CH-6: Doctor!

As Captain Marius hurried towards the ship's quarters, he noticed the door nearly destroyed by gunfire. Inside, the bodies of pirates who had attempted to enter lay with bullet holes in their heads. Stepping over them, he entered the cabin where a commotion was ongoing. Several passengers lay dead from random gunfire, including the doctor. Amidst the chaos, a young girl, about 14 or 15 years old, was dressing wounds, tears streaming down her face.

"Are you the doctor?" Captain Marius asked.

She sniffled, wiping her eyes. "No, that was my grandfather. I'm just his apprentice. He... he was killed in the attack."

Captain Marius understood her grief but saw her resolve. "We need your help on deck. There are many injured."

She nodded, brushing away her tears. "I'll do my best." She finished bandaging a wound, grabbed the doctor's kit, and followed him.

On deck, she spotted Kosuke, bloodied and unconscious. Concern flooded her face as she recognized him as the one who had saved the passengers by shooting down pirates. She rushed to his side. "We need a stretcher," she called out. Crew members scrambled to help.

Dante followed closely, his face a mask of worry. She turned to him. "You can't come in. I need space to work."

Dante hesitated, then nodded. "Please, save him."

Her expression softened. "He'll be okay. I promise."

Inside the makeshift infirmary, she worked quickly, using forceps and a scalpel to remove wood splinters from Kosuke's back. He grunted in pain, and she apologized, giving him a herb to dampen it. "I'm sorry I don't have any anesthesia."

Kosuke just grunted, enduring the pain silently. After an hour, she emerged, wiping sweat from her brow. "He's stable now," she told Dante. "His wounds are dressed, and I've applied herbs. He should be fully healed in a week."

Dante was surprised but grateful. "Thank you. Can I see him?"

She nodded, heading off to help others. Dante entered the room, finding Kosuke awake but weak. Tears welled in Dante's eyes. "I can't afford to lose you."

Kosuke smiled faintly. "You won't. You're my little brother. I'll always protect you."

Dante smiled through his tears and hugged Kosuke gently. Kosuke winced in pain, and Dante quickly apologized, both laughing softly.

Captain Marius stood at the helm, surveying the aftermath of the battle. The deck was strewn with the wounded and the fallen, and the air was thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder and blood. As he took it all in, a profound sense of gratitude welled up within him. He knew without a doubt that without Dante and Kosuke, this day would have ended in tragedy.

He glanced over at Dante, who was tirelessly helping the crew despite the exhaustion evident in his movements. Dante's ability to manipulate his bones, a gift from his Devil Fruit, had turned the tide of the battle. Marius remembered the sight of Dante swinging his bone mace, each strike a brutal testament to his power. The young man's fierce determination and incredible abilities had saved countless lives today.

Marius's eyes then found Kosuke, who was being tended to by the young apprentice doctor, Lucy. Even in his injured state, Kosuke had an air of resilience. His sharpshooting had picked off numerous pirates, protecting the crew and the ship with deadly precision. The bond between these two young men was something Marius deeply respected. They fought not just for themselves but for each other and everyone on board.

The captain's heart swelled with gratitude as he thought, "Without these two, we'd be mourning many more losses today." He watched as Dante, despite his own weariness, kept a vigilant eye on Kosuke, ready to leap into action if needed. Marius knew that such loyalty and courage were rare.

In the chaos of the battle, Dante's powers had been a beacon of hope. The Devil Fruit's abilities were often feared and misunderstood, but in Dante's hands, they had become a force for good. Marius silently thanked whatever fate had brought these two onto his ship. He understood now, more than ever, that their presence was a blessing. His thoughts drifted to what might have been—a massacre, a sunken ship, a crew lost to the depths.

Turning back to the scene of their narrow victory, Captain Marius made a silent vow. He would ensure that Dante and Kosuke knew just how much their bravery had meant. He would not forget the debt of gratitude owed to these young heroes who had fought with the ferocity and heart of seasoned warriors. As he gave orders to tend to the injured and secure the ship, Marius knew one thing for certain: today, they had all been saved by the unlikeliest of saviors, and for that, he was eternally grateful.

…

A week passed, and every day Lucy Diez, the young apprentice doctor, visited Kosuke. Each visit brought us all closer. Kosuke would smile as she entered, her presence a comforting routine.

Also, the captain had released us from his duty as chore boys, saying that he will pay us in full whenever we decided to disembark.

"Good morning, Kosuke," Lucy greeted, setting her medical bag down. "How are you feeling today?"

"Better, thanks to you," Kosuke replied with a grateful smile. "I can't thank you enough, Lucy."

She waved it off, though a small smile crept onto her face. "It's the least I could do. Besides, tending to you keeps me busy."

As she worked, they talked. Lucy shared her story, each detail bringing them deeper into her past. "My parents were killed in a pirate attack when I was little," she began one day, her voice steady but eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I remember hiding in fear, watching everything from a tiny corner. I felt so helpless."

Kosuke listened intently, his heart aching for her. "I'm so sorry, Lucy. No one should have to go through that."

She nodded, blinking rapidly to keep her tears at bay. "My grandfather found me later. He raised me and taught me everything I know about medicine. He was my hero. Losing him during the attack... it was like losing my parents all over again."

Kosuke reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You're incredibly brave, Lucy. Your grandfather would be proud of you."

She often cried when speaking of her grandfather, her tears a mix of grief and gratitude. "Thank you, Kosuke," she whispered, wiping her eyes. "And thank you for saving us. Without you and Dante, I don't know what would have happened."

One day, during their usual conversation, Lucy shared more about her background. "My grandfather and I were returning to Torino Kingdom when the pirates attacked," she explained. "It's where we lived, and he taught me everything about medicine there."

Kosuke raised an eyebrow. "Torino Kingdom? That's quite a journey from here. What's it like?"

"It's a small island, but rich in medicinal knowledge," Lucy said with a hint of pride. "The people there are dedicated to healing and research. My grandfather was one of the best doctors in our village."

Kosuke nodded thoughtfully. "It sounds like a special place. I can see why you're so skilled."

One day, as Lucy left Kosuke's room in tears, I saw her and wondered what was wrong. I waited until she was out of sight, then entered the room. "What's going on with Lucy? She seemed really upset," I asked Kosuke.

Kosuke sighed, recounting the story Lucy had shared.

I felt a pang of recognition. "Torino Kingdom... that's familiar," I mused. Later, I checked my journal, where I noted everything about the South Blue. Flipping through the pages, I found it. "It's where Chopper went to train," I realized, a spark of excitement in my eyes.

Determined, I decided to take Lucy in. I found Kosuke later that day, a plan forming in my mind. "Kosuke, we need to talk. I've been thinking about Lucy."

Kosuke looked up from his spot, curious. "What about her?"

"She needs a place to belong, and we need a doctor on our adventures," I explained. "I think we should ask her to join us."

Kosuke considered it, then nodded. "You're right. She has nowhere else to go, and her skills would be invaluable. Plus, she's strong and kind. She'd make a great addition to our team."

We approached Lucy together, finding her in the midst of tending to another crew member. She looked up, surprised to see us both. "Is everything okay?" she asked, wiping her hands on a cloth.

"Lucy, we wanted to talk to you," I began, my tone serious but warm. "Kosuke and I have been discussing our plans. We're going on an adventure, and we could really use someone with your skills. Would you consider joining us?"

Lucy looked between us, her eyes wide. "You... you want me to come with you?"

Kosuke nodded. "We do. We think you'd be a valuable member of our crew. And honestly, we'd feel a lot better having a skilled doctor like you with us."

Tears welled up in her eyes again, but this time they were tears of hope. "I don't know what to say... thank you. I would be honored to join you."

I grinned. "Great! We'll make sure to get you whatever you need. We're in this together now."

And so, with the ship repaired and the crew ready, we set sail once more.