Kaya buried her face in her hands. How warm she felt. The Sacred Covenant... Sacred Haki... and how it was trained and cycled.
Growing up, she'd entertained thoughts of falling in love, getting married, and starting a family. But to have such a magical ability sprung upon her on top of the opportunity to start her life anew was making her head swirl.
She peeked through her fingers at Mihawk and watched as he finished eating. He was handsome, no doubt. Kind, warm, and pleasant-smelling. He'd also saved her... The warmth in her face soared as she returned to the darkness of her hands.
Kaya knew she couldn't stay like this. She had to divert the subject! Dropping her hands, she looked at Zora. "Have you treated your wounds properly?
I may not have any medical experience, but I believe it's best to learn by doing.
Besides, either I lead you to the road to recovery or the road to eternal peace. Irregardless, it's a win-win. So please remove your shirt so I may begin right away!"
"You crazy girl!" Zora shot up from her chair. "Like hell I'm taking off my shirt here!"
She tilted her head and said, "I can sense that you're also in the Sacred Covenant with him. Do you expect me to believe he hasn't seen you topless, especially with the way you keep stealing glances at him?"
While Zora struggled to form a response, Mihawk's voice cut through the tension and made Kaya's little heart hop.
"Kaya."
"Y-Yes?" She stared past Mihawk at a painting of a ship on the wall.
This much stimulation in such a brief span of time was too much!
"We must leave soon. You should go pack your belongings, and I will help you carry your luggage. We also require a new ship."
"And whose fault is that?" Zora asked, having settled back into her chair after taking several deep breaths.
Kaya steadied herself and pondered for a moment. Her family's shipyard had a couple of suitable vessels docked there right now, and there was one in particular that stood above the rest.
"I have the perfect ship for us to set off in."
☠ ☠ ☠
Meanwhile, as Mihawk, Zora, and Kaya prepared for their departure from the Gecko Islands, a colorful ship approached a distinctive landmass.
The island itself appeared unremarkable. A modest patch of brown rock crowned with dense green vegetation rising from the sea.
As the colorful vessel drew nearer, strange sounds traveled across the water: a wild mix of roars, squawks, and growls.
"Captain Buggy, look! That should be the Island of Rare Animals, marked on the map!"
Buggy stepped from his captain's quarters onto the deck, his face darkening at the mention of this accursed thing. The map wasn't something he wanted to think about, but he had no choice. Right now, he was basically a torso with four limbs – most of his body missing because of circumstances beyond his control.
Waking up in this condition had been deeply upsetting. Someone had shoved this accursed map into his hands while he was unconscious. His crew couldn't remember what had happened either. One moment they'd been having a great time, the next a thief ran off with his map and treasure, and then... complete darkness.
Buggy stared at the map in his hands. This Island of Rare Animals was their first stop. Five more islands followed, each one hiding pieces of his body in unknown locations. According to the cryptic message scrawled on the back of the map, twelve pieces existed in total, though only the first six locations were shown. The remaining pieces would be revealed only after he retrieved the sixth. It was also written as to the order they must visit each location. Deviate from the path, and he'd never see the missing parts of himself again.
When he found whoever was responsible for this...
"Everyone stay on your toes!" one of his crew members shouted as the island's strange noises grew louder.
Buggy's head whipped to the side. "What?! Everyone stay away from his NOSE!?"
"Huh? Captain, I said toes, not—AHHH!"
☠ ☠ ☠
At the shipyard outside of Syrup Village, preparations for departure were well underway.
"Allow me to introduce the Going Merry. A caravel designed by my late servant and dear friend, Merry."
At Mihawk's side, Zora stared at the vessel with deep satisfaction while the young woman before them radiated joy as she presented their new ship. Kaya's cream-colored cardigan with vertical brown stripes complemented her simple white dress perfectly, and with the iconic ship as her backdrop, her pride shone through brightly. She appeared nervous as well, sending quick glances at him before returning her attention to Zora with renewed focus.
Mihawk met her glances each time with calm interest. The Sacred Covenant had manifested different reactions from Kaya and Zora that continued to entertain him. Where the swordswoman had erupted, Kaya responded with flustered embarrassment at the intimate implications.
Pushing those thoughts aside for now, Mihawk refocused on the task at hand. They had their ship. Now, they needed to prepare it properly for the journey ahead.
The loading began in earnest. Mihawk and Zora hauled supplies aboard while Kaya directed the placement from the dock. Barrels of fresh water rolled up the gangplank, followed by crates of provisions, including sake.
Kaya's belongings proved more extensive than expected. Her possessions required multiple trips – trunk after trunk of carefully packed clothes, books, and personal items that spoke of a comfortable life. He noticed several volumes of medical texts tucked among her collection, books he learned she'd purchased over a year ago but never got around to reading.
"What's up with all this fruit?" Zora commented, hefting another barrel onto her shoulder. The ship's refrigerated food storage was filling with an unusual abundance of fruit.
"We should always have fruit aboard."
Kaya nodded with enthusiasm. "He's right. We need to prevent scurvy."
What she said was correct, but his reasons for carrying fruit ran deeper than nutrition...