........
Rei laid on the sand with his arms and legs opened wide, he couldn't careless about the heavy storm around and the sand which sticked to his overflowing hair.
his arms were numb and his legs turns to jelly right after the exhaustion trounced upon him, how could he not? the distance he just covered were almost 80nmi/150km give or take while maintaining his full speed.
if not for his superior physical ability and huge amount of chakra reserves, there was no doubt both of them needed to swim in order to arrive. Rei currently doesn't feels like moving at the moment, he let the rain water and wind fell on him and yet,
"lets goo..! lets go to my house! the storm getting bigger here!" yelled the little girl as she tried to pull Rei's sleeve.
after several pulls, Rei finaly stood up. the girl was right, there was no way he could get good rest in this situation, so he followed her streading the shore and entered the woods.
'ZAAAAAAASH.....'
'WHUUUUUUUUUU.....'
'RRUMMMBBBLEEEE....!'
the storm were still ongoing, Rei grabbed her tiny hand tightly as to not let her tiny body blown by the wind, the sun already set a few hours ago however Rei could see rather clearly in this kind of dark environment, as for the girl? she seems familiar with the route and sometimes stumbled here and there upon contact with tree roots.
after some twist and turns, Rei could barely make out the lights coming from several houses behind the tree line, both of them picking up the pace and finaly stepping out of the woods.
the little girl ran and Rei followed, after passing several houses, the girl stopped at the inconspicuos small house right at the hillside quite far from other houses, the girl opened the house's door and jumped inside. she yelled,
"GRANDPAAA! I'M BAAACK!"
there were suddenly noises coming from inside part of the house, it looks like someone was frantically running over several items and made a mess out of it.
"APIIIIS....!!!" shouted an old man whom coming from inside, the bearded old man dragged his feet forcefully which seemingly not working properly due to his old age.
the little girl whose name was Apis ran towards him while shedding tears.
"GRANDPA! I MISSED YOU! WAAAH! SOB* SOB*..." Apis jumped straight towards the old man embrace and began to wailled loudly.
the old man was also seen shedding some tears while holding her grand daughter tightly, as if it was all an illusion.
Rei which drenched like a helpless rat could only stay outside of the house tried to befriend the storm, he shook his head while waiting, its rude to just barged in to someone else house, as gentleman he still has some etiquette.
after Rei counting how many times lightning struck all around him, the old man finaly noticed someone standing at his front door drenched like a rat.
the old man gestured Apis to stay behind him and yelled,
"WHO ARE YOU?! WHAT DO YOU WANT HERE?!"
hearing his grandfather voice, Apis finaly remembered about Rei, which still stood outside in the middle of storm.
"grandpa! quick let him in! he is the one who saved me!" Apis ran outside and pulled Rei's sleeve so as to welcome him inside.
seeing Apis reaction, the oldman finaly lowered his suspicion, however when he clearly make out Rei peculiar appearance, he couldn't help but paused slightly, he said to Apis after he closed the door.
"Apis, go wash up! you'll get cold at this rate."
Apis nodded and skipping inside one of the room.
after making sure Apis heeds his word, the oldman turned his attention back towards Rei with questioning gaze,
"...and you?"
Rei answered simply while he squished his white hakama dry, "my name is Rei, old man..."
"Rei? my name is Bokuden, i'm Apis grandfather, would you please tell me what happened? Apis was gone since 2 days ago, i was so worried about her." there was a sadness tone coming from his old voice, as he recalled going here and there looking for her missing grand daughter, god knows how desperate him at those moment.
seeing how drenched Rei realy was, Bokuden sighed and took a towel from another room, he gave the towel and gestured towards Rei to came closer towards the burning stove in one corner of the room.
'CRAAAACK....!'
'RRRUMMMBBLLEEEE....!'
the storm still raging outside, seeing the storm wouldn't subside soon, Rei could only chose to stay. Rei sighed and came closer, Bokuden gave a stool for him to sit down which Rei gave his thanks.
after Rei wiped his upper body with the towel, he put his white hakama close to the burning stove. then he noticed Bokuden gave him a bowl of piping hot soup, he smiled and took the bowl from Bokuden's hand with thanks.
Bokuden still feels giddy with Rei appearance, tall man with white skin, white long-waist hair, and beautiful silvery eyes of him. and yet what his attention focused the most was two small horns protruding out of his forehead. those horns seems awaken Bokuden memories of something from the past.
after a brief of silence, Rei opened his mouth to tell Bokuden about what had happened, it wasn't quite detailed, yet Bokuden could get the gists out of it.
words couldn't help Bokuden gratitudes towards Rei. while hearing Rei's stories, he continously bowed and said his thanks which Rei calmly accepted several times until Rei felt it was too much and began to stop him from bowing any further.
in the middle of Rei's storytelling, Apis came out feeling refreshed after taking a bath and changing her tattered clothes, Bokuden also gave her a bowl with hot soup. seeing Apis eating besides him, Bokuden couldn't help but wiped away his tears of gratitude once more, he stroke Apis head gently full of love.
"...well, thats all about it old man..." Rei finished his stories and took a sip of warm water.
Bokuden noded whIle stroking Apis head lovingly on his lap, the little girl was so exhausted after a day long journey, god knows how could a little girl like her experienced something outside of her age.
after finishing her soup, Apis finaly couldn't held on any longer and fell asleep on Bokuden's lap.
"Rei, was it? i realy thank you from the bottom of my heart once again, i know i can't repay what you had done to my little Apis, but please accept my deepest gratitude!" said Bokuden and bowing his head once more.
Rei was too tired to stoped him from bowing again, and he finaly asked,
"after hearing my story, do you have any idea why the marines wants to capture Apis?"
Bokuden sighed as he slumped back, after a few moments he shook his head slightly,
"i don't know exactly, but maybe its related to the legend known in this water..." said Bokuden.
Rei was in fact knew about the stories, right now he was inside the little girl and the old dragon arc from OnePiece filler episodes, he just asked because of curiousity and feeling excited to follow through such story by himself in flesh.
Rei pricked his ears and asked,
"legend? legend about dragon?"
Bokuden didn't answers him immediately, he carried Apis inside the bedroom and laid her there while covering her with blanket, when he returned he began to tell Rei a story.
the legend said about thousand years dragon nesting place, he went on about the 'Lost Island' and how it birthed the legend about 'Elixir of Immortality',
at first Rei attention was captured by the fascinating story Bokuden had told, how the Dragon would returns once in thousand years for nesting, and how the 'Lost Island' would showed up within those time and so on.
however Rei soon began to feel light headed as Bokuden suddenly change the topic to the story about the people once living on Lost Island, from the first king and goes on and on and on, until Bokuden himself fell asleep defeated by his own boring story.
Rei was speechless as he saw the old man slumped back on his chair while snoring hard.
noticing a blanket besides Bokuden chair, Rei stood up and took it, he then proceed to cover the old man with it.
Rei walked slowly towards the window, all he could see was the storm raging outside. after a few moments he sighed and sat on the floor with wall behind him, he rested his head on the wall seeing the burning stove fire dancing beautifully.
Rei silvery eyes captured the fire dancing about, only the storm sounds could be heard inside the house accompanying him as he lost himself in reverie.
slowly Rei felt his eyelids getting heavier and heavier until finaly he finished his day-long journey by falling asleep in peace.
〜〜〜〜〜
morning...
the storm finaly passed and morning dew could be seen shining on the leaves outside, several birds singing happily welcoming the day.
Rei open his eyes slowly awoken from his slumber, a blanket fell down from his body making a little smile appeared on his fair face.
'tap, tap, tap, tap....'
Rei heard a small footsteps coming closer, he stood up slowly as he noticed a unique smell of food coming from the table, he saw Apis was busy preparing meals.
Apis noticed Rei had awoken from the corner of her eyes, she smiled towards the now stretching Rei and said,
"you're awake? there's grandpa clothes on the table, you can wash up in the back!"
Rei noticed his body which currently bare chested, his fine muscles sculpted nicely making him looks lean when he had clothes on, rested on the table he saw a unique turqoise colored long dress and cream loose pants, the style was similiar to the one Bokuden used yesterday.
"why you just standing still? hurry change your clothes, i already washed your clothes this morning, all thats left is your pants and that belt?" said Apis feeling unsure, she asked about the big purple rope belt which Rei currently use.
"ah this? yes, this is belt..." answered Rei pointing towards his rope belt,
"how weird, anyway hurry wash up! after that lets eat."
Apis turned around to take out more food from the kitchen leaving the smiling Rei behind. Rei shook his head, he took the set of clothes and headed outside, at the outside he took morning breath deeply first, right after he headed towards the back of the house.
in a few steps, Rei found a well there, and began to washed his body clean using the water from the well. after he had done, he found a small room intended to changing clothes besides the well.
.......
2 of 2 bonus chapter
........
Half an hour later...
Seeing Rei returned from the well outside and looks all refreshed. Apis couldn't help but to take a second look at him, yet it doesn't take long as Apis pouted slightly and scolded Rei because he took a long time for washing up.
Looking at how Apis behave, Rei finaly noticed how strong Apis mentality realy are. If its another children experienced something like yesterday, there was no doubts they would fell ill right now.
However, Apis seems like doing just fine. Her colorful expressions creating a funny scene in the morning.
Bokuden was nowhere to be seen, when Rei asked about him, Apis shrugged her tiny shoulders and said don't worry about him.
Apis dragged a stool towards the dining table and gestured Rei to sat on it while she herself sitting besides him.
Apis then took several food and put it on Rei's plate, the food actually looks alright at the first glance. However Rei was curious, the anime mentioned how Apis food tasted so bad, making the Strawhats but Luffy traumatized because of it.
Seeing Apis took the food for herself in cheerful manner, Rei realy didn't want to let her down by refusing her meal.
"Please eat! You must be starving!" Exclaimed the little girl with gleaming eyes.
Rei sighed a little, he took a spoon and scoop some food from his plate,
'nom*...'
The first thing Rei tasted was sweet! It was so sweet that the bacteria inside Rei's mouth were dancing in fervor!
'nom*...'
When Rei chewed for the second time, the taste suddenly change! It become spicy! so spicy that Rei felt he brought an atomic bomb on his butt!
The food was so bizzare its funny, Rei only chewed the same spoonful of food and yet the taste could change randomly! Until Rei finaly swallowed the food with difficulty. He noticed Apis expressions were so bright it almost blinded him.
"How is it? How is it? Its taste good right?!" Asked the little girl feeling hopeful.
'Oh my god! She could become magician with her meal!' Rei thought wryly.
His heart screamed at him at the moment, telling him to stop eating and leave! However seeing her bright expressions Rei couldn't mustered up his courage.
"its not bad...." he said trying to hide his pain. Apis smile grew even larger as she ate her portions with little hum.
Resigned to his fate, Rei began to eat quickly! when Apis began to eat as well, Rei wondered why her face didn't change ever so slightly? Rei began to wonder if its only his tongue that didn't worked well?
both of them finished their meal as quick as possible, Apis was starving so she enjoyed her meal greatly, as for Rei? he must finished the food quickly as to not let his tongue to taste anything! which obviously failed greatly.
Rei tasted all kind of possible combination of how meal could possibly taste! sweet, sour, salty, spicy so on and so on.
"uwaah! i'm full! hiccup*." said Apis feeling satisfied, she stroke her bulging little tummy and slumped back on her chair.
she fail to noticed that Rei had already drank 8 cups of water to washed away his palate!
Apis turned her attention towards Rei, and asked cheerfully,
"how was it? my food tastes awesome right? tehehe..."
finishing his water Rei coughed back,
"cough*, it was not bad..." contrary to his screaming thought.
"tehehe, i like cooking you know? i'll make more in the future okay!"
trying to change the topic, Rei asked another question,
"i think we haven't officially know each other?"
Apis goggled as she realized that, she stood up in hurry and bowed towards Rei gratefuly,
"about yesterday, thank you very much! my name is Apis!" she grinned toward Rei showing her pearly white teeth.
amused by her act, Rei said gently,
"i'm Rei, nice to meet you Apis."
both of them giggled for a while, and finaly Rei asked about the serious topic,
"so, you know about dragon nest Apis?"
Apis could be seen jolted slightly, and answered giddily,
"what? what dragon nest? i don't know something like that? i'm only little girl you know, how can i know something like that?"
her eyes began to wondered around while she tried to whistle without producing any sound, which obviously so fake in Rei's eyes, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry seeing her fidgetting like this.
"then? why the marines captured you yesterday?"
"uhm, uhm, i don't know?" Apis fidgetting around while twirling her thumb.
"is that soo~...? i heard that weirdo with purple hair called you 'Dragon girl' you know, hmm?" Rei squinted his eyes slowly.
'Daaaaash...!'
suddenly Apis ran away outside leaving the stupefied Rei, however she didn't forget to reminds him.
"BAD REI! I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING! ah! please clean up the table for me!"
seeing her silhouette getting smaller and smaller, Rei shook his head while smiling helplessly, then he proceed to clean up the cuttleries and used plates from the table.
〜〜〜〜〜
at midday Bokuden returns with Apis in tow, Apis still felt quite awkward around Rei after this morning, Rei didn't mind her as he finished washing up his clothes.
seeing Apis handiwork, Rei could only shook his head, his white hakama was indeed had been washed by Apis, yet obviously she couldn't completely removed the dirt stain on it.
seeing his white clothes which now has turned to brown, Rei began to wonder if the system stuff were not so omnipotent after all?
no automatic cleaning, no dirt free clothes. what the heck?
Rei jolted awake from his thought when Bokuden approached with his walking cane,
"Rei." greeted the old man, he leaned to his cane slightly.
Rei was still squating besides the well when he answered his greeting,
"yes? anything i can help you with Bokuden?"
"i wonder if you want to try my special pork bun?"
hearing his offer out of nowhere, Rei stood up and tilts his head,
"pork bun? for lunch?"
Bokuden noded and he added, "how is it?"
Rei nodded back, "sure..."
Bokuden smiled lightly, then he returns inside.
Rei then proceed to dry his hakama, pants and rope belt under the sun. after finished with it he proceed to take a look at the surrounding village, seeing how the villagers seems avoids him, Rei didn't mind about it at all, occasionally several children would come close to him only to giggle and run away.
he had great understanding of the village which Apis lived in after traveling for a while, he only returns after the sun begun to set.
when Rei steped inside the house, he witnessed Apis slumped on the table while pouting, Rei couldn't resist to pinch her cheek gently.
"Hyaaa!" surprised by Rei action, she glared at Rei
"why are you lazying around like this? hmm?"
Rei pulled a stool for him to sit on while he asked.
"i'm hungry! did you just agreed to grandpa pork bun?" replied Apis squinted her eyes.
"yes, why?"
Apis throw her face away in opposite direction and harrumphed, " no wonder..."
Rei kept his smile waiting for her to continue,
"...you must not agreed to it! grandpa pork buns wasting 5 hours to make!"
Apis then faced Rei back, while she keep talking,
"....because of it, i can't cook you know! hmph!"
Rei could felt cold sweat trickling down on his back, he thought back about the 'wonder dish' Apis made this morning, seems like she couldn't cook because Bokuden was still using the kitchen until now.
secretly letting sigh of relief, Rei giggled slightly which was not quite appreciated by Apis in the slightest bit, both of them began to fooling around and teasing each other, until finaly Bokuden came out from the kitchen bringing his special pork bun.
that evening, the trio ate the pork buns with relish, Bokuden's pork bun was surprisingly tasty, and Rei ate a lot of it which gave Bokuden a hearthy laugh.
〜〜〜〜〜
at night...
Rei was outside leaning against the wooden fence, his eyes lost its focus at the beautiful clear stary sky, he lost in his own reverie accompanied by gentle night wind.
just a few moments later, Rei awaken from his reverie after he noticed someone steped outside the house's back door, feeling curious Rei followed the suspicious voice from the house's back garden, only to see a small silhouette dragging a big sack with the smell of pork buns which he ate earlier, she seems wanted to went towards somewhere.
'Apis..?' he thought simply, who else in this house that has small figure other than her?
seeing Apis went further and further away towards the hillside, Rei followed silently in the middle of the night.
Apis dragged the big sack and went around the woods, climbing a cliff and sometimes stopped to adjust her breath, often times she would jolted in surprise when hearing something from somewhere.
with great interest, Rei followed the hard working Apis. until finaly they reached the other side of the Warship Island, Apis tried to picked up the pace after she saw a huge cave right above the cliffside, she went to the cliff's only footpath with her big sack and went inside the dark cave.
when Rei followed inside the cave, he could hear Apis voice murmured about something not far from the entrance, he walk ever so silently until finaly he witnessed something amazing!
Rei could see Apis talking with great interests towards the mythical creature only found in legend, a dragon! a full fledged adult dragon!
thanks to his superior vision, Rei could barely make out the shape of the dragon, it has humongous grey body with green feather covered his back and wings.
.......
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