Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Shanks rub his forehead hearing how Yuuto introduce himself in his own ridiculous ways. How can you expect for someone to call you 'old man' when your look clearly says that you're about the same age as them or younger, even he will be hard to believe if Rayleigh didn't show a picture of Yuuto and kid Roger way back in the ship as a sort of pity revenge on his captain.

As he look up expecting that both of them flick a middle finger at Yuuto for his ridiculous claim of being Roger dad. Crocodile choke on is cigarette and look at Yuuto in surprise and disbelieve, pointing his finger at him

"Y-You're his BOYFRIEND!!!???" the silent after that question is fire was so quiet and loud at the same time for a moment, Bullet look to his side and wonder what this guy is talking about, but the rest that got a gist of what he meant by that and start wheezing uncontrollably, unable to hold back their laughter

"…" A tiny vein pop up at side of Yuuto forehead hearing what the brat in front of him said that. Like a gust of wind, Yuuto disappear from his spot and in an instant his shoe is right infront of Crocodile face

*BAM*

He Spartan kick Crocodile right on his face and leaving a footprint on his face. Due to the impact, Crocodile got send flying but quickly turn his body to sand and stabilize himself before standing back up, rubbing the place Yuuto kick with his hand and look at Yuuto as he's being wronged

"What was that for?" he growl, dissatisfied with suddenly being kick in the face

"… I'm as straight as a stick can be and you dare accuse this venerable me is into that crea-*ahem* Your 'Mother'?" Yuuto raise his high to the sky and look down at Crocodile in arrogance and disdain clear in his eye

Crocodile is stunt for a while before calming himself by taking a long puff of his cigar that miraculously safe from being smack and groan silently clearly not satisfy being associate with this 'Mother' that Yuuto mention

" How are you?" Crocodile ask as he look directly into Yuuto purple eye

"Don't you know it's rude to ask a gentleman their age" His previous expression is gone as he smile happily answering the question

"*Groan* You're both the same" Crocodile rub his forehead and continue " I don't know if you already know or not but in Kamabakka Kingdom there are plenty statue of yours there and he also has been carrying a photo of you everywhere he goes. That's why I assume you have that kind of relationship with him, but it seem not the case." He continued " No wonder you seems familiar, But I didn't expect you to be the same person since the statue is said to be build 30+ years ago and I didn't know that you did not age at all"

Yuuto smile falter hearing what is coming from Crocodile mouth and remember the last time he visited that island is around 30 years ago, so timeline is match up. Now knowing that information he said slowly

"It seems another island need to be purified from this world"

While Yuuto is contemplating whether to purge the people living on that curse island or not he heard Bullet voice coming from behind him

"Is it true?" Bullet said, more like a statement than a question as he stare blankly at Yuuto " Is it true that you're his 'Father'?"

"…."

"He died…. He died before he can even fulfill his promise to me. He promise that before I can win against him he will not die, and yet…. He died just like that" Bullet head is hanging low as shadow covering his face and only a linier line of smoke escape the darkness. Buggy hearing the emotional voice of his former comrade has tear welling up in his eye and sob silently, he still didn't fully accept that his former captain that is so formidable in the battlefield to leave them so early

Shanks cover his face with his strawhat unwilling to show his emotion, although it's been months since his departure, it can clearly been seen that the youngers member in the crew is still trying to accept their captain death and it's still a touching subject for them

" If you are truly his ' father' as you said, didn't you feel anything when you heard the news when he is being executed?" Bullet continue in empty voice " You are strong,I don't know how strong you are and I can' make comparison to what level is your strength is. Can't you just storm there head on to save him?"

"When I found out that he's dying on an incurable illness from Crocus I left the crew. I left the crew not because I disdain him or anything similar like that. No, I left him in search all around the blue to find a cure, a cure to his illness" Bullet lift his head looking at the clear blue sky above him, it's suppose to be a clear sunny day but a single streak of water is falling down from his cheeks down to his scar on his neck

"I visited every island that is famous for their skill in medicine, even going as far as visited a quack just to find a hope, a hope that I may find a cure to him and it's not like I doubt Crocus skill, I just to find an alternative. But the very moment I describe his condition they shake their head and said they didn't know what to do and some didn't even know that type of sickness exist" Buggy already burst in tear by now

" Years...… I've been searching for years to find a cure for in every corner of the blues but to no avail. Just when I ready to give up and go back to him, to at least stay at the last year of his life beside him, I found out that he's already being executed" his fist tighten remembering the day he heard the news, the agony he felt during that time is being unleash on the island he was on. He calmed himself before continuing

" Do you know?" He lower his head and look at Yuuto in the eye " In all my life I've been rejected, rejected by my parents, rejected by my comrade, rejected by the person that I trust the most and a father figure to me when I grew up, even being betray by my own home country...… I sail to the sea in my solace and goal for being the strongest and I want to be the strongest so I didn't have to depend on anyone for my survival, I don't need any friends, I don't need any comrade. I just need to survive, and the only thing I know for me to live on is by fighting... the only thing that is being teach to me" During the whole time Yuuto just stay silent and listen quietly

" I search for the strongest man and challenge him to prove my worth in existence. But the man didn't put any effort in defeating me and overwhelm me with his brute strength alone, something that I put my pride on. I expect to be killed, but to my surprise it's not death that welcome me, he only said one sentence that change my life ' You're strong, I'll take one you anytime Bullet. How about you join my crew' he said with the maniac grin on his face

And for the first time I feel welcome.The short time I'm in that ship is the most enjoyable and thrilling time I have in all my years of living"

" And right now? I can't even said a proper goodbye to the man that change my life, the man that gave me back my believe in relationship. Hearing his death making me go in blind rage, as the man that I greatly admired, the man that I respect, the man that I call my captain is gone forever... If it effect me this much just by being with him for a few short years making me this despair, how can you not be affected by it? Why cant you rush to save him? Did he not even mean anything to you?" Bullet said slowly, his voice didn't contain any anger in it or It's just that he didn't know how to feel right now after releasing all his bottle up emotion

Yuuto was silent, standing there in front of Bullet with one hand in his pocket and the other holding his cigar watching the emotional distraught Bullet. After a moment he take a puff before exhaling a mouthful of smoke and he...…

[As I already explain, This is AU. So expect this type of change in character from time to time.

If you like this story so far please save it to your Library and leave some leftover power stone

And can I get some GOOOD Marvel or Dc fanfic Recommendation? Doesn't matter what's the tag as long as it's not "TRAGEDY", "BL" and similar tag to those

New volume start on chapter 24, I originally plan to finish it with this chapter but my OCD will start to bother me if I start it with odd number of chapter]