Through Darkness

A Village of Bones

Mei's POV

Maybe me forgetting there were this many was a stretch. It's more like...I never knew. They always avoided me. How was I supposed to know there were this many villagers?

Or maybe there wasn't as many villagers as I think. The bones are heaped all together, but the skulls tell me exactly how many people died.

The skulls look at us with grinning faces.

Luffy breaks the deafening silence. "Mei...who the hell did this?"

I refuse to look anyone in the face. "A monster."

"That monster you were talking about before? Legs on legs? Hundreds of eyes? I'll beat its ass!" Luffy growls.

I chuckle darkly and humourlessly. "That was a story. It isn't real. What happened here was real monsters' doing."

"I-Is this w-why y-you didn't want t-to come here?" Usopp stutters.

Sanji, Zoro, Nami, and Vivi continue to stand in silence and shock.

"Yes and no."

"Why yes and no?" Zoro questions, his eyes no longer holding the earlier shock.

I silently curse myself for being honest in my answer.

"None of your business, Seaweed." I grit out.

"Obviously it is! We need to know what the hell is going on!" Zoro shot back, ignoring his nickname.

I take a step forward. "Go explore or whatever. I don't care. Just watch out for the monkeys in the trees. If they bite, it hurts."

I go to walk away, but someone catches my wrist. "Mei...let us help." Nami whispers.

"There's nothing to help with. What's done is done. The past is past. It doesn't matter. Now let me go."

"Mei-chan..." Sanji's eyes reflect literal fire. I look forward again, but see no fire. How...the heck...does he have literal fire in his...eyes?

"Mei-san. Please let us help." Vivi begs. "You are helping me save my country. At least let me help you."

I laugh. I actually laugh.

The crew is taken aback.

Still laughing I say, "You...you idiots! Can't you fucking see?! This island...the people...everything is fucking dead."

I wrench my wrist free from Nami's grip, but she holds onto my glove.

I don't bother asking for it back and I walk through the village of bones, accidentally crushing some under my feet.

"Go explore! Get lost...see if I care..." I mumble the last part.

3rd POV

As Mei walks away and into the forest, the Straw-Hats, including Vivi, look at each other, hopelessly lost on what to do.

Luffy is the first to go into action. "Mei said to explore. Let's explore and then convince Mei to join the crew!" He grins, however his smile isn't as wide as it usually is.

Everyone nods, not feeling too excited to do anything but.

They go their separate ways, Nami, Vivi, Usopp, and Sanji together (Sanji wanted to protect the girls and Usopp was too scared to go alone), while Zoro and Luffy went together.

A few minutes later, Luffy and Zoro separate because...well...what else would you expect from a directionally challenged moss head and an oblivious idiotic Straw-Hat?

Meanwhile, Mei trudges through the familiar forest on a familiar path. The path was just dirt that was worn down from animals.

Mei made so many twists and turns, one would think she was lost. She wasn't. Her legs were taking her to the only place she felt safe.

A huge oak tree.

She looks up and immediately starts to climb, not once losing her footing.

She reaches the highest branch that would support her weight and places one leg on either side of the branch, then slowly leans back until she was laying on it.

Tears sting her eyes, but she blinks them away and shakes her head. If I start crying, I won't stop. I've held them back this long. I'm not starting now.

'Truth or dare?'

'Dare...'

'I dare you to sneak into the warehouse and steal something without getting caught.'

'W-What?!'

'You dared me to kiss a snail! I did.'

'F-Fine..."

​​​​​​​ Mei couldn't think of any other thing she regrets more.

Or maybe she can.

That damn Devil Fruit...

​​​​​​​ She stares up through the cover of the trees and at the night sky. I wonder what it's like to live a life with no regrets...is that even possible?

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