When I first saw the ship I fell in love with the Going Merry. The sheep figurehead was so much more adorable than that crappy figure head from Crimson Claw's ship. When I first stepped on the Going Merry I felt… well… not at home yet, but it will happen.

I settled down in the women's quarters with Nami. I need to get to know her better, but I think of her as a girly girl with a slight edge. She had loaned me one of her tank tops, but I have return it once I buy my own clothes. If I don't she will charge me 10,000 beli plus a 200% interest. Eh? I was shocked she would do this with a straight face, but she will navigate for free… I hope.

"… Okay," I shrugged my shoulders and put on a white tank top with a heart attached. "I guess we can't do girl things like try on each other's clothes."

"We can, but I don't think the shirts you wear will fit me."

My eyes shifted to her chest. "Yours are bigger than mine. That's the truth, I'm nearly flat! Tell me!" I grabbed her and positioned our faces two inches apart. "What do you eat?"

She scoffed and violently pushed me away. "What normal people eat! There are a lot of people in this world who don't have a chest like mine, some have the size of yours."

"Hm… " I pouted. "You're right, but I'm still envy you." I whined

The orange haired girl crossed her arms as she covered her chest. "I can't help it. I was born this way. Are you feeling down just because yours isn't big? Don't be, you're fine that way."

"Thanks."

"I could also offer you some pants or a skirt."

"I don't like wearing skirts or dresses that much, I need to fight without worrying it getting my way or perverts seeing me. My pants are still in one piece."

Nami nodded. "Okay, but you never wore a skirt?"

"I have worn skirts, but not as short as yours. I usually wear them below the knees. When I do wear a skirt, I wear bicycle shorts or leggings." She patted her hip. "I don't want people to see all of me. Maybe I'm being a prude, but that's how I feel."

Nami nodded. "I get it, it just isn't you."

"What can I say? I grew up with three boys and bandits. I spent the last four years training with not normal mentor."

Nami eyes widen. "You and Luffy grew up with bandits… this explains so much."

I laughed. "It wasn't bad, let me give you the short version."

I told her about how Luffy and I grew up with Ace, Sabo, Dadan and her bandits. She was surprised about Ace, he is the 2nd division commander of the White Beard pirates after all. Not something I throw around, but I feel I can trust her. The more I told her about our times together the more she was intrigued. I… also told her about Sabo's demise, she gratefully understood and offered her apologies

After I was done, she told me her story of Cocoyashi village before Arlong showed up. I was deeply saddened when he killed her mother and more horrified by making her steal for him and draw maps in order to gain her freedom. I would hate to be locked room and forced to do someone's bidding in order to gain my freedom. I would sooner beat them up before submitting.

I was annoyed she used Luffy as a bargain chip to get what she wanted from Buggy, but Luffy seemed to have saw through her act. She finished the story when Luffy beat Arlong and declared her a friend or nakama as you like to hear.

Nami had a more difficult life than I did. She watched her mother get killed and forced to work under Arlong. Spending years gathering up money to pay it off all to be told it was lie? Yeah, I can see how hopeless that situation was. Watching Sabo get killed made me want to leave the island that did not care about his death.

After her story we sat in silence as I processed the information. She then stood up, walked over and sat down next to me. "It seems that each of us had someone dear to us die. We can move past it and stay in the present while trying to accomplish or dreams.

I put my arm around her and chuckled. "We'll accomplish them with power of WILL!"

Our navigator chuckled sheepishly. "Will eh?

"Of course, every single person out there has a strength of will. Justice? Nah, just will, passion, and the ability to butt heads."

She giggled. "Butt heads eh? Don't let the marines hear that."

"I'll say it the nearest marine I see."

We both laughed. Nami told me about a few details about her past. She once stole gold from someone's carriage in broad daylight. A risky maneuver I might add. I told her about how Luffy and I threw snowballs at innocent bystanders when we were 9. We shattered a window and had to replace the window. After that we left the room and went upstairs. When Nami left to go outside, I decided to check out the kitchen, where I found Sanji.

Sanji, first impression was I thought he was some stuck-up suit wearing priss Luffy managed to convince to join a crew. Now? I don't think he's stuck up, but too much of a flirt, but if he managed to beat a bunch of pirates effortlessly then he's more capable than I thought. Don't judge a book by its cover or something like that.

When he saw me he got excited in some kind of girl crazy way. Now I believe a chivalrous sap who will please any woman. Nothing wrong about that, but if Master was eyeing to kill then she would take advantage of his chivalry to assassinate him.

"Anya-chan! Your presence in the kitchen is met with praise."

Okay, I think I can take advantage of this to get food... er... I don't want to you my femineity to take advantage...

"Would care for a snack?" He said kindly.

"Um… sure I want some. Whatever you recommend."

"Lady Anya I managed to whip up some chocolate chip cookies.

I took the cookie and munched on it. My taste buds danced, sang, and exploded in my mouth.

"This is better than those crappy store-bought cookies." I praised him as I slowly enjoyed each bite. "This is so good."

"I am much better than them. I am a first-class chef, so I put extra care in my cooking."

"You can fight and cook, but you only use your feet?"

"I don't want to injure my hands in a fight." He looked back at me. "I believe a chef should use their hands for preparing meals instead of engaging in fights. I don't want ti soil my hands though. It'll taste better that way."

"I get that."

"It's how I was raised." He chuckled. "The old man drilled it into me constantly. You've heard of Red Foot Zeff?"

"Ah! I've heard of the Baratie. Master told me to try to go there at one point if I'm lost... shame she never took me."

"Eh, if you did we would've met earlier, but that's nothing to dwell on."

"How did Luffy get you?"

I listened to his interesting story. I found it funny that Luffy accidentally fired a cannon into the Baratie and had to work for a year. I can't imagine Luffy staying in one place for a long time and working at a restaurant with food available. At least Don Krieg showed up and almost destroyed the restaurant.

"Luffy defeated him which led me to follow him. I'm sure our darling navigator told you her story. You and her are 95.34% of me being here."

"Hmm, I wouldn't like a crew of just women."

Sanji smirked and started dancing with strange hearts flying out. "That's a man's dream." Great, dude had a perverted look thinking about a crew of women. If Luffy trusts him then he's not all bad. I hope we don't run into the Kuja pirates. That would be a disaster.

I stuff two more cookies in my mouth and left kitchen, but not before asking him to tell me more stories if he wants to.

I walked out onto the deck and saw Roronoa Zoro sleeping to my left. Just sleeping, is that all he does? This crew is feeling more serene than most pirate ships. I know, my Master and I pretended to be on the crew of the Big Belly Pirates to find out where they hid a particular painting. For the past two weeks I felt greed, lust, despair, and hatred from them. Also, everything smelled like crap.

I walked over and sat down in front of him. I stared at him for a while until he woke up. He snorted and looked at me. "Hi."

"The infamous pirate hunter on a pirate ship." I smirked. "Yes, I've heard of you. One of these days I want to spar with you to see how strong you are."

He smirked as well. "I won't go easy on you for being a woman or the sister of the captain."

"Good!" I giggled at him for at least taking me seriously, I respect that. "I noticed you didn't keep the swords you got?"

He sighed. "Not really the kind of swords I want. I hope the next town has some quality material."

"So… are the rumors true or not?"

"Whatever they are or aren't isn't my concern. It's what I aim to be."

"That is?"

"The world's greatest swordsman."

"World's greatest eh? You are going to have to compete with Mihawk, Vista and others."

"I already faced Mihawk."

I gasped in awe. No one has ever lived or at least come out broken and beaten when they faced 'Hawk-Eyes' Mihawk. I grabbed his cheeks much to his annoyance.

"Oi, what are you doing."

"You're not dead, you don't look beaten up. I heard Mihawk doesn't leave his victims alive or at least scarred for life."

"You think I didn't come out of that without something to remember him by?" He casually lifted his shirt for me to view. I-…. I mentally slapped myself from seeing his chiseled body and focused on the scar across his chest. Geez, Mihawk really carved into him.

"He gave me this and told me to get stronger. When I realized I was beaten I stood in front and let him cut me. I may have earned his respect, but the fight made me realize I was just a frog at the bottom of the well."

"Meaning you need to get good and fight alot strong guys?"

"Yeah, I told your brother he had better not get in the way of my goal or I'll gut him."

"Hmm, but you are here regardless. There's more to you Roronoa, so I won't pry in too much of your personal life. You look like you don't trust anyone."

"True, but I trust you, only because you're related to Luffy… he vouched for you. I trust your brother, Usopp, somewhat Nami, and even the chef." He looked at the sky. "Don't tell them that."

"Like I would tell them your secrets Mr. swordsman." Tilted my head. "Why would you even tell me that"

"Does it matter?"

"No, it matters not, but if I wasn't Luffy's brother I suspect you wouldn't trust me."

"As long as you don't cause any harm to the crew you are welcome to stay." He shrugged.

I chuckled. I guess that's his reason. I need to know more about him. He comes across of a cool, battle harden warrior. He's kind of cool.

"A PIRATE SHIP IS APPROACHING FROM THE SOUTHWEST!

We all jumped from and looked over to see a pirate ship approaching us. A jolly roger with a pig head. These guys… I heard of them.

BOOM!

Like a hero defending the innocent, Luffy jumped up and used his rubber ability to inflate himself. The cannon ball struck him and then bounced off. They can't touch us, we're invincible! HA HA! Zoro and I approached the starboard side of the ship. Nami, annoyed, got up and asked the Usopp about them.

"They have an emblem of a pig on their jolly roger." Usopp warned us with a hint of fear in his voice. I snorted humorously and could only chuckle. I recognize this pirate group, but I thought they disbanded when Master and I took them out. Long story short I got thrown on their ship as the first attack. Master called me the vanguard and referred to herself as the main force. I fought against them until their captain appeared and threatened to kill me. Master Sakura appeared a second later and handled the rest and the captain. They were no match for her, she was a beast. No Devil Fruit required

"They're the Pig-Head pirates." All eyes were on me. "A bunch of guys with odor issues and abnormal weight."

Zoro turned to me. "Sounds like you encountered them before?"

"My teach and I fought them before, she told them to disband."

"I guess they regrouped." spoke Usopp

"Maybe they heard she went back to the Grand Line and decided to resurface. They also have a new ship, smaller than the last one."

Luffy snorted. "We'll handle them, no problem."

The ship moved in close enough for us to be in hearing range.

I curiously looked over at the ship and much to my surprise it was not the same person who commanded the ship two years ago. A mirror will shatter into a thousand pieces if this captain saw one. The captain was tall, skinny, and had pig like features on his face. Nothing about him screamed he was the most charming man I had ever seen. He was in a class of the ugliest. The rest of his crew still looked like normal looking pirates. I think I recognize him… yes, he was the first mate. So not all of them reformed.

"STRAWHAT!" He bellowed as he swung his sword like an unskilled moron with no I.Q. His men were just as worse. "We came to kill you and claim ourselves to be the most dangerous pirates of the East Blue! PREPARE TO DIE! BOARD THEM MEN!"

"YAHH!"

"What's all the noise outside?" Sanji walked out and immediately saw the pirates about to board. He looked at the situations and shrugged. "Need any help?"

"Nah, what do you two think?" I asked my brother and the swordsman.

Zoro jadedly unsheathed his katana. He seemed to want to get this over with and move on. "Who's up first? Luffy? Anya?"

Luffy looked over at the approaching men, before looking disappointed. He turned his back to them and approached Nami. "What are you doing?"

Nami, not carrying about our situation, answered his question. "Obviously we'll be arriving at the next destination, Loguetown soon. That's if you want to stay here awhile, mind you we can't attract too much attention."

"HEY! WHAT KIND OF CAPTAIN ARE YOU!?" one of the pirates scowled as they emerged onto our ship. "DON'T LOOK DOWN ON US!"

"YOU'RE PRETTY COCKY STRAWHAT!" shouted the Captain as he landed on our deck and pointed his sword at Luffy. "You're going to die to make way for the new and better Pig-Head Pirates."

"Hey!" I took out my spear with a big smile on my face. "I want to play with you guys."

Zoro rushed forward with me. To make a long story short, we took the captain out, boarded them and then took out the rest of them in a short amount of time. That was fun. Zoro had tossed the captain over to the downed group as I looked at one of the fallen crew members. I poked the captain in the face as he came to."

"Hey! It's you! Kip! Remember me?"

He looked at me for a few good seconds and then started to spaz. "YOU! If you're here, then she's here too?"

"No, she left to the Grand Line. I'm with my brother now, the captain."

"WHAAAAT!" I knocked him out with a punch. After that business was done, Zoro and I went back to the Going Merry and we sailed off. I'm sure they will be feeling extra sore later.

We came across an island that was marked on the map as night settled in. It was a small island… nothing exciting here. Usopp and I went to look for something. He thought he heard about buried treasure here.

Usopp, I guess I was not being to fair in judging him. He lied and was cowardly. Some part of me felt Yasopp should've taken the guy with him, but I guess Shanks did not want a kid in the crew. However, before we went to land, he told me how Yasopp left him to be with Shanks, his mother died, and how he kept yelling about pirates invading. I admired how he kept a girl named Kaya company and tried to protect her from a butler who turned out to be a pirate. If Luffy didn't turn up, they would all be dead for sure.

"Do you ever think about Yasopp?" I asked him.

He nodded. "Sure, Luffy told me, do you have any stories."

"The same ones he told me, how much he cared about you. I disliked he abandoned you like that though."

"Truthfully…" He stopped as he looked at the ground. Her looked upset. "I was angry at first. I hated that he left us. I even blamed him for mom's death, but… over time I let that go." He looked toward me with a big smile. "The only thing I am never sure of is what I am going to do when I meet him."

"If my father was alive then I would punch him square in the face."

"You don't know your father?"

"No, both of our parents are dead. Only gramps took care of us and then gave us to our foster mother.

"Why?"

"He's an important person in the world… he doesn't have time to take care of us. He did visit, but not as often as we like."

"I'm sure he's seen Luffy's wanted poster by now. How would he react?"

"Punch the both of us and then nag, nag, nag." I repeated while pretending my hand was a mouth. Now that I thought about, he wouldn't nag. He would just keep on telling us to be strong proud marines and then punch us for being pirates. I feel the marines have a set of rules and restrictions that would make me feel trapped.

We stopped at specific point. There it was. A funny looking a tree with an X. I stared at him oddly, he merely shrugged his shoulders. I jokingly asked if we could bomb it and he declined instantly, saying it was not necessary a smart idea. I guess I deserved that. We began digging, we didn't stop until we found a small chest. Usopp opened hoping for coins, but all we found was a strange piece of paper with instructions on how to make your own quilt.

We threw it away and walked back. I told him it was okay on the way back, but he did tell a lie about finding a giant statue of the famous ninja, Naruske of the mirror doppelganger technique. I read a little of the book series. Ninja guy wants to be the top ninja. He fights rogue and enemies to save his friends and be the best. It's okay, but I hear out of the many characters only a few get a lot of screen time

Anyway, we found a coconut tree on the way back and gathered some. Maybe Sanji can make a smoothie or something else.

Later in the evening Sanji cooked us a delicious meal using the ingredients from the island and whatever he had on the ship. Again, he's the best cook I know. We decided to camp on the island as campers. Nami told a story about a tale she heard back in her village. A man called Sousuke; a hero of the innocent and enemy of the wicked. He saved his home from an evil warlord bent on ceasing the life of his country. The more she told her tale the more I envisioned myself as that hero.

With the ship docked on the island and the sails up, we declared it safe to stay on the island. Everyone else went to sleep or stayed up. Nami was sitting on the beach reading a book. Luffy and I were laying on the beach while looking at the stars

"How do you think Shanks is doing?" He asked me as he continued staring at the sky.

I gazed at the crisp and clear night. It was so relaxing. "I don't know, I do know he is a Yonkou, one of the four strongest pirates in the New World."

"Like Whitebeard correct?"

"Yes, like Whitebeard." I answered and gazed at him. "Remember Shanks face when you ate the Gum Gum Fruit?"

"He yelled at me and tried to get it out by shaking me." I could feel his grin. "It was too late.

"He ordered me to NEVER eat one. He was so stern I thought I was going to faint. Besides, I rather swim." I grabbed his cheek and stretched it. "As opposed to having random powers."

"Hey quit that." He sounded annoyed

"Nope."

He groaned. "You're enjoying this too much. You did that all the time after I got my power, it's not that cute."

"I thought it was at the time." I released him. "But, I've grown. I am much more mature woman."

"HEY LOOK A PUPPY!" He pointed at the deck.

"WHERE!" I looked around frantically for a cute, innocent, youngling. All I got was Nami. She looked at us from reading her book.

"…" She stared for moment and then went back to her reading

"You jerk!"

"Still the same old Anya," He laughed. "Nothing has changed about you, except you gotten stronger."

"Stronger yes, I'm also faster and more flexible than before." I giggled with glee. I then gazed curiously at the strawhat Shanks gave him. "Are you going to give that strawhat back. It suits you."

"Yeah, I promised I would. If he lets me keep it then I don't mind. A promise is a promise. I like the name of our crew though. Doesn't sound very evil."

"People will see us as the coolest dudes from the East Blue."

"You know Gold Roger was from the East Blue. Dadan told me."

"I'm surprised you listen."

"What, you think I don't? I can if I want to."

"Ha, ha I know."

He laughed again, then I stopped suddenly. He stared at me intently and grasped my shoulder. "… I missed you Anya. After Ace left it felt lonely."

My eyes widen at the statement. I didn't think he would get this emotional. I felt like crying for leaving him. "I'm sorry.", Being without my brother felt I was missing my other half. I endured, but it still felt like there was someone missing beside me. "I'm back." I hugged him and he returned the hug.

"We can't separate from each other." He spoke with determination. "I don't want us to be apart."

"We'll stick together brother. I'll kick every single butt that tries to separate us."

"Me too, I punch them all."

I laughed. I let out a yawn that indicated me getting tired. He did too and looked over. "Night sis."

"Night Little brother."

"Same age, you know that."

"By a few seconds. I'm going to change and brush my teeth."

I walked past Nami who still had her head in the book. I heard a sniff from her.

"Are you crying?"

"No," Nami closed the book and brought the blankets upon her. "You're crying."

I laughed again as I walked toward the ship. I stopped and looked back at Luffy, no, at the strawhat. A memory surfaced of the last time I saw Shanks.

-Flashback-

Seven-year-old Anya watched as Shanks walked back to the port holding Luffy in his arm. She was horrified when she saw the man missing his right arm and Luffy still crying about the lost limb. When she asked what happened she was informed he had lost it to a sea monster. Luffy was still crying about it being his fault. He turned to see her with tears in his eyes. The only thing she could do was cry and hug him. She cried in joy about him being alive, but she also cried about his pain. He felt it was his fault for injuring his mentor.

A week later the twins watched the pirate crew pack up to leave. Shanks and Luffy were talking about being pirates and when Shanks told him he couldn't be a pirate due to his ability. Luffy made this declaration

Luffy shouted. "I'll be a pirate. One day I will have a ship and a crew better than yours. Right Anya?"

Anya nodded. "Right, we'll be greatest crew!"

"Yeah!" Luffy shouted. "We'll have the biggest hoard of treasure in the world!" He raised his fists in the air. "I'M GONNA BE KING OF THE PIRATES!"

Shanks gazed at the boy as if he saw something familiar in him. As if an old friend had returned. He chuckled. "You're going to be better than us, huh?" Shanks walked forward, took off his hat and placed it firmly on the boy's head. "Do me a favor... keep this hat safe for me. This hat means a lot to me." He turned toward the girl and reached plucked a pocket watch from his pocket. "Just so you don't feel left out. You can also return it to me when see each other again." He turned to walk away. "Promise me that you'll give those trinkets back when you all become great pirates."

With that declaration told, the red-haired pirates sailed away from the port and soon East Blue all together.

Watching them go, Luffy continued staring at the ship slowing fading away in the distance. Luffy took a deep breath and turned to his sister, with renewed determination.

"Someday we'll see him again."

The girl nodded. "Yeah, someday."

-Present-

I smiled warmly at the memory and went to bed. Tomorrow is going to be better.

A/N: The group heads to LogueTown. What do you think Anya's nickname should be for her wanted poster?