Chapter Eleven:

The Tale Of The Past

The time passes as if riding horses of wind, the pain of Kaia's injuries lessened with each passing day. Although she could use her left arm at ease, Benn didn't let her practice just yet so she spent her time reading the crew's diary either in the captain's cabin or the crew nest.

Aside from the galley when meals served, the red-haired pirates seldom saw Kaia. At first, it was normal since Akagami was aware of her obsession with that book but the hell she was avoiding them specially Shanks, Kaia would fake sleeping whenever she saw him and he knew she was –despite her acting skills-.

The crew was nagging him to fix whatever he screwed up, they were supposed to believe him when he said he did nothing after all he was their captain, right? They absolutely did not. Well, he kind of knew why –no need to recall the past- the only confusing thing was Kaia's actions.

It was now rather surprising to see Kaia wandering in the deck, and there she was with a closed book attached to her skinny hands, her paces were hurried and she would stop for seconds to swing her head left and right searching for something or someone. Benn approached the irritated teen when he saw her gritting her teeth and whispering, probably cursing, under her breath.

"What's up Kaia?" He waved his hand in front of her as she seemed so concentrating in her search. Kaia backed up a little surprised then regained her composer quickly,

"Did you see…" Her question was lynched in the air as she spotted a certain moving red head at the main deck then uttered triumphantly pointing at him "Aha!"

"Hold this for a moment." Kaia didn't wait for Benn's response as she shoved the book between his hands then snatched his gun from his sash.

"HEY!" Benn yelled in a failed attempt to get her attention, he swore he glimpsed eagle's eyes instead of hers before she arrowed the whole gun at Akagami's head and it did perfectly hit the mark.

"Ouch! Damn it Benny that's hurt," Shanks recognized the gun, he was about to started whining when he saw the grey-haired man pointing at the glaring girl beside him.

"I see that you are fine," Benn spoke dryly forcing a shiver to travel Kaia's body "make sure you wake up early tomorrow." He gave her back the book but didn't budge to retrieve his weapon till she gulped then nodded. Shanks made it to the quarter deck just when Benn descended to the main deck,

"Hey Kitty!" Akagami beamed, it was a good chance to ask about what bothered her but before he add anything she clutched the collar of his black coat and forced him to lean closer 'Did she get taller?'

"Do you know what set on the nerve of a reader Akagami?" She asked sending him deathful glares, he shook his head perplexed at the question destination.

"That is my dear, describing a damn straw hat in each paper, paragraph and between fights. Hell, you went to the length of beating the crap of a whole crew then forced them to search for it swimming sea for two strict days…in the end you remembered that you did give the hat to Yasopp to fix it." Kaia said in one go with a look of 'Are you crazy?' but she didn't need to ask as she already knew the answer.

"Hahaha I just forget," He said scratching the back of his neck and wearing his usual childish smile.

Kaia released his collar sighing 'It is just like him.' "Anyway, what happened to the straw hat?"

"Won't you read to know?" Wasn't she avoiding him? Sure he was happy she spoke to him but he has to find out the reason of her lately swinging mood. The girl crossed her hands then huffed,

"That's most likely would take my whole life," That was exaggerated but indeed reading the whole thing would take a lot of time. Akagami give a heartily laugh before saying,

"Well, from where I start…"

Shanks told her how his captain put the straw hat over his head then announced that he decided to disband the crew, time seemed to freeze letting arrows of sorrow pierce slowly as Shanks and his crew-mates started to registered the words, then Gol D Roger walked his path alone, face up with his usual grace and unfaded smile. After awhile of wandering with a mate 'Buggy' they learned that their Captain turned his self to marines and about his fatale fate, his executing.

The talk diverted from its main point, Akagami focused on his Captain speaking with a proud tone and an obvious grief that Kaia couldn't help listen earnestly.

Shanks vocalized the words ringing in his head, the last words of his captain, the last command of the pirate king not to his crew but the whole world "-My treasure? If you wanted you can have it. Go look for it…I left it all at that place!-"

It took Akagami years to set sail and gather his nakama, years of training and turning the fire of his captain's death to strength. Then they met a seven years old kid in Foosha village, the boy was lively and insisted to go with them. Afterward Luffy get himself in a fight with mountain bandits that end up with almost eating by a sea king if it wasn't for Shanks who saved him and lost his arm in the progress.

When the Red-haired pirates were setting sail and leaving Foosha, Luffy was there, not to ask them to take him but to announce that he would be a great pirate even more a Pirate King. Shanks lent him his straw hat to seal their promise so once he achieves his goal he gets to return the hat to Akagami.

"Wait! Why would you do that? I mean it was a memento from your captain." When Kaia cut him off, they both realize they were looking in the ocean. Akagami darted to the confused girl and grinned,

"True, but that hat is more than just that. It held his will, dreams and a part of his soul. I'm sure he would be happy to have it over the head of the person who would carry his legacy, the next pirate king."

Her eyes widened slightly at the amount of faith he have in the boy, he said each and every word like he saw it engraved in the forehead of Luffy.

"Hmmm, I bet that Luffy kid is like you."

Shanks refrained from correcting her, after all Luffy was like Gol D Roger. In the eyes of the boy he saw a sparkle of fire the pirate king held, and he was sure it will eventually grow.

"Is that a bad thing?" He asked teasingly, Kaia gave up her now warm place in the railing and started heading somewhere, just when he thought that was a 'yes' she uttered without turning nor stopping,

"Nope, not at all."

He realized that he was holding the crew's diary since at some point Kaia handed it to him, he was just so emerged in telling his story to see what it was. When he looked up she was long gone 'Was she giving it back?' then he cursed under his breath as he forget to ask her why she as avoiding him.

After returning the crew's diary, Kaia was kind of bored. Her day went helping the cook in small chores then playing with Riko the monkey one of the pirate has.

Silence haunted the ship and the sky wore its dark dress with its twinkling adornment, the moon lighted the obscure path along the vessel with its silver rays. Kaia was wondering why her demons chose nights to wake up and fight, why self-discipline, fears or worries would poop whenever she sought a rest.

She gave up her attempt in forcing sleep and started strolling the ship, Kaia was surprised to see a silhouette sitting on the bowsprit. She moved closer to have a clear view, and when she recognized the man she ignored his inviting back to push him overboard, "Yasopp?"

"Oh! Hey missy can't sleep?" he shifted his orbs from the sky to the teen.

"Yeah," When she answered he held his hand to her so she could climb the bowsprit then sat her easily in front of him, Kaia swung her face back to see his face "What's up? You seem down."

His heart warm up at her concern, he chuckled after responding in a snaky way "The same can be said about you."

The girl frowned then looked at the ocean, she wasn't willing to speak anytime soon as the silence floated between the two.

In the end Yasopp give up and start talking "It was around this time that I left my homeland, friend…and family" He played with her tall hair styled in a simple braid "You knew I have a kid. Usopp he's around your age…"

"Do you regret it?" her blunt question startled him a little,

"No never. But even though my wife supported my choice I'm still worried if they ever need me and I wouldn't be there and…I'm just afraid my son would grew hating me."

He voice was a soft whisper as if fearing his words would be heard then again Kaia's ears were as close to detect even the sadness in his tone, she stayed quiet for a little bit then laughed "You are stupid Yasopp."

"Do you know how frighten mothers are? They planted seed within their kids, true or lies, love or hate, those eventually grew to be part from us. I'm sure your wife talked of how great you are to your son," She added thinking of things her mom used to tell her. How she believed in tooth fairy and Santa Claus, how she feared the monsters that will came out if she didn't behave and sulked when she told her that her grandma gone to a better place.

"How do you know?" Yasopp knew Banchina is kind, caring and she loved him deeply to set him free.

"Because…you chose her," She said it as if it was a giving then backed her face a second time so he could see her sincere smile. He laughed at her simple logic and was about to ask about her problem when he heard his name.

"YASOOOOOPP" The voice of someone scorching rage, dragged the whole crew out of their slumber.

"The hell did you do?" Kaia darted glaring at the stiffening man.

"I putted a color gel in the bottle of shampoo," Yasopp said with a proud grin.

"You stupid, Benn told me he would take a bath." The said man made it the main deck in the light speed, as soon as he spotted Yasopp he throw a barrel at him.

Yasopp hugged Kaia tight since falling in ocean was inevitable.

The water was cold and her small body shivered uncontrollably. Benn wasn't even aware she was there till he glanced down the ocean,

"Hand me Kaia," his intention was clear, help Kaia climbing and let Yasopp freeze. But once she saw his sky blue hair she couldn't help laughing "Pfft, the new color suits you."

"You guys are death meat." The statement made them shiver knowingly, hell they prefer the glacial ocean than dealing with his fist.


-Hey guys! I knew nothing special happened in this chapter, next one is a new island.

Thank you so much for reading ^_^