A promise to kill

To see the dead

I followed a trail left by the pirates to find a small little cottage in field of flowers. All was quiet and I can hear quiet talking from with in. 

Just before I knock, all goes silent and everyone is weary of me. 

" Hello. " I slightly push the door open to reveal myself. My shadow stretches into the room under the light of the moon and I can see the many battered pirates that sit in the small home. 

" My name's Layla. I'm here to see my brother." I announce and out the corner of my eye, I see the swordsman laying down his sword.

" You're that chick from Sabaody 2 years ago." He mentions and I can help but to smile. This green haired swords man was the one to pull Luffy to safety. 

" I'm glad that you remember me. I remember you all too. I don't mean any trouble. I was just in town and wanted to say hi to my brother before I go. I think I have a lot to catch up on with him." I step in and close the door quietly behind myself but before I can, a foot stops the door and I a hand lands on my shoudler. 

" As do I." His voice is unfamiliar but I know who it is as soon as I see him. 

" Sabo" I whisper almost too quietly for even myself to hear. 

" Anne. It's been a while." He smiles so softly that it's hard to believe that he's one of the brats that used to live with us. 

I don't hear anything he says to straw hat crew but when he finally turns towards me again, I find myself pulling him into a hug. 

"I we... We thought you were dead. " I mumble into him and his chest rumbles with a laugh. 

" Anne, or maybe you go by Lady now, I'm so glad I was able to see you again. I'd lost one sibling, I wouldn't be able to bare having lost two while my memory was gone." He pets my head so gently and I realize two things. 

1. He's matured 

and 

2. He's warm. 

" I'd really like to stay but I just came to see his face before leaving. Ships are arriving soon so you guys should leave as soon as possible as well." He goes to let me go but I hold fast to his hands and he smiles down at me. 

"I go by Layla now. Lady Layla. I'm a Kid Pirate now. I have a big bounty now. I, live life to the fullest doing whatever I want. My captain treats me nicely and I have special people in my life now. I love this man named Killer, he's really strong and really kind. He takes care of me when I forget to take care of myself. He worries about me too. " I get out in one breath. I need to tell him everything before he goes. 

"Ace, he died in my arms. I was able to say goodbye, to make sure he knew that he was loved. I found Luffy again after all these years. I survived being a slave." He gets a hard look on his face but shakes his head before I continue.

"I got really strong. I'm a violent pirate now but don't be mad, it's not all the time. I missed you and I always miss Ace. I thought about you all the time for so long and I'm really happy now, I'm finally able to be happy now. I.." I can feel the tears streaming down my face and he wipes them away smiling softly at me. 

" You don't have to tell me everything now. I'm not going to die anytime soon. We'll see each other again Layla, I promise. We'll see each other again, you, me and our baby brother Luffy." He hugs me one last time before pulling away. 

" I'm glad your happy now. I'm glad you escaped and found a new life. I'm really glad that this won't be goodbye." He finally kisses my forehead unlike the older brother that I remember. He's gentler now, acting like a kind older brother now. 

He waves one last time to the crew before leaving and I turn towards the crew who have soft looks on my face. 

" Looks like I don't need to introduce myself to you guys since you heard all that. I must look so pathetic." I try to laugh it off wiping my face with the back of my hand but the oldest female chuckles offering me a spot to sit beside my sleeping brother. 

" Not pathetic at all, though some of what you said draws some questions." She hums and I run my hand through Luffy's hair. 

" Would you guys mind if I stay here until he wakes up." I ask and they nod.

" My name is Robin by the way. It's a honor to finally meet Luffy's sister. He always speaks of you so fondly." He hold out her hand for me to shake and I take it. She points out other crew members listing their names and I smile. 

The cyborg, I now know as Franky, finally speaks while tinkering with the broken portion of his face, which reminds me of my captain. 

" So what were you doing here? Is your crew here too? NO offence but we don't need anymore trouble while we're here." He points out and I can't help but laugh. 

" That's true, My captain really likes a good blood bath but sadly, I'm here alone. I watched Luffy and Law take down Joker, or maybe you guys know his better as Doflamingo. We have a little bit of a past so I just needed to settle a score with him, but looks like Luffy did that for me. I'm not so blood thirsty that I'd take someone else's prey. " I explain and they give me a questioning look. I laugh. 

" I talked to him for a bit before coming here and probably scared the living lights out of the boys who were supposed to watch him. Their probably scrambling to find me right now.  but, it was well worth it." I pull down my shirt slightly to show them my tattoo. 

" I love my crew and this tattoo show just that but under here is a brand. You might have heard when I said to Sabo, that I used to be a slave. Joker, was the middleman who bought and sold me. I came here to kill him but when I saw him all tied but, I couldn't help it. I teased him a bit and watched him wither is rage before leaving him, wanting to kill me." I sigh leaning back on my arms. 

" I'll kill him if he ever escapes. until then he can cultivate his hatred for me and nurture his wrath." I laugh out loud and my voice echos in the small room. The crew stares at me 

"I'm really glad you aren't our enemy." The cyborg mutters and I agree. " I'm glad too, I wouldn't want to kill my brother's friends." I feel the gaze of teh swords man and he's smirking at me. 

" I'd love to spar with you though, Zoro was it? I was a swords man before becoming a sniper. Maybe I can learn a thing or two from you." He closes his eyes with a slight smirk. 

" Maybe." Everyone finally settles down and I stare down at my brother's face. He sleeps so peacefully as if all is right in the world. I wonder when I leave, when the next time I will see him and Sabo.