With the Music Inside
Four ----
The next day we reached the harbor of a town port this side of the western sound. After the rigging was secured, everyone went their separate ways. Manic said he would stay with the ship, I would have, if Anex hadn't insisted to Atlas that he get me out.
This town was bigger that the last one we had entered. The last one we had raided, killing everyone there in. Atlas seemed pretty set that this town would be fine, there would be no need to raid or kill this town. And as we walked down the little stone walk of it I was glad. I liked the song of this town. It was chipper. There was a flutist on the corner of the street from the docks. He looked at my Piccolo and called me over. I looked at Atlas for a second and then walked over to the elderly man. Atlas stayed on the other corner, seeing that I liked this town that much made him become at ease easier.
"Can you play that pipe," The old flutist asked. I nod and he smiles. "Play with me?" I nod and motion for him to start. He nods in return and puts the flute to his lips. A single high tone comes out and as he continues in a string of five of six and smile and lifting my piccolo play out several in the time of his one and he smiles as he plays. His foot taps to keep time for both of us. Several people slow on the street to look at us. In the distance I could hear Atlas laugh lightly. The flutist stops after about three minutes and just listens to me rant on with the toned song. He lends a few notes over the several minutes that I continue solo and when I stopped, the small crowd that had gathered clap a little and throw a few coins in the beggars-flutist can. He motions the can to me and mumbles to take some and I shake my head.
"They're your's," is all I say before walking back to where Atlas was still standing. He leans off the wall he had taken residence on and smiles at me.
"Have fun?" I look up at him and smile.
"Enough." He laughs and puts his arms behind his head walking a little slower.
"What shall we do in this little dust-bunny town?" I shake my head and look around the walk. There were mostly pawn shops and bars this close to the water. Atlas yawns and looks around too. Seeing what I was seeing was boring for Atlas. "Mansion probably ran up the way further to look for the store for Manic." I nod. "And then who knows where Anex and Gloria ran off to, and honestly Blue, I could care less." I nod.
"I know, Atlas." He scoffs and looks at me again. He smiles seeing that I still had a little bit of the glow left from that performance.
"You liked that didn't you, Blue?" I nod and smile a little. I wasn't in the best mood still. There was no reason for it really, I was just down. Atlas stops in front of a bar door and looks at the sign that was advertising something. "Wanna go?" I shake my head.
"You can though. I don't mind if that's what you're worried about?" Atlas nods and starts for the door. Then he stops and looks back at me.
"No just going back to the ship, and Blue," I look at him, "Don't bore yourself. You look better when you're happy." I nod and start down the street by myself.
We droogs would stay in a port for days if we thought it was worth it. We did things different that most. We didn't have anywhere to go. We where just happy being alive. Being accepted, even if it was only because they didn't know.
"Hi!" I jump a little and look at the tree that I was now next to. "You're good with that pipe, you know that?" I look up in the tree and blink a few times. Sitting on a branch only a little way up was a guy wearing a red vest, blue pants, and a straw hat. "What do you call that thing?" I look at him as he jumps down, placing a hand on his hat as he did, so it didn't blow off I think. He was looking at the piccolo. He blinks, looking at me as I don't respond. "Can't you talk? I though I heard you say something to that old man." I nod.
"I just don't like wasting my breath on stupid comments," I say softly. He nods with a wide smile.
"Right. Well, my name's Monkey D. Luffy. But people call me Luffy. Who are you?" I blink once and roll my eyes.
"Blue Song." He blinks.
"Seriously?" I nod again. "Wow. That's almost as weird as my name!" I shake my head and look at him again.
"What did you want?" He shakes his head.
"I just wanted you to know that I liked your playing." I nod.
"And who are you, other that Luffy? What are you doing here?" He nods.
"Well… I'm heading for the grand line. I'm going to be King of the Pirates." I blink again.
"You?" He nods.
"Yep. Me and my crew are heading there after we leave here. Nami kept yelling that we needed supplies since we didn't know what we were going to find there. But that's Nami. She's the only one that thinks about those types of things!" I shake my head. "What? Oh, I know, probably not the best idea, but what do we have to worry about? She's always worrying about it so why should I?" I lift an eyebrow at him before hearing something. The wind seemed to jump making the song pause for a second. I look back the way I had come and jump a little as the front door of the bar that Atlas had gone in burst open and three men fall out. It opens again and another one falls out.
I blink and then in a rush run back that way. "Hey! Wait," Luffy yells and runs after me. I stop in the door of the bar and look in, seeing as the door was now laying in a shattered mess on the ground next to me. Atlas was standing in the middle of the room, several bigger guys around him. Though I knew Atlas could take them he looked like he had already been decked once and that was enough to set him off. I move my Piccolo to my lips and play 'one for the old times'. Atlas moves his head a little when he hears the music, but by that time the other people in the room where swaying on their feet. And so was Luffy. After a few more notes they all fall and Luffy falls down in a pile of sleep.
Atlas sheaths his sword and walks over to me, throwing a tip on the bar and shakes his head after looking at me. I look back down at Luffy and shake my head. Leaning down I slap his cheek twice before Atlas was next to me. "Let my try." I nod and step back. Atlas leans down and licking his finger sticks it in Luffy's ear. Luffy jumps up and nearly hits Atlas in the head. Luffy looks from me to Atlas and shakes his head. Atlas stands up with a soft chuckle.
"What happened?" Atlas looks at me and rolls his eyes before walking down the walk heading back toward the ship.
"Don't be to long, Blue," He calls over his shoulder, and it could have been my imagination but I thought I heard a little bitter end to his words. "We're going to have to ship out soon." I nod and look at Luffy.
"Have fun trying to become king of the pirates, Luffy." He smiles and tucks his hand behind his neck. "I kinda wish I could be there to see it." He nods.
"Why don't you come with us?" I shake my head and look at Atlas' back down the way.
"I would if I didn't already have a place." He looks at Atlas and nods. Then he looks at me and smiles again.
"Well, Blue Song, if you change your mind, the offer's open." I nod and starts down the path. Though I had just met this Monkey Luffy, I felt like there was something there I could trust. He seemed like a good person. He almost seemed familiar.
I walked back to the droogy ship none the less. Atlas had gotten a good leg over me. As I walked down the dock heading for our ship I was almost surprised to see the ship that the sea had described to be a couple days ago. We had followed this ship all the way from the last island. I shake my head and start down the dock, but I stop when I say Atlas standing next to the latter.
"Atlas?" My voice was small and I could feel it shake a little. He looked mad. But I didn't know what for.
"Why didn't you go?" That was Atlas' gift. It seemed like he knew everything you didn't want him too. I shake my head. He scoffs and turns around pushing his back off the ship's hull. He puts his hand on the latter and then stops looking at me. "I don't even want to admit it to myself, but you looked happy today, out there, Blue." His eyes were sad when he looked away. "I don't think… you should go, with us." I shake my head, but Atlas couldn't see it. By the time I had digested what he had said he was over the railing. There was no room for discussion on the topic as far as Atlas was concerned.
I bob my mouth for a few minutes before pulling myself together enough to pull my piccolo to my lips and let out a sharp high note that seemed to echo through the entire town. All the droogies knew that was the sign to come back to the ship. Soon they would be gone and I would be alone here. I stand there for a few more minutes, trying to decide if this was real.