＊＊＊

Marineford.

2 days after the island incident in East Blue.

Commodore Brannew felt a thread of honest and pure annoyance run through him. The offices of his department were a gigantic mess, courtesy of Vice-Admiral Garp, who had for some reason taken a larger than normal interest in East Blue this year - more than normally that is, as the man was always keeping an eye on that sea. Brannew could appreciate the kind of patriotism displayed by the Hero of the marines - watching over the sea that spawned Gol D Roger like a hawk, ready to snap down and end another wannabe king. It was just terrible for his office's efficiency and order, however - when that incarnation of chaos came through like a whirlwind and upended all their work. Not to mention it always took weeks to get all the crumbs out of everything… Half the time they couldn't even find what reports were from Goa and which ones were from Whitewater - and they were in separate parts of East Blue! The mess defied logic - how could Goa reports be misplaced just by Garp's presence, the man never even went near the files!?

Brannew was proud of the work he did, running the department that identified and classified the pirate threats around the world. It was their work that had ended threats before they could gain traction - with a well placed, proper, bounty level, that had the threats taken down with extreme prejudice before they could bother the world government and its member nations.

Now he stood just outside his office, seething in impotent frustration. A Commodore could not gainsay a Vice-Admiral, especially not the Vice-Admiral, but the department would be set back for days, fixing the mess Garp left behind. He rubbed his forehead, trying to keep a stress migraine away, he had two new holes in the wall he'd have to request repaired, one entrance hole and one exit one - why couldn't the man use the same one instead of vandalizing more of his department? Brannew thought, frustration if anything growing, as he looked out over his department's disarray. He was lucky the maintenance department were used to Garp's antics - they fast tracked any request with the name Garp on it as the reason for repairs.

There was actually a whole team in the maintenance department whose only job was to follow Garp around Marineford and clean up after him. Brannew expected them here within the hour if things went as usual.

His aide, Lieutenant Harrow, arrived soon thereafter, while Brannew was busy pondering his department. Unfortunately, Harrow was not arriving with a fix to his impending migraine. He was carrying a stack of dispatches. The new reports from East Blue. Just what he needed today. At least they arrived after Garp, this time. "Please tell me we've got nothing urgent." He growled out, as Harrow closed in with the heavy stack precariously balanced in his arms, the top of the pile brushing the ceiling. It was an unfortunate reality that the reports of piracy were still in such numbers that they never had a slow day.

That's why they worked so hard, so one day their children would be lucky if they got a single report a day of piracy and their kind, a world of justice.

Harrow somehow reached into the middle of the pile and pulled out a few sheets of papers in a file folder - all the while balancing the stack, puffing away at his cigarette nonchalantly, face set in his normal sleep deprived look. "Most are small fish, but you might want to look at this one."

Brannew sighed deeply, but he was a man of justice, and justice never rested, Harrow would not bother him if it wasn't truly important, he reached for the file and skimmed through it quickly, years of doing this job allowing him to determine quickly if someone would be a threat or not, with just a skim of their file.

"A destroyed island!?" He cursed, paying closer attention to the file. "Who would have that kind of power in the East Blue?" It got worse as it continued, a marine captain turned traitor to join this pirate, a major marine base completely crushed, a criminal gang turned pirates. Then he read the report from the few survivors of the apparent Whitewater crush - the pirate captain utilized the six powers. Impossible!

Brannew read that part again just to be sure he was not having a migraine induced hallucination.

Someone in East Blue was going to be demoted at the very least, if he had his way - how was this not reported to him, when it first happened? And now they'd gone ahead and destroyed an island. A small one that apparently only had one small fishing village on it (having been found and developed and added to the maps) but still an absolute travesty of justice. He'd need to get to the bottom of exactly who failed to report in a timely manner. The destruction of their base was not an excuse.

Justice did not wait.

His mind scrambled for any idea to latch onto to make this whole mess make sense. The six powers were not spread out and disseminated to just anyone, they were a powerful tool for the marines and the world government in the war against pirates and rebels. This was not a cipher pol operation, it couldn't be - not in East Blue and not like this. Cipher pol were not this flashy. And did not leave survivors to tell tales, at least not very often… But destroying an island like this… It didn't really scream cipher pol to him.

"Get someone from the cipher pols, I don't care who, give them a copy of the file and demand an explanation - you probably won't get one, but at least they can get on this - it's in their interest just as much as ours." He ordered sharply. Harrow knew him and his process well, so besides nodding, he stood still at attention, waiting.

Brannew flipped through the file, focusing on the photos, "There were barely any survivors, how did we get such good photos already?" He asked, peering at them suspiciously. Usually they had to send out and get them surreptitiously - he rarely had such a thing on a first report. Anything out of the ordinary was suspicious. He dealt with thousands of files - no names ever came with immediate identifying information - unless they were defecting marines, royal soldiers and the like, who'd already have their pictures on file. That's why they had their own photographic service to gather those.

Harrow coughed lightly, "Apparently this Kaito sent it all in himself, picture and all, he wanted to make sure he got a flattering photo."

The frenetic actions of staffers around them froze, every marine that heard that ridiculous statement, stopping in their duties to stare.

Because, what!?

Brannew clenched the file, his hands spasming, as he gritted his teeth, eyes flashing behind his sunglasses. "Are you telling me…" He said dangerously, "That the only reason I am holding this file right now, is because the pirate in question sent in the information himself!?"

"That is so," Harrow said plainly, dark eyes uncaring, "Well except for the witness accounts from Whitewater," He amended, "We got those, once someone checked into the story, apparently they'd called Loguetown once their patrol ships returned, and their report never went any further." He shrugged, "Some petty officer or something got the packet from the pirate and put two and two together and sent it on to us under the nose of their commander, who was apparently, ah… Drunk." Harrow looked constipated at that.

Brannew felt something much worse than constipation. Everyone had some vices - it was an unfortunate part of life. Loguetown however… It was the last watchtower before the grand line. The last line of defense to make sure something like Gol D Roger could not leave East Blue again. For their commander to miss this… Due to such dereliction of duty!

Brannew stared down at the file, his mind on the pirate again, the audacity… Never before had he encountered a pirate sending him their information for a bounty. "Report that to the top, all the way. Loguetown needs to hang for this - obviously their commander is not fit for duty." He stopped Harrow before he could leave, having had a thought, "Wait, no. Report it to Garp." He ordered quickly.

Harrow waited a moment for another order, When Brannew gave none, he nodded sharply, before he put his pile of files and papers down on a nearby desk and clicked his heels together, before turning around and making his way out with only one file in his hands. This is why Brannew appreciated the Lieutenant so much, he'd already copied the file, anticipating his orders before even entering the department.

He'd have to get together with the other officers and form a proper bounty for this threat - let Garp deal with Loguetowns failures. If they were lucky, with how interested in the sea the Vice-Admiral had been lately - he'd take care of the problem for them. Both of them.

Before the cipher pols got involved.

If they were even luckier, maybe Garp would be out of his hair for a couple months.

No matter.

Justice would prevail either way.

And better that some lousy pirate suffered from Garps interest then he.

＊＊＊

The first week after the creepy monster island was spent on a much lighter schedule than normally. Kaito and Yoruichi both decided together - that the crew needed the break after that bullshit.

Also they all had minor wounds to lick as well, so the break was warranted. The only major operation carried out during this down time was the complete cleaning of the ship - inside and out. The smell had been…. Strong. Yoruichi had been wounded nasally, more than anything she suffered during the actual battle - the smell was that bad.

It took them another two weeks to get close to another island, further underscoring how vast the distances were in this world, and leaving them a little more needy for supplies now, having gotten nothing from their previous island, for obvious reasons. They could have hit other islands sooner, but it would have taken them away from their direction towards Goa, so Kaito had ordered them to continue forward.

This morning, Kaito could be found lazing, hanging over the railing, staring down at the roaring waves of the clear sparkling water. They would hit an actual island today. And this for sure was an actual island. According to Yoruichi, it shouldn't have a marine presence, so they could just sail into port. Kaito figured they all needed proper shore leave, so no raiding or funny business.

They'd just have a calm relaxing time, stock up for their continued journey towards the proximity of the Goa kingdom - and get the morale up a bit. Money wise they were nowhere near needing to raid yet - their stash from Whitewater and all that they'd taken from the marine base there, holding them well still. It was mostly food and drink they needed to restock.

Mostly drinks. They could fish for food. But they would be in desperate need for more alcohol soon.

"Beri for your thoughts?" Yoruichi asked curiously, joining him at the railing, turned so that she was leaning her elbows over it, her hair loose and catching in the wind. a casual shorts and tank top combo in royal purple, her chosen lounging about outfit for the day.

Kaito looked across the water, "I'm wondering…" He began slowly, meeting Yoruichi's encouraging golden gaze, "If I should inflict baby shark upon the world." Kaito tilted his head, staring down into the water, "The world might not be ready." He mused out loud.

Yoruichi let out an amused huff, "As usual I have no idea what you're saying."

They both stood in silence for a few moments, just enjoying the wind and the sounds of the ocean. The noise of their crew mocking each other and laughing, enjoying their downtime.

Kaito breathed out, almost melting across the railing, feeling so relaxed, "It's a ~song~" He sang.

"Then no, don't inflict your singing on the world." Yoruichi chuckled, wincing slightly, shaking her head, "If you're done thinking of questionable music, we're going to reach Torrance at some point today, according to the charts, or so Apple says, we should talk about what we're doing."

Kaito pouted, "Why is always work, work, work, with you?" He whined, slumping down further onto the railing, looking petulant.

"Someone has to do it." Yoruichi fired back easily, a quick upturn to her lips showing Kaito she was having difficulty containing her amusement. She'd been like that alot lately. Like she found Kaito amusing. There ought to be something in the pirate rulebook that it was mutiny for first mates to feel that way.

"My first mate is a bully." Kaito grumbled playfully, standing up properly, giving the railing a nice pat, "Alas, I am now drawn away from my resting place by a vicious ogre, I shall see you once again!" He declared with flourish.

Yoruichi covered her face with one hand, her shoulders shaking silently, "Did you just bid farewell to a piece of railing?" She asked mirthfully, as they both began to walk away. Yoruichi was unable to hold back a teasing grin as she punched Kaito in the shoulder, hard. "And who's an ogre, huh?"

She obviously didn't take offense too badly, since she was grinning at him - but that was one hard punch still. Kaito rubbed his shoulder, "You are, you just punched me, it's confirmed." He shook his head as Yoruichi just let loose a tinkling laugh at that, walking ahead of him, "Hey and you owe me one beri, woman! Don't scam me!" He called out, before following her. She was definitely the kind of woman it did not hurt to walk behind.

All that training they were doing on shave and moonwalk was, umm, shaping her behind, very well.

He followed her with an easy grin on his face, she seemed much more comfortable aboard now. It was good to see.

Maybe he knew what he was doing with this whole crew thing.

Eat your heart out rubber idiot!

＊＊＊

The island of Torrance, East Blue.

By early evening they arrived at Torrance, the island's only city seemed to be in the middle of some sort of festival, the docks and the city spread around it - lit up in paper lanterns, banners and garlands strewn up between buildings, large crowds could be seen all the way from the docks, where the red Dawn Pirates were sailing in, even over those impressive big walls they had. The docks, despite the ongoing festival, were practically empty, and there were no other ships with a jolly roger anywhere to be seen.

On the plus side, there were also no marine ships in sight.

The island itself was heavily mountainous, the docks and the area around it full of tall buildings clustered together, everything beyond the city (at least in sight) seemed to be pure mountainous woods, except for a temple seemingly standing alone, halfway up the mountain, overlooking the city of Torrance.

Kaito observed the city with a practiced eye, Yoruichi had never heard of there being a marine presence on this island - and from what Kaito saw, they probably didn't need one. Everything on Torrance seemed built out of the mountain itself, the docks were watched over by a thick wall with cannons interspersed often enough to have a full range of the docks, several watchtowers seemed fully crewed even at a festival time like today - showing that they took security seriously. Only one entrance was leading into the city itself. Most pirates who tried to get funny probably never even made it off their ships. The rest of the city that could be seen behind the walls - seen even from the dock, as the city itself grew up the mountainous terrain on an angle - was covered by a wall running around the entirety of the city - except the back, which was literally the mountain itself. So no attacking from a different direction after docking on the other side of the island either. They must have farms or something somewhere on the island, he supposed, because Kaito couldn't imagine they shipped in a lot of produce and schlepped it up the roads in this city - that would be absolutely horrid. It was pretty steep, it made him wonder how they'd traffic supplies down to the ship without risking it literally flying down the streets and crushing someone at the slightest slipup.

Well not his problem. He wasn't a logistics manager. He's a pirate captain. Worst case he could bully someone into explaining it all. Or let Yoruichi deal with the logistics of it all - that's why he had a first mate, after all. All the glory and cool fights to him - all the drudge work to her.

He'd just have to remember not to say that out loud.

He wouldn't conquer the grand like if he was forced to become a soprano.

Kaito didn't think a city like this, in a place like East Blue, had many willing contenders to take it on, which suited him just fine at the moment. Of course since they seemingly allowed pirates in to shop and enjoy the sights, an inside job was a possible avenue, but surely they'd accounted for that as well - it would be foolish not to - besides, it was purely theoretical, he has no intention of performing any raid, either way. With some sort of festival going on, this had all the hallmarks of a perfect place for shore leave - as long as they all behaved moderately well…

They could do that right?

"Everyone is clear, aye?" He called out to the crew waiting eagerly behind him, once they had docked. "Groups of four, don't split up, don't get too drunk. Rotate back to the ship after six hours for the next shift to get shore leave." He'd donned his new captain's coat - tailored by Apple, who seemed to have a wide variety of useful skills. Modeling it after the marines' justice coats, except in black, with red lining, his pirate mark proudly displayed on the back amongst the red clouds. He wore it over his shoulders, a gold chain attached to it around his neck, keeping it from falling off, leaving his chest bare - for intimidation factor, level of cool - and to show off all his hard work over the years. He had a simple set of black cargo pants and combat boots on, his belt holding a dagger and two pistols - never hurt to have more tools available after all.

"Yes, yes. Be nice, behave. Be boring. We got it!" Apple said impatiently, the short colorful artist rolling her eyes as Kaito turned and gave her a look, "I've already been kidnapped by a tentacle monster, it's not going to be worse than that." She pointed out, a small cocky smirk on her face.

Kaito pointed at Apple imperiously, flaring his coat back dramatically, "Just for that sass, and for tempting fate!" His eyes roamed across the crew, easily finding his target, due to it being taller than anyone else, "Pie, change of plans, you're going with Apple's lot, if anyone touches her, you break them into pieces." He hummed thoughtfully, cocking his head, "And then set fire to the pieces, mmkay?"

Many in the crew broke out laughing at Apple's absolutely betrayed look, even as Pie lumbered over, giving Kaito a salute, showing that he understood his orders. Even Duel could be seen laughing along, which made Kaito smirk wider. She'd been slightly withdrawn in the days after the island debacle, it was good to see her in a better mood.

"How am I going to get laid if I have this lug standing behind me the entire night!" Apple hissed at Kaito. Patting Pie on the leg companionably to show she didn't mean anything against him.

Wire immediately jumped in, "Oi, none of that!" He ordered sternly, muscling his way through the amused crew. " 'Sides in a group of four you can't pull that shit off anyway, good thinking, Captain." Wire gave Kaito an approving nod and thumbs up, the crew growing more amused at the show they were getting before their shore leave.

Apple stomped on Wires' foot, hard. Turning and glaring at Kaito, as the quartermaster started cursing and hopping on one foot. "I'd just like to have the option, damnit, don't be a party pooper, Captain!"

"Yeah, Kaito, don't ruin the party." Yoruichi called out with a grin, from where she was sitting straddled across the railing, observing the hubbub. She'd already organized all the logistics, and was now therefore free to mock, as Kaito tried to rein in his excitable crew.

"Ladies, ladies!" Kaito held his hands up placatingly, "If you need a man…." He didn't get to finish before he had to duck from an assortment of items thrown his way. Apple especially glaring at him hard, her cheeks red.

Kaito laughed, loud and carefree, holding his hands up again, settling the crew down, "I kid, I kid, if someone has an itch to scratch, man or woman or Wire, (the laughter doubled in volume at that) have fun and enjoy, but still, groups of four is mandatory, so have your fun in a locale where your buddies can watch your back from another room or the tavern room under it - just in case."

"Or bring them back to the ship!" Yoruichi hollered, bringing another set of laughter from the gathered crew.

"You're an artist anyway, Apple! Put on a show on the ship for us all, aye?" Cloud shouted from the back of the group. He was part of Apple's lot, so he'd probably suffer for that comment at some point.

"I hate you all." Apple grumbled, a reluctant smirk blooming onto her face as another crew member ruffled her hair playfully, "Fine whatever, Pie is gonna watch my back, you just watch yours, Captain." She said sweetly. A threatening aura blooming around her. Before she led the exodus, being the first off the ship. Pie lumbering off after her, together with two other crew members.

"Everyone's pent up." Archer rumbled as he came up to Kaito as the crowd of crewmen started to ease up, Yoruichi hopping off her railing to join them. "For such a tight crew, it seems they don't fraternize with each other, that way."

Wire joined them as well, still limping slightly, a scowl on his face, "Fucking right we don't, most of us have fucking known each other since we were little brats, you got any idea how fucked a crew would get if we all started doing that?"

"Very fucked." Kaito said, wagging his eyebrows. Earning a snort from both Archer and Yoruichi, and a glowering look from Wire. Duel took one look at their little officer gathering, and promptly disappeared back towards her workshop. Slacker!

"They're all like my sisters, don't fucking be disgusting!" He cursed, giving Kaito a hard punch to the shoulder. Coincidentally the same shoulder Yoruichi already punched.

"Why's everyone hitting me lately?" Kaito complained, an easy grin on his face, "No matter, I can take it, I accept hugs as well." He held his arms out wide for the always grouchy quartermaster.

Cue eye rolls from them all, even Archer. Kaito pouted and lowered his arms, hugs were awesome, they were all bullies with no heart.

"This should be a cakewalk, but just in case, keep an eye out. We don't want those guns turned on us." Kaito warned, getting serious for a moment. They'd be sitting ducks if things turned sour here.

They'd drawn lots to decide who amongst the officers would go out into the city with crew slot number 1 and who would stay with the ship with crew slot number 2. They'd be staying - if all went to plan - for at least two days. That would mean that the crew in the number 2 slot would get the earlier day and evening time that their contemporaries were enjoying now, tomorrow. And likewise the night time bar crawl that would tonight go to slot 2, would tomorrow be crew slot 1's to enjoy. They'd tried to be fair to ensure there wasn't any competition or acrimony over shore leave. Kaito and Yoruichi would be with slot 1, leaving Archer, Wire and Duel with slot 2.

"We'll keep an eye out, and find out what's going on locally - suss out suppliers and the like." Kaito said, now all business. "Make sure you keep a watch, I want eyes on that wall at all times - if those cannons move, I want Duel and Archer defending the ship from them, while you Wire, get the ship out of here."

"We know the bloody drill." Wire muttered and just to be contrary added, "Still a fucking stupid idea, leaving you all behind."

"They can get out past the wall if necessary, and rendezvous out of reach of the cannons at another point of the island, but we can't wait for us all to make it back to the ship if they open fire. It's logical." Archer calmly rebutted.

"As long as we behave there shouldn't be an issue, pirates come through here all the time." Yoruichi said, a mischievous cast to her face, "So we all know it will be Kaito's fault if something goes wrong, right?."

"Hey?"

"Naturally."

"Of fucking course!"

"The tentacle monster island was not my fault." Kaito protested vigorously.

The other three shared a loaded look. "You're good luck is turning bad, is all." Archer said politely.

"Come on guys, it seriously wasn't!" Kaito whined, as Yoruichi dragged him off the ship. Ending the conversation.

Kaito immediately straightened up and rushed ahead as soon as she let go, he had a whole new island to explore. And this time he was fairly certain it was an actual island.

What's the worst that could happen? There weren't even any marines or other pirates here. This would be the easy, fun, island they all needed.

＊＊＊

They just managed to enter through the massive gate when they were immediately accosted.

By a pretty girl of all things, so Kaito wasn't complaining, she had light purple hair in a ponytail, a mischievous look to her blue eyes and was wearing a cute floral dress that barely contained her sizable cleavage, and there was a lot, for such a slim girl.

Kaito liked this island much better than the previous one already. You couldn't even compare the welcoming committees!

"Hello and welcome to Torrance!" She chirped cutely, doing an exaggerated curtsy in front of them, surely, purely 'accidentally' flashing her cleavage. "Do you need the assistance of a tour guide, perhaps?" She tilted her head, and blinked at them, with wide innocent eyes. A cute dimpled smile on her face.

"Yes, all the yes!" Kaito agreed cheerfully, matching the energy of the girl. Yoruichi rolled her eyes at his side, letting out a slight huff, "This is so going to be a trap of some kind." She muttered, quietly enough that only Kaito heard it, due to the bustle around them of people moving through the gate.

"Of course it is - ditzy tour guide is practically a classic, but information will be useful." Kaito said out of the corner of his mouth, giving the tour guide an exaggerated thumbs up, coupled with a wink. "And what might your name be then, pretty miss tour guide?" He spoke up loudly, covering Yoruichi's continued muttering.

"She's no civilian airhead tour guide, her ridiculous chest notwithstanding - she has a gymnast build and some real muscles in those legs and arms." Yoruichi said quietly, tilting her head to the side, towards Kaito, making a point of looking aggravated, while also preventing her lips from being read. Let the 'tour guide' assume she's annoyed at the addition of a pretty girl to the party.

Kaito gave Yoruichi a warning look, his first mate settling down with a petulant look on her face, as their guide did a little twirl in front of them, her dress swishing around her, showing off her strong looking legs. That's the only reason Kaito looked, to judge how strong they might be. Really.

"My name's Carina, pleasure to be of service." She said with a wink at Kaito, before leaning forward and grasping his arm, "I'll show you anything you want to see." She finished flirtatiously. Fingers lightly trailing down his arm. Rookie mistake, Kaito thought. By the feel of those calluses on her fingers, she was as far away from a civilian as he was. He smiled down at her and played along, acting smitten.

"Out of the goodness of your heart, I'm sure." Yoruichi said dryly, crossing her arms. Perfecting the annoyed look of a girlfriend/companion.

"For a modest fee," Carina corrected her cheerfully, giving Yoruichi a once over before sniffing condescendingly, turning back to Kaito, and thereby missing the sudden irritable sharpness to Yoruichi's gaze. "A strong pirate like yourself can surely afford it…" She practically purred, as she brushed up against Kaito, looking up at him with those wide blue eyes.

"I surely can." Kaito agreed magnanimously, offering his arm, which Carina happily clomped onto, "Lead on then, pretty miss Carina." He finished with a smirk.

Yoruichi stepped up to the other side of him, her hair almost smacking him in the chest with how hard she was shaking her head, "How'd you know we were pirates?" She asked Carina, going along with Kaito's idea to gather information.

Carina smirked briefly, showing some fire beneath that silly girl act, before her eyes blinked innocently again and she tilted her head cutely, the moment lost, and it might have gone undetected entirely, if Kaito and Yoruichi hadn't been immediately suspicious already. "He's wearing a Captain's coat." She said matter of factly, a look of innocent puzzlement on her face.

"That's it?" Yoruichi asked skeptically. Arms still crossed under her bust and the simple black tank top she'd decided to wear. The simple black skirt accompanying it made her feel underdressed, compared to this (likely con artist) with her fine floral dress and pretty pearl necklace and earrings.

Carina shrugged, tugging on Kaito's arm as they separated from the crowd around the entrance to Torrance. "Pirates stop by here pretty often to stock up, so it wasn't a difficult guess."

"How does that work, by the way? This whole city is carved out of a mountain, it just goes up and up and up!" Kaito gestured to the steep incline ahead of them, where the wide cobblestone road was climbing up - snaking its way in-between large blocks of buildings carved out of the mountain. It wasn't pretty by any stretch, but Kaito would hate having to try and assault a place like this.

Carina giggled, giving him a tiny slap across his chest, her hand lingering a bit overly long, "The tracks take care of that, don't you see them?" She said with a smile, pointing down at the street before them.

Now that Kaito was looking more focusedly, he noticed that on each side of the street, there was a groove cut into the road. As he was about to ask Carina about it, a clanking sound behind him heralded the answer. They all turned and saw a procession of metal carts - somewhat like mining carts, slowly rolling up the inclined street, an attachment sinking down into the groove, pulling them along, little wheels on the carts keeping them from dragging against the cobblestone road.

"The ones on the right side," Carina gestured to the right side of the road coming up from the harbor. "Come up from the harbor and go all around the city, there's some delays of course, when they have to stop so people can unload them, but no one's really upset about it - compared to having to lift it all up themselves after all, it's nothing." Carina explained, with a quirky little grin. "Neat, huh?" She exclaimed cheerfully.

"That's actually clever." Kaito admitted. Whatever way they had to operate the carts, they'd found a very good solution to the issue, "So the left side is for goods coming back down to the harbor, I'm assuming, and everyone walks in the middle?" He asked Carina.

"Yup, that's correct!" She said happily, tugging on his arm to drag him forward, "Come on, there's plenty more to see! The festival of Torrance is going on, after all!" She winked at him, "I have to earn my fee, right, Captain!" The sensual twist to Captain had Kaito chuckling, giving her an obvious once over, the girl preening proudly, making sure he got a good look.

Yoruichi interrupted, following along as Kaito was being gently dragged forward, "What is the festival about?" She asked, cutting off any further flirting from Carina.

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Carina gave her a dark look, but seeing Kaito's questioning glance, she answered quickly, her expression lightening, "Torrance was a merchant prince a few hundred years back, he settled the island, cut out the mountain," She pointed towards the mountains, the tops piercing the clouds, her finger pointing out the temple in the middle, between the mountains disappearing into the sky, and the city. "That's his temple, they worshipped him almost as a god here, back in the day. Now they celebrate this festival for a week each year." Carina smiled mischievously, "They even say his treasures were all buried somewhere on this island," She gestured around her vividly, her face gaining a slight flush," So every year at the festival, they hold a competition where travelers and locals alike race, to try and find hidden clues and be the first to get to the treasure."

"Is the treasure actually real? Or is it a gimmick?" Yoruichi asked, literally beating Kaito by a second, his mouth open to ask the same thing.

Carina giggled, shaking her head, "The winner gets a trophy that was buried somewhere just for the competition that year. The locals all say there never was any treasure here."

"You say that as if you aren't a local, Carina." Kaito said, grinning down at her.

Carina blinked, "Oh," She stumbled over her words for a second, "I came here when I was little, so I'm practically a local, but not born here." She hurriedly recovered with a smile, running her hand down Kaito's chest again, a flirty smile on her face, "I should show you the Casinos," She switched the subject abruptly, "They're an absolute must stop on Torrance, they considered him the god of luck and gambling after all!" She skipped ahead, allowing Kaito and Yoruichi a moment alone.

"She's decent, but definitely not fully polished as an actress yet, being flirtatious only gets you so far, do you think ambush, or simply a con of some sort?" Yoruichi asked quickly, gaze intent on their skipping tour guide.

"I don't know, but she seems to have a decent grasp on the city, so let's use her for now, and see what she's aiming for, there might be an opportunity here." Kaito mumbled, getting a short annoyed nod from Yoruichi. The two of them were unlikely to run into anything they couldn't handle, better they dealt with whatever this was - then the rest of the crew. They'd miss out on watching over their crew, for now. But they could handle themselves for a couple hours, Kaito and Yoruichi were fast enough to arrive for backup if something loud went down.

"Are you coming? You won't want to miss it, they even have an absolutely amazing dance competition, all the local girls swirling around in tiny skirts made out of feathers." Carina called out, a cheeky grin on her face, looking back at them over her shoulder. "Number of feathers is entirely ~optional~"

"She's trying way too hard." Yoruichi deadpanned.

"I know." Kaito admitted with a short amused laugh. Still… It wouldn't hurt to go see this dance, for the purposes of finding out what Carina was after, of course.

"If she knew how easy you were, she'd save a lot of energy." Yoruichi snorted, shaking her head, before following the girl.

"Hey…" Kaito began, before stopping and thinking it over.

"....Alright, I'll give you that one."

＊＊＊

Apple could barely hear herself think, the music played so loudly, reverberating inside her skull, her vision blurry with all the lights flashing in the club they'd found themselves in as the night wore on. The place was attached to one of Torrance's Casinos, and was obviously meant for the younger crowd, the fact it was almost all dance floor except for the space around the bar was a pretty strong sign of it. The mass of bodies congregating on the floor were of the barely dressed and high and/or drunk, variety.

Apple was sweaty, yet filled with exhilaration, and her heart pounded in rhythm together with the beat of the music, and she loved it. This was exactly the kind of mindless fun she'd needed - to take her mind off what almost happened on the last island. Well… She could go for a little more, but how likely was that with the crew with her.. She waved at Pie and the others who'd occupied some stools at the end of the bar, preferring to drink the night away as Apple gyrated and bounced in the crowd.

She jumped up on a barstool, taking a deep breath, flashing some beri to get another of those pink little drinks she'd been steadily consuming in-between dances. The drink slid over quickly, and Apple grabbed it, but before she could pay, a slender hand got in-between her and the bartender, paying for her.

"I'll take the whole bottle for the pretty lady." The cheeky voice demanded, flashing beri. Soon enough, holding the entire bottle of the pink alcohol, teasingly just out of Apple's reach.

Apple glanced to her side, and then her eyes widened and she took a much longer look. The girl next to her was probably not supposed to be in here, Apple clocked her at 16-17, pretty significantly younger than the 20 something crowd here. Not that Apple much cared, because the girl was gorgeous, slim and curvy at the same time, with a cute smile and warm brown eyes, the orange hair in a pixie cut just finished off the absolutely adorably cute look. "I had that." She said dumbly. Cursing herself internally immediately. Can't you do better than that, Apple!?

"I saw, but you can't blame a girl for wanting to buy a drink for the cutest girl in here, can you?" The vision before her spoke, a mischievous tilt to her lips that practically melted Apple. Apple barely noticed the girl fill her drink up, she was too mesmerized, quickly she downed it, feeling a little fuzzy.

How much have I had to drink? She thought briefly, but then her eyes focused on the beauty's lips again and she lost track of her thoughts. "You're the cutest girl in here." She managed to get out from between her suddenly dry lips. Apple was quirky, colorful and a lot of other words that were used to describe her, but not a beauty, not like the vision before her.

The girl smirked, leaning onto the bar, her dress enticing, yet not too revealing. It drew Apple's eyes, the hidden curves making her want to explore them. She shook her head. I'm getting too horny if I'm not even able to speak to a girl, focus, Apple! But no matter how she tried to focus her mind seemed oddly distant. Had she really had that much to drink? She looked down at her empty glass curiously, blinking as she found it full, she automatically raised it to her lips and had another swallow.

The girl in front of her said something, Apple could barely hear it, she had a hard time focusing, then the girl was kissing Apple's neck, did things usually go this far and fast? She couldn't remember, but she didn't mind, the lips felt like fire on her skin and she just wanted more. Apple could see in the distance, her crew saluting and toasting her, barely, they all seemed so fuzzy and wavy. So everything must be alright then, if they all seemed okay. Smiling absentmindedly, she let the pretty girl lead her by hand, out of the club. This day was turning out to be just what she needed after all. Hopefully this daze would fade so she could properly enjoy it.

Her crew followed her, Apple leading the cute girl back to the ship - just as the girl whispered for her to do. Untold promises hanging in the air that made Apple shiver.

＊＊＊

Nami almost felt bad, but between the giant of a man, and the other two men, of which one was obviously gay, if the way he kept looking at the men around the club was any indication - she had been the best target. She hated using seduction as a way to get in, but it was the easiest and safest route. At least the clueless girl, both smelled and tasted better then any others she'd been forced into tangling with. Thankfully never more than kissing and some groping - so far.

Nami wasn't looking forward to the day when she'd be forced to use her feminine wiles to go further. Thankfully her marks were generally pretty easily duped.

She was working a big score on this island, but seeing a pirate ship of that size arriving, she realized it must have a lot of loot, and since she had a partner for her score - and therefore would have to share the profit, some quick moonlighting wouldn't be too out of bounds. It would likely net her a tidy stash to bring home. The more time passed and she didn't have the 100 million, the more despondent she felt. So any chance for a score she saw - she'd take. She owed it to Bellemere's memory. To save their village. Even if not in the way she would have wished for it.

She'd take on all the pain of becoming something different, something her mother wouldn't have wanted - so that Nojiko and the rest wouldn't have to. She'd save her village!

Slipping the girl something hadn't been too hard, she kept going to the dance floor, giving Nami plenty of time to access her specific drink of choice, flirting with the bartender so he wouldn't notice - eventually moving in and just taking the whole bottle to speed up the process. And for every drink, the tattooed and colorful pirate got more absentminded and flushed, likely attributing it to the noise and exertion. Nami had already cottoned onto the fact that the pirate liked women and men equally - with the way her eyes wandered, so she'd slid in easily enough, acting flirty, managing to lure the pirate out. Nami had never seduced a woman before, it was definitely… New. Not bad per say. Just new.

The rest following her hadn't been ideal in her mind at first, apparently this pirate crew actually looked after each other, she scoffed internally, scum drawn to scum, they probably just didn't want their plaything taken out of sight. Luckily enough, going back to their ship was exactly what she wanted, so the extra company was not necessarily too bad, it would get her on the ship easier, if she could make it there in one piece. After all, there was nothing suspicious going on if she was escorted aboard by the crewmen themselves.

She just had to keep kissing the girl, Apple, she'd mentioned her name at some point - in-between kisses - to keep the rest of the crew at a distance, before they realized she'd been drugged, or wanted to talk to her, because she was barely capable of responding. Her lips were softer and had a faint fruity taste that Nami could admit made Apple more preferable than the men she usually seduced her way past. Again she felt a flicker of unease at the situation, but she soldiered on, it was only a pirate after all. She'd probably done ten times worse to some poor civilian. Nami needed money to save her home village, some kissing wasn't even that bad, she steeled herself, no this was a pirate, Nami wasn't a bad person, the pirates would probably think it all a great joke, anyway. They didn't have feelings like normal people.

Soon enough they arrived at the repurposed marine vessel, Nami wasn't an idiot, it was easy enough to tell these things when you constantly traveled around the sea - it boded well for them having some money on hand too, they'd obviously raided a marine base somewhere. There was a fiercely scowling man with a Mohawk and even more tattoos, waiting on the deck, so she burrowed Apple into her body, grabbing her bottom, catching her lips with her own, hard. Letting out a slightly theatrical moan, stumbling past, trying to make it clear neither of them was in any shape to talk.

Public displays of affection made people uncomfortable, and she was making sure to make it very uncomfortable. She couldn't afford to have any questions asked to Apple right now.

"What the fuck, Cloud? I thought Pie was supposed to rip apart anyone that touched her?" The Mohawk man grouched, as Nami led Apple towards the entrance to the innards of the ship. Having to give her a little surreptitious push that she hoped no one noticed, as the pirate was practically melting into her arms, making it hard to move her onwards.

Either Nami was way better than even she thought she was - or the drugs were beginning to kick in harder. Either way she needed to be out of sight, now.

The girl's breath was coming away a bit raggedy with how hard Nami had been kissing her, as she slipped them both inside, her own breath a little flushed and rapid, just barely hearing the obviously gay man's response before they disappeared out of hearing distance.

"You saw them! Imagine what Apple would do to us if we interrupted that?" The effeminate man protested loudly, to a chorus of agreements from the others.

"Let's do it in the captain's quarters, hmm?" Nami breathed into the ear of her easily suggestible captive. Giving her another slight push on the bottom. Pirate girl definitely worked out, Nami was kind of jealous of that ass if she was going to be honest. She shook her head briefly, I don't have time for such silly thoughts, focus. She scolded herself.

Apple quickly led her further into the ship, Nami eying everything around her for escape avenues and possible holding places for loot. Thankfully it seemed the rest of the pirate crew was partying it up on the deck, leaving her with the opportunity to get what she came for and take off, hopefully with no one wise to her actions. Apple stopped in front of a door, her face red, eyes a bit glazed over. Nami gave her a look, biting her lip, she might have overdosed her a little, she'd never done anything like this before, usually she could just sneak her way in or fool some idiot guard, a kiss or two and she was in. But these guys didn't seem like the kind of crowd she could scam her way through with some fast talk - it's why she'd settled for this way.

She'd observed them for two hours before she'd gone and followed Apple's group after all. They didn't look like the kind of joke she could usually ingratiate herself with quickly, and betray just as quickly.

Apple continued to sway on her feet, making Nami feel that twinge of guilt again. Either she'd messed up the doses, or she'd gone a bit too overboard with the kissing, perhaps. She'd definitely laid a lot into that when they'd passed the Mohawk man.

She made quick work of the locked door, her lockpicking skills not even earning a comment from the dazed girl, she quickly led Apple in as soon as she got the door open, having a quick first look around the room, immediately identifying the most likely places for a stash. She turned to Apple, and guided her to the bed. The girl had a silly dopey grin on her face as she stared up at Nami dreamily.

That guilt was hitting pretty hard no matter how much Nami kept repeating the mantra, just a pirate.

"Sorry." Nami mumbled, feeling slightly ashamed despite the girl being a pirate, she hadn't really gone this far before. She gave her a soft peck on the lips, before she shoved the sedative in between her lips, holding her down, a hand over her mouth as she swallowed. The sedative should work quickly in her state, and hopefully the apothecary had been right in that it wouldn't interact badly with the drug. Carina had arranged it, so she might have messed with it just to mess with Nami.

She really hoped not, she didn't need that on her conscience.

Within minutes Apple was snoring away happily in the Captain's bed. No side effects immediately visible, leaving Nami relieved.

Nami quickly moved through the quarters, before moving through the rest of the innards of the ship, working efficiently, moving carefully but quickly, gathering up plenty of jewelry and loose beri, the largest amount from the Captain's quarters. So far she hadn't run into anyone, but as she made it down to where the brig area usually was on marine vessels this size, looking for the treasury - she heard voices. Seemed not everyone got to party after all. How annoying.

She put her ear to the door, listening to the quiet grumbling and the complaining prisoner they were guarding. She bit her lip in indecision. She could skip the brig and move on, but she'd already finished most of the innards of the ship, if they already had guards in the brig, it might be where they kept their treasury as well.

Honestly, Nami had found pirate treasure in the weirdest places over the last couple of years. They literally would stuff their treasure anywhere.

She ruffled up her clothes a bit, messed up her hair and gave herself a couple slaps to the cheeks to induce redness, giving herself a well tousled look, before she opened the door, gasping, "Oh, my, sorry, wrong door, I'd just been with Apple, umm, you know… And I was looking for the bathroom." She simpered, fluttering her eyelashes, drawing in and letting out a deep breath, knowing the men's eyes would be immediately drawn to her bust.

"Fuck, Apple's a lucky bitch." She could hear one of them mutter to the other, catching them exchanging an amused look, taking their eyes off her, both of them relaxed and off guard. Immediately she flung two pellets at them, kept in the pouch around her waist, the gas pellets exploding upon impact letting out a small cloud of knockout gas. She covered her face with an arm, turning away, hoping to avoid any possible blowback, luckily it seemed the effects were very localized. The two men fell to the floor with two loud thuds. Knocked out.

Carina did have useful contacts it seemed. She'd have to make sure to never tell her. Couldn't let her get a big head. The girl still thought she was a better thief than Nami. As if!

"Hey, flashy girl, let me out!" Croaked the prisoner as Nami efficiently frisked the guards, her eyes peeled for treasure, inevitably finding the heavy iron chest in the corner, half hidden under a tarp. Jackpot! She thought smugly.

Nami spared a glance for the prisoner, only to have her eyes almost bulge out of her head, "Buggy the clown!?" She shrieked, backing up against the wall. What the hell were these no names doing with a guy like this, locked up!

"Ah, you've heard of me, of course you have." Buggy said smugly, eyes bloodshot. He looked unwashed and grimy and absolutely mad. He grinned terribly, teeth gnashing together like he was ready to chomp down on something, or someone, "Let me out of here girly, and you'll flashily have my favor. If you know who I am… You know how useful that can be…"

Nami glanced around, looking at the chest again, it was big. Surely it held a lot of money. "Can you get me and that chest out of here?" She asked the pirate, managing to hide the tremble in her voice with sternness. Buggy was no joke, he'd definitely be able to kill her, but he was a prisoner of this crew, he'd be able to let her escape the ship with none the wiser - gaining all the attention of the pirate crew while she slipped away.

She might even have an idea to get both the crew and this threat taken care of, leaving her scot free.

"If you let me go, I'll flashily take the chest anywhere you want." Buggy swore, a dark sadistic grin appearing on his face, stretching his painted lips. "And don't worry your pretty little head, I'll cause enough of a ruckus that you can get out of here." His eyes shone with murderous intent, "I flashily promise they'll be too occupied with me, to worry about you!"

Nami eyed the key she'd found in the Captain's quarters, holding it in her hand. This felt like a really bad idea. But…. At the very least he'd distract the crew from her.

Even pirates had some sort of honor, right? At the very least she trusted her well honed abilities at running away.

She tossed the key through the cell door. Buggy managed to grab it, even as he sagged in place, the chains must be heavier than they look, Nami thought, slowly moving back towards the chest.

With a triumphant cry, the cuff holding the pirate captain fell off, and Nami shrieked in fright as the pirate seemed to come apart. His head and limbs separating from his body. Rolling around in the air as the pirate laughed and laughed.

As if to punctuate what a bad idea that had been, a thrum of thunder could be heard in the distance at that moment. Nami knew a storm was coming tonight, she'd hoped to be back in the city by the time it started however, she needed to get a move on.

"Don't flashily worry, sweetheart, this is just my ability." Buggy cackled. Smashing the cell door open, striding through. With a wiggle, one of his hands flew over to the chest and lifted it up like it was nothing. "That can take your chest wherever you want it to, while I flashily cause a ruckus. Here." Buggy tossed a foot into Nami's arms.

Nami stared down at the wiggling foot, and she couldn't even. She had to fight not to fall to the floor, this was just too much.

Pirate or no pirate - feet should not detach.

"Don't pass out now girl, you're on the flashy homestretch." Buggy said merrily, stealing the daggers off the knocked out men. Twirling them in his one available hand. "Hold on to that foot, and my hand can still float along and bring the chest with you, lose the foot, and my hand won't be much use, got it?"

"S-sure, hold on to the foot, got it!" Nami said nervously. Staring down at the foot. It wiggled happily again, and she barely held back a sob. This was too weird! And she hung around fishmen!

Buggy moved to slit the throat of the two guards and Nami shouted out at the last second, "Wait!" Holding a hand out hesitantly, the other holding Buggy's foot to her chest.

Buggy growled, glaring at her, an Insane look to his face, as he almost frothed at the mouth, "You flashily better have a good reason for stopping me. Girl!" He bit out murderously.

"Fight and kill them all you want up there," Nami snapped, pointing upwards towards the deck, "But if you kill these guys, I'll get the blame if someone saw me sneak in!" Not entirely true, but Nami did not want to see these men killed right in front of her because of something she did. And surely if they captured Buggy before, the people on the deck could handle him now…

Buggy spat on the floor. "Fine, get out of here then," He said with a cruel look." ~I'll be seeing you~" He sang, giggling, before he began cackling madly, stepping out of the brig.

Nami didn't waste any time, immediately stepping out herself, heading the opposite direction from Buggy. She'd find somewhere to crawl out, out of sight. A chill crawled down her spine as she looked down at the limbs she was bringing with her. And hopefully she wouldn't be seeing the rest of him again afterwards.

She was already regretting letting him loose.

For my home. She repeated to herself. All for my home, my family.

It's necessary.

Maybe one day she wouldn't feel so horrible while repeating that inner mantra.

One day.

＊＊＊

"Why don't I get to go drinking with the rest of them." Blackjack protested, hanging around the main mast, where Wire, Duel and Archer was hanging out, playing a game of dice to pass the time.

"When your balls drop, maybe." Wire said, uncaring of the teens' annoyance. Scowling as Duel once again beat him. It was a game of chance, how could she possibly keep beating him? He looked at her smug face suspiciously, "Hey Duel, you wouldn't be cheating, would you, you fucking bitch?"

Archer laughed, a deep rumbling sound in his chest as he learnt back, cross-legged as he sat with his back to the mast, "It took you long enough to notice." The cook took a large swig of ale, grinning widely, "She keeps switching the dice."

Duel quirked an eyebrow, the smugness of her face growing. "Not. Cheating. Winning." She proclaimed. Tossing Wire a superior look.

Wire threw the cup of dice down on the deck in disgust. "Cheating in poker is a given, but dice? You have no soul, woman."

"Is anyone even listening to me!?" Blackjack whined in frustration, hands incessantly cutting a deck of cards, over and over again.

"No." Came simultaneously, as all three replied at the exact same time - in the same bored tone. Having heard the kids whining all night.

"Oh, come on, everyone's drinking except me!"

"Apple's not drinking." Archer said, a wry smirk on his face. Duel soundlessly laughing along as Wires face grew dark and stormy.

"Not. Ale. No." Duel agreed, a naughty smirk on her face.

"What do you mean?" Blackjack asked, peering between them suspiciously. "I thought Apple was getting fucked, what's that got to do with drinking?"

Wire smacked his face, groaning, "If you don't know, then you're too fucking young to have a drink, and that's final you little shit!" He cursed. Honestly the kid should know this shit, he grew up in a criminal gang for fucks sake.

Anything else was interrupted by the cacophony of smashing wood as one of their crew members smashed through the deck, everyone jumping up, alert immediately, scanning for threats other than the one arriving from below. Needles immediately pulled the injured crewman away and assessed him at the same time, covered by a couple of bruisers.

"Fuck." Duel said succinctly, pointing to the detached hand holding the unconscious crew member. Her other hand loosening the pistols on her belt from their sheaths. She wasn't wearing her whole arsenal due to having been relaxing safely on their ship.

"How did he get free?" Archer asked calmly, his eyes sharp, assessing the clown floating up out of the hole, a mad grin on his twitching painted face. This was a departure from the pathetic coward they'd all seen so far, the one who'd been brought down with one punch.

Wire slammed a fist into the mast, cursing, "Fucking hell! Blackjack go find Apple! She's the only one that brought someone aboard, fucking woman, of course she'd be the one! If there's not one thing it's a fucking 'nother!" He bit out at Blackjack who was still standing still, staring at the clown, "Go you little shit!" Wire, snapped. "If you see that orange haired tart, put her down!"

Buggy's eyes immediately turned their way as Blackjack started running towards the interior. "The flashy brat! Let's see how you like things thrown at you!" He roared, parts of his body separating from him, becoming thin strands, each grabbing a dagger of his belt by hooking around it and unerringly flying towards the back of the running teen, faster than a dagger thrown by a normal man.

Just as they were about to reach the teen, each dagger was hit by a bullet, throwing them off course, the daggers sinking into the wood as Blackjack ducked into the interior, in search of Apple - and their possible jailbreaker.

The crew all remembered Kaito's words of an orange haired woman now, when it was too late, and no one was in the mood to go easy on her. If this was the recruit Kaito wanted, Wire was going to have words with the motherfucking idiot.

Duel smirked grimly as she raised her modified pistols again, having fired the shots taking down Buggy's attack. They were modified to be able to fire half a dozen shots before reloading, magazines on her belt sliding into her pistols in one smooth arm movement as she unloaded the spent ones and slid her pistols down, inserting the new magazines. "Big. Nose." She taunted. Knowing she'd draw his attention.

Just at that moment, when Buggy's eyes inevitably turned in Duel's direction, Archer struck, moving in a blur, gliding forward to strike the clown in the solar plexus. Buggy however, separated into hundreds of pieces, flowing around the strike, his mouth laughing mockingly, floating in the air by itself. "I didn't flashily take you seriously and I paid for it, but now… I'm going to murder you all flashy like." He cackled. "And DON'T MENTION MY NOSE!" He shouted, enraged, his floating eyeballs rolling wildly, a veritable storm of miniature strips of his body flying towards Duel.

Wire and Archer both stepped in, as several crew members tried to target single body parts without much effect. Duel lost both her pistols in short order, flipping back from the tiny slices that still managed to have enough force to knock pistols out of her hands, bruising her fingers. Archer and Wire's efforts helped her slam away the few that got through to her after. But it took all her power in her hits to slam the tiny pieces away. They all suddenly believed the story about the clown being an apprentice on Gold D Rogers ship a bit more.

A fire suddenly bloomed on the dock, amongst a stack of boxes. Drawing the attention of all the fighters. Before whatever was in the boxes exploded - sending fire and debris sky high.

"Tch, that girl." Buggy grumbled, before cackling madly again, his floating eyes seeing what the rest of them couldn't see yet. Cannons turned towards the commotion immediately, and there was only one target down here, that whoever was up there, would find responsible. He felt out what direction his missing limbs were in, and gave a jaunty salute to the crew who'd so messed up his life, taking his crew from him, his ship. "Burn you rats! Flashily burn!" He cackled, fleeing the ship.

He didn't see that Captain of theirs anyway, that's who he needed to flashily kill slowly, anyway.

"What the F-" Wire began, seeing the clown fly over the railing.

Then they all heard it. Cannon fire. "Archer!" Wire shouted desperately, as he raced towards the wheel, "Unfurl the sails, get that anchor up! Move, move!" He shouted as he ran. The crew scrambled into action around him.

A cannon ball whistled past his head, missing him by only a meter, before whistling over the railing and hitting the water on the other side, the explosion rocking their ship, a geyser of water washing over them all. Wire grimaced, that close, they'd for sure get hairline cracks at least in the hull from the pressure of the explosion. Damn that clown to all hells and that fucking woman to Davy Jones locker, bound with her ass in the air!! He cursed mentally as he rallied the crew.

Archer grimaced as he jumped up into the air and slammed a cannonball away with the back of his hand, having to let three others pass as he couldn't reach them all due to their distance from each other. As he landed he breathed out in relief as two sailed past the ship, and the third was taken out by Duel, now hefting her bazooka, firing against the incoming cannon shots.

With Duel armed up, they'd at least have a chance of getting the cannon shots Archer couldn't reach.

Somehow they managed to keep deflecting the fire away from the ship as they slowly maneuvered the ship out of the dock. The crew stared at the city in the distance in anger and shock, leaving half the crew behind.

"What just happened?" Archer said tiredly. Encapsulating the mood aboard, as they managed to get out of cannon range.

They could do nothing to help the ones trapped inside the city.

Just then the storm hit.

Because it was just that kind of day.

＊＊＊

They'd been escorted to an absolutely delightful show - truly, Yoruichi's eyes had almost rolled out of her skull with how much she rolled her eyes, as Kaito enthusiastically enjoyed the dancing ladies. Carina was always by his side, whispering encouragement, egging him on. Sending the odd hilarious smug look towards Yoruichi.

Boy, the girl had read that situation wrong, Kaito thought with amusement.

The Casino they were led to, didn't look like much on the outside - like most buildings on Torrance, it was a simple carved out square monolith on the outside. On the inside however - pure glam.

Skimpily dressed ladies, barely hidden assets under feathers and wisps of clothing, serving drinks and hors d'oeuvres to the wealthy looking clientele. Everything glittering around them, soft carpets leading to area after area of vices and excess. Kaito had the feeling that this Casino doubled as a brothel behind the scenes as well. It had that sleazy rich look, rather than the classy rich.

That feeling increased after the third time Yoruichi had to slap a man that offered her a fortune for a night alone together - ripping them apart would have blown the whole ruse, so she'd had to limit herself. Carina almost ruined this whole escapade herself when she snidely commented that Yoruichi should have taken the last offer - she was hardly worth half of what she'd been offered. Kaito had needed some pretty strong non verbal signals to prevent Yoruichi from smacking a bitch.

Finally after a few hours of playing along, trying their luck at some games of chance, ogling pretty ladies, and drinking more than they probably should. Carina offered them VIP access, for a special time together, leading them through a back door, down a tunnel, all very James Bond. The girl lost the cute innocent look as she gave them a superior smirk, opening a door into a badly lit room, "VIP room for you." She purred.

Kaito flipped her a one beri coin as he walked past, "For your services, you should thank us, you're worth barely half of that."

Yoruichi couldn't hold back a snort of laughter as she fell in behind him, "Oh that look on her face was worth the whole night!"

Carina walked in behind them, with a sour look on her face, slamming the door shut. The lights dramatically turned on, showcasing a generic bad guy office, filled with about twenty armed goons, and a fat mafioso type guy with slicked back hair, sitting behind a large desk, smirking at them. "Good job, Carina!" He shouted, flashing several gold teeth. Honestly, Kaito half expected a shark tank with a trap door or something, this was gettin that cheesy.

The guy didn't even have a cat in his lap, that would have really finished off the look he was shooting for.

"Oh, no. We're caught. What. Will. We. Do." Kaito said robotically. Even making robot movements with his arms to punctuate it. Yoruichi broke out in laughter at the ridiculousness of the situation - the mafia types staring at them with open mouths - probably not used to this kind of reaction, ever.

Kaito couldn't really take them seriously though, this just wasn't a threat.

"This is the guy that secretly controls this city from behind the scenes! Show some respect!" Carina snapped, having come to stand next to the slimy mafioso, running a hand over his shoulder.

Kaito really doubted that. For one, anyone running this city would make enough to wear something better than a cheap suit. Secondly, anyone running this city wouldn't need to play games with random pirate captain's.

"I don't know what's more amusing. The fact you thought I fell for your routine - or the fact slick hair there, obviously did fall for it." Kaito pointed out mockingly, unconcerned with the weapons pointed at him. Single shot pistols - child's play. He'd just use iron body to tank them, and then they'd be sitting ducks. Yoruichi wouldn't even be scratched by those little pea shooters if she used her Zoan.

"Don't listen to him, baby. He's caught in your net, now." Carina cooed in his ear, the mafioso nodding along confidently. Obviously completely wrapped around the girl's finger. Which begged the question? What did she want to use them for?

"Yeah, you don't even have a bounty, pirate, don't act so casually -"

Whatever else he was going to say was interrupted as Kaito sailed over the desk, having used shave, grasping the man by the neck and slamming him down on the floor as he landed, immediately knocking him out. "Oh, sorry, you were saying something?" Kaito drawled, guns all turning towards him. "That. Was a mistake." He grinned at the goons. Carina shrieking in fear and ducking under the desk, seeing what the goons failed to see by concentrating on him.

Yoruichi in her full Zoan form ripped through the goons like they were nothing. Tossing them into walls, breaking bones, going through half of them, before the other half could even reorient their weapons. Kaito could have helped, but he figured Yoruichi deserved some stress relief after being needled by Carina for the last few hours. He looked under the desk, smirking widely, "So, should we talk about what exactly the plan was for all of this?" He waved his hand around, "This all was obviously set up by you. No matter what the sleazeball thought."

Before they could go any further, they were interrupted by the distant sound of firing cannons. Kaito immediately straightened up and shared a concerned look with Yoruichi. They had been the only pirate ship in the harbor. What were the odds another ship had come and was being fired on - with their luck - not very good.

"I think… You'll actually need me, anyway, now." Carina said, crawling out from under the desk, regaining some of her bravado. Her eyes grew wide at seeing the moaning and broken men around her.

"You won't get out of this city without my help." She said with surety. A quick anxious look at Yoruichi escaping her before she managed to control her reactions.

Kaito and Yoruichi exchanged another look. They had half a crew still left in the city - they never once entertained the thought that the others didn't get away - Cannon fire wouldn't defeat Archer and Duel. But they couldn't leave the rest of their crew in this city, without any lay of the land and what they faced. Kaito and Yoruichi could get out no problem - getting the rest of the crew might be a tad more difficult, depending on the situation.

"What do you want?" Kaito growled.

Carina flashed a blindingly white smile.

＊＊＊

In a hole in the wall bar, somewhere, East Blue.

"New posters are here, Bailey. Got a reeaallly big'un this time!" A chubby sailor with a red bulbous nose and dirty shaggy beard shouted, jostling through the crowd of low lifes and criminals that made the three legged man their watering hole.

Bailey, a bald old man with tanned weathered skin and yellowed teeth, spat to the side,"I've heard that before, fatbeard!" He called out snidely, before sliding a moderately clean tankard over to his new regular. Weird guy just kept showing up, looking surprised that the place was here. Fool kept insisting he was moving his bar. What a weirdo. He always stayed quiet and drank like a fish, so he was more tolerable than the rest of the clientele on most nights, despite his delusions. Bailey could handle the kind of weirdness that always paid up and kept their gob shut.

"Bailey you gotta see this, I'm not joshing ya, this new kid got a first time bounty," The man called fatbeard by the barkeep, leaned forward, drawing it out, "Of forty million beri!"

There were some murmurs in the crowd at that, but mostly low key, what did they care about pirates? Only thing that mattered in the three legged man was getting your thirst clenched or your cock. Bailey provided both - the back alley used for the second by his daughter, saved him the cost of renting a bedroom for the business. And kept her damn gob shut well enough too.

"You're shittin' me!" Bailey laughed roughly, finally, looking around the crowd showing off his disbelief, shaking his head, "No way that's real, are you kidding me?" He eyed up the quiet guy watching them over his now empty tankard, with a huff he filled up another and slid it over, receiving a short serious nod as thanks. He was the only fucker in this town Bailey didn't make pay up front, reliable sort, always paid up. He could use more customers like him. Even if he was an outsider. Probably the only one here that hadn't gone for a spin in the back too now that he thought about it, Bailey scratched his chin thoughtfully giving him the evil eye. The boy better not be a sword swallower - Bailey didn't accept that kind here. He'd show him what's what, he had his own bounty from some things in his past, 2 million beri, he'd show a sword swallower a thing or two.

"Yeah!? Look at this then!" A poster was slammed down on the dirty counter, drawing Bailey's attention back. A young grinning man displayed on it, wearing an open black and red pirate captain's cloak that hung off his shoulders and displayed his muscular chest, a flag with red clouds in the background as he literally gave the world government both fingers. "Red Dawn Kaito, he's the strongest man in East Blue now!" The sailor insisted, pushing the poster forward on the counter with one finger.

Bailey thought the pirate looked like a pretentious twit as he grimaced down at the ridiculous poster. There was no way he was worth 40 million beri - that photo was so incredibly posed, absolutely fake. Just some kid running a scam no doubt. He'd regret that. The marines didn't take kindly to fakers.

A tankard slammed down on the counter, empty yet again, the patron wiping his mouth with his muscled forearm. Bailey watched as the weird swordsman eyed the poster thoughtfully, one hand playing with the hilt of a sword idly.

"Strongest in East Blue, huh?" He said in a low voice.

"Interesting."

The next day drunk men everywhere wept - for all of two minutes before finding another bar. The proprietor of the three legged man had mysteriously been turned in to the marines - no one had even known he had a bounty on him.

One man still stood outside the shuttered bar. Three swords at his waist.

Damn place keeps moving even now, I know I went left, who the hell put a defunct bar on the other side of town!?

And why does this stupid island keep moving their docks everyday anyway?

＊＊＊