Maelstrom

Chapter 17

Ruse's POV

A rough hand shook you awake again, as you groan. You had thought you could sneak in a little cat nap before having to deal with more trouble, but looks like that was a ludicrous thought.

You swat away the hand as you feel familiar fingers carding through your hair once again.

Ah, Red really needed to stop petting you so much. Honestly, you were tempted to offer to get him a dog with the amount of times he was always patting your head like a tamed beast.

"Oi, Red, I was busy, what do you need this time?" You drawl, voice tinged with sleepiness as you let out a wide yawn, your scars itching a little from the effort.

"Well kid, looks like you're awake again." He crooks a lopsided smile at you, his gaze fixed to the horizon as you gesture for him to help you to your feet.

"Yeah, yeah. What's the deal? Something happened?" You question as he pulls you to your feet.

"Well not particularly, just figured you'd want to meet one of my friends." he chuckles as he says the last part and your eyes narrow.

Friends? With Shanks?

Haa, that was interesting wasn't it?

You arch an eyebrow in surprise, waiting for him to continue.

"Ah, you know since you never heard of my name before I doubt you'd have heard of his, but just try not to do anything too rash okay kid?" he tells you as you smirk lazily at his tone.

So he thought he'd reprimand you before you make a fool out of him, huh?

"Roger that Captain, I'll do my best to impress." You grin at him, teeth gnashing as you start to make your way over to where you see a figure ahead.

An oddly sized ship, a little bigger than your Moonflower is towards the right of your ship and it seems someone is sitting atop it. The small ship, more or less a raft you think, is shaped like a coffin, green-lit candles glowing softly.

"Oi! Coffin boy, why don't you hop on up and we can chat?" You call out before Shanks can hush you.

Ha, take that Red. You throw a smug grin back at him, but he just shakes his head morosely.

"Alright kid, this one's all yours, don't say I didn't warn ya." He replies as he makes his way towards the helm of the ship.

What was that supposed to mean? It didn't really bode well with you.

You huff as you look back towards the coffin-like raft is, expecting to see the mysterious friend in question, but the figure sitting atop it was no longer there.

No way...was...was...was it a ghost?

"Red! You can't be friends with a ghost! They'll haunt you and steal all your meat!" You shout to Shanks, only slightly terrified at the thought of there being a ghost on your ship.

"That's really rather offensive. I'm a regular man just like anyone else, but I don't believe I've met you yet." A deep sardonic voice comes from behind you.

You whirl around, eyes widened in fear, you were only half-afraid a ghost was waiting to pounce you. Truly.

You turn around expecting to meet an apparition, only to be met with a man who was very much not a ghost.

You hoped.

The man was tall and slim, a lithe yet sturdy build. There was a feather plumed hat atop his slightly messy dark hair, pale skin taunt with muscle, a long floral black and red tinged coat and loose pants held up by an encrusted belt. This was a man similar to Shanks' height that was standing before you, a huge sword on his back. His bare chest had glistened with something, a golden crucifix. Odd.