Chapter 11: Prophetic Dreams II

I stared at the doctor, as horrified as my parents at the prospect of never being able to walk again.

There went my dreams of football, baseball, soccer, every sport I adored and played expertly. Not even a simple walk in the park with old puppy-dog Sam.

Life went downhill from there. All because of a car crash.

Father died in a plane crash three years later.

Mother ten years after that from cancer.

I was left with an old Sam, my computer, and my anime.

I hadgraduated school and gotten degrees, but I had always loved drawing and editing things on picture editing software. I had a job in that area, and it supported a relatively cheap apartment, enough to feed myself and Sam and keep a prescription for Netflix (I don't own Netflix, btw…).

The few days I had off, I went in my wheelchair to the park nearby. I could spend days staring up at the clouds shifting and moving above me. They were so free. That's what Iwanted to be.

I felt restricted in this monotonous life, but they were up there flying by and being whatever they want.

Yeah, I feel pretty trapped.

I didn't really ask for this, though.

I woke up after talking to a cloud-person and found myself with two sets of memories.

The clearer ones were what I felt as right, and I tried to shy away from the others. They were scary, filled with pain and death.

Who are you, and why the heck are you in my head?

I don't want to be here either, bud.

How did you get here?

I made a wish.

You made a wish to be in my head?

No, I made a wish to be free.

I think you want your money back.

I don't think I can return it.

Well then, I guess we'll be pretty close for a while.

Unfortunately.

Oi, I'm the one annoyed here.

Anyway, what's your name?

Kitsune. You?

Your name is Fox?

It is. Issue with it?

Nope.

I shot straight up in bed, breathing as if I'd been holding my breath for an hour.

I looked around the captain's cabin, seeing Chansee at the other wall, sound asleep, the door locked securely, and not a single thing a hair out of place. I thought back on the odd dream and gave a shrug.

"It doesn't matter now." I finished muttering to myself and slid out of bed, intent on my goal of the kitchen.

I stepped onto the deck from the kitchen, two glasses of milk in my hand (what? I like milk). I blinked a few times as something shiny caught the corner of my eye. My head turned in the direction of a figure leaning on the railing, staring at wisps of dark cloud silhouetted by the light of the stars and moon.

I set a cup in front of him on the railing and leaned against the wooden structure beside him.

"Ah, you're up late, captain." Tsu said quietly.

"Early, actually. The clock says it's three-forty-five." I corrected in the same volume.

A breeze brushed over us both and he shivered slightly, "Aren't you cold in that outfit, m'lady?"

I shook my head, "No. How are you cold in your outfit? It would make Eskimos sweat just looking at you."

"Oh, so you want me to wear less?"

"If you want."

"You think I should be colder?"

"Yup."

"You want me to strip?" He raised a mischievous eyebrow and grinned.

"Go ahead, I'm not stopping you."

"You aren't amusing to tease." He informed me with a sigh as he turned back to the clouds.

"Eh, I'm honestly used to seeing half-naked to naked boys and men. I used to live with three older brothers and mountain bandits." Though, Sabo preferred to keep his clothes on in my presence, unlike Ace and Luffy (neither really giving a bleep).

"Well only one thing matters here."

I raised an eyebrow in question.

"Were any of them hot or cute?"

I quickly slapped a hand over my mouth as I muffled my laughing, "I-I'm barely-" I took a moment to breathe, "I'm barely a teenager."

"So? That doesn't mean you can't admire the beauty of others."

"Yeah, and I'm pretty sure two of 'em look even better now than they did last time I saw them." I answered, still giggling a bit.

"Lucky you." He rubbed my head with a smile that contained hints of sorrow.

"Yeah, they're pretty dang strong, too."

"Have you ever considered marrying one of them?"

"Nah, I think of them as brothers so that would be weird. Also, two are oblivious, and one has no time for romance and would put whoever he falls in love with on a boatload of danger."

"You're pretty smart and mature for your age." He said in an unidentified tone.

"Thank you. You're pretty fit for your old age."

"Never underestimate an old man. I'm pretty sure if they're old it just means they have more experience kicking butt."

"Oh, I know that. Just talking to my grandfather can tell me that."

"Also, I'm not thatold."

"Yeah, almost reaching thirty."

"And how would you know that?" He raised his eyebrow again and pinned me with a suspicious look.

"I'm a psychic, and I have prophetic dreams every once in a while."

"And?"

He was really gonna make me say it aloud, "I woke up from a dream of your life story and Tsune's."

He looked at me in surprise for a moment, but we both went back to staring at the sky in a resolved silence.

I think I can call this arc over.