A Journey of Kings
Chapter 1
(Chapters: Pre-Story-1)
It was a calm, warm summer day out on the grand line. Sun shining, light breeze and not to many waves. The hero of the marines, Monkey D. Garp was out on the sea with his battleship searching for a small fishing boat. He had heard that his son's wife had been killed, leaving 2 small children stranded and orphaned.
He had been out searching for a week now at this point, ever since he got the information from his friend Sengoku. He was starting to worry about the boys well being, being stranded for so long without any help.
A few hours later, one of Garp's lookouts spotted the boat. He immediately called for all the men to help bring the boat on board.
As soon as the boat had been hoisted up, Garp was going into the small cabin to find the boys. What he found saddened him. It was the two little boys. One a 4 year old boy holding a baby who looked no older than a couple months. They were starved and 4 year old was hiding the baby in his arms protecting him from all the people.
Garp approached the boys slowly and calmly. He took a seat a couple feet from them and spoke softly. "Hello, my names Garp." There was a slight pause before Garp spoke again. "I'm your grandfather."
The small boy relaxed slightly, before speaking with a raspy voice. "M-onk-ey D. G-Gar-p?"
Garp looked slightly confused before smiling and speaking louder than before. "Yup, that's me." He said before chuckling lightly.
"M-my mommy t-told me about you." The boy said back before coughing. "S-she said y-you would take care of us." He said before relaxing completely.
Garp was left speechless. He never thought the woman who hated everything he stood for, would entrust her children to him.
There was a few second with no sound, before the baby in the boys arms started to giggle. Garp noticed his smile and asked the young boy. "What are your names, if you don't mind me asking?"
The boys raspy voice was starting to get cleaner. "His name is Monkey D. Luffy, and mine is Atticus D. Kazumi."
Garp looked at them with pride. "Great names for great boys." He said before standing up and offering his hand to the boy. "You two looked starved, how about we go get some food and water for you, then we can give you some clean clothes and nice bed to rest in for the night."
With the mention of food, the baby's stomach growled as he giggles again. "Looks like someone's got their priorities in check, Bwahahahaha!"
Kazumi laughed slightly, before following Garp. He took a step out of the cabin, and saw all the marines on the boat. Kazumi's heart dropped before he took a couple steps back.
Garp looked to Kazumi and lifted an eyebrow up, before kneeling down and looking at the boy. "Is everything alright?" Kazumi looked at him with horror. "What's with all the white suit people?" He then spoke quieter. "Have you been captured?"
Garp sighed, and spoke softly to Kazumi. "What happened to you and Luffy?" Kazumi leaned over to Garp and whispered. "A week ago, mommy took me and Luffy to go meet someone on an island called… Umm, I think she said Mamario?" He said looking at Garp for confirmation."Momoiro" Garp replied.
"Yeah that place. We were going there for her to meet someone, I don't know who, but she said that he was important. She had me and Luffy stay with these ladies who were really nice. She came back a few hours later and told us we needed to leave, so we got ready and left." Kazumi started to look more depressed as he went on.
"That's when the white suit people came. We almost got away from them, but this huge man jumped on board. He looked weird, he had spikey white hair and beard, and his face was like a deformed oval." Garp flinched at the mention of that man. "Mommy, gave Luffy to me, and told us to hide under the bed, so that's what I did. I waited until I couldn't hear anyone else onboard, then I went out on deck. I saw mom's bloody and dead body sprawled out in a pool of her own blood." He started to get teary eyed. "I didn't know what to do, so I got on the lifeboat, and now we're here."
Garp looked as Kazumi and felt guilty. He had dedicated his life to the marines, and knew they did some questionable thing, but he still felt guilty for the boys getting caught up in it. They had not done anything to deserve what happened. Garp understood that it would take many years to forgive what happened, but he would train them to become marines, and hide their identities, just as he did with the son of the Pirate king Gol D. Roger. He would train them for themselves to begin with, and wait for even the slightest hint of forgiveness of what happened before bringing up joining the marines.
Garp decided it would be best if his crew were to stay out of the way of the boys, so he had them avoid the kitchen, and not step foot in it unless it was as absolute emergency.
He took the boys to the kitchen to get some food, as they look sickly from a week without food. What he didn't expect, was Kazumi being able to eat as much as 2 full grown men, and Luffy being able to eat solid foods at 2 months old. He felt embarrassed for not expecting it, they were his grandchildren after all.
After the boys finished, they fell asleep at the table. Garp looked at them with a happy face, but with a hidden sadness. He brought the boys to his bedroom and laid them to rest.
Garp had his crew change course to Foosha Village on Dawn Island in the East Blue. His hometown, and the place they would grow up.
Garp's right hand man Bogard came up to him with a report. "Sir, you have a call from Admiral Sengoku."
"Thank you Bogard. Will you look after the boys while I'm gone? Take off your marine coat and make sure no one else enters the room. If they ask where I am, just tell them I'm getting some food." Garp said before he walked away. "Understood sir." Bogard replied, before taking his coat off and entering the room.
In the office, Garp picked up the transponder snail. "Vice Admiral Garp speaking." A deep, yet calming voice spoke back. "How are you Garp? Have you found the boys yet?" Garp got a smile on his face. "Yes I did old pal, and they're just as I expected, Bwahahahaha!" The transponder snail smiled back. "I'm happy for you Garp. After I heard what Kong did, I knew I should contact you. I'm glad you found them, I was worried." Garp got a look of sadness on his face. "The boys will heal, but the oldest, Kazumi, has been scarred deep, I can see it in his eyes. I'm taking them to Foosha Village. Tell Kong I'm taking a bit of time off for myself, but don't mention the kids." Sengoku smiled back. "Sure thing, but make sure you leave no trace that those boys were there. If someone finds out who they are, the government will order their immediate execution." Garp smiled again. "Don't worry, they'll become great marines someday, Bwahahahaha!" He laughed before hanging up.
A few days later, they arrived at a small port town called Foosha. Garp walked the boys down the ramp where the mayor Woopslap, and a young girl named Makino were waiting for them.
"Hey you two, how've you been?" Garp said while waving at them. "Oh you know, small town stuff." Makino said back
"Well, here are the boys I called you about. The older one is Atticus D. Kazumi, and the boy asleep in his arms is Monkey D. Luffy." Garp said while smiling
Makino kneeled down to be eye level with Kazumi. "Well hello there Kazumi, my names Makino." She said with a kind voice. Kazumi took a second to respond. "Hello Miss Makino."
"The mayor and I would be more than happy to care for you both" Makino said with another smile
Kazumi started to silently cry with a smile on his face. "Thank you." He said in a whisper
About an hour later after Garp treated Kazumi and Luffy to some Lunch, he brought Kazumi to look around town while Makino put Luffy to sleep for a nap.
While they were walking around, Garp kept a smile on his face as to keep Kazumi as calm as he could be.
"So, how are you enjoying Foosha little buddy?" Garp asked. "It seems nice. Kind people, nice view of the port." Kazumi said with an emotionless face.
Garp got a nervous smile. "So.. um.. I was wondering what you'd think about doing some training. Maybe it'll help you release some anger."
Kazumi stopped dead in his tracks and look up at Garp. He looked like he was about to cry, but before it seemed like he was gonna, Garp saw one of the most innocent smile he's ever seen. "I think that'd be fun."
A few hours later, with the forest forest missing a few trees, Garp and Kazumi returned to their new house. "Oh hello there you two, how was your stroll?" Makino said with a giggling Luffy in her arms.
Kazumi smiled at Garp, then looked back to Makino. "It was really fun."
"Well that's good. Your brother is such a sweetheart, but he has an insane appetite."
Kazumi laughed slightly. "Of course, he's my little brother."
For the next few weeks, Garp and Kazumi would go out and train while Makino would take care of Luffy. But the time came when Garp had to leave, as he couldn't neglect his duties anymore.
"I'll be back in a few month kiddo, keep training, you've got decent strength, but your accuracy sucks, Bwahahahaha!" Garp said while giving the boy a hug. After they broke the hug, Garp gave the giggling Luffy a pat on the head.
"Don't worry gramps, I'll be way stronger when you come back!" Kazumi said with an unbreakable smile.
"I bet you will Kazumi. Until we meet again." He said while walking away to his ship.
Over the next few years, Garp would come back to Foosha every few months and train Kazumi, and when Luffy was old enough, he joined in too. They also decided to build a garden so that the boys could eat if they ran out of money when Garp was gone longer than expected.
From their training, Kazumi learned the shave technique, and Luffy gained enough muscle, that his punch had the power of a pistol.
Everything was good, but then Garp got a call from his friend Sengoku, telling him that he would need to come back to marineford for a year or so, since he'd been promoted to Fleet Admiral, and they needed Garp there to keep morale up. The boys bid farewell to their Gramps, and went back to training.
A few months later, a pirate ship showed up at the port, but not just any pirate ship,it was the ship of one of the 4 most powerful pirates on the seas. The Emperor Red Haired Shanks.
At first, the villagers were scared, but after a couple weeks, they learned that the pirates were a kind, yet rowdy bunch. The two brothers seemed to get along well with the pirates. They would tell the boys stories about being out on the seas, as well as Luffy's favorite story. The one about the pirate king, Gol D. Roger.
A few months into the pirates stay, Kazumi went up to the leader Shanks to ask him something. "Yo, Shanks, mind if I bug you for a little bit?" Shanks finished his swig of sake and smiled at the 11 year old boy. "Sure pal, what's on your mind?" Kazumi returned the smile. "Well, as you know, Luffy really likes you and your crew, evident by the numerous times that he's asked to join your crew, so I was wondering if you guys would like to come to our birthday feast, as a surprise for Luffy."
Shanks looked at the kid and laughed. "Of course we would! Birthdays are a time of celebration. Although, I didn't know you guys shared a birthday, I mean, you're 4 years older than him. Was it luck?"
Kazumi sighed. "Well, you see, MY birthday is next week on June 13th, and Luffy's birthday was last month on May 5th, but ever since Makino told him about my birthday being on the day of feasts a couple years ago, he's wanted us to share a birthday."
Shanks burst out laughing. "Of course that anchor would think of something so stupid." Kazumi chuckled slightly as well. "Well, you know Luffy."
Shanks stopped laughing and took another swig. "So, what are you planning on having for your feast?" Kazumi smiled and told him about all the stuff he was gonna do. "Well I've been stockpiling meat I've caught the past two weeks in the back of the bar so he doesn't find out, and I've been tending to our garden to get only the freshest vegetables. Makino's gonna help me cook his favourite. Potato wedge stuffed boar, with a gravy made from the juices of the meat, mixed with some ground up carrot." Kazumi then pulled out a small package and got closer to Shanks. "I also got him this for a present." Shanks saw a small cupcake in the package. "We've never really had much money, so he's never gotten to try anything sweet besides fruits, so I saved up all the money I could get from helping people around town, and bought him the most expensive cupcake from the bakery."
Kazumi then looked up to see Shanks smiling a wide as he could. "Damn kiddo, I don't think anyone could ask for a better brother." Kazumi then smiled back, but with a sadness hidden behind it. "I'd do anything for him. Even take a sword through the chest if it meant he'd be ok."
The next week, everything went out as planned. Shanks and the red haired pirates showed up, making Luffy really happy. They ate the feast, and had a great time, dancing around the fire and singing pirate songs. Then when it came time for Luffy and Kazumi to exchange presents, Luffy insisted he'd go first. "Here you go Kuzu." Luffy then handed him a package that was obviously wrapped by Makino. Kazumi cringed at the nickname his little brother had given him, while the pirates snickered quietly. He opened the package to see a black trench sweater. Kazumi got a small tear in his eye and hugged Luffy. "Thanks Lu, I love it."
He put it on and modeled it off for everyone to see, just as Makino was joining the party. "I told you he'd look good in it Luffy, and I see it fits perfectly." She said with a wink. "He looks like a pirate!" Luffy said with his fist in the air, and a smile on his face. Kazumi smiled and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I guess I kinda do." Makino then walked up to Kazumi and knelt down. "A package arrived for you last night, but with no name other than yours on it, I left it for tonight incase it's a gift from Garp."
Kazumi took the package and put it down beside him. "I'll open it later, but now it's time for Luffy's present." He said walking over to a tree stump, and took out the small box he had hidden earlier. "I really hope you enjoy Luffy, it took awhile to scrounge up enough money to buy it for you."
Luffy opened up the package and got a confused look on his face. "Whats this?" Kazumi chuckled a bit. "It's called a cupcake, it's food." Before Kazumi could say anything more, Luffy had already stuffed the entire thing in his mouth. Kazumi and the pirates burst out laughing. Luffy took a few seconds to finish it, but after he swallowed, there was a brief moment of silence before Luffy started to smile. "It taste like that taste that you said apples have, just a lot better." Everyone let out a cheer "I knew you'd love it Lu." Kazumi said giving Luffy another hug.
An hour later as the party was dying down, Kazumi decided to open up the package that Makino had brought him. Shanks and his men were intrigued, but Luffy was ecstatic. "I wonder what kind of awesome present Gramps sent you Kuzu." Kazumi cringed again. "Luffy, please stop calling me that, it doesn't sound cool." He said with a roll of his eyes. "Anyway, there's a note, and a combat knife in here." Kazumi took the knife out, and showed everyone. Shanks and Ben Beckman both got a look of intense fascination on their faces. Kazumi gave the knife to Shanks for him to see, unfolded the note and started reading. "It says. Hello Kazumi, and happy birthday. I know you don't know me, but I was a friend of your mother's, in fact, I was the man she came to see the day that she was killed. I know you've probably forgotten by now, but I used to visit you guys when you were no older than 3, but anyway, nostalgia aside, I thought you should have this. It's a black blade called 'Eternal Peace', it's one of the 12 Supreme Grade blades, and it belonged to your mother. I think it would fit you nicely. When you gain enough strength, it should easily allow you to send flying blade attacks, and it won't chip unless it's up against another Supreme grade blade. When you learn armament haki, it should become an ultimate defensive, and reflexive attacking weapon. I bid you good times, and I hope you and Luffy grow up to be strong men. Remember to follow your own beliefs to the end, the day we meet will come soon enough."
Kazumi paused for a second and looked confused. "It's signed by someone named Dragon, but that's all it says, just, Dragon." Kazumi looked up to Makino. "Dragons can write letters?" Shanks and his crew laughed at this. "No kid, the guys name is Dragon. He's a revolutionary." Shanks said with a roll of his eyes. Kazumi smiled. "Cool. I think I remember him a little, but only brief flashes of his face."
Shanks and Ben discussed something before Kazumi spoke up. "You think I could get my mothers knife back Shanks?" The two broke their conversation and Shanks looked down at his hand and chuckled. "Yeah, sorry about that kiddo, I forgot I had it in my hand, here you go." He said, handing Kazumi the blade. Kazumi swung the blade a few times, getting a feel for it. "It feels so natural, like it's meant for me."
"That's how blades work bud, one style may feel different than another, it's why trained swordsman are so revered. The blade you hold is especially rare. It's the highest class of blade, one made by an absolute master blacksmith, long gone from our world." Lucky Roo said while chomping down on a piece of meat.
Shanks got a little serious. "Hey, Kazumi, I'd highly recommend hiding that blade until you're a bit older. There are people out there who wouldn't think twice about killing a kid for such a rare and expensive blade. Learn to use it, and hone the power of it before you use it in a serious fight. Not only for the risk of losing it. But for the safety of yourself incase you can't control the strength it takes to use its full potential." Kazumi looked at Shanks with determination in his eyes "I'll master it, and use it to avenge our mother." he looked at Luffy, who smiled back at him
After the party died, the only people still left awake, were Kazumi, Shanks, Ben and Yassop. "Hey Shanks, would you be ok with teaching me a few techniques for my blade sometime? I'd also like to know what the flying blade attack and armament things that Dragon talked about." Shanks looked to his crew members and then back to Kazumi. "Sure bud, I think it'd be pretty shitty of me to tell you to train, and not teach you a couple of things myself. But you'll have to wait until we return from our next trip." Kazumi looked to him and smiled. "I don't mind waiting at all, I mean, me and Luffy go months without seeing our gramps, so waiting a week or two is nothing."
The next few months were spent training Kazumi with his knife, and armament haki. By the 5th month, Kazumi could send out enough armament to cover just the edge of the blade, but it was pathetically weak. He also learned how to deflect oncoming attacks without a second thought, and could send out a wind blast that did no actual damage, but would scare away any regular civilian.
"You have a long way to go kid, but you've got insane potential." Ben said while they were at Makino's bar having lunch. "Thanks man, that means alot to me. By the way, do you know where Luffy ran off too?" Ben looked around the bar. "Well, if him and Shanks aren't here, I'd assume they'd be on the ship." He said lighting a cigarette. "I guess that makes sense. Well, it's been fun for today, but I'm gonna go check on him before he does something stupid."
As on queue, Shanks was rushing an injured Luffy into the bar for Makino to heal. The boy had stabbed himself under his left eye to prove he was strong enough to become a pirate.
After Makino patched him up, he was sitting at the bar. "What were you thinking Luffy, I know you wanna show that you're strong, but there are other ways to do that than stabbing yourself in the eye. You can't be that stupid!" Kazumi said in a stern voice. "HAHAHA! Look, even your brother thinks so!" Shanks said while laughing his head off.
Luffy looked at both of them with silent tears in his eyes. "It didn't hurt one bit!" Both Shanks and Kazumi yelled at him "LIAR! Just don't do anything so stupid again!"
Luffy then quit his crying and smiled wide. "I'm not afraid of pain at all! Next time bring me out to sea! I want to be a pirate too!"
Shanks and Kazumi gave each other a look before Shanks started to respond. "You can't handle being a pirate! Not being able to swim is a pirates greatest weakness." Kazumi chuckled at that. Luffy started to get angry "As long as I stay onboard, I'll be fine. All that matters is how good my fighting is, and gramps has rigorously trained us, so my punch is a strong as a pistol!"
Shanks looked unimpressed. "A pistol… wooow." Luffy yelled back "WHAT KIND OF TONE IS THAT!?" Kazumi laughed at that. "Well Shanks, I mean, he's not lying. Gramps is the one who told him that, and I haven't heard him shut up about it for the past 2 years." Shanks smiled back "Ah, I know, I'm just teasing him." he said while rubbing the boys head. Luffy was still having a fit and turned away.
"Well, I should probably go check on our garden though, haven't watered the crops in a week. Look after Luffy for me, make sure he doesn't get into any alcohol." Kazumi said while waving goodbye to the crew. "Make sure he gets enough to eat as well.", he said as he left the bar. He heard some laughter and singing on his way out.
On his way up the road, he noticed a group of men walking around, with an ugly looking guy leading them. Kazumi thought nothing of them, just thinking they were a group of friends having some fun.
As Kazumi was watering the plants in the forest, he heard his brother yelling and decided to rush back to the bar. When he came in the door, all he saw was Shanks cleaning up some glass, and a furious Luffy stress eating.
"What the hell happened? I heard Luffy scream, is everything alright?" Kazumi said a little out of breath. Shanks spoke up. "A group of guys came in and made a little mess, I just helping Makino clean up." Kazumi calmed down a little, but then got confused. "Yeah, that makes sense. But why did Luffy scream?" Luffy got up and stick his tongue out at Shanks before talking with an angry voice. "He was disgraceful, and let that man make fun of him without fighting back!" Kazumi looked to Shanks, and then back to Luffy. "That's it?" he said with a raised eyebrow "GOD! YOU ALL DON'T UNDERSTAND!" Luffy said yelling, and tried to storm out. But before he could, Shanks grabbed his arm. "Come on, don't go Luffy…" "I DON'T WANNA SEE YOU AGAIN COWARD!" He said while trying to walk away. All would have seemed normal, if it wasn't for Luffy's arm stretching.
Kazumi looked on in horror. "WHY THE HELL IS MY BROTHERS ARM STRETCHING!?" Shanks and the rest of the crew got a look of shock and concern on their face. "It's gone, the gum gum fruit is gone." said Lucky Roo, looking inside a small chest on the counter. "WHAT THE HELL IS A GUM GUM FRUIT, AND WHY IS MY BROTHERS ARM STRETCHING!? Kazumi yelled, emphasizing his point once again.
Shanks explained everything while the two brothers calmed down. Kazumi looked at Luffy and gave him a light tap on the head for eating stuff without permission, then turned to Shanks and clonked him over the head. "Why would you leave that out in the open, unlocked, and in reach of a kid who'd eat dirt if it looked appetizing? Now Luffy will never learn to swim, and I'd rather not think of what Gramps will do once he finds out" Shanks was rubbing his head while his crew members chuckled. "HAHAHAHA! You just got lectured by an 11 year old kid captain. How does it feel?" Yassop said holding his stomach. "Feels bad man." He said with his head down.
A while later, everything seemed fine, everything was going as normal. Kazumi was tending to the garden once again, while Luffy was having his third lunch at the bar with Makino. All was fine, until Kazumi heard his brother yell once again. He thought it was convenient that it happened while he was at the garden again, and decided that it was probably a dumb reason again, so he took his time walking back.
He was walking through town, and noticed that it was quite bare. No one was tending to their shops. No one was walking around. A rare site, but nothing too unusual, so he just kept on strolling back.
A few minutes later, he heard a gunshot. Kazumi's eyes widened, and he started to run towards the sound. He turned the corner, only to see Ben was smashing in some bandits faces.
"What the hell is going on here Shanks!?" Kazumi said in a panic. Shanks looked at the boy with wide eyes. "What are you doing here kid? This is no place for you at the moment." Kazumi then looked towards the bandit leader and saw his brothers face under his foot. At that moment, Kazumi got a look of rage in his eyes and drew his blade and sent his blade of wind at the bandit leader without a second thought.
He sheathed the blade in the leather scabbard he had attached to his right leg. "I'll give you one chance. Give my brother back, or I'll kill you." Kazumi said in an emotionless voice. Shanks and his crew looked taken back by the change in tone, and the dangerous aura coming off the kid. It was like he was someone completely different.
The bandit panicked, and threw a smoke bomb down, escaping towards to port. Kazumi somehow sensed where he was taking Luffy, and used the shave technique that Garp taught him. It wasn't anywhere near as fast as Garps, but it was quite a bit faster than his running speed. He caught up to the bandit who had taken Luffy into a small dingy, and was a fair distance from the shore. Kazumi didn't think twice, and jumped off the dock, and then, when he was about to hit the water, he jumped again, and again, and again, until he was on the dingy with the bandit.
Shanks and everyone looking was in pure shock. All they could think was 'Is this really the kid we've been hanging out with for the past year'.
Kazumi's hair then turned white as he cocked his fist, ready to punch the bandit. But before he could, the bandit slashed his sword at Kazumi,who just barely dodged it. Only getting a cut over his left eye. This enraged Kazumi even more. He unsheathed the knife, and slashed at the bandit, leaving him bleeding to death.
Kazumi's hair turned back to it's natural blonde, and he was back in his own sane mind, helping Luffy recover. But while that was happening, they heard a great growl, and a giant sea eel came out of the water. At this moment, Shanks came out of shock, and recognized the weight of the situation. He sprung into action, using his own moonwalk to reach the dingy. But before the eel could attack, Shanks heard Kazumi scream out. "DON'T TOUCH MY LITTLE BROTHER!" Shanks felt an immense wave of willpower that could only come from someone with conqueror's haki. He landed on the dingy and caught the boy before he collapsed.
When Kazumi came back to, in the bar, he was surrounded by the pirates, but his brother laying next to him. "What happened guys? WHy is everyone crowding?" Luffy shot up and hugged Kazumi while trying to suppress tears. "You're ok Kuzu. You're ok."
Kazumi hugged him back. "Of course I am, why wouldn't I be?" Shanks and the crew then explained everything that happened after he went berserk. Kazumi started to remember some things.
"I don't know how, but I remember somehow sensing where he was taking Luffy without being able to see." Shanks smiled at him "That's called observation haki. It allows you to sense where an attack will come from before it comes for you." Kazumi got a look of realisation. "So it's like another form of armament." Shanks thought for a second, "I mean, they're much different, but yeah, that's the basich jist."
They went on for about an hour talking about everything that happened, and how he'd learned the moonwalk technique. Kazumi also explain how Garp had taught him Shave, and how Luffy was learning it.
Once Luffy had gone to get some food, Shanks had everyone but Ben leave. He went on explaining how he was gonna stay an extra few months to teach Kazumi how to control his conquerors haki enough so that he didn't hurt anyone by using it by accident. He'd also be teaching him observation slightly."
After the couple months were done, and Kazumi had basic control over all 3 forms of haki. The Red Haired Pirates were getting ready to leave. "I'll sure miss you guys, it's been a lot of fun this past year." Kazumi said to Shanks as he was putting a barrel down. Shanks smiled at him. "It has been loads of fun, but it's been long enough, it's time for us to move on to greater seas." Kazumi smiled at this. "But listen kid, I want you to take this." Shanks handed a tungsten ring to Kazumi that had been on his middle finger. "This belonged to my old teacher, and I think It'd be safe in your hands. Passed down from master to apprentice once again." Kazumi smiled and put the ring in his sweater pocket. "Thanks Shanks. I'll keep it safe with me. It's too big for me right now, but I'll be sure to wear it when my fingers grow."
At this point, Luffy got the courage to come say goodbye. "You're really leaving this time?" Shanks looked over the town. "Yup, We've stayed here long enough It's about time we move on. Are you upset?" Luffy then smiled. "Yea… but I won't force you to take me along anymore. I'll become a pirate by myself… with Kuzu's help of course."
Shanks laughed at this. "You sure he'd follow an anchor like you?" Shanks then looked to Kazumi for backup, but he got something else. Kazumi looked at him with determination. "Hell yeah I would. Like I said to you before, Red Hair. I'd take a sword through the chest for him. You think joining my idiotic little brothers pirate crew would be a no? Hell nah! I'd sail to the ends of the earths with him, beating up anyone who dares to get in the way of our glorious adventure." Shanks looked to Kazumi with shock, but it soon turned into a smile.
"You see that Shanks!" Luffy yelled "One day, we'll find a crew that is stronger than yours! Then, we'll find the biggest treasure in the world, and I'll become… THE KING OF THE PIRATES!" Luffy yelled, loud enough for the entire town to hear. Kazumi got the same look Luffy had, and smiled cockily at Shanks.
"Oh… So you want to be bigger than us, huh?... Well, in that case then. Take this hat. It's a gift from me to you. It's my favourite hat you know. When you become a great pirate in the future, return that hat to me, and then I'll know how far you've come." He said while walking away from the brothers.
Luffy was crying into the hat, while Kazumi was waving bye with a smirk on his face. "You know Luffy. We're gonna have to train much harder now that you've made your claim to the One Piece. Are you sure you're ready for that?" Kazumi said to his brother. "Oh who am I kidding. It's you, of course you're willing."
The brothers walked back to the bar arm in arm, talking about the future.
A/N: Well, I hope you like the first chapter of the new story. I know it sounds cheesy at some points, but I tried my hardest to make it make sense. I also know I'm gonna get a few people complaining about Kazumi learning haki this early, but don't worry, he's not gonna be that strong at all. Like as it stands right now, he can only dodge attacks from a slow target, so no dodging bullets for him. His armament is piss weak, as in, literally anyone else with haki could break through it. His conquerors is an exception though. It'll be a gradual evolution, but it's gonna start off at an intermediate level. He'll be able to knock people out, but not without some struggle, and how weak people get after his blast will depend on their own willpower compared to Kazumi's willpower at that very moment. Anyway, the only other thing I have to say is, the blade Kazumi got, is based off a black 440c stainless full tang knife, as it's my favourite type of knife.