Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece nor am I making any money off this story. It's solely for entertainment purposes.

A Life Without Regret a Love Without Fear

By: Shironami

We walked up the small path together side by side, on our way to my house... and most assuredly, my death. With one look at us, I knew my mother would go into a blind rage. I tried to push this thought to the back of my mind, but it always found its way out from the black abyss of my subconscious to eat at my insides. It's not like I was seeking my mother's approval, but I wanted her to like this man as much as I did. It hurt a little knowing that not only would she disprove of him, she was most likely going to hate him.

Half of me was excited and fluttery, the other was trying to drag my feet and tell him off before my mother did. Every time I was about to stop and tell him I could find my own way home he'd look at me and laugh; still wearing that ridiculous getup that he was so proud of. I'm not sure why or what made him so proud. I thought he looked like a complete idiot.

Every time I tried to get him to take off that crap, he'd laugh and say he'd lost fair and square and he was never one to back out of a promise. He had his pride or some other such nonsense, I'd started to ignore him once he started going on and on about his 'Pirate's Pride'. I just nodded and smiled trying not to roll my eyes at him. God, men are so stupid... all of them, it's just a matter of to which degree.

He turned to me, "Hey, I'm not boring you am I?"

I sighed a little to myself, "No, not really... I'm just a little worried about what my family will say when they see me with a giant cross-dresser... Not to mention the fact that you're a pirate. My mother doesn't like them much."

"Pirates or cross-dressers?" He snickered with sarcasm while giving me a mischievous smile.

I smiled back, not really enjoying the irony, "Both."

At least he put me in a good mood, he was funny and care-free, I needed a good laugh after what had happened with Charlene. I always felt alone and empty when I ran into her these days.

"So, you're telling me that I don't have a snowballs' chance in hell of her liking me?" He asked scratching his cheek.

I shrugged a little, "That's right... in fact, I'd say it's less than a snowball's chance in hell."

"Less, huh?" he answered, a wide grin spreading over his face.

"Why do you look so happy? I'm standing here telling you she is going to hate you! Don't you get what that means?" I threw my arms up in the air, exasperated.

He laughed hardily, "That's great!"

I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose, trying- pointlessly- to calm myself, "Why do you think that's great. Most normal people wouldn't like someone to dislike them before the other person even gets to know them."

He laughed and held up a large finger in my direction, "Because," he said as if there would be no reason why I wouldn't know this, "it makes it more fun!"

"You have a very skewed perception of the world," I rolled my eyes at him, trying not to enjoy this conversation, even though it was probably the strangest I've ever had.

"Nope, you do!" He pointed almost violently at me, "besides, I'm a pirate! No one likes us... at least no one with any sense! BAHAHAHAHAHAHA! If people liked us, I'm afraid that would mean we aren't very good at being pirates," he finished very solemnly.

I put my hands on my hips, "So, your greatest goal in life is to be feared and treat people like trash?" I asked snottily.

He laughed again, slapping his hand over his eyes, "Man, you don't get us at all!"

I raised an eyebrow at him, "Don't I?" I waved my hand at him dismissively, "It's not like there's that much to understand. Pirates want gold and they don't care who they have to mow through to get it," I said snobbishly.

He shoved me hard as he laughed, "SEE! You don't get anything!"

"Are you trying to tell me I'm wrong?" I asked indignantly, tilting my head to one side, looking him in the face.

"Na, not tryin. I'm flat out telling you you're wrong," he scratched the crown of his dark head and shrugged, "well, now that I think a little bit, I guess you're right about most pirates. But those kind aren't the real kind, only fake ones... the money-grubbing ones . They do whatever they want a label themselves pirates so they think it's okay. Real, true pirates don't care so much about crap like money and pillaging and shit."

"Oh really, then what do real pirates care about?" I asked rolling my eyes again.

"Adventure!" he answered wistfully, a smile washing across his expressive face, "You never know what's going to happen next and it's total freedom! Going where ever the wind takes you! Never looking back always moving forward. Seeing new places and new people all the time. There's nothing like falling asleep under the stars with the ship gently swaying beneath you."

I considered this for a moment, "That sounds nice, but don't you ever miss your home, your family?"

He laughed and patted me on the head, "Buhahaha, I take my home with me where ever I go, and my family are those on that home just like me!"

"But what about your real family?" I asked.

"They are my real family. I have none else. My parents died when I was very young and I've not really had anyone around. Not before I became a pirate anyway. Those most important to me are always with me."

I nodded, I guessed it was a satisfactory answer. If he loved them and they loved him, then that's good, right?

"Okay, I have a strange question: how do you put up with those two kids?" I asked rolling my eyes at just the thought of those brats.

"Kids? What kids?" He answered my question with a question.

I raised an eyebrow, how could he not know them, "Those two, about 10 or 11-ish. One's got red hair the other blue hair and a really big red nose."

He slapped his forehead, his big floppy hat shifting back, "Oh, them! Buhahahahaha! Those two are great! I love those little rats! Always good for a laugh!"

I shook my head at him, "They were fighting, the kid with the giant nose tried to stab the other one! That's not funny!"

He waved dismissively at me, "They're just playing! They're kids, they do that. No harm done."

"Okay, but what if Big Nose had killed StrawHat Boy? What then?" I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Never woulda happened, they fight all the time but they don't ever come to serious blows. Shanks probably woulda tripped Buggy or something and no one would get hurt. Buggy looks like he might be able to do serious damage, but the kid really doesn't got it in him. His like a little bunny rabbit, all bark and no bite! He's just all talk! Buhahahahahahaha!"

"I don't think that's how that saying goes..." I sighed heavily, "You know, just cause he's harmless now doesn't mean he'll stay that way."

He smiled at me, "They know who's in charge and we've got them totally under control!"

"Do you? Really, they just do what ever you say, when ever you say? No fighting or talking back or ignoring you?"

He laughed a little, "Of course! They're good kids, just a tad on the lively side. They'll be great pirates some day!"

"Sooo," I asked with an eyebrow raised, "they're not pirates now?"

He looked at me like I was stupid, "Sure they're real pirates, they're just in training. We make sure they stay outta trouble and don't get into any really dangerous situations before they're ready. They're just boys; we don't want them to get hurt."

"In training..." I though about this concept for a minute, "so someone has to be trained to be a pirate? They can't just jump aboard and have at it?"

"Well, I suppose one could... but it works better if you know what you're doing first. And we teach em how to be real pirates. Not those sissy pansies that only care about gold. There's a lot more to being a pirate than people think! When, or if, those boys decide to leave and make their own way in the world we won't be worried about what kinda pirates they will turn out to be. Won't be sad or humiliated when some one says they were Roger's boys. Nope, they'll do us proud! I just know it.

I sometimes think Shanks will have a better time about it than Buggy. Shanks is easier to get along with and not so greedy. That boy just wants to have a good time, Buggy on the other hand...," He sighed shaking his head a little, "I just hope he turns out all right. I worry about him a lot more. Rayleigh tries hard with them; and that's all we can ask."

"You talk like you are personally responsible for them." I said it more like a question then the statement it really was.

He nodded completely serious for the first time, "Aye, that I am. It was my choice to bring them aboard and my fault if anything goes wrong."

"So you're saying anyone on the ship can pick some random person off the street and they'd be welcomed among the crew? No questions asked?" I wondered out-loud, intrigued .

He shrugged at me a little, "Well, see..." he scratched the back of his neck while pausing to think, "it's not so easy as all that. But a crewman can... sorta, nominate... I guess, a person to join the crew. Or a person can ask for admittance into the crew. After which a vote takes place and if enough hands say it's okay then that person can join. Of course, the captain has the right to deny a person, even if the crew voted him in. But that's never happened on our ship. Now, I'm not totally sure how other ships work really, they may do it differently. But that's how it's done on mine."

"So, you nominated those two kids and the crew voted them in?"

"Yep," he answered smiling.

"So what do they do on the ship?" I asked after thinking about what he said for a moment.

He smiled at me, all white, shiny teeth, "Whatever needs to be done. Swab the deck; do the dishes; clean the toilets; scrub off the barnacles; sew up the sails," he shrugged, "you know... kiddie stuff."

I raised my chin at him, "So they do the crap the adults don't want to do?"

He chuckled and nodded, "See there, now you're gettin it!"

"That's horrible! Why would anyone allow that to happen?" I crossed my arms over my chest, no wonder these kids were so messed up.

"It's just the way it is," he shrugged half-heartily, "when they be all grown up and have ships of their own, the boys they choose to be chore boys will do the same as they're doing now. And they'll have an appreciation of the hard work those kids are doing cause they were those kids once! Just like us grown ups feel toward the little toads right now. It's all part of growin up on a ship. Marines have chore boys too, not just us pirates."

"It still seems a little too harsh to me."

"You got kids in your family? Nieces, nephews, cousins?" He asked while looking out at the green fields.

"Sure..." I answered, wondering why he was asking.

"They do what ever they want? Or do they got rules? Stuff you allow them to do and stuff you don't?"

"Yes, of course, we don't allow the kids to beat on each other or act like uncivilized barbarians. There's nothing wrong with that. That's how you're supposed to raise children." I said hotly at him, getting defensive.

"Uh-huh," he said while appearing to ponder his next question, "so then, do they clean their own rooms and help out with the little chores like sweeping the floor?"

I sighed, knowing exactly where this was going, "That's totally different! Kids help out around the house so they will know how to do it for themselves when they're older!"

He smiled triumphantly, "Sounds about the same to me."

I frowned, "It may be a little similar, but still we aren't teaching our kids to kill people or burn down villages after taking everything there is to take."

He scoffed at me, "Neither are we! We just teach them how to take care of the ship; if you don't take care of it, it won't take care of you."

I sighed then decided to keep quiet, not wanting to argue with him. I did feel he had a point; no one from the ship had caused any trouble. They weren't even stealing anything, they happily paid for everything they wanted. In fact, having them around had lined the pockets of our village quite nicely.

I looked around for a moment, so I wouldn't have to look at him and my pulse started racing when I noticed how close we were to my house. I started to panic... this was the worst idea I'd ever had!

I tried to stall hoping he would get the idea and excuse himself, so I wouldn't have to.

He chuckled and bumped me with his elbow, "You seem to have gotten very tense and I think you're trying to get rid of me..." He let his sentence hang in the air uncompleted but he didn't bother to finish it. And I didn't need him to to tell what he was getting at.

I shrugged, then came to a stop, "It's just that we're almost at the house. And I don't mean to be rude but my family will not want you around. I just don't want them to hurt your feelings or upset you. They will be horrible to you and angry at me for bringing you there."

He chuckled a little, "I certainly don't want to get you into trouble. If you want to part ways, I'm fine with that. I'm glad I got to walk with you this far. Most people wouldn't even talk to me for as long as you have. And as for hurting my feelings, I'm sure that's impossible. I don't really care what people think of me, in fact, let them think whatever they want. It's not important at all. I thank you for the pleasant company and hope to see you again soon!"

With a giant smile he tipped his giant floppy womans' hat at me and turned to leave. Now I was torn; I didn't want him to go and I had enjoyed talking with him, but I knew my family would be mad. I wouldn't be surprised if my father tried to shoot him.

But still, I didn't feel as though I was ready for him to walk away. And what if I never saw him again, what if he thought that I was blowing him off and using my parents as an excuse.

"Wait!" I ran back down the road to catch up with him, "you know... I'm kinda thinking I really don't care what my folks think. Hell, they might even like you... assuming they give you a chance." I nodded my head in the direction of the house, "let's go." I said with more confidence than I felt.

I slung my arm though his, "I'll lead the way!" I smiled at him.

"If you're sure, I"d be happy to escort you home," he returned my smile tenfold.

I glanced at him with a feeling this would go much better if he had on different clothes. 'Take it or leave it' I thought to myself with an ironic smile. At least Marie and Raul were on my side; they were sure to treat him nicely. If only them... well, it's not like I didn't warn him, he knows exactly what he's getting into. To top it off he's excited about it, like it's a game.

'This is surly not the predictable type of man I'm used to being around, and I really think I sort of like it,' I thought to myself, 'even if he is a little weird.'

Hello! Shironami here! Sorry for the gross lack of update! I'm sorry! Life has been busy, and I think this story is cursed, I've gone through 3 computers since I started it! I'm almost afraid to post this chapter... Hopefully nothing will happen. My last computer was in my car and it was broken into and stolen... yay for dishonest, mean people! Jerk... anyway, sorry for the shortness of this chapter and the fact that nothing at all is happening in it. I totally hate this chapter! but its an update so I'll take it. I do have a few ways I might take this story, I just haven't decided on which as of yet. If you have comments or ideas I'm always open to listen to them, great story plots or devices don't always come from the author. I just hope the next one is better. It's really weird for me to write something that has no humor in it. But next up is Family Time! wow, yeah, I can already picture the chaos! Hopefully that one will be good and funny, not lame like this one. But I figured the characters needed a little one-on-one face time.

I want to thank all the awesome people who have reviewed my story! It's amazing to me that even after all the time that has passed since I last updated I'll still get alerts to favs, reviews and stuff! So thanks again for the kind words that made me not drop this story! It's so go to know people are reading my crappy little story and liking it! THANK YOU! ^_^ love you all!