Chapter 37
Everyone looked at Ikkaku, who was looking at Mina askance.
Jean Bart and Penguin sighed. ikkaku was ... very protective with the crew. She was one of the few crwmates who didn't want to make an alliance with the Mugiwara crew, and certainly wasn't going to let that woman, with whom she had barely spoken, get on board the Polar Tang.
-Don't you think Ikkaku's attitude can upset Mina? - Jean Bart asked worriedly.
Penguin looked at Mina. The girl had that empty and indifferent look, like she didn't give a shit about anything. Also, she seemed to be clueless, and thinking about her own world, almost 99% of the time.
-Yeah... Believe me, I doubt it - replied the pirate, dropping a drop of sweat behind his head.
They all got into position and began to navigate the route she had told Bepo, the ship's navigator.
Ikkaku looked at Mina while hiding in an undisguised way.
-What are you doing? - Shachi asked, causing the brunette to panic and hit Shachi because of it.
-She hurt the captain! It's impossible that I can accept her as if nothing happend! - she looked at Shachi - What if she hurts the captain again?
Shachi was thoughtful.
-Well, that's not our business, captain is old enough to take care of himself.
Shachi had never been involved in Law's personal life. They had been friends for more than 10 years, but he knew that Law was very reserved about his feelings or thoughts. It was better to leave him alone.
-You saw her fight during war. You know we have no right to judge her. She's been throught a lot...
-Even so, I don't trust her!
Shachi sighed. Sometimes, he would see that Mina kept staring at the corners of the walls in silence. Obviously she wasn't doing well even though she said otherwise. It was a miracle that she still wanted to continue playing that wierd flirting game with Law.
-Better not get involved in their affairs. You will make the captain angry with you - Shachi sighed.
-So... will you travel with us? Does that mean you will be our new nakama?
Ikkaku had no intention of forging the slightest friendship with that woman, but I still knew I should try to get along with her.
-No, I have no intention of being a pirate. But I guess we will be together for a while - Mina smiled
"And that's it? Isn't she going to say anything else?"
Ikkaku saw the pink haired woman continue to eat her bowl of cereal, as if she didn't care about her at all.
-You know, captain Law and I have a very close relationship - Ikkaku tried to annoy her, expecting to receive a hateful look - I really care about him.
-Oh, that's great - she replied, just vibing.
Ikkaku dropped a drop of sweat behind his head. She left angry thinking that this new woman didn't take her seriously.
Mina however, despite her calm appearance, was nervous inside.
She never had the opportunity to have many female friends because of being in military settings for so many years, so she did not know very well how she should interact with Ikkaku.
Mina got along very well with Koala to the point of considering her as an older sister, but Koala had a tomboy personality.
She wanted to make a good impression on Ikkaku, but judging by the displeased face the brunette had put on, she probably thought it was because of that poker face of hers.
She couldn't help it, she was born with that dead look, and her impassive voice didn't help at all either. Mina thought she could pretend and put on a fake smile, as she always did, but she was tired of acting.
She sighed.
"I hope we can be friends"
Law was in his cabin, reading some books and continuing an investigation. Suddenly, he heard the door to his room open.
It was Mina. She had a worried face, or so it seemed.
-Hm? Something has happened? - he asked worried.
She looked away for a second, but finally looked back at him.
-Do you think I have... a scary face or something like that?
Law was stunned.
Then he started laughing non-stop.
-Hey, I mean it - said the annoyed revolutionary - Ikkaku doesn't stop looking at me behind the walls and turns as soon as I get close to her.
-Aren't you adorable?~ - Law replied while still wiping tears from his eyes with laughter.
-Law...
-Ikkaku-ya is a pirate. Do you REALLY think she's scared of you?
-Well, I don't have a particularly friendly face...
The pirate pat her gently on the forehead.
-Seriously, I can't take you seriously if you make that face - he said, smiling - It's funny.
That brief answer didn't convince Mina. He was Ikkaku's captain and he should know her. Was it really so hard to give her a couple of tips to get along with the only woman in the crew?
Both dropped the subject and began to fool around.
When Law hugged her, he looked at the empty sleeve of her white shirt.
-You really don't want me to do anything with that?
-No, it's better like this.
-Well, as you prefer - he shrugged - But maybe you should ask the Eustass-ya jerk to make you some kind of prosthesis. Surely he accepts, since he seems to like you.
-Well, I like Killer better.
-What?
-What?
Shachi and Penguin knew that those two weren't an official couple, but some kind of weird sexual and uncomfortable relationship. However, in the month they had been already traveling, nobody had never seen them being affectionate towards each other, not once. Not a kiss, not a hug... even less lovey-dovey words. Nothing.
-Is there really something between them? - Ikkaku wondered as she looked from a distance at the pink-haired one, who seemed to be speaking to the captain, both with the same poker face.
-Don't you get tired of this? - Shachi asked again, while giving the brunette another scare.
-Really, can you PLEASE not do that!? - she shook her head - I've been watching those two for a month. I don't think they are a couple.
-So... what? I told you it's not our bussines...
-I'm sure the captain is tired of her - Ikkaku continued speaking - And even more with that dead fish face. A woman like her cannot make someone like the captain happy.
Shachi dropped a drop of sweat behind his head.
-Seriusly Ikkaku, just give up.
The brunette continued to fight the redhead, not realizing that Mina was right behind her.
-Aaagggg! - Ikkaku exclaimed scared - Seriously, can all of you stop scaring me like that!?
Mina put on a sad expression, something that made the brunette feel guilty.
-Sorry, sometimes I forget that I don't make noise when I walk.
Ikkaku left annoyed, leaving Mina disappointed with herself once again.
Shachi patted Mina's back.
-Don't worry, she's... complicated.
Ikkaku entered the bathroom. As the only woman on the crew, Law had had the decency to grant her an exclusive schedule to use the bathroom on her own.
She entered the water and let the steam from the hot water completely surround her.
She opened her eyes.
Mina was right in front of her, staring at her.
-Fucking mother of...!
Mina also seemed surprised by the brunette's reaction.
-Since when the hell have you been there!? - Ikkaku exclaimed.
-I came in like 15 minutes ago.
The pirate hit her forehead.
-And why the hell haven't you said anything!? - she sighed annoyed.
-We are both women, I didn't think you would mind...
Ikkaku felt a little sorry for that sad, dead fish face, so she couldn't get mad at her.
-Whatever - she settled back in the huge bathtub - Do what you want.
Ikkaku squinted at Mina. No reaction.
The pirate sighed loudly.
-Ahhh - she stroked herself behind the head - I seriously don't understand, I haven't been nice to you at any time, and still, you seem to like me. What the hell is inide your head?
-You remind me of a friend...
It was true. That complicated but secretly kind mood reminded her of Kota. Thinking of her dead friend still hurt her.
-Sometimes I have the feeling that you have kinda a childish nature... Someone over 25 should not have such behavior.
Mina cocked her head.
-I'm 21.
Ikkaku looked at her in surprise.
-Wait... are you really THAT young!?
If she remembered correctly, that girl was revolutionary and had spent SEVERAL years serving in the army, so she imagined that she would be close, or even was over 25 years old. But did she just tell her that she was barely 21? She was bearly an adult!
"Now that I look at her closely... yes, she still has some childish features..."
At 21 people were considered adults, but hardly the face began to have adult features. Without that black heavy makeup Mina always had in her eyes, Ikkaku could see that Mina wasn't lying.
How the hell could she been so childish with her? Ikkaku herself was already 26 years old! Now she understood the clingy behavior of that kid, Mina had probably taken her as some kind of "big sister" or some bullshit like that.
-Aggg! I can't continue with this! - Ikkaku got up suddenly, throwing all the water out of the bathtub - Come here!
They both got up and sat on the stools outside the tub.
-I am the oldest, so I will do you the honor of washing your back and thus strengthen ties! - Ikkaku said with authority.
Mina simply nodded.
Ikkaku raised the sponge and began to wash her back, but stopped right away.
-Something wrong? - the pink-haired asked.
The brunette stared blankly at the horrible burn scar across her back. It formed a kind of tribal symbol.
-D-Does it hurt if I touch it?
-Huh? Oh, no. Many years have passed since it was done, it's impossible for it to hurt, it has already healed in its time.
-Why the hell did you do this to yourself? Isn't it too painful!? A tattoo like captain's would have been better!
-It is not only me - she replied - All revolutionaries from a certain rank do so. There were many former slaves among us, so in order to being no difference between us, we decided to do this to ourselves. It was Koala's idea.
Ikkaku looked at her worriedly. That looked incredibly painful. Had she really done it to help others forget their past?
-You're crazy.
Mina laughed.
That surprised her. Ikkaku had not seen her, or heard, her laugh once. She couldn't help but feel sympathetic towards her.
ikkaku continued to wash her back. Not only the fire mark, all her body was completely scarred.
She noticed the amputated arm and remembered how she saw Mina during the war, gutted and with all that blood around her. And yet, she fought in the front until her body was completely broken. To think that she was just 21 and had been through all that...
-Sorry - Ikkaku apologized - I haven't been kind to you since you came with us.
-Huh? Seriously?
Ikkaku dropped a drop of sweat behind her head. Hadn't Mina seriously realized her obvious hostility towards her?
-Did I seem kind to you?
-You're like Kota. And Kota was my friend.
The brunette sighed. It was impossible to continue being bad with her. She did have that dead fish face and that robotic voice that got on her nerves, but she was adorable in her own way.
"Shit, I want to be friends with her!"
-Well, from now on we're like sisters! If any of those bastards dare to bully you, tell me right away!
Mina smirked.
-You're kinda cute, huh?~
-S-Shut up!
-Later-
-Oi! Captain! - Ikkaku exclaimed as she dragged Mina with her - You shouldn't flirt with young girls! Even less if they are as helpless as this one here!
-What the hell are you talking about? - Law replied annoyed because she had interrupted him while eating.
-Do you even know how old she is!? I didn't know captain was that kind of juvenile predator!
-I really don't get you.
Ikkaku pointed at Mina, who also didn't seem to understand anything.
-How old do you think she is?
-I don't know. 24 or 25?
-I'm 21 - Mina replied - Are you not like 23 or 24 years old?
-I have 27...
-...
-...
"Shit, I didn't think she was that young" Law thought shocked.
"Shit, I didn't think he was that old" Mina thought at the same time.
Everyone looked at Law askance.
-Captain...
-Shut up!