Well...surprise! I kinda had this one half finished before things went south, so I figured I'd just finish it up and be done with it. After this, however, things will be averaging probably four to five days for a new release. Enjoy, and let me know what you think.
"What in the hell?" mutters the red head, staring up at the falling flakes of snow. "Wasn't it sunny just yesterday?" Hearing a ruckus on the deck below, he turns his attention down to Luffy and Usopp, both of whom have built their own respective snowman...or snow woman in Usopp's case. The difference in artistic talent is rather plain for all to see, as well, as their sharp-shooter has quite easily blown their Captain our of the water. Of course, when Luffy somehow fire's off a piece of wood from his snowman and destroy's Usopp's the fight is on.
"The weather here on the Grand Line is rather unpredictable," Robin tells him, approaching from his left. She has somehow acquired a heavy winter coat, no doubt a spare from Nami. She stops at his side and looks down at the two running around on deck, engaged in a snowball fight without another care in the world. "Those two seem to be enjoying it."
"Luffy can make the best out of any situation." A sharp wind blows, sending a shiver through Robin's frame that she unsuccessfully attempts to surpress. "You cold?"
"Just my hands." He turns, leaning heavily against the railing as he cups both her hands in his. He begins gently rubbing his palms against her in an attempt to generate some heat. His hands feel so warm, so comforting, so gentle that if it weren't for the callous she'd find it difficult to believe he could crush stone, or wield a sword with them.
"Feel better?" She nods in the affirmative, a small smile on her face. "Robin...are you feeling alright?"
"I feel fine."
"You sure? I mean...you've been awfully quiet ever since we agreed to take those two back to Whiskey Peak. Something on your mind?"
"No, nothing in particular. Why?" The easy and confidence with which she answers has him wondering if perhaps he'd imagined this whole thing. But he's certain that she's been acting a little strange since taking the two of them on board, and they've been just as strange. The two seem to steal glances at her when they think that no one is looking, and likewise Robin seems to be overly aware of the two of them no matter what they are doing. Robin's face is an unreadable mask to the red head, and when it becomes clear that she won't tell him a thing he heaves a sigh.
"Haah, forget it. Maybe I was just imagining things," Run tells her before ducking his head to slowly exhale his warm breath across her palms. Although he says this he has absolutely no intention of letting it be. Something about all of this just seems...wrong to him. Moments later, a scream sounds from the lounge. "What the?!" The red head turns quickly, rushing to the door and reaching out only seconds before it's thrown open. The edge cracks him in the face, causing him to fall back on his ass against the railing and smash the back of his head. "Oh! That hurt!"
Nami ignores him entirely, rushing to the railing quickly. "We need to turn the ship around 180 degrees!" Nami yells at them. "We're all turned around and the ship is going the opposite direction!"
"And how did that happen, exactly?" Run asks, gently rubbing the back of his head.
"I-I only looked away from the Log Pose for a second," confesses Nami sheepishly only seconds before beginning to bark orders that send the crew scrambling across the deck. Even their 'guests' aren't granted reprieve from the work, as Nami quickly kicks the two out of the lounge and onto the deck. The weather is like nothing any of them have ever seen. It changes in an instant from below freezing and snowing to a warm spring breeze that quickly sweeps across the deck, and then to lightning, and raining cat's and dogs, and finally settles on a thick fog.
They dodge ice-burgs, patch holes in the ship and sail and when all it finally said and done...they're left exhausted, sprawled across the deck. "Wha..What the fu...?" mutters Run, bracing himself against the railing of the ship. "You know, I...I don't remember the weather being so..."
"Exciting," Robin says in a tired voice, sitting on the railing behind him.
"Well...that's not the word I would have used but I suppose it'll do." He exhales slowly and then turns to lean back against the railing before crossing his arms. Robin glaces his way briefly before leaning gently against him. "I wonder if we're back on track now." A loud yawn from across the deck attracts their attention to Zoro, who finally appears to have woken up.
"Aaah! That felt amazing," Zoro says, slowly standing up. "Huh?" He looks over the prone bodies of the majority of the crew. "Oi, oi...even if the weather is really nice that doesn't mean you should sleep where ever. I mean, who's steering the ship?" Everyone absolutely radiates hostility at the swordsman while Luffy and Run can only laugh. After a moment he finally seems to notice the two extra bodies they have, and turns to look at the red head. "Oi, Red, I could've sworn that we threw the two of them over-board."
"Aah, yeah, about that..."
"We're giving them a lift back to their own, Whiskey Peak," Luffy tells him. "So, that'll be our first destination."
"Really? What for?" Zoro asks him, turning his attention back to the two. "It's not like we owe them or anythin'. In fact, I'd say they were more of a pain in the ass." After a moment he sighs and cracks his neck. "But, whatever. If it's the Captain's orders." The two of them, who have moved to a sitting position stare up at the swordsman. "Aaah, but ya know, the two of you look like you've got some dirty little secret." They begin sweating immediately. "What did you say your names were, again?"
"A-Ah, I'm Mr. N-Nine," the man tells him.
"M-Miss Wednesday," she replies.
"Yeah," drawls Zoro, grinning from ear to ear. "Something has been bothering me about that...about your names. I feel like maybe I've heard them somewhere before. I wonder where that could have been...?" Seconds later, Nami punches the swordsman in the back of the head, immediately earning his attention.
"You've got a lot of nerve acting like this," Nami tells him. "Especially after sleeping through everything that happened." She proceeds to soundly beat the swordsman for several minutes and when she's finished he has several large knots on top of his head. "Alright! Even after hearing all the stories I'll admit that I wasn't prepared for what happened! I've finally realized just how dangerous this sea is! Unfortunately, it seems that my skills as a Navigator are going to be useless here! But don't worry because I'll figure it out!"
"Ya know, suddenly I'm having some concerns," mutters Run, loud enough Robin to hear only.
"Oh! Oh! Look! It's an island!" calls Luffy from the bow, earning the attention of everyone present. The fog that has surrounded the ship clears momentarily, revealing a strange island covered in mountain sized cacti which numerous growth's reaching skyward from them. "Our first stop! Whiskey Peak!" No sooner have those words left his mouth than Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday leap up onto the railing, say their goodbyes and dive into the sea to swim on ahead of them.
"Aah, looks like we can just sail on in following this river," Nami says looking ahead of them.
"Let's stay on guard," Run tells them. "Never know what might be waiting ahead."
"Waiting ahead?" echos Usopp. "L-Like what? Monsters? Do you think there are monsters ahead?!"
"It's the Grand Line. Anything is possible."
"Well, it's no big deal!" chirps Luffy, grinning like a fool. "If there are monsters than we'll just run away! Simple, right?"
"Oi, we can't just run away," Nami tells him. "We have to wait for the Log Pose to record this island magnetic field of this island! Sometimes it takes hours or sometimes it takes days but if we don't do it then there's no way that we can sail on to the next island!" The thought of potentially having to stay on an island covered in monsters for an undetermined amount of time panic's Usopp, who quickly confesses to the crew that his 'chronic illness' is suddenly acting up...his 'do not go to the island' illness, that is.
Regardless, they sail onward up the river, the fog growing thicker and thicker still until one could barely see a hand in front of their face. Though they can't see anything they can certainly hear things...voices, to be exact, echoing through the fog that surrounds them. "Here we go," mutters Run, watching as the fog begins to clear...and reveal to the crew a whole town of people who begin cheering for them. "What the?"
"We're...We're being welcomed?" Usopp asks aloud, looking around at all the people. They sail forward, surrounded by cheering people until they finally dock the ship and disembark to be greeted by a man with the strangest, curled hair they've seen.
"Wel-" he coughs loudly, unable to finish even a single word it seems. "Ma~Ma~Ma~! Welcome to our town! My name is Igarappoi! I am the Mayor of Whiskey Peak!" Run, noticing that Robin isn't with them turns to look back toward the ship. He calls after her, and after several moments she leaves the ship, walking up the dock towards them. "Whiskey Peak is a town that thrives on making music, and liquor. Hospitality is the pride of our town! Come, allow us to throw you a party!"
Luffy, Sanji and Usopp are all over-joyed at the prospect of this, while Nami, Zoro, Robin and Run are less than thrilled. "Listen, that sounds good and all, but how long will it take for the Log Pose to store this islands magnetic field?" Nami asks him.
"Aah, don't worry about-" Igarappoi stops mid-sentence just as Robin steps up beside the red head. Of course, he launches into a coughing fit seconds later, causing Nami to cringe as a result of his proximity. "Ma~Ma~Ma~! A-Ahh, as I was saying, don't worry about such boring things for now! Come! Let's celebrate...!"
'Raucous' is the word that could be best used to describe the party thrown for them. Things have been going strong for hours with the alcohol flowing quite liberally, and so far things show no sign of winding down. Everyone from the crew has separated, and seems to be surrounded by the people of the town. Usopp is telling tall tales to entertain the more gullible people, Luffy is busy stuffing his face with what seems to be a never-ending amount of food quickly cooked up for him by a number of chef's, Sanji is flirting with the women of the town, the other four are sitting at a table surrounded by people attempting to get them to drink.
"Now, please don't hold back!" Igarappoi tells them, placing another drink on the table. "Please! Drink up!"
"Well, don't mind if I do!" Zoro and Run say in unison, picking up their drinks without reservation.
"Aah, actually, I'd prefer not to," Nami tells him.
"So, then, I suppose you would prefer not to participate in our usual contest?"
"Contest?"
"Of course! Our drinking contest! The last one standing is the winner, and the winner will receive a cash prize of 100,000 Beli!" Igarappoi tells them, pulling out a large sack of Beli for show. This seems to be all the motivation that Nami needs as she immediately seizes her glass, and knocks it back in less than a second.
"Another round!" Nami yells. "Robin! Zoro! Run! You join, too!"
"Huh?" grunts Zoro in question. "Why should I?"
"You need money, right? We can split it four ways!"
"Pass," Run says simply. "If I compete, I'll win."
"Is that right, Red?" Zoro asks, turning on the red head quickly. "And what makes you think that?"
"Oh, just a feeling."
"Well, I guess we'll just see about that, won't we?"
"Fine, bring it on!" They emptied and filled their glasses without end it seemed, knocking out almost every competitor in the process of doing. Robin, it seems, was the only one who had the sense not to compete. The red head empties is glass without much effort and slams it down on the table.
"Aaah! Fill 'er up!" Run demands, grinning as his cup his filled to the brim.
"Amazing! That guy just finished his thirteenth cup!" A man slumps across the table as Zoro slams his cup down on the table.
"What's wrong? You're slowing down, Zoro!"
"Shut it, Red!" demands Zoro, watching a man fill his glass before he starts drinking again. Nami knocks out two more competitors, and then more, and more until finally only she, Zoro, Run and a large woman in a nun's habit are the only one's left. "Aaah, that's it! I quit. I'm going to sleep." Zoro slumps over the table, leaving only the three of them remaining.
"Aah, you're hopeless, Zoro!" complains Nami, turning her blurry eyes to the red head who appears no worse for wear. In fact, as he slams his glass down on the table, he appears to still be going strong...except for his flushed face you wouldn't think he's had any alcohol at all. "Jeez, are you really a normal person?"
"Another!" demands the red head, grinning from ear to ear. "C'mon! Let's make this a fun party!"
"I...Is that guy for real?" asks one of the men, filling up his glass for him. "Isn't that his twentieth cup? The guy with the green hair only managed thirteen."
"Don't you think you should slow down?" the nun asks him. "For your health, I mean."
"Bahh! Isn't the point of partying not to worry about things like that? Come on, come on!" laughs the red head, urging Nami and the nun to continue drinking with him as he knocks the glass back, draining it in a few gulps. "Aaah! This kind of lively party...it's just like being back with the old man and his crew!" He looks down at the table, noticing that both Nami and the nun are lying across it.
"And we have a winner! The red haired guy has won!"
"Aah? Well, that's no fun!" The red head stands, raising his empty glass as he does. "Come on! Who here thinks that they can out drink me? I'll even give you a shot at the 100,000 Beli! Let's have some fun!" Robin chuckles and stands as well.
"Alright, Run," Robin says, reaching up and taking his empty glass. "I think that's enough for one night. How about a glass of water, instead?" He begins to sway on his feet, and would have fallen if she hadn't guided him to sit on the couch seconds before he passes out. "Or maybe not..."
"Oi...Oi, Red, rise and shine," calls a voice in the darkness, slowly rousing the red head from his sleep. "I said, wake up!" A sharp slap to the cheek wakes him immediately, eyes flying open and hand reaching out to grasp whoever it is that dared to slap him in the face. He grasps Zoro by the front of his shirt, eye twitching in irritation as he stares at the swordsman. "Awake?"
"That's a really shitty way to wake a guy up, ya know," Run tells him, releasing him. Zoro steps back as the red head stands, slowly looking around the dark room. Except for the crew, it seems that the whole place is completely deserted. "Where is everyone?"
"No idea. But something isn't right."
"Right." The red head motions to a ladder across the room. "Let's take the ladder. We'll get a better picture from a birds eye view." They cross the room and climb the ladder to the roof, stepping out into the moonlight and finding themselves staring down a small gathering of people. Among them is Igarappoi, the two they'd helped back here, a very muscular woman and someone wearing a cloak to hide their identity. "Oh, this looks interesting." From what little they can hear it appears that they're discussing the capture of Luffy and Run...or at least four of them are.
"E-Even if you say that, Miss All-Sunday, there are the order we were given," Igarappoi tells the apparent woman, sweating profusely. "Mr. Zero told us to capture anyone with a bounty who comes through here so-"
"Ooh, sounds like you're talking about me!" calls Run, alerting them to the presence of the two. The next second, a pair of men came running out of the place they were just in, shouting to those gathered that two of the pirates inside were missing. "I was wondering when I was going to be targeted by bounty hunters. Honestly, I'm kinda excited!" The whole town seemed to fill the streets in the next few moments, at least a hundred of them.
"So, this who place is a den for bounty hunters, then?" Zoro asks. "You target anyone who made it to the Grand Line with a bounty before they can wise up, is that it? Jeez, you Baroque Works guys just follow orders without a second thought, huh?"
"How do you know our organization?!" demands Igarappoi.
"I count one-hundred, Red. Plus the five at the front. Ya know, I really wanna test out my new swords, so what do ya say? First to fifty?"
"What, you trying to make up for losing the drinking contest?" Run questions him, slowly cracking his knuckles with a wry grin. "Haah, whatever. I just hope you're ready to lose again."
"I guess there's no helping it," Igarappoi tells them. "Even if it's Miss All Sunday who asks for it we can't let you live if you know about our Organization...kill them!" Though he says that, the two are already gone from the sight of everyone present. They're staring at nothing but an empty roof-top silhouetted by the moon. "Wh-What the?! Where did they go?!" From the group of bounty-hunters gathered, a dull 'thud!' sounds and all heads turn to find the red head standing over the fallen body of one of their comrades.
"That's one, Zoro. Forty-nine more and I win our bet." Loud groans sound at the back of the group and several bounty hunters collapse.
"Don't get too full of yourself, Red," Zoro tells him. "That's five for me."
"Huh. Well, that's no fair. I don't have a sword, ya know."
"Cry me a river."
"Haah. Whatever. It's just gonna be that much more embarrassing when I beat you bare-handed." The group turns and fires at Zoro, who dodges the rounds and results in them only firing on each other. Run uses the confusion to close the distance between himself and Igarappoi.
"Just kill 'em! It's only two men!" demands Igarappoi seconds before a hand like an iron band grasps his shoulder. "Gah...aaah!" Run's strength forces him down to his knees without a delay. Bones grind, and strain under the red head's grip...a little more pressure is all it would take to pulverize them.
"Are you sure you should be saying that, in your current position?" Run asks him, arching a brow. Weapons turn on the red head who simply narrows his eyes in response. If it seems they'll fire he's simply going to sling Igarappoi around and use him as a shield.
"W-Wait! Don't fire! You'll hit me, too!" Seconds later a saxophone appears in the red head's field of view, and by instinct he dodges. When he blows into it, a hail of bullets peppers the nearest bounty hunters, cutting them down where they stand while Run takes cover behind a building...conveniently beside Zoro.
"Was that sax...a shotgun?"
"Seems like it," Zoro tells him.
"Points for originality."
"Found 'em!" calls a bounty-hunter, who appears over head, alerting the rest of them to their hiding spot. The red head kicks the door behind them, and they both dodge back into the house. Unfortunately, this only succeeds in cornering them for the rest of the bounty hunters who appear in the windows and doors, guns raised. Zoro flips the nearby table up, and the two drop down behind it, hiding from the hail of bullets. They are still for only a moment before Zoro nods firmly to the red head and he slams his palm against the table in response, sending it sailing towards the entrance.
They split up there, Zoro charging ahead and Run diving through the nearest window and heading the opposite direction. He charges into the nearest group of bounty hunters, intent on delivering a beating to every single last one of them. Bob, weave, and sway, he's in constant motion, always on the offense, and constantly pushing forward against any defense. It's a way of fighting that requires inhuman stamina, and if it wasn't for inheriting that from his father than he wouldn't be able to do it. He, and Shanks are probably the only Humans who can do it...it is an old Fishman's fighting style, after all.
"Red! Up here!" calls Zoro from a roof-top. The red head leaps into a group of bounty hunters, using the face of one as a stepping stone to reach a roof-top. He quickly scales a nearby ladder, and the kicks it away before anyone can climb up after him. "Whew...these guys are like roaches. No matter how many you kill it's like they keep coming back...I'm on fifty-three, by the way."
"Forty-seven," Run replies calmly. "I guess you win the bet."
"I'll be counting on you to cover my debt to Nami."
"Haah...well, there go my winnings." Both look down at the ground moments later as a large shadow appears behind them. They glance back just in time to see the same muscular woman from earlier swing a whole wooden ladder in their direction. "Down!" He shoves Zoro down...but can't duck in time himself, and catches the full strength of the blow in the side, sending him skipping across the roof-top.
"Red!" The woman tosses the ladder away, and reaches down to grasp Zoro by his throat before lifting him up to eye level.
"He's done," she tells him. "There's no man who can match my strength...now stop trying my patience!" Rather than worry a grin splits his face in response.
"Ya fucked up now, woman," Zoro tells her moments before someone grasps her wrist. Her hand goes numb immediately, and pain follows it seconds later, radiating up her arm like a bolt of lightning. Zoro drops from her grip and she follows the hand back to the red head.
"Wha-" His free hand grasps her by the top of her head, squeezing so tight she's sure something is going to break.
"Ya know, that's the second time I've been knocked down with a cheap-shot," Run tells her, ignoring the pain in his shoulder. "And it's gettin' real old real fast." He increases the pressure...and the pain becomes too much for her, she cries out in a shrill tone he wouldn't have imagined someone so large capable of producing...and then she blacks out. "Hmph." He releases her and turns to face the others. "Now that that's taken care of..."
"Shall we continue, Baroque Works?" Zoro asks aloud.
"Huh, do you think we'll be that easy to be?" Mr. 9 asks them. "You may or may not know this but with members of Baroque Works, the lower your number the best your abilities! Those guys you fought aren't even in the same league as us! That means the three of us-"
"Are wasting time," Run says, interrupting him. "Are you planning to talk us to death?"
"I hate useless titles," Zoro tells them. "The stronger fighter wins in a battle. Isn't it that simple?" A volley of gunfire is their response, as Igarappoi blows into his sax sending the two diving for cover. Mr. 9 comes dashing up the building after them seconds later, apparently far lighter on his feet than they gave him credit for while Miss Wednesday whistles to summon some strange bird.
"I'll take Mr. 9."
"He's all yours then." The man in question launches himself down at the red head.
"Hot Blooded...Bat of Guts!" announces Mr. 9 producing a pair of metal bats and swinging at Run who dodges them simply enough. He slides to a stop behind the red head, bats raised in front of him. "Well? What did you think? Or are you too scared to-" Before he has even finished, the red head turns quickly on his heel.
"Sea King's Lash!" exclaims Run, kicking the metal bat nearest to him, bending it at right angle in Mr. 9's hand.
"W...What?"
"Sorry...but I'm kinda in a bad mood after that cheap-shot with the ladder," Run tells him. "So, you'll forgive me if I don't feel like playing around, right? Still...why don't you show me some more of those acrobatic's of yours?" The man growls in response, and does just that...at least until he flips right off the roof. "Hm. Well, then." The red head looks around for a moment, eventually spotting Zoro in a nearby alley. He drops off the roof, landing several feet away as he does. "Oi, you take care of-"
The boxes behind the red head explode into little more than splinters as none other than Mr. 9 emerges from them. "You...how dare you beat me like that?! I won't forgive you!"
"Ya did it to yourself." He points the unbent bat at the red head.
"Home Run Sneaky Bat!" The end of it fires off at him attached to a chain and quickly wraps itself around one of his arms. "Ha! Now that I've caught you, you aren't going anywhere!"
"You sure about this?" Run questions him, gripping the chain attaching the two of them. "I bent one of your bats with a kick, what do you think I'll do to that arm of yours to get free?" A cold sweat breaks out across the man's face in response.
"Don't even think about it," calls Miss Wednesday, appearing with Luffy and a blade pointed at his throat. "Not if you value your friends life, that is."
"That idiot," complains Zoro. "At least have the sense to wake up in a bad situation."
"Prepare to open fire!" calls Igarappoi, pulling on his tie. A number of gun barrels appear out of the curls in his hair. "Preparations complete! Fire!" He pulls the tie and sends a volley of rounds flying at the two of them. A snarl escapes the red head as he swings Mr. 9 around like a doll in the direction of the rounds.
"What the hell is he?! A toy?!" The chain snaps as a result, and the man barrels into Miss Wednesday, knocking them both down. "Red, I'm going!" Zoro charges forward, uses Luffy's swollen belly as a trampoline and bounces straight up to cut down Igarappoi easily. He collapses in a spray of blood and both men heave a heavy sigh in response. "Alright...that's the end of that."
"It's about time." He slowly unwinds the chain from his arm, pausing only when he's freed himself to look around at all the damage they've caused. They've defeated the bounty hunters and the members of Baroque Works but...it feels like there's something missing. And then it hits him. "That woman with the cloak...where did she go? Did Zoro beat her when I wasn't looking?"
"Oi! What are you on about down there?"
"Aah...nothing. It doesn't matter..."