-X-
I sighed as I watched the first stars appear. It was quite cold here at night, since it's a spring island. I rubbed my hands together as I walked towards the tower to begin my guard shift.
I looked up as I met Robin half way. She nodded with a small smirk on her lips.
"What?" I asked. She shook her head.
"Nothing, I just remembered your pretty cool act from earlier, Swordsman-san. I think it's surprising that you asked Kayla such a thing, putting her on the spot." The dark haired woman said.
I thought about it, remembering the image of a slightly shocked yet smiling Kayla.
"I guess I don't like newcomers looking down on us." I said and shrugged. Robin smiled.
"Still, you usually don't give such things any attention. And you hardly ever give any attention to some random girl." She said and her words surprised me slightly. I nodded.
"She's a guest now, not some random girl." I said and passed the woman in front of me.
"As you capture your feelings inside you, like a bird in a cage, it will one day burst. And when it bursts you will die without even knowing it. Do you know who once said that?" Robin asked from behind. I stopped and looked at her back.
With a glance over the shoulder she smiled at me.
"Never mind. Have a nice watch." She said as she walked away. I scratched my head, not really sure what I was supposed to do with what she just said so in the end I figured I shouldn't pay it any attention. What do I care what someone once said?
-X-
"It's alright, I'll catch you!" Kai said from below. I glanced at him and the ground before I slid down the mountain wall. I didn't even notice my scraped leg as Kai caught me into a hug.
"Ray, you can breath now silly." He said as he sat me down and looked at my outer thigh. I grinned.
"I jumped! It was so scary but I jumped." I said, proud of my act of courage. Kai nodded.
"You're quite the adventurer, aren't you?" He said and ruffled my hair. I looked up at him.
"That's only because I knew you'd catch me! If you're there I can do anything!" I said as I grabbed his hand and let him pull me through the forest.
"Really? Anything?" he asked. I nodded.
Kai stopped and kneeled before me.
"Then, when you grow up will you become my wife?" he asked. I grabbed my cheek and looked up, as if I was thinking about it. Kai looked at me with his funny puppy eyes.
"Pretty please Princess?" he said. I grinned.
"Sure, but only if you call me Princess." I said with my arms crossed. Kai nodded.
"I swear!" he said, making a cross over his heart. I smiled.
"And I can ride your back." I said. He smiled and put his backpack on his stomach.
"Only to the stream." He said and let me climb his back. Smiling, I thought, `I don't need papa. I have Kai!´
For once I actually woke up in a warm bed and with the sun in my eyes. Considering my last few nights, it was a nice combination. Thinking back, didn't I dream about…
"Kayla? You up?" Nami asked as her head popped in through the door. I looked up and grinned.
"Yeah, is breakfast done?" I said as I got out of bed and put on some shorts. Nami nodded and left. The t-shirt I had was fine for now, I thought, as I left the room.
On deck I walked past Robin and Zoro talking and turned to them.
"You're not eating?" I asked and pointed at the kitchen. Robin smiled.
"We're on our way." She said. I nodded and walked ahead.
She was dressed with a brown baggy t-shirt and a pair of short dark green shorts. Looking down I noticed her strong legs and her hardened skin on her feet. What kind of training had she been trough really?
Looking at Robin as Kayla left I noticed her staring at me with a grin.
"What?" I asked, annoyed.
"Shorts are nice, aren't they?" she said as she walked towards the kitchen. I looked after her, unsure of what she meant. Then I realized.
"I…I didn't look!" I said, walking after her to the kitchen.
-X-
Two week had past already. Two very tiresome yet fun weeks full of things I couldn't even dream of. I mean, how do you manage to doodle on a sacred temple, get persuaded by angry priest pirates with fire canons and be attacked by a sea king (which eventually became dinner) and still laugh. That's one day out of the 15 I had spent with the crew. Even though most days consisted of training, sleeping eating and fishing I still had the feeling that these guys got into trouble way too much.
"Yo, Kayla." Zoros voice reached my ears from below. I glanced down and found him standing on the grass. I smiled at him.
"What?" I asked him and walked towards the stairs. Zoro waited for me to come down before he spoke.
"I need a sparring partner. Will you lend me a hand?" he asked. I thought about it.
"What about Sanji? Don't you two usually practice together?" I asked as I took of my jacket. Zoro gave me a nod.
"Yeah. Well, he's busy with lunch and I'd prefer fighting a swordsman instead of that kicking idiot." He said. I grinned as I stretched my arms.
"He's going to get upset when he finds out you cheated on him." I said and drew Hime. Zoro drew two sword as his eye brown twitched.
"What the hell's that supposed to mean?" he asked as I grinned at him.
"Nada." I said as I took a stance.
Actually I prefer training alone since I don't want to let too much of my abilities slip. I was yet to tell them about my devil fruit abilities. Not that I didn't trust them, I did. But being a wanted person means that you have to take precautions.
Not that I had much time to think about it since Zoro attacked faster than I thought.
"Hey, I haven't warmed up!" I complained as I blocked his first four slashes. He grinned.
"That's your problem." He said as I grabbed his shoulder and jumped 360 degrees upside-down over him. The move surprised him but he still blocked the slash meant for his back.
He sighed as I landed a bit further away.
"You aren't exactly holding back, Miss not-warmed-up." He said. I sweat dropped.
"Really? Is that so?" I said and scratched the back of my head.
Zoro came at me one more time and for a few minutes we just attacked and blocked each other head on.
Had I really not held back? I didn't think about it much since Kai always…
Wait. I'm not fighting Kai, for crying out loud! Forget that guy!
-X-
Somehow the air around Kayla changed after a few minutes of sparring, as if she suddenly became more serious. I sweat dropped at this because her aura was somewhat… scary. And yet I could feel the adrenaline race up and my stomach tingle with anticipation.
Attacking again, her slashes and blocks became stronger and a lot more precise. As if she was really trying to kill me.
I smiled as I put my third sword in my mouth.
"This looks interesting." I said and attacked. Our swords met several times and we left small wounds on each other's arms and cheeks. It wasn't until it was too late I realised that I was losing. As a final attack I decided to use Takanami, just to throw her of her feet.
The attacked hit her head on and sent her flying backwards towards the railing. Almost falling over it and into the water Kayla planted her sword into the wooden railing and threw herself back onto deck. Landing on one knee I noticed a frighten look in her eyes, as if she'd been close to death. I thought about it as she got up.
"Kayla, could it be that you're a devil fruit user?" I asked and let down my guard. A mistake on my part. In seconds Kayla was over me, pinning me down with her swords tip pointed at my throat. Raising her hands she planned to bring them back down, piercing my throat. Somehow I couldn't help but to notice the coldness in her blank eyes. It was as if starring death in the face. Seconds before she brought the sword down a voice was heard in the background.
"Kayla, don't!" Sanjis voice reached us and pulled Kayla out of the state she was in. Looking down at me with reawaken eyes she dropped her sword at the side, it clattering beside my ear. In shock her hands reached her mouth as tears slowly built up in the eyes.
"Kayla…" I said and reached for her but she got up from me and ran away. With a mixture of feelings I looked after her as the cook came up to me. Seconds a kick landed in my head.
"What the hell!" I yelled as I got up. Sanji glared at me.
"That's my line! What did you do to Kayla-swan?" he yelled back. I glanced at the direction she had run of to. I scratched my head.
"I have no idea…" I said, mostly to myself.
Minawa: How horrible of me, she almost killed him! and now he knows she is a Devil fruit- user!
Ray: *caugh* I'm here, don't talk as if I'm a third person.
Minawa: Aren't you? I mean, you're in my head...
Ray:*puts blade at Minawa's throat* I'm what?
Minawa: ... hope you enjoyed. *run*