Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Tearful Goodbye
The morning had arrived, and Jackson stood at the edge of the dock, his bag slung over his shoulder. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting an orange glow over the water. It was time. His heart raced as he looked at the ship that would take him further from home—Bell Leah, the merchant vessel that would be his first step into the vast, unpredictable world of the East Blue.
He had packed his bag with only the essentials: clothes, some provisions, and the tanto Kouzaburou had given him. Everything he owned was in that small, worn bag. It felt strange, knowing that this was it—that he was leaving the safety and comfort of Shimotsuki Village behind. But there was no turning back now. He had made his decision, and the world was waiting for him.
His parents were waiting for him on the dock, too. Aiko stood a little apart from Isaiah, her expression a mixture of pride and sadness. Jackson's eyes lingered on them for a moment before he walked toward them, feeling the lump in his throat grow bigger. This was harder than he thought.
"Mom... Dad..." Jackson started, his voice wavering slightly as he approached them.
Aiko stepped forward first, pulling him into a tight embrace. "You've grown so much, Jackson. I'm so proud of you. I wish we had more time together before you left, but I know this is what you need. Just... promise me you'll be safe."
"I will, Mom," Jackson replied softly, holding her tight. He pulled back, his eyes glistening with emotion. "I'll be careful. I promise."
Isaiah stood beside them, arms crossed, trying to hide the worry on his face, but Jackson could see the faint tremor in his father's hands. "You're really doing this, huh?" Isaiah's voice was rough. "I can't stop you, Jackson, but I can't help but wish you'd stay. The world's dangerous. You can't even imagine what's out there."
"I know, Dad," Jackson said, taking a step back and looking his father in the eyes. "But I've trained for this. I'm ready. I'll come back, and I'll tell you everything. About the places I see, the people I meet… the adventures I'll have. I won't let you down."
Isaiah didn't say anything for a moment, his gaze softening. Finally, he nodded, his voice quieter. "I know you won't, Jackson. Just be smart out there. And if you ever need us, we're here."
Jackson smiled, feeling a mix of pride and sadness. "I will. I'll be back before you know it."
Just then, Captain William Fox, with his thick red beard and twirling mustache, walked over with a grin, his voice booming as he approached the dock. "Alright, kid! Time to stop talking and start working. We're leaving soon, and there's no time for sentimental goodbyes!"
Jackson laughed, a bit of tension easing from his shoulders. He nodded toward his parents. "I've got to go now. I'll make you proud, I promise. And I'll be back to tell you all about it. The East Blue isn't ready for me yet."
Aiko wiped her eyes, a smile breaking through her tears. "I'll be waiting for your letters, Jackson. Stay safe and don't forget about us."
Isaiah gave him a firm nod. "Come back in one piece, son. We'll be waiting for you."
Jackson turned to the ship and waved one last time. "I'll be back. I'll make you proud. I love you both."
As he walked toward the ship, the captain barked orders at the crew, and Jackson moved to help without hesitation. He felt the sting of his parents' gaze on him as he climbed aboard the Bell Leah. There was so much left unsaid, but Jackson knew that this was what he had to do. The world was waiting, and he couldn't afford to look back now.
"Alright, you there!" Captain Fox called out, his voice sharp and full of authority. "Grab that rope and help secure the rigging! We've got a long journey ahead!"
Jackson gave one final glance over his shoulder, yelling across the dock with all his might. "I'll be back soon, and I'll tell you all about it! Keep an eye out for me!"
The ship's crew continued their work, but Jackson felt his parents' eyes on him. Their pride and love were with him as he turned toward the sea, a mixture of excitement and nerves bubbling in his chest. He wasn't sure what the future held, but he was certain of one thing—this was just the beginning.
With the wind at his back and the sound of the captain's orders ringing in his ears, Jackson knew that his adventure had truly begun.
As the Bell Leah sailed away from Shimotsuki Village, Jackson stood at the edge of the ship, his heart still heavy with the departure from his parents. The East Blue stretched out before him, a vast, unknown world full of opportunity and danger. The wind tugged at his clothes, and he could already feel the change in the air. This was it. He was out in the world now, and there was no going back.
But as the days passed, reality began to set in. Jackson had joined the crew, eager to prove himself, but he quickly realized that not all of the sailors on the ship were welcoming. At first, the teasing was light—mostly words tossed his way when the crew was bored or in a bad mood. They called him a "landlubber" or "just a kid," and made jabs about his size. Jackson let it roll off his back. He wasn't there to fight anyone. He had a job to do, and he was determined to do it well.
The teasing continued for a few days, mostly harmless verbal jabs. But soon, one of the larger crew members, a burly man named Doss, decided to push things further. One morning, as Jackson was helping with the ropes, Doss shoved him roughly, laughing.
"Watch where you're going, boy," Doss sneered, his breath reeking of alcohol.
Jackson steadied himself, narrowing his eyes. "I'm just doing my job."
Doss chuckled darkly, stepping closer, towering over him. "Your job is to stay out of the way. You think you can handle this ship, kid?"
Jackson gritted his teeth but said nothing. He wasn't about to rise to the bait. He'd been through worse than taunts and insults, but the man wasn't letting up. Doss pushed Jackson again, a little harder this time, his eyes glinting with malice.
"Move, or I'll make you move," Doss growled.
At this point, Jackson had had enough. He wasn't going to let anyone think they could walk all over him, not after all the training he'd done. Not after everything he'd endured. He didn't want trouble, but he wasn't going to be a punching bag, either.
He turned to face Doss, his stance firm. "I don't want to fight. I'm here to work, not cause trouble. But if you push me again, you'll regret it."
Doss smirked, clearly thinking he could intimidate the boy. "You talk a big game for someone who hasn't even broken a sweat. How about you show me what you've got?"
Before Jackson could respond, Doss raised a hand, clearly ready to shove him again, but this time Jackson was ready. In one fluid motion, he stepped forward and struck.
His finger shot out like a bullet, piercing the air and slamming directly into the wooden table that stood between him and Doss. The crew around them stopped what they were doing as the sound of splintering wood rang out. Jackson's finger went clean through the table, the wood cracking and splintering as if it were paper.
The crew went silent.
Jackson stood there, his finger still pressed into the table, his body calm despite the violence of the display. He slowly pulled his finger back, leaving a hole in the thick wood, and looked Doss straight in the eye.
"Do you get it now?" he asked, his voice quiet but carrying a weight that silenced the entire crew. "I don't want to fight you. I'd rather be your friend. But if you're determined to make me your enemy, I can be the worst one you've ever had. I've got the strength to back it up. You're not the only one who can throw a punch."
Doss stood frozen for a moment, his eyes wide with surprise, clearly processing what had just happened. The rest of the crew, who had been watching the interaction with a mix of amusement and indifference, now looked at Jackson in a different light. They hadn't expected that.
Captain William Fox, who had been watching the scene unfold from the corner of the deck, strode over with a smirk on his face. "Well, well," he said, his voice booming in approval. "Looks like the kid's got a bit of fire after all." He turned to Doss, who was still stunned. "Now, unless you want the rest of the crew to see what Jackson can do to you, I suggest you let it go."
The tension in the air slowly began to dissipate, and Doss took a step back, his expression sour but his pride wounded. He hadn't expected the quiet kid to stand his ground so fiercely. "You're lucky I'm not in the mood for this," Doss muttered, then turned and walked away, muttering under his breath.
Jackson took a deep breath, his heart still pounding. He wasn't a violent person, but he wasn't going to let anyone intimidate him either. He had made his point, and the crew seemed to understand it.
Jackson looked over at the rest of the crew, who had gone quiet. "I'm here to work," he said firmly, meeting each of their eyes. "I don't want any trouble. But if you push me, I'll stand my ground. So, if you want me to be part of this crew, we can work together. But I'll never back down if you try to hurt me."
Captain Fox gave a loud, hearty laugh. "Well said, kid. I like your spirit. Just don't go around putting anymore holes in my tables, alright?"
Jackson let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, nodding in agreement. "I'll keep that in mind."
The crew seemed to relax, and with that, Jackson went back to his duties, knowing that he had earned their respect—at least for now. It wasn't the kind of start he had hoped for, but it was the start he needed. Jackson was ready to face whatever came his way, both on the ship and beyond.
And as the Bell Leah sailed further into the East Blue, Jackson knew one thing for certain: his adventure had just begun, and no one was going to push him around again.
The tension on the ship didn't last long. After the confrontation with Doss, Jackson's position among the crew shifted. The initial cold reception began to thaw, and over time, he earned their respect—not with more displays of strength, but with his willingness to help, his work ethic, and his quiet determination.
Every morning, Jackson was up before sunrise, ready to help with the unloading or the setting of the sails. He quickly learned the ins and outs of life on the sea—how to properly tie knots, how to navigate the rigging, and how to maintain the ship. It wasn't glamorous, but Jackson didn't mind. He was eager to learn, always the first to lend a hand when needed, whether it was scrubbing the deck, helping with the sails, or carrying heavy loads. His enthusiasm and helpfulness didn't go unnoticed, and over time, the crew began to warm up to him.
It wasn't long before they started calling him Shadow. It wasn't a nickname Jackson had expected, but it fit perfectly. It started as a joke—at first, the crew teased him for always being near someone, always ready to help, as if he were a shadow following them around. But as time passed, the name stuck. Jackson didn't mind at all; in fact, he liked it. It was a reflection of how integrated he had become with the crew—always present, always ready to lend a hand.
"Hey, Shadow!" called one of the sailors as Jackson passed by, carrying a heavy crate. "Grab that rope over there, will ya?"
"On it," Jackson replied with a smile, his feet already moving toward the rope without needing to be told twice.
Even Doss, the burly man who had caused trouble at the beginning, started to warm up to him. At first, Doss had been standoffish, still carrying a chip on his shoulder after the incident with the table. But as Jackson continued to show that he wasn't interested in fighting, that he wasn't some entitled brat, Doss's attitude started to shift. Slowly, Doss started to see Jackson as just another member of the crew, and while he didn't talk much, he'd nod in approval whenever Jackson did something well.
One day, after Jackson had helped Doss with the heavy lifting on the deck, Doss turned to him and muttered, "You're not as bad as I thought."
Jackson chuckled, adjusting the strap of the crate on his shoulder. "I told you. I'm just here to work."
Doss grunted and walked away, but this time, there was no malice in his steps. Just a quiet acceptance.
The crew, too, began to respect Jackson's work ethic. They saw him take on every task with a determination that was hard to ignore, and soon, he found himself sharing meals with them in the mess hall, swapping stories of their various adventures. The older sailors told him wild tales of distant islands, legendary sea monsters, and pirates they'd crossed paths with. Jackson hung on every word, eager to learn, absorbing every detail.
There was a particular moment when Jackson and one of the older sailors, a man named Griff, were working together on the rigging. Jackson had just helped adjust the sail, and Griff, impressed with his quick learning, threw an arm around his shoulder.
"Not bad, kid," Griff said with a grin. "You're catching on quick. You'll be a full-fledged sailor in no time."
"Thanks, Griff," Jackson said, beaming with pride.
The crew laughed, clinking their mugs together in a toast. Shadow had finally earned his place among them, not through strength or power, but through his willingness to help, his desire to learn, and his dedication to the crew. They had become a family of sorts—rough around the edges, but good at heart.
Even Doss started to open up more. While he still grumbled a lot and had his moments of stubbornness, he had become one of the crew Jackson felt he could trust, even if he didn't always show it in the most obvious ways.
One evening, as they sat around the fire on deck after a long day of sailing, Jackson found himself laughing along with the crew. They were telling stories of their past adventures—some funny, some harrowing—but it was one of the first times Jackson felt fully at home among them. It wasn't just about the work; it was about the camaraderie.
Griff raised his mug, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Alright, Shadow," he said, "what about you? You've been with us a while now. Got any good stories? You've been quiet, but we're all dying to know."
Jackson chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "I don't know about stories, but I can tell you this much—life on the sea is nothing like I expected. It's harder than I thought, but it's also... I don't know, kind of amazing."
The crew laughed, the warmth from the fire flickering in their faces. Even Doss let out a rare chuckle.
"Good to hear, Shadow," Doss said, raising his mug in a nod of approval.
Jackson smiled and leaned back, watching the stars above. It was still a long way from home, and his journey was just beginning, but he had found a place here, among these rough-and-tumble sailors. They weren't just a crew—they were his companions, and Jackson was beginning to think of them as family.
The East Blue was full of mysteries, and Jackson was ready to face whatever came next. He was no longer just the kid from Shimotsuki Village. He was a part of something bigger now. And with the Bell Leah cutting through the waves, Jackson couldn't help but feel that the adventure he had long dreamed of was finally taking shape.