AN: Thanks to the two recent comments, I was motivated! So here is a batch of chapters. Thanks @Uvu and @frankieu

Chapter 8: A Devil's Gift

As dusk settled over Cocoyashi Village, the tension in the air was almost tangible. The villagers had heard the news—Kuroobi and Chew were dead, and Arlong's wrath was soon to follow. Fear spread like wildfire among the villagers, whispers of the impending storm growing louder with each passing moment. The thought of facing Arlong's full might sent chills down their spines.

But amidst the growing panic, two figures moved with calm determination. Nojiko and Nami, side by side, worked tirelessly to soothe the nerves of their neighbors, offering words of comfort and assurance. They moved from house to house, speaking to the villagers, easing their fears as best they could.

"Listen, everyone," Nojiko said, her voice steady and strong, "we know what Arlong is capable of. But this time, we have a chance. We have someone who's willing to fight for us, to stand up to him."

Nami nodded beside her, her expression fierce yet reassuring. "Just trust us. Stay inside, stay quiet, and let us handle this."

It took time, but gradually, the panic began to subside. The villagers trusted Nojiko and Nami; they had been their beacons of hope for years. And now, with the promise of a chance—a real chance—to be free of Arlong's tyranny, they began to find some semblance of calm.

Once the villagers were safely inside their homes, Nojiko and Nami made their way back to the small house they shared on the edge of the village. The backyard was quiet, save for the rustling of leaves in the evening breeze. Draven was there, his eyes closed as he leaned against the trunk of a large mikan tree, seemingly deep in thought.

As they approached, Draven opened his eyes, a small smile playing on his lips. "You two did well," he said, his voice low and calm. "The villagers seem less scared now."

Nojiko gave a modest smile, while Nami folded her arms, her eyes still sharp. "What's the plan now?" Nami asked. "Arlong and his men will be here soon, and we need to be ready."

Draven straightened up and took a step forward, his gaze focused on Nojiko. "Actually, before we get to that, I have a little surprise for the first member of my crew."

Nojiko blinked, her curiosity piqued. "A surprise?"

Draven reached into the bag he had brought from the inn, the one filled with all the treasure he'd collected from the no-name pirates he encountered along his journey. His fingers grazed the edge of a small, ornate treasure box tucked away inside. With a smirk, he pulled the box out and opened it, revealing the strange-looking fruit within. Its yellow, pineapple-like exterior was swirled with unusual patterns, almost shimmering in the dim light, as if it held some secret, untapped power. Draven held it out toward Nojiko, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

"Consider it a gift," Draven said, his voice sincere. "A Devil Fruit. For my first mate."

Nojiko's eyes widened in shock, and she stared at the fruit as if she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing. Devil Fruits were supposed to be myths, tales whispered in the East Blue but never actually seen. "Is that… what I think it is?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, torn between awe and disbelief.

Draven nodded, his smile widening. "Yupp."

"I… I don't know what to say," Nojiko stammered, still unable to tear her gaze from the fruit.

"Don't say anything," Draven replied smoothly, his voice steady. "I want you to be as strong as possible if you're going to be sailing by my side."

Nojiko's heart swelled with a mix of gratitude and excitement. She had agreed to join Draven's crew, but this… this was something else entirely. It solidified her trust in him, reaffirmed her decision to follow this strange, powerful boy. She nodded, her expression softening into a smile. "Thank you, Draven. I'll do my best."

Nami, standing beside her sister, pouted slightly, her arms still crossed. "Hmph. Lucky," she muttered, though there was a hint of a smile on her lips. She was genuinely happy for Nojiko, even if a part of her was jealous.

Nojiko held the fruit in her hands, feeling the strange texture beneath her fingers. She had heard tales of Devil Fruits and the mysterious powers they bestowed upon those who consumed them. But the process was never fully understood; it was different for everyone. Taking a deep breath, she brought the fruit to her lips and took a bite.

The taste was like nothing she had ever experienced—an intense, bitter flavor that seemed to assault her senses all at once. She forced herself to swallow, her face contorting in disgust. "Ugh… It tastes awful," she managed to say, her voice strained.

But then, something began to change. A strange sensation coursed through her body, like a current of energy flowing from her core to the tips of her fingers and toes. Her vision blurred for a moment, and a soft, distant hum seemed to echo in her ears. Her body felt lighter, almost weightless, and a sense of clarity washed over her.

As the sensation intensified, she could feel something within her mind—a whisper, a name, as if the fruit itself was speaking to her subconscious. "The Soku Soku no Mi…" she murmured, the words coming to her as if from a dream. She didn't know how she knew, but she did.

Draven's expression shifted to one of curiosity as he watched Nojiko closely. "Speed fruit?" he asked, his tone intrigued.

Nojiko nodded, still feeling the strange sensation coursing through her. "Yeah… it must have something to do with speed."

Nami's eyes widened in surprise, her curiosity piqued. "Like… how fast?"

Nojiko shook her head, still trying to grasp the changes she felt within her. "I'm not sure yet. But I can feel it—the power inside me. It's like my body wants to move faster than I've ever moved before."

Draven's brow furrowed slightly, his mind racing. He didn't remember a Devil Fruit like this from the One Piece stories he knew. The Soku Soku no Mi wasn't something he had ever heard of. Could it be that there were still unknown fruits out there, ones that hadn't been documented in the canon he remembered? His curiosity and excitement grew. "Well then," he said, his grin returning, "let's test it out."

Nojiko nodded, her heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. She took a deep breath, focusing on the newfound energy coursing through her veins. She felt an almost instinctual pull, like a hidden muscle flexing for the first time. She crouched slightly, her muscles tensing, and then—she moved.

In an instant, she was gone, a blur of blue hair and motion darting across the backyard. Nami gasped, her eyes wide as she struggled to follow her sister's movements. Nojiko zipped around the yard with incredible speed, faster than most humans were able to move. Her body seemed to glide effortlessly, as if gravity had loosened its hold on her.

Draven's eyes widened in awe, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Amazing," he muttered. "She's faster than I expected."

Nojiko came to a sudden stop right back where she started, her chest rising and falling with rapid breaths. Her eyes were wide with exhilaration, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "I… I can't believe it," she said, her voice breathless. "It's like I'm weightless, like I'm moving with the wind."

Nami ran up to her sister, her face filled with a mix of amazement and envy. "That's incredible, Nojiko! You're like… like a human tornado!"

Nojiko laughed, her heart pounding with adrenaline. "I don't know about that, but… it feels incredible."

Draven's grin was wide and genuine. "Looks like you got yourself a pretty powerful fruit, Nojiko. And just in time, too. Arlong and his men will be here soon, and they won't know what hit them."

Nojiko nodded, her confidence growing with each passing moment. She could feel the power within her, the potential waiting to be unleashed. The Soku Soku no Mi had given her an edge—a chance to stand up against Arlong and his crew, to protect her village and her sister. She was ready.

"Let's show them what we can do," Nojiko said, her eyes burning with determination.

Draven's eyes sparkled with excitement. "That's the spirit. Now, let's get ready. We have a fish to fry."

——————————————————

The sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting a deep orange glow over Cocoyashi Village as Draven, Nojiko, and Nami continued to prepare for the inevitable confrontation with Arlong's crew. The tension in the air was thick, but there was also a sense of anticipation—an eagerness to see just what kind of strength they could bring to bear against the fishmen.

Draven stood in the middle of the backyard, his eyes fixed on Nojiko. "Alright, Nojiko, let's see what else that fruit can do," he said, his tone serious but tinged with excitement. "If it's about speed, I want to know just how fast you can go. Try moving around again. Push it to its limits."

Nojiko nodded, her determination evident in her eyes. She could still feel the residual energy from the Soku Soku no Mi coursing through her veins, and she was eager to see what more she could unlock. She crouched down slightly, her muscles tensing as she prepared to move. "Okay… here I go."

In an instant, Nojiko was off, darting around the yard at incredible speed. To Nami's eyes, she was a blur, her sister's blue hair trailing like a streak of light. But Draven, who had pushed his own mind and body to the limits of speed and strength, could still track her movements.

"Faster," he urged. "I know you can go faster than that."

Nojiko gritted her teeth, focusing on the sensation within her. She could feel something more, a deeper reservoir of power waiting to be tapped. She pushed herself harder, the air around her seeming to ripple with her movements. She had a sudden thought—a feeling that she could push herself beyond even this. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and felt herself pull on the limit of her power.

"Let's see what 'second gear' can do," she muttered under her breath, and with that, something inside her clicked.

Draven's eyes widened as Nojiko seemed to vanish from sight, reappearing several meters away in less than the blink of an eye. For Nami, it looked like teleportation—one moment, Nojiko was there, and the next, she was somewhere else entirely. Even Draven, who could keep up with her first level of speed, was left in disbelief. He could only see a slight blur—a faint afterimage of where she had been. "No way…" he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper. "That's insane."

Nojiko zipped from place to place with incredible speed, each step almost instantaneous. She moved like a phantom, appearing and disappearing in rapid succession. The world around her blurred and warped as she darted from one side of the yard to the other, her movements beyond comprehension.

Nami's jaw dropped, her eyes wide with astonishment. "It's like she's teleporting! I can't even see her!"

Draven, however, noticed something else—Nojiko's breathing was becoming labored, her movements growing less fluid. She had been moving in "second gear" for only five seconds, but he could see the strain it was putting on her body. "Nojiko! Stop!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the sound of her rapid movements.

But before she could heed his warning, Nojiko's body gave out. She collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, her limbs trembling violently. Her legs felt like they were on fire, every muscle twitching uncontrollably from the intense exertion. She gasped for breath, unable to stand back up.

Draven rushed over to her, kneeling beside her. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Nojiko nodded weakly, still trying to catch her breath. "Y-Yeah… just… exhausted…" she managed to say between gasps. "I didn't… expect it to be this… intense…"

Draven studied her closely, noting the violent twitching in her leg muscles. It was clear that the strain of using "second gear" was too much for her current level of fitness. "Looks like we found the limit," he said quietly. "Your body isn't ready for that kind of speed yet. We'll need to train you up slowly if you want to use the fruit's full potential."

Nojiko nodded, still breathing heavily. "I understand… but it's amazing… the power… I can feel it."

Draven couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. The Soku Soku no Mi was an incredible fruit. The potential it held was immense, and in the right hands, it could be a game-changer. He imagined what it would be like to move that fast, to strike before anyone could even see it coming. But he quickly shook off the thought, his resolve firm. Nojiko was his first mate, and he was genuinely happy for her. She would become a powerful ally, and besides, he had his sights set on something even greater.

"Rest up, Nojiko," he said with a bright smile. "You're going to need all your strength for when they get here. We'll take care of the rest."

He turned his attention to Nami, who was still staring at her sister in awe. "Nami," he said, his tone turning serious. "We need to talk."

Nami's expression shifted, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked up at him. "What is it?"

Draven hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "I'm going to be honest with you," he began. "You're not ready for this fight. Not yet. Arlong's men are no joke. Even the lowest-ranked fishman has the strength of ten fully grown men. Without any supernatural abilities or advanced combat skills, you'd be at a huge disadvantage."

Nami's face fell, a mixture of frustration and disappointment washing over her. She knew he was right, but it didn't make it any easier to hear. "So, what are you saying?" she asked quietly.

Draven's expression softened. "I'm saying you should stay inside the house during the fight. It's not safe for you out here, and I don't want you to get hurt."

For a moment, Nami looked like she might argue, her fists clenching at her sides. But then she glanced at Nojiko, who was still recovering from the strain of using her Devil Fruit. She knew that, as things stood, she was the weakest among them. She wasn't strong enough—yet. With a deep breath, she nodded reluctantly. "Alright. I'll stay inside… but I won't be weak for long. I promise you that."

Draven smiled at her determination. "I believe you, Nami. I know you've got the potential to be just as strong as your sister someday."

Nami's eyes hardened with resolve. "I will be," she said firmly. "I'll train every day until I'm strong enough to protect everyone I care about. I won't rely on anyone else."

Draven's smile widened. He was impressed by her spirit. Even though she was still young, she had the heart of a true pirate—someone willing to do whatever necessary for what they believed in. "Good. Keep that fire burning, and you'll get there."

With that, Draven helped Nojiko inside the house to rest. The sun was beginning to set, and soon, the village would be shrouded in darkness. Arlong and his crew would be here soon, and when they arrived, they would face a fight they weren't prepared for.

Draven's mind wasn't clouded with doubt or strategy for the upcoming battle. He wasn't worried. In his mind, there was no question of victory. He was much stronger than Arlong, and his plan was simple—hit the fishman until he didn't get back up. With Nojiko's newfound speed, it was just a matter of time before Arlong was finished.

The real battle was just beginning, and the dawn of his crew's strength was on the horizon.