+x+ Hallo there again here for another chapter. Pretty early too this time. Thank you very much for the tips. I'll keep working hard.

Disclaimer: One Piece is rightfully Oda-sensei's! +x+


Chapter 3
More Questions Than Answers

"What a stupid punishment."

It was well into late night when Kirei finished her honey fruit picking. Two baskets full of honey fruit and these baskets are roughly half the size of Kirei. She carefully dropped to the jungle ground where the other full basket was, thankful that a group of fang monkeys didn't try to run off with it. As dark as it was, there was some light from fireflies flittering about which was enough light for her. She looked up at the sky through an opening in the canopy. The clouds started to thin out and the half moon was visible at times. She wondered in somewhere out there on the high seas, Folger and Danri were staring up at the same sky.

A huff of breath passed her lips as she swung one basket on her back and held the other on her head, not bothered by the extra weight. There are times she felt like a pack horse with a very tight lead. If there's heavy lifting and others are busy, the villagers ask Kirei. If dangerous animals are threatening some of the crops outside the village wall, they ask Kirei. If the villagers need certain things from within the deep jungle, they ask Kirei. Not that she minds really. She enjoys the hard work. Most of the time.

She hummed to herself as she walked along the creek, almost slipping a few times in the mud and on the smooth rocks. She crossed over a makeshift bridge of logs and towards an open gate, stopping when she saw Ridian standing in the gateway with his arms crossed.

"It's about time you showed up. I was just going to send out a couple of hounds after you."

Kirei pouted. "Bully geezer. Have you forgotten where honey fruit grows? Getting senile already?"

His brow twitched slightly. "Do you want me to starve you? Be up bright and early tomorrow and help prepare the pirates for their journey. One slip from you and no food for three days."

The odd eye girl stuck her tongue out at him as he left. Now she has to be a slave, in a sense, for the pirates while they are here. She set the basket from her head on the ground, taking a little break and looked around the village. The tall fire lamps were making shadows dance along the huts and ground. The huts were oragninzed by having smaller huts for guards near the gates and bigger ones for families, scattered around a large clearing that had a well. All looking the same on the outside. All single story. Monotonous. Mundane. Ordinary. The only splash of color was from flowering vines growing from the rooftops and a few were painted on by little kids. Only the elder's hut looked different. There were horns from larger male jungle deer above the doorway and bright yellow flowers along the outer walls.

Kirei picked up the basket again, placing it on her head. She could hear the loud snores of the boys' hut as she passed it and it almost sounded like a house of animals. The hut where the girls were staying at was close to some small natural pools at the end of a creek where the honey fruit is stored to keep them cool. She carefully placed both the baskets in the dark water, breaking the mirror like surface.

"Psst Kirei!"

She jumped when a voice spoke and out came two young boys, brothers, from some bushes. The older one with messy brown hair is Zaab and the younger with a light shade of brown hair is Derin. They both looked up at her with big curious eyes and she had a feeling she knew what they were going to ask her.

"What are the pirates like Kirei?" the brothers asked her together.

"You guys didn't see them?"

"No 'cause momma made us stay inside," Zaab replied.

"We couldn't go near the windows or doors!" Derin added.

"I'm not exactly sure how to answer your question. They aren't like normal pirates. Not like the ones you heard stories of. And why did you two sneak out of the house again?"

"We wanted to see the pirates!"

"Jeez you two, they're sleeping right now. If you don't want me to tell your mother you snuck out, I suggest you go home now."

The two boys looked at each other then dashed off, giggling. Once she was done placing the cover back over the pools, Kirei left for her hut. It's close to the eastern wall where it's mostly covered with trees and used as the main spot for gardens. The villager elder said the distant hut would be a safe place for her to stay since she's living by herself. There were some bite in the old ladies words, but Kirei didn't let them get to her.

She lightly skipped down the rocky path that lead to her little hut and headed towards the back to where another natural pool was and her own small garden. This little area became her sanctuary. When she isn't being made to work, she would lay on the moss and stare up at the sky through the palm tree leaves. It felt like her home island and even if it was just for a short moment, she remembered what it was like.

"You stil awake child."

Kirei looked over her shoulder and stood when she saw the village elder. The flames flickered over the wrinkled face in a slightly eerie way. "I just got back not too long ago from picking honey fruit."

"Ridian tol me about da punishment. Child I 'ave sumting fo you."

She held out a box that looked like would break the old lady's arm so Kirei quickly took it from her. The box was slightly heavy, a light wood and she heard a soft clink from inside. She opened it, seeing what looked like to be metallic fingerless gauntlets. The fire from the lamps gave the metal an orangish tinge. The looked like they go half way up her arm, a bit under her elbow, and strapped at the ends. The metal, a darker color than steel, covered the entire top only breaking at the knuckles and wrist. The underside was a hard leather of some type, but still seemed breathable. Kirei took a closer look, noticing there were some small dents and scratches. They definitely weren't made on this island and were used before.

"What are you giving these to me for?"

"Your teacha wanted me to giv dem tu you when you gat olda. He said dey would be uf use tu you."

"Be useful how? And why would he leave these to me?"

"Clova Kirei. You ar strong. But you 'ave no control ova dat strent. Your teacha Folga knew dat and tol us evryting about you. But we kept et a secret."

"Why are you telling me this now?" Kirei asked, feeling slightly betrayed and hurt. "He never wanted to talk about where I come from."

"Fo your own gud child. You musta find te answers on your own. Your teacha was 'fraid of you. He know what you ar able tu do. What your family can do and dat secares 'im. Dat es why he lef you on dis island. He wanted you tu train. Get stronga and learn about yousef."

"My teacher was afraid of me? And my family? I don't get what you're telling me. I know I'm different, but what do you mean I don't have control?"

"Your hol clan child, es not liek oters. Te answers ar only for you tu find." The elder began to hobble away, but stopped, not turning. "Why don't you join te pirates? I'm sure dey would liek you."

She left Kirei with the box and vanished among the other huts. There were quite a few things that she didn't understand. She heaved a heavy sigh and set the box on a log bench before completely stripping from her work clothes and stepping into the chilly pools. This felt like heaven to her, the fresh cold water reminded her of the rain. She slid down the smooth rock until the water was just below her nose. She began to think what is it that makes her look like a boy. Her face isn't like the slender shape that other girls her age around here. And she has more of a boyish figure. Nothing like Nami or Robin. Her boobs aren't even close to their size and though she does have curves. They just aren't as prominent.

Kirei ducked her head under the water for a couple of moments before standing and shaking her head. She kept her charcoal hair shorter that other girls just to keep things easy. It's longer in the front than in the back and her bangs barely brushed over her eyes. Quite a few villagers compared the shape of her eyes to the eyes of the brush foxes that live in the jungle. Dark, thick eyelashes that slant up near the edges. Some even call her "Fox Girl". Just makes her feel more like some freak.

The mix of firelight and moonlight illuminated her tan skin, making small scars visible. There are times when she's running through the jungle and low branches would cut into her, but she wouldn't notice until she see's blood. Even when she trips, she doesn't feel the little prickle of pain. It's only when something more serious happens like when she cut her finger on accident or when she got her leg stuck in some roots. From what she recalls, she's never had a broken bone.

"What is it that Folger knows?" she mumbled to herself with a pout. "Hmmmmmm guess I won't know until I find him."

She carefully stepped from the pool, gathering her work clothes and the box before walking through the backdoor of her hut. She stumbled a few times in the dark, one of her hands searching for the fire bowl. When her finger touched the course stone, she dropped her clothes and the box on the floor, grabbed the flint and struck it against the bowl to make sparks. The oil inside instantly lit, lighting the single room perfectly.

Even though it's rather small, this hut has been her home for the past five years. The jungle deer skin bed filled with down feathers of bay geese stood just on the other side of the backdoor under one of the windows. On the right side is a desk that has the fire bowl and some journals she's been filling with sketches of plants and animals. Across from the desk were a couple of bamboo baskets, the same size as the honey fruit baskets, that had clothes in them. Next to the front door under the other window is a smaller desk with random trinkets Kirei's been collecting. On the floor laid a rug woven from wool that was died blue and green, making a swirling type pattern. It's not much, but it's home.

Kirei flopped on her bed, stomach down with a heavy breath. In just a matter of hours, this place has seemed more lively than when traders show up. There are mixed vibes still. Some villagers are tense, waiting for an attack to happen while others are curious. Either way, the pirates are going to be here for at least a couple of days.

She rolled on to her right side and looked out the window as her eyelids grew heavy and sleep claimed her, sending her into emptiness.


+x+ Wow that had a lot more writing to it than I expected. Been working on my writing styles a bit. Sorry for the extra read. Thank you though very much for reading.

Until next time bai bai! +x+