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East Blue, two days travel from Loguetown.

The sun was high in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over the deck of the ship, as the Red Dawn Pirates enjoyed a rare moment of peace and relaxation.

The ship gently rocked on the calm sea, its sails billowing softly in the breeze. Crew members were scattered around the deck, each finding their own way to relax. Some lounged in hammocks strung between the masts, swaying gently with the motion of the ship. Others sat on barrels or crates, chatting and laughing among themselves or playing dice and card games. The air was filled with the pleasant hum of conversation and the occasional burst of laughter.

And the sound of fighting, because they were who they were and some found different means of relaxation.

They'd been training non stop during the journey, so the reprieve of these last few days was welcome to every crew member, as they took the chance to relax and enjoy the weather.

On the sunniest part of the deck, Nami and Carina had set up a cozy sunbathing area - which had quickly been occupied by the other ladies of the crew. They reclined on towels, basking in the warmth of the sun. Nami wore a bright orange bikini that matched her hair, while Carina opted for a sleek, dark blue one that complemented her fair skin and light purple hair. Both women wore sunglasses and occasionally sipped from chilled drinks that Kaito had fetched for them.

He might be the Captain, but he didn't see himself as above fetching drinks, especially when he could ogle all the ladies, their skin covered in a sheen of sweat as they enjoyed the sun.

Apple lounged in a deck chair nearby, her tattoos of fruit vines winding sinuously up her arms, each detail vivid in the sunlight. She sipped from a coconut cup, her lips curved into a satisfied smile as she savored the refreshing drink, pointedly not staring at Nami. Much.

Yoruichi was there as well, leaned against the railing near Apple, her mocha skin radiant in the golden light, her long, purple hair cascading down her back like a waterfall, wearing a black one piece that seemed almost conservative.

Kaito suspected Archer had given up something to force her into something more low key.

Talk about a losing fight. Even in a conservative suit she still looked like sex on legs.

Kaito handed her a drink, a fruity little thing, as he gave her another once over, Yoruichi simply smirking as she rolled her eyes at him, not bothered by the obvious appreciative glances - from both far and near, as the crew relaxed around them.

Duel emerged from below deck, her bombshell figure accentuated by a sleek one-piece swimsuit that hugged her curves in all the right places. The fabric, a deep navy blue, contrasted with her sun-kissed skin, drawing attention to her statuesque frame. With each confident stride, Duel made her way to the group, her long legs carrying her with a graceful swagger. Her blue hair cascaded in loose waves down her back, catching the fading sunlight and adding to her allure.

If Kaito wasn't already half in love with her, he'd have fallen right there. The only blemish was the jagged scar across her throat, and even then, it simply made her viciously beautiful.

Nami, leaned back on her elbows, a faint sheen of sweat glistening on her skin. Her expression was thoughtful, her eyes narrowed slightly in contemplation. Carina reclined beside her, she wore a smug smile, her lips curved in satisfaction as she basked in the fading light. "What's on your mind, Nami?" She asked, her tone tinged with curiosity. Nami sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Just thinking about our recent training sessions," She replied, her voice tinged with frustration. "I know we've made progress, but somehow it still feels like nothing."

Kaito chuckled, "You feel that way because everyone else onboard has already been training, you have catching up to do, that's all." He tossed back his own drink, letting an appreciative hum out before pointing at Nami with empty glass in hand, "Don't compare yourself to them, compare yourself to the you of a month ago!"

"So inspirational Captain, I might swoon." Carina snarked in place of Nami, before adding her own reassurance to the orange haired girl, her face sly, "Just look at your legs and you can see you're stronger, you could probably twist a man's head off with them…" She added suggestively.

Nami swatted at her shoulder, "Enough out of you." She told Carina, stopping her friend before she could really get any wind under her sail, "You really think I'm that much stronger?" She asked Kaito, some doubt leaking through.

Yoruichi answered instead, snorting, "Compared to a civilian you're alright, definitely better than most enlisted Marines as well, so don't sell yourself too short." She flashed a grin at the fretting orange haired girl, "Where's that confident bitch I've come to expect eh?"

Nami flashed her a glare, "I almost thought you were going to say something nice, then you ruined it."

Duel scoffed, that's all she did, scoffed, but Carina and Nami both switched onto her with laser like focus, eyes narrowing.

Kaito let their bickering wash over him, leaning back against the railing, watching the placid sunny sky with pleasure. Strong personalities would lead to these things, it wasn't anything serious.

There were still some cracks in the foundation of his crew, but they were slowly healing. Nami and Carina were both too socially competent to have it end any other way.

He'd been running the crew ragged during their trip from Cocoyashi, intent on ensuring they'd be able to handle the first steps of the Grand Line. It also had the benefit of helping acclimatize the girls to the crew. Mutual suffering made for fast friends.

It would be needed once they set sail into the Grand Line.

Who knew what they could run into? Not much they could do if they were as unlucky as Don Krieg in canon - and run into Dracule Mihawk. But he intended to have them competent enough to handle any 'normal' level of threat for that ocean.

So far only Yoruichi and Archer had any success in the six powers, despite how hard he'd pushed everyone else. Yoruichi with the power shave, and Archer with the power of iron body.

Duel was close, he thought, to achieving the ability to use shave, but the rest were going to take a while.

Nami and Carina, were funnily enough, for all their whining and attempts to get out of training - probably closer than most of the crew.

They'd always been good at running away apparently.

He'd have to see about helping them along with a weapon, neither were hand to hand type of personalities. Nami using a staff could work, especially if he could potentially succeed in getting up to a sky island to explore her canon type of abilities.

Even if he couldn't, it would do her well, she needed the reach, close quarters would never be the slim girls first choice.

Carina, as sneaky and underhanded as she was, he figured she'd either need to focus on some rogue type, kind of fighting - or long distance with pistols or crossbows, or a mix of both.

He'd discussed such things slowly over the course of their travel towards Loguetown, but neither girl was very excited about the prospect of weapons training to go on top of the intense physical training they were going through.

On well, the benefits of being the Captain, he'd just make them do it anyway.

They were too new to lead a mutiny so it would all work out.

He noted that the women's sniping had turned into commiseration on the stupidity of the male gender, and decided to make himself scarce, jumping down further down on the deck.

Chuckling as he did, as Wire cursed loudly at him, as he used his head as a step board to go further down the deck. "Awareness training, Wire!" he told the man, who was being railed on by a combination of Tears, Dice, Cloud and Blackjack, as he skipped past them.

Wire was completely unable to just relax like most of the rest of them, continuing his training with the chop chop fruit, getting a better handle on dealing with handling all his separate parts.

He found his own quiet spot, and sank into a seiza, trying to practice observation haki, trying to get a feel of everyone and everything going on.

Loguetown awaited, and any advantage he could grasp, would be useful in case they ran into trouble.

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The next day, one day away from Loguetown.

Officer's meeting in Kaito's quarters,

Kaito took a sip of rum as he leaned back in his chair, the atmosphere relaxed as his officers trouped in and took their seats.

Of course he didn't actually have enough seats for all of them,

"Duel you can sit in my lap if you want?" He asked glibly, the woman giving him an unimpressed look, before taking a seat on his bed.

Wire sat down next to her, allowing Nami, Yoruichi and Archer the chairs. "Not offering me your lap, fucker, what am I, chopped liver?" He asked, obviously just to be a pain.

Because Wire would sit in his lap the day the world ended in apocalyptic fire, and not a minute before that.

Kaito raised an eyebrow, "You don't even need a chair, just float in the air and give the rest of us the space." He told the man who now held the chop-chop fruit. "But if you're that hot for me, I guess I can give you my lap." He allowed, patting it invitingly.

"Why am I here?" Nami asked, interrupting the usual start of the meeting fight, eying them all like she couldn't understand what was going on.

Kaito grinned, "Ah, that's easy, you're one of the officers."

Nami stared at him with a deadpan expression, "Are you high?"

Yoruichi burst out laughing, and even Duel smirked as Kaito pouted at her reaction.

"If he was, he'd probably make more fucking sense," Wire muttered.

"There's no way the crew accepts this." Nami said confidently, crossing her arms, an unimpressed look on her face, "Why isn't Apple here, or Tears or Dice, or anyone not me?"

Archer shook his head, a small smile on his face, "Ah, you're underestimating both our Captain's stubbornness and how the crew thinks."

Nami sent him an incredulous look, "A month ago you all hated me."

Yoruichi leaned over and put an arm around her shoulder, "That was a month ago, now it's different." Her eyes glinted with mischievousness, "Besides Apple wants nothing to do with being an officer, and just think, now you can order her around, order her to your quarters…" Her grin turned positively cheshire, "Apple likes strong bossy women…"

Nami spluttered, her face red, "What the hell are you saying!?" Pushing her arm away, leaning away from the first mate.

Wire glared at Yoruichi, "Yeah woman, what the fuck do you think you're doin'?"

Kaito cleared his throat, "I did actually have a purpose for this meeting, before we all spend too much time teasing Nami." She glared at him, which he returned with a happy grin, "You're our navigator Nami, of course you're one of our Officers."

"You're all insane." She muttered, trying to hide the small pleased smile behind loud complaints.

Kaito clapped his hands together, "Alright, now with that little matter cleared up, we're hitting Loguetown tomorrow, which means we'll be in the Grand Line shortly. So I'm opening this meeting up, what do we need? What do we want? And how far are we willing to go for it? Loguetown is our last chance to grab whatever we may need for the near future, the Grand Line is unpredictable and we might not get a good chance for a real resupply for months."

"Loguetown has a fairly large marine presence," Yoruichi warned, "So don't be too eager to smash and grab." She added with a coy smile, looking at Wire.

Wire sneered at her, "Who the fuck you looking at? I ran a criminal group for years, I'm no damn smash and grab grunt."

"Him." Duel said plainly, pointing at Kaito.

Everyone looked at their Captain, even Nami.

Kaito gave them an affronted look, "Oiy!"

"No, it fits."

"Like a glove."

"If anything goes wrong it's definitely going to be him behind it."

"Dumbass."

Kaito cracked his knuckles, "Are we having a meeting, or extra special training?" He growled lowly.

Nami squeaked and hid behind her chair. But the rest just smirked challengingly at him.

He grinned evilly, a menacing aura appearing behind him.

"Training it is!"

"Noooooooo!" Nami wailed.

And a fun time was had by all.

Or at least Kaito, and as the Captain, his fun was what mattered.

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The next day, Loguetown, East Blue

Loguetown, the town of beginnings and endings, loomed on the horizon, its silhouette gradually taking shape against the midday sun. The bustling port was a hive of activity, with ships of all sizes anchored along the docks and vendors peddling their wares along the busy streets. The Red Dawn Pirates watched from their ship as they approached, their anticipation palpable.

They didn't head straight for the port, even though they could see some pirate flags proudly displayed amongst the ships. Kaito wasn't sure if Smoker was around yet, or if Garp had done anything when passing by, so they would be anchoring a bit out of the city, just in case.

Kaito stood at the bow, his eyes scanning the horizon, a mix of excitement and apprehension swirling within him. The crew had spent the last few days resting, but now they were gearing up for their arrival at the legendary town. He turned to his crew, who were gathered on deck, ready to disembark.

"Alright, crew! This is it, Loguetown! The place where the Pirate King took his last breath." He called out with excitement, pumping a fist in the air, "The place where countless dreams have been born and shattered, we're standing on the threshold of history, about to step into the Grand Line. This is our chance to prove ourselves, to show the world what the Red Dawn Pirates are made of." He allowed his speech to trail off for a moment, meeting their eyes.

A crew of proud battle hardened people stared back at him, his own expression mirrored.

He grinned sharply, his excitement spiking, this is it, the first step into the Grand line, he thought, before shouting out the last parts of his speech, "We've trained hard, we've fought even harder, and now it's time to take the next step. Remember, we're here for supplies and information. Keep a low profile and stay out of trouble, but never forget, we're a crew, a family now. We look out for each other, no matter what, so let's do this!"

Yoruichi smirked, flipping her long purple hair over her shoulder. "You say that every time, Captain, and every time we end up in trouble, every single island..."

Kaito chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, maybe this time will be different. Let's try to make it through without drawing too much attention." He said, getting numerous skeptical looks from most everyone.

He eyed Apple, pointing at her dramatically, "And everyone keep an eye on Apple, don't let her off the ship, no kidnapping this time!"

There were some chuckles all around, but notably Pie, Tears and Dice all surrounded her, Apple giving Kaito the stink eye for being called out.

"Like I'm the trouble magnet around here, you should be the one held on a leash, Captain." She said sweetly, while glaring at him, wielding her paintbrush like she was going to use it as a weapon.

"Hmpfh, Leash." Duel said, pointing a thumb at herself, coming to stand next to Kaito, her usual stained overalls on, armed to the teeth, but leaving the artillery gun back this time.

It was a little too conspicuous to lug around town.

Kaito gave her an exasperated look, "I asked you to come with me, like a date." He complained, lips twitching, "Not as my leash."

Although, leashes and Duel… Could work. "Kinky…" He muttered with a dopey grin.

She crossed her arms under her ample bust, raising an unimpressed eyebrow, as the crew broke out in laughter at his expense.

Lots of whip sounds came out, as Kaito pouted, he wasn't whipped. He just had a hard time saying no to giant… Personalities.

"Making fun of the Captain aside," Yoruichi said, stepping up next to him with a serious mien. She was dressed in a striking outfit of black and red. Her top was a black, form-fitting crop top with red accents, highlighting her athletic build. Over it, she wore a black, sleeveless jacket with red trim, left open to allow ease of movement. Her pants were black as well, tailored and sleek, tucked into knee-high black boots that were laced up the front with red laces. A wide red sash was tied around her waist to finish off the look. She'd really bought into the whole Red Dawn look, Kaito was so proud. "Don't forget your groups, your purpose, and to always watch your back, there's both marines and potential rivals here, don't let your guard down."

Her glare had a very - or else - attribute to it that the crew responded well to.

"Keep in mind what we've asked you to look for. Any information on log poses, maps, or recent news from the Grand line or on the marines." Kaito reminded them, stepping in again, before grinning widely, "And have FUN!" He shouted, stretching his arms wide - right in time for the ship to sail into the small bay further down from Loguetown.

Nami really could do anything with a ship, and knew her way around East Blue incredibly well. She was the one who had known about the hidden bay many pirates used.

He'd shared some of what he knew about Loguetown and what they'd need with them all, so they'd know what to be on the lookout for - log poses in particular.

Never hurts to have more than one, and he'd prefer to not have to jump straight into using an eternal pose, like what he had from Buggy.

As the Red Dawn Pirates stepped off their ship, they split off in groups, no one allowed to go anywhere on their own. Most of them splitting into the groups of four they were trained in.

Kaito and Duel would be going together, hunting for anything curious or interesting, while they also looked for any mechanic shop or similar for Duel.

Wire and Apple would be staying onboard, with the rearguard, making sure their ship remained unmolested.

Carina and Nami, not unsurprisingly, had decided to go shopping, having roped in a few crewmen to come along as backup, or more likely as pack mules.

Yoruichi and Archer would be searching for information on the Marines, and if possible, steal some of their maps or log poses. They'd also keep a look out for if the marines had any better battleships laying around.

They might upgrade before they leave after all.

Kaito walked with purpose towards Loguetown, Duel in tow, the other groups spreading out to not arrive all at the same time.

This is it, the last step. Grand Line here we come!

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Loguetown was a bustling city, its streets teeming with activity. The air was filled with the sounds of haggling vendors, clattering carts, and the distant hum of conversations. Colorful banners and signs adorned the buildings, advertising everything from fresh fish to exotic spices - signifying the gateway to the Grand Line, the first port of call for any trade. The aroma of street food wafted through the air, mingling with the salty tang of the sea breeze.

Kaito craned his neck as he couldn't stop wanting to see everything, the town was just so lively, and not yet strangled by the marines as it had seemed two years into the future. He could see pirates here and there, haggling or making a fuss, Loguetown not yet the pirate free town Smoker would have made it in the future.

The main thoroughfare was lined with shops and stalls, each vying for the attention of every passerby. Merchants shouted out their prices, trying to attract customers with promises of the best deals in town. People from all walks of life filled the streets, from pirates and traders to mercenaries and townsfolk, creating a vibrant tapestry of humanity.

He'd even seen a few fish men amongst the crowd, he even thought he'd spotted a Mink, in a blink and you missed it moment.

Kaito and Duel moved through the crowd with purpose, their eyes scanning their surroundings. Duel, true to her nature, remained mostly silent, her gaze sharp and focused. Her dangerous presence alone was enough to deter any would-be troublemakers from approaching her, despite her beauty.

She really had that - I'll rip your balls off attitude down pat.

Kaito, due to his strong seven plus feet frame and dangerous grin, did his own work in keeping them unmolested, crowds naturally parting around them as they explored the cramped and filled streets.

They passed by a blacksmith's forge, the rhythmic clang of hammer on anvil ringing out as the smith worked on a new piece. The heat from the forge was intense, and the smell of burning coal mixed with the metallic tang of molten metal.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Duel lingered for a moment, watching, before sniffing and continuing on, obviously declaring the work inferior. Kaito followed along, amused at the absolutely shocked look on the blacksmith's face as he noticed the disregard.

A street over, a tailor's shop displayed an array of finely crafted garments, from impractical yet beautiful work clothes to elegant dresses. The tailor, a meticulous-looking man with a monocle, fussed over a dress on a mannequin, adjusting the fabric with precise movements.

Somehow Kaito knew Carina and Nami would find their way inside, and drive the poor man into a conniption fit, he silently apologized in advance.

That said, they were pirates, so he didn't really feel bad, he just hoped the girls wouldn't rob him too much. There's only so much room on the ship, and dresses didn't really need to take up the space.

Kaito paused at a stall selling maps and navigational tools, his eyes lighting up with interest. The vendor, an old man with a weathered face and a missing tooth, smiled at him. "Looking for something specific, lad?"

"Log poses," Kaito replied, his tone casual as he strolled over, "And any maps you have of the Grand Line."

The old man's eyes twinkled with amusement and some greed. "Ah, ambitious, aren't we? I've got just the thing for you." He rummaged through his wares and produced a couple of log poses and a well-worn map. "These should help you on your journey."

Kaito examined the items carefully, while Duel stood by his side, her eyes constantly scanning their surroundings, ever watchful. "These are… Fakes." He said in disappointment, after examining them.

Not even good fakes either!

The old man lost his amusement, face twisting into a derisive sneer, "You don't know what you're talking about!" He spat out, but kept his hands where they could see them, eying Duel warily who had her hands on two of her pistols, glaring at him pointedly.

Kaito chuckled, not at all intimidated by the old scammer, "If you're going to make fakes, old man, put better effort into it," He juggled a 'log pose' "This is working like a normal compass, and you can even see where you glued it in." He pointed out, tossing it to the old man, who scrambled to catch it, cursing loudly.

Kaito kicked his stall over, because such shitty knock offs was an affront, "If you're going to fake a map, old timer, at least try and put the fucking red line on there." He called out, walking away, his mood lessened by the half assed work of the con artist.

Duel eyed him with a questioning expression, her full lips pursed in silent judgment.

Kaito rolled his shoulders, "I can't stand shitty standards. If you're going to be a criminal, fine - but if you can't even be arsed to be a good one, why bother?"

"Old, weak." Duel said quietly, making a hand gesture that he interpreted as - doesn't have anything else.

Kaito scowled, "Could still do a better job." He muttered. "Some shitty rookie is going to get killed with that crap."

Duel smirked at that, her expression saying it all. Since when do you care about that?

Kaito frowned, glancing at her, "Don't get sassy with me, I'm a pirate, I can kick over stalls if I want to."

Duel rolled her eyes, casually kicking out with a foot, almost fast enough that he'd think she'd managed one of the six powers, the leg of a stall nearby cracking, the entire stall and its produce falling over as the owner wailed in distress.

"At least my guy deserved it." Kaito muttered as they continued on, now his turn to send a judgmental look at his companion.

She gestured to her chest, "Stared. Deserved." She insisted.

Kaito glanced down at her very obvious cleavage in her half buttoned up overalls, "You kind of can't blame the guy."

Duel flicked him on the forehead, "Ring." She said, gesturing to her finger.

Ah, the guy was married. So she punished him for perving… No, Kaito still had to agree with his first thought, she was showing off way too much to punish someone for a look.

"You're just doing this to mess with me because I messed with one guys stall, aren't you?" He said suspiciously.

Duel just smiled enigmatically at him, and continued on her way, exploring the next street.

As they made their way further into the town, they came across a mechanic's workshop. The sound of clanging metal and the hum of machinery filled the air. Duel's eyes lit up with interest, and she nudged Kaito, pointing towards the workshop.

Kaito nodded. "Let's check it out." He said, hoping it held something of interest.

So far the vendors and shops seemed mostly geared towards scamming newbies trying to get into the Grand Line.

A fairly safe scam when you consider that most who enter, likely never come back to demand a refund.

They entered the workshop, the air thick with the smell of oil and metal shavings. The walls were lined with shelves filled with tools and spare parts, and a large workbench dominated the center of the room. The mechanic, a burly man with grease-stained hands and a friendly smile, looked up from his work.

"Can I help you folks with something?" he asked, wiping his hands on a rag.

Duel stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with interest. "Tools, ship, metal," She said, her voice raspy and intent.

The mechanic looked at Kaito, silently asking for a translation.

"I think she wants better tools for working on our ship, and for working with metal." Kaito said, getting a annoyed short nod from Duel, who was peering around the shop with more interest than she'd had all day so far.

The mechanic nodded. "You've come to the right place. I've got everything you might need." He said, cleaning his hands up.

Just then, someone entered the shop from the back, "Oy, old man, the directions you gave me to the sword shop were all wrong."

Kaito could only stare in shock as Roronoa Zoro entered, glaring at the mechanic. Younger looking, not quite as hard faced, but still unmistakably him, three swords at his waist.

Said mechanic looked to the sky as if asking for patience, slowly speaking to the swordsman, "Son, the directions were for down the street, and why did it take you three days to come back if you couldn't find it?"

Zoro frowned, "The streets here are confusing."

"It's one street. The same street." The mechanic pressed, looking pained.

Then Zoro seemed to finally notice them, disregarding Duel immediately in a way that had the woman's eyes narrow dangerously. His swords slinking out of their sheaths, "You… The most dangerous man in East Blue…" He said, a dark grin slipping onto his face.

"Fight me!"

Well… That's… A pretty big coincidence.

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The sun hung high in the sky over Loguetown, casting long shadows across the bustling streets.

They stood in an alley behind the mechanic shop, the mechanic store owner and Duel had remained inside to haggle over wares, one not interested at all in a fight, the other fully believed Kaito would win and as such held no interest in missing out on picking up her supplies.

Roronoa Zoro stood with his swords drawn, his eyes locked on Kaito. The man destined to be a legendary swordsman had sought Kaito out, eager to test his mettle against the man rumored to be the strongest in East Blue.

His horrible sense of direction aside, once in Loguetown, he'd correctly assumed Kaito would eventually arrive and had spent the last month training, waiting for the moment where he could measure his strength.

Kaito stood tall and confident, meeting Zoro's gaze with a calm intensity. His stance was relaxed, almost casual, but there was an unmistakable aura of power and restrained violence about him.

He'd thought he'd missed his chance, and he was excited to see how far ahead he truly was from one of Canon's powerhouses.

"Roronoa Zoro," Kaito said, his voice carrying a mix of curiosity and condescension - in a move to rile him up. "I've heard of your skills. What brings you here, challenging me?" Why do you think you can, scrub? Was the hidden meaning behind his words.

One of the best ways to recruit someone like Zoro, was to show him what kind of strength he could achieve with him, so he wasn't planning on playing particularly nice. Zoro needed to see how much stronger Kaito was, if he was going to convince him without the natural charisma Luffy possessed.

Zoro smirked, his grip tightening on his swords. "I've heard you're the strongest in East Blue. I want to see for myself if the rumors are true."

Kaito chuckled darkly, a gleam of amusement in his eyes. "Very well. Let's see what you're made of." He said making a taunting come at me gesture.

Without another word, Zoro lunged forward, his swords slicing through the air with deadly precision. Kaito sidestepped the attack effortlessly, his movements fluid and controlled. He countered with a swift fist of his own, but Zoro parried it, just in time, flying back several feet after taking his strike on the flats of his blades.

His eyes narrowed as he watched Kaito just smirk at him, standing there with his hands held loosely at his sides.

The two warriors moved with blinding speed, swords versus fists dancing in a deadly ballet. Zoro attacked relentlessly, his three-sword style a whirlwind of power and precision. But Kaito was always one step ahead, his strikes precise and devastating.

On paper, a hand to hand combatant versus one with three swords was already decided. But Kaito was too fast, too strong, and casually used iron body when needed, making Zoro's efforts go nowhere, and endlessly frustrating the bounty hunter as his attacks were slapped away by bare hands.

The casual disregard was all part of the plan, he wanted Zoro to realize just how far behind he was, so he could pitch him on training to reach the same level.

As such, he stepped it up a notch, now not even bothering to slap his swords away, simply dodging them, even closing his eyes at one point, dancing past the blades as Zoro growled. His observation Haki might be only appearing at a miniscule level, but it was enough for an East Blue swordsman, even if it was Zoro.

He wasn't even as strong as canon yet, so Kaito had no problems avoiding his swings. The man had power behind them, but he lacked the deadly finesse he'd gain later.

Deciding he'd shown off enough for now, he stopped dodging, leaving himself open, Zoro immediately moving in, even if the man doubtlessly knew it was a trap, his pride didn't allow him to back down now.

With a powerful swing, Kaito disarmed Zoro, sending his swords flying. He followed up with a swift kick to Zoro's midsection, knocking the wind out of him and sending him crashing to the ground.

Zoro struggled to his feet, his eyes blazing with determination. "You're strong," he admitted, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "But I'm not done yet."

Kaito shook his head, a look of respect in his eyes at his guts. He loved guts after all. "You've got spirit, Zoro. But you're held back from your true potential. If you want to reach the heights of a true swordsman, you need to embrace your willpower."

Zoro charged again, picking up his swords on the way, his attacks even fiercer than before. But Kaito countered each strike with ease, his movements almost effortless. With a final, decisive blow, Kaito sent Zoro sprawling to the ground once more.

Breathing heavily, Zoro looked up at Kaito, frustration and determination warring in his gaze. "What are you talking about?"

Kaito extended a hand, offering to help Zoro to his feet, but he ignored it. "Willpower, Zoro. It's the greatest power in the world. It's what drives us to keep fighting, to push beyond our limits. With a strong will, you can achieve anything."

Zoro frowned, considering Kaito's words. "It can't be just that easy, I have plenty of willpower?"

Kaito nodded genially. "I can see it in you. You have the potential to be one of the greatest swordsmen in the world. But you need to harness that willpower, to do more than just believe in yourself and your dreams."

Zoro sheathed his swords, his expression thoughtful. "And let me guess, you know exactly how to do that?" He drawled out.

Kaito smiled, a look of genuine excitement in his eyes. "I do, you've seen my strength, together, we could conquer the Grand Line. We could achieve greatness, and you could become the swordsman you were always meant to be."

Zoro's eyes narrowed, his resolve hardening. "I'll think about it. But for now, I don't plan to be a pirate, and I'm not so stupid that I'll follow anyone just because they're stronger than me."

Kaito nodded slowly, not surprised it wouldn't be that easy. "I'll be waiting, Zoro. And when you're ready, you'll always have a place with the Red Dawn Pirates." He offered, leaving it at that for now.

But he'd make sure to seek the swordsman out before leaving Loguetown, he'd planned not to waste any time searching for him after all the trouble with Nami, but now that he was right here.

He didn't intend to leave it at that.

As Zoro turned to leave, Kaito watched him go, a sense of anticipation building within him. He knew that Zoro was already half convinced, he just needed a final push.

If Kaito had to attack another marine base to do it, he would.

Yoruichi would understand.

Then Duel stepped out of the machine shop, and punched Zoro in the face out of nowhere.

Duel, why!?

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With Nami and Carina,

Nami and Carina wandered into a small boutique nestled in a quieter corner of Loguetown, their pack mules waiting outside. The shop was filled with an array of colorful clothes, from practical sailor attire to more extravagant garments. The two women browsed through the racks, occasionally pulling out items to examine more closely.

Carina held up a vibrant blue dress, pressing it against herself and spinning around. "What do you think, Nami? Too much for a pirate, or just enough to keep things interesting?"

Nami laughed, shaking her head. "You always did have a flair for the dramatic. I think it suits you." She said teasingly.

Carina grinned, hanging the dress back on the rack. "So, speaking of suiting people, how are things with you and Apple? You two have been exchanging some pretty cute looks lately." Her expression was sly, as she leaned in towards the orange haired girl.

Nami rolled her eyes, though a blush crept onto her cheeks. "Oh, come on, Carina. It's not like that." She protested.

Especially after everything… It wasn't like that.

"Oh really?" Carina picked up a lacy top and held it up to Nami, scrutinizing her. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like someone has a little crush."

Nami swatted the top away playfully. "You're seeing things. Apple's just... It's complicated."

Carina raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Complicated, huh?" She tossed another garment at Nami, something she wouldn't be caught dead wearing at sea, but which could be cute to try on. "Sure didn't stop you guys before…"

Nami huffed, crossing her arms. "We were drunk, it doesn't count." She fired back, eyes narrowing. "And if you don't drop it, I'll tell Kaito you're disappointed with the level of training you're doing and want more…"

Carina laughed, unbothered by the threat. "Fine, fine, I'll leave you alone about it." She said with an expression that said, for now, loud and clear, "You know I never thought I'd really join a pirate crew, but I'm surprised at how… Comfortable it has been." She grimaced slightly, "Despite the… Training."

Nami sighed, holding up a particularly nice dress, Carina giving her a thumbs up, which immediately made her discard it. "I know what you mean, it's weird considering how things started out, but now it's almost like they're…" She didn't want to say family, she thought, chewing on her lip, but she didn't know what other word fit.

Carina's eyes were thoughtful as she made an agreeing noise. "They're idiots, but now they're our idiots… And besides. The Captain knows where the invisibility fruit is, so how can I not follow him?"

Nami shook her head in exasperation. "That thing again, Carina, you're too obsessed with the idea. You're good enough of a thief already." She chided.

"Uh-huh, sure." Carina pulled out a red scarf and draped it around Nami's neck, stepping back to admire her handiwork. "And with the invisibility fruit I'll be the best thief in the world. I don't think you can say anything about that, miss draw a map of the entire world…"

Nami glanced at herself in the mirror, adjusting the scarf. "You've got a point." She acknowledged. She could hardly say her own dream was any less unrealistic than Carina's. "Won't your dream be hampered by being on the crew though?" She asked thoughtfully.

Being a thief that was locked to one ship would limit her opportunities in some ways. That was just reality, she could build a reputation as a pirate easily enough - but the world's best thief was a title earned by hitting very hard targets across the world.

Carina shrugged, leaning against the display. "Life's too short to worry about that, I'm sure I'll get my chances on the crew, the Captain seems like the type to go for the top - and the invisibility fruit alone would be worth it."

Nami looked thoughtful, her fingers playing with the fabric of the scarf. "I guess... I just hadn't really seen this all working out, I almost thought we'd both have snuck off by now." She said with some self recrimination slipping into her tone.

She'd chosen to join, but she'd honestly thought she'd be forced to slip off at some point, that the crew would hate her. That hadn't come to pass, instead she'd started to feel… At home.

And apparently Carina hadn't had the same problems, which made her feel irritated that she'd assumed as much.

Carina smiled softly, placing a hand on Nami's shoulder. "You worry too much Nami, I would have never seen myself in this position either, but it's worked out, and I have no complaints…" She trailed off, making a face, "Except for the insane training…"

Nami returned the smile, feeling a warmth spread through her. "Thanks, Carina. I needed to hear that."

Carina winked, giving Nami a playful nudge. "Anytime. Now, let's find something killer for you to wear. Maybe something that will catch Apple's eye, eh?"

They spent the next hour trying on various outfits, laughing and teasing each other. Carina's playful banter kept Nami's spirits high, and by the time they left the shop, Nami felt more confident about their friendship and the crew.

They'd also robbed the shop owner blind while he'd been too focused on Nami trying on clothes, which added to their cheer.

A map shop drew her attention shortly after that and Nami was immediately ensconced for hours.

To Carina's despair.

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The sun was high in the sky as Yoruichi and Archer approached the Loguetown marine base. Unlike typical infiltration missions carried out under the cover of darkness, they were taking a bold approach, using the audacity and confidence that had served them well in the past.

Marines tended to have a pretty simple worldview, so sometimes audacity worked much better than sneakiness.

Yoruichi had once been a Marine Captain, so she wore her stolen marine attire with confidence. Her uniform was crisp and immaculate, complete with the insignia of her former rank - that she'd taken off her own old uniform. Archer, his imposing figure slightly awkward in the marine garb, followed closely behind her. They had stolen the uniforms earlier in the day, taking advantage of the chaos of a morning drill.

It had taken forever to find a uniform that fit Archer, apparently the marines here were not of the larger variety. Even now the Ensign uniform fit badly, clinging too tightly to his body.

Yoruichi led the way with the authority and ease of someone who belonged there. As they approached the gate, she barked out orders to Archer, adding authenticity to their presence.

"Keep up, Ensign," she said sharply, her voice carrying the weight of command. The marine guards at the entrance barely gave them a second glance, assuming they were just another pair of officers on official business.

Like she'd expected. Marines, especially the lower ranks, usually don't attempt to stop higher ranking officers - that way lay all the shit duties.

Inside the base, the atmosphere was a mix of disciplined order and bustling activity. Marines marched in formation, officers barked commands, and the occasional pirate was dragged off in chains. Yoruichi navigated the familiar environment with confidence, no one stopping them.

She noted that the base seemed to be in a position of transition, the activity a little more frantic than normal for everyday activities. Which likely meant a new commander, because she rarely saw ensigns cleaning so enthusiastically if they didn't have a new commander overlooking them.

They reached the administration building, where high-ranking officers stored important documents soon after. Yoruichi walked straight in, nodding curtly to the marine at the reception desk. "Captain Yoruichi reporting for a security inspection," she said, flashing her old credentials.

The receptionist, a young marine, snapped to attention and saluted. "Yes, ma'am! Proceed as you wish." Never once looking at the credentials, because obviously someone this far into the building was on the up and up.

Administrative desk ensigns were also not likely to know recent bounties on sight, not ever intended to be in a battle.

It was not following procedure to just let her by of course, but she knew how young marines worked. And how shitty many higher ups were. It didn't matter what marine base, the younger staff would not stop a higher ranking officer, because it didn't end well for them in most cases.

Yoruichi nodded at the young man, and led Archer up the stairs to the second floor, where the navigation and mapping office was located. Once inside, they quickly shut the door behind them.

"Start searching," Yoruichi instructed, her voice low but urgent. Archer nodded, rifling through drawers and cabinets with methodical precision. Yoruichi joined him, her experienced eyes scanning for anything of value.

It didn't take long before Yoruichi found a stash of maps and a few log poses. She grinned, quickly stuffing them into a satchel. "Got it," she whispered.

Just then, the door opened, and a marine officer stepped in. "Captain… What are you doing here?" He quickly took note of her rank and straightened up imperceptibly.

Thinking quickly, Yoruichi straightened up herself, her expression stern. "Lieutenant, I am conducting a surprise inspection. We've received reports of lax security, and your intrusion just proved it."

The officer paled, stammering an apology. "I-I apologize, ma'am. I didn't mean to interrupt."

"See that it doesn't happen again," Yoruichi snapped, waving him off. The officer saluted and backed out of the room, closing the door behind him.

They wouldn't have much time now, he might have been waved off by the usual deference to authority, but if he had any brains, he'd go find a commander and ask for clarification, to double check things.

Archer raised an eyebrow. "That was close." He said, sounding amused.

Yoruichi chuckled softly. "Nothing we can't handle. Let's move."

She knew he wouldn't mind a fight breaking out, but that wasn't why they were here.

They exited the room, walking briskly but not too quickly, maintaining the appearance of marines on official business. As they descended the stairs, Yoruichi nodded to the receptionist again. "Carry on, Ensign."

Outside, they maintained their pace, moving through the base with purpose. They headed towards a less-guarded section of the outer wall. Yoruichi had scouted the area earlier, noting the shift change times and the gaps in patrols.

It was best not to use the main gate this time, in case any suspicion had fallen on them.

Just as Yoruichi and Archer slipped out of the storage shed, dressed in their civilian clothes and ready to make a quick getaway, they were met with an imposing figure blocking their path. Captain Smoker, the White Hunter, stood there with his jitte in hand, a cloud of smoke swirling around him.

Yoruichi cursed under her breath, of all the people to run into… Smoker must have been assigned as the new marine in charge. It would explain the hustle inside the base, Smoker had a reputation as a hard ass.

She hadn't met him too many times, but she could see how he got the reputation.

"Leaving so soon?" Smoker's voice was a low, menacing growl. "I thought I recognized that face. Captain Yoruichi, isn't it? You're a long way from home." His eyes narrowed, "Although you go by a new moniker now, don't you, traitor?"

Yoruichi's own eyes narrowed tightly. "Captain Smoker," she acknowledged, her tone tense. She stepped forward slightly, positioning herself between Smoker and Archer. "This doesn't have to get ugly, you don't want this fight."

Smoker's eyes flicked to the satchel in Archer's hand. "You think you can just walk in here, steal from the Marines, and leave unscathed? You've got guts, I'll give you that." He grumbled, fist tightening around his weapon of choice, "You shouldn't have come here, Yoruichi…"

"More than guts," Yoruichi retorted, her muscles tensing in anticipation. "But if it's a fight you want, we'll give you one."

She really didn't want to have one, but she recognized it was inevitable, even if they wouldn't be fighting to win, just to escape.

Smoker's devil fruit was an annoying one to deal with, and neither her nor Archer knew Haki.

Without another word, Smoker lunged at them, his jitte swinging with deadly precision. Yoruichi dodged to the side, her movements a blur as she avoided the strike. Archer moved in tandem with her, his fists clenched and ready.

Kaito had warned them Smoker might be stationed here, so every member of the crew knew what to expect. If not for that, Archer would have likely rushed ahead and gotten himself in trouble.

The battle maniac.

Smoker's jitte struck the ground where Yoruichi had been standing, leaving a small crater. "You can't outrun justice," he snarled, his voice muffled by the thick cloud of smoke that now surrounded them.

Yoruichi didn't waste time on banter - Smoker wouldn't be convinced of anything that way anyway. She darted forward, her speed almost too fast to track, aiming a powerful kick at Smoker's midsection. Smoker blocked it with his jitte, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through the air.

Archer seized the opportunity, coming in from the side with a powerful punch aimed at Smoker's head. Smoker twisted, deflecting the blow with a burst of smoke that solidified around his arm, but Archer's sheer strength forced Smoker to take a step back.

"You've improved your speed, Yoruichi," Smoker admitted, his voice grudging. "But it won't be enough."

Smoker transformed his lower body into smoke, becoming partially intangible. He surged forward, his jitte swinging in wide arcs. Yoruichi and Archer moved in perfect sync, their training evident as they countered and dodged his attacks.

They were playing it confidently, so Smoker wouldn't just cover them in smoke immediately. Yoruichi had sparred with the man before, she knew the man didn't go all out at the start if he could play with his food a little. Hence why they were attacking him despite knowing they wouldn't achieve much.

To lull him into false confidence.

Yoruichi feinted left and then struck right, her fist connecting with Smoker's jaw. He simply turned to smoke, his head quickly recovered, his eyes burning with determination. "You're not getting away," he vowed, almost catching Yoruichi as his arms billowed out in smoke.

Archer lunged at Smoker, his fists a blur. Smoker blocked most of the blows, but a few slipped through, each one achieving nothing. Archer's strength was formidable, but Smoker's experience and devil fruit powers made him impossible to beat by simple strength.

Yoruichi circled around, her movements fluid and calculated. She saw an opening and took it, launching a powerful kick that sent crates flying, forcing Smoker to disperse into smoke or dodge. "Now!" she shouted to Archer.

They turned to run, but Smoker wasn't done yet. He reformed quickly, his smoke tendrils reaching out to grab them. Yoruichi and Archer dodged, but the smoke was relentless, pulling them back towards Smoker.

Smoker's jitte came down in a powerful arc, but Yoruichi managed to twist away at the last second. "You're persistent, I'll give you that," she said through gritted teeth.

This was not a good situation to be in. They'd all been advised to run at the sight of Smoker. But it was easier said than done.

Kaito was the only one that could take him down as they were.

Archer, with a roar of defiance smashed into the ground, shaking it, breaking free from the smoke tendrils and charged Smoker. He tackled the marine captain, the force of the impact sending him crashing into a nearby wall as Smoker simply turned to smoke to avoid him. Dust and debris filled the air.

Yoruichi saw her chance again. She darted in, her movements a blur, and grabbed Archer by the arm, pulling him free from the wall. "We need to go, now!" she urged.

Archer nodded, moving to their backup plan, taking a deep breath, before smashing a fist into the ground so hard the nearby buildings began to tilt, and together they sprinted towards the edge of the marine base. Smoker, recovering quickly, shouted after them, "This isn't over, Yoruichi! I'll hunt you down!" His smoke billowed out, hardening, as he held the buildings steady.

Yoruichi glanced back, her eyes meeting Smoker's. "We'll see about that," she said, a determined glint in her eye. Next time I'll be able to hit you! She promised herself.

They slipped into the shadows of Loguetown, the sounds of their footsteps fading into the distance. Back at their rendezvous point, they took a moment to catch their breath.

"That was too close," Archer said, his voice low and tense. He didn't like a fight where he couldn't hit their target, that much was obvious. His fists clenching and unclenching as he visibly forced himself to cool off.

Yoruichi nodded, her expression serious. "Smoker won't give up easily. We need to get back to the ship and get ready to leave as soon as possible."

With the stolen maps and log pose secured, they made their way back to the Red Dawn Pirates' ship, the adrenaline still coursing through their veins.

Looking for another possible better ship was left to the wayside.

With Smoker here, and now looking for them, they wouldn't have the time to steal a ship and move everything over.

Kaito might be able to handle him, Yoruichi thought,

But the rest of them would lose.

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Kaito couldn't quite understand how Duel punching Zoro out ended with them here.

But at this point he was just running with it.

The bustling tavern by the docks in Loguetown was a hub of activity, filled with sailors, pirates, and townsfolk seeking respite from their daily lives. Wooden beams crisscrossed the low ceiling, and the flickering light of lanterns cast a warm glow over the room. The air was thick with the scent of ale, roasted meat, and the faint tang of sea salt carried in by the patrons.

In essence, it was like every well taken care of dockside tavern ever.

In a corner of the tavern, at a sturdy wooden table scarred with the marks of countless fights, they sat together, Kaito, Zoro and Duel, with Tankards of frothy ale scattered across the table, and the three of them deep into their cups, not that they were lightweights anyway.

But buying Zoro large amounts of booze had markedly warmed the man up to them.

Zoro, his swords resting against the wall beside him, lifted his tankard in a toast. "To good fights and better drinks!" he declared, his cheeks only slightly flushed from the alcohol.

Kaito raised his own tankard with a grin. "I'll drink to that!" he said, clinking his tankard against Zoro's. As far as he was concerned, this was simply a prelude to doing the same on the ship once he got the man to join.

Duel, her blue hair tumbling over her shoulders, joined in the toast with a smirk. "Dumbasses," she added, her eyes sparkling with wry amusement.

Kaito wasn't sure if that was a dig at them, or just dumbasses in general, still he drank for it.

They all drank deeply, the ale a welcome burn down their throats. The tavern's lively atmosphere was a stark contrast to the intensity of their earlier battles. If one could call Duel laying Zoro out with one surprise punch a battle.

Zoro leaned back in his chair, a lazy sigh escaping his lips. "You know, I didn't expect to end the day like this," he admitted, grumbling slightly, glancing between Kaito and Duel. "But I can't say I'm complaining."

The many many empty tankards of ale on his side of the table gave plenty of reason not to complain after all.

Kaito chuckled, setting his tankard down with a thud. "Life's full of surprises," he said. "And sometimes, those surprises come in the form of good company and strong drink."

Duel shook her head, her smile somewhat vicious. "Strong, hah. Babies." She gave them a challenging look, mocking them.

The tavern's musical accompaniment struck up a lively tune, the music weaving through the conversations and laughter. Kaito and Zoro exchanged a look, were they going to leave it like that?

Duel smirked at them smugly.

"More drink/More drink!" They both called out, refusing to lose.

"So, Zoro," Kaito began while they were waiting for the drinks, his tone light and curious, "What's your story? Why do you do what you do?"

He knew of course, but teasing the story out of him would make it simpler to push at his buttons afterwards, when they fought again.

Because they would fight again, Zoro's pride would demand it.

Zoro took a long swig of his ale before answering. "I have a promise to keep," He said, his voice steady despite the alcohol. "To become the world's greatest swordsman. It's a vow I made to someone important to me, and I'll see it through no matter what."

"Not an easy dream to achieve, but I can understand it, reaching for your dreams is the only way to live. I'd rather die the freest man on the planet, young. Then live to old age full of regrets." Kaito said, meeting Zoro's eyes with determination.

The ale arrived after that, and they competed against Duel, who he only now remembered had worked at a tavern.

At the very least, as they got progressively drunker,

He thought he'd earned a sliver of respect from Zoro for his beliefs.

It was a start.

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A few days travel from Loguetown,

Portgas D. Ace stood on the deck of Vice Admiral Garp's ship, his hands bound with seastone cuffs. The vast expanse of the East Blue stretched out around them, the sea shimmering under the evening sun. Ace's eyes were filled with a fiery determination as he faced Garp, who stood with his arms crossed, his expression stern although tinged with a hint of concern.

Ace hadn't started out the journey in cuffs, but a few fires had ensured Garp couldn't leave him be as he was.

Ace's Spade Pirates were nowhere to be seen, having been left behind after the swift and unexpected capture by Garp - a favor to Ace, in return for his somewhat compliance. The deck was bustling with marines, their disciplined movements a stark contrast to the rebellious spirit that radiated from Ace.

He knew his friends would follow him, so now it was up to him. To find a way to escape Garp, and return to his journey.

"You know this won't work, old man," Ace said, his voice steady and defiant. "I'm not cut out to be a marine. I'm going to find a way to escape, no matter what you do." He wasn't even looking at the old marine, staring out at the sea instead.

Garp sighed, his gaze hardening. "Ace, you're too stubborn for your own good. You've got potential, more than you realize. Being a pirate is a waste of your talents. Join the marines, and you can make a real difference." It wasn't said with any particular passion, the words repeated too many times over the past month.

He'd forced the crew to row, he'd even gotten behind the ship and pushed at times, turning a trip that would have taken twice as long, into a months journey, all so they could make it out of East Blue with Ace, to get him to Marineford before he found a way to escape.

Garp was well aware how crafty the boy was.

Ace shook his head, his expression resolute. "The marines? I can't believe you'd even suggest that. I have my own path to follow, and it's not with the marines."

Well… At least that was more level-headed then the snarls and screaming he'd been getting.

Garp's eyes softened slightly, a flicker of pain crossing his features. "You're Roger's son, Ace. I don't want to see you end up like him. The marines can give you a purpose, a way to use your strength for good." For once he spoke quietly, so that no one but them could hear the words.

Ace's jaw clenched at the mention of his father, his eyes blazing with defiance. "I'm not him. I'm my own man, and I'll decide my own fate. No one else."

Garp stepped closer, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "You're family, Ace. I don't want to see you destroyed by this world. The marines can protect you, give you a chance to live a life where you don't have to constantly look over your shoulder."

He hated that it was a half truth, because he'd always have to look over his shoulder. But in Marineford, he could protect him. Even Akainu didn't go against him easily. And he was a dab hand at convincing Sengoku of things.

Ace met Garp's gaze head-on, unyielding. "You don't understand, do you? I have a dream, and I won't let anyone stand in my way. Not even you!" Some of the fire was returning to his words, and Garp knew if he kept this attempt going too much longer, it would evolve beyond words again.

Garp's expression tightened, a mix of frustration and worry evident in his eyes, he wasn't getting through to his foolish grandson, "I'm trying to save you, Ace. Whether you like it or not, I'm not letting you go down the same path as Roger. You'll join the marines, and that's final."

Ace smirked, his rebellious spirit shining through. "We'll see about that. I'm not giving up that easily."

Garp walked away with a huff, not feeling like a fight again, Ace would learn.

Only Loguetown to go, and then they were beyond his little crew, he'd have to give up hope then.

He'd see the marines was the only path forward.

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