Ana's love story: Chapter 4 – Truth
Turns out, telling the truth can be hard. At least that's what Sanji was thinking right now. As his friends pushed him towards it he felt uneasy, not because he was afraid to tell them he likes some girl, they are used to it, but because of who the girl is. He looked at Zoro, grinned nervously and looked down again.
"Come on bro, what's taking so long?" Luffy was getting more and more pushy trying to get anything from the Sanji.
"I told you it's nothing, " Sanji defended himself.
Zoro and he may take punches at each other often, but in the end they were friends. Albums were full of pictures where they are together, sharing a drink, or just smiling for the camera. The thought of liking the girl he went on a date to get to know her better for Zoro's sake was disgusting. Yet there was this little voice, burried deep down inside of his mind, barely pulling through.
"He is a coward. You got to know her. He doesn't deserve her. Take what you worked for!"
"SHUT UP!"
Sanji's scream left everyone at the table speechless. They looked at him, surprised, carefuly, dreading of him going into rage mode.
"Geez sorry stud," Nami said and looked at him, daringly as if trying to provoke him.
"I am sorry I don't feel so good," Sanji said as he stood up, "I'll be back by lunch."
Hurrying up, trying not to run he went up the stairs on the deck. From there, knowing they are all still downstairs in shock he started sprinting, elegantly, as if carried by winds. Soon enough he was about hundred meters away from the ship, in a busy part of the harbor. Colliding sounds of voices and motorboat engines were annoying and like scratches on a blackboard for Sanji. He needed a place to think.
Ana's dad was of European descent, successful businessman in his youth. At one point he decided to take a long leave in order to travel the world. First country in his plan, and turns out the last, was Japan. A country he fell in love with when he was a small child. Watching a commercial before his daily cartoon he was shown images of Sakura, Japanese cherry tree, and beautiful lakes, parks in the middle of the big cities. But other than nature, there seemed to have been one more thing in that country that he would fall in love with.
Ana's mother, Akemi, a few years younger woman charmed the young man and he never left Japan. It didn't take long for their love to blossom, as Ana was born. He transferred all of his savings to Japan and started a small family business. Under his genius it soon grew and became famous in their town, spreading across the country, as people from all sides came to try the best cakes in Japan. But their happiness was not to last forever. As he finally decided to open another store in Tokyo, a store that would be a start of a popular chain of bakeries, he fell ill. Ana was 10 at the time. She knew what death was, but she couldn't understand or accept why it was happening to her father. His death came swiftly as illness progressed. It left Ana scarred forever.
It was another hot day in Shimoda. Ana was on her way to pick up her grandparents and his father's sister from the airport. Airport was four hours away from the town and she needed a drive. Luckily Kasumi's brother was always willing to lend her a hand. She suspected he had a crush on her, but he never showed it except by always saying yes to whatever he was asked to do.
"Are you ok?" Tomoya asked.
"Yeah, why do you ask?" Ana answered
"Well you seem a bit absent," He answered turning around to smile at her.
"Hey, hey, eyes on the road," Ana panicked showing him with his both arms to turn around.
"Relax, the road is empty, doubt those few seconds will do much," Tomoya said as he turned around, "So what is the occasion on which they are all visiting?"
Ana stared silent at the distance through the window as they entered the mountain road, elevated a bit over the city, giving a beautiful view at the city and its wonderful beaches and large harbor, that was like another center of the town. To most family visits are happy times, but her grandparents and aunt visited for a specific reason. One that still stung and hurt.
"It's my dad's death anniversary in two days" she finally mumbled through closed lips, trying not to cry.
Now it was Tomoya who was silent, staring into the white line in the middle of the road.
"You know, a bit outside the town, there is a small hidden shrine where people go to remember their loved ones," Tomoya finally spoke, "It is believe that through it dead can communicate with us."
"Pff, just stupid stories," Ana said, still keeping her tears at bay.
"Perhaps, but it gives people peace, I'll take you there one day," Tomoya offered.
"I guess"
A loud beeping noise broke the silence as Tomoya slowed down, swearing at the truck that just overtook them. Ana glanced across and turned around, only to quickly look straight at it. There in the open type trailer was Sanji, laying down, biting on a straw and looking up in the sky.
"Tomoya, follow that truck!" Ana demanded.
"But what about your family?" Tomoya asked.
"We are early anyway, hurry!" She excitedly jumped on her seat.
Where is the truck headed, and where will it lead Ana? She didn't know, but it didn't matter. The call of adventure was too strong to resist.