Ch 63 - Training the Diva

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Next day

Luffy woke to the soft light of dawn filtering through Makino's window. Beside him, Makino stirred, her peaceful expression breaking into a warm smile as Luffy leaned in, stealing a kiss that lingered with passion and tenderness.

"Good morning," sShe whispered, her cheeks glowing.

"Morning," Luffy murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Today's a busy one. Make sure to relax a bit, alright?"

Makino laughed softly. "Says the man who's about to train half the village into superhumans. Don't overwork yourself."

Luffy grinned mischievously. "No promises."

After breakfast, Luffy found Ann and Sabo already in the clearing near Foosha Village, sparring with enthusiasm. Ann wielded her pipe with precision, while Sabo's mastery of his pipe showcased his agility and strength.

"Alright, you two!" Luffy called out, clapping his hands. "Today, I want you to push each other to the limit. You're both strong, but competition's what'll take you to the next level."

Ann smirked. "Sabo's not ready for me, Captain. I'll wipe the floor with him."

"Dream on," Sabo retorted, spinning his pipe with a confident twirl.

Luffy's grin widened. "Good. Use that energy to train harder. Remember: no holding back."

Leaving the two to their friendly rivalry, Luffy made his way toward Uta, who waited on a hill overlooking the sea.

Uta sat cross-legged, humming a melody that floated on the breeze. Her fiery resolve was clear in her eyes as Luffy approached.

"Ready?" He asked, crossing his arms.

She nodded eagerly. "Totally! Teach me everything, Captain."

Luffy chuckled, but his tone turned serious. "We're starting with your Devil Fruit. Your powers are unique, Uta. If you don't control them properly, they'll control you. That's dangerous—for everyone."

Uta tilted her head, curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"

Luffy sat beside her, his expression thoughtful. "Your Uta Uta no Mi is powerful, but it's not just about creating music. Inside you, there's something dark—something that could destroy everything if it gets loose."

"The Tot Musica..." Uta whispered, her voice barely audible.

Before leaving, Shanks had pulled Uta aside, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by a rare and grave seriousness. He told Uta about the danger lurking inside of her. Even though it was quite difficult for the demon music to take over Uta's consciousness that easily but since Uta was staying behind and Shanks was not around, he had to tell her about the extent of her abilities and the danger of them.

Shanks then turned to Luffy asking him to keep a watch over his daughter. He didn't want the nightmare to repeat itself and made the warm Foosha Village into the second Elegia...

Luffy nodded. "Yeah. That Demon King isn't just a story. If you accidentally awaken it, even I'd have a hard time stopping it."

A shiver ran down Uta's spine, but Luffy placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "That's why we're starting with your mind. Strengthening your willpower is the key to keeping your powers under control."

Luffy guided Uta through a series of exercises designed to sharpen her focus. First, they meditated near the ocean, the rhythmic sound of waves helping her center herself.

"Close your eyes," Luffy instructed. "Focus on your breath. Feel the music inside you, but don't let it consume you."

Uta followed his lead, her breathing steady. For a while, she managed to keep her mind calm, but soon her mischievous nature got the better of her.

"Captain," Uta said with a dramatic sigh, cracking one eye open as they sat cross-legged on the grass. "This is boring. Can't we do something cool, like fighting or showing off our powers?"

Luffy opened one eye, his expression flat. "You're hopeless."

Uta grinned cheekily, leaning closer. "C'mon, admit it. You like me better when I'm like this—fun, lively, adorable."

Without a word, Luffy leaned forward and gave her a swift spank on her butt, making her yelp and jolt upright.

"That's for breaking concentration," Luffy said, his tone half-serious but with a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

"Ow! Captain!" Uta pouted, rubbing the spot dramatically. "You're so mean!"

Luffy shrugged, closing his eyes again. "Then stop being such a brat and focus."

Uta stuck her tongue out at him but obediently returned to her meditative posture. Barely a minute passed before she started fidgeting again, tapping her fingers on her knee.

Luffy sighed and opened his eyes. "You're doing it again."

"But Captain, I'm not built for this boring stuff!" She whined, her voice playful but exaggerated.

Luffy shook his head, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Fine, if you don't want to sit still, we'll move on to something else. But don't think I'm going easy on you."

"Finally!" Uta sprang up, only to yelp again as Luffy delivered another light smack to her rear.

"That's for whining," He said, grinning now.

"Seriously?!" Uta protested, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Do you just look for excuses to do that?"

"Maybe," Luffy said, standing and stretching. "Now, let's see if your legs can keep up with that mouth."

The next part of her training was a series of laps around the hill, with small weights strapped to her ankles and wrists.

"This is exhausting!" Uta huffed, her pace slowing as she climbed the incline.

"You want to keep up with Ann, right?" Luffy called out, lounging casually under a tree and watching her struggle.

"Yeah, but I don't see her doing this kind of torture!" Uta snapped, dragging her feet dramatically.

"Ann didn't complain this much when I trained her," Luffy teased, propping his chin on his hand.

That struck a nerve. Uta's competitive streak flared, and she straightened, glaring at him. "Oh, you think I'm weaker than her?!"

"I don't think—I know," Luffy replied, his grin widening.

Fueled by indignation, Uta broke into a sprint, pushing herself harder despite the weights. "I'll show you who's weak!"

Luffy laughed, watching her determination. But as soon as she slowed again, he appeared beside her in an instant, delivering another playful spank.

"Pick up the pace, slowpoke," He teased.

Uta groaned but started running faster, fueled equally by her pride and the sting on her rear. "One of these days, I'm gonna get you back for this, Captain!"

"Good luck with that," Luffy said, jogging lazily beside her with a grin.

Once Uta had caught her breath, Luffy had her experiment with her Devil Fruit. He instructed her to create music that could evoke different emotions without letting her powers overwhelm her.

"Start with something simple," Luffy said. "Play a melody that makes someone happy."

Uta strummed her guitar, and a cheerful tune filled the air.

Luffy couldn't help but smile, the music lifting his spirits.

"Good," He said. "Now try something calming."

Her fingers moved over the strings, producing a soothing lullaby. The energy around her was serene, but Luffy noticed her hands trembling slightly.

"Stop," He said, stepping forward.

Uta looked at him in confusion. "What's wrong?"

"You're pushing too hard," He said, his tone gentle but firm. "Control isn't about forcing your power. It's about balance."

She nodded, taking a deep breath. "I'll try again."

As the sun began to set, Luffy called an end to the training session. Uta collapsed onto the grass, her energy spent but her determination burning brighter than ever.

"That's enough for today," Luffy said, sitting beside her.

"Do you think I'll ever be strong enough?" She asked, her voice tinged with doubt.

Luffy ruffled her hair, his grin as reassuring as ever. "You're already strong, Uta. But real strength isn't just about power. It's about knowing when to use it—and when not to."

Uta looked at him, her eyes wide with understanding. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Good," he said, standing up. "Because tomorrow, we're kicking things up a notch."

As they walked back to Makino's house, Uta couldn't help but smile. She knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but with Luffy guiding her, she felt ready to face any challenge.

--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---

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