——— ♡ ———
3rd POV:
“There are certainly a few people still alive today who took something away from what Roger said that day…” Rayleigh looks at Luffy as he continues, “Shanks, the man you know so well, was one of them”
“Hm? Old man, you know shanks?”
“If we’re talking East Blue, then you guys must know a pirate named Buggy, right? Both of them apprenticed on our ship.”
“EHHHH!?!?? SHANKS WAS ON THE PIRATE KING’S SHIP!?!??” Luffy was shocked as he spat out food.
“Do you have trouble hearing?” Rayleigh asked.
“Luffy! Don’t do that! Wait...you didn’t know? I thought Shanks told you.” Xuri sat on the bar stool and crossed her legs.
“YOU KNEW TOO!?!!?” Luffy shouted as he spits the food all over the place. He quickly shut his mouth, seeing Xuri’s fist raised up.
“Xuri! You-you know an Emperor!?” Nami immediately looked at her for an answer.
“You didn’t know? I thought it was mentioned somewhere on my old wanted posters…oh well…Yeah! I was part of the Red Hair Pirates for 3 years but I already left...erm...7 years ago!” Xuri said with a smile.
“You can say that Xuri and Red-hair have a love-hate relationship. They act like an old married couple.” Hoshiko added, covering her mouth which made her laugh muffled. While Shakky and Rayleigh laughed, agreeing with Hoshiko.
“EHHHH!?!!?” Nami, Chopper, Franky, Pappag, Camie and Hatchan exclaimed in shock while Sanji exclaimed in horror.
Xuri grumbled in her seat before drinking the tea Shakky made for her as Rayleigh continued,
“About 10 years ago, I ran into him and Xuri on this island. He was missing his trademark straw hat…and an arm… when I asked him what happened, he smiled and started talking about you…!”
“It’s time for us to leave, I don’t want my crew mates having to wait for me that long. This is goodbye for now, everyone! Get better Hacchan! Don’t you dare make those faces, Luffy! Chopper! ” Xuri and Hoshiko bid their farewells and exited the bar
“I feel like we’ll be bumping into them more.” Hoshiko said with a smile.
“Definitely.” Xuri replied.
Xuri and Hoshiko were back on the White Phantom as the others greeted them yet something was off about them. Xuri shrugged off the situation and they soon set sail towards one of the islands under the Moon Raider’s protection.
The rest of the crew except Hoshiko still acted weird as if they were hiding something. Some of them couldn’t even look Xuri straight in the eye.
“Okay, What’s going on? It seems like you guys are hiding something from me.” Xuri said, sitting on a comfy chair on the deck.
“It’s—it’s—I don’t think you would want to know. It’s some unfortunate news…” Alcirah said, avoiding her gaze.
“I’m sure it’s not that bad, let me see it.”
“Captain, please don’t burn the sails.” Chaylah said, before giving the News paper.
“CHAYLAH DON’T—”
"She has to know."
Xuri took the News paper from Chaylah’s hands and flipped throughout the pages. She frozed as she stared at a page. Hoshiko whi was standing behind her had her hands over her mouth as she gasped in Horror.
“…What…? This can’t be…!? I warned Pops..! Couldn’t they stop him?!?” Xuri gripped the New Paper tighter, trembling as she did so. Her crew looked at her in sorrow mixed with concern.
“…WHY?!…WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE YOU?!…ACE!!” Tears were threatening to spill as she gripped the news paper tighter before white flames engulfed the paper as it burned into ashes.
Xuri’s hair turned into flames, as more flames appeared all over her body. The White flames grew bigger and brighter as rage filled her entire body.
“FUCK THE WARLORD TITLE AND THE GOVERNMENT!! I’M GETTING ACE BACK, NO MATTER WHAT IT COSTS!!” She yelled.
After a few minutes the white flames died down as Xuri let out a loud exhale. “Leave me alone for a while.” She said before going to her room in silence.
The crew’s eyes followed her figure going into her room and shutting the door. They all felt sad for her, knowing that this situation would take a toll on her.
“Poor captain…this must be really hard for her, being a childhood friend of Ace..” Hoshiko said, frowning.
“Mhm…I’ll bake some sweets for her. It might make her mood a little bit better.” Chaylah said before going to the kitchen.
“I’ll replace some sails, it seems like she couldn’t avoid getting it burnt…Ah, Right! I’m done making those fireproof sails! I hope she’ll love it.” Risa said.
“I’m sure she will! I’ll help you put them up.” Valerie replied.
“I’ll play her favourite song later! I hope it lightens up her mood.” Alcirah said practicing the tune on her flute.
Everyone got to work, thinking of ways of how they could bring their captain’s frown upside down, even if it’s for a second.
Meanwhile…
Xuri was on her bed, staring blankly at the burning Vivre card and the red-beaded bracelet he gave her. She felt empty. One of the most important people to her is now in Impel Down, she failed to save someone…again.
The question ‘Why?’ Repeated inside her head like a broken record. Xuri covered her eyes with her hand as she let out a deep exhale.
Xuri sensed someone in her room, “Go away. I’m not in the mood.”
“I’m just here to inform you that Straw Hat is in Amazon Lily. I also came to say my last goodbye.” Xuri shot up in her bed with wide eyes, staring at the familiar figure.
“A…are you really agreeing to it..?” Xuri asked, the figure silently nodded at her. Xuri jumped on him and gave him a big tight hug.
“I’ll respect your decision, it’s probably too late anyway… Thank you for being one of my trusted friends, Kuma.” Kuma smiles, reciprocating the hug before patting her head.
“I thank you too, Xuri.” Kuma said, giving one last pat on her head as Bartholomew Kuma, before disappearing.
A knock from the door was heard. “Come in..” Xuri said. The door opened, revealing Chaylah with a tray of sweets and tea. Behind her was her sister, Alcirah who’s holding her flute with a smile.
Chaylah set the tray down on the table near her bed as the rest of the crew came in. Some sat on her bed, some on the chairs.
Alcirah played a familiar tune that Xuri loves to hear that she would often request her to play. Her crew started to sing loudly which surprised her.
YOHOHOHO, YOHOHOHO!
YOHOHOHO, YOHOHOHO!
YOHOHOHO, YOHOHOHO!
YOHOHOHO, YOHOHOHO!
Gather up all the crew!
It’s time to ship out bink’s brew!
Sea wind blows. To where? Who knows?
The waves will be our guide!
O’er across the ocean’s tide
Rays of sunshine far and wide
Birds they sing of cheerful things, in circles passing by! …
The feeling of nostalgia washed over Xuri everytime she hears the song play. ‘Bink’s Sake…’ Xuri cracked a smile before joining her friends in singing the song.
The crew cheered in success, being able to accomplish the Operation ‘Make Xuri smile’ mission.
——— ♡ ———
I have exams next week 😿