Chapter 6

Luffy POV

To say I am desperate is not completely wrong, aside from what Loki told me, all I know about haki is that you awaken its power through willpower or when one happens to be in a moment of crisis. So the first thing I did was to spend my days searching Ji-chan study and bedroom for clues, of course knowing Loki impatient and brash attitude, I'm sure he already tear down Ji-chan study and bedroom top to bottom for clues. Still, I thought should probably look there first, who knows, Loki might miss something.

Unfortunately, I only found maps, navigator logs, chart works, marine rules books, weapons, pirates wanted posters, etc. I did find out that haki is a weapon against devil fruit users in one of the books but there's still no clear answer on how a person learns to use it.

There was no clue in Ji-chan study and we can't contact Ji-chan for help when he's working. It was no wonder Loki took the drastic measure, he's probably lost his patience. Fortunately, I'm not Loki, I understand more than anyone else how much Loki adore Ji-chan if there's no answer from Ji-chan study Loki probably thought no one else could help him. So it's up to me to do what Loki unable to, 'asking others for help '.

'And I know who to ask'

A week ago a pirate ship dock into the village harbor, it was a tense situation for the villagers and mayor even forbid me to come out of the house, which I easily agreed, I was busy nursing Loki anyway. Still, I end up meeting them pretty often, the pirate captain and his crew have made partys bar their usual hangout spot, Makino got her hands full feeding them from day to night, so I had no choice but to come and get our usual meals myself, which end up with me befriending the pirates in process.

Despite being pirate they didn't make a ruckus in the village, instead, they were friendly, nonchalant, and quite decent, an oddity in piracy. It was obvious that they not here for trouble, instead they just stock up food supplies. Well, stocking food supplies that end up for weeks-long because they end up partying too much.

Because they are pirates, they must have travel to many places and know what haki is, my plan is to ask help from Shanks, the pirate captain. Of course, I'm not ignorant enough to believe that a no-name pirate can use it, because haki is only available to very few people this means that only the strong can use it.

There's no weak pirate brave enough to sail near the Goa kingdom sea, much less docking their ship in the village Ji-chan protect, not unless they are suicidal, and despite his laid back attitude I know shanks is not what he appears to be, I just got a feeling he's different.

Anyway, after making sure Loki eat his lunch, I went back to Ji-chan study, grabbing some stuff and put it on my bag before I run back to partys bar to meet Shanks and his crew. As usual, the bar is full of drunk pirates, singing and whistling bawdy melody, it was a bit rowdy for my taste but fun nevertheless. "Ohh Luffy" shanks greet, waving his hand from the bar counter.

"Shanks" I grin in return, quickly stride toward him and return the others pirate and Makino greet with a nod. "I heard from Makino that you been looking for me these past few days" he grins. "Did you missed me that much?" clearly he finds me amusing. Ignoring his teasing, I took a seat next to him and look straight to his eyes, demanding his full attention.

"Can you teach me how to use haki?" I ask. The bar went silent for a full 10 seconds, everyone was staring at me with wide eyes. "No way!" Shanks refuse, sticking out his tongue in a childish manner. "Then" I continue, not flattering from the rejection. "Can you at least give me some pointer? Or just tell me more about what haki really is?"

Shanks crosses his arms and shakes his head in refute "no means no, I don't know where you hear of haki but a kid like you wouldn't be able to learn it" he said. "And why should I help you?" He mock, clearly he's trying to provoke me.

It's a good thing I come prepare, taking off my bag, I put it on the bar counter and pull out the maps I found in Ji-chan study. "Ji-chan has plenty of treasure maps he loots from pirates, I give them all to you if you can help me learn how to use haki."

"Oi Luffy you can't be serious" Yasopp said, he walks toward me with concern and picks up one of the maps, looking at them with curiosity. "Woah! These are legit" Yasopp shout in shock. "What?" Lucky asks in surprise, together he and Yasopp take turns verifying the maps. "Oi Luffy who on earth is your Ji-chan, this is an amazing collection for an old man," Yasopp asks.

"Didn't you guys already know?" I look at them confuse. "Ji-chan is the Marine hero Garp" as soon as I said this the whole bar erupts. "G-Garp-san?!" Everyone scream, their reaction surprise both me and Makino. '"Oi Luffy! You really Garp-san grandson?" Shanks asks, panic in his eyes as he grabs my shoulders.

"You guys really don't know?" I stare at them in disbelief. "Shanks-san?" Makino cut in, she looks worried. "It's no wonder east blue is peaceful, Garp-san is guarding its sea" Beckman comment. "There's hardly any pirate sail around Goa Kingdom sea too, everyone in the east blue must have known" he finishes.

"It's strange that you guys didn't know" I can't help but blurt out. "Of course we don't, Marine keep their officer past a low profile for safety, no one know would have guessed this village is the hero hometown" Yasopp explains. "Besides, we haven't been visiting east blue for years, how should we know that Garp-san made this place his base? Last time we saw him was a year ago at the new world"

With the pirate crew disarray, I decided to order snacks from Makino instead. "Makino, can I have some apple?" I ask. Seeing as the others were calming down Makino chose to focus on me instead "Okay, wait a moment" Makino smile, she left toward the pantry.

As if having a silent discussion between themselves, the pirates begun to share a look at one another, I don't know what they're talking about but I hope they consider my request. I could only bow my head and wait patiently, now everything is left for them to decide. No matter how calm I look outside I'm actually pretty nervous, telling pirate that I'm related to the hero is pretty bad, marine and pirate are enemies after all.

'Yet somehow, I feel like I could trust them'

Still, I'm anxious, subconsciously I grab the nearest fruit on the bar counter and chew it, It's a habit of mine to eat whenever I'm stress. "Yuck!" I cough, I didn't realize it because I was too anxious but after taking a few bites of the fruit my tongue was numb from the disgusting taste. "What kind of fruit is this? Disgusting" I complain, pushing away what left of the fruit in anger.

"Luffy!" Shanks yell. Suddenly, my vision turns upside down, I realized I was hanging on air with Shanks holding both my ankle. "W-what are you doing?" I ask, surprised. "Cough it up! Cough it up! Now! All of it!" Shanks yell, his sudden outburst gain everyone's attention. "S-stop!" I protest, feeling sick. And the unexpected happens, as unbelievable as it is I could feel my legs and neck extend and my face hit the floor.

"Ehhhhhhh?!"

"Oh my god!"

"He eats gomu-gomu devil fruit!"

"Garp-san going to kill us all!"

"L-Luffy?" Makino stutter as she comes out from the pantry dropping basket full of apples. I could basically guess what just happen, I read it in one of Ji-chan book, 'Devil Fruit'. I must have eaten one by accident, a devil fruit that Shanks pirate crew own, and coincidentally enough just happen to lay near my reach.

Even in the midst of chaos I couldn't help but think of Loki, 'this is all his fault'