Chapter 28 — Hiyori's Will
The ship sailed closer as the Whitebeard crew grew quieter. Everyone knew this wasn't a time to be loud.
As the ship drew closer, Newgate saw the figure of Hiyori. Now fourteen, she looked like an exact copy of Toki. Her green hair flowed in the wind. At her waist were three swords.
Ame-no-Habakiri, Enma, and a practice sword. The two Great Grade Swords of Oden. Looking at her, Newgate remembered his loudmouthed brother. His eyes watered.
His crew wasn't faring any better. Veteran members who knew Oden were already crying like kids. Streams of tears flowed from Jozu, Izo, Marco, and the others.
"Sh-she looks just like Sister Toki..."
"Lady Hiyori..." Izo cried as sadness and happiness filled his heart.
Others like Marco weren't any better. After all, Hiyori and Momonosuke were born on their ship. Hiyori was technically the Princess of not just Wano, but also the Whitebeard Pirates.
"She has grown so much," Marco muttered with a slight smile as he wiped tears beneath his glasses. He still remembered the newborn girl.
Whenever she cried, everyone would gather around her, trying to make her stop crying.
Newgate also had moist eyes. 'Gurararara... the brat who couldn't even fit in my arms is now standing with her father's swords at her waist,' Newgate thought fondly.
In the sky, Yamato, who was sitting on Ragnar's head, scratched her head. "Why are they crying like idiots?"
She asked, confused. After all, she only knew Newgate was here for Hiyori. She did not know what their relationship was. To her, it was genuinely confusing.
Ragnar's mouth curled up. "Well, you might not know, but Hiyori was born on the Whitebeard Pirates' ship and was also raised by the Whitebeard Pirates for a while."
"So, to them, she is a lost princess who has been found after years of separation. Of course, Hiyori was too young and might not even remember them. But that doesn't change the past."
Yamato bumped her fist against her hand as she understood. "Ohh!" Her mouth widened like she had learned some very interesting gossip.
But then she glared at Ragnar. "Damn it! Then why didn't you tell me earlier?" Why was she unaware of her friend's past?
Ragnar shrugged casually. "Well, you never asked."
A vein popped on her head. "You think I had a divine oracle that told me you knew about her past?" she shouted angrily. Her arms darkened as she slammed her fist onto Ragnar's head.
"Owww! Oi!" Ragnar complained. "Dammit, what's so great about it? Don't I tell you now?"
"Then why didn't you tell me earlier?" Yamato barked as both started arguing with each other. In no time, the argument was completely off track as they just argued, forgetting why they had even started the argument.
Some Whitebeard Pirates who were keeping an eye on them had questions floating above their heads.
"Are they for real?"
"Umm, we are still here, you know? How can you guys argue with each other?"
"Yeah! Take it seriously, damn it! We are Whitebeard Pirates, the strongest crew. You can't just—"
"SHUT UP!" Yamato and Ragnar shouted at him in unison. Their glare made the pirate choke on his words as he grabbed his mouth with both hands and shut up.
Other pirates snickered, trying to hold back their laughter and failing terribly.
Jokes on them, those two brats were monsters who could fight Marco, the First Division Captain, and come out alive. He wasn't their match.
Yamato and Ragnar ignored them. "So, are you okay?" Yamato asked, her eyes drifting toward the dried bloodstains on his emerald scales. She was worried. After all, it was an attack from a Yonko with Advanced Armament Haki that had ignored his defense.
"I'm fine. The wound is closed, but I will need some time to completely recover from the damage. After all, the Haki nearly reached my organs. The damage isn't huge; some rest would suffice," Ragnar said with a sigh.
He was still too weak. He hadn't even learned Advanced Haki, and his Devil Fruit wasn't awakened. He still had to grow stronger. Relying on others' mercy wasn't a great feeling.
If Newgate had continued, he and Yamato most likely would have died here. The thought alone made his blood boil.
Marco and the others looked at the two siblings arguing and worrying about each other. "Yare yare, they really are something, yoi."
Meanwhile, on the Beast Pirates' ship, Hiyori looked at the massive Moby Dick and the man standing tall on it. The man called the World's Strongest Man had moist eyes.
Hiyori's expression softened. She did not remember her time on their ship. After all, she was just a newborn girl at that time. But seeing those eyes, she couldn't help but lower her guard.
Beside her, Coco was sitting nervously. Her legs were shaking uncomfortably. She was scared out of her wits. After all, this was the World's Strongest Man, Edward Newgate, the Whitebeard. Of course she was afraid of him. Even with Ragnar and Yamato there, if he decided to wipe them out, it would be just a matter of time. Only Kaido could save them, but Kaido had no idea that Newgate was here. Toto in the navigation cabin was experiencing the same.
His back was covered in cold sweat. His legs and hands were trembling with fear, but he kept his hand on the helm, ready to turn the ship around at any moment.
Newgate opened his mouth to say something, but Izo was faster. "Lady Hiyori—" Newgate looked at him and let him talk first.
Izo ran to the edge of the deck, looking at Hiyori with tears flowing down his eyes. Hiyori looked at him. He looked familiar?
"Izo?"
"Yes—yes, Lady Hiyori! It's me!" Izo shouted in relief and joy.
Hiyori then looked around. 'Damn, so all this is happening because of me?' she muttered inwardly as she understood the situation. Her cheeks turned red in embarrassment.
"Ahem... Izo-san, it's nice to meet you," Hiyori coughed and spoke politely. The other party was one of her father's retainers. She had to give him some face.
"Gurararara! Girl, you look just like your mother. No doubt you are his daughter," Newgate said as he studied her.
Hiyori smiled. "Thank you for the compliment," she said politely with a smile.
Inside, she was fuming. 'What? Like that idiot?'
After living with the Beast Pirates, Hiyori had learned just how big of an idiot her father was. And her mother? She was just an ancient idiot. In her mind, girls should just be wives and stay home.
That exact mindset was one of the reasons she sent Momo into the future and expected him to be the light of Wano. Hiyori finally had the answer to her question. Toki did not even think that a woman could be a Shogun.
It wasn't even her fault. Her mindset was just that.
Newgate frowned. He sensed something wasn't right, but he let it go.
"Lady Hiyori... you do not have to worry. We are here to take you back from the clutches of the Beast Pirates," Izo said as he looked at her.
"Hiyori, don't worry. Whitebeard Pirates are here for you. Just say the word and we will take you back."
"Yeah, don't worry about the Beast Pirates. With Pops here, not even Kaido will object, yoi."
"Thank you for coming all the way to take me and care for me. But I'm part of the Beast Pirates, so I can't go with you. You guys do not have to worry about me. I'm really grateful you all came all the way here just for me." She bowed and apologized.
No way were they kidding with her. Why would she leave Wano? If she did that, that idiot Ragnar would most likely not even look at the paperwork, and all the hard work done would go to waste.