The sound of a newspaper page turning.

"Ex-Marine Silver Blood (Y/N) Leaves Marine Forces in Disarray!"

Another turn of the page, accompanied with sounds of waves hitting the boat. A seagull cawing overhead, enjoying the clear blue sky.

"Grand Line Being Turned Upside Down in Manhunt for the Dangerous Traitor!"

Page turn.

"Ex-Marine Silver Blood Holds Confidential Information and Must Be Found Immediately Lest Innocents Will Suffer!"

Turn.

"Confusion Abound As No Trace of Pirate Offspring Traitor Being Found After Being Spotted in Grand Line Island Famous For It's Towering and Thick Palm Trees—Gaising."

You let out a puff of air out your mouth.

"They're really hammering in the traitor part," you sigh, throwing the newspaper behind you as you laid on the floor of your boat. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I am one..." You sighed again before focusing your gaze onto the sky above. Eyes lazily following some stray clouds. The sun making your swords leaning on the mast glint.

It seems they are mostly pushing that you are a risk due to the information you hold from being a Cipher Pol agent. The newspaper didn't speak of it so that means the World Government doesn't want anybody to know. And since you weren't even from Guanhao like the other agents in the first place and were the first being an outsider, it would look bad. You don't recall when you first accepted into being an agent any news outlets speaking of it, so perhaps even then the World Government kept tight wraps on it. So no one in the marines outwardly spoke of it either.

The only conclusion you have is that they are pushing you are a simple ex-marine that happens to be a pirate kid and that "knows" dangerous information.

Well. Perhaps not simple. They are calling you a "dangerous traitor".

Honestly, you can't tell if they genuinely think you'll spill some information or they just want to make sure others capture you. If it's the former, they're stupid. If it's the latter, you can understand.

Still, your distant (e/c) eyes turn towards a seagull circling overhead, frowning in thought. This isn't the best for me. I'm lucky they have no idea I'm in the East Blue. It also helps in general little to no Vice Admirals patrol in this sea.

Your brows furrowed deeply.

You need to get stronger.

You really need a teacher.

You're hoping that perhaps Shanks can show you a few things or maybe someone else in the crew like Building Snake. Even though he uses two sword style and their swords are vastly different...

"GAH! It doesn't even matter if I can't find him...!" You complain, stomping and hitting the floor below out of frustration.

It's been two weeks of nothing. No sign of Shanks each island you stop at to get some supplies or to just check.

Your injuries from Karé have been completely healed by now. You're not even wearing a bandage anymore on your left cheek either. Scar still looking fresh but healed from the corner of your left eye to a little below the left corner of your lips. Jagged and the skin darker in some places but you don't care frankly about how it looks.

It's supposed to be a promise.

You touched the scar half heartedly in thought, fingers grazing. You shook yourself, cursing under your breath and hand lifting from your cheek.

You have other stuff to think about than focusing on how you left or how the others are.

Like Shanks for example.

Yup! Focusing on that!

It wasn't like you weren't giving your all either. When you weren't stopping islands for trade with the spices from Karé or getting supplies, you would keep doing your training regime in or off your boat. Whether it was going through your sword katas or going through Rokushiki techniques, including Seimei Kikan. You're hoping to achieve something with that technique that Kumadori showed you all those years ago when you were first accepted into the group.

At the sense of nostalgia, you released a large huff out your nose.

Not focusing! You complained, brows deep. Focus!

Due to how busy you've been keeping yourself, you've been able to knock out at the end of the day easily. You haven't had a nightmare in...since Shanks saved you.

You haven't determined if it's from pushing your body to the point of exhaustion or it's because you're finally free to do what you want.

Either way, you hope it remains.

As hours passed however, and you looking at useless maps splayed across all over the floor of the boat, you've determined that perhaps you should stop by at an island you spotted with your spyglass. You saw other islands around it clustered together so you believe they're the Organ Islands. So no marine base.

Still, you donned the cloak you got from Loguetown and put the hood on. The length of the hood completely covering the top half of your face. You put your swords on your back and hip respectively and docked at a beach of the island. After checking it over and determining it won't go anywhere, you decided to have a walk around this calming and lush island. It's dark and the inner part of the island is most likely closed. Not even the moon is out to light the way. You were just walking aimlessly.

Besides, you stopped more to think than for supplies.

A lot has happened. Your combat boots stepped silently along the grass, a skill second nature to you now. You hardly recall your old self moving how you wanted, uncaring of noise and sound, of how loud you were. Well, I don't have to care anymore either. I don't have to hold my tongue ever again. Still. You walked and there was no sound.

You don't know why you're focusing on this. You just have to focus on Shanks. You don't want to think too much about anything. Because if you think then...then...

"...hah..." your lips lift pensively. "I'm...a little lost, aren't I...?"

From killing a whole island to not. To be saved and treated with kindness from a pirate—a pirate that is a Yonko candidate due to his recent actions. To becoming self aware you'll do what you must. To having a new opportunity laid in front of you. To finally being back in Marine HQ for the first time in years and spotting Kuzan-San. To feeling like yourself again and not worrying about keeping your mouth shut or orders. To hearing Smoker's voice...to saying an impromptu goodbye and then to punching that purple snot's jaw out to a vow on your skin. Meeting others, an old woman who's suffered with a granddaughter and a rabbit but willing to help. Of an island suffering from marines and you wondering once more about the person you are and who you want to be. To having your first taste of one's power once under a Yonko and how weak you still are.

To your mom. To Raoul.

To wondering how many people exactly feel like home or felt like it and how much you've messed up.

Despite everything...you don't feel like yourself yet. You're trying. But you feel like you're missing the mark. You wonder once more, just how much you've changed. What did Raoul see when he looked at you? What did he find?

What would Smoker see? You wonder about his reaction of reading that first newspaper. Did he feel at least a little thankful you gave him a heads up? What would Old Man Garp?

You bit your inner cheek, keeping your head down, eyes shadowed completely.

A muffled sniffle made your ears perk and head shoot up.

Where did that come from?

You strained your ears, your eyes doing the best they could despite the all encompassing darkness as you squinted. Your hand lifting the hood up so you can actually try to look around and not be blocked by cloth.

A mournful cry entangled with a sob was heard to your left within the woods.

You carefully followed the sound until you spotted a clearing, what looked like a boy sitting on the edge of a cliff. Trying and trying to no avail to stop his tears and snot and sobs. You remained hidden behind a tree, wondering what's best to do.

You can't exactly leave. He's by a cliff. Where's his parents?

You pressed your lips together only for your brows to furrow as the boy released another cry, this time calling his mother.

That's it. I'll just help him find his mom and I'll head on out.

You stepped from behind the tree, having a hand up in a wave and purposefully making sound.

"Hey—"

"GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The boy practically jumped out of his skin, standing up and holding...something in his hands. You can't quite see. The hood is in your face and it's so dark!

Whatever it is, it can't be dangerous.

"I-It's a gh-ghost! De-Death! S-stay away! I—I know pirates! The-They're coming!"

What you didn't take into account, is that you are wearing a dark hood and cloak completely covering your face, having your huge sword behind you and it's night time. Within the woods. And walked up behind an already crying frightened boy.

I'm really not good with crying kids, you sweatdropped.

You splayed your hands out in front of you, trying to appear defenseless.

"Hey, relax. I'm not any of that. I just wanted to—"

"You're lying!" The kid interrupted, voice in a squeak and sounding he's about to cry again yet his words held force. "Y-You...you t-took my mom away fr-from m-m-me!"

Your eyes widened behind your hood, mouth loosening. The kid went on.

"Y-y-you took her...! You...I...Dad was...was supposed t-to be h-here b-before th-that happened! Because he's...he's a brave warrior of the sea! He—he'll beat you up! J-just watch! He's coming and—and—he'll get you!"

You stood there, arms long gone down to your sides, silent. You sat down on the grass, crossing your legs to the boy's confusion.

"W-wha—Hey! D-didn't you h-hear me! I know pirates! They'll come! And—and they'll get you!"

You hummed distantly, eyes closed.

"I heard. I thought I was Death? Can pirates kill Death?"

The kid seemed to falter, stuttering and stammering on nothing before you heard a pulling sound with rubber and a snap. You twitched as a pebble met your hooded forehead, dropping to the grass.

"I-I gotchu! If—If I can d-do s-so-something as e-ea-easy as that, than my dad can do s-something worse!"

You remained silent for a few moments. You not seeming to take into account that this only rose the boy's fear higher and higher. You can practically hear his muscles twitching and his knees bumping together from how much he's shaking. Still. You stayed silent.

"What happened to your mom?"

The boy flinched from the sudden sound. It seems everything you do makes him age ten years. A small part of you finds it funny but you're too focused on your concern for him.

"W-Wha—?! W-Wh-why are y-you asking?! You took her!"

"I didn't. But what did?"

You heard a stomp against the ground.

"DON'T LIE!" He wailed so loudly, so brokenly, it made your heart pang out of empathy. When you stayed silent, you heard movement and it seems he went back to sitting down and overlooking the cliffs edge. "...she's gone. No matter what I did...I-I...I tried to te-tell her dad was coming. To make her stay...j-just a l-little while longer. It was working...! But then...then..." he sniffed, stopping and broke down crying again.

"Then it didn't." You say, steady.

"No," he answered, all warbled and between sniffs. "It...it didn't."

You hummed, tapping against your knee. Kuroi ten'nosabaki behind you with its large hunk of metal, gleaming almost mournfully. Karasu stayed silent.

"Sometimes, no matter what you do, nothing you say or do will work. Take it from me." You moved your gaze up, hood being pulled back slightly from the movement and you could actually see the dark sky above. "But...you can try to do what your loved one wished or loved. From before."

The boy, even now you can't see so you're just going to stay looking at the sky, turned his head slightly towards your direction.

"Loved?"

"Ah. To remember. Something that each time you'll do or say it, you can remember it was from them. For them. I...really like this one song personally."

Silence washed over them once more. A breeze passed by, moving your cloak and some wisps of hair in front of your face. Still, you kept your gaze up.

"I..." the boy's voice was so thin and quiet, you didn't realize he started speaking until he spoke a little louder. "She...s-she always liked stories. She...loved them. It made me...want to say some of my o-own...when s-she was...when she was—" His voice broke, him trying to take a steadying breath and failing. You let him take his time. "...I told her stories...some people in t-town thought t-they were just li-lies but...b-but...she was smiling when I did it. It was...t-the only t-ti-time she would."

"...Hmph," your lips lifted into a thin thing. "Then tell stories. And remember."

"I—I...y-yeah!" A strong sniffle to hide snot before he said more strongly. "Yes! W-wait, what are y-you doing?"

You now stood, fixing yourself by brushing off some nonexistent dust, eyes still shadowed from your hood.

"I'm going. I just stopped to check on you. I wasn't really doing much before either but...I don't know. Us meeting here..." You chuckle. "It's a little funny."

It's like fate.

"Anyways...see ya, kid." You turned towards back the woods before pausing. "Hey." The boy blinked wide eyes behind you. "...do you love your dad?"

"W-what?! W-why wouldn't I?! He's a brave warrior of the sea! I-I want to be like him someday! But w-why...are you asking?"

You shrugged noncommittally.

"No reason. Besides, I'm sure you can do it." You turned your head towards him over your shoulder, showcasing a grin so sharp it may as well have been a smirk. The boy thought he would faint and felt awe all at once at that. "You were able to handle Death after all."

"W-WHA—?!"

And you used Kamisori back to your boat, you couldn't help but snort at how high the boy's voice went.

Maybe it was a little mean, but maybe he can use this as one of his stories. And it'll give him some character. The kid needs some scary experience to help him out with his dream. And you don't mind helping out.

Or perhaps you just traumatized him.

You pause, hand on chin as you stood in the sand in front of your boat.

...

"Eh." You shrug, going into your boat and prepping to sail to whatever other island you'll see. Your buster sword holding a sweatdrop along with Karasu. "He'll be fine."

Besides, it was an interesting conversation. It was like looking in a mirror. Strange how similar the two of you sounded from what little you can get from that child. But hey...I think he helped me out find my answer.

You release your boat and get back into the sea, lowering your hood as your gaze went upwards.

I'll just keep going like this. And try to remember. Before when I felt like Death.

Too bad you never got the kid's name to tell him thanks. You didn't even get a good look at him.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

A boy with an olive green bandana and a long nose lied and lied and lied for years.

At first it was to remember, but than, a young beautiful girl also fell sick and started smiling for his lies. Just like his mother.

And it was like he didn't have to force himself anymore. It just came and he let it, and the girl would laugh and smile and giggle. It was everything.

Still, he wished everyone would at least believe he met the grim reaper. That was actually true!

Hopefully they stay away. Forever.

(And yet, he wanted to see them again. Because it sounded like they understood.)

Unbeknownst to you and the boy, you will meet again. Only in different circumstances and as different people than who they first met.

For such is Fate.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Island Located in the Grand Line and Holding Marine Headquarters—Marineford: Four Weeks Since Silver Blood Defection

"Hey, hey! Has there been any updates yet?"

"About that traitor? No. The Fleet Admiral hasn't said anything more about it."

"I still can't believe this is happening..."

"Why? She's always been a pirate spawn. That was no secret. It's in the blood I tell you!"

"I don't know...so, did the news release just who's her parent?"

"No. That's not something we want to say yet. Publicly anyways. I heard the idiot bitch just said it all proudly right in the middle of a Shichibukai meeting!"

"What?! No!"

"Yes!" The marine exclaimed, offended. "I swear, if they just let me in on capturing her too I'll—"

"Be quiet!" A passerby soldier hissed. The other two shrinking back as the soldier leaned forward with narrowed eyes. "Do you want someone like Vice Admiral Garp or Vice Admiral Kuzan to hear you?"

One scoffed.

"What does it matter? They're clearly the minority. They should've known better than to get close to someone like that."

"You fool." The marine insulted quietly, grabbing the others collar as their eyes widened. "Keep quiet about such things. Garp the Hero has had a short fuse ever since the news has been released. He hears you say such things, you'll first be demolished into a coma and wake up with a demotion. If you're lucky."

"Th-Then?" The one being held up choked.

"It's best to just...just stay quiet isn't it?" The other, more meek and quiet, suggested. "He practically raised the girl. And the others too...I hear even Vice Admiral Borsalino had his moments with her."

"Tch," the marine that held the other dropped them down, frown heavy in their face although their hood hid the rest of his expression. The marine that was released landed with an "Oof!", eyes wide as he stared up at his superior, feeling heated pressure in the air. "They're all fools for being fooled. They should've expected it...they're all the same after all."

All pirates should be eliminated from this world.

"W-Wait," the marine on the floor, holding his neck stuttered. "So y-you agree with us? I thought you were making sure we kept quiet because you were on their side—"

The hooded marine turned his back towards the marines, face severe underneath the hood and cap that held the words "MARINE". "Leave to your duties. That's an order." Eyes flashed beneath the cap and hood as he turned his head over his shoulder. The two marines jumped with fear at the cold look. "And don't suggest a thing towards me or towards anyone again. Or else you'll have to worry about what I would do to you instead of Vice Admiral Garp."

The two scrambled up, hands in a salute although shaking. Practically yelling with their chests even though the hooded marine walked off ahead of them. The heat seeming to follow him.

"Y-Yes, Vice Admiral Sakazuki!"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Nothing.

Absolutely positively mind boggling and mind numbingly nothing.

You want to tear your hair out and scream. You're sick of thinking and trying to ignore said thinking or memories but you feel like just charging into the Calm Belt again and just hope a Sea King throws you into the island Shanks is in.

You're going crazy.

Or maybe it's because you need fresh water and should probably stop.

But! It's