Angel's Song

Melody in the Dark

Alrighty, so the beginning of this story starts after Skypiea, straight after when the StrawHats fall from the sky.
So, the song Stay With Me by Chanyeol and Punch, Lauruette claims it as her own, so just go with it.
Of course, credit goes to the actual creators.
Also, Stay With Me is in Korean, but I translated it to English. It truly is one of my favourite songs.
I'll add any translations at the bottom of the chapter.

Lauruette's POV

Crocodile removed from Shicibukai!!!

That was the very first headline I saw in this issue of the WE Times when I opened the newspaper. The title was massive, blaring out significance and the article went for several pages about his behind-the-scenes works.
"Guess he's going to Impel Down then... how interesting." I muttered to myself, pulling my hair out of my eyesight and placing it behind my ears, careful not to bump my heart shades or my headphones, currently playing Hello by Adele. My MP3 was placed carefully in my lap.
I was in the cramped cargo area of a pirate ship with a single oil lamp to light up the dark place. The oil lamp was placed on a crate on the left side of my body.
The cargo area was large, but filled with countless crates, stacked as high as the roof. I had read a few of the labels earlier but stopped when I read 'Organs for Selling'.
Sounds like a nice bunch of people...

I had snuck aboard this ship around 5 days ago, wanting to get to Water 7, a major island/city on Grand Line. Only at night when the pirates, save a lone lookout, were asleep would I go out for a small stroll, out of sight at the rear end of the ship, or to the kitchen to grab something small to eat and a bottle or two of water. I hadn't even showered since I had boarded the ship. I kept spraying my body with a flower scented deodorant to try and hide the stench.
This night, though, I had decided to stay in the cargo area, which eventually proved to be a bad decision. The waves that the ship was currently riding on were rough, making the boxes creak and groan, also making my body constantly shift uncomfortably.
I struggled to keep my body compact so I wouldn't cause anything to move anymore than it already was, but it was difficult as my muscles were beginning to cramp after being in the same position for so long.
But I'd rather not be found out until I get to Water 7.
My back rested against the wooden wall of the ship that was painted a faded and chipping grey and I had pulled my legs as close to my chest as I could to save room. My 'knowledge' choker was around my neck as always, the silver pendant shimmering softly in the dull light. I had a thin, raggedy green blanket draped around my shoulders as I tried not to shiver. It really was freezing in here as I was only wearing my normal clothes, minus my warm but lightweight jacket which I had accidentally left in the crow's nest, under a pile of thick and heavy ropes when I was up there to stargaze last night.
The Stars last night were glimmering brightly and some of the constellations were visible, like Orion's Belt and Ursa Major. Something about just gazing up at the distant yet so close night sky seemed to inspire a sense of peace.

Hello finished playing and yet another Adele song, Someone Like You started. Whenever I listened to this song, for some reason, I always ended up with a tear in my eyes. It was just sad to listen to, hearing her say she wishes the best for the man with his new wife whilst she herself still loves him dearly.

My belt, filled with an arrangement of daggers felt heavy around my waist, as it kept shifting slightly with my rhythmic breathing.

Yawning slowly, I flipped the pages of the paper several times to see if there was anything new in the world apart from the stuff about Crocodile and as I was doing that, 2 wanted posters slipped out.
A young, smiling man with a scar under his left eye wearing a straw hat and a serious looking green haired man.

Monkey D. Luffy and Roronoa Zoro.

"These rookies must have had done something...I've never even heard of them..."
That Luffy guy's bounty had shot up to 100 million, equal to mine.
He must have had some kind of involvement in the incident at Alabasta or his bounty wouldn't have shot up.
I scanned the title page to find any mention of the 2 young pirates, only to find none.
The World Government must have covered the crimes of those pirates and placed the fall of Crocodile on the Marines' shoulders.
As usual.
Make the Marines seem like great and powerful heroes when half of them are practically assholes.
Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead...
I yawned once again, this time my eyelids drooped.
Perhaps I should try to get some sleep. Even though I probably won't.
I folded the newspaper and placed it behind my back. Pulling the ragged blanket closer, I rested my chin onto my chest and closed my eyes, hoping to possibly get some sleep.
But just as I had closed my eyes, the opening chords to Stay With Me played.
The song that he and I sang together basically every day. The song that we wrote together, side by side. The song that had won a singing competition. Without thinking, I started whispering the lyrics, with my part up first.