The Girl with A Half-Soul

Chapter 25:

Lasting Impression

People were settling in for the night. That meant they were starting to leave to head home. The bonfire was turning into a pile of smoldering embers. Hank sat close to it to make sure it truly died out. But he was not alone. The remaining stragglers who were a little too drunk or had nowhere else to be sat in the darkening vicinity still singing songs. Jolene traded her fiddle for a guitar and was lightly strumming as she led a song about being a decent neighbor.

While Belle put her youngest two kids to bed, Beau and Virginia got help from Ellis, Keith, Sanji, and Robin to finish cleaning up and putting tables away. While Zoro was passed out until the morning, the rest of the Straw Hats were gathered to discuss this Sasquatch tip.

"So let me get this straight," Nami tried to sort out. "A guy told an Usopp story about a humanoid creature and you think it could be your father?"

Aurilee nodded. "It was vague, yes, but you don't understand. My father is like the guardian of my home island. He always shapeshifted to scare off trespassers. It didn't always require fighting. Most of the people he scared off were pirates, but I'm sure some weren't."

"He said the story came from the rednecks up the island," Usopp added. "If we find whoever told the story first, maybe we can find a way to the island."

"This is great!" Luffy exclaimed. He grabbed the sides of Aurilee's arms and started shaking her back and forth. "We're gonna get you home!"

She let him do it, but she was not enjoying the experience. "Y-Yeah, hopefully," she replied.

Belle exited the cabin. Upon hearing the door, Nami glanced over her shoulder and realized she was just the person she needed. "Belle!"

She looked up to see the navigator approaching her. "Yeah?"

"Would you happen to have a map of Appalachia? It looks like we're visiting the rednecks tomorrow."

Entertained by the question, she held up a finger to indicate waiting a moment and proceeded to disappear back inside. It turned out she had something better than a map of Appalachia. She had a map of all the islands that were nearby. She set it on a table for them all to see. Appalachia was a long island that extended out of sight with rolling mountains and small communities sprinkled around like the neighborhood they were currently in. A smaller island called Bayou to the south resembled the shape of a boot. Toward the west, there was a huge island that could hardly fit on the map. Lone Star Island was almost intimidating just with its size.

"Hank sometimes has to deliver wood to buyers on the other islands, so here's what I got. If you're looking for the rednecks, they're about a four-hour boat ride." She pointed to a spot that was toward the center of the island.

"That's not too bad," Chopper observed from his perch on Usopp.

Curious by the gathering, Sanji peered over everyone's shoulders to see the map. "What's going on?"

"Just getting directions," Nami answered. "We might find someone who knows where Aurilee's island is."

The news surprised Sanji, but he was pleased to hear it. He wrapped an arm around the mother-to-be to bolster his excitement for her. "Awesome. Let's hope this gets us somewhere."

She looked at him with a mix of startlement and respite. After hours of overthinking and keeping to herself about her insecurities, here he was. Same old Sanji. It felt better when he stuck around without Jolene's influence. Suddenly, Aurilee wanted to leave the neighborhood to keep it this way.

The little bit of peace of mind she had was short lived, though. A bright orange light unexpectedly enlarged, bringing with it a few yelps and a scene of people scrambling away. By the time the Straw Hats looked to see what had happened, all there was to see was Keith running backwards in circles with a gas can in his grasp. He had the wonderful idea of reigniting the dying bonfire by pouring gasoline on top of it. The result was just as dumb; flames were rapidly crawling up the stream of gasoline as it poured, and he was trying to outrun it as rings of fire were forming on the grass.

While Hank was yelling at him to toss it away, Ellis was laughing. This was sure to be another story to add to his collection, the third to involve arson. Keith luckily followed the advice and tossed the gas can away so he did not add more burns to his list of injuries. Hank doused the area with water to prevent a catastrophe.

Escaping the path of destruction, Jolene laughed as she kept the guitar safe and joined the pirates. "Welp, I guess that's my cue to go," she commented.

"Wait!" Luffy said. "I'm looking for a musician to join my crew! Can you join?"

"Join your crew?" she repeated.

Aurilee could feel the hair on the back of her neck. All her trepidations were piling right back on top of her. Not that she had a right to say what Luffy could and could not do with his crew, but she prayed for Jolene to not be interested. Because if she was, that would mean every day would go the way this one had. Just the thought of it stressed Aurilee out and made her dread the remaining journey she had with them.

The exact opposite was Sanji's reaction to the question. His heart eye returned, and his limbs swayed happily at the mere thought of having Jolene as a crewmate. They both had fun cooking, talking, and flirting with each other. He could not get enough of her, and she acted as if she reciprocated the same sentiment. If it was true, then she had a comfortable place in the crew already. "Yes! Join us!" he prompted.

Jolene scratched the back of her head and nervously chuckled. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm afraid I ain't cut out for the pirate life," she confessed.

With that, Aurilee relaxed her diaphragm to finally breathe out. Back in the clear never felt so good.

"Aw, but it's fun!" Luffy tried persuading.

"Maybe for you, but I like my quiet, borin' life just the way it is."

"Think about it, then. We'll be leaving in the morning."

"That's a short stay! Where y'all headed to?"

Nami rolled up the map after Belle told her to keep it. "The rednecks," she answered. "We could use a guide just for the detour, if you're interested in that."

"Hmm." Her eyes moved to Sanji for a quick glance. Maybe if it was just for a day's trip, then she might consider it. "Let me think about it."

Aurilee wanted to smack her palm against her face. Why was everyone begging for Jolene to stick around?!

"Y'all need a place to sleep tonight?" Belle questioned from behind everyone.

"Not with the Going Merry so close," Usopp said. He slid Chopper off from his shoulders and got his help in grabbing Zoro by the ankles as he continued snoring. "But thanks for offer." They started dragging the swordsman toward the ship to at least get him on the deck to sleep off the rest of his ingested moonshine.

"Let me at least cook y'all a nice breakfast before y'all set out," Belle coaxed.

"Deal!" Luffy agreed before chasing after Usopp and Chopper.

Seeing them all depart for the evening made Belle smile. She could not help but be a good host. Recruiting Nami for one last thing, they both left. It was just Sanji alone with Aurilee and Jolene after that. "So, why're y'all visiting the rednecks?" Jolene asked.

"Oh, we're looking for Aurilee's home island," Sanji explained. "It looks like our first clue is with them." He looked to Aurilee to verify that he was conveying the correct information. "Right?"

She nodded.

"Kind of sad y'all are leaving so soon," Jolene commented. "It was nice to meet you, though."

"You're going?" Sanji asked.

"It is gettin' dark. Maybe I'll catch y'all for breakfast?"

"Hold on." He turned to Aurilee. "You need anything right now?"

"N-No?" she replied.

"Okay. I'll be back soon." He turned back to Jolene and offered his elbow to her. "May I walk you home? To make sure you're safe."

Her face lit up. Such gentlemen were hard to come by. Her attraction to the curly-browed cook was peaking at this very moment. He was just so different compared to the run of the mill hillbillies who only did similar things to impress her and nothing more. Sanji was genuine in his caution. "Of course, you may," she allowed, tucking her arm around it.

Aurilee's heart sank. Right before her eyes, someone she cared about was walking away. It was something from her nightmares. Her mind started replacing the figures with ones from her past. She wanted to cry out, but her throat closed up. All she could do was feel her body go numb and dissociate until they both vanished into the night together.

The neighborhood may have very well been safe, but Sanji did not want to take a chance. He felt very warm inside being so close to Jolene. Knowing she was out of harm's way from his presence alone eased him. But the only other living creatures outside with them were hundreds of chirping crickets and even more squealing locusts.

At one point, Jolene leaned her head against the side of his arm. She did not wake up this morning thinking she would find someone who would make her feel this way. Knowing he was leaving in about twelve hours or less actually pained her. If she was crazy enough, she would join the Straw Hat crew just to stay with Sanji. He stuck a new cigarette between his lips and lit it as he tried to contain his excitement for the way she was holding him. He smoked like a chimney, but as far as she could tell, that was his only flaw.

When they reached her house, she pulled her arm from his to grab his hand instead. That pool of rainwater in her front yard had absorbed back into the ground, but it was still too damp to walk through. Because of that, she led him up the little dirt pathway that went to her front door. The light on the corner of the roof was the only source of light they had. "Okay. I made it home safe," she said as she stepped up the wooden stoop.

"You can never be too careful," he replied, surprised by how short the trip ended up being. But he was too focused on how she had not let go of his hand yet to really care about that right now.

"Now you have to go back all by yourself," she observed, a little sad.

"I'll be fine. Don't worry about me."

Her gaze moved to their hands. Neither of them hinted at wanting to loosen their grip. So, she tightened her grip and pulled him a little bit. "How about you just stay here and go back when it's light outside again?"

The proposal sent him up a high. Him? Staying at a lady's home? Just the two of them? Yes, please! But right when he was about to agree, he stopped. There was a little promise he had to keep. "I would, but I told Aurilee I'd go back after I walked you home," he admitted.

She remembered the pregnant girl. Rather than respect his given word to her, she pulled Sanji with more force so she could hold the side of his face and plant a kiss. Aurilee could have him back when they left. She wanted him just for tonight while the opportunity lasted.

The kiss totally caught him off guard. Since it was the first one he had ever received, his whole body felt like it was going to slack and start floating away. Her lips were so soft against his, and she held them there until he straightened up. "Please?" she added.

His heart eye and deepening blush was enough proof that she changed his mind. "Y-Yes, of course I will."

The answer delighted her. To reward him, she threw her arms around his neck to kiss him again. It was his invitation to hold her back. He was able to caress her small waist and know what it was like to kiss back. His cigarette fell to the ground. With her guidance, they stayed locked together as they disappeared inside the house.

Even though they were anchored in a safe place, Chopper was still going to do his night watch duties. He checked on Zoro as he laid flat on his back in the center of the deck, still heavily snoring and practically in an alcohol-induced coma. Despite being good at holding down his booze, a part of him still worried he would get sick during the night and choke on his own vomit. So, he would probably stick close by just in case.

But he was not the only crewmate who was awake. Aurilee was standing close to the side where the plank was. She looked like she was waiting.

Noticing her absence, Robin came up from the girls' quarters to find her. She came to her side and looked out at the area just like she was. The final lit window in the log cabin went dim as Hank and Belle settled in for the night. Now it was their turn.

"He didn't come back," Aurilee croaked.

Alarmed, the archaeologist looked to her. "Who?"

"Sanji. He was going to walk Jolene home and come back. He should've come back by now."

"Maybe she lives a little far. I'm sure he'll be here in a few minutes."

She did not respond. Robin just did not understand, but Aurilee did. Jolene was actively working to get what she wanted. She was giving Sanji everything he ever dreamed of having with a woman. And if he was living the dream, why would he come back at all? He found himself a future wife. Everything she feared would happen was coming to fruition. Empty promises crumbled away when enough distance separated people. Aurilee knew that all too well. She just never thought it would happen so fast, especially with someone she grew to trust.