Chapter 1
Forecastle of the Feline Noir
January 3, 1663
Captain Kuro was sprawled lazily in a wooden deck chair, a book firmly clasped in his hand. He absently adjusted his glasses with the heel of his hand, turning the page when he'd finished. Perhaps it was fate, but he looked up from his book in time to see a small pigeon land on the railing of his ship.
Kuro put the book on the deck, remembering his page, and walked over to the bird. A piece of parchment was bound around its leg, and Kuro untied it. His brow creased. Captain Kuro does not receive mail.
He untied the small red ribbon around the letter and unrolled it. He instantly recognized the neat, precise handwriting, and rapidly rolled it back up. After looking around to make sure he wasn't being watched, he slowly opened the letter.
Kuro,
I wouldn't expect you to remember me. Not a day goes by when I haven't thought about you. I remember you clearly, and some days I still wake up expecting you to come in with my morning tea.
Has it really been almost two years? Time seems to have escaped me. It has become so lonely here in my bedroom. Usopp never visits anymore and I miss his stories. Some days, I wish you were here just to keep me company with your presence.
I heard some gossip that you had been killed. If that's true, then I'm writing this letter in vain. It doesn't matter. My new butler, Davis, said he used to do this after his mother died. He would write her letters and put them on her grave. If you're dead, I hope this letter finds its way to wherever you're buried.
Thoughts of death aside, I wanted to wish you all the best. I've forgiven you for what happened, Kuro. It feels so strange to write that name… especially after the Navy supposedly executed you so long ago. If you can, think of me sometime…
Love,
Kaya
Kuro let the letter fall from his fingers. His brown eyes were beyond seeing anything. Without a word, he scooped the letter from the deck as though it were his most precious treasure and sprinted back into his cabin. He produced a key from within a pocket and unlocked one of the drawers on his desk. Kuro placed the letter deep within the drawer and closed it again. He drew out a piece of paper and began to write. The pigeon, which had relocated to his windowsill, seemed to watch with rapt interest as Kuro began to put words to paper.