So... hello! I just wan't to check out if people are still reading this lol

6.01.18

1600 words (ik, exact 0's)

『Chapter 6 | Regrets』

Jumping down without thinking, little Sayua skidded along the spikey and rocky shore with one particular sharp spike wounding her left face, specifically her left eye. She didn't feel any pain even with all of the deep and shallow wounds she had attained from her mindless and reckless action and thus continued running along the shore, hoping it was all just a bad dream.

But she saw it, the Nobles and Royals saw it—the Tenryuubito made her big brother's vessel sink.

It wasn't a dream, which she hoped it was, it wasn't hallucinations either. It was a horrible thing called reality—more like a nightmare.

When the explosion died down and the red flames started to spread, she tripped and managed to watch her brother's signature top hat and goggles floating atop the water towards her direction. Tears escaped her already messed face upon the realization of the event.

She shakily waited for the hat to float towards her before her trembling little hands grabbed it. She stared at it, gritting her teeth and holding the memento tight like they're going to disappear if she let go. She didn't felt any regret until now.

She regretted raising her voice at him.

She regretted not running after him.

She regretted consuming the unknown fruit, making her an anchor of the sea.

She regretted not saving him.

She regretted having none of the abilities to do so.

She regretted everything.

Her mind started to blur with her thoughts clouding and clumping in her head. She then broke into a glass-shattering cry that echoed and was heard by nearby townsfolk. But before they actually heard the cry, the time seemed to slow down gradually before fully stopping.

The crying girl stood up, still crying, before her little feet took her to a familiar path. Her feet took her to the deep forest, and the silence of the place calmed her down. She fell into silence with her sniffles as the only sound.

Her mind started to clear but her head started to throb. She looked up, looking and noticing the frozen leaves in the air. She didn't question it, but she started to set a goal instead: She will not let her brothers die.

She will not make the same mistakes ever again.

That led her to fear for their deaths—just picturing it made her feel sick.

Before she knew it, she was already right in front of the mountain bandit's home. Pain started to settle in that made her fall on her knees. She soon laid on the ground like a ragged doll wearing a bloody and ruined dress. She bathed in her own blood until darkness finally took her consciousness.

The time then started flowing back.

Dadan soon found her upon opening the door. She was all ruined and her face was all bloodied and had tear marks. The old bandit treated her right away. Of course, Luffy and Ace saw their sister when Dadan took her in. She's still holding on a familiar hat with a firm grip.

They figured out that questions should come later and it's now their turn to nurse her.

It was a really close call. She lost a lot of blood but fortunately, her blood's a rare type that can receive any other type of blood. They really weren't sure what lengths she did to end up as such. They didn't know the reason until Dogra spilled out the news.

He also claimed to see Sayua jump off a cliff in an attempt to save her brother but suddenly vanished before he got to her aid. He doesn't know how she ended up in front of Dadan's doorstep, but he's quite glad to see her all treated.

: :

Sayua recovered fine and kept all of the heavy burden to herself just to assure her two brothers. She kept smiling for them and comforted them despite being wrapped up in heavy bandages. She told them it's alright and nothing's wrong.

She watched as Dadan tied down Ace through the windows to prevent him from going out to the town and probably cause an unnecessary ruckus. She really didn't know the details and is still too weak to take another step and let herself fall back to the futon, regretting her sudden action that caused her wounds to open up again.

Unbeknownst to her, Sabo sent a letter to them before his departure. The letter arrived the second she fell asleep and thus know nothing about its existence. Ace calmed down and took it and read it while walking through the thick forest.

"Ace, Luffy, both Sayua and I hope you guys weren't hurt in the fire. We're worrying about you both, with Sayua panicking and a bit restless, but I believe that you're okay. I'm sorry to say it, guys, but when you get this letter, I'll already be... out on the sea.

Things led to things and I decided to set out to sea before you. My destination will be anywhere but here. I'm gonna become stronger and become a pirate! Though I'm leaving my sister and I know she will not approve of this. Well, the three of us have to become the freest pirates ever, with Sayua being our connections because she doesn't really like the idea of being one, then let's all meet up again somewhere.

Somewhere on the big and open sea! Definitely someday!

By the way, Ace, which one of us do you think is the eldest? Two elder brothers, a princess, and one little brother... It's odd but our bond is my treasure.

Sayua is still clueless even with her strong will and braveness, but you two still need to protect her even if she becomes stronger than you! Take care of her well, Ace. She's my precious little sister—our little sister. Then Luffy... Luffy's still a weak crybaby but he is our little brother so take care of him as well!

Oh, and please understand Sayua if she's still mad. Love her like how I love her. Never let her down. Tell her that I'm sorry and... I love her. Tell her I'll get her as soon as I become strong enough. Tell her that she looks good in dresses! I'm counting on you!"

Ace broke into tears upon reading the letter. He loved Sabo as a brother, and now that he's gone, he can't let him down.

: :

"It's okay, Luffy..." Sayua swallowed a familiar lump in her throat, "... it's okay..." Her tone was almost inaudible, but it reached the youngest and Ace's ears.

Ace knew that she's hurt more than they are. After all, she spent longer time with Sabo and thus know all about him. He knew she loved him the most, and he loved her back greatly. He cared for her, and she cared for him. Ace just can't bear to see her swallowing her true feelings just to make sure both him and Luffy to not worry.

A loud thump echoed, making the girl stumble back a bit. She doesn't know why Ace would smack Luffy, but he's probably smacking some sense into him.

"How long are you going to cry there like a moron?" The eldest asked him, "By the way, the treasure we had hidden in the forest is gone. In the end, we didn't get to use it and... I don't really care about it anymore. After all, what's the point of having treasure when we can't even protect it?" His arms were crossed and he's staring out at the sea before looking down at the youngest when he spoke.

"A-Ace..." Luffy called his name, "Sayua..."

The said girl looked at him. She's sitting down next to the standing Ace while hugging her knees with her eyes shadowed by the top hat of her deceased brother while looking at him.

"I WANT TO GET STRONGER..." He swallowed his hiccup, "...AND STRONGER SND STRONGER AND STRONGER SND STRONGER AND STRONGER SND STRONGER AND STRONGER SND STRONGER AND STRONGER SND STRONGER AND STRONGER SND STRONGER! I'LL GET STRONGER!"

Sayua raised her head and Ace's face scrunched up the slightest bit.

"I'll protect everyone...! I won't lose anyone I care about so please..." Luffy cried, "... promise me... that you won't die, Ace, Sayua!"

Sayua smiled, watching Ace smack his poor head.

"You idiot! You ought to not die before me, before us! Worry about yourself! You're a lot weaker than we are!" Ace told him, "And you listen to this—I'm never going to die! And neither do Sayua! Sabo's going to kill me if she dies!"

Luffy sat up, Sayua inched closer to Ace.

"You know," Ace sighed, "Sabo told me to take care of you, and hoped for us to protect his sister, so I promise: I'm not gonna die, okay?" He looked away from the child, "At least as long as I've got a crybaby brother who needs both Sayua and I for protection."

"Y-Yes... yeah..." Luffy held back his tears.

"I'm not smart to know what the reason behind his death is," Ace sighed, "but whoever did it must be opposed to freedom and thus shot him down before he got to claim his... but we vowed and shared sake with him. We made a promise with Sabo, and we're still alive and walkin'... You two listen up." he smiled.

Sayua looked up to him, revealing her right, ocean eye and left bandaged one.

"There's only one way to live," he placed his hands on his waist, "and that's to live without any regrets!"