Chapter: Stories Beyond the Horizon
The room was warm, the fire crackling softly as snow continued to drift beyond the paper doors. The low table was set with steaming cups of tea and simple dishes of pickled vegetables and grilled fish. Mamoru knelt carefully at the side, his small hands carrying the teapot as he poured into Oden's cup, then his father's, before bowing his head slightly the way his father and kosetsu had taught him.
"Good manners, Mamoru," Ushimaru noted quietly, giving his son a nod.
Mamoru tried to hide his proud smile, but the corner of his lips tugged upward.
Across from them, Kozuki Oden sat like a mountain, legs crossed, his wild hair still dusted faintly with melting snow. His basket lay cast aside for now, and in its place he held a steaming cup, sipping noisily before slamming it down with a grin.
"Delicious!" Oden boomed. "Truly, the tea in Ringo is the best in all of Wano. Sharp, with a bite like the cold air outside! Heat is the spice of life !!, Hahaha!"
Mamoru watched him with wide eyes. Here was a man who just minutes ago had danced foolishly in the streets, mocked by whispers and glares. And yet, sitting here, he radiated something else entirely vitality, energy and an unmatched charisma .The presence of someone who had lived far more than most could dream.
It was Ushimaru who finally broke the silence between sips. "Lord Oden earlier, how were your travels ."
Oden's grin widened at the memory. His eyes lit with fire.
"Aaah, yes! My greatest years! Do you know, Ushimaru, Mamoru" He leaned forward, slapping the table so hard the teacups rattled. "the world outside of Wano is endless!"
Mamoru's breath caught. "Endless?"
"Yes!" Oden roared, his voice filling the little room. "I saw islands so high above the clouds, they touched the sky itself. Lands where the air was thin, and the people had wings on their backs! And beneath the sea, deeper than you could imagine, a whole kingdom exists in a bubble of air, lit by the glow of strange tree called a mangrove tree"
Mamoru's mouth fell open, his eyes shining. "Islands… in the sky? Kingdoms under the water?"
Even Ushimaru, normally a man of composure, stiffened slightly. His brows furrowed, and his tea forgotten, he stared at Oden with disbelief. "The sea floor itself…? An entire nation…?"
"Yes!" Oden slapped his thigh with a booming laugh. "And men so tall they make me look like a child ,giants they're called! They swing weapons larger than your houses here in Wano, and they laugh louder than thunder itself!"
Mamoru's hand tightened on the teapot. His mind spun with the images—giants, winged people, undersea kingdoms. His heart pounded with excitement. The world is so much bigger than I thought…!
Oden leaned back, taking another hearty gulp of tea. His face softened, his eyes distant with nostalgia. "And Whitebeard ah, that man! A monster of strength, a rival like no other. Sailing under him… those were the days."
"Whitebeard?" Mamoru echoed, his young voice trembling with awe.
Ushimaru's jaw tightened. He had heard whispers of that name, the pirate who landed in wano and swiftly defeated oden without much trouble. That had shook him to the core at that time .
"Lord Oden," Ushimaru said slowly, "your words… they paint a world beyond Wano that is both wondrous and terrifying."
"Yes!" Oden said, slamming his cup down again with a grin. "Terrifying, but beautiful. Life at its fullest."
Mamoru could hardly sit still. His eyes shone with a fire that matched Oden's. "Father… there's so much outside. Giants, islands in the sky…! I want to see it all!"
Ushimaru gave him a calm, almost indulgent look. "In time, Mamoru. For now, Wano needs you grounded. Build your strength here first."
Mamoru nodded reluctantly, though his heart still raced.
At last, Oden pushed back from the table, brushing crumbs from his robes. "Your hospitality is warming, Ushimaru. Truly. But I should take my leave. My family waits for me."
He stood, towering above them, reaching for his basket.
But Ushimaru's voice stopped him.
"Lord Oden… before you go."
Oden turned, eyebrow raised.
"Allow my son to accompany you back to Kuri," Ushimaru said, his voice steady. "He could learn much from being near you."
For once, Oden looked caught off guard. "Your… son?" He blinked down at Mamoru, who stared back at him in shock. "Why would you ask such a thing?"
Ushimaru folded his arms, his eyes steady. "Because I believe he can learn more from you than from me alone. You've seen the world, fought battles beyond our imagining. Your strength is undeniable. And though I do not know why you dance in the streets… I trust that your spirit is unbroken. My son should learn from a man like that."
Mamoru's heart leapt. He looked between his father and Oden, hardly able to believe what he was hearing. Accompany Oden?
"Father… are you serious?" he asked, his voice trembling with excitement.
Ushimaru's gaze softened as it met his son's. "Yes. It will do you good to learn from someone beside me"
Mamoru's chest swelled. He turned quickly to Oden, bowing his head so low his hair brushed the tatami. "Lord Oden! Please allow me to come with you! I want to learn! To grow stronger! To see what kind of samurai you are!"
Oden scratched the back of his head, groaning , his eyes darted left and right looking for a way out. "Aaah, this is why I hate being asked things directly! I can never say no."
He looked at Mamoru's eager face, then at Ushimaru's steady one. At last, he let out a booming laugh that shook the walls.
"Fine! Fine! The boy can come! But he'd better be prepared! I'm not slowing down for him!"
Mamoru nearly jumped for joy. He bowed again, his voice bright. "Thank you, Lord Oden!"
"Go on then," Oden said, waving him off. "Prepare yourself. We leave shortly."
With a burst of energy, Mamoru leapt to his feet and darted toward his room, his footsteps echoing in the hall.
That left Oden and Ushimaru alone by the fire, the faint sound of Mamoru rummaging in his room drifting through the house.
Oden looked at Ushimaru, his grin returning. "You trust me with your son that much?"
Ushimaru sipped the last of his tea, eyes calm but sharp. "If I didn't, Lord Oden, I wouldn't be asking. Just don't let his fire burn out."
Oden's laughter rumbled once more, but this time there was a flicker of respect in his eyes.