To the end of the sea [One Piece]

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The banquet was undoubtedly lively. However, the night left after the extreme noise seemed a bit more lonely than usual. Ena helped Deri and Raglo pack up the last remnants, said good night to a few people and returned to her room.

She sat on the edge of the bed and didn't move for a long time.

During the day, she wanted to move forward, live better every day, and work hard to become more worthy of being a member of the Straw Hat Pirates. Since she has chosen to live, there is no such method as being confused in Ikegawa Ena's dictionary.

So, she began to work hard to let herself go and smile according to her heart.

What's more, she came with two lifetimes of faith.

In her previous life, she did not wait for the day when the world would get better, and there was no one for her to look forward to.

She thought of Luffy, the boy who knocked the Celestial Dragon away with one punch.

Eina gently rubbed her fingers and smiled.

That's...her captain.

The person she didn't wait for in her previous life, she found this time.

Rather than turning the world upside down, she had her dream because of them.

Those who have not let go and the things that have not been relieved can only move forward with them until one day they find the answer.

This is the life that living people have to bear.

She gently raised her hand, opened the space ring, and took out a package from inside.

That was the package she took with her when she was reborn into this world, and she put the most important things in it.

She made a bookmark out of the little flower Chopper gave her, put the orange necklace Nami gave her in a small box, and she hasn't written much in the notebook Robin gave her.

And that button... Eina picked up the button that had frayed edges and had forgotten its existence until now, and put it under the candlelight to examine it. Now she knew who this ancient little button belonged to.

It was the small button on Sanji's cuff that she pulled off during the storm that separated them.

She couldn't help but laugh as she recalled the blond man's gloomy face when he saw her, as well as her repeated doubts.

I'm really...sorry, Sanji-san.

If it were her, she would be very sad if she forgot those things she shared through thick and thin as a child.

But Sanji was really... as gentle as ever, she thought.

He didn't rush for anything, nor did he force her. He even deliberately talked to her about the past in an understatement. Then, there is the gentle and extreme protection all the time.

He even lied to her, saying that they were just friends who met when they were fleeing. In fact, he knew everything about her life experience and their past.

Thinking about it now, he probably didn't want her to think of that sad past, so he would rather give up the opportunity for her to think of him and leave his carefree life to himself.

Speaking of her doubts during rebirth... Ena pursed her lips and took out the cigar-shaped dagger.

That's... the oldest thing.

It's a memory that I don't even think about my past life, and I deliberately want to forget it.

But now that she was able to escape and look at herself from a calm and objective perspective, she couldn't help but ask herself: If she really wanted to forget it, why would she still carry it with her until she died?

She traced the realistic lines of the cigar with her fingers, deftly pressed the groove, and the sharp blade popped out.

CB

『CaponeBege』

Abbreviation for Capone Becky.

The childhood that was once called "father" was regarded as a prison by her.

Speaking of which, they had met before at Shampoo Land, when she didn't know anything about it.

At that time, he did not express any intention to get to know her.

Ena loosened her tight lips and sighed softly.

The things she had been obsessed with in her past life and this life, but after she had gone through so much, she felt relieved like never before.

If there is a chance to meet again next time, give it back to him.

+ + +

The last thing in the package was a nightmare that she was afraid of never touching again in this life.

Ace's...dagger.

Shanks gave it to her, the dagger he carried close to his body.

What were you thinking about at that time?

She and Luffy rescued Ace and then took him home with them.

She and Luffy came back, but the person they wanted to save... would never come back.

She stretched out her hand very slowly, and her fingertips touched the handle of the knife with some trembling.

It was as if she was afraid that it was a sweet dream and that if she disturbed it, everything would be shattered.

However, she finally made up her mind and held it in her hand with her fingers spread wide.

The cold touch of the dagger seemed to remind her that its owner, the young man who had always been burning with hot flames, was no longer there. Therefore, it has also lost its human body temperature.

Eina clutched it tightly, her mind filled with images she didn't want to think of.

When they first met, they competed on the Spade pirate ship. After the fierce battle, they collapsed on the deck exhausted. I don't know who turned their heads first and looked at each other.

Their heartbeats, which had not calmed down after strenuous activities, suddenly intensified again at that moment.

His hormonal sweat streaked across the small freckles, and finally fell into her heart.

It ripples like a dropped seed.

They were eighteen years old that year, which was their most youthful and beautiful years.

No one can still feel calm after meeting a boy like him or a girl like her.

For the first time, he showed her his inferiority, his cowardice, and his darkness.

Ace tells her that he has the blood of sinners.

What the silver-haired girl said to him was: "What does that mean? You are just yourself, Ace, and the boy in front of me."

They finally confessed their feelings to each other, and she lowered her head and kissed his lips for the first time.

They looked up at the night sky on the Moby-Dick and embraced each other under the light of the bonfire.

The handsome boy mustered up all his courage and confessed to her with a blushing face.

Although they liked each other in their previous life, they finally let go because of their opposite life choices.

And in the end she could only watch him die at the hands of Akainu.

In this life, she fell in love with him again under the premise of amnesia, and they seemed to finally be able to love each other.

She thought of that dream-like kiss on the moonlit night in Alabasta.

His warm yet shy eyes; his cute freckles; his strong and fiery chest.

"Don't worry Ena, I'll be fine."

"You know...you are my only and most important girl in this world."

Then he smiled a bit evilly and pulled her into his arms for a deep kiss.

The black-haired young man and the silver-haired girl were kissing on the sea. The background of water and sky was as beautiful as an oil painting.

That was his and her eternal farewell.

If I could have thought of it earlier...if I could have stopped him at that time...

Eina put the dagger to her forehead, curled up and cried silently.

She cried so hard that her whole body was shaking violently, her dagger and knees were wet with tears. Her heart, which had long been in ruins, was contracting violently, and the pain almost made her faint.

Can she really stop Ace...?

"He is a more important person than my real father...So Ena, I have to go. I can't tolerate anyone disrespecting my father."

She couldn't stop it.

No matter how many times he comes back, Portcas D. Ace will rush to death for his beliefs, just like the most sincere flame in the world, growing and growing every minute and every second until it burns out.

Just like their fruitless love, it was already on a burning fuse from the beginning.

It's just that she is the one who stayed, so she should bear the gift of fate.

------------

The Redfors was silent at this time, with only a few crew members on duty on guard. Eina gently opened the door and walked onto the deck. Someone noticed her immediately. After looking over, she made a casual gesture, and the other person nodded and gave her a concerned smile.

Her eyes, which were washed by tears, were a little dry under the night wind, but the redness and swelling were somewhat dissipated. She squinted and leaned against the railing, watching the dark blue water being split into sections and the ship moving forward slowly.

The salty sea breeze washed away her swollen chest, and she took deep breaths to relieve the pain in her heart.

A warm coat was placed on her shoulders from behind.

She turned around and saw the red hair to her surprise.

"Why don't you go to sleep?" Shanks asked her, rubbing his eyes, looking like he had just climbed out of the quilt.

"You're not asleep either." Eina turned around to face him. Shanks glared at her: "I came out to look for you when I saw you on the deck!"

She laughed softly: "So you left all the work to Beckman again, right?" She moved her eyes upward, and Beckman's window was still lit.

Shanks shrugged: "I don't like those things. A pirate is not a pirate if he still needs to read various letters every day. He is not free at all."

"The premise is that you are an unknown pirate." Eina tilted her head, "The four emperors must have some affairs, such as an invitation from a certain force."

"Forget it if you don't want to go to that kind of thing." Shanks took a step forward, staring at her red eyes, his expression became serious, "I promised you to start training with you tomorrow, but if you stay up all night like this I won’t be merciful if my body can’t support you tomorrow.”

Eina opened her eyes, turned her head and twisted her body to look at the sea. Shanks walked to her side and stood with her. She shivered and couldn't help but move closer to him.

"I...can't sleep." She murmured softly, "When I close my eyes, it's boundless darkness. I feel scared."

Shanks frowned and stretched out his hand to gather her coat.

"I'm afraid that my dreams will be filled with painful images, just like the month I slept, every dream was an endless nightmare. Ace's death was played over and over again, but I could only watch from the side. , I can't do anything. I can't even cry, I can only watch, like a passerby."

Shanks originally had a lot of words to comfort her, but he had already said them all the night she woke up, and it was really powerless to say anything at this moment. He silently stretched out his right arm, held the petite girl in his arms, and patted her shoulder gently.

"It'll get better." He used a little strength to lead the girl in his direction with his strong arms, and walked towards the room with his feet, "Come on, the most important thing right now is to sleep first, and we will be back tomorrow." I want to accompany you to become stronger, remember?"

His coaxing tone made Eina dumbfounded, and she had no intention of being sad: "Hey, Mr. Shanks, I am already twenty-one years old."

The man grinned: "A twenty-one-year-old kid doesn't sleep well because he's afraid of the dark."

"I say--"

"Hey, hey, watch your step~"

Ena was half dragged and half hugged by the man back to the room. She put on her coat and lay down under the quilt under the unquestionable gaze of the man. Shanks sat down on the edge of the bed. Eina looked at him for a long time before holding back a sentence: "Shanks...I can't sleep when you look at me like that."

Who can sleep peacefully when there is a big living person sitting next to the bed and looking at you with bright eyes?

Shanks scratched his head: "Then close your eyes, I'll leave right away."

Eina closed her eyes and gradually felt Shanks' gaze disappear. She sighed helplessly, trying to find sleep.

However, after she slowly sank into the darkness, her heart suddenly palpitated. A burning fire grew bigger and bigger from the darkness in front of him, revealing Ace's facial features. Her fingers twitched, and there was nothing around her to rely on.

Blood flowed from the corner of Ace's mouth, and he gave her a painful smile.

no, do not want--

Ena sat up with a sigh, and suddenly opened her eyes to see Shanks' worried face.

He hasn't left yet.

Like a helpless child who woke up from a nightmare and saw the most reassuring person, Ena's eyes turned red unconsciously. When Shanks saw her like this, he let out a long sigh, sat on the edge of the bed and stretched out his right arm, and Eina leaned over naturally.

He only had one arm to hold her, so he could only rub the top of her soft hair soothingly with his stubbled chin. Eina put her arms around his muscular waist and pressed her forehead against his muscular chest.

"What should you do if you're like this?" Shanks gently stroked the ends of her long hair with his right hand, and his deep voice lingered in her ears, "If you keep doing this, your body will definitely not be able to hold on."

"Does Korda have any sleeping pills?" The girl's muffled voice came from his chest, and Shanks frowned in disapproval.

"That's not a good idea. You'll become dependent," he said. "It's better to try to fall asleep on your own."

"Hey, Shanks." Eina raised her head, slightly loosened her hand around his waist, and leaned against his shoulder in a relaxed posture, "How much do you remember about me back then?"

"...Huh?" The man couldn't keep up with her thinking, "You said you were a child?"

"Ah." She buried her face in his arms, like a coquettish little animal, "Tell me, I want to listen."

"Hey, don't you know those things too..."

"Why did you let me stay on your ship at that time? I obviously said at that time that I hated pirates, right?"

Shanks' thoughts were brought back to eight years ago by her. Thinking of the silver-haired little boy, the man's eyes softened into a pool of water: "Yeah, why..."

"Maybe it's because Eina-chan is too cute?"

"Hey! Answer me seriously! This is a foul!"

"Ah haha, sorry, sorry, let me think about it..." Shanks held her and changed the angle slightly, adjusting the position so that both of them could relax, and subconsciously curled the girl's satin-like hair tail with his right hand, "Yeah …Actually, I really don’t know the specific reason. Maybe it’s because the look in your eyes at that time, even though you were still such a young girl, contained an unconventional coldness and determination, which made me very curious about what you have experienced.”

"Or maybe it's the dull look on your face when I rebutted you after you said you hated pirates. It's really cute."

Ena's face was pressed against the man's warm chest, and she felt a little embarrassed for some reason after hearing what he said. I was really young at that time. Thinking about it, I did a lot of stupid things, and I also made a lot of comments that now sound like digging into the ground.

"But... I think the most important thing is Ena's expression when she looks at the sea..." Shanks lowered his head, his clear-cut features were turned into hazy arcs by a soft smile, "That's yourself I have never found such extreme tenderness.”

"Later I found out that you had that kind of past, and I have to say that I had feelings of admiration for you. You are obviously a child who has been treated cruelly by the world, but you still have tenderness and hope and want to make it better. "

The man's deep, deep voice was soft and magnetic, and Eina's eyelids began to twitch before she knew it. She muttered in a daze: "Because it's not the world's fault...it's just that there are too many bad people in the world. If we reduce them, the world will get better..."

Shanks' heart almost melted at the sight of the silver-haired girl.

How can you remain so sincere and kind even after suffering so much? Such a girl, as long as she wants to, can cure all the suffering and dissatisfaction in the world.

Even she herself was suffering greatly.

"Yes...the world will definitely become better and better. If it is Ena, it can definitely be done."

"Well, there's Luffy, and everyone..."

Shanks almost laughed out loud, but he held it back for fear of waking up the girl who had finally fallen asleep.

"Yeah, there's us, we'll help too."

"Hi…"

The sound became smaller and smaller, until finally only the sound of steady breathing remained.

Shanks smiled happily, lowered his head like he did when he was a child, and kissed the girl's forehead. He gently put her on the bed and covered her with a quilt. He looked at her delicate sleeping face and said softly: "Good night, little girl."