Chapter 8: Don’t Step on That Hat

On a Morgania roadside, three kids—Luffy, Kiri, and Silk—set up a peculiar defense: books pilfered from nearby houses, stacked haphazardly. Kiri's idea was bizarre—gathering books, useless as weapons, and doing nothing else. With no time to prepare, it seemed absurd.

Luffy, who fought with his fists, didn't care. Silk, however, was baffled, unable to grasp Kiri's plan. Was there any point? But the pirate ship loomed near the port, leaving no time for debate.

"Silk, a sailing ship's cannons could hit the whole town," Kiri warned. "We can't cover everything."

"I know," Silk said. "But I want to minimize the damage. Can we manage?"

"Dunno, Captain," Kiri said.

"Leave it to me," Luffy grinned, smacking his fists together. "I've got a plan."

His confidence eased Silk's nerves, but fear lingered. She'd handled kids' fights, but pirates? Her arms trembled despite her resolve. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply, but the tension clung. Glancing at Luffy and Kiri, she saw them chatting casually.

"Why'd you grab books?" Luffy asked. "Weapons?"

"Didn't you throw books in fights as a kid?" Kiri said. "The spine hurts when it hits."

"Nah, I just punched," Luffy said. "Jungle kid, you know. No books."

"Right, wild child," Kiri chuckled. "Jungles don't have books."

"Throwing's slower than stretching anyway," Luffy said.

"Wrong guy to ask," Kiri said. "I'll use them. Lead the charge, Captain."

"You got it!" Luffy said.

Their easy banter loosened Silk's cheeks into a smile, calming her. How were they fearless before pirates? No time to wonder—the ship anchored at the port.

"There it is," Silk whispered.

"Here they come," Kiri said.

"No attack yet," Luffy said. "What's their deal?"

"Probably trying to lower our guard," Kiri said. "Pirate trick. Remember that."

"Hm. You done that, Kiri?" Luffy asked.

"When I was alone," Kiri said. "Sometimes you lie to survive."

The ship fell silent as it anchored. The trio stared up, waiting. No voices, no movement—an eerie calm. A plank lowered, and three men descended: a captain with a crescent moon beard, a skinny man, and a fat one, all unarmed, walking unsteadily.

Luffy's crew watched, noting the crescent moon Jolly Roger—Silk had warned them about Crescent Moon Gally. They stood stunned as the men approached.

"Sorry," Gally said, voice weak. "A storm hit us. Food's gone. My crew's starving on the ship. Please, food and water… for them."

"They're dying," the skinny man said.

"They look rough," Silk said. "Kiri, maybe they're really shipwrecked?"

"Maybe," Kiri said. "No weapons, but we should check the ship. Could be a trap."

"Please," Gally begged, arms trembling. "I'll pay. Just food and water."

Silk's face softened. Their frail steps suggested genuine hunger. They'd prepared for a fight, but these men seemed harmless. Should she drop her sword, call the townsfolk, and feed them? She glanced at Luffy and Kiri. No need for pointless fighting, right?

Luffy stared at Gally, probing his intent. Kiri flipped through a book, expressionless. Neither smiled.

"Guys, maybe they're in trouble," Silk said. "We should get food—"

"Don't," Kiri said, eyes on his book.

"But—" Silk started.

Kiri's gaze lifted, locking onto Gally's outstretched hand, his voice cold. "Gally, was it? How long since you ran out of food?"

"Three days and nights," Gally said. "No food, no water. I'm fading—"

"For three days without water, you walk pretty fast," Kiri said. "Food's one thing, but no water? You shouldn't move like that."

The air tensed. Luffy and Silk sensed the shift. The three men froze, their faces subtly changing. Gally's trembling stopped.

Kiri continued. "I've been there—starving, nearly dead. Someone saved me. But you walked here, unsupported, at that speed."

Silk leaped back, drawing her sword and tossing the scabbard, glaring at the men. Gally straightened, no longer frail. The others followed, standing tall.

"Tch," Gally spat. "Wanted to keep this peaceful, but nosy brats die young."

A gunshot rang out from the ship's crow's nest. The bullet struck Kiri's chest. Time slowed. Luffy turned; Silk's eyes widened. Kiri collapsed, motionless, with a faint thud.

Blood drained from Luffy and Silk's faces. Shock froze them as Gally barked, "Grab them!"

The fat man tackled Luffy, pinning him under his weight. Luffy, focused on Kiri, barely noticed. "Kiri! You okay? Say something!"

"Idiot!" Gally laughed. "That's what you get for facing Crescent Moon Gally! Clear the way when you see my flag, fools!"

His laughter echoed through the streets. Silk, facing the skinny man, gritted her teeth. She'd almost helped them. Pirates couldn't be trusted—she should've been sharper. Outnumbered, sweat beaded on her brow, but she held her ground.

"Captain, she's armed," the skinny man said. "Need a knife at least."

"Annoying girl," Gally said. "Fine, doesn't change our plan. Everyone, get down here! Time to plunder!"

A roar erupted as over twenty pirates, armed and vigorous, leaped from the ship, brandishing sabers and pistols. Their fierce presence overwhelmed Silk, but she stood firm. She'd sworn to protect the town. Even if victory seemed impossible, she wouldn't let them ravage it. Gripping her sword, she faced them.

The pirates smirked, unfazed. Gally pushed through, leering at Silk. "What's a girl gonna do alone? Don't wanna die? Move."

"Shut up!" Silk snapped.

"You can't stop us," Gally said. "Want to end up like that kid? Stay out of my way!"

He aimed a pistol at her. At this range, it couldn't miss. Her sword wavered, fear or nerves betraying her. The pirates bristled with aggression, ready to strike.

A sudden roar echoed from behind. All eyes turned. Luffy stood, the fat man slumped at his feet, head buried in cracked ground, a fist mark on his cheek. The air shifted. A grown man, downed in one blow, silenced the pirates' laughter. Fear replaced their smirks.

Luffy's glare burned into Gally. "What'd you do to my friend?"

His voice shook the air. The pirates flinched; Gally yelped. The shot that hit Kiri came from one of them, but Luffy didn't know who. The shooter's heart raced.

No one stopped Luffy as he leaped, soaring over the pirates, spinning midair, fist cocked. "Gomu Gomu no Pistol!"

His rubber arm stretched, slamming into Gally's cheek. Gally flew, spinning, crashing with a scream. "My teeth!"

"You killed Kiri!" Luffy roared. "I won't forgive you!"

"What is this freak?" Gally groaned, clutching his face. "Kill him! Now!"

The pirates, gripping sabers, charged. Luffy stood low, fists ready, glaring. Gally smirked, sure no one could survive this onslaught.

Then, a rustling sound filled the air. White papers fluttered upward—pages torn from the roadside books, moving as if alive. Everyone froze, mesmerized by the surreal sight.

"What… paper?" a pirate muttered.

"What's this?" Silk whispered.

The papers swirled, then formed sharp bundles, like arrows aimed at the pirates. Suspended midair, they targeted the crew. The eerie, ownerless weapons terrified them. Gally and his men cowered.

The paper arrows shot forward, grazing skin, drawing blood, and piercing the ground with sharp clinks. Pirates collapsed, dropping weapons, unable to move. Gally, outside the attack's range, sat unscathed but stunned, papers embedded before him.

Another scream rang out—Gally's. Luffy, unfazed, glanced back. Kiri stood calmly, surrounded by fluttering papers, smiling. "Don't kill me off," he said. "I'm alive."

Luffy grinned. Kiri, the hammerless paper-manipulator, was a Devil Fruit user. "Pera Pera no Mi," Kiri said. "I control paper. Useless without it, but with enough, I can do plenty."

He twirled his fingers, and the papers danced like a trained flock, fluid yet precise. Luffy's eyes sparkled, anger forgotten. "That's awesome! Can you make meat?"

"It'd be paper meat," Kiri said. "Can't make the real stuff."

"Shame," Luffy said. "Looks like you could."

"It's not for food," Kiri sighed.

Silk, lowering her sword, whispered, "Amazing…"

The fight ended swiftly. Kiri's paper storm felled the pirates, none dead but too broken to fight. Luffy's punch had targeted Gally alone, his rubber powers undeniable. Silk, stunned, listened to their casual chatter, calming her nerves.

"How're you fine?" Luffy asked. "You got shot."

"You always skip the important stuff," Kiri said. "I blocked it with paper. Hardened it like iron. Look."

A small paper held a flattened bullet, proof of its strength. Luffy nodded, grinning. "That's cool."

"You sure you get it?" Kiri said.

The pirates, unable to bear the surreal scene, fled without weapons. Gally, stubborn, aimed his pistol at Kiri. Luffy stepped into the line of fire. "Don't shoot Kiri again. I thought he was dead."

"Shut up!" Gally yelled. "Who are you brats?"

"We're pirates," Luffy said, grinning.

"Pirates?" Gally scoffed. "This ain't a game!"

"It's not," Luffy said. "We've been pirates since yesterday."

"Yesterday?" Gally laughed. "You don't know real pirates' terror!"

His finger tightened on the trigger. Luffy didn't flinch, but Gally did, overwhelmed. "Get back to the ship!" Gally ordered. "Blast this town and these brats!"

"Stop!" Silk shouted, stepping forward, sword lowered. Five meters from Gally's pistol, she glared, unshaken. "Leave. Never come back."

"Who're you talking to, girl?" Gally sneered. "I'm a pirate."

"Pirate or not, you don't get to hurt this town," she said.

"We're above your laws," Gally said. "I don't follow your rules."

Silk gripped her sword, ready to fight despite the odds. Gally aimed to fire, but Luffy moved, scooping Silk and dodging the bullet. They rolled, unharmed, as the shot hit a wall.

Luffy's straw hat floated to Gally's feet. He cursed, stomping the ground. Luffy and Silk stood, checking each other.

"That was close," Luffy said.

"Thanks," Silk whispered.

"Freaks!" Gally roared, stomping again.

Luffy's face hardened, eyes sharp with rage. "Stop!"

"What?" Gally said.

"Don't step on that hat," Luffy growled.

Kiri and Silk stared, shocked by his intensity. Gally noticed the hat and grinned cruelly. "You want me to step on it?"

"If you do, I won't forgive you," Luffy said.

"What's a dirty hat to you?" Gally taunted, raising his foot. "What if I do?"

"Stop!" Luffy yelled.

Gally stomped the hat, crushing it. Luffy charged, fist raised, but a cannon blast roared. The ship fired, aiming to raze the town.

Silk screamed. Luffy glanced up, remembering his promise to protect Silk's treasure—the town. Kiri acted, his papers forming a blade-like bundle, hardened like steel. "Lead Paper," he called, hurling it at the cannonball. They collided midair, exploding in a cloud of dust and paper.

Luffy searched for Gally, but he'd climbed onto the ship, clinging to its side, laughing. "You lost, brats! I'll blast this town and your stupid hat to bits!"

"When'd he get there?" Luffy muttered.

The ship sailed off, preparing more cannons. Luffy picked up his hat, placing it on Silk's head. "Hold this. Don't lose it."

"Okay," Silk nodded, shaken.

Luffy faced Kiri, eyes fierce. "Kiri, can you stop more cannonballs?"

"A few," Kiri said. "But if I run out of paper, we're done."

"Then we end this quick," Luffy said.

They eyed the ship, ready to move, as another cannon fired, aimed at Morgania.