I blinked a few times, struggling to shake off the remnants of a long, dreamy nap. Cocooned beneath a thick pile of blankets, I wasn't sure how to feel that the warmth of my new human heater was already gone; the other side of the bed felt achingly cold and empty. Grogginess clung to me like the last vestiges of a dream, and I rubbed my eyes, trying to clear away the sleep that still fogged my mind.
In the distance, the sharp sounds of a struggle reached my ears, a cacophony of shouts and scuffles that broke the stillness of the room. How eventful, I thought with a mixture of curiosity and exasperation. With a sigh, I swung my legs over the side of the bed, the cool air brushing against my skin, and I grabbed a lighter blanket to wrap around my shoulders. As I stood up, I felt the comforting weight of the fabric against me, and I began to shuffle toward the door, drawn by the chaotic sounds echoing from the dock.
"SMOKE BOMB!" A distant yell pierced the air, echoing through the serene village. I peered over the edge of the ship, my heart racing as I spotted a chaotic scene unfolding in the heart of town, about a mile away. A dense plume of smoke curled upward, obscuring parts of the vibrant landscape, while a crowd of startled villagers surged forward, their faces twisted in shock. A few bodies lay sprawled on the ground, motionless amid the turmoil.
Without hesitation, I leapt from the ship's rail, exasperation coursing through me as I floated towards the chaos below. The salty breeze whipped through my hair, and I could feel the almost comedic urgency in the air.
"LUFFY!" Shanks' voice boomed above the commotion, laced with desperation. I couldn't help but let out a frustrated sigh; the situation was spiraling out of control as always. "OH NO! I LET HIM ESCAPE! WE GOTTA SAVE LUFFY!"
"Dumby!" I muttered, delivering a light but playful whack to Shanks's head. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a faint smirk creeping across Beckman's face, clearly amused by our banter.
"Ow!" Shanks grumbled, rubbing the back of his head while his expression shifted from panic to a more relaxed demeanor.
"We'll all look for him," Lucky reassured us, his voice steady and calming, as he attempted to conciliate Shanks.
With that, we all embarked on our quest to find Luffy, each of us choosing our own route through the thick underbrush of the forest, around the village, and even along the shores. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and foliage, a reminder of the urgency of our mission. I focused intently, trying to piece together the puzzle of where the bandit might have taken our rubber-clad friend. My experience with Observation Haki was still in its infancy, yet I could feel a nascent confidence emerging as I learned to wield it more effectively.
I couldn't help but ponder whether Shanks kept me from sleeping alone for more than just comfort; perhaps he wanted to help ease my anxiety and provide a buffer when the specter of nightmares loomed. My ability to sense the world around me had become a double-edged sword. Previously, it consumed me, drowning me in a tumult of chaotic emotions that left me vulnerable and exposed. Yet now, as I had gradually learned to dull my senses, I pulled back just enough to avoid being overwhelmed by sheer panic.
Even with this newfound mastery, navigating through the forest while maintaining my heightened awareness felt like an arduous task. I shut my eyes tightly for a moment, hoping to hone in on Luffy's distinctive aura, but my efforts yielded little more than a fog of frustration. Instead of clarity, I found myself ensnared in a web of anxiety, my energy slowly draining as I wrestled to keep my mind from descending into chaos. Each fleeting thought felt like a puzzle piece scattered around me, the nagging panic lurking just beneath the surface, threatening to spill over as I desperately tried to realign my senses and locate our beloved little friend.
…
"WHAT ABOUT YOUR ARM!!!!" I heard Luffy's frantic voice echoing through the trees in the distance, towards the ocean, carrying a sense of urgency that felt like a punch to my gut. I froze, collapsing onto my knees on the damp forest floor, the weight of his words crashing over me like a tidal wave of memories. An image of Shanks surfaced in my mind—his warm smile juxtaposed with the heartbreaking moment when he held young Luffy in the vastness of the swirling ocean, with the loss of one arm.
My memory seemed to slip through my fingers like grains of sand, and I couldn't shake the crushing déjà vu that enveloped me. I was thrust back to the moment when Luffy was captured. I had warned Shanks countless times about the future that lurked beyond the horizon, yet here we were. The reality of his sacrifice loomed over me, heavy with the knowledge that I had not only watched, helpless, as Shanks lost his arm but also the fact that I had completely forgotten that this would happen to begin with. How could I have forgotten? How could I let this slip my mind?
I took a moment to remind myself to calm down, as a wave of anxiety washed over me. With my heart racing, I focused on my breathing, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly, trying to regain my composure. The last thing I needed was to spiral into panic—especially so far inland, away from familiar surroundings. I didn't want to be a burden to anyone, caught in this emotional turmoil.
I wrapped myself tightly in the worn blanket I had found, using it as a shield against the chill that surrounded me. As I curled into a ball on the ground, I felt the rough textures of dirt and grass beneath me, but the discomfort didn't register; my mind was elsewhere. I couldn't afford to think about the messiness of my situation—only the urgent need to find stillness amidst the chaos of my own negativity.
Tears threatened to spill over as I struggled to calm my racing thoughts. No matter how hard I tried to push the feelings away, they only intensified, swirling like a storm in my mind. The nagging voice that whispered I was useless grew louder, echoing with each passing moment. It felt as though I was a burden, causing more problems than solutions, and it filled me with an overwhelming sense of despair. Every task I attempted created more chaos rather than alleviating it. I couldn't shake the belief that, despite my best efforts, nothing I did ever truly made a difference. The weight of this realization pressed down on me, leaving me feeling trapped in my own inadequacy.
I felt the heavy grip of slumber begin to overtake me, a languid indifference washing over my senses as if the weight of the world had suddenly become too great to bear. I fought to keep my eyelids from surrendering to the pull of sleep, but despite my efforts, they fluttered shut like leaves falling in a gentle breeze. My breath, which had been quick and labored, gradually found a soothing rhythm, each inhale deepening as the tension in my body melted away. The wilderness around me faded into a soft haze, the shadows dancing from the swaying trees as I slipped further into sweet oblivion, where time ceased to exist, and nothing mattered anymore.