The night air was quiet.
Too quiet.
Ren stood frozen, staring at the patch of grass beneath his feet.
It had changed.
Not dramatically.
Not like something out of a nightmare.
But subtly.
The green had dulled. The life within it felt… thinner. Weaker.
Like something had brushed against it and taken just a little away.
"…this isn't good," Ren muttered.
His hand trembled slightly.
He hadn't done anything.
At least—not intentionally.
All he did was reach for that power.
And yet—
It responded.
A cold sensation crept up his arm, as if reminding him of its existence.
This isn't a normal Devil Fruit…
Ren exhaled slowly and stepped back.
"I need control… before this gets worse."
Because if a small leak of power could do this—
What would happen if he lost control completely?
The answer…
Wasn't something he wanted to find out.
Early Morning Resolve
Ren didn't sleep much that night.
By the time the sun began to rise, he was already on his way to the dojo.
His steps were slower today.
Not just from physical exhaustion—
But from thought.
This power… it's dangerous.
Not just to enemies… but to everyone around me.
His mind drifted briefly—
To Kuina.
To Zoro.
To the quiet village that had unknowingly become his home.
His expression hardened.
I can't let it hurt them.
An Empty Dojo
When Ren arrived—
It was quiet.
No clashing wood.
No shouting.
No Zoro.
Just silence.
"…that's new," he murmured.
He stepped inside.
The morning light filtered through the wooden walls, casting long shadows across the floor.
And in the center—
Kuina.
Alone.
She moved differently today.
No opponents.
No distractions.
Just her… and her blade.
Clack.
A swing.
Clack.
Another.
Precise.
Sharp.
But—
Something was off.
Her movements were faster than usual.
More aggressive.
Like she was trying to cut through something invisible.
Ren leaned against the entrance, watching.
She's… frustrated.
Breaking the Silence
"You're early."
Kuina's voice came without her turning.
Ren shrugged.
"…could say the same about you."
She didn't respond.
Clack.
Another swing.
Harder this time.
Ren walked in slowly.
"…where's Zoro?"
"…training."
"Isn't that what this is?"
Kuina stopped.
Finally—she turned.
Her eyes were sharp.
But beneath that—
Something else.
"…he's training outside the village."
Ren blinked.
"…alone?"
"Hm."
"…after losing that many times?"
Kuina's gaze didn't waver.
"He said he'd surpass me."
Ren chuckled softly.
"…sounds like him."
A brief silence followed.
Then—
"…you think he can?"
Kuina's question came suddenly.
Ren tilted his head.
"…eventually?"
She stared at him.
"…eventually?"
"Yeah."
Ren stepped closer.
"Not now. Not soon."
He met her gaze.
"But one day… yeah."
Kuina looked away.
"…I see."
The Truth She Hates
Ren sat down on the wooden floor, stretching his sore arms.
"…what about you?"
Kuina frowned slightly.
"…what about me?"
"You think you'll stay stronger than him forever?"
Silence.
Long.
Heavy.
Kuina gripped her wooden sword tighter.
"…no."
The answer was quiet.
But firm.
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…why?"
She didn't respond immediately.
Then—
"…because I'm a girl."
There it was.
The thing weighing on her.
Ren exhaled slowly.
"…that again."
Kuina's eyes sharpened.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain it to me."
Her grip tightened further.
"…my father said it himself."
Her voice dropped slightly.
"As I grow older… my body won't keep up with men."
Ren frowned.
"…and you believe that?"
Kuina's expression hardened.
"It's not about belief."
"Then what is it?"
"It's reality!"
The sudden burst of emotion surprised even her.
Silence fell immediately after.
Ren didn't speak.
He just watched her.
Kuina looked away.
"…no matter how hard I train…"
Her voice softened.
"…no matter how many times I win now…"
Her hand trembled slightly.
"…one day… I'll lose."
Not because of skill.
Not because of effort.
But because of something she couldn't change.
Her shoulders lowered slightly.
"…so what's the point?"
A Different Answer
Ren stood up slowly.
His body protested—but he ignored it.
"…then win until that day comes."
Kuina blinked.
"…what?"
"If you're going to lose someday—then make sure that day comes as late as possible."
He stepped closer.
"Win today. Win tomorrow. Win every day you can."
Kuina stared at him.
"…that doesn't change anything."
"It changes everything."
Ren's voice was calm.
But steady.
"You're not losing now."
She didn't respond.
"You're not weaker now."
Still silence.
"So why are you acting like you've already lost?"
Kuina's eyes widened slightly.
The words hit harder than expected.
Ren continued.
"You're stronger than everyone here."
"…"
"Even him."
"…for now."
Ren smiled faintly.
"Then make 'for now' last as long as possible."
A Quiet Shift
The dojo was silent.
But something had changed.
Kuina looked at him—
Really looked at him this time.
Not as some weak kid.
Not as an outsider.
But as someone who—
Understood.
"…you talk too much," she said finally.
Ren laughed.
"…yeah. I've been told that."
She turned away.
"…if you have time to talk…"
She raised her wooden sword.
"…then train."
Ren smirked.
"…yes, sensei."
Training Together
This time—
It was different.
Not a class.
Not instruction.
Just the two of them.
Kuina attacked first.
Fast.
Sharp.
Ren barely reacted in time.
Clack!
The impact sent pain shooting through his arms.
"…too slow," she said.
"…working on it," he replied.
Again.
And again.
And again.
But unlike before—
Kuina adjusted.
Slightly.
Not going easy.
But not overwhelming him completely either.
Ren noticed.
She's… helping me improve.
Not openly.
Not directly.
But in her own way.
Their movements synced slowly.
Awkward at first.
Then smoother.
Then—
For a brief moment—
Perfect.
Clack.
Their swords locked.
They stood close.
Too close.
Kuina's eyes met his.
And again—
That feeling.
Cold.
Faint.
But unmistakable.
"…there it is again," she murmured.
Ren froze.
"…what?"
"…that weird presence."
His grip tightened slightly.
"…you can feel it?"
She nodded slowly.
"…it's faint… but it's there."
Ren hesitated.
Then—
"…I don't fully understand it yet."
Kuina didn't press further.
But her gaze lingered.
"…just don't let it make you weaker."
Ren blinked.
"…that's your concern?"
"Hm."
She pushed his sword away.
"If it's power—then control it."
Simple.
Direct.
Very Kuina.
Ren smiled slightly.
"…I'll try."
The Price of Power
Training ended as the sun began to set.
Ren stepped outside, breathing heavily.
His body felt worse than ever.
But that wasn't what bothered him.
"…it's spreading…"
He looked at his hand.
That cold sensation—
It was stronger now.
More active.
Like it had been stirred awake.
His heartbeat felt… off.
Slower.
Heavier.
Then—
A sudden wave of dizziness hit him.
"…!"
His vision blurred.
His knees buckled.
He collapsed to the ground.
"Ren!"
Kuina's voice reached him faintly.
Footsteps.
Close.
"…what's wrong with you?"
Ren tried to respond.
But his voice wouldn't come out.
His body felt—
Cold.
Too cold.
Like something inside him was being drained.
Or… taken.
Then—
As suddenly as it came—
It stopped.
Ren gasped, pulling in air sharply.
"…hah… hah…"
Kuina knelt beside him, frowning.
"…what was that?"
Ren shook his head weakly.
"…I don't know…"
But deep down—
He did.
Using that power…
It costs something.
And whatever that cost was—
It wasn't small.
A Dangerous Path
That night, Ren lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
His body still felt cold.
"…so that's the price…"
Power.
But with a cost.
Unclear.
Unpredictable.
Dangerous.
He clenched his fist weakly.
"…then I just have to get stronger…"
Not just physically.
But mentally.
Emotionally.
Completely.
Because if he couldn't control it—
He wouldn't just fail.
He'd lose everything.
His eyes slowly closed.
Kuina…
Zoro…
A future I want to protect…
A faint shadow flickered beneath him.
"…I won't lose to this power."