The marine galleon rested on the half-destroyed docks of Cocoyashi island. The blazes of a great bonfire in the town proper glistening in the dark night sky. The nascent cheers gliding on the breeze and spreading along the waves. Despite the joy tangible in the air, the conflicted face of the Vice-Admiral remained unmoved.
"There are pirates on the island, Vice-admiral! And the locals don't seem so happy to see us. Had to negotiate with the village chief at the point of a pitchfork." The marine sighed lightly whilst giving his report.
"Suck it up. We're years late to helping, can hardly blame them. You can tell the times are changing when the populace begin to thank the pirates instead of us..."
"What are your orders, Vice-admiral?"
"...Marine code would dictate we apprehend the 'criminals' and immediately transfer them to a suitable judging chamber. The base we just came from being one example... but in this case..."
"..." A silence lulled between the marine forces before the commanding officer turned to the reporting grunt.
"Were there any familiar faces among those you could make out?"
"No. Not on any poster I've ever seen before. The leader seemed to be some young boy with a rather long nose. He was singing about his victory atop some scaffolding."
"...Scour the wanted posters once more. If nothing matches... there were no pirates here. The villagers of Cocoyashi fought for their independence and won. If the upper brass want to argue against that they can question me themselves. Verify their faces, but don't take pictures of them."
"But sir-"
"Don't misunderstand me. I said we would rectify the situation, it's already been solved. I don't want to spend much more time here, otherwise we won't make it in time to catch my grandson. Damn brat."
"..."
"If they have no bounty, then there's no crime to punish. It isn't a punishable offence to claim you're a pirate, they're just kids playing. Give the village the bounty and collect Arlong and his men. Anything more would be premeditated justice, we don't have any more stake in the situation."
"Actually sir, Arlong is already dead. Along with some of the fishmen. There were more casualties on their side apparently..."
"Really? That's hard to chalk up to just luck..."
"A bit worrying when you consider the transmission we received as well..."
"Bogard. Keep an eye on that island, for anyone making strange movements."
"Vice-Admiral, and us?"
"The rest of your orders are the same. If he's dead, then take his body. Dead or alive, that's what the poster says. Along with the requisite bounty add in a stipend from the treasury."
"Sir?"
"Reparations. It'll take some time and effort to repair ties between Cocoyashi and the marines. Best to do anything we can to mend the gap we've created. If we don't have the funds on hand, then give them a cheque to cache at the nearest marine headquarters."
"More paperwork..."
"Sound like you'll be busy, huh? Bogard."
The cloaked marine rubbed his eyes tiredly. The stern gaze hardening slightly at his commanding officers jibes."...You heard him. Every wanted poster is to be double-checked, so long as the ones you see are clean then we'll leave after grabbing the fishmen. Where are we off to next?"
"Loguetown. If that brat wants to make it to the Grand Line, he has no choice but to pass by."
"And the fishmen pirates?"
"Hand them off to Smoker or one of the others when we arrive. He's competent enough for that."
"Understood. Prep the ship for the prisoners and departure. The Vice-admiral wants to see his grandson."
"I don't 'want' to see him. I 'have' to see him. Who knows what sort of trouble the boy's cooking up."
"You've got a serious dependency on him, huh?"
"...Is there a reason you aren't moving to prepare the ship as well? Keep standing next to me and I might just strap you to the mast without food the next few days."
"Aye aye." With those few words the Vice-admiral's right-hand man was off.
[Piracy?]
Night had descended upon the island. The villagers spirits raised, and roars erupted throughout the small village in joy as they had finally gained freedom. For 10 long years, they were slaves, every day they would live with uncertainty for their lives, for their children's lives. Of course, no one forgot about the sacrifices they made along this pathway.
Some thanked the stars that the number was few. Others thanked fate that it wasn't them. Others wished that the few were here to join them. And even fewer blamed themselves for the loss, thinking it was possible to save everyone.
Meanwhile I simply watched over the offending fishmen, a number of them still grieving over their dead leader. The older members seemed to have come to terms with their fate.
Grumble... Such a call came from my stomach.
Nature called, but duty prevailed...
I had stayed my hand, purposely keeping my face away from the festivities. I didn't want to be there, nor would they accept me in earnest. It was deserved. By design.
But I couldn't exactly forego biological functions forever, hunger would eventually creep up, especially after seeing the huge spread that the village had prepared for the nights of partying they had planned.
...Suppose I should just make something myself.
The small sound of something clinking on the ground captured my attention in earnest along with the delicious smell of spices wafting through the air.
"Eat."
Much like Pavlov's dog I had found myself unintentionally salivating. Immediately swallowing the excess spittle, I steadied myself.
"...It's not poisoned, is it?" My eyes warily stared at the dish before me. I couldn't remove the possibility from my mind even in my hunger.
"You think I'd desecrate a meal just for you? Get over yourself. If I have a problem with you, I'll kick your ass myself." I heard the flicker of a lighter repeat twice before a measured breath and smoke bellowed from his mouth.
"Smoking will kill you, you know?" This was a different world, however it mimicked the past of my own. Perhaps he didn't recognise the perils that smoking might impact on the body... Then again, he could be smoking a different chemical compound than tobacco, in fact maybe tobacco is healthy in this world?
I had just now realised that all of my medical knowledge could in fact be inapplicable and actually detrimental to my understanding of this world...
What a pain.
"I might kill you myself right now, if you keep speaking that is."
"Message received."
I took a mouthful of noodles. The only thing I had to compare this with was the shoddily made but somewhat sweet cup noodles I had once bought from the school store. I even remember examining the size in comparison with a certain seatmate's anatomy. To which Nami's clearly eclipsed, for anyone keeping record.
Though that wasn't important, what was important... was this indescribable taste in my mouth.
Wow...
I never had the chance to palate gourmet food in my life, my existence was filled with drab beige palates until sweets became available at that school. This... This was a whole new world of flavour. How the hell did they make this without modern facilities?
"...Don't suppose I could trouble you for seconds?"
"Hmph. Later, for now there's a bunch of hungry mouths down there I plan to feed." The smoke from his cigarette wafted down towards the beach where the fishmen were currently tied up.
"You'd even feed them?"
"Of course... My job isn't to judge, it's to cook. No matter who the person is."
"Even if it was Arlong?"
"I'd feed him. And after he's finished, I'd give him another beating for what he did to Nami."
"That's a unique disposition." An unbiased kindness. I felt that the idea was nice but incredibly naïve. Personally if I happened across a starving slave trader, I'd probably leave them to waste away. If nothing else just out of a sense of self-preservation.
"The same goes for you."
"...?"
"Apologise to Nami. I don't know all the facts. But... we wouldn't be here, if not for you. At least that's what the others said..." He took another drag of the cigarette and low exhale, pluming vapour. "Still. You put Nami in danger. You put the villagers in danger and nearly forced her to pull the trigger on Arlong. I don't know what your game is... but if we're travelling together from now on, then you'll have to sort out that messed up head of yours. Or I'll end up kicking you overboard at some point."
"...Understood." I didn't plan on staying.
Putting out the cigarette on the floor he threw it aside, taking the large food cart he had prepared down towards the beach.
What a strange person.
As I sat pondering the deviances of the crew, I had become a part of for a small time a woman approached me. One I had seen once before, though I had yet to commit her name to memory.
She had a disposition one could liken to the living dead. Her eyes were hollow, she couldn't have been much older than Nami or her older sister Nojiko. Her face was bleated red and her hair dishevelled. It was the same woman that screamed for the only casualty of the day, on the human side that is. The same woman I had provided the sword with which she could wage war against the fishmen.
Regret. Sadness. Vile thoughts, but behind it all. Rage. A rage that was unavoidable. I wagered she was the grieving partner of the man that lost his life. Or perhaps they had interest in forming that kind of bond. Or they might've been family. Or just close friends. Bonds were messy like that, any and all of those titles could result in the same final resolution that she had reached. A rage, uniform and directed at the one that was seemingly pulling the strings. Even if they reached freedom, even if they won. What use was it if the people you cared about couldn't celebrate the fruits of your labour together with you?
What was I in for? Bitter words? Silence? A rage fuelled diatribe that attacked my character and the horrific things I was inciting? Or just pure violence? Perhaps she would just try and cut me down here?
That was fine too.
"Why?" She parted her cracked lips slightly and that was the only word that escaped from them. A voice that already sounded dead.
Why?
Why, what? Why did he have to die? Why did I do nothing to stop it?
Or perhaps it was a question of why I gave her the means to attack them herself? Or perhaps she would ask why she's still here even though he had passed. I wasn't a mind reader, I couldn't understand the reason she was asking such a question. Maybe if I were different then I could tacitly navigate this situation.
In that event I doubt we would be in this situation to begin with.
"You'll have to clarify."
"Why did he die... but you spared Genzo?"
"Are you upset? You know who we are, don't you? What we are."
"Of course... I was. Am. My tears have run dry. I just want answers... You could've saved them both, I know you could. Yet you didn't. You watched him get brutalised like some animal.... You're sick and twisted as they come."
I allowed a silence to drift between us for a moment. For just a moment, I wouldn't mind my true thoughts escaping here. It was more that I was talking aloud than paying any special attention to the person in front of me. I had already made my decision after all. I had done that as soon as the battle began in earnest.
"It's funny, you were in abject horror just a single day ago. Living in fear that every single one of you might be living your last day. Now freedom lies in front of you, unbounded possibilities, the chains of your captors are gone. Life is and will be what you make of it. Yet even that result is unacceptable to you now, the moment a single person falls on the way. Even though this scenario is a dream for you, you paint it as an inescapable nightmare."
"..."
"Do you wonder if the two of them were worth more or less perhaps, or if there was some innate reasoning to my decision?"
"Anything... I just want an answer."
"Closure, huh? The answer will be less acceptable than you think, will knowing that change your mind?" Not everything needed an answer. Curiosity at times was both a blessing and a curse. 'Ignorance was bliss' or so the quote says. Unfortunately, the mind can know that something is a mistake, completely detrimental to the person and still seek an answer to that same question.
"..." She was deadly unsure. Yet she shook her head all the same.
"Just because I have the means to stop something doesn't mean I'm obligated to do so. If there's something you should curse it would be the fact that he was attacked first." If Genzo was the first casualty nothing would have changed. The same if it was Nojiko or any of the other nameless villagers.
I wanted to see if this situation I had brought about would make me feel anything.
Desperately hoped for that to be the case, alas, it wasn't.
The person that was sacrificed on that stage, they don't matter in the least. If I remained unmoved, felt no need to interrupt, truly no need to stop a life ending in front of me. Then I was probably beyond help.
It was my last chance.
Change required process, time. Many things mattered. Becoming something different, it required conscious effort and a specific environment that was conducive to that growth. My development into this shell of a human was due to the white room and the unique disposition I developed due to such a special environment. Such a place was so different from the norm, I doubt I could ever go back to normal. I don't even think an approximation of normal was something I could ever reach.
Benevolent. Good. Charitable. All these things, I didn't have the capacity for. So I thought hard...
And landed on an answer that could have a chance of working.
Responsibility.
That was what I settled on.
Terrible things happen the world over, every day, every single minute. Even as I have this meaningless back and forth in my head someone is suffering. Naturally my conscious realises; It isn't by my hand, so what business is it of mine?
So, I just had to make it my business.
I orchestrated violence on a huge scale. A social experiment that I couldn't happen across in the civilised world. I set dominoes to fall above an ants nest. Wondering if I had the heart to stop the ensuing casualties, because I was responsible for them.
And nothing changed.
In this world I aimed to combat; time and environment with dire circumstances. I set up a stack of dominoes that would fall exactly as I could already envision and wondered if I would act to stop their motion.
Maybe I failed because I knew what would happen... Or perhaps it was impossible from the start.
As soon as my apathy was confirmed, anymore sacrifice was fruitless. That was the only reason Genzo survived, and the first casualty didn't.
"Curse his urge to protect his home... That's all it was...? No matter who it was, they would've died in the end...? Everything... our struggle, his life are they all mea-" It wasn't my place to interrupt. I could even understand her reasoning.
All the same I wouldn't let her speak those words into existence.
"His death wasn't meaningless." I'd gain her ire. She would never forgive me, but I was fine with that. Those words shouldn't be uttered by the grieving, because they'll manifest into a shadow that makes the future impossible for those that can't bear it.
"You have no right! You're the one that made his sacrifice meaningless... If it wasn't for you... he'd be sat right beside me even now! Because of you..."
"All the same. His death was not a meaningless one." He'd be regarded as a hero for making the ultimate sacrifice for his home. And I had learnt a valuable lesson... I shouldn't associate with other people. I will never see them as anything less than what they are, just bags of flesh that either stand with me or against me.
Even in a brand-new world. Some things really never change.
...A repressed sigh fell from my mouth. One that felt like a small, tiny, portion of my soul escaped alongside.
...
How disappointing.
"Then why... Why didn't you save him? Did you really feel nothing as his life was taken right in front of you?! Do you gain some sort of sick pleasure from looking down on us as we fight for our lives?" Tears fell as the wails of her ghostly voice reached a crescendo. The words like a battering ram on the desolate castle gate.
"I don't really understand." I was wrong, her behaviour was justified. But that was only in the eyes of the majority of the world. Ethics were dictated by the majority, beyond that... I didn't see any other reason to comply with those teachings.
And so I didn't...
"How couldn't you understand such a thing-!"
"What I don't understand is what you think I owe you. Take a good look at your saviours. They are pirates. Known for pillaging, stealing, tricking, raiding and doing as they please throughout all the seas. What did you expect when talking to me? Did you expect to empathise with a group of people with the same guiding tenants as those who imprisoned you for a decade? Take a real good look. Etch it into your heart... Do you think such a thing moves me?"
"..." Even in this moment she should notice the difference between me and the rest of the crew. And that was for good reason. They really didn't embody the usual view of pirates. They were outliers. That was one of the few reasons I had thought their companionship would lead to something else.
"You were saved by mere coincidence. Don't forget that. Cut your losses and don't take what you have now for granted. That would be the best way you could show gratitude to the departed."
"...One day. I hope you understand this feeling we have. I hope you understand it so intimately that it burns you alive. And at the last moment I hope that person special to you falls, lifelessly to the ground like an animal. I wonder if that would ever change the look in your eyes..." She spat before turning away, leaving me to the scathing truth that I probably never would feel anything even close to that. All the same...
"..." As do I.
Even if pain, trauma and unbelievable sadness awaited me. I would like to feel anything, no matter how fleeting. Even if it were just for a moment.
[Piracy?]
"Did she-"
"I tried to stop her." I didn't know how the kid would react... I didn't think it would result in violence on his part, but words could do just as much damage to a person, possibly more... Especially those in a compromised position. Losing her lover resulted in this... He was a good kid; brash and spirited, prepared to fight for his home and people. Losing that boy was a tragedy. But it was for a good cause...
She was talking to a brick wall. Considering the lengths he went to, to eradicate both the marines and fishmen. Frankly, that boy is terrifying. If looking at Arlong was like talking down the barrel of a gun, talking to him was like only just realising someone had slit your throat when you got in the bath or started making dinner. You were dead whether you put your guard up or not.
"..."
"The rest of the town wanted to give him some choice words as well, but..."
"He wouldn't do anyth-" Nami said that with as much calm as she could muster.
"We both know that you don't know that to be the truth." I immediately shut down Nami's response. Taking a moment to look at the young man's back a distance from the current festivities. Someone so young, clung to shadows, no doubt it was lonely... But that was the path he had chosen, my sympathy for the boy had run dry.
"..."
"He saved us. That's irrefutable. From what the other kids have been saying they wouldn't have even found you again. Those marines on Arlong's payroll would have still arrived. It's safe to say the situation would devolve from there. He saved us. But that's not really the issue now, is it?"
"..."
"No one wants to be treated like a plaything. Something that's moved about on a board for leisure. And that kid did it with everyone; the town, Arlong, your friends, even the marines. He may be even more dangerous than Arlong ever was." I could already feel apprehension from some of the villagers. Wondering if we were just being given a new master rather than freedom. I understood their fears... what could possibly be a greater tragedy than fighting for freedom like this only to be captured once again?
"..."
"Nami. You're an adult. You make your own choices. Hell, as far as a useless guardian I've been I don't think I have the authority to say anything different. However... the idea of you travelling with that boy scares me. To no end." I rested my hand on her shoulder, taking care not to aggravate her injury. I was only notified of it after, the pain must've reared its head as we left to fight Arlong... Going so far as to stab that tattoo so many times...
I apologised in my mind countless times. I could only settle on this after Nami started hitting me when I apologised to her yesterday. Saying I was being annoying... Clearly inherited that temper from her mother.
"I never said anything about going anywhere. I spent so long getting this place back, it would be irresponsible to leave now..." She sighed, wanderlust brightening in her eyes as she looked upon the heroes; drinking, eating and partying in the village centre. The long-nosed kid and the straw hat were stood atop the stockade dancing. It's been so long since this sort of levity was brought to the village. It was as if the breeze itself danced alongside us.
They were good kids. Brave ones...
Got to leave the nest at some point, eh? Is now the right time? Not like she was here all that much, anyway, always risking herself for us... Is this the right choice I make as her guardian? Is my highest priority not to keep her safe? Can I trust them to look after her? Will she be travelling with him?
Those countless questions ran through my mind on repeat, I took a deep breath and removed the noise.
There was only one choice to make.
"Hah! Who's going to make a map of the world if you don't?" No matter how much it hurt, or how worried I was... She should follow those dreams. If I can't trust these people, then who could I ever trust? They took on Arlong and his men along with the threat of death to save her. That's enough to gain my trust.
"But... what abo-"
"Nojiko? The rest of us? Nami, as much as we want to keep you here, that's not what you want. That straw hat and his friends, you want to stay with them. You can see it as soon as you talk with them for a minute. That same smile you used to show every day all those years ago. God, I miss those days." I chuckled a bit remembering those times. When she would pilfer books and maps from the library. She always was a troublemaker. All three of them actually.
"But... I-"
"Look... If you choose to stay here. I'd be... No. I don't want to influence your decision, in either way. Leave or don't, we will accept either choice with open arms. The time you've dedicated to saving us, for how long we made you suffer for our sakes, the least we can do is let you follow your heart after it. So look, think and follow what you want to do... Your family here will support that decision all the way."
"G-Genzo, I-!" It felt like the first time we could talk without any walls up, tears fell from her eyes as she slowly collapsed onto my lap. I just patted her head in silence.
"Shhh... I'm just glad you're okay, kid. You and Nojiko. I was... so worried for so long, felt so helpless when I couldn't do anything to help you... but now it's different. You've both grown splendidly. Bellemere would be proud of you."
"...I miss her. I miss Mum."
"Me too... I miss the little rascal. I still couldn't believe it when she turned up that day all those years ago. The town troublemaker came back a proud marine with two little girls in tow. In my eyes she was as much a kid as you two when she left, to see her come back like that. I thought maybe someone was impersonating her. Haha... But I think she would be happy looking down on you two now... When was the last time we had a party like this? Feels liberating, doesn't it? Almost makes me forget everything that's happened, even if just for a moment..."
"Yeah..."
"..." A comfortable silence passed over us.
"...Is it really fine to leave them, the fishmen pirates?" That sort of serious question came my way.
"I already told you, if you can accept this then who else can argue against it? Nami, if you're prepared to move past this, then the rest of us would look like children in comparison. I still feel anger, in fact I'd be fine if they disappeared forever... Just because they went through horrible things doesn't excuse the torture, they've put us through all these years..."
"...Right."
"But you moved past it. I could never have the strength to do it, but seeing you make that same choice, gives me a little bit of the courage needed to see it through, I'm proud of you." Truly. Truly, I was.
"...It's not that I don't still hate them. But... At this point I'm just so tired, I want it to end. Killing them all... I'd just be reminded of their faces when I sleep. I feel like I'd never have a peaceful dream again."
"That's a weight you don't need to carry with you, leave it behind..."
Short gusts blew by as her breathing slowly calmed. The soft exhales of a gentle sleep slowly reverberating against me.
"..."
"Smart kid..." Sorry, Bellemere. It took this long, and I didn't manage to do much in your absence. But it seems she can finally rest easy.
I don't know if I can say much of the same, especially with the issue appearing right before my eyes.
The reaper walked past. Dressed in what clearly weren't his clothes.
"Kid."
Those dead eyes looked towards me for a moment before slipping past and walking towards the forest.
"I want to talk for a moment."
"There's likely nothing for us to speak about..." I took off my hat as he spoke.
"Thank you." I lowered my head a fraction.
"...?"
"There's a part of me inside that hates you... but I can't exactly get rid of the truth. You saved us. You acted to save Nami as well. For that, I can't thank you enough." I lowered my head again.
"It's unnecessary. Luffy and the others did all of the work. I simply guided them here."
"All the same. This wouldn't have happened if you didn't."
"Don't... I don't deserve it. You can already tell, can't you? I'm not that sort of person."
"No, probably not. But that doesn't matter." He did what he did, the reasoning wouldn't change that.
"..." He looked at me bemusedly.
"Do you find hatred easier to accept?" He looked slightly perturbed by my thanks. It looked like he expected... maybe even wanted to be condemned. Rather than a villain... all I could see was a child that had accepted being alone in silence.
"It isn't undeserved." He said as a matter of fact.
"Certainly..." I don't know how to talk to this kid... It's like talking to someone older than myself, but with the same rebellious temperament as Nami and Nojiko in their younger years. Intelligent, but stubborn. It's like he knows what he's doing is wrong but still continues anyway.
"But precisely because of that... I don't want Nami to be near you again, not even for a second."
"...There's no need to worry. I have no intentions of seeing them again. With any luck, I'll be out of your hair soon enough."
He took another few steps ahead.
"Hey... who are you, really?"
"..."
"Weren't you a member of their crew? Is this where that ends? Just like that?"
"Wouldn't that bring you more peace of mind?"
"Well, yeah... but if you're just going to leave... Why did you come to save us in the first place?"
"That... no longer matters."
He took another two measured steps forwards, it was like each of them were calculated. Perfect to the millimetre. Militaristic, perhaps that made sense given his talent for violence.
I couldn't help but feel it couldn't be anyone but the older generations fault for a boy so young to have turned out so twisted. No older than Nami, yet those eyes told me he had seen a lot.
"Can I tell you what I think?"
"..." He stopped once again but didn't look back.
"I think you care for that that boy in the hat, the chef, the swordsman, longnose and Nami here as well... but won't allow yourself to admit it."
"I think most of your people would disagree with that sentiment."
"Then why did you test them all? Make sure they were strong enough to protect themselves? Why did you stop Arlong at the last moment?"
"..."
"It might seem like you were goading Nami to make a choice, to choose whether to kill Arlong or spare him... But to me it seems like you were just giving all of the facts so she could make a different decision."
"..."
"This world is cruel. Arlong has been wronged, thus we have been wronged, and still someone else will be taken from and they will take from another in retaliation." History was a cold cycle of decay and rebirth, it repeated the same mistakes over and over. Even wisdom and age didn't change that, sometimes that just made us more bitter and unrelenting in our judgement. In Nami's position, undoubtedly, I would've pulled the trigger.
"You think I acted to stop that cycle?" He questioned, almost rhetorically.
"In a way, yes."
"Then I failed rather spectacularly, didn't I?"
"..." I struggled to get the words out. I knew what to say, mumbled it in my mind moments before, but I stayed my hand... wondering if this was truly a good choice. Would it set him on the right path... Or would it blow up in my face? Should I follow the example Nami set, or should I prioritise her safety always?
"Is that all? I'll be leaving then." He took my silence as an invitation to leave.
"Arlong wasn't deserving of forgiveness... But that doesn't mean the act of atonement is worthless."
"What does Arlong have to do with me?" He turned to me at that moment. Golden eyes appraising me.
"It's written all over your face. Do you want Arlong's fate to be your own?"
"..." In the deepest recesses of his mind, he probably did. The way he carried himself was like a ghost who had already been born dead. Weightless, without anything to anchor him to this world.
"Avoidance isn't atonement, young man."
"..." Holding eye contact for a few moments. He didn't respond, turning away and simply walking further into the forest. The marine coat of arms emblazoned on his shirt and jersey.
Leaving?
Or running away?
I should be happy in that case. But something ate at me whilst watching his back disappear amongst the shrubbery, no doubt heading towards the shore.
Kids are so difficult, aren't they?
Bellemere.
---
Word count: 5494
More of an introspective chapter this time. I wanted to do it all in one chapter, but I did end up splitting them up. Mainly because I had to delete nearly 4000 words because I thought of a better way to move the story forward, though that meant a lot of rewrites at that point.
So yeah, we're still on the epilogue of Arlong's arc.
Next one shouldn't be far behind. Though, I won't give a date. We know how that's been working out lately...
Feel free to visit patreon.com/Shir0249
Hopefully you enjoyed the chapter. Let me know any thoughts in the comments below.
Until next time.