Chapter 10: Unsaid Feelings
Ragnar, Yamato, and the Boa sisters traveled to the port.
"So, how are we going to find a way?" Yamato asked, crossing her arms.
"We already got one following us. Can you stop this bullshit?" Ragnar said, looking annoyed.
Just then, Shakky walked out as if she knew nothing. "Ara, we meet again. What a coincidence."
Ragnar took a deep breath. "Tell me, can you contact Kuja and tell them Hancock and her sisters are here?"
Shakky smiled. "My! Of course I can." She looked at the Boa sisters.
"Don't worry, she is the former empress of Kuja," Ragnar said, pointing at Shakky.
Sonia and Mari blinked. "How is that possible?"
"Yeah, the former empress died from lovesickness."
"They said that and you accepted it? Believe it or not, this woman was formerly the Empress of Kuja."
"She isn't as beautiful as they say," Sonia and Mari said, looking at Shakky.
Her mouth twitched. "What do you mean, you brats?"
Ragnar nodded. "Well, you are right. It's just that in her era there weren't many beautiful women, so she was called the most beautiful."
Ragnar pulled Yamato closer, rubbing his cheek against hers. "My cute sister will be more beautiful than her."
Yamato raised her chin in pride.
Ragnar pointed at Hancock. "And of course, Hancock will also be more beautiful than this old woman."
Hancock blushed. "Oi, brat, who are you calling an old woman? And you've got quite the confidence in your little girls."
Yamato put her hands on her hips. "Tsk, what would an old woman know? It's always the younger generation that surpasses the old."
Her Conqueror's Haki flared for an instant.
Shakky froze in disbelief.
Yamato smirked. "What, don't have it? Too bad someone wasn't born with the qualifications of a queen."
Shakky had no comeback. Yeah, she wasn't born with the qualifications of a king.
"So what? Having Conqueror's doesn't mean you can become stronger—"
Shakky jumped back as ice spikes pierced where she had been standing a moment ago. She turned toward Yamato.
"Monster."
That was Shakky's evaluation of Ragnar and Yamato. Both brats, barely nine, with Oni bloodline, Mythical Zoan, and Conqueror's Haki. A chill ran down her spine.
The government doesn't have a damn clue monsters are growing in the Beast Pirates.
"Well, anyways, please contact Kuja. We need to go back to Wano too," Ragnar said as he tossed a bag of money. "Your fees."
Shakky caught it and took out a Den Den Mushi.
"Pare pare pare pare…"
"Katcha."
"What is it?" a tired female voice came.
"Yo, Toritoma, you sound tired," Shakky said.
"Don't ask me. We were engaged in a fight a few days ago when three girls on our ship were captured."
"Well, I also happened to find three beautiful sisters here," Shakky said, grinning.
"..."
The line went silent.
"You #£#, why didn't you say so sooner? How are they?" Toritoma was barely suppressing her rage.
"Well, they are fine. Come to my bar and take them. Till then, I will take care of them."
Toritoma agreed and hung up the call.
"We are finally going back home!" Sonia and Mari bounced in excitement.
Hancock was happy, but a strange feeling kept creeping into her chest.
What's happening to me? she thought, confused.
"Well then, they are in your care. Don't miss us too much, girls," Ragnar said, waving.
Yamato also waved. "Let's meet on the sea one day!"
Sonia and Mari stuck their tongues out at Ragnar. "We aren't going to miss you."
Then they hugged Yamato. "But we will miss Yamato oniisan."
Ragnar pulled Yamato by her collar and hugged her. "Oi, stay away from my Yamato."
Yamato burst out laughing.
Just then, mist started gathering around them.
"Ara, not even saying goodbye to me?" Shakky asked, smiling.
Ragnar shot her a glare. "Stay away from Yamato."
Shakky smiled as the mist turned blinding.
Ragnar jumped into the sky as he transformed into Rayquaza.
"Well, see you soon, guys!" Yamato shouted as she jumped onto Ragnar's head.
As both flew into the sky—
"Bye-bye!" Sonia and Mari waved.
Hancock looked dazed at the sky as the mist started to clear.
Why didn't he say goodbye to me?
She felt annoyed… and sad?
She pouted and followed Shakky toward Grove 13 with her sisters.
---
In the sky, Yamato looked at Ragnar.
"Why didn't you say goodbye to her?"
"Well, there was no reason to. We will be meeting soon anyway," Ragnar said, smiling.
"So, what next?"
Ragnar thought for a moment. "Now we focus on Wano's development. Since we are out, let's bring some more people to join Wano."
Yamato tilted her head. "Like who?"
Ragnar smiled. "The little fairies—the Tontatta tribe."
"They exist? Let's go! I wanna see them!"
"Aye aye, Captain!" Ragnar shouted as both laughed, flying in the star-filled night sky.
---
On a ship sailing to Wano, Hiyori practiced her swordsmanship under the moonlight. Sweat dropped down her forehead.
After completing 2,000 swings, she stopped.
Her eyes turned toward the towering walls and the fountain with massive carps swimming upwards.
The view in the moonlight was breathtaking.
Hiyori smiled as she walked to her room to freshen up.
"Ulti, Page One, we are here. Wake up!" Hiyori shouted.
"Umm, let me sleep," Ulti complained.
Hiyori could only sigh. "You two, we are in Wano. Wake up, or I will leave you behind and go alone."
Ulti and Page One woke up and followed her to Onigashima.
Their eyes lit up seeing the massive skull-shaped island.
Soon, they arrived in a room.
On a throne sat Kaido, drinking. The aura radiating from him made Ulti and Page One shudder.
Hiyori stayed calm.
She still hated Kaido.
"Wororororo, so the brats are here," Kaido said, looking at Ulti and Page One. "So you are the brats of Hanafuda?"
Ulti walked forward, puffing her chest. "Of course. I'm Ulti, and this one is Pay-Pay."
"Worororo, a gutsy one."
Kaido immediately liked Ulti—brave, spirited, and fearless. She was definitely going to be powerful in the future.
His eyes shifted to Hiyori.
Hiyori silently watched Kaido.
"Worororo, well, your first mission was successful," he said, not caring about her hateful glare. "But where are Ragnar and Yamato?"
"On Sabaody Archipelago," Hiyori replied.
She turned toward the entrance and walked to the training ground.
Kaido looked at her back and ignored it, continuing to drink.
As long as she worked for the Beast Pirates or Ragnar, Kaido didn't care about her hate.
If she became strong enough to take revenge, then that was his fault for being weak.