One Piece:

Trek

One Piece © Oda

Story and OCs © Me

Summary- Due to what transpired on Whole Cake Island, Luffy and Aika have grown distant from each other, and what starts as a simple camping trip meant to reforge their bond turns into an adventure to find their way back to the others through a vast forest. With the Marines pursuing them, Luffy and Aika will have to work together in order to survive, and hopefully, form their bond as siblings anew.

Ch. 1- A Bond Broken?

Bonds between people are said to be quite fragile. In some cases, they can either be easily broken beyond repair or grow stronger than ever. It seemed that the same thing could be said for a certain pair of siblings on a particular pirate ship.

It is on the Thousand Sunny where our story begins.

It had been exactly 2 days since the Straw Hat Pirates had escaped from Big Mom's territory. Thanks to the sacrifice of Pedro, as well as the efforts from Jimbei and the Sun Pirates, the small crew barely managed to get away with their lives. Though the Sunny did take some heavy damage, the Straw Hats weren't too worried. They knew that their ship was a lot more durable than their previous one, and besides, as soon as they got to Wano, Franky would be able to fix her up as good as new.

However, that wasn't the issue, here. Take right now, for example.

Luffy yawned as he stretched his arms, having come outside for some fresh air. His wounds have practically healed up, by now, so he was practically back to his old self, again...there was just one problem. As Luffy came outside, he noticed Aika walk by on the deck, holding a juice box. He smiled at his younger half-sister, who momentarily glanced at him in passing.

"Hey, Aika!" Luffy called. "Whatcha doin'?"

Aika sucked her bottom lip into her mouth before she hurriedly walked through the door and closed it behind her, causing Luffy to sigh as his smile fell.

Lately, for some reason, Aika had been ignoring Luffy. Whenever he tried to say hi to her, she'd only spare him a passing glance before she hurried off to who-knows-where and not even say one word to him. Whenever he tried to ask her if she wanted to play, she quietly shook her head and walked to her room. Even last night, she acted strangely. When he went to give her a goodnight kiss, she quickly buried herself under the covers, prompting Nami to do kiss Aika's forehead in Luffy's stead.

It was almost as if...Aika didn't want Luffy around.

"...What did I do?" Luffy asked with a sad and lonely expression.

Nearby, Blizzard watched his master and he couldn't help but pity him, so...and Sanji, who was leaning against the railing while smoking a cigarette, only sighed as he watched his captain.

"...Poor guy," he whispered...for he knew exactly why Aika was acting this way.

Flashback

It was after lunch yesterday. Aika had finished eating early and hurried out of the galley. Luffy tried to follow her and ask what was wrong, but Sanji told him to leave her alone, thinking that she was just tired.

It wasn't until after lunch was finished and everyone brought in their plates and bowls that Blizzard went up to the cook as he was washing the dishes.

"Sanji...mind if I talk to you?" the wolf-dog asked.

"What's going on?" Sanji asked.

"You've noticed it, haven't you?" asked Blizzard. "The way Aika's been acting toward Luffy?"

"...Yeah, I have," Sanji answered. "I don't understand it. She used to love that guy...but now, she's trying to avoid him like he's the plague or something. She won't even talk to him."

"...I know why," Blizzard said. "Aika told me not to tell Luffy, but she didn't say anything but not telling anyone else."

"What's wrong?" Sanji inquired.

"...When Luffy came back to the ship after his fight with Katakuri," Blizzard began, "you saw how bloody and beaten he was...he looked like he was about to bite the big one."

"Don't remind me..." Sanji muttered.

"And what's worse...Aika saw that gaping wound in his side," Blizzard said. "And then, Luffy got his new bounty, and that just made things even worse...and then she told me something."

"What?" Sanji asked.

"...She doesn't want Luffy to be a pirate, anymore," Blizzard said, causing the cook to gape his jaw at the wolf-dog, almost to the point where his cigarette fell out...and judging by the look on his face, Sanji knew he wasn't lying.

"...Oh, my god...!" Sanji whispered. "But...but that's like saying-"

"Before you go there," Blizzard began, "she knows just how selfish it sounds...which is why she's going through such great lengths to avoid Luffy in the first place."

"...But...but still," Sanji said.

"I know, it's bad," Blizzard interjected. "Aika knows it, too...she's afraid that if she tells Luffy, he won't love her, anymore."

"That's stupid," Sanji retorted. "Luffy loves Aika, no matter what."

"That's what I told Aika," Blizzard said. "Sanji...don't tell her that I told you about this, okay? As far as she knows, this is between me and her."

"...Fine," Sanji replied as he went back to washing the dishes. "I'll do it, but I won't like it."

"I didn't expect you to," Blizzard replied as he turned and walked out of the kitchen.

Flashback end

Sanji sighed as he watched Luffy solemnly walk away to the figurehead. It was the only place where he felt like he could take some time to go over his thoughts without anyone bothering him. However, Sanji and Blizzard weren't the only ones watching, for up in the Crow's Nest, Carrot watched as she saw everything unfold while Chopper sat with her.

"Luffy seems pretty sad, huh, Chopper?" asked Carrot.

"Yeah, I know," Chopper replied. "I don't know what's gotten into Aika, lately. She used to love being around Luffy, but now it's like she doesn't even wanna look at him."

"You-teia don't think she hates him, do you?" Carrot inquired.

"No, I don't think Aika hates Luffy," Chopper answered. "I think she's just still pretty traumatized over what happened in Totto Land, that's all."

"I guess so," Carrot said. "She used to be so bright and cheery, but now..."

"I know," Chopper said. "People can change, Carrot...even sweet little girls like Aika. We just have to hope that she hasn't changed too much."

Carrot nodded her head at this before she glanced back outside.

In the library, Nami hummed a bit to herself as she worked on her maps, her hair tied back in a ponytail and wearing her "working glasses". As the navigator worked, she glanced over her shoulder to see Aika, sitting at the table while sipping her juice box. Nami's lips tightened and her eyes softened as she stared at the young D Carrier. Her eyes, once so bright and vibrant, had now become dull and listless. Her smile, impish and cheery, had been replaced by a bitter frown.

This girl she was staring at...was not the Aika she knew and loved. This little girl was merely a shell of Aika's former self.

Nami sighed before she turned around in her chair.

"Aika?" she called, gently, causing Aika to glance over at her. "You wanna come sit with me?"

Aika paused before a small (forced) smile appeared on her face, then she climbed down from her chair and approached Nami, who picked her up and held her on her lap, gently kissing her forehead.

"It's okay, honey," Nami whispered. "Everything will be okay, I promise."

Aika didn't reply...but instead, she quietly buried her face in Nami's bosom, causing the navigator to embrace her, tightly.

Her maps could wait...her little sister needed her, right now.

XXX

Throughout the day, things got worse. Luffy would try and make some sort of contact with Aika such as hugging her or saying hello, but she'd only look at him nervously before she walked away from him. Needless to say, Luffy was getting very frustrated, by now.

"Dammit!" Luffy cursed as he punched on a wall. "What am I doing wrong?!"

"Luffy, what is going on?" Nami asked as she came outside from the Aquarium Bar, having heard his shouts.

"What's going on?!" Luffy asked. "I'll tell you what's going on! Aika hates me!"

"Luffy, Aika doesn't hate you," Nami said. "She's just...feeling a bit lost, that's all."

"What do you mean, lost?" Luffy asked. "She's not lost! She's right here! Who do you think she is, Nami? Zoro?!"

"That's not what I mean," Nami said in irritation. "Look, Luffy...Aika went through a lot, back on Big Mom's territory. She's probably gonna be like this for a while."

"But why is she avoiding me?" Luffy asked. "She won't look at me, she won't talk to me...she acts like I'm the worst thing since...since...those disgusting cherry pies from Mock Town!" He then looked down at the deck. "...Did I...do something wrong?"

"Luffy, it's not that," Nami said. "Maybe she's ignoring you because she feels like that's the only way she can get you to notice something's up with her."

"But why?" Luffy asked.

"...Well, Luffy," Nami began, "when was the last time you and Aika spent time together?"

"Huh?" Luffy muttered. "Spent time together?"

"Yeah, you know," Nami replied. "When was the last time you and Aika did anything fun together? Quality time, stuff like that."

Luffy scratched at the back of his head as he thought back to when the last time he did any sort of activities with Aika...and that's when his eyes widened.

"Wow..." he muttered. "I...I guess it's been a really long time. The last time Aika and I got to do anything fun was back when she first joined up with us, and that was before I found out she was my sister!"

"Well, maybe that's it," Nami said. "You and Aika should do something, together, as brother and sister."

"Like what?" Luffy asked.

"Well...there's an island coming up soon," Nami answered. "I think it's called Hetheren. It's got lots of forest areas and a couple of small towns here and there. Maybe you and Aika could go camping!"

"Camping, huh?" Luffy pondered as he put a hand to his chin, thoughtfully, then he began to grin. "Yeah...yeah! That's a great idea!" He then hugged Nami. "I knew I loved you for a reason, Nami!"

"Aww, Luffy," Nami smiled as she returned his hug.

XXX

As the sun began to set, Aika stood alone in the middle of the lawn deck, watching the orange and red sky as the wind blew softly, gently ruffling her hair. She sighed as she looked down at the grass...feelings of guilt and sadness weighing heavily on her heart.

She felt bad. She knew that ignoring Luffy probably wasn't the best way to go about her feelings...but there was no way she could tell him about what she really wanted. What kind of sister would she be if she outright told her older half-brother that she didn't want him to be a pirate, anymore? She knew that all she wanted was his safety, but she should've known better. The life of a pirate is always going to be dangerous.

She just didn't realize how close she was to losing Luffy until she saw him injured like that. That's what really got to her...but even if Luffy did know, it wouldn't stop from doing what he wanted...so there was no point in telling him the truth.

It was just...better this way.

"Aika?"

Aika gasped as she whirled around and saw Luffy, standing at the top of the stairs that led to the galley. He had this soft smile and a look of understanding...one that she had missed for quite some time, now.

"Hey, Sis," Luffy said, only for Aika to swallow the lump in her throat before she turned around, preparing to walk away, again. "Wait, Aika!"

Aika froze before she glanced back at Luffy, who began to step down the stairs.

"I figured out why you've been avoiding me, lately," Luffy said.

"Uh...y-you have?" Aika asked, nervously.

'Blizzard, you said you wouldn't tell him!' she thought.

"Aika," Luffy said before he squat down to her height level, "when was the last time you and I spent any time together? Just the two of us?"

Aika blinked in perplexity before she glanced down at the lawn, rubbing her arm.

"...I guess it's been a while," she said.

"Yeah, I think so, too," Luffy concurred. "Listen...I think the reason why you've been ignoring me is that you just want us to have fun again, don't you?"

"...I guess so," Aika replied.

"There's an island coming up soon," Luffy replied. "How about you and I go camping?"

"Camping?" Aika repeated.

"Yeah! We'll go on a little camping trip," Luffy answered. "What do you think? Does that sound fun to you?"

Aika glanced down at the lawn to think it over. Perhaps this wouldn't be such a bad idea. Maybe, just for this little trip, Luffy didn't have to be a pirate. Maybe, just for this one occasion...Luffy could actually be her brother, instead. She didn't have to worry about him having to fight anyone and getting hurt.

"...Okay," Aika smiled. "Let's do it!"

"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed as he ruffled her hair, causing her to let out that sweet little laugh that he loved so dearly.

However, Luffy and Aika would soon learn that even the best-made plans often go awry.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Nami: Well, we're here!

Luffy: Okay, you guys! We'll be back in three days!

Sanji: Remember to take a Transponder Snail with you!

Carrot: Be careful out there!

Nami: Aika, be good for Luffy, understand?

Aika: *nods* Yeah! I will!

Luffy: Come on, Aika! Let's get this trip started!

*Meanwhile*

Pirate: Ugh...damn you...!

?: It's your fault...you should have known better than to put your hands on one of my men. *throws him down to the ground*

Next time: Enter Vice-Admiral Langstrom

And here it is, the arc you've all been waiting for! Trek has officially begun!

Review, please!