Chapter 11: Chapter – 11 Luffy, Makino, Uta, & Akagami no Shanks
The atmosphere at the Party's Bar was lively, filled with the joyful chatter of patrons and the clinking of glasses. Amidst the bustling crowd, Ryuma found himself seated on a barstool, seeking solace from the commotion. He tried his best to ignore a persistent child jumping around him, begging for a playmate.
Beside Ryuma, perched on the counter, Rio contentedly munched on a spicy chili, relishing its fiery flavor. The blue parrot's vibrant feathers shimmered under the soft glow of the bar's dim lighting, his beak occasionally emitting a playful squawk.
"Hey… hey… Ryuma… wanna play?" the child asked with bright eyes and an infectious smile.
Resisting the aura that drew him toward the child, Ryuma said, "Not now, Luffy, I am hungry… I will think about playing with you later."
Yup, this child is none other than Monkey D. Luffy, he is currently six years old and is in search of a playmate.
"Boo… play with me now…" said Luffy with his cheeks puffed up.
"Not now…" Ryuma shook his head, and to distract Luffy from pestering him further, he asked another question, "Anyway… what's with that bump on your head?"
"Ah… this… Grandpa beat me yesterday… he is so scary…" said Luffy as he shivered remembering the pain from his grandpa's fist of Love.
"Oh? And why did he beat you up?" muttered Ryuma a little surprised. Shanks has yet to arrive in Foosha Village, so Luffy hasn't been influenced by him into wanting to become the King of the Pirates, so Ryuma was a little surprised that Garp still beat Luffy in this manner.
Luffy folded his hands over his chest, and spoke with a frustrated expression, as he spoke, "Grandpa wants me to be a Marine, but I don't want to become a Marine…"
"Oh, and you went ahead and said that to his face?" asked Ryuma with a chuckle as he imagined Garp's frustrated expression when he heard Luffy say that he doesn't want to be a Marine.
"Yup… sure did… Shishishishi," Nodded Luffy with his iconic laugh, and added, "I am going to go out of this village, and do something big… I am going to live my life freely!"
"Sure, you will," nodded Ryuma as he ruffled Luffy's hair, not denying his words.
Having spent the past few days getting along with Luffy, Ryuma knew that it wasn't just Shanks' influence that Luffy turned to piracy, even if Shanks never influenced Luffy, he wouldn't have become a marine and would have chosen some other path (maybe Revolutionary?) perhaps he subconsciously understands Marine is too bound, and not a place where he would fit well.
This conversation distracted Luffy long enough to continue to pester him, and just as Ryuma was beginning to find a moment of respite, Makino–the warm-hearted proprietor of the tavern–emerged from the kitchen with a few steaming dishes in her hands.
With a gentle smile, she placed the plates in front of Ryuma and Luffy, ensuring they had a scrumptious meal to savor. Not forgetting Rio, she had prepared a special treat for him as well, making sure to cater to his avian palate, "Here you go…"
"Thanks, Makino," spoke Ryuma as he looked at the savory meal before him.
"Fhankkks Mahino," said Luffy while chewing on the meat. Just as the plate was kept before him, Luffy had already dug in.
"Thanks, Makino," said Rio, as he too began to eat the dish Makino specially prepared for him.
As the trio dug into their respective meals, the tantalizing aromas filled the air, mingling with the cheerful ambiance of the bar.
Makino watched the scene unfold with a serene smile; her eyes filled with affection for the young ones she considered part of her extended family.
After finishing all the meat on his plate, Luffy–with saliva dripping from his mouth looked at all the meat on Ryuma's plate–he grinned mischievously and couldn't resist the temptation to swipe a morsel from Ryuma's plate.
With lightning reflexes, Ryuma swatted Luffy's hand away, protecting his food from being eaten by Luffy, "Eat your own."
Seeing that his attempt failed, Luffy pouted, "Cheapskate!"
Makino smiled, "I will bring more for the two of you."
"Thanks, Makino," Luffy's eyes immediately brightened.
The two continued to eat as Makino provided them with more and more food. Only after their stomach had expanded did the two stop, "Ahh… that was so satisfying."
"Makino, you make the best food on the entire Dawn Island!" said Ryuma, appreciating her cooking. He has tasted at a variety of restaurants in the capital of the Kingdom of Goa, but none of that compares to the food Makino makes. Her cooking is amazing… perhaps it's because she uses love and care as ingredients, that's why her cooking tastes so good.
Makino smiled happily, "Thanks Ryuma," She was glad that the two kids liked her cooking.
Having settled their bill, Ryuma and Rio bid farewell to Party's Bar. Luffy, with no money to offer, promised Makino that he would repay her in the future, to which she merely smiled and nodded, "Okay."
To Makino, the monetary aspect held little importance. She relished preparing meals for the two, finding fulfillment in their happiness and appreciation for her cooking. Their beaming faces as they enjoyed her dishes served as the most gratifying form of payment she could ever receive.
..
On a small grassy cliff nestled amidst the undulating hills, Ryuma lay in peaceful repose on the verdant carpet of grass. A wide-brimmed hat shielded his face from the sun's rays, casting a gentle shadow over his closed eyes. By his side, Rio mirrored his state of slumber, finding a comfortable spot nestled within the foliage of a nearby tree branch.
The melodious symphony of chirping birds and the distant hum of nature's chorus created a lullaby that lulled them into a state of blissful slumber.
Luffy, however, gazed upon the two figures with a dissatisfied expression. "Hey, Ryuma... you said you would play with me!" he exclaimed.
Ryuma responded, his voice calm and unperturbed. "I did say I would play with you later, but I didn't specify when exactly." He added, "Come, lie down here and rest. The weather is splendid, and you'll have a peaceful sleep."
"But it's boring!" Luffy grumbled, his lips forming a pout. He continued, "You can sleep later. Let's play now!" He had no interest in doing something so unexciting.
Ryuma shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm in the mood for some rest after enjoying a good meal. We can play tag later in the evening."
"Muuu!" Luffy fumed, stomping his foot in frustration. He turned around, ready to storm off. However, as he pivoted, his attention was captured by a nearby tree. His mischievous grin returned as he climbed the tree and plucked a flower seed the size of a lemon. With mischief gleaming in his eyes, he took aim at the dozing Ryuma, sprawled on the grass a short distance away.
Just as Luffy was about to let loose, he paused, his gaze drawn to the horizon. There, a ship with a black flag caught his eye.
Ever since the Great Age of Pirates began, even newborn babies had become aware of the significance of the black flag. Hence, it came as no surprise that Luffy's eyes widened, and he exclaimed, "Is that a Pirate Ship?!"
Simultaneously, Ryuma opened his eyes and rose to his feet, wearing a grin of anticipation. His gaze fixed upon the horizon; his attention captured by the Jolly Roger flying on the pirate ship.
The Jolly Roger depicted a realistic-looking skull with its jaws agape, framed by a pair of crossed sabers. Two red stripes with black outlines crossed diagonally across the skull's left eye socket. The moment Ryuma laid eyes on that emblem, he realized the identity of the approaching vessel. They were not just any pirate crew; they were the infamous "Red Hair Pirates!"
…
Port of Foosha Village
As the pirate ship of the Red Hair Pirates was docking at the port of Foosha Village, the nearby villagers and fishermen looked on cautiously at the pirate ship. They were apprehensive about the pirates' intentions. There were very few pirate crews that refrained from plundering and pillaging wherever they went. Therefore, they were concerned that these pirates might pose a threat to Foosha Village.
Luffy shared the same worries, and despite feeling a bit afraid and perspiring with fear, he mustered the courage to step forward and inquire, "Are you guys pirates?"
The one who responded to Luffy was a young girl with a striking mane of white and red hair, equally divided down the middle of her scalp. She regarded Luffy with surprise before grinning mischievously and stating, "That's correct, we are pirates. Do you have a problem with that?" She made no attempt to hide her intent to provoke the kid. Nonchalantly, she seated herself on the deck of the pirate ship and added, "If you do, feel free to speak up... I am Captain Shanks' daughter, Uta."
Covered in sweat, Luffy clenched his fist and shouted back at her, "If you're pirates, then go away!"
Uta appeared dissatisfied with Luffy's response and retorted, "Or what? Are you going to fight us?"
As the two youngsters locked eyes in a tense standoff, a more mature voice interrupted from the ship's deck, commanding, "Stop it, Uta." He continued, "We're not here for a fight."
The voice belonged to a red-haired man donning an iconic straw hat. He gazed at Luffy and spoke with a smile, "I didn't know there was a tough sheriff in this village."
Luffy inquired, still scrutinizing the red-haired man, "Who are you?"
"I am Shanks, the captain of this ship!" he replied jovially.
Once again, Luffy raised his fist and issued a warning, "If you cause trouble, I'll make you pay for it!"
Uta huffed disdainfully in response.
Shanks chuckled heartily, "Haha."
At that moment, Ryuma arrived at the port and walked alongside Luffy as he directed his gaze toward Shanks.
Of course, Ryuma's arrival didn't go unnoticed by the Red Hair Pirates. Shanks and Uta regarded him intently as Ryuma returned their gaze and introduced himself, "I am Ryuma... and this is my partner Rio... Nice to meet you, Red Hair Shanks... Although I am curious why a pirate of your caliber would visit a backwater village like this."
"We are here to replenish our supplies, and we plan to use this village as our temporary base," answered Shanks. He then added with a friendly smile, "Rest assured, we have no intentions of causing harm to the people of Foosha Village."
Ryuma nodded approvingly, a smile gracing his face. "I see. In that case, welcome to Foosha Village," he greeted. He concluded, "We will be crossing paths often."
"That we will," nodded Shanks as he took a deep look at Ryuma.
With just one look, Shanks could sense that the other was not ordinary.
Simultaneously, Ryuma could discern the terrifying strength possessed by Shanks, although not on par with Marine Hero Garp. Shanks, in his own right, is a monster whom he stood no chance of defeating with his current strength.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone