How could someone like you

Know what it's like to fail

To think you're the only one,

Left to rewrite the tale.

To have to retell the legend,

You thought your life was about,

Only to be told it depends,

If the story was with you, or without.

-noelicoan

The shimmer of green hair merged with the trees, and he completely disappeared. Natsuki and Fuyuki were still able to sense him through their observational haki and followed him on silent feet.

Though Natsuki was thankful, she did wonder who taught Fuyuki how to use haki, and especially in his case, how he was so good at it. She dismissed the thought for now, but the question remained at the back of her head.

"Sir! They seem to be pirates sir!" Haruki yelled, reappearing in front of a massive man, wearing the words of justice on his back.

"Pirates?" Natsuki shivered at the man's voice. It was deep and gravelly, with willpower enough to send a man to eternal sleep.

"Yes sir!"

"Found out which ones?"

"They were talking about the seasonal pirates sir!"

"Seasonal? Do you know why?"

"Their captain, a girl wearing a fox mask said her name was Natsuki, sir!"

"Heh, Natsuki, the season of summer, eh?"

"Yes sir! Also, her first mate's name was Fuyuki, sir!"

"The season of winter... Aren't you perfect for them? You're a season yourself aren't you?"

"Though my name means the season of spring, I will never betray you, sir!"

"Good to hear Haruki. Have you found their whereabouts Haruki?"

"They were hiding in a cave sir."

"It doesn't seem to be the case anymore Haruki. They're here." Haruki immediately got into a stance, and Natsuki smirked. She looked at Fuyuki, who took out his Shepheard's stick. They walked into the marine base, which seemed temporary, looking at the white tents and marines unloading luggage from the ships.

"Natsuki, Fuyuki; captain and first mate of the seasonal pirates I presume?"

"Haven't decided on that name yet old man. Also, may we have your camouflaging soldier over there? Then we'll be on our way." Natsuki smiled under her mask.

"No way! You won't give me away, right sir?" Haruki desperately asked.

"Calm yourself Haruki. Pirate, how long have you been training?"

"For six years, though if you count my small lessons I had in my previous ship, it would be nine years."

"You surely can't be older than twenty? Or else that would mean you have been training before the age of ten!" Haruki voiced the vice admiral's desired question, or what he thought it would be.

"Yes. I'm eighteen."

"How has your training been Natsuki?"

"Want to test it?"

"Haven't had a good spar in ages! Let's see how much you've grown Natsuki!" The two people ran at each other, meeting at the middle with their fists. Both Fuyuki and Haruki were completely lost.

She attacked with shining black fists, and he blocked and parried, also using the same technique on his hands. It seemed to last forever, until the old marine officer decided to go on the offence.

He tried a right punch at her jaw, which she quickly jumped away from, but somehow got the damage; and now the officer looked to be on the winning side. Then, Natsuki slung Kusanagi in its sheath at him, coating the weapon with her haki. He caught it with both hands, and when he did so, she let go of her weapon, sending a powerful kick to his torso. She caught her katana and swung at his head as he doubled over, stopping it a mere inch away from his neck.

She offered him a hand, and he took it gladly.

Haruki was gaping at the girl, who just defeated the man he admired for many years, Fuyuki was gaping at her friendliness with the marine, as though he knew little, one of the things he did know about her, was her hatred for proud marines.

"Ojii-chan! You weren't using your full power! That's unfair!" Haruki sighed in relief. So he was just toying with her!

"You weren't either."

"Touché" Haruki's reaction was incredibly funny, I couldn't even describe it with words. "How have you been Oji-chan?"

"Same old, same old Natsuki. How's Ace and Luffy?"

"Haven't seen them in a while. What's the month?"

"December, just that it's quite warm on this island."

"Ooh, that means Ace will be leaving soon!"

"My goodness. I will not be looking forward to that..."

"Really? I would!" The two of them were talking for another few minutes, with a group of marines and one pirate staring at them.

"Vice admiral! What is the meaning of this!?" A braver soldier asked.

"Hm? What are you talking about?"

"Why haven't you captured this pirate already?"

"Why should I?"

"Because they're pirates sir!"

"May I ask you, if you have ever heard of the seasonal pirates?"

"No sir!"

"Have you ever heard of an evil rumour from them?"

"No sir."

"Have you seen them do anything bad?"

"They attacked you, sir!"

"Of course she did." His answer brought many questions to mind. "She's my granddaughter." Silence followed for a few moments.

"EEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHH!?!?!?!??!?!?!??!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!??"

Natsuki glared at Monkey D.Garp.

"Ojii-chan! You didn't have to say that! You know how I wouldn't want a bounty just because of your titles!"

"Oh, right. Everyone, forget what I just said!" The look on their faces brought even Fuyuki to smile. Natsuki looked at Fuyuki kindly. He should do that more. He looked happier, and more peaceful in general.

"Why are you here Ojii-chan?"

"There was a report that there were a group of men who were terrorising the islanders here."

"Alright. May I?"

"It would be much appreciated." Natsuki looked at Fuyuki, who made a small blizzard under their feet. The two of them flew up into the sky, and from that point, looked over the entire island. The saw a small village on the other end, and saw a trail of smoke coming from the direction, along with the sound of an explosion.

"Fuyu, go there! Quickly!" She instructed, and the small snow storm flew over the forest to a village on fire. The snow slowly but surely doused the fire, and meanwhile, Natsuki ran around the place, gathering all the men who had started the assault.

"Who are you!" One of the terrorists yelled.

"You know what, I'm not going to even correct your manners." Natsuki sighed as she gathered the last of the men, tying the last one's hands behind his back, just like she did with the others. "We're the seasonal pirates."

The marines who, ignoring Garp's order of staying away from his granddaughter, arrived by Natsuki, looked at the scene with wonder.

It was completely white, with snow still falling, the children laughing and playing with a tall man who had ice white hair, holding a long stick which had a crooked end. In another corner, there was a redheaded girl wearing a mask, lecturing a group of men at least double her age, who all had their hands tied behind them. They looked like a bunch of school kids listening to their teacher.

Haruki who was also with the other soldiers; wondered why pirates were helping them with their job. He was lost in his past, which was triggered by the thought of pirates.

All he heard were screams of his neighbours, his friends, his friend's parents, his parent's customer's. His parent's screams weren't one of them, as they were both brave people, his father fighting pirates, his mother guiding the screaming people away from the danger.

Another hour later, after hiding under his bed, he heard the door being kicked open, and a bunch of men walked in. He became an even smaller ball, crying softly into his knees.

"So this is the house of that bastard and that bitch! Those two caused some trouble for us! Well, at least we can have fun with the woman." The man slurred, popping open a bottle of beer with his teeth, and spitting the top onto the floor.

"Sex with a dead woman? You sure do stand for your name of the Necrophiliac pirate!" One of the pirates said to their captain.

Though having no idea what the words they said meant, the way they said it disgusted the four-year-old boy. He tried to slid away from the room, over to the window, but his clumsiness only did him bad.

"Oi! What's there!?"

"It's a boy!"

"Do you think it's that bitch's son!? Ooh! What a sight it would be for the poor poor boy!" The captain said with a voice dripping with falseness.

"Let's show them to him boss! His reaction should be worth watching!" One of the subordinates suggested. So Haruki was dragged outside, where two people were dangling on a wooden stick.

Their heads were severed off, pierced by the tip of the stick. Both naked, and bleeding so much, that the ground beneath them was practically a red carpet. His eyes burning, bleeding, blurring so much, he stared at the corpses of his parents, his soul sucked away at the sight.

The howls and yowls of laughter from the pirates combined with the gruesome sight churned in his mind, brewing the perfect combination of trauma.

"-ki! -aruki!! Haruki!!! Wake up! Haruki!" He awoke from his daze, staring at a woman with porcelain skin and dark blue eyes.

"Mother?" He asked, but when red hair came into view, he dismissed the thought.

"Are you alright Haruki?" The woman asked, and he nodded groggily.

"How do you know my name?"

"What? Oh, my mask is off!" She got out a familiar fox mask, slid it in front of her face, and everything clicked.

"Natsuki-san!?"

"Yes, it is moi." She joked, taking her mask off again. What came to his eyes first was her small tattoo. It could be no larger than a coin, but it was still there. He couldn't describe why, but he felt it had quite a great significance. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, thank you. Just some memories."

"I understand." The single comment she made boiled his nerves.

"What would you know! I bet you're some girl who doesn't know pain! Who's been protected by her grandfather her whole life! Who doesn't know what it feels like to be powerless! Who hasn't seen a loved one die! Who doesn't know how much it takes to hate someone so much!!! How can you, much less imagine, than understand, how I feel like!"

"What would you-" Fuyuki started, but Natsuki stopped him with a wave of her hand. She looked at Garp, who nodded solemnly. She held Haruki's arm, and disappeared in a yellow streak.