Ameliorate ✦ One Piece

1

Akira's favourite time of day was morning. More specifically, sunrise. It was then that she would always wake to the feeling of the first rays of sunlight seeping through her window. The warmth would make her smile, happy in those short few moments between sleep and waking where you don't remember any of your troubles. Where the world is just a blissful ray of sunshine and nothing in it could ever be wrong. But sadly, that moment lasts only for a few short seconds before reality crashes down on you.

Her reality was that one room, the four walls keeping her in and away from the sun shining through the clear glass. From the view beyond it; the sea and ships sailing along its waves. She wondered, often, what it was like to be on one. She'd been on a ship before, of course, but not one which wasn't leading her to more trouble or dread, the destinations a new lottery of uncertainty and possible torment.

But she'd never been on one of her own choice. One which was taking her wherever she wished to go and leading her on a journey she knew she'd enjoy. Or at the very least, even hoped that she would. She hadn't been on a ship in years. Sometimes she'd let herself hope, just for a little, of one of those ships in that harbour beyond her window being her saving grace.

And as nearly every morning, when she rose from her bed, she walked over to it, looking out to the world which she so rarely got to venture out into. She looked at the ships and observed them, recognizing some that have been docked for days and spotting new ones. Wondering if it would be the one with the parrot figurehead which sailed her away from here? Or would it be the tiny one, with the red and white stripes on its sails? The one which, from a distance, you could barely spot, but the reason you did was because it seemed so out of place among all the others.

But as always, her short moment of wishful thinking came to an end, as quickly as the peace of the first moment you wake. Because it wasn't real. And Akira had long ago given up hope that it would be. She knew the day ahead of her, and it included no sailing or exploring the oceans. It included appointments. She wasn't sure which, but she knew there would be some. And she knew that by the end of the day she would be entirely exhausted and her 'boss' a few thousand Berry richer. And tomorrow, it would all repeat.

Every day was the same. Some were worse, depending on what her appointments entailed. What kind of injuries or sicknesses she'd be summoned to tend to. But others were more lenient on her strength and energy. Akira hoped today would be one such day. But again, she reminded herself not to do so. To hope was to be disappointed in the end. She'd learned that lesson at a very young age. And it kept repeating during her childhood.

When she hoped that her mother was only trying to teach her a lesson. When she hoped the woman would change her mind in those last few moments. When the first man took her away on his ship. For the first few times she moved from place to place, she'd hoped things would be different in her new home.

Be the time she reached this one and met Jahra, she'd stopped hoping. And it turned out for the best, really. She hadn't hoped for something good or grand, so the meagre monotony and exhaustion came as a pleasant surprise. Jahra worked her until she could function no more, but she'd had worse. And she'd met and worked for enough men worse than him to know that she was being rather ungrateful with her fantasies of the ships in the harbour.

She'd regret it one day. She knew that. She'd think back to this room and that window, and realize she'd had it quite good. But she supposed that was the thing with people, they were never pleased. Never happy with what they had but instead wanted more, only learning when it was too late. She'd met people like that too. Worked for them too. Jahra was one of them.

And as a reminder of him, and the kind of person she didn't want to become, the lock of the door keeping her within these four walls resonated with a small click, making her turn towards it, knowing what stood on the other side even if it was earlier than usual. Most mornings, she had time for herself between waking up and when Jahra would come to collect her for the daily duties. Time she often spent reading whatever book one of the maids had managed to smuggle to her whilst delivering meals.

Currently, it was still hidden beneath her pillow, and Akira was grateful for that as she came face to face with the man who currently owned her. "We're starting early today." He barked in the usual gruff voice he often used with her, or anyone for that matter. But while he'd given the instructions, he made no move to approach her. Instead, the large man with greying hair remained standing at the door, accompanied by one of his personal guards.

He used to approach, drag her around and command her more forcefully. Until one time she decided to try and stand up for herself. They'd both learned their lessons on that day. Pushing the thought out of her mind, Akira realized the man was speaking once more, and she knew it was better to listen. "It would seem some of the Marines decided to partake in a bar brawl. Captain Morgan has requested our services."

Captain Morgan was one of the few Marines in Shells Town who knew the truth behind Jahra's services, and yet, for the small favour of getting them for himself and his men without having to pay, he turned a blind eye to the man who was partaking in illegal activities. For as long as it benefitted him, that was. When Jahra first struck a deal, once more, she'd felt some hope of being saved. But once again, that hope was soon crushed as soon as she met the infamous Axe-Hand Morgan. Now she despised the man.

And she often despised having to tend to the Marines. Not only for some of them being leery and disgusting, but also because it often entailed more serious injuries and wounds that she had to heal up quickly due to the nature of their jobs. However, there was no point in refusing the order or trying to disobey it. So, Akira simply nodded her head, doing her best not to roll her eyes as he barked out she had five minutes to get ready before she's dragged out of the room by her hair.

As the door slammed shut behind him, she turned to the small wardrobe in the corner of the room, letting out a small sigh as she walked over to it. Her mother's words rang out in her head. 'You'll regret this, girl.' The woman had said when she'd realized what Akira had done. And she was right.

She might've been only three years old and unable to understand or know any better, but Akira knew her mother had been right. There wasn't a day that went by when she didn't regret eating that damned devil fruit. It was what landed her in this position.