because it written in English. Is that all right?"
She realized the book was written in English and basically it was not common because her nation always translated in their own language. But she didn't mind, she could read it. Fuyuka shook her head, grabbed her new collection to be like the most treasure in the world. "How much, Ichirou-san?"
"My...my...I see you have already liked the book. It is 4.500 yen", answered the owner's enjoyed the young girl happiness.
She gave the book to be wrapped a bag, took her small purse, and paid amount money to the old man across her. Ichirou lent some charge and the bag to her.
"I know it's a bit random, Fuyuka-chan. If you get a chance to make your own adventure and get action like in the book, will you grab it?"
The petite girl startled a bit with unexpected question and stared the old man who still had his 'U' eyes smile like it was not weird at all. Sometimes she said her imagine rambling about her skill to the old man who always listening her in patience. She tilted her head, thought deeply. "I will. That will be not wasting my skill, right? It can protect people. But, it's impossible. It is only happening in books or anime, Ichirou-san"
A disturbed looked flickered inside his brown eyes while a smile still keeping in his wrinkle old face. It was disappeared in blink eye if she didn't keep an eye on. Ichirou nodded agree with her statement.
"Say greeting for your grandfather, Fuyuka-chan"
"Hai, I will. Arigatou for the book, Ichirou-san", as she stood and granted a slight bow to the owner's store. Ichirou retaliated his own greet. "I must go home. Until we meet again, Ichirou-san"
A jiggle bell rang again and voice door to be closed. Silent wrapped round now empty store. Saddened smile concealed, his eyes narrowed in guilty and tired for his loyal customer. "This adventure may be hard for you, Maeda Fuyuka. With your skill, you can help those peoples you will have precious nakama on your side and the place where you are belongs to. I pray for your luck and until we meet again. In another world"
XXX
Her brows knitted in deep thought after she read a letter from Ichirou that night, remembered his weird question. She found it slipped one of book he had given for her. Not till there, she was surprise two added books inside the bag. It was the book she read at the store 'Greek Mythology'. The other one didn't have a title and nothing written inside the book. She saw an envelope slipped and read the letter.
Dear Fuyuka-chan,
Perhaps you are surprised when you find two books in your bag. It is for your 17th birthday present. Its tomorrow, isn't it? I'd like explain why there is a blank book in your bag. That's a journal book for your adventure. I know you wanted to see the world and have your own adventure. I will give you a chance and trust you enough would be wise and help people there with your skill. Now it does not be wasting anymore, right? Just keep promise to write your journey in that book.
Prepare stuff what will you brought. At3.00p.m in the afternoon 17th your birthday tomorrow, when you see a firefly just follow it. It wills guild you. Write a letter for your grandfather so he didn't worry where his precious grandchild has gone. I might guess your grandfather's present, just bring them, it would be helpful. Happy birthday and enjoy your greatest adventure, Maeda Fuyuka. Until we meet again.
Sincerely,
Inoue Ichirou
'Today is my birthday, still I couldn't believe Ichirou-san's letter was true or not. I will decide it when I see the fireflies with my own eyes' She knew fireflies didn't life in winter season. Her logical mind was doubtful the statement. She wondered what he meant from his random question before. Meanwhile, Fuyuka's adventure side excited with journey which was waiting her. A low knocks blown her deep thought away. She opened her shoji bedroom' door. A young woman servant viewed in front of her, bow greeted to her.
"Excuse me, Fuyuka-sama. But, your grandfather called you and he is waiting your present in dojo"
"Tell him I'll be right there soon"
"Understood, Fuyuka-sama", answered the servant, left after gave a bow to Fuyuka.
Fuyuka knew what her grandfather wanted. She rose and changed her attire. A gray hakama pants, black kimono short sleeves, her wavy hair braided high ponytail. She did nothing for her short bang that covered her right eye. Her hands folded beneath kimono sleeves while walked gracefully to her family's dojo.
She passed a wooden hall which connected where her family's dojo was. Her home was really an example for Japan's traditional house. Large and wide for each rooms, tatami flooring mats, and shoji sliding door which made from wood and paper. Throughout it was traditional house; a modern technology had touched living room, kitchen, and bathroom. That was really handy and helpful, right?
Like common usual traditional house, it had inner courtyard. Fuyuka stopped a while the sight at her right side, spotted her favorite reading seat. A large plum tree now covered in white snow near koi pond, hid their beautiful colors till spring awake. A same condition for boulders and trees around inner courtyard. 'I dislike winter, but this is beautiful. If I could draw, I would sketch right now. It's a pity art never be my field'
Fuyuka opened the slide door which connected dojo's room. Maeda's dojo was like the other rooms at the house. It built from finest wood and tatami mats with wide enough to accommodate twenty to thirty peoples at once. It was only had one side made from wall while the three others side was shoji doors and only be opened in occasional situation. There were several katana in different length hung in diagonal shape at the wall which directly across from main door. Three sharp naginata sticked at their place in the corner room. A large placard Kanji seven ways of bushido hinged above katana place with a white plum crest at left side.
A wiry old man in his late sixty ages had been waiting her in the middle of dojo. She knew this man well. He was the man who brought her after she became an orphan. Her mother, Maeda Hitomi died when labored her to the father, Maeda Kenichi joined his wife in mass cars accident two years later. She barely remembered her father always accompanied her to play. Only that. Therefore, she regarded him like her second parents.
He was Maeda Ryuutarou, grandfather of Maeda Fuyuka, the infamous Maeda's clan head. Short white hair with shade of gray at both side, his beard had same color showed his actual age. A high chin and jaw contour proofed warrior lineage which run in his family. And it didn't descend to her. He said her face more like her mother. A pair ebony eye gazed her through into her soul. The same eyes like her ancestor that always run to first child born. He wore long sleeves black yukata, white obi wrapped his waist. A black katana tied at left side.
A deep bowed when Fuyuka greeted him, respected one of the elder and clan's head. He nodded and motioned for Fuyuka to sit. She abided, took a seat in seiza manner.
"I'm here, Ryuu-jiisan", said Fuyuka polite.
A small curve tugged his corner lip. "First of all, happy birthday, ko-musume. You have known why I called you here, yes?"
"Hai"
"Since your age is seventeen, now it's the time to prove what I have taught and worthy to bear Maeda clan's name. There is your present from me. You may see it, ko-musume"
Curious the black bundled cloth thing lay afore her, Fuyuka freed the circle string tie. She stunned what she had seen; her fingers trailed the lines white scabbard, a red sageo tied around the knob. The hilt has white color,black-gold strip tsuba, and black ornaments decorated middle lines the hilt. A 'zing' sound while unsheathing the katana. She gasped in awe, saw hamon (tempered line) like a wave structure, until she noticed the edge of katana. 'It's...'
"Its reverse-blade katana", whispered Fuyuka with admiration tone, peered her grandfather who now had proud smile succeeded to surprise her. "But, I thought our ancestor never use this kind of katana. You told me too,jiisan. Why?"
"Indeed our ancestors never use reverse-blade katana. The reason is because I remember a seven age little girl saw an anime about samurai with X scar in his left cheek. That girl never give up begged me to get one", replied Ryuutarou eyes glinted with amusement.
"Ojiisan..." She felt a flame heat rose at her cheeks, yet hold her calm expression.'He teases me' pouted Fuyuka inwardly.
"This katana is more acceptable in this modern era. And we don't have enemy like in Sengoku Jidai or Meiji era. Perhaps, if you were birth in Sengoku Jidai, you would infamous like Maeda Toshiie and his wife, Matsu. You have qualified to be a great samurai although you are a woman, ko-musume. Names your katana. Choose wisely because the name of katana became its character", stated the Clan's head. His voice filled authority, not in arrogant speech, reflected how he emphasized every word.
Without hesitated fraught in confidence, "Sakabatou, to memoir the anime I saw, Ryuu-jiisan. This katana will protect people I care and my opponents to respect"
"Tie your katana and prepare yourself, ko-musume. I want to see your resolve in this spar and remember, I won't judgment you are worthy enough to bear Maeda's clan symbol", a click sound pretended his grandfather flicked his katana, arose in fluid movement.
Quickly fetched her grandfather, Fuyuka already stood while tying her new katana at left side hip. Calm demeanor face, determination look, right hand not far from the hilt. She stood against her grandfather in battoujutsu stance. "I'm ready, Ryuu-jiisan"
A proud warmed Ryuutarou's heart. He knew his grandchild had qualified to be a great swordsmanship. It was a pity she born in this modern era. Maeda's samurai spirit ran in her blood. He taught the bushido to the young generation so that they didn't forget their kin. As his son died fifteen years ago, Fuyuka was the only main branch of Maeda's direct descendant. There were two other elders who took hold second branch, his own younger brothers. At least she liked learn the samurai art considering she was a woman and had burden at her shoulder due the time later.
Chuckled inwardly when he remembered young Fuyuka read manga or watched anime about samurai and tried adoption their technique to beat him in spar. Swung the sword hopes the wind would hit him. It was hilarious scene. His grandchild pouted why the sword couldn't produce the wind like in anime. Indulgently, he explained it was only happen in anime world not in real world. In the end he watched anime with his granddaughter and helped her to develop sword technique more suitable. She absorbed everything he taught like sponge.
A slight worried as he observed his grandchild became anti-social at the same time she entered elementary school. She didn't bother if she didn't have friends. She would answer when she asked. She talked if she had important reason. She was no longer had that childish smile. She called her 'classmate' merely an 'acquaintance'. He hoped she would meet a person to open her shell up.
Oh, Ryuutarou remembered this one. Perhaps she had qualified great swordsman, yet she childish inside. He sighed inwardly to think of her collection books, bunked like small library at her bedroom. History about legend, myth, or fairytale filled the bookshelves. One day he asked why did her collection that. The answered surprised him.
['Because I want to see the world and make my own adventure just like these books, jiichan']
And she continue babbled the legends to him. 'What a troublesome desire. Why she doesn't dream become a doctor or a scientist like the other child or maybe just maybe a greatest swordsman in the world?' He didn't know if those desires had changed or not. Ryuutarou snapped back to reality, saw determination inside his only grandchild's ebony eyes.
"Hajime!"
XXX
Fuyuka moaned in pain she obtained after spar with her grandfather. 'Ryuu-jiisan never going easy and this is worst than I proved my limit and seemed jiisan satisfied with the result' She was changing her clothes which already wet with sweats. She wore black linen pants, white turtleneck shirt, and black coat hood like military which hung loose until her half thigh. A pair low heel black boots wrapped her legs. 'At least, I don't wear black glasses or black suit and I will like Woman in Black'
She checked her wrist-watch. 'Now 3.00 pm. We will see the letter is true or not'
Not long she thought that, a firefly came in from her window. It was flying around her and movement in circle shape. Awed with the blink yellow light like small orb, Fuyuka couldn't speak any words. Her excitement side claimed victorious dance. The firefly made a move her to pursue. She grabbed her red bag and wrapped red scarf around her neck. It was bit heavy because she brought two thick books. 'Better safe than sorry' Her Sakabatou bundled a black cloth, slung on her right shoulder. She put a letter for her grandfather on study desk beside bed and jumped outside window after the fireflies. She landed safely at side yard.
'I'm sorry, Ryuu-jiisan. But I have adventure to catch on. Wish me luck. Sayonara'
She managed to distract the guard who was shifting watch, realized the firefly brought her to forest behind Maeda's compound. Curious where the firefly aimed to. Her boots plashed in deep snow which higher as she through inside forest, struggled keep distance the yellow orb ahead. Her eyes widened with a huge veil of lights in the middle of forest. Like the firefly waited her too long, it floated back and forth. When Fuyuka reached near the light veil, she panted hard. A puff white smoke came from her mouth. She was unsure with the strange phenomena in front of her. 'What should I do?'
Fuyuka turned to the firefly and not sure she would ask. "Do you want I go into that light, little firefly? Blink once for no, double for yes"
Her mouth formed in small 'o' shape when it blinked twice. Twice!'Now I talked with a firefly?!'
"Ano...Would that be dangerous if I go there?"
Blink once. The firefly motioned which she indicated 'just-go-and-be-brave'.
'Maa...whatever' she inhaled deeply before walked to the veil of lights. Amounts of lights blinded her eyes until her heart rushed to stop in second, realized her legs tread empty air and fell in rapid speed. She was surrounding by strange lights that swirled purple dots. She felt out of breath, nausea overwhelming her didn't take long time, until the unconscious realm hugged her to pointless darkness.
XXX
A raven haired teenage with straw hat for his trademark was fooling around with his curly hair with long nose best friend, Usopp. That was a usually sight in Going Merry ship. A green hair in his late teens with three swords was napping besides railing at middle deck. Not forget an orange head girl who checked her treasure collection. Obliviously an ordinary sight. Maybe, until now. The Straw Hat's captain noticed something unusual at the sky.
"Nami! You must see this, a light from the sky!" shouted Luffy.
"Well of course, because the sun we can see the light, Luffy", not bothered to look the captain.
"No! It's different, just look!"
He pulled an orange girl and pointed the sky. Usopp was running around shouted the light would attacked the ship and blown them into dust. The green swordsman woke up from his napping.
"Why all of you become noisy?!" He stared where his nakama looked now;saw the bulb of lights on the sky. "What the hell is that?!"
The orange head called Nami took a binocular, aimed where the strange phenomena was. "I see a hole in the lights. WHAT? Is that a girl come out from that hole?!"
Three voices screeched disbelief. "NANI?! A GIRL?"
"Luffy! Catch the girl before she crashes the sea!" ordered Nami.
"Wakatta!"
He stretched his arm, grabbed anonymous girl body that landed safely in his arm. "I got her!"
Curious stare appeared all of faces Straw Hat's pirates crew. They came near the captain who had unconscious girl in his arms. Their anonymous girl was like ordinary girl, not found anything weird from her. She had light wavy brown hair which creamier braided in high ponytail. A short bang covered her closed right eye and had pale skin. A black long unbuttoned coat showed white turtleneck shirt inside, clung her petite body and red scarf wrapped her neck. She had red backpack and black cloth thing sling at her right shoulder. After they believed nothing wrong with their new guest, they decided to bring her to main lounge.
"I don't know what she brings in that bag. It's heavy. And what is inside that cloth?" Usopp groaned when helped Luffy remove her luggage near sofa. Luffy put their new guest at long sofa at the corner room.
"Well, we just wait until this girl awake, guys. Do not open her luggage. I think it's her privacy, ne?" bribed Nami.
The green swordsman didn't even flinch a glance to their new guest in the main lounge. He had already walked toward door, wanted to continue his disturbing nap.
XXX
Fuyuka blinked twice, much to clearly her blur sight as she met wooden line of ceiling. She barely trembled as she tried to sit and groaned softly with sudden headache attack her. She massaged her temple softly to lessen the pain, realized that she was lying at long yellow sofa. 'Where am I?'
Confused now she was at strange place, she reconciled her last remembered a spar with Ryuu-jiisan;a firefly came to her bedroom that she followed it and the veil of lights. Oh-
'I must be fainted. So, where am I now?' Aware her condition, Fuyuka buried her panic feeling inside her 'secret' box. It didn't help to think clearly. Not help at all, she sure. She stayed calm while her pair ebony eyes trailed to observe the place where she was lying. Her bag and her katana were at side sofa, not far. Unintended, a relief sighed escaped that she didn't lose her grandfather's present.
The first thing stricken her mind was the room built from timber. The walls, the floor, even the door. Seemed the room she was in now like affiliation kitchen and dining room. She saw a stove at left corner across her. A table and long chair for 2 to 3 peoples, a refrigerator at right corner, and a rack like for wine or beer place. But something missed when she was observing. The shape of windows which resembled her about ship. Now her ears caught a sound of wave. Her nose sniffed the salt of air like when she visited a beach at summer. She spotted a stir with a cute sheep figure at opposite the only door there. Yes, now she knew where she was, knitted her brows in deep thought. 'I'm at a ship. That veil must be like teleport transportation to somewhere. Now I have to know where exactly I am'
Apparently, the door burst to open, revealed a teenage girl with orange hair, and maybe had a same age like her.'Wait a minute...Orange hair?' She wore a white shirt, orange mini skirt with two white rings on each side, showed her slender long legs, and the same color like her skirt for her high heels strap sandals. She was gorgeous girl Fuyuka had seen. She had short hair that curled strand over at her left side of face, a pair light brown eyes, and hourglass body shape that made every woman envy and jealous. Not forget her nice bosom size which bigger than herself. Much bigger. Though, it was not Fuyuka reason in dumbstruck state.
'Anime?! That veil teleported me to anime world?!' screamed Fuyuka disbelief inwardly. She was urging to pinch her cheeks, made sure it was not a dream. Somehow it terrified her yet intriguing at once. She would admitted if she had been waiting what adventure lied ahead, but never ever a second in her mind it would ensued like this! Which made her mind traveling to an old man who owned book store, wedged his real intention. 'What power do you have, Ichirou-san? And what do you expect for me to adventure in anime world?'
"I see you're awake. Are you okay?" the orange head slurred with concern and warm smile, thought maybe assuring her to not be afraid.
Fuyuka nodded silently, never let her guard off for the stranger, even the stranger was a woman. "Could you tell me what happened? And where am I?"
Seemed the stranger caught her warily tone, still had assuring smile that she didn't have intend to hurt. "We saw you fall from some bulb light at the sky. We saved you before crashing to the sea"
That was not run in her mind. 'Fall from the sky?! I came to anime world and got time to die already? How lucky I am' finished with sarcasm inwardly. Fuyuka tilted her head slightly, aware the orange head stranger gaze. "Thank you for saving me..."
"Nami. My name's Nami. What's yours?"
"Thank you for saving me, Nami-san", repeated Fuyuka with slight polite bow. "It's Maeda "
Fuyuka wondered why the orange head named Nami taken aback a bit with her polite manner greeting. Nami rested her hands against hip after composed herself, like in sexy gesture, but she assumed it just because she had high confidence.
"Come. I want you meet the others before you tell your story, ne?"
'Somehow, that girl looks familiar to me. Ichirou-san not teleported me in random anime, right?' Fuyuka began list anime she had watched while following Nami from behind. She doubted she was in Naruto world. That anime filled about politics and dark espionage, too gloomy, and Nami's eyes shape or her hair much different. So she discarded from the list. It was definitely not Mashima Hiro from Fairytail. Nami posture was more to skinny and taller. She was a head taller than Fuyuka. It was not Samurai X or Samurai Deeper Kyo because they wore yukata or kimono if she compared their attire with Nami's. Bleach? Doubtful. Tokyo Ghoul? Too far.
The sun shone through a warm feeling to her face. A slight breeze flew her short bang hair, lugged a mix salt air to under her smelling sense. She never sees the color of sea could be so blue like sapphire stone, luminous a sparkle jewel as the blaze of sun ricocheted the surface. Only a clacked sound from her low boots heel and Nami's sandal heels escorted her as she downed the stair with Nami lead her.
There were three figures at the deck; all was teenage boys, perhaps one or two years older than herself. A boy with straw hat sat in cute sheep head, gazed his stare toward the sea. A curly haired boy with a long nose busy whatever he was experimenting near the mast. His hands held two lab small tubes. 'Like Pinocchio' amused her inwardly. A green hair boy was napping in railing the ship, three katana leaned his right shoulder, snored loud enough to her ear.
"Luffy, our guest has awaked", called Nami. The orange head decided to stop near the primary mast. Fuyuka stood beside her patiently.
'Wait a minute. Luffy? As Luffy from...' Her eyes widened instantly, realized what anime she was in. The boy who's had straw hat named Luffy, stretched his arms and stood in front on her with a wore red no-sleeve vest and blue short cuff pants which only reached his knee. He had a scar with two stitches underneath his left eye and a messy short raven hair. But he was younger than the last she had seen. 'If I'm not wrong, he has a lot of crews, not three. Eto...how many he has? '
"Hello, I'm Monkey D. Luffy. The captain in this ship and I'll be a pirate king!"
Thwack!
Nami punched top the head of Luffy. "You don't have to tell her that, baka!"
Fuyuka caught Nami glanced to her with panic eyes, convinced if the captain frightened her being a pirate. She saw the captain had already stood, groaned and rubbed his head. She noticed the teenage boy, though she was only seeing him in high chart anime, equal with Dragon Ball and it still not finished yet.
"Pirate king as if One Piece, Luffy-san?" asked Fuyuka softly, even though she had known the answer already, but still wanted to reassure her into.
He nodded, gave his infamous trademark goofy grin, second time. Nami stunned with her unexpected calm reaction. She didn't have any reason to afraid, reduced her guard off because she was in safety companies hands. They were the main characters of One Piece anime after all.
The teenage with curly hair and long nose came to join wore olive green bandana with rectangular motif, a blue-white striped armband on his left arm, and brown overall without shirt underneath with a white sash. He lifted his nose higher, rubbed the peak proudly. "The name is captain Usopp. And I have 30.000 crews in the world. You might hear my name around the sea!"
"It's that the reason why your nose is long, Usopp-san? I've heard an old fairytale if you lie, their nose become longer automatically. Were you a cursed one like Pinocchio, Usopp-san?" Fuyuka tilted her head asked innocently, amused inwardly as he resembled Pinocchio too much.
A dead silent filled the deck. Not long a loud laughter spread the middle deck, loud enough to wake up a certain swordsman. She saw Luffy laughing hard, rolling round the ground, banged his fist to wooden floor. Nami held her stomach, wiped a slight tear from her corner eye. And Usopp squatted with dark cloud despair floated on top his head, sulked with her unexpected remark.'They are younger the last I saw from anime chart. Why?'
"Huh? What are you guys laughing at?"
She turned sharply to the deep baritone sound's owner which came from the last crews at there. It was much much different than two teenage boys before who had high pitched voice. It gave a strange effect for her nape. She met a pair of black eyes like steel stared without care, leaned the left side railing of the ship. He wore a plain white shirt with three unbuttoned at the collar, a green haramaki, a black trousers in slight green shade which tucked inside a pair of black boots. She caught a glint, clearly to see that came from three gold earrings like teal at his left earlobe. If Luffy and Usopp were a skinny man, this man cried 'OTOKO' out loud. Yes, she quoted Elfman remark from Fairytail. It showed his built muscular body, arms, and board nice chest. He was a tanned man, tanner than Usopp actually and had short-cropped hair that reminding her with moss plant, lighter but somehow perfectly fit with his broody image.
"Shishishi...That was hilarious. Zoro, this girl told us if Usopp's nose became longer if he lied and maybe Usopp had been cursed like a fairytale", Luffy explained during his laughter.
Surprisingly, an amusement smirked tugged from the green haired teenager's lip. Fuyuka glanced to Luffy and Nami who still giggled never end, laughed Usopp misery without mercy.
"Don't be so sad, Usopp. Fuyuka is only kidding, right?" courage Nami decreasing her laugh, patted Usopp's back in there-there manner.
Fuyuka only nodded, didn't want the situation worsen.
Nami glinted a mischievous eyes, seemed to enjoying each time Usopp's depression state. "That's Roronoa Zoro. First mate and the swordsman in this ship. Oh, the ship name is Going Merry"
"Hnn", grunted Zoro after being introduced.
'Did he just imitate an Uchiha?'She raised an eyebrow for his lack of response. Both of them stared a while before Fuyuka retired her stare gaze to three stood crews in front of her. "Thank you for saving me. My name's Maeda Fuyuka. Yoroshiku" Fuyuka clasped her hands above each other and gave them a slight gracefully bow.
'Why do they have that expression?' confused Fuyuka when she saw their reaction face.
"Ne, Fuyuka. Did you remember how you could fall from the sky?" Usopp asked initiation, once he had calmed down.
"Hai, Usopp-san. I was following a firefly that came through my window's room to a forest not far from behind my house, until I saw a huge veil of light in the middle forest. I went through into it and fainted after that", said Fuyuka in plain tone, not bothered disbelief reaction viewed in their face.
"That's impossible to believe!" shouted Usopp.
She tilted her head with serious gaze to him. "Why should I lie about my story?"
Again, there was a dead silent. Fuyuka didn't give any room to argue, emphasized her words seriously and answered directly to their eyes. So they understood that she was neither lying nor joking either.
Nami extended her arms; a concern filled her brown eyes. "So you looked like being teleported from your home, yes? Then how can you go home now?"
"Then I must find a certain acquaintance of mine if I want to go home. I doubt I will find him in short time. And my homeland is far away from here so the conclusion is I'm stuck"
Zoro, Nami, and Usopp stared her like an alien. Fuyuka never bored with their reaction face. It was amusing her, something she never felt back in her world. Perhaps, because she stayed her calm of course panics never finishing a current situation into, whatever situation was. The only one who didn't have reaction was the captain, Luffy. He stared her silently and Fuyuka replied him with her own stare. 'He is unpredictable. Interesting...'
Suddenly, a wide goofy grin trademark unfolded, showed his childish side. "Do you like adventure?"
She nodded hesitantly, a glint excited within her ebony eyes that darker like onyx gemstone because her changed emotion. "I have desire to see the world, Luffy-san"
"Want to join my crew, Fuyuka?" He looked satisfied with her answer.
"NANI?!" three voices shouted unison, snapped their alien like stare from Fuyuka.
'Are these peoples that you meant needs my help, Ichirou-san?' She doubted if that was Ichirou real reason. There must have deeper reason, not simple readable like this. Look underneath the underneath. Yes, she quoted Hatake Kakashi now. But it was true and her jiisan taught to read situation.
"I accept your offering, Luffy-san. I will give my loyalty and your order becomes my action. And I will help you to be Pirate King, Senchou"
Fuyuka gave a slight bow to her now new captain, amused with Nami and Usopp dumbfounded face, and a curious stare from Zoro at her left side, not changed his first position. Luffy folded his hands pleasantly.
"Shishishi...Welcome to my crew, Fuyuka"
She nodded silently. 'I don't know what power you possessed. Not because I ungrateful nor I disappointed either. But why did you send me to One Piece world, Ichirou-san? You already knew that I never read or watch One Piece, right?'
XXX
Japanese Vocabulary:
- Hai : means 'yes'
- Fuyuka : fuyu (冬), meaning "winter", and ka (花) meaning "flower".
- Ko-musume : means 'little girl'that usually use from the elder to younger. It could be an insult too, more informal way to address a young girl, and it's a bit derisive, kind of like "Girlie
- Ojiisan : means grandfather and old man. Jiichan means 'grampa', usually used by children
- Hajime (はじめ): is the Japanese word meaning "beginning". In the Japanese traditional martial arts such as karate, judo, aikido and kendo, it is a verbal command to "begin".
- Ano... : "Umm..." Used to politely interrupt or to get someone's attention
- Wakatta : means 'I understand' (unpolite manner)
-Yoroshiku : usually as "yoroshiku onegaishimasu", is a very complex idiomatic phrase. Nominally it means "(Please) Think well of me" but in actual use it can mean "Please take care of that" or "I'm pleased to meet you" or "I'll leave that to you" or "please help me". A very versatile phrase. In this case it means 'pleased to meet you'.
- Name-san (Name-さん): The "-san" suffix serves as a mark of respect. A person may be addressed with the "-san" suffix if the speaker does not know the subject well, but the speaker does not wish to be rude to the subject, or when the subject has a higher social rank than the speaker.
- Name-sama (Name-様): Sama is used as a polite term of address to someone noticeably older or of higher status than yourself. In this case, every employees at Maeda's compound called Ryuutarou and Fuyuka with "-sama" suffix
- Otoko : man or male
- Senchou (船長) : a captain of a ship