Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, that right belongs to the talented Rumiko Takahashi; nor do I own One Piece, that right belongs to Eiichiro Oda.
They had reached Raftel. It had not been what any of them had expected as they made their way into the largest building on the island. It looked like it had been a palace once. And was still the only building that was standing, as if time had not touched it. But that was not what was holding their attention. No, it had been the fact that there had been fog inside of it as they walked down the halls.
Every so often, they had stopped as the fog became a thick wall. A wall that had replayed each member of the crew's most precious memory. A memory where they had made a promise that had set them on their path in life. It was starting with the newest crew member, Jinbei. Then it went to Brook, Franky, Robin, Chopper, Sanji, Usopp, Nami, and last Zorro. It had been a real eye-opener for them. And painful to relive that moment of the person.
But now, they were watching as their Captain's most important promise was being played before their eyes. And it wasn't what any of them had thought. They'd each thought it would have to do with either a promise to Luffy's brother Ace or Shanks. Instead, it was something entirely else. And from the way they saw Luff tilted his head to the side, he was just as confused.
"Good evening Luffy!" A cheery female voice said as they saw a small, long raven-haired girl sitting on the end of the dock.
This had a very young Luffy pausing and puffing up his cheeks in irritation. It was cute.
"How do you always do that?" young Luffy asked.
"You really want to know?" the young girl asked.
"Yes, I do," Young Luffy stated.
At that point, the girl stood up and turned towards Luffy. She was shorter by a few inches. But the look in those large, deep blue eyes said she held wisdom far beyond her ears. A devilish smile was turning pink lips upwards as she walked until she stood before the small version of Luffy.
"It's a secret," she said, her voice teasing.
The shock that showed on the younger version of their Captain's face looked like it did right at that moment. His expression highly confused as if he didn't even recall this memory.
"That's not fair!" young Luffy groused.
There was silence for a few seconds as the girl turned and looked back out at the moonlit ocean. Her hands were fisted in the skirt of her dress.
"Hey, Luffy. What do you think makes a good Captain?" she asked, her voice soft, curious.
Again silence followed before the little version of Luffy replied simplistically, "Someone strong, so that they can protect their crew. Just like Shanks."
When the girl looked over her shoulder, her eyes wide, but a sad smile graced her face this time. It was as if there was something that was not being said.
"What about you? What do you think will make a good Captain?" Little Luffy asked, his feet moving until he stood just behind her. A safe distance from the edge of the pier.
"Hmm, well, Luffy, I think that strength is good. But I think what makes a good Captain is someone kind, understanding, and willing to do anything for them. Who knows each of his crew, because they will be traveling with them. They won't just be the Captain Crew," she said. The wistfulness in her voice oddly out of place for one so young.
Young Luffy tilted his head in that manner that bespoke his confusion. His eyes squinting shut as he thought about what was said though it was apparent that the girl's words were profound.
"I don't get it. Why wouldn't they just be the Captain's crew? And why would a captain has to be all that stuff? Isn't it kinda mushy?" Little Luffy asked.
A quiet giggle came from the girl as she shook her head as she tilted it up to look at the night sky.
"Nah. It isn't mushy, Luffy. I think a good Captain should always be aware of the feelings of his crew. Because going to those lengths proves he is loyal to his crew. That they can trust him. And if they do that, then they are a team, friends, and, most importantly, a family. The Captain is like... a father... if you will," she said, spinning to turn and look at Luff, who stepped back at her sudden movement.
It was evident by the way the little Luffy looked as his face went from stubborn in defiance of what the girl said, to wide-eyed in understanding, he figured out what she was saying. It lets them all know just why he was the way he was too. But they wondered where the promise was.
"Oh, that is a good point," he said, wonder in his voice. "Hey, do you have a wish or dream you want to come true? My dream is to be the King of Pirates."
The way the girl's eyes darkened as she looked sad as she nodded in answer to his question.
"Well, tell me what your dream is. Come on!" Young Luffy pushed, sounding excited.
"I wish to be truly free," she whispered.
This had the smaller version of Luffy pausing, as well as all of them.
"That is different, -!" Young Luffy said the girl's name blanked out. "How about this, we both promise to meet again when we both get our dreams. Me being Pirate King, and you to be free, -."
The way the girls' eyes widened in her oval face as her bottom lip shook as she tried to smile — pain reflecting in the depths of her blue eyes.
"Luffy, that is rather... impossible, right? I mean, who can say when you will accomplish your dream," she said.
"I am turning seven tomorrow, -. So in ten years, I will set out to sea and do it," Young Luffy said, puffing out his chest and looking extremely confident.
This had a sweet laugh coming from the girl as she stepped fully into Luffy's space. Grabbing his hat from his head and placing a kiss on the corner of his lips. All while Little Luffy looked highly flustered and indignant. His hands were grabbing for the straw hat that she was keeping from him as they watched her slip something into the red strip of cloth around it, before handing it back.
"Fine, it is a promise. Sealed with a kiss," the girl said, as she chuckled as Luffy slammed the hat back onto his head and pulled it over his very red ears.
The scene vanished as they looked at their Captain, who had very red ears as he pulled the hat from his head. His gaze focused on the hat as he ran his fingers around the red band, stopping only to pull it and remove what was under there. Something that had been there for twelve years unnoticed by him.
Crowding closer, they watched as he took the piece of paper and unfolded it, revealing writing on the back. 'My favorite moment from the last year. K.H.' was written on it. She was leaving them curious until their Captain turned it over, revealing a picture of Luffy as a child asleep on the girl's shoulder, as she held up a book with a very distinctive title, as she looked at Luffy with a gentle smile that spoke volumes to all of them.
"How... did I forget that promise?" Luffy muttered aloud.
They smartly stayed quiet, knowing that he hadn't asked any of them in particular. He was stunned as he stared at that picture from his past.
It was a few minutes more before the fog wall dissipated and beckoned them towards the large ornate double doors at the end of the hallway. Each wondering if that was where the One Piece was hidden away as they followed their Captain as he marched stoically towards the doors. His stride was confident.
When they reached, it took all of them to open the double doors, revealing a large room that had more of the fog rolling across the ground. It seemed to be alive as it moved out of their path, leading them to a dais that had two thrones on it, tons of treasure scattered around, and a large pinkish colored crystal with something in its center atop it.
As they approached, the crystal began to shine until they came to a stop at the small staircase that led up to the dais. This was their Captain's dream to become the Pirate King by claiming One Piece. So, they all felt that he should have the right to climb the stairs and get it.
Watching as Luffy did, his hand reaching out to the strange glowing crystal. Only to close their eyes as the light flared brightly, sending warmth washing over their bodies.
"Welcome to Raftel Seafarers. I am One Piece," A much older and mature version of the little girl's voice rang out as a shocked gasp came from their Captain. Causing them all to open their eyes to see a teenage version of the blue-eyed, raven-haired child. A mischievous smirk dancing on her lips.
"Is this a joke?" Usopp spoke up.
The way the girl turned her gaze to their crewmate was a bit disconcerting before a sweet-sounding laugh rang out in the large room. Her head was shaking back and forth.
"No, Usopp, this is not a joke. I am real. What you saw is real," she said, as her gaze turned back to their Captain, who was just staring in shock.
"Than can you explain how you are One Piece, and where someone that knew our Captain as a child, while being a child yourself?" Robin asked, her voice showing her curiosity very clearly.
The smile that the girl flashed them all was almost blinding as she laughed again.
"Gladly. You can thank Gol D. Roger for that one. I have been here since the war that is now known as the blank Era. I have always lived here for thousands of years. Unchanging and unaging, until he made it here with his crew," she said. "I asked him if he had any wish I could grant that didn't bring people back to life, kill someone, or make them fall in love with him. He told me that I couldn't give him the one thing he wanted. That it was something he had to do on his own."
When she paused, her eyes glazing as if recalling the memory of it. They all realized what she said right then and there. That she could grant a wish within some guidelines, of course. Their eyes were turning to look at their Captain, who was still looking at the girl.
"What was it that you couldn't help him with?" Chopper asked, his voice squeaking as the girl looked at him, causing him to 'hide' behind Zoro's legs.
"He wanted to be a father. A thing he got. But he did make a wish after talking for hours with me. He could not grant me what I wanted, but he found a way to give me something similar," she said, her lips pulling downwards as she let her gaze meet Luffy's. "I am sorry, I couldn't tell you then what I was. Who I was. And had to seal that memory away."
The small shake of Luffy's head was very telling.
"What did he wish, Kagome?" Luffy asked.
The slow blinking of her eyes as she just looked at their Captain for a long few minutes.
"To allow me to meet the one who would give me what I want most, my freedom," she said.
The collective gasp they gave at her words, as they saw tears form and spill from her eyes. There was so much pain, sadness, and loneliness in her eyes.
"So, how does Luffy give you what you want?" Jinbei asked.
Before the girl could respond, Luffy spoke up, "I can wish for anything. Anything at all? Including a fridge that would never run out of every kind of meat?"
They all had to keep from groaning at his question. Though the girl, Kagome, as Luffy called her, smiled, laughed, and nodded her head. A patient look on her face. One that spoke of acceptance and forgiveness no matter what happened.
"Awesome! Then I wish for you to be free, Kagome," Luffy said, lacing his fingers behind his neck.
The shock that coursed through each of them was shown clearly on the girl's face as that pinkish crystal glowed brightly once more, causing them to shut their eyes from the intensity of it. As the sound of something shattering rang through the room, followed by a soft thud and grunt of exertion.
"You are heavier than you look," Luffy said. "Join my crew, Kagome!"
Everyone snapped their eyes open to see that their Captain was now holding the girl in his arms as she leaned up at him. Face a mix between happy and pissed off. Of course, they knew that their Captain had no common sense when talking to women. And other than the very smitten Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, he was often getting hit for his innocent, non-insulting commentating towards women.
"Why do you want me to join?" Kagome asked.
"Because, You will be free to do as you please," Luffy stated.
This brought a smile to all their lips, though they wondered just what she was capable of, being several thousands of years old. As her sweet laughter filled the air again, seeming to dispel any apprehension that any of them might have felt.
"Do you not care what I can do? Or that I am not quite able to walk since it has been twelve years since I last did, Luffy?" she asked.
The simple No, from their Captain, had them all laughing alongside the girl, as she buried her face into their Captain's shoulder, shaking from her own.
THE END!