A Mother's Love pt. 2

Where Thirteen was~

Thirteen's mother hummed gently to Thirteen, saying "Your father always protected me. Whenever something happened, he would always stand in front of me. He would kill the people who threatened us. I would always get angry at him for it…"

She giggled "He was so dumb and cute. He would apologize for days on end before doing it again and repeating the cycle. As the time passed the people he killed were less and less. He started showing mercy to the people who attacked us, making me yell at him again."

She hummed to herself and smiled mischievously "He couldn't do anything right, even when he let the enemies go they came back over and over again. I realized that he was killing them so we wouldn't be disturbed, I didn't know what to think at the time. But I stopped getting angry at him, I couldn't be angry at him… Even when I pretended to be mad, he would apologize over and over… I could only laugh…"

She teared up and continued "Then we got separated. The enemies he spared because of me, grouped up and attacked us… There were so many people that day and your father escaped, hiding me on an island before contacting your uncle. I was pregnant with you and starting to get sick…"

She wiped her eyes and added "I realize now that I was a big fool. A burden to your father… If it wasn't for me, we-" she was cut off when Thirteen hugged her tightly. Her teary face was replaced with a gentle one as she calmed down.

Thirteen said "I love you, mommy." she smiled happily and hugged him back, replying "Mommy loves you too. More than anything in the world." Thirteen sat back down in her lap and said softly "Mommy?"

She smiled and hugged him tightly, closing her eyes as she said "Yes, baby?" Thirteen looked up at the white nothingness and asked "Do you hate me for killing people?" She slapped his hand with her eyes closed and said "Are you deaf, sweetheart? I just said I love you more than anything in the world."

Thirteen asked "Even if I'm a killer?" his mother answered, "Even if you kill everyone in the entire world." Thirteen was silent and his mother giggled "Even if you become a big bad demon and blow up the planet, Mommy will still love you. Mommy will love you no matter what… Forever."

Thirteen felt lighter as he asked again "Mommy? What are friends?" She smiled and waved her hand, the white changed to the Infirmary where the crew was as she replied "These are your friends?"

Thirteen was silent and his mother pursed her lips asking "Baby, what do you think friends are?" Thirteen thought for a moment before replying "People who will make you happy?" his mother hummed and Thirteen continued "People who will get angry for you? Fight for you? Protect you?"

She laughed and replied "If you already know, why are you asking me?" Thirteen stayed silent for a moment, his mother asked him "Do you think they are your friends?" Thirteen paused and his ears drooped, she smiled and rubbed his arms, saying "Are you worried about what that boy said?"

Thirteen nodded and his mother said "Do you think he's your friend too?" Thirteen shook his head and his mother smiled "Not everyone who tells you mean things is a bad person, baby. That boy is your friend's brother, he cares about his brother and doesn't want him hurt, but what does your friend want? Did you ask him?"

Thirteen shook his head and his mother added "Your friend would be upset if you hurt his brother, right?" Thirteen nodded and his mother continued "And your friend would be upset if you got hurt, right?" Thirteen nodded again.

His mother poked at his heart and said "So, YOU have to protect your friends, baby. You said a friend is someone who protects you… Besides, your friends aren't as weak as mommy." as she giggled, Thirteen hugged her arms tightly and she added "Can you do mommy a favor?"

Thirteen nodded and she said "If you see your Uncle… Can you tell him Mommy is sorry?" Thirteen nodded but said "But Mommy, I don't-" she pinched his lips and said "He knows you. I'm sure your father never stopped talking about you or me…" she smiled happily and said "That's it~! Remember, Mommy loves you."

Thirteen had a bad feeling and said "Wait! Where are you going?!" She smiled and her fingers started turning into bright little bubbles of light as she said "You need to go back to your friends now baby. Or else you'll be stuck with Mommy forever."

Thirteen grabbed her arms tightly and said "But I want to be with Mommy forever! Please! Please don't go!" The woman teared up and kissed his forehead, saying "I have to go, baby. Don't be sad, Mommy is always watching you. Always."

Thirteen grabbed at her dress but it exploded into light bubbles in his hands, he cried "Please! Mommy, don't leave me again! PLEASE! I'll be a good boy, please…" as he fell to his knees.

The woman hugged him and whispered "Mommy loves you. So much. You can't stay here, baby. This place isn't where you're supposed to be, go back to your friends. They need you the most."

Thirteen cried and sobbed as he tried to retort "But I only want mommy…" the woman cried and kissed his forehead again "Mommy wants you to stay too but you can't. Not now, not ever. You still have a life to live…"

Thirteen looked up at her as she blurred through tears, she reached out and caressed his cheek with her hand, saying finally "Mommy's proud of you… Ichiro…" before turning into light bubbles and disappearing.

Outside~

Thirteen sat up in his bed abruptly, stunning the crew. He touched his face and felt the tears, he stayed silent as the crew came back to their senses. Chopper lunged at him, hugging him while Usopp cried, grabbing his arm, saying "You're alive… I still don't taste good…" Zoro turned around and walked out of the room with clenched fists and shiny eyes. Sanji's hand raised to his lips and shook crazily as he tried to light his cigarette, only for his cigarette to be drenched in tears.

Luffy smiled happily and hugged Thirteen, laughing as he shouted "I'M STARVING! SHISHISHISHISHISHISHI!"