The sun was beginning to set when the two went out the door, Luffy clinging to the young captain as if his life depended on it.
Seeing that the child wasn't going to speak anytime soon, Shanks took a deep breath and decided to begin.
"A long time ago, I was a boy, maybe a couple of years older than you," he paused and looked at Luffy as they continued walking. "Unlike you, though, I was a steward on a pirate ship, along with another boy." He paused again, memories of his old ship and crewmates swirling in his head, a soft smile playing on his lips.
The redhead pushed those thoughts aside and continued, his smile still firm: "My captain was an incredible man, Luffy, and someone I deeply admired. I wanted to be like him… Not just because of his strength, and believe me, he was strong, but because of his way of life. He was the freest man in the world, and those he considered his friends weren't just friends, they were family… I see that in you too. You're only seven years old, and I still see some similarities between the two of you."
Shanks knelt, stopped the black-haired boy, and looked him in the eye as he continued, "Luffy, I want you to know there's nothing wrong with protecting your friends. I know you don't understand what happened tonight, but please believe me when I say this... You have nothing to be ashamed of. You, a seven-year-old boy, did more to protect Makino's name than I ever did." The man lowered his head, ashamed. "And I'm a true pirate captain."
"I didn't do it just for Makino..." the seven-year-old girl said softly.
Shanks perked up at those words. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"I don't know exactly what I did, but... I also did it for you, Shanks," Luffy said.
Upon hearing those words from the young man's mouth, Shanks gasped, and for a split second, instead of Luffy, he saw his former captain. It was strange, for although he had gotten to know the boy well during his time on the island, not enough time had passed for him to know him as well as he knew Roger. Why? Why did he see him so clearly? The image of Gol D. Roger was practically superimposed behind the boy before him. Whatever that feeling meant, Shanks had already decided he would see it through to the end.
"I couldn't just stand there and watch him do that to you, Shanks, I couldn't. It made me so angry." There was a short pause before she began again, her voice trembling slightly. " Shanks... am I a bad person? I realized... that he... he was... that I killed..."
"Luffy, personally, killing someone has never kept me up at night," Shanks interrupted, seeing the spiral the boy was about to fall into. "However, I never take pride in it or enjoy it. I don't like killing, but sometimes it's necessary to protect the people and things you hold dear. So, no, Luffy... you're not a bad kid. I don't think you have what it takes to be a bad person; you're too serious... anchor," he finished, a mocking smile spreading across his face as he tried to lighten the mood.
It was one of the few times the boy managed to remain silent for more than thirty seconds, and his face made it clear that Shanks' words had hit the mark. "Shanks, what does it mean to be a pirate?" Luffy asked thoughtfully, trying to change the subject. He didn't want to think about the stupid bandit anymore.
It was an interesting question, and Shanks hadn't expected it at that moment. He thought for a second before answering honestly: "Well, Luffy, that question has many different answers, depending on who you ask. In my case, I became a pirate to have the freedom to do whatever I wanted: drink, fight, and, most importantly, pursue my dreams."
When Luffy heard the man mention freedom, he knew immediately that he wanted nothing more in the world. He wanted to sail the seas and have adventures with the people he met along the way. He wanted to make friends. He wanted to be strong, to be able to protect those friends. He wanted to be free, to do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. And finally, he decided that he wanted to be the one to find the One Piece. Not to be on top and look down on those below him, but because the Pirate King was the freest person in the world.
Slowly but surely, Luffy's resolve grew stronger, and although it would take him time to process what had happened in the bar, he had made a decision. A decision that, unbeknownst to him, would define him and shape him into the person he would one day become... He was going to live his life as he wished and protect his loved ones at any cost. He was going to be the freest person in the world. He had a dream, and he would make it a reality.
He was going to become the King of the Pirates.
With unwavering determination, the dark-haired man began to recall the bar, and now that the fear and sadness of taking a life had faded into the background in the face of this new revelation, curiosity was all that remained. "Shanks, can you tell me what happened at the bar? I still don't quite understand," Luffy asked after a moment of silence.
That's where things got complicated. How was Shanks supposed to explain the concept of haki to a seven-year-old?
"Damn it. I can't just leave it like this ," he thought. If Luffy couldn't control his Conqueror's Haki, it would surely resurface, confusing the boy even more, and with its first blast so powerful, it could certainly kill someone. Would he teach him everything?...
The man thought for a moment before deciding against it. Haki wasn't even supposed to exist outside the Grandline, and yet it was mostly found in the New World. Besides, Luffy was only seven years old, and it wasn't like he'd learned how to use weapons or observe when they left... He figured he'd have to explain Conqueror's Haki to him and help him control it. "It can't just come out accidentally ," he thought, turning his attention back to Luffy just before he spoke again.
"Oh, and what was that black thing you had on your head when you got hit earlier?" the boy asked distractedly.
'SHIT.'.
"What do you mean, my young friend? I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about," Shanks said, whistling, completely unsuspecting. At that moment, the man began to sweat. The situation was becoming more complicated than he had thought.
"LIAR!" Luffy shouted. "You never talk to me like that! You always call me anchor or brat! You're definitely hiding something, Shanks! Tell me!" the seven-year-old yelled with absolute determination. He was going to find out, even if it was the last thing he did. By now, Shanks had refused to let him become a pirate, and now he was lying to his face?
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