The evening on the Moby Dick felt heavier than usual.
The sunset painted the sky in brilliant shades of orange and purple, waves crashing gently against the side of the ship, but none of it settled the growing weight in Lupin's chest. He leaned against the rail, arms crossed, eyes locked on the distant horizon like it held the answers to the storm brewing in his mind.
Ever since losing to Moria, something shifted. Not in the ship, not in the air — in the people. The way some crewmates passed him by with indifferent glances, the silence in conversations where his voice would have once mattered. It wasn't hostility… it was distance. Except for two.
Izo, calm and steady as always, still stalked him, slept on his bed, and stole his blanket as if nothing had changed. And then there was Teach.
"Yo, Lupin!" That familiar voice broke the quiet, and a moment later, Teach appeared at his side with a bottle of sake and a grin like he hadn't a care in the world.
Lupin gave a half-hearted wave but didn't look up.
"You're gonna burn a hole in that horizon if you keep starin' at it," Teach chuckled, leaning against the railing. "C'mon, what's goin' on? You look like a man waitin' for his own funeral."
Lupin hesitated. He'd tried talking about this once before — brought it up to Whitebeard himself. But Pops had just laughed it off, telling him not to overthink things. The old man's word was law on this ship, and once he spoke, few would question it.
But Teach… if there was anyone who might listen, it was him.
"I've been thinkin'," Lupin muttered, barely audible over the waves. "About Kaido. And Big Mom. There's a chance… a real chance they might ally."
Teach froze for a second before bursting into loud, hearty laughter. The kind that made heads turn on deck.
"Bwahaha! That's a good one, brother!" Teach grinned. "You're overthinkin' it. Those two? They ain't friends, never been. Two monsters like that — too much pride, too much bad blood."
"I'm not joking, Teach." Lupin turned to face him, the weight of it pressing behind his words. "It makes sense. Whitebeard's moving soon. If those two teamed up, even if just for a little while, it could change everything. I tried tellin' Pops, but…"
He trailed off.
Teach's grin faded slightly. His eyes, always a little too sharp for how laid-back he seemed, studied Lupin for a moment.
"So that's what's got you twisted up," Teach said quietly. "Look, I ain't sayin' you're dumb for worryin', but trust me on this — Whitebeard's the strongest man alive. Strongest human to ever walk this world. If by some impossible twist of fate those two did join forces, it still wouldn't matter. Pops would flatten 'em."
Lupin didn't answer. He just looked out to sea.
Teach clapped a hand on his shoulder, heavy and warm. "And if it ever came to that, you and me? We'd be fine. I promise you that."
There was something in the way he said it — something strange. But Lupin was too worn to notice. He managed a small, tight smile and a nod.
"Yeah… thanks, Teach."
"Don't let those other bastards get to you," Teach added with a crooked grin. "You're still one of us."
As Teach walked away, laughing to himself, Lupin stayed by the rail, the wind carrying the sounds of the crew's chatter. He wanted to believe it. He really did. But deep in his gut, something told him this wasn't paranoia. This was a warning.
That Same Night — On Onigashima
The great hall of Kaido's fortress echoed with the sound of clanking goblets and the distant roar of beasts. But the atmosphere was thick — not with celebration, but tension.
At the head of the massive table sat Kaido, beast of a man, his broad shoulders hunched as he took a long pull from his jug of sake. Across from him, Charlotte Linlin — Big Mom herself — sat like a thundercloud about to burst.
Kaido grinned, slamming his jug down. "Big Mom… let's cut through the bullshit. I called you here 'cause I've got an offer."
Big Mom arched a brow, swirling the wine in her cup. "Better be a damn good one, Kaido. You know I ain't in the mood for your games."
Kaido chuckled. "I ain't askin' you to fight Whitebeard. That old bastard's mine. I wanna crush him with my own hands."
Big Mom grunted, unimpressed. "Then what's this about?"
"I need you to handle his brats," Kaido said, eyes gleaming. "Marco, Jozu, Vista — you know how they are. If I go head-to-head with oldman, those pests'll be all over my territory. I need someone strong enough to keep 'em busy."
He reached into his coat and slid a small parchment across the table. Big Mom unfolded it, her expression darkening as she read.
"The Lunarian bloodline…" she whispered.
"Yeah," Kaido smirked. "I know where to find 'em. I'll hand 'em over after Whitebeard's dead. That's a promise."
Big Mom's expression shifted. For a moment, greed flickered in her eyes — but it didn't last.
"I ain't a fool, Kaido," she growled. "I've seen what Whitebeard can do. I ain't startin' a war with him."
"I ain't askin' you to fight him," Kaido shot back. "Just hold off his little crew while I settle the score."
The room hung in silence.
Then Big Mom let out a slow, dangerous chuckle. "You got guts, I'll give you that. Fine. I'll play your little game. But if you fall, I'm takin' what's left."
Kaido barked a laugh and raised his jug. "If I fall, the world's gonna burn with me."
And just like that, a dangerous alliance was made.
Far away, aboard the Moby Dick, Lupin's unease wasn't just nerves.
It was the first sign of the war that would change everything.