York nodded, about to agree, when Brook suddenly cut in, "We're pirates, kid. Aren't you scared?"
Shirou's smile froze instantly. "P... pirates?" he stammered, twisting his body around before letting out a panicked scream and bolting.
"Forget I said anything! Pretend you never saw me! Just let me go!" Shirou yelled as he ran, cursing his rotten luck. After two weeks of living like a wild man, he finally meets people, only for them to be murderous pirates!
"Hey! Brook! Look what you did!" York flipped off the ship and chased after Shirou. "Kid, don't be scared! We're not bad guys!" But Shirou wasn't listening. He just kept running. Unfortunately, his child-sized legs were no match for York's adult stride, and soon enough, Shirou was hauled back under York's arm like a sack of potatoes.
"Don't kill me, don't kill me!" The crew burst into laughter at Shirou's flailing.
York clapped a hand on the kid's tiny shoulder. "Listen, Shirou. The Rumbar Pirates are just a bunch of freedom-loving folks. Hell, half our crew are musicians!"
Shirou blinked. "Rumbar Pirates? Why does that sound so familiar? And he mentioned someone named Brook? Holy shit, am I in the fucking One Piece world?!"
"York, how the hell are you still alive?!" The entire crew sweatdropped at Shirou's outburst. What kind of brat greets people by asking why they aren't dead yet?!
Realizing the mood had tanked, Shirou scrambled to recover.
"Sorry, sorry! I just heard some sailors say you died! I mourned you for ages! I'm so glad you're alive—please, save me!" He bowed dramatically, oozing sincerity. But internally, he was screaming:
"Fuck! I transmigrated too early! Fifty fucking years too early! Roger's probably still a nobody, and by the time Luffy sets sail, I'll be some old geezer in his fifties! What's even the point?!"
York just laughed, and the crew followed suit, easing the tension. York ruffled Shirou's hair—hard. "Relax, kid. Stick with us! Where you headed?"
"Ow! He's totally punishing me for the 'why aren't you dead' comment! Petty bastard!" Shirou thought, but out loud, he sniffled, "Captain York, my family died in the shipwreck. I've got nowhere to go... please let me stay!" He then clung to York's leg, smearing snot and tears all over it. A massive sweatdrop rolled down York's face.
"Alright, alright, kid. Let go." York pried him off and raised his arm. "Listen up, crew! We got a new friend! What do we do?!"
"Sing! Dance!"
"Hahaha! Then what are we waiting for?!"
"Yohohohoho!"
Shirou, probably starved for human interaction after two weeks alone, quickly got into it, belting out, "Yohohohoho!"
###
Captain's Quarters
Brook and York drank by the window, watching Shirou's tiny figure below.
"So, York. What do you think?"
"About what?" York set his glass down, eyeing Brook.
"His left arm..."
York cut him off. "I sensed something like a Devil Fruit's aura, but it's not a fruit power. More like... a curse."
Brook stiffened. "You're saying he's met an actual demon?"
York smirked. "Who knows?" He glanced back out the window. Brook followed his gaze just in time to see Shirou laughing, right as a drunk pirate slipped, sending a mug flying toward his head. Brook winced. "Oh shit—"
But Shirou casually stepped forward, dodging it. "Hey, watch it!" he griped.
Brook's jaw dropped. He pointed frantically at Shirou, then at York. "How?! His eyes—!"
York's grin widened. "Interesting kid, huh?"
"Brook!"
"Huh?" Brook turned.
"You're in charge of him now."
"WHAT?!"
###
T/N: Shit, I forgot to update on ranking refresh.
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Power Stones For Faster Release.