I wanted to let you know that I've created a account where I will be posting my original content, from stories and poetry, to photographs of nature and to drawings and paintings. I hope you will support me as much as possible, and thank you for that. And if you can't do , I have a ko-fi account where you can make a small donation if you feel like it. Thanks to everyone for your support.
My name is the same as here in ao3, as well as in instagram and ko-fi.
Chapter 10: Setting out
They were welcomed to the area by the sight of the local Seaking. It was a brown eel-like beast, the size of a small house, with blue fins and black eyes.
It approached the ship with a feral growl, but one look at Yuki's size and blade-like fins and it cowered back into the depths of the ocean.
Being close as they were to land, Aiko let Yuki out of the saddles and the seaking dove into the sea after the other beast, intent on having some fun by scaring him some.
The last league to land they made it thanks to the power of the dialed Skyboat, which they docked at the small port, no more than a small jetty in truth. Their boat looked luxurious next to the small fishing boats docked along the seashore.
The village wasn't much either, just a small fishing port with a handful of houses and a surprisingly clean-looking tavern.
It was called Foosha.
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Party's Bar didn't look clean just outside; the inside was just as spotless.
The barmaid was a beautiful young woman, with hair the colour of dark leaves gathered under an orange kerchief and bottomless dark eyes. She was slight and lean, with discreet curves and a kind smile.
"Hello, gentlemen. My name's Makino. What may I serve you?"
"Two ales for my friends" said Midori with a wide smile "and a bit of information for me, if you might."
"Right away."
In a few minutes, Aiko was leaving the tavern with a small hand-drawn map and a few suggestions on a few places that a young lone 'sailor' shouldn't step on, whilst his companions were left behind in the tavern with a few drinks paid on his account.
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Wyper and Cricket exchanged a look when their captain left them to go off do who-knew-what in the island, but they didn't protest. They had after all agreed not to get in his way once they arrived.
It was whilst they were sharing their third drink or so that the Skypiean took a good look around the establishment and noticed something odd.
There were wanted posters posted in a row behind the glass bottles at the bartop, but they all seemed to belong to the same people.
There was the photo of a black-haired young man with a scar on his cheek and an increasing amount of berries offered in each poster that Wyper easily recognised as Monkey D. Luffy.
Then there was the photo of an older blue-eyed blond with aristocratic features and pale skin that read 'Sabo The Revolutionary' alongside the sum of the bounty.
Lastly, there was one other young man with dark hair and dark eyes, tanned skin that was covered in freckles and a wide smirk. It was the oldest looking poster, somehow faded around the edges and a bit torn up, but still legible.
The name of the man was Portgas D. Ace and Wyper recognised it easily. He'd never seen a picture, but even as far back as the Cloud Sea, news of Luffy's brother and the debacle at Marineford where he'd died had reached them.
Gan Fall had been especially downtrodden at the time, after learning of the existence and death of his friend's son.
Cricket followed his gaze and some of his good mood left him.
"Bad affair, that one was." He said. "What happened at Marineford shook the seas and I'm guessing from your look even the Cloud Sea felt it."
"Yeah." Muttered Wyper still studying the picture carefully.
It was curious, though, that out of all the pirates in the world, those were the only three whose wanted posters had made it back to this little backwards port.
"Makino-san," he called politely, because the woman inspired that need even as she was busy calming her fussing baby. "may I ask why you have those posters?"
The woman looked up from her child and at the mentioned papers before her eyes seemed to soften a bit.
"Well, you see, they're kind of a local attraction." She explained with a faraway look in her eyes. "The three were originally from this island and you can guess we don't usually get to claim so many big-shots around here."
Wyper hummed. Interesting. So three of the most sought after criminals were originally from this little village.
He thanked the woman with a nod of the head and returned his attention to his drink and happier matters.
But Wyper felt he was beginning to understand why Midori so zealously hid his face.
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Dadan grunted as she lifted the basket with the recently cleaned clothes and brought it outside to the hanging rack. She was unfolding one of the blankets when she saw him.
He wasn't very tall, that was the first thing she noticed. She knew she was big for a woman, but even if she hadn't been, she wouldn't have called him tall.
Then there were the clothes. Goa was in the East Blue and its usual temperate climate disagreed with his choice of clothes: cargo boots, leather gloves, green shirt, black pants and a long red coat.
As if that wasn't strange enough, his hair was a mess of red and black and his face was covered in a strange mask full of tribal markings that only showed his lower jaw.
Strange characters like him weren't the norm in their little corner of the world.
"Hi! Sorry to disturb you, madam, but I got lost in these woods and was wondering if you could help me find my way again."
She didn't know what surprised her more: if being referred to as madam, being spoken to so politely or the claim of having gotten lost.
Of course she could believe he'd gotten lost in the forests of Goa, but being lucky enough to not only come out alive but also find her house?
However there was something familiar about the boy, something she couldn't put her finger on. Maybe in the look of those incredibly bright green eyes or maybe in the sharp cut of his jaw.
"What's in it for me, brat?" she grunted.
"I'll help you with your clothes?" shrugged the boy with a small sheepish smile. "I only need some indications to reach Foosha again."
She could have sent him on his way, even had given those indications if she felt in the mood, but for some reason she accepted his offer of help.
Slowly, but efficiently, they got to work hanging the laundry, Dadan keeping an eye on the boy, who seemed perfectly content to remain silent.
"Have we met before?" she asked rather bluntly.
"No, not at all."
"Hn. Where are you from, boy?"
"Jikan Island, I guess. You've probably never heard of it." Dismissed the boy with a wave of the hand that wasn't busy holding a wet shirt.
"No, never. Where is it?"
"In one of the Calm Belts. How long have you been living here?"
"None of your business." She replied when he finally asked her a question.
Jikan Island didn't sound familiar at all, but if it was in one of the Calm Belts then it surely was a much more dangerous place than their East Blue island. What could have bought him here? She decided to ask.
"So what brings you to Goa?"
"Oh, I just wanted to see the place where so many big-shot pirates grew up in."
At the mention, Dadan's mind went back to the years when her house was full of children and the fate that had befallen them. Suddenly, her mood worsened again and he frowned.
"I'll finish this up." She said brusquely before indicating to the boy the path he needed to follow and sending him on his way.
Her mood wouldn't get better for days.
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Being chased off by a Vice-admiral whilst their mad captain spewed fire out and laughed like the madman he apparently was wasn't exactly how they had thought their trip would end, but it is what happened.
Because Garp, despite being in denial, had seen past the green eyes and seen more.
And so they stole back to Sabaody whilst Garp spewed forth all kind of insults to them and their mothers.
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When they arrived back at Sabaody, to say that the crew were angry would be an understatement.
None of them were happy that he'd left for days without telling them anything at all and taking so few people along.
They were all grumbling and shouting for a few minutes before Gin intervened.
"It was the Captain's prerogative. Would you have disobeyed your Captain?"
That shut them all up and some, like Raki, even apologised privately for their outburst. They didn't want him to think they were disrespecting him as a Captain, but he understood that they had been worried when he disappeared for days without a word.
Eventually, things calmed down, and that's when Rayleigh introduced them to their new guide.
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Hatchan was an octopus fishman and he was the owner of a takoyaki shop down in Fishman Island. He was a mean cook and a fairly good swordsman and, apparently, a dear friend of Rayleigh.
Aiko took an instant liking to him, even going so far as to offer him to join their crew on the first day since they met.
Hatchan appeared utterly flummoxed to receive such an invitation, but in truth theirs was a pretty varied crew.
Despite his kind refusal, though, Gin and Cindry exchanged a look behind his back.
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One day, Aiko appeared with his usual long coat thrown over his arm and a sleeveless shirt that show off the new addition to his body: a tattoo.
It was a red-blue-orange spiral, like a maelstrom, with the shades well-chosen so as not to clash ―or so the crew assumed.
When asked about it, Midori's mysterious answer was:
"Red for the fire, blue for the sea and orange for the sun."
Aiko gets a tattoo: a red-blue-orange spiral, the shades well-chosen so as not to clash ―or so they assumed. 'Red for the fire, blue for the sea and orange for the sun' he'd said.
Nothing else was said on the matter.
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Finally, the coating of the Free Raven was finished and they were ready to leave. Gin made sure they had enough provisions on board, roping Hatchan into helping him with everything related to the kitchen.
Before they realised it, it was time to part and say their goodbyes to Rayleigh and Shakky.
"I'm going to miss your stories, Rayleigh-ojiichan; and our debates about Haki."
"I'm going to miss them too." admitted Rayleigh with a good natured smile. "But there are so many adventures waiting for you out there. Just don't forget to come visit this old man once in a while, okay?"
Shakky simply patted his head and smiled before asking him to visit too after creating as much trouble as he could, getting a laugh out of Aiko.
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The trip to Fishman Island was beautiful and calm. They were not nervous, for they trusted in Rayleigh's coating abilities and they were lucky enough not to encounter any dangers.
The bioluminescent fishes were their only company in the darkness and silence of the underwater journey and they made a beautiful sight. Despite all of Aiko's claims of there being voices coming from deep in the darkness.
And then they saw it: Fishman Island, enveloped in its bubble that kept the air in the bottom of the ocean. It was a pretty sight, and soon they were past the gates and docking in one of the numerous docks around the island.
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Omake:
"Shakky, I was wondering… if you may know of a place where I could find some old wanted posters."
"Old wanted posters?" repeated Shakky letting out a blow of smoke from her cigarette.
"Aha." Nodded Aiko. "I know once the person dies the marines stop distributing them and most people just trash them, but there must be a way to get a hold of one, right?"
"Hmmm… There's a shop in Grove 3 where you might find some if you look well enough, but they won't be cheap if the pirate was well-known and the bounty high. There's people who collect them."
Aiko seemed sad at hearing that and Shakky tapped her fingers on the bar top, pensive.
"I know the owner, so I can probably ask him to check. If you pay well enough, he'll even find it for you, check in with his contacts."
"Really? Money is no problem."
"I'll take care of it for you, then. Which one were you looking for?"
"Portgas D. Ace's."