Chapter 17: I don't own the characters for One Piece, hang on? Do I need to write that for every chapter or just the beginning of the story because I've been doing for every one?
I would like to thank all the Reviewers so far. For what they have said.
ThatzOtherGuy
itstashyall
FreezingReign
Sturm and drang
sweetsnakes
blueminds
Guest
I have found receiving all these reviews very exciting and incredible. I still find it weird that people are reading my fanfiction from the other side of the world. It's so cool! It's really fun hearing from people who say they like the way a character has been portrayed. It just makes me want to keep writing.
I was really happy when two readers from France said they don't read English Fan Fiction much, but read mine. YEAH! Thank you, and I'm glad you liked it.
"Bonjour à tous. I hope you enjoy the following chapters." my French is not so good... haven't practiced it in eight years...
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Tashigi's Heart: Hot Night
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In battle a warrior won't waste his time dwelling on how he looks or what other people think of him. He is too preoccupied with the task at hand and will not let himself get distracted. His mind is totally focused and if there are any distractions he will ignore them or silence them. He will not let worry over take him, for he knows if he does he might be endangering his own life and others in the process, for he would not be concentrating on the mission, and that will become his downfall.
I know this, and in battle I can shut out some things, but when I'm resting and not actively doing something my mind drifts and becomes a pool of pointless thoughts. I have thought dozens of times about getting up and getting a drink, but I'm just too tired. My body does need rest. It is 3:32 in the morning, and I don't want to be awake at this hour.
We are getting closer to Alabasta and it's not just because the of the efficiency of the Log Post, you can smell it in the air, the heat is building up at an alarming rate. I don't know how I will cope in the kingdom of sand. I can barely sleep in all this heat, and we are still on a ship floating on the water miles and miles away from our destination. This is cold weather compared to Alabasta.
"Mmm." I turned over again. PILLOW IS UNCOMFORTABLE!
"Hummm!" Pillow is thrown to the floor. My back was hot and damp my clothes sticking to it's surface like leaches. I should have brought up a bucket of water before I came up here last night. I pulled off my red vest, and briefly rubbed myself down with it then threw the vest to my washing pile on the other side of the room. Maybe now I can get some rest, and I lie on my back. BED IS TOO STIFF AND HARD!
This wasn't going to work, my legs were starting to twitch ready for a run, my mind was wide awake, and after 5 hours of fake resting I still hadn't got any real sleep. I threw back the sheet that I had been using as a covering, but now was barely on the bed, and stood up. My legs almost gave way beneath me, yes, they were twitchy that didn't mean they were feeling useful. STUPID BODY! I don't want to be up! Where are my glasses? They're on the desk. Let's go! I can't just lie around I've got to do something.
I turned my room's light on and winced at the sudden glare. One brief look in the mirror and seeing the state of my short hair, sticking up on end, was all it took to bring my great level of self-esteem down to a dismal low. How disgusting! Sorry Mum, but if you saw me now you would want to disown me, or you wouldn't even recognize me in the first place. How pitiful. I grabbed a lighter shirt and draped it over my shoulders and did up a few necessary buttons.
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Note one to self: I need to wash my hair.
Note two: I need to grow this blob out and then I could just plait it, and it won't look like ... No comment.
Note three: I hate my bed. It might be more comfortable to sleep at the desk.
Note four: I wish I could just sleep anywhere! Is there anyone with those skills?
Note five: I'm hungry, I need food,
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Well, it has been decided! Time to go. I opened my cabin door, stumbled onto the landing, and made my way down the steps to the deck. It was warm outside as well, but at least there was a breeze. Now, what shall I do first? Have some food or exercise?
The Smoker Marine was barely moving, both the sea currents and wind seemed to be inefficient in this area. Yes, we had a little bit of wind, but it was hardly doing anything. I mean I could swim faster than this.
That's a good idea! Having a swim should do it. It would freshen me up, cool me down, and get me in the mood for eating. Yep! Time for a swim!
It was a beautiful night and the full moon was up, it's glow reflected on the sea and somehow made me feel cooler just by looking at it. I unbuttoned my fresh shirt and dropped it on the deck. I already had a bra on anyway so it wasn't as if I was being indecent. I grabbed one of the spare rope wheels and tied one end to the port side hull where the majority of the wind was coming from and fastened the other end around my waist. Okay, I tugged on both ends to test its stability. After that I carefully took off my glasses and placed them on my shirt. That seems all right to me. I stood up on the side of the port barrier and looked over the edge. It seemed a long way down from up here now. No turning back now, I've tried diving off this sort of height before, but just not during the night or on a moving object. Well, that is what you are using the rope for, to prevent you from getting to far away from the moving ship. This was not the time to be having second thoughts.
Whoever was on guard duty was terrible. I hadn't heard a single noise or movement and someone was supposed come to question what I was doing. That was procedure it should have been done, I would have to double check who was on that night. For now though, I will let it slip, I shifted the rope that was around my waist slightly, tightened it and dove in.
The water was wonderfully cold and salty, just what I needed. It rippled over and around my body as I swam in the same direction as the ship. It was harder than I thought it would be to keep up a good pace. The ship had been going faster than I had originally thought, but this was definitely worth it. I swam for what felt like hours, my arms were a little sore, and I think I could probably eat a full roast all to myself. When I finally climbed back up the side of the ship, out of the water the sky was filled with a beautiful golden colour as the morning's sunlight began to hit the sea, making it look heavenly as it shone and shimmered like a giant pool of gold.
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I sat alone on the deck drinking some coffee and pecking at some of the leftovers from the night before, which I had found in the kitchen. I don't like waste, and there was nothing wrong with eating leftovers anyway.
Something was bugging me about that transmission. That Mr. Zero guy, what was he after? The Strawhats hadn't been on the Grand Line for long I find it hard to believe that they could create new enemies so quickly, and then there was the Princess of Alabasta.
"How do they all fit together? Was the Princess Kidnapped by the Strawhats?" I mumbled aloud. "Or does this Code number group, hunting the Princess get distracted by them." A picture of Zoro waving his swords in the air and grinning while a beautiful princess ran around in the background came to mind. I knocked my head back against the mast. "I'm too tired for thinking these things through rationally." I took another bite of my... Huh?
"You know? Talking to yourself is the first sign of madness." Captain Smoker materialized in front of me.
"Where did my sandwich go?" I stood up looked around, dusted my clothes off. Where was it?
"Oh, you mean this Thing." Captain Smoker shoved the rest into his mouth and swallowed it.
"Captain! What are you doing that was MINE!" Why did he make me mad so quickly.
"Well, you were offering it out in your hand so I decided to take it." He answered with his mouth full.
"I was just thinking." I looked down at my shirt. Thank goodness I had remembered to do up all the buttons that might have been embarrassing. I pouted, "I was going to eat it."
"You've been sitting there for a long time. I thought you might have been asleep."
"Well I wasn't." After the swim my hair was a lot straighter and calmer. At least he didn't catch me looking like a tramp. Not that I care.
"I was drinking the coffee you made for me earlier as well. Good job with that it tasted great. You're a good example of a hard working Sergeant major. A lot of these idiots should learn some things from you." Now he was finished eating, he pulled out his cigars and lit them up.
I couldn't help a smile spread across my face. That was the nicest thing the Captain had ever said to me. He was mean and crude most of the time, but there are times when he is considerate and it surprises me.
"ALABASTA! A HOI!" The guy in the crows nest yelled, "I SEE ALABASTA DEAD AHEAD!"
Right, time to prepare for a trip off ship. I ran my fingers through my hair, and then stretched my arms up. I was still tired, but at least I felt better. Hang on I feel like I'm forgetting something...
"Wait! Captain you drank my COFFEE TOO!"
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The more I write about Captain Smoker, the more I think he has to be some sort of distant relative or maybe a brother of Zoro. He is about 10 to 14 years older than him, right?
They are just so similar in characteristics. Except Smoker has a Smoking problem, and Zoro and a Drinking and Sleeping problem. They both have different shades of green hair.
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Who knows?
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Tell me what you think! :D