Disclaimer: If you recognise it, surprise, I don't own it.

Chapter 35- The Captain.

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"Huh..." No one can quite understand what had just happened, or they just can't believe it happened. The heavily injured and trussed-up man had just leapt backwards into the water and sunk like a rock with a smirk on his face. Jumping to his own watery death.

"W-What!?" Nami stutters, a look of shock on her face.

"What Happened!? Why'd he suddenly jump back like that!?" The various Fishmen start to question, just as shocked as Nami. "Did he fall over laughing?" Someone says. "No, I don't think anybody said something funny." another Fishman responds, with a weird look on his face. "Maybe he's trying to escape!" One puts his finger in the air as if he solved it.

"No way! As if a human with his hands and legs tied could ever swim." Another debunks that theory with sound logic, not to mention Zoro currently has a massive injury. "Then maybe it was suicide?" A Fishman says the only natural conclusion since there is no other possible reason.

"!?" That last comment seems to have an effect on Nami as she begins to sweat, and her eyes gaze off into the distance at nothing.

"Just leave him be..!" Arlong says, and that seems to wake Nami up.

"That idiot..." she says, gritting her teeth and then rushing forward, kicking off her shoes as she sprints towards the water.

"Nami!?" They scream as she dives head first into the water, a big splash of water wetting the ground.

"?" Arlong looks on in confusion, his expression not betraying anything else.

"Ah... they're back up." Namir resurfaces with Zoro, swimming him to safety.

"Hey, what's the meaning of this, Nami!?" They obviously question her actions since she didn't care at all about him before, but suddenly, she is diving in to save him.

"Pant, pant, pant." Nami doesn't say anything, still helping Zoro up, who is panting, trying to get as much oxygen into his system as possible.

"What's the big idea..." Nami says quietly, talking to Zoro. She looks down on him with a frown.

"Cough, cough." Zoro continues to cough out water before turning an eye to her. "I should ask you the same thing." He starts, wiping his mouth on his shoulder.

"A small-time crook like you who can't even let one person die..." He grins at her, water still dripping off of him, his breathing heavy. "Shouldn't be actin' all tough!" His eyes look at her with a sense of victory in his eyes, acting like he has won something.

"!" Nami grits her teeth, her expression wavering. Her callous facade fading for a moment.

"And be quicker next time, slowpoke." Zoro continues, not caring about Nami's predicament. Instead, criticising how long it took her to save him." "Almost thought I was a goner..." He chokes out a laugh.

"Don't you get cheeky with me!" Nami shouts, stomping her foot down in the middle of his back with a lot of power. "Ugh!" Zoro grunts, his legs and head kicking up into the air, spittle flying from his mouth.

"If you get involved with me any more than this..." Nami begins, lowering herself down and grabbing Zoro by the throat. "You're a dead man!" She tightens her grip, choking him slightly, trying to get her point across.

"I wonder..." Zoro says, grinning at her. Nami does not like that. "...Some bandages you've got there." She notices with a sardonic look on her face.

"I just didn't have any change of clothes," Zoro replies, still grinning his half-grin at her. "That's all." He finishes, not prepared for Nami's following action.

"..!" Zoro's eyes bulge as she suddenly slams her fist into his midsection, spittle once more erupting from his mouth before he collapses around her fist. He hits the ground, back first, an expression of anguish on his face as the big slash across his chest delivered to him by Dracule Mihawk was just exacerbated by Nami's punch.

"Hey Nami, what are you gonna do with him?" Arlong asks her as she walks away from Zoro's downed form. "Lock him up for now! I'll put an end to him later." Nami replies nonchalantly. Everybody has forgotten about her previous action of saving him, reassured by her suddenly vicious attitude and attacks on his person.

"Arlong!!!" A Fishman shouts, running in through the front gate with an angry look on his face. Thankfully, his timely entrance distracts everyone from the previous ongoings.

"What is it, my fellow brother?" Arlong asks, much more gentle and patient than he was before. The difference in treatment was obvious, as he actually cared about his fellow Fishmen.

"There was another long-nosed human who got away!" The big, burly Fishmans says, his oversized teeth making it come out weirdly, but everyone understands it nevertheless.

'...Usopp? Damn, so they found out about him after all...' Zoro thinks to himself, his brow furrowed as he lies on the ground, panting heavily for air and finding it difficult.

".!" Nami's expression changes for a split second, a drop of sweat down the side of her face and a worried look on her face.

"I think he's probably hiding in Cocyashi Village somewhere..." The giant Fishman reveals, all of the Fishmen getting vicious looks on their face.

"Cocoyashi Village..? It just so happened that I had some business to attend there..." Arlong grins a nasty grin, his eyes getting a dark look in them as he rises from his seat. An ominous energy surrounds him.

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"Hey! Arlong's coming this way!" A Villager comes running down the street, shouting that.

"What!? The rest quickly grow nervous. "What does he need from us..?" They panic. "He just collected our tribute!" They look for reason, wanting to know why he was coming. Arlong leaving his home is never a good thing, and he is coming to Cocoyashi village for a reason.

"It's probably because my weapons were found..." A voice says, and everyone turns to look in that direction. "Everyone go inside your homes." He continues, everyone looking at him with worry as the pinwheel on his hat continues to spin in the wind.

"Gen..." A villager says, looking at him more worried than angry at him. "He's here!" There is no time to dwell on that, however, as Arlong suddenly arrives, his broad tal figure looming over the town as he approaches the sitting Genzo.

"Are you the one?" He asks his voice malicious and promising unpleasant things. "The one found in possession of weapons three days ago?" He pins the man with his deadly gaze as he asks that, obviously expecting the man to cower and lie in his presence.

"That's right," Genzo replies, upsetting expectations. His gaze is level as he stares back at the towering Fishman with no fear in him whatsoever. And how could there be? Numerous scars and lines mark Genzo's body, stitches all over the place where he has been injured. He has endured their treatment before, and he will not cower before them.

"Can't a person even have a hobbyist collection under your rule?" Genzo asks, but it is obviously a rhetorical question. Everyone already knows the answer. "I've always liked looking at weapons." He continues, but even Genzo already knows what is coming his way.

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"No. I am afraid not. Only violence and evil can come forth from weapons." Arlong grins and unashamedly starts spewing his bullshit. "They are the greatest threat to peace." He raises his hand up as if in his palm is serenity. Weapons are only a threat to the peace under his rule and the peace of the Fishmen pirates.

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"He's huge!" Usopp whisper screams, unable to hide his shock but unable to actually let it out loud so as to ensure his continued survival. I guess even he could control himself sometimes. "So that's Arlong!?" He says, stating the obvious as I literally just pointed it out to him.

We had ventured into town for some reason, Nojiko having led the way, and though I wanted to question her, I didn't want to do it in front of Captain Usopp. For some reason, she is doing this, and I trust her enough to just go along with it. For now, that is. Still, why the hell is Arlong in town here? And why is he talking to Genzo?

"He's inhuman!" He once more states the obvious. I mean, he is a massive blue dude that is basically a fish. He is the farthest thing from a human on two feet... probably.

"No kidding. Are you sure?" I say sarcastically to the long-nosed fellow, but he just ignores it.

"He is a Fishman," Nojiko tells him, rolling her eyes at my sarcasm.

"But... it looks like Nami didn't come with him," Usopp replies. Oh, one thing I have been ignoring is the position he is currently in. He is doing one of those gymnasts' hands onto a pole with two hands and hold your whole body up things, except he is doing it on the corner of a house, peering around the corner at Arlong.

"She's probably at Arlong Park." Yeah, she probably is. Most likely adding her maps to the collection or drawing up plans for her next trip off of the island.

"I've got 20 villages under my rule..." I start paying attention to the conversation, wanting to figure out what is going on here before involving myself or making things worse. "And 'rebels' are quite a nuisance for us, your rulers..." Oh... I have a feeling something has gone wrong.

"I destroyed the rebellious port town of Gosa to teach a lesson to all the other towns!" Well, there goes my mood. I had just managed to forget about that, and then the man himself brought it back up. "If someone fails to pay his tribute, then it means he intends to rebel against us!" I guess he is here to flex on everyone. Make a point so no one else gets any ideas like Gosa. I doubt anyone would, seeing what happened to Gosa.

"Tribute?" Usopp asks. "What's he talking about?" He questions.

"It's money we have to pay month after month." Well, me and Nami don't, since we contribute in other ways. Nojiko is able to buy herself out with her profits from the tangerine farm, but she barely gets by after her fee switched from child to adult. I help out since I live with her.

"!" Usopp gets a stupid look on his face at the revelation.

"Yeah. For the past eight years." I supplement.

"We have to buy our very own lives from them with money..! Adults, kids, everyone." Nojikko says, making it clear just how hard life is here. I usually vent it out, trying to kill Arlong.

"So if there is even one person in an entire village who fails to pay his tribute..." Arlong says, leaning over, casting a shadow down onto Genzo. "Even a single person, his entire village will be destroyed just like Gosa Village!" That... is different. Before, he would give them a day, and I would have a while to go and spot them the difference. Arlong knew what was going on, but he didn't care as long as he got them money. But now, I guess Gosa shook him up.

"A whole town d-d-destroyed because of a single person..!? Talk about cruel!" Usopp's eyes bulge out of his head as he says that, and he sends spit everywhere.

"That's life under Arlong's rule," Nojiko says, her face emotionless. I nod my head. "With their racial doctrine, they don't even think twice about killing a human." That is also true. Until now, it has just been me keeping him in check, and that is only with the few villages here. Like he said, he has over twenty villages under him, and he is a lot crueller when he visits those ones. He has decided to stop being so lenient.

"Hear me well, inferior humans! All you need to do is work hard and pay tribute!" He roars suddenly, his eyes watching all the villagers with evil glee in his eyes. "There's no need to think about anything else!" his mouth is wide open, displaying his big, sharp teeth to all of them. "What I need is an enormous sum of money!"

"Your tribute will soon become the cornerstone," He starts to laugh as if he can see it right now. "Of my Arlong Empire that will rule all of the East Blue!" I can see the massive veins crawling up the side of his neck and onto his face. He is pissed for some reason. This does not bode well.

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Nami slashes a knife through some ropes, which drops to the ground.

"Now hurry up and get out of here," Nami says, looking around skittishly. "Before Arlong comes back!" She leaves his sword, Wado Ichimonji, on the floor in front of Zoro before quickly moving to the door and leaving without looking back.

"Hmm?" Zoro says smartly.

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"Arlong Empire!?" A massive vein runs down the middle of Usopp's head as he says that, his eyes bulging out of his head. "He's trying to build his own nation..!?" His tongue lulls out of his mouth in shock.

"So then, he's gonna turn all of the East Blue into his 'Fishman Empire'!?" He turns to Nojiko, looking for answers. "But that would include my hometown, too!" He complains, worried for his own village.

"Whatever happens, happens," Nojiko says, not fussed at all. Our village is already in this situation. After all, we can't afford to worry about others. "All we can do is quietly sit still and endure it. For now, that is..." She says, alluding to Nami's plan to buy the village back for one hundred million berries. Obviously, it won't work, but they need the hope. I will kill Arlong someday.

"For now..?" Usopp asks, hope on his face.

"Everybody is waiting for Na-" I start, seeing no point in keeping it a secret. This guy seems like a good man, and if he knows the truth, then maybe he will leave and not bother Nami at all. I am interrupted before I can finish, however.

"Aghhh!" A scream rings through the air, and I spin around. Though the voice sounds familiar, I can't place it.

"!?" Nojiko looks over with worry on her face as I peer around the corner to see what Arlong is doing.

"What's that!?" Usopp says, but I don't pay him any attention, more focused on the commotion happening down the street.

"Gen!?" Nojiko shouts, her previous callous attitude completely gone.

"Possessing a weapon is a clear sign of rebellion," Arlong says, his massive hand wrapped around Genzo's neck and lifting him high into the air. "The cause of any unrest and disturbance in my lands." Genzo hangs limply in the air, his hands by his side, allowing Arlong to do whatever he wants, his pinwheel still spinning in the wind.

"What the hell! Where did he get a gun?" I say, not expecting an answer.

"H-He has had it for a while. He said he would only use it when the day came." Nojiko says, and I look at her in shock. If Nojiko had told me, I would have hidden it with my own stock and prevented Genzo from getting the beating he was about to receive. He will at least live. Arlong knows I would stop working for him if he goes too far in this town. If you pay the tax, he can't kill you. That's the rule he agreed to with me.

"And so, to make sure there aren't any more rebels like you," Arlong grins, bringing Genzo to his face so he can get a good look at his teeth. "I'll kill you to show the other villagers what happens to rebels!" That... no, that isn't right. He can't do that. We agreed to-

"Wha!? All he did was collect some weapons!" Usopp shouts. "He's seriously going to kill someone over that much!?" His words shock me out of my funk.

"!!!" I realise what is about to happen, and I go to move, but someone else is quicker than me.

"That son of a..!" Nojiko says, running off, and I quickly follow, leaving Usopp behind. I need to stop Nojiko from doing anything drastic and getting herself killed as well.

"H-Hey, you! Come back here, or you'll be killed!" I hear Captain Usopp shout behind me, but I ignore it. I won't die. I run the weapons manufacturing factories for him, but Nojiko might die. Except, I am too late.

"What's the meaning of this, Arlong!?" Nojiko shouts. "All of us here have loyally paid the tribute without any complaints for the past eight years!" She stops in front of everyone.

"There's no way any of us have even the slightest intention of rebelling against you!" Everybody looks over at her. "So let go of Gen!" Arlong still has a grin on her face.

"Nojiko! Wait!" I shout, but my cry gets lost in the crowd. All of the other villagers are also calling for her to stop.

"Arlong, we had a deal! Everybody has paid their due. We have done what was asked. You can't kill him!" I shout, trying to save Genzo's life. The man is basically my father-in-law since he treats Nami and Nojiko like his own.

"That is over. I have already stated that the mere act of possessing weapons is a clear intent to rebel." Arlong grins at me, the same grin he always has when he beats me in a fight. "I have no choice but to kill this man for the safety and security of my lands!"He laughs, finding it funny.

"Any complaints?" He asks us all. All of us know the real question is, who else wants to die. "You wouldn't rather have me destroy this entire village, would you..?" He threatens, his evil grin piercing through all of us.

"Know this, humans! If you lay even a finger on any one of us," He continues, seeing that we remain silent. "Your village will be destroyed! That is final!" I gather my courage, ready to fight now. I have waited long enough, and my blood is itching in my veins. Even if I will lose, I will hurt him.

"Everyone go inside your homes! If we rebel now, then our last eight years will come to nothing!" Genzo shouts, and my feet stay stuck to the spot. "If we wanted to reject their rule by fighting to our deaths, we should have done it long ago!" He says, and he is right. I have waited too long to just give up now and do a kamikaze.

"But we all swored, did we not?" He shouts at us, looking specifically at me and Nojiko. "We swore to a fight of endurance! In order to live on!" The blood from his head has now ran down the side of his face, completely covering his left eye.

"Gen..!" Nojiko says. "But..!" The rest of the villagers seem to have a problem with just letting Genzo die, and so do I. But he is correct. We can't just let it end now.

"Well said!" Arlong says, grabbing Genzo by the top of the head. "Living is important!" His hand clenches Genzo, and I can hear his skull creak. "It is because one lives, one can enjoy nice things!" He shouts with a smile, smashing Genzo's face into the side of a house.

"Ugh!" Genzo grunts.

"Everyone has their own designated place and position in life!" We can only watch in shock. "This man understands the futility of resisting against that fact!" Arlong laughs, pulling Genzo out, blood flying everywhere.

"You see, not all living things," He lifts him high into the air for all of us to see. "Are born equal! Shahahaha!" He laughs his evil laugh that sounds like the end of days to our ears.

"Humans are best living like humans!" He chucks Genzo face-first into the ground.

"Why you..!" One villager can't contain himself any longer and steps forward.

"Stop it!" Genzo shouts, on his hands and knees, coughs erupting from his mouth.

"Gwn... but he..!" The villager says, still angry.

"Don't you dare lay a hand on them!" Genzo shouts at the villagers, ordering us all to not try and harm any of the Fishmen.

"Yes, what he said," Arlong says arrogantly, with a smirk on his face.

"But it's not as if he used his weapons!" The villagers argue for Genzo. "Please don't kill him!" They plea.

"A loud bunch, aren't they." Arlong crosses his arms in thought. "I wonder if I should take this as a sign of rebellion..." He says lightly, but everyone quietens at his words.

"If we die here, everything will come to an end!" Genzo raises his hand towards the crowd, gesturing for them to stop. "You must keep on fighting even if I die!" He says, a grim look in his eye. All of us stop, not willing to betray Genzo's will.

"Let me show you what happens to those who harbour ill thoughts..." Arlong shouts, reaching down and grabbing Genzo around the waist and lifting him high into the air. "Watch closely, humans!" He has him held high in the sky, and Genzo has his limbs spread, welcoming the coming action.

"!!!" Everyone panics. "Gen!" They call, wanting to help the man.

"Let this be," Arlong shouts. "A warning to the rest of you!" He brings his arm down, driving Genzo down, intending to meet the ground with his head.

"Gunpowder Star! (Kayaku No Hoshi!)" A voice rings through the air before something hits Arlong and explodes at his midsection, keeping Genzo from the explosion.

"Ugh!" Genzo falls to the ground, Arlong letting go of him.

"W-What was that!?" The surrounding Fishmen start to shout.

"Arlong!?" They cry.

"...Look! Over there!" One says, pointing to the roof of a building, and I look up to see a figure on the roof.

"There's someone standing on the roof!" Everybody is now looking up.

"Identify yourself!" A Fishman shouts, and the figure replies.

"I am the brave and heroic warrior of the seas!" They shout without fear, their hands on their hips.

"CAPTAIN USOPP!"