CHAPTER 34 — Bones, Breath, and the Beast Within
📅 7 June, S.C. 1510
👦 Ren — 7
📍 Ren's Workshop → Forest Edge → Makino's Bar
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The morning sun cast gentle beams across Ren's workbench as he flipped through his notes from Zemo's training session.
Patterns.
Behavior.
Muscle memorization.
Reflex response.
An intelligence beyond the wild.
Ren tapped the page, deep in thought.
Luffy bursted into the shed with his usual dramatic flair.
"REN!! TEACH ME TO JUMP LIKE ZEMO!!"
"You don't need training," Ren muttered, "you're already uncontrollable."
Zemo lay by the wall, tail flicking lazily—but his amber eyes tracked Ren's every movement, sharp and aware.
Kiro walked in holding a basket.
"Makino sent this. Breakfast. She said you'll forget to eat again."
Ren blinked.
"…She's not wrong."
Zemo immediately perked up when he smelled the meat, but Ren shook his head.
"You get only a small piece. You're still recovering."
Zemo whined faintly, ears drooping.
Kiro snorted.
"He's learning manipulation too."
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PART 1 — BEGINNING THE STUDY
Ren set his notebook on the table and opened a clean page.
> Biology Study No. 1 — Zemo
Objective: Understand structure, muscle distribution, reflex capacity.
He knelt beside Zemo and gently touched the creature's foreleg.
"Don't move."
Zemo didn't.
Ren pressed lightly along the bone.
"Radius bone intact… ulna seems thicker… unusual density."
Kiro raised an eyebrow.
"You know bone names?"
Ren shrugged.
"I read."
Luffy gasped.
"WOW! REN CAN READ BONES!"
Ren sighed.
"That's… not what I said."
He examined Zemo's shoulder next.
"The injury is healing fast. Faster than a normal animal."
Zemo licked Ren's hand.
Ren froze.
"…And you're emotionally responsive."
Makino walked in with a small towel.
"Don't forget basic hygiene, Ren."
Ren blinked.
"…Yes."
She looked at the scene—Ren studying Zemo, Zemo watching him, Kiro eating breakfast, Luffy chewing the leftover cloth—
and smiled warmly.
"You look like a little doctor."
Ren shook his head.
"No. I'm trying to understand how Zemo moves… how he heals… how his muscles respond."
Makino ruffled his hair.
"That's what doctors do."
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PART 2 — MUSCLE & MOVEMENT STUDY
Outside in the open field, Ren guided Zemo through gentle exercises.
"Lift your leg."
Zemo lifted.
"Hold."
Zemo held.
Ren touched the muscle.
"Flex."
Zemo flexed.
Ren nodded, writing quickly.
> Observation:
• Muscle fibers react faster than normal
• Excellent tension control
• Pain tolerance high
• Nerve responses sharp
Kiro whistled.
"You're examining him like a scientist."
Ren didn't respond.
His eyes were glowing with curiosity.
"Again," he said.
Zemo hopped over a small rock, then another, then pivoted smoothly—despite the injury still healing.
Ren's jaw tightened.
"This level of coordination… he shouldn't be able to move like this yet."
Kiro shrugged.
"Maybe he's just naturally tough."
Ren shook his head slowly.
"No. This is something else."
Luffy jumped beside Zemo, trying to copy.
"I CAN DO IT TOO!"
He tripped and faceplanted into the dirt.
Ren sighed again.
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PART 3 — INTERNAL OBSERVATIONS
Back in the shed, Ren checked Zemo's resting heart rate.
He placed a hand gently on Zemo's chest.
"…Calm. Stable."
He checked breathing.
"Deep breaths… steady rhythm. Almost meditative."
Kiro leaned closer.
"Are you sure this isn't normal dog stuff?"
"He's not a dog."
Zemo's ear twitched.
Ren continued.
"His lungs are larger than expected. His teeth aren't dog-shaped either. Too sharp. Too… specialized."
Luffy whispered,
"He's a dragon, isn't he?"
"No."
"A demon?"
"No."
"A monster?"
"…Maybe."
Zemo huffed at Luffy's guess.
Ren scribbled quickly.
> Hypothesis:
Zemo is a unique species. Possibly rare. Possibly evolved for survival in Dawn Island's deep forest.
Indicators:
• high intelligence
• rapid healing
• advanced muscle density
• extreme situational awareness
He paused.
Kiro asked quietly,
"Ren… are you scared of him?"
Ren looked at Zemo.
The creature had curled beside Ren, eyes half-closed, breathing gently.
"…No," Ren whispered.
"He saved us. I trust him."
Zemo nudged Ren's arm softly.
Kiro smiled.
"Looks like he trusts you too."
Makino, leaning on the door, said softly:
"You two… were meant to find each other."
Ren felt something warm in his chest.
Purpose.
Connection.
Belonging.
---
PART 4 — EARLY TRAINING BEGINS
Ren stood in the field again, placing small markers on the ground.
"Zemo. Follow."
Zemo matched his pace perfectly.
"Turn."
Zemo turned.
"Stop."
He froze instantly.
Ren's eyes glimmered with excitement.
Luffy yelled,
"NOW MAKE HIM FLY!!"
Ren glared.
"That's not how biology works."
Kiro nudged Ren.
"Try something else."
Ren pointed at a rock.
"Zemo. Push."
Zemo lowered his head and pushed it aside.
Ren clicked his tongue softly.
"…He's stronger than before."
Kiro blinked.
"That rock weighs more than Luffy."
Luffy shouted,
"I HEARD THAT!!"
Ren knelt and inspected Zemo's muscles again.
"Healing enhanced his growth. His strength increased by—"
He paused.
Something clicked in his mind.
Patterns.
Biology.
Recovery.
Adaptation.
A new idea formed.
A dangerous idea.
Makino noticed his expression and asked,
"Ren? What are you thinking?"
Ren shook his head.
"…Nothing yet."
He wasn't ready to speak it aloud.
Not until he understood more.
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PART 5 — NIGHT NOTEBOOK ENTRY
That night, candle flickering softly, Ren wrote:
> Animal Biology — Stage 1
Key Findings:
• Zemo's muscle distribution abnormal
• Nerve reflex perfect
• Enhanced healing
• High cognitive response
Conclusion:
Zemo is not ordinary.
Secondary Hypothesis:
If Zemo's body can adapt this quickly…
Humans?
Could they…?
Ren stopped writing.
His heart raced.
He closed the notebook carefully.
Zemo curled at his feet, warm and quiet.
Ren whispered,
"…We'll learn together. Slowly. Safely."
Zemo lifted his head and nudged Ren's knee gently.
A promise between partners.
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END OF CHAPTER 34