The afternoon light filtered softly through the fabric of the tent when Hancock and Ren finally woke.
The interior was a complete mess—blankets tangled, clothes scattered, the air still warm from everything that had happened between them.
It had been their first time. For both of them.
The realization lingered quietly in the space between them, heavy yet strangely comforting.
Ren rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding her eyes for a moment, while Hancock calmly gathered the blankets with a composure that didn't quite hide the faint pink on her cheeks.
Neither mentioned how wild they had been, but the state of the tent spoke loudly enough.
They washed in the nearby stream without unnecessary words, though their movements were more aware of each other now.
Every glance carried memory, every brush of fingers carried warmth.
Afterward, they cooked together in a comfortable rhythm.
Ren handled the meat while Hancock prepared vegetables, their shoulders brushing occasionally as if neither wished to stand too far apart.
They ate slowly.
Today, neither of them suggested training.
Instead, they sat near the tent, letting the wind move gently through the trees.
The island felt calmer, as if acknowledging the shift between them.
Hancock rested her chin on her hand and asked casually, "So what's your next step?"
Ren stared at the horizon for a moment before answering.
"Just as planned, I'll be going to Fishman Island. After staying there for a while, I'll head to the New World."
He leaned back slightly, eyes thoughtful.
"When I'm strong enough, I'll go and kick Kaido's ass. Then I'll take over Wano. It's one of the best islands in the New World."
Hancock tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable for a second before amusement surfaced.
"Hmm. Gonna go and kick your future father-in-law's ass?" she asked, her tone layered with both irritation and teasing.
Ren nearly choked on his own breath.
He turned to her, voice shaking, "Wh–what are you talking about? When did I say Kaido was my father-in-law? And how the hell do you know he has a daughter???"
Hancock crossed her legs elegantly, watching him squirm.
"Well," she said smoothly, "someone was muttering in the kitchen about some Yamato and Shirahoshi being better wifuu than this Empress."
Her eyes narrowed just slightly.
"And how he was going to kick his father-in-law Kaido's ass."
Ren stared at her in horror.
"Yeah… that's on me," he muttered internally. "How the hell did I forget she has Observation Haki?"
He cleared his throat quickly, shifting topics at lightning speed.
"Well, we can talk about that later. Amazon Lily is in the Calm Belt—trapped. The Marines have ships that can travel through it."
He leaned forward, voice firm now.
"If I take Wano, I can move Amazon Lily there with my Nimbus cloud. Once Amazon Lily is safe, you won't have to be a Warlord anymore."
He spoke a little too quickly, but the seriousness in his eyes was real.
The teasing atmosphere faded as Hancock studied him more carefully.
"Well… that's true," she admitted slowly, though suspicion still lingered faintly. "As long as Amazon Lily is here, I'm tied to its safety as its Empress."
Ren nodded, this time completely serious.
"I don't want you to choose between me and Amazon Lily."
The words settled heavily between them.
Hancock's expression softened as she let the matter of Yamato and Shirahoshi slide—for now.
She smiled faintly, the earlier irritation dissolving into something warmer.
For today, she would allow him this escape.
They waited until the Kuja ship arrived to retrieve them.
When it did, they boarded together, leaving Rusukaina behind.
During the journey, Ren devoured multiple Sea Kings, disappearing briefly into the ocean and returning without explanation.
Each time, the energy stored within his internal space increased steadily.
He kept extra reserves constantly now.
Hancock was receiving energy through their link, and he refused to let her ever feel lacking in strength.
By the time Amazon Lily appeared on the horizon, both of them had grown stronger than when they first stepped onto Rusukaina.
Their auras alone felt heavier, more controlled, more dangerous.
After reaching Amazon Lily, Ren remained on the ship while Hancock returned to the island.
Her presence was needed, even if only briefly.
The next day, the Kuja Pirates prepared for patrol as usual.
This time, Ren stood among them.
He had delayed his departure for months because of training.
Now it was time.
The Kuja ship eventually reached the Sabaody Archipelago.
The towering mangroves stretched into the sky, bubbles drifting lazily through the air.
Ren stood at the edge of the ship as Hancock approached him.
There were no dramatic words.
"Be careful," she said quietly.
Ren smirked slightly.
"Always."
He stepped off the ship onto the dock, turning once more before walking toward the city.
The Kuja ship departed soon after.
What neither of them cared about—or even noticed—was that Marines had seen him disembark from a Kuja vessel.
Reports were already being sent.
At Marine Headquarters, Sengoku listened calmly as the information was relayed.
"It's unusual for Hancock to give a man a ride," he said thoughtfully.
"But not impossible," he added. "They might be friends or something. As long as he doesn't cause trouble, let him be."
The report was filed away without urgency.
No admiral was dispatched.
Years later, Sengoku would regret that decision.
But today, it was nothing more than a minor footnote.
Meanwhile, Ren walked through Sabaody casually, blending in with the crowd.
He purchased new clothes—practical, dark, fitted for movement rather than display.
His presence drew occasional glances, but nothing more.
His Haki remained suppressed, calm and unreadable.
After finishing his purchases, he made his way toward Grove 13.
The air shifted subtly as he approached a familiar location.
Shakky's Rip-Off Bar stood quietly among the mangroves, its sign swaying slightly in the breeze.
Ren paused at the entrance for half a second before pushing the door open.
The next phase of his journey was about to begin.