The Rising Tides
Hello one and all…or just anyone who bothers to read this part of the chapter. Anyway, here is the conclusion of the Baratie arc, and the start of the duel between Mihawk and Luffy.
Moving on, I was wondering how you would want to do battles in regards to the other members of the crew. Would you like me to write about the battles, or just focus on Luffy and do an overview about the fights that occurred? It's up to you guys.
Ok, so here is the 9th chapter of The Rising Tides.
(Line Break)
Everyone looked on in shock as an apparent nobody was currently standing opposite, and staring down, the strongest swordsman in the world.
As their audience recovered from their shock, Luffy had moved from the Baratie to the floating wreckage of Kreig's ship. "Rules of the duel?" He asked after a period of silence, it also served to finally knock the rest of the observers back to reality.
Mihawk hummed in thought before answering, "None of your devil fruit powers and I shall use none of my sword techniques either. I wish to see how far you have come in pure swordsmanship." He answered in monotone, while reaching from the long blade across his back.
Before Luffy could answer a loud obnoxious voice spoke up from the background, "Oi, Oi Mihawk! Did you just forget about me? The Strongest pirate in East Blue!" Someone boasted
"Oh you're still alive? It seems though I have found a better opponent than you Kreig." Mihawk replied nonchalantly.
There seemed to be a pause as the now re-revealed Kreig processed this information before bursting into laughter as well as his crew, "This brat?!" He yelled more than asked, "He looks like he couldn't cut a tree with those swords even if he was standing with his nose against it!" He continued his laughter.
Mihawk raised an eyebrow towards Luffy, as many others gazed at him wondering what he was going to do in retaliation. Said man just sighed and shrugged before turning and looking at Kreig, who wore, in Luffy's own opinion, disgusting golden armour. He sighed again a merely raised a hand towards the man, palm forwards.
Nothing happened for a few moments, making many wonder if what he was attempting to accomplish failed. Kreig looked as if he was about to start laughing again, that however was before a rather large spear of water pierced through his armour, and coincidently his chest, evident of the water now taking a rather purple colour. Kreig looked down to his chest and at the spear of water in surprise, spat a glob of blood onto the ruined deck of the ship as his eyes rolled up into his skull and then was dragged underneath the waves by the same spear that pierced him.
Kreig's crew and the cooks alike we shocked into silence once again at the ease of which the stranger killed the 'Pirate Admiral'. "Now that's taken care of shall we continue?" Luffy asked, as he turned back to his opponent.
His answer was in the form of Mihawk fully drawing his blade and dashing towards Luffy with the intent to attack leaving Luffy without much time to react. However he did and simultaneously drew both his swords and blocked Mikhawk's downward slash, crouching slightly to take the pressure from the attack.
Many of the weaker observers were blown away due to the pressure that was exerted, so much so that waves were being created around the wreak age and the clouds had parted around the restaurant. The jaws had once again returned to the sea floor as they witnessed the two duellists clash anther dozen times in the time it took to blink.
After what seemed for hours they parted, both sliding apart from each other due to a recent contact. While not panting they were both breathing heavier than normal and sported a pattern of cuts each; however Luffy appeared worse off than his counterpart.
Mihawk smiled slightly, "You are better than you were before; I'm glad that you kept up your training." He complimented
Luffy smirked slightly as an answer, taking a few steps forward he broke into a run, intending to initiate the duel once more, on his terms this time.
Crouching low he swung up, however Mihawk parried it in time to block Luffy's follow up swing. Pushing back he counted by swiping in a blur towards Luffy's head, however he ducked in time and landed a slice on his abdomen forcing to him back up the time being.
Luffy kept up the pressure, pushing forward and swiping and stabbing at his opponent hoping to land a hit on him. Mihawk, ignoring his current injuries nimbly dodged round every attack and blocked what he couldn't.
Eventually Mihawk reached the edge of the wreckage, noticing this he decided to start pushing back and in a flurry of attacks the two were at it again becoming nothing than blurs to the spectators.
When they eventually become visible once again, one of Luffy's swords was sliding along the deck and he had Mihawk's sword pressed to his throat, drawing a small red line. Said man smiled, "Looks like I win again Luffy, though you made me work harder for it." He complimented again.
Luffy just raised an eyebrow and looked behind Mihawk. Feeling a point at the base of his spine he turned and saw a clone of Luffy crouched with a blade of water pressed against his back. Not panicked in the slightest he turned back to ask, "I thought I said no devil fruit powers?"
Luffy look scandalised for a moment, "Pirate?!" he said, almost accusingly, earning himself a chuckle from the man in front of him.
"Indeed." He said, withdrawing his blade and re-sheathing it on his back. He sighed, "Well I got what I wanted. I hope to see you in the Grand Line soon Luffy." With his part said, he walked to his small coffin like boat and sailed off.
"Well that happened..." Someone in the audience stated causing many to blink out of the daze they were in.
Luffy, oblivious to the chatter going on around him, walked over and picked up his discarded blade before sheathing both at his waist. Rolling his shoulders slightly and rubbing one of his more prominent cuts along his arm, he turned to the left over's of Kreig's crew. "Now, are we going to have any issues?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
Said people frantically shook their heads from side to side in denial. Many of the onlookers thinking that they were scared of Luffy from his duel with Mihawk, however what they didn't know was that the water they were floating it was slowly and methodically tightening around their bodies as to make it harder from them to breath. It clearly worked.
"Good," He smiled, "Off you go then." He nodded his head in the direction opposite the Baratie looking expectantly at the pirates who just sent him confused looks. He gained a glint in his eye that many views grew concerned about. He raised a hand and wiggled his fingers at them, ginning he said, "Toodles." As a large wave swept them all up and carried them out to sea.
When they were nothing but specks in the distance someone finally spoke up, "THAT, WAS AMAZING!" a small yet incredibly excitable voice yelled out drawing everyone's attention to a grinning Maya, who had flopped over the side of a railing after her little outburst.
Luffy grinned good naturedly back at her before swaying slightly on his feet before catching himself. "Heh, must have used more energy than I thought..." He mumbled to himself before wincing slightly.
"Oi brat you alright?!" Zeff shouted from the restaurant.
"Gimmie a 5 course meal and I'll answer you then." Luffy groaned as he winced again, "Seems I missed a slash," He commented as he pulled open his coat, which bore witness to a rather deep cut running along his hip and part of his thigh. "Yep, that's gonna hurt for a while."
Using one of his swords for a crutch he walked, or rather limped, to the edge of the boat and mentally created a small disk of water to carry him across. He landed and slightly stumbled off Sanji catching him at the last minute, giving a nod of thanks he carried on walking, "Makino if you will, I seem to require first aid!" he called as he passed through the crowd.
It was with a sigh of relief that he sat down at one of the nearest tables. Maya had latched onto as soon as he did with small sniffles emanating from her when she realized how badly he was actually hurt. "er...Luffy?" A voice spoke from the door. "We have a problem."
"If you're telling me the fact that Nami is gone and she's taken the 'Going Merry' with her, than I already aware Makino." Luffy stated matter of factly.
"What?!" Was the rather startled response back.
"I felt her leavING" He explained, the end coming out with a grunt of pain when Maya, crawled onto his lap and brushed his fresh wound. Luffy merely wrapped his arms around her and rocked her slightly when she looked to burst out cry from hurting him further.
"Well the Merry was the closest vessel with medical supplies on it unless you want me to swim back the 'Oceans Freedom'." She told him.
"Talk to the chef's I'm sure they have some they can lend." Luffy suggested. Makino nodded her affirmative before walking to the nearest chef, who just happened to be Sanji.
Luffy relaxed more into his chair as the tiredness began creeping up on him. He looked down when he felt Maya slump against him, having fallen asleep due to the influx of emotions due the past minutes. Closing his eyes he lent his head against hers, smiling slightly when he felt her snuggle closer, he let himself relax even more than before.
Moments later he felt rather than saw, a presence sit opposite him keeping silent for the moment. "You know I wanted to fight him." The presence stated, it continued when it got a hum of affirmation, "So why didn't you let me?" it questioned
Luffy opened his eyes and the body of Zoro greeted him. "Because he was holding back even during our fight?" Luffy reviled. Zoro's eyes widened in both realization and fear, "You're chances of survival were in single digits. Besides I've got a job for you and I'd rather you not be injured for it." Luffy shrugged.
Zoro raised an eyebrow and lent forward onto the table in question, "What's the job?" He asked.
Luffy hissed when Makino had finally arrived to tend to his slash wound, "I'm sure you've realized a member of our crew is missing and said member has taken a rather vital part of our possessions. I want you to take Usopp, Johnny and Yosaku. Make your way back to the 'Oceans Freedom' and go after her. However be warned that she may be in league with Arlong so watch out. I will follow with Makino and Maya with hopefully a cook as well after I get this patched up and i'm able to walk unhindered." Luffy looked seriously into Zoro's eyes, "Can you do that First Mate?" He asked with a smirk.
Zoro gained a glint in his eyes and returned the smirk. "Aye Aye Captain."
Luffy raised an eyebrow at the man, "Well get going then." He ordered nodding his head in the direction of the door.
Getting the hint, Zoro was off like a shot grabbing a perplexed Usopp on his way by who had just walked in. Luffy could hear Zoro yelling at Johnny and Yosaku to get a move on as he got further away and smiled slightly.
Releasing a deep sigh, he let his head connect with Maya's once more and felt himself drift off into a dreamless sleep.
(line break)
Hours later Luffy was once again up and about after a test lap around the restaurant, and they were loading a small boat with supplies that Zeff had lent them. He had just finished tying up the last of the food when he felt an extra person board the craft.
Grinning slightly he asked, "What changed your mind?" as he stood up to face Sanji.
"That's none of your business Captain." He replied lighting a smoke as he did so. However he did glance in the direction of the restaurant entrance where the rest of the chef's were standing to see them off.
Luffy smiled slightly when he worked out what happened. Turning he headed to the bow of the ship where Maya was milling about and put his hands on her shoulders to brace her. Moments later the small boat lurched forward surprising Sanji slightly as he stumbled causing Luffy to grin.
Maya let out a woop of glee as they sailed through the water to catch up to his wayward crew member.
No matter what she said, she was family now.
(line break)
And that's wrap! Sorry that it's shorter than others but as per usual life likes punching me in the gut. College assignments pilling up, then I got hit by a car AND I was forced to get a new computer when my last one packed up.
So tell me how the fight was and what I should do in regards to the fights. Read the top A/N for reference.
Also Merry Christmas and Happy New Year because that's probably when the next chap is coming out so look forward to that.
Cheers!
-Red