After the Merry left Twin Capes, it immediately began encountering the capricious weather phenomena of the Grand Line.
One moment the sky was clear and sunny, the next dark clouds swept in like spilled ink, with heavy raindrops clattering noisily against the deck.
Just after a hailstorm and snowfall had passed, thick fog would suddenly rise from the sea surface, only to be followed by warm, spring-like sunny weather.
Not only were the crew constantly busy running around the ship, but Nami, as the navigator, also discovered the terror of this unknown sea. Her navigation skills needed to be completely relearned, and now the only thing she could trust was the Log Pose on her wrist.
As the last rays of sunset were swallowed by the horizon, the turbulent sea finally showed signs of exhaustion.
The violent rocking ceased, replaced by a slow, persistent gentle swaying.
Night fell, leaving only a few stars twinkling in the darkness.
Faint breathing sounds came from Luffy and Usopp in the cabin. Zoro slept snoring while hugging his swords in the corner, and the clattering from Sanji organizing dishes in the kitchen gradually faded away.
Everything grew quiet.
Giyu lay flat on his bunk, staring wide-eyed at the wooden-grain ceiling. This endless swaying made it difficult for him to sleep.
Beneath his feet wasn't solid ground, and the air was filled with the scent of seawater - this wasn't a familiar place to him. This was his first night on the ship, and even after tossing and turning several times, he still couldn't fall asleep.
Giyu simply got up, silently pushed open the cabin door, and walked onto the deck.
Then he saw her - Ms. Wednesday.
The woman who had been flashy and exaggerated in her speech during the day was now alone at the railing, wearing a long coat over a blue-and-white striped tight short-sleeve shirt with a somewhat peculiar style, her blue hair gently stirred by the sea breeze.
Her face showed none of the exaggerated expressions from daytime as she quietly gazed at the dark sea, her eyes carrying a touch of heaviness, even a hint of sorrow.
[Subject: Ms. Wednesday]
[Status: Contemplative, Worried]
[Likes: Fashion?]
[Suggestion: Approach and talk]
Giyu's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he looked away without speaking. He turned his eyes toward the distant sea surface that appeared pitch black in the night.
Vague images of his hometown seemed to emerge from the darkness - Master Urokodaki's sternness and care beneath his mask, and Tanjiro's sunny smile. Those faces were blurred and distant, separated by moonlight and this unknown sea.
Crocus's words echoed in his ears again: "You still need to become stronger, much stronger."
Become stronger, in this unfamiliar place, with this incomplete body.
Since the battle with Muzan, his body had suffered severe injuries and he lost his right arm. When he believed he could no longer serve as the Water Hashira, he temporarily resigned from the position to Ubuyashiki.
Muzan was dead, the greatest danger of the past was gone. But now he had to become stronger with this body that could only wield a sword with his left hand, merely to increase the possibility of returning to his hometown.
His left hand instinctively gripped the hilt of his Nichirin Blade at his waist. The cold touch brought a slight calm to his chaotic thoughts.
He no longer looked at Ms. Wednesday, instead walking to an open area in the center of the deck. Slowly, he drew his Nichirin Blade, its cold steel flashing with an icy blue under the moonlight.
He assumed the starting stance of Water Breathing, left foot stepping forward, body slightly lowered. His left hand swung out abruptly.
The movements remained fluid, carrying the distinctive rhythm of Water Breathing. However, the force was indeed weaker than before, and the sound of the blade cutting through the air was no longer as steady.
The ship swayed gently with the waves. Giyu's center of gravity shifted slightly, causing the trajectory of his swing to deviate. He quickly adjusted his footing to steady himself, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.
During the day, when that giant Frog Sea King had ambushed them in the sea area known as the Calm Belt, he had instinctively drawn his blade. If it were before, by activating Total Concentration Breathing, that strike could have been cleaner and more powerful.
But now, the slash executed with his left hand was indeed a beat slower in both speed and strength, barely managing to repel the Sea King. Fortunately, in the end, that Luffy had used his strange ability to pull him back onto the ship.
Although there might be hope for protection now, that sense of powerlessness was something he didn't want to experience too many more times.
Giyu swung his blade again. Over and over. Focusing on adjusting the angle of his force, feeling the stretch and contraction of the muscles in his left arm, striving to regain that absolute control over the Nichirin Blade. Sweat beaded at his temples, but he paid it no mind.
Faint footsteps sounded from behind him.
Giyu's movements didn't pause, but his entire body tensed slightly, entering a state of alertness.
Ms. Wednesday had turned around at some point and had been quietly watching him practice for a while. Her gaze fell on his empty right sleeve, and she finally couldn't hold back, her voice clear in the silent night.
"Can't sleep either?" she asked. Giyu's swinging hesitated for a moment but didn't stop.
"Hm," he replied, "Not used to the ship."
Ms. Wednesday seemed taken aback for a moment, then let out a light laugh, the sound carrying a hint of surprise.
"Are you serious? You're a pirate, yet you're not used to being on a ship?"
"Hm," he said again, just one word.
Ms. Wednesday took a few steps forward, leaning against the main mast. "Then why did you come to this sea?" Perhaps because only the two of them remained on the deck now, she felt some curiosity about this group of pirates and pressed further.
Her tone held curiosity and a hint of admonishment, "Even with only one arm left, you still want to adventure here? This Grand Line... is terrifying. Countless people healthier and stronger than you have vanished without a trace. Although your ship has that straw-hat-wearing captain, the three-sword samurai, and that lecherous-looking cook, it's not enough to keep going forever."
[Target: Ms. Wednesday]
[Status: Curious, probing]
[Likes: Hometown]
[Suggestion: Respond quickly!]
Giyu completed this swing, the tip of his blade pointing diagonally at the deck. Seeing the floating text appear, he was somewhat taken aback. He remained silent for a few seconds, the sea breeze rustling his jet-black hair.
"Going home," he uttered two simple words, his voice devoid of emotion. After speaking, he raised his blade once more.
"Going home?" This answer made Vivi freeze once again. She watched him throw himself back into the monotonous, grueling practice, his focused profile appearing cold and hard under the moonlight.
She suddenly laughed again, her laughter tinged with self-mockery and bitterness.
"Going home... such a simple reason." She turned her head, gazing once more at the bottomless sea, her voice drifting, "It's really nice... to still have a home to return to."
"You know?" She paused, her tone carrying a hint of instability, "Actually, there are many people on this sea who also want to go home, but many places across this ocean have already been destroyed by pirates. They commit every evil imaginable, making those who wish to return home discover that the place is no longer what it used to be."
"Just because these pirates are stronger, they can casually enter others' countries and do whatever they want..." Her voice trailed off, more like she was talking to herself, "Without sufficient strength, simple wishes... will only be crushed to pieces."
Giyu's blade swung through empty air, this time not because of the ship's rocking.
Her words were like stones thrown into a lake, creating ripples in Giyu's heart.
But Giyu didn't respond, only channeling that hope of possibly still being able to return home into firmer determination, pouring it into his next swing.
The sound of cutting wind rang out again, sharper and more stable than before.
Silence fell over the deck.
Only the sound of waves remained, along with the relentless, sharp noise of air being sliced.
Ms. Wednesday stopped speaking, crossing her arms as she looked into the distance. Her thoughts seemed to have drifted back to that arid, scorching nation, back to that seemingly endless struggle.
Giyu remained completely focused, repeating the monotonous movements. With each swing of his blade, the soreness in his left arm intensified, but his control over this body and the Nichirin Blade seemed to return bit by bit.