Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Teaching Yamato
As it turns out, no matter how tall or strong they grow, a child is still a child.
After downing half a tankard of spicy rum with a hint of sweetness, Jack was starting to lose track of east from west.
"Kaido-sama, I mean no disrespect, but..." Jack slurred, draping an arm over Kaido's shoulder, "Yamato is such an over-the-top Oden fan! She's clueless and stubborn!"
Jack hiccuped, wagging a finger. "You don't need to stress about her—just smack some sense into her every now and then! Of course, you can't just rely on beatings—you gotta teach her a thing or two, too."
He puffed out his chest, smugly proclaiming, "If you let me handle Yamato, I guarantee she'll forget all about Kozuki Oden in no time!"
Kaido raised an eyebrow, amused.
Jack leaned closer and whispered conspiratorially, "If you keep letting her run wild, don't be surprised if she ends up... uh, swinging the other way. Then what? No grandkids for you, Kaido-sama!"
King, who had been sipping his drink silently, froze. Unmasked and without his signature goggles, his strikingly handsome features were on full display: sharp cheekbones, flowing white hair, and bronzed skin that gave him an air of authority. The floral tattoo around his left eye only added to his enigmatic presence.
But now, King's composure was cracking. His hand trembled slightly as he clutched his glass, barely restraining his fury.
Finally, he slammed the glass down with a sharp thud.
"Jack! How dare you speak to Kaido-sama so rudely!" King bellowed, his voice like a whip.
Kaido waved him off with a hearty laugh, his tone unusually clear and unstrained.
"Relax, King! Let the brat talk."
Kaido turned to Jack, smirking. "So, how exactly do you plan to 'educate' Yamato, you little fool?"
Jack puffed out his chest again, face flushed from the rum.
"With sincerity, of course! I'll win her over with pure, honest sincerity! If that doesn't work, I'll—uh—teach her properly!"
Kaido chuckled, taking a long swig from his tankard.
"Alright then. Tomorrow, Yamato's all yours. Let's see if she changes under your... mentorship."
But then Kaido's tone turned sharp, a hint of warning laced in his words.
"Be serious, though, Jack. With your current strength, there's a good chance you'll be the one getting taught a lesson."
Jack blinked, swaying slightly. "Huh? What do you mean by—"
Before he could finish, he slumped over, out cold.
Kaido laughed. "Lightweight! King, tell him tomorrow."
King nodded, his expression dark. "Kaido-sama, I still believe Jack is too young to continue venturing out with us."
He crossed his arms, his tone grave. "Since Roger's death, more and more people have set sail, drawn to the allure of piracy. The New World is teeming with powerful enemies, and Jack's age puts him at a disadvantage. He needs more time to train on Onigashima—build his strength—before he's truly ready for combat."
Kaido looked down at Jack's unconscious form, inspecting a healing wound on the boy's side.
"Oh, it's already closing up," Kaido mused, scratching his chin. "The kid's got a monstrous constitution, I'll give him that."
Kaido sighed, waving King off. "Fine, then. Let him stay on Onigashima to train. But I'll leave the rest to you, King—you'll have your hands full for the next couple of years."
King nodded solemnly. "Understood, Kaido-sama. The Beast Pirates will grow stronger. No matter the enemy, we will achieve victory."
Kaido grinned wide, raising his tankard. "Worororo! To our strength and triumph! Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
As the two downed their drinks, King's sharp senses caught a faint but unpleasant odor. He sniffed the air, his nose twitching.
What is that stench?
...
The next morning, Jack woke with a start, a painful throbbing in his body and an urgent need for the restroom.
"Damn, what happened last night?!" he groaned, stumbling toward the bathroom. "Why am I sore all over? Didn't my wounds heal?!"
Meanwhile, Kaido crouched in front of Yamato, ruffling her hair with an uncharacteristically tender expression.
"Yamato," he said sternly, "listen to King for the time being. And from now on, Jack will be staying with you."
Yamato scrunched her nose, crossing her arms. "Jack? That dumb elephant? What do I need him for?!"
Her voice rose in defiance. "And stop calling me Yamato, you horned freak! I am Kozuki Oden, and I'll never bow to you!"
Kaido's blood pressure visibly spiked, but he forced himself to stay calm.
"Jack isn't here to play," he growled. "He's here to educate you. Don't be fooled by your age—Jack's already far more capable than you."
He loomed closer, his voice low and threatening.
"He's taken down hundreds of pirates. His strength and temper won't go easy on you, Yamato. If you don't behave, you'll end up crying to me in no time."
Yamato's eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a defiant smirk.
"Ha! As if I'd lose to that idiot! I'm Kozuki Oden! Bring it on!"
Kaido barked a laugh, impressed. "Good! That's the spirit! Let's see if you're still so confident after Jack beats you into the ground."
Turning to King, Kaido gestured. "Take her to him."
King sighed, lifting Yamato effortlessly by the back of her collar as she flailed and shouted.
"Put me down, you flaming birdbrain!" she screamed.
King kicked open Jack's door, dropping Yamato unceremoniously onto the floor.
Jack, still half-dressed, looked up in confusion, staring at Yamato, who stared back.
Silence.
Then Yamato screamed, her voice echoing through the halls.
"AHHHHHH! PERVERT!"
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+100 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg