Chapter 25: Promise

"Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting."
-J.M Barrie, Peter Pan

...

It was long past midnight. The skies were dark blue and the air was cool. Ayame sat in the centre with her eyes narrowing at everyone. The pirates had spoken about their escape before the palace was overrun by Marines in the matter of hours. There was without a doubt a new bounty for a few of them, but somehow, by the end of their little plan, they started to stare at Ayame inquisitively. No words were spoken as Ayame narrowed her eyes even more. Then an irk mark appeared on her forehead.

The pirates inched closer, wondering if another memory will pop up.

"Can you all NOT?" She shouted at them.

Luffy and the rest pulled back with sheepish smiles. Only Zoro huffed and looked at her oddly. The Captain grinned, and said, "Sorry, sorry. It's just so cool you had this all along and didn't tell us - You are definitely awesome for my crew! Think of all the codes you could say for the locked fridge and all..." He had a devilish smile as he began to picture it. "You're a true fortune teller!"

Ayame pinched her nose bridge. "I'm not staying for long, remember? I've got to go home. And I am not a decoder of some sort! Or a fortune teller!"

Luffy didn't give much thought and said, "Nope. You're staying. What's the code for-"

She looked at him indignantly and blinked owlishly at him. "Don't even try." Lifting up her hand as if to end the conversation when he tried to speak again. So she marched to her bed, plopped down, flipped her stray hairs off her shoulder, and dramatically pulled the covers over herself, facing away from the pirates.

Nami giggled at the two, and said, "Ayame, we'll be leaving soon." And the girl ripped the blanket off of her and fixed her clothes.

"I knew that." She said casually, brushing her hair off her shoulder again.

Usopp snorted with his arms crossed, and said, "Oh sure. And while you're at it, put the pillow back where it belongs, you Kleptomaniac." He eyed the pillow under her free arm.

Ayame looked offended. "It's fluffy." She hugged the pillow tightly. Kit jumped up on her shoulder and curled around her neck as if it were agreeing. It yawned ferociously and slept, placing it's head on the pillow.

Sanji shook his head with a lighthearted smile and said, "Let's go. I'm sure Vivi wouldn't mind a pillow missing." He turned heels and went ahead with Ayame following closely behind. She stuck her tongue out at Usopp and swiftly turned away, her nose up in the air as she hauled the fluffy pillow.

Zoro followed shortly after with Chopper hanging off his shoulder, muttering: "I wonder what's the bounty for stealing: 10 beli?"

"More like 500 beli. That pillow is basically royal property." Usopp snorted.

Ayame whipped her head, glaring at the two. "Do you two want to fight me?"

...

Finding themselves back on the ship, Usopp had gathered everyone in a circle while holding a marker and bandage wraps. Going around, he held their left arms and re-drew a large X-mark on the back, then left them to bandage up the marking. When it came to Ayame, she came to realize the importance of this simple sign, and it felt different without Vivi aboard. Looking around the deck, she noted how quiet the crew was. Usually, Luffy would be pulling a prank with Usopp, but they were looking at the horizon where the kingdom would be showing up soon.

The sun was slowing rising on their right with the land on their left. Zoro spotted the girl by herself, staring at the marking as if she was trying to decode the importance of it. He wouldn't be surprised she if didn't understand what she was feeling, because at some point he kind of figured she didn't have any true bonds with that challenging attitude: Don't make me fight you, or whatever involuntary manslaughter quote she comes up with. She was slowly opening up with Vivi around; he couldn't blame her, Vivi had an air about her to want to be heard. Perhaps it was the same for Ayame, only her way of being heard was by using threats.

Rolling his eyes at the girl who is too engrossed by the marking, he tossed the roll of bandage on her and bounced off her forehead. He saw the flames behind her eyes as she turned to him.

"Don't make me hit you in the throat!" Ayame shouted at him as she picked up the bandage.

Zoro narrowed his eyes. "As if that'll ever happen, midget. Now hurry up and put it on." Then turning his eyes to the odd ball with a swan suit, Bon Kurei. Having no idea how this ex-Baroque came to terms with them, he decided he was good when the man kept their ship from falling into the wrong hands. Glancing at him once more, Zoro eyed the strange fellow who constantly tip-toed as his swan crew followed closely behind.

...

Up ahead and in the middle of battle, the two pirate crews found themselves in an ambush by the Marines led by Hina. Nami was, as always, ordering around directions, but with Bon Kurei panicking to leave, it was hard to talk over him.

"Why would you linger here when there's an entrance to escape from Black Cage Hina!" Bon Kurei was ready to jump aboard his ship.

Luffy shrugged. "I promised my nakama that we'd see each other before we leave." His nonchalant words moved the swan man to tears as he remembered the importance of their friendship. Ayame glanced down. A promise, she repeated in her mind. At 10 o'clock, Vivi was to have her speech with her countrymen and the pirates were to meet at the harbour for the last time.

"I see," Bon Kurei whispered, crocodile tears trailed down his painted face. "Running away would defy the way of Bon Kurei. Friends who risk to see another friend knowing that you have abandon them..." He smiled, it was not bitter but content. The man turned to his crew and said, "Men, will you enjoy your breakfast tomorrow?" A tidal wave crashed into their ships, the sprinkles of sea water showering above them made the scene too dramatic.

Ayame tilted her head to the side and went to ask Usopp, who was very touched at the moment, about the last comment as it did not make any sense to her. "What does he mean-"

"Shh!" He shoved a finger down her lips. Glaring at him, she smacked his hand away as the swan ballerina devised a plan for the Straw Hats to escape.

After successfully escaping from the Marines, the Straw Hats watched the Swan ship get bombarded by pikes and cannons. Smoke filled the air as their ship pressed forward to the harbour. Touched, Luffy had made another promise. To never forget Bon Kurei's sacrifice for them to see their friend.

"Why would he do that?" Ayame questioned, accidentally speaking aloud.

Sanji placed a hand over her shoulder. "Friendship is a complicated subject." She looked over her shoulder, still confused. "Well, lemme put it this way: If you were in trouble, Ayame-chan, just know: I'll always be there!" He smiled serenely at her with his smoke making heart shapes. "Now give ol' Sanji-kyun a hug~" He cooed with arms wide open.

Zoro wedged himself in between them, and glared at the cook. "Oi, Ero-cook, there's still a lot of Marines up ahead. Open your eye."

"OI, MARIMO. I'VE GOT TWO, FOR YOUR INFORMATION!"

A/N

Thank you for reading!