One Piece: Dream of Immortality

Chapter 472: Cursed Child



"That's your daughter, right?" Cherry pointed out a little pink haired girl standing in line at a soba stall.

"Aye, that's her. How did you know?" Yasuie asked.

"That giant smile on her face is creeping me out, that's how. I can tell a real smile from a fake one, and there's nothing natural about that," Cherry lied. "No offense meant, of course. She's adorable otherwise."

"I agree," Yasuie said. He and many of the townsfolk at Ebisu had developed a sort of subconscious way of telling what the general emotional state of one another was in spite of their perpetual smiles; though, he was rather surprised that Cherry could apparently do so as well. "I hope to see the day when she can smile because she chooses to."

"I don't see why you shouldn't. Change is coming to Wano, so whatever risky nonsense you've got planned, maybe you should hold off on it. You're not much of a fighter, and an old man besides. Leave the revolutionary business to the youngsters," Cherry said pointedly.

Yasuie glanced at her. "... I'll do what I must."

"Stubborn old coot. Go on, now. I'll take care of your daughter, make sure she doesn't get wrapped up in anything dangerous," Cherry shooed him away.

"Yes. Thank you for this," Yasuie gave her a quick bow before scuttling away.

Cherry didn't move immediately, instead continuing to watch from afar. It was important that she approached the child at the right timing in order to create the desired effect. Otherwise people may suspect the girl of running away from her duties.

As for what Cherry would do after grabbing the child? She had briefly considered leaving her with Grandma Angela, far away from the coming chaos in Wano. However, leaving the girl so far away from the people she cared for and cared for her in turn had certain risks.

The big one being the very exceptionally slim chance that Cherry kicked the bucket and stranded her there as a result. She refused to have that on her conscience, should such an unlikely event come to pass.

The soba stall's line moved along efficiently until it was the girl's turn to buy a bowl. She did so with genuine cheer, as far as Cherry could tell, and the man operating the stall was happy to oblige as well. The man being a disguised Sanji, always happy to feed those who appreciated good food.

Robin, Usopp, and Franky were all nearby as well, speaking amongst themselves in hushed tones that Cherry couldn't quite make out with all the ruckus of the crowd.

The cheerful atmosphere was soon spoiled by some random thugs, however. A few of them bullied the lingering customers, knocking bowls out of hands and onto the ground. One even had the nerve to kick over the cooking pot on Sanji's stall.

"Tsk, who are these scumbags?" Cherry clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"It's the Kyoshiro family! You'd best not get involved, miss, if you know what's good for you!" a random passerby who was taking his leave helpfully informed her after overhearing her question.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Kyoshiro?" Cherry knew that name. It was the alias of Denjiro, the blue haired fellow that stalked her the day before last. She frowned and thought, 'I guess it's a good way to maintain your cover, surrounding yourself with assholes like these.'

She still didn't like it. Fortunately, she didn't have to do anything at all, since Sanji was already beating their worthless asses into the ground before proceeding to stuff the spilled soba down their throats. Cherry smiled proudly at him, nodding in satisfaction.

With the street clearing out in short order, Cherry lost her convenient hiding place in plain sight and as such decided to just go over to her crew mates.

"Hey, I see you've settled in here as well," Cherry called out with a wave.

"Hm?" Sanji looked up as he was rifling through the thugs' pockets for money. "Oh, Ch- uh, Sakuranbo-swan!"

Cherry opened her arms as she approached. Sanji opened his as well, before she skipped right past him and straight into the awaiting arms of Robin. Sanji played off the awkward moment with a stretch and a fake yawn.

"Sakuranbo! It's good to see you again!" Usopp spoke through a mouthful of noodles, though it was clear that he meant his words.

"Huh?" Cherry tilted her head. "Oh, right. I never actually greeted you properly, did I? Both times I visited you, I was in disguise."

"You did? Who were you?" Usopp asked, easier to understand with his mouth much emptier after swallowing.

"I was the guy with the pink mustache," Cherry admitted.

"What? You were giving me such a hard time!" Usopp pouted.

"I was also the beast pirate chick who tried to rob you," Cherry said.

"I've changed my mind. I'm not happy to see you!" Usopp crossed his arms and turned away, sulking.

"Hehehe, but you were handling it so well! I'm very proud of you!" Cherry chuckled.

"R-really?" Usopp rubbed the back of his neck with a blush creeping up his face.

"Hey, that's the girl who laughed while she cried over the soba those punks knocked to the ground, isn't it?" Franky pointed out the pink haired child peeking at them from a short distance.

Sanji moved to salvage what he could from the spilled pot. "Come on over here! You're hungry, aren't you?"

The girl pitter pattered over with some haste. She received the new bowl that Sanji offered her with a small, polite bow. "Thank you!"

Cherry watched the girl carefully, something that Robin took notice of and gave her an odd look for.

"I've been hearing about this special soba, so I just had to try it! Even if I had to wait in line all day! Hahaha!" she spoke whilst stuffing her face at the same time. "I've been saving my allowance, but this was worth it! Ahaha, but I'm late for work because I waited too!"

Robin kept a pleasant mask on her face, but inwardly she was furious. It was one thing to hear about the wrongs committed against people you've never met, and another entirely to actually meet a child being actively tormented by her own body.

Sanji, Franky, and Usopp were blessedly ignorant of the suffering the child in front of them dealt with from day to day, though, so they found interacting with her to be a delight.

"What's your name, kid?" Franky asked her.

"I'm Toko. You can use the O- honorific," Toko laughed again.

There was a bit more of a back and forth while she ate, but all things must come to an end eventually. Toko finished off the bowl and handed it back to Sanji with another "Thank you!". Then she suddenly froze in place. "Ahaha, I forgot that I'm late! Today is the Oiran's procession, so you can see me again, then!"

Toko was off, saying her goodbyes quickly in between laughs.

"That kid is pretty funny," Usopp chuckled.

"I'm glad you think so, Usohachi, because I'm planning to kidnap her later," Cherry said,

throwing the three men for a loop.

"Is she in danger?" Sanji asked after recovering from the blunt force trauma he suffered from

that statement.

"In a manner of speaking. She will be after I've sealed her curse, if the man who gave it to her finds out," Cherry explained.

"Who's that then?" Franky asked with a dangerous gleam in his eyes.

"Why, the shogun Orochi, of course," Cherry said. She smiled as she saw the expressions on her boys' faces harden with righteous fury and determination.