— You're a good guy, Bellamy, — Gaimon said, rising to his feet, his voice growing firmer. — I've lived on this island for twenty years... and even if there's no treasure here, I've learned that there are things far more valuable than gold. There are those worth protecting. These animals, this forest... — he glanced around. — This is my home. I'll stay. And I'll be its guardian.
I nodded, squeezing his shoulder.
— That's right. No point in moping, — I said with a grin.
— And don't you give up either, Bellamy, — he smiled faintly. — On the Grand Line, you're not heading into just a storm, but a storm of dreams. Only a heart stronger than steel can make it through to the end.
— My heart's a spring, — I smirked. — Bends, but never breaks.
We both laughed.
Just then, the others reached us. Sabo was the first to appear at the ledge, throwing down a rope, which Gin and Karina climbed up with practiced ease.
— So, what's up here? Find any treasure? — Karina asked, wiping sweat from her brow.
Guess they didn't like waiting below...
— We found something better, — I said, glancing at Gaimon.
— Ha! — Gin chuckled.
— Just hope we're not dragging another bearded box-man back to the ship.
Gaimon laughed heartily — loud, deep, and for the first time in what seemed like decades. His laughter echoed across the cliff like the island itself was laughing with him.
— Alright, time to head down, — I said, squinting down at the clearing at the cliff's base.
My arms snapped into springs. I grabbed everyone — including Gaimon — and dashed to the edge.
— Bane Bane no Mi — Spring Evacuator!
— Wait, am I going too?! — was all Gaimon managed to shout before we launched off.
The wind howled in our ears, like the air itself was shocked by what was happening. Gin, as usual, screamed; Sabo closed his eyes and seemed to enjoy the flight; Karina shrieked like she was being shot into the stratosphere. And Gaimon... just screamed:
— I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS!!!
We landed on the grassy clearing with a muffled prunnng! — my legs absorbing the impact like top-grade shock absorbers. Everyone flew off in different directions, like leaves in the wind. I landed on my back and burst out laughing.
— Now that was a ride, damn it!
Gaimon landed last — tumbling straight into a bush and getting stuck upside-down, with only his beard and legs poking out. From the thicket came a muffled voice:
— Am I... intact? Am I alive?! Oh, my back...
— Alive! — I said, pulling him out by the legs.
He sat up, brushing himself off and chuckling.
— Never thought I'd fly again... Honestly, at my age, that's not something I'd like to repeat.
— But I guess you're still not changing your mind? — I replied, helping him up.
Gaimon smirked and shook his head.
— No. My place is here. These animals, this forest... they're like family. They need me, and I need them. So don't worry — I'm staying. But... — he looked up at the sky, where clouds slowly drifted above the treetops — flying was fun. Just once.
— At least you didn't pass out, — Sabo remarked, stepping closer.
— I'm not that old! — Gaimon snorted.
— Yeah? Tell that to your beard, — Gin added with a crooked grin.
Karina, meanwhile, was brushing grass off her clothes.
— You guys have a weird idea of fun. One more inch and we'd have landed in the river. Or a crocodile's mouth.
— Would've been dramatic, — I shrugged. — But I don't think there are any crocs here. Right?.. — I looked at Gaimon.
— Just one. But he's on my side, — he smirked.
We all laughed again.
Gaimon looked at us with a touch of sadness, but no regret.
— You're good people. Don't stand still. The world out there — beyond the horizon — it's huge. And I... I'll be waiting. If you ever decide to come back — I'll be here. I'll have plenty of new stories. Maybe even teach a few beasts to talk.
Standing aboard our ship, we waved back as it slowly pulled away from shore. Gaimon stood on the cliff — a lone figure against the setting sun, overgrown but unbroken. His little animals huddled beside him, and one of them even clumsily waved back.
The wind filled our sails. The island shrank into the distance...
That evening, long after the sun dipped below the horizon, I was in the hold with Sabo — our makeshift storage room. I was organizing crates of supplies, all the while practicing my moves — my arms snapping into springs and lashing out, ending with sharp pops.
— Turned the storage into a gym again, huh? — Sabo chuckled, sitting on a crate of oranges, watching me.
I just grinned.
At that moment, the door slammed open and Gin burst in, panting, waving a fresh newspaper like it was a banner.
— Bellamy! Sabo! — he almost shouted. — Look who's wanted now! Captain Kuro! Sixteen million Berries!
I lowered my arms, set the crate down, and wiped my brow with the back of my hand.
— So what? — Sabo beat me to the question, smirking slightly but alert.
Gin spun the paper around and jabbed a column on one of the pages.
— The Marines tracked their route. Now patrol ships are heading into our sector. Rumor is, the Black Cat Pirates might be nearby. Which means — either the Marines show up tonight, or we bump right into those kitty cats ourselves.
I took the paper and scanned the article. Just like he said: coordinates, mention of a marine unit, and a small note — "Suspected of arms smuggling and caravan raids in East Blue waters. Leader: Captain Kuro. Dangerous."
— Where'd you even get this? — I frowned, still not believing a fresh paper reached us in the middle of the sea.
— Are you serious? — Gin raised an eyebrow. — Seagulls deliver them, you didn't know?
Sabo laughed:
— News Coo. Toss 'em a few coins and they'll bring you headlines even in the farthest dump.
I shook my head.
" I've seen it in the anime, but I didn't think it was that frequent or punctual..."
I looked again at the photo — the dark glasses, the predatory eyes, and the crooked smile of Captain Kuro.
So he hasn't started his plan yet, I thought.
— Well then, — I said, crumpling the paper and shoving it in the crate, — maybe tonight, we really will need to let the springs fly.
Sabo stood from his crate and stretched.
— Best be ready. For the Marines or the cats. Who knows which one bites harder.
Gin nodded and, already on his way out, threw back:
— Then I'll tell Karina to gear up and check the ammo — he added with a grin and vanished into the hallway.
Night fell quickly. Black, thick as ink, it wrapped around the ship. The only light — a crescent moon and the lantern swaying gently from the mast. Sabo stood at the helm, focused as always in tense moments. Gin sat on a crate by the rail, spinning his tonfa between his fingers like he was reading the air.
— Ship's fully ready! — Karina called as she walked up.
— Good. — I stepped closer to the edge of the deck and stared into the darkness.
Sabo came up beside me and whispered:
— You see it?
I nodded. A faint dot on the horizon. Too straight for a rock. Too still for waves. A ship.
— One vessel, maybe two... Moving in the shadows. Like ghosts.
— Think it's Kuro?
— I think we'll find out soon.
At that moment, a voice called down from the mast, barely above a whisper:
— Light to starboard! Flashing — three short, two long!
I looked up. It was the Marine signal. So they were here too.
— Well then, — I said quietly. — Looks like we're caught in the middle of someone else's hunt.