1 Chocolate Village

Tall yellow-leafed trees and mountains of green grass. The surroundings of Chocolate Village had always been a scene of magnificent beauty as nature itself seemed to have blessed it. Placed on an island near the Sabaody Archipelago, the village faced many threats of pirates.

That's right, pirates of many allegiances roam about in these waters. Some are men of freedom, finding joy in exploring the lands that are scattered around on this planet of water. Most, though, are vile men that violently take and murder.

Their minds only filled with grandeurs of treasure hunting, to be rich and powerful. If they can't find it for themselves, then they might as well take it from anyone they could find. Mostly people that are much weaker than themselves.

Such was the case right now.

The village center where the Lola Park was placed in was filled with people tied up as they were forced to kneel down. Men, women, children and even the elderly, no one was spared by these scum that found the village when they were washed ashore due to a storm. A lucky find for them, a disaster for the villagers.

"You scum! I told you we have nothing like gold in this village!"

A young woman was foul with her words, but no one in the village found it strange as the woman had always been quite fierce. But now, instead of annoyance, they were filled with fear. Not because they were scared for their lives, but because they didn't want her to get hurt.

"Stop Malinda, you're being too noisy!"

A young man beside the young woman hurriedly placed himself on her side, holding her down to placate her. Malinda was about to mouth off again when she felt a butt cover her face, a familiar butt.

"Shut up now Mal, it's not a good time to be an idiot."

The suffocating Malinda felt her face get freed from those clutches as she glowered at her friend Cocoa. The girl had no emotions in her face as if not caring about her friend's anger as she watched a few pirates looking around. Looking for the foul mouthed Malinda.

"I swear if you do that agai-"

Ferrero pushed down Malinda again as the young woman was speaking. She was about to try and push him off when a shadow blocked her view and a soft feeling once again placed itself on her face.

*mmph*

*slap* *slap*

A muffled scream was sounded out as Malinda declared surrender which was proven by how she was tapping on the ground repeatedly. The young woman felt the weight on her face remove itself as her face once again felt free.

"We just have to wait, Akatora will come anytime now."

Cocoa was displaying a smitten smile while she thought about her 'husband'. Though there was only a promise between them, she already gave him her heart long ago.

His gallant figure appearing on her mind. The blue eyed boy she had always been with has said he'd be here by 12 o' clock. It was 11:45 right now which means he'll be here.

"Boss! We found something!"

A mean faced crew shouted towards a man who had been resting on a barrel just now. His red hair and long legs made him stand out but what really made him unique was the hook he had for a hand. The notorious pirate 'Hookhand' Larry.

"Yaryaryaryaryar, good! You bunch of liars thought you could hide treasure from me? I'll have you all hanged later, yaryaryaryaryar!"

Looks of hatred, fear and sadness were mixed into the civilian crowd as they watched the man walk inside one building at the third street of the village. Akatora's home.

"No! Don't you dare enter!"

A high pitched voice shouted loudly from among the crowd of villagers as a teenage boy who wore a white long sleeve shirt and blue shorts stood among them. His blonde hair and brown eyes were strikingly unfamiliar to the kneeling Cocoa as she wondered who that boy was.

"That's right, who told you to enter my house?"

A young man wearing a white coat, blue pants and white long sleeves entered the scene as he walked silently from who knows where. The strange thing was that the pirates that he passed through fell on their knees, fainting as froth came from their mouths. His long red hair had been tied into a bunch as a bandana held them back. He took off his coat and threw them to the boy that shouted just a while ago before cracking his knuckles.

"Get him!"

Hookhand Larry pointed his hook towards Akatora while the man placed his arms on his waist. His face had a mocking smile that taunted Larry who still had his hook pointed at him.

"..."

Ten seconds passed and yet not a single soul responded to Larry, let alone to attack Akatora. Larry looked at the men on the ground near Akatora and only now felt that he was in danger. He then looked at the men behind him, only to see that they were already on the ground, frothing at the mouths too.

"What did yo-"

*bam*

*thud*

Larry turned back only to eat a punch straight to the face. He felt his nose get broken by the punch as pain coursed through every part of his body from the hard fall he just had. He laid face up on the ground, still unable to register the attack he just took.

"Rosinante! Free the villagers!"

"Yes, sir!"

The blonde haired boy went around the kneeling villagers while untying the ropes that shackled them. The villagers went around, finding their loved ones as tears finally flew out from their freed bodies. A young woman looked at Akatora's back that was bundling the rest of the pirates before they woke up, feeling proud of himself for finally getting to practice what Sengoku taught him.

"Akatora!"

The young woman waited for him to turn around, only to realize that he won't be doing that for a while so she called him out instead. Akatora turned around only to feel a head slam into his nose. The man then fell down face up while wondering about his situation.

'This feels strangely familiar'

"Akatora! Welcome home!"

That was until he saw a face grinning at him from above. He couldn't help but smile as well as he took her into his arms, placing his head against her shoulder.

"I'm home, Cocoa."