Cursed Seas and Slashing Tides

"Was this really necessary?" Ryomen asked, his voice dry as he inspected his new outfit. It wasn't much—just a pair of black pants that felt slightly snug.

"Of course! We're going to save Robin with a renewed outlook!" Nami beamed, spinning in her short blue jacket, bra, light blue skirt, and high heels.

Ryomen raised an eyebrow. "Renewed outlook or lighter wardrobe?"

Nami ignored him, glancing his way and discreetly wiping a small trail of blood from her nose. 'Sanji's perversion might be influencing me…'

"You shameless woman! Cover your stomach and your legs!" Paulie's outraged voice cut through, then he turned his fury on the Square Sisters. "And you too, Square Sisters! You people are corrupting society!"

"Shut up! Pervert!" One of the sisters retorted.

"Yeah, shut up!" The other added with a smirk.

"Why you—!!" Paulie fumed, shaking a fist in indignation.

"Hey, Paulie." Ryomen interrupted, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Are you just embarrassed? You don't seem to have the same issue with us."

Paulie flushed red, spluttering incoherently, until his eyes landed on Ryomen's second pair of arms. His jaw dropped, and a chorus of gasps rippled through the shipwrights and workers around him.

"What are those!?"

"What?" Ryomen deadpanned, glancing at his arms. "I don't like wearing shirts. They make my arms feel constrained."

"I don't mind it one bit!" Nami cheered, punching the air enthusiastically.

"No need to look so excited…" The Square Sisters muttered.

"It's not that…you've got four arms!" Paulie blurted, pointing accusingly.

Ryomen's eyes widened slightly before narrowing in annoyance. "No, I don't." He quickly tried to hide his lower arms behind his back, a futile gesture given the number of witnesses.

Zoro, observing the scene, sighed deeply. "This guy's becoming more and more on Luffy's level…" He glanced at their captain, who was busy trying to stuff meat into his new pant's pockets.

"Hope not…" Sogeking muttered under his breath, subtly glancing at Zoro. "There aren't many level-headed people left here."

Ryomen stood in tense silence, waiting for more backlash, but was instead met with surprising reactions.

"Man…why wasn't I born with four arms? I could've done twice the work and had more time for gambling…" Paulie muttered.

"I could've stolen so much more money!" One of the shipwrights exclaimed wistfully.

"Huh?" Ryomen blinked, startled, as they continued to whine about the unfairness of the world.

Nami stepped closer, patting his shoulder with a warm smile. "See? No reason to hide yourself. Just like we accepted you, others can too."

Ryomen hesitated, then nodded with a soft smile. "Yeah…thanks, Nami."

"Hey, Nami." Zoro's voice cut in, snapping them out of the moment. "Did you change your weapon or something?"

"Hm? No." Nami turned to him, crossing her arms with a hint of irritation. "This is the perfected Clima-Tact! I used it against the CP9 agent back at the factory. Weren't you paying attention?"

"I was too busy beating square nose to notice whatever you were doing." Zoro replied with a dismissive shrug, rolling his eyes.

"It seems like a very powerful weapon!" Sogeking chimed in, his voice full of curiosity. "Who was the genius that designed it?"

"It was, uh…" Nami paused, her brow furrowing as she searched for the answer. "I don't remember."

"Hey!!" Sogeking shouted, leaning forward dramatically. His indignation was short-lived as he quickly calmed himself, adjusting his cape.

"Wait." Chopper interjected, his wide eyes fixed on Nami. "Was it made by Usopp?"

The question lingered in the air, causing an almost tangible shift in the group's mood.

"So this is…" Luffy trailed off, his usual energy replaced by a rare moment of seriousness.

"His final work…" Chopper echoed, his voice soft.

Both of their faces darkened, shadows falling over their features as the weight of their thoughts set in.

"Oi, don't get gloomy!" Zoro barked, his sharp tone snapping them out of their melancholic stupor.

Sogeking took a step forward, crossing his arms in a show of determination. "It's clear how much you all care about Usopp. Don't worry! I'll make sure we bring him back!"

"You better." Ryomen added, his voice steady but with a small smile playing on his lips.

…

Far ahead on the sea, inside the seventh car of the Puffing Tom, dozens of officers and agents swarmed the space, combing every corner for intruders.

"Captain, this train's too cramped for anyone to hide." An officer reported to Captain T-Bone, his voice tinged with frustration.

Before T-Bone could respond, a sudden knock echoed from the door leading outside.

"Huh?" T-Bone frowned, his confusion mirrored by the officers around him.

One officer cautiously opened the door.

"Good evening!!" Sanji and Franky greeted them with exaggerated waves, grinning ear to ear.

"They were outside the door?!" The marines erupted in shock, their shouts almost drowning in chaos.

Sanji and Franky quickly slammed the door back shut.

Franky wasted no time pulling out a wooden plank, hammering it to the door with frantic speed.

"They're in car seven! Chase them down and capture them!" The agents inside roared.

"Faster, Franky! They're coming!" Sanji barked.

"Don't rush me!" Franky snapped as bullets began to tear through the door.

"Waaaah! They're shooting already?!" Franky yelped, hammering faster.

Inside the car, the officers and agents struggled to force the door open, but it didn't budge.

"Captain T-Bone!!" They called out, scrambling aside as the skeletal captain stepped forward, his sword gleaming.

"I detest crooked fighting!" T-Bone declared with righteous indignation. Raising his sword high, he unleashed his attack. "Right Angle Flash…Bone Soir!"

With a precise slash, the door was sent flying into the sea.

"Charge!!" T-Bone commanded, and the marines surged forward, weapons drawn.

But as they entered the now-exposed space, they froze.

"Huh?! They're not here!" One of them shouted, eyes scanning the empty place.

T-Bone's gaze shifted upward. "The roof…?" He climbed up swiftly, but his eyes widened in disbelief when he saw Sanji and Franky already standing atop the fifth car, far ahead.

"No…they couldn't have!!"

Descending back inside, T-Bone's face darkened. "Men, retreat! This is a trap!"

Before his orders could be carried out, the sixth and seventh cars suddenly began to drift away from the rest of the train.

"Aaaaah! The cars were cut loose!!" One officer cried out in horror.

"I was too late…" T-Bone muttered gravely as the distance grew.

On the fifth car, Sanji and Franky waved cheerfully at the departing officers.

"Later, guys!" Sanji called out.

"Take care of yourselves!" Franky added with a mocking grin.

From the drifting cars, faint voices shouted back, "You jerks! We won't forget this!!"

Sanji smirked, brushing off his suit. "Well, that's fifty fewer pests to deal with. Let's keep moving—still five cars left."

"Yeah! Let's pummel them!" Franky roared as they dropped into the fifth car, only to be greeted by dozens of agents blocking their path.

"You think this is over?!" One agent spat, stepping forward.

"We're reporting you to the CP9!" Another growled.

"Not happening!" Sanji charged forward, his kick sending a group of agents flying.

"Strong Right!" Franky shouted, his mechanical arm shooting forward on a chain and smashing into another group.

Sanji stared, momentarily stunned. "Eh? What the hell was that?!"

"Heavy Shells…fire!!" The agents opened fire, bullets slamming into Franky's body.

"Waaaah!" Franky yelled, stumbling back briefly before glaring at them coldly. "That hurt…"

"Why aren't our pistols working?!" The agents shouted in panic, their confidence faltering.

Franky responded by hefting a nearby couch and launching it at them, knocking them down in one blow.

"Oi, what the hell are you?" Sanji demanded, still eyeing Franky suspiciously.

"Huh? Oh, I'm a cyborg." Franky replied nonchalantly.

Sanji groaned, rubbing his temple. "The world really is too damn vast…"

"C'mon, we're done with this car."

As they stepped into the next car, an eccentric figure appeared. A short man with wild white hair darted around, running along the floor, walls, and ceiling like a deranged spider.

"Gogogo!! I'm the mad, mad Wanze! Head chef extraordinaire!" The man struck an absurd pose and saluted them.

"…What?" Sanji and Franky deadpanned in unison, staring at him.

"Are you hungry? I can make anything! Want some ramen?!" Wanze grinned.

The two remained silent, their expressions unreadable.

"Great! Then ramen it is!" Wanze declared. "But before I start, did you know—my nose hairs are woven together like fishnet stockings!"

"…"

"First, I put wheat flour in my mouth, then knead it well!" Wanze demonstrated, spitting ramen noodles out of his nose into a bowl.

"Here you go—dig in!"

"What the hell are you?!" Sanji and Franky shouted in disgust.

"There's no point in this…" Sanji sighed. "Wanze, we're searching for someone, so see you later." He waved as he went past him.

"Wait! If you want to go through this car…you'll have to get through me!!" Wanze's cheerful demeanor darkened as he stepped back into their path.

"You're planning to stop us?" Sanji raised an eyebrow.

"That's right! If you want to free the criminal…you have to get through my Ramen Kung Fu!"

"Let's just get this done with!" Franky point his arm at Wanze, firing a projectile that skimmed right past the agent.

"Huh!? That nearly hit him, but his expression didn't change one bit!" Franky exclaimed as he looked at Wanze's idiotic face.

"I…I thought my heart was going to jump right out…" Wanze muttered.

"You were startled!? Your face is so confusing! Quit it!" Franky angrily shouted. "I'll handle this guy!!"

"Hold it!" Sanji put a hand on Franky's shoulder. "If we get caught up in his game like you're doing, it'll just waste time. I'll quickly take care of him!"

Sanji then turned toward Wanze. "See, what really annoys me is the fact you go around acting like that, then call yourself a cook!"

Wanze looked to his side in confusion.

"I'm talking to you!!" Sanji jumped at Wanze, trying to kick him in the face, barely missing.

"Now you're getting caught up in his game!" Franky exclaimed in irritation.

"Dammit, just leave this guy to me. You go in the next car, I'll be right behind you." Sanji brushed his suit.

"I won't let you!!" Wanze took out a flour bag and ate it. "Ramen beeeam!!" He shot out ramen from his nose which hit the wall, then exploded into multiple pieces.

"Waaah! Why are they so sharp!?" Franky questioned as the ramen hit him.

"Stop that!" Sanji tried to kick Wanze only for the agent to jump out of the way.

"I'll go around from the top!" Franky then told him.

Sanji silently nodded.

"He escaped!" Wanze shouted as Franky climbed out of the car. "But that's pointless! In the next car…Nero is waiting for him! He's gonna die, you know!? Nero just loves killing!" He exclaimed with a wide grin.

"Fanchet Flayer!!" Sanji attacked, but Wanze rolled out of the way. "How many times do I have to tell you? I'm in a hurry!"

"We'll then, here I go! Ramen Kung Fu noodle slicer…fire skate blades!" Wanze jumped toward Sanji, trying to strike with flaming skates, but Sanji easily slid down, evading it.

He then raised his leg toward Wanze's chest, his attacks becoming a blur.

"Gwaaah!" Wanze crouched down, holding his chest. "You kicked about ten times!!"

"Twelve times." Sanji corrected.

"Don't tell me that! Are you actually really strong!?"

"You're just not as good as you think you are, that's all." Sanji crossed his arms.

"Hey hey! Not even my father talked to me like that! So stop it!" Despite his words Wanze still had a wide grin on his face.

"It seems I'll have to show you my full power! Ultimate Ramen Kung Fu!" Wnaze took out several gigantic noodles wrapping them around himself like an armor.

"What?" Sanji looked on in disbelief.

"An edible combat armor! Everybody's dream weapon! A Ra-men's formal suit!" Wanze laughed.

"That doesn't even make sense!" Sanji angrily retorted before calming down. "I'm gonna make you eat all those noodles, so you better be hungry!"

…

On the top of the train, Franky posed, standing in front of a weasel man.

"So…what are you?" Franky questioned.

"I'm Sea weasel Nero! But hey…this is no fun, you're a prisoner, I can't kill you!" Nero sighed regretfully.

"Hey brother, why are you even here? If you'd have waited for me, I would've showed up!" Franky exclaimed.

"Well I didn't know that, did I? You could've cheated and skipped over me." Nero responded.

"Yeah, I guess it's important to keep your guard up." Franky mumbled. "More importantly, what's that thing behind you?"

Nero turned in confusion, only to quickly sense the danger behind him.

Before he could turn back, Franky already arrived, hitting him straight in the face.

"Aahh! That was dirty!" Nero held onto his hat.

"Wahaha! That's okay. Back home, I'm the boss of the bad guys!" Franky grinned. "So, you better be careful!"