Arc Past, I

The Mochizuki Clan

It has truly been a surprise that Father has another child beside Tenjiro and I. Mother, of course, was delighted about you. Not angry because Father and Mother always had an open relationship. It only meant that you didn't grow up like us. However, in the end, after some time spent with us, you truly become a member of our clan.

Tenjiro is a ghost. You are a commander of a pirate crew. And I'm the information broker, the most researched throughout the entire world for the knowledge I have. Tenjiro doesn't know nor do you. Even my son is ignorant about that, but he's young. We live our own life and we write to each other all the time. We have our good and bad days. We hide in plain view. We are the Mochizuki clan.

I decided to leave something to you, Vista. Tenjiro will get something too. Don't worry, brother. In this journal, I have written everything I know. You know about almost everything, but there's something that Father and Mother never had the chance to teach you.

I never thought I'd meet someone as dumb as Yasopp. That man pissed me off. He loved me, yes, and I loved him until he ditched me the first chance he got. My body, my choice, my responsibility. He doesn't want to be a father, fine. That asshole, when will he realize it? Stupid man always making stupid decisions. He can go fuck himself. I gave birth to a wonderful child. He's our future.

'Be yourself' that's the first thing our clan teaches children. 'Always hide who you are' and then, the desillusion begins.

People in our family are born with gifts. The gift of Illusion is constant and can be less or more powerful depending on the person. Some gifts are common, others are rare.

'Always make illusions' that's a saying taught to anyone. People can't show their true self to others, or we'll be all in danger. We live in the shadows until that day comes. Which day? That's a good question. We can just trust the few Seer that are born in the clan. Gifts are meant to be developed.

"Hû, the winds of the West raise. Hô, the voices of the East sing. Hê, the instruments of the South play. Hî, the hums of the North resonate. Born under the full moon, raised with all the divine power, warriors wait for their fateful day." were the only words that Seer Kassandra spoke.

Mother was a Seer of Death. She always knew when and how people died. However, you have to know that a future is never set in stone. Everything could change, but some elements could not. Such as the curse, that damn disease that had killed many of our own. Tenjiro doesn't have it nor do you, thanks Beelzebub for that. I don't have to worry. Mother always looked at me with sorrow. I was the only one that got the curse. And sadly, I'm not the only one.

East Blue, Syrup

The flame flickered inside the lantern as a loud sigh was heard in the office of a two story-house at the edge of the forest. Bankina stared at the results with bitterness. It was exactly like her. The child would not live past his forties at best. It was unfair. She cursed the Whole-One as she closed the blinder and put it away. Her body shook as the temperature went up, she took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Working late strained her body. With help from her former crew, Bankina was working on some drugs that her son could take. She used the little time left well as she wanted to give proper goodbyes. Her brothers would never make it. Therefore, the woman made sure to give them proper letters and gifts. It was harder to send things from East East since its reputation as the weakest sea made things complicated. Her solo letter to Yassop had been sent a week before, but so far, nothing happened. It was saddening that she was going to the Pit of Souls without reconciling with the Chaser.

She rose from her seat. Bankina looked for a moment at her office. Everything was at their place and nothing was aloof. She then left the room and joined her bedroom. Unsurprisingly, her son was curled up in the bed. Because he knew. Bankina laid down and took her only child in her arms, tears slowly falling down on her cheeks.

"I love you, sweet pie," the former pirate muttered, "may the Gods permit that you live older than destined."

The basket food in the kitchen disappeared in a burst of golden particles. Her willingness and determination of letting somebody live past their forties colored her prayer to the Gods. She caressed her son's hair with a small smile.

"May your enemies tremble before you."

"May you have access to Elysium," her son whispered to her, "may your journey be wonderful."

"May all Gods watch over you," Bankina weakly said, feeling the ghostly hand of Death on her right shoulder, "I love you, Usopp."

The woman had lived past her mother's expectations. She had done everything to permit her son to live the same way as her. Bankina didn't regret having her son. In his hands, she left the heritage of their clan. Bankina closed her eyes as Usopp snuggled closer to her chest, softly crying. Blackness filled her vision. And the world shattered when a child started screaming on his mother's dead body. The Whole One ruffled the upset child as Death took the mother's soul to the Pit.

No villager came despite hearing the sounds of a distressing child. All villagers held distrust and disgust towards the child.

It wasn't fair so wasn't life.

Usopp cried himself to sleep. All alone, he could only hug the body of his mother.

New World, Moby Dick

If Printemps was sent, it could only mean two things: Automne was unable to make the journey and something happened. However, Automne was, according to the small note hung on the package, sent to Tenjiro. Vista felt the inexplicable need to sit down. He ignored the other commanders as he strode inside the deck. His grip around the package was firm. Dread came over him quickly as soon as he read the first sentence of the letter. The commander made sure that his door was locked and then came back to read his letter on his bed. He began to slowly read, making sure to not miss hidden meaning. Bankina always hid messages in her letters. Sadness started to overwhelm him.

"Ki-chan.." he mumbled, his grip on the paper tightening as his body slightly shook.

It sounded unreal. But he had the sickening feeling that his sister died in between the sending of the package. He wanted to deny it. Bankina couldn't be dead. How did she…? His eyes widened in shock when reading 'I was born with the family curse'. Vista bit his lips, attempting to not sob. However, tears filled his black eyes as he completely shut down. He let out a scream of rage, of sadness, of all emotions that were bubbling inside him.

"Ki-chan…" he said, softly calling for his sister.

It was unfair. Suddenly, the cryptic words of his late adoptive mother came into his mind, taunting him. He cursed himself for being stupid. How could he not devine that?

"Ki-chan…"

Purupuru… Purupuru… The pirate quickly composed himself as he took his den den moshi, the only one he used to communicate with his siblings when it was absolutely needed.

"Tenjiro-ni?" Vista's cracked a bit.

"Ask your captain if you can live for a while. We're off to East Blue," were Tenjiro's sharp words.

"Alright."

"I've a horrible feeling…"

"...that she's already dead."

"We need to see our nephew. Those villagers will not help him since they don't like us in the slightless."

The two brothers exchanged a few words, and then Tenjiro hung up. The commander took time to compose himself, to dry a few tears, and to prepare a small bag. Then, he left his room, avoiding anyone that crossed his path. Vista needed to speak to his captain, to the man that had become his second father.

"Vista!" someone screamed as he sprinted towards the quarters of Whitebeard, ignoring everybody that tried to speak to him.

"Commander!"

"Not now!" Vista responded coldly as he moved between people.

He cursed the fact that the Moby Dick was a giant ship. He cursed that his cabin was too far from his captain's cabin. He cursed all the people on the ship. He arrived, out of breath, in front of the large door of Whitebeard. He knew that the Yonko knew he was there. Haki was such a wonderful ability to have.

"Come, Vista," the old man gave him the permission to enter, "and tell me what's happening to you."

He's been aware. Did he know that…? Vista didn't let the panic rise inside his chest. He inhaled and slowly exhaled. The letter of his sister was clutched in his right hand.

"I need to leave for a while," he finally announced.

The Yonko narrowed his eyes and prompted him to justify himself.

"My sister is dying."

It was a partial truth, but the old man didn't need to know. Vista suspected that the Yonko knew that something was wrong. However, he always understood people's needs.

"Keep a den den with you," Whitebeard finally said after a few minutes of silence, "call us once a week. Do you need anything?"

"Nothing. My older brother is my ride."

Whitebeard's eyes widened in shock. Vista inhaled and exhaled. That piece of information was something he never shared with anyone.

"Thank you, Oyaji."

"Anytime, son."

Paradise, unknown island

He stared at the silhouette of his crewmate as he moved away through the crowd of pirates. The first mate quietly sighed and looked at the letter that a colorful bird gave him earlier. He didn't know why Yasopp must always be so difficult to deal with. From his correspondence with Yasopp's ex-lover, the man was at fault for something unpardonable. Ben wondered if he should read the letter, it might be important. The pirate opened the envelope, feeling uncomfortable. Ben always took care of people that mattered to him. *

The letter was heartbreaking.

He folded the paper and put it back in the envelope. Then, he decided to put it away in a box in which he kept all letters that Yasopp refused to read or even touch, in hope that someday the other man would cease to be stubborn.

Ben Beckman knew more than Yasopp. While he loved his crewmate, he couldn't believe that he could be that dumb. However, the man would never force his friend to confront something he didn't want.

Received, but Yasopp doesn't want to read it. Just like the other letters.

-BB.

Automne, he learned throughout his multiple exchange with the woman, grabbed the note and flew out. The first mate of the Akagami no Kaizoku sat down on his bed. In silence, he stared at his ceiling, listening to the sounds of the ocean.

"Are you hiding from me, Ben?" his captain asked the moment he walked into his cabin.

Ben didn't reply as if he didn't hear the red-haired man speak. Shanks frowned and closed the door behind him. He sat down on the floor, his back against the wooden door. But his first mate didn't talk, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. Shanks looked around him and noticed a familiar box. The redhead knew the content of the box. He closed his eyes.

"He'll regret it someday," his crewmate quietly said.

"We'll be there to deal with the consequences."

East Blue, Syrup

"Don't dare to step on your island, scum!" the mayor of Syrup screamed at them, the moment he arrived at the port with a load of villagers.

"Or what? You'll call the marines, then do it, bitch. But you won't like what consequences will fall on this island," Vista coldly said, making sure to let out a bit of bloodlust.

"A few calls and the supplies from the main merchants of food will cease to come," Tenjiro threatened the man, "don't forget that our clan has always been there for you!"

"Stop this nonsense, Tom! Now go back to your townhouse, enough of your stupidness!" someone said, "what are you doing here?"

"Our sister is sick. She's dying," Tenjiro answered, staring at the villagers that nervously shifted under his gaze.

"Or is already dead. We don't know. So, please back off."

"Alright," the woman nodded and asked the villagers to move out of the way, "let them pass."

Syrup was a small village, and yet seemed to grow bigger as the distance between the houses increased throughout the years. It had been founded by the Mochizuki clan a few centuries ago. Something that the villagers tended to forget. The two men moved silently through the village, noticing how quiet it was. In the distance, they could hear the unknown woman berating the inhabitants of the island for their disgusting behavior. At the edge of a hill, there was a two-story house. Tenjiro smiled softly, recalling the first time he discovered his little sister's house when she first settled down, pregnant with a child.

It was deadly quiet. No sound, and most important they only felt their nephew's soul. Quickly enough, the men entered the house and went upstairs. In the room, the scene shocked them to the core. Horror filled their faces at what they found. Their nephew was sleeping in the rotting corpse of their sister as if he never moved. Without a word exchanged, they took action. Vista grabbed the small child and immediately went inside the bathroom. Tenjiro fetched a few clean clothes from their nephew's bedroom. Both men gently removed the clothes of the boy, then put him inside the shower. Half an hour later, Usopp was tucked in his bed, still asleep. The adults entered the bedroom that once was owned by their sister. The smell of putrefaction assaulted their nose. They backed out and sealed the bedroom for now.

In the following days, Vista and Tenjiro barely went out of the house, mainly taking care of their grieving nephew. In the clan, there was a tradition concerning the death of a loved one. They had to build a small boat in which the corpse would be deposed. Flowers and weapons would accompany the dead person to the other side. Usopp stayed with them all the time, glued to their side, and wanting to participate in the tradition. Symbolic items were put inside the boat. In the dead of night, nine days after Vista's and Tenjiro's arrival in Syrup and three weeks after Bankina's death, the small family stood at the shore, watching the waves taking the boat away. Tenjiro grabbed his bow from his back and aimed at the sail.

"May she rest in peace," the two brothers chorused, holding tightly their nephew's hand, as they let the fire consume their sister's grave.

"May Thanatos take good care of you," Usopp whispered.

It glowed and burnt the small ship. The sea devoured the remains of a wonderful people, accepting the memories of someone that always tried her best to realize her dreams. Her grave fell in the water and sunk at the bottom.

KINA MOCHIZUKI

Deadly Archer

Information broker

Beloved daughter, sister, and mother

'Beelzebub brings safety to her journey to the other side'

Chapter 10 should be published tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.