Vivi

"Thank you so much for saving us," she said between coughs, water dripping from her hair and clothes. "We could have died."

Sanji gave her a reassuring smile, his gentlemanly nature shining through despite the chaotic situation. "It's my pleasure, Miss. No one deserves to be left to the mercy of the sea, especially not a lady."

"There is someone else with me," Vivi requested in a low voice. "Can you help him too?"

Sanji, without hesitation, was about to jump into the sea again, but Toshiro stopped him.

"Hmm???" Sanji was confused.

"There is no need to," Toshiro said.

"Why?" Vivi asked with an angry tone.

"He is already dead. I killed him," Toshiro said with an innocent smile.

Vivi's eyes widened in shock and horror. "What do you mean, you killed him?" she demanded, her voice rising with anger and disbelief.

Sanji, equally taken aback, turned to Toshiro. "What the hell are you talking about, Toshiro?" he asked, his tone tense.

Toshiro's innocent smile didn't waver as he shrugged nonchalantly. "He was already sinking with the boat. I figured it would be a mercy to end it quickly."

"But... but he coul—" Vivi started to protest, her voice trembling with emotion.

Toshiro interrupted her, his voice cold and menacing. "Do you want to die too?" He looked at her as if she were a joke.

"You seem to not understand your situation," Toshiro said with a cold smirk. "Your life and death are at the mercy of my hand. You need to repay me for saving you, bitch."

Vivi's eyes widened in shock and fear, her hands trembling. "What do you mean, repay you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Toshiro leaned in closer, his expression dark and unyielding. "I don't know, give me some ideas?" His voice was dripping with malice. "Fail to do so, and you'll find yourself at the bottom of the sea just like your friend."

Vivi struggled to hold back her tears, trying to think of something that might appease him. "I... I can help with navigation. I know the seas around here well. Or maybe I can assist with supplies, or... anything you need," she stammered, her voice shaking.

Toshiro's cold smirk widened. "You better hope those skills are worth something," he replied, straightening up. "For your sake."

Sanji stepped in, his voice firm but not yet confrontational. "Vivi doesn't owe you anything, Toshiro. She'll help us because she's a decent person, not because you threaten her."

Toshiro's gaze flicked to Sanji, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "You want to test me, cook? Remember your place."

Sanji didn't back down, but he chose his words carefully. "I'm not testing you. I'm just hoping you understand that threats won't get you loyalty. Respect does."

Toshiro's smirk remained, but there was a hint of something darker in his expression. "Respect, huh? That's a quaint idea. But remember, cook, respect is a two-way street. Cross me, and you'll see just how quickly that street can turn into a dead end."

Sanji held Toshiro's gaze for a moment longer before nodding slightly. "Understood. But that goes both ways. Treating people with decency isn't a sign of weakness."

Toshiro shrugged, clearly uninterested in the philosophical debate. "We'll see about that," he said, turning his attention back to the horizon. "Now, let's get moving. We have a Grand Line to conquer."

As Toshiro walked away, Vivi let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. She looked at Sanji and Nami, who gave her reassuring nods.

"We'll keep you safe," Nami said firmly.

Sanji smiled, but his eyes were serious. "Yeah. No one's going to hurt you on our watch."

The crew resumed their tasks, the tension slowly dissipating but not entirely gone. Toshiro's presence loomed over them, a constant reminder of the fine line they walked between safety and danger.

"Speaking with righteous straw hats is worthless," Toshiro muttered to himself. He didn't want to lose a good chef like Sanji over what he saw as a trivial issue with Vivi. As he watched the crew work, his mind raced with possibilities. "Should I just sell her to Crocodile?" he wondered. "Or maybe I could use her to threaten Imu?"

Toshiro chuckled to himself at the thought. "Then again, I don't have enough information on Imu. And with the One-Piece manga never ending even after 69 years, continuing under the author's son after his death... it's hard to know the full story."

He glanced at Vivi, who was helping Nami with some navigational tasks. "She could be useful," he mused.

"Well, it is what it is. Let's gamble it all," Toshiro thought, remembering to always bet on Hakari. His smirk returned, the thrill of the unknown sparking in his eyes.

Vivi never thought she would be this unlucky. First, her country was almost taken over by the Shichibukai Crocodile, forcing her, as the princess of Alabasta, to work inside Baroque Works as a spy to finally figure out who was behind the scenes. And now, after surviving a storm that could have killed her, she was saved by pirates who wanted to enslave her.

As they continued their journey, Vivi's thoughts swirled with a mix of fear, anger, and determination. "I can't believe this is happening," she thought, her heart heavy with the weight of her circumstances. "I've been through so much already, and now I'm in the hands of these ruthless pirates."

She glanced at Toshiro, who seemed to be yawning and looking at her Provocatively. His unpredictable nature made him even more annoying to look at, and Vivi knew she had to tread carefully. Despite the fear gnawing at her, she resolved to stay strong and find a way to turn the situation to her advantage.

"I have to find a way to escape," she thought, her mind racing with possibilities. "I can't let them use me or my people. I need to gather information and look for any opportunity to get away."

Vivi's resolve hardened as she recalled the faces of her people, the suffering they endured under Crocodile's rule. She couldn't afford to give up now. She had to be smart, patient, and ready to act when the time was right.

Nami, noticing Vivi's troubled expression, gave her a reassuring pat on the back. "Hang in there," she whispered. "We'll figure something out."

Suddenly, Toshiro appeared behind them, throwing his arms around their shoulders in a mock hug. "What are you two scheming about without me?" he asked, grinning mischievously.

Vivi jumped slightly, her eyes widening in surprise. "J-Just talking about the weather," she stammered, trying to hide her discomfort.

Nami forced a bright smile. "Yeah, Toshiro, just discussing the lovely storm we just went through. Nothing secretive at all."

Toshiro's grin widened. "Is that so? You know, it's not nice to keep secrets from your captain." His grip tightened slightly, but it was more playful than threatening.

Vivi, trying to keep the mood light, chuckled awkwardly. "Well, if you must know, we were also debating which one of us would look better in a pirate hat."

Nami's eyes sparkled with mischief. "I think Vivi would rock the pirate look, don't you, Toshiro?"

Toshiro tilted his head, pretending to ponder. "Hmm, you might be right. But only if she agrees to wear an eye patch too."

Vivi, catching on, grinned. "I don't know, Nami. I think you'd look great with a parrot on your shoulder."

Toshiro laughed, releasing them and stepping back. "You know what? I think you'd both make excellent pirates. But let's save the fashion show for later. We have a long journey ahead."

Nami playfully saluted. "Aye aye, Captain Fashion Critic, NAH I'D WIN."

As Toshiro walked away, Vivi let out a small sigh of relief. "Thanks, Nami. That was close."

Nami winked. "No problem. Just keep your wits about you, and we'll be fine."

"But what did you mean by 'Nah I'd win'?" Vivi asked curiously.

"I don't know either," Nami replied, shrugging. "I just see him sometimes talking to himself or in a deep thought, and he randomly say, 'Nah, I'd win.' So I started saying it to him, and for some reason, it makes him smirk and stop being aggressive. It's a trick I found. So when you find yourself in an argument with him, say it."

Vivi nodded, filing the tip away for future reference. "Got it. Thanks, Nami."

"Anytime," Nami replied with a grin. "We're in this together, after all."

Toshiro glanced back at them, his smirk widening slightly as he heard their conversation. He shook his head, amused by Nami's cleverness, and continued on his way, muttering to himself, "Nah, I'd win."

Later that night, as the crew settled into their respective corners of the ship, Toshiro's sinister side emerged. He cornered Nami, his expression as flat and emotionless as ever.

"You know, Nami, I couldn't help but notice your little act of defiance today," he said, his voice devoid of warmth, but with a hint of sinister humor.

Nami's eyes widened, but she tried to maintain her composure, blushing slightly as she realized the gravity of the situation. "I don't know what you're talking about, Toshiro."

"Oh, you know exactly what I'm talking about," Toshiro replied, stepping closer. "Helping that girl, thinking you could outsmart me. I don't appreciate being made a fool of, you know."

Before Nami could react, Toshiro's hand shot out, grabbing her wrist tightly. "I think you need a reminder of who's in charge here."

"Our jujutsu kaisen just started," Toshiro said with a smirk.

"Our jujutsu what????" Nami responded, confused.

"You don't need to understand. Our skibidi sigma story just started for your punishment."

"Huh? Can you speak human language, please?" Nami said, trying to run.

Toshiro held her in place effortlessly. "Let's just say you're about to experience a very weird chapter in your life."

Nami struggled, her confusion only growing. "I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm not sticking around to find out!"

With a swift move, Toshiro pulled her closer, his smirk never fading. "Too late. Consider this an initiation into the bizarre world of my making."

Nami's eyes widened, her mind racing for a way out. "You're insane!"

Toshiro chuckled darkly. "And yet, here we are. Now, let's make this night memorable, shall we?"

Despite the strange and menacing atmosphere, there was an odd, almost comical undertone to the whole situation. Toshiro's bizarre references and Nami's bewilderment clashed in a surreal mix, creating a scene that was both dark and absurd.

The next morning, Nami woke up, struggling to move as her cheeks were red. She informed the crew of their next destination. "We're heading to the next island on the log pose," she said, her voice strained. "It's called... Kindergarten."

The crew looked at her, puzzled. "Kindergarten?" Kuro asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are you serious?"

Nami nodded, wincing slightly. "That's what Toshiro said. He explained the log pose and the eternal log pose to me... in ....."

Vivi, noticing Nami's condition, approached her with concern. "Are you okay, Nami?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine worry.

Nami gave a weak smile. "I'll be fine, Vivi. Just a little sore."

Vivi's eyes widened in realization, and she bit her lip, feeling a mix of sympathy and unease. "I can't believe you had to go through that. I'm so sorry, Nami."

Nami shook her head. "Don't worry about it. It's just... something I have to deal with for now."

Toshiro, overhearing the conversation, strolled over with a smirk on his face. "You all ready for the next adventure?" he asked, his tone mockingly cheerful.

Nami glared at him but said nothing, knowing better than to provoke him further.