“You’re feeling shy, Michio?” Katsuo asked and smiled softly when Michio didn’t lift his gaze from the ground but still nodded. He hummed thoughtfully and gently tapped his shoulder so that Michio could look up at him. “I’m feeling shy too, so you’re not the only one. How about we go around and mingle?”

“Can I stay with you?”

“Of course you can,” Katsuo answered astutely and they began to walk towards potential people they could talk to. A human couple with a little boy of 5 years old, exactly Michio’s age. When the two of them came into the couple’s vision, their eyes widened before walking the other way. Katsuo stopped in his tracks and frowned as he watched the two of them walk away. As they continued to walk towards various families, he watched as these various families gave the same reaction. Out of the corner of his eye, Katsuo’s heart broke as he watched Michio’s ears droop down. 

He knew that none of this had to do with Michio, but for little baby Michio, he didn’t know that. Katsuo sighed softly and rubbed the top of his head. Just as they were about to walk, an unfamiliar small hand tugged at his pants. Startled into stopping, he found a little wolf girl staring up at him. A little older than Michio, but not by much, she had smokey gray round eyes that stared expectantly up at him. Her white hair was tied into two pigtails, highlighting her ears that had white fur surrounding them. And he kept himself from cooing at the quick tail wagging from this little girl.

“Aya!” A voice called out and Katsuo watched as a wolf woman jogged over to kneel in front of the pup. “You know you don’t need to be running off like that, there’s a lot of scents here and that makes it harder to track you.”

“I’m sorry mommy, I was just wanting to invite the two big cats over to talk to us. They looked lonely,” Aya–as Katsuo would realize–would point out matter-of-factly. Katsuo smiled softly at the gesture and he watched as Michio’s grip on his leg would loosen a little but not fully let go. The wolf woman sighed softly and she looked over at Katsuo and Michio both then down at little Aya.

“Is it alright with mom?” Katsuo asked with a nervous smile and the wolf woman’s ears relaxed, rubbing the back of little Aya’s back as she stood up straight. Standing tall, she was a pretty broad and muscled woman herself that towered over some of these other parents herself. Seeing where Aya shared her features from, he couldn’t help the shiver from how dangerous her stare was. Watching him, reading him from the inside and out. This pair of silver eyes has seen a lot in her life, he deduced.

She nodded slowly and she stuck her hand out, Katsuo noting the natural black claws that curled out from her fingers. He had to make sure he was on her good side with the damage she could do with those things. Grabbing her hand with a delicacy that never matched his side, he felt his own claws grazing her hand. 

“Katsuo,” he says, slowly shaking her hand.

“Mika.”

“That’s pretty,” Michio pointed out, finally looking up from the ground and up at Mika. Mika’s eyebrows raised momentarily, but smiling softly at Michio’s compliment. Katsuo knew his own surprise couldn’t be contained at hearing Michio initiate a conversation so easily and without his help.

“Well thank you, sweetie,” Mika says softly, her voice much less stiff towards Michio. She moved to kneel in front of Michio, looking him directly in his eyes, “if you would like, Aya could come take you to introduce one of her friends and all the grown ups can hang out. Is it alright with dad?”

“Yeah, that’s alright with dad,” Katsuo agreed and his smile widening when he watched Michio nod over at Mika. He watched as Aya took his paw and they both began to run over towards another little girl and her grown up that were sitting on a bench together. Two girls sharing the same dark brown skin color, the little one he knew had to have been exactly Michio’s age. Her black hair was tied into two buns and her big brown eyes were lost in her own world as she stared at everything around her. She made eye contact with Aya and Michio and her smile stretched from ear to ear, waving rapidly. The three of them all huddled together and began their own little conversation as they headed to the swings close to the bench.

“That’s Anaya,” Mika said over to him with a small smile and Katsuo looked back over, “she’s one of the sweetest little girls I’ve ever met.”

“Is the woman with her her mom? She looks really young,” Katsuo pointed out and Mika shook her head, her smile dropping slowly. He frowned at how intrusive the question is and shook his head, “that isn’t my business, I shouldn’t-”

“Seraphina isn’t Anaya’s mom, but her aunt and Seraphina’s sister,” Mika noted and Katsuo hummed, his lips thinning into a thin line, “what happened to her mom was sad, but it’s not my story to tell.”

Katsuo nodded slowly, his guilt at his intrusive question still not fading away even at Mika’s attempt of reassurance. Following Mika, he watched as Anaya’s grown up–Seraphina, he noted–stood up and stared over at Katsuo. Same cautious stare, but a flash of curiosity flashed in her brown eyes, even when he towered over both Mika and her. Katsuo kept his shoulders slouched and he provided a nervous smile for her. As they stood in front of each other, Seraphina stared up at him with her head tilted to the side. 

“You’re tall,” Seraphina pointed out at him, no trace of worry and fear in her voice. Just curiosity, pure fascination that he’s never been on the receiving end of in such a casual setting. 

“His name’s Katsuo, actually,” Mika teased lightly and Seraphina’s eyes widened as she winced at what she just said. 

“Sorry, Katsuo. I’m Seraphina. You just stand out.”

“Yeah, I’ve been told,” Katsuo laughed, his voice cracking in his laugh and he cleared his throat to conceal his voice cracking. While Mika didn’t notice, Seraphina raised her eyebrows at the statement and crossed her arms over her chest.

“I didn’t say it was a bad thing. You look really cool,” Seraphina stated and out of the corner of his eyes, the three children all walked up to Katsuo. The three of them were led by Anaya who was looking up at him with a failed attempt of a grin. He looked down at her and raised his eyebrows. 

“Well hello there.”

“Hi Mister Michio’s dad!”

“You can call me Katsuo dear,” Katsuo reassured her and Anaya hummed, taking this in like she learned long division. 

“Okay Katsuo, can I ask you a question?” Anaya asked and he nodded, gesturing for her to ask her question. She beckoned him to come closer and he squatted, ignoring how much taller he still was at this point. She leaned up on her tiptoes and cupped both hands around her lips to whisper, “can I braid your hair?” 

Katsuo hummed inquisitively, playing it up for Anaya and covering up her catching him off guard. Warmth spread through his chest, finally not being seen as something terrifying. Something to keep others away from. He nodded astutely and mirrored her equally wide smile. 

It’s been a week since Sanji found those three blue primroses that were lodged in Zoro’s throat, an incident he would be convinced he made up if he didn’t keep those three flowers pressed into a journal. They were too pretty for Sanji to just throw into the garbage, even while it was covered in slobber and blood. In that same notebook, one that he keeps hidden from the rest of the crew, he takes notes on what could’ve caused this fantastical phenomenon. 

“What are you making, Curly?” 

Sanji’s intense concentration was broken at the sound of Zoro’s voice and its calmness. Now, Zoro wasn’t necessarily the loud and social type like their Captain–with how much Zoro slept, Sanji would’ve been surprised if he had even an ounce of energy to muster. He ignored his curiosity to glance up from his stirring of rice, finding Zoro standing against the doorframe entry of the kitchen. His gray eyes were fixated on Sanji’s hand that was stirring with his head tilted thoughtfully. He glared at Zoro for startling him but it didn’t stop him from walking to the table and taking a seat.

Nami slowly shifted her head from Etsuko’s chest so she could look up at her, never lifting her head from her favorite spot. Etsuko stared down at her with a warm smile, a smile that only Nami got to see when she was curled up in her lap like this. She giggled at her own giddiness from Etsuko’s soft tone, bringing her paw to her lips for her to kiss. The two of them sat in silence as the sounds of the Straw Hats and the Reaper Pirates could be heard in the distance.

With the Scythe all to themselves, they could have some peace.

“You know, we probably should tell both of our crews about us right?” Nami teased with a silly grin, both of them knowing that their crews wouldn’t be angry. If anything, it would be cause for celebration. But with a relationship so fresh, and with their bounties being so high…this news would only bring a target on their backs.

“We should but…they will have to go first.”

“Wait, what?”

“We have some people coupling up.”

Nami shifted up, her eyes popping out of her head with her jaw slackened. Still sitting in Etsuko’s lap but now they were able to face each other a little better. Who was getting together and sneaking around? All the possible combinations rang through her head, thinking about any of their crewmates getting together. 

“Who? And how did you find out?!” Nami whispered with a hiss, her face breaking out into a grin. Etsuko kept a hand on Nami’s lower back, rubbing tiny circles with her thumb but a smirk of her own grew.

“I found Anaya and Nadia kissing during my watch, and I-um…walked in on Zoro and Luffy just cuddling,” Etsuko explained, more confused but fond as she brought up Zoro and Luffy. A thought popped into her mind and she hummed, “there was also Gabriel and Sanji too but…too much was covered for me to be sure.”

“You know, those first two make sense,” Nami stated and Etsuko nodded in agreement, Nami suddenly remembering some interesting noises one night, “come to think of it, I think Gabriel and Sanji might be fuck buddies.” 

“You think so, huh?”

“Well yeah, I did hear some-”

“What did you guys hear?” A voice suddenly broke and they both jumped as they registered Masahi coming through the door of the indoor lounge area. “You guys don’t have to separate, I already know.”

“He knows everybody’s business, I swear,” Etsuko grumbled lightheartedly into the side of Nami’s head, triggering a giggle out of her. Masahi scoffed, pretending to be appalled, crossing two pairs of his arms across his chest.

“Yeah well, I won’t tell you anything else again.”

“Oh my dear Masahi, what have you possibly graced us with your presence for?” Etsuko asked in an exaggerated tone. Masahi smiled with a tilt of his head and brought his arms back down to his side.

The whole year he spent, gathering his little yet fierce crew to help search for his brother across the seas, hunting for wherever he could be. Searching for the being that could’ve possibly taken Bruno from Johnny. As he came face to face with the Sun Pirates, Johnny realized that everything he knew about his life had crumbled before him. Sure, he gained two new crew members, two people who also saw Bruno what he was. Two people who cared about him. Plus, he had the rest of his crew who cared about him. Johnny knew logically that he wasn’t alone-he had an abundance of love surrounding him. Holding him. But despite all this love, he still felt so cold. 

Johnny stared down at his hand as he sparked the tips of his fingers on the deck of his ship, his fire being the only source of light all around him. His stomach has been in knots since the fight, about a week if he could guess. Anxiety crawled up his spine as Pierre stood in the back of his mind, knowing how little he had eaten. Pierre was going to kill him. Johnny dimmed his hand and brought his arms to hug himself. 

“Captain.”

Turning around at the sound of the tense voice, Johnny found Pierre standing a few feet behind him holding a plate. What it was, Johnny wasn’t sure. Pierre never said a word, both of them knowing that words weren’t going to help anything right now. He wouldn’t have been the first one to attempt it. Pierre walked over to sit beside Johnny, handing him the plate of what Johnny now sees to be brown rice with chicken, paired with a fork. Something simple, but filling.

“Made this batch just for you…wanted to use that chicken up,” Pierre commented, trying to hide his voice crack and Johnny nodded, taking the plate plus the fork out of Pierre’s hands. Johnny began to eat, much slower than he would ever eat before. Slower bites that let him savor each bite of the dish before him. A simple rice dish, but a simple rice dish laced with skill and care. Johnny tasted that care in each bite. 

For the first time in that week, Johnny felt real warmth.

Beginning to eat faster, digging into the plate, Johnny felt the salty taste of his own tears into every other bite. Before he knew it, his plate was empty and his body shook as a sob bubbled out of him. Pierre gently took the plate from Johnny’s hands and stood up, offering his hand for Johnny to take. Taking his hand, Johnny stood up and Pierre smiled sadly, his eyes watering as he stared into Johnny’s eyes.

“This is so cool, Bruno!” Johnny exclaimed, holding up a piece of a jagged orange and white scallop that he picked up from the ground. Bruno hummed in acknowledgment, a small smile growing as he watched Johnny place it in the bucket. “I think Grandma may like this one.”

Nodding in agreement, Bruno began to start walking and his eyes zoned in on something that flashed underneath the sand. Johnny stopped beside him, his eyes glancing down at the shining thing in the sand. They kneeled down, their fingers digging through the sand and Johnny grabbed the shape. 

A bright red crystal, glowing like the fires they would see each night. Smelled just like the fires, too. Woodsy and crispy to their noses. Bruno’s eyebrows raised as he remembered the stories that would be told of the legendary sea crystals—crystals that would grant the user any sort of power when eaten. Some say that if a crystal rejects the person who eats them, they will kill the individual instantly. Bruno would roll his eyes at all the old stories that he would hear.

Surely it can’t be true, right? 

“I dare you to eat it,” Bruno said with a  teasing grin and he leaned over closer to Johnny, “unless you’re too scared, Johnny boy.”

“I’m not scared!” Johnny snapped back with a pout and before Bruno could stop laughing, he plopped the crystal into his mouth. Bruno’s eyes widened as he stared at Johnny’s now empty hand. Watching Johnny chew it, he swallowed really quickly and Bruno realized the great weight of everything. Grandma Rocha was gonna kill him. He cleared his throat, watching for any possible signs.

“You okay?” 

“Yeah, it’s just a little spicy..kinda like those hot candies we tried before.”

Bruno nodded slowly, watching for any signs of…dying, whatever those signs of dying from a sea crystal were. Nothing seemed to change out of Johnny and he watched him yawn, rubbing his eyes with his free hand. As he yawned, smoke from his mouth appeared, but that was it. They began their walk back to the main square, Bruno’s stomach in knots as he had to find Grandma Rocha as soon as he could. Maybe there were edible crystals that didn’t give people weird powers.

Maybe he won’t get in trouble!

Cursed or blessed, Bruno wasn’t sure, he found Grandma Rocha standing at her store with her arms crossed over her chest. Next to her stood Sofia, one of Johnny’s little buddies that always hung out together. Bruno watched as Johnny ran over to Sofia and they started to chat about all of the sea shells that they collected. Bruno kept his distance, afraid to step any closer near them. Grandma Rocha, in all of her perceptiveness, walked over to Bruno with a scowl on her face, knowing that there was something that he had hidden.

“Hey Grandma?” Bruno asked sheepishly, a shaky smile on his face to ease his very apparent nerves.

“Yes, young man?”

“Are there um…crystals that can taste spicy?”

Grandma Rocha’s eyes widened at his question, realizing exactly what he was asking. Knowing exactly what has happened to little Johnny. Her jaw tightened and she stepped closer to him, kneeling so that he could fully face her. Bruno was fucked.

Sometimes she felt his body weight in her arms as she closed her eyes, feeling his blood run over her hands and arms. Bruno shot so quickly, trying to aim for her and like the fucking guy he was, Jai jumped right in front of her. A smile on his face looking at her like he wasn’t bleeding from the back of his head. Curled up in her bed during the late night, Roisin bit her hand to bite back the loud sob that was forced out of her chest. Careful to try and not wake up Asha, she knew her efforts were futile as she felt her bed shift. 

Damn cat.

Asha stared at her, her expression unreadable as the only source of light from the moonlight outside. Roisin knew how red her eyes were, having lost track of how long she’s been crying and she was breathing shallowly, sniffling. Asha’s eyes darted down, biting at her bottom lip and she then opened up her arms. A very uncharacteristic but welcomed gesture. Thinking that she had no more tears left to cry, Roisin curled up in Asha’s lap as a sob suddenly broke out of her chest. Asha threaded her fingers through Rosin’s hair as she stroked her hair.

“I could’ve stopped him,” Roisin choked out with a sniffle, feeling the weight of Asha’s tail blanket her, “it’s my fault.”

“No, it is not your fault,” Asha stated, her voice soft and defeated. They both knew that nothing in Roisin’s brain could’ve made her believe that. The two of them sat in silence, the only sounds that echoed in their room being the sound of Roisin’s sobs. A vibration began to course through Asha’s body and Roisin listened to the sound of Asha purring. 

Roisin’s cries began to slowly quiet, focusing on the sound of Asha’s purring in her ear and not on all the evil thoughts in her head. She felt Asha shift as a blanket was pulled over her, but her purring never stopped. Asha scratched the back of her head and Roisin felt sleep begin to wash over her. 

However, of all the things he knew he would do, he didn’t think becoming Sanji’s pillow was one of those things. It wasn’t unwelcomed, all of their friends were always pretty physically affectionate with each other. Even a normally grumpy Zoro wouldn’t mind being the pillow of their movie night cuddle piles. But with Sanji curled up beside him on their couch, sleeping like a house cat, he was…stunned, to say the least.

“How long has he been sleeping like this?” Nami whispered, watching Sanji’s sleeping figure curled up into his lap. Usopp forgot about the passage of time, especially when he had the guy he’s been in love with for years so close to him. He gently threaded his fingers through Sanji’s hair, his heart fluttering as Sanji melted into his touch. In his sleep. Oh god, Usopp was weak.

“About…an hour and a half,” Usopp answered and Nami hummed, her eyes never leaving Sanji. She glanced up at Usopp with a small smirk, reaching over to pull a throw blanket over Sanji.

“He overworks himself at his dad’s and he wants to fall asleep on you when he gets home. That’s cute,” Nami commented and Usopp nodded, his face flushing at the implication of what she was saying. She walks into the kitchen and Usopp once again is left to focus on Sanji. He leaned his head back against their couch cushions.