Chapter 27: A Fruit Falls From the Sky
The bar door creaked open once more, though this time there was no dramatic explosion.
"Yoo, did you see that lightning strike?" Kai's voice rang out casually as he stepped inside with his hands tucked into his pockets. "Must be some god angry… probably over the auction of humans."
He wasn't wearing the Oni mask.
He wasn't towering in his adult form.
He looked like what he technically was—a nine-year-old boy with messy hair and far too much confidence.
Silvers Rayleigh sighed heavily from his usual seat. "Now you're calling yourself a god?"
Kai tilted his head with exaggerated innocence. "Hmm? How can little nine-year-old me do such a thing? Don't slander a kid, old man."
Rayleigh's mouth twitched.
He truly did not understand why, whenever this brat was involved, his patience evaporated faster than cheap rum. He had faced emperors and admirals without blinking, yet this child…
"Yoo, big sis," Kai called cheerfully toward the counter. "I'm hungry. Can I get some food and juice?"
Behind the bar, Shakuyaku arched a brow, cigarette between her fingers. "Ara… you're back already?"
"Yap," Kai replied with a shrug. "Got scared by the lightning shower and ran back."
Rayleigh spat out the wine he had just swallowed and burst into violent coughing.
"Cough—! You—!"
Kai glanced at him lazily. "Sigh. How many times do I have to tell you, old man? Act your age. Don't wanna see my sister widowed so soon."
"You shameless brat!" Rayleigh barked. "You're scared of lightning? Do you have no shame?"
Kai blinked. "Hmm? A nine-year-old fearing lightning isn't something to fuss about, right? Old man?"
Shakky laughed, smoke curling upward as she prepared plates with practiced ease. "You really know how to keep things entertaining, little Kai."
Kai grinned and hopped onto a stool.
That was when footsteps echoed from the back room.
Three girls stepped forward hesitantly.
The eldest stood slightly in front, posture proud despite the exhaustion in her eyes. Hancock's long black hair flowed down her back, and though she had been freed only hours ago, there was already something regal in the way she carried herself.
Kai turned his head.
"Yoo," he said lightly. "And who might you be, beautiful sister?"
Hancock nearly chuckled despite herself.
Her cheeks flushed faintly, but she maintained composure. "Thank you… for saving us."
Kai waved dismissively. "Yah, yah. We can talk about that later."
Shakky placed food in front of all four children without comment.
The younger sisters stared at the plates in disbelief before diving in hungrily. Hancock hesitated for only a moment before following.
Kai, meanwhile, reached into his pocket and tossed a heavy bag onto the counter.
Gold coins spilled slightly from the opening.
"Here," he said innocently. "Fell from the sky."
Shakky laughed louder. "Yap, I'm sure it did."
Rayleigh eyed the sack. "You're going to get this entire island investigated."
Kai shrugged. "Then I'll deny everything."
As Shakky moved the bag aside, something rolled out from within it and landed softly on the wooden surface.
It was heart-shaped.
Pink with intricate swirl patterns.
The room went still.
Hancock's eyes locked onto it immediately.
Kai noticed.
A small chuckle escaped him.
He picked up the fruit and turned it slowly in his hand. "Huh. This thing literally fell into my bag when I was leaving."
Rayleigh and Shakky both raised their eyebrows.
"Don't look at me like that," Kai said defensively. "Devil Fruits choose their users sometimes."
He glanced toward Hancock.
"And look at her. Her eyes caught it before anything else."
Hancock's breath grew shallow.
"It followed her here," Kai added softly.
Rayleigh studied the fruit carefully.
"…There are stories about that," he admitted. "Fruits appearing where fate demands."
Hancock swallowed. "Is it… a Devil Fruit?"
Shakky stepped behind the counter and pulled out a thick book—the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia.
She flipped through the pages calmly.
"Hm… heart-shaped… pink hue…" Her finger traced a familiar image.
She smiled faintly.
"Well now," she said. "This is the Mero Mero no Mi."
Rayleigh leaned forward.
"The Love-Love Fruit," Shakky clarified. "A Paramecia type."
Hancock's sisters gasped softly.
Shakky glanced at Hancock meaningfully. "It allows the user to petrify those who feel lust or affection toward them."
The room fell quiet.
Hancock's cheeks flushed again.
Kai's heart skipped a beat.
He blinked once, surprised by the sensation.
Shakky noticed.
A slow grin spread across her face.
"Oh?" she teased silently.
Rayleigh smirked faintly. "Careful, brat."
Kai cleared his throat. "It's not like that."
"Of course," Rayleigh said dryly.
Hancock hesitated, staring at the fruit in Kai's hand.
"Are you… giving it to me?" she asked softly.
Kai tossed it lightly toward her.
"Catch."
She fumbled but held onto it carefully.
"Why?" she asked again.
Kai shrugged. "Because it's yours."
She looked down at the fruit.
"You said… Devil Fruits choose their users," she murmured.
"They do," Rayleigh replied quietly. "Sometimes."
Shakky leaned forward. "But once you eat it, there's no going back."
Hancock looked at her sisters.
They nodded.
Without another word, Hancock bit into the fruit.
Her face contorted instantly.
"It tastes horrible!" she sputtered.
Kai burst into laughter. "All Devil Fruits do."
She forced herself to swallow it all.
The room grew tense.
A faint pink aura shimmered around her.
Her hair lifted slightly as unseen energy pulsed outward.
A nearby pirate patron turned to look—and froze mid-motion, stone creeping up his arm.
"Eh?" Rayleigh blinked.
The petrification stopped just short of his shoulder as Hancock gasped, control wavering.
Shakky snapped her fingers sharply. "Focus, girl!"
Hancock clenched her fists.
The pink aura stabilized.
The stone receded from the pirate, who collapsed unconscious instead.
Silence lingered.
Hancock stared at her hands in awe.
Kai watched her intently.
"You see?" he said softly. "Grow stronger."
She looked up at him.
"And when I do?" she asked.
Kai smiled faintly.
"Then find me."
Rayleigh leaned back in his chair. "You're setting dangerous things in motion, kid."
Kai grabbed another piece of meat from his plate.
"I know."
Outside, distant sirens echoed faintly across Sabaody.
The Marines would soon investigate the ruined auction house.
Rumors would spread.
Names would be whispered.
Inside Grove 13, however, there was only the quiet clink of dishes and the subtle beginning of something far greater than any of them yet realized.
A storm had risen.
But now—
Fate had chosen its queen.