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“Ace, I don't think this will work…”
“Hey, don't doubt Striker! She may be little, but she's got guts.” Ace patted the thin mast of his skiff with a proud smile. This little boat had been his faithful companion for a few years now, and it had never let him down. He and Deuce had traveled in this skiff for a while without any problems! Sure, Yamato was much bigger than Deuce, but still.
Yamato shifted from one foot to the other, afraid to step off the beach and into the water. He'd never left the Land of Wano before. He hadn't seen anything besides Onigashima in… he didn't remember how long. But this was his chance, and he wasn't going to miss it.
“Alright, I believe you. Help me up—” He reached out for Ace's hand and caught it, stepping into the shallow water. At this depth it didn't affect him, but it made both of them nervous regardless. He gripped Ace’s hand tighter.
“Just, er, stand here.” Ace helped him onto the back of the skiff, where there was a slim space between the mast and the engine. It wasn't intended for someone to stand on, especially not someone Yamato’s height, but it would do.
Standing on a rocking boat in geta was not easy. Worse when Yamato realized his face was right at the height of the yard, so the wrapped sail was blocking his view. He hadn't expected the journey back to Ace's crew to be especially comfortable, but this was not good. “Um, Ace?”
“I know, I know. Just hold on for a little while, okay? The ship's only a day away.”
“A whole day?” Yamato shouted, a great deal louder than his usual yelling-speaking tone. Ace winced.
“That's nothing compared to how long you've been stuck here!” Ace ducked under the yard to see him better, putting a warm hand on his shoulder. “One day, that's all. Small price for freedom, isn't it?”
Yamato couldn't argue with that. He didn't want to appear like he was scared either— Oden wouldn't be afraid to hang off the back of a tiny boat! He dragged behind Whitebeard’s ship for three whole days! Yamato was obviously capable of similar feats. He hooked his arm around the mast, braced himself and nodded to Ace.
“Right on. Let's get goin’!”
The small deck lurched beneath Yamato’s sandals, the fire heating the wood and roaring through the engine. He had no idea how this was supposed to work, such a craft didn't exist in Wano, but like everything else about Ace it was totally amazing. Striker pulled away from the shore slow and steady, out into the open water.
This was it— the beginning of Yamato’s adventure, just like Oden went on. The rest of his life opening up right before his eyes. He broke into a wide grin, overwhelmed by the feeling. The wind picked up as the skiff gained speed, whipping through his hair, freezing cold against his skin even under the blazing sun. Ace was being cautious with the poor little boat, but to Yamato it may as well have been light speed. They crested a small wave and slammed back down, seafoam spraying back at them.
Yamato held tighter to the mast, and ducked his head so he could see the horizon. Somewhere out there was land, places even Oden himself hadn't seen. And they were going to see it, together. He'd never felt so happy in his entire life.