The Thief Duo

Six months had passed.

Jacob and Carina had built a solid partnership, moving from island to island across East Blue. What started as a desperate struggle for survival had turned into a well-oiled relationship.

They had accumulated a small fortune together —mostly from stealing, conning, and the occasional high-stakes gamble.

They sat on the rooftop of a tavern in Loguetown, overlooking the bustling streets below. A bag of stolen berries sat between them. The sea breeze carried the distant sound of music and chatter.

Sipping from a rum bottle, Carina gave him a sideways glance. "You're doing that thing again."

Jacob snapped out of his thoughts. "What thing?"

"Spacing out. Like you're trying to solve some great mystery."

He sighed. "It's just… something's been bothering me. I've been looking at my reflection lately, and—"

Carina smirked. "Finally realizing how unique you are?"

Jacob shot her a look. "No, smartass. It's just… I look a lot like Usopp."

Carina raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

Jacob hesitated. "A pirate. From… stories I used to hear." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either. "The resemblance is uncanny."

She leaned in, studying his face under the dim lantern light. "Huh. Now that you mention it, that nose is definitely something. But I like the feel of your nose poking my cheeks when we kiss."

"Thanks, I guess," Jacob muttered.

Carina chuckled. "So what, you think you have some long-lost twin?"

"No," Jacob admitted. "But the resemblance bugs me. And considering I'm not even from this place…"

Carina leaned back, sipping her rum. "Well, I don't care where you came from. You're here now, and I love you, so you better stop overthinking."

Jacob exhaled, letting it go for now. He turned the conversation around.

"Anyway, I've been training more."

"Oh? You mean besides making my thigh sore?"

Jacob grinned. "Yeah, besides that. Anyway, I've been practicing moves—Fire Fist, Fire Gun, Fire Lance. I tried Fire Bomb, but controlling a big fire mass is tricky. So I stopped training fire bombs for a while."

Carina gave him a skeptical look. "And you're sure no one's noticed a guy shooting fire all over the place?"

"I do it out in the ocean," Jacob reassured her. "And I've been working on the flight."

Carina nearly choked on her rum. "Flight?"

Jacob nodded. "Like that guy from a comic I used to read—. Anyway, If I focus my flames downward, I can get some lift."

She stared at him, then burst out laughing. "So you're trying to fly now? What's next? Making blue flames?"

Jacob smirked. "Actually, yeah. That's the idea."

Carina shook her head. "You're crazy." But there was admiration in her voice.

He leaned back, stretching. "Crazy is what keeps us alive."

The two of them sat silently for a moment, Jacob leaning on Carina's soft thighs, listening to the lively sounds of Loguetown below.

Carina broke the quiet. "So, what's next for us, Fire Boy?"

Carina glanced over when Jacob didn't answer, noticing his introspective expression. "What's got you quiet like that?"

Jacob looked up, looking at her pretty, mischievous face. "Just thinking about how far we've come. Our training's really paying off."

She smirked, caressing his face. "Well, I didn't endure all those early morning drills for nothing."

He chuckled. "You never woke up before ten in the morning."

The following day, Jacob sat alone in a brightly lit room, a thick book spread before him. His breath hitched as he watched the bounty of a girl three years older than him.

Kuina, The Huntress.

Ten million berries.

In his past life, Kuina had died young, leaving behind her legacy in Roronoa Zoro. But here, in this alternate world, Kuina was alive—and not just alive, but feared.

"Kuina, the Huntress. Known for cutting down rogue swordsmen across the East Blue. Ten million berries. Dead or Alive. Last seen near Raven Village."

Jacob leaned back, running a hand through his curly hair. "This world is different from canon… no doubt about it."

A part of him had already suspected it. Small details hadn't lined up precisely with what he remembered. And now? A notorious rogue swordswoman named Kuina? It confirmed everything.

A powerful swordswoman like Kuina could be a game-changer if she could be recruited. But that raised another problem—how was he supposed to convince a swordsman-hunting swordswoman to join his side?

Carina strolled into the living room from their bedroom as he pondered, her purple hair a mess. "Morning, Fire Boy. You're up early. Planning another grand scheme?"

Jacob shut the book before she could see the contents. "Something like that."

Carina narrowed her eyes playfully. "You're always plotting something."

Jacob smirked. "And you're always stealing something."

"Touche," she said, stealing a kiss on his cheeks. "So, what's the plan for today?"

Jacob exhaled. "I might have a new target for our alliance."

Carina raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Who's the lucky soul?"

"A swordswoman named Kuina. But she's not the kind who likes to heist—she's a rogue swordswoman."

Carina whistled. "Oof. That's a tough one. Swordsmen tend to be a pain to deal with. What's with their morality and all."

"Exactly. Which is why I need to think this through," Jacob muttered. He wasn't about to rush in without a plan.

Carina plopped down on the chair beside him, resting her head on his shoulder. "You know… we don't have to recruit anyone else. We're doing fine as we are."

Jacob considered her words. She wasn't wrong—they had built substantial wealth together. But if he wanted to truly thrive in this world, he needed powerful allies.

He gave Carina a lopsided grin. "I know. But wouldn't having a swordswoman watching our backs be nice?"

Carina rolled her eyes. "Just tell me you want another girlfriend, flame boy. A quiet one."

Jacob chuckled. But he didn't defend himself.

As Carina left the living room, Jacob returned to the book.

Kuina. Raven Village.

If he wanted to find her, he needed to move fast. She has never stayed in the same place for long in her recent actions.

***

Jacob dedicated himself to mastering flight over the next week. He achieved short bursts of flight by generating fiery propulsion from his palms and feet, though it remained physically taxing. He continued to refine this skill undeterred, pushing his limits daily.

Jacob also kept meticulous records of potential allies within East Blue. Carina didn't want any male in their alliance so his research led him to limit notable women such as:

Alvida: Once known as the "Iron Mace," she underwent a transformation after consuming the Sube Sube no Mi, but in this alternate world, she was already known as the most beautiful girl in East Blue; probably, she consumed Sube Sube no Mi earlier.

Kaya: A kind-hearted heiress from Syrup Village with medical knowledge. In this alternate world, her parents were known doctors from North Blue who moved and settled in a little, quiet town in East Blue.

Nojiko: Nami's adoptive sister from Cocoyashi Village, known for her resilience and resourcefulness.

Makino: A bar owner with good negotiation skills and a very level-headed older sister type, she was famous for dealing a deal with nobles.

Jacob also assisted Carina in developing her observation haki because he recognized its importance in this world. They engaged in daily training sessions, enhancing her sensory perception and reaction time.

One evening, after an intense training session, Carina collapsed onto the grass, panting. "You're relentless, you know that?"

Jacob chuckled, sitting beside her. "Mastering Haki isn't easy. But you're making remarkable progress." Jacob looked at the sweat-covered Carina, her clothes drenched, making her slim figure visible.

She glanced at him, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Like what you see, flame boy."

He smirked. "Yeah, you looked ravishing."