Chapter 4
"There is something terribly morbid in the modern sympathy with pain. One should sympathise with colour, the beauty, the joy of life. The less about life's sores the better."-Oscar Wilde
Kya sighed, closing her eyes as she lay sprawled out in between the two men. She hated being on such a tiny ship; there was no where to do yoga or train. It was driving her almost as crazy as Luffy's whining. Apparently, the boy tends to snack in his sleep, and he ate the three out of food. "Ugh. I'm so hungry!" He cried and she cringed, resisting the urge to kill him. He was like the pesky little brother she never had.
"It's funny that neither of you have any navigation skills." Zoro commented casually and she opened an eye to glare at him, but all he did was wave it off. "Why? I've always been just wandering." Luffy answered cluelessly. "I traveled with people who knew how to navigate." She said irritated and he chuckled.
"You're like me, though. Wandering and capturing hunted pirates for rewards." Luffy commented. "Ya. What about your navigation skills?" She shot haughtily, sitting up. "I don't remember me saying that I live completely off rewards! I was searching for a man, that's why I left out to sea. But now, I can't find my way back home...I had no choice but to start hunting pirates for a living, just to get a little bit for the expenses." Zoro answered thoughtfully, looking off into the distance.
"Oh, so you're lost?"
She chuckled lightly, leaning back against her captain as Zoro yelled. "Shut up! You are the one who's lost!" He sighed lightly before speaking again. "Geez, never heard of pirates who don't know how to navigate. How do you expect to get to the Grand Line like this? You should hurry and find a crew mate who can navigate!"
"And someone who knows how to cook, and someone for singing..." Luffy began, counting his fingers. She laughed light heartedly and Zoro growled lowly. "Idiot! What are you going off on?" He yelled, and suddenly the two boys fell backwards. Kya managed to stop herself from falling onto Luffy and sighed. "Sooooo hungryyyy..." They whined together.
"Oh! A bird!" Zoro said suddenly, and sure enough, a big bird was flying in the sky over their heads. 'What an awkward looking bird.' She thought boredly, shielding the sun from her eyes with her hand. "Looks pretty tasty." Luffy added, and she kicked his leg lightly. He simply ignored her and sat up excitedly. "Let's eat that bird!" He shouted, smiling brightly. "How are you going to eat it?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'll go get it! Watch my specialty! Gomu Gomu no..."
Both her and Zoro gasped as Luffy launched himself from the mast up to the bird. "Rocket!" He shouted, flying in the air. "If he lands in the water... he's screwed." She mumbled out loud. "Can't believe he thought of that." Zoro answered as they both stared at Luffy flying towards the bird and...getting caught in its mouth?
"Ahhhh! Help!"
"You idiot!" The two yelled at him as Zoro began rowing the boat at an inhumane speed. ""What the heck are you doing?Jeez!" he shouted at the sky. "What has he gotten himself into?" She muttered, burying her head in her hands.
"Hey! Stop the boat!"
"They boat over there! Stop!"
She looked over the side to see three men wailing in the water at them. "We don't have time to stop! Get on yourselves!" She shouted and their faces went pale. "You...What did she say?" One of them yelled, but his question went unanswered as the three clung to the unexplainably fast moving boat rowed by Zoro.
She stood up to sit by him so the three of them could make their way onto the boat. "Heh, you're climbing skills aren't bad." he said, making her chuckle and the men just looked at them as if they were insane.
"Hey, stop the boat."
Growling, she stood from her seat as one the men pulled a knife out. "This is Buggy-sama's territory...' he added, making her scowl. "What?" Zoro shouted, annoyed. He stopped the boat and stood next to her, pulling his katana, still sheathed, out. "We don't have time for this." he grumbled, swiftly hitting one of the men in the head with the sword.
Kya kicked her leg up and brought the down on another one's head while punching the other successfully. She grabbed the two of them and threw them by the oars. "Row." She commanded as Zoro placed the other one in the middle. He smirked wildly at her. "Never knew you were such a hard ass... Kya-chan." She glared daggers at the man, folding her arms across her chest. "Never knew you were such a wimp...Zoro-kun." He frowned, making an unintelligent sound as he turned away from her.
"Hohohohoho. We didn't know you were Pirate Hunter Zoro! We're really sorry!" They cried, smiling and happily rowing the boat for them. She glared at the ex-bounty hunter. He had only taken one of them out and yet they used his name. One day, she would outdo him.
"You three made me lose track of our friend. Put some back into it! If I don't find my friend, you three are in for it!" He yelled at them, sitting down at the front of the boat. She sighed, blowing her hair out of her face. "Oh." She started, looking at the three, pirates she guessed they were. "Why were you three drifting in the middle of the ocean?" she asked and the one of with the hat nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes, yes! Good question you finally asked!"
"That girl!"
"Yea! That bad girl!"
"But she's real cute too!"
The three men went on to explain how, as they sailed towards the island their captain was on after raiding a ship, they spotted a girl in a boat. She offered them her treasure to save her life, but she lied and stole their ship. She told them about a storm that would sink their ship, and sure enough, it did and left them stranded in the ocean and she took off. "And that's what happened! Terrible huh!"
"She can predict the weather...that girl must be something special!" Zoro mused, tapping his chin. Kya nodded in his direction. "Must be a navigator of some sorts. Wonder if she'd join our crew." She said, crossing her arms. "if I find her I'm gonna kill her." The one with the weird hairdo growled. "First we got to get our loot back!" The hatted one said. She figured he must be the brains of the screwed up crew. "Yea... If we go back empty handed, Buggy-sama will..."
"Who's Buggy?"
"He's our pirate leader! Haven't you ever heard of 'Buggy the Clown'? He's a dangerous man who ate a Devil Fruit!" This caught her attention. "A Devil Fruit?" She repeated as her eyes widened. She hoped Luffy wasn't in any trouble.
"We better find that idiot fast before he gets himself killed." Zoro muttered, closing his eyes. She sighed loudly, leaning back against the boat. "How bothersome. Our first adventure together and we have to end up saving him."
"Ex-excuse me, miss?"
She turned her head slightly to see the pirate in the hat sitting by her feet. "What is it?" She growled, annoyed by his stupid antics. "We-well... We all decided to tell you that you are-"
"Extremely beautiful!"
The one in the hat punched the one with the uni brow and cleared his throat. "Well, yes. That is what we wanted to tell you. And also, what is your name?" He folded his hands in his lap and she raised her eyebrow. "Kya."
"Kya-san!~ You're so beautiful!"
She glared at the uni brow pirate. They were so...weird. She hadn't expected pirates to be such idiots these days. Weren't they supposed to be brave and fearless?
"Oi, stop flirting. I see a town." Zoro interrupted, staring off into the distance. Sure enough, a town with multiply rows of buildings came into view. The pirates gasped, and sped up their rowing, quickly making it to the dock. She looked at the large ship next to them, towering over their little boat. 'We should really find a new means of travel...' she thought bitterly as the boat was tied to the dock.
"We're here Master Zoro! Miss Kya!"
The two looked around the village, noticing the absence of people. She felt a bit uneasy about the whole thing. "The village is empty? I can't see anyone around..." She muttered, hoping off the boat. "The truth is, our Buggy pirate fleet is here at the moment, raiding this village." the uni brow one said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
"We better meet that Buggy guy then..." Zoro said to her as he jumped up up onto the street. "We might be able to get information about Luffy." she nodded. "Let's go." and they took off down the street.
"Where do you think he'll be?" he muttered as they turned a corner. "Who knows, maybe he-"
She barely had time to dodge as the whole row of buildings beside them shatter and exploded. They flew to the side, crashing into a pile of crates. "Shit." she muttered, grabbing her head as she pushed the debris off her. "You okay, Zoro?" He grumbled something incoherent as he sat up. She chuckled lightly but turned her attention towards the building where the shot had come from. "I think we found Buggy." He sighed as she helped him up off the ground. "And Luffy."
Sure enough, there was Luffy on the near edge of the building in a cage. "What an idiot." She muttered as they ran again, this time up the building. "There's a girl with him. That must be the one those pirates were talking about." Zoro said, holding onto the edge of a window. "There's some people going after her. Help her out, I'll get Luffy." she ordered and he nodded. "Got it."
Swiftly, she jumped from line to line, Zoro following, as they made their way up to the top. She landed next to Luffy who smiled brightly at her. Zoro pulled his katanas, unsheathed, out and blocked the pirates going after the young girl. "Just how many of you are going after one girl?"
Kya took a good look at the girl. Short, orange hair, big eyes and pale skin. She wore a white t-shirt with stripes on the sleeves and a mini skirt with circles on the sides. She was pretty, definitely, and had a big chest, though not as big as Kya's. She held a wooden staff, but her hands were chaffed and red, as if they had been burned.
"Kya! Zoro!" Luffy exclaimed from his spot in the cage. She squatted next to him as Zoro made sure the girl was okay. "Idiot. Getting yourself locked up in a cage." she muttered. 'Is he really captain worthy?'
"You! Is this your idea of fun? You get caught by a bird and carried away, and now, when we finally find you, you're in a cage? Stupid!" Zoro shouted, putting a sword on his shoulder. Kya ignored the whispers from the crowd and looked at the man standing behind Zoro. He wore a large furry cape, a hate that had hair, at least she thought it was hair, sticking out from the sides. His nose was bright red and large and he had a skull and cross bone son his face along with clown paint.
"Buggy..." She whispered to herself, standing up. She could smell the fight coming on and her body longed to give the pirates a good punch or two in the face. "You're definitely Zoro. Are you aiming for my head?" Buggy asked. His voice was low, but raised high in some places. It was like a boy hitting puberty.
"No, I've no interest in that. I'm no longer a pirate hunter because I've quit..."
"But I have some interest, if I kill you, my name will become more famous!"
"If you don't wanna die, then leave me alone."
Her body tensed as Zoro pulled his swords out, ready to fight. "If you don't show your true skills now,you'll soon be covered in blood!" Buggy shouted pulling a small dagger out. "Fine, if this is what you want."
As always, Zoro easily sliced through his opponent, but something was off. Buggy's body fell to the ground in pieces. "There's no blood..." Kya muttered, her eyes going wide as Luffy shouted cluelessly. "Huh? That guy's so weak!"
"He died really easily." She heard Zoro think out loud and Buggy's crew began to laugh. "Uhm... Zoro..." She swallowed heavily, her eyes darting, waiting for a surprise attack. "Oi! You guys! Get me out of this thing." Luffy whined and Zoro walked over to them. "Kya, forget about it. Let's get Luffy out." He said and she nodded as they stood in front of the cage. "This thing won't open without a key, though." She said, pointing towards the lock. He sighed, placing a hand on the trap. "These iron bars won't slice." he added and Luffy only whined loudly.
Suddenly, the pirates around bust out into fits of laughter. "What's so funny?" She growled, but no one answer. "Just give us the key, we don't want to fight you guys." She nodded at Zoro's words and bent down to Luffy. "They're pretty weird." He drawled out slowly and she chuckled lightly.
"Agh!"
She turned to Zoro, watching in horror as a floating hand stabbed him in the side. The blood splattered over her face, and he fell to his knees. "Zoro!" She and Luffy cried together, and she placed her hands on his chest and shoulder, keeping him up.
"Damn it! What the hell is it?" He yelled, pushing her off him and turning around to face the floating hand with the dagger. "The hand! The hand is floating in the air!" She stood up quickly, shouting at the injured man. "Zoro! Stop moving you're going to make it worse!" She knew that would could be deadly if it wasn't treated right away. If he kept pushing himself, he'd die.
"The Bara Bara Fruit! That's the name of the Devils Fruit that I have eaten. No matter how hard you try to slice me up, you can't because I am a sectioned-man!" Her eyes went wide as Buggy yelled. 'A sectioned-man? Zoro has no chance against him!'
"A sectioned-man? That guys a monster!" Luffy cried out, and it took everything she had not beat the shit out of him. "I see I've missed you vital organs...Roronoa Zoro. But it's still a pretty serious injury. It was an okay victory." Buggy said maliciously, smiling as his crew cheered him on.
'What a sheepish man. Attack from behind.' Kya thought angrily, clenching her fists together. "Stabbing from the back, that's dirty! You big nose!" Luffy shouted and she smiled. When Luffy was free, Buggy would be in for it.
"Who are you calling a big nose?" Buggy shouted, lunging towards the two of them. She pulled her dagger out quickly, but was too slow. A dagger and hand shot towards Luffy and another hand punched her in the stomach, sending her flying towards the edge.
"Luffy! Kya!" She heard Zoro scream as she sat up, wiping the blood from her mouth. "Luffy..." Said boy turned slightly to smile back at her, dagger in between his teeth, before he looked back at Buggy. "I swear, I'm gonna take you down!"
"Oho, take me down? Puwahahahahahahahaha, you're gonna take me down? You're hilarious!You four are gonna die right now on the spot. Puwahaha!"
Sighing Kya stood from where she was and walked over next to Luffy as he laughed. "So you have a will to die, Straw Hat? Just exactly how do you plan on taking me down in this situation? Boys! Laugh at him!" Buggy's crew laughed loudly, and it pissed her off. Clenching her fists she marched towards them, but stopped as Luffy yelled. "Run away! Zoro! Kya!"
She gasped as she stared at him and Zoro did the same. "Hey... your friends came to rescue you, but you're telling them to run away...? What about you?"The girl shouted at Luffy. Kya stared hard at Luffy and, seeing the smile on his face, she understood.
"Got it, Captain."
"Okay."
"Stupid idiot! You think I'm going to let you guys go! Bara Bara Cannon!" she ran behind Zoro, who blocked Buggy's daggers flying in his hands. She frowned as he ran up under the cannon and tried to push it upwards. "Hahahahaha! Zoro's running away! You think you can escape from Captain Buggy?"
She jumped up and flipped in front of him, swiftly kicking Buggy's hands away as Zoro flipped the cannon, pointing it towards Buggy's crew. "Khaaa! He pointed it in our direction!" They all yelled, flailing around wildly. "Agh! That thing still has the 'Buggy Special Cannon-Ball' in it!"
"Light it!" She demanded to the girl as she ran over to Zoro, helping him stand up. The girl's eyes widened. "Wh-what?" Kya sighed. "Hurry!" "Y-Yes!"
The ground shook as the cannon fired the ball towards the crew, destroying them. "Are you okay?" She whispered to Zoro as he clutched his bleeding wound. "This is a good time to go." He began, then looked at the orange haired girl. "Who are you anyway?"
The girl froze for a second. "I...I'm a thief." She declared, making Kya snort. "That girl, is our navigator!" Luffy then announced. "Ohhh. You're the girl that took those idiots' boat."
"You're an idiot aren't you! You're still on about that?If you've got time to say things like that then how about thinking of a way to get out of that cage!" The thief suddenly yelled at Luffy angrily, only making him smile. "Hey! That's a good idea! I'll do that!"
"No, it's okay. Just stay in the cage." Zoro said, smirking. He stood up and placed a hand on Kya's shoulder before walking over to the cage. Slowly, he started lifting it up and she rose to her feet, grinding her teeth in anger and worry. "Hey Zoro, it's okay! Your stomach is gonna pop out if you do this!" Luffy said, his face contorting into fear and disgust. She nodded in agreement. "Zoro, put him down. I'll carry him."
"If it wants to pop out then let it! Don't tell me what to do, I'll do it my own way!" Zoro hoisted the cage, Luffy still inside, onto his shoulder and blood came pouring out of his side. "Zoro stop this! Let me look at it before you go and kill yourself!"
"Don't butt in by saying anything!" He shouted before jumping over to the next building. "Idiots...I'm surrounded by idiots who are going to kill themselves." She muttered, following them half way down the building before Zoro set the cage down, panting heavily. He fell to his butt, grasping his freshly bleeding wound carefully.
"Let me look at it." She whispered, bending down next to him. "I'm fine." He pushed her away, and looked at her with a serious expression. "We don't have time to worry about stupid little wounds right now. We're in a dangerous situation here. But what's been started must be finished I suppose." he chuckled to himself, but that only made her more angry.
"Ow! What the hell!" He screeched after she hit him on the head. "You idiot! You're going to die if you don't let me take care of that wound!" She yelled at him, her eyebrows furrowing. He pouted at her, clutching said wound. "I told you, I'm fine."
"Obviously not if your guts are about to spill out of-"
He covered her mouth with his unbloodied hand and frowned. "Shut up, woman. This won't kill me." She sighed, removing the hand from her face. "If I don't look at it, it will." She told him softly, begging with her eyes. They had just started their adventure. He couldn't die yet.
"You're not going to give up, are you?"
"No."
"Fine. Let's find somewhere safe first."