Day out shopping.

Having woken up realtively early, Akane was standing on the shore and doing her morning exercises. It had been a while since she had performed sword practices and she noticed she had become a little rusty and stiff in her movements.

Not one to slack when noticing degeneration, Akane performed many training exercises to get her techniques back to their previous level and beyond.

As the early morning progressed, Akane was slowly working up a little sweat, though the results of the training were very satisfying as she was strengthening her body again. This was a lesson for the future. Make sure to do the sword exercises or else they will deteriorate.

When she heard movement from inside the ship, Akane walked towards the kitchen and waited for Ban to make breakfast. She had scolded Ban the previous when he was about to crack the egg she had found. She was planning to hatch it and raise the animal. If it was ugly and lazy, she would use it as emergency supply. If it was usefull and cute, she would take care of it and raise it well.

Akane caressed the Blue egg in the bag while she was eating breakfast, humming away as she was in a very good mood.

"Laffitte, are you going with us to shop? Or are you staying here?" Akane said as she was quite interested in what Laffitte would buy if he went with them. Laffitte was as unreadable as ever and she really wanted to find out what is likes and dislikes were.

Unfortunately for her, Laffitte rejected the offer with the usual smile on his face. He waved a small but thick book, indicating he would be reading while they were shopping.

"Alright. Have fun." Akane said as she dragged Ban away who was still yawning.

"Do we really have to go so early, Little fox. I would prefer to stay in bed a little longer."

"No. It will be too busy if we go in the afternoon. It's better to take our time and enjoy ourselves. We don't have to shop together if you don't want to." Akane said as she kept her gaze forward.

As if he could read her mind, Ban ruffled her hair and just walked along with her.

"It'll be boring to go off alone. Let's go together."

Akane smiled at Ban's reply and pulled him along with even more vigor.

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Once on the mainstreet, Ban and Akane went to many clothing and other stores. Though Akane was a girl, she really hated to look for clothing. If she found something she like, she would buy it and be done with it. No need to fuss about what to wear and what not to wear.

Like this, Akane ended up with many similar looking clothes. She didn't even look at the other stores, as she already had her clothes. The clothes she had bought, she'd changed into immediately, as the jacket and pants she wore had been completely worn out and were full of holes.

She now wore a hanfu that was very popular on this island. It was comfortable and easy to move in. Acording to the clerk, the clothes were ones martial artist would wear.

It was a red long-sleeved shirt, of which the arms were tied closely against the skin. The skirt was black, while underneath were form fitting leggings. It was tied firmly with an embroidered red band with golden threads. As the finishing touch, she wore black tabi boots.

(A/N: Akane's clothes.... https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000994607426.html?ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_0,searchweb201603_0,ppcSwitch_0&algo_pvid=01cca127-fd23-44c0-b204-7dfca8a58fc6&algo_expid=01cca127-fd23-44c0-b204-7dfca8a58fc6-2)

To make it comfortable, Akane had let the clerk adjust the skirt/legging to be able to let her tails stick out from the back.

Everything to be considered, it was very comfortable and easy to wear.

Ban had found himself some clothes too as he found more variants of the jacket and pants he had worn before.

They had also passed by some weapon store, though there wasn't much to see. Both of them had weapons from better quality and damage output. Lastly the had bought a few books, eternal pose's and some maps for Laffitte. It wouldn't do to forget to bring something for Laffitte.

To end the shopping day with, both of them had went for a bite in a nearby restaurant and filled themselves with some warm food. The waiting staff were looking at them like they were monsters as all the food they brought was finished withing a minute. At the end of the meal, a few towers of plates were stacked up on each other. The bill was pretty large as well, though Ban forked it over without complaint.

Akane would belief the carefree smile, as she could see the half emptied money bag on his waist become full again, while a man not that far away from them was patting his pockets in a flustered manner. It would be sad if the man hadn't been a pirate.

Akane and Ban left the restaurant, while the unfortunate pirate was beaten up by restaurant staff as he tried to dine and dash.

The day had been very comfortable, especially since they weren't bothered by other people and there weren't any marines to strike the wrong nerves. If they didn't have an objective to clear, both Ban and Akane wouldn't mind spending a few more days here after the pose would be adjusted.

They leisurely went their way, not knowing a storm was coming for them.

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At Cactus island.

The bounty hunters that had bothers Akane and co were heavily drinking and cursing their luck. There hadn't been any pirates with bounties on their head near their vicinity and their money was running out. Their boss was getting annoyed with the little amounts they brought in and was planning to make an example if it wasn't improved, making the tension in the air even heavier.

Just when the tension was getting higher, one of the bounty hunters walked inside with blood dripping down his face.

He muttered only one word. "Marines."

The leader was a bit startled but didn't move out, as the man had most certainly proved the marines. If he hadn't he wouldn't be lying there with blood dripping down.

As if proving his thoughts, not long after the man was dragged away by the marine soldiers.

What did surprise the bounty hunter leader was the man who ame in next.

It was impossible not to know him as he was one of the main power houses from the marines, Aokiji.

"Yare, yare, it took pretty long to get here." Aokiji walked forward towards the leader and held up three wanted posters.

"Have you seen them? If you do, tell me where they went and we'll leave you all be." Aokiji said as he lounged down on a chair.

"I've seen them. They were here a couple of days before. If I remember correctly, they should be heading towards Kenzan Island." The leader said as the cold sweat was on his back.

"I see. Then I won't bother you any longer." Aokiji said as he left the bar, the sound of a bycicle bell anouncing his departure.