Chapter 10: Infiltration
As he ran towards the battlefield Raiku watched his three new friends head off towards the door and couldn't help smiling.
"WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING YOU STUPID MARIMO, THE ENTRANCE IS THIS WAY," he heard Sanji yell in the distance at Zoro, who was running in the completely opposite direction.
"Huh?" said Zoro. "Wait, how did I get all the way over here?!"
Looking back, Raiku hoped for the best as he headed off to help Nami, Usopp and Chopper who were trying their best to hold off the grunts at the opening of the cave. As he approached them, Nami turned back to him frantically.
"Where are those three going?" she said panicked.
"I sent them in ahead of us to enter the base and confront Berezda," he replied.
"WHAT!" Nami shouted. "And just what are we supposed to be doing out here then!"
"If we hold off the main force out here, that will leave almost no resistance for the three that are entering the base."
"And what if one of those two scary guys who came to attack our ship last night just happens to come out here!" cut in Usopp.
"Metsumo and Kotetsu won't come out here. They'll be waiting by Berezda's chambers in order to defend against someone who might accidently enter the base."
"So we have to fight all of these guys ourselves?!" said Chopper.
"Don't worry," replied Raiku. "I have faith that with your guy's help, we can hold off these guys!"
All of a sudden, the three stopped fighting and turned toward him tears streaming down their face. "You have that much faith in us?" cried Nami.
"If you have this much faith in us, then I'll have no choice but to show you the power that has made me the legend known as "Usopp the Powerful"," said Usopp, who was posing.
"D-don't think your faith and kind words make me feel appreciated, you damn bastard," said an obviously appreciative Chopper who was doing some sort of strange dance.
"Umm guys! I'm truly happy for you. Really I am. BUT IF YOU DIDN'T NOTICE I NEED SOME HELP OVER HERE!" yelled Raiku, who was trying to hold off all of the men the three crewmates had abandoned.
...
Metsumo could hear the commotion that was going on outside.
He smiled as he knew that the Strawhats had arrived at the predicted time, and the Berezda Pirates were ready for them. He knew that the people at the front of the base would be cannon fodder for the three he and Kotetsu had faced the night before, and he knew, that any second now, he would hear the footsteps of the intruders coming in from the secret entrance they had purposely left unguarded.
"They probably think they're so smart," he thought to himself and he chuckled.
"What's so funny?" asked Kotetsu, who was standing next to him. "Whatever it is, I reckon it must be pretty good. I think this is the first time I've ever seen you laugh."
"We're fighting enemies that could actually give us some trouble," replied Metsumo. "How could I not be happy about fighting such strong opponents?"
"I suppose you're right," said Kotetsu. "You just better hope you don't lose partner, or I just might swoop right in and take First Mate right from you."
"Ha, someone like you could never be First Mate to a crew like the Berezda Pirates."
"You wanna bet?" shot back Kotetsu angrily. "Bring it on pretty boy, I'll give that face of yours a few-"
Kotetsu was suddenly cut off by a loud commotion down the hall.
"We'll settle this later," he said. "Looks like we got company."
As both men turned to face what was barrelling down the hall, Metsumo looked down at his arms, still covered in gauze from the wound Strawhat had given him the night before.
"I'll pay you back for this one Strawhat," he thought to himself. "You can count on it."
...
The three men stopped once they reached the chamber and saw Metsumo and Kotetsu.
"Phew," said Zoro panting." "We finally got here."
"WE WOULD'VE GOTTEN HERE A LOT SONNER IF YOU HADN'T KEPT GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION!" yelled Sanji.
"Huh!" said Zoro angrily. "You were here you shitty cook, I thought only the strong members of the crew like Luffy and I were supposed to go through the secret entrance."
"I'M A HELL OF ALOT MORE SUITED TO GO ON THIS MISSON THEN THE ONE WHO COULDN'T EVEN FIND THE DAMN SECRET ENTRANCE."
"You want to make something of it?" replied Zoro.
At this point the two were about to go at it before Kotetsu intervened. He used his devil fruit powers to spin the two into looking straight ahead.
"I reckon you three got alot more to worry about then some petty argument," he said.
"He's right," said Luffy. "Hey old dude," he said pointing at Metsumo. "Where's Robin?"
"She's in the next room beyond here with our Captain," he replied. "However, you won't be able to get there until you beat us-"
"-and there ain't no way that's gonna happen," finished Kotetsu.
"Luffy," said Sanji stepping forward. "Leave these two to us; you go ahead and save Robin."
"Yeah," said Zoro, who also stepped forward.
"Sorry, not going to happen," said Metsumo who stepped in front of Luffy. "I've got a score to settle with you Strawhat, for the injury you gave me last night."
He brought his fist down to strike Luffy, but Luffy simply jumped out the way, letting Zoro step in to block the punch with his swords.
"Roronoa, why you!" said Metsumo, gritting his teeth.
Kotetsu stepped forward to try to stop Luffy midair; however he was stopped when a straight, hard kick hit him right in the midsection.
"Anti-Manner Kick Course!" yelled Sanji.
The kick was so strong it shot Kotetsu almost straight through the 3 foot solid steel ceiling. Falling to the ground, Kotetsu was able to regain his composure and landed on his knee before throwing up blood.
"Damn," he said catching his breath. "That one hurt you bastard."
Now unopposed, Luffy sprinted for the door and attempted to open it but couldn't.
"Hah!" said Metsumo mockingly. "That door is pure steel Strawhat, and 3 feet thick, there's no way you can get in without the key I ha-"
He was suddenly interrupted as Luffy's hands stretched backwards, and then shot straight at the door.
"Gum Gum Bazooka!"
The force of the impact sent the door bursting open.
"Impossible!" said Metsumo, dumbfounded. "Just how strong is he?"
"Heh, you have no idea," said Zoro as Luffy continued sprinting down the hall.