Pieces Of One

#09: Daily Anecdotes

Dressrosa Tavern

"Do you drink, Shizu?", Kairi bought a meal for the two of them. "Please, allow me to pay for the food", Shizu felt embarrassed. "Who said I'm paying for this?", Kairi sipped through the fruit juice. Shizu nervously chuckled. He sounded stupid. 

"Vice Admiral, your name spread so easily. They said you were part of a special training group. They say you've been in the marine since you were 5", Shizu said with his eyes sparkling. "Uhm", she nodded. "Then, may I please know your secret how you became this strong?", Shizu wagged his tail as if he has one. 

Shizu stabbed on the meat. Shizu flinched. "Oh,if you don't want to, you may not", Shizu panicked. "I was fighting", Kairi started. "Everyday, I was fighting", she smiled. 

15 years ago

Marine Ford

Room

"What should we do, she's not talking", Gale looked at Kairi covering herself in blanket. The 5 years old brats were cramped in one place. Alon removed the blanket. "Get up", Alon said in such a commanding voice. The rest were startled. They never heard the kind guy raise his voice. "If you will not get up, we will throw you outside", Alon furrowed his brow. 

"Be gentle, Alon. She must have been through a lot", Lehar tried to stop him. 

Kairi sat down with a lethargic look in her face. 

"I know. But, who among us did not?", Alon grabbed on her collar and looked directly in her eyes. "Do you just want to die without doing anything else?", Alon asked. Kairi nodded. Alon headbutted her. "Ah, that looks painful", Baiju lazily commented. 

"Idiot. You're not the only one who lost something in that island. We're in the same boat here. If you're like this, aren't you the weakest among us? Even if Gale almost cry everyday, he's still working himself to feel a little better. Weak. You are so weak", Alon shove on her face. Kairi's light in her eyes went back. She started to have tears and punched Alon letting him fall on the ground. 

"There you go", Alon smirked and punched her as well. The two kept punching each other until Sengoku appeared. He smacked the two in the head having a huge bump. 

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"Vice-Admiral?", Shizu called out to her. "Do you have a rival, Shizu?", Kairi asked. The young marine shook his head. "That's a trouble. The reason I turned out to be like this...is due to my rival", Kairi leaned on the table. 

"I'll be going back to the headquarters. We're still in subject of being removed due to our abilities. We were just sent here in Dressorosa due to the lack of men. In other words, I hadn't even been an official soldier", Shizu looked at his blue marine pants. He gripped on his spoon tighter. 

Soon, tears formed in his eyes. 

"I was so scared. When we entered the new world, I was also afraid that my life will be taken in a blink of an eye. This was the price of being rush and not knowing what lies ahead. I was always in the wings of Admiral Fujitora and the other Vice Admiral. Because they were around, i felt relieved. But, if I keep doing that...am I really deserving to be a marine soldier?", Shizu sobbed. 

"It's normal", Kairi commented. Shizu raised his head. 

"For a normal person though. Gale was also afraid when we entered the Grandline. He often called me telling about the sea kings he saw near the calm belt. It always haunts him in his dream. No wonder why he always needed a new ship. But, Gale was the first one of use to become a Captain", Kairi narrated.