The morning felt wrong.
Ren realized it before he even opened his eyes.
Not pain.
Not fatigue.
Something worse.
A gap.
Like a page had been torn out of a book he was still reading.
He sat up slowly.
"…what did I do yesterday?"
Silence.
Too long.
He frowned.
"…I should remember."
But he didn't.
Not clearly.
Only fragments.
Kuina's face.
Zoro's voice.
The sea.
Then—
Nothing.
"…I forgot something important."
His hand tightened.
"…again."
Kuina Is Already There
When Ren stepped outside—
Kuina was waiting.
Arms crossed.
Expression unreadable.
"…you're late."
Ren blinked.
"…late for what?"
Silence.
That pause was enough.
Kuina's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…you don't remember?"
Ren felt a chill.
"…remember what?"
Zoro appeared behind her.
Immediately noticing the tension.
"…don't tell me…"
Kuina didn't look away from Ren.
"…you don't remember collapsing yesterday."
Silence.
Ren's breath stopped.
"…I what?"
The Missing Hour
Kuina stepped forward.
"…you pushed yourself too far."
Her voice stayed calm.
But there was something underneath it.
"…you started training alone after Zoro left."
Zoro crossed his arms.
"…and then you just dropped."
Ren's mind went blank.
"…I don't remember that."
Kuina studied him closely.
"…that's the problem."
Silence.
Zoro frowned.
"…this is getting worse."
Ren clenched his fist.
"…it's not intentional."
Kuina nodded slightly.
"…I know."
That response surprised him.
She didn't doubt him.
But she wasn't comforted either.
A Conversation That Was Delayed Too Long
Kuina stepped closer.
"…answer me honestly."
Ren met her eyes.
"…I will."
She hesitated.
Then—
"…what is happening to you?"
Silence.
Zoro also looked at him now.
Serious.
Waiting.
Ren exhaled slowly.
"…I don't fully know."
Kuina's eyes sharpened.
"…that's not good enough anymore."
Ren nodded slightly.
"…I agree."
A pause.
Then—
"…something is breaking inside me."
Silence.
Kuina didn't interrupt.
Ren continued.
"…and I think it's affecting my memory."
Zoro frowned.
"…your power?"
Ren hesitated.
"…part of it."
Kuina's expression darkened slightly.
"…so every time you use it…"
"…I lose something."
He finished the sentence for her.
Silence.
Heavy.
Zoro Draws a Line
Zoro stepped forward.
"…then stop using it."
Ren looked at him.
"…you think it's that simple?"
"…yes."
Direct.
No hesitation.
"…if it breaks you, it's useless."
Kuina nodded once.
"…he's right."
Ren gave a bitter smile.
"…I wish it was useless."
Silence.
Because it wasn't.
He knew that now.
It wasn't just power.
It was becoming part of him.
And removing it—
Wasn't an option anymore.
A Moment Only Kuina Notices
Kuina stepped closer.
Lowered her voice.
"…look at me."
Ren blinked.
Then did.
For a brief moment—
That shift happened again.
The "soul outline."
But this time—
Kuina's wasn't stable.
It flickered.
And—
So did his.
But his was worse.
Frayed at the edges.
Like threads coming loose.
Kuina's eyes widened slightly.
"…it's getting worse."
Ren looked away.
"…I know."
Something Arrives
That afternoon—
The air changed.
Not subtle.
Not natural.
Zoro noticed first.
"…someone's here."
Kuina turned toward the forest edge.
"…I feel it too."
Ren already knew.
Before they even saw him.
The presence was… precise.
Controlled.
Unnatural in its calmness.
A man stepped out from the trees.
Plain clothing.
No weapon visible.
But everything about him felt sharp.
He looked at them.
Then—at Ren.
"…so you are the anomaly."
Silence.
Zoro stepped forward.
"…who are you?"
The man ignored him.
"…interesting."
Kuina frowned.
"…answer him."
The man finally smiled slightly.
"…I am simply an observer."
He tilted his head toward Ren.
"…and you are not supposed to exist like this."
Ren felt it immediately.
Something inside him reacted.
Violently.
The darkness stirred.
Not responding to command—
But to recognition.
Ren's Instability Peaks
Ren staggered slightly.
"…you…"
The man narrowed his eyes.
"…your structure is collapsing."
Kuina stepped in front of Ren instantly.
"…don't talk about him like that."
Zoro moved beside her.
"…you're not welcome here."
The man finally looked at them.
"…you are irrelevant."
That single sentence—
Pressed down like gravity.
Zoro's grip tightened.
Kuina didn't move.
But both felt it.
This man—
Was not normal.
A Warning, Not a Fight
The man raised a hand slightly.
"…I will not interfere yet."
Silence.
"…but I will watch until the correction point arrives."
Ren frowned through the pain.
"…correction point?"
The man looked directly at him.
"…when you either become stable…"
Pause.
"…or cease to be yourself entirely."
Silence.
Heavy.
Final.
Then—
He turned.
"…enjoy your remaining coherence."
And walked back into the forest.
Gone.
After He Leaves
Silence returned.
But nothing felt normal anymore.
Zoro was the first to speak.
"…that guy was bad news."
Kuina didn't respond immediately.
Her eyes stayed on the forest.
"…he knew what you are."
Ren clenched his fists.
"…I don't even know what I am."
Kuina turned slightly.
"…then find out."
Simple.
But serious.
Zoro added quietly:
"…before it finishes you."
Ren Alone at the Edge
That night—
Ren stood at the shore again.
But this time—
He didn't feel just watched.
He felt measured.
Like something had finally acknowledged him as an error worth correcting.
He closed his eyes.
Reached inward.
The darkness answered.
But now—
It didn't feel like his anymore.
It felt like something borrowed.
Something unstable.
Something borrowed… that was beginning to demand repayment.
"…I need to stabilize."
No answer.
Only the faint echo of something inside him—
Whispering back.