Chapter Three: What She Left Behind

As Rayleigh had gone back to talking with the Strawhats, Aya thought about her father. He was a great man in her eyes and a loving father to her and her older sister. He was an amazing mapmaker nowadays; the perfect navigator of the Grand Line. She remembered how she always stayed in his office with him; learning about maps, the Grand Line, everything he could teach her. There was one map though, that her father had, that she was never allowed to see.

This map was one I made of the second half of the Grand Line when I sailed with my Captain. I made a vow to never let anyone see it and that includes you, little missy. Her father told her when she first stumbled upon it. She had a feeling of what was on it, no, she knew it was on that map the moment he said it was from the days he was a pirate.

She was slightly relieved that Rayleigh promised to talk with her father once he was finished helping the Strawhats. She agreed that was fine because the Strawhats were here first. She looked over at Rayleigh when she noticed him standing up.

"Rayleigh-san, I have a question…!"

Aya looked over to her left were most of the Strawhat crew was to see who said that. She noticed the woman known as Nico Robin standing up.

"What exactly is the 'Will of D'…?" She asked. Now, that got Aya's attention. Her father mentioned of it a couple of times before she left her home. She listened intently as Robin continued.

"On the Poneglyth in the Sky Islands, I found a note in the old script… And it bore Roger's name. How was he able to use that writing?" Before Rayleigh could say anything, Robin quoted the words Roger left behind.

"I have come here, and will lead this passage to the very end. Pirate, Gol D. Roger." Robin leaned forward a little.

"Is it possible that you people know just what happened to the world during the 'Blank Century' nine hundred years ago?"

Rayleigh was quite for a second. Aya looked up at him as she quietly took a sip of her drink. She knew the answer he would give Robin. Her father the same kind of answer, Sure, I know. But we didn't understand and I don't think you'll be able to understand it either right now, little missy.

Aya completely zoned out as Rayleigh was giving his answer to Robin.

Little missy… Aya wondered why her father always called her that up until the day she decided to leave. She knew her father wouldn't want to hear from her, he made it clear that her choice to leave would make her no longer welcomed back home.

"Here…!" A rather large man threw a large sack full of Berri at an eighteen year old Aya. She looked up at him slightly confused.

"We may not approve of your decision, but I won't just let you leave without some type of support." He said as he crossed his arms.

"I… Thank you, papa." She muttered as she tied the sack to her belt on her hip. She looked him in the eyes with respect. "I'm sorry, but I just couldn't accept the offer with the Marines, it's not my dream."

"You're killing your mother with this stupid choice."

"You were one too, papa!"

"That's in the past. You of all people know how much your mother hates them." He kept a calm voice, never raising it.

"You of all people should know I can't be a Marine."

"You would make a fine one if you would just listen to your mother. Your sister is finally going to be joining them next month." Aya snorted at this.

"Don't compare me with her. We're nothing alike." Aya turned away from him and proceeded to walk out the front door.

"Just remember, Aya, once you leave this island… You are no longer a part of this family, there is no coming back."

Aya never stopped walking away, never once looked back. She knew that she didn't have to heart to look back at him.

"USOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPP!" Aya heard Luffy yell as remembered her surroundings.

"We are not asking him where the treasure is hidden! We're not even asking him whether there is any treasure or not! I'm not sure, but… everybody set out to sea, risking their lives to search for it!" Luffy continued to yell as he stood up with one foot firmly on the counter.

"If you ask this old man anything about it here and now… Then I'll quit being a Pirate!" Aya couldn't help but smile a little at this as his crew mates looked at him slightly shocked.

"I don't want to go on a boring adventure like that!"

He sure is something out of the norm… Aya thought as her smile widened a bit. She heard the long nosed male, which she assumed is Usopp, proceed to apologize and talk gibberish and Shakky laughed at him.

"Can you really do this…? The Grand Line is just going to keep on surpassing your wildest imaginations! And the enemies will be strong. Can you really conquer this ultimate ocean?" Rayleigh questioned Luffy as he looked at the boy.

"I don't want to conquer anything; I just think the guy with the most freedom in this ocean is the Pirate King!" Luffy responded with a huge grin. Aya was starting to really like this guy. He had an interesting way about viewing things that just contradicted many things.

"Is that right…" she heard Rayleigh whisper.

"I think I really am becoming a big fan of yours, monkey-chan." Aya stifled a laugh at hearing the woman, Shakky, call Luffy a monkey. Aya could see why she would call him that too.

"Your ship… Is over at Grove 41, right?" Rayleigh made his way to the front door of the bar. "I'll go and handle that myself. What about you guys? There may be an Admiral here on the island already, you know."

Aya finished her drink as she heard the Strawhats plan what they were going to do. She couldn't care what they did while an Admiral was here, as long as they didn't get her caught with them. She thought it would be best of her to just stay here in Shakky's bar until the cost was clear. Plus, she still had questions to ask Shakky. Most of which involved a certain Supernova.

She heard everyone follow Rayleigh out the door while still talking with him. Most likely about the time it took to get their ship coated, though, she would never have to worry about that unless she wanted to visit Fishman Island. She could always fly to where she wanted to go.

Shakky and that mermaid came back inside shortly afterwards. The Strawhats must've already descended the stairs in front of the bar.

"So, how can I help you, Aya-chan?" Shakky asked as she poured more alcohol into Aya's empty glass. Aya looked up at her with a calm expression.

"Mmm… Just need a little more info on the Supernova, Trafalgar Law." She answered as she picked up her glass and took a sip.

"Why him?" Shakky asked curiously with a smile on her face as she lit up another cigarette.

Aya gave her a lazy smile.

"His ability interests me."




As soon as she heard an explosion, Aya ran out of the bar in the middle of her conversation with Shakky. The explosion had faintly reached her ears, which meant something was wrong. She knew full well that the Strawhats must be in trouble, but with whom? Surely, it couldn't be the Admiral already.

Aya could hear a battle going on as she finished running down the flight of stairs. She didn't really know what she was doing or even how long they were already fighting. She didn't know if she would even be of help to them when she got to them. She's not that strong and very limited with her array of drawings right now.

She decided she needed to draw more if and when she gets out of all this mayhem on this island.

"What the…" She finished her sentence as looked at the scene before her eyes. The Strawhats were getting defeated by the Shichibukai Kuma, but why is he using his actual ability? He never once used his actual ability earlier when she escaped with Law, just what was happening? Then there was Sentomaru, who she knew was Vegapunk's bodyguard and in command of the Science Unit, the Admiral known as Kizaru and finally, Rayleigh fighting. Aya couldn't think straight. There were too many powerful big shots fighting in one area.

Aya dashed behind a nearby tree for cover, she couldn't be seen by the enemy just yet. She'll be of more help by catching the enemies off guard. Too bad she couldn't do anything for them as she flipped through the pages of her book. The Strawhat crew was doomed to be separated the moment she realized what Kuma was doing. Using his ability rather than finishing off the Strawhats; he was sparing them from the wrath of Admiral Kizaru.

"N-n-no…" Aya's eyes widened as she peered behind her hiding spot. What was she to do? She didn't know; she just wanted to help Luffy and his crew! They didn't deserve this just yet. They seemed like good people to her. She kept her eyes on Kuma in fear, her relaxed façade no longer there. She gripped her black book tightly in her hands. This isn't happening… She thought frantically.

All too fast, the Strawhat crew disappeared one by one. Where Kuma was sending them was anyone's guess at this point. This method of saving them was still terrifying to Aya. Just seeing how easy it was for the Shichibukai tear apart such a close crew was daunting.

Aya couldn't handle it; the fear.

And like a coward…

She ran.