The Secret of Me

Hoshoku Sha

My shoulders shake, and my breath was mixed up heaving inhales, hungry for air. I dry my eyes with the back of my hands, the ribbons that I'd wrapped around my wrists were long gone, lost in some hallway.
I adjust my top, retying it, pulling the ribbons extra tight, only to make my cleavage bulge despite my efforts, causing me to sigh, sweat dripping.

I walk away, firm faced. My mind purley set on a single goal... Part of me only want to succeed to prove Law wrong. So so wrong.
I breeze past the Heart Pirate crew, escalating up the ladder as if everyone else was invisible and everything was normal.
They watch me wide eyed as I make my exit.
I climb up the side up the side of the ship, and land firmly on board, my feet shoulder width apart, and my hands on my hips.

"Set sail." I say, my neko first mate looked at me from over her sunglasses her expression more than unamused, lying on a pool chair holding a newspaper in a pink frilly bikini, my newest member in mid stride, carrying a few barrels of supplies across the ship, looked at me slightly cautious, as he stared.
"Did you not understand my commands?" I say, my voice going slightly deeper and dark, serious and in a tone not to be messed with.
"AYE CAPTAIN!" They shout jumping into action, "What direction?!" Cries Kiti, holding the main sails rope looking at me, dripping with sweat still in her bikini.
"South." I respond as Hato lifts the anchor, I walk across the ship to the wheel, placing my hands firmly upon it I stare out in front of me.

So it begins.

We sail on until dusk, Kiti had made a feast, along with some help by Hato, and I... I'd stayed at the front of the ship, guiding it the entire time. Directly South.
For Eustass Kid is from the South Blue... As am I...
I was scared. And self conscious. And scared.
But if he left me once... He could do it again.... And after all that, no matter his answer... I promise myself I'll be alright.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw a streak of color in the blue waves. I turn, taking in the ocean, an eyebrow raised in suspicion.
Probably just a school of sea life...
I return my eyes forward, but moments later I see the same fleeting flash of color in the ocean.
I'm going nuts.
All my thoughts are going to my head recently are making me go nuts.
I close my eyes, my grip tightening on the wheel of my ship, just a deep breath in and let it ou-
"OH MY GOD!" I cry the ship jerking to the right, my hands not turning the wheel.

Suddenly, in a burst of ocean water, a figure explodes from the sea, and lands gracefully in the middle of the main deck.
I run down the stairs to see who this odd, strangely enough blue, tall and lean figure kneeling hunched over in the middle of my ship.
The figure stood up to its full height.
His full height.
"Hello, madam." He says his lips breaking into a huge pointy teethed grin, "My name, is Hoshoku Sha."
He leaned forward, towering over me, taking my hand his smile somehow deepening.

"And yours is?"
I stare up at him, my blue eyes wide, and I say, "Valdis. Valdis Nyx."
"A pleasure," he said, bowing somehow even more, his eyes closing as he bowed.
"The pleasures all mine, Sir." I say, as this odd man who'd just showed up on my ship from god knows where, had gotten the rare unseen smile from me.