Cement and Steel — Chapter 1: The Awakening
Kaito Moriyama's eyes fluttered open, the gritty grains of sand pressing against his cheek. The sound of crashing waves filled his ears, accompanied by the distant shouts of merchants and sailors. The salty breeze carried the scent of the sea and wood smoke. Slowly, he pushed himself up and looked around.
Before him lay a bustling harbor town he had never seen before — wooden ships with tall masts lined the docks, flags fluttering in the wind, and people moved about with lively purpose. Bright banners hung from buildings, and the laughter of children mingled with the calls of dockworkers.
Yet something felt off. Kaito's mind buzzed with confusion and unease.
Where am I? he wondered, his hand unconsciously touching the katana strapped to his side. He was dressed as he always was — in worn black clothes suited for travel — but a strange scroll tucked into his pocket caught his attention. It was old, the paper yellowed and brittle. On it were two kanji characters he recognized but had never seen combined before: "Semento Semento."
He unrolled the scroll carefully, and inside was a small fruit, unlike any he had encountered in his travels. It was round, gray with a rough, rocky texture resembling hardened cement.
A memory flashed in his mind: legends of Devil Fruits — mystical fruits that granted supernatural powers but cursed the eater with the inability to swim.
Could this be real? he thought.
His curiosity overtook caution. Kaito bit into the strange fruit.
An intense surge of energy erupted inside him — a strange, cement-like power spreading through his veins. His muscles tensed, skin hardened, and his body felt as if it had become a living statue.
Before he could fully process what had happened, a rough hand grabbed his shoulder. "Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing here?" a gruff voice demanded.
Kaito spun around to see three men, armed with swords and pistols, glaring at him suspiciously.
"Who are you?" one growled. "You're trespassing on private docks. We don't take kindly to strangers."
Kaito's eyes narrowed. He reached out instinctively and transformed his forearm into a dense, solid cement club. The air crackled slightly as his Haki flared, coating the hardened arm in a faint black sheen.
"I'm not here for trouble," Kaito said calmly. "But if you insist…"
With a roar, one of the men lunged forward. Kaito swung his cement arm with brutal force. The man flew backward, crashing into crates of fish with a thunderous impact. The other two hesitated, surprised by the strength.
One fired a pistol, but Kaito's cement skin absorbed the bullet harmlessly.
"Impossible!" the men exclaimed. "What are you?"
Kaito clenched his cement fists. "I'm… a user of the Cement-Cement Fruit. And I'm just getting started."
As the men retreated, Kaito breathed deeply. His body felt heavy but powerful — a fusion of stone and flesh.
He looked down at his hands, marveling at the transformation. The cement hardened instantly on his skin, tough and rough like ancient walls.
This power… I can control it, he realized.
His thoughts flickered to the Haki he had trained for years — the same mastery he had back home. Combining Haki with this new ability could make him nearly unstoppable.
Suddenly, a loud cheer erupted from the nearby docks. Curious, Kaito walked toward the crowd.
There, on a raised platform, a tall, flamboyant man with pink hair was shouting to the gathered crowd.
"Welcome to Foosha Village!" the man called. "Home of the great Red-Haired Pirates! Anyone brave enough to join our crew?"
Kaito's interest piqued.
As he approached, the pink-haired man noticed him and grinned broadly. "Hey! You there! You look like you've got some fight in you."
Kaito nodded cautiously. "I'm Kaito Moriyama. Just arrived… and still figuring things out."
The man clapped him on the shoulder. "Name's Shanks. I'm the captain here. If you want to survive in this world, you'll need friends — and power."
Kaito studied Shanks. His presence was commanding, but his eyes held kindness.
"Power, huh?" Kaito said, flexing his cement-coated fingers. "I just ate a Devil Fruit. The Cement-Cement Fruit. It makes me part cement."
Shanks whistled low. "That's rare. Most people get strange powers, but cement… that's solid and strong. Just like your will, I'm sure."
Kaito smiled faintly. "I'm also skilled in Haki and swordsmanship. That combination might be useful."
Shanks nodded. "If you ever want to test your skills, find me. The seas are dangerous, but full of opportunity. And the Straw Hat Pirates will be here soon. They're a crew that doesn't back down from a fight."
As Shanks walked away, Kaito's mind buzzed with possibilities. He could feel the power of the Cement-Cement Fruit growing inside him, responding to his will. The sea breeze reminded him of all he had left behind — a world of concrete, steel, and precision.
But here… the world was different. Wild. Untamed. A place where strength, courage, and freedom ruled.
Kaito decided then.
I will master this new power. I will find a way to survive and thrive here — in the world of One Piece.
That night, Kaito sat alone by the docks, practicing. Slowly, he molded the cement from his hands into shapes — a solid wall, a spear, then a heavy shield.
With each attempt, the cement hardened faster, stronger, and smoother. His Haki flared, weaving into the stone like invisible threads of energy.
He tested his swordsmanship by forging a blade out of cement around his arm, reinforced with Armament Haki. The cement blade cracked wood beams with ease.
Suddenly, he felt a sharp tug on his senses — Observation Haki alerting him to someone nearby.
He turned swiftly to see a shadow lurking among the crates — a small figure with a sly grin.
"Looks like you've got some cool powers, cement boy," the figure said, stepping forward. "Name's Usopp. You're new here, huh?"
Kaito relaxed slightly. "Yes. And I'm still learning."
Usopp laughed. "Well, welcome to the crew! I'm part of the Straw Hat Pirates. If you want, we can show you the ropes."
Kaito smiled. For the first time since arriving, he felt a spark of belonging.
His journey had just begun — a cement-willed swordsman reborn in a world of pirates, Devil Fruits, and endless adventure.