12 Years Earlier – Sanosuke age 15/ Leon age 17/ Fae age 7

Sanosuke POV

“Sanosuke, hon, we are closing. It’s time for you to head home, dear.” The librarian had pity in her eyes as she glanced down at the bruises around my wrist. I pulled my sleeves further down and gave her a gentle smile, “thank you for allowing me stay here to study.”

She shook her head, “Don’t thank me, hon. Your welcomed here as long as our doors are opened. I just wish you didn’t have to back home to that drunken father of yours.” She let out a sigh, “you’re a smart boy, Sanosuke but if you keep going back home to that man, I’m afraid his going to kill you.” The librarian expressed her concerns to me but I just waved her off.

“Nah, I’ll be fine. I only have a stay with him for a few more years and then I’ll be educated enough to get a high paying job besides, I don’t have anywhere else to go.”

She opened her mouth but I cut her off, “and no, I can’t come stay with you. As kind as you are Mrs. Bun, you already have enough mouths to feed and I know you can’t afford another but. .” I gave her another soft smile, “it’s enough that you care.” I told her, collecting all my books.

She shook her head side to side, “I wish you would reconsider or at least stay at a friends house for a while.”

I felt my smile waver a little. I don’t have any friends but she doesn’t need to know that.

“I’ll think about it.” I told her, swinging my bag over my shoulder.

She let out another sigh, “be careful on your way home, hon. I heard that pirate rookie from the New World has docked here on our small island for tonight.”

I shrugged my shoulders, “he probably stopped to get a bite to eat. I wouldn’t worry to much about it. It’s not like our island has much to offer anyways.” I waved goodbye as I headed home and my shoulders stiffen when I noticed the group of bullies that enjoy tormenting me were outside the bar smoking.

I tried to become invisible as I walked my them in a hurry but Eric the group leader, spotted me. “Well, if it isn’t the bookworm who thinks he’s better then everyone.” He grinned evilly at me as he narrowed his eyes.

I don’t know why this guy hates me so much. I never done a damn thing to him other then tutor his girlfriend and it’s not my fault she wised up and dumped his sorry ass but where he came up with that conclusion that it’s all my fault, is beyond me. I only tutor for money, not to pick up chicks or get their boyfriends to dump them.

I let out a sigh, knowing I was about to get the snot beat out of me. “Look Eric, I don’t want any trouble.” I said seriously, trying to keep the shakiness out of my voice.

“Aww, did you hear that boy’s? Sanosuke doesn’t want any trouble.” He mimicked me as he strolled over towards me.

“Then you shouldn’t have stolen my girlfriend, asshat.” He shoved me hard and I fell on to the ground with a thud. I let out another sigh, leaning up off the dirt. “I never stole her. How can I steal something I never took to begin with? She was never interested in me and the same goes for me.” I stated dully but my words seemed to have only infuriated him.

He lunged at me, knocking us both to the ground as his fist flew into my face again and again. I squinted my eyes shut, trying to protect my face but his friends pinned my arms down, giving him free roam to inflict more pain.

“My mother told me I should be nicer to you because your mom died giving birth to you. My father also told me that’s why your dad hates you so much and can you blame him? A cheating whore, giving birth to a bastard like you. Your father never even got the chance to find out if the rumors were true because you killed her, leaving him all alone to raise a son he didn’t even know was his or not. I mean, how pathetic is that?” He laughed menacingly as he licked his lips.

“It would have been better for both your parents if you were never born. Your mother would still be alive and your dad would have never turned into an alcoholic.” His hateful words, stabbed me in the heart as hot tears began to burn my eyes.

“Aww, look guys he's crying.” Eric pinched my cheeks, making cooing noises as they laughed mockingly.

“If you keep teasing him Eric-senpai, he’s going to wet himself.” Their laughter grew even larger.

“Tsk,” I gritted my teeth, trying to put up a fight but my body was to weak as they slammed me back down in to the cold hard ground.

It’s not fair. I already hate myself as it is and I done nothing but be obedient. I study hard, I work hard, I cook, I clean, I help out in anyway I can, and yet it’s still never enough.

So why am I still being punished for something I never had control over to begin with?!

Eric smacked my cheek playfully before climbing off of me. “Your still so weak, Sanosuke. You would think out of all these years of us all tormenting you that you would have at least grown a backbone but nope, your still just a worthless coward.”

He kicked me in the stomach hard, knocking the wind out of my lungs before spitting in my face, “just do everyone a favor and kill yourself already. Your very experience brings nothing but pain and I bet your father would be relieved if you just upped and dissapeared.” His friends all laughed as they dumped all my books onto the ground before walking away.

Tears began pouring out of my eyes, he’s right, I’m useless. I couldn’t even put up a fight because I’m so weak. I slammed my fist onto the ground, biting my lower lip until I tasted blood.

I could hear footsteps approaching me and at first I thought it was Eric returning to whale on me more but when I glanced up, my eyes came in contact with a set of ruby red eyes. I never seen him before but his eyes were cold as ice as they pierced into mine.

He didn’t say anything at first as he crouched down, picking up a book off the ground. He skimmed through it and the corner of his lip curled up.
“Hmph. . are they right?” He asked coolly, skimming through more of my books.

I sneered up at him, “it’s rude to go through people’s stuff without asking permission!” I growled, leaning up off the ground, snatching my book out of his hand.

He snatched the book back with a dark smirk on his face. “It’s fair gain if it’s laying out in the middle of the road besides, if you don’t want people going through your stuff then you shouldn’t have allowed those asshole's to dump your shit to begin with. . now I’ll ask again.” His eyes harden as he gazed into my bloodied up face.

“Were they right about you being a worthless coward?”

I flinch at his cold words but I casted my eyes down. “What's it to you? It’s not like it’s going to change anything if admit that I am.” I clutched my fist, hating myself for being so weak.

He grew silent for a moment, “your right. A coward is a coward.” He stated bluntly. My eyes flung open and I glared over at him. “Oi, Oi, if your trying to make me feel better your doing a lousy job at it.”

“Don’t be stupid. Only you can make yourself feel better, idiot.” He narrowed his eyes at me before stacking up my books one by one, “but doesn’t it get tiring?”

“Does what get tiring?” I asked, rolling my eyes as I rubbed the blood off my nose and mouth.

“. . . . being scared all the time.” He whispered, but I couldn’t his eyes that were hidden behind the shadows of his shaggy Jet black hair.

My eyes widen and I found myself, biting my lip again to control my sobs. “Yeah.” I whispered shakily, wiping the snot away with the back of my hand.

It grew silent again between us for a while before he opened his mouth. “I have a proposition for you. . Join my crew and I will teach you how to become strong and in return, you do me a favor.”

My breath got hitched in my throat, “y-your a-a p-pirate?” My body began to tremble out of control and he smiled devilishly at me. “I am.”

He doesn't look much older then me?! If he's a pirate from the New World then he must be super strong!!

I gulped in fear, “w-why would you want m-me to join your crew?! I-I’m not strong and I-I’m a coward! W-what kind of benefit could I possibly even provide?!” I scooted away from him and he just smirked, standing up.

“You would be the first person to join me on my vogue that is if you do decided to join me but you don’t have to if you don’t want to.” He turned his back on and began to walk away with his hands in his pockets. “If you really want to change and if your tired of being everyone’s punching bag, come find me. I’ll be here until morning.” He waved the back of his hand to me and never looked back as he disappeared into the darkness.