"This is it. The day it all begins. My era. My journey. My path to ultimate freedom." Kaito laughed out loud, seeing the bustling port town come into view, sailing alone in a small fishing vessel he'd been given by his home village.

They thought he had come to enlist in the marine base, that he could see standing tall, high over the other buildings gray and plain, with the seagull marked prominently at the front of the building. It stood out easily in a town of narrow cobblestone paths, houses built tightly together, narrow alleys poking through now and then. The roofs glistened in the sun, seeming to be built of some kind of white shell, it made for a bright view, the town almost shining from a distance.

He had no intention whatsoever to do something so boring as joining the marines, and get stuck following orders for the rest of his life. Especially in a military which so often had no problem killing their own men. It's not why he had arrived here. What's a little lying between friends and family anyway?

He had a second life, a second chance, and he was going to enjoy it, damn it! What's the point of a world like this if you weren't going to grasp it with both hands and do whatever the hell you wanted. And being a 7 plus feet - kickass kind of guy…

His grin is wild as taps his hand impatiently against his leg, "Let the fun begin!"

＊＊＊

Call him a bit slow, but for the first few years of his miraculous reincarnated life he wasn't even aware he wasn't on earth, (he is not going to talk about the first year of being reborn, nope!). Granted as a toddler he really didn't get around overly much, so there wasn't much to see. He simply thought he had been reborn in an old fashioned quaint village, where they eschewed most modern technology. He would have assumed some kind of Amish, except for the fact no one seemed to be practicing any such religion as far as he could tell.

There were some electrical appliances, albeit horribly dated, which also didn't mesh with that Amish idea. All his clothes were hand sown, and to his displeasure when his mother deemed him old enough… Hand washed as well.

He lived alone with his mother in a modest wooden cottage at the end of the small village. There was a fridge and stove, but there ended the things he was familiar with. Lighting was either by candles at home, or out in the village, oil lamps hung from wooden poles, decorated with carvings of mythical sea creatures and shells.

That was a running theme in the village, every house, big and small had carvings on every inch available, and it was always of the sea and its mythical creatures. It had fascinated him the few times his mother had taken him on a stroll through the village. He couldn't imagine an old-fashioned place like this allowing mythological creatures that looked like sea dragons and monsters to be carved into everything. The little village was surprisingly well put together for such a small fishing village, there weren't any buildings that didn't look well maintained, albeit all built in the same style - sans different carvings.

He had resigned himself to a boring future, this quaint little fishing village would be his home until he was old enough to leave, and what future would he have then? He would be leaving it without an official education, no high school diplomas in this little part of the world apparently. So he wouldn't be able to go to college. He was upset that a second chance at life would end up being so… Pointless. So boring. He had already lived a long enough life of working and being a productive conforming member of society. As a second chance he had wanted to be successful at least, have the money to actually enjoy life. Not the drudgery of common life again.

Then he was 5 and his mother allowed him to join the other children for lessons with the village elders. It was the first time he met the leader of the village, a man of barely 4 feet and covered in so many wrinkles he could qualify as a breed of pitbull. However, at that moment he could hardly pay attention to him. On his desk he had what could only be a den den mushi. A communications snail. His first thought had been how odd it was that in such a remote village someone would have a sculpture of anything from One piece, let alone something as lame as a snail, especially an old fart that looked to be going into his 110th year.

Then the snail slowly lowered his/her/it's? - head, and chomped down on a piece of lettuce, and he felt an elation that had him almost in tears. After he checked ( twice )that he wasn't dreaming or hallucinating of course. If it was true, life would finally be interesting. He of course badgered the elder for information about the world just to confirm, and soon heard all about the government and navy, their sea, (east blue) and their island.

It was the confirmation he needed. He was in the world of One Piece. Where simply by training and having enough will and guts, one could live a life free of obligations and societal pressures and norms - and harness incredible power. For the added danger of course.

＊＊＊

Kaito stopped reminiscing as his little vessel bumped into the docks, he blinked and rubbed the back of his head, laughing a bit at himself for not paying attention. It was his first island that he landed on as a pirate, the first step of the journey, although he didn't have a flag yet. Oh, he already had it picked out and everything, his mind wandered all over the place, something that happened when one is spending over a decade preparing.

He was also missing small details - like a crew. Or a ship. Minor things like that.

He grabbed his rucksack, which held the small, but necessary provisions and a change of clothes. Rolled up the map he had been using and put his compass away. Then he jumped up on the dock without a glance back, not even bothering tying up his transportation. It had served its purpose. He eyed the town ahead and tossed his rucksack over one shoulder and made to mosey on ahead.

Adventure awaited!

And rum - couldn't pirate without rum. If they had a manual - that would probably be rule number 1.

Pirates were notoriously bad at following rules though, so no manual. He'd just have to wing it.

"Oiy! You gotta pay the docking fee, lad!" A heavy set man with mutton chops, large droopy nose and a greasy stained shirt waddled out of a nearby building. Apparently he had sailed straight up to the dock office while not even paying attention. And pay? Fee? Those things were for normal people.

"A walrus human?" Kaito hummed, tilting his head slightly as he contemplated how that would work - like which parent..? And mostly just to throw him off, and make him pissed. One of his dreams was to get a black belt in annoying people. According to his villager elder he was definitely close!

Said walrus human spluttered, turning red, which highlighted the many splotches on his skin. That just can't be healthy Kaito thought, "Don't be giving me any attitude you shitstain! I'm the harbor master I am, and you got to pay to dock here!" He stabbed a pudgy finger forward, his many chins vibrating in affront. "And I'll be charging ya double for not even tying the damn thing down!"

"Oh it's floating away." Kaito stated lazily, watching his vessel slowly drifting away. "Problem solved." He gave the harbor master a one finger salute and proceeded to walk away. He loved it when things worked out on their own without any effort from him.

"COME BACK HERE YA DELINQUENT!" The harbormaster shouted, stomping his foot and gesticulating wildly after him. Slowly two tall lumbering men peeled off from where they had been leaning against a wall, watching the docks and the ships unloading goods, and came forward to stand in his way.

He might have felt a bit insulted, with his tall stature and muscular build surely he was worth sending at least a whole group of bruisers. Oh well, needs must. Walrus probably never dealt with someone that could fight back.

Kaito grinned wide, clapping his hands together mockingly. "My first goons! Oh this is going to be great!" He pointed to the shorter and balder muscular man on the left "You're going to be 3 times as tall and have tusks when I retell this story buddy." Kaito pursed his lips as he looked at the other man, built like a brick house and cracking his knuckles menacingly. "You'll be," he made a quick smooth hourglass motion with his hands while whistling, "And a redhead and totally swooning at me, giving up on goon life because of my rampant masculinity."

Baldy looked constipated as he replied. "I'm not sure you understand what's going on here..." he said slowly. Kaito was definitely insulted now, what in that awesome rant suggested he was dimwitted?

"Sure I do. You're my first. Please go easy on me!" Kaito said, averting his eyes and pressing his hands to his cheeks. He was desperately trying not to laugh right now.

Oh, if only he could blush on demand!

Brickhouse reached forward with a large meaty hand to grab his shoulder. In one quick motion Kaito grabbed onto the grasping hand, and then lifted the man up into the air effortlessly. And just as effortlessly slammed him back down into the ground, cratering the cobblestone. Then for good measure he did it another time the other way. "Ah, hulk smash. You can't beat the classics." He told the other goon pleasantly.

He paused, eyeing the small crater critically, "Gonna be honest here boys, not as satisfying as I thought for my first time."

"You fucker!" Baldy snarled, pulling a wicked looking short sword from his back.

"A-ar… Are you going to penetrate me with that?" Kaito swooned, biting his lip, having a real hard time to stop himself from laughing. Can't laugh, it will ruin everything! He chanted to himself.

"Stop joking around bastard, just pay the docking fee… And Ricky's hospital bill." Baldy threatened, waving his sword in front of him, a small crowd of onlookers now watching the confrontation.

Kaito wondered if the man realized that the way he waved the sword around, proved beyond a doubt he doesn't have the first clue how to use it - beyond pointy end this way. Probably not - bottom of the barrel goons.

"Stop joking around? My dear peon from goons 'R' us, I do what I feel like when I feel like it." Kaito snickered, "The only way to have fun with weak guys like you is to make a joke of it." He met his eyes and smirked with dark pleasure. Eyes glinting with wicked delight.

Baldy was sweating now, his eyes darting back and forth. He took one step back, then stopped, seeing not only the crowd but the dock master watching. "I'm warning you?" He tried to sound tough, but it sounded more like a question.

Kaito's smirk widened, and he took a slow step forward, releasing more of his presence, which he had held back - a little trick, concentrating his will and malicious intent. His smirk got toothier, as Baldy took another step back, sword shaking in front of him. He was having way too much fun, finally sailing out and getting to let loose. He'd gorge himself at this rate. Was there a weight watcher program for dominating and making a joke out of people? He might have to sign up.

It wouldn't do to become addicted!

"What are you waiting for stick 'im like a pig!" The walrus yelled. Showing that along with absolutely nothing going for him physically, he also had nothing between his ears. Kaito really hoped that one hadn't procreated.

Kaito chuckled softly. "Really wanna risk it all… For blubber over there?" He took a step forward again, looming menacingly. "I assume since you're waving a deadly weapon at me you're ready to risk your life?" So what if Shanks and Luffy said something similar, he owned it now, fight him for it…. Well not Shanks, he took that back. So taken back.

Baldy gulped, eyes darting for an escape route. Then he sagged in relief as the crowd broke up, a dozen men in white and blue marching forward. Ah, the toy soldiers are here! Kaito thought uncharitably. A bit put out, his fun was being taken away.

"What's going on here?" The leading marine asked sternly, eying the cratered ground and unconscious goon with a frown.

"He slipped and fell." Kaito said with complete confidence. Having switched to a more relaxed stance. Always seem confident when you're facing a cop. Or a marine in this case.

The middle aged officer scratched his beard, eyeing the crater very skeptically. "Slipped huh? You saw that too? This slip?" He asked Baldy, taking note of the drawn sword, his frown deepening.

Baldy looked at Kaito, looked at the crater and then nodded his head shakily. "Y-yeah, that's what happened, you know Ricky, so clumsy." He laughed weakly and it trails off quickly at the officer's stern look.

"Hey! HEY! Officer Monroe, this piece of trash didn't pay his docking fee!" Walrus shrieked, having waddled over. "And he's the one that laid out Ricky. Make him give me my money!"

"Is that so?" Officer Monroe asked sharply of Kaito. Hard eyes intent on him, a bit of wariness in his eyes - this one wasn't a complete idiot.

Kaito chuckled, "I don't know where Walrus is coming from on that sir, I have been here a day or so, I was just enjoying the sea air and he accosts me about paying a docking fee."

Kaito was pretty sure he saw a twitch in Monroe's lips at his moniker for the harbormaster. "You stand by your story?" He asked Baldy.

Baldy gulped, avoiding his boss's stare as he nodded shakily, feeling like he just avoided a predator striking him down with the marines' arrival.

Monroe nodded decisively and turned to his men, "Two of you get that man to the hospital and the rest of you spread out, ensure it remains peaceful and that there is no more… Excitement."

Then he turned to Walrus. "Bring me to his ship and we will sort out the docking fee." Short, to the point and professional. Kaito might have run into one of those - actually good at his job, marines.

Neat.

Walrus blustered, obviously unhappy but waddled back to the sea line. Monroe stared at Kaito until he rolled his eyes and followed the Walrus, the marine taking up the rear. By coincidence far enough back to just be away from reach. Kaito smiled to himself, at least the marines here seemed competent enough, surely a sign of fun times ahead.

Of course, when they get to the spot where Kaito jumped ship, it's no longer there. Kaito put his empty hands forward silently, like see what I mean, to the now exasperated marine.

"You said he had a ship here, Halver… Where is it? I do not appreciate my time being wasted." Monroe said, rubbing his temples tiredly.

"It wasn't tied up! It must have floated away or hit something and sunk." Walrus, now identified as Halver, growled annoyed.

"You expect me to believe someone sailed here, then just left their ship unattended and untied to float away? Halver at least try a more believable lie, I have no choice but to let this go now." Monroe spat on the ground, looking displeased. Well slightly more frowny then he had been so far.

"B-but it's what happened!" Halver spluttered.

Monroe turned to Kaito. "As an official stationed here on Whitewater island, I apologize for his behavior." He's very stiff but his piercing stare tells Kaito that this one definitely thinks he's trouble. Good for him, it wouldn't help him one bit, but it's always good to see intelligent people exist.

Good instincts on him. He'll do well in east blue.

Kaito smiled lazily, waving a hand airily, nonchalantly, "Nah, it's no issue, I'm sure Walrus is really sorry."

"That said… I will need some identification, and for you to not leave the island for the next few days. Just in case of course. Ricky might have another story once he wakes up from his… Slip." Monroe managed to put a large amount of skepticism in that last word.

"Kaito, last name Akai, from Redtree island. Just here to shop and be a tourist - just basic bitch shit, you get it." Kaito said pleasantly and handed over his identification papers. Which basically consist of a form signed by the village elder stating his name and village. Very easily faked, making it fairly pointless. This marine was a stickler though, so with papers in hand he'd have no choice but to let him go. It did have his photo so the man could admire his admittedly somewhat hawkish face, the intense glare he had going with his green eyes were practically Harry Potter ish too. Thankfully his black hair was silky smooth and wavy and not a rat's nest.

His photo was definitely the best part of his identification papers.

There might be a liberal amount of stains on there - he'd forgotten to pack napkins for his trip. And well the papers are fairly useless. They're ridiculously easy to forge for one. At least he hadn't smudged the photo.

Monroe grimaced as he gingerly touched the papers long enough to read them.

Kaito walked away a minute later, whistling cheerfully, as Monroe started berating the red faced, furious harbor master. Time to find himself someone good to join his crew, and steal something nice to sail away on after. And he couldn't forget to wreak some havoc either. What's the point of pirating if you didn't get to really let loose after all.

Now that marine is going to keep an eye on him too, which just adds to the fun. Maybe he'll get to burn down a marine base on his first island, wouldn't that be something.

"Ah well, I didn't train so hard just to play nice with the law and weaklings." He mused out loud, heading off to find a bar.

＊＊＊

His mother had been quite surprised when he arrived home after that first lesson with the village elder, and begged her to allow him to spend all his free time training. He would be a marine, he told her. Saving people across the seas and protecting the village. She had been so proud, hugging him close with shining eyes, telling him of course he could work for a future like that, just as long as he'd be careful and wouldn't overwork himself.

He was of course lying. He had no intention of being a marine. He was simply not stupid enough to announce his future pirate career. No doubt his mother would not approve of him training and spending most of the day alone for such a goal.

He really should have figured out earlier he wasn't on earth, just from how completely unworried adults were about their children being out and about on their own. As he wasn't old enough to go out and work for the village on the fishing boats, he was basically left to his own devices as far as the village was concerned. Apparently his mother had been worried about him being clingy, simply because he had by force of habit stuck around home, and around her his entire childhood so far. He simply couldn't have imagined he would have been allowed to roam free.

He took a few days to lay out a plan. If he wanted to be exceptional there could be nothing haphazard about his regiment. Remembering how Roronoa Zoro was able to train eventually, he could imagine how strong he could be if he spent his entire adolescence working on it.

It was unfortunate that he did not remember many details from the manga or show. But the broad strokes would have to be enough. And they did show one thing. Constant training and fighting even as a child did not negatively affect growth or development. This was a world where you could train obsessively and reap the benefits. Bodies worked differently here. And he planned to take full advantage.

He put in place a training regime that would train his whole body. Slicing his day up in different blocks. He'd have a set period of time in the mornings working on just his legs. Starting with a low amount of reps and increasing with 5 more each day to attempt to improve. Then he'd have a break before working on his arms and hands. Same routine, thankful that in this world bloodied hands and broken knuckles was a minor irritant that healed with a good meal and night's rest. Lastly he'd have a block concentrating on his core.

He'd set out when he was 20. That gave him 15 years of training. If he wasn't the strongest person in east blue on day 1 of sailing - he should kill himself. He chose to wait until he was 20 as what he found out from the elders quick history lesson was that he was several years older than Luffy. So even at 20 he would set sail two to three years before Luffy. Already stronger, he had after all no interest in following another story. He was going to make his own.

＊＊＊

It took him most of the evening of bar hopping to work himself to one seedy enough to have some of the criminal underbelly front and center, without having attracted undue suspicion. Also he happened to rather enjoy drinking so win-win. Of course he hadn't been so crass as to actually ask for directions, he'd simply implied he was available for some discreet work, while drinking his way through enough bars - someone eventually figured he was serious ( and not a cop) and gave him a clue.

Whitewater island was the only island in this little stretch of east blue with such a large marine presence. It had created something of a booming underground as goods from nearby islands always passed through here. The safety of knowing no pirates would attack here meant ships took longer routes just to trade at this port. Smuggling as well was usually something the marines didn't really care about, as busy as they were with crime that actually made the news.

Also as such a busy trade port, no doubt whatever marines in charge of the port earned something nice on the side to look the other way anyway.

Even Kaito had heard about this port in Redtree, and they were basically the rednecks of the ocean. Completely isolated and seeing a traveler every few years, usually from a storm blowing them off course. His little town was an oddity in this ocean, more… Japanese than everyone else, he'd say some Wano expats settled it - if he didn't know how isolationist that country was.

The smuggling is why he had chosen Whitewater as his first stop. He was sure they'd have an interesting criminal underbelly even with the marine presence. And when one is looking for pirates to be, the criminal world would be the best start. After all, smacking people in their face with a stupid rubbery grin was protagonist bullshit, and not something he could count on.

"More drink!" He yelled, throwing the tankard so hard to the ground it smashed into pieces, somewhat of an achievement as they were made of iron. The pieces strewn across the floor make it clear it wasn't the first time. The holes in the floor too, luckily he was making enough cash right now to pay for his damages.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

The tough looking fellows that he was playing poker with laughed with him and called for more drinks as well. One of them leaning forward putting an arm around Kaitos shoulder. "Mate, you might be throwing money at old Miguel for every one of them things you break, but you keep it up aye, he might still pull out that old blunderbuss he has and blow your brains out."

"That might be the only way you scallywags get your money back" Kaito winked, alluding to the large pile of chips he had compared to the rest of the table.

"Eh, luck's like the sea. A fickle bitch that will ruin your day at any fucking given moment. you'll lose that luck soon enough." The guy sitting across from him spoke up. He also had the second largest amount of chips, and had been keeping pace with Kaito in drinking. Quite the character he had found out as the game progressed, and that's before mentioning the Mohawk, or the razor wire tattoos criss-crossing the man's body and face.

"I'll be lucky if I don't puke from having to watch that atrocious hairstyle." Kaito fired back with a smirk.

"This is the highest fucking fashion I'll have you know." He ran a hand along the bright red Mohawk. "All the ladies agree."

"Wire, mate, you haven't ever met a goddamn lady, you liar!" The stocky guy that had swung an arm around Kaito earlier hollers with laughter. Compared to the aforementioned Wire, he looked perfectly normal, stocky build, bit of a too large nose and ears, the only noticeable thing being a tattoo of teardrops under his right eye. Criminals liked their tattoos on this island it seemed, and fake names, as the name he'd given Kaito was Tears. He was sensing a theme here. At least everyone wasn't named after food… Yeah fuck you Big Mom, he thought… Very quietly.

Wire sneered as he dealt the next hand, but was stopped from defending himself as the large black man next to him, who's most recognizable feature was an awesome van Dyke beard - slapped him on the back hard. The action almost sent him face down into the table. "Whores don't count, dumbass! You're paying them, of course they're gonna admire your peacock hairdo!"

Kaito glanced at his hand, laughing along with everyone else. Wire swearing and grumbling about disrespect and - why am I even friends with you guys? Pocket aces. Luck is still going strong. Kaito smirked, throwing out a thousand berri chip onto the table. "Seems you're wrong Wire, my luck's still going strong!"

"He's bluffing, sure as piss he's bluffing I tell ya." The black man, that Kaito tentatively would name as Dice, due to the dice tattooed on his hands, matched his bet with a sneer. Kaito kind of wanted to twirl his mustache.

Wire looked at Kaitos smirking face and tossed his cards carelessly at the table, flipping them over and showing a deuce and a ten. "Nah, sure he's been bluffing a lot, but that smug face tells me he's got a good ass hand this time. You can throw away your fucking money, Dice, I'll keep mine."

"Your whores will be delighted mate," Tears chuckled as he tossed in his bet, matching it. Then he mock-whispered loudly. "I heard he only can get whores, cuz in his wire fascination he tried using them… Personally I mean, and he ain't got much left now!"

The table roared with laughter as Wire tossed an empty tankard that slammed into Tears face, he fell over, still laughing.

"Davy Jones flaccid dick Tears, why you always gotta bring up that story when we're drinking!" Wire swore, red faced and with steam practically coming out of his ears. Kaito wondered if that meant it was true or because they just like fucking with him that often.

"Probably...because…ain't…no…one…that…believes…he's…lying...Wire." Snarked a raspy voice, coming up behind Kaito. He looked back and did a spit take.

There must have been a shift change because the server bringing over 4 tankards of ale, he definitely would have remembered seeing before if she had been there.

Long wavy light blue hair, falling in two bangs down her face, stormy gray eyes, heart shaped face, full lips. And as seemed to be the standard in this world. An hourglass figure with an impossible seeming large bust. She was clad in overalls, stained with oil and dirt, undone at the waist, wearing a sports bra only up top, showing a toned stomach with a belly button piercing. The only blemish on her was the large jagged scar across her throat, probably the cause of her raspy voice, and slow way of speaking. And tattoos going down her arms of twin rifles, multitude of guns, with ammo flying across her skin.

As he met her eyes after a very thorough once over, she simply raised an eyebrow as in saying, well?

He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything Tears kicked him. He swore, briefly looking away from the beautiful woman to see the disappointed faces of Wire and Dice. And a smirking Tears holding his hands up.

"Why'd you gotta ruin the entertainment, Tears? Watching new guys get a few fucking bones broken is the highlight of my week." Wire complained, while laying out the flop. Another ace, a deuce and a queen.

"I wanted to save Duel the trouble of cleaning blood off her overalls when she just started her shift." Tears defended himself, accepting his tankard from the woman who patted him affectionately on the cheek, before throwing a tankard Wires way. "Asshole" she rasped, smirking at him as she walked by and deposited another tankard by Dice.

Wire swore as he barely caught the tankard, some overspill happening. "What the fuck Duel!?"

Duel came back around to Kaito, leaning over him to deposit his tankard, her bust so close to his face that he sat rigidly still, not daring to move or say anything.

He heard a heavy sigh above him and then she withdrew. He breathed freely again, not even realizing he had held his breath and looked back to see Duel pouting, arms crossed under her impressive chest. "Ruined. Fun. Wire." She complained.

Wires jaw dropped, "What the fuck woman, Tears stopped the ass kicking. Not me!" Both the other men were laughing at him and Kaito couldn't help but smirk at how offended the guy looked.

She shrugged, "Boss, your fault." She declared.

Wire started to stand up, "The hell it is wo-" it's like a demonic aura infused the bar, all men shrinking back slightly in their chairs. Kaito was not willing to look behind him, sweating slightly.

"My mistake." Wire laughed shakily, as he fell back down in his chair.

The aura disappeared. Dice and Tears both started snickering as Duel walked away, with Wire rubbing his face in exasperation. "Why always me!" He complained.

"Must be your face." Kaito joked, getting things going again by throwing 3 thousand berri chips onto the table. "So would she have really beaten me up if I flirted with her? Because damn, that's one hell of a woman."

Dice matched the bet, throwing 3 chips onto the pile. "Depending on her mood, she's the town mechanic, always fiddling with something. If she's made a breakthrough in one of her projects she might just punch you. If something has blown up on her, yeah she'd break bones on a newbie."

"Why Duel? I get that you guys seem to have a theme going, she's got those tats, I'd think her name would be rifle or bullseye or something?"

Tears snorted, also matching the bet. "She wanted a cuter name, it was still tangibly related to her tats, so it was alright, no one was really going to argue with her. Even when she was younger she was a fucking scary girl."

Wire dealt out the turn, another deuce. Kaito didn't bother with checking his cards or appearing to think about it. He had the best hand for sure with 3 aces. He threw out another 3 chips. "What's the story about that scar?"

"You're a fun guy Kaito, but ain't any money or charm going to get us to reveal fucking personal shit to an outsider, I'll excuse it this fucking once only." Wire said sternly.

"What dumbass said." Dice agreed, taking a long chug of his ale, before throwing away his cards. "I ain't feeling this one." He said, with a small smirk coming across his face.

"Why is everyone fucking ragging on me today?" Wire complained, giving Dice a kick under the table if the man's sudden swearing was any indication.

"You make it so easy." Tears said companionably. He casually threw 3 chips out, matching the bet.

Kaito squinted at him suspiciously. He's very comfortable right now, even though Kaito had put a decently large sum as the opening bet the entire time. What could he even have?

Wire put down the river card while pouting over his ale. It's a seven of spades. Kaito eyed the table. Two deuces. An ace, a queen and a seven. Different suits, so Tears can't have a flush, no way for him to have a straight either. Two deuces, but he can't have four because Wire tossed out a hand with a deuce. He must have two queens, Kaito decided. Which would give him three queens. A decent hand but not better than his. "5 thousand." He bet, throwing it on the table.

Tears looked at his cards, "Oh whatever will I do." He moaned theatrically. "All in." He finished with a grin, eyes glinting with savage glee.

Kaito drummed his fingers on the table. Tears had the smallest pot of chips, so he could easily match it. He was wondering however what was going on, even Wire and Dice had these little smirks on their faces that was telling him he was missing something. He was sure the best hand Tears could possibly have was 3 queens. Whatever, they were just trying to play with his mind.

"Call. Read them and weep gentlemen." Kaito called out smugly, throwing his cards face up on the table. "A 4, and a ….7…Wait!?" He gaped at the cards in shock.

Tears grinned so wide it's like his face was splitting in half. "A pair, how pedestrian. Nothing against my trio of aces, I'm afraid!"

Kaitos cheek twitched, "You motherfuckers!" He swore, drowning his sorrows in his ale. "When you can't trust criminals at the poker table, who can you trust anymore?" He lamented.

The other men burst out laughing. Tears gathering up his chips, now almost equal to Kaitos' hoard. "Why do you think we play in this bar mate? Duels tits make sure there's plenty of opportunities for the savvy."

"Of course sometimes people object… And then we get to protest their objections. All very fucking good for our wallets." Wire smirked. "Any objections Kaito?" Dice and Tears chuckled along, clearly enjoying getting one over him.

Kaito rolled his eyes. "It's my fault for getting played, if anything those tits were worth losing over ten thousand berri."

"Figured you would be smart. It's the only reason you were even fucking let in here. You were subtle enough working your way through the dives, clearly looking for some… Unsavory work." Wire said, shuffling the deck, before tossing it to Tears as the next man up.

"Figured something was up, when I was led here by some 'drunken revelers' when there's no sign outside, and we had to take so many alleys to get here all the way on the outskirts." Kaito admitted, finishing his ale before smashing it against the ground again, calling out for more, to the wincing of the men around the table.

Suddenly someone was twisting his ear so hard it felt like it was going to get ripped off - and his head was pushed down on the table, spilling chips everywhere. He looked up and caught two things. Very large things. He looked up further and saw angry gray eyes.

"Do! Not!" Duel twisted his ear a little more, making Kaito squeal out, "I won't! Ow, ow, ow!"

She let him go with a huff, returning to whatever she had been doing before he smashed the tankard. "What the fuck?" He asked his table mates.

Wire smirked and there's chuckles and outright laughter across the bar. "Ol' Miguel might just be slightly annoyed, but he ignored it as long as you paid… Duel however, made those tankards."

"Of course she did. Is that enough fun at my expense to allow me to get some work?" Kaito sighed, massaging his ear.

Wire hummed, scratching his nose. "Yeah, it might take a couple days, but I know something we might need outside help for, why are you interested anyway?"

"Going to assemble a pirate crew, so will need supplies and information, and of course money. Wouldn't mind being allowed to recruit either but figure that's a long shot." Kaito explained, putting on his most charming grin.

Wire shook his head, "The rest sure, if they want you for the job I'll think they'll ask you to do, but no way the boss allows you to try and fucking poach men from him."

"Didn't Duel call you boss? Can't cut a guy a break here?" Kaito wheedled.

"I'm more of an underboss, I don't make the big decisions." Wire corrected. He waved a hand around. "I run all these knuckleheads, but that ain't enough for what you want. Which is why I gotta kick it upstairs. And you try and recruit my guys… I'll fucking slice your balls off and feed them to you!"

"There's been word out that we need an outsider for something risky, or we wouldn't even be having this conversation." Dice admitted.

"Guess I just gotta keep stealing all your money then!" Kaito grinned, with no hard feelings. He figured the recruiting would be a long shot.

"Not if you're giving it to me." A brash voice says from behind him, a pistol held at the back of his head. "Fork it over, slowly. No need for dramatics."

"Hey now, he's not a mark, rookie, you're gonna piss off Alejandro." One of Kaitos new poker buddies protested suddenly, looking a lot less drunk and cheerful. "You know we don't-"

Said rookie cuts him off, turning the safety off on his pistol and snarling at his comrade. "Alejandro can't do shit from the brig, so shut up!" He tapped Kaito on the back of the head with the pistol. "And you, give it to me…Now!"

"Fuck Alejandro…You're pissing me off!" Wire snarled, "Know your place rookie! BACK OFF!"

The pistol remained steady at the back of his skull, the rookie not backing down, Kaito wondered if he really might have run into the dumbest person on the island.

Kaito looked at the tense faces of his poker buddies and sighed mournfully, "Man, I was having so much fun too…"

He picked up two poker chips, holding them in the air as if studying them. Then with a flick of a finger they disappeared.

Everyone's jaws dropped as the rookie slowly fell back, the poker chips having slashed through both eyes and into his skull.

"I wonder if that counts as tipping." He mused out loud as bedlam erupted around him. Weapons being drawn, until Wire slammed a hand down on the table, cracking it. "Shut the fuck up!"

"But, Wire!" A effeminate man, with multiple piercings and cloud tattoos protests.

"I said shut the fuck up, Cloud! I don't know who the hell the rookie thought he was, but the minute he refused to follow orders, he stopped being one of us, so his death ain't meaning shit. So leave off!" Everyone backed down at Wires' order, although with some mutters.

Wire started grumbling to himself, "Fucking knew we shouldn't have tried recruiting that fucker, too old.."

Luckily for Kaito, this order meant that once the criminals calmed down a bit, and looted the body of their rookie for everything he had, they weren't too opposed to continuing their association, although unfortunately too annoyed to continue the poker game.

With a promise of work being available and to keep in touch, the criminals disappeared and left him alone counting his winnings with the sour old barkeep. And the bombshell server.

"Any chance you'd know where I could make a decent buck while I'm waiting on my new friends to decide how much they dare to let me into?" He idly asked Miguel and Duel.

Duel simply scoffed, sitting on one of the barstools, fiddling with some kind of mechanical gadget. Hands stained with oil.

The one eyed old bastard kept wiping his counter with a rag Kaito was pretty sure didn't come in brown when sold. "Just gonna ignore me huh? What did I ever do to you?"

Miguel looked to the dead body, left in just his underwear on the floor, and the many pieces of broken tankards scattered around, and the holes in his floor. His neutral leathery face seemed to say it all. Duel smirked at him, so he called it a win anyway.

"Hey that's like…. An hour ago now, and I paid for those tankards too. What have I ever done to you lately?"

"If I tell you, will you go away and not come back?" Miguel answered slowly. chewing on some kind of tobacco, staining his lips black.

"I pinky swear!" Kaito said, holding up a pinky, wiggling it in Miguel's face. Duel outright chuckled, the sound a bit harsh due to the raspiness.

"There's an illegal fighting ring, the entrance goes underground, under the harbor master's office, right by the dock. You'll have to go behind the office to a blue and white backdoor and give this week's password." Miguel sneered at him and Kaito delighted in his obvious dislike.

He rubbed his hands together gleefully. "Oh Walrus, you're a very naughty boy." He went to ask Miguel for the password, when the entrance to the bar opened, and officer Monroe entered followed by a couple navy soldiers. Miguel put a hand under the counter as Duel slowly stood up. Kaito wondered who else was going to end up a corpse by the end of the day, as surely this was not a place the marines come by usually. So someone was a big old snitch.

"Officer! What a delight to meet again!" He called out. Waving cheerfully.

Monroe sighed, his ever present frown on his face. "Why am I not surprised to find you at the location of a reported dead body, Mr. Akai?"

Kaito looked over at said body. "Yeah poor bugger. To slip and fall like that, just bad luck that." He shook his head mockingly.

"Another slip?" Monroe asked dryly. He turned to the bartender and server. "And I suppose if I ask you what you saw…?"

Now Miguel might not like the asshole in his bar, but he liked the law even less. "It was a terrible accident, never seen someone slip that hard before." He ground out, smiling unpleasantly with blackened teeth.

Duel simply stared at the marine officer until he looked away, clearing his throat.

"And I'm sure the morgue will agree that a slip was the cause of death… Just in case, again Mr. Akai, do not leave the island. My men will check every departing ship. Just a precaution you understand." Monroe ordered, with a little bit of bite to his words.

"Always happy to help the law." Kaito agreed with a small grin, finding the situation too funny. Honestly this marine was way too by the book and honest. Any other marine would have tried to arrest him already. Whether there was proof or not.

It was kind of cute, honestly.

He stood up, casually strolling by the marine lieutenant and his men, grin widening slightly at the tightening of the marines lips.

"Cold fish." Miguel said out of the blue, back to wiping his counter with that horrendous brown... Thing, seriously his tankards better not have been cleaned by that, he'd have to get a shot or something.

"What's that?" Monroe asked suspiciously. As Kaito chuckled, stepping outside with a jaunty wave back at the grumpy bartender. Walking down the alley and out into the street.

"Silly marine, first rule of fight club. You don't talk about fight club." Kaito said once he's out of hearing range. He started making his way to the docks once again, ears easily picking out the sound of the tail following him. "Oh my someone's about to have another slip!" He laughed to himself as he kept on strolling casually down the street.

Safe in the knowledge nothing here could touch him.

＊＊＊

The illegal fighting ring was no different really then what it would have been back in his first world. An octagon, inside fencing - with stands for the crowd, and betting aplenty. Due to the marine presence they did try and prevent killings to avoid the heat, but it obviously still happened. The trap door into the sea, with a blood trail leading to it at the side of the octagon was a slight clue.

It was all underground, deep enough that no sound would escape into the city. The tunnel from behind the harbor masters building leading off away from the docks. A necessity, as having a fight club underground, with just a few meters of rock between the sea and them would have been fine on earth. In this world it just begged for someone to punch it hard enough to drown everyone.

Unfortunately for Kaito, the Walrus was not the bad boy running this thing. He just took money to allow it to happen under his nose and kept it safe, by generally being such a generally unpleasant person no one went near the harbor master's office for anything other than quickly tossing their fees at him and getting out. Whatever criminal organization Wire and them belonged to was running this. Honestly he really wanted to grab them all, competence was such a turn on when looking for crew after all.

He would have liked to have the Walrus more involved though, just to make him even more pissed off. Just to see him waddle around in rage. Oh well, he would get to smash people's faces in for money, so everything was still awesome. Maybe even someone strong would appear to fight.

"You're up next… You really sure you wanna go by the mysterious stranger?" The emcee poked his head into the small locker room that he had been given upon signing up. All the dried blood covering everything was pretty promising for a good time. The emcee was wearing a garish pink top hat with what could only be described as circus kitch clothes, he was noticeable, one could say. Kaito had a feeling he wore such garish clothes to draw away attention from his pig nose, floppy ears, and buck teeth. It wasn't really working.

"It's tradition!" Kaito exclaimed cheerfully, jumping up and shadow boxing, hyping himself up. "You can't have a competition without a mysterious stranger."

The emcee rolled his eyes, "Whatever man, just don't lose too quickly okay, the last fight was shit, we're losing people's interest here. We can't bring the champion out in the beginning so you're it for now. Don't suck!" Then he ducked out, back to his station.

"Champion, now that's who I want to see." Kaito threw another few jabs, before hearing the music start up. Soon enough he heard the emcee call out for the mysterious stranger.

He ran out with his arms in the air, giggling wildly, he'd always wanted to do shit like this. This was awesome. He could hear the crowd's comments as he ran up.

"What's so mysterious? He isn't even wearing a mask? I don't get it?"

"Oh I gotta go make a bet, look at him, he's ripped, I'm sure he'll win this round!"

"He's giggling like a schoolgirl… is he.. mentally stable?"

"Who cares as long as he can punch! Go mysterious motherfucker!"

As he entered the octagon the emcee started in on his opponent. He eagerly watched the entrance, still lightly hopping back and forth on his feet and shadow boxing the air.

"And now….YOU KNOW him, YOU love HIM. HERE HE COMES, IT'S BILL!" And as the crowd roared out his name - Kaito was sweat dropping. "What a lame stage name" he muttered disappointedly.

He's even more disappointed as an extremely thin man comes walking slowly into the octagon. Not really any muscle visible, a perfectly bland plain face, the guy even has thick rectangular glasses, the only abnormal thing is that he's easily at least 8 feet tall. Somewhat common in the grand line - but not so common in the east blue.

"Alright, so definitely some kind of trick or he wouldn't be so popular." Kaito acknowledged to himself quietly. Just because he was very confident in his skills didn't mean he was going to be stupidly reckless. He wasn't Luffy. He didn't have protagonist plot protection.

"No killing if avoidable! Bout goes until unconscious or the loss of at least one limb. FIGHT!" And the gong rings, and both fighters… Do absolutely nothing. This continues for a minute until…

"You chicken, or something?" Bill asked, standing casually with both hands in his pockets. He looked bored to be here.

"I'm in no rush, go ahead and show me what weird ability or trick you got." Kaito chuckled, standing loosely, ready to move at a moment's notice.

Bill blinked once, twice, then his face went slack. "Oh no, he knows I have a devil fruit!" He shouted.

"Well I know now." Kaito laughed as the crowd yelled at Bill. "YOU IDIOT!"

"Oh no, I messed up!" Bill cried, slapping himself.

Kaito laughed, "God I love this fucking world!" He sprung forward suddenly, "let's see what you got then!" He shouted, attacking straight on. The crowd roared in approval and bloodlust.

Bill just stood there blinking at him as he came close and Kaitos fist stopped an inch in front of his face. "Why did you stop?" He asked over the noise of the crowd's anger at the stopped attack.

"You didn't flinch at all. So your ability can either tank, absorb or deflect attacks." Kaito explained with a grin, "Don't mind me, I'm just cautious when my opponent might be able to turn into acid or something. That would be bad."

"No, that's not it at all, I ate the bounce bounce fruit. I am a bouncing man." Bill stated blandly.

"YOU DID IT AGAIN!" The crowd screamed at him. Kaito roared with laughter, he could appreciate a running gag.

Bill blinked placidly. "Ah, I did it again. Sorry."

"Someone throw a motherfucking punch right god damn NOW!" The emcee screamed into his microphone, before slamming the mic down onto his table several times in either rage or anguish, everyone wincing at the noise. Two lame fights in a row was apparently too much for the man.

"Well don't mind if I do then." Kaito exclaimed, not putting too much power behind his punch, testing the waters. The second he connected, he felt a slight give and then it's like his fist was repelled, all the force coming back at least double the strength, sending him flying back. The crowd roared as he slammed into the octagon, Kaito finding out the hard way that it's electric fencing. Because of course it is. He fell to the ground with a soft thud.

He jumped back to his feet, slightly smoking and still grinning, he wasn't really damaged after all. "Now this is interesting." He crowed, before jumping into the air, coming down on top of Bill with an overhead kick. Putting more force behind it this time he felt slightly more of a give, before bouncing straight up into the fencing.

He coughed out some smoke as he got up after falling to the ground, eyeing the bland man, still with hands in his pockets, just standing there.

"Did you even feel that?" He asked, slightly peeved - but not worried yet.

"Oh…No. I am very sorry." He answered, even bowing his head slightly.

"DON'T APOLOGIZE YOU IDIOT!" The crowd roared.

"Heh, I bet most guys don't have any idea what to do with you." Kaito said, ignoring the crowd's jeering, "I would wager most any attack simply bounces off, one would need a lot of power to push through your devil fruit ability. If that bullshit ability even allows that."

"That is so." Bill agreed, not seeming to care where he was going with this. Then again he just seemed to plain not care about any of this to begin with. What an odd duck to find in a fighting ring.

"I don't feel like using overwhelming force, instead I'm just going to be a tricky bastard." Kaito said, walking forward and testing his hypothesis on how his opponent's fruit works by placing a hand slowly against him. It doesn't bounce off. He grinned, as the crowd screamed, and Bill finally looked alive, starting to take his hands out of his pockets.

Everything wouldn't bounce off, because if it did, the man wouldn't even be able to dress himself without bouncing his clothes off. It was all about the force applied. To bounce something you first had to apply enough force. So an attack would bounce away, a hug or handshake would not. Well depending on how forceful a hugger one was.

Garp probably gave awesome hugs. If you could survive them…

Kaito grabbed the man by the waist, grinning at the suddenly panicking man as he lifted him up, careful not to grip hard enough to repel him. "Let's bounce!" Then he threw him at the fencing of the octagon.

The flailing panicky man struck the side of the octagon, briefly illuminated as he is electrocuted, before bouncing into the other side and repeating, going faster and faster for each repetition. Kaito having thrown himself to the ground to not risk being caught in the crossfire. Apparently his bounce fruit worked if he was the one striking an object too - how very useless for anything offensive.

Eventually you could only see a blur flying back and forth inside the octagon. The cage practically always lit up with electricity with the speed of the bouncing, until finally the octagon couldn't take anymore, shorting out the lighting of the underground ring and the lights over the stands fizzing out as well.

Whatever stamina Bill had was long gone, and he fell to the ground, eyes white, whole body smoking. His devil fruit ability finally gave out, as his body simply couldn't take any more punishment. Electric shock apparently not something he can bounce off as it doesn't have the physical force.

As the lights turned back on, no doubt an emergency generator having hurriedly been switched on, Kaito was standing in the middle of the ring giving the crowd a two finger salute while grinning widely.

Devil fruit abilities truly were scary. Being able to bounce away any attack. The man was probably immune to bullets and swords as well. Electricity not so much, thankfully. He truly was lucky though that it didn't belong to a real fighter. That could have been bad, as he wouldn't have let him get enough time to pick him up and toss him. Although the fact the man couldn't attack without bouncing back himself apparently would have limited his threat. He probably had never worked on his fruit other than to stand still and take attacks.

His musings were interrupted as the crowd noise rose, the shock of the short blackout and the end of the fight having worn off.

"That wasn't even a fight! They spent more time talking!" One patron yelled, starting a cascade of complaints.

"There wasn't even any blood! What a rip-off!"

"That smug fucker, where does he get off flipping us off, he didn't even do anything!"

The emcee groaned, his face planted on his desk. One hand fumbled blindly for his microphone, dragging it closer to his face. "Winner… That guy, the stranger or whatever."

"Mysterious stranger" Kaito corrected, as the crowd roared in anger.

"Just get the fuck out of the ring before we have a riot." The emcee groaned.

Kaito lifted both of his arms in the air waving at the crowd as he went back towards his little locker room. "You all suck! Thanks for all the money I made off of you, betting on my own fine ass!"

The combined roar of a thousand angry people tasted sweet as he walked out. Almost as sweet as the thousands of beris he made betting on himself.

He hadn't planned to watch any other fights on the first day, he quickly changed his mind however when the emcee called out the name of Duel.

He made it back out just in time to see her opponent announced. A scarred 7 foot tall behemoth of a man, his arms alone were thicker than Duel was. And again with the tallness - Kaito had been the only 7 foot man in Redtree.

Yet the mechanic stood there nonchalantly, still in her overalls, albeit done up this time - to the audience and Kaitos visible disappointment.

"She's such an overachiever." A voice came from behind him. Kaito raised a curious eyebrow at Wire, the underboss having taken a seat behind him.

"She's pretty much walking artillery, anything ranged - she's a monster with. Yet she comes to these things to as she puts it 'keep fit'." Wire explained with a wry smile.

Kaitos eyes switched to the tables where opponents have to leave their weapons, it having not been a necessity for him as he didn't wear any. And he did a spit take, the table was covered in guns, he could spot a sniper rifle as well and was that..? "She's lugging around an actual artillery cannon!?"

Wire laughed, "Nah, it's big, sure. It's just a regular bazooka though, just more bang for the buck with her adjustments."

"How can she even carry all that?" Kaito felt like double checking if he was still in the east blue. Because what the hell?

Wire shrugged, putting his feet up on the backrest of Kaitos seat. "She was always freakishly strong. This island was settled by some grand line pirate crew a couple hundred years back tho, blood just runs stronger in some people is my best guess."

Kaito turned his attention back to the ring as the fight was already starting. Duel easily avoiding her large opponents grasp. Punches smacking away the larger man's trunk like arms, drawing a bellow of pain.

"You sure I can't try and recruit here?" He asked, watching the bombshell skirt around her opponent and deal out punishing strikes that had the behemoth screaming in pain and rage.

Wire gave him a kick to the back of his head, *You try and lure Duel away, the boys and I will round everyone up and seriously kill you man. No matter what the boss says."

"She's way too kickass to stay here." Kaito protested half heartedly, wincing as Duel put both hands into a fist - swinging into the side of her opponent's knee, the break so loud that his scream was barely heard over it.

The fight is over quickly after that, the crowd cheering loudly for Duel, who simply walked out, strapping all her weapons back onto her.

Granted that took a minute - there's a lot.

"Why didn't I see all that shit the other day?"

"Dumbass! like she'd wear all that for serving tables." Wire snorted, "Trust me she was still heavily armed."

Kaito thought back to her outfit, having seen nothing in her overalls and her top had been a simple sports bra. "Where though?"

"We don't ask anymore." Wiper said with a shudder.

Switching gears from that, lest he'd say something suicidal next time he met the beautiful mechanic, he asked. "So any word yet?"

"Nah, we have a bit of an issue right now, orders ain't coming as quick as they used to, so they'll nag at each other for a couple days before deciding to contact you."

"Fair enough, I got time." Kaito acquiesced easily.

A kid, who couldn't be older than 13 from the looks of it, came darting up to them, stopping next to Wires seat, sending an unsure look towards Kaito, who noticed the numerous playing card tattoos on the kids neck and arms. "Even the brats huh?" He muttered mostly to himself.

"What do you want, Blackjack?" Wire groaned, "Can't you see im enjoying myself watching the fucking fights!?"

Kaito looked more closely and sure enough every card tattoo the kid had - combined to 21. These people, he thought amusedly.

Blackjack is still eyeing Kaito up with clear distrust, so Wire sighed and got up. "Fine, whatever you brat, we'll go somewhere private if it's that big of a rush." He waved an arm towards Kaito, lazily. "Don't go do something stupid that will make me have to kill ya!"

Kaito grinned, "How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you."

Blackjack broke out laughing as Wire sent him an irritated look, he cuffed the laughing brat over the head, muttering all the while. "I get no fucking respect anywhere I swear."

"Man, this place is a lot more interesting than I thought it would be." Kaito said quietly, settling down to watch the next fight. Thoughts on how to recruit these guys percolating in the back of his mind.

＊＊＊