Chapter Two

By Lady Roronoa

Waking up in pain was never a good thing. Not only did it tend to put me in a bad mood, but it made me want to roll over and sleep. When that was an unavailable option...well, lets just say my temper didn't improve much. My situation didn't help it either. So waking up in pain was just the spark over a can of fireworks.

"What. Is with. THIS LANDING!" I shrieked up at the sky.

My ever present cool seemed to be failing me at the moment. Not that anyone would judge me for it if they were in the same spot. You see, apparently, when talking tigers decide to send people to different places via teleportation by PAPERBACK, they didn't worry about the landing aspect.

You see, I had landed in a forest. Not just in the forest. No. But in the middle of the lake IN that forest. Which led to my current position on sun heated rocks where I was bare save for my underwares as my cloths dried next to me.

"That's because this is your first transport. Landings will come easier with time." The voice of - you guessed it - Fenris the freaking tiger came from the underbrush of the dark forest floor. I scowled. Venemously.

"You could have warned me you stupid cat!" I hissed, sounding very cat like myself if I cared to think about it.

From the treeline the rusty gold dusted pelt of my new acquaintence appeared as he slinked forwards. " I could of" he agreed " But this is more fun. An old cat like me has to get his fun in some where."

He stretched lazily and prowled closer before settling a few feet away from me on the warm stone. My scowl deepened. "Merde Chat" I muttered muitinously. Looks like my bad mood had not improved. No surprise there.

"Why are you here anyways? Can't you get your giggles in somewhere else?"

In response I got a feline version of a chuckle.

"Actually I'm here as your guide. To watch over you and make sure you don't die. All that jazz"

I groaned. "Greeeeeat!"

Fenris flicked his tail in what I assumed to be annoyence. I annoyed a lot of people. "Shush! As my first word of advice I warn you. You know this story inside and out. But no doubt your mere presence has already set new changes into motion. To help you combat these changes, the Magister has gifted you with the gift of foresight. In other words you'll get visions. Don't. ignore. the visions."

I switched my gaze sideways and looked upon the big cat. My fierce scowl settled into a mild frown. My cool was coming back to me. It was an ingrained reaction when I was out of place and trying to absorb new information.

The pure seriousness in Fenris' featues told me just how important this was. Even if his words hadn't gotten them across, his seriousness did.

"Alright" I agreed quietly.

Then, almost as if a switch had been flipped, the damn cats mood changed oncemore.

"Oh! Before I forget!" From no where he pulled out my red satchel - a graduation gift for me from me.

"My bag!" I exclaimed "Thank you."

I loved this bag. It could fit anything I needed in it. From money to electronics to even a few legal - and illegal- concealed weapons. Hey, a girls gotta be careful. Besides, it was cute. Made from real leather and adorible little pins I found out and about on my travels. I even had a small keychain full of baubles hooked onto one side. I had made it into my own accessory.

"Now I messed with your pouch a little..." Fenris began some what hesitantly.

"It's a bag, call it so. Now...what exactly did you do to my bag"

I can honestly say it was a first for me to see a feline so nervous. "Nothing bad. I simply modified it to help you in this world! It links directly to your personal dimension. Anything you put in will pop out there. It even self organizes. So once you return, everything will be nice and tidy. I've even taken the liberty to add a few things myself. To retrieve them simple call them back!"

I blinked as my mind rapidly processed the information I had just learn. Well...damn. Setting my bag in front of me I opened the top button and stared into the darkness.

"Erm, anything recently added?" I murmered. The space inside the bag glowed lightly before returning to its abyssal black. Lifting the satchel a bit I noticed it was heavier. Taking a guess I tipped it upside down and watched as things tumbled out.

First came a hoodie. Whie and sleeveless but with a large billowy hood. Next fell out a pair of nondescriptant grey shades, the type that reflected sunlight with a sharp glare and covered the eyes completly.

Fenris' voice interrupted my viewing. "My second word of advice? Wear those at all times when fighting. At least for now."

"Why?"

"Just trust me. You'll want the anonimity while it lasts"

Suspicious but unable to do other wise I shrugged and turned back to the pile. Next was- unbelieveably - a set of off colored throwning knives with firm leather grips. Imbedded in the ends were stone spikes horozontially about half an inch in length. They were a pretty sea blue.

"Those are keiroseki blades. They nullify the whatchamacallit's in this world - logia users?" Fenris muttered in a bored voice, rolling onto his back.

Smirking slightly I unsheathed them from their handy dandy leg strap holster and twirled them between my fingers. Growing up the main form of combat I had learned was hand-to-hand.

I reveled unaturally in the purely intimate and animalistic forms that hand-to-hand detailed. The adrenaline. The pain. I was a junkie. It's gotten me kicked out of more than one class thats for sure.

Despite that though I did indulge in a few weapons. Ironically, throwing knives, or knives in general, were some what or a specialty for me. Well, actuslly, maybe not so ironically.

Sighing contently I lovingly carressed the sharp end of the blade, a pearl of blood escaping and running down the edge. Beautiful. Swiping them clean I resheathed them. "Absolutely stunning" I commented.

Turning back to the pile of goods I picked up the next item. A...charm bracelet? It was beautiful with a silver fine linked chain and several thumbnail sized charms hanging from it. There were five. All minitures of a sort of weapon.

A sword made of carved sapphire and diamond. A double headed ruby axe accented with topaz. A tiny roughly hewn emerald gem quiver and a fine onyx bow with arrows. A delicate bowstaff made from sea bue quartz. Even a pair of white and yellow gold crossed sais made from filigree.

I gasped in amazement. "Wow, this is...this is amazing"

"That's a special bracelet right there." Fenris began opening one large eye " Those charms can be enlarged with your magic. Once you learn it that is. Once you put it on only you can take it off and it's virtually indestructible."

Raising an impressed eyebrow I unhooked the delicate chain and attched it around my wrist. My skin tingled briefly before settling. It felt as if feathers had fluttered before turning into a solid band of warmth.

Seeing that was all the bag held I stood and stretched. My spine popped satisfyingly. Turning back to my mostly dry cloths I shuffled them on. My jean cutoffs were almost dry while my black tank top was now onto warming uncomfortably thatnks to the killer heat.

After that was done I put on some strappy black flat sandels and the large white sleeveless hoodie. It was bigger than what I had thought. Big enough to make my frame indiscernable if it was zipped and the hood was up.

Slipping on the shades I backtracked and bent over to hook the nifty knife holster around my upper thigh. The feeling of the weapons pressed comfortably against my leg made me smile.

Just like the days before when I lived in paris going to Ryuukyutsu. When everything was simpy a matter of who won a fight...

Shaking my head I banished my thoughts. I was expecting shock or panic to eventually set in and I didn't want to think of home. That would only set me off.

Peering over the lake edge I glanced over my appearence. I looked pretty anonymous, even with the unzipped hoodie showing my feminineness. Plus, despite all the bagginess I still looked spooky and mysterious. Cool.

"Hn. I like it."

Fenris snorted. "Good. It'll be your identity for awhile."

Turning to him I threw my bag over my shoulder. " Alright. Let's do this. Where are we?" Like the big cat he is Fenris got to his feet and did a feline stretch. " Well if my old skills are up to par I believe I landed us right outside shell town."

I smirked and started after him as he lead me into the woods. I felt something niggling at the back of my mind. Some thing I should be remembering. I took note of it.

"Here we go..."

Eyes the color of rust stared ahead as he listened to the ever soft footfalls from behind him. He huffed with a hint ao apprehension. Victorie Helthrone. A woman unlike he had expected to encounted.

When the Gods had called upon him to watch over her he had been more than skeptical. For him to watch over a human based mage, A Helthrone no less...

That bloodline had only ever spelled trouble. Fenris had never thought they would make another of the same genes ever again after what happened before. But victorie...she was by far different.

She was innocent and pure yet wise and world weary. She wasn't naieve of the way life worked if her attutide had anything to say. Not to mention she wasn't arrogent or pig headed like many others of her position were. Sometimes they had too much power in Fenris' opinion.

Like Lauralin Helthrone.

That woman was something else. To find out that Lauralin was such a bitter woman didn't surprise him. Her own mistakes did that to her. To deny her daughter her birthright and knowledge about her father however...

The thought made him want to grimace. Fenris knew why the older women resented her daughter though. Victorie was, in a word, the best of bother worlds. She was the perfect offspring. Physically fit, attractive and smart to the point of near genius proportions.

And that was why she needed the anonymity.

Victorie wasn't no super model. She wasn't flawless. She had her scars and her jaded view. But she was fairly attractive. The kind of attractive that only grew in size and ferocity once you got to know her character.

With her powers soon about to bloom it would only drawl those who were more dangerous to her. It would be best if they're interest stayed platonic and not anything more. Things could get messy if history repeated itself.

Fenris saw no reason to turn Victorie into her mother.

Walking down the street of shell town reminded her of exactly what her mind had been trying to tell her before. Depression clung to the citizens like a disease, consuming and sickly. People shot be fearful looks as I passed, their eyes fliting over my hidden features and even Fenris who stalked behind me.

Shell town was not a happy place.

I walked for quite a bit. Aimless. I needed to figure out what the hell to do. Sure I had all these nifty gadgets and dohickies that were really quite awesome. But awesome wasn't give me food to eat or a place to sleep.

"Hey! You!"

Not to mention some cloths. I'd definatly need more than some jean cut offs and a tank top out here. It was only warm in some places. I had gotten lucky to land here.

"Heeeeey"

Pausing in my musings, I stopped and looked up at the sky. Maybe I should look at an apartment or something. Did they have those here?

"GOD DAMNIT WOMAN PAY ATTENTION TO ME!"

Blinking owlishly I turned. Only to see one of the most horrific sights. Storming up to me like a petulant child was a man(?) with the most hideous haircut seen to humankind. Not to mention the suit...Only with my stubborn will power did I stop from scurring away from the creature.

Stopping in front of me the blonde huffed and crossed his arms. "Finally! You recongnized the great Hellemeppo's presence!"

I said nothing and instead waited for whatever this dude needed to say. Apparently he expected something because he was slowly turning a silly prune color. Was that healthy?

"WHY ARE YOU NOT BOWING!" He shrieked. My hands flew up to my ears and I hear Fenris hiss behind me. Which was the first time the blonde brat noticed the gigantic tiger besides me.

"I-i-is that a t-tiger?"

Slowly, I turned to looked at Fenris. Fenris looked back at me. I turned back.

"Yup."

The moments that followed were simutaneously humerous and pathetically sad. Turning a worrisome shade of white, the 'Hellemeppo' let out the highest pitched scream that I had ever heard. And that was saying something considering how many times I had accidently and not no accidentaly thunder punched men in the balls.

Without I word otherwise the brat turned tail and ran, two cronies in 'marine' garb chasing after him. I was left staring at a dust trail while my feline guardian rolled on the ground laughing. "Well that was unexpected" I mumbled

Fenris stood and shook his fur clean. " Indeed it was "

Turning, I walked in the opposite direction of the blonde pansy. My stomach grumbled to give me a headway. Around me people seemed to come alive with frantic whispers and hushed exclaimations.

I ignored them as a resteraunt appeared in my view. My stomach rumbled again.

"Meshi~"

Unaware however, another being walked through the door as I opened it to step through. I didn't notice and ran straight into them. "Ah. Sorry-" I froze as beautiful onyx eyes met my own through the reflectiveness of my shades. Oh crap. Unabidden, a single word spilled from my lips.

"Luffy."

And there you have it. Chapter two. I hope you all enjoy it. I have my notebook here filled with future chapters, now I'm working on editing and typing and rearranging, etc.

So, Enjoy.

Lady R.