~.~
Shanks wasn't surprised when he found Luffy sitting on the railings after the boy finally woke up. He winced inwardly when the small boy flinched at the sound of him leaning against the railings. All in all with his long messily tied hair, dressed in all too big clothes and too many bandages, flat cat-ears pressed against his head and his tail curled protectively around his trembling form the boy made quite a heart-wrenching and pitiful sight.
"Perona is going to freak out if she wakes up and can't find you." The red-head decided to speak up and the nekomimi looked at him with such broken eyes that it physically hurt.
Luffy opened his mouth but couldn't find the right words to speak."…"
"She doesn't hate you, you know."
"That… that's the worst." Shanks tried to reach out and pat the boy's head but the teen flinched violently and started to tremble like a leaf so the read-head stilled his hand.
He sighed as he grabbed instead his straw-hat. It's not like he didn't know where Luffy was coming from. Hurting his nakamas, it was something unforgivable for the small nekomimi, the fact that he was the one had did it made it even worse. But even so…
"You didn't want to hurt us."
"I'd never want to hurt either of you." Luffy said finally meeting Shanks eyes. The nekomimi's dark orbs begging him to believe it.
The captain smiled gently. "I know."
Luffy nodded before his eyes regained the pain as the boy let his head hung low."…but that doesn't mean I didn't do it. Or that I never will…"
"Luffy sometimes bad things sometimes just happen in life. Things that are out of our control" Shanks said slowly. "and no one, not even you can blame yourself for them. We are after all only humans, we're not perfect, we're flawed creatures…" Shanks smiled tightly as the boy finally looked at him.
"It may come as a surprise to you but perfection is impossible to achieve, you have to strive instead for continuous improvement. Because that's how people evolve; if you never fall you can never learn how to stand up again after all. Everyone makes bad decisions and everyone has bad days, when nothing happens as it should have." Shanks reminded even himself, this entire affair was a nightmare. "That's what life is about. Sometimes you get hurt and sometimes you hurt someone so when that happens you just have to remember we're not perfect, neither of us are, but things can get better. We can evolve, we just have to keep on trying." There was it, that spark in the nekomimi's eyes he'd been missing. "If you're flawed so what? everyone already is so fuck that, I mean" the red head cleared his throat slightly as he realized he got carried away. "… that's of course not an excuse to not try to be a better person but you shouldn't change who you are for someone else sake. As for not being strong enough, well you already know what to do about that."
The teen smiled and even though it was a far cry from his usual smile it was enough to renew the hope in the red-haired captain. "… trust my nakama." The nekomimi said before he looked at the ocean once again sadly. "…Is just… they will forgive me" The boy stated and Shanks frowned slightly as he tried to understand the boy's dilemma. " and I don't feel like I deserve it."
"Luffy…" The captain's voice was laced with both worry and slight annoyance.
"Is true, Shanks. I attacked them" the boy's eyes shifted to the man's wounded arm "I attacked you. There is no excuse for that."
"That wasn't a conscious decision of yours we both know that."
"It was still me."
The red-haired captain frowned hearing that. Back to the start once again. He had been too naïve to think the stubborn boy would heed his words so easily. "Nobody blames you for what happened. Think of it like this, what if Perona's ghost attacked you by mistake? Would you hold it against her?"
The answer came with no hesitation. "No way."
And Shanks smiled hearing that. It was always refreshing to see just how much trust and how deeply his young apprentice cared for his nakamas. "Then give yourself a brake and stop trying to meet those inhuman expectations." Shanks hopped the kid would listen to him, but there was a linger of doubt.
"…" how could he, the nekomimi grimaced inwardly. The words 'I'm sorry' just didn't feel right, they just didn't seem enough no matter how he tried to formulate it. Not to mention how could he ask them to forgive him when he himself wasn't able to forgive himself. It would only make him a hypocrite, wouldn't it?
~.~
"Kyaa!" Brook screamed.
"Shut up!" Perona or more like Perona's astral projection shout-whispered back truly annoyed.
"G-Gh-ghost!"
"It's me you idiot."
"Me?"
"Perona."
"Ah now that I look more closely…" Indeed it was her, in black pair of pajamas consisting of a tank top that had a cat on it and small shorts that would have looked quite nice on her had she not been wrapped in enough bandage to make a mummy jealous. Her long hair was also just simply let down, he could tell she had been sleeping before she appeared through the ceiling? "...but how did you?"
"Oh you don't know? I ate the Horo-Horo no Mi."
"Oh I didn't know you also eat a devil fruit. Not to mention now that I have looked more closely…" Brook said with a leer. "You milady are quite a stunning young woman. Simply beautiful…"
"Hmph, of course I am." The ghost princess added haughtily. Who was the skeleton trying to impress here? She knew she was beautiful, why was Brook so shocked about that? It seemed almost rude, although given their earlier encounter, she winced slightly as she remembered all that blood and dirt… well she might have made quite a picture back then.
"This is the first time I have seen such a beauty, although I am a skeleton so I don't really have eyes to see with. Yohohoho Skull Joke!"
"Whatever." Perona said interrupting him rudely. "I came here only to see if Luffy is here."
"Eh? Luffy-san is missing."
"He's supposed to be in the sick-bay but he's not…"
"I see, it had been three days since we left Thriller Bark." Luffy slept through all of them, Perona did wake up after the first 24 hours or so, but still had to stay in the sick-bay for healing and monitoring, Brook well he had a few injuries but nothing that grave. "Have you checked the dining area, maybe he was just hungry?"
"Not yet."
"Then please let me assist you. I am worried about Luffy-san myself."
Perona looked thoughtful for a second. She was debating the pro's and con's against taking him along."…fine." The pro's won simply because she didn't have a physical body right now and if Luffy needed any assistance moving around she wouldn't be able to provide much if any. "Just try to be silent." The ghost-princess whispered as they left Brook's cabin. "I don't want Doc to find us, or anyone else for that matter."
"Why not?"
"I… I'm not allowed to move from my bed. Well technically I didn't since my body is still there but…"
"Ah, I understand." The skeleton said with a small nod. He had experienced first-hand how scary Doc could be. The man looked nice enough at first glance, but if you dare to dear god go against his medical advice, enough said he still had nightmares. "By the way… may I ask you a personal question." Perona shrugged obviously not thinking too much of it. "Why did you choose to follow Luffy-san, I do remember you. You were one of Moria's most trusted crew-member." The pink haired girl narrowed her eyes as she turned to look at the skeleton. Brook, had saved her life but his tone right now… it was slightly accusing, she could tell. Was he picking a fight with her?
"…It is not a secret." She started. "I am the reason Moria declared Luffy as his enemy. This entire war between this two crew is my fault, but I am not sorry for it." The ghost princess said vehemently and Brook felt slightly angry with her for it. His deduction had been on point, she was the reason Luffy fought Moria and she dare even say she didn't feel sorry for it. Even though Shanks-san had saved them Luffy-san had been seriously hurt.
"I was…" Perona said with a soft voice "lost when Luffy and I meet and he give me something Moria never had. A place to finally belong. That's why even if it's selfish of me, I won't say I'm sorry I joined Luffy's crew. I wish to stand by his side and see him become the Pirate King, it is my dream." She declared proudly but to the skeleton it looked like she was just second away from crying. He had misjudged her, he admitted, she was just like him.
The skeleton smiled at her. "I understand." He spoke kindly. "I had once a long time ago a place where I belonged to… I know how terribly lonely the heart can get when you feel like you are all alone in this entire world."
"Humming…" The girl spoke not really sure what to say.
"Brook is fine."
"You two…" An annoyed voice asked from behind.
"Kyaaa!" Both Brook and Perona shouted at once as they looked at the pirate in front of them.
"What are you two doing out here in the middle of the night? And shouldn't you be in the sick bay Perona, Doc's not going to be happy if he finds out you sneaked away." Benn asked with a twitching eyebrow all while trying to ignore the fact that they screamed bloody murder right after looking at his face. That was a rude thing to do.
"… we're looking for Luffy." Brook finally admitted.
The first-mate sighed tiredly."…Figures is something like that. He's probably at the railings-" and he barely managed to stop them. "Shanks is there with him and they are currently engaged in a heavy conversation."
"Oh." The revelation made the two share a look and Benn fought the urge to sigh.
"He'll be fine." It was all too easy to read them, not like they could hide their worry that well. "Rather is in the middle of the night, you know, go back to sleep."
~.~
"Luffy…" followed by a heavy silence as Doc tried to reign in his annoyance. "I thought I told you to stay put in bed?!" at least a few thousand times.
"You did…" the little boy admitted sheepishly making Doc sigh. Short of gluing the kid to bed there was no other way if making the nekomimi stay put. Perona snickered slightly hearing their conversation.
"You there stop laughing!" The man said irritated. "You think I don't know what you have done!"
"Practically-"
"Using your Devil Fruit does count as effort! I told you to rest." The man started to lecture the two. For the following hour the two didn't utter anything else but 'I'm sorry' and different variants of the same. And yet Doc marveled no matter what he said the two never said they wouldn't do it again. That realization made him stop ranting and his clenched fist started shaking with barely restrained anger. "You two-"
The two gulped simultaneously but happily got saved by Benn Brook and Shanks who decided to bring breakfast as an excuse to visit the brats.
"It's not like we just came to intrude." Benn said with a sweat-drop when Doc give him a glare. "So how are you two doing?"
"Yohohoho, good morning Luffy-san, Perona-san."
"Brook-chi." The ghost-princess said happily.
The nekomimi and Shanks exchanged a look. "Brook-chi?" they asked, one could practically see the question-marks above their heads.
Perona raised an eyebrow almost like challenging the skeleton to deny her words. "It's fine right?"
"Yes, though it is a surprise, yohohohoh."
The red-haired captain only shrugged his shoulder before looking at the two brats. "So how are they?" The man asked doc who didn't get a chance to reply.
"I'm fine." Luffy said and Perona followed up with a "Why am I even here?"
"Brats!" Doc shouted annoyed. "You are both heavily injured!"
"But I feel fine." The two said in sync making Doc eyebrow twitch furiously.
"How can you? You little miss have wounds and burns all over your body. Like something exploded right beside you."
"Yeah… well I did detonated my Toku Hollow."
"What kind of idiot blows up themselves?!" Doc shouted with shark teeth.
"It couldn't be helped. The zombies were immune to my Negative Hollow and my mini Hollow barely did any damage. Since they were zombies they had no sense of pain. They just kept rising. I had to detonate my Toku Hollow unless I wanted to be defeated."
"Like I said stupid. Isn't it obvious you need to priorities escape in such a situation besides you knew that we were coming for you. Why are the both of you in such a hurry to die?!" Doc asked annoyed, all while turning his eyes to Luffy who jumped slightly. Those eyes were just too damn scary, the nekomimi decided.
"I'm sure he had a good reason, right?" Shanks asked with a tight eye-smile. Once again –scary!
"I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY ALL RIGHT!" Luffy shouted. "… the truth is I didn't think. I barely realized when I meet Brook that Benn was going to have my head for running head-straight into someone's trap. But then it was kind of too late… besides it's not like I could have just sit tight and just wait quietly while Perona was missing."
"… that's understandable. Still… you rushed into a trap without any plan what so ever…" Benn said shacking his head in a disappointed manner.
"Plans don't agree with me." Came the cheeky reply before the three veteran pirates shot him an evil eye making the teen sweat-drop. "I'm repenting of course." The three were thoroughly questioned about the events that took place. They red-haired pirates already heard some from Brook and Perona but it was amazing to think that the three of them managed to defeat an entire army. There were a few surprises too.
"Are you sure it was Moria…" Benn asked cautiously.
"It is fuzzy, I was barely conscious then… but I'm sure it was him. It couldn't have been anyone else but him." She could remember somehow though, the memories and the images were fuzzy and seemed distant at best. The warlord carried her body to her, Perona could remember his boots and saw him hold her before she merged with her physical self. There were bits of the warlord talking to her, though she could barely make out what was being said as he took her back to her room.
"… he saved your life." Luffy said with a far-away look. He couldn't help but remember the Warlord's words, he said Luffy was just like he had been before he entered New World. Maybe there had been more to Moria than he had realized. He was admittedly curios and relieved at the same time. Happy that he didn't kill the warlord.
"I didn't make it back to my body… I didn't cross even half the distance. Plus Brook-chi said someone was outside my door like a guard, but the zombies orders from before was to eliminate me. With Absalom and Hogback both down the only one capable of changing given orders or overriding them is Moria." Perona explained further and Benn had to give it to her, all those points were valid.
"Obviously there is something we don't know." Shanks said with a frown. He was torn, true to be told it would be so easy if Moria would have been pure evil. Hunting him down wouldn't be such a task for them, but once again the man was an enigma.
~.~
"Good morning!" The three greeted the chiefs cheerily. Both Luffy and Perona were finally released from the sick bay, a truly good way to start the day if the nekomimi had to say so. It's been a week since they have been brought to the infirmary and both of them were one step away from going crazy. They managed to annoy Doc enough to finally kick them out of there with a loud "Don't let me see you around here again!"
"Morning, so you're finally up! Lucky was getting bored these days without any competition." The man shouted happily as he started stacking up food for Luffy who smiled back innocently. Usually he and Lucky would compete over who could eat more meat at least once or twice a week. The crew started betting on who would win and before they knew it became an event of sorts. Soon a large Luffy-sized Breakfast was finally in reach and the nekomimi had to stop himself from drooling as he laid eyes upon all the meat.
"Th-thank you!" The teen said with a shinning smile unknowingly K.O.-ing the chef behind the counter while his two nakama choose their breakfast. They settled at a table nearby, just so Luffy could carry all the plates there, yes plural because there were multiple plates. More than his usual share, he had missed several meals after all in the last few days. Brook and Perona couldn't help but share a smile as they saw Luffy's enthusiastic reaction to the food.
"Itadakimasu!" They started eating cheerily though Luffy couldn't help but slowly lose his appetite whenever Perona flinched or Brook moved his bony hand gingerly as if in pain. His eyes were automatically drawn to the wounds the shadow-spear left behind. He knew he give it away with the way he froze up, he covered it quickly with a hesitant smile but it only made the people watching it more worried. He sighed inwardly as he returned to his breakfast. Both Perona and Brook exchanged a worried look. For once the two didn't know how to help.
"Quit worrying" Luffy said finally as he looked up from his food. "I'll be fine." He reassured them and for a small second it almost seemed like the teen was past it. Slowly more people wondered in, each and every coming to a stop at their table to greet Luffy and tell him it's good to have him back. The small nekomimi was blushing slightly hearing all those words. He had worried them all too much once again. When Shanks returned to the ship he was out of it and bleeding all over the place. It was not how he pictured their reunion either.
As more people poured in and the buzz from their chatting grew louder so did the boy's smile. He started to enjoy himself and his breakfast once more. Laughing with the other pirates and joking happily. The red-haired pirates were very welcoming and Brook found himself totally immersed in the atmosphere. It didn't take long for it to turn into a party to celebrate the two finally getting discharged. Brook soon found himself seated in front of a piano playing one of his favorite songs. Loud cheers resounded through the room and Shanks appeared shortly. He was hung up about his own crew throwing a party without him there but got over it pretty quickly.
It was not your usual breakfast, Luffy admitted. Only Shanks and his crew, the nekomimi mused, were capable of throwing a party even before noon. But he wouldn't have it any other way, Luffy realized, this was the crew he knew. They had been suspiciously quiet the past week. But then again he wouldn't be able to enjoy himself either if one of his nakama was stuck in the infirmary. He had missing this, Luffy thought with a small smile, the trip with Mihawk wasn't bad but he had been missing this.
The party had soon spread out to the deck. Shanks had disappeared too not so long ago after he caught the nekomimi looking at his bandaged arm. Luffy couldn't help but feel even worse. He didn't know how much time passed but seeing as Benn had yet to join them he decided to search for the man. It wouldn't do for Benn to miss out their party. The man was probably on lookout so Luffy decided to relieve him. Someone had to stay sober after all, not to mention watching them stumble around was funny. Yassop already starting boasting about his son to everyone in vicinity. The nekomimi reckoned it won't be long until he was drunk enough to start talking to the mast.
Luffy chuckled slightly as he finally stood up. As he walked out the galley he couldn't help but raised a curious eyebrow. The large double-door leading to the deck was closed. It was usually open more so when they partied to avoid unfortunate accidents. The nekomimi decided to ignored it and quickly came to regretted it. The second the nekomimi stepped on the deck he was drenched in water from head-to-toe. Someone poured water on him and then throw the bucket to get rid of the evidence. Unfortunately for the shell shocked nekomimi who had yet to move said bucket fell on his head with a small thud. That someone easily give himself away though when he started laughing, more so since no one else dared to move a muscle let alone laugh. The entire party came to a stop.
"Dhahaha! You- you fell for it." Shanks shouted and everyone waited as if petrified for Luffy's reaction.
Luffy spit out some water that got in his mouth and then asked slowly. "You do know what this means?" He raised his arms, dripping water everywhere to the bucket on his head. Shanks was a bit nervous since he couldn't read the brat's expression thanks to the damn bucket. "This means war." The teen said with a big grin and mischievous look in his eyes as he finally took off the bucket.
The entire crew shouted cheering and laughing merrily. In a few seconds a poll and bets were being placed on who would win and who will lose the Prank war. The red-haired captain growled annoyed when he heard Benn bet against him. And when he demanded an explanation the first-mate dryly told him that he bet on Luffy because his devil fruit give him a better chance to win. The man walked away grumbling about "Traitors" and "No fate in your own captain!" The nekomimi meanwhile smiled happily as he saw the ghost-princes finally mingle with the others. Perona was taking bets, she had opened up to the other while he was away, he realized. The nekomimi somehow couldn't help but think that it all went according to Benn's plans.
It was unfortunate that some rookie pirates decided to show up not long after. The nekomimi couldn't help but smirk slightly, they came just at the right moment. After spending so much time in the infirmary he had been aching for some action. Since he was keeping watch it was his responsibility to deal with them. He shared a look with the red-headed captain and his grin got even wider. He had been given the clear from Shanks to do as he pleased. He quickly activated Gepo and disappeared into the sky. He didn't want to give the rookies the chance to get too close and possibly spoil the crew's fun. It didn't take long for him to get to the rookies vessel. He landed flashily on the ship's figure-head while trying to decide what to do with them. He could let them go should the crew be amicable.
"Yo" he greeted cheerfully. The rookie pirates looked at him flabbergasted, not that he'd blame them. To them it must have looked like he just dropped from the sky. "Yo!" Luffy greeted the shell-shocked pirates again effectively snapping them out of it.
"Eh?!" the rookies shouted.
The nekomimi smiled friendly while inquiring "So who the hell are you guys?"
"Who the hell are you?" the pirates retorted annoyed.
"Before asking for someone else's name is proper to introduce yourself." Luffy scolded them displeased.
"Ah, yes, certainly, we are… The hell, aren't you the one who first asked?"
"Right. Leaving that aside-"
"Don't leave it aside!" The crew shouted as one.
"You're pirates right." The boy spoke with a sunny smile behind his hoodie.
"Yes we're the Cloudy Pirates!" The one in front, probably their captain declared proudly.
"Never heard of you."
"Eh? We're known as the super rookies. Our captain Cloudy- has a bounty of 70 million beri."
Luffy frowned as he looked at the guy who seemed to bask in the glory. "70 million? This guy? You must be joking. He has no presence what so ever, his face looks weird, not to mention what is this thing on his head, you know there is a thing called a comb… " every word seemed to cut into the pirate captain like knifes. The man slumped to the floor in depression while mumbling to himself. "I can't believe this guy has a 70 million bounty."
"You bastard, how dare you make fun of our captain!" the crew shouted annoyed. "Die you-"
"Calm down everyone. Before you decide to fight me I have to tell you that I'm a pirate from that ship." Luffy pointed at Red Force. Not one of them recognized the flag making Luffy wander just what kind of idiots they were. "I'm here to inquire about your motives for approaching us."
The rookies humph-ed as one while saying- "Like we'd tell you!"
"Steal." The idiot of the crew admitted before getting hit by his crewmates.
"You idiot you don't have to answer that."
Luffy nodded to himself. "I see. Is it alright to say that you are a hostile force then."
"Look what you did! Now he's going to tell his captain!" /"Wait he's just a kid, can't we just you know silence him or something?" / "I see, good thinking." The figures huddled together to plan how to take them down not quite quietly enough for Luffy's sensible ears not to pick on.
"I'm not going to snitch on you." Luffy explained to the ones around him. "Besides my crew-mates are busy celebrating right now."
"… then they won't see us coming." The pirate captain that finally got over his depression concluded making the rest of the crew nod in agreement. That's before they realized that Luffy was in the middle of the huddle and jumped away with a scream.
Took them long enough, the nekomimi thought with a smile. "Sorry but I can't let you do that." Luffy said with a smile but it was no longer friendly. It screamed psycho instead. The crew unknowingly took a step back from the dangerous chibi. "Don't be scared now, I'm only going to hurt you a bit." After all even though they tried to steal from them they never intended to kill any of them.
Shanks chuckled as he heard the screams coming from the rookie pirate's ship before drinking the rest of the booze in his glass in one go.
"He's enjoying himself." Benn said with a smile as he looked at the pretty fireworks coming from the enemy ship.
"Yup."
"Should we send backup?"
"Nah, someone already is watching his back." The red-haired pirate said as he looked at the ghost princess direction. Benn smiled in understanding before frowning slightly.
"You know… I would still feel better if there was a non devil-fruit user with him."
"Worry-wart." Shanks teased, though he didn't deny the first-mate's silent request to stir the ship closer to the rookie's.
~.~
It was way too easy to simply forgive and forget, but not to him. The injuries on his nakama taunted him endlessly. Worse yet they forgive him all that easily, it felt like someone had been rubbing salt into his wounds. Luffy felt like he didn't deserve such great nakama. Every "It wasn't your fault" and "Don't be so hard on yourself" felt like just convenient excuses he could so easily reach for but he didn't want to. He should have been stronger, he should have been able to protect his nakama.
They never should feel threatened or hurt by him in the first place. The sheer idea that he was the one who hurt them was wrong, so so wrong. The fact that they were able to forgive him for that was even more so. They may have forgiven him but he simply couldn't. This was not allowed to happen again. Never again. That's why he made a silent promise. Disobeying Shanks direct order. He knew just how dangerous this particular power of his was but he didn't care. He knew that it could kill even himself if he ever crossed his word, but that was just what he wanted. Needless to say Shanks was not happy when he saw the cross like pattern on his finger, no the man was livid.
"Luffy you idiot! Why would you do that?" Yes the yonko was seriously pissed, his Haki was strong enough to make sure everyone on the ship would stay as far away from their captain as possible. A few muttered a silent prayer for whichever fool was stupid enough- Luffy of course, to make Shanks rage like that.
The nekomimi smiled tightly. "I…" He said slowly. "won't hurt my nakamas, never again."
"That's-" The red-haired captain said annoyed. "You would never hurt us on purpose. We both know that you didn't want any of that to happen."
"Of course, but that is not good enough. This is… think of it like it's a leash, for the bakeneko." This time it was his loss, Luffy admitted. Hurting Shanks and scaring the two to death was all because he lost himself to his emotions. Even though he tried to keep a tight lid on them apparently it just wasn't enough anymore. Though… not forgivable but it was understandable that he kind of lost it after seeing two he considered nakama getting 'killed' right in front of his eyes. Had it been not for Shanks, Luffy was sure he would have killed both Brook and Perona such action on the other hand would have killed everything that made him Luffy. It would have broken him and all that would have been left would have been a mindless beast. Shanks didn't know it but he had saved Luffy from himself in more ways than one.
"That 'leash' of yours could end up killing you." The smile the red-haired captain received in response was one that said- 'I know'. "We have to get it off" The man said wreaking his brain for any way to undo the promise.
"No."
"What?"
"No."
"Why are you so stubborn?! That promise will be used against you!"
"Probably but it's fine. I trust my nakama. And the bakeneko wouldn't commit suicide so he won't attack my nakama ergo I won't die."
"… you're infuriating!" The yonko had to give it to the boy. In a way it was clever of him. On the other hand this was a troublesome situation. Shanks knew Luffy did it because he wanted to protect his nakama but he should value his own life too. To start with this power was very annoying. More so the backslash, just thinking about what happened that time the stupid chibi broke his promise was enough to make him despair. Happily it was not like it would kill the nekomimi instantly. But Luffy was still naïve, very very naïve in his way of thinking. "Listen this, you can't tell anyone else."
"It's-"
"Please Luffy, just listen this once." Shanks spoke his voice quite tight. "I know that you trust them but there are many ways to get such information out of people."
"You mean torture-"
"One of them, the other is Devil Fruits. Right now only the two of us know about this information. If this somehow gets out, you enemies will not hesitate to use it against you. They won't hesitate to use your nakama against you either."
"Words are… dangerous aren't they…" Luffy's question was much more like a statement, one which Shanks agreed with.
"Yours so much more." The red-haired captain added with a small sigh.
"I understand, Captain. Through I won't promise-"
"Brat! You know I'm still pissed at you!" The nekomimi only looked at him with big innocent yet questioning eyes. "That won't help!" Shanks still looked away as fast as humanly possible. He couldn't succumb to that look. "You're on cleaning duty the entire week!" The red-haired man shouted as he walked away from where Luffy was as quickly as he could. Somehow he could still feel and see those dangerously adorable eyes and kicked puppy or was it kitten expression in the back of his mind. It wasn't fair that those eyes were so powerful, he could already feel his resolve weaken and he wasn't even near Luffy!
~.~
Perona was truly angry, so she practically tore the door open. "What is the meaning of this Brook?!" She shouted annoyed and the terrified skeleton took a frightened step behind as the ghost princess stepped inside his personal space.
"Eh?! The meaning?! What!?"
"Don't try to play innocent! I hear you and Benn-san talk. You plan on leaving the ship!" She shouted accusatory.
"… Ah, you found out."
"Just what were you thinking?" She asked raging once again. "and why didn't you tell us? Aren't we…na-nakamas" she asked embarrassed slightly. True to be told Perona never thought that such a simple word, could mean something so much and carry such a weight before meeting Luffy. And now just saying it, it sent her stomach fluttering. "I know Captain asked you to join us." She added quickly.
The skeleton sighed guiltily as he looked out his small window. Neither of two knew that Luffy was standing right behind the open door. He had been worried when he saw Perona rush under-deck in such an agitated state. Now though he was wondering if he was perchance intruding. It seemed like a private conversation and yet he wanted to know. If what she said was true… he wanted to find out the reason for it, he had to. Brook was his nakama and he didn't want to give up on the skeleton.
Brook looked, the ghost princess thought, just so sad right then. It made it even harder for her to even begun to understand. Why would someone, someone who had been in a similar position to her, ever give up such a chance? It was one in a million, the skeleton surely realized.
"Would you please listen to my story."
"Don't think you can make me change my mind." Perona warned before sitting down on a chair near his bed in her usual spirited manner and the skeleton couldn't help but smile slightly. He couldn't help but find her mannerism endearing. And so he started speaking.
Luffy listened attentively to the story he already knew and yet he couldn't help but be amazed once again. Perona was meanwhile crying a river and Brook had to stop his story more than once to console the ghost princess. He could hardly believe it. For both Perona and Luffy to care so much, he was practically a stranger to them. They were both truly and without any doubt amazing people. Brook thought with a small smile.
"...I was so lonely, that I wanted to die." The skeleton said sounding defeated.
"Brook don't give up! Good things happen!" The girl shouted with tear-filled eyes making the skeleton chuckle slightly.
"I didn't. I couldn't I still have a promise left to fulfill." Luffy's strained his ears now. "Long ago, we left a member of our crew behind at a certain location. It was unavoidable, yet sad. When we set sail, we vehemently swore that we would return. But then we were annihilated on these seas, preventing us from keeping our promise. I believe it had been almost fifty years now since the day we died." Brook only smiled when he saw Perona gasp in something akin of horror. "I know what you want to say, it had been ages ago. That there is no way he had waited for so long… but even then. What right do I have to decide whether or not he's still waiting? We swore to reunite with my crew-mate at Twin Capes… Laboon. I doubt he will forgive us for irresponsibly dying on him. We made a selfish promise and died under a distant sky where our voices couldn't reach him. "I'm sorry we died" could never cut it! We gave our word as men that we would return!"
Luffy smiled from behind the door. It was moments like this when his desire to make Brook his nakama rose even higher. The skeleton was exactly the kind of person he wished to have as nakama. He had decided, no ever since back then. Brook was his nakama and he had no desire to let him just walk away.
"Is that why? But if you leave now you will travel alone…"
"I…" the skeleton couldn't refute the ghost princess words.
"Are you really fine with this decision? Won't you regret it?"
"I'm sorry… the truth is I wish I could travel with the two of you. It is my desire but making him wait even more… it would be cruel."
~.~
"Brook… I guess this is goodbye. I'm sorry for Perona, she… is just hard for her." Luffy explained with a sheepish smile, most of the pirates in Shanks crew had quickly warmed up to Brook despite him being a skeleton. The nekomimi suspected that it had to do with the fact that Brook was a helluva good musician, and the red-haired pirates loved to party.
"I understand. Thank you very much, for everything that you have done for me… I don't know how I should be ever able to repay all the kindness you bestow on me. If you ever-"
Luffy smirked slightly hearing that. He had planned on Brook saying that. "Are you sure you want to say that?" Everyone present blinked questioningly. This conversation has taken a weird turn. Not to mention the way the nekomimi was grinning was unsettling.
"Yes?!" Brook said trying not to sound so unsure but he just couldn't help it. The expression the nekomimi was wearing was slightly frightening.
"Shishishishi, Good- good. I was hoping you would say that. Then join my crew-"
"That's-" a raised hand stopped Brook before he could say anything else. True to be told the skeleton wasn't sure what he himself was about to say.
Luffy smiled understandingly before he continued speaking. "Although I said that, I am still an apprentice. But in 2 years I will set sail on my own. I will definitely come for you, when then happens, I won't accept a refusal!"
Brook couldn't stop the tears that escaped his eye-sockets. Even through he was a skeleton, how mysterious Brook thought. He could still cry. The skeleton could barely believe that this was really happening. Even though he was just a skeleton, even though he carried such a heavy past and had already refused Luffy-san previously, the nekomimi still didn't give up on him. "Y-yes… I understand…"
"Good."
"Horro-horro-horro. Isn't this great Brook-chi we're nakamas now!" the girl said as he jump-hugged the skeleton.
"Eh?! Perona-san you're here?! I thought…"
"That…" The young girl sneaked a look at Benn, who had scolded her lightly previously saying 'You will regret letting him go like this, at least send him off with a smile and 'be well', as a nakama that's what you have to do. Even if it hurts.'. She somehow got her act together thanks to that. It was still annoying that Benn-san knew her so well. The ghost princess knew she would have regretted not saying good-bye, but she was capricious.
"Well it is good that you're here." The skeleton said with an eye-smile. "I wanted to properly say good-bye to all of you."
"It's not good-bye it's see you in two years!" Luffy and Perona said in harmony making the skeleton let out a loud.
"Yohohoho! Yes. Definitely. See you in two years! Luffy-san, Perona-san!"
"Bye-bye!" / "Take care!" / "See ya!" Everyone on the ship shouted as they waved to the departing small ship. It was a small ship and although it was hardly suitable for waters in Grand Line it was enough for the skeleton to sail toward the nearest island where he could catch a ship toward Twin Peaks.
"So we're off to Sabaody then?" Luffy asked as he turned black to a very annoyed looking white-haired captain. So the man still didn't forgive him for the prank, eh?
Shanks was trying not to strangle the kid every time he caught a glimpse of his hair. And no he won't forgive him just for being so adorable. Who was he kidding he couldn't stay mad at the chibi."Yes." He said with a long sigh. "We'll be going full speed. Get there in a week or two."
"Ah! I heard they have some cute shops there!" Perona exclaimed excited. "I can finally buy myself some new dresses, maybe a few hair products! Horo-horo!"
Luffy sweat-dropped. "Is that so…"
"I'll buy some for you too."
"No, you don't have to."
"I will buy some." Perona said. It was a indisputable decision. And the dark aura surrounding her. He should have known to never mess with a girl and her shopping.
"T-thank you then." The nekomimi said with a small sweat-drop.
She nodded happily to herself before petting Luffy's hair who only smiled. "What is Sabaody like?" The nekomimi finally asked Shanks.
"Is…" Shanks looked at the sea with an expression Luffy couldn't read. "both good and bad in a way. It's an archipelago and the final island in Paradise."
Benn hearing their conversation decided to add something. "Though it's actually a massive mangrove forest growing out from the middle of the ocean. Since it's just a group of trees and not an actual island it has no magnetic pull."
"… is that so? I knew it was a highly visited tourist stop." The ghost princess added with a sense of curiosity.
"That's not exactly wrong per say. Due to the place being close to the part of the Red Line bordering the first half of Grand Line and New World it is a highly visited rest stop for all sorts of travelers." Benn explained.
"Like I said both good and bad. There are nice shops and even an amusement park but on the other hands there are human shops, slavery and discrimination…" Shanks said looking at Luffy with worry.
"I… I see…" the nekomimi mumbled.
"More so… World Nobles often visit here. Luffy… I'm sorry but this time around you are allowed to debark only if either me or Benn accompanies you. No exceptions. Think about it like a buddy-system."
Luffy sighed. "I knew this would happen." He finally admitted sounding quite resigned.
"First Mate-san sure knows lots of stuff though." Perona said and Benn smiled as he gently took her to the side giving Luffy and Shanks a bit of space.
"I can feel you worry." The nekomimi said as he and Shanks walked toward a more secluded corner of the ship. "Is it because I was a slave?" Luffy had after all told the yonko. But the man such as Shanks he knew wouldn't tell his personal past to a third party even if that third party was his crew without the nekomimi's approval. Although Luffy had absolute fate that they wouldn't judge him because of his past it was somehow still a very personal information. One he didn't like sharing. But he suspected that a few already knew anyway. He was sure Doc knew he had saw after all his scars, Benn too, there was few if anything that slipped past the first-mate.
The red now white haired captain tried not to flinch at the question. "It might bring up painful memories. I wish it was avoidable but we need to get our coating done so we have no choice."
"I see." The nekomimi said with a hmm. "Don't worry so much or your hair might stay like that."
"Brat. But like I said is not just that. We have to fly under the radar. There is a marine base on Sabaody if we make too big of a ruckus we may be unable to get our coating done in time." Not to mention if they dispatch an admiral once again things would get troublesome. Shanks injury while it was getting better it was still not healed, Doc said that the possibility of him never regaining full function of that hand was high. Something that big of a weakness was too hard to be overlooked. If word got out everyone would be after them. Drawn like sharks to the scent of blood. Taking down a yonko was many peoples wet dream after all.
Somehow Luffy seemed to understand the problem all too well for the yonko's liking. "I got it."
"Somehow that's not too reassuring…" Shanks said making Luffy pout slightly. It's not like it was his fault chaos gravitated around him.
~.~
Shanks frowned as he looked at the three marine vessel standing in their way. "Why are they here?"
"Welcoming committee?" The nekomimi asked back making the first-mate smirk.
"Hey anchor," The red-head started making Luffy raise a curios eyebrow. "You said Mihawk showed you a flying blade attack" The teen nodded with a knowing grin. He already know what the man was going with this."Wanna see who's better?"
"Captain" Benn started but give up when the two in question turned to him with puppy-eyes. "fine… do as you wish."
Perona was meanwhile jumping around excited shouting "Shanks and Luffy are going to compete!" and was already taking bets. The gamblers quickly gathered, they didn't want to miss out the chance. Although this time the stakes were on Shanks favor not that Luffy could blame them. The two moved to the ship's Forecastle Deck the spectators cheering followed them. Yassop and Lucky were given the mission to sabotage a certain number of cannons from firing. Every round the number would decrease slightly until the winner was decided.
The first cannon-ball, the warning shot was cut in two by Luffy flying blade attack. There was a cheer from the crew that the nekomimi ignored expertly. Shanks clapped but with there was that infuriating smile on the man's lips that made it seem more mocking than anything else.
"I'm just warming up." Luffy defended himself before the man could say anything else.
"Good" the man said. "Wouldn't be a competition otherwise." That being said the man cut three cannon heading toward them with one small move of his blade. It was infuriating but the man was a genius when it came to swords. His spot as a yonko was well deserved, not to mention he was the rival of the world's greatest swordsman after all. Shanks skill as a swordsman was overwhelming, even if he was currently using only one hand. Luffy knew that he was being used, he no all of them had been walking on egg-shells around the red-head. The man was annoyed that his own crew whom should have absolute fate in their captain was treating him like a handicapped person and so he decided to open their eyes. Luffy felt a bit stupid for falling for such easy provocation, on the other hand though he has happy that he had been given the chance to show off his new attack.
The nekomimi walked forward and closed his eyes he concentrated and let a flying Kazekiri hit and wipe out five cannons with only one horizontal slash. The crew shouted as one as the cannon's exploded. Benn himself nodded satisfied. He knew it was a good idea to let Mihawk and Luffy meet. Shanks meanwhile couldn't help but pout, the nekomimi was his apprentice he should have been the one to teach Luffy the flying-blade technique. It was infuriating.
Muttering a low "Stupid Hawky" Shanks cut down ten cannon-balls heading their way.
Luffy couldn't help but get annoyed. His captain dared even look like it was an easy accomplishment. For him maybe. The nekomimi sighed, it was not like he didn't expect him to do so.
"Giving up?" The man asked as the annoying marines fired again. The number was twelve this time.
Luffy glared back slightly offended. "No way." He let his flames out and encircle him like a warm blanket. Shanks and the crew raised a curios eyebrow seeing the chibi do that all while wondering what the nekomimi was planning. The flaming Kazekiri easily overpowered the cannon-balls heading their way.
"I see…" Benn said with a small smile while Perona cheered even louder.
"Nice… " Shanks said with a small teasing grin.
"Your turn."
"Brat." The man retorted before taking on a stance. The second the marines fired- fifteen cannon-balls a small slash left the red-headed captain's sword that grew larger and larger as it raced toward the incoming projectiles. All fifteen with one single slash. Perona was gaping and Luffy would have too if he wouldn't be frozen solid.
"… giving up?"
Luffy answer was an amused grin. "No way. It's just getting interesting." His answer made the crew cheer along and Shanks laugh.
"20 incoming!" Yasopp shouted from the crow's nest.
Luffy cursed him slightly in the back of his mind but he was not backing out. Limits were meant to be pushed after all. There was something he had been meant to try out. He tried to visualize the new attack and was a bit worried what would happen if he messed up but Benn put a calming hand on his shoulder.
"Go for it." The man said with a smirk. The nekomimi frowned displeased with himself, he almost forgot, he had people supporting him, he was not alone.
Luffy nodded back before letting a breath he didn't know he held in lose. The nekomimi smirked as he raised his sword and brought it down in a quick slash. The ones watching raised an eyebrow thinking it would never hit all of them, one maybe two but as the slash advanced toward the cannon-balls it divided.
"Ehhh?!" The crew shouted as one as the slashes hit the cannon-balls and exploded.
"It worked…" the nekomimi said stupefied before a grin spread on his face as he turned to Shanks who looked just as shocked as the rest of the pirates. "Your turn." He declared and the red-headed captain laughed.
"Dhahaha! You can do that to?!"
"Apparently. If it means anything I didn't know I could do it either."
The man couldn't help but start laughing once more. His apprentice was scary, his potential was even more so but he had to admit it was also very motivating. Many would argue that it was cruel but the red-headed man wanted to push Luffy to his limits. He wanted to see just how far the kid could go.
"23 Down." Shanks declared turning to Luffy who grinned. It was getting exciting the red-haired captain declared.
"How many cannon-balls do you think they have?"
"Enough I hope." The man said making the rest of the crew chuckle. The two got to 34 before Luffy missed one.
"Shit."
"Missed one." The red-head teased before Luffy sent another slash cutting it in two before it could get even closer. The crew started celebrating their captain victory meanwhile Luffy couldn't help but let a pathetic whimper escape his lips. Perona watched worried as the nekomimi slumped over in defeat.
"I lost…" Luffy said as he slowly retreated to a corner with a small cloud over his head. The crew now glared as one at the red-head who couldn't help but feel slightly responsible.
"Mah… you got it in the end, you didn't lose. Right boys?" Shanks asked the rest of the crew who nodded along. "Never said you had to get them all with one slash…"
"No." The teen said with a shake of his head. "I am men enough to admit that I lost." Luffy declaration was spoiled by the tears in his eyes.
The crew couldn't help but add dryly. "No, you don't have to try that hard."
"Isn't it alright to just cry?" Rockstar asked before Luffy started shouting at them with shark-teeth.
"Who's crying! I'm not crying!"
"Captain…" Benn started with a loud sigh.
"What's with that disappointed look in your eyes?"
"You shouldn't bully others, less so... to make Luffy cry."
"He said he's not crying!" Shanks defended himself.
"'m not crying dammit!"
"Negative Hollow!" Perona said before four ghost appeared at her side. Unlike the usual funny looking ones this four looked like they were glaring at the yonko. "How dare you… make Luffy cry!"
"W-wait! Let's just calm down! Everyone wait a minute! Gyahh!"
~.~
Hey everyone sorry for the late update. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Soul D Phoenix: yes he will start his journey in East Blue. Brook won't go with them right now instead of later. Since Luffy's journey won't start for two more years now he's only an apprentice. I thought it would be wrong to make Laboon and Brook wait for longer with their reunion if they were going to meet anyway.
Marauders Inc: Tell me about it, I still find mistakes after proofreading it for X times.
Now Question: Should Rayleigh meet Luffy now or not?