We are in Wano!!!
The Sunny approached a huge storm and Katakuri reminded Nami that one of Wano Country's barriers was the weather.
They followed the koi fish through the currents until they came to a waterfall where the koi began to climb and Luffy grabbed the Sunny to go up with the fish.
Rosinante was almost blown off the boat if not for Cracker being quick and grabbing him before he fell into the sea. When everyone thought they were safe, there was a whirlpool at the top of the waterfall and Sanji blew everyone to the ground.
Luffy had Sanji use him as a springboard, but before he could escape, the octopus stopped him and sent him alongside the ship into the whirlpool. Katakuri reacted quickly and grabbed Luffy, but due to the inertia, she fell into the whirlpool along with him.
Luffy woke up on a beach in the Kuri region in Katakuri's arms after being washed ashore with the Sunny.
-Mochi! Wake up!- Luffy sat up and moved Katakuri to try and wake her up.
Katakuri slowly opened her eyes and carefully sat up with Luffy in her arms.
-Sometimes I wonder if you're very lucky or unlucky...- Katakuri commented.- The few times I had to come to Wano, nothing like this ever happened.-
They witnessed a fight between a sword-wielding baboon and a komainu, while Beasts Pirate scouts patrolled nearby. They had captured a girl named Tama, who had mentioned the Kozuki family in their presence, when they saw Luffy, Katakuri and the Sunny. They tried to attack them only to be quickly defeated.
-This beach is so noisy.-
-Indeed.- Katakuri nodded.
-Dammit...!!- one of the Beast Pirates staggered up.- Baboon!!! Deal with the komainu later!! Catch them!!
-......!! KIIII!?- the baboon looked towards Luffy and Katakuri.
-..............-
The baboon caught Luffy's gaze and saw that Katakuri was basically the same height as him. He chickened out with incredible speed.
-Kiii...- the baboon knelt down and scratched its head with a smile.
-Good boy.-
-WHY ARE YOU CHICKENING OUTTTTTTT!!??-
He suddenly fell unconscious due to a blow to the head from Tama.
-What are you doing?-
-"What", you ask... I'm surrendering!! I'm surrendering to you!!- Tama replied with her hands raised.
-We won't hurt you, you know!-
-Really...?- she lowers her hands.- Then can you please lend me some of your time? This... This is my chance...-
-......?-
-Ki-Bi-Dango!- Tama forms a circle with her thumb and forefinger and pinches her cheek, creating a small dumpling.- Here! Eat this, mr. Baboon!-
-WHAAAAT!? SHE PULLED OFF HER CHEEK!!-
Suddenly Katakuri walks up to the girl, snatched the dumpling from her and shoved it into the baboon's mouth before it could attack the child.
-...!!-
-Paw.- the girl raises her hand.
-Kiii.- the baboon puts its hand on the girl's hand obediently.
-HUUUUH!? She tamed that monster!!-
-I DID IIIITTTTT!! I finally managed to convince the "Raging Baboon of the Mountain" to be on our side!!!-
-So you're an ability user? That sure looks like a handy power!- Luffy climbed onto Katakuri's shoulder.- ... By the way, can you tell us where are we?-
-Yes!! You're in Kuri, onii-chan, onee-chan!-
Tama explained where they were and what had happened. After taking the Thousand Sunny to safety, she offered them food as thanks.
She took them to her teacher's house, where she made a bowl of rice.
-Sorry... This house is small...- Tama apologized to Katakuri since she couldn't enter the room due to her size.
-It's okay... In fact, I have an idea.-
Katakuri transforms her entire body into mochi and compresses it into a much smaller mass of mochi.
-That's it. This way I'll be able to enter and I won't attract so much attention due to my height.- Katakuri said while on Luffy's lap.
-How cute!!- Luffy said pinching the mochi.
The small mass of mochi was stained red slightly.
After eating, he was confronted by Tama's teacher, Tenguyama Hitetsu because he ate the rice that he seldom ate due to being engaged in weaving kasas every day. Tama explained to Hitetsu that he had given him the rice as a thank you, but he soon fell ill because he had drunk river water, which was contaminated by Kaidou's factories.
-Tama!-
Luffy turned around and saw Ace approaching quickly wearing a kimono with food in her hands and followed by Law. Law knelt next to Tama and started checking her with his Ope Ope no Mi while Ace put the food and clean water aside to hug her brother.
-Luffy! I'm glad you're well!-
-Ace! I present to you my queen!-
Katakuri got out of Luffy's arms and returned to her original size with a slight blush.
-Nice to meet you, Ace.-
-...... Nice to meet ya, Katakuri.- Ace smiled.- For you to know. If you dare to hurt Luffy, you're dead.-
-Hey! Don't threaten my Mochi!- Luffy throws his fists into the air and puffs out his cheeks.
Ace just rolled her eyes and pulled his cheeks.
-I'm just trying to protect you!-
-I don't need it!-
Law takes out the contaminated residue that Tama had inside her body and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
-Stop fighting, Ace-ya, Luffy-ya.- Law sighs and rolls his eyes as he watched them fight.- We need to meet with the others.-
A blue bird landed on Law's shoulder. It turned into a piece of paper and Law read it.
-Natsu-ya and Zeref-ya are waiting for us at the tea house.-
Katakuri sighed when she saw that neither of them was paying attention to Law so she took the two by their clothes and forcibly separated them.
-We have to go.-
-I'm going with you!- Tama said, squeezing her hands and with a look of determination.
-...... Whatever you want, Tama-ya.-
++++++++
-It's delicious!- Natsu commented eating some dangos.- I want more!-
-Here you go, Natsu-san.- O-Kiku, or also known as Kikunojo of the Lingering Snow, gave him another plate of dangos.- How is nii-san?-
-Izou? He's fine. Although I've heard that King the Wildfire has been having some interest in him... I don't know if you understand me...-
-...... I'm going to kill him.- Kikunojo showed a cute smile.