MARINES - A ONE PIECE story (ENGLISH) - Part I

CHAPTER CIII - Until the end

Hana liked to take refuge in the heights of the old town of Marineford. There she could see the bay, the ships, the sun rise and set. Most of the time she went alone, without her team. She loved them, of course, they were her surrogate family. Still, she liked to get lost in her thoughts and the vastness of the landscape. But that evening, as the sun was drowning in the sea, casting pinkish rays in the already dark sky, a noise behind her pulled her out of her reverie.

- I heard you, she said without being in any way frightened. You can come out of your hiding place, you know ?

- Well ! exclaimed Arthur, coming out of the shadows. Your senses have sharpened... Have you already awakened your observation haki ?

The girl, without looking away from the sun, smiled sadly.

- Not yet. I practice every day, though... I sometimes wish I were born a Kuja like your friend Haru so I could feel the aura of everything.

Arthur's face beamed with pride as he approached his comrade.

- She is brilliant, indeed. But you're no match for her ! Do you come here often ? he asked as he sat beside her.

- More and more since my master died. It was he who introduced me to this place. It is like I can feel his presence by my side when I come back here, every day.

Arthur glanced discreetly at Hana. He hadn't expected her to broach the taboo subject so quickly.

- You miss him, don't you ?

- The word is too weak, she whispered. He was my mentor, my friend, my father. I, an orphan, loved him more than anyone else in the world. Since his loss, I feel like there is nothing left of me.

She turned to him and, for the first time since he had joined her, looked at him. Her large gray eyes were shining with the thousand fires of the setting sun. She was sublime. In some ways, she reminded him of his mother, of whom he only knew the photographic portrait.

- I guess the same goes for you and your friends, doesn't it ?

Arthur gently nodded as his heart began to race again. He wanted to tell her about Myr, about the letter, about all the things he had learned. About Edward too. As his mouth was opening to talk, he felt a presence behind him, that he recognized in an instant.

- Little rendez-vous in front of the sunset, losers ? How sweet... Don't mind if I play the third wheel ?

Arthur remained calm, but the tension was vibrating in the air, between these three young heroes, while Hector was coming to join his rivals in front of the sea.

- I just wanted to tell you that... he mumbled without even looking at them. I'm sorry. That's it.

Arthur had an irrepressible urge to laugh. As he was trying to hold back his nascent smile, Hana giggled and hid her face in her long hair, triggering their shared hilarity. Hector, obviously hurt in his pride, blushed and turned on his heels.

- Here we go. That's what you got when you try to be nice to people... Go fuck yourself, suckers !

Hana held him back by the shoulder, stifling another laugh.

- It just surprised us, coming from you ! Sorry. But I want you to know that I am sincerely touched.

Hector, with an evil eye, turned his head slightly towards Arthur, as if he was expecting an apology. The young soldier merely nodded with a smile, after which Hector sighed to exult his annoyance and fatigue.

- Since that day, I can't stop thinking about how lucky I was. Leroy being alive is a true gift from gods. I don't want to imagine what I would have become if he had been at their place. Myr and Wilelm were no match for him, but... I think they were good. Strong, loyal, fair. The kind of soldiers I would like to be.