Chapter 9 Faith of a Captain 5
"Leaving already, stay for a while longer" Shanks said sleepy as Benn did his best to keep his captain from falling.
Allison shook her head in response. "Na, anymore and you wouldn't let me leave"
Shanks gave a lazy smile. "Alright than but next time we're having an even bigger party"
"Alright but after I beat the crap out of you" Allison grinned while Shanks laughed.
"Take care of this idiot for me" Allison said to Benn who gave her a simple nod in response. Allison smiled as she walked towards her ship the Grimm's Argo. Her crew and their guest already aboard. With her aboard, the Grimm's Argo began to sail away as they waved goodbye to the Red Haired Pirates. When they could longer see Shanks's ship, everyone return to their regular routines. Rick and Austin went to their work shop to work on their secrets project. Axel went to his room for a long nap and Shizuo went to the library to catch up on his reading. Leaving Allison and Izumi to watch the deck and handle the steering wheel.
"Is he a old boy friend of your" Izumi asked.
"What?"
Izumi grinned as Allison turned bright red. "So how long have you two been dating?"
Allison turned crimson red as she looked to where she last said Shanks's ship. "Were not dating"
"Why not? you two make a cute couple. You two seems to get along so well"
Allison face turned back to normal as she smiled. "Na, we're just good friends. That's all. We just know each other since we were kids. So may be that's why"
Izumi shook her head. "No that's not it"
Allison became quite for a moment as she tried to understand where Izumi was getting at. Looking towards the sea once again as the wind blew through her loose hair.
"Shanks and I are just friends. That's what we will ever be. He went his way and I have to go my own way. Thou I didn't expect to see him anytime soon."
"You seem to care about him too much for being just friends?" Izumi raised her eyebrows as she crossed her arms.
Allison laughed. "Shanks is a idiots that gets me worried for nothing. But I guess I do like him but I doubt we will ever get together. He too much of a idiot to see what's in front of him"
Izumi grinned. "I see that's. He's an idiot and you're stubborn. If their are stuff that you like about him so what do you hate about him"
"He drinks to much" Allison said without missing a beat. "He is also a idiot who doesn't think before he jumps into trouble. That stupid idiot making me worry for nothing. I swear one of these days that idiot is going to lose a limb one of the days if he continues to being the idiot that he is"
Izumi broke into a laugh. Allison just starred at her as she had grown an extra arm or two. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing wrong" Izumi said as she composed herself. "Don't mind me"
Allison gave her a confused look but she ignored her and turned her attention to the wheel. After their little talk, Allison and Izumi stood quiet by the deck as they looked at the wide open sky.
Dinner Time...
"So what's for lunch am starving" Rick said as he sat down on the dinner table. Austin nodded in agreement.
"Curry" Izumi said as she placed a plate in front of him. "And you better not leave one grain of rice left. You have to eat it all"
"Yes ma'am" Rick grinned as he began to eat. "Wow this is the best Curry I ever had!"
Austin nodded in agreement as tears of joy fell down his face along with Rick.
"Your a really good cook" Shizuo said.
"Thanks for the meal" Allison smiled as she eat her Curry.
Izumi grin as she stood in from of the White Creed Pirates but she took noticed that one of them was missing. "Where Axel?"
Allison turned her attention towards Izumi having heard Axel name mentioned. "Oh, he's still sleeping"
"Still sleeping. I thought he was taking a nap, six hours ago?"
Allison laughed. "Yep, that's Axel when he means nap. He means to take a very and I mean very long nap. He probably won't take wake up till tomorrow afternoon."
Izumi frown. "Does he do this often?"
Allison nodded as she continued to eat her food.
"Don't you think you should worry. Taking a nap is good but their is also a problem with sleeping to much especially for a pirate"
"It's best not to worry" Shizuo interrupted.
"What makes you so sure?" Izumi asked.
Shizuo frown as he drank his tea, waiting for a few moments before he talked. The others heard this as they all stopped their talking waiting for Shizuo to continue.
"His wounds"
"Wounds?" Izumi asked. " you mean the bandages that cover his body?"
Shizuo nodded. " Axel has very bad burns that cover his entire body minus the head. He probably got them at a young age from the looks of it. Even when years had passed those burns haven't healed yet and probably won't ever heal"
"I see. But what does this have to do with him taking long naps?"
"With burns that he has. He shouldn't be able to move at all. And here he is. Moving and drinking his ass off. Because he forces to body to move too, it causes his body to worn out quickly. His body gets tired so he takes longs naps to give his body a chase to recover a bit."
Izumi frowned. "If his body works out quickly than he shouldn't be here"
"Na, Axel can handle it" Allison simple said.
"Your the captain. You should worry about the well being of your crew" Izumi said angrily.
Allison frown as she stood up from her seat as she faced Izumi. "Just because he's wounded it doesn't mean that he's weak. Axel can handle it. I know he can."
"What makes you so sure!" Izumi shouted.
"Because Axel is my first mate. I wouldn't have made him part of the crew if I knew that he couldn't handle it. Axel is good as any swordsmen out there and out all of them. I choose Axel because he's a strong man. Axel will become stronger and he will surpass his wounds. Am tired of people looking down at other people because there different. Axel is not weak. Axel will show the world that even a wounded man can shake the world. I know he will because he will be my side along with the rest of my crew when that happens"
Izumi became shocked at her words as she found it a trouble to respond.
"Am sorry what happen to your crew but that doesn't mean it will happen to my crew. I know it won't happen because I rather die then let any of my crew died. I already lost enough people to last me a life time so I will sure it doesn't happen again. You got that!"
And with that Allison ran out the dinning room leaving a shocked Izumi and crew.
"She really is stubborn. She can't be so sure that won't happen. The sea is a very dangerous place. People are bound to die." Izumi said irritated.
"Thats just the way Allison is" Shizuo responded.
"I figure as much but how can she be so positive that she will be able to protect her crew...how can she be like that?"
"How can Allison have so much faith? Is that what you mean?" Shizuo said.
"Faith?"
Shizuo nodded. "Allison doesn't think the same way that others do. In her mind, all she has is faith. Faith in her friends, their skills. Faith herself and her abilities to do what she wants which includes protecting us. Even when things go bad, Allison has faith that everything will work. That she will grown stronger to protect those she has left."
Izumi frown. "Faith is nothing but for losers who don't have the strength to do stuff the self so they rely on the world to do it for them"
Shizuo frown. "You really don't get it. Do you. What this crew means to Allison. What this crews to any of us. Am sorry about your crew but you don't really understand. This is just more that a bunch of pirates sailing together. We are a family. We raise together or we fall together. This is a crew which has faith, that there is bright future ahead of us even when the word itself has turned its back on us. We will never grow stronger of we keeping look at the past. We will remember the past but we will move on toward the future."
Izumi said nothing as she caught herself in shock for the second time that day. Shizuo stood up as he made for the exist and stopped midway. "Thanks for the meal"
Before he walked out the door. Rick and Austin said nothing as Izumi stood frozen in shock. After a while Rick and Austin began to walk out the door as well. Leaving Izumi still shock as she watch the last two members of the crew leave her alone in the dinning room.
Meanwhile...
Allison walked through the halls of the ship as she made way towards her room after getting into a argument with Izumi. But found herself stopping in front of Axel's room. She knocked but no response came. Axel was probably still sleeping as Allison open the door to his room.
Looking inside, Allison found Axel sound asleep in his bed. He was all stretched up all over the bed as he drooled. Allison smiled as she knew that there was nothing she needed to worry about as she slowly closed the door and headed to her room for a long deserve sleep.
Next Day...
"*yawn* are we there yet?" Axel asked as he approached Austin who was currently by the wheel.
Austin gave a small nod. "We should see land in a hour by now"
"Alright then" Axel stretched his arms as he began to walk away to spot Allison leading by the rail while she always did when she was bored. Then he noticed that Izumi was in the opposite side of the ship all by herself. Shizuo and Rick were playing poker in the table. Axel frown as he approach them.
"What's wrong with Izumi and Al? Did they get into a fight"
Rick began to sweat as he didn't look Axel in the eye. Shizuo on the other hand didn't bother to response has he concentrated on his cards. After a few minutes of silence Axel decided that he had enough as he took Rick's cards.
"Hey those of mine!"
"Not till you tell me what's wrong?" Axel responded with a frown. "What happen while I was taking a nap?"
Rick frozen as his eyes widen. He said nothing as he sat back down forgetting that Axel had taken his cards. Axel continued to frown as he didn't get a answer so he turned to Shizuo.
"What the heck is going on here! And you better tell me before I force it out of you" Axel threaten as he gripped Shizuo's shirt by the collar. Holding him close to his face. "Tell me now!"
Shizuo let out of sigh as he released himself Axel's grip. Dusting his shirt before he turn his attention back to Axel.
"Al and Izumi got into a fight but it's no concern to you" Shizuo simple stated.
"What do you mean it's not my concern! Of course it's my concern. Al is my captain so anything problem that Al has, is also mine. So you better tell me"
"It's no concern to you Axel. This a problem between Izumi and Al alone. Let them resolve it among themselves"
Axel frown but sighed. He didn't like this one bit but he trusted Al to know what ever Reason She had to be upset on Izumi. She was capable to resolve them herself. If she need his help, he had doubt she would have told him. Besides he knew that Al wasn't someone to hold grudges against anyone.
"Mine if I join you" Axel asked as he scratched the back of his neck.
Shizuo smirk and nodded. Allowing Axel to sit down across him.
"Sorry about that Rick"
"Heh no problem" Rick chuckled nervously. "But there is no way that your going to win"
Axel smirked. "We will see about that.
A hour later...
In the dock of the island...
"Finally! Sweet land" Axel exhaled.
Shizuo nodded in agreement as he got off the ship. Rick and Austin went to work and tied down the ship.
"Where Izumi?" Axel asked as he looked around.
Allison just shrugged it off as she followed Shizuo. Axel frown. He became concern with Allison unusual behavior for the past few hours. Izumi was no where to be seen and Allison looked up set. What ever they were fighting about must have been serious. But what.
"I suggest we look for a cook" Shizuo responded. "Or we will starve to death at this rate"
"Alright"
As they entered the town with the exception of Austin who volunteered to stay behind to watch over the Grimm's Argo. They found that the town was pretty crowded and noise as the people walked down the streets.
"At this rate we will never find a cook. This place is so crowded"
"Am tired of all this walking. Can we take a break" Rick offered.
Shizuo shook his headed in response as he continued to walk through the crowded.
"Why don't we look for a cook in a restaurant or bar. There must be someone here that wants to leave" Axel said.
"Probably. But I doubt it"
"We can spilt up to make the search more easier" Allison suggested.
Shizuo smirked and nodded in agreement. "That could work too"
Shizuo partner up with Rick while Allison went with Axel. They agreed end to meet in a hour in front of the Grimm's Argo. For the past half hour, Allison and Axel searched the town but where meet with no results.
"What's wrong?" Axel asked as they walked down the street.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Allison said with a confused face.
"Don't give me that crap, Al. What bothering you?"
Allison frozen for a second before she smiled. "I been thinking about Izumi"
Now it was Axel turn to be confused. "Shizuo told me you two into a fight"
Allison nodded.
"Why?"
"Izumi doubted your skill and I couldn't just let her look down at you because of your wounds"
Axel frozen as he stared at Allison. Shocked.
"You got to a fight because of me"
Allison nodded. "Izumi warned me of the dangers. I think she might be right"
Axel blinked. "What are you going to do than"
Allison thought for a moment before she grinned. "Get Izumi to join the crew of course. There is no way am letting a good cook as her pass me by. We will find her and asked to join the crew"
Axel blinked but smiled. "If she refuses"
Allison grinned. "Than we can also use other ways to convince her"
Before Axel could respond. He was punched across the face. Sending him flying towards one of the stores with a large crash.
"Axel!" Allison shouted as she went ran towards he crash landed before she too was punched across the face and send flying to the another store. Picking herself up from the rubble of a store, she turned to her attacker. He was a tall man with wavy black hair wearing blue shades making it difficult to see his eyes. He also wore a bartender suit as he walked up to her.
"Thought you two would be challenge but I guess I was mistaken"
Allison frown. "Who are you"
The man took off his blue shades and placed them inside the pocket of his suit. He continued to walk towards her without a word as he grinned.
"Al!" Axel shouted as he got up from the rubble. "Get away from him"
Allison smiled as she took out her katana. "Names Allison. Captain of the White Creed Pirates"
The man chuckled. "I know who you are. Who both of you are"
Axel got up as he walked up to Allison and stood by her side as he also unsheathe his sword. "Want do you want?"
The man said nothing. By than the people near by ran for their life's as they knew that a fight was going to go down. Allison, Axel and the man didn't move. They let the people pass by them.
"Al! Axel! What have you done now" Shizuo asked as he ran up to them with Rick right behind him. But frown when he noticed that both of them had their swords out facing a man in a bartender suit. "Who is he?"
"That's the question of the day" Axel chuckled.
The man cracked his knuckles as he approached them. "The more the merrier"
Rick quickly formed a spear out of the ground as Shizuo took out his staff.
"A devil fruit user. Now this makes things a whole lot interesting" the man replied before he went for Rick with a punch. Rick quickly blocked the punch but the punch went right through the spear and hit Rick. Sending him crashing to a near by store.
Axel reacted quickly as he went for a opening. But the man blocks the sword with his arm. Blood began to pour out but the man didn't flinch.
Before Axel could respond. The man punched in guts sending him crashing towards a house.
"Be careful Al. It seems he stronger than he looks" Shizuo warned.
Allison nodded as she raised katana. "Than we will have to do this the other way"
The man grinned as her words.
Allison and Shizuo attack him together. But the man keep blocking their attacks with his body or he dodged their attacks. Allison and Shizuo barely managed to avoid his punches or his kicks. Managing a few plows that blood began to pour from the man body but he seemed unaffected. The more they injured him it seemed he got anger and more violent.
"Something's not right." Shizuo panted as sweat began to fall from his forehead.
"What do you mean?"
"He was looking for us personally. He doesn't look like a pirate hunter so what is he?"
Allison nodded understanding. "It could be those Crimson Corp. group we fought months ago"
Shizuo grinned. "Yeah that's what I was thinking. He's more stronger than the others"
The man approached them as he smiled. Allison and Shizuo went after him one more time as the man managed to knock Shizuo out and sending him crashing next to a unconscious Axel.
"Shizuo!" Allison shouted. The man managed disarmed her as he threw her katana out of her reach. Allison wanted to punch him but he catch it. He crashed her arm as he sensed her flying across the the street and she crashed into the wall. *snap* Allison screamed in pain as she hit the wall in the process
Allison panted and began to bleed. Forcing herself to stand up. The man frowned as he approached her. He looked down at her for a second before he knocked her unconscious.
The last thing Allison saw was her crew, Shizuo, Axel and Rick unconscious in rubble. Before she too welcomed the darkness.