As Luffy was fighting Captain Morgan, something caught my eye.
It was the pinked haired boy, Coby they called him. He had the same look in his eyes, the same kind of emotion that I felt towards Luffy: admiration. I guess, in a way, he had been in the same situation that I am now, and Luffy turned Coby's sorrow into hope, no, that's not right. He became his hope for freedom. Slowly returning from my thoughts, I realize that the fight was already over. Luffy was the clear winner, just as expected. I watched in amazement as the once proud bounty hunter turns into the now proud pirate with a strong resolve and will, with his dream to be the world's best swordsman, and thus signing his place as the first mate of Luffy's crew. A truly fitting person for that position as nakama. Hmph Luffy, not bad!
A santoryuu-user... I bet if Mama heard about it she would laugh and even admit to being curious about this boy.
ARGH! Not again! Sora, get a grip of yourself and stop being so gloomy and depressed! You need to be a strong woman! All those years you endured everything and never thought about depressing things, but now that he is on the sea you become a depressed little girl crying for help!? Tch. Truly sad... Hah, nevermind...
I open my golden watch, cradling it in both of my hands and stare at her picture.
Her golden brown eyes and her mischievous smile. In the picture she's holding Hotaru, as a newborn, wrapped in a yellow blanket. Next to her sat my other sister, Hikaru, her silver gray eyes full of joy at becoming an older sister.
I sat on the other side of my mother, remembering that one of Papa's crewmates took the picture right after Hotaru was born.
I put my hand on my forehead as I lean against my elbow. Realizing that I did it again, that I called him Papa again, instead of Shanks.
I look over at the red den den mushi. My conversation with Little Boss went well.
I take a deep breath, for some reason my mask keeps slipping when I see the image of a straw hat in my head.
If this keeps up I might not be able to see him. I have to accept it, that even if we meet, Luffy won't know who I am, but that's okay, even very good, because it helps protecting him and his brother, and I would do it over and over again just to make sure that nothing happens to Luffy, even if I suffer.
I stand up, shoving my golden pocket watch back into my pocket.
I open the door to the deck. A chill goes down my spine immediately. Hawk eyes gaze into my eyes.
It seems as if someone else has also come to visit East Blue.
Oh well, not like I can do much about it, and a fight between us won't go well. I sat down on the ship's rail as I think about the past.
That day, the promise was made between all of us. It was nice and sunny too. I smile as I remember the day that Luffy ate a devil fruit.
I close my eyes as the memory takes hold of my mind. Papa had come back from one of his trips. We were celebrating his return.
I stood up on the counter with a mug filled with juice. I had argued with Makino that even though I was still a kid that I was allowed to drink juice from a beer mug.
I laughed as everyone kept laughing, drinking, and clicking their drinks together.
"To the best captain of the seas, cheers!" I cheered lifting my cup up.
"Cheers!" The entire bar yelled back.
I was amazed at how Papa's entire crew could fit in Makino's bar. Her bar has a counter and behind it there were all sorts of bottles lined up. I looked at the pirates who were sitting on the tables, drinking to their hearts' content.
"Cheers to squirt, the best daughter a father could ask for." Papa turned to his crew, with his mug of sake.
"Damn right, after all, I'm going to become Queen of pirates!" I said, placing my hand on my chest, the movement made my straw hat cover my eyes.
"Squirt, I keep telling you a girl can't be King of pirates." Papa said with a chuckle as he took a bite of his food.
"That's stupid. I bet I can beat every man's ass in this room." I lifted my strawhat up, away from my eyes, to stare at Papa's crew.
"Keep dreaming squirt."
"The only way you could become the Queen of pirates is to marry the Pirate King."
"Don't give her ideas." Papa said before chugging down some sake.
I ignored them and walked over to Luffy, seeing him laugh.
"I want to be a pirate too." He said.
"You can be part of my crew." I responded, then hopped down to the stool.
"No way. I want to be captain, but you can join my crew."
"Nah, I want to be Pirate Queen, plus you're too much of a crybaby."
At my words, Papa's fist landed on my head. "Squirt, Luffy just proved to us his strength by cutting himself under his eye. That takes guts."
"Yeah, then he cried for two hours." I mumbled.
"Hey, you try doing it without crying." Luffy argued.
"I can't, a girl's skin is a pearl." I said placing my hand on my cheek.
"Chicken."
"What did you say?!" I tackled him down to the floor. We rolled around the bar as we both landed punches on each other. The entire bar laughed at us as they watched our little fight.
Papa grabbed both of us by the collar of our shirts. "Now now, squirt can be a pirate."
At this Luffy exploded.
"Why can she be a pirate?!" He snapped waving his arms around.
"Simple, you are an anchor." I stuck out my tongue at him.
Papa laughed as he placed us back on our stools.
The party kept going on as Papa was challenged to a drinking competition. I watched as I ate my strawberry shortcake.
I finally noticed that Luffy seemed a bit down. I let out a sigh, then smiled.
"Here," I handed him a strawberry covered in whip cream. "I'll teach you how to swim, but in return, you have to promise we will always be nakama even when we cross paths on the sea."
"I promise." He grinned and took the strawberry.
Papa wrapped an arm around me as he swayed a little. I turned my head, sticking out my tongue, he stank of alcohol.
He chuckled at my reaction. He finally sat down next to me. He grabbed a fork and tried to get one of my strawberries. I covered my plate.
"Get your own."
"Oh, come on, share with your old man."
He placed me in his lap rubbing his cheek against mine.
"Your beard is itchy." I complained.
I pushed him away, trying to eat my strawberry shortcake only to see him grab a strawberry and plop it in his mouth. I turned around to face him with a glare.
"That was mine!" I yelled.
He pushed my hat covering my eyes, chuckling.
A door slam made all of us freeze, watching as the door landed in front us.
Papa placed me back on my seat. The entire bar stared at the new visitors. I scooted closer to Papa, trying to calm my heartbeat.
Papa ignored the whole thing and began to eat his plate of food.
"Excuse us." A voice spoke. "So, these are pirates, you all look pretty damn dumb."
I felt Papa's crew tense up, but none of them dared make a move without the captain's order.
The man entered the bar, followed by others, they all wore clothes for a desert island. The man who had spoken stopped next to Papa.
I copied Papa and went back to my dessert. I doubted that they would do anything bad.
"Welcome, gentleman what can I get you?" Makino asked them.
"We're mountain bandits, but we didn't come here to bust up the place. We just want ten barrels of sake."
I took a bite of a strawberry, noticing Luffy was watching Makino and the bandits.
"I'm sorry we just ran out of sake." Makino answered nervously.
That caught my attention, I bet every single pirate in here is drunk out of their mind. I can already tell I'm going to have to sober Papa up.
"That's strange. What are all these pirates drinking?" The bandit looked around the room with an annoyed look, each table had its own barrel of liquor. "Fruit juice?"
"No, that happens to be the last of it." Makino responded, still nervous.
Papa finally decided to look up to the bandit. I guess he could tell as well that Makino needed backup. He took hold of the bottle next to him.
"I'm sorry, It looks like we drank up all the liquor." Papa said with an apologetic smile. Then he held out the last bottle of sake.
He wouldn't admit it, but it must be killing him to give away the last bit of liquor.
"Here, you can have the bottle, it is still unopened." He held it out to them.
I beamed in pride, Papa is really the best pirate of the seas. The bandit gave Papa a glare before throwing the bottle against Papa's face, getting sake and glass all over him. I felt some of the sake land on me with bits of pieces of glass.
Papa peeked over at me quickly to make sure that I was alright.
I shook my hands, trying to get the liquor off them. The entire crew's eyes burned into my back. They're way too overprotective. I finally gave them a smile to show that I'm fine.
"What kind of fool do you take me for? One bottle isn't enough." The bandit growled. He then took out a wanted poster with his picture. "You see this, I'm a wanted man! My head is worth 8,000,000 berri, I have killed 56 people and they were mostly fools like you."
Good for you. Want a star for it? I kept my face blank as Mama had taught me. I hopped down from my stool. I started to pick up the glass. As the bandit went on about not messing with him. Papa simply ignored him and got down from his seat, crouching down to help with picking up shards of the bottle.
"Sorry about the mess Makino, give me a rag and I'll clean it up." Papa said.
I had gathered up all the glass as I heard Makino's response.
"Oh, don't worry about it." She said in surprise.
The bandit seemed annoyed at this and took out his sword, then slid it down on the counter breaking the bottle and plates of food on it. I felt the mess land on me. I looked over to Papa to see him covered in food and more liquor.
"Since you like to clean so much then you'll find this mess more fulfilling." The bandit sneered.
I ignored him as I got up to dust off some of the food on Papa's white shirt.
"See you later, cowards." The bandit said before he left.
I took off my straw hat to see the damage on it, I dusted off the food on it and thought about leaving it out to dry, but went against the thought. I'll let it dry when I take my bath tonight.
Makino rushed over to Papa's side with a rag. "Captain, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, no harm done." Papa answered.
The bar exploded in laughter.
"He got you good, boss."
"Papa, you look silly." I laughed along with them.
Makino turned to me with her rag. "Are you okay, Sora?"
"I'm good." I answered between giggles. She looked relieved with my answer.
All of us laughed it off as nothing, except one.
"Why are you all laughing?!" Luffy yelled, silencing the laughter.
His hands were made into fists as he shook in pure anger.
"He made you look like a weakling! Why didn't you fight him back?! Who cares if they outnumbered you, and sure they looked pretty strong but you do not just laugh it off, as if it were nothing! You are a disgrace to all pirates! You are not even a pirate or a man!"
Luffy, can be such a hothead at times. I glared at him as I made my own hands into fists.
"You idiot, it doesn't matter about strength or number of people. Papa and his crew didn't fight because it'd be a waste of time." I argued.
Papa placed his hand on my arm, giving me a look. I let out a sigh as I went back to clean up the mess, and Makino soon snapped out of it and began to help.
"Look, Luffy, he just got some sake on me. It's nothing to get worked up about." Papa said with a smile.
Luffy jumped off his stool. "Where are you going?" Papa asked as he grabbed Luffy's arm.
"I'm going to go find some real pirates. I never want to see you again."
I swear he's overdoing it.
I finished gathering up the glass as Makino brought me a trash can.
I grabbed the rag she handed me earlier and used it to pick up the glass. While I was at it, I also picked up any piece of plates along with some of the discarded food.
I froze as I heard everyone scream at the same time. I looked to see Luffy's arm stretching. I looked over at the small treasure box on the counter. It was open and empty. Luffy has turned into a rubber boy.
"Does this mean I don't have to teach him how to swim anymore?"
Soon the memory is disrupted. I could hear a fight going on. The battleship is under attack. I feel the tremors of cannons. I finally snap out of the memory to see one of my soldiers shaking me.
"Admiral Hikari." He shook me gently. "Ma'am we're under attack." My vision returns to the present time of the battleship. Slowly, Makino's bar disappears.
I look at my surroundings to see cannons flying towards us. I stand up on the ship's rail and jump to the air to kick one of the cannons back. I land on the deck.
"Who is it?" I ask my captain, letting myself feel the heat of my flame.
"We believe it is Don Krieg." He answers.
I release a sigh as my hair completely turns red. Hawk-eyes appears in my mind. No way, I'm already this close to East Blue, although I did zone out for a long time. One of my men gasps in surprise, I follow his gaze.
One of Don Krieg's ships had been cut in half.
My eyes widen; each time I see his incredible power I'm reminded as to why he took Mama's title as the best. I feel a chill go down my spine. Hawk-eyes Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman, yet compared to the powers they have, my demons are still far too strong.
Even when I compare them with the best swordsman.
Waves crash against the battleship. I watch as Mihawk cuts down the ships one by one, until all that is left is the Galleon. Incredible. My eyes widen as I feel his piercing hawk eyes stare at my own ship. Does he sense me, his next action answers my question.
I take out my own weapon from my sleeve. The scythe Chronos, the whole thing is black, except the blade.
I place the blade on the rail, then I put my foot behind it, holding it still. I tighten my grip on it as I feel Mihawk's attack. I push back against blade feeling the edge of the rail. I take deep breaths, taking off more limits, but still keeping a hold on my child form.
The fire spreads throughout my body into my scythe, turning the blade into pure flames. I could feel Mihawk's smirk as he presses on. I push my scythe up shoving against Mihawk with his own weapon. That move would only work for a second to get an opening. I make myself stay alert. He is a Shichibukai after all, he is protected by the World Government.
I hear an explosion go off as one of the ships goes up in flames.
I didn't dare make a move as I felt the cold touch of a blade on my neck. I peek over to my side to see none other than Hawk-eyes.
I grit my teeth together, I hate to admit it, but the only way I can fight Hawk-eyes equally is using my adult form. Or sexy form, as the perverts put it.
"You know it's rude to point a sword at a lady." I say as I place Chronos back in my sleeve.
"What lady?" He muses. "All I see is a child."
I bend backwards and do a handstand on the deck. I kick Hawk-eyes only to have it blocked by his sword.
I put more force into my kick lighting it on fire. I remove another limit as I feel my body age to a fourteen years old. Hawk-eyes keeps his cool as he uses his haki on his sword. I growl in frustration as I push myself landing on my feet a couple of inches away from him.
"I have to say, you disappoint me." Hawk-eyes places his sword on his back.
I breathe deeply as I let myself cool down.
"I have no desire to fight you." I simply state.
"Indeed, yet I can see you're eager and impatient for something. Oh forgive me, I should say someone." He crosses his arms as his hawk eyes stare at me from the ship's rail.
"It's none of your business." I clench my hands.
''You are right, it's not, but then again, you won't listen to your conscience.
"All you are thinking about is the boy in East Blue." My eyes widen. "I figured you might come here looking for him. Let me ask you something Sora, is it truly worth seeing him if it means being in pain?"
An image of a grinning Luffy flashes through my mind.
Soon after, it disappears, Hotaru with a fever comes crashing into my mind. Hikaru's silver gray eyes, empty.
My memories from the lab, being imprisoned for six years, pass through my mind.
The hell I live in.
"What makes this boy so special that you risk seeing him?" Hawk-eyes asks me, curious.
I smile as I grab one of the red ribbons in my hair, holding up my pigtails. "He made a promise to me and somehow, he still remembers it."
"You truly are a fool. Face it, in this world you are seen by your true nature, a demon." My heart freezes as the word 'demon' echos in my mind. The Grand Master always calls me her demon. Her demonic weapon.
I turn my gaze to Hawk-eyes to see him gone. I turn my head to see my men working their hardest to protect the battleship from Don Krieg. I steel myself, locking my fear.
But it still lingers in my mind, no matter how much I want to be saved. No one can, not even Luffy.
I look down at my gloves to see them drenched in blood.
She just has to whisper one order and our body is hers. I close my eyes tight, counting to ten slowly.
Ten. I open my eyes to see Don Krieg's ships cut in half, making the sea look like a ship graveyard. I bite my bottom lip hard. I'm starting to lose control over my own memories and emotions.
Hikaru's POV:
I brandish Cerberus and Hades from their hiding spots behind my back.
I smirk, feeling the cold silver touch under my fingertips.
I hear the opera music throughout the castle.
I kick down one of the doors to the main courtyard. There, standing in rows are the guards of this shitty kingdom. I crouch down holding out my guns in front of me. They are nothing, they brought this upon themselves, I remind myself as I pull the trigger.
All of them come at me with swords ready. Behind them the snipers provide them back up. Focus, take deep breaths, you're only putting them out of their misery. I challenge half of the right side of the courtyard first. One gun firing at my prey while the other is used as a shield.
I sigh, time is almost up. I catch sight of the clock tower of the city. I place my guns together, holding them sideways. I place the barrels next to each other. An electric charge runs through my chest, to my arms, into my fingertips, then the silver metal.
Don't forget, this is for Sora and Hotaru. I grit my teeth together. Sora is fighting harder than me. I can't let her carry all the weight. Killing is my nature, it's an instinct.
"Rail gun." I pull both triggers as my body is pushed back a bit. In front of the guards along with half of the castle vanishes as a straight line of lightning blasts through.
I straighten just in time as my small den den mushi rings. I fish it out of my pocket and answer.
"Hikaru did you get impatient again?" A voice giggles as I hear screaming in the background.
"I'm still searching this damn castle but they hid her well." I gripe, irritated as I begin to walk around the ashes. I hold the den den mushi in an awkward position, while trying to hold onto my gun.
"Lucky," The voice whines. "I have to deal with the humans of the island. While, you're looking for the puppeteer."
I hear an explosion go off, above the castle's roof black smoke lingers. The den den mushi closes its eyes with a clank. I continue walking as I try to feel her presence. I turn left at a corner, leaving the ruined courtyard behind me.
I stop in front of two metal doors. I knock on it hoping to get a response. A loud growl causes the doors to shake. This must be her. I shoot at the lock leaving a hole behind. I kick down the door.
Inside, the room is pitch black, but I can see two glowing eyes.
My eyes get used to the darkness as I make out the outline of a huge rabbit, it reminds me of a Lapahn from Drum Island.
"Found you, Puppeteer."
