«LET KAN GO!»
«If you beat me one on one, I will let that beast go»
«No, this can't be happening...»
«That's what happens when you get full of yourself, filthy pirate. You are mine now»
The feeling of a paw on her stomach wakes up Smile straight out of her nightmare, her eyes snapping open and not a single sound escaping her lips. Tears were going down her cheeks, her entire body trembling. The room wasn't quite dark yet, but she knew she hadn't slept that long since she last saw Kidd. She turns her gaze towards the side of the bed where stood Kan who patted her stomach softly before removing its paw.
«Memories?»
She nods and smiles softly.
«Thank you, Kan»
The panther purrs.
«I know it is hard at the moment, but telling your brother might be what you need to fight through those memories»
She lifts a hand carefully and Kan approaches so she can pass her hand on its head.
«I hope you are right»
She lets a sigh escape her lips, closing her eyes. She then carefully sits down on the bed.
«Can the two of you stay with me? I need to breath some fresh air, even if it is salty»
She passes her legs on the side of the bed, Kan standing close to be there if she was about to fall and Meimu landing on her right shoulder. She knew Kidd wouldn't be happy, he had told her not to move until he said so after all, but staying in this small room, even if it was a large enough room usually, wasn't making her feel fine at the moment. She needed space. She stands up, placing her left hand softly on Kan's head merely for a feeling of balance, and walks towards the door. She lifts her right hand carefully to the doorknob and turns it, walking out the moment it is opened wide enough.
She hadn't bothered putting something on, only wearing her black petticoat and the bandages over her scar and torso... But the slight shiver that went up her spine made her sigh. She removed her hand from Kan's head to place it on the wall.
«Can you go get the coat inside my bag, Kan? It is chiller than I expected»
The panther leaves right away, leaving her with Meimu. Smile closes her eyes, taking the time to simply breath. The ship was strangely calm. She had expected to hear the loud sounds of the crew taking care of everything around the place. Where could everyone have gone? Maybe they didn't need to be loud and in a hurry, yet.
Kan returns swiftly, holding the black trench coat between her fangs. The young woman smiles softly, taking it with her right hand.
«Thank you, Kan»
«Will you be alright to put it on?»
She opens the coat by shaking it a bit.
«I think so»
Smile pauses, her gaze turning towards the left end of the hallway just as Kan and Meimu did. She stays silent, staring a while, then sighs and removes her hand from the wall to carefully slip the left sleeve. She knew she hadn't imagined it, Kan and Meimu were enough proof, but since no one came out, she didn't bother trying to get them to do so. She was in no shape to act tough, anyway. The only problem was that she had to go that way. The sleeve now placed, she extends her right arm to try and slip it in the other sleeve...but grimaces as she tries. The sleeve was too far.
«This is infuriating...»
«Are you sure you do not want my help?»
She grumbles a bit and pouts, getting back the doll act as such.
«I think I'll accept. I feel my lack of coat might get me in bigger trouble since I am already walking without permission»
She goes down to her knees and places her right arm slightly back. The panther carefully grabs the coat and places it so Smile was able to place her hand in the sleeve, slipping it up to her shoulder. The shoulder pad placed, Smile places her arm back properly, placing the silver buttons on the front before standing back up properly.
«I hope you don't mind me relying on you like that, Kan»
«I don't»
The panther came back on Smile's left side, rubbing its head under her hand and making the girl smile.
«Alright. Let's go out on deck»
She walks slowly, not making a sound still, and reaches the door leading out without trying to look around. She didn't feel like playing dolls right now. She opens the door, this time looking around. No one on deck. Her gaze drifted off the ship. They had reached land. It was true she hadn't asked how long she had been unconscious the last time she woke up.
She walks towards the railing, crossing her arms on it to look away. Seeing how the sky was turning red and orange, it was the end of the day. Kan lifts herself with her paws to look out as well.
«This island ressembles the one we met the martial artists»
«You're right»
There were a lot of bamboo visible at a distance, a tall mountain high enough to have snow at its peak and the village close to the docks seemed to be a small fisherman spot, with hut-like houses with bamboo for the roof. She chuckles.
«I wonder if they have a hidden temple, somewhere. We could try to sneak in just like the old days»
«Maybe waiting a little longer for your recovery might be best»
She nods.
«You're right... I wonder how long this will take if a month didn't help before»
«It never closed because you were treating it on your own without the proper knowledge. Neither me nor Meimu could help, either»
She closes her eyes.
«Give yourself some time, Smile»
She opens her eyes once more.
«I can't simply wait for things to get better, Kan. You know how cruel the world can be. If I wait for it to get better naturally, I will only be a burden to my brother, even more with what happened back there. If this guy showed up, then...»
Her body trembles.
«...he will send others...or be on the move himself the moment he understands the first guy failed»
She clenches her fist, her knuckles turning white.
«He probably knows I joined Kidd. I might have to...get away and leave signs behind so he won't go after them thinking he got me»
She turns to Kan.
«If we leave now, we could...»
A single step behind them makes Kan's ears twitch and Meimu squeak, but they do not seem alerted.
«You... can't just leave like that»
Smile turns her gaze towards the voice, surprise appearing on her face as she realizes the one who had objected...was Wire, knees shaking but his face stern. He takes another step forward.
«I am the doctor and I say you can't start traveling on your own in the state you are in»
«Wire...»
«Don't interrupt. I am not finished»
She closes her lips, nodding lightly so he could continue.
«You lost enough blood for a normal person to be out of service for at least a month. And when I say out of service, I mean no fighting, no using devil fruits, no walking on long distances, no lifting heavy pots, no climbing on chairs to reach higher shelves either»
She gulps.
«But if I can't do any of that, what can I do? Aren't I just gonna be a dead weight?»
«You won't. You're Kidd's little sister and the first and only girl to set foot on this ship for another reason than...»
He baffles a few words, not daring to say what he wanted, then just keeps on.
«You can supervise in the kitchen and do what girls are better than guys at, so you can sew and fix stuff that don't need strength, more precision and small hands so it doesn't mess up. Well, I am still able to take care of the stitches in your back, I am a doc. What I mean is... you can't just leave like that»
He stops, looking at her for a while before looking anxious.
«Can you stop staring and say something? You're scaring me»
She smiles, a bit uneasy herself.
«You said not to interrupt, so I thought you would keep up a bit more»
She glances at Kan who doesn't move one paw, simply looking at her. She sighs.
«I suppose... simply leaving when you just saved my life would be a peculiar way of saying thanks. And yes I know it was you. I wasn't completely out of it at that moment»
She smiles softly as she looks back at him.
«I know better than to not listen to a doctor, even more if this doctor still saved my life after what I did to him»
Wire seems to calm down a bit.
«Could you go back to your room to rest, now?»
She chuckles and nods.
«I will»
Kan coming down from the railing to stay by her side, Smile walks calmly to the door, but stops as she opens it.
«Wire?»
She hears him jump a bit.
«W-what?»
«Thank you»
She walks back to her room and lies down on her bed under the crimson red blanket. Time to rest.
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Hello everyone !
First, I have to apologize to every single person who requested a new part and I don't give more than that after such a long wait. I have no proper reason for the way even if I have a life to endure. I could have tried to write using my phone anyway... though writer's block doesn't exactly change whether it's on a computer or phone.
So there, Wire stepped up over his fear of Smile at least some more! Though I have to wonder if it isn't because he would fear Kidd's reaction more. What do you guys think ?
I will be working on every single fic I have not finished or given a continuation yet, so the next part may not come soon, but I will be trying to be more active, I promise !