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pooks · 1 month ago

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i have been in a small hiatus about the straw hat Ichiji AU, but i'm back in the game now

this time, we'll focus on Ichiji during the two year seperation. he's obviously seperated from Sanji, which is a big thing since they've never been apart for once in their lives (temporary seperations on island adventures doesn't count). and here's the big question...

where did Kuma send Ichiji?

Ichiji finds himself on Salossa, a desert island in the Grand Line and located near Calm Belt. the climate is similar to Alabasta, except this has more of a western influence with canyons, cacti and occasional oasis here and there.

he ends up wandering for a long time until he finally collapses from exhaustion and thirst. later, Ichiji wakes up in someone else's residence and meets a pirate he (or Sanji) had never met before

it's Kuro.

he doesn't beat around the bush when Ichiji asks for his identity; he tells him who he is, what he has done and how he ended up here

Kuro's story

following his defeat by the Straw Hats, Kuro set off to the Grand Line incognito after losing to the Straw Hats in the East Blue. since his bounty is still inactive and he's believed to be dead, he took advantage of travelling under disguise. after Luffy defeated him, Kuro had a lot of time to rethink his actions and his own perception of what it means to be a pirate.

he eventually woke up at the shores of Salossa, after a horrible hurricane-like storm in the Grand Line landed him there. with his ship smashed into smithereens and his remaining crew believed to have perished, Kuro wandered for days until he found a large settlement in a canyon with an oasis, Coyote Nest.

Kuro found himself welcomed by the citizens, even after they found out he's a pirate. as he would find out, the island Salossa is a "second chance" for lost people who had done wrong, but regrets their actions; a home for former outlaws, bounty hunters, pirates and assassins. basically outcasts who founded themselves a new home where everyone lives freely as they want.

Kuro decides to stay in Coyote Nest when it becomes clear for him that this is what he's sought for; a comfortable home where pirates, outlaws and other outcasts lives as they pleases and yet, are joined together as a community.

he forms a new pirate crew called the Coyote Pirates and is once again a pirate captain. he ventures on smaller voyages out in the sea, now equipped with a Log Pose to find his way back to Salossa, with a new ship and does as a pirate always does; seeks for adventures, treasures and occassionally fights battles with small fry pirate crews. Kuro got back his once forgotten passion of piracy. both Luffy and then Coyote Nest citizens played a large role in his own quest to refind himself as a pirate.

"3D2Y" and the Training of Hell

Ichiji finds out about Ace's death and his heart breaks, as Ace was his first love and you never really forget your first love. he's grief-struck, his heart aches for his captain, he's alone without his crew and seperated from Sanji, his other half

he realizes what the "3D2Y" code means and understands that he must train for two years, become so strong as he can become. for three days in a row, he asks Kuro on his knees to train him and gets refused as Kuro says Ichiji hasn't shown him his potential yet. Ichiji is relentless and keeps asking.

"I was born as a monster, but my captain turned me into a human. He must've seen my potential or I wouldn't be in his crew! I want to be of use for him, because Luffy will be the King of the Pirates!" - Ichiji

While Kuro is impressed, he isn't entirely convinced and gives him twelve tasks to perform around the island. he also warns him that these tasks aren't for the faint-hearted and will take its' toll on him. If he succeeds and doesn't fail one single one, he will train him to become an exemplary pirate. if not, he will reject him and Ichiji will have to fend for himself.

Ichiji's Twelve Tasks

i won't go into too much details about what these "twelve tasks" are (and yes, they are supposed to be inspired from Heracles' twelve quests in greek mythology), but Ichiji has a very Bad™ time and suffers, but he's extremely stubborn and refuses to give in.

it takes him two months to complete all his tasks and at this point, Ichiji is sunburnt, exhausted, gained some muscles and improved his stamina a lot. he hasn't even bothered with "luxury rights" (like warm baths and so). instead, he's elected to forage food he could find and washed himself in the few springs he could find.

now, Kuro is very impressed of his persistence and how thorough he's been with his tasks, not a single failure, and agrees to train him. but he also warns him that if he thought that his twelve tasks were difficult, then he better brace himself because he will live in hell for the next 22 months that remains of his "training time".

First Year: The Black Cat Swordsmanship and Haki

Ichiji learns much from Kuro, who proves to be a strict and unforgivable teacher. he gets up every sunrise to train, no matter which weather it is and it ranges from scorching heatwaves to monsoon with heavy rainfall.

Kuro learns that Ichiji has mastered the basics of swordsmanship in childhood and start to teach him the Black Cat Sword Style; a fencing type swordsmanship that combines accuracy, stealth, elegance and the ability to cut through anything, regardless of sword type.

the second phase is that Ichiji learns haki from him. he is surprised to learn that Kuro is well-versed in haki, but barely used it when he fought Luffy. Kuro only remarks that he doesn't rely too much on it and made the decition to fight Ichiji's captain in "a fair fight". regardless, Ichiji learns to harness his willpower as a spiritual power. he manages to awaken and master Observation Haki, he has a significantly tougher time with Armament Haki and he isn't able to unlock Conqueror's Haki at all.

Second Year: Daily Duels against Kuro of a Thousands Plans

once Kuro is certain that Ichiji has learnt everything he can teach in Black Cat Style and made sure his skills are polished, he challenges him to daily duels and the objective is to defeat him.

every day for the second year, Ichiji duels Kuro and ends up defeated. he understands that he's up for an impossible task as Kuro doesn't hold up the nickname "of a Thousands Plans" for nothing and he always has a back-up plan in every situation, no matter what. Ichiji figures out, after three months of daily defeats, that he needs to learn from this.

three weeks away from the two year deadline, Ichiji succeeds in defeating Kuro by cutting off his back-up plans, similar to how to defeat someone in chess. Kuro understands when the student has defeated his teacher and forfeits; telling Ichiji that no matter which plan he will come up with, every possible backup plan will end with his defeat and Ichiji has won.

the people of Coyote Nest holds a farewell feast for Ichiji, now when he's leaving to join his crew at Sabaody and enter the New World. he learns that he will board Kuro's new pirate ship with the Coyote Pirates to sail to Sabaody Archipelaego and it will take two and a half week. Kuro warns him that just because he has defeated him and mastered everything he's taught, it doesn't mean he will get lazy because it's now the real challenge will begin.

Reunion and Farewell

Ichiji reaches Sabaody as nearly the last one to arrive and the reason behind this delay is that the Coyote Pirates got almost intercepted by a Marine ship...which got quickly taken care of by Kuro, Ichiji and the Coyote Pirate and not without pillaging some gold and valuables.

just as Ichiji is about to bid farewell to his friends and companions of the past two years, the Straw Hats are being attacked by Marines who apparently anticipated their return. Ichiji is visibly annoyed by this and remarks "not even back for an hour and i already have to clean up their mess..."

Kuro, however, sees this as a chance to "have some fun", thinking back at how he had undergone a change of mind about piracy since he last encountered the Straw Hats.

his existence and dramatic reveal to the Marines causes quite a stir and gives Ichiji the chance to get to the Thousand Sunny safely. he is overjoyed to see his nakama again and gives them all each a hug. Robin takes notice of how Ichiji has changed, both in demeanor and physical appearence.

the Straw Hats sets sails as soon as Luffy, Zoro and Sanji (along with Chopper who went to fetch them). the Marines are still persistent to catch them, but they get attacked by an unknown pirate ship...which is the Coyote Pirates who has come to the Straw Hats' aid.

facing each other from their respective ships, Kuro and Ichiji has one final moment (and ignoring Usopp's scandalized hollering in the background).

Ichiji: Guess you're rid of me now, Kuro. Kuro: With my luck, I almost expect you to return to ruin my life. Ichiji: The New World is hardly for old-timers like you, so thanks for this time. Give everyone in Coyote Nest my thanks. Kuro: *smirks* Make sure you don't die, brat. Heads up. *throws something to Ichiji who catches it* Your graduation gift, use it well. Ichiji, almost touched to tears: ...you old bastard.

the "graduation gift" is a long rapier sword with an elegant handle, it's called "Noir", is one of the 21 Great Grade Blades and one of the very few swords that isn't a katana. previously belong to Kuro, he tells him that he's searched for a new sworduser to inherit Noir; it has to be someone he personally taught in sword skills, stealh, speed, accuracy and strategy, but also mastered at least observation and armament haki. and Ichiji is the one he has chosen as the new worthy owner.

Ichiji is unable to keep his emotions in check and ends up shouting "SHITTY CAT BASTARD!" across the ocean waves as Kuro's ship steers away from them.

and this marks the farewell to Kuro...for now. :)

#one piece #one piece au #straw hat ichiji au #ichiji runs away with sanji au #vinsmoke ichiji #scarlet ichiji #kuro of a thousands plans #one piece kuro #one piece 3D2Y #one piece timeskip #one piece post timeskip #pooks writes #pooks rambles

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