One Piece: It's always been you

Chapter 116 Is Sha Youlan dead?

Yu interjected, "Then why don't you just keep showing up in front of him on time every day, just like before?"

“My brother’s condition worsened after that illness. Before, I could come home late from school activities without any problems, but after that, I couldn’t.”

"I refused all invitations from friends, and my brother wouldn't allow anyone I was too close to to show up, because he was afraid I'd be taken away. Gradually, I had no friends and could only stay in my room, reading the comic books I used to love."

"Can't you just knock him out and run away?" You pondered for a moment.

Sha Youlan felt somewhat helpless after hearing You's words, "The two worlds are different, You can't use this world to think about that world. Besides, even if I can knock my brother unconscious, I have a tracking device installed on me, so I will still be found."

"The chip that was implanted in my body during my brother's illness cannot be removed."

Yu didn't quite understand, but the thought of something being injected into her body was terrifying.

I never expected that so-called older brother to be so terrifying. He's unpredictable, like a ticking time bomb.

"Hmm, you don't think that your brother and Auntie are the same, so you feel sorry for Katakuri, do you?" Thinking about it, it seems like there might be some truth to that.

Sha Youlan neither nodded nor shook her head. "It doesn't matter anymore. I have already paid the price with my life for my actions. From now on, there is no Sha Youlan, only you, You."

"You're dead?"

"Everything comes at a price, especially something like time travel that only exists in novels. I still don't understand why we survived; you'll have to find our mother to find out."

Yu gestured for her to wait, "If you die, then I won't be able to go back, right?" Sharant and Celluloid had always wanted her to go back, and the only way to go back was for her to die.

Then, does that mean she died in every world?!

"I don't know, but you must protect yourself until you find your mother and ask her."

"Oh, right, this is for you." Sha Youlan took out a deep blue crystal.

Yu remembered this; she had made it by accident before, and then, not knowing its purpose, gave it to Katakuri.

"What is this for?"

“Didn’t Dad say that this crystal can open the entrance to the Illusionary Cave Island? You gave yours to Kakashi, and I have one too, so I’ll give it to you for now.”

Yu took the crystal. She vaguely remembered that Samojiu had said something like that, but she had forgotten about the crystal at the time. "Why did you say it was temporary, and why do I have to return it to you?"

"No, give this to Ace later. The crystal is connected to our lives. You can think of it as a life card. It can guide our direction, but what makes it more powerful than a life card is that it can pay with one's life."

Suddenly, I felt the crystal in my hand was very heavy. It was the first time I realized that this crystal had such a great effect.

“Ace is your brother, you certainly don’t want him to die, right? So listen to me, give him this. If his life is in danger, my life can take his.”

Sayuran meant that Ace would die. Yu didn't want to see that happen, but she hesitated about exchanging Sayuran's life for Ace's. "Then you'll die too."

Sha Youlan smiled and replied, "I was already dead, but I probably have an independent consciousness, so I also possess a crystal." It's as if brain death is the only true death, and her consciousness has been preserved.

"You don't need to hesitate, I also have conditions."

“I hope you can treat my brother kindly, I know it’s a bit of a stretch. But my brother just can’t accept losing us, his little sisters. He became like this because he was abandoned when he was young.”

Her brother was just too stubborn, and Sha Youlan knew she was partly responsible for this outcome. But she didn't have the courage to stay with her brother until he recovered; she felt she had let him down.

Yu didn't know what to say, so she could only try to agree. Having not experienced someone else's life, she couldn't offer any judgment.

Just like with Doflamingo, when Yu was with my brother, he genuinely thought he was alright. Of course, after Doflamingo personally killed Rosinante's brother, Yu no longer viewed him that way.

"By the way, my crystal is with Kakashi. Could I take his life in exchange?"

“Yes.” Sha Youlan could tell that You was somewhat unwilling, and it made sense; she was definitely uncomfortable seeing Kakashi treat her like this.

But actually, Katakuri was protecting her. That's great. The person she used to like has now fallen for her too.

"Although I am inside you, my consciousness is separate. So while you are asleep, I can be awake."

“Brûlée knew about Big Mom and Celluloid’s plan long ago through the mirror, and Katakuri also knew and arranged for you to leave. Didn’t you notice that Brûlée wasn’t there that day?”

Yes, Pudding suddenly fell ill that day and couldn't go; Brûlée went to take care of her. Yu originally wanted to stay and take care of Pudding, but the chess soldier called him away.

“Bree and Praline were already prepared to rescue you underwater. You can’t beat Big Mom, and you can’t escape. He can only blow you up and then send you away.”

Fearing that You wouldn't believe her, Sha Youlan added, "You can ask Luo how you got here." Sha Youlan told You everything she knew, as they both cared about each other and there shouldn't be any misunderstandings.

Seeing that You was clearly more relaxed, Sha Youlan smiled with relief.

“Yu, you care about each other more than the other realizes. Even if he stabbed you, you still can’t help but go to his arms and cry in his arms to express your dissatisfaction.”

"Kari also felt sorry for you. But she only dared to comfort you gently, and in the end, she entrusted you to Law." Before she even realized her brother was sick, she would act the same way. She would whine to her brother, complain to him, and sulk with him.

But then everything changed.

Sayuran is merely a consciousness and cannot engage in conversation for extended periods. She only showed signs of awakening when Yu encountered Katakuri, and has remained in a semi-conscious state within Yu ever since, until this time when Sayuran appeared before him.

She was just trying to tell Yu something, hoping to offer some help.

Now that I've said so much, I'm going to fall into a deep sleep again. This sleep will probably last for more than ten years, by which time the Battle of Marineford will have already taken place.

If the plot remains unchanged, Crystal will sacrifice her life for Ace's, so she probably won't wake up again.

After the Marineford War, Luffy begins his journey into the New World, and she witnesses the end of Whole Cake Island. Yu's journey is still very long, but that's alright; she will walk it well. She is the messenger of the sea.

"You, take good care of yourself." Sha Youlan gave You a warm smile, and then disappeared from her sight.