Here the Bird Sing

Chapter 04: Behind the Name

Shanks is curious about the little girl currently occupying the room next to the Infirmary. Ever since the Captain brought her back from the burning Noble's luxury ship she has never spoken. Not a single word, even her cries and sobs were silent and Shanks had half the mind to believe she was mute, except that when Doctor Crocus asked, she hesitantly nodded to his question of whether she could speak or not.

It turns out that she can, but just chose not to. Or that she's too traumatized to try to.

Her name is Sen, or at least that's what they could make out of her shaky handwriting when Crocus asked for her name. Shanks thinks the shortened name suits her just fine, it suits someone who could sweetly smile, small as it was, despite all the crap that happened to her. Having her home Island burned to nothing and becoming a 'pet' to a noble even for a few days has to have been miserable and traumatizing. Shanks admires her strength to even manage those tiny quirked lips or even trust another human being.

(He could say that for himself and Blue, it was hard for them to trust the Captain and the others at first. Being suddenly snagged at the back of their shirts and dropped to a cabin near the Captain's quarters, after being caught pickpocketing the first mate doesn't really bode for a good time.

Kidnapping them doesn't exactly inspire trust.

They were just two street urchins, trying to get by through any means, displaced and suddenly at sea. It's hard to trust anyone unfamiliar, especially if it's a band of rowdy pirates. 'Till to this day, Shanks still doesn't know why the Captain brought them back to Oro Jackson like a pair of unruly kittens. Why take them? Why bother with them? They're just two of the many that make up the population of orphans on every island. The Captain is hard to read into, even Buggy has trouble, who is smarter – not that Shanks would ever admit – than most people – adults included – have a hard time figuring out the man.)

The cabin boy could kinda sorta understand, the ship's doctor explained to everyone on the crew that it was because something very, very bad happened to her, something so terribly traumatic that pushed her to not speak. That they should be patient and careful with their words, to not push her until she's ready.

And the thing is, Shanks doesn't know when Sen is gonna be ready. But he can be patient, no matter what bullcrap Buggy says. Shanks can be patient and wait for whatever time she could be ready.

(What would her voice sound like? Is it going to be high pitched? Sweet like her tiny smiles? Airy and refined? Would she have an accent? A weird verbal tick? Shanks can't picture her having a rough and crude vocabulary like Blue and him, he can imagine Sen talking with big words though, from the unfamiliar words written on the notepad Crocus gave her is enough proof.)

His eyes met a pair of golden amber across the room, he grinned at their owner and the owner smiled back. Still tiny, still sweet, but less hesitant than it used to.

Yes, Shanks can definitely wait, something tells him that it would be all worth it.

Sen is extra jumpy.

Loud sounds immediately startle her and she always flinches at the sight of guns, pistols and cannons.

Crocus and Rayleigh says that it's because it reminds her of when her island was attacked by the buster call issued by the Marines, when her family was killed and when her home island burned down to nothing, so for a while, the whole crew agreed to not use artillery as an option for fighting and everyone took it in stride as a challenge to overcome.

It lasted for a few weeks before Marines set up an ambush and they had no choice. The three of them hid below deck and Sen kept on shaking the whole time, until a particularly loud explosion sounded above them and she fainted from fright.

Shanks and Buggy panicked, thinking that she died when she suddenly dropped dead. When their Captain got down the ship's basement he was greeted by the sight of the two of them crying over Sen's slack body.

To say the least, it wasn't only the two cabin boys that panicked that day.

Discussions were made after that and Crocus made the suggestion to give Sen what he called an 'exposure therapy' or something to help Sen with her fear. Ultimately, it was Sen's decision to go through with it.

Shanks was so proud and amazed by her bravery even when she faints out of fright most of the time and it's amazing how she could trust everyone not to hurt her when she's been hurt by so many others. Blue and him didn't really start out trusting the crew entirely but after a few months of easy companionship and adults not really getting angry at them for whatever shit they've pulled, it's not that hard to put faith in the ship they've been dragged into.

During this process, they've also discovered something new about Sen, that she has very acute hearing. It's to the point that she can hear a person's sound or even sometimes thoughts when it's loud or when she listens hard enough.

"I have really good ears," The note starts. "And everything has their own individual sound to them, each unique on their own and that tells me so much about them. I just listened to the Captain's and everyone's sound, that's why I know that I can place my trust in you." Sen turns the page. "Besides, the…Great Sky and Mother…Ocean likes this crew and that solidifies my faith and well-being in all of you."

The Captain stumbles in his words. "Yo-You can hear them too?!"

Sen gave a tiny nod in which case Roger came swooping in to hug her and spin her around excitedly, laughing all the way while the girl looked like she was screaming but no sound came through her throat.

"Stop that you idiot!" Rayleigh is quick to smack him up the head for scaring the girl.

The mustached man grinned like a loon but stopped spinning, joy clear in his eyes. "This is great Rayley! Now we know how to help Sen!"

"Yeah! Yeah! But please stop tossing her around or she might— GAH! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT IDIOT CAPTAIN! CROCUS, SEN FAINTED AGAIN!"

"GODDAMNIT CAPTAIN!"

Sen always carries her sword. It's constantly on her person, more constant than her notepad and pen, lengthier than she is tall, slung across her back secured by strips of brown cloth with white triangles. Shanks has never seen it out of her person, even when asleep. When he and Blue sneaked into her room she slept with it, hugging the white sheath, the white guard digging to her hollow cheeks stained with tears.

(They both felt bad sneaking to her quarters that night to see the sword for themselves, if it was real, if it was sharp or if it was even really hers.)

Toki warned everyone to not touch it at all cost, Oden is quick to second his wife on that one, claiming that Sen's sword is very special, special enough that it can recognize its master.

But of course, the Captain just had to be adventurous, asked Sen if he could touch it and the girl replied no.

Sen gave in after five days though, Shanks thinks it is all because of the constant loud pathetic whining and begging on top of a boat load of bribes. He can't believe that they actually even have a contract for the agreement.

The redhead felt nervous for some reason, he felt like stopping the Captain from his ridiculousness, because clearly, Sen adores her sword more than anything. Her treasure. It just felt wrong to unsheathe it, even though Sen did agree albeit reluctantly. Shanks too is curious on what the blade looks like but he still raises this concern alongside Oden – which says something given the man's own impulsiveness – but as the legendary bullhead he knew Roger to be, waves off their concern with a guffaw and a, 'Don't worry, she agreed. Look, we even have a contract!'

Now, here they are on the sidelines in a loose circle, watching from a distance that would not make Sen panic. Not everyone is present since it's still early morning and there are a lot of chores yet to be done, most of them watching the show are not on rotation today or just plain worried for the girl like Crocus, Oden and Rayleigh are. Sen fidgets from her place near the railing, hands held out to present her lengthy blade to Roger. The look in her face says that she's uncomfortable about all of this.

Roger kneels down to meet her eyes, face set in determination and assurance.

"Don't worry Sen-chan, I'll be careful."

The girl tilts her head to the left, golden gaze trained on the pirate, sizing the sincerity in his words. Seemingly finding what she's searching for, she nods her head and with a tiny smile, Sen's arms don't shake this time as she raises her sheathed sword to the Captain.

(For a split second, Shanks swears that it glowed white.)

Roger takes that as permission and reaches for it.

The thing is though, as soon as the Captain brushed his hand at the sword's hilt, he froze, paled and sucked in a deep breath as the sword glowed a violent black then dimmed down to midnight, paling into pastel blue and to a dim silver.

Once the light show ended, Captain finds himself capable of breathing again, eyes bulging right out of his socket while a finger traces the yellow triangles on the white hilt wrap. There is awe in his gaze, while Sen just stared at him knowingly, and if Shanks is right, she's very smug at his Captain's reaction.

"Holy ships," He starts once he is able to breathe properly. "It really is sentient. I've never heard a clearer voice in an inanimate object as much as you before."

With his hush words, the sword turned black completely before it sparked an angry blue, and all of a sudden it's surrounded by lightning. The Captain was still holding onto its hilt when it happened, and he squacked and jumped away only for the living electricity to follow him.

"By the seas! Alright! Stop! I'm sorry for calling you an 'it'!"

It was Oden's queue to laugh followed swiftly by everyone.

"See! I told you so! You shouldn't just touch a Nichirin sword willy nilly like that, and even have the gall to offend her!"

There was a last zap of lightning directed to their Captain's ass before it finally retreated, the still sheathed sword still held by a now pouting Sen.

Crocus was the first one to step out in concern.

"You alright Princess? Did the light show hurt you?"

("Hey what about me?" Crocus gave Roger a quailing glare in return.)

Sen immediately shook her head no, sword clamped under her armpit, left hand holding her notepad and right hand furiously writing something.

She faces the note towards them and it reads in hastily written letters.

"No! Suzu-yan will never hurt me!"

They collectively blinked and Buggy voiced everyone's question.

"Sen-chan, who the hell is 'Suzu-yan'?"

For a moment, she stared at them blankly before her whole face burned red. It was honestly adorable how embarrassed she got at the drop of a beli.

"Wakana Suzu* is Suzu-yan's full name. It's her name." She points at her sword for emphasis and it glows blue as if to say hello.

"Cool, so that's what i—" Shanks remembered what just happened to his Captain. "She's called. I've always wondered. But anyways, she's got a really pretty sounding name! Did you name her or did she name herself?"

He rambled excitedly, because whoa, Sen's sword is really cool that it, sorry, she has a life of her own! So Suzu could have possibly named herself! She had been on Sen the whole time and Shanks didn't even know that! And as much as possible, he tries to hang out with Sen to not let her get lonely without being overbearing. He did see the sword glow a pale blue once, but that's when he and Buggy sneaked into Sen's bedroom. They never addressed it unless they wanted to be found out for sneaking into Sen's room. That event got thrown out of his head the next day when he was too busy telling his adventures to Sen to see the quiet girl smile bigger.

"Nichirin blades don't have their own names as soon as they're formed. They and their partner have to agree on what name they should be called."

(Blue and him have a running competition on who could make Sen laugh first. That way, they would be able to hear her voice without forcing her to talk. Plus, they really want to see what her true smile would look like, one that is truly happy and not burdened by anything.)

"I asked her first on how I should address her, then asked again if she liked the name I gave her. My Master told me to ask the Sword Spirit first before addressing them, it's the respect that they deserve."

Shanks bounced closer to her and unlike before, she barely flinched. "That's so cool! Hey, hey, does the name mean anything?"

She turns to a new page and writes while everyone patiently waits for her to explain. "Wakana means 'Complete peace in playing music' and Suzu means 'Bell'. So Suzu-yan's full name means, 'The bell that rings in complete peace.'," She turns to the next page. "Because I hope that when I unsheathe her it would bring about harmony, and to remind me to use her blade wisely."

Shanks reads it out loud for others to hear, it seems like they really have gathered an audience. But wow, Sen named her sword with such meaningful words, he can't believe that she's younger than him yet so much more mature.

"That's a really great name you gave her, Little Princess." Rayleigh says, kneeling down to look her eye to eye, smiling in the softest way Shanks had ever seen him do.

"Yeah! It has a really great meaning!" Shanks claimed in agreement.

Suzu glowed white that held the distinct impression of pride.

Others followed up like an echo.

"Our Sen-chan is really smart! So clever!"

"The meaning of Suzu's name is so beautiful that I cried a little." Someone sniffled.

"As expected of our Princess, her naming sense is very profound."

Oden laughs in agreement. "Yeah, unlike our Captain's lame naming sense."

"Hey!"

"Like who the hell name's their sword from a pun?"

"Our stupid Captain, that's who."

Then as one, the crew laughed at their Captain's uncreativeness. Sighting tacky attack names and again, the lame title for his infamous sword.

"Hey! Ace is totally a cool, kicka—ow!" Rayleigh kicked the back of his leg for almost cursing in front of pure Sen, making him fall on his ass but didn't miss a beat from his tantrum. "—kickBUTT name. Because Ace is my Ace in the hole, my absolute triumph card, my best girl! My super strong, super cool partner that helps me in any pinch and is always on my side! Unlike you guys."

The fearsome Gol D. Roger, bane of the Marines' existence, living menace, and one of the strongest men across the seas, proceeds to childishly harrumphed even while sat petulantly on deck, arms crossed and lips pursed into a pout that doesn't really fit his face anymore with his ridiculous mustache. In Shanks honest opinion, it's all sorts of horrifying, beside him, Buggy shivers.

Dark King Rayleigh sighs as he massages the ridge between his brows, all deep exasperation and resignation.

"Sometimes, I wonder why I even followed you."

"Oh cut it Rayley, you followed me because you're an idiot too."

Laughter invaded the silence that followed the first mate's statement, the earlier uneasiness Shanks held now gone and replaced with giddy warmth.

Shanks really loves this ship, loves this crew, how it is the closest thing he has for a home and a family. He knows Buggy feels the same and he hopes Sen would do the same, come to love this silly crew and their ridiculous Captain.

Amidst the roar of loud guffaws and rough voices another one joins in. High and lilting, childish with bell-like fullness you'd here in a chapel.

"Fahahahahahahahahaha—"

Everyone pauses at the sound looking for its source, it couldn't be Toki, since she is still asleep with her baby at this hour, that's why they're all surprised.

Wait, that means…

Shanks' eyes flew towards Sen's direction and he could only gape as Buggy gasped beside him.

It's the most wonderful sight Shanks has seen so far.

Doubled up, gasping for breaths and leaning most of her weight on her blade, Sen kept laughing and laughing, a melodious thing that made his heart heavy and full. In no time, he is seeing her through blurry eyes.

"She's laughing…" Buggy trailed off in awe, his eyes and nose practically dripping. Shanks would have made fun of him if not for his own snot and tears.

Then Sen stops, noticing the sudden silence and the stares she was getting, looking in confusion as to why they all turned quiet with some even started crying like Shanks and Buggy. Her eyebrows furrow in concern, running towards Shanks and Buggy, fretting and hand fluttering in concern.

"You… " Shanks starts, voice shaky and filled with tender emotions. Dark eyes looking at Sen, his honorary little sister, with happiness as a blooming grin overtakes his face.

"You just laughed."

Sen's wide eyed concern turned to confusion then to shock, a small hand going to her mouth in surprise, like she didn't even realize that she just did. In no time her eyes start to water as well, her hand moving down her throat as she opens and closes her lips as if to speak but no words come out, just halted 'ah's and 'oh's.

A massive improvement compared to before when she can't even bring herself to open her mouth.

The sobbing on the ship became even louder.

"You did it Sen!" Buggy screeches on a choked sob. "You, you laughed and made vocal noises!"

At that declaration, the girl stood there in disbelief, touching her mouth and throat interchangeably as if to check she was really doing it. But when it happened again and again, tears started to gather in her eyes and before they knew it, she was crying.

It was as silent as ever, but when she tried to make 'ah' or 'oh' sounds it came out just fine, making her cry even harder. Sobbing silently, body shaking and swaying, but the happiness is clear in her being.

"Alright crew," Roger speaks solemnly followed by a wide grin breaking away at his face. "Bust out the good stuff and let's party! We're going to celebrate our Princess' achievement!" He raises a fist to the air followed by his signature laughter.

And as one, the whole crew raises their fist in the air with an "Aye, aye Captain!"

Shanks and Buggy follow suit despite them not really up for drinking just yet, but the food will be great so it's a win in Shanks book. Parties are awesome like that, he swears when he gets older, Shanks will be the one throwing it.

"Ain't this too early for getting smashed?"

"Come on man, any time is a good time to get smashed."

"Here! Here!"

"Whatever, as long as you don't come crying to me for a hangover cure."

"Oh come on Croc, don't be a party pooper."

"Say that to me again when you feel like death warmed over tomorrow."

"Awww shucks, love you too Croc."

The thoughts of unsheathing Sen's blade flew out of everyone's head and instead went into arranging the party and informing everyone of Sen's achievement. Shanks included.

But he didn't know that soon enough, Shanks would be seeing it the following week.

They were being attacked.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Shanks ducked down behind a crate just in time to dodge a volley of bullets, Buggy cursed beside him holding Sen close as the third-rate pirates shouted foul words at them.

"Fucking shitty brats! After them!"

That's the only warning both Red and Blue needed before they immediately bolted from their hiding place with Blue dragging little Yellow by the hand to not lose her. Oh to whatever God is hearing him out there, can they at least show a sign that they do exist right at this moment by striking down their pursuers with heavenly lightning.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!

Shanks curses and curses at their luck and their circumstance. Right when Shanks and Buggy had managed to convince everyone to let them explore the relatively safe island with just the three of them, this type of shit happened. By the Seas, Crocus and his friends of mother hens will never let them step out of Oro Jackson without a chaperone ever again, hell, they might not even let them leave the ship!

They are being chased by a pirate crew who has a grudge on their Captain and damn that one guy who remembered Shanks and Buggy as the distinctive brats that Roger has on deck. Fuck that guy! The three of them were just sightseeing and that ugly fucker had to remember and pick them out! Grrr… if he really had some beef with their Captain why don't they just chase Roger then!

A small hand grabs his arm and pulls, just in time to stop him from becoming a humanoid swiss cheese.

"Thanks Sen!"

He gets a pinch as a reply. Ow.

"Pay attention you flashy Red Bastard!" Buggy screeches as usual, belying the fear and worry that he is feeling.

They skid to a narrower alleyway, behind a commercial apartment, earning them more curses. Buggy leads them, toppling over every trash can or object that they passed to provide an obstacle course for the shitty bastards that's resolutely chasing them. Bullets and knives kept flying over their heads and it's a good thing that these guys can't aim for shit or else they were all fucked.

Shanks frogleaped over toppled garbage bins and ducked over steel pipes, he ignored the opening windows overhead where curious and furious civilians yelled at them for the ruckus and the mess they're making, but they soon shutted up when one of the goons aimed their bullets at them.

Whatever, they should call the marines or something, that would have been more helpful.

"Fucking shit!"

A curse left Buggy's mouth that had him looking up, and what he saw had him cursing too, dread pooling in his stomach as the footfalls and yelling came closer behind them.

Shit, shit, shit, shit, FUCK!

Fuck, they have Sen with them! Shanks shouldn't have insisted for her to come along, now she's in this shit because of him.

Shanks at the solid ten meter concrete wall before them, its fucking audacity to not have any footholds greatly offending their lives. Literally.

Then Sen passes out, her small body falling forward in a dead faint with Blue catching her on time.

"Sen!"

Oh fuck, oh shit! Their situation is getting shittier and shittier by the minute! What the fuck is wrong with the universe. Shanks totally forgot that Sen has the tendency to faint when she's super scared. And seeing their shitty as fuck situation must have terrified her to the point of passing out.

"What do we do Buggy?" Shanks asked his trembling friend.

Buggy opened his mouth to say something else but then,

"Pay attention Red Bastard!" Blue pushes him down, causing the bullets to miss and his friend immediately tosses a broken bottle to some rat bastard's face.

There was a brief moment where they caught each other's eyes for a second before understanding bloomed across their minds and they burst into action.

Thinking quickly, Shanks drags Sen close to the wall, and with that, the cloth covering the blade slung over her back unravels, its white sheath scraping the ground. That done, he grabs a stray pipe and his sword on his right then joins Buggy from where he was holding his own blade and another stray bottle on his other hand.

"Are ya guys sure on what yer about to do?" Buggy says with confidence that Shanks is sure he doesn't feel. "If our flashy Captain learns about this, yer gonna fucking regret it."

And that statement is true, Captain will never let the other live when he learns about this. It only took Shanks five times to learn that lesson. Roger will never forgive anyone who hurts his crew, two scrawny cabin boys and one island survivor included.

One lumbering pirate with an eyepatch smirks, crooked yellowed teeth revealing itself. "And that's exactly what we want. To–"

Buggy interrupts him by throwing the empty bottle at his face and Shanks moves, smashing a pipe on someone's knee cap and stabbing a thigh on the other. And just because he could and he's so angry at these bastards, he twists his sword before darting away to his next target. Meanwhile, Blue kept yelling and throwing shit at the bastards' faces, laughing and distracting them from a distance, making sure that none gets past him to hurt their vulnerable crewmate.

For a while it works, it works as much as a pair of (semi) trained urchins could against a bunch of stupid adults. Shanks and Buggy did not hesitate to take potshots or play dirty. Biting, hair pulling, tripping, disarming weapons, poking someone's eyes and kicking them in the nuts. It was a fight to live and there's no time to play fair.

Their luck runs out soon enough and one of the bastards remembers that they do have pistols. A stray shot rings in the alleyway and Shanks is suddenly dangling by his head, scalp burning and a meaty hand tugging him closer to place a still smoking gun against his head. Buggy stills, staring wide eyed at Shanks, fear taking hold of him as the situation cements itself.

Fuck.

He could have died there.

"Not so cocky now, aren't we?" His hostage taker says in all the arrogance of a man who knows he has won. His breath reeks of fish and alcohol and Shanks is pretty sure that this is the stupid captain who has a grudge on their dumb Captain. He tries his best not to flinch as the bastard digs the gun barrel to his forehead, Shanks looking into Buggy's and telepathically trying to communicate with him to take Sen with him and run.

"Better stop struggling now or I'll blow this little bastard's brain."

A flat faced man with a smashed nose takes away Shanks sword with a smirk, taking enjoyment at his predicament.

"Let him go!"

Alas, Shanks attempts at telepathy do not work.

A fist descends on Buggy's face, making him let go of his blades and sending him flying right beside a passed out Sen.

And much to Shanks horror, the first man Buggy attacked, squats right before Sen.

"This is the one ya two are trying ta protect, huh? What if I–"

Shanks struggles from his confines, futilely slapping the bastard captain's arm away from his head.

Dread, fear, worry and anger flashes through his whole body. Because how dare they! That's his friend's right there! That's his siblings they're about to hurt and Shanks wants to, he wants to,

"Don't."

The single word reverbates from his chest and out his body, the weird feeling of something like steam comes out of him. Shanks feels himself shake and deflate like a balloon at the single exhale as he utters that word, the pressure building outwards in waves.

His captor crumples down as well as his crew, Shanks barely catches himself from faceplanting at the dirty puddle on the ground.

He felt spent. Like he ran for miles and miles with weighted clothes and sandals and it's so fucking hard to breathe. Everything felt fuzzy, his eyes blurry and his ears barely registering any sound. This isn't good. They have to run before these losers get up. At the corner of his eyes, he sees Blue looking bug-eyed at him, the fear and fury in his face receding to speculative confusion.

Shanks tries to take a step and promptly trips, his knees giving out on him.

He vaguely hears Buggy yelling again and a gun barrel was on his head once more, an ugly voice cursing him out, but all he can see is Sen getting up from her slump, her eyes still closed and her hand on her sword's hilt. She takes a stance similar to what Oden sometimes does, feet apart, low on the ground and body leaning forward. Nobody notices this aside from Shanks.

A loud rumble from above overpowers the sound of a rotating pistol barrel behind his head and he watches almost numbly as a bright light – lightning, it was fucking lightning – descends from above and strikes Sen down.

A breath then,

"Godspeed."

He has a few seconds of panic of what that could mean to his little (sister) friend when the very same light zooms past him, the tingle of ozone and petrichor on his nose overcoming the smell of burning trash.

Shanks turns his head abruptly to follow where that light went and to what it is, his vision blurs and darkens and his body starts to sway from his kneeling position. Fatigue had finally caught up to him with the simple action but before he could faint from exhaustion, he caught a glimpse of Sen, body glowing with white-blue lightning, the right half of her hair midway to blonde with orange tips – ha! He was right to call her Yellow! – with her absurdly long blade out in its scabbard.

It, sorry, she, is a beautiful blade to say the least, gold in color with a glowing lighting pattern etched against the blade. So fucking cool.

It was all Shanks sees before he passes out.

Damn. He wants a cool kickass sword too before he becomes a Captain of his own crew.

"You three are never to set foot out of this ship without any of us! Understood?" Rayleigh loomed over them, face thunderous like it never had been before. There's worry there, fear even, but it pales in comparison to his anger.

(To Roger's anger, he'd never seen the Captain that furious other than that day they found Sen. The shitty pirates that had been chasing stood no chance.)

This is probably the sixth lecture they got after that shitty incident, not that Shanks was counting nor was he paying particular attention. He just nods just to get it over with. Buggy seems annoyed as well but is withholding his tongue.

And Sen on the other hand is in Gaban's arms, currently sleeping after crying her eyes out from fear and worry for Shanks and Buggy. That reminder brought a simmer of guilt and anger at himself for not being strong enough and for making Sen cry and worry for him.

It was the first time he'd seen her cry, and even then she made no sound at all, it's heartbreaking to see her do so. Silent, shaking with tears running down her cheeks, hands on her mouth trying to not make a sound, Yellow appeared smaller than she already was.

Shanks vows to never again will he be the reason for her tears.

Never again.

Next time, Shanks will be strong enough to not have his friend – his little sister – step up just to protect him.

Shanks forgets about the incident that happened before Sen pulled out her sword, he forgets it in the face of Sen's tears.

(This is the start of the redhead's devotion towards his young friend, his sister in all but blood or maybe he was already devoted, it just became all the more prominent and fanatic by large.)

The white notepad held in Sen's hand trembles, the dark letters shaking along with their canvas.

The note says, "Happy birthday Captain and this is my gift for you."

Their Captain laughs, in his eyes there is glee and excitement as he claps merrily at a red faced Sen standing beside the old but well maintained piano.

"Come on," He waves his hand in a shooing motion. "Show me! Show me!"

Beside him, Rayleigh grumbles something uncomplimentary but then smiles encouragingly at the trembling Sen.

Shanks of course, won't lose at cheering his friend on.

"You can do it Yellow! You'll do great!" Then he throws in two thumbs up and a big grin for good measure.

Buggy, of course, takes that as a challenge and shoves him to become front and center. Shanks pays it no mind just this once. "Yeah! You've been practicing for this! You'll do it perfectly flashy!" And he throws two thumbs up too, just not to get bested.

A round of encouragement resounded from the rest of the crew, whistling and clapping and yelling. But it served the girl to become even more flustered.

"Okay that's enough!" Crocus yells from somewhere.

Roger steps away from the crowd and crouches down before Sen, one big hand engulfing her shoulder. Shanks doesn't get to hear what he says but when he stands up, a small sure smile is on Sen's lips, golden eyes determined.

She glances around the crowd, giving one last grin, two thumbs up of her own and a small formal bow before turning back and climbing up the seat. Sen puts on a pair of self-made stilts, making some stifle a laugh, for her to reach the piano pedals.

Sen takes a visible deep breath, her thin shoulders rising, her fingers testing a few notes. She nods to herself and starts playing.

It was the same one they heard her practice over and over again, the one she took pains to drag the instrument to the lowest deck so no one would hear her practice against the waves, it's the song she composed herself, the one she asked Petermoo – the crew's pianist – for pointers on.

When Shanks first heard it, it filled him with the impression of the sea and its vastness, the mystery behind the corners, the freedom it brings upon sailing on treacherous waters. The feeling of flying free and accepting the wind behind their backs to carry them on to whatever it takes them, somewhere that fulfills dreams and aspirations, somewhere they hope to find. Every key on the piano somehow managed to encapsulate that feeling, and Sen with no experience on playing it managed to bring that to life.

It's the same song but it was different because,

"Where did it come from?

Where could this wind be taking us?

I look up to sky hoping for answers but there is no reply"

Sen… is singing.

Sen is singing.

"Where will it end up, this song that I've been a vessel for?

I look within knowing I'll find an answer even on my own.

Let's row out to the open sea, as far as we can go.

To the unknown!~"

Sen's voice rang in perfect clarity, sweet, warm and melodious with a bit of rawness. Her voice is hoarse as expected of someone who hasn't used it in a long time. Despite that, it was the most beautiful sound Shanks has ever heard in his entire life.

It carried over to their ears despite the strong winds, if anything, it seemed to amplify Sen's voice. Warmth engulfs his chest pooling down to his stomach pleasantly, circulating throughout his body from his head to his toes.

Shanks felt so warm all over despite the cool breeze whipping against him. Heat itself escapes from his eyes and it took him a while to register that he was crying. But there's no shame in that, he's pretty sure everyone is crying alongside him.

"I've got to keep on dreaming!~

No surrendering, go on~

Hoist the sail inside my open heart

And let me heed the call of the sea~"

Waves crashed against the side of the ship, making it rock and bob, seawater rising up in a show of sparkling blue against the bright afternoon sun. Sen glowed under it all and Shanks had to waste a precious moment on swiping his eyes to keep watching her with clear eyes.

"I've got to keep on singing!~

Until you feel it, hold on~

Ohhh!~ the winds will change, I promise you

My voice will see us through to the end"

As if listening to her voice, the wind that had been whipping westward changed direction to north. Shanks will not be surprised if the mother sea and the great winds really are listening, Sen's voice feels like it has the power to resonate with any being.

She continued to sing her heart out, expertly playing the piano despite the few days of practice to a song she had composed herself.

The Captain would be overjoyed, not just by the thoughtful heartfelt gift, but for the gift of hearing their youngest voice for the first time. He must be, because Shanks sure is.

Sen's voice shakes and tapers off, silence follows, and the girl's shoulders stiffens.

All too soon, the song ends.

She takes off her stilts mechanically and turns towards them with that same tentative wary look she gave them during the first time they saw her out of the med bay.

But then—

"M-M-My fu-full name is–" Sen winces at the stutter, turning red. But she pushed on like the determined girl they knew. "A-Agatsuma Sen-Senritsu. So-Sorry fo– not 'ntroducing myte– myself in full. But still can call me, Sen. Tha–thank you for ever'thing you've done for me, es-especially to Ca-Captain. This is my wa-way of tha-thanking you. Do, di-did you li-like it? Ca-Captain?"

Everyone exploded.

"Oh my Seas! This is really the best day of my life! Best day ever!"

"That was amazing!"

"Beautiful!"

"So it wasn't just Sen after all! I knew it!"

"Your voice is extraordinary!"

"Your full name is beautiful Sen!"

"You're from the Agatsuma Clan?!"

"Sen-chan not only spoke, she sang too!"

"Uwaaaa! This is the happiest day of my life!"

Captain comes rushing to the spooked girl, grabbing the now screaming terrified child by the armpits and starts spinning her around, laughing all the way with tears in his eyes.

"Bahahahahaha! Like? No, I absolutely LOVE it! This is the best birthday gift I've ever received in my years! Bahahahaha!"

After the first mate and the doctor managed to get the captain to stop, Sen started crying and it all went downhill from there.

"Stupid Captain! Stop making Sen-hime cry!"

Shanks gritted his teeth, glaring at some of the crew members as he gathered Buggy to his arms, he was about to give them a piece of his mind but he was beaten.

"Buggy-nii is not-not a coward! O-Or weak! Take that back!" Then a small seashell pelts the main instigator right in the face harder than it has the right to be for a tiny projectile.

Buggy in his arms stops crying, taking a peek beyond Shanks arms to see their now grown sister – how the hell is she already almost the same height as him! – standing right in front of them.

"Take, take that back, Bullet!" The stuttering exclamation comes with another seashell that is bigger than the first one, the man catches it before it hits, but the force all but knocks the large muscular blonde man off his feet.

Blue scrambles to take hold of Yellow's kimono, trying to pull him away from the now growling man.

"I said what I said, he's a weakling and a coward." He punctuates it by crashing the swirly shell into pieces in his hand.

"No he's not!" The girl insisted.

Blue is now desperately tugging at her robe to get her to back down, whispering for her to just let it go. Now, that won't do in Shanks books won't it? His younger sister standing up for his younger twin, that won't do at all.

He fixes the newly given strawhat on his head, taking courage from his new treasure. "Yeah! What she said! You're nothing but a big bully who's throwing a tantrum 'cause you can't defeat Captain!"

"Red!" Buggy whispers but actually hisses. He ignores it in favor of glaring at the hulking man.

The man glares at them just as hard and then pressure builds around them, making Shanks' knees buckle against the weight, Buggy all but flopping down the deck, and Sen stumbles but shrugs it off, resolutely standing in front of him and Buggy.

The sheath of the blade on her back turns a hollow black and sizzles with electric blue lightning, thunder rumbling from afar the pressure increases even further and—

"Bullet, what is the meaning of this?"

Captain is suddenly there, standing in front of Sen, broad shoulders and towering, making it hard to see stupid Bullet.

The pressure abated and suddenly it was much easier to breathe, he almost stumbled down when Buggy fully collapsed but then a large hand was on his back. Shanks tilts his head up and sees a frowning Rayleigh and Gaban.

"Kids, go to your rooms." It was not a request and a protest is already forming in Shanks lips.

A hand grabs his own and he looks at Sen's face, she looks upset, furious and afraid all at once. She gestures her head towards Buggy and all the fight leaves him. Right, his brother needs him, this is not the time to be stubborn. Plus Captain is gonna take care of it.

They slung Buggy between them without much difficulty, carrying him together to Yellow's room.

It's the only place private enough for them so they could talk or cuddle without being interrupted.

When Buggy comes to himself on Sen's soft bed – and it is very soft because she's the crew's princess – snuggled between Shanks and Sen he cries right away, blubbering about stupid siblings and asshole crewmates.

"Sen's right ya know, you're no coward Blue. It takes courage to face what you fear."

Buggy's cheeks flashes red like his nose, and Sen giggles at this as she snuggles on his left side.

"Bu-Buggy-nii is brave!" Sen places her two belis in the mix. "Know 'cause I can hear yo-you're heart! Yo-Your so-sound!"

Their blue haired friend cries even louder and face even redder.

"It-It's not like it makes me happy you damn fla-flashy bastards!"

"Awww… We love you too, Blue." Shanks coos at his brother in all but blood, because as stated, he is a bastard.

He gets pushed off for his efforts. "Shut up Tomato Head!"

"Dahahahahahahahaha!"

"Lo-Love you, Buggy-nii."

"Ri-Right back at you, Yellow…"

Shanks lets out another Dahaha. "Awww… Blue is so cute when confessing his love to our Princess. He can't even say the word 'love' back!"

"Die, Red Bastard!"

"Ouch!"

"Sh-Shanks-nii!"

It's cold and raining as if the sky itself was crying.

The crowd roars as blades sink into Roger's body, red gushing out in rivers to mix with the falling rain.

The only thing anchoring Shanks whole are the hands holding his own to an almost painful degree.

They're still here. I still have them. I'm not alone.

"Let's go Shanks, Sen, before the Marines find us." Buggy says hollowly, tugging at his right hand to follow along the dispersing crowd.

Sen is hunched over, tears streaming down her face mixing with the rain, not a sound comes from her.

(And she's been like that since Captain left months ago, since the crew left them to fend for their own. It tears Shanks' heart to see her like that again and a nail of resentment lances through him on why it even happened. Buggy was very vocal about his own opinions, cursing the whole crew for taking Sen's voice away with them.)

A shudder courses through his spine as Shanks tug down the strawhat that Captain gave him, his grip almost ruining the brim until soft calloused hands take it away to tangle their fingers together.

"No-Not alone."

Sen speaks quietly against the din of the crowd and the rain, but it's the loudest one that reaches his ears.

"Sen…" He trails off and Buggy whimpers beside him.

Shanks wants to hug her so badly and he knows Buggy shares the sentiment, but with the thinning populace and marines and old enemy pirates at every corner, now is not the time.

He lets out a breath, tightening his hold on his sister's hand and finding the other on Blue.

"Come on, let's go back to the ship."

A/N: I haven't updated this in a hot minute, but here it is! Hope y'all enjoy! Lemme know your thoughts and yes, that was Uta's song, take it how you want it to be. If ya wanna know how the english one goes, visit amalee's wonderful cover for kaze no yue.

*Wakana 和 (wa) meaning "harmony, peace" and 奏 (kana) meaning "play music, complete" and Suzu 鈴 (suzu) meaning "bell". Sen is the one to name her, and her whole name means "The bell that plays/rings for harmony" Sen named her that as a reminder that she only pulls Suzu-yan out to bring peace or that by pulling Suzu-yan out would bring about harmony.