Toki woke before sunrise with dark circles beneath her eyes and a headache pulsing behind her temples. She had barely slept.
"Those monsters…" she thought bitterly. "They went at it like wild beasts. I couldn't sleep even for a moment."
Every time she had drifted toward rest, another muffled gasp or creak of fabric had dragged her back to full awareness. By the end of the night, she had buried her face under her pillow in surrender.
She stepped out of her tent into the crisp morning air.
To her surprise, Ren was already awake.
He had prepared breakfast and left it neatly arranged on a flat stone table. Beyond the clearing, he was training again, his fists colliding with what remained of a distant cliff.
Each punch sent a dull tremor through the island.
Toki washed her face by a small stream and sat down, trying to gather her composure.
Just then, Shakky emerged from the tent.
Toki was ready to curse her for screaming half the night—but the words died in her throat.
Shakky's legs were trembling.
She took one step and nearly stumbled forward.
Toki immediately rushed to support her.
"Careful!"
Shakky hissed under her breath.
"That bastard," she muttered. "He went extra hard on me."
Toki's mouth twitched.
"Yes… I noticed," she replied dryly. "From the sounds of it, you two were wild last night. Couldn't you have shown a little control?"
Shakky shook her head, though her expression was oddly thoughtful.
"You won't understand," she said. "That wasn't just sex. It was a battle to decide who wins. Though every time… it's him."
Toki turned crimson.
"A battle? What kind of ridiculous reason is that? Why do you fight like that?"
Shakky sighed dramatically.
"If he wins—which he always does—he gets to have another woman," she explained. "If I win, he belongs only to me."
Toki's hands flew to her mouth.
"That's horrible! How can he even think of having another woman?"
Shakky slowly turned her head and looked Toki up and down.
"Look at me and then say that again," she replied calmly. "Do you really think I alone can handle him? He's a monster in battle… and in bed."
As she said that, her gaze lingered on Toki.
Beautiful.
Gentle.
Strong in her own quiet way.
She hasn't done anything to make us doubt her. She'd be a perfect sister.
Shakky's eyes sparkled mischievously.
She suddenly wrapped an arm around Toki's shoulders and smiled warmly.
That smile sent a shiver down Toki's spine.
"Hey, Toki," Shakky asked sweetly, still smiling. "You're single, right?"
Toki stiffened.
She did not like where this conversation was heading.
"N-no… I mean yes! I'm single. Wh-why?"
Shakky leaned closer, rubbing her cheek lightly against Toki's.
"How about becoming my sister?" she said playfully. "I like you already. Let's defeat that shameless pervert bed-monster together."
Toki's face exploded into red.
An image she had tried very hard not to remember surfaced in her mind. The night before, curiosity had gotten the better of her for a split second. She had peeked.
Just once.
She shivered at the memory.
Shakky noticed.
Her smile turned sly.
She leaned in and whispered softly near Toki's ear.
"You were watching us, right? Don't forget—we both have some of the strongest Observation Haki around."
Toki froze.
"I-I wasn't! I wasn't trying to peek!" she stammered, steam nearly rising from her head. "I just… heard noises and—!"
Shakky burst out laughing.
"Relax. I'm teasing."
Toki covered her face with both hands.
Shakky leaned back, folding her arms.
"Fine, then it's decided," she declared. "You'll become my first sister. Tonight, you'll be the one to fight that monster."
Toki made a small strangled noise.
She didn't reject the idea.
That realization startled her more than anything.
Ren was powerful. Charismatic. Handsome in a rough, confident way. He was surprisingly easy to talk to when he wasn't crushing mountains or challenging Emperors.
Any woman would feel drawn to him.
Toki was no different.
She had just buried the thought out of respect for Shakky.
And in Wano, it wasn't uncommon for powerful men to have multiple wives. The custom existed, especially among the elite.
Shakky nudged her gently.
"You're thinking too hard," she teased. "He's not going to eat you."
"That's not comforting," Toki muttered.
They began eating breakfast together. Shakky continued teasing her relentlessly.
"So," Shakky said between bites, "what did you think? Honestly."
Toki nearly choked.
"Th-think about what?"
"You know what."
Toki glared weakly.
"You're impossible."
Shakky smirked. "And you're curious."
After a while, Toki gathered herself.
"Oh? And what about you?" she shot back. "If you lose every time, doesn't that mean you're just encouraging him?"
Shakky blinked.
Then she laughed.
"You've got some bite after all."
Their banter went back and forth, playful and light. The embarrassment slowly faded, replaced by warmth. It felt strangely natural, like they had known each other far longer than a few days.
Their laughter echoed across the clearing.
When Ren finally returned from training, sweat glistening across his shoulders, he paused at the sight before him.
Shakky and Toki were sitting close together, laughing like sisters.
He blinked.
"What did I miss?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Shakky grinned innocently. "Nothing important."
Toki looked away quickly.
Ren studied them carefully.
Toki was beautiful.
Graceful.
Her presence carried an elegance shaped by centuries of history. Since she had chosen not to follow Oden, Ren had noticed her more openly.
He wasn't blind.
He intended to have her.
But seeing her and Shakky growing closer eased something inside him. If Shakky accepted her, then everything would be simpler.
He smiled faintly.
"I'm glad you're getting along," he said.
Shakky's eyes flickered with hidden amusement.
"Oh, we're getting along very well," she replied.
Ren narrowed his eyes slightly.
"That sounds suspicious."
Toki quickly stood up.
"I—I'll help clean up," she blurted.
Ren watched her retreating form, then looked at Shakky.
"What did you do?"
Shakky only winked.
"You'll see tonight."
Ren paused.
Then his lips curved slowly.
"Oh?"
Shakky stretched lazily, her legs still slightly shaky.
"Don't look so pleased," she warned. "You'll have your hands full."
Ren laughed.
"I always do."
He didn't know the full extent of Shakky's scheming. If he had, he might have kissed her right there in gratitude.
She really was the best partner he could have asked for.
The camp settled into calm once more.
But beneath the surface, plans were forming.
For Wano.
For the future.
And perhaps, for a growing family bound not just by ambition—but by choice.