HELLO AGAIN! I'M REALLY ENJOYING THIS. WELL HERE'S THE NEXT CHAPTER. PLEASE GIVE ME SOME FEEDBACK... I'M WAITING...
I DO NOT OWN ONEPIECE, AND ANY OTHER MANGA OR ANIME. IF I DID I'D BE GETTING LOTS OF MONEY FROM THEM AND WOULDN'T BE WRITING FANFICTION ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE'S STORIES, BECAUSE I'D HAVE NO TIME AND IT WOULD BE A WASTE. WHY GIVE AWAY FREE STORIES WHEN YOUR FAMOUS ENOUGH TO MAKE A LIVING OUT OF IT? THAT WOULD BE SO COOL!
ANYWAY, NEXT CHAPTER, THE STRAWHATS HAVE ESCAPED, AND THE MARINES ARE AFTER THEM. CHAPTER 9!
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Tashigi's Heart: The White tipped Waves.
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It seemed that the Captain found the hard working crewmen that were loading goods, onto the ship we would use, were being far to slow for his taste. And decided to complain about it to me. I held my tongue and decided not to give him a piece of my mind. He Had Asked the Impossible!
I had found just the trip alone to headquarters and back to the harbour had been 35 minutes and I didn't count the time that I packed my gear. Once I had arrived, in all Smoker had seemed packed up and ready to go what with all of his 40 something boxes of cigars, a few containers of beer, bag of extra clothes, and his sea stone spear. I just couldn't believe it. He hadn't organized anything. New crew members were walking up into the ship some looking grand others looking strong, and a few just thrilled. Then my mind kicked itself into gear.
I raised my voice so they would be able to hear me over the crashing of the waves, "Who here has ever been out in rough seas before?!" just over half of them put up their hands. This wasn't a pleasure trip, this was a journey to the Grand Line. Too many of these young men had been spurred to come along just because of what the Captain had said. "I think it would be best for those who have never experienced sailing in storms to stay behind! Don't take it personally! But the Grand Line is no place for those who have never been in such a dangerous situation before. It holds the seas most dangerous currents and has destroyed Pirates and Marine ships alike. We don't have the time to train the inexperienced. We need those who are level-headed during a crisis.
I could tell a few of them didn't like the fact they were being told to stay behind. She could feel their eyes glaring at her back.
"I don't want to be responsible for looking after the incompetent, so stay behind!" I turned around to head back inside the ship and search through the cabins.
Yes, We needed a lot more gear, sleeping gear, spare clothing racks, needed to have more bunks put in, and... I went down into the cellar... We need a lot of food.
I started to write a list of things we would need that were essential. After I had finished with the few things I had written I found Captain Smoker and informed him on what we needed.
"What! This Ship needs all this crap!" he looked out the window into the harbour, "Maybe we should just take another."
"It's not the ship, sir that's the problem, but the health and safety of every man aboard. We need the extra food supply, otherwise we won't even get close to the grand line." I looked around his cabin courters. He had... unpacked... and made himself at home, turning the fresh sea air into a smoky contamination of dead leaves and drugs. I coughed. Health and Safety, yeah he definitely doesn't care about that. He had just lit another two and snuffed the old ones out.
"Give me three hours to find what we need." Gosh this is going to be hard work.
"Three, you must be joking." He breathed in deeply as if to help hold in his anger, and then said, "I'll give you 'til I finish these." He rolled them around in his mouth, as if he was trying to make a point. "Get those lazy asses to help you." He said pointing out the window. "Say it is the Captain's orders."
And so I now had the task of resupplying the ship. It wasn't too bad. We managed to load the cargo bay up with some our emergency stock from the base and to get a hold of some fresh produce from the towns-people and fishermen. The Pirate attack had left a lot of people nervous and wary. They were all too pleased to help us. After I had collected the food, medical, practical, weapons, and communications equipment, I set myself the task of contacting some essential crew mates. This was the Grand Line after all. First I got a hold of an experienced navigator and managed to get him to sign up with us. He had apparently been to the Grand Line before. More and more came, these were long hours, trying to sort everyone out and get all the equipment I wanted. Smoker's deadline came and went.
I had no time for faffing around, and made sure no one else did either. This was a marine ship we weren't supposed to journey out into such dangerous waters without the right crew or equipment.
"Sergeant Major Tashigi?" I turned to find a young man, he must have been all of 17 years of age, he looked like a rookie, but then she knew how much looks could be deceiving.
"Yes, what is it? I'm busy." I carried on ticking the items that were coming aboard off my list.
"Sir,... Mam?" He looked nervous, then he clenched his fist and rolled his shoulders back, "I want to come on this voyage to the Grand Line." his eyes looked defiantly into mine. "I might be inexperienced like you said, but I learn quickly, I can do many jobs, and I will help out wherever needed." he paused then continued, "My older Brother had a dream to travel into the Grand Line. It has been my dream since my brother died, to go where he will never be able to go. I might never get another opportunity like this!"
His sincerity was awe inspiring, I liked people like this, but would this be the right time and place. I took a good look into his face.
"What's your name youngster?"
"Arek Bay. Mam."
"And, how old are you?"
"Eighteen." he said uncertainly as if pondering whether or not that was the right answer to give.
"Are you really eighteen? Or are you younger?"
"No! I am. I started training with the marines at the beginning of last year and before that I was training myself!"
I didn't have time for this. I pulled up the document of the list of marines who I had signed up for this journey and added his name to the list. I handed it over to him, "You sign here," I looked up into his face again, "Are you sure you want to do this? We won't come back half way round the world again just because you get home sick."
He gave me a cheerful grin, and took the paper from my hands. "Thanks so much!" He couldn't get his name down fast enough.
I lifted up another document. "There is still room for one more in cabin 6. I'll put in there. You will be sharing with a lot of other older and experienced sailors. Ask for tips on what to look out for at sea, and..." I shifted my glasses up my nose and looked at him again. "You must respect them."
"Yes! Thank you!" He bent down to pick up his things and left as quickly as he came.
I hope he knows what he has gotten himself into. I hope I know what I have gotten myself into. I have read books about the grand Line, and its terrible stories of disaster and betrayal, but stories and so called facts are nothing when it comes to first hand experience.
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It was morning by the time we were finally ready to set sail. I think it was good thing in some respects that the ships had been cleared of all their equipment. It meant that we hadn't overlooked anything, and made sure we took only what was necessary, and in prime condition. I had even managed to get a hold of some books on weapons techniques, sea creatures, and navigational skills that might come in handy, not that I'd be doing any navigating. Captain Smoker wasn't in a good mood and refuses to talk to me about it. But I have heard him mumbling about the incompetence of women who lead, and the stupidity of soft, slacking sailors. But I couldn't be brought down by his negative attitude.
As we left the port with the waves smashing and crashing against us, I looked out to sea. The sky and the sea didn't look so black now. There up in the dark skies were the first rays of dawn, breaking through the clouds and lit up the sea's rocking surface.
This is what I want, I thought as I walked across the deck up to the bow of the ship. The sight was breath-taking. I had been drenched for hours now, I didn't care about the little bit of sea spray that splashed into my face every time we crashed down to the bottom of a wave. The feeling of the ship dipping and weaving in and out of the waves was amazing, and the thud you felt when it landed.
Somewhere, out there was the Grand Line, with seas that made these ones look tame. It was going to be wonderful. I felt a grin spread across my face as one dip created an usually large splash that covered the entire bow, soaking me again.
"Now Sergeant!? What are you doing?" I turned grinning to my, not so happy, superior officer.
"I love the sea when it's like this." I spread my arms wide. "When the sea waves and the clouds in the sky seem to be fighting for air space!" I whooped, when the ship came down again and a wave dashed unhindered up the side of the ship again.
"Tashigi, if you don't get inside, you're going to suffer from hypothermia for a week." I pouted at that comment.
"I won't get sick!"
"Yes, you will. You had it twice last year at sea, and I don't want you getting it now." He pointed his thumb back over his shoulder, "Get some rest. You've been on your feet for two long."
I nodded my acknowledgement, and took one last look out to sea, the swirling waters, the fierce thunder clouds, the never-ending horizon, and then turned back to go inside the newly stacked up and cramped quarters.
This was going to be a journey of a lifetime.
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I REALLY LIKED DOING THIS CHAPTER, PREPARING FOR A VOYAGE SOMETHING YOU DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT MUCH DO YOU. SO THEY HAVE SET OUT! WHICH ROUTE WILL THEY TAKE?
PLEASE REVIEW. :D