The East Blue, considered peaceful by many, still had troubled waters.
In a particular strait, a full storm churned with lightning cracking and flashing across the skies. Heavy rain fell, beating across the wide ocean and wind ferocious enough to send buildings flying in a flat plain.
Waves that ordinarily wouldn’t be higher than the knees, were now taller than large ships used for heavy cargo carrying. It’ll been suicidal as any ship that lacked the stomach, built or skill would’ve been swallowed into depths of the ocean.
Yet, almost against all logic, one ship that bore the Marines's flag, sailed across the waves. Skirting the lines as it moved unerringly.
“Keep the sails open or it’ll be the lockers for you all!”
Multiple men's muscles strained with seawater splashing them and soaked them to the bones. Yet not one person even balked away, feet planted and held firm as ropes pulled taut by the gales.
One stood out as the youngest among the crew, kept hold of one rope on his own while others took four to five. Freeing them up to other posts as they continued the grueling task before adjusting the sails again.
Haku blinked rapidly as more water poured down, both sea and rainwater, as it stung his eyes. The environment proved to be more of a challenge than any fight he had in the East Blue so far.
Or perhaps, it was far more accurate to say this is familiar to him. After all, this was the norm in the Devil Seas.
Still, he can feel the indignant burn continue within him. They had finally found some pirates and made good progress in taking them in until the storm brewed over them with the wind buoying the pirate's vessel forward.
Logic dictate the chase was over, as the pirates had them stuck in a dilemma. Either sink or slow down. By the time the storm is done, it was a clear getaway for the pirates with them disappearing across the seas.
But for Kirin, it’s crew, and captain, Cadog, this was unacceptable.
Hence, they’re battling through the weather in pursuit of their prey. Maintaining the gap as they’ll still be a day behind instead of a few days.
Still. Haku look onwards at the storm, wondering how on earth is Cadog able to keep the chase up. If he wasn’t familiar with the captain, most would've assumed that the man was insane to continue the pursuit in such a storm.
From the decks, Cadog watchful eye looked onwards without any worry despite the raging storm.
“Our target is bearing to port, 40 degrees.”
“Aye sir!” The helmsman next to him shouted in acknowledgment as he made a minor adjustment to the steering and threaded through two waves.
Haku eyes blinked for a moment before his eyes widened, followed by the crew as their ship tilted upwards from a gentle slope to steeper angle. He glanced to the sides to see the fading waves and confirmed his suspicion.
From a bird’s eye, the Kirin rode upon the back of a gigantic wave that churned underneath and sent them upwards.
“Get your feet planted, you sea dogs!” Cadog hollered past the wind, storm and echoing thunder. Beating it from sheer volume as the entire crew braced themselves.
Then lightning flashed and illuminated the skies, giving Haku a clear view of the oncoming drop. Perhaps it’s the shock, but he swore everything just got a lot more silent and there was a weird scent in the air.
As the Kirin teetered on the edge, their ship crossed it and into the empty air as they fell downwards like a rock. Haku felt a sense of vertigo in his stomach and a sensation of free falling before the Kirin hit the waters violently with a large splash and groaned across the seastone hull.
Seawater poured heavily as they swept across the deck, tackling everyone with the force of a river.
A moment of fear came as he turned around to Cadog, unnecessary but-
“Sound off and head count! Anyone overboard!?”
“One!”
“Two!”
And on it went as everyone quickly yelled their number, scanning for anyone that was missing.
“All accounted for!” The Firstmate roared after checking twice before he sniffed the air, took a look at their mast and paled considerably. “Fire on the crow’s nest!”
That snapped everyone's attention as they turned upwards, true enough, at the highest point of the ship and its mast was a blazing fire.
“Calm down, you blithering barnacles! It’s just lightning! Maintain positions!” Cadog slammed his foot down as the shock traveled throughout the ship. “Cabin boy, get up there with a bucket and put it out! Call up two guys from the hold to replace his place!”
Haku sprung into action as he unhook one of the buckets, and raised it onto an oncoming wave, before jumping upwards to climb onto the mast with one hand. Fuelled by adrenaline and fear as the cold air now felt like knives in his lungs. He was outright flinging before reaching the fire in record time.
Throwing it harder than necessary, he doused the flame but the damage remained. Parts of it was outright frayed into pieces and the crow’s nest was all but gone, remnants of cinders and parts burnt outright despite the rain as wind continued to feed life into it.
Letting himself fall freely, he quickly land on his feet and rushed to get more water as the crew worked to keep themselves on course.
The storm would continue for hours throughout the entire night.
—
Light slowly graced the horizon as the waters was much calmer across the ocean, the edges of the sun signaling the coming of a new day.
Cadog took a deep breath of the air, letting the salt taste hang in his mouth before lighting up his smoke pipe.
Half a day. That was how much of a distance between their quarry, and in this part of the sea, pickings was slim.
But the routes and places available to hide was wider. So casting a net to catch the fishes wouldn’t work.
No, they needed blood to draw the sharks in.
“You should rest, there’s still a long way before we see any action,” Cadog muttered as he ignored the quiet shuffling of feet.
“And so should you, captain,” Haku replied with a nod of his head, looking at the remaining skeleton crew.
The two maintained their silence, opting to just look at the sea.
Haku head turned upwards, the storm had cleared most of the clouds and gave a great view of the blue skies that stretched onward like the seas.
Idly, he wondered if there was a ship that can sail the skies just like how theirs sail the seas.
“The clear skies won’t last long, another storm be coming by noon.” Cadog let out of long puff of smoke, the cool air making it more prominent as it left a trail behind. “We’ll be needing to fix that soon.”
Eyes turned to the top, the burnt ends of the darkened and charred crow’s nest.
“Will we be heading to a marine’s base?”“Not in these waters, no,” Cadog waved his pipe towards the portside. “We’ll be there in a few hours, a quaint village Quiet, but enough for a temporary fix.”
“Understood, sir.”The two continued to stand in silence before Cadog clicked his tongue and shook his head in resignation. He gave a last scan around their surroundings and decided to finally retire to his quarters until they reached the island.
With that, Haku smiled and finally headed down for his own rest, his task done for the day.
Hours passed, and once Haku was finally refreshed, he stretched his back, gave a quick wipe for himself before moving upwards to the deck again.
This time, he was greeted by the sight of the oncoming Island. Already, the Firstmate and Helmsman was together discussing busily with half of the crew moving for preparations.
Moving into place, he busied himself by assisting the crew and his duties but his sharp ears caught the name of the Island.
He wondered if it’s because it makes certain noises due to the winds, therefore calling it Melody Islands, or maybe due to its inhabitants being great musicians?
With a little smile and pep in his steps, Haku wondered and let his imagination drift in between his work.
“Lower sails and ready anchor! We’re making land!”
“Aye sir!”
Ropes and gears whirred as the Kirin speed slowed and came closer to the port of Melody Island.
From afar, Haku could see people pointing and looking as they came closer to the docks.
The Kirin must’ve looked intimidating as it's equipped with more cannons, and a hull of seastones that was a luxury reserved only for the larger warships. It was not unusual since theirs was built to deal with threats on the Devil Seas, but by comparison to normal marines warships in the East Blue area, it looked overkill.
Haku genuinely wondered how much of it was due to Cadog submitting the maps that allowed them a chance to safely navigate a passage secretly into Wano without going through the lift.
Though granted, Haku eyes twinkled when he recalled the much larger Battleship commandeered only by Vice-admirals and above. One day, he wished to be able to sail the seas with such a majestic and awe-inspiring ship.
Well, a boy can dream.
No, he will make it so.
To bring peace, justice and stabilize the world.
While riding the best ship that can be afforded to them.
It’s like being a pirate, but reversed.
A splash of water and chains rattling, signalling that the anchor dropped broke Haku thoughts as he quickly went back to work and setting down the planks as it the docks.
Well, here he was.
Damycles
Eviledd1984
Noctis
Half Pint
Danyel
Master Crim
PaulHaynek