Anime One Shot Book 2 - Requests Open

229. One Piece: Whitebeard Pirates ~ A Home

I've been on the Moby Dick for a month, it's still challenging to navigate everywhere, but I make do. My job was to wrap sprains, which happened more often than not. I wasn't good with blood; Sakuya-san understood, and so did the other nurses. So whenever there was a heavy bleeder, I would be kicked out of the medical bay.

This is what happened now; I wasn't sure what happened, but Mary told me not to go up top because there was a Marine here as I was pushed out. Usually, that wouldn't be a problem, but I told them I was afraid of the Marines when I joined. So, I went to the dining hall instead; no one was there, but I could smell the food being prepared. I went to the door leading to the deck and pressed my ear against it, hoping to hear who it was on the ship.

"-be about to her waist; she won't ever cut it. Eyes can be changed too." Garp said,

"So you want us to keep an eye out for a woman, with unknown hair color, unknown eye color, around 5'5"." Ace said,

"Yup! Ah, her standard hair color is white eyes are blue. She's conservative, and the Navy is willing to pardon any pirate or pirate crew if they turn her in." Garp said,

I bit down on my lip. Shit. I quietly backed away and went to the room all of the nurses and doctors shared. I climbed onto the top bunk and curled up under the blankets. What am I going to do? I was lucky that I found a place despite not knowing anything...maybe I can get some of the Commanders to teach me a few things before I run away.

~One week ~

I had been learning how to cook from Thatch for the past week. It was fun, but I burnt a lot of dishes, and some of them tasted funny; but. Ace had eaten all of it. The plates were all clean; there wasn't any leftover food on them. So when I heard we were going to stop by a gambling island to stock up on alcohol, I begged Sakuya-san to let me go gamble with the few coins I earned. I told them I did not want to be paid a lot, as small as they were willing to pay me. She had asked Pops, and they would only allow it if one of the commanders came with me. Marco was volunteered, saying that he could use a break. Though Thatch told me it was his birthday, they wanted to do a surprise; so come to the ship as late as possible. I just told him to send someone for us cause if I had it my way, I wouldn't come back until the next day.

So, here we were. Marco stood behind me as my guard as I played poker. This was our fourth gambling house, and I've earned a crap ton of money. We had someone from the crew bring the money back to the ship whenever we ran into someone, well, not all of it because I needed at least some to bet.

"Yo! Gamblers! Pops is calling for an all-aboard!" Thatch hollered as he walked over to us,

"Awe!" I pouted; I was having fun.

As we left with my money, the workers pleaded for me not to return. I giggled as Marco & Thatch walked behind me with two big money bags. Just as we got on deck, everyone shouted Happy Birthday to Marco. He sighed and shook his head, muttering about not wanting to be unique and be the only one to celebrate his birthday on his actual birthday.

"Oh yeah! Aiko! What are you going to do with all that money?" Mary asked as she sat with me.

The party was in full swing. Everyone was having a blast; a couple of people nearby were all looking at me.

"Hm?? What do you mean? It's not my money..." I tilted my head at her.

"Of course, it's your money. You earned it gambling!" Jozu hollered, his voice echoing across the deck and drawing everyone's attention to me.

Even Pops looked at me curiously. I lowered my head and blushed in embarrassment, mumbling what I would do with the money.

"You're going to need to speak up louder. I didn't even hear what you said, and I'm sitting right here," Mary said, leaning in closer.

"...I'm giving It to Thatch and Ace..." I said, a little louder.

"EH?! WHY?!" nearly everyone shouted, especially Thatch & Ace.

"For teaching me....and eating my gross food..." I looked down again.

"Of course, we would help you out. You're a part of the family!" Thatch grinned as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder while sitting by me.

"Family...helps each other for free?" I looked up at him, confused.

"Did your parents make you pay to take care of you?"

"...Does it have to do with why you won't show anyone your back?" Mary asked,

I froze.  got up to my feet.

"I'm tired. I'm going to bed. Excuse me, and happy birthday, Marco," I said, keeping my head down as I hurried inside the ship and to my room.

I gripped onto my shoulders as memories I buried down deep came up to the surface.

~ One Week Later ~

I couldn't sleep. I woke up from a nightmare again. I leaned against the railing, looking out at the water. It was raining, and I was only wearing my pajamas. Shorts and a t-shirt, but it didn't bother me. Even if I was getting drenched, it kept me awake.

"What are you doing out here?! Are you crazy?!" Thatch shouted as he rushed over.

I turned my head to look at him in confusion. Why is he up? - How did he know I was out here? He put his coat over my head and ushered me inside and over to the fireplace that was in the dining room. It was always lite. He had me sit down while he went and grabbed some towels for us.

"Did I leave the door open? I'm sorry..." I looked up at him as he dried my hair.

"You didn't. Why were you out there?" he frowned,

"I didn't want to go back to sleep..." I lowered my gaze to the ground.

"Want to talk about it?" Thatch asked as he sat down next to me on the bench.

"...Nightmares...about my family." I clenched my hands together.

He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me onto his lap and into a tight hug. I pressed my lips together to keep myself from crying.

"They're not going to get you, and you're with us now." Thatch said,

"...I didn't pay them with money," I said, wrapping my arms around myself.

"What else is there-...they didn't." Thatch said through gritted teeth as he tightened his grip around me.

"It differed...from who would be collecting payment. It was my father and older brother mostly, sometimes my uncle. I preferred it if my mom collected the payment. I...I wouldn't have to...I wouldn't have to look at her as she...collected payment. I wasn't old enough to work for money, and I couldn't use my allowance to pay them." I admitted,

"Fuck...where do they live?" Thatch asked,

"It's fine. I'm never going to see them again, not if I can help it." I gave him a closed-eye smile.

"...alright. Let's go to bed." Thatch sighed as he stood up with me in his arms.

"I'm not tired-!" I started,

"You're sleeping with me, and I'll protect you from those nightmares." Thatch winked as he carried me down the halls.