let the tears flow

i recently went on an adventure,
an adventure over deep oceans
and dark tides
in search for one thing
we called "hope."

the ocean i had to face
was vast, the day i left
this beloved country

it was full of unbelievable
beautiful islands which
hold many variety of things

there were creatures,
i've never seen before in life
there were incredible sceneries,
so captivating, enthralling.

and then, the sound of waves,
sometimes it is so peaceful,
soothing, as if it's trying
to help us alleviate our anxiety;

yet sometimes, it becomes violent,
as if they are laughing at the weak.

but in the darkness and storm,
i found a tiny ship;
a ship that keeps pushing me
to go forward and keeps asking me:
"can you see those lights ahead?"

this ship will always find its way
to get out of the darkness,
my, an unbelieavble ship indeed.

it's as if it was dancing,
sailing through gigantic waves.

though at times it seems that
they are just drifting, not knowing
where to go or when to stop,
they keep going forward,
even if it's against the wind.

because they know, that eventually
in the end, it will point a finger
and say: "look! there is a light!"

even if history makes this light
seems like an illusion,
for me, it's more than just a reality.

~ speech by nefertari vivi

someday i will make a tribute for the going meri, but as of now, vivi's speech says everything i need to say. what a great little ship.

i finished reading 35 volumes of one piece, again. have no idea how many times i have read over this great manga. it makes me burst into laughter, it makes me shed tears, it makes me feel anxious, it teaches me many things about life. in this entry, i'd like to share with you who reads this blog, moments that bring tears to my eyes. let's recap.

volume 1, chapter 1. shanks saves luffy from a sea monster by sacrificing his left arm. then shanks gives luffy his straw-hat, which begins the adventure of mugiwara no luffy.



volume 5, chapter 40. usopp disbanded usopp's pirate group because the pirate flag is calling him. usopp then becomes the fourth member of the mugiwara kaizokudan.



volume 7, chapter 58. sanji's background story with zef. stranded on an island, zef gave all his food to sanji, and chose to eat his own leg to survive starvation.



volume 9, chapter 78. nami's background story. arlong took over the village and killed villagers who do not have money. belmeil, nami and nojiko's adoptive mother, decided to use the money to save the kids, and sacrificed herself instead. arlong shot her in the head in front of nami and nojiko.



volume 16, chapter 143. chopper's background story with dr. hilruk. hilruk, who was dying from a disease kicked chopper out of his house, because he didn't want to die in front of chopper, who thought of hilruk as his only friend. chopper knew and he went across the island to find a mushroom that he believed will cure hilruk. hilruk was so touched he decided to drink the mushroom soup even though he knew that chopper brought back a poisonous mushroom instead.



volume 23, chapter 208. the end of alabasta arc. pell the falcon flies away with the ticking timebomb, set up by crocodile, that will destroy the whole country without trace.



volume 23, chapter 215. bon clay the okama (okama=gay guy) sacrifices himself and his crew so that the mugiwara kaizokudan can escape from the marine troops led by hina the black cage. one thing for sure, i really hope oda brings bonclay back; he's such a cool character.



volume 23, chapter 216. the mugiwara kaizokudan goes to pick up vivi, but vivi chooses to stay in the kingdom. not being able to reply to vivi's question "if one day we meet, will you still accept me as a friend?" because the marines are around and vivi might get into trouble, the mugiwara kaizokudan raises their left hands, marked with x, as an answer. this scene will forever be remembered.



volume 31, chapter 291. cyandora background story about norland monbrand, the truthful adventure who was branded the king of liars. relax in peace norland, karugara, the flame of cyandora has been reignited.