Maelstrom

Chapter 27

Shanks' POV

You sighed, your hand buried in your crimson hair, exasperated. Ruse had gone off in the woods to train, and you had Yassop follow her, too preoccupied with trying to find out what the hell exactly was this 'Okami Okami no Mi' she had accidentally eaten. Likely a zoan type if the description was anything to go by, a wolf's traits perhaps? The silvery flesh in the journal shimmered, seeming to gloat at you from your desk as you scowl. Growling in annoyance, you shoved the book away, before rubbing your fingers to your temple, already feeling a headache coming on. You had searched through the journal three-four-five times already, no clue left on the mysterious fruit other than the crude sketch and the forbearing warning. With another groan of disappointment, you reach for the nearby den-den mushi, dialing a familiar code, before you hear a voice pick up. When all else fails, you knew someone who had intel on everything.

"Red Hair?" A voice grumbles, seemingly addled with sleep, Italian accent slipping in between words.

"Aye, nice to hear from ya again Mihawk, how ya been?" You reply, chuckling before being met with a moment of silence.

More silence hangs in the air, before you hear the familiar grumbling sigh from the other line.

"What's the real reason you called Akagami?" Mihawk sounds tired, not particularly eager to entertain his rival with idle talk.

You sigh, not wanting to cut to the chase so soon, but continue. "What have you heard of the 'Okami Okami no Mi?'" Faint rustling sounds from the corresponded line, before you hear your old friend inhale sharply, his voice low and taunt as he replies to you.

"Where did you hear that name, Akagami?!" You were taken aback by his sudden change in demeanor, the den-den mushi that took shape from the receptor, golden eyes piercing into you, a furrow on his brow, jaw clenched tightly, his expression guarded..

"Well...turns out the kid accidentally got her hands on it, already ate the damn thing from the Cave 'o Wonders out here in Foosha. You alright Mihawk?" You ask, confused at your rival's abrupt behavior change, as he hissed softly, Italian curses bleeding through his usual stoic mannerisms.

"Dio e lassu! Are you still at Foosha? Red Hair. You cannot leave until I get there. Promise me Akagami, do not let Argenti out of your sight."

You frown, not sure why he was suddenly in such a hurry to sail here, only low curses and rustling papers echoing through the connection line.

"Mihawk?" You question, hearing more lines of Italian growl out, before his voice responds to you once more.

"Promise me Shanks. Promise me, Vecchio Amico." Mihawk seemed oddly tense for only hearing the words 'Okami Okami no Mi' and 'Ruse.'

You scowl a bit at his condescending tone before you reply. "Alright, alright, I promise. She's just training in the woods, I have Yassop tailing her for safety, ya know I'm not a child, I'm a yonko, Mihawk, I can handle a little trouble thrown my way, jeez."

He laughs slightly before you hear footsteps, pacing around what is likely his desk room. "I'll be there before sunset, keep your guard up Akagami. I'll be seeing you soon." Mihawk replies, before the call drops, and you are left in silence.

Just what the hell exactly was that devil fruit?

--

Ruse's POV

Standing in the opening of your regular training grounds forest in Foosha, you let out a frustrated cry, raking your fingernails across your scalp in disappointment and aggravation. You knew you wouldn't be able to suddenly reign in this mysterious power that you ingested a day earlier, but for fuck's sake you just wanted any sign of change. No fur, no elongated teeth, no extra appendages suddenly sprouting from your body. This blew.