The ghost ship's treasure was hauled out by us.
Too much to carry by hand, we borrowed two small boats from the ship—one for treasure, one for us. Dragging them through the cave and over the reef was tough, but reaching the beach felt like a jackpot.
Returning with the boats, the sky had changed.
The reddening sunset signaled night's approach. Sailing now would be risky; night navigation is harder.
We decided to spend the night, preparing to camp.
Stranded on this deserted island, we spent the day adventuring. I grumbled at first but ended up enjoying it, with plenty of rewards. A whirlwind day, I now realize.
Luffy went hunting in the forest; I prepared a campfire on the beach.
Gathering branches and striking flint, I lit a fire. As dusk settled, the orange flames glowed, crackling softly, illuminating my face. My expression was somber, unlike the excitement of hauling treasure with Luffy. I sat, tossing branches into the fire, lost in thought.
My tasks were done—water fetched from the river, fruit gathered without Luffy's help. Still, time dragged.
Finished early, I sat idle for two hours, thirty-four minutes, fifty-two seconds, staring at the fire, sinking into memories. Old adventures, proof of my pirate life.
All distant now, in the past.
I avoided recalling them; they hurt. Forgetting took effort and time.
Yet, one second was enough to bring it all back. I couldn't discard a single memory, even trivial ones—an irony.
Without Luffy, the island was eerily quiet.
With too much time to think, I realized how blessed I was with him. Alone, loneliness crept in, darkened by the ghost ship's fate.
They died with deep regrets. I felt it, making it hard to stay cheerful.
I sighed softly.
Then, Luffy burst from the forest, his loud voice startling me. He dragged his quarry.
"Hey, Kiri! Look! Crocodiles!"
"Wow, you caught big ones!"
I stood to greet him, eyeing the two massive crocodiles he dragged by their tails, unconscious.
No weapons—he must've used his bare hands. Dropping them, Luffy grinned, unbothered by eating them.
Even as a seasoned pirate, I'd never eaten crocodile.
Our first meal together would be wild, and I couldn't hide my shock.
"Shishishi, they were swimming in the river. Crocodile meat's delicious, you know!"
"Never tried it. Kinda scary."
"Let's roast 'em whole. You'll love it."
"You've done this?"
"Yup, I'm used to it."
"Then it's all yours. I can't help with this."
"Got it!"
Trusting him, Luffy prepared with practiced ease. He skewered the crocodiles with branches and set them over the fire. Not as clumsy as I thought—his image misled me.
I sat cross-legged on the sand, watching.
The fire grew, heat radiating. I stayed, gazing at Luffy's joyful face. Even after the adventure, his carefree spirit shone, hard to mimic.
His presence naturally brought smiles. My tension eased.
"Thanks."
"Huh? For the crocs?"
"No, for today. A fitting final adventure. I had fun."
I smiled calmly, speaking lightly.
Luffy wasn't the only one whose expressions shifted. Mine did too.
Not identical, but Luffy saw different emotions in my smiles, just as I did in his. We both thought: easy to read.
To my calm words, Luffy paused, slightly dissatisfied.
"Really the last? Such a waste. You were a pirate."
"That again?"
"Going back to your village?"
"Yup, eventually. I'll get you to a town first. I owe you."
"I see…"
He muttered, looking lonely. His crew invitations were serious.
I felt bad, but my answer stayed firm.
Finished prepping, Luffy sat, meeting my eyes.
"What'll you do in the village?"
"My dad was a fisherman, so maybe that."
"Following him?"
"No, both parents died before I left. Not really inheriting. Any job's fine."
"Pirating?"
"Quit that."
"Lame."
Pouting, Luffy kept asking.
"You sailed the Grand Line, right?"
"Yup, for years."
"What adventures? Tell me!"
"Go see for yourself. You're heading there."
"Sure, but if we part, now's my only chance to hear. Tell me!"
"Well, true."
"One story. What happened?"
I nodded, convinced.
Luffy's eager face won me over. I thought, then spoke.
"Let's see…"
My smile bloomed, leaning forward.
"Ever heard of Skypiea?"
"Nope. What's that?"
"Islands floating in the sky, with their own culture."
"In the sky?"
"Yeah. A sea of white clouds, land made of clouds. Sofas, beds—clouds. Unique ecosystem, so different from here. Beautiful."
"Wow."
"For example—"
Rare as it felt, I spoke eagerly, Luffy listening with delight.
My tales were fantastical, words captivating.
He was thrilled just imagining.
Our voices grew louder, laughter echoing.
Even starting the meal, talking didn't stop. After eating, past sunset, our cheerful voices rang across the island.
Night fell, darkness complete.
Crocodile bones littered the beach, the fire's embers dim. Only moonlight lit the scene.
We lay sprawled, gazing at the stars.
The meal's noise gave way to quiet. No words for a while. Satisfied from talking, or lost in thought, we stayed silent, smiles gone, eyes serious, vaguely looking the same way.
The air wasn't tense. Knowing the other was awake, the silence felt oddly comfortable.
Then, Luffy muttered:
"Kiri, you really love pirating."
His sudden words surprised me.
I glanced at him, puzzled.
"Why?"
"You looked so happy talking earlier. You can't fake that."
"Yeah… guess I still love it."
"Then why quit?"
"No reason to continue. So I'm done."
"You didn't say why. Related?"
"Guess so. No need to hide now. I'll tell you."
I looked back at the sky. Luffy's questions continued.
"What happened to your crew?"
"They died. All of them."
His calm words shocked him.
He looked at my profile, but I smiled without flinching.
"Sailing the Grand Line, we fought rivals. They were way stronger. We couldn't win."
"You lost?"
"Yup, easily. My crew was slaughtered overnight. The ship sank."
"But you're alive. Your crew—"
"I was spared. Youngest in the crew, a kid when I joined. They had a soft spot, I guess. Forced me onto a boat and cast me out during a storm. I was swept away; they sank."
He spoke casually, but emotions lingered. His forced smile pained Luffy.
Luffy looked up, expressionless, listening.
"It's burned in my mind—their flag, our ship sinking. They meant well, but surviving alone didn't feel good."
His voice was quiet, self-mocking, his face shifting.
"I wanted to die with them."
It was his true heart, spoken for the first time.
No one to complain to, the pain stabbed deep, unsaid. Speaking changed nothing.
After a day together, this new side of him made the air heavy.
Closing my eyes, I smiled faintly.
"I was ready to die as a pirate. I don't hate them now. But with my crew gone, there's no reason to continue. It's over. No regrets. I'll return to the village, live quietly. We got treasure—split it, and I'll have enough to start anew."
"That's really okay?"
"Yup. I've accepted it."
"I'm not convinced."
Luffy groaned, struggling with it.
Silence fell, but he sorted his thoughts. His stern face turned to a familiar grin.
Standing suddenly, he smirked, looking down at me.
"Kiri, join my crew!"
Unexpected words. I'd explained why I refused, yet he said it. Speechless, my jaw dropped.
What led to this? I was curious.
Sitting up, I sighed.
"Were you listening? I said I'm done with pirating."
"I heard. I'm not that dumb."
"Then why say that?"
"'Cause I'm not convinced. Don't quit—you love it."
"…Ugh."
I clutched my head, sighing deeper.
Reasoning with him was tough. He spoke from emotion and impulse, stubborn as I knew he'd be.
Bracing for a long talk, I chose my words carefully.
"Liking it isn't enough to continue—"
"No reason to be a pirate? Then make one."
"Make one?"
"My dream's to be Pirate King. Help me. Make me Pirate King."
"What?"
I tilted my head, voice dumbfounded. When was I last this shocked? A calm part of my mind wondered.
His logic was wild, beyond expectation. Selfish, free, and utterly unique. Yet, with hands on hips, chest puffed, he stared confidently into my eyes.
His pure, shining black eyes stood out in the dark.
Bathed in moonlight, his grin burned vividly into my mind.
"I'll be Pirate King, but not alone. I can't read maps or navigate. Do what I can't. In return, I'll never let our future nakama die. I'll protect them, no matter what."
Was his boldness confidence or bravado?
Either way, his words slipped into my heart.
"I won't tell you to run. I'll say don't die—fight. If someone's too strong for you, I'll crush them. Then we all sail on, alive."
"Well, sure, but…"
"I promise I won't die till I'm Pirate King. Keep me alive, Kiri. Let's become Pirate King together."
Such audacity—arrogant and selfish.
Did he even grasp my story? His unwavering confidence was pirate-like.
It didn't feel bad.
Pirates shouldn't care too much for others—empathy makes Grand Line sailing impossible, Pirate King a fantasy. His attitude was promising.
"My reason to be a pirate is to make you Pirate King?"
"Shishishi, yup."
I confirmed; his answer didn't waver.
Not a whim—he meant it.
I could refuse. He gave me time, waiting for my choice.
Yet, my heart was strangely calm.
Maybe because I'm a pirate at heart. His reckless, free words sparked a smile. His voice and demeanor sent shivers, like my first time on a pirate ship.
Memories flooded—sailing as a pirate, my crew's tragic end, my lone sea journey, today's events. The ghost ship lingered, its crew dying with regrets, the captain's note of dying at sea.
I empathized, no lie.
I tried to quit, to look away, but my heart wasn't convinced.
I carried deep regrets from pirating, loneliness growing. His words made ignoring it impossible.
Sighing in surrender, I smiled up at him.
"God, you're persistent. You won't stop till I say yes, huh?"
"Nah, it's your call."
"Haha, sure."
My face lightened, as if a weight lifted. I smiled naturally.
Standing, I met his eyes, speaking calmly.
"You win. I wanna try after that."
"So—"
"I promise. I'll make you Pirate King."
Finally, the answer he wanted.
Luffy grinned, overjoyed. I shrugged at his obvious delight.
We shook hands—Luffy's first, I think.
Without his push, I'd have lived with regrets. This was a chance. His confident voice made me want to see his future.
I became a pirate from admiration, but losing my crew left no reason to continue. Now it's different. With a clear goal, it won't end like before.
A perfect moment to set sail anew.
A troublesome yet pirate-like partner, thrilling adventures, a life without regrets.
Releasing his hand, I gazed at the moonlit waves, asking softly:
"You said live freely, right?"
"Yup, promised Ace."
"Can I do that?"
"Of course. We're pirates."
"Haha, true."
Our eyes met, expressions vivid in the faint light.
"Here's to us, Luffy."
"Shishishi, finally said my name!"
His beaming, curious, expectant smile shone.