Fist of Love
Several weeks later, as I trained with the others, all four of us were sparring while wearing blindfolds, with Sabo and Luffy having little success, and Ace showing surprising progress. After switching opponents and going through our daily hundred fights, we finally tired ourselves out.
"I'm hungry. Why do we even have to train like that anyway?" Luffy asked from where he lay flat on his back. He tore the blindfold from his face and tossed it to the side with a huff.
"We do it because it's useful. If we can fight while blind we can fight anywhere." I said without going into further detail since I had already explained it to him several times.
It was only recently that we helped Naguri finish building his ship. He left yesterday. He had long since decided to head out to sea in search of his former crew mates, intending to have one last adventure. That's why I've taken over the training sessions. We also decided to move into his hideout and built our own base nearby.
Together we constructed a tree fort not far from the entrance to my underwater base. We built it on the tallest tree on the island, giving us a view of everything for miles around us. With the initials C.A.S.L. Written on the bases flag in various colours it looks rather respectable. The C is a deep blue colour, like that of the sea. The A is a strong, blazing red. The S is has a bright golden hue, with the L being pure, untainted white. All contrasted on a shadow black flag.
We had it made in the order of our ages. With me being the oldest and Ace and Sabo having flipped a coin for it. Luffy as the youngest has his initial put last. Plus I think it's cool that it sounds like castle when said out loud.
I used this opportunity and our time together to help teach Luffy the value of basic skills. I tried my best to teach him how to use a hammer and fix simple damage to the fort. I also drilled into him how to cook without burning anything and how to bandage basic wounds and recognize poisonous food so he doesn't do something stupid like eat the skin off a rock fish because it looks tasty. I did the same for Ace and Sabo, but let's be honest, they don't need it nearly as much as Luffy does.
I didn't go near navigation though. If they actually learn anything in that regard it might alter their course when they first set sail and who knows what kind of changes that would cause. My presence is already a total unknown factor. For all I know the butterfly effect has already been triggered and the flap of my wings will one day call a storm down on my head. Hopefully I'll have the power to ride the waves and take control of of my fate.
Makino is actually the one in charge of teaching Ace and Luffy when she has time, but she focuses on the basics like etiquette, addition and subtraction, as well as reading and writing. Garp apparently asked her to do it and she's done a fine job, especially with Ace. She visit is us sometimes at ours, or the bandits hideout. She really is a kind young woman.
After they left Dadaan's mountain hideout Sabo, Ace and Luffy began living here full time. I obviously joined them, as that's what brothers do. I haven't used my underwater base for much If being honest. It's mostly just a storage space where I go to experiment, tinker and play around with the scrap metal and tools I've salvaged. Though I do have a few ideas spinning around in my mind for how to put it to good use.
"I think we already used up the last of the food in the hideout." Ace remarked while laying flat on his back, arms splayed our like a star fish. He panted heavily from the exertion. The rumbling growl of his stomach broke my train of thought.
"And the beasts on this part of the mountain all moved to other territory to get away from us, so hunting has been more difficult than it needs to be. We'll have to go up higher in the mountains, or split up and fight as pairs." Sabo added between laboured breaths. He was leaning against the side of a tree, his hands on his knees and his eyes clamped shut.
"We can always go to Dadan and try to get them to feed us." I remarked off handedly.
"Good idea!" - "Let's go." - "Woah, wait for me!"
As we all ran off through the woods and up the mountain, with Ace and Sabo still exhausted after their most recent spar, it didn't take us long to reach the small wooden home of the notorious mountain bandits. Thankfully the heavy-set, orange haired women is actually a just big softy despite her fearsome appearance. She's also tough as a box of nails.
Though the fact we used to bring our prey back here for them to cook for us also meant they got their fair share over the years. I've never been the best when it comes to meal preparation if I'm honest. Then again I'm not too picky so it never bothered me.
Maybe the bandits letting us come here to eat occasionally is just their way of paying us back? Either way the food here is delicious. Not as good as in the capital, or Makino's bar of course, but these bandits really know how to make the most of what they have.
"I'm gonna become a pirate before you do, so just forget it." Ace said with a mouthful of roast pork.
"That's not fair! I'm gonna become a pirate before either of you!" Luffy yelled as he leapt up on the table, forcing me to pull my plate away to keep him from stepping on it.
"Yeah, we'll see who becomes a pirate first, but I'll definitely be the first to form my own crew. My bounty will be way bigger than either of yours." Sabo proclaimed as he shovelled a mouthful of roast pork into his mouth.
"Oh! So your still saying crap like that eh?!" A booming voice echoed out from behind us, causing me to suck in my breath as Dadan and the bandits sneakily left the through the back door.
The moment Luffy and Ace laid eyes on the owner of that smooth baritone they both gulped audibly. Monkey D. Garp, the hero of the marines, stood stock still before their eyes, his broad shoulders and straight back filling up the entire doorframe. He stroked his greying goatee with curios, wandering eyes. He watched with a half-smile as Ace and Luffy simultaneously spat out their drinks, soaking me and Sabo in juice. Which I flicked off using my ability. Though controlling juice isn't as easy as controlling ordinary water.
"Can't you understand that you must all become navy soldiers?! What do you think I've been raising you for? Huh!" Garp howled before punching all four of us with his massive knuckled fist.
"Ahh! Why me too?" I yelped in surprise at the sudden impact, gripping my forehead as a large red bulge formed beneath my hands.
Holy crap did that ever hurt!
That was by far the hardest I've been hit since coming to this world. I instinctively moved the water soaked into my hair and clothes to the top of my head in order to dull the pain, healing the bruise within seconds of it forming.
Garp didn't seem to miss that. He stared down at me and nodded to himself before he struck me again for good measure.
"Oh god! Why?!" I yelped even louder this time. I held my hands up in surrender as I continued to heal the large bumps protruding from my forehead.
"Hmph, it's because you were smiling while listening to them. Your older, so you should know better!" Garp remarked gruffly, his dark brown like eyes boring into mine.
The moment the marine Hero turned around to scold Ace, Morph popped up out of his glass of juice and turned himself into a giant, slobbery tongue, blowing a big wet raspberry at his back.
"Hm?" Garp turned his head, but was oblivious to what happened as Morph had already slipped back into his juice glass and took on the shape and consistency of the liquid within.
"It seems like you boys need some discipline. Don't you worry… I'll make sure to beat it into you." With a mighty crack of his knuckles Garp looked down at the four of us with a predatory gleam in his eye.
….
After suffering through Garps punishm-cough-reformation training, for an entire week he finally, and thankfully, left. Seemingly satisfied with our progress. I'll always be grateful for him helping us improve, but holy hell did it ever suck to train with that man.
Naguri was tough and didn't pull his punches, like I asked, but Garp is nothing shy of a monster! And he should definitely hold back more when punching children!
Wait… he shouldn't even be punching children to begin with!
"Ahh man, my whole body feels like one giant bruise." I sighed long and hard, letting a puff of warm air flow from my lungs. I decided to sooth my aching muscles by jumping into the ocean. Letting myself sink far beneath the waves. Using the large quantity of water to better heal my weary bones before I return to train on my own once more.
'I think I'll go spar with the lord of the coast.' I thought once I was fully healed and the embracing, empowering, feeling of the ocean filled my every cell with renewed vigour. Without I dove even further into the abyss; intent on settling my score with that giant eel.