It's just a small chapter - I was really in the role of writing since I have a bit of time.
Disclaimer: Credits, Respect and Appreciation to Eiichiro Oda for One Piece
Sela had never felt this awkward ever. Period.
Yes, she had to make up the fact that she was on a ship for the first time, she had to really fake the tears of being separating to the one thing she has never been off - which was the island.
Oh, and Gaimon. La'ititi Kama. The tiny man.
Sitting shyly on the floor with her back against the mast of the ship, the crew was in front of her, supposedly sizing up the potencial she might have or to start a conversation which she was dreading. The orange haired women, had offered her some clothes - but she politely declined, showing her the clothes she found in the ship that was crushed on her previous island. She even questioned her bag that she had that was packed with her stuff and she told her she made it out of the leaves from the island. You know, since she'e been there ever since.
Still waiting for the awkward silence to end. Luffy, sitting directly in the middle in front of her - bursted with a gigantic smile, holding his hat and moved forward.
"So, Salad-san! Why don't you tell us your story?".
"Hey, Luffy! Her name is Sela, idiot. Don't be rude!", Nami hit him on the head to which she had made sure to flinch at. But above that, they all still perked up to the question, starting at her to start since, well, she was on their ship for the time being. She could also sense that the boy over on the other side of the ship, open one of his eyes, curious as well.
Getting mentally prepared for her performance, she felt a bit nostalgic, even though it has been a few months since she hasn't spoken to others.
Sitting up straight, with her head held high, she looked directly at everyone.
"I was washed onto shore when I was 10 years old, Father and a few of the others found me. They saved me. In all honesty, I can't even remember what my name was to begin with when I woke up. Until, it came to be that it was Sela. I've stayed with him for about 8 years now, well. Not anymore...", She dipped her head a little, making sure to lower her voice a bit to sync with the atmosphere she was making.
"All I know is that I'm 18 and my name is Sela. The girl who was bound to die if not for a man in a chest. I still remember waking up to the sight. But I was happy there, happy to be alive, happy to be with someone that loved me. That was enough, at least."
"Then how come it was so easy for you to leave your dad?"
"Because I knew, deep down, it wasn't what I truly wanted."
And she went on and on, with her fake sob story of a lonely girl, trying to find her real family and how her father was okay with her leaving even if it was a bit selfish. Nami and Usopp teared a bit while Luffy listened respectfully.
"Well, than. Just join us on our adventure and we will help you find your family."
"WHAT!?"
Sela's mind went into a brain freeze after hearing those words come out of the boy. She thought that it was a bit absurd, a bit too much for her too handle since it was the first time her experiencing some so straight forward. Something started to stir inside of her, but she knocked it down. She didn't like it. She didn't like this guy for one second.
"Ah, n-no thank you, Luffy-san. I don't think I can let you do that." Yeah, can you like back off, She thought bitterly.
"Yeah, Luffy! She wants to do her own thing, she doesn't want to come on some adventure with complete strangers!" Usopp defended.
"But I know her name and she knows mine. Were not strangers at all!"
"Idiot! Who would want to travel with someone dumb like you!"
"Neh, your travelling with me as well."
"IDIOT, I'M HERE BECAUSE I NEED A RIDE!"
Even though she was trying to act as though she was scared from the sudden arguments escalating. It was a funny sight. Her mind was still tugging, nagging her to remember something.
"Gosh! It's been a long time since there was another girl I could talk to!"
Sela was sitting in Nami's room, also known for now as the 'women's room' where she found out it was under the storage room and the cannon deck. There was a bed, alarmingly looking extravagent to sleep on. Nami was showing Sela where she would be sleeping, which was the mattress that was on the floor next to Nami since this room was for girls only. The boys were sleeping down below deck under the mast - from which she later found out that they were sleeping on hammocks. She found that unfair...it was hilarious. She picked up her woven bag and left on top of her new spot, than sitting. Nami was currently drying her hair, wearing comfyier clothes than the last she had seen her. The steam coming off her locks was something Sela longed for since her shower on the island, was the sea itself. Instinctly, she went and smelled her own armpits and cringed at the mustiness that came off. Yes, she needed a shower asap.
"Hey, you can go use the shower now. Here, I'll wait for you and show you where it is."
Sela merely nodded, in thought. While getting her clothes, she couldn't help but think how comfortable Nami was even though most of the time when she was with the boys. She had always declared not wanting to be part of what Luffy was doing. Now that was interesting - Stop.
She can't get into it. Yes, she can get friendly - even though she hates it. She has to remember why she's on these seas. Fale afe -
"-ey! Earth to Sela! Let's go before Usopp stops cycling the hot water. He doesn't even know I finished."
Sela snapped out of her daze. She looked at her hands and saw that her clothes was already prepped. She got up and blushed out of embarrassment, shyly scratching the back of her head. "Sorry, I was just excited to have a bath!"
Grabbing a spare towel from Nami, she followed her closely as they climbed the stairs on the main deck, walking across to the bathroom. Luffy was sitting on top of Merry's head, Zoro sleeping in the same spot as always. Sela was glad that at least, there were times when the ship was quiet. Nami opens the door for me and lets her come in - saying to meet her in the kitchen since they were going to eat.
Once the door closed and she closed the curtain. Sela's face completely dropped, letting go of the recked sigh she had been holding in. She turned around, staring at the entire bathroom, she was satisfied with the enterior. It was nice, simple and small. Taking off her clothes in front of the mirror, her aching muscles were in need of a massage but she held in her pain. Completely naked, she got her dirty clothes and put them onto the side, taking the golden compass out from the pocket. She opened it, staring at the direction of the red arrow - she breathed in and out.
"E tatau ona e manatua...You must remember".
She slithered each syllable out of her mouth, like a hiss of poison. Her accent hit each corner in the small space. Putting the compass, open. She placed it onto the edge of the bathroom sink. She walked into the shower, turning the knob. Streams of water hit her chest, flowing down her body like tears. She was now on her own. In her own thoughts. She was glad that the water was making noise, so she focused on it whenever she could before a thought popped and stayed imprinted in the front of her mind. Getting the soap, rubbing it against her skin and letting it do it's job. She could feel the whispers from the back of her mind, enter with the steam. Aunt Malia, clear with her vocals.
"Women must wash their bodies, it is their temple."
Clearly, looking at Sela. Her body was not only her temple but a warzone. Bringing the soap to her neck, she glanced at her brown skin, scars that were wished they were stickers. Scowling at herself, she pulled her hair out from her pony tail. Her black waves fell against her wet back and she washed it vigorously, getting all the sand out. Feeling like her temple was good, she turned the knob back. Dripping, she grabbed the towel and started to dry herself, she even dried her hair hard. She quickly put on a simple white shirt that fit her perfectly while wearing black khaki shorts. Oh. She thought. Do they not clean this part of the bathroom as well?She wiped down everything with the towel she had, making sure there was no moist to be seen. Reason was, ships don't like moist. Satisfied with her work. She unlocked the door, stepping out, she had noticed the muffled noises coming from the kitchen.
Looking back, she went back inside and grabbed her golden compass, taking one more glance at the inside of it before closing it.
Let's go brown Marysue, your surely missed in there aren't you.
She practiced her smile. Bringing back her little voice from before and warming her throat. Standing at the back of the door. She made sure that she had her signature smile. Small, innocent and lovely. She loved being kind, she loved being scared, she loved being weak.
"-EAT! MEAT! MEAT! MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!", Opening the door, she was bombarded with the chants of Luffy sitting at the table, fully prepped with his knife and fork. Usopp sitting on the side of him clearly avoiding the enthusiam and Nami putting down plates of food. Zoro was sitting at the back on a barrel, arms crossed with a permanant frown. Obviously, she had not been noticed. She 'tried' to master up the courage to say something. Hands clasped together in front of her chest, pink dusted on her checks. She coughed, trying to get the attention, Nami looked up from her spot.
"Oh Sela! Here come sit down and eat! You must be hungry right?"
"Ah..Thank you for letting me use the bathroom," She bowed, "I am really grateful!"
"SHISHISHI~! Hurry up and come eat! There's plenty!"
"Plenty my ass, stop eating the food you pig!", Zoro remarked. Her setted down his swords where he was and made his way opposite of Usopp. Sela, shyly. Remember shyly, walked to the seat next to Usopp where she was given a plate. Nami sat next to Zoro and they began to eat. She stared down at her meal, than towards the others. Digging in, talking, asking questions and recollecting memories. All of a sudden, there was that tug in her stomach, stirring inside again. Unwanted memories began to relay in her mind and after that, she looked down her plate. She grabbed the chicken leg, opening her mouth and crunched into the juicy meat. Oh. Oh.
Again, she did try to keep facade.
She gobbled everything on the plate, letting the crumbs fall from her mouth everywhere. She looked at the middle, grabbing the entire chicken and started to devour that as well. She felt like her hands were oily from the juice, biting into each little crease of the bone.
Sela felt amazing. She also felt the stares as well. With their mouths dropped. Especially the stare from the captain. Damn, she was fucking hungry.
"SHE ATE ALL THE MEAT!"
"Uh- Sela, you sure ate that whole...c-chicken.."
"WHERES THE REST OF THE MEAT!"
"..."
"SALAD GIVE ME BACK THE CHICKEN!"
"Luffy shut up!"
Yeah, Sela never felt this awkward before. Not by this much.
After that whole fiasco, everyone calmed down - Luffy calmed down after Sela cooked some fish she had caught as an apology. It was literally better than anything. It was night, signalling that it was now another day to count to her number. She was now lying in warm blankets, with a pillow and she felt somewhat...at peace.
She could hear Nami softly snoring from her bed as she glanced up, looking to her right. She than stared at the ceiling.
She was now with the silence. Again. She was with her mind. Again.
Her mind was a very tactical weapon she had. Ever since she was young, climbing coconut trees, to remembering sceneries, to catching fish. To moving, to being found. She too, was a missing person. Her mind was a playlist. It recorded each moment she has experienced, her first steps, her first growling, her first hit from her mum - she giggled in the darkness. Her first kiss, her first love, her first fight, her first c-
She stopped.
Getting under the covers even more, she could feel that she was getting a bit too comfortable with where she was. She remembered the numbers, Fa afe valu selau fa sefulu fitu. Sela could even hear her heart thump slowly inside of her chest. She remember her first attempt. She remember her first time wanting it to stop. She remembers her mission.
"E tatau ona e manatua." She whispered against the cover. Slowly, again with poison. She should open the box soon enough.
