Walk in the Rain
Chio laid down two cards, then picked two of them up.
Chio: 2000 Belli.
Mark: Call, raise you 3000.
Chio: Feeling ambicious are we?
Mark and Chio shared a wry grin, holding their cards close to their faces so that neither of them could pick up a tell.
Mark: If you're nervous, you can always fold. Save me the trouble.
Chio: Oh, I'm in. Call.
Rinji: You sure about this, Chio?
Rinji whispered from his side.
Rinji: Remember, we need food, we don't need lobster and steak, though that would be a great bonus.
Chio: Back off, tuna-breath, I know what I'm doing.
Mark: I didn't know they allowed cats in this bar. You know, you could bet me that cat, I think my mates would like a crew mascot.
Rinji gave him a glare at the comment, and decided to ignore it as stupid banter.
Chio: Alright, you raised so you go first.
Mark: Two pair, queens high.
Chio: Well that's 5000 in the bag, three of a kind.
Mark's expression took a nose dive at this, he scowled at Chio, no one could have that good of luck. What he didn't know was that it was not Chio's luck, it was Rinji's extreme senses that caught Mark off guard. When Mark was bluffing, Rinji would tap Chio on the leg one time, when Mark had a great hand, Rinji would tap his leg twice. Strangely enough, no one wanted to play a cat in poker.
Mark: Son of a bitch... you're not walki-
Chio: Welp, it's been fun, but I'm gonna go get some eats, see you-
Mark: I'll see you in hell!
Before Mark could even unholster his gun, Chio's leg came flying out of seemingly nowhere. His hands planted onto the table between them, and his legs spun around overhead and collided with Mark's cheek. Chio flipped down off of the table as Mark hit his head hard onto the ground, and Rinji cleaned off the table of chip, including Mark's leftover.
Chio: Alright, lets find Usagi and get off this island, this will be enough to get us to the New World.
Rinji: Mewhahahaha! Probably get us fat along the way.
The two of them gathered their things and exited the tavern, Rinji not bothering to return his mug as he continued to sip his beer.
Usagi: With that attentiveness, we're not going to last ten seconds in the New World.
She stood, her back against the wall beside the door, arms crossed, and a baby carrot hanging from his lips.
Chio: Yeah, thanks for the reassurance. We just happened to get more money for those stupid puzzles you like to put together.
Before he knew it, she had already swiped the cash from Chio's pocket.
Chio: Hey!
Usagi: And that's 3000 you owe me.
Chio took the rest of the money, glowering at Usagi with a dubious look. But that was when all of them noticed a peculiar fog overtaking the streets. It was dark, and the fog began to curl around at their ankles.
Stanley: What is this? I can't move!
From down the street, they heard a group of three men struggling as the fog seemed to affect them differently than the rest.
Matsu: Agh! My skin is burning! AAGGH!
All of them began to fall, and before too long, all of them were falling to the ground, and their bodies were completely engulfed in it.
Rinji looked down the other side of the street to see a very skinny, dark figure standing in the middle of the road with three cloth bags, slightly twitching beside him. As the fog swept across the figure, he and his prisoners were completely gone, as was the fog.
Rinji: ...ah hell.
Usagi: Thank you
Usagi picked up the bag of food and carried it back to where the others were standing on the street corner.
Chio: Slobbering Stanley Berno, Meaty Matsu, and Izan the Jabber, all of their bounties were 2000 belli or less. That makes no sense at all.
Rinji: Indeed, what we saw yesterday was no normal bounty hunting technique. Why would someone of that potential hunt minnows when there are far bigger fish to fry?
Usagi: Namely us.
Chio threw away the bounty posters and started walking with the others.
Chio: Well I wouldn't worry about it too bad, we're not going to be in this town much longer anyway, I mean it's not like we haven't been preparing for the New World for a very, very long time. Getting there is the hard part, really.
Rinji: No, there are far worse things out there than a bumpy boat ride. I assure you of that.
They started hearing a commotion from down the road, and they saw quite a few men running away from a group of marines waving their swords and guns.
Usagi: Perhaps it is time that we make our escape.
Chio: On my back Rinji!
Rinji jumped onto Chio's back, and the fighter jumped straight up into the air, directly over the crowd of people, using his very powerful legs. He was closely followed by Usagi, who did not quite jump as far up, but was very dynamic and swift in her lunge.
Marine: Hey! Those three are getting away!
Petty Officer: After them! They may know what happened to Mayor Affar!
A group of marines break off from the main onslaught.
Rinji: Ah damn, Chio! Operation Interference!
Chio: Rankyaku! Chio Kaisen!
Chio spiraled in the air, unleashing gigantic amounts of energy blades that struck several of the marines as they came forth, knocking many of them down and distracting the rest. Chio was prompt in catching up to the others.
Usagi: It looks like they're going after the ships!
Rinji: We need to move the Panno Marie! I don't like our current hiding spot. Hurry!
They were not followed as they reached the outskirts of town, however, they did not let their guard down for a second as they reached the shores. There was a gulf that was a perfectly remote location and a great hidden territory. He just needed to get to the ship. But that was when they got to a large ditch where a river use to flow.
Two marines popped out from the sides with gigantic bazookas on their shoulders.
Kola: Kohohohoho! Catman Rinji! Bounty of 100 million. You will be my crown jewel for my promotion to Commander. I just need to make sure not to blow you up so badly that your body is not recognized.
Rinji: Mewhahahaha! Thankfully I don't have any such limitations, so feel free to make as much of a mess as you'd like when I spill your blood.
The two of them continued to grin at one another, the Catman obviously having the bigger of the eyes to glare.
It was Usagi who made the first move.
Usagi: Teisei! [appeared directly in front of one of the marines.]
Usagi pushed the bazooka straight for the Marine across the way, and pulled the trigger to blast the other away. She then sliced the bazooka in half and elbowed the Marine straight in the face, knocking him low.
As this happened, Lieutenant Commander Kola kicked off of the ledge and dropped straight down toward Rinji as the Catman lunged toward him, his claws bared and ready.
Chio looked to Rinji as the battle began and started to run toward them when Usagi grabbed his wrist.
Usagi: Wait, Chio! We have to get to the Panno, we need to prepare it to sail!
Chio: But he's a Lt. Commander, he may need us.
Usagi: He'd fight better knowing his ship is safe! We have to make sure they're not capturing it or we'll be stuck here for sure, come on!
She pulled him along, and after a slight hesitation, Chio followed.
Yet: You don't see ships made like this anymore, I've always liked the older models that were brought back in production.
Kolli: Admire it later, we need to get this ship back to the base ASAP. There's hardly anything of any worth, sadly. Here I thought those damned pirates kept their treasure on their ships.
Brutus: Enough talking, grab the sail rope, and let's go. Captain Rei is expecting us.
Yet: Always in a hurry, you know the ship line is backed up for at least a mile with how many of us they sent on this mission. We may as well just sit back and enjoy what little food they have in stor-
A blue streak rushed past Yet and with one great overhead swipe, Chio's leg collided with his head, sending him across the ship to hit the starboard rail.
Yet: Daaahhh! My head! You bastard!
Brutus: Idiots! I told you we should have hurried! [Unsheathing his sword]
Kolli: Mistake for correction! Have at you! [pulling out his rifle from his back strap]
Chio: Get off of our ship, or we'll add Marine flank to our ship's vast menu of antree's!
Brutus: Adding cannibalism to your already extensive list of charges, are we?
Chio: You'll find out when I chew on your dead husk.
Usagi: Gross, Chio. [zooms in directly beside Brutus] ItoryuuIai! Narabi!
Usagi's blade shined with energy, and sliced one great line which traveled a short distance from her katana. The line crossed Petty Officer Brutus's scimitar. After a single moment, the blade slit down and fell off,leaving only a one-inch stub from the handle; Brutus's expression turned to that of surprise.
Usagi: Itoryuu: Rakan!
With a quick spiralling movement, her sword sliced the Kanji of her name into his chest, causing him to grab his side as it burst with blood.
Kolli: Danger in need of clearing! [Aiming his rifle]
Chio: Rankyaku! [Kicking an energy blade, splitting the rifle in half and knocking Kolli clear over the railing]
Yet: 79 to HQ! Send back up immediate-GAH! [Usagi swiped the Den Den Mushi]
Usagi: HQ, disregard, it's been handled. [Turning off the Den Den and glaring at Yet]
Yet: Eh!
Chio kicked the bleeding Brutus off of the ship, and then also turned his gaze over to Yet.
Yet: AH!
Both pirates stood beside each other as they began to approach the quivering Marine private. That was when a cannon landed very close to their ship, causing it to shake.
Usagi: Ah damn, Marine battleship off the starboard!
Chio: The ship is prepped already, lets move! [Casually kicking Yet over the rail, making him splash into the water]
Usagi quickly got to the sail and grabbed the rope to unravel it, but hesitated for a moment.
Usagi: Rinji...
Their fists met in midair! With a flip, Rinji avoided a sweeping kick, and replied with a roundhouse kick to Kola's face, sending him into the side of the ditch, and kicking up quite a bit of dust and sand.
Rinji: Rinji Tsume! [Sends sharp energy flying through the air with his claws]
Kola reacted by making a metal shield form from his sleeve and cover up a good part of him, but the claws still cut the side of his hip, and a small part of his forehead. He stood at length, and looked over the shield to Rinji.
Kola: Kohohohohoho, I see that your bounty was properly placed. It looks like I'll be using my toys afterall.
He quickly turned the shield to show two small gun barrels, both firing large bullets straight for the Catman. Rinji was taken by surprise, but managed to move just out of the way, still taking a small gash on his arm. Before Kola could fire another two rounds, Rinji lunged forward in almost an instant.
Rinji: Rinji Nikyu! [Powerful flying kick to Kola's face, knocking his head into the rock and dirt behind his head.]
Kola: Agh! [Clenched his fist, making the shield retract into his sleeve, and making a short sword blade pop out from his hand]
Rinji quickly avoided a sword slash with a flip back to the ground in a poised cat position. Proving to be quite the swordsman, Commander Kola quickly lunged and landed with the sword stabbing straight downward, actually catching part of Rinji's leg and pinning him down.
Rinji: Gah! [Quickly reposted with a clawed kick to Kola's face while his sword is stuck to the ground, breaking the blade off to the ground.]
Kola cried out in pain as he held his face, which was now bleeding a great deal. He uncovered his face to see Rinji was straight on him once again, this time with both of his claws slicing straight for his face, inwhich Kola grabbed both of the catman's wrists.
Kola: You damned Pirate son of a bi-GAAAAAAAAHHHH! [Rinji opened wide and used his powerful fangs to bite the bottom half of Kola's face!]
With a great amount of pain Kola pulled him off, tearing away more flesh than he expected, and blood once again ran down his face, leaving the Lieutenant Commander's face an absolute bloody, torn mess. Rinji's chin was covered in blood, as were his exposed fangs as he grimaced.
Rinji: Such a bad flavor, [spit a wad of blood to the side] now stand aside, Commander, I must get to my ship.
Kola: You pirate son of a bitch! I'll skin you alive, and burn you in a pile of shit! Then I'll find your kitten family, and put their heads on pikes!
Rinji face turned very dark as he glared and scowled at the Marine Officer. Both of his claws crossed one another and were painted entirely red with Haki.
Rinji: Busoshoku: Rinji Renda!
Rinji screamed the attack's name and lunged directly at Kola, who set up his shield once again, but it was no use. With the first three energized, clawing strikes, the shield was completely shattered, and his streaks of energy sliced up the arm, and managed to hook it down out of the way as the real assault occured. The claws left horrible marks on Kola's face, and streaks of blood flew all over.
There Rinji stood, his claws still red, but not from the Haki paint. The marine clenched his face, the wounds were heavy, and the stinging was almost unbearable all over what was left of his skin. The catman approached him, and he barely took notice, the blinding pain was far too great.
Rinji: I'm going to allow you to live, although I shouldn't. You know nothing of what you have set in motion this day, you pompous, arrogant bag of human flesh! I hear one slight rumor that you are looking for my family, or my crew, one utterance of you searching for anyone other than myself, I will see you again, and it will be a very one-sided conversation. Then that will be the day I walk in the rain of your blood.
He said, his claws and clothes still dripping with a little bit of his own blood, but mostly of Kola's. That was when he heard cannon fire from over the cliffed shore. Rinji quickly ran, using his claws to climb out of the large ditch, and run to the cliff, lunging straight off of it and into the battle that was already in progress.
Kola's underlings soon found what was left of him, and was promptly taken to the medical wing of the Marine Base.
The Panno Marie cruised through the waters at a tremendous speed, while the waters around them exploded with cannon fire, and Captain Rinji landed on deck with a very soft thud. His clothes were still bloody, and his crew of two looked on him with some worry.
Chio: Captain! Are you-
Rinji: Hold this speed, keep an evasive maneuver, and don't worry; it's not my blood. [Running to the rear of the ship, looking onto the much slower, but more dangerous ship that was in hot pursuit.]
Chio held tightly onto the helm, keeping their turns smooth, but insistant, while Usagi joined Rinji at the back of the ship. She kept her eyes mostly on their Captain, though.
Usagi: If you're too tired to do this, I-
Rinji: Of course not. I'll sleep when this is done. Ready your sword.
Usagi: Aye, Captain [Unsheathing Migoto Hoshi slowly]
Seaman: Captain Sool! We are almost ready to fire all cannons as per your orders! We've even readied all rifles!
Sool: Aim at their rudder, and their main mast. Do not let up the volley until it is absolutely necessary. They are sticking close to the main land, so do not deviate from this course.
Seaman2: Cannons ready, Captain!
Sool: Fire at will!
The Marine Ship was obscured by huge blasts of smoke and fire as all eleven front cannons were fired in their general direction. Cannon balls came in fast, but neither Rinji nor Usagi seemed worried.
Usagi: Itoryuu! Hentaigana! [Tracing the symbol of Oni with her sword in an instant, and then sending a huge blair of energy into the cannons, making many of them explode in midair.]
Rinji: Bosushoku! Rinji Tsume! [Painting his claws in Haki and then striking one of the cannons straight back at the Marine ship]
The marines were shaken greatly as the cannon ball did partial damage to their port railing, but they were still sharp on course in their pursuit. That was when the riflemen began to unload their guns, firing at the ship.
Usagi: Itoryuu... [sheathing her sword] Iai! Rakugaki!
Daro Daro Usagi unsheathed her sword in the blink of an eye and jumped from one end of the ship's rear to the next, her sword going in crazy directions all over, striking the bullets off course, even cutting some of them in half.
Rinji looked at the bullets as he saw some of them straying off and hitting his ship, and he cringed. Then he scowled at the marine ship.
Rinji: Keep up the defensive, Usagi.[once again painting his hands with Haki, though much more slowly this time]
Usagi kept her concentration, even as the shots came one at a time. She could see Rinji glowing out of the corner of her eyes as he focused every bit of energy he had left. His hands thrusted forward, making palm prints of equal distance from each other, and again, and again until there were eight palm prints in front of him, and a shield developed between the circle of glowing palms. He brightened as his concentration entered into its final step.
Seaman: Captain! Are you seeing this?
Sool: What is happening over there? [His eyes glared in disbelief as he saw a great shining entity on the deck of the Panno Marie]
Rinji: [Thrusts hands onto the shield in front of him] Naibunjutsu! Hachihira BETTO!
As he shouted this, the energy shined a blinding light that even made Usagi have to close one of her eyes and take cover. A gigantic beam of light gushed from Rinji, and blaired straight back at a completely unprepared marine battleship. The front of the battleship was the first to bend, and then rupture completely, all of those on the front deck fell straight off of the ship or were pushed straight back to the inside quarters. The lower front hull also caved in, all of those in the base of the ship were flooded, and the ship began to sink forward as the blast of energy disipated completely.
Rinji's technique not only destroyed the front part of the Marines' ship, but also boosted their own ship an entire ninety yards forward. He saw what the blade did to the Marine ship, and he did not smile, not even a little. He looked down at his hands to see the blood that he spilt that day, and soon they faded as his eyes gave in to great fatigue. His legs did a rubber-band bend and his body completely slouched before he fell forward, only to be caught by Usagi, who picked him up quickly and held him.
Usagi: Rest now, Rinji. [Placing her hand on the side of his face as his eyes completely closed, and he went completely unconscious]
Hidden in the many canyons of the outskirts, the Panno Marie was finished with its very minor repairs. Chio and Usagi sat at the breakfast table, eating something Chio had whipped up with his limited knowledge of cooking.
Chio: How long has he been out?
Usagi: Five hours so far, but that's not exactly what I am concerned about. He seemed a bit more distant than he usually is. I think something might have gotten to him in that last fight he had.
Chio: Uh, you think? [Holding up a newspaper with the headline "Marine Lt. Commander defaced"] This just came out this morning. I had to go under the radar just to buy this paper, and even then I had to duck fewer than three marine guards on the way back. I think our dear, fearless leader will be a little more on the Wanted side after something like this. The guy had to be rushed to the hospital, and even after all of that, they tried to cover it up as best they can, because after that it's nothing but witness statements.
Usagi: Then he destroyed a full-blown battleship. Yes, I think his bounty will be up in the tens of millions after something like this. And we can't leave the island, they set up blockades on all of the exits. We're stuck here for the foreseeable future.
Chio: So how are you holding up?
Usagi cocked her head to the side.
Usagi: Me? I'm doing fine, why do you ask?
Chio: Just wondering [sipping his coffee]
A moment of silence, until Usagi turned her head toward the Captain's quarters.
Usagi: I hope his dreams are at least somewhat comforting. I can't imagine what made him fall off the deep end.
A room all around him, constricting like a strait jacket. He was a strait jacket, he had on a strait jacket. No padding, just white tiles, ceiling, floor, and walls. Claw marks tattooed the room, it wasn't a room, it was a prison. His eyes were not eyes, they were windows that never shut, always wide open. The claw marks move, they are unmoving, but the blood began to drizzle from their openings. Blood began to pump faster, ever sinking now as it coated the floors under him, deep stains.
Rinji: Watch me as I fountain crimson, fountain red with burning hate in all its glory, in all its horrid discontent I rebel, there I stand in the pond, there I die with anguish and love but no love from dismembered vision, vision of the door I must walk. There I live.
Blood to his neck now, only a head in the pond of dark red, the fluid essence coming to his maw, hunger fills his life, there will he sleep for all of his own being, and he is the creature they all fear. He murders-
Rinji: GAH! [flew out of bed and hit his head on the wooden floor] Ooohhh.
He slowly got to a sitting position and rubbed his ear, as it pulsed a bit from the hit. The door flew open with both Usagi and Chio coming into the room.
Usagi: Captain?
Rinji: I'm okay I'm okay. [waving them off] Don't worry about me.
He rubbed his eye as he slowly walked across the room, grabbing his towel off of its wrack and going to the bathroom.
After watching this, both of his crewmates looked at each other, shrugged and walked back into the kitchen where there were several papers strewn about.
Chio: Alright, so from what I've gathered on my endeavors today, our Slobbering Stanley is the first mate of the Half Sun Pirates. And as his name suggestions, he did have a bit of a saliva problem. In fact he used it to his advantage to distract his opponents in a fight. [he snickered as Usagi cringed at this] And our honorable Mayor apparently had some connection to this, it seems he had a sweat problem. I followed a group of Marines to a barber shop, as he frequented it, and even the tailoring shop, as he constantly needed new suits that didn't smell like perspiration.
Usagi: So two victims with excessive bodily fluids... so it's likely that they will kidnap either someone with a very large bladder, or a very obese person with a great amount of blood. We'll need more of an outlook on who we have here in this town. It's rather small, so that will make our job that much easier. We just need eyes and ears on the streets.
Chio: Well they certainly don't seem averted from the public eye, Stanley was kidnapped on the street, though it was at night. That seems to be their general hunting time.
Usagi: Then we'll need to get some sleep, we've got a long night ahead of us. [She gave a devious grin, the thought of the hunt was enthralling to say the least.]
It was strange that they picked that very night to patrol the town, it was definitely in an uproar. Even with the marines out in full force from their base, Usted Island was keeping them so busy; Usagi and Chio were able to hide in plain sight. Using their excellent stealth abilities, they gained a great vantage point on top of one of the taller inns of the main city.
Chio: We've seen four fights started, and we've only been out here two hours. Most of them were because of a proximity invasion, but one of them was because of a suspicious look. This is ridiculous.
Usagi sat on the other side of the building, facing the north where Chio was facing the west.
Usagi: Yes, and none of them seemed very apt to be our current suspected kidnappers. None of them knew their footing, let alone how to throw a punch.
Chio: Yeah, not even that marine I saw had any grace to his stance. No wonder he's still a seaman apprentice.
Usagi: Chioooo how mean. Maybe his skills lie in some other form. Maybe he's a good marksman. I, myself, have only touched a gun twice in order to fire it.
Chio: How'd you do?
Usagi: ...I grazed a flower pot, and I shattered a window.
Chio: Sounds about like my experience with a rifle. The most damage I did was shoot the hand off a statue, thankfully it landed on top of my target's head.
Usagi: ...yeah. We need a gunner.
Chio: Yeah... yeah we do. Speaking of which, you think Rinji's alright? He seemed pretty distorted when we left.
Usagi: He scarred a marine's face, disfigured him, even. Whatever he said to cause that kind of reaction out of the Captain definitely left its mark on him, why else would he go to such lengths? We should just give the Captain time to-
There was a gigantic commotion in the Northeast, and Usagi turned her gaze there. Yelling came from all parts of it, and there even sounded like there was a fight.
Usagi: Sounds like seven of them, at least three of them are fighting one man. I can hear two thrusts, and one guy trying to use his elbow.
Chio: Let's go [Leaping off of the building, his legs catching each window seal to break his fall all the way down.]
Usagi followed him, and used her feel on his shoulders to soften her fall twice, and then flip off of him. Both of them dashed toward the commotion.
Kimo: Oh yeah, Boss, this is the guy. Look at him, he's that young little punk that blew up our hideout! It's Ricky, alright!
Red Dog Danny: Fil?
Fil: Height, 5'1, Weight, 100 pounds, speech patterns, unknown.
Kimo held up the man that they were talking about, while the others in the Red Dog Bounty Hunters checked him out. He had a black eye now, and he was quivering all over from the horrific fear of what these men planned to do with him.
Thug1: Well?! You heard the man! Talk! [Holding a knife up to his face]
Red Dog Danny: Didn't think we'd notice you without all of that stupid gas mask stuff did ya? Mahmahmahmahmah! Now go ahead and talk ya little scamp!
Red Dog Danny reached over, bending over his enormous body to pick up his red battle axe. His fat wobbled as he walked over to the poor, defenseless, small man.
Kimo: Doesn't sound like he wanna talk. [Shaking the man]
Red Dog Danny: Well, then. Ricky, you got no ID, on you, so even if you're not Ricky, I suppose this is just not your lucky day! Mahmahmahmahmahmah! [Lifts his axe in front of him, ready to bring it down, when an invisible force from below knocks the axe from behind, causing the handle to fly up and smash Kimo in the face]
Kimo: GAH! [flies back, dropping the guy on the ground]
Usagi appears on the other side of the man, sheathing her blade.
Usagi: Teisei...
Red Dog Danny: What the... You...
Chio: Aww come on! How did you beat me, again! [Running up on the other side of the group]
Usagi: [smile] I'm good, I guess.
Fil: Daro Daro Usagi: Bounty 90,000,000 Belli. Runagai Chio: Bounty also 90,000,000 Belli, 180,000,000 Belli both together, no signs of Pirate Captain Rinji, Bounty 200,000,000 Belli.
Both of them look at Fil, the sun glassed man (at night) with a bald head, but also very powerful, muscular arms. Kimo got up, rubbing his chin.
Kimo: Rotten, filthy pirates! I'll make you pay for that!
Red Dog Danny: Fil, Kimo, take these dogs down! That's far too fat a bounty to pass up! Go!
Kimo: Deadly Storm! [Unleashed a large barrage of daggers straight down at Chio as he jumped up high and backward]
Chio: ...Soru! [went straight forward as the daggers passed over him, and dodged directly behind where Kimo was about to land] Chio Joutou! [Chio jumped far into the air directly at him with a kick whipping straight into Kimo] Chio Hisan HANDOU!
Chio's kick slammed into Kimo hard, but he lifted two arms up just in time to catch the kick in front of him and fly backward into a wall. That was when Chio landed, but then felt a pain in his arm.
Chio: Nandeta? [Looked down to see a dagger sticking out of his arm] Dah! [pulls it out and holds onto it as it bleeds] Damn, looks like I underestimated him a bit... I'll need to be more careful.
Kimo: Got some moves don't you...errrm [stretching out his arms] Try this on, Deadly Range! [Stabbed the ground, the shadow extending through the ground to come out very near Chio]
Chio jumped directly out of the way and kicked the air once.
Chio: Ran Kyaku! Chio Kamisori! [Let out a flare of energy blades from every kick, sending a good number of them straight for Kimo]
Kimo dodged two of them, and then used his daggers to block one of them, but that was when he found Chio standing directly in front of him.
Kimo: Gah!
Chio: Chio HANDOU! [Let fly a single kick straight for Kimo's head, causing him to completely black out and hit the ground hard.]
Red Dog Danny: Ooohhh... [Watched Kimo hit the ground, but then he looked over to see Fil fighting against Daro Daro Usagi]
Fil and Usagi stood their ground, and stared one another down. Fil's face was emotionless, almost featureless in every way behind his sunglasses.
Usagi: Well then, shall we? [Using her thumb to push her sword an inch out of it's sheathe.]
It was time to stop running. If she was going to have true freedom, she was going to need to turn around and face the wolves that chased her. She had to fight them herself, but not using her fists, she had to use her cunning. There was no other way, in a face-to-face battle with any one of them, she would be killed. The city was ripe with fear that night, and there were many angles in which to approach it. She simply had to follow the bread crumbs they were laying down, and bring them to light.
Nikk opened the newspaper and read with a very dim streetlight over head. Slobbering Stanley did indeed have the slobbering problem, his body had excessively active saliva glands and this made him very unpopular in the female crowd; wetness. Mayor Mann Affar, sweating problem; stench. A man with several hundred million belli in crooked gains, or at least that's what she could gather in the limited time she had to search his heavily guarded office. No money stolen, and no ransom calls to the Marines, who would be willing to pay a great amount under the table for the return of one of their most favored cash cows. Yes, excessive bodily fluids was a connection, but the Marines were missing a piece of the puzzle, namely Miko Nikk.
Nikk was originally going to be named Anne, so her siblings jokingly gave her the unofficial middle name. Each of these kidnappings were a double meaning. Something that her deductive mind was so finely-tuned to pick up on. Anne, Stan, Mann, and that left one other X-Factor.
Nikk: Hmph [threw away the newspaper and began to walk casually down the street toward where she heard the loudest ruckus.]
Fil used his gigantic, powerful arms to pick up an entire 30x30 wooden pallet that was leaned against a wall, and brought it straight down toward Usagi. She watched as the pallet came down toward her, and merely pointed her sword to the side of her, and began to spin.
Usagi: Itoryuu: Bunsuun Maru! [Cut a perfect circled hole in the pallet and jumped up with the round plug and kicked it straight for Fil.]
Directly after Fil blocked the attack, his chest was struck a mighty blow, blood bursting from a huge slash in the middle of it, from his left side to his right shoulder. The next instant, Usagi appeared behind him and walked away from him, sheathing her sword.
Usagi: ItoryuuIai: Narabi. [Fil fell.]
It was then that Usagi turned to Red Dog, and then her eyes widened as she looked over his shoulder to see a little girl sitting on the steps of a nearby building. Chio stood beside Usagi and saw the little girl when her gaze pointed her out.
Chio: [Whispers] Who is that?
Usagi: [Whispers] I don't know, but I didn't hear her come in, and something tells me she could have avoided detection if she wanted to.
Red Dog Dan didn't know what to make of the two pirates, he had four other henchmen, but he knew that none of them would stand even a little chance against them. That was when he saw that they were looking behind him. He turned to see the little girl on the steps, reading a small book of poems called "Never The End."
Red Dog Dan: Hey! This is no night for little girls to be here. You need to go home and have a warm glass of milk or something.
Nikk: [Turned the page and kept reading with no light to shine on the page. At length, licking her thumb and turning the page again. Then looked up at Dan] No.
This flabbergasted the Red Dog Bounty Hunters and even caused Chio and Usagi to cock an eyebrow and glance at each other.
Red Dog Dan: Wh-What! Listen little girl, we don't have time to babysit you! Why are you reading a book in a place like this?
Nikk: [Picked up the soda beside her and took a small sip, then gave a small belch, turning the page again, then looked up at Dan with no expression what-so-ever.] You're going to die.
Red Dog Dan: GAH! Don't say that so casually! What the hell are you-
Nikk: You're the next one who's going to be kidnapped [still reading, turned a page].
Red Dog Dan: Wh-wh-what! You dare insult me like that!?
Usagi: [Whispering] That does make sense, he does have an excessive amount of blood with being so big.
Nikk: You're on the right track, Swordwoman, but that's not why he's going to be kidnapped.
There was a long pause, none of the Red Dogs heard what Usagi said.
Nikk: Red Dog Dan wets himself constantly.
Red Dog Dan: GAH! Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh [Beads of sweat ran over his face and his cheeks went flushed.]
Both Usagi and Chio's faces went berserk with surprise, and all of the Red Dogs' eyes turned to their leader.
Red Dog Dan: How could you possibly kno- I mean [Looking at his gang] uuhhh
Nikk: You have a catheter running under your pants. [Flipped another page]
All eyes went to Red Dog Dan's pants, they were black, so none of them even noticed, nor could they see it then.
Nikk flipped another page.
Red Dog Dan: [Face completely red with anger and embarassment] You got a lot of nerve coming out here, and making wild accusations! I'm gonna have to teach you some manners, little girl! [Raised up his axe, and charging straight for her.]
Both Usagi and Chio took their fighting stances, ready to stop him, but then both of them noticed that their surroundings went completely black, even blacker than before. That's when Nikk shut her book and stood up straight.
Nikk: Osore...
Just as Red Dog Dan was closing in on her, she moved her black and red bangs out from in front of her eyes, which were two gigantic, black, hollow spaces that gazed directly at him, and slowed his charge at a tremendous rate. He was stopped dead in his tracks as she opened her mouth, and white ooze began to gush out and spilled onto the ground. Her mouth opened extremely wide and let out a large white glob of what looked like pus.
The ball of white slime began to move, and as it did Red Dog Dan dropped his axe to the ground and began to take steps back. That was when it took form into a small goblin-like creature, its eyes opened to gaze at the retreating, large bounty hunter. It was then that it showed its black, filthy teeth. With no warning, the little monster darted straight for the large man. All of his conscious crew bolted away from the alley, but he took no notice as the thing came at him. He held up his arm in defense and it splattered all over him, and even the blob began to move on him, causing him to panic.
Red Dog Dan: AH! GET IT OFF OF ME! GET IT OFF OF MEEEE! AAAHHH! [Falling on his back and struggling]
Chio and Usagi were speechless... both of them looked in awe as the white pus dissipated, leaving only a quivering Dan on the ground curling into the fetal position.
Nikk's black surroundings went away, and her form returned to normal as she stepped up close to the shaking man whose catheter was obviously burst and over-flowing on his legs.
Usagi: Umm...
Nikk: Nikk
Usagi: Yes, Nikk... would you like to come with us? I think we may have a few things to discuss.
Nikk nodded.
Rinji woke up very late that night, and wondered how long he'd overslept. He seriously needed a new alarm clock, as the last one fell on the ground and broke a very much needed gear. He crawled out of bed, and chapped his mouth, his breath was rancid, and he was in much need of some water. He straightened his pajama shirt as he headed toward the bathroom, and saw a light come on in the main hall.
He opened the door to see Chio carrying a very large man over his head who was passed out, hog-tied and gagged with a handkerchief. Usagi stepped in after him, followed by a little, pale white girl wearing a black trench coat who had black and red hair covering her eyes. All of them stopped to look at their captain, who was still sleepy eyed, and in his kitten pajamas.
He gazed at them for a moment, rubbed his eyes, and then looked back their way.
Rinji: So... what'd I miss?
Rinji: Alright alright, sooo the guy that smells like piss is the next one that's going to be kidnapped... And this girl is the one they are looking for in the first place. Now what was this about white slime and a creature slipping out of her mouth and attacking the piss guy?
Both Chio and Usagi looked down the table to see Nikk writing in a black, leather-bound book. They waited at length until she finally stopped and looked up, her eyes still crowded with black and red bangs. Then she showed them her drawing.
Nikk: Kitty... [It's a super deformed picture of a cat with a top-hat on, and fangs]
Rinji: GAH! What are you doing?! [Took a deep breath and drank a little more coffee] Alright, now who are these people kidnapping random bedwetters and smelly sweatsters?
Nikk: [Put her book away and sipped on her coffee] My brother and sister, known as the Skeleton Bros. They...
There was a long pause of silence among them.
Nikk: Kidnap people...
Rinji: Hey! You were gonna tell us but then got lazy didn't you!
Nikk: No, I want to play with kitty. [Got up from her seat and walked toward Rinji, who backed up and out of his seat.]
Rinji: Hey hey! We need to focus here! We have no time for games, this is a serious- Hey back up! [Started to walk backward but then full on ran from her as she chased him, her legs moving, but the rest of her body merely swayed with her movement.]
Nikk: Kittyyyyy... [Backed him into a corner...]
Rinji: No! NO! Get her away! NOOOOO-
Both of them sat in a corner, Rinji purred as she rubbed his ears with her hands.
Chio: Oh, come on! Let's try and focus!
Everyone sat back at the table, sipping coffee, other than Usagi, who had her daily green tea.
Nikk: I left them after I got tired of seeing dead people. My brother is obsessed with himself and my sister is just living for kicks. Once I left, I think I struck their ego enough to go a little more crazy. I don't want to run away from them anymore. Now I want them to stop breathing and be eaten by bugs.
Chio: Well [Cleared his throat] Now that you're here, they'll more than likely come to us. How many are there?
Nikk: Besides the ten push-overs, there are five of them that you may want to worry about. Eric, my brother, and Dina, my sister... then three others I could care less about, and forgot their names.
Red Dog Dan began to stir up a bit, and roll some. That was when he opened his eyes and looked around, a blank expression on his face.
Red Dog Dan: Wha... where am I?
He looked at them at the table, at first he noticed the catman, and then the other two who were at the alleyway. Then his eyes went down to the black trenchcoat girl, and it all comes back to him.
Red Dog Dan: AH! KEEP HER AWAY FROM ME! [Started scooting across the floor away from them.]
Usagi: Oh, man up, Danny! [Got up from the table, and instantly was in front of him with her blade pointed directly at his face] Now, start talking. Why were you attacking that man in the alley, when he was so clearly not your target.
Red Dog Dan: Of course he was! He was the only one in the entire city that we could find that perfectly matches the description of one of my former underlings. That son of a bitch blew up my entire headquarters for the simple fact that we annoyed him.
Usagi: Does this man have a name?
Red Dog Dan: He's not a man, he's a child. He's only sixteen years old, and his name is Nicky Muro. He runs a gun shop here in town.
Rinji instantly gained interest.
Chio: If you know where he is, then why are you randomly attacking people?
Red Dog Dan: He always wears a damn Gasmask and chemical suit! And he is always in that shop, we've tried so many times to get inside, but as soon as he sees us coming he unleashes those damn traps of his. I've offered up an 80 Million Belli reward for him dead or alive, and no takers.
Rinji: Ooohhh, is that so...
All eyes turned to Rinji.
Rinji: So, [Greedy grin] that means he'll probably give us a few discounts once we bring you to him.
Red Dog Dan: What! You Cat bastard! You can't do th-
Chio gagged him once again with the handkerchief and then suddenly looked out the window of the ship.
Usagi: I heard it too...
Both of them rushed up to the top of the ship, and on top of the very front of the ship, there stood a man with a pumpkinhead, and a black cape, everything else was a very dark brown leather.
Nikk: Jacko... [Stepping out onto the deck]
Jacko: Such a naughty girl, running away from home, no goodbyes, no calls, and no clue as to where you've been.
Nikk: I don't care...
Jacko: Come with me, now, Nikk. If you come with me now, your new little friends will be allowed to live, and I can get back early for happy hour at the tavern.
Chio: What are the specials?
Jacko: Half off a pitcher and ten belli martinis.
Jacko was flabbergast as all of them gave him a very strange look.
Jacko: I-I-I mean, now come, my little lady.
Nikk: Fuck you...
All of them were once again flabbergast at Nikk this time. Jacko became red with anger.
Jacko: Very well. In that case [Reached into his pocket.]
All hands went to their weapons, and all of the crew went into their fighting stance.
Jacko: Here... [pulls out a business card]
Crew: ?
Jacko: For you [throws the card to Rinji] From the boss.
Rinji picked up the card and read it.
Jacko: And you! [pointed at Chio and they all went back to fighting stances]
Long pause.
Jacko: Join me for drinks?
Rinji: Wait, what?
Usagi: Are you crazy?
Chio: Sure
More gasps!
Jacko: Then I bid you adieu and goodbye. The Jump Bar... See you there [flips back over the rail and falls over board]
Rinji ran over to the rail and looked overboard to see that Jacko was gone.
Usagi: Chio, what are you thinking?
Chio: I'm thinking we got one of them, and I may as well have a drink while I'm at it.
Chio had just left for the bar after a few cautionary words with the captain. He knew the risks, they all did. While part of the Skeleton Bros was distracted, Rinji sat quietly and formed a plan, they couldn't simply stay on the defensive, Rinji knew this. While he sat in his chair, he glanced over at Nikk, who was writing in her little black, leather bound diary, or it may have just been a notebook or a thought journal.
That was when he looked over at Usagi, who sat in her chair detailing her sword, or so it seemed. If one looked closer, they could tell, her eyes were at thousand miles away. Her movements were simply by touch memory, and her sword was already in prime condition.
Rinji: He'll be fine, you know.
Usagi: Hmmm? [Suddenly broughtout of her trance] What?
Rinji: Chio, he'll be fine.
Usagi: What? What are you talking about?
Rinji: Oh nothing [Grinning]
Usagi glanced over at Nikk, who turned back to her writing, acting like she wasn't looking. That was when Rinji looked over at Red Dog Dan, and started to think of their little problem with that Ricky guy. He finally got down from his seat and picked up the extremely large man and held him above his head.
Rinji: I'll be right back, ladies. [Walks out the door, struggling a bit to fit him through the door, then closed it with his foot]
Usagi sat in the room, looking over at Nikk. Nikk stopped writing suddenly, then looked over at Usagi. There was a very long pause between the two of them.
Usagi: You wanna pillow fight?
Nikk: [Pause] Yeah...
Chio strode into the bar, he was casual, but his senses were ever sharpened. It was busy, but everyone seemed nervous about the man in the jack-o-lantern head who sat in the middle of the bar. All stools around him were empty, and the beer mugs around him were starting to stack up, quite literally. He started a pyramid of mugs, and he was already done with the bottom two walked over to the stool next to him and took a seat, drawing all eyes round him.
Jacko: You're late.
Chio: Yeah, sorry about that, had trouble finding the place. Barkeep! [Waved him over] Beer, and keep it coming.
Jacko: He's on my tab.
Chio: Thanks man, you know, you guys really aren't all that bad. It's a shame we're at two ends of a conflict.
Jacko: Yeah, I know [Drinks], but you know, I see that it really doesn't matter. I mean, it's not like we're after the lives of every man, woman, and child in this entire island. Just the ones we deem worthy of our trouble.
Chio: Yeah, I've been meaning to ask you about that, why them? Why go after people who sweat too much, and wet themselves?
Jacko: Eric... Eric is the one calling the shots. He wants his sister back so much, that he is willing to topple an entire island to find her. He doesn't entirely want to, but if it comes down to that, that's what will happen.
Chio: Well then, [drinks] I suppose we'll have to stop that from happening.
Jacko: So you'll hand over Nikk?
Chio: Well, that's not for us to decide, that's for Nikk to decide, and she sounded adament about staying away from him. The only other way to stop that from happening is to beat down Eric, and your gang of... whatever you are.
Jacko: Oh, we are pirates, indeed. We're just not stuck to a ship or any of those "codes" you pirates live by. And we don't sail at sea, nor do we have a flag.
Chio: [Long pause...] Well... Alright then, pirates. [Drinks] Still, I'd like to meet this Eric, you speak of. I'd like to see how he pits himself against our Captain.
Jacko: That we agree on. And I would like to see how I could pit myself against that samurai woman, she looks really fi-
Jacko was suddenly cut short of his sentence as Chio's leg swept underneath his bar stool and kicked it, sliding it straight across the bar, making him lurch forward. In that instant, Chio whirled around with his hands spinning him on the bar top, and swinging his legs straight around, with both of them colliding straight with Jacko's very large pumpkin head, causing it to crash straight into the top of the bar top.
Chio: Chio HANDOU! [Flipped around and landed on his feet]
Jacko slowly got to his feet.
Jacko: Reereereereereehahahaha... Very nicely done, perhaps there is hope for you yet, young fighter. Allow me to show you how I deal with your types.
Jacko began to hold out both of his hands. In the blink of an eye, both of them ignited on fire. Chio cocked an eyebrow, having never seen such a technique before.
Jacko: Pumpkin fist! [Smashed his fist into the floor, causing a great wave of fire to burst up from the ground along all the way until it came very close to Chio, who cartwheeled to the side to dodge it]
Chio got out of the way, seeing many people running out of the bar in a panic. That didn't concern him right then though, he had to focus.
Chio: Rankyaku! Chio Katana! [Kicked the air, and sent a large energy blade straight for Jacko, who leaned his head to the side, and made his body fall to the side, away from the blade.]
Jacko rolled himself on his head and got to his feet. This was when he activated the flames in his hands once again.
Jacko: Oh, I can tell this is going to be very fun, indeed. Prepare yourself!
His eyes scanned through the magazine through his gas mask lenses. Every once in a while, he'd flip the page. Another girl, another set of breasts, and a story of their life, as well as their likes and dislikes. It had been the first time he'd ever bought a nudy magazine, of course, he wasn't IDed, no one really wanted to know what he looked like underneath that desert suit other than a few particular interested parties who were after his head for destroying their headquarters single-handedly. It's not that he was really all that interested in seeing naked women, it was more just to experience what it was like to go up to a clerk and say "I want that one because I think her knockers are awesome."
That was when there came a beeping from one of his proximity Den Den Mushis. That was when he saw perhaps the very last things he expected to see in his entire life. A cat that walked upright, carrying what looked like Red Dog Dan bound and gagged. He set Dan down and pressed the buzzer button. Ricky Muro paused for a very long moment, then began to nod.
Ricky: You now have my attention. [Pressed a button]
It wasn't a minute before the catman set Dan down in front of him, and then stood on top of him. Dan glared up at the gasmasked man, and smelled like piss, sweat and many other horrible odors all at once, but Ricky was thankful that he wore the gasmask in that instant.
Ricky: Alright, well other than the very large sweaty man, did you happen to need anything else?
Rinji: Mewhahahaha! Of course, I'm sure he will be worth a few ship cannons, and maybe a good pistol or two.
Ricky: Two rifles.
Rinji: Eh?! I didn't even ask for two rifles! That's not even 80,000 belli!
Ricky: One sling shot.
Rinji: Sling shot now?! What kind of haggling system is this?
Ricky: I've never haggled with cats before, did you want a ball of yarn?
Rinji: Do you want to have an early funeral! You little punk!
Ricky: seven cannons...
Rinji: HOW DARE Y- Whoa wait, seven?
That was when a red light began to gleam, and draw Ricky's attention away from their conversation. He looked at the monitor to see some crazy-looking men, wearing torn up black clothing and raggity mohawks. The two in the front simply held onto each other, and then rammed themselves into the door, busting it straight down. Ricky acted quickly and flipped up a covering which concealed a switch, which he then flipped.
In the hallway near the entrance there came two rows of three turret machine guns. All of them began to fire, taking down five of the intruders, but then two grenades were thrown into the hallway, exploding and destroying the turret machine guns. Around twenty guys rushed into the building, all of them holding pistols and rifles, wearing torn black clothing, and horrible, stringy hair.
Thug1: Hehehe stay right where you are! [Gun trained on Rinji]
Thug2: Don't move! Don't move! Hahahahaha!
Voice: Doooooooon't Mooooooooove Harbubububububrurururururu! [Stomping down the hallway, a very large figure appeared] Harbububububururuururuururururruuuu! [Turned and then walked into the wall, destroying it, and then entering into the room through the next wall]
Thug3: Master Donald! Please! Use the normal entrance! You're walking through the wall again!
A very large, seven foot tall, muscular man with gray skin walked in, his head with a gigantic scar across it, and stitches intertwined on it, some of the stitches going off onto the face, even where the scar wasn't.
Donald: Huh?! Ooohhhh [Looked back at the hole in the wall] Ooohhhhh I fix... wait here. [Walked back to the hole and began picking up the pieces and piling them up in a one inch tall pile, then pushing it back onto the hole, when he tried to push it onto it, the pile fell, to his dismay] Oooohhhh, [walked back to the middle of the room] I fix later! Harrrrrburururururu!
Rinji was not especially surprised to see people had followed him, but he certainly was surprised that he missed this big guy on his tail.
Ricky: Can I interest you in a marine bazooka?
Rinji: Why are you trying to make a sale to people who are already heavily armed?!
Ricky: I have grenades... anyone?
Donald: We want little girl! We want girl now! And... girl, must be here! NOW!
Rinji: Oh... well... If you want I can go back to my ship and get... girl.
Donald: Oh, little girl there?
Ricky: I'm running a special on bayonets, if you.
Donald: You shut mouth! Me want little girl n-
That was when Ricky hit a big red button, and when he did, nine cannons came out of the walls, leaning down from three walls all around them, one of them smacking into one of the infiltrator's heads, and knocking him out cold.
Donald: Uh?
Rinji: Whoa! What are you doing?! Three of those cannons are aimed at you!
Ricky: Well I want them out of my shop.
Rinji: Well you could at least- wait, are those fuses lit?! [Noticing that the long fuses were burning down] What are you doing?!
Thug1: Everyone out! Go!
Red Dog Dan: [muffled scream out of his gag!]
Just as all of the infiltrators began to run, all of the cannons went off, creating a gigantic THUMM! The entire building filled with smoke and rubble.
Chio flew straight through the wall, followed by a large ball of fire. He flipped back up to his feet, putting out the small, lingering fires that still were on what remained of his shirt, that was when Jacko saw them. As Chio stood there, panting for breath, he noticed several very horrible scars all over Chio's upper body. Long scars ran up his arms, and several old, burned scar-tissue remained on his chest, and not from any damage Jacko had dealt.
Jacko: Ooohhh, so now I see why you wear such long sleeves all the time. Where ever did you get those dreadful scars?
Chio instinctively covered his upper body, obviously angered.
Chio: None of your bee's wax! Soru! [Reappeared directly behind Jacko] Chio Spinning Flash! [Spinning kick straight for Jacko's side, sending him into the edge of the hole in the wall, breaking it further]
Jacko: Pumpkin Seeds! [from the rubble, produced several small fires that shot at Chio like a machine gun]
Chio tried his best to put up a defence but there were far too many of them, coming at him at a horrible speed. He finally got to a bar table and knocked it over for cover. He hid behind the table, but he knew that it wouldn't last, it was already starting to burn up. That was when he thought of something, he looked over at the bar to see where the taps were.
Chio: Ran Kyaku! Chio Katana! [Fired off a large energy blade at the bar, making the beer taps burst with huge amounts of foam that blasted everywhere.]
The foam soon turned into suds, extinguishing a great deal of the fire all at once.
Jacko: Reereereereehahahahaha! Very clev-
Chio: Rankyaku! Chio Kaisen! [Jumped into the air and spiraled feet first toward Jacko, creating whirls of energy blades]
Jacko: Gah! [Held up his arms, but was overcome by the tornado of energy]
Chio: Soru! [Reappeared beside Jacko in the midst of his falling] Chio HANDOU! [Axe kicked Jacko into the ground hard, breaking the bar floor]
The white-haired fighter flipped away from Jacko in that moment, and stood in a fighting stance, panting to gain back some of his stamina.
Jacko: Reereereereehahahaha! This is more fun than I expected, I suppose I will need to take it up a few notches!
Jacko rose from his position, and his Jack-o-lantern head glared at Chio.
Chio: You're bluffing... those suds soaked you, it will be a while before you can muster up another fire attack.
Jacko: Oh, oh you're right. [Sarcasm] My God what will I ever d- Pumpkin Breath! [Opens mouth and breathes a huge amount of flames]
Chio took up a defensive stance, but then, just in that moment, he noticed something. Jacko was defenseless in his current position!
Chio: HA! [Jumped straight up toward the ceiling, which was also igniting on fire] Geppou! [Jumped in the air, straight forward toward Jacko] Chio Jotou! [Kicked Jacko straight in the head, causing him to fly straight back into the wall, igniting the walls around him as they fell]
Chio got out of the burning building as fast as he could, only taking a few burns on his legs and arms, thankfully protecting his shining, white hair. He stood there, watching Jacko burn in a pile of wood and rubble. Chio looked to see his clothes were all but torn into burnt rags. He was bruised, charred, and even had a second-degree burn here and there on his person. However, just as he turned to walk away, he cringed at that same laugh!
Jacko: Reereereereehahahahaha! Very good! You saw through my weakness, I am impressed, perhaps you and yours have a chance, if only a very small one. [Rose from the burning rubble, completely on fire] Allow me to show you my trump card... [Made the fires around him ignite even higher] Pumpkin King!
Jacko began to take on the form of a giant made entirely of flames. The giant form even bared the gigantic pumpkin head on top of its body. The fire giant moved like a puppet, in sync with Jacko. As he raised his fist, so did the giant! Chio only watched in horror as the fire giant's fist came careening down at him. He could only flip backward as the fist destroyed the ground, burning all of the grass there and around it.
Jacko: Reereereereehahahahaha! Come on! I know you've got more than that! [Began to slowly approach Chio]
Chio glared at him, panting, panicking even. He gazed into the flames as the pumpkinheaded bastard approached him with that horrible smile on his Jack-o-lantern face. The flames engulfed Chio's every being in that moment, and that moment of clarity came to him in a perfect moment of zen. He could not let him fight the rest of his crew. Every muscle in his leg clenched and then seemed to tense up to the very molecule of muscle tissue, and then it began to shake. Every single piece of spiritual energy engulfed his foot as it began to ignite in a strange, blue flame.
Chio: Busoshoku... [held his hands together, and closed his eyes as the flame began to grow on his foot, and Jacko continued to approach] Chio... Ryuuhono HANDOU! [instantly jumped straight into the flame giant, his eyes fixed on the pumpkinheaded fiend who was controlling him.]
Chio's kick connected to Jacko's pumpkin head, and in that instant all of Jacko's flames turn into blue fire, and instantly was dispersed. The dispersement blew Chio straight back, and he skidded across the grass, he lied there for a moment, and then lied down flat on his back, burned in several places, bruised, and battered quite badly. Jacko was sent flying back, his entire body seemingly burnt to a crisp, his pumpkin head was shriveled to a pruny, while the rest of him was just charred brown and black. His eyes and mouth were completely black, whatever was keeping him up before had been deminished, and he stayed down this time.
The white-haired warrior sat up slowly, struggling as he placed his hand on the ground. He sat with his knees hugged in his arms, and staring off into the distance. He sighed, and started to get back up, but that was when his attention was caught by a sight out of his peripheral vision. He turned to see a raven had landed just beside him, and even perched there next to him, and then looked up at him.
Chio: ...oh... well... hello.
The pile of rubble sat in the middle of the city, and so many heard the clatter, but none exited their homes. No one wanted to be kidnapped and taken away, and the Marines already had their hands full with all of the ruckus around the town, you would think that a burning bar and an exploding weapons shop would be the most of their troubles, but that wasn't the half of it. Usted was in shambles, nearly twenty percent of the city was demolished, and the people were absolutely frantic.
Nikk: Red, there comes the glow. Omnipresence in the castle of woe. Eyes of the gate that are broken in bits, blood in the eye does the devil spit. [Turns the page]
Usagi: These poems you read are so... grim.
Nikk: I like them [Eating a rice cracker]
Usagi: Well, yeah, but by the way. You did something earlier... when that big man attacked you. What was that? How did you do that?
Nikk: [Looked at Usagi through her black and red bangs, eating another big bite of her rice cracker] I ate the Oso Oso Fruit.
Usagi: A devil fruit?! [Eyes widened] But you're so young, when did you eat it?
Nikk: ...I'm 18...
Usagi: EEEHH!? [sweat drop] She's older than me... [Whispered to herself]
Nikk: I have the power to create images of a horrific nature that has no physical matter. Though, if someone believes in it enough, they can feel the physical touch of whatever I create.
Usagi: So... when you ate the fruit, what did it taste like?
Nikk: Like shit, I could only eat a few bites of it, because I was really hun- [Eyes dart over to the window of the main deck] They're here.
Usagi got up from her sitting position on her bed and went straight for her katana. She heard three sets of foot steps, whoever they were, they either weren't afraid of being detected, or they were simply terrible at being stealthy.
Usagi: Nikk, you need to get somewhere safe, there's a lower deck near the hull of the ship, you should be saf- [Turns to see Nikk laying out mouse traps] What are you doing?!
Nikk: Setting traps for them
Usagi: No one is going to fall for th-
The door to Usagi's room flew open, and there was a horribly scarred, and disfigured arm holding it. A white skinned man with dark blue lips walked in, his pink hair draped down to his shoulders. He stood out of the way as two more walked in behind him. Usagi noticed Nikk's expression grimace slightly as they walked in. Both of them were in black trench coats, the girl had dark red hair, while the boy had black hair, both of them with very pale complexions. They continued to walk toward the center of the room toward Usagi and Nikk, but that was when Eric stepped on a mouse trap.
Eric: GAH! OWOWOWWOOWOWOW! [Jumped up and down on one leg, trying to take off the mousetrap]
Usagi: ...
Man: Gah! Eric! Stop! Let me get that off of you, just stop jump- GAH! OW! I stepped on one! OWOWOWOW!
Dina: ... [Still tried to look cool and mysterious, but was quite agitated]
The scarred man finally got Eric's mousetrap off of his foot but then it was stuck to his fingers, and while Eric regained his composure, he tried to get it off.
Eric: Aherm! Yes, yes, Hiiiii, how are you ladies this fine evening?
Nikk: ...
Usagi: ...[sweat drop]
Eric: Yes, I am Eric, this is my sister, Dina, and the man over there is Gilroy. Dearest Nikky, we've looked all over for you.
Nikk: Die...
Dina: We've missed you too, honey. Why did you have to run away like that? You have no idea what we've been through to get to you.
Usagi: Oh I have an idea, and you're crazy if you think I'm going to just hand her over to scum like you.
Both Eric and Dina began to laugh, clearly not taking her seriously.
Dina: Little girl likes to play samurai? Gilroy, please show this child what a real sword looks like.
Gilroy stepped out in front of the brother and sister, and then uncovered the strange contraption on his arm. It went from his wrist to his elbow. He held up his arm in front of himself, and from the machine at his elbow, a sharp, steel blade protruded and extended to seven inches.
Usagi: Kajikajikajikaji! Is that all?
Gilroy grinned at her comment, and then made the blade extend all the way to the ground, easily three feet long.
Usagi: ...[Put on her game face, and slowly began to unsheathe her sword]
Rinji slowly pushed a large piece of rubble out of his way and he sat up, dazed and panting. He looked around him to see all of the men that were holding rifles and pistols laying around him. He stood up and popped his back around five or six times, then looked around for Ricky or Dan.
Rinji: Damn, I suppose this means the cannons are out of the question. [Sniff sniff] Man, what is that smell!
That was when another, very large boulder was moved out of the way, and the giant Donald got up from the ground, and towered over Rinji once again.
Donald: Oooohhhh! Hurt! Donald no like cat!
Rinji: Wonderful...
Donald stood up straight, popping every single joint in his body with a very slight grunt. Then he began to slowly stomp toward Rinji, his eyes fixed on him, but didn't seem especially angry or focused, just fixed on him in a dumb, glazed-over manner. As he approached the Catman, his hand very slightly reached over to the side, picked up a huge boulder with just one hand and smashed it down at Rinji.
Rinji: GAH! [Knocked backward, dodging the brunt but taking a hit in the chest all the same]
Donald: Bad kitty! [Threw a large chunk of the boulder at Rinji]
Rinji: Rinji Utsu! [Smashed his fist into the boulder, completely destroying it, and jumping toward the brute]
As Rinji reached him, his foot touched the ground for an instant before he disappeared, Donald's fist coming down and colliding with the stone street.
Rinji: Rinji Nikyu! [Appeared directly beside Donald's head and powered up both of his hands, releasing a ball of haki straight into his face] Rinji Dama!
Donald: OOOHHHH! [Flew backward and hit a brick street light, completely destroying it under his weight]
Rinji landed in front of the large, fallen brute of a monster and walked on top of him before he could even get up. With a great stomp onto his chest, Rinji got straight into his face, and pulled out a small card. He shoved the card straight into Donald's face and pointed at the one word on it.
Rinji: "Kouji"... Bait... what does it mean!
Donald: Oooohhh...
Then Rinji smelled it, that strange smell he'd been smelling ever since earlier, it was the card. He held it to his nose and took a whiff.
Rinji: Bait... wait a minute! You're just a decoy! [Rinji grabbed onto Donald's face and held up his claws very close to his eyes, which made a very sharp noise] Where is that no good Eric! Tell me where he is now! Or I swear, I'll find out what your blood tastes like.
That was when Donald began to sweat...
Usagi had led them away from the ship, for some reason Eric and Dina were content with watching as Gilroy continued his assault on Usagi. Jumping from one sand divot to the next, Usagi dodged the extremely long katana sword that shot from that horrific man's device. He retracted the blade back to the compartment by his elbow, then he shifted to a strafe, this time firing the blade directly at her from a different angle as he ran sideways. Usagi barely caught it with the edge of her blade, barely glancing it away a mere inch away from her eye. As he was once again wide open, she slid her sword along the long blade, and used that momentum to lunge directly at him and draw a symbol in the air with her sword.
Usagi: Itoryuu! Kanji! [Fired off a symbol of き or "ki" in the form of energy that went directly for Gilroy]
Gilroy quickly lunged sideways, flipping over twice, and on the second flip, he swung his elongated blade straight at the side of Usagi, she got her sword up just in time to protect her neck, but the blade was still on her arm. As he retracted the blade back toward him, the blade slid on her arm, cutting her sleeve and drawing blood. She grunted, but she did not hesitate to come at him again.
Usagi: Teisei! [Bolted directly in front of Gilroy, this time taking no chances and began slicing with great precision and power]
Gilroy had a very hard time keeping up with her, he twisted and turned all around, angling his blade to block her sudden swings. He began to sweat at the speed she was going, he could do nothing to set up an offensive.
Gilroy: Very pretty, lady! But I have a few tricks of my own!
He planned it perfectly, as she brought her sword into a piercing jab, he held up his arm and allowed her to penetrate it, her eyes widened, realizing his tactic. He aimed the blade machine straight for her forehead at a downward angle. With reflexes like a cat, Usagi jumped straight back and up, swinging with her sword, her blade ripping into his flesh and spurting blood as it was pulled from it. He cringed in horrendous pain, but his blade mechanism went off anyway, the blade tip stopping as it hit the rock surface below them. This caught her eye.
She landed on her feet, her back against the wall of the high cliffs above, beads of sweat ran down the sides of her face and her eyes scanned her opponent, who was cringing and trying to tighten his grip on his ripped up arm. They stared each other down, and Usagi took what she knew about her new opponent.
Usagi: His blade is well crafted, especially for being so long, so far the farthest distance I've seen it go is eleven feet, before too long after that, the blade will be too heavy for him to keep a decent accuracy. However, even more curious is how it automatically stops as it hits enough resistance. He would have to manually direct it to penetrate a surface. Obviously, this is to avoid it getting...
Usagi stood up straight, and entered into her fighting stance. Gilroy took notice of this.
Gilory: You think you got me now, don't you? Well you may have pegged me a good one, but I know you're getting tired. And I know you're got going to survive this next assault... watch this, baby!
He then aimed his sword machine and fired it in an instant, this time going straight for Usagi's chest. In an amazing show of skill, Usagi held up her sword, the flat side catching the blade dead center, into the tip, and the sword machine stopped. Gilroy cursed, and then manually pressed the button on the side to extend it, and in that very moment, Usagi raised her blade and slid it underneath the edge. The blade shot forward into the rock, digging deep into the side of the cliff.
Gilroy: NO! [Tried to retract it, but the machine made a choking noise]
In an instant, Usagi was there directly beside him, sheathing her blade.
Usagi: ItoryuuIai... NARABI!
The machine was cut into two clean pieces. The blade bent all the way down, to the point of nearly snapping as the machine fell to the ground. Before Gilroy could even turn toward her, she pulled her sword out of her sheath once again, and worked it over his side and up onto his chest. ト ツ うさぎ or "Usagi" was written all across him, and blood gushed from it once, and began to bleed at an extensive rate.
Gilroy: GAAAAHHHHHH! [Fell to his side and held his large wound] You'll pay for this you-
Usagi's hilt came down and smashed against the back of his head, instantly knocking him out cold. She quickly turned to see Eric clapping. He and Dina were still smiling, but something else caught her eye behind the two of them. There was Nikk sitting on the side of the ship, her legs hanging over the rails, watching them a safe distance away from the rest. On her face, there was the ever-so tiniest smile on her lips.
This made Usagi smile as well, but then Eric began to walk toward her.
Eric: Very good performance, my dear. However, the fact remains that you are the only thing standing in the way of me and my dear, sweet little sister. That, I'm afraid, is a problem. What do you think I should do about th-GAH!
Chio: Chio HANDOU! [Chio appeared directly beside Eric, his foot connecting solidly with the side of his head]
Eric was sent straight into the side of the cliff, even smashing into the rocks, and kicking up a large cloud of dust.
Dina: Eric-chan!
Usagi gasped with baited breath as she saw Chio standing there, but then she saw all of the scars on his body, not even noticing how burned he was, just seeing the long, ancient slice marks that covered his entire upper body as his clothes were burned to nothing but rags.
Usagi: C-Chio...
Chio saw her, and then looked away from her, his embarrassment put behind him for the time being.
Chio: Rest now, Usagi. You obviously did very well [Looking at the fallen Gilroy, who bared her name carved into his flesh]
Eric: Ooohhh, he got me good, didn't he? [Walking out of the hole in the wall with his hand on his head] It looks like we'll need to get a little serious, dear sister. [Cracking his knuckles in a very loud manner]
Dina: Are you alright, Eric-chan?
Eric: I'm alright, let's-
A huge streaking claw mark flew by directly in front of him, cutting up the entire rock floor at his feet, and stopping him cold in his tracks. That was when he heard the most peculiar laughter from up close to the top of the cliff.
Rinji: Mewhahahahaha!
Eric: Damn... [cringing]
Rinji: Are you sure? Are you absolutely sure that you're alright? [Maniacal grin]
Rinji jumped the cliff, and down the cliff he went until he was at the same level as the rest, his landing caused a huge crater about three times his size, but he stood up as if nothing happened. Then he began to walk toward Eric and Dina, looking at the situation. Then he looked at Nikk, who sat on the railing of his ship, looking even more gloomy than usual.
Rinji: So... Eric, I presume.
Eric: Indeed [Bowed a bit with his arms at his side]
Rinji: You put a card on me with a scent that draws lurkers behind me, and then you sic a giant on me in order to keep me away while you sneak in and try to kill my crew. Mewhahahahaha! Trying to exterminate one of the equations to make it easier, is that it? Pathetic! You have pissed me off to a level that I will have to deal with now. Allow me to demonstrate my point.
Rinji began to charge, his claws out and shining as he approached. However, he was stopped as he saw a man in a gas mask along his way.
Ricky: Hello. [Held up a hand]
Rinji: What are you doing here?! Can't you see I'm in the middle of something?
Ricky: Yep [Sipped on some tea] But I can't let you pass me by.
While they were arguing, Usagi went to Chio to tend to his burns and wounds. After he got done telling her that he was fine and didn't need any attention, he looked over to their captain bickering with this new fellow.
Chio: Who is that? [Cringing as Usagi tightened the bandage on his arm]
Usagi: I think asking any questions at this point is irrelevant. We have to focus. Look [She directed his attention back over to Eric, who seemed more than a little irked at them not even paying attention to him]
Rinji: You can't tie me down with your rules! I don't even know you! I don't even know what you look like!
Ricky: It's for your own good. I need to keep you alive.
Rinji: Keep me alive?! Not that I'm worried about staying alive, but why would you care?
Ricky: You owe me money.
Rinji: What?! Me owe you money? You owe me seven cannons! I brought you the guy who put a bounty on your head!
Ricky: You wrecked my store.
Rinji: YOU DID THAT! I wasn't the one who fired off nine cannons in the middle of a tiny gunshop!
Ricky: You brought those men there.
Rinji: You can't prove a thi-
Eric: SHUT UP! Both of you! I've had enough! If you're not going to hand over my little sister... [He said with a grin, looking over toward Nikk, who looked back at him with the red and black bangs covering her eyes] I'm going to have to show you why you should!
With that said, he held out his hands and began to emit a strange mist from both of them. Soon it began to fill up the ground around him and began to widen its spread. Rinji took at few steps back as it began to get close to him. He recognized the mist, and remembered what happened to the men who touched it.
Ricky: Good thing you didn't approach him. [Pulled out a small metal box with a button on it, and pressed it]
Two cannons popped out from the ground, and before Eric could even react, they fired at both him and Dina.
Eric: GAH! [Flew into the side of the rocks.]
Dina jumped safely out of the way, and landed on her feet, her eyes quickly turned toward Ricky. With no hesitation, she crouched to an attack position, and lunged straight toward him in perfect form. With lightning fast hands, her hands came out from underneath her black trench coat, with huge lengths of a strange white bandage. She got straight up close to him, and began to wrap one of his hands to his hip.
Ricky: Hey! What are you doing?! [Quickly pulled his knife from his belt and sliced at her, making her flip backward through the air and land on her feet.]
Ricky was quick to cut the bond that held his arm and holster his knife. The two of them faced one another down. After just a moment of sizing one another up, it was Dina who made the first move. She pulled her bandage from her trench coat and swung it around much faster than Ricky expected.
Dina: Bondage whip! [With a crack, she quickly whipped the knife from his belt, and made it fly to the ground to the side of them.]
Ricky didn't even seem to take notice, instead he just stared at her, motionless. The next moment, he crouched, seeming almost embarrassed.
Ricky: Bondage? [Rubbing his fingertips together in front of his face]
Dina: Not that kind of bondage! [Face turned bright red.] Bondage Lash! [Whipped another band around at him, this time getting it caught around his arm alone as he blocked it]
It wasn't long before she pulled him toward her and pulled out another bandage, this time moving with a blinding speed and spun him around in midair. With both bandages, she began to entangle him.
Dina: Bondage Coffin! [Stopped him suddenly and slammed him onto his entangled feet, standing him up on the ground.]
She grinned and stood in front of him, she pulled out a wavy, snake-like dagger and held it close to him.
Dina: Now then, lets see what is behind that strange little mask of yours. I can't imagine you're much older than a child. [Began to walk up close to him with her hand out-stretched]
Ricky: That could be a very harmful.
Dina: Oh? Does normal air hurt?
Ricky: Harmful for your health, that is.
Without another moment to lose, the cannister on the front of his gasmask detached and shot onto her chest, sticking to her just below her neck.
Dina: What- What is this?!
Ricky crouched down low, and jumped straight back, rolling away as far from her as he possibly could.
Dina: NOO- [BOOM! Her form disappeared in a sudden explosion, kicking up much dust around her. When the dust finally settled, she lied there, her face a blank expression of unconsciousness.]
Ricky: Do come again.
Meanwhile, Eric stepped out from his hole in the side of the canyon. Rinji looked upon him as his attention was pulled from Ricky's fight that happened just to the side of him. This was a mistake, however, Eric's fog had already encompassed the rest of his figure, and his image became somewhat distorted.
Chio: I have to help him [Got to his feet with a cringe, but Usagi's hand clenched his shoulder, one of the few parts of him that was not burned. He looked at her, and saw her eyes gaze deeply into hers.]
Usagi: Stay with me, we need to protect each other, and Rinji needs to hold his own. Such is the burden of a pirate captain.
They looked on to see Eric's visage turn into a strange collage of shapes, before he finally turned into an extremely tall, and skinny man who stood six-foot ten, gazing down with a smile at Rinji.
Eric: I don't know what would make you fight on terms with my little sister, but you are sadly mistaken. She is mine to do with what I will, and if I say she comes back with me, she will, whether it is her decision or not. No one leaves the Skeleton Bros. without my say so. I don't care who comes to their aide.
Rinji: Then allow me to break your winning streak. Mewhahahahaha! Rinji Katai! [With a swoop of his leg, Rinji swiped across the fog, but as it came, the fog dispersed, and there was no Eric.]
Eric: Over here!
He came up behind the Catman, and with an armored hand, his fist came from the side of the back of his head. There was a ringing in Rinji's ears as his head was impacted, and he cringed. His claw came around with sharp traces across the air, just barely missing Eric's head as he disappeared into the fog once again.
Eric: Oh, you are very reflexive, as expected from the feline species. Hehehehe, very good, Catman Rinji.
Rinji's cat eyes traced around the fog, he couldn't count on his eyes, though. He knew this, but his ears still rang from the previous hit he took. Still, he could hear enough to sense when Eric's foot stepped harder than usual just to the side of him. Rinji put his guard up immediately, and caught Eric's arm in a block. In an instant, Rinji reposted, and his palm went straight into his face, causing him to fly back into the mist.
Rinji: Rinji Dama! [Whirled his hands around, making a ball of energy, and fired it off, causing the fog to whirl with it, and as Eric was revealed, he was struck, causing him to spin out of control.]
He took the opportunity and lunged himself straight for Eric, his claws beared and ready to strike. However, Eric gained his senses, and the machine latched to his arms sprayed a bright red mist, like the one he had seen the first night this whole catastrophe started. That was when Rinji cringed, and his eyes began to burn something fierce. He growled, his paws instinctively went to his eyes, but he faught the harsh urge to rub them, knowing that the chemical was resting on his entire fur.
Eric: Yes, you are indeed a worthy opponent. This I will admit, but this game is over!
Rinji: You talk entirely too much! [He spread his arms out wide] HAAA!
His haki errupted! With his energy, he blasted all around him, and the fog spread out with his very willpower. There he was, Rinji could not see him, but he felt his very essence, and his entire presence, but then he also felt another. Nikk stood in front of him, between him and Eric, who stood just in front of him, ready to attack him, but was stopped cold as his fist came within inches of her face.
Eric: Nikk... What are you doing?!
She stood there, her eyes just barely visible through her bangs, gazed at him with great disdain. Her gaze turned from him, back toward Rinji. There was a moment, where he swore he could feel the tears well up in her eyes.
Nikk: Kitty-chan... there is so much you don't know about me. You will forgive me in time, but like the trees leaves grow red, together, we can grow as well.
Rinji was silent, but after a moment, his eyes squinted open slightly to see her distorted image. Then he smiled.
Nikk turned to her brother, and her eyes grew wide.
Nikk: Osore...
The area became black, and even Eric could not distort the vision with his fog. Soon her stomach made a small burst, and blood spurted all over her brother's face. With a shriek, her slim, pale gut burst into a pool of blood that spilled over Eric, causing his eyes to widen as Rinji came forth through Nikk's very body. He was not Rinji, though. He was a gigantic, beastly form. His tiger stripes blackened all over his body with his muscles buldged all over him. His eyes glared, the monster inside tore from her flesh, his whole figure covered in blood, and his claws three times as long, and reaching out at a mortified Eric.
One slice, that is all it took. Eric's blood flowed out the side of his head, and his mind blanked out completely, causing him to fly straight back into the cliff which lied behind.
The image ended, and Rinji returned to his normal form. He kneeled down, his breath panting and his eyes still burning. His foes lied strewn upon the ground, their battleground. Chio and Usagi came to his aide, while Ricky sat a small ways away from the lot of them. He sat in a train of thought, and still trying to struggle his way out of the bandages that bound his arms to his hips, as they were still quite tight.
The kidnapped citizens were returned to their proper homes. Usted Island was returned back to it's normal, everyday chaos. All of the Skeleton Bros. were captured, and arrained on charges of piracy, kidnapping, and several counts of murder. Eric was especially charged, and shipped off to Impel Down.
Rinji sat in the living area of the ship, reading that morning's paper with a nice hot cup of coffee beside him.
Rinji: Oh, of course, the Marine captured the Skeleton Bros. all by themselves. Of course. Rotten bastards [Crumbling up the newspaper and throwing it perfectly into the trash bin.]
Chio: Meh, who says they don't deserve some credit, I mean they did... do... well they... ummm...
Usagi: They wet themselves enough to scare off the crowd.
Ricky: And they refused the insurance claim on my shop, saying that it was on "suspicious terms."
Rinji: You destroyed it yourself! [Righted himself] Anyway, I would like to say welcome to our two new crewmates. Though, I don't think I know either of them well enough to announce this as such, but still, they don't bother me too much, and I think I can grow to tolerate them overtime. Cheers! [Raises up his coffee mug, and the rest of them raised their assorted drinks, though it was quite the back-handed compliment.]
Nikk: What position do I get on the crew, anyway?
The others looked at each other, their positions were already spelled out, but they weren't entirely sure for her.
Rinji: We'll decide on that on a later date... Right now, the important thing is what lies ahead of us... We are entering what many have named "The New World."
Chio: Yeah, things will not be so easy along this way. We'll need to stick together if we're going to survive. I'd like to think we're ready.
Usagi: We are. [She nodded]
Chio: Are we? [He looked at her, then over to their captain.]
Rinji: Yes, we are.