CHAPTER 36 — Suspicion and Shadows
📅 12 June, S.C. 1510
👦 Ren — 7
📍 Windmill Village → Forest Path → Docks
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Ren barely slept.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the stranger's face—
the smirk, the cold gaze, the way he assessed everything.
Zemo slept lightly too, ears twitching at every sound.
Makino noticed the tension when Ren walked into the bar the next morning, dark circles under his eyes.
She placed a warm bowl of soup in front of him.
"You didn't sleep, did you?"
Ren shook his head.
"…Zemo was restless."
Makino raised an eyebrow.
"Zemo or you?"
Ren didn't answer.
Kiro sat beside him, whispering,
"The stranger's still in the village."
Luffy gasped,
"HE'S GOING TO STEAL MY MEAT!!"
"No one wants your meat," Ren muttered.
Zemo growled at the mention of the stranger.
Makino's expression hardened.
"I don't like this. Ren, stay close to the bar today."
Ren looked up.
"I need to know who he is."
Makino frowned.
"No. Let adults handle this."
But Ren had already made up his mind.
---
PART 1 — TRAILING A SHADOW
By midday, the stranger left the bar with a small bag and began walking toward the forest edge.
Ren followed at a safe distance, Zemo at his side.
Kiro whispered behind him,
"You sure about this?"
"No," Ren whispered.
"But I need to understand him."
Luffy marched confidently.
"I WILL PUNCH HIM IF HE HURTS REN!!"
Kiro pulled Luffy back.
"Shut up! He'll hear you!"
But the stranger didn't look back.
He walked calmly, scanning the trees as if searching for something.
Ren held Zemo's fur tight to steady himself.
The man stopped at a clearing.
Ren hid behind a tree.
The stranger knelt and touched the ground.
Ren's breath hitched.
That clearing—
It was the place where they found Zemo injured.
The stranger muttered to himself,
"So the beast came from here…"
Ren felt cold fear crawl up his spine.
Zemo's ears flattened.
The stranger stood again, clicking his tongue.
"Should've killed it when I had the chance last time."
Ren froze.
Last time? He fought Zemo before?
---
PART 2 — CAUGHT
The stranger suddenly turned his head.
Ren held his breath.
Zemo pressed closer, silent as a shadow.
The stranger scanned the trees…
…then smirked.
"You kids can come out. I heard the big one breathing."
Kiro cursed under his breath.
Ren stepped out slowly, Zemo at his side.
The stranger's eyes sparkled with amusement.
"So. The little inventor trails me."
Ren's voice was steady, though his hands trembled.
"What do you want with Zemo?"
The man shrugged.
"Rare animals fetch good money. Especially ones that survive Ridgeback attacks."
Zemo growled.
The man raised an eyebrow.
"Look at him. He's healing fast. Moving well. That kind of creature interests powerful people."
Ren swallowed.
"Leave him alone."
The man chuckled.
"You think you can protect him?"
Zemo stepped between Ren and the man, teeth bared.
The stranger didn't flinch.
"Good instincts. But instincts won't stop bullets, boy."
Kiro shouted,
"Get away from us!"
The stranger didn't even look at him.
"I'm not here to snatch your pet today. I'm just seeing what he's capable of."
Ren's jaw tightened.
"He's not my pet. He's family."
The man blinked—surprised for a moment.
Then the smirk returned.
"That makes him even more valuable."
Ren felt Zemo stiffen, muscles tensing to spring.
Ren whispered softly:
"Zemo… not yet."
Zemo stayed rooted, but his growl deepened.
The stranger stepped closer.
"Let me offer advice, boy."
Ren narrowed his eyes.
"Don't follow me again."
The stranger moved past them, brushing Ren's shoulder lightly — too lightly.
Like a warning.
---
PART 3 — ZEMO'S REACTION
As soon as the man was out of sight, Zemo shoved Ren with his head, almost knocking him over.
"Zemo—?"
Zemo growled and bit lightly at Ren's sleeve, pulling him back toward the village.
"He… wants us to leave," Kiro said quietly.
Luffy nodded dramatically.
"ZEMO SAYS THAT MAN IS DANGER!!"
Ren looked toward the forest path the stranger took.
His mind raced.
Why had he said "last time"?
What had he fought in the forest?
Why did he want Zemo?
Why was he scouting their traps?
Makino's voice echoed in his mind.
"Be careful, Ren."
For the first time, Ren felt he understood the meaning of danger.
Not just forest beasts.
Not accidents.
Not storms.
People.
He looked down at Zemo, who stared at him with fierce determination.
"…I'm sorry," Ren whispered.
"I put us too close."
Zemo licked Ren's hand once.
Forgiving.
Reassuring.
Protective.
Ren swallowed a trembling breath.
"We'll be more careful."
Zemo nudged him.
---
PART 4 — MAKINO FINDS OUT
Back at the bar, Makino's face went pale.
"REN!"
She grabbed his shoulders tightly.
"What did I tell you?"
Ren lowered his eyes.
"…I had to know."
Makino's voice cracked.
"What if he hurt you? What if Zemo wasn't there?"
Ren didn't answer.
Makino pulled him into a hug suddenly.
"You're still a child, Ren. Let me protect you."
Ren froze.
No one had hugged him like that before.
Slowly, awkwardly, he hugged back.
Kiro looked away.
Luffy sniffled for no reason.
Zemo pressed against Ren's leg.
Makino pulled back, wiping her eyes.
"Tell me everything."
Ren did.
Every word.
Makino's expression darkened.
"That man… he's not staying here another night."
Ren blinked.
"What?"
Makino's voice was steely.
"I'll speak to the village chief. No dangerous men threaten my children."
Ren's chest tightened.
My children.
Makino placed a hand on Ren's cheek.
"No more following strangers. Promise me."
Ren swallowed.
"…I promise."
Zemo pressed his head into Ren's palm.
Kiro exhaled.
"That man is trouble."
Luffy nodded seriously.
"I WILL PUNCH HIM IF HE COMES BACK!"
Makino sighed.
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that."
---
PART 5 — NIGHT RESOLVE
Back in his shed, Ren wrote:
> Stranger:
• Interested in Zemo
• Fought Zemo or his species before
• Knows about my inventions
• Scouting
• Dangerous
Zemo's reaction proves it.
Conclusion:
I'm not strong enough.
Zemo is recovering but still not ready.
I must improve:
• defenses
• tools
• awareness
• knowledge
He closed the notebook slowly.
Zemo lay beside him, eyes alert and awake.
Ren whispered:
"We'll stay ahead of him.
I won't let him hurt you."
Zemo rested his head on Ren's leg in silent agreement.
In the quiet darkness, one truth settled firmly in Ren's heart:
Sometimes monsters weren't beasts.
They were men.
And Ren would need to grow stronger to protect everything he cared about.
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END OF CHAPTER 36