Takuya's eyes narrowed. "You think your village matters to me? You think your suffering excuses what you did? Or does it make you special?"
He turned to face the group, his voice dangerously low.
"Let me tell you something about the people I brought here. Life is unfair for everyone. Whatever bad things happened to you doesn't make you special. The whole world is full of suffering. Everyone here has gone through hell and back. That doesn't give you the right to harm someone else's life."
He stepped closer, his eyes cold.
"These people? The Straw Hats? They've lost friends, families, homes. They've been betrayed, hunted, and beaten. They've survived things that would break most people. And yet, they keep moving forward. They keep fighting. They keep protecting each other."
Robin's voice cut through the tension, dry and amused. "A touching speech, coming from a man who drugs every island he visits."
Takuya glanced at her, one eyebrow raised. "I drug criminals and pirates, Robin. There's a difference."
"Tell that to the Cookie Messiah preacher in Jaya."
"That was a necessary evil."
"You said that about the last three islands too."
"Because it was true every time."
Robin smiled, her eyes sparkling. "I'm just saying, your moral high ground has a lot of holes in it."
Takuya sighed, but there was no heat in it. "Fine. I'm not perfect. But at least I don't pretend to be. You, on the other hand, walk around with that serene smile while secretly enjoying every moment of chaos. You're not exactly a saint either, my darling archaeologist."
Robin's smile widened. "I never claimed to be one."
"Exactly. So save the moral lectures for someone who actually cares about it."
Sanji watched the exchange, his jaw tight. 'They're bantering. While Nami is in danger. They're bantering.'
He wanted to scream. He wanted to grab Takuya by the collar and shake him until he understood. 'Do you even care? Do you even realize what you've done?'
Nami was out there. Alone. Surrounded by enemies. In a land ruled by a god who killed for fun. And Takuya had let her go. Even when he knew something was wrong. Even when he suspected the Skypieans were hiding something. He had let her walk straight into danger.
'What if something happens to her? What if she's already—' He couldn't finish the thought. His stomach churned. His hands trembled.
'She trusted you. She trusted all of us. And we let her go. I let her go.' He pressed a hand to his forehead, his breathing shallow. 'If she dies... if she dies because of this...' He clenched his fists so hard his knuckles went white. 'I'll never forgive myself. And I'll never forgive him.'
But then he saw Takuya's eyes—cold, calm, calculating. And Sanji realized: 'He cares. He cares more than I do. And that's the worst part in all of this.'
He turned away, his fists clenched.
"You endangered Nami's life," Takuya said, turning back to Conis. "You sent her into danger. And for that, you will pay."
His eyes narrowed. "She is mine. My property. My responsibility. And no one touches what's mine and goes unscathed."
Conis's face was white. "I—"
"You think your suffering excuses what you did? It doesn't. Everyone has suffered. Everyone has lost something. That doesn't give you the right to sacrifice someone else to save yourself."
Takuya's voice dropped to a whisper. "So you will tell me everything. You will help me get her back. And when this is over, you will suffer the consequences for what you've done."
Behind him, Robin smiled softly. "That was almost romantic."
Takuya glanced back. "It wasn't meant to be."
"It was," Vivi said quietly. "You're terrifyingly hot when you're protective."
Mira nodded vigorously. "It's definitely hot."
Robin tilted her head, her eyes glinting. "And here I thought you only saved your dramatic speeches for me. Should I be jealous?"
Takuya deadpanned. "You're already the favorite. Don't push it any further or you'll be grounded."
Robin's smile turned teasing. "Favorite? That's a bold claim. My dear husband calls me his favourite but now he is going to punish his favorite wife instead of showering her with love? How cruel."
Takuya's eyebrows rose. "Bold claim?" He placed a hand dramatically over his heart, his voice dripping with mock offense. "Here I thought my Robin already knew she was my favorite. And I didn't have to explicitly say it to her and now you doubt me? In front of everyone? I'm wounded. Truly. I don't know if I can recover from this betrayal."
Robin's eyes sparkled. "You'll survive."
Robin stepped closer, her voice dropping to something soft and warm. "You want to know something, Takuya?" She paused, her hand reaching up to rest on his chest. "The safety I feel with you... I've never felt anything like it. Not once. Not ever."
She looked down, then back up at him. "For twenty years, I ran. I hid. I trusted no one. Every shadow was a threat. Every kind word was a trap. I learned to survive by expecting the worst from everyone."
Her fingers curled against his chest. "But with you... I don't have to expect the worst. I don't have to watch my back. I don't have to prepare for betrayal. Because I know—I know—that you would burn this entire island to the ground before letting anyone hurt me."
She smiled, soft and genuine. "That's why I can joke with you right now. That's why I can banter and tease and act like we're not standing in the middle of danger. Because I know you're here. I know you'll protect me. And I know that as long as you're by my side, nothing can touch me. As long as you are here, Nami is going to be ok as well."
Her eyes met his. "You know, I would follow you anywhere. I would obey your all commands without question. Not because I'm weak. Because I trust you completely. Because I have a feeling that you would never lead me somewhere I wouldn't be safe."
She tilted her head, her smile turning playful. "That's why I'm yours. Not because of the grand gestures. Not because of the dramatic speeches. But because you make me feel safe. And I've never felt that before."
The air went silent.
Mira's jaw dropped. Her mouth hung open, completely speechless for the first time in anyone's memory.
Vivi blinked rapidly, her eyes wide. Her hand came up to her chest, pressing against her heart. "That was..." She couldn't find the words. "That was beautiful."
Usopp had stopped panicking. He just stared, his mouth slightly open. "I—I think I'm crying."
Chopper was already crying. Big, wet tears rolling down his furry face. "That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard!"
Zoro's eyebrow twitched. He looked away, but his jaw was tight. "Tch. Sentimental idiots."
Luffy tilted his head, his expression blank. "I don't get it. But she sounds happy. That's good."
Robin's smile widened.
Takuya's expression softened. He reached up and caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. Then he pulled her closer, his voice quiet, meant only for her.
"I never make mistakes with people I chose."
Robin's smile deepened. "I know."
Sanji stared at the scene, his fists shaking. 'Even now. Even with Nami in danger. Even with everything falling apart. They're—they're—'
He couldn't finish the thought. He didn't want to.
Because watching them, watching the way Robin looked at Takuya, the way he looked back—it was like watching something he would never have. Something he could never be part of.
He turned away, his eye burning.
'Nami. I'm coming. I'm coming for you.'
Mira giggled. "It's like watching the most married power couple in the world argue!"
Takuya and Robin exchanged a glance. "We're not arguing," they said in unison. "We're discussing."
Vivi raised an eyebrow. "That was awfully synchronized. Should I feel threatened? Jealous? Insecure?"
She paused, tilting her head, her voice thoughtful. "You're becoming him, Robin. The calmness. The sharp tongue. The smile that cuts deeper than any blade. Nami noticed it before any of us, and she wasn't wrong." She paused, her eyes searching Robin's face. "It's unsettling—watching you mirror him so completely. But it also makes me understand why she felt threatened."
She let out a small, rueful laugh. "Watching you now... I see someone who's become his carbon copy in every way. Same eyes that miss nothing like how you also felt something wrong from the moment we landed on angel beach. Same words that land like a feather and cut like a blade. And I can't help but wonder if I'm falling behind."
Her voice softened. "Nami saw it coming before I did. She was jealous because she knew—she knew—you were becoming someone she couldn't compete with. And now I see it too."
Robin smiled, unfazed. "Is that a compliment?"
"It's an observation."
"Then I'll take it as a compliment." Robin's eyes sparkled. "I'd rather be my husband's carbon copy than emulate worse people than him."
Vivi smiled, but her mind was racing. 'She's already his favourite. Completely. Wholeheartedly. And Takuya even admitted that Robin was his favourite, plus Nami is about to join us as well. I can feel it. After this, after Takuya saves her from whatever danger she's in, she's going to fall into his arms and never let go.'
She clenched her fists. 'I'm his wife. I was his first just like Robin. But I'm completely falling behind. Robin has become his mirror. Nami will have her dramatic rescue. And me? I have a story I asked for. A single story that cannot match the status Robin has already reached.'
She took a deep breath. 'I need to up my game. I need to solidify my position. I can't be left behind. I won't be.'
Mira nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Like that guy who tried to fight a cloud earlier!"
Vivi sighed. "That was you, Mira."
"It was a very menacing cloud," Mira said defensively. "It looked at me funny."
"It was a cloud."
"It had intentions. Intimidating ones."
Takuya ignored them and turned back toward the forest. "Enough. We have a navigator to save."
Sanji was already moving, his fists clenched, his jaw tight. "Finally. Something we agree on."
Takuya walked into the forest, the Straw Hats close behind. Vivi followed, her resolve hardening with every step.
'I won't be left behind. I won't. Watch me.'
'From now on, I'm going to be more than just the princess. More than the second wife. I'm going to be someone he can't imagine living without. I'll definitely be his carbon copy as well.'
Conis's eyes were wet.
"So answer me," Takuya said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Why did you send her to Upper Yard?"
Conis choked on her words. "I—I was told to split you all up. They said to separate the strongest ones first. To weaken you before you reached Enel. They wanted her because—because she looked like she cared about the rest of you. They said if we captured her, you would follow. And when you did, they would have you all."
Takuya stared at her for a long moment.
Then he laughed.
Not a warm laugh. Not a friendly laugh. A cold, hollow laugh that made Conis flinch.
"You thought you could use her to trap me," he said. "You thought Enel could break me by taking her."
Conis didn't answer.
"Let me tell you something," Takuya said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "If Enel touches one hair on her head, I will burn this entire island to the ground. I will tear Upper Yard apart stone by stone. And I will carve his golden ship into pieces and scatter them across the White Sea."
Conis was white. "You can't. He's a god."
Takuya's lips curved into a smile. "So am I."
He pulled out a Den Den Mushi and spoke into it, his voice calm. "Mira. Prepare the Dune Serpent's secret weapon. If I give the signal, fire at will."
Mira's voice crackled back, "Yes, Master!"
Conis's eyes went wide. "Secret weapon? What secret weapon?"
Takuya smiled. "Let's just say the Dune Serpent has more than just cookies."
Luffy turned to Takuya. "What do we do now?"
Takuya smiled. "We go to Upper Yard. We save Nami. And we make sure Enel knows that he made a mistake when he decided to target what's mine."
Luffy grinned. "Sounds good."
Takuya turned back to Conis. "You have until we return to decide your answer. Who pays the price? You? Your father? Your village? Or this entire island?" His voice was calm. "Think carefully. Because when I come back, I'll want an answer."
He walked toward the forest. Sanji followed, his fists clenched, his jaw tight. Zoro was close behind, his hand resting on his sword. Robin's steps were measured, her expression unreadable. Vivi paused, looking at Conis one last time, then followed.
Luffy was already ahead, shouting for the others. "COME ON! WE'RE GOING TO SAVE NAMI!"
Conis remained kneeling on the cloud ground, her tears falling freely onto the white surface. Her shoulders shook. Her wings drooped.
Behind her, Pagaya appeared, his hand on her shoulder. His face was pale, his eyes hollow with the weight of what they had done.
"We've made a terrible mistake," Conis whispered, her voice breaking. "I thought we were saving our village. I thought if we just did what they said... we would survive. But now..." She looked up at the forest where Takuya had disappeared. "Now I think we just doomed it."
Pagaya's grip tightened on her shoulder. "We chose the wrong side, daughter. We saw him as just another intruder. Another criminal to hand over like all the previous blue sea dwellers we did. But he's not like the others. He's not like anyone we've ever met."
Conis's voice trembled. "He said he'd burn the island if she's harmed. He meant it. I could see it in his eyes. He meant every word."
Pagaya nodded slowly, his voice heavy with regret. "We thought we were protecting our home. But we may have just painted a target on it instead."
Conis buried her face in her hands. "What have we done? What have we done?"
Pagaya pulled her close, holding her as she sobbed. He had no answer. Only the terrible weight of knowing they had chosen the wrong man to cross.
Above them, the clouds swirled. Somewhere in the sky, a god was waiting.
And somewhere in the forest, a man was coming for what was his.
The adventure had only just begun.
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