Black as Knight
Chapter One
The trees dotted around St. James park rustled in the gentle breeze that drifted through their autumn-browned leaves, which went unseen under the night's warm, dark blanket. Candle lit lamps illuminated the paths that wove their way through the grass turf, the flames pulsing within their glass and iron-wrought cages.
The breeze gradually abated, leaving the air still and stiflingly warm in the park which, surprisingly at such a late hour, wasn't completely deserted.
Nine figures stood around a single wooden park bench, the light of the single nearby lamp along the path only just allowing them to cast their own shadows. A tenth figure sat to the bench, surrounded by the other nine.
His soft blonde hair was seen a little better thanks to the cigarette between his lips, the tip of which glowed a faint orange as he lazily took a long drag. As he did, the breeze picked up again slightly, to which his fringe drifted before settling in front of his face. Lifting his arm from where it had been casually slung along the backrest of the bench, he lifted his hand to his face, the dark blue sleeve of his suit avoiding the charred embers of the cigarette.
"I don't think he's coming, Sanji." One of the nine behind him, Eustass Kidd, said to the young man on the bench, playing with the dagger in his hand. The dagger bobbed up and down in the space above his palm, magnetised at his control.
"You don't know that." A young girl snapped. Her long, light blue hair, which was pulled into a high ponytail, whipped out in the breeze as she turned to face Kidd, whose pierced face twisted into a snarl.
"You dare to tell me what I do and don't know, Vivi?" He asked. The dagger suddenly zoomed point first towards her face as he flexed his hand, but it stopped inches from her face as Sanji silently flourished a hand in their direction.
A quiet, hollow clinking rattled in the night as another of the nine stood to attention and stepped forwards to the back of the bench. The tall figure leant down from the waist as though in a bow, his skeletal jaw opening and closing as words emanated from somewhere beneath his well-dressed, and well-covered, neck.
"I hear them. They're here."
"Thank you, Brook." Sanji murmured, his tone polite yet sultry.
A small puff became a cloud of smoke that drifted into the air and dissipated in small wisps, revealing three men walking towards them across the grass.
The two flanking the third in the centre seemed vaguely similar in looks, as though related. Both with black hair, lightly tanned skin, the same eyes… Though they both wore hats, one's was a simple straw hat with red binding, whereas the elder, and more muscular, man had a hat that was more of a bright orange cowboy hat. It sported two blue theatrical faces on them, which turned as the man glanced at his younger brother.
The single small scar that had been badly stitched under the boy's left eye twitched a little as he wrinkled his nose, able to smell the cigarette smoke as they approached. He opened his mouth, but a hand signal from the man in the centre stopped him.
Fixing the younger brother with a slight glare, he tightened his grip on the three katanas that were strapped to the belt around his waist. Three gold earrings that hung from his left ear dangled and clinked as they walked, complimenting the green, black and white pirate-like attire he wore.
His green hair caught the lamplight as they drew closer to the ten waiting ahead of them, and his deep voice carried across to the two flanking him.
"Oi, Ace. Luffy. Not a word during this, got it?"
The two either side of him nodded, and the elder brother, Ace, grunted once.
The party stopped a few meters short of the group waiting for them, and the dark clouds that had been keeping in the autumn heat finally spewed forth raindrops. They began gradually, causing a quiet slapping sound on the yellowing leaves that still stubbornly clung to their trees.
Ace glanced up at the sky and smirked, the air around his brother and leader increasing in temperature until the rain turned to steam. White wisps rose the moment rain touched the invisible barrier of heat that Ace's heat put out.
Meanwhile, Brook stepped closer to Sanji, producing from somewhere an elegant black umbrella that he held above Sanji's head, protecting him from the rain.
"Finally, you're here." Sanji murmured, just loud enough to be heard. "I've never known you lot to be punctual, but you're really letting your standards drop, Zoro. Though, from what I've heard, your standards seem to be dropping in more than just keeping time."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Zoro asked, his eyes narrowing as he watched Sanji's gaze fall upon his short, moss-green hair.
Sanji smirked and sat back more comfortably on the bench.
"Your little gang slipped-up. A couple of innocent civilians were found dead along the border of our turf. Here I thought you wouldn't allow such atrocities."
"We don't." Zoro said curtly. "And I assume that can't be the reason you asked to meet with us. Get on with it. I don't intend to stand here and listen to you all night."
A man raced forwards towards Zoro, to which Ace stepped forwards and blocked his way, staring down the blue-haired man. The red, clown-like nose stopped inches from Ace's chest, popping out above the man's shoulder indignantly.
"How dare you be rude to our leader!" He squealed, his voice grating and as high-pitched as a full man's voice could go.
Zoro's jaw clenched at the squeakiness of the voice, but before he could snap anything in response, Ace stepped forward so quickly that his chest forcefully knocked into the blue-haired man, throwing him off balance. The man's arms wind milled wide as he fell back, his back hitting the grass like something from a cartoon.
"Buggy." A weary voice drawled. "Stop playing around."
Buggy looked up to see a broadly chested man, Marco, staring down at him, his hair a stark pineapple atop his head. Pouting, Buggy grudgingly accepted the hand that was extended towards him.
For a second, Zoro's gaze flickered to Sanji's abnormally curly eyebrow, and he struggled not to sneer as he spoke.
"The hell do you want, Sanji?"
"Just a little chat about territory. You know I won't talk to you unless absolutely necessary."
Immediately, Zoro's jaw clenched and he took a half-step forward, the grip on his katanas tightening. Beside him, Luffy's head tilted to the side.
"You seriously think you can call me here to try to negotiate territory with me? I won't give up a single inch of my turf to you. Don't waste my time." Zoro snarled, his shoulders set a little more squarely as he straightened up, staring Sanji down menacingly.
"On the contrary, Marimo." Sanji replied, his tone unchanged. He took another drag of his cigarette before continuing. "That long-nosed friend of yours. The pickpocket. We saw him stealing on the wrong side of the line. It was such a shame we didn't manage to catch him before he disappeared back onto your turf. He'd have made such a good example as to why people don't mess with the Kali."
To Zoro's left shoulder, Ace slowly closed his eyes and bit back a groan. Luffy balled his hands into fists and raised one as he bore his teeth at Sanji.
"So what? What's your problem?" Luffy yelled.
Luckily, Ace was quick enough to clamp his hand over Luffy's large mouth before his younger brother could say anything else. Zoro shot them both a sharp glance before turning back to Sanji, who was smiling. A muscle twitched in Zoro's jaw. Thanks to Luffy's outburst, he couldn't even attempt to deny it.
"So you saw him. What of it, Ero-Cook?" Zoro asked.
"Whatever he stole belongs to me. He stole it from my turf, and everything on my turf is my property. Surely even your simple brain can understand that, right? I want my property back." Sanji said.
Behind Zoro, Luffy's limbs seemed to stretch as he fought against Ace, trying to push his brother away. The boy's voice got insistently louder, until his slightly muffled voice managed to be heard.
"Don't do it, Zoro!" He shouted.
Ignoring his friend, Zoro held back a sigh.
"And if choose not to give back whatever he's taken?"
"Then I'll come over there and take his life. It's tit for tat, as they say." Sanji replied smoothly, locking a cold stare with Zoro. "You know our agreement. I'm not the one who broke it. Unless you want to start negotiating the terms of our territory boun-"
"You'll get your crap back." Zoro growled, cutting Sanji off sharply as a shadow passed over his face, a dangerous glint flickering in his eyes. "Don't push your luck. I'm not in the mood."
The nine Kali members surrounding Sanji drew closer to the bench their leader sat on, and Ace's eyes caught sight of the katana that had begun to hiss from its sheath, hidden in Brook's cane. Slowly, he glanced at the other members, noting that each of them had subtly reached for their weapons. Quietly, Ace gave Zoro a notable cough. Zoro didn't respond, instead maintaining Sanji's fixated stare.
"Fine. Twelve o'clock at St. James' Square." Zoro stated.
"Done." Sanji agreed, proffering his hand to seal the deal.
Zoro glared at the hand for a second before he slapped it away in a low-five of sorts, turning away and jerking his head to Ace and Luffy for them to follow him.
"Just don't be late." He muttered, marching away with the two brothers in tow, Luffy being swiftly towed by Ace.
They made their way across the grass so quickly that had Ace not warmed the earth around them, ensuring they did not slip on the otherwise wet grass as they marched. Luffy griped as they went, most of which Ace ignored as he ran up alongside Zoro.
"Are you sure about this?" Ace asked.
"Of course I'm sure. Just make sure I don't kick Ussop's arse too hard when we get back." Zoro muttered.
Hey guys, welcome to the rewrite. I hope you enjoy.
Chapters so far re-written:
- One.
Chapter Two, coming soon.
AchievingKitKat
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