"The Goddess of Death is always one step behind . I am the man she desires but can never have."
Shirogai Yamikuro landed lightly on the sand, a massive bag of at slung over his back. With a flick of his finger—
Whoosh!
The quicksand shifted with uncanny precision, raising Luffy's cherished Straw Hat into the air and placing it gently in Shirogai's hands.
Placing the hat on his head, Shirogai flashed a grin at Robin.
"Hey, beautiful. Not thrilled to see
alive and well?"
Robin chuckled softly, her tone teasing. "Hehe, quite the smooth talker, I see."
She turned to leave—only to be interrupted by a staggering figure approaching.
"What did you do to Princess Vivi?!"
The man was Pell, Vice Officer of Alabasta's Royal Guard. He had eaten the Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Falcon—a Zoan-type Devil Fruit—and was hailed as Alabasta's strongest warrior.
Pell had thought speed alone would win against Robin.
He was wrong.
Robin had floored him instantly with her "Six Fleur: Clutch." Before losing consciousness, he saw Robin vanish with Vivi before his eyes.
Now, groaning, he stood again.
Robin eyed him coolly. "Already awake? As expected from a Zoan user."
"I won't fall for your tricks again," Pell growled.
"Excuse ," Shirogai interjected casually, tilting his head. "That arm of yours is badly sprained. I could fix it up, no charge—out of consideration for Vivi."
Pell scowled, sword drawn in one shaking hand. "Another one of Crocodile's lackeys? Fine. I'll take you both on!"
Robin calmly mounted a Banana Gator and added, "These two are pirate knights who helped escort your Princess ho. You can trust them."
"Wait! Co back! Give her back!"
Pell rushed forward, but paused as Shirogai opened the bag of at, tossing a slab toward a familiar lump in the sand.
"Relax. Vivi's safe. She's heading to Alubarna with the others to stop the civil war."
Robin gave Shirogai a subtle smile, tugged the reins, and the Banana Gator shot off in a blur, leaving a cloud of dust behind.
The sll of grilled at stirred Luffy's instincts.
Sniff sniff!
"aaaatttt!!!"
Eyes still shut, Luffy latched onto the offering in front of his face, chomping and swallowing as if in a trance.
Gulp, gulp, gulp!
He downed three small barrels of water that followed the at.
Only then did he let out a sigh of relief and crack open his eyes.
"Shirogai…"
Recognizing the Straw Hat on his vice-captain's head, Luffy grinned, tension lting from his body.
"I lost…"
"You didn't just lose," Shirogai said, slapping the Straw Hat back onto Luffy's head. "You nearly died."
"Hehe… that bastard Crocodile's tough," Luffy chuckled between bites. "I didn't stand a chance."
"Then get stronger."
"Hell yeah, I will!" Luffy bead, tearing into more at.
anwhile, Pell sat groaning, his arms limp from the sprain. He watched Shirogai feed Luffy and sighed gratefully.
"That woman said you're Vivi's friends? Thank you… for everything."
Shirogai looked up and offered a faint smile. "No need for thanks. We're just her friends."
Pell smiled, clearly moved. "It's rare for the Princess to make friends these days."
He blinked. "Though… is your friend really going to eat that whole bag?"
In monts, the massive at sack had been half emptied—and Luffy's stomach was bulging unnaturally.
"Don't worry. He won't explode," Shirogai said calmly.
He pressed a hand to the sand. In response, thin silvery-white threads seeped from his fingers, spreading into the ground.
Monts later, small ivory mushrooms erupted from the sand.
Shirogai plucked a handful and tossed them into Luffy's mouth.
"Here, Pell. Try one. They're healing mushrooms—accelerate recovery and numb pain. Good for your injury."
"…Mushrooms?"
Pell hesitated, then picked one up and chewed.
The warm taste exploded into a soothing flow inside his body. He could feel it working.
Both he and Luffy soon began to glow faintly, their bodies exuding black mist and toxins that burned off with a foul stench.
Luffy shot up, fists pumping. "I'm back! Ah hahahahaha!"
"Wha—?! It really works?!" Pell exclaid, amazed as he flexed his arms. "It doesn't even hurt!"
"Not yet," Shirogai warned. "Your bones are still out of place."
"Relax and look over there."
"Huh?"
Crack!
Pell yelped as Shirogai swiftly reset both shoulders.
"You—!"
"It's done." Shirogai smiled and stepped back.
Pell rotated his arms. "…You really are sothing. Are you the ship's doctor?"
"Sotis."
Luffy threw an arm around Shirogai's shoulder and grinned at Pell.
"Hehe! Shirogai-san can cook too—delicious stuff! He helps Usopp fix the Going rry, grows tangerines with Nami, even mushrooms! He's the best!"
"Alright, alright, cut the flattery," Shirogai muttered, pushing him away. "Luffy, you rember what you're supposed to be doing?"
Bang!
Luffy slamd his fists together. "Yeah! I'm gonna kick Crocodile's ass into next week!"
Pell glanced at the bag of remaining mushrooms and then said seriously:
"I can fly in my beast form and carry one of you to Alubarna. But with two, it'll slow
down."
"No need." Shirogai smiled.
Then he vanished.
"Huh?! Where—?"
Luffy, however, had already sensed it.
"Up there."
They looked to the sky.
Shirogai hovered in the air, cloaked in shadow, three pairs of imnse pitch-black wings flapping behind him.
He looked like a demon god against the blazing Alabasta sun.
Bird-Bird Devil Fruit, Modified Form: Six-Winged Fallen Angel
Reviews
All reviews (0)