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Chapter 15: Two Keys and Two Foes
Luffy turned his head as they rode down the street, they listened to Sanji cry out,"So that's how it is! I fail and you abandon me! Go ahead, leave like she did to me! Chide me if you must, I won't give a damn because. . .I'm leaving the crew!" The captain jerked back the reins, his steed reared and turned, making a charge for the chef. Zoro and the others mimicked and fallowed, Sanji panted out of anger, glaring at Luffy, who suddenly said the unthinkable,"Then be it, I know when you're serious, and you are being so right now. I give you permission to leave us..." Sanji started walking away. "...I also give you permission to join us again, I'm having you hiatus from this crew until you're mind is better..." he paused, Luffy continued,"You're still bound under my command, so don't leave us entirely." Luffy hitched his horse and broke it into a gallop, Zoro remained for moment as the rest went ahead.
"What?" Sanji murmured, the swordsman tried to speak, but then shook his head and fallowed th crew, leaving Sanji in a dust cloud. The chef reached for his wallet, he had enough to by several shots of taquila at the nearest bar. Sighing, he dragged himself to the bar and took a seat. He slammed a few bills and ordered for his drink, a small glass sat and he downed it all as the bar tender walked of to tend to other customers. The door flew open and in came Luna, Trace, and Spirit, all thre, ironically, failed to notice Sanji sitting hunched over.
Luna slapped the counter twice and held out a thousand beli to the man, he gave three small glass cups and a bottle of the same drink Sanji had. Trace began smoking a cigarette and started speaking in a low voice,"..Shuzan wasn't there, strange, was it not? We have the key with us..." Sanji spotted a glint of sapphire in Luna's robe pockets, she nodded. "...all there is is to find Yume...but I wonder where Rao is, she never takes this long."
"Really?" she and Sanji took a shot at the same time. "...I guess it was lucky to have you two with me, I bet Sanji would barely lift a finger. I pity him a little, that chef....good man..." the door again burst open and in came Horus and Gebson, laughing heartily, they took seats next to Sanji and the bartender immediately set up two glasses of sake, fearful of what the two Marines were capable of. A small growl emitted from Luna as she reached for her knife, Sanji's hand shot out to hers and held it tightly.
"I'm saving your life, don't..." Sanji warned her, she glared at him then saw Horus, she turned her head to face Trace.
"Ha! That gigantic fox, have you seen her?!" Gebson boomed, Horus smiled greatly. "Oh, she was feisty, but I nailed her down easy as that, no? The one wearing a necklace, she seemed to be a shape shifter of the sort, but I got her."
"Interesting, about foxes, my friend..." Trace held his glass taut in his palm until it shattered, the two captains ignored it along with the door opening and the entrance of Night and Shadow who had glum looks upon their usually smiling faces. They panted heavily and were ready to pounce at Horus, but they explained the tragic events. Trace got up, nodded, then signaled Luna to stand, Sanji watched as they confronted Horus and Gebson. "Who are you, children?"
"You were talking about a fox?" Trace asked quietly.
"Yes, yes, and a fine hunt too-" a fist was thrown into Gebson's face and the Marine flew into the counrter.
"Bastard, Luna, NOW!" shouted Trace.
"Luna-DON'T!" shouted Sanji in unison with Trace, took late, Luna was up and out of her chair, a knife at Gebson's throat. Spirit, Night, and Shadow held Horus back using their powers, the customers screamed an fled with the bar's owner. "You fools..."
"I suspect that the fox was your pet?" Gebson asked, Trace stood there, silent.
"Rao, you killed Rao..."
"Ah, such a pretty name...for my new rug-"
"AAAAAARGH!" Horus broke free of his bonds and took Luna by the neck and held her up towards the ceiling. "So...you decide to use foxes as allies, smart, very smart indeed. Too bad Sanji isn't here...say good-night could you?" he started to choke Luna with his bare hand, Sanji immediately jumped from his seat and kicked Horus, Luna fell to the ground and the captain was sent flying to th wall, he got up slowly while spitting out blood. "Kuro Ashi....our paths cross again, does it look like it so? Let's finish our fight..."
"Gladly." Sanji accepted, but then Spirit covered the bar with a type of smokescreen and Luna grabbed Sanji in her mouth, the five beasts took off and ran to the rooftops, there, they separated and Luna and Sanji rushed to an open window and climbed into what seemed to be an attic. With her paws, Luna pulled the covering down. She panted slightly, collapsing at Sanjis feet. "Why?"
"Huh?"
"Why'd you save me?"
"Did you find where Becky was kept?"
"What?"
"Answer..." he stared at her.
"I-I didn't-"
SLAP!
"Ass." she opened the shutter, but he yanked her tail. "What?" he pulled out from his pocket Gebson's bronze key. Luna crawled back in then sat down beside him. "How did-?"
"When you were acing stupid like Zoro, I nabbed it from Gebson. See? I lifted a finger..."
"Hello, hello, dear heretics, hiding out are we?" Horus murmured from outside, he used Ranyanku to slice the rooftop in half, Luna and Sanji just missed it by an inch. "Too bad I'm going to hunt you down like foxes..." Instantly, they leaped out of the gigantic hole the Marine created and then scaled several buildings. It wasn't long before Horus caught up using Soru, he hauled out his sword, Luna tripped over a pole, and prepared to bring it down upon her until another sword lashed out and deflected the blow.
"Akumu!" the two exclaimed, Horus, now awestruck, nearly dropped his sword but held it taut.
"I fallowed you two here and decided to join the hunt. Run, go, now, I'll deal with the Bracelet..." Akumu ordered, grabbing Luna with a free hand and tossing her to Sanji. "There are several steeds to the south, ride them and Shuzan will assist you! Ouritsu Ittouryuu: Chi Yoku!"
Another crash sent the prince flying in the air, this time, he came rushing down and sheathing his sword. Horus's tekkai had protected him, keeping his neck and stomach from being sliced open, but it also bought him time to go after Sanji,"Rankyanku: Hawk Wave!" There was a brief moment when the hawk like air blades came in and swooped Sanji off his legs, nearly slicing his limbs off until Luna regained her footing when he dropped her. She quickly took him in her jaws and leaped away, missing the attack by a hair.
"Dive, duck, dodge, repeat. Dive, duck, dodge, repeat. I think I'm getting the hang of this." Luna gritted, Sanji looked up at her,"What the hell?! How casual can you even get?!" She immediately dropped him. Hard. "Ow, not an offense, just asking-"
"You call this casual?! Getting your ass blown off by some fucked up Marine is casual?!" man, she's shouting. A fight rose between the two, it even caused Horus and Akumu to flinch occasionally when the two were close to a fist-I mean-foot fight. "Why did you fallow me when you know that..." as they fought, the two captains of massive armies exchanged words with swords at their sides.
"Aw...are they not a sweet couple?" Horus asked, Akumu nodded,"Yes, yes, they remind me greatly of how my mother and father fought..." Luna grabbed Sanji's collar and started choking him. "That was how she attacked him..." Sanji slaps her hand away and defends himself. "...like a wolf..."
"Sometimes...I wish we never fight..." the Marine sat down on some barrels and Akumu fallowed suit, he was handed a bottle. "Beer?"
"Many thanks, foe-san." Akumu took it greatly as his enemy got out his own beverage. "My brother would love to see an end to this as much as you..."
"An end to what, this or the Revolution?" there was a pause, they smile and laugh like old friends. Sanji and Luna heard them from below and threw their anger at them.
"OI, OI, OI! WE THOUGHT YOU TWO WERE TEARING EACH OTHER'S HEADS OFF! IS THIS A WAR OR A PARTY?!
The two stared blankly into space before facing each other completely.
"Gods be cursed, what am I doing?! exclaimed Akumu, he tossed the beer at Horus' face and then jumped down two stories to the squabbling, young couple. "Run! Before anything else-" A brief moment had froze them all; a sword of black gold (no, not oil) had pierced the bowels of Akumu's heart, an awestruck face was what he shown the two before the blade was twisted several times and yanked out. The next scene tripped them out even more.
As if it were out of a horror movie, Horus suddenly took his sword and tore Akumu's chest open. The beating heart was ripped out, blood and all splattered Sanji's boots. His taunting laugh grew into something evil, Luna began to back away, holding Sanji's hand and lightly pulling.
"This could be you, Sanji-san!" Horus proclaimed. "A man's heart should be given, not forced out! Heavy, this one is, but I sense yours is even worse....so what will it be?" His tongue slid out, tasting Akumu's flesh, then swallowing the organ whole. Sanji's own mouth gagged as Luna turned away.
"W-what..." he stuttered, then eventually, he shouted,"What in the hell are you?!"
"Damned cannibal!" came another shout, Trace was there, his foxes at his side as faithful as ever. His gun and sword were at the ready but their use were no more. black, shadow like creatures had taken them from behind, instantly killing them off like weeds when their limbs came into contact with their chests. Luna dropped Sanji's wrist and her sword then fled, Sanji turned to her and Horus several times before fallowing.
"W-wait!" a day passed by and turned into night, she never stopped until they reached a courtyard of a shrine. He grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to face him. She was crying and no words seemed to give her comfort.
"All right! You were right!" she wept. "This isfucked up! We should've just leave Nami's things alone..."
"What're you getting at?" wanting to hear more, he suppressed his anger and hugged her. "Keep speaking, I'll listen..."
"Me and Becky were looking through the treasure box, we pulled out a gold chest and opened it. After that, we've been getting these weird dreams, I can't sleep or think properly! Look, you're in just as bad in shape as I am, Oda never drew you with bags under the eyes! I've seen things, but this is it, I don't want this anymore!"
"I don't either..."
"Then make it stop! Help me, please, don't be that ignorant bastard and help!"
"I wish I could..."
Luna stopped and looked up at him, she shoved him away to gain a better view of him.
"But..."
"But what?"
"Nothing...let's just find the others..."
"OI! GUYS! Love-jerks!" Chehero called out from a distance, Luna wiped her tears away and looked inside the shrine. Through the doors was a vast room, its walls were clean, shining gold and all. "Hurry!" she was motioning them to come inside. Sanji took Luna's wrist and guided her with him. Inside, the crew sat around, the only light that lit the room was a campfire. Robin sat next to Shuzan, who was mixing herbs for his medicine as she provided the materials she had gathered. Brooke helped himself to a tall glass of milk. Zoro slept, but he seemed to be badly injured. Luffy sat beside Richie, the two traded stories of some sort. Matt could be seen by the window, his gun out and at the ready, but he was reloading it, a tense expression was in his actions. Yume stood alone practicing his swordsmanship. Tsuki spotted Sanji and Luna, he glared then turned away. The scent of Sanji's cigarette filled the room, making everyone turn and face him. Matt was the first to speak with bitterness in his voice.
"Word on the street is that you did something..." he stepped forward, the Jackal pointed directly at Sanji's face. "...and I don't like it..."
"Go ahead, shoot, the scent of my blood attracts many...isn't it that you said the same thing about vampires?"
"Hold your fire, Matthew. It's tempting, but don't do anything incredibly...stupid." Richie said.
"If anyone's going to do anything, it's me." Luffy proclaimed. "So shut up and let him speak." Sanji raised an eyebrow and the gun was taken away, he presented the two keys to Yume and tossed them to him.
"We got them..." the prince was silent as he stared at them. "What is this? No words of-"
"Where's Akumu?" Yume quietly murmured, Sanji and Luna stayed quiet. "Where's Akumu?" Luna bit her lip. "WHERE IS MY YOUNGER BROTHER?!"
"Dead..." a moment's pause, the chef was then punched in the jaw, Luna and Matt backed away as Yume made an advance towards him, sword drawn and thirsting for blood. Luna tried to stop him but was thrown off course too, Matt shot several rounds, his bullets did nothing. "...there was nothing I could do...I'm sorry..."
"Sorry is not the same price of a man's life...RARGH!...Ouritsu Ittouryuu: Chi Yoku!"
"SANJI!" blood sprayed everywhere, but it wasn't the chef's...
Merry Christmas, everyone!