Hearing news

"I don't want to though?"

Yoichiro spoke and the little orange in front of him was struck to the soul in shock,

"B-but why you saved me, can't you teach me to fight like you. I've heard of you going around fighting nobles, even some adult ones, so can't you?"

"It's not that I can't..."

"Then why?"

"You didn't let me finish, it's not that I can't but as I said I just don't want to."

The kid was downcast, but soon there was a little hope with what Yoichiro told him next,

"I can't teach you but... you can learn."

"Hm? What do you mean?"

Yoichiro thought for a moment and wondered how much to say but in the end, it wasn't really his style. He either preferred to stay silent so people make their own thoughts or he tells them straight up.

"I can give you a manual that teaches you my fighting style but I have three conditions I want you to follow."

The kid frowned despite his naivete he wasn't liking how this was proceeding into a deal type of conversation but he chose to hear the infamous shadow kid out.

"Number one, in the next 10 years if you can't figure out my identity I will personally come and cripple your ability to speak."

A shiver went down orange's spine he just wanted to learn something to defend himself and grow stronger to accomplish his dreams. He nodded and Yoichiro stated the next one.

"Number 2, I want you to report to me information about the grey terminal and find information about the grand line. I want at least 2 bits of information a month I want you to report to me the treatment of commoners and happenings of crimes like trafficking, as well as any pirates that come through."

Yoichiro wanted him to collect information that wasn't in the papers, it would be dangerous for him but he wasn't so cruel as to not protect him in case of danger. Orange was contemplating this one he felt since he was a small and unsuspecting kid it shouldn't be impossible but this was some harsh treatment for someone that was actually around 13 years old...

"Finally right here, right now... tell me your story as short as you can."

Yoichiro looked at the little orange in front of him, he was dressed in normal clothing but he noticed the scars underneath those long sleeves, and he would not accept this kind of treatment to a kid. He was malnourished and his brown eyes carried a mature air that a kid like himself shouldn't have.

After contemplation Orange (is what Yoichiro has named him in his mind) was about to deny the offer that was clearly not something an ordinary kid should offer nor accept Yoichiro spoke first,

"Tell me Orange why do you seek strength and don't tell me about your dream, the dream is only half of it, isn't it? What's your ambition?"

Orange was a bit surprised however somewhere deep inside the tone that Yoichiro took now carried a charisma that just begged him to respond.

"My ambition? Is it not the same as a dream?"

"No it isn't a dream... a dream carries hope, however, hope that word should not have to carry the weight of a dream... An ambition though... an ambition is a goal, an objective that you decide you must absolutely complete otherwise your base as a person crumbles...

"Ambition is invisible yet even the smallest efforts carry the seed of ambition that has yet to sprout. You set principles shaped by the world around you that nurture this seed and will lead to a great big tree that blooms in your figure...

"So tell me Orange... what is your ambition?"

Orange wasn't even bothered by what he was being called and was deeply ruminating over what he was just enlightened about. There was no doubt in hearing his description of what ambition was and unhesitatingly he spoke.

"My ambition... my ambition is to leave my mark on the world so apparent that no one else's even remains in my shadow. I want the world to stop treating me like a small existence and everyone will hear my will!"

Yoichiro under his mask smiled so wide if his face was uncovered someone would think if his cheek muscles could even take it.

"Pfft! Hahahaha! Great, that's a great ambition I'll have to give you my condolences in advance..."

Orange didn't like being laughed at after saying something pretty embarrassing/respectable (take your pick) but he was still moved by his own words and wanted to understand why Yoi apologized.

"What do you mean?"

"I say I'm sorry because inescapable ambition will be overshadowed by someone else..."

Orange impatiently waited for him to continue,

"Who?"

"...A kid in gray terminal."

"..."

He was silent he was expecting shadow kid to say himself, but a random kid in gray terminal? He was about to refute but soon shadow kid walked away without a word.

"Wait... Wait!"

He followed after him into a forest where there wasn't anyone nearby. And he watched him dig up a sword from some inconspicuous part of the place.

'What's he trying to do with that?'

Till now he never acknowledge the young voice and body that the shadow kid had and was surprised to see that he was only slightly taller than the sword.

Yoichiro took the sword and soon he started performing a few light movements dragging the tip of the sword against the ground.

He drew a perfectly geometrical shape made up of circles and then he place his feet.

-Woosh~

A light breeze blew and he started swinging the sword, to Orange he was amazed by the level of control in his body. Yoichiro started performing a little sword dance and then with full force the wind began to follow his movements.

Till he pulled back the sword over his shoulder and he pierced the bark of a tree and then the wind subsided... Orange came out of his trance and questioningly spoke,

"What was that all about?"

He heard Yoi panting heavily and he simply swirled around the tree showing him the effect of his movements. Behind the tree, 10 fist-sized holes were pierced through the trees in an unnatural appearance. Orange gasped and he felt a tap on his shoulder...

"So what do you say... you in?"

[2 years later]

In a forest, a lone figure was dressed in loose-fitting clothes a couple of sizes too big for him but he refused to wear anything kid-sized. He felt footsteps from over 30 meters away and heard,

"Boss Shadow I brought you some news!"

"What's the news Orange that's got you riled up?"

"A crew of pirates that call them the Red-haired pirates have arrived little ways outside the kingdom!"

"Alright that's one of two news for this month that I'll accept, you've gotten better haven't you Orange?"

"For the actual 1000th time it's Orell you childish bastard."

"Haha~ you kept count? that's so like you Orange."

'So Shanks has appeared huh...

And so the story begins...'

******

You vote the kind of love interest you want to see

OC FL

OG FL (Excluding Nami, Robin)