I make no money off of this work of fiction. One Piece is the work of Oda Eiichiro and Naruto is the work of Masashi Kishimoto.
Ninja Pirates
Chapter Nine: Uncanny
Reecheru and Merissa both let out a sigh. The tram wasn't going nearly as fast as Law had claimed. "We didn't have to reveal one of our techniques," Merissa lamented. "That jerk is going to pay for this."
Reecheru didn't bother responding. She pulled herself up and stood on the rail. Now that they were on their way it was noticed that the tunnel was collapsing all around them. Merissa soon joined her friend as they watched the proceedings.
A large slap of the ceiling fell and blocked their path. Reecheru moved to go do something about it, but Merissa stopped her. They watched as the swordsman stood in the front and told them to keep going. The marines started to panic as they were afraid that they were going to run into the rock at full speed. At the last second Zoro cut through said rock. Both pieces fell to either side and allowed the cars through.
Reecheru and Merissa stared in wonder at it. They've seen similar techniques before in the village, but none of them had been by someone without ninja training before. "Now that was hot," Reecheru whispered. Merissa glanced at her with a smirk. Reecheru noticed the look and started glaring at her. Merissa just turned away from her still smirking.
As the marines were cheering for Zoro he chastised them. He was staring behind them and said it was too early to celebrate. All eyes turned to see that the poison gas had made it into the passageway behind them. Law announced it was likely at the exit as well. He then asked if there was anyone that could make wind. The marines yelled about how it wasn't that easy.
Nami stopped the marines protests by raising her hand and saying she could in a cute manner. "How easy!?" the marines shouted in surprise. Nami got in front and stood on the rail of the first car. She glanced back at the children she had promised to protect and bring home. It was her responsibility to make sure that they got there.
It wasn't long before they came to the end of the passage. As Law had predicted it was full of poisonous gas. Nami took out one of the parts of her staff. She pointed it to the entrance and called out her attack, "Wind Sword!" A gust of wind came from the staff and started blowing the gas away. It didn't look like it was going to clear enough of it out of the way at first. The closer they got the better it worked. When the cars were close enough the gas was blown completely out of their way.
Reecheru and Merissa jumped off of the tram car as soon as they noticed the area was free and clear of gas. "Our boat isn't anywhere near here," Reecheru cursed. The two of them searched around for another boat to use.
"We have two choices," Merissa pointed out. "Try our hand at getting the big ass tanker to move with just the two of us or take the ship with the stupid happy face."
"Neither are an option actually," Reecheru denied. "Judging by the Jolly Rodger, the happy face belongs to the Straw Hat crew. They saved my life and I'm not about to repay them by leaving them stranded. The tanker is out of the question because how else will they transport the kids? Those kids are too many and too big to fit on the smaller ship if we took the tanker."
"I don't see another ship though," Merissa argued. "Our boat is most likely somewhere inside all that gas."
"You could always go and get it," Rae teased. Merissa looked at her with a deadpanned expression showing she wasn't amused.
"The two of you could come with us," Robin offered. Both jumped at how the woman had managed to sneak up on them. She gave a pleasant smile and a small laugh. While the three conversed Nami and Usopp attacked two people fleeing with Ceasar Clown. Of course they were successful and brought the three back to shore.
Luffy was talking with Brownbeard when Robin brought the two ninjas to him. "Captain," she got his attention. "These two have something that they would like to ask you." Luffy turned to face them fully with an open expression.
"Captain Luffy," Rae gave a short bow. "Even though I'm already indebted to your crew I was hoping to ask a favor. Would it be possible to come with you until you reach the next town? Our boat is surrounded by that poisonous gas and we have no way to retrieve it at this time."
Luffy stared and blinked at them for a minute. He then focused his attention on Merissa. She gave a short bow as well. "Please," Merissa added for effect.
Luffy grinned and started laughing. "Of course you can come," he cheered. "It's more fun with more people. You don't have to be so stiff about it!"
Both women let out sighs of relief. They stood up straight with a 'thankyou'. "We'll go and help the crew," Rae offered.
"Not a chance!" Sanji yelled. The two looked over where he was. He was too far away to have been able to hear them, or so they thought. One of his ears was twitching. He jumped over the wall of the stove he was making and approached them. "We could never ask a pair of beautiful ladies such as yourselves to do manual labor. It would be against our honor code as men."
Zoro chose that moment to walk by. Loud enough for Sanji to hear he said, "Stupid Love Cook."
Sanji snapped around and glared in his direction. "That reminds me Morimo!" he yelled. "You still haven't been punished for manhandling Tashigi-chan!"
Zoro stopped and looked back at him. "Huh?" He instantly had his swords out as he blocked an attack from Sanji's feet.
Luffy started laughing at the two while Robin simply smiled. Rae and Merissa stared at them in wonder. "I have a bad feeling about this," Rae said. "Things could probably get really weird really fast."
"Look on the bright side," Merissa pointed out. She started talking when she thought that no one could hear her besides Rae. "We'll be traveling for awhile with the guy that you think is hot."
Sanji leapt away and started swooning. "Do you really think that I'm hot Beauty-chan?"
Both women looked at him in shock. Shaking her head, Merissa put her arm around Rae's shoulders and started leading her away. "Okay I'll admit it," she said. "It's definately going to get weird."
"Sanji-kun!" Nami's voice called from the tanker. "How's the food coming?" Just like that Sanji was no longer by Rae's side. He was hurriedly trying to finish his stove. A bit of chaos later, which included Chopper claiming there was a murderer to Brook smashing Kin'emon and his subsequent revival, and the food was finished. Despite wanting to serve the ladies first, Sanji allowed Momonosuke and Kin'emon the first serving considering they haven't eaten anything in a few days.
It took Kin'emon eating first for Momonosuke to accept what Sanji offered. He had started crying from all the emotions he felt. He was so overwhelmed that he didn't know how to handle it. Luffy had distracted him and made him laugh by putting chopsicks up his nose.
"I'm not eating from their chopsticks," Merissa noted. She looked over to another table to see Usopp doing the same thing. "Ever."
"Ditto," Rae nodded her head.
The two were brought out of their musings by Sanji offering them each a bowl of the soup he made. With a charming smile and a bow he held them out. "For you fair maidens," he flattered.
They each accepted the bowl offered and gave him their thanks. After a few careful sips, Rae was eating her food with gusto. She gave a satisfied sigh when she was finished. "Now that was some soup," she said. "I feel like I could run a marathon five times around Konoha." She glanced and Merissa and smirked at her. She hadn't touched her food. "You know, you're going to hurt his feelings if you don't at least try it."
"But it's soup," Merissa complained.
"It's food."
"The texture is wrong."
"Whah whah whah, that's all I'm hearing from you."
"You know I don't eat soup," Merissa snapped.
"LIES!" Rae challenged.
"Name one soup you've seen me eat."
"Your mom's cheese soup."
"That doesn't count, name one I didn't grow up with."
"Egg drop soup."
"That's cheating."
"It is not!"
"Then name another to prove it!"
"My baked potato soup!"
"I hate you."
"For Hokage's sake Merissa," Rae rolled her eyes. "Just eat the damn soup and get it over with."
"You can't make me." Rae's face turned to stone. The look made Merissa a little nervous. "Um, you know I didn't mean that, right?" Merissa started to lean away from Rae.
Rae silently and carefully took the bowl out of Merissa's hand. Merissa sighed, thinking that Rae was just going to see about getting her something else. A sudden pain in her foot had her head snapping up and letting out a cry of pain. The cry was smothered when Rae shoved the contents of the bowl down Merissa's throat, her foot still grinding down on the top of Merissa's. Letting up on the pressure Rae held Merissa's mouth shut until she swallowed. Rae had a satisfied smirk as she walked away with both empty bowls.
"Are you trying to kill me!?" Merissa snapped.
"If I was you wouldn't have to ask that," Rae replied.
Robin and Nami had watched the whole affair from the railing of the tanker. Robin started giggling when Merissa gave chase. "Like a certain swordsman and cook that we know," she commented.
"It's almost uncanny," Nami let out a shiver. "I would hate to think what would happen if the four teamed up or something."
"We shouldn't worry too much about Merissa," Robin said. "She doesn't seem like the type to fall for Mr. Cook's advances. Rae-chan on the other hand. I don't think she would disagree to Zoro showing an interest."
"That's good to hear," Nami let out a sigh. "No worries about Merissa.. and Zoro is too serious for a relationship." Robin started giggling and walked away. "What was that for Robin? Hey Robin, what are you hiding from me!?"