Bye Bye

"Finally" Seth said looking at the vast sea before him. Near him was a small boat and a sack full of supplies. It won't be like the last time, when he had neither food nor direction. He would be lying if he said he wasn't afraid but he was confident enough that he could tackle any problem that may come his way.

"Are you sure you want to go?" Makino voiced out her concern.

"What are you saying Makino? Young'uns need to explore the world." Uncle Johnny appreciated Seth's decision.

The entire town had assembled today to bid Seth goodbye. There was a strange mixture of feelings in the crowd. Some were sad because they didn't want one of their heroes to leave them while the others were happy that the boy was starting his adventure. But amidst all of them, one person was seriously angry. It was Woop Slap, the mayor.

"What is with the young generation nowadays. Everyone wants to become a pirate. The two heroes of the village, both wanting to become pirates."

"Now, now. At least send him off with a smile."

Uncle Johnny tried to sooth the grumpy old mayor.

Seth looked back. It was time to set off. But Luffy was nowhere to send him off.

Then Seth bowed down to everyone "Thank you. Thank you for saving my life and taking care of me all this time."

"You don't have say. You are one of us. Like our little brother."

Seth wiped the tears, which dripped down cheeks. "I should go." he said as he got into the boat.

"You should take care of yourself. I wish you make a lot of friends and have fun" Makino wished.

"Don't tarnish the name of our village" Woop Slap shouted.

"Okay" Seth smiled ironically. He knew that there is no way he could become a pirate without being targeted by Marines.

Then using the oars, he sailed the boats into the water.

"Remember, this will always be your home. Come back again."

"Have a great journey."

"Become a famous pirate."

Seth waved back as he sailed into sea. Slowly by slowly, he sailed far away from the land. He could barely see the village now.

He looked at the skies, remembering the day he first arrived here. He was dying, had lost all hopes, and then a sound of the cawing crow made him feel hopeful again. From then, he desperately sailed and swam to the shore.

And now a month has passed. During all this time, he had worked, trained and practised with Luffy daily. At first, he lost but soon he was able to grasp the intricacies of combat. The last few days, he fought Luffy without relying on the abilities of the devil fruit. The only disappointment he had was that he had no idea how to harness his Haki abilities. There was no one from whom he could get an idea on how to use Haki. He first tried following the anime but it seems there is much more to it. Later, he devised new techniques to unlock and learn haki.

For Conqueror's, he captured a rabbit and tried to knock it out using his will. But no matter how much he tried, there was no result. He tried meditation in hopes that it may help him get a grip on his will but even after a month, there is only failure to show.

For Armament, he tried exercising his body and punch trees while trying to coat his body with haki. But this exercise too showed little progress.

For Observation, he tried hitting painted targets with his feathers while being blindfolded. This was the only department where he can see some positive result. Although not at the level to be proud. Maybe the nature of his devil fruit had something to do with it but he wasn't sure of it.

Still, he had full confidence now that he could beat anyone in the East Blue all by himself.

-:- Flashback -:-

The day before he left for journey, he had a duel with Luffy. Without even using his devil fruit powers, the fight had been going at it for half an hour, the final result being a draw.

Seth laid on the grass, huffing. This was something he would always to relax after a fight.

Luffy was also doing the same, laying beside him.

"I am leaving tomorrow morning"

Luffy looked at Seth "Why not come with me?"

"No. I want to make my own adventures and be a great pirate" Although it was the greatest pleasure for a One Piece fan to journey with the Straw Hats. But having stayed here for a month now, Seth had decided that he wanted to write his own journey, a journey with him as the captain.

"Okay"

"Are you not scared that I may become the Pirate King?"

"No, I will become the Pirate King" There was not a shred of doubt in Luffy's conviction.

Seth, who saw that expression, was glad.

"You know, I just wanted to have some fun. But if I have to name a dream" Seth looked at his hand as if trying to feel the power he held "I want to become strong. So strong that I won't feel helpless anymore."

Luffy sat holding out his fist.

Seth knew what it meant. He sat and bumped his fist into Luffy's.

"Let's both become great pirates. The next we meet, it will be on the sea" Luffy seriously said.

"No. Next time, we will meet on the Grand Line" Seth replied aloud.

Both the boys looked at each other. The conviction they both held, they both understood.

This was the farewell.

-:- Flashback End -:-

"He really didn't come after all" Seth said as he laughed.

The boat sailed into the horizon. This was the start of the adventure of the boy who goes on to become the strongest pirate in the world.

-:- Scene Change -:-

Somewhere in the seas. In a dark room, a boy was chained to a chair while his hands were locked by strange handcuffs. His face was swollen with bruises, his hair messed up and his shirt had turned red with his blood. One of his legs bore a fresh gun wound and blood dripped down onto the floor creating a puddle. The fat man standing beside him, looked annoyingly at the boy as he stamped on the injured leg but the boy silently endured the pain, not allowing a shred of his emotions on his face. Only his eyes looked at the fat man, clearly reflecting the rage he held within.

But seeing the prideful expression on the boy's face, the fat man grew mad "What the hell is with that expression? I will break your pride."

He kicked the boy on his chest before angrily coming out of the cell.

"Che-! If it was not for his special devil fruit powers, I would have killed him a long time ago" He looked at his sub-ordinates "Torture him. I don't care if you have break him down, as long as he is alive I will allow it. His devil fruit power is special. I want it."

Greed of a human knows no bound. It is sad but it is true. The more you get the more you want.

And especially when the other person has something rare and extravagant.