The sun shone brightly above the endless blue sea as waves crashed against the hull of a rather peculiar-looking ship. Unlike the sleek and elegant ships of the Marines or the rugged, battle-worn vessels of pirates, this ship seemed almost out of place in this world. Its wooden blocks stacked neatly together, its sails made of pristine white wool, and redstone circuits running through various parts of the ship. The faint clank and whir of pistons working tirelessly echoed from the engine room, propelling the ship forward at a speed few traditional vessels could match.
Standing at the helm was Yami, his cloak billowing slightly in the wind as he steered the ship. His eyes scanned the horizon, looking for their destination. Behind him, Tashigi stood with her arms crossed, her short blue hair swaying gently in the breeze. Her gaze shifted between Yami and the ship they were riding on, a wry smile forming on her lips.
"Every time I see this cartoonish ship, I still can't believe it's yours," Tashigi commented, shaking her head in disbelief.
Yami's brow twitched as he turned to her with a deadpan expression. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"
Tashigi smirked, adjusting her glasses as she leaned slightly against the railing. "I mean, come on! If people knew that you—a seventeen-foot-tall man with a face as intimidating as a demon's—were sailing around in a ship that looks like it came straight out of a children's amusement park, they'd laugh themselves to death!" She finished with a teasing grin, clearly enjoying herself.
A vein popped on Yami's forehead as he clenched his fists. "This women...," he thought before swiftly reaching over and pinching both of her cheeks.
"Ow! Ow! Stop that, you oversized brute!" Tashigi protested, swatting at his hands as her words came out slightly muffled due to her stretched cheeks.
"Oh, so I'm an 'oversized brute' now, huh?" Yami quipped, his smirk widening as he continued to stretch her cheeks further. "At least I don't trip over my own feet every time we land somewhere!"
Tashigi's eyes widened in outrage, and with surprising speed, she retaliated by grabbing a handful of Yami's long silver hair and pulling.
"Oi! That hurts, you little gremlin!" Yami winced, trying to pry her hands off.
"Then let go of my cheeks, you overgrown scarecrow!"
The two bickered like children, pulling at each other's hair and cheeks, neither willing to admit defeat. Their ship continued speeding forward, completely unaffected by the chaotic duo on board.
Meanwhile, far away from the childish antics on Yami's ship, an entirely different scene was unfolding.
A large government ship sailed across the calm waters, its pristine white sails bearing the unmistakable mark of the World Government. It was a ship that instilled fear wherever it went, for it was not just carrying Marines or ordinary officials—it was carrying someone far more important!
On the deck, several figures clad in black suits stood at attention, their expressions unreadable. These were members of CP9, the elite assassination unit of the World Government. Among them, a man in a mask with long, shaggy hair stood in silence, his eyes scanning the sea as if searching for any threats.
A grotesquely dressed man, wearing a bubble-shaped helmet, lounged comfortably on the back of a male slave. The slave's skin was marred with fresh whip marks, his breathing shallow as he struggled to endure the weight of his master.
"Fuhihihi~! What a fine catch today!" The grotesque man cackled, his voice filled with sadistic glee.
Behind him, a large iron cage held six captives—four women and two men. Their wrists were shackled, their bodies bruised, and worst of all, thick, metallic collars adorned their necks. Explosive collars.
Soft cries and whimpers filled the air as the prisoners trembled in fear, their eyes hollow with despair. One of the women had green hair, her face turned away as she gritted her teeth in anger.
If Yami were here, he would have been shocked to see her.
The Celestial Dragon grinned beneath his helmet, lifting his foot and stomping down hard on the back of the slave he was using as a chair. The man beneath him let out a choked gasp, his body trembling violently.
"Hey, you," the noble sneered, addressing one of the CP9 agents without even glancing at him. "What's the nearest island?"
The agent remained expressionless as he bowed slightly. "The nearest island, Saint Charlos-sama, is the Conomi Islands."
A twisted grin spread across the Celestial Dragon's face. He lifted the whip in his hands and brought it down onto the slave's back with a sickening crack!
"Aghhh!" The slave cried out, his body arching in pain as blood splattered onto the deck.
"Then let's go!" Saint Charlos declared, his voice filled with excitement. "We'll be getting more pets soon, fuhihihi~!"
The ship adjusted its course, sailing straight toward the Conomi Islands.
Fate had already set the stage. A collision was inevitable.
After several minutes of their childish battle, both Yami and Tashigi finally let go of each other. They stood panting, their previous struggle leaving its marks.
Tashigi's cheeks were flushed red from all the pinching, while Yami's long hair was now a complete mess, strands sticking out in odd angles. Worse, multiple small bruises, shaped almost like little balls, were forming on his head where Tashigi had landed a few well-placed hits.
They both huffed angrily before simultaneously turning toward the helm of the ship, their eyes now locked on the distant horizon. A small cluster of islands appeared in the distance, growing larger as they approached. The sea breeze carried the scent of land, confirming their destination.
It was the Conomi Islands.
Yami's eyes gleamed as he scanned the islands, his lips curling slightly. Meanwhile, Tashigi adjusted her glasses before glancing at him with a curious expression.
"Why are we here?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
Yami didn't take his eyes off the islands as he replied casually, "I found out some pirates have been hiding here. Figured I'd take care of them."
Tashigi nodded in understanding, tightening her grip on the hilt of her sword. "Alright then. I'll fight too," she declared. "I need to grow stronger to fight Mihawk!"
Just as she finished speaking, a sharp thwack echoed through the air.
"Ow!" Tashigi yelped, holding her head as cartoonish tears formed in the corners of her eyes. She turned toward Yami with an indignant glare, rubbing the sore spot on her head where he had just delivered a swift karate chop. "What the hell was that for?!"
Yami crossed his arms, his expression deadpan. "Because I don't believe you'll even reach the pirates without accidentally losing an arm or two along the way."
A vein popped on Tashigi's forehead as her glasses slightly slid down her nose. "You jerk!" she shouted before launching herself at Yami.
The next moment, both of them were on the ground, rolling across the ship's deck as they resumed their bickering. Yami struggled to pry Tashigi off as she attempted to choke him with all her might, while he, in turn, tried to push her away by flicking her forehead repeatedly.
The ship continued toward its destination, completely ignoring the chaos unfolding on its deck.
Find out next time on One piece: The Minecraft devil!