Haunt 5: Death of the King
For the young family of Lion's Acupuncture, the remainder of the Roger Pirates' stay of Fish-Man Island was a rather interesting one.
For one, Adam was continuously in a state of heavy if mostly superficial damage and exhaustion from almost madly clashing Haki against Gol D. Roger, Silvers Rayleigh and other Roger Pirates, much to Oden's envy as he could only watch from afar with Observation Haki while his crew mates mercilessly told him all about his kid's progress.
Grandmaster Anguin had even permitted Adam to skip coming to dojo while they were here, after meeting them as well, understanding the immense benefits continuously clashing against such powerful and experienced users of Haki could bring to his young pupil as long as he maintained his spirit. And that certainly didn't seem to be flagging anytime soon going by how he just seemed to be taking leaps every day with his usage of Haki in combat and in terms of the strength of said spirit.
Even going so far as to begin clashing his burgeoning Conquerors Haki to learn how to control it at the basic level from masters in it, aiming to continue training after they had left with at least a path to aim for for.
Tami had a ball of a time with Toki after getting over the whole 'married to Oden and mother of Adam's Half-Siblings' fact. She found the young woman to have fascinating stories of the world above.
Crocus being the other member of the Roger Pirates she'd taking quite the shine to as they traded medicinal knowledge, his own being far broader and deeper than hers actually turned his visits into lessons for the mermaid. Not that the flower headed man disliked it, in fact, he found it remarkably refreshing to spend time with someone with an actual desire to learn from him.
Made him all tsundere apparently.
And while Adam did try to spend at least a bit of time with Momonosuke, who was rather attached to his mother's side, since he was the only one with a chance at remembering him at the age his half-siblings were, it wasn't an immediate bond between the two of them. Hiyori seemed rather fine with her new big brother holding her though, which was a plus.
Shyarly on the other hand, well she somehow turned into the main bred winner for the family while the Roger Pirates were here because they kept giving her ridiculous tips for her predictions. Mostly because she was adorable with her cloak and earnest efforts, but also because they began to realize that all of her short-term predictions had proven true and wanted to see how long this would hold out. The young mermaid was seen humming very happily as she dragged little treasure chest's worth of coins back into the house every day.
It was truly a wild time filled with energy and laughter.
But then one night...
Creak*
Adam's eyes snapped open as he flung off his cover and threw the needles hidden beneath his pillow towards the source of the noise while jumping off his bed at the ready.
Seeing a shadowy figure in the dark, he went to strike, but his blow was caught and a large hand covered his mouth.
"Quiet!" A familiar voice urgently whispered as Adam realized that the figure had a unique head shape. "If Tami-dono knows I am here then I am unsure if I could escape her wrath. Or Toki's."
Adam tried to speak, but his mouth was still covered, so he quietly glared.
"Please let me explain without calling for her. I simply wish to do something for the son I never knew of and will have to leave again without being to change that." Oden quietly pleaded with incredible earnestness and even remorse and care.
Seeing this... feeling this, Adam slowly nodded, allowing Oden to remove his hand carefully as he let his son go.
"Fine, but I'm not lying if she finds out." He whispered.
"This is fine. Roger-taichou said we will be leaving in a few days, so as long as this matter remains between us until then, it should be ok." The samurai agreed as he couldn't expect the child to really favors him over his own mother. "But for now, come with me. I wish to at least pass on my gifts."
Moving to the window Oden had used to enter his son's bedroom, which was on the second floor, he jumped out with oddly practiced ease, doing the whole thing incredibly quietly for such a boisterous man.
Seeing this, Adam followed him after putting on some sandals.
"Where are we going?" The child asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I have somewhere prepared. It is a bit far, but the space is needed." Oden seriously answered with solemn look before scooping up his bastard son, to the surprise of the former. "We do not have much time, so I shall carry you."
With that simple explanation, Oden moved.
At a remarkable pace as well, is son's weight being negligible as he did so, leading them to an unused beach outside of Mermaid Cove before placing him back down.
Adam simply looked in askance towards his biological father, feeling rather curious about this whole ordeal, causing the man to find his words before starting.
"Although I may not have to right to call you my son... it does not change the fact that my blood flows through your veins. Thus, in these few days, I have prepared matters so that I may at least form a bond with you until we meet again." He seriously stated as he went behind a rock and brought out a series of items, placing them before Adam one by one.
The first was a circular medallion made of a reddish stone, meticulously carved with the symbol of the Kozuki Family: a crane, with a glowing orb in its chest and spread wings. Around the bird figure, there is a circle with four sprout-like symbols coming from it at each ordinal direction.
It wasn't too large, something which would fit a child or adult.
The second was actually a pair of journals. Both looked new and freshly made and bought, with one having the kanji for Kozuki and the other Oden.
And the third was surprisingly a set of katanas.
The first was within a black sheath with a silver moon decorating it, a silver cross-like hand guard and pommel, while the second was noticeably shorter blade with a red sheath decorated with a flying bird of flames, a square golden hand guard and pommel.
Both looked quite expensive a well made even before they were revealed.
"This," Oden began, picking up the medallion, "will be proof that you are my son. Or at least part of the Kozuki Clan.
I will ensure my vassals and the lords of Wano will recognize it and welcome you when the time comes."
Hopefully holding it out, Oden was actually a bit nervous until his son's observing gaze gave him approval, allowing him to place it around his neck with great gentleness.
"Next are these texts I have spent the last few days writing for you." The man presented the two journals. "I may not be a scholar, but I have spirit.
The journal with Kozuki on it is about the clan and Wano. Allowing you to know your fatherland at least somewhat before reaching it, as well as a method to reach it. I am trusting you with these secrets as my blood.
Meanwhile, the one with my name is more personal.
It is my swordsmanship.
The Oden Two Sword Style.
The strongest sword style in the world and the culmination of my life's current achievements in the art of the sword."
Placing the two journals in Adam's hands, he approved of the seriousness he immediately gave them, and of the silent agreement formed in regards to them.
His son would ensure no other would obtain these journals.
Nodding at the sight, Oden carried on.
"And finally, I know that you have never trained with a blade, focusing one your body and mother's needle arts, thus I understand if you actually never learn my sword style and simply use it as inspiration in your own path for strength.
But, I give you these blades regardless.
For no matter what the world says... you are the child of a samurai. And no samurai would leave his family defenseless and without a blade to protect themselves in the case he was not there to do so himself.
So I leave for you: Tsukiyo, a Skillful Grade blade I obtained from slaying its previous wielder in combat, and Noboru Taiyō, a Grade blade Gaban-Dono won off a Marine in battle.
Hoping that you may pick them up to protect those you hold dear and so they may hopefully aid you in fulfilling your dreams."
This was an immense series gifts.
Incredibly meaningful ones as well.
And while he might not particularly like Oden, he could not deny the heart and surprising thoughtfulness in what he has presented.
"Thank you." Adam softly said as he gently picked up Noboru Taiyō, or Soaring Sun, unsheathing it under Oden's careful eye.
The samurai was surprised but immensely pleased at the respect his son was showing for the blade as he looked at the soft bronze sheen it held and the admirable workmanship.
Adam then placed his hands in a modified grip to suit his young body and gave the remarkably sharp blade an experimental swing.
Swish*
"Whoa." He breathed out at just how sharp that small swing felt, admiring how far ahead just a Grade ranked blade was from the ones he had experienced in his past life.
He couldn't imagine just how deadly the Supreme Grades could be if this is how sharp this one was.
Oden on the other hand, he was grinning with pride over witnessing his son's first sword swing... and the fact that it was an incredibly well done one, especially for such a young child.
The look he saw in his eyes also made him giddy because he knew the boy would be hooked on the sword now. He knew because he had been told that he had the same look in his youth and had seen it in many young samurai as well.
If anything, this made every effort he had made to write down his style and thoughts on swordsmanship, and trading quite a few treasures in exchange for Noboru Taiyō, to be completely worth it.
"But there is one final gift. It being the reason why I brought you so far." Oden announced, regaining his son's attention as he drew his signature blades: the Great Grades Enma and Ame No Habakiri. "A demonstration of my style and the heights you must aim to surpass!"
The wild grin on Oden's face was soon mirrored by his son's as genuine excitement danced through Adam's icy blue eyes, causing his father to laugh as he readied his blades.
"Tougen Shirataki!"
That night was one Adam would not forget.
He had carved every movement and every word Oden had to offer on swordsmanship and Haki as he did his best to give his son every bit of knowledge he could in one night before they had to return.
It also gave Adam a chance to witness the true heights of this world with his own eyes instead of through pages of a manga or scenes from an anime. It made his goals so much realer and pushed him to go forth towards goals he understood much better now.
He also made sure to hide everything Oden had given him from his mother, hiding the swords under his bed since it was just for a few days and the other things in the kitchen as Tami wasn't exactly the most active on that area of the house.
Although Adam had been less energetic the next day due to the lack of sleep, causing his mother to worry about him getting sick for the first time until he just made up a little lie about having a nightmare that made it hard to sleep. The end result being hugged and told that if I had another nightmare that she didn't mind if he came to her about it before being sent to take a nap.
But as surely as the sun rises and sets, all good things must come to an end.
The day the Roger Pirates finally left Fish-Man Island, the Lion Acupuncture family gathered to wave them goodbye with happy smiles, earning the same from the crew as well as exaggerated tears from Oden, causing said crew to tease him and joke about possibly leaving another one behind. Well, until Toki intervened at that point anyway.
Thus, the family returned to their everyday lives.
Tami had been introduced to Oden's gifts a few days after their departure due to Adam not wanting to hide the matter.
It brought heavily conflicting emotions because Oden had gone behind her back to see Adam in the middle of the night, but his gifts were remarkably thoughtful and filled a part of her son's life that she just couldn't. No matter how hard she tried and how much Adam himself cared for Fish-Man Island and her, it was still only half of his origins, and she couldn't just take part of his identity away just because the man had wronged them.
Especially not after Adam told her what the journals contained, just how great a gift the two blades were, and what the small medallion represented.
It was hard for her, but she understood.
An unexpected result of the Roger Pirates visiting and Adam meeting his father actually came when he returned to the dojo with Soaring Sun on his hip.
He knelt before his master and stated that he had a new goal for his martial arts: To create a style of swordsmanship for Fish-Men and Mermaids.
Adam wanted to form a style to compliment the natural abilities of their people like their Karate, Jujutsu and Combat arts had done until now, but using the blade to open a path for even more improvements. He wanted to give Fish-Men a new path to strength and safety using his father's journal and demonstrations, as well as his past life's experiences and knowledge, and the new martial arts he was learning to achieve this goal.
And Grandmaster Anguin actually broke out into a wide and prideful smile at his student's ambition!
He knew this goal would be immensely difficult, but the challenge of creating something new and helping his student establish his own legacy was incredibly exciting for the elderly fish-man. It was what martial artists dreamed of!
But that didn't mean he wasn't going to impart his Karate and Jujutsu while doing so. It just meant that intensity had to be increased to make up for lacking time.
Something Adam powered through admirably as his body acclimatized itself to this new level of training rapidly thanks to his jump in willpower and his young body being so malleable.
It created a new routine for him, one which was done almost completely while channeling his Haki for Armament and Observation at all times to develop the right mindset in times of effort, struggle and exhaustion, while also acclimatizing to protecting himself in such states as well. Adam also need to learn how to properly imbue his Haki into his new blades, something he did during trained and by meditating with them.
The fantasy of forming a black blade certainly was a nice one for the young boy.
And just like that, time flowed anew.
Fish-Man Island being as isolated as it was made news of the surface somewhat sparse at times, relying quite a bit of sailors passing through, regardless of their alignments, for papers or gossip, but even they heard of the Roger Pirates conquering the Grand Line in its entirety, resulting in the crowing of the Pirate King and the subsequent disbandment of the crew.
During this time, Shyarly predicted the coming of the Great Pirate age, a few months before the 'arrest' of 'Gold Roger' being thoroughly publicized by the Marines, earning looks of disbelief and worry from the ladies of the Lion Acupuncture household.
But they could do nothing about, even as Shyarly began to understand how her vision was coming to pass.
Adam himself was focusing on what he had gained from the man, readying to send him off as he deserved and working towards the future he would miss by simply having come too soon.
Thus, when the day finally came, broadcasted live across the world using video and sound den den mushi provided by the world government.
In the East Blue city of Loguetown, located in the Polestar Islands.
During the ninth month of the 1500th year of the Kaienreki calendar.
The execution of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger was to be witnessed by the world as an example against piracy.
And in Conchcord plaza, even the Royal Family was there to witness the event as everyone looked at the back of the infamous man walking up the steps of the elevated platform, hands shackled, wearing his Captain's coat, but missing his hat, with Adam knowing full well the man could probably still knock out pretty much everyone on the island with just his Haki if he had wanted to.
Under the blazing Sun, the man reached the top and simply sat down with a gaze challenging the world.
"Alright, let's get this over with quickly." He smirked before placing his confident smile on his face as his executioners readied their blades.
Everyone was tense as they prepared to end the life of such a man, trying to take in all in either in disbelief or to make sure he wouldn't somehow escape.
But then, from the audience at Loguetown...
"Hey! Pirate King!" A man yelled out, causing those at the site to turn towards him. "Where did you hide all the treasure you found?!"
You got it didn't you!?
That legendary treasure!
That great treasure!
The One Piece!!!"
Hearing that question, the world turned silent as they wanted to know.
They wanted the answer to a question no one had been able to solve for over 800 years.
And one of those who knew, the one about to die, his eyes flashed as he remembered the answer before he began to laugh.
"Hehehe...Hahaha!" Stopping as he smiled wildly in challenge to the world. "My treasure? If you want it, you can have it!
Find it!
I left everything this world has to offer there!"
And with his final words, the blades pierced his heart and body, ending the life of a great man.
But the problem with 'killing' great men is the legacies they leave behind. The will they gift to the next generation.
And Roger had just publicly challenged the world to top him.
Blowing the starting gales which would eventually grow into the raging storm, turning the world upside down!
Because, the Great Pirate era had begun!
But for today, Adam would not worry about this or act distraught over the man who had passed, but he would celebrate him.
"I might not have a body capable of appreciating this yet, but you deserve a proper send off with Sake." Adam softly said as he poured sake he had had someone buy for him into two cups as he sat down where the Oro Jackson had been docked during the visit of the Roger Pirates. "Your will... it will be inherited.
And those who come during the right time, I'll help them move forward so everyone can have that freedom to see this world.
So rest easy Roger... and kampai."
With that, Adam drank his first cup of sake in memory of a great man who had impacted him even after knowing him for so little time thanks to the laughter and energy he brought with him, pouring the second cup into the water.
"Yo-hohoho, Yo-hoho-ho
Yo-hohoho, Yo-hoho-ho
Yo-hohoho, Yo-hoho-ho
Yo-hohoho, Yo-hoho-ho" And so, he began singing in his honor.
"Gather up all of the crew!
It's time to ship out Binks Brew!
...
Author Notes:
I think I did Roger's death pretty well.
And how Adam sent him off in his own way.
But yeah, at five years old, Adam will begin to experience the Great Pirate Era and all that came with it for Fish-man Island.
I am also pretty happy with how I handle Oden's character for the situation he found himself in with Adam. My belief being that he would try to pass on something concrete binding the two together, and knowing that Adam was born with great strength and already had Haki and was a monster in learning and improving, I think he'd write down what he could about his sword style for him and gift him some swords and a way to be identified as a Kozuki.
Honestly speaking, the Roger Pirates just having a Skillful and Grade level swords just lying around makes sense to me due to how many powerful people they fought.
A shorter chapter over all, but that's mostly so Roger's death doesn't just get buried in what comes next.
Also, no, I'm not forgetting about Adam's devil Fruit and he isn't going to be a 'pure' swordsman like Oden, Zoro and Mihawk. He doesn't particularly seek to be the world's greatest swordsman, being more in the line of Shanks and Roger in regards to training his sword and Haki to have the strength necessary to be free in this world. His Fruit will be a path for himself to develop into and be more versatile as a fighter and adventurer more than anything.
That's for later though.
For now, imma make Adam make that drunk octopus' title of 'best swordsman on Fish-man island' a fucking lie. Punk ass bitch basically got by on biological advantages and then drugs.
Make a true sword-style for the Fish-Men.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed.