Dragon Scars

Chapter 3

Akira's smile grew slightly at Luffy's enthusiasm. "Really? You'll join my crew?!"

"I don't have much choice!" Zolo growled back, irritated by Luffy's excitement. "Now, untie me!"

Luffy ignored Zolo's demand/plea in order to turn on Akira, who already had her hands up in submission and nodding her head. "You promised!" Luffy yelled out. "Your part of my crew!"

Akira sighed as she nodded. "Yes, Luffy, I'm on your crew. Now would you untie him?" Luffy nodded and moved to deal with the knots, but moments later, the regimen of Marines were charging swords raised to strike down the rubber boy. Akira twirled Arget, her dual-ended, silver, 7 foot long spear, in one hand as her other arm was carrying Zolo's swords nervously as Luffy took his sweet time untying one of Zolo's arms .

Akira' growled and cursed when Luffy made some comment about thinking he made a knot tighter and moved forward. "Luffy! Move!" Almost immediately he did as ordered, more than likely in response to her tone, and she sped up as the Marines closed in. She crouched as she twirled Arget above her head, cutting the ropes that bound Zolo's arms as she tossed his blades into Zolo's waiting grasp.

Koby sat up and looked toward the commotion to see Akira and Zolo about to be overtaken by Marines on all sides, and before he could even think about it, a warning, albeit unneeded, was torn from his throat. "AKIRA! ZOLO! WATCH OUT!"

Above the roaring of the incoming Marines and Koby's scream, Morgan's enraged yell permeated the air. "THOSE WHO DEFY ME MUST DIE!"

A sharp KLANG! Resounded in the sudden silence that had fell upon the parade grounds, and Koby was shocked to see Zolo parrying every single sword blade with his three. And just in front of him, rising from her position while giving the stalled Marines a apathetic hunting glare from the corner of her eyes, was Akira, completely unharmed.

Luffy was the first to break the silence. "Wow!" he smiled big, proud of the newest members of his crew, "That's so cool!"

"The first to move," Zolo's voice, filled with menace, echoed through the courtyard, and his eyes danced with the kind of bloodlust that had no mercy what-so-ever as he looked at the Marines he had stopped, "DIES."

A cruel smirk fell onto Akira's face as she nodded, and made a point to place the edge of on of the spearheads on the neck of a Marine that looked ready to bolt. Tears fell from all of the Marine's eyes as their thoughts could be practically read by all there. 'THEY'RE SO SCARY..!'

"All right, so I'm a pirate," Zolo started conversationally, "I've fought the Navy, therefore I'm officially a outlaw." All of this was said with ease. "But hear this! I have a mission to fulfill!" His eyes filled with a light Akira had long ago identified as determination. "I'm going to be the world's Greatest Swordsman! All I have left is my destiny! My name may be infamous," He growled, "But it's gonna Shake the World!"

His gaze once again turned fierce. "But you are making me become a pirate! So if I have to abandon my dream for any reason, then I'm gonna make you commit Hara Kiri!"

Of course, Luffy being Luffy, the threat either went over his head or completely he disregarded it. "Great! The World's Greatest Swordsman! And it's fitting as your new boss is gonna be the King of the Pirates! Anything else would make me look bad!"

Akira's laughter filled the air. "What is with you men and your big shot dreams?" A grin spread over her face making her eyes glow in an affectionate, happy way. "Just don't get me killed!"

Zolo grinned as well. "You talk big…" he trailed off actually enjoying himself despite his threatening demeanor.

"WHY DO YOU HESITATE?!" Captain Morgan screeched from across the parade grounds. "Hack those brigands into mince-meat! NOW!"

Luffy grinned as he gripped his hat with one hand a took a steadying step forward. "Zolo! Akira! Duck!" That was only warning as he lifted up his back foot. "Gum-Gum…" As he kicked out his leg stretched and Zolo ducked beneath the leg while Akira vaulted over it, "Whip!" And as he called this out, the group of blade-wielding Marines were slammed backwards.

The remaining Marines stared in shock while Koby called out praises. "Wow! He's incredible!"

Zolo was staring at Luffy in shock. "What the devil are you?!"

Luffy smiled, his foot still in the air. "I'm a rubber man!"

"Obviously, dear fool." Akira told him dryly as she walked towards them.

Of course the were deftly ignoring the cries of the injured Marines.

It was then that Koby took in the picture they made. Luffy, completely disregarding of the dangers facing them, but somehow intimidating any way. Zolo, his back facing towards their shared enemies, glaring over his shoulders, a blade clutched in his teeth and a blade in each hand. Akira, a hand on her hip, her spear thing being twirled in the other, scarlet hair shifting in the light breeze, and a hunting gleam in her amber-gold eyes.

Of course, there was himself, but he was small and insignificant compared even slightly to the imposing figures they were. Tears welled up and he quickly rubbed his eyes dry before Akira could sense them. 'I need to become strong.'

"HEAR ME!" Morgan's booming voice carried over the parade grounds, "All you cowards who were just whining just now will shoot themselves in the head!" He turned his ominous gaze on his own command. "I won't tolerate defeatists in my outfit!" He took a cursory glance around to see if any of them had responded. "ON MY ORDER, FIRE!" He bellowed.

And much to the shock of the observing group, three men actually raised their guns in preparation.

"Something is wrong with those idiotic Marines!" Akira cried out as Luffy rushed forward, much to his new crewmates surprise.

"HEY!" Luffy called out to the Naval Captain. "I'm you enemy! Try putting ME to death!" The straw hat boy cried out while dealing a punch, which was swiftly blocked by Morgan's axe-hand. The Marines, in shock lowered their guns, staring at the crazy boy who had just attacked their corrupt captain.

Akira calmly walked towards them as Koby cried out to his savior and friend. "DESTROY THIS LOUSY NAVY, LUFFY!" She sent a approving glance back at the boy.

Morgan cast off his coat. "You have neither rank nor status! I'll teach you to defy your better!" He snarled out at the young man. "I AM CAPTAIN AXE-HAND MORGAN!"

Luffy just nodded his head. "Nice to meet you! I'm straw hat Luffy!" And Akira grinned a little before stepping right up to the group of Marines. She gave all of them a level look, and glanced back at the fight, as Morgan yelled 'Die!' at the top of his lungs, only for Luffy, quicker than ever to jump over the weapon, holding on to his hat.

As Morgan followed through, he sliced the fence and stone wall clear in two. Akira sneered as many called out in awe. "Disgusting. Such little control." She commented lightly.

A Marine glanced at her warily, before scooting over slightly in her direction. She immediately fixed him with a unblinking stare. "Ma'am… you wouldn't happen to be…" He trailed off.

"Yes?" She snapped, irritated when he didn't continue. He jumped slightly.

"You wouldn't happen to be Akira Tsuchigawa?" He gulped at how her eyes darkened.

It seemed like a long time until the red-head replied, but in truth it was only a few moments. By now Luffy had already kicked the captain in the knocking him to the ground, And Morgan was currently raising up his awe-hand with the intent to slice off one of Luffy's limbs when he came charging.

"… I am her." She told the Marine softly.

And now those listening stared at her in fear, and the Marine was backing away slowly, absolute terror overcoming him. "Dear god…" He laughed hysterically. "The Dragon Lady, Akira "Blood-Scales" Tsuchigawa has returned."

Akira finished his shell-shocked statement with a very sour smile. "Phrentici Dracone."

All the Marines present expressed a silent form of fear. Whether it was rubbing their arms as if they were cold or shaking slightly.

"He's just too strong!" Koby's gasp brought the attention back to the battle happening before them, and the Marine's were shocked at the sight.

"Captain Morgan?!" One said aloud, "He's getting pummeled?!"

"You and your Navy," Luffy growled out, grasping Morgan by the shirt and lifting him up slightly, cocking his arm back in preparation to punch the daylights out of the fool, "Are ruining Koby's dream!"

A proud smirk fell onto Akira's face, and while Zolo observed Luffy interestedly, someone behind them called out stop-someone NOT Koby.

Luffy followed through anyway.

"I SAID STOP, YOU IDIOT!" Helmeppo yelled. Akira was growling low in her throat, but none noticed other than the Marine's nearest her, who had sense enough to keep silent. The cause of her instantaneous aggression was simple: Helmeppo was holding a gun at Koby, at point-blank range. "One false move and four eyes gets it! If you even blink I'll shoot!"

However, a completely feral snarl left Akira at Koby's own words. "DON'T LET THEM WIN BECAUSE OF ME, LUFFY! LET HIM KILL ME!"

Luffy grinned at the smaller boy. "You're a good guy, Koby!" He then directed his attention to the blonde holding the gun. "Hey, Idiot-Son-of-the-Captain! Koby means it!" He lifted his arm up and grasped his bicep with his left hand, cocking back his arm.

"I told you not to move, didn't I?!" Luffy didn't respond, just kept moving. "Fine! I'll just shoot him!"

The end of his sentence was nearly over-shadowed by Koby shouting out a warning to Luffy. "BEHIND YOU!"

And, just as Koby said, Captain Morgan loomed behind Luffy. "You've assaulted a Officer of the Navy!" He hissed at Luffy's turned back.

Luffy seemed to ignore him. "Gum-gum," Zolo put his third sword back in his mouth and Akira spun her weapon into a ready position, "PISTOL!" Luffy yelled out, aimed right at Helmeppo.

"DADDY! KILL HIM!" Helmeppo cried out in confusion. But it was too late.

Just as Luffy had cried out 'Pistol!' Zolo and Akira had both sped forward, Akira's blade halting the decent of Morgan's axe as Zolo dealt the finishing blow with one of his Santoryu techniques.

"Nice, guys!" Luffy grinned triumphantly as he called out praise to his crew members.

"No sweat, Captain!" Zolo smirked as he glanced back at his new captain, wondering internally what he had got himself into.

"Wasn't worth the trouble, Cap'n." Akira smiled slightly as she headed towards an awed Koby, simply to beat his brains in for insinuating his death.

They could practically feel Luffy swell with pride of being referred to as 'Captain,' not once, but twice

Akira let a laugh escape her as Luffy grinned in pure happiness, almost euphoria.

Roronoa Zolo sent a hard glare at the group of Marines huddled at the parade ground entrance, gazing in shock at the unconscious bodies of Captain "Axe-Hand" Morgan and his son, Helmeppo. "Any of you still want to capture us?"

They glanced at each other in confused silence before erupting of various ecstatic cheers. Akira scratched her head slightly and gave a muttered "Fools." before resuming her glaring contest with Koby who was nursing a fair-sized lump on the back of his head.

Luffy gazed with a kind of distant confusion. He huffed a little before commenting. "They're happy we defeated their Captain." He said this with a vague sense of disapproval; understanding why they were happy, yet disliking the loyalty or lack thereof.

Koby, of course, was as ecstatic as the Marines. "That means Captain Morgan was ruling by fear!"

Akira rolled her eyes. "Yes, Dear One, now up! Off the ground." She gestured for him to hurry up, but glanced back in surprise when Zolo collapsed.

"But-Ma'am-I-" Zolo, cleaned of dirt, wounds efficiently bandaged, and packed full, watched in amusement with Luffy and Koby, who were openly chuckling at the sight of Akira getting mothered into a room so she could change into new clothes for the woman, Rika's mother, had seen her, put food on the table and allowed them to eat before doing what she was doing now.

Moments passed in silence as they heard the muted voices converse before Akira walked back out of the room, thoroughly disgruntled. Her navy blue tank top had been replaced by a black one, and her khaki Capri's had been replaced by a navy pair. It was obvious that the only real discomfort she had with the clothes was with the fact that the over-kind woman had forcibly removed her gloves, as she was rubbing her arms with something akin to longing and she kept glancing back at the doorway behind her.

The mother happily came come, having washed and mended the clothes with an efficiency that only a mother had and proceeded to hang them to dry. "About your hair, dear…" She looked at Akira's head with cunning only to be put off by the immediate answer of 'No!' over the guffawing of the males.

"So," Zolo said, his attention from the redhead who was scowling to his new captain, "What's next?"

"We're headed for the Grand Line!" Was his bold statement.

Of course the only person who seemed really surprised by his outburst was Koby, who responded with his own. "That's suicide!" He yelled at the oblivious rubber boy, "There are only three of you! If you go there you'll just be sailing to your deaths!" Luffy glanced at him unconcernedly, Zolo was just staring at him with amusement, and Akira was just exasperated. "The most bloodthirsty pirates in the world are there!"

The moss-head decided to put in his two cents, amused smirk and all. "Well, I guess if we're after the "One Piece," he told the pink-haired boy sensibly, "The Grand Line is where we have to go."

"I Agree." Akira told the bespectacled boy languidly, "We won't get anywhere dillydallying. Though we will have to stock, get a better boat etc. which we are not allowed to leave without, am I understood?" She hissed menacingly at Luffy, who quickly nodded his head in the affirmative. Immediately the terrifying expression was gone from her expression.

"You AGREE with them?!" Koby cried out in dismay.

"What's it to you?" Zolo snapped a little at Koby. "You're not coming with us."

The pink-haired boy slammed his hands down on the table, making the dishes rattle and Akira observe him with new curiosity. It wasn't normal behavior. "No, but I'm worried about you!" He cried out. "Is that so wrong?!" He demanded, and Zolo felt a little ashamed for being so sharp with him. "Can't I worry about-" He hesitated before plowing on, "-about my friends?"

Zolo could practically feel the fire of Akira's rage as she glared at him, and he tried to defend himself. "That's not what I-"

"Luffy," Koby spoke solely to Luffy now, "We haven't known each other for very long, but, we are friend aren't we?" he demanded.

Luffy grinned at him. "We're going our separate ways," He told him truthfully, "But we'll always be friends!"

"You and Akira, you all are the first real friends I've ever had. No one else ever cared that much, or stood up for me! I wouldn't even do those thing for me! But you three," He gave them all a happy look, "You taught me to fight for what I believe in!"

Akira rolled her eyes. "Exactly their point, love."

"That's why I'm going to the grand line!" Luffy told him, as though it was the plainest thing in the world.

Zolo shrugged. "Makes sense to me."

"I'm trying to convince you that it's too reckless!" Koby protested.

"What about your plans?" Zolo queried as he lightly tapped Koby's forehead with the hilt of one of his katana's.

Koby made a intelligible sound. "You were a cabin boy on Alvida's pirate ship for two years, Hun." Akira told him softly. "The Navy has ears in many places. If they were aware, despite your circumstances, you wouldn't be able to enlist."

"Excuse me." A unidentified male voice spoke from the doorway, making everyone present turn to look at him. "You gentlemen," at Akira's scowl he quickly added on, "and Lady, are Pirates, correct?"

Luffy was quick to boast. "That's right. I even have two crewmen now!" He grinned at the Marine. "That makes me a genuine Pirate Captain!"

Akira blinked as she recognized him as the Marine who identified her. "You saved our base and this town," he spoke quietly but firmly, "and we truly are grateful." He insisted. "However, we are still Naval Marines, and we cannot shelter Pirates. I'm sorry, but I have to ask you to leave." He told them, official to the letter. "But to show our gratitude, we won't report you to the Navy."

Immediately, Luffy, Zoro, and Akira stood up from the table. Akira accepted her freshly laundered clothing and a small bag of food from Rika's mother with a small smile while Zoro arranged his blades and strode after Luffy. Then she passed him by without looking at Koby, and despite her resolve could feel her heart break a little.

"Aren't you going with them?" The Marine queried Koby.

Luffy and Zolo looked back at him, while Akira simply glanced back, amber eyes duller than usual. "I'm… I'm not one of them!"

The Marine observed him silently, before switching his gaze to the trio's retreating backs. "Excuse me, Pirates? Is that true?"

"Let me explain." Luffy told the Marine with a strangely expressionless face. He pointed to Koby. "I know all about his past. See, there was this secret Island, and a great, big woman. Her name was Alvida." He got closer to Koby. "She was really mean," Luffy poked the bespectacled boy at his temple. "And for two years, this guy-"

"SHUT UP!" Koby yelled out, punching Luffy in the jaw.

With that, Luffy, with a cheeky grin adorning his face, began to ruthlessly pound into Koby, and Zolo didn't stop his new captain until Akira's hand gave a completely involuntary twitch, completely ignoring the Marine and his yell about 'The Peace'. "Hey." He slid his eyes purposely over to Akira before sliding them back to meet Luffy's brown eyes. "That's enough."

"It's clear that you're not friends!" The Marine yelled out, pointing at the door. "Please, leave town! Immediately!"

As they walked out, Luffy completely content to simply leave, Zoro and Akira goaded them.

"Catch us if you can!" Zoro sneered.

"Lookie there!" Akira mocked. "It takes three Pirates to weed out corruption in the Navy!"

A few of them muttered angrily and moved forward, but Akira hissed out "You want to watch where you go." The Marine's balked as Akira's eyes flashed gold warningly and her canines seemed to get longer. "You may poke yourselves on Arget!"

And with that Akira sauntered after her new captain, proud to have left the Marine's of this island in fear of her.

At the pier, Zoro broke the comfortable silence between the trio. "That was some pretty bad acting," He glanced pointedly at Akira, then back at Luffy with the same critical gaze, "I wouldn't be surprised if the Navy saw right through it."

Akira smirked at him slightly, before turning to face the sound of desperate footsteps coming up behind them as Luffy responded. "It's all up to Koby, now." He told the older male simply. "He'll get in somehow."

Akira, ensured that it wasn't a threat, turned back around and stretched with her hands kinked together above her head. "Well, It's a good time to be leaving." She sighed, content to let the sea breeze buffet her.

Zoro nodded his head in agreement of the red-head, though he gazed at her curiously. "Everybody hates us," he reasoned, "That's the way Pirates should leave a town." He saw Akira nod sadly at his words.

Luffy simply laughed. "I guess that's true!"

"L-Lu-Lu-LUFFY! AKIRA!" The trio turned to see Koby, panting heavily at the entrance to the docks.

He seemed to gather himself, before saluting them Navy-style, left hand up near his temple, palm facing behind, four fingers together and the thumb hidden behind the hand. "Thank you very much, Cap'n Luffy!" He bellowed out, parade-ground style. "I'll never forget everything you did for me!"

Zoro smirked. "This is a new one." He barked out jokingly, glancing to see Luffy with a smile on his face. "A Pirate being saluted by the Navy!"

Luffy just laughed. "We'll meet again, Koby!"

Zoro blinked as a laugh permeated the air and a red blur shot past him to cling to Koby, blinking when he noticed it was Akira. "A-akira!" Koby stuttered out.

Akira gave another laugh, and leaned back enough to gently grab his chin and kiss him on his forehead, before casually turning around as the Marine shouted out "TEN'SHUN!" and the entirety of the Navy Corp. stationed on the island saluted the departing Pirates behind a blushing, but proud looking Koby.

Akira bore a very content smile, as she simply trotted up past Zolo and Luffy into the boat to ready the small dinghy for sail.

The small crew set sail as the townspeople came to the dock to cheer for them.

"We're on our way to the GRAND LINE!" Luffy screamed out in excitement, unable to hold in his excitement any longer.

Akira smiled at him as she lounged in the front of the boat, and Zoro grinned as he lounged in the back, as it was impossible for anyone to not share in Luffy's excitement.

Back at the Dock, the leader of the Marines spoke to Koby. "You've got some good friends, sailor."

Koby, surprised yet honored, responded as was correct for any sailor. "Yes, sir."

His commanding officer glanced at him curiously. "The red head." He prompted. "What was that about?"

Koby blinked, but responded. "Akira?" He smiled reminiscently. "She was just," He paused and though about it some. "It was a bit of a combination between expressing pride and expressing approval, as she hates the Navy." At his commanding officers questioning glance, he shrugged. " She wouldn't ever tell me, but I know it was bad. She would sometimes grip her head and pull at her hair if I ever asked or a few hours after I asked."

The Marine nodded and turned his head to address his troops, making Koby smile despite the fact that he was addressing their punishment.

Phrentici Dracone = The insane dragon

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