From Dusk till Dawn

Showdown in Shiroishi: Part I

Tavern troubles


"Now where's that island?"

Jacklyn had been staring through her spyglass for the last thirty minutes. The spyglass itself was interesting in design, colored black with small bat wings on the side, and a lens that looked similar to a big eyeball.

"Still nothing. You think if I could remember to pack my 'Spyglass Eye Bat Look-o-nometer' then I could at least remember to bring a map. Of course, I really don't know much about reading maps, but I could figure something out!"

Jacklyn lowered the device and sighed. She took a moment to look up towards the sky, covering her eyes against the sun.

"So bright…" she muttered to herself. "It's been so long since I've seen the sun like this..." Jacklyn stared for a couple moments, her eyes losing focus. She eventually shook her head to get back to reality.

"I know! Instead of waiting for an island to show up, I should take advantage of this glorious opportunity." Quickly, Jacklyn began shuffling around in her bag.

"No, no, no, that's not it." she said briefly checking off a list of things that she wasn't looking for. "A-HA!" She quickly pulled out a pair of sunglasses. "Perfect!" She snapped the sunglasses in place on her face, and pulled the suspender straps off her shoulders. She then proceeded to pull off her top revealing a series of brown strips of cloth wound around her chest making sure nothing that didn't need to be seen was seen, but leaving her shoulders and everything above and below the chest exposed. She readjusted the sack and then leaned back one it with her arms behind her head.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to tan."


Meanwhile, on an island not too far away…

"Akai! We've got an order for table two!" The local tavern was buzzing with activity. The entire place was solidly built of wood with a fire burning warmly in the hearth, and the piano music playing in the background made it all the more lively. Every table was filled with patrons busy eating, drinking, and overall having a good time.

"Akai?"

"Forget it, Meg." A large bald man behind the bar was busy cleaning out glasses with a rag. He wore a sleeveless white shirt with black pants, and had a blonde mustache covering everything above the edge of his top lip. "He's always falling asleep on the job."

"Shut it, Larry." The girl called Meg leaned out window leading from the kitchen to the main area. From what could be seen she had blonde hair, and wore a floppy, beige hat and a loose beige shirt with a matching jacket over it.

"HEY, AKAI!!!" A crash could be heard from somewhere further in the restaurant. "See, I can get his attention when I need it." said Meg smirking.

A tall male with jet black hair, amber brown eyes, and a nasty case of bed head came running around the corner wearing a formal black suit.

"Hey, sleepy head. Have a nice nap?"

"My apologies."

"Eh, stop being so formal, and take this plate to table two, okay?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"What'd I just say about being formal?"

The one known as Akai bowed humbly in acknowledgment before taking the plates to the designated table.

"Hey, have you heard the rumors?" Akai stopped upon hearing the customer's tone of voice.

"What?"

"They say a ship landed on the other side of the island."

"So?"

"It was a pirate ship."

"No way."

"Your food." Akai laid the plates on the table.

"Thanks."

"Yah, thanks." Akai bowed before stepping back to eavesdrop further.

"Did they know what the flag it is?"

"Not yet, but there are people keeping a look out."

"Hopefully they're just here for supplies. As long as we stay out of their way, they'll stay out of ours."

"Yah, hopefully."

Akai silently turned around, and walked back towards the kitchen.

"What took you so long." said Meg smiling. "Did the customer ask you to chew their food for you?"

"Ship."

"A ship?"

"Pirate ship." Meg narrowed her eyes.

"Where?"

"East side."

"Get the guns."


The island harbor was abuzz with the sound of sailors, merchants, and other seafaring folk loading and unloading cargo, repairing ships, and overall preparing for the thrill of the sea.

Clink

"What was that?"

Several sailors turned their heads at the sound of metal hitting on stone. They walked over towards the noise, and stared.

"Who is that?"

"More like what is that?"

"Look at that arm!"

"What are those things sticking out of her chest?"

"Is she sitting in a…bathtub?"

"Maybe we should get the captain."

Suddenly the girl in the boat shot up causing all the sailors to stumble back.

"Huh?" She rubbed her eyes sleepily.

"Where am I?"

"Are you okay?" The girl turned her head towards one of the people gathered around her.

"Who are you?"

"P-private Nagamura of the marines."

"Oh…okay. Can you tell me where I am?"

"Shiroishi Island. C-can I ask what those are?"

"What what are?"

"Those." He said pointing at her chest.

"These."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Well, um, you see women are different than men in that they have…"

"Nonononononono, not those ma'am. The things above them."

"Oh, thooooose! Why didn't you just say so?"

"So, what are they."

"That's classified."

"Classified?"

"Yes. You must have level five security clearance before you are allowed to know what these are."

"Level five?"

"Yes."

"That's extremely high. Are you a….a Commodore."

"Nope."

"A Vice Admiral?"

"Nope. I'm not even a marine."

"Then why do we need clearance?!"

"You don't, but it'd be nice." The girl smiled. Those gathered around fell backwards slamming into the ground.

"Well, if this little investigation is done," she said standing up.

"They folded into her chest!"

"I need to find someplace to have lunch." The girl stood up before picking a metal canister, and securing a large orange ball on long chain to her right hip. She quickly put on her shirt, put a pair of suspender straps on her shoulders, and stepped onto the harbor.

"Any suggestions?"

"Uh, um, uh, p-people like to go to the local tavern to eat." said a stunned marine.

"Thanks. And which way might that be?" The marine pointed. "Thanks again." The girl walked off.

"W-wait!" The girl turned around with a blank look on her face.

"Yeeees?"

"M-may I ask what your name is?" The girl smiled.

"Jacklyn. Jacklyn Kitsubu."


Larry turned his head as he heard the door to the kitchen burst open. Meg walked out, a determined look plastered across her face. Now that she was out of the window, it was revealed that along with her shirt and jacket she was also wearing a pair of matching brown pants with a leather belt, and a tall pair of black boots.

"And where're you off to in such huff?" asked Larry still cleaning a glass.

"Where do ya think?"

"Well, considering Akai's in the back getting the weapon's ready, my guess is that the two of you are off to do some pirate hunting."

"You'd guess right." Larry sighed.

"Look. You know I don't like pirates being on our island any more than you, but it's too dangerous to go out and hunt for 'em. If we just leave them alone then maybe they'll leave us alone, and be gone before you know it."

"Larry, do you seriously expect…"

"Let me finish." said the bartender raising a hand to silence the cook. "And if worst come to worse, they come here lookin' for trouble, and we show them the business end of a gun. Got it?" Meg glared at him for a while before huffing and turning her head to the side.

"Good." A bell rang from upfront signaling the entrance of another customer. "Now why don't you just head back to the kitchen, and get ready to fix this new person up some grub?"

"Yah, o…" Meg never got to finish her statement as her face took on an astonished look. Larry stared curiously at her for a second before turning his head to see what the big deal was. His eyes widened.

The noise of the tavern gradually came to a halt as everyone stared at the new entrant.

"Um, is this the local tavern?" said the customer, curiously eye the gaping people with her one good eye.

The people continued to stare silently before Meg turned to look at Larry, and punched him in the arm.

"Ow, what was…" Larry rubbed his arm before turning to the customer. "Yes, welcome to the Shiroishi Tavern."

"Oh, good." said the girl smiling, looking very relieved. "I was worried I came to the wrong place." The girl began cheerfully walking towards the bar.

"Tell Akai to hurry up with those guns." whispered Meg as she walked back through the kitchen door. Larry continued staring after her before turning to the girl taking a seat on the barstool directly in front of him.

"What can I get for you?"

"Your finest glass of fruit juice, please." said the girl, who turned out to be none other than Jacklyn, smiling.

"Fruit juice?"

"Is that a problem?" Larry chuckled to himself before reaching under the bar.

"No no, no trouble at all." The bartender stood back up holding an unopened red bottle. "It's just we usually don't get many orders for fruit juice in this place. Usually we only keep it for the kids who are too young to drink the hard stuff."

"Hard stuff?"

"You know, alcohol." said Larry raising an eyebrow.

"Ooooh, well I'm not much of an alcohol drinker. We don't really have it on my home island. Some of the older men drink it, but that's it."

"Weird Island."

"Yah, the closest thing we have is Tippy Juice."

"Tippy Juice?"

"Yah, there's a plant on my home island whose fruits have the same effect as a full bottle of sake. Since anyone who eats it or drinks any of its juice gets really tipsy, we call it Tippy Juice."

"Some plant." said Larry smirking. "I think I'd like to get my hands on something like that."

"Stop chattin' up the customer, and get her order." Jacklyn turned her head to see the blonde girl from earlier staring at her from the corner of her eye.

"Be nice, Meg." Meg just turned and huffed.

"Is there a problem?" Jacklyn craned her head backwards to stare up at the chin of a tall male in a formal suit.

"What took you so long?" asked Meg glaring at the male.

"Sorry." The unknown person threw something to Meg, who caught it through the window. Jacklyn sat upright again to see Meg taking out a cloth to polish the flintlock pistol now in her hand.

"Nice gun." said Jacklyn.

"Thanks." said Meg coldly. "I would have thought something like you would have thought it obsolete, or something." Jacklyn narrowed her eyes.

"What do you mean something?"

"Meg!" shouted Larry, angry.

"What?! Look at that arm! And that eye patch! She could be one of the pirates."

"She's done nothing wrong! You can't go off assuming that she's some criminal without proof."

"Whatever." Meg burst her way out of the kitchen yet again. She quickly walked past Jacklyn, purposely bumping into her shoulder, before heading towards the door.

"Come on, Akai." Akai, now holding a large shotgun, quickly walked after her.

"And where do you think you two are headed."

"Out! I'm tired of sitting around like lumps as a log. Besides, the company in here just went way below standard." The pair of fire arms users walked out the door, slamming it behind them.

The room got quiet again before the crowd slowly began to relax. It wasn't nearly as loud as before, but after seeing a metal armed girl come in and pair of angry people with guns walk out it was all that was to be expected.

"What's with her?" asked Jacklyn.

"She's just reliving old memories." said Larry.

"What do you mean?" Larry sighed.

"Well, you see, neither of them are originally from this island. The two arrived together about a year ago. Said that they'd met while at sea." Jacklyn nodded. "Before they came, this place only got about a tenth of the customers it has now."

"A tenth. How did they increase business so much?"

"That would be due to Meg's cooking for the most part."

"Is she that good?"

"Good enough to put my place on the map. We started making so much money that we expanded the place. We were thinking of turning it into a full-fledged restaurant."

"What happened?"

"About three months ago a pirate crew came to town. They trashed everything. Burnt the place straight into the ground."

"Ouch."

"We had to use all the money we had saved up just to rebuild the place. The customers you see now are the main sign of our recovery."

"Geez, no wonder she's so riled up."

"Now you see why she's so angry at pirates."

"But what about that Akai person?" Larry gave a short laugh.

"He's a mystery, even to himself. He can't remember anything from a certain point in his life, and he doesn't really talk much about anything before he came here. The two don't really talk about their pasts, and I don't bother to ask 'em."

"That's very respectful of you."

"Now, since you've been askin' me all these questions, might I ask one of you?"

"Sure. Go right ahead." said the girl smiling.

"The arm."

"What about it?"

"Where'd it come from?"

"Do you mean where this arm came from, or where the original went."

"Either way."

"Well, I made this one."

"You made it?"

"Yep. I'm a mechanic. All things inventive and mechanical are my specialty."

"Okay. Now how about the whereabouts of the original."

"The original went the same place as my eye." she said moving her hand up to the eye patch she currently wore before taking on a dark expression. "Both were eaten out by evil shadow monsters. They were brutally ripped from my body as I lay there screaming from the pain of being eaten alive. I had to watch one of their children rip my eye from out of my skull before eating it while my other eye watched."

"…"

"…"

"Did that really happen?"

"No." Larry slammed his head down hard on the bar.

"So, might I ask what really happened to them?" he said rubbing his head.

"Sorry, that's a secret." said Jacklyn swinging her legs off the side of the stool before hopping off it. "Hold this for me." She laid a rectangular metal box on the counter before heading for the door.

"Hold on a second. Where are you off to?"

"The moon. I hear it's lovely this time of year."

"I mean seriously." Jacklyn turned around.

"Well, I can't have those two getting themselves into trouble alone, can I?" she said with an expression that said that it should be the obvious thing in the world.

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to go throw the two of them a birthday party, and we're all going to have cake and watch as colorful sea creatures float through the sky singing songs of merriment and joy."

"Stop fooling around." Jacklyn smiled.

"I'm going to go and help them beat the crud out of those pirates."

"But you don't know anything about them."

"True. I suppose if they're nice pirates then we could reach a peaceful agreement, but going on the assumption they're not, I'm going to go kick their butts."

"They could be really strong."

"I'm strong too."

"There could be a million of them."

"Then I'll have to buy a new pair of boots after kicking a million butts."

"Their captain could have a five hundred million beri bounty on him."

"Well, then, I guess that we're all doomed and we might as well put our heads between our legs, and kiss our butts good-bye."

"Be serious!" Jacklyn smiled while putting her hands behind her head.

"Don't worry. Everything will be fine. Those two out there don't seem like weaklings, and neither am I. We'll be back before you know it." Jacklyn flashed him the a peace sign with the knife like talons of her right hand. Larry tried to come up with more arguments, but eventually just sighed in defeat.

"Promise you'll keep that box nice and safe."

"Yeah, sure."

"Great! See you in a bit." Jacklyn waved before running out the door. Larry smiled before picking up another glass to wipe.

"Crazy kids."


Hey everyone! Sorry it took me so long to update. I haven't been able to write a word for a month because of these stupid exams, and I rewrote this chapter like three times before I was satisfied. I really hope you like it. Meg was submitted by TheAwesomeOne while Akai was submitted byMaERIiKoH. Thanks soooooo much to everyone who submitted a character!! Please continue to submit as many characters as you like! I needs them! I NEEDS THEM SOOOOO!!! (Okay, crazy moment over for now. XP) Until next time everyone. ^^