Luffy was on the Merry, eyes closed, focusing on his new sense.
He saw a brief image.
Robin would open the door.
He opened his eyes. The door slid open.
Between the Merry and the Sunny, they had built a walkway. Even Devil Fruit users could cross safely. Before, crossing between ships had been dangerous. One slip, and someone might fall into the sea.
With this crew, that could happen.
"Luffy, Nami wants you."
Robin stopped. Luffy was looking at her. Not surprised.
She understood. "You knew I was coming?"
"Saw it."
Luffy grinned. "Kenbunshoku Haki. New level."
He had only seen a moment ahead. But in a fight, a moment was enough.
For close combat, this was a divine skill.
Robin's eyes widened. Then she smiled. She had seen how hard he trained. This was earned.
"Can you really see the future?"
She stepped closer, curious.
"Of course. Clear as day."
"Let's test it."
Robin's smile turned playful.
Luffy was too excited about his new power to notice. "How?"
"Like this."
Her arms sprouted from his shoulders. They covered his eyes.
In the dark, he saw. A second ahead.
Robin would close in. She would kiss him.
His head snapped back.
Her lips brushed his chin. She missed.
He pulled the hands from his face. Robin was close, smiling. Calm.
"What are you doing?!"
"Really can see." She laughed behind her hand. "Not lying."
"What if I hadn't moved?"
Robin tilted her head. "Nothing. It's not like we haven't kissed."
He couldn't argue.
Skypiea. Alabasta.
She stepped closer. Her voice dropped. "And you did worse with Vivi in Water 7."
"Worse?" His eyes went wide. "You know about that?"
"You forgot my power." Robin smiled. "Eyes everywhere."
She had circled back that night.
Luffy scrambled. "It wasn't like that! I was just walking with her! Talking!"
"That's worse." Robin raised an eyebrow. "If it was just talking, why hide when we came?"
He couldn't answer.
What was he supposed to say? Vivi had a condition? She would get strange when they were alone?
Robin's smile grew. She touched her lips. "Vivi tried. As the ship's archaeologist, I'd like to study this too. A captain shouldn't play favorites."
He was lost. They were not talking about the same thing.
"What study? Vivi and I didn't do anything!"
She had kissed him more than Vivi had.
Robin looked at him like he was a new toy.
He turned to leave.
"You don't want Nami to know about that night? In the forest?"
He froze.
Arms grew from his joints. He was locked in place.
He could break free. But not without hurting her.
"What are you doing?! I'm the captain!"
Hands covered his eyes. Gentle.
Robin hummed. Her steps were soft.
She was setting things up. She had found Vivi's hair ties.
Half an hour later.
Luffy walked out of the Merry's cabin. His legs felt strange.
He looked back at Robin. She looked satisfied. She even burped a little.
"Did Vivi do that?"
Robin smiled. "Guess."
"How would I guess?!"
He had been asleep that night. Fighting Aokiji in his dreams.
Robin remembered something. "Nami wants you. Something important."
He gave her a long look. He started walking.
"You're not coming?"
Robin waved. She covered her mouth. "I want to walk."
He had been awake. His eyes had been covered. But he had felt everything.
Maybe defying the plan was not so bad.
He would need someone like Robin to help.
Nami was waiting on the Sunny. She looked impatient.
"You took so long!"
She looked past him. "Where's Robin? She went to get you."
"She ate too much," Luffy said. "Walking on deck."
Nami frowned. Robin had not eaten much.
Something was off. But there were more important things. She shoved a newspaper at him. "Read this. Front page."
Big letters. Black. Bold.
MULTIPLE ISLANDS IN EAST BLUE VANISH! SEA MAPS CHANGING!
A map of the East Blue. Red dots marked the vanished islands.
The article was vague. Towns, people, land—gone. Like a giant hand had erased them. The World Government was investigating.
Luffy's face was tight.
Their home islands were safe. For now.
But where would this spread?
The East Blue was where they started.
Nami was worried. Her voice was low. "What is this?"
Zoro and the others who came from the East Blue gathered around.
"What is that? A meteor?" Usopp pointed at a picture.
Something had fallen from the sky. Trees that grew only in the New World.
Luffy sat. "We can't stop sailing."
He had learned from Nami. There was no way back to the East Blue from here.
Two ways. Abandon ship and cross the Red Line. Impossible. A pirate could not cross Mariejois.
Ask Garp? Even a Marine Hero could not help with that.
Or cross the Calm Belt. Sea Kings. The Sunny and the Merry were not ready.
Nami was worried. Her home was there.
Zoro stepped up. "No one knows what's happening. Going back won't help."
"The World Government is investigating." He did not sound convinced. "The Marines are mobilizing."
Nami was still worried.
A scream from outside. Franky.
"SUPER! It's raining blades!"
"Blades?!"
Nami ran. She pulled Luffy. "I was just warning about strange weather!"
They reached the deck.
The sky ahead was dark. Twisted.
Metal fell. Swords. Knives. Axes. A rain of blades. The air screamed.
Flying creatures were torn apart.
"What weather is this?!" Usopp's voice cracked.
"Not natural," Robin said. She had joined them. "Someone's power."
The Grand Line was full of strange powers.
"Enough!" Nami was the navigator. She read the wind, the clouds. "Franky! Coup de Burst! Vivi! Help us!"
Even an Emperor would not fight a natural disaster. An Emperor was a disaster. Better to run.
"Got it!"
Vivi and Nami worked together. Vivi raised her hands. The wind answered.
Franky was at the stern. The thrusters hummed with cola power.
"Coup de Burst! Now!"
The Sunny shot forward. Vivi lifted it. The ship climbed, clearing the blade zone.
Chopper and Usopp clung to each other. Screaming.
The ship steadied. They looked back. The blade zone was far below.
"We made it."
Nami held the railing. Sweat on her face.
"How far can we fly?" Vivi asked.
She could hold them up. The Coup de Burst had power. Long enough.
Nami checked the Log Pose. They were on course.
Flying would keep them away from strange weather. And Vivi could train.
***
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