Disclaimer!: I DO NOT OWN ONE PIECE! I own my OC(s), and that's just it, we are on a fanfiction site/ story site.
Time for the chapter!
Chapter 6.5: Crazy, The More You Know
~ What would I do without you? ~
[While Under her Uncle Mihawk's Care; Astrid: About 8.8 years old]
"Uncle Mihawk?"
"Yes, dear niece?" Her Uncle put down his paper, sitting on his chair as they sailed to their destination, glancing at his niece as he waited for her to continue.
"If you could have anything in the world, what would you want?"
Astrid was drawing, her drawing prowess was certainly improving, from what he could tell. Were they exactly like the objects that she drew?
No.
Her drawings from the beginning of their journey together compared to the present have shown that she was getting things likeness down, just a touch of perspective was needed. Some things would look a bit flat, some things needed more depth, shading….
But she is still learning.
He collected his thoughts in order to answer, shuffling the paper to a nearby crate next to him as he grabbed his glass of water.
"I don't like being bored. Duels keep my intrigue, and take away the boredom."
Astrid held a puzzled look on her face as she turned towards him, stopping what she was doing.
"Is teaching me boring?" She pointed towards herself, her mouth slowly forming into a rather uneasy W. Her eyes, even behind the distortion of her glasses, nearly became two black dots.
Her Uncle grew silent, before he responded, "far from it…", he looked the other way, up at the sky.
Astrid let out a sigh of relief, "that's great to hear!", she chuckled, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Nee, Uncle Mihawk, when's your birthday?" Her eyes held a little sparkle.
"March 9th, dear niece."
That was when Astrid accidentally broke her drawing pencil.
"YOU HAVE THE SAME BIRTHDAY AS DAD!" Her mouth went wide as she directed a big smile towards her Uncle, jumping up as she looked up to him.
"THAT'S AMAZING! TWO OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME BIRTHDAY!" bustling with energy, Astrid did something random.
She ran overboard, to swim in the ocean.
Was her Uncle Mihawk surprised?
No, he learned early on that Astrid always does something when she gets too excited, riled up, or just needs to think….so this was within what she usually does.
She called out, "I'm going to do a few laps before coming back up Uncle!"
He didn't respond back, but he was always at the ready if something were to run awry, or if his dear niece were in need of help.
He sighed.
In a whisper that Astrid wouldn't be able to hear, he muttered "You would never be boring, dear niece."
[Before Training with her Uncle Mihawk; Astrid: About 7 years old]
"DAD! I'M BACK!"
"Astrid, what took…Astriiiid."
Astrid had grabbed hold of her latest Uncle's hand, having led him to the Red Force as she held a small smile.
"I found a new Uncle."
She looked so proud of herself, but her father, and the rest of the crew, let out a collective sigh as one thought crossed through their minds.
'She did it again….'
Her new Uncle did end up joining the crew, his name being Limejuice, and it was just one of those things where, many years down the line, the whole collective of them would look back on it fondly.
[Back during the times with the Roger Pirates; Astrid: About 3 years old]
Astrid was having a fun time on Fishman Island…
So much so, that she ran around all the island, with some of the crew having to run after her when they lost sight of her.
Shanks, in all ways a person can potentially worry about someone, even when he was still so young, he went after her.
Searched high and low, enlisting the help of Buggy to find her.
When they finally found her….well…
"DAD! I MADE A FRIEND! ISN'T HE COOL!"
She was seated on the shoulder of one King Neptune, waving while her dear father and uncle's eyes nearly bulged out of their heads due to the sheer surprise of it all. The rest of the crew was chuckling, viewing everything unfold as both of the apprentices just breathed a sigh of relief.
She was a hand-full, that's for sure.
[Astrid and Killer Sibling Bonding Time; Astrid: About 6 years old]
"Okay, so to make a proper knot, you have to hold the rope like this."
Astrid was teaching her loveable, she-doesn't-know-his-name-but-still-cares-about-him, little brother how to make proper knots to ensure that he could do a variety of things. Either it be from docking a ship and the sails are tied right, to tying someone up because they are being stupid, Astrid was adament on imparting all her knowledge that she had accumulated to the younger.
She never understood why she took Killer under her wing when she was supposed to be training by herself, but in the end, Astrid concluded that she didn't truly want to be alone.
So she basically attached herself to the younger in an odd co-dependence, one part to be with someone and train, while he received guidance and training as well.
A win - win situation.
Finishing up with the knots, the duo went back to the younger house to make a late lunch, early dinner.
During this time of preparing for the meal, Astrid would usually ask.
"Hey, want to learn how to read this kanji correctly?" Pointing to the ingredients and all the different brands, some of the items were scrawled with katakana.
In a low voice, Killer's would say, "I want to hear the hiragana song first."
Astrid would look at him, bright eyed, an excited 'sure' where she would start to hum.
She would start to snap her fingers as a metronome, before she began.
"A, I, U, E, O, Ka, Ki, Ku, Ke, Ko…..Wa, Wo, NN, that's the hiragana song, please sing with me again." She would take some liberties on the ending of the song, emulating a certain alphabet song that escapes her every time she thinks she has the rhythm for it.
"How was that, good?" Astrid would look at the younger directly, and he would just nod before they would get on with the rest of cooking and cleaning.
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"So, do you promise to keep this a secret from her?" Shanks had stopped by the house, knowing it was around that time that Astrid would be left defenseless for the day.
Killer looked at the man, and then to the girl that inserted herself in his life, before nodding his head yes.
"Why do you want to keep it from her?" His eyes may have been covered by his hair, but he stared at Shanks.
Shanks explained that Astrid had special circumstances, and that she shouldn't be fearful of falling asleep. He wanted to keep her innocence intact for a while longer. He wanted her to have a carefree childhood for a while longer….
Red-Hair Shanks, a strong and caring man, didn't want her to worry…as he believed that she should worry later down the line.
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Killer would then dub himself his sister's protector when she would fall asleep like that. For the rest of their time together for the next months, he would watch her like a hawk.
Did Astrid notice?
Sometimes yes, other times, not so much. Majority of the time, she just attributed it to Killer wanting to learn more and spend more time with her.
Killer did want to spend time with her, don't get me wrong [Certain being twaks me, I'M SORRY!], he just didn't like making it so obvious.
But then again, they are kids, and kids can be fairly weird in every day and age.
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Astrid asked for Killer's name at first, but he said that she would have to earn it…well, that's how Astrid interpreted it as.
She didn't question it, and Killer, well, he just thought that it was crazy to get too attached too fast to someone that he just met.
But, after the first two weeks of knowing each other, Killer did want to tell her his name.
He really did!
Just that, everytime he would try to tell her his name, something would always stop him….
"Hey! WE SHOULD GO FISHING!"
"HEY! WANT TO LEARN MUSICAL INTONATION?!"
"HEY!"
"HEY!"
"HEY!"
It wasn't till later, when Astrid was leaving, that Killer would miss her saying 'hey' with so much enthusiasm to him, face-to-face.
And, alongside the fact that, he was finally able to say his name to her.
[6:00 pm CST; June 18th, 20XX; Court Proceedings]
"Will the defendant rise to receive his verdict?"
"No, your honor."
"On the three counts of harassment, the jury finds him.."
"Guilty."
"On the two counts of attempted manslaughter, the jury finds him.."
"Guilty."
"On the one count of manslaughter, the jury finds him.."
"Guilty."
"On all counts, the defendant is hereby guilty, and is sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole. This court is adjourned."
The judge acknowledged the people of the court from where he was seated, making his way to the back as people slowly got up as the proceedings ended. A certain family of three was looking away, one part in shame, another due to one of their own going to prison.
Five people got up from their seats, their respective families also getting up and not sparing a glance even when one of the three, a young lady, was looking at them with a seething glare.
Astrid had received justice…but Lizzie, Jerry, Melly, Terry, and Jules knew….their families knew…
It still wouldn't bring her back.
A/N:
Yo! DH here just to release a small interlude before crap hits the fan!
Sorry that it's so small, but hey, the next chapter…..next…chapter…(Insert face here)
And the last chapter too…all of ya were good for Christmas, I'll give ya that! *Wink*
I try to be wholesome, but I have to say, I'm so sorry for what's gonna transpire later…
OR AM I? *Twinkling eyes*
Just kidding, I do feel remorse. Love ya and wishing everyone the best!
PEACE OUT, WITH A FIST OF LOVE!
-DH