Chapter 49
“Pst, Roger.” Rayleigh whispered, leaning closer to him where they were sitting in the shade. “I think Shanks is afraid of Mhoji.”
Roger looked over, squinting against the bright sun, at the young boy with the crimson hair, who was eyeing the tiny, tiny, fluffy creature in Buggy’s arms warily. Mhoji looked more like a plush toy than a formidable being.
"Afraid of what?" Roger chuckled, his deep voice rumbling through the warm air. "That little pup?"
Rayleigh smacked him on the arm with the back of his hand, his eyes sparkling with amusement and a smile curling the corners of his mouth. “You know what I mean,” he said, chuckling. “He’s barely said two words to the kid since we picked him up from the East Blue streets. It’s like he’s waiting for it to bite him or something!”
Mhoji, the subject of their whispers, looked up at the two pirates with innocent, golden-brown eyes. The young human-mink’s fluffy tail wagged in time with the rhythm of the waves that gently rocked the Oro Jackson.
Roger smiled, his hands behind his head as he leaned further back onto the wall he and Rayleigh were sitting on. “Shenks,” he called out in a teasing tone. The boy looked over, his expression a mix of curiosity and caution. “Why don’t you hold Mhoji?”
Shanks took a step back, his eyes widening slightly. “I-it’s just...he’s so...tiny!” He sputtered, trying to explain his fear.
Buggy, the young pirate with the clown aesthetic, looked up at Shanks with a knowing smile, her blue eyes twinkling with mischief. She had found Mhoji a year ago, and the little creature had been attached to her hip ever since. She took a step closer to Shanks, holding Mhoji out to him like you would a cat or stuffed toy. “Come on, shanks.” She began, taking a couple more steps closer to him. “Hold my baby, he doesn’t bite… most of the time anyways.”
Shanks took another step back, his heart racing. He had seen Mhoji’s teeth, they were sharp like a sharks and he was pretty sure the creature could take a chunk out of him if it wanted to. “I-I think I’m good, Buggy.” He managed to get out, trying to keep the tremble out of his voice.
Buggy’s smile grew wider, and she giggled. “Don’t be a scaredy-cat, Shanks!” She took another step forward, Mhoji in her outstretched arms. The creature looked from Roger to Shanks, seemingly eager to be held. It whined slightly, a sound that was both adorable and eerily similar to a real puppy’s.
Shanks swallowed hard, his eyes darting from the creature to Roger and back again. He knew that look on the Pirate King’s face all too well; it was the one that usually meant trouble for him. “But, Roger... I mean, look at him!” He protested, pointing at Mhoji. “What if he turns into a giant monster or something?”
Roger and Rayleigh burst into laughter at the thought. “Look at you, the future Red-Hair Pirate, scared of a little furball like that?” Roger teased, pushing himself off the wall. He strolled over to them, a glint in his eye. “Fine, if you won’t do it, I will!” He reached for Mhoji, and the little creature squirmed with excitement, jumping into Roger’s arms.
Mhoji licked Roger’s face, making the Pirate King laugh even harder. “Ah, you little rascal!” He said, holding Mhoji up in the air, making him giggle. The sight of Roger playing with Mhoji was a rare one, and the rest of the crew couldn’t help but smile. The tension on the ship, which had been thick as a foggy morning, began to dissipate.