Chapter 6: NEW FRIENDS

Over the next few weeks while Shank's crew was restocking the ship for the next voyage, Akayla and Luffy became good friends. Akayla explained how Shanks had saved her and how she had been the only survivor of the fire. It was painful for her to talk about her brother at first, but then she began to enjoy his memory and became more open about the topic. She knew her brother would hate to see her sad, so she had decided that she wouldn't mourn for him unless it was the anniversary of the day he died.

Luffy seemed to understand her feelings, having never known his parents either and knowing how he would feel if he lost his brother Ace. Ace was only one year older than Akayla, but he tended to avoid her with the excuse that little kids were annoying to him. Luffy however, knew better and told her that he was just scared of girls. He didn't know why, but he enjoyed teasing him about it. Ace was not much taller than Luffy and also had black hair, but longer and wilder looking. His face was perfectly rounded and flecked with freckles. Over all, she thought he was pretty cute. When it was time for Shanks and his crew to set sail, he requested that Akayla stay put in the village until they returned.

She agreed on the condition that she would be able to go with him on his voyages at least every other time. Luffy was not at all happy when Shanks agreed with only a moment's thought.

" You're not being fair! Every time you leave I ask to go with you and you say no. Why are you letting her go with you?"

Shanks smiled and teased, " We like her better. And besides, we all agreed to teach her to fight with every kind of weapon."

Luffy grumbled and looked away. " That's a stupid excuse. Why would she want to learn to do that?"

" To make my brother proud." Akayla stood only a little ways away holding a small harp the old mayor had given her.

Luffy felt ashamed and looked at the ground. He hadn't realized it had to do with her dream of being an all around weapons master.

" Oh… Ok. I guess that's fair. Shanks smiled and looked at Akayla.

" How about singing us a goodbye song Akae?"

The thought of singing made her happy and she broke out into a wide grin. " Which song?"

" Something fun." It took her a moment, but before long she had the perfect one.

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me
We pillage, we plunder we rifle and loot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me
We extort, we pilfer we filch and sack
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Maraud and embezzle and even high-jack
Drink up me hearties yo ho
Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me
We kindle and char inflame and ignite
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We burn up the city we're really a fright
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We're rascals, scoundrels villains, and knaves
Drink up me hearties yo ho
We're devils and black sheep - really bad eggs
Drink up me hearties yo ho
Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me
We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads
Drink up me hearties, yo ho

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirates life for me.

By the time she had finished, the entire crew had stopped to listen. They hooted and cheered for her as they always did, but for some reason it meant more to her this time. When the ship finally pulled away from the dock and everyone had gone back to close their shops for the night, Luffy lead Akayla to a small cliff where together they watched the ship pull away into the setting sun.

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