Chapter 2: A Great Adventure
I could get used to this Zoro thought as he glanced over at his new crew mate. The girl surprised Zoro. He truly expected her to be as greedy or riled up as his other female crew mate, especially considering the remarks she made when they first met. But the girl was just sitting beside him, braiding her hair in silence (a quirk he noticed she did frequently). It wasn't an uncomfortable silence either, he genuinely appreciated her quiet nature, her shooting him a smile every now and then. And with the girl's interest in learning to fight, he could see the two of them possibly becoming good friends. Zoro's gaze went from his crewmate to down at his new cursed blade, still wondering what it was going to be like, wielding a cursed weapon. He looked back at his company, lost in her own world as her fingers broke apart her braid once more.
"You really like doing your hair, huh?" He asked curiously.
Clara stopped what she was doing, looking up at Zoro with a flustered smile. "Yeah, it's a habit I picked up from when I was a kid. My dad wasn't very good at braiding my hair so it would fall out pretty fast." She chuckled. "I learned how to braid my hair so I could fix it throughout the day. Made him think his braids were getting better"
"Pretty sneaky of you" Zorro chuckled.
"Yeah, I didn't have the heart to tell him his braids were really bad" Clara laughed softly. She remembered how proud her dad would get when she came home with a perfect braid, celebrating his achievement. She smiled at the memory, recalling what he said the first time she came home "still in his braid".
"¡Mira tu pelo, gatito! I'm well on my way to becoming a hairdresser!" He said with a deep laugh, holding his chest.
"What about your mom? Was she not good with hair, either?" Zoro questioned.
Clara's face scrunched up in disgust. She tied off her hair, no longer playing with the braid over her shoulder. Zorro could clearly see he had hit a nerve, just as she had done with him earlier.
"She left my father when I was 9. Married some other guy. I was raised by my dad"
Now that was a face Clara was glad not to see ever again. Even on her deathbed, Clara didn't remember seeing her once. The question brought up the bitter memory of when she had her appendix removed after it had burst during junior dance practice. She looked at her hands, playing with the ends of her hair. "When I was 12, I got really sick and almost died. My dad called my mother for hours, saying that I needed both my parents with me. She ignored him. When the hospital got a hold of her, she said that she was working and to not contact her again. Puta estúpida"
When Clara was recovering from surgery, she had dug through her father's documents one day while he was at work. She found everything; The divorce papers, the statements from the lawyers, her admitting to the affair, even the paper that laid out custody. The written surrender shocked a younger Clara but as she got older, she realized what that meant; that her mother had given up her rights and truly didn't want to see her daughter ever again.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have said anything" Zorro apologized. He hadn't meant to return the mental blow she had thrown at him earlier. Clara's face immediately cleared up, like the sun coming out after a rainstorm.
"Oh no, you're good" She assured. "Just some old dust on a shelf for me. Nothing you can do but clean it and move on". In an effort to break the awkward tension she had created, she changed the subject. "Off topic, but where's the rest of your crew? Luffy was causing trouble in the town center earlier"
"Of course he was" Zorro chuckled. "And I have no clue. Everyone kind of does their own thing, we don't stick together much"
Before she could say another word, she saw a familiar straw hat walking towards them up the steps they were sitting on.
"Hey Luffy" Clara greeted. "Nice to see you again"
"Hey guys" He returned. Looking at Zoro, Luffy gawked at the cursed blade he was holding. "That's a cool sword!"
"Almost chopped his arm off for it" Clara chuckled.
"Woah! Really?!" The boy shouted. "Hey, wait. Why are you guys just sitting here?"
"We're bored and talking. You?" Zorro responded.
"Oh me?" Luffy questioned back as he rubbed his nose. "Yeah I'm completely lost"
"That's a good thing?" "You're proud of that?" Zorro and Clara responded at the same time, looking at their captain.
"It's okay" Luffy smiled. He turned towards Clara. "Do you know how to get back to the execution platform?"
"I do, but you really need to be careful, Luffy." Clara sighed. "That guy you fought is bad news, he-"
There was a commotion behind Luffy, down the stairs, people running and shouting. The trio turned to see what was happening. She could see people clearing the path as a crowd gathered around a man wearing a cloak. The five men around him held various weapons, closing him in. Luffy sat beside Clara, curious what was happening.
"Bastard! You sold out our friends to the highest bidder!" One of the men shouted, a scowl gracing his face. "It's time for you to pay! Now die!"
Shots rang out as the group closed in on the stranger. The rio looked closely as the air stilled for a moment. Suddenly, four of the men dropped to the ground, the stranger revealing his two hand guns. The trio gasped at the sight. The remaining man held a chain, shaking as he looked at his fallen companions. He trembled, taking a step back as he fell to the floor. The man walked towards the poor attacker, stealing a cigarette from the trembling man's vest. He snapped the stolen tobacco between his fingers. Clara couldn't hear the words exchanged, but whatever was said caused the trembling man to shoot up and start running away.
Luffy jumped up and started waving his fists in excitement. "Woah guys! That guy is totally AWESOME!"
"I think that's-" Zorro looked at the man's face. "Yeah"
"You know him?" Clara questioned. She didn't recall ever seeing the stranger, but then again she didn't attract trouble when she was alone.
"Daddy the Father" Zorro gave a name to the face. "Bounty hunter"
"How do you know him?" Clara questioned. She didn't know much about bounty hunters, but it wasn't hard to guess what they do for a living.
"Didn't you know?" Luffy asked, looking at her puzzled. "Zoro used to be a bounty hunter"
"Oh yeah, Tashigi said something about that" Clara remembered.
"Tashigi?" Zorro looked puzzled.
"The girl from the shop, red glasses?"
"Oh, her" He rolled his eyes at the memory. The stranger, Daddy, began walking down the street, allowing people to resume their regular activities. Clara let her attention fade away from him as he didn't cause the trio any trouble, merely provided a nice show.
"We have to be careful about her" Clara warned. "In the shop, I had a vision about her when she fell on me. She can hold her own with a sword and she also works for Smoker"
"Smoker?" The boys questioned. Clara nodded.
"The marine captain who kicked Luffy's butt earlier"
"THAT WASN'T FAIR MY LEG WAS STUCK!" The captain protested.
"Regardless, you're up against a serious opponent. I haven't seen too much of him since I've lived here, but that's because he didn't see me as a threat. Now that he knows I'm associated with you guys, he isn't going to play around any more"
"Wait, why would he know about you joining us so soon?" Zorro questioned. "What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything!" Clara growled as she pointed a finger at Luffy. "This pendejo-" she emphasized, staring daggers at the captain "told him I was part of your crew in the middle of a fight!"
"Pen- what now?" Both boys looked confused at her.
"It's an insult" Clara sighed, realizing Spanish probably wasn't used here. "It means- you know what? Don't worry about it" ¿Qué he hecho para merecer esto?
There was a moment of silence before the group heard Luffy's stomach growl.
"Did Donna and Travis not feed you?" Clara asked.
"Nah, his stomach is just a bottomless pit" Zoro clarified, rising to his feet. "Wanna go find somewhere to eat?"
"Yes! FOOD! I'm starving!" Luffy cheered, walking ahead.
"What about you?" Zoro asked the smaller female. "You didn't eat much earlier"
She didn't have the heart to tell him that she actually didn't eat anything because she was freaking out. "I'm fine, you guys go on ahead"
"Come on, Zoro, let's go!" Luffy shouted.
"I'll see you at the docks later" Clara smiled. Zoro returned the smile and proceeded to follow his captain.
Clara felt her shoulders slump, realizing she was sad to be left behind. A realization dawned on her; I accepted an invitation to join a pirate crew. I'm not alone anymore, but I'm a pirate now
As she began walking down the stairs that joined the rest of town, her mind suddenly brought up a disturbing thought. She quickly swallowed her regret.
Dios mío… I'm a criminal now
"I can't hold this for very long, Hikaru!" An older, balding man yelled as he struggled to hold the wood plank supporting his booth's sign. Suddenly, the weight on the man's shoulder was lifted, the plank suddenly lighter. He turned his head to see a familiar brunette lifting the other side of the plank.
"Hey! It's the kid!" The older man smiled. His workers around him all cheered and smiled at the girl, rolling her eyes.
"Hello to you too, Paku" Clara smiled. Paku's few workers began gathering around her, smiles gracing their faces. "And I thought I already told you I'm 23"
"Hey there, pretty lady!"
"Hey good looking!"
"When are we getting your name gorgeous?"
"In your dreams" " Clara laughed with a wide smile. The fish market, like the rest of town, was familiar with Clara and her tendency to help others. She could see the market was buzzing with business, a variety of goods on display. With how close to the docks she had wandered, it was no surprise that Paku and other seafood sellers were taking up most of the space. A beautiful assortment of fish littered her view, some as red as flames and others blue as the open sea. She felt the plank she was holding stabilize as Paku's worker put the last nail to secure the sign.
"All done!" The man smiled, tying a bandana to his head. "Thanks for the help, kid"
"Happy to help" She smiled. Clara enjoyed helping others as it was something her father preached till her final days. That and she enjoyed seeing others happy, even if she wasn't. "It looked like you were busy. Market is!"
"Yeah, we're making good numbers but that damned sign fell!" Paku admitted, referencing the sign with the name of his business hammered above her and the old man. Clara rubbed the back of her neck with one hand, the other shifting her daggers.
"Good thing I came-"
"WATCH OUT!" A voice called behind her. Clara barely had time to move as someone grabbed her, sweeping her off her feet. Her vision went white as felt his hands touch her bare arms.
Clara could see the image of a castle in her mind, one with white towers and black roof tops.
She heard crying as four children came to her mind; one girl with pink hair and three boys with the bright hair colors of red, blue, green and blonde. The blonde drew her attention as he appeared more familiar and timid than the other three kids.
"Why do you take care of me?"
"You don't want me to?'
"I want you to" A small, teary voice cried. "Reiju, you're so kind"
"Sanji!" A booming voice screamed as shattered glass could be heard falling to the floor. "Your mother is dead! Stop following the legacy of the dead!"
The blonde reappeared once again but this time, with a heavy iron helmet on his head. The boy cried in a prison cell, guards surrounding him.
"I can't take this off! What are you guys doing!"
Clara could barely stomach the sight of the young boy in tears. She had realized who this was, remembering the cook who had stood up for her earlier when she bumped into Zoro.
"The king said to make sure Vinsmoke Sanji was never born"
"I'm gonna find the All Blue!" The young boy's voice cried out, this time much happier and hopeful. "Then we'll see who's dreaming!"
A storm filled Clara's mind, thunder smashing in her ears. The feeling of water filling Clara's lungs caused panic in her mind. What's going on?!
She had never had a vision so vivid, like the pictures were getting stronger, trapping her mind in the memories.
When she could no longer see water, she felt hunger. A hunger so grueling she felt nauseous, claws tearing at her stomach in protest.
"Help! The geezer needs help!"
"...kid?"
"Hey is she alright?"
"Hey, miss?"
Clara could feel her eyes opening slowly, her face wet with tears. She looked up to see the blonde cook from earlier.
"Sanji?" Clara whispered, rubbing tears from her face as she realized what had happened. Sanji was currently carrying her bridal style, his face full of worry. She looked over his shoulder to see Paku's sign smashed to pieces, like it was crushed. Paku was standing next to Sanji, holding a wet rag on the girl's forehead. She tested her arms, pushing against Sanji's chest.
"How are you feeling, miss?" The cook questioned. "The sign fell, it almost hit you in the head"
Clara wasn't entirely present as she whispered a name from her throat. "Vinsmoke Sanji"
Sanji went pale as a sheet, lowering the girl to the ground gently. Did she just…?
He could tell by the girl's groggy expression that she wasn't entirely awake as she gripped him for support. The shopkeeper took over, checking her for injuries with his other concerned workers. He hadn't realized it was the ship's fortune teller until she was in his arms, all he saw was a young lady about to be hurt by a poorly hung sign. The second Sanji's hands touched the girl, her eyes closed and tears started streaming from them, as if she was having a nightmare. Now he realized she was having one of those visions she had described to the crew earlier.
Does that girl… She knew my family name. He looked at where his hands touched her arm. What else does she know now?
"Hey kid, how're you feeling?" Paku asked, Clara finally removing her hand from Sanji as she felt stable enough to support herself. "You gave us quite the scare. Young man kicked the sign out before it could hit you"
"...He did?" Her eyes widened as she turned to see Sanji walking away from her. She began walking towards him, her footsteps uneven. "Wait! Sanji!"
The cook kept walking away, placing a cigarette in his mouth. His arm was pulled away as he tried to light it, coming face to face with Clara who had a guilty look on her face.
"Sanji, I didn't mean to call you that, it just slipped out. I'm so sorry" Clara apologized, her eyes red from rubbing them.
"What did you see?" Sanji asked, looking at the girl. He wouldn't usually be so cold to a woman. Hell, he worshiped them. But knowing this girl knew his family name left him feeling exposed.
"I-" Clara swallowed, unsure of what to tell him. "I saw enough. Enough to know you don't like your family name"
"I see" Sanji lit his cigarette, taking a deep breath. He blew out the cloud, Clara flinching at the smell. "Don't tell anyone on board. They don't need to know"
"I won't, I promise" Clara swore. "I didn't mean to-"
"I know, you can't control it" Sanji stated, taking another puff. "I'm glad you're alright, but I have fish to buy"
This time, Clara didn't stop him as he walked off, giving her the cold shoulder. She felt awful, like she had stripped him naked. She looked at her hands, cursing her mind.
That vision was vivid… too vivid Clara put a hand to her throat, remembering how she felt like she was drowning, like she was dying all over again. Tengo que conseguir guantes
"How much would it be for a jacket and a pair of gloves?"
"Well what material are you looking at?"
She was at the counter of a local boutique, determined to find something to cover her arms and hands. Her mind was still cycling through her visions, wondering why Sanji's was so… horrifying. Her brain resisted the thoughts by granting her a steady headache
"Honey if I were you, I would get some new clothes, not just a jacket and gloves" The young woman said, coming towards Clara with a thin top in her hands. "Honestly, I think you'd look great in-"
"Please don't touch me!" Clara shouting, bumping into a clothing rack as she backed away from the woman. She had had enough for one day. "Just lightweight materials, something that will survive being on a ship"
The shopkeeper frowned, lowering the top. "Whatever you say, hon"
Looking out the shop's window, she could see the sky start to darken quickly. Everyone in the area had noticed as well as local sellers as they began to pack up their products to find cover. The poor town had seen its fair share of storms recently, the last one Clara remembered clearly as it only happened a week prior. She remembered how she had to find cover in an abandoned building, cramming herself between brick walls to protect herself from debris flying around. She filled her time after the storm with helping residents repair buildings and other damage they experienced. Many residents offered to pay her for her services. For some, she accepted the cash while others she refused, such as Donna, the restaurant owner.
"What about these?" The boutique owner asked, laying out a variety of jackets and a basket of gloves. Clara's eyes immediately went to a dark green jacket. Her hand reached out to touch the materials, finding it soft. She traced her fingers up the jacket and found that it had a fairly firm collar. The style of the jacket reminded her of something a rancher would wear, frills and all.
"I pulled that one since it's waterproof, but if it has too much sun exposure, the color will start to fade" The woman explained. ""For gloves, we don't have many water proof options-" Her eyes dropped to the girl's belt. "I'll see if we have anything with grips for your swords"
"Daggers, actually but thanks" Clara sighed. She picked up the jacket, slipping it on. It looked slightly oversized on the girl, but it would do. The shop owner continued digging through the basket of gloves until she pulled out a pair of black gloves with button closures.
"What do you think of these, hon?" She said, handing the pair to Clara. She pulled them on, surprised at how slippery the fabric was. It had more grip than silk but was just as light weight. The pads of her fingers were thicker and the gloves were fastened by a button on the wrist. To test the boutique owner's statement, she grabbed one of the daggers at her waist. She was pleasantly surprised to find the weapon was not sliding in her grip.
"They're perfect, I'll take them" She smiled. Don't know why I didn't think of this sooner. Now I have a fighting chance. Her mind gave her the image of Sanji. And I won't see something I'm not supposed to.
"Great! That'll be-"
A crash of lightning interrupted the woman's sentence. Clara quickly slammed whatever money she had left and ran out the boutique, slipping her dagger back into its sheath. Stepping outside, her eyes were drawn to the sky, the clouds forming a vortex over the island. She quickly scanned the crowd and noticed a familiar swordsman, his hair peeking out over the crowd.
"Zoro!" She shouted, running over. She turned her head to see the rest of her newfound crew. Nami was holding several shopping bags while Ussop and Sanji held a massive fish wrapped in cloth. She quickly moved her gaze when Sanji looked towards her, pulling her jacket tighter.
"Hey, have you seen Luffy?" The moss haired man questioned.
"What are you talking about? He was with you" Clara countered. "You lost him?"
"Yeah and I've got a feeling that something bad is about to happen" He darkly informed.
"Okay well first things first, let's check the town center. He was looking for the execution platform" Clara recalled. "Follow me!"
"We have to get back to the ship! We'll see you at the docks!" Nami ordered.
Both Sanji and Zoro broke into a run as Clara lead them down the street, breaking off from the group. The people around the trio began screaming about pirates in the area, Clara didn't recognize any of the names circling the crowd as she focused on running.
"Did you hear that?" Sanji shouted.
"Yeah, Buggy's got our captain" Zoro shouted back.
"Who the hell is Buggy?" Clara questioned, turning the corner sharply.
"Bad news!" Zoro explained. "We ran into him a while back"
"Por el amor de Dios!" Clara shouted. The wind was getting stronger and the sky darker. "He is gonna get himself killed!"
Gunshots could be heard the closer the trio got to the center of town. Finally, one last turn and Clara could truly see the mess the straw hats had gotten themselves into. The airspace above was rumbling as the wind continued to get stronger, dark clouds covering the sky like a blanket.
A wave of people surrounded the execution platform, including several pirates firing guns into the air. On top of the execution platform was a pirate with blue hair and a clown nose stepping on a pillory that contained the trio's captain, who was screaming at the top of his lungs.
"ay, mierda" Clara paled at the sight. "This isn't good"
She saw Zoro tie the bandana around his arm onto his head and unsheath his swords. Sanji began taking a fighting stance. Clara quickly panicked.
"What am I supposed to do? I can't fight them!"
"Then find a way to get Luffy out of his shackles. You can slip through the crowd, right?" Sanji pointed out.
She gripped her jacket tighter. "Yeah, I can do that"
Clara quickly began weaving through the crowd, blending in as she heard her two companions shout towards Buggy.
"STOP THE EXECUTION NOW"
I've got to hurry Clara thought as she continued to dodge the people around her, now unafraid of human contact with her coat on. Just as she was halfway through the crowded, a familiar name was thrown into the crowd
"No! It's pirate hunter Zoro!"
The crowd quickly dispersed at the statement, leaving Clara struggling to stay up as people pushed and pulled her trying to get out of the town center. She continued pushing back, trying to keep her footing as the amount of people nearby kept decreasing. The two boys had begun racing towards the platform only for a female pirate Clara didn't recognize to send out her minions, many of them brandishing guns and knives. The path to Luffy only got easier as Clara finally broke through. She was mere feet from the tower when a hand grabbed the back of her jacket, lifting her. She turned and realized one of the pirates with clown markings had grabbed her. She kicked her feet and tore at the hand, struggling to break free.
"Now what do we have here?" The man chuckled. Clara could feel his breath on the back of her neck. Before she could scream, the man dropped her, falling to the ground. Clara collided with the concrete, taking deep breaths.
"You alright?" A muffled voice aske. She turned her head to see it was Zoro with a sword in his mouth. Clara nodded, pushing herself up. "Good, now get our captain"
A deep cackle interrupted her thought as she looked up and saw Buggy holding up his sword, ready to lop off Luffy's head at any moment. Clara began running as fast as she could muster towards the platform. "Not even the great Zoro can stop me now! There's nothing you two can do! It's the end for your captain!"
"Bastard!" Sanji shouted, kicking down yet another pirate. Zoro flipped around and struck another pirate down as well. Clara reached the platform but before she could grab it, she felt her hair start to stand and the sense of danger flooded her stomach.
No no no! This is bad Clara took a few steps back. She didn't remember much from 6th grade science class, but she remembered the signs for when lightning was about to strike.
"What are you waiting for?!" Sanji yelled.
"The tower!" Clara shouted "It's-"
"Zoro! Sanji! Ussop! Nami!" Luffy looked down at Clara, grinning. "Fortune teller…" He lifted his head once more, grinning like a fool. "Sorry, but… I'm dead!"
Clara felt her heart drop as Buggy brought down the sword. Suddenly, the sky roared as a large bolt of lightning struck the execution platform, sending Clara back several feet as the light blinded her. She hit the ground covering her eyes, hoping her captain would survive the strike. Static ringing filled the arm along with the nose of bolts popping off the platform. Fire quickly consumed the structure but rain began to fall almost immediately, extinguishing any flames as the tower fell to the ground like a chopped oak tree. Clara scrambled her way backwards, trying to stay away from the flames. She saw a single straw hat fall to the ground- right at the feet of its owner who picked it up and placed it on his head. The smell of burnt hair filled the air as she noticed Buggy on the ground, fried to a crisp.
Luffy began laughing. "I'm still alive! That's nice!"
Everyone's jaw dropped at how stupidly lucky the pirate was. Clara was no exception as she gawked at the young boy. Clara rose to her feet and walked over to Luffy, words stuck to her throat.
"L-Luffy" She spit out. "Are you o-okay?"
"I feel great!" The captain smiled. He took Clara's hand, leading her back to the boys as she was still in shock. "That was real close though. Thought I was a goner!"
"Y-yeah. I did too" Clara admitted as the boy let out laugh after laugh. Just as she felt herself calm, screaming marines flooded into the town center, coming from every entrance.
"Here they come!" Sanji warned. Marines ran towards pirates, brandishing swords as the area turned chaotic quickly. Clara stayed close to Luffy, her adrenaline skyrocketing once more.
Daddy, quiero irme a casa. This place is insane!
"Oh wow!" Luffy gawked, jumping out of the way as a marine knocked out another pirate, landing near his feet. "So cool! Everybody here went crazy so quickly!"
"Luffy!" Zoro said as he grabbed the captain's shoulder. Luffy screamed, wiggling out of his grip and jumping behind Clara at the interaction. He calmed once he saw it was his first mate. "Zoro!"
"We don't have time for this, we've gotta get out of here!"
"We better head back to the Going Merry or we'll never be able to leave this island!" Sanji stated, quickly adding "Then we sure as hell won't get to the Grand Line!
"The Grand Line?" Clara voiced.
"We'll explain later, we have to move!" Zoro growled.
"Run!" Luffy shouted. The four started sprinting through the crowd, making their way down one of the streets.
"The straw hats are getting away!"
"Capture them!"
As soldiers entered their path, Sanji, Zoro, and Luffy made quick work of them, Clara cowering behind. She didn't have time to look back at the knocked out soldiers as she struggled to keep up with the three boys.
"T-Turn up ahead!" Clara shouted. With her adrenaline coming down, she could now feel how sore her body was, how her coat was completely soaked through. It felt like her bones were chilled through. The group turned the corner and Clara noticed how she was lagging behind.
"We better pick up the pace or we're toast!" Zoro yelled.
"I'm trying!" Clara huffed, shivering involuntarily. Sanji slowed down until he was beside the girl before throwing her over his shoulder. "S-Sanji!"
"You heard the man! We have to go!" He argued back. Clara had no choice but to be hauled over the man's shoulder.
"To the Grand Line!" Luffy cheered. "Here we go!"
The group continued running, Clara breathing heavily as the rain just kept pouring down on them.
"What the hell is up with all this rain?" Zoro complained, his shirt soaked through.
"Nami was right about this storm" Sanji confirmed. "If we don't get back to the ship and set sail soon, we're going to be stuck here for good!"
"Run! Just keep running!" Luffy ordered.
"Which way is the sea?" Zoro asked, turning his head back at Clara.
"The dock is on the East side of town but I can hardly see anything!" Clara shouted. Over Sanji's shoulder, Clara could clearly see that the marines were getting closer, a horde of them in her sight. "Guys, the marines are getting closer!"
"Damn!" Zorro swore. "They're like roaches! You wanna stop and fight 'em?"
"There's no time for that!" Sanji reasoned. "Besides, I can't fight while carrying her". Clara couldn't see ahead of them, but she could feel Sanji perk up immensely. "Wow! Who's that?"
"I didn't know you two were pirates" A familiar voice stated. "And I certainly didn't know you were Zoro"
"Tashigi?!" Clara yelped in shock as she turned her head to see.
"You lied!" Tashigi shouted at Zoro, letting the rain soak her coat. "You're just another liar!"
The trio stopped running, Sanji turning towards Zoro. "Aw great! What the hell did you do to that poor girl?!"
"He didn't do anything!" Clara defended with a cough. Zoro stepped forward, pushing Luffy out of the way.
"You never asked what my name was, did you?" Zoro pointed out. "So I never lied, did I?"
"You know there's no way I'm going to allow someone like you to leave town with such a legendary sword!" Tashigi shouted, rage in her voice. "Give it to me! The Wado Ichimonji! Right now!"
Zoro smirked. "Come and get it"
Tashigi gritted her teeth and pulled out her own blade before colliding with Zoro. The two separated before colliding swords once more. It was clear to see that the two had immense skill in the art of sword fighting.
"What a jerk!" Sanji protested. "You can't fight a girl!"
""She's a swordsman!" "I can handle myself"
Tashigi and Clara both protested.
"Sanji we have to go, let them-" Clara attempted to vocally intervene before she fell into a fit of coughing. Sanji looked at the girl on his shoulder, concerned. He could feel her shivering get worse and even though he was still uneasy about her, he wouldn't allow a lady to suffer like this.
"This is a fight between him and I so back off!" Tashigi growled.
"You heard her, get out of here" Zoro supported.
"Let's go" Luffy smirked as the trio ran past the pair, Sanji giving the swordsman one last warning.
"Zoro, if you hurt her I'm gonna kick your ass!"
"She'll be fine" Clara assured. "I think Zoro is gonna have quite challenge"
"Stop talking, you'll get water in your lungs" Sanji warned. He could already feel the brunette heaving. In an effort to keep her comfortable, he shifted her to his arms, bridal style, and covered her face with his unbuttoned shirt. He could feel her breathing easier as the flush on her cheeks was more apparent.
"I see the ship!" Luffy shouted. "The harbor is up ahead!"
Clara moved Sanji's suit jacket to get a view and sure enough, the entrance to Logue town was up ahead but she paled once she realized who was blocking their path.
"What now?" Sanji complained as Smoker and his bike came into view. Clara gripped onto Sanji.
"Straw Hat Luffy. You're finally here" Smoker smirked. The boy stopped running, facing the marine captain. "I already told you you couldn't make it to the Grand Line without beating me first, didn't I?"
Luffy smiled. "Oh yeah! I forgot!"
"You're really stupid" Smoker retorted.
"Let's go, Luffy" Sanji pleaded. "She's burning up"
"Go on ahead" Luffy assured. "Get her to the ship. I'll be right there"
"Luffy don't" Clara protested weakly. "He's too strong"
"You should listen to the street rat" Smoker chuckled. "This will be the end for you"
"Go" Luffy ordered. Sanji kept running ahead, Clara muttering protests into Sanji's chest.
"He should've ran" She coughed.
"He'll be fine. That's our captain you're talking about" Sanji assured. "Just hang on, we're almost there"
Sanji began speeding up as he saw the ship straight ahead. He could see the remaining members of his crew starting to set sail.
"NAMI!" He shouted, running along the coast beside the ship.
"Sanji!" Ussop and Nami shouted, glad to see the blonde.
"Wait up!" He shouted, hearts in his eyes as he stared at Nami.
"Where are the others?"
"Who cares? We'll get them later!" He snapped, looking down at the girl in his arms. "I need to get her on the ship! She's not doing so good!"
"Sanji, watch out!" Nami shouted as marines came running up behind Sanji. He quickly kicked them out of the way, cradling Clara in the process. Even if he was kicking to fight, holding Clara was making that process much harder than it normally would be. An idea popped into his head, a way to get Clara onto the ship while he could fight.
"Hey Ussop!" He shouted. He took off his suit jacket, wrapping it around Clara. "Get ready to catch her!"
"W-what?!" Clara perked up, hoping her ears were deceiving her. Ussop gave the cook a nervous look but held out his hands regardless. "Sanji, I don't think that's-"
Clara barely had time to scream as she was launched into the air, holding onto Sanji's coat for dear life. She held her breath until she could feel herself land in a pair of unsteady arms, taking down her savior to the ground as they tumbled. With his hands now free, Sanji was able to fight the group of marines with ease, taking down a group of six quickly.
Ussop put a hand to Clara's cheek, making a face. "Hey Nami, I think she has a fever"
"Take her inside, I'll keep an eye out for the others" Nami ordered. Ussop nodded as he acted as a crutch for the girl, helping her to the barracks. She could feel herself breathe easier the moment she was out of the rain.
"Uh blankets! You need blankets!" Ussop claimed as he searched for them. Clara gazed around the small room, hammocks strung out for each crew member. She walked over to one, slowly putting her weight on it as water dripped off her clothing. The door to the barracks smacked open, Nami looking around for the other crew mate.
"Hey Ussop! I need some help out here!" Nami shouted. Ussop came running out, tossing the blankets on the floor as he slammed the door to the barracks on the way out. Clara took a moment to breathe before shedding her soaked jacket. She had no other clothes so she simply stripped her jacket and shoes before climbing in the hammock.
Great start to my grand adventure She thought with a chuckle. Her eyelids grew heavy as the hammock moved to the waves of the sea. The noises outside the boat began floating away as Clara finally gave into sleep. Soy una idiota
"Why so curious about the albums, Gatito?" An older woman's soothing voice filled Clara's ears. The voice had a thick hispanic accent, one that she easily understood. Clara was younger here, around 14 years old. Her junior high uniform consisted of a collared polo shirt and her school issued skirt. Her hair was tied in two twin braids that fell over her shoulders as she looked at her grandmother.
"We're doing a family tree project at school" Clara smiled. Her grandmother was a woman of short stature, but a mighty spirit. The woman had graying brown hair in a loose bun, her brown eyes looking at her granddaughter with a love so bright it could make the sun rise. The woman wore jeans and a thick leather jacket as she knelt down next to Clara, peering at the family albums she had spread all over the floor.
"Do you have any pictures of dad as a baby?" Clara asked, flipping through the book in front of her.
"Not many"
"Why not"
"Because we immigrated here when he was your age. We had to leave a lot behind"
"Oh" Clara felt awful for souring the mood. She returned her attention to the books in front of her, eyes catching one specific photo. It was the photo of a younger woman holding a piece of paper in front of what looked like a courthouse. The bottom of the photo had a date and the name Lylla written. "Who's that?"
"That's me the day my citizenship went through. The photographer wrote my name on there along with the date"
"No it's not, your name is Lorelai" The teen corrected. She knew the name of her grandmother well as it was part of her own name as well.
"True" Her grandma admitted "But it's what my new friends called me when I moved here. A new name for a new country. It was such a great adventure"
Clara shot up out of sleep, the hammock moved around to accommodate her movement. Looking around, she slowly realized where she was. The memories of her journey slowly returned to her as she climbed out of the hammock. She looked down to see her clothes had been changed, most likely by the only female crew mate. Her blue tank top and dark pants were replaced by a red t-shirt and white shorts. Her hair was still in its braid so she quickly pulled it free and shook her head to loosen the waves. She suddenly heard a commotion outside of the barracks, specifically some yelling and the sound of someone colliding with the floor. Walking onwards the door, Clara opened it to see a beautiful blue sky, the light hitting her face.
"Hey! You're awake!" A feminine voice called out. Clara looked around to see Nami walking up to her. "We were worried about you"
"You were?" Clara croaked out. Her throat felt dry, like she had swallowed sand. A tap on her shoulder caused her to come face to face with the ship's cook. In his other hand was a tray with a cup of hot tea.
"For you M'Lady" he smiled. Clara was surprised by the change, but gladly accepted the tea. "This will make your throat feel better"
"Thank you Sanji" She smiled, taking a much needed sip of the tangerine tea.
"I hope you don't mind, but I changed you into some of my clothes until yours are washed and ready to go" Nami explained. "They were dripping wet and making your fever worse"
"Fever?" Clara thought for a moment before the memories returned to her. "Wait, where's Luffy and Zoro?"
"I'm right here" The green haired swordsman called out. Clara turned to see he was relaxing against the ship's mast. "And don't think I forgot about our training"
"No, of course not" She smiled. "Now where's the captain?"
"Down here!"
Clara leaned over the deck to see their captain lying on the floor with a massive grin. "Why are you down there?"
"Because he was trying to steal the snacks I was making for you ladies" Sanji sighed as he walked up beside Clara. She looked at him puzzled.
"Snacks? But you-"
"Consider us even. I did throw you after all" Sanji chuckled, clearly over their awkward start. The brunette didn't question further as she took another sip of tea. The captain, with a yell, used his arms to lift himself to the next level.
"So did you pick one?" He asked with curiosity, getting in the brunette's face.
"Pick one, what?"
"Your name!" Luffy clarified, his face showing frustration.
"Oh" She said with surprise. "That's right, I never gave you one"
"So what is it?" Nami asked with a wide smile.
"I-" Clara was about to answer that she hadn't decided, but she recalled the dream she had, her grandmother's laugh filling her ears. A new name for a new country. A smile crept onto Clara's face. "Lylla"
"What now?" Luffy questioned.
"Call me Lylla" The brunette smiled.
"Welcome to the crew, Lylla!" Their captain announced. The crew smiled, cheering for their new member. She let out a laugh at their excitement.
It was such a great adventure
