Author note Please read:
This is and will be AU; Luffy will be different and yeah he will have a different Devil Fruit and he Will be overpowered sometimes but the world of One Piece will still be mostly the same. Later there might be elements from other animes. I don't think I need to say it but I don't own One Piece. I added of course some of my OC characters for the mix. This story will only cover the beginnings so it takes place before Luffy even set's sail. There will be cute fluffy moments and of course some violence, gore and stuff. If you don't like it don't read. Again English in not my first language. If you have any questions leave them as reviews or message me.
In chaos theory, the butterfly effect is the sensitive dependence on initial conditions in which small change in one state of a deterministic nonlinear system can result in large differences in a later state.
~.~
The small boy cried out in pain as he was kicked again and then tossed inside a cage. He felt so powerless. His little body full of black and blue angry bruises. Blood was slowly dripping from his chin. His throat was dry and couldn't even mutter out a curse. He wanted to scream and cry but he was too weak, too small to do anything. But how he wanted to hurt and curse in turn those who hurt him, to hell and back but more than anything else wanted to curse himself for being so weak and useless. The doors opened again, he didn't need to look up from where he was to know who those footsteps belonged to.
"Ah-ah… they did a good number on you again." The blue haired man shook his head as came close to the cage and knelled before him. Just as he did almost every day since they brought him upon this blasted ship. And then he did the exact same thing as the day before. He opened the cage and gently scooped him out of there and put him onto a table nearby. He would have protested but he was in too much pain even so he let out a painful grunt as the man touched his ribs.
"I'm going to have to remove your shirt." He shook his head but the man continued gently. "Don't worry I'm a doctor." Yes he looked like a doctor and that was part of the problem. The man could be described as quite handsome with a shoulder-length hair tied in a low ponytail and bright brown almost orange eyes which he first found weird almost creepy. But eventually he came to found them cool, together with the black nails, and mostly everything about the man. Like the small tattoo under the man's collar that was composed by a blue diamond, a red heart, green club and a black spade or the tribal ones on his upper arm. The child looked at the man weirdly. The man was overall good looking, not too tall maybe a bit feminine compared to his grandpa and other manly mans he knew. Yet he was quite strong, as the black muscle t-shirt showed his body off and judging by the way he lifted him up so effortlessly. He wore matching jeans and a bright almost neon blue utility belt. The man had a simple silver necklace with a pendant that resembled four cards stuck together and black earrings in both his ears. The guy didn't look quite scary all thanks to his lazy and apathetic smile, or the always present candy he was munching on but there was that one thing that scared the boy, the white creepy mad doctor over-coat. Well doctors were scary to any 5 year old and Luffy was no exception. The child whimpered slightly as the doctor took off his shirt and continued with the examination.
"Well the good news is that they are not broken the bad news… they are definitely bruised." The blue-head said as he gently touched the kid's ribcage. "I can give you some painkillers and I have some ointments here somewhere-" the man said as he looked around his bag in haste. Luffy studied the weird man with a raised eyebrow. The man never hurt him quite the opposite. The blue haired man visited him, taught him cards, brought him food and even treated his injuries.
"Aha! Jackpot-" The man grinned happily as he found what he was looking for. Luffy looked at the man questioningly through the adult only scratched his head sheepishly at the outburst before he got back to his work. He carefully applied the ointment on the bruises then looked at wound on his head, the bleeding stopped already since it wasn't more than a scratch but it would do no good to let it get infected.
"This might hurt a bit… Bear with me it won't take long." The boy nodded and hissed slightly as the antiseptic touched the wound. "There… all done. Now let's look at the healing wounds." The man said as he took off the bandages on the boy's left hand. There were some cuts on the forearm but they weren't too deep. The man shook his head as he looked down at Luffy's fingers, someone most have stepped on his fingers hard enough to break the bones in his hand. Since the boy was young he will heal, still there was a small chance that the boy will never be able to use his left hand properly. It was impossible to say at the moment if his injury affected the nerves or not with the equipment he had. He tried to heal and lessen the damage but he could only do so much.
"Well for now no injury is worsened. They heal quite nicely actually." He said encouraging to the boy who only give him a tired look. The man shook his head. "You know this is partly your fault. I told you so many times to just stop being so rebellious-" Now that earned him a glare. "You're just a kid you know? You don't have to be so stubborn."
"So … you (cough) w-want me to (cough)…" The doctor took out a flask with water as he listened to the boy talk. "to just accept… being a (cough cough) slave?" The boy finished while glaring at the other through he drunk greedily the water from the flask held to his mouth.
"No. But you have to admit it there's not much you can do about it. If you would stop being so rebellious then you would save yourself from a great amount of pain and work from me. You have been dealt a bad hand, kid, just accept it." The man finished saying with a grin as the other only hardened his glare.
"No way." Luffy said without missing a beat.
"Troublesome." The man sighed with a resigned air and took out lollipops from his bag and give one to Luffy while he himself sit down beside the table and devoured his own sweet treat. The boy felt asleep shortly, the vicious beating and the medication finally catching up with the kid. The man sighed again, he did that many times nowadays. Just a few minutes later the cabin doors opened. Their captain finally graced them with his presence.
"Che the little bastard's asleep." He was a pretty tall and imposing figure. With a ruffled brown hair and dark eyes and same colored circles around his eyes. Dressed in non-descriptive threads, with a long red 'captain cape' thrown over his back and a mean smile on his lips.
"He knocked himself out. He must have been pretty tired after all the beatings he took." The blue-head said with a pointed look.
"Don't give me that look Kaze you know it's his fault. Little shit will not stop yapping his flank not to mention the boys are getting antsy too. This way they get to blow some steam off."
"By beating up a kid?!"
"He's not just a kid! He's Garp's grandchild. The bastard imprisoned my brother. You know how Franky is. He won't survive Impel Down. And I will damned if I don't get back for that. That puppet might have as well killed him with his own hand."
"I'm sorry for your brother. I really am you know that but this isn't what we wanted. Can you even remember why we set sail. Why I joined your crew? Because I'm sure is hell it wasn't for beating up helpless kids. Listen, we will find Garp… "
"And what? Let him arrest us too?"
"We can find another way, please. Lucian… listen let's not do this. We aren't this kind of man."
"We are pirates. That's the kind of man we are."
"Being a pirate doesn't make you less of a man. Your choices make you."
Lucian punched the wall barely missing Kaze's face, his hand leaving a dent behind. "I am what I am. If you can't follow your captain's orders you might as well leave. I don't need anyone like that on this ship."
"You mean someone with principals left." The ship doctor retorted not a bit impressed by the act of violence the other was displaying .
"Call it whatever you want Kaze. I'M DONE." The man shut the door with a loud Thud. The blue haired man glared at the floor, before looking at his patient who was still sleeping dead to the world. They were one week away from the place set up as the trade place. He hoped and kept hoping that his captain will see reason but there was no reason to delude himself anymore. Losing his brother changed the man he respected too much. No even before, his trusted friend changed over the years, slowly turning into something he couldn't recognize.
He gathered his things before scooping the sleeping boy into his arm. Luffy snuggled close to the warmth. The man sighed as child hugged him in his sleep. He wanted to put the kid back in his cage to his 'bed'. They were just some rugs actually but it will be warmer than sleeping on a cold table. He tried to move but that would wake up the brat and he didn't want to risk it. On the other hand sitting like this would be really uncomfortable. No question he will have a sore neck and back later on. "So freaking troublesome …" he mumbled yet he didn't move.
~.~
Luffy slept for almost 3 hours. As he begun to return to lands of the consciousness, he couldn't help but press closer to the warmth. Until that let out a sigh.
"Wake up brat!" come the grumpy voice. He turned away with a quiet but firm "No" and buried his head in the warm thing that he could identify now as the doctor's arm before someone pinched his nose. "Come on, I know you're awake."
"Buaah!" Luffy gulped down the air gratefully as he sit up while sending a dark glare to the doc. "Why did you do that? Do you want to kill me? Ow-ow-ow"
"Let me guess you forgot about your ribs? Don't move so abruptly. As for your question you do realize you can always breathe through your mouth." Judging by the small kids expression he clearly forgot. Kaze couldn't help but snicker. "You forgot! Bpt… Haha you're really stupid aren't you?"
"Oi!" Luffy shouted but couldn't really retaliate while the strange man just continued to laugh clearly amused. "You're laughing too much!" He shouted shark-teeth in full display.
"... well …that aside" The man finally composed himself. "I will send someone with food, but I have to leave now."
"I have to… go back to that cage?" He give the man the most potent puppy eyes he could muster. The man if shaken didn't show it, not even when small tear drops begun to shine in Luffy's eyes.
"Come on you know the drill. Besides not like I'm doing it cuz I want to."
"Then don't do it."
"Sorry kid. I can't. Don't make this harder than it has to be."
"P-please mister…"
"Come on brat. Now." Kaze said a bit more forcefully, Luffy only nodded. He approached the cage gathering his courage to step into. The bluenet didn't push him but waited patiently for him to step inside before closing and locking the door. "Sorry kid. I'll see you later okay? I'll bring some card games too…" The man said apologetically before he seemed to remember something and quickly searched his pockets. "Here. Just don't let anyone see them," He quickly dropped them in Luffy's small hands. "They'll get jealous." He added with a wink before leaving him alone in the dark and cold room. The boy blinked before he looked at his hand full of candies.
~.~
Lucian grinned as he dragged the boy toward his cabin. He just talked to a noble that was really interested in the brat. The meeting point was a small island just in North Blue, a week away from where they docked right now. But of course there was something that had to happen before they sealed the deal. He showed the screaming and kicking boy into the room.
"Shut it brat." Luffy collided with the floor with a painful Thud his wounds were aching again but he chose to ignore them. Instead he fixed a dark glared at the man.
"Here. Eat your food." Luffy looked at the man skeptically. Why did the man bring him here? He eyed the food that was placed before him, when was the last time he had a good meal? The boy truly couldn't remember; he hastily wiped away the droll that dripped off his chin, there was a small voice that advised him to be cautious, but he ignored it. He couldn't care if the food was poisoned, he was just too hungry and it just smelled too good. He made everything disappear in a few seconds.
The man looked at Luffy disgusted. Did the kid even breathe? He shook his head it didn't really matter. "Here don't forget your dessert."
Luffy looked at the weird looking fruit placed before him. It resembled an apple… only the color was wrong, actually many things were wrong about the fruit. It was blue of all colors an apple should be, blue surely wasn't it, it also had white actually it looked like silver, and black swirls, talk about weird but still the weirdest things was still small glow it give off. "Fruits aren't dessert."
"Shut up and just eat it."
Luffy looked at the fruit weirdly but complied. He wasn't to turn off food, even more he promised that he won't ever be picky. He took the fruit in his hand and got a bit weirded out. He expected it to feel cold hard and smooth yet it was warm, and definitely not hard, it was more like an orange, and it had a fur. Okay that may have been an exaggeration yet still, it had small almost invisible hair that he only noticed because the fruit was in his hand. He decided not to think too much about it and just simply took a big bite out of it.
"Blleahh!" He said as soon as he swallowed it. It tasted really nasty. "This is disgusting…" he said with tears in his eyes.
"Suck it up and eat it. If you leave even a bit you won't get food tomorrow." Luffy's gone so many days without food that he was sure one more won't do that much damage, not to mention he still had some of the candy the doctor left him with. "…and no Kaze either."
"Who's Kaze?" the boy asked dumbly while tilting his head to the side.
"Kaze is the doctor that took care of you and your injuries."
Luffy gulped once as he prepared himself before taking another bite of the bad-tasting fruit. The blue haired man was the only one who actually was nice to him on this ship. He even though him how to play cards, he wanted to meet him again. He fought back his gag reflex and gulped down the food as fast as he could.
Lucian smiled in foul way. The brat was worth 5 million without the devil's fruit. But if the kid eat the Devil Fruit his buyer was willing to pay 15 million beri. Talk about worth it. He didn't only manage to get revenge on Garp but get his hands on some money.
"I… d-don't feel so g-ood…" the boy said softly as he felt the whole room move round and round. The captain cursed slightly before telling one of his men to take the brat back to his cage and for someone to call Kaze.
~.~
Kaze was still sitting beside the kid's cage, it had been almost two days now. He let out a loud yawn, then blinked sleepily. Luffy was running a high fever, so he decided to stay with the brat so he could keep an eye on him. He turned around just to find the boy missing, the man looked around frantically when a small mew interrupted him.
"You got to be kidding me…" The man said as he looked down at the small kitten tangled in a blanket. He scooped out the black kitten and asked feeling a bit stupid as he talked to a cat. "Luffy?" The kitten nodded, the man begun laughing while the feline give him an annoyed look.
"… sorry, pft… hahahaha" The cat tried to scratch his face but he couldn't reach it. He pouted which made the man laugh even harder. "This is great… " the feline's eyes seemed to glow green which made the doc blink twice in wonder. Dark golden eyes started back at him while the cat's tail moved annoyed from one side to another. Must have been a trick of the light. "You angry cuz I picked you up?" The cat give him a small glare so he must have been dead on. "But this is good…" He saw the questioning look in the small feline's eye so he took a candy out of nowhere and unwrapped it as he begun explaining.
"You must wonder how this happened. I'll explain so pay attention. Do you remember the strange fruit the captain made you eat?" The cat nodded and he continued to explain while he moved the candy around in his mouth. "Is called Devil Fruit. Anyone who eats a devil fruit losses their ability to swim, they become hammers in water" seeing the cat so down he quickly added "but in exchange they gain a unique ability. Devil Fruits are divided in three categories. Paramecia devil fruit users gain superhuman physical abilities or traits. For example the strongest man in the world eat the Gura Gura no mi, which made him able to create shock wave that could result in earthquakes even tsunamis. If Paramecia are the most common, then Logia is the rarest of the three Devil Fruit classes. Users of Logia can turn themselves into an element. For example a troublesome man who eat the Hie Hie no mi can turn himself and create ice wherever he wants. Do you understand?" The cat give him a small nod.
"Good because the last category is very important . The Zoan those who ate this type of Devil Fruit gain the ability to turn into an animal… like you. Judging by the way you look you ate the Neko Neko no mi." The cat let out a small growl. "Zoan was always my favorite category. You should be able to turn into an animal hybrid form too you know. Anyway Zoan fruits aren't based solemnly on common animals. I heard that someone out there could turn himself into a dinosaur, and even a mythological creatures. But the mythological Zoan fruits are rarer even then Logias. " The cat's eye opened in wonder as the feline imagined how could he would look like a gigantic lion or gryphon. Then he remembered he was a small cat and frowned before he begun to purr… wait purr? Luffy moved his head away before he gave the man a hard glare.
"Sorry… " The man said sheepishly as he took his hand back. "…I just couldn't help it… anyway you should probably try and turn back." The cat hesitantly jumped from the man's arms to the floor and blinked slightly as he looked at his f… paws. He walked around a bit, it felt strange yet it was surprisingly easy to move around, his body felt light. Luffy looked around him and… why did everything had to be so damn big. He mewed softly and the man raised an eyebrow as he tried to figure out what Luffy wanted. The feline mewed again this time more irritated and insistent.
"… are you trying to ask me how to turn back?" The cat nodded while Kaze sighed. "I don't really know kid. Just try to imagine yourself turn back to normal." The cat looked at him but the man only shrugged. "I never eat a devil fruit I have no idea how to turn back." The cat actually sighed before it closed its eyes and seemed to begun growing making the man gape and drop his candy. Brilliant blue mist seemed to dance around the feline as it grow before it turned back to Luffy.
"Hah I did it!" The boy shouted happily not realizing that he still had the cat ears or the tail. The boys eye seemed to glow golden in the dark with black slit pupils and from a closer look his eyelids seemed to be colored black, with a silvery edge.
"Luffy… how did you do that?"
"What?!" The boy asked curiously.
"… I think you're not just a simple house cat."
"Eh?"
"… Is possible that you eat a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit."
"But I'm still just a kitty." The boy said pouting, he found his power quite lame no matter what Kaze said.
"There are many types of cats. For example Gotokoneko, Bakeneko, Hellcats, Kasha you could be even a Cheshire."
"What are those?"
"Mah I will tell you later, what you need to know that you're a very cool cats. Just like a lion or panther." The boys eyes shined in joy as Kaze only laughed slightly. The boy was too easy to understand. "Now Luffy there is something important you need to know beside to avoid large masses of water." Said boy's fluffy neko ears perked up which the man found quite adorable. He coughed embarrassed before continuing. "You should never ever eat another Devil Fruit."
"Why not? If I could turn into more than a kitty it would be awesome!" The boy shouted excited while his tail moved to and fro.
"You can't if you eat another fruit you will die."
Luffy's eyes teared up and begun shouting. "I don't want to die!" It was annoying… Kaze's eyebrow twitched as he watched him for a few seconds before he hit the boy on the head; it was the fastest way to stop the boy's ramblings.
"Idiot… you won't die, you just have to stay away from Devil Fruits." The boy hit his fist in his open palm.
"Oh!" he said in a manner that would have made you think someone just explained him the world's biggest mystery.
"You're pretty stupid ain't you?"
"Shut up!" the man tried not to laugh Luffy was trying to glare yet the fluffy tail and cute cat-ears made it look like a pout, it was truly adorable.
"Well that aside, you will have to keep this a secret. It maybe your only chance to escape."
"Escape?"
"You don't want to be a slave do you?"
~.~
"How's the brat Kaze?" Luccian asked as he took a big bite from his food.
Kaze smiled before moving his fork around the almost empty plate "Better. By the time we land he'll be fine."
"Hmm." Lucian nodded as he looked at his glass of vine. "So what happened?"
"I would say the boy is going through some kind of change…"
"Sure… any idea what his abilities are?"
"His body is giving off some weird mist… that's all for now."
"Alright keep me updated."
"Aye, aye captain." Kaze said before he walked away leaving the tableware behind; let the scrubs do the chores.
"Hey you." Lucian called out two pirates eating a table over.
The older and louder of the two jumped slightly "Y-yes… captain?"
"Keep an eye on him."
"You don't think Kaze would betray us?" the younger asked in disbelief.
"For a marine brat nevertheless…" the other nodded while Luccian grimaced as he refilled his glass.
"I hope he won't…"
~.~
"Brat you need to learn how to lie." Kaze said with a deadpan expression.
"What?"
"I don't know when Luccian or one of his goons will come here. If they realize I've been lying all this time you won't have a chance to escape. So let's try it, tell me a lie."
The boy did and the doctor ended up face palming. God he had his work cut out.
~.~
It was one of the nights Kaze was 'taking care' of Luffy when the question finally crossed the boy's mind.
"Kaze… why do you know so much about Devil Fruits?"
"That's a long story…"
Luffy didn't give up, his neko ears were tilted toward the doctor in concentration, only the end of his tail moved slightly making Kaze sweat-drop. Was the boy trying to will him with only his eyes? He was sure now… the boy was becoming more dangerous with every day. And he wasn't talking about the boy's strength but… the boy could probably take over the world with his cuteness. Those big wide golden eyes that shined with naivety and innocence, that wide boyish grin that just made him look childish only added to his charm, his black hair that looked like the softest thing that ever existed… yeah the kid was dangerous alright.
"I was a spoiled kid…" Kaze started his story. "… I had big sister, God she was annoying. She was always yapping away on how I need to grow up and get a job and all that." The doctor smiled fondly at the memory as he touched his pendant." I didn't listen… not once I rather play cards at the bar… I don't know how my sister got involved with this guy. Our captain's little brother… we were a troublesome bunch but she was level headed and kept us grounded … then one night I swindled this guy of everything he had, even his pants…" The man grinned while Luffy chuckled. "Then he said one more game, the idiot. Anyway he said he had something that was worth more than everything I won all together. He should have known he had no chance against me… You know what is the definition of insanity?" The small boy shook his head. "Doing the same damn thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome."
"So he lost."
"Finally!" Kaze shouted proudly "…my effort wasn't in vain. Something finally came alive in that dead brain of yours!" while wiping away tears of happiness. "Ah so this is what a miracle means!"
"Shut up BakaKaze!" the boy huffed annoyed. "… so what happened?" Luffy asked finally which made the man sigh.
"He lost of course and I won… Can you guess what I won?"
"… money?"
"Nope."
"Treasure?"
"No…"
"…Mhhmm" the male could see stream come out from the boy's head.
"Just don't hurt yourself thinking." The man said half joking, because you might never know what the boy could do.
"… Oh meat?" The boy asked with saliva dripping off his chin.
"… Idiot… only you consider meat more important than money. I won a devil fruit."
"Oh…"
"Yeah oh; anyway I got the fruit but I didn't want to eat it… I didn't even believe in it to be honest... I was careless and left it in my kitchen. My sister she …eat it."
"She most have been hungry… those things taste nasty." Luffy said adding a 'bleah' to the end.
The man chuckled somehow sadly. "Saying that you have to eat the whole fruit to get the power is just a myth."
"Meat?"
"M-Y-T-H not meat. It means that is a story that's practically …well is a lie." It was the easiest way to explain it to the kid.
"That's mean. Why would someone do that?"
"That's how they explained some phenomena that people couldn't find a logical explanation to. For example why does it thunder?"
"Because… someone in the sky is shooting a canon." Kaze begun laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes.
"Who the hell told you that?"
"Jii-chan…"
"Of course… Garp would… well you see that's a myth… I guess."
"Ehh?" The boy looked like someone killed his dog.
"The truth is thunder is caused by lighting. Is actually a sonic boom cause by the pressure and the temperature of the-" Kaze continued explaining. "Got that?"
"So it's a mystery cloud." The doctor fell over anime style.
"Yeah… I guess it is… anyway because people back in the days didn't know what the thunder was they came up with lies. Like the God's are angry, or that a gigantic bird is flying in the sky and the thunder is the sound his wings make."
"So there is no birdie?"
"Sorry kid… that's just a myth…" The boy looked saddened.
"What about Santa?"
"…he… he's real." Like he could say Santa isn't real to a child. He may be a pirate but he wasn't that cruel.
"Really?"
"Y-yeah."
"That's so cool!"
"Sure. Santa's really cool…" he said while a small ticking vein mark appeared on his forehead. "…how the hell did we get here?" The child blinked innocently at him which made him cave in. The kid was too cute to yell at, too stupid too… it wasn't worth the effort. "Do you want to know what happened with my sister?"
"I wanted to know how you know so much about Devil Fruits, but I guess that's okay too." Luffy replied cheekily.
"You brat… I said this story because this is the reason I know so much about them. You know… the body of those who eat a devil fruit is slightly different than the other peoples… Take you for example… your wounds are healing much faster than they normally would."
"That's because I eat lots of meat!" The boy said with a grin just to get hit on the head. "…alright shutting up." Luffy said nursing the bump on his head.
"…Is not because of the meat is because of the fruit. But as I said devil fruit users have certain weaknesses. Like how rubber for example is immune to electricity or fire is weak against water, ice against flame… " the boy nodded and the doctor continued. "… when people found out my sister ate a Devil Fruit they saw her different. They hurt her. I tried to help her but I didn't know what to do… I searched for a doctor that would even just take a look at her… and when I finally found one… he told me he couldn't help… I had to watch her die slowly in front of me… because no one knew how to treat her or they didn't want to…"
"I'm sorry…" Luffy's cat ears were flat against his head and his tail hung lifeless behind the boy. "… I didn't want to make you sad… or upset…"
"You didn't… I don't talk too much about her… It still hurts you know. But this is the reason I know so much about Devil Fruits, the reason I became a doctor."
"But why did you become a pirate?"
"I wanted to be free." He snickered slightly. "I wouldn't have resisted a week at the marines. I hate people telling me what to do… Did you know they say… wealth, fame, power the man who acquired everything in this world, the pirate King, Gold Roger. The final words that were said at his execution started the era known as Great Age of Pirates. They said he smiled… he was free, even in chains he was the freest man in the world. Not even death could take that away. That's why when I die… I want to have a freaking smile on my face… which says fuck you world I lived just like I wanted. I regret nothing!"
Luffy had starts in his eyes. "Cool…"
"Mah… that's all talk after all."
"It is?"
"Of course. When the reaper comes after me I probably pee my pants and hide in a closet."
"Eh? Coward!"
"I'm not!"
"Yes you are!"
"I'm not! Besides who are you to talk? I bet you will cry and scream for mommy!"
"I wouldn't!"
"Yes you would!"
"Shut up I won't!" They continued to bicker until Kaze realized he was having an argument with a kid and bashed his head against the wall. That of course made Luffy laugh because it was both funny and because he knew he won.
~.~
One week ended quickly and before Luffy knew he was brought again to captain's quarter. Kaze was beside him, supporting him from the background.
"Show me your ability brat." Lucian said grumpily. Kaze nodded and Luffy hold out his hand, he was practicing for the last week how to control his powers and hide his neko features. He had to be really careful, because he had the tendency to slip into his hybrid form when he was comfortable. He took a deep breath and tried to summon the mist that always appeared around him whenever he changed. It was quite hard. He kept his eyes closed and concentrated only on the mist, trying hard to stop himself from changing.
"So this is it?" Lucian asked as he examined the brilliant blue mist that surrounded the kid's hand. "What does it do?"
"I donno… didn't had time to examine it in deep." The man said with a shrug. "Beside who cares as long as it's obvious the boy has a power the guy will pay for it."
"If you say it like that." The captain nodded. "Get him cleaned and into some nice cloths. We will meet his new master after all."
Luffy had to hold a hiss back, happily Kaze grabbed him and forced him to walk away. "Stay calm…" the man whispered as they walked away. "… don't let your features show or will be in a pinch." Luffy nodded and calmed himself best as he could. Kaze took him to the medical bay, which was his area on the ship. He give the boy some cloths to change into before he ushered him into the bath. Luffy glared at the water like it personally offended him the whole time.
1st he was a kid. He would rather do anything than take a shower. 2nd he was a Devil Fruit user, water made him feel powerless and 3rd he was a feline… a cat. Cats hate water…
"Hurry up already." Kaze said annoyed from behind the door.
"I hate you…" Luffy said while he approached the tub still glaring at the water.
"Yes, yes… I know." The man replied with a chuckle.
After 10 minutes which felt like an eternity Luffy finished his shower and got dressed into the stupid cloths Kaze gave him. They were obviously modified to suit him, not that he cared.
"I'm finished." Luffy said and Kaze opened the door and begun laughing. "Shut up Bakaze!"
"That's a new one." Luffy looked away with a huff that made him look even more adorable. His shiny and soft hair was still damp and so was the boy's cat ear and tail. The white-dress shirt was too big for him, even after being modified and made the boy seem lost in it. The blue pants that were supposed to stop around his knee reached until the boy's mid-calf; happily the man had enough foresight to give the boy a belt.
"More importantly Bakaze what am I supposed to do with this?" Luffy asked holding in his hand a blue long fabric.
"You tie it around your head."
"Why?"
"What would happen if you get angry, startled or annoyed?"
"Oh… my ears."
"Yeah. If your new master founds out about them you're toast. That's why…" he tied the head-kerchief tightly so even if the boy's ear popped out they would be tied down and won't get seen. The boy's tail were hidden in the boy's pants but the ears were harder to hide. "Listen no matter what will happen in the future you will have to just bare it. Promise me?"
"…I promise."
"There will be definitely a chance, but don't be too hasty. If you try to escape and fail they will tighten their security. You will have to wait, wait for the chance… wait until you are 100% sure you can get away. I will wait for you no matter how matter how long I'll have to. Every night, I will wait so don't worry about that."
Luffy nodded. "Pinky promise?" He asked as he holding out his little finger and the man thought that he will get cavities, the little boy was just so sweet.
"Pinky promise." The man said hooking his finger around the boy's, and damn that bright smile could power an entire city.
"Yubi kiri genman, uso tsuitara Hari sen bon nomasu Yubi kitta!" (Let's make a pinky promise, and if (you) tell a lie you must swallow 1000 needles. It's a promise! ) both of them song in synch. Luffy grinned in happiness while Kaze smiled at the kid fondly before they both felt a burning sensation around their little finger. Luffy's blue mist turned black and wrapped itself around their finger before burning into their skin, the mark left resembled a ring of sorts with a cross sign in the side. It made both of them raise an eyebrow at the strange phenomena.
"Cool I have a tattoo just like yours." The kid shouted happily while the man smiled gently.
"Don't ever change, Luffy." The man said as he gently patted the kid's cloth covered head making the said child look at him with a clueless look while he tilted his head to side cutely.
"What are you talking about Bakaze? I'm me and I'll always be me…" The man laughed amused by the kid's antics.
"Yeah I guess you'll always be you."
"You're weird." The kid said with a head shake. He really didn't get grown-ups.
Kaze meanwhile sweat-dropped, he had just been told that he's weird by the weirdest 5 year old he had meet. "Let's just go." The boy looked scared but quickly put on a mask, just as Kaze taught him. Though the doctor could still easily tell the boy was frightened so he took the boy's hands into his own. Luffy looked up at him surprised before looking away with shy smile.
~.~
Lucian and two other pirates accompanied Kaze and Luffy to the meet the noble. Kaze told him that the noble leaved in the city not too far away from where they docked. The man of course didn't want to tarnish his good name by being seen with pirates so they set up a meeting place away from the searching eyes. Kaze told him to watch where he was taken, to observe the road so will be able to find his way back to the shore where he was supposed to meet up with the doc when he escaped. Luffy hated his master. The moment the man laid eyes on him he felt like running away. He clutched Kaze's hand tightly and tried to shield himself.
"Hoh… he's cuter than I thought." The fat almost bold guy said with a laugh.
"Strong too. He got into fights daily on my ship. Show him your power kid." Lucian said while the noble obviously perked up at that. Luffy huffed and refused before Kaze hit him gently on the head.
"Do it." Luffy pouted but played along and let the man see the blue mist he showed the pirates earlier.
"Hmm interesting power, quite headstrong isn't he. Yet… you seemed to have tamed him completely." Kaze hardened his gaze and put on a pleasant smiling mask as he answered the fat man.
"You know how kids are, a nice word here a candy there and their wrapped around your finger. As for his power, they aren't dangerous, the mist isn't poisonous or anything, it just sparkles and it's warm… as you can see." Kaze said as he put his hand into Luffy's mist, making the noble nod satisfied. "He's so naïve, it's cute really." Kaze said with a laugh. Luffy looked at him with a painted look. 'Sorry Luffy, please understand I have to do this…'
"Kids are stupid! But I already promised my daughter a new toy, something different than the usual… I'm sure she will be happy to have such a special slave. Here is your money I believe you will find that everything is to your satisfaction." The noble said with a dismissive wave of his arm. One of the guards behind the noble took out a bag filled with beri. Lucian grinned and took the bag then motioned Kaze.
Luffy looked at the Kaze with tears in his eyes. "Go to your new master brat." Those pained eyes will be forever be etched into the doctors memory together with that betrayed and lost expression as he pushed the boy toward the noble.
His master laughed together with Lucian as the guards caught the boy who stumbled. Luffy struggled into the man's hold before the guards had enough and decided to rough him up a bit. He got hit worst really but decided to stay put and fake being knocked out. The noble and the guards left quickly after.
"Glad were finished, I couldn't stand those filthy pirates let alone talk to them. Let's hurry I want to be back as soon as possible. I still have some work to finish." The noble said while the guards followed with a yes sir. Luffy was disgusted by everything the noble did, the way he talked, the way he held himself in a higher regard, like he was so damn important, disgusted by the people who didn't acknowledged his existence. He was dragged through the streets full of people, yet no one give him as much as a look. Disgusted by the guards because while he hated to admit it, he was just a kid yet they didn't even try and oppose robbing his freedom and making an innocent child into a slave. He was beginning to understand what Kaze meant by being refusing to follow stupid rules. Kaze… thinking of the man brought back a sharp ache in his chest. He glanced at his pinky finger; the tattoo was still there… he smiled to himself slightly. That's right Kaze wouldn't betray him. He will believe in the man as long as he had this tattoo.
They took him to a large mansion, which Luffy guessed was the fat guys house. He was taken to the slave master who tried to touch him. Key word Tried. Luffy bit the man as hard as he could. The man yelled but the child refused to let go, he waved his hand around, Luffy attached and all. The guards reacted quickly, too fast for his taste, he got in a few good hits but he didn't stand a chance against three grow men. He was beaten into submission. He whimpered slightly as the slave master kicked him but he was too stubborn to cry just yet.
"The hell is with this brat I will show you who to bite!" Luffy glared at the man as hard as he could. Happily before the man could hit him again the guard choose to step in.
"Calm down he's still new. The master wanted you to brand him as soon as possible. The next week is the ojou-san's birthday, the kid is a present to her."
"Oh god! He's totally wild! How the hell will I brake him in less than a week?"
"The master wants the ojou-san to learn how to do it herself."
"Well… good at least I won't have to do anything with him… now let's see where to put it… oh I know…" the man smirked darkly. "take off the boy's shoes." He only had slippers on from back home. There was after all no other fitting shoe for him on the pirate ship. Luffy tried to kick the guard but couldn't, his foot was caught by the man and he was picked up by his ankle. The man punched him in the chest, making his aching ribs hurt like hell.
"Stay put brat!" The guard said with a scowl.
"Shut up!" Luffy tried to shout but it came out as a soft mewl really.
"Strap hit to the chair." The slave master said and the guard did as he was told. Really the guy had no brain for himself, he did everything as the others said. Luffy was beginning to hate the guy more and more. He was tied to a chair and he knew it was impossible for him to undue his bindings. The man took out a branding iron seeing it was hot enough he smirked.
"Hold his right foot up. Place the cuffs on him." The guard, no puppet told as he was told no surprise there. But those cuffs were weird, they totally drained him of his energy. Just like when he was taking a shower.
"No! What are you? Stop! Stay away!" The man laughed enjoying his frightened screams, which were thanks to the sea-stone no more than pathetic whimpers.
"Did you know, your soles are one of the most sensitive parts of the human anatomy…" the man grinned as he pressed the hot iron against his skin.
"Aaaaaaaaghhhhaahh!" there was only one thought that kept him grounded. Kaze is waiting for him after all he would rather die than break his promise.
He panted softly, his vision was blurry as he was thrown into a cell. There were other slaves there too but no one approached him. It was the first day he spend as a slave, too many followed after. He hated being a slave.
~.~
More than four months passed, he was only alive thanks to his promise. Luffy kept glancing at his pinky finger, he only did that when he was alone though. His master (cough) bastard (cough) threatened to cut his finger off if he dared to look at it when he was with his lady. Speaking of whom, she was probably the sanest person in the mansion. She refused to torture him but her father did enough in her place. He of course didn't know that she refused only because he was soo cute not that it mattered anymore. Happily the tattoo was still there. No matter how pale his skin got, the ink never faded away.
The small boy smiled gently to himself as he looked up to the dark sky. It finally came, the day he will escape, or night more like it. He looked around, the guard was sleeping, he was the only one in the cell, there was some virus going on and he was the only slave not affected, so the bastard separated them. He had to use his own blood as lubricant to force the chain off his hand. He placed the handcuffs to the ground gently so they won't make a sound. A blue mist surrounded him as he changed into his small feline form and simply jumped through the small gap between the window and fence, careful not to touch the fence knowing too well what could happen. He had to be careful not to get caught, he remembered his promise not to mention he saw what happened to slaves that tried to run away. The bastard made them watch as he tortured that women to death and called it a warning.
Luffy was purely lucky that he didn't get the sea-stone handcuffs this time. Mixing the normal ones with the sea-stone ones finally paid off. And why couldn't this happen when he first got here? He shook his small head and run through the shadows of the building, careful not to get seen. He looked like a small house cat, but with this idiots you might never knew. He climbed a tree easily and jumped from the trees branch over the fence. He landed gracefully and sniffed the air. He wasn't allowed to leave the house so he had no idea how to get to the dock. He smelt the ocean breeze from everywhere but he remembered meeting the bastard in a forest.
The forest, oh so that was the direction. He took off running happy to enjoy his newfound freedom. He had a huge grin on his face that probably looked sinister on the small cat's mug but he couldn't care less at that moment. He arrived to the forest and followed the trail leading to the ocean. He smelled the air again trying to distinguish Kaze's scent but didn't have any success. He hung his head low before he walked to the beach and looked at the ocean. He really missed the sight.
"Look what the cat dragged in." Luffy looked up and his face almost split in two by the huge grin he got.
"Meeeeaw!"
"Sorry brat I don't understand cat language." Kaze said as he opened a pack of chocolates and took a big bite. "Try to speak human." The cat ignored the comment and jumped the man who wrapped a protective arm around him. No matter what he thought about it before; he was so happy that he bumped his head against the Kaze's, he even purred. Damn animal instincts.
"Haha… I'm happy to see you too but we need to go. Who knows when they find out you disappeared, and I donno about you but I rather be far away by then." The cat nodded and settled himself in the doctors shoulder. "I get it… you want a ride just don't fall off." The man said as he walked to the docks. He jumped into a small caravan that was big enough for a small family to travel comfortable in and set sail. Luffy grinned as he saw the food and the provisions on the boat. The man kept his promise. He felt asleep content and happy, the sound of the ocean waves were like a lullaby, he smiled after everything he was finally free.
When he woke up next day he realized that he was in his cat from he panicked slightly before he remembered that he was on a boat with Kaze. Speaking of whom the man was reading something while making breakfast. Glancing at his body he saw that he was wrapped in bandages, Kaze must have treated his wounds after he brought him inside because he was 100% sure that he felt asleep on the deck.
"Meeew…" Luffy called as the smell of meat hit his nose.
"Yes… yes… I'll be done in a minute." The man said not even bothering to look up from his book. Luffy annoyed with the lack of response, jumped and climbed up the man's side ignoring the painted sounds the man let out when the kitty's claws dug into his skin. "…brat…" Kaze said looking at the cat sitting on his shoulder with an innocent expression. "Don't give me that look." The man said annoyed.
"Mew!" Luffy motioned at the food that was almost burned, thanks to a certain distraction.
"Oh no the breakfast!" The man tried to move hastily throwing the book in his hand to the side while Luffy had to dig his claws into the man's shoulder so he won't fall off because of the rough movement. "Shit! Ow-ow-ow! Ah the Breakfast! Claws! Claws! Aaghhh! Damnnn it!" The man shouted while Luffy snickered making the man even more annoyed.
After an almost ruined breakfast, the exhausted doctor glared at the cat who still sit on his shoulder. "Change back now or no meat for you."
Luffy jumped off and landed on the ground gracefully, the felines body got surrounded by a blue mist, in a few seconds the small black haired boy with golden eyes appeared with two fluffy cat-ears on top of his head and long black lustrous tail. He didn't see the brat for more than four months now and the changes in the child were apparent. Kaze looked like someone literally hit him when he saw at the boy's beaten and bruised body. He was put through hell, that much was apparent.
"Let's eat. Slowly so you won't get sick, I want you to chew 20 times before swallowing." The man warned him while the boy nodded sheepishly before sitting back on the couch. He wanted to eat everything in sight at once but at the same time he didn't felt like he was actually hungry. It was weird. He took a small bite of the food and chewed carefully. They finished quite fast seeing as the boy didn't really have appetite and was just playing around with the vegetables on his plate. The man quickly washed the dishes then he placed the boy who was seemingly lost on the couch.
Kaze dragged the bowl he filled beforehand with warm water closer to the boy. He prepared towels a sponge, saline, medicine, antibiotics and mostly everything he could have think of, while the boy was sleeping. Putting on the white doctor coat made the boy just a bit weary of him. The man smiled gently at that, the kid might have changed but he was just that still a kid. He motioned the boy to turn around slightly.
The man flinched as he tried to peel off the boy's shirt. Luffy let out a pained grasp as the shirt stuck to some of his wounds. Kaze was happy he had enough foresight, using a sponge and warm water mixed with saline he soaked the cloths before gently taking them off. He silently wondered if it would have been easier to just place the brat into the tub full of warm water. But the brat felt weak as it was and he didn't want to make him feel even more powerless. Whip marks were covering just about every inch of the boy's back, some extending even over his arms and tights. There were cut marks and bruises on the boy's chest from being kicked and pushed around. Both the child's wrist and ankle was raw from the chains and cuffs. His eyes widened as he took the boy's feet in his hands.
"Those sick bastards!" He said angrily as he gently cleaned the burned mark on the boy's sole. He wondered how the boy even managed to walk. On the small boy's right foot was that disgusting man's family crest. And the boy's left ones full cigarette burns. Luffy flinched when Kaze touched his brand, the older male calmed himself for the small kid's sake. "Don't worry kid, I'll be damned if I let you be chained to that bastard by this."
The kid smiled brightly at the male before turning green and tried to run to the bathroom but instead run to the open deck. He doubled over the rail and throw up everything he just ate. Kaze was petting his hair gently, seeing it was the only injury free zone he could touch. He really didn't want to cause pain to the kid.
"I'll finish examining your injuries, you can try and sleep if you want. The food isn't going to go anywhere, you can try and eat something later when you feel better."
"Sounds good."
Kaze took the kid back inside, maneuvering the brat in his arms so he had a hand free, the kid was so small and light that it made the man seethe in anger. He filled a glass with water and gave it to the small boy who give him a tired but grateful smile. Luffy looked so thin and small in that moment that Kaze was worried that a simple touch could break him. He moved the kid as gently as he could to the couch.
~.~
Exactly a month passed since Luffy escaped from that fate not like he was counting, all right he was. Not that he could blame himself he still woke up terrified most of the times. But then he was greeted by Kaze who somehow always managed to make him forget all his bad dreams. They got stopped by some patrol who were searching for a certain small boy on the first week after his escape, but they only found a bored sailor and a small cat so they let them go.
They were pretty far from the island the bastard lived. Luffy was getting better at a scary rate at least physically; mentally well the man knew the boy was strong enough to overcome it all. Kaze smiled as they neared a small island. "Luffy what do you think of tattoos?" The man asked Luffy who was trying to learn a card trick Kaze showed him previously.
"Are you talking about yours?"
"No. I wanted to ask if you feel like getting one."
"Eh?"
"I… can't do anything else about the brand but overwrite it. It probably going to hurt… very much." The man admitted cautiously. "What do you say?"
"Get it off…" Luffy said uncharacteristically soft. "Please… get it off."
"Ah. I promised, although we have to wait for the skin on your soles to heal completely… at the rate you're going I'd say one to two weeks. Meanwhile we can work out the design what do you think?" The boy's neko ears perked up at that and the boy jumped Kaze with his trademark 'Shishsishi' laugh ringing loud in the small ship.
"Hah I'll take that as a yes, I'm happy. But first get back on the couch and rest; doctor's order." The boy smiled sheepishly but did as Kaze told him and sat back besides his cards.
"What color do you want your tattoo to be?" The man asked as he begun to take out a pad and some pencils.
"Hmmm red, no blue!" The man sweat dropped.
"How about we stick to the color black."
"Ehhh but that's boring!" The boy whined.
"Next time you will get a colored one, okay?" The boy agreed "Okay"
"So what kind of tattoo do you want? Do you want an animal a symbol, maybe a text?"
"Hmm… I don't know? But I want something cool!"
Kaze laughed dryly. "I have my work cut out…"
~.~
Kaze sighed.
"Come on you know I don't have a choice." Luffy ignored him and continued to sulk. "We may be far from that stupid patrol and Island but you might never know who could see you. Sorry brat you just draw too much attention to yourself." The boy looked too cute to not draw unwanted attention to himself more so because he was dressed in Kaze's cloths. He didn't want to be accused of kidnapping, that would be too annoying and troublesome to deal with.
"Shut up Bakaze. I want to go on an adventure!"
"Alright, alright. You can explore the forest but don't go into the village. And if you see anyone turn into your cat form. You have to promise."
"I promise!" Luffy said with starts in his eyes. The blue mist again surrounded their pinky finger making Kaze smile. The doctor smiled as he left their ship and searched the town to get some supplies. Luffy was practically bouncing all over the forest. He was finally free and he was finally allowed to explore the island. He smirked as he jumped over some rocks and make a turn in the air before he landed gracefully on the ground.
He couldn't help but smile as he continued to make some air-ticks, flips as he jumped. Luffy let out a laugh as he continued running. He couldn't believe how light his body felt. Not to mention, somehow he always landed on his feet. The sole of his feet ached a bit but he ignored it. The nekomimi had many thing he wanted to try since didn't have a chance to yet. He didn't have space on the pirate ship and he had to keep his ability a secret the same at the nobles house with the addition of sea stones. On Kaze's ship he could stay on his hybrid form and change as he wished only, he didn't have enough space not to mention if Kaze saw what he was doing… he would flip out for sure.
His neko ears picked up a sound, he quickly tried to listen more carefully and quickly change into his feline form. He approached the place the mysterious sounds came from curiously yet in full stealth mode. He was crouching down, his stomach was practically touching down the ground as he crawled closer. His eyes widened as he saw Luccian and two of his goons.
"He has to be here somewhere." The captain said angrily.
"I can't believe he betrayed us like that." One of his goons said.
"I doesn't matter anymore. We'll catch Kaze and make him talk. The noble promised quite a large sum if we bring the brat back. Apparently the lady was heartbroken when he ran away. We can't have that, can we now?" Luccian asked grinning in a fool way which made Luffy flinch. He still didn't forget the beating he got from the man and his crew. He left just as quietly. The small feline jumped over the bush and moved toward the small village. But pain shook through his body which made him turn back in his human form. The tattoo on his pinky finger throbbed angrily.
"Shit!" He promised not to go into the village. But he had to warn him. They had to leave the island as soon as possible. His whole body seemed to be on fire, he felt like his heart was going to jump out of his chest. Where was that Bakaze when you need him.
"Luffy!" He looked up and smiled although his smile was quite strained.
"Kaze nya!" He blushed deep red as he realized what sound left his mouth. The man would have laughed at his expense if he wouldn't have been so worried about the boy who looked like he was just seconds away from a heart attack. "Hurry we need to leave, they're here!"
"Who?"
"Lucian and his goons nya. They said the fat noble paid them good money to bring me back." The man narrowed his eyes.
"You'll tell me everything later, okay? Let's go for now." Luffy nodded gratefully.
"Okay." They escaped the island barely.
"We'll have to be even more careful from now on." Kaze said and the nekomimi boy nodded.
"I got you some new cloths Nya" Kaze said with a wink making the boy blush slightly.
"Arigato!" Luffy said as he practically beamed in happiness and excitement as he was handed a small bag full of cloths.
"Is nothing, besides I can't have you wearing my cloths all the time. I still need them." The man joked.
"Shishishi."
~.~
The small nekomimi boy's shout could be heard miles away .
"Take a deep breath. Is almost over." Luffy nodded as tears felt from his eyes.
"It hurts… nya… " Luffy said breaking Kaze's heart to little pieces yet again.
"Just a minute." The nekomimi boy nodded and Kaze added the finishing touch to his tattoo. "It's done."
"I want to see." Luffy said while he wiped away his tears. Kaze nodded and placed a small mirror on the ground so the boy could see the tattoo on his soles. Judging by the way his face lit up, he really liked it. He had one tattoo on each feet. Both looked like black cat paws, there were four black toes on all his toes beside the smallest one. It looked cute actually but more importantly it covered up entirely his brand.
"This is … awesome so cool!" The boy shouted and would have jumped in his feet have Kaze not stopped him.
"Now… there are some rules that you have to follow. You stay off your feet. No jumping around or anything, don't scratch them. And I mean it! I catch you scratching them I'll clip your nails off got it?" The boy nodded slightly horrified. He might have destroyed some of Kaze's cloths because his claws got caught in it but he really didn't think the man would get angry at him for that. Although the man swore he will neuter him if he ever touched his white doctor cloak, he still wondered what neuter meant. It didn't sound nice.
Kaze continued explaining what to do and what not to when he realized Luffy wasn't listening. The man's eyebrow twitched in annoyance. "Luffy!" The boy gulped nervously.
"Y-yes?"
"You weren't listening again…" It wasn't a question. "I don't even know why I bother…"
"I don't either." Luffy said with a small smile which made the man even more annoyed.
"That's it you're punished"
"Eh?"
The man crackled maniacally. "You will have to do this- read a book!"
Luffy cringed. "No! Yada! Anything but that!"
"Hahahaha! I decided you're not getting out of it!"
"Shut up Bakaze!"
~.~
Luffy did wonder where had it all gone wrong. Was it two weeks ago? They have been tracked down by Luccian. Almost three months had passed since he escaped from slavery, one must have thought the pirate crew forgot about it already but no such luck. They managed to get away than unfortunately Kaze was shot and he had to take out the bullet from the man's shoulder it was something he hoped he never had to do ever again. They had around ten peaceful days before they found them again. He and Kaze stopped only to get some supplies.
"I found them captain!" One of the goons shouted. Kaze was still weakened from the injury he suffered previously. They managed to avoid the first round of bullets. But more and more followed. They hide behind some rocks and Luffy practically dragged Kaze to safety behind some trees in the forest.
"Run I'll hold them off!" The doctor said panting slightly.
"No. I won't leave you behind." Luffy said shaking his head.
"I can't move anymore…" the doctor said tacking his hands away from his chest and shocking Luffy. His entire hand was bloodied. His black cloths hide well the severity of his injury yet the wetness of the fabric give it away. Luffy quickly torn of his own shirt and pressed it against the bullet wound in Kaze's side. Reading all those boring books helped actually.
"You're a doctor. You can save yourself." The boy pleaded with wide eyes full of fear.
"That's not how… it works." The man said coughing up blood. "I'm a doctor so I know… I'm doomed…if I can at least… give you a head start… I'll be able to die happily."
"No! Yadda! No way I won't let you give up!"
"Hahaha… baka… I'm not giving up! I choose the way I want to die… There are worst ways to go…" The man smiled although it was quite a bloody smile.
"They're here!" Someone shouted spotting them.
"Go! Go already stupid brat!" Luffy cried as he turned around and run toward the small boat. He stumbled twice but didn't turn around.
"Look who finally showed up!" Luccian said with a smirk as Luffy stumbled inside the small ship, his tail and cat ears were in full display yet he didn't care.
"You! How?"
"Hmmm, Kaze is a pretty smart, how many times did you guys escape us? But eh we learned from our mistakes. I told the guys to follow you while I searched for your ships. It had to be around here somewhere. I was sure you two will manage to get away. But… arra where is Kaze? Don't tell me…." Luffy looked at the floor with a painted look. "Ghahaha ain't this sweet. Let's go and see him!" The man said as he sit up and Luffy jumped backwards. "Oh you scared of me?" The man asked innocently before his smile turned malicious. "Good."
Luffy dodged a few punches Lucian throw his way but he got hit by the kick that followed them. He flew through the air and landed on the beach on his feet which shocked the pirate captain.
"Nice, now let's see if it's really the truth. Do cats always land on their feet?!" The man shouted as he swung a nunchaku around. Luffy managed to dodge it although quite clumsily before the nunchaku's chain got longer and wrapped around him unexpectedly.
Luccian grabbed the chain and swung it around. Luffy still attached was throw into some trees, painfully. He could practically feel his bone snap in his body. Luccian throw the chains over a high branch and holstered the boy up in the air. The man grinned wickedly before he begin to repeatedly hit him. Luffy didn't know how much time passed as the man worked him over, all he knew was the antagonizing pain. He screamed until he had no more power to scream. The man bloodied fists still continued their work undisturbed by the silence.
"Ghahaha… enough for you brat?" The man asked but the only response he got was a small and soft whine. He laughed amused before he took the chains off the tree and dragged the still chained Luffy through the forest not bothering to avoid any rock. On the contrary he seemed to enjoy his small whines of pain.
"Look who the cat dragged in Ghahaha!" Lucian laughed as he grabbed Luffy by his hair and made him look at Kaze who's eyes widened in surprise. "Well say goodbye!" He said as he took out on of his handguns and shot Kaze twice.
"No! Kaze! Bakaze get up! Yadda! Don't die!" Luffy shouted in despair not realizing the blue mist turn darker and darker around him. Luccian noticed in wonder that the brat seemed to grow a second tail. The chains tying him up snapped. Luffy shouted and ran to Kaze's side.
"Don't die!" He said in a voice that seemed unfamiliar even to himself. The dark mist turned into flames that surrounded his body traveled to Kaze's already lifeless body. Something blue flames similar in color to his mist came out of Kaze's chest. It took Kaze's appearance who looked at Luffy in horror.
"No Luffy don't!" He shouted but it was too late. The black flames encircled and trapped him before they seemingly absorbed Kaze's blue flames. The man was cursing and protesting but Luffy couldn't control the dark flames.
The pirates watched shocked as Luffy's appearance changed as the black flames retracted inside his body. The boy first turned into his feline form but he didn't get smaller. On the contraire, he grow even larger. The feline's body seemed to be covered by fur made of blue fire which were black at the roots and seemed to end in white flames.
Luccian smirked and took a step toward the creature. Clearly not understanding the danger he was in.
"I'm going to make so much money-" He didn't finish the sentence since the large two tailed feline squashed him with a single movement of his paw. Three claw mark appeared on the ground cutting up some of the pirates that were in its way. Severed body parts and blood covered everything, it looked like a scene out of a horror movie. Who know how much blood there was in the human body. The pirates screamed in terror. But Luffy lost all his restrains, he give in into his animal instincts and killed everyone. The pirates dropped like flies. Some were cut up by the claws, others got thorn to pieces, some were burned to death.
The feline's monstrous strength shocked them all. Luffy let out a loud roar as he defeated the last of his assailants scaring any creature that may have been in the vicinity. The flames disappeared leaving behind a small boy that collapsed. He could see from the corner of his eyes Kaze's lifeless body laying against a tree.
"K-kaze…" he said in a small broken voice. The man's body twitched before he seemed to sit up. Luffy mimicked the movement forcing his tired body to move and smiled ignoring the feeling in his gut that something was wrong. He was too happy to notice the wrong way Kaze moved. Luffy's eyes widened before he let out a blood churning scream as the man neared him. He begun crying like never before as he fell to his knees as his heart break into a million pieces. Kaze's eyes were red and instead of the white of the eye black started back at him. Through the bullets wounds one could see black flames burning under the skin. The wounds begun closing in. In a few seconds there was no bullet wound visible at all.
"Kaze!" Luffy cried "…what have I done?!" he asked but there was no answer. Kaze was no longer himself he was just a reanimated puppet, incapable of ever making a decision or saying a joke. The man who saved his life, he disgraced him in the worst possible way. He pounded the ground until his hands were bleeding and didn't stop until he was overtaken by a silent darkness.