A Prodigy Marine

A sound of metal hitting against each other could be heard clashing against each other across the training ground at a marine base.

A young masked girl training in the mid day going against fellow marines, the only difference is that the marines she's facing are older and has bigger build and body structure compared to the younger smaller girl.

"Ugh" came out of the older male marine as he landed on the ground after being defeated by the younger girl. She stands strong and steady as she looks at her now defeated opponent. She gives her hand out to the fallen marine, only for her hand to be swatted away with rude remarks.

She retreats her hand back as the commander and higher up marine dismisses training for the group of marines. As the girl places back the weapon in the racks she feels glares and condescending stares boring into her. She walks away from the training ground to get her lunch along with the rest of the marines stationed.

As she makes her way to the cafe a bunch of whispers and stares continue as the young girl makes her way in line to leave shortly after receiving her lunch.

Whispers and words directed at her, consisting of

"Creepy"

"Why does she wear that mask? It's so weird."

"Weird? Its weird that a young girl like that can beat opponents over half her size?"

"Her age and size is outrageous for the things she does."

"Weird. Creepy. Strange. Outcast."

She ignores these words, making her way to her usual eating spot that's on the beach North side of the base.

It's not just at this base where she gets such treatment, it's at marine HQ and many other bases that she has been stationed at. Cruel and judgmental words and stares directed at her.

For years, the young girl has walked down similar halls and paths where she has heard the same comments. Whether an admiral or a higher up marine were to be there, they would say nothing and continue on. Even at times higher ranking officers would also have the same comments and attitude towards her. Even her own father.

Years of training and overworking her small body to practice to train. To become stronger. Many times, too many to count of when she received bruises and cuts from training and going against others. Years of going through harsh and strict practice when her father created a regimen for her to follow. Beatings when she couldn't do things properly.

To much of everything. For that all the marines and everyone knew her for was the prodigy marine. The small girl who shows strength and talent to become a great marine.

The young masked girl sits down at the ledge looking out to the sea and the beach. She unfolds the sandwich that she got from the cafeteria and lifts off her mask so you could only see her mouth.

Footsteps could be heard behind her as they approached. "Gahahah! Rizu! How are you gonna grow if you eat a puny meal like that!" A man's gruff voice could be heard saying the girl's name. In response she turned around and looked to see the individual.

"Ah Garp-san." the masked girl known as Rizu says in response. "When I'm done, we can train if that is alright for you." she said.

"Gahahaha! Working hard as ever!" the older man says while scarfing down his meal as he sits down next to the girl. Both of them eating as they look out onto the ocean.

"Garp-san, why do you always come here and train me? Many other marines don't like me, even though I try to be nice to them.....Don't you find me weird and strange as well? " Rizu says as she finishes her meal and places the full mask back on.

Garp looks at the girl solemnly and smiles at her while patting her head. "Gahaha!! Rizu, you were the one to ask me to train you, yet your asking me why. I train you because you asked and I see you beating those grown weak men because you trained and work hard for that strength. You may not know but I have seen you train when you were way younger. There is potential in you to become a great marine. I don't find you really strange at all." he informs the young girl.

The girl looks up at the man next to her and stares at him. Garp continues "I train you because I see that you want to become stronger and better. Though I may not know the reason on why you wear that mask or even train late in the night. Though it's been months since we've been training haven't we? Gahaha!" he says while laughing at the end.

The girl nods. "Yes thank you for training and helping me." she thanks the older marine hero. "So Rizu are you going to tell me why do you train so hard and why you wear that mask of yours?" Garp asks her.

The man has asked her a couple times before but the girl has always replied with "To become stronger is something I am tasked with." She always acted like she had barely emotions but in contrary to what Garp could see was a wall. A wall that was built over time acting as a barrier to protect herself from whatever that was thrown at her. To protect her from something. Her mask that she wears on her face blocks out visible emotions and any entry way to see her soul, her eyes and facial expressions. All were covered by that mask. But you can still see her emotions quite clear from the way she tenses.

The older man knew of what the other marines has said over the base, all the marines should have at least heard of her. A girl who has strength and wears a mask, having a mysterious vibe and atmosphere around her. He has heard of her before since one of the admirals and a meeting it was brought up.

When he had heard that she would be stationed this time at the base he was located at, he was interested in what kind of child this person was. To see if rumors were true, to see if she was a robot devoid of emotions and did what was tasked of her.

He soon learned that most of it was untrue. Rather her strength and power came from the hard work and the training the girl did every night, a routine. Garp had also learned that other higher officers were asked from the young girl to train her. In many cases many of them would laugh at her and play her off. Seeing her unworthy and unable to handle such work. But she would have determination he saw when he was visiting another base.

The young girl did everything and pushed her way through whatever was given to her. The harsh training regimens that the higher officers did as a joke to discourage her. She did them all, even showing tiredness and exhaustion, she would push through.

So this simple question of "why do you train so hard and why do you wear that mask?" had been there ever since the older marine saw her. Which not only he but many others have questioned. Garp looks down at the girl waiting for her to answer him or to avoid his question. For he was a man who was blunt.

The girl looks away from the man and stares back out at the sea. She pulls her legs towards her chest and wraps her arms around her legs. "Garp-san." She calls out his name to see if she has his attention.

He hums in response. "Do you know who my father is?" she asks out of nowhere catching the older man off guard. The man widens his eyes and says "No, why do you not know?" as he looks at the girl next to him.

She shakes her head "No, I know who he is. He is the reason why I train so hard and why I wear this mask. Though he does not consider me his daughter I believe." the girl says while clenching onto her hands together.

The man raises his brow. "Why does your old man make you train and wear that mask?" the old hero asks. The girl once again becomes silent before she speaks again.

"Since, I was really young he would put me through training. At times he would come to see my progress, those were the only times I could really get to see him and prove to him...But I've noticed from the way he looks at me and things...It would be better for him not to see my face, so I started wearing this mask and he wouldn't show that expression as much." RIzu states as if this was normal.

The man's eyes widen and he clenches his fists and grinds his teeth. He stands up abruptly. "Rizu! Tell Ji-chan who your old man is!! He shouldn't treat his daughter that way!" Garp yells at her while clenching his fist and looks like he is about to pummel someone.

The girl jumps as he yells and stands abruptly. Her eyes widen underneath the mask and looks at the old man next to her as he rants on. "J-Ji-chan?" she asks quietly. Garp stops talking and spitting out whatever nonsense he is and looks at the girl, and gives her a huge smile. "Gahahaha! Yeah call me Ji-chan! Now tell Ji-chan who this fool is!!"

The girl smiles slightly under her mask and stands up. "Ji-chan" she calls out to test it out. He stops and looks at her while grinning stupidly. "Ji-chan." she says again and he nods his head at her while patting her head.

Her eyes and mouth widen ever so slightly at this unfamiliar affection and happiness she feels from this. "Ji-chan, I can't tell you who he is if you go and confront him. I will get in trouble." Rizu tells the older marine. For which Garp sighs and nods his head. "I see, well then I won't be going at the fool. But their name." Garp demands.

The girl lets out a slight sigh and nods her head. "Ji-chan, you can't tell anybody who he is. He doesn't really like people to know." she informs him watching him. She continues "My father...his name is Sakazuki. From what I heard he is known as Akainu."

The man coughs and sputters out "S-sakazuki!!" The girl nods her head. "Yes, now shall we train so we don't waste any more daylight." she says and starts walking down to go to the shore where they normally train.

Garp continues to stand in the same spot for a while and snaps out of his thoughts when the girl calls out "Ji-chan! Let's start." she says and he could hear the happiness in her voice.

That emotion of happiness and hearing her call out "Ji-chan" made him smile and make his way down to her.