[OP] The Waking chp. 1 and KAYASHIMA-KUN'S BIRTHDAY!!
Ah, will I ever shut up...
Compare these two:
CNN's website and Media Indonesia's website.
Do you see the similarities or is it just me who's laughing for no reason?
Here's an old One Piece fic I wrote in 2004. It's written way before Water7 so I'd taken some liberties with Robin's personality. Now that I know her better, I think a revision is in order. Even though this fic was meant to be a genfic, right now I am toying with the possiblities of pairings (Zoro x Nami, Sanji x Robin). Hee hee. XD
Title: The Waking
Series: One Piece
Rating: R for later development.
Summary: The Straw Hats, a runaway woman, and the men who want her back collide in the mysterious city of Carabras. What is hidden in this elusive city?
Chapter One: Pieces
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Carabras was a lively port and every good sailor worth his salt knew about it. Its nightlife, second only to that of Loguetown at its prime, was the city's major income. Everybody wanted to go there, regardless of the fact that it's located in the Grand Line. Carabras’ entertainment boasted endless varieties of ways of pleasure and indulgence. Hidden opportunities lurked at shady bars and in the eyes of grimy old men with stories to be told. Of what? Who knows, might it be one of a treasure hunt? Of riches and gold, of rubies and diamonds, or of rare sea creatures so strange no one would believe you?
O, yea.
Everything was like a dream. Sensuous, feminine touches and the intoxicating feel of wealth brought many men to this place. They would spend hours and days, even weeks, in the city and would never, never encounter anything the same twice. The city changed constantly and its people were dedicated to follow its mood. They were like chameleons, transforming themselves every single moment. Elusive men and women would come and go, truly the embodiments of mystery.
When you lived in Carabras, you worked to keep that dream alive. You sold your bodies and souls, but you lived like a king. Only the ones with resources and connections would be permitted to enter the inner realms of the dream, those outside it were mere visitors who had to be satisfied by cheap liquors and cheap whores.
The city didn't care whether you were an outlaw or a hero, a pirate or a marine. They cared about your worth, the gold you carried, the power of your name, and the connections you had. They said, there was nothing, nothing Carabras couldn't fulfill. As long as you had the means.
But the city of dream was not devoid of nightmares.
Its dark alleys kept secrets no daylight would tell, and only at night the whispered sins came out.
One cloudy evening, a figure slipped away from the crowd and lights of the living to escape the greedy, ferocious claws of the city.
This is how the story begins.
She moved silently, threading her way in the middle of the night, from one alley to another. Discreetly, she would break into short sprints to reach the shadows of the buildings. Why she chose the back alleys, one could only wonder. There weren't many safe places in this dream city, especially for a woman, and the dark passages certainly didn't fall into this category.
She craned her neck on turns to better see ahead because once she made her move she couldn't afford to look back. Speed was essential and she was losing it. Her tired muscles did the best they could to sustain her on two feet, but she needed them to work harder. Run, she told herself, run if you want to live!
One look at her and you would think that she was a gypsy. A bright-colored serape, draped across lean shoulders, covered the upper torso and hid the curves of her neck. The tanned complexion and long, black hair screamed for a definite cry of her heritage. Huge dark eyes peeked through the unruly bangs framing her angular face; in them fear was apparent. They were the eyes of a person who knew the terrible truth of man.
At least, she knew the terrible truth of one man.
Her only thought was to leave the city and never, never come back. She would take any strangers, anybody, who were willing to take her away. She had money, not much, but it should suffice. If that didn't entice them enough, she would sell her body. It didn't matter; she had been doing that for years anyway. Anything they asked, she would give. There wasn't any fate worse than what awaited her in Carabras.
That was why she was running like a frightened kitten. Time, give me time, she whispered to no one in particular. Please, a little longer, do not let him know.
Unbeknownst to her, a caravel had anchored at the harbor and emptied itself of its boisterous crew. They were exhausted after long periods in the sea and couldn't be gladder to see a major town like Carabras. The captain couldn't wait to land his feet on solid ground again. Despite the protests from his faithful companions, Monkey D. Luffy was adamant. He wanted to see the city, didn't give a damn thought that it was night time, and that he didn't know his way around.
It was decided. He was going to have fun exploring.
Since Luffy had spoken clearly of what he wanted and as the first mate he was never to disobey the captain, Roronoa Zoro made it his job to keep Luffy out of trouble he was bound to encounter. The swordsman would follow his captain to the end, but he didn't trust Luffy's ability to keep a low profile. So far he managed to get them into huge messes wherever they went. The last thing the crew needed was another trouble. The total bounty on their heads was a record-breaking 239 million Belli. Every pirate hunter from The Four Blues would love to claim his or her share. Zoro should know, he used to be one of them.
"Oy, Luffy. Wait up, I'll go with you," Zoro said while taking a lamp from the kitchen. Damn, the harbor was too dark, he thought. Before he left the ship, a female voice stopped him.
"Do you know your way around this city?"
He stopped and said rather sharply, "No, but I'm not letting Luffy go off on his own." He didn't like the tone of her voice. Zoro didn't know why but this woman could infuriate him to the roots. Maybe because she had a great sense of direction and he had none.
Nami sighed. "I thought so. Tell Luffy to wait for a second, I'll get my coat. It's kinda freezing here."
"What, you're coming too?" he asked.
"Of course, you'll get lost without me. Besides, we still need to lock the coordinates."
"You've been at Carabras before?"
"No, but I've heard Arlong talking about it," she answered casually and walked inside her cabin. Zoro knew that speaking of that name sometimes made her feel uneasy, although the man was already defeated and her nightmares buried.
He turned to tell his restless captain to wait and found out that Luffy was already standing on the wooden planks of the harbor. He seemed to be staring ahead, though Zoro couldn't see anything extraordinary from where he was standing. There were many lights, yes, but he knew it was normal. After all from the stories he’d heard, wasn't Carabras supposed to be lively during the night?
Though it's too goddamn bright over there, at the center.
On second thought, maybe the lamp wasn't necessary.
"Luffy! Nami's coming with us, so will you-"
Before he could finish his sentence, the kitchen door was abruptly kicked open and the Love Cook himself stepped outside his domain. Zoro knew trouble was coming even before the man in front of him opened his mouth.
"What, Nami-san is going without ME?! Impossible, who will protect her from icky hands and dirty minds?"
"Like yours?"
Sanji raised one of his magnificent eyebrows and said threateningly, "You're picking a fight with me?"
"I wish, but no thanks. Look, somebody should be guarding the ship."
"Yeah, and that would be you," the cook pointed at him, then flicked a cigarette out of his pocket and lighted it, all in one suave motion. Sometimes Zoro wondered whether Sanji deliberately learned to be smooth just to attract the ladies or to feel good about himself. But it was not in his character to think about other people's business anyway, so he let that thought go.
Handing Sanji the lamp he took from the kitchen, he said, "No, I promised Luffy I'll bring him around town. Oh, take this. Why don't you see if Robin needs anything, eh? She likes to read at night."
By the mention of Nico Robin's name, Sanji turned soft and gooey. Grabbing the lamp from Zoro's hand, he cheerfully turned around-to really ask the newest addition of their little crew whether she needed extra lighting or not-when suddenly Sanji realized he had been conveniently shooed away.
Of all the people in this ship, only two knew how to push the right buttons with him. That would be his lovely Nami-san and this seaweed head.
Sanji was furious, but couldn't say anything because at the same time his angel decided to come out from her cabin, wrapped in a light coat, looking beautiful as always. Hearts fluttering, he sighed audibly until Nami noticed him. Smiling really sweetly, she approached him and purred his name, "Sanji-kuuun."
Oh, he could die from happiness!
"Yes, Nami-san...?" he breathed heavily. Sanji couldn't understand why this woman had such an intense influence on him. Of course she was an attractive girl, but beauty alone didn't make anyone desirable. It's her sex appeal, he was sure of it. She could be very dangerous for his hormones if she wanted to. Like right now.
"Ne, Sanji-kun, I was wondering...," she looked right into his eyes and something inside him crumbled and melted, "if you would be so kind to look after my mikan groves while I'm gone?"
"Eh?"
"I mean, you're the only one in this ship that knows how much they mean to me and I cannot ask Usopp or Chopper because
they have gone to bed and Robin-chan is a girl and I can only trust you for this important thing so I ....," she launched into a stream of words that meant absolutely nothing to him, except the last part.
She trusted him. With her mikan groves!
Ah, holy heavens above!
"Of course! Leave them to me, Nami-san! I will protect them from any prying hands!" Sanji answered excitedly, and was glad to see her bright smile.
"Okay, thanks a lot, Sanji-kun. We'll be back soon!" She blew him a kiss and left to join the swordsman and the captain. He waved furiously and his cigarette, still smoking, dangled dangerously from his lips. He kept waving until the dark swallowed those three.
Sanji stood still. His smile faltered and he dropped his hand dejectedly. He couldn't help but feeling used. Again.
Sanji, you dumbass, he thought inwardly, you just couldn't say no, could you?
Mikan groves. She trusted him with her....trees. Not her heart, not her life, but her trees.
That's right, moron. How hard it is to say no to a bunch of stupid trees?
I can't, he answered himself and puffed some smoke into the cold night air. They are hers.
Unaware that an eye had been watching the little scene, Sanji stayed on the deck for quite some time before going back to his kitchen.
The eye saw everything. It blinked once and disappeared. The owner of the eye was sitting comfortably in her cabin, watching the whole scene outside from a strategic point of view, thanks to her Devil Fruit's power. Contrary to what people might think of her, Nico Robin was quite the meddler. Sure she kept her cool, always the one who commanded respect and silent understanding, but she was also a woman.
And the woman in her felt that it was about time Sanji and her had a little chat. Nothing serious, no, she didn't want to impose anything on anybody. Just something to relieve his heavy heart. She almost chuckled.
Since Arabasta this Straw Hat crew had come to care for her and the feeling was mutual. Robin knew gratitude. They revived a bit of enthusiasm in her and for one who had lived in the inescapable vortex of despair and emptiness, it meant a lot.
And she knew when people were suffering, however mildly. At times she would just wisely let it go, knowing that they needed to work it out by themselves. In other moments she also knew that lending a hand of support was a necessity.
Yes, she could do something for this crew. And she would start with Sanji.
With that thought on Robin's mind, we leave her warm and cozy room to brace the chill of night air. Not far ahead we see the dark silhouettes of the captain and the first mate, following the navigator closely, walking towards the inviting
lights of the dream city, Carabras.
Above them, the sky was cloudy, hiding the moon and the stars. Something was about to happen. A destined meeting was approaching, and at that moment, none of them knew about it.
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to be continued in Chapter Two: Ties
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This fic also contains the very first One Piece OFC I've ever written. Gosh, I was so afraid she'd turn into a Sue that I kept checking at her physical attributes and traits over and over again. I even made a list of normal-sounding names for her! But now? I don't really care anymore. She's actually a rather minor character in the plot, considering that her presence serves as an introduction to what Carabras really is.
p.s: Btw, I love Bon Clay-sama. LOVE. Bon Clay x Bon Clay is my OTP. He needs no one but his friends and nakama, almost like Luffy. I'll follow in your footsteps, o Great Leader of Okama Way! <33
p.p.s: I realize that I've been missing disclaimers for the past... twenty fics or so. XD
ETA: Is today really Kayashima-kun's birthday? o_O Oooh, Happy Birthday, Kayashima-kun! My all-time favorite HanaKimi character is growing up. *sobs* I hope you get many, many boys with nice aura on your birthday. <333 I'll put this date on my next year's Bishounen Planner. Can't miss it again.