A Storms Beauty | ||
Date Started: July 2nd, 2024 Date Finished: Ongoing Previous Role-Play: Gods and Creatures Next Role-Play: Timeline: July 15th, 1620 Setting: Characters Involved: | ||
Participants | ||
User:JTXP • |
Storming Gale Island, not too far from its allied Wano Country was claimed in July by Erabatama Yushin defeating a reigning Mink warlord known as Yoshi. This battle was fierce and lasted 2 full days, both having pride and being samurai this was a battle of blades rather than abilities. Yoshi held something that drew Yushin toward the island.
The Ame no Habakiri, a famed blade from his homeland. A prize only worthy to someone of his status. He'd figure he'd bring it as a gift for the Shoguns and earn favor. Yushin emerged as the victor of the battle inheriting the island and its people, moving his entire clan onto the island to rule as kings and queens.
This battle did not come without a cost, Yoshi took Yushin's left arm in their battle leaving him a cripple as some might've said. Obtaining the blade was a bittersweet moment for him, not even fighting the dragon brought him such a thrill. For weeks after his victory Yushin fell into a deep depression sitting in his palace room never coming out.
He did not eat or drink, nobody was allowed to see him besides Jigoku May.
Depression[]
The heavy wooden doors of Yushin's palace room creaked open, shattering the silence that had cloaked the space for weeks. A booming voice echoed through the hallways, full of energy and unrestrained enthusiasm.
"YUSHIN! You old dog, where are you hiding? It’s been too long!"
Ganon strode into the room, his presence like a whirlwind. His eyes scanned the dimly lit space until they settled on Yushin, who was slumped in a chair, the famed Ame no Habakiri resting on a stand beside him.
"Oi, you look like you’ve been dragged through a battlefield and back," Ganon bellowed, his laughter filling the room as he made his way over. "Come on, are you really going to let a missing arm keep you down? I haven't seen you in weeks, and here you are, moping like you lost a game of Go instead of winning a whole island!"
It was nightfall with the open space filled with many cushions and floor furniture, it was simple and sleek colors of beige, blue, and white.
It had been 3 weeks since Ganon last saw Yushin, and his appearance had undergone a change, he was more rugged than clean cut, a beard stubble grew across his face and his long black hair was now pure white, from the stress and depression. He was much skinnier however was still muscular.
Yushin didn't even glance at Ganon instead he presented himself idly staring into the open space not saying a word. He was living but seemed dead.
Ganon grabbed a chair and sat down next to Yushin, slapping him on the back with a force that could wake the dead. “You’ve got a whole clan out there waiting for their leader. And here you are, sulking in the dark. I didn’t come all this way to see you like this, brother.”
"Go away," Yushin said softly pushing his friends arm off of his body. "You take care of them for now, I need to be alone."
Ganon’s heart sank as he felt Yushin push his arm away. The words “Go away” were spoken so softly that they almost didn’t seem real. But they were. Ganon could see the weight of Yushin’s despair in every line of his friend’s body, in the hollow tone of his voice.
For a moment, Ganon stood up, his expression unreadable. He took a few slow steps toward the door, as if he were actually going to leave. His hand reached for the door handle, and the room seemed to grow even darker in anticipation.
But then, in a sudden burst of motion, Ganon swung around and charged the door with all his might. The heavy wooden structure splintered under the force of his blow, and the door crashed to the ground, sending a shockwave through the room. The outside light flooded in, casting a harsh, bright glow over everything.
Ganon stood in the doorway, framed by the light, his chest heaving with adrenaline and emotion. "You can’t hide from this, Yushin! You can’t hide from me! You want to be alone? Fine, but not like this. Not when you’re still breathing. You’ve got a life to live, people who need you, and a brother who won’t let you fade away!"
He stepped back into the room, letting the light fill the space completely. "I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you. So either get up and face this, or I’ll drag you out into the light myself."
Anger fell over Yushin from his friend destroying his home and disrupting his peace, "What's your problem HUH? You don't understand what I'm going through you selfish bastard. Damn after all this time of being in my presence it seems you haven't learned shit. Destroy my house like that again GANON AND I SWEAR TO GOD..."
A slim figure walked through the destruction, "Ganon is right Yushin, you shouldn't wallow like a bitch for the rest of your days. You were the fool looking for war. You simply found it, your attitude is ugly and unattractive."
It was May, "You lost an arm so what, it gives you a reality check of the real world. There will always be someone better than you."
Yushin stood to his feet, "You dare insult me May." A loud thunder roared above causing a great rain. "You cheap talk from someone who hasn't even seen battle. You are simply watching from the tower that sister of yours locks you away in." Yushin the approached May holding the Ame no Habakiri in his right hand.
Once his towering presence reached her, he hugged her, "I love you May, you are my wife and I would do anything for you. But if you talk to me like that again..." Yushin whispered something into her ear that caused her body to visibly shake, "...Do you understand?"
"Y-yes." She said.
Yushin let go of her and walked toward Ganon, "You are paying for my house."
Ganon's eyes narrowed as Yushin walked toward him, his friend's words heavy with both threat and tension. The moment Yushin told him he’d be paying for the damage, Ganon's patience snapped. He took a step forward, his towering frame squaring up to Yushin’s.
"So that's how it's going to be, huh? You think you can talk down to me, to May, and just walk away like nothing happened?" Ganon’s voice was a low growl, the anger simmering just below the surface. "You want to threaten everyone who cares about you? You think losing an arm gives you the right to act like this?"
Ganon clenched his fists, his muscles tensing as the tension between them thickened. "You think I don't understand what you're going through? Maybe not. But what I do know is that you’re acting like a coward. You’re trying to push us all away because you’re scared, and I won’t stand by and let you do that."
Ganon took another step forward, his chest nearly bumping into Yushin’s. "You want to throw your weight around, huh? Fine. Let’s settle this right here, right now. You and me, Yushin. Let’s see if you can back up all that tough talk. Maybe a good fight will knock some sense into that thick skull of yours."
It was a swift spinning back kick that was already inches away from Ganon's jaw, a Haki-infused foot laced with internal destruction, the samurai was sizzling with sparks at this moment.
But Ganon wasn’t a slouch. His reflexes kicked in, and in an instant, his Busoshoku Haki flared up, coating his body in a near-impenetrable defense. His natural quickness, deceptive for someone of his size, allowed him to twist his head just enough to avoid the full force of the blow, though he could feel the intense heat and pressure as Yushin’s Haki-infused foot grazed past him.
Ganon’s eyes widened for a split second, a smirk forming on his lips. “That’s more like it,” he muttered to himself, feeling the thrill of the impending battle course through his veins.
He dug his feet into the ground, channeling his immense strength into his legs. With a powerful push, Ganon launched himself backward, creating some distance between them, the floor beneath him cracking under the sheer force. He landed on his feet, his body humming with energy as he squared up against Yushin, his fists raised and ready.
“That’s the spirit, Yushin! You’re not pulling any punches, huh?” Ganon’s voice was a mixture of excitement and challenge. “But if you think that’s enough to put me down, you’ve got another thing coming!”
Without waiting for a response, Ganon charged forward, his movements a blur despite his size. His fist, coated in Busoshoku Haki, shot out toward Yushin with the force of a cannon, aiming to meet the samurai head-on in a clash of raw power and skill.
Yushin threw his right hand towards Ganon’s own strength. A clash that destroyed the room they were in blowing the walls off the place.
Their fists met and pushed against one another sparks of haki flickering off of them, “…” Yushin with another swift movement aimed to deliver another punch towards his midsection.
As Yushin's fist flew toward Ganon’s midsection with brutal speed, Ganon’s instincts kicked in, honed from countless battles. Instead of absorbing the blow head-on, Ganon did something far more tactical—something real.
He quickly dropped his hips and twisted his body, stepping off the centerline of Yushin’s punch, using the momentum of the attack against him. Ganon’s left arm shot out, trapping Yushin’s extended arm with a sharp inside hook. At the same time, he shifted his weight forward, planting his right foot solidly behind Yushin’s lead leg, cutting off his ability to retreat.
In one fluid motion, Ganon pivoted his entire body, using the force of Yushin’s own punch to pull him off balance. With a swift, powerful jerk of his trapped arm, Ganon intending to use his immense strength to slam Yushin toward the ground.
Ganon’s quick thinking locked Yushin’s arm and allowed him to slam Yushin into the ground. The samurai planted into the ground.
A cloud of smoke kicked up from his impact, yet flying overhead out that same smoke was Yushin, eyes written with anger.
Yushin weaved a hand sign, “Ninpo: Denjaryu!” Spilling from his body was several streams of lighting that took the form of eel fish.
The lightning raged forward launching before Ganon at unnatural speeds. They aimed to latch themselves upon Ganon.
Ganon didn’t have time to think—only react. His instincts kicked into overdrive as he quickly coated his entire body in Busoshoku Haki, hardening his skin like armor. But the speed of the eels was too much to avoid completely, and he knew he couldn’t let them latch on.
Instead of attempting to block each eel head-on, Ganon's quick thinking allowed him to use his natural strength and speed to perform a short-range sidestep, just enough to avoid the full brunt of the attack while allowing him to pivot on one foot. He reached out with his arm, gripping the base of one of the lightning eels in mid-air before it could strike him. His Haki-infused hand absorbed part of the shock as sparks danced across his body.
With a roar, Ganon whipped the eel downward, slamming it into the ground with a devastating force, causing the room to tremble and sending a pulse of energy radiating outward. But the other eels continued to surge toward him, fast and unrelenting.
“Damn it, Yushin, throwing everything at me? I thought this was a fight, not a storm!” Ganon growled, a grin spreading across his face despite the danger.
As the remaining eels closed in, Ganon planted his feet and prepared to take them head-on, his World Lifter armor amplifying his already immense durability. He braced himself, ready to counter the next surge of electricity with a burst of his own strength.
Yushin was still angry, "Why does he want to fight me for? Why can't I just be alone." The samurai leapt into the air transforming into his full zoan form. Thunder clouds from above formed upon his arrival into the sky. Yushin's size was that of a giant, he looked like a fearsome god of legend.
People from the island watched as they noticed a figure floating above.
"What is that?"
"It's Yushin sama!"
"What is he doing!"
The villagers were filled with mixtures of confusion and awe. A mink by the name of Sun John Wukong watched from a high building overlooking the valley. "Did Ganon manage to get him out of his slump...But then again he looks very angry."
"You give me no choice Ganon!" Yushin shouted out, his voice booming apart the landscape bellow with violent winds tearing up rubble and buildings.
In his right hand, a yellow and white light began to glimmer, and that glimmer then combusted into golden lightning sending sparks across the entire island.
As the lightning stretched across the villages and towns a few people began to stumble, the weak even fainted for a moment within that quick few seconds.
Finally taking form in the right hand of the storm god was a giant golden lightning bolt, the size of it was double that of Yushin and he held it like a spear.
Thrusting his right hand upward he began to charge himself, his white clouded hair turning into bright golds and whites. The lightning around him was gold and they latched to him. "ZEUS!"
His judgment clouded with ferocious power and intent to kill Yushin cast the bolt toward Ganon and May.
Ganon’s heart pounded in his chest, not from fear, but from the thrill of the fight. He could feel the intensity of Yushin’s intent, the sheer ferocity behind the attack that was now forming in his hands. The golden lightning bolt, larger than Yushin himself, radiated an overwhelming destructive energy. This wasn’t a simple skirmish anymore—this was a battle for survival.
Ganon’s eyes gleamed with excitement, his muscles tensing as he prepared to meet the challenge head-on. He reached deep within himself, summoning the power of his World Lifter armor, feeling the Zoan fruit within it begin to stir.
"Kame Kame no Mi, Model: World Turtle!"
In an instant, Ganon's body surged with a tremendous force. His armor shifted and expanded, scales rippling across it's outer layer, as his armor began to grow in size and mass. A powerful shell sprouted across his back, and his already massive frame became even more imposing. His arm gauntlet thickened with strength beyond measure, his body swelling with the might of a titan. This was the hybrid form of the World Turtle—a fusion of Ganon’s natural strength and the indomitable durability of the legendary creature.
The ground beneath him cracked and buckled under the weight of his transformation, his aura now a dense, suffocating force. The air around him rippled with power as his Haki flared up, coating his entire form in a shimmering black sheen.
As Yushin hurled the massive lightning bolt down toward him and May, the sky lit up in a brilliant display of gold. The bolt tore through the heavens with a deafening roar, crackling with enough energy to obliterate everything in its path.
Ganon clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing with determination. "You want to go all out, huh, Yushin? Fine! But don’t think I’m backing down!"
With a battle cry that shook the island, Ganon lunged forward, his hybrid form propelling him toward the incoming lightning bolt. He swung his fist upward with all his might, aiming to meet the bolt head-on with a devastating strike—one that could shake the very earth itself.
The collision was inevitable.
The moment before impact stretched into eternity, the air thick with tension as Ganon’s fist, crackling with black and gold Haki, sped toward the golden lightning bolt.
The mountainsides of Storming Gale Island were destroyed and led to ruin. Yushin and Ganon's battle lasted a few hours before Yushin finally calmed himself down. The two friends sat around a large bond fire covered in bruises, bumps, and scrapes, they roasted some BBQ on the fire while drinking cups of sake.
The two exchanged conversation for the time being, Yushin seeming like his old self.
"You're still paying for my house, ouch," he said hold his stomach, "That armor is no joke man," he took a large sip from the bottle of sake next to him. His belly was fat from stuffing himself after the fight to regain some energy.
Ganon let out a hearty laugh, wincing slightly as he nursed a bruise on his arm. "Yeah, well, you weren't pulling any punches either, were you? That lightning bolt nearly took my head off!" He took a big bite of the BBQ, savoring the taste. The aroma of the meat mixed with the crackle of the fire, creating a peaceful ambiance after the chaos of their battle.
"Still," Ganon said between bites, glancing at Yushin's now calm and collected face, "it's good to see you back, Yushin. You had me worried there for a minute." He poured more sake into his cup, then clinked it against Yushin’s bottle.
"Yeah, guess I just had some pent up stem I needed to blow off. Still sucks though," he reached again for the bottle taking another massive sip. "Guess we gotta go back home now huh?"
Old Friends[]
Yushin after his scuffle with Ganon had arrived back home. Ganon was right, Yushin needed to move on and get over it. A hard pill to swallow, but something he had to overcome. He held the famed blade in his grasp, resting it upon the shoulder. He was in the capital, and many of the citizens murmured and whispered about his sudden appearance. The last time anyone had directly spoken to Yushin was many months ago.
He came to drop off his prize to gain the favor of his people and the Shoguns. Yet he had to see an old friend first. He continued his way through the capital before arriving at a building with a spider painting on the side of it. Entering in the doors he was greeted with dusk and darkness, only a few stray beams of light entered the building.
Yushin summonsed some wind to blow open all windows and clear up some fresh air, "That's better," he said. There were several cobwebs around the corners of the ceiling walls, and many spider nests formed within them. The ninja glanced around before calling out to him, "Byakuro, you here?" A creaking door from the upper floor opened up and footsteps followed.
Coming across the balcony, a figure appeared, bearing long straight silver and grey hair. "Yushin-sama?" Byakuro said jumping over the ledge of the balcony and landing gracefully before Yushin.
The met with a handshake, "Good to see you old friend," Yushin said.
"You've looked better," Byakuro said eyeing the ninja's missing arm.
"Yeah, kinda pissed about that right there. All for this," Yushin then tossed the blade to Byakuro. He caught it in his hands, "The Ame no Habakiri, where on earth did you get this beauty."
Byakuro held the blade unsheathing it taking a glimpse for himself.
"I fought a swordsman from here apparently, his name was Yoshi. He was a sneaky bastard let me tell you. He may have took my arm but I took his life." Yushin said coldly, Byakuro could tell the statement had a bittersweet feel to it.
"I see, what do you plan to do with it?" Byakuro asked, handing the blade back to Yushin.
"I plan on offering it as a gift to the Shogun. It is their blade anyway, perhaps I could get a prosthetic out of it," Yushin said looking at his missing arm.
Byakuro walked around the room sitting at a nearby table rubbing his tired eyes, "What brings you here Yushin, you only come to me when you need someone killed."
"Hmph." Yushin said chuckling to himself taking a seat across from Byakuro. "Wano grows stagnant in power, I wish to restore it to the Country of Gold. Out there in the real world is greatness, I want to bring it back to our homeland."
"..." Byakuro sat in silence listening to Yushin, "Why? Wano is peaceful and out of the way of everyone. Why draw attention to it?"
"Do you not wish to have a dynasty? I've fought monsters out there in the world in my short trip. Have you no honor brother?"
"Honor, please. We are a ninja. I think you just want power, you've got a taste of it and now that's all you want. I'm not totally against that idea, but let's not lie to ourselves."
Byakuro spoke with conviction and reality, Yushin was a warrior at heart and possessed the warrior spirit. He couldn't let his prime years be wasted in peace.
"I guess you are right," Yushin rubbed his hand across his face, "I need you to come with me to see the Red Rain. There are some things I plan on having done."
"You're buying me coffee," Byakuro replied.
Later that day Yushin and Byakuro walked toward their destination, arriving at the edge of the lake.
"Looks like we're here," Byakuro said.
"Aye, this place gives me the creeps," Yushin said shaking from the shivers running down his back.
Byakuro used his devil fruit powers to weave a web bridge for them to reach the center of the lake. "Your powers never cease to amaze me. The great Ginrokumo the silver wolf spider of Wano. So spooky," Yushin joked.
Byakuro rolled his eyes and smiled, "You always with the jokes."
After 10 minutes of walking, they reached the temple grounds and headed towards the front of the building.
"Ryosei!" Yushin called out.
A slight tension permeated the air, Ryosei exited the main entrance walking with solid steps toward Yushin until he reached him. “What a beautiful bridge...” GRAB “...you will only be able to enter after you make it disappear, THERE WAS LITERALLY THE ENTRANCE ON THE OTHER SIDE!!!” He said to Byakuro, throwing him violently into the lake.
“What good wind brings you this way? My dear friend.” Ryosei asked while resting a hand on Yushin's missing arm, closing his eyes, and saying a short prayer of purification. His hand lit up and a warm benefit of relief was temporarily imprinted on that area.
Flying into the air Byakuro pointed his fingers towards the temple wall, spitting out a web string, he swung himself upon the rooftop of the temple, "Geez you're uptight aren't you? All you had to do was ask," Byakuro said waving his hand causing the web bridge to fall into the lake and dissipate.
Yushin smiled at Ryosei, "We have much to discuss, but I have a gift for you to give to the shogun. Come let's go inside."
“This way, and you stay out for going up to the temple, you are in a holy place, remember that or I will send you to hell.” Ryosei said to Byakuro, smiling then fondly at Yushin.
Once through a cool hallway adorned with large pillars rich in detail, the two turned left to reach a meeting room, on the table a special bottle of sake and two cups. “I sensed your presence as soon as you set foot on Wano heheheh, I went ahead and brought out a special reserve, 10 years in cherry barrel smoked with orange wood and mint leaves, this warms and refreshes at the same time, cheers!” Ryosei said after filling the cups and offering one to Yushin.
Yushin grabbed the cup and took off his straw hat. His now visibly white hair fell across his face. Clinking they both drank in unison, Yushin placed the cup back onto the table before them.
"You're as giving as ever Red Rain, I'll give you that. How've you been friend."
“Discreet news, but I'll tell you another time, let's talk about you, I remembered you with pitch black hair, can't you keep the stress of the outside world on your shoulders?” Ryosei responded by filling another cup and lighting an incense stick.
"Aye, my hair is different now, I'm different now..." He held the missing spot where his arm used to be, his morale was way down. "...There's nights where I can't sleep, I just relive the same moment over and over again. It's haunting, pour me another." Yushin said passing his cup to Ryosei.
“The Yushin I know can lose a limb but not the spirit, I see your flame has died down a bit, do you think you are no longer yourself in this condition?” Ryosei asked as he filled Yushin's cup.
"Truth is I don't know. I still won the fight, but I would be lying if I said my power was still at its peak. In time I will grow strong again, but when." Yushin took the cup and drank the entire thing.
"A gift, for the Shogun's." Yushin placed the clothed sword on the table. Taking off the fabric revealed the famed blade, Ame no Habakiri. "The man who I fought had it. Seeing it with my own two eyes I had to take it back to our country, it costed me my arm. I do expect to be honored in some form."
There were no more comforting words to give Yushin; the office of Ryosei gave him the power to make decisions without asking. With a look at once serious and amazed, the samurai grasped the sword and asked no questions, the only words he spoke were “Tell me your wish.”
"I need a few things, I need a new arm from the blacksmith. I'm also looking for a ship to set sail on, I wish to start my own crew and take Wano further than ever before. I grow tired of the stagnancy in our country, don't you feel it? Our road poneglyph sit in the hands of someone else, and that is something I cannot stand for."
Yuhsin spoke calm and clear making sure Ryosei felt his words and his intention.
“It is this stalemate that makes Wano impenetrable and beautiful, don't be overwhelmed by the thirst for power, you will have to handle the consequences, I have seen better than you what is out there, although I share your sentiment on poneglyph it is not yet the right time, the waves are not yet going in the right direction. The poneglyph is war, and a war requires everyone within it, you are not ready and the shoguns are not, not strategically at least, about our strength there is no question. Avoid an arm from the blacksmith, come back when I tell you and you will have a useful arm, now improve with what you have. The ship is waiting for you east of the waterfall, choose the best one, Ryosei pays for it.” Ryosei said with a smile.
Yushin had mixed emotions, he thought Ryosei would agree with him. But his point of timing was a key factor. To Yushin however, now was the perfect time.
"We cannot wait any longer. The seas are at its weakest point, I only lost that damn arm because I was prideful! I will admit that but with a crew and our country backing us. Who can stop us...The answer is no one."
He stood up from his seat, "I will bring Wano to its former glory, I will bathe the world in gold from the heavens..." He turned towards the door his back facing Ryosei, "...With or without my people. Goodbye, old friend. Thanks for the drink." Yushin existed the temple, "Byakuro let's go, one more stop."
"Alright," he said running towards Yushin, "Where to next?" He asked.
"The kibi region." Yushin replied.
Kinetic Ties[]
After his meeting with Ryosei, Yushin headed with Byakuro to recruit a special marksmen. She was located in the Kibi region of Wano Country, through the rumor mill in the Red District, Yushin heard about her skills with a bow and arrow and figured what better time to recruit a skilled combatant onto his crew.
It was a forest they found themselves, walking in the dark of the night. The owls were above the branches as the cold winds blew through the forest. It was silent yet loud at the same time. These woods reminded Yushin of his Clan's home forest.
"What are we doing here anyway," Byakuro asked.
"We are here to recruit someone, we are going to need all the help we can get," Yushin replied.
Soon the duo came across a small hut with a smoking chimney, the wind rushed against them as Yushin smiled. They approached the hut knocking on the door.
They waited a few feet back awaiting an answer.
Silence followed for some time, seconds turning into minutes before the sound of a string being drawn would no doubt catch the both of their attention. Were they to look above to the source of the noise they would see none other than the woman they came to meet perched atop the roof at them with an arrow at the ready.
In the pale moonlight, her features were shown, a face no matter how beautiful could not hide the killing intent in her eyes.
"What brings you here tonight, boys? Where you are from is it not considered rude to visit so late in the evening? You could have at least announced yourselves. What if I'd mistook you for a bear or wild boar?" She asked, scolding them for their unexpected arrival.
Yushin threw his hands up into the air, "Easy does it, we are looking for someone named Shikimi. Have you seen her?" Yushin asked, "We mean you no harm we just wish to talk."
While Byakuro had drawn his bow and arrow at the same time aiming a shot back at the person camping the roof, "Give me the word and she's dead captain."
"Easy spider. We aren't her enemy." He took of his straw hat revealing his face, "I am Erabatama Yushin, leader of the Erabatama Clan, this is my crewmate Byakuro. I'm not in the mood for fighting today."
"Yushin..." She spoke quietly under her breath as she seemed to find the name familiar but she did not lower her weapon. "I know of the Erabatama clan. Ninja, assassins, shadows." She stared down the man, looking for any sign of hidden intent. But after a few moments she let out a sigh, slowly letting her bowstring draw down.
She nodded her head towards the other man, motioning for him to do the same. "And what do you intend to do once you find her? If you've come for her head then the Shogun must be feeling the heat. Ironic, truly."
Yushin smiled with his pearly white teeth, "Like I said. I could give two shits what the Shoguns want. They sit idle on the world, while I wish to see Wano in a better future. If she were here I would offer her a deal of a lifetime. I heard of her skill, I could use someone like that."
Byakuro withdrew his bow as well, he nodded his head toward the woman on the roof.
A softer expression formed on the woman's face, "Is that so? Then perhaps we are kindred spirits after all." She spoke, taking a moment to place her bow upon her back and replace her arrow back into it's quiver before she stepped off the roof.
She all but gently floated down to the ground, landing before the both of them. "You and I at least, your friend seems rather quiet. Either way, if you seek Shikimi then you've found her, in the flesh." She motioned toward herself as though making some big reveal. Her demeanor had changed quite a bit from only a few moments ago, more open and friendly to the two men now.
"You said you had use of me, we can discuss that but not here. Inside, I've only just finished making some tonjiru, the both of you are welcome to it if you're hungry. Don't be shy, I'm no one trick pony, I've some manner of skill in the kitchen, Dodododo!" She laughed as she turned and unlocked the door to her humble cabin.
Stepping inside the men would see the walls lined with the heads of wolves and boar among other animals. Trophy kills during her many hunts in these woods. In the middle of the room a pot hung just above a fire. The simmer of the stew could be heard and its smell filled the cabin.
Fixing three bowls she handed them out to the men before sitting her bow aside and sitting on her knees before the fire. "You said you wish to see Wano prosper?" She asked him before taking the first spoonful into her mouth, wanting him to explain his reasoning for needing her help to make this happen.
The two followed Shikimi into her home, it was small and warm, just big enough for herself. Yushin somewhat liked it, it was simple yet welcoming. Most would be turned off by the dead animal heads that hung on the walls, but not Yushin. He loved hunting.
They sat down and accepted her offering for food, Yushin explained himself further in between bites.
"This country has grown still with peace, I don't wish to squander my younger years. I want Wano to be the number one power in the world, one way or another. I am building a crew, we will take to the seas and restore our glorious country to its prime," Yushin took a few more bites of the food.
"I am only a few pieces away from starting something great, and you Shikimi are one of those pieces. Your skill with a bow have not gone unnoticed, I wish to honor you with joining my crew."
Shikimi side-eyed Yushin at this, the idea of pirates somehow being in a position to shape Wano after they'd been free for so long didn't set well with her. "You're asking me to join some sort of pirate crew? Were I my sisters I would take such a suggestion as an insult to my honor. How might giving a pirate crew sway over Wano again help to reclaim its place high on the world stage? The scars of Kaido's reign can still be found all over Wano even if it is healing."
"That was over a hundred years ago, I don't care about that old legend. Claiming a place in the sea establishes dominance, I'd rather be a warrior in a garden, than a gardener in a war." He took his final bites of the soup and placed it on the table.
"Look I know the word "pirate" is off-putting for most. Having a bad wrap and all, but you must look at the big picture. I will grant you land on Storming Gale Island so you and your loved one can live well. You are a diamond in the rouge I wish to shine upon the world, Wano's grand diamond. Doesn't that sound nice." Yushin smiled folding his hand.
"Now look, I'm extending an opportunity towards you. I wish to make Wano the way we want to, fix the damage that was done so long ago."
Shikimi raised the bowl to her lips, sipping down the last of its contents before sitting the bowl to the side and wiping her mouth upon her sleeve. "It is a... tantalizing offer you extend, Yushin. But before I accept or deny I feel the need to ask, assuming you are the leader of this crew of pirates, when all is said and done what does a perfect Wano look like to you?"
Yushin smiled, "When I can fly to the tallest mountain above the clouds, and look upon the dynasty we have made. I will laugh, and drink until my bellies full, I will sing and dance and praise the gods, for I will have brought heaven to earth and turned the world into gold." Yushin's eyes glimmered with passion.
Looking into them you could almost see the visions in his mind, they were painted so beautifully, it was everything anyone could want.
Shikimi kept a stoic face as she looked into Yushin's eyes, she could see the passion in them, a man filled with dreams. But as far as she was concerned dreams were for the sleeping, they had little place in reality. Her eyes glanced around her, her life now was humble and warm, she had come to enjoy it over the past couple of years she'd been here. She'd made a place for herself here, a name for herself in the village only a short ways away.
But she could not deny that it had no purpose, it was simply a place she'd resigned herself away to in order to avoid conflict with her family and the Shogun. Yushin might simply be offering dreams, but with bow in hand it was perhaps something that could be made real if only a little. Perhaps a free and open Wano could exist again.
A small, unsure smile crept upon her lips as her eyes fell back to Yushin. "Alright, Erabatama Yushin, you have me convinced. You may have my bow at your side for this adventure of yours. I will strike down those who would snuff out your dreams and in exchange Wano will rise again. I will begin packing my things, it is late, let us leave at first light. You're welcome to sleep here for the night."
"Alright..." he said smiling sticking out his fist, "...Let's turn the world upside down." Yushin chuckled as a thunderous storm boomed in the sky.
"Come Shimiki, and Byakuro. We must meet with the others. Shimiki grab all of your things, this will be the last time we will return to Wano for a while. Say's your goodbyes to those you care about in the morning, tonight we celebrate."
"Aye, Captain." She responded teasingly, the words felt weird rolling off her tongue but she held her smile all the same. "I do have some sake I got for some venison I hunted the other day. We can share it together, celebrate as you said."
A New Dawn[]
Shikimi said her goodbyes to the villagers, gifting them the items she had intended to sell or trade to them, pelts, charms, small wooden toys she'd carved from the small bits of lumber not worth sacrificing to the fire. The goodbyes were not heartfelt but it was clear that they were sad to see her go and that she was sad to leave. She'd only really just began to get used to her role and again it was changing. It seemed she was not meant to settle down for any extended period of time.
With all said and done and arrangements for her home not to be taken in her absence, she rejoined Yushin and Byakuro near the edge of the village. She shrugged her shoulder, adjusting the large pack on her back to a more comfortable position. "Alright, there are no words left to say. Shall we be off?"
"Of course come," he said conjuring several nimbus clouds beneath them to ride. With a flick of his wrists, the trio spiraled into the air towards Wano Country's exit. They arched high above the waterfall before Yushin led them nose-diving down.
"You crazy bastard! We can't fly like this!" Byakuro shouted trying to hold on to the cloud as tight as possible.
"Stop being a baby, this is the real fun part!" Yushin replied, his voice filled with excitement and adrenaline.
Shikimi seemed to turn a bit green as she held tightly to the cloud, hardly being able to process the power that Yushin was using before she had to focus on not throwing up, feeling grateful she had enough foresight to only eat a light breakfast.
It had been a long time since she'd seen outside of the country, she knew there were others of her family that had chosen to leave Wano due to their displeasure toward the current order of things. They had been exiled, her own Brother and Nephew among them. She only hoped joining up with Yushin would not yield the same fate for herself.
"So you too have some nature of sorcery?!" Shikimi yelled over the wind rushing by her ears, over to Yushin, curious about the curse he wielded.
They flew so close to the water, many zigzags, ups and downs, twists and turns they all went on riding the way to the bottom of the water, "Yeah something like that. Although lately, it seems like everyone can do them."
Soon they reached the bottom the waters calming down as in the distance was a large ship promised to him by Ryosei. "There we are our newest home."
Two others were waiting for them on the ship, it was Rakul and Ganon.
As they descended from the wild ride, Ganon stood at the edge of the ship, a broad grin plastered across his face as he watched them approach. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, “Well, well! If it isn’t the new recruits to Yushin’s Rollercoaster of Doom! How was the flight? Any casualties?”
"Nope nothing like that, well maybe a few upset stomachs," Byakuro stated leaping onto the ship.
Shikimi held a hand over her mouth, still feeling nauseous from the unexpected ride through the air. Recomposing herself she stepped down from the cloud and landed on the deck of the ship. "Quite the displeasant experience I must say. Though I chalk that up to the surprise of it all, truly." She dusted herself off before she looked to Ganon with a gleam of recognition in her eyes.
She made no move for her bow, but it would be clear that she had tensed up as she fell silent. "And here I thought you'd keep more respectable company, Erabatama Yushin. It would seem that I was mistaken, allowing mass murderers among your ranks. Perhaps I should have considered your offer a slight on my honor." She spoke without taking her eyes off of Ganon, a hint of disgust in her gaze.
"We are pirates," Yushin replied, "Where is Rakul?" Yushin asked Ganon.
Ganon, relieved at the change of subject, crossed his arms and glanced toward the ship’s mast. “Rakul? Last I saw, the guy was playing captain. He's probably at the steering wheel, though if I was you guys, I wouldn't trust him up there.”
Ganon was right Rakul was sitting by the wheel of the ship, wearing his black coat and reading glasses. His jet black feathered wings stuck out with his large body reading a very small book. It was a "How 2 Helmsman Guide For Dummies".
"Hello everyone, good morning! We will be heading off shortly now, just let me finish reading this chapter." The Lunarian said.