Lost and Confused

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get hazy when we spread our history orally. Kokiri helped me numerous times, but I can't hear him anymore. Not since my son got his tattoo when he was young."

"And Raiona," Azu cut in, quiet upon her mother's lap. Mayor and you glancing at her as your brows furrowed before turning your attention back to the serious elder.

"Why don't you like Raiona?"

Mayor's face darkened, his wrinkles apparent and seeming to grow as he tightened his hold atop the handle of his cane.

"Raiona wanted to be the best by force. He wanted to show the whole world only Karé can be asked for spices. By making sure no one else had any."

Well, that's one way of doing it you guess.

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"Raiona, stop!" A rose colored haired man with a heavily tattooed right arm, diamonds and triangles and thick lines until it circled a boar at his shoulder shouted, sunset eyes distressed as he held a spear. "This isn't the way! By doing this, you're signing other people's deaths! People who have nothing to do with this!"

"Than let it be so, Kokiri!"  The deep scarlet haired man replied. Hair wild and long similar to a mane, eyes set and expression firm as he stood with his back turned towards the troubled Kokiri who tightened his hold on his spear. Raiona turned his head towards him, eyes shadowed and spear straight, the tip glinting along with the man's sunrise for eyes, the tattoos on Raiona's face on making him look more threatening as his cheeks had sharp teeth to go with the lion upon the rest of his face. "We can't let any of those foreigners treat us like this! Or our pride of Karé. If you get in my way...than...you are on the wrong side of history, you soft fool. You'll kill us all. "

"Raiona, no!"

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"Raiona...he did this?" Kokiri's eyes held grief as he looked around, jaw tight as he saw the bloodied bodies on the ground. Supplies were scrapped and the short rose colored hair brushed the man's shoulders with three braids on the side of his face as he tilted his head down, tightening the hold of his spear until he felt like he can get blood flowing to it back. It didn't work. "This can't be...this isn't the pride of Karé...this isn't what we're meant to be...! Damn it, Raiona!"

"What are we going to do, rangatira?" A tribesman called him chief respectfully as Kokiri's expression was shadowed and his back towards the tribesman. "He's...doing what's best for our people. If not, others would try to get us instead—"

Before the tribesman finished speaking, he was already trying to recover from the floor. Hand to aching chin and cheek that throbbed as the tribesman winced, the peaceful Kokiri's form over him, face twisted.

"Don't you dare say that! Who are we to judge what others would do before it happens? This isn't the Karé way! Our pride is not from stealing others lifework of creating dishes that define them. That is not our way! We," Kokiri took a breath, eyes with hues of orange and red similar to when the sun finishes it's magnificence for the day to the west narrowed and ablaze. "Are a proud people!"

The tribesman that helped the one that was injured by raising him up and the others looked at each other than back at the huffing Kokiri. Silence consuming.

"Than," another spoke, hesitant and unsure, "w-what are you going to do about Raiona, rangatira?"

Kokiri's eyes tightened, appearing stricken before he looked away, eyes on an empty turned over basket on what appeared to be nutmeg dusted on the grass.

"I don't know."

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"You...you foolish Koki...! Do you know what you've...you've done..?!"

Blood drips and pants and huffs could be heard as red gathered. The lion lay bleeding, the boar's tusks tainted.

"You forced my hand, Rai...you...why did you do all this?"

"You wouldn't understand! You're not out there! You...have not seen what's been happening you stupid Koki! I am trying to save us!"

"No," Kokiri said, wobbly and tired and filled with grief. "You ruined us."

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"He got power hungry and twisted. He shouldn't be on that wall and praised if you ask me. Who knows what else was lost in history. What else he did. Zuko got both Raiona's and Kokiri's tattoos and ever since than when he was able to hear and be guided by them, he's covered them. Refusing to use them or display either of them. Wanting to not use our ancestors guidance and want to use his own experience and knowledge. Must've been due to whatever Raiona said if you ask me. That blasted lion...I don't understand how Kokiri did nothing about Raiona. Him and Raiona were of the time before the Void Century after all."

Your eyes rounded, jaw dropping as your brows rose.

"Before the Void Century...?! You guys have information from people back than? With those tattoos?"

This isn't good. People who know about that time? No matter how little, if the World Government finds out about this...

A small sweat went down your temple, your blood pumping.

How often have they sent those letters? For help? How much did they say in those letters about the island?

Are those pirates that have been terrorizing them...even pirates...?!

Mayor continued, raising a brow at you and your reaction as his only response.

"We are an old island. Small too. I imagine that's why it took Marine HQ so long to get to us. We can be hard to find despite us being in the weakest sea in the East Blue." Your gaze rose at that. You are in the East Blue! "I suppose the currents around us can be difficult to maneuver. But lucky for us you managed to get through!" Mayor said with a smile, cane tapping twice on the ground.

They're lucky no one else seems to have figured out their culture. Based on what this old man said, others seem to be aware of this country and their spices. But are ignorant of the customs and history.

If they did...

Hands that were red, coated with blood. Screams and cries. Fire. Explosions.

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"What happened in Ohara?" You ask Garp, youthful eight year old face in a frown. Knobby and scraped knees knocking together as you sat atop a log, one eye closed as Garp put bandages on your injured face from excessive training again. "Why did they use that thing?"

A young teen Smoker who was leaning against the tree of the deep forest within the island of Loguetown a few feet away from them, turned his gaze towards the quiet Garp in attention. His own brows deeper than usual as he held his staff, gone with the baseball bat and bruises upon his own person.

"They got scared," Garp said eventually, pausing on your now bandaged temple before planting his large hand atop your head, practically engulfing you but he was gentle. Soft. It was weird. His face a heavy frown which made you confused even more. You didn't think he could look older.

You didn't like it.

"Scared? Of nerds? Don't they just read?" You remembered what the papers were saying. Of this island filled of people who only read books were planning to destroy the government. Destroy everything. Of a little girl that's as old as you, stronger though. Able to destroy Marine warships. Your childlike eyes turning into deep bewilderment. Than turning into a deep frown, you recalling what her poster looked like. What they said. What they're calling her. Devil Child.  It's very close to demon, you think as you swallowed. "Did they deserve it?"

Garp's neck snapped up, hands moving to go to your shoulders as he knelt before you, grip tight but not painful. Your eyes widening as Smoker threw a look towards you, the hold on his crossed arms tightening around him as his jaw tightened.

"Listen to me good and well, (Y/N)," Garp commanded, eyes tight and burning and expressive. "No one deserves anything! Especially something like that. Never. No matter how much a shit they are. Or if they're not! We..." His fingers went tight on your shoulders than slackened, his head bowing as he seemed to clench his jaw before raising it again. Deep tired brown eyes meeting your blinking (e/c) ones. "We don't get to decide something like that."

Smoker kept his narrowed gaze towards them, before closing it. Grip slightly loosening around his arms, instead, a hand twitching around the weapon he's chosen for now to use to protect.

You didn't take your eyes off of Garp. Taking in his words as silence reigned for a few beats before you nodded. Garp's eyes relaxing as he put a hand on your head, before standing up.

"But," you couldn't help but say, Garp's eyes lowering to meet yours only to spot you were staring at the ground and your feet. "Why did they do it?"

You listened. Waiting. Waiting as Garp stood and thought. And thought.

And than—

"I don't know," he eventually said, haggard and hand covering his ashamed expression. "I don't know."

You and Smoker both frowned before glancing at one another. It was only truly when you entered CP9, you got the whole truth of what happened when before was just suspicion and Aokiji—san's little words about it.

You wonder if Smoker ever found out.

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Would you say fuck it all and go your own way like I did? You wonder, deep and down and away where you haven't thought about it much(because if you did—), a mix of hope and despair and what feels like regret choking on your throat as you try to swallow. What Justice are you following? Do you have one?

You should've asked.

But I just wanted to hear your voice.

(Because if you did, you know what nightmares will await you.)

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If that happens here, you think, Mayor continuing to explain that despite Raiona's actions, he did manage to bring more spices to the island that were rare. Azu adding that's why Raiona is cooler than boring Kokiri, who only cooked for others. Mayor lecturing Azu again about that how Kokiri was peaceful while Aiko just listened with a humored content smile with a hand to her chin. The house quiet despite that, and the village outside this house, preparations and revelry can be heard to celebrate the pride of their country. How can I stop that...?

Your eyes tightened, your teeth biting your inner cheek.

You're not strong enough yet.

You have to handle this.

"I think you guys should tell me about these pirates," you interrupt them as they seemed to move to talk about the bonfire tonight and if Zuko was going to make it or skip it again. All three of them turning towards you. "When was the last time you guys said they came again?"

"Ano," Aiko said, a finger to her chin as she looked up, her wavy candy apple hair moving slightly as she did so. "They come every three weeks or so. They keep getting rather aggressive."

"They're stupid," Azu cut in seriously with crossed arms, now off her mother's lap. "They think they can use our spices better than us. Stupid!"

"None of that," Mayor waved off, making you frown as he pointed the end of his cane to you. "You haven't finished hearing our proud history! Oh, and the bonfire!" He neared the cane farther up to you until it was a centimeter to your nose. You didn't cross your eyes at it this time. "You have to join the bonfire! And the drums—the drums will make you dance and get you focused back onto what's important!"

"What's important?" You question, voice turning high in disbelief. What is this crazy old man talking about?! "Listen, just tell me which way they usually come in and—" You got cut off by getting jabbed in the mouth by the end of his cane, your hands going to it in shocked pain before Mayor decided to grab you by the arm and take you away out the house back to the outside.

"Come on, our bonfire is the best at this side of the East Blue. And also I'm late and am the leader and I was supposed to get there earlier."

"You're a bad leader, Ojii-San."

"Now, now, Azu. You know how Otou-San loves his stories."

"Ha! See?" Mayor turned towards you, as you continued to hold your mouth, smacking your lips and making a face as he tugged you. You think you tasted something foul from the cane. "Even Azu thinks we have the best bonfire!"

"Ojii-San is weird~," Azu sang flatly.

The sun was setting and you can see in the distance past all the little hut for houses and trees there was a large pile of wood gathering. The three of them tugging you along until they reached a cliff, villagers with their flax skirts and tattoos proudly in display. Everyone wearing the red, white, and black headbands proudly on their heads. Even the children, their face painted with their own forms of temporary tattoos with some with spirals and others with more lines as they laughed and played around while helping with the large pile. Those who wore thin and long jade earrings clinking and moving along with those they are connected to. The smell of spices tickling your nose, of everything you can think of.

Your hand dropping from your mouth as you stared in awe. Mayor loosening his hold on you and smiling next to you knowingly, eyes glittering in pride as he leaned fully on his cane.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

Azu ran towards the other children, flax skirt fluttering and her smile wider than you've seen as another girl painted her face. Aiko speaking to a large fit dark skinned man with plaited dark hair with a gleaming smile and giggles and soft eyes as he said something to her ear. The fire beginning when the villagers gave him a look, him returning it with a nod as the both of you watched the bonfire grow bigger and bigger and the smell of spices wafted as children threw at it in there and the wood crackled as the sky darkened.

It really is, you think, feeling heat on your cheeks and shadows dancing upon your face. The heat seeming to tickle your still healing left scarred cheek. The drums being heard, booming yet cheerful as others moved and twirled and spun in front of the fire and danced with others. It looks like when I did that large fire with the villagers and Shanks and everybody during one of the weeks I was there.

"Dance, (Y/N)! Dance!"

"I...I d-don't really...I kind of forgot how to do it exactly."

A wide soft smile, eyes eager and nonjudgmental as he grabbed your hand and spun you around and making you laugh as he grinned.

"You're not supposed to!" He said, tugging you towards him and your hands going to his chest automatically, stumbling, as he stared down at you easily. "Dance how you feel!"

You blink, before focusing on the music, confidence rising as you grabbed his hand tight with close lipped smile. His eyes widening at the action but grinned wider, cheeks looking a tad flushed that must've been from the drinks before you awkwardly twirled him back. Him having to help you as he let out a charmed laugh, ducking his towering form to move his head under your arm and you giggling with him. You continuing as you spun for him, extending your arm to make distance before closing it again as rhythmic clapping can be heard with a beat.

"Dahahaha! Yeah! Like this!"

"We are a proud people." Mayor began, taking out of your stupor as your eyes moved to the side to watch him. "Despite us being small, each man here is worth ten out there. Maybe even thirty. But," the Mayor's lips twisted into a waning smile, "we hate conflict. I don't want this to end bloody, not here. Not in our island." His head fully turned towards you, eyes serious. "Do you understand?"

He doesn't want you to handle them here. He's done with war. You can tell that from his feelings of Raiona.

But, how am I going to do this? These people...

Nonetheless, you gave him a firm nod.

"I'll handle them." Mayor's visage cleared, wrinkles calming around his face as he gave you a grateful look. You looked around, frowning. "Is your son, okay? He's been gone awhile."

Mayor quickly explained Zuko does not enjoy the bonfires much anymore, but he does stick with helping with the feast afterwards. Gathering the meat and supplies down deep in their jungle to get enough for everyone.

"I should help. It can give me more an idea of your island too," you add with a half smile.

Mayor smiled proudly and cackled.

"Kehkeh!" He jabbed your shoulder with the end of his cane, ignoring your playful and exaggerated scowl and words on what that was for before pointing at a direction in the jungle down below the cliff and past it. "He should be down there somewhere! Don't get lost!" Mayor called out as you started walking. "And don't get pecked to death either! Those moa's can be quite harsh! We're famous for them after all!"

"No, we're not!" You heard Azu call out, having the other children chime in with that. Mayor whipping around and jousting with his cane everywhere and yelling as you smiled before your eyes glinted, resolute.

You have to help.

You don't know how, but you do.

But first...catching some Moa's...?

Karasu seemed to dull, indifference clear as it was on your hip. You moving branches and bushes out the way as you squeezed through.

Back in Mayor's house, Kuroi ten'nosabaki leaned against the wall by the quaint little dinner table. If one squints, perhaps one can spot a ghost of what appears to be a sweatdrop go down the sheen of the infamous dark buster sword.

You blink. Realizing you're feeling really light, turning your head over your shoulder. Staring at the empty space on your back.

"...whoops. I was caught in His Pace I guess. And he jabbed my mouth with that cane." You thought about going back all the way, as you stood in the dark with thick trees and bushes everywhere, a hand to your chin in thought. Uncaring about a sound of what sounded like a slither and a hiss, of the bushes rustling loudly and glowing eyes peeking at you within the foliage. "Eh. It's okay. I probably won't need him for this. Hang on there, Kuroi ten'nosabaki! I'm coming!" You yell, moving in a run and dashing up to tree branches from the ground to get around quicker as your eyes moved to find Zuko. The many eyes widening at the speed, and running off in different directions. They'll find other meals after all. Less loud too. "Just wait for me!"

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Off the coast of Karé Island—A few miles East of the Bonfire

A ship docked, swords coming out of sheathes in the dark with guns flashing. A beard with chips and fries stuck within and encompassing a greedy smile.

"Let's go make some money, men!"

The pirates charged, moving towards where they see large smoke coming from the west. Unaware that many miles out from said ship and Karé, another ship with an infamous Jolly Roger was on their tail, a large figure relaxing on the deck with closed eyes.

Fate—seems to wish to play with you for quite awhile. Irony wishes to join too.

How will you answer?

If one can strain their ears, and truly listen, they can hear the Voice of the waves lapping at sea similar to a

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