Meanwhile, across Marineford, Luffy sat casually on the highest point of the headquarters, chewing on a stick of jerky, legs swinging over the edge.
"That was close," He muttered. "Vice Admiral, my ass…"
He clenched his fist.
"First they promote me… then a few years later it's Admiral… and before I know it, I'm chained like a mutt to those Celestial Dragon bastards."
He spat off the edge of the roof. "Not happening. Not now. Not ever."
His eyes narrowed with cold defiance.
"If not killing those garbage nobles is my mercy, they better stay outta my way."
He took a deep breath and stretched his arms with a sigh of relief. He wasn't going to let them leash him with ranks and responsibilities.
Not now. Not ever.
"Hmph," he grumbled to himself, cracking his knuckles. "Better find my swordsman and my little sword queen."
Closing his eyes, Luffy extended his senses outward.
In that quiet moment, his Observation Haki reached far, cutting through the noise, the conversations, the movement, and locking onto two distinct presences.
One was wild and roaring like a lion, yet sharp, steady, and focused, that was Zoro. The other was calm like a lake but burning beneath the surface like lava, that was Kuina. And with her was another presence, elegant yet sharp as a whip, Gion.
He grinned.
"So they're at it again."
In the blink of an eye, Luffy vanished from his spot using Soru to launch himself like a gust of wind across Marineford.
------
In the corner of the Training Field
Zoro stood shirtless, sweat glistening over his scarred chest, his muscles bulging with every swing of his weighted swords.
Around him stood a small gathering of lower-ranked Marines—watching him with awe, as if observing a divine warrior.
"Haaaah!" Zoro roared, swinging his blade in a perfect vertical arc that sent shockwaves through the air. The ground cracked at his feet.
"W-Wow…"
"He split the dummy in half without touching it!"
"How does he even do that?"
"Can I… can I ask him for pointers?"
A few braver souls approached him with notepads and respectful smiles.
"Oi, Zoro-san! That was incredible! Could you—uh, maybe... teach us how to do that diagonal slash?"
Zoro paused mid-swing, opened one eye lazily, and replied flatly, "You won't learn anything by just watching. Grab your swords and swing 'til your arms fall off. That's how you learn."
He resumed his training without another word, the sheer intensity of his dedication speaking louder than any lecture.
One marine whispered to the other, "He's terrifying… but so cool…"
------
Meanwhile, across the training ground
Kuina and Gion clashed, blade against blade, again and again.
Sparks flew in every direction.
The sheer grace of their movements left nearby soldiers breathless.
"Your left foot is still slower on the rebound," Gion said with a teasing smirk, dodging a thrust with a dancer's elegance. "You'll never out-speed Mihawk like that."
Kuina grinned, her ponytail flicking with each motion. "Neither will you if you keep talking instead of fighting."
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Their blades collided in a furious flurry.
Despite their rapid exchanges, both women were smiling, flushed from excitement, flushed from battle. There was heat in their eyes, not just for combat, but for the man they both shared.
Luffy.
"Let's go all out this time," Kuina whispered, stepping back and raising her sword with both hands. "He's watching."
Gion turned her head slightly, spotting the figure perched atop the flagpole.
Luffy was lounging up there like a lazy king, his hands behind his head, grinning like a fox who'd just stolen a dozen chickens. His eyes glinted with mischief and hunger.
"Oh?" Gion purred. "Then let's give our king a performance he won't forget."
With a roar, the two women launched themselves at each other, blades singing. Luffy's heart thumped louder with every strike, every graceful movement, every bead of sweat gliding down their toned forms.
Their uniforms were slightly loosened from the exertion, showing just a bit more collarbone, a glimpse of toned thigh through the slit in Gion's skirt, and Kuina's battle-worn gloves tightening around her sword with sensual elegance.
"Oh man," Luffy muttered, eyes gleaming. "I'm in trouble…"
The two of them really knew how to put on a show.
After nearly thirty minutes of sparring, the two women finally halted, breathing heavily, sweat trailing down their flushed skin.
Kuina tossed her sword to the ground and dropped onto a bench with a sigh, wiping her forehead. Gion followed, stretching her arms with a contented groan.
"That was fun," Gion said, glancing toward the flagpole. "Though I think the audience enjoyed it more."
Luffy dropped down silently from above and landed between them with a grin.
"You girls don't hold back, huh?" He chuckled.
Kuina smirked and leaned into his side, resting her head on his shoulder. "Only when you're watching…"
Gion raised an eyebrow, eyeing Kuina's affectionate move, before sliding to Luffy's other side. "After all, you are our motivation."
Luffy wrapped his arms around both, pulling them close.
"And I'm proud of both of you," He whispered softly, his voice dropping with warmth. "You've grown stronger… sharper… even Mihawk would be impressed."
Gion nodded. "He's a monster. But we also knew that both of us still have a long way to go if we want to match your level."
Luffy raised an eyebrow. "I'm not a swordsman, though."
"You're more than that," Kuina whispered. "You're the reason I want to keep surpassing my limits."
Luffy stared at her for a beat, then turned to Gion, who was gazing at him with equal longing.
"I'm glad you're both here," He said softly. "Marineford would feel boring without my sword queens."
Gion laughed and leaned in closer. "Then don't ever leave us behind."
He kissed her gently, just a brush of lips, but it sent shivers down her spine.
Then he turned to Kuina and did the same.
"Mm…" Kuina moaned lightly, pressing back. "You better be ready tonight…"
"Ohh... it seems I am going to get drained again tonight." Luffy joked, laughing lightly. He stretched his arms and asked. "You two wanna grab something to eat? I was thinking we hit the mess hall."
Kuina grinned. "I'm in."
Gion raised her hand like a noblewoman. "Only if you feed me personally."
Luffy chuckled and pulled her along. "Then let's go."
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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