Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece, only Karla and my Oc's…
Nine Lives and a Thousand Plans
Chapter 2: Small Girl, Big City
10 years Later
Karla Felis was a simple sixteen year old girl.
She had dark hair, light skin that was slightly browned from the outdoors and deep chestnut eyes that seemed to change color in the sun's rays.
Unfortunately, she was a girl whose life was the exact opposite of how she acted, you see, her family was one of the richest in the world.
"Karla dear, go help your father with the car… he's trying to change that darn tire!" her mother said, "I keep telling him to hire someone, but he's so stubborn!"
"Yes mother…" She replied timidly, yet her voice was full of sarcasm and loathing.
She headed outside to see her father; half his body engulfed by the bottom of the family car.
"Father, do you need any help?" Karla asked, fully aware of what his answer would be.
"No, I don't have time to fool around. Go help you mother." He replied, making another twist with the wrench in his hand.
Karla sighed,
"I'm going to head to the park, okay?" she asked.
"Go ahead Sekorie." He said.
"I'm Karla, dad…" Karla answered, "Sekorie is my sister…"
"I'm sorry… but go ahead." He replied, his body still under the car.
She took her leather bag, and walked towards the public park.
"I hate weekends…" she thought, as she released a deep sigh, "Mom and dad always forget me…"
As she walked, she spotted a small, elegant looking bench and she sat down.
She glanced around the park, and she spotted a young boy, about her age, perhaps older, leaning on the water fountain, casually as ever.
Karla blushed when she saw how attractive he was.
Tempted to go over to him, she realized that his clothes were rather ragged, and she stopped, fearing her own security.
Karla was always raised to be a proper lady, and though she behaved properly, she wanted more, than the luxuries of life.
When he looked up at her, he gave a gentle smile.
Karla, despite her doubts, couldn't help but smile back, as he stood up straighter and walked over towards her.
"Oh god, he's coming over…" she thought nervously.
She got a good look at him then, since he emerged from the shade of a nearby tree.
He had jet-black hair, which was very messy, he wore a small pair of cracked glasses, and his clothes, from the blue t-shirt, and the black jeans he wore, were wrinkled.
"Hello…" he said, sticking his hands into his pockets.
"H-hello…" Karla answered anxiously.
She watched as the teen fidgeted with his glasses; a nervous habit that he had picked up over the years.
"S-so, are you new around here?" she asked, trying to make conversation, and get herself out of the awkwardness that she felt.
"Well, not really… I mean, I was just fired from my job down at the docks." He answered.
"Oh well, where do you live?" she asked, trying not to hit a dead end in the conversation.
"Here, in the park." He replied, as if it weren't unusual.
Karla looked around, unsure if he were serious, or just playing with her head.
"I hope he's not crazy…" she thought, though it wouldn't surprise her if he was.
"Really, well, are you hungry?" she asked, concerned.
"Why not?" he answered, sheepishly, and very embarrassed, "But I have no money to my name…"
"Well, I'd be glad to get you something," she offered giving him a warm smile.
It didn't matter to her if he was crazy. Hey, it wasn't everyday that she met an attractive guy who seemed at least semi-interested in her, and wasn't a rich snob.
He beamed at her words,
"Thanks. Oh by the way, my name is Kuro; Kuro Neko." He said, "What's yours?"
"I'm Karla Felis." She said plainly.
Kuro gawked at her, as his face grew dreadfully pale.
Karla looked at him in total concern.
"Is something wrong?" she asked, hoping that he wasn't going to faint or pass out.
"No way!" he said, totally shocked, "Karla Felis, of the famed Felis family, known for one of the biggest business in all of the Red Line!?"
She nodded,
"Yep…" she said, " It's not that great though…"
Kuro, seeing her saddened expression, looked to her.
"Well, you must be cooped up in that mansion, the whole day, why don't I make it up to you, and take you to see the real city?" he asked, putting his arm around her.
Karla blushed,
"Well, I dunno…" she said, suddenly feeling unusually shy.
"C'mon, you're with the best guide in town!" Kuro said with a smirk.
Karla thought, but then enthusiastically took his hand.
Kuro grinned and took her around several twists and turns throughout the city.
"Where are we going?" Karla asked, as her feet started to hurt.
Kuro looked at her,
"It's only a few more paces." He said, starting once again at a run.
Karla couldn't help but notice the way he ran.
He had an almost wolf-like grace to him, and he ran much faster than the boys that she knew.
Karla, however, shrugged off the feeling of curiosity.
"What do I know, I'm only in high school?!" she said to herself as she ran after him.
He then stopped suddenly, as if struck by lightening.
Karla didn't notice, and ended up crashing into his back.
Kuro laughed, and helped her up.
"Well, here we are." He said.
Karla's eyes sparkled when she found herself gazing from the top of a cliff down to the beach and ocean below.
"Woah…" was all Karla could say.
"Do you like it?" he asked.
Karla, unable to speak, flung herself against him and hugged him.
Kuro was startled at first, but soon found himself rather enjoying it.
"I love it!" she exclaimed when she let go of him, "It's wonderful!"
"Well, I like it." Kuro said, "I didn't know if you'd agree with me."
"Well, let's go down!" Karla said, excitedly.
"What?" he asked.
"Let's go down!" Karla repeated, "The view looks wonderful, and I wanna get a closer look."
Kuro smirked at her sudden adventurous nature.
"Alright, but the sun is setting soon." He said.
"It's alright." She answered, "Now come on!"
She started to descend the cliff, and she looked up seeing that Kuro was ready to jump down.
Karla found herself panicking.
"Don't! You're gonna kill yourself!" she cried out.
He jumped, and landed smoothly on his feet.
"Come on, it's almost dark!" he said.
She stared at him, as her feet just barely touched the ground.
"How did you do that?" she asked in awe.
"Do what?" he asked, cocking his head like a confused dog.
"You just jumped off that cliff, and landed on your feet. What are you , a cat?" she asked.
"Well, I guess you could say that." He answered jokingly.
He gave her a smirk, as he sat down on the beach.
Karla sat next to him, as the sun went down, and leaned against him.
He smiled at her.
"This has been an awesome day." She said, happily.
"Yeah, I could agree with that." He said.
Karla then absent-mindedly checked her watch.
"You have to leave?" he asked, somewhat disappointed.
She nodded.
"I have to go…" she said, starting to climb the hill.
Kuro followed,
"Here, I'll show you the way home." He said.
When he led her to her large mansion, he took her hand.
"I'm gonna see you again, right?" he asked hopefully.
"Of course, we'll meet again. How about tomorrow?" she suggested.
"Alright, tomorrow it is." He said, as Karla started to head into the mansion.
"She is great…" he thought a wide grin on his face, as he headed back to the park, and replayed her expressions as they spent the day together.
((Hope you enjoyed that chapter, please read and review. . ))