*DISCLAIMER*

If you have been reading this since the beginning, please disregard this and continue!

If you are returning to the story after the prolonged hiatus, I strongly encourage you to go back through the story again. This story has gone through significant changes since it was last updated many years ago. Many chapters have been altered, rewritten, and/or updated with new information on a handful of characters, including the main character, that is pertinent to the story as it continues!

Expect more chapters to come soon!

Thank you!

"Hey, Brother," a young Catherine asked as she turned her gaze up at her brother Kenshin. The two walked side-by-side on the beach on a warm afternoon, enjoying the gentle breeze and warm sunlight. The sand beneath their feet filled their sandals with every step forward, though it was the least of their worries. "Can I ask you for a favor?"

The siblings had just finished their morning training for the day, practicing with throwing knives and kunai for the first time. Catherine was still reeling with excitement from experimenting with weapons unfamiliar to her, and she spent most of the morning gushing about it to her mother and Harumi. To celebrate the accomplishment, Kenshin brought Catherine to the village to eat, an offer she could not refuse. Catherine was ecstatic, though she did not forget to offer to bring something back for their mother and Harumi. As always, they arrived at Partys Bar together and spent much of their time with Makino. To her surprise, she pointed out how Luffy had not joined them, knowing his love for food was unyielding.

"I think he's still hanging out with Shanks and his crew today," Catherine informed her. "Brother and I were actually gonna go look for him once we finished eating so I could show him what I learned."

Kenshin laughed.

"I'm surprised you can still keep up with him," he commented, earning a look from Catherine. "He's so full of energy it makes me wonder if I'm getting too old for you guys."

"Oh, stop it, Brother! You're not old!" Catherine shouted at him, slapping his shoulder lightly. "You're only fourteen!"

"Ya gotta admit that he is one adventurous kid," Makino commented with a smile, offering the two kids food.

"You mean always getting into something he shouldn't be?" Kenshin corrected. Catherine opened her mouth to say something but was quickly shut down as he continued, "Don't argue with me! This is the same kid that stabbed himself in the eye to prove he was a pirate."

Catherine pouted.

"It would've worked if Shanks said yes," she muttered, earning a laugh from both Kenshin and Makino.

Once the two finished eating, they thanked Makino and departed for the beach. They decided to spend a bit of time there before looking for their friend and going off on another adventure. The two had been quiet since their arrival, enjoying each other's presence and the silence that settled between them. Kenshin appeared relaxed, his brown locks dancing in the wind while pulled back in a low ponytail. His violet eyes appeared content with the world, and if he had a moment to find shade, he would likely pass out right then and there. It had nothing to do with being lazy, but rather he enjoyed meditating so much that he accidentally passed out in the process. It would not be the first time Catherine had kicked the heavy sleeper awake to get his attention.

However, as the two continued their trek, Catherine suddenly felt overwhelmed with sorrow. Her gaze turned distant, and she folded her hands in front of her before bowing her head. Her mind wandered elsewhere the longer she walked, and she knew she wanted to convey it to her brother. She still had no clue how to express what was on her mind, but she knew letting it fester would not help.

Kenshin looked at her, raising a curious brow while stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"What is it, Sister?" he asked, tilting his head to one side. Strands of his brown locks fell in front of his face as he did so. Catherine remained silent, contemplating her next words as her brows furrowed with anxiety. Kenshin noticed this and grew concerned. "You look upset. What's wrong?" Catherine remained quiet, fiddling with her thumbs anxiously. Her gaze remained downcast, and she avoided looking at him. This upset Kenshin so much that he stopped walking and grabbed her arm firmly, preventing her from moving forward. The action surprised Catherine, and she turned to look at him. Her eyes rounded in surprise as he stared into her brother's eyes, seeing his worried expression. "You're thinking about Father again, aren't you?"

Catherine flinched and shook her head.

"N-no," she replied. She paused and looked away. "I mean, yes, I'm always thinking about him, but…" She scratched her cheek gently with her index finger. "I-I was just…thinking about something, and I wanted to ask a favor of you about it."

Kenshin blinked before laughing.

"Think too hard," he joked, "and you might get a headache."

"I-I'm being serious!" Catherine cried, pulling her arm away from Kenshin as he laughed. "This isn't funny!"

"O-okay, okay, I'm sorry," Kenshin apologized, wiping tears from his face. "Out with it then. What's the favor?"

Her gaze remained fixed on him until she looked away again. She contemplated her words carefully, wanting to be sure she knew what she wanted to say before expressing it. Instead of cracking jokes this time, Kenshin waited patiently. He wanted to give her the courtesy she deserved since she was being serious.

After a moment, Catherine looked at him with a somber gaze and said, "I want you to promise me that, no matter what happens, you'll be there to keep us safe. Got it?"

Kenshin blinked in confusion and raised his eyebrows. Her request threw him for a loop. He recalled making a similar promise to their father prior to his departure. He assured his father that he would look after the family they had. He would eagerly wait for his return no matter how long it took. His father never mentioned why he left, but in the end, it did not matter. All Kenshin had to do was protect his family and wait for his father to come home. Yet, hearing the same request from Catherine had a different feeling. It did not have the same emotion behind it as his father's. Instead, hers felt more melancholy. It was like she felt defeated by something, and the request felt like she was throwing in the towel. Kenshin did not understand why. +

"Why are you asking that?" he questioned. "You know I promised that to Father as well, right?"

"Just listen!" Catherine shushed him. "I'm saying it just in case I don't become strong like you!" Kenshin was taken aback by her statement, though she said nothing as she continued. "I know you've had more time to get better and stronger than me, but…sometimes, it feels like I could never be like you. You're always so confident and strong, while I'm too afraid to even stand up to those beasts in the woods!"

"You…really shouldn't be fighting those beasts anyway," he stated plainly. "You're only seven and barely able to carry a sword."

"I-I'm not done!" She scolded him, a shade of pink dusting her cheeks as she became embarrassed by his words. Kenshin instantly stopped talking as she continued. "My point is…I'm scared I'm not good enough to be as good as Shinobi as you or Harumi. Or strong like Mother and Father for that matter!" She sulked her shoulders. "I don't want to feel like a burden to everyone. So, just in case I don't have a chance to be a Shinobi, at least I know you made that promise to me, too." She sighed. "It sounds silly not to say it out loud, but that's the favor."

"Sister," said Kenshin, waiting for her to look at him. When she refused, he approached her and placed his hands on her shoulders. She avoided eye contact with him, and he sighed. "Catherine, that does sound silly."

Catherine looked at him in surprise. She did not expect him to say that, and it hurt her.

"K-Kenshin, seriously?" she exclaimed.

"I agree that everything you said was silly," Kenshin said. He saw how close she was to tears and continued, "Meaning you're silly for thinking you're a burden to me or anyone else."

Catherine blinked.

"W-what?"

Kenshin shook his head and dropped to one knee, bringing himself closer to her level. His hands fell onto hers and he grasped them tightly, and he never looked away from her.

"I have no issue training with you day in and day out," he explained. "In fact, I look forward to it. It tells me you want to become strong. Strong enough to protect the people you care about."

"Strong like you," she added.

To her surprise, Kenshin shook his head.

"No, strong like you," he corrected her. Catherine stared at him in awe. "Don't strive to be like me, Harumi, or even Mother or Father. You should strive to be strong, period. Even if it means surpassing us all one day." He smiled warmly. "I want to show you everything I learned in the hopes you can take it with you and gain the confidence to do more with it. So you can gain the strength to survive any hardship."

"But…what if I'm not ready when those hardships come?" Catherine asked. "I'm training so much, but it feels like I'm not getting anywhere. What if…"

"Then I'll be there to pick you up," he assured her. "No matter how many times you fall, I'll be there to get you to your feet again. And if not me," he looked out at the sea followed by Catherine, "the people you meet out there will." He looked back at her, watching her look out at the endless ocean with a look of awe. "I guess since we're asking for favors, I'd like to ask you for one. If that's okay."

A curious look crossed Catherine's face as she looked back at him.

"What is it?"

Kenshin stared at her for a long moment, his smile unwavering. Then, he took her face in his hands, placed his forehead against hers, and closed his eyes. He remained that way for a time before saying, "Promise me, no matter what happens to you or me, don't ever forget who you are or where you came from." Catherine raised a brow in confusion. "I know Harumi mentioned some stories to me about our clan, and it pains me to know that we're tied to them by name and by blood." Kenshin opened his eyes. "But promise me you won't forget where you truly came from and who you were raised to be."

Catherine looked into his eyes for a long time. She was left speechless by his words, and she needed a moment to process what he meant. Was he concerned that the clan could change who she was? Was it even possible? Catherine always believed they were far away from their clan, and therefore, safe. Hearing him speak those words, however, worried her. Could the clan find them all the way out in the East Blue? If so, how long would it take to reach her and everyone else? What would they do if they found her family? Those questions and more swirled in her mind. However, the longer she stared into Kenshin's eyes, the more relaxed Catherine became. It was a reassuring look, giving her hope. It was a look that gave her the courage to believe that, no matter what, she would never change for anyone. Not even for the family she never met.

Perhaps there would come a day, Catherine thought, when she and Kenshin would meet the Morikawa Clan face to face. She hoped they would accept them for who they were. They may not have been pureblooded clan members, but they were still family. They had no reason to dislike them.

Right?

A smile graced her lips as Catherine took Kenshin's face into her hands, closing her eyes in the process.

"It's a promise," she replied, "Brother."

"Catherine, wake up already, will you?"

Catherine awoke from her slumber instantly, hearing Nami's voice break through. Sensing panic in her voice, she quickly sat up in her spot, looking around for Nami. She felt disoriented as she tried to wake herself up completely, having woken up from the strangest dream. However, she saw that the women's room was now empty. Robin and Camille were nowhere to be found, and their bed sheets were tossed to one side haphazardly. Something was wrong.

"N-Nami?" Catherine called out, rubbing her eyes to wake up completely and eliminating her haziness. "W-what's going on? Is everything okay?"

"Geez, Catherine! It's about time you woke up!" Nami replied, allowing Catherine to locate her by the steps leading upstairs.

"Huh?" Catherine blinked, still trying to wake herself up. However, her eyes widened as she saw Nami completely. Her eyes were intense, but she did not appear upset about Catherine. Instead, adrenaline was coursing through her, and to Catherine's surprise, she appeared soaking wet. "Nami, is it raining out there? Do you need a change of clothes?"

"There's no time for that," Nami replied quickly. "We just got caught in a huge storm, and I need everyone on deck right now!"

Without another word, Nami sprinted back up the stairs and vanished, shutting the hatch behind her before scolding the other crew members. Catherine, without missing a beat, threw the blanket off and scrambled about the room to find something to throw on. She was not concerned about looking decent, but she did not want to be on deck in sleepwear. When she was dressed, she sprinted up the stairs while pulling her hair into a messy ponytail.

As she did, she could not help but think about the dream she had just had. It did not feel like a dream, she realized, but rather it was a memory of the past. Not only that, but it was a memory of when she and Kenshin were still on Dawn Island. Even though she was worried about the safety of herself and her crew, she still could not push the memories of that specific memory out of her head. It was strange, Catherine admitted, and she did not understand why she was thinking about it. Was it a sign of what was to come?

Shaking her head, Catherine pushed them to the back of her mind. She had more important things to worry about than whether or not her memories were accurate. She needed to help her crew, and she had to do it fast.

"Usopp! Chopper!" Nami shouted as Catherine burst open the hatch and hopped out. In a matter of seconds, she was instantly soaked by the torrential rain. The waves crashing into the Going Merry made it difficult for her to get her bearings. She nearly slipped while shutting and locking the hatch. "Quit screwing around and get moving!"

Catherine quickly surveyed her surroundings to pinpoint where everyone was located. Judging from where she heard Nami, Catherine assumed she was above barking orders to the men. The rain had partially muffled her, Catherine noticed, but it was still easy to hear her through the chaos. Luffy was located on the mast, apparently becoming tangled in the rope as he tried to help Sanji and Zoro tie down the mast. Usopp and Chopper appeared to be in a panic, judging from the way Chopper latched onto Usopp's head for dear life while proclaiming they were on the verge of death. At least that was what Chopper shouted while poor Usopp tried to pry him off his head. Catherine could not find Robin or Camille but assumed they were beside Nami. No doubt she did not want either of them to get their hands dirty, or maybe it was Sanji's demands to keep the ladies away from the heavy-duty work. Either way, it was likely the most reasonable assumption they would be out of harm's way.

"I don't wanna die!" Chopper cried, gripping onto Usopp even tighter despite attempts to remove him.

"I'm gonna die if you keep holding onto me like this," Usopp exclaimed. "I can barely breathe!"

"But I'll drown if I let go!" Chopper continued, tears cascading down his furry cheeks. "I can't swim!"

"I know that, but the ship hasn't gone under yet!" Usopp pleaded. "If you keep holding onto me and crying, she will!"

"Unless you two start helping out," Nami shouted at them, "I'm throwing you both overboard myself!"

"Nami, you're such an angel when you're angry," Sanji swooned from nearby.

"You'll be next if you don't knock it off and get that mast tied down," Nami scolded him as well, earning a salute from Sanji before returning to his duties.

Putting the shenanigans aside, Catherine looked up at Nami; she even confirmed her suspicions about Robin being beside her, though Camille was nowhere in sight. Was she assisting the crew elsewhere?

"Nami, where do you need me?" She shouted through the rain. "I don't mind getting my hands dirty if needed!"

Nami looked at her, almost relieved that Catherine wanted to help the boys before looking toward the others.

"Well, since Chopper and Usopp are supposed to help steer the ship with Camille," she shouted at the aforementioned duo still struggling with each other before hearing her and sprinting toward the lounge area, "the others need a hand with the sails. They're taking a beating and the ropes are loosening!"

"On it!"

Without missing a beat, Catherine ran over to the nearest rope, cautious not to lose her footing. She grabbed hold of one of the loose ropes, pulling on it to secure it properly before tying it down. The rain made it challenging to keep a good grip on the rope, but she pressed on as she searched for the next rope.

While she continued helping tie down the sails, she suddenly thought about her dream again. The memories flashed before her, almost in tune with the thunder and lightning strikes, and she became distracted. She kept her focus on the sails, grabbing another rope and pulling it with all her might. Still, the more she tried to fight it, the more she thought about it. She had a hunch that discussing her brother would likely bring memories back. That said, why was she suddenly thinking of that one in particular? At first, she chalked it up to reliving the past. However, what if there was more to it than that? Maybe it was a sign of something coming, something involving her brother, though the memory gave no hint as to what it could have been.

Catherine frowned, getting an uneasy feeling in her stomach. What if it was a sign she would see her brother again soon?

"Brace for impact!" Nami's voice suddenly broke Catherine's thoughts.

She blinked and shook her head, returning to reality before looking at the rope she held. Unfortunately, she did not realize her grip on the rope had loosened while her mind wandered until a massive wave crashed into the ship. The impact caused her to let go of the rope and fall backward, sliding over to the railing and slamming into it with her back. A sharp pain ran up her spine, and she cried out in pain. She struck her injury on her right side to inflict pain again. She struggled to keep herself upright. The pain coupled with the storm causing the ship to sway to and fro made it difficult to get to her feet. Nevertheless, she persisted, lifting herself off the ground and grabbing onto the ship's railing to regain her balance. She lost her footing for a moment but managed to stand up again.

As she caught her breath, Catherine looked out at the waters as they continued to ravage the ship. Her breathing was heavy, fighting off the pain in her side, and she held onto the railing as she tried to remain standing. While she did this, something caught her eye in the open waters. She squinted, trying to visualize what it could have been. At first, she thought something had fallen off the ship and floated away. By now, there would have been no point in worrying about it. It could always be replaced. However, when she stared at it longer, a horrified look crossed her face.

Was that…was that a person on the water?

"Catherine!" She jumped at the sound of her name through the downpour, returning to reality. Catherine whipped around, grounding herself to the scene before her, and exhaled. After a moment, she looked up and spotted Luffy still struggling with the sail. Fortunately, he spotted her by the railing and grabbed her attention. "Are you okay?"

Catherine took a moment to register what he said, but she slowly nodded.

"Y-yeah, I…" she answered, though she trailed off as she quickly looked back out at the raging waves. She searched for what she thought was the silhouette of a human being, but to her shock, it was gone. It was as if it had vanished. Catherine swallowed the lump in her throat, skimming over the waters one last time in the hopes of finding them. She then turned back around. "I-I'm fine," she breathed, supporting herself on the railing.

"As long as you're safe," Luffy replied, "that's all that matters!"

Hearing his words grounded Catherine more, regaining strength after her fall, and she looked back at the mast again. To her horror, the rope she had tied down previously became loose, and it was ready to break from its bindings. She frowned at the sight, though she used her frustration to jump back into action. She shuffled her way over to the mast, careful not to slip in the rain and hurt herself again. Once she was close enough to it, she took hold of it again, wrapped the rope around her wrist, and tugged on it. She felt some pain in her hand from the stab wound, though she ignored it for the time being. Time was of the essence, and she did not have time to get distracted again.

"Here comes another one!" Zoro shouted, glimpsing past Catherine to spot another wave hurtling toward them.

"Geez, how many of these will there be?" Sanji grumbled out loud. "It's gonna tear the ship apart if it keeps this up!"

"Or throw one of us overboard," Catherine muttered to herself.

"Just hang on!" Nami shouted to them. "This looks like it'll be the end of it, so don't lose your cool now!"

With those words in her head, Catherine tied down the rope, even going so far as to double-knot it just in case. She did not want to repeat her previous mistake, so she took hold of the rope after tugging on it and ensuring it was secure.

As she did this, Catherine wondered if her mind was playing tricks on her. Did she actually see someone out there, or was the storm making her see things that were not there? She was uncertain. From the look of it, she thought she could see a figure standing out there. It was almost as if they were walking on water, though the thought was quickly pushed aside. There was no way anyone could walk on water. Even if they could, it would be impossible to navigate it. What could it have been then? Was she still half asleep and seeing things where they should not have been?

The more she thought about it, the more questions Catherine had. Why could she not have seen that after the storm?

"Brace for impact!"

Nami's voice broke through the storm, but Catherine was more prepared. Shaking her head, Catherine held onto the rope for dear life, turning her face away from the oncoming wave. This time, however, she felt someone grab hold of her, pushing her against the mast with their body while something took hold of her ankles. Catherine, although surprised, did not have time to react, and she wrapped an arm around them and held on for dear life. She assumed Luffy dropped down from handling the sails and grabbed her before she could be swept away. Her eyes shut tightly, and her body tensed as the wave slammed into Merry's side. Water flooded the ship for the second time, drenching everyone in its wake. Catherine even felt the ship teetering to one side, seemingly on its way to flipping onto her side. Fortunately, the ship slowly fell back into its upright position and continued sailing.

Suddenly, just as quickly as the storm came, the air around them shifted. The rain continued to fall, though it was lighter than before. The wind was still present, but not as strong. It was much calmer now, allowing the waves to subside and become less aggressive. Before everyone knew it, they were sailing casually again, and everything returned to normal. Catherine took a moment before making a move, ensuring what she felt was true. After another few beats, her eyes opened, exhaling the breath she took prior to the impact. Her heart was still racing with adrenaline, though she could feel herself coming down from the high.

"Is...is everyone okay?" Nami called out. Catherine could tell she was out of breath but calming down.

"Yeah, I think so," Zoro replied.

"Thanks for the assist, Robin," Sanji said afterwards.

Catherine blinked, pondering what Sanji meant by Robin assisting before feeling something release from her ankles. She flinched before looking down at her feet, seeing what she thought were Robin's hands disappear into the floorboards. The sight surprised and relieved her. She had seen Robin's abilities before, though not in action like this. Shame it had to be in a rainstorm.

Suddenly, the sound of a door slamming open was heard followed by several footsteps. Since Catherine was still latched on to the mast and had her back to the noise, she could not see who was there.

"O-oh gosh, I'm so sorry!" Camille's flustered voice echoed. "I-I hope no one got hurt by my steering! I knew it was a terrible idea to attempt it on my own."

"Usopp, why did you let poor Camille steer by herself?" Sanji shouted. "We were in the middle of a storm, and you let her steer us without helping?!"

"W-what?! I helped her as best as I could!" Usopp retorted. "I didn't think she had gone in there to do it by herself, but even with my help, it was a struggle to keep it straight!"

"Usopp's right!" Chopper defended him. "They were both trying really hard! I saw it!"

Knowing they were already arguing back and forth at this point, Catherine sighed, clutching Luffy who still held onto her.

"Thanks for the assistance, Luffy," she thanked him, smiling warmly before closing her eyes and placing her head against his chest. "I wasn't expecting it, but I appreciate it nonetheless."

There was a beat of silence before Luffy said, "What are you talking about Catherine? I'm over here!"

Catherine's eyes shot open instantly as soon as she heard Luffy speak. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she felt her stomach twist into a knot. She slowly looked in the direction Luffy's voice came from, realizing he had ended up near the front of the ship and waving at her with his usual grin. Seeing him standing there made her pale as realization struck her. She was not holding onto Luffy but someone else. Now that she had a better sense of the situation, the person she was holding onto felt different. At least, different from the way Luffy felt whenever she hugged him. However, the most significant thing she finally picked up was his scent. It was one that was too familiar to not recognize. It was woodsy like he had spent time hiding out in the forest for years. The rain only accentuated it, reminding her of a forest after a fresh rainfall.

It was this scent that made Catherine panic. She knew who it was, even though she was too afraid to confirm it.

"Hey, Catherine," Luffy called her, "who's the guy holding onto you?"

His words made Catherine even more terrified of the situation at hand. It was confirmation that the person was not only a guy, but someone not previously on the ship. It was a stowaway who boarded the ship without anyone noticing. The fact that they lasted this long without being caught was a feat in itself. However, that was the least of her worries. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Catherine slowly turned her head back to look up at the stranger, visibly shaking. At the same time, the man shifted and took a small step back, looking down at her just as she looked at him.

At first, she had a hard time believing what was happening. She could only hope that she was still dreaming and that someone was just a few minutes away from waking her up from her sleep. Unfortunately, the longer she stared at him, the more she realized that she was not in a dream and she was aware of the reality of her situation. She was not sleeping in her bed, but holding a rope and this man after a beating in the rain.

A man whose eye color matched her own.

Catherine exhaled a shaky breath the longer she stared into them before saying, "B... Brother?"