Chapter Eighteen

I introduced my whole crew to Tom and his workers on the way towards his home. I asked him how he has been these years. I was surprised when he told me he was on a trial for the crime of building the Oro Jackson. He had seven years till he builds the Puffing Tom then he's trial would lift up. I was upset that the residents of Water 7 was treating him like garbage. I offered him a place on my ship and protection. He refused, saying Water 7 was his home and he wouldn't betray it when it was at its worst.

We reached Tom's home. It was a warehouse under the stone bridge. I wouldn't say it was in the best condition but it had a homey feeling to it. I was kinda angry at the condition that Tom was living at but I kept quiet. I didn't want to point out the obvious.

"Hey Kokoro! Look who's here!" Tom happily grabbed and pushed us through the door. We fell down.

"Oh my. Look how you have grown Buggy." Kokoro was lovely as ever. She hugged me and looked over my crew. "And look you got yourself a crew." I puffed out proudly and introduced my crew.

"Kokoro meet my crew. This is the best first mate and navigator, Toshiro. The world's greatest shooter, Adam. First class cook and finest swordswoman, Hana-chan." I presented each crewmember with my arms open. I missed their warm looks.

Kokoro laughed cheerfully. "I'm glad you found a family, Buggy."

"Hey guys, am I dreaming or is that a giant frog doing a freestyle?" Adam pointed towards Yokozuna who was indeed doing freestyle with Franky cheering him.

Franky looked up. "Aren't frogs supposed to?"

"Yeah they can, kid." I replied before anyone answered. I felt sorry for him when I was informed he was abandoned by his pirate parent for being a troublesome kid. He is kind of an obnoxious kid but I'm pretty sure he meant well. While the other kid, Iceburg is a silent type. He didn't said a word the whole way.

Franky ignored me and continued his coaching. Tom laughed and assured us. "Don't worry, he'll soften up to you guys." He ignored his I won't cry. "By the way, you didn't tell us the reason of your visit?'

I rubbed my head, smiling awkwardly. "Oh yeah, about that-"

BAM!

"TOM! WE'RE HOME!" A loud and drunken voice alerted us. I saw a drunk woman swaying a bottle of sake from a man. A beanie covered her long curly braided purple hair. She wore a dark baggy sweatpants with a white top. A tool belt hung at her waist. Her grey eyes were laughing when the man tried to take sake from her. The man looked like doctor. He had long tied blue hair with bangs on his face and grey eyes. He was wearing a doctor's coat with white shirt and black pants.

"Nikki, I think that's enough for you." The man said worriedly to the woman, Nikki. She giggled and took a huge gulp of sake.

"Lukas bro! I'm not even drunk yet!" She finished with hiccup and fell down. We sweatdropped. It was obvious she was very drunk.

They were bickering and insulting each other. Finally Toshiro asked Tom who they were.

"Guys meet Nikki Bakers and Lukas Vesalius. Oh they're both twins."

Twins? But they look and act different from each other except their grey eyes. She was kind of a tomboyish while he was worrier but serious type.

"By the way, Buggy what were you saying?" Tom asked.

I looked at him, serious. "Tom, I was hoping that you would make us a ship."

He laughed cheerfully and instantly all my worries left me. I knew I could count on him. "Thanks Tom-"

"No." That made me stop. I turned to ask why.

"I didn't say I won't. I just have one condition." He grinned mischievously.

"What condition?" I asked him eagerly.

The next morning, I went to look for Lukas and Nikki. Toshiro and the others went with Kokoro to tour around the island. I'm sure they won't cause too much trouble. I located the twins and Tom near the Scrap island. Ahh the advantages of haki.

I saw Tom and the others were making a track for the train but most surprising thing was that Nikki was helping them. She wasn't drunk and looked engrossed in her work. I looked around and found Lukas sitting alone, watching them. I made my way towards him, silently.

"Whatcha doing?" I suddenly asked him. He turned, eyes widened with surprise.

"Don't do that. You scared me." he scowled. I smirked. "No promises."

"Your sister's good at her job." I complimented.

"You're just surprised she isn't drunk." He sighted. I sheepishly smiled.

"It wasn't always like this." This got me interested. He took out a cigarette and lit it. I watched him as he took a big drag and huff out the smoke.

"We have been sailing with our Captain for two years. Before being pirates, we lived at St. Poplar. I become a Doctor and Nikki, a shipwright. One day, a man came to our shop with the promises of adventure. Nikki being the adventurous gal agreed at once and I was forced to come with her. Well I couldn't leave my sister alone." he sighted when his cigarette finished.

"Then he betrayed you because you were getting between his and your sister's love!" I excitedly continued his story. I rubbed my chin. "But your sister loved you more than him. So out of jealousy, the Captain banished you and your sister from his ship! *Sob* Nothing can come between sibling's love! Your sister must be heartbroken and how brave you are! You were only trying to protect your sister!" I finished it with fire in my eyes.

He raised his eyebrow. "Nope. We left him because he was kind of an asshole and in my sister's opinion, he wasn't taking care of her ship." I ohhed in realization.

"I decided you and Nikki will join my awesome crew!" I said with a stars in my eyes.

"You should start by asking us first, idiot." He yelled at me with shark-teeth. I ignored him and called out his sister. "Hey Nikki! Join my crew!"

"Sure!" She answered back.

"H-hey wait!" Lukas spluttered.

Lukas waited patiently until all of them retired from work and quickly grabbed Nikki. She was out of her mind joining with pirates again. She laughed and asked me what's wrong.

I stopped. "What's wrong? You know what's wrong, Nikki. We finally have home again after avoiding the Navy. Now you want to be a pirate again. And you don't even know anything about the buggy. We'll be repeating our mistake over and over again." I crossed my arm. Her smile left and eyes locked with mine.

She looked at me, serious. "Lukas, tell me. Do I look happy?"

"What?" What does she mean by that?

"Do I look like I'm happy?" She asked again.

Honestly, she wasn't happy the first day, we came here. Sure it was pleasure to meet the creator of Oro Jackson but…

"You know the answer then…" She smiled sadly. "I don't want to live like this. I don't want to build ships for the rest of my rest especially for strangers. Tom already knew I wasn't happy here so he told me about joining Buggy. He's a great guy and Tom never lies." She looked towards the sea with a longingness.

"So you're just going to join him because Tom said so?" I angrily said.

"Do you want me to work all day and drink all night!?" She turned and hissed at me. I took a step back when she got into my face. "I will make them a ship and leave this goddamned city!" with that, she stormed off.

I stared her until she disappeared from my sight. I huffed angrily and took out a cigarette. The familiar smell relaxed my mind. I stayed there for the whole night, finishing bottles of booze and watching the moon. Fine if she wants to go, she can go. I don't want to be in her mess again.

I stormed away from him. AAAGGGHHH. I thought he could understand my situation but nooo. That jerk. I walked through the streets of water 7 to calm my thoughts. As I passed through streets, instantly regret and shame filled me. Dad would be so disappointed.