One Piece: My Crew Uses Zanpakuto

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Alabasta Coast, Explorer.

"Ikki, let's... what are you doing?"

Nami walked into the captain's cabin and gave Hina and Gion a strange look. They were wearing Marine uniforms and striking poses next to Ikki.

"The Marines captured the Baroque Works agents I originally kept on board," Ikki explained, pausing his painting to carefully compare his work with the models standing opposite him.

"So these two are compensating me by letting me draw their portraits in various outfits."

"I have to say, you two look best in your original Marine uniforms. Strength and beauty coexisting perfectly."

Ikki smiled and handed the portraits of Gion and Hina to them.

"Hmph, Hina thought you liked the swimsuit paintings more," Hina took the picture and her eyes lit up with surprise. "This painting... is different from how we were just posing?"

"What I'm working on now is a portrait of you using your respective breathing styles," Ikki explained. "What Hina's holding is a portrait of her wielding Flame Breathing. And Gion's shows her using Moon Breathing."

"Are you planning to give us these paintings?" Gion asked.

"Well, you've given me plenty to look at and I've done lots of drawings. I've already finished your portraits in Marine uniforms, and you two learned Moon Breathing and Flame Breathing from me. Though it was a transaction, you could say it was fate that brought us together. These paintings are tokens of our connection. If you like them, maybe hang them on your wall."

Ikki stood up and put his brushes and a stack of drawings into the cabinet beside him.

"It's a nice portrait. Hina will give you the honor of hanging it up," Hina nodded slightly and tucked the drawing away.

"Then I'm truly honored," Ikki laughed. "Now, if you two don't mind, it's almost time for us to set sail."

Hearing Ikki's polite dismissal, Gion and Hina nodded. After saying goodbye to Nami and the others, they left the Explorer and returned to their Marine warship, setting course for Marine Headquarters.

"Ikki, are you really letting them leave like this?" Nojiko asked after the Marine warship departed. "Without a Devil Fruit, Nami won't be able to achieve Bankai with her Zanpakutō."

"We don't have much choice. The senior agents have already been taken by another Marine warship," Ikki shook his head and sighed. "It's partly my fault for not checking on this sooner. But don't worry, even though those agents are gone, I can still find other Devil Fruit users. That Nico Robin couldn't even call to tell me what was happening here."

"Ikki, are you blaming me?"

A familiar voice sounded from behind everyone.

"Nico Robin, it's you!" Vivi exclaimed, immediately walking toward her angrily. "You woman, do you know that because of you, Ikki and I..."

"Is it because of me that you married Ikki?" Nico Robin interrupted with a smirk.

"You... you know?"

"Haha, it's all over Alabasta. How could I not know?"

"You know everything and you're still laughing? Do you realize how much trouble you've caused me?" Vivi fumed.

"Really? But you seemed quite happy touring various places with your husband. Or do you think marrying Ikki is such a burden? Don't you like him?"

"No... that's not what I meant!" Vivi quickly shook her head.

"Okay, stop teasing Vivi," Ikki stepped in. "Robin, you're such a troublemaker. I let you see that poneglyph, and then you told Cobra that Vivi was pregnant with my child? And why haven't you contacted me? If I'd known earlier that Hina and the others were taking those senior agents, I could have stopped them."

"I'm sorry, Ikki," Robin apologized. "The Marines were conducting a large-scale manhunt in Alabasta, so I had to keep hiding. I lost my Den Den Mushi while evading them. I feel very guilty about the trouble I've caused, so I'd like to offer my services during your next voyage."

Robin placed her hand over her heart, looking sincere.

"It's not like you to be so sincere, Robin," Ikki said skeptically. "Besides, taking you on our voyage might be problematic. My crewmates might not agree with you sailing with us. Right, Nami, Vivi, Nojiko?"

The three women nodded, confirming Ikki's statement.

"I see..." Robin turned to look at them. "Actually, I've prepared some gifts for everyone. I hope you'll accept them."

She took out a bag of treasure and a bag of oranges from her package, handing them to Nami and Nojiko respectively.

"Well, that's a start," Nojiko said, taking the oranges and glancing at Nami who had quickly accepted the treasure.

"I love oranges. They're hard to find in this desert country," she added with a chuckle. "But how do you plan to convince Princess Vivi and Ikki?"

Robin smiled and looked at Vivi.

"Princess Vivi, I did play a part in saving Alabasta."

"Maybe, but you also did plenty of harm to my country," Vivi pouted. "Besides, it's not up to me. Ikki decides who boards the ship."

She stepped back, revealing Ikki.

"Ikki, will you take me in?" Robin asked directly.

"What if I say no?"

"Please let me come aboard," Robin stepped forward and took Ikki's arm. "Actually, after everything that's happened, I've found that I like you."

"Like me? So you're being sincere? Does that mean I can do whatever I want with you? Is that what you're saying, Robin?"

"As expected of Ikki, always knowing what I'm thinking."

Robin brushed her hair back, a smile flashing in her eyes.

"As I thought, I can't fool you even by pretending to like you. It's surprisingly difficult to appeal to a man's desires."

"How about this — if you let me join your crew, not only will I wear any outfit you want for your paintings, I'll also provide physical therapy and massages whenever you need them."

Hearing this, Ikki's expression remained unchanged as he raised his eyebrows.

"Thanks for the massage offer, but I already have a masseuse," he said, glancing at Nojiko.

Robin smiled, stepped back, and crossed her arms to activate her Devil Fruit ability.

The next moment, Ikki felt two arms growing from his legs, reaching straight for a sensitive area.

'Holy crap, is this how she treated Franky in the original story?' Ikki thought, stunned as he was caught off guard.

Nami and the others watching from the side were equally shocked, looking at Robin with disbelief.

Even Ikki, who knew the original story, hadn't expected Robin to use this tactic, let alone Nami and the others.

"Ikki, you know my Devil Fruit abilities," Robin said with a laugh. "I can make my hands bloom like flowers anywhere within sight. I think my ability would be perfect for helping you relax."

"Dammit, let go of me, woman!" Ikki complained, quickly reaching out to grab the arms created by Robin's Devil Fruit power.

Robin released her ability just in time and looked at Ikki without changing her expression.

"You win, I'm convinced," Ikki shook his head and looked seriously at the tall, black-haired woman. "Do you really want to follow me to see the poneglyphs that badly?"

At the mention of "poneglyphs," Robin's expression immediately became extremely serious.

"Ikki, you know it's my life's dream to explore the poneglyphs. In this world, you're the only one I know who can lead me to some of them. I want to follow you no matter what the cost."

"You said you like women like me. If you haven't already decided to accept me, I'll do my best to win you over during our voyage. If you want children, I can give you as many as you wish."

After hearing this, Ikki didn't react.

Nami and the others, however, immediately blushed.

Even though they all had feelings for Ikki, none of them had thought about having children yet, let alone making such a frank proposition.

"You... I'm convinced," Ikki conceded. "Fine, you can join us. But to avoid trouble, make sure to hide your face when we land on islands. I don't want to deal with problems because of you."

As soon as Ikki finished speaking, Robin broke into a smile.

Although she had appeared calm, only she knew how nervous she'd been.

She had tried similar tactics before to get Ikki to let her aboard the Explorer, without success.

To be honest, she hadn't been confident it would work this time either.

It wasn't until Ikki nodded that she truly felt relief wash over her.

"Give me your hand, and I'll seal our partnership," Ikki said.

"Does your partnership seal have to be on the back of my hand, Ikki?" Robin asked.

"Not necessarily."

"If it doesn't have to be on my hand, why not place it over my heart?" Robin chuckled softly, raising her hand to her chest.

"Or perhaps here?" she added with a suggestive smile, moving her hand lower.