~Queen Of The Sea~
4
Left Behind
Luffy gazed out onto the sea…
Zoned out into nothing while Coby talked.
I can't quite put my finger on it…
But somethin's buggin'me…
Luffy thought to himself.
Arms folded over his chest, pouting as he tried to figure out whatever it was–
"Uhh…h-hey…Luffy?" Coby stammered out curiously, "Are…you okay?"
"Huh?" Luffy blinked curiously and grinned snickering, "Oh yeah– I'm all good." He said to him, "I don't know what it is…Just feel like I'm forgetting something."
"Forgetting something?" Coby asked, "Like what?"
"Not sure…" Luffy sighed, "Anyway…what were ya sayin' Coby?"
"Huh!?" Coby exclaimed, "I knew it…you really weren't paying any attention to me at all were you…" the boy groaned while adjusting his glasses.
"Ha ha ha ha~ Yeah…no I wasn't. Sorry." Luffy laughed and the pink haired boy heaved out a heavy sigh. The young Pirate couldn't help but laugh it off and shoot his arms out towar the sky with a happy sigh.
"Ahhh~ What a day~!" he laughed, "It's gorgeous!"
Well…
Since Coby couldn't beat him…
He had little to know choice but to just accept his fate and join him with a chuckle.
"All I was trying to say earlier was…that as long as we can stay on this heading, we should reach the Marine Base in no time."
The Marine base…
A decision decided by Luffy to help Coby out as a repayment for helping him and sharing his dream.
Though…
The marines were no fans of pirates…
It was Coby's dream, however, to become one.
And Luffy just can't diss a good person with a dream.
So he decided to help the cabin boy out and lend a hand–
Freeing him from Alvida's ship and setting sail toward the nearest marine base.
Especially after the boy shared some interesting information about a certain powerful prisoner being held there.
"Wow, Coby! You're great out here!" said Luffy, "You mean we're actually gonna reach the place we originally set out for!?"
"Of course!" said Coby, "It's nothing…I'm just using the skills that every sailor should have."
Luffy couldn't help but laugh.
As a pirate…he seemed to lack even that most basic skill–
He sure was a strange kind of pirate…
In Coby's eyes anyway.
"You know there's really nothing to be so giggly about…" said Coby, "Because…at the Marine Base…they're holding the great Pirate Hunter– Roronoa Zoro." Coby groaned, "This is a man who has diced up his bounties like an animal bent on carnage…a blood thirsty beast…" he sighed, "He's been called nothing less than a demon in human form…"
Roronoa Zoro…
This was the man that had caught Luffy's attention.
When Coby talked about him…
The story piqued Luffy's curiosity.
After all…
Luffy's dream was to be King Of The Pirates.
And If he was gonna be the best…
The he needed to have nothing but the best on his crew.
And if this supposed Pirate Hunter was really as strong as Coby said he was…
I'm gonna get that guy…
To join my crew!
Xxx
Meanwhile…
Lost out in a troubling sea…
Rheddii was floating along steadily.
Struggling with the damage she had taken and the loss of some of her supplies.
I took a bit of damage during that scrimmage…
She thought to herself as she finished checking her little get away boat.
…This sucks.
She whined.
I just set out on this journey…
And already I'm about to lose a boat.
She sighed.
Not only that…
My food and water supply is down by half…
She groaned.
And worse…
Her fresh water was gone.
Surrounded by water yet deemed non drinkable…
And the sun was getting high overhead and hot.
Luffy…
Stupid…
Annoying...
She groaned as her eyes narrowed sadly.
He didn't even notice me there…
Didn't even hear my voice…
...Some Brother you are, huh?
She chuckled...
And then sighed…
Her eyes slowly coming down to a close.
And just like that…
I'm left behind…
Again…
Xxx
"We're here~" Luffy beamed with his arms outstretched, "The Marine Base City~"
Though he was cheering–
Something held him back.
"Huh?"
It was like a ping to his chest.
Pulling him back to look out to the sea once more.
What for?
He wasn't sure.
I thought I heard someone calling me before…
He thought to himself.
But…
I didn't see anyone…
Still…
His eyes narrowed as he groaned.
Something…
Is still bugging me…
He pondered.
What though!?
He huffed with a sigh, folding his arms.
What is it!?
"Hey…uhh Luffy?"
"Huh?" Luffy blinked back and smiled at Coby once more, "Oh sorry– " he grinned, "It's nothing…come on Coby~" he hummed, "Let's go!"
To Be Continued