Chapter 10: The Color of a Promise
True to his incredible constitution, Luffy's injuries healed completely within a week—far sooner than the doctor's one-month prognosis. He returned to his training regimen, but this time, a newfound awareness tempered his efforts. He no longer pushed himself to the brink of self-destruction. Reiju, in turn, had moved part of her laboratory equipment into the gym, allowing her to monitor his progress while continuing her own work, occasionally joining him for a light spar or two.
His training was multifaceted. Alongside conditioning his body, he relentlessly hammered the large iron block he'd requested, the rhythmic BAM-BAM-BAM echoing through the room. Though Reiju had initially forbidden it, Luffy's stubborn persuasion, coupled with his promise not to break his hands again, eventually won her over.
He also began practicing the Rokushiki techniques from the manual he'd found. He started with Soru and Geppo, deeming them the most straightforward. The theory behind Soru was simple, yet daunting: kick the ground more than ten times in a second to create an explosive burst of speed. It required immense leg strength and explosive power, achievable only through extreme physical training.
The reality, however, was brutally difficult. He couldn't even manage two kicks in a second. But Luffy wasn't one to surrender. He kept trying, his focus absolute.
One day, Reiju watched him stomping the floor with intense concentration. "Luffy, what are you doing?" she asked, curiosity piqued.
Luffy, pulled from his thoughts, looked up. "Ah, Rei! I'm practicing Soru. From that Rokushiki book I found in your library."
"Rokushiki? The Cipher Pol techniques?" A look of realization dawned on her face as she walked over and took the book. "Ah, I remember this. I bought it on the black market out of curiosity after an encounter with them. I'm surprised it's still here. Are you following this book's instructions?"
"Yeah. Is there a problem with it?"
"The book is fine," she said, flipping through the pages. "But... would you like some help? I'm quite familiar with Rokushiki. I trained in it a bit myself and became rather proficient."
"Really? You'll help me?" Luffy's face lit up with pure joy. Mastering Rokushiki alone would be a slow process; a teacher was a godsend. He was particularly interested in Seimei Kikan and how it could potentially enhance his Gear techniques.
"Of course. I did promise I would help you train, didn't I?" she said with a soft smile.
"Thanks, Rei!"
"No need for thanks. Now, let's begin. You said you're working on Soru? I can show you a few tricks to make it easier." And so, Reiju began to teach him, her expert guidance giving form to his raw effort.
...
"We're stopping at an island?!" Luffy yelled, halting his training mid-kick at Reiju's news.
"Yes," she replied, her expression neutral.
Luffy immediately dashed to the nearest porthole. In the distance, the green silhouette of an island was coming into view. Excitement flooded his features. "It's true! I can see it!"
"Remember, Luffy," Reiju said, her tone flat. "The ship is only docking for seven hours to resupply. Don't be late." She turned to leave for her lab.
"Where are you going, Rei?" Luffy asked, catching her wrist.
"To my lab?" she answered, confused.
"What are you talking about? You're coming on an adventure with me!" he declared, pulling her toward the exit.
Reiju, being dragged along, was utterly bewildered. "Eh? What do you mean?"
Seeing her perplexed expression, Luffy sighed and facepalmed. "Don't just 'eh?' me! My wish was for us to go on adventures together on the islands we stop at! So you're coming with me!"
By the time they reached the deck, Luffy's excitement was palpable. This was his first Grand Line island! Reiju informed him they were docking at the Kingdom of Corona.
As they stepped ashore, Luffy was met with a scene from a medieval European fairy tale. The morning sun glinted off the white stone towers of Corona, setting the tiled roofs and stained-glass windows ablaze with warm light. The main thoroughfare leading to the palace was a river of color and sound, filled with cheering crowds and the scent of life.
Purple and gold flags bearing the kingdom's sunflower emblem fluttered in the breeze. Paper lanterns hung from every house, ready to be released that evening. The air was thick with the sweet aroma of baked bread, honey, and fresh fruit from decorated market stalls. Children ran past carrying sunflower-shaped balloons, while street musicians filled the air with cheerful melodies from flutes and mandolins.
Luffy's eyes widened, his mouth agape. "Woah! Amazing! Hey, Rei, what's going on here?"
Reiju, finally processing the scene, looked around. "It seems we're lucky. They're having a festival."
"A festival?!" Luffy's joy multiplied. "This just keeps getting better! Come on, Rei, let's go!"
He dragged her into the throng, sampling every food stall, dancing and singing with the locals. For the first time in her life, Reiju felt a pure, unburdened happiness. She had never imagined that something as simple as "adventuring" could feel like this.
During their exploration, Luffy accidentally stumbled upon a little girl being chased by several men. Without a second thought, he intervened.
After ensuring her safety, Luffy asked why she was being pursued. The girl, trembling, explained that she was the true princess of Corona. Her father, the king, had been imprisoned by pirates, and the man currently on the throne was an imposter. When she tried to seek help from the captain of the royal guard, she discovered he was in league with the pirates and had turned on her.
Hearing this, Luffy immediately decided to help her save her father. Reiju, surprised, offered her assistance, but Luffy refused. "I want to test my training," he said, a determined glint in his eye.
He stormed the castle, facing down waves of guards and pirates. By the time he defeated the pirate captain, his body was covered in fresh cuts and bruises, but he stood victorious, reuniting the princess with her father.
As the battle concluded, Reiju called out to him. "Luffy! We have to go! The ship is leaving!"
Luffy looked out through a hole in the castle wall. The sun was setting, painting the sky in deep blues and the first twinkling stars. Realizing how late it was, he and Reiju sprinted back towards the port.
"Onii-chan! Onee-chan! Where are you going? I haven't thanked you yet!" the little princess cried out after them.
Luffy slowed just enough to turn and run backward, shouting, "It's fine! Your kingdom is safe now! Take care of each other!" He waved wildly. "Let's meet again someday!"
As their ship pulled away from the Corona kingdom, a deep bell tolled three times from the castle. In response, thousands of lanterns simultaneously rose into the air. The dark, silent sky was instantly transformed into a living ocean of light—countless man-made stars floating upward to join the celestial ones above. Luffy and Reiju could only watch, sharing a breathless sigh at the breathtaking beauty.
The Germa ship slowly sailed on, and the spectacle of the floating lanterns gradually faded from view.
...
The days and weeks that followed blurred together for Reiju. The time she spent with Luffy was the most vibrant and joyful of her life. He was like a beam of pure light, crashing into her monochrome world and flooding it with color. As they traveled, she began to truly understand him.
Luffy was selfish, but not in a greedy way. It was a purer form of selfishness—he lived completely and utterly by the desires of his own heart. This made him impossibly stubborn; once he decided something, no one could change his mind. He knew no fear and had no concept of formality, speaking to her with casual familiarity even when maids and soldiers were present.
To protect him from the consequences of this behavior—for in their eyes, he was merely an impertinent slave—Reiju forbade the staff from approaching her castle. Yet, she never once asked Luffy to stop. Secretly, she cherished being treated as a friend.
Their planned three-month journey to South Blue stretched into three and a half due to unforeseen delays. Seeing Luffy prepare to disembark at their first South Blue stop filled her with a profound sadness she couldn't hide. Sensing this, Luffy asked how long they would be in South Blue.
"A month," Reiju replied.
He then decided to extend his stay on the ship, choosing to disembark at the last island in South Blue instead. The wave of relief and gratitude that washed over Reiju was overwhelming.
In the end, Luffy spent a total of five months aboard the Germa ship with Reiju. They explored every island they docked at, participating in unique festivals and local customs. They sparred, visited bars and dance clubs, and shared long conversations about everything from the silliest topics to Reiju's most vulnerable, locked-away secrets. She had never opened up to anyone like this, and they were, without a doubt, the best five months of her life.
Throughout their adventures, a pattern began to emerge. It had started with the little girl in Corona—an unusual event, she thought. But at the next island, and the one after that, it happened again. A small, local problem would inexplicably snowball into a crisis that threatened the entire island, and Luffy would inevitably be drawn into the center of it.
At the fourth Grand Line island, they saved a child from thugs, only to be attacked by an assassin upon escorting her home. The child, a princess named Ivy, confessed through tears that she and her father were exiled for opposing her brother's plan to model their kingdom after the "clean" Goa Kingdom of the East Blue.
Luffy, of course, decided to help them.
Baffled, Reiju asked him why. Did he know these people? Was he aware of the political situation?
Luffy just smiled. "Because it sounds like fun."
That was his entire reason. He knew nothing about the island or its people before arriving. He simply enjoyed his adventures and helped the "good people" he met along the way.
Trying to understand his logic, Reiju pressed him. "So you help strangers who offer you nothing in return?"
"People who give food to others while expecting nothing in return are good people," he stated, as if it were the most obvious truth in the world. "So I liked them and saw them as my friends. They were in trouble. My friends were in trouble. And they wanted to fight. So, I helped them out. That's all."
Reiju was left speechless by his simplistic worldview. "So... you want to be a hero?"
Luffy's face scrunched up in utter disgust. "No way in hell! I only helped because they wanted to fight! If they didn't, and I had no reason to interfere, I wouldn't have bothered!"
His logic was infuriatingly simple yet profound. She wondered how far he would take it. Against a small pirate crew? Certainly. Against a nation? Perhaps not. Against a Yonko or an Admiral? Surely not. It was a conclusion she would later reflect on with immense irony, as news of his future exploits would prove her utterly wrong. Luffy would fight anyone and anything for his friends.
On their fifth Grand Line stop, a resort island filled with casinos and amusement parks, Luffy did something that truly stunned her. After defeating a foolish king who wanted to electrocute his own people to have the island to himself, they were enjoying the attractions.
While shopping for clothes—an activity Luffy endured with much grumbling—he spotted a shop selling Log Poses.
"Do you know what those are?" Reiju asked, surprised.
"Yeah, Kevin told me about them. But this is the first time I've seen one."
He browsed the collection with a focused expression. "I'm looking for an Eternal Pose to Drum Island," he explained, remembering a critical moment from Kevin's memories where Nami's life had hung in the balance. He wouldn't leave that to chance. He successfully bargained for three Eternal Poses: Drum Island and two others that piqued his interest.
Later, as they ate, Luffy suddenly spoke up, his mouth full. "Rei. Join my pirate crew."
Reiju choked on her drink. "Cough! What are you saying all of a sudden?!"
Luffy just grinned. "I've been thinking. You're interesting. I want you to join my crew."
Reiju laughed, a bittersweet sound. "I'm flattered, Luffy, truly. But I must refuse. If I went with you, my father would mobilize the entire might of Germa to retrieve me. You... you're not strong enough to face him yet."
Luffy fell silent. He understood the unspoken meaning behind her long explanation. He chugged his drink and slammed the mug on the table. "Then I'll train even harder! When I'm strong enough, I'll come back for you, and you will join my crew!"
Seeing his unwavering confidence, Reiju could only whisper, "Idiot..."
His wording finally registered. "Hey! You can't just decide that for me! You have to ask people to join your crew, not tell them they will!"
Luffy shrugged. "Don't care. I've decided."
Reiju sighed and smacked him. "That's not how it works! I pity your future crewmates!"
"Shishishishi!"
"Don't just laugh!" she yelled, smacking him again.
...
At the final island in South Blue, the moment of parting had arrived. Reiju accompanied him ashore, her eyes anxiously scanning for a suitable inn and a ship bound for East Blue.
Luffy gently stopped her. "Rei, relax. I can handle myself." A soft, warm breeze ruffled his hair. "More importantly... we still have an hour. Let's spend it together."
He led her to a quiet stretch of beach, the turquoise waves lapping gently at the white sand. The sound of the port faded away, replaced by the ocean's rhythmic sigh.
Reiju broke the silence, her voice softer than the breeze. "So... this is it, then. Time to say goodbye."
"Yeah..." Luffy replied, his gaze on the horizon.
Without another word, Reiju turned and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly. She rested her head against his shoulder, her pink hair brushing his cheek. Luffy, surprised, hesitated for only a second before his arms came up to encircle her, one hand gently stroking her hair.
"I'm sorry," he murmured. "The me right now isn't strong enough to take you with me. But I promise... I'll get so much stronger that I can come back for you."
He felt her small nod against his shoulder. When she didn't speak, he continued, "It's okay. You gave me your Den Den Mushi number. We can talk."
"But... it usually won't work..." she whispered, her voice muffled. The vast distances and the Red Line made communication a rare and unpredictable miracle.
Luffy sighed, feeling a dampness on his shoulder. He held her tighter. "I promise I'll come for you. And you'll see me in the papers all the time! I'm gonna do so many crazy things!"
She lifted her head slightly, her lips close to his ear, and whispered a desperate plea. "You better come for me…"
A confident, unwavering smile spread across his face. "Yeah. I promise," he whispered back.
He felt her take a shaky breath. Then, she leaned in, closing the small distance between them, and pressed her lips to his in a soft, lingering kiss that held all the words she couldn't say. It was a seal on their promise, a taste of bittersweet goodbye.
As the Germa ship disappeared over the horizon, Luffy watched until it was a speck, then vanished. He let out a long sigh and whispered into the wind, "Wait for me..."
Then, he turned and walked toward the town, his straw hat sitting firmly on his head, a new determination burning in his heart. The adventure was just beginning.