"The time is the Great Pirate Era!"
"Countless pirates fight desperately for the One Piece, the great treasure left behind by Gold Roger, the Pirate King."
"Y/n L/n, a young man whose body can transform into a buffalo after eating the Ox Ox Fruit Model Water Buffalo, also takes the sea to become the Pirate King."
"As Y/n and his friends overcome numerous adventures, the World Government is less and less able to ignore their existence."
"The crew, on its way to the New World, will speed along the Grand Line again today!"
The bounty hunters tightened their formation, surrounding Y/n and Kieran like wolves, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. The chains in Dorian's hands rattled as he gave them a slow, testing twirl. His sharp, sunken yellow eyes gleamed with amusement, but something else lurked behind them...a personal grudge.
Watching this, Y/n hummed, hands sliding into his pockets as he turned to Kieran. "So... how do you usually fight?" he asked, making Kieran side-glance at him, lips barely twitching into what might've been a smirk. "I have my ways," he muttered before rolling his shoulders.
"But since it's come to this, we won't have a choice..." he trailed off as he reached for the clasps of his cloak. In one smooth motion, Kieran shrugged off the dark fabric, letting it fall to the ground.
Kieran's arms, now fully visible, were clad in dual gauntlets with intricately crafted, blackened steel covering his forearms and hands, segmented with layered plating. The gauntlets extended over his knuckles, ending in blunt, reinforced points. Embedded into the metal were small chain links woven seamlessly into the design, glinting under the dim forest light.
Seeing this, Y/n whistled low. "Damn. That looks sick," he said as Kieran smirked at Y/n's reaction but didn't get the chance to reply as Dorian's chain lashed through the air, the heavy links aimed straight for Kieran's head.
*Whoosh*
*CLANG*
Thankfully, he dodged, the force of the swing whipping past his face and embedding into the ground with a metallic thud. And on cue, the bounty hunters lunged at once. Y/n immediately burst forward, his foot slamming into the dirt as he twisted into a spinning roundhouse kick, sending the first bounty hunter reeling into another.
Without pausing, he charged at the next attacker. "Adamantine Kata: Ironbreaker!" he shouted. His fist tensed, muscles tightening as he drove his knuckles into the hunter's gut, the sheer force sending them skidding across the forest floor.
Another came from the side, swinging a pair of serrated daggers. However, Y/n's movements flickered before he could be hit, confusing the hunter. "Flame Kata: Flashfire," said Y/n as his form blurred with afterimages trailing behind. He reappeared behind a group, already twisting mid-air.
"Ironbreaker Chain!" said Y/n, unleashing a relentless barrage of punches, each impact landing like a hammer blow. The bounty hunter's weapons shattered under the pressure before he collapsed in a heap.
On the other side, Kieran fought with controlled brutality. His gauntlets hissed as he slammed his fists together. "I guess it's time for another beatdown for you guys, no?" he said as a faint glow of haki ran through his gauntlets, covering them before he dashed into the fray.
"Abyssal Strike!" shouted Kieran. His right arm swung forward in a brutal arc, his entire body twisting into the punch as it crashed into an opponent's raised weapon. The sheer force cracked the blade apart before the impact carried into the bounty hunter's ribs, launching them back.
Two more hunters charged. Kieran ducked under a swing, bringing up his left arm to deflect a strike, the reinforced plating of his gauntlet absorbing the impact. He countered with a swift, precise hook to the attacker's temple, knocking them out cold.
One bounty hunter tried to grab him from behind, but it was a big mistake as Kieran pivoted. Catching their arm and twisting, Kieran used their own momentum to flip them over his shoulder.
The moment they hit the ground, Kieran brought his gauntlet down in a hammering blow, knocking them unconscious. "Too easy," he said, looking to the side and seeing Y/n sending another bounty hunter crashing into a tree.
Seeing this, Dorian clicked his tongue. "Hmph. Bunch of dead weight," he said as his chains coiled around his arms like serpents. "Let me show you how it's done," said Dorian with a smirk before he swung his chain high, the links glowing as haki surged through them.
*Whoosh*
*Whoosh*
Then, with a twist of his wrist, he lashed the chains down. "Razorback Coil!" he said before the chains moved with unnatural precision, slicing through the air like a whip of jagged steel, cutting through trees and carving deep scars into the earth.
Y/n and Kieran barely dodged, splitting apart as the attack tore through where they had just stood. Kieran's eyes flicked toward Y/n. "You got that?" he asked, making Y/n smirk, catching his breath. "Oh, I got this," he said.
Dorian snarled and whipped his chain forward again. "Water Kata: Screw Cutter Jizo," said Y/n catching it mid-air. The impact shuddered up Y/n's arm, but his grin never wavered. "Heh. Not bad," he said before yanking the chain hard, throwing Dorian off balance.
Kieran, already reacting, lunged from behind. "Phantom Bind!" he said. With a flick of his wrist, a hidden chain mechanism within his gauntlets activated. The segmented links unravelled, wrapping around Dorian's right arm and pulling tight, restraining him in place.
Dorian's eyes widened. "What?!" he said as Y/n chuckled. "Looks like we both had that idea," he said, making Kieran give a slight smirk. "Sure you did," he said before Y/n pulled Dorian forward while cocking his head back, haki flaring along his forehead.
*BAM*
"Adamantine Kata: Ironbreaker!" he shouted. The impact landed square between Dorian's eyes, the force rocking his entire skull backwards. His body lurched from the sheer force, his footing completely lost. He barely managed to pull his chain free, stumbling back as blood dripped from his nose.
Dorian growled, staggering upright. His face twisted with rage, but before he could attack again, Y/n was already moving. "Ironbreaker!" shouted Y/n, spinning into a devastating hell kick, his leg crashing onto Dorian's head. The sheer force drove him into the dirt, leaving a deep imprint.
Dorian groaned, the impact knocking him unconscious before he could even process what had happened. The surrounding bounty hunters, seeing their leader fall, hesitated. Their gazes darted between Y/n and Kieran, considering their options.
But when Y/n simply cracked his knuckles and Kieran adjusted his gauntlets, they made their choice and ran. Seeing this, Y/n stretched, sighing. "Well, that's taken care of," he said, waving lazily toward the forest's edge. "Time to get out of here," he said, but Kieran didn't follow. Y/n stopped, looking over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow.
"What's with the look?" asked Kieran, crossing his arms. "What's with the waiting?" Y/n retorted before turning to Kieran. "You said you planned to leave this island, right?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
Kieran raised an eyebrow at his question. "Yeah, and?" he asked, watching Y/n put his hands behind his head. "We're heading to Sabaody Archipelago. Could drop you off there if you want," he proposed, making Kieran scoff, almost amused.
"And why would I accept your help?" asked Kieran, making Y/n shrug lazily. "You don't have to. But we fought together, even for a little. Least I can do," he said before silence hung between them for a moment. Then, Kieran chuckled.
"Let's keep it real, 500 million man," he mused, pointing his gauntlet hand at Y/n. "You scratch my back. I scratch yours. That's the only reason we fought side by side," explained Kieran, making Y/n grin. "Never said otherwise," he said. Seeing his expression, Kieran exhaled sharply, then shook his head.
"Fine. Let's go. But don't think this makes us companions," he said, making Y/n laugh. "Tehehehahaha! Didn't say that either," he said before Kieran smirked, finally stepping forward. "No, but you implied it too heavily," he said, and with that, the two disappeared into the forest, heading toward the waiting ship.
~~~~~oOo~~~~~
The thick foliage of the Shadowveil forest rustled around them, the distant hum of nocturnal creatures filling the air as Y/n and Kieran walked in steady strides toward the cliffside. The canopy above them swayed lightly, letting faint beams of moonlight pierce through, creating shadows that danced along the forest floor.
They had been walking in silence for a while. The tension from their battle with Dorian and his bounty hunters had faded, leaving behind only the steady rhythm of their footsteps. Y/n stole a glance at Kieran, hands casually resting behind his head.
"So... what was your deal with that Dorian guy?" he asked, but Kieran's steps didn't slow. Still, his golden eyes flicked sideways toward Y/n, one brow raised in mild curiosity. "Wouldn't you like to know?" he replied, letting the question linger.
Chuckling, Y/n sensed Kieran wouldn't answer before he waved a hand lazily. "I mean, the guy wasn't just after your bounty. His glare was all personal vendetta. I've seen that kind of look before," Y/n added, tilting his head.
Understanding, Kieran merely chuckled briefly before reaching into his coat pocket. "Oh, that?" he mused. "Nothing too crazy," he said as his fingers wrapped around an object before casually holding it between them.
Y/n blinked, slowing his pace slightly. "Huh. That's different," he muttered, eyeing the object. It was a log pose. But not just any log pose. This one had three needles. The three thin needles wobbled subtly, each pointing in different directions.
"If you remember," Kieran continued, twirling the log pose idly between his fingers, "I told Dorian he should've stayed in Paradise for his own good," began Kieran, making Y/n nod. "And seeing how we dealt with him, it makes sense," he added before Kieran chuckled.
"Yeah, and he was a little mad at me because a few weeks back, I borrowed this from him," he said, throwing the log pose before catching it. Hearing this, Y/n let out a low whistle. "You stole his log pose? No wonder he looked like he wanted to strangle you," he said.
Kieran smirked, flicking the side of the device lightly. "Borrowed. Big difference," he corrected with amusement, making Y/n scoff, though the smile on his face showed what he truly felt. "Yeah, yeah. Let's say you borrowed it," he said before rubbing his chin.
"But wait, why's this one got three needles? The one Souta's been using only has one," said Y/n. Kieran hummed, giving the log pose a slight shake, watching the needles shift slightly. "That's because this is a New World log pose. The second half of the Grand Line is... unpredictable," he said before side-glancing at Y/n.
"Some islands shift their magnetic fields at random, while others just flat-out hide them altogether," added Kieran. Hearing this, Y/n's eyes widened slightly. "Damn, I didn't even know that," he admitted, tapping his chin. "So, the three needles are...?" he trailed off, making Kieran nod.
"They point to three different islands. The thing is, the New World doesn't work like Paradise. Some islands are absolute nightmares. This gives you options on which one to take," he added, making Y/n whistle again, shaking his head.
"The Grand Line really doesn't let up, huh? First, it's trying to kill you with unpredictable weather and sea monsters, and now the islands themselves can decide if they want to play hide and seek," he said, putting his hands behind his head. Hearing his, Kieran let out a small snort. "Basically," he said.
A beat of silence passed between them before Y/n rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "We should probably get one of those, then..." he mused as Kieran side-glanced at him. "You make it sound easy," he muttered before looking back at the log pose in his hand.
But then Y/n tilted his head. "Wait... so that means you're planning to go to the New World?" he asked as Kieran's gaze landed on him slightly before returning forward. He didn't answer right away. Instead, he rolled the log pose between his fingers, letting the needles spin momentarily before responding.
"I am," Kieran admitted finally. "After all, I did say I was looking for someone," he said, his gaze flickered to the device, golden eyes narrowing slightly. "And the only place I haven't looked... is the New World," he added.
At his words, Y/n didn't respond immediately. Instead, he simply smiled. Kieran furrowed his brows, side-glancing at him again. "What's with the look?" he asked as Y/n let out a laugh, shaking his head. "Nothing. Just thinking about stuff, you know?" replied Y/n.
Kieran's eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion. "That's the least convincing 'nothing' I've ever heard," he muttered. Y/n just grinned wider but didn't elaborate. "Is it? I didn't realise," he said, making Kieran let out a faint scoff.
Their conversation carried them to the edge of the cliff, where the treetops parted, revealing the ocean stretching out before them. Below, resting calmly near the rocky shore, was the Bellowy Diamond, its sails catching the faint night breeze as the waves lapped gently against its hull.
Y/n's grin widened at the sight. "Well, there's our stop," Y/n said, rolling his shoulders. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, leaping down toward the ship. Watching Y/n fall, Kieran exhaled through his nose, shaking his head in mild amusement.
"For whatever reason," he muttered. "I feel like I'm getting dragged into something I haven't accepted," he said, looking at the log pose in his hand and pocketing it. Then, after one last glance at the treeline behind them, Kieran sighed and followed, leaping down after Y/n.
~~~~~oOo~~~~~
The Bellowy Diamond rocked gently with the waves, the sails catching the faint breeze as the ship rested just off the coastline of Shadowveil Island. The crew had gathered on deck, the hum of low conversation filling the air as the ship prepared to set sail.
Souta leaned against the railing, lazily rolling his shoulders before he shot a glance toward the cliffside in the distance. "Yeah, this should be where Y/n shows up," he muttered, watching the sunlight treetops sway.
Fuyuto, at the helm, gave a slow nod before adjusting the wheel slightly. "Hope he didn't pick a fight with someone too crazy," he mused, though his amused tone suggested he didn't actually believe that would happen. Hearing this, Fuyune, sitting on a wooden crate nearby, closed her eyes and exhaled softly.
"...if he did... he's probably having fun and taking his time," she murmured, already used to her captain antic. At her words, Souta and Fuyuto exchanged a look before Fuyuto chuckled. "Oh, if only you knew what happened in the tavern," he said, shaking his head. Fuyune's brows furrowed slightly as she glanced at them in mild confusion.
*Thud*
"...tavern?" she echoed, but before she could press further, a small thud resonated beside her. Inoko had jumped from the crow nest, her narrowed eyes locked onto Fuyuto and Souta as she took slow, deliberate steps toward them. "Wait... are you telling me that..." she started, her voice dangerously slow, before her glare intensified.
"You got into a fight... without me!?" she asked, as silence fell on them. Fuyuto and Souta chuckled before the latter looked back at Inoko. "Honestly, it wasn't in the plan, to begin with," he said as Fuyuto only smirked. "Our bad?" Fuyuto offered weakly, but Inoko pouted. "That's not an apology!" she huffed, crossing her arms.
Standing near the mast, Mamoru chuckled softly as she shook her head, a small, knowing smile on her lips. "I guess you weren't too far off when you said they would do something like this," she said, looking at Fuyune, who sighed exasperatedly.
"...at this point...I don't know why I'm still surprised this happens," Fuyune muttered, rubbing her temple, though the smile lingered on her face and showed she was more amused than annoyed. "...but at least nothing bad happened...so I can't complain too much," added the mink.
Toshiro, who had been casually adjusting a gadget on his wrist, smirked at the exchange before letting out a low chuckle. "What kind of crazy group did I join?" he remarked, shaking his head in amusement. But before anyone could respond, something dropped from above.
*Thud*
The crew turned their heads just in time to see Y/n landing effortlessly on the railing, his arms lazily behind his head as he flashed his usual grin. "Yo," he greeted, waving at them.
*Thud*
Seeing him, the crew smiled, but another figure landed beside him before they could add anything. Kieran landed with much less theatrics, simply stepping down onto the deck and rolling his shoulders as his golden eyes scanned the crew.
Souta and Fuyuto instantly recognised him, but his presence immediately drew the attention of those who hadn't seen him yet. Inoko tilted her head slightly, sizing him up before nodding. "You look strong," she said before Kieran merely chuckled. "Well, thank you," he said, his tone light.
Humming softly, Mamoru glanced at Y/n before raising an eyebrow. "Is this the new crewmate you found?" she asked. Kieran's eyes narrowed slightly at the word "crewmate" before he turned his head toward Y/n. "Crewmate?" he asked.
Y/n, however, simply crossed his arms, grinning like he had just been caught doing something mischievous. "I didn't even ask him yet! Why are you spoiling the fun?" he exclaimed dramatically as Mamoru just smiled, unfazed.
However, Kieran's brow twitched slightly before he stepped toward Y/n, clearly trying to get his attention. "Hold on. What was that about crewmates? I never said-" he began, his voice carrying mild confusion. But Y/n didn't seem to hear him. His head tilted slightly as he looked around.
"Wait, where are Rindo and Shachi?" he asked. Fuyune, seeing Kieran's mild shock at being ignored, merely let out a soft chuckle before answering. "...Rindo wanted to make something with the food we found here," she said.
Hearing this, Inoko perked up immediately. "Yeah! She wants to throw a massive feast! And I'm all here for it!" she declared, crossing her arms triumphantly. Y/n grinned at the news, but behind him, Kieran merely blinked, still thrown off by the fact that Y/n had fully ignored his question.
After a moment, Kieran just chuckled to himself. "Yeah, I'm definitely getting dragged into something I didn't accept..." he realised, shaking his head. Toshiro, who had been eyeing Kieran for a bit, suddenly furrowed his brows. "Wait a second..." he murmured, tapping his chin.
Kieran noticed his stare, golden eyes flicking toward the reptilian. "What?" he asked as Toshiro tilted his head slightly. "You look familiar," he said, his tail moving lazily behind him as if thinking too. Kieran raised an eyebrow before Toshiro's eyes lit up slightly in realisation.
"I feel like I've seen your face before," added Toshiro before Fuyuto chuckled, arms crossed. "That's because you have," he said with amusement. "He's the Kieran guy that punched a Celestial Dragon," he revealed as a brief silence fell over the deck. Those who hadn't already connected the dots were suddenly staring at Kieran in shock.
Fuyune, who had initially been uninterested, now turned toward Y/n with an unimpressed expression. "...you really went and recruited him?" she asked, her tone half-exasperated as Y/n grinned. On the other hand, Kieran let out a low sigh and opened his mouth. "Still not a crew-" he began.
*SLAM*
The kitchen door slammed open, cutting off Kieran's words. The crew watched a grinning Rindo practically bouncing out, carrying a tray full of food, with Shachi following closely behind, balancing more plates in her hands.
"Alright! I prepared everything!" Rindo declared proudly, her eyes gleaming with excitement. Then, her gaze landed on Y/n, and her smile widened. "Y/n! You came back just in time!" she said as Shachi chuckled, seeing the cook's enthusiasm, but her attention was soon drawn toward Kieran.
"And who's this?" she asked, nodding toward the newcomer. Y/n, momentarily distracted by the sight and smell of the food, nearly drooled before shaking himself out of it. "This is Kieran," he said, grinning as he gestured toward him. "And he's going to travel with us for a bit. Right, Kie-" Y/n began, but his words stopped mid-sentence.
He could see that Kieran wasn't listening. His expression was frozen in shock because his eyes were locked on Rindo. His gaze softened, something flickering in his eyes as he took a tentative step forward. "...Blanaid?" called Kieran.
At the name, Rindo blinked, tilting her head. "Huh?" she muttered, glancing behind her before pointing at herself. "You mean me? Uhm... I'm Rindo," she clarified, making Kieran snap out of it. He blinked, shaking his head before brushing it off quickly. "I thought you were someone else," he muttered, his voice returning to normal.
Hearing this, Toshiro wiped imaginary sweat. "Well, I hope not because if there were two of this gremlin, the seas would be in danger," he said. Hearing this, Rindo glared and lunged at him, biting his tail.
"Ow! Hey! Let go, you menace!" Toshiro shouted, trying to pry her off. Seeing this, the crew chuckled before they slowly settled in to eat. Y/n would smile before looking to his side at Kieran, who still seemed in a daze.
Following his look, he watched Rindo biting Toshiro's tail as Mamoru gently pried her off. 'What could make him this shocked?' he wondered, slightly taken back by the look Kieran had. Then, after shaking his head, Y/n smiled before patting Kieran's shoulder. "Come on," Y/n said, snapping Kieran out of his thoughts.
"Let's eat while we sail away," he said before walking toward his crew. Kieran exhaled before glancing at Fuyuto and Souta, who were starting to sail the ship away from Shadowveil. Then, Kieran glanced at Rindo again, then at the sea. "...Blanaid..." he muttered under his breath. Then, shaking his head, he finally turned away and joined the crew.
~~~~~oOo~~~~~
For the next few days, the Bellowy Diamond sailed smoothly across the Grand Line, the crew settling into the familiar rhythm of life at sea. The winds were steady, the sun occasionally peeking from behind the clouds, and despite the unpredictability of these waters, the journey had been surprisingly uneventful.
At least, until it wasn't. "Island on the horizon!" Inoko's voice rang from the crow's nest, clear and full of energy, making the crew's heads snap upward. The lookout pointed forward, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"It's huge! And it's got bubbles!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. At this, Y/n leapt onto the figurehead, balancing effortlessly as he peered ahead. The moment his eyes landed on the island in the distance, a wide grin stretched across his face.
The sight before them was nothing like any other island they had seen. Instead of towering cliffs or rugged shores, it was a cluster of massive mangrove trees, their colossal roots stretching out over the ocean.
Each tree was numbered and connected by wooden bridges and pathways, which house entire districts. But what was truly mesmerising were the bubbles, large, shimmering spheres that lazily floated into the sky, reflecting the sunlight in dazzling colours. They coated the trees, drifted across the air, and popped with gentle little bursts, making the entire archipelago feel alive.
Souta let out a low whistle, his arms resting behind his head. "Now that's a sight," he said as Fuyune, standing beside him, watched the bubbles with quiet intrigue, how they floated and popped, catching her attention. "...this place is...different," she added.
Fuyuto, leaning against the mast, smirked. "So this is the infamous Sabaody...? Looks chaotic enough," he remarked. While watching the scenery, Mamoru let a small, knowing smile tug at her lips. 'I'm finally here,' she thought.
Toshiro adjusted his goggles, analysing the bubbles closely. "Some kind of gas-based structure...? No, that wouldn't explain the stability..." he muttered, already lost in thought. Inoko was practically vibrating with excitement. "Hah! This place looks like a damn playground!" she declared, hopping down from the crow's nest with an eager grin.
As the ship drew closer, they manoeuvred toward a docking station, sailing into Grove 27, one of the many numbered ports designed for ships. A few other vessels were also docked there, some belonging to merchants, pirates, and bounty hunters.
When they secured their ship, the conversation quickly turned to what they should do first. "I'm going to explore, and no one is stopping me!" Inoko declared immediately, arms crossed. Y/n chuckled, clearly expecting this.
"Yeah, let's go explore," he said before turning to the rest of his crew. Then, Rindo perked up. "Ooooh! I saw a stall selling snacks near the port! I wanna try everything!" she added, already bouncing on her heels.
Before anyone could decide on an actual plan, the trio of Y/n, Inoko, and Rindo exchanged a single knowing glance. "Let's go!" they shouted without warning. They dashed off the ship, laughing and cheering as they ran straight into the chaos of Sabaody.
The rest of the crew watched in silence as Inoko leapt onto a floating bubble, balancing on top of it as it drifted upwards. "Borororo! I'm floating!" she cackled before Y/n and Rindo jumped onto their own bubbles, following her.
Fuyune simply chuckled, watching them drift away. "...they didn't even let us decide," she mused before shaking her head knowingly. Shachi, who had been leaning on the railing, hummed before noticing something. She turned her gaze toward Kieran, who had remained quiet.
Instead of joining the others, he stepped off the ship, heading in the opposite direction. Seeing this, Shachi raised an eyebrow. "Where are you going?" she asked, making Kieran glance over his shoulder.
"The ship's not ready to go yet," he pointed out. "Besides, Y/n did say he would let me travel with you to the New World... so I might as well use this favour," added Kieran. Shachi studied him for a moment, then simply smiled. "Fair enough," she said.
As Kieran walked off, Toshiro suddenly furrowed his brows before looking toward the ship. "You guys do know we have to coat our ship before heading to the New World, right?" he said, making the crew blink.
"...coat?" Souta asked, tilting his head. Toshiro let out a sigh, adjusting his goggles. "Yeah. Ships can't just sail into the New World normally. To get there, we must pass through Fishman Island, which is 10,000 meters below the surface," he explained.
Hearing this, Fuyuto let out a faint whistle. "Damn, that's deep," he said before chuckling. "Yeah, and unless you plan on drowning, we need to coat the ship with a special resin that lets us travel underwater," said Toshiro.
"Especially since we have quite a few devil fruit users," said Fuyuto, making the three concerned look at him. "That's low," said Shachi with a light chuckle. "Just you wait," added Souta with a smirk while Fuyune only rolled her eyes. "...always has to bring this up... don't you?" she asked.
Before Fuyuto could retort, Mamoru, who had been silent, suddenly looked toward the archipelago, a small smile on her lips. "Don't worry. I know where to go," she said, making the crew blink at her sudden confidence before exchanging looks.
Shachi smiled before stretching. "Alright then, I'll go with you so you don't get bored," she said lightly. Mamoru chuckled, nodding. "That works," she said before Shachi turned toward Fuyuto, Toshiro, Fuyune, and Souta.
"Well, since those three already ran off, I guess you guys can explore too," she added as Fuyuto smirked. "Fine by me. Let's meet back here when we're done, then," he said, making Shachi nod, watching them head off before turning to Mamoru.
"Alright, lead the way since you apparently know where we're going," she teased. Mamoru simply nodded before reaching into the sheath of her sword and pulling out a small piece of paper. Shachi raised an eyebrow. "A vivre card...?" she murmured before looking at Mamoru curiously.
Mamoru didn't respond. She simply tucked it away and started walking. Shachi followed, the two navigating the bustling streets of Sabaody. The archipelago was lively, with vendors selling rare goods, music playing in the distance, and groups mingling across the groves.
Eventually, after weaving through the streets, Shachi's gaze landed on a particular sign. "Shakky's Rip-off Bar," Shachi read, stopping in her tracks. "...really? That's the name?" she muttered before looking at Mamoru, who was already putting the vivre card away.
Then, Mamoru smiled softly. "The person we need to find is here," she said, making Shachi raise an eyebrow. "Here?" she asked before shrugging, trusting Mamoru with her information. The doctor nodded and smiled before stepping forward.
*Creak*
Inside, the bar had a relaxed atmosphere, and behind the counter stood a relatively slim woman with short black hair and a cigarette between her lips. Sitting with his back to them at the counter was an older man with grey hair. The moment they walked in, the woman's eyes landed on Mamoru, and her gaze widened slightly.
The man, still facing away, let out a low chuckle. "Well... if it isn't the infamous 'Dark Knight' Mamoru," he said, looking over his shoulder and raising his glass. Shachi's eyes widened slightly as she looked between them and saw Mamoru with a soft smile. '...what is happening right now?' Shachi thought.
To be continued