Ch.35 Ship's Caretaker

．．．．．．．．．

　　Inside the dark brig, Rei who could barely move finaly rested his back on the wall. He noticed the ships still sailed on its course even at night. At some points he saw a figure sneaking up from the stairs ahead.

　　'Koby? What's he doing here?' Rei thought as he noticed the awkward teenage boy from the day sneaking closer to him while bringing a half eaten bread and another bottle of water with him.

　　After making sure he wasn't being followed, Koby squated right in front of the dark brig. He let out a sigh of relief and put the bread and bottle of water behind the iron bars.

　"He, hey! Are you awake? I got bread and water here!" Whispered Koby.

　After some time passed, Koby whispered once more quite louder, "Hey... are you there? I brou.... HIII.... humpppfh."

　Koby almost screamed out loud as he saw a white head with flowing white hair suddenly came closer from inside the dark room! Thankfully he managed to covered his mouth in time!

　He witnessed the white figure took the bread and water bottle with him, soon after the figure sat just right besides the iron bar and leaned on it.

　"Thanks...." Faintly Koby heard the figure says his gratitude.

　'Gulp, gulp, gulp.....'

　Hearing the white figure drinking the water, Koby let go of his mouth and said awkwardly, "it, its no problem, hehe, hehehe."

　Within the dim light, Koby tried to make out the white figure's shape, he was a skinny man with white skin, overflowing long white hair and also 2 protruding small horns on his forehead. Koby almost couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the last feature of the man locked inside.

　"E, excuse me...." Koby stammered as he called the white figure inside.

　"Hmm...?" Rei responded simply.

　"I, is that horns? On your head?"

　Rei chuckled a little, then he moved his head closer so Koby could reached it.

　"Touch it..." Said Rei.

　"Huh? No, no way! It's not good to touch someone's head!"

　"Hahahaha, you're funny, boy." Rei chuckled

　After he finished his meal, Rei leaned on the cold iron bar, Koby could hear the former sighed and couldn't resist to ask,

　"So, who are you?"

　Raising his eyebrow, Rei turned his head towards Koby. He asked, "You don't know me?"

　Koby tilted his head in question, "Um, should i know you?"

　"No, not realy..." Rei chuckled.

　"Are you famous? I mean, the pirates are locking you up in here..."

　"I don't know." Rei shrugged his shoulder and asked back, "And you? You doesn't looks like pirate at all, why are you here?"

　Koby sighed as he answered, "I'm not a pirate..."

　"Is that so? Then why are you helping me?" Rei was pretty sure Koby didn't knew about him as 'White Ghost'.

　Because if he knew, Rei might have some suspicion regarding his intentions. However, seeing the teenage boy genuine lack of knowledge, He was confused as for why Koby would helped him out of his predicament.

　　Koby didn't thought as much and answered, "...because you were dehydrated, and i, i'm sure you won't last another night without water."

　 "Thanks, but..."

　"..but?" Koby tilted his head slightly.

　"...When you helped me, doesn't it cross your mind if i'm being locked in here because i'm dangerous? Or criminal?" Rei smiled faintly.

　Koby shook his head and said, "It doesn't matter, i will still help you even if you are a criminal."

　Rei was stunned hearing that from the teenage boy across the iron bar, he couldn't help but asked, "Why?"

　"You were dying! I can't turn blind eyes when i see someone needed help. May, maybe because i'm timid. But, even if you're criminal, you need to be alive so the court can judge you of your crimes!"

　Hearing Koby's earnest answers, Rei couldn't help but picked up his interest towards the timid teenage boy besides him.

　Rei who knew about Onepiece Manga and Anime beforehand, actualy knew about what would happened to this oblivous and timid teenage boy in the future. Nevertheless, reading about him and meeting him were two different concepts alltogether!

　"I see, how weird. You actualy have great sense of justice..." Rei said.

　"I, i actualy wants to become a marine..." Koby blurted out without thinking, and immediately covered his mouth.

　Rei smiled and said, "No one here, don't worry." then he continue to ask, "...To become marine? Why?"

　Koby was silent for quite while, then he sighed and said, "Because a lot of people suffered from this 'Great Pirate Age'. I know that I'm softhearted and timid, but i like to help people. Seeing the people getting opressed by the criminals, i could only gritted my teeth!"

　"So, for your goal, you want to become marine?"

　Koby nodded and smiled wryly, "I know i'm weak, so i need strength, and i think marine can help me with that. Thats why i want to become one!"

　Rei could see Koby's eyes gleamed with determination slightly at the end of his sentences, he smiled and said, "that's good dream. however, theres a lot of bad marine too you know?"

　Koby didn't denied Rei's words, he nodded and replied back, "I know, that's why. When i become marine, i will, i will....."

　"....Will?" Rei tilted his head in amusement.

　".....I WILL BECOME A MARINE ADMIRAL!" Shouted Koby loudly, as he stood and clenched his fist, giving Rei a shock.

　"ah...." Koby suddenly realized what he had said and stared nervously at Rei whom stares him back with a smirk.

　Both of them kept their silence while locking their eyes for quite a long time, Koby began to prespirate heavily! Fearing his voice would be heard by the pirates!

　Thankfully, after Rei made sure there was no voice coming, he said, "...Seems like everyone fell asleep."

　Koby let out a sigh of relief, "...Yeah, fortunately we are far from the bridge, the helmsman still awake at this time, probably."

　And yet soon after, Koby face turned red like a cooked shrimp, he covers his face while rolling on the floor!

　Seeing him, Rei called. "Koby?"

　"Uwaaaah! So embarrassing! Me and my big mouth!"

　Rei chuckled as Koby regained his calm, he scooted over and asked, "Wait, how did you know my name?"

　Rei was stunned slightly, however he replied with calm voice, "A pirate called your name in afternoon, remember?"

　Koby recalled abut that, while rubbing his head in embarassment he said, "Ah, thats right...hehe, hehehe."

　Koby raised his head and said awkwardly, "So, sorry i forgot to introduce myself, i'm Koby! and you?"

　Rei replied with faint smile, "I'm Rei, nice to meet you future Admiral..."

　"Gaaaah! Please forget about that! Damn! Me and my mouth!" Koby flailed his arms denying what Rei had said.

　"Why? Its such cool dream you know? Most people actualy doesn't even know what they wanted to be in the future."

　"Realy?"

　Rei nodded in answer, in fact Rei in his past life was one of such person.

　"He, hehe, hehehe. Thanks for the apreciation." Koby rubbed his head feeling shy.

　'Oooh, you'll be surprised if you recalled this conversation in future my dear Koby..' Rei thought and only keeping his faint smile towards the embarassed Koby.

　"So, why did you here? Claiming as no pirate while working on their ship. It's quite funny if you ask me." Rei asked.

　　At first, Koby keep silent as he stares at Rei's eyes, seeing his silvery eyes without any impure thought within. Koby sighed as he said faintly,

　　"...It's long story..."

　　Rei kept his silence as Koby began to narate his story,

　　"....I think it was almost 2 years, i once set sails from my home to fish with a small boat. However, i got lost and met with Alvida pirates. Fortunately or unfortunately, instead of killing me back then. I was forced to offer servitude and become their ship's caretaker...."

　　Koby smiled self-depreciatingly, "...So, here i am. Pretty stupid huh? I was timid and easily scared. So, i have no choice but to follow this group of Pirates, and i hate it...so, so much...sob*, sob*..."

　　At the end of his sentence, Koby began to sobs. He couldn't help it, passing 2 years by offering servitude to the group of Pirates wasn't the best years of Koby's life.

　　"Indeed. You're stupid..." Rei voice interrupted Koby's tears and made him raised his head towards the former.

　"..but you are also brave." Rei continuing his sentence.

　"How? I'm scaredycat! Why did you say i'm brave?"

　Rei turned his head towards Koby and set his eyes straight towards the former, "But you survived! You are brave! Koby, do you know an old saying?"

　"old saying?"

　 "It says like this. 'Those who survives are the Bravest'. Boy, you chose to offer servitude than dying. It means you are actualy brave enough to face the adversity! "

　　After Rei speech, both Koby and him didn't says anything else as the silence pervading the dark brig under the shade of the night.

　Rei then saw Koby stood up slowly, then he heard the later voice came along seemingly holding back his emotion,

　　"Thanks Rei, i feel so much better..."

　　"Haha, no need for thanks, aren't we friends already?"

　　"Friend?"

　　"You don't wanna?"

　　Koby looks like he wanted to cry again, however he held it back with difficulty. Koby shook his head and smile widely, "Thanks Rei, yes we're friends!"

　Rei smiled back at the teenage boy, as he heard Koby spoke once more, "I think, we're gonna make port in 3 days. I'll be here often Rei."

　Koby turned around and left from the lower deck which the brig situated at.

　As for Rei? He bind himself back as to not rouse any suspicion from the pirates.

．．．．．．．．