#I mean I doubt it'll reach anyone outside of my circles on here

[punkrockisafulltimejob]

Outside used to be my sanctuary. I would spend hours upon hours outside, reading and listening to music on my ancient USB flash drive and whatever crappy pair of dollar store earbuds I owned at the time. I devoured books like they were the only thing keeping me alive. I guess they were. I remember long days on the old porch swing. It was a fabric and metal thing, bought cheap from Walmart after the summer season was over. The cushion was rotted out from being left in the rain so many times, and the thing squeaked every time it moved. But it was my place. I'd bring my pillow off my bed and lay out there until the sun went down and it got too dark to read. It was the only place I wasn't bothered.

Then outside wasn't accessible anymore. I was getting older, and my responsibilities outnumbered my age. I would leave for school before the sun rose, which was so horribly painful. I couldn't see the sun when I needed her. When I came home the sun was there waiting for me, but I was forced inside. I was fifteen and taking care of my three younger siblings, cooking dinner, doing the laundry, helping everyone with homework before doing my own. Never a thank you, never a please, just take care of this for me so I can go to work. My mother slept the days so she could work the nights. My father laid in bed, only yelling out to us when we were getting to be too loud. He never mediated, he never separated us. Just screamed at us to stop. Stop what? Existing as children in a house with too many rules, too little parenting.

Days and days and days of taking care of everyone else. I was the oldest, so of course I was the one to step up. Or I supposed get yanked up the stairs from the basement into the kitchen, the living room, the rooms of my siblings, caring for all the little things. But god forbid I miss the big things. The trash was overflowing and it didn't get taken out. The dishwasher had pinged long ago that it needed to be emptied, the dryer has buzzed and the pot of water was overflowing. Why hadn't I attended to any of that yet? Because Silas was sobbing over math homework, Breanna was holed up in her room, Skylar was outside running around with the neighborhood kids.

The end of the day would come, and I would finally be in my room, the only place left that I could be myself. No door, just a curtain separating my space from the rest of the basement. So easy for sound to get through. So easy to hear and be heard everywhere, not a shred of privacy. I had my furniture, my clothes, little of which I had chosen for myself. The only say I had in my room was the shelves of books. Books upon books, taking up space, each a portal to a world where I could be free. As many as I had, as many I read, it was never enough to pull me away. Every so often, a yell would carry from the kitchen to my room, reminding me once more that there were things that needed to be done, chores and siblings and god knows what else I'm forgetting because I've longed for it to go away. Never ending.

It went from a book a week to a book a month, and eventually, a year to finish a trilogy. Reading my solace, my only peace, had left me. I didn't have time for that which I loved. I barely had time for me. I was working until I slept, drifting off on textbooks and papers because I was struggling so hard to keep up with everything else that something had to give. The little Dutch boy with his fingers in the dam had nothing on me. I was losing all sense of myself. Who am I if not a caregiver, a mediator, a crying shoulder and a pillar, nothing short of a miracle worker?

A victim of circumstance, a casualty of chance. Everything I ever loved ripped away from me. My room filled with water every time it rained, taking with it so many of those otherworldly portals that were all I had to call mine. The water receded and the trash bags returned, marking the next cycle of death, but no rebirth. Some things can never be replaced. Especially not when there was never enough money for the most basic of things. I looked forward to annual library purges, tag sales and boxes of "free, please take" books. Babysitting money went as far as I could stretch it, scouring for any title that matched my needs. New worlds to explore, familiar ones to revisit, if it sounded good I bought it. Stacks of books higher than my arms could carry, always rounded down by the librarians who knew me, letting me add a few more for free, because it makes no sense only taking the first half of a series. How long before the floodwaters took them too?

I long to display my books the way they deserve. Built in bookshelves around the fireplace, shelves a dark stained wood, the bricks a deep crimson, filled with words that carry you away to a world where you're free. There for any and all to take and read, at any time of day or night. It's never to early to get lost in a book, nor too late to fall deeper under their spells. Books shown care and tenderness and love, by showing their wear. Cracked spines and ripped pages and frayed bookmark ribbons and faded covers, everything proving that these books have been read, loved, and appreciated, innumerable times. Books that aren't just mine, but mine to share. To never again get mildewed in cold rising waters, to never again be thrown haphazardly in a plastic bag bound for the dump. To always be just within reach of any pair of hands, old and young. To be read over and over and over again...

Ten years later, I can see the sun again. She's there when I need her, but gives way to the clouds gathering above. The rain graces my face, reminding me again that I chose to be alive, that I chose myself for once. That I can finally feel at peace.

[misc-headcanons]

(As the three of them leave, Maple puts a finger to her lips and motions for the group to follow her. They make their way to a nearby forested area, and once they're out of earshot Maple breathes a sigh of relief before waving the fan to clear away the smoke around them.)

Maple: Okay. You can talk now that nobody's nearby.

Dochi: What WAS that?

Maple: A spell, obviously. One that made us invisible.

Ube: Man, you think fast. I was like, two seconds away from taking out my sword if that guy took another step towards us!

Vanilla: Fritter? Hey, you okay?

(Fritter clings to her and sniffles, crying while holding her tightly)

Fritter: That was the killer, 'Nilla! He was right THERE! If he'd seen us, he would've...

(The others immediately go to comfort him, putting a hand on him and making a big group hug)

Ube: Hey, it's okay! Look, we're all here and we're fine thanks to Maple. We're not gonna let you and Vanilla get hurt by any bad guys.

Fritter: What about you guys? I don't want you to get hurt, either!

Dochi: We'll be alright. Big brothers and sisters are tougher than most people. It's why we're...you know, BIG brothers and sisters. We're big and strong! (Flexes her arms)

Maple: And we're smart, too. Which is why we're not going to stand around here, in case some of the townspeople come near here. Look, there's an old pathway up that hill that looks like it hasn't been used in a while. Why don't we go up there and try to set up camp on the mountain?

Fritter: Um...okay. (sniffs and wipes his sleeve) That sounds like a good idea.

Vanilla: Ooh, I think I can see a roof up there. Maybe we can spend the night in there instead of sleeping outside.

Dochi: If the path looks like it hasn't been used in a while, then what's up there? If it's an abandoned house, then it'd be easier to stay there without anyone noticing us.

Maple: It might be abandoned for a reason...But it's the best option I can think of. Come on, let's start walking; the more distance we put between that murderer and us, the more comfortable I'll be.

(The five of them climb the winding path up the mountain, and are more quiet after their close encounter with the murderous ronin. Dochi, Maple, and Ube take turns carrying the younger two kids whenever they get tired, and after a while they arrive near the top of the mountain. The building Vanilla saw is now fully visible; it's the crumbling ruins of an old castle. Near where they're walking is a set of gravestones along the path leading to the castle's entrance.)

Fritter: Hey...Hey, hang on a second, we gotta stop walking.

Dochi: You need me to carry you again?

Fritter: No, we have to be good guests. If we're gonna stay at this house when we don't live there, we need to be nice about it.

(Maple seems to realize what Fritter's getting at and nods slightly. She sets Vanilla down and takes a few items out from the knapsack she's carrying, and motions for the others to do the same.)

Maple: For the spirits of the people who used to live here. Fritter's right, we need to leave them a gift as payment for staying in their home uninvited.

Dochi: Ohhh, right. Mom says that you should be kind to your host--even if it's a ghost host!

(The siblings each take out some spare food and place them near the four gravestones. Vanilla tugs on Maple's sleeve and points at her pipe.)

Vanilla: Can I do the flower spell? I wanna give the ghost hosts flowers as my present.

Maple: (smiles) Go ahead. You remember the words?

Vanilla: Yup!

(Vanilla takes the pipe and quietly murmurs to herself as she holds it out in front of the grave stones.)

I summon the boun-ti-ful jewels of spring, bloom here for me and make the earth sing.

(The marks on Vanilla's cheeks glow faintly as smoke billows from the pipe and settles on the ground, thickening and swirling until a handful of seedlings begin to sprout and grow at a rapid pace. After a few seconds, a cluster of flowers bloom and sway gently in the breeze. Maple takes the pipe back and pats Vanilla on the back.)

Maple: Great work, 'Nilla.

Ube: Hey...Maple, Mom's used magic to talk to ghosts before, right? Has she ever taught you to do it?

Maple: A little bit. I mean, she won't let me study necromancy until I'm older, though...I have taken a peek at some of her spellbooks on it. But speaking with spirits is something we've practiced together.

Ube: So could you speak to the people who lived in this castle? That way we can actually ask permission to spend the night.

Maple: Hmm...I guess I could try. I wonder if they could tell us more about Wano's history. It'd be a rare opportunity to learn about it. I mean, there aren't any books about Wano you can just pick up and read.

(She reads the names on each stone before taking the pipe out and blowing a swirling trail of smoke that circles around the graves.)

Echo of life, shadow of death. Kin'emon, Momonosuke, Raizo, Kanjuro...Let your echoes reach us, let your shadows appear to us.

(The smoke continues to circle around the graves, but nothing else happens.)

Fritter: Did you say it right?

Maple: I'm sure I did. Once you say the incantation, you should be able to sense a spirit and then it'll take shape. With the pipe, it should be easy for them take a form we can see with the smoke.

Vanilla: Maybe they don't like smoke. Should we try something else they can use as a shape, like the flowers?

Maple: I...I don't understand, I've done that spell perfectly before. Why isn't it...wait a minute. (She peers intently at the smoke circling around the grave, watching it slowly begin to fade and drift away) I...don't think anyone's been buried here.

Fritter: Maybe they're shy and don't want to talk to strangers?

Maple: No, that can't be it. Even if they didn't want to appear, I used enough power to summon them here. They would have started to take form before leaving if they didn't want to speak to us. I don't think there's anything here to be summoned.

Ube: Then why are there graves here?

Maple: That's a good question.

(As they stare at the graves in confusion, the sound of voices causes them to freeze up. The people approaching sound as if they're coming from the path the kids had taken from the bottom of the mountain by Okobore, and the siblings immediately see their clothes and recognize them as the adults from the town.)

Luffy: Why did you want to come with us to this castle, anyway?

Kiku: I'll explain once our allies have all arrived.

(The adults see the children near the graves, and both groups stare at each other in surprise for a moment. The one in the red robe looks even more familiar to the children, and they wonder if they'd seen him before they had ever come to Wano. The green-haired swordsman is the first to speak up.)

Zoro: Oh, it's those kids from earlier.

(When his gaze lands on Fritter, Ube and Dochi immediately raise their weapons while Maple takes her youngest brother's hand. Vanilla hides behind Maple and grabs Fritter's other hand.)

Ube: Stay back, murderer!

Dochi: Don't take another step towards my siblings, or I'll cut you in half, right along that scar on your chest!

Law: Murderer? I told all of you to keep a low profile!

Luffy: No, Zoro told me that was just a misunderstanding. He didn't kill anyone, he just slashed the guy who framed him and ran off!

Kiku: You really do have a talent for causing a ruckus...

(Vanilla steps out from behind Maple to get a better look at the man in red.)

Maple: 'Nilla! Get back behind me, we don't know who these people are.

Vanilla: But... (she peers at Luffy, and when she recognizes him she beams at him) That's not a stranger! That's Luffy, he's Papa's friend!

Ube: Wait, what? Oh. Ohhhhh, you're right! It is!

Dochi: Holy crap, it is!

Law: You know these kids, Luffy?

Maple: We haven't actually met, but we know OF him. (She relaxes a bit, but is still holding Fritter's hand as she walks up to Luffy and holds out her other hand in greeting) We're Katakuri's children. Um...we first saw you when you ruined Aunt Pudding's wedding and caused our Grandma to have a mental breakdown, but I doubt you noticed us during all of that.

Luffy: Ohhh! I didn't know Katakuri had kids. Huh, you even have his mouth marks. (He shakes Maple's hand.)

Dochi: Also, we don't blame you for all that either! I mean, we were mad at first. But then Papa told us you did it to save Sanji. So wait, are these guys part of your crew too? (She glances at Zoro, Law, and Kiku)

Ube: Oh, whoops. (He smiles sheepishly at Zoro) Sorry for threatening to kill you, mister. We thought you were a crazy killer or something, but if you're with Luffy then you can't be too bad.

Kiku: Wait, what are you all doing here in Wano? And why are you by yourselves?

Vanilla: Oh! Dochi and Ube stole mama's magic scissors and made a portal, 'cause they wanted to meet up with our aunties and uncles and grandma here. But then Maple saw us and tried to take them back, and then the portal ripped, and we all fell through it and now we're here!

Kiku: That...isn't what I expected.

Law: Wait, your grandmother...Big Mom's already in Wano?

Maple: That's--um, confidential. We can't reveal where our family is to another pirate crew. (She looks sternly at Vanilla, who pouts.)

Vanilla: Yeah, but they're friends with Luffy! And Luffy is Papa's friend, so we won't be called traitors if we tell them, right?

Law: We're ALLIES, not friends.

Vanilla: Huh? Aren't those the same thing?

Luffy: Yeah! We're friends, Law.

Law: I don't want to have this conversation again...So. You five are lost in Wano, and nobody in your family knows that you're here.

Dochi: Mama and Papa probably know by now. Papa's got really good Observation Haki, and Mama knows how to use magic, so they should've figured out we're gone and where we are. They'd probably want us to stick with Luffy, since he's Papa's friend; we dunno where our aunts and uncles are, so he's the only grown-up we know that we can trust here.

Ube: OH! Let's be allies! Me and Dochi can fight, Maple's the best of us at magic, 'Nilla is good with healing spells and knows some stuff about medicine, and...um, Fritter's a really good cook! I mean, he's 7, and he's really good for a 7 year old.

Luffy: Hmm...Alright!

Maple: This is NOT going to go over well if our family finds out. Look, if we're really going to be allies, we need you to keep this a secret from them. The only one who wouldn't call us traitors for this are Mama and Papa, and Big Mom would KILL us if she found out we were allies with you of all people. Um, no offense.

Luffy: No problem! I'm pretty good at keeping secrets.

Law: You're joking. Please tell me you're joking.

Kiku: I admit, I normally wouldn't approve of involving children in this. But...we can't just leave them on their own.

Ube: Plus, we wouldn't take no for an answer and we'd just follow you guys anyway. My mom says we're "tenacious to a fault."

Law: You'll fit right in with Luffy, then.

Luffy: Hey, since you guys got here before us, have you seen some of our other friends? A guy named Kin'emon, a kid named Momonosuke...

Maple: (frowns) Wait...you mean...them? (She points to the gravestones.)