AN : Hi minna!!!
First of all, why Jimbei didn't recognise Koala?
Well, in this fic Jimbei didn't know Koala joined the Revolutionary Army. He even didn't know Koala run away from home after Fisher Tiger died. He thought Koala is happy living with her family after they bring Koala to her hometown.
For Koala, she feel guilty because she the reason Fisher Tiger died even though it isn't her fault. So, she still try to gain her courage to apologise to Jimbei hoping that Jimbei doesn't hate her.
So, if you all still have question about anything, I will try to explain to you all. If not on this author note, I will explain it in the chapter.Let's continue...
CHAPTER 23
Two days ago...
Zoro, Robin, Koala, Brook, Ussop, Franky and Jimbei sitting on the deck waiting for others to come back. They all feel worried about Luffy whereabout.
"Luffy, where did you go?" Ussop sighed. Brook constantly looking toward the figurehead. Jimbei notice him and look at the figurehead also.
"What is it Brook?" Jimbei asked looking at Brook with wonder.
"I thought I saw something there." Brook replied.
"Something?" Franky crocked his eyebrow.
"You saw what?" Koala asked with curiosity.
"There a child I didn't saw his face. Wearing a yellow sailor raincoat smiling at me." Brook answered making Zoro widen up his eyes.
"When?!" Zoro asked with panic earning other feel the same.
"Before we go searching for Luffy." Brook answered again. Zoro look at Robin, Franky and Ussop. He standing up and walk toward the figurehead.
"Are you sure Zoro?" Ussop said making other wonder. Zoro nod.
"Sunny, I know you hear us. You know where Luffy is are you?" Zoro said out loud.
"Sunny?" Jimbei, Brook and Koala wonder.
Sanji, Nami and Hack climb up to the deck and heard Zoro yell for Sunny. The three of them look at each other and walk toward where all of them sit.
"Oi, marimo! What are you shouting for?" Sanji asked in his usual way. Zoro just keep shouting Sunny name and ignore Sanji making him fuming angry.
"Oiii... Minna! Help us!" They all heard Chopper yelled. All of them run toward the rail and saw Chopper with the help of Law carrying someone injured with them. A tattoo of whitebeard proudly shown on his wounded back.
"Ace!" Jimbei said shocking with panic.
"We get him up to deck first and treated his wound." Law said. They help them to transport Ace to the deck. Ussop and Robin get the medical aid to the deck for Chopper and Law use.
"Where Luffy-ya?" Law asked after notice the rubber captain still missing. They all shake their head except for Nami, Sanji and Hack.
"We did found some information." Hack broke the silence.
"What did you mean?" Koala asked.
"That rubber idiot captain really have a lady luck. Some of the fishermen saw him sneak into one of the supply barrel for the Whitebeard. They saw the Whitebeard crew carried him into the boat and heading toward the Whitebeard ship." Sanji explained.
"That idiot!" Nami fuming angry with their captain. The other just sweat drop.
Suddenly the ship anchor pulled up. The ship start rocking toward the sea and sail away making all of them shocked disbelieve with what have just happen.
"Who control the ship?" Franky panicked.
"We all here and there are no other beside us here." Ussop looked around with alarm. They all tense up until Zoro walk out from the group calmly toward the figurehead.
"You lead us toward him, are you Sunny?" Zoro said gently.
"You the one who talk with him that night, aren't you?" Zoro asked again making the others wonder.
A bubbling like whales sound echoing around them making all of them surprise. Ussop who know too well about the sound smile widely with tears in his eyes. Chopper also heard it and begin crying where Nami, Robin, Sanji and Franky smile with all heartedly.
"Don't worry minna... I lead you toward our captain..." The yellow raincoat figure dancing on the figurehead with a big smile.
"We count on you Sunny." Zoro said respectfully.
"Sunny!!!" Ussop and Chopper already hugging each other and crying out happily.
"Thank you, Sunny." Nami said smile toward Sunny. Franky pose his usual SUPER pose and thanking Sunny. Robin and Sanji just smile fondly toward Sunny.
The other beside Strawhat crew including Jimbei and Brook shocked looking at that figure. Brook's cane fall toward the floor. Law just seem amazed. Koala, Hack and Jimbei look toward the figure with shocked. Sunny smile toward them and disappear.
"Gh... Gh... Ghost!!!" Brook yelled and run toward Sanji back.
"That's not ghost." Ussop corrected Brook.
"What is it?" Jimbei asked.
"Sunny! That's Sunny!" Chopper answered happily. Law looking toward the original crew and found nothing but an honest answer from them.
"It's klabautermann, isn't it?" Law said.
"Yes." Franky replied.
"To saw a klabautermann on a ship is really rare situation. You all really are something." Jimbei amused.
"She really been love, isn't she?" Koala said fondly.
"We all love her!" Chopper said proudly. The other smile.
"So that figure is lion chan?" Brook said earning a nod from Usoop and Chopper.
"Yo hohoho! It's an honour to be sailing with you Sunny." Brook bow his head with respect toward the ship figurehead.
"Thank you for leading us toward him." Jimbei also bow his head and proud with what Sunny done.
Few hour later...
Franky taking the lead from Sunny and sail toward Sunny Point to. The other gather around the deck and doing their own activities. Ace already been treat and currently occupied the infirmary bed lay down and rest. Law sitting near the figurehead while Zoro on the other side. Nami saw Koala keep staring toward Jimbei. She bring some of the refreshment to her and ask.
"You know Jimbei?" Nami question earned Jimbei to turn around and staring at Koala. Koala didn't dare to look back at Jimbei eyes. Hack also feel curious with his nakama reaction.
"You know Jimbei are you?" This time it's Hack who asking her. She still remain silence and looking down as if she have guilty toward Jimbei.
"From the first time I saw you, it really feel familiar. Are we meet somewhere? Did I done anything wrong toward you?" Jimbei asked making Koala shocked.
She tighten her fist. Her eyes still glue toward the floor. A little tears escape from her eyes. She stop in front of Jimbei and look toward him. They eyes meet. Koala fall down to her knees and bow down to the deck with all the guilty she feel toward Jimbei. Her tears running heavily on her cheeks.
"Jimbei... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Because of me... *hic* because of me he died..." Koala crying out. Jimbei still didn't understand.
"Who?" Jimbei asked.
"Because of me... Because of me... Because he save me... Because you all save me... He died. He didn't deserve to died. I killed him. I killed Fisher Tiger..." Koala explained and carry on crying with guilt.
Jimbei widen his eyes. He croach down toward Koala.
" Koala? You our Koala?" Jimbei didn't believe his eyes. He thought the little girl with them live happily somewhere else with her family.
" I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." Koala chanted with tears all over her face. Jimbei hug her and tried to calm her down.
" We don't blame you Koala chan. You always one of us you know." Jimbei consulted her while the other just remain silence.
"He choose to save you and we accept his decision. I never thought you would join Revolutionary Army." Jimbei said patting on Koala head. Koala looking up toward Jimbei face. Jimbei smile toward her.
"Never thought you know Jimbei." Hack said.
"Old story, I tell you another time." Koala said wiping her tears.
"Hack and I share the same dream but Hack here is special case." Jimbei said and laugh a little.
"He always with his fist." Koala replied with smile and still whipping her tears. Robin come near her and comfort her. Koala smile.
"Cheeky brat. The two of you really are made for each other." Hack teased her making Koala blush a little.
"Well that something new I heard." Robin also teased Koala making Koala pouted.
"I never blame you, Koala. A friend told me this. I know I suffered a lot from it but because of that I meet many friends and all of that made me who I am now. I won't hate you. So, don't apologise for what have already happening. I don't regret it. I'm having a lot of fun now. And I am sailing carrying the dream we all share with him." Jimbei quote a little Nami word said toward him when they still at Fishmen Island. Jimbei turned toward Nami and smile. Now he know how she feel. Nami just smile proudly toward the fishman.
Koala hug Jimbei all heartedly. Jimbei still the same as always. Kind and loving.
The sun shine on the deck. The night already left them behind and a new day is start on the Sunny. They anchor for a night before carry on trailing Whitebeard ship. Ace still in the infirmary and all of them having some quiet breakfast. It really feel awkward without the captain stealing all their food around.
"This really doesn't feels right. I used to Luffy stealing our food and we defending it. It's really not fun without Luffy here." Ussop sighed.
Nami already finished up her breakfast walking out from the dining room and head toward the deck when she saw a news coo land on the rail. After paying it, she open the newspaper and read it. One of the headline making her heart beating fast. She turned on her heels and run toward the dining room with panic.
"MINNA!!!" Nami yelled out making them all surprise.
"What happen Nami-cwhan?" Sanji asked.
"Looks." Nami open up the newspaper and place it on the table for others to read. She pointed toward the headline.
A picture of Forth commander of Whitebeard standing beside a figure wearing a red cardigan with strawhat laying cover with blood on the floor. The forth commander both hand carrying a sword as a weapon.
MUGHIWARA NO LUFFY DEFEATED BY THE FORTH COMMANDER OF WHITEBEARD. WHAT ARE THE WHITEBEARD UP TO BY KIDNAPPING ONE OF THE SUPERNOVA? TO ELIMINATE THEM OR FORCING THE ROOKIE PIRATE TO JOIN THEM?"What the hell?!" Zoro shouted angrily.
"It's can't be true. I know Thatch. He the nicest one on the crew. What really happen here?" Jimbei tried to denied.
"Jimbei-ya if they done something to Luffy-ya I will not hesitate to harm the Fire Fist." Law said with the threatening tone. All of them there shocked to hear it.
"I never know an ally like you want our captain to be safe and alive. After all he is your rival also." Robin said.
"As an ally to you all I may have use it as an excuse for him to be alive, but as a brother I will not hesitate to kill someone that harm him." Law cross his hand while explained to them with no hesitation. He didn't care if someone says him a soft hearted guy, but he didn't want to see the only family he have now die in front of him again.
"You what now?" Koala shocked. The other also shocked to hear it.
"This thing really getting more complicated." Hack sighed.
"What did you mean?" Robin asked calmly.
"Well you know who is his father right?" Hack said.
"The Revolutionary Army leader, Dragon." Koala said.
"Not to mention he is marine hero, Garp grandson." Sanji added.
"What if the Yonko Shanks will do if the news reach him? I didn't know how close Luffy with him but from the stories we all hear from him, both of them really close." Ussop said.
"We better find Oyaji soon before the three of them. Maybe there are misunderstanding somewhere." Jimbei urged. They all nodded.
"Well not only the three of them actually." Koala said with hesitation.
"What did you mean?" Zoro crocked his eyesbrow.
"I think our Chief also gonna join in." Koala said sheepishly.
"Why?" Franky feel something is not right with the situation.
"Because the Blue Gentleman is his brother." Hack answered bluntly.
They all shocked by the news. No one said anything. They only imagine a really great war is gonna happen here. A Yonko, A marine, the Revolutionary Army and two protective brother on their way to save Luffy. Zoro face-palm while the other sighed defeatedly. A long sighed echoing the dining room.
"Excuse me?" A figure lean at the dining room door cover with bandages on his body.
~To be continue...