Chapter 11: First Snowfall

Great danger awaits ye...should ye chase ye dreams. Many a secret hidden...horrible storms to be overcome. Death waits at ye door!

Waking from due to the voice Hikaru stared down at her hands before looking around the room to find it empty—not to mention freezing. Wrapping her blanket around her the red head still couldn't figure out what everything meant.

" HIKARU!" Screamed her little sister bursting through the door." It's snowing! Come look, it's really snowing!"

Eagerly following behind Hikari she looked out at a winter wonderland, the village they were approaching was covered in snow and thick pine trees. Eyes aglow with excitement she smiled," It's so beautiful!"

" It's just snow..." Commented Zoro, who was studying the landscape as well.

Tilting her head to the side Hikaru sighed then grinned," Not just snow...not to me at least. When I was little I'd read all about it and see pictures but nothing compares to the real thing." Bridging the distance between them she pointed out at the snowfall." Did you know that each snowflake has a different look?"

" I never took the time to look," spoke the swordsmen amused.

Sending him a warning look Hikaru held out her hand to let snow land, watching it dissolve," Neither have I...I've just read about it. I guess snowflakes are a lot like people...unique in different ways."

" Ah, snow is so romantic," chimed Sanji, draping a coat around Hikaru's shoulders." Don't want you catching cold."

" Thank you, Sanji..."

Waving her hand about Hikari began to frown," Snow is only romantic if you're a hopeless romanctic yourself."

Sanji gave a sly grin," Then I guess I am."

" If you're gonna hit on Hikaru...do it when no one else is around," grumbled Zoro, ready to set foot on shore.

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As the crew sat inside listening to the tales being told by fishermen, Hikaru watched the snow dance by, trying to sort through her memories and the new information that she'd learned. She did come to one conclusion though! Every village they had gone to all had to do with the seasons and they were going right in order—Summer, Autum, Winter...the only season left was Spring.

" Strange..." Muttered Hikaru, taking a sip of hot chocolate—Sanji had provided by the way.

Leaning back in her chair, to the point she almost fell over, Hikari poked her sister on the shoulder," What's weird?" The blank stare she recieved made her puff out her cheeks." Yo, what's wrong with you? You've been almost zombie like since we encounter the fish man...okay, nevermind. After that day I'm surprised you're even alive. That was the strangest...still...you have me pretty worried."

" I'm fine...you know I tend to think over think issues..."

" True..."

Hugging the coat around her tighter Hikaru spotted Zoro across the room and headed towards him. He wasn't looking a bit happy, even though he'd drunk more than his far share of grog. As she went to greet him the green haired pirate stormed out of the building, his swords at his side(like usual). Standing by the door as she watche dhim leave the snow began to pick up.

" Someone's in a bad mood..." remarked Hikari with a grin." Wonder why..?"

Glaring at her sister Hikaru took of after him—of course he would have to storm out just as the weather turned for the worse. Once at the corner, where she'd last seen Zoro she turned, now nothing but white snow remained." Zoro?"

" Is that ye...child?"

Nearly jumping out of her skin the red head followed the voice to a small tent nestled between two buildings. Gently lifting the flap she was shocked to find Suni, the fortune teller from Natsu, sitting at an oak table. The old woman looked even more aged than before.

Not even looking up Suni gestured for her to sit," It is ye...I feared ye might come here. Child...why is ye dreams so much more important than ye life?"

Fumbling with the cloth of her coat Hikaru thought over the question," It's not just for me..."

" Ah...ye are looking for ye mother..."

" Yes, I am...but how—"

Looking away Suni gave a weak smile," I knew ye mother very well child...but ye'll never find her on these islands. She was banished...and in time ye shall know the truth behind ye dreams. But I warn ye...if ye don't turn back now ye'll regret it."

" Regret...?" Uncomfortably Hikaru thought over the possibilities." you said before that great danger awaited us...did you mean our being attacked by pirates? If so...the danger's over, isn't it?"

" No child...it is not..."

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Chapter 11 is now completed:starts dancing: Don't worry though...Hi-chan's gonna find Zoro in the next chapter so—yay! Sanji's putting on the moves a little think...right? Ah...it's gonna be hard to break his adorable little heart. :sniffle: But he'll get his romance after this story ends. Yay!

Chapter 12(I have no title for it yet..)! Does the talk with the old fortune teller change Hikaru's mind about their journey? When she finds Zoro a great truth shall be revealed...along with a romance that may never be.

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