One Piece: The Musician

Chapter 10: Irony is a Cruel, Cruel Thing

Arina whacked Zoro over the head.

"Oww! What hell was that for?" he bellowed.

"You wanted to hear this story, so you have to see it through!"

"But it's sooooo boring! Where's the action! Don't tell me Hiro died 'cause of some disease or something!"

"He didn't die of sickness! I was tricked into killing him! Just calm down and hang on, would ya!"

"All right, all right, continue."

"Thank you, geez… Okay, so where was I? Oh yeah, so Hiro and I got married. We had been married scarcely a year before Hiro died…"

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It was mid-July and Hiro was celebrating his twentieth birthday. As his birthday present, Arina had restored the rusty sword that Hiro constantly carried with him. The one he said would last him the rest of his life. Being the kind and gentle person that he was, Hiro was grateful for all the presents he received. Except one… The one that the sea brought to him…

It was around noon when Arina spotted a ship off the horizon and she rushed out to greet the incoming pirates. Hiro eagerly joined her until he got a good look at the ship. The flag had a skull with a gun to its temple.

Arina. Get back inside the tavern.

What? Why?

Just go!

No! Why?

My brother's coming.

These words only discredited Hiro's cause. Arina was quite familiar with Hiro's hatred for his older brother. His brother abandoned his family when Hiro and Hiro's mother needed him the most (Captain Waterloo had already left on his journey, he later came back to get Hiro). Without a father, Hiro's mother was failing. She was getting weaker. But Sanjiro (the brother) refused to stay. So one day, when Hiro was ten and Sanjiro was fifteen, he just got up and left.

Arina supposed the concept of Sanjiro coming was supposed to strike some sort of fear in her. But it only made her want to stay by her husband's side even more. So, they stood side by side when the ship landed in the harbor and a lean, handsome figure stepped onto the dock. Then, Hiro deliberately shoved Arina behind his own body, as if to protect her and at the same time tell his brother that Arina was not available.

It's my little brother! Hiro, how are you? I haven't seen you in…

Ten years. What the fuck do you want?

It's my little bro's twentieth birthday! How could I miss it?

You didn't seem to have trouble missing the other ones.

Now, now I even come bearing presents. Why must you talk to me this way?

It was then that Sanjiro spotted Arina. His eyes widened.

Who is this gorgeous vision! It must be Arina!

Get the fuck away from her. She's my wife and if you take one step in her direction, I'll rip your throat out. As if didn't already want to…

Arina stepped in between the two.

Come on you guys. We don't need any bloodshed at a reunion.

She's right, Hiro. Listen to her.

I wasn't advocating your cause, jackass. I just don't want my husband to get his hands dirty.

Hiro couldn't help but smirk at Sanjiro. This was one of the many reasons he married Arina. Her sharp tongue.

Anyways, Sanjiro. We know the good reason you are here. You're here to celebrate my twentieth birthday. Now, why don't you give us the real reason you're here?

Nothing more but to call a truce.

Oh I highly doubt that.

Why do you not believe me?

Because you knew Arina's name, but you never once asked for it. And don't give me any bullshit about hearing it from someone. Rhea is a tiny island with no communication. Not even Blackbeard knows his own daughter is married. You couldn't possibly know.

The falsely sweet tone in Sanjiro's voice was fading away. Anger was rising.

Well, Hiro. You must have me all figured out, huh?

More than you could ever know.

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OW! A splinter embedded itself in Arina's palm.

"You guys need to sand down your damn table!"

Zoro rolled his eyes.

"You're such a baby. Gimme your hand. I'll pull it out," he said impatiently.

BOOM! The door swung open and the rest of the Straw-Hat crew barged in. Of course, everyone stopped when they saw Zoro and Arina were alone in the room, her hand in his. Nami grinned slyly as Robin tried to stifle a giggle. Sanji, on the other hand, had fire in his eyes.

"Ooh, Zoro. Are we iiiinterrupting anything?" Nami cooed.

"Zoooorooo… How dare you take advantage of Miss Arina like this...?" Sanji hissed.

At first, neither Arina nor Zoro had a clue what Nami was talking about. But then they realized that their hands looked like they were clasped together. They immediately pulled away and began shouting excuses.

"No! She had a splinter! I was just trying to get it out!"

"Yeah, and I was telling him a story!"

Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp all plopped down on the floor immediately, like eager little children.

"Tell us the story, Arina!"

Arina figured that they already knew the idea anyways and even if they didn't, Zoro would tell it to them. It would be better if she told it herself, so that no details were twisted.

"All right… All right… I'll tell you, but I won't go back. If the story confuses you, I won't explain it."

"There's nothing to go back on, stupid. The first half of your story was boring and pointless anyways. I can tell it to them in less than a minute," Zoro claimed.

"Well then go ahead, hotshot."

"Okay," he motioned to the rest of the crew, "Listen carefully. Arina was ten when she met Hiro. Hiro was the son of Waterloo. Waterloo hated Arina because she was the daughter of Blackbeard. Arina and Hiro fell in love and Hiro refused to leave with Waterloo. Waterloo gave Hiro ten years to 'straighten his head.' Before Waterloo left, Arina promised him that she would protect Hiro with her life. The night before Arina's eleventh birthday, Hiro gave half of the Fruit of the Seas to Arina and they both ate it. Arina's mother died when Arina was fourteen and Hiro was seventeen. The following year, Hiro proposed to Arina. The year after that, Hiro and Arina got married. They hadn't been married a whole year yet when Hiro's older brother, Sanjiro came. Hiro hates Sanjiro because he abandoned Hiro and his mother. And that's it. You're all caught up. Get it?" Zoro had said this all very quickly.

Everyone nodded, including Luffy. Then he suddenly said, "I'm confused."

Usopp fell over.

"How can you be confused? Even I get it!"

"Forget Luffy, Arina. Just keep going."

Skeptically, Arina continued with her story…

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Arina loved Hiro more than anyone in the world. He was her best friend, her "brother," but most importantly, he was her husband. So, if Hiro hated Sanjiro, she hated him too. But Arina had to admit, it was tough task. Sanjiro was just like Hiro, fun-loving, carefree, kind, funny. For brief moments during the day, Arina would even be guiltily attracted to Sanjiro. She didn't understand where Hiro was coming from. It was true that Sanjiro had abandoned his family, but that was over ten years ago, when Sanjiro was fifteen and immature. Arina tried to reason with Hiro, while avoiding Sanjiro all together. She had a feeling all week that Sanjiro had been watching her.

Hiro…I don't get it. Your brother is really nice. And he's been a real help around the tavern. He's just like you!

Don't associate me with him!

Your being stubborn, Hiro! It was more than ten years ago!

Why are you being like this, Arina?

I should be asking you that!

Look, I just don't trust him, okay? Sanjiro is one of those guys who would be willing to kill his own family to get ahead. You tell him, that I'm watching his very move.

Hiro kissed her on the cheek and went upstairs. Arina yelled after him.

Where are you going?

To take a nap… I'm tired…

Arina heard it in his voice. He really was tired. It was then that Sanjiro came running in.

Where'd my little brother go?

To bed, he was tired…

Oh really? That's too bad…I was going to take him into town to buy food. Oh well, I'll do it myself. I'll cook him a surprise dinner.

Arina couldn't help but smile.

That would be very sweet of you, Sanjiro…

Sanjiro smiled that sweet smile of his. What Arina didn't know was that beyond the tavern doors was something much less pleasant.

Even as Arina looked back on it, she denied that she meant to kill Hiro. It had been, what? Three years? That's hardly enough time to recover from losing the love of your life, but Arina did and she had always found that a little strange… Did Hiro not mean enough to her for her to mourn and grieve for the rest of her life? Apparently, not. She still remembered Hiro's pleading voice off in the distance…

It was around midnight, when Hiro shook Arina awake.

Arina! Wake up!

What…? What's wrong, Hiro?

I hear him downstairs.

Who?

My brother.

I know. I let him sleep in the guest room.

What! Why didn't you just let the entire crew sleep in the kitchen! (sarcastically)

Well, because the entire tavern is only big enough to house the captain. Unfortunately, the crew has to sleep on the ship.

I hear him moving around downstairs, though. And it's past midnight!

You ever think he might be going to the restroom?

Hiro relaxed and put a loving arm around Arina. She kissed him.

Get some sleep, Hiro. You've been overstressing yourself.

Hiro was already asleep and Arina fell asleep with the sounds of his breathing.

Arina didn't know how many hours had passed, but it seemed like the moment she closed her eyes, Hiro was waking her up again. But the shake was more violent this time. More urgent. Arina's eyes couldn't adjust to the dark quickly enough, but she knew what was happening the moment she felt cold metal to her forehead. Arina felt no fear. In her gut, she knew this was coming. But Hiro was scared, not for himself but for Arina. Perhaps he knew something that Arina didn't.

Sanjiro!

Please. Leave Arina out of this. If there's something you want, let me get it.

Oh, but you see dear brother. I could really care less what you have for me. But this girl…This girl is the daughter of Blackbeard, and rumor has it that he sent his precious daughter a map of Rahudell. Shocked? Well, you were right Hiro. I hadn't a clue that you had married Blackbeard's daughter. However, I was very sure that she was living on Rhea. You, my brother, merely made it easier for me to get to her. And for that, I thank you. Now…

Sanjiro waved the man who was holding the gun to Arina's head away. He stepped towards her and as he came closer and closer, Arina saw him clearer and clearer. Suddenly, everything was elucidated. Why Sanjiro had come here. Why he was always looking at her. Everything seemed so obvious. Sanjiro tilted her face up to him and moved it around as if examining every one of her facial features.

Such a pretty little girl. After you give me the map, maybe we can have a little fun…

Oh, you mean the part where I gun you down and stab you to death? You're right, that would be fun.

Sanjiro pulled her out of the bed and put a gun to her head. On the other side, three burlesque men pulled Hiro onto his feet.

Take me to the map, or else.

Or else what, bastard?

Or else, I slit your husband's throat.

Then slit my husband's throat. I'd like to see you try it.

Funny, I thought you were more loyal to him than that.

My loyalty to Hiro is infinite and indestructible. But I know he doesn't need me to protect himself.

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A loud snore escaped Zoro's mouth. Arina had been so caught up in telling her story that she had completely failed to see that everyone around her had fallen asleep. She couldn't help but laugh and as she tucked everyone into blankets, a lamenting smile stole across her face.

Yeah, it's a boring story…she thought as she tucked away little Chopper.

The night was clear as Arina walked back to the tavern. The moon shone clearly and reflected on the calm ocean. She gazed at the stars.

But I'm afraid that if I stop telling the story, then sooner or later, I'll forget about you, Hiro. And I don't ever want to do that…

She averted her eyes to the Merry Go, floating quietly on the water.

I suppose the rest of the story is for another time…When you guys are ready…

Arina closed the tavern door and locked it from the inside. Before Sanjiro… Before Arina killed her own husband, she never even knew there was a lock on the door.

End.