The waves rolled gently against the sides of the imposing battleship as it neared Marineford's colossal port. The glint of the Marine insignia on its hull caught the midday sun, shining like a sword drawn for battle.
The ship slowed its speed before the anchor thundered down into the sea with a deep sound, sending a tremor through the deck.
Clang!
Marines stationed along the harbor began to stir from their relaxed postures. One sharp-eyed sailor squinted at the incoming vessel and shouted, "Oi! That's Vice Admiral Luffy's ship!"
"Seriously? Divine Fist Luffy? Back already?!"
"No way... That guy barely steps foot here unless someone drags him in chains!"
"Shhh! Shut up and stand straight, or he'll hear you!"
As the gangplank extended with a metallic groan, boots thudded against the wood one by one.
First came Luffy—his posture relaxed, hands casually shoved into his pants pockets, chin slightly tilted upward like he owned the very air around him. His overcoat fluttered in the salty breeze, the Marine insignia dancing across his back like a flag of war.
On either side of him walked Hina and Kuina. Hina, with her long cigarette resting delicately between her lips, oozed class and danger, her sharp heels tapping rhythmically against the ramp.
Kuina matched her stride, her piercing blue eyes scanning the area, her katana gently bouncing on her hip. Her presence was more than just commanding—it was magnetic.
Behind them was Zoro, arms crossed, eyes half-lidded with boredom, but anyone who knew him could feel the raw power behind that lazy façade. His aura alone made the sailors step aside.
A hush fell over the port, and then whispers broke out like a spreading fire.
"Holy hell... that's Vice Admiral Luffy in the flesh."
"Do you think something serious happened? Why would he come back?"
"He's always avoiding HQ unless forced… Did he get into another fight with a Celestial Dragon?"
"I heard last time he nearly punched one off the Red Line!"
"But isn't he the one who taught our unit those killer Haki drills? My Armament got ten times stronger!"
"Yeah, my brother said Luffy fixed a cracked rib after a sparring session. He said sorry and gave him sea king jerky... said it was a rare 'treat.'"
"I'd go to war for that guy... not even kidding."
Luffy barely acknowledged the murmurs. He smirked faintly, enjoying the warmth of their respect even if he pretended otherwise. But deep inside, he was glad.
He didn't care much for ranks and medals, but the way they talked about him… the admiration? That mattered. That meant he was doing something right.
His crew slowly began to disperse.
Some marines ran toward waiting loved ones, others toward the training grounds. A few stayed behind only to salute Luffy one last time before dashing off to catch up on sleep or report to their officers.
Zoro stopped at the edge of the courtyard and stretched, cracking his neck.
"I'm off," He grunted. "My swords are getting restless. I need to bleed something."
Kuina grinned. "Try not to break the training dummies again. Gion was still complaining about your last session."
Zoro gave a half-smile and disappeared into the distance, the gentle breeze carrying the faint clink of his swords.
Now it was just Luffy with Hina and Kuina.
Kuina glanced at Luffy with a teasing smirk. "Permission to leave, Vice Admiral? I promised Gion I'd show her the new sword stance I mastered. She's been bugging me about it for weeks."
Hina raised an eyebrow.
"And I'll join. Gion has excellent wine. Besides," She turned to Luffy with a wink, "you're no fun when you're sulking."
Luffy rolled his eyes dramatically.
"Oh no. Abandoned by both my beautiful guards... what ever shall I do?" He said in a mock-dramatic tone.
Kuina giggled, clearly pleased. "You'll survive. Try not to burn Marineford down while we're gone."
As the two women left, Luffy stood alone in the port. The buzz of the Marines around him faded as his mind drifted. He sighed, his lips forming a thoughtful line.
They really missed this place, He thought. Maybe... I've been keeping them away too long. Just because I hate this place... doesn't mean they should.
He turned, ready to walk toward his personal quarters, when a lazy, drawling voice came from behind him.
"Yare yare... is it the end of the world? Divine Fist Luffy... returned of his own will? And here I thought the Admirals had to drag your ass in kicking and screaming."
Luffy paused and groaned. "Speak of the devil…"
He turned to see Admiral Kizaru descending a flight of steps, a slow, almost comedic bounce in his stride. His wretched monkey face wore a shit-eating grin that made Luffy want to punch something.
Kizaru tilted his sunglasses with one finger, the afternoon sun flashing off the glass.
"Back already, troublemaker?" He drawled. "Did someone wave a Celestial Dragon's dog bowl at you again?"
Luffy squinted at him. "Where are you headed, fossil?"
"Ouch." Kizaru clutched his heart dramatically. "Right for the old-man jokes, huh? I'm going on a mission. It's bonus season. Gotta earn my shiny medal and keep the Fleet Admiral happy."
Luffy snorted. "Don't die."
Kizaru gave him a lazy salute and vanished in a flicker of light.
Finally reaching his quarters, Luffy frowned. He paused at the door, his instincts flaring.
Someone's here.
He gently opened the door. A faint creak echoed through the quiet room.
His brow arched as he saw a familiar silhouette inside—delicate frame, long blue hair tied neatly, her back to him.
"Ain?" He said with a smirk.
The girl jumped, nearly dropping the towel in her hand. She spun around, her cheeks instantly flushing. "Vice Admiral?! I—I didn't know you were back already!"
Luffy leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Sneaking around in my place, eh? You're either a burglar... or my secret housekeeper."
"I—I was just making sure everything was clean for your return! Honest!" Ain stammered, visibly flustered. Her hands were still gloved, and a small bucket of cleaning supplies sat on the floor behind her.
Luffy's eyes softened. He looked around. The place was spotless—floors polished, sheets fresh, even his cluttered desk was organized.
"You always take care of it while I'm gone?" He asked gently.
Ain nodded, still flustered. "I-I just thought you'd like to return to a place that felt... warm. Not that I was waiting or anything! Just fulfilling duty, you know? N-nothing weird!"
Luffy chuckled, walking over and ruffling her hair. "Thanks, Ain. You're too sweet for this place."
She turned redder and muttered something under her breath.
"So," Luffy said, now leaning back on the couch. "If you're here, then that means Zephyr's back too, right?"
Ain smiled, more composed now. "Yes. We returned yesterday. He's in a meeting with some Vice Admirals right now. You should go see him."
Luffy tilted his head. "Maybe later. I've had enough old men teasing me for one day."
Ain giggled.
The room was filled with a comfortable silence, a warm domesticity that contrasted with the cold steel halls of Marineford.
Luffy closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the peace. But deep inside, the fire still burned.
'I've already got four fruits', He thought. 'Just one more... and I'll be unstoppable.'
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
📢 Author's Note 📢
If you're enjoying this story and want more chapters right now, I invite you to check out my Patreon. There you'll find:
✅ Daily updates – never miss a day of new content
✅ Advanced chapters – read far ahead of public releases
✅ Exclusive perks & extras – only available to patrons
Your support not only gives you early access but also helps me dedicate more time to writing and expanding this story. Every reader who joins makes a huge difference.
👉 Dive into more chapters today: patreon.com/Myth_Valley
Let's keep the adventure alive! 🔥📚✨