The soft sound of footsteps slowly approaching her door alerted the young raven-haired girl that someone was about to interrupt her reading.

"Madam Raindra, your father requests your presence."

A soft-spoken voice called to her through the dark oak door to her room and the young lady, around nine years old, sighed silently to herself as she tore her storm-cloud colored eyes from the written words of the book she held in her hands.

"I'll be right there Merry."

Raindra called to the curly white-haired butler she knew to be standing on the other side of her door. She could only imagine what her father wanted to see her about. She had snuck out again yesterday and had been brought back by one of her father's men. He had sent her straight to her room without supper, but had yet to give her a proper punishment.

Sighing again as she got to her feet, Raindra couldn't help but wonder if it would have been better if her mother had managed to convince her father to let her go with her when she left. Raindra could still remember the day her mother chose to leave them. It was the last time she had seen her mother, and it was the same day her father chose to quit being a pirate.

The clouds drifting above grew dark with the promise of a storm as the ship continued to sail on the choppy waters of the sea in its attempt to find the nearest island. A young girl with midnight-colored hair ran about the ship, laughing as two men dressed as cats chased her. Her mother had cancelled lessons for the day and said she was free to do as she pleased so long as she didn't bother her father or the rest of the crew too much. The young four year old had instantly gone to find the Meowban Brothers. The two brothers were always willing to play a game of tag.

"Catch me if you caaaan~"

Raindra sang with a giggle as she managed to slide between Buchi's legs and made a mad dash for the closest hiding place as Sham chased after her.

Ducking into the room on her right, Raindra muffled her giggles with her hands as the two brother ran past her hiding place, completely oblivious to the fact she was just inches from them. She was about to run back out when the sound of her father's voice stopped her dead in her tracks.

"And just what do you think you are doing?"

Turning to try and look at her father, assuming he was talking to her, she was about to apologize for running into his room without permission when her mother's voice sounded.

"I'm leaving Kuro. I can't do this anymore. I can't keep pretending that we're a happy little family on a merchant's ship. Not when I know the truth."

Creeping closer, Raindra hid behind one of her father's bookshelves and peered through a gap between two giant books to see her father glaring hatefully at her mother and her mother with a frown on her face.

"I'm taking Raindra with me."

"To hell you are!"

Raindra bit her lip to prevent herself from squealing at her father's tone. He was scary when angry. Why was her mother upsetting him? What did she mean she was leaving?

"She my daughter Kuro, you can't stop me."

Raindra watched as her mother turned to leave, but her father grabbed her wrist, making her spin back around to face him. Her dark blue hair whirling around her with the movement.

"She is my daughter too Kimiko, or had you forgotten? You'll not be taking her anywhere."

Kuro threatened and Raindra could see her mother shaking, she couldn't see from where she was, the tears that streamed down her mother's face as she came to terms with the fact she wasn't going to be able to win this fight. If she tried taking her by force, she had no doubt that Kuro would have her killed. He was no longer the man she fell in love with. Or perhaps, he had never been the man she thought him to be and this was his true self. Either way, she couldn't bear to stay aboard this ship any longer.

"I'll leave as soon as we make landfall. Until then, I will spend my remaining time with my daughter."

Kimiko spat hatefully before tearing her wrist from Kuro's grip and walking out of the room. Not wasting any time, Raindra backed away from her hiding spot as silently as she could before turning and running out of the room to find her mother. She didn't understand, but she didn't want her mom to leave.

Frowning at the memory from so long ago, Raindra mentally shook herself to clear her mind before knocking on the door that led to her father's room. She waited until she heard her father tell her to come inside before pushing the door open and walking inside.

"Raindra."

Kuro greeted, turning in the dark brown leather seat he was in by his desk to face her. Standing up straight with her hands behind her back, Raindra waited for him to continue. She had learned long ago not to say anything unless spoken to or asked a question. Her father was rather….strict. She could see him pushing his glasses up using the palm of his hand and shivered slightly when she remembered just why it was he had that weird habit. She had learned four years ago, the same day her mother left, the harsh truth about who her father actually was. He had never done anything to harm her and she didn't think he would, though she also tried not to provoke him either. At least when she could help it.

"You snuck out again."

Kuro stated, he didn't ask and Raindra knew he was displeased from the glint in his coal-black eyes.

"Why do you continue to disobey me Raindra?"

He asked and Raindra took a calming breath before answering her father.

"I just went out to play father. It gets so boring inside the mansion. Jango won't play with me and you left the Meowban Brothers and the rest of the crew on the ship so I don't have anyone to play with. The village kids-"

"The village kids have no business near here and you will do well to remember that!"

Flinching at her father's tone, Raindra watched as her father returned to the paperwork on his desk. The worst of his anger was gone now, he usually busied himself when he got too irritated to continue arguing with her.

"But father, if you would allow me to leave the mansion's courtyards then they wouldn't be anywhere near here. I could go play with them and come back before dark."

Raindra ventured, hoping her father would see the logic in her argument, though at the still of his quill she knew she was wrong.

"What are the names of these village children? We shall invite them to the field outside the mansion's gate so you can play."

Kuro said and from the chill that ran down her spine Raindra knew her father had no intention of letting her play with those children. If she gave him their names she was almost completely certain she would see their parents attending their funerals.

"I-I don't know their names father, they never tell me because I'm a girl."

She told him and caught the faintest of smirks on her father's pale face before he resumed his writing.

"You are to stay within the gates of the mansion and to make sure you follow these rules, Jango will accompany you until I decide your punishment is over. Is that understood?"

Her father asked, but she knew she didn't actually have a choice in the matter.

"Yes father."

She answered reluctantly before being dismissed. As soon as the door closed behind her she spun and stuck her tongue out at the dark oak door.

'I don't need a babysitter. Least of all Jango.'

Raindra thought bitterly before turning to head back to her room. She didn't miss the sound of footsteps that followed her and sighed as she realized her babysitter had been told about his duties already. Now how was she supposed to go play with Usopp and the others?