These are thoughts

"These are conversations"

And these are story teller

Hello my beloved readers. I've decided on releasing one chapter every week, around the weekends, but it may varies depends on how much stuff I have to do. Also, should I use the Japanese name for the moves or not? Anyway, here's chapter 10. Enjoy. PS: I don't even own a copy of One Piece. What make anyone think I would own the original?

-/\-/\-

The thing about travelling alone on a boat, it's really boring most of the time. You're on a boat, in the middle of the ocean with no one to talk to and not of anything to entertain yourself. I ended up training most of the time. When I first train with my new gauntlets, I had to take off the gi in fear of it getting in the way. I also had to figure out how to change the state of the gauntlets, or "unequal" and "equip" as I've taken to call it, without having to reach for the buttons. If my opponents know where those buttons are, they could essentially unarm me.

With a lot of thinking and experimenting, I found out that since my elbows are slightly double jointed, they can bend a little farther then a straight line like normal people. And, if I bend my elbows far enough and strong enough, I can press the buttons without anyone knowing it's there. Plus it actually looked pretty cool. I also found out by accident that if I change the gauntlet's state while wearing long sleeves, they actually will kind off melt through the fabric and tuck the sleeve in. really convenient. It makes me wonder who made the material.

–––––––– Somewhere on an island, a certain scientist sneezed. ––––––––

Another aspect of travelling by yourself, is that it's extremely easy to lose track of time. I had originally planned on going home at soon as the two years minimum requirement was met, but when I finally realized I was late, half a years has already passed. Upon noticing the date, I decided to send my family a letter, saying that I will continue travelling for a little while longer. I want to make a name for myself before I go home.

Little did I know, I already reached my goal. During my time of travel, I've defeated many pirates that were causing troubles, either while they hijack a ship or when they pillage a village. The people I helped told their friends and those friends told their friends about me. As the tales spread, they get really really wild, and I ended up getting called "White-coated vigilante", "Silver-clawed gentleman", and, for some reason, "Traveling Prince".

Seriously, what is it with everyone and mistaking me as a boy? I swear, it's like someone from above is having fun at my expense. Although it's always funny when they found out. Maybe I should use it to my advantages? Hmmm decisions, decisions.

Anyway, as those stories and rumors get wilder and wilder, they got to the point where it's impossible to tell that it's me. So, I spent my next two years of life floating across the East Blue. But alas, my peaceful, but lonesome, journey came to an end. I never thought, that when I stepped foot into that one strangely vacant town, my life would be thrown head first into the insanity that would later be known worldwide as the "Straw Hat Pirate".

-/\-/\-

My peaceful nap was interrupted by a loud explosion off to the port side. It startled me awake. I rushed out onto the deck and look for the source of the noise. Far in the distance, I noticed, from where the explosion came from, were an island and a plume of black smoke above it.

I suspected that there was a battle going on. Being the good person I was, I set sail to the island, hoping to lend a hand.

There was a second explosion, prompting me to pull out the paddles and speed up even more.

When I finally got to the dock, there was a pirate galleon with a clown skull, the theme of the crew looked to be a circus. There was a small pirate boat with the same flag and a tiny dingy next to it. I got off my boat and survey the area. There was no one around. The whole town seemed deserted.

They must have evacuated when the pirate came. Let's see if I can help drive the pirates out.

I started walking toward the center of the village. Then, I stumbled into a scene that I should have recognized faster than I did.

There was a small white dog, whose fur was matted with blood, blocking the way to a pet store. In front of the small canine, was a white lion that possibly were fed growth hormone, a strange man wearing an equally strange hat was riding the lion, and next to them was a white tiger that was as big as the lion.

"Come on ya mutt. Get out of our way." The man said. "Richie is hungry."

The little dog's replied by barking and growling at the three.

"Tch. Stupid mutt. Won't even learn after Michie rough it up." He turned to the tiger, "Michie, this is getting nowhere. Why don't you just go ahead and eat the dog?"

Michie, the tiger, stepped forward, set its body parallel to the ground, wound up its muscles, and got ready to pounce on the poor dog. I, of course, couldn't stand by and watch such thing happening and ran to the dog's aid.

I equipped my gauntlets as I ran. Michie pounced at the pooch, and just as it was about to take a bite out of the little guy, I got in between the two and caught Michie's jaws. With the adrenaline adding fuel to the fire in my veins, I managed a glare that would make Mihawk proud:

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

The tiger reeled back but I got a firm hold on its teeth.

"Wah? Hey, let go of Michie." The man demanded, "I'm Mohji, beast tamer of the Buggy Pirate, if you don't let go this instance I'll kill you." He screamed frustrated.

I responded by keeping my hold on Michie's teeth, twisting my body so that it was slightly behind me, and throw it over my shoulder with all my strength. The tiger were out like a light as soon as its back created the crater on the ground.

"MICHIEEEE"

"GROAAAAA"

Mohji and Richie screamed.

"YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS." Mohji yelled at me, "RICHIE GO. AVENGE MICHIE."

The lion charged at me when Mohji jumped off. Richie swatted at me with his(?) huge right paw. I blocked it with my left arm by squaring up and take the hit. I didn't budge even an inch. Richie looked downright murderous and bared his fangs at me. I moved from my spot, ducked low into Richie's underside, then

"RISING FLAME."

I send Richie flying straight up with an uppercut, basically. I need to figure out some unique moves. I turned my head to Mohji, whose jaw was literally on the ground.

Anime physic at work? No matter.

He shrieked when I turned my body and started to walk toward him.

"No no no no. Please, don't kill me. Mercy. Mercy" he wailed.

"With what you guys just did? I don't think so." I scowled.

With head start jump, I spin sideway but vertically and kicked downward, hitting Mohji's head and created yet another crater in the ground. I landed:

"Plus, I've always hated beast tamers."

Then I went to check up on the little pooch. I stopped when I notice the additional three people were not here when I first came. There were an old man, who was wearing a quite impressive looking set of armor for someone his age; a young girl with orange hair, she had a blue striped white shirt and orange skirt, she also looked suspiciously familiar; and a young man with red shirt, blue pants, and the world's most important straw hat

"SO COOOOOLLLLL." The straw hat wearing boy shouted out and ran up to me.

He then ran around me and checked me out. It was very awkward. The other two caught up to him.

"I'm the mayor of this town, named Poodle. Thank you for protecting Chouchou." The old man said and dashed over to check up on the pooch.

"That was very cool of you" Red head girl said.

"Thanks you." I told her, "Would who mind telling me what's going down in this town?"

Red head girl confirmed my assumption that the villagers evacuated when the Buggy Pirates moved in. she also told me Chouchou's story.

"Although. Who are you and what's your name?" she asked.

"Oh. Pardon me. I am Ryuki. Hanabishi Ryuki. Just a passing martial artist." I replied, "And you are?"

"I'm Nami." I introduced.

Wait. Nami? "Cat burglar" Nami?

"And that's Luffy, pirate." She pointed to the straw hat boy.

Luffy? As in future pirate king, "Straw Hat" Luffy? HOLY SHIT. I FINALLY REMEMBER. Oh gods, this is Orange Town. Shit, this was where Luffy official met Nami the first time. And, Mohji the beast tamer. That was the scene where Luffy became a badass and prove to Nami he's a good guy. Nooooooo. What the fuck have I done? And wait. Was there a tiger in the original storyline? There was, right? What? Could it be? A deviation from the canon? Oh double shit.

I was jerked out of my internal turmoil when Luffy suddenly shove his face up to mine (I'm taller).

"Hey hey hey. Cool mister." He said.

"What?" I asked

"Join me." I demanded.

"What?" was all I could said,

"Uh huh, uh huh. Join my …"

The mayor cut him off with a growl:

"Grrrr, I'm so useless. Both Chouchou and that kid fought so hard and yet, I, the mayor, was completely powerless to save this town!"

We ran up to him.

"Mr. Mayor! Please calm down." Nami advised him.

"Forty years ago, there was nothing here. We worked together and clear the land, harvested crops, opened stores, and built a community. This town and its people are my treasures! I won't let those fiends violate it any further!" he shouted out.

Suddenly, an unearthly explosion rang out, accompanied with a whole row of houses turning into rubbles. We all shielded ourselves from the force but the Mayor fell down.

"There goes my house." He said.

"AHH. Zoro was sleeping in there!" Luffy realized.

"I wonder if he survived." The mayor said.

"OI. ZORO, ARE YOU ALIVE?" Luffy called out.

From the rubble of what I could only assume as the mayor's house, a voice said:

"Talk about a rude awakening. Ahhh. I'm still tired." The green haired swordsman complained.

Luffy laughed, Nami inquired on how is he not dead, and I could only raise an eyebrow at the fact that there's not even a scratch on him, not counting the hole in his stomach of course.

"This is unforgivable. I've had enough! They have no right to destroy our forty years of hard work!" the mayor said, "I'm the mayor. It's my responsible to protect this town."

We watched on as Nami tried to pull him back.

"H-Hold on. Mr. Mayor." She tried.

"There are fights where a man cannot run from! Isn't that right, kid?" he told Luffy.

Luffy being Luffy answered without holding back:

"It sure is! Old man."

Prompting Nami to scold him:

"Don't encourage him. What good can he possibly do? This is reckless!" she said.

Then the mayor turned to her:

"I'm aware of that!" he declared with tears in his eyes.

His statement froze up Nami. Without her holding him back, he ran off toward the source of the explosion.

"Here I come, Buggy the Clown!"

I watched in respect as the old man went to challenge his enemy.

"He was crying!" Nami commented.

"Really? I didn't notice." Luffy said.

"This is getting pretty intense." Zoro said, excited.

"Shishishishi. Sure is." Luffy laughed.

"This is no laughing matter." Nami told them.

"It's ok. I like that guy. I won't let him die!" Luffy assured her.

"I guess that's an order." Zoro got up and started walking.

"You're going too!?" Nami asked us, incredulous. "You're still injured!"

"The injury to my body is nothing compared to the injury my pride would sustain if I were defeated." Zoro tied the bandana over his head.

"We're headed to the Grand Line! I'm gonna get that map back!" Luffy walked up to Nami, "Be our nakama, Nami." And extend a hand to her.

"I refuse to become a pirate …" then turned her frown to a smile and slap Luffy's hand "but why don't we join forces and help each other out for now?"

Luffy's only response was his trademark, too-wide grin. Knowing Luffy, I'm pretty sure that Nami just basically sign her soul over to him. I had originally not want to interfere with the canon story, but seeing how Michie the tiger exist, I need to know if it was something that my very existence caused or just something Lord Oda left out.

"I'm coming too. Letting the mayor run to his death without lifting a finger seriously contradicts my vows." I made up the excuse.

I never took any vow, but they don't need to know that

"Sure." Luffy said, his grin got even wider if that's even possible.

I have a really bad feeling about that.

-/\-/\-

We got to the pub just in time it seemed. The mayor was flying a foot or two off the ground. The only thing holding him up was a severed hand attached to his neck. There was also a clown with a missing hand yapping away on top of the building. We stayed behind as Luffy crushed the hand and pulled it off of the mayor. From the way the clown grunted, Luffy had one hell of a grip.

"It's the straw hat guy!" Buggy, I think, screeched.

"I'm here to kick your ass, just like I promised." Luffy grin at him.

Luffy crushed the hand a little more before letting fly back to its owner. We formed a protective circle around the mayor, Luffy in front, Zoro to his back right, me on the other side and Nami in the back. Something feels off about the arrangement to me.

We ignored Buggy when he started screeched about how great he is. I helped the mayor with his sore throat while Nami told us her ultimate goal.

"You brats, what are you doing here?" the mayor asked after he got over the coughing fit, "You outsiders should mind your own business." And panted heavily.

We watched him silently.

"This is my fight. This is my town, and I will protect it!" he grabbed his spear, "Don't interfere!"

Just as he was about to charge ahead, Luffy, with the most blanked out face possible, slammed grabbed the mayor's head and slammed it into the wall, effectively knocking him out.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Nami screamed at him, "Why did you do that to the mayor?"

"He's in the way." Luffy answered like it completely obvious.

I wanted to face palm so hard. Everyone else was speechless.

"Good idea." Zoro said, "If this old man fights, he'll get himself killed. This way is better."

When Nami still seemed too stunned to even say anything, I felt complied to say something.

"I know it is. But can't you be a little more gentle with him?"

"Shishishishi. I could. But I don't know how to." Luffy said brightly.

I face palmed.

"Next time, please leave it to someone who does."

"Sure. I'll leave that to you."

"What?"

Before I got an answer, Luffy walked back and faced Buggy.

"Here I go." he took a deep breath, "BIG NOSE!" and screamed at the top of his lungs.

Everyone's jaw just drop, their faces turned horrified. Buggy on the other hand, he looked like he was going to pop a vein.

"You're pissing me off, asshole. You dare call me that? Fire the Buggy Bomb now!" he ordered his men.

Both Nami and Zoro ran away. Even though I know Luffy could take the shot, but seeing the cannon, I ran too. It's not cowardice, it's called being rational.

The pirate fired the cannon, but with a shout

"GOMU GOMU NOOOOO BALOON"

Luffy inflated and shot the bomb right back at the Buggy Pirate. The sight of him inflating was absurd, I couldn't keep my jaw in its place. The pirate crew on top of the pub was surprised for a moment, but then they had something worst to worry about, aka, the bomb that's heading their way. The whole pub was taken down in a single explosion. We had to shield ourselves, and all Luffy said was:

"Alright! It hit the enemy."

"What the hell are you?!" Nami screamed at him.

"Don't surprise people like that." Zoro complained

"Devil fruit?" I couldn't help but asked.

"Yup. I'm a rubber man" Luffy answered, stretching his cheek .

"Nice." Was all I said. Nami had a different opinion though.

When the dust settled, Buggy stepped out without a scratch. He had used his own men as shields. Nami were disgusted, and I'm pretty sure we all were. Then from the rubbles popped out Mohji. He looked around and then spotted me.

"AHHH. It's you." He turned to Buggy, "captain Buggy, it that bastard that dares to defies us!"

"Huh. So it was your group all along. And you." He turned to Luffy, "so you're a rubber man, that's how you bounce the Buggy Bomb back."

I'm pretty sure that dialogue went different. No matter, looks like the timeline is more resilient than I had feared.

Suddenly, two pile of rubbles exploded from being Mohji.

Man, this crew really is flashy in everything they do.

There were a well-cooked Richie and an equally well-cook Michie, shielding two people. The one behind Richie reviewed himself.

"This is our biggest humiliation ever, captain." He said

"Oh. Cabaji." Buggy called.

"It definitely is, isn't it captain?" the person from behind Michie stepped out too.

"And Shaji, too." He told them, "I can't suppress my anger anymore."

Mohji suddenly cut in, screaming about the abuse that his partners had to endure. When the two dumped the animals and called them on the ground, Mohji got enraged and tried to attack Cabaji. He ended up being kicked toward us, where Luffy promptly kicked him into a wall.

"Captain Buggy. Let us take care of this." He offered.

"Good, show them your acrobatics and contortions"

"I'll go first." Cabaji declared.

He then jumped over Buggy, landed on a unicycle and charge toward us:

"The chief of staff, Cabaji the acrobat! Captain Buggy's rage has been transferred to me!"

Just as his sword were about to pierced Luffy, Zoro block him.

"Since you're using a sword, I'll be your opponent." He said.

"That seems fair, Roronoa Zoro. To fight you as a swordsman."

What happened next cannot be called a fight. It was only trickery followed by a righteous beat down. Cabaji, the bastard, kept using tricks and kicking Zoro's wound. After a while, Zoro got fed up and let himself got cut. I had to admired his willpower, but not so much his stupidity. Maybe it was the difference in our path? Anyhow, Nami got tired of the fight and left for the treasures.

Cabaji threw spinning tops at Zoro, distracting him, then climbed up the side of the building and launched himself above Zoro. While Zoro was focusing on Cabaji, Buggy launched his hand at Zoro, intending to hold him down.

Sadly for them, Luffy came to the rescue. He stomped on the hand like a boss, allowing Zoro to jump out of the way. After a couple of minutes panting on the ground, Zoro stood up. They had a final show down. And like a badass that he is, took down Cabaji with one iconic move "Devil Slices"

In his final waking moment, Cabaji regrettably said:

"The Buggy crew was defeated by a band of thieves?!"

"Not thieves. Pirates!" Zoro answered before falling down, "Luffy, I'm going to sleep."

"Ah. We'll take care of the rest." Luffy assured him.

"Yeah. Good night." I said.

And we prepared for our coming battles.

-/\-/\-

Me: First, a thank you and an apology to one "her wife", thank you for pointing out the "coding" problem, and sorry for not mentioning you earlier. But you review pop up 3 days late for some reason. Q & A time!

Ryuki: Alright. From "Aliahra", will I be the next "Avatar"?

Me: A True Master? One day. But you'll never be the Avatar, you're not OP enough for that. You will have something else that'll look like the Avatar state though, if I really think about it. But, it's actually something I will add in the story later on. So, I'm afraid you'll have to wait and find out.

Ryuki: Next, there's a question from one "chibi-no-baka" about whether I'm going to grow boobs so others know I'm girl.

Me: Uh huh.

Ryuki: Even though I'm 22 now, but giving the average female body of the One Piece world, it's…it's going come out right? It will right? Right?

Me: … Hang in there Ryuki. On another note, I've answered the question in the last chapter on whether Ryuki will stop being mistaken as a boy. Well, until something drastic comes up, the answer is still: NEVER. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAhaha hah?

*Ryuki stood up suddenly, eyes ablazed*

Me: Um, Ryuki? What are yo…

Ryuki: ROARRRRRRRR

Me: GYAAAAAAAAA