The morning arrived quietly over Onigashima.
The golden sunlight filtered through the thin paper curtains, painting soft patterns across the tatami floor and the two futons laid side by side. The dust motes drifted lazily in the beams of light, and somewhere beyond the walls, the distant sea rolled against the cliffs in a steady, rhythmic hush.
"Mm…"
Luffy frowned faintly as the warmth brushed against his face. He turned his head away from the light, brows knitting in mild irritation. After a few seconds of stubborn resistance, he finally cracked one eye open.
The ceiling above him came into focus, made of plain wooden beams, sturdy and unremarkable.
He exhaled and pushed himself upright, muscles flexing and stretching as he rolled his shoulders.
A long yawn escaped his lips.
"Ahhhh…"
His spine popped softly as he stretched his arms overhead, feeling the pleasant soreness from yesterday's battles and training session.
The fight in the capital... The destruction of the factories... Celebrating... Breaking into Onigashima... Freeing Yamato... Sharing a bath...
And then, the Training Chamber.
His lips curved upward slightly at the memory, but before he could fully enjoy the peaceful morning.
"Grrrrrrr… snnnnrrrkkk…"
A sharp, unrestrained snore shattered the tranquility.
Luffy blinked his eyes and slowly turned his head to the side.
On the adjacent futon lay Yamato, sprawled in complete and unapologetic abandon. The blanket had been kicked halfway off during the night, tangled uselessly around one leg. One arm was thrown over her head, the other resting across her stomach. She was sleeping deeply, utterly defenseless.
"Grrrhhh… snrk…"
Luffy stared at her for a moment, then chuckled under his breath.
"She's really out cold…"
Her long white hair was a mess across the pillow, fading from pale to aqua and blue in soft gradients. The morning light caught against her horns and the gold hoops in her ears. Despite her size and strength, in sleep she looked strangely peaceful and almost younger.
Last night had changed everything.
After their bath and long talk under the stars, he had formally extended the invitation.
"Join my crew, Yamato."
He still remembered the way her eyes had widened, then burned with fierce excitement. She hadn't hesitated long before agreeing.
And then he had shown her the Training Chamber.
Even now, recalling her expression made him grin.
It was filled with shock, awe, and disbelief.
Inside, the time had stretched, and hours outside had become days within.
She had thrown herself into training with terrifying focus, battling projections of Oden, Roger, and even Kaido himself.
And she had grown at a very fast pace.
'She's a monster,' Luffy thought, not without admiration.
Yamato had already mastered all three types of Haki, including advanced emission. But inside the chamber, something had shifted. She had broken through barriers with brute will alone, grasping Internal Destruction and even coating attacks in Conqueror's Haki.
And her Devil Fruit… it also awakened.
Even Luffy had felt a thrill watching it.
By the time she stepped out, breathless and grinning like a warrior reborn, she had radiated a power entirely her own.
He had suggested more training, but she had refused.
"I'll beat that bastard Cow Gorilla in the real world," She had declared, eyes blazing. "With my own hands."
"…After she wakes up, at least." Luffy glanced at her now, still snoring. He leaned over and lightly tapped her arm.
"Oi... Yamato."
But there was no response.
He poked her shoulder a little harder.
"Wake up, little Oden. My friends are probably waiting for me. We should head back to the capital."
She groaned a little and murmured. "Mmghh… five more minutes…"
Her voice was thick with sleep. She rolled onto her side, stretching instinctively, arms extending above her head.
The movement caused the blanket to slide further.
Luffy's eyes twitched.
"…Yamato."
She yawned widely, eyes still closed, stretching again without the slightest awareness of how careless she looked. Her clothes had shifted during the night, and she clearly had no concept of personal boundaries.
He turned his head slightly, rubbing his temple.
'This woman…' He thought with mild exasperation. 'She grew up locked on an island full of pirates. Of course, she doesn't know basic boundaries.'
He wasn't embarrassed. He was just mildly troubled.
Yamato finally blinked her eyes open, squinting against the sunlight. "…Morning already?"
"Yes," Luffy replied dryly. "And you snore like a Sea King."
Her eyes widened. "I do not!"
"You do." Luffy chuckled.
She sat up abruptly, hair falling around her shoulders in wild disarray. "That's impossible! I'm Oden! Oden wouldn't snore!"
Luffy burst out laughing.
"You're not Oden," He said, grinning. "You're Yamato. And Yamato snores."
She stared at him for a second and then huffed and crossed her arms, cheeks faintly pink.
"…Fine. Maybe a little."
He stood and stretched once more. "Get ready. We're heading back. There's a lot to deal with."
Yamato looked at him, the sleep slowly fading from her eyes. Beneath the playful irritation, something steadier had taken root in her expression.
It was a feeling of anticipation, freedom, and maybe something else she didn't fully understand yet.
"…Right," She said, pushing herself to her feet. "Let's go."
Outside, the morning sun rose higher over Onigashima, unaware that the balance of power in Wano was about to shift once again.
Luffy gathered his clothes without haste, the faint rustle of fabric filling the quiet room. He slipped into his trousers and shirt with practiced ease before lifting the long white coat that rested neatly on the side.
For a brief moment, he held it in his hands, fingers tightening slightly around the thick cloth. The bold kanji for Justice on its back seemed to glow under the morning light.
'A Marine's symbol... and a pirate's heart...'
His lips curved faintly.
Without another thought, he swung the coat over his shoulders. The fabric settled against his frame, the hem swaying slightly as he rolled his shoulders.
The coat fit him naturally, as if it belonged there.
Behind him, Yamato watched with open curiosity.
"You really are strange," She muttered, tilting her head. "Wearing a Marine coat while planning to overthrow Kaido."
Luffy grinned over his shoulder. "It's convenient... And it looks cool."
Yamato stared at him for a second, then snorted. "That's your reason?"
"Yep." Luffy grinned.
She looked mesmerized by his handsome and charming expression. She then laughed, shaking her head as they stepped out into the hallway together.
The corridor was quiet, but not empty.
Several young girls sat huddled together along the wooden wall, wrapped in spare blankets. Their small hands clutched the fabric tightly, as if afraid someone would take even that from them.
When the door slid open, and Luffy stepped out, their bodies tensed instinctively with fear.
Luffy stopped walking, and his grin softened. He looked at them carefully, and his chest tightened slightly.
"Did you all sleep well?" He asked gently.
His voice was calm, almost casual, but it carried a steady warmth that eased the tension in the air.
The girls blinked in surprise.
"T-Today," Luffy continued, hands slipping into his pockets as if this were the most ordinary thing in the world, "we're heading back to Wano. You'll be able to return to your families."
"…R-Really?"
A tiny voice trembled from the back.
Another girl's eyes widened, filling instantly with tears. "We… we can go home?"
Luffy nodded firmly. "Yup. There will be no more cages... and certainly no more Beast Pirates."
The girls' expressions shifted all at once, like clouds parting to reveal sunlight as joy flickered hesitantly at first, then bloomed uncontrollably. A few began crying outright, small hands covering their mouths to muffle the sound.
"Thank you…!"
"Thank you so much!"
Yamato felt her throat tighten as she watched.
For years, she had roamed these halls, powerless to stop her father's cruelty. Seeing these children smile inside Onigashima felt surreal.
Luffy scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Don't thank me yet. We still gotta get you home."
He clapped his hands once, the sound echoing lightly.
"All right. Let's get a boat from the port and head out."
The girls quickly scrambled to their feet, clinging to one another but no longer frozen in fear.
As they walked, Luffy glanced sideways at Yamato. "Hey. You know how to steer a ship?"
Yamato blinked. "Steer?"
"Yeah... you know, sail, navigation... Turning the wheel and stuff."
She puffed out her cheeks, folding her arms defensively. "I lived on this island my whole life! Why would Father let me sail anywhere?"
Luffy stared at her for a moment and then burst into laughter. "Ahahaha! You serious?"
She stomped her foot. "It's not funny!"
"It kinda is."
Yamato huffed louder, horns practically radiating indignation. "I can fight an Emperor! I can split the sky! But steering a ship is apparently where I fall short!"
Luffy wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. "Don't worry. I'll teach you."
Her irritation faltered. "…You will?"
"Yeah. It's easy. Just don't crash into rocks."
"That's not helpful advice!"
The girls giggled behind them, the tension easing further.
Luffy turned forward again, his coat fluttering dramatically as a gust of wind rushed down the hallway from the open entrance ahead.
The sky beyond was bright blue.
"Let's go, everyone!" He called out, raising a hand casually.
The small procession moved forward with Yamato at his side, the rescued girls trailing close behind, their steps growing lighter with each stride.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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