Josh's journey was, if it is the right word to describe it, difficult and hard. After beating the pirate hunters and taking their wealth, the weather in the sea changed all of the sudden, and it rained, letting their ship at the mercy of the colossal waves.
Not so long after, it became extremely hot.
When Josh thought that he could relax, a marine ship appeared in their sight, and they were barely able to avoid it by making their way around them.
"My poor life."
Josh sighed as he sat on the deck after another session of training. Because of the mental state he had been in, he had spent the last three days on training without rest.
Since he had improved his healing factor, Josh barely needed resting. The only food he needed, and it seemed that the better his healing factor gets, the less food he needs.
"Robin, when are we going to arrive?" Asked Josh.
"After a short while." Hearing his question, Robin smiled as she was holding the wheels.
When the sun reached the middle of the sky, Josh heard an excited shout.
"An island!"
Josh lifted his head. Marianne was above the sail, pointing at one island.
A land. That was a happy sight for Josh, who wanted nothing more than peace. But now he has to reach the New World.
Although his pride as a man was included, he didn't have a time limit. Besides, Josh figured that he can way stronger on his way.
Smiling, Josh and the group reached the island. It has a seaport, which means that there is civilisation here.
In One Piece World, not every island is the same.
Some of them are full of dangerous beasts. Others are just towns and villages, while some islands have kingdoms. And of course, there are isolated islands with nothing but rocks.
Landing on their feet, Josh changed to a new fresh set of clothes.
"Do you remember our goal from coming here?"
Hearing Josh's question, Mikita held his arm and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Rest for a while, have a new fast ship, and then moving again, finding bounty hunters," Mikita answered.
Their ship was good. However, it was very slow when it came to moving at the sea. They had learnt this when they had tried to escape a marine ship.
Josh has around 80 million Berries. Although it's not much to buy a very good ship, it still can get them a good one.
Of course, he can always steal a one.
"Excuse me, but why do we have to change the ship," Marianne said, lifting her hand.
Robin looked down at her and answered. "Since a group of Bounty Hunters could catch up to us, it's needless to say that marines would be able to catch to us. Our ship is recognisable. That's why we need to rest here until the eyes on us are low. And then, we can move again with a new ship."
"Oh." Marianne tilted her head. "You sound experienced when it comes to those things. I mean, escaping and dodging marines"
Robin's facial expression froze until Josh smiled at her face and patted Marianne on the head.
Robin sighed. Only Josh seems to know her background here, and he was accepting her.
The four of them then moved to some hotel. Although the four are in a relationship and could rent one room, they rented a couple of rooms to avoid attention.
As it seems, they are now within the lands of a kingdom, and there is a Marine base in the middle of the main City, next to the seaport.
When Josh learnt about this, he told the girls to lay low and wear different clothes than usual.
Josh was no adventurer or problem seeker. He would never provoke anyone unless they provoked him first.
-x-X-x-
Josh was sitting by a cafe shop the next morning. He was next to Robin. Meanwhile, Mikita and Marianne went to the market to shop for different things.
Mikita said she wanted some lemons, while the little girl wanted some tea and colours since she uses them as her weapon.
Josh took a sip from his coffee while closing his eyes.
"What are you trying to do."
Robin asked as she saw Josh focusing on something else.
"Trying to adapt to my Devil Fruit abilities."
Josh said.
Although he is in his human form, the Zoan Devil Fruit still have an effect on him.
Just like Chopper, in his animal form, can still have the mind of a human and talk.
Josh, in this case, was having the instincts of a demon, and his senses.
"Since when?" Robin blinked twice when she looked at Josh.
"Since four days ago," Josh said. "You were sleeping when I asked."
Robin didn't find it surprising.
"Mind me asking which type."
"Zoan. Demon module." Josh said.
Although he is talking with Robin, currently, he was hearing almost everyone's heartbeat. It was a fun ability if he could focus on it.
Just now, Robin's heart skipped two beats. But when he looked at her, she had a gentle expression, as a reliable person would. Robin must be surprised as she has already figured it's a mythical Zoan.
"Well. Demon-Chan." Robin had that smile. Josh knew she would tease him.
"Yes." Josh raised his eyebrow.
"Seems it's your turn to bend down… fufufu…" Robin chuckled as she pocked his cheek.
"So funny?" with a lifeless expression, Josh rolled his eyes.
"Keep rolling them, you may see your brain," Robin said.
"I've taught you how to talk, didn't I?" Josh just chuckled. 7
All of the sudden, his facial expression froze.
Turning his face, he held Robin's arm and made her look away from the entrance.
From the door, few bulky figures in white entered. Most of them were wearing hats.
They were 8, with one of them in the middle being the centre of attention.
Josh had gotten a bad feeling from the one standing in the middle.
A tall, lean, and muscular man who wears what appears to be a combination of a white-plumed cocked hat with his crew's Jolly Roger on the side and a mask over his eyes. Underneath this headgear, his hair is reddish-brown, with brush-like sideburns.
'X-Drake!'
Josh could recognise the marine in the middle. This one was one of the leading pirates in the worse generation back when Josh was watching One Piece. Drake, or X Drake, appears to have yet to become a pirate, and he is a marine now.
Robin kept silent as she stared at Josh, in order not to draw suspicions to them.
Moreover, she noticed that Josh was focusing on the guys.
Although Josh seemed to raise his guard, his expression was cool.In fact, Josh was focusing his hearing on the marines, who took a table for their own.
"Commodore Drake, let's order something." One of the marines spoke.
"We shouldn't slack while having our job in the morning," Drake said very quietly.
Josh, who was hearing him from a rather far distance, flinched when he heard the 'slack' word.
It was his dream to slack and let his women take care of him.
Lowering his head, Josh took a sip from his coffee while hearing everything around him.
While the marines were talking, Drake finally said some words that caught the attention of Josh, other than one strong captain being here on this island.
"By the way, did you hear about Josh?"
"Yes, I heard he is one of the few survivors from the destroyed Baroque Works."
"He was an owner of two successful casinos. Today he is just a wanted criminal escaping in the sea."
"Hehe… bastard, he deserves it. Do you believe I lost my payment in his casino?"
"Agree, all of the casino owners should burn in hell."
Drake placed his cup on the table and stared at his men. "If you have time to curse casinos, don't gamble."
Josh gave a very small nod that only Robin noticed. Robin, as well, was hearing the conversation of the marines while sipping from her coffee.
"In any case, we should be ready soon. We heard that his little subordinate, Marianne, Aka Ms Goldenweek was spotted this morning." Said one guy who was sitting next to Drake.
Drake looked at him. "And it came to your mind to report this to me now."
"Sorry commodore. The Officers wanted some credit for taking her down. Anyway, she is just a small fish. Besides, we should worry about her. Josh is the strong one in the group. The others don't worth their bounty."
Josh was about to stand up. However, Robin held his hand and shook her head. She had heard everything and knows that Josh did knows as well.
She knows what this little brother is feeling upon hearing that little Marianne is in danger.
After biting on his lip, Josh grabbed Robin hand and stood up. The marines then turned their heads to Josh and were about to stare at him.
Before they could see him, Robin hugged him as she wrapped her arms around his waist and used her taller body to cover him, before leaning forward and kissing him on the lips.
Josh opened his eyes widely, but he kept with the act as he kissed back while staring at Robin's eyes.
"Geez. Young love birds." One of the marines complained. "Lucky bastard."
The moment the marines turned their heads, the young lovers were nowhere to be seen.
On their table, there were only a few green papers.
Meanwhile, Josh has moved so fast to the eye with Robin, appearing above one roof.
"Robin, find her for me."
"Ay, captain," Robin said as she crossed her arms, using her Devil Fruit power.
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An: Advanced chapters ahead at patréon.
www.patréon.com/Blazuki