From Ninja to Pirate

16

"Hold on, hold on, hold on" they said,
"You're a dandelion in the breeze,
Look what the winds of change have done
To all these autumn leaves."

"Hold on, hold on, hold on,
The big wide world is not for you,
Hold on for long enough
For the last gust to dance on through."

So I held on, held on, held on,
They said that's how you know you're strong,
But not until I wilted
Did I notice something wrong.

I thought holding on was bravery,
But when winds of change do blow,
Sometimes it's even braver still
To let go, let go, let go.

-e.h

It has been three weeks since Haruki joined the seasonal pirates. As Garp had predicted, soon after, Natsuki, Fuyuki, and surprisingly, Haruki got a bounty.

None of them knew where they got the pictures from, but thankfully, for Natsuki, the picture they chose was one which showed her power, but not her identity. It was her, wearing her battle kimono, with her mask on. Both kimono and mask splattered with the blood of her enemies. She blanched when she saw the picture. To have to see herself, after what she would call as a shameful act.

The people she had killed in the picture, were slave traders, trading small children along with people from different tribes. She now carried the bounty of 50,000,000 berries on her neck, with the name, the Striking Vixen. She wouldn't be surprised if it were her grandfather who decided the name.

Fuyuki also got a bounty, by the name Jack Frost, and the amount of 40,000,000 berries on his neck, and Haruki, got the name of Ryokuryuu, the green dragon. Apparently it had derived from his long green hair, which trailed behind him when he ran. He received the bounty of 27,000,000 berries. Complaining about the lack of money on his head, he even tried to go to a marine base to change it, but after Natsuki's constant convincing that it was only because of his age, he gave up, and accepted the price.

Natsuki, remembering her question from before, one day asked Fuyuki where his training with haki came from.

"Hm? Oh, that. I learnt it from a pirate a long time ago. When I was around sixteen? A pirate with a scar on his left eye with one arm taught me how to teach haki. He's the only one other than you who wasn't scared of my powers." He smiled, and Natsuki decided to keep the fact that he was her father quiet for now.

One day, when they were getting food on an island next to the final island of Logue Town, before entering the Grand line, they heard a yell from a man, and a girl with dark brown hair run past them. Natsuki placed a seal on the girl just in case, and tripped the man running after her on purpose, before paying for the food, and walking away.

"What have you done! You let that little thief get away!" Steam coming out of his ears like a train, the man roared at Natsuki. Fuyuki and Haruki standing protectively in front of her made her smile a bit.

"Oh my goodness! She was a thief!? I would've stopped her if I'd known! I'm so sorry sir! It was completely an accident!" She cried, causing Haruki and Fuyuki to cringe. She was a brilliant actress, her abilities able to trick them too.

"It's alright... She only stole a few shirts this time..."

"Does she steal often?"

"Yes. She does it to feed her siblings, and we know it, but the taxes are harsh this time around. We can't just give her things she needs, even if it's for a good cause... My children aren't eating enough either..."

"Did the taxes used to be well managed before?"

"Yes. Since the previous king died, the prince, now king Kashmiri, has been giving orders which have actually been made by his adviser, who we all know is the mastermind behind this all."