#kawamatsu & onimaru

[bumblesnail]

kawamatsu !!!!!!

[everykawamatsu]

THEY

Bonus:

Kin'emon's soft face, that is me watching this scene (except I cry while at it)

[nocontextonepiece]

[chenziee]

Protect her right

My piece for @opdilfzine!! So honoured to have been able to work on this amazing project with so many talented people <3 Aftersales are open right now but stuff is disapprearing really fast so don't hesitate to check it out!

I wrote two more fics for the digital add-on that i'm excited to share soon as well!! :D

[ READ ON AO3 | KO-FI ]

Alternate summary:

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Making his way through the snow-covered lands of Ringo with fried tofu in hand, Kawamatsu the Kappa couldn’t help but remember the last time he had walked this same path. Back then, he couldn’t appreciate how pretty the winter region looked with its small shrines and toriis, snow sparkling in the sun above.

Thirteen years ago, he was looking only at his feet, searching for a place to rest for the final time. He had ignored the way Sotomuso cried at his waist, the blade knowing its master was ready to atone for his failure, yet unable to do anything.

It was a twist of fate that had brought him to the eternal graves just as the graverobbers had attacked Onimaru. He truly owed the flame-fox—and ironically, the robbers—his life.

Kawamatsu wasn’t expecting Onimaru to still be waiting for him… but he hoped he was doing well despite having been left alone.

He looked up at the sound of steel clashing together. Fighting on the Bandit’s Bridge… that brought back memories. The thought of Gyukimaru and Onimaru protecting the graveyard just beyond—it made Kawamatsu smile.

But, looking at the warrior monk and samurai crossing blades, it didn’t seem like the same scene from years before. His hand closed around Sotomuso’s hilt—the blade’s presence familiar as if it had never left his side—and slowly pulled it out of its scabbard.

“Cease this fight!” he called, throwing Sotomuso towards the battle that lacked any bloodlust.

He only huffed when the samurai stopped the shirasaya as if it were nothing before throwing the blade back. It was reassuring, seeing that the Land of Wano wasn’t completely void of capable samurai after all these years.

A laugh bubbled out of his chest as he caught Sotomuso in his hand once more. “What do I find here? A samurai and a monk, doing battle in this remote place? Yet neither of you is trying to kill the other. A curious sight!”

“Kawamatsu?!” a woman’s voice cried out then. “Is that you?!”

Kawamatsu frowned, his gaze turning in the direction the voice had come from—a young woman hiding behind a tree; her hair long and turquoise in colour, her features soft and pretty, her eyes wide with shock where she stared right at Kawamatsu.

The samurai felt a pang of nostalgia looking at her… but why?

“How do you know my name?” he asked.

Tears appeared in the woman’s eyes when she covered her mouth. “Kawamatsu!” she gasped, taking a step forward, then another, and another. Soon, she was rushing towards him; as soon as she was close enough, she buried her face in Kawamatsu’s chest, her shoulders shaking as she clutched at the fabric of his kimono.

Kawamatsu wasn’t sure what to do. Just who was this person? He had been in prison for thirteen years. If she had known him before… she had to have been quite young.

There was only one young girl who knew him well enough.

Kawamatsu’s eyes widened and his mouth fell open, heart beating fast in his chest. He gulped heavily, his hands coming to gingerly touch the woman’s trembling shoulders.

“Don’t tell me—” he paused, taking a deep breath. “Don’t tell me you’re… Hiyori-sama?”

Immediately, the woman lifted her head. She looked up at him with big eyes that glistened with unshed tears, her lips stretched into a bright smile. “Yes! I’m so happy to see you safe!”

The moment he looked into those eyes, it was like he was thrown back in time.

Suddenly, he was back at Oden Castle with tiny hands clutching at his webbed fingers as the little human girl learned to walk. A smile spreading on his face in response to the adorable grin she would give him any time he’d accept one of her lovingly folded origami creations—a ball, a crane, a fox, or even just a simple boat.

He could almost hear a shamisen playing, the song clumsy and slow, the instrument a little too big for the four year old thrumming at its strings with utmost focus. Even while she was still learning, the melody was already so beautiful. Kawamatsu wondered… How sweet would it sound today?

“Hiyori-sama…” Kawamatsu breathed, barely audible. “To see you alive and well is the greatest gift I could imagine.”

The fists clutching at his kimono tightened momentarily at his words while the Princess buried her face in the fabric, a sob escaping her. “I’m sorry!” she cried. “I’m so sorry for running away!”

With every tearful word from her, Kawamatsu felt the weight that had been resting on his shoulders for the past 13 years lifting little by little. He couldn’t believe how terribly kind Hiyori-sama was even at such a young age—to leave all for fear of her retainer going hungry. A kind of warmth gathered in Kawamatsu’s chest, spreading throughout his body to the very tips of his fingers. He barely felt the chill of the wind blowing past them anymore.

Just to see Hiyori-sama again, grown up into such a wonderful, kind young lady—

Deciding to stay alive for all those years, eating every disgusting, poisonous fish thrown his way… it was all worth it just for that.

He had failed to keep her safe once before.

This time, he was not going to make the same mistake.

No matter how many of Orochi’s or Kaido’s men came after them, no matter how little food he would be able to find, this time…

This time, he was going to protect her right.

And he was going to start with taking Kaido down along with the rest of the Kozuki samurai.

—————

Kawamatsu wasn’t sure how long he had been sitting at the edges of the ongoing festival, simply watching the crowds celebrate the fall of Orochi and Kaido’s tyrannical rule. He could hardly believe it had only been a little over a week, a mere ten days, since he had been reunited with the Princess.

Even just the battle of Onigashima itself felt like it had happened a lifetime ago. Yet, the remains of the island were still lying beyond the Flower Capital’s borders, a reminder of all the pain, suffering, and loss that they had gone through. A reminder of the disaster that they had barely avoided only thanks to Momonosuke-sama and Luffytaro.

A reminder that dawn had finally come to the Land of Wano.

“Kon!”

Kawamatsu laughed at the happy yip. Turning his head to look at the flame-fox sitting by his side, he placed a hand on Onimaru’s head, running his fingers through his soft fur. “Are you excited, Onimaru? We can put the swords to rest again now.”

With another yip, Onimaru tilted his chin up, leaning into Kawamatsu’s hand for more scratches, and a wide smile spread on Kawamatsu’s face at the sight. It reminded him of the old days—only now, there was no biting cold, no graves to rob, and no danger of capture.

No need for Kawamatsu to hide his face and no need to steal food.

Suddenly, Onimaru jumped up to his feet, fully alert. Kawamatsu almost reached for Sotomuso but then he noticed Onimaru’s tail wagging, his mouth open as he panted happily, his eyes short of sparkling and he could only let go of a relieved sigh as he relaxed again.

He smiled when a young woman carrying a woven basket approached them a minute later, a warm smile of her own on her lips as she kneeled in front of the fox. “Your name is Onimaru, right? Do you like fried tofu?”

“Kon kon!!” Onimaru yipped, tapping his feet in excitement.

Kawamatsu hummed. “Good for you, Onimaru. Your favourite!”

Hiyori-sama chuckled before picking up one of the tofu pieces and handing it to Onimaru—who finished his treat in two bites only to stare intently at the Princess, begging for another piece.

“Here you go,” Hiyori-sama said, placing the basket full of tofu in front of Onimaru.

“Are you enjoying yourself, Princess?” Kawamatsu asked once she sat next to him on the grass.

“I am!” There was a bright smile on her face when she nodded. “It feels like life is coming back to the country.”

“We need to properly thank Luffytaro and his friends!” Kawamatsu laughed.

“What are you talking about?!” Hiyori-sama cried, her cheeks puffing up. “What about you and Denjiro and everyone else?!”

Kawamatsu blinked as she went on, poking the kappa in his chest with her perfectly manicured finger.

“I’m sorry,” Kawamatsu said with barely suppressed amusement at the sight she made right then. Somehow… no matter how old she got, she would always be that little girl pouting because Oden-sama stole her favourite kappamaki at the dinner table.

She huffed defiantly as if reading his thoughts but then her face split in a soft smile once more when she looked at her retainer. “Thank you, Kawamatsu. For everything.”

Kawamatsu blinked, completely stunned for a moment… until a happy laugh bubbled out of his chest. “It’s an honour, Hiyori-sama.”

[loralbott]

Another cool design in Wano

[ayzscream]

[chromatic-lamina]

This scene might not get much attention in posting, and I missed a beautiful frame where onimaru looks up at the three men sitting at the shrine, showing just how steep and isolated it is, but it's beautiful as is, Marco hanging out on the roof of the shrine.

And, Kin'emon and Kawamatsu will make temples in Ashizura and Izou's honour, and Kin'emon asks if that's okay with Marco. He responds, that one's home soil is best.

And yet, how long was Izou away from his home soil, and where lies Marco's?

[fallensnowfan]

Dedicated post for the Wano cover arc. I will update this as new issues are released.

Character locations:

Kin'emon - Flower Capital

Shinobu - Flower Capital

Tama - Flower Capital

Momo - Flower Capital

Hiyori - Castle in the Flower Capital

Toko - Castle in the Flower Capital

Otsuru - Flower Capital

Urashima - Flower Capital

Osome & Chuji - Flower Capital

Yamato - Flower Capital

Neko - Flower Capital

Hyogoro - Flower Capital

Denjiro - ?

Okiku(best girl) - ?

Raizo - ?

Inu - ?

Kawamatsu - ?

Onigashima, how'd it get there I wonder?

Momo just chilling. Seems a bit sad.

Kin'emon being paternal, sending Yamato on an errand to learn about being responsible with money. aww

The pilgrimage is routed out.

Hiyori & Toko have new kimonos! And that bento box is wonderful.

Hi Miss Tsuru! Good to see you again. Wonderful and kind as always. Like Hiyori & Toko, you're wearing a new kimono as well. Pretty!

And ayo?! Urashima appearance? I was wondering what happened to him. Loving seeing cameos of familiar faces, perhaps he's starting to change his ways, now that he's lost his status as the Yokozuna.

Awww! Big hug for the big kitty! Love how wholesome these covers have been. Fingers crossed a future one is Yamato meeting with Inu, Onimaru, and Komachiyo. The dogs putting the "Wan" in Wano.

[abysscronica]

I was looking back at your old asks and I definitely agree with your take on Denjiro, I'd say the same went with Kawamatsu? The way other samurai had some scenes before and after the onigashima raid but Kawamatsu and Denjiro just went mia, as in they didn't have much impact on the story telling after onigashima? Like I expected some scenes with Hiyori, they took care of her, expected Denjiro to be a bit better at fighting for some reason? After onigashima they felt like background characters

100%. There are many things that did not pay off in Wano, overall I think it is one of the worst arcs in OP (in my humble opinion), but the Scabbards were probably the biggest miss. They are hyped up like crazy in the early chapters of the arc, their intro's are epic and lengthy. Kyoshiro is initially presented as one of the "bosses" from the Shogun side, with a mysterious attitude and even a preliminary square-up with Zoro, only to fade away after the big reveal of his identity. All that teased power, his character crafting, for nothing. So yeah, I felt his strength was forgotten somewhere along the way.

As the most interesting Scabbard, he was the deep disappointment for me, but you're totally right about Kawamatsu, he's a close second. He too receives quite an impressive intro in Udon, a tearful backstory with Hiyori, and then he does absolutely nothing during the raid. I don't even remember the panels where he shows up after Onigashima, I vaguely recall a quick closure with Onimaru and the graveyard in Ringo, then bye.

Sure, the Scabbards as a whole confront Kaido and manage to deliver a few blows before being wiped away, but that wasn't nearly enough to live up to expectations. Not because the feat itself is not impressive, it is obviously, but a few choral scenes do not pay off for such detailed individual introductions. After Kaido, they just run around doing... nothing impactful, at least most of them. Of course you can argue that their actions do have relevance for the plot, of course they do, but they totally lacked emotional pay off.

There are a few exceptions, and Kiku might be one. She does get a couple of good scenes with Kanjuro (although their first duel is off-screened for some reason), and even a bitter, poetic ending, that invariably gets ruined by a fake-off death, in perfect Oda's fashion. As much as I like Kiku, it would have made MUCH more sense for her to die there. You could swap her death with Izo's (who basically died off screen?? seriously??). Inuarashi and Nekomamushi also get their nice final battles with important enemies, so I'd say they do close their arcs elegantly. Lastly, Kanjuro has possibly the best overall arc among the Scabbards.

Kin'emon, well, I never cared much for him, but he just ran around the entire time trying to do... something. Then there's the whole cut-in-half ordeal that I only want to forget, the worst part of all Onigashima. Ashura's death, although thematically meaningful, was too quick and easily dismissed to hold the weight it should have. Raizo had that endless duel with Fukurokuju that no one cared about, and they don't even explore the true reason of their rivalry (it's given in the SBS instead). I've already been through Izo, and Kawamatsu does... absolutely nothing after Kaido (and Orochi). Fights fodder. Cool.

But, after all, Oda's been struggling to give Usopp some decent scenes since Dressrosa, soooo...

Okay, end of rant. One Piece still number one. 🤘

[larkreadsop]

Nice to see Onimaru and Kawamatsu reunited even in the midst of what’s actually a pretty serious scene and concrete confirmation that Ashura and Izo didn’t survive.

[everykawamatsu]

they... 🥺😭😭

[nocontextonepiece]

[rrandomthingss]

Ahhhhh so Kawamatsu was Onimaru

[torao-d-water-ya]

One Piece Chapter 953

There's something ... oddly familiar... about this pair

Bonus: a happy kitsune

[raedoodles]

🤞🍬🐆🦊

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