AN: Sorry for the semi-long wait. I'm in the process of moving, so yea. Anyway here is the fourth installment of Fading Dreams and I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer:I don't own One Piece. So many things would be changed if I did... T ^ T
Kaya was jolted awake by the bile that rose to her mouth. She leaned away from her desk and turned towards the smooth wood floor. The mess lay on the floor, smelly and a constant reminder that she wasn't like normal girls. She closed her eyes sadly and brought up a mental image of her favorite hero. Usopp. He had always been there. Whether in the tree her bedroom window faced or courageously battling Kuro for her life.
She numbly stood up to find Merry and ask him to clean up the puke.(*) As the descended the grand staircase a shot of pain entered her gut. She sank to her knees and pressed her head against the white marble railing of the staircase. She waited for the burning acid to escape once again but it never did. She blinked confusedly, and stumbled back onto her feet. "Merry?" Her soft voice echoed in the huge mansion. A half-asleep Merry emerged from a small side door. His feet were bear and they padded noisily into the foyer. "Yes, Miss Kaya?" Kaya quickly ran down the rest of the stairs and tackled Merry. "Miss Kaya, what's wrong?" Kaya buried her head deeper into Merry's fur like chest. Truth be told she didn't know what was wrong. She just had this horrible feeling. A feeling she got when she was about to throw up. Only she never did. The acid tasting substance never rose up her throat. So she was stuck, confused and expectant.
Merry still didn't understand what was wrong with his mistress and she wasn't disclosing any information so he deftly lifted her up in to his arms and walked, too calmly for the situation, up the stairs. He laid her down on her soft bed and sat in a wooden chair until she quieted down and fell asleep. He held her hand the whole time. Once her breathing became even he stood, cast one final glance at the sleeping Kaya and left the dim room.
Kaya woke the next morning too the sound of birds singing and the sun bright on her face. She got dressed in her usual routine and headed downstairs for the breakfast she knew would be waiting for her. When she reached the foyer she was greeted with the pleasant sight of, Pepper, Onion, and Carrot. "Hello, Miss Kaya." She sweat dropped. Somehow they were always in sync and so polite. "Hi, boys. Are you over for breakfast?" They nodded all together and she sweat dropped again. The four of them walked into the dining room and sat in their usual spots. Kaya at the head of the table, Pepper seated to her left with Carrot next to him, and Onion and Merry on her right. They were half way through breakfast when there was a hard knock on the front door.
Merry excused himself to get it. He told everyone to stay seated and left the room. The other four all shared a look and then crept out and peeked around a corner. Who was standing at the door excited and scared Kaya at the same time. Monkey D. Luffy.
He was talking to Merry when Merry suddenly sank to his knees with his head in his hands. Luffy just stood there. He then spotted Kaya but quickly turned his head away. Kaya shakily walked out from behind the corner and approached Luffy. Luffy still wouldn't meet her eyes. "L-Luffy what are you doing here?" He suddenly embraced her in a hug. "Kaya, I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough. I was the Captain...I should have saved them! DAMN IT! Kaya, everyone is dead." Kaya's eye's widened and harshly pushed Luffy away. He stumbled backwards and she could she the pain and regret in his eyes. She numbly noticed that his hat was missing.(*) "No. Usopp can't be dead." Her voice was strong and defiant. Luffy's black eyes turned angry. "YES HE IS! IT MY FAULT! NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY USOPP, NAMI, ZORO, BROOK, FRANKY, ROBIN, CHOPPER, SANJI, they're all dead... Kaya I couldn't protect them. I was the captain, it was my job and I couldn't protect them..." Even though Kaya didn't recognize some of the names she still realized that his voice was lost. It didn't know what to feel. A part of it sounded angry, another guilt-ridden, and yet another so filled with hurt the listener cringed.
That's exactly what she did. She felt his anger and his guilt and his pain. And she absorbed it. She decided to share his feelings. So when Luffy, got that fire in his eyes, she too became angry. Angry at whoever did this, but never angry at Luffy for failing to protect his crew. When he got that far-away look. She would think about all she had lost and regret all the things she never told Usopp. But most of all when those days came where he didn't think he could live with the pain. She would take some of his pain and together they would endure the grief.
She expressed all of this in a single movement. She moved forward with confident and sure strides and she took the saddened captain in her arms. She felt his tears land on her shoulder and she patted his back awkwardly. After the initial shock Luffy returned her embrace. Then Merry stood and wrapped his soft arms around the both of them. Onion, Carrot, and Pepper also walked over. They had heard everything from Luffy. They, too, had lost their captain. The man who they had looked up to. Yet they sniffed up the snot running down their faces and joined the slowly growing group hug.
The six shared their grief and just by a little the pain and lostness softened, but never went away...
AN: 1(*)for lack of a better word...
2(*) In the first chapter Luffy is dead. None of the chapters are connected except for the mysterious Marine. (or maybe not so mysterious?)
Speaking of Mr. Note Giver he did not make an appearance this time. Maybe he was on vacation... Also I know it may look like a Kaya and Luffy thing going on. I assure you it's not. They are JUST grief buddies. I'm also kind of disappointed in this chapter. I loved the Sanji one and this one had like nothing to do with Usopp...I don't know I just don't feel accomplished. I'm rambling. So sorry and I hope you enjoyed.
