After receiving Hina's "farewell kiss," Rengoku immediately made his way to the appointed pier.
It was a small civilian dock behind Marineford, usually busy with merchant vessels.
And there, waiting, was an unexpected figure.
"Vivi…"
The blue-haired girl, an officer of Marine Headquarters—Nefertari Vivi.
She had taken leave, and instead of her uniform, she wore a simple white T-shirt and jeans, looking modest and casual.
When she spotted Rengoku watching her from afar, Vivi hurried toward him with light steps.
"Vice Admiral!"
"Vivi. I heard you took leave today—are you going home?"
Though he had been suspended and stripped of authority, Vivi still addressed him with full respect.
"Yes, I thought this was a good chance to finally visit Father at least once."
Traces of tears still lingered faintly on her cheeks.
"And you, Vice Admiral—where will you go?"
Rengoku hesitated for a moment, then answered honestly.
"I too planned to stop by Alabasta. I must seek an audience with King Nefertari Cobra and apologize for all that has happened."
Having witnessed his resolve during the seppuku incident, Vivi didn't try to dissuade him.
Instead, she offered a suggestion.
"A merchant ship bound for Alabasta departs from Marineford today. Would you like to travel with me?"
But Rengoku declined, countering with his own proposal.
"I've already arranged transport to Alabasta. It will be faster than the merchant ship. Would you join me?"
"Eh?"
Faster than a ship?
Rengoku turned his head toward one corner of the pier.
"Here it comes."
From the sea rose a colossal sea king, a serpent-like leviathan.
"Th-that thing?" Vivi gasped.
Rengoku nodded, stepping onto the beast's head with calm authority. He turned back, extending his hand to her.
"Well? Will you come with me?"
With the sun behind him, standing tall upon the sea serpent, he looked to Vivi like a prince who had emerged from the ocean itself.
"…Yes!"
....
But when they arrived…
"Kyo… Rengoku, who is this woman?"
The [Pirate Empress] Boa Hancock stared in disbelief as her serpent, Salome, carried both Rengoku and Vivi to her shore.
Her makeup and ceremonial dress—prepared with care for her reunion with Rengoku—were on the verge of wrinkling under the tension.
"This is Nefertari Vivi, one of my disciples and an important figure in the destination I must visit—Alabasta. Hancock."
"Nefertari…?"
That surname… she had heard it before.
Sandersonia, standing nearby, supplied the explanation.
"She is the princess of Alabasta, the one freed from Crocodile's manipulation, Sister."
"…So, you are truly a princess of Alabasta?" Hancock asked sharply.
"Yes, that is correct."
"And Rengoku's… disciple?"
"Yes."
At that, Hancock's expression faltered. She fidgeted, biting her nails as she pressed further.
"A disciple… what exactly does he teach you? Does he… train you personally?"
"Yes, he taught me swordsmanship, physical conditioning… and breathing techniques, I suppose?"
"B-b-breathing techniques?! You mean… breathing, with your mouth, taught specially—by him?!"
"Yes, that's right."
It was an innocent answer, but one ripe for misunderstanding. Hancock turned trembling toward Rengoku.
"Kyojuro… did you truly… personally teach her these… breathing techniques?"
Though she lowered her voice, her entire body trembled with jealousy.
Rengoku gently laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Calm yourself. If you wish, I can teach you as well."
"T-teach… me… breathing techniques?!"
"It's nothing difficult. I could begin right now if you like."
"R-right now?! No… not here! Too many eyes are watching!"
Hancock initially refused, but her face quickly flushed as she spoke again.
"I-if… if it's all right with you, perhaps I could… learn it privately, in the captain's quarters… that breathing technique…"
"Of course! Anytime."
"Th-then, go wait there for me. I'll… I'll come in shortly…"
The proud Pirate Empress's voice had dwindled to the shy babbling of a girl.
"Very well, I'll wait."
Once Rengoku had left for the captain's quarters, Hancock turned nervously to her sisters.
"Sonia, Marigold—tell me, do I have bad breath?"
"No, Sister. Nothing of the sort," Sandersonia assured.
Hancock smiled in relief, clutching her pounding chest as she made her way to the captain's cabin.
"Sister, what about the Alabasta princess?" Marigold asked, glancing at Vivi.
But Hancock didn't even hear her. She was already too excited and swept away, hurrying to the door.
"Ahaha…" Sandersonia gave an awkward laugh.
"Well, since Rengoku brought her here, we'll treat Princess Vivi as a guest of honor in the VIP quarters."
Meanwhile, Rengoku sat in the captain's cabin, waiting.
He wondered if someone of Hancock's level might, through Total Concentration Breathing, discover a unique breathing style of her own.
After all, his former tsuguko, Mitsuri, had once started with Flame Breathing, but eventually developed her own distinct style—the "Love Breathing."
A knock came at the door.
"Kyojurl, may I come in?"
"This is your cabin—of course you may."
The door opened, and Hancock stepped in with flushed cheeks, visibly trembling with excitement.
"K-Kyojuro… then, please teach me this breathing technique… wh-what do I do? D-do we start… with our lips touching? O-or perhaps by… feeling each other's breath?"
Her impatience made her ramble nonsense.
Rengoku immediately realized she had misunderstood something. He stepped closer and explained clearly:
"The breathing I wish to teach is called Total Concentration Breathing! It accelerates the circulation of blood, quickens the heartbeat, raises body temperature, enhances healing, and strengthens the body. It has nothing to do with lips touching or sharing each other's breath."
Realizing her mistake, Hancock's face turned crimson.
Of course—if it had been that kind of breathing, Vivi never would have spoken of it so openly.
"I-I… I'm sorry! I completely misunderstood…!!!"
Flustered, she spun to leave. But Rengoku caught her wrist.
Misunderstanding or not, he genuinely wanted to teach her Total Concentration Breathing.
Yet because he had gripped her wrist firmly—and because she, burning with embarrassment, tried to flee too quickly—Hancock lost her balance and stumbled backward.
Rengoku stepped forward instinctively, catching her in his arms.
For a fleeting moment, the two of them stood like a prince and princess poised for a kiss.
-------------------
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