Outside In

Prologue

Her kimono were torn. All down the front edging, they were tattered especially. He recognized the stains as old blood stains, and new ones were joining them. But she was alive. Her light innermost kimono was still mostly tied together, and on. The rest hung from her obi at her waist. With her kimono sleeve torn nearly off, apparent, violent bruising was visible along the length of her arm up to her wrist. Over the top of her chest, her skin was purpling, and swelling.

On both arm and chest, there were strange cuts scattered everywhere - every one looking like it was from the same small object. Once in a while, the cut accompanied a blurred circular imprint.

She whimpered in pain, and Luffy watched on as Chopper continued to carefully peel the layers of kimono away. Finally, her eyes fluttered open, and she turned her head, allowing him to see her giant, swollen lip, and the imprint of the ring on the corner of her lip.

"I found you in a back alley," Luffy said, watching her closely. "Do you remember how you got there?"

"Where ...?"

He pouted at that, but said, "You're at my house. Chopper'll take care of you."

"No, I - I have a date ... I'm going to be late," she said. When she tried to rise up with her other arm, she cringed, and fell over, orange hair falling out of her pins - a tangled, ragged mess.

"It's morning now. I don't think your date-"

She teared up, starting to cry, "My - my boyfriend - where is he? I have to-"

"Calm down, please," Chopper said, the last elaborate kimono coming off, leaving her inner kimono on while Luffy turned around on the spot. "We're trying to help!"

"But-"

"This happened in my neighborhood," Luffy said, "I want to find the ones who did it. That this ... that you were hurt when we should have seen it and stopped it ..."

"It's not that bad ..."

He punched the tatami mat, and she flinched, shrinking back as he turned to her. "It should never have happened! My deepest apology would never be enough."

"Please, this is more than enough," she said, trying to bow in her position. "I should thank you. I just want to see my boyfriend ..."

"When you're all wrapped up, we can see about finding him," Chopper insisted.

"Luffy," Luffy looked up from the woman to Ben who was waiting at the doorway. The Korean was dressed in a smart black suit. "I spoke with the shopkeepers in the area, but they didn't see anything strange. One mentioned a black limousine, but he figured it was ours."

Lips pursed in confusion, Luffy said, "We went out to play pachinko all night though."

"I know," he said, obviously waiting for some kind of reaction from Luffy who only tilted his head. He sighed and said, "Maybe someone's set a trap for us."

Luffy smiled brightly, "Nah, why would they? We're not anybody yet."

"Well, there's ..." Ben looked up over Luffy's head, frowning in slight confusion before he said, "So do you remember anything you'd want to tell us?"

Luffy turned slightly to look back at her, bared to the waist down except for a traditional breast band while Chopper treated her bruises and cuts. For a moment, she looked like a fierce girl delinquent of years ago. She said, "I just need to go home. He's waiting for me, and he doesn't-"

"I can't hand you back looking like that," Luffy said before turning completely to face her, slipping a long knife from his kimono sleeve. She didn't even flinch at the sight of it. She simply looked expectant. "This is all I can do to apologize."

"Bocchan!"

"Luffy, no! You don't have to cut off your pinky over some mishap like this!"

She started slightly when he instead cut deep under his right eye, and her eyes widened in alarm, "Stop! I'm not worth it!"

"Bocchan!" Chopper ran over as Luffy pulled the knife out, and immediately started applying pressure. "What were you thinking?"

He hadn't. He couldn't remember if he had. All he could do was stare at the woman in confusion over Chopper's shoulder. Luffy had been stunned by what she had said, openly gaping while she slowly lowered her eyes, and cringed - shoulders hunching up slowly with every second.

"We've gathered to discuss a civil stop to the war between yours and our own." Saruyama gestured to his empty sake cup and then to the cup of the man across from him. "We believe that any further escalation will bother the civilians. We've already bothered our bosses more than necessary."

"And I would never deign to cause trouble for my oyabun," Arlong grinned with his scissor-like teeth.

Saruyama frowned in sight concern at his smile before he sighed, and looked around, "Though ... I wonder where our negotiator is."

Arlong grimaced at that, looking at the clock. Whoever their bosses had agreed upon had obviously just been some low-life boss of a lesser yakuza family, someone his boss hadn't known most likely. He must have just finally agreed to someone whose name may have been familiar sounding. It was just like the man to do something like that, and trust some no name to the job of negotiating the war between the Gyojin and Saruyama.

"Shishishi!" The two jumped before turning to the door only to stare at the sight of the half-Japanese who walked in.

They jumped to their feet, baring the blades of their katana while their men also rose when two full Japanese walked in after him, "Who the hell are you?"

He continued to smile unconcernedly, and sat at the other mat set aside for the negotiator.

"Oi!" Saruyama said, "Don't you understand? Just dressing up in a kimono doesn't make you Japanese! Don't do as you like!"

The two Japanese started to loom threateningly then, though neither looked like they had moved yet, but the half-Brazilian just raised his hand. Just as suddenly as the sensation had started, it then ceased.

He continued to smile though, "I'm Saruda Luffy."

Eyes widening all around, Arlong was last to sit, now watching their negotiator closely. When seated, he finally sheathed his katana.

"Well ... Well, now that everyone is here," Saruyama said, "we can proceed." He seemed to hesitate before he said, "That means we can start."

"Get on with it!" The bleached blond Japanese snapped at him.

Saruda burst out laughing while Saruyama jumped, "Don't worry about me. I can follow you fine."

Arlong frowned, "So let's start."

The cups remained empty even at the end of the negotiations, but there was still a sort of truce set in place for the two groups.

Terse talk turned to other things instead, and for moment, it seemed to be relaxing before Saruyama said, "So I hear you're still with that fine Hokaze."

Jerking his head up, Arlong suddenly sneered, "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Ah, I mean, I would think marriage is in sight after so long ..."

"She's been missing since last night! If you had something to do with this, there'll be blood spilt!"

"Saruyama-san would never!"

"You'll pay for this insult!"

"Where is Hokaze-neesan?"

As katana were fully bared, Luffy tilted his head to the side, "Hokaze?"

Arlong sneered, looking at him, "My woman. That's her name."

"We found her."

Arlong and his men froze, staring at him while Luffy nodded to Sanji who turned to leave the room. Finally, he said, "You … did?"

"Found her beaten on our turf."

He choked slightly, "Yours …?" Then his eyes began to rage though for half a second Luffy thought he saw a smirk, "What did you do to Nami?"

Luffy frowned at that, "We found her."

"You know, Bocchan, Usopp did say that she didn't want to call the cops at all." Zoro stroked his chin, "No wonder if she was a yakuza oneesan."

Twitching, Arlong said, "And you expect me to believe that?"

"Why wouldn't you?" As Arlong's eyes widened in shock, Luffy said, "Jinbe and the chestnut-guy asked me to come here."

"Che - chestnut?"

"That'd be Jinbe-san to you!" The man behind Arlong said.

Arlong scowled, "Shut up, Chuu."

"She should be here soon," Luffy said.

"You're Brazilian, right ...? How'd you get to be called here?"

"My dad just set up shop a few weeks ago. Chestnut-guy gave us some streets to help out."

"Why would Montblanc-oyabun do that?" Saruyama snorted out, incredulous and angry.

Luffy just smiled, "We helped him out once."

"Saruda-san, you do realize that sounds ...?"

Luffy looked up at Zoro, "I'm bored, can we go yet?"

"You can't just leave like that!" Saruyama gaped at him. "What about Hokaze-san?"

"Sanji'll bring her."

"No! I demand blood!" Arlong screamed, only to stare as Luffy tapped at the bandage under his eye.

"It's right here, and it wasn't for you. If she wants more, I'll give it." He beamed at Sanji then, "I should get to bed soon though. Busy day tomorrow."

"Yes, Bocchan, I'll make sure to pack your bentou."

"I'll set a perimeter around the area."

At that, Sanji and Zoro sneered at each other.

Luffy sweated slightly, walking faster than them to get away, "N - no, no, it's fine. You don't have to ..."

I'm back.