"Ah woo, ah woo…"
Luffy devoured food wildly, his cheeks bulging with every bite. He watched in amazement as every wooden slice Shirogai carefully cut turned instantly into steaming, richly sauced steaks.
"Wah wah wah wah wah!!!"
Stars lit up in Luffy's eyes as he witnessed Shirogai's uncanny skill. He grinned broadly, joy radiating from him as he yelled, "Usopp, come look! Shirogai, you can actually—"
But his smile faltered.
"Woo woo, Shirogai." Luffy's voice softened, with a wronged tone in his eyes. "Usopp isn't here anymore!"
Shirogai laughed, the sound booming warm and amused. "Hey, hey, don't act like he's gone forever!"
A creak echoed through the room as Chopper shuffled in, wearing sleepy slippers. He rubbed his eyes, his nose twitching at the rich aroma.
"So fragrant…" he murmured, staring at Luffy, who was feasting, and then at Shirogai's wooden board.
Chopper's hand froze mid-rub. Am I dreaming? he thought. Shirogai is cutting wood, but how is that turning into steak?
"How strange…" he whispered.
With a puzzled tilt of his head, Chopper backed away. "I… I must've woken up too fast. I'll go back to sleep a little more."
Tap, tap, tap… he padded to the door, opened it carefully, slipped out, and closed it behind him.
"He doesn't seem fully awake," Luffy mumbled around another mouthful of meat.
Shirogai watched him, amusement in his eyes. Luffy had one eye tightly shut in delight, the other half-lidded, and a little snot bubble on his nose. Shirogai shook his head lightly. "You're not fully awake either."
Luffy swallowed hard and declared, "Oh, right, Shirogai, I had the weirdest dream last night!"
He kept chewing, meat juices dribbling, breath catching between each bite. "I dreamed… there was a giant wearing a single-eyed mask fighting me. He was so strong!"
Shirogai raised an eyebrow, his grin sharp. "A mask with green light?"
He wiped his hand across his face, then glared gently with playfulness. "Was it something like this?"
Luffy's eyes widened. He looked up—and saw Shirogai wearing a mask that glowed green in that very moment.
"Yes! Yes, exactly that kind of mask!" Luffy said, suddenly very alert.
Shirogai laughed softly. "I picked it up outside. It's yours."
He removed the mask and tossed it to Luffy. Luffy caught it and immediately placed it over his face, grinning like a child playing. He brandished the steak dramatically.
"This mask is so fun! Awoo!"
Shirogai chuckled, a gentle sigh escaping him. He remembered the events of the previous day—how strange, how dangerous, how deeply interesting.
---
Meanwhile, deep in the hidden headquarters of CP-0, things were far from peaceful.
"Poison Eye is dead?" asked CP-0 Hidden Snake, staring in astonishment at the battered figure of CP-0 Ao Oni.
Ao Oni's mask was cracked, the horn on his face snapped off, and his uniform hung in disarray as if he'd been ripped apart.
"Mm. His spine was even pulled out," Ao Oni said plainly, expressionless, rubbing his jaw slowly.
Hidden Snake hesitated. "Are you… okay? That looks like a major blow."
"Quiet!" Ao Oni snarled, pressing a hand to his throbbing head. "That monster, Nameless — he can't get away. I must make him answer for this."
He recounted what he had seen: Poison Eye's massive body in the monster's grasp, its hand holding him almost gently, while the monster sat back and just stared, analyzing him. Under that terrifying gaze, Ao Oni had been forced to fight a swordsman companion of the monster — and he hadn't dared land the final blow.
"My head aches so badly… What a disgusting mission." Ao Oni glowered. "Poison Eye's power was invaluable… and now he's gone. The World Government was careless to send him."
He spat out the words, bitterness in his voice. "Even three Admirals couldn't finish this job. His clones… there were too many."
He rubbed his face, wincing. "And that swordsman — he hit me hard. I still feel it."
Hidden Snake picked up the Den Den Mushi. His voice was low and serious. "New orders have come down. You are to assist CP-9 in locating the Ancient Weapon Pluton. The mission focused on the Fifth Emperor, Shirogai Yamikuro, is on hold. You are not to provoke any of his allies."
Ao Oni frowned. "And Nico Robin?"
"She must be taken to Enies Lobby," Hidden Snake replied quietly.
Ao Oni closed his eyes. "Must…? What if he refuses? Even if we die trying?"
He opened his eyes again, eyes glinting with frustration. "This wasn't supposed to happen. CP-9 has failed for years. A so-called normal man trapped them for five years."
Hidden Snake paused at the doorway. "He's Tom's disciple — the legendary shipwright's own student. He's difficult for a reason."
He began to walk away. "I'll gather more intel tonight. Then we leave this damn place, the place that monster calls home."
Ao Oni watched him leave, took a shaky breath, rubbed his face, and whispered, "I hope so."
Then… faint, echoing through the shadows: "Woo, woo…"
Ao Oni stiffened. He turned, alarm in his eyes. "Who's there?!"
But the room was empty.
"Strange…" he muttered. "I could have sworn I heard something…"
Hidden Snake wasn't there anymore, and Ao Oni felt a chill creep down his spine.
He thought of Poison Eye — his spine pulled out, his body crumpled, groaning in agony. The memory made him sweat cold.
"It's horrifying," Ao Oni admitted quietly.
He rubbed his swollen face, gritted his teeth, and began to leave. "Damn… once this mission ends, I need time away."
Another soft voice echoed: "Woo woo woo…"
Ao Oni froze mid-step.
Then he frowned, swallowing. "Whoever killed you, Poison Eye, I will find them."
He left the secret room, heart heavy.
Unknown to him, a portion of his memory from last night had been overwritten.
Deep beneath his mask, two faces warred — his own furious Oni mask, and another: Poison Eye's vengeful countenance.
A shiver ran through him as the echoing "woo woo" seemed to follow him even beyond the room, lingering in the air like a ghost of the battle that had passed.
Outside, the city streets were quiet, unaware of the chaos and fear brewing within the CP-0 headquarters, and the faintest breeze carried a whisper of things yet to come.
________
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