A/N: Just wanted to say thanks for those who are reading ^^
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Chapter 4: A new first meeting.
"Sir, wake up. You can't sleep here" a male voice woke me, but when I opened my eyes I could see nothing because of the strong sunlight. To make matters worse, I had a severe headache.
"Sir, are you okay?" Another male voice, seemed to come from a younger man.
I tried to answer, but all that came out of my mouth were some groans mixed with my attempt to speak a word without being interrupted by my own incompetence.
"I told you, he is just a drunkard. You owe me 2000 Berries."
"How can you be so sure? He may have suffered an accident."
"Oh, please. He is sleeping in the middle of the street and can't even talk properly."
If their intention was annoy me, they did it perfectly well. Fortunately, my eyes were starting to get used with the sunlight and I could see who the two men were. Immediately I started to look for my Kikoku, but it wasn't there, and when I sat my headache got worse, so I wasn't even able to invoke my room. Also, my sudden movement made the two mariners return their attention to me.
"Sir, what happened? Are you feeling well?" The younger man asked, looking really worried about me. They didn't recognize me, did they? I mean, even if the fact that I wasn't a Shichibukai anymore hadn't spread, who would approach a pirate that way and call him 'sir'? They were the drunkards.
"I'm fine" finally I gathered forces to speak "Just leave me alone."
"Are you sure?" I nodded.
"Then... Are you a drunkard or what?" The older asked, more interested in their damn bet. I sent him a death glare, that was enough to make them go away. I took deep breath and started to looking for something that could be a track for what was going on. I was in the middle of a city that definitely wasn't Dressrosa and was wearing my coat, pants and hat (what was very strange since I didn't remember to put it before bedtime) from usual, but I was without my sword, Kikoku, and I couldn't find even a coin in my pockets. So I was lost, poor, unarmed and with a bad headache. It could be worst... somehow.
I could only think of two places that I could get some answers to find out what was happening, and since I didn't want to test my lucky again talking to mariners, I went to the nearest bar.
Due the time, there weren't many people drinking at the bar, only a guy talking to the bartender and a group (probably a pirate crew) in one of the few tables. Also, it was a little dark there, making the faces of those who were away from any window or door be difficult to see. Since everyone that seemed useful was busy, I went in silence to search for any clue in the bulletin board. As I approached I noticed something wrong. Why the White Beard's wanted poster was still there? He was already dead and there was no one that wouldn't know this. Nico-ya's poster was there too, but she was younger and her bounty was 79,000,000 Berries. Also, I didn't see any supernova's faces. Maybe this bar was really outdated. Or…
"Are you a bounty hunter, kid?" The guy who was talking to the bartender was beside me, his words made some of the pirates glare at me.
"No, I'm just a curious man." the pirates returned to drink and laugh when I said this "These posters... Are they old?"
"Not at all. The captain of our city's navy base is very strict, especially with pirates."
What was happening? That old woman... that door... All that shit hadn't been just an ordinary dream after all. Somehow, I was in the past.
"Do you know where I can find a recent newspaper?" I had to figure out where – and when – I was before I lost my calm.
"There is some at the corner table, but I don't think you will find the today's newspaper."
I just picked a random one at the mountain of papers and started reading the highlights. Fortunately – or not – I found my answer: the news of the Jinbe's entry in the Shichibukai was there. This happened about 11 years ago. Damn woman, why did she sent me to the past? What a sick joke. I wasn't looking for anything at all, especially in the past. Follow me and try to uncover the truth, she said. Yeah, I kind of found out the truth: she was just pretty crazy.
"Hey, what's the matter? You are a little pale, kid." The man from before was looking at the newspaper in my hands, searching for something that could have shocked me. "Do you know someone who is in the navy's dead list?"
"That is nothing" I smiled to him, trying to cover my shock. He seemed still worried, but gave me some space, so I put the newspaper at the table and sat at the bar's counter. I needed more information.
"What will it be today?" the bartender turned his attention to me.
"Some answers" I smirked.
"I don't have time for those who cannot afford."
"Oh, who said that I can't? Besides, you don't seem really busy, there is no costumer for you to see"
"Until now" at that time the smirk was on his face.
Suddenly the bar's atmosphere changed as a tall man came in, catching everyone's attention. All eyes were on him until he sat at a small table, alone. I didn't give myself the trouble to even see his face, the black coat with the word "Justice" in white on his back was enough for me to know who he was.
"Today will be a good day" the bartender seemed really happy "You better go away, you'll end up getting in trouble."
I was about to ask why when one of the pirates came with a bag of money in his hands, handing it to the bartender who immediately retreated to the kitchen. With the corner of my eye I could see the man who was worried about me before approaching "Things will get ugly here, kid. I'm going, you better do the same" I nodded, but remained sitting in the same place while he ran out of the bar.
The pirates surrounded the mariner's table, with guns aiming for him. I was watching the scene very excited, something interesting was going to happen.
The guy who looked like the captain of the crew laughed out loud while he began to provoke the mariner "What the captain of the city is doing here at this hour? Not much work?" all the other pirates started to laugh with the captain "Or are you just a useless that can't even arrest a thief?"
In contrast to the reaction that the pirates were waiting, the navy's captain only put a cigarette between his lips.
"Do you have fire?" his voice was oddly familiar.
"Don't mess with us" one of the pirates said, really angry.
"Oh, I thought you have. My bad." he started to look for something in his pockets "I never remember where I put my lighter"
"Captain, I think he is crazy" one of the crew looked confused.
"Don't be stupid, he's just making fun of our face"
"Found it!" the mariner was showing a lighter in his hand.
"Stop joking, bastard!" they were about to open fire when suddenly the table flew toward them and, in a blink of an eye, they were all dead in the floor. They had been shot. However, I couldn't hear the shooting noises, nor the sound of the kick that made the table fly.
"Have you finished, captain? That was fast" the bartender came back laughing, as if he already knew the outcome before the end.
"Yeah, Yeah. You really pisses me off when you profit at my expense, you know?"
"Come on, It's just a bit. Besides, It's your fault for being too popular"
"Of course" he said with a sarcastic tone "Sorry for do justice. Anyway, I wish I could drink a little without trouble"
"And I wish you hadn't made a mess in my bar. No one is happy after all."
"Don't worry, buddy. I'll ask my subordinates to come clean everything." he flicked the lighter and, due the light of the fire, I was finally able to see who he was. Even without the usual makeup, I would never forget that face. It couldn't be, could it? Yeah. Should be another person who was – REALLY – like him.
"God... Watch out, captain!" the barkeeper jumped over the counter and ran to the mariner. It was then that I noticed he was glaring at me so concentrated that didn't realize that his coat had caught fire due his inattention with the lighter. Both started screaming and trying to put out the fire.
No doubt. It was definitely him. But... How? I was in the past, however eleven years wouldn't be enough. No, something had changed. Eleven years ago he had already been shot by his own brother. So... How could he be here? How could Cora-san be alive?
