Unbeknownst Kále, Masa had taken his declaration to heart. They would meet on the sea. And in the middle of the night, she ran to the docks where one of the rare traders were. Offering up a large sum of money to them.

Only for Betrayal to strike. Hands covering her mouth to prevent to scream. And stuffed into the galley of the ship gagged.

Mere days later, after Kále and Hagane searching the entire small island. Kále decided to take action. And at only 15, left Shimotsuki to Find Masa. The only trail he had. Was that ship that was in the harbor.

Day after Day, Week after Week, Month, Year. Masamune Kále scoured the East Blue from small island to bigger towns and some of the most populated islands of the East Blue.

At First, he merely interrogated criminals. Asked around. Usually getting into fights with other swordsmen and gunmen alike. But, each of these criminals who got away, started to spread rumors about a hunter. A man from hell itself.

The Bloody Ronin.

He got more and violent, more risky. He'd knock in the doors of gangers and pirates houses just to attack them

When finally, at 18. He thought he'd finally found the bastard. The one known as Toby.

It was wet, raining. A torrential down pour that Gave Kále the perfect cover as he followed a man to the back alley of a bar.

The back was filled with cages. Bodies inside, dead or on the cusp of it. But the man was gone.

While Kále looked in horror, the man he'd followed launched an attack from behind! A Large man slamming into the side of his head! Blood trailing down is face!

Dazed, and angry. The strike caused his brain to be rattled, and with all the emotions that was flooding through him, he was sparked into a frenzy! But by the time he got back up, Toby was gone!

Kále burst through the wall of the bar where he was met with dozens of guns! The Cohorts of the one before!

Slicing, dicing, cleaving. Kále cleared through the 23 men in only a minute flat!

But slamming through the front door to make his get away, an Company of Marines was waiting for him! The entire thing had been a set up!

This was connected quickly in his mind. These Marines were connected to the Crime Bosses that he was after, and they wanted to get him taken care of by one of their biggest buyers.

Gun shots filled the air! As blood slung into the streets as The Bloody Ronin was unleashed! Arms chopped, gashes cut, bullets deflected with the steel of his blade! Working through all of the Marines that were filling the streets as he attempted to run away!

Dozens fell against his dual blades. For all these years, he'd forgone using three. Not until he felt that it was right. Not until- Not Until he found a reason too.

Stealing a Dinghy, Kále, under the torrent of rain, Made his get away.

For years after, he continued to look for Until he finally found her.

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When Finally, stumbling onto The Gambling Island of Mirror Ball, he saw her. She was just standing at a corner, talking to a group of drunk men as she wore an outfit that left nothing to the Imagination.

That's when their eyes met, the horror in Masa's eyes wasn't what Kále expected.

She ran down the Ally way, only for Kále to intercept her, forcing her against the wall with worry across his eyes.

They both, looked so different. Kále, fresh scar across his left head, and the earring feather off his ear, the stubble across his face. Scars peaking over the white short sleeve lace up shirt he wore.

As for Masa, she'd developed into a beautiful woman, long hair running down her shoulders. His heart broke seeing her in that outfit...

The two chatted. But Masa couldn't be away for to long with out her handlers eventually coming to find her. She explained everything that had happened since she was fifteen and Kále was Thirteen. How she'd been kidnapped, how the slavers had thought about putting her for ransom due to the money she carried. But after the low quota rate, she was forced to become a slave. It was slow at first, they didn't lay a hand on her. But rather attempted to groom her. Which on the surface worked, but she knew better. She was strong like that.

But, it didn't matter. When she was 16. They made her work the streets. She didn't want to get beat like the others. So she did it with out complaint. She did everything from being a mule, to herding other girls as a pseudo leader among them. Acting as their protector.

All for now, after all that work. Kále had found her.

Kále had a plan. He'd offer himself up for her in her place. A hopeful idea. To Sacrifice himself. He begged for Masa to accept. She could leave! Go back to her family at Shimotsuki. He promised, that he'd be okay. He'd stay in her place for a few weeks before coming to find her.

Only for it to Fail. Horribly so. Kále and Masa went to talk to the Man, Toby. Who held a nasty toothy grin on his face as he heard the proposition.

But- Why would he accept? Get rid of one of his best girls. And now, have an active obstacle out of his way?

Day after Day. Kále was beat in front of Masa. Gashes from his own swords, hours of beatings. It took so much to get even scratches onto his almost iron like body.

That was when, just before her 'shift.' Masa ran for it, and ran into the path of one Red Sashed Pirate.