English version
SON OF THE STRAW HAT
One Piece belongs to Eiichiro Oda
Chapter II
—HAPPY READING—
AFTER BEING oscillated on the ocean for a couple of days, Boa Hancock and the Kuja pirates reached the Sahara island, an uninhabited small island located at the tip of the Sabaody archipelago.
"That's a relief. We finally reached." An old woman sulked from the bridge of ship.
"Elder Nyon!" All the warriors were surprised to see the short, old woman.
"Why were you surprised like that?" Elder Nyon asked lightly.
"I should've been the one asking why old woman like you could be here! You clearly know, only the chosen warriors could be on this ship!" Hancock enraged uncontrollably.
"You also know very clearly that I was the one who had ruled the Kuja tribe long before you, so i deserve to be here!" replied Elder Nyon, not to be outdone.
Hancock sarcastically commented, "Yeah, no one should forget that fact. But..." She flipped her hair back before made a cute, innocent expression on her pretty face. "No one should forget your treachery, too, right?"
And immediately, her act made the Kuja warriors were awestruck. They yelled with pinky love-shaped eyes.
"KYAAA~ HEBIHIME-SAMA FLIPPED HER HAIR!"
"HEBIHIME-SAMA YOU ARE SOOOO CUTEEE~!"
"HEBIHIME-SAMA!"
"HEBIHIME-SAMA!"
"HEBIHIME-SAMA!"
"Therefore a traitor like you should be thrown out of my ship!" she continued, pointing at Elder Nyon and bending her back backwards.
"Never!"
"Never, you say?" Hancock trampled down Elder Nyon. A vein popped out of her forehead. "Are you tired of life, huh?"
"..." All the warriors sweatdropped.
MOMENTS LATER, the quarrel between the Empress and the former Empress of Kuja tribe had finally been solved by tying the former Empress a.k.a Elder Nyon to the mast.
"You all stay here!"
"Roger, Hebihime-sama!"
"Keep your eye on the old woman. Don't let her stirs up a trouble before i get back." Hancock stared at Elder Nyon fiercely. Cracking streamers of lighting appeared when their eyes met.
"Wow, i just found out that mom is very intimate with grandma Nyon," Axel said.
Marigold sighed, "It seems you misunderstood their relationship."
"Let's go," Hancock took her son by the hand and led him deeper into the island.
Axel looked so excited. Smile continued to decorate his face all along the way. His mouth was also never tired of saying how happy he was, could visit his uncle again.
"You look so happy."
"Of course it's been a long time since mommy brought me here!" Axel grinned.
Hancock fell silent, seemed to think about something. "I see..."
Then, after walked quite a piece, at last they set foot on the grass field with two gravestones that were their destination.
"Uncle, i am coming!" Axel cried out in front of a gravestone with the name of Portgas D. Ace.
He put the bouquet of flowers he carried, in the space in front of Ace's grave then said hi to the grave on his right. "Hi, Pops!"
Axel sat cross-legged on the grass and started to talk over as if Ace were really before him. He told all his adventures while occasionally turning to the right.
Began from one day in summer when he met with the bespectacled old man, then how he played a prank on the villagers and remembering to show off his greatness catching fish in the Calm Belt.
Hancock watched her son's face who looked so enthusiastic about telling every detail of his adventure. Now i feel Axel is more interested on Ace than Luffy—his daddy. He had never been as cheerful as this, even when he heard story of his dad. Did he think Luffy had abandoned him so the hatred grew in his heart?
Hancock took a deep breathe.
"Axel-kun..."
"Yes, Mom!" Axel replied immediately.
"Do you love uncle Ace so much?"
"Yes, i love uncle so so soo much!" Axel replied and glanced at the Ace's grave, grinning. "Even though i had never met him when he was alive."
"Is that more than your love for daddy?"
"Hmm?" Axel tilted his head trying to make sense of the mother's question.
Stupid! Why did i ask such a thing, Hancock murmured.
"What did you mean, Mom?" Axel still looked confused.
"Just forget it, let's say mommy never asks if you love uncle Ace more than you love daddy. Hahaha—" Hancock laughed oddly. Damn it! I involuntarily clarified my question. She sweatdropped.
"I love daddy as much as i love you, Mom."
"...?"
"I love uncle Ace because daddy loves him so damn much," He continued, broke into a wide smile. "I would love all the people whom daddy loves. And i have never hated daddy as you thought it would be."
Apparently he knows what i think all this time, Hancock smiled tragically.
"You don't have to worry, Mom!" Axel patted his mom on the back, laughing out loud.
Hancock grabbed Axel into her arms, "Thank you!"
Did you hear it, Luffy? He loves you, really really loves you... Hancock looked up the sky and wore a big happy smile.
—xxx—
LUFFY LOOKED up the sky and wore a big happy smile. His heart was filled with excitement. He was imagining something great to make him grin on his own.
Well, we wouldn't know the meaning of 'something great' in Luffy's life dictionary, but with his minimalist brains what could he imagine?
"You seem so excited, Captain," Robin said.
"Shishishi~!"
"Would you share it a bit with me?"
As Robin wanted, Luffy shared his excitement by telling all that was on his mind. Occasionally he looked to clench his hand into the sky. Punching energetically.
"Fufufu~ it's so interesting."
Unbeknownst to them, Usopp and Chopper were peering at them through the door.
"Oii, Chopper, do you also feel they are so close lately?"
"Im not sure but i often see both of them are having conversation alone. Did you think they go steady?"
"Robin is not stupid. So how could she go steady with an idiot man like Luffy?"
"What if they are really going steady?"
"Don't say anything ridiculous." Usopp gazed at Chopper who was on top his head. "Please!"
Usopp looked back at Luffy who still looks actively talking. "What are they talking about?"
"I don't know, their voices do not sound so clear."
"I wish i had Tone Dial, it would be helpful."
"How about letting me help so you two could eavesdrop on their conversations more clearly." Sanji, who had been behind Usopp and Chopper all of a sudden replied. A dark aura enveloped the blond cook's body.
"San-San-Sanji..." Usopp and Chopper shouted all together.
"Armee De L'Air," Sanji raised one leg, getting ready to kick. "UsoPer shot!"
"KYAAAAAAA~!" Sanji's kick sent Usopp and Chopper flying to where Luffy and robin are.
"Eavesdropping on other people's talks is a deed that's not elite to be done by a gentleman," Sanji said after created a smoke ring in the air.
"COOOL! Usopp! Chopper! What game are you playing? Can i join?" Luffy's eyes shone, amazed at the attractions of Usopp and Chopper.
"You idiot! Don't you realize they're eavesdropping on your conversation!" Sanji shouted vehemently.
"HEEEE? Really?" Luffy showed his idiotic face.
"S-SORRY~!" Usopp and Chopper flied the white flag. Still lying face down.
Sanji tapped his forehead. "How an idiot like him could be the Captain on this ship?!" he muttered.
"Fufufu!"
—xxx—
SWITCH TO the easternmost seas, East Blue. An old man in an eccentric outfit of beach-boy-style walked into the Party's Bar, a simple bar in Foosha village.
"Welcome!" Makino the bar owner, greeted.
"Give your best drink for this old man, Young lady!" The old man said before sat at the bar.
"It's been a long time since you came here," Makino said, handing over a thick white drink to the eccentric old man before her.
"EEEEE~ warm milk?" The old man looked at the glass of milk in his hand whilst he scratched his head.
"Milk is the best drink for your health, Garp-san."
"All right." Garp made a face then drank the milk down.
Makino put hand over her mouth, trying to hide smile on her face.
"Long time no see, Garp. I hope you are live well." A big, curly haired old woman said, there was trace of sarcasm in her tone.
"Oh, hi! Long time no see. Bwahahaha! How a—"
BUAGH! A punch landed on Garp's face.
"After letting your grandson die you still dare to laugh like that, huh!" Dadan shouted looking at Garp in an angry sharp glare.
"Heeew~ It turns out you still grudge me whereas it has been nine years since that incident."
Dadan caught Garp by the collar. "You are really a cold-blooded bastard, Garp!"
"Dadan-san, please stop! Don't beat him again!" Makino tried to separate. "I beg you..."
"Cih!"
A MOMENT later, Garp and Dadan were seated at the same table. No conversation between them. Garp just stayed still staring the empty glasses in front of him when Dadan was sipping liquor in her eleventh glass. Her face turned red, a sign she was drunk.
"How is Luffy now? Is he okay?"
"You don't have to worry. Since Ace's death he has become stronger. Anyway he's not a little brat anymore."
"You never care about him, as usual. Bad luck that two boys has a grandfather like you," Dadan said then fell in a drunken stupor.
"He's not weak so why should i worry about—" Garp sighed, reminiscing about his face-off with the little Luffy who insisted on becoming a pirate in his mind.
"Whatever you say i'm gonna be a pirate!"
"SHUT UP! I SAY YOU MUST BE A STRONGEST MARINE!"
"I don't want to!" Luffy wriggled when Garp led him to the jungle. "Let me go! Let me go, Grandpa!"
"A big mistake has left you in Foosha, you even become friends with Akagami. Being a pirate you say? I would never let it happen," Garp pulled Luffy's cheek out so both of his legs lifted.
"Ouch! Ouch! It so hurt! How strange! My whole body is a rubber but why grandpa could make me feel the pain?!"
Garp ignored Luffy's whine and walked back.
"Grandpa, let me go!"
"I wouldn't let you go before you stop with all your nonsense!"
"All right! All right! I am not gonna be some pirate, Grandpa!"
"Really? So you finally came to your senses!"
"Yeah~ i'm not gonna be any pirate... I'M GONNA BE THE PIRATE KING! Shishishi~!"
"STUPID KID!" Garp threw the fist of love to Luffy's head.
"IT HURT!" Luffy screamed out in pain. "Why you always beat me with your stupid fist!"
"Because you deserve it!"
Garp was drowned in memories. His head was bowed, trying to hide his hurt, sad face. Looked like he was also trying hard not to cry.
"I'm sure he doesn't need protection from an old man like me." Garp murmured, his mind drifting over Luffy, his careless, super-stupid grandson.
—xxx—
"HACHUIII~!" LUFFY rubbed his nose that suddenly sneezed.
"How many fish have you caught, Luffy?" Sanji asked.
"None," Luffy replied lightly.
"None, you said?! You had ate up all our food supplies, then what are we going to eat tonight, huh?!" Sanji shouted out with sharp toothed.
"S-SORRY!" Luffy screamed out when Sanji beat him.
"Are we starving to death?" Usopp sobbed on the deck.
"Starve to death? Nooo~ i don't want to starve to—Oh, wait!" Brook stopped speaking. "I'm already dead! Yahohoho~!"
"Haft! Looks like we have to dock for a while to buy groceries and other necessities," Nami replied hesitantly.
"I don't think that's a bad idea," Robin smiled as she closed the book.
"How's Luffy?"
"Do whatever you want, Nami!" Luffy replied with the remnants of his energy. He was completely battered after being beaten by Sanji.
"All right, guys, listen to me. Quick! Roll the sail and raise the anchor! We're going to use Coup de Burst to reach the closest island." Nami commanded.
"Rogeeer~ Nami-swaaaaaan~!" Sanji stupidly swirled around to the mast.
"Franky!" Nami shouted after made sure everything was ready.
"Okay! Be prepared, because we will do something SUUUUPER!" Franky shouted from the wheel. "COUP DE BURST!"
Instantly Thousand Sunny flew into the air like a house afire.
—xxx—
"IT'S ALMOST dusk. We have to go back."
"Hee ~ Wait a minute Mom, there's still something i want to do," Axel said.
"What is that?"
Axel took the sake bottle out of his backpack, then poured some into two sake cups.
"I want to do the sharing sake ritual with Uncle Ace," Axel laughed innocently.
Hancock stroked Axel's hair, there was a slight smile on her lips. "Do it quickly!"
"Okay!" Axel immediately replied, then turned to face Ace's grave.
Maybe just for today, i'll let him drink sake, Hancock mumbles to herself.
"Mommy once told me that uncle and daddy were born from different families but by sharing sake you all had become brothers, so i am..." Axel lifted his cup high. "Monkey D. Axel also wants to sharing sake with you, Uncle!"
Axel drank up the sake in his cup. Instantly his face turned sour.
"It tastes disgusting!" Axel wanted to throw up but he didn't want his ritual to fail if he regurgitated it.
"Are you okay?" Hancock stifled a laugh.
"I won't drink sake anymore!"
Suddenly the wind blew against the branches of the trees. It had become stronger until whirled away Ace's hat, that perched on top of the gravestone. And magically the hat fell right in Axel's head.
"Are you serious? Is this hat given to me?" Axel stared at Ace's grave. "Okay, i'll take care of it well."
"He did it again," Hancock shook her head, seeing her son often talking to himself.
"Let's go home, Mom!"
"Let's go!"
Axel bowed and said good-bye, "Next time i'll come again."
Hancock followed Axel to bowing, "Sorry for being misunderstand you."
"Ahahahak!" Axel laughed out loud.
"What is so funny?" asked Hancock, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Uncle laughed at you, Mom."
"...?"
The day was running fast, the sky was blackened. Kuja pirate ship moved away from the beach. And Axel's visit to the Sahara island was over.
—To Be Continued—
THANKS FOR READING