Chapter Four
*"You two, take that alley and cut him off!" The Captain of Squad 7 ordered as the group of kids sprinted through Main St. Dodging and ducking the other pedestrians the Captain catch a glimpse of their target. "Belle, I need to you too use those crates!" The girl sprinting not too far behind him nodded and swerved to follow her orders. The young Captain saw the wild girl out of the corner of his eye as she jumped on the crates and used the height and her speed to get on top of the canopy of a shopping bizarre. Everything was working out perfectly, "You, I want you to take that street, it should circle to the end of this street!" The boy the Captain ordered followed without hesitation. Perfect.
A loud howl broke through the regular noise of the busy street. The young Captain pushed his legs down harder, trying to get there faster. Shave was right at the boys' heels, then shot off past him. That's when he saw the target trying to back track toward him. The cat saw him and Shave, and tried to veer right only to have Belle drop from the last canopy blocking it's' path. The cat hissed, quickly noted that right and left where now blocked, and turned to go backward now. The two boys the Captain had told to take the alley reached the entrance at that time, both blocking the wide entry way. The group of kids and dog formed a circle around the cat. The creature tired to make its self as small as possible swatting at the hands that tried to grab it. The white haired boy lunged at the same time the strange girl did, the Captain got the cat first. He held the crazed creature at arms' length, till the cat tired out and accepted its fate.
The girl puffed her cheeks with anger; the Captain looked at her as though daring her to say something to usurp his leadership. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked away. Only to have Shave start licking at her face, making her laugh.
"Alright Squad 7, let's return the beast!" The boy held up the cat as all the boys cheered, Shave barked celebrating with them, excluding the black haired girl.
"Thank you kids so much for returning my Cooter!" The older woman squeaked in glee as she cuddled the cat.
"I'd wanna run away too, if my name were Cooter," the black haired girl muttered under her breath.
The Squad's Captain glared at her and quickly smiled at the lady, "No problem old lady, and any time."
All the kids started to walk home following their Captain who was rubbing at a rather large lump on his head. The black haired girl was still laughing at him for getting it, as all the other boys cheered at their victory. Slowly the group dwindled down as they traveled closer and closer to the docks. Shave had already curled up in his makeshift house for the night, waiting for next day's adventure.
The group had narrowed down to the Captain and the strange girl, for they lived closest to the sea. The two traveled in silence. Now that the last child had left there was no need for talk. The white haired boy kept looking at the girl next to him expecting her to have a need to fill the silence like most girls he knew from school. However she just kept looking forward a small smile flirting on her lips. The boy didn't mind, he preferred the quite. What he found odd most of all, however, was that the silence between the two of them didn't feel weird or awkward in anyway. It was two people enjoying not being alone, he realized. He had never really thought about whether or not he ever felt alone, it never bugged him because he didn't know much of anything else. People talking constantly always bugged him, made him loose his focus. But this, whatever this was, was pleasant.
The girl stopped and looked at a building with wooden planks nailed over the windows and a sign above the door that read "Sea's Best". "This is me," the girl said mildly.
She started toward the alley, but the boy grabbed her arm, "You live here?"
The girl looked back and gave him a look that clearly said "you've got to be kidding me". She sighed, "No, I live behind it," she looked at the shut down restaurant. "My family owns this place; we shut it down a few years ago, I was maybe five when they did it." She looked back at him as though that should be enough to satisfy him.
He really didn't want to let her arm go, he wanted to know more. But knew that she would only deflect him at this point, "That's too bad; bet it looked great when it was running." He hoped that she would at least take the bait. Why he wanted to know so bad he couldn't exactly say. He just felt compelled, what was with this strange girl?
He studied her as she stared at the building, but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't see her eyes. "It was because of Gold Roger," she spoke so quietly he could barely hear her. "After he was executed, The Great Pirate Era began." She grew silent. She was just standing there. Her arm still in his grip, she finally continued when he thought she wasn't. "We are the only island so close the entrance to the Grand Line, as I'm sure you know." He nodded even though she wasn't looking his way. "Raiding pirates have been coming to this island ever since Roger's execution almost 3 years ago." The sun started to go down further in the sky, saying goodnight to the world. The world was washed in pink. "One day a group of pirates came to town and decided to raid my family's restaurant for food and water." She shook her head and smiled softly. "I had an older brother, he was my role model. Everywhere he went I was usually right behind him. He had a dream. A wonderful dream, he wanted to be a Marine. With all the raids going on in town he wanted nothing more than to see an end to it all. When he told me he wanted to be a Marine, I wanted nothing more than to be one also and help him rise as high as he wanted to go." She shook her head again as her smile turned sad. The boy tried to see her face again, but it was shadowed still and her voice was as calm as ever. "So when the restaurant was raided, my brother was infuriated. You see, it was just him, my mother, and me. Our father had died serving in the Marines before I was even born. My brother felt it was his job to protect us. He had stood up to the pirates, showing no fear, and no matter how much they hit him he wouldn't stay down. I wanted to help him but our mother wouldn't let me. Finally, he wouldn't get up anymore. Once they pirates had gone we had carried him to the nearest Doctor but…it was already too late." The boy stared at her unable to move. "My mother tried to keep me from hearing, but he had died from a broken rib that had punctured his lung…" Both children stood before the dead building, as the darkness finally engulfed them. She finally looked at him, her eyes looked glassy but they were dancing with something he could see burned brighter than fire. "That's when I decided that I was going to be a Marine for real! I'm going to carry his dream with mine, and I'm going to be fearless just like he was! I'm going to be the best, that's my dream!"*
Belle woke up from with a start. Sweat beaded her forehead plastering her hair to her face. She fiercely started to pull the strands from her face, taking the cold beads from her hot face. Breathe in breathe out. Belle stood up from her bed, pulling the cold sweat covered sheets from her body. She walked to the bathroom and turned on the light, flooding the rest of the room in illumination. Walking to her desk she picked up her watch and sighed, 1:02 am. Not half bad, two hours, she thought as she stretched her body. After a few good pops she took a shower and got dressed in a tank and shorts, ready to hit the gym. Anything to get the images of her nightmare to stop playing like a film reel in the back of her eye lids, a nightmare of the night her brother died. Thought's of helplessness as her mother had held on to her as she struggled to reach her brother. Belle shook her head and formed a circle in her mind's eye and turned slowly at first, striking at points with her palm and turning in her circle to hit another.
Smoker watched as Belle, from the second floor, as she turned in her imaginary circle and struck at the enemies only she could see. He adjusted the cigars in his mouth as he admired how much better she had gotten from their training days in the Marines. It seemed that he wasn't the only one admiring her however, a group of his men had gathered at the edge of the training ring. He had sent them away awhile ago, but it seemed that they had gathered once again. How annoying, looked like he was going to have to teach them a hard lesson in obedience.
Footsteps started from his left, "Commodore Smoker Sir," He looked out of the corner of his eye at Tashigi as she saluted him. He grunted in acknowledgement and focused back on Belle. He needed to think of a way to get her off his ship. "Sir, we received a report on the Straw Hat's last spotted location Sir. It seems they stopped at Fireworks Island. I already sent out a request to HQ for an eternal pose for the island and it should be arriving in a few days, Sir."
The big man shifted his weight and left out a cloud of smoke. "Very good Tashigi," He watched as that thick braid of hair swung wherever she had been, never quite able to catch up with her. The group by the edge of the ring grew. He was going to beat the living shit out of those slackers.
"Wow, I've never seen a fighting style like that before," Smoker's head swung over at Tashigi. Damn, he had forgotten about her. He hadn't even bothered to dismiss her.
He grunted and looked back at the woman he needed to get rid of, "It's the Art of Gentle Fist. She uses the palms of her hands and fingers to hit her enemies' pressure points. Anything that enters that circle can be hit by her, effectively disabled."
Tashigi made a noise of amazement and leaned over the railing while adjusting her glasses. "How long has she been training like this? I saw her in here when I came here to practice my sword play early this morning." She adjusted her glasses again causing them to slip from her nose. Tashigi's hands scrambled rapidly to catch them so they wouldn't fall over the railing and break.
Smoker watched as his Lieutenant was able to put her glasses back on. "You shouldn't be so clumsy Tashigi; you're going to get yourself hurt one day." He barely listened to her apologies. He interrupted her, "You can go now Tashigi." He had some Marine asses he needed to beat. He pushed himself off the wall he'd been leaning on and headed for the stairs.
"Which do you think is cuter, Tashigi or Captain Adonna?" One man asked another.
Muttering flew around the group like a gust of wind.
"I think Tashigi is cuter, she is so cute with her glasses and her adorable lack of balance." The man swooned, hearts in his eyes.
Another man shook his head, "No way, Captain Adonna is way cuter. Just look at her, training so hard. Covered in the sweat of her determination, can you imagine the passion?" Blushes ran around the circle like a criminal running ramped.
A dark figure rose behind the men, evil looking eyes showing through the shadows. "Hello gentlemen." That deep gravelly voice that could only be the Commodore froze the men. All the men started shaking as they slowly turned around and tried to seem smaller as the shadow loomed over them. "I thought I told you scum bags to get back to work," it would have been better if he had shouted. The deep low voice was more terrifying than any shouting. That voice implied deadly weapons and immense pain. The men tried to scramble away but the Commodore easily caught them all by their shirts, lifted them, and started to head out of the gymnasium with all the men pleading for mercy. He would show none, Justice never showed mercy.
Belle stopped as sounds of a ruckus broke through her concentration. Her limbs ached as she used her arm to wipe the sweat from her brow. She tried to look around her to see what had disrupted her exercise only to see a door that lead out on the deck closing loudly. Huh, that was odd.
"Belle," a familiar voice called. She turned and her reflexes kicked in as something flew toward her face. She caught the item before it hit her and looked at it. A burrito? "You've been training none stop, figured you forgot to eat again."
She looked up to meet the eyes of her second in Command. She laughed as she realized he was right, "You're always looking out for me Archer, thank you." She bit into the burrito and swooned at the flavors. It was a breakfast burrito. The thing was chuck full of eggs, bacons, sausages, and cheeses. "I don't think I've ever tasted anything so delicious!" Belle grumbled through a mouthful.
Archer laughed, "Very lady-like."
Belle flipped him the bird and started to walk toward him as she took two bites and chewed the large mouthful. She couldn't seem to get enough of the damned thing in her mouth. Without a word they duo fell into step beside one another and headed out of the gymnasium. They walked until they reached the portside of the vessel. Belle leaned on the railing and finished the burrito. "How is it you that you can make such amazing things?" She looked up at her trusted friend demanding the answer to her question.
Pulling the sniper rifle off his back, Archer sat down and started to take the weapon apart. "First I had to bribe the cook to even let me in his kitchen." He started to pull tools from a bag that hung from his hip. Hell if she knew what they were. "Then I put something together I can travel with because I know you enough that you won't stay in one place long enough to finish an entire meal."
"True that," Belle laughed in agreement.
Smoker finally spotted his target. Damn woman could never stay in one place unless she could move in that place. He started a bee line for her. Beating those idiots back into shape had given him an idea. Something he knew she wouldn't be able to resist. Her dark head rose as he approached. They locked eyes and he didn't let her mossy greens go. Heaven and Hell both knew he wouldn't as long as he had this chance. He stopped a few feet from her, "I want to talk to you about something."
Her Lieutenant steadily continued to handle his weapon with ease and experience as he clean the man killer. Belle studied him; he could feel her gaze drilling into his eye sockets. "Is it about the Straw Hats?" She crossed her arms over her breasts and started to tap her foot.
He nodded, "In part."
Tap. Tap. Tap. "What are you thinking Smoke?" Her eyes narrowed.
He couldn't help but grin a little bit. Huff, "What would you say to a little sparing match?"
Her lips twitched upward. She turned her head away to hide her expression then looked back at him seriously, "Just a sparring match?"
Tap. Tap. "No, what fun would that be?" Smoker took the two cigars from his mouth and put them out. "If I win you leave my ship." He tucked the stogies into his jacket.
Raising a hand to push the bangs out of her face Belle looked off past him as if seeing something. "And what would I get if I win?" Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. She refocused on him.
"I'll tell you what I just learned about the Straw Hats." Smoker glanced at Belle's Lieutenant whom had finished cleaning his weapon and had started putting it back together once more.
Her lips twitched again, "Fuck you Smoke. You know I can't resist a fight against you." She shook her head and flat out smiled at him. She looked so happy he just blinked at her. "I accept your challenge and all the conditions." She pushed herself from the railing and started toward the gym. "Let's fight!"
Belle was so happy she wouldn't have been surprised if she started to gravitate from the floor. This was her chance to test herself, a true test. If she could beat him, she could prove to herself that she had gotten stronger. If she failed she would happily leave, for if she couldn't beat him, she didn't deserve to try to capture the Straw Hats. Footsteps, she looked to her right and saw her dear friend, "Hello Archer."
Archer gave her a look, she knew that look. "Think you can beat him."
She looked over her shoulder. Smoke was still a few good feet behind them. "Honestly, I don't know."
His brows furrowed, "Then why accept. We would only be sent back to our ship, making this entire trip pointless."
"No," she glared at her friend. Archer paused, shocked at her anger. "It wouldn't be pointless." She looked forward once more. "I need to do this, for myself. Smoke has always beaten me. I have never once one a fight that he didn't let me win." Her knuckles cracked from the force of her grip as she clenched her fist. "I can't express how infuriating that is."
Archer just stared at her. He had never seen his Captain like this. She was always level headed, never angry. Even so he couldn't help but ask, "But why?"
"It's been over 10 years since I last sparred against him. Last time I lost. I need to see how much better I've gotten." Belle's jaw set, "I need to follow my dreams."
