.: Here is another update! Things are staying steady for a little while in this storyline, but I figured we could have some fun before things get serious. The Straw Hats still have to get to know Aurilee, after all. Also, I have a book report to complete soon so the next chapter may not be for a couple of weeks. Until next time! :.

The Girl with A Half-Soul

Chapter 3:

The Getaway

Sanji had brought Aurilee's midmorning snack just as he promised. It was the simple dish of chicken broth, but it was steaming hot and had a little bit of kick to it. She held the bowl to her lips and drank it when the temperature cooled off a bit. The whole time, Robin sat in a chair next to her with a thick book in hand. She did not engage in conversation as the breeze played with her black bangs and pages, but Aurilee preferred it that way.

Her pregnant belly rested in her lap, making her look and feel overstuffed. It was times like these where she was actually thankful for the lack of fetal activity. Her back ached, and her skin had a few stretch marks, but at least her internal organs were not feeling the brunt of kicks. But still, if she tried to take a deep breath, her lungs did not feel like they could expand to their fullest capacity. That was because the organs of her upper gastrointestinal tract were squashed against her diaphragm. Since her body was having to endure that much change already, she had no clue what to expect as time passed and she grew larger to accommodate.

By the time lunch was rolling around, Sanji had everyone set up a table on the deck so they could eat outside in the nice weather. His plan to serve lunch on the sandbar was a bust, but not a complete loss. Plus, he had seen how comfortable Aurilee was, and he felt that asking her to join them in the kitchen would be a little too much for now. At least outside, there was room to spread out.

She looked as if she was out of place while they were eating, but it was better than feeling scared. One thing Sanji did notice, however, was how she did not look anybody in the eye. But it only happened when everyone had joined for the grub.

After lunch was over and everything was put away, it was a waiting game for arrival at the island. Nami kept an eye on the Merry's direction. Usopp and Luffy started catching fish for Sanji to clean and store in the fridge. Chopper was reading one of his medical books next to Aurilee. And Zoro had found a place to lay down and catch some Z's. Aurilee tried to not turn her head in his direction, but sometimes she could not help it. It was like she was sharing a space with a green-haired Calisto. Despite him having not spoken to her directly yet, she was still on edge that he would at some point, and that it would be Calisto's voice coming from his mouth. If she had the opportunity to, she would slink back down into the girls' quarters unnoticed and have a bit more peace of mind.

Before Aurilee knew it, Sanji was bringing her another snack. If his goal was for her to never feel a hint of hunger, then he was succeeding. This really was the complete opposite of the food experiences she had with the Gunslinger Pirates. From getting barely any portions to getting an overabundance made her question her decision to leave the pirates in a few hours. And Sanji was always kind to her when making his deliveries. He gave off the ambiance of wanting to serve her, and even though she was too nervous to thank him, he accepted just the simplest notion such as knowing he existed as plenty of gratitude.

And while she ate, Chopper stood up next to her and showed him the open pages of his book. "Aurilee, I think I figured out what your skin condition is!" he excitedly told her.

She glanced over the chair arm to see his medical book full of paragraphs with images of humans that did not look normal.

"I think you have something called Piebaldism. It's a genetic mitotic cell disease where the melanocytes in your skin don't mature in certain areas on your body, and it results in no color showing in those areas. It explains why you have pale patches and white hair. And it can cause Heterochromia, too."

She stared at the image provided in the book that showed a father and son sharing unique patches of bleached skin. It took her back to living on the island of wolves, where the tribe had outcasted her and her mother in fear of contracting her disease. They labeled her a demon because of it. Although she was curious why she looked the way she did, she had hoped that it was not actually a disease. "Heterochromia?" she repeated softly, not familiar with the term.

"It's your different eye colors," he answered, gazing up into them with awe. The left was a dark brown while the right was a light green, and it made her face appear lopsided as a result. But Chopper did not perceive it as ugly. Instead, he thought it was neat to see a genetic condition from his textbook presented to him in the flesh. "I would imagine that since the melanin in your skin is deactivated, the melanin in your eyes is affected the same way."

"You fit in quite well, if you ask me," Robin interposed, leaving her book open on her crossed lap.

Aurilee looked at the archaeologist only to be met with her usual kind smile and oceanic gaze.

"You've probably noticed already, but this crew is full of strange characters. Some of us have devil fruit powers, and some of us look a little funny. But it all helps us get along. I would argue that here, you barely stick out among the crowd."

She looked over Robin to see how she could look funny but only saw someone who was attractive. But before she could dig deeper, Robin crossed her arms to activate her powers and make an arm sprout from Aurilee's chair. The event spooked her, making her lean away from Robin with pupils dilated.

But she let the limb dissolve away with pink flower petals as the only remnants of its existence. "I ate the Flower Flower Fruit. Chopper ate the Human Human Fruit. And Luffy ate the Gum Gum Fruit."

"That's why I can talk!" Chopper chimed in. After climbing up the chair and sitting on the arm, he asked her a question: "Do you have any powers?"

It was an innocent thing to ask, and it made sense in the context of things. When the Straw Hats rescued her two days ago, she had been forced to walk the plank after her pregnancy was discovered, and she nearly drowned. One thing she learned since being taken from her home island was that devil fruits took away the ability to swim. Chopper was thinking that her purposely drowning herself to end her misery was a sign of such powers. But he was mistaken.

To answer him, she shook her head, almost disappointedly. There was a time when she could have had powers, but she chose to save a silver wolf instead of subjecting her to a life of abuse alongside her. But thinking back on that moment when she shoved her off the ship, Aurilee could not help but wonder what would have happened if she obeyed the pirates' demands instead? She would have gained the shapeshifting abilities that her bloodline gifted her with, and then what? Gone on a rampage and freed herself? The split-second decision she made as a child was one full of fear, anger, and confusion. Still to this day, she doubted the integrity she pursued back then. It was either give the pirates what they wanted after they nearly murdered her parents, or thwart them in spite and sacrifice herself for Luna's wellbeing.

In the end, she endured suffering alone. She was incapable of being strong. And now her fate resided in young motherhood. Aurilee was internally overwhelmed by it all. Surrounded by more pirates with three infants on the way. The fear of being hurt again. That was exactly why she had to get off this ship; to be free from this predicament of forced motherhood and escape the clutches of piracy. Once she slipped away, she could start making her way back to where she came from. There, she would have family again. There, she would be whole again. There, she could become strong. And she could forget all about her pain.

Fatigue had overcome her for a couple hours. The gentle rocking of the Going Merry and the comforting breeze had lulled her to sleep in the chair next to Robin. She did not notice when they reached calmer waters and furled the sails since they were porting. Voices were what finally awoken her.

"Robin and I are going book shopping," Chopper told Sanji.

"And I'm going to look for more baby clothes and whatever else babies need," Nami shared, pocketing a lot of berries from the stolen loot.

"I want to go find good meat," Luffy enthusiastically said with drool on his chin.

"Then you can help me get groceries," Sanji established with the rubber man.

"Aw! I wanted to go to a restaurant!" Luffy complained.

"I'll cook dinner when we get back to the Merry," he ensured, pulling an empty sack over his shoulder.

"I guess I'll tag along with Nami," Usopp concluded, scratching the back of his head.

"Actually, since Sanji is having to cook more, he's probably going to buy a lot more food. Maybe he needs help lugging the extra weight?" Nami wondered aloud.

"Yeah," Sanji concurred, "and you can also help me keep Luffy from eating anything."

"Hey, Swordsman," Robin said, looking past everyone to see Zoro still napping on the other side of the deck.

After a snore, Zoro popped an eye open and let out a yawn. "Yeah?"

"Are you staying here?"

"Sure, whatever," he answered, picking his ear with his pinky before swiftly returning to his nap.

"Okay!" Luffy laughed. "Then it's your responsibility to look after Aurilee."

Zoro did not acknowledge the bestowed task as he went back to snoring while hugging his swords against his side.

Usopp slid a ramp down to the dock, prompting everyone to leave the ship. "We'll be back soon, Aurilee!" Chopper imparted with a wave of his hoof.

Sanji saw how she was awake now and was instantly struck by her beauty. His knees felt weak as his body turned into a wet noodle that wiggled with happiness. "I shall return with plenty of sweet treats for you, my fair maiden!" he swore, his heart eyes pulsing and a cloud following him as his sprinted away.

"Oh, there he goes," Usopp commented, making his way down the ramp.

"Bye, Aurilee!" Luffy said, following Usopp.

When all of their footsteps faded, Aurilee remained where she was. She wanted to wait until there was enough time for them to scatter into the village and get far away. It would be easier to slip through the civilization and go deeper into the island when she was not spotted.

Gazing over at Zoro, she watched as he slumbered without a care in the world. His mouth was slack as he snored incessantly. She decided to get up since her bladder was alerting her. Even when the deck creaked underneath her movements, he did not open his eyes or flinch. Opening the door that led below deck had the same outcome. This guy slept like a log.

After relieving herself, she returned to the girls' quarters to get some things. She did not know where she would go or how she would find help. The Navy was not an option since there was a bounty on her head. She just wanted to find somebody with a boat who could at least give her a ride to the next island. If she had to travel the entire Grand Line to find her home island, then she would do it. As for her unborn children…she would give birth whenever the time came, but she would not take them with her. It would not be hard to find an orphanage that would take them in. Besides, it would be better for them to be adopted by people who actually wanted them and had the ability to take care of them.

Aurilee found the clothes that Nami had gotten for her and stuffed them in a bag she picked up from the floor. Then she went back up to the deck. Zoro was still sleeping. Within a handful of steps, she herself was standing in front of the ramp that paved the way toward her freedom. There was a time many moons ago when she stood in front of a similar ramp with people who had taken her in as part of their family. They wanted to all leave the Gunslinger Pirate crew together. But with guns drawn and an unwillingness to give up more than one chore girl, Aurilee was stopped from joining their departure. Ripped apart from people who cared for her, she was forced to watch them slowly vanish from sight.

"Please don't leave me here!" she had wailed. "You said I was part of your family! I thought we were always going to be together! You promised me! Please, Daddy, please come back and take me with you!"

Tears sprung up in her eyes from the memory. To think that one particular day would come full circle. Nothing was stopping her from leaving this time. She tiptoed down the ramp, her getaway beginning.