I avoid looking forwards or backwards, and try to keep looking upward.

~Charlotte Bronte

Sitting in the lookout, Minette couldn't stop smiling. It was so peaceful up here, so tranquil with the white puffy clouds in the orange sky, so gleeful with the sound of the boy's laughter on the deck below, and so calming staring out to the horizon all day long without having to worry about when her next meal will be or if she was even going to survive that long. She didn't have to worry about getting off the island anymore, she didn't have to worry about the cannibals pirates anymore, she didn't have to worry about being alone anymore. Now she had people she can rely on, people she can come to trust even more than what she does now. She was apart of something, something big, and she was so happy to tag along. So happy to finally have something to look forward to.

Luffy had explained to her what the One Piece was, but she only understood bits and pieces of his explanation. She knew that a death of a famous pirate many years ago was the start of it all and that there was a rumor that he had hide all of his treasure somewhere, calling it the "One Piece". Luffy said that it was hidden somewhere dangerous that Minette already forgot the name of, but the reason why he was going on this journey was to accomplish his goal of being King of the Pirates. She wasn't quite sure what that meant but she remembered him announcing himself as a future King of the pirates when they first meant. Then, along the way, Luffy recruited everyone aboard the ship so far who all had their own reasons for going with Luffy. Whether it was to become stronger, to chart the entire ocean, to become the greatest warrior, or to find the myths of the sea, they were in it together and very supportive of one another… Well, kind of.

"Tag!" Luffy's voice on the deck below caught Minette's attention. Carefully rising herself onto her tippy toes, Minette peared over the railing to find Luffy poking Zoro on the shoulder as the green haired swordsman just sat there. But he also seemed to be severely annoyed.

"I told you, I'm not playing."

"Ussop! Zoro's it!"

"I'm not playing, you numb skull!"

"Awe," Luffy whined, "But we need at least three to play. Come on, Zoro. Please? Just this once?"

"We just recruited a ten year old girl, Luffy. I'm sure she would be more than happy to play with you, so stop bugging me will ya?!"

"Oh yeah!" Luffy jumped up and looked towards the sky to find Minette still spying on them. Her head just barely poking over the railing. "Hey Mouse!" Luffy called up.

"Yes?"she replied.

"Do you want to play Tag with Ussop and I? It's really fun!"

"Um, o-okay. I'll be right down." Carefully climbing down the latter, Minette came to stand in front of Luffy and Ussop.

"Okay, so here's how Tag works, Minette," Ussop said, "It's like a game of Chase and Run. The Chaser has to touch one of the Runners to not be a Chaser anymore, then the Runner turns into the Chaser and the Chaser previous to that becomes the Runner. There really isn't any win or lose in this game but it's just a fun excuse to run around the ship without getting into too much trouble. Do you understand?"

Minette stared at them for a moment before nodding.

"Okay!" Luffy laughed, "I nominate Mouse to be the Chaser! So that makes Ussop and I Runners. Got it, Mouse? You have to chase us now, alright."

"Okay… But what's Zoro?" Minette asked, pointing to the man.

"Not playing," he replied but they ignored him.

"He's a… Sitter!" Ussop said, "Sitters just sit there."

"He's a part of the game?" Minette questioned, she wasn't fully grasping the concept that Zoro wasn't playing at all and it was just her, Luffy and Ussop playing.

"Yup!" Luffy laughed, "Now let's play!"

Instantly the two boys ran away from Minette as she stood there, trying to remember what she was supposed to do at this point. Then she remembered. Turning around, Minette faced Zoro and walked up to his side. She watched as his eyes slowly opened to gaze back at her clueless expression, and before he could ask what she could possibly want she poked his shoulder very lightly.

"T-Tag."

They stared at each other for a moment before Zoro sighed, "You have no idea how to play do you?"

She shook her head.

"You just know to poke someone then say Tag, yeah?"

She nodded and he sighed again as he stood.

"Then I'll help out. Together, we can tag everyone on the ship, alright?"

Minette smiled, "Okay."

They made their way towards the kitchen, where Nami was charting and Sanji was cooking dinner. Just sitting in silence when Minette and Zoro entered, earning their attention.

"Oh, hello Minette," Nami smiled.

"Dinner isn't done just yet, my dear. Go on and continue playing outside," Sanji smiled.

Minette looked up to Zoro, watched as he nodded, before walking further into the kitchen, her bare feet never once making a nose as they patted the wood floor.

"Is there something you two need?" Nami asked.

Standing before Nami, with all eyes on her, Minette poked her arm, "Tag." Nami froze as Minette made her way towards Sanji then poked his leg, "Tag."

Sanji stared down at the girl for a moment as she waited for his response. She forgot what she was supposed to do now that she has tagged a few people. But before she could remember, Sanji scooped the small girl in his arms and hugged her close to his chest.

"Awe, that was simply too cute, my dear! Simply too cute!"

"We have to go tag Luffy and Ussop now, Sanji. They are the Runners, I am the Chaser and Zoro is the Sitter… who is now the Chaser as well, I guess." Minette smiled up at the blond man as he smiled happily back. He could only be thankful to the Gods that he was able to save such a young, happy, and clueless life on the barren island. He was so happy he will be there to see her learn about new things, go to new places, and meet new people along their journey together.

He couldn't help but chuckle as he watched Minette and Zoro exit the kitchen to go find Ussop and Luffy as they hid somewhere on the ship. "You know," he said, "she's going to be learning a lot of things in a very short amount of time. I wonder if she can handle it."

"I'm sure she'll be fine," Nami smiled. "Yes, this is the first time in who knows how many years she's come off that island, but something is telling me that her little knowledge of the outside world isn't going to stop her."

"You're right as always Nami," Sanji sighed, turning back to cooking, "but knowing that she's eaten that Healo Healo fruit, I wonder if her mindset will stay the same as well."

"It's hard to say, really. No one knows just how long she was on that island. She could be older than us."

"Now that's a scary thought."

As Sanji continued cooking and Nami finished the chart of Minette's home island, said girl was on the back deck chasing Ussop and Luffy while Zoro sat and watched. The sky was darkening but that didn't spoil their fun. If anything, it made it even more so since Minette could see in the night time just as well as the day. For her it was like hunting for food on her island all over again.

She cornered Ussop first, his back to the outside wall of the kitchen and Zoro standing before him. Keeping him in place so Minette could have an easy tag. Getting Luffy wasn't as easy.

He was such an energetic man he was running around and bouncing all over the place, making Minette out of breath trying to catch him. But she finally had him with no escape on the front deck. He was on the ram's head looking around to try and find a way out but there was none. Minette was advancing on him fast. A little too fast.

Her foot slipped under her small frame and she fell over the side of the edge. Luffy tried grabbing her when he suddenly lost his footing as well and started a fall on his own. Quickly, the Straw Hat was able to grab Minette, pull her to him then wrap both his arms and legs around the head of the ram. Minette's eyes were clenched shut as she held onto Luffy's red shirt by the fist full. Even without the Devil Fruit in her, Minette never learned how to swim and she wasn't itching to find out what it was like to drown any time soon.

"Minette! Luffy!" Zoro yelled, thinking the worst as he peered over the rams head. But much to his relief, they were both hanging there and safe.

Reaching down, Zoro grabbed the back of Minette's sweat shirt and lifted her up and back aboard. Not minding Luffy as he kneeled in front of the girl. "Jezz, you scared me. You need to be more careful, okay?"

Minette nodded as Sanji and Nami rushed out of the kitchen door and Ussop around the corner. "Is someone hurt?" Nami asked.

"No, fortunately," Zoro sighed and gently pushed Minette in front of him, towards Nami. "Is dinner done yet?"

"Yeah. Was just about to come out here to call you guys. Why did you yell?"

"No reason. Luffy just almost killed Minette. It's probably not going to be the last time that happens."

"What?!" Luffy yelled, sitting back on the rams head, "She slipped all on her own!"

"Whatever," Nami sighed, "It's time to eat so just come inside. I'm sure you're all hungry after such a long day."

"You got that right!" Luffy laughed and ran towards the kitchen.

As they sat around the table, Minette watched as Luffy scarfed down the food and even stole some from Ussop's plate when he was finished. She still had to sit on that cooking pot while they try to find or make something else for her to sit on but she didn't mind it. As long as she had food of her own to eat. Taking her first bite of her food, Minette moaned in bliss, she didn't know what it was but it was delicious and left a savory taste in her mouth. Which, caught the attention of everyone else and made them smile.

"Minette," Ussop said, "what did you normally eat on your island?"

"The apples that Zoro brought me in the mornings."

"No, before that."

"Well, I used to steal from the cannibals until they found out then I didn't really eat anything."

"NOTHING AT ALL?!" Luffy spat out his food on Ussop's face.

She shook her head. "There was nothing left on the island to eat."

It was silent until Luffy looked up from his seconds, "Who's your twin?"

Minette froze.

"Luffy!" Nami yelled as Sanji hit him over the head, "You can't ask someone that!"

"Why not?"

"It's rude for one thing."

"I asked politely."

"No you didn't!"

Standing abruptly, Minette's chair made a noise as it scraped across the floor. Making the room go silent. "I'm… Gonna go to the post," she said. "Thank you for the food Sanji. It was really tasty." Then she walked out and climbed back up the post. Sitting there with her knees pulled into her chest, Minette rested her head on her knees.

Could she really come to trust these guys enough to tell them about Shi?

"I'm sorry."

Minette jumped at the sudden voice. She didn't hear anyone climb the ladder after her, or maybe she was too lost in thought to hear it. But, upon looking up, she saw Luffy sitting on the railing to the lookout post. Legs crossed with his arms folded over his chest, his bottom lip puckered out as he avoided eye contact by looking to the stars. It was obvious Nami or someone made him come up here to apologize.

Relaxing her tense muscles, Minette laid her head back down on her knees. "I-It's alright," she said, "I'm sorry for creating a scene. It's just, I know that she was the same age as me but she was still my little sister. I'd do anything to protect her… I did everything I could…" Shoving her face further into her knees, Minette was done crying over her sister's death. She didn't know how long she had been grieving but she was done with the tears and it was time to accept the facts. "She died because I couldn't protect her."

"I don't believe that for a second, Mouse." Luffy said, no usual joking or childish antics in his tone, and Minette looked up at him again. "Seeing you fight today," he continued, "with a fire so passionate under you, I can't possibly believe that you were the cause of your sister's death. It was the pirates who did the deed, not you. I won't let you take the blame for something you didn't do. So no more of this back and forth stuff, alright? Yes, she is gone and it's never a good idea to try and forget a loved one, but you need to loosen the reins a little bit because as you said: all it's doing is giving you more blisters."

She stared up at him, unknowing her carefree captain could be so empathetic, then she smiled. "Thank you, Luffy."

Sighing, Luffy sat next to Minette. "You know, I have an older brother so I can kind of understand where you're coming from."

"You do?"

"Yup. He always bailed me out of trouble and always made me laugh." Reaching into his pants pocket, Luffy retrieved a folded piece of tanned paper. Unfolding it, he handed it to Minette before continuing. "His name is Ace."

Looking at the tanned paper in her hands, Minette saw the photo of Ace in the center with writing above and below it. Looking back to Luffy, Minette pointed to the writing, "What does it say?"

Without questioning the fact that she couldn't read, Luffy pointed to the numbers on the paper, "This means that whoever capture's Ace, dead or alive, gets a reward of five hundred and fifty million barries."

"Woah," Minette breathed as she looked at the photo. She couldn't find any similar facial characteristics between the picture and Luffy but she didn't question it as another popped into her mind. "Dead or alive? If that's the case then how do you know he's still out there somewhere?"

"I just do."

"Minette, Luffy," Nami's voice suddenly rang through the air as she called up to them, "it's time to call it a night. We're going to be docking at an island tomorrow for supplies so it'd be best if we get some sleep now."

Jumping up, Luffy laughed as he peered over the railing, "We're coming!" He turned back to Minette, "Grab on."

"W-What?"

"Come on, it'll be fun," he laughed and wrapped his arm around Minette's small form before jumping over the edge of the lookout. Unable to hold it in, Minette screamed from the feeling of being completely helpless as they free falled, her stomach flipping multiple times before they finally landed.

"Are you trying to get her killed?!" Zoro yelled as Minette ran to Nami's open arms. It was such a sudden shock, she was shaking again as she gripped the front of Nami's shirt.

"No. I just thought it would be a bit of fun," Luffy grumbled under his breath.

Nami sighed as she picked up the small girl. "You have to at least try to understand that she's not used to everything yet," Nami said, "She hasn't had human contact in a few years, so try to keep things calm for a little while, okay Luffy?"

"So I can't play Tag anymore?" Minnette questioned and Nami's heart melted as she started walking in the direction of her room.

"Of course you can still play Tag. Just be careful, and if you see something new that might be a bit scarey at first just come to anyone on the ship. Alright?"

Minette smiled, "Okay."