章節 9: Separation
Cherry made her preparations for her surprise party with Raven and the next day set out for the Thorn Wood extra early.
As she expected, she found Raven fast asleep on the couch when she reached their hideout.
Cherry quietly began to set up the decorations and got into position to wait for Raven to rouse from her slumber.
When Raven's eyes began to flutter awake, Cherry pulled the string on her super, extra, jumbo confetti bomb.
Colorful scraps of paper filled the clearing instantly. Unfortunately the sound, that was akin to a cannon, triggered a deep rooted survival instinct in the half asleep Raven's psyche.
Her eyes locked onto the human shaped silhouette amongst the confetti and she crossed her arms in front of her.
"CLUTCH!"
"SURPRI- ATATATATATA!" Cherry felt hands grasp her face from nowhere and yank back, causing her spine to bend backwards in an arch.
Although it was pretty painful, Cherry was at least flexible enough that nothing broke.
Raven, upon regaining her wits and seeing who she had just attacked, released Cherry from the grip of her Devil Fruit ability and hurried to check on her.
"Are you alright, Cherry?! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to! I was just startled I really didn't mean it!" Raven rambled while her mind was a maelstrom of emotional turmoil.
Worry that Cherry had been hurt. Guilt that she was the cause of it. Fear that Cherry would think she is a monster. Grief over what the sound reminded her of. Even a little anger that Cherry had taken a joke this far.
However, she started to calm down when she saw the goofy, excited smile and the sparkling eyes on Cherry's face.
Raven sighed in relief. "Of course you're alright, you freak of nature. What was I even worried about."
While the two girls laughed at the absurd situation, Cherry was inwardly scolding herself. 'Of course it was a devil fruit, you ding bat! How did you not figure that out before now?!' She was naturally referring to the 'heart inscription' she had spent all this time studying.
Raven looked around at the decorations with curiosity and saw a huge banner with the words 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY!' written on it.
"It's not my birthday, you know?" Raven stated quizzically.
"It is MY birthday though. And since I don't know YOUR birthday, I decided we could celebrate both today!" Cherry said proudly.
Raven felt tears coming to her eyes. She wanted to tell Cherry everything about herself, but she couldn't. 'That would put Cherry in danger, I can't do that.' She told herself.
Raven thought she had stayed here too long. She was too comfortable here, too happy. She didn't want to leave, but the longer she stayed, the more she risked being found and causing trouble for Cherry.
She resolved herself. 'I'll tell her I'm leaving within the week. Just a few more days, that's enough for me.'
The girls enjoyed the party Cherry had planned out. They ate the fancy cake Cherry bought and sipped the wine that she snagged from Grandma Angela's private collection.
Cherry also gave a gift to Raven. A rare history book. Raven had read it before, in the library of Ohara. It was a gift she would cherish fondly.
They spent the rest of the morning messing around with Raven's devil fruit ability, much to Cherry's delight. Though it took a fair bit of pestering until Raven relented.
Before they knew it, it was Noon and time for Cherry to go home before her birthday celebration at the dojo. She didn't want Grandma Angela to worry and come looking for her after all.
Cherry worked her way out of the Thorn Wood, ran across the fields and pastures south toward the dojo. As she crested over the last hill she looked down to see the dojo and the town below.
She saw something that hadn't been there in earlier this morning. A huge navy warship.
'Hmm, what's this all about?' Cherry wondered.
Cherry went down the hill towards the dojo and arrived at the front gate just in time for Commander Frowe, the marine base's highest ranked officer, come out through it.
"Oh? Hello, Young Miss Harpin." Frowe greeted.
"Hello, Commander Frowe. Is something going on, why is that navy warship here?" Cherry asked, keeping a neutral expression.
"Hmm, I suppose it could help to tell you." Frowe reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. After he unfolded it, it displayed in large print the word 'WANTED'.
"Have you ever seen this girl while you've been gallivanting around the island?" He handed the wanted poster to her.
Cherry took the poster and seemed to study it seriously. However, she didn't need more than a glance.
WANTED
DEAD OR ALIVE
NICO ROBIN
B 79,000,000 (Beri)
The picture on the poster was someone she recognized instantly, only younger. It was none other than Raven, whom she had spent about half a year with in the Thorn Wood.
"I'm sorry, Commander Frowe. I don't think I've seen her before." Cherry said handing the poster back.
"Well it was a long shot anyway. If you'll excuse me." Frowe bade farewell and began walking back to town.
Cherry made a new discovery as she watched Commander Frowe's back. In this world, killing intent does not manifest into a detectable energy.
Cherry entered the dojo and immediately started briskly walking towards the living quarters, specifically Slenk's room.
"Cherry, where have you been all morning? Your party may be in the afternoon, but that doesn't mean you should run off until then." Grandma Angela called out to her.
When Cherry ignored her, which was rather out of character, she thought something might be wrong and rushed ahead to stand in front of her. "Cherry, is something wro-" She nearly choked on her words when her eyes met Cherry's.
For the first time, Grandma Angela saw a resemblance to herself in Cherry, in those eyes.
She saw the eyes she saw in her reflection after her dearest husband had died. They were eyes filled with indescribable pain, grief, and above all else; rage.
Cherry averted her gaze and walked passed her grandmother.
Pieces of a puzzle Grandma Angela didn't know was a puzzle started to come together in her mind as she stood in stunned silence.
Meanwhile, Cherry found Slenk's room and barged in with no regard to his privacy. Slenk was inside perusing his 'stash' and squealed in fright when Cherry barged in.
"Neptune's beard, Cherry! What are you doing barging in on a man's private sanctum?!" Slenk questioned with indignation.
Seeing that Cherry didn't respond and instead began rooting through his things, he felt something was off. He didn't know what she was up to, but he wasn't stupid enough to get in Cherry's way if she was acting in such a way.
After stuffing her loot into her bag, Cherry left without a word. Slenk scratched his in confusion, but ultimately just resigned to asking Cherry about it later after she calmed down.
When Cherry exited the living quarters, Grandma Angela was waiting for her. Cherry saw a sad smile on her face and a look of understanding. Cherry felt a tinge of guilt prick her heart and ran over to hug the old woman.
"I'll be back soon..." Cherry said with a shaking voice.
"I'll be waiting. Good luck." Grandma Angela patted Cherry's back. "Hurry now, you don't have much time."
Cherry broke away, muttered a quick "Thank you" before dashing away, leaping over the north wall of the dojo with her Traceless Steps in full swing.
章節 10: The Escape
Nico Robin laid in the grass on her back, staring blankly at the canopy above.
'I couldn't say it today. I just need to do it and get it over with...' She sighed.
A rustle from the bushes drew her attention and she sat up on guard, knowing Cherry shouldn't come back today. However, it actually was Cherry contrary to her expectations.
"Did you forget something, Cherry?" Robin asked, but she sensed something was off. Cherry had a serious expression with furrowed brows, a look she'd never seen her have before.
"Nico Robin." Cherry spoke.
Robin froze and her eyes shook. 'She knows my real name.' Contradicting thoughts swirled around her mind. 'Am I going to be sold out again? No, Cherry wouldn't do that. But why wouldn't she, everyone else has? No, this is Cherry, she's different!'
While Robin's mind was going in circles, unable to decide whether she could truly trust Cherry, Cherry spoke once more.
"Part of me hoped it was just a weird coincidence, but I knew deep down it wasn't." Cherry sighed and scratched her head. Then she looked at Robin with a firm resolve.
"A navy warship came to the island looking for you. The marines are scouring the island at this very moment, leaving no stone unturned. We don't have much time." Cherry set down her backpack and started taking things out one by one.
Noticing that the older girl was still frozen in confusion, she shouted "Robin!"
Robin started from the shout.
"Can your devil fruit power also reproduce your hair?" Cherry asked calmly. Robin nodded and spoke "It can, but why?"
Cherry gave a devilish grin. "That makes things a little easier then." She said, then held up a pair of scissors and a razor.
Robin got a bad feeling, but she decided to trust Cherry.
*One make over montage later*
"Fantastic, even I don't recognize you." Cherry spoke, proud of her handy work.
In front of her stood a fit young man wearing a black leather jacket with torn off sleeves on top of a white t-shirt and tight leather pants. The leather jacket, pants, and boots were studded with small spikes. He sported a bleached blonde pompadour, side burns, and handlebar mustache. His cheek bones and chin were heavily pronounced.
"Lastly, put on these sunglasses. Although you aren't the only person with blue eyes, it's best not to leave things to chance." Cherry nodded with satisfaction. "Wrap yourself with the tarp so you don't get torn to shreds by the needles."
Robin was enlightened by this experience. Cherry's ideas on how to use her powers to alter her appearance were novel, to say the least.
After Robin wrapped herself up tight, Cherry picked her up and carried her out of the Thorn Wood. They headed to the north west side of the island towards the largest fishing village.
"What the plan, Cherry? Are we stealing a ship?" Robin asked.
"Shh! Don't speak, you'll give yourself away! No, we aren't stealing a ship, that'll tip off the marines. You're going to buy one with that gold of yours. I'll do the talking for you." Cherry led Robin into the village.
Cherry went to the docks where she found the elderly fisherman she was looking for. He had been trying to sell his fishing boat, but hasn't been able to find a buyer.
"Hey, old man! I found you a youngster from the town to buy that boat of yours!" Cherry spoke loudly, as the old man was nearly deaf.
"Ohhh, did you now? Thank you, Cherry. You're such a good girl." The old man turned his attention to the disguised Robin. "You certainly seem like a strong young lad. I can sell her to you for 1,500,000 Beri. She's a bit old, but well maintained. Just like me, Hohohoho."
"He's really shy, so I came to interpret for him. He told me he wants to set out right away on a long journey to improve his confidence. You don't mind if he pays in gold do you, old man?" Cherry relayed in a loud voice.
"That's fine, that's fine. I'm moving in with my son's family in Pebbleton, so I'll be able to exchange it then." The old man smiled, happy that his retirement was finally at hand.
The two girls finished the transaction and got the supplies Robin would need for the journey ahead of her. Robin stood on the deck and looked to the younger girl she had spent the last 6 months with, her first friend in many years.
"I-I hope we can meet again, Cherry." She said falteringly.
"Of course we'll meet again. When we do, you'd better not have been slacking in your training! I won't forgive you if you go all squishy on me!" Cherry replied, with false bravado.
Robin smiled as tears streaked down her face, catching in her fake mustache. "I won't. I'll be stronger than ever, promise!" Not able to bear it, she untied the boat from the dock and set sail.
The girls waved farewell to one another and as Robin's ship drifted beyond the horizon, Cherry made a new discovery.
'This world is such a strange place, especially when it comes to eyes. First it's sparkling eyes, then it's flaming eyes, and now water, of all things, is pouring out of my eyes.'
...
Cherry arrived back at the dojo long after sunset. She had needed some time to sort her feelings out.
When she opened the gate and walked inside, she found Grandma Angela fast asleep sitting on a chair in the courtyard facing the gate.
Cherry went to her room, got changed into normal clothes, then went back outside with a chair in hand. She set the chair down right next to Grandma Angela's, sat down, and went to sleep leaning against her grandmother.
When Cherry woke up in the morning, she was in her own bed. 'I guess all the excitement really took it out of me, I didn't even notice I was moved.'
She went to the dining room where she found breakfast waiting for her, along with Grandma Angela.
"You could have woken me up, silly girl." Grandma Angela said, giving a gentle smile.
After breakfast, Grandma Angela insisted on going into town to celebrate Cherry's birthday. When they left the house, they ran into Slenk in the courtyard.
"There you are, Cherry. Where's are the things you, uh, borrowed from me?" He asked.
"Hm? Which things? The clothes, the hair care products, or the erotic books?" Cherry asked, wearing her best attempt at an 'innocent' smile.
Slenk froze in fear as his eyes drifted to Grandma Angela.
"What have you been corrupting my granddaughter with, disciple?" Grandma Angela spoke slowly, enunciating every syllable.
"I-it's just a joke, right Cherry?!" Slenk looked to Cherry pleadingly.
Cherry winked with the eye Grandma Angela couldn't see. "Grandma, what does it mean when two women [CENSORED]?" Slenk's hopes were expertly dashed and he sunk to depths of despair.
Not just because Cherry had just signed his death warrant, but also because what she had just described was a particularly steamy scene from his favorite book.
"Borke!" Grandma Angela shouted.
"Yes, Master?!" Borke came bounding out from somewhere like a loyal hound.
"It's seems I've been too lenient with disciple Slenk and let him have too much privacy. Do a contraband search of his room." Grandma Angela commanded.
"Yes, Ma'am!" Borke saluted before dashing towards the disciples' living quarters. Meanwhile, Slenk had sunk lifelessly to his knees, unresponsive.
"I'll deal you later, disciple. Let's get going, Cherry. I've got a lot of plans for your special day." She took Cherry by the hand and they had a wonderful day out of the town.
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