Reminder
Yamato sat beneath a towering tree on a quiet hill, her back resting against its trunk. The gentle breeze teased her long white hair, tied back in a loose ponytail, as her eyes remained fixed on the horizon. In her hands were two pieces of paper—one detailing the return of Imai Ryujin, the Fifth Emperor, whose reappearance on Sabaody Archipelago had shaken the world. The other, a bounty poster, displayed Imai's face alongside an astronomical figure: 3.4 billion berries.
A bittersweet smile crossed Yamato's face as she traced the edges of the bounty with her thumb.
"You're back, friend," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the gentle rustling of leaves.
But the joy in her words was tempered by a lingering sadness. She glanced around at her surroundings, the oppressive air of Wano a stark contrast to the freedom she longed for. Her gaze dropped momentarily, her thoughts drifting to the chains her father had placed on her—not just the physical ones, but the emotional shackles that bound her to this land.
"I wish I could see you and welcome you back," she whispered. "But I can't leave just yet. I'll wait for you."
Her eyes returned to the horizon, now a dark line against the encroaching night. As the sun disappeared, her voice softened into a vow:
"I know you'll come for me. No matter how long it takes, I'll be here."
Far away, Imai Ryujin jolted awake, her heart pounding against her ribcage. The vividness of the dream lingered, Yamato's sad smile etched in her mind like a haunting memory. The connection felt so real, as if she had been standing there, witnessing her first friend's quiet despair.
The dim glow of the night surrounded her, and she glanced to her side. Nico Robin lay peacefully, her breathing steady as she clung to Imai's jacket, which she had borrowed earlier. Imai reached out, tugging gently at the fabric, but Nico's grip tightened as she turned away in her sleep.
A helpless smile crept onto Imai's face. "To sleep so blissfully under these circumstances…" she muttered. "I guess I'll stay awake. I'm not tired anymore."
As the memory of Yamato's face resurfaced, Imai's hand instinctively reached for the earring dangling from her right ear. Yamato had given it to her during one of their last moments together, a symbol of their bond and their shared promise. The left earring remained with Yamato, a connection that time and distance could not sever.
"What am I doing?" Imai chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Getting sentimental isn't like me."
By morning, the island was alive with the hum of life, though danger still lurked around every corner. Nico stirred awake, stretching before noticing Imai sitting nearby. She yawned and rubbed her eyes.
"Morning," Imai greeted with a raised eyebrow. "You seemed to sleep well. Dreaming about anything interesting?"
"Nothing special," Nico replied evasively, standing and adjusting her coat. "Let's get moving. No time to waste."
Imai's eyes flicked to her jacket, now draped around Nico's shoulders. She shook her head with a resigned smile. "That girl… oh well."
The two set off through the dense forest, their destination clear in their minds.
"To Shandia," Nico said. "Beyond it lies the path to Conis. Back then, Shandia was out of reach of Enel's Mantra… or Observation Haki. But now, who knows? He's taken control of everything."
"Strong warriors, the Shandia," Imai mused. "Hopefully, we don't have to fight them, but with our luck, it seems inevitable."
As if on cue, a warrior emerged from the shadows, his face painted with red stripes, a bazooka aimed directly at them.
Imai reacted instantly, grabbing Nico and leaping out of the way as the missile detonated.
BOOM!
Smoke and debris filled the air, and when it cleared, more warriors appeared, each armed and ready for battle. Their expressions were cold and unyielding, devoid of any interest in negotiation. Imai's sharp gaze scanned them.
"Bazookas," she muttered. "High impact but slow to reload. They outnumber us, but… we're us. We've got this."
"Let's go," Nico agreed.
The battle began in earnest, Imai darting through the fray with speed that left their enemies scrambling to keep up. Nico used her Devil Fruit powers with precision, sprouting limbs to disarm or disable the warriors before they could land a hit. The synergy between the two was seamless, their movements perfectly synchronized as if they had fought together for years.
One warrior aimed his bazooka at Imai, but before he could fire, Nico's hand sprouted from his shoulder, twisting his arm and forcing him to drop the weapon. Imai capitalized on the distraction, dispatching him with a swift strike.
"Thanks," Imai called over her shoulder.
"Focus," Nico replied curtly, already disabling another foe.
As the warriors fell one by one, fear began to creep into their ranks. But retreat was not an option; they chose death over dishonor.
Imai's blades gleamed as she unsheathed them. Her red eyes burned with a familiar intensity—the thrill of battle and the promise of victory.
"Two Sword Style: Sovereign's Cleaving!"
She vanished, her form a blur of motion. In an instant, two warriors collapsed, their bodies cleanly cut. Blood sprayed into the air as Imai reappeared, her swords dripping with crimson. Her movements were fluid and elegant, a deadly dance that left her opponents in awe and terror.
"That's five and six," she counted aloud, her voice steady despite the carnage.
A missile soared toward her, but she sliced it cleanly in half, the explosion harmless against the Haki coating her body. With a burst of speed, she appeared mid-air, striking down two more warriors in a single motion.
Nico watched from the sidelines, her eyes narrowing. "She's enjoying this too much."
The remaining warriors hesitated, their resolve wavering as they faced the demon-like swordswoman.
"You brought this upon yourselves," Imai said, her voice cold.
The battle ended in moments, the forest eerily silent save for the soft rustle of leaves. Imai sheathed her swords, exhaling as she turned to Nico.
"Onward to Shandia," she said, her tone lighter. "I hope they're more reasonable than this lot."
Nico gave her a look, half exasperated, half amused. "Let's hope."
Together, they continued forward, the promise of more battles ahead as they carved their path through the chaos of Skypiea.