The night had claimed the world in its quiet, relentless way.
The last ember of the sun vanished behind the jagged spine of Onigashima, leaving behind a sky so vast and clear it felt like a painted ceiling of endless starlight. The wind whispered through the massive skull-shaped cliffs, carrying the distant thunder of waves crashing far below, as if the sea itself was reminding the island that nothing stood above its reach.
A small fire crackled on a broad slab of stone near the edge of the island.
Fssh... Pop... Crackle...
Its glow danced across two figures seated opposite each other, painting their faces in shifting gold and shadow.
Luffy leaned back on one arm, loose and relaxed, a bottle of sake resting in his hand like it belonged there. The flames traced the lines of his face, sharpening the easy confidence in his grin and the quiet intensity in his eyes.
Across from him, Yamato sat with her legs folded beneath her, posture restless but attentive, as though the night itself was pulling her closer to whatever he would say next.
She leaned forward slightly, eyes reflecting the fire like twin embers.
"Is it really true?" She asked, her voice softer than the wind that brushed past them. "Did you really fight a Yonko when you were still a kid?"
Luffy snorted, tipping the bottle back. The sake glugged loudly before he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, a lazy grin tugging at his lips.
"Shanks?" He said. "Yeah. He's a close friend."
Yamato stared. "You say that like you're talking about a neighbor."
He just shrugged his shoulders and replied. "He is, in a way."
"That doesn't answer my question," She shot back. "You fought him?"
Luffy scratched his cheek, thinking. "I wouldn't call it a real fight, though. It was more like a spar that got… way out of hand than it was supposed to."
Yamato stared at him like he had just told her he wrestled a sea king for fun.
"That's still insane," She blurted, shaking her head. "Shanks is on the same level as that Bull Gorilla bastard. You're saying that like it's nothing!"
"Yeah," Luffy laughed, the sound low and easy, carried away by the wind. "That's why it was fun."
She shook her head, staring at him like he had just told her the sky was green. "You really don't fear anything, do you?"
Luffy looked up at the stars for a moment. "Nah. If I did, I'd never leave home."
Yamato hesitated, then asked quietly, "Then why come here?"
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he poked the fire with a stick, sending a small shower of sparks spiraling into the air.
"You already know why I came here," He said, glancing back at the towering shadow of the Skull Dome behind them. "There's no one in the Marines who really goes all out with me anymore. Even the Admirals pull their punches."
Her brows furrowed. "You're saying they're afraid of you?"
"They are not afraid," Luffy corrected, "more like careful of hurting me."
"That's worse." Yamato snorted, her brows furrowed slightly.
He laughed at her reply. "I want a real fight. One where I can go all out. Kaido's the kind of guy who won't hold back."
Her lips twisted. "Of course you'd choose him."
She leaned back on her hands, staring at the sky. "Why not the others, then? If you're so eager to die."
Luffy raised a finger, ticking them off casually. "Whitebeard's old and sick. Beating a dying man wouldn't feel right. Shanks would throw a party instead of fighting me."
He paused, then waved his hand dismissively. "And Big Mom? Let's just pretend she doesn't exist."
Yamato nearly choked on her sake. She burst into laughter, sharp and unguarded, before quickly lifting the bottle to hide the heat rushing into her cheeks.
"You talk about Yonko like they're characters in a bad story."
"They kind of are," He replied easily.
Yamato studied him through the firelight, the way the flames reflected in his eyes. Her laughter faded, replaced by something quieter.
"You really think you can beat him?" She asked him, her voice soft.
"Yeah." Luffy met her gaze without hesitation.
The certainty in his voice made her heart skip.
'Why does he say things like that so easily…?' She thought, stealing a glance at his relaxed posture, his fearless smile.
Her heart thumped harder, and she didn't understand why.
Luffy noticed the way she looked away, but for once, he didn't tease her. Instead, his voice softened.
"Your old man's cruel," He said quietly. "You're missing out on a lot. The sea's huge, Yamato. Islands you've never seen. People you'd never imagine. Adventures that make you feel like the world's too small to hold you."
Her breath caught in her chest.
The fire popped, sending a small shower of sparks into the air.
"Is it really that amazing?" she asked, leaning forward without realizing she had moved.
"Yeah," Luffy replied simply. "That's why I couldn't wait to grow up. That's why I went out there."
Yamato stared into the flames, her reflection flickering in the firelight. Slowly, she reached into her robes and pulled out a worn, weathered ledger. Its edges were frayed, its cover scarred by time, but she held it like something sacred.
Luffy tilted his head. "A journal?"
She nodded. "It's Oden's journal... and it's my… bible."
He studied the book for a long moment, then looked back at her.
"Then tell me something," He said. "Why him? Why do you admire Oden so much?"
Yamato clutched the ledger closer to her chest.
The wind brushed past them, lifting strands of her long hair, and for a moment, she didn't speak. Her eyes traced the fire, then the stars, then finally settled back on Luffy's face.
Luffy scratched his cheek, eyes thoughtful instead of his usual carefree shine. "I mean… I get it. He was strong. He was a samurai. He did crazy stuff. That's cool and all."
He tilted his head, staring at the sky. "But there's gotta be something more, right?"
He grinned a little. "You should know that just like you, I admire Shanks too... It's 'cause he's free. He laughs a lot. He's annoying as hell. But more importantly, he protects his friends no matter what."
His voice softened as his eyes were hazy with memories. "I even picked a fight with him for my friend Uta."
Yamato's breath caught.
Luffy looked back at her, eyes bright and honest. "So what is it about Oden that makes you admire him that much?"
The waves crashed below as the fire crackled in front of their eyes.
Yamato looked at Luffy, her heart pounding in a way she didn't recognize.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
📢 Author's Note 📢
If you're enjoying this story and want more chapters right now, I invite you to check out my Patreon. There you'll find:
✅ Daily updates – never miss a day of new content
✅ Advanced chapters – read far ahead of public releases
✅ Exclusive perks & extras – only available to patrons
Your support not only gives you early access but also helps me dedicate more time to writing and expanding this story. Every reader who joins makes a huge difference.
👉 Dive into more chapters today: patreon.com/Myth_Valley
Let's keep the adventure alive! 🔥📚✨