One week later—Swallow Island, south shore.
Sakura lounged with a fishing rod in one hand and a newspaper in the other. The headline made her whistle. "Whoa~ Mr. Tom's sea train is done already?"
"Who's that? What's a sea train?"
Law, studying nearby, looked up when her shout broke his focus.
"A way to link islands. Breaks the curse of being stuck on one rock forever—no more isolation!"
She folded the paper, raised her ice-cold beer toward the City of Water, and toasted. "To progress!"
"Sounds like a great guy," Law said, scooting over to read with her.
"Wait—front page is your new wanted poster, Big Sis! And you're ignoring it for the side columns?!"
He snatched the paper, voice pitching high—sweat beading, unsure if it was the heat or the bounty number.
"That's why you're still a kid. Pirates get bounties—it's part of the gig!"
Grinning mischievously, Sakura pressed the frosty bottle to his cheek.
Law shivered but didn't snap back with his usual energy.
"Means you're leaving again, huh? Can't be helped… pirates drift…"
His voice dropped.
In Flevance, he'd made real friends.
Kind old inventor Wolf. Insecure polar bear Bepo. The two punks he'd saved—Penguin and Shachi—had become family he couldn't imagine losing.
"If you don't want to leave, you can stay."
One casual line from Sakura—Law's pupils shook.
"What are you saying? Of course I'm coming with—"
Snap!
A finger-snap echoed. Ice sealed his mouth shut.
"Listen up, brat. I hate anything chaining my freedom. If I became your chain, Corazon died for nothing—and I'd turn into the person I despise most."
Sakura stood, abandoning the rod. She pressed his spotted hat down over his eyes.
"Live the life you choose. You're free now."
Her tall silhouette passed his small frame against the sunlight.
Wind lifted his hat. Tears already streaked the face it had hidden.
Afternoon—Sakura boarded the speedboat with supplies. A crowd gathered at the dock to see her off.
"Miss Sakura, the thermal seawater desalinator you asked me to mod is ready. But the hull's got so many holes—are you sure it's fine?"
Old Wolf leaned on his cane, stroking his beard.
"Relax. My pride and joy is alive."
Sakura grinned, palm on the Leviathan's hull. Yang chakra poured in.
Eve—the Yang Tree living inside—rapidly patched every breach. Minutes later: good as new.
"So cool!"
Bepo, hiding behind everyone, lit up.
Then his face fell. "I feel kinda bad…"
"Why apologize outta nowhere?!"
Penguin and Shachi, arms slung over each other's shoulders, each bopped him on the head.
"Clear skies coming—perfect for sailing!"
Using her Heat-Heat Fruit to radiate warmth and Observation Haki to read ocean currents, Sakura predicted the weather. A trick she'd developed rereading Jaba's navigator notes.
She loaded the last crate and headed for the boat.
"Big Sis Sakura!"
Law shoved through the crowd and hugged her tight.
"Take care out there! Save money, don't get blackout drunk, fold your clothes, don't toss shoes everywhere, take care of your hair and skin, and maybe use a little perfume so you seem more gi—mmph!"
A pale hand clamped his mouth.
"Okay, okay—enough nagging!"
She flash-froze him in a block, tossed him to the others, and bolted aboard.
Flaming exhaust roared at the stern. Sails up—she was gone.
Once the boat vanished, the ice shattered.
Law stood, felt something in his pocket, and pulled out a kunai etched with a cherry-blossom seal.
The crystal blade reflected his huge, genuine grin.
"Stay safe, Big Sis!"
Ah-CHOO!
Under the surface—coated and submerged—Sakura sneezed.
In the dim deep, mist began creeping through the Leviathan.
A tiny hand in a pink raincoat pulled a tissue from the table and offered it.
"Oh, thanks, Law."
Sakura took it, blew her nose, then—wait.
Law got off the ship!
She whipped around. A pink-haired little girl in a full raincoat and black boots tilted her head, hands behind her back. Shadows under the hood seemed to watch her.
"Hiii~ Saku~ra-chaaan~"
The childish voice was lazy, drowsy, dreamy.
Paired with the fog, she flickered like a ghost.
"You're… a deep-sea spirit?!"
Brave Sakura poked her—solid!
"Nope~ I'm~ the Levia~thaaan~"
The drawling tone made eyelids heavy.
Leviathan—a legend slammed into Sakura's brain: SHIP SPIRIT!!!
"Yeees~"
The squishy spirit hopped into Sakura's arms.
"But you're a new ship! The will I poured in shouldn't have been enough to birth a spirit!"
Suspicious, Sakura tugged the raincoat hood—wouldn't budge.
"Dunno~ But Saku~ra-chan's hands have waaarm energy~ and then~ I could come ouuut~"
Talking that long winded her. She flopped in Sakura's lap, kicking tiny legs happily.
Yang… chakra!
Yin creates form from nothing; Yang breathes life into form!
All those times skipping repairs and pumping chakra to let the ship self-heal—accidentally birthed a ship spirit?!
"HAHAHA—this is awesome! Starting today, you're my new crewmate!"
Sakura nuzzled her head and hugged tight.
"Nuh-uh~ I've always been your crewmate~"
Leviathan wrapped tiny arms around Sakura's.
[Hmph. Show-off.]
"Pfft—someone's jealous~"
After teasing the system, Sakura set Leviathan down to steer.
Then the cabin's Den Den Mushi rang.
She flipped open the hatch, picked up.
"Moshi moshi!"
"Sakura—sorry to call now."
"Dragon?"