|Her Sea of Secrets| Rayleigh x Reader x Crocodile

Chapter Fifteen

"So, what do you do, if someone in your life ever hurt you? Someone you loved?"

"Well, you'd leave them, of course."

"But what if you couldn't?"

"Then I would run away."

........

The sun shined on your sun-kissed complexion, the rays brightening up your ship; hands rested on the precious, exotic wood.

A hand was placed on your back.

Nozomu smiled, "Water-7 is coming up, can't wait to go out to dinner with you."

You simply nodded, turning back to look at the sea in thought.

Nozomu frowned, not liking that your attention was not on him.

"Water-7, you know that place is littered with government spies, Nozomu?" You asked, turning your head to glance at him, "You're keen on going there."

Nozomu laughed, "Yeah! They have some of the best restaurants, and i figured our boat could use some repairs."

"No!" You exclaimed, slamming your hands on the rail, "This boat can't be touched by anyone other than Tom or Iceberg. Tom was the one who helped build this ship. It's only fair." Your hand grazed along the railing.

Nozomu was taken aback, you were very adamant about these things. Old things. Things that meant so much to you, that you'd throw yourself away if it were damaged.

Your Heart-Locket shaped ship was one of those things.

Nozomu wrapped his arms around your hips, face resting on your lower back. "Im sorry captain, I won't mess up again."

"You're not messing up, Nozomu, there are just things that mean alot to me. They can't be touched by inexperienced hands. Nothing of that sort." You whispered, the sanded wood glimmering in the light. That deep, rich wood.

"What was this wood, anyway? Why's it so important?" He asked.

"The Great treasure tree, The Adam. It came from The Adam. Roger gave us a large sum of wood during travel, don't you remember?" You asked, smiling softly.

Laughter filled the air as Roger drank and sang with your arm linked with his.

"I want you to share this wood with me, my friend, so we can sail the seas together!"

You sang along, a soft smile on your face. Only stopping as that sentence hit you.

"Roger- I couldn't." You said, flushing. "Listen, I wish that I could, but I can't take that from you!"

Scopper laughed as he placed a hand on your forearm, "can't convince him otherwise."

Nozomu was sat by the fire- ignoring this conversation- he had no part.

"Ugh..fine..but I hate handouts!" You yelled, and tackled Roger to the floor.

The two of you began to wrestle, yelling wholesome comments at one another.

......

"How do you remember all that? It was thirty-something years ago?!" Nozomu yelled, rubbing his temples as you began to laugh.

"Thats a good question, but, I think that it's just something I've gotta hold onto in life." You whispered, and placed a hand on your cheek.

You continued the memory you were having, leaving Nozomu utterly confused.
......

Rayleigh watched in the distance. The two of you...had a weird relationship, you and Rayleigh.

Some nights, you'd lay on the ship for hours, gentle, careless whispering being heard about. Whispers of secrets and hidden doubts.

Whispers of fears, shaking fears that made even the bravest of men fall to their knees.

You'd been through alot.

"Keep it to yourself, use that frustration. Suck it up." Is what your father would say to you, that large grin on his face as he hit you over the head. You were only 8 at the time.

You were put through training like no other, beat downs, survival, probably-illegal boxing, you name it.

After joining the Marines, you had told Rayleigh, you worked as hard as you could until the age of 21.

The God Valley incident.

When you went head-to-head and toe-to-toe with the infamous Rocks D. Xebec and his crew.

Rayleigh looked over at you with a smile, "I can't forget how skinny you were then."

"I still kicked your ass at first." You shot at him.

"Then we worked together. Who knew that we'd end up here? Together?" He smiled, heart-warmingly. He was so different whenever you were alone.

You chuckled at his statement, and cuddled up against Rayleigh; letting his head rest against your chest, you ran your fingers through his hair.

"Its something that's so hard to think about for me, to be honest." You said, "you were supposed to be my enemy- yet you became my best, most trusted friend."

Rayleigh laughed, looking up into your eyes. "Hey," he started, eyes closing as he scooted closer to you. "Just who is your father?"

"Uhm- well, that's a really tough subject." You laughed, squeezing him tightly against yourself.

"You'll promise not to tell anyone besides Roger, right?" You asked softly, shuddering due to the cold.

"I promise. Your secret is safe with me."

......

You sighed, watching the sunset as you picked up the flier with your name plastered in big, bold letters; the signage of the Marines making your skin crawl.

Your last name was something you loved to share with your little nephew and little brother- but you had a difficult relationship work your father. God, a family full of boys.

"Why did my life have to be so tough because of you?" You whispered.

You let your wanted poster go, clipping it back onto main corkboard of your ship (it was placed right next to your door).

You began whispering yourself like you were sengoku, giving the execution speech.

"Monkey D. Y/N. Daughter of Monkey D. Garp. Sister of the Revolutionary, Monkey D. Dragon."