11. Respect for a Captain

"Dad! What does death mean?"

The man, round-faced, tall and proud, with dark, black hair and a few grey curls looked up from his laptop to stare at me with a surprised look. His daughter was asking a weird question, after all.

My dad hummed and put his fingers on his chin while he thought about ways to answer my question with the best answer. Death was a strange thing... full with mourning, losses and goodbyes. And yet, it was so much more... he couldn't possibly tell his daughter, exactly what death means, he didn't know it either, after all.

He adjusted his glasses and chuckled to himself.

"Well... it is a hard question. Look at you, already chasing answers for everything," he said, then took me in his arms, lifted me up from the floor and carefully put me in his lap. I was still waiting with big, curious eyes. He tilted his head a little then a smile came across his face.

"Death means a lot of different things to a lot of people. It all depends on the perspective. You're a big girl now, aren't you? Ten years old already."

"Yeah!" I shouted and waved my hands with an excited grin. I always liked when others complimented me. And I was proud of finally being ten years old too!

"Yeah, you are, huh?" my dad smiled. "Well, if a criminal murders a man in a house, what does his death mean?"

I tried to think really hard about it. What would happen?

"The man would be dead... so, he wouldn't move, or talk... he wouldn't play with legos and cars either anymore! That's awful! It's sad!" I looked up at my dad to confirm that he thought too that not being able to play with cars, legos, or talk to anybody anymore would be really sad. And unfair. He nodded, so I calmed down a little bit.

"Yeah, indeed. But, let's take a look at his wife and kids. What would his death mean to them?"

"They would be sad, because the man wouldn't be with them anymore, right?"

"Yes, Rea," he nodded and patted my head while he began to play with my brown curls. "His death would mean 'loss' to them, if you wan't to put it in a single word. But what did the criminal do? He robbed the man's house, and he had to kill the man in order to not get caught. He needed the money for his starving family."

I was surprised when my dad told the criminal's story too. It made so much sense now! In the tales which mom tells me at nights, they don't tell why the bad guys do the things they do.

Suddenly I became sad. That's a sad story...

"But he has money now, right? So his family wouldn't starve anyomore!" my face lit up with joy and reassurance. After all, the criminal's family would be happy now! But the man...

My dad nodded and finally put away his important papers - whatever they were - to focus entirely on me.

"Yes. The man's death to the criminal would mean 'hope', or 'reassurance'. He would feel guilty, but his family's health and well-being means more to him. Do you get it so far?"

I processed everything and nodded. I think I understood all of it so far.

"So, what do you think the man's death would mean to himself?"

The question caught me off-guard. What would it mean to him? I mean... he couldn't feel anything now, could he? So he wouldn't be sad... and he wouldn't be hopeful either.

He wouldn't be able to play with legos though.

"I don't know... he wouldn't be able to do anything anymore, right? That's sad."

"Yes, that's sad to you perhaps," my dad adjusted his glasses again. "But he wouldn't feel anything. Therefore, it would mean nothing to him, right?"

I frowned at the answer. It didn't feel right. Dad just started laughing and patted my head again.

"It's not the kind of answer you wanted to hear, right? Well, to be specific, it would mean only one thing for the man. What do you think it is?"

I know!

"He wouldn't be able to play with legos! Never playing with legos anymore..." somehow this fact kept coming back to me, and I shivered at the thought.

Dad was fascinated with my answer, he nodded and smiled at me after a little laugh. I could see it in his eyes that he was proud of me. Why, I didn't know.

"Yeah. For him, it would mean 'the end'."

His words echoed in my ears for a few seconds. They were just two words, yet they felt like someone broke a vase in half with a very loud noise. Or let go of a rock from two hundred metres high and the rock landed with a 'puff'.

The two words were heavy.

Dad stopped stroking my head and put his two hands on my shoulders. He stopped smiling, so I knew he was about to tell me something serious. I listened intensely.

What does death mean?

"Rea, dear. Promise me one thing. Live your life with good humor, smiles, laughs, happy moments. Tears, sad hours... calmness, dreams, peace. Fights, wins and losses. Live your life to the fullest, my little sunshine!" he hugged me and held me as close as possible. I hugged him back. "You only have one, after all. You will experience a lot of things. Death is a part of life, one way or another. So when a time comes for you to experience it, however you will, remember what death means. To you, to others, to everyone. Live with all your heart and love, Rea! Love this world we live in, love this beautiful, ugly, cruel and peaceful world! So when death will come your way too...," dad stopped a little and wiped a few tears away from his, now again, smiling face.

"You will be able to say: I lived a good life, everyone."

Billie wasn't in our room. Again, she was lost.

I couldn't find her anywhere, so with a quiet growl I let the others go inside first and I stayed back to search for the little furball.

Tricky, clever little furball. If we weren't next to a literal ship full of food, I would whip her ass right now.

I held the door open and stared at disbelief at the empty floor and room. With Billie in the center. I closed the door, checking for sure that the room really was the storage room we kept all our stocked up food in. All of it. I opened the door again, stared at Billie again.

Then she dared to lick her mouth. Why that little...

"You ate the supplies?"

Oh no, little miss, that innocent look may have an effect on Zoro and Usopp, but you can't fool me. Not me.

"You ate the supplies."

Her ears flicked back, proving her 'innocence'.

Deep breaths, Rea. Deep breaths.

"You're in trouble, little lady... but for now, let's go and greet Sanji."

Billie ran up on my legs and to my shoulders, and we both left the empty room while closing the door, to not leave any evidence that we were even there. The yellow furball purred by my ear and had a smug look on her face. Why, so she did eat the food on purpose. Well in that case...

"Nami will be your problem, not mine~," I half-said, half-sang to the now frightened animal. I just made her day, I know it.

I stepped inside a room full of quiet murmurs. I blinked a few times and looked around - the Baratie wasn't really the 'quiet' type, after all. What could've possibly caused this-

Oh, Fullbody. Lifted by the neck by Sanji. Yep, that about does it.

Who am I kidding, who cares about that pink-haired prick?

"Sanji! Sanji, hey, I'm back! Did you miss this beautiful lady, eh?" I shouted with a wide grin on my face, drawing everyone's attention to me, including the blond cook's surprised, wide-eyed look. Sanji turned toward the sound source, and after a few searching looks, he finally laid his eyes on an overly excited, waving like crazy girl - me. His expression could be described as nothing else but happiness, longing and joy.

And then the whole restaurant exploded with happy shouts.

"Rea-chaaan!"

"Our cute little waitress is back, everyone!"

"We missed ya, girl!"

"Do you remember me, eh?"

And just like that, familiar faces started to pop up and smile at me. Regular customers, a few cooks who worked as waiters... I got greetings and cheerful grins from every direction. It was kind of overwhelming at first, but I quickly adjusted to the sudden cheerful smiles and greetings. I waved and said hi to everyone, one by one, and then turned toward the smiling blond with the swirly eyebrows, now standing just a few steps away from me, waiting patiently for his turn. A single tear rolled down my face and I did the only thing I wanted to do in this moment: I jumped in Sanji's arms with a loud laugh.

Be both fell to the floor, laughing and hugging each other. His eyes lit up as he looked into my eyes.

"Rea-chan, you're back! Oh, it was like eternity fell upon this cruel world when you left-"

"DON'T YOU TOUCH MY SISTER, PERVERT COOK!"

"Huh?" Sanji and I both looked up with a raised eyebrow. Usopp was flaiming his arms in his seat, in the other corner of the room, and he was fuming as he gave Sanji's hands a few murderous glances. He almost got up from his seat too, but we already were heading his way. At the table, Nami, Zoro, Kaya and the swordsman duo was listening to the show with amused smiles.

"It looks like you are famous around here," Zoro stated the obvious fact. I shrugged my shoulders and I brushed a tuft out of my eyes.

"Told ya I worked here for a while. Looks like I made a good impression back then," I grinned. Sanji lit himself a cigarette and puffed a cloud of smoke out.

"Are you kidding, Rea-chan? Since you left, we've been getting comments and questions asking about your whereabouts. The clients really missed you."

"Just the clients?" I asked with a smirk. Sanji blushed a little, and in the next minute his heart-shaped eyes reappeared again. Oh, how nostalgic.

"Well of course not, Rea-chan~! Oh, how I missed you in lonely nights..."

"Lonely NIGHTS?" Usopp looked like he might have a heart attack, so Kaya put her hands on his shoulders and pushed her boyfriend down to the chair.

That's when Sanji noticed the orange-haired beauty on the sides, listening to the conversation with a smile.

I knew we lost Sanji when he hurried over to Nami, so I turned toward the others. With a happy sigh, I pointed my thumb at the blond.

"Everyone, he is Sanji. He was the one I was talking about."

"The cook for the ship... huh?" Zoro mused on my words with an irritated look on his face. I shrugged again, and sat down next to him.

"Well, the final decision is obviously our Captain's, I just suggested we pick him. He is the most capable around here. And..., " I eyed the flirting cook with a fond look in my eyes. "He could use some adventure, too."

Zoro frowned, but with a sigh let go of the matter.

"Well, if you say so."

"Anyway. Where is our Captain exactly?"

Then Luffy burst into the room, and we faced the anger of Zeff himself.

I decided to help my Captain out, so I became a waitress once again. I enjoyed working here, after all, so it wasn't a problem for me, and the joy in Luffy's face told it all, how appreciated I really was. The customers welcomed me again as I took their orders. I had a few chats with the people who knew me from when I worked here too. All in all, it was nice. I talked to the Old Man too, tried to catch up with him a little. I kept coming a lot to Sanji too, enjoying the other man's presence.

Fullbody was finally taken care of - he sat in the corner, tied up by me, so he couldn't blame the cooks or the restaurant. If they let me tie him up... well, it's not like the people will snitch. I'm too cute and badass.

I tried to carve the Baratie in my mind and memories once again. That was the time when I noticed the changes. Subtle changes, but changes nonetheless. A few patch-jobs here and there, a few new furniture, different colored woods in the walls...

Then it hit me - they were repaires. Fixed damage to the ship.

"Oh yeah, you don't know about that," Sanji nodded when I asked him about it. "It happened just as you left the restaurant, after all. A strange man ordered some coffee, he said he wanted our best one. He didn't even liked it, the jerk," the blond grumbled under his breath. "He soon left after that. But... a lot of marines came to the restaurant the next day. They weren't trying to catch the Shitty Geezer, or any of the cooks though. They were just trying to find the man from the other day. They found some paper, or I don't know, on the floor with some gibberish, and they wouldn't leave for ten shitty days. They turned the whole place upside down because of that tiny piece of paper. We had a lot of repairs then..."

I was surprised. I... don't think that something like this happened in the manga or the anime. Or I just didn't notice... maybe it wasn't relevant.

However...

I gulped and turned toward Sanji again.

"Did you see the paper? Better, could you describe, how the man looked like?"

Sanji stopped to think a little, trying to remember the details about the situation. A strange kind of worry started to grow inside me. It couldn't be, don't be foolish.

"He had really weird clothes, to start with. He wore his hair in a ponytail too... damn bastard, stealing the ladies with that... he scribbled a lot in his notebooks too. I catched a glimpse of the paper the marines found, but hell if I know what was written on it. It was like an entirely new language."

How the hell could this be possible?

"What do you-"

In my worried and confused state, I didn't notice the shouting marine coming in through the door. The gunshot, however... that brought me back into reality.

Gin.

He was intimidating. Clothes tattered and torn, bloody in a few places. He didn't look strong, per se, but his presence was a whole other thing. He had all eyes on him, looking at his every step, listening to his every word.

And that's what you call a badass entry. If I didn't know he was starved, I probably would be slipping into a defensive stance right now.

He sat down to an empty table.

"Food. Bring me food."

Patty came to take the 'order'.

"Do you have money to pay with?"

"Do you take lead?"

And the gun was pointed at Patty's head. My breath was caught in my throat and my whole body froze, waiting with cold sweat. This wasn't like the time when my brother pointed his slingshot at Luffy's head.

Because I knew, between the two, Gin and Usopp, who would shot without hesitation, mercy. Cold-blooded.

Sanji saw the commotion too, and he knew Patty's ways with customers like these. I decided to go with him, I already knew what would happen with Gin after all. Luffy seemed interested in the situation too.

We arrived in the kitchen, both of us starting to prepare something for the newly kicked out man. I fell into the routine easily again, we did this a couple times in the past, after all. Someone had to make sure that no one starved because of Patty's petty behaviour and thinking. Sanji handled the rice-based dish, so I made some meat to go with that. I was confident in my frying abilities. Shh, that one time with the burnt wooden spoon didn't happen. Nu-uh. It was all the Old Man's imagination.

We convinced Gin pretty fast to try at least the meals we made. He absolutely loved it - he told us several times. Despite the situation, Sanji and I both had a proud grin on our faces. It felt good when someone appreciated the food we made, after all.

Then I noticed Luffy on the railing, above us.

"Shishishi. You're lucky! If they didn't give you food, you could've died. Hey, you're a great cook!"

I knew what was about to happen when he jumped down next to a curious Sanji, so I tuned them out instead and focused on the man next to us. I left Luffy to his recruitment ideas. Gin finished his meal pretty quick and eyed the three of us in silence.

I was in deep thought. He wasn't a bad man. Well, not like his captain. He did kill others, of course, but not like Krieg. Gin had a heart deep down, saying several 'thank you's' for the food. And later refusing to kill Sanji. Although that didn't happen yet.

So the question bugged my mind quite a lot.

"Why do you follow your captain, Gin?" I asked quietly. He turned toward me and put his plates down. He didn't talk for a few seconds, so I thought he doesn't want to elaborate, but then a grin came across his face.

"I respect him."

I blinked a few times, waiting for him to continue.

"I respect his strength... his ambitions. He is the smartest and strongest man I know on the seas. He has big dreams and he will make them come true. I would follow him to the end and back." As Gin spoke, his grin became a confident, proud smile. I couldn't help but clench my fists. "He is impressive. I always feel like I want to stand next to him, follow him. In my opinion, a pirate captain should be just like the Don."

I thought about what he said with a frown on my face. When I saw things from Gin's perspective, I easily missed the red flags concerning Krieg. I saw him as strong, I saw him as smart. He did have his ambitions and big dreams, and he sure knew how to gain followers, his fleet's numbers were rather impressive after all. From Gin's perspective, he really was the definition of a pirate captain.

But Gin was just a man from the weakest see in the world, blinded by lies of all sorts. Don Krieg may be a strong pirate captain in East Blue, but in the Grand Line... well, his crew now knew that. He may be smart in the eyes of his crew, but when you look at things from the marines perspective, you can easily figure out his strategies and the way he does things, how he thinks. He relies on weapons and shields a lot too... Too much for him to not have this trait as a weakness against a stronger opponent.

And Gin didn't yet experience the way he treats his crew when they are denying an order from him.

"You know... I respect my Captain, too," I said as I glanced at Luffy, now refusing Sanji's refusal on the sides. I smiled at the thought that the blond cook will travel with us from here on out if things went good. "He is strong, he proved himself once. And he will prove himself as much as we need him to. While he isn't the brightest person considering the planning part, he has his moments. He is simple, really. Dreams and ambitions mean a lot to him - freedom means everything to him. I respect that he doesn't want to rule or wreak havoc without reason. He wants to go on adventures, experience things, challenge himself. It's... good to travel with him, and stand next to him, not just behind him."

Gin listened to what I had to say just as intently as me. He looked at Luffy with thoughtful eyes when I pointed at him so he knew 'yep, he is my Captain'.

I smirked at Gin, and crossed my arms as I continued. Confidence and conviction was in my whole presence and words.

"It's a miracle he still didn't shout it to the whole world. Watch me, Gin. I will make Monkey D. Luffy the King of the Pirates."

Gin left.

He was stunned by my words, but didn't say anything in return. He just sat there, quiet and unmoving.

He warned us about the Grand Line and its possible threats and dangers, but of course, Luffy didn't back down. Mihawk's story was incredible though. And frightening.

I couldn't wait to meet the man himself in real life. I knew he would come, after all. He didn't let his prey escape, ever.

We spent a few days at the restaurant. They all went the same - Luffy trying to recruit Sanji, Sanji refusing, Luffy insisting, me working and having fun, the others sitting at the table and doing their own thing. It was more and more dull with every passed day though, but we couldn't do anything. Luffy had a debt and we couldn't leave without our captain. Usopp suggesting that he recieve the role was a 'no' from everyone, even from Kaya. He was still sulking in a corner because of the rejection. Billie was living her best life, she got free treats from Sanji every now and then. Maybe he lost against the cute puppy - or kitten? - eyes too. Zoro certainly did, considering the fact that he gave Billie long belly-rubs and patted her head with a small smile when he thought no one was watching.

If I drew a picture of him inspired by that, he didn't have to know. I finally had blackmail material on him, muhahaha!

Nami was out of it a few times. I knew she saw that poster of Arlong a few days ago, so I didn't really had to guess why exactly is she in a bad mood. The others didn't notice - her smile came back as soon as she saw one of us walking toward her.

I couldn't do anything about that yet though.

Suddenly I felt a gentle pat on my shoulder, so I turned around to see who wanted to gain my attention. I was surprised when I met two pairs of gentle, shining eyes - a man and a woman - and two smiles as big as Reverse Mountain. I expected either a regular customer who knew me, or a pervert, as always. Instead, the people behind me left me surprised.

Oliver and Maria.

The married couple who rescued me when I became sick on the sea - I couldn't believe my eyes. It was really them!

"Surprised to see us here, darling?" asked Maria playfully and extended her arms for a hug. I instantly hugged her back. Oliver joined in too, they wrapped their arms around me like they didn't see me in ages.

"Maria-san, Oliver-san! It's so good to see you again!" I was literally bouncing with happiness. The two chuckled at my enthusiasm and invited me to their table to catch up. Man, they remembered me...

"How could we forget," smiled Maria. "You were fast, coming and going like a quick storm. You were really sweet though, wasn't she, Oli?"

"She was," he laughed a little at the memories. "She almost gave me a sweet heart attack when I catched her as she passed out on the shore."

"Ah, sorry about that," I smiled sheepishly. "How come you are here?"

The two looked at each other and Maria took out something from her bag. As I looked closer, it was a little container made from glass.

Ah, spices and ingredients. I get it now.

"We loved your gift you gave us when you left. You mentioned they were from the Baratie, so we decided to visit the place once in a while. They have such delicious food!"

That I could agree with completely.

The couple started to speak about the past months and I was happy to listen to them. I told them about my brother, my new crew and my Captain too. They were a bit unsure about the profession I chose, but they quickly accepted it after I introduced them to Luffy and the others. They seemed to like each other a lot, so I relaxed with a happy sigh. I thought this day couldn't get any better.

Don Krieg arrived, so I was right. It didn't get better, it got worse.

I didn't do anything.

I just sat down, watched and listened. Watched as Gin brought the man he respects the most on these seas in the restaurant. Watched as that man played his act, got his food, hit Sanji. Watched his crazed, confident grin, his shining armor. Listened to him declaring that he is the strongest man in the world - that we simply had to obey him because of that. Listened to him saying he will become the Pirate King, listened to him taunting my Captain. I watched Gin's eyes, the confusion and hesitation in them, and I clenched my fists. This is the man, Gin. This is the man you chose to respect.

How dare he act like that in front of you.

I just listened and watched. And that was a mistake.

Don Krieg had enough of us, that much was sure. I knew what would happen, I wrote it down in my notebooks. I saw the guns, saw the weapons. Yet I assumed it would be alright. That it would play out the same.

The gunshots didn't surprise me. The cooks and people jumping behind wooden tables didn't phase me either. I did the same. But someone else didn't.

"He shot two people! Quick, is there any doctor here?"

I paled. I watched - and I paled.

I hurried over as fast as my legs were capable of moving my body. My breath was shaky and faster than before. My heart was beating loudly in my ears - I couldn't hear anything else. There were muffled shouts and screams. There were arms on my shoulders too - I didn't care.

I gently took their hands in mine. My arms were shaking, my eyes wide and blurry.

I must've started crying.

The two were smiling as they looked in my disbelieving, wide, scared eyes. I couldn't speak, and I didn't want to believe that what I saw in front of me was real. Not this. Not them...

"Calm down, darling... it's okay. Sh-shh, it's o-okay."

I started sobbing, louder with each passing second. The blood came from the center... there was no way that a doctor could fix that, let alone anyone else.

"It was good to s-see you again, kid," came the quiet voice of the man, still smiling with his whole heart. The two were now holding hands. They knew it was the end. I knew it too. I tried to stop the sobbing to speak, just for a little before they go.

It was hard.

"How was it? Was living worth it in the end?" I whispered to the two. They took a final glance at each other and gave me the biggest smile they could in that moment. I started sobbing again.

"We lived a good life, Rea-chan."

With that last sentence, Oliver and Maria died in front of my eyes.

"Dad! What does death mean?"

It was my fault.

"Well... it is a hard question."

It wasn't.

"You're a big girl now, aren't you? Ten years old already."

I changed things. It was my fault.

"So, what do you think the man's death would mean to himself?"

"I don't know... he wouldn't be able to do anything anymore, right? That's sad."

Did you kill them? Did you want them dead?

"It's not the kind of answer you wanted to hear, right?"

No, I didn't. I didn't. But...

"For him, it would mean 'the end'."

Who was the one who killed them, then? Who was, Rea?

"Live with all your heart and love, Rea! Love this world we live in, love this beautiful, ugly, cruel and peaceful world! So when death will come your way too...you will be able to say: I lived a good life, everyone!"

I stood up. Not a trace of emotion on my face. I slowly turned toward the man.

Gin chose to respect him.

My face was blank and numb, yet the man in the armor took a step back when he locked eyes with my murderous gaze.

Wo was, Rea!?

"Krieg."