Day 32
From the moment I was picked up by the Narwhal Pirates, I knew that sooner or later, I would eventually beat the crap out of the captain, Ringo.
It happened yesterday, about two days after picked me up. He was going in a whipping frenzy because the ship wasn't going fast enough. I finally had enough and sent him flying overboard with a quake-powered punch. That's the end of Ringo as far as I'm concerned.
After that, I put Kaze in charge much to the crew's delight. He immediately distributed the ship's wealth among the crew. Apparent Ringo had been accumulating some really nice treasure that he wanted to pawn on an island just before heading into Grand Line.
Kaze and the others tried to give me some of the treasure as thanks for getting rid of Ringo, but I refused.
There were a lot of high quality stuff in there, pure gold statues, golden crowns encrusted with diamonds and rubies as red as blood. But to my own surprise, I couldn't find any sort of interest in the treasure within myself.
Gold won't bring back Goji, Jones, Cook and Roy.
It won't bring back Chip.
When I refused, Kaze and his crew looked bewildered. Some of them even laughed at me.
"That's just weird," said one of Kaze's crewmates. "Whoever heard of a pirate who's not interested in treasure?"
"What the hell is it you want, then?" asked Kaze. "Well, Newgate?"
I thought about the question for a long while. I remembered mom and dad and how they used to care for me. Jones, Roy, Goji, Cook and the other Nautica Pirates and how they took me on their adventures, how they took away my loneliness and how they made me feel as though I'm worth something. I remembered Moulin and her daughter, Rouge. I remembered how Moulin would make lunch for me while Rouge would gurgle away happily on my knee, how Moulin would fuss if tore my shirt a little and how she would throw a bucket of water at me to wake me up if I was late for work. I remembered George, who'd grumpily complain about me drinking his cellar dry but never chased me away. I remembered Chip, who'd hang out with me to listen to my stories, make me laugh, how he used to get into so much trouble until I had to bail him out...how he said I was like his father.
To me, those moments are far more precious than all the gold and diamonds in the world.
The answer floated to me.
Just like that, I knew what I always wanted.
"...Ever since I was a kid," I said slowly, catching their attention. "There's something I've always wanted to have."
"Oh? What is it, then?" asked Kaze curiously.
"Let's hear it!" cried another pirate.
The answer was so simple and so right, that as I looked out at the sea, I found myself smiling.
"...a family."
The other pirates were quiet for a moment before they all burst into laughter. One of them said.
"The hell's up with that? Gyahahahaha!"
I don't mind, I know what I want and they can laugh all they want. I glanced at Kaze, who was the only one who didn't laugh. Instead, he gave me a small smile and a nod of acceptance.
A family.
One that I could call my own.
I guess that's what I really want.
It took me so long to realise it.
