One Piece: Gold And Fire

"After killing our mother, he threatened my sister that he will kill others in the village as well if she didn't work for him.

Ever since that day, my little sister is working for that Pirate arlong, making maps for him while gathering money to free the Cocoyashi village." Nojiko said with said tone, this wasn't fake expression, she was sad, even Ragan could tell it.

"And do you think that that Bastard Arlong will fulfil his promise with your sister once she gather that much money..." Ragna asked, he at least doesn't think so.

There was no response from Nojiko, even she knew that Arlong might not fulfil his part of the deal. "But...but what can they do. This is the only hope my sister have and after this long, telling her otherwise would be cruel." She muttered with clenched teeths.

"It would be more cruel to let her burn herself for a deal which was never genuine in the first place.

If you think breaking her heart that her hardwork and all the hardship she went through was pointless would be cruel, think about what will happen when she actually collects all that money.

The day when her expectation to get back the freedom she work for will be the highest, when she really collect all the money she was looking for and ready to free the village as you said. She take all that money to that pirate and he tells him that all her hard work for nothing.

Not only all her money will be taken away but do you understand what that will do to her mentality?

Dissapointment stings the most when expectations are at it's highest. Don't you think that is more cruel..." Ragna said, narrowing his eyebrows.

He could tell that the girl was a nice person, she obviously care for her sister, but she and her sister have been delusioning themselves all this time.

Putting up so much for work and building so much expecting for something which will only give them pain.

"Shut up, you know nothing. What do you know about living in fear, all alone, you freedom being taken away?

What do you know about losing someone important." She suddenly raised her voice, maybe she knew everything Ragna said but just didn't wanted to confront this truths anytime soon.

"You know nothing about how it feels..." Nojiko by now had tear eyes, the tears didn't shed but her eyes were glaring at him with half anger and half despair.

"I know..." Ragna shouted back.

"I know, I know how it feels. I have seen that despair when we don't see any way out. I have been in that position when I had no one to rely on or call them my own.

I have lost family." Ragna then spoke softly, the earlier outburst was only to get her attention. As he said, his face too took a melancholy look.

"I was 9 when that happen, Pirate... they came and burn everything I have ever called home. I have seen family die, I took lost a mother. The only family I had.

Unlike you, I was the only survivor in the island after those people left. I stay all alone for 6 years. I have seen loneliness...

I know how it feels." Ragna look at her in eyes, and for the first time Nojiko saw the same pain in someone else eyes which she could see in her and her sister's eyes.

"I..." Nojiko spoke but then stopped, not getting any words to express what she wanted to say, she didn't herself knew what she wanted to say.

"No need, I understand and I have come to terms with things. I can't change the past, no one can. So the only way to find happiness is to move on.

I was lucky in that way that I only had to deal with those inner demons. Had enough time to do so back in that burnned island which once I called home.

Your's and yours sisters demons though, they are real. Maybe that pirate would be that one in a million who won't go back in his words, maybe he could give you the freedom you wants.

But will that kill the demons in your heart ? Will that give rest to your and you mother's souls ?

I don't really know who killed my mother, and maybe my mother got peace, I could only pray that she do, but I can't. My peace is link with me finding out who was that motherfucker and then burning him alive if possible.

There is a chance that I could never find this person, maybe even after finding I couldn't do anything.

But at least I will try. I'm not saying that revenge helps, that a terrible advice to give anyone. But just like me, your soul won't find peace until that demon kept on inside that soul of yours.

Do you know what's the name of that demon, it sure ain't Arlong. No that just a person no demon. The real demon in that heart of yours is Regret.

Why couldn't I do anything, why I'm so weak, why I'm like this...

I know, becuase I deal with that every day." Ragna too now had misty eyes, he try not to think about it but this were his true feeling.

Nojiko by now was completely in tears, they were silent tears, making no cry or sound. Water in those eyes were just a reflection of real weeping which was done inside her heart.

"Wh...what I can do. I..I..

I'm weak just like that." Nojiko replied with a crackling voice.

"If you have me, then I'll help," Ragna said once again.

"Why... why would you go so far for..." Nojiko was saying but then she understood, he would because he know how it felt.

"Becuase I pay my debts, decided to be like this when I went out to sea, this reminds me that there is one person would there who was responsible for what I went through.

I have his debt to pay as well, in blood and fire..." Ragna took a deep breath and now glared at Nojiko, waiting for her response.

"I... If I say then will you...." Nojiko didn't know why she was getting this emotional all of a sudden, but she could feel those emotions in this boy, they weren't fake, he really meant what he said.

And that's why, after years of closing her heart, she finally thought that maybe...maybe she could try asking for help.

"...Help Me." Nojiko asked with a trembling voice.

To this Ragna only smiled... and took out his sword from his newfound inventory, ready to fight.

"Of Course I...."

*BANG...

Just as he was about to respond, the door of the house was swung open.

A girl with orange hair stepped inside, her sharp glaring at Ragna standing close to Nojiko, her body tensed.

"You—!" she gasped, immediately on high alert.

"You." Ragna was the same, his eyes went wide seeing the familiar face once more.

Ragna barely had time to react before she bolted into the room and took out a gun pointing at him directly.

He saw his own gun in her hands—the same one she had stolen when she took his ship and money.

"Nojiko, get away from him..." She shouted.

xxx

[Word Count: 1200]

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