Ok so here it is, chapter 12. Sorry about the huge delay but I've had some huge laptop issues lately. Thankfully all is well again now.

Isamu struggles in the heat

At late morning Eric was busying himself with some chores as The Rione sailed steadily to its next destination, with Katashi keeping a close eye on its progress.
The sea was calm and it was an already hot day and it was only going to get hotter, much to the horror of one particular crew member.

Isamu was stretched out on a deck –chair, already struggling to cope with the heat. Warily he kept an eye on Eric, but he didn't really look like he was in any condition to help the boy if he did get into trouble. As he was already looking exhausted and sweaty and he hadn't really done anything worth speaking of today.
*I'm roasting…. * He thought, and he reached out to pick up a bottle of water in vain hope of cooling himself down.
Isamu really wasn't a fan of hot weather at all. Even though he was only wearing shorts after taking his shirt off in another vain attempt to cool down, he still was far too hot. And dousing himself in water only temporarily reduced his suffering.

Eric had been scrubbing down the Rione's deck for a while now, starting all over again if he saw so much as a tiny spot he had missed, or a new bit of dirt.
The rest of the Tsubasa crew had found this kind of behaviour weird at first, after all none of them ever forced Eric to do anything. But as it turns out, this was just Eric's way of making himself feel like a true member of the crew, and none of them could really sum it up within themselves to tell Eric to stop when he felt so strongly about helping them with the chores.

A pair of eyes watched the 1st mate mockingly from the ships steering system. Katashi laughed at his fellow crew-mate.
"Just a little warning for you Isamu, but it's going to get hotter than this. We're approaching a summer island and a very hot one at that".
And after saying that the Tsubasa navigator burst into a perverted grin, steam shooting out of his nostrils as his mind strayed to the other things he expected to see on such a 'hot' island.

Isamu groaned, partly at the strange behaviour that their navigator was exhibiting, and mainly because the idea of it getting hotter than it already was really didn't please him at all. Right now the last thing he wanted was for it to get even hotter!

Eric however, overhearing what Katashi had said, was excited, as far as he was concerned, hot weather meant beaches, and beaches meant sandcastles! It was with this in mind that Eric found new motivation and began to run around the deck furiously mopping up, determined to finish the chore he had set himself as fast as possible.

It was at this point that Endrino finally decided to grace them with his presence. He had only just woken up not so long ago, and after visiting the galley to find himself some breakfast, he had now made his way up to the deck.
He stretched in the sunlight, a smile across his face, "Ahh, my favourite kind of weather!" he exclaimed joyfully.
Endrino was topless too, which in itself wasn't really a new thing, but today even his captain's coat was missing. He wore a pair of camouflage designed shorts and sandals, and as always, his 6 daggers where kept along a belt at his waist.
Isamu looked at his captain in mild disbelief.
"It may well be your favourite type of weather, captain. But not all of us share that view".
Endrino chuckled at this, as he knew full well Isamu didn't like the heat.
"Yeah well, we've always been opposites there". He grinned at his best friend put away his mop and everything else he had been using and now approached the suffering 1st mate. There was something that was bothering him.
"Why Isamu no likey sun?" He asked, his head tilted to one side with curiosity.
Isamu rolled his head to look at the young boy, refusing to sit up.
"It's too hot for me" he protested wearily.
"But this means we get sandcastles!" Eric said cheerily, believing that sandcastles were one of the best things ever.
Isamu sighed "No offence kid, but I think I'm a bit too old to be making sandcastles", the white haired 17 year old grumbled.
"You grumpy guts!" Endrino called to his 1st mate "Cheer up a little!"
Isamu groaned, "I will, when it snows".

It was at that point that the cook, Osamu walked out onto the deck carrying an iced fruit drink for his overheated friend.
"Here, have this. I know you don't mix well with hot weather". He told Isamu, holding the drink towards him.
Isamu took it gratefully, "Thanks Osamu, at least someone around here cares to do something rather than mock me". He said, shooting a glare at Katashi and Endrino.
The cook smiled, happy to take any praise thrown his way.
"Can I have an ice-drink too?" Eric asked Osamu, tugging on the cooks shirt, as he eyed Isamu's drink longingly.
Osamu smiled "Of course Eric" the cook then disappeared below deck before anyone else could pester him for anything.

Ignoring the glare Isamu had shot him, Endrino questioned his navigator.
"So, how far till we reach the next island?"
Katashi looked thoughtful for a moment, working out an estimation.
"At this speed, approximately an hour and a half maybe" He said seemingly wisely until his next outburst, "and then it will be hot babes all the way!"
Endrino looked at Katashi in disbelief as he spiralled around the deck in a way that didn't seem humanly possible.
The shipwright however was apparently also annoyed by Katashi's strange behaviour, and traditionally hit the younger man over the head, just as he did with anyone that did anything that wasn't 'respectable behaviour' in Takeshi's view.
Other than snapping out of his trance, the navigator didn't seem too phased by this hit to his head and continued to explain about their destination as if nothing had happened, despite the red bump that had formed where Takeshi had hit him.
"It's called Saltrock island, and according to Marko's log the locals are said to welcome pirates" Katashi explained.
Cozmo heard this as he approached the gathering on the deck.
"Woo-Hoo! People who won't try to kill us for once!" The blonde called cheerfully.
Endrino grinned, "Sounds like we'll be able to really relax and have a good time at this island then" he said, apparently satisfied with this information.
Once again Katashi started to spin "I hope so!" he called as he span off.
Takeshi shook his head, still unhappy with this weird trait that Katashi had. "That guy has a screw loose somewhere I'm sure of it".

So this is the introduction to the Saltrock chapter arc. Hope you'll enjoy it ^^
Also for those of you that are wondering, Isamu's issues with the high temperatures are devil fruit related. But the nature of his devil fruit is going to stay secret for quite a while, you're welcome to try and guess it though – message me any ideas and I'll be sure to tell you if you guess right xD
The whole plot behind this chapter arc will be revealed in the next chapter.