Wano–
A month earlier.
For most of Wano's people, they had never experienced the real warmth of the golden sun waking on their land, flowers blooming during spring, and the salty air greeting their lungs as they went fishing. 20 years, 20 long years of watching a place they call home, rot slowly at the hands of tyrants, who also slaughtered their Shogun. A man renowned for his strength and persistence to make his people smile.
The will of Kouzuki Oden has finally returned in the form of a young blonde man, not native to this land, but still carrying the fire that made Oden the sun of Wano.
–Flower Capital –
The former castle of Orochi has been turned into the City Council. All matters of Wano will be discussed by the new Shogun, Kouzuki Momonosuke(Aged up) and his advisors consisting of the Nine Red Scabbards, the band of Samurai/Ninja who followed Oden's will and now serve his son.
Hiyori took on a role as a consul for the rural areas in Wano such as the Kuri region.
"Brother, we must strive for more democracy in our country, the ways of lineage rule will cause unnecessary conflicts. " Hiyori advises her brother.
"You're right sister, maybe a new form of governance is needed. " He nods.
"You brats are making too much noise. " Hitetsu grumbles, now revealed as Kouzuki Sukiyaki, their grandfather, and a polished blacksmith.
"Forgive us, grandfather. " Hiyori bows, pulling Momonosuke's head down with hers.
"I'm the Shogun of Wano. He should bow down to me." Momonosuke says under his breath.
"What was that boy?" Sukiyaki dares him to repeat his sentence.
"Nothing, grandfather. " He mumbles.
Hiyori holds back a laugh, trying to maintain her mature facade.
Sukiyaki looks at his granddaughter, "Don't think I haven't noticed how much time you spend with that Ramos boy." The elder Kouzuki exposes.
"Grandfather!" Hiyori shrieks, a blush blooming on her pale skin, and she tries to hide her embarrassment in her kimono sleeves.
"Wait, what?" Momonosuke gasps, leaning closer to his embarrassed sibling, and he gets extremely close.
"Momonosuke..." She warns.
"You let Ramos court you?" He scowls, protective instincts flaring. "He is not worthy of your presence!" He slams his hand on the tea table.
"That is not your decision to make!" Hiyori snaps.
Momonosuke flinches at her outburst, the 28-year-old Shogun submits to her rage, not wanting to get bruises before training with the Scabbards.
"Forgive me sister." He apologises.
Hiyori huffs, pulling him into a hug, her anger vanishes, back to her sweet demeanor.
"You're as frightening as your mother. " Sukiyaki admits.
Before they could respond, a scream cut through the palace, moving to the source of the sound, they found Yamato with Tama and Toko, the two precious girls, screaming in excitement as Yamato took them along with her to catch bandits.
"Even with Wano entering a new age, there are still a few against the change." The Ogre Princess shakes her head.
Tama and Toko sat on the back of Yamato's stallion, Kumo. A majestic white horse she rescued at Bakura Town, who is a trusted companion.
Tama munches on an apple, "Big sister Yamato, can we train Kumo to be a ninja horse?" She asks with stars in her eyes.
Toko giggles, a natural smile on her face for once, "Yeah, we can teach him ninjutsu!" She adds.
"That's a great idea!" Tama praises.
"Yeah!" They yelled simultaneously, child- joy in full display.
Yamato couldn't help but smile at the girls, the two shared a similar experience to her, childhoods full of pain and suffering but luckily they could grow up in a happier time.
"Where is that idiot. " She sighs, thinking of her light blonde-haired friend Ramos.
"Tama notices Yamato's hesitation, "Big sister Yamato, is Ramos coming back soon?" She hopefully awaits a positive response.
Yamato ruffles the younger girl's hair, "Of course he'll come, he's just busy right now."
Toko smirks mischievously, "Maybe he's planning to surprise Big sister Hiyori. " She teases.
"Toko!" Hiyori gasps, the maiden is reaching her limits of handling embarrassment.
"Ramos, I swear I'll make you pay for this." She promises, running back into the palace to escape anymore teasing and questions about her relationship with the hero of Wano.
Momonosuke gets a tick mark on his forehead, "That man will pay for what he's done to my sister." He announces.
Tama and Toko chuckle at his words,
"Big brother Ramos is really strong Shogun-sama." Toko points out.
Tama gestures with his hands, making a fist, "He beat Kaido and his All-Stars singlehandedly. " Tama boasts.
×××
Kuri beach–
"So, you're really heading back?" Angelica tilts her head to the side, the sun shining on her face, black hair coiling like roots, and her pitch-black eyes stare into his soul.
Ramos turns to her, hair no longer a rich blonde colour, now looks bleached by time, his wearing a minimalistic Yukata.
"There's nothing left to do here, most of the Beast Pirates have been tamed by Tama and now work to repair Wano, and Kaido...isn't moving anytime soon. "
Ramos let her be, watching her movements closely.
"You really almost died fighting them..."
"I had no other choice. "
"Bull shxt!" She snaps, jabbing her fingernail against his chest. "You could've joined them,Kaido would've loved to have a marine under his control. "
"I don't work for pirates." He spits out.
Angelica smirks, "Right, but you have no issues working with them."
Ramos clenches his jaw, taking in a deep breath. " Some pirates are not as scummy as others." He admits.
"Like muah?" She jokes, looping her arms around his neck, chest to chest, lips nearly touching.
"I knew you'd fall for me~"
"In your dreams. " He snorts.
"You're no fun." Angelica pouts, stepping back from him, and she makes a show by stomping on the ground.
"You shouldn't be so cruel to women."
"You're a tough girl Angelica, I've seen you manhandle pirates twice your height." Ramos muses.
"That's different, when I'm in battle, I'm ruthless but normal Angie is a softie."
"A softie that can resurrect people?" He rolls his eyes.
"Stop painting me as some demon!" She growls, hands igniting in emerald flames.
"Don't think because you're a woman, I won't knock you out." Ramos coats his fist in armament. ,
"I would question your manhood if you did." She unsheathes her blade, catching it on fire.
Like 2 caged predators, a day couldn't pass without them clashing. ground-shattering
Boom
Slash,
The surrounding area becomes a demolition course, ground-shattering to shock waves, trees eaten alive by green fire, and the wildlife scattered off to find a new home. an
Ramos and Angelica fought for a good hour, exchanging blows to keep each other sharp, to most, their dynamic is a toxic rivalry or just two people who hate each other–Yamato's words.
That's just half the truth, in reality, they had an unspoken respect for each other, reflections on what they could've been. Ramos followed the route of justice to ensure no person has to suffer at the hands of pirates, Angelica sails the seas to find her own purpose beyond her father's name.
Baam
His fist colides with her giant green projectile slash, splitting the attack in two, he points his finger at her.
"Finger pistol."
High pressure air strike, moves towards Angelica, the pirates snap her fingers, bursting into smoke.
"Nice try~" She appears behind him, sword raised as she slashes at his back.
Zip
Her blade connects with a wall of black lightning, he condensed his conqueror's to coat his body alongside his armament.
"How?" Angelica gasps, black bolts denying her blade from its target.
Ramos kicks the air, igniting his legs to burst into flames, he soars up above her.
" Rankyaku, phoenix cries." A phoenix erupts from his flaming legs, screeching into the skies, and the majestic bird soars towards Angelica.
"Mudhnib eazim."
The clouds cleared to reveal a comet descending to Ramos.
"Kami!" He shrieks, concentrating his haki on his left palm, and crimson energy glows on the outlines of his hand.
BOOM
An atomic red palm rockets to the comet, the two attacks exploding to a shower of burning rocks, raining down on Wano.
Angelica's eyes nearly burst out of her eye sockets, "This is bad."
Ramos wasted no time in moving towards the beach, 'Hiyori will kill me if she sees burned fish in the oceanmade them !' He panics.
[A few hours later]
Ramos and Angelica, move around Kuri beach, collecting the pieces of rocks from earlier, despite their collaboration in stopping the attack from damaging the environment, Hiyori found out and left them with bumps on their head and responsible for cleaning the beach and later on the rubble at the abandoned prison mine.
Hiyori has her arms crossed, looking at them with a stern look,"Next time you two want to fight like fools, do it at the shutdown factories or any of Kaido's filthy creations."
"Yes, ma'am." They responded simultaneously, fighting a Yonko is one thing but a pissed off noble woman is a God-tier threat.
,"Hiyori, just so you know it was his idea." Angelica thows him under the bus.
"WHAT!?" Ramos jumps hysterically, "You summoned the comet!"
"Who blew it up?" She claps back.
"Enough from both of you." Hiyori's voice was cold, not the sweet green-haired girl who tended to their wounds but a maturing woman with responsibilities to her nation.
Just like that, their quarrel died down and they resumed to working.
[Present day]
Ramos leans over his ships railings, looking at the clear waters as he's finally returning to Marine base after 2 months of chaos, Emperors after his head, a new promotion and more relationships in foreign lands.
"It's time to go back home. "
×××
Alubarna, Alabasta.
On a dessert island in Paradise, the once peaceful home is under civil war, the rebel group vs the Royal guards is an ongoing conflict here and with the added presence of Warlord Crocodile, the land has, more serious matters other than the rain scarcity, luckily for them a certain straw-hat wearing boy and his crew are here to save their land.
"Ace!" A voice calls out, a black-haired boy, with a scar under the left side of his face, wearing jean shorts, sandals and a red sleeveless shirt, jumps into the arms of a shirtless male[Pauce]
Portgas D. Ace,
The second divisions commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
550 million berries bounty
Godson of Grap, adoptive brother of Monkey D. Luffy and Ramos's nephew.
"It's good to see you Luffy, I see your still getting to trouble huh?" Ace grins.
Luffy lets out a loud laugh, "I can't help it, I love a good challenge." The younger brother cheers.
"Are you two done?" Sonya ticks, standing opposite to them, her officers are all knocked out, leaving her as the sole marine.
"Not only do I have to face that brat but one of Whitebeard's annoying commanders. " She takes a drag of her cigarettes, Jitte pointing at them.
"Give up before I actually have to hurt either of you." She warns.
"Not a chance." Ace chuckles, combustions happening on his body.
"Great." Sonya turns her lower half into smoke, moving towards them with her weapon raised up.
Ace's fist burst into flames, dashing at her, they clashing the middle of the street.
[End of chapter]