One Piece: The Musician

Chapter 12: Going Down In Flames

Note: Hmm, it was the oddest thing. I found part of chapter 12 on my computer and I began writing because I had thought I didn't finish ch 12. then I found out that I had already posted a ch. 12 online. Well, the ultimate ending to the story will be the same, but it was interesting to see how different my two chapter 12 endings were. Here's the more emotional one… (one more thing, both chapter 12's are part of the story. Neither one is like an "alternate" ending or anything)

The little town of Rhea watched the gargantuan ship disappear into the night. Everyone was silent except Luffy, who unfortunately had the least idea of all of what was going on.

"COME BACK WITH MY MUSICIAN, YOU BASTARD!" he screamed and then proceeded to go to the Merry Go. Zoro grabbed him by the back of his shirt.

"And where do you think you're going?"

"I'm going after her, what else?"

Robin, perhaps the most rational of all, shook her head.

"Luffy, if you go after her, we'll be sucked into this huge mess. Maybe it'd be better if we just left it alone…"

Luffy pouted, "But she's our friend! And one of our crew! We have to help her!"

By now, Zoro was extremely curious about what exactly was taped to the bottom of Arina's bed. So curious in fact, that he wasn't going to wait until dawn to look for it.

"You guys," Zoro whispered, "I gotta tell you something."

xxx

Arina had been sailing with Sanjiro and his crew for the past hour. Dawn was fast approaching and she was scared out of her wits. Not necessarily about being killed, but about what Sanjiro wanted to show her. The last time Sanjiro decided to surprise her ended in tragedy. And then the ship halted.

The atmosphere had gotten awfully warm and for a moment, Arina thought that the sun had risen. There was a blinding light that filled her vision. As she desperately tried to see clearer, the landscape before her suddenly became horrifically lucid. The sea had turned blood red. Hundreds of dead bodies floated quietly on the water. It was small in the distance but there was a giant galleon on fire. Even smaller was a man tied to the mast and shot to death, but the figure was unmistakable. Someone had macerated the entire Waterloo crew in one brilliant flash of light.

"You're sick… You demented bastard… You killed your father…"

Not a trace of remorse was in Sanjiro's expression. He too looked out to the galleon.

"What? Him? The old man was senile anyways. I was just putting him out of his misery."

Without warning, Sanjiro pulled Arina into his arms. He gently pushed back some of her hair.

"The hate in your eyes only makes me want to kiss you, Arina."

"I dare you to," she hissed.

"Well, I'm not one to back down from a dare…"

He leaned in and just as their lips brushed, she slapped him. Hard. So hard, in fact that he bled. Arina was convinces that he would sneer at her. Or laugh. But all there was was contempt. A mirror image of her eyes.

Sanjiro wiped the blood from his lip and spat some blood-stained saliva onto the wood.

"Is this your idea of denial?"

"I don't know shit about what you're saying, Sanjiro."

"Everyone believes you are this perfect girl. This young woman with so much potential. You're practically their queen. They worship the ground you walk upon. How have you so easily brainwashed so many people?"

"I don't have to take this."

Arina stormed towards the ship's cabin. As she opened the door, a silent scream escaped her mouth. There was Sanjiro, sitting on the table, waiting for an answer. Fear made Arina tremble and she started to wring her hands. Sanjiro got up and in one felled swoop, had her pinned to the wall.

"You know just as well as I do that you killed Hiro. I didn't trick you. It wasn't an accident. You did it 'cause you knew my father would come for him one day."

A look of disbelief crossed Arina's face.

"You're unbelievable…" the tone of fury increased. "You're ACTUALLY TRYING TO PIN THIS ON ME? I'LL KILL YOU!"

"Are you mad because you know it's true?"

"IT'S NOT TRUE!" Arina screamed, tears welling up in her eyes.

Unfortunately… she knew just as well as Sanjiro did…

It was true.

End.

Note: It's been a while. I'm sorry everybody! For my "fans" thanks for supporting me, and I know you've been waiting. For the people who absolutely despise my story, I'm sorry too, but I love to write. If you don't like it, you don't have to read it.