How's quarantining going with all of you lovely people? This is a scary time for us all, but I know that I now have time to finally do a rewrite of DGOP, so here it is! You'll find that a lot is the same, but I really put more effort into every scene. Nothing is really rushed anymore and Tsukino is a bit different. I changed a bit about her dreams, perspective, and understanding of others.

Luffy: AsoSunflower does not own One Piece! . . . Meat! Where is my meat!

Me: It is in the pantry, Luffy.

Luffy: MEAT!

Chapter 1: If you knew my story, you'd have a good story to tell. -Bright Star, If You Knew My Story

(Tsukino's Point Of View)

"Tsukino, come on! We're getting ice cream - No complaints!" Pulling me away from my journal was one of my closest friends, Akane. She tugged on my arm, her collarbone-length red hair swaying as she tried to leverage her body weight to pull me up. Letting out a sigh, she crouched in front of me and lightened her voice. "My treat~!" The sing-songy sound had me looking away from the page and up to her face. Her mouth was curved up, almost mischievously, and as we made eye contact, her hazel eyes sparkled in hope.

"Your treat, huh? Okay then." Finishing the sentence on the page, I shut my journal and set it on the coffee table. I knew that she wasn't at all planning on paying, and she knew I knew because she knew I could hear her thoughts. I'll make sure to bring my wallet since her 'poor wallet has nothing left to give' after her shopping date last night. At the thought, I smiled and turned towards her, fingering the locket around my neck. As soon as she knew she had my attention, she sucked in a breath and brought a hand dramatically to her forehead, almost comically and I smacked her arm. "Don't gasp like I've never given you my full attention before, drama queen!"

She laughed at that and I pushed her over, joining in on laughing as she let out a shriek, plopping unceremoniously onto the couch next to me. "Rude!" Righting herself, she stuck her tongue out at me before grabbing my arm again and pulling me to my feet. "But, since I'm so nice, I'll forgive you. Now come on, they're having a two for one special on ice cream bowls at the place by the docks."

Grabbing my bag and wallet at the door, I passed the bookshelf and remembered the short stories I checked out were going to be due soon. "That reminds me, I need to take another trip to the library." I slipped the three borrowed books out of the bookshelf and into my bag before facing Akane at the door.

"Not the library again! Come on, Tsukino. No one's ever going to try to interact with you if you're always immersing yourself in those stories." Her frown was faint, and though she was scolding me, I could hear that she didn't really believe the words she was saying. We both knew it wasn't the stories that had people avoiding me. She snapped her fingers. "Maybe you should come out with me and some of my friends this week. No books, no shows, no anime, just me introducing you to some of my close friends. I really think that they'll see past any rumours the town has spread about you." I bit my lip in an attempt to hold back the laugh that tried to bubble up, knowing that Akane was being sincere. She really did think that the new friends she had made would like me, but she was overestimating her sway as the town's perfect 'princess'. Even if she talked me up, they'd see it as me brainwashing her, or blackmailing her to do it. I'll always be a freak, or even better, a monster to the people here, and part of her knew it.

"I think I'll pass, Akane. But thank you. It means a lot that you invited me." Opening the door, I smiled at her. "Shall we go? The ice cream isn't going to eat itself." Once she was out, I locked the door behind us and we were off.

We lived on a small island, so while we were walking down the street to get to the ice cream store, it wasn't anything new to feel the stares and hear the neighbors pulling the blinds closed as we passed. "You're sure? I really think that they're different from the others, they're very kind to me, and they don't talk bad about you." But they think it. I didn't have the heart to tell her that her friends aren't very different from the rest of the townspeople, worshipping Akane for existing, hating anything abnormal, and hating me even more. It wasn't something that was going to change, and I didn't want to stop Akane from hanging out with them because they hate me. They always have. In their eyes, in everyone's eyes, Akane is kind enough to befriend me and I'm taking advantage of her goodness. Of course, Akane isn't as perfect as they all believe, but that's something Akane will need to decide to reveal on her own. Besides, even if I did, it isn't like they'd believe me.

After all, I'm the monstrous witch who corrupts the future and steals people's memories. I let out a snort at the thought, then blinked at the look Akane gave me. "Sorry, I wasn't laughing at you, I just had a funny thought. I'm sure that your friends would at least give me a chance," the lie felt sour on my tongue, but I didn't want her to ditch her other friends for me, "but I'm just not feeling up to social interaction. You know that groups make me nervous." At least that wasn't a lie, crowded rooms did make me nervous. When you're unable to turn off the fact that you can hear the thoughts of everyone around you, the sound in your head when you're in a crowded room is unpleasant, to say the least.

"...okay." Akane pouted as we turned the street corner. "Just… let me know if you change your mind." She sounded so hopeful, and her thoughts confirmed what her face was conveying. But that is even more reason that I don't want to meet them. Akane really likes them. I don't want her to give up on going out with friends and shopping and other social interactions that I know she loves. And she would if they slipped up hiding their thoughts in my presence. So we just won't ever meet. "Besides, if anyone can tell if this week or the next is the best time to buy new paints, it's you." Bouncing back to her chipper self, I laughed a little at the assumption.

"It doesn't work like that, but you've got the spirit." Closing my eyes, I sighed. The thought that it could be something so harmless made me want to cry. "If I tried to predict the future like that, everyone would think my 'freakish' self is trying to curse their future." And I'd just end up seeing a stupid scene where I never existed.

She frowned and lightly smacked my arm. "Why can't you just realize that you're special, not freakish? My friends just don't know you yet, not the way I do. And everyone else doesn't know what they're talking about. You're as special as you are pretty, which you are, don't fight me on that. I won't have self deprecation in my house, thank you." You're biased, though.

"I've looked in a mirror, Akane. And we're outside." At the well meaning comment, I smiled. It wasn't that I thought I was hideous, I liked my face well enough, and I loved my hair, but my relationship with my image was too complicated for me to look at my reflection and see anything but painful memories I'd rather forget.

"...and you're like a fish under water! Who else can hold their breath for so long!" I didn't realize she was still talking, but I caught the last bit and shot back, a little louder than necessary,

"Maybe I should've been born a fish, at least they wouldn't be so obvious in their hatred or me." The words were pointed at a woman who forced her child to cross the street to stay out of our path. She suddenly became very interested in her shoes and pulled her little boy faster.

We turned right and I could see the ice cream shop at the end of the street, right across from the village's only bank. Akane continued to ramble, trying to convince me to go along with her and some of her friends that evening. When she continued to walk even after we arrived in front of the ice cream shop, I grabbed her arm. "We're here."

"Oh, right! Sorry." As we entered, she reached into her back pocket. "Shit, I forgot my wallet." Patting her back pocket after bringing out her phone, she sucked in a breath and turned her eyes to me, widening them pathetically and turning on her natural charm, "can you...?" Her puppy dog eyes were drilling into my soul, and if I didn't already expect this, I probably would've been more upset with her.

"Sure, but next time you're paying." As I said it, I knew it wasn't going to happen. Paying for ice cream isn't really that big of a deal, anyway.

"Of course! When have I not decided to pay?" I blinked at her and she faltered, turning to open the door to the shop. "On second thought, don't answer that." Forcing myself not to frown, I pushed a smile onto my face as Akane looked back, waiting for me to enter the store. That wasn't the best acting she's done. Her sheepish look and the way she cursed in her mind told me that she knew it too. I knew that if Tera were here, she'd have easily called Akane out for being selfish, but I didn't really mind. Even if she has the tendency to calculate everything and make sure that everyone perceives her in a certain way, I can't blame her, given the circumstances.

Entering the store, I got several looks from patrons, and I pushed down my musings, leaning over to Akane to whisper my order and hand her my wallet. We both know that we'd be kicked out if I tried to order for us, even Akane's reputation wouldn't stop them. After we got our ice cream, we sat at an open window seat for two that let the bright, warm sun shine through the glass.

We ate, and Akane talked about school, boys, and her evening plans, and I listened, smiling at her recollection of a shitty date when a sudden, familiar burning heat centered in the middle of my forehead, the edges of my sight became fuzzy, and then everything went white.

They hadn't been popping up for a while, but it was still wishful thinking to think they stopped entirely. Looking around in my vision, I recognized the shop to be the ice cream shop that we were just in. Recognizing the patrons of the store to be the same ones that gave us mixed looks when we entered, dread pooled in my stomach.

The dread only got more potent at the sound of a gunshot. "This is a hold up! Put your hands in the air and put your money on the table! Empty the register! Hurry!" A man stood in line at the register, smoking gun facing the ceiling. His face was covered and he wore all black.

Waving the gun wildly at the patrons, their reaction was immediate, screaming and hitting the floor, some cowered under tables and others jumped behind their friends. The man looked unfamiliar, which was strange because our village is small and everyone knows everyone. He walked further into the shop and then focused his sights on Akane and two of her friends. I recognized them to be the ones that had, early in their friendship, locked her in a shed out of jealousy. "You three! Shut up! Where's your money? Give it here!" Panicking at the sudden development, I looked around the store to get information that could help me. Come on… give me something to work with! The clock on the wall reads 3:31 and the calendar… My heart sank as I confirmed what I already suspected. Today...

"Akane, you're the one with the money, right? Give it to him!" Junko… I clenched my law at the sight of her.

Akane's frantic voice stopped me from focusing on how much I hated Akane's friends. "Wha- no… I-I don't have any money to give you. I don't have my wallet."

"Eh? No money?" The man looked at Junko and Chiisa before raising his gun, eyes uncaring as the other two dove behind Akane. "Then you are of no use to me." What… no. NO!

There was nothing I could do as the deafening sound of the gunshot vibrated through my head, but even with how loud it was, it didn't even compare to the sound of Akane's body hitting the table. Knowing I wouldn't be heard, I screamed anyway, faintly registering the fact that no noise would leave my mouth.

"..kino. Tsu… Tsukino! Tsukino, are you alright? You just blanked… oh. Was it a vision? What was this one about?" She asked curiously, leaning forward and resting her head on her hand.

"What time is it?" I asked. Akane can't die here. I refuse to lose anyone else. Shaking away the image of her lifeless body, I suppressed a shuddering breath. She was dead. I saw her; head on the table, blood everywhere. One well aimed shot through the chest. Just remembering the sight had me forcing back a gag while pushing away unwanted memories.

"It's 3:26, why?" Akane asked, slow and hesitant. "What's wrong?"

"Akane...Can you hold onto my wallet? My pockets aren't as big as yours." At her nod, I smiled absently and shot a glance to the clock. "Remember when Tera and I found you at Moca Island?" Her eyes darkened at the reminder, and she immediately thought I was going to reveal her secret in the middle of this ice cream store. At the distrust, I held back a frown, shaking my head. "I hope that there comes a day when you don't feel like you need to hide to be loved. The people on this island who love you do so because you're you, not because you're normal. Tera fights with you because she trusts your strength and knows you're someone she can be herself around. And I'm the same way. Know that I will always be on your side, no matter what happens."

"Tsukino, what are you...? You're acting like I'm gonna die. Don't worry so much. You must be a little confu-"

"Akane, you trust me right?" I said cutting her off. Her thoughts swirled in her head, and she nodded, resolute. I smiled. "Good, then trust me and take this and go to the bathroom for a moment. Can you do that for me?" She nodded again, even more worried than before but I paid her no mind, grabbing a pen out of my bag and writing her a note. 'Thank you for everything, Akane. If Tera ever comes back, tell her I'm sorry for never giving her a proper answer. Goodbye, and I'm sorry I couldn't stand by you for as long as you needed.' Looking up at the clock, I cursed under my breath. It's already 3:30. Folding the napkin, I handed it to her and gave her a hug, which probably surprised her even more. Pulling back, I pushed her towards the restroom. "Now get going! Hurry!" Looking back at me once in confusion, she finally entered the bathroom. Letting out a sigh, I took my phone out and called the police, speaking quickly, "There's a man with a gun at the corner ice cream shop on 6th and 10th street. Please get here as soon as possible!" Without hanging up, I set my phone face down on my chair.

"This is a hold up! Put your hands in the air and put your money on the table! Empty the register! Hurry!" A man entered the shop and centered a gun at the ceiling, firing it once. Waving it wildly at the patrons, their reaction was immediate, screaming and hitting the floor, some cowered under tables and others jumped behind their friends. He walked further into the shop and looked where Akane would have been before his eyes met mine. "You! Give me your money now!" Of all the ways I imagined my death, this is it, huh. This is how I die.

"Sorry, I don't have any more money, unless you want a…" Fishing in my pockets, I pulled out a receipt and a straw wrapper, "...a handful of useless paper. Who robs an ice cream shop anyway? I mean, really, there's a bank right across the street." I forced myself to take a steadying breath and level the man with a glare, hoping that he didn't notice how badly my hands were shaking. I only hope that Akane will return my books to the library for me. Oh, I hope no blood gets on them. Ah, but they'll probably be collected by police as part of the scene of the crime. Well, one can only hope-

"Che, brat! If you have a death wish, so be it." My thoughts were cut off by the robber and I flinched, my hand flinging out toward his arm. He reacted quickly and I closed my eyes, awaiting my definite fate, and then pain. Cold and hot at the same time, so very familiar and yet like nothing I had ever experienced. And then the pain was fading to a buzz, and when I opened my mouth to scream, the only voice I registered was Akane's. My name had never sounded as panicked as it did now, mixed with the sound of sirens. Then, like someone was slowly turning the volume down on my hearing, everything faded, and then, quiet. Finally, it all went black. For a moment, I thought that the darkness was all I'd see forever, then there was the sound of bubbling, shifting water, and I was finally numb.

"…moto-san! Fuji… Fujimoto-san! Ah, you're back with me. Good. Who are you? What do you remember? Start at the beginning." The person in front of me was covered in a dark emerald cloak. He was about my height, but his voice sounded almost five to six years older than me.

"I'm Fujimoto D. Tsukino, the unfortunate child of Tierman F. James, and Tierman K. Leiko. Both of whom were scientists that submitted me as a test subject to further their standing. They died when I was six in a nuclear explosion." Realizing that there was no reason to be explaining my life story to the man, I stopped. "I suppose I'm dead."

"Yeah!" He affirmed all too enthusiastically. "Did you know when your parents tested on you, your ocean water infused DNA was activated, making water part of your system? So if you had tried, you could have breathed underwater!" This fuc- this guy sounds way too happy. I narrowed my eyes at him before stating, calmer than I felt,

"And why the hell would I ever have tried to breathe underwater? To experiment?" My voice was sharp at the word, and I glared at the man. Who the hell does he think he is, making light of everything that's tormented me since before I can remember.

Instead of reacting like I'd expected, flinching or wincing at the look in my 'unnaturally green eyes' like everyone else I'd dared to look at too intensely, he just laughed. "You're spirited, I'll give you that!" My eye twitched at his laugh, but he either didn't notice or didn't care. Pulling a clipboard out of… out of… Where did he get that? he hummed. "Hmm. Let's see here, aha! Fujimoto D. Tsukino, age fifteen, orphaned at age six, with only three friends. Considered 'cursed' and likes to use the word, 'freakish'. Oh, that's adorable." Adorable? That's a first… no, Eliana used to call me adorable too. Where does this fuc- where does he get off, calling me adorable? "Where was I… Ah, here we are!" He lightly tapped the clipboard before continuing. "Has powers so incomprehensible to regular humans that she was considered cursed and therefore branded an outcast." At the next part, he glanced up at me, speaking bluntly. "Man, even your own parents offered you up as a study subject in a lab for the first seven years of your life, and they probably would have continued longer if they weren't dead." I didn't flinch at the words, and I think the man in front of me was surprised at my lack of reaction, but I didn't care. They've been dead a while, and when they weren't… I can't say they were really family. "Yet, hmmm… It seems that you never stopped smiling, never stopped giving people the benefit of the doubt. Yes, you never seemed to give up on the hope that things would get better. Why is that? Because of your power, maybe? Did you see a better future for yourself?"

He looked at me, and I felt indignation bubble up at his stupid question. "Where the hell did you get your information and why's it making me out to be some story protagonist? I'm not kind, and I did 'stop smiling', as you put it. I hated life for a long time, and hope isn't something I ever clinged to. But…"

I thought of Eliana, who shared my face, but smiled brighter than I ever could. "But there were always people to reach out and remind me that life was worth living. When I got old enough to realize that my own parents thought I was cursed- just a thing to be tested on, I felt betrayed, used. But I still wanted to live. Even though I knew that my existence was limited to being tortured and experimented on for powers I never even asked for, I still wanted to live. Even if it was a pathetic existence, there were those around me who needed me, needed the stories I'd tell, the escape I provided. Even if they didn't like me, they seeked the comfort I could give." I miss her. "Back then, when the only thing I could do to try and repent for my existence was make sure everyone else survived, it was Eliana who reached out to me. She was like sunshine. She reached out and said, 'you don't have to apologize for being here. You're family.' To me, who had thought that her only family had thrown her away, it made me want to live. For her, and my aunt. They taught me that it was okay. That I wasn't wrong to want to live.

"Their light taught me to seek out other light, and that's what encouraged me to reach out to Tera. Surviving hell together, there wasn't anyone I'd entrust my life to more. When she decided to leave to find her family, I didn't let her leave because I wanted her to, but because I'd already hurt her, and I didn't want her to hate me. When she left, all I could think of was how lonely I was. It hurt so much more to have people I love and never see them again than it was to just be alone in the first place.

"But then I met Akane in the orphanage I was dumped in, and her fiery personality and strong desire to be loved brought color back into my life. Seeing her doing what I struggled to do so easily, I admired her. She reminded me that it's okay to see the world as more than just corruption and anger, she saw the good in people. She taught me that it's okay to want to be loved by wanting love herself. But…" I paused, "Even though we're all flawed, Akane has a future in the world that isn't marred by misery. Like Tera and Eliana, she paints the world with her vibrancy.

"So no, I didn't see a great future for me…" I laughed bitterly. "I can't even see a future where I exist!" Letting a breath out, I recalled the faces of those I loved, Eli, Tera, Reiko and Akane, smiling vibrantly. No one would deny they're the protagonists in their own stories. "But I wanted to hope and believe that there was a great one out there just waiting for me to embrace it. Maybe I'd find a family, brothers and sisters who'd accept me, and I'd have an exciting loving life, just like in the books. But in the end, fate isn't kind, no matter how much I wanted to live in that world and be accepted, it wouldn't work. Part of me always knew that. My life has always been a supporting role, a side character. Even though I'll always regret not trying to find a way to talk with Eliana, I could still hear her, and I knew she was going to be okay without me. Dying now, knowing that Akane and Tera are alive, that Eliana will still live a full life remembering me as her sister, doesn't it seem a fitting end to my story?"

There was a silent moment and my mind finally caught up to my mouth. Before I could say something to backtrack how vulnerable I'd just been, he spoke, his tone flippant and indelicate, and I felt my walls go up. "Hmmm. Funny how these things work, isn't it? She really does have a type she likes to pick."

This fuc- this asshole! Feeling my irritation and embarrassment at divulging more than I intended to this strange man hit its peak and I let out a short, "Who's 'she'?"

"You'll meet her soon enough. But let's stay on task." You're the one who veered off task in the first place you fuc- "The reason you're here is that you were meant to die." What? I sucked in a breath at the verbal sucker punch. "There is a world where you were meant to live, and it isn't the one you were on." A world I was meant to be in? There's more than one world? And I was just in the wrong one suffering this entire time? "In fact, I'm surprised you hadn't died sooner, since the world itself was trying to eject you. Earth One Two, it isn't my favorite, I have to say..." He said that last part to himself, but then moved on so quickly that I didn't have time to process it. "That's why you are to be given a second chance. Not here, no. You are already dead in this world, you will be sent somewhere where you are needed, where your powers aren't out of place, where you fit in, where you were truly meant to be. It's a parallel universe to the one you had. If I'm honest, it's a little ironic…" He shook his head. "No, nevermind. The world is Earth Two One, you'll recognize in more ways than one." Mr. Death finished, lightly tapping his clipboard with the backs of his fingers. "You will also get memories of how you lived in that world up until now, they won't be very different from yours, after all, it is an alternate universe. I'll send an assistant to help you out. By the way, do you know how to fight?"

"Yeah, enough not to get me killed…" The words turned to ash in my mouth. "Well, look how much good that did me." Nodding, I moved on, trying to not focus on the fact I'm dead and being placed in a different world. Then all this time… And what does this mean for my friends? My family? Shaking the thought away for later, I squeezed my eyes shut, opening them to see that I really wasn't dreaming. "Where am I going?"

"When you get there, seek out Terry, he'll be wearing a blue hat with green polka dots. He'll teach you what you need to know about this world, and train you." He said, completely disregarding my question and I clenched my fist in irritation. What an ass. He looked back at his clipboard. "Oh! Scratch that, he's already found you." Wha- Looking back at me, he nodded again. "Goodnight, Tsukino, and good luck. I like you, kid, so don't die too soon." He smiled, and the last thing I saw before everything went dark, again, was a pale face with kind emerald eyes, and I realized something, something that had my heart dropping into my chest. I couldn't read that fucker's mind!

The first thing that I noticed when I regained consciousness was that I was in pain. It felt like burning, raw and painful, an uncomfortable feeling of something in my chest that wasn't supposed to be there. I gasped at the sensation. It's my chest. Why… My thought process was cut off by a voice.

"Oh! You're awake. Fujimoto D. Tsukino… Usually the Higher Ups don't send me jobs that are floating in the ocean, half dead. You're definitely something else, aren't you, Kiddo?"

"How do you know my name? Where am I? Who are you? What's going o-" Pain shot through my chest as the entire room lurched. "Am… Am I on a boat?"

"You picked that up quickly. Yes, we're on a merchant ship. I'm the ship's doctor for this leg of the journey. We found your body off the shore of Sallion Island, a bag of stuff tied to your waist. Miraculously, when we fished you out, all of your supplies dried, even the books. You're lucky we needed to stop for supplies. The East Blue can be pretty plucky." He stood and grabbed what looked like a first aid bag and then sat back down at my side, but the words 'East Blue' bounced around in my brain. Why is that familiar? "It seems that you were shot, and then someone dumped your body. The captain would've left you, though I convinced him otherwise." I stopped trying to place 'East Blue' when he pointed at me, the movement catching my attention. "As for you, you were almost dead, and since I am a doctor, amongst other things, I couldn't very well let you die. Besides, you are my next job. I'm supposed to get you acquainted with this world, train you, help you, all that fun stuff." He worked as he talked, getting gear out I realized was his doctor's bag. I observed him, noting his green and blue hat.

"You're Terry." I placed, trying to sit up. He stopped me gently and pushed me back down. Grabbing some wraps, he answered, not looking at me.

"You're a lot sharper than anyone I've had to take under my wing, that bodes well for me. You put that together faster than anyone else and you're injured." He set the wraps down and prepared what I assume to be antiseptic. "This might not be as tedious of a job as I initially thought. Yes, I'm Tomone F. Terry. Currently I'm the ship's doctor, but in the larger scheme of things I'm an officer and moderator for the Higher Ups in Earth Two One through Three Five. Anyway, I need to take a closer look at your wound, so if you wouldn't mind…" He trailed off and I nodded. I felt myself nod off as he searched through his bag, and before I knew it, the rocking of the boat and the scent of ocean brine and antiseptic lulled me to sleep.

(Objective Point of View)

For the following month, Tsukino healed up on the ship, getting to know Terry and learning about Earth Two One. "This world is structurally similar to your own, society functions similarly, and as such, what you will need to learn won't be as hefty. Judging by the injuries on your head, when your body was dumped, your head was impacted quite severely. That's why your memories of this world are still a bit patchy. As your memories return, you'll feel irritated and you may have bouts of intense headaches. When they occur, let me know and I'll prescribe you with something to ease the pain."

Tsukino nodded slowly, making sure not to strain her injuries. "Thank you."

"We will be on this ship for a month, before we stop at a port in the East, that port is where we will leave the ship and I'll begin your training. Until then, we will be tending your injuries and making sure you heal properly. Do you understand?"

"I-" Tsukino took a shuddering breath. "I need some time to process everything, but yes, I understand the basics of what you've told me."

Terry nodded and then stood and strode to a bookshelf attached to the wall. Though she couldn't see, Terry's expression softened at her voice. "This is a good time for you to come to terms with everything. I know a lot has changed very quickly, and that's difficult. Let me know if you need an ear to vent to." After he said his piece, he grabbed a book off the shelf and turned, his hardened expression back into place, and then he nodded. "I'll return in two hours with something for you to eat. Until then, get some rest. Doctor's orders."

Tsukino easily complied, closing her eyes and thinking about the way the boat swayed. Trying not to think of anything that would cause her more grief and confusion, she fell asleep wondering if she was mourning herself, the life she had, or the normalcy that she had always hid behind.

The month passed quickly and as she healed and gained new memories to supplement the ones she had, though her confusion and distress didn't disappear, it became more manageable each day. Tsukino began escaping from reality as she usually did by reading the books in the infirmary, just to get her mind off of everything. It was a sense of familiarity that made everything easier to swallow, the fact that she could still find stories to distract herself. Tsukino stayed away from other passengers on the ship and ended up only venting out loud when she knew no one was around to hear her, despite Terry's offer. As much as she wanted someone to lean on, her trust was not given easily. I don't know why I'm here. Why me of all people? Is Akane safe? Will Tera hear of my death? Will Eliana remember me? My memories of this world are a little fuzzy, but they all still exist, so is there a version of them in this world too? Soon, the swirling of her thoughts weighed on her until her eyes finally slid shut.

As the ship's horn signaled the permission to dock, the sun rose fully in the sky. Terry entered the infirmary and found Tsukino already standing at the foot of her bed. "Ah, you're already up. The ship will be docked for the next two days. However, my contract with the captain is now over. Come now, I will show you where you will be living for the time being."

"Uh, yeah." Nodding numbly, Tsukino followed Terry out of the infirmary and onto the deck. Once off the ship she was hit with an even stronger sense of familiarity.

"I need to speak with the captain, I'll return in an hour or so. Feel free to look around town, but don't stray too far from the docks."

Tsukino nodded again, barely registering his words as she took in the bustle and the buildings. A nagging in the back of her mind was screaming at her to recall a key piece of information. Tsukino scanned the buildings, her line of sight rising up, up, up, until it zeroed in on the two largest structures by far on the island. Spotting the two blue buildings and a white and blue flag flying a well known symbol, Tsukino's stomach turned and her heart fell into her stomach as she berated herself for not making the connection earlier. This is… Shells Town. Sucking in air and immediately expelling it, Tsukino let herself laugh in disbelief. How many times have I watched the anime? How many times have I cried over the manga, relating my past to some of the Straw Hats? And that symbol… Looking at the marine symbol, Tsukino felt sick, the similarity to the symbol burned into her skin making her dizzy.

"Here kid. Wipe your tears and I'll make your painkillers once we've made it to the house." Terry's gruff voice was at war with the kindness of his words and the gentleness of his actions.

Bringing a hand to her face, Tsukino found that she was indeed crying. "...Thank you." Accepting the cloth, she wiped her tears and noted the pristine condition of the handkerchief she'd been handed. Inspecting it further, she found it had the embroidery of a sunflower on the corner and she held back a smile at how uncharacteristic it was for Terry's handkerchief to be so… delicate.

Finally processing Terry's words, Tsukino opened her mouth to refute him, to tell him that she wasn't crying because she was hurt when a stab of pain shot through her head and her flinch sent an aching pain through her chest, reminding her that she had just experienced death. A fact she immediately pushed out of her mind.

This is Shells Town, where Luffy and Zoro first met. Forcing herself to focus, Tsukino took a deep breath and straightened up. "Thank you. Terry, if I may ask, where are we going?"

"Maybe ten years ago, my friend Dian and I used to live here, in a cottage by the eastern shore. It's a two hour walk from here if you use the alleyways we created under the city to save time and get from one side of the island to the other quickly." He pointed to a small doorway in a back alley and then started walking slowly. "You'll take the guest bedroom on the floor below mine, I don't want to make you uncomfortable." He gave her a hard pressed look before saying, "We should go soon so that you can get cleaned up. You look worse for wear."

Looking over Tsukino, Terry couldn't be faulted for his observation, a month on a ship stuck in one room after getting shot had left her curly, ribcage length, dark blue hair knotted and unkempt. Her usually lively green eyes, which seemed to be able to see right through their target, looked weary and sad. She wore a tattered long sleeved mock top and worn grey pants with obvious tears from rocks ripping the clothes, revealing white bandages and scarred skin that starkly contrasted the smooth, albeit dirty, skin on her face. On her feet were a pair of borrowed flip flops that were undeniably two or three sizes too large for her feet. Around her neck was the only pristine object on her, a silver chain necklace with a well cared for round locket made to look like a sand dollar.

"Right. Thank you again, Terry." Following the gruff man who picked up his pace after assessing her, Tsukino took in as much information as she could from what she observed, both about the town and their people, and the man who would soon be teaching her. If this is real, and not some strange dream, I need to take all I can get if I want to survive here. After all, this is the world of One Piece.

Here is Chapter One of my rewrite! I'm excited to see how everything changes from here on out. I'll be doing a Q&A called Question of the Chapter, and I'll answer the question at the beginning of the next chapter. Please review and let me know your answer below! This Question of the Chapter is: What was the first Manga you ever read?

Let me know in the reviews, and I look forward to the next chapter!