Flashback
Two months before[ November 11, 1521 ] DAY-308
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the small coastal village as Kai made his way through the marketplace. The scent of fresh fish and spices filled the air, mingling with the ever-present salt of the sea. Merchants called out their wares, haggling with customers in the animated dance of commerce that seemed universal across worlds.
This village—Eastridge, according to the weathered sign at its entrance—was another stop on the winding journey Kai and Nami had been taking across the East Blue. It was meant to be unremarkable, just a place to resupply before continuing their treasure-hunting expedition.
"Hey! Two sea king fillets over here!" Nami called out, waving to a fishmonger from several stalls away. Her orange hair caught the sunlight, making it seem as though her head was crowned with fire. She'd grown comfortable with their partnership over the past few months, no longer the guarded thief he'd first met in Loguetown.
Kai smiled as he watched her haggle the price down mercilessly. Some things never changed, regardless of the timeline.
His wrist communicator gave a subtle vibration against his skin—an alert from the Red Queen that they'd received another message from the orphanage they'd rebuilt two months ago. He made a mental note to check it later when they returned to their room at the inn.
The Forgotten Island Orphanage had become something of an unexpected commitment. What began as a simple act of kindness—using his Wish Power to rebuild a storm-ravaged facility—had evolved into an ongoing project. The orphanage now served as a beacon of hope in the region, equipped with technology that would have seemed miraculous to the local populace. The "Momo" guardian robot he'd created to protect the children had become almost legendary among the coastal villages.
And that was becoming a problem.
"Did you hear about those kids on Forgotten Island?" a gruff voice said from nearby. Kai's enhanced hearing picked up the conversation without difficulty. "They say some red-haired wizard built them a fortress that rebuilds itself when damaged. Pirates tried to raid it last week and were thrown back by invisible walls."
"Nonsense," his companion replied. "Probably just some Marine outpost with cannons they don't talk about."
"No, I'm telling you. My cousin's boy was there. Says there's a metal man that turns into a giant when danger comes. And the wizard and his orange-haired woman visit sometimes, bringing strange treasures."
Kai suppressed a sigh. So much for keeping a low profile.
He adjusted the bandana covering his metallic red hair—a precaution he'd started taking in more populated areas—and continued browsing the market stalls. His heart-shaped tail was safely tucked away inside his pants, another necessary inconvenience to avoid unwanted attention.
"Kai!" Nami called, waving him over. "I found some good deals on supplies. And look at this." She held up an old navigational instrument. "The craftmanship is amazing. Could be worth something to the right buyer."
As he approached, Kai noticed a figure watching them from the shadow of a nearby alley. The person—a thin man with a scar across his cheek—quickly averted his gaze when Kai looked his way. Surveillance wasn't unusual. Their treasure-hunting exploits had attracted attention from various unsavory elements over the past months.
"We should head back to the inn soon," Kai said quietly. "I think we have a shadow."
Nami's expression didn't change, but her eyes narrowed slightly. "Again? That's the third one this week. Your gadgets are attracting too much attention."
"It's not just the gadgets," Kai replied, helping her gather their purchases. "It's the stories spreading about what happened at Arlong Park. Word travels fast in the East Blue."
They moved through the market with practiced efficiency, making their final purchases before heading back toward the village's only inn. Their path took them down a winding street lined with modest houses, laundry fluttering like flags in the sea breeze.
"Do you think we should change our route?" Nami asked once they were away from the crowds. "Maybe head west instead of continuing north?"
"It might be wise," Kai agreed. "We're supposed to meet Luffy in about two months, but until then, staying unpredictable would be safer."
As they approached a quieter section of the village, Kai's enhanced senses detected another presence following them—not the same man from the market, but someone else who moved with more purpose, more skill. His hand instinctively moved to the utility blade at his hip, a reflex honed through months of adventures.
"We have another tail," he whispered to Nami. "Professional this time."
Without missing a beat, Nami linked her arm through his, leaning close as if sharing a lover's secret. "Let's lose them at the crossroads. You go right, I'll go left, meet at the back entrance of the inn."
Kai nodded, appreciating her quick thinking. Months of partnership had forged them into an effective team, each complementing the other's strengths. As they reached the intersection, they separated with casual grace, each taking a different route as planned.
Kai's path led him down a narrow alley between weathered buildings. He moved swiftly but without appearing to rush, conscious of the follower who had chosen to track him rather than Nami. He tapped his wrist communicator twice, activating a passive scan of the surrounding area. The small device hummed softly, mapping the locations of all nearby life signs.
Three buildings ahead, an elderly man sat alone on a bench outside what appeared to be a small teahouse. Something about the man caught Kai's attention—perhaps the stillness with which he sat, or the way his unseeing eyes seemed to track Kai's movement despite the bandana covering his white eyes.
Deciding to take a calculated risk, Kai altered his course, approaching the teahouse rather than continuing toward the inn. His pursuer remained at a distance, apparently content to observe for now.
As Kai drew nearer, the old man lifted his head, nostrils flaring slightly.
"An interesting scent you have, young traveler," the elderly man said, his voice surprisingly strong despite his apparent age. "Not quite like any I've encountered in all my years."
Kai paused, studying the man more carefully. The milky whiteness of his eyes confirmed his blindness, yet there was an alertness to his posture that suggested heightened awareness of his surroundings.
"Good afternoon," Kai replied cautiously. "You have a keen sense of smell."
The old man chuckled, patting the bench beside him. "When one sense fails, others compensate. Please, join me for tea. It's been a while since I encountered something truly new."
Kai hesitated, glancing back to confirm his pursuer had taken position at a food stall across the street. Making a quick decision, he sat down beside the old man.
"I'm Kanto," the elderly man offered, pouring tea from a small pot without spilling a drop despite his blindness. "Once a sailor, now just an old man who listens to the wind."
"Kai," he replied, accepting the cup. "Just passing through your village."
Kanto nodded, taking a sip of his own tea. "Few actually 'pass through' Eastridge. We're hardly on the way to anywhere important. Most who come here are seeking something—or hiding from something." He turned his face toward Kai, unseeing eyes somehow penetrating. "Which are you, I wonder?"
The directness of the question caught Kai off guard. Before he could formulate a suitably vague response, Kanto continued.
"You don't smell like the fishermen or the merchants," the old man said. "Not like the villagers born here with salt in their veins, nor like the pirates with their stink of rum and gunpowder." He inhaled deeply. "You smell like… neither human nor any species I know. Something else entirely. Something from very far away."
Kai's heart beat faster, but he maintained his composure. "That's quite an imagination you have."
Kanto smiled, revealing teeth worn by years but still strong. "Is it imagination when your footsteps fall too lightly for your apparent size? When your breath patterns betray a lung capacity beyond human norm? When your skin radiates heat at a temperature that should indicate fever, yet your voice shows no sign of illness?"
Across the street, the spy leaned forward slightly, clearly straining to hear their conversation.
"Perhaps I'm just unusual," Kai replied carefully.
"Perhaps," Kanto agreed amiably. "Or perhaps you are from somewhere beyond the Grand Line. Somewhere none of my charts ever marked." He sipped his tea again. "I sailed these seas for sixty years, young man. I've seen islands that appear and disappear with the tides, creatures that defy description, and people with abilities that challenge belief. Yet you… you are genuinely new to me."
Kai studied the old sailor, weighing his options. Something about Kanto inspired trust, despite the risk. After months of hiding his true nature from everyone except Nami, the prospect of speaking openly with someone was tempting.
The spy across the street had edged closer, attempting to appear casual as he ordered food from the stall.
"Your shadow has poor technique," Kanto remarked quietly. "Too eager. A professional would maintain greater distance."
Kai's estimation of the old man rose further. "You noticed him too?"
"I may be blind, but few move through this village without my knowledge." Kanto set down his cup. "There's a back entrance through the teahouse. It leads to a path along the shore—a shortcut to your inn, if that's where you're staying. Your curious friend won't be able to follow without revealing himself."
"Why would you help me?" Kai asked.
Kanto's weathered face crinkled with amusement. "Because you are interesting, and interesting things are rare at my age. Return tomorrow, if you wish. I'm always here, and I enjoy good conversation."
With a nod of thanks, Kai finished his tea and followed Kanto's directions through the teahouse. As promised, a rear door opened onto a narrow path that hugged the coastline, hidden from the village streets by a row of wind-bent trees.