One Piece: Shanks' Little Jasmine

Chapter 43 The Adorable Little Leopard

Moko is temporarily out of work, so she decides to go to Sabaody Archipelago first. Moko's branch base will be temporarily located in Sabaody Archipelago. In the following year, the base will be located in Sabaody Archipelago and will be developed to the surrounding islands. The Sabaody Archipelago happens to be the island with the most efficient information flow, so Moko can develop rapidly in Sabaody Archipelago.

When Garp left, he gave Moko a pass, and Moko easily boarded the warship that was going to the Sabaody Archipelago to change to the night shift. The navy on the warship did not dare to approach Moko casually because of Garp's reputation, so Moko got some peace and quiet.

Halfway through the journey, a light rain began to fall. By the time they reached Chambord, the rain had intensified, and Chambord experienced a rare rainy day.

Mo Ke slowly walked towards where Mo Xiang was, holding an umbrella. Large, dark clouds loomed overhead, and heavy rain pelted down. On both sides of the street, the doors and windows of the shops were tightly closed, with faint light shining through the cracks in the doors. A few streetlights stood forlornly by the roadside, their dim yellow glow swaying in the night, as if they would go out at any moment.

A boy wearing a fluffy hat with leopard spots huddled in a corner of the house. His eyes were filled with death and loneliness as he stared blankly at the small pond rippling with raindrops. He was indifferent to the bleeding wounds on his body. The cold sound of the rain pattering down on him was ignored. No one paid attention to this dark corner. The boy seemed to have been forgotten in a corner of the world.

Aren't you going to take shelter from the rain?

A soft voice came from behind. The boy looked up at the person who had stopped in front of him. She was wearing a plain white dress with long, pink curly hair that was casually draped behind her. Her orange-pink eyes were filled with tenderness and worry.

Mo Ke tilted her umbrella towards the boy, shielding him from the torrential rain. "My shop is up ahead. How about we go for a cup of hot tea to warm ourselves up?"

Her soft voice touched his heartstrings. Mo Ke pointed to the jasmine in front of her and then reached out her hand to the boy. The boy looked at the jasmine in front of him. The jasmine was bathed in warm yellow light and had a sweet fragrance. The person in front of him also had a sweet fragrance. His delicate face showed that he had lived in the light since he was a child, which was out of place with the darkness he was in.

"Leave me alone!"

"Snapped!"

The boy slapped Moko's hand away hard, and Moko's fair hand instantly turned red. The boy found the red color somewhat glaring, and a moment of panic and helplessness flashed in his eyes, but he quickly returned to his dejected and impatient look, turning back into the little hedgehog covered in sharp thorns.

Moko crouched down and looked at the boy with gentle eyes, without the slightest anger or impatience.

"It looks like it's going to rain for a while longer, and it's really uncomfortable to wear wet clothes."

The voice was soft and slow, as if it possessed a magical power, and it seeped irresistibly into the boy's heart. A dense, itchy sensation rose in his heart; it wasn't uncomfortable, but he felt helpless.

Moko reached out again, but didn't touch the boy. She just held her hand out. The boy looked at Moko, and the umbrella was clearly tilted towards him. Moko's clothes were also soaked. Such a beautiful person shouldn't be tainted by this dust.

The boy knew he probably looked like a beggar, but the person still stopped in front of him. There was no contempt or disdain in his eyes; instead, he was incredibly gentle, like warm sunshine that so easily warmed the heart and was impossible to ignore.

Suddenly flustered, the boy pulled down his sleeve and held back his restless hand. He wanted to hold that warm hand, but hesitated. He was too dirty. If she knew he was sick, she would definitely hate him.

Moko noticed the boy's wavering, and with a smile, she reached out and took his hand. The boy looked at Moko in surprise, and before he could react, he was pulled up and led towards the shop with its warm yellow lights.

"What's your name?"

"...Luo."

After a long silence, Luo answered softly. Luo looked at Mo Ke holding his hand, which was fair, slender, clean, and warm, completely different from his own.

"My name is Moko, you can call me sister if you want."

Moko's figure wasn't tall; on the contrary, she was rather thin. But it gave Luo a strange sense of peace. Even though it was so dark around him, he felt that Moko was glowing, with a faint white halo around her, like an angel from his sister's fairy tale book. She descended upon him during his most painful time, leading him towards a warm paradise, and his pain seemed to lessen considerably.

"Ding-a-ling~"

"Welcome, Guang, Sister Moko! You're all soaked. Oh dear, this child!"

"It's a little leopard we found outside, isn't it cute!" Moko winked playfully.

Salika smiled helplessly. She was used to her older sister bringing back people or animals from time to time. As long as her sister was happy, that was all that mattered. It wasn't like she couldn't afford to raise them.

"Sister Moko, go change your clothes first. Little one, I'll take you to change your clothes."

Salika beckoned to Luo, who warily hid behind Moko, gripping Moko's hand tightly and remaining silent with his lips pursed.

Moko chuckled, "Salica, I'll take him there. Could you please make some sweet ginger tea?"

"it is good."

Salica didn't find Luo's appearance strange. After all, all the children in the orphanage and the staff of Moko liked Moko very much, and many children with autism only wanted to interact with Moko. There was nothing strange about Luo's appearance.

In the bathroom, Moke filled the tub with hot water and added some medicine from the cabinet. The clear water gradually turned a light grassy green.

Luo watched as Mo Ke fiddled with the medicine, noticing that the back of his fair hand, which he had just patted open, was still a little red. He lowered his head in annoyance and shame.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to hit you."

Moko's eyes were gentle as she smiled and shook her head, lightly patting Luo's head. "I know, but you should take a good bath first, so you don't catch a cold."

As soon as she finished speaking, Mo Ke left the room. Luo pursed her lips, her eyes filled with a hazy mist of emotion.

Luo soaked in the bathtub, her eyes comfortably squinting. The water, with added medicinal herbs, had a faint bluish hue and a delicate medicinal aroma, which helped her tense nerves relax.

Stretching out his arm, Luo noticed that most of his wounds had healed, leaving only healed scars and patches of white spots. Was this medicinal bath really that effective? Was it some kind of miracle drug? He wondered if it was just his imagination, but the white spots on his body seemed smaller and lighter in color. Was it just his imagination?

After taking a bath, Luo saw clean clothes neatly folded to the side. The clothes seemed to have been scented with herbs, carrying a faint herbal fragrance and a sweet smell, which smelled very nice.

Moko changed into dry clothes and came downstairs, just as Salica brought out the sweet ginger tea.

"Sister, the sweet ginger tea is ready."

"Thank you, Salica. You go and inform Yubi and the others first. I'll take care of the rest."

"Okay, Sister Moko."

Salica went into the small kitchen and went out through the back door. Moko drank a cup of sweet ginger tea, took a breath, then took off her apron, tied it up, and tied her hair. Thinking that the little guy upstairs probably hadn't eaten yet, she decided to make something to warm his stomach.

Moko takes out the eggs and beats them, adds a little salt, potato starch and milk and stirs well. After heating the pan, pour in an appropriate amount of oil, pour the egg mixture in slowly and stir constantly until the eggs become semi-cooked and fluid. Use chopsticks to push from the edge inwards until it is wrapped and shaped. Finally, put it on the fried rice and sprinkle with Eriol grass powder.

"Luo, I made omelet rice. Come and have some first."

Moko waved to the short-haired boy with black hair coming down the stairs. Before Luo could react, he found himself being pulled to sit at the dining table by Moko. The omelet rice in front of him glistened with an enticing sheen and aroma, and Luo couldn't help but swallow.

"This is sweet ginger tea, which can ward off the cold. Your wet clothes and hat have been taken to be dried and will be returned later. Eat something while you wait, there's no need to rush."

Perhaps it was the fatigue and hunger that came over him after taking a bath, or perhaps it was the irresistible smell of the omelet rice, but Luo picked up a spoon and ate it in big bites, with tears welling up in his eyes.

Watching Luo start eating heartily, Mo Ke breathed a barely perceptible sigh of relief. When she walked near Mo Xiang, she smelled blood and then saw Luo with vacant eyes, squatting in the corner like a little leopard wearing a leopard-print hat.

Sensing Luo's confusion and loneliness, and the despair that permeated his entire being, Mo Ke was filled with thoughts of how the child's heart might die if she left him alone, which would be too pitiful. Fortunately, the child still had the will to live, and she could pull him back from despair.

Moko's gaze swept lightly over the fading white patches on Luo's arm. She had already used her healing power to heal Luo's wound when they held hands. The external injury wasn't serious, but she hadn't expected that this child would have platinum lead poisoning. Was that why she subconsciously pulled on his sleeve before holding his hand?

The burned-down "white town" of Flevans has such a young survivor, all alone. He must be very lonely, which is why he exudes such a strong atmosphere of sorrow and despair.

She has already left healing power in Luo's body, and he should be fully recovered soon. However, it will probably take longer for the white patches to fade, since the white patches have been there for a long time. But children grow up quickly, and there won't be any scars left, so there's no need to worry too much.

Luo was still dazed when he lay in bed, looking completely unaware of what had happened. He had originally planned to leave after his clothes dried, but after being persuaded by Mo Ke, he decided to rest well for the night and leave tomorrow.

The sound of rain pattering on leaves and bubbles bursting came from outside the window, but Luo didn't feel cold or lonely. The warm blankets, the fluffy plush toys, the faint scent of herbs, and the warm yellow light that Moko had specially left on—everything felt like a dream. Compared to the huge bedroom that man had prepared, this bedroom was much cozier and more reassuring. His body even seemed to be pain-free. It was so tempting. Did he really deserve to stay in such a comforting place...?

Moko quietly opened the door and saw Luo sleeping soundly while hugging a plush toy. A gentle smile appeared in her eyes.

Goodnight, my adorable little leopard.

Luo woke up very early. It had stopped raining outside, and the sky was just beginning to lighten. The morning air was still a bit cold and damp. Luo tidied up the bedroom, changed his clothes, put on his hat, took one last lingering look at the bedroom, and then resolutely closed the door.

This is the only beautiful thing he has encountered in the rest of his life. He cannot be greedy for more. This is enough, enough for him to cherish and live out the rest of his life.

"You're awake so early? Did you sleep well last night?"

Luo looked at Moko sitting in the restaurant with some shock. The table next to Moko was piled with documents, and it looked like she hadn't slept all night.

Luo slowly walked downstairs, somewhat afraid to look Moke in the eye, and nodded slightly.

"Ah."

"That's good... Are you planning to leave?"

"Ah."

Seeing Luo, who dared not look up, Mo Ke chuckled, got up and went into the kitchen. When she came out, she was carrying a backpack.

"I made rice balls. Remember to eat breakfast. If you need any help, come to Jasmine."

Luo turned around with his backpack and looked at Mo Ke standing at the entrance of Mo Xiang. She was still standing there, her eyes gentle as water. Luo felt that all the brilliance in the world was gathered on Mo Ke, making it impossible to look away. His heart unconsciously wanted to rush into this safe haven.

Suppressing the tears welling up in his eyes, Luo bowed to Moke, then quickly turned and ran away. He was already very happy to have felt this moment of warmth before he died; he couldn't ask for more. He couldn't be too greedy.