Chapter 396: The Most Gentle Flower Blooms Among the Thorns
Sea Circle Calendar 1500, Sorbet Kingdom.
Due to their resistance against the king's policy of turning the poor into slaves, Kuma and Ginny were imprisoned, their hands and feet shackled in a dark and damp cell.
A few faint rays of light shone through the ventilation opening on the wall onto the bars, which glinted with a cold metallic luster.
"You bastard Bekori! When I get out, I'll never forgive you!"
Ginny gripped the iron bars and cursed continuously, her temper as fiery as ever.
Sitting at her side was Luffy, who was also sulking.
"Although I know all of this happened in the past, this feeling of not being able to do anything is so infuriating! Hmph!"
"I really want to beat that bastard up!"
Luffy's two nostrils flared like a bull's, spewing white steam.
In the eyes of Reiner and the others in the outside world, the time he had been unconscious was not long. But in Luffy's perception, he had already spent a very long time with Kuma.
"Ah~ I miss Usopp and the others. I want to eat meat~"
Luffy spread his large hands and lay down on his back.
Just then.
A noisy commotion was suddenly heard from outside, coming from far and near. It soon reached the prison gate.
Bang—!
The main gate was violently opened, and two figures strode in.
Kuma and Ginny exchanged a puzzled look. Luffy also shot up from the ground.
"Hee-haw! I'm here to save you, Kuma! Ginny!"
"Little Iva!!"
Seeing the newcomers clearly, Ginny was overjoyed. Kuma also stood up and walked forward, the iron chains on his feet clanging as they dragged on the ground.
"The person next to you... could it be?"
Seeing the person next to Iva, Kuma's eyes showed a hint of surprise.
"My name is Monkey D. Dragon. I am the leader of the Freedom Fighters. I've long heard about you from Iva. We already know what has happened here. We came this time to..."
Dragon took the initiative to speak, walking up to Kuma and explaining his hope that he would join his group.
Hearing Dragon introduce himself, Luffy's eyes couldn't help but light up.
"Whoa—! Uncle, your surname is Monkey D. too? What a coincidence! It's the same as mine and Grandpa's! Hahaha."
Luffy put his hands on his hips and laughed, looking as if he were already familiar with him. He was subconsciously about to pat Dragon's shoulder.
Just as he raised his hand, Luffy suddenly thought of something. His movement paused, his hand frozen in mid-air. The smile on his face gradually stiffened, and the surrounding air seemed to have become quiet in an instant.
He stared at Dragon in silence for two seconds.
Luffy's expression gradually turned to shock. His jaw dropped to the ground, and his two widened eyes popped out in fright.
"You're my dad!!"
"Wait, wait! Is it really you!"
"Dragon? I remember Grandpa seemed to have said so, right!"
Luffy seemed to be jumping sideways next to Dragon, looking left and right, appearing a little flustered.
Although he had learned from Garp that he had a father he had never met, he had never imagined a scene where father and son would meet. But he had never expected to meet in this way.
No, it couldn't be considered meeting. Only Luffy could see Dragon. This was just a memory scene from Kuma's mind. It was even more impossible for the other to have sensed his existence 22 years ago.
Soon, Dragon released Kuma and Ginny.
In fact, several years ago, Kuma had already seen Dragon and the Freedom Fighters he had founded in the newspaper, and had longed to be able to save others with his own two hands like the other.
Under Dragon's and Ivankov's invitation, Kuma and Ginny both joined them.
From then on, the Freedom Fighters were renamed the Revolutionary Army. The number one criminal organization in the eyes of the future World Government was formally established.
In the time that followed, Kuma, who had devoted himself to the revolutionary work, fought in various parts of the world. Luffy also followed his perspective and witnessed the occurrence of many major events.
The path of the Revolutionary Army was very difficult, but everyone worked hard to make it grow and strengthen bit by bit. Kuma's life also became very fulfilling. Every time the oppressed common people were liberated, he would feel extremely happy.
This kind of life continued for eight years, until one day...
On the eve of the assembly of the Revolutionary Army scattered all over the world, headquarters received a call. It was from the Eastern Army led by Ginny.
"You said... Ginny was captured...?"
"I-I'm sorry! The enemy said they were going to take her to Mary Geoise to become the wife of a Celestial Dragon! We... we!"
"I'm sorry, Kuma! It's all our fault for not protecting her!"
The other end of the Den Den Mushi was filled with self-blame and crying.
Kuma stood there in a daze. After hearing the news, his mind went blank, and his heart was engulfed by a surging despair.
Dragon's face was grim with anger, his jaw clenched.
Luffy's pupils were also unfocused as he stood there in a daze.
In an instant, the surrounding air seemed to have become heavy. An unspeakable sense of oppression enveloped everyone's hearts.
He wanted to comfort Kuma but didn't know how to start.
At this stage, the Revolutionary Army was like an ant before the World Government. They had absolutely no ability to resist it.
Even if they staked the entire team that they had painstakingly built up to this day, it was impossible to rescue Bonney. This was almost a final farewell.
Everyone knew this.
Including Kuma himself.
He did not say a word, just pressed his lips together forcefully. Although he was in extreme pain, he did not say anything about attacking Mary Geoise to save Ginny.
In the days that followed, Kuma continued to participate in revolutionary activities all over the world, day and night.
He became more radical than before, as if he were punishing himself, trying to numb his inner pain with physical pain.
The expression on his face became less and less, and he became more and more silent, like a cold robot, repeating the same thing every day.
And that was... dragging his bloody body, fighting, fighting, fighting...
Just like that, two full years passed, until one day...
"Kuma! Ginny is on the phone!!"
At the Revolutionary Army headquarters, a loud shout suddenly came from the communication room.
"G-Ginny..."
Hearing the voice, Kuma was stunned for a moment. His eyes, which had been as still as a stagnant pool, finally showed a hint of color. He hurriedly stood up and rushed out of the medical room.
"Wait for me, Kuma!"
Ivankov followed closely behind him. The two of them rushed into the communication room in a panic and came to a Den Den Mushi.
"Ginny!!"
"It's Kuma-Kuma's voice... I heard it... It's really... it's really great."
The voice on the Den Den Mushi was hoarse, and its two eyes were full of the pain and fatigue of having endured countless tortures.
As if a dying person had finally found release at the end of their life, Ginny squeezed out a weak smile.
"I'm back, Kuma-Kuma. Because I got a terminal illness, they said they didn't want me anymore, so they threw me away."
"Although it hurts a lot, it's a kind of luck, right? I was so afraid I would never be able to convey my feelings to you..."
"Don't say any more, Ginny! Where are you! I'm coming to find you right now!"
Kuma shouted loudly, his heart tangled with pain and anxiety, wishing he could appear at the other's side immediately.
Ginny did not answer his question, but just continued to speak in a weak voice.
"I'm sorry, Kuma-Kuma... I'm about to die."
Ginny's smile was full of tears, yet it also carried the most blissful gentleness, as she spoke the words she only wanted to convey to the other at the last moment of her life.
"Kuma-Kuma... I have always..."
"Always..."
"...loved you so much."
The wind rustled through the leaves, churning the white clouds and dissipating them in the blue sky. The white waves washed the coast.
In the Sorbet Kingdom, inside a dilapidated church, Ginny lay on a table soaked with tears. Her weak hand reluctantly put down the Den Den Mushi.
"...You'll still find me, right? ...After all, this is our home."
She quietly looked at the mural on the ceiling, tears streaming down her face. She smiled with relief.
"To let you see me like this... I'm... so sorry, Kuma-Kuma..."
Sunlight shone through the skylight onto her body. Her face, her hands, all of her skin was covered with stone. Under the sunlight, it refracted a blue, scale-like light.
The wind stopped. A glimmer of life's light gradually dimmed until it was completely extinguished.
It was unknown how much time had passed, but a figure, having rushed over with a burning heart, stepped into the church hall.
Kuma held Ginny's stiff body, kneeling before the cross that redeemed the world. The golden setting sun fell on him, but it could not dispel the cold in his heart.
He had saved countless lives here, but he had lost the love of his life...
"If I had agreed to your proposal that day..."
"Or if I had been able to go to Mary Geoise to save you, regardless of everything..."
"Would things have turned out differently, Ginny? If I hadn't been so cowardly..."
Kuma recalled his life, the little moments he had spent with Ginny, until his tears had run dry.
Night fell. The faint light of the myriad stars shone on the coast of the Sorbet Kingdom. In the church, there was only a faint candlelight, a dim yellow mixed with a faint white.
A few days later...
"I'm sorry, Dragon. I've already decided."
"I understand. We are the ones who should be sorry, Kuma. Just do as you wish."
"Thank you..."
Click.
Kuma hung up the Den Den Mushi and formally left the Revolutionary Army. He now had more important things to do.
He stood up and walked towards the room behind the church. Kuma stopped in front of a baby's crib, picked up the girl who was sleeping soundly in her swaddling clothes, a smile on his face, his eyes full of gentleness.
Because of this girl's existence, the world that had collapsed in his heart after Ginny's death was once again shone upon by hope.
In the days that followed, Kuma returned to being a pastor, staying in this small church in the Sorbet Kingdom and living with Bonney.
He had already decided. He would stay here until he had raised Bonney to adulthood, and then he would return to the ranks of the Revolutionary Army.
Taking care of a baby was definitely not an easy job. For the inexperienced Kuma, it was a hellish difficulty.
A first-time father always had to go through all sorts of 'tribulations'. Although the villagers often helped, Kuma would always be 'tormented' to the point of helplessness.
Just changing diapers made him flustered. He had to learn for a long time how to coax Bonney to sleep. And judging what the different cries represented gave him a headache.
"Ugh~ I finally survived~"
On this day, after giving Bonney a bath, Kuma, drenched in sweat, lay on the table with a tired face.
Ginny was probably this much of a handful when she was a child.
Kuma thought.
The lively Bonney crawled on all fours to a teddy bear and began to play. A gratified smile unconsciously appeared on Kuma's face.
"You're really alike. Even your appetite is just as exaggerated. You'll definitely be a big eater like your mother when you grow up."
"Da-da."
Suddenly, Bonney grabbed the doll and shook it at Kuma, letting out a cooing sound.
Kuma stood there, stunned for a few seconds. Tears welled up under his glasses. His entire person was so excited he practically threw himself forward.
"Bonney—!"
"Wuwu! Say 'daddy' again, please, Bonney, please~"
"Daddy."
"Mm-hmm!"
Kuma lay on the ground and hugged Bonney, rubbing his face against hers, as if even his heart had been melted.
Luffy, squatting on the table like a monkey, grinned upon seeing this scene.
"Hee hee hee. This girl was pretty cute when she was little."
The days passed like this, one after another, in joy and warmth.
Four years later.
"Don't move, Bonney. Well? Does it hurt?"
Kuma held Bonney and stood by the dining table. He gently pressed the scab of green scales on her forehead, and the gravity on his face gradually deepened.
He had never expected that after four years, he would see the same symptoms on Bonney as Ginny had had back then.
He tried to use the Paw-Paw Fruit's ability on Bonney, but nothing was repelled.
"What's wrong, daddy?"
"No. It's nothing, Bonney."
Kuma forced a smile and shook his head, his hands behind his back secretly clenched.
Late that night, Bonney was already asleep. A candlelight was lit in the church hall. Kuma sat alone behind his desk, having finished reading a whole book, holding his forehead with a heavy expression.
During the day, he had taken Bonney to several places in the kingdom. However, never mind a cure, not a single doctor even recognized this disease.
This made him even more desperate.
The thought of Ginny's tragedy repeating itself on Bonney made Kuma's heart ache with anxiety.
Luffy leaned in a corner, staring at the ceiling without a word.
If a person's life is always accompanied by suffering, hasn't this man experienced a bit too much?
Slap.
Closing the book, Kuma's eyes hardened.
He would not give up, nor could he accept just giving up.
Even if he couldn't be cured in the end, at the very least, he had to accompany Bonney as much as possible and let her spend this life happily.
"Bonney."
"Hmm?"
On this day, Bonney was building with blocks. Kuma was telling her a story at the side. He closed the book and asked with a gentle smile:
"If we were to travel, where would you want to go?"
"Mmm..."
Bonney thought for a moment, and her eyes lit up.
"Daddy, do you know about sky islands?"
"Bonney knows about sky islands?"
"Mm! I saw it in a book."
Bonney nodded, her face beaming with an innocent smile.
"It's said that everything there is made of clouds, just like cotton candy. I think it must be delicious."
"I see..."
Kuma smiled gently and patted Bonney's head.
In the time that followed, Kuma continued to search for doctors and gradually learned some of the symptoms, knowing that Bonney could not be exposed to natural light.
Thus, toys, books... he found everything for Bonney, played with her, and taught her knowledge.
Fortunately, the villagers would also often come over. With the company of her father and everyone, even if she could never step out of this house, Bonney's life would not be too lonely.
(End of chapter)
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