The Thousand Sunny sailed smoothly through the waves, the wind filling its sails as it cut through the ocean. After a day of sailing, the island appeared on the horizon, and slowly, the crew could see the small fishing town of Ryujin in the distance. As the ship pulled closer to the port of Ryujin, named after the sea deity, the crew could see that the town was a quaint and picturesque place. Small, colorful houses lined the coast, and the aroma of freshly caught and cooked seafood filled the air.
The Straw Hat pirates gathered on the deck, marveling at the beauty of Ryujin. "Looks like a pretty quiet place," Usopp observed.
"Yeah, it's like something out of a storybook," Nami mused, admiring the scenery.
"Looks like it'll be nice for Aria to visit," Robin added. "I'm sure she must have fond memories of this place."
Luffy smiled, thinking of Aria. "She deserves it. She'll be so happy to see her grandpa."
The crew docked the Thousand Sunny in the small port, the ship creaking as it came to a halt against the wooden pier. Shortly after, the Straw Hats began to disembark from the ship and step foot onto the cobblestone streets of the small port town. The crew walked for a bit, taking in their surroundings, and soon found themselves in the heart of the small town. The buildings were made of wood and stone, giving the place an old-world charm.
Zoro looked around, taking in the sight of the town. "Seems like a peaceful place, for now, at least."
Aria looked around. She couldn't believe she was there, the place where she was born. Despite the fact that she hadn't been there for a long time, she couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over her.
Luffy noticed the look in Aria's eyes. "Excited to be back?"
"Yes." She said as she looked over at Luffy with a smile. "It just feels... kind of surreal though. My grandpa lives not far from here. He's just outside of town."
Luffy chuckled. "Well, let's go see him then. Can't keep the ol' geezer waiting any longer, huh?"
Aria laughed at Luffy's bluntness, but also found it amusing. "Right!" She said, her excitement evident.
The crew began to follow Aria as she led them through the town. The cobblestone streets were lined with small houses and shops, and the townspeople went about their daily routines. Some of the townspeople looked at the crew of pirates with curiosity, having never seen a group like them before. But, they mostly minded their own business, though some smiled and greeted them politely.
"I haven't been here since I was little." Aria explained to the crew as they walked through the town. "I was just a toddler when my dad and I left this place. I haven't been back since, although we still tried to keep in touch with my grandpa over the years."
The crew listened intently as Aria shared her brief history of the town. Luffy seemed particularly interested, his eyes wide and curious. Zoro, however, looked a bit more indifferent, as usual. Ussop and Chopper were excitedly looking around, taking in the new surroundings.
"After my mom died, my dad decided we'd start a new life somewhere different, I guess." She went on the say. "It's funny, though. Of all the places we could have started over, he picked a place not much different than here."
Luffy's gaze softened a bit as he listened to her story.
The crew continued to follow Aria through the town, the lively sounds and smells of the marketplace surrounding them. After some walking, they finally reached the outskirts of the town and came upon a small, quaint house. The house was surrounded by an overgrown garden with a few wildflowers and weeds. The paint was chipped in certain areas. There were a few small windows and a modest front porch with a rocking chair that looked like it hadn't been used in years. It was a quaint and homey looking house, but also slightly ramshackle.
The crew approached the house, and Luffy looked at it, seemingly surprised by its appearance. Aria took a deep breath and approached the front door, knocking on it. There was a moment of pause before they heard footsteps inside and the sound of someone approaching the door. It creaked open and a face appeared from behind the cracked door. It was Aria's grandfather, Sappo.
Sappo was a weathered old man with a long, white beard and wrinkled skin. His eyes were sharp and alert as he looked at the crew. When he saw Aria's face, his eyes widened in surprise and disbelief, and he instantly knew who she was. "Aria?!" He exclaimed, his voice hoarse and surprised. He pushed the door open and took a step out, his eyes roaming over the young woman before him, a look of shock and disbelief on his face. "Is it really you?" He asked, as if he didn't quite trust his own eyes.
Aria smiled warmly, her heart swelling with sadness and happiness as she looked at the man she hadn't seen in over 15 years. Without a word, she took a step closer to him and wrapped her arms around his frail frame, embracing him tightly. Sappo stood for a moment as if frozen in stunned surprise, and then slowly raised his arms and hugged Aria back.
"My goodness, you've grown into such a beautiful young woman." He said, his voice trembling slightly as he broke the hug and looked at her. His eyes were a bit misty. Aria felt her eyes well up with tears as well, and she smiled gently at her grandfather, a mix of happiness and nostalgia washing over her.
Sappo gently cupped Aria's face in his weathered hands, his eyes roaming over her face. "You're a spittin' image of your mother." He said, his voice soft and a bit emotional. He continued to study her face for a moment, his eyes filled with a mix of nostalgia and pain as the memories of his daughter, Aria's mother, Pristine, rushed to the forefront of his mind.
The crew watched this exchange quietly, feeling the bittersweet emotions that filled the air. Luffy stood a bit further back, his eyes fixed on Aria and her grandfather.
As the moment between Aria and her grandfather continued, Sappo's thoughts drifted to the rest of the Straw Hat crew standing behind Aria. His gaze flickered towards them, taking in their presence for the first time. Aria noticed his gaze and chuckled softly. "Oh. This is my crew. I'm... a pirate now." Sometimes, it still felt unreal to her when she said it out loud.
Sappo raised an eyebrow at Aria's words, a mixture of surprise and curiosity on his face. He studied the crew members standing behind her, his gaze sweeping over each of them, taking in their features and appearances.
"This... is our captain, Luffy." Aria continued. She took a step back and placed her hand on Luffy's shoulder.
Luffy looked up at her as her hand rested on his shoulder, his dark eyes locking with hers for a brief moment. He gave her a small smile before turning his gaze back to Sappo, awaiting his reaction. Sappo's eyes widened slightly as he took in the sight of Luffy, his expression transforming from surprise to a mixture of awe and trepidation. He stepped closer to get a better look at Luffy.
"This... is your captain?" Sappo asked, his voice edged with a hint of disbelief, noting the captain's young age. He studied Luffy intently, trying to discern something about him, his eyes taking in every detail of his appearance and demeanor. The atmosphere thickened, tension in the air as Sappo scrutinized Luffy. Luffy remained composed, his face betraying no emotion as he stood tall under the intense gaze. Sappo's gaze flicked from Luffy to the rest of the crew, studying each of them closely. He saw the diverse group that stood behind Luffy, each member different in their own way, yet all united under one captain.
Sappo continued to study the crew, his eyes slowly drifting back to Luffy. There was a noticeable curiosity in his gaze now. "And... you all are pirates?" Sappo inquired, his voice calm and measured, his eyes roaming over the crew once again.
The rest of the Straw Hat crew behind Aria and Luffy nodded, a hint of pride in their eyes. Luffy, however, remained silent, his expression neutral as he met Sappo's gaze. Sappo took another step forward, his gaze fixed on Luffy. There was a moment of silence as the two men studied each other, the tension in the air palpable. Sappo's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Luffy further. Luffy could almost feel the weight of Sappo's gaze, the older man's intense scrutiny seeming to bore into his very being.
The crew watched as the staredown between Sappo and Luffy continued, the air heavy with anticipation. Everyone was on edge, wondering what would happen next. Sappo's gaze softened slightly as he looked at Aria, his eyes taking in the sight of his granddaughter, who he hadn't seen in fifteen years. He couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia and a mix of conflicting emotions. He was glad to see her alive and well, but the fact that she was now a pirate was a reality he was struggling to come to terms with.
He knew that he had no right to judge or criticize Aria's decisions, especially after being out of her life for so long, but at the same time, he couldn't ignore the unease that settled in his gut, thinking about the dangerous life of piracy she has now chosen. He took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to say. He glanced at the rest of the crew, their presence a reminder that Aria was not alone and that she had people who cared for her.
Sappo sighed, knowing that he couldn't hide his concerns any longer. He turned to the rest of the Straw Hat crew. "Please," he said, gesturing towards the house, "come inside."
* *