Continuing where we left off
**************
- Did you say giant lavas?! - Usopp shouted, already scared.
- How can this happen? - Robin said.
- I have no idea how. However, visions of the future using Haki show a possibility of the future, that is, we can change the future. - I say this while staying calm.
- But how are we going to change the future if we don't even know the cause?! - Nami shouted.
- This is just my guess, but I think this accident has something to do with Z. - I say this in a serious tone.
- I just needed to go after Z and now we have to deal with volcanoes! What else could our situation get worse?! - Usopp shouted.
Luffy and Franky met an old man with his granddaughter and great-grandson and he said that we are not the only pirates that Z has defeated.
Apparently, Z destroyed the ships of many pirates, making them give up exploring the seas forever. The old man was a sailor in the past, but he doesn't approve of what Z is doing, taking away the dreams and ambitions of pirates.
Knowing that we want to get back at Z, the old man said he will help us by giving us good weapons, but Nami stopped Luffy from going with that idea for two reasons.
The first is because all the Straw Hats have no remaining clothes and the second is that we have little information about Z and the future accident of the volcanoes.
With that in mind, the granddaughter told Nami to get on the sea train, to go to the neighboring island called Kazanonsen.
There we will probably find information and clothes. Knowing this, the group left to board the train.
- Oh yeah, Luffy, Saito, Marimo, Greenhead, you 4 are the strangest. You can let us do the investigations. Isn't that right, Nami-swan, Robin-chan? - Sanji said.
💭 I think including me in investigations is not a good idea.
- Your clothes look strange too, Sanji-kun. That womanizing face will also get in the way. - Nami said, destroying Sanji and I laughed.
- She's right in that regard, Sanji hehehe. - I say that, but I draw Nami's attention.
- You're not innocent either, Saito. You may be a child now, but I don't doubt that you should be able to attract women with your cuteness. - Nami said, leaving me surprised.
- Are you saying I'm cute? - I ask this, leaving Nami blushing and embarrassed.
- What?! I-I d-didn't mean that, you fool! - Nami said with shame.
- Is it possible for you to flirt somewhere else? I want to sleep here - Zoro said.
- Shut up Zoro! - Nami shouts angrily.
- I won't lose to you Saito! Nami-san is mine!!! - Sanji shouted, being on fire.
- What?! Since when did this become a competition?! - I say this not understanding what is happening.
- Anyway. Me, Usopp, Chopper and Robin will handle the investigations. - Nami said, quickly switching to the main topic.
- In the meantime, let's enjoy the spa. Why don't we relax before the battle? - Zoro suggests.
- You can let me be in charge of the clothes. It seems that the island has famous brands. - Brook responds.
- Okay, we're here! Guys, be careful so the navy doesn't find you. We'll meet you later! - Nami responds.
- Right! - Everyone said.
*************
With that we split up to complete our tasks, Nami, Robin, Usopp and Chopper went to deal with information while me, Luffy, Brook, Zoro and Sanji went to get new clothes and go to the hot springs.
And the moment we finished getting clothes we immediately went to the baths.
- Honestly... Devil Fruit users are full of weaknesses! Do they even lose strength with this? - Said Sanji referring to the situation of Brook and Luffy who are inside a large jug of hot water.
- If the top part is not submerged, we can still stay alive. - Brook responds while Luffy is too relaxed and weak to respond.
- That is good. It's been a long time since I've been in hot springs. The last time was in Alabasta, but it was a similar experience there. - I say this remembering the bath I had with Vivi and I blush just remembering it.
💭 I better not go into details otherwise Sanji will be very pissed, but I admit that I liked what I saw and felt that day.
- I agree with you, sensei. - Said Zoro.
- Can we really waste time here? - Brook asks.
- That's right! I want to crush that Z guy! - Said Luffy, returning to reality.
- Idiot! If an outlaw like you goes wandering around on an island full of sailors, we're only going to have trouble again. Nami-san already told us, didn't she? That they are Chopper are going to look for information about Z. - Said Sanji.
- I can feel it..... I can feel it right in my bones.... I feel everything passing, especially the tiredness. - Brook responds.
- Z..... I was distracted by that gun on his arm, making me careless. - Said Luffy.
- You know that his arm is effective against Devil Fruits, so you are at a disadvantage against him. I think I better face him. - I say that.
- I don't want you to get involved. I'll finish him off myself. Next time, I'll destroy that arm and hit him with everything I got! - Luffy said and I let out a sigh at Luffy's stubbornness.
- Busy as always. I'm tired of waiting for you - said the voice of a very familiar man to me and when he raises his head, I immediately recognize him.
💭 Aokiji?! He is here?! Why?!
Luffy, Zoro and Sanji are in pure shock, I have a serious expression and Brook is confused as to what is happening.
- What happened guys? Who is this man? Brook asks.
- He is one of the admirals of the navy. Aokiji! - I say this taking Brook by surprise.
- Admiral?! - Brook shouted.
- It's been a while. How are you? - Aokiji said being casual.
- What do you want with us Aokiji? - I say this in a serious tone.
- Now stay calm. You don't need to stress. - Aokiji said.
- So you didn't come to capture us? - I ask.
- You should already know that I left the navy. I stopped being an admiral. - Aokiji explains.
- What are you now? - Brook asks.
- What? I find it very strange that a skeleton is asking me this, but since I'm no longer an admiral, am I still an ally of justice? No, that's not it.... What am I now? - Aokiji asks.
- How will we know?! - I said, Zoro and Sanji at the same time.
- Anyway, I have no intention of facing you. Think about it. If I wanted to fight, I wouldn't be in a spa where I can't use my powers. - Aokiji said.
- Did you say you were waiting for us? - Sanji said.
- That's right. Well, I don't feel like staying here anymore, so let's continue the conversation outside - Aokiji said, getting up from the bathtub and I see the burns on his body and I also notice that he lost his left leg.
- Oh, this here? Well what can I say.....I pushed the envelope a bit. - Aokiji said being vague.
💭 It seems like Akainu hasn't forgiven him much.
After everyone left the bathing area we are now drying our bodies with an ex admiral along.
-What happened to his leg? - Luffy asks.
- Have you ever heard that there are certain things in this world that are better not to ask about? - Aokiji said.
- It was Akainu who did this, right? - I say this making Aokiji look at me.
- You're still troublesome even though you're a brat now, but he did it. - Aokiji responds.
- I may be a brat now, but I might as well kick your ass back to Marineford. - I say this by putting Haki on my arm, but my threat doesn't affect Aokiji.
- Hehehe. Now I understand why Akainu hates you with all his might. - Aokiji comments.
- What did you come here to do? - Luffy said, changing the subject.
- Well, I came here to relax my legs. Well, that's what I wanted to say, but the truth is that I can't relax too much. I'm after one man in particular. You faced a strong guy recently, didn't you? - Aokiji said
- Z.... - Said Luffy.
- That old man is pretty tough, isn't he? After all, he was once an admiral in the navy. - Aokiji said, leaving us with a serious expression.
***************
We left the hot springs and we continued talking to Aokiji and we are wearing new clothes, only I am wearing them a little childish due to my appearance.
- The world is in the great age of pirates. Pirates behind One Piece appear and disappear across the sea. When some disappear, others appear. Pirates appear because of One Piece, which is on the other side of the sea from the New World? Or does One Piece exist because pirates also exist? What came first: dreams or people? There are times when pirates choose their dreams, but lose their happiness to those they hold most dear. What should be done then? Is there an answer to this? Former Navy Admiral Z found his answer in the force. If One Piece disappears, so will the pirates. It's a very simple way of thinking, don't you think? - Aokiji said and he continues.
- I left the Navy, but I want to see where Z will go with the path he chose. But I don't know what to do after that. Straw Hat Luffy. You're going to follow your conviction and face Z again, aren't you? Show me your answer. Until later. Z is on this island. - Aokiji said, leaving.
*************
Hours later
**********
We stayed at the meeting point waiting for the others and it was silent for a long time.
- Luffy, Saito. The others are arriving. - Sanji said and I see Nami in company running with many Marine soldiers behind them.
- And they brought a lot of people too. - Said Zoro.
- In the end, they were the ones who caused trouble. In that case we should.... - Sanji said and he sees me walking in front of him and Zoro.
- Hey, Sensei! Let's ask where Z is. Keep some of them awake! - Said Zoro.
- Saito... Help!. - Said Usopp. - Please. - Robin said.
- Sailors never learn.... - I say this letting out a sigh and then I use my King's Haki and put all the soldiers to sleep, but I leave the Officer alive.
- Hey! Where's Z? - Luffy asks.
- On the other side of the Island. My unit must be chasing him now. - Said the Officer and at the same moment the ground began to shake and I saw the volcano erupting.
💭That's not good!
- The volcano erupted! We are going to die!!! - Usopp shouted.
- Nami, Robin, Chopper you guys go to the train! - I say that.
- Zoro, Sanji, Saito, Usopp! Let's go after Z! - Luffy responds.
With that we went to where Z is and when we arrived, Luffy immediately jumped and went to attack Z who defended using his arm.
- What are you doing here? You pirate kids! - Said Z.
- Who are you calling a kid? If you keep talking like that, I'll kill you, old man! - Sanji shouted.
- Uncle! Get my companions back to normal! - Said Luffy.
- Ain! Binz! - Said Z.
- Understood - The two respond by moving forward.
- Zoro lends me one of your katana, I'll deal with the girl. - I say this running towards the girl and Zoro throws his katana that I managed to catch.
💭It will be difficult to use this katana with this size....
Fortunately the girl is fighting using two daggers, but due to my size, she is having difficulty hitting me because of my height and because of that she is just defending and retreating.
- Come on, don't just run away... - I say this by exchanging attacks with her.
We kept distancing ourselves from the others and after a few minutes, Ain threw a ball of energy towards me and I cut it in half using Haki.
- It's enough! If we meet one more time, I will kill him. - Ain said.
- She finally opens her mouth. - I say this not taking her seriously and I notice that she was angry about it, but instead of going on the offensive she threw a bomb on the floor that exploded.
- Tch! - I say that and use the katana to disperse the smoke and see that Ain is gone.
- So she ran away.... - I say this while putting away the katana.
I meet up with Zoro, Sanji and Usopp who had his head stuck in the sand, we went looking for Luffy who was blacked out, implying that he lost the fight against Z. But we don't have much time since the volcano is about to explode.
Knowing this we ran to get to the train in time with the volcano destroying everything behind us, Usopp uses a banana big enough for us to go faster, but his idea didn't work out very well and luckily for us, that Aokiji freezes the destruction of the volcano, giving us enough time to get to the train.
When we get on the train, it starts to leave at the same time, and when we are very far from the island the volcano explodes taking the island with it.
- What fireworks, huh?! That blew up the entire island...- Zoro said, observing the huge smoke mushroom taking the place of the island.
On the train, I see many people with sad expressions having their homes and possessions destroyed by the explosion, I sit on the bench where Nami is sitting, watching Luffy who is out and without his hat.
- Z took Luffy's hat, didn't he? - Nami asks.
- Yes....he took it.... - I respond in a dry tone.
- Luffy will be very shaken by this when he wakes up, the hat is practically part of his life.- Nami said, looking sad.
- I'm sure Luffy will recover, trust our captain Nami, he's not one to give up so easily. - I say this by making Nami calm down a little.
- Saito.... - Nami calls me.
- Yes? - I answer.
- Will we be able to change the future? We still don't know the cause of the lava consuming the New World. - Said Nami.
- I think we are very close to finding this out, before Luffy faced Z, I could hear him mentioning some special Stones, I couldn't hear everything, but he said he placed them inside the volcano and then the volcano starts exploding. - I say that.
-So your idea that Z has to do with his vision is right. - Said Nami.
- We still don't have confirmation, but the chances are high, but let's leave this matter aside. For now, let's rest and wait for Luffy to recover. - I say this taking a look at the window.
- You're right... - Said Nami, who ends up leaning her head on my shoulder and I see that she's fallen asleep.
I'm surprised by this, but I just let out a light laugh.
- Hehe....good night, Nami.. - I say that and also fall asleep.
To be continued.....