The Puppet Master [One Piece]

Like Brother and Sister

~Shanks’ POV~

                Raucous booming laughter echoed from the main deck on our second evening after leaving Funesto. The crew had been so quiet since our departure as if they were afraid to upset Echo.  Benn and I were at the helm with Rockstar trying to pinpoint Whitebeard’s location so we could meet with him and all exchanged curious glances as the laughter got louder and some of the crew began to shout out words of encouragement.

                “What are they doing?” Rockstar pondered and leaned over the edge of the deck to see what was going on below. “Kick his ass, Echo-chan!” He whooped causing me to panic. Who was she fighting?

                I raced to the edge of the upper deck and peered down below frantically searching for the fight. Echo and Yassop were standing side by side each with a pistol in hand facing a row of cans lined up on the hull. At least they appeared to be getting along.

                Benn finally gave in to curiosity and joined me at the edge of the deck and chuckled once he spotted the pair locked in a firing competition. “It’s unusual to see them getting along.”

                “Nah, ye got it all wrong.” One of the younger rookies chuckled, “Yassop told her she was useless without her wires to hide behind.”

                Of course he did.

                “She got right peeved and told him she could prove she wasn’t. And then this happened.” He laughed.

                “I want a different weapon.” Echo huffed puffing her cheeks out adorably in frustration.

                “What?” Yassop stared at her incredulously.

                “I don’t like guns.” She grumbled.

                “You’re just stalling.” Yassop chuckled, “Can you even shoot a gun?”

                Echo shot him a glare, “I haven’t before, but it obviously can’t be too hard if you excel at it.” She retorted.

                “They’re like siblings.” Benn chuckled, “They fight like brother and sister.”

                “What did you just say?!” Yassop growled in annoyance.

                Echo stuck her tongue at him.

                “Brat.” Yassop grumbled, “Take your shot.”

                Echo shot him a glare before raising her gun and aiming it precariously.

                “Hurry up, we haven’t got all day.” Yassop goaded her.

                “Shut up, I’ve never done this before.” Echo retorted as she zeroed in on one of the cans. Once she was satisfied with her aim she pulled the trigger.

                ‘Click.’

                Yassop fell to the deck howling with laughter and Echo’s face reddened. “You.. thought.. I’d give.. you a … loaded gun?” Yassop roared between laughs.

                Echo turned to snap at him but stopped short with a soft gasp of pain. She pressed a trembling hand to her temple as her gaze became unfocused. Yassop panicked and caught her in his arms as she suddenly slipped from consciousness. My heart plummeted into the pit of my stomach as I watched her fall and I quickly leapt over the edge of the upper deck landing swiftly on the main deck below before racing to her aid.

                “Echo!” I called out to her as her skin paled and her breathing came in short shallow gasps.

                What was going on?

                “Echo-chan!” The crew panicked.

                It was like the time before, when we were helping her with her Haki. Was she having another premonition? When I reached her she started shivering as if she were freezing and her lips took on a faint purplish tinge.

                “Echo?” I placed a hand to her forehead expecting her to feel feverish and gasped, she was cold! Without thinking I removed my cloak and swept it around her and motioned for Yassop to follow me.

                We took her to my cabin and set her on the bed to wait for her to snap out of whatever she was seeing.