Previously...
Sabo's POV
"Well then, where will we be going?" she asked as we swung down to the ground. I grinned at her, "We're going to collect some money, then meet up with Ace and go hunting."
Sayeko's POV
So he is his acquaintance, huh? I thought to myself, Does he know?
"Say, Sabo," I started off, since it was getting rather quiet since we started trudging off to the 'Grey Terminal' of which I still have yet seen, "Do you happen to know who Ace's father is?"
"A-ace's father?" He stuttered. I giggled, that face of his really was amusing. "Yes," I replied, "but with that reaction of yours, I can tell that you already know who he is."
"Wow," he commented in surprise, "Those are some observational skills you've got there."
"Practice makes perfect," I commented, thinking back to the three years I had spent alone, or rather "The Lonely Three" as I like to call them since I met Ace and Sabo, though it was only no more then less than a day ago. They were the first of such people I had come across.
Sabo chuckled in response, "I'm guessing you used the same skills to find out about his father."
"Absolutely correct," I told him, then laughed, "I would highly recommend not to go around asking questions people would not usually ask."
"Perceptive too, I see," he commented again. I giggled, It certainly was a long time since I had felt this way. Three years, to be precise.
"It's actually rare that Ace will reveal something like that when he just met you," he told me.
"Actually, he didn't; rather, his expression, and the question, let the cat out of the bag," I corrected. He chuckled, again, and we continued walking in silence, trudging through the woods. The trees towered over us children as we made our way to the 'Grey Terminal'.
"We're here!" Sabo announced. A thick pungent smell in the air hit me like a tidal wave. My eyes widened when I saw the very scene before my eyes. 'Grey Terminal' was literally grey, with scraps of metal and used wood strewn all over the place. It was like a trash dump-wait, scratch that. It is a trash dump.
"Whoa..." I stared in awe, since that was all I could do. Then, I remembered something about 'collecting money'. How are we going to collect the money? Wait, before that, why is a more important question right now.
I would not mind dealing with a few thugs every now and then-I may like it, actually-but why do they need to 'collect' the money. Well, I will be finding that out soon enough, so I wouldn't bother to ask. Besides, I do not think that they will backstab me.
Third Person POV
"Now, all we have to do is wait for Ace to come," the blonde-haired boy told the brown-haired girl beside him.
They were high up in a tree, near a secret compartment which only the three of them knew about. It was their 'Pirates's Savings' though the brown-haired brunette had only just learnt about it.
"Psst... Psst... Sabo, you here?" A voice whispered up from below. The blonde-haired boy, whose name was Sabo, perked up at those words and looked down at the raven-haired boy standing below, "You're late, Ace."
"Well, well, look who we have here!" The brown-haired girl spoke up as she leaned over the edge of the branch.
"S-Sayeko?!" Ace exclaimed in shock. He hadn't expected to see the brunette that he had met the day before with Sabo.
Sayeko only grinned, "Yes, we meet again. Is it okay if I... How do I put it simply? Join your little gang?"
Ace looked to Sabo for an explanation. He only raised his hands up in mock surrender, "I've only just met her this morning! Then she asked me to show her around, and, yeah, you know."
He sighed and said, "You might get hurt. You do know what we do, right?" Sayeko huffed, "I figured you were going to say that, but I would recommend not underestimating me."
"Fine, show us what you're made of..." Ace didn't get to finish his sentence when Sayeko detected a slight movement in the trees. She stood up quickly, yet warily. She sniffed the air. Then, she growled, "It's close."
"What's close?" The two boys simultaneously asked her confused.
Without warning, Sayeko jumped up swiftly. In a blur of nature's color palatte, she threw her daggers at the wild boar that was approaching. Her daggers flew proud and true, silver glinting in the sunlight. They hit the intended target dead on, killing it instantly.
She landed on the ground behind Ace with a soft "thump". Sayeko turned and smirked at him, "So, have I obtained your approval?"
"Yeah, sure," Ace finally agreed after a slight pause to comprehend what had just happened.
"That's good to hear," Sayeko heaved as she fist-bumped Ace, catching him off guard with the gesture. Sabo simply laughed at the scene, "Looks like breakfast's going to be wild boar roast!"
Sayeko's POV
"Hey, Sabo," Ace started as he took a huge bite of the meat chunk he had in hand, "Did you know? A new boy came today." Sabo and I stared at him confused but for different reasons, "New boy?"
"Yeah, that shitty old man brought him to live with us, said he was his grandson," Ace continued. I only stared at him, confused, Shitty old man? New boy? "Might I ask, what are you talking about, Ace?" I asked curious.
"Oh, right! I forgot you didn't know," With that, he started explaining about where he lived. the mountain bandits, the shitty old man (Garp, in case you don't know, which I highly doubt would be so), how Luffy, the 'new boy', came, and yeah, you get the idea. When he got to talking about the "shitty old man", as he called him, I very nearly spit out the food in my mouth, "Garp?! As in, Monkey D. Garp!?"
"Yeah, why?" Ace asked, "You know him?"
"Well, I guess you could say so..." I replied, memories coming back to me in torrents, as vivid as ever.
~Flashback~
Time-Reverse: 6 years
Third Person POV
The luscious green blades of grass and the long thin stalks of brightly coloured flowers rustled in the breeze as a pair of big sea-green eyes stared at a passing butterfly in wonder. The butterfly hopped from one flower to another gracefully. She giggled as she continued to chase the butterfly around the flower field behind her house.
"Sayeko! There's someone I want you to meet!" Her mother's melodic voice called from the house. She giggled as she ran up to the back door, "Coming, mummy!" From there, she could already hear her father talking with another person. The voice that came from that other person was gruff and rather deep, yet light and cheerful at the same time.
As the little girl came bounding to the kitchen, she saw a big and buff man sitting down at the dining table, chatting away happily with her parents. "Oh, Sayeko!" Her father exclaimed upon seeing his sweet little girl coming in through the door, "Come here!"
She smiled happily as she sat on her father's lap, "This Grandpa Garp. He's your grandfather."
"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Grandpa!" She greeted casually. Garp laughed heartily as she said that, So cute!
~End of Flashback~
Sayeko's POV
I smiled fondly at the memory. That was the first time I met Grandpa. After that he came back every few months or so. He was very easygoing and laid-back, very nice as well, and often spoke about his other grandsons, which I guessed would have been Ace and Luffy. I was glad I got to meet them, though I had yet seen his biological grandson, Luffy.
"So what about your parents?" Sabo asked, snapping me back to reality.
"Oh, dear me! I spaced out again, my apologies" I replied, "Now that I think about it, I do not think I actually looked a lot like my parents. "
My mother's name was Misaki. She had long flaming red hair and crystal blue eyes. She had full pink lips and a gentle smile. She always seemed to understand what was going on without anyone telling her, that was how I saw her.
My father's name was Calico. He was tall, muscular and always had this cheerful air around him that makes nearly anyone and everyone nearby smile. He had choppy light brown hair and bright brown eyes. That was my father. I guessed that was where I had gotten my hair from but I never found out about the eyes. They were sea-green but I do not seem to remember anyone at all with eyes like mine, Unless... Wait, never mind, I do not think that would be the case
Then, there was also Garp. Father and Mother told me that he was my grandfather. I could see how he was related to dad with their brown eyes and cheerful air but it just did not seem right for reasons unknown. Somewhere deep down, it was as if I could see through whatever facade they put on. I tried not to think about it too much but it always came back to me at one time or another. I could ask Grandpa about that.
"Oi, Earth to Sayeko?" The snap of fingers brought me back to the present, Damn, I have the serious habit of getting carried away with my thoughts...
"Don't you think 'Koko' would be better?" Ace asked.
"Koko?" Sabo replied.
"I do not see why not?" It did not bother me in the teeniest bit. I am rather fond of it actually. That was the name they used to call me before...
"Yosh! Koko, it is!" Ace exclaimed, almost childishly. A giggle left my lips. It is nice, is it not? When he is not acting all arrogant, but I guess that's just how he is.
Timeskip: 3 months
Sayeko's POV
"Yo! Be my friend!" The little boy in front of us, wearing a straw hat and a wide Cheshire Cat's grin, exclaimed excitedly. I sighed as I thought back to the first time I met the childish little boy.
~Flashback~
"Oi, don't you think Ace is taking a little longer than usual?" Sabo asked as we waited at the top of the tree. "It seems so," I replied, "I will go check on him." With that, I hopped away, literally.
Landing gracefully onto the soft grass, I took off at lightning speed before pushing off and grabbing a vine in mid-air. The wind caressed my cheeks as I almost literally flew from vine to vine. That was my one of the ways I like to travel. It is just me. That feeling of adrenaline pumping through your veins, I never wanted it to end.
"Gyaa!" A short piercing scream echoed through the still air. On instinct, my body moved towards the sound. A glimpse of raven-black hair caught my eyes as I neared. I squinted my eyes. Unfortunately, it was not Ace. 'It' was still a boy, though. He, seemingly several years younger than me, had a straw hat placed securely over his head and a scar with two stitches running under his left eye, That must have hurt...
I looked up and very nearly gawked my eyes out. A massive figure loomed over him, its razor sharp claws and teeth glinting in the faded sunlight that seeped through the canopy of leaves. It's body, marred with black stripes, blended almost perfectly with the background if not for its bright orange fur and the sunlight peeking in through the greenery almost as if to warn the boy of the danger.
The boy, whom I had deduced as Luffy, had stopped screaming, but he was not moving either. His entire body trembled in fear, so frozen in place that not even his vocal cords would not move to let out a scream. His innocent brown eyes showed intense fear, like his very life just flashed before his eyes.
What do you think you are doing, Koko?! Great, now I just addressed myself as 'Koko", Stop gawking and help him, you imbecile!
My instincts kicked in. My hands reached inside my bag and pulled my flute out. I landed gracefully onto the grass, a few feet away. The beautiful sweet melody rang out in the woods, calling out to the black-furred grizzly bear I knew was somewhere around here at this time of day.
Luffy whipped his head around, as if trying to find the source of the sound, but I was too fast. I ran through the the woods with silent steps, hoping for the melody to reach the bear's soft furry ears.
"RAAWWRRR!"
A thunderous roar filled the clearing. Stepping out of the shadows, the faint pink-ish scar over the bear's right eye could clearly be seen as it towered over Luffy on four paws. He growled in the face of the Tiger Lord and he did the same in return.
Thankfully, it turned into a brawl between the two and Luffy finally had the sense to get up and get away from the beasts.
Just then, I caught sight of an arrogant smirk, one that I had grown to be familiar with over the last three months. I gave a smirk of my own, Found you, Ace!
~End of Flashback~
"Then, what's your name?" Luffy asked, ever so gleefully as if he was not already tied up to a tree right now and being held captive, which he was.
"Sa-" Before Sabo could finish his sentence, he snapped comically, fangs seemingly growing out of his mouth, "WHY THE HELL SHOULD I TELL YOU?!"
I gave a light-hearted chuckle.
"AND, KOKO, IT'S NOT FUNNY!" Sabo shouted at me, only serving to make me laugh harder.
"Oh, so your name is Koko, huh," Luffy stated, still oblivious to the fact that he was tied up.
He seemed so nice and cute that I corrected him and introduced Sabo, "Actually, my name is Sayeko, but you can call me Koko should you wish to. The boy in blue over here is Sabo." I slung my hand over Sabo's shoulder to indicate who I was talking about.
"OI!" He shouted, "DON'T TELL HIM MY NAME!"
"Well, how else was he supposed to address you? You told him not to call you 'buddy'," I pointed out.
"Well..." He was about to start off on an excuse but I cut him off, "Well then, now that he's found out about our little secret what do you wish to do with him?"
"He's gonna tell someone if nothing is done," Ace stated. Stray leaves flew in the breeze as we contemplated on what to do, Oh bother, they will most definitely have come up with a crazy idea sooner or later.
Just as I predicted, their tones took a darker tone as they stared Luffy down.
"We've gotta kill him," Ace declared.
"Alright, let's do it," Sabo agreed.
I sighed again, I highly doubt they would be changing anytime soon, "If you need me, I will be on the fence!" I declared, sitting down on a nearby tree root, resting my chin on my hand.
"Eh?" Luffy "asked" as if he just realised his fate, dread lines appearing at the side. Everything was quiet for a second before Luffy started shouting again, "WHAAAATTT?!"
Then, he started crying anime tears,
"Don't kill me! Help me! I don't wanna die!"
Sabo attempted to shut his mouth by pinning him to the tree, though he was already tied up, "Shut up, you fool!"
"Sabo! Hurry up and kill him already!" Ace told Sabo.
"What?! You do it!"
Ace began to panic, "I haven't killed anyone before!"
"Neither did I!" Sabo retorted, "And I don't know how!"
All this time, Luffy kept on whining and crying, "Don't throw me into the water!"
It was taking me all I had to keep myself from laughing like a madman.
"Yosh! Let's go to the river!"
"Why did he tell us that?" Sabo sweat-dropped. I, on the other hand, finally couldn't take it anymore and burst out laughing. I clutched my stomach as I rolled about on the floor, having fallen off the tree root I had used as a chair.
"He's stupid," Ace gave as an answer to Sabo's previous question while Luffy kept on shouting, "Help me!"
The duo snapped at shouted at him angrily, fangs seemingly replacing their teeth, "SHUT UP!"
Miraculously, Luffy shut up for a split second. The sound of a cricket cricketing could be heard clearly in the silence. Then, Luffy started whining again, "I don't wanna die!"
"I heard a voice coming from the forest! A child's voice!" I heard a man's voice in the distance. I stopped laughing and put on a straight face.
"Someone's coming," I reminded the others as I walked up to them, "and I do not like the way they smell..."
"For starters, let's untie him first," Luffy's face instantly lit up as he heard that, "If we don't get away from here, they'll find our treasure."
"Let me do the honours," I said as I took out my knife. Luffy instantly began to panic upon setting his sights on my dagger. "Hush, now!" I hushed him as I put a finger to his lips, "Relax, I'm just going to cut the ropes."
In one swift motion, the ropes were cut and the four of us hid in the bushes.
"You're sure it was Ace that stole your money?" A rather deep and gruff voice asked, It seems like he's the one in charge... Wait, how'd I know that?
"Yes, we're really ashamed," a more timid voice replied, He seems like the underling... "We let our guards down."
Some more incomprehensible comments were made but I did make out some things, Seems that these men are from the Bluejam Pirates, I sighed, Now please do not tell me Ace stole the money from them...
Four figures came into view but one stood out among the rest. He was taller and more muscular than the other three. He wore a intimidating expression on his face that states that he was the one in charge. All of them were carrying weapons, except for one whose arm was in a cast.
"Damn it! Those hoodlums were Bluejam's underlings!" Ace cursed under his breath.
Sabo looked at him in disbelief, "Hoodlums? You mean you got the money from them?"
I could only sigh, yet again, Right... He really did...
"We've got some real dangerous money on our hands," Ace stated.
"The man with light purple hair is Polchemy, Bluejam's underling," I told them, before Sabo continued, "They say he's absolutely crazy. He skins the face of his defeated enemies while they're still alive!"
I could see Luffy visibly gulp after hearing the last statement. "We can't let ourselves be seen..." Ace said as we hid deeper into the bushes.
I did not expect to see the one thing that was "absolutely crazy", quoted from Sabo...
"Let go of me! What're you doing?" Luffy shouted and screamed as Polchemy held him up by the collar of his shirt. We sweat-dropped at the scene, Ace and Sabo's eyes nearly bugging out of their heads, How'd he get caught?!
"Let go of me! You jerk!" Luffy continued to try and get Polchemy to let go, wriggling about, "Help me! Ace!"
We immediately dove down into the bushes with Ace muttering under his breath, "That idiot! Why'd he have to say my name?"
Luffy continued to scream and shout Ace's name. I decided to go up to get a better look. It was always nicer up in the trees. Fortunately, I didn't get spotted as I scrambled up a nearby tree, despite the whisper-shouts from Ace and Sabo.
"Did you just say Ace's name?" Polchemy questioned. Luffy put on a serious expression, if he even could, as he answered, "Yeah, so?"
"Do you know Ace?" Polchemy asked again. I very nearly fell out of the tree branch I was sitting on when I heard his answer, "He's my friend! Oh, but he just tried to kill me just now..."
Both sides exchanged a few more comments, but with Luffy being a terrible liar, the cat was out of the bag soon enough.
Polchemy smirked, rather evilly, I have to say, "Alright then. If you don't know, then that's that," he paused to cackle before he continued, "We'll help you remember so don't worry..."
With that, they carried Luffy off. He kept on screaming and shouted at them, I've got a bad feeling about this...
I jumped down onto the forest floor. Ace and Sabo were discussing on about what to do. "I have got a really bad feeling about this. I will be going to check on Luffy, the two of you better hurry up and move the treasure while I'm at it."