Sho-Ryu-Ken: Deadly Strength!

Disclaimer: Don't own One Piece. 'Nuff said fools

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Clack

"Check...,"

"Hmmm...,"

Click-clack

"Not anymore,"

Clack

"Saw that one coming...check again, Captain,"

Axe frowned as he looked at his chess pieces while Chizuru leaned in her chair, hands behind her head and a small smile on her face, "...so, you've played chess quite often, Chizzy. You should've told me that you were talented,"

"You didn't ask,"

"True...and you're giving me a run for my money,"

"Well to tell you the truth, Captain, you play poorly compared to others I've played against. I mean," she nodded to the board, "Your moves are erratic, non-sensible, also pretty predictable,"

Axe grinned, "That true? Well...," he moved his Queen and with the help of a Rook, he cornered her King, "How do ya like them bananas?" he asked smugly. Chizuru raised an eyebrow at the move and tapped the board, "Interesting move. Well I believe this game is yours, Captain," she said as she tipped her King over onto the board.

"Seems like it," Axe said as he set the pieces back up, "Mind if I ask some questions, Chi?" he inquired. Chizuru shook her head slightly, "Not at all, Captain. Please, fire away,".

"Why did you join us?"

"You needed a navigator, and I'm skilled in that field. Besides you sought me out and I joined. Simple as that,"

"Alright...fair enough. How do you know so much about me?"

"Remember what I said the first time you and I met? Some news can be passed faster than just news and propaganda...," Chizuru stood up and stretched her arms, "Again, simple as that,"

Axe frowned, "Why are you being so evasive, Chizuru?" he asked quietly.

"Because some things are better left unsaid, Captain...,"

"Listen, I appreciate you being with us and your help, but I am the captain of this ship and this crew, and I expect you to show me some damn respect and when I ask you a question, I wa-,"

He was cut off as a loud crashing sound echoed through the air. The two pirates looked at each other then made a dash outside.

"Where'd that come from?"

"The galley, I think...,"

They crept to the galley and noticed that the door was open. Footfalls and clinking of metal was heard from the inside. Axe glanced at Chizuru and nodded. They both entered the galley, weapons at the ready, and stared at the sight that was in front of them.

"Uh...wow,"

"Well that explains breakfast the other day...,"

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Kirsty exited the inn, fully rested and headed to the arena. Dusty, Devon, Austin, and Niri were already there, watching the matches that were scheduled for today. After some time looking, she finally found her nakama.

"Hey guys...," she greeted, glancing at the ring, "Who's todays contestants?" she asked curiously. Devon waited a bit while Dusty and Niri cheered on the fighters, then turned to Kirsty, "Well Doc, there's this guy fighting a chick. The guys name is Rayo and the chick...well...,"

"Well what?"

"Let's just say that we're not the only ones using a Dragon's name. She calls herself the Black Dragon,"

Kirsty turned to the fight to see a man in a black suit dodging a flurry of kicks from a woman in a black dress, much similiar to Kirsty's combat dress. The only difference was that instead of the white dragon symbol, it had a fearsome black dragon on the back, and she wore a black mask.

"White Dragon...Black Dragon...hey doc, think that's your sister?" Dusty said jokingly.

Kirsty glared at Dusty, who shrank back in fear, her fox ears lowering against her hair. Niri shook her head, and guided Kirsty away from the crowd, "Sorry...she can be really stupid at times. You ok?" she asked her friend.

"Yeah...," Kirsty nodded, folding her arms across her chest, "I'm fine,".

"You hafta admit...it would be pretty cool if Black Dragon were Kyra. I mean, twin sisters in the past and you taking up the name of the White Dragon...,"

"Yeah, I know! But I just took the name 'cuz it sounded cool but..," Kirsty shook her head, "She wouldn't be here. It's been years since the raid on Tristram and by now, she must either be in the Grand Line, a slave, a prisoner to the Marines or...," she trailed off, not wanting to continue.

Niri nodded and patted her on the shoulder, "It's ok...hey, if it makes you feel better, I'll string Dusty up later on the mast and use her for target practice?" she offered, spinning her fathers pistol around her finger.

"Heehee...thanks...we can do it after the tournament, ok?"

As they made their way back to the crowd, a large collection of gasps rippled through the air. The two girls tried to see what was going on, but everyone was moving around too much for them to see.

"DEVON! DUSTY! Where are you guys?!" Niri yelled, trying to look for her friends.

"Over here!"

"YO! YOU GOTTA SEE THIS!!"

After some difficult weaving in and out of the crowd, the two found their nakama. Kirsty shoved a guy off and looked at Dusty, "What's going on?" she asked loudly over the growing volume of yelling from the surrounding people. Dusty grabbed the doctors head and forced her to look to the arena, "Check this out!".

The man in the black suit was standing on his feet, trying hard not to fall over. Blood ran down the side of his head, his dark bangs covering his eyes. The woman in the black dress stood a few feet away from him, still in an attack stance.

"Oh good god...what did she do to him?!"

Dusty shrugged, "Not exactly sure. I mean, first, they were just fighting like normal, then she pulled all this weird shit and gained the upper hand!"

"What kinda weird shit?" Niri asked, staring at the scene. Dusty shrugged again, "Not sure...but that guy wasn't prepared for it,"

The group of five became quiet as the woman held out her arm, her fist aimed at the man. She stood there quietly, fist still outward as though she were waiting for something. That's when it appeared. A small aura of dark flames appeared around the woman's fist.

"What is she doing?"

Dusty's ears twitched, "I dunno..it's weird, it's like she's waiting for something,"

"I mean, what she doing with her fist? There's something swirling around it!"

Niri and Devon glanced at her, "What are you talking about?"

They don't see it? Kirsty wondered, turning back to the fight. The black flames grew in size, as if it were feeding off something from the air.

"Sho-Ryu-Ken!" the woman shouted before pushing her feet off the arena floor. What happened next, seemed almost unreal. It's as if it happened in slow motion. The woman glided across the arena, her feet barely even touching the ground. She stopped just inches from the man and crouched low, before quickly bringing up her aura-encased fist.

With a sickening crack, her fist connected with the man's chin and he shot into the air like a rocket.

"Holy shit!"

"O my God!"

"Sonofabitch!"

Kirsty, Niri, Devon, Austin and Dusty watched as the man rose about fifty feet into the air before coming to a stop and then plummeting straight back down to the arena floor. The woman in black turned away and began to walk back the way she had entered.

Kirsty knew that she had to help the falling man. If he were to hit the ground, he would surely die upon impact.

You can't interfere...it's still my fight

She blinked and looked around, "Who said that?".

"Said what Doc?"

They cannot hear me, White Dragon. Only you can. I used my Sho-Ryu-Ken on him. Unless he's strong in body and will, he won't survive. Do not interfere.

Are you...the Black Dragon?

Heehee...indeed I am. I see we were destined to meet each other here again...it's been awhile.

Look, I'm sorry, but I'm just using the name as a fighting thing. I'm not the White Dragon!

...I see. Well if that's how you see it, then you will not survive our fight.

Our fight? What makes you think we're going to fight each other?

It's destiny...you cannot escape Destiny. I'll seek you out later

And with that, Kirsty fainted just as a dark figure leapt onto the arena just in time to catch the man from hitting the stone tiles.

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"Kirsty!"

Axe turned around, Rayo in his arms unconcious and bloody, but alive. He saw that the crowd had dispersed a bit around where his crew was. He looked down at Rayo as a small group of people headed onto the arena floor, screaming Rayo's name.

If she managed to take down the Beast...then maybe this was a mistake Axe thought as he began to walk down the arena stairs. He made his way to the inn and looked to the side to see Devon had Kirsty in his arms, out cold.

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Kilnorc: Wow...that took a bit. Sorry if it wasn't that good guys. Been busy with babysitting, and ideas, and pressure for other fics, ESPECIALLY my xmas one lol. so just how strong is this Black Dragon? Who was the one in the ship's galley earlier in the chapter? When will I stop asking dumb questions like this?! lol j/k on that. catch ya next chapter.