Ch. 5- An Unexpected Meeting

One Piece © Oda

Blizzard and Blight © Me

Nami had to admit that she did like being a kid, again. To her, it meant she could do the things she couldn't do as an adult. For instance, she could play on the train tracks (even though she knew she wasn't supposed to) and balance on them like she couldn't before, and Luffy did admit that his rejuvenated girlfriend did look rather cute.

Before long, the train arrived and the Straw Hats (minus Franky, who stayed behind to repair the ship) gathered onboard, and of course, the ride there was quite eventful. Luffy was given a coloring book so he would be kept busy and not bother the other passengers (mainly Nami), Chopper was happily checking the view outside the window, Blizzard got motion sickness and ended up throwing up twice (the first time on Usopp's shoes and the second time on Brook's pants), and Zoro and Robin ended up falling asleep together during the ride.

They later arrived at Secon Island, an island with a huge city known for it's hot springs and popular tourist trade.

"Oh, yeah," said Sanji. "Luffy, Blizzard, Moss-head, Bones. You guys look pretty creepy, so you'd best leave the information hunting to us. Isn't that right, Nami and Robin, my dears~?"

"Forget it, Sanji," Nami said.

"Huh?!" Sanji questioned.

"Let's face it," Nami said. "Your face just screams 'pervert'. Robin, Chopper, Usopp, and I will gather the information."

"But…I was hoping I'd get to accompany you," said Sanji.

Burn, Blizzard thought with a snicker.

"I got a better idea, cook," said Zoro, who had woken up once they arrived. "Let's go and enjoy the hot springs for a while. We might as well get some relaxation before the fight with Z."

"A capital idea!" Brook agreed. "You can leave clothes shopping to me! It appears quite a few popular brands here, yes?"

"Okay, then," said Nami. "Be careful out there, everybody, and don't get caught by the Marines, all right? Let's spread out and search!"

"Right!" the Straw Hats.

"Hot springs, here I come!" Luffy cheered.

"Luffy, come back! Wait for us!" Zoro called.

XXX

About maybe an hour later, the Monster Quarter plus Brook decided to take a relaxing hot springs. For Luffy, Blizzard, and Brook, however, that seemed easier said than done. The moment Luffy and Brook got in the water, they felt their strength being sapped right out of them, and Blizzard couldn't stand the heat due to his thick fur, so he made due with getting a deep tissue massage.

"Man," said Sanji, who is wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. "You Devil Fruit users are full of weaknesses. "They even lose their strength in hot springs."

BOWOING! Luffy's arms stretched down to the floor as he moaned in an almost drunken manner.

"As long as we don't get the upper half of our bodies wet," said Brook, "then we still survive."

Zoro heaved a sigh in relaxation.

"The temperature's perfect," he said.

For you, maybe, Blizzard thought as one of the staff women massaged his back and shoulders, but I feel like I'm melting in that water.

"Anyway," said Brook, "should we really be staying at these hot springs and wasting our time?"

"Oh, yeah!" Luffy exclaimed, his strength suddenly returned. "I gotta find Z so I can kick his ass!"

"Moron," Sanji said as he walked over to a tub full of hot water. "Do you know what would happen if a pirate with a bounty of 400 million on his head went walking around on this island full of Marines?"

SPLOOSH! Sanji sat in the tab, causing the water to overflow and spill over the rim.

"You'd be causing more trouble for us, again," he concluded.

"He's right, Luffy," Blizzard added. "Don't be so hasty."

Luffy hummed in perhaps a bit of disapproval.

"You remember what Nami said, right?" Sanji asked. "She, Robin, Usopp, and Chopper are getting information about Z as we speak."

XXX

Meanwhile, at a local tavern, it is revealed that Robin is up on a stage, doing a rather extravagant dance for an audience of locals, tourists, and Marines, who cheered and swooned at her as she moved her arms and her hips to the music.

It was really Nami's idea. While Robin came in as entertainment with Usopp as her manager, the child-sized navigator got a job serving drinks, giving the impression that she is Robin's younger sister. The ploy worked, for everyone is now mesmerized by Robin's dance, and that meant that while they were intoxicated (by Robin dancing and the alcohol), Nami could milk as much information about Z as she could.

So far, Nami didn't have much luck, but she kept trying.

"My, my!" said the manager of the tavern, watching Robin twirl on stage. "She's quite a dancer, isn't she?"

"Yes~!" Usopp answered. "I'm glad you like her so much!"

I'm glad that Zoro's not here, Nami thought as she watched Robin dance. He would be SO jealous.

"Hey! Where's my drink?!"

"Coming!" Nami exclaimed as she hurried to a table.

XXX

Outside, it appeared that Chopper has gotten a lower-class job as a shoe shiner. So far, he hadn't gotten any information about Z. His customers either tried to change the subject or just not saying anything, period. Still, the tiny reindeer refused to give up.

"So, are you going on a date tonight, sir?" asked Chopper's "employer": a boy named Purin.

"Yes," said a young man. "Leave it nice and shiny, please!"

Chopper sighed as he continued to shine the man's shoes.

I wonder how Luffy and the others are doing, he thought.

XXX

Back at the hot springs, the Monster Quartet plus Brook are still relaxing, only now, they had moved to a bigger tub. Even Blizzard found himself sitting in the water. Apparently, this hot spring's temperature was just perfect for the wolf-dog.

"Ah, yes," Brook sighed. "I can feel it in my bones…all your tension just melts away."

You got that right, pal, Blizzard thought.

SMACK! Luffy pounded a fist into his palm.

"Z," he muttered. "I got distracted by his right arm and I let my guard down…but it's not gonna happen this time!"

"Wait, Luffy," said Sanji. "Maybe we should think this through a bit more. Since you have Devil Fruit powers, and you just attack him head-on without thinking, first, you'll get grabbed by that Sea Prism Stone arm of his again and wind up losing your strength. I think it's best if you leave Z to me and Moss-head."

"He's right," Blizzard said. "Maybe you should stay out of this, Luffy. Z's too dangerous with that arm of his. If you fight him again, you could be seriously injured or killed."

"No way," Luffy said. "I understand you're worried about me, but I'm the captain, and I fight my own battles. If anyone's gonna kick Z's ass, it's gonna be me! Next time I face off with him, I'll make sure to avoid that arm of his and then go all out with everything I've got!"

Blizzard heaved a sigh.

Why do you have to be so damn stubborn? he thought.

"I see you're still as lively as ever," said a voice.

The five Straw Hats looked up and saw someone lying in a tub higher than theirs.

"I was getting pretty bored waiting for you guys," said the stranger.

Just then, Blizzard's nose twitched, and he gasped.

"Luffy," he called. "I recognize that guy's scent!"

"You do?" Luffy asked.

"Yes, I do!" Blizzard answered. "That's-"

The stranger lifted his head, and once they saw his face, the Monster Quartet stumbled and fell back into a lower tub with a SPLASH! Once they pulled themselves together, they looked at the stranger once more, only now, they knew he was no stranger. It was none other than…

"AOKIJI?!" Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji questioned.

Unfortunately for Blizzard, the moment he stood up, he got a glimpse of a "full moon".

"OH, GOD, LUFFY!" the wolf-dog cried as he shielded his eyes with his paws. "PLEASE PUT YOUR TOWEL BACK ON! WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO?! MAKE ME GO BLIND?!"

"What's the problem?" Brook asked. "Who is that fellow?"

"He's a Marine!" Luffy said. "Marine Admiral Aokiji!"

"ADMIRAL?!" Brook repeated in disbelief.

"Yo," said Aokiji. "Long time no see, huh? Although, I think you should call me by my real name: Kuzan."

Oh, yeah, Blizzard thought. Didn't Jimbei said that he quit the Marines?

XXX

Meanwhile, at the base of Secon Island's volcano, it is revealed that Neo Marines are indeed there, and are now planting Dyna Stone all over the place.

Ain approached Z and Blight, who are standing over the mouth of the volcano.

"Master Z," said Ain. "We have finished planting the Dyna Stones."

"Understood," said Z.

On one of the capsules containing the Dyna Stones, it appears that some sort of timer had been set.

"Once this volcano erupts," Z began, "then those godforsaken Marine brats will know of our rage and the scale of our hatred! Isn't that right, Blight?"

RUFF! Blight barked in agreement.

With that, the Neo Marine Admiral turned and left, and Blight and Ain followed behind him, the latter giving the former a soft pet to the head.

XXX

Back at the hot springs, the five Straw Hats are preparing to fight, and thankfully, they remembered to put their towels on.

"Zoro! Sanji! Blizzard!" Luffy called.

"Right!" they exclaimed as they took a fighting stance.

"What does a Marine Admiral want with the likes of me?!" Brook questioned.

He's not an Admiral, anymore, Blizzard thought, but still, we shouldn't take chances!

"Whoa, whoa," said Kuzan. "Let's not get too excited, here."

"What are you doing here?" Sanji asked. "What do you want with us? Don't tell me that you're…"

"Relax," said Kuzan. "It's nothing like that, okay? I'm not here to capture you, here and now."

The Straw Hats still poised themselves to attack, just in case.

"I quit the Marines," said Kuzan. "I thought you knew that already. I'm not a Marine Admiral anymore."

"In that case, what are you then?!" Brook asked.

"Yeah!" Blizzard barked, knowing full well that Kuzan had Observation Haki as well.

"What?" Kuzan questioned. "Now look here. I don't like it when a skeleton and a wolf ask me something like that, but since I'm not a Marine Admiral anymore…does that make me an ally of justice? Nah, that can't be it…what the hell am I, anyway?"

"YOU MEAN YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW?!" Zoro and Sanji questioned in disbelief.

You've GOT to be kidding, Blizzard thought in disbelief.

"Well, I guess that's it then," said Kuzan. "Just so you know, I don't have any intention of fighting you guys, here and now. Think about it. If I really wanted to have a scrap, then why in the world would I come here to these hot springs where I can't use my Devil Fruit powers?"

"Wait," said Sanji. "You were waiting here for us?"

"That's right," said Kuzan. "I don't really plan on staying in these hot springs much longer. How about we go and talk more outside?"

SPLOOSH! Kuzan stood up in the tub, and when he did, the five Straw Hats stared in shock and perhaps a bit of horror.

The man had a huge scar on most of his right side, and his right hand looked like it had been completely burned. Not only that, but he also had a scar on his knee…and the rest of his leg was completely gone, replaced by a chunk of ice that looked like some sort of prosthetic limb.

Luffy and Blizzard stared at Kuzan's scars, for they both knew very well where they came from.

They, too, had succumbed to those kind of burns, two years ago.

"Huh?" Kuzan muttered. "Oh…I guess you're wondering where I got these scars from, aren't you?" He rubbed his fingers against his marred shoulder. "Well…let's just say I got a bit carried away."

XXX

Meanwhile, back at the tavern, Robin is still entertaining the crowd with her dancing. She even winked them at a little, which sent the men screaming and throwing roses at her feet.

Outside, Usopp, Nami, and Chopper are talking about how they were doing so far.

"So, Chopper," said Usopp. "You find anything useful?"

"Well, I did hear rumors that a Marine troop came to the island, chasing after Z," said Chopper. "I tried to ask about it, but I couldn't get anything more."

"So it's just rumors, huh?" asked Usopp before heaving a sigh. "This tavern has a lot of Marines coming in, but I don't know if it's because of Z or…because Robin's so popular."

"Has Robin really got that much fans, already?" asked Chopper.

"Oh, yeah!" Usopp said before he pulled out a fat stack of money. "Look how much I got, just for pretending to be her manager!"

"Wow!" Chopper exclaimed. "Amazing!"

"I'll take THAT," Nami said as she plucked the money out of Usopp's hand, licked her thumb, and proceeded to count the money.

"Now boys," she said. "We can't really do much with rumors, alone."

"So, what do you suggest we do?" asked Usopp.

Nami hummed inquisitively before she looked to the sniper.

"I got it!" she said with a wink. "Just leave it to me!"

XXX

Back at the hot springs, the Monster Quarter plus Brook and Kuzan have gotten out of the water, and the Straw Hats are now enjoying some bottles of milk that the spa gave away for free.

GLUG! GLUG! GLUG! URRP! Luffy drank all the milk in his bottle before he let out a burp.

"Luffy!" Sanji barked. "Dammit, say 'excuse me' after you burp!"

"I was gonna say that!" Luffy spat. "'Scuse me. There, happy now?"

"Yes," said Sanji.

"By the way, Aokiji," said Luffy, calling Kuzan by his former alias. "What happened to your leg?"

"Did you know that in the world, there are things that you best not ask about?" asked Kuzan.

"Oh," said Luffy. "In that case, I won't ask. By the way, why did you and Akainu fight anyway? I thought you guys were friends!"

"Luffy, I thought you said you weren't gonna ask!" Blizzard said. "Besides, you already knew why when Jimbei told us, so why bother asking him at all?!"

"White Wolf's right," said Kuzan. "You really are a brat without any consideration, huh, Straw Hat? I don't really have comments about that, either."

"Well, then, why are you here, anyway?" asked Luffy.

"You really don't learn, do you?" asked Kuzan. "Well, at least I can that question."

WHAP! He put a hand on his icy knee and rubbed a bit.

"Enjoying the hot springs," he began, "is what I would like to say, but I can't stay here, relaxing for too long."

"Huh?" Luffy asked. "How come?"

"You see," said Kuzan, "I happen to be chasing after a certain man and his dog. Straw Hat…you and your little buddies were fighting against one strong foe, weren't you?"

The Straw Hats gasped silently, but then Luffy put on a look of seriousness.

"Z…" he muttered.

"And Blight…" Blizzard added, also very serious.

Kuzan smiled at Luffy and said, "Those two were hell to fight, don't you think? But then again, what did you expect from a former Admiral and a K9 Commanding Officer of the Marines?"

XXX

Meanwhile, at the tavern, Nami is approaching a couple of drunken Marine soldiers, carrying a bottle of sake on a tray.

"Sorry for the wait!" she exclaimed as she presented the sake.

"Thank you very much," said the soldier with the blonde curly hair. "I gotta say, young lady, you may be small, but you sure do strive a lot, don't you?"

"Mm-hmm!" Nami answered. "Hey, Mister Marine Man! Do you have any cool stories you wanna tell me?"

The soldiers rubbed their chins inquisitively.

"You guys know about Z, right?" asked Nami, putting on the innocent charm.

The Marines gasped in surprise.

"Little girl," said the curly-haired soldier. "How do you know about Z?!"

"Everybody knows about him!" Nami replied. "The grownups are all saying that you're here to capture Z, right?"

"Jeez, the rumors are going about, already?" asked the soldier.

"Hey, wait!" said the soldier sitting next to him; the one with the tiny mustache.

"What's the problem?" asked the curly-haired soldier. "It's just one little girl. What can she do?"

"So," said Nami, "is Z really here on the island?"

"That's right," said the curly-haired soldier. "We've come here to capture that bad guy, Z. After all, we are the heroes of justice!"

"So what exactly is Z up to?" asked Nami. "What does he want?"

"All right, all right," said the mustachioed soldier, putting a hand to his comrade's shoulder. "She's heard enough. Shut up, already! You'll get us in trouble!"

"He wants to destroy the End Point," said the curly-haired soldier.

Nami gasped in surprise.

"The End Point?!" she asked. "Wait a minute…are you telling lies just to scare me?"

"Oh, I guarantee it's no lie, little lady," said the soldier.

"That's enough, Marine!"

Nami and the soldiers yelped at the sound of that voice, the former turning around to see a Marine Captain.

"You two have had a few drinks too many," said the Captain. "You've said too much!"

"Forgive us, sir!" said the soldiers, standing up at full attention.

"And you, young lady," said the Captain. "It looks like Z has piqued your interest, too. Is there a reason as to why you're interrogating my men?"

Nami smirked, a small but evil gleam in her eye, before she turned to the Vice-Admiral with an innocent face.

"No, mister!" she said. "That man told me to ask about Z!"

Usopp gasped, for Nami was pointing an accusing finger at him and Chopper!

"He does seem like a strange man," said the Captain. He glanced at his men, who saluted him and then ran to go after the sniper and doctor.

"Dammit!" Usopp cursed. "Nami's gone and ratted us out, that traitor!"

"What do we do?" asked Chopper, perched on his shoulder. "Should we run away?"

"It's a bit of a shame to throw away an opportunity to make so much money," said Usopp, "but…I've pretty much had enough of pretending to be a manager. C'mon, Chopper! Let's split!"

"Okay!" Chopper said.

With that, Usopp and Chopper ran off before the Marines could attempt to catch them.

"Well, I gotta go! Bye-bye!" Nami said before she turned to leave, but then, TAP! She felt the Captain tap his finger on her shoulder, making her stop.

"I think you should come with, young lady," he said.

Damn! Nami cursed mentally.

Up on stage, Robin is still dancing, but then she stopped when she saw Nami getting dragged away by the Captain.

"Stop it!" Nami exclaimed, struggling to get out of his grip. "Lemme go! I mean it!"

Looks like the fun's over, Robin thought before she crossed her arms.

"Seis FLEUR!"

SWUP-SWUP-SWUP! WHAP! Six arms sprouted from the Captain's body, wrapping themselves around him and causing him to release Nami.

TUMP! Robin jumped off the stage, despite the cheering crowd, and dashed toward the young navigator.

"C'mon, Nami!" Robin called. "It's time to go!"

"Right!" Nami agreed before Robin grabbed her hand and took her away.

At that moment, the Marines came to their Captain's aid.

"Captain, are you all right?!" asked a soldier.

"This the power of the Flower-Flower Devil Fruit!" said the Captain, still struggling to get out of the arms Robin had conjured up. "That woman is none other than 'Demon Child' Nico Robin of the Straw Hat Pirates, and if she's here, then that means the Straw Hat Luffy and his crew are here on the island, too! Capture her so we can find out the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates' whereabouts!"

"Yes, sir!" the soldiers exclaimed with a salute.

XXX

Meanwhile, somewhere else on the island, Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Blizzard, and Brook are following Kuzan. While the five Straw Hats are dressed in fine suits made from the brand Armani, provided by Brook, Kuzan is dressed in an outfit to the one he wore during the attack on Robin's former homeland, Ohara. This consists of a blue bandana, a dark green trench coat with black pants, and a white deep V-neck shirt. He is also wearing a pair of gray cowboy boots and carrying a knapsack over his shoulder.

"The world, as we know it, is in the Great Pirate Era," said Kuzan. "At sea, pirates rise and fall in search of the fabled One Piece. When some pirates fall, others are born in their place."

The group then stops walking along the street and look out to the sea.

"Do the pirates come to the sea because they believe that the One Piece is one the other side of the New World?" Kuzan questioned. "Does the One Piece exist because the pirates exist? Do dreams come first? Or do the people come first? In some cases, when pirates chase their dreams, they loose all happiness and their loved ones cry for them. What can be done? Is there an answer?"

The five Straw Hats looked at Kuzan.

"Z, the former Marine Admiral, and Blight, the former Commanding Officer of Marine K9 Unit 1, found that answer by force," he said. "If the One Piece disappears…then the pirates will disappear, too."

"Destroy the One Piece?" asked Blizzard.

"That's right, White Wolf," said Kuzan. "It's a simple way thinking, isn't it? I may've left the Marines, but I wanna see where this path Z and Blight have chosen will take them…but…I don't know what I'll do, afterward."

A slight pause came.

"Straw Hat Luffy," said Kuzan as he turned to leave. "You'll follow your conviction and face Z, again, won't you? If that's the case, then show me your answer." He lifted his hand and waved to the Straw Hats.

"See ya around," he said. "Oh, and one more thing. Z is here on the island."

The Straw Hats stared after Kuzan as he walked away, and not one of them said a single world to him.

TO BE CONTINUED…

I am SO sorry I haven't updating this! I MEANT TO! REALLY!

Review, please!