Chapter 6

"Ro-Rowan, you are awake! Doctor!" Feeling drowsy, Rowan heard someone talking.

Before long, Rowan realized that he was on the bed. He could barely feel his body or more; he only managed to open his eyes heavily.

"Rowan! Thank goodness!" Dr.Nako quickly approached Rowan and inspected his condition. "Blood level looks stable, no infection, completely functional metabolism, muscles repairing..."

"Doctor, how long was I out?" Rowan managed to open his mouth, and a dry, hoarse voice was heard. He was given a water by someone else, which he greedily gulped down.

"3 days. You almost died from blood loss, but thankfully, Thomy had a matching blood type as you, XF. You should not move still. You had damages on the internal organs, muscle tendons destroyed, and many parts of bones fractured or broken.

"What happened to everyone?"

"Well... we have successfully driven the remaining Arlong Pirates out of the village. However, too many died..."

"Rowan!! You are awake!!" Another voice was heard. Turning around, Rowan was met with Nojiko, whose left leg and arm were in casts. Seeing Nojiko enter the room, Dr.Nako silently exited the room.

"Nojiko, what happened?"

Nojiko teared up as she spoke, "Mr.Genzo, Johnny, Yosaku, Sam... they all died."

Hearing this, Rowan was devastated. Arlong was defeated, but at what cost?

Rowan tried to speak, but no words came out. His bandaged arms shook as he tried to hold himself from crying. Genzo was someone who took care of him since his family passed away. Johnny and Yosaku were adventurous men who would often share the majesty of the outside world. Sam was a great friend to hang out with—a meek individual who's kind to everyone. Everyone else, the villagers, people that he came to cherish as he spent 17 years of his life in the Cocoyasi village...

"I saw them there. They, they... were the bravest, the strongest out of any others I've seen before. The weak, giving all they got to defeat the strong, they did not give in till the end..." Nojiko shakily smiled, while wiping the tears from her eyes.

"I... yes. I am glad that I got to know such amazing individuals in my life." Calming his mind, Rowan managed to respond with a smile of his own.

A silence was brought to the room momentarily, as the both individuals coped with their turbulent emotions.

After few minutes passed, Rowan decided to ask. "Where is Nami?"

"Nami... she locked herself in a room, saying that it's all her fault." Nojiko said with a sigh. "Stupid girl, she was the one who bore our burdens for years! How can this be her fault!"

Listening to Nojiko's banter, Rowan looked outside of the window. Finally, this village will be in peace. However, now that he achieved his revenge, what should he do now?

Become a farmer or fisher? Somehow, the idea did not seem appealing to him anymore. Those were naive thoughts. What if they are attacked again? Arlong taught him that this world is not kind. It is full of malicious people. Full of people with overwhelming power.

'I have to get stronger.'

"Alright. I'll let you rest." Nojiko finished her conversation with Rowan, and left him alone.

Closing his eyes, Rowan returned to a deep slumber.

_______

After a month, Rowan was fully healed, although many scars remained on his body. Finally stepping out, he walked to the graveyard, full of newly established gravestones, next to the one meant for Bell-mère.

"Dad, mom, Pob, Mr.Genzo, Bell-mère, Johnny, Yosaku, Sam, everyone..." Rowan bowed. "Thank you for everything. You guys were the best families, friends, and companions that I could ask for. Arlong is dead. His crew is driven out of village. I hope you guys rest in peace."

Rowan placed flowers he was given by flower-shop owner, on each and every grave present. Saluting for the final time, Rowan turned.

Suddenly, a gentle wind blew, giving Rowan a pleasant feeling.

"Thank you, Rowan. We wish you a luck in your journey from now on..." Hearing a voice, Rowan widened his eyes, with his fists clenched.

"Goodbye, everyone." Then he walked away.

__________

'There is still one more thing to do.' Rowan thought as he was walking. 'The marines, especially that despicable mouse, Nezumi.'

For 5 years, the marines were turning blind eyes on them. The villagers of Cocoyasi discovered that Nezumi was the one mainly responsible for such action; Arlong paid for his ignorance!

'Whether I become wanted or not, he must pay!' Rowan has already thought of this matter before. 'Even if I want to try to go out of the village, to report the corruption to other marine branches, Nezumi will never allow me to leave! Worse, if I manage to leave, he likely will hold the villagers as hostages!'

'That leaves me with only one choice: beat him up to a pulp, until he can't live anymore!' Rowan and other villagers already saw the abrupt movement of marines. Nezumi probably knew that he had no other option than to silence the villagers of this matter, or else, he will end up in the impel down.

"Rowan? Where are you going?" Looking at his serious demeanour, the villagers couldn't help but ask.

"No matter what's about to happen, don't come out! What happens here is done by my own will, and by my own alone!" Rowan shouted before approaching the marine branch building.

"Halt! You will not step in any closer! If you do so, we will not hesitate to shoot you!" The marine soldiers, who are guarding the gate in front of the dome-like marine base with mouse head decorated on top, pointed their guns toward Rowan.

'Every single marine in this building.' Rowan thought in a fury. 'All of them are corrupted individuals who laughed as our villagers suffered everyday.

With an angry face, Rowan took few steps towards the marine guards, before dashing towards them.

Sweating profusely, the marine guards shot the guns in their hands. However, due to Rowan moving towards them in a zig-zag fashion, they could not aim properly.

Reaching in front of two marine guards, Rowan punched one in the abdomen, before dodging another bullet from the other and throwing a kick at him.

They collapsed on the ground while coughing out blood. Not even waiting any longer, Rowan quickly jumped on top of the dome-like building and hid himself behind the mouse head.

Hearing the commotion, the other marines stepped out of the base along with Nezumi.

"Chi chi!! Who did this!!" Nezumi squeaked in anger as he saw two marine guards brutally beaten up. He looked around the houses, where the villagers were watching in fear, with squinted eyes. "Chi chi!! Which one of you has done this!!"

Staring at Nezumi with cold eyes from top of the building, Rowan jumped down towards Nezumi, and Nezumi did not realize Rowan's descent until the last moment, when Rowan's shadow covered him.

*BOOM* Rowan's sudden assault caused Nezumi to collapse. Before the soldiers realized, the dust that arose from the ground momentarily covered their view. Since Nezumi was with Rowan, they could not dare to shoot.

"Nezumi!!" Rowan's eyes blazed in anger as his kick crashed Nezumi down on the ground. Nezumi vomited out blood as Rowan's feet was pushing onto his chest, and screamed in pain as his back crashed against the ground.

"*Gurgh*" Nezumi chocked on his blood, trying to plead. "P-please, don't-"

Before Nezumi could continue, another stomp from Rowan landed on his face, completely disfiguring it.

*Crack* A sound was heard, before the silence enveloped.

When Rowan killed Arlong, he was so high with adrenaline, and fainted imemdiately. However, this time, it was different. He killed a human being with his bare hands; he felt the sensation. He heard the plead from Nezumi for mercy. Still, Rowan crushed Nezumi without any hesitation.

Rowan felt shocked and terrified of what he has done. However, he knew that he could not relax; he was still surrounded by the armed marines.

The soldiers froze in shock and fear. The villagers, who looked at this commotion from the windows, couldn't help but feel conflicted.

"What should we do now?" One of the marine said fearfully.

"Damn, what else can we do?! Kill that man! We are not safe either!!" Another marine shouted. They knew that they won't be laid off either, especially when Rowan knew them every since they were patched to Cocoyasi village 9 years ago.

Immediately, every marines began to shoot to Rowan, who swung Nezumi's dishevelled corpse to block the bullets. Running towards the closest marine, he punched that marine and caused that marine to faint immediately, before replacing Nezumi with that marine as a meat shield.

As soon as they saw that, the marines knew that winning against Rowan was unlikely, even if he was alone. They would soon run out of ammo, however, Rowan didn't even seem exhausted. Fearing for the outcome, the marines ran away without much thought. Rowan, who was still troubled by his kills, could not bother to chase after them.

"R-Rowan, what have you done??" The villagers slowly came out of the house, and one of them muttered in a horror.

"You will be wanted now! As a criminal!"

"I know." taking a deep breath, Rowan calmed himself down. Peaceful life? It was no longer an option for him. "Just prepare me for a boat, and food supplies. I will leave before new patches of marines arrive."

"Let's hope that the new marines won't be as corrupt or cowardly as this mouse. Next time this village gets attacked, I won't be able to defend for you guys." Rowan looked at his shaking hands, before turning his back on the villagers. "I will be waiting at the beach on the west. I will leave right away, as soon as my demands are ready."

As Rowan walked away, the villagers felt remorse, as this is all they can do to help Rowan. He freed them from Arlong's reign, and wiped clean the corrupt marines, for them. Yet, all they can do, is a small providence to prepare his escape. It was all because they were powerless.

"*Huff* *Huff* What happened??" Nojiko, who just arrived from the distant mikan grove after someone told her of the commotion, asked.

"Rowan..."

"He killed Nezumi." The villagers answered.

"What?! Why has he done that!!" Nojiko said in horror. "Where is he now?!"

"At the west beach. We are to bring him a boat and rations; he will leave swiftly." Another replied.

Without asking any longer, Nojiko sprint towards the said location.

'That idiot!!' Nojiko bit her lips as she ran.