40. Ruji Village

The Clown Pirates are sailing to Ruji Village to send Tarmad's skeleton to his family. When they leave the vicinity of Ilisia Kingdom, Buggy whistles to call the giant snake, Salaki.

Salaki comes out from the sea and swims beside their ship. Her sudden appearance startles Mantis & Jude. Buggy tells them about Salaki briefly to avoid them panicking.

"Huuuuu..., what a good friendship."-Jude cry

"So that's why we go to Ruji Village. But what will the snake do after this? She lost her cave right?"-Mantis

"There are some uninhabited islands where she can live, undisturbed. We can take her there if she wants, but she'll make the decision herself."-Buggy

The crew agree and let Salaki choose her own new home. She is a wild beast, so wildlife is the best for her.

Mantis then cooks a lot of food for the crew and snake. Salaki put the coffin & crate on the ship before she eat with the pirates. She really likes the food, it's clearly shown on her face.

They arrive at Ruji Village that located on Pelek island the next morning. They dock their ship on a hidden coast before carrying the coffin to the village. Cricket stays on the ship to guard it with Salaki. They can't take a giant snake to the village and scare the villagers after all.

They reach Ruji village, the only village on this island. Mantis asks some people about Tarmad's family's house and finally gets it. The house is located on the outskirt, it's a small wooden house, just like other houses in the village.

*Knock knock* Buggy knock the door

"Excuse me!"-Buggy

"Yes~"-Woman voice

Soon, a middle-aged woman opens the door and looks at Buggy.

"Uhm, who are you? Did you have any business with me?"-Woman

"Did you know Tarmad?"-Buggy

"Y-yes, I am his wife, Rika, but he hasn't returned for 5 years. Are you his friend? Did you know where he is?"-Rika has a hopeful expression

"I'm sorry, I'm not his friend, but I know where he is. He's right here."-Buggy move aside to show the coffin behind him

"D-Don't tell me! N-no way!"-Rika's body shake and tears start to flow from her eyes

Rika approach the coffin weakly and open the lid. She sees the skeleton and the captain's attire. She can't recognize Tarmad because he has turned into a skeleton, but she can recognize his clothes clearly.

"He leaves this letter before he dies."-Buggy gives the letter to Rika

Rika read the letter, which is the same one that Buggy read. However, there is another message on the other side of the paper. The message is for Tarmad's family, so Buggy didn't read it.

Rika cry while reading the letter. She hasn't heard anything from her husband in 5 years, but when he returns, he has turned into a skeleton.

"OI, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY MOM? DON'T MAKE MY MOM CRY!"-Boy's voice

Buggy turns around and sees a boy around 12 y.o runs to him. The boy has a wood bat in his right hand, and he jumps to Buggy. The boy swings his bat and Buggy catches it easily with his right hand.

"GET AWAY FROM MY MOM!"-Boy

"If you're worried about your mom, then you need to check if she's fine first!"-Buggy

Buggy flick the boy's wrist, make him release the bat. Then Buggy grabs the boy's back collar and throws him to the other side of the coffin. The boy gets up and looks at Buggy angrily, but then he sees the coffin and his crying mom.

"Tanjo, don't make a commotion! Come here and see your father, he has returned."-Rika says with teary eyes

"Father? What do yo-"-Tanjo

Tanjo walks forward and sees a skeleton inside the coffin. He's surprised because from what his mom said, this skeleton is his father. Tanjo walks slowly to the coffin and when he sees the clothes, he knows that it's really his father.

"L-lie. I-it's a lie. IT'S A LIE, DAD WON'T DIE! HE TOLD ME HE WILL RETURN WITH A LOT OF TREASURES AND TAKE ME TO THE SEA WITH HIM."-Tanjo says with teary eyes.

Tanjo didn't believe that it's his dad and run away from there while crying.

"TANJO!"-Rika stand up

"It's okay, leave him to me!"-Buggy stop Rika

"C-Captain, please leave him to me! I know the feeling of losing a father, so I will talk to him. You should help her prepare the grave."-Jude

"Alright, I leave him to you. Also, I have a message for him."-Buggy

Buggy tells Jude his message, and it surprises everybody there, even Rika who smiles because of Buggy's message. Jude nod to Buggy, then leave to chase Tanjo and talk with the boy. Buggy stays there with Mantis to accompany Rika.

Some curious villagers approach them and ask what happen, so Mantis tells them briefly. The villagers then agree to prepare the grave to bury Tarmad later before they leave. Even though Tarmad was a pirate, he always help the village, so everyone is grieving now, and ready to help his funeral.

Rika wipe her tears and try to stop her cry. She knows she can't do anything now, and she needs to be strong for her son. She also needs to give her husband a proper burial today.

"Ma'am, did you want to meet Salaki later?"-Buggy

"S-she's here? Then, I will meet her later after the funeral."-Rika

"Alright."-Buggy

~With Jude~

Jude chases Tanjo, and she arrives on a coast where Tanjo sits while crying. Jude approaches Tanjo and sits beside him.

"You know, my Papa also died, 2 years ago. I was very sad back then, I still feel sad even now, but there's nothing I can do. I need to move forward, for myself, for Papa."-Jude

Tanjo just keeps silent and looks down while sniffling.

"Will your father be happy if you keep crying like this? Aren't you going to sail on the sea? If you can't sail with him, then sail for him. You still have your mother, so you should be grateful. I don't have any family left, but now I have my crew."-Jude

"But he had promised me that he will return and take me to the sea."-Tanjo

"Hasn't he fulfill his promise to return even if it take 5 years? Now you just need to sail on the sea with him."-Jude

"But he's dead, how can we sail together?"-Tanjo

"Isn't his blood run in your veins? Then whenever you go, he will be there with you. If you still have him in your heart, then he is still alive in you. People don't die when their heart stops beating, people die when everyone forgets about them. That's Captain message for you."-Jude

"His blood in my veins?"-Tanjo look at his hand

"You know Gold Roger, right?"-Jude

"The Pirate King?"-Tanjo

"That's right. Even though he has died, but people still remember his name. His legacy still continues even after his death."-Jude

"My dad's legacy, it's still live in me and my mom. My dad, is still alive, in my heart."-Tanjo

Tanjo feels his heart warmed by this, and his mind is cleared now. He has accepted his father's death and is ready for a new life. Even if he still feels pained, but he feels better at least. Jude smile and pat the boy's head before she stands up.

"Let's go back, and send your father to his new resting place."-Jude

"Un."-Tanjo

They go back to Tanjo's home for Tarmad's funeral.

'Captain, I know you don't just give that message for him, but also for me. I've accepted Papa's death, but you gave me a new sense of peace. Thank you, joining your crew is really the right decision.'-Jude

~With Buggy~

"ACHOO!"-Buggy sneeze

"Are you alright, Captain? Did you catch a cold?"-Mantis

"No, someone must've talked about me, maybe Belle is thinking about me now."-Buggy smile perfertly

"I think it's the Marine who wants to capture you, not your girlfriend thinking about you."-Mantis

"Ugh, just let me have my good dream for a moment, won't you?"-Buggy have an annoyed expression

"No way, I don't like that perverted look on your face. It ruins the funny face that you have because of your nose."-Mantis

"Huuuuh?"-Buggy has a pissed expression

"Oh, Captain, Jude & that kid have returned."-Mantis walk away to Jude & Tanjo

Buggy fumed, but then he sigh and calmed down. He knows Mantis is the most playful on his crew, so he needs to get used to it.

"Sigh, let's focus on the funeral for now."-Buggy

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