Chapter 1:
This truly had been, as many Marines had often deemed it, the worst generation of pirates. From the emergence of Strawhat Luffy to Eustass Kid, many buccaneers were now making names for themselves in various forms and fashions.
However, most were overly eccentric or even a tad overzealous at worst.
As such, no one had been ready for a genuinely violent pirate, let alone a female one.
Some called her "Black Blade Aiya", others used "Bloody Aiya" but the most popular nickname she had been given was "Headhuntress Aiya". This was due to her preferred method of killing her victims; beheading. Depending on whom she set her sights on, she would use either of her two katanas.
One was a black blade which she had appropriately named Touzoku, meaning 'thief', and had the ability to steal the powers of a Devil Fruit user. It wasn't permanent, mind you. But the duration was long enough for Aiya to keep them locked away and use them against her opponents.
The other had an Ax Dial embedded in it and allowed her to flick wind blades towards her enemies. This ability gave Aiya the chance to attack from both long and short ranges with it. The addition of the Ax Dial had helped Aiya gave it the name of Kazekami, or 'wind god'.
As for the wielder of these weapons?
Aiya was twenty-one years old and hated anyone affiliated with the Marines or World Government with a burning passion, one that perfectly matched the color of her red hair and eyes. She stood taller than most typical females at five-feet-eight inches and wore rather elegant clothes.
Were it not for her name and reputation, it would be relatively simple to mistake her as a noble of sorts.
Of course, she did need a bit of help, namely with getting around. For that, she had Saku, whom she had first met back on Shells Town Island. Although the ship was his own, he had technically appointed her as the captain of it due to her being the strongest and best fighter aboard his vessel.
Over the months, her power and reputation only grew. It was fuel for the Marine's fire and it had worked beautifully. But that was exactly what Aiya had wanted, even if few of the Marines realized this. The entire - well, primary - reason for Chaos seeming to follow the red-headed pirate everywhere was simple. It was bait she used, much akin to how a Siren would sing and lure men to their deaths.
And it seemed to work, every damn time.
The thought made her smirk as she spotted through the spyglass another Marine ship heading over.
"Saku!" she called out, "Let Marianne know it may start getting a bit rough soon."
Marianne was their navigator whom Saku had bought - although some would argue 'steal' was the better word - from Sabaody Archipelago. It had taken a lot of technical adjustments, but they had made the hold filled mostly up with water so she could live and steer the ship properly.
Aiya smirked as she heard the faintest of sighs elicit from Saku.
"One of these days," he mused, "You're going to find your match. Marianne! Be ready for company soon!"
"Yes sir!" Marianne replied.
Aiya had opened her mouth to inquire whether Saku would maybe want anyone to add to his 'collection' of sorts. Every so often, he would take a precious item - if it could be used somehow - and give them to his summons that he created via the Shin Shin No Mi. Since it translated into the Death Fruit, he had shown an unnatural ability to embrace that by raising a skeleton and allowing them to fight with and for him.
Granted, the collection was limited as Saku was picky but now his soldiers had both Don Krieg's spear and Arlong's sword.
But before she could ask, the ship had closed the distance. Aiya had expected a lot of lower rank Marines to try to board or even fire at their ship.
Instead, one single man walked rather calmly on board. In his mouth was a lit cigar. He had slicked back hair, sunglasses, a brown suit, and a coat. The insignia was easy for Aiya to recognize; this was one of the many Vice Admirals.
"Headhuntress Aiya," he stated, "You will give yourself over. Come quietly and I won't drag the others into this."
Aiya merely narrowed her eyes.
"Hmph. I have no reassurance of that. Even still, I have come too far to just give up now. Who the hell do you think you are exactly?"
The man sighed as he tapped his cigar, causing some ash to fall on the wood below him. "I am Vice Admiral Cancer. And you - "
Aiya had been eyeing the Vice Admiral; not out of lust but curiosity. As a realization came to her, she snickered and quickly interrupted him. "Hah! You were intending to turn me in yet you have no weapon?! Don't fuck around with me. Now it's my turn to give you some choices. You can leave quietly ... or die quickly."
"Foolish wench," he muttered, "Who says all weapons have to be ones you can see in order to use them?"
Despite still wearing his sunglasses, anyone would have been able to see him narrow his eyes.
The sensation which followed afterwards was something that one might or might not have been able to predict. Aiya knew of what had just happened. But to feel how strong Conqueror's Haki could be? That was another story.
She didn't pass out ... but her body did feel slightly light-headed for a few seconds. Her instincts kicked in before too much of a toll could be taken on her body as she bit hard on her lower lip. The pain did its job and kept her conscious.
When she lifted her head, a few drops of blood plus an amused smirk adorned her face.
"Interesting," she muttered, "Good. Finally, a decent challenge. I am overdue for one."
Aiya had been standing perhaps ten paces away from Cancer.
... But in a matter of seconds, she charged forward and was soon inches away from him. She had already unsheathed Kazekami, deciding it would be the best sword to use against this man. Instead of her blade landing upon his flesh, however, it made a loud clang as it slammed against another katana.
I see. So it was hidden under the coat. Smart.
"Very well then," Cancer replied, "You have left me no choice it seems."
And with that, the official fight began. The sounds of metal meeting and impacting one another repeatedly resounded throughout the ship and even lingered into the sky. A quick peek around would show the sun setting and anyone who cared to recall would know it was the last day of June.
For a while, it probably appeared as if the two were on even terms, with neither holding an advantage nor disadvantage against the other. Both sword users were panting and breathing, not having spoken to one another until the Vice Admiral broke the silence.
"Not ... bad. I didn't think you ... were properly instructed."
"I ... wasn't. But I've had my fair share of encounters with ... people who use either swords, Fruits, or both. And I've walked away from them all alive!" Aiya proudly declared, smiling as her mind went to what she thought to be the best of these meetings. They all involved the same man, Dracule Mihawk.
Then again, he is known as the Best Swordsman in the World, she mused.
" ... I see ... " Cancer acknowledged in a barely audible voice. "It does show. I can hear you're not just bragging to do so."
"Of course! I always say what I mean and mean what I say!"
Again, Aiya charged forward, not noticing - or caring was probably the better wording - that the audience of at least twenty other Marines on the opposite ship plus Saku were all watching the fray intently.
Finally, an opportuity came in the form of Cancer missing. Instead, his sword landed in the mast and seemed to be stuck rather firmly in place.
While he tried to yank it out, Aiya took her chance. She quickly yanked Touzoku out and moved each sword so they formed an X shape. Both katanas were pressed tightly against Cancer's neck ... only to swiftly be pulled.
Shocked gasps and cries of disbelief rang out from the opposite ship as they watched the head of their Vice Captain fly off his body, only to land in the ocean. His body followed suit as Aiya kicked it triumphantly off the ship, leaving any sharks or other sea creatures to come and devour it if they so desired.
The Headhuntress smirked as she looked over to the other Marines, now covered in the former Vice Admiral's blood. "Heh! If that's the best you've got, you're going to have to do better! If Cancer couldn't get me, none of you will be able to!"
Thankfully, none of them needed to be told twice as the ship turned and sailed rapidly away from Saku's.
Satisfied with the outcome - and the fight all in all for once - Aiya chuckled as she sauntered down towards her room. On the way down, she passed Saku who shot her a look.
"Hm?" she asked, only to see her partner-in-crime shake his head.
"I just hope you know what you're doing. You should have killed the others."
Aiya casually shrugged, "Maybe. Maybe not. Saku, I get it. I know eventually, I'm going to lose my ... winning streak of sorts. But everyone does eventually."
"Yet you would still tempt your own fate and luck?"
"Yes." There was a very stern and determined tone in her voice which reassured Saku she was indeed as serious as she appeared and sounded. "Freeport and its people deserved better. If you had a problem with me avenging my home and what used to be my family, then - "
"Okay, okay," Saku replied, holding his hands up to show he had given up on the argument. "Just ... never mind that."
And with that, Aiya strode past Saku. The next sounds he would hear were her door closing, the door to Aiya's bathroom opening, a few buttons and zippers and finally, the water turning on before all that echoed through the ship was mere silence.
Sure enough, after Aiya finished cleaning the blood off of her body and drying herself, she got in a fresh set of clothing and lied down upon her bed.
No more than ten seconds passed. Once they did, Aiya fell asleep with a very content smirk on her face.
