Freedom

Disclaimer: Don't own One Piece.

After they were released of Anderson's mysterious hold on them, the townspeople awoke to find themselves very sore for unknown reasons. While they were able to move around, they all had to take it easy on themselves. A couple of days after the rainstorm, Axe found himself sitting in the church's garden, his weapon leaning against him as he sat on a bench. After dealing with the two Templar wannabes, Axe found where Anderson had stashed his gear and now spent his time waiting for the right time to leave Sanctus Island.

Right time as in, when a chance to flee was given to him. Though the townspeople now knew that Anderson and Gabriel were doing something to them, something they had no say over, they still had a love for the men of the church, the men who helped them in the past and were willing to forgive them...if they were still around. With them gone, they blamed Axe and wanted him handed over to the authorities. However, Kairi and the other members of the church knew that Axe had helped them more than he needed to, so they granted him sanctuary in the church, protecting him from the law and angry townspeople.

So now, all he had to do was wait. He could easily escape with his skills, but he had no way off the island and that was a problem.

"You seem to come here a lot,"

Axe smiled and turned his head to see Kairi walking up to him, wearing her robes and carrying her bible like she did when he first met her. He patted the empty place on the bench next to him and she sat down without hesitation.

"Looks like they're back to normal," Axe mused, referring to the townspeople, "You'd figure they'd be grateful not to be brainwashed psychos, but they end up trying to lynch me and turn me over to the Marines for saving them,"

"They were willing to forgive the two of them for their sins, just as God forgives us all for the sins we commit," Kairi said with a shrug, "You really can't convince them otherwise. It's their belief,"

"I guess so," Axe sighed and clapped his hands idly, "You guys get the bodies buried? I know the town wants them to be in the graveyard...,"

Kairi cleared her throat and ran a hand through her hair, "About that...um...,"

"What?"

"Anderson and Gabriel...they made it after all,"

Axe frowned, "What?"

"They made it after all," she repeated, "But they've disappeared. We thought they were dead and were about to give them the final rites and prep them for burial, but when we did, they were gone!"

"So, they're out there somewhere, hm?" Axe leaned back on the bench and looked up at the sky, "Well, I hope someone nails them,"

The two of them sat on the bench, admiring the garden's beauty as puffy white clouds drifted high above their heads.

"I can't stay here much longer, Kairi, I need to get back to the ocean and get myself a crew so I can find One Piece,"

"I know, and I wish you the best of luck in finding it,"

"How about some luck in getting off this rock?"

"Heh...have faith. The Lord works in mysterious ways,"

"I dunno about that, just yet,"

"Fair enough," Kairi smiled and folded her arms over her Bible, "You really think you stand a chance of finding One Piece?"

"Hard to say," Axe scratched the back of his head, "I need to find a crew first, or else I'll get lost, killed, or both along the way," he sighed, "But yeah, I think I stand a chance. There are gonna be a lot of people going across the Grand Line in order to become King or Queen of the Pirates, but there's nothing wrong with a little competition. Besides, it's my dream to be the best in the world. I can't give it up because some people think I'll get killed,"

Kairi looked at him, then looked down at her hands.

I kind of know how you feel, Axe...

Later that day, as Kairi was leaving to buy some supplies for the church, she was greeted with a sight of one of the priests confronting a decent-sized mob of angry looking people. No doubt these were some of the people who wanted Axe turned over to the Marines for what happened a couple of days ago.

"He killed them both!"

"Get him out here, let him face retribution!"

"Where's the Holy Knight and why hasn't he brought him to justice?!"

Oh boy, Kairi sweatdropped and slipped past the crowd of angry people, glad that they hadn't noticed her. As she walked away, she could hear the priest at the door yell at the crowd.

"We've granted the boy Sanctuary. Besides you should be thanking him!"

"Bullcrap!"

"Get him out here!"

"He can't stay in there forever!"

Kairi shook her head and walked down the street, He was trying to save everyone, but he's been labeled as a criminal. That's what it'll be like if he continues to try and find One Piece. I don't understand him, why would he want to go from island to island, gaining a reputation as a criminal in the eyes of the World Government just to find a treasure left behind by a wanted man...is it really that important to him?

As she bought some food for the orphans, she left her thoughts of Axe's dream and found herself thinking about her own dream.

She wanted nothing more than to end the senseless killing of the world. Everyday, men, women and children either killed or were killed for one or more stupid reasons. Pirates killed for treasure, Marines and the World Government killed for peace, and others kill others for a number of reasons. It was her dream to bring an end to senseless killing and to help the world come together.

When she thought about it, her dream might seem impossible to others, just as Axe's dream seemed impossible to her at times. With this realization, Kairi smiled and after she paid for the supplies, she made her way through the city towards the docks.

I hope they're still there!

"Axe! Axe!"

Kairi ran into the church's library and found Axe sleeping at the table, surrounded by books. She rolled her eyes and shook him, "Axe, wake up! You gotta get up right now!"

The young man snorted and snapped his head up, a tired look on his face, "Meat?" he looked around, "Dinner ready yet?"

"No," Kairi sat down across from him, a large smile on her face, "Better!"

"Oh...dessert?"

She facefaulted, "No...I found a way off the island for you!"

That woke him up all the way.

"Say what?"

She leaned forward, dropping her voice, "There is a man with a boat and people who are passing through, they said they can give you a ride!"

"Are you serious?!"

"Hand to God!" Kairi raised her hand, "His name is Vincent and he said he can give you a ride to the East Blue,"

"The East Blue?!"

"Hey, that's where they're headed...you can take it, or stay here until the next boat,"

Axe ran his hands through his hair and tapped the floor, thinking it over, "How long until they need an answer?"

"Until nightfall,"

"Okay...Kairi?"

"Yeah?"

"Everyone in the church don't want to harm me, right?"

"Yeah,"

"So, there's no point in whispering?"

"...yeah?"

"Then why are we whispering?"

"This is the man? This is Vincent?"

Axe and Kairi stood in front of an older looking man with red eyes and white hair in dreadlocks. He looked strange alone with his hair, but his clothing choice of flannel, boots, and armbands made him look even stranger.

"Dude, you look weird,"

Vincent smacked Axe upside the head, "And you're a brat, kid,"

Axe rubbed his head, wincing, That actually hurt!!

Kairi sighed and shook her head, "Anyway, are you still able to give passage to the East Blue, Mr Vincent?" she asked the strange looking man politely.

"As long as he's not stupid and gets himself thrown overboard, yeah," Vincent rubbed his neck, "What about you, girl?"

"Huh?" Axe turned to his friend, "What's he talking about?"

Kairi gave a smile, "I was thinking earlier. We both have a dream, and if you're willing to risk your life to achieve it, then you're going to need to help. I'm going to travel with you as your First Mate and while you go after One Piece, I'll do what I can in order to achieve my dream,"

"How does going around the world trying to find a treasure help with yours? I heard from the priests that you want to end the killing, but life on the seas could mean killing people!"

"Not me," Kairi shook her head, "I will accompany you on your journey, but if we come across trouble, I won't kill anyone. Axe, I need to go around the world and spread the word about peace and if I stay here...I can't do that,"

"But what about the Holy Knight? What about the island? You're stuff-,"

"I've been on this island ever since I was a baby, and though I owe a huge debt to the church...I don't think I'm meant to stay here my entire life. I think God has plans for me, and in order to fulfill those plans, He sent you here to this island. Besides, the island can't keep going and going with a Knight to protect them. They have to deal with their own problems in their own ways. As for my stuff, I got that on board already, I came here a little bit before now and got it on there,"

"Won't they wonder where you've gone?"

"I've told them that I'm leaving on a pilgrimage to Mariejois, the Holy Land. Don't worry about the church and the people wanting to get you. We managed to sneak you out well enough so no one saw, but then you already know that,"

Axe smiled, "Yeah. Won't they go after the church?"

"No. They have a plan for you to 'escape' and hide around the island,"

"Uh, kiddies, are you comin' aboard, or swimming after us?"

"I can't swim,"

"Then get shut up and get on board,"

Axe and Kairi looked at each other, and the former held out his hand, "You sure you're okay with this? You probably won't be able to come back to this life, so you need to think it over carefully,"

"I have, and I've sorted out my affairs here," Kairi took his hand, "You got yourself a First Mate, Captain,"

"Seriously, get aboard or we're leaving!"

"We're coming, we're coming!"

As the ship raised their anchor and left the docks, one of the priests at the church stood in the doorway of Kairi's bedroom, her belongings cleared out, including her sword. The only thing that was left was the suit of armor that the Holy Knight wore and it was laying on the bed.

A loud mewing made the priest look down to see Victoria looking up at him. He bent down and picked up the cat, stroking her under the chin.

"It seems our young friend is going out to find her purpose in the world, Victoria. Let us pray to the Lord to watch over her, hm?"

Victoria mewed and began to purr.

The priest looked at the armor, "I don't blame you for leaving, Kairi. You not only wish to follow your dream, but you wish to leave this part of your life behind you. We thank you for coming to us, but now it's time for you to go out and see the world for yourself. May the Almighty watch over you,"

Victoria mewed again.

"Alright, alright, let's go see if there's any food for you in the kitchen,"

Kilnorc: I know this ended in kind of a BLAH way, but I did the best I could on this. Now we know how Axe met Kairi and how she joined his crew. If you're wondering, the full reason why Kairi left behind her Holy Knight armor is because she is no longer the Holy Knight and it reminds her of the Templars revival and what they've tried to do. Originally this was Wolfen-Ways' idea since Kairi is her creation.

On the next chapter of Origin...

Kairi: I wanted to change my look...besides, I had to change after that mountain ride..ugh.

Vincent: You're just kids, but you're going after One Piece?

Axe: Why do they call the East Blue the weakest of the four oceans?

Villager: There's a monster on this island, never go out at night, especially at the full moon!

East Blue: Kohaku Village

Kairi: You really don't believe their stories of a monster...do you, Axe?