Kaku stumbled, the long legs of his full giraffe form not being built for carrying the extra weight of his Master, how Kaku hated that word and how he hated the man who currently held that title over him. Kaku wasn't even sure how much time had passed since he and the rest of CP9 had lost to the Straw Hat Pirates and had been sold into slavery for their failure.

Kaku groaned as he regained consciousness only to find himself inside of Bluenos alternate dimension watching the Buster Call take place, he glanced around the rest of CP9 were present and all seemed to be in good shape, well better shape than him anyway, until his eyes fell on Rob. He wasn't even sure the man was still breathing. As soon as the rumbling had ceased Blueno opened a door and helped Lucci and Kaku out and set them on solid ground. None of them had been prepared for Spandam to be standing there with a large group of marines.

"I want all of them in chains" he spat, "for aiding the Straw Hat Pirates in freeing Nico Robin and in the destruction of the Tower of Justice"

They all froze anger and confusion rising quickly, they didn't have time to react as they were all restrained in sea prism hand cuffs.

"What do you want done with them sir?" a marine asked,

"I want all of them put to death." He yelled angrily before he suddenly got an idea, he smiled to himself, "No I want them all sold into slavery, and get Lucci the necessary medical treatment, death is too good for them."

Kaku stumbled again, embarrassed at having to stay in his full animal form, completely naked, and carrying the large man who owned him around on his back. He didn't dare to argue or fight back the collar around his neck threatening to blow his head off, they were back on Sabaody heading to a human auction house, it seemed his master had gotten tired of the maintenance of feeding an animal of his size and wanted to get rid of him. They stopped outside the auction house and Kaku was forced to lie down, bending his legs awkwardly beneath him, he moved slowly knowing he would be punished if his master were to fall. The large man stepped off, the leash he was on was handed over to a handler, at first the handler seemed confused, until it was explained that Kaku was a zoan type and was currently in his full animal form. His master left to find seating in the house and Kaku hoped he would never have to see the man again. He was brought out of his thoughts at the harsh tug on his leash; he turned his head and looked down at the man holding the other end.

"Shift into your human form. Now"

Kaku blushed deeply, extremely conscious of his lack of clothing but did as he was told. As soon as he had returned to his human form his arms were forced behind his back and into a pair of sea prism cuffs, he was then forcefully dragged through the doors reserved for merchandise, and once inside he was shoved into a pair of pants way too big for him and shoved harshly into a cell. He sighed but looked around, the cells around him held people of seemingly little interest, among them was a young mermaid crying in a bowl and an old man who looked vaguely familiar, he stretched as much as he was able then froze. He stared at the cell across from him not believing what he was seeing at first,

"Lucci?" he asked certain he was not mistaken, the man glanced up at hearing his name and seemed just as surprised.

"Kaku"

"How, what are you doing here?" as soon as the words left his mouth he could have slapped himself that was a stupid question. Lucci chuckled at the face Kaku had made after speaking,

"Guess my previous master" he spat the word like venom, "got tired of me, you I assume are in a similar situation."

Kaku nodded explaining his life for the last few months, blushing profusely at having to explain being naked at all times because his master thought a giraffe with clothes looked stupid. Lucci simply sat and listened to his previous co-agents story until a handler stopped in front of Kakus cell. Kaku glanced up then stood wordlessly as the handler unlocked the cell door and dragged him out of his cell and down the hall to the stage. As soon as Kaku stepped onto the stage he blocked out the man next to him and simply let his eyes wander the crowd. He froze body stiffening when his eyes landed on Franky, he scanned the area around him; no Luffy and no Zoro he noted but before he can deduce anything further he was dragged back to his cell and was once again harshly shoved inside. As soon as the handler left he once again began speaking to Lucci, noticing that the mermaid was being taken next.

"The Straw Hats are here in the auction house, they-" but Kaku didn't get any further as Lucci immediately cut him off,

"Are you positive?" Kaku nodded,

"Yes Franky is with them though I didn't see the captain or swordsman but the rest of the crew is unmistakable." the conversation was interrupted by a very loud crashing sound coming from the auction hall, both men glanced in that direction in confusion, they become even more confused when the old man two cells down suddenly stood up and walked out of his cell collar no longer in place and wandered around looking for what was revealed to be money, once finding the money he turns to leave but stopped when he hears a panicked scream and steps out of the hall.

Franky ran down the hall looking frantically for the keys to Keimis' collar and cuffs, he stopped suddenly noticing that two of the cells were still occupied, the rest of the slaves were in the auction hall, he stepped closer then turned suddenly and continued his search. After finding the keys he returned to the auction hall only to find that Keimi was safe and free of the collar, he threw the keys to the other slaves and after a short pause told them he wanted the keys back when they are done. The slaves freed themselves and handed the keys over to Franky who then called to Luffy, Robin, and Zoro that they needed to come see this.

Kaku and Lucci continued sitting in their cells extremely pissed that they were the only cells still locked, the two turned their heads at the sound of approaching footsteps that could be heard down the hall. They were only mildly surprised to see Robin, Franky, Zoro and Luffy come down the hall to their cells, neither man spoke or moved just sat on the floor in silence.

"Well Luffy?" Franky asked, the captain seemed thoughtful and slightly angry, he could clearly see the old scars and new bruises covering both men's bodies, he nodded only once and Franky unlocked the door to Kakus cell first, reaching in and pulling the man up onto his feet before handing control of him over to Zoro. Kaku refused to look at him, embarrassed that his previous opponent would see him like this, and stubbornly looked at the ground, he jumped slightly when the explosive collar around his neck fell away. He glanced up at Zoro then immediately looked over to where Lucci was also being freed of the collar, he frowned when they didn't free his wrists but didn't say anything as Zoro grabbed his arm and dragged him out into the auditorium, he stumbled slightly but managed to keep up.

"Luffy what on earth do you plan on doing with them?" Nami yelled as soon as she saw the two men,

"We are taking them back to the ship" Luffy stated as if it were obvious, Nami stared at him then her gaze shifted to Robin and the look on the other woman's face compeled her to take a closer look at the two men, they both had their arms restrained behind their backs with sea prism cuffs and both looked to be malnourished and indifferent to the situation almost as if their spirits had been broken and they simply no longer cared what happened to them.

"Fine but we have to go, now"

One very intense fight and chase later the crew was safely on board the Thousand Sunny and hidden in a cove off the far side of the island that Rayleigh insisted they stay in until he is done coating the ship, with their two new charges; Both of which were sitting in the middle of the Sunny looking dejectedly at the ground,

"So now what are you going to do with them?" Franky asked from where he was leaning against the rail, Luffy didn't answer instead but instead chose to turn to Sanji,

"Sanji feed them, they clearly need it, Franky you may free one of their hands so that they can eat, and Chopper check them over for injuries." The crew members that had been addressed immediately headed off to do as instructed. Sanji to the galley, and Chopper to retrieve his tools from the Med Bay, Franky stayed where he was intending to free them when the meal was brought out, not before. Brook, having not been present at the time of the Water 7 events, stood on the sidelines sipping tea and observing the crew. Kaku was the first to speak,

"Why?" the one word hanged heavily in the air for only a brief moment before Luffy answered him,

"No one deserves to be treated as property."