Mt. Colubo, One Year Ago
Kaiya held her face in her hands. The wagon creaked and moaned as the dark horse dragged it up the mountain. They made fresh tracks in the otherwise undisturbed snow. The seven-year-old had been quietly observing her surroundings until one question bothered her too much to ignore.
"Uncle Ryo?"
"Hm." The man was busy looking forward. His eyes scanned the area left and right. Occasionally he'd lightly tap the reigns or steer the horse in a different direction.
"How do you know which way to go?" Ryoku looked down at his young niece. "Everything looks the same," Kaiya said. Around them, they passed pine trees with snow covered needles and bare deciduous trees with no trace of leaves left on the craggy branches. Just brown and green amongst the white.
Ryoku smiled. "Wanna know a secret?" Something sparkled in the man's eyes.
"A secret?"
"Look," Ryoku said. He picked up his cane and pointed.
Kaiya blinked. "I don't see anything."
"Look at that tree," he said. Kaiya narrowed her eyes. The only one that seemed to be different than the rest was...
"...the fallen one?"
"Mmhmm."
"What about it?" Kaiya asked, an eyebrow raised.
"You asked how I knew where to go. There's your answer."
"But any tree could fall down any time!" Kaiya said, throwing her hands in the air. "How does that answer my question?"
"Woah," Ryoku said. The horse slowed and stopped. "Come here, Kaiya."
The man grunted as he hopped down from the wagon. He held out his hands and Kaiya jumped into them before she was gently placed on the forest floor. Ryoku hobbled towards the tree with Kaiya curiously following. Once they reached it, he took his cane and knocked off bits of snow, exposing the color beneath.
"Do you know what that is?" Ryoku asked her.
Kaiya bent down and prodded the green mass. It was squishy and wet. "...moss?"
"That's right," Ryo nodded. "Now look at this."
He led her to the bottom of the tree. His cane knocked at the wood. "What do you see?"
Kaiya frowned. She crouched and rubbed her mitten covered hands against the grain. "It's… smooth," she said. "Like someone cut it down."
"I cut it down," Ryoku said simply. He pointed his cane. "See how the top points this way?"
Kaiya nodded.
"This is how I know where to go. If you ever get lost in these woods… all you do is follow the fallen trees."
Kaiya blinked. "Follow the fallen trees?"
"Mmhmm," Ryo said, retracing his steps. The horse blustered as it waited patiently for its passengers to get back in the wagon. "Just follow the fallen trees."
"But where do they lead?" Kaiya asked. She hopped in her uncle's footsteps. He was ridiculously tall and his boots were easily twice the size of hers. It was like a fun game, skipping from one track to the other.
"Oh, depends on the mountain," Ryo said cryptically.
Kaiya leapt and accidentally bumped into her uncle. He whipped around and caught her with one arm before she fell.
"Thank you, Uncle Ryo," she said with a smile.
Her uncle shot her a wink and scooped her up into the wagon where she stood face to face with her uncle. "Where do the trees go, though? Really."
"Wherever you need them to," he said.
"Oh, Uncle Ryo, that's a stupid answer!"
The man simply laughed as he pulled himself back into the carriage. A flick of the reigns and they were off again.
"On Mt. Colubo they point to the Dadan house," he said eventually.
"So that's where we're going now?"
"Mmhmm."
"Who's Dadan?"
"...an old friend," he said. "And a special client."
"You said that's where they lead on this mountain. Did you cut down trees on other mountains?"
"Sure did, kid," Ryo nodded.
"Like where?"
Ryo scratched his chin. "On Mt. Sova, too. My uncle built a cabin there years ago. Maybe I'll show you one day."
"Do you have secret spots all over the island?" Kaiya asked excitedly.
Ryoku laughed. "Secret spots? I guess you could call them that."
"Can we see them?"
"Not today," he said.
"Aw, but-"
"Not today," Ryoku repeated.
Kaiya gave a dramatic sigh. "Fine," she muttered.
"...just remember, Kaiya. If you ever get lost…"
"Yeah, yeah," Kaiya said with a wave of her hand. "I know. Follow the fallen trees."
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Mt. Colubo, Present Day
Fresh snow glistened on Dawn Island as the first rays of light tried to break through the cloud cover. The sky was a sea of various greys. There was a gentle wind blowing. The clouds were breaking up ever so slowly but surely and little rays of sun peeked through here and there, illuminating patches on the sea and land.
Ace sucked in a deep breath.
The air was cold in his nostrils. It threatened to freeze the inside of Ace's already-pink nose. He grimaced as a blast of icy wind hit but he continued through the forest, leaving a trail of boy footprints behind him.
The day was quiet… peaceful… and positively frigid. Giant snowflakes lazily made their way down, coating the landscape in a puffy, white blanket.
His breath appeared in front of him but Ace was on a hunt. There, clear as day, hoof prints in the snow. There was a thin sheet of white over the ground but his footsteps - as well as that of the animals - left patches of green in their wake. He didn't even know how many animals were grouped together. Five? Ten? Fifteen?
The idea of a large haul thrilled Ace. He'd recently been learning how to dress and butcher deer. He figured some other hoofed animals would be similar enough for him to figure out. If he could field dress them, that would mean he wouldn't have to share his food with any of the others. And that was a very appealing idea. He impatiently spun the metal pipe in his right hand as he walked.
It had been a long night, walking back from the city. He'd slept in longer than usual but by now Dadan was used to it. Apparently he was a heavy sleeper. The bandits had learned to just let him be. The last guy who tried to wake him up still had a black eye… and that was weeks ago. Poor bastard.
Ace missed breakfast, which was fine because a measly bowl of rice couldn't satisfy his hunger anyway. He almost looked like a set of human footprints was mixed in with the tracks… but there were too many animals. It was probably just the way they had overlapped.
The boy passed a fallen tree. The base had been cut cleanly and the top pointed in the diction he'd just come in. These trees littered the woods here and there. Most of them had moss or fungus growing on them. A lot of them had rotted in the middle. Many animals had burrowed into the wood or used it has shelter.
The boy took his pipe and scraped the snow off the top of the horizontal trunk as he walked by. Of course, if it snowed heavily enough, this mark would be all for nought. He'd been in these woods long enough, though. He didn't need markers to get from place to place anymore.
Ace turned his head as a flock of birds suddenly deserted their perch. The animals swarmed, creating a large ripple of black as they flew through the air. He felt… a sudden sense of unease but he couldn't place why. It was as if two forces had collided somewhere. Ace shook his head. He had been told time and time again that he was odd, different, dangerous.
He figured this way just part of it. Feeling things he couldn't explain. Nothing unusual for a freak like stopped once more. The group of animals had parted for some reason. Some took a turn straight down the mountain. Others seemed to veer off towards the east. Ace dug in his pocket. He had a stray berry coin he'd pocketed from his run with Sabo… that traitor.
Ace placed the coin on his thumb. Heads, he'd go south. Tails, he'd go east. The metal spun in the air. Before it had even landed, Ace felt the desire to take the path that led towards a tiny port side town.
He grabbed the coin and placed it on his hand. After a moment, Ace looked down to see… tails. Alright. Well that was decided. He'd take the tracks leading east… and hope they didn't lead all the way to Foosha Village.
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The base of Mt. Colubo, Present Day
"Fallen trees…" Kaiya muttered. "Fallen trees…"
She yelped as her foot slipped but she managed to catch herself before faceplanting. The trip up the mountain wasn't easy. Much of the previous snow had melted and refrozen. She encountered a lot of slick patches and tufts of wet grass. The gently fallen snow hadn't penetrated the depths of the forest just yet. Much of the journey was spent crawling uphill on her hands and feet. The terrain certainly wasn't ideal for a smooth climb.
Kaiya had a hard time finding the path but eventually she found a fallen tree. "Hah!" Kaiya eagerly rushed towards the stump only to find… it hadn't been cut. There was no sign of moss or mushrooms on the tree. It was too new. Probably downed by a storm… but not a blade.
She should have been traveling northwest… but it was hard to tell where she was or exactly how far she'd traveled. The sun was nowhere to be seen behind the thick clouds and she couldn't see the sea between the trees. Kaiya groaned. This geographical stuff wasn't her strong suit. Plotting a course and sticking to it was harder than it looked.
"It's fine," Kaiya said to herself. "Just need to get my bearings… find a fallen tree…"
She marched on. The stolen bow and quiver were tight around her winter jacket, but if she encountered anything, she figured this was a better weapon than the slingshot she usually used. If she had to defend herself (she really hoped she didn't have to), the bow and arrow could kill something or someone… if it came down to it.
Something brown flashed in Kaiya's peripheral vision. Kaiya froze and saw a… little creature nestle into the trunk of a tree.
"Aw. Hi, little guy," Kaiya said with a smile. She bent down and looked into the hollowed trunk. The little animal scooted as far back as it could. "It's okay," she said soothingly, holding out a hand. The animal made a hiss and she recoiled her glove.
"Hm." Kaiya frowned. "Oh, I know!" She dug in her jacket pocket until she found it. The half-eaten granola bar had been wrapped up in a napkin for later. Kaiya ungloved one hand, took a bite and held some of the crumbs out to the animal.
The shrew's little nose twitched as it sniffed and curiously moved closer the girl's outstretched hand. Eventually, it decided she wasn't extremely threatening and hopped right into her palm. Kaiya laughed as the animal licked her hand.
"I like those, too," she said with a smile. The shrew gave a happy little sound and scurried into her sleeve. "Oh! Oh no! Stop!" Kaiya laughed as the animal scampered up her armpit and through her clothing until it reached her neck. Some crumbs had fallen into her scarf and it was happily picking them. She could feel his little nose rubbing against her, a tiny sandpaper tongue licking her neck. The shrew zoomed around her face, leaving small kisses on her chin and mouth.
"Okay, okay, that's enough," Kaiya said as she scooped the little critter up. She wiped her mouth and placed him back down on the ground. "Here." The girl broke off a good sized chunk of her granola bar and placed it in front of him. "You can have that for the road."
The shrew eagerly grabbed the food and scampered away. Kaiya smiled. That seemed like it was a good omen. An act of kindness, no matter how small, was never wasted. Despite the rocky start to her morning… things were looking up.
The clouds were starting to dissipate and the blue sky was starting to peak through the craggy branches above. With an "Aha!" Kaiya stumbled upon a cut tree and eagerly began to trek uphill, more fervently now that she knew she was headed in the right direction.
Her uncle didn't want her? Fine! She would spend her winter break with some different company. The bandits would take her. Dadan liked to pretend she was mean but Kaiya could sense there was more to the large woman than meets the eye. After all, Auntie Vi had spoken highly of her so that meant she couldn't have been all bad.
Kaiya stopped suddenly. She idly scratched her neck leaned against a tree as the world began to shift slightly around her. That wasn't good. She had been feeling pretty optimistic about today but… when Kaiya tried to stand, she wobbled and held both hands out. No, that definitely wasn't good.
She loosened her scarf a bit and scratched at her neck again. She was starting to feel really… lightheaded. Kaiya groaned and leaned against a trunk, if only to stop the ground from moving so much.
Something's wrong…
Kaiya slowly sank to her bottom and placed her head between her knees. No, no, no. She hadn't even made it that far up the mountain. She couldn't stop now… she just couldn't…
Her body convulsed and Kaiya dry heaved. Nothing came out at first. A few more horrendous gasps later and the bit of granola bar was regurgitated into the snow. Kaiya panted and covered up the foul liquid. Again with this? She was really hoping this trip would go better than the last...
She tried standing. Kaiya staggered to the next tree… and crawled to the one after that. Her head felt like it was on fire. Her head bent over once more and nothing but yellowish liquid came up. Just need a rest… Yes, a quick rest and she'd be fine. She slipped the bow and quiver off her and slid down the tree. Her coat… it was expensive. She should have been more careful but it was all she could do not to succumb to the sickness. Kaiya sat along the base of a thick tree and leaned her head against it. Just a quick nap… and as Auntie Vi would say… she'd be right as rain…
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The man turned his head. His face was shadowed by the conical bamboo hat he wore. His keen eyes were narrowed. He could sense numerous others on this mountain. One was particularly closeby. The man scratched his thick beard. There was no immediate danger. The nearest person was no threat to him. He kept walking, his boots making large tracks in the snow as he walked farther away from the presence.
Help.
Kimimaru stopped, turned, narrowed his dark eyes. A gentle breeze made the two ribbons on his hat sway. The person from before… had either fallen asleep or passed out. As Kimimaru gazed into the woods he could feel distress emanating from the person. Did he bother to help?
No. It wasn't his problem. He had plenty of his own to deal with. This was none of his concern. He turned away and took another step.
Please.
He bristled. It was almost like… like he could feel the person's despair. Kimimaru took a deep breath of the cold mountain air. When he exhaled, his breath danced in front of him before the wind took it away. He could sense… someone small. A child, perhaps. A girl? His heart wrenched.
He should just turn away and go back to the cabin… but something in him just couldn't. If that were Lecia out there… he hoped a stranger would be kind enough to stop and help her if she needed.
His body dissolved into countless paper pieces and he soared off into the wind.
It didn't take long to find her.
The girl was slumped against the trunk of a tree. She was young… a little older than Lecia was, though, if he had to guess. Straight dark hair stuck out from beneath her furry winter hat. He bent down and pulled her scarf back. Her neck was discolored… red and puffy… her breathing ragged.
Kimimaru cocked his head in a different direction. This particular mountain wasn't a good place for him to be. There were too many people on it. He could sense an entire group living not too far away.
The man closed his eyes.
One had broken away from the pack. Another child? Sheesh. What was with this island? Letting kids wander around so freely… it seemed a bit irresponsible to him.
He could have taken the girl on his own… but Mt. Sova was too long a trek to carry someone in that form. Besides, there was always the chance he encountered someone or something on the way. No, her best bet was the group of people close by.
Kimimaru's body disintegrated. His clothes and skin rustled as they flittered towards the next being. He would find a way to help the girl without exposing himself… and this child would be the one to help.
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Ace had followed the tracks. The hoofed creatures led him away from the hut and down the mountain. He was going southeast. He knew because the sea was getting closer and the city was getting farther away. The East Blue shone in the gap between the trees.
The sky had lightened considerably from the grey that it was earlier. That made it easier for him to see the imperfections in the snow. He found fresh droppings. He had to be getting closer.
Ace could feel his stomach rumble in anticipation. He had to find the creatures. Had to find some lunch. He couldn't stand dry, salted meat for another night in a row…
Then something odd happened. The wind blew towards him… or what seemed like wind. Ace narrowed his eyes. It looked like a billion snowflakes were wrapped up together, rushing towards him.
It felt like a punch to the sternum. Ace wasn't prepared for the impact.
"Oof!" He felt the wind get knocked out of him suddenly as the gale hit him square in the chest. "What the hell?"
Ace turned his head this way and that. The white specks swirled around his body, whipping his hair and exposed skin. They caught on his clothes, pulled at his coat and pants. Ace got the feeling it seemed like… a sentient being, almost. Like it was trying to tell him something.
"...what the hell?"
The white flakes rose up in the air and made an arrow.
"...you want me to go that way?" Ace asked, his eyes narrowed. The whirlwind of white became a ball that bobbed up and down. It surrounded him eagerly once again and he was being pushed forward.
"H-hey!" Ace dug his heels into the snow. The force shoved him forward and he got a faceful of skin numbing snow. "Son of a b- ah!"
The curse died on his lips as as he sucked in air. The white breeze lifted Ace by the back of his coat and he was standing once again. A white arrow appeared and then the white chunks became a single word, big and bold: HURRY!
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Snow. White snow. It covered everything, the path, the pile of vomit. Everything.
Kaiya stumbled from tree to tree, her eyes barely opened. Follow the trees. At one point she was on her hands and knees in the snow. Salty tears dropped down her face.
This… whatever this was… it was pure misery.
She somehow managed to grab the bow and quiver. They left a trail in the snow as she dragged them along. Kaiya hadn't made it far before she had to stop again. The ground was like jelly and it just… wouldn't stay still. It was too hard to walk…
Kaiya groaned. A large stump lay ahead of her. She miraculously made it to the tree before slumping over. She could feel snow seeping into her long johns, her pants.
Someone sat her up. Touched the side of her neck. She remembered… weightlessness. It was like her limbs had detached from her body. She as a human had ceased to exist.
She was simply a being.
One with nature. One with the earth. One with the sun shining down on her. The smell of pine trees.
Warm hands touched her face. Opened one of her eyes. A gentle touch. A not so gentle touch. She could feel the sting of the slap but it, oddly enough, didn't hurt. It was almost like it had happened to someone else...
She was floating. Amongst the pinecones and needles. Little woodland creatures. Birds tittered and tweeted. Curious squirrels looked down from their perch.
The world was passing by her in a blur of brows and greens and blues. Kaiya could feel… something. Someone nearby. Carrying her away. Carrying her home...
"...get you help… be okay…"
They smelled like the forest. Like the sun and the wind.
"...hang in there…"
Black shadows entered her vision. No. Shadow. Just one. Tiny shadow. Kind little shadow.
Freckles. Wavy hair. Wrinkled eyebrows.
Someone familiar. Someone she knew.
"...keep it together… gonna be okay…"
Another wave of sickness. More acid. More salt. More. More dizziness. The pressure was too much. The light. The pain. Too much. Too much.
"...can't do this… gonna die… "
"No. You're not."
The snow was so cold. Her gloves had disappeared, somehow. Where? Moisture seeped into her sleeves… her knees…
Strong arms lifted her. A gentle spirit. Kindred spirit. Hurt spirit. Hurt like her.
"...not too long now."
Kaiya could barely keep her eyes open. The sunlight… small patches of blue… it was too much. Too bright. Too sick.
"...a few more minutes… hang on a few more minutes…"
The cold changed. Blues and greens became browns and reds. Not one figure anymore. Lots. Lots. Too many. Many!
Little shadow?! Where was the little shadow? Gone. Gone...
"Ace! Get your ass over here!"
Little shadow. Back. Kaiya was shaking. Floating away… this was it. The end. She expected a bright light… but there was only darkness. The black. The void. Too great. Too strong. It was pulling her. Sucking her in. Up. Away.
"Damn it, Kaiya, keep it together!"
Something stronger. A pressure. A hand. A hand… holding onto her hand!
Ace squeezed for dear life. Kaiya could feel his fingers… his thumb nervously stroking the back of her hand. She squeezed back. She was numb… but she could feel that.
"...don't let go."
"I won't." The hand was the only thing keeping her there, tethered to life… tethered to the earth. If he let go… "I won't!" She might float away…
"Uncle… Auntie Vi… sorry…"
"It's okay… it's okay."
"...not okay."
"You'll be fine. You'll be okay."
"...sorry…"
"For what?"
"Everything."
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Ace felt his stomach drop and he began running. He didn't know why… why he was taking advice from this… white… cloud… thing… but something told him to listen. It felt like he was going to lose something precious if he didn't.
The creature (honestly, it was more like a really weird cloud) rushed ahead of him, zipping through trees. Ace ran as fast as he could to keep up. He didn't know how long he ran. Five minutes? Fifteen? The thing led him until he saw a small figure facedown in the snow. A longbow and quiver were in the snow beside them. That figure looked oddly familiar…
White engulfed the figure, circling around her for just a moment before it blew away. Ace rushed to her side and flipped her over.
"Kaiya?!" Ace sat her up straighter and gently shook her. "Are you alright? Kaiya? Kaiya!" He bit down on the tip of one glove and slipped his hand out. Two fingers to the side of her neck. He tried to feel her pulse like he'd seen Magra do to bandits that got hurt. He really didn't know what he was looking for… he felt like he should have been counting or something… but there was a steady beat. Not strong. But steady.
When he took a closer look, he saw her lips and mouth were splotched with red. The skin around her neck was swollen and angry.
"Fuck," Ace whispered. He desperately looked around. The white cloud that had led him here was long gone. Something else caught his eye.
Prints in the snow. Ace squinted. There were two large footprints, like someone had suddenly materialized. The prints were side by side, the way someone had their feet when they stood. The only odd thing was he could see no tracks going to the area and none coming from it. It was like… a man had appeared and just vanished.
Kaiya whimpered and he snapped out of it. That mystery would have to wait. First things first.
"Kaiya." Ace touched the side of her face with his bare hand. She felt like ice. He tried to open one of her eyelids. Her eyes were rolled so far back he could barely make out the bottom of a gold iris. Ace looked around for someone… anyone… he felt like he was being watched but there was nobody in sight.
"Shit," Ace muttered. He swallowed and looked down at the unconscious girl. "Sorry," he mumbled. Ace slapped her. Hard. The sound reverberated and left a red mark on her cheek. Her head lolled to the side from the impact but she didn't stir. Another expletive slipped from his lips.
"Okay," Ace whispered. "C'mon, don't die on me."
He turned and slipped her arms over his shoulders. He grunted and put her on his back. He'd carried her before but this time she felt… oddly light. Maybe he'd gotten stronger. Yeah, that had to have been it.
One step. Another. Ace followed his own steps back up the mountain. What had seemed like such a short run became an excruciatingly long walk. But he couldn't give up. Not here. Not now. He had to keep going.
"Don't worry," he said. "I'll get you help. You're gonna be okay. It's all gonna be okay. Just… hang in there. Hang in there."
Kaiya's head shot up suddenly and she tried pushing off him.
"Woah, hey, hey, what are you doing?"
Ace bent his legs and Kaiya stepped down. Her feet pedaled backwards and she plopped onto her ass.
"Are you okay?"
Kaiya held out a hand. The message was clear. Stay back. She rolled to her hands and knees and wretched violently. Ace curled his nose as she heaved again… and again…
Then she collapsed.
"Woah!" Ace grabbed the scruff of her collar before she could fall face first into her own putrid stains. She collapsed onto her side and lay there unmoving.
"Kaiya!" He rolled her to her back. Her eyes were open but unseeing. He could hear his blood in his ears, feel his heart pounding. "Keep it together," he told her. He scooped up a bit of clean snow and wiped her face. She shivered. Her lips moved like she was trying to speak but nothing came out. "It's gonna be okay," he promised.
She shot up and rolled to the other side as another bout of sickness ensued. He could hear her gasp for breath. He could hear her crying and sobbing between the dry convulsions. Ace bent down and placed a gentle hand on her back. She was talking, her voice a pathetic, high pitched whine.
"I can't do this," she sobbed. Kaiya's body deflated and she sank into the snow. "I'm gonna die," she whispered. She brought up a gloved hand to her stained face. Yellow stained the glove.
"No," Ace said firmly. "You're not." He wiped her face once more. They weren't too far away now. "C'mon," he said, "pull yourself together. You're stronger than this."
"No," Kaiya whispered. "I'm not."
Ace groaned and pulled her back onto his back. Kaiya closed her eyes.
"Goodbye," she whispered.
"Shut up!" Ace snapped. "Don't say that!" He quickened his pace to a run. The bandit's hut wasn't far away… not that far away.
"...not too long now," Kaiya said. She squeezed her eyes shut. The daylight, the movement, it was just too overwhelming. She wished she could just die. She wished the pain would go away.
"We're… almost… there," Ace said between huffs. "Just a… few more minutes… okay? Just… just hang on… a few more minutes."
"Hey!" Ace shouted. He could see the stack of smoke rising from the hut. A few bandits were lounging around the entrance. "Hey! Help!"
They rushed over to him.
"What the…"
"Get her inside!" Ace barked. "Get Magra! Get Dadan!"
One of the men grabbed Kaiya and held her bridal style. She was limp in his arms, her body like a rag doll as he ran inside.
"Boss! Boss! We got a situation!"
Ace hurried inside. He didn't bother to take off his snow covered boots. Bandits were shouting and scurrying from the common area and storage room.
"She's freezing!"
"Get her by the fire!"
"Blankets, someone get her blankets!"
The bandits scrambled to gather supplies. Ace unzipped Kaiya's soiled coat, slipped the hat off her head, undid her dirty scarf. He was nudged aside as a futon was unrolled. A bandit placed her on the cot and spread a blanket over her.
He could see Kaiya panting and sweating.
"Ace," Magra said as he rushed inside. "What happened?"
"I dunno," Ace said, "I just found her like this." He grabbed the large man's shirt and pulled. "You gotta help her! She's gonna die!"
Magra unclamped Ace's hand and nodded solemnly. "I will," he said. "I'll do everything I can."
Ace nodded blankly. Magra took charge. He produced a ton of medical supplies. Vials. Gauze. Weird glass bottles. Strange looking plants. Foul smelling creams. Ace stepped aside and sunk along the wall as he watched.
What the hell had happened?
One minute he was hunting and then… he couldn't get that weird white cloud out of his head. The way it moved, the way it thought. He could see the big set of foot prints, almost like a man stood over Kaiya where she had collapsed… but it just didn't make any sense…
"She's awake!" someone called to Magra. "She's awake!"
Kaiya was hyperventilating. Her voice was a series of whimpers, steadily growing louder, more frantic. She shot up and tried pushing one bandit away.
"Magra! She's freaking out!"
Bandits rushed over to her, all trying to calm down the girl. Kaiya began to kick and scream as heavy hands held her down. Her head jerked this way and that. Her eyes were wide as they frantically searched.
"Let go of her!" Ace pushed and shoved the men away. It wasn't until Kaiya caught sight of Ace that she stopped struggling.
The bandits followed her gaze.
"Ace!" Magra looked at the boy. "I think she wants you."
"Get your ass over here!" another bandit said.
Ace nodded and walked to her side. Kaiya's hands went up, like she was trying to reach out for him. They were shaking violently.
"Damn it, Kaiya, keep it together!" Ace commanded.
Her hands kept squeezing his like all she could do was communicate through actions. Three quick grips. Three slow. Three quick. He knew that… it meant something…
The bandits sometimes communicated by lamp light. Ace rocked his brain. Three flahes, quick, slow, quick… S.O.S!
"Magra's gonna help you," he said. Ace squeezed her hand. "Keep it together," he told her. It was all he could do to keep his voice steady. Magra gently lowered Kaiya to the floor and covered her back up. Her sleepy eyes were locked on Ace's. Her lips moved.
"What? What is it?" Ace asked. He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. Her grip tightened.
"Please don't let go," Kaiya said weakly.
"I won't," Ace promised.
Magra touched her forehead. "She's burning up," he muttered. "Someone get her a cool rag!"
Kaiya squeezed tighter than Ace could even think possible. He gripped her hand back so hard, he was afraid he might break it. She didn't make any indication of pain. Her eyes wandered to the ceiling where they glazed over slightly and stayed. Her mouth was slightly ajar.
"...don't let go," she mumbled. A few tears escaped her eyes and fell right into her ears. "Please."
"I won't!" Ace said firmly. He gritted his teeth. He was squeezing her hand with all his might but she didn't seem to feel it at all.
"Look," Magra said, pointing. A bite mark, red and angry, small and barely visible marred her pointer finger. His finger moved to her neck where the skin was red and irritated. Her lips were naturally darker than her face but a closer look proved the red was uneven and unnatural. "It almost looks like poison..." he mumbled. "Or venom." Honestly he always got them confused but neither were good.
"...is she gonna be okay?" Ace asked.
Magra grimaced. "...I don't know," he answered.
Kaiya sniffled. "Uncle… Auntie Vi… sorry…" Her eyes moved but they didn't focus on anything or anyone in the hut.
"If it is, we might just have to let it run its course," Magra said solemnly. "We don't know what did it. Or how potent it is."
Dadan and Dogra burst through the door and stomped her way into the living area, where the bandits were all huddled. The woman held the longbow and quiver in her hands.
"What the hell is going on here?!"
Magra stood and began to fill in the gaps for Dadan. Ace could feel Kaiya's grip loosening.
"I'm dying," Kaiya whispered. Ace swallowed the lump in his throat. Her eyes were blank and unseeing. He almost thought she just might… she might actually…
"No," Ace said. He had to make an extra effort to keep his voice steady. "You're not dying. You're okay. It's okay… it's okay." He squeezed her hand but she had let go completely.
"I'm not okay," Kaiya said weakly.
"You'll be fine," Ace insisted. "Don't think like that! You'll be okay."
Kaiya's eyes fluttered to him. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
"For what?"
"Everything." Kaiya's body arched suddenly and a few of the bandits jumped back in surprise. Ace grit his teeth. He held onto her hand for dear life. Part of him felt like if he let go, she just might, too. Magra rushed over to her and froze.
"Boss?" Magra called nervously.
The woman was in the middle of lighting up a cigarette when she snapped, "What?"
"Uh…" Dogra looked down nervously. "You might want to see this…" Kaiya's eyelids were fluttering open and closed but they could see her irises glowing like liquid gold.
"Back up!" Dadan commanded. "Unless you wanna get sucked in!"
Ace clutched her hand. He was slowly leaning forward.
"Ace!" Dadan yelled. "Back up!"
"...no," he murmured. He moved closer to the girl's face. There was something in her eyes… something he had to see… before it disappeared…
"Boss?!" Dogra asked frantically. "What do we do? What do we do?" Dogra placed his hands on the side of his head.
Dadan watched as Ace hovered over her. His dark eyes were wide as he looked down. There was a blank stare on his face. It was too late now.
"I'll get him away," Dogra said with his teeth clenched.
"No!" Dadan and Magra said together. Dogra's hands froze on the boys shoulders.
"You can't break a Soul Gaze!" Dadan took a shaky drag and looked at her son with a solemn gaze. "It could kill them."
"Then what do we do?!" Dogra asked frantically. Their leader had a hard look on her face.
"...just let it play out," Dadan said eventually. "It's all we can do."
"But Ace-"
"...he'll be okay," Magra said calmly.
Dadan looked at her son, frozen in his position, his eyes were physically locked on Kaiya's but mentally, she knew, he was long gone.
"He's a strong kid," Magra reassured, placing a hand on Dadan's shoulder. She shakily placed her hand over his. Ace was a strong kid. Besides, of all the people who could have gotten caught in the gaze, he was probably the best candidate.
The kids were both young, about a year apart. He had endured plenty of hardship for one so young and she guessed the same could be said for Kaiya. If it came down to a test of will… Dadan would have put money on Ace. He could make it out. She knew he could.
Yes. Ace was the best one it could have happened to.
"It'll be okay," Magra told her again. Dadan only nodded and continued to tensely stare at her son. Oh, she desperately hoped it would be.
. . . . . . . . . . xX - L - I - N - E ~ B - R - E - A - K - Xx. . . . . . . . . .
Ace had this feeling before. Like he was being sucked into a vortex. It was just like with Old Lady Vi but this time… he didn't fight it. For some reason, he just didn't want to.
His body had teetered into the darkness, going down, down, down… He stopped falling as if he'd slammed onto floor. He pushed himself up, partially dazed. The pain he was expecting never kicked in. Everything was dark. Cold. There was a light somewhere in the distance and he found himself following it. A square… no… a rectangle with a picture.
Ace walked closer and closer until he realized it wasn't just a static image. It was an image of Sabo, and it was moving.
The blond grinned dangerously and gave him a thumbs up. Yes… this wasn't too long ago, Ace recalled, this was just before the heist…
They snuck into the thug's shack in the Grey Terminal and slipped out. It would have been almost perfect if Ace's metal pipe hadn't accidentally knocked something over… and they ran. They ran and ran until they were in the theatre. Ace rewatched Kaiya's performance like he was in the balcony again, captivated with the way she danced, the way her body swayed to the music…
The image faded and another appeared farther away. Ace ran to get a better look. It was… Kaiya and Sabo, laughing together with her friends. He felt a rush of anger, embarrassment, jealousy, and that image dissolved, too.
Ace watched his memories fly by in reverse, like he was dying and this was life flashing before his eyes. He recalled the savage monkeys on Mt. Sova, saw the crazed Ripper and his flashing knife, relived the day he first met Kaiya and they encountered the Sea King…
Then he felt his heart clench up. Memories from before Kaiya sprouted like persistent weeds. He relived lonely nights were he sat on the hills for hours on end and watched the sun set by himself. He recalled stumbling upon a field inhabited by hundreds, no, thousands of lightning bugs… and curling up alone because there was no one else to see the beauty of it. He felt the cold rain on his skin as he trudged home after an unsuccessful hunt. The pain of his first broken arm.
Some things he didn't even remember flashed before his eyes. Magra pulling him uphill in the snow when he was little. Dogra reading him stories before bed. Dadan chasing him around the hut. Garp appearing out of nowhere and making silly faces as he laughed...
He saw a woman. Beautiful and kind, smiling as she cried and pulled him close. Her hair was strawberry blond and she smelled so nice… Ace reached up towards her curls. He just wanted to wipe the tears off of her freckled face.
"Gol D. Ace," she whispered. The angel kissed his forehead so gently, Ace thought he had simply imagined it. She stroked his cheek, tickled his chin. "I love you," she cooed. A sniffle. A sob. "I love you," she whispered. "My sweet boy. I'm so sorry, Ace. I'm so sorry… I can't be there for you."
"Mom," Ace whispered. She smiled and brought her forehead to his. She was so warm… her skin was so soft… He reached out a hand but the vision faded. "Mom! Mom!" Ace tried running, tried going back to the memory, but an invisible wall held him back. "Mom," he said, his voice breaking. "Come back… please."
That was it.
This was it.
The end of his life.
Ace fell to his knees. He looked around. There was nothing… nothing but darkness… loneliness. He pulled on his hair, waited for the pain to let him know he was alive but… he felt nothing. Ace looked around. He tried running one way then another. There was nothing there. Nothing. He walked, though there was nowhere to go. It felt like he was trapped, like he was a prisoner, but if he didn't do something, if he didn't keep moving… he was going to be here forever.
A sniffle.
"Hello?" Ace called. He strained his ears to listen for something, anything. There it was again! "Kaiya?! Where the hell are you?" His voice echoed back to him. "...are you? Are you? Are you?"
He took a few uneasy steps forward. The sniffling was growing louder.
"...stop!" said a tiny voice. An angry voice. "Stop! You'll hurt him!"
"Who cares? It's just a dumb animal!"
A distant light. Ace ran towards the light and saw… a girl. Skinny, with rectangular glasses and a thin nose. She had a mean sneer on her face and a squirrel in her hands. Ace could hear girls screaming. He could hear a baby crying.
"Stop!"
"Kira, quit!"
"You're hurting him!"
Her hands squeezed tighter and tighter. The animal struggled in her grasp, frantically clawing at her hands… the girl simply looked on as the animal scratched at her, but she didn't make any indication of feeling the pain… and then the little creature stopped moving. The girl mercilessly threw it on the ground.
"Kira!"
"How could you?"
"You made Kaiya cry!"
Kira wiped her hands on the front of her dress and turned away. "It's called survival of the fittest for a reason," she said. "That's what happens when you're weak. Remember it."
The vision faded. He ran towards another light in the distance
"Wanna cracker?" The voice was small.
"Mommy, can Kaiya have crackers?" This one, too, was tiny but different.
"Yes, honey, just be careful. Girls, not too big of one, please." This voice was warm. A mother's voice. But how did he know that?
"Ya Ya, here." A small girl with black hair and gold eyes smiled. Her curly hair was in two pig tails. She broke a cracker in half and held it out. Ace could see two chubby brown hands reach for it. This was… trust. This was what it meant to trust someone. To have someone help you without asking for anything in return...
"Good job, Kaiya!" Another girl said as she clapped. Her curly ringlets were pulled into a singular ponytail. The girls looked exactly the same… but one had glasses. The other didn't. Twins.
"Mama, mama, mama! She likes them!"
"Want another, Ya Ya?"
"Ya Ya cacker!" The girls giggled and held out more food.
"Not too much, my loves, she's still little."
"She's hungry, mama."
"We're hungry, too, mama."
"I know," said the voice. It was so kind… sympathetic. "I know, my little loves. Daddy will be home soon, okay? Just hang in there. It won't be too long…"
The image swirled and went away. Ace looked and he could see… hundreds of lights in the distance. He took a few cautious steps towards the next one. These memories… he didn't know how he knew they were memories… but he knew they weren't his.
Someone sniffled in the distance. Seriously, where was that coming from?
"You want this? Huh?"
"Back!" came the indignant cry. "Want BACK!"
"Ha ha, you can't have it!" Kira stuck her tongue out and held the doll away. "Stupid baby."
"GIVE ME BACK!" Ace could feel her anger rising as well as his own. He could see through Kaiya's eyes as she tottered towards the older girl. "WANT DOLLY BACK!"
Kira smiled wickedly. Her eyes glimmered behind her sharp black glasses. The toy was held just above Kaiya's head as she reached… craned…
An ear piercing cry echoed so loud Ace thought he was going to go deaf. Thunderous footsteps. Parents. A mom and a dad. All he could see were feet.
"Mama, Dada! Kira mean!"
"Jaeger D. Kira, you share that right now!"
"Kira," said a deep voice. "Honey, you can't be mean to your little sister like that."
"She can have the stupid thing," came the cold response. "I didn't want it, anyway."
Ace walked through and watched the memories play out in front of him. He felt like… an intruder. Like he had stumbled into some place he shouldn't be, except he didn't know how to get out. The memories fascinated him. Some were funny. Some sad. Others made his blood boil. Yet some… made him feel like he knew what it was like to have a family. Ace closed his eyes. He felt like a fly on the wall, eavesdropping on conversations not meant for his ears.
"...and then the ship vanished," the girl said in a low, spooky voice, "never to be seen in the Grand Line again. Some say… if you go to that sea, you can still hear the sound of their musician's violin…"
"Kina, that's a little too scary for a bedtime story."
"Oh, shut up, Krystal, is not!"
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"My, my," said a warm voice. Mother's. "What are you girls still doing up?"
"Well, we just wanted to wait until daddy got home."
"Yeah, mama, can't we please stay up?"
"Please, please, pretty puh-leeeeease?"
The woman sighed. "Girls, I don't know how long it'll be. Your father could be gone all night."
"But he said he was gonna give us kisses before bed."
"Well, how about I give you kisses now and then I'll make sure your father stops in as soon as he gets home, okay?"
"Promise?"
"I promise."
The sniffling was so loud Ace could have sworn someone was right next to him.
"Ace?"
He turned around and there was…
"Kaiya?"
She wiped her face and stood up. "Where are we?" she asked.
Ace frowned. "I… I dunno." He turned back. All of the little lights were gone. All the memories had disappeared and there was just darkness… and her.
Kaiya sniffled. Ace dropped to his knees. "You were sick," he said, examining her face and neck. No redness. He quickly grabbed her hand. No bite mark.
Kaiya looked up at him with worry in her eyes. "Did I die? Did you die?"
Ace shook his head. "No… I don't think so…" He helped Kaiya pull herself to standing. The held hands and stared into the darkness together. She squeezed his hand. He squeezed back.
"We have to get out of here," he said. "Do you know how?"
Kaiya shook her head. Ace looked for something… anything…
"There!" Just like before, a flurry of white appeared. It was like a million tiny insects moving together. The light zoomed around them and pulled their clothing, their hair. They walked but the flurry pushed them faster, faster, faster. They ran until the solidity beneath them collapsed. They were falling, falling… until they weren't.
Lights appeared all around them. It was overwhelming. Images swirled. Kaiya and Ace looked up in wonder as their memories flashed before them, tangled together. Baterilla. Gosa. Cocoyasi. Goa. Landscapes and scenes intertwined and melted in one another. Tropical beaches… a warm inn full of rowdy guests… a dirty tavern full of shady looking characters… a tangerine farm with trees as far as the eye could see… the filth of the Grey Terminal…
Kaiya took a step closer to Ace and grabbed his arm with both her hands. He could feel the pressure… feel the fear as she squeezed him.
People appeared. Somehow, they eaknew everyone by role if not by name. Their memories were like a collection of knowledge. Kaiya suddenly knew things she hadn't known about foraging, hunting, fighting… Ace felt like his mind had expanded. Music, art, and dance… he suddenly understood things he didn't before.
Their minds felt like it was melting into one. Their memories swirled tighter together and tangled up. The strawberry blond woman with freckles. A tall, dark man with wavy hair and a kind smile. The blond boy with his navy blue hat.
The children looked at each other with wide eyes. It was like they had spent their entire lives together. Ace felt like he had received an entirely new group of memories. It was like everything Kaiya had lived and experienced had been poured into him. Did she… did she feel the same thing?
Memories of fire and flames appeared before them both. Kaiya gasped and turned towards Ace. Fear. Dread. Her emotions mixed with his and something possessed him. Ace took Kaiya in his arms as she cried. He hugged her tight. She buried her face in his neck and he rested his head on hers. He watched her memories play out before him like a show. The questions he had never asked… answered in that instant. He held her and silently watched the pirates holding her mother at gun point. He could feel her heart beating rapidly as she stood between the man and her mother, her tiny limbs out as if she could stop the violence.
He felt the heat as flames licked the walls. Felt someone strong push her away.
"Kaiya, get out of here!"
"But everybody else is still-"
"I'll get them!"
"But, but-"
"NOW!"
Kaiya shook her head and the memories seemed to fast forward to another time. Ace could feel Kaiya's hands tight on his clothes, pulling him close, holding on for dear life. Voices echoed around them. They were growing louder. The lights were glowing brighter.
"You should have died in that fire," Kira said coldly.
The man at the bar slapped his knee. "Ha! Roger? If he had a kid, he woulda been a demon… just like his dad."
"This is Foosha Village," Garp said. "This is where you'll be living from now on."
"That damn kid," Dadan growled. "He's a devil."
Ryoku snarled, "You don't know what it means to suffer."
It was like there was a tornado raging around them but the wind and debris were memories instead. Everything was picking up speed, blurring together. Ace had the thought that his soul wasn't his own. It was like he was sharing consciousness with someone else. The cacophony of voices was so loud. So overwhelming. He was losing track of the them all… he didn't know who was who… there were just too many...
"You think I don't care about you?"
"Fucking kid has issues… who knows what's wrong with him?"
"Shut up, cry baby."
"So you want to know about Roger, huh?"
"Mommy and daddy aren't here to save you anymore!"
"It's hopeless. I can't raise him. I give up!"
"We might have the same parents..."
"I didn't ask you to take him. I'm telling you to."
"...but we'll never be sisters."
Ace grit his teeth. He thought his head would split open. Kaiya's grip loosened. She was sinking to her knees. Her eyes were rolling back. Half of the memories were fading. Some of the voices were quieting. Ace's heart was pounding. It felt like… like he was dying.
"Hey! Hey!" Ace yanked her up. "Don't do that. Stay with me." She groaned and her eyes opened slightly. Some of the memories became brighter. His memories.
"My head hurts," she said in a small voice. "I'm tired. So tired."
"Don't go to sleep!" Ace shook her. "Not yet. We gotta get out of here."
"It's too much," she whispered. "It hurts too much." The lights flashed on and off. Visions became hazy and Ace could feel the world crumbling around him.
"Kaiya! Don't you dare! Don't fucking give up!" Memories faded left and right. It was like a film reel with sections slowly going dark.
"...I just want to go home," Kaiya whimpered.
"I know," Ace said. "We'll go home. Together, okay? I'll take you home."
"You will?"
"Yes," Ace said. "I'll… I'll find a way to get us both out of here. Just trust me, okay?"
"Okay," she whispered. "I trust you." Kaiya closed her eyes serenely. She went limp in Ace's arms. He gently laid her down on her back. Everything around was slowly fading. Ace closed his eyes. He focused on his memories. The voices he knew. The pictures he knew belonged to him. The bandit's hut. The snow. It was slowly coming back. Kaiya convulsing on the floor. Her cold hand in his.
"Help me." It was Kaiya's voice… the loudest whisper he had ever heard echoed all around him. "Please."
"I will!" Ace screamed. "I will!"
"Ace," she said, sobbing. "It hurts."
"Kaiya?" He looked down and she was gone. Ace pulled his hair. He had to get out of here… had to get home… or he was going to go crazy.
"Please, Ace," she whispered.
"Kaiya!" Ace screamed. He wasn't going to die here. Fuck that. No… he was going to get out no matter what! He felt a force pulling him up and away. Where was she?! He was slowly being sucked of this world and back to the bandit's hut. "I'll save you! I promise! Kaiya! Kaiyaaa!"
"Oh!" Dadan gasped. Ace tumbled backwards and collapsed onto his rear. He was breathing hard. His heart felt like it was racing a mile a minute.
"Ace!" Dogra was shaking his shoulders. "Ace! Are you okay?"
Ace blinked and touched his head. It felt so hot.
"Kaiya," he gasped. "Is she-"
"She's waking up," Magra said quietly.
Ace crawled forward and placed a hand on her. Kaiya groaned and her eyes fluttered open. She looked exhausted… but she was still alive.
Her eyes met his and they shared a moment of silence. They both needed a second to comprehend whatever the hell had just happened.
"Are you okay?" Magra asked her softly.
Kaiya didn't look away from Ace. "...yes," she said. Her keen eyes moved along his face, taking in his dark, wavy hair, observing his freckles as if she'd never seen them before. Or, perhaps, like she was seeing him in a new light for the first time.
Ace was silent, too. He really didn't know what to say. It was like… she had seen into every second of his life. Every embarrassing moment, every failure, every let down… she knew them all.
But it was a two way street.
He had seen into her memories, too. He had seen the twins, the sisters she so dearly loved. He saw her parents and her darling little brother, Ian. He knew about her heartless older sister, Kira. He felt the love she felt for her mother, the pure admiration for her hardworking father. He watched her life go up in flames and he felt her pain and heartbreak as if it had happened to him.
He looked down at her and gave a nod. Ever so slightly, Kaiya returned it. He didn't know what the hell happened… but they had an understanding. Their entire lives had been laid out on the table, all of his sins, all of her shortcomings. They had shared something more surreal and intimate than they had ever thought possible.
"Kaiya," Magra said calmly. "I think you should take it easy."
"...okay," Kaiya said. She finally looked away from Ace. Her eyes closed. "I'm so tired," she whispered.
"Get some rest," Magra said soothingly.
"Okay," she murmured.
Ace stood and began to walk to his bedroom.
"Hey," Dadan said. "What the hell just-"
"I don't want to talk about it," he mumbled. Ace ascended the ladder to his room. His body went on autopilot as he retrieved his bed but his mind was still racing. He was suddenly exhausted, too, never mind the fact it was broad daylight. He collapsed onto his futon and closed his eyes, willing his heart to stop pounding.
Jaeger D. Kaiya…
The girl had more heartache than he thought possible. Ace clutched his chest as sleep claimed him. He had never known what it was to have a family… he still didn't. But he knew what it felt like to miss one. Just what he needed… pain that wasn't his own.
. . . . . . . . . . xX - L - I - N - E ~ B - R - E - A - K - Xx. . . . . . . . . .
Goa Kingdom Girls Academy, Earlier That Year
"Kaiya," Botan sighed. "You gotta quit this shit. Stand up for yourself." The redhead frowned as she gently touched the cotton ball to Kaiya's forehead.
Kaiya hissed in pain. She clutched her bedsheets tightly. "There were three of them," she mumbled. Her school uniform was wrinkled and dirty from the scuffle. "And they were all older." Her eyes watched leaves fall off the trees. Yellows and orange and red as dazzling as her best friend's fiery locks. "I couldn't do anything if I wanted to." Kaiya began to pull away.
"Stay still," Botan barked. The prodding continued and Kaiya bit her lip every time the alcohol grazed her skin. Her friend placed a small bandage on her head and then rearranged Kaiya's dark bangs so no one could see the wound.
"Jeez. What the hell am I gonna do with you?" Botan asked with her arms crossed. Kaiya looked down in shame. "Seriously, if someone screws with you, you gotta do something about it."
"Like what?" Kaiya asked dryly. "Fight and get expelled?"
"Oh my God. Your grades are damn near perfect, you're not gonna get expelled."
"You don't know that," Kaiya said with a frown.
"Well, I do know that you don't stick up for yourself, this shit's just gonna keep happening," Botan said as she flicked Kaiya in the forehead. "You wanna be bullied all through school, huh?"
"OW! That hurt!" Kaiya said angrily. Botan smiled wickedly. Flick.
"Quit it!" Kaiya growled. Flick.
"I mean it!" Kaiya warned. FLICK.
Kaiya roared and swung. Botan grabbed her wrist in the air and squeezed. There was a devious smirk on the redhead's face. Her emerald eyes were sparkling. "Now that's what I'm talkin' about!"
Botan let go of Kaiya's wrist. The smaller girl frowned and rubbed the sore skin.
"That's the fire I wanna see! Kaiya, when someone fucks with you, do that! Punch 'em in the throat! Kick 'em in the nuts! Do something!"
"We go to an all girls school," Kaiya muttered. "No one has nuts." She plopped backwards on her bed and gave a defeated sigh. "Besides… fighting… that's so you," she said quietly, staring at the ceiling. "Not me. I'm not a fighter."
The redhead plopped down beside her. "No," Botan said as she leaned back. "But you could be."
Kaiya raised an eyebrow. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I'm gonna teach you how to fight."
"...why would you do that?" Kaiya asked.
"Because no best friend of mine's gonna be a chump."
Kaiya snorted. "Botan, I don't think-"
"Girl, trust me," Botan said. "When I'm through with you, you're gonna be a bad little bitch." She grinned dangerously. Kaiya swallowed. She didn't like the look her friend had on her face. "Just watch."
. . . . . . . . . . xX - L - I - N - E ~ B - R - E - A - K - Xx. . . . . . . . . .
Mt. Colubo, Present Day
Kaiya groaned. Her head felt like someone had hit her right on the temple. She tried to blink the sleep from her eyes but her vision was still blurry. She knew two things, though: 1) she was in an unfamiliar building and 2) there was something very hot behind her. It almost felt like a…
The scream was ear piercing. It sent every bandit within the vicinity rushing back into the hut. A small crowd had formed at the entrance with more trying to shove their way in to see the commotion.
"G-get her!" someone cried.
Kaiya jumped up. The blanket that had previously covered her was tossed into the fire. Instead of going out, it simply caused sparks before it began to quickly burn. The flame was twice as big as it had been. Heat licked at her face and hands. Another shriek and Kaiya began to pedal backwards until she hit… something.
"Hey!" The bandit had a mean look on his face.
Her lungs let out another shrill cry as she kicked the man right in between his legs. The stranger groaned and fell face first onto the wooden floor.
"Stop!"
"Grab her!"
Before Kaiya knew it, there were men on all sides of her, and they were closing in fast. Her heart was racing. She was just waiting for the fire to rage out of control. Soon pillars of fire would surround them all and they'd quickly forget about her as they ran for their very lives…
A large hand grabbed her arm. Kaiya threw the thought of germs out the window and bit down on the man's arm as hard as she possibly could. He howled in pain and instinctively shoved her away. Another man wrapped his arms around her waist. She dug her nails deep into his skin and pulled.
Kaiya was dropped onto the floor. Someone lunged. She rushed and head butted the man right in his nose. He pinched his bloody nostrils backed up, tripping over the unfortunate bandit behind him.
"Gah! Little bitch!"
Kaiya quickly crawled between one bandit's legs. He grabbed onto a sock-covered foot. The sock slipped off her and Kaiya shoved her bare heel up and into his groin. Adrenaline coursed through her veins. She was too busy to notice the three faces she was most familiar with. Their jaws dropped open in shock.
Dadan, Magra, and Dogra all stared as the bandits tried (unsuccessfully) to restrain the girl without hurting her.
One man grabbed the girl by the sweater. She plopped onto the floor with a painful thud and the clothing slipped over head. When another tried to get her into a bear hug, she used two fingers and poked them into his eyes.
No one saw Ace watching from the loft. His eyes were wide open at the spectacle. He had been woken up by the sudden commotion. He didn't expect to see Kaiya, of all people, fighting with the bandits and… winning. Sure, she had no concept of form. She fought dirty but damn, she was fierce.
"Magra!" Dadan snapped.
"Got it!" The large man pushed his way through the crowd and grabbed Kaiya from behind. One arm looped around her neck and lifted her. He struggled as the girl shrieked and kicked at his privates. Her hands slapped his face, clawed his cheeks. Magra squeezed his eyes shut as her tiny fingers tried to find his delicate sockets.
A moment later and she went limp in his arms. Magra could feel fresh scratches on his cheeks. The bandits all breathed a sigh of relief as the young girl was finally subdued.
"What the hell happened?!" Dadan demanded.
"Boss, she just- she just-"
"She freaked out!"
"One minute shes sleepin'," one bandit tried to explain, "the next she's throw in' shit and run in' 'round screamin' like a banshee!"
"Damn near took m'eye out!"
The injured men all spoke over another. It was hard to make out what anyone was saying.
"Kaiya?" Dogra asked skeptically. If he hadn't seen it, he never would have believed it. "But why?"
"Shit, you think I know?"
"Li'l girl was bundled up all warm and toasty by the fire then - BAM - tiny succubus!"
"Wait!" Dadan said quickly. Magra was in the middle of placing her down when he froze. "Get her away the hearth. Put her in the bedroom."
"...but she's-"
"Just DO IT, DAMN IT!" Dadan roared.
The bandits hurried back to whatever tasks they were supposed to be doing and Ace quietly slipped back into his bedroom. He left his sliding door open and laid down on his bed, which had been left out from the night before.
"Boss…" he heard Magra said beneath him.
"Keep her warm," the woman snapped. "And make sure this damn door stays closed so we don't have a repeat of last time."
"...Viola said her sister perished in a fire," Dogra recounted sadly. "According to her, Kaiya woke up and the first thing she knew…"
Magra sighed and rubbed his neck. "Poor kid."
"She has a scar," Dadan said in a hushed tone. Ace pressed his ear to the floor to hear the conversation below. "…runs from the bottom of her neck to the top of her tailbone… lost her family in a fire… almost lost her life, too…"
"No wonder she reacted the way she did," Magra said sadly.
Dadan groaned and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "We'll have to be more careful."
Dogra chuckled. The small man's frame shook as he laughed.
"What's so funny?" Dadan snapped.
"Well, it's just… look at her." Dogra and the other two watched the girl sleep. She was gently snoring. A dark little angel with long lashes and upturned eyes. "Who woulda thought Viola's little princess could do something like that?"
"You're right," Dadan said. "I didn't think she had it in her."
Magra smiled. "Guess she has more of her aunt than we originally thought."
. . . . . . . . . . xX - L - I - N - E ~ B - R - E - A - K - Xx. . . . . . . . . .
Kaiya opened her eyes slowly. She was in a dark room… and the blankets piled on top of her were heavy. She could hear the sound of talking and clinking silverware in the next room over.
She felt… utterly disgusting. She could still taste vile liquid in her mouth. She had to get up… wash her mouth… eat something… use the bathroom. She quietly slid the wooden door open just a hair. One gold eye peaked out and watched the bandits chatting and arguing over bowls of steaming liquid. Kaiya opened the bedroom door all the way and nervously walked towards the fire, where Dadan was sitting. When the large woman saw Kaiya, she placed her cup of tea down with a loud clunk. "Alright, kid, you've got some questions to answer." Kaiya stiffened and gave a single nod. She was an intruder in their home. That much was fair. "What the hell are you doing here? Why aren't you at home?" Dadan's voice was loud - loud enough to scare away a small rabbit who had curiously wandered towards the hut. Kaiya simply winced at the volume; there was a persistent pounding in her temple. The woman's barking certainly didn't help ease the pain. She stared into Dadan's eyes, internally debating on how to answer.
"...I ran away." Kaiya's voice was but a whisper. Her fingernails dug into her palms. Her eyes were trained steadily downward, avoiding Dadan's stern gaze.
Dadan clicked her tongue. "Why?"
This answer had come just as slowly. Kaiya's thumbs circled each other. She shot a nervous glance at Dadan and then back down… like something bad might happen if she stared too long.
"My aunt…" The tears came quickly and quietly. Kaiya's voice was small before she broke down. She buried her face in her hands and choked back sobs. They wracked her shoulders, caused her to take shuddering breaths. Dadan felt a tight knit form in the pit of her stomach.
"Your aunt what?" Dadan asked. Her voice was low, level, though it threatened to rise due to her nerves. The large woman was aware of the heart thud-thud-thudding in her chest. The organ seemingly had a mind of its own. It beat with a singular goal and that was apparently to burst out of her body.
"...she… she… died."
"What?!" Dadan felt like someone had gripped her throat. The bandits had gone silent. Every head had swiveled in Dadan's direction. The invisible hand only tightened as the young girl broke down in a fresh wave of tears.
Dadan idly wondered if the girl's abilities had come in full swing now that her aunt was gone… the rumors said only one woman at a time had the ability to look into the future and the past. Jaeger D. Shih had been the first one she heard of. After she passed, her eldest inherited the ability. Now that Viola was gone… well, there was a 50/50 chance the gift had gone to the young girl in front of her.
Ace gulped and quietly poked his head back into his room. Dinner smelled nice but he found, oddly enough, that he didn't quite have an appetite. He slid the door closed so slowly no one would notice and walked to his window… when a few silent tears streamed down his cheeks as well.
"Damn it," he whispered. Ace used the back of his hand to quickly wipe them away.
The older woman's face appeared in his mind. He could still see her sitting in front of the fire, cheeks flushed, grinning in a goofy sort of way as her eyes focused on something beyond this time and place.
He flashed back to the very first time he'd met her. He thought she would've exploded when she found him in her kitchen almost three years ago. But the woman simply dismissed him and turned her back. He had gratefully scarfed his face with the remains of their dinner... It was a quiet thing but it spoke volumes about her character.
How many times had he snuck into that large wooden home? She wasn't an idiot… leaving the same window open every day. A few times he had even watched as she came home and looked at all the food that had previously been sitting on her table. She almost seemed rather pleased that someone could eat everything she cooked; her husband tended to leave quite a lot of leftovers. The only time he had seen her upset was when she baked a cherry pie… and it had been the only thing he didn't touch.
Viola was kind in a quiet way. Her words from just days ago rang in his head. It was almost like… almost like she knew she wasn't going to be around anymore. Ace shivered when he thought about the way she had sucked him in and looked into the past. He wondered if she could see into the future, too…?
You can't have a rainbow without a little rain…
Ace clutched his head. Damn it. It just… didn't seem right. He had just seen her. He could still see her eyes behind those round glasses. She was just here, laughing with Dadan, telling stories of the Grand Line… he could still feel her long arms around him, smell her light perfume…
...you can't find happiness without a little pain.
The boy pulled on his dark hair. It wasn't fair… she was one of the few people who had shown him genuine kindness… one of the few people to show him affection and now she was…?
Be strong…
The tears were darkening the wood floor. Ace punched the floor once. Twice. Three times. Why? Why did such a good person have to go like that?
…things will get better.
Ace's nails were hurting his scalp. He wiped the snot and tears on his sleeve. Damn it! They just wouldn't stop. The old lady was just fucking here. It had only been a week since he saw her but...
It may be stormy now…
Ace took a deep breath. Snow was beginning to fall in large, gentle flakes. He once recalled Magra once saying a foot of snow would have produced a little over an inch of rain. If it weren't the winter… it would have been a downpour.
...but it can't rain forever.
"You're high," Ace said angrily. The woman simply laughed.
Ace squeezed his eyes shut. He could still see her leaning towards him… still feel her warm kiss in the middle of his forehead. There was so much love in that small motion. More love than he had felt in a long, long time…
"One day, dear," Viola whispered, "you will have more love than you ever imagined."
He didn't believe her. How could he? Love wasn't something his life had a lot of, after all. The only person who truly loved him died right after he was born. Dadan didn't give a shit about him… and neither did any of the other bandits. He was just a tool to them. Just another mouth to feed. But in that moment… Viola loved him. Ace clutched his chest. He could feel in the way she spoke, the way her eyes sparkled when she looked at him. She had a mother's heart… the only thing she had been missing was a child. Did she have some strange psychic ability? Could she really see his future… or was she just blowing smoke? More love than he ever imagined… Ace laughed humorlessly. It was too good to be true. But she seemed so convinced… he could still see her deep, honey eyes and her warm smile.
"You just wait."
. . . . . . . . . . xX - L - I - N - E ~ B - R - E - A - K - Xx. . . . . . . . . .
"So what?" Dadan asked, feigning indifference. The words sounded cold, even to Dadan's own ears."You think I wanna take in another snot-nosed brat?!" Kaiya dropped her eyes as the woman continued.
"This is Mt. Colubo, not the magical little village you live in. If you want to survive you gotta work and it ain't gonna be pretty, princess," the woman spat. Dadan crossed her arms and stared the little girl down. "If you wanna stay you gotta earn your keep. No work, no food! That's how we operate here."The girl nodded once. Dadan pushed her plate towards Kaiya. It had a chunk of partially eaten meat on it.
"Eat up. You better enjoy today…" Dadan said as she stood up. "...because tomorrow I'm putting you through hell."
The girl gulped. Perhaps this hadn't been the best decision to… No. It was. It was the only decision. Her uncle's voice rang in her head: "You don't know fear… little thorn in my side… spoiled little brat."
Kaiya's eyes hardened. This wasn't going to be fun… and it certainly wasn't going to be pretty. She could feel it already. But on the other hand, if she survived this… she could survive anything.
"Here." A bandit handed Kaiya a bundle of blankets. "Gonna be cold tonight," he said. Kaiya thanked him and gave a bow. She automatically turned towards the loft, where she had slept last time.
"Where do you think you're going?" Dadan asked.
Kaiya paused and turned. "The bedroom."
Dadan gave her a mean smile. Kaiya could see the lipstick on her dried lips. "Uh uh uh," the woman said, wagging a fat finger. "You don't get to sleep in the warm loft yet. You gotta earn it."
"...where am I supposed to sleep?" Kaiya asked with a frown.
Dadan's eyes wandered. There were really only two bedrooms. Other than the large living area, there was just the foyer and… she nodded towards the storage room. "You can sleep in there."
Kaiya's shoulders slumped. She remembered the storage room… she had helped Uncle Ryo and the bandits fill it last time she came. It was small and cramped… and downright filthy.
"Don't even think about complaining," Dadan said darkly, "or you can take your pretty little princess ass all the way back home."
This made Kaiya straighten. She clutched the thin blankets and strode past the fire, past Dadan, and opened the storage room door. Shelves dominated the room. There was barely enough space for someone to put their hands out at their sides…
Kaiya bit her lip and fought the thoughts creeping into her head. This was… disgusting. This was not a proper bedroom. She shouldn't be sleeping in this filth…
Spoiled little girl.
She angrily spread the blanket as best she could. Kaiya unrolled the futon and laid down on the musty sheets. She could see a thick layer of dust and a few cobwebs from her vantage point. The bandits laughed and talked on the other side of the wall.
No. Kaiya sniffled and wiped her eyes. No tears!
This was nothing. Just a little bit of dirt… possibly a few spiders… and hopefully that was all. Kaiya clenched the sheets. She had almost three weeks until she had to go back to school. All she had to do was last until then…
Then she'd just start staying at the academy on the weekends. Botan and Chrissy would probably let her stay with them if need be. She'd work at the restaurant to pay for the additional room and board fees. She'd even help out on Botan's family farm if she had to. Two and a half weeks. She just had to survive until then… and everything else would work out just fine.
Two and a half weeks…
Kaiya squeezed her eyes shut. She could make it. She had to make it. What other choice did she have?