Shanks
Benn's voice was infuriatingly calm. "Boss, this is no longer a coincidence." Shanks's fingers ached as he gripped his sword. "This is the third island now. They're searching for Osa."
Shanks took a slow breath before he faced the first mate. A muscle in his jaw twitched. "Alright. I admit it. They are obviously searching for something, but that doesn't mean it's Osa." Or that damn box he had hidden under his bed. His knuckles turned white as he fought to keep his voice controlled.
Benn's eyebrow raised. "But now we know they aren't rounding up the people just to get them out of the way." Despite keeping a calm face, the concern leaked through.
Unfortunately, that was true. Shanks thought of the little girl who had told him not even an hour ago about how they looked at each person. She didn't know what they were doing, but any male got inspected. No one else had mentioned that before, or maybe they hadn't paid attention.
Or the attackers were getting sloppy.
Shanks threw his hand up in exasperation. "Alright! Say they are looking for him. But why? Why now, after all these years?" He couldn't hide the anger in his voice, but he didn't feel guilty this time. Not even when Benn just glared.
"Maybe it's only recently they decided to look on our islands," Yasopp mused aloud, making Shanks turn. The sharpshooter was standing near the fire, but watching the smoking remains of the town they had arrived at too late. "They knew he was part of the main crew, but he hasn't been seen in years. Either with us or any of the others under our flag." A brisk wind blew inland, masking the smell of smoke.
"Boss, you need to-" Benn didn't finish as a blast of haki radiated out. Several people nearby flinched, while some even fainted. Some of his crew helped move them, while others watched the senior members talking. Kiyo, surprisingly, didn't seem to have noticed.
Benn just glared at him evenly as the heavy feeling faded almost as quickly as it came.
"Don't." Shanks didn't look at him. "I'm not opening it." Deep down, he knew that the exhaustion and stress were silently chipping away at his well-being, even if he didn't let it show. However, he knew that some of the crew had observed his typical cheerful demeanor had become less noticeable. And Benn had already commented on his increased alcohol intake.
But the mention of that box, again, was wearing him thin. His hand spasmed around his sword.
There was an uncomfortable silence, then Gab spoke up. "Yasopp has a point." Everyone looked at him as he continued. "Maybe they thought he was leading a crew on his own, but under our flag. But if they couldn't find him like that, they may have thought he left altogether."
Watching him, Shanks had to admit that he, and Yasopp, might be right.
"But if he wasn't on any island that wasn't protected, it would make sense to look for him on an island that is," he finished, shrugging.
"But why not look in the territories of the other Yonko's?" Punch asked. Monster leaped onto his shoulder, watching Shanks.
Benn shook his head before Shanks could respond. "Because if he had appeared in the territory of another Yonko, and he's not someone that was easy to miss, it would've started a war."
Shanks nodded once in agreement. "Benn's right. And Osa was Cipher Pol before joining, so he would understand almost better than even us how bad that would've been." And any of the other three would've taken that as a sign that the Red-Haired Pirates wanted war. He was pretty sure Blackbeard especially would've seen it as a challenge and taunted them by catching Osa.
Yasopp turned away from the fire. "I'm starting to think that pirates aren't behind this." Normally lighthearted and cheerful, the unusually serious look on his face was worrisome. It was rare for the blonde man to show such seriousness.
Shanks stared at him for a moment, taken aback. "What makes you think that?"
Yasopp rocked back on his heels, crossing his arms. "A plain black flag." When everyone looked confused, he continued. "If it were pirates, they wouldn't be hiding their flag like that."
"Sometimes they do though, especially if they attack at sea," Limejuice said.
Yasopp shook his head. "True, but there's nothing anyone's seen to help us identify them. No figureheads, sails, even the ships themselves. If I didn't know any better, I'd think they were under orders from someone."
Shanks watched him quietly, then nodded slowly. "That…makes sense, actually. Remember what Kiyo said? They were paid not to steal anything. Even if they were paid, most pirates would've stolen anyway."
Roux cocked his head. "But the people attacked always recognize them as pirates, even if they don't know the ships."
"They could be disguising themselves," Benn pointed out. "Most pirates do that at some point."
Shanks agreed with him, but it still made no sense. He glanced towards the rest of the crew, spread out over the beach, and watched Kiyo talking with a villager. They were more willing to talk to her, so she offered to talk for the Red-Haired pirates when they stopped.
Shanks appreciated it a lot more than he let on, even to Benn and the others. Glancing from her to the village, his gaze flicked from building to building, taking in the smoke, ash, stone, dust. Everything crumbled and destroyed.
"We need to head somewhere they haven't touched yet," Hongo said unexpectantly.
"That's a lot of places, Hongo," Shanks told him irritably. "How could we guess where they're possibly going to target?"
The doctor was quiet for a few minutes, then looked out over the village. "Every place they've targeted has been small, out of the way almost, or not well known. If they believe Osa is hiding somewhere, those kinds of places would be ideal."
"And don't forget he was known as a hunter," Roux reminded them. "Sometimes, he received more attention for that than when the rest of us were present." He wasn't wrong. When they sometimes revisited islands, or in the last year landed on new ones, Osa was occasionally asked to help the farmers get rid of troublesome pest, or a hunter track down hard-to-catch prey. Usually, the crew was given the pelt or gold, but Osa never accepted anything but a hunk of meat occasionally.
The surrounding men laughed, but Shanks just shook his head. "You're not wrong, Roux, but that still doesn't give us an idea of where to look."
"A forest." Benn said quietly. "Each village has a stretch of woods nearby." He looked at Snake, speaking louder. "Which islands have a forest on them? Near the habitants, or close enough for an animal to reach quickly."
Shanks narrowed his eyes, but he understood where Benn was going with this.
Snake closed his eyes for a few moments, but shook his head. "There's a number of places that come to mind, but most of them are far into our territories and have larger towns."
Shanks glanced at Benn. "Ferrow Island. That's the closest one, and we stopped there not even a year after entering the New World." It was also one of his main islands. They visited it frequently when they needed supplies or just needed a break for a while. The town was bigger than the villages that had been attacked, but not by much.
He remembered it with a wince. They had stayed there for months after Osa's death, and Shanks had been all but dragged back to the ship by the older crewmembers. On one occasion, he caught them talking and felt ashamed because they believed he wouldn't return.
But the island had a mountain with lots of caves, a wide river, and plenty of large game.
Benn nodded and smirked. "Then we'll head there. We know they haven't attacked there yet, but at this rate, they might sooner than later." He was probably right, but Shanks wished he wasn't.
"What about the other islands?" Punch asked.
Shanks tapped one finger on his sword as he thought. Finally, he looked at Punch. "Tell the other ships what we've been talking about. Not everything, just that there might be a pattern. Have them patrol the areas around the islands not targeted yet, but try to concentrate around the islands with a forest."
He nodded and raced off, Monster at his heels. Shanks watched them board the ship and disappear, then looked back at the village. The smoke had mostly dissipated now, and he could see several people moving through the wreckage.
"What about Kokoro Isle?" Yasopp asked.
Shanks didn't look at him, though his grip tightened around his sword. "They won't guess there. There's no people." No people, but strangely, hardly any animals. After they first arrived and the grave was marked, the animals had all but disappeared. The island held only one known grave, but it felt like a cemetery of hundreds.
"But it's a huge forest. And remember when Osa was part of CP before us, we all heard how much of a loner he was with them," Yasopp reminded him. "They might take a guess that he's alone."
He couldn't disagree with that. While Osa never mentioned much about his time before the crew, he made it clear that he had as little to do with people as possible before defecting. It wasn't until after he lost his eye, and their relationship started, that he started hanging with the crew more.
It took a tremendous effort, but eventually he reached a point where he could comfortably relax with them. Shanks was taken aback when Osa voluntarily joined the crew for a drink, but soon became accustomed to it. But even then, he was never comfortable for long and never let anyone but Shanks touch him.
But the idea of whoever they were setting foot on that island filled Shanks with rage. "You've got a point, but we'll stop by Ferrow Island first. It's on the way anyway, and we can warn them." Without another word, he turned and headed down the beach.
He stopped when he was far enough away that he knew they wouldn't see him and covered his face. Slowly, he breathed in and out, trying to calm his racing heart.
Shanks knew being a Yonko was never going to be easy, but this? This was beyond anything he could've imagined happening. It felt like they were going around in circles, or looking at fake trails, as if someone was taunting him. While they had found a potential pattern, and he was pretty sure Hongo was right, it still made little sense.
But he could no longer deny that Benn had been right. They were clearly looking for Osa and they weren't going to stop until they found him. But what would happen when they realized he was gone? Would they stop? Or go after the Red Force? And why hire someone, pirates or not, but not let them at least steal? That would've made it less obvious, he reflected. And they were looking at the men, but then why ransack the houses? Maybe to find a person who was hiding? Or…maybe a hidden object.
His mind drifted to the box tucked under his bed and he shook his head. "No. I can't open it. He asked me not to."
He still remembered the fear, the desperation, when Osa asked him to keep it hidden. He hadn't been that desperate since he asked Shanks to kill him, just before he joined the crew. Shanks remembered Osa's paranoia on Sabaody, and when he returned to the ship being led by Rayleigh, and sighed.
The old pirate didn't appear angry or concerned, but it still unsettled Shanks. He pondered, not for the first time, whether Rayleigh was aware of what was inside the box, or at least knew what Osa had done.
Thinking about the box, though…Shanks couldn't help but wonder. Was whatever in it somehow connected to what was happening after all?
His gaze absentmindedly roved over the Red Force, bobbing at the dock gently, and he could almost picture when he stuck it there, never telling Osa it was so close, and felt his chest tighten. His eyes burning, he tried to push the thoughts aside and returned to the others. It would take three months to get to Ferrow Island and they needed to leave soon.
Kiyo
Limejuice tapped Kiyo's arm, catching her attention. "Let's see how good you're getting."
She nodded and followed him to the center of the deck. The rest of the crew stopped and watched. Feeling a little self conscious, but not wanting to show it, she was surprised when Limejuice motioned to Yuki.
Yuki glanced at Kiyo, but stopped a few feet away. "You want me to fight her?"
Kiyo nearly rolled her eyes at the condescension in the other woman's voice. Sure, Kiyo wasn't a pirate, but she was no pushover either. But there was something about Yuki that Kiyo couldn't place; the other woman didn't exactly hate her, but she never interacted with Kiyo either. Sometimes she thought Yuki was avoiding her. But Kiyo had never even spoken to her, so why?
Limejuice shrugged. "I would prefer it to be you, but I can ask someone else, unless someone else offers." There were light chuckles from the rest of the crew. "Kiyo might be able to handle some of them, but you're probably the closest to her level."
Kiyo raised an eyebrow at that. There were other newcomers to the crew, who joined about the same time Yuki did, but was Limejuice implying Kiyo was better than them? A flash of red caught her attention, and she glanced at Shanks from the corner of her eye; the captain was on the quarterdeck, but was leaning on the rail, watching them.
He looked tired again, his hair ruffled from the wind, but also a little unfocused.
Yuki's foot scraping the deck grabbed her attention just in time. A sword came hissing from its scabbard and Kiyo barely got her staff up, though her arms vibrated from the blow.
"You can do better than that," Yuki's retort brimmed with disdain.
Kiyo took a step back, then alternated swipes, jabs, ducks, rolls, leaps, and whatever she could to avoid the black-haired woman's strangely familiar style. Ducking a jab, sending Yuki rocking back with a jab to the stomach, Kiyo tried to think.
She could swear she'd seen someone else in the crew fight like this, but she couldn't think of who. Or maybe heard of it. But there were a lot of sword users here, so it was difficult to tell. She used both hands on her sword sometimes, but sometimes just one. She didn't make any dramatic leaps, didn't use any super fancy moves, and the attacks were mostly heavy-handed.
Scrambling to her feet to avoid another shoulder-shot, she wracked her brain but the only thing she could come up with was Yuki was emulating one of the older members, who Kiyo had seen fight rarely. And while only a few used a sword, it was still a few people to think about. And in battle was no time to think about this, she told herself.
Yuki sneered as Kiyo swung the end of her staff towards Yuki's side. "You're not even trying."
"It'd help if you took this seriously," Kiyo taunted. She certainly was, but Yuki just looked bored.
Making a wide upwards arcing slash, Yuki barely took one step forward. Kiyo leaped to the side, but gasped as a line of red appeared along her shirt. She hadn't even felt the blow. There was a rip in her shirt, maybe half the length of her forearm.
"That's enough." The air shuddered as Shanks spoke out, his haki heavy. But Kiyo found it comforting this time, instead of terrifying like the first few times.
In a smooth motion, Yuki sheathed her sword and stood back as the captain approached. Her face was a blank mask.
Kneeling beside Kiyo, Shanks offered her his hand; she hadn't realized she was lying on her side. "Are you alright?"
Nodding, she let him help her stand. "Yes," she gasped, feeling the wound stinging. "That attack was quicker than I thought, that's all."
"Hongo." At the captain's voice, the doctor showed up quickly.
Hongo glanced at her, then nodded. "Yuki's faster than she looks, but you did well with only that."
It was stinging enough that Kiyo wasn't sure she wanted to agree.
Shanks smiled at her as she turned to go with the doctor, but she suppressed a shudder at the look in his eyes. It was the same haunted look she had seen back at her village. Before she could think about it however, Shanks disappeared and Hongo was leading her into the surgery.
Some of the crew called out, congratulating her for a good fight. She gave them a weary nod, or just smiled. Above them, the brightening overcast sky clearing, the clouds being shredded by high winds.
Sitting on the table after doffing her shirt, Kiyo glanced around the one of the two rooms she hadn't seen yet. Cabinets line two of the walls, both countertops and hanging, and a large dresser-like one in the corner. The windows were uncovered, light streaming through the square panes.
"I don't think this will need stitches, but don't go stretching too much." Hongo's voice brought her out of her thoughts and she watched as he carefully taped down a thick bandage.
Kiyo nodded, but grimaced while lifting her arm to put on her shirt. She had a couple of spares, but she wasn't going to walk outside with a bra and no shirt on.
The corner of Hongo's lip twitched. "Maybe you should wear something that doesn't go on like that. Stay here for a minute." She nodded and he quickly left the room.
Kiyo glanced at her shirt and sighed. "Of course, all of my shirts are like this…"
"You shouldn't be here." She started at Yuki's voice. Yuki stepped into the room, but Kiyo was shocked at the anger in her eyes.
Confused, she glanced at the door, hoping Hongo would come back soon. "I wanted to come help figure out what's going on and Shanks said it was okay." Her skin was crawling; not bad, but enough it made her feel unsettled.
The anger burned hotter as Yuki's lip curled in the beginning of a snarl. "But you aren't strong enough to keep up with us. You'll just get yourself killed." Her eyes blazing now, she stopped in front of Kiyo, cocking her head. If the few blows Kiyo had landed hurt, the other woman wasn't fazed.
"It's not like I'm going to throw myself into battle, though," Kiyo responded, still confused. Sure, some others had made it clear they were worried about her being able to defend herself, but no one had gotten angry. And a few days ago, Shanks had told her that if it came to a fight, he wanted her to stay back and only attack if she had to, but that he would leave a few people with her just in case. He hadn't asked because he didn't trust her skills, but simply to make sure their guest wasn't unnecessarily hurt.
Yuki rested her hand on her sword. "Then why come? You could've asked for the captain's transponder snail number. Called for updates."
"I wanted to help." Kiyo repeated, feeling a little miffed. She tilted her head. "I didn't want to just sit by as you all looked for whoever did this."
"But we would be fine without you," Yuki said coldly. "You should just leave at the next port, get yourself home, worry more about your village." There was something else under her words, but Kiyo couldn't place it.
Grabbing her staff, she carefully slid off the bed. "No. I said I wanted to help, I'm going to help. I don't want to see more kids hurt."
Yuki took a few steps back. "Alright. If you want to help, then why do you spend so much time talking with the captain or the officers instead of training with that?" She gestured to the staff with a toss of her head.
Kiyo narrowed her eyes. "Because it's not just training with a weapon I could already sort of use. I also help with the ship's duties, at least a few of them." Cleaning dishes with Roux in the kitchen. Mending a torn sail with Rockstar, who finally returned to the crew after sailing with one of the other ships for a time. Watching the waves in the crow's nest with Yasopp, and even being a messenger of the watch with Snake or Gab a few times.
Kiyo made sure she pulled her weight. Not only because she was used to working and needed something to do, but she knew they were taking a risk bringing her along. If there was anything she could do to help, even if it wasn't actually looking for the people responsible for this, she could at least lighten some duties for the ones who were.
"Besides, Shanks only talks to me during meals," she finished. "Or like out there." She wished he would talk a little more sometimes. She wanted to ask if he was okay, if there was something more bothering him, why he looked so…defeated sometimes. But she understood he was the captain and had his own duties to do.
"Really?" The scorn in Yuki's voice was more surprising than the flicker of something across her face. Why would she be bothered by this? "But just leave the next time we dock before someone falls because they had to save your ass."
With that, she whirled around and left.
But it was the way she held herself that told Kiyo why Yuki had felt so threatened by her. She was jealous.
Kiyo couldn't help the giggle that escaped at the thought. Yuki was a member of the crew. She got to know these people in a way Kiyo never would, nor would she really want to. She had no intention of turning pirate, give up her nice, safe home and guaranteed meals and never having to worry about being washed out to sea in a storm or to a gun or a blade. Sure, she was the shepherd for the sheep flock, but wolves were more predicable than pirates.
"Something funny?" With a smile on his face, Hongo returned, holding a bundle of cloth in his hand.
Kiyo shook her head. "Not really, but Yuki was just in here."
His eyebrow raised. "I'm a little surprised. She seems to want to have nothing to do with you."
Shaking her head, she couldn't help but giggle again as she took the cloth from him; a white button-up shirt, just a little big. "I think she's jealous of me. She told me to leave at the next port." More than that, but she didn't want to admit she felt as if Yuki were threatening her.
Hongo threw back his head as he laughed. "Really? I can't imagine why she should be jealous though. You've made it clear you're not joining permanently and it's not like you're given things to do that she isn't."
Kiyo shook her head, smiling. "I don't think it's that. I think it's because I've spent so much time with the senior members of the crew." Hongo, Benn, Punch, and Monster were the four she knew the least, but still.
Hongo sighed. "I can maybe understand that. All the newer crewmembers take a while to get to the point they're comfortable around us, and you've settled in pretty well." He laughed again as Kiyo put on the shirt. "I'm sorry for the size. We don't have many clothes aboard that button, so the boss offered one of his."
Kiyo felt as if she were swimming in it. Bigger than she expected, she had to roll up the sleeves some. "It's alright. I really just need it until I can get one of my extra shirts. I'll give it back to him then." She looked up but felt a chill down her spine as she saw Hongo looking at a mark on the sleeve.
"That…might be best." Strange. His voice had gone guarded, almost…sad? He turned and moved about the surgery. "Come back tomorrow so I can check out that scratch."
Mystified at his sudden change in behavior, she nodded and walked out. Once in the hallway, she glanced at her sleeve and saw nothing until she turned it so she could see a mark along the underside. It reminded her of a leopard spot, but the shape was larger than the leopards in the forest near the village. And none of them had a black spot like this, only brown or golden. Checking the rest of the shirt, from what she could, there was no other spot like that.
Shrugging, she tried to ignore the nagging feeling at the back of her head. Whatever the mark was, it must be important. Maybe this shirt had been a gift from someone? Or maybe his favorite? She doubted he gave this one to Hongo on purpose, but it was still odd. Maybe Hongo just grabbed one from his quarters instead of Shanks giving it to him.
Shaking her head, she turned her thoughts towards Yuki and sighed. Whatever the cause of her jealousy was, Kiyo hoped it resolved soon. She didn't want to deal with that, and she was sure the rest of the crew didn't either.
They had enough to deal with.