Chapter 2: Shanks

The first thing that Momo saw when her eyes adjusted to the light and the searing pain running along her side, was Kyoko pacing around the room." Kyo.."

Instantly the girl was by her side," Momo?"

" What...what happened..?" Her attempt to sit up failed as the pain and remembrance of the fight with Eiwa returned." Where are we..? We're not on Eiwamoto's ship...?"

Childish glee filled her eyes," No, Shanks brought us aboard his ship! He saved our lives when you passed out, Eiwa's not a problem anymore! We're free Momo, we're free!"

It was true...they were away from Eiwamoto and the sudden realization of that brought tears to her eyes. Thirteen long, hard years on the captains ship had finally come to an end.

" Shanks?" groaned Momo, finally managing to sit up, despite the discomfort it brought her." Who...?"

The door swung open and a red head walked in, three scars over his right eye," Ah...glad to see you're gonna make it. Started to worry when the bleeding wouldn't stop."

Realizing that she was staring at him Momo looked away," Well...I'm alive so you don't have to worry anymore. But thank you for your concern. I'd like to ask that you let my friend and I off at the nearest village...town...or whatever."

The red head just laughed," You don't beat around the bush, do you?"

" Not really..."

" Momo...this is Shanks..." Kyoko mumbled." And..we're not close to land...we've went some distance away from it in fact."

Fiddling with the blankets she thought about what to say then looked up, trying to figure out if Shanks had any alterior motives. With a sigh of defeat Momo glanced outside, the pirates aboard this ship seemed so jolly...unlike that of Eiwamoto's. It appeared they'd do no real harm but that still didn't help the fact that his crew defeated her former captain's. Thinking back...she remembered Eiwa being quite powerful...

" My diary..." Momo whispered." The money! Something very dear to me was inside that pouch—"

Tossing the dingy looking bag that held their money and a small book, Shanks smiled," Found it after we took you onboard...figured it belonged to you...Momo wasn't it? Anyway, feel free to roam around, no one's going to bother you or Kyoko."

The younger girl gleefully turned to Momo as the man left," We're so lucky that he's given us all that he has!"

" Yeah..."

Scratching her head Momo opened the pouch and took out her diary, all the money was there too. Smiling to herself she knew that something must be done to repay their kind hosts...and get them to land sooner.

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Walking along the deck Momo couldn't help but laugh as Kyoko followed her around like a baby duckling. It was cute even when they were a part of Eiwa's crew...but with no fear in the little girls eyes...it made all the difference. She had to agree with a comment her companion made a short while ago—it truly was peaceful for a pirate ship. Serene in a way...

" Momo...when we leave here...are you gonna go home to your family?"

The very thought sent ice through her veins and created a wall of hate around her heart. To go home to the man that sold her for his own greed...?

" No."

Blinking a bit Kyoko stared at her friend, who was mindlessly fooling around with her braid of sea green." Why not?"

Not wanting to scare the child with the amount of hatred that was buried deep inside she smiled, hiding behind a faulting mask that had been practiced so much it was nearly perfect." I'm not close to my father...plus I'm not even sure he's still alive." Personally she didn't like to think he was still living...but thoughts like that usually brought bad luck her way.

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Not much Shanks yet..but I'm getting around to it! But...Raiding My Heart finally has an official image! I worked my hardest on Shanks because I'm not used to drawing like Eiichiro Oda-sama. :sweatdrop:

I realized after I finished this chapter that...I really strayed from the original plot. Kyoko was supposed to have escaped before Momo fainted, on the row boat. Momo wasn't originally stabbed but had her arm crushed...and she was supposed to have woken up and stumbled into Shanks on deck. lol Oh well! Things change over time, ya know?

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