Shivered Timbers
by Kaline Reine
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or any of the characters/settings. This is just a fanfiction story. I do own Shiori, she is my character. I also own a few other original characters in this story (not affiliated with One Piece), which will be introduced as they are needed. c;
WARNINGS: This story contains (or may contain) graphic adult content and language, explicit sex scenes, possible violence, gore, cursing, adult themes, etc. I do not censor my writing, but I do my best to warn people about the subject matter and potential subject matter. So if you don't like that kind of thing or can't handle it, then I suggest not reading this story. You have been warned. Also, I know this doesn't follow canon but it doesn't have to, that's why it's a fanfic. xD
Also... The beautiful cover image for this story is by my friend, EzariaUmiko on DeviantArt. All credit for the image goes to her. c:
Chapter 15: Bon Voyage
"Aww..." Luffy pouted, already beginning to whine the moment he'd heard the news. "Everyone is leaving me! I wanna go be a Pirate too! It's not fair... And Dadan-sama probably won't let you leave anyway."
"Dadan's n-not my legal guardian, she's y-yours. You'll be f-fine here. I have go, Luffy-kun. I h-have to do this... F-for me. It's the only thing that'll h-help me get stronger! I see that now..."
She'd just broken the news to him. At first, it didn't seem like he was taking it very well... But she knew he could handle it. He'd been able to withstand Ace leaving a while back. She was sure he would find some way to deal with this too. Shiori hadn't wanted to spring it on him all of a sudden like this, but it was now and never, and she had to leave today if she was going.
Sabo's death had impacted all of them in various ways. Even her... She now knew that there was a great injustice plaguing the world. She'd always suspected it, but when their friend had died, in such a way... It had become glaringly obvious. There was no way she could ignore it any longer.
"Alright," He closed his eyes slowly, then reopened them with a much more serious look than she'd ever seen on him. "I guess your mind's made up. Just be careful, okay? And if anyone starts a fight with you, you just go on and punch them right in the face!"
"O-okay," She giggled. "I'll d-definitely do that! Haha..."
Nevermind the fact that she was currently nursing her own scrapes and bruises right now... The fight with Monet had been intense and they both had some minor injuries, but it was nothing to worry about. She'd used some of the makeup Makino had given her to help hide her bruises as best as she could.
"Good!" The younger boy beamed, apparently already past the sulking phase. "I'm happy for you, Nee-chan! You're finally gonna get to do something awesome! And with a famous Pirate crew, on top of it!"
"H-hopefully... Well, I've got to go m-meet them back at the d-docks soon... Could you h-help me pack my st-stuff?"
"Sure thing!"
Shiori was proud of herself. She'd made this decision on her own. She kind of wanted to offer to bring him with her, but she knew that was impossible. They were meant for different fates, it seemed. Even though this was the last thing she'd ever expected to happen, she really didn't want to drag anyone else into it. And Whitey Bay had also made it very clear that she couldn't bring anyone else with her. They had limited space available. She didn't allow just anyone on her ship, and they all had to pull their own weight. That was made abundantly clear on the walk back from the beach.
Luffy had his own dreams to follow, his own destiny to pursue... And she was leaving him with all of the treasure, after all. She was just happy that he was being supportive instead of angry. She'd already had enough anger directed at her to last a lifetime.
Shiori had packed everything she owned back into the same black duffel bag that she'd arrived in Goa Kingdom with. Just the sight of it brought back so many memories for her... But the young Valkyrie knew that she had to be strong. She'd packed all of her belongings without shedding a single tear. And she'd said her goodbyes to Luffy and explained everything to him. The worst part was over now.
Whitey Bay had instructed her crew to go into Edge Town and purchase the supplies they'd come after. They were apparently headed somewhere far away from the Grand Line and all of it's problems. Shiori wasn't sure how she felt about that, but it seemed like it might be counterproductive to her goals. At least some of them. The arrogant Captain had assured her that they would help her get back to the Grand Line once her training was complete... But that could take years!
"Well... I think that's everything!" Her childhood friend beamed, sitting on top of one of her suitcases to be able to close it.
"Now you aren't planning on leavin' us so soon, are ya?" Dadan came in to check on them and noticed the packed bags all over her cot. It was obvious what was happening here. And she'd overheard her explaining things earlier.
"How'd you know she was leaving?" Luffy asked.
"I have eyes, dear boy." She turned to the girl. "You'll be missed around here, you know... Can't believe someone as powerful as Whitey Bay would want you on her crew, but I'm not that surprised really. Want to grab a bite to eat before you go?"
"I don't have time, but th-thank you..." Shiori tried her best not to tear up. She dabbed at her eyes with the back of her long sleeve. "I'll be able to eat as m-much as I want, once I'm on board Whitey Bay's sh-ship. I w-wish I had time to say goodbye to e-everyone, but there's n-not much time. Thanks f-for everything, Dadan-sama... I appreciate your k-kindness all these years."
"Don't you get all damned sentimental on me, you brat!" She laughed it off with a huge smile. "It was nothing. Just doing the right thing. I hope you'll be safe in your travels."
"I w-will... And I'll n-never forget you."
"Well get going already, don't wanna keep them waiting!"
Standing in the door frame, Shiori hugged her and lightly muttered one last word. "G-goodbye..."
Dadan didn't say anything, she just waited patiently while they cleared out Shiori's belongings. It looked like she was planning to give Luffy Shiori's old cot, judging from the way she picked up his roll of blankets and put them on there.
The shy girl gave Luffy a pointed look, as if to say she was ready to go. He returned look, helping carry her bags. They went past the edge of Foosha Village, into the forest that surrounded all of Goa Kingdom. So far, this was turning out more pleasant than Ace's departure, at least. The two continued all the way through Gray Terminal, where they sneaked past the outer wall of Edge Town without going in. They finally came to the docks, where he placed her bags down.
"I'll m-miss you, Luffy-kun..." Shiori hugged him goodbye.
"I'll miss you too, but hey, don't be sad! We'll see each other again someday." He smiled. "All of us."
"We w-will!" The shy girl smiled back at him, genuinely glad to have made such a friend. "See you soon! And when I c-come back, I'll be much st-stronger than before!"
"Train hard and kick everyone's asses!" Luffy laughed, waving goodbye to her as she picked up her bags and walked away.
The same sad, shy little girl who had come here when she'd been chased out of her home on two separate occasions was no more... Shiori was growing up.
The door to the Captain's Quarters swung open without warning. A young man in a red vest with a wide goofy grin was brought in. Whitey Bay was currently in the middle of filling out paperwork and looking over some sea charts that her navigator had drawn. She looked up, scowling, obviously not happy to be interrupted from her work. She cleared her throat, waiting for either of them to dare to speak.
A young man with dark eyes, white hair, and a dark complexion walked further in, dragging the young man in the red vest behind him. The prisoner had a yellow straw hat on his head and a small scar below one eye. Other than that, he looked to be completely ordinary.
"We caught this guy trying to sneak on board," He explained. "What should we do with him?"
"Who are you?" Whitey Bay asked him, nonchalantly. It was clear that she was not threatened by him at all. "And why are you trying to stow away on my ship? What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Ehehe..." Luffy chuckled. "I want to be a Pirate too! Someday, I'm going to be-"
"Hmm..." The Captain seemed to consider it for a moment, cutting him off. "He isn't much of a threat. We haven't even weighed anchor yet. Toss him out! Not into the sea, just leave him on the docks."
"Aye..." The man left her alone after that, giving her a firm nod.
"On your way back, could you have someone send for our newest recruit? I need to have a word with her before we depart."
"Of course."
The blue haired woman went back to her work, still sitting at her desk. She could hear the calls of the boy as he was dragged away...
"Someday, I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!" He declared, with all seriousness.
She scoffed at him, once he was gone. King of the Pirates? What a notion! Whitey Bay was still working on charting out their next route, when there was a very light tap at the door. She was annoyed that people kept interrupting her work, but maybe this would be the one she'd sent for.
"Come in!" She called, without looking up.
"M-miss Whitey Bay?" Shiori walked in, clutching the hem of her striped sweater timidly. She'd just passed the other two in the hallway, shaking her head at Luffy's antics. She hoped he didn't get her in trouble. "You w-wanted to see me?"
"No need to be so shy, my dear!" The Captain got up, her long wavy blue hair flailing vividly behind her. She smiled warmly at her newest recruit. "We'll have your confidence soaring in no time! And no need to call me... that, either. You can just call me Whitey-chan or Bay-sama or whatever. Use any variation you like."
"Oh, o-okay..." She hid her face behind her sleeves with both hands.
"How do you feel about your decision to come with us on this journey? Any regrets?"
"None so f-far, no... I'm honored to b-be here. I'll do wh-whatever I n-need to do."
"That's good," A smirk grew across the Captain's face. "We are departing right now. Just waiting on everyone to get to their places."
"Where w-will I be?"
"Anywhere that suits you," She held up a key she'd taken from a peg on the wall behind her. "But for now, I think you should just get used to things here. You have a lot to learn about life at sea, do you not?"
"I do," Shiori nodded, understanding that this would not be an easy trip. "I've spent a l-little time at sea before, with a m-man named Graham-san. But it was on a s-small boat, n-nothing like your ship here."
Whitey Bay handed her a shiny silver key. It had a snowflake charm with a skull etched in the center attached to it. "This is for you. It's the key to your room. I've sent for Chouko-san, she will show you where you'll be staying. It's being prepared right now, so you might want to give them a little bit. She should be meeting you here any minute though."
"Alright, th-thank you... Very much." Shiori bowed to her.
"Straighten up!" Whitey Bay barked, suddenly. She chuckled when the little albino girl jumped. "There's no need for such formalities here. I'm really laid back, although I don't take any nonsense either."
"Okay, I u-understand."
"Good," She smiled pleasantly. "I've decided to take you on as my apprentice for the next few years. I hope there are no more loose ends left for you to tie up here."
Shiori thought about it for a moment... Did she have any unfinished business with Goa Kingdom? She'd already said her goodbyes to the bandits she'd been sharing a home with for the past few years, and to Luffy and Dadan as well. There really was no one else here who cared about her. There was Makino, but she knew Luffy would tell her where she'd gone. There really hadn't been time for long goodbyes, and there weren't any ties or obligations between them. It should be fine.
"N-no," She answered her new mentor honestly. "There's nothing l-left to do... I can go a-anywhere I want now. But I h-have a question... Um... Wh-why me? I mean why d-did you p-pick me? I'm not c-confident and I don't know if I h-have the kind of attitude you're l-looking for..."
"Attitude can be changed, confidence can be learned... That is nonsense! You'll do just fine."
"But wh-why did you ch-choose me over Monet-chan? She's much st-stronger than I am..." Shiori hung her head demurely.
Whitey Bay was circling her now, looking at her and trying to assess her potential. "But she will never be you. She will never have your ability, unless she killed you. And let's face it, she can't!"
"Well she c-could have... You never know a-about things like that."
"No!" Bay snarled at her then, grabbing her chin and pulling her face from the floor, to look instead into her dark blue pools, meeting her gaze. "Don't ever say that again! It's easy to see that she is jealous of you. Because you possess something special. It's not just your Devil Fruit ability, it's much more than that... But she can't have it. She can't hurt you. Now say it."
"Y-yeah..." A small spark of confidence filled her then. "She can't! You're r-right!"
It was like there was a sudden release just then... It was the first time she'd felt better in long time. Since Ace left, actually. She was determined to put all of her effort into her training.
'I'll get strong, like him! I'll make everyone proud of me!'
"Exactly. I want you to keep that attitude, learn from it, work with it! Now... I should tell you a little about this ship." The confident woman turned her back to the girl for a moment, grabbing a large map from beneath some scattered papers her desk. She held it up, pointing to an area of the island that was marked 'Goa Kingdom'. The Grand Line was clearly drawn out as well. "You see this?"
She looked at it. Half of the map was crumpled. The edges were torn in places and the corners were faded. There were lines where it had been folded and stored away... It had obviously been well used. She could tell it was ancient. But she saw the familiar shape of the island that she had called her home since she was eight years old. Dawn Island was bigger than she'd imagined.
Shiori nodded. "Y-yes Bay-sama..."
"Bay-sama... That has a nice ring to it. There are a lot of others who choose to call me that too. Anyway, this is where we are now. We'll be going..." The Captain drew a slender hand all the way down to the very bottom of the large old map. "All the way down here."
"B-but..." Rose colored eyes widened in shock. "That's n-nowhere near the Grand Line! That's the a-arctic, isn't it? It's n-not safe for ships to g-go there! We'll all d-die!" The panic was evident on her face.
"Yep! And that's where we're headed now. I can feel the ship pulling out of the harbor. We're already on our way."
"Th-that's amazing! How c-can you tell?" She momentarily forgot about her concerns.
"It's easy enough, once you get used to it. All Captains eventually develop a feel for their ship. But we aren't going to die. This one is specially designed... It's an icebreaker. So we won't have to worry about the ice at all. She can even break through the toughest glaciers! We're perfectly safe." This was followed by an arrogant little laugh.
Her hand on her hip, Whitey Bay looked every bit like the picture of her on the wanted posters. Shiori had kept an eye out in the short time since their encounter, and she'd noticed them around town. The woman had a very high bounty and must be incredibly dangerous. The ship going down was the least of her worries right now. She wasn't even entirely sure that she was in good company, but she'd decided to take such a drastic chance. She hoped it would all work out.
'What was I thinking?!' She could have slapped herself right then. 'Coming all the way out here with these crazy people, with this... This madwoman!'
"I h-hope you're right... But why have you c-come all the w-way out here?"
"I am always right!" The Captain declared. "I have a small fleet of ships under my command. We typically circle an arctic island that's uninhabitable, year round. It's actually a glacier, made of solid ice. That's one reason they gave me my nickname- The Ice Witch, they call me... Because they say if I can withstand the negative temperatures, and live in a land so isolated and barren, then surely I must be a witch."
Shiori didn't know what to say. "Wow..."
"Don't worry, that was only how the rumors started. Once in a while, we go ashore to an island on the Grand Line. We stop every few months for food and supplies, and we also trade our catches or any treasure we might find."
"T-treasure?" She gasped. "So the m-myths about Pirates are t-true?"
"Yes... Well, partially. Anyway, before we leave for the arctic we'll be making one last stop. I'll give you some money for food and supplies... You'll need to pick up some warmer clothing, for one thing. I'll show you where I buy some of my stuff. But after that, you'll have to work hard to earn your keep. Are you up to the task?"
"Y-yes, Bay-sama! I will do m-my very best!" Shiori pumped her fist, brimming with sheer determination.
"Good, this is very good... Just what I like to hear." Bay smiled at her new pupil. It was obvious that she had high hopes for her. "We'll give you free room and board for the duration of your stay, in exchange for your help."
"That's so g-generous of you. Wow..."
"That's the way most Pirate ships do it. Some of them offer payment as well, but since I'll be teaching you..." She trailed off.
"S-say no more! That's m-more than enough as p-payment."
"It's the normal way of us Pirates, don't worry."
For a brief moment, she'd actually forgotten that she was on a Pirate ship... Surrounded by Pirates. They really didn't seem so bad.
While she'd been staying in Goa Kingdom, Shiori had gotten to know Shanks and his crew quite well. They seemed like awesome people; nothing at all like the rumors she'd heard. And they did stand against a common enemy... It was a well-known fact that Pirates hated Marines, because Marines were always told to dispose of them. It was their job to uphold the law, but many of them were corrupt and even the ones that weren't were awful because they answered to the World Nobles. The vast majority of Nobles were horrible people, who were capable of awful things.
She didn't want to think about that.
"I s-see..." She tucked a lock of platinum white hair behind one ear. "But I'm n-not a... a Pirate. I just want to m-make that c-clear..."
"My dear," Whitey Bay encircled her, walking around and slowly closing in on her. "You are officially a member of our crew. There's no backing out of it now. In fact, we are already on our way. See for yourself."
She pointed over Shiori's shoulder to a port hole. The Valkyrie spun around and saw only the vast blue of the ocean. There was no land in sight. Goa Kingdom was already behind her, a part of her past.
"This sh-ship must be r-really fast!" She exclaimed.
"That it is. And she's sturdy too. It is an icebreaker, after all."
"Th-that makes sense..."
"Why are you so... unphased by all of this?" The Captain expressed her concerns, one hand pressing down upon the ruffled lace scarf that hung around her neck, crushing it flat against her heart. "People usually complain once they find out where we're headed. You're not worried about it? Yet, you seem to be the worrying type. Hasn't fully sunken in yet, has it?" She chuckled.
Shiori just looked at her for a moment, as if trying to decipher something. "No... I'm a-actually happy about g-going to the arctic!" She smiled pleasantly. "It kind of r-reminds me of h-home..."
"Of home? So we should talk about this! Tell me about your origins... Where are you from?" Whitey Bay was more than happy to lend a listening ear. She'd taken her seat back at her desk, offering an adjacent chair to her new apprentice.
"Well, I'm f-from a place c-called Drum Kingdom," Shiori explained, sitting down. "It's completely covered in s-snow! And it's b-beautiful, at least I th-think so..."
The way her rosy eyes lit up when she talked of her home... It warmed something within the Ice Witch's heart. There was something so genuine about it, and the raw emotion was apparent on her face.
"Wow. I've heard of it before, but never been there. Tell me more."
"Okay... I don't kn-know where to st-start..." She thought for a moment. "I was r-raised in a small Monastery by N-nuns. They were a s-special segment of f-fighting Nuns."
"Really?" Whitey Bay arched an eyebrow. "Nuns that fight? Now that is a tall tale! Haha! Do continue..."
"It snows there y-year round. So I'm used to the c-cold... They t-taught me a-about fighting. They use a fighting st-style known as Baransu Jujitsu, which is f-focused around balance. And they w-worshipped a c-cat goddess."
"That's fascinating," She wasn't lying. Whitey Bay was on the edge of her seat. "I've never heard of such a thing, it sounds so strange. But it must have been beautiful there. I'd tell you about my past as well, but I don't want to bore you. And after all, I've got to keep some secrets." She winked.
Shiori giggled. 'Maybe this won't be so bad after all...'
She'd briefly debated telling her about the dark side of things, and what had happened when the Marines came. But she wasn't sure if it was an appropriate topic, considering how little she knew of her new Captain. Mostly, she was unsure of how to bring it up.
Just then, the door opened and a familiar sunny blonde poked her head in. Her deep doe eyes fluttered, as she tried to appear cute. The bells on hr anklet made a jingling sound as she walked in.
"Hey Shiori-chan! Glad you made it on board okay," Chouko beamed. "I'm so happy you decided to come with us!"
"I'm g-glad to b-be here..." She smiled back, not sure what they would have her do now. Shiori kept glancing back and forth between the Captain and her crew mate.
"Chouko-san will be your buddy, so to speak. She'll show you the ropes and get you acquainted with everyone." Whitey Bay stood, in a flourish of white, purple, and blue. She flipped her hair over her shoulder. "She'll also show you to your room. I'm sure you'll be at home here in no time!"
Shiori stood, to go with her friend. Chouko gave a firm nod to her Captain and led the other girl outside. As soon as they were back on deck, her yellow and pink poncho fluttered in the breeze. She really did look like a moth, even when her wings were folded behind her back.
"So how did your first meeting with the legendary Ice Witch go?" She giggled.
"A-actually it went p-pretty well," Shiori admitted, already blushing. She wasn't used to getting this much attention from people. "She seems n-nice..."
"See? I told you Pirates weren't that bad."
"D-did you?"
"I dunno," The moth girl shrugged. "I can't really remember that far back. Lucky if I even remember what I had for breakfast..."
Shiori just looked at her. She followed Chouko down the steps that led onto the main deck. There were lots of Pirates, all of them scurrying around doing various work around the ship. It looked like some were adjusting the sails, other were cleaning and picking up debris, some were carrying heavy equipment, and a few were even mopping. It looked like everyone was so busy. She hoped she would be able to keep up.
"Hey, you look kinda overwhelmed... Don't be scared, okay?" Chouko assured her, with a friendly pat on the back. "She won't put you anywhere you aren't suited for. Everyone is assigned a job that fits them. But you don't have to even worry about that for a while, since you're still in training."
"H-how long have you been a p-part of her crew?"
"Me? Oh it's probably been about ten years now... Maybe longer."
Her pink eyes widened in shock. "Really? Th-that long?!"
"Yeah," Chouko dismissed it with ease, leading her down a different set of stairs that went below deck. "Maybe. Anyway, these are the crew's quarters. Remember how to get to Bay-sama's cabin from here, and you should be fine. We have a galley too and a mess deck where everyone usually eats, but you won't have to worry about that yet. Someone will be down to bring you some dinner. What kinds of things do you like to eat?"
"I'll eat a-almost anything r-really... You don't h-have to make a f-fuss."
"Don't be that way. We have professional chefs on our crew. So you can have pretty much whatever you want. Although we serve lots of seafood."
"Seafood is g-good... I also like pasta and th-things like that. I don't like m-meat though, so I'd r-rather eat veggies and sides, i-if that's okay..."
"No problem!" Chouko was all smiles, as opened a small metal door. "I'll be sure to pass the word along to the cooks. So this is your room, as you can see, it's... Well, a room!"
Shiori had noticed that the decor matched that of most of the ship. There were snowflakes everywhere, and lots of purple and blue. She liked that Whitey Bay seemed to have a good fashion sense, at least. She wondered how long it had taken her to procure a vessel like this one. The ship itself was enormous!
Her room was nice. It was small, but not cramped. There was a window, which was really just a porthole, she could use to look outside. A modest purple curtain covered it so she would have her privacy. She saw that someone had brought her bags in already. Whitey Bay had told some of her crew to take them to her room when she'd first boarded. She only had two bags, her old duffel bag and one suitcase, so it wasn't much.
"I really l-like it! Thanks for sh-showing me around..."
She sat down on the small bed that was attached to the wall opposite from where she stood. It was very soft and comfortable, not like she'd expected. It was so much better than the cot she'd been sleeping on at the bandits' hideout. The bedsheets were white with little purple polkadots and she thought it was really cute. The foot of the bed reached to just a few inches from the open door. It seemed that it also had a bunch of drawers built into the wooden frame that supported it. There was a small closet with some cabinets above it. Everything seemed to be designed to save space.
"We're not done yet," The moth chirped, as her spotted wings fluttered happily. "I'll have to show you the rest of the ship some other time, since I've got some work to do... But I hope you like it here!"
"And wh-what is your j-job? Just c-curious."
"Oh... I'm the navigator! It fits me pretty well, since I can sort of sense weather patterns before they happen, thanks to my Devil Fruit. But I do most of my real work at night because the moonlight really helps me. I still have lots to do, but I've got time to help you unpack if you want?"
"It's a-alright, I think I c-can manage..."
"Alrighty. Your choice. So what brought you to Goa Kingdom in the first place?" Chouko asked her, after a moment of silence.
"What d-do you mean...?" She had taken to fidgeting with the hem of her skirt or playing with the split ends of her hair. Anything to keep her hands busy.
"I overheard part of your conversation with Bay-sama... If you're originally from Drum Kingdom, then how did you end up all the way in Goa? That's a long way to travel, I'm impressed!"
"Oh..." Shiori smiled, not minding that she was eavesdropping. She was probably just curious, and the two had never had that much time to talk. "I got a r-ride on a ship with this man n-named Graham-san. He was nice. I was r-really small then."
"I see... Sounds like quite the adventure! I heard about that part. Any particular reason why you left home?"
The Valkyrie's eyes began to water. She wanted to tell them so badly, but she just couldn't find the words...
'How do you find a way to describe that kind of pain...?' She wondered. 'To convey all the misery that I endured in such few words... I don't think I can.'
"Hey, it's alright..." The other girl hugged her. It was awkward and Shiori sort of pulled away, getting defensive. Chouko felt really bad for her. "I was only trying to make conversation. Guess we probably shouldn't talk about that, huh?"
"..." Shiori was still unable to find words.
Everything about this situation was overwhelming... It was all so new to her. She'd finally been in a stable place, and then Ace had to ruin it all by leaving. Now she had something to prove. In a way, she felt abandoned. That was probably a good analogy for what happened. Luffy wasn't much help to her. He never took anything remotely seriously. And Dadan couldn't care less about what happened either. Their hideout might not have been much, but it had been home to her; her new home. And now she'd left it behind...
This place was different. Everyone here was all about business arrangements and it was so serious... She wasn't sure how things would play out. She liked Chouko and considered her a friend, but she had also considered Monet a friend, once. And that had gotten her nothing but pain and confusion, in the end. She didn't know the proper way to interact with people. Everything in her life had always been so chaotic and these new people seemed so relaxed around her. Yet, for some reason, she was unable to fully lower her guard.
"Yoohoo? Are you okay?" A pale hand waved in front of her face.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine," She tried to force a smile, but was unable to. "I guess I'm j-just worried..."
"That's normal. You've just got the pre-voyage jitters! It happens to the best of us... No worries! I get it."
She did smile then, a real one. "Thanks Chouko-chan..."
"Don't mention it," The moth got ready to leave, opening the door just a crack. "Do you need some time to yourself? I don't want to crowd you or pry or anything... Or I could still help you unpack?"
"I'm alright, th-thanks though. I a-appreciate all you've d-done for me. I really don't f-feel worthy..."
"Don't mention it... I guess I'll go then. Let me know if you need anything at all, alright? Don't be shy about asking for help if you need it. Just let anyone know and they'll either point you in the right direction or come find me."
"Ok-kay..."
Shiori actually breathed a sigh of relief once Chouko had gone. She was finally alone! Collapsing onto the bed, the young sailor put one arm over her forehead, as she fell backward, dramatically. She just needed some time alone to clear her head. It was a relief that they weren't expecting her to go to work right away.
Everyone on Whitey Bay's crew seemed so nice... She was sure there were probably some that she wouldn't get along with as much. But that was okay. It would happen anywhere she went, just with different people in different places.
The world was so much bigger than she had once imagined it to be... Things were so strange here.
Right now, she just wanted to lie there and think about the recent decisions she'd made. She stared up at the light blue ceiling, her head spinning in circles... So much had happened. She wasn't sure if she'd really made the right call by coming here. Hopefully she wouldn't get seasick like she'd heard of some people doing. Although she'd been on a boat as a kid, she had also been land-bound for many years now. There was no telling how her body might react to this sudden change of environment. There were so many other things that could happen as well.
But the important thing was, she'd made the decision for herself. She had taken her fate into her own hands, and now she would just have to live with the results, whatever they were. No matter how things ended up, she could take satisfaction in the knowledge that it had been her choice, and hers alone.
Eventually, she calmed her own worries and got up to look around. There didn't seem to be anyone else nearby, or if they were, they were being very quiet. She noticed there was another door across the room that appeared to lead somewhere else. Shiori went over and tried to open it. The handle turned and the door opened to reveal a small bathroom. It was only equipped with a toilet, a small sink, and a shower stall, but it was better than nothing. She saw that there were fresh towels lying on a shelf, neatly folded. It was nice having her own place to get cleaned up.
She decided to get a head start and unpack her belongings. Shiori had appreciated Chouko's numerous offers to help, but this was also something that she needed to do herself. She opened her duffel bag, taking out what few clothes she had and sticking most of them in the top drawer of the little wooden dresser in the corner. Packing her clothing away reminded her of just how little she had. It had taken only a few minutes to get through all of it. She knew that she would probably need to get some new clothes soon, but she didn't have any money.
'Hmm... Maybe I shouldn't have left it all with Luffy... Stupid me! Oh wait, Whitey Bay said she would give me some money to get a few things. But I feel bad about accepting it. What am I even doing in a place like this? Can I really be a Pirate...?'
There was a knock at the door, which made her jump. She let out a sharp squeak at the sound of it. The man she'd spotted earlier with the short white hair and tanned complexion was standing in the doorway. He was holding a tray with some food on it. It was obviously her dinner, like Chouko had said earlier. Shiori got up to take it from him.
"Hi there," He greeted her with a huge grin. "I hope I didn't scare you. I guess you must be the new girl! I'm Sam."
"N-nice to meet you..." She said, taking the tray from him and placing it on a small table in the corner of the cramped room.
"Aren't you gonna at least tell me your name?"
"Wh-why?"
The meek girl just stood there. It was obvious that she didn't feel much like talking.
"Oh, ahh... Okay. Well let me know if you-"
"N-need anything. Got it." She snapped, being kind of short with the poor guy.
"Well I'll just be on my way then."
"Sorry," Shiori squeaked, when he turned to leave. "I'm just n-not used to th-this much attention from people. That's a-all... I'm Shiori..."
"That's more like it!" He flashed her a crooked grin. "I can certainly understand that, missy. I was new once too, ya know."
"Thank y-you for the food... L-looks good." She'd already starting eating.
"No problem. We got your note about not wanting any meat and we can always do that for you. If you need anything, just give me a ring. If you'll put your food in that bin," He pointed to a dark blue cube-shaped box in the floor, beside the door. "Along with any other trash you have, someone'll come and pick it up later."
"Oh th-thanks..."
He left without saying another word to her. Shiori felt kind of bad for not interacting with the guy more... There was something about being surrounded by all of these new people that made her very nervous. She was just sick of people right now, and needed some time alone.
She hated herself for almost collapsing under the pressure of her own choices. This was her decision, and she had to stand by it! It felt too sudden and all too real...
Shiori tried her best to enjoy the food that she was given, but she found it left a bitter taste in her mouth. She knew she was being ridiculous. She was happy about her choices, wasn't she? She'd managed to get into one of the most elite crews on the seas. They were so elite that she'd never even heard of them. Her mental image of a Pirate Captain was something really scary, truly terrifying... Whitey Bay had actually been very nice to her and taken her right in. And her crew seemed to be just as nice.
'Then why am I not fitting in? What's missing?' As she ate her dinner, the young Valkyrie got lost in her thoughts again, unable to figure it out. And then it finally dawned on her. 'I feel guilty... For not going with Ace! That must be it.'
He'd left in such a hurry... It was like she could still see his face, even as she shoveled a spoon full of mashed potatoes down her throat. Shiori was staring at the wall, having a mental conversation with herself. She was reliving every terrible thing that had ever happened to her, and overanalyzing all of it.
She was still feeling lost and hopeless, but all she could do was work through it. Once she was finished with her dinner, Shiori looked outside the porthole in her room. It was getting dark outside. Today had been a long day and she'd done a lot. She was on her way to somewhere new now, whether she liked it or not. It was too late. She was already on board Whitey Bay's icebreaker and headed for the arctic.
Shiori disposed of her leftovers and empty tray in the bin that was designated for it. Everything seemed to be run extremely efficiently on this ship. She liked that.
It had been a long and tiring day. She was already exhausted, even though it was just after sunset. Shiori knew that she was going to have a lot of work ahead of her. After everything else was handled, she snuggled under the covers and turned toward the wall.
'But then again...' Her mind drifted back to the subject of Ace, as she fell asleep. It would not let her rest. 'He never offered to take me with him. He probably saw me as weak... Because that's what I am right now. But I won't be for long. You'll see... You'll all see...'
A/N: All these different nautical terms, jeez... Fun fact, I actually took a tour of an old war ship to get ready to write this story! It was really cool, and I learned a lot. It's good to stay inspired. c:
Btw, parts of this are deliberately cheesy, lol. Sorry for a slightly shorter chapter this time. I try to only put in what needs to be there though.
-Kaline