Disclaimer: I do not own anything, except my characters. The rest belongs to Oda-sama.
Enjoy!
(A/N: Google "Tekko" to learn more about the weapons that Johan use.)
Chapter Three
It was a few hours after they'd left Louge Town behind them, and Johan was sitting on deck, absent-mindedly twirling his Tekko in his hands, staring off into space. A soft creak on the deck behind him brought his attention back to reality. He turned to find a surprised looking Yang staring at the weapons with wide eyes.
Johan smiled at him. "These are kalled Tekko, they're simple weapons used by the monks who trained me. They're usually only used for self-defense, but can also be used to punctuate vital points and organs, making them very versatile, unlike those knuckledusters who solemnly rely on bludgeoning power. I can also let them simply rest on top of my hands, using my hands as normal. I find that they complement my style, as I do not enjoy killing without a reason, but at the same time, I won't hesitate to make short notice of someone if I feel that I have to."
"That sounds very reasonable," Yang said, looking at the sun, which had almost risen to the top of the sky by now. "I've trained with the sword, together with Yin, and I feel confident that we'll both be able to hold our own if there's ever any trouble."
"I don't doubt it for a second." Johan said, "After all, you're both key members of the crew – I know me and Simon seem very tight, but it gets like that after years of traveling together, but have no doubt, without you and your brother, neither of us would survive very long in the The Grand Line at all. I'm very happy you decided to join us."
"Yeah, me and my brother are quite inseparable as well, so I know the feeling. Though joining up with you was an easy decision – neither of us really had to think twice, all we needed was some time to prepare." Yang gave Johan a warm smile. "Besides, we'd be dead, or maybe even worse, if it weren't for the two of you."
Johan scratched his head and smiled. "Well, there's no need to keep thanking us, just be yourselves, and everything will be just fine, we're all companions now. ...which reminds me, would you mind fetching Simon and your brother for me, and meeting me back here in like five minutes?"
"Sure, right away, captain." Yang swiftly disappeared below deck, looking for the others.
Johan stood still for a moment reminiscing about how they had met the brothers for the first time. The thought of the huge difference in setting and atmosphere was enough to make him shudder and clench his fist as he remembered that faithful night...
It had been a cold night about three years ago, during their voyage to explore even the darkest corners of East Blue. They'd been hiking across a rather large island when they'd stumbled upon a mansion, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Hoping to find some shelter for the night, they'd knocked on the huge doors. Yin and Yang had answered the door, clad in what looked like servants uniforms, wearing collars round their necks. They'd summoned their master – a fat, ugly man who obviously had far too much wealth for his own good. The man had agreed to shelter the two young pirates in exchange for a large amount of berri. Reluctantly they'd paid the man, anger building up inside both of them. The man had carried a large number of bodyguards who'd all looked like they'd been recrutited from the deepest pits of jail.
Servants wearing collars could be seen around the house, performing all kinds of degrading and repulsive tasks. Every now and then, one of the guards would slap a slave for being too slow, not making the soup hot enough or some other absurd reason.
Johan had felt severly sick the entire time, as the negative and sad emotions from the servants made him shake with fury, yet he tried to remain calm and think of a plan. The pain had been to much for him, though, and he soon snapped, angrily pounding his fist in the small bed he'd been given as sleep escaped him for the third time in an hour. He'd seen all the signs to be sure; the man was nothing other than a slave trader, using his goods as servants between auctions. He'd whispered to Simon who was still awake contemplating, and with a heated voice he'd declared that this was too much to bear. Simon had agreed, and they had made short notice of both the man and his guards – Simon had used his abilities as a gunslinger and had easily turned the man's bodyguards into swiss-cheese while Johan had gone upstairs to the slave trader's bedroom, where he had coldly jabbed his hand through the man's chest, destroying his heart and killing him swiftly. They'd both taken a vow that night, after freeing the slaves, to rid the world of slavery and all trades like it; no matter what it would cost them or where it would lead them– they would battle the World Government itself if they had to.
Snapping out of the flashback, Johan prepared four cups of steaming hot tea, all the while smiling to himself.
As his companions made their way onto the deck, he silently handed them each a cup, which they accepted without question.
Johan looked at his companions with bright, smiling eyes, but his expression soon turned dead serious.
"My friends..." he said, clutching his teacup in one hand. "I want you all to listen closely at what I have to say, as this is something personal, coming straight from my heart, and I won't repeat it again. We're all heading out together on this journey, and I feel like I should tell you why I've chosen to live the life of a pirate, why I've chosen to steer this ship towards the Grand Line, asking you all to be by my side." He took a deep breath before he continued.
"During my travels, I have seen much suffering, and equal amounts of joy. I've had experiences which I could've never imagined myself having in my wildest dreams. I've thought a lot about the meaning of this trip and its circumstances, and I fell like I've come to a conclusion.
First of all, I'm not doing this for the mythical treasure Roger left behind – I do not believe that the King of Pirates died willingly in order to simply start a treasure hunt; I believe he died to prove something far more important. He wanted to show that no government can ever truly supress the dreams and visions of its people, and that every person on this earth is entitled to a free will and a free life.
I didn't choose to become a pirate in order to have great adventures or search for treasure; I became a pirate because there is something very wrong with the government ruling us at the present time, and I do not wish to be bound by its constricting rules and regulations.
As we speak, people are suffering under the fate of slavery, and the government is doing nothing to stop it. Mermen are being abused both verbally and physically by all kinds of sadistic people, and the government is simply turning a blind eye, pretending not to notice. We've got a number of individuals out there called "World Nobles", with almost unlimited assets, behaving like complete assholes, and no one is allowed to even touch them, just because the government says so.
Sure, we're going to have adventures, and parties, and we'll surely find some treasure along the way, but I'm not going to the Grand Line to search for trinkets or claim some useless title. I'm going in order to help people achieve their own freedom, and one way or another, I will put an end to this madness once and for all. I'm not saying I'm going to battle the World Government head on, but this has been going on for far too long, and I can't sit idly by anymore. I will tackle this my way, and I won't stop trying until I've either succeeded in making some kind of a difference, or been killed. This is my dream, and I'm giving it all I've got."
Johan turned his gaze at Simon. "Simon, we've known each other for the past five years, and you are without a doubt the closest thing to a brother I've ever had. We've been through hell together, and your guns and abilities have saved me on many occasions. I couldn't ask for a better First Mate."
He turned to look at the twins.
"Yin, your medical knowledge is a most valuable asset, and I'd trust you with saving my life without a moments hesitation. Yang; what can I say? Your engineering skill is simply spectacular, I still can't understand how you built the steam-engine for the ship, but I'm very happy to have you aboard, and I trust you to take good care of the ship."
He smiled at all three of them.
"Now, I know all of you have your own reasons for coming, and I swear on my position as captain that as long as you sail under my flag, I will try with all my power to help you realize your own goals and dreams as well."
Johan looked at his small yet reliable crew; it was going to be a rough start – he knew they needed more men to properly navigate the ship without the risk of failure once properly inside the Grand Line, but he felt confident in their abilities, and his gut told him that everything was going to work out fine, all they had to do was get going.
Grinning, He raised his teacup and shouted "Tea Pirates! To freedom, dreams and adventure! Are you with me?"
"YEAH!" the others shouted in unison, clashing their cups together with his for a toast.
"Well then, companions... Towards Reverse Mountain, and the Grand Line!"
They all cheered and drank their tea in one gulp, inwardly bracing themselves for the adventures up ahead.
