All in all, it was for the best that the marine base had been turned into a wreck. Because it took almost a day for all of Wires cohorts to finish gathering themselves and packing up all the supplies. Duel was the last to show up, a dozen crew members having come along before her, carrying her entire workshop along. Kaito was glad marine ships were built fairly well, because that was a lot of metal and machinery.
Not counting Wire and the others, a total of 34 criminals came aboard to set sail.
According to Dice, there were about two dozen people that despite everything decided they did not want to go to sea, and would risk toughing it out on the island. And of course the leaders and their personal retinues weren't consulted at all.
So a little over half of the criminals were coming with him. A good haul. He couldn't say he was disappointed with such a great group.
Of course they couldn't leave yet anyway. They had to paint over all the marine symbols on the ship. He was not going to set sail without openly displaying his piratehood. That would just be bad luck.
That led to him standing on deck with his crew assembled around him, for that all important beginning. The painting of the jolly roger. The mood was festive, everyone had a drink in their hand, except for the woman doing the painting. Kaito couldn't paint for shit, luckily one of the criminals had an artistic bent. She had tattoos of fruits on the vine going up her arms and was very…colorful. She had short hair, one side coloured green, the other side pink. Purple kohl makeup around her eyes and black lipstick. She definitely stood out in a crowd, despite being barely 5 feet tall. Probably the reason why she had made herself so noticeable. Her name was Apple. It seemed the women weren't as direct with their names as Wire and his ilk, as apple was one of the fruits that were not actually tattooed on her vines.
Finally with her tongue sticking out of her mouth, she squinted at the flag for a few seconds, before giving him a thumbs up. "A masterpiece, I tell ya." She grinned, putting the paintbrush behind her ear, uncaring of the paint dripping down her back.
It was a skull and crossbones, shown in relief in front of two red storm clouds - Akatsuki style. The skull had red tinted eyes and a more slanted sinister grin. Kaito had stolen this from another show and it probably wouldn't be the last time. Not like anyone could sue him for copyright. "To the RED DAWN PIRATES!" He shouted, as he held up the finished flag for all to see.
The crew cheered and the party went into full swing, taking advantage of being still docked at the island, so they could afford to use some supplies in abundance and then restock again before leaving.
"Red Dawn, huh?" Yourichi asked contemplatively.
"We're the new dawn of pirates, we'll dominate this new era and be on top of the world, the freest men and women alive. And well… Any new dawn is going to come with a lot of bloodshed." Kaito explained his reasoning.
"Not bad. I admit I thought you'd have something a lot dumber in mind."
Kaito swung an arm around her shoulder. "Yourichi, how can you say that?" He pouted.
She shrugged his arm off, giving him a deadpan stare. "I've met you."
"My crew's so mean to me." Kaito complained, while grinning widely. Yourichi rolled her pretty golden eyes at him and walked off to go bug Archer, presumably. Kaito decided that sounded good and followed along.
He'd have to figure out a training plan soon for all his crew. They were fine for now in east blue. The grand line was a whole other thing. It would take more than physicality.
＊＊＊
Back when he started his training, he'd always mixed up the mental and physical aspects of training. After a physical session, he'd blindfold himself and walk into the forest behind the village. This was for several reasons. It was training his senses, making him concentrate heavily on other senses than his eyes, and hopefully would one day in the future give him the leg up on observation haki.
It was good balance training as he constantly would trip up and walk over uneven terrain, needing to constantly be light on his feet and hyper reactive to prevent himself from falling over. He refused to hold his arms out to feel his way. This was about his senses expanding, not dragging himself forward by feeling up trees.
Thirdly was the mental aspect, training himself to ignore the pain, the exhaustion from training himself, and push forward not letting the state of his body win over his mind. Knowing that people like Zoro existed, able to survive being cut almost in half and be back fighting shortly after a quick patch up job. He would need the mental strength to just disregard pain and keep going and focus, slipping the pain into a corner of his brain and locking it up.
He was failing at this quite spectacularly back then, but he'd known he had a decade at least to get better. He just would have to not give up, and by the time he was an adult he would be the kind of monster that could sail away and expect to survive doing whatever he wanted.
His mother was very supportive, helping him plan meals, bandaging him up when needed, and coming and getting him on those days where he lost track of time. He honestly felt bad that as much of a help she was being and how supportive she was to him and his goal, he just didn't feel anything for her.
He had already lived a life, had a family and done that whole thing. She was simply... Useful. That's it. Maybe if he had been forced to be stuck in a boring life he would have one day changed his mind. Knowing he'd just leave her to become basically a criminal he didn't see the point. He hugged her when she wanted hugs, and took her fussing with minimal eye rolling. That's as far as he bothered to go.
The village took his training with some bemusement at first, but the longer it kept on and proved to be more than a child's fancy, the more they reacted with pride. It was a small out of the way village. Having someone from there join the marines and stand out would be, in the villagers mind, a great boon.
This was to his benefit as well, and he made sure to always be extra polite and helpful when out in the village. After all, his mother couldn't afford everything he needed on her own. She was a simple widow making pottery to make ends meet.
Soon enough extra food would be delivered to their little cottage by villagers, telling his mother to keep that little tyke strong. Rolls of bandages and ointments from the only doctor in the village, weights crafted by the blacksmith and so on.
He gleefully took advantage, eating more calories a day then he would have in a week in his previous life. Food was life in many ways in One Piece.
His body worked on one piece logic now. Wounds healed amazingly quickly, soreness and stiffness would be gone by a quick rest. Eat a good meal and most ailments settled. It meant he could keep training over long periods of time without bad effects.
And so this continued. Until age 12 the first time he managed a half complete shave and flew head first into a tree.
13 when he graduated from shave to moonwalk. And soon thereafter managed a weak tempest kick.
By 18 he had the basics of all the six powers, although he remained the strongest in shave, moonwalk and tempest kick.
He could have left. He was in East blue. A body conditioned enough to have even the bare bones of some of the six powers would have an easy time of it.
He knew he had time however. He wasn't interested in being a straw hat, but he did keep track of what time he was born in. Luffy wouldn't begin his journey until he was already past his twenties.
He had planned to be out and about at least two, maybe even three years ahead of him. If destiny existed, Luffy would still get his journey no matter what he did and how he would rock the boat.
And if it doesn't and he dies? Well he's selfish. Luffy had his journey in the show, he'll have his now and he doesn't intend to subordinate himself to an idiot.
The last two years he put everything he could into trying to tease out armament and observation haki. He cut down slightly on his regular physical training to join the fishing boats at sea, learning what he could about sailing and navigation from men that had been doing so for generations.
It wouldn't do him much good in the grand line, but until he had a decent navigator it would get him around. He had plans for that anyway…
He really did intend to throw the whole script away. This was going to be his era.
Observation ended up being a bust, he theorized that he'd need actual danger and battle for there to be any chances of awakening such a skill, no matter what he'd done to train his senses. Or at the very least other strong people training with him attacking him while he's blindfolded.
Some might have left ages ago and deemed themselves strong enough. He had seen the show however. He knew the dangers. It might make him very hard to defeat early on to have these advantages. But they didn't mean much yet. Without those few seconds of armament he'd only be able to escape from any logia. Without the six powers, no matter how easy a sea east blue is, all he'd have to do is have bad luck and run into a marine captain on holiday from the grand line and he was dead.
Go big or go home meant a lot more in a world where even the environment would actively try to kill you. Where giants and devil fruits existed hand in hand with cyborgs and super weapons.
When he gathered a crew he'd have to take all these experiences and find a way to train them, not necessarily to be near his level, but to grand line standards… And eventually the new world.
＊＊＊
It was with this mindset, that he explained it to his two initial comrades in the mess hall, which is where they'd found Archer. Once they were away far enough from Whitewater island in their freshly stolen ship, they needed to train constantly.
"Ugh, slave driver, I don't even want to think about that right now, I just broke out of jail." Yoruichi complained with puffed out cheeks.
"So you don't want to learn how to moonwalk? Or how to feel attacks coming and avoiding them?" Kaito teased her.
"Ugh, yes, yes, it's very useful. But it's the first day. Give my poor delicate heart some rest, captain!" She fluttered her eyelashes in a way that was so fake he couldn't help but laugh in her face.
Pouting, she turned to Archer before giving up before he even opened his mouth. "What am I doing? Of course you're all for insane training."
"Of course." Archer agreed immediately. "Although I'd suggest we have other priorities first."
"True, we need to decide on everyone's roles, so that everything is clear and ready for a fight." Kaito mused, an eager grin on his face.
"Not exactly what I had in mind, but it is something that needs to be addressed, yes."
"What do you have in mind then?" Yoruichi sat up properly to ask. She had never expected to become a pirate but Archer was here so it was going to be okay. At least it's what she kept telling herself.
"Having a proper meal after all this excitement." Archer said seriously. "While everyone else was partying, I whipped up something quick and dirty for us."
"You're a chef?" Kaito asked, shocked.
"You didn't know? What? Did you recruit him just because he can punch people real hard?" Yourichi laughed. There is silence, "Oh come on, seriously. Fricking men." She huffed, although with an amused look on her face.
"Lucky! The food is all in your hands, Archer the chef of the Red Dawn pirates!" Kaito grinned, silently thinking that in a million years he would have never ever have guessed. The bloodlusting martial artist covered in tattoos didn't exactly scream chef. And if he was to compare with Sanji, very, very different.
"I suppose you're an expert navigator?" He asked Yourichi, only half jokingly.
She snorted, "Hardly, there's a reason I was a captain, I was good at organizing, strategizing and planning, so giving orders was right up my alley. I can fight and I can help you plan shit, but don't expect any navigating miracles or hidden medical skills."
Kaito nodded along, resting his chin on his hand. "Alright, you're the first mate then."
Yoruichi blinked, baffled, then took a moment to rewind to make sure she heard that right. "Huh!?" She managed to get out eloquently.
Kaito shrugged. "Your strong, smart, already have good planning and organizing experience and knowledge. A habit of giving orders, it would be stupid to not use it all. You're first mate."
"Uh, you met Archer first though?" Yoruichi switched gears. "And Wire is already a leader?" She tried.
"Archer! Yoruichi is my first mate!" Kaito yelled out.
A muted "Well, obviously." Came back from the kitchen, Archer having gone to fetch the food he'd made for them.
"I have some knowledge of navigation, I'll get us where we need to go until we find a navigator." Kaito promised, smirking at the still poleaxed look on his new first mate's face.
"Nothing makes sense in the world anymore." She groaned, flopping back on the chair again.
"Well, not to be a monster but to get back to training, I think you specifically would do awesome with the six powers. As a zoan you have even more power and strength to lend the techniques."
"Fine, but not today. Tomorrow. Give me one day to mourn the death of my sanity. We'd need to rotate anyway, if a third the crew is doing hardcore training, the other two needs to be light training or rest in case of a storm or if we're attacked. The people sailing the ship having the 'rest' while the other third does light training. It would ensure someone is always in top shape just in case. And give the people working their ass off enough time to recover before they go again." She looked thoughtful, tapping her lip with a long fingernail. "And at least one of us should always be on rest in case someone strong attacks."
"See, already thinking like a first mate!"
Yourichi sighed, "Don't make me do all the thinking, captain."
"Nah, I'll just come up with the crazy ideas and then make you come up with last minute plans for how we're going to survive it."
"Gee… Thanks a bunch." She responded sarcastically.
"Alright settle down, this is something I whipped up quick and dirty to tide us over." Archer came out with several plates of food that would give Michelin star chefs orgasms, just by look and smell alone. Fuck you Sanji, I had an Archer. And he was way cooler too. And could fight women. Red Dawn pirates 1 Straw Hats 0.
"This is quick and dirty?" Kaito said, drool coming down his chin. "Best recruit ever!"
"Thank you for the food! It's always the best!" Yourichi rushed out before stuffing her face with tears in her eyes. "Hahahaha, no marine rations ever again! I win, world, I win!" Yourichi yelled at the sky holding a flaky pork pastry to the sky.
"This… Was worth all the years of training, I can die happy now." Kaito cried, cheeks full to the brim a second later as he devoured the food in front of him.
"I don't even want to know what food you're used to eating if my simplest fare gets this reaction…" Archer sweat dropped, before chopping Yoruichi on the head gently, "And you've eaten my food before, what's with the reaction?"
She puffed her cheeks out, "You try eating rations, and then ending up eating prison food for a few months. You'd cry for real food too!"
"Oh yeah, I wanted to ask you about that Archer? How come you lost track of her, weren't you on the same island? I mean you were the champion of the fighting ring?" Kaito asked curiously.
Archer crossed his arms, sitting down next to Yourichi. "I wasn't always on the island, I'd come spend a month or two beating up several people a day in the ring and hang out with Yoru after. Then I'd be off for another few months."
Yoruichi loudly swallowed her food, almost choking on it. "I knew about the ring of course, had no reason to shut it down, kept the troublemakers in one easy location."
"Then I return one day a few months back and no one can tell me where Yoru was, the marines were stonewalling me, so I was looking for opportunities to get in there and search for clues."
"Fucking bastards, the lot of em." Yoruichi said, spearing a lobster viciously.
"That reminds me… Yourichi, were you a bad girl?" Kaito smirked, eyes glinting.
Yoruichi eyed him weirdly plopping a lobster tail in her mouth. "Mwah?"
"I remember Blandy saying, when she recruited me to save their boss, that the new commander wasn't accepting the same bribes… That the previous commander was..."
Yourichi swallowed, "Yeah, alright." She admitted. "I took some bribes, it wasn't hurting anyone. Having an agreement with them ensured nothing too bad was happening. In the end I really didn't give a shit about their smuggling and thieving, illegal gambling and shit. Rather people lose their stuff and money then their lives."
"Why the hell did you join the navy again?" Kaito chuckled.
"I wanted adventure and good fights and fun comrades. "She whined, cheeks dusted red.
"Same question." Kaito rebuts. While Archer chuckled at the petulant looking Yourichi.
"Whatever, it's done and over with. Hassle him instead." She pointed a fork over at Archer, before shoving an entire fish in her mouth stubbornly.
"Gladly." Kaito agreed, turning in his chair towards Archer who just raised an eyebrow.
"Why didn't you take down the base yourself? You could have?" Kaito asked curiously, with no judgement.
Archer scoffed, "I could have, and if I found no clues there, I'd be wanted and by myself with no clue where to look next and no way to interact with marines going forward. " He scratched his chin self consciously. " You're lucky my battle lust took over or I might have really tried to kill you after you set the whole base off by smashing me through it."
"You guys have been together for a while, huh?"
"Hey, watch how you say that!" Yoruichi threatened with her fork, waving it ominously in front of Kaitos face.
"Aye, I picked her up when she was just this little brat, no manners, just one big mouth." Archer grinned at her, "Not much has changed there."
"Fuck you too, old timer." She said, rolling her eyes.
"You realize as she's the first mate she's technically in charge of you now right?" Kaito pointed out, chuckling at the pure evil aura that radiated off the Panther zoan as she processed that information.
"Yes, but I cook the food…." Archer retorted calmly.
Yoruichi slumped slightly, pouting. "Good food or revenge, how can a girl choose?" She complained.
"What about you, captain?" She asked after a pause, where they all enjoyed the rest of the amazing spread.
"Hmm?"
"What's your life story?" Yourichi asked, Archer leaning in, interested as well.
"Oh I realized I wanted to be the king of pirates when I was 5 and spent the rest of my time until now obsessively training for it."
"That… is the most boring life story I might have ever heard." Archer grumbled, as Yourichi snickered.
"Fucking hell, I've signed us up with a child" a grumble came from behind them.
"Is that the whining dulcet voice of Wire, I hear behind me?" Kaito called out without turning. Without warning he turned and flung one of the blistered tomatoes off his plate straight into the face of the man. "Who's a child now, haha! Oh wait, it's still me!" He laughed uproariously.
Wire stopped dead in his tracks, the men and women behind him bursting out laughing. Blackjack jumping forward eagerly, yelling, "FOOD FIG-urk!" Before being violently pulled back by the back of his shirt by Wire.
"Why the fuck am I the only adult onboard!" He swore, wiping tomato off his face. "And you!" He pointed at Kaito. "Act like a captain!"
Kaito stood up, put one foot on his chair striking a regal pose. *As captain. I hereby order… FOOD F-urk!" His order is interrupted as both Yoruichi and Archer grab him around the neck, pulling him down.
"Alright I deserved that." He laughed, rubbing at his neck. "I'm just messing with you Wire, I'll get serious when serious is needed, but there's no need to act all aloof when it's party time."
"I'll hold you to that." Wire grunted. Swearing as Apple gave him a kick to the shin. "For fucks sake, Apple, why?" He complained, sending her a death glare.
"Stop being a bore, old man." She said, arms crossed. "This is a party. Get drunk already, you're actually not an asshole that way."
"First of all you're a year older then me, so don't fucking call me old-"
He never got to second as Dice showed a beer under his nose and Wire stopped with a grunt, grabbing the beer, chugging it down and then yelling out. "Fucking fine! Do whatever you want!"
"Food fight!" Blackjack shouted again jumping forward, and then immediately falling backwards, a cup having been bounced off his head. Everyone looked towards Archer who smiled, all teeth. "Anyone throwing any more food gets to learn how to eat without teeth!"
"Pretty birdies…" Blackjack groaned from the floor. The crew just walked around him laughing.
Duel ended up being the only one stopping, Kaito isn't sure Blackjack was very appreciative however as she simply grabbed him by the hair and dragged him out of the way, dumping him against the wall.
"Duel!" Kaito grinned, waving.
"No." She said, walking by to go sit with Apple and the other women.
Archer and Wire both started chuckling as Kaito turned to drown himself in beer. "Everyone's so mean to the captain." He pouted. But he couldn't stop himself from breaking out in a grin right after.
This crew was already awesome after all!
＊＊＊
The night was long, everyone partying until the early hours, almost anyway. Yourichi had decided to prove her first mate bonafides by setting up a night watch. Just because the civilians had steered far clear of them so far didn't mean they wouldn't take advantage if they thought they were all stone drunk or passed out.
The randomly picked crew members stuck on night watch were initially not pleased, Yourichi joining them constrained any complaints, and when she rotated them out with the few members who hadn't had too much to drink after a few hours, any complaints were quickly forgotten.
Come morning time, Yoruichi, the cruel mistress of sadism, woke everyone up by slamming pans together and gathered them all on deck. Considering most had gotten no more than 2-3 hours sleep, this was not appreciated.
"You can sleep when you're dead!" Yourichi shouted, pushing a crew member forward into the throng. "We can't keep slacking off, eventually those marine patrols will return here."
There's some general grumbling. Not too serious as everyone's aware, party or not, a marine cannon ball wouldn't care.
Wire and Kaito flanked her. Both having been sensible enough to not get too shit faced, so they actually had a good few hours sleep.
"We'll be setting sail today. Once we're safely out at sea, far enough away from the island, most of you can go catch a nap. We'll switch off crew's after a few hours to allow everyone to get some rest." Kaito called out. "Everyone needs to see Yoruichi and Wire for their assignments. No bullshit."
The three of them had taken an hour or two during the early morning to write down a list of what most crew members were good at from as much as Wire knew about them. It was enough for Yoruichi and him to organize an ad hoc schedule for now.
Once they were to sea and well rested they could get more personal with people, and find out what they wanted to do or invest time in to get better. And personalize it a bit more. It was better to have people in their places that enjoyed those jobs after all.
Archer had already left with Duel and Tears and a few pack mules/crew members to resupply everything they'd used up during the party. As soon as they got back Kaito wanted to be ready to set sail.
He idly tapped the railing as he stood and watched the crew surround Yourichi and Wire and get their assignments. Despite the initial grouchiness, everyone was upbeat now. Kaito wasn't surprised, it would take a lot more than a few hours of missed sleep and hangovers to throw off people raised as criminals for most of their life. He had gotten parts of the story from Wire during the night. The tattoos and the names were originally a way to separate themselves from their pasts, usually as abused kids or orphans.
Giving up your past life to usher in a new one. Eventually it was just policy for them to pick up lost brats and save abused ones and bring them into the fold as new recruits. Although he still found it odd that the people running it were able to stay that separated from them and still manage to stay in charge. He'd have to ask Wire someday because from everything he's seen, he'd easily been able to take over if he tried.
Sensibly, all the kids they currently had would be staying on the island, raised by those staying behind and elder criminals who retired, staying under the radar until it was time to get their tattoos. Except for Blackjack who was the youngest in their organizations history to earn his name.
"Before everyone rushes off." Kaito called out, having remembered something he probably should make clear sooner rather than later.
Everyone's attention turned to him. "I want to make it clear. We're pirates. But we aren't monsters. We'll put up some rules later, but for now I'll just order you right here and now." He let his presence come to the fore slightly, a feeling like killing intent suffusing the ship. "There will be no raping. No killing of civilians other than self defense. No burning towns down. At all. I see that shit, I'll kill you myself!"
He let that hang in the air for a few seconds. "We'll steal their treasure, fight other pirates, criminals and the navy. Hell, I got no problem with stealing and looting our supplies from civilians, as long as they're rich enough to not starve for it, but we do not murder our way indiscriminately across the oceans!"
"Anyone got a problem with that, tell me now…"
"You keep saying shit like that I might actually be proud to serve under you one day." Yourichi quipped, breaking the tension as some of the crew laughed. Notably no one complained and if anything most of them looked relieved.
"Alright back to it you lazy bums." Kaito called, laughing. He turned around, trying to hold back some tears. I was so cool right now!
"I can tell what's on your face right now. It's pissing me off, be serious." Wire shouted.
"Fuck you Wire, my backs turned motherfucker!"
"Jokes on you, my mother was fucking hot." Wire sniffed. Pausing as everyone waiting for assignments gave him a weird look. "What?"
Dice snickered, "That's not usually the response one has to that kind of slur, Wire."
"Everyone's weirded out." Apple said with a smirk from behind him.
"What do you all know, you're all orphans." Wire sneered.
"That hits me right here." Apple mocked, holding her hands to her heart. "Maybe just give me my assignment already."
"Paint the jolly roger on the fucking main sail, if your not too hungover to get your pretty little ass up there."
"It's nice to know you're watching my ass, but I'm not into the mother and son kink, Wire." Apple said smartly before walking off to get her paint supplies, while everyone around them broke out in laughter and hoots.
"Ah man, this is fucking awesome." Kaito chuckled, leaning over the railing, eagerly taking in the camaraderie.
He spent the rest of the morning just standing there enjoying the atmosphere as Apple swung from ropes, painting the mainsail, and everyone scurried around underneath her to prepare to set sail.
By the time Archer and the others could be seen making their way back, everything was ready.
"Where to Captain." Yoruichi asked, coming to stand next to him.
Kaito sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.
"I'm not going to like this am I?" Yoruichi groaned.
"Well, I don't remember the name of the island I want to get near… It had a dojo on it… that's about it. Oh and also probably not too far from the Goa kingdom." After all, right now a certain swordsman of the three swords style was just there for the picking.
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
"It has a dojo on it…." Yoruichi sighed. "Fine, we'll set sail towards Goa and ask around on any islands nearby. You'll have to navigate through, because no one other than you and Archer really know enough, and he's the chef so no way am I skipping on food to let you laze around!"
"Fair enough. Oh and when we're asking around anyway, instruct our crew to ask for a green haired swordsman with three swords…" Kaito grinned as the ship started moving out of the port. He cocked his head, his grin widening, "Also have them ask around for an orange haired woman, going by Nami, brown eyes, uses a staff." After all she'd be operating in that general area too. And he was, after all, a greedy pirate.
In two years he'd find out if destiny was real. When Monkey D Luffy would set out. Would he find another swordsman looking to be the world's greatest, another world class navigator… if so, destiny was being followed, if not, he'd likely die soon enough, and then he wouldn't be Kaito's problem anyway.
＊＊＊
After two days of sailing where Kaito mostly let things be and allowed everyone to settle into it and get comfortable on the ship, he called a meeting to discuss the plans of the future.
It was held in the captain's quarters and involved Archer, Yourichi, Wire and Duel.
"Alright first things first. The dream here, and my plan, is for us all to become so strong we either outright win it all and find One Piece. Or at the very least become an emperor, ruling part of the new world." Kaito began to explain. "We'll be heading for the grand line soon, I'm planning to find 1-2 more exceptional crew members, and maybe track down a devil fruit that's around the area if we get the chance, before heading for Loguetown."
"Big. Brass. Ones." Duel slowly breathed out, while everyone else processed that.
Kaito winked at her, "You like? Offer is there anytime!"
Wire grabbed her wrist suddenly, as she started to make a motion. "Duel, no murdering our Captain the first week."
"Next. Week?" She asked glaring at Kaito. Who only noted down that her eyes were really pretty when they were glaring at him.
Wire seemed to think it over. "I don't know yet. Ask me again next week."
"Why exactly are you trying to piss off the lady with the most firepower on the crew?" Yourichi asked, exasperated.
Kaito shrugged, "I decided to live as free as can be. So I do what I want when I want it. If it gets me killed then it does. I won't apologize for it, it's how I want to live. I am who I am."
The others exchanged silent looks, seemingly taken aback.
Archer broke the silence. "I can respect that outlook on life. Certainly explains why you're shooting so high."
"Little bit too fucking high in my opinion." Wire said, his tattooed face scrunching up in distaste. "No way we're ready for a thing like that."
Kaito shook his head, "We wouldn't be going into the new world now, we'd have to get plenty stronger first, but for the first stretch of the grand line, yeah we're almost ready."
"Well you're the captain so we'll follow." Yoruichi stated, simply getting a tsk sound from Wire. She glared him down, golden eyes flaring until he nodded reluctantly. "That can't be all you've got to say though…"
"No you're right." Kaito acknowledged, "It's time we figure out the basis of our crew. I need to set up training to make us all stronger, but it would be pointless to train someone in something for which they have no affinity." He turned to Wire. "Wire, I need you to get your thick skull together with Yoruichi, and let her know which of the crew have an affinity for what when it comes to fighting and otherwise."
"How do you want it done?" Wire asked, materializing a pen and paper out of the blue.
"Anyone that is skilled with a firearm above anything else goes into one group to be taught by Duel for example. People with an affinity for bladed weapons, we'll soon have someone for that if things go as planned, for the brawlers it's me and Archer, he can help those with martial arts leaning, and I can get them physically tougher." Kaito explained. Everyone was paying rapt attention. "I don't want to shuffle everyone into large groups either. I'm sure you also have some that are best at being sneaky and subtle, people that can get information and secrets when we hit islands, or sabotage enemies. I'd rather have that furthered and be of use as a group, then have them all folded into swords, guns or brawling."
"So basically you're talking about saboteurs and spies for one group, then bladed weapons, hand to hand, and firearms." Wire recapped, writing furiously, putting down names in each group as he wrote.
"Those that prefer blunt weapons you can fold into blades as well, there isn't too much difference from swinging a club or staff around."
Yourichi snickered, "You try and tell that to a swordsman, I dare you!"
"There's more to it than just streamlining training I'm gathering?" Archer interjected before anyone took Yoruichi's bait. She pouted at him.
"Yes, most crews are fairly standard, which means there isn't much difference in their fighting capability. Now imagine we're throwing down with the navy, we have a firearms team sniping down their officers and gunmen, a saboteur team either sneaking aboard to rob them witless, assassinating their officers or even swimming underneath to sabotage their ship. A fighting team keeping the mass of men focused on them, while blademen flit in and out taking down clusters of enemies." Kaito explained his thoughts. "Even when we have shore leave I'd want it to be in groups of 4 with one each in it, to cover all angles and give the group a better chance of getting out of any dicey situations."
"You've really thought this through. I can't say I would have come up with the same." Yourichi admitted, looking impressed.
Duel nodded as well, and both Wire and Archer looked thoughtful.
"And it doesn't stop at just fighting capability, everyone needs a secondary utility." Kaito continued.
"Makes sense." Yoruichi agreed, sweat dropping slightly as she saw the uncomprehending looks of her companions. "Oh come on, even you Archer!?"
Archer grinned, "I don't need to think too hard Yoru, that's what I have you for."
Yoruichi blushed slightly, failing to hide a pleased upturn of her lips. "Whatever you big lug, I'll explain it. It's like you're the chef right? But not only could you get injured, but the larger crew we get, the harder time you'll have to feed us all. Something which would be easier if a couple crew men were your assistants."
Kaito picks up where she left off. "Essentially yes, for another example, I know we don't have any shipwright's right now, but Dice is apparently from what I've heard a pretty good carpenter, and of course Duel could probably lend a pretty good hand in it too, so at least a few crew men should train under them to be able to do those jobs when needed."
Wire nodded, getting the point. "And there should be some that either have a little training or want to learn navigation or medicine who would then learn under someone for that, and be able to fill in at least to an extent, good for when we need someone on duty 24/7."
"Exactly, and that's what you need to do when putting together the list of who goes where for training. Talk to them and figure out where they go for secondary duties. Even if they have no particular skill but are eager to learn."
"Mechanic." Duel said, thumping her chest. Kaitos eyes instantly zeroed in.
Wire rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah I know, send some grease monkeys your way."
"Speaking of mechanics." Kaito said, eyes still following the slight jiggling. "Duel, start drawing up plans to improve a ship similar to this one, but bigger in size. I mean anything that can help in weaponry, in ease of shifting supplies, gadgets or things to help us move faster. I'm willing to listen to it all."
Duel literally got stars in her eyes and leaned forward. "Promise?" She breathed out.
"Make it badass!" Kaito grinned, mesmerized as he saw the girl smile an honest smile, not a smirk, or an evil grin, and wow it should really be illegal to be so pretty. He shook his head, there's a limit to how creepy he can be. Or at least probably should be.
"So we're not staying with this ship then?" Archer asked.
"Nah, by the time we hit Loguetown we'll steal one of their battleships, it's right by the grand line, their bottom hull should be sea stone lined."
"That's not guaranteed, east blue isn't exactly a priority." Yoruichi warned.
"Then we'll hit a marine base in the grand line." Kaito shrugged.
Wire chuckled, "You say that so fucking casually, you prick."
"It should be a good fight." Archer grinned. Yoruichi punched his arm and then yelped, not expecting Archer to punch back, tossing her onto the floor.
She puffed up her cheeks, her hair falling over her face. "You're not supposed to hit back!"
Archer grinned, "Since when?" Then winced as he received a punch on each arm, one from Kaito and the other from Duel. "Why?" He asked curious, not hurt at all from such minor tickles.
"Solidarity." Duel huffed, reaching a hand out to help Yoruichi to her feet.
"Cause it was funny." Kaito answered cheekily.
"Oh Duel you're the best!" Yoruichi said, grabbing onto her hand, "I should drop men for women, what do you say?" She is unceremoniously dropped back on her ass as Duel lets go of her hand.
The others burst out laughing as Duel sniffed, "Not. interested."
Yoruichi laughed from the ground, "Oh well, my heart's broken now."
"Anything anyone feels needs to be brought up for now?" Kaito asked, as Yoruichi got back in her seat, hair all puffed up, he'd say cat like but he didn't want to get his eyes clawed out.
"Yeah, why the fuck are we looking for this Nami and 3 swords guy exactly?" Wire asked disgruntledly. "We could be doing way more productive things, like raid a few smuggling chain depots I know about."
Kaito smirked, "Nami has the potential to be the world's best navigator, she's already exceptional. And Zoro, that's the 3 swords guy by the way, has the will and discipline to be the best swordsman in the world."
Wire looked impressed and even Archer and Yoruichi seemed excited at such an addition. Duel however wrinkled her nose in thought, before fixing him with a penetrating stare. "How?"
Kaito, not yet used to her few words, cocked his head sideways, "Huh?"
"She means how the fuck do you know that? And now that she says it, fuck! How do you know that? Like what the fuck?" Wire, having known Duel for ages, had no problem understanding what she was asking.
"Yeah…Didn't you say you were just stuck in your home village this entire time training?" Yoruichi pondered out loud, she then snapped her fingers pointing at Kaito, golden eyes accusing." And you somehow knew my name and even guessed my devil fruit minutes after meeting me!"
"This all has a very simple explanation." Kaito said calmly.
"Devil fruit?" Archer guessed quietly.
"Huh, yeah guess that could make sense, somehow." Yoruichi agreed.
"Fucking great, another one that can't swim…"
"Interesting."
Kaito laughed, "Nope! I haven't got any kind of devil fruit!"
There's silence for a minute. "Well?" Yoruichi snapped, when the silence became overbearing.
"What?" Kaito asked, grinning.
Her eyebrows twitched, she glared at him. "Weren't you going to explain how you know these things?"
"No, I said it had a simple explanation." Kaito's grin widened. Trolling really was better than sex sometimes…
"That would lead to the presumption that an explanation was forthcoming." Archer said calmly.
"Nah, I think it's better this way. Keep the mystery."
"We don't agree!" Wire and Yoruichi roared, as Archer started chuckling and Duel rolled her eyes, getting up to leave.
"Duel!" Yoruichi whined.
"Don't. Care. Enough." The mechanic shrugged, and walked out the door, not interested enough in an answer to push.
Wire huffed, "Well can't say I'm surprised. It was a miracle she stayed this long anyway, since it wasn't a party or about her work anymore."
"Everyone is against me!" Yoruichi complained as Archer patted her on the shoulder and, still chuckling, walked out, correctly assuming the meeting had run its course.
"What's this everyone, I fucking agreed with you." Wire complained, he pointed at Kaito, "Whatever! You're the Captain so do what you want, but if it bites us in the ass, I'll fucking sick Duel on you bastard!"
Kaito smirked, "Not gonna fight me yourself huh?"
Wire scoffed, "Please! I'm man enough to admit that woman is a hell of a lot scarier than me." And on that note he walked out, quietly swearing to himself.
"Want to complain some more?" Kaito asked Yoruichi, who's still slumped in her chair.
"I still want to know, but I guess the others are right that it doesn't really matter for now." Yoruichi admitted, "As first mate I will bring this up again if it fucks shit up…" She finished sternly, wagging a finger at him.
Kaito just smiled as the annoyed zoan stalked out of his quarters slash office. It's a good sign that despite no one being quite loyal to him personally yet, it being too early for that. They were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. He didn't plan to actually ever tell them about how he knows some things.
For one his knowledge is very limited and he's forgotten most details, except for those that had kept his interest. So it was in many ways useless to share his otherworldly knowledge. The other reason was that it could only hurt him. How do you explain you know the future but only these tiny bits. His crew, every time they'd hit a bump in the road, would question why he didn't tell them. No, there was no benefit in sharing that.
He'd just take advantage when he could and that would be it. Enjoy his adventure.
＊＊＊
"Yoru! Run!" Gunfire, smoke, blinding explosions, the house in front of her collapsed. She fell on her knees, golden eyes unfocused, ringing in her ears. She's suddenly picked up, tossed over a shoulder, they're running. She looked back, eyes still not able to focus as people keep falling like puppets who's strings got cut. She started laughing, a hysterical laugh, snot and tears falling. It would almost be funny looking if it wasn't granny Elly falling down eyes blank, the boy that always gave her candy at the grocery store, eyes staring at her, no smile on his face now, most of his jaw missing.
BOOM! She flew through the air, no control of her body, like a ragdoll she hit the ground rolling out of control, getting cut up on gravel and finally coming to stop against an upturned wagon. The ringing in her ears was so loud, she had a hard time concentrating, she raised her head with difficulty, seeing the gory remains of whoever had picked her up. Her lip trembled, those…Those were her dad's cufflinks, the ones he were so proud of… Attached to just an arm, laying there on the ground. She vomits, crying uncontrollably, laying down in her own vomit, waiting to die. "Mom….Dad…" A low keening noise is all she managed.
Suddenly a shadow above her. Her eyes squinted, she felt a measure of relief. Is it finally her turn. She accepted death with a smile, please make it quick, she thought. The large tattooed arm reaching for her. Except he picked her up gently instead, She can't understand. Why is she not being killed? She screamed and cried and punched the large man, not able to hear his words due to the ringing in her ears. "No, take me back! Let me die! MOM! DAD! Let me die with them!"
The tattooed man seemed to glide away as she screamed at him, her burning home town in the background, her ears popping just in time to hear that laugh… that demon that had come and changed everything. That wide grin, that laugh… Despite the ringing she could somehow still hear that laugh…
＊＊＊
Yoruichi sat up with a gasp, golden eyes wide and unseeing, her face covered in sweat, heart beating wildly. She stumbled out of bed, blindly scrambling out of the women's quarters, hand on the wall to lead her way. She made it to the deck, but no further, before vomiting, falling to her knees.
She slammed a fist down on the deck, tears in her eyes, eyes focusing now, her mind coming back to herself.
She had no idea how long she sat there on her knees breathing heavily, she couldn't stop a quick quiet sob when she felt a hand ruffle her hair, before a large body knelt down next to her and took her in his arms.
"It's been awhile…The dreams again?" Archer rumbled quietly.
Yoruichi wiped her eyes surreptitiously, "Yeah…"
"I figured it was coming, told the night watch to wake me immediately if you were up suddenly at night, don't worry, they didn't see much." Archer explained, still holding her tightly to him, her heart rate slowly slowing down, her body knowing it's safe. Used to this routine from way back. Too many nights, years of waking screaming.
"How did you guess?" She rasped out, feeling so raw, and hollowed out. She thought she was passed this now.
"You just had another traumatic experience, I figured it would dig up old wounds sooner or later." He said quietly, he sighed, resting his chin on her head. "I'm sorry I was late." He apologized.
She laughed wetly, ducking her head. "You warned me not to join the navy, you were actually very insistent, I just stubbornly wanted to go my own way. And look how it turned out!"
"Made you into a strong, beautiful and independent woman, just a slightly less ideal last few months of your service, and now it's brought up things that you haven't dealt with in years…" Archer's arm crushed her harder against him.
"It's okay, I can deal, I know it's back now, I can keep a hold of it." Yoruichi mumbled.
"Silly girl, I don't want you to just keep a hold, you deserve to be free from your past." Archer said sadly, quietly, Yoruichi could feel new wetness on the top of her head.
"I'll never not be that girl." She said quietly. They just sit there together, knowing soon enough they will need to pull together and be competent, the past having to be put aside, but never forgotten. Sitting there under the stars just sharing companionship, chasing away the dark thoughts for at least a little while. They could pretend the world wasn't cruel, just for a minute.
By the time the night watch dared to come back out no one else was on deck and any mess had disappeared. They never mentioned a word to the others.
＊＊＊
What the manga and show had failed to showcase was how big the world really was. Expected, since it was mostly ocean, Kaito had been very surprised when he first started learning some navigation and looking at maps to find out how long travel time was.
They were currently aiming to sail to an island near Goa, not too close, a few islands away. He didn't want to risk running into Garp or something insane like that after all. From Whitewater - that was a month's journey.
Of course there were islands in-between, otherwise no one would be able to keep supplied. For example, from Whitewater to Loguetown was 2 months of sailing. They'd cut down some on that by sailing to the islands around Goa but not by more than a few days.
It did give more room for training, and it only took two days for Kaito to decide that as good as the plan had been, it needed adjustments.
With how hardy people were, and how quick they bounced back from just a good meal or a nap, it was a waste to only train one third of the crew a day. Instead Kaito switched it to everyone doing some reps for an hour or two a day, one third would continue and train their body for the day, one third would be focused on the sailing and maintenance of the ship and the last third would be training in their specialization.
He'd not been pushing as hard as he could, these people were, while fit. Still not too big a step over civilians when it came to physicality. He didn't want a mutiny after all. With months ahead of training however they'd be ready for the grand line. Even if all of them, sans Duel, were basically mooks right now.
He'd kept in place keeping one of the big three on a rest day at all times to ensure someone strong was always 100 percent fighting fit. Today was his rest day. They were 13 days into the journey.
He had just been studying maps in his quarters when he heard the bell ringing signaling that a ship was in sight. He quickly ran up to the deck joining what the crew were starting to refer to as the officers. Yoruichi, Archer, Wire and Duel.
Yoruichi sent off the crew member reporting to her and turned to the rest of them. "It's definitely a pirate ship, they're too far away to tell who right now, but they're heading in our direction." She frowned, "It's odd, Cloud swore it looked like a circus tent, although he wasn't able to pick out many details yet, it's very brightly painted. It makes me think it could be the Buggy pirates."
"We'll find out soon enough, have everyone ready for battle, if they spot a red nosed jolly roger it's definitely Buggy." Kaito grinned and rubbed his hands together. How nice for one of his targets to come attack him.
Yoruichi made to leave and ensure preparations were made when a hand on her shoulder stopped her. "Make sure everyone knows to take a swordsman on a unicycle and a man fighting with a lion and hair shaped like cat ears alive."
She rolled her eyes, "More mystery, super." Before hitting the bottom deck, starting to yell orders to the scrambling crew.
He turned to the others, "Duel, as soon as they're close enough if you got anything to take down their mast so they can't get away, use it."
She smirked and abruptly turned around, practically skipping away. The three men stared after her feeling slightly weirded out.
"That means I do by the way." Wire drawled out once they refocused."
"You two will have the job to protect the crew and the ship, Archer can I count on you to punch out any cannonball fire we might take? And step in if a crew member looks to be in trouble? And Wire get together with Dice and Tears and you guys step in wherever you are needed."
Archer nodded, looking displeased. Wire, having received his marching orders, took off to get a good position to be able to jump in and help where needed to defend the ship. Shouting for his two best friends to get their lazy asses hopping now, for fucks sake!
"I know you want to have a good fight, Buggy however is a slippery weasel and not really worth the fight, I need him though, which is why I'm going after him Captain to Captain." Kaito explained. "Honestly no one on that crew would even give us a decent fight, so defense really is your best post."
Archer looked slightly mollified and gave a sloppy salute. "The ship will be safe!" Before slowly ambling away to a good position.
The air filled with anticipation as the other pirate vessel drew closer, soon enough they could confirm it was the Buggy pirates jolly roger, making out the various circus themed modifications to their ship. Unlike their ship which was mostly silent, just waiting to sink their teeth in, the other ship is full of cheers and shouts. "Buggy must be holding a speech." Kaito remarked amusedly, waiting by the wheel.
"Then you should too." Yoruichi decided, having finished organizing the ship, now waiting with Kaito for the Big top to be close enough that she can make sure Buggy's officers are captured. She stepped forward and yelled out, "Listen up! The captain's going to say some words!'
Kaito stepped up and grinned, giving his crew a thumbs up. "Don't die!"
Yourichi facepalmed, "More words…" She hissed out between clenched teeth.
Kaito thought it over. "Alright then, since Yoruichi is being such a pussy, new crew motto!" He dodged a sideswipe from an annoyed Yoruichi and jumped onto the railing raising an arm to the sky. "TODAY IS A GOOD DAY FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO DIE!"
The crew raised their weapons to the sky cheering. The big top coming clearer into view, the ship already firing, but it hits only the sea, dozens of feet short.
"Shooting their wad early aren't they?" Apple joked, one of the crew tasked to man the wheel and keep the ship steady. Having trained on it for the past week.
There was a sudden lull in sound, Kaito looked down and saw Duel coming out of the hold, wearing just shorts, a sports bra, and 5 criss-crossing ammo belts with what looked like small artillery shells! And tugging the big ass gun he'd laid eyes on back at the fight ring. "I can't decide if that is terrifying or hot." He murmured. He noticed she had left a pile of even more weapons nearby.
"Hot for sure!" Apple grinned. Yoruichi groaned, "Don't encourage him. And she better not blow us up by firing that thing."
"She only blows what she means to." Apple giggled.
Everyone on the ship was staring as Duel took position at the side of the ship facing the incoming Big Top. She clicked a button, the back of her gun? Bazooka? Artillery piece? Slid open, and she deftly slid a shell in.
Everyone held their breath as she took aim and fired just seconds after, supremely confident. The blast rent the air, a shockwave erupting, making the ship bob in the water, throwing some people off their feet.
"Fucking hell." Kaito muttered, eyes shining, taking in the destruction, the buggy pirates mast had disintegrated from point of impact, at least half the mast didn't exist anymore, and the blast had ripped apart most of the big tops deck throwing dozens of men either overboard or down into the hold, at various states of alive or dead.
"Uh, Apple, I think you'll have to move us towards them so we can finish this… I don't think they'll even make it to us now.". Yoruichi said, shocked.
Kaito suddenly shaved away, surprising the two women, who looked around, finding him with a hand on Duels gun. "She wasn't!?" Yoruichi gasped, seeing another shell in the Gunners hand.
Duel looked away from Kaito, biting her lip, before getting in his face. "Just. One. More?" She asked with sudden puppy dog eyes.
Duel uses puppy dog eyes while half naked, it's super effective! Kaito thought whimsically as his hand was slipping off the gun even as he realized. "No..?" He said, putting his hand back, not sounding remotely authoritative.
"Kiss...For...Boom?" Duel offered with a slight whine to her raspy voice. Her eyes were shining.
"Hell yea-" Kaito started, before taking a foot to the head. "What gives?" He shouted, turning around, seeing an unimpressed looking Yoruichi glaring at him.
He turned back to Duel to tell her to blow the ship sky high, to see her being led away while pouting, as apparently several crew members tag teamed the job of convincing the woman there really wasn't any fun in shooting a sitting duck.
The crew relaxed in general as they waited for Apple to slowly turn the ship towards the Big Top, the ship barely going to be a threat now with so much damage and casualties.
"I can't decide which one of you is more brain damaged." Yoruichi muttered.
"You." Kaito complained, "Have you seen her!? A kiss was totally worth it!"
"As first mate, I'll remind you… You wanted Buggy and his officers alive… And magnanimously not remind you by ripping your nuts off for thinking with your dick!"
"I guess…" Kaito pouted. Only half joking around, because he'd still probably take that trade.
Within minutes they were within range and Kaito and Yoruichi jumped over the head of the enraged Buggy pirates climbing onboard their ship, to zero in on their targets.
Kaito had no problem finding Buggy, he was at the very back of all his men, head flying off his neck, he was shouting so loudly about flashily executing all of them.
"My what a big red nose you have!" Kaito yelled out, landing in front of the clown after stepping on several of his crew mates' heads to get there.
The Buggy pirates all shrieked in fear, except for the ones attempting to board Kaito's ship, they were too busy dying or being knocked into the ocean.
"I'll flashily kill you!" Buggy yelled, eyes almost popping in rage from the damage done, and the insult. He flew forward several daggers held in his hands.
With Yoruichi.
"I thought he was kidding…. You really are on a unicycle…. And you look absolutely ridiculous." She stated flatly, standing in front of Mohji, Richie and Cabaji, the officers of the Buggy pirates.
"Woman, you'll regret messing with the Buggy pirates!" Cabaji threatened menacingly. Flashing his sword.
"Yeah, you see… You say something like that… Yet you're still on a unicycle." Yoruichi responded. "I kind of can't take you seriously."
"Enough of the insults!" Cabaji yelled, rushing forward. On his unicycle.
Yoruichi grimaced, not even bothering to use her devil fruit as she sidestepped the sword strike and grabbed the idiot's head, slamming it down on the deck. She can't even be proud of a fight like this.
"Y-you will r-regret-" Cabaji tried and Yoruichi started slamming his head down over and over again until he stopped making noise.
She sighed as she looked over at the other officer. "I'm not sure I really like the fact you just stood by and let your crew member get his face smashed in. No matter how stupid your guy's gimmick is."
"Cabaji got too confident. Richie will show you who's really the strongest on Captain Buggy's crew." Mohji said smirking, "Go Richie!"
Yoruichi took a step forward, transforming, smirking with sharp canines, giving the lion an animalistic leer. "Boo!"
The lion backpedaled and suddenly jumped in the ocean, paddling away as Mohji stared after him in shock. "What!? Richie! Come back!"
"Show me what you got!" Yourichi leered at the first mate of the Buggy pirates who promptly fainted, falling to the deck with a loud thud.
Yourichi blinked, she slowly transformed back. As she went to grab the two unconscious forms she muttered to herself. "I can never talk about this fight. Ever."
With Wire and co.
"Keep your guard up." Wire yelled at a crew mate, having garroted the Buggy pirate trying to stab him in the back. He kicked the body away and quickly fell back into position in the throng of the action, standing in a triangle with Dice and Tears, Blackjack protected behind their backs, in the middle, throwing daggers at any advancing buggy pirate, making it easy pickings for the men to take care of them. So far none of them had taken an injury.
"Take that motherfucker!" Blackjack cheered as he took another clown themed pirate in the eye.
"Stop fucking swearing you little shit, dunno where you get this fucking habit from." Wire complained, slashing out with a wire tied into a loop at the end, getting a Buggy pirate caught around the arm, tightening the loop with a twist of force and pulling the stumbling pirate close, where Tears turned around and stabbed him in the neck, before just as easily moving back into position.
"Yes, mate, I wonder who ever taught him how to curse," he laughed freely.
Dice tossed aside a Buggy pirate with a broken neck, taking a step back as two advance on him with swords, letting Wire and Tears briefly launch out a wire and a dagger their way, Blackjack pitching in with a perfectly thrown projectile nailing one pirate in the throat, leaving Dice to pummel the now lone pirate out of position after ducking his friends attacks. "This is just like back home when we used to have those street fights…Just more sharp pointy things." He called out.
They're interrupted as their side of the fight is entirely cleared in a fwoosh sound as Duel lets loose.
"Did anyone know Duel had a flame thrower?" Wire yelled out, seeing that the fighting had pretty much stopped on their ship, he was pleased to see that although there looked to be some injuries, everyone was on their feet. "And If you did, fuck you for not telling me!"
"I knew!" Blackjack said smugly.
"Why the fuck didn't you tell someone for? It's everyone's job to keep an eye on Duel and make sure she doesn't build anything that will kill us all!" Wire smacked the kid over the head really not happy with a fucking flame thrower… On their wooden fucking ship…
"She gave me candy." Blackjack shrugged as if that's it. "And then she smiled at me and patted me on the cheek."
"Tch," Wire scoffed, turning away knowing Duel was so popular practically anyone in the crew would have done the same.
"Start stripping these guys of weapons, anything good, keep it for our stores, especially save any ammo. Any shit we can't even sell off, dump it in the sea." He yelled instead of trying to tell the kid off. "And Duel! You fucking roasted those guys, so you clean it up!" He roared pointing at the mass of barbecued men.
Duel looked at her flamethrower contemplatively, as if wondering if she could completely burn them away.
"No! Fuck no! No more fire! Pick those motherfuckers up and throw them overboard you crazy woman!" Wire yelled, turning red.
"We'll help, before Wire has a coronary." Dice chuckled.
Tears slapped the fuming man on the back. "Mate, relax, Duel is always like this, don't let it bother ya." He grinned, "Just make it the Captain's problem from now on!"
"No, I'll make it Yoruichis, that fool will let her do whatever she wants if she so much as smiles at him." Wire said, shoulders loosening a bit. "Thanks, Tears."
"Anytime mate."
Kaito and Buggy.
Kaito grinned eagerly as Buggy flew towards him, this was a former Roger pirate, albeit a cowardly one that had never amounted to his potential. This was going to be so much better than that fool fight he had with Luffy with tickles and nutshots.
He met the clown in the air dodging the flying fists and smashing him right on that ridiculous nose giving it all he got without utilizing armament.
Buggy's head rocketed away, slamming into the door to the galley.
"How do you like that red nose!" He taunted.
There were no flashy comebacks. No ranting. Kaito stared, slack jawed. The bastard was knocked out. With one punch. What the hell. He'd never be able to even tell anyone this story, this was just too pathetic. "What the fuck Buggy!" He moaned, embarrassed, idly he noted the body parts melding back together again with the clown out of it. At least the Buggy pirates got so scared of his rage when he called out his big nose they all joined the fight on the other ship, maybe no one saw this pathetic fight.
He spent a few minutes just staring at the unconscious clown, hearing the noise settle, indicating the fight over at his ship was done.
He turned around when he heard bodies being dragged to find Yoruichi carelessly dragging Cabaji and Mohji by their legs.
"How was your fight?"
Yoruichi lips twitched. "Epic." She eyed the clown, "Yours?"
"Unforgettable." He answered dryly, bending to pick up Buggy and drag him to the ship.
The rest of the crew was in the process of dumping bodies overboard when they got back. Kaito saw Cloud among the group and waved him over.
"What's up captain!" The gangly, effeminate man called out, he had a bandage around his arm, one of the few injuries Kaito could see, looking around.
"Find Wire and tell him to organize looting every nail off that ugly ass ship." He ordered, "Then find Duel and have her meet me in the brig, tell her to bring her meanest stuff."
Cloud runs off to get started as Kaito turned to Yoruichi, "Help me drop these shitheads in the brig then go see Archer and Apple, as soon as we've looted everything off that trash, sink it and sail us a few miles away, set anchor and use whatever supplies they had to throw a party to celebrate our first win."
"Do I want to know what you'll be doing?" She asked, as they dragged their burdens across the deck and down the stairs heading towards the brig.
"I'll be asking some questions." Kaito said innocently.
"With Duel there." Yoruichi snorted. "Whatever, it's not like I care, just don't get so distracted by Duel that you'll forget to do what you're supposed to."
"Hey…That's…Not? Going to happen." Kaito defended himself.
"I will judge you really hard if these pathetic losers pull one over on you because you were thinking with the wrong head." She smirked as she tossed Cabaji and Mohji into a cell.
Kaito grimaced. "And this clown actually sailed as an apprentice on Gol D Roger's ship. Hard to believe." He dragged Buggy into the other cell, where he left the seastone shackle, and locked it into place around the pirate's ankle. Even unconscious, the pirate seemed to suddenly sag.
"You're right I don't believe it. At all." Yoruichi called out, as she walked away.
Kaito snorted, crouching down and staring at the idiot clown. "Yeah I don't blame you."
He simply sat there thinking about things while waiting for Duel. He'd always planned to try and get Buggy from the beginning, he just hadn't figured he'd literally run into him without having to hunt him down. These lucky strikes were beginning to worry him. East blue is not where he needed luck on his side. It would be disastrous if that luck turned in the grandline.
He paid attention again as he heard the footsteps coming, and the clinking of metal. Duel came into sight carrying a large box. She eyed the pirates, putting the box down. Kaito could see various implements that all fulfilled the goal of looking pretty scary.
"Not. Torturer." She said firmly, gesturing at the box. Still minimally dressed and for some reason covered in soot.
With difficulty Kaito pulled his eyes away. "These guys are such cowards you won't need to do a thing but pull shit out and look scary." He snorted, "They might not even need that much."
He gestured at Buggy, "I'll start with that one, if at any point the other two seem to be waking up… Go knock them out again. I don't need them coordinating stories."
Duel nodded, taking out a large contraption that seems like something one might use for medieval dental surgery.
"Oh yeah that's the stuff." Kaito grinned, starting to honk Buggy's nose." Shit I can't believe this is actually his nose." He laughed, as he kept doing it until the pirate opened his eyes, staring at him in rage and pretty well hidden fear.
"Bastard! I'll flashily gut you…" He spat out slowly, feeling the effects of sea stone. As he realizes that's what it is, the fear isn't so hidden anymore. "S-s-seastone! Who the flashy hell are you!?"
"Hello Buggy! I'd introduce myself, but hey, let's skip to the part where I ask you questions and you tell me everything I want to know or my friend here-" Duel stepped forward, brandishing the dental tool, good girl even made sure Buggy caught a view of her scar. "-will be convincing you to tell me anyway."
".......What do you want to know?" He asked reluctantly. Without the theatrics.
Kaito grinned darkly, "Let's start with every piece of information on islands, devil fruits and events that the Roger's pirates encountered while you were onboard." His grin got more toothy as Buggy paled, gulping in fear, and shock, obviously not expecting to have been recognised. "Then move on to every underworld port, trade depot, fence and pirate safe haven that you know about."
Kaito held up a pen and notepad. "If I have to stop writing. Then she'll have to step in. So it's in your best interest to talk, and not hesitate or lie."
"I promise Captain to Captain that I will let you and your crew go once I'm satisfied." Some relief entered Buggy's eyes. Kaito can almost see the thought process. What does Buggy care about all that old information compared to his life? He'll spill. Sure some will be unusable now. However Kaito is sure many underworld routes barely change and should still hold use. Not to mention whatever knowledge he can pry out from their travels to benefit him. Or hidden caches still left behind.
Buggy started talking, sweating profusely as Kaito's grin just kept widening, as the sound of a pen on paper continued long into the night.
＊＊＊