One piece :I open the locks of the heart

Fortunately for me, the second island of the archipelago turned out to be surprisingly peaceful. Uninhabited, save for a few exceptions, it housed only two or three scattered farms nestled in the folds of rolling hills. As far as the eye could see, a carpet of green grass rippled under the sea breeze, without a single tree to break the horizon. It was a silent place, almost melancholic, but surely a small haven for the rare farmers who had chosen to live here, far from the noise of the world.

From the air, I could barely make out the homes, so cleverly hidden by the island's terrain. I had no intention of spreading panic or drawing attention. So rather than land near the farms, I flew straight toward my goal: a formation of four hills surrounding a small clearing in the center of the island, like a natural amphitheater.

I slowly descended toward the ground, sensing the lock buried just beneath my feet. With a smooth motion, I plunged my Keyblade into the earth. A dark, familiar glow emerged as the lock opened with a faint underground rumble.

From the swirling dark light, two shapes emerged... but instead of frightening creatures or swarming, aggressive Heartless, I saw several White Mushrooms and a few Blue Rhapsodies spring up without warning. Their small, rounded bodies bounced joyfully in place, letting out strange sounds that resembled muffled laughter.

I watched them for a moment, one eyebrow raised. I recognized these peaceful types of Heartless—they didn't attack, didn't even defend themselves. Their real usefulness lay elsewhere... perhaps as bait, or even as silent messengers.

"At least their appearance might be enough to scare off nervous pirates…" I muttered with a faint smile. Indeed, anyone unfamiliar with their harmless nature might mistake them for an advanced guard of Heartless and think twice before approaching.

I let them bounce freely around the clearing as I gained some altitude, casting one last glance over the peaceful hills. I saw them teleport here and there across the island, a few of them giving some farmers a harmless scare.

After a few minutes of observation, I saw the farmer's children running and playing, bouncing a Blue Rhapsody between them like a ball. Reassured, I took off to return to Syrup.

On my way back, I noticed an iconic pirate ship hidden behind a rocky formation. From the sky, they couldn't see me—but I saw them clearly. A galleon with a prow shaped like a cat's face, and two burly men sporting cat-themed accessories, like ears or claws.

No doubt about it, it was the Black Cat Pirates. I could easily wipe them out on the spot, but… I wanted to see Usopp in action. It wouldn't be too late to deal with them afterward, and Django wasn't even among them yet.

"Two out of three. Now I just have to check in and see how Luffy's doing."

Returning to the island, I took a moment to locate the final lock precisely. My instincts quickly led me to the edge of the village, where an old mansion with a noble but slightly decrepit appearance stood, surrounded by a small grove. The lock emitted a faint magical pulse from within the building.

I descended silently from the sky, landing between the trees in the shadow of the manor. Slipping through the shade like a whisper, I crept along the wall and peeked through an open window, drawn by a familiar voice.

"…And that's how I defeated that guy with an 80-million bounty, with a single shot between the eyes!" declared Usopp proudly, standing ramrod straight with his hand over his heart.

At the window, a slender and elegant young woman, pale of skin but with a lively gaze, listened with a gentle smile — clearly indulgent, yet amused.

Kaya.

The urge to play a little trick on him tickled me. I slipped silently behind Usopp, emerging from the shadows like a ghost. Kaya suddenly clasped her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide as she watched my silhouette appear from nowhere.

Usopp, puffed up with pride, thought her reaction was due to his story. He puffed out his chest even more.

"Impressive, huh?!" he declared confidently. "I know, Kaya, it's hard to believe but—"

I leaned slowly toward his ear, a mischievous grin on my face.

"You defeated me?" I whispered.

A chill of terror shot down his spine like an icy wave. He froze, back going rigid, before he spun around abruptly, eyes wide with horror.

"JORDAN!!!" he screamed, jumping back and clutching his chest like he'd just escaped death. "Are you crazy?! You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

I smiled, arms crossed, amused by his reaction.

"You exaggerate, Usopp. I'm just a poor defeated pirate, after all."

Turning toward the lady at the window, I bowed slightly with a courteous nod.

"Milady, a pleasure. I am Heartless D. Jordan, the pirate your brave protector has… vanquished."

Kaya, having recovered from the scare, laughed softly, a hand resting on her chest.

"I'm Kaya, mistress of this estate. You're… not quite what I expected from the name alone."

She glanced sideways at Usopp with playful mischief in her eyes. "And I'm glad to see his tales weren't entirely… fabricated."

"Betrayal!" Usopp cried out, feigning heartbreak. "Kaya, are you doubting me?! My honor as a captain is in shambles!"

"If it's any consolation," I added with a smile, "I almost believed it too."

Usopp crossed his arms and mumbled like a sulking child, while Kaya, still leaning on the windowsill, chuckled gently. Her laughter, light as a summer breeze, brought warmth to the air already charged with tension and teasing.

That's when the sound of steady footsteps echoed toward the manor, tapping crisply against the pristine tiles of the garden. A man approached, posture rigid, clad in a perfectly pressed black suit. His rectangular glasses gleamed ominously in the daylight, partially hiding his stern, calculating gaze. With each step, he adjusted his glasses with the flat of his hand in a movement too precise to be natural.

Klahadoll.

Or rather, Kuro, disguised as the perfect butler.

"What are you doing here again, Usopp?" he asked in a calm but sharp tone. "I've already asked you not to sneak onto the estate anymore."

He held his posture with a cold elegance, but I immediately sensed a tightness in his movements — a faint tremble at the approach of the unexpected.

Usopp shrugged with false nonchalance. "Relax, Klahadoll. I'm just reporting back to Kaya, like always. You know, the kind of heroic report one gives after a glorious battle."

Kaya seemed surprised, but didn't lose her composure. "Come now, Klahadoll… Usopp hasn't done anything wrong. He's always welcome here."

The butler was about to reply, lips pursed, when his eyes fell on me.

Our gazes met.

He froze.

His complexion turned pale in an instant, and a visible shiver ran down his spine. His fingers trembled slightly on the frame of his glasses. He swallowed hard, as if he'd just choked on an ice cube.

I gave him a slow, calculated smile… the kind of smile no one ever quite knows how to read.

"Hello, Klahadoll," I said with a perfectly calm, almost cordial tone, as if we were old friends.

The mask of the butler cracked further. His shoulders slumped, and his steps shifted backward, pulled by a survival instinct.

"Y-you're… Heartless…" he breathed, voice dry.

Usopp frowned as he looked at Kuro. "You okay, old man? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Kaya, meanwhile, stepped down a few stairs to get closer. "Klahadoll? What's wrong? You look… very pale."

The butler swallowed hard again, trying to hide the fear twisting his features. But his eyes, still locked on me, didn't lie. He knew.

And he was afraid.

A gust of wind stirred the leaves around us… and suddenly, a voice rang out:

"Usopp! We found you!"

BOOM.

Luffy literally fell from the sky — or rather, crashed down like a human cannonball near the group. Reflexively, I stepped in and caught him with one hand before he could turn the manor's front lawn into a crater.

"One day, you'll land without triggering a seismic alert?" I sighed, setting the captain down.

Luffy stood back up, laughing sheepishly. "Haha… Sorry, I slipped."

Nami and Koby came running just after, alarmed by the noise. I glanced at the front steps, but Kuro was gone. Not a single footprint. He hadn't wasted a second.

"He bailed…" I muttered to myself. Oh well, he wouldn't get far.

But already, Luffy had turned to Usopp with a big grin.

"Come with us!" he said excitedly. "We're going to the Grand Line, live incredible adventures, eat tons of weird stuff, and fight super strong enemies!"

Usopp blinked, caught off guard. He looked at each of us, then back to Kaya, who still stood near the window. Her smile was soft, almost resigned.

"It's tempting… really," Usopp murmured. "But I can't. I can't abandon Kaya, not after everything she's been through. She's sick, and this island needs me to protect it. I can't become like… him."

His gaze hardened slightly, evoking the absent silhouette of his father.

"You're nothing like him," Koby said gently. "You wouldn't leave to run away… you'd leave to come back stronger and give him the beating he deserves."

"Jordan can bring you back here whenever you want," Nami added, arms crossed, her eyes glowing with compassion. "You'll never really be gone," she continued, hyping my abilities a little — but I smiled at her effort.

Luffy, more serious than usual, nodded. "You said you wanted to face your father. And I have to see Shanks again. You'll have a better chance of achieving your dream if you come with us."

I stepped forward, looking back and forth between Usopp and Kaya.

"You say you want to stay for her… But what if leaving could help her heal?" I said softly. "There's an island, on the Grand Line. An island where medicine surpasses anything you can imagine. If we reach it, we might be able to cure Kaya completely."

Kaya's eyes widened, clearly shaken. "Really? Medicine… that could cure this?"

"It's not guaranteed… but it's more than anything this island could ever offer," I said quietly.

Usopp stood frozen, torn between emotion and thought. "But this island… it'd be defenseless if I left, even if I took Kaya with me," he said darkly.

"Have you heard of the creatures that appear on islands to protect people?" I asked, motioning to the others not to speak. "One might eventually appear here — and they could protect the island in your place."

"And me… could I learn?" Kaya asked, her voice trembling but resolute. "Could I study medicine myself… help others like me?" she said before breaking into a violent cough, her skin paling further.

"Kaya!" Usopp panicked, grabbing her hands to support her through the fit.

"You could. I promise," I said, placing my hand on her shoulder. I cast a healing spell. A gentle glow enveloped her, and little by little, color returned to her cheeks as her coughing eased. It wouldn't cure her… but it might convince Usopp to join us for the sake of giving her that little relief regularly.

Usopp looked at her, then at all of us, and for the first time, I saw it in his eyes… the desire to leave.

I stepped away, leaving Luffy, Nami, Usopp, and Kaya together, and went off to deal with the wandering villainous cat. The crew itself might be weak — even Django doesn't worry me — but Kuro could kill someone if given the chance.

Once I spotted his silhouette through the trees, I slipped into his shadow, using my perfect fusion with darkness to become invisible to his eyes. I followed his every step without a sound, clinging to his heels like a predator waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Kuro walked slowly through the forest, each step measured, his glasses slipping slightly down his nose as he headed toward a small clearing. There, in the midst of the silence, stood a man in flashy clothing, swinging a pendulum in front of his face.

"You took your time, Django," muttered Kuro, calmly adjusting his glasses. His tone was sharp, cold.

"You said 'sometime today,' not 'this very minute,' Captain," Django replied, spinning his pendulum with a smirk. "So? Are we wiping them out tomorrow?"

Kuro tilted his chin slightly. "At dawn. Attack the town head-on. Burn one or two buildings, nothing too extreme. I want them panicked, disorganized."

"And the young heiress?" Django asked, raising an eyebrow.

Kuro closed his eyes for a moment, sighing as if discussing a burden."I'll take care of Kaya while everyone is distracted. I'll forge her will. Once I've claimed her fortune, I'll disappear. When those damned kid leave, I'll reappear—richer than ever."

Django chuckled. "Cunning. Just like you."

"Go. Ready the men. And be precise."

Django nodded, took a few steps back, and disappeared into the woods.

I remained hidden in Kuro's shadow, silent. And when he allowed himself a small, satisfied smile, muttering, "I hate getting my hands dirty, but sometimes…", that was the perfect moment.

I rose from his shadow like a blade drawn from its sheath. Before he could turn, my Keyblade was already buried in his back.

A sharp gasp escaped his throat, and his body froze.

But he didn't fall.

On the contrary, a radiant light burst from his chest, throwing me back a meter. I dropped to my knees, my head suddenly split by a piercing pain. A swirling blue light shot into my forehead like a burning star. I screamed, feeling something… unlocking. My mind sharpened. Clearer. More precise.

Kuro, however, hadn't disappeared like the others. His hair had turned silver, his silhouette leaner. A glowing blue symbol pulsed gently on his chest. In his hand, a Keyblade larger than mine had materialized.

"You got me good…" he said calmly, without anger. His voice was steady, almost grateful.

Still stunned, I struggled to my feet. "You… you're not dead…?"

He smiled softly. "No. Or rather, yes. The Kuro without ambition, without true purpose, is dead. You freed me from a heart consumed by resentment and laziness. What I am now… is far more."

The Keyblade in his hand dissolved into light and fused with mine. In its place, claws of pure light formed on his fingers.

"I prefer this style. More… personal."

With a swift motion, he darted away. I tracked his movement using Eisah's Haki, but I knew my body couldn't yet keep up with such speed.

He sliced through several trees in a fraction of a second—his velocity far exceeding anything I had anticipated, forcing me to confront my shortcomings in that domain.

He returned in front of me, dissipating his claws."Impressed?""Absolutely," I breathed, still dazed. "I won't ask you to follow me. You're already too strong for East Blue—but probably not strong enough yet for the Grand Line. Besides, I already have someone here. Get in touch with him—his name is Xaheis, he's in charge of gathering intel."

"You're right. Staying here would be counterproductive. I can act elsewhere. If Xaheis is your eye in East Blue, I'll be your blade in West Blue. I sense a creature that could aid me in that task. May I take it?" he asked.

I nodded, and a portal of light opened, revealing my most recent Nobody.The eel-like creature shrank and wrapped around him like a belt.

"At least now I've got a way to travel," he said with a grin, gently stroking the creature, which shivered at his touch.

I nodded slowly."In that case… to avoid confusion. Your new name will be Xurok. Create your own legend. Use your newfound power to gather wealth—to support Xaheis' operation and mine. And don't disappoint me."

Xurok gave a faint smile."You gave me a new body. A new life. I owe you my loyalty."

He turned, ready to disappear into the woods, but stopped for a moment."One more idea, by the way. For the islands where you leave protective Heartless… You could set up a donation system. A voluntary offering, guarded by a sentinel. Nothing mandatory. But those who want to thank you could do so that way. Oh—and by the way, Kaya isn't sick. She's been poisoned. So as long as you keep helping her with your healing, she should recover."

Then he vanished—just like a mirage.

I stood alone in the clearing, my Keyblade pulsing softly in my hand, the glowing blue symbol on my forehead slowly fading away.

And one thought remained in my mind.I'm changing this world… in a way that even I don't fully understand yet.

(Author's Note: That's it for this chapter—what a twist, huh? ^^ I've added a few images of my version of the white mushrooms, blue truffles, and Kuro's transformation.)

For ssdxd: here's your gift—sorry I couldn't get it drawn better due to copyright limitations!