Disclaimer
I do not own One Piece – So the characters aren't mine, obviously.
This story is inspired by everything I ever read or watched, so occurring similarities aren't an attempt at stealing anything. If someone feels imitated or thinks I stole something somewhere, please contact me and I'll clear up and/or correct possible misunderstandings or errors.
English isn't my first language but I tried my very best to avoid mistakes (without beta, yet, by the way).
Read, enjoy, feel free to review if you like – I'm really looking forward to suggestions and opinions.
Please refrain from messaging me just to offer art commissions, especially if you aren't even familiar with the fandom of One Piece – I won't consider them until this story is completed, anyway.
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Unpredictable – Chapter seven – The Calm before yet another Storm – part three
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"So without further ado: Let the feast begin!"
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"Food! Food, food, food, food, foooood." Luffy sang almost melodic, being the first of the lot to plunder the buffet.
The rest of the straw hat pirates looked at their captain with different variations of amusement before joining the fun as well.
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It was going to be a good day!
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The joyous celebration had been going on for quite a while already.
Plates, bowls and other tableware had been completely emptied – thanks to Luffy first and foremost, of course. Drinks were still coming and going – most of them landed up with the swordsman, like usual – and the atmosphere was happy and relaxed.
Brook had been inspired to play a new song with his violin, which added to the overall content mood of everyone present.
Meanwhile Arashi had been gathering tales about the countless adventures of the – as he now knew – famous Straw Hat Pirates and their notorious captain with a passion.
He was elated at every new piece of information that he could elicit from his guests. Usopp, who unexpectedly told the most – fairly overexaggerated – stories, was his main source and focus so far.
"You didn't!" Came an astonished call from the older man almost falling face first off his chair after the last – slightly inflated – tale. The sniper caught him just before he hit the ground, stabilizing him by grasping his left shoulder and right hand which earned him an embarrassed "Thank you."
"Yes, I did! They didn't know who they were messing with, after all!" Usopp claimed proudly.
"Was that the same time we found you inside of one of the empty wine barrels – after the battle was won?" The green-haired swordsman asked with a smirk.
"Oi, Zoro! That was a completely different time – and a completely unnecessary information!" The sharpshooter replied in indignation.
The exchange was followed by various chuckles from the rest of the pirate crew and hearty laugher from their host.
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"Say, Arashi-san." Robin started a conversation with the still slightly laughing man pleasantly. "You mentioned that you arrived at this island a couple of years ago – and haven't since left. I would be really interested in the story behind that fact – if you are comfortable with sharing, of course." She ended on a respectful note.
"Ah! Why, yes, of course! But I'm afraid my story might be disappointing after having heard about your incredible adventures." He conceded mildly.
The archaeologist gave him an assessing look before resuming their talk. "Maybe we can be the judge of that, Arashi-san?" There was a hint of suspicion in her tone then.
"If you really are interested in the story of good-old boring me, I will be more than happy to share!" Was the open-minded answer.
"I am." Robin assured.
"Alright! How about I'll let my servants bring us one glass of red wine each to go with the storytelling?" The island's leader proposed.
"That would be agreeable." Was the affirmative answer.
With only two loud claps the generous host got the immediate attention of one of his servants, who arrived with a tray serving the ordered drinks shortly after.
Before the black-haired woman could reach for her glass, Arashi had already taken both, offering one of them to the archaeologist with a wide smile. "I hope you'll like it, it's one of the best I possess."
"Thank you." Was polite reaction.
Taking the presented wine glass with little hesitation, their skin made contact for a moment, before the brunette led his female guest to one of the sitting areas further back the ball room.
After getting settled into two of the extravagant armchairs situated on one side of the hall – the other straw hats were mingling about the rest of the room – Arashi began his recollection of the events from the past.
"Well, … " Melancholy tinted his voice with his next words. " … it has been almost twelve years since I ended up on this particular island after our ship wrecked inside of the storm ring. We tried everything that we could to get through and managed to keep the ship stable for five days … but in the end, despite all of our efforts, the ship capsized … " After a short sad pause, Arashi was able to continue his account but not without obvious strain.
" … I was the only survivor … "
Robin looked at the middle-aged man with sympathy. "I am sad to here that."
A grateful little smile crossed his face before he continued with his story.
"I had managed to cling onto one of the wooden barrels we had stored and the ocean currents brought me to this island's beach … I've been here ever since." A little shrug accentuated his last words.
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A pensive silence had settled over everyone present after hearing from their host's ordeal.
Even Luffy was quiet for once. Not that he actually listened to even one word that was said – he couldn't care less about things like that – but he could read the atmosphere, if he really wanted to, that is.
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"Anyway!" Arashi shook himself out of his revery before he concluded his story. "I did survive at least and I am grateful for that fact every day." He finished with a smile.
The female pirate, however, was still curious about the man who had relations to her profession.
"What kind of ship was it? And what have you been doing on board? If you don't mind me asking." She questioned anew.
"Oh, …" The man hesitated for a moment. "Well, I guess there is no harm in telling you, since I haven't been working for them for almost a decade now. As I already told you, I am an historian and engineer and have been working for the marines back then."
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That information drew the interest of more than Robin to Arashi's narrative.
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"I was aboard one of their huge storage vessels at the time. We were on our way to one of the secret locations storing all kinds of artefacts and relics that the world government deemed unfit for the public to have access to – for various reasons."
"So, you were working for the marines but you yourself aren't one?" The straw hat's archaeologist tried to clarify.
"That's correct." Came the immediate affirmative.
With one last assessing look Robin dropped this train of conversation to start a new one. "It is truly tragic that all of these treasures are now lost forever to the world." The true sadness the woman felt about this news was obvious.
But Arashi's face lit up without a moment's notice.
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"In fact, those treasures aren't as lost as one would think."
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"So you mean to say, that the artifacts stored on your ship were washed ashore as well?" Robin asked a little skeptical.
"Yes! Not all of them, of course, but a fairly large number." The cheerful reply was followed by another inquiry from the curious woman. "But, how could they survive a shipwreck of this extent?"
"The ship itself ran aground near the eastern beach some days after I had arrived." Came the short explanation.
"And …" There was a rhetorical pause. "I wasn't an historian and engineer for nothing. I build the storage container system that protected most of the artifacts and relics." He claimed proudly.
"That is fascinating." The usually not that easily impressed woman aloud.
"It get's even better!" Arashi sounded really excited by now. "Over the years lots of shipwrecks landed near this island and I took it upon myself to start my own collection! Without all of their equipment and furnishing I couldn't have created this paradise of mine – not to forget the many spare parts I was able to use for the renovations of this old ruin." He sounded really proud of himself.
"Do you want to see?" The man's green eyes were gleaming with excitement at his own proposal. "I am sure there will be something for everyone to enjoy – I am in possession of rare items from every category imaginable and it would be so nice to finally have someone here who actually appreciates these things!" Continuing with a slightly more deliberate tone he added. "As much as I adore and appreciate the good-natures islanders here, they really don't have any interest in things like this."
"That would be wonderful …" Robin started before being interrupted by her captain of all people.
"Hey guys! Bow-tie-ossan will give us a tour! Let's explore!"
Of course, ever the adventurer Luffy wouldn't miss out on any opportunity to quench his never-ending thirst for action. His trusted crewmates ensembled around him and their host in a matter of moments.
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"I would like to have a look at the kitchen and pantry – there were some ingredients used in your dishes I have never come across before." The ship's cook was the first one to make a request followed by Usopp and Franky, who were both more than interested to visit the island leader's tinker room.
"Do you have some kind of infirmary as well, in any case?" came the soft voice from the Doctor of the crew next. The little reindeer would take whatever chance he got to expand his medical knowledge – he wanted to be able to cure every sickness, after all! Where would he have the chance to look at long lost data, if not today?
"Of course, my friends." Arashi exclaimed agreeable. "Here … " with that he pressed a keychain consisting of several different sized and colored keys into Sanji's right hand. "With this you will be able to go into every part of the kitchens and accompanying storages."
He repeated the procedure with Chopper, explaining the way towards his goal in Detail.
Taking the cyborg's right arm with his left hand before dropping another set of keys into the now extended gloved robotic hand. "My personal refuge is on the floor right below us." He revealed.
The older man waved over three of his servants before giving them strict instructions to help all visiting pirates with everything they may need. "You know what you have to do – Rea, Yuhi, Kino – don't you?" He asked imploringly.
"Of course, Kobayashi-sama." was the meek simultaneous reply from the trio.
"Wonderful!" The cheer was back in his voice. Turning back to the rest of his guests Arashi started. "Please follow me everyone – " but he didn't get any further than that before he was stopped by none other than the ship's navigator.
"Wait just a moment please, Arashi-san." She asked politely. Afterwards she turned hard no-nonsense eyes on her already bouncing-in-excitement-before-the-next-awesome-adventure captain. "Luffy …" The threatening tone of her voice send nervous shivers down the young man's spine, locking up his muscles for a second while his eyes widened nervously. "You will NOT just run around wild this time, do you understand?" But it wasn't really a question.
"But Nami …" the now whining pirate tried to reason.
"Do I have to remind you what happened the last time you were adamant about exploring the manor of an really extremely generous old man because you got boring during his welcoming speech?" The relentless young woman continued her lecture.
"… no …" was the pouty reply.
"Good!" Nami aloud cheerfully before continuing seriously again. "You will stay with me and you will not, I repeat, you will not touch anything without explicit permission, got it?" A curt nod from her anything but enthusiastic captain confirmed, that he had at least heard her. "We really can't risk getting on anyone's bad side on an island we can't just easily leave when avoidable trouble starts." Was the final explanation.
Loud, amused chuckles from Arashi drew the attention back to him.
"My, my … what a lively group you are, indeed. It is truly refreshening!" Was said after the brown-haired man had calmed down again.
"Well, shall we then?"
With that, the remaining straw hat pirates were led through the big wooden portal back towards the main part of the house and up several flights of stairs before stopping at a giant, dark and richly decorated door.
"Please allow me to show you my most valuable treasure – my historical collection." Arashi said before turning around to open the door.
But for some reason it wouldn't open, when he pulled the extravagant golden handle.
"That is really embarrassing … " And he absolutely looked the part. "There have been issues with this door for a while now – I should probably think about a replacement, after all – even though I really like the look and feeling of this beauty." Arashi mumbled more to himself than to his guests while continuously working on the stubborn mechanism.
Becoming increasingly impatient, it was Zoro who stepped towards the seemingly helpless man and grabbed the handle himself, their host's fingertips brushing his own in the process.
The swordsman's strength effortlessly overcame whatever was wrong with the door's lock and pulled the wooden structure out of their way with ease, revealing a wide, almost circular foyer from which several, very different looking doors led off.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Roronoa." The brunette bowed profusely. "I think I have just the right room for you! Please allow me … " With that Arashi showed Zoro to the first room on the left. Opening the adjoining door for his guest, the swordsman was met with the sight of all kind's of swords, daggers and machetes and even katanas – each more impressive than the next. "Feel free to examine them to your heart's content, my friend." The generous host offered.
"Thanks." was the gruff reply – but the sword wielding man's eyes showed true interest.
Immediately afterwards the brunette instructed yet another one of his servants to stay with his guest in case of questions and the like – repeating his earlier phrase.
"Of course, Kobayashi-sama." The young male said submissively.
"Mr. Jimbei." The once again cheerful man addressed the crew's samurai next. " I would imagine, that there are artefacts you may find interesting as well in there. If you would like to keep your friend company?" He added.
After a polite bow the fishman followed Zoro, who was already turning around one of the older looking katanas in his right hand into the weapons room. While walking through the door, Arashi's fingertips grazed blue skin lightly.
Meanwhile Nami had her hands full keeping Luffy in check and occupied so that there wouldn't be a repetition of the aforementioned disastrous incident.
Robin on the other hand was studying different murals and paintings decorating the walls particularly curious.
"My library is right down this room, if you are interested, Ms. Robin." It was a suggestion, that the inquisitive woman gladly accepted.
That only left captain and navigator, the latter desperately trying to keep the former at bay and out of reach of the various expensive – and especially fragile – looking decorations.
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Arashi watched the familiar – almost intimate – interactions intently for a couple more moments before intervening.
"My friends!" He addressed the two pirates with utter cheerfulness. "I think I may have found the perfect room for you, future King of the Pirates." The brunette continued mysteriously.
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With that he opened the only bright red door on this floor and invited them to go inside.
Before Nami could do anything to stop – or at least slow down – her goofball of a captain, Luffy had already passed through the portal with an exuberant snicker and eyes full of mirth, trademark straw hat dangling wildly behind him.
The exasperated young woman couldn't do more than follow behind him as closely as possible to at least try to avert any worst case scenario.
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Arashi however, lingered in the doorway.
Meticulously watching the events unfolding before him, his previous cheerful demeanor slowly giving way to a devious smirk, eyes gleaming in utter excitement.
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So it may begin …
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Hey there, again!
I'm slowly starting to think, that my shot at coming back to writing may not have been the right decision.
I don't want to sound ungrateful, but having over 800 views and only 3 reviews – all of which happen to come from artists trying to get me to order commissions – makes me really doubt my abilities to write quite a bit …
And even though I have truly enjoyed finally writing this plot-bunny down for myself as well, I had hoped to get at least some recognition for my attempt – doesn't that count for all writers?
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Anyway, here is the last interlude-chapter before the main plot is going to resume in a way. The chapter is gotten quite long, but I tried to close all kinds of possible plot-holes and that took much longer than expected.
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Since I already finished the next chapter some time ago, I'm going to upload that one today as well as a little pre-Christmas present. ;-D
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Stay safe and take care, like always.
'Til next time.
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