Chapter One
In Which Nix is Tossed into the Sea

"Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing, Only a signal shown, and a distant voice in the darkness; So on the ocean of life, we pass and speak one another, Only a look and a voice, then darkness again and silence."

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"JUUUUUICEY!" I grinned as I handed my nephew his sippy cup. My brother looked up at me from his desk.

Ciro D. Kenna was my older brother by three years, putting him at 22. His son, Seraphim, was two. They were both ash blond and blue eyed. A big difference from my black hair. Well, it's not naturally that color, it's more crimson than anything. They were living with me for a few months, Ciro being a college professor and out of a job. Not that I minded, I love kids and want some of my own. I just don't feel like being married.

"Here ya go, kid." I said, ruffling the toddler's hair. He giggled and slurped at his juice.

"You sure you don't mind us being here?" Ciro asked anxiously, watching me. I waved him off impatiently.

"Neh, you know I love you guys too much to turn you out." I grinned. "Besides, you know how much I wuv dis wittle guy!" I picked Seraphim, or just Sera, up and twirled around, sending him into another fit of giggles.

"Thank you, Nix." he said, smiling slightly as he adjusted his glasses. I grinned at him. My brother fit in the category of romantic teachers ready to sweep their students away. Not that Ciro had done any sweeping since Sera was born.

My brother's girlfriend, Athanasia, died giving birth to their kid. A bit odd considering her name meant eternal life. She was a bit too sweet for me, but my brother loved her and that was enough for me. He took her death hard, but he's better now.

"Anyways," I said, picking the baby up. "You should go to bed." He blinked and looked at the clock. 11:00 p.m.

"Huh," he mumbled. "Where did the time go?" I smirked.

"Say that and you'll sound like an old man." I ran and hand through his thick hair. "Eh? Is that a gray hair I see?" He bolted to the mirror and looked at his head frantically.

"What? No! I'm too young!" I snickered and took Sera into his room, tucking him in under his Lightning McQueen blanket. I blew him a kiss, which he pretended to catch, and shut off the light.

I walked down the red carpeted hall and to my room.

It had red plush carpet and black wood furniture. If it had knobs or handles, they were silver. My mirror was black like everything else, but had Latin written in a shimmering silver.

Tollite petunt
Alium mundum
Et vitam
Adventure

I had translated it and it came out as:

Take to
Another world
And seek
Adventure
And life

I smiled and climbed into bed, changing into my pajamas. Something lumpy pressed against my arm and I reached beneath the covers to pull out a locket.

It was black, with silver egravings around the border. I turned it over and read the inscription.

Cum dimittes tuum semper sint in corde meo

"Though thou shalt leave, Thy will always be in mine heart." I murmered, translating it. With a shrug, I fastened it around my neck, lying down.

It wasn't hard for me to read a few languages. English was my first language, having grown up in America. Japanese was my second tounge, it being what my father spoke. Spanish and French because I took them in high school, and Latin because I had started college with the goal of becoming a lawyer. Then I realized something. I hate the government and everyone who works for it (which is to say, everyone, but we'll let that one slide, neh?). So I did a complete about-face and chased after art. My filing cabinent was littered with papers in Latin and drawings of beaches and anime characters.

The beach was my heart and soul. After moving out of my mom's house, I moved to California. However, I caught the homesickness bug and had to drag my but back to Boston. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Red Sox, but it just doesn't compare to the fresh air on the coast. Why I loved the ocean, I'll never know. I can't swim in a kiddie pool.

As for the anime characters, well, they're just fun to draw. The expressions draw me in, what can I say?

I closed my eyes and drifted off.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Not a moment after their closing, my eyes flew open. Ears straining, I listened for the sound again.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

What was it? Why did it sound so familiar?

Thump. Thump. Thump. Caw. Caw.

I blinked, throwing the covers off and standing up. I moved around the room, tip-toeing as I searched for the noise's source.

Boom!

I jumped and stared at my mirror, finding the beginning of the disturbance. It ran my fingers along it, feeling it tremble with some unknown impact. I squinted at the wall behind it and, upon finding nothing, bent down to examine the base. As I bent down, my new locket swung forward and collided with the glass. For one very frightening moment, I believed it was going to shatter. I let out a relieved breath as it connected with a shrill ping! and came back to rest on my collarbone once more.

But my relief didn't last long.

About three seconds after the contact, a light flashed from behind me. I spun around, startled, and cool hands grabbed the back of my white T-shirt and yanked me back.

Then I was falling . . . falling . . . falling . . .

SPLASH!

I gasped and spluttered as I hit the water, thrashing frantically for some purchase. Warm fingers grabbed my arm, pulling me up onto something solid and rocking. I coughed violently, emptying myself of nasty, salty tasting water.

"Are you alright?" a young and concerned voice questioned.

"-cough- Yeah, -cough- thanks for saving me, I -" Oh hell no.

I stared at the pink haired boy in front of my, eyes moving from him to his friend with a straw hat and back again. I repeated the process.

"What's wrong with her?" Luffy asked, poking my forehead.

"Luffy!" Coby hissed, looking at me fearfully.

Great, just what I needed. Dumped into an anime. What a life . . .