Chapter Text
Shanks felt the awkward tension in the car as it sped along the freeway. The unfamiliar sensation of riding in a car made him feel uneasy. He kept his gaze fixed on the passing scenery, zoning out as thoughts swirled in his mind.
"Are you sure you're feeling okay?" his mom asked gently, turning to face him. "There's no shame in taking a nap; we still have a ways to go." She offered a comforting smile.
Shanks nodded absentmindedly, still lost in his thoughts. He tried to remember how Ishiki used to be. Was he the type of kid who was always bursting with energy and smiles, or was he more reserved and soft-spoken? The memories seemed fuzzy, and he struggled to grasp the details.
As they continued down the freeway, Shanks wondered if the ride would ever feel normal. The constant motion, the hum of the engine, and the occasional bump in the road.
"Are you feeling sick?" His mother asked.
He shook his head. "No, I'm fine."
His answer did not reassure his mother at all.
"Isshiki, it's okay to tell me if something's wrong, you've been through a lot and I worry about you sweetheart," she said, her eyes filled with concern as she glanced at him from the passenger's seat.
He gave her a weak smile. "I'm okay. Just a bit...unsettled."
His mom sighed and nodded. "Alright, but let me know if you need anything."
Shanks shifted in his seat, trying to find a more comfortable position. The feeling of unease gnawed at him. He closed his eyes and took deep breaths, trying to calm his racing heart and queasy stomach.
He opened his eyes and focused on the horizon, a trick he remembered reading about to help with motion sickness.
The steady view seemed to help a bit. He also tried to distract himself by thinking about happier times. He remembered all the times he and Buggy caused trouble, the laughter, and the sense of triumph.
"Maybe we could stop and get some fresh air?" His dad suggested, looking at him through the rearview mirror.
His mom nodded, relief washing over her face. "That's a good idea."
They pulled over at the next rest area. Shanks stepped out of the car, inhaling deeply. The fresh air felt like a balm to his frayed nerves. He walked around, stretching his legs, feeling the earth beneath his feet. Slowly, the tension began to ease.
The air wasn't as clear as it was out at sea he noticed.
"Feeling better?" his mom asked, walking up to him.
"Yeah, much better," he said, smiling genuinely this time. "Thanks, Mom."
Her eyes lit up, "I'm glad, Ishiki."
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After a few weeks of staying home, his parents decided it was time for Shanks to go back to school.
Shanks didn't think it would be too bad, but he stood out like a sore thumb.
Some children exhibited elemental manipulation abilities, while others displayed strange mutations, and some possessed entirely unique and unfamiliar powers.
Walking through the school halls, he noticed children demonstrating their quirks: a girl turning invisible, a boy sprouting wings and hovering above the ground, and another child creating small flames in his hands. Despite his mother's hopes, he never developed any special powers. Yet.
In class, Shanks found it hard to fit in. Most of his classmates viewed him as different; similar to trash, and some even teased him for being "quirkless," except for Kotetsu. Kotetsu was Ishiki/Shanks' best friend, even though he possessed a quirk.
He was a nice kid, despite not being too bright. When Shanks' classmates tried to corner him in the bathroom, fire flashing threateningly in the kid's palms, Shanks was two seconds away from forcing a pencil through the child's palm when Kotetsu burst into the bathroom with a teacher.
Another time, when the same group of kids tried to fight him during recess, Kotetsu had his back. They were all sent to the principal's office and received a stern talking to. Shanks rolled his eyes at all of it all.
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It was a seemingly normal afternoon, he had been out with his parents doing some standard shopping, they needed ingredients for the next few nights when a villain appeared.
A heavy fog blanketed the market, reducing the visibility of the area to almost zero, and people started screaming. Yelling, running, and begging for a hero to show up.
Amid the chaos the villain attacked.
The villain's shtick was suffocation. He would condense the fog around people's heads, cutting off the air and forcing people unconscious. When the fog began to circle him, that's when something changed.
His haki came back.
He could feel it. His commanding presence, the presence that used to make people sweat at the utterance of his name or the sight of The Red Force on the horizon. Oh, how he missed this.
It felt like he finally opened his eyes, he could feel how the villain and the people around him were feeling, could read their thoughts, knowing when someone would sidestep to run in another direct or more importantly the slight movement the villain made when they were about the change targets.
Shanks stood still, his mind suddenly clear and focused despite the panic around him. The familiar sensation of Haki surged through his veins, sharpening his senses and expanding his awareness. He could see through the thick fog, feel the fear of the people, and sense the malevolent intent of the villain.
With a deep breath, he released his Conqueror's Haki. The sheer force of his willpower rippled through the market, causing the villain to stumble and the mist to waver.
The villain, cloaked in shadows, sneered and lunged at a nearby woman. Shanks moved with lightning speed, his Armament Haki coating his fist as he intercepted the attack. The impact sent a shockwave through the fog, dissipating it and revealing the true form of the attacker—a man with a sinister smile and glowing eyes.
"Who are you?" the villain spat, struggling against Shanks' iron grip.
"Someone you don't want to mess with," Shanks replied, his voice steady and commanding.
With a swift movement, Shanks knocked the villain unconscious. The market fell silent, people staring in disbelief at the crimson-haired child who had saved them. As the authorities and heroes began to arrive, the crowd began to murmur, Shanks turned to his parents, who were standing nearby with a look of shock and a bit of relief.
"It's been a while," Shanks said to himself with a grin, his Haki receding but his presence no less imposing.