𝗚𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 & 𝗯𝗼𝗹𝘁𝘀 ┃One Piece

21. Unknown

"I thought you had a ship, not splinters."

"I thought you could fix all kinds of things."

You got irritated looking at the supposed swordsman's ship that was just loose boards, courtesy of his dearest friend.

"I can fix and build anything, but friend, these are only boards of what looked like a damn coffin, it can't even be rebuilt with the little material there is."

You sighed pulling some of your locks back, yawning to try not to fall asleep because you had gotten up early to repair the hole you accidentally made in the bar the night before.

"Maybe I can bring you to where you want to go, is it very far?"

"Kuraigana Island."

"Shit, it's not that it's very close..."

"I can brind you!"

"That's the point, I don't want to go with you Shanks."

You didn't bother to find out how or when the other man had arrived, thinking of a solution that wouldn't take you too far from your main goal. Buying materials to remake the boat would be a pain, the idea of being able to take the man to his island sounded better and better, it's not like you knew the exact location of your friend either.

"Okay, I guess I can take you, but I need to top up the oil."

You left both men arguing casually, they were even still there when you came back, only Mihawk was sitting on Shanks back holding him like it was no big deal, you shrugged, pulling the vivre card out of your shoe to see if there was any movement, nothing, at least you knew it wasn't anywhere near here. Upon reaching the gaze again you find two pairs of eyes fixed on your figure, both men looked at you as if you were now prey.

"What?"

"That vivre card gives off a lot of power, you know? You could be an easy target for that."

You blinked your eyes from the paper to the redhead lying on the ground, giving the swordsman who remained silent a sidelong glance, you laughed at his 'worry' that you were an easy target, you had been an easy target all your life, you knew how to draw problems out of your life.

"Nah, I don't think I should worry, I don't think many people are after my friend."

"By any chance, could I know who is your friend?"

This time it was Mihawk who spoke, getting up from the other man's back paying no attention to his childish whimpers, his golden eyes boring into yours, almost intimidating you as he stood at his full height.

"Ace, fire fist Ace."

"So you know the old man Pops?!"

Attention was focused on Shanks when he jumped up, shaking your shoulders asking for a certain 'Pops', which you clearly denied, you had only met Ace because he ran into you, he was lost on your island plus his system of navigation with fire had broken down, which you had to fix, although you did it quickly he just wanted to rest so he stayed in your house as if it belonged to him, it's not like it bothered you either.

"I only know one old man and he's the idiot who raised me, I don't know that guy Pops."

"Perhaps the name Whitebeard rings a bell."

"Honestly, no."

The two males looked at each other as if you had grown another head, you weren't informed at all about the current situation, if they doubted it before, now it was more than evident. You frowned, trying to remember something about the name or related, you gasped when a faint memory stuck in the back of your memory hit you.

"I don't know much, but I think I remember reading it in the old man's diary, it said something like..." you rubbed your temples trying to remember what you read in the diary, again capturing the attention of the pirates next to you " 'damn Whitebeard, he got away with it again and stole alcohol from me' or maybe it was something like 'wretched Whitebeard, he wanted to rob me again'... it doesn't matter, I don't remember."

You sighed, refusing to remember exactly what was written on those pages, not noticing how Shanks came back to shake you more.

"Who the hell took care of you? Because it seemed to be related to Whitebeard."

"I don't think so, he was just an old inventor who died a few years ago, maybe you're confusing him with someone else."

"I-Inventor you say? You said he kept a diary, right?" The redhead's expression became darker when he saw how you nodded, he seemed to be remembering endless tortures in his head "I only know one inventor who kept a daily log, I still have nightmares..."

You narrowed your eyes, you and Mihawk exchanging glances, silently wondering if this guy was really sane or if he had just completely lost his mind once and for all. However the next thing he said made your whole body go numb, it was as if you had been shot right in the heart.

"Hagane."

It had been a long time since you heard that nickname, you didn't even dare to say it out loud, and even sometimes omitted it from your readings if he was named. You choked on your own saliva, trying to get back to normal you coughed uncontrollably, after a few minutes you managed to control your hectic breathing.

"Why do you know him?"

"Didn't you know?" The swordsman stood in front of you, lightly pushing the redhead who was trying not to laugh in your face for not knowing something you should know "The person you refer to as 'old man' was part of the Pirate King's crew, Gold D. Roger."

Everyone already knew that you didn't follow the newspaper or know about current events, but you did know about the Pirate King, of course you knew who he was, you were idiot, not stupid, that's why your blood pressure dropped when you heard those words, nearly passing out as Shanks taunts you openly.