conflict seemed to follow them everywhere, but this was execution– something to strike fear in rebellion, to discourage misfits ( like herself ) from reaching for power without going through their ranks. the mission did not start this way, in fact, their party was returning from a long winded negotiation that left yachiru feeling unconvinced. her gut was always right of course, not long after their departure came the ambush & a most violent one at that. she did not hesitate, throwing herself into the eye of the storm– caring little for the peacemakers they had brought along for the journey, they knew the risk.
as the last enemy fell to the ground, yachiru exhaled calmly, minazuki dripping fresh from it’s feeding. surveying the area, she came to realize that almost every single one of her allies were dead, unconscious, or searching for their missing limbs in agony. small huddles of the inferior trying to maintain some sort of calm after a devastating blow to their numbers– it was a success in her eyes. they came out on top.
the moment her gaze hit the ground, an arm all too familiar caught her attention ( that, and the crowd around the white rabbit. )
without hesitation, she picked the severed limb up from the ground & began her leisurely stride to it’s owner– it was still warm, rich with his reiatsu.
“ better this than your lovely head. ” yachiru said flatly, letting the flesh drop with a dull, wet thud to the ground beside him. “ – you’d be wise to let me treat you. i do not offer my services often. ”
a simple arm is nothing in comparison to the future - shanks does not regret losing a limb in exchange for a life ; especially one as important as jushiros - not yet, maybe - but his gut feeling has never failed him until now ; and his gut is telling him that this boy, passed out in the dirt - blessedly ignorant of the total chaos they´re surrounded with - will bring change in the coming years - however far off they might be. even if shanks won´t be there to see it.
it´s been a long time coming - he´s never been one to thrive under a strict guiding hand ; a free spirit, not meant to be chained to one place - to be controlled. shanks, has always been a force of nature, forging his own path. he wasn´t meant to stay at one place for too long - and with the hundreds of years he´s spent here, poured his life into his division - into this captains life ; it´s become more and more apparent that he´s not going to stay. one way or another, he´s going to leave. he´d prefer staying alive for that - leaving on his own terms.
a thud, his attention drawn to the limb on the ground before his gaze shifts to yachiru - unharmed, appearance as ethereal as ever even with splatters of red - and shanks smiles. ❛ ah ❜
❛ who´d i be to deny such a generous offer ? ❜ he´s glad that it´s her who found him like this - out of everyone he´s come to share a bottle of sake with, yachiru is the one to perhaps understand him the most, in a way others would never be able to. shanks lets his gaze wander across the battlefield, exhaustion that´s got nothing to do with his missing limb or the little scruff from before settles over him at the sight of a rebellions last stand, crushed underneath their heels. ❛ i´ll leave myself to your capable hands then. ❜