Shanks

Shanks let his haki spark once, twice, three times, then the ship ahead of them slowed, the wind unable to push the tattered sails. The air crackled softly as it faded. Approaching the ship, Shanks turned to Benn and muttered, "Find out what you can." On the ship's mast, a plain black flag fluttered weakly before the wind died completely. Beyond the ship, the dark line of Ferrow Island could be seen.

Benn nodded and called to some of the crew, who promptly boarded the other ship.

Shanks didn't turn as footsteps approached, but kept his hand resting on his sword. "Do any of them look familiar?"

"No," Kiyo sounded almost disappointed. Not that he blamed her, but it just added to his frustration. The air shivered gently.

Clenching his jaw, he stood at the helm as Snake joined Benn.

Quiet footsteps walked behind him. "Captain, we'll find them. Even if it's not this ship, we know there's been at least two others." Kiyo's voice was soft, but Shanks had no trouble hearing her.

As much as he didn't want her reminding him, he knew she was right. Before leaving, she had learned the general look of the ship…which didn't match the other two attacked villages' descriptions. Of course there'd be more than one ship…

They waited, watching the Red-Haired pirates interrogate the other crew. It seemed to take forever, and Shanks couldn't resist tapping one finger on the wheel.

Kiyo's hand rested on his briefly, just long enough to still his hand. "You're wearing yourself out." She said this lightly, but he heard the concern.

His hand flexed around a handle. "You sound like Benn." And like Osa, who reminded him more often than even the first mate did. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

Although her gaze was directed towards the other ship, it was obvious that she was watching him. "They're all worried. It's clear this is taking a toll on you." Her hair was tied back today, though a few strands fell loose on either side of her face.

Thunder pealed out overhead slowly; several of his crew glanced his way. He took a deep breath, as the last thing they needed was a haki-induced storm. "Of course it is. But it's nothing I can't handle." Not true, but he was not willing to admit that to anyone. Even Benn was unaware of how bad the stress had gotten to him.

But he was a Yonko and unfortunately, that image had to be upheld. If he failed to show strength, it could cost him his life.

"Have you talked to anyone?" The words surprised him and he cut her a look. She met his gaze coolly and didn't back down as the air shuddered around them. "With all due respect, I think you should. You may be a Yonko on top of being this crew's captain, but you're also human."

His grip tightened. "Benn asked you to talk to me, didn't he?" He sent out a short stab of haki, just enough for the first mate to feel; Benn gave him a curious look, but then returned to his task when he met Shanks' glare.

"No." She sounded a little shocked, and maybe a little offended. "But I've noticed you haven't been…well."

How had she noticed? Shanks turned to her. "How do you know this isn't how pirates normally are? Or me?" He tried to make it sound light, but the words came out nearly sarcastic. Immediately he felt bad, but ignored that.

She bit her lip and looked away. But then took a deep breath and spoke quietly, "You've gotten worse since I've come aboard. It may have been only a few months, but I've never seen a pirate deal with depression like yours."

He doubted she had seen any pirate deal with…depression? He knew he was stressed, but depressed? "Why would you think I'm dealing with that?" He remembered how Osa had been when he first came aboard. Sleepless, hardly eating, terrified of most of the crew until they left Foosha. Shanks knew he wasn't sleeping well, but other than that? No, he just lacked his usual good mood anymore and drank more.

Kiyo shrugged as Benn returned. "I actually noticed on the first day I met you. The look in your eyes? I dealt with it myself when my husband died and your face was exactly how my family described me." Giving Benn a nod as he walked up, she walked off without another word.

Shanks couldn't help but notice the empathy in her voice and let out a mental sigh. While it was nice having someone around who understood that, he didn't want to deal with that.

Benn raised an eyebrow. "She's got a point."

Not having the energy to deal with both that and the potential knowledge of the captured crew, Shanks settled on asking about the latter. "Learn anything useful?"

"They were heading for Ferrow Island, but that's all they would say." Benn shook his head. "Even threats wouldn't get them to talk, and I'm sure Rockstar had too much fun on his end." Not disdainful, and only slightly annoyed.

Shanks looked at Rockstar as he chatted with Snake. It wasn't hard to notice the blood on his knuckles. "Anything on the ship show any worth?" Ever the pirate, he knew Benn would understand he wasn't just asking about information.

But Benn's words surprised him. "Yes. A special den-den mushi. We think it's connected to whoever hired them." Benn reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black and red snail, snoozing lightly. It was nearly the length of Shanks' palm, and barely wider than his thumb. "It's a one-way communication though."

"Any chance we could trace it?" Shanks asked. He'd seen these before, but they were rare. Once, when Osa joined them and they found one aboard the first ship he helped take, and another in Sabaody, sitting in a shop window. They didn't have long of a range, maybe two islands away, and that was stretching it.

"No." Benn set the snail on the wheel, where it continued to snooze. "When we stop, maybe Ferrow Island will have something we can use. But there's nothing on either ship that could help us now."

Shanks nodded and backed away as Snake returned to the helm. "Snake, hold the ship stead for just a moment."

Snake gave him a curious, but concerned, glance and said nothing.

Letting out his haki in a concentrated blast, Shanks struck out towards the other ship in one fluid motion. When the ship exploded, sending up a large plume of water, splinters, and bits of rope, he sheathed his sword and gestured to Snake before standing at the fantail.

Minor debris and seawater scattered lightly along the decks of his ship. The ship rocked badly for a moment, then steadied as the force of the blow dissipated. The deck went silent for a few moments as an undercurrent of fear leaked into the air.

Slowly, the Red Force moved away from the remains of the other ship. Benn said nothing until they were well clear of it, and the ship sped up, then gave Shanks a pointed look.

Shanks refused to look at him, leaning against the rail. "I wasn't going to let them go and attack another village. Hired or not, they've threatened our territories." And getting away without some form of retaliation could bring other pirates here in droves, all trying to take his head. Shanks was not a fighter, but he understood now he didn't have a choice. If he didn't destroy those responsible for this, this may not stop.

"I'm not saying I disagree," Benn replied mildly. "Just a little surprised you lashed out, that's all." It grew quiet as they both watched the island get closer.

After a while, he could feel Benn's gaze on him and Shanks' eye twitched. He looked at Benn from the corner of his eye as the other man chuckled. "What?"

"Kiyo's got a point." He jerked his head towards where she stood talking with Limejuice. "Even if you don't talk to someone, Boss, at least let the rest of us just deal with this for now."

The air hummed and nearly shimmered around them. "And what would those under our protection think if I handed the responsibility of this to you and didn't deal with it myself?" A crack appeared beneath Shanks' hand.

Benn met his gaze and Shanks could feel his first mate's haki press against his own. "I'm not saying let us deal with it permanently. I'm saying take a step back for five minutes and breathe before something happens!" At first calm, his voice quickly grew agitated. Not a good sign in the usually calm first mate.

Another moment, the air shivered harshly around them. The sound of wood cracking, then Shanks released his grip with a sigh. "Fine. I'll let you take the lead on Ferrow Island. After that, I'll deal with it myself again."

And never tell Benn how much better that already made him feel. He knew Benn was right; he needed to take a breather. But he had a status to uphold, and this wouldn't help. The pressure lessened and he tried to force his muscles to relax. He never regretted inviting Benn onto the crew, or making him first mate, but there were times he became frustrating even to Shanks.

"I heard what she said about her husband." Benn's voice went soft, surprising him. "Shanks, maybe you should talk to her. It sounds like she's gone through a little of what you have, and almost recently." He rarely called Shanks by his name anymore. Usually Boss or Captain, like the newcomers and younger crewmates.

Shanks swallowed the growl rising in his throat. "No." He ignored the stare he felt Benn giving him. But after a few moments, he relented. "At least…we'll deal with this first."

"If you don't, I'll ask her to," Benn promised, a dark edge to his tone, his eyes hard. Shanks glanced at him and internally shivered at the threat alongside the furious gaze.

He just watched as Benn walked away, but didn't move. Tensing when he stopped and talked to the white-haired woman, Shanks didn't relax until it was clear she wasn't going to come talk to him now.

He thought about a few days ago, when she returned the borrowed shirt. If there hadn't been more important things to worry about, he would've put Hongo on deck cleaning duty for a month. The doctor had asked for one of his shirts, Shanks being the only crew member aboard with buttoned shirts that could have fit her, but he hadn't expected Hongo to grab his favorite.

But Kiyo explained she only wore it until she got to her bag. Feeling relieved she hadn't been seen wearing it, he had carefully folded it and placed it under the bookshelf. After checking to make sure Osa's stitching was okay first, however. It had ripped during a fight and, surprisingly, Osa could sew extremely well. And not only that, he could embroider; something he learned some time after Roger had left him with Garp, but before he joined CP. It must've been at the front of his clothes, the stitching hidden from sight at first.

But she had noticed his depression? Shanks mused on this briefly. She had lost a husband, which is more or less what Osa was to him, even if only two others had known about their relationship. But he truly did want to deal with this first.

He knew the others had noticed it, though no one said outright what it was, but she was the first to bring it up. He watched as she worked with Limejuice, practicing some moves with her staff. Shanks couldn't resist a small smile as Limejuice skywalked and she watched, open-mouthed, laughing as he landed next to her.

"Boss, Ferrow Island spotted!" Yasopp called down, pulling his attention away from the other two.

Looking ahead, Shanks let out a bolt of haki enough to make everyone turn to him. But quickly they looked ahead and Shanks couldn't hold back the haki that sent the sky shaking as he launched himself into the air.

Kiyo

He was reckless. Completely reckless. And stupid! Kiyo watched from the deck of the Red Force as Shanks skywalked to the shore. The ship hadn't been close enough for most of the others to follow, and she watched as he unleashed attack after attack on the people destroying the village.

He moved too fast for her eyes to follow, the only sign of attacks being someone knocked away, or a flash of red that dashed forward or leaped upwards before the glint of his sword arced down.

The villagers all raced from the battle, the crying heard even from here.

At her side, Limejuice's hand was nearly white around his staff. The rest of the crew had gone to the beach the second they could, but Benn ordered Kiyo to stay on the ship and left Limejuice to keep an eye on her. Glancing at them a few times, she was both surprised yet not when none of them raced forward to help. But she knew from the way Benn was poised, he wanted to.

She knew it was difficult for them to watch Shanks like this, but she was glad Limejuice stayed with her. While she felt safe on the ship, she knew that being on the beach would be far too dangerous for her. And Limejuice was probably the best person to protect her, though it was obvious he wanted to be down there.

She tried to watch the fight, but Shanks moved like a man possessed. It wasn't until a large, dark red bolt shot out that he finally seemed to slow down.

"Shanks!" Benn raced forward, startling her from the suddenness, and she watched as he grabbed the red-haired man and forced him to a stop.

Kiyo held her breath.

Even from here, the fury on Shanks' face was visible. His sword dripped blood, the red glinting strangely in the bright sun that showed just as they reached the island, and if Kiyo was being honest, he looked frightening. He looked like the fearsome Yonko his poster portrayed.

Around him, she could see bodies. All of them still.

"I think he's finally lost it," Limejuice muttered.

A shiver of fear traveled down her spine, but she couldn't disagree. Too far away for them to hear, it was obvious Benn was trying to calm him down. Slowly, Shanks seemed to relax. He sheathed his sword and headed for the beach, Benn at his heels.

"Limejuice, bring Kiyo to the beach." Benn called up after they had reached the crew. "We need to talk to the villagers."

She didn't miss the angry edge to his voice, nor the glares he shot at Shanks.

"It would be easier to skywalk down to them than get the boat," Limejuice said. "Would you mind if I carried you?"

She didn't think he was kidding, but she could see from the worry on his face that he wanted to get to the crew as swiftly as possible. Glancing at Shanks, she didn't blame him. Skywalking looked terrifying to her, but she knew seconds could count in a situation like this. "Um, sure." She couldn't help but gasp as Limejuice picked her up easily, and she clung to him for the five seconds it took for them to reach the beach.

The moment he set her down, he joined the other senior officers.

A little breathless from the speed and suddenness of their travel, Kiyo slowly walked forward until she was within hearing distance of the heated officers. Her legs were shaking, but she stopped when someone yelled.

"I told you we would take care of this!" She had never seen Benn furious, only annoyed sometimes, and from the looks on the others' faces, this was rare.

Shanks said nothing, his hand resting on his sword limply. His eyes shut, and tension etched across his face.

"Boss, that was…" Hongo's voice trailed off as Shanks suddenly swayed, then shot forward as he collapsed. "CAPTAIN!"

Kiyo stood back as the crew scrambled. Everyone rushed around, listening to Hongo's orders, and the only thing clear was something was wrong. She felt her chest tighten, but had no clue what to do. Struggling to keep up with the pirates racing around, she took another step back. Someone grab her and she started.

"It's alright, Kiyo. I didn't think to tell you to stay away from us for a little while. I should've taken you to the villagers first." Limejuice stood there, his entire body tensed and his eyes on the captain laying in the sand and the doctor leaning over him. Despite the tightness of his grip on her arm, she could sense the underlying worry he had for Shanks. His hand shook, though it wasn't visible when she glanced at him.

Kiyo watched, barely aware of how much time passed or what was happening until Hongo stood back from Shanks and several of the crew had him on a stretcher. "Wait, where are they taking him?"

Limejuice, his grip still tight, shook his head. "I'm not sure. Stay here." Releasing her, he dashed forward. He met with Benn, who didn't seem to say a word, and she hardly noticed them walking her way.

Still reeling from the quick turn of events, Kiyo had no desire to move. Not until Benn stopped in front of her, Limejuice at his heels.

The first mate's face was thunder, but she knew it wasn't at him. "Kiyo, I know you're not a member of the crew, but we need to ask you a favor."

Nodding, she didn't look away from him.

"We have no idea what happened, but Shanks was…" He exchanged a look with Limejuice, who shook his head, then continued, "Hurt. Bad. It's bad enough that Hongo doesn't feel it's safe taking him aboard the ship."

Hurt? Shanks had been fighting, but had someone gotten close to him? "But…what can I do? I'm no healer." Especially not for…whatever that was.

"No, but while Boss went wild, a few of us searched their ship and found information that could help," Benn explained. "We have to leave immediately, or we won't find out who's behind this."

It took her a minute to grasp what he said. "Wait. You mean to leave him here?" But he was the captain, the Yonko. Was it even okay for his ship to leave, for any period, without him?

Benn fixed her with a steel gaze; she found the intensity disturbing. "Hongo can't treat him on the ship, not with how much it can rock. He's staying here with Shanks, but we wanted to ask if you would stay too until we get back."

Her mind stalled for a moment, her words sticking in her throat. "How-how long until you get back?"

"The coordinates we found are only a week away at most," Limejuice told her. "We can't waste this chance though."

Kiyo nodded in understanding. "Of course, but why do you need me to stay?" Not that she minded, as it sounded they were heading into something they absolutely knew was dangerous now and not just guessing.

Benn looked at Limejuice, who gave him a grim nod, then fixed Kiyo with an intense stare again. "I heard what you said to Shanks about losing your husband."

Kiyo's grip tightened on her staff. "Yes…?"

"Shanks lost his partner eight years ago and this whole…mess-" Benn spat the word out, "-has brought up that entire thing. While we're dealing with this, I'm asking you to talk to him once he's awake."

Kiyo shook her head. "I can try, but what does this have to do with his partner?" That explained so much. The haunted look in his eyes and the dark circles under them, the not eating much. The depression that she could sense every time he spoke to her.

"We aren't sure." Limejuice's voice was uncharacteristically dark. "But it's bad, and the stress is getting to him."

They didn't know what to do about this. She shouldn't be surprised, but she shook her head. "I've noticed. Where did they take him?"

"I'll take you." Limejuice said quickly. Benn gave him a look, then raced back to the crew. Kiyo heard him barking orders to the others, who took the boat or skywalked back to the ship. Limejuice startled her by grabbing her hand. "Come on. I'm going with them and Benn won't be happy if they have to wait for me."

Kiyo ran with him as he led her to where the villagers were gathered.

"The village doctor will take you to him." Limejuice let go of her the moment they reached them, and she watched him skywalk away.

Shuddering at the fear she still felt from the crew, she turned and looked at the people grouped in front of her.

A short, balding man met her as she stepped forward. "They said someone else was staying. I'm guessing that's you." Kiyo nodded and he sighed. "Come on. We have one building left intact, but it's barely big enough for two people, let alone three."

"I can wait outside if I need to," she told him as they walked. "I'm used to it."

The man jerked his head at a building not far off. "They're in there, but Red Hair is bad shape." The walk was short, but she didn't pay attention to anything but the man leading her.

"Does anyone know what happened?" Kiyo asked. She eyed the small shelter as they walked. Small, probably some kind of storage shed. From the pitchforks, barbed fishing spears, and coiled ropes outside, she guessed it was a toolshed; those must've been moved outside to give Hongo and Shanks room. There was a window towards the top with no glass.

The man shook his head grimly. "No. We were more concerned with getting to safety. None of us saw the fight until we were a safe distance away."

That wasn't surprising. He left her there and she cautiously approached the door, only to jump back as Hongo came out.

"Kiyo! Sorry. Can you watch him for a minute, I need to talk to the doctor." His eyes were wild and she didn't get a chance to react before he raced off.

Not hesitating, Kiyo entered and was taken aback as she crouched next to Shanks.

Just after the fight, she had noticed his skin was tan, speckled with blood along his chest that she knew wasn't his, and he just looked weary. But now…

His skin held an almost green-white color in the sheds dim light and his face was screwed up in pain. His breath was coming in quick pants and a sheen of sweat was steadily appearing across his skin. His cloak had been removed, as well as his shirt. His hair, like a flame inside the shed, was spread out over his rolled-up cloak serving as a pillow.

He had a few cuts, but nothing major. A spot that may bruise along his arm, but nothing that would suggest what had happened.

"Thanks," Hongo's voice startled her. He had slipped back in faster than she expected and knelt by them. "Do you mind staying in here while I try to figure out what happened? If he wakes up, I need someone to keep him calm or distracted."

Kiyo nodded once and watched as Hongo worked quickly.

He works fast, she thought. Whatever he was doing with needles and a scalpel and who knew what else, she barely glimpsed it before he was done and onto the next thing. A square of light inched across the wall across from them, then made its way across Shanks' face. Kiyo instinctively moved to block it before he woke.

It felt hot in here, but cold at the same time. Her back warmed softly from the light shining on it until it slowly faded. She kept looking from Shanks to Hongo, until the doctor spoke.

"I'm sorry you had to see that." His words were loud in the quiet of the shed; Shanks' breathing was barely louder than the silence. "That was…not like him."

Kiyo figured, considering the crew's reaction afterwards. "Hongo, can I ask you something?"

He gave her a quick look. "I'll try to answer."

"Who was Shanks' partner?" She asked the words softly, not looking away from the unconscious man in front of them.

Hongo hummed for a moment, then sighed. "So Benn asked for your help…" He quickly put away the tools he had out that were no longer needed. "Shanks met Osa when they were kids, long before any of us." His hands flew over Shanks' body as he checked the bandages and wraps.

"A childhood friend?" She guessed.

Hongo shook his head. "Not exactly. I only know what Benn's told us, and from our understanding, Roger, Shanks' captain then, and him saved Osa somehow. Took him to the Navy, or at least got him somewhere safe; I'm not sure of the specifics." He checked Shanks' pulse, then moved on elsewhere.

Navy? "I thought Osa would've been a pirate like the rest of you."

Hongo's quiet laugh sounded wrong in the fading light. "He was. He joined the Navy at some point, was a member of Cipher Pol, and somewhere along the way…" His voice trailed off and she saw him glance at Shanks' face before continuing. "When he joined the crew, he asked Shanks to kill him." His hands faltered and she saw them shaking.

Kill him? She couldn't hide her shock.

"We don't know what happened, and neither of them ever said anything to us, but Osa had been depressed for a long time. I knew it the moment I first treated him, a few years before that, and saw how worse it was when he was first joined the crew." His voice took on a harsh edge. "But…at some point, Osa liked him more than as his captain. Benn apparently knew before we came to the Grand line, and a lot of us knew it after we had been there for a short time. And Shanks returned the feelings, but I only found out after Osa lost his eye. They were in a relationship for four years before everyone else was aware."

"The crew didn't know?" Why keep it a secret? When Kiyo had met Allen, everyone in all three villages knew. They couldn't have kept it a secret if they tried.

Hongo shook his head. "Me and Benn knew, but they kept it from everyone else. I never understood why they kept it a secret. I'm pretty sure the others guessed, at least some of them, but it was a shock when Osa…" His voice broke off and she looked to see tears sliding down his face. "He took an attack meant for Shanks and…there was nothing I could do."

"That bad?" She asked. She'd never seen the doctor react like this, but most healers were like this; if they couldn't treat a patient, it had a harsh effect on them.

Hongo nodded, wiping his eyes briefly. "Every bone broken, splinters, internal bleeding. You name the injury, he had it. Shanks…when Osa was hit, he just lost it. It was worse, so much worse, than what you saw out there."

Worse? She could imagine why, but couldn't picture it. She didn't want to.

"He was given the title of Yonko immediately after and he's never dealt with it. Oh, he grieved on his own for months, but we had to drag him back to the ship." Hongo's laugh was bitter and dry.

"That's why you all want me to talk to him." It made sense. When she lost Allen, it had been tough. But she had the entire village, and half the population of the entire island really, to help her. On a pirate ship? She didn't think they would've gotten far if they let themselves grieve properly, even for a partner, and it almost sickened her.

Hongo wrapped a last bandage around Shanks' hand. "Yes. Yasopp's the only one with a partner, and he left her behind years ago. But she didn't die, she's just back home."

"Do you think he'll listen?" She couldn't help but ask.

There was an uncomfortable pause as they both looked at Shanks, then Hongo stood. "It's possible he won't. But make him if he doesn't." He quietly opened the door, revealing a pale, star-studded sky. "I'll bring you a lamp, then I'll be out here if either of you needs me."

Kiyo moved from her spot to a more comfortable position as the door shut. Shanks was still unconscious, and she watched him silently. His breathing had deepened, finally relaxed from the painkillers she knew Hongo had used, but there were lines of tension around his eyes and his jaw was clenched.

Watching him, she thought about her husband for the first time in a while. Allen had been sick when he died, but they'd had time to prepare. Three months, and that was even with the first stage of his sickness. It progressed quickly, but they knew what would happen when even the main village's doctor couldn't help.

But to watch your partner die while in battle? To see them take an attack meant for you, and not be fast enough to save them? She couldn't imagine that pain.

She barely noticed when Hongo opened the door long enough to hand her a lantern. She moved it closer to Shanks and leaned against the tall, narrow crate behind her. In the lamp's flickering light, he looked worse, but she wanted to make sure she could see him in case she needed to get Hongo.

She wasn't sure when she dozed off, but Shanks's voice woke her. She glanced over but he wasn't awake.

"Osa…" The name was the only thing she caught as he twitched. His skin was damp still, his hair sticking to his neck in places.

Without thinking, she leaned forward and carefully grabbed his hand. She was aware of his injury, and possibly something even more serious, but she also understood he needed support of some kind. She needed it when Allen died, and she got it. But Kiyo doubted Shanks ever did, not like he probably needed.

He relaxed almost instantly, and she sighed quietly. But she didn't remove her hand, not wanting him to wake.

Watching his face go slack, she hoped he'd be willing to talk when he woke.