Morning sunlight poured through the broken windows of Nami's old house. The air was warm, quiet — a strange calm after last night's blood-soaked chaos.
Rakan slowly opened his eyes.
He had slept alone in Nami's room, sprawled across a futon that barely fit his frame. His arms were folded behind his head, long black cloak draped lazily over one shoulder, the twin chains across his chest faintly clinking with every breath.
He yawned. Loud. Deep. Beastlike.
Then sat up.
The ceiling creaked ominously as his head bumped it — again. The room was far too small for someone like him.
He bent low and ducked through the narrow doorway, stepping into the hallway with a lazy stretch of his arms. The wooden floor groaned beneath his weight.
In the kitchen, Nojiko was humming softly as she prepared breakfast.
She turned as she heard his heavy footsteps. "You're awake, Mr. Hero."
Rakan said nothing at first. Just gave a quiet grunt as he walked toward the table.
He eyed the wooden chair in front of him. He could break it just by breathing wrong.
So he didn't sit. Instead, he just crouched slightly, hovering over the chair like he was pretending it was there — without putting even a gram of weight on it. His arms rested casually on the table. The chair never made contact.
Nojiko blinked at him. "That... is not how chairs work."
Rakan gave her a slow, half-grin. "Works for me."
Soon, breakfast was ready — a beautiful spread of eggs, fruits, bread, and roasted fish. The villagers had gathered ingredients from every corner of Cocoyashi, hoping to impress the stranger who had saved them.
Rakan dug in, chewing thoughtfully and saying little.
After a few minutes, he paused, looked at Nojiko, and said between bites, "You cook good."
Nojiko smiled faintly. "Thanks, I—"
"That's it," Rakan interrupted. "You're mine now."
She blinked. "...What?"
"You're also mine," he said casually, taking another bite of grilled fish. "My crew."
Nojiko stood there, stunned, a wooden spoon still in her hand.
Just then, Nami stepped into the room, dressed and freshly washed. Her orange hair shimmered slightly in the morning light. She paused when she saw Rakan at the table.
He was terrifying the night before — a monster, a storm made of muscle and rage.
But now?
He looked oddly peaceful. Eating like a man, not a beast. Sitting — or at least pretending to — like this was just another lazy morning.
Nami approached carefully, then sat across from him. She studied him, hesitant.
"I was afraid of you," she admitted.
Rakan glanced at her.
Nami looked down. "But… you sleep like a baby."
Rakan snorted softly.
There was a strange quiet.
Then Nami spoke again, more firmly this time. "Okay then. Who are you?"
Rakan wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"I'm your captain."
Nami rolled her eyes. "No, I mean your name."
He looked at her for a long moment, then said calmly:
"Rakan."
Nami blinked. "I'm Nami. This is my sister, Nojiko."
Nojiko nodded slowly, still a little thrown.
Nami asked, "Why did you save us? And this village?"
Rakan leaned back, cracked his knuckles, then shrugged.
"I was just passing by. Saw a chance to be cool. And save some beauties."
Nami's cheeks turned pink.
She quickly coughed and looked away. "Right…"
She tapped her fingers on the table. "So… are you a pirate?"
Rakan nodded once. "Yeah."
That made Nami pause.
"I searched for your name last night," she said. "No bounty posters. No rumors. Nothing in any newspaper. It's like you don't exist."
Rakan smirked. "I don't need a bounty to be feared."
Nami hesitated. "How many are in your crew?"
Rakan raised two fingers.
Nami blinked. "Where are they?"
He pointed — one finger at Nami, one at Nojiko.
Nojiko dropped her spoon. "Wait. What?"
Nami stared, confused. "We're the crew?!"
"Now you are," Rakan said simply.
There was a long silence.
Then Nami exhaled, leaned back, and folded her arms.
"Fine. We'll join your crew."
Rakan tilted his head.
"But on one condition."
He raised an eyebrow, curious.
The air was warm, breakfast still steaming on the table, when everything shattered—literally.
CRASH!
A blur of red vest and wild hair smashed through the window, sending wood, glass, and scrambled eggs flying in every direction. Rakan didn't flinch—but his half-eaten fish flew off the table and landed face-down on the floor.
"NAMI!!" Luffy yelled, landing hard on the ruined table. "Let's go! You're my crew!"
He grinned, confident, as if nothing had changed—until two shadows crashed in right behind him.
"YOU IDIOT!" Usopp shouted, grabbing Luffy's leg.
"Don't get us killed, moron!" Sanji added, pinning Luffy's arm.
The three wrestled right in the middle of the destroyed breakfast table—bowls cracked, spoons clattered, and fruit rolled across the floor.
Nojiko stood in shock. Nami's eyes widened. Rakan blinked slowly… then turned his head, watching his meal slowly bleeding out across the floor.
He sighed.
"You ruined my breakfast."
The room went silent.
Usopp and Sanji froze mid-hold. Luffy looked up, confused. "Huh?"
Nami stepped forward. Her eyes were clear now. Sharp. No hesitation.
"I'm with Rakan now."
Luffy stopped struggling. "...What?"
"I'm part of his crew," she said firmly.
Luffy's wide eyes started to tremble.
"No... No! You're part of my crew!" he shouted, voice cracking. "We saved you! We came all this way! You—"
Nami held up a hand.
"Let me be clear."
She walked past the broken glass, past the spilled tea and shattered plate, and stood between Luffy and Rakan.
"Straw Hat… don't pursue me again."
"This village is free now. But you're not welcome here."
Sanji's cigarette fell from his mouth.
Usopp muttered, "She's serious...?"
Rakan stood slowly. Every creak of his body felt like thunder in the tight room. He loomed behind Nami like a wall of darkness.
Then, without warning—
BOOM!
His fist collided with Sanji's stomach, and the cook crumpled instantly, flying back through the doorway like a ragdoll.
CRACK!
Usopp tried to run—but Rakan grabbed his face with one hand and slammed him into the floorboards, knocking him out cold.
Luffy yelled, "STOP!"
But Rakan was already moving.
He grabbed Luffy by the top of his head, lifting him off the ground like a child's toy. Luffy struggled, stretching his arms wildly, legs kicking—but Rakan didn't budge.
He turned toward the open window, looked toward the distant Going Merry docked at the pier.
Then he threw Luffy like a cannonball.
WHOOOOOSH—BOOM!
Luffy flew across the sky, a red blur, screaming as he slammed into the Merry's deck with a loud crash.
Rakan turned back.
Grabbed the unconscious Sanji with one hand, Usopp with the other.
"Get off my island."
And with a single step forward, he hurled them both — two human missiles — through the air, following Luffy's path.
Far in the distance, three bodies crashed onto the ship's deck, groaning.
Aftermath
Silence filled the house again.
Nojiko looked at Nami. Her hands were shaking.
Nami stood still, then looked over her shoulder at Rakan.
He sat back down — or pretended to — and stared at the broken breakfast. He picked up a crushed orange slice between two fingers and dropped it with a sigh.
"I liked that dish."
Nami smiled a little, despite herself.
"I'll make you a new one," Nojiko offered quickly, trying to regain composure.
Rakan gave a slow nod. "Good. That's what crew does."
He looked out the window, golden eyes still smoldering.
"And if they come back…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.