"A World to Store"

Shadows of Betrayal

The night was unusually quiet on the Moby Dick. Yuki leaned against the ship's railing, gazing at the stars. The usual rowdy laughter and songs of her crewmates had been replaced by a strange, uneasy calm. She couldn't shake the sense that something was about to happen.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. She turned to see Thatch approaching, his ever-present grin lighting up his face despite the late hour. In his hands, he carried a small chest, the intricate designs on it gleaming under the moonlight.

"Yuki, you're not going to believe this!" he said excitedly, holding the chest up for her to see.

"What is it?" she asked, curiosity piqued as she stepped closer.

Thatch opened the chest to reveal a fruit unlike any she'd seen before, its swirling patterns mesmerizing.

"A Devil Fruit," he announced triumphantly. "I found it during the raid earlier today."

Yuki's eyes widened. "You're just carrying it around like it's no big deal? Do you even know what it does?"

"Not yet," Thatch admitted with a laugh. "Marco's going to help me figure it out tomorrow. For now, I'm just keeping it safe."

She frowned, unease creeping into her voice. "Be careful, Thatch. Something about this feels... wrong."

"Relax, Yuki. What could go wrong?" he said with a shrug, walking away toward his quarters. She watched him go, the uneasy feeling in her chest refusing to fade.

The next morning, chaos erupted. Yuki was jolted awake by the sound of shouting, the voices of her crewmates filled with anger and grief. She rushed to the deck, her heart pounding in her chest.

"What's going on?" she demanded as she pushed through the gathered crew.

The sight before her made her freeze. Thatch lay lifeless on the deck, blood staining the wood around him. The chest that had held the Devil Fruit was gone.

"It was Teach," Marco growled, his phoenix eyes blazing with fury. "That bastard killed Thatch and ran off in the night."

"No..." Yuki whispered, her hands trembling as she stared at Thatch's lifeless form.

Teach—one of their own? The thought was impossible, unthinkable. Yet the truth was undeniable.

The crew gathered around the body in mournful silence, each member overwhelmed by anger and sorrow. Yuki knelt beside Thatch, tears streaming down her face.

"He doesn't deserve this," she whispered. Her fists clenched as she fought the overwhelming helplessness clawing at her.

Then, a thought struck her—a desperate, reckless thought. Her Devil Fruit powers. She had never fully tested them before, but...

Yuki reached out and placed her hands on Thatch's chest. The energy within her stirred, a strange, warm sensation that pulsed through her veins.

"Please work," she murmured, focusing all her willpower on her power. Slowly, Thatch's body began to glow as it dissolved into particles, vanishing into her hands.

The crew gasped, Marco stepping forward. "Yuki, what are you doing?!"

"I'm... storing him," she replied, her voice strained. Her body trembled as she poured everything she had into her ability.

Moments later, she collapsed to the deck, her energy spent. But before she lost consciousness, she whispered, "I'll bring him back."

When Yuki woke, the first thing she noticed was Marco's concerned face hovering over her.

"Yuki! You're awake," he said with relief.

"What happened?" she asked, her voice hoarse.

"You fainted after using your powers," Marco explained. "Thatch... you managed to store his body, but you were out cold for hours."

Her heart sank as she remembered everything. "And Ace? Where is he?"

Marco's expression darkened. "He's gone. He left to hunt down Teach."

"No!" Yuki shouted, bolting upright despite her exhaustion. "Why didn't you stop him?"

"We tried," Marco said bitterly. "Whitebeard told us to let him go. Said Ace has to make his own choices."

Yuki's fists clenched. "I have to find him. He can't do this alone."

Marco placed a hand on her shoulder. "Yuki, you've already pushed yourself too far. You need to rest."

But she shook her head, determination blazing in her eyes. "I'm not going to lose anyone else."

As Marco watched her go, he sighed. "You're just as stubborn as Ace..."