Another chapter! Hope you like this!

disclaimer: I do not own One Piece. All rights go to Oda and Toei animation.

X

Chapter 2

A ghost!? Hauntings of Sakura village!

I sigh as I trudge up the hill. I had so readily agreed to help Sakura village(The village Sakura Island had got its name from) but it was a surprising trek. I still smile though. This is great exercise. Need to do this often.

I narrow my eyes. Faster than a bullet, I pull out a knife and throw it in a nearby bush. But only a rabbit rushes out.

"Just a rabbit." I sigh, I'm getting nervous. But a ghost? They can't be real. It's probably just someone joking around. Finally I reach the top of the hill. Below I see a beautiful village of thatched roofs and trim gardens. And the sakura orchards are everywhere! There's even a Sakura grove! I spot the town hall and begin to head towards it.

X

"Hmmm? Who're you?" An old man walks out the door after the receptionist called him.

"My name is Celandine. I was told by some people in the last town over that there was trouble here. I thought I could help." I explain to the grumpy looking old man. I couldn't see his eyes,'cod his eyebrows were so big.

"You? Help? Don't make me laugh! Your a child! And a girl," I feel White- hot rage erupt in my chest at his snarky words.

"Look here Gramps," I begin to retaliate,"I'm a girl yeah, but I'm also a pirate. Don't you dare say that I'm not worthy. One thing you should not do is knock down someone's dreams, girl or boy, pirate or marine, kid or adult. I don't care if you're an elder or mayor, let me help, " I finish my little speech as I see the different colours splotch on his face, purple, red, blue.

"You might want to breath there Gramps," I mumble. He finally seems to calm down.

"Fine," he grumbles,"But if you really are a pirate, I don't trust you."

"Good, you shouldn't," I smile. He leads me into his room. It has 2 couches, a desk and a chair on either side of that. There's also a rug, wardrobe and paintings.

"Sit." He points to one of the chairs and I comply. It seems he's waiting for me to speak, but finally, he speaks.

"My name is Elder Nyuuma. I am mayor of this village and, well I feel that this village is in trouble," I listen intently at what he says next.

"A few weeks ago, a few children spotted a figure. Just someone in the distance. They said he glowed white but wore black. He turned his face, but his expression was fuzzy. All they could see was black eyes. They ran before they could see anything else. A few other people have seen similar apparitions. It was confirmed to be male with a katana. But another 2 things have happened. First, the den den mushi's don't work. You just hear static. We can't contact anyone outside and the marines already on this island ain't exactly good. Second, all the travellers arriving at this island have been killed by a sharp instrument. We usually get a lot of tourists because of the Sakura, so a lot of people have died. We need help," he takes a shaky breath as he finishes.

I smile,"I accept the challenge to hunt this, ghost, "

X

I begin my observations of the village. It's very peaceful, but full of dread. The B&B's are empty and the cafes all closed. No one is faraway from houses, only travelling as far as the market.

I spot something.

I see in every garden a bit of freshly turned over dirt with the same type of flower in that place. It is sheltered by all the other plants and easy to miss. It is black with white pollen.

I reach into my bag and get out a book about plants (I know, weird hobby). I finally find the place I had seen this flower. It's a flower that can stop transmission waves. Great, I could be at a disadvantage as well. And it's quite... Convinent to have a plant like that. I shake off my odd sense and continue surveying the area. There was not much around because practically everyone was inside. That made it easier for me. Best get tracking.

X

I had finally gotten to the Sakura grove.

"He has to be here," I mumble. Something catches the corner of my eye. I walk over and see it is a pile of branches. Some of them are charred. I narrow my eyes. This person is awfully cocky. Just leaving these here. But this makes sense of the travellers being killed. They come to see the Sakura, and with a person hiding here, it's best to get rid of them.

I whip round and drop my pack, pulling out my staff. Behind me I see a figure that seems to glow white approach. The air gets a few degrees colder as the figure steps in to the clearing.

"What the hell are you doing here?"