Interrogation
Duel got bored two hours in and with Kaitos permission dragged Cabaji and Mohji off to find Wire with a list of questions Kaito wanted corroborated. He wanted to see if the clown had shared stories with his most trusted, and if those stories differed from what he was saying now.
He'd seen her walk off an hour ago, so it was about time he wrapped up, he turned back to Buggy, casually sitting in front of him, one leg over his knee. "So tell me more, you say you heard about a way to sail into the sky, along a cloud road, from the others?"
The clown pirate glared at him balefully, "Yes…" He growled out, "I heard it from the others, even Raleigh, a meteorological event happening every few months during storms. A cloud road would descend from the sky down to the sea, allowing you to sail up it."
"And this happens in the calm belt?" Kaito clarified, looking over his notes, tapping his on his leg, enjoying the twitching of the clown as he clicked the pen, as he's been doing for hours. Buggy was ridiculously easy to rile up or throw off balance. The man has so many neurosises it's amazing he managed for so long even in east blue.
"Yes, but there's an island not too far away, just on the edge of the calm belt, maybe half a day's sail away from the sea, where the event takes place." Buggy ground out, "Sounded flashily fake, I thought it was just a story, to flashily rile me up."
Kaito grinned cheekily, reaching over to honk Buggy's nose, "Honk!" He exclaimed happily as Buggy stared murder at him with bloodshot eyes. Kaito chuckled, "Oh, Buggy. You really should have listened more to your betters. The things you could have done with the information you have…"
The path Buggy was talking about, a way up to the sky without a knock up stream…
It didn't lead directly to Skypeia either thankfully, as Kaito had no intention of tangling with Enel, or more likely, dying to Enel. They'd just have to find a way back down after an island or two, to avoid going near Skypeia.
He wanted into the sky for those dials, he couldn't even begin to imagine the things Duel could make with that, and if he managed to convince Nami to join, the dials would give her that extra edge for her weather manipulation, especially since it's unlikely she'd ever get to see weatheria if she joined the crew. If they ran into Kuma as the Straw Hats had, they didn't have the protagonist plot armour to scatter them to beneficial areas, they'd be killed as common pirates.
Nami would never be exactly like her canon self if he managed to snag her. But that was okay, if anything his training could help her be better in different ways. As in canon she remained someone who survived only on plot armor.
Perhaps he'd be able to really get her to strut her stuff like she deserved.
"And you say you have an eternal pose to an island nearby?" He hummed pleasantly. Leaning back, watching Buggy try and control his rage to answer in a way that wouldn't worsen his situation.
"It's….Flashily two islands away…." He muttered finally, averting his eyes. The sound of gritting teeth was audible in the cell.
"What about the navy, what do you know of marine bases in the grand line? Any notable names?" Kaito asked, pretty much done with the interrogation for now, but seeing if he could drag just a tiny amount of crumbs more of information from the clown pirate.
"Why would I know anything about that shit!? I flashily got out of there as soon as I could! I'm in East blue for a flashy reason you punk!" Buggy growled, incensed the longer Kaito kept the questioning going now, after he had really pissed him off earlier in regards to his fruit…
"You have no idea what you're getting into… The things that're out there for a flashy rookie like you…* He said ominously. Eyes glinting with madness.
"Do tell." Kaito said, grinning holding his pen up, pointing it at the clown. "I'd love to hear all about it!"
"I'm flashily done, I've got nothing more…" Buggy said sullenly, after a minute of silent glaring. Apparently he didn't appreciate that Kaito got excited whenever he'd bring up something to be afraid of.
Kaito stood up, "Well I am flashily pleased," He cocked his head thoughtfully. *No, it still sounds dumb even with someone cool like me saying it." He admitted, shooting the sullen clown a mischievous grin.
"Youuuuu…." Buggy growled, Kaito had no doubt the pirate would kill him in a heartbeat if he wasn't chained down with a sea stone bracelet. Well and if he wasn't Buggy - who kind of honestly was a terrible waste of a good devil fruit.
"Flashily see ya, big nose!" He called out as he walked out of the cell. Stopping to shake his head again, "No, it still doesn't work. It sounds so dumb. What a bad catchphrase… Believe it!"
He looked around sheepishly, "Oh, good, no one heard me say that." He didn't want to completely ruin whatever cred he'd gathered so far.
'I can flashily hear you, you flashy moron!" Buggy shouted weakly, even raising his voice straining him; he was so low on energy.
Kaito scoffed, "Please, as if you count."
Sky islands, he thought as he walked away, you couldn't say you'd sailed all the seas unless you'd sailed the cloud sea after all, he could hardly wait.
Of all the things in One Piece that made his blood thrum. Sailing into the sky was one of those things that he just had to do. It sang to him. If he achieved nothing else, he wanted to sail in the sky. He had an extra spring in his step - just the thought of going sailing in the sky was enough to get his mind spinning with ideas of adventure and treasure.
The one piece of information he was sure the clown was absolutely lying about however, was what kind of fruit his devil fruit was. He was sure Buggy would have found out where it came from, and what kind from the crew - once he got over being a hammer. A little weasel like him would have wanted all the information. Wisely, although annoyingly for Kaito, he was lying about it. Correctly figuring out that Kaito definitely would kill him if he knew.
It was so sad how no one trusted each other anymore in this world.
Really, didn't he look trustworthy?
It took him awhile to figure that out, sadly proving that the clown was still an absolute idiot in many ways. Kaito even asked for and got a full description of all the different ways Buggy had figured out how to manipulate his powers, before Buggy figured out Kaito was angling to regenerate his fruit. He'd clammed up then, and no threats worked any longer, death scarier to the clown then Duel returning with her tools.
So he'd walked off now, after giving Wire and Duel enough time with the others. After ensuring Buggy was secured by chains completely of course. Even with him being constrained with sea stone he wasn't taking any chances.
There is as always the possibility the idiot had actually picked up some useful skills from the Roger pirates that he'd just never shown off.
He found Wire and Duel by the railing, smirking as he saw the wires suspending the Buggy officers into the water, cutting into their skin, the men did not look like they had been enjoying their time. Talk about sink or swim questioning, he joked to himself.
"Having fun?" He asked cheerfully, joining them at the railing, looking down at the bobbing pirates.
Wire smirked, "It's actually been fun." He admitted, looking the cheeriest Kaito had seen him since he met him. Creepy…
"Sadist." Duel nodded decisively, a small smirk on her face. She was back in her overalls to Kaito's disappointment. She caught him looking and fingered one of the guns holstered at her sides pointedly.
"I'm not the one that gets off on blowing shit up." Wire retorted, glaring at her, although there was no real heat in it. More like fondness.
"That's. Kink." She said straight faced, "You. Just. Sadist."
He groaned, "I've known you since you were 5, please don't say things like that." He slumped onto the railing, spitting down at the unconscious bobbing pirates. "Especially never use the word kink, again!"
"No kink shaming!" Kaito argued cheerfully, slapping Wire on the back, "And it's ok to be a sadist, buddy." He put on a solemn look, "We can hold meetings and print flyers and everything, we're there for you."
"Accept. Faults." Duel leaned over the railing just to give Wire a smug look, her eyes had an amused twinkle.
"Fuckers always ragging on me." Wire complained, pushing Duel away by putting his hand on her face and shoving. "You're all so annoying." Duel just grinned back at him.
"You loooooove us though!" Kaito grinned, amused at seeing the two messing around, it was obvious they knew each other well. He was kind of jealous of the close relationships most of his crew had with each other. The downfall of picking up so many people that all knew each other beforehand. He was the one on the outside.
It was kind of heartwarming seeing them all together though.
"Tch, whatever. I guess you're here to compare notes?" Wire redirected the conversation, seemingly uncomfortable with the L word.
"Mhm, specifically if they said anything about Buggy's devil fruit. Or what kind of fruit it was." Kaito replied, cracking his knuckles, enjoying the popping sounds as the other two gave him equal disgusted looks.
"Duel has the notes," Wire said, waving at the smirking woman who reached inside her overalls and produced a stack of notes. "They were pretty talkative once we promised Buggy's release once we had the information we wanted." Gullible idiots, all three thought at the same time.
"Gullible. Morons." Duel said out loud what they were all thinking, shaking her head, handing Kaito the notes. He tried not to think of why they were so nice and warm as he flicked through them.
Kaito laughed while checking the notes, "Yeah, did the same freedom promise to Buggy and he also sang like a canary."
"They may be pirates, but they are shit criminals." Wire snorted. "Trusting your word, what are we, fucking nuns or something…"
"Good for us." Kaito hummed as he continued to peruse the papers. "I got so much stuff we can use from Buggy."
"That clown?" Wire asked skeptically. "Makeup lessons maybe, but what useful stuff could you get from that fucker?"
"He was an apprentice on Gol D Roger's ship." Kaito explained, finally finding the notes detailing the devil fruit. Going over them with relish.
"Bullshit." Wire decided. "I call fucking bullshit. No way!" The man looked flabbergasted.
Kaito laughed, "Yoruichi said the same thing." He admitted.
"Found?" Duel asked, seeing him grin, holding a page up from the rest. "Kill?" She asked now, eyeing the two officers bobbing in the water.
"Yeah, we don't need them anymore." Kaito agreed easily.
Duel reached for her guns, her expression turning a bit scary, eyes almost glowing. And she called Wire a sadist, Kaito thought amusedly.
Before she could do anything though, the two officers disappeared under the water, Wire having cut the wires. Kaito raised a curious eyebrow - as the man himself mulishly glared at them.
Duel stomped her foot angrily, turning around and storming off, periodically turning around to make sure Wire could see that she was glaring at him. Wire looked completely unaffected. Her shoulders were tense and he could have sworn he heard a hitch in her throat as she went.
"Not that I care how they go, any reason why you stopped her from finishing them?" Kaito asked curiously. Especially when it seemingly really had hurt her feelings. Things were going around under the surface here that he wasn't sure about. Maybe he was reading it wrong…
"She'll get enough blood, we've all spent the last decade and a half ensuring she had somewhat clean hands, we're not going to let her do it just for the hell of it." Wire said tersely. He leaned back against the railing running a hand through his hair. "Duel was always pretty wild, ever since we picked her up off a wrecked ship. Luckily she had her mechanical leanings, so we got her a workshop and for the most part she'd focus there."
Kaito frowned, looking towards where the pretty mechanic had stalked off to, making sure she wasn't in listening distance. "Should I be worried about something...?" He had a feeling he wouldn't like whatever he'd hear. He was starting to get a picture…
"Eh, she's mostly fine. Spends most of her time on the mechanical to care about flesh and blood. When she gets excited tho she gets fucking mean sometimes. Like sadistic mean." Wire explained, closing his eyes tiredly. "We've done our best to make sure she lets things out without going overboard. Dice managed to convince her she owed old Miguel a favour for all the free meals he gave her as a kid, so she'd work there some evenings. Get some interaction and a chance to bust some balls and break some bones without anything too crazy happening. Then we got her to join the fighting ring for whenever she needed to let loose. There were some deaths, but it was easier to control in the ring. Kept it away from sniping people for fun."
"Hang on? When I brought her along as a threath of torture to scare Buggy she specifically pointed out she wasn't going to do that?" Kaito asked, confused. That was not the read at all he was getting from her.
"It's when she gets to hold someone's life in her hands for that fleeting moment before she pulls the trigger that she loves. Torture wouldn't do that for her, fighting scratches that itch some, torture would be boring is what I bet she would say if you asked her." Wire explained."Not until it was time to get rid of them anyway, that would be the fun part." He finished sourly.
Kaito thought that over for a moment. He got it to an extent. They probably all saw her as some little sister figure they had to protect even from herself. "I understand why it would be necessary in a civilian town…You're not being fair keeping her constrained here." He held up a hand to stop Wire from protesting. "We're pirates, no matter how you look at it we'll always be surrounded by enemies. Let her be herself as long as it's taken out on those that would do us harm. As long as she can control it to not hurt the crew let her be free. I get why you've protected her. I do." Wire looked pained the longer he kept talking, but Kaito continued, "She can't spend her life constraining parts of herself to please you guys, while you guys are free to do what you want. It's not fair to her and it's not good for her either. I'm sure half the reason she is generally standoffish is she's picked up on how much you guys try to shield her or keep her back, so she doesn't put herself forward. You're all criminals to begin with, even before becoming pirates, this stopping her from killing things while you do it is just frankly unfair to her." He shook his head, "You'll let her fight in battle, then wrap her in baby blankets after. It's not working."
Kaito let that hang in the air for a few moments, "Look… I don't think she is half as bad as you say. I know you have known her longer. My read as an outsider… She is trying to go stronger at it to prove herself to you guys, not realizing that you're pulling her back because you don't want her too."
He let that sit in the air for another moment before continuing. "When she stormed off, I'd say it was more of a, I can't believe they still don't trust me, hurt and anger kind of feeling I saw. Not a, man I can't believe that bastard didn't let me see the pretty brains flowing out after I shoot them kind of feeling."
Kaito let that sink in for a second, he couldn't be sure having only known them all for less then a month, but he had found it odd that a woman that could be so bold, in attitude and body, and so lively in battle, was so withdrawn the rest of the time. Was an arm's length away from the rest of them unless something important was happening. "She's acting as she is because she thinks you don't believe in her or trust her. So she's edging further every time thinking she needs to go harder and crueler to prove herself."
"....Fuck…" Wire swore, slamming a hand down on the railing, fingers clenching it so hard Kaito could hear the wood creaking. "Okay, I get it, fuck! I'll have to explain to her what we were trying to do, she must think we don't trust her. That we looked down on her!" He sounded anguished, "Fuck, that's not what we were trying at all, we just wanted her safe… Fucking happy!"
Kaito politely looked away and pretended there weren't any tears, Wire was not the kind of guy that liked showing any weakness. "All this time we've pushed her back, I never thought what she'd think, what reason she'd believe we did it for. Fuck, we've been complete idiots, why did we never try to see it from her side before…"
"Is all this because of however she got that scar?" He asked once Wire had composed himself. He'd been curious, but wasn't as insensitive as to straight up ask Duel.
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Wires face went dark, there was rage in his eyes, and guilt, Kaito could almost taste the guilt in the air, it emanated so strongly, Kaito took a step back as Wire snarled at him. "Don't EVER ask her about that!" The man looked ready to snap, muscles bulging and his eyes wild.
Kaito nodded, frowning, hands up in front of him, "Alright, I promise I won't." With that kind of reaction he wasn't sure he wanted to know anyway, although he had a feeling that much of this whole protect Duel attitude stemmed from it.
"You should apologize to her, she's probably pissed as all hell right now thinking you didn't trust her to do the job." He suggested to diffuse the rage of his crewmate. "And explain to everyone to stop treating her like a grenade half the time and baby sister needing a crib the other half."
Wire deflated, running a hand across his face. "Yeah…" he started to walk off. Stopping suddenly, just within hearing distance. "Hey Captain… Thanks for setting my head straight."
"You're welcome." Kaito replied after a moment, Wire already gone below deck. He stared at the waves wondering if he made the right call. His gut said that no matter what, they'd all be happier if they could live less held back and constrained. He didn't have over a decade of friendship and feelings however, maybe they had a good reason. He sighed going back to the papers on the interrogation, either way Wire hadn't been very hard to convince, so he must have had some doubts to begin with. He'd let the chips fall where they may.
They were pirates now, there was no need to hold back anymore.
＊＊＊
Kaito drummed his fingers on his desk, not yet willing to sleep even at the late hour, the interrogation of Buggy and the talk with Wire having occupied his mind so much that rest was pointless. Several open books lay displayed over the desk, but Kaito had barely read anything. Plans being made and discarded over and over again throughout the night.
In the light of the sole lamp illuminating the room, he spotted a shadow under the door. He raised an eyebrow quizzically. Whoever it was seemed to simply be standing there. Before he could make up his mind on whether he should call for them to come in or not. A piece of paper slid under the door, quiet footsteps disappearing down the hall as the shadow receded.
Sighing, he got up and walked over, bending down and picking the paper up, noting with surprise some tear stains. His eyes go wide as he begins reading.
Captain… No… Kaito. Thank you. I've written this letter because I can't express enough what you've done with only words. I'm not good at this, writing or thanking. You've changed everything for me, us… I've always thought I needed to be stronger to protect my friends, because they thought I was too weak and needed protection myself. Every day I'd work in the workshop they had to be there, watching, defending me, helping me. I thought they didn't trust me! Because I was too weak! Wire explained to me what you said, how he realized that I…and Him…Had completely messed everything up! We were both trying to be stronger for each other! Trying to protect the other without thinking of anyone's feelings. I know I am harsh, I am cruel sometimes. I'll probably punch you lots in the future. I'll say it again... Kaito, thank you!
Duel
Ps, if you tell anyone about this letter I'll rip your balls off and make you eat them!
"Tch, saying she'll punch me lots in a thank you letter." Kaito grinned, taking the letter and carefully folding it, before walking over, kneeling before his bed, pulling out a small iron box. Carefully putting it in the box, closing it, patting the lid before sliding it back under the bed. This was a memento to keep. The honest tears and thanks from a crewmember. The first time he really earned his chops as a Captain outside a fight.
Suddenly there was no way he'd be able to sleep at all, he might as well join the night watch, maybe get a training session in. His grin was firmly in place as he turned off his lamp, leaving his quarters in high spirits. This journey was off to such a good start!
＊＊＊
Yoruichi rolled out of bed, waking up at dawn like clockwork. She casually stretched, sending a searching golden eye over the women's quarters. Surprisingly even though they had just had a party, most of the crew at least spending part of the night reveling, the quarters we're almost empty.
She cocked her head, not hearing anything signifying anything exciting happening on deck. Taking it as a good sign, she shrugged, stepping out of her sleepwear, tossing it in the communal laundry basket and headed for the communal showers attached to the quarters.
Refreshed and dressed in a simple light white t-shirt and light blue jeans, a light blue bandana keeping her hair out of her face she walked into the sunlight, coming up onto deck.
She took a deep, pleasurable breath, just taking in the sea air. Closing her eyes. Smiling pleasantly hearing the wind in the sails, the creaking of ropes. The sounds of the sea. Adventure was in the air, she had missed this, once she got her fruit she thought she'd be on the sea constantly, not relegated to holding a base. This was the life she was meant for, pirate, marine. What did it matter? She had endless sea and adventure.
She opened her eyes, ears twitching, as she took in with a puzzled look how over the top happy everyone seemed to be. She spotted Duel tinkering by the mast, instead of down in the hold, the girl smiling, looking more relaxed then Yoruichi had ever seen her so far. Suddenly she was hugged from behind by Cloud. Yoruichi blinked as instead of being tossed off with a glare, the girl chuckled, rolled her eyes and then tossed him off. Everyone around them was smiling and laughing.
She scrunched up her nose in confusion. Nothing had been different during the party, she'd had only a few hours sleep after. Everyone was supposed to be hungover and sleep deprived. Why were they… Happier than ever? What did she miss?
After a minute of standing there, just watching the crew working, arms crossed under her chest, she finally shook her head, chuckling. It wasn't a bad change after all. Whatever it was.
She made the rounds, checking in on everyone, asking them how they're doing, if they need any help, rest, or if there's something about their duties they don't understand. Everyone cheerfully sends her on her way, all doing fine on their own. She felt her own slight tiredness and stiffness disappear as she made it to the wheel, checking in on Apple. Not surprised to find the short woman grinning from ear to ear as she kept the ship steady, one eye on the compass.
"Anyone going to tell me anything? You know, first mate and all that?" She quipped, putting a hand on her hip, leaning over and checking on the compass and map, pleased to see that as far as she could tell they've still been going straight to where they needed to.
"Just all of us realizing we're really stupid." Apple said happily. Yoruichi didn't quite see how that was something to be happy about. Her face must have said so as Apple laughed. "Mostly it's Wires fault of course, so it's solved now and we're all really happy we don't have to pretend anymore."
Yoruichi squinted, the sun being really bright this morning, her eyes even in her normal body much more sensitive due to her zoan. "So… Something to do with Duel and Wire?" She guessed.
"Fucking hell, what have you been telling this woman, Apple!?" A groan came from behind her. Yoruichi glanced back and did a double take. While everyone else looked happy and well rested somehow, Wire looked like he'd had a really bad bender. His eyes were bloodshot, he was unshaven, his hair frizzy and he seemed dead tired on his feet, practically shuffling forward.
'I've been appraising miss first mate about how dumb we all are, you in particular." Apple said, tongue in cheek.
"Yeah, yeah whatever, fucking leave it you dwarf…" Wire groaned, he eyed Yoruichi disgustedly, "So you know now the whole tale about how we've all been trying to protect Duel and in doing so actually crushed her self confidence and made her believe she was weak and needed to be stronger to protect us?" He sneered, although it didn't look like his heart was in it. "Seen how shitty of a leader I really am?"
Apple put her face on the wheel laughing quietly, "Wire! All she got told was we were being dumb and it's all fixed." She was wheezing, trying to catch her breath, she was laughing at Wire so hard. "You just told her everything you wanted to keep quiet, yourself!"
Wire seemed to slump as Yoruichi took a step forward, finally getting the situation somewhat. She grabbed the man's shoulder, silently apprehensive at how fragile the other man seemed to be. "Hey, none of that bullshit!" She said firmly. "You made a choice to protect someone with everything you got!" She grabbed his shoulder harder, making him look her in the eyes. "So it didn't work out. So what? You then did your best to fix that. That's all someone can do. I don't know everything, but it seems to me everyone seems really happy! So you're not a bad leader Wire and you should be happy too!" She loosened her grip, patting him on the shoulder. "Go to bed Wire, I got the crew today, you did good."
"You really think so..?" He asked quietly, looking away. Yoruichi could tell this all was weighing heavily on him. She hummed, grabbing him and turning him around. "Look!" She pointed. Wire followed her finger with tired eyes. They land on Duel, a small smile on her face as several crew members gather around her, chatting eagerly at her, the mechanic replying back in short sentences but none of the usual terseness there. "Doesn't she look happier? I don't know everything that happened Wire, but if it all worked out…Then it can't be half as bad as your making it out."
Wire stood there just looking for a few minutes, both Apple and Yoruichi keeping silent. Finally his shoulders started to shake slightly, a weak grin coming on the man's face. "Yeah.." he answered quietly. "She does look happy."
Yoruichi gave him a shove, smiling playfully, "Get some rest, that's an order."
"Aye, aye!" Wire chuckled. Just standing there for a few moments more, watching all his friends just gathered together, no tension or duty between them. "It was a good idea to come out to sea." He muttered to himself as he finally shuffled off.
Yoruichi puffed her cheeks out, blowing out a deep breath. "Men! They're all so stubborn!" She exclaimed to Apple, the girl still red faced from all her cheer. Yoruichi didn't know the full story, but even with only knowing Duel for just under a month, she could understand how much the woman would have hated being thought to need the rest of them to watch out for her constantly. She would have felt the same if Archer had decided to follow her into the navy, just to constantly keep an eye on her instead of coming by every few months to catch up.
"Ah, shit, that's probably not good." Apple said breaking Yoruichi out of her thoughts, she saw the same issue as their navigator in training. Just in sight across the horizon is a storm front, the whole sky practically blackened with dark clouds. And it had been such a bright morning just a minute ago.
She narrowed her eyes, "That crept up quick, we won't be able to escape it." She knew navigation wasn't their strong suit at the moment. If they tried to escape they might just hit the storm and waves out of position and be in a more dangerous situation. "Apple keep steady, I'm going to get Archer up here to help you with the wheel, keep on course straight ahead, we don't want to end up turned around or facing it sideways so no matter what keep it straight!"
"Aye!" Apple said sharply, eyes serious, her hands steady on the wheel. Yoruichi left the wheel in good hands and strode forwards, yelling for Archer and sending crew members scrambling to prepare the ship and tie down anything loose on deck.
They barely get everything prepared as they entered the storm, Yoruichi soaked straight through immediately in the heavy rain, but she was still running around the ship, lending a hand whenever someone slipped or didn't tie a knot quick enough. Trusting Archer and Apple to have the wheel, she concentrated on keeping the crew safe, onboard and working. At one point switching into hybrid form for the extra strength to tie down one of the booms zooming loose in a particularly windy part of the storm. At times she ran into Wire, never having gotten the chance to head to bed, soldiering on and she grinned at him toothily. They never exchanged words, too busy for that. And what was up with this storm anyway, this was pretty harsh for an east blue squall.
It felt like hours, she didn't really know how long, her muscles hurt, her clothes were so soaked through she was sure she was giving a show, she couldn't care less though, as she lay panting on the deck, the sun shining through, the storm finally behind them. Crew members slumping down everywhere around her.
"Here." A towel is tossed her way by an exhausted looking Wire.
She grinned and wiped her face, resting her head on the deck. "Thanks, that was a bit of fun, eh?"
"Woman, that's to cover yourself, not for your fucking face." Wire groaned, looking away.
Yoruichi shook with laughter, "Hah, I ain't got nothing that hasn't been seen by anyone here before." She does drape it over her chest however when Wire resolutely keeps looking away.
"You okay? Yoru?" Archer called down. Looking unruffled as always. She kind of hated that about him sometimes.
Yoruichi chuckled, hand over her eyes, "Ah, never better!"
"Hey… Why is everyone lazing around on the deck? The sun's still shining, we got sailing to do, hey, Yoruichi! Quit napping." Kaito yelled, coming up from the hold.
"....Where have you been exactly?" Yoruichi asked very sweetly, eyes hidden behind her hand still.
"Oh, I was up all night!" Kaito laughed, "So I went to sleep right before dawn." He scratched his chin looking around. "I had expected better of you though Yoruichi, just because I was napping doesn't mean you slack off."
"I see." She said pleasantly. "You were napping." She took a deep breath, seeming to relax.
"DIE!" She shrieked, shooting off the deck and reaching towards him with clawed hands. Kaito barely stumbled back as the crew burst out in cheers.
Just another day.
＊＊＊
With Wire exhausted, Yoruichi pretty beat herself and Kaito beaten up, it wasn't until late evening that the officers gathered in his quarters to discuss Buggy and some of what they've pulled out of his head.
Kaito couldn't complain too much about being beaten up, having gotten the explanation of what he missed. Hard to complain when Yoruichi's shirt was practically see through the entire time she pummeled him. Although it had led to a pointed discussion with Archer afterwards about keeping his eyes in proper places. Kaito had promised he would. He doubted him and Archer agreed on what places were proper is all.
"So, what you're telling me is…You want me to have Buggy's devil fruit!" Wire gaped at him, Kaito having opened the meeting stating just that.
"Weak." Duel snorted, her nose wrinkling, thinking of the clown.
"He might be weak, but that doesn't mean the fruit is." Yoruichi said, she glanced at Kaito, "However… He has the fruit. Do you mean that you know how to remove the ability from Buggy, Kaito?"
"That would be an incredibly dangerous ability." Archer said quietly, looking troubled.
Kaito chuckled, leaning back in his chair, tenting his hands in front of his smirking face. "Nothing so world shattering as that, although I appreciate you think so highly of me!"
"Death." Duel said, making a slit throat motion that Wire blanched at.
Kaito gave Duel the finger guns, the woman actually smirking at him in return. "The pretty woman has it right. When Buggy dies his fruit is regenerated. What not everyone knows is that it does so to the nearest fruit of the same kind."
"The interrogation of those two chuckle fucks…" Wire realized. "You were double checking what Buggy said about it."
"That's right! Most of the other questions I didn't even care about their answers other then as a second confirmation that they and Buggy were on the same page. When it comes to the fruit the reason I believe I know what it is is because the fruit they gave you is not what Buggy told me!"
"Is it not possible they had been instructed to lie if such a situation arose?" Archer asked, sitting cross legged on the floor, eyes closed.
"Those two?" Yoruichi snorted, "they wouldn't be able to get a lie across Wire and Duel."
"Appreciate the support." Wire responded dryly. "Archer is right though, Buggy might have lied to them."
"It is always possible." Kaito admitted, "Not likely though, Buggy is just the kind to brag about shit to his men, and not think of possible consequences like being taken captive." He leaned forward, "If anything, the fact I know Buggy lied when he was asked the question, makes me believe them more when they had a different answer."
"You're sure he lied?" Archer asked, "Just being a devil's advocate." The large man said slowly. "Much of what you're basing this on is suppositions."
"I'm sure."
"Well then welcome to the club, Wire!" Yoruichi grinned, shoving the man.
"Why the fuck am I the one, and I haven't fucking accepted anything yet, Yoruichi!" He grunted irritably.
"Best. Choice. Do. It." Duel said, grabbing his hand and giving it a squeeze. Wire looked down at the interlocked hands and seemed to melt. It was so cute that Kaito almost got cavities. And he could see Yoruichi grinning and getting ready to say something that would surely derail the meeting, so he hurriedly stepped in. "It can only be you Wire!"
"And why the fuck is that?" He grumbled, patting Duel's hand as she gave him another squeeze.
"He has the chop-chop fruit, making him immune to any blade attacks. You would be able to split your body avoiding any attacks as well. You'd have limited flight abilities and can lift anything you touch into the air without difficulties. You fight with wires, can you imagine what a monster you will be if Duel fashions some spool holders that you can hold all over your body? Split apart into a hundred pieces, every two pieces keeping razor sharp wires in between them." He lets that sink in for a second. "Imagine what you could do with that, you'll be a splitting human, there's no reason why you couldn't also split your consciousness between body parts and wreak havoc."
"You've thought this through. Is this the devil fruit you mentioned earlier this month?" Yoruichi wondered out loud.
"It is, although I had no idea Buggy would be this close, it was honestly pure chance. Now the only question is. Wire?"
Wire frowned, thinking it through, looking up at Duel who nodded at him, eyes turning to Archer who even with his eyes closed turned his head down slightly in agreement. Yoruichi simply smirked at him, and finally Wire turned to Kaito. "Alright, I can't promise I'll be able to do all that fucking shit you just spouted. I'll eat the damn thing."
Kaito clapped his hands together, pleased. "Perfect! Now we just have to find some funky pineapples, hopefully the next island has some."
"It is unfortunate we don't have any, I'm assuming that it is the fruit needed for regeneration?" Archer asked, "I do not like the idea of keeping Buggy until we achieve this, if he escapes that will prove hazardous to the regular crew." He continued calmly, "I will accept the decision however." He finished, opening his eyes and finding Kaito's. "Seastone or not, I do not believe we should leave him unattended, as pathetic as he performed, he has lived a long life as a pirate."
"Chains. Guards, two." Duel agreed. She indicated herself. "Can. Work. Downstairs." She offered. Offering to tinker in the brig, keeping an eye on Buggy.
"I'll set up a rotation of people that won't fucking slack off." Wire promised.
"To be clear, this is something I'll aim to do in the future, capture combatants with devil fruits alive, to see if we can utilize their fruit for our crew." Kaito explained further as it seemed the Buggy question had been decided.
"That's easier said than done." Yoruichi pointed out skeptically, "Buggy was a fluke, most devil fruit users who aren't complete morons aren't easy to take down."
"Us. Why. Telling." Duel explained huffing, crossing her arms. "Only. Strongest."
"We're the strongest." Kaito agreed with a small smile, "It would be all of our jobs to try and capture these kinds of people." He leaned forward seriously." I'll make one thing clear though, if it's a fight for your life you strike to kill, don't risk death for what is after all just a good chance, not a sure thing."
"And if we happen to not kill them, then bonus huh, I get it." Yoruichi said running a hand down through her purple hair, for once loose instead of its trademark ponytail.
"Oh, and I figured I might as well make things official." Kaito started, he did a finger gun motion towards Yoruichi, "First mate." Then to Archer, "Third mate and head chef!" Swiveling to point at Wire. "Second mate and Quartermaster." Then towards Duel, "Uhhh, mechanic and head eye candy?" SLAM!
"The floor tastes like lemon!" Kaito giggled, face down, before slowly pushing himself up, the rest of the officers either laughing at him or glaring at him.
Except for Yoruichi who pouted. "I'm totally head eye candy." She muttered.
"If the charts are correct, we should be hitting a small island within the next day or two - although strangely the older maps don't have it on there. We can see about resupplying a bit, and if they happen to have a certain fruit… we'll deal with things at that point." Kaito moved things along, ignoring the lemon fresh smell from his floor date. He rather doubted they would have the fruit, that special kind of pineapple being a decently uncommon fruit in this part of east blue. Being a grand line variation.
He did not relish keeping Buggy around until the grand line. It's why chasing after the clown was supposed to be a late stage quest before they entered. Not the first thing they did. But chance is what it is.
"Resupply the nice way or the not so fucking nice?" Wire wanted to know, snorting at Yoruichi's chiding look. "What? Best to avoid any kind of misunderstandings, all I'm fucking saying."
Everyone looked at him and Kaito chuckled, shaking his head, "As fun as it would be living up to the pirate name and all, this is such a small island I doubt it's worth it, best just pay our way for what little supplies we need restocked."
"Time. Crew?"
"Not more then a day, just a resupply, let everyone stretch their legs off the ship for a few hours and then we'll continue on." Kaito responded. "Make sure they know, defend themselves, but don't start shit. These are just people trying to get by."
"Softie." Duel scoffed, rising up, grabbing Wire by the arm to drag him with her.
"I didn't say the meeting was done." Kaito pouted. Archer and Yoruichi chuckling at him as they take that chance to leave as well.
At least they were going to a small island in the middle of nowhere in east blue. They'd just have a nice quiet rest stop.
What's the worst that could happen?
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