Rouge showed the two of them to the living room, then went to the kitchen to put out the stove fire.
“What should I call you?” “Crocus.
And this kid is Gavin — Hickman D.
Gavin.
Same as that Roger fellow, he’s one of the D.
clan.” His introduction done, Crocus scratched at his ears and cheeks, plainly antsy.
“Now, uh, sis— ahem, Miss Portgas, I’ll just call you that — would you let me give you a checkup?
Your current state is, I’m afraid, none too good.” Rouge stroked her belly, her expression gentle.
“This little one’s due date was actually the start of this year.
But the situation in the South Blue won’t allow him to be born at a time like this.
For Roger’s sake, and for his own, I have to hold on a while longer.
Only once the Marines call off their great manhunt can I bring him into the world — otherwise, I’m afraid this little one wouldn’t last long.” Gavin’s mouth fell slightly open, the look of a man too stunned to speak.
So this is a mother’s love…
“No good!
You have to give birth right now.” Having finished examining Rouge, Crocus dropped his usual mischievous-old-man manner and spoke gravely.
“I’m a doctor, and Gavin here has special healing methods of his own.
If you don’t deliver this little one soon, you’ll die!” Rouge opened her mouth to say more, but Gavin suddenly cut in.
“Miss Portgas, if you don’t want your child to lose its mother as well as its father the moment it’s born, then you should trust us.” He turned.
“Crocus, get ready to deliver the baby.
Any more delay and I’m worried Miss Portgas’s body will only deteriorate further.” His voice dropped.
“Honestly — even if she gives birth right now, I can’t be sure how long she’ll last.” …
Knock, knock— The door was struck again, and before anyone inside could answer, it was shoved open.
“Honestly, I just knew you two had to have found something to slip off like that.” Shanks walked in with Buggy and a few of the Red-Haired crew, grinning as he reached out to pat Rouge on the head.
“Hello.
I’m Shanks, and this guy’s Buggy.
We’re both orphans Captain Roger took in.” Reading the room, Buggy refrained from goofing around for once and beamed at Rouge alongside Shanks.
“I’m Buggy.
Nice to meet you!” Rouge waved the two of them over and, every inch the loving mother, cupped their cheeks.
“Roger was awfully fond of you two, you know.
Before he turned himself in, the ones he talked about most were the two of you.
He said he’d once picked up a pair of adorable kids — one named Buggy, one named Shanks.
It’s so good to finally meet you.
Roger, he…” Her voice softened.
“He so wanted to see the two of you grow up, get married, have children of your own someday.” Shanks and Buggy’s faces dimmed a little, but they quickly pulled themselves together.
“Which is exactly why you should trust us.
No matter who shows up today, no one is stopping us from getting you and the child in your belly to safety!” Buggy nodded hard.
“That’s right!
Even if the Marine Fleet Admiral himself came today, I, Buggy, would never let him take you!” “Alright, you lot stay put in here.
Gavin, you come into the bedroom with me — you’re helping deliver Rouge’s baby!” Not giving Rouge a chance to refuse, Crocus simply hoisted the reclining chair she sat in and carried it toward the bedroom.
“Every second we waste chews away at Rouge’s life.
Back then I was useless — I couldn’t save Roger.
If I can’t even save his wife today, then I’ll have lived all these years for nothing!
Shanks, Buggy, go boil hot water.
Everyone else, keep quiet!” …
The bedroom.
Crocus set about sterilizing the medical instruments he carried with him.
Perhaps because familiar faces of Roger’s had appeared, Rouge had finally relaxed — and wave after wave of searing pain came rolling up from her abdomen.
“Deep breaths, Miss.” Gavin let Rouge crush his hand in her grip and murmured his comfort.
“Don’t be afraid.
With Minazuki here, not even the God of Death himself is taking you today.” Rouge’s breathing grew ragged as sharper, fiercer pain began to assault her mind.
Once everything was ready, Crocus drew several deep breaths.
“Forgive me, Miss Rouge.” Then, “Gavin, get ready.
The second the baby’s out, use your ability to heal her — not a moment’s delay!
Whatever state Rouge’s body is in afterward is riding on you!” …
In the living room, Shanks sat on the sofa without a word while Buggy paced restlessly back and forth.
“Shanks…” “Steady, Buggy.
You have to trust Crocus and Gavin.” Anxious as Shanks was inside, he still had the bearing of a captain.
If even he had no faith in his comrades right now, it would only make the mood worse.
So they all sat there in the room, waiting.
Outside, the crimson sunset vanished entirely, and just as heavy night fell, a bright, ringing cry suddenly carried out from the bedroom.
Snake and several other Red-Haired crewmates exchanged looks, all of them breathing an inward sigh of relief.
“Thank goodness.
Shanks, now you can all rest easy.” Just as the group’s faces eased, the cramped bedroom was blown apart from within by the one-eyed manta ray.
The very instant Ace was born — before Rouge had time to react — Gavin had Minazuki swallow her whole in a single gulp.
“It’s a boy!
Hahaha~~ Roger, bet you never saw this coming — that one day I’d actually get to see your son come into the world!
If Rayleigh and Gaban knew, they’d be over the moon too!!” Cradling the loudly wailing infant, Crocus roared with laughter — and as he laughed, tears slid from the corners of his eyes.
“Roger!!!
If you were still alive, you’d absolutely be drinking the night away with us right now!!!” Sob…
sob…
Gavin didn’t open his mouth to disturb the middle-aged man weeping over the baby before him.
Roger had been Crocus’s comrade; “brothers” would not be too strong a word for their bond.
To watch a brother walk into death while you could do nothing — no words existed to console a feeling like that.
And Crocus needed no one’s consolation.
“Mother and child, both safe.
A most auspicious day.” …
At that same moment, on a wooden stump outside the house, a burly man with graying temples watched with a complicated look in his eyes.
“Roger, seems I got here too late.
Still — you really did have a fine bunch of comrades.
To think they’d risk being wiped out by the Marines and the World Government just to come all the way to the South Blue and save your wife.” Creeeak— The wooden door opened.
Shanks and Buggy were the first out, their eyes fixed hard on Garp.
“Monkey D.
Garp.
Should I say it’s been a while, Vice Admiral Garp?” “I’m not here as a Marine.
I only came as the man Roger entrusted, to help his son through this ordeal.” Recalling the last words Roger had said to him, Garp waved a hand, thoroughly put out.
“You lot aren’t worth me lifting a finger.
Let’s wait until that Crocus fellow comes out.
Honestly — why is a Marine like me helping pirates?
I must’ve been out of my mind back then.” Shanks gripped the hilt in his left hand and charged at Garp, heedless of everything.
“Today, no one — no one — is taking his family away!
Buggy!!!” “I know!” The tips of Buggy’s shoes suddenly flipped open, and a small red cannon shell shot toward Garp.
“Buggy Special Bomb!!” “Honestly.
Didn’t I say not to go swinging at me?
I’ve no wish to bully brats.” Garp sighed and rose slowly.
With his right hand he caught the tachi Shanks brought down at him; with his left fist he simply batted Buggy’s shell away.
“If Roger found out about this, he’d never let me hear the end of it.” He raised his right foot and kicked away the two-sword swordsman rushing up from behind Shanks, then grabbed Shanks and hurled him at Hongo, who was leaping down from the sky.
“There’s a woman in here who just gave birth.
Settle down, all of you.” Soru!
Garp’s hulking frame vanished.
In an instant he was in front of Buggy, his swinging right fist slamming the boy straight into the ground.
Buggy’s eyes rolled white, blood spraying from his mouth.
Without so much as a glance at the result, Garp vanished again.
In the span of a few flickering steps, he’d routed every member but Shanks.
“You’re all still far too green.
Strength like this won’t get you anywhere near Roger.” BOOM!!
Conqueror’s Haki erupted.
Shanks wreathed the Haki around his blade and wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth.
“Even if I, Shanks, die right here today, I will never let you take them!
Kamusari!!” Garp regarded the incoming slash with a complicated expression, his right fist clenching hard as black-and-red lightning exploded around it.
“A familiar move — and unbelievably raw.” Fist and blade met, but Garp’s Conqueror’s Haki was clearly the stronger.
Add to that his Armament Haki, honed to its utmost, and in a few blinks he’d broken through Gryphon’s edge and driven a fist into Shanks’s chest.
“Gah—!” The tremendous force sent Shanks flying toward the house — but Gavin suddenly appeared in the doorway and caught him mid-flight.
“Good work, Shanks.
Leave the rest to me.” He looked into the house.
“Oi, Crocus, get out here — don’t think I can’t see you just because you’re hiding in the dark!” Garp shot Gavin a glance, then shouted toward the house.
“You remnants of the Pirate King’s crew — are you trying to start a war?!” But Gavin took a single step to the left, bracing the door that was about to open.
“Remnants of the Pirate King?
I don’t know anything about that, Vice Admiral Garp.” “That’s right!” Buggy wiped the corner of his mouth, came to stand beside Gavin, and glared viciously at Garp.
“We’re just passing pirates, that’s all.
The woman inside is a pirate’s spoils of war, nothing more!” Shanks spat a few mouthfuls of bloody phlegm to the side and grinned.
“I second what Buggy said.
Pirate business is best left to pirates.” “Shanks, Buggy!” Gavin suddenly spoke up, wisps of spiritual pressure rising off his body.
“Do you two trust me?” The pair froze, not quite following his meaning.
“If you trust me, then take Rouge and leave.
Crocus was never here.
No remnants of the Pirate King’s crew were ever here.
I’m the last king of the Hickman clan, and I only came to survey territory that may one day belong to the Hickmans.” Gavin looked at Garp, a flush of excitement and fervor slowly rising in his face — the anticipation of the fight to come.
“Hey, Garp.
This East Blue king can’t make it work in the East Blue anymore, so he’s come to try his luck in the South Blue.
No objections, right?” Garp fell silent.
He understood full well.
The man only wanted a pretext — a pretext that would keep the Marines from moving to exterminate the Pirate King’s remnants.
A pretext that would let the Pirate King’s wife and child leave in safety.
“…You.
Stay.
They can go.”