Brand New World
Ch. 8: Campfire Songs and Speeches
We had a meeting to discuss everything we had learned so far on Skypeia. So far, we learned that this island is actually half of Jaya, the same island that the Saruyama Alliance is looking for, and that at least one of the priests can use an ability called "mantra" which allows them to read our moves. So with the knowledge that there is gold up here, we decided to search for it tomorrow. We got some supplies together, and began to prepare dinner. With Nami`s mapmaking skills, we found out that Jaya originally looked like a skull, so with the info from Norland`s journal, we learned the location of the city of gold.
After dinner, Robin wanted to put out the fire so we wouldn`t give our position away, but Luffy and Usopp were convinced that the fire was a camping tradition. Sanji, Zoro, and I snuck out while the others were arguing to get some firewood, and we split up. As I was getting some, I saw a figure in a cloak a few meters away from me. It was dark and I could only see his silhouette.
"Who are you?" I asked. He said nothing, but pulled out a strange object from under his cloak. I couldn`t see what it was, but I tensed up in case it was a weapon. He just put it down on the ground and began to walk backwards. "Wait!" I said reaching forward. Then he just disappeared into the darkness. I walked over to where he was and took a look at what he put on the ground. It was a guitar, with a blue eshi (the kanji for artist) on it. There was also a note on it. I unfolded it, and the note said, "Hope you like the present. You should remember how to play this, right?" It wasn`t signed, which was weird. I guess that guy wanted to be anonymous. Then I remembered I can play the guitar, but I hadn`t learned until recently. Cool. Anyway, I made my way back to camp with my guitar and the firewood. I also thought about whether or not I should tell the others where I am really from.
When I got back, they had already started the fire, and Luffy, Nami, Usopp, Chopper, and a pack of wolves were dancing around the biggest fire I had seen in person. "Oi, Kakusei," Luffy said loudly, "you`re late."
"Where`d you get the guitar?" Nami asked as everyone else noticed my presence.
"I`ll tell you guys later," I said calmly. "Right now, I want to say something."
"What is it?" Usopp asked as everyone but the wolves stopped dancing.
"I remembered where I am from," I said. I had just stepped out of the frying pan and into the fire. No turning back now.
"Really!" Luffy asked excitedly. "Where!"
"You`re probably not going to believe me when I say this," I started slowly, "But I am from another world."
"Prove it," Zoro said calmly. Everyone was looking at me in anticipation of my answer. I thought about it for a minute or two with a thoughtful look on my face, and I had my answer.
"When Nami first joined Arlong`s crew to buy back her hometown, she was tattooed with his symbol on her left shoulder," I said calmly. "After the townspeople in her hometown, Cocoyashi Village, decided to fight back against Arlong, Nami stabbed herself in the shoulder where the tattoo was while repeatedly cursing Arlong, and Luffy stopped her and gave her his hat to hold onto until after the battle. After Luffy broke Arlong`s headquarters in two, and beat him, she got a new tattoo she designed as a reminder of her home. It is a blue pinwheel with a mikan on the top spoke of the pinwheel." The looks on their faces was priceless.
"How… how did you know that?" Nami asked still having the shocked look on her face.
"In my world, many other worlds seem to be chronicled in many forms," I said calmly. "One of the ones I followed frequently was a world by the title of One Piece, this world. I still don`t know how I got here, how far in the story I was when I left, or why I can`t remember all of my past, but all I know is I`m here now."
"So you know everything about us up until this point?" Chopper said in awe.
"Yeah," I said. "Look, I wouldn`t blame you guys if you hated me for the rest of your lives, but…"
"That`s so COOL!" Luffy yelled cutting me off. "You`re from another world! What`s your world like?"
"Well, it`s…" I started.
"Is that how you learned about all those different weapons?" Usopp asked cutting me off.
"Yes, it…" I started again.
"What kinds of medicine are there?" Chopper asked also cutting me off.
"Guys, guys, one question at a time," I said trying to calm them down.
"He`s right," Robin said calmly. "If he doesn`t know how to get back to his world, he`ll be here for a long time, so he can answer all your questions."
"Thanks Robin," I said as I picked up the guitar. "You guys mind if I sing a song from my world?"
"So you ARE a musician!" Luffy said pointing at me.
"I only just remembered I can play," I said. "So may I?"
"Why not?" Sanji said.
"Go for it," Usopp added in.
"Sure," Zoro said calmly.
"LET`S HEAR SOME MUSIC!" Luffy yelled in response. Typical Luffy.
"This song is pretty close to my heart," I said as I tuned my guitar. "Even though I didn`t understand the lyrics at first, I still liked the music and came to know it by heart." And then I began to strum my guitar and sing.
Arittakeno yume wo kakiatsume
Sagashi mono sagashini yuku no sa ONE PIECE
Rashinban nante jyutai no moto
Netsu ni ukasare kaji wo toru no sa
HOKORI ka butteta takara no chizu mo
Tashikameta no nara densetsu jyanai!
Kojin teki na arashi wa dareka no
BIORHYTHM nokkatte
Omoi sugose ba ii
Arittakeno yume wo kakiatsume
Sagashi mono sagashini yuku no sa
POCKET no COIN, soreto
YOU WANNA BE MY FRIEND?
WE ARE, WE ARE ON THE CRUISE! WE ARE!
Zembu mani ukete shinji chattemo
Katta wo osarete iippo LEAD sa
Kondo aetanara hanasu tsumorisa
Sore kara no koto to kore kara no koto
Tsumari itsumo PINCH wa dareka ni
APPEAL dekiru ii CHANCE
Ji ishiki kajyoo ni!
Shimittareta yoru wo buttobase!
Takara bako ni KYOUMI wa nai kedo
POCKET ni ROMAN, soreto
YOU WANNA BE MY FRIEND?
WE ARE, WE ARE ON THE CRUISE! WE ARE!
Arittakeno yume o kakiatsume
Sagashi mono sagashini yuku no sa
POCKET no COIN, soreto
YOU WANNA BE MY FRIEND?
WE ARE, WE ARE ON THE CRUISE! WE ARE!
WE ARE!
WE ARE!
I finished and everyone clapped at my performance. "That song was lovely," Robin said. "What`s it called?"
"It`s called We Are," I said as I stood my guitar on its end. "It`s the first opening theme song to the One Piece anime."
"What`s an anime?" everyone but Robin asked simultaneously. So then I spent the next few minutes explaining anime, then television, and then electricity to my friends. After that chat ended, Nami spoke up.
"Kakusei, what did you mean by you didn` t understand the lyrics at first?" she asked.
"My first language was English," I said, "and I know a little Spanish, enough French to get by, and a few bits and pieces of other languages. I never officially learned Japanese to my current knowledge."
"But we`re speaking Japanese now," Usopp said. "How can you speak Japanese so fluently?"
"Maybe I picked it up before I got here," I replied. "Convenient, isn`t it?"
"It is," Sanji replied.
"What other songs from your world can you sing?" Luffy asked almost child-like. So I sang a few songs from my world, some in Japanese like Supernova by TETRA-FANG and CHANCE! by UVERworld, and some in English like Flag in the Ground by Sonata Arctica and Soul Man by the Blue Brothers. They loved them all, and I promised I`d answer all their questions in due time.
"Young man, those songs were beautiful," Gan Fall said showing us he was up as Luffy, Nami, Sanji, Usopp, and Chopper started dancing again. "A young man from another world, and the cloud wolves have been tamed. This is truly a miraculous night."
"Thank you," I said politely.
"Haha… There is probably no one else who would dare to make so much noise in Enel`s home," Gan Fall said as he walked towards the fire.
"You`re awake," Robin said. "Are you allowed to be moving around?"
"Sorry to have caused you trouble…" Gan Fall said slowly. "I intended to be helpful, but…"
"What do you mean?" Zoro said. "You`ve helped enough. Thank you."
"There is some food left over," Robin said. "Want some?"
"Thank you," Gan Fall replied, "but I don`t really have an appetite."
Luffy and Chopper wanted him to dance, and Sanji asked if Conis was okay. Gan Fall explained that because the earth can create plants as the island cloud cannot, the earth, or as they call it "vearth", is sacred.
When things cooled down and everyone was asleep, I began to walk off a bit to think about what happened today, and to see the sky from a Sky Island. Usopp walked towards the ship, I guess to fix it up. I walked off and got a good spot in the trees with a great view of the sky. It was beautiful. I could see every star in the sky. I could see the North Star easily, and I found that the night sky looks exactly the same as back home. "So, is the night sky the same as back in your world?" said a voice behind me. I turned around and it was Sanji.
"Yeah, it is," I said. "All the constellations look the same."
"So why are you out?" Sanji asked me.
"I couldn`t sleep," I replied, "not that I could get to sleep easily before anyway. So why are you out?"
"I saw you get up," Sanji replied, "and I wanted to ask a few questions."
"Why didn`t you ask earlier?" I asked.
"Some of these are kind of personal," he replied.
"Alright, shoot," I said.
"So, there are girls that read manga, right?" he asked slowly.
"Yeah," I replied inquisitively.
"And they do read One Piece, right?" he asked slowly again.
"Yeah," I replied inquisitively again, although I could think of where this was going.
"So… do I have any cute fan girls?" he said very seriously. I knew it.
"I`m sure you do," I said, almost laughing. We went on and talked about the cuisine of my world and how it was similar and yet different from this world. I told him of all the culinary experiences I`ve had over my life, both tasting and cooking different foods. A bit later, his face became very serious.
"So Kakusei," he began, "what kind of value does love have in your world?" Wow, that was kinda heavy.
"From what I can remember," I began, "I know that my world is still struggling with what love is in popular culture. They focus on the glorification of the wrong aspects, the exciting stuff that doesn`t last long and always causes problems. I think true love is made of three parts: friendship, family, and lust."
"Friendship, family, and lust?" Sanji repeated curiously. "What do you mean?"
"Well," I said, "let`s start with friendship. That`s what we have here. We all have at least a little like for each other, and we still put up with each other`s faults, like Luffy`s naivety. Without friendship, we have no base for any relationship."
"That`s true," Sanji said with a thoughtful look on his face. "We are all good friends here. So, what about family?"
"Family is that bond that cannot be replaced when you meet a certain person," I said. "We have that here too. We care about each other to the point where blood or not, we can be together for long periods of time. We`re also ready to protect each other and those bonds, no matter what the cost."
"That`s true too," Sanji said, still contemplating what I`d said. "And what about lust?"
"Lust is the one we most often confuse for love," I said calmly. "That is the biological emotion which drives us to find the person we think is the most beautiful, and bluntly speaking, make babies. That is what drives us to find that one special person and be with them forever. If we learn to control or curb this, it helps as a great guider when learning about a person."
"So we need all three of these to be truly in love?" Sanji asked.
"Well, not quite," I said. "That feeling of true love is made up of, well, parts of all three of these types of love. True love, I believe, is made up of the ability to get along from friendship, the bonds of family, and the attraction of lust. All of those combined make the indescribable and undeniable feeling of true love."
"Heh," Sanji said with a chuckle, "you sound like the ossan I used to live with."
"You mean Zeff?" I replied in an inquisitive tone.
"Yeah, that shitty old man," Sanji said with a smile on his face. "Kakusei, you are very wise for your years. I think I`ll really like having you on the crew."
"Thanks," I said with a big smirk on my face. "Anything else you want to say or ask?"
"Yeah," he said still smiling, "I think with your attitude, you`ll fit right into our crew. And one more question, do you remember ever truly being in love with any girl?"
Just then, an image of Robin flashed in my mind when she was smiling. Man, that smile could knock me for a loop. She was so different from any other girl I remember meeting. For some reason, I remember seeing her crying once in sadness, and I never wanted to see that from her ever again. Could I really be in love with her?
Sanji snapped me back into reality. "Oi, Kakusei, you still there? You got an answer to my question?"
"Yeah," I said, "truth is, I`m not too sure whether or not I have ever truly been in love, but I may be some day."
"Such a wise answer," Sanji said, almost laughing. "Come on, buddy, let`s go back and get some sleep." Just then we heard a scream yelling "GHOST!" "That sounded like Usopp," Sanji said calmly.
"He`s probably over-reacting to something he`s afraid of… again," I said with a chuckle in my voice.
"Yeah," Sanji said laughing. When we got back, we found Usopp passed out on his head from fear. We shrugged it off and decided to deal with it in the morning.