One Piece: The Musician

Chapter 7: There Was Something About the Currents

Arina had never, in her entire life, gone to bed past twelve-thirty. Much less pulled an all-nighter. But she did, because it was important. She mowed down that fine line between "okay" and "gone-too-far". All Arina had were the handle of the sword and a jar filled with the essence of the sword. Now it was up to her to fix it.

It was seven when she finished. The sword, now good as new, gleamed as the sun shone through the curtains. Now she had a visit to make and an apology to mumble. Zoro was stretching on the docks when she arrived. He saw her and glared.

"What the fuck do you want?"

Doing her best to control her temper, she threw the finished sword at his feet.

"You can have it back. It's worthless to me anyways."

Feeling suspicious, Zoro cautiously picked the sword up. He couldn't believe his eyes. It was perfect. Arina sighed. She stepped towards Zoro.

"I guess I owe you this too," she said as she reached out for Zoro's broken arm. For a moment, he felt his arm go numb. Then, as the feeling came back the pain was gone.

"You can take the sling off. Your arm's not broken anymore."

This girl really is a freak! Zoro mused. Feeling nosy he looked at her and asked the question that had been burning in the back of his mind for days now.

"How did you do that?" he interrogated.

A smile stole across Arina's face.

"If you are good to the sea, then the sea is good to you."

She blew past Zoro, sat down on the edge of the dock and took off her shoes and socks. Then, she lowered her feet into the clear blue water. Maybe Zoro was seeing things, but he thought he saw Arina's feet disappear or become water. But, of course he knew that that was very much a possibility. And for a moment, Zoro thought that Arina had gone into a trance. Or perhaps she did. When she pulled her feet out of the sea, she seemed enlightened. All in a still calmness, Arina put her shoes back on and stood up.

"I suggest you let your captain know that he should probably move his ship sometime today," Arina said.

"And why is that?"

"Because, judging by the irregular patterns in the water today, I'm guessing that an extremely large vessel is heading towards Rhea. Based on the frequency of forward motion I felt, I'd say it'll arrive around nightfall. I think I know who it is too…" Suddenly, Arina's face became sad and disheartened. Before Zoro could say a word, Sanji was up and had Arina swept in a hug.

"Gooooood moooooorning my dear. Come! You must have breakfast with us!"

Laughing, Arina politely declined, "Thank you Sanji, but I must be getting back."

Just as she headed back into town, Zoro grabbed her by the arm.

"Wait a moment would you?! Who's coming?!"

The cheerless smile had returned. "A long time ago, two separate people had promised me that they would return in mid-spring of my twentieth year. There was one man who I had always hoped would come back. And there was another man, who I had hoped would never return," she paused, "I'm guessing the one who will be docking in the harbor tonight will be the latter…"

"Do you always talk like a fortune cookie?"

"If you weren't so meddlesome, maybe I wouldn't."

"I'm just curious."

"Well don't be. Use that energy to get better."

"Get better at what?"

Arina sneered, "At your swordsmanship." She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Irk… why you little…"

Maniacal laughter escaped her mouth as she ran away.

Everyone that lived on Rhea knew Arina. All of them have visited her tavern. But no one had ever seen her apartment. Aside from her deceased mother, only one other person knew what her little apartment looked like. But he was no longer alive.

Arina had a little altar at the head of her bed for him. His picture, a few candles, and an incense pot. Possibly, this is why she never let anyone in. People would think she was crazy. And for good reason too. Everyday, Arina would get down on her knees for ten minutes and she would pray and just talk to him. Usually, they were happy chats because for the most part, Arina was a happy girl. But today was different. She kneeled down in front of the altar and looked at this happy face.

"You know he's coming for you today, right? The ten years are up. He's taking you out to sea with him. Who can blame him? You're his son after all… He hates me. He'll probably think I murdered you." She felt tightness in her throat. "Then again… maybe I did…"

She fell asleep just as the clock struck noon.

Where am I? Arina thought. Everything was blue and her body felt weightless. She knew where she was. She just didn't believe it. The sun and the surface seemed so far away and she was sinking deeper and deeper into the depths of the sea…

Suddenly, someone grabbed her hand and as she looked up, she smiled.

Arina, let me take you out to sea. We'll see the world. We'll have everything. We'll have each other…I love you Arina.

I love you too, H…

He had disappeared and Arina began to sink faster and faster. Soon, it was like she was falling from the sky. Farther and farther down. Arina screamed.

And she awoke to the sounds of someone knocking at her door.

"What?"

"Sorry to bother you, but a crew is docking at the harbor. I thought you might want to greet them."

"Did you get a look at their flag?"

"Yeah. It's a skull and some ocean waves."

Standing up, Arina sighed. "I thought so…I'll be down in a moment."

The first thing Luffy saw when the sun went down was a giant galleon on the horizon. He was awestruck and as the ship landed, he began jumping up and down in glee.

"IT'S SO BIG!!!!! WE MUST HAVE THAT SHIP!!!!"

And just as the captain walked down the plank onto the dock, Luffy latched himself onto the man.

"YOUR SHIP IS SO BIG. LET ME HAVE IT!!!!"

Half expecting the man to attack Luffy, Robin jumped in with her good negotiation skills.

"Ehheh, er this is my brother. Mentally retarded, you know?"

To her (and everyone else's) surprise, the menacing man laughed jovially.

"You like my ship do you boy? Sorry, lad you can't have it. I'm planning on giving it to my own son. He's married to a beautiful young girl, about your age you know? What's your name, boy?"

"Monkey D. Luffy. Captain of the Straw-Hat Pirates!!!"

"Really? I've heard of your crew. Very impressive."

"How about you, sir?"

"Captain Waterloo. Almost never met a pirate I didn't like."

It was Zoro who saw Arina standing at the end of the dock. She was pale and looked fearful. Waterloo looked up and grinned a toothy grin.

"Well if it isn't my favorite daughter-in-law! Is that really you, Arina?! You've grown into quite the beauty!"

I'm your only daughter in law…Arina thought bitterly. There was an artificial tone to Captain Waterloo's voice that only she could have picked up on. Arina knew why he was being civil to her even though he hated her father, and her guts. It was because today he would get to take his youngest son away from the bitch, the whore and all those other names Arina knew he called her behind her back.

"Well? Where's my son? I gave him the ten years! Where is he?"

Her eyes filled with tears as she fell to the ground on her hands and knees. She bowed to her father in law until her forehead touched the ground.

"Hiro! My husband, and your son… Is dead!"

Captain Waterloo just laughed.

End.