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My Flower: LillyBy: Kuroi Neko-kun
Summary: His own crew does not know his past but what if a part of it comes to them, with a secret that she tries to keep from the straw-hat boy?
Disclaimer: Don't own them. Wish I did. I DO own a Shanks figurine, which I treasure dearly.
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Chapter 2: Childhood Sweethearts: Lilly and Luffy
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He ran down the road, to the fields that were at the outskirts of the quaint little port village. He ran till he spotted an eight-year-old girl who was sitting in front of a field of white flowers.
"LILLY!" he shouted at the top of his voice. She smiled and turned to him. The seven-year-old Monkey D Luffy stopped beside her.
"Luffy-kun, what are you doing here?" He grinned.
"No reason!" She shook her head before turning back to the flowers.
"Aren't they beautiful?" He blinked and glanced at the flowers before agreeing. The field of white flowers was definitely pretty. "They're lilies. Even though I share their name, I can never be just as beautiful…" It was then the young boy shook his head.
"Lilly is much more beautiful than a field of flowers!" he declared, making the girl blush, "Because Lilly is the most beautiful flower of all!"
"Luffy-kun…" she mumbled, her cheeks red. The young boy did not realize how much that meant to her. "Arigatou."
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She had gotten used to Shanks crew. After all, Luffy enjoyed spending his time with them. He kept asking them to bring him on their ship. Even Lilly understood the dangers of the sea. Is he that dense? He can't even swim even without eating that dumb gomu gomu fruit. Luffy had once again triumphed to be the butt of all of Shanks jokes. Angry that Shanks would not bring him out to sea again, Luffy sat with Lucky and the other crewmates, who talked animatedly about their adventures. Lilly sat beside the redhead, drinking her milk slowly.
"Shanks-san…" she mumbled, blushing," can you keep a secret?"
"Huh?" She motioned him to come closer.
"I like Luffy-kun…" She whispered in his ear," don't tell him, okay?" Shanks did not have the heart to tell her that he knew. Everyone knew. Why else would a sensible girl like her hang around with a kid like Luffy? He winked at the brunette, smiling.
"Okay, but promise us this," he said, pointing to his crew," you'll take care of him for us. Just in case we leave, okay?" The girl thought about it. Taking care of Luffy? That was not too hard for her. She nodded, smiling back at the captain.
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Ten years had passed since the day Shanks crew left Fuchsia Village. Luffy had his own promise to keep now. A promise that involved the title of Pirate King. Lilly sat in Makino's bar, mending some of Luffy's tattered clothes. Business was slow that day, so they all had nothing much to do. A much older Luffy returned from the back. He had been helping with Makino's stock ups. He sat beside his best friend, noticing her fingers were slightly red from being pricked.
"Lilly, you don't have to mend all of them…" he started. Lilly gave him a small smile.
"I'm here to take care of you until you're ready to leave for that journey of yours." Luffy grinned. The rubber boy was up and ready for his plate of adventure. He had been working at Makino's bar to earn some money [and to pay his debts]. "So have you collected enough to go for it yet?" the brunette asked in a low voice. He shook his head.
"A boat cost about three hundred berries here. I only have one hundred. I need to work for another three months… I think," Luffy said, scratching his head.
"Don't forget supplies, baka," the girl muttered," and you need money to stock up in the next town. In other words, you need at least two thousand berries." Luffy sighed, realizing that his dreams were halted by a mere problem called money. But that barely dampened the boy's spirit.
"Okay, then! I'll work till I can get that much!" No matter how long Lilly had been with this boy, she was always surprised by his undying spirit and optimism.
"Sou yo," she said, showing her support. After all, impossible is not a fact, it's an opinion.
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Lilly tossed and turned that night. Tomorrow was Luffy's birthday and the boy expected to chase his dreams by that day. He only had a thousand berries and no boat. She wanted to see him go on that day. Making her decision, she got out of bed, got dressed and went out of her home. Quietly, she walked up to Luffy's.
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He yawned, wondering why Lilly would call him out so late at night. It must be important or she would not do so. Lilly was a reasonable girl who was a lot smarter than Luffy or so he thought. The girl brought them to the lily field where they spent most of their time together.
"Kaizoku-Ou [Pirate King]," Lilly said, her back turned on Luffy," it's not an easy path, Luffy-kun. Many died chasing that dream."
"I don't care if I die chasing it, Lilly," he said," at least I gave a shot at it." Lilly turned to the raven-haired boy. He never changed, not a bit. And that was the way she loved him. She smiled at him.
"It's what I expected you to say. Nothing less," Lilly pointed out, still smiling. She took out a bag and passed it to him. He looked at it before turning to Lilly, confusion etched on his face.
"What's this?"
"About three thousand berries. I saved it ever since I made a promise to Shanks-san," she explained," I saved it because I knew that you needed the money."
"Lilly… you didn't have to… I can't accept it…" A finger was placed on his lips. She looked into his eyes, smiling warmly at him.
"My dream is to see you become Pirate King," she whispered in his ear," even knowing that I cannot come with you. So, promise me that you'll be the King of Pirates, Monkey D Luffy." Luffy dropped the bag in his hands and held Lilly in his arms. Two streaks of tears stained his face. Lilly did everything for him. She always kept her reason secret. He knew that one day, he'll pay her back. Somehow…
"Arigatou na, Lilly."
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She ran, following his small boat along the pier, smiling and waving at him. He was going to fulfill all his promises and she watched him go. Lilly reached the edge of the island port, standing over a cliff that overlooked the sea. The boat was slowly moving itself towards the vast ocean.
"LUFFY-KUN!" she shouted," WE'LL MEET AGAIN!"
"HAI!"
"Luffy-kun, promise me that you'll be the King of Pirates!" The grin on Luffy's face was prominent, even from the distance.
"I will, and you'll be Queen, Lilly!" The girl blushed, realizing what he said. She would be Queen. His queen… She smiled, still red from the comment and waved till Luffy was gone from view.
"Luffy-kun, arigatou…" she mumbled. Little that she knew, months later she would go through a horrific experience in any woman's life and meet Shanks again. Little that she knew, she would become 'Lilly of the Seven Guns'. Little that she knew, the straw-hat boy was going to keep all his promises.
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