The Boy Who Smiled at Death
The wind roared like a beast across the harbor, tearing through the sails of docked ships and howling through the rigging. Dark clouds massed above the sea, grumbling with the promise of a storm. Yet within the port town of Foosha Village, one place was alight with laughter, music, and the clatter of mugs.
The Party Bar, run by the formidable Makino, was full to bursting that evening. Pirates lounged at wooden tables, sloshing rum and singing crude songs, their weapons clanking at their sides. At the center of it all stood a man with hair as red as fire and a wide-brimmed straw hat tipped back on his head. Shanks. Captain of the Red-Haired Pirates. A man whose name whispered through the Grand Line like a legend—and yet, here he was, laughing with common folk like he didn't have a care in the world.
And beside him, clambering onto a chair much too tall for his legs, was a boy no older than seven, grinning like the king of the world.
"Luffy," Shanks said, lifting a brow as he watched the boy struggle with a bottle of sake, "that's not for kids."
Luffy huffed, puffing out his cheeks. "I'm not a kid! I'm gonna be a pirate, just like you!"
The bar erupted with laughter, some of it mocking, some of it warm. But Luffy's face didn't falter. His eyes, round and bright as stars, burned with something deeper than childish dreams.
"You?" one of the crew chuckled, leaning over. "You can't even swim, Luffy."
"So what?" Luffy snapped. "I'll find a way. I'll sail the seas and find the greatest treasure in the world! The One Piece!"
That silenced a few chuckles. Shanks just looked at him for a long, quiet moment before ruffling the boy's hair. "You've got guts. I'll give you that."
Outside, the storm broke. Thunder rolled across the bay, and lightning danced on the water. But within the bar, the warmth held.
Until the doors slammed open.
A gang of mountain bandits stepped in, the stench of smoke and blood rolling off their cloaks. Their leader, Higuma, carried a sword at his hip and the air of a man used to getting what he wanted. His eyes scanned the room and fell on Shanks.
"Pirates," he said with contempt. "Nothing but drunks and cowards."
The room went still.
Shanks simply smiled, wiping ale from his boot with a rag. "Looking for something, friend?"
Higuma sneered. "I'll take ten barrels of your best. Now."
Makino hesitated. "We're all out."
"You served them," he growled, pointing at the pirates.
"They paid," she said quietly. "You didn't."
Shanks stepped forward. "Come on. No need for trouble over a drink."
And with that, he knelt, picked up the spilled mug of beer, and began cleaning the floor. The Red-Haired Pirates followed suit, laughing as if the insult meant nothing. Luffy, watching from the shadows, was frozen in disbelief. Why aren't they fighting back?
Higuma snarled and slammed a bottle over Shanks's head. Glass shattered. Blood followed.
Still, Shanks didn't rise.
The bandits laughed as they left, confident no one would dare stop them.
Luffy stormed up to Shanks, fists clenched and face red with fury.
"Why didn't you fight them?!" he shouted. "They insulted you! You're supposed to be a pirate! What kind of man lets someone beat him up like that?!"
Shanks looked at him, eyes suddenly sharp beneath the brim of his hat.
"Not every insult needs blood," he said softly. "But some things… do."
The next day, the bandits were back. But this time, Luffy was alone—and he tried to stop them. He failed.
They took him.
Dragged him down to the harbor, mocking him all the way. Higuma raised his sword. "Die, brat."
Then a wave crashed.
A shadow fell over the docks.
A sea monster rose from the depths—vast, serpentine, its mouth wide enough to swallow a ship.
Higuma turned to run.
Luffy couldn't.
And in that moment—just as the beast lunged forward—a figure appeared like a ghost between Luffy and death. A flash of steel. A roar of pain.
The monster fell back, wounded. The sea went still.
Luffy looked up—and saw Shanks standing there.
His sword was wet with blood.
His smile was gone.
And his left arm was missing.
"You're safe," he said, kneeling.
Luffy sobbed, trembling. "Why… Why did you save me?"
Shanks placed the straw hat on the boy's head. "Because you're going to be something special. But promise me one thing."
Luffy wiped his tears. "Anything."
"Return this hat to me… when you become a great pirate."
To be continued…
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