Chapter Ten

When I finished listening in on Crocus, Captain and Rayleigh, I paled and felt sick. I have been an apprentice and a cabin boy of the Roger Pirates for two years. In those two years, we went to crazy adventures and formed a family.

An incurable disease has succumbed him into a slow death. I never imagined our Captain who was so fearless and resilient would fall into his death by a disease. It reminded me of my mother. Even on verge of death, she never faltered and embraced death as if it was an old friend.

I laid down on the deck and stared at the moon. It was shining brightly. I felt it was mocking me for losing mother and now the Captain. I frowned. Maybe I was cursed to see my beloved ones plunge into their deaths. I thought about the crew. In three years, the Captain would try to conquer the Grand line and disband us in the last moments.

After that, the Government, Marines and Pirates would be after our heads. I was still not strong enough. Sure I have Devil Fruit and can defend myself but surely one day I would be captured by someone. I have to get stronger in three years.

"Hey Buggy, you all right?" I looked behind me. Shanks grabbed my shoulder. The concern in his voice was evident. I shrugged him off.

"Yeah, I'm fine. We'll be fine." I ignored his questioned look. And closed my eyes and waited for the nightmares.

It was morning when I woke up. I looked at Oro Jackson as we sailed in the ocean. I shivered when the cold air hit me. I washed up and looked around for Rayleigh. He was in the kitchen drowning a bottle of sake.

"Vice-Captain. I need you and Captain to help me get stronger." I walked towards him and plainly stated.

Rayleigh gave him curious look. "Why?"

"Sorry to say this but I overheard the conversation between you and Captain." He threw a distrustful look. "Don't worry, I didn't tell anyone." He nodded and relaxed.

"After the Captain's gone, what do you think would happen to us especially me and Shanks?"

"You're strong enough with your devil fruit power." He articulated. I shook my head and determinedly told him.

"No. I'm not. Sure, I could take out a captain or a marine but in a fight against an admiral or Whitebeard, I'll be wiped out in seconds. Besides I don't want to be independent on my powers alone."

Rayleigh saw his firm eyes and stance. "So this is what you saw in this kid, Captain." He thought.

"Bring Shanks with you and meet me on the deck."

Training with Rayleigh has been hell. He made me run laps on the ship and sometimes around an island while Shanks was thrown overboard and told to keep up with the ship. We covered the weight training. The first week has been difficult since our muscles were shaking and screaming at us. We also spared with each other without weapons. It was frustrating since Shanks was more skilled in close battle but with time, I began to counter back. Rayleigh wanted to raise our stamina and skills.

Next, he told us about Haki. According to him, it was mysterious power that was found in everyone. Kenbunshoku is the ability to sense spiritual energy, Busoshoku was used to utilize life force and Haoshoku was used to overpower enemies. He told us we didn't have it since it was found one in million. Shanks was disappointed but I was stunned when I realized the Captain didn't told him about my Haki.

I was infuriated when Shanks easily unlocked his Busoshoku. I tried to think ways how he did it. But with every failed result, I finally swallowed my pride and asked him about it.

He looked at me. "It's really easy. I just think about it and command my body."

Of course! Haki wasn't just a mysterious power, it was about willpower. It was only explanation why after countless times I tried, I failed every time. I was overthinking it. I never tried to command my body. I was pleased when I covered my arm in haki. By the end of training, I could cover all of my body.

After that, Rayleigh blind folded us and had the crew throw everything at us. Literally everything. I think my bruises had bruises on it. Sadistic people. After some time of internally crying and sobbing, we slowly got the hang of it. The crew was surprised when I dodged all of their objects. I was proud to say I could sense everything in a meter's length.

Rayleigh was satisfied with our training. Meanwhile the Captain gave me all the instruction in Baoshoku and warned me not to use it as it was considered taboo in this era. Also I had no training which could endanger my crewmember. It looks like I have to cover it myself.

I was content with my ability to defend myself and others. I felt like I had a secure present and future.

Then came the third year, the Captain had achieved the title of King of pirates and we were considered to be the strongest pirates. We had found the One Piece. But alas good times doesn't last forever. The Captain started to disband us one by one. To my surprise, nobody tried to ask or oppose the Captain. Though Shanks was distraught. I was guilt-ridden when I didn't told him about the Captain's situation. Shanks and I decided to accompany the Captain till the last island.

After few months of sailing, we came to our final destination, Baterilla in South blue. After this Shanks and I would separate from there. This was a familiar island since we visited it several times. And every time I would see the Captain tell us to regroup in three or four days. I suspected a woman was involved in there because the Captain would always blush whenever we asked about this island.

We docked Oro Jackson and a woman came to us with food and drinks. She was beautiful with her warm but firm brown eyes and long wavy strawberry hair with freckles on her face. She wore a white long dress with sandals. A hibiscus flower attached to the side of her hair.

Shanks and I spilled our drinks when the Captain and the woman warmly embraced and kissed each other. Apparently the woman was also pregnant. After drinking and eating, they left the ship. Shanks sent me a questioned look when I left after them saying to them that I was going to restock for my boat.

It's been three hours since I started to follow them. For the first, I saw the Captain's soft side. He was treating her so gently and respectfully. They both seemed a perfect match. After coming the festival, they both went towards a house on some steep hill. I walked towards the house when the Captain left. I wanted to meet the lover and mother of my Captain's child.

I knocked on the door and waited patiently. She opened the door with a guarded look. Good, she knows what the consequences of her actions are.

"Hello, how may I help you?" She asked me softly and blinked when she looked at my nose.

"My name is Buggy. I would be very happy if you stopped looking at my nose." Sarcasm dripped from my voice.

She giggled and told me. "I think it suits you." The sincerity in her voice made me flush. "Why don't you come inside and I'll prepare a drink for you? Tea or juice?"

"Juice, please."

I looked around her simple yet comfortable house. I sat at the table quietly. Later she came with glass of juice and a cup of tea.

"What's your name, miss?" I sipped some juice.

"Portagaz D Rouge. Call me Rouge."

D? Both of them had D in their name.

"What are you going to name the child?" She smiled at my question.

"Roger also asked me that." She said. "If it's a girl, I'll name her Ava. If a boy, then Ace."

"If I propose an idea to leave this island together and give you protection, would you consider it?" I waited for her answer.

"No." she told me valiantly. She was a strong woman. No wonder the Captain favored her.

"What's with you mothers sacrificing their everything even your lives for your child." I thought.

"Do you have any photo of you and the Captain?" I asked her. She looked at me confused.

"Look lady. Even though you're not in the crew but you're my Captain's lover, so I consider you a family." She stared at me. "I know one day, I'll cross ways with your child so I want to give him something to remember you guys."

She slowly started to tear up. Me being a guy totally handled it. By panicking.

"U-umm I didn't mean to-" I tried to comfort her.

She waved me off. "I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable. It's just my mood swings and you saying the sweetest thing. You're so thoughtful."

She went to room and came back with a picture. The Captain was grinning at the camera while she was looking at him, smiling. Both had hibiscus flower in their hair. Both looked happy and content in them. She gave it to me.

"Thanks."

I had stocked everything in my boat. I already said my goodbyes to Rayleigh and Shanks. I was currently trying to find the Captain. I used my haki to sense him. There he was on the Oro Jackson. I walked towards the cabin.

"Hey Buggy." He grinned at me. I was amazed how strong this man was. He was going to die. Lose his family. But even near death, he still has the fierce grin on his face.

I nodded my head slightly. "Captain."

"There's no need to call me that anymore, Buggy."

"I just came to say goodbye. Thank you for everything. For making me your nakama and giving me a family, Roger." Calling him other than Captain sounded wrong to me.

He laughed merrily. "Take care of yourself. I have good feeling about you."

I choked up when I heard the familiar sentence. "Yes, Captain."

I turned around and didn't look back.