The Reaper

Gaku strolled out of the Marine base, barely giving a glance back as the gate clanged shut behind him. As he walked away, he could hear whispers from the Marines standing guard.

"That's him... The Reaper," one muttered, in a tone half awed, half terrified.

"The Reaper, huh? Can't believe he's so... calm-looking. Doesn't fit him at all," another replied, shaking his head.

The title "The Reaper" always made Gaku chuckle. For a guy who spent most of his time nonchalantly playing games and brushing off nearly every confrontation, he was hardly the embodiment of a terrifying force. Yet, his work as a bounty hunter had crafted this myth around him: an unstoppable force, the one bounty hunters feared to cross.

After delivering today's target—a rather uneventful scuffle with some wannabe pirate crew—Gaku decided to indulge in his usual routine. Soon, he was ducking around a back alley, effortlessly dodging a fistful of government agents who had tailed him yet again. Keeping his console in one hand, he thumbed a few buttons, taking down enemies on screen while sidestepping real punches and dodging bullets with barely a thought.

The agents, however, were relentless as ever, closing in as Gaku turned the corner. He tossed his console into his coat pocket and unleashed a burst of Haki that left them gasping and backing away, some dropping to their knees. Without even glancing back, Gaku resumed his game, leaving the incapacitated agents in his wake.

As he strolled away from the carnage, his mind drifted back to the latest bounties on the board. It had been a slow week in North Blue, and he was feeling that familiar itch for something more exciting. He recalled a recent newspaper article about some rookie pirate who had stirred up chaos on the Grand Line, challenging the government directly.

"Strawhat Luffy..." he murmured, pulling out the bounty poster from his pocket, squinting at the 300 million berry reward. The image showed a grinning young pirate with a straw hat, whose bounty had skyrocketed after taking down Crocodile and turning Enies Lobby upside down. Beside Luffy, the wanted poster of "Pirate Hunter" Zoro read 120 million, along with other high bounties for the crew.

He grinned to himself. "300 million... not bad. Kid really kicked the hornet's nest," he said, amused at the havoc Luffy had managed to stir up.

Plus, it wasn't just the money—though the berries would fuel his rather luxurious lifestyle. Recently, he'd developed a taste for collectible items, like the rare Bleach figures he'd been eyeing at a specialty shop. He'd need serious funds to support his habit. And a Strawhat-level payout would do nicely.

"Alright, Luffy," he said, stuffing the bounty poster back into his coat with a smirk. "Let's see if you're as interesting as they say."

__________________________________

Inside a lively bar on the island, Luffy burst through the door with his usual energy, yelling, "Food! Bring me all the food you got!" The bartender, amused by Luffy's enthusiasm, quickly served up a platter that Luffy devoured in record time.

As he dug into his meal, a tall, relaxed-looking man with bluish-grey hair and a wrapped-up, cube-headed mace slung over his shoulder approached the counter, sitting beside Luffy. "You like meat, huh?" the man asked, watching Luffy eat.

"Mhm!" Luffy replied between mouthfuls. "It's the best food ever!"

Gaku smirked, leaning back. "I'll give you that, but pizza is where it's at."

Luffy stopped, eyes widening as he thought about it. "Pizza? Nah, meat's way better," he argued, grinning.

The two shared a friendly laugh, each defending their favorite food with casual banter. Gaku, enjoying the moment, finally introduced himself, "Name's Gaku."

Around them, patrons who recognized Gaku's name began to shuffle out of the bar, some muttering in hushed tones as they hurriedly left. Only the bartender remained calm, as he'd seen Gaku around before. Luffy, however, seemed oblivious, still smiling brightly.

"I'm Luffy, and I'm gonna be the Pirate King!" he declared, to the surprise of Gaku and the bartender, who were both caught off guard by his straightforwardness.

The bartender, a little nervous, looked at Luffy. "Kid, you know who you're talking to? This here is Gaku... The Reaper."

Luffy blinked, scratching his head. "Huh? Oh!" he suddenly remembered Nami's warnings about this infamous bounty hunter. His grin faded, replaced by wide-eyed surprise, and without hesitation, he dashed out of the bar, making his escape.

Gaku, more amused than anything, watched him go. He paid the bartender, covering the cost of all the patrons who'd run out. "Guess that's how it goes," he muttered with a slight smile, appreciating the encounter.

Moments later, Luffy reached the ship, still running at full speed and causing a commotion. Usopp and Chopper, hearing the noise, looked up in confusion.

"Luffy! What happened?" Usopp called, but before he could answer, a huge, cube-headed mace came barreling toward him, knocking Luffy off his feet and sending him flying into the town square, where Nami and Robin were shopping.

The two women turned in surprise as Luffy tumbled to their feet. Robin raised an eyebrow, noting his pained expression. "Luffy...? Are you alright?"

Before he could explain, Gaku appeared on a nearby rooftop, casually dropping down in front of them. His relaxed gaze met theirs, and he tilted his head. "You're all pretty fast at running," he commented, his tone easygoing despite the tension.

Nami and Robin exchanged a wary glance, recognizing Gaku instantly. Usopp and Chopper joined them, with Chopper transforming into his combat form and Usopp already loading his weapon. Without warning, Usopp fired a shot, causing a small explosion where Gaku stood.

As the dust cleared, Gaku emerged unscathed, raising an eyebrow at Robin. He reached toward her, but his hand was suddenly deflected by a swift kick from Luffy, his skin glowing with the red hue of Second Gear.

Nami quickly pulled out her Den Den Mushi, calling the rest of the crew to join them as Robin held Gaku back with her Devil Fruit ability. "It's no wonder he's infamous," she murmured to herself.

Gaku looked unfazed as he glanced between the Straw Hats. "You know, I had a feeling a 300-million bounty pirate would be more of a challenge," he remarked, mildly impressed. Breaking free of Robin's grip, he blocked a punch from Luffy, studying his speed and technique.

Before he could continue his analysis, Sanji appeared, landing a powerful kick near Gaku's head. "A real man doesn't harm a lady," he said coldly.

Gaku looked at him curiously. "So, I should let her kill me instead?"

Before Sanji could respond, Franky's voice echoed through the square. "Coup de Vent!" A blast of air sent Gaku staggering sideways. Recovering quickly, he met Zoro's swords mid-swing, fending them off with his mace despite its weight, showcasing his incredible strength and precision.

The Straw Hats gathered around him, ready for the battle. Gaku looked at them, smirking. "Quite the welcoming party." He casually pulled out his handheld console and began pressing buttons, seemingly oblivious to the tension.

The Straw Hats stared down Gaku, each of them feeling the subtle but undeniable weight of his presence. The tension was thick, and even the normally carefree Luffy seemed on edge, his muscles coiled as he sized up the mysterious bounty hunter. But Gaku, for his part, just stood there with his game console, thumb tapping lazily on the buttons as if this whole standoff was an afterthought.

Sanji, his patience thin, broke the silence, "You're seriously just gonna ignore us?" His legs flared with fire as he launched into an attack, his signature Diable Jambe lighting up his heel as he delivered a flaming kick towards Gaku.

Without lifting his eyes, Gaku sidestepped smoothly, letting Sanji's blazing foot rush past him by mere inches. In one fluid motion, Gaku extended his arm, catching Sanji by the collar and flinging him backwards effortlessly. Sanji skidded across the dirt, scowling as he quickly got back to his feet, his pride bruised.

"Man, I thought the Straw Hats would be... intense," Gaku muttered, finally tucking his game away and giving them his full attention. His eyes took on a sharper focus as he assessed them all with a slight smirk. "Alright, guess I'll put in a bit of effort."

Luffy's fists clenched, and he shifted into Gear Second, steam radiating from his skin. His veins pulsed as his speed and strength surged. With a grin, he launched himself forward, calling out, "Gum-Gum Jet Pistol!" His fist shot forward like a bullet, fast and hard, aimed squarely at Gaku's chest.

In a blur, Gaku raised his arm, parrying Luffy's punch with his own open palm, the impact sending a shockwave through the ground around them. Luffy's eyes widened as Gaku not only stopped his attack but shifted his grip and hurled him to the side, barely missing Nami and Robin as Luffy spun through the air.

"You're quick," Gaku commented casually, watching as Luffy sprang back to his feet with a grin that spoke of growing excitement.

Zoro stepped forward, swords drawn, his gaze sharp and focused. "Alright, you're next. Let's see if that casual attitude holds up against my blades." He launched into his Onigiri attack, blades slashing in three parallel lines toward Gaku.

Gaku met Zoro's attack head-on, wielding his massive mace like it was weightless. He blocked each slash with astonishing speed, the heavy weapon moving as effortlessly as if it were an extension of his arm. Sparks flew as metal met metal, and Zoro's strikes came faster, more relentless, his fury increasing with each deflection. But Gaku's defense was rock-solid, his focus unbreakable as he matched Zoro blow for blow. He swung his mace upward, knocking Zoro's swords aside before delivering a powerful kick that sent the swordsman skidding back, his shoes tearing up dirt.

Zoro wiped a small trickle of blood from his lip, his teeth gritting in determination. "You're good," he admitted, a hint of respect in his voice. But before he could charge again, Nami leapt into action, creating a massive storm cloud above Gaku.

"Thunderbolt Tempo!" she shouted, releasing a bolt of lightning directly at Gaku. The flash was blinding, the crackle echoing across the battleground.

But as the smoke cleared, Gaku stood unharmed, brushing off a few wisps of smoke from his shoulder, a small grin tugging at his lips. "Nice try," he said, clearly impressed. "But you'll need a lot more than that."

Robin's eyes narrowed. "It's my turn," she murmured, activating her Hana Hana no Mi powers. Dozens of hands sprouted from Gaku's arms, legs, and torso, immobilizing him momentarily. She locked her gaze on him, calculating. "Cien Fleur!" Her hands wrapped tightly around him, pressing his limbs against his torso.

In that instant, Luffy took the opportunity, rushing forward in Gear Second with a powerful, steam-fueled "Gum-Gum Bazooka." His hands shot forward with explosive force, colliding into Gaku's chest and sending him flying backwards, Robin's grasp releasing him as he hit the ground and rolled before standing back up with ease.

"That... actually stung," Gaku remarked, a flicker of surprise in his gaze. He rolled his shoulder and took his mace in both hands, his smirk replaced by a sharp intensity that hadn't been there before. "Guess I'll have to start paying attention."

Luffy blinked, grinning wide. "Finally!" he shouted, clearly thrilled to be facing an opponent who could keep up with him.

With a sudden burst of speed, Gaku appeared in front of Usopp, who had been hiding a few paces back, lining up his slingshot for another attack. Usopp barely had time to yelp in surprise before Gaku's mace was raised, but before the blow could land, Chopper transformed into his Heavy Point form, stepping between Usopp and Gaku.

"You'll have to go through me!" Chopper growled, his stance firm.

Gaku tilted his head, a bit of respect in his eyes. "Brave... for a raccoon."

"It's reindeer!" Chopper shouted, his eyes blazing.

Before Gaku could make a retort, Sanji came at him from the side, using Diable Jambe to deliver a burning kick to Gaku's ribs. This time, Gaku sidestepped it, letting Sanji's leg pass by before he spun his mace, bringing it down heavily toward the chef's leg. Sanji twisted away just in time, the mace striking the ground with a deafening crash.

But then a shot rang out. Usopp, in the back, had fired off his most powerful attack, the "Impact Wolf." The force of the shot created a small explosion around Gaku, smoke rising and dust scattering everywhere. But as the debris settled, Gaku remained, dusting off his shoulder.

"You guys really are persistent," he muttered. "But if you don't start taking me seriously, this is going to end badly."

Just as he spoke, a small, boxed figurine tumbled out of Chopper's backpack and rolled to a stop at Gaku's feet. It was a limited-edition Resident Evil figurine—Albert Wesker himself.

Gaku's face softened a bit as he picked it up, looking at it for a moment before tossing it to Chopper. "Take care of this, raccoon," he said, ignoring Chopper's protest at the misidentification. "Something like this should be appreciated."

"W-why are you giving it back?" Chopper stammered, confused.

"Because it matters to you," Gaku said, a faint smile on his face. But before anyone could make sense of the moment, a new presence made itself known—a blinding light descending from the sky.

The Straw Hats and Gaku all shielded their eyes as Admiral Kizaru appeared before them, the light around him fading as he looked at the scene with mild amusement. He raised a finger lazily in greeting, his voice slow and indifferent. "Oh my... Straw Hat Luffy and his crew. And... someone else?"

Robin's face turned serious. "That's Admiral Kizaru. He's... at the same level as Aokiji."

The crew tensed, each of them realizing just how serious the situation had become. Gaku, however, didn't seem perturbed, merely glancing at the admiral before adjusting his grip on his mace.

Kizaru's gaze flicked over to Gaku. "And you... Gaku, isn't it? Some in the Marines think of you as an ally. Others see you as a bit of a problem."

"Guess I'm just popular," Gaku replied nonchalantly. "But it's not like I care much about what you all think."

Kizaru chuckled, his tone light. "Ah, so rude. But I suppose it doesn't matter right now..." His gaze shifted back to the Straw Hats. "I'm here for them."

Seeing the threat level rise, Luffy called to his crew, "We need to run!"

But just as they turned to retreat, Gaku stepped forward, his face uncharacteristically serious. "Hey, raccoon—keep that figurine safe," he said, looking at Chopper. "And you, Straw Hat... you're a funny guy."

With a sudden burst of speed, Gaku lunged at Kizaru, his mace crackling with energy. Kizaru's eyes widened slightly, surprised by Gaku's audacity. He smirked, amused. "You're... really going to challenge me?"

Gaku shrugged. "I don't like you," he said bluntly.

The Straw Hats hesitated, watching the unexpected showdown between Gaku and Kizaru with mixed feelings. But Luffy snapped them out of it with a shout. "Go! Now!"

The crew bolted, and as they ran, they couldn't help but look back at Gaku, wondering why he'd chosen to face an admiral for their sake. In the end, they couldn't figure him out, but they couldn't deny the strange respect that had started to bloom for the mysterious "Reaper."

Little did everyone involved know, but the actions of that day would changed their lives in a way they never expected, even Gaku.