Ch. 9- Luffy vs. Beast

One Piece © Oda

Blizzard and Tangerine © Me

"Luffy, look out!" Usopp cried as Akainu charged at Luffy, who swiftly evaded the beast's huge claws before grabbing his right front leg and throwing him to the floor. The demonic canine roared in anger and pain as he got to his feet, growling at Luffy, who remained unafraid.

"I'm not running from you, this time," Luffy said. "You're gonna pay what you did to my brother…AKAINU~!"

GRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWRR! With a powerful roar, Akainu charged Luffy again, but the teen grabbed a hold of his huge jaws and forced them shut. The beast growled before he managed to force his mouth back open and threw Luffy off. Then, his attention returned to Nami, who gasped and started to back away in horror.

"S-stay back!" Nami shouted. "Get away!"

A wicked smirk seemed to appear on Akainu's maw, but then he felt his tail getting tugged, pulling him away from the orange-haired princess. He turned and saw Luffy, who had gotten back on his feet and his arms wrapped around his tail.

GRRRAAAAAAAAWWRR! Akainu roared before he raised his massive paw and slammed it into Luffy's side, sending him to the floor, once again. Then, once he was down, the beast attempted to bite down on the farm boy, but Luffy scrambled to his feet at the last minute and fled, causing Akainu to bite the stone roof. The demonic dog spat out the rubble before he turned to Luffy, who started yelling incoherently while waving his arms.

"COME AND GET ME, RED ROVER!" he shouted before he jumped down from the roof and ran into the forest with Akainu giving chase!

"Luffy!" Nami shouted. "Come back!"

"Is he insane?!" Zoro questioned.

"Yeah, no one's dumb enough to take on Akainu alone!" Franky added.

"I wouldn't put it passed Luffy," Ace said. "He's the only one who seems dumb enough! C'mon, we gotta go after him!"

"Let's hurry!" Nami said as she looked up at the sky…where huge, black clouds began to appear. "…There's a storm coming."

XXX

Luffy panted as he ran through the dense forest, and not too far from him he could hear the sound of Akainu's heavy panting. As he ran, he suddenly heard the rumble of the thunder, and was momentarily blinded by the flash of lightning. Not long after, raindrops began to descend from the sky above. At first, they came down lightly, but before long, it became a downpour in a matter of seconds.

"Dammit!" Luffy cursed as he kept running. However, his vision was now obscured by the pouring rain, and he soon slipped on the wet soil, falling to the ground. Not long after, Akainu was right on top of him. A wicked smirk seem to appear on the beast's lips before bringing his claws down on Luffy, who screamed in pain as he clutched his chest, where a large gash had been left behind. He hissed when he felt his blood began to seep from the wound, but then, he kicked Akainu in the jaw, forcing him off momentarily before he turned and ran again, only for the monstrous dog to pursue.

Soon, Luffy made it out of the forest, only to stop at the lip of a cliff. He panted, clutching his chest wound before he turned to find another way, but once again, he came face-to-face with Akainu, who roared as he stood up on twos and raised his 4-inch thick claws, which he slashed across Luffy's chest again, sending the teen tumbling down the cliff. As Luffy landed at the bottom, a sickening crack filled the air, followed by an agonized scream. The D-boy sat up, his left arm now bent in an awkward angle and hanging limp beside him. He gasped when he saw Akainu climbing down towards him, growling viciously, before he got up and ran once more.

One might think that Luffy is running from Akainu simply because he was afraid…but no…Luffy had a plan. A plan to finish off this monster, once and for all.

XXX

"Franky, can't you run any faster?!" Zoro questioned.

"You try running in the rain!" Franky barked as he pulled a horse-drawn wagon through the mud with everyone aboard.

"You think we'll make it in time?!" Sanji asked.

"Let's hope!" Usopp answered. "Or Luffy's dog food!"

BAAAH! Chopper bleated in agreement.

Robin looked at Nami, who looked ahead with worry as she tried to hang on.

"Are you all right, Nami?" Robin asked.

"…I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to him," Nami said. "I…I just-"

"You can stop right there!"

Nami looked at Ace, who gave a serious glare.

"My little brother's a lot of things," he said. "He can be a bit of a slob and a troublemaker sometimes. He can be gluttonous and maybe a little rude…but the one thing he's not is a quitter!"

"That's right, young lady!" Garp added. "Especially all the things you two have said and done! If you really loved Luffy, you'd start having faith in him!"

"Just like the rest of us," Zoro added with a knowing smirk.

Nami gasped silently, but then she put on a serious expression of her own and nodded her head.

"You're right," she said. "I've gotta stop worrying so much!"

"That's my little sister," Nojiko smiled.

XXX

Luffy panted as he stumbled through the rain. His chest was throbbing and his arm felt numb as it hung limply and broken beside him. His right eye was bruised and his mouth was bleeding. He felt tired and he wanted nothing more than to drop down and rest his eyes…but he couldn't yet. He knew he couldn't do that, yet…not when he knew that that monster was still after him.

Akainu, merely a good 5 feet behind him, growled as he followed, yet he was no longer in that gallop, but rather slowly loping behind him. It was as if he knew that Luffy was about to drop from exhaustion and pain any minute, and he was simply enjoying watching the boy suffer before he went in for the kill.

Luffy grunted as he stopped and leaned against a tree, panting heavily before he looked back at Akainu, who stopped for a moment before crouching down, preparing to pounce, but then, Luffy stumbled forward again, much to the monster's impatience. Akainu growled in frustration before he followed Luffy again. The teen looked back, glaring at the red-furred dog.

"That's right, you asshole," he cursed. "Just a little more."

Soon, Luffy fell to his knees and his good hand before he forced himself to crawl through the mud under an old, stone bridge…which looked like it was on its legs due to both age and the heavy rain. Not long after, the boy came to rest upon the foot of a hill, his breathing labored and short.

Akainu growled as he stalked Luffy, his fiery eyes flashing in the dark. He crouched, preparing to deliver the final crushing bite.

However…Luffy just grinned at him.

"…Burn in hell where you belong," he whispered.

GRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWRR! Akainu roared as he charged at Luffy, but just when he was about to close in on him, KROOSH! The bridge suddenly gave out, and large stones fell on top of the beast. As the dust settled, Luffy looked and saw nothing but a pair of claws, motionless under the stones.

Luffy sighed as he lie back against the wet grass, letting the rain fall upon his battered body. He then groaned, suddenly remembering his terrible pain.

Soon, everyone arrived and jumped out of the wagon, only to gasp in shock when they saw Akainu's paws protruding from under the stones.

"…Oh, my god…!" Usopp whispered. "Is that…?!"

"Only one way to find out," Garp answered before he and Ace lifted up the stones, one-by-one…and soon found Akainu, bloody and crushed.

"He's…he's dead," Ace whispered…before his mouth upturned in a wide grin. "He's dead! He's finally dead!"

"Oh, my god!" Zoro cried. "I don't believe it!"

"That bastard finally bit the dust!" Sanji cheered. "Yes!"

An elated Robin sobbed while Zoro hugged her.

"Finally…my Mother really can rest in peace, now!" she whispered.

"I know, Robin," Zoro said, "as well as the many lives that Akainu took."

Ace looked up at the sky, smiling as tears fell.

"Sabo…Mom…are you seeing this?" he asked. "That monster that killed you is finally dead!"

"BWAHAHAHA!" Garp laughed. "I knew Luffy wouldn't let us down!"

"WHOO-HOO!" Usopp cheered as he and Chopper danced in the mud and rain. "He's dead, Chopper! Akainu's finally dead!"

"Mmm….SUPER~!" Franky cheered, striking a pose.

"Yohohoho!" Brook laughed. "Oh, I could just die, happy! Oh…but I'm already dead."

Nami and Nojiko hugged each other, laughing joyfully.

At last…Akainu was dead, and therefore, he was no longer a threat to anyone.

However…it appeared that everyone was celebrating too soon, for Nami began to hear the sound of Blizzard whining, worriedly. The princess looked back and saw the white wolf-dog…standing beside Luffy, who coughed weakly.

"Oh, my god!" Nami cried as she ran to his side, gently taking him into her arms as she looked over his injuries. "Luffy, are you okay?"

"N…Nami…" Luffy said, hoarsely. "I…I did it…right, Nami?"

"Yeah," Nami replied with a reassuring smile. "Akainu's dead, Luffy…we don't have to worry about him, anymore. No one has to worry about him, anymore…!"

A broad, toothy smile creased Luffy's lips.

"Shishishishi…!" he chuckled before he coughed, yet still grinned either way. "That's…good…I'm glad."

Then he heaved a sigh as his eyes shut…and his head fell limp.

"…Luffy…?" Nami asked, worriedly as she gently shook him. "Luffy?"

"Lu?" Ace called as he, Garp, and the others gathered around him.

"Luffy?!" Nami asked as she shook him again. "Come on, wake up! Oh, god, please wake up, Luffy!"

"Hey, Luffy, c'mon!" Garp called. "You're my grandson, dammit! There's no way you're gonna let a little beating like that kill you!"

"Luffy, wake up!" Zoro shouted. "Come on, man! Don't do this!"

"Wake up, Luffy!" Usopp cried. "Wake up!"

"Luffy! Wake up, please!" Robin yelled.

"Get up, Luffy! I know you're not dead!" Sanji barked. "You can't die now!"

"Oh, god, please don't tell me you're dead, man!" Franky cried, trying to hold back tears.

"Oh, dear…oh, dear!" Brook cried. "Mister Luffy, please, wake up! You can't be dead yet!"

Even Chopper and Blizzard tried to wake Luffy up…but no matter what they did, it seemed that nothing worked, and by now, everyone's joy from Akainu's death turned to heartbreak…and that especially went for Nami.

"Luffy, no…!" Nami sobbed. "You can't leave me, now!"

TO BE CONTINUED…

Before you start, NO, Luffy is not dead. I'd sooner shoot myself in the knee before that happens.

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