＊＊＊

Kaito really didn't need this right now. He sighed wearily, eyeing the devil fruit on a pedestal before him, before he turned around and inspected the old man that had snuck up on him. The room was not that large of a one, and the old man now stood before the only exit.

Alright, points for the freaky factor… He thought, seeing that the ancient looking bald man had cut his own eyes out, the slash was unmistakable as anything other than self-inflicted. Which in Kaito's opinion made them cultists.

Everyone was free to practice whatever religion they wanted to, in Kaito's opinion, but when they started slicing eyes out or drinking poisonous kool-aid - they were a cult, not a religion.

He was wearing a simple gray wide sleeved robe, no adornments visible other than a belt, and he also sported a stereotypical old wise man beard, trailing so far down he had it tucked inside his belt. The fu-manchu mustache just sold the entire thing even more. Kaito was really growing tired of East Blue having all these obstacles, it was supposed to be the easy ocean.

If every island was going to be full of complications here, what did that say about his chances in the grand line?

Kaito inwardly tried to dampen his sudden excitement. As annoying as the obstacles were, they were also all new, an adventure where he could keep learning new things and have new fun experiences.

Like fighting an old monk that meditated on top of a mountain for a few decades. That's bucket list stuff right there. Kaito wondered if he knew how to do a Kamehameha! Oh, that would be so fricking cool!

If he could learn how to do Kamehameha his life would literally be the best it could be.

“So… You're the wise old man in charge I suppose?” Kaito asked, seeing that the man was just standing there, a genial smile on his face. Creepily ‘staring’ straight ahead. Another hint that it was a cult.

And really, the last island had been kind of cult-like too, what were the odds Kaito would run into another one? He hoped this wasn't going to be a theme. Cults were really a pain in the ass. And just so… Annoying.

“No one's truly in charge, we all serve, waiting.” Oldbeard said serenely, his smile almost looked joyful to Kaito. He was definitely a bit weirded out now.

Kaito shook his head, letting out an amused huff, “Alright then, wise guy, but out of everyone else equally serving, you're the most equal, amirite?” There's never such a thing as complete equality in a group. Ever. Especially when they say it is.

Democracy is a lie. He let out a quiet chuckle to himself.

Oldbeard smiled pleasantly, bowing his head slightly, “One could see it that way, true. If such a thing as rank mattered.” He shrugged casually, bringing a wrinkled pale hand out from his voluptuous robes to point at Kaito, “We all have been waiting for a long time for you.” He said, and although his tone was perfectly pleasant, it all felt very ominous to Kaito.

Dare he say, cult like? He wasn't drinking any kool-aid, no matter what promises offered!

Sadly there was no boss music playing to go with the ominous feeling either. No sadly and creepily clinging bells, no chorus of children wailing in the background, nothing. Just an old man without eyes. If the devil fruit on that pedestal allowed for him to play background music for his fights, Kaito might even be tempted to eat it. Just a little though.

Epic background music was almost as good as a Kamehameha after all. Both… Well that would just be him being greedy.

“Yeah… I don't care. If that's all the treasure you have, I'll just have to disappoint a little lady and bully my way forward out of this city.” Kaito stated bluntly. He had no intention of getting involved in any cult shenanigans, except maybe a quick fight of course. But yeah, no mysteries or fetch quests for this guy… Or suicide pacts or matching clothing.

Other than the fetch quest he's already on. Damn it! This was totally a fetch quest!

Oldbeard frowned minisculely, “That won't do,” He said chidingly, his mustache quivering, “The prophecy tells of Torrance returning, the god of luck arriving by flight, just as you did! To devour the gift and lead us into prosperity.” The old man pointed a gnarled finger at the devil fruit, “You are to fulfill the prophecy, that is why you're here!”

The last was almost shouted out, the old man quivering in excitement, like he'd revealed some grand secret and expected Kaito to be in awe.

Kaito outright laughed in his face instead, “Wahahaha, oh man! You have got to be kidding me? A prophecy?” His laughter echoed around the chamber as it slowly wore out, Kaito shaking his head as it broke into snickers instead, “I can't believe I've run into those kinds of people… Man, I have the worst luck.”

He let out a sigh, as he looked around the chamber again, the devil fruit held no interest to him, if he ever took one, it would definitely not be a mystery box one. So a definite hard pass. Besides, he hadn't really been flying up the mountain - so obviously they had the wrong guy anyway. Really, a chosen one? This wasn't a video game, and he wasn't some gullible mute looking for swords in stones.

He'd be more likely to lift the sword with the rock still attached and smash people with it, the rock sword had a certain ring to it. He was a problem solver like that. The kind that when someone tried a riddle on him on what door to open as some sort of puzzle, he'd just burn the fucking house down, problem solved. A genius problem solver, really, that's what he was.

Hmm. He hadn't actually really burned a house down before. Something to add to the bucket list. Blowing up marine bases or sinking islands didn't count. Although he felt a bit smug at that. Luffy certainly didn't sink islands on his beginning arc. Hah. Loser.

“I would advise against such blasphemy,” The old man said stiffly, no longer looking or feeling very jovial for some reason. “You were foretold, you will embrace Torrance’s power, and wake up as our God returned.” The old man took a step forward, his sandaled foot creating a crack in the ground. “This has been foretold!” He stressed, severely, before sliding his foot back, standing as if impenetrable, blocking the exit.

Kaito flexed his muscles, getting into a stance, a sharp grin blooming onto his face, “Yeah, well I'm a pirate, old timer.” He taunted, already anticipating the fight, “I'm free, not bound by any chains, especially some old prophecy.”

Fate could go suck it. If this was really meant for him, then he'd rather die than be bound that way.

“You will eat it.” The command was quiet, but had a presence behind it. This man, for all that he said there was no true leader of the monks, was obviously used to commanding. He'd went with the wise old genial man routine, sure. But Kaito could feel the steel beneath, the true man behind the facade.

Also as a cult leader, Kaito was betting the man was secretly quite cuckoo.

Kaito really couldn't stand people like that. That faked their personality, their whole persona. They should own it. “Make me!” He said with a wide grin on his face, holding his hand out, making the come at me bro gesture, even though it lost some translation when done to an apparently blind man.

A blind man that could see perfectly somehow, just going by the way he gestured and looked at him.

Yoruichi had the crew handled, surely. Kaito could take a minute to have an honest to god fight with an old wise man up on a mountain top. It shouldn't be a problem, it was still East Blue.

Although, being a wise man was debatable if he was waiting up here for some prophesied chosen one. Kaito, even if he somehow was the one they'd been waiting for, (Yeah right!) would never allow his fate to be decided for him like that - to have his path be pre-ordained, his choices taken from him…

Freedom was everything, even if he failed, even if in the end he'd only gain freedom from life, it would be worth it to have no regrets. To live a life to the fullest, fighting, laughing, going on ever new adventures.

It was worth everything.

Luffy had always been right in that, at least. Being free trumped everything.

No old man was going to come and tell him he was destined to do something else.

It was time to kick an old man off his mountain.

＊＊＊

With Nami and Carina.

“There's cat women now too.” Nami said almost dully, staring down at the prone form of Yoruichi, the rain was soaking through her everything, and she was shivering madly. But she didn't care anymore, because the world had stopped making sense.

Like Buggy wasn't enough. Now there was a cat lady. Like, she hadn't really gotten over the freaky crap Buggy was pulling, and it was beyond creepy! And now people were transforming into cats all over the place too, and people without eyes could do martial arts, and acted like they could see just fine. What was today? What even was this city? Nami wanted to go home!

Well… Maybe not home. She'd be fine with not here!

“When did the world stop making sense?” She muttered to herself, shaking fingers grasping her staff harshly. For all the good it would do to have it out and ready. Today had shown her how hilariously outmatched she was. She'd known she was nothing compared to Arlong, but now she knew she was just… Nothing. Nothing in general…

There were people in this world who could swat her like a fly no matter what game or scam she'd pull. She'd never felt so small before…

“NAMI! A little help here, have a mental breakdown later!” Carina yelled in a panic, kneeling over the body of the woman who'd been fighting Buggy, her hands hesitating over the daggers that were protruding from the well muscled abdomen. “Oh, shit,” She wailed, body tense, “We'll literally die if we let this woman die, Nami!” She cried out, sounding completely sure of that fact.

Just what they needed, Nami had been feeling like she was going to die quite a lot lately…

Which was saying something considering how she usually felt whenever she was near home.

Nami bit her lip so hard she tasted blood, but in the end she shook her head clear and ran forward, sinking to her knees on the freezing cold cobblestones next to the prone body of the purple cat lady. “Right, we need to remove those.” She said, and by means of years of practice, compartmentalizing her fears, her anger, her weak shivering body. It all didn't matter. Only the job.

Don't fail now, Nami. Just a job. It's just a job, I can do this. She thought, determination setting in.

Carina looked nervous as her eyes kept flickering around across the street, “Are you sure, Nami? I thought…”

Nami brushed her off, “Maybe on a normal human, but she was healing faster, wasn't she?” Nami wasn't sure, but she was willing to bet on it, and that's enough, she'd trust her abilities on a bet more than almost anything. “And it was weird how she went down from three small daggers, knowing what little I do from what I've seen from Buggy over the last few hours… They're probably laced with something.” She explained, as she grasped the handle of one of the daggers and pulled.

The woman had looked like a beast, all muscle and claws, not something these little daggers should have knocked out. Hurt, sure, but falling unconscious from it? Nami had a feeling Buggy had been doing something sneaky - that she hadn't managed to catch in her limited time with the mad man.

Carina squeaked as Nami tossed the first dagger aside, and began ordering her around, “Carina, rip off some cloth and put pressure on the wounds, I'll take over once I've got them all out.” She was hyper focused on what she was doing, that way she didn't have to think about anything else. She didn't have time to be afraid.

First get them out, let whatever healing ability she might have get to work, secondly stop the bleeding, or at least minimize it. Third… She was working on that one. It was a work in progress.

Hopefully by the time I get to the third step, I'll have step four. She thought, exhaustion creeping up on her. It had been a rough few hours.

Carina looked extremely pale, her eyes wide as she frantically ripped some of her own dress off, staunching the wounds even as Nami eased the daggers out. Nami couldn't say for sure, but she thought it looked like a lot less blood than such a wound should result in. Which was good… Probably.

Her first aid training hadn't been geared towards cat women, for some reason. But she was almost certain she had all the same inside bits.

With all the daggers taken out, Nami was at a loss at what to do next, her hair stuck to her face as the rain continued to pour, the staccato of it hitting the cobblestones absolutely thundering, Nami had no idea on what she could do next. They couldn't stay here, but she could definitely not see herself and Carina lifting this woman up, nor should they, she was injured. She needed to be moved carefully.

She probably weighed more than Carina and Nami combined. There was no way she could be moved with just them.

Nami just hoped that if she was right on the poison, Buggy hadn't had time to make something truly nasty, and it was just a sedative or something similar. Nami had used plenty in her career so far, so she thought it might be, but it had acted faster than anything she'd ever used herself, so she wasn't completely convinced.

Buggy was really scary, so who knew what he'd used.

“I … I know where her crew is…” Carina said, her hands red as Nami took over her task, putting pressure on the wounds. She didn't know anything about giant cat people, but she knew how to keep blood inside the body. She'd had lots of practice in that.

“They're not far… I.. I, Nami, I'm sorry, I bit off more then…”

“Go.” Nami said tersely, interrupting the apology, teeth chattering, the cold would become a problem soon. “GO, Carina!” She yelled, needing to get the other girl moving. They didn't have long, not with the massacre around them. Not with Buggy…

Nami looked back towards the wall as Carina took off running, and felt faint. Her hands shaking madly over the reddening cloth she was holding down on the cat woman's abdomen.

Because Buggy was gone!

＊＊＊

Duel was used to being angry, it was always there, bubbling under the surface, it had always been a problem.

Always something she knew Wire worried about. That her gang, now her crew, worried about. That they feared she'd go too far, lose herself in it. That one day Duel wouldn't be the same anymore, the anger having taken over, burning the rest of her out.

Sometimes Duel woke up gasping, imagining the same thing.

Kaito had convinced the crew that she wasn't going to go psycho - and she appreciated it so much, even as she feared that it was all a lie. That she would one day just snap.

Today, it wasn't a problem. Today, she welcomed the rage, it fueled her, Apple for all her spunk and bravado. Was a gentler soul then Duel could ever be. And yet… Apple had never shied away from Duel. Had accepted her, sat with her in silence when the dumbasses got to be too much. Just somehow knew what Duel needed half the time, long before Duel knew. Never judged her.

Apple was her friend. And this dumb orange haired bitch, had dared to hurt her. Taken advantage of her. Duel had already almost lost herself from the previous island, when Apple had been taken…

Duel would not allow Apple to go anywhere alone, ever again.

But first, she had someone to kill… And of course, crew members to save. Can't forget that part, no matter how angry she was.

They'd managed to row their way in, despite the storm, making landfall. The rain doing more to hide them from any potential spying eyes up on the wall - than anything they could have done. They were all soaking wet and shivering. But not a single one of them were anything but determined. It would take more than some weather to put them off their task.

It had taken them a few hours in total, rowing in the storm, making landfall, making their way to the wall surreptitiously. But they were here, finally.

And Duel. She was fueled with so much rage she could have taken the wall down with her bare hands. But that would be impractical, so she would settle for a very large amount of explosive force.

Duel loved the big booms.

“Wall, there, and there!” She ordered her crew members tersely, pointing out the locations she wanted them in. She'd already explained her idea on the way, so there was not a word uttered from her crew.

The storm would cover their approach, with the amount of rain pouring down, visibility would be practically nil, and no doubt the guards manning the cannons facing towards the landside - were not nearly as attentive as those facing the sea.

Pirates so rarely attacked from anything other than the sea after all.

They would be outnumbered once Duel made them an entrance through the wall, that's why they would need to hit hard and explosively, and disperse as the guards dealt with the chaos. Going further into the city before more guards could arrive to surround the position.

With their heavy hitters it might be different. But Archer was needed to protect the ship, and Kaito and Yoruichi were already somewhere in the city.

That was the second reason for blowing the wall. What better way to alert them than a big explosion? Duel couldn't think of one.

They would find their stranded crewmembers. And Duel would find her own target and profess her displeasure. She gave a scowling nod to Needles as the man and his group left with one last pat on her shoulder. Not a word said from them about the danger of going up to a wall she was about to blow up. She knew her weapon, she knew explosions, she knew she'd position them in a way where they would be perfectly safe, but within reach of immediately breaching the wall. Yet, it warmed her insides still, to feel the crew's belief in her. They trusted in her to get it right.

As her friends slowly made their way through the storm, Duel began setting up, removing her bazooka from her back, deftly checking it over to make sure it was good to go. Luckily she was a better engineer than most, so she didn't leave her firing mechanism as a simple wick, something that would be annoying to deal with in the torrential downpour.

With all the important parts being mechanical in nature, the weather hadn't ruined anything, although she was more checking that she hadn't accidentally bumped it against something and dented anything.

She removed the metal batons she'd carried along, from her belt, clicking them together. The magnetism of the batons edges making it an easy and quick job to set up. Within a minute she had a stand for her bazooka, allowing her more precise control of her shot, keeping it perfectly level.

Normally, she'd never be able to bring down a wall the size of Torrance's walls. Not with this level of hardware. There was a limit to what she could carry through a forest however, so she'd focused instead on the perfect ammunition.

Carefully she brought out the round ball that she'd kept in a pot of sand, not daring to jostle it by bringing it in a backpack or something similar - she'd tasked a crew member to carry it, carefully with them instead.

If Kaito knew exactly what she experimented with on the ship, he'd probably ban her from touching her workshop again. So she didn't share the information on what she had.

She couldn't bring heavier weaponry with her, but she'd been working on something that would solve such a problem. It was just a bit… Volatile. Still. She kept it safe on the ship, buried in sand so it wouldn't jostle, she wasn't an idiot.

She'd tinkered with a lot of different explosives in her life, and she was certain this mix had enough oomph to get through the walls. Just because it hadn't been tested yet, didn't mean she was wrong. Duel trusted her engineering skills.

Slowly sliding the ammunition into the barrel of her bazooka, Duel laid down next to it, uncaring of the mud she'd be getting all over herself. Through a looking glass, she observed her friends arrive at their positions, none the wiser up on the wall.

Slowly she adjusted the Bazooka to a perfect firing position, double and triple checking that she had it right.

Finally she let out a slow breath as her finger squeezed the trigger. The shot was fired.

KRA-KOOM!

The wall ruptured, the noise of the explosion and of the wall sending tons of rock and cement skyward was deafening, the ground shook as if they were in the epicenter of a small earthquake. Smoke billowed out around the ruptured wall, completely obscuring it.

Duel quickly slid the bazooka back on her back, picking up her batons, rushing towards the still burning and smoking hole in the wall. Her crew members were already on their way, not that she could see them through the smoke. She just knew they would be. She needed to join them.

They only had minutes, the guards that hadn't been turned into mincemeat on the wall - would come rushing as soon as they got over the shock.

Duel knew that the odds that no civilians were hurt in the explosion were low, but she found that she didn't care as much as she probably should.

Her people were in there.

Her eyes were hard as she ran past bodies amongst the rubble, entering the town of Torrance.

For her friends, her family… There wasn't anything she wouldn't do!

＊＊＊

“Here.” Carina said quietly, sliding onto the bench next to Nami, offering her a steaming cup of tea. The normally vivacious girl was almost flat, her demeanor subdued.

Nami accepted it with a tremulous smile. Letting the heat of the cup warm her still frozen fingers. “Thank you, Carina.” She mumbled, opening her mouth to say something else, but pensively closing it a moment later. What could she say about all this? They'd massively overestimated themselves.

Carina clutched her own cup of tea, face equally pensive, as she scooted in closer, sharing body heat as she almost cuddled into Nami’s side. Both girls were still cold, even in the warmth of the safehouse. Carina let out a sigh, as she rested her head against Nami's shoulder.

That beyond anything else, told Nami how fucked up things had become. Carina never liked to appear weak, especially with Nami. Their friendship/rivalry hadn't allowed for either of them to truly open up with each other. Nami hadn't blamed the other girl for it, because she herself had skeletons in her closet that she had no intention of airing. Life was too rough to ever get that close to anyone. She understood it, lived by it.

Yet now… They were huddled up, taking comfort from each other. Nami wasn't used to such displays of weakness, it was making her supremely uncomfortable, especially as she couldn't make herself move away. Something inside her just needed this right now. Needed to know she wasn't alone. That all this craziness was shared with someone else. That someone cared.

“I think we messed up…” Nami said quietly after a few minutes of silence between them. As the two girls watched the Red Dawn crew members prepare themselves with frenetic pace.

It had been a frantic rush for the last few hours, getting the cat woman to her crew, getting them all moved from where they were, before the guards, or worse - the freaky monks, could find them. Carina led them all to a safehouse as soon as they were all gathered together, but they'd just barely managed to escape before the noose tightened.

Carina huffed, but notably did not speak up to disagree. Just sitting there with her tea, they'd been given a change of clothes when they'd brought the cat woman to where her crew had been holed up, so they weren't freezing to death anymore, but still Carina shivered as she watched the men and women in front of them getting ready to fight their way through the city.

Laughing and joking with each other, like their lives weren't on the line.

These weren't some rookies that didn't know how to spill blood. Nami saw uncomfortable parallels between them and Arlong's crew in the ease with which they prepared for violence. Checked their weapons, sent scouts out. It made her very aware that she'd been the one messing with this crew.

That she'd let Buggy loose on them.

Nami was wondering, not for the first time today, whether she'd make it out of this city alive.

For better or worse, her fate right now rested in the hands of pirates. Pirates she'd personally fucked over.

Nami wasn't feeling very optimistic about her chances. Her eyes took in everything around her, looking for possible escape routes. She couldn't count on pirates of all people. Even if she hadn't messed with them, they couldn't be trusted. Along had taught her what pirates were like.

Before Nami could resolve herself to move from her bench, she and Carina were both surprised by someone coming from behind them and sliding smoothly onto the bench next to Nami. I couldn't even hear her move! Nami thought, staring wide eyed at the cat woman, now in normal human form, bandages around her abdomen.

“Yoruichi, so you're alive.” Carina said flatly, smiling insincerely.

Yoruichi smirked, tossing an arm around Nami's shoulder, russling Carina’s hair, drawing an indignant squawk out of her, “I'm a Zoan, those little things couldn't hurt me.” She boasted.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Nami side eyed the delusional black girl, not really comfortable squeezed in-between the two girls, “What's… A Zoan?” She asked politely, not seeing any benefit in calling the girl out on her boasting.

Unfortunately Carina held no such thoughts, loudly declaring right into Nami's ear, the bitch! “Couldn't hurt you? So who was bleeding out on the street after passing out… Like a bitch!”

“Carina!” Nami snapped, glaring at her, trying to impress the need to not piss off their only way out of here. It was good to see Carina’s spunk back, the girl just gave her the heebie jeebies all flat and pensive, but the timing was horrible. She turned to Yoruichi, shooting off a fake dimpled smile, “Sorry about her, she never thinks before she speaks.”

Yoruichi just looked amused, her golden eyes assessing Nami before she spoke, “To answer you, Nami was it?” Yoruichi continued without waiting for her answer, “A Zoan is someone that has eaten a devil fruit and can turn into an animal.” She shook her head with a mysterious smile, “That's the easy explanation, enough for you for the moment I think.”

Nami wanted to say devil fruits were a myth, she'd heard stories, but she'd never believed them. But… After Buggy…

Carina had gained a tickmark on her forehead as she glared across Nami towards Yoruichi, “You didn't answer me, what? Cat got your tongue?” She sniped snidely.

Yoruichi rolled her eyes, arm still around Nami's shoulder, not looking overly bothered, “Normally I would have just ripped the daggers out and kept fighting, as a Zoan I can take a lot of damage before I'm worried.” Her eyebrows pulled together as she frowned, “I hadn't expected the paralytic poison… Especially such a quick acting one.”

Her golden eyes pierced Nami's, “Any idea when he had time to put that together? You two arrived together, right?” She said idly, like she was just making conversation, but her eyes were sharp and Nami was very aware suddenly of the muscular arm behind her neck.

“I… I'm not sure.” Nami said slowly, honestly not aware that Buggy had done so, “It wasn't like I followed him out of choice, so he could have easily hid something from me.” The idea rankled her a bit. That she'd failed to be observant enough. That could have been her, facing those daggers, a scratch could have been enough…

Yoruichi sighed, “Well, worth a shot. I don't know how that bastard got free… But I'll settle the score next time, we have to worry about getting out first.” Nami ducked her head, her throat closing up, not allowing her another word. She'd been the one, she almost wanted to say. She'd been the one that let Buggy out…

“Remember our deal!” Carina said harshly, and Nami elbowed her in the ribs, getting a death glare in return. Stop trying to pick a fight! Nami tried to mentally force into her friend's thick skull by a glare alone.

Yoruichi just chuckled, removing her arm, rising up from the bench, “You'll get your treasure I'm sure, but either way, you're coming with us, our captain wants a chat with little miss orange here anyway.” Yoruichi winked at Nami, before moving off to chat with one of the hovering crew members that had been following her around ever since she regained consciousness.

“Why does he want to talk to me?” Nami asked, feeling a sliver of trepidation run up her spine. He couldn't know, could he? She thought, starting to feel queasy.

Carina hummed in thought, but didn't verbally respond for a moment, her eyes following Yoruichi, “I think we should find a way to slip away in the confusion when they make a run for it.”

Nami normally would have argued about the treasure, but this time, she found herself in agreement. She didn't want to know what the captain would do to her for releasing Buggy and harming one of his crew members.

Before anything more could be said, a deafening sound exploded over the city, the walls of the building shaking, dust falling on them as it felt like the city moved for a second.

Bells began ringing across the city as panicked screams could be heard in the distance, the rain of rubble and debris crashing through the city making Nami and Carina flinch at every loud crashing sound they heard, half expecting something to land on their heads.

It had been that kind of day.

Throughout it all, they stared with wide eyes as Yoruichi just laughed, hands on her hips, as she stood in the middle of her crew members.

“Sounds like Duel’s come knocking, boys!” She shouted, getting an excited cheer back.

“Let's move out!”

Nami and Carina both whimpered at the same time, these people were all insane.

＊＊＊

Loguetown, East Blue.

Garp shook his head in disgust, watching his men drag the absolutely disgraceful excuse for a marine away. He had the gall to continue lying even to his face. Garp could not respect such weasels.

They'd been too focused on the grand line and the new world if they'd allowed such scum into positions of authority in his sea. The commander of Loguetown had a vital position, a historic one. Yet he'd been all too willing to ignore the growing threat of pirates in East Blue.

Had in fact done nothing to stem the tide. Leaving the marine bases of the sea floundering - operating on their own without a central command structure. Corruption was rampant, how many had slipped through the cracks?

So many pirates went unreported to Marineford… Was it incompetence? Or something deeper? Garp would find out. He couldn't stay long, he was needed back home before the Red Dawn pirates could reach their projected path towards the Goa kingdom. They'd shown themselves too dangerous for him to ignore, especially so close to Luffy. He'd deal with the little upstarts.

He'd call in some favors, get someone useful in charge. Temporary assignment if he had to, but this couldn't go on as it was. He'd yell at Sengoku until he folded if he had to.

This was his sea, dammit!

Garp’s fist clenched around a report that the commander had ignored, had not passed along the proper channels - had failed to inform Garp of the situation - despite him specifically requesting such information. The marine building in Loguetown almost cracked in half as he expressed his frustration, his power flickering loose for just a second.

The report, featuring the new East Blue pirate, Portgas D Ace, fluttered to the ground amidst the Vice-Admirals tantrum.

“That BRAT!” He roared to the skies. Marines huddled terrified in the hallways - as Garp smashed through the ceiling.

Somewhere in East Blue, Ace felt a shiver down his spine.

＊＊＊

This was not how Kaito had expected this to go…

The old man wasn't even fighting him. Not really.

Sure, everytime Kaito tried to leave, the old man found a way to get in the way and push Kaito back. But he did not go on the attack, ever.

He just defended the exit, while lecturing Kaito, and unfortunately somehow had the skill to not make it easy for Kaito to blow past him.

Fucking old men on mountain tops… Goddamn stereotype is real! Kaito thought, gritting his teeth in annoyance as another tempest kick from him, was casually knocked aside by the blind old wise man, cutting another groove into the temple.

“You are a naturally selfish man, I can understand that now, do you not wish to better yourself? Do something for the good of us all?” The old man said sternly, before slapping away a strike against him, barely seeming to pay attention as Kaito’s follow up strike came within inches of his face before it also, was deflected.

“Will. You. Shut. Up!” Kaito growled, leaping back, giving himself some room as he assessed the situation.

He could blow through a wall or perhaps the ceiling, but he doubted the old man would let him, he'd managed to intersperse himself in front of any avenue of attack so far, stopping just that kind of attack several times. Showing a speed that baffled Kaito.

The people of East Blue shouldn't be this fast. Kaito hadn't expected to meet anyone that could match him yet, even Archer hadn't been able to. Although he had been close.

A deep sigh, then, another lecture, “Young man, freedom is a lie, one can never be fully free. You do harm to yourself and to the people close to you by persisting with this illusion.”

“You are so full of shit! How is forcing me to stay and watch over one city any more free?” Kaito spat out, debating using his limited haki abilities. If only he could catch the wily old man. A one time knock out punch would be useless if he missed.

“Boy… It is better for you and all of us…” The head monk said, hands casually folded within his sleeves again, yet if Kaito attacked, he knew they'd somehow be deflecting him. “How many people will you hurt by your selfish desires? Even your own people, how will you hurt them, by imposing your will on them?”

Kaito flinched slightly, that had come uncomfortably close to how he'd recruited his crew, giving them no better option, pushing them under his aegis. And with Nami… And Zoro… Would be he making them worse off by poaching them from Luffy? Was he just being selfish?

Not that Zoro was likely anymore. He needed to head for Conomi next if Nami was here. He couldn't go near Goa and the surrounding islands anymore, not after likely getting Garp or one of his underlings sent straight there with his message to the Marines.

The old man took a step forward one of the few times he'd moved normally, voice going softer, smoother, more imploring, “Don't you see? The harm you'll do if you focus on only yourself? How much good you could do for Torrance if you accept your fate, follow the Prophecy!”

Why the fuck am I listening to this! Kaito shook himself, throwing his hesitation aside, for now. He'd have to think about it later, he knew he was selfish, and he owned it. But perhaps there was a balance there as well, he'd never be completely selfish, he had a crew now to take into account.

“Funny really, this concern about selfishness, when your own selfish desires is the reason why you're trying to keep me here.” Kaito said bitingly, blitzing forward, probing the monk's defenses.

Again, his every strike is deflected expertly, any attempt to go around or over the man is put down before he could even get going. But Kaito noticed it now.

The man didn't move.

Oh, he moved plenty with his upper body, deflecting strikes, moving Kaito aside with ease, but he never left his spot. Kaito had not noticed it because when he'd tried to get out by different avenues like smashing the wall - the old man had appeared in those new spots faster than Kaito could catch to intercept him. But now that he'd realized it, even those times, by the time Kaito attacked, the man was planted in place. Defending. Never moving or attacking.

“My desires are not selfish, boy, they are intended for the happiness of us all, for basking again in the light of Torrance’s majestic power.” The head monk said with a pitying expression, “You can not win here, you can not move past me, I am blessed in his name, and you will fulfill the prophecy, one can not defeat fate.”

“Tch, you haven't been paying attention then, old man.” Kaito said with a dark grin blossoming on his face. “This entire world is all about upending fate!”

Instead of another fruitless attack on the old man and his weird ability. Kaito jumped back to the pedestal, a casual swipe with his hand pulverizing it, the devil fruit caught by its stalk as he dangled it in front of him.

“If I destroy this, prophecy over, eh?” He taunted, teasingly juggling with the devil fruit, eyes intent on the suddenly tense head monk.

If his ability was some sort of defensive trump. Then all he had to do…

Kaito launched a finger gun at the fruit with his left hand, with intent to destroy, telegraphing the movement. Then all I have to do is make you attack!

The head monk disappeared from his spot in a blur of speed, desperately attempting to reach the fruit, a desperate shout of, “NO!” Preceding him.

Got you!

At the last moment Kaito switched targets, striking the head monk in both shoulders, piercing them, rendering his arms useless as the man tried to reach for the fruit.

The head monk collapsed to the floor having thrown himself for the fruit, but his arms no longer working prevented him from reaching it, or cushioning his fall, Kaito calmly dropped the devil fruit on top of the seething monk, even without eyes, Kaito could tell he was glaring at him.

“You could have been our God!” He snapped out, dropping the wise old man persona finally, something darker, in his tone.

“I make my own luck.” Kaito said, slowly walking towards the exit. This whole thing had been a bust. He had no reason to stick around, they could keep the fruit. Kaito was no one's chosen one.

“Blaming fate…Worshiping fate… Only someone too scared to live their own life would do something so foolish.” Kaito said at the threshold, looking back at the wounded monk.

“Maybe I'm selfish, but that's okay, because that's my choice. I didn't give it up to anyone else, your prophecy… Is wrong.”

He walked out of the room, glad to be rid of the frustrating old man and his weird beliefs.

Kaito was definitely not some chosen one, he was just a guy that wanted a good time, that wanted to rise to the top to enjoy the power inherent in that.

Nothing more complicated than that.

＊＊＊

Duel pushed Needles away, the man stumbling into the wall, but thereby avoiding the dagger that had been poised to take him in the eye.

She growled as she fired her pistol, not surprised to see it dodged completely. She didn't stop firing however, switching weapons as soon as she ran out of ammo, grabbing one of the many weapons she had attached to her overalls. She couldn't let up for even a minute, or they were dead. Only her constant fire had kept things contained so far.

They'd managed to get through the wall without issue, the guards too busy scrambling for search and rescue to spot them in the smoke, they'd all managed to meet up to continue deeper in the city. Everything had been going perfectly.

“Die already!” Their enemy cackled, as he became a blur of daggers. Where did he even get so many daggers?

It had gone perfectly, until they'd run into the clown, slinking through alleyways, blood running down his skull.

He was another one Duel wanted to punish, he'd injured crew members, her family.

Unfortunately… His splitting ability was incredibly annoying at the same time as it was completely shutting down her weaponry. Everything she fired was dodged by his ability - and if she stopped firing, he could stop dodging and murder her crew members.

“Who knew I'd run into more of you rats!” Buggy crooned, his head floating higher up in the air, as his body fought, Duel aimed a bullet immediately, but Buggy simply split his head in half to avoid the bullet, which would have arrived perfectly between his eyes otherwise. “Must be my lucky day!” He cackled, his head spinning, turning upside down to glare down at Duel. “After gutting that Zoan bitch, I was really hoping to run into your Captain, but you'll do…”

“Liar!” Duel cursed, reaching for another pistol, biting her lip in frustration as she realized it was the last one and she didn't have time to reload any of them, she fired another round towards Buggy’s head, before continuing her suppressing fire to keep Buggy's body busy. Her crew members pitching in, instead of running, like she ordered! Dumbasses!

“No lies, does this look like the face of a liar?” Buggy yelled out, mockingly, sticking his tongue out and rolling his eyes back, “Most honest face on the ocean!” He cackled again, his voice growing darker, as the click of Duel’s last pistol going empty rang out. “Oh, that's not good for you~” He sang.

His body, no longer needing to split as much with only the scattered shots from the crew coming its way, immediately flew towards Duel, daggers outstretched in it's hands as Buggy laughed maniacally.

Duel faced death with a grim smile on her face, flipping the mad clown off. Before suddenly she was pushed back, Needles stepping in front of her to take the attack. “NO!” She yelled hoarsely. Refusing this reality, no one should die for her, no one!

Instead of seeing the death of one of her family members, Duel slumped down in relief, Yoruichi, already in Zoan form, stood in front of them both, having punched Buggy away, the clown not dividing in time in his surprise.

“You got a little something… Right here.” Yoruichi said casually, pointing to her forehead, where on Buggy's face, an open wound bled. Her casual tone didn't match with her tense body, as every muscle seemed to be straining to move, to rip and tear. Yoruichi almost vibrating on the spot.

“YOouuuU!” Buggy roared, his whole body splitting apart, rushing towards her in a mad dash.

“Me.” Yoruichi said with grim satisfaction, her Zoan form changing, growing less muscular, more slim, her legs becoming longer, then she was gone faster than Duel could see. Duel hadn't even been aware Yoruichi could change her form.

Buggy in his insanity didn't realize at first, sending every body part to smash the woman that had hurt him, to rend her into tiny bits, his mad ranting as his head floated as overwatch blinded him from realizing that Yoruichi was attacking his pieces faster then he could see.

Only the sudden pain alerted him that something was wrong. He could feel claws tearing into his skin!

“Cheater! Cheating! Cheaaaating!” He screamed, pulling his body back together, his breathing harsh as he felt several new wounds on his body. Claw marks cut through his abdomen amongst other places. Buggy hadn't even realized he was being damaged and had failed to split apart in time.

Yoruichi came to a stop underneath him, skidding slightly, looking up, her more elongated face giving him a toothy grin, “More like Cheetah, but Jaguar style.” She taunted, her tail waving behind her.

“IKILLYooOuU!” Buggy snarled, flying down hands outstretched to strangle his enemy, all sense and reason lost to him with the sudden pain added to everything else.

Suddenly he had to split and dodge as he noticed the gun woman had apparently reloaded and was firing at him again. He snarled, turning her way, sending a dagger loaded hand to kill her, momentarily forgetting about his prey in his distracted state, bullets flying around him.

Buggy suddenly twitched in the air, his parts collapsing.

The claws through his eyes and into his brain were the cause. Yoruichi fell down from her jump, a satisfied look on her face as she transformed back. Uncaring about her bloody claws turning into bloodied fingers.

The mad clown had lost all focus, and taken his eye off his number one threat. His splitting no longer automatic as the crazed clown focused his entire being on killing Duel, keeping the rest of himself together, a fatal mistake.

The crew stared as Buggy the Clown fell onto the cobblestones, dead. There was grim satisfaction all around.

A soft tap on the ground behind them had everyone flash weapons, only to exhale in relief as Kaito set down on the cobblestones from his moonwalk.

“Sorry Captain, I know you wanted him alive.” Yoruichi said, not sounding very sorry at all.

Kaito looked around the area, taking it all in, before approaching Buggy's body, poking at it with a toe, “It's probably better this way. I don't know how he escaped, but the minute he did, he became too much of a liability.”

“Let's get out of here.” Kaito ordered, walking away from the body, he'd attacked his crew, as far as Kaito was concerned, he got what he deserved. His only regret was not killing the bastard from the start. His decision had cost his crew.

As the two contingents of the crew got together and readied for the likely fight to get out of the city, Kaito approached Carina, and Nami. Inwardly geeking out a little that she was truly here. He'd half suspected they'd run off, but seeing so many of his crew around them, they'd likely never had the chance.

He opened his mouth to offer them a ride out of this place, and to apologize for the lost treasure, when his senses kicked in, moving as fast as he's ever moved, his arm flickered forward as he thundered out, “Iron body!”

The palm of his hand just managed to get in front of Nami's face as the bullet impacted it, crushing itself against his hardened palm. The bullet that would have impacted Nami between the eyes.

Someone had just tried to kill Nami!

Nami fell back, panicked, as Carina pulled her back even further, behind herself, screeching, “What the hell are you doing!?”

Kaito glared at Duel, who's smoking pistol was still pointed at Nami, “Duel! What the hell!?” He was lost for any more words, shocked that one of his own had done this.

Duel's glare turned from Nami to him, and Kaito flinched back, he'd never seen the woman so angry before. “Explain yourself!” He ordered still, because Duel had just attempted to murder Nami.

Duel scoffed, angrily returning her pistol to the harness over her overalls, “Hurt. Crew.” She said succinctly, glaring at Nami, which didn't explain much of anything to Kaito, who realized he was asking the wrong person if he wanted the full story.

Duel was not the best at telling stories for obvious reasons.

“Anyone else?” He asked, making sure he stood in-between the crew and Nami and Carina, the orange haired girl standing again, shaking in Carina's arm as Carina glared at everyone.

The sound of a commotion not far away interrupted things, Yoruichi cursing, “Guards.” She called out, eyes flickering between Duel and the girls. “We'll sort this out on the ship, whatever the girls have done… They helped me when they could have left me for dead.” She said decisively, eyes going to Kaito seeking approval.

Kaito nodded tiredly, just now noticing the bandages around Yoruichi’s midriff. How much have I screwed up for this crew today? He wondered. He turned to the girls, “I apologize for that, emotions can get heated sometimes… Come with us to our ship, you're not safe here on your own.”

Carina snarled at him, “We had a deal!”

Kaito sighed, he didn't have time for this, he could already hear his people clashing with the guards. “We can talk about it on the ship.” He stated firmly.

“And if we don't want to go?” Carina asked, still holding on to Nami who was giving him a stubborn look that didn't do much to hide the fear underneath.

What an absolute fucking shit fest this all is… Kaito thought, running a hand through his hair, before he replied, as neutrally as he could manage, “Until I find out why my crew attempted to murder you, you'll both be coming with me. I promise that you'll get heard fairly.”

“Promise that we'll be let go alive.” Carina asked, looking defeated. “That you won't just let your crew murder her, us.”

Nami flinched, looking towards Carina, muttering something that Kaito couldn't hear, but obviously Carina could - as her eyes grew more desperate, “Promise!” She insisted.

Kaito eyed his crew, seeing Duel's eyes still on the three of them. The absolute rage burning there in her gaze, the way her hand was not far from her weapons, the fact she was not helping the crew fight, but was instead watching them. “I promise.” He said, wondering if he would come to regret it.

＊＊＊

The fight to get out of the city was nothing special once Kaito and Yoruichi teamed up to be the vanguard of their crew, tearing through the guard forces and what few monks showed up. They only made one small stop, Nami letting them know where a chest of treasure was. One that Kaito recognized… He didn't mention it for now, although he now suspected some of why she was so reviled. She'd robbed them at the very least.

Duel would have been helpful in the fighting as well, but she stayed close by to their guests, hands never far away from her weapons.

The whole thing was an odd dichotomy. The people that had been with Yoruichi were thankful for the girls, for them saving Yoruichi or that much he heard in-between the fighting.

The group that arrived with Duel however… Sent Nami murderous looks, and refused to get into what exactly had happened until they returned. Which left the two halves of the crew in Torrance in an odd place. Both crews separated by their opinion on Nami, fighting together, but still obviously separated.

Kaito might have been a bit more brutal than normal, tearing through the opposition without mercy, dealing with the frustration he was facing. His crew was at odds with each other, and one person was the fulcrum of it all.

A person he'd been wanting to recruit.

Everyone was exhausted by the time they made it outside the city, Kaito and Yoruichi slowly bringing up the rearguard at that point, preventing pursuit, as Duel and Needles went ahead towards where they'd stashed the boats and to use the firework flare they'd saved to signal their ship.

All in all, it took them several hours to get everyone back onboard, constantly dealing with harrassing suicidal guardsmen and monks who just wouldn't give up. Kaito regretted not killing the head monk, by the time he, Yoruichi and the two girls he'd wanted to recruit - finally made it onto the ship.

Straight into the Inquisition.

Wire and Duel at the head of the crew. Staring daggers at Nami.

Nami… What did you do?

＊＊＊

“Why is she on the ship?” Wire bit out the minute they boarded. Flanked by Duel, with Apple behind them, leaning against Blackjack. The rest of the crew all standing around, watching them.

Kaito raised his hands, absolutely exhausted, “Peace, Wire, I don't know anything about what's going on, so can we start with what's actually happened?”

Wire glared at him, chewing his lip angrily, before he spat on the deck, “Fucking fine then…”He pointed at Nami, who shrank back slightly, but still held her head high, refusing to completely back down, “That bitch there, seduced and drugged Apple so she could sneak aboard, stole all our shit, let Buggy fucking free, which injured a couple of our mates, and the ship, she's a fucking enemy, plain and simple!”

Kaito pinched the bridge of his nose, listening to the angry murmurs of his crew. He turned slightly, looking at Nami and Carina, “Is this true?” He asked.

“You fucking calling me a liar?” Wire barked out, taking a confrontational step forward. “Are you? Captain?”

Yoruichi stepped forward, one hand raised. Archer was already by her side, hovering ever since he saw her get onboard with bandages around her midriff. “Wire, no one's calling you a liar, but the girl did save my life, so she's at least owed the right to answer the accusation.”

“Fuck… Really?” Wire asked, looking in askance at Yoruichi. “Fucking hell, fine.” He muttered darkly, waving a hand for Nami to go on. Duel didn't seem impressed, but the murmurs of the crew were now not as confrontational, saving a crew member's life was no small thing.

Kaito had at least gotten that story out of Yoruichi on the way. Although her wounds wouldn't have killed her. Nami and Carina could have left her there, to be killed by Buggy or anyone else. So he agreed that they had indeed helped save her life.

Probably not out of the goodness of their hearts, but intent didn't matter in this situation. Only the action itself.

Nami stepped forward, pushing Carina away as her friend tried to follow, she held her head high as she came to stand in front of Kaito, facing the crew. “I… Don't have an excuse. Not for what I did. I hate pirates. I have my reasons for that. But… I shouldn't have used Apple, I shouldn't have released Buggy to cover my escape. I shouldn't have done a lot of things. I'm not asking for forgiveness, I'm just asking if that's worth killing me for?”

Nami took a slow breath, shaking slightly as she continued, “You've done horrible things, I'm sure, I… Don't owe you anything. But I'm sorry…”

It took guts to stand in front of everyone and straight up say it like that. Kaito thought.

Nami looked towards Apple, biting her lip. “Is it really something I should die for?” She asked again.

“Yes.” Duel said coldly, fingering one of her pistols.

Wire looked more conflicted, as he looked over the crew, rubbing his mohawk, “Damn it all, why the fuck you gotta go make things complicated by saving one of us.” He spat out.

Kaito doubted that was all of it. For all his bluster, Wire was a smart man. No doubt hearing Nami talk, he realized the situation wasn't quite up to murder everything standards.

Duel turned to glare at him, “Wire.” She said, but the one word held a lot of recrimination. Duel obviously did not agree with his lessening stance.

“Fuck you Duel, no one died, and she saved one of us! I'll still hate the bitch, but I can't kill someone for saving one of us.” Wire said, rubbing his face, “We've done some shit things as well, were would we be if our enemies all killed us for every thing we stole or everyone we fucked up?” He explained tersely, getting a lot of agreeing murmurs.

Carina stepped forward confidently, Kaito recognized it as fake immediately with how shaky her voice was for a second before she could control it, “W-we made a deal with your Captain, that should count for something also.”

Kaito scratched his chin sheepishly, “About that, the treasure the monks held was actually just Torrance's devil fruit. So I didn't bring you any treasure.” Not that Carina so much helped us escape the city either… That whole deal was pointless…

“We helped you, so you'll get us out of here. It's only fair.” Carina insisted, even as she glared at Kaito for missing out on any treasure.

He didn't know why she blamed him, she's the one that had the completely wrong information on what the temple held.

Archer interjected calmly, his deep voice easily heard above the mutters, “They saved Yoruichi. We're helping them.” He said with finality, voicing his support.

Yoruichi gave Kaito a thumbs up, even though her grin was weak, the information they'd received about Nami's actions not exactly buying goodwill, “I don't like what she did, but they saved me, they're owed at least transport out of this hellhole.” She said, showing some reluctance.

Two officers had now come out in support. Kaito sighed, waving the girls back as he stepped forward, taking the attention off the two a bit. “You likely know my position, so now the question becomes, is there any way we can do this? I don't want to hurt anyone here, but I also don't want to leave these two to face all the consequences of all our actions in this city after they saved one of us.”

Carina and Nami might normally be able to handle escaping on their own, but the city was a chaotic mess right now, and Kaito had no idea what the nutjob head monk would do if he found two people who'd had involvement in everything that happened.

Duel scoffed, looking about ready to lose it, when a hand on her elbow stopped her. Apple, supported by Blackjack, came forward. Still unsteady from her drugging, even as far removed from it as they were. Damn, Nami, what the fuck did you use on her? Kaito thought, feeling uncomfortable with the whole situation involving Apple and Nami.

“Duel… Settle down. I'm okay.” Apple said softly. “Thank you for fighting for me, but honestly, I'm okay.”

Duel crossed her arms and scoffed again, but she didn't speak up or soften her stance. Kaito had a feeling that angry Duel didn't listen to too many people.

Apple looked towards Nami, a neutral expression on her face, “Do you regret it?” She asked.

Nami didn't even hesitate, bowing her head, “Yes, even as I did it I regretted it, I shouldn't have hurt you like that, even as a pirate you didn't deserve it.” She appeared honestly contrite.

That likely helped her with some of those assembled, Kaito thought.

Apple nodded her head calmly, patting a serious looking Blackjack on the cheek, “Take me back to bed Jackie, I don't need to be here any longer, she'll need to grovel at my feet, but I don't have an issue with providing transport.”

The way she stressed the word… Kaito had a sinking feeling that even if he convinced Nami to join, somehow, after this absolute clusterfuck. Convincing his crew might be an impossibility. He might have to give up on his navigator…

“Great, we're all fucking hugging each other and everything.” Wire spat, giving everyone dirty looks, but it lacked the heat he'd held before. “Fine, whatever, the girls can come along until the next island.” Wire grumbled, before pointing at Kaito, “Captain! This is on your head, they fuck up, I'm holding you responsible.”

“They won't, she even brought back the money she stole. I understand everyone's anger, but we're pirates, criminals, some of us have no doubt done much of the same, she's repented, helped save Yoruichi, brought back the loot, let's give her a chance at least.” Kaito implored, not seeing too many faces that agreed with him. But at least he didn't have an angy mob ready to lynch Nami on his hands anymore.

Duel stepped right up to Nami, nose to nose, as Carina squeaked in anger as Duel pushed her aside. “Never. Forgive.” She snarled, before she stomped off. Everyone gave her room, no one foolish enough to get in her way.

“Well that went well.” Kaito said, trying to inject some cheer, as the crew began to disperse to their duties.

Both Nami and Carina looked at him like he was crazy.

Next stop… Conomi island. Kaito thought, pensively.

If anything could change his crew's mind, it was Nami's story.

And if it didn't… Well, he would be out a navigator, but at least Nami wouldn't be suffering anymore.

Unknown to anyone onboard, one of the fruits in the hold had changed.

Innocently sitting amongst the rest.

＊＊＊