"Where did you hide the wine, kid?"
Newgate's deep voice echoed through Kaoru Tsubasa's wooden hut as the massive man rummaged through every corner.
When Kaoru told him earlier that he only had one last box left, Newgate had flat-out refused to believe it. Without a second thought, the old sea giant had barged into Kaoru's cabin and started searching on his own.
"No, Newgate," Kaoru sighed, watching helplessly. "It's just wine—it's not like it's better than the milk in my hand."
The moment Newgate heard that, his expression darkened. He raised his right hand, condensing the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit as the air around him began to quake.
"Oh, come on! Are you serious right now?!" Kaoru yelped. "Fine, fine! It's all here!"
Startled, Kaoru hurriedly pulled out a few bottles of Moutai from his dimensional space.
Newgate blinked in surprise. He had only meant to scare the kid a little—but he ended up getting what he wanted.
"I knew it, brat. You were still hiding some."
"Boom!"
Before Kaoru could reply, Newgate's Iron Fist of Love crashed down on his head.
"Ow—! I'm doing this for your health, you old drunk!" Kaoru muttered, rubbing the sore spot.
Completely ignoring him, Newgate gathered up the bottles and lumbered back toward the Moby Dick with a satisfied grin.
Aboard the Moby Dick, Kaoru called out, "Leaving already, Newgate?"
"Gurarara! I've still got plenty to do in the New World," Whitebeard laughed. "And this time I also got my—" He stopped mid-sentence, coughed, and said, "Ahem. No, nothing. Since we know what caused that second sun, we should be heading back."
Kaoru twitched slightly at his awkward cover-up. So you really did come here just to drink for free, huh?
Still, he didn't complain. Instead, he pulled out another sealed box of Moutai and set it down on the deck.
"This really is the last one, Newgate. Try not to drink yourself into trouble."
The old man's eyes lit up immediately, and before Kaoru could even blink, the box was gone.
Unbelievable, Kaoru thought, watching the ship sail off. He looks like he's afraid someone will steal it if he doesn't take it fast enough.
Newgate's booming laughter echoed back over the waves:
"What? You said I should drink more! You're a good brother, Kaoru!"
Kaoru sighed as the Moby Dick disappeared over the horizon.
Originally, Buggy had wanted to leave with them, but Kaoru stopped him. He still needed the clown's help with some upcoming matters. And besides, he'd promised the Navy—specifically Sengoku—that he wouldn't show himself at sea for ten years.
Even so, Kaoru had no intention of just sitting idle. He wanted to change some of the tragedies he knew were coming.
It was the year 1498 of the Sea Calendar. According to the original timeline, nothing major would happen this year. But in 1499, everything would begin again—the year the infamous Golden Lion Shiki escaped from Impel Down, the world's most secure prison.
Kaoru planned to spend this year training Buggy until he fully mastered the power of the Grace of the Sun.
A year later, Buggy had made astonishing progress. He'd learned to wield Escanor's powers flawlessly and had even developed new techniques that blended them with his own Chop-Chop Fruit.
And as Kaoru's records had predicted, the year 1499 brought chaos: Golden Lion Shiki broke free from Impel Down, losing both his legs in the process.
"What are you doing here, Shiki?"
Kaoru looked up curiously at the man hovering in the air, golden mane flowing in the wind.
It had only been a month since Shiki escaped from Impel Down, and now here he was—on Redoria Island. According to Shiki, it was Newgate who told him where Kaoru was.
To be fair, Kaoru couldn't blame the old man. Newgate and Shiki went way back to their days under Rocks. Their first great battle had even been against each other.
Shiki grinned. "It's been ages, Kaoru, and this is how you greet your old friend? Just leaving me to float out here?"
"Come with me." Kaoru said simply and turned toward his cabin.
He wasn't worried about an ambush. Even if Shiki had tried something, Kaoru had the strength—and immortality—to handle it.
Inside, Kaoru poured himself a drink and asked, "So, Shiki, why'd you really come looking for me?"
"Uh…" Shiki hesitated, suddenly looking awkward.
"What's this? You've been locked up for two years and went soft?" Kaoru smirked. "If you've got something to say, just say it. If I can help, I will."
They had fought side by side during the era of the Rocks Pirates. Kaoru still respected him as an old comrade—so long as Shiki didn't ask him to burn the world down.
"Jihahahaha!" Shiki laughed heartily. "You're right! After two years in that hellhole, I almost forgot who I am. I'm the great pirate—Shiki the Golden Lion!"
Kaoru chuckled softly. "There you go. That's more like it."
Then Shiki's expression turned sly. "Kaoru, I heard from Newgate that you've got some pretty good wine around here. Be a pal and pour me a drink, won't you?"
The corner of Kaoru's mouth twitched. Another one? Why do all these old monsters come here just to mooch my booze?
"Uh, Shiki… if I said I'm out, would you believe me?"
"Boom!"
"Quit talking nonsense and bring it out already!"
Kaoru rubbed his aching head. Why do all these old men love using the Iron Fist of Love?!
First Newgate, now Shiki—and even that old geezer Garp back in the day used to smack Luffy the same way.
He sighed. Even Monk once said, 'See this mark on my face? It's my father's deep love—it still hasn't faded after all these years!'
Well, Kaoru wasn't about to admit he was "old." Thirty-something was still young, thank you very much.
"Fine, fine." He coughed twice and pulled out a box of Moutai. "Here. Take this and go already!"
He shoved the wine into Shiki's hands and all but pushed him out the door.
Damn freeloaders… do they know how many lotteries I had to win just to get those bottles?!
"Hold on," Shiki said, handing Kaoru a rolled-up map. "This is for you."
Kaoru unfolded it—and his eyes widened. It was a treasure map, marking the locations of Shiki's hidden loot.
"Oh-ho… now that's more like it." He grinned. "Guess it wasn't a total loss this time."
After all, who was he to turn down treasure? Especially when he'd just lost another box of his precious wine.