White roses bloom as spring gives way to summer, then wither after the rainy season, leaving only fallen petals and dead leaves scattered across the ground.
As if reminding us to seize the chance at happiness, and not let it slip away without a second thought...
Twelve years ago, he rescued a soft-spoken little girl from pirates. She was timid and shy around strangers, yet she found the courage to grab his cloak and, cheeks flushed, ask him to take her with him, no matter what.
"I'm good at brewing wine. Please believe me."
Her slender fingertips trembled. He had never seen a gaze so ardent, like that of a lone traveler who had finally found the light.
She began learning navigation, camping, cooking, and marksmanship. Life at sea was far more dangerous, yet freer, than life on land. As the seasons turned, soaked in the smoke of gunfire, her tender feelings grew deeper and deeper.
When the first blush of spring sakura fell, she had grown into a pure, flawless flower under his careful protection. Even when a barmaid's familiar scent of tobacco clung to him, she still thought she was different. Beatrice smiled faintly, rose on tiptoe, and kissed his thin lips, heedless of everything. Something began to spill desperately from her eyes.
"From the moment you put down your rifle and slowly came closer to me, you became my whole world."
Beckman lowered his eyes, feeling the rationality he had always prided himself on peel away layer by layer. Though he didn't want to admit it, his heart had already begun to waver...
1. The story begins in Foosha Village twelve years ago. The canon plot will be kept where appropriate, but everything else is original. Please read on only if you're okay with that.
2. I'll adjust any illogical plot points to match Oda's canon as needed.
3. Please leave comments rationally. I won't accept excessively malicious criticism.
Theme: Liking someone is meeting your match; love is willingly admitting defeat
Big, update oooooooooooo