Love stories in Shonen are a rarity and One Piece is no exception. Often, people think Oda doesn’t write romance well, but that might not be the case. The series redefines love and relationships in its unique way, but that’s not it.
From highs to lows, these couples stayed put with the tough times. From Rayleigh-Shakky to Oden-Toki, here are five love stories in One Piece that prove that the series isn’t all about action and adventure.
1. Rayleigh and Shakky : Best Friends, Partners and everything in-between
Rayleigh is the rizzy grandpa we all love to see especially with his smooth moves. He killed a Sea King effortlessly and even scared the daylights out of Blackbeard. No wonder, he and Shakky make a good couple, but that is not all.
As a former empress of Kuja tribe, Shakky isn’t the one to be taken lightly, especially when she evaded Garp. Her strength and beauty tie in well with her grace and tact, which parallels her husband Rayleigh. They truly complement each other in more ways than one.
2. Gol D. Roger and Portgas D. Rouge : A story of promises and parenthood
Roger is introduced in One Piece as the mighty and great Pirate King. He is discovered Joyboy’s treasure and waged the era of piracy. But his path wasn’t exempt from romance in any case.
This is true for his relationship with Portgas D. Rouge. While not much is known of her, we know one thing for sure. She is a true force to be reckoned with other than being Roger’s lover. Her and Roger share similarities as well.
Both are strong-willed individuals who protected their loved ones. She shielded Ace from harm and Roger took Garp’s help as well. Their story is a true tale of promises, parenthood and tragedy in every aspect.
3. Oden and Toki : A tale of love and sacrifice
Kozuki Oden and Toki’s story is tragic, heartbreaking yet beautiful in every sense. Oden was a former Daimyo of Kuri in Wano Country and a member of both Whitebeard and Roger Pirates. He protected Toki when she was chased by traffickers led by Karma and fell in love with her later on.
Toki, too, healed his injuries and they set out on adventures together. However, it all came to an end when Oden and Toki sacrificed themselves to protect their kids. Indeed, their story is a true tale of tragedy, loss and love that deserves a due mention.
4. Senor Pink and the Russian
Love is a strong emotion that often makes you do crazy things. With Senor Pink, it is nothing short of saddening and jarring considering his backstory. His devotion to his wife and kid redefines love on so many levels, but there is more to it.
It is indeed ridiculous to see a grown man wear baby clothes, but there’s more to it. He lost his child to a fever, which subsequently affected his wife as well. His absence grew on her, but what tore him mentally was her accident.
She fell into a vegetative state after an accident involving a landslide. But that didn’t deter Pink’s devotion. He would wear baby clothes to cheer her up but to no avail. She eventually passed away after being in a prolonged vegetative state. This story would bring tears to anyone’s eyes, be it viewers or readers.
5. Kaya and Usopp
Usopp is the boy who cried wolf and Kaya is the only one who actually listened to him. His lies helped her get better and even encouraged her to stand up for herself. Their interactions had most fans rooting for this romance.
It is unknown whether they’d end up together however the live-action did a complete 180 with their dynamic. The Netflix series promised and catered to fans’ shipping culture. But overall, these couples Oda’s excellence in writing romance.
One Piece anime is available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Shueisha’s Manga Plus app.
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