Chapter Eleven: The Secret Art
~Faythe~
"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."
~ Winston Churchill
Over the course of the next few days, the entire crew started getting ready for this holiday. Franky worked hard to get the festive Christmas lights hung all around the ship. Sanji and Zolo argued over who would get a Christmas tree (Sanji and Zolo both cut trees and we just put them all over the Sunny and decorated them with ornaments and lights. Nami showed up with bags full of traditional Christmas clothes, including embarrassing dresses for the girls, and strange sweaters, dress pants, and even pajamas for the men. We would sit in the new Christmassy dining room and talk about all of the traditional Christmas stories, like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Chopper's favorite).
Before long, it was coming up just three days before Christmas and we had to do the name drawing.
''So, we fixed the name drawing. Whoever is the extra person, not only will receive gifts from everyone, but they will have to give gifts to everyone. We managed to save more berries than I thought we would.''
''Sounds like fun.'' Robin smiled at the thought.
''Everyone ready?'' Nami asked before passing around a slip of paper. Everyone was writing down their names hurriedly, and when they finished Nami tore the name strips out and folded them neatly. Luffy removed his hat for a moment.
''Are-you sure you want us to use the straw hat?'' She asked curiously.
''Of course! Shishishishi!'' He laughed, holding it out to her. Nami nodded and tossed the strips of paper inside. Within a few minutes, everyone had drawn their names. Some looked happy, others looked like they didn't have a clue what to do. I sat there, waiting patiently. I was the last person Nami came to, and I didn't get a slip. She took the last piece out of the hat and held it up to read.
''Faythe is the extra.'' Nami informed us.
''Me?'' I frowned.
''Looks like it.'' She handed me the last slip of paper before giving Luffy the hat back.
''Well, let's get looking for gifts then.'' Primula got up. Everyone split up the moment we got near town, looking for gifts for their person. I sighed. They gave me the most difficult job of all. I had to find gifts for everyone. I didn't really care about getting gifts from them all…. I will be pretty surprised to see what they get me, since I don't even know what I want. I thought as I started peering around the shops.
The first thing that caught my eye was a shop that sold all kind of arts and crafts. It took me awhile, but I did find charting paper in there. It was pretty cheap, too. I picked up some new graphing pencils, too. Crossing Nami off in my mental list, I started trying to think up ideas of what to buy for everyone else. I found a sturdy tool belt for Usopp because his older one can't really fit anymore since he got more muscular during the last few years. In a music store, I found some pretty nice things I thought of getting for Brook. I ended up buying him some red and green guitar picks as well as some new shades. I never understood why Brook liked sunglasses so much…. He didn't really have eyes, you know? Anyhow, I was browsing some books and I found one on the most legendary swords in the world. Even though Zolo doesn't read much, he would find this incredibly interesting. He might even find his own swords! After I went to go buy it, I found a bin full of small reindeer plushies. They were so cute! I was digging through them to find the softest and cutest one when I came across one with a blue nose. I gasped. It must've been the only one in there. I rushed up to pay for my items when the storekeeper gave me an apologetic look.
''I'm so sorry for this item, ma'am. The nose is supposed to be red, not blue. The manufacturer must've messed up. I thought we got rid of them all.'' She started to take the reindeer away.
''No! I love it! Please let me buy it.'' I begged. She frowned, but handed me back the blue-nosed reindeer and I paid for the items before rushing out with my numerous shopping bags. I now knew how Nami felt. Stumbling around and trying to keep my balance with these bags weighing me down, I started to peer around for the other gifts I was missing.
''Having fun?'' Usopp teased as he passed me on the street. I stuck out my tongue and I heard him laugh as we passed each other. He was lucky I had bags in my hands.
I finished buying for Chopper when I got him some packaged cotton candy and hot chocolate with mini marshmallows. I found a brand new hammer for Franky that was ultra-durable and extra strong. Along with that, I got him some really loose shirts with Christmassy designs. Sanji was easy to buy for. I found a recipe book for some Christmas dinners and feasts, and I got him a pack of cigarettes since I knew he was getting low. Not only that, but apparently they were peppermint scented. Might make us able to stand his smoke. Robin's present was easy, as I got her a book on some wonders of the world and a few outfits from the Criminal store.
When it came to Luffy's gift, I had NO idea. The bags were seriously weighing me down now, and I needed a break. So, I found Kris's shop and I stopped in for a visit.
''Kris?'' I asked, looking around. He stepped out of the back room slowly.
''Ah, Faythe. What can I do for you? Busy shopping, I see.'' I sat all of my things down on the floor and took a deep breath of relief.
''Yeah. I need a rest, actually. I also need an idea for a gift.''
''So, your crew agreed to celebrate the holiday?''
''We had some things to work out, but yes. I got the joy of buying everyone gifts while everyone gifts me…the rest of them only give and get one gift.''
''I see. Sounds like a hassle.''
''It is. Why don't you ever have customers?'' I wondered, looking around.
''Haven't the foggiest. They avoid me like the plague. It's alright. Some travelers like you come and see me every so often. It's nice to meet other people once in a while.'' I thought about how lonely Kris must be, but I pushed that thought out of my mind as I gathered my things and made my way up to the display counter.
''So, who do you need advice for?''
''Luffy, our captain. He just doesn't seem like he would want anything, you know? Sanji feeds him, so I shouldn't buy any meat. He won't trade his straw hat for another….a new vest or shirt just seems so… I don't know. Not him.'' I sighed.
''You're his first mate, aren't you?''
''Yes…?'' I thought it was very odd that this old shopkeeper would know I am Luffy's first mate without me mentioning it. How did he know so much?
''How about a living card? Or, as it's most commonly referred; the vivre card.'' He suggested. I thought about it for a moment. We hadn't used a vivre card since we all needed to meet up at Saboady. We didn't keep them because we figured we would know when our friends are in danger. But, seeing as how it was hard to choose what to get Luffy as it is…
''I don't know where to get one.''
''You've come to the right place. Follow me. You can leave your bags behind the counter. Trust me, no one will touch them.'' He assured me. I dropped them off behind the counter and followed Kris as he ordered. We came to the room where Luffy, Chopper and I had sat the last time we were here. Kris pressed his palms against the side of a wall nearby and there was a strange humming noise. The wall rose from the floor revealing another large room. This shop looked so small from the outside… how could it be so big inside? I frowned, but followed him into the room. Bottles and tubes lay on shelves everywhere. There was a table in the middle of the room where research papers lay scattered. Kris plucked a piece of paper from a stack on the bottom shelf of a bookcase nearby and examined it carefully.
''Does it take that long to do?''
''Well, it takes some time, yes. It's not a terribly long process, if that's what you're asking. What's really important is that you do it right.'' He replied, tearing away a small square out of the paper. Kris rummaged around and found a small instrument with a needle like end. He moved towards me slowly.
''Hold out your index finger.'' He instructed. I did as he told me and he stabbed the point into my skin until it leaked out a few fat drops of deep red blood. I winced at the pain, but I didn't question him. I had a feeling he knew very well what he was doing. He grabbed my finger and rubbed it against the square of paper. He set the paper down on his desk carefully as he hurried around, grabbing jars and tubes of strange things. Kris took what looked like a sprig of mint from a jar and crumbled it over the paper. It turned all of these strange colors slowly, like a blinking light.
''A Devil Fruit user.'' He commented.
''Yes. It's the Chi-Chi fruit.'' It felt awkward that he was finding out all of this stuff about me.
''It gathers energy from your soul and allows you to distribute it how you want, including projecting it into shields and weapons, correct?'' He glanced at me.
''…Yes. How do you know that?''
''You can tell everything about a person from their vivre card if you add the right ingredients. It can do more than just tell you whether a comrade is in trouble or not.''
''Wow. I never knew that.''
''Sadly, not many people do anymore. They don't really care to unlock the rest of its abilities. The people who learned how to create it from the right source can make it do incredible things.''
''Write your name on it.'' He told me. I took the slip of paper from him and was amazed that there were no blood spots or pieces of that herb on it. The card was completely clean. I took a pencil from nearby and scrawled my name on it.
''Now write the name of your captain on the other side.''
''Why do I have to write his name down too?''
''In the making of a vivre card intended for one person, the receiver must always have his name on the side opposite the person whose life force is represented with the card. This was an old way of trying to make it so that people could not use these for evil purposes. But as I can see from the colors the card turned, you've had a dark past. A friend of yours could probably tell you all about how evil people can use a vivre card.'' The man sighed, getting out a jar of clear liquid. He dunked the slip of paper inside the liquid, closed the lid and shook it up roughly. The liquid must have been thick, because the card barely moved at all. He opened the jar and took it out. He examined it carefully and as he pulled it out, I could see gobs of the clear liquid plopping off of the paper and back into the jar. He handed it to me. The card was completely dry and a little thicker than it had been before. Luffy's name and mine appeared erased from the card altogether.
''This is…amazing.'' I turned it over and over again in my hands.
''That liquid sealed the card in a protective barrier. It renders the card indestructible and the ink invisible so that no one else but you and your captain may know whose card this is. '' Kris explained.
''I don't really know what to say, other than thank you.''
''You must care about your captain a lot to give him a gift like this.''
''…How so?'' I frowned, feeling a little touchy on this subject.
''By giving him this, you're giving him your life. This is not a gift given lightly. You have to trust someone with everything you have to give them a vivre card. He can find everything out about you from this one piece of paper.'' It was a scary notion, now that I thought about it. As Kris lead me out of his secret little room, I had the sudden urge to ask him a question.
''Aren't you so lonely here?'' I could've beat myself up for saying it, but all I could think about was how Primula had been saying that no one should spend their time alone on this island when we first got here. She was right.
''It may seem a little lonely to you, but it is quite exciting. Different things happen every day. After all, I met you just a few days ago, and now I showed you the art of making life cards. That's incredible, isn't it?'' He smiled.
''Yeah. I guess you're right. It's just… everyone has family and friends to spend this holiday with. Where are yours?''
''You'll meet them on Christmas day. I'll come by your ship and see you.''
''Oh! That's wonderful! See you on Christmas!'' I grinned, glad to know he had someone to spend the holiday with. We exchange goodbyes as I rushed out with my bags of presents for the crew.
When I got to the Sunny, everyone was already there and I had to hide my gifts in the Women's Quarters before borrowing some wrapping paper and ribbons from Nami. I chased everyone out as I quickly wrapped everything. We had no boxes, so they looked awkward and you could tell what some gifts were. But, it's the thought that counts, not the wrapping it comes in, right? With a sigh of relief, I actually fell backwards on the floor and passed out when I finished.
