Cześć! Well it's been a while. Sincerest apologies. Let me know what you think. It helps a little. But do be nice. Or try too. I'm open to constructive criticism but I'm a sensitive bitch baby...sorry Q^Q Have fun.
Passage Five: Decisions
The rain had come. When it first arrived, it was a downpour. It made the work difficult for her and the dockhands. At least the rain settled when Kirsi decided to work on the crow's nest. She wiped her brow free of sweat for what seemed like the 100th time. It was getting too warm for her after working since early morning. It was late afternoon now and warmer than usual. A rare muggy weather today.
Kirsi looked over the edge and down to the deck below where three members of the pirates stayed behind. Zoro, the long nosed guy Usopp and their pet(?) Chopper. Two of them were surprisingly helpful. Especially Chopper when he used his Devil Fruit. Usopp had some decent skill in fixing things which made the dockhands happy. Zoro on the other hand decided to sleep.
With a soft sigh, Kirsi set her hammer down next to the small pile of short planks and stared out to the open sea. Both the grey clouds and blue waters were endless. Gentle waves rocked the ship. Birds danced in the breeze. Fish jumped among the ocean ripples. Kirsi closed her eyes as the air swirled around her with the scent of the sea.
Tranquility.
That's all that came to mind as she stood there. What ever stories the old pirates told her of the treacherous world when she was young dissipated from her mind. She felt like she was floating in a calm void. Is this what it feels like to sail the waters? To let the wind take you wherever it pleases? She breathed in deeply before opening her teal eyes to the world. She's going to do it. She'll dig up her long buried courage and ask Luffy to join. A smile tugged at her lips at the thought of being a pirate.
That smile was quick to fade when she noticed a massive galleon creep its way past the cliffs protecting the harbor and let loose a cannon once it was in range of the town. The blast was enough to make the Going Merry quiver violently. Kirsi nearly lost her footing, but she grabbed the mast to steady herself. Her gaze went straight to the vessel's flag fluttering with the wind. Another pirate ship. Several more cannons were fired into the harbor, destroying the beach shacks and fishing boats. Kirsi's ears filled with screaming people and she looked to town, seeing many run from the blasts.
She gritted her teeth and jumped down to the deck, landing on all fours and barked orders at the dockhands to run to safety. Both Chopper and Usopp had scampered into the lower deck to the men's room and Zoro was wide awake now. He was standing with his arms crossed, watching the newcomers. He was quiet for a moment before letting out an angry breath, scratched the back of his head and jumped over the railing.
"Wait where you going?!" Kirsi called after him.
"Those are the fuckers that have been following us for days," he replied with displeasure dripping from his voice. "Now that we're on solid ground, it's time for some payback."
A dangerous static filled with air with his words. She flinched back when he met her gaze. It was that of a demon. Not a wild one. A quiet demon who had been waiting to strike back. She felt her heart pound against her ribs. How could she stand on the same ground as him? There was a cold sweat trickling down the nape of her neck and her breathing became short. If he's just the first mate, what was Luffy like when he gets mad?
"What are you going to do?"
Kirsi couldn't find her voice to reply as he sped off. Did her expression of fear give him his answer? Once he was gone, her knees failed her and she fell to the deck. She thought Tahgu was terrifying, but this man...Roronoa Zoro was on a different level. Tahgu wasn't afraid to show his anger. Zoro was pissed for sure, yet he was holding it in until the proper moment to unleash hell. She was scared of Tahgu at times. But she was petrified of Zoro in that one moment.
But what was she doing? Her home was in danger. Pirates were attacking. Another cannon blast shook her from her daze and she rose to her feet, leaping over the railing and running for the forge. She needs Tahgu's help. He was by far the strongest fighter this town has. Besides he knew a thing or two about dealing with rowdy pirates.
When she reached the dirt path, she slipped and went head first into the mud. Thunder above her seemed to laugh at her mishap. She rolled over as drops of cold rain began to hit her dirtied face. Tahgu would laugh at her too. With an angry grunt she swung her legs towards her chest and used them to jump back up to her feet. Digging into the slippery path, she took off running again.
The rain was getting heavier. Thunder roared and lightning flashed. The blast of the cannons were distant, yet still rung loudly in Kirsi's ears. Her breathing had turned to panting when she reached to edge of the clearing. The firing of cannons had stopped for now, but she could hear the faint yelling of people. She took a moment to collect herself until felt her stomach jump when she heard Tahgu speak.
"What are you doing here?"
Why did he sound irked? She looked up and saw him sitting underneath a giant umbrella with a large stein at hand, unbothered by the commotion from below. He merely gave her a glare. It was obvious he had a problem with her being here. She could read Tahgu. Her mind suddenly went back to Zoro and the look he gave her. It made a shiver crawl down her spine.
"Th-there's...there's pirates attacking," she stammered out.
"And?"
"I could use your help."
He looked away and took a long sip from his drink. "Pathetic."
"What?"
"You heard me. You wasted your time dragging your sorry ass up here to tell me what I already know."
"But...we could use your help down there. The pirates showed...the pirates showed up with a galleon!"
"That's not my problem."
"The townspeople though. You are the best fighter here."
"Still doesn't make it my problem."
Kirsi was getting vexed. "It is though. I know you care about this town Tahgu."
"Not my problem."
She stomped towards him, backhanded the drink from him and grabbed the collar of his shirt. "The people need your help! You live here don't you?!"
Tahgu didn't reply. He calmly grabbed her wrists then slammed his head into hers. That sent her flat on her butt, wriggling around like a worm as she held the smarting lump on her forehead. Before she could speak, he grabbed her by the collar with a single hand and hoisted her up. He showed no emotion as his fist connected with her jaw, sending her back into the muddy ground. He was never one to hold back even when she was younger. All his blows had toughen her up through the years, but it still stunned her when he clocked her without hesitation and out of nowhere.
With a clenched jaw Kirsi tackled him as hard as she could. He barely budged and took a hold of the back of her shirt, flinging her into the grassy meadow with ease. The wind was knocked from her lungs in a loud gasp when she landed on her back hard. Tahgu wasn't done. He hoovered over her, bringing his fist down at her face with blinding speed. She managed to avoid his blow and scrambled out from under him.
"What are you-"
He interjected her with his booming voice. "What are you doing?!"
She was taken aback. "I...don't. What?"
His strides were like a provoked lion and he picked her up again by the collar. "You are wasting your time Kirsi. Bitching again about needed my help. You live here don't you?! Do I really have to hold your fucking hand through everything?!"
His anger was different. It was like a father scolding his child. There was concern hidden in his exasperated tone. But why? He's never been this type of mad with her. He set her down and walked into the forge without another word. She just stood there, dazed. Why does he sound concerned? she pondered. She fell to her knees, confused beyond reason. He went from beating her into the ground to having the tone of a worried father.
The sound of something heavy dropping next to her made Kirsi look up. Tahgu had dropped a throw-over saddlebag beside her. His expression had softened. Only vaguely. She shrunk back when he reached towards her until she felt his hand on her head. He had knelt down and ruffled her hair like she was a kid.
"You rely on me too much Kirsi. And instead of running to me, don't you think you should've run into the fight?" She looked away embarrassed and feeling stupid. This wasn't something she could have charged into. This was the first time she witness a pirate attack. "Your first instinct is to come to me for help. I've taught you how to survive, how to rely on yourself when needed. One of these days I won't be here anymore."
"I know that. It's just..."
"You lack confidence." His grip on her head tightened and he turned her to face him then squished her cheeks. The faint smile he had was dark, menacing. "Grow. The. Fuck. Up."
Each word was harsh in a disappointed mentor manner. He let her go and backed away to help her to her feet. Words refused to form in her brain. All she could do was stare blankly at the ground.
"'The foolish man thinks he will live forever if he keeps away from fighting; but old age won't grant him a truce, even if the spears do.'"
That quote made Kirsi snap out what funk she was in and peered towards Tahgu. His back was turned towards her and he was looking up to the overcast sky. She knew that line. In the back of her mind, she could hear the mumbled words of a woman speaking.
"It's written in your mother's journal. She use to read it to you and your brother to get you to sleep. Get your ass going. People are waiting for you."
Tahgu waved her off and disappeared into the forge. That's right. Her mother did do that. Kirsi's memories of her mother were faint ones. She couldn't describe her face if she was asked. She had left her and her brother when they were barely toddlers. It sounded like the start to a bad story some rich snot would tell to his friends to seem cool. Yet they were warm memories. Her brother would have said otherwise.
But once again Tahgu was right. Something had finally clicked in her mind. Something that had been struggling to break the chains finally shattered the shackles. Bindings that were placed there by her severe lack of confidence. If she fails so what? If everyone is standing at the top, she'll just have to start climbing. She'd be a fool if she sat back and let others fight her battle.
"Would you stop looking like a lawn ornament and get moving?!"
Tahgu's shout made her jump and she clambered away with the saddlebag at hand. It was hefty and whatever was inside it clinked loudly like fancy porcelain plates. She took a small peek, but immediately shut the flap once she saw what was in there. Ceramic grenades. Enough gunpowder to blow the entire town into smithereens and leave nothing but a massive hole behind. She doesn't even want to know how or why Tahgu had these.
But now she knew what she needed to do. She swiftly untied her boots and kicked them off, followed by the work clothes. All that she had on was a tight sleeveless shirt and capris that hugged her toned thighs. Time for her to use that.
That's that. Is it too short of a chapter? Took forever to upload and I'm sorry about that. I blame me playing AC Valhalla...it's such a beautiful game. Next up is Cyberpunk 2077 eventually. Probably won't seen me for a looooooooooong time. Again. Customizable genitals yeah. Have a weebtastic day you lovely snowflakes owo/
