Unspoken

Part 1: How It Started

Hello~ Here is a one-shot with characters from the awesome One Piece! Different parts contain different POVs. Can you figure out whose? Enjoy! :)

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Heart thumping fast, I ran as fast as I could, jumped on the deck and went straight to the kitchen. I dropped the bags on the table and clutched my chest as I struggled to catch my breath. It did not seem to work so I turned around, out the door and to the railings. A lighted cigarette was quickly on my lips. My heart was still beating fast. What's happening to me?

I had run away from a beautiful girl. Yes, me, the gentleman who has eyes for only the most beautiful creatures that ever existed had just run away from a beautiful girl in a cosy café by the pier.

I had just finished shopping, by myself as I wanted some time away from the ship and away from the crew that I would face twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week for months on end. Resting and enjoying the peace, looking at busy people walking past while sipping on my tea in that small café at a quiet corner at the end of a lane in my best suit and newly polished shoes.

Then I heard giggling behind me. The beautiful girl behind the counter, aka the waitress who served me my aromatic tea, was giggling and looking at me. Wait... Looking at me?! Was she interested in me?

I went over to her, showed my perfect rows of teeth and winked but before I could say anything, she spoke in between her snicker, "How did you like our special brew?" And winked back at me.

"Oh! I think he likes it very much! Look! He's on to you already!" said a rough voice from beside her.

I turned to see a bearded man who casually put his arm over her shoulder and with that ugly smirk.

"What brew are you talking about?" I eyed them suspiciously.

"Just our special brew, my dear," she said sweetly.

My hair suddenly stood. Did she just call me 'dear'?

I felt my nose suddenly clogged up and my mouth gaped. My heart skipped a beat and I was just about floating in the air until I heard a low throaty laugh from the side again. My foot quickly met his smirk. She laughed louder. I turned to her and back to him and gave his bloody head another roundhouse kick that sent him to the other end of the counter. I could not possibly give her one, so he had to take one for her.

I did not know what their deal was but I could sense that something was very off. I grabbed the shopping bags and turned away from the café but not before breaking the table for good measure. I could still hear their laughter behind me. Just what was in that tea??

Nicotine never disappointed me but it did not seem to slow down my heartbeat. Neither was the view to the horizon. So I turned to my left and saw him, flexing his muscles as he lifted the weights repeatedly. As usual, he was shut off from everything else around him whenever he was doing his workouts. Stupid marimo, couldn't he think of anyone else but himself?

With the beads of sweat all over, his body seemed to shine, glistening in the sun. How I envy those muscles. I had none of those to show off with. But I love my strong lithe body, thank you very much.

As I stood frozen staring at him, I could feel my nose clogged up again. The taste of - is it copper? - along my throat, gliding up to my nose. My tummy was in a swirl which I could feel move up my chest - I couldn't breathe, I tried - and move up further to my head. My vision became blurry and my brain shutting down. I felt a trickle down my nose and then sharp pain on my knees. The last thing I felt as the cigarette slipped from my fingers over the railing was a sudden throb on my right temple.

I tried to open my eyes but they were oh so heavy. They were probably only half-opened as I could see a blur of green and black moving about and hear undecipherable mumbles. Then I felt warmth on my right cheek which turned to a slight pressure and then another slight pressure on my left cheek. Then it struck me. I could not move. I could not react. I could hardly see or hear anything clearly. I was paralysed.

I was absolutely horrified. Suddenly I felt as though I was weightless, floating. But there was a smell that mixed with the copper smell. Something like steel and sweat. It was so close to my nose that I could smell it, even with my blocked nose. And yes, since my nose was blocked, I had to breathe through my mouth. A lot. And that in turn makes my coppery throat very dry.

I tried to cough to get rid of the discomfort but my body, my lungs did not seem to cooperate. I did not seem to have the energy to do even that. Oh shit. What is happening? Is this how dying feels like?

It seemed like forever before I felt softness under my body, something pressed against my face and shuffling on my chest and legs. And then suddenly icy cold all around me. Am I drowning? Somebody help me, please. Why aren't they doing anything? But then again... I was not drowning. My heart was thumping very fast.

As all these thoughts go through my head, the icy coldness was quickly replaced by dryness and warmth. I could breathe a little bit better. I began to relax. I wanted to curl up. It was so comfortable that I did not mind the sensation at the back of my hand. That was the last thing I remember as my vision and my thoughts went blank.