(Chapter 30) Failure and Stars

{Marineford}

Wukong sighed as his den-den mushi rung for the hundredth time today, He could feel some of his hair turn draw by days

He picked it up once more, 'What is it?' his tired voice came through Kong's snail as he sighed before explaining himself

'It's admiral Kong, Sorry to bother you Fleet admiral Wukong' Wukong felt something off from his tone of voice as he rubbed the bridge of his nose

'Please tell me it's good news admiral, I just got off a call with the five elders, and I can't get them to shut up about the eighth blade' said Wukong

Kong just sighed before telling the fleet Admiral flat out, 'The Roger pirates were able to repel us, till they could escape but what was weird was that they had a kid with them who was able to hold himself against Commodore Xepher'

Wukong slammed his head onto the desk as he held himself from crushing the snail in his hand 'Come again?'

'It's as I said fleet admiral a kid was able to best a marine commodore' said Kong as Wukong sighed

'That's what I thought you said... Just head back to base, did you get a picture of the kid so we can go through files?' asked Wukong

'I'll send it to you now, thank you, fleet admiral we'll see you soon' said Kong before hanging up

Wukong gritted his teeth as he slammed the Den-den mushi on the table before it rang once more before a piece of paper came from its mouth

Wukong grimaced before shaking the picture from its seliva, It showed a picture of a Long haired boy holding a black Katana, wearing a worn-out red kimono

"Where have I seen that face before as he skimmed through his files not coming up with anything" he just sighed as he signed a piece of paper before calling in a marine

A woman wearing a captains coat walked in and soluted before he gave her the piece of paper 'Take this to the bounty department'

The soldier soluted once more before taking the piece of paper including the picture and leaving through the door

Wukong leaned back on his chair putting one leg up as he raised his glasses (Anime style) "Why does his face look so familiar?"

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{New world}

[11:30 pm]

Ryu made his way up the stairs, Most of the people onboard were either asleep or getting drunk partying in the kitchen

He left downstairs as he didn't feel like staying with a large crowd, He soon made his way to the crows-nest as he curled onto himself

He looked up towards the star-filled sky, He remembered the days his jini would stay with him up all night on the balcony gazing at the moon

Tears formed in his eyes as he wiped them, Soon a figure jumped up and landed next to him as it leaned on the railing 'Hey kid why are you up here alone?'

Asked Rayleigh as he smiled and ruffled Ryu's head the same way his grandfather used to

Ryu sniffled as he wiped his tears giving Rayleigh one of those fake smiles, The man noticed how his smile wasn't genuine as his smile faltered

Rayleigh sighed before sitting down next to the kid, 'You know this reminds me whenever my old man used to take me to the top of the mountains as we star gazed'

Ryu just sat next to home quietly as Rayleigh ranted on about his childhood as his smile became a little more genuine

Rayleigh smiled seeing this, 'You know you remind me of myself when I was your age' he said

'Oh, how so?' Asked Ryu as he gazed towards the large moon, 'I used to get into a lot of trouble myself in my teen years, usually would go and bother the marines stationed on the island and throw rocks towards the trainees as the general would shout at them' said Rayleigh as he chuckled

'I'm not that old' said Ryu as Rayleigh raised an eyebrow, 'Oh then how old are you? mister fire swordsmen' asked Rayleigh

'I turned 5 not too long ago' said Ryu which shocked Rayleigh, The man stammered a bit before shaking his head as Ryu laughed for the first time in weeks

His laughs died down as he held onto his stomach, Rayleigh just sighed before they fell into a comfortable silence

'Jiji would always take me outside to gaze towards the stars like this' said Ryu as tears formed in his eyes once more

Rayleigh just smiled as he comforted the young lad, as he let his cry on his shoulder, Ryu silently wept on his shoulder as the man patted his back

And soon without noticing both fell asleep only to be found hours later by Roger who smiled as he jumped back down towards his room

He would let the two rest for now, Tomorrow they would be reaching Wano as they resupply and drop off the kid, They can't have a kid on the high seas while he might have a chance at a normal life

Roger sighed as he opened the door to his room as he lay on the bed, Taking out the picture from his cherished hat, gazing at the woman in the picture as he smiled and closed his eyes

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Hope you enjoy ☺️

Little bit of character development doesn't hurt does it? Anyways drop those stones let's try and get to 60 stones by the end of the week

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