It was six in the morning when Luffy announced to the world that he would not be sleeping anymore. That was final.
The sun had been up for a while, though the air still carried a faint chill from the night. My favorite hour of the day for sleeping.
I shifted lazily in my hammock and cracked one eye open to count the offspring.
To my horror, my youngest child was hanging upside down, swinging gently and very nearly falling out of his hammock.
"Luffy…" I groaned, closing my eye again in the desperate hope that merciful ignorance might save me.
"I no hafta sleep no more? Pweeease," he lisped. The day before he had lost his front tooth, and the evening had been spent discussing the fascinating economics of the Tooth Fairy.
"You don't have to," I agreed.
Entirely unaware of the consequences.
His feet hit the wooden floorboards with a thump and the child was instantly ready for adventure.
Sabo grumbled something in his sleep.
Only Ace opened his eyes.
He looked at his younger brother.
Then slowly shook his head.
"You're stupid. Go back to sleep."
"But today we're sailing to get a ship!"
That.
Is how you start a storm.
The other two sprang into action instantly, as if they had completely forgotten about the trip to Centaurea until Luffy reminded them.
Ace was dressing on the run, helping the younger one pull on his shirt, while Sabo nearly tripped over himself trying to lace his boots.
All of it accompanied by enthusiastic shouting.
In short, rest was clearly over.
"But you sleep, Pebble. Why are you getting up?" Ace protested when I threw on my robe. "We'll make breakfast and call you when it's ready."
I snorted with laughter and shooed the trio downstairs, loading each of them with generous portions of meat, milk, and bread before they went.
"You'll make breakfast, yes… but first you'll burn down the house and half the forest."
"Right," I said later, once the heroic ordeal of preparing breakfast was behind us. Along with the breakfast itself.
My triumvirate sat on the edge of their seats in tense silence, waiting patiently while I finished my meal, washed it down with coffee, and lit a cigarette.
"You are the best-behaved children in the world," I announced solemnly, "and therefore I am taking you to Centaurea."
Three pairs of eyes brightened instantly.
"We'll reach the port sometime in the afternoon. First we'll have lunch, then we'll do some shopping and find a hotel."
I exhaled smoke calmly.
"And after that we'll see."
"But—" Ace began.
He didn't quite know what he wanted to say yet. The objection itself was enough. Pure instinct.
Family trait.
"Yes?"
"Wouldn't it be better to buy the ship first?" he said finally. "Someone might take it before we get there and then—"
"Yes, exactly, and then—" Sabo chimed in.
"And then we'll swim home!" Luffy announced happily, stomping his foot with excitement.
"An intriguing idea," I said, flicking ash from my cigarette with a smile.
"Sometimes I feel such a strong urge to beat you senseless, honestly…" Ace growled, glaring at my youngest offspring.
Luffy, naturally, was completely unfazed.
He bounced over to me instead, tugging cheerfully at my skirt.
"Pebble, do I still have to wead? Can I have vacation?"
"Well, my son," I said thoughtfully, "we can make a deal. Half a page of reading before we buy the boat, and half a page after we buy the boat."
I leaned down slightly.
"You may choose whichever story you like."
"But Pebble…!"
"Oh, just learn to read already, you hopeless idiot! You're seven years old!" Ace snapped, now fully awake and strangely irritable despite a very respectable breakfast.
"Give him a break," Sabo said calmly. "He learns a bit slower, but he learns. Why are you yelling?"
He glanced sideways at Ace.
"Pebble will get angry and we won't sail anywhere. And then I'll beat you myself."
"Oh Lord, thank you for the voice of reason in my flock," I sighed and kissed the top of Sabo's blond head.
"Well then, crew," I announced, clapping my hands lightly. "Prepare yourselves. We're leaving the harbor!"
We stood on the pier beside the Gift of the Blue, a passenger vessel where I had rented a luxurious cabin with three beds.
My boys fidgeted impatiently, constantly asking when the gangplank would be lowered, how far it was from Dawn to Centaurea, and sulking dramatically every time another quarter hour passed without boarding.
I sat on a wooden crate nearby, wearing an ordinary blue skirt and white blouse, hoping no one in the crowd would recognize me.
I had taken a risk and left Habanero behind in the treehouse, hidden in a large barrel to avoid curious eyes.
Centaurea was a large city, and a woman strolling through it with a legendary katana would attract far too much attention.
Besides, I expected to buy a small boat there—something modest with a tiny cabin—and I intended to pick up a few other things along the way.
"Ace, get away from there before I lose my patience. Sabo, you come over here too and don't you— LUFFY!"
Even I had to admit it was impressive how my voice transformed from calm to a full-throated snarl in under four seconds.
I stepped forward instinctively, reaching for my youngest child to pull him away from the edge of the pier.
Too late.
He fell straight into the greenish water below.
Ace didn't hesitate.
He jumped after him.
By the time I reached the edge of the pier, Ace had already hauled Luffy to the surface.
With one swift motion I pulled the coughing child onto the dock, wiping water from his eyes while glancing anxiously after Ace.
Sabo helped him climb back up.
The two of them stood there laughing like lunatics.
Around us, people stared in horror at the little accident.
Someone even offered a blanket for Luffy, which I gratefully accepted.
How much fear I had swallowed in those few seconds—well, that was my own business.
Though, to be fair, I had never expected this trip to go smoothly anyway.