Casey calmed down and dried her eyes on her shirt. Shanks patted her back lightly.
"Feeling better, cupcake?" he asked.
She nodded. "Yeah. Hey Shanks, I missed you guys," she said.
He chuckled lightly. "Missed you too, cupcake. Now tell me how you ended up here," he said softly.
She looked at her hands. "You'll get angry. I don't like when you're angry," she said lowly.
"Casey. Shanks is not angry at you, but at those who took you from your brother, from your home," Benn said.
"Brothers," she corrected him.
Benn raised his brow. "Why don't you start by telling what happened after we left?"
She nodded. "Jiji came and he didn't like Luffy kept saying that he's going to be the King of Pirates, so he took us to Dadan and her bandits on Mt. Colubo. There we met Ace, but he wasn't nice at first. He tried to kill us, but then we got into trouble and after a while he warmed up to us. We also met Sabo, a friend of Ace and after some great adventures, we became siblings. I'm the strongest of us all, though Ace and Sabo is a year older than me," she said, the last part proud and fondly.
"I see. So you got more kids to play with," Shanks said.
She hummed. "But then … One day, when we were searching for things to our tree house in Grey Terminal, Bluejam and his gang kidnapped me. He sold me to a man in Goa and that man shipped me away. I tried to get free, but I couldn't. Then I came to this weird place with bubbles coming from the ground. I kept fighting, but the marines ignored me. Jiji will be angry hearing that," she said, her voice sad and scared.
Shanks rubbed her back in a soothing manner. "What happened then?"
"I was sold to another person, but I never stop fighting. He burnt me with that mark and said I belonged to him and no one would help me. He got angered and then sold me to someone else, for more money than he paid for me. I was then shipped to an island. I kept on biting, kicking, punching and fighting to get free. Later that day I found a Devil's Fruit and I ate it. I changed into a fox and got free of my collar. It was then I escaped. I hid myself on a ship and left it after some time," she said.
"You're really strong of heart," Yasopp smiled to her.
She smiled back to him. "I hid in the forest and only went to town a few times. I did see that the island had a Jolly Roger, but I didn't think about it further. The animals in the forest were much stronger than those on Mt. Colubo and I had hard time getting proper food. I don't know how long I've been there, but then Thatch came and he talked me into follow him. That's how I ended up here," she ended her story.
Shanks pulled her closer, holding her tightly. She had only revealed one name. Bluejam. Someone from her home island. Could he go back, find the man and beat him up? It would mean that he risked running into Luffy, which wouldn't be good. He would then break his promise and for just to beat a man up that hurt his precious cupcake.
"We can't," Benn said, as if he read Shanks' thoughts.
"I know," Shanks said.
"Don't go. Ace, Sabo and Luffy will beat Bluejam. Or have. He's not that big when they work together," Casey said, looking at Shanks.
"I won't go back, but I might make a call. I'm sure they're very worried about you," he said.
She nodded. "I want to talk to her too. Can I?"
"Sure. She'll be happy to hear your voice," he said.
"I can make the call with her," Benn suggested and Shanks nodded.
"Greet her from me," he said.
Casey left Shanks lap and took the hand of Benn, as he stood. He smiled down to her, before he lifted her up.
"The crew will want to know too. Do you mind us telling them the short version later?" he asked.
She shook her head. "You're family," she said and snuggled into the crook of his neck.
-x-
As they had left, Shanks sighed, letting a hand go through his hair. "She's not ready for the life on the seas, but with that mark …," he said, letting the sentence hang.
"You're right, Shanks. What do you suggest?" Whitebeard asked.
"There is only one place I can think of will be safe for her now. If she is to stay on an island," he said.
"Where, yoi?" Marco asked.
"I can't tell you the island's name. It's somewhere in Paradise, though. The base of the Revolutionaries," Shanks said.
Gasps were heard among the commanders.
"Oi, are you serious? You want to bring her there?" Thatch said shocked.
"Unless you have a better idea, that is the safest place I can come up with, where she also can get stronger," Shanks said, dead serious.
"You think they have time for a girl?" Izo asked.
Shanks shrugged. "I can't tell, but else she has to stay here or with me."
"She can't stay on a ship, Shanks. Casey is not ready for that," Yasopp said.
"He's right. Casey might be stronger than average girls her age, but mentally she is not ready. She still needs the safety of land and it would be better for her to train her abilities fully," Whitebeard said.
Shanks nodded. "I would have taken her and Luffy with me, if it hadn't been for the fact it's too dangerous here. Besides, I don't think I'm that good of a father," he said, cracking a smile.
"I dunno, capt'n. You acted and looked like one just moments ago," Yasopp said.
"In the long run, Yasopp. I'll spoil her too much and tease Luffy to no end, causing more trouble," Shanks said.
Yasopp shrugged, but then got serious. "So what do you suggest, Whitebeard?"
Though Whitebeard would love to have kept her on the ship, he couldn't be selfish now. It would not benefit her and she would need to learn about her abilities and strength on an island. She wouldn't need to hold back. Not as much as on a ship. With that in mind, the base of the Revolutionaries was the only right place for her to be safe. Though he had a lot of islands under his protection, he couldn't take the chance that none would sell her or 'accidently' bring her to her master.
"The Revolutionaries is the best for her," he said.
-x-
Casey had changed to a fox and sat on Benn's shoulder, as they walked onto the ship and towards the communication room. They heard the 'aws' and 'sighs' as they walked by the pirates. Casey smiled softly, remembering most of them and all the fun they had. Hopefully she could have a party with them again.
Benn sat down and she jumped from his shoulder, sitting on a chair. He smiled and picked up a den den mushi, dialing a number. After a few ring, it was picked up.
Party's Bar, Makino speaking. What can I do for you?
"Benn Beckman here. It's always a pleasure to hear your soft voice, Makino. Though do I hear sadness too?" he asked.
Benn? Is that really you? Oh dear, my prayers must have been heard.
Makino sobbed lightly in the phone. Casey looked at Benn, grabbing a tail and hugged it.
"Is something wrong?" Benn asked worried, though he had an idea what it was.
Casey has been kidnapped. Half a year ago. Probably been enslaved somewhere. Oh Benn, she's all alone somewhere. Luffy was heartbroken, but now he's training harder and harder, so he can become strong enough to protect everyone. I'm so worried about Casey.
Benn smiled softly, looking at Casey, before handing her the receiver.
"Makino-san? Don't worry anymore. I'm fine now," she said.
Casey? Oh dear. Oh my god I'm so happy to hear your voice again.
Makino cried now, the snail showing it. Benn could only imagine all the worries and nightmares they had went through. He wondered what Casey's Jiji would have done or had done, upon hearing about her abduction.
"It's good to hear your voice too. I never gave up and kept on fighting. That was how I got free on myself, but surviving was hard. However, I was found by good men and they brought me to Shanks and the others," Casey said.
That is wonderful news. Your brothers will be joyed to hear that you're safe. When will you come home?
She swallowed. "Makino-san… I can't go home. I was a slave, they marked me. You know what that mean, don't you? I have to wait until I'm strong enough to defend myself. I'll meet Ace, Luffy and Sabo on the sea," she said.
There was some silence, before Makino spoke again. Casey thought that Makino might need some time to calm down.
I understand. I'll try to tell your brothers that so they can understand it. I'm so happy you're safe. I've prayed so long for a call from Shanks or Benn, hoping they might want to check in on you guys. I'll let anyone know that you're free and safe.
Casey smiled. "Throw a party for me. I promise I will do everything I can to visit you, once I'm strong enough."
We'll be waiting for you. Benn … Take care of her. Keep her safe.
"We will. There is no way we'll let anything happen to our cupcake," he said, smiling to Casey.
Makino sighed and a soft smile was to be seen, before she said her goodbyes and hung up. Casey looked at Benn.
"What now?"
"We'll go back to Whitebeard and Shanks. They might have come to a conclusion what to do with you," he said.
Nodding, she turned back into a fox, and sat on his shoulder. He lightened up a cigarette. It was good she was safe and sound now, because he didn't know what Shanks would have done, if they had called Makino before today. Probably done everything trying to find their little cupcake.