I had rolled up my mattress and stuck it underneath the desk. I then quietly climbed up out of Nami and I's room. The entire time I kept an eye on Nami who I had somehow not woken up. I then closed the cover over the stairs and moved through the storage room to the door. It closed with a soft click. I then spun around and looked out at the ship. There was a slight nip in the air and the sky was still dark. The horizon was slowly lighting up so I quickly moved to the rope ladder and climbed up into the crow's nest. Not only was it the best place on the ship to see the sunrise, but it was peaceful and a great spot to be alone.
Soon colors danced across the sky. Accompanied with the brightening sky was the crash of waves against our huge ship. It had been awhile since I got to hear that rhythm. The smaller boats that we had been using before now just didn't have the same feel. Time seemed to fly by and it wasn't long before I could hear people starting to move around and start their day.
"Takara?!" I heard Nami call out.
"She's probably somewhere sleeping. Let her sleep." Luffy told Nami on the deck below.
"Do you wanna take out her stitches?" Nami offered sarcastically.
"Sure, but it wouldn't be a good idea on your part." There was a very loud smack before Luffy let out a cry of pain.
"She wouldn't be like this in the first place if you hadn't let her fight! How do you think she feels?" Nami growled.
"That's not a good enough reason to hit me!" Luffy yelled. I quickly climbed over the edge of the crow's nest and down the rope ladders to the deck.
"Would you two stop arguing? I'm right here." I said as I walked up to Luffy and Nami as they glared at each other. "Now, what is going on here?" I asked. They both simultaneously pointed at each other before going on about what had just happened. Their words became so jumbled I couldn't understand either of them. After a moment they turned and glared at each other.
"Did not." Luffy stated.
"Did too." Nami growled.
"Did not."
"Did too."
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Shut up!" I yelled, interrupting their argument. I took Nami's hand and dragged her away from the scene and up into the cabin. "Nami, let's go work on my back before Luffy's childishness rubs off on you more." I announced as I took Nami's hand and dragged her to the kitchen.
"Hey!" Luffy called after us as we disappeared. I took a seat on one of the benches as Nami grabbed something and came over to sit behind me. I then pulled off my shirt and set it on the table as Nami started taking off the bandages around my chest.
"Why were you fighting with Luffy?" I asked in an attempt to make things less awkward.
"Forgot to earlier. I mean, your injuries were more serious than Zoro and Luffy's. They just walked off their injuries like it was nothing. It was Luffy's fault you got cut in the first place. I don't like you fighting like that even if I know you can handle yourself… You're like a little sister. I can't help but worry for you." Nami stated.
"... My father's crew is the closest thing I ever got to having relatives. Except, they were more like those awesome uncles… I'll gladly be your sister if you'll be mine, but I can't sit out of fights. It would be like losing a part of who I am as a pirate." I explained. There was a moment of silence as Nami paused.
"Well, I can't picture you any other way. Just… don't make me worry so much." Nami suggested and I turned my head just enough to see Nami smile out of the corner of my eye.
"I can't promise anything. How about you just promise to be there to patch me up after?" I offered with a slight laugh. This earned me a swift slap to my left shoulder.
"Stop laughing. I can't take off the bandages with you moving so much…" There was a long pause before Nami stopped removing my bandages. "I promise to be there for you." Before she started unwrapping my bandages again I spun around and hugged her.
"Thanks." I whispered.
"Anytime." Nami stated as she returned the hug. She then spun me back around and got back to work.
"So, where we headed now?" I asked, keeping away from anything more awkward.
"If we stay on course… Arms up." Nami paused as I raised my arms out of the way. She quickly finished with the bandages and started on removing the stitches. "We'll be at Treasure Island soon." Nami finished. I turned my head and looked over my shoulder at her.
"THE Treasure Island?" I questioned, hiding my excitement.
"Yep, now quit moving." Nami ordered. She then reached up and turned my face forward, forcing me to stare at the wall. She picked something up off the table next to us before continuing to work on my back.
Soon the snipping of scissors stopped and Nami stood up to grab something. It didn't take her long to sit back down. I tightened my jaw as whatever she wiped against my back stung. She wiped several more times before tapping my shoulder and standing up.
I immediately jumped up and ran to the mirror in the corner. I spun around to look at my back. Four pink scars ran jaggedly along my back from my left hip to my right shoulder. They were really kinda cool. Although, if my dad found out then he would have Luffy's head for causing it. Unintentionally or not.
"I take it you like it." Nami smiled, taking note of my excitement as she moved to put away everything.
"They're awesome." I grinned as I moved back to the table to grab my shirt.
"Well, I'm gonna go work on some charting." Nami stated before she left.
I stood in the room for a few minutes before following Nami. I exited the cabin and looked over the railing. Luffy sat off in the corner painting what looked like a very deformed jolly roger on a flag. Zoro was sleeping against the opposite railing. Then I noticed Nami a few feet behind Luffy looking over maps, her back to him. She must have found the maps pretty easily. I might as well find something to bide my time as well. I then made my way to Nami and I's room.
Once I was in our room I grabbed a small book from the bottom corner of the bookcase next to the desk. It was a small, pocket sized, book with a dark brown leather cover. The edges were worn and it looked as if it was incredibly old. With the book in hand I took a seat at the desk and found a pen.
I opened the book and started flipping through the pages. Each used page had a date in the top right corner. Some of the dates would be years apart while others were only days. I eventually found the last entry. Only a few pages were left between the last entry and the back cover. I hovered over the last entry for a little while, looking over what was written. The date wasn't from too long ago… The day I ran away to join Luffy.
Before I could even think about writing there was a loud thundering boom. I quickly slipped the book back into it's spot. I then made my way to the deck where I found everyone at the front of the ship. The sky above was filled with dark clouds that would occasionally produce a crack of thunder or bolt of lightning. The waves around the ship became rough as I made my way to the front of the ship.
"What crazy stories?" Luffy asked as I joined the group.
"Legend has it that whoever is dumb enough to sail close to the island incurs a god's wrath." Nami replied.
A crack of thunder echoed around us and a bolt of lightning erupted from the sky while Usopp screamed. Soon the sea raged and rain poured down on us. As the ship was rocked around I stumbled and quickly grabbed onto the railing near the bow before I could fall. Usopp had fallen and grabbed onto the railing opposite the bow from me.
"Now we know those stories are true guys!" Usopp shouted over the storm. "This is a god's wrath!"
"I think that sounds pretty cool." Luffy awed as he held onto his hat.
"Let's do this." I added as I tried to stay standing.
"Hey, wait! We're not gonna-"
"You bet we are." Nami stated, interrupting Usopp. There was another set of thunder and lightning as Luffy moved to sit on the ram's head.
"Let's go to Treasure Island!" Luffy yelled as he pointed ahead into the storm.
Usopp and Zoro quickly got to work on the ship as we sailed through the storm. I did my best to stand next to Nami as she laughed. It didn't seem to take us that long to reach the center of the storm. At the center of the storm was an island. Once the ship was stable near the shore we all climbed off the ship. The island was incredibly forested, heavy brush and trees everywhere.
Soon we were off, parading through the forest. Nami took the lead with Luffy and I closely following. Zoro and Usopp were behind me, but Usopp seemed to cling or at least hold onto Zoro. Aside from Usopp's occasional freak out, especially involving the strange plants lining our path, it was mostly silent.
"Hey, this place is creepy." Usopp announced. I peered over my shoulder to see him clinging to Zoro's arm. It was childish for someone his age, but it was slightly adorable.
"Yeah, so?" Zoro replied, appearing to not mind Usopp. I turned back around as we passed through another set of overgrown trees.
"It's said that somewhere on this island rests an unimaginable fortune just waiting to be found." Nami began. "Supposedly many pirates have landed here in the past, but they all fled in absolute terror before they ever got a chance to look for it." I jumped forward and pushed up off Luffy's shoulders.
"That sounds so cool!" I stated as I jumped down and looked around frantically.
"Absolute terror?" Luffy asked. I stopped looking and moved to follow them as we continued to march through the jungle.
"I'd be afraid too. They say one pirate's face suddenly turned into a boar's face. And another pirate's mustache stretched out like a couple of snakes and strangled him." Nami continued her story.
"But that's not true, right?" Usopp asked, his voice raked with fear and terror. We stopped walking again, and Nami turned to us.
"Well, I'm sure that some of those stories are a bit of an exaggeration." Nami shrugged.
"Don't talk anymore. You're scaring me." Usopp pleaded. While we were stopped I looked around some more. It was then that I noticed red eyes were popping up out of the shadows. I heard a yawn, and turned to see Zoro walking away.
"I'm tired. Nap time." Zoro announced. He quickly set down his swords and laid down in the small clearing we were in. He almost instantly began snoring.
"How can he possibly sleep in such a creepy place?" Usopp questioned as he watched Zoro.
"He's either dumb, or he's got nerves of steel." Nami commented from next to Usopp. I turned to see Luffy crouching near one of the bushes. I slowly walked over to crouch next to him.
In the bush was a snake with a rabbit's face, its body covered in fur. Luffy and it stared between each other, neither blinking. Seconds later the creature opened its mouth and let out something like a hiss as it stuck its tongue out at us.
"Strange." I mumbled, earning a nod from Luffy. I then jumped as Usopp suddenly screamed.
"What's happening? Are we in danger?" Nami questioned as I turned towards Usopp.
"Uh… What? No, I was just making up a little dance to liven things up." Usopp answered before showing us a dance. He then failed to notice a creature walk up behind him. I suspect he wouldn't have noticed it, but the creature then licked his hand and he abruptly stopped his dance.
"Hey. Come on. Stop that Luffy." Usopp said as he turned towards the creature. It looked a lot like a wolf aside from its rooster tail and comb. A second creature dropped down from the trees behind Nami. It had the body of a panda bear, the wings of a bat, and was barely the size of the wolf rooster next to Usopp.
"Why would he think you were licking his hand?" I asked Luffy as the two behind us screamed. They both tried to run, but ended up tripping over each other. Somehow Usopp ended up laying on the ground while Nami landed on top of him.
"I dunno." Luffy shrugged as we all stood back up.
"What's going on?" Nami questioned as we all looked out at the forest.
"Leave now!" A voice from the forest echoed around us.
"Who's there?" Luffy shouted back.
"Leave now!" The voice repeated.
"Guys, where's that voice coming from?" Nami continued.
"I am the vengeful Island God!" The voice announced. "Leave at once if you value your lives."
"Island God?" Luffy mumbled.
"I wonder what he looks like." I wondered aloud as I looked at the trees around us.
"Wait. You guys are pirates, right?" The Island God asked.
"Well, yeah." Luffy replied.
"AHH! I knew it." The Island God growled.
"Why would a god need to ask something like that?" Nami questioned.
"I don't know-. I-I mean, take one more step into the forest. The instant you do, you will instantly receive my divine punishment and meet your doom, which is my punishment! Wait… uh…" The Island God stammered.
"Okay, that made no sense at all." Luffy stated.
"I'm confused. Is he trying to threaten us?" I asked.
"I'm not sure. This guy is weird." Nami said.
"Yeah, what's his deal anyway?" Luffy continued, looking towards Nami and I.
"What did you say, Straw Hat boy?" The Island God growled. The eyes that were in the forest soon moved forward to reveal all sorts of strange looking animals that began to sound their support for the Island God. Of the animal creatures I could see were the snake rabbit from a moment ago, a pig lion, a zebra ostrich, and a hippo ape.
"What are these things?" Usopp asked, his voice shaky.
"They use to be humans. They came looking for treasure, but all they found was my wrath." The Island God declared as the animals entered our clearing.
"Oh! You transformed them?" Usopp gasped before he kneeled and held his hands together in front of him. "Then, you are a god."
"Look at all these weird things." Luffy told us. Before him stood the zebra ostrich and a rhino kangaroo. He then bent down and picked up the pig lion. "Huh? So, is this a pig?"
"Could be a lion." Nami suggested. Out of nowhere the pig lion roared and bit onto Luffy's face. As the pig lion pulled away, Luffy stretched. It soon let go and Luffy dropped it to hold his face.
"Serves you right for calling it a thing." I pointed out as I bent down to pet it.
"You stretchy freak of nature! What are you?" The Island God continued to echo.
"One time I ate a Devil Fruit. So, now I'm a rubber person." Luffy explained as he stretched his cheek.
"Luffy, you can only eat a Devil Fruit one time." I stated.
"Well have you tried eating two?" Luffy asked, facing me.
"... No." I answered.
"Then how would you know you can't eat more than one?" Luffy continued, crossing his arms and giving me a look.
"Well… I… Um…" I stammered, trying to think of a comeback, but coming up flat. I honestly had no idea if someone could eat more than one, let alone if someone had tried.
"Yeah, right. A Devil Fruit? I heard those same stupid stories back when I was a pirate." The Island God replied, clearly skeptical.
"Back when you were a pirate?" Nami questioned.
"I mean, uh… No! I wasn't reminiscing about the old days. Enough of that kind of talk! I don't want to hear about the old days. Dammit!" The Island God declared.
"Are you nuts? You're the one that brought it up." Luffy pointed out.
"You faker! You sound too dumb to be a god." Nami stated.
"Shut up! If you won't leave, then prepare for my divine judgment!" The Island God announced.
Suddenly wood stakes were launched at us. I quickly jumped as several hit the ground where I stood. Usopp narrowly missed getting his nose hit by one. Nami managed to get missed as well. Luffy on the other hand had to dodge several like me. All the shots towards Zoro hit everywhere but him. Not long after the stakes, rocks fell out of the treetops. One landed right on top of Luffy's head.
"You're really pushing your luck." Luffy grinned as I turned to face him.
"How are you not dead!?" The Island God questioned as I saw a bush behind Luffy bounce.
"Is that him?" I asked, moving towards Luffy and pointing past him.
"There you are." Luffy replied.
"Don't move." The Island God ordered as Luffy moved. "I said don't move!" A bullet was then fired off and I stepped to the side as it hit Luffy and he stretched. Usopp and Nami screamed as Luffy sent the bullet flying up and away. "No. That can't be!" The Island God cried.
"Hey, Island God. Even mortals know that bullets can't hurt a rubber man." Nami pointed out as we all turned to face the moving bush.
"Maybe not, but I still hate them." Luffy added.
"You're some kind of monster." The Island God cried. The moving bush then tossed the gun before it ran off.
"Catch him, Takara!" Luffy ordered as he suddenly lifted me up and threw me at the bush. I let out a scream as I flew through the air, only to land on top of it.
"What the hell, Luffy!?" I questioned as Luffy ran after me. It took me a moment to realize that I was riding the bush. Within a few moments the bush took a sudden turn and I was thrown off the bush and I crashed to the ground.
"Where'd he go?" Luffy questioned as he ran past me to the cliff next to us. I groaned as I sat up and looked around, holding a spot on the back of my head.
"I don't know. How about next time you don't throw me at him?" I suggested as I climbed to my feet. There was a crack behind us and we both turned to see the bush. We both walked over to it as Nami and Usopp joined us.
"What is this?" Luffy asked. It looked like a bush, but the bottom was inside a chest.
"Could it be the Island God?" Usopp suggested. Somehow, at that moment, it grew legs and started running away from us.
"It's moving." Nami announced as it ran away from us… and straight into a tree.
"Well, he certainly is dumb." I mumbled as it dropped to the ground.
It groaned and grunted as it continued to move its legs, not getting anywhere. We slowly walked over as the sun came out to reveal a face in the bush next to the chest. I then realized, it wasn't a bush. It was a giant green afro that belonged to a man who appeared to be stuck in a chest… The… Island… God…
"Stand me up." The man ordered. "Stand me up already."
"It's a person." Nami commented, surprised.
"Awesome. He's like a talking scrub brush." Luffy stated.
"Shut up, Rubber Head! That's not a nice thing to say!" I yelled at Luffy after smacking him upside the head. He turned and scowled at me.
"You don't have to hit me for it." He grumbled, holding his head.
"How else am I gonna get it into your head?" I asked, placing my hands on my hips.
"That's it. You're not even a minor deity. You're more like a box." I walked over and smacked Usopp upside the head as well. "Why'd you hit me!?" He shouted at me, also holding the spot on his head.
"A person can be whatever they want to be, and you shouldn't make fun of him for being stuck in a box!" I retorted.
"Come on, stand me up now!" The man cried before Luffy and Usopp stepped over and brought the man to his feet.
"Relax... here." Usopp told the man as he helped get him up.
"Uh... I'll let you off with a warning this time." With that the man began running away from us… again.
"No, wait!" Luffy called as he managed to grab the chest. The man got further and further away with every second.
"This isn't going to end well for you." I stated, crouching in front of Luffy.
"And what makes you say that?" Luffy laughed. We both turned to look at the man who tried to run, but had stopped moving. Seconds later Luffy was flying towards the man. The two collided and screamed as they both went flying over the cliff side. I fell back as Usopp and Nami got up and ran towards the cliff side.
"LUFFY!" Nami and Usopp called in unison as they looked down the cliffside. I could hear Luffy laugh as he dropped.
"Three... Two... One." I pointed up as Luffy went flying up, past the cliff, and into the sky.
Once they had landed Nami and I got to work on fixing them. Luffy was mostly fine, but the man had a large bump on his forehead. As Nami got a bandage to place on the bump I noticed that his eyebrow would twitch. Nami placed the bandage on the bump and soon the man was surrounded by the strange animal creatures.
"There. You're all set now." Nami announced as she stepped away. A pig lion and wolf rooster moved forward and started licking the man's cheeks.
"I told you so." I whispered to Luffy before nudging his arm.
"Shut up." Luffy grumbled, pushing me back. I grinned at him before moving to sit next to Nami as Usopp took the spot I had been in next to Luffy.
"You're a pretty popular guy, Mr. Island God." Nami stated.
"So, let me get this straight. These crazy animals help you scare off the pirates who came to this place looking for treasure?" Usopp questioned, pointing to the animals around the man as they backed away from licking the man's face.
"I've never seen a person stuffed inside a treasure chest before. You're a real live jack-in-the-box." Luffy smiled.
"Yes, ironically, I am in fact in a box and my name is… You idiot! I'm a person, not a toy!" The man quickly switched his tone to yell at Luffy. "I've been stranded alone on this island and stuck in this contemptible box for twenty years."
"Twenty years?" I asked as I looked over the man in the chest.
"That long?" Nami questioned. We all turned at the sound of Usopp opening his bag. He then reached in and pulled out what looked like a thermos. He screwed off the lid and poured some of the contents of the bottle into the lid. He then drank what was in the lid before letting out a puff of air.
"So, you've been all alone on this island for twenty years. Amazing." Usopp said as we all turned back towards the man.
"Yeah. Just take a look at me. I've got a beard like a wild man, and in all that time you're the first people that I've had a conversation with. Can you understand how painful that is?" The man told us.
"That's ridiculous." Luffy stated.
"What did you say!?" The man yelled.
"Wait… Why do you have a thermos?" I asked, turning to Usopp. Before Usopp could reply I saw Zoro walking towards us.
"Ah, oh… There you are. I've been looking all over for you guys." Zoro yawned.
"How could you have slept through everything that's just happened?" Nami questioned. Zoro didn't reply as he took Usopp's cup and moved to a rock to sit down. He took a long swig before looking back at us, his eyes immediately going wide.
"AHH! What the heck is that?" Zoro asked as he slipped off the rock, his eyes locked on the man.
"He finally sees him." Nami stated, not looking happy.
"That is a person, be polite." I told Zoro.
"Check it out, he's in a treasure chest." Luffy said as he pointed towards the man.
"Like a jack-in-the-box, but real." Zoro awed.
"What did I just say?" I questioned.
"Yes, ironically, I am in fact in a box and my name is… You idiot! We've already been through all that!" The man yelled before Luffy stepped onto the back of the chest, reached over his hair, and grabbed the top of his mouth.
"Zoro, give me a hand." Luffy ordered as he pulled up. Zoro walked over and grabbed onto the man's hair and began pulling as well, using an edge of the chest to push with his foot like Luffy.
"AHH! What are you doing? You idiots!" The man tried to scream, but it came out garbled due to Luffy. "Stop it!" The man ordered as Luffy and Zoro let go.
"Sorry, I'm afraid you're stuck." Luffy announced as he wiped his forehead with his arm.
"Don't be stupid. I've been stuck inside this blasted treasure chest for so many years now, that it's slowly become a part of my body. If you try to break it, you'll break my body too.
"You're a strange little man." Zoro stated as he stood next to Luffy with his arms crossed.
"Ugh… Alright guys, enough about me. Who are you? You're not like any of those other pirates who've come around here, that's for sure." The man told us as Luffy took a seat back on his rock.
"I'm Luffy. I'm going to be King of the Pirates." Luffy stated.
"You're what?" The man gasped.
"I'm gonna get the One Piece and then I'm going to be King of the Pirates." Luffy continued.
"The One Piece? Don't tell me you idiots are actually planning to sail on the Grand Line." The man said.
"Sadly." Nami whispered to me and I looked down to hide my grin.
"Yep, we got a chart right here." Luffy answered, pulling out a chart out of nowhere and holding it out.
"Don't be such a fool. The Grand Line's a graveyard. I once saw a group of pirates who had managed to escape from that horrible place, and I'll never forget it. It was an awful sight. They were just the hollow shells of the men they used to be. There's no telling what horrors they witnessed in that ghastly place. Not one among them tried to speak." The man announced. I turned to look at everyone and found Nami and Zoro's eyes on me.
"Now listen to me well, young pirates." The man continued before I could say anything."The rumors of the One Piece spawn more rumors. Who know's what's true. It's been only twenty odd years since the start of the Great Pirate Era, and the One Piece is already a dream within a dream beyond a legend."
"Why are you staring at me?" I questioned after the man stopped.
"Is it really like that?" Nami asked.
"You do seem to know everything about being a pirate." Zoro added, crouching next to us.
"That's true. What about your dad?" Usopp joined our conversation.
"Not the right time guys, so just stop staring at me." I ordered before pushing Usopp and Zoro away from me.
"So, which one of these is the Grand Line?" The man asked Luffy as he looked at the chart Luffy held.
"I dunno. Figured you could tell me Mr. Scrub Brush Guy." Luffy replied.
"Sorry, I never learned how to read a sea chart." The man told Luffy.
"I never did either." Luffy stated. Seconds later the two were laughing as Nami and I stood up.
"Ignorance is bliss, isn't it?" Nami mumbled.
"Sounds like it." I commented.
"Anyway, even if we do somehow make it to the Grand Line the best idea would be to get as much treasure as we can and then escape." Nami stated, holding her arms up in a shrug.
"You go ahead and do that. I'm gonna find the One Piece." Luffy replied.
"Where do you get all that confidence of yours?" Nami asked.
"He takes it from Usopp." I joked, causing Nami to smile.
"I'll get it. You'll see." Luffy continued.
"Whatever you say." Nami said as she held back a snicker. She then glanced over at me before we both laughed.
"You're me." The man awed, halting Nami and I's laughter. "You're exactly like me. You even look like me. We could be twins." I looked between Luffy and the man for a moment before walking towards the man with Nami.
"How can you say he looks like you?" Nami questioned.
"I don't see it." I shrugged.
"Young man, I understand about the pursuit of your dream. When I was a younger man we use to feel the same way." The man announced.
"What do you mean we?" Luffy asked.
"We were willing to put our lives on the line to search for treasure. It was that single minded seal that changed the course of my life forever." The man continued.
"Wait, slow down." Nami pleaded as the man paused for a moment. "What are you talking about?"
"It happened twenty years ago." Before Nami even finished the man had started talking again. Nami then turned and shrugged. "I was a much younger man then. My fellow pirates and I landed on this island with a single purpose: to find the treasure that was said to rest here." The man started his story and as he explained, it was revealed that his name was Gaimon. "I couldn't believe my own eyes." He went on to tell us how he climbed the steep mountain, saw some chests and fell into the only empty chest they had gotten.
"That's when I got stuck in this chest. When I came to, my crew was already far out to sea. And after all this time the fortune I found, but only saw for an instance, has never strayed far from my lonely old mind. Pirates have come here countless times to search for my treasure, but fortunately my friends here help me scare them away. That's how I've kept my treasure safe and sound for the past twenty years." Gaimon finished as the wolf rooster, pig lion, and panda bat moved to stand around him. "It's my treasure!"
"No question." Luffy nodded. "It's yours alright."
"You've been guarding it for twenty years so I think you've earned it." I added.
"Y'know, I think we can help you out. Gaimon, why don't we get the treasure down for you?" Nami offered as she stood up.
"Wait, do you mean it?" Gaimon gasped.
"Yeah." Luffy replied.
"Nami." Usopp grumbled.
"Hey, aren't you a thief that only steals from pirates?" Luffy asked as Nami turned to look down at him.
"How rude! I am a thief, but I have a conscience." Nami stated.
"Well, why don't we go see this treasure?" I suggested as I stood up.
"I have a faster way to get there." Gaimon told us.
Within moments a giant elephant sized turtle met up with us, but it had the colored spots like a cow. We all climbed on and soon it was carrying us down a wide path. The wolf rooster and pig lion lead the way while a pink bird flew above them. The animals made all kinds of noises as they lead the way. A panda bat even flew out of the trees behind us, heading the same way we were. Soon we reached a plateau and we all climbed off. The elephant turtle cow wasn't even a quarter of the height of the plateau.
"It's here?" Luffy asked as our ride left.
"Yes, this is the place. It's all up there." Gaimon said. He paused for a moment and I noticed everyone smile. "The time has finally come. It's a great day! Get to it, Straw Hat."
"Sure thing. Let's go Takara." Luffy began as he stretched his right arm up to the top of the plateau. His left arm quickly wrapped around my waist.
"Wait, what?" I questioned before attempting to push him off.
"Gum-Gum… Rocket!" Luffy yelled as his hand latched onto the top of the plateau and we were both flung up. I shrieked at the sudden motion as Luffy laughed. He then landed on the top of the plateau, still holding me under his arm.
"Let me go!" I ordered, hitting his side. He then let go and I was dropped. "Damn you." I coughed as I tried to stand up. Six chests sat on the plateau before us. As I walked over I noticed that the locks were rusted so each chest easily popped open.
"Hey, the chests. You see?" Gaimon called up.
"They're all… empty." I mumbled as we looked over each opened, and empty, chest.
"Hey!" Nami yelled.
"Hey, Luffy!" Usopp joined in.
"What's going on?" Nami continued. Luffy picked up a chest, closed it, and walked over to the edge for everyone to see.
"I found 'em. Six treasure chests." Luffy declared, not looking down.
"Yes. Good work." Gaimon laughed. "Now it's mine. I get my treasure. Come on, toss it down. I wanna see it. Go ahead and toss it down boy! Let's have a look at it!" He laughed again.
"Luffy?" I asked, he was silent for a moment before he looked down.
"No way." Luffy stated simply with a grin.
"No way?" Gaimon questioned.
"I don't wanna. Sucks for you." Luffy grinned.
"What kind of crap is that Luffy?" Nami yelled. "Give the man his gold!"
"You ass! That treasure belongs to Gaimon and you know it! Toss it all down now!" Usopp yelled. I lunged towards the edge and stood next to Luffy.
"He said he didn't want to!" I yelled back.
"Takara?" Usopp asked, surprised at my sudden statement.
"Hey, I'm not joking around Mister." Nami growled. Gaimon must have said something because Usopp and Nami quickly turned and started talking to him.
"Straw Hat, you're a great guy!" Gaimon cried. "I always had an inkling that this might be the case." Gaimon stopped for a moment as Luffy and I took a seat on the edge of the cliff. "I tried not to think about it, but still. They're empty!"
"Yep. Every last one of them." Luffy said as he set down the chest he had been holding.
"Those animals are quite the treasure on their own." I told Luffy as I looked over at his serious expression.
"It happens all the time with treasures that have maps leading to them. You set out on a quest to find it, but someone else got to it first. That's the kinda risk you have to take when you're a treasure hunting pirate. You can waste a whole lifetime searching and never once touch treasure. Plenty of pirates live like that. Believe me." Gaimon sobbed. A moment later Luffy broke into laughter.
"Try not to be too upset, old man. It's a good thing we came along after twenty years. Thirty years later and you might have been dead." Luffy smiled as he called down to the group below.
"Oh, Straw Hat." Gaimon called back.
"Since this treasure hunt's a bust, you're gonna need something else to fill your time. Why don't you join up with us and search for the One Piece?" Luffy offered.
"What? Really? You're asking me?" Gaimon questioned. "Oh… I know how I must look to you, other people wouldn't even speak to me, but you were kind. It's been so many years since I've had a friend." Gaimon sobbed again. "Thank you!" Out of nowhere Luffy grabbed my ankle and I was pulled off the plateau. I screamed as I plummeted down to the ground, landing on Luffy. I groaned and rolled off of him.
"Don't ever do that again." I stated.
"Not going to happen, we're leaving." Luffy grabbed my ankle again and pulled it up over his shoulder so that my knee bent. He had a firm grip on my right ankle and my right knee was bentover his shoulder. My other leg was crossed over my right leg, and rested on his shoulder. My hair hung down and the tips brushed against the ground as he walked. I crossed my arms in front of me as Luffy walked with everyone else through the forest.
"Is that comfortable?" Usopp asked, walking behind Luffy.
"If you think having all your blood go to you head is comfortable, then yes. This is very comfortable." I replied sarcastically.
As soon as Luffy was standing on the beach near our ship he let go of my ankle. I landed on my head and let out a very loud groan as my body dropped next to Luffy. Soon my right leg began to tingle as it regained circulation.
"Are you sure you wanna stay on the island, Gaimon?" Luffy asked as I looked past him to Gaimon.
"Yes, I'm sure. There's something here far more valuable than treasure that I feel I must protect." Gaimon stated. I looked up to see Nami and Usopp look surprised.
"Worth more than gold?" Usopp questioned.
"For the past twenty years these guys have stood by my side through thick and thin." I pushed myself up just enough to see a bunch of the animals standing around Gaimon. "I can't leave 'em." Gaimon continued. The wolf rooster and pig lion then started licking his cheeks like earlier and Gaimon began laughing. The other animals let out their own calls. "Now that I know there's no treasure here I somehow finally feel free. Without that heavy burden I can concentrate on the things that really matter to me, and besides after all these years I've grown fond of this little box."
"Too bad, you're a neat guy. Pretty cool for a scrub brush." Luffy commented.
"Stop calling him that!" I growled, kicking the back of Luffy's knee. It was then I realized we had a jolly roger on a couple of flags around the ship. It was a pair of crossbones and a skull, like everyone else's, but this one had a straw hat that matched Luffy's.
"The weird creatures here are your true friends." Zoro added as I pushed myself to sit up.
"Yep. He's the weirdest of them all." Luffy commented
"Excuse me!" Gaimon yelled before we all started laughing. Soon we were all climbing onto the ship. Nami had to help me because as soon as I was able to stand, my leg started to tingle with pins and needles. She helped me to the back of the ship as we lowered the mast and sailed away. I noticed another jolly roger on the mast.
"Wow." I awed, it was pretty good handy work. It was too good to by Luffy's, he drew like a child. It must have been Nami or Usopp. Zoro would have been too lazy to take the time and make it. I stood at the back of the ship as we all waved good-bye to Gaimon and the creatures.
"See ya! Take care, okay!" Luffy yelled as he waved.
"Bye, Gaimon!" Nami waved as well. Once we were far enough I cleared my throat.
"Okay." I began as I turned on my heel to face Usopp and Nami. "So, which one of you painted the mast?" I asked, pointing up at the jolly roger.
"That would be me." Usopp took a step forward and stuck out his chest.
"No way." I grunted, crossing my arms in front of me.
"Well you should know…" Zoro started, he smiled and threw an arm around Usopp's neck. "When it comes to painting he's in a league of his own."
"He's been drawing graffiti for fifty years straight." Nami chimed in. She stepped over and reached an arm over my shoulders.
"Wouldn't that make him an old man with grand kids?" I asked. As if on cue everyone broke into laughter.
"That's what I said too!" Nami laughed, holding her chest.
"Hey!" Usopp cried as I refocused on him.
"Fine. If you're 'in a league of your own' then I challenge you to a painting contest. We both paint Luffy, and then Nami and Zoro vote on the best one. They don't get told who does which." I challenged, holding out my hand.
"Challenge accepted." Usopp slapped my hand.
"You're gonna lose." I heard Luffy whisper to Usopp as we both ran off to grab something to paint on.
Did you guys like it?
It was kinda long. I'm not exactly sure how that happened this time, but it did.
Well, please review. I wanna hear from anyone who reads the author's notes.
Well, that's all for today.
Thanks for reading.