"Life's interesting."
"Luffy!"
"Yo, Adel!"
A figure waved grandly from the port of Partia, a town opposite the island's ruined side. Smaller but thriving, it blended man-made structures with natural scenery.
The Going Merry docked slowly. Adel, bathed and dressed femininely, hair down, looked vibrant, her past gloom gone. She welcomed Luffy's crew warmly.
Behind her stood Shuraiya and Biera, the latter out of hospital, cleaned up, standing firmly in a patient's gown, looking healthier.
The Merry moored without issue. Luffy leapt onto the pier, grinning at Adel's approach.
They were unharmed, the ship undamaged. Expecting a fierce battle at the fortress, Adel was surprised they seemed unfatigued.
"Everyone's okay? How'd you escape?" Adel asked.
"Shishi, Kiri escaped on his own, so we didn't fight the navy," Luffy replied.
"Huh. Thought it'd be a grand adventure," Adel said.
"Me too. But we're all together now," Luffy laughed.
Crewmates disembarked, including an unfamiliar face.
"That's Kiri?" Adel asked.
"Yup," Luffy confirmed.
"Reliable, right?"
"Totally. Knows everything," Luffy said.
"Hmm…" Adel mused.
Kiri approached, standing beside Luffy, smiling at Adel. His friendly but relaxed demeanor felt disarming, different from Luffy's lively grin. Adel, slightly uneasy, met his gaze and nodded.
"Hi. You're Adel?" Kiri asked.
"Yeah… hi," Adel replied.
"Sounds like you had a rough time. Problems solved?"
"Sort of," Adel said, glancing at Shuraiya and Biera.
Luffy and Kiri noticed their contrasting expressions. Words seemed inadequate.
Sensing her situation, Kiri patted Adel's head. "Family's important. Especially after tough times."
"Yeah… what about your family?" Adel asked.
"Hm?"
"I mean, is it okay being pirates without them?"
Kiri, smiling wryly, glanced at Luffy and passing crewmates, hesitating. Their family stories were complex. Silk, noticing Adel, approached.
"Everyone's got their history. That's why we're here," Kiri said.
"Guess pirates are human too," Adel replied.
"What's up?" Silk asked.
"Nothing big," Kiri said, lifting his hand from Adel's head.
Their ease suggested quick bonding. Silk smiled, watching them. "Adel, you've changed. Total girl now."
"Yeah, the townsfolk insisted," Adel said.
"Looks great. Cute. Just work on your speech," Silk teased.
"Ugh, fine as is. Too much hassle to change," Adel groaned.
"Really? You're already girlier," Silk said.
Kiri, surprised by their closeness, found it heartwarming, like sisters despite no resemblance.
Watching Silk and Adel, Kiri's gaze shifted to Luffy, who turned, noticing his serious tone.
"Let's leave soon. Navy base is close; pursuit's a hassle," Kiri said.
"Right. Everyone's here. Let's stock up—meat!" Luffy grinned.
"Ask Nami. She's in a good mood," Kiri suggested.
"Yeah! Oi, Nami!" Luffy called, running off.
Kiri watched him go, reassured by his unchanged energy.
Glancing at the sea, Kiri spotted a large black shape—a crow—approaching the island, not the port or him. Recalling a past moment, he decided, predicting its destination, and walked off.
Silk noticed, concerned. "Kiri, where you going?"
"Back soon. Prep for departure," he replied, walking backward, eyeing her.
"Alone again? Everyone'll get mad," she warned.
"I'll be quick this time," he said, jogging off.
Like Luffy, Kiri was free-spirited. Silk sighed, letting him go.
Kiri ran through town, past it, to a cliff where the crow rested beside a familiar woman—Wendy.
"Well, fancy meeting you," Wendy said, stroking Hugh.
"You knew I'd come," Kiri replied.
She smiled, casual as greeting a friend, unsurprised, as if expecting him. Kiri wasn't shocked.
They'd met like this before, after escaping the navy. Suspicions grew, and he came to confirm them.
Petting Hugh, Wendy faced Kiri's indifferent tone. "Those handcuffs were on purpose, right?" he asked.
"What?" she feigned.
"You knew I'm a Devil Fruit user. Mistaking Seastone for regular cuffs? Unlikely."
He'd suspected from the start. She explained her role, showed a map that shouldn't exist, and revealed the hidden vault—a navy secret—to a captured pirate. After drying off, he noticed the cuffs were iron, unrestricted. Intent was clear.
This wasn't coincidence. She was lying. But he knew she wouldn't admit it.
"No way. Just a mistake. I'm clumsier than you think," Wendy said.
"Heard the warships were stolen. Your ship too?" Kiri asked.
"No, mine was patrolling nearby. Lucky," she replied.
"Coincidence?"
"Of course. Think I parked it away on purpose?" she teased.
Kiri sighed at her cool response, his expression hardening. "My mother, right? Chased by your grandfather?"
"Yes," she confirmed.
"What was their real relationship?"
"Strange question. Pirate and marine—only one kind," she said calmly.
Kiri doubted it. Her actions seemed calculated—her ship's survival too convenient. He wondered if they were reenacting their ancestors' story, facing each other yet unable to capture, escaping twice.
Pressing wouldn't yield answers. He looked away, staring at the sea.
A messy, unique bond—not like Arlong's or Crocodile's. She likely wanted it to continue, their paths crossing again.
But it intrigued him. He'd just told Adel to cherish family. He hadn't lost his own, he realized.
"Family, huh…" he muttered.
"Interested? I can tell you old stories," Wendy offered, smiling eagerly.
Her voice didn't reach him. He smirked self-deprecatingly, shrugging. "Nah, I'll go with the flow."
"Bit disappointing," she said, still smiling.
Kiri turned, walking back without looking. "Hey," he called.
"Hm?"
"Will we meet again?"
"Sure. Definitely."
"Got it."
He didn't say he hoped not. Next time might bring clarity. Waiting felt okay, his heart calm.
Kiri left; Wendy watched, no intent to capture. Like before, their paths diverged but didn't shy from crossing. Wondering when they'd meet again, they parted.
Later, Adel waved from the pier as the Going Merry sailed from Partia. After brief preparations, they embarked on their next adventure. With the race over and Adel's issues resolved, there was no reason to stay.
Adel smiled, but Shuraiya, arms crossed, looked conflicted. Biera stood beside him.
"Down in the dumps?" Biera asked.
"Yeah… I'm a clown," Shuraiya said, eyes closed, smiling bitterly.
"I lived to kill Gaspade, sacrificing everything. But I failed. What's my purpose now?"
"Purpose is everywhere," Biera said.
"Easy to say."
"Try it. You've got something left," Biera said, nodding at Adel.
Shuraiya understood but recalled hurting everything he touched. He couldn't stay close.
Adel ran over, her brightness blinding. "God's got style," Biera said. "I don't agree with you."
"I don't deserve—" Shuraiya began.
"Deserve? You're siblings. Family doesn't need qualifications—just care."
Adel faced Shuraiya, eyes firm. He met her gaze, wavering.
"Big brother," she said.
Memories flooded—eight years ago, her calling him that, the town's bustle, her smile. Shaken, he saw her outstretched hand, offering a handshake.
Emotions surged. He clenched his teeth, hand gripping his hair. Was he worthy? Doubt lingered, but Adel's resolve held no malice, only love.
Tears welled. Unable to speak, loneliness from eight years faded. Her call felt like forgiveness. His arm trembled.
Hesitation lingered, but he reached out, gently grasping her smaller hand, stunned by the warmth, heart full. He took his sister's hand, feeling pathetic yet moved.
"Life's interesting. Good things come if you live," Biera murmured, smiling at them.
Adel beamed, finally free to smile genuinely. Shuraiya, too, found peace.
A figure slipped away from the port.
Soon after entering town, Wendy was called out. Turning without alarm, she saw her trusted deputy, visibly annoyed. Bracing for a scolding, she flashed a defensive smile, but the deputy's sternness held.
"You kept me waiting, Colonel. Late again?" the deputy said.
"Lovely dress. You look stunning in anything," Wendy replied.
"Anything else to say?"
"Sorry. Things got messy. I hurried," Wendy said.
"Ugh, feel my pain for once," the deputy sighed, extra grumpy, perhaps due to her unusual dress—impractical, not her style.
Wendy, cautious, said, "Don't like it? It's gorgeous. Everyday wear?"
"Spend my break in this? It's impractical and not me," the deputy grumbled.
"No noble dreams? I think it suits you," Wendy teased.
"No thanks. Work done?" the deputy asked, cutting through banter.
Wendy shrank, smiling. "Yup, finished. Not sure if it went as expected."
"Arrests?"
"Nope. No evidence."
"Figures," the deputy nodded, unsurprised.
"It's Vice Admiral Jonathan. Probably planned it—rumors of corruption but no proof, so I'd report nothing. Headquarters can't question it."
"Used you well," the deputy said.
"Base is a mess, though. Not sure how much was planned," Wendy laughed.
"The only surprise was his rampage," the deputy said, nodding, slightly troubled.
"Keep this up, you'll trip someday," she warned.
"When it happens, it happens. I grew up watching Grandpa," Wendy said.
"Get serious. You're too optimistic," the deputy scolded.
"You know it's more than that," Wendy giggled, walking off.
The deputy followed, heading for Hugh at the cliff, talking as they went.
"Saw something nice. Family's important," Wendy said.
"What's that about?"
"He got curious about her. Looked so serious, like her. Made me miss her."
"Don't. It's a dangerous gamble," the deputy cautioned.
"I know. When will we meet?" Wendy sighed, reaching into her suit pocket.
She held a small paper. Smiling tenderly, she gazed at it—not a pirate's Vivre Card, but one for a boy she'd recently parted from.
She'd clipped his nail when he visited her ship, useful now, and likely again. But she wouldn't use it without reason, keeping it secret.
The paper moved, pointing to the sea. They'd meet again.
Anticipating that moment, Wendy clutched the Vivre Card tightly.
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/Greyhounds
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