15 Bink's Brew

[This is a filler chapter. I was kind of in a mood when I wrote this chapter. Just warning you.]

Time seemed to slow down as Rayleigh entered my Domain. He was going for a thrust attack that would pierce my heart.

[Iai Sutairu: Counter]

My sword jumped from its scabbard, running up the length of Rayleigh's blade, aiming to slit his throat. Rayleigh broke my focus as he somehow blocked my sword even though he was in my Domain. It was the first time someone had broken through my Haki.

In a quick flurry of attacks, Rayleigh and I locked swords, and he used his height advantage to press down on me.

Turning my blade, I threw Rayleigh's sword to the side, creating an opening. Kicking off the ground, I jumped into the air preparing for another attack.

As gravity started to pull me down, I narrowed my Haki into a beam that locked on Rayleigh's neck.

[Iai Sutairu: Sun Fall]

Rayleigh stepped back, afraid to take my attack head-on, and he was wise not to. The sun was directly overhead. If he tried to block my attack, he would only see a faint outline of my body before being blinded by the sun.

I sliced the air sending out a compressed air blade that missed Rayleigh and cut in the earth leaving behind a narrow crater.

Rayleigh put away his sword, signaling the end of the spar, "You've understated your mastery of Observation Haki. I don't know why you need me to teach you. You're more than capable of handling yourself."

I grinned, "I just wanted to fight a real swordsman, and I wouldn't have gotten a free sword otherwise."

"I guess I've taught you all you need to know," Rayleigh said as we walked back to Shakky's bar.

"You said it yourself I can't learn much by just training. I'm going to try and buy myself a ship. I need to find a doctor so I can train my devil fruit."

Rayleigh paused before he smiled, "You know...I know where the doctor of the Roger Pirates is. I could send a message ahead of you so. He owns me a few favors, so he'll teach you no matter what."

I froze, and a picture of a whale and an old man appeared in my mind, "You would do that, Ray-San."

"Sure, I would. Crocus needs some companionship, and in his old age, having another pair of hands can't hurt."

Before I could comment about Rayleigh's age, we entered Shakky's bar, and the smell of home-cooked meals was overpowering.

Rayleigh sent a letter to Crocus asking him to mentor me, and a week later, Crocus replied begrudgingly, saying that he would teach me for no more than two years.

I started to prepare for my voyage after that. Using the money I stole from the World Nobles, I bought a small ship with one main mast, a storage room on the back of the boat, and above that, a small bedroom.

Rayleigh and Shakky sent me off, and I left with enough food, fresh water, and the rest of my money.

The entire trip took six months, and it was agonizing how slow sailing by the wind was. Luckily the previous Soren was an adept sailor, so I knew how to navigate. But overall, it was smooth sailing. If I was lucky, I would encounter a Sea King to eat.

I could now officially say that I've traveled the entirety of Paradise. I also saw every single island from the anime.

I didn't know who to give credit to the God who created this world or Oda. I would spend my days out on the deck. Shakky suggested that I bring along an instrument to help pass the time.

I didn't know any, so I bought a violin and a book on how to play. This practice started my goal to become famous in each of the eight positions of a pirate ship.

So I tackled the musician. First, people underestimated how fast you could learn an instrument if you practiced daily from dawn to dusk.

Through trial and error, I even learned the famous song Binks Sake. And by six months, I had to say I was pretty good.

Docking at the Reverse Mountain, I knocked on the lighthouse door and waited for an answer. Before anyone could come to the door, something cast a shadow over me. Turning around, I smiled at Laboon. He was maybe half his size from the anime, so Crocus hadn't started to treat the whale.

Laboon's large eyes looked at me with curiosity. Smiling, I went back to my ship to retrieve my violin. Applying resin to the bow, I started to play and sing,

"Yo-hohoho Yo-ho-ho-ho

Yo-hohoho Yo-ho-ho-ho

Gather up all of the crew

It's time to ship out Bink's brew.

Sea-wind blows

To where? Who knows?

The waves will be our guide.

O'er across the ocean's tide,

Rays of sunshine far and wide.

Birds they sing

Of cheerful things

In circles passing by.

Bid farewell to weaver's town,

Say so long to port renowned,

Sing a song,

It won't be long,

Before we're casting off

Cross the gold and silver seas,

A salty spray puts us at ease,

Day and night,

To our delight,

The voyage never ends.

Gather up all of the crew,

It's time to ship out Bink's brew,

Pirates we,

Eternally,

Are challenging the sea.

With the waves to rest our heads,

Ship beneath us as our beds,

Hoisted high,

Upon the mast,

Our Jolly, Roger flies.

Somewhere in the endless sky

Stormy winds are blowing wide,

Waves are dancing,

Evening comes,

It's time to sound the drums.

But steady men, and never fear,

Tomorrow's skies are always clear,

So pound your feet,

And clap your hands,

Till sunny days return.

Yo-hohoho Yo-ho-ho-ho

Gather up all of the crew,

It's time to ship out Bink's brew,

Wave good-bye,

But don't you cry,

Our memories remain.

Our days are but a passing dream,

Everlasting though they seem,

Beneath the moon,

We'll meet again,

The wind's our lullaby.

Gather up all of the crew,

It's time to ship out Bink's brew,

Sing a song,

And play along,

For all the ocean's wide.

After all is said and done,

You'll end up a skeleton,

So spread your tale,

From dawn till dusk,

Upon these foamy seas.

Yo-hohoho Yo-ho-ho-ho

Yo-hohoho Yo-ho-ho-ho."

Laboon tried to sing along with me, ending the song. I smiled and wondered how people could create such masterpieces.

"You must be Rayleigh's boy. It took you a while." I turned around, and Crocus was standing in the doorway with a smile on his face.

"And you must be Crocus-San. You're the first one ever to hear me play. How do you like it?" I asked while putting my violin away in its case.

"Laboon seems to like it. You play exactly like his old crewmates. But you're not here to play music, I'll dream if you're worthy enough to call yourself a doctor. Also, Rayleigh mentioned that you have a devil fruit that might come in handy."

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