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Chapter 13 – A special animal

Nami of course had gone ballistic and tried to drown him, Zoro was laughing and Luffy kept begging me for help. Yup, our adventure has truly begun and it keeps getting better and better.

"It's fixed!" Luffy shouted and performed his I'm the greatest pose, while I rolled up the thread I didn't need anymore.

"It's just emergency treatment. I only blocked up the holes. It should be fine, as long as you don't poke it too hard," I said in warning. Nami was meanwhile observing the weather and looking at a map of East Blue and Zoro as usual was sleeping.

"Man, I don't know how you did it, but thanks! You fixed up this tattered old hat like it was..." he said while he kept poking that poor old hat and my eye started to twitch. Back home when I fixed his clothes he usually ripped them again the next day and as a result I became quite proficient with mending. But it didn't stop my annoyance at him when he ruined my work and when I heard straw creaking under his finger my twitch became even more pronounced.

"Oops," he said and my temper surfaced again and as a reflex I stabbed him with my needle in the middle of his forehead.

"Would you listen to me?" I shouted and took the needle out and ripped his now again ruined hat from his hands.

"Gyaaaaa! Don't stab me with the needle, it hurts!" he whined and held his forehead and I growled back, "Hitting you doesn't work, so I have to stab you, right?"

"OH, I SEE!" he replied, looking like he discovered something new. Nami meanwhile rolled her eyes in annoyance, "You two are really related?"

"Would you guys shut up and let me sleep? Now I'm getting hungry, too..." Zoro said while he yawned and scratched his head. I sighed and muttered under my breath, that I'm taking care of a nursery not a pirate crew.

"Shana, Nami, spare us a little food," Zoro asked and I sighed and said to Nami, "You should keep food more secure then any treasure."

Nami looked at me like I'm crazy and looked at the boys, "You two are seriously crazy. Are you even TRYING to sail, here? You didn't bring any food or water!"

She looked at me disapprovingly, "I can only assume you don't have the slightest idea what you're doing!"

"I assure you we were sufficiently prepared but I can't keep an eye on the food every second," I answered and tossed the hat to Luffy. He put it on his head immediately while she gave some bread and apples into the next boat for Luffy and Zoro. Zoro started to eat immediately while Luffy looked at something.

"Oh! I see something," he shouted and pointed in that direction.

Nami meanwhile was still stuck at previous conversation and looked at me, saying, "I'm amazed you've survived this long."

"Eh, we manage," Zoro carelessly said and I grumbled. Nami patted me on the hand in sympathy somehow knowing that our survival was on me.

"Hey, an island!" Luffy shouted and grabbed the paddles. Nami took binoculars and looked at it and started saying, "Oh, that island in no good. It's uninhabited so there is no point in going there. Just keep... STOP!"

The last thing she shouted at the boys as they were rowing to the island ignoring her. I sighed and turned the rudder to the direction they were going.

"Just give up Nami, is better for the nerves if we just follow them," I said while she pouted.

"I wonder if we can get anyone there to join our crew," Luffy wondered and Zoro replied to him, "Hell, as long as we get some food! Nami's got a point, you know. We haven't been focusing enough on pure survival."

The last part was meant for me as he was looking at me when he said it.

"Whose damn fault is it?" I yelled and threw an apple at his head. I didn't miss and he gave me a glare, but withered at my look and continued to row.

"Better for the nerves, huh?" Nami said to me smirking. I just grumbled and glowered. Sometimes there are no words to express my feelings.

It wasn't long and we landed on the island and we pulled our boats on the shore. Just to be safe I tied them to a nearby rock. Better be safe then sorry.

"We're on the island! There is nothing here but a forest!" Luffy shouted while he looked around with a pout on his face. Nami sighed and disembarked form the boat while I tied up the sail, "Like I told you, it's an uninhabited island. How are you going to find new crewmates if there's nobody here?"

Luffy ignored her and had a grin on his face that showed trouble, "Hey Zoro, come on out!"

Zoro meanwhile was sleeping and even let a soft snore here and then. I stood nearby our boat and looked at the forest. I didn't have any intention of going exploring inside and was planning on staying with the boats.

"Hey! The jerk is sleeping!" Luffy grumbled and was already walking to the boat guessing he wanted to wake Zoro up.

"Oh, let him sleep. He's still injured, remember?" Nami said and grabbed him by the hem of his shirt. He scrunched his face in thought and then said, "Yeah, I guess. Let's go!"

"Luffy, I'm staying here. Zoro still needs a change of bandages," I said to them and Luffy nodded. Nami meanwhile shouted, "Go WHERE?"

I couldn't help but chuckle at Luffy's answer as they were leaving the shore, "Maybe there's a house in the woods."

I could hear them bickering as they were going deeper in to the forest and I smiled. They reminded me of when we were younger and Ace was still with us. I shook my head; thinking of the past will not help at all.

I climbed back onto the boat I shared with Nami and looked at Zoro, thinking it might me best to let him sleep for now and I took from my bag a small black pot and a bottle of water. I left the boat and went to the edge of the forest where I checked the ground for fallen branches. I picked some of them and returned to the shore. On a rock, slightly elevated form the ground and in a shade of a gnarled tree I made a small campfire. I poured the water in the pot and when the fire was strong enough but not too big I put the pot on the fire. When the water started to boil I removed the pot and I took from my belt bag a small lacquered box in which I had some herbs in. With a tip of the knife I put a small dose of crushed herbs to the water. I let it stay for a while and I was observing the sky when I heard a shot being fired. I wasn't worried for Luffy as the bullets don't work for him but Nami had no such defense.

I sat up and kneeled and brought my gift on the surface. When I concentrated enough I touched the ground. My mind was assaulted my images and emotions, I reined my gift and concentrated on Luffy and Nami. As I saw that they were alright I took a deep breath in relief. I lifted my hand and shook my head. I started to sort the images and emotions that I picked up, the most recent and strong were from a man called Gaimon. What I picked up from him and the island I knew Luffy and Nami aren't in any danger.

The worst part of my gift that I need strict control over it. If I lost control while I was using it I could get lost in it and could get insane. I came close once and if it wasn't for Ace and Luffy who grounded me emotionally I would probably be in an institution somewhere. How they knew how to help me? I wrote down by Rassa's request instructions on what to do and left it in the kitchen back in our home and explained more to Ace then to Luffy where to look if anything happens to me while I use my gift. I have never seen them worried like they were at that time. According to them I frantically talked about things that have happened years ago, had a dangerously high fever and kept muttering things even when sedated. I was like that for a week until Ace finally managed to get to me. Meaning he made me focus on the present and with their help I dragged myself back to the present. Luffy wouldn't leave me alone for weeks; he even crawled at night into my bed. By the time I had recovered I was afraid to ever use my gift again but with Rassa's encouragement and Ace nearby I conquered that fear.

I sighed and focused myself on the present; the herbal water has cooled down enough and I picked it up and went to Luffy's and Zoro's dinghy and climbed in. Zoro was still asleep and I gently shook his shoulder to wake him up. He mumbled something and swatted my hand away, as a response I shook him even harder and called his name. He looked at me blearily and scowled, "What?"

"I need to change your bandage," I replied, amused at his grumpiness.

"Just unbind it. It's already healed."

"Right, we'll see. Sit up and lift up your shirt," I said, quite used to boy's posturing and saying I'm fine when they're clearly not. Zoro grumbled but did what I said. I removed the old bandages and checked the wound. It was healing but there was still a possibility of an infection. I took a clean piece of cloth and soaked it in the herbal medicine I prepared and with it I cleaned the wound. It prevented inflammation and infection so I washed the wound three times to be sure. From the belt bag I took a small jar and put ointment on now clean wound and with that done I wrapped new bandages on him.

Zoro didn't say a word while I was working just observing and when I was done he quietly said thank you. I smiled in response and tossed the remainder of what I had in the pot in the water. The old bandages I put in a small bag and took them with the pot to Nami's boat.

"I suppose I had you to thank for not rupturing the cut during the fight back then," he said while I settled down on a boat opposite of him.

"Hmm? Oh yeah, back in Orange town. I had a hunch that they are not going to play nice so I reinforced your bandage," I replied leaning back on the hull of the ship. It was a nice sunny day and I was planning to enjoy a little peace I had left.

"Why'd you do it?"

"Did what?" I asked and looked at Zoro, surprised.

"Helped me during the fight," he ground out through clenched teeth.

"Hmm, well, I merely evened the odds. He wasn't hurt and you were," I replied not knowing what the big deal was. And if he starts spouting out he was a man and doesn't need woman's help I'll shove something pointy up his ass, I started to think, but Zoro didn't say a word. He just muttered another thank you and leaned back.

"You didn't explain how your powers work. Back then we were kind busy and I didn't understand exactly what you can do," he said to me and I arched my eyebrow and sighed.

"I suppose I didn't say everything. Well, to keep things simple, if I pick up a rock for an example I could tell you where it came from who held it or stepped on it. And once I know ones spirit I could track it down no matter where they are. It is a simple matter of concentration and focus. Luffy and Nami I could track in few seconds as they are nearby, but for instance a person on the other side of the world it could take hours of concentrating," I said and looked at Zoro. He was deep in thought, it looked like he was mulling over my words so I continued, "Also if I wished to find the past of some place or thing the further I wish to go the longer it takes."

I decided to keep the seeing dead people to myself, even though he is now a part of the crew I still had reservations about sharing my gift with the people.

"You said you can track down people?" he then asked after a while, which had me worried if he's going to freak out because of what I do. Luffy's talents can be explained with a devil's fruit but my gift has no such explanation. When he asked the question it confused me at first and when he looked at me with a dangerous glint in his eyes I answered, "Yes, but only if I met them or if you have something of theirs."

"I see," he said and closed his eyes again. I released the breath I didn't know I was holding when I sensed a familiar presence closing in on us. I stood up and smiled at the people coming out of the forest. There were Nami, Luffy and Gaimon, whom I had not met in person but through my gift. He was even sillier looking live then through a vision. He was trapped in a treasure chest with big bushy green hair and the same colored beard and a unibrow.

Luffy introduced us and when the strangest animals came out of the forest bringing food and a barrel of water. I know I saw them in a vision but seeing them in person made me look twice. With Zoro's help we loaded everything up and Luffy asked Gaimon, "Uncle… So you're sure? You really want to stay here?"

"Yeah, I'm delighted that you invited me...! The treasure may be gone, but I want to continue being the "guardian of the forest."" He answered with a smile.

"How come?" Nami asked with a tilt of her head and Gaimon turned around to look at her, "There are many rare species of animals that live on this island."

"Oh yeah! Like that weird... snake and pig," I snorted at that, knowing there are a lot more weird animals around which I had no desire of ever seeing.

"In fact, there are more people that come here for those freaks than the treasure. And I've grown to love the animals in the twenty years I've lived here. I can't just leave them!"

"Yeah, you're a rare and precios animal too, uncle!" Luffy said with a deadpan expression and I had to cover up my snickers as did Nami and Zoro, even though he had no idea what happened on the island.

"I oughta kill you!" Gaimon shouted at Luffy but then took a deep breath and continued, "And now that there's no treasure, my heart's at ease. I'll start a new life of comfort!"

"Well, all right! That's too bad; you're a funny guy," Luffy replied and untied the boats.

"I'm sure you'll find great friends! You'll find the One Piece and then you'll buy the world!" Gaimon said and we took off the island. Luffy replied to Gaimon before we left, "Yep! That's what I'll do. See ya!"

We waved him and his menagerie goodbye and left to open see. Once we were set on a course I asked, "Did you two had fun on the island?"

"Sure, we met a cool uncle and brought a lot of food, just no meat," Luffy answered a bit sadly in the end, but quickly recovered, "Can we get meat on the next island? And then to Grand Line…"

I smiled and tuned out Luffy's rambling, knowing we were no where near ready to sail on the treacherous seas. And a part of me wondered what will tomorrow bring; I hoped something fun and exciting.

Again I apologise for bad grammar... :)

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ja ne