Chapter IX: Enter Red Hair! P1 – Yay! A Visit from an Old Friend

"Speech"

Thoughts or emphasis or scenery changes or significant time gaps

ANGRY VOICE

*noises* (except laughter)

*actions*

'Telepathy' (Only for the telepath's voice)

Some months after arriving in the New World

Moby Dick

Kitsune

Something was up. The crew seemed a bit more tense than usual. Even Luffy could read the atmosphere. Said straw-hatted boy went over to one of the commanders – Jozu – and asked him what was going on. Considering said commander had hefted a case of cargo larger than himself, Ace pulled Luffy back before something could go wrong – like if Luffy slipped and tripped against the commander just as he lifted the box up. Kit was glad he was standing just behind Luffy when the rubber-brained boy began to fall over nothing and steadied him.

"The crew is readying the ship for the arrival of a rival emperor. Red Hair asked for a meeting. Remember that crazy pirate that requested an audience with Pops a few weeks ago?"

"Oh. That guy was funny. He got all angry and red, and Pops called him a brat," giggled Luffy.

Kit rolled his eyes at his brother's take on the comical scene of some rookie parading about like he was something big in the face of Pops. Kit chuckled a bit when he remembered Pops tearing the guy's letter apart and replying that the "red-haired brat" should come himself if he wants to discuss anything important. The crew had the boys staying in their room as a precaution since they didn't want just anyone to know that Whitebeard had four brats on board. Kit only overheard part of the conversation with his fox hearing. None of the boys knew the name Red Hair, although Luffy actually looked a bit thoughtful upon hearing the name. Kid still couldn't remember where he heard it.

"So who is Red Hair?" Turning backward, Kit saw Sabo had joined the conversation.

"Red Hair, as in 'Red-Haired' Shanks, captain of the Red-Haired Pirates," answered Thatch. He had noticed Jozu talking to the boys and strolled over to see what had perked the boys' curiosity.

"Shanks?!" cried Luffy. The boy practically had stars in his eyes at the mention of the captain who came to Foosha Village those years ago.

"Hmm, Shanks. Ah! I remember him. Guy called me a dog with an overblown hairdo when I first showed him my abilities," commented Kit. He smirked as usual, but his silvery blue eyes gleamed with something other than harmless intent.

"You guys know Red Hair?" exclaimed Thatch. Kit shrugged his shoulders.

"Luffy and I met him a couple years ago. Ace and Sabo don't know him personally since Grandfather took us to Dadan's Country some time afterwards. Luffy talks about him a lot, though. The Red-Haired Pirates more or less made our hometown of Foosha their base for a year before they left for the Grand Line," explained Kit. "I like the guy's attitude, reminds me of how Luffy can be; I respect him for saving Luffy, but Luffy really liked the guy, practically worships him. He's Luffy childhood idol. He's the reason that Luffy's dream is to be the pirate king one day."

"Mmm, Shanks gave me his straw hat. I made a promise," declared Luffy, his voice rising, "a promise to take good care of his hat and to one day return it when I'm a great pirate like him!" Luffy practically shouted the last part. Ace and Sabo nodded their heads, they already knew the story of how Luffy got his treasured hat. Jozu had finished loading some of the cargo and gave a small smile at his little brother's heartfelt words. Thatch chuckled, thinking that Luffy had a big promise to keep.

"Well, isn't that something little brother? Then you might enjoy the visit a whole lot more than our resident fire turkey."

"Oh?"

"Uh huh. You'll see why. Whenever we meet up with Red Hair, the idiot keeps asking Marco the same question every time. It's a bit of a tired gag between the two of them."

"I see," chuckled Kit. He knew Shanks had a lot of strength and charisma but lacked a bit in his maturity. A lot like Luffy, actually.

"The Red Force approaches! Their pulling up to the portside," called the lookouts.

The boys stopped in their reminiscing with Thatch. The fourth commander and third commander walked over to the main deck, the boys trailing after. Thatch asked them to stay with him or another commander during the initial meeting. He also told the boys to not be ashamed or startled if people, including themselves, fell unconscious. Kit cocked his head. Thatch said that Red Hair always released a wave of Conqueror's haki when boarding the Moby Dick.

"Oh, like what Pops did to the sea king?" chirped Luffy.

"Exactly. And we don't know what it will do to you four, so keep quiet and listen to us."

"That man's will is formidable," added Jozu. The boys hardly ever heard the third commander speak, and his deep voice made Kit jump a little in surprise. "So stay back little brothers."

All the commanders on board the Moby Dick stood in a ring around the deck. Technically only some of the commanders - first, third, fourth, fifth, seventh, eight, tenth, twelfth, fifteenth, and sixteenth - stood in attendance, as the rest sailed on the other ships of the Whitebeard Pirates and watched over various parts of Pops' territories. Many members of the rest of the crew lined the sides of the main deck as well, but Thatch said that most will fall over from Shanks' haki. Marco waved for the boys to stand behind him and some of the other commanders.

The air trembled. Walking over the connecting gangplanks strode in 'Red-Haired' Shanks. He just stepped onto the Moby Dick when Kit first felt the wave of pressure pass over him. He looked over to his brothers. They looked no worse for wear, and Luffy just practically jumped up and down in his sandals when saw Shanks. Just as promised, a series of thumps from falling bodies ensued after the wave of haki. Kit sighed in relief. The brothers were unaffected by the haki.

"Oi, Red Hair! Quit it! You're making a mess of our crew!" shouted Marco. The pineapple head's usually plain expression hinted at irritation.

"Oh, Marco, commander of the first division. Want to join my-"

"Never! Whitebeard's my captain!"

It hasn't even been five minutes and already Shanks has made the cool and collected first commander snap in anger. Kit couldn't help but chuckle a bit as he stood behind Jozu. He could even hear Thatch snickering from his seat on the railings. A squeal and shout from the side revealed that Ace had lost hold of Luffy who had happily ran over to Red Hair.

"Anchor?" Kit wished he had his camera. The dumbfounded look on Shanks's face was too precious with Luffy dancing in front of the fearsome emperor.

Ahh…no point in hiding anymore. Kit shrugged helplessly at Jozu when he walked around the hulking commander to stand by Luffy. Ace and Sabo got the same idea.

"Errr…? Kit? And more children? I guess I know the answer to my question."

"Gurarara! And what question were you going to ask me, brat?" called Whitebeard from his chair.

"Oh, I just came to check on why you've been sticking to safer waters. Some rookies had got it in their minds to skulk around the bordering sea between yours and mine, so I took care of them for you. So Newgate, any reason you have children on board, especially since I know for a fact that at least two of them come from East Blue? These seas are too dangerous for them! What if they get hurt in a skirmish, or even caught in a full-fledged battle? Or if the marines find out about them?" Shanks' voice practically shook from the edge of anger and fear. The man really did worry for them.

"We know what we are doing, red-haired brat. My crew can more than take care of their youngest brothers. These children are more than meets the eye. They can fend for themselves until a commander comes to their aid, and we plan on training the brats. I have taken them for my sons, and I will not change that." Pops stood up when he said the last part. Shanks shook his head in disbelief but sighed. There really is no changing an old man's mind concerning his sons.

"Alright Newgate. Oi, Luffy? These guys been treating you two well? Oh, and who are these other kids?"

"Hi Shanks! These are my other older brothers!"

Ace and Sabo took a step forward to introduce themselves. They bowed low, thanking Shanks for saving Luffy when he was younger, demonstrating the manners they gained in practicing with Makino on Dawn Island.

"Pleasure to meet the man that saved my little brother. Thank you. My name is Sabo."

"Thank you for saving our little brother. I'm Portgas D. Ace."

Portgas D. Ace? Shanks smiled jovially at his new friends. "Any brother of Luffy's is a friend of mine. Hey, old man! How about a party?"

Marco raised his eyebrow at the audacity of the red head. Pops just laughed, calling Shanks a "cheeky brat" but agreeing to throw a party to thank the man that saved one of their brats long ago. Thatch just clapped his unamused friend on the back.

"Better go prepare the food. Something tells me that we might need another supply stop if Red Hair's crew drinks all the booze again. Those brats keep eating all the food, too."

Late Hours of the Night

Somewhere on the deck of the Moby Dick

Luffy

Wow, it was nice seeing Shanks, thought Luffy. Right now the party was in full swing. As Luffy walked, he saw several lightweight crew members keel over from too much drinking. Shanks decided to regale the Whitebeard Pirates of the antics of Luffy and Kit from their time in Foosha Village. Kit lobbed a special foxfire fireworks ball at Shanks' head when he mentioned a certain incident involving a ditzy Kit. Shishishi. He remembered how some rare plants that Lucky Roo found accidentally blew from his hands to Kit's face. His big brother acted really funny then! He kind of reminded Luffy of his drunk brothers in the way he kept swaying around the bar and would smile and laugh at random things. Kit's cheeks turned crimson because Shanks recovered and continued speaking despite his singed hair.

Luffy loved to party with Shanks, but he really needed to find the restroom with all that juice he drank. He didn't want to bother his older brothers and waved off his pirate brothers' offers to walk with the kid, stating that he was a big kid and could walk by himself.

*Fwoosh.*

The little boy looked over the railings. Drifting in the sky just in above the rails was a big and shiny thing. Luffy did not hesitate to hop on the rails and reach out for the falling shiny object. The boy just grabbed the falling object. A…feather? Suddenly, the boy felt something clasp around his back, and the next thing he knew was that he was flying. But not the good flying like when he begged Marco to give him a ride in his phoenix form. No, this type of flying made Luffy's stomach tumble and his sides hurt from the sharp edges digging into them. He tried to shout, but the bird's tight hold made his voice choked and reedy.

The main deck

Kitsune

"Help."

Kit's head lifted up. Luffy?

After he chased Shanks around the deck for several minutes, the Zoan resigned himself to just curling up to the side of the deck and watching the two crew party and get drunk. He shift-shaped into his larger fire fox in order to accompany the relaxing bodies of Ace, Sabo, Luffy, and Marco. Dealing with Red Hair gave the first commander headaches apparently. His fire fox warmed his brothers against the night's chill. Luffy had just left a little while ago to find the restroom.

"Hey Marco." The first commander sat up from his resting position on the large fox's haunch. "Mind if I go check on Luffy? I thought I heard him. It wasn't very loud, maybe closer to a whisper, but my ears picked up the word help."

The first commander's expression changed a bit as he crinkled his brow in worry.

"I'll go find him. Stay here, and keep an ear out for any more noises. Only an idiot would attack two emperors at once, but we can't be too sure."

Sitting on the planks sat a familiar straw hat.

The party grounded to a halt once Marco sent word about his discovery. Luffy would never leave his treasured straw hat lying on the ground. A watchman reported that he thought he saw a glimpse of some sort of shadow in the sky but it faded out of sight only a second later. It looked like some sort of bird. Namur searched the surrounding sea and found an odd and large feather caught against the ship. Some sort of giant bird had most likely carried off their youngest brother. Navigation reported that the nearest island was one they have yet to visit on the edges of their territories: Rocke Island.