Ch. 7- Enter Shanks
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard, Monkey D. Aika, Kumi, Kovar, and Monkey D. Star © Me
"...My god..." Usopp whispered, sadly. "Poor Luffy..."
Nami quietly sobbed as she had her hand over her mouth, her tears falling from her eyes at full force. Robin put a hand on her shoulder in consolation, even though she herself was crying. Zoro, Sanji, Blizzard, and Brook had their heads lowered in silence while Chopper was bawling, as was Franky, and Aika and Kumi were also sobbing as they watched the death of Luffy's mother.
What made it more heartbreaking was the fact that now...they were watching the memory of Star's burial. They could only watch as Luffy stood next to Makino, holding her hand as he stared at his mother's casket with a blank, emotionless expression, a sheer contrast to his bright and goofy personality, and the fact that the rain was pouring down over everything just seemed to emphasize just how gloomy that had atmosphere had become. Woop Slap even gave a small speech in memory of Star, calling her a true friend, a loving wife, and a caring mother to the very end. Even Garp was there, standing in silence. He didn't even care that he had no umbrella to shield him from the rain.
"...Damn," Sanji cursed. "Nobody should ever lose their mother at the age Luffy was."
"You could tell they really loved each other, very much," Robin said.
"Poor Big Brother...!" Aika whimpered.
"This is just too sad...!" Kumi cried.
"A requiem for Luffy's beloved mother," Brook whispered as he played a somber tune on his violin.
After a while, the large crowd of villagers, after giving their respects and goodbyes, began to shrink until Luffy, Makino, Woop Slap, and Garp were left.
"...Alright, Luffy," Makino muttered, sadly. "Let's go."
She then tried to leave, taking Luffy by the hand as she did, but the boy did not budge. He just stood there, his blank, dull eyes still staring at his mother's headstone.
"Come on, Luffy," Makino said. "I miss her, too, but we have to go now."
"Are you coming with us, Garp?" asked Woop Slap.
"...No," Garp answered. "I'm...I'm gonna stay here a while."
Knowing that Luffy would not leave on his own, Makino took the boy into her arms and carried him off while the mayor followed after her. Only Garp remained behind. As they watched, Aika seemed to spot a shadowy figure in the distance.
"Huh?" she muttered. "Hey, who's that?"
Everyone looked to where the younger D. Carrier pointed and saw the same figure, standing on a hill top.
"...Wait a minute," Robin muttered. "Is that...?"
Before she could try and make it out, the memory shifted again. Now, it was daytime, and the Straw Hats found themselves in the middle of a forest.
"Where's this?" asked Zoro.
"YOU IDIOT!"
BAP!
"AAAAAAHH!"
All of a sudden, the Straw Hats gasped as they saw Luffy get sent flying through and hitting a tree, which ended up breaking in half upon impact.
"Oh, my god!" Nami cried.
"Oh, no, don't tell me," Chopper muttered.
Sure enough, Garp came trudging out of the forest, cracking his knuckles.
"I told you," Garp began, "you have to punch me HARDER, Luffy!"
"But I can't punch any harder!" Luffy complained. "Grandpa, this is stupid! I don't wanna train anymore! I'm tired and hungry and I wanna go home!"
"Quit your whining!" Garp barked, causing his grandson to flinch. "I don't wanna hear anymore sass outta you, you hear me?!"
Luffy only sniffled as he glared up at his grandfather, who glared right back at him.
"Don't you look at me that way!" shouted Garp. "Your mother's gone now, Luffy, and that means you listen to me! I'm training you to be a Marine and that's final!"
"...I don't wanna be a Marine," Luffy answered. "I wanna be a pirate, like Mom said I could be!"
"Your mother didn't know what she was talking about!" Garp barked. "I don't care what crazy ideas she put in that thick head of yours, but you can just forget what she said! You're gonna be a Marine and you're gonna like it!"
"Poor Big Brother," Aika said, sadly while Kumi whimpered worriedly.
"...Okay," Nami said. "I thought I disliked Garp before...but now, I can't STAND him."
"You and me, both," Blizzard growled.
"Yeah," Franky added. "Even if Luffy did wanna be a Marine, there's no way they'd actually enlist him once they figure out who his old man is! Why's he trying so hard to force Luffy to become something he's not meant to be?"
"I think it's because Garp wants to show the Government," Robin began, "that even if they have the blood of a criminal, that doesn't necessarily make them evil."
"It doesn't matter," Zoro said. "They won't listen to reason, even if Garp did vouch for Luffy."
"Indeed," Brook nodded. "By now, Garp is just being completely asinine."
"Now get your little butt up, Luffy!" Garp ordered. "I'm not going easy on you!"
"...No," Luffy answered as he got up. "I'm done...I don't wanna train anymore."
"What did you say?!" Garp questioned as his grandson looked up at him with a glare in his eyes.
"...I hate you, Grandpa," Luffy answered...with tears beginning to fall from his eyes. "I wish Mom were here instead of you!"
The Straw Hats gasped at this, and even Garp seemed a bit taken aback by what his grandson had said, even though he tried not to show it.
"...You think you're the first one to tell me that?" he asked. "Get in line, short stuff."
Luffy only sniffed while the Straw Hats stared in shock at what the boy had said.
"...Jeez," Usopp said. "That was a bit uncalled for, don't you think?"
"If I had to guess," Robin began, "this must've been about a few days after Star died. I think Luffy's still in the middle of trying to handle his loss."
"Jeez," Sanji muttered. "Garp didn't even give Luffy a chance to mourn his mother's death, completely."
"Even so," Brook started, "no matter how upset you are, you should never wish death upon someone...especially your relatives."
"Luffy tends to get angry in order to hide his true feelings," Zoro said. "I mean...look at what happened between him and Aika today."
Aika looked down, rubbing her arm as Zoro said this, which caused Kumi to put her paw on her shoulder.
Just then, the memory shifted again, this time showing Luffy sitting on a bed and hugging a pillow. However, this room was entirely different from his old one. He still had his old toy boat, but the other toys were different and there were no pictures. The bed was even set up a different way.
"Where are we now?" asked Chopper.
"...Didn't Luffy's mother say that this Makino woman was taking care of him after she passed?" asked Blizzard.
"Oh, yeah!" Chopper realized. "So...if this is a different room, this must be Makino's house!"
And sure enough, Makino entered, carrying a plate of food for Luffy.
"Hi, Luffy," she said. "Here's your lunch."
"...I'm not hungry, Makino," Luffy answered.
"Not hungry?" Makino asked in surprise as she set the plate aside. "Luffy, I've never known you to lose your appetite...well, except when you eat too much candy...what's going on? Is everything okay?"
"...I said something bad," Luffy said.
"What do you mean, 'something bad'?" asked Makino. "What happened?"
"...I...I think I hurt Grandpa's feelings, today," Luffy answered. "I...I told him I hated him...and that I wished Mom were still here instead of him."
"Luffy...!" Makino gasped.
"I didn't mean it!" Luffy exclaimed. "I was just upset!"
"...I understand," Makino said, "but still, Luffy...that's your grandfather. The only one you have. I know he's not being the best person to you, right now...but he loves you and he only wants what's best for you."
"...Maybe I'll go and apologize to him, tomorrow," Luffy said.
"That's a start," Makino smiled as she gently pet the boy on the head. "Now...why don't you have something to eat? I feel like you'll have a clearer head with a full tummy."
Luffy was about to protest, but then his stomach made an audible grumble, which caused Makino and even the Straw Hats to chuckle.
"That's one thing about Luffy that'll never change," Sanji smiled.
"Definitely," Blizzard agreed.
Makino handed Luffy his food, which he began to eat vigorously...but then stopped as he looked up at Makino, who blinked up at him in confusion.
"What is it, Luffy?" she asked.
"...Thank you, Makino," Luffy said, which caused Makino to smile at him.
"Of course," she answered, which caused the Straw Hats to smile.
"Miss Makino is so nice," Aika said.
"She sure is!" Kumi exclaimed.
"No wonder Luffy's mom asked her to take care of him," Usopp said. "Aside from Star, Makino knows Luffy more than anybody else."
"Luffy's second mother, so to speak," Robin added.
Just then, the memory shifted once more, and it showed Luffy and Makino in some sort of bar, the former taking some dishes from the tables and handing them to her.
"Thank you, Luffy," Makino said as she took the plates and cups. "You've been such a big help to me here in the tavern."
"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed.
"How are you feeling?" Makino asked.
"...Still a little sad," Luffy answered. "I know it's been a few days, but..."
"I know," Makino said as she gently cupped his chin with her hand. "Your mother was like my big sister, you know. I miss her just as much as you do...but we both know she's in a better place now. She's no longer in any pain, and that's something we should be thankful for."
Luffy smiled at this, as did the Straw Hats. However, the tender moment was short-lived, for Luffy gasped upon hearing rather loud footsteps approaching. It didn't take a genius to know that it was Garp. As quick as a flash, Luffy ran and hid behind the counter, then turned to Makino with a finger to his lips, telling her to keep quiet, causing her to nod subtly as she turned to face Garp, who sat at the bar.
"Hello, Garp," Makino answered, and she only got a grumble in response. "What can I get for you today?"
"I'll take a bottle of Rum Clemont, Makino," Garp answered. "In fact, I'll take 3 bottles to go."
"3 bottles?" asked Makino. "What's the occasion?"
"I'm leaving," Garp answered.
"Again?" Makino queried.
"Yeah, I'm heading for the Grand Line, first thing tomorrow morning," Garp replied. "They need me down there."
"Well, how long are you going to be gone?" Makino inquired. "A few weeks? A month?"
"...A year," Garp answered.
"What?!" Makino questioned.
"Wait, a year?!" Chopper asked.
"Why is he leaving for a whole year?" Aika asked.
"He is a Vice-Admiral of the Marines, Aika," Sanji answered. "Obviously, he gets called away a lot. It's all part of his position."
"And...and you're going to say goodbye to Luffy?" asked Makino.
"Feh!" Garp scoffed. "I think Luffy would be glad to know I'm gonna be gone for a year. The kid won't miss me...he told me himself, he hates me."
If Garp had only looked over the counter...he would've seen Luffy's guilt-ridden face.
"Garp," Makino said, sadly. "Luffy didn't mean what he said...he's just still upset because his mother is gone, and you just throwing him into training again didn't help at all."
"You think he's the only one who misses her?!" Garp questioned as he pounded his fast against the counter, causing some of the Straw Hats to jump in surprise. "Dammit, Makino, I miss Star, too! I'm just trying to show Luffy how to tough it out and be a man, that's all!"
"He's just a child, Garp," Makino said. "It takes longer for him to handle a loss as big as this. In fact, it might be years before he's actually over it."
"She's right," Nami answered. "I didn't get over Bellemere until after my village was freed."
"He should've given Luffy just a little more time," Usopp added.
"...Just look after Luffy for me while I'm gone," the old Vice-Admiral said. "Please."
"...Of course," Makino nodded, and after she gave Garp his bottles of rum, he turned and walked out the tavern, and at that moment, Luffy looked up at his current guardian, who glanced down at him and smiled.
"...Go to him," she whispered, and no sooner had she said that, Luffy ran out the door. Thankfully, Garp wasn't too far away.
"Grandpa!" Luffy called, causing Garp to turn and look at him.
"Luffy?" asked Garp. "What are you doin' here?"
A pause...but then Luffy ran up and wrapped his tiny arms around Garp's thigh. It was almost awkward, given how puny he looked, compared to his grandfather.
"...I'm sorry, Grandpa...!" Luffy sniffled. "I don't hate you!"
The Straw Hats stood silently, anticipating what Garp would do next. Then, he saw him raise his hand, and at first, they thought that he was going to hit him...but then, the old Marine simply patted Luffy on the head, causing the boy to look up at his grandfather's grinning face.
"You may be a pain," Garp began, "but you're still my grandson...I couldn't stay mad at ya, Luffy, no matter what you said or did."
Luffy smiled at this, and the Straw Hats all heaved sighs of relief.
"Okay, I'll admit," Zoro said. "Even I was a little worried there."
"Thank goodness that didn't end on a sour note," Nami added.
"But listen up, Luffy," Garp began, "don't you start slacking off, just because I'm not around. You focus on getting stronger, do you understand? If you won't do it for me, do it for your mother. She'd want you to grow up big and strong, you hear?"
Luffy nodded his head in understanding.
"Okay, Grandpa," he told him. "I will."
"Atta boy," Garp praised, and the Straw Hats couldn't help but fill their hearts swell.
"Garp really did mean well," Sanji said.
"He really does love Luffy," Franky added. "It's just that he's got a funny way of showing it."
"Garp knows how Luffy is, too," Brook spoke.
"It's good to see that he wasn't a total asshole," Zoro chimed in. "He was still an ass, though."
"Zoro!" Nami scolded.
"What?!" Zoro questioned. "Just saying!"
Once more, the memory shifted again, and it showed Luffy in the bar with Makino, again.
"Jeez, why does Luffy have to hang out in this place?" Zoro asked. "Can't get a drink or anything."
"Hush," Nami demanded.
Once again, the bar was empty, and Luffy was helping Makino with cleaning up the tables.
"It's been about a few weeks now, since Garp's been gone," said Makino.
"Yeah," Luffy answered.
"Do you miss him?" asked Makino.
"A little," Luffy replied, "but I know he's not gone forever. Just for a year...umm...Makino?"
"Yes?"
"A year isn't too long...right?"
Makino chuckled before she gently pet Luffy's hair.
"No, Luffy, a year isn't too long at all," she said. "At least not as long as you might think. Time flies when you least expect it."
Luffy smiled at Makino, as did the Straw Hats. However, once again, the moment was interrupted when they heard the sound of someone screaming through the streets.
"PIRATES! PIRATES ARE COMING! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"
Makino gasped upon hearing that while Luffy looked back in curiosity. Then, without warning, she grabbed Luffy and ran behind the counter before she set him down.
"Stay here with me, okay?" Makino asked. "And whatever you do, DO NOT come out!"
"O-okay," Luffy nodded.
"Jeez, Garp leaves, and already somebody's trying to invade the place!" Sanji exclaimed.
"I don't think so," Aika said. "I don't sense any bad intentions."
"Really?" Usopp asked. "Wait...hold up...if that's true, then that might mean...!"
Before could contemplate what Aika happened, the door suddenly opened, and in walked a group of men, all of them walking tall with pride and purpose...and leading the bunch was a red-haired man in a black cape and a straw hat. The Straw Hats all gaped, save for Aika and Kumi, for they knew exactly who it was.
"Who was the scruffy-looking man?" asked Aika. "And how come he's wearing Big Brother's hat?"
"Scruffy-looking?!" Usopp questioned. "Aika, don't tell us you don't know who Red-Haired Shanks is!"
Aika only shook her head no, as did Kumi.
"Well, Aika," Robin began, "Shanks is one of the Four Emperors...currently, that is. As for why he's wearing your brother's hat...well, actually, it used to belong to him, first."
"Wait, really?!" Aika questioned. "How did that happen?!"
"Well, you'll see," Nami answered. "Just watch."
Shanks approached the counter, where Makino was pretending to clean out a glass.
"Pardon me, miss," he said with a surprising tone of politeness that caught Makino off guard. "Are you the proprietor of this establishment?"
"Yes, I am," Makino answered. "Who are you?"
"Permit me to introduce myself," Shanks said. "I am Red Haired Shanks."
"I see," said Makino. "Well, how may I help you today, sir?"
"Well, as the captain of the Red Haired Pirates," Shanks began, "I'd jus like to say that my men and I don't plan on being a nuisance to you or this fine village. All we ask is that we simply take shelter here for the time being. Of course, we're also willing to pay for food and beverages."
"I...I see," Makino said.
Behind the counter, Luffy gaped upon hearing the word 'pirates' in the man's sentence while Makino went to serve him. He wasn't really scared, per se, but in fact, he became rather interested. So much, he ended up peeking around the corner to just get a look at him. However, Makino noticed this and gasped silently.
"Luffy, what are you doing...?!" she whispered. "Get back here, right now!"
"Oh, it's all right, miss," Shanks replied. "We don't bite...err...are you his mother?"
"...No, I'm not," Makino answered. "His mother passed, a month ago."
"Oh," Shanks said in realization. "I'm sorry about that."
"Hey, mister," Luffy spoke up, getting his attention. "Are you really a pirate?"
"Sure as shootin', kid," Shanks grinned as he gestured to his crew. "Me and my men, here."
"Wow...!" Luffy whispered. "If you guys are pirates, that means you probably went on all kinds of adventures, right?!"
"Well...a few, here and there," Shanks said, almost modestly.
"Cool!" Luffy exclaimed. "Hey, can I hear about one? Please?"
"Of course!" Shanks answered. "Have a seat...what's your name?"
"It's Luffy!" Luffy exclaimed. "Monkey D. Luffy!"
Shanks' eyes seemed to go wide before he gave a grin.
"'D', huh?" he muttered. "Well...ain't that something? Well, anyway, have a seat, Luffy."
Luffy nodded before he eagerly sat in a chair at the bar while Makino smiled.
"Hmm...let me see," Shanks said, scratching his chin in thought. "What could I tell you about...? Oh! I got one! Listen to this! My men and I were out at sea, just going on a regular voyage, just minding on our business, when all of a sudden, a huge Sea King comes BURSTING outta the water!"
Luffy gasped in shock.
"No way!" he exclaimed. "How big was it?!"
"About twice as big as our own ship!" Shanks answered. "With glowing red eyes and sharp teeth! Why, it could swallow us up, whole, if we hadn't fought back quick enough!"
As Shanks continued to tell the tale of the epic battle against the Sea King, the Straw Hats had noticed that Luffy's smile grew broadly with eagerness and renewed vigor. It was enough to get them to smile, too.
Star might've lit the fire for Luffy's dream...but it was Shanks who made that fire stronger after his mother passed.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Next time on One Piece: The Fire Within!
Luffy: Okay, you guys! Watch this! I'll show you what real bravery is!
Chopper: AAAAAH! HE STABBED HIMSELF UNDER HIS EYE!
Shanks: YOU DUMB-ASS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
Higuma: You guys are nothing but a bunch of jokes.
Nami: Hey, what's that Luffy's eating?!
Sani: Wait...is that...?!
Luffy: I'll become the King of the Pirates! Just you wait!
Next time: Romance Dawn
Review, please!