Thanks for all the reviews on the last few chapters. They really help motivate me. I'm actually posting this chapter from work. Make me work 12 hrs & I'm gonna do what I want to entertain myself.
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece. I only own my original additions. This story is for entertainment purposes.
Warnings: Strong Language & Violence
Abel let the peace of the night drift over her as she sat on the deck of the Going Merry. It'd be easy to forget the chaos that had occurred just hours earlier. But now the customers were gone and the cooks were finishing the last of their chores. And with most of the crew already in bed, only the sounds of surf and wind kept Abel company. She leaned her head back against the railing, letting her eyes drift shut. She was certain that if she sat there long enough, she could fall asleep. With the Going Merry still anchored to the Baratie, they figured there was no need to keep a night watch.
Footsteps nearing the side of the ship pulled Abel's eyes opened, but based on the heavy sigh, she already knew who her soon-to-be visitor was. Sure enough, it wasn't long before her captain's head appeared over the railing. Luffy staggered slightly as he climbed aboard and blinked tiredly at Abel. Abel jumped slightly when Luffy practically collapsed in her lap, his body falling limp. She chuckled lightly. The poor boy could hardly keep his eyes open. Smiling fondly at the boy, Abel brushed his hair out of his face. "Hard day, Boss?" she asked quietly.
Abel should've felt bad when Luffy groaned in agreement, but it just amused her further. "Doing chores is hard!" Luffy groaned. His feet were killing him. They'd had him cleaning tables, taking out the trash... And all the while keeping him as far from all that delicious food as possible. It was like torture.
"They say hard work builds character," Abel said in an attempt to comfort him. But it was unnecessary, as the boy was already asleep.
Chuckling to herself, Abel stood, pulling Luffy with her. She leaned him against her shoulder and sort of dragged him over to the mast. Careful to keep him balanced against her, although as tired as he was he probably wouldn't have noticed if she did drop him, Abel opened the hatch that led to the men's quarters. After some consideration, Abel decided the easiest way to get them both inside was just to lower Luffy in first by his rubbery arm. He stretched gently to the floor, and Abel followed using the ladder. The mast ran through the center of the men's quarters, with rungs attached. The room was slightly larger than the women's, but had the same basic design. Five hammocks were suspended from the ceiling on one side of the room, but there were also three different couches scattered around, a table and a wardrobe. The room was also a lot noisier than the women's at night, between Luffy and Zoro snoring and Usopp muttering in his sleep. Even in his dreams he told tall tales.
Abel laid Luffy out on one of the couches nearest the mast, setting his hat on the table. She didn't really feel like trying to get Luffy in a hammock. Satisfied that everything was in its place, Abel climbed the mast and headed for her own hammock.
The next day continued in a similar fashion. The crew was allowed to stay docked to the restaurant because it meant the owner didn't have to worry about boarding Luffy. Poor Luffy didn't get to sleep long, because customers arrived early for breakfast. For being out next to the middle of nowhere, this place really was popular. Abel observed people coming and going, and it seemed like the dinning room was always full. Noting a few larger passenger ships, Abel wondered if the restaurant had some kind of deal with nearby islands to take customers back and forth. Not that she could blame them for flocking to the place; the food was fantastic.
Although they had a light breakfast on the ship courtesy of Abel, Nami insisted they eat lunch at the restaurant. Abel suspected that this was most likely due to her getting to eat for free. Unfortunately, the guys weren't so lucky, and the crew's overall funds wouldn't last long if they kept it up. They certainly wouldn't last for a year.
While waiting for their food, Abel caught glimpses of her captain working hard. They had Luffy bussing tables, piling up the dishes and taking them back to the kitchen. To his credit, Luffy appeared to be working hard and seemed to maintain his cheerful disposition. Abel felt a bit of pride at having such an honorable captain. Luffy could've easily just ran out on his debt, but he stuck around, working hard to pay back what he owed.
"Here you are." Abel tried not to flinch at the familiar smoker's rasp beside her. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Sanji placed their plates on the table. "I saw to you ladies' dishes personally, to ensure they were of the highest quality." While Usopp still fumed at the enormous difference in treatment, Zoro just ignored him, already digging into his food.
"It looks lovely," Nami cooed.
Sanji bowed in appreciation. As he straightened up, he began, "Forgive my manners, but by what name should I call such beauties?"
"Nami."
"Ah, such a wonderful name, befitting an ocean-going beauty such as yourself." Nami just smiled, more than happy to put up with the cook's flirting if it meant she got something out of it. Sanji turned to the other female in the crew. "And you would be...?" he asked the so far silent angel.
"Uninterested," Abel replied in the most deadpan voice she could manage, looking away from the cook. She hoped her tone and attitude would force the man to turn his attention elsewhere.
But her plan failed when Sanji merely chuckled at her tone, clearly unfazed. "I'm surprised there's a ship on the seas that could harbor the combined loveliness of you ladies. It's as if the sun and moon have fallen to earth to grace us mere mortals with your brilliance. Your beauty juxtaposes perfectly against each other. The one, a fiery tempest, vibrating with radiance. And the other, cold and untouchable, like a brilliant ice sculpture."
Zoro just watched the scene in mild confusion. Where the hell was he getting all this? Although he had to admit, it was slightly amusing to watch Abel's reactions. He could see her slowly getting colder and more closed off, probably to avoid going off on the man. He wondered what Abel was like when she was angry, and how long it would take before she put a few bolts through blondie.
Too bad for him, that time wasn't now, as the sound of Luffy breaking a plate instantly snapped Sanji's attention away from the women. "Chore boy! I told you to be more careful!" he snapped, stomping over to a very sheepish-looking rubber man. Abel mentally sighed in relief, thanking Luffy's convenient clumsiness. Maybe she'd get to eat her meal in peace after all.
Abel would never admit it, but she was in hiding. Where? And from whom? In her makeshift office in the armory deck, and from her crew. Or more specifically, from the poetry-spewing cook that always seemed to find an excuse to be at their table. The rest of the crew was eating dinner inside the restaurant. But Abel had made the excuse that she needed to finish calibrating her crossbows and had promptly barricaded herself in the armory. She just didn't think she could face the cook twice in one day. Even her patience had its limits. If anything, she could get a prize for maintaining her composure as long as she had.
Abel jumped when the door opened behind her. "So here you are."
"You were expecting someone else?" Abel retorted as Zoro entered, carrying something she couldn't make out in his hand. "What are you carrying?" she asked suspiciously. The man had a devilish grin on his face that told her he was up to something.
"A gift from your admirer," Zoro informed her with a bit too much glee, placing a plate full of food on her "desk."
Abel eyed the food. She was tempted not to eat it, not wanting to take something from the love-sick cook. But she was hungry. And for all of his glaring faults, the man was a skilled chef. If he really was making all the food she'd eaten since arriving at the restaurant, it was the best food she'd ever tasted. So she put her personal feelings aside and pulled the plate closer. But before she started, she gave Zoro a questioning look. "Did you need something else? Or were you just planning to enjoy the food vicariously by watching me eat?"
Zoro crossed his arms and leaned a hip against her desk, that same expression on his face. "Care to explain why you're hiding in here?"
"Who said anything about hiding?" Abel deflected. She motioned to her crossbows out on the crates with her fork. "I told you I needed to recalibrate my equipment."
If Zoro's grin got any wider it would've cut his jaw off. "You're hiding from that cook," he stated simply.
Abel scoffed. "And why would I do that? The cook's harmless."
"Because he's driving you crazy."
"There certainly is one man here that's driving me crazy..." she retorted smartly, casting a meaningful glance Zoro's way.
Ignoring the dig, Zoro tried a different approach. "I thought women liked sweet talk."
The longer the conversation continued, the more Abel could feel her ire rising. And before she could censor her thoughts, Abel spat, "Sweet talk and empty flattery are two different things."
Zoro was stunned by Abel's reaction. This was the first time he'd heard her lose her cool about anything. Even when taking something completely serious, she maintained a laissez-faire attitude.
Abel sighed heavily, suddenly feeling a lot older than twenty-two under Zoro's questioning gaze. "I hate getting worked up over something so inconsequential..." she admitted, talking more to herself than Zoro. "But it just irks me to no end to see someone throw themselves at everyone who happens to have two X chromosomes and with still of reproductive age. It's disingenuous and disrespectful. How can you trust a man who slings the same sweet words at every woman he sees?" She turned her head toward Zoro, and the man was suddenly struck by just how expressive Abel's eyes could be. "You've seen it yourself. He'll tell one she's the most beautiful woman in the world, then turn right around and say the same to another. To me, it shows that he views all women the same. We're not individuals with our own identities, personalities, like and needs. We're just things. Conquests." Abel looked away from him and down at her food with distaste, the conversation having soured her appetite.
The two remained in silence for a long time as Zoro considered the other. "So what'll you do if Luffy convinces him to join the crew? He seems pretty adamant on him being our cook." If this was going to be a major issue, then maybe he should tell Luffy to reconsider.
"Maybe I can pay you to beat him up every now and then," Abel suggested, smiling innocently.
And just like that, the mood had passed. Zoro snorted. "Eat your food and stop moping," he ordered, heading for the door. He could tell Abel's mood for speaking frankly was over. But he'd rather have her back to normal than moping around.
Another day had come and gone, with no sign of a way for Luffy to pay off his debt in full presenting itself. Signs of boredom were starting to present themselves among the crew. They were getting restless. But what could they do? They couldn't just up and leave Luffy behind. He was their captain. And without him, they wouldn't have come together as a crew in the first place.
Abel was feeling it as well. Even calibrating her crossbows, an act that usually brought peace and contentment to her, was starting to become tedious. There were only so many times she could double-check her weaponry. Maybe if she'd had some resources to experiment and tinker with, she could've entertained herself more easily. But there wasn't anything of use on the floating restaurant. She was starting to get antsy. Abel was the sort of person who couldn't stand not doing something productive for long.
"Ugh!" Abel looked up as Usopp paced in front of her. The morning fog made it hard to see even the others on the ship. Usopp tapped his foot impatiently. He seemed to be suffering the worst from the lull in activity. "We've been sitting here, twiddling our thumbs for two days now! How long do you think we're gonna be here, anyway?"
Zoro just shrugged. "Who knows?"
Usopp sighed. "He said he'd stay here a year, but I'm already so bored."
"Quit whinning," Nami chastised. "This place is great! Plus, all the food here is free."
"Yeah, for you it is," Zoro pointed out. The guys still had to pay. No way they had enough money for a year's worth of food.
As if summoned just by talking to him, Luffy came out from the kitchen carrying a sack of garbage bigger than he was. Noticing him, Usopp ran over to the railing and called, "Hey, Luffy!" Luffy peered around the side of the bag at the sniper. "What are we still doing here? C'mon, let's just get out of this place." It wasn't like the cooks could chase them down.
"Just sit tight a little longer," Luffy pleaded, understanding the crew's impatience but not having a solution for it. "I'm gonna try to make another deal with the owner."
Usopp could only lower his head in defeat. "Ugh! Well hurry up!"
As Usopp continued to bemoan their situation, Abel stared up at the sky. Maybe it was just her eyes playing tricks on her, but it looked like there was something moving in the fog. A large area behind the Baratie seemed darker than the rest. Abel could've easily written it off as a ship, but if it was, the thing was massive. Was it a cruise ship bringing guests to eat? Abel's eyes narrowed slightly. Something's not right... She couldn't explain why she suddenly felt so apprehensive. It felt as if the temperature had dropped a good twenty degrees. "Does it suddenly feel colder to anyone else?" Abel asked.
The others glanced between themselves before looking back at Abel. "No..." Nami replied slowly, wondering what the other woman was getting at.
As Nami spoke, Abel noticed something strange. Testing her observation, Abel exhaled a long breath. Her breath... it was visible. Like it would be on a cold day. But that only seemed to happen to her. None of the others' breaths had been visible. Why was it only affecting Abel? Abel pulled her scarf up around her chin, trying to warm up. I sincerely hope I'm not getting sick. Abel hated being sick.
"Uh... guys..."
Nami's shaking voice drew Abel from her musings. She turned to see the navigator looking rather pale and nervous about something. "Problem?" Abel asked.
Instead of answering, Nami raised a shaking hand to point ahead of her. Abel turned to see that the shadow from before was much closer now. Much clearer. There was no doubt now that it was, indeed, a ship. However, what made Nami so nervous wasn't the ship itself. No, it was ominously waved above the ship. A flag. A black flag. Abel stood at attention then, realizing they had a pirate ship on their hands.
As if conspiring with the ship to make the most dramatic entrance possible, the fog slowly cleared, revealing more of the ship bit by bit. Slowly, the mark on the flag became clear. A skull-and-crossbones with an hourglass on each side. Usopp let out a shrill cry. "T-that's Don Krieg's flag! The hourglasses mean our time's up!" Usopp started running around the deck in a blind panic. "This is real bad! Shouldn't we be running away!?" Usopp did not want to fight an entire fleet of the most bloodthirsty men in the East Blue.
"Bro, let's set sail!" Yosaku pleaded. "We don't wanna die!"
However, in spite of the panic of some of his crewmates, Zoro calmly stood and hooked his swords into his belt, eying the approaching ship carefully.
"Since when does a single ship, no matter how large, constitute a 'fleet'?" Abel asked. If this really was Don Krieg's ship, where was the rest of the fleet?
Nami gasped when the ship came fully in to view. "What happened to it?" The battleship may have been fierce once, but now it looked like it shouldn't even be floating. The sails were ripped to shreds. Whole chunks had been torn from the bulwark. The figurehead, which had at one point been a fearsome lion roaring, now seemed to have a permanent expression of fear on its wooden face.
"It must've been attacked by a Sea King!" Usopp suggested. It sounded like a reasonable guess to Abel. Sea Kings were the largest monsters in the sea. They were fairly rare in the East Blue, but Abel did know they were more numerous the closer you got to the Grand Line. It was the only thing Abel could think of that could do that kind of damage to a ship that size.
But the strange thing was, even for all its damage, there should still be some life left on the galleon. Instead, it was eerily quiet. Abel couldn't hear anything. Even the sea had gone silent, adding to the thick tension in the air. "It's so quiet..." Abel almost whispered, feeling the need to not break the strange silence that had befallen them. "Perhaps it's a ghost ship. I've read about things like this happening. A ship disappears mysteriously, then shows up years later, decrepit and crewless, in a random location."
"Abel, shut up!" Usopp yelled, him and Nami clinging to each other in terror. In any other situation, Abel would've laughed at her story scaring them.
Then, over the silence, they heard it. Footsteps. Heavy and slow, like someone dragging their feet. It sounded like they were going into the restaurant. Each step made Abel's nerves perk up a bit more as the crew waited silently to see what would happen next. As Nami and Usopp's shivering wasn't helping her nerves, Abel stood next to Zoro, the soft soles of her boots barely making a sound against the deck. She found Zoro's calm alertness much more appealing. The swordsman simply glanced over at the woman before turning his attention back to the restaurant.
For a long time, there was nothing. No footsteps, no nothing. They just waited. The air felt alive with nervous energy. Then, a scream came from inside the restaurant, and Nami and Usopp screamed in response. The back doors flung open and customers poured out, running for the charter ship. They climbed and jumped on board, trying to cram as many people as possible on it. All the while, people kept screaming things like "Let's get out of here!" and "I don't want to die!"
Observing the chaos, Abel commented, "That doesn't bode well." Nor did the explosions and gunfire that soon followed.
Zoro didn't wait any longer. "Come on. Luffy may need our help," he said as he jumped the railing, landing on the Baratie's deck. As Abel followed, Zoro turned and ordered, "Nami, keep an on the ship with Johnny and Yosaku."
"Hey! How come she gets to stay!" Usopp shouted.
Instead of arguing, Abel decided on a different tactic to... encourage Usopp to join them. "Surely a brave warrior of the sea such as yourself wouldn't shy away from backing up their captain, would you?" She hoped that appealing to his ego would help him get the lead out.
It seemed to work, as Usopp looked unsure but not quite as afraid. He glanced nervously at the door before taking a deep breath. "Fine!" he shouted, most likely to pump himself up. "But you've got to protect me, Zoro!"
"Whatever," was all the swordsman.
"Be careful!" Nami called as the headed for the back entrance. "Don't let Luffy do anything stupid!"
"We're probably already too late for that", Abel called back.
The trio carefully neared the door that the fleeing customers had all but busted open. As they did, they could hear a loud, boisterous voice shouting, "You damn worms think you can defy me!?"
Abel peered cautiously around the door frame. It looked like all the cooks were in the dinning room, along with Luffy. She noticed he was near Sanji, who looked a bit ruffled. Given that Abel assumed Sanji was the sort of man to maintain an impeccable appearance, he must've been involved in whatever had gone down inside. Several cooks lay on the floor, bleeding badly. They looked like they'd been shot. The pirate Patty'd thrown out the other day was there. He'd probably been the one who brought the fleet here. Was it for revenge? That was Abel's first guess, but if that was the case, why did he look so distressed right now? Shouldn't he be gloating?
And then there was the man Abel could only assume was Don Krieg. He was a tall, muscular man, with very broad shoulders and a rectangular face. His hair was gray, despite him appearing maybe in his forties, cut a little longer than your standard military buzz, with bushy sideburns. His most striking feature was the armor chestplate he wore. It was gold-colored (Abel suspected it wasn't actually made of gold because that would've been horrible armor - gold is very soft), with white fur lining the joints. He'd painted his Jolly Roger on the shoulder plates. But more importantly, the plates were popped open, revealing two mini-guns hidden underneath. Aside from that, he wore light purple pants, black boots, and had a gray captain's coat tucking into his armor like a cape.
"Come on," Zoro said, keeping his voice down as he entered the room. Better to see where the situation led than rush in if Luffy didn't need help. If all this man had were guns, he was no match for Luffy. The trio moved closer to the action, not drawing anyone's attention.
Krieg dominated the room as he scowled at the cooks. "I'm the strongest!" he growled, gesturing to his armor. "This steel arm, more powerful than that of anyone! This body of steel, tougher than anyone else's!" He slipped off one of the brown gloves he wore, revealing a diamond encrusted gauntlet. "And this diamond fist can pulverize anything! My entire body is a finely tuned weapon! I'm the Fleet Admiral of fifty ships and the commander of five-thousand men! I've won every single battle I've been in! There is no other man more worthy of the title 'Don' than I am! So if I tell you to prepare the food for my men, then you shut up and do it! Nobody goes against Don Krieg!"
"He certainly his the loudest," Abel muttered under her breath, ignoring Usopp shushing her. She hated boastful people. Abel had always been under the impression that if you were really the best, you wouldn't have to go around telling everyone that. It would just be accepted fact. It was like how everyone said Whitebeard was the strongest man alive. He didn't go around saying it. Everyone else did, and there was no evidence to dispute the claim. Those that can, do; and those that can't, talk about it all the time.
Besides, it's a bit hard to remain intimidating when your so-called fleet has been reduced to one ship, and the rest of your five-thousand men were so pathetic that the only person you had to take into battle with you was a man who'd been starving to death two days ago.
Abel was surprised when the owner walked between them where they'd been standing, carrying a huge sack. Abel caught a glimpse of his face as he passed. Steely and calm. Zeff thankfully put an end to Krieg's ranting when he placed the sack in front of him. "Owner Zeff!" the cooks gasped in surprise.
Unmoved by Krieg's presence, Zeff stated, "There's enough food for a hundred people. So hurry up and bring it to your men."
Krieg looked surprised, but not for the same reason as everyone. Rather than being shocked that the old man willing fed his crew, he seemed hung up on what the cooks had called him. "Did... did they just say 'Zeff'!?"
"Sir!" the cooks started protesting. "How could you give them food!? Just what's the meaning of this!?"
"Once those pirates on that ship recover, they'll take over our restaurant!"
Zeff calmly turned to face them. "Unless they're all spineless dogs." Zeff glanced back at the pirates and drawled, "You went to the Grand Line, but you ran scared, eh?" Krieg didn't deny it, and his henchman looked terrified at just hearing that place's name again. Now it all made sense. That's why their ship was so beat up and their crew decimated.
The cooks were stunned by this news. "W-What!? Don Krieg was defeated!"
"The strongest man of the East Blue... the pirate fleet admiral of fifty ships... Even he was utterly defeated by the Grand Line!?" What a terrifying place.
"Grand Line!?" Luffy gasped. So this crew had been there. They knew what it was like.
But instead of taking offense of Zeff's comment, Krieg exclaimed in an accusatory tone, "You're Red-Leg Zeff!"
As Zeff turned to face Krieg, barely showing any reaction to the title, Abel racked her brain to place the name. But nothing came to her. It definitely sounded like a pirate's name. Pirates often received nicknames based on the way they fought or some other attribute. It didn't really surprise her that the old man had been a pirate once. It would explain the rowdiness of the cooks. Only an outlaw would consider hiring people who bloodied up the customers.
Krieg seemed to calm as his realization sunk in. It shouldn't have been that surprising. How many people were out there named Zeff? It wasn't a common name. "So you were alive all this time, Red-Leg Zeff... the peerless captain and cook of his own pirate crew."
"So what if I'm alive?" Zeff retorted, already sounding bored with the conversation. "It's got nothing to do with you. As you can see, I'm living as a mere cook now."
Zeff scoffed. "Interesting to hear it put that way." He gave the old man an assessing once-over, his gaze lingering on the peg leg. "But from the way I see it, you're living as a cook not by choice, but because that's the only thing you can do. With the way you are now, you can't wear your infamous 'red shoes.' To speak of Red-Leg Zeff is to speak of the master of the kick, who refused to use his hands in battle! The pirate whose destructive kicks could pulverize bedrock, and leave a clear imprint even on steel!" He motioned to the old man's legs. "Your nickname Red-Leg refers to your legs, that would be died in the blood of your enemies after a fight."
Interesting, Abel mused. You can't judge a person based merely on outward appearances. It made sense looking back now, what with the attitude and all, that the old man used to be a pirate, but no one would've guessed it otherwise. That must've been how he avoided capture, even though Marines didn't seem uncommon at this place. The government wasn't big on leaving even "retired" pirates alone.
Krieg actually looked like he pitied the other man. "Though I've heard rumors that you died during a shipwreck, it seems that you've managed to survive, though at the cost of your precious legs. With one of your legs gone, you can't fight anymore."
Abel was surprised when Sanji shot up, looking offended and ready to say something on his boss' behalf. But Zeff unflinchingly retorted, raising his hands, "I may not be able to fight anymore but I can still cook as long as I have these hands." The former pirate spoke with the confidence of a man who'd either made peace with his loss... or knew he hadn't lost anything. He didn't boast or protest, like Krieg did. He simply spoke with certainty. Abel suspected, after having seen the man kick several of his staff around, that he was far from helpless.
Letting his precious hands rest at his side again, Zeff asked, "But what are you getting at, exactly?"
The devious grin that cross Krieg's face told Abel whatever it was, it wasn't good. "Red-Leg Zeff. You're a man who once braved the waters of the devil's hideout, the Grand Line itself!" Krieg stroked his chin, and Abel could just imagine he was congratulating himself for whatever scheme he'd concocted. "Not only that, you returned without injury. You must've kept a log during your time in the Grand Line. So what I'm getting at is... hand over that log to me!"
"So you've been to the Grand Line, old man?" Luffy asked Zeff, excited to be meeting someone who'd been there and lived to tell.
"Yes," Zeff answered simply. Luffy probably would've launched into a game of Twenty Questions had he not continued, "You are certainly correct to assume that I kept a log, and I indeed have it to this day." He scowled deeply, exaggerating the creases already on his face. "But I won't hand it over to you."
"The I'll just steal it from you!" Krieg growled, undaunted. He gripped his fist threateningly. "It's true that I came back from the Grand Line defeated! But even so, I'm still the mighty Don Krieg! That ocean shrouded by darkness... the mention of it alone causes weak men to tremble in their boots! I had enough power to conquer that sea! Enough men! Enough ambition! The only thing I lacked was knowledge! That was my only flaw! I simply did not know enough." His eyes burned into Zeff. "Which is why I'll steal your log book and this ship!"
But the cooks weren't having that. "Like hell we'll let you!" Patty snarled, struggling to stand even though he'd been shot. "If we lose this ship, we've got nowhere to go!"
"That's right!" another agreed. "All the cooks here were chased out by other restaurants before finally finding their home in this place!"
"Owner Zeff is the only one who accepted us as chefs! He's our savior!"
"We ain't letting you pirates steal our home away!"
"Silence!" Krieg shouted, firing more shots from his shoulder cannons. Most of them hit the cooks, but a few strayed near the crew. Usopp let out a squeak as one barely missed grazing his head, and dived behind Zoro. Probably figuring he was a bigger target. Krieg sneered at the injured, writhing men. "The difference in strength between you and I is clear as night and day! I even proved it to you! Don't you dare forget that I'm the strongest!" His pauldrons hissed as they closed, and Abel idly wondered by what mechanism they worked. "Once I obtain Zeff's log book, I'll reassemble my pirate fleet and find the One Piece to become the Pirate King!"
"Here we go..." Abel murmured, being psychic enough predict what was about to happen.
Sure enough, Luffy stepped forward. "Hold it right there!" he shouted, pointing a finger at Krieg. "The one who'll become Pirate King is me."
Even though she knew he was just dragging them all into trouble, Abel couldn't help but grin at how obstinate Luffy sounded then. It didn't help that the cooks started yelling at him to keep quiet, thinking he was biting off more than he could chew. "Hey, stand down kid!" Patty yelled. "Or you'll be killed!"
Luffy just grinned. "I'm not standing down, especially on this point!"
Watching the staredown between Krieg and Luffy brought to mind images of David and Goliath. Abel saw Krieg quickly dismiss the boy, who stood before him with his arms crossed like a petulant child. "Did you say something, little brat?" Krieg asked sarcastically. "I'll be nice enough to let your comment just now slide."
"It's fine. You don't have to let it slide," Luffy replied. "I was only stating the truth."
Luffy insistence was clearly getting on Krieg's nerves. "This ain't a game," he growled darkly.
"Of course."
Apparently the stress was too much of Usopp to contain himself any longer. "Didn't you hear that just now? Even Krieg couldn't make it there! Let's just give up on going to a place like that!"
"It's a bit late to be getting cold feet, don't you think?" Abel responded. "You already knew our destination when you signed up. Anything that happens after that point is your own fault." By this point, everyone in the room was looking at them.
With their presence known, Zoro eagerly asked, "You planning to rumble, Luffy?" He dropped his white swords on his shoulder. "Need a hand?"
Luffy blinked, surprised to see part of his crew there. "Oh hey, Zoro, Abel, Usopp," he greeted like there wasn't a man who wouldn't hesitate the kill him standing right in front of him. Luffy shook his head. "No, it's fine. You can just stay sitting down."
Krieg surveyed the motley bunch, and if his sudden and boisterous laughter was anything to go by, he wasn't impressed. Not that Abel cared what the man thought. "Those are you crewmates?" he bellowed. "A rather small bunch, aren't they!?"
"What're you talking about? I've got two others, as well!" Luffy protested, as if that made for a big crew.
Behind him, Sanji deadpanned, "Hey, you just counted me in, didn't you?"
"Don't joke with me, punk!" Krieg raged. "Even my fleet of fifty ships and five-thousand pirates were utterly decimated by that devilish sea in just seven days, only because we lacked information!"
A gasp went out among the cooks. "S-Seven days!"
"The entire Krieg Pirate Fleet was annihilated in just a week!?"
"J-Just what exactly happened to them!?"
Usopp started to cry in fear. "D'you hear that just now!?" he demanded, as if the other two were deaf. "Fifty ships gone! In just a single week!"
Rather than being afraid, Zoro just looked more intrigued. "Sounds interesting."
Abel just smiled at the panicking sniper. "I hear getting old sucks, so it's probably best to get your dying done early, before you get all decrepid." Abel's words did little to ease Usopp. If anything, they set him off more. Which was totally not Abel's intention. That would've just been mean...
Krieg was not amused. "Even as a bluff, your comments just shows how completely ignorant you are to reality. If there's one thing I hate, it's empty boasting like yours. Keep saying that and I'll kill you right on this spot once I get back from unloading this food!"
Abel really couldn't help herself. "Then should you be committing suicide right about now? Because all I heard was the wind blowing."
"Abel! Shut up!" Usopp squealed, slapping his hand over the woman's mouth before she could get them in more trouble. Abel simply raised an eyebrow at him. She had the sudden childish urge to lick his hand like she use to when Adam did the same thing when they were kids.
Krieg tossed Abel a cold look, and Usopp cowered behind Zoro again. Abel just stared back lazily. Once you've stared down a basilisk, everything else is easy. After a long staredown, Krieg must've decided she wasn't worth killing. Instead, he hauled the huge bag of food on to his shoulder. "I'm going to give this food to my subordinates, and then return back here. I suggest you leave this place within that time if you don't want to die. The only things I need are this ship and Zeff's log book. If any of you still feel like dying even after I warned you, then so be it! I'll bury you to the bottom of the sea for eternity!"
How magnanimous, Abel thought (she didn't say it this time, for the sake of Usopp's sanity) as Krieg strutted out the door, no doubt heading for his dilapidated ship.
A tense silence followed in his wake, as no one was sure what to do. The cooks obviously didn't want to leave, but they weren't really in any state to fight back. "Sanji..." The timid voice cut through the tension like a knife. Everyone turned to the kneeling pirate. He sat on his knees, holding his shoulder like he was injured, and trembled. His face actually looked... ashamed. He bowed his head so low it almost touched the floor. "Please forgive me! I had no idea... no idea at all that this would happen...! I.."
"There's no need to apologize," Zeff interrupted, startling everyone. The pirate's head snapped up and gaped at the Zeff, who held him no ill will even though he had every right to do so. But there was no deception in Zeff's face. "The cooks of this restaurant acted out of their own free will, and this is the result of that."
"Sir!" Patty protested. "How could you of all people side with Sanji on this!? Just what's the meaning of this!?"
The other cooks were quick to jump on the "Blame Sanji" Bandwagon. "That's right! He's the one to blame for all this!"
"He just wants to destroy this restaurant that's so important to you, sir!"
"Sanji!" They rounded on the blond chef, who merely listened to their accusations without flinching. "Were you planning on using this mess we're in to become the next head chef!? Or have you just completely lost it!? Which is it!?"
"SILENCE, YOU NUMBSKULLS!" Zeff's booming voice quickly put an end to their wild ranting. Even Abel, for all she disliked the man's flirting, could tell Sanji wasn't the sort of man to resort to offing the owner just to be the next head chef. Zeff sent the cooks a hard look. "Have any one of you ever been hungry enough to die? Do any of you know just how terrifying and painful it is to be stuck in this ocean, deprived of food and water?"
"Wha... what do you mean, sir!?"
But Abel had a hunch. Based on the shadowed expression that had come over Sanji's face, she suspected that Zeff was hinting that said blond had been in just that situation. Stranded and starving... Abel didn't want to think about what that would be like. There had been times when she was sick and could eat or drink, and it felt like she was dying. But she'd always had food available. If she was piecing things together properly, Abel assumed Sanji had fed Krieg's lost pirate, he'd brought the rest of his crew to eat, and then... well, this happened. Someone who'd nearly starved before wouldn't want that to happen to anyone else.
But instead of spelling this out, Zeff said, "If you've got time to be crying over spilt milk, then just leave this place using the back door!"
The cooks exchanged a glance before steeling themselves. Arming themselves with knives, pitchforks and whatever else they could find, the banded together. "I'm gonna stay here," Patty was the first to say. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I just left without a fight."
The others agreed. "Same here. This is the place I live and work at."
"Not like I've got anywhere else to go..."
"W-What're you all doing!?" the pirate protested, gaping at them as if they were insane. "Haven't you realized how powerful the Don is by now!? You need to run away!"
"Hey, Gin..." Sanji interrupted, his coolness derailing the pirate, Gin's thought. Sanji took a long drag from his cigarette before stating, "Let me tell you something. It's my duty as a cook to feed anyone who's starving." In one fluid movement, Sanji flipped a table upright using only his leg and sat down on it, the same leg folded neatly under him. Sanji turned his eyes to the broken door. "But the ones who're coming to attack this ship are those who've already been fed. So you better not complain when I kill them." His face darkened, murderous. "If someone is planning on stealing this ship, then I'll kill that person without a second thought... even if it's you. Got that?" Gin gulped.
Patty snorted, eyeing Sanji with contempt. "You save a person only to kill him afterwards? Some guy you are."
"Shut up, you shitty cook."
Luffy grinned at his crew. "Hey! What do you think about him?" he asked, pointing to Sanji. Luffy was obviously impressed. "Pretty cool, right?"
Abel cast the blond a sidelong glance. "I don't know if I'd go that far..." If he acted like this all the time, she probably wouldn't have given him a second thought to him joining.
"Who cares about him!" Usopp snapped, flailing around. "If we don't get out of here soon-"
"Calm down," Zoro chided. "Our enemies are wounded pirates." No matter how many there were, they couldn't be much of a threat.
"That's right," Luffy agreed. "And besides..." A determined smile graced his face. "I have to fight with that guy. If he truly is strong, then he and I are going to butt heads eventually anyways!" But then Luffy thought of something. "Oh that's right. Gin!" Said pirate pulled his gaze from Sanji and Luffy. "You said you didn't know anything about the Grand Line. But didn't you guys go there?"
Gin's face paled, and he crumpled in on himself. He started shaking again, haunted by his memories. "What I don't know is the truth... I just can't believe it... I just don't know if those seven days we spent in the Grand Line was real or just a nightmare... I'm still wrestling with it in my mind..." His voice dropped to a whisper, like a child scared of the boogeyman. "He just appeared all of a sudden... To think all fifty ships of the Krieg Pirate Fleet were destroyed by a single man!"
A panicked, disbelieving cry engulfed the room. "What!?"
"Impossible!"
"The entire Krieg Pirate Fleet was crushed by a single man!?"
Even Abel had a hard time believing it. Was there really someone out there who take out fifty ships all by themself? Would they even be human? It sounded more like the work of a monster than a flesh and blood human. But Gin's reaction was proof enough of the horror they'd witnessed.
Zeff hummed in thought. "That had to be the work of the hawk-eyed man, without a doubt..."
Everyone looked to the old man then. "H... Hawk-eye man!?" Did Zeff really know who this monster was.
"You saying that you witnessed a man whose glare was as sharp as that of a hawk doesn't necessarily prove it was him," Zeff explained, staring off into the distance in thought. "But the fact that he sunk your entire fleet is more than enough proof that it really was him!"
"H... Hawk-eyed...!?" Usopp gasped dramatically, leaning forward. Then he slumped back in his chair. "Who's that?" Abel wondered why he bothered getting worked up in the first place. Or was it just for practice?
"Beats me," Luffy replied.
"He's the man I'm searching for," Zoro interjected. This caught the attention of his crewmates. Abel tilted her head curiously. Looking for? Did it have something to do with the whole swordsman thing? Zoro continued, "Johnny said he frequents this place."
"Hawk-eyed man, huh..." the cooks muttered.
"If it's the Red-eyed man, I remember him coming to this stop before."
"Right, you mean that guy who got so piss-drunk from wine that his eyes turned red."
"Yeah. That idiot who caught on fire and blew up."
The memory brought a chuckle from another. "That was quite a sight." Abel would imagine so. It wasn't every day someone spontaneously combusted.
But as amusing a story as it was, it did nothing for Zoro. "That idiot got his information mixed up!" he growled. He'd have to have a stern talking-to with Johnny about keeping his names straight.
"Hmm?" Luffy breathed. "What about Johnny?"
Zoro just sighed in defeat. "Never mind."
Turning back to the pirate, Sanji rationally asked, "Did he bear some ill grudge against you guys for him to destroy your entire fleet like that?" They had to have done something to make the man wipe them out.
Gin shook his head vehemently. "I don't remember anything like that! He just attacked us all of a sudden!"
"Perhaps you disturbed his afternoon nap," Zeff suggested.
"That's bullshit!" Gin snapped, angered that Zeff would joke about something like that. "You mean to tell me he destroyed our entire fleet for that!?"
"No need to get so irritated, it was just an example," Zeff placated, stroking his mustache thoughtfully. "That's just the kind of place the Grand Line is."
A thoughtful expression crossed Zoro's face. "A place where even the abnormal is normal, huh?"
Shivered ran down Luffy's skin. But they weren't of fear. No, they were of excitement. "That sounds like such a thrill!" he exclaimed, practically vibrating with energy. "We definitely gotta go there!"
Usopp, however, wasn't nearly as excited. Terrified was probably a better word. "Could you at least try to think of the danger!?" he snarled at Luffy. Would it kill him to consider how reckless he was being for a change?
"I'm afraid it's just an... occupational hazard," Abel commented. She wouldn't say she went out looking for danger, but she wouldn't back down from it. She'd dedicated herself to hunting monsters; danger came with the territory. If she wanted to stay safe, she'd have taken up being a doctor like her father.
Abel turned her head when Zoro reclined back in his chair. He smiled lightly, an almost whimsical look on his face. "It looks like my own goal is inextricably tied with the Grand Line... considering that that man is there as well!"
"... bunch of idiots." The crew collectively looked up at Sanji as he said this. The man gave them a look of contempt, but there was something else behind it. It almost sounded like... longing to Abel. Fiddling with his cigarette, Sanji continued harshly, "You lot are the type to rush to their deaths."
"True," Zoro agreed. "But I'd rather you leave out the 'idiot' part." He gave the blond a serious look. His voice was strong and clear. Determined. "Ever since I decided to become the world's greatest swordsman, I threw away my attachment to life. The only one who has the right to call me an idiot is me alone." It was his choice. He had no delusions about the safety of his dream. He knew very well that it could kill him. But he'd rather die chasing his dream than live a thousands years for nothing.
"Ooh! Me too!" Luffy shouted, raising his hand as if it were some sort of volunteer opportunity.
Usopp tried to match the other guys' determination. "As a real man, the same goes for me too."
But Zoro didn't buy it. "Liar," he pointed out, tapping the side of Usopp's head with the hilt of a sword.
Sanji just scoffed. "What a load of crap." Abel didn't mention it, but he sounded a bit weak then.
"Hey, retards!" Patty chimed in, obnoxiously. "Haven't your realized the situation we're in right now!? The gigantic galleon that's parked right in front of our restaurant belongs to the Pirate Fleet Admiral Don Krieg! The ship of the strongest pirate in all the East Blue! You got that!? So you can continue your little conversation after we've gotten ourselves out of this mess!"
"You put it so succinctly," Abel drawled with a little smile. Patty just gaped at her with his mouth open, plainly trying to comprehend what she'd just said... and determine if it warranted a response.
Before he could, however, a roar came from outside. It sounded like a wolf, or a banshee. A lost soul being brought back to life. There was no doubt it came from Krieg's men, having regained their strength after feasting. It sent a shiver down the spines of the cooks. That must've been some potent food to bring back men on the verge of death and instill such a strong spirit in them. Then came to rushing sound of a stampede, and a mighty cry as the pirates prepared to fall upon the ship like the breaking waves to wash away everyone in their path.
The cooks raised their weapons. "I can hear them coming!"
"Brace yourself! This ship is our restaurant!" They weren't going down without a fight. But for all their determination, Abel wondered just how effective they would be in a fight. Just because you acted like a pirate didn't mean you could fight like one.
"Move it, ya' damn cooks!" the pirates yelled as they charged.
But before the first one could even step a foot through the threshold, something split their ship in two! Sliced it right down the middle, as easily as you could cut through the tender flesh of a peach. As the halves the ship fell into the sea, no longer able to stay afloat, they sent up massive waves, rocking the restaurant something fierce. A general scream came from both sides of the battlefield.
Outside, someone screamed, "Don Krieg! Our ship...! Our ship's been cut!"
"Cut!?" they could hear the Don reply, rage and panic mingling together in his voice. "The hell do you mean cut!? How can a huge galleon like this be cut!? That's impossible!"
Before the others could react, Luffy shot off towards the back door without a word. When he realized Luffy's destination, Zoro gasped. "Crap! Our ship was outside too, with Nami, Yosaku and Johnny still inside!" A ship Merry's size could easily capsize in waves like this.
As the rest of the crew ran after Luffy, Usopp shouted pessimistically, "It might be too late already!" But he prayed it wasn't.
Abel's chest tightened when they got outside. The Going Merry was nowhere to be seen. Had it already been dragged under? Could even someone with Nami's navigational skills handle a ship that size on her own?
"Bro!"
"Big Bro Zoro!" Abel felt slightly relieved to see Johnny and Yosaku swimming towards them, struggling to stay afloat but otherwise fine.
"Yosaku! Johnny! You all right!?" Zoro shouted over the waves. "The ship! Where's our ship!? What happened to Nami!?"
The men sputtered, fighting the rushing water. "About that... we're sorry, Bro...! She's not here anymore!" Abel started to fear the worst then, at least until they continued. "Sister Nami...!"
"Took the treasure and sailed away!"
...
"WHAAAT!?"
"What do you mean!?" Luffy shrieked, practically falling into the water in his haste.
Noticing how the two men kept spitting out water with each rolling wave, Abel suggested, "Perhaps we should fish them out, lest they drown and we never learn what happened." The guys gawked at Abel as if the thought of actually helping the bounty hunters out of the water never occurred to them. Then again, taking into account who she was talking to, that was a very real possibility.
The boys scrambled to help Johnny and Yosaku climb onto the Baratie's deck. Aside from being a little waterlogged, they seemed unharmed. They panted, struggling to catch their breaths. "We're sorry, Big Bro," Johnny managed.
"Tell us exactly what happened. Slowly," Abel advised.
"Right. Well, after you guys went in to check on the situation, it was pretty quiet," Johnny began. "Then we noticed Nami dragging our treasure onto the ship. We thought this was suspicious, so we asked her, since we weren't planning on sticking around for long. But then, she tricked us! She said she was going to change her clothes and asked us to turn around. Being the gentlemen that we are, we obliged. The next thing we knew, she was pushing us overboard!"
"She said what you all had was just a temporary arrangement," Yosaku continued, trying to brush the water from his face. "She said to tell you all that if you were really linked by fate that you'd meet again."
Johnny and Yosaku bowed their heads, apologizing for letting the ship be shanghaied like that. "After saying that, she ran away!"
The crew was understandably upset with this turn of events. "So now we're broke, stranded, and the one person who could help us locate our stolen property is the same person who took it," Abel summarized. Mmm... we're definitely in a situation. "I suppose we should've expected this outcome when we teamed up with a self-avowed pirate thief." Nami had said from the very beginning that she only stuck around because it was profitable. Although it did seem strange that she'd choose now to leave.
The others reacted with less, shall we say, nonchalance. "Damn that woman!" Zoro growled, punching the wall in frustration. "Just because she was acting all nice recently, I let my guard down for one moment and then this happens!" He should've never let his guard down around her.
Usopp balled his hands into fists so tightly he almost cut off the circulation to his fingers. "How dare she pull a fast one over on us, especially during a crisis!"
"Wait!" Luffy exclaimed, interrupting the rant that was likely inbound. He walked past the crew and stared out at the sea, shielding his eyes to see better. His eyes widened. "I can still see our ship!"
"What!?"
Sure enough, when the others looked, they could see the outline of their ship in the distance. "It's the Going Merry!" Usopp cried in relief. But his relief wouldn't last for long if they didn't move soon.
Turning to the bounty hunters, Luffy asked, "Yosaku! Johnny! Where's your ship!?"
They blinked before replying, "Well, we still have ours." Nami must've untied it when she stole their treasure, because it had been attached to the Going Merry.
"Zoro! Abel! Usopp!" Luffy yelled.
But Zoro already knew what his captain was thinking. And he didn't like it. "Just let her go," he said dismissively. "No good will come of chasing after that thief." He'd rather not have someone in the crew that would just abandon them like that.
"B-But she took our ship!" Usopp protested vehemently. "Kaya gave us that ship!"
Luffy gave his crew the sternest expression possible. With a strong, unyielding voice, he said, "I want her to be our navigator, no matter what!"
The crew carefully considered their captain for a long moment. He was obviously very serious about this. And once Luffy's mind was made up, there was no changing it. Luffy was ridiculously stubborn at times. Finally, Zoro relented. "Fine," he said with a sigh before muttering, "Why'd I have to follow such a troublesome captain..." He was their captain, as it was their job as his crew to make his orders a reality. Easily falling into his own authority, Zoro turned to the two sharpshooters and ordered, "You two go with Johnny and Yosaku and find Nami. Between the two of you, you shouldn't have trouble tracking her down. I'm going to stay here to help Luffy. Things are getting a little crazy here. Just find her and wait for us."
Abel gave Zoro a full salute, even clacking her heels together. "Aye-aye, Chief." Zoro's mouth thinned into a line, but he didn't say anything.
"Brother Usopp! Sister Abel! We're ready to set sail!" the hunters called, already on their boat. It should serve them well enough of their journey.
As the pirate climbed aboard, however, someone from the opposite side of the restaurant screamed, "It's him!" The sheer terror in his voice sent chills down their spines. "Don Krieg! It's him! The one who destroyed our fleet! He followed us all the way out here! He's come to kill all of us!"
Zoro's body went ramrod stiff. His heart pounded in his chest. He could hardly hear anything over the rush of blood in his ears. "I-It can't be... is that... the Hawk-eyed man!?" Without a second thought, Zoro ran around the deck, leaving his crew calling after him.
Abel had a strong hunch what Zoro was up to. "Row the ship around," she told the bounty hunters. She didn't know if the man chasing Krieg really was the same man, but if he was related to Zoro's dream, she knew he'd challenge him.
As the small boat started rounding the ship, they could hear people yelling. "Damn it! What did we ever do to you!? Why the hell do you have to follow us all the way out here!"
Silence greeted them. Until... "Just to kill some time," a strong, deep, yet utterly bored voice replied.
"That's bullshit!" Abel heard two pistol shots. But instead of hearing the bullets hit, there was the softest sound of metal striking metal.
"Wha!? I-It missed!?"
"He deflected it," Zoro's voice rebuffed. "It'll be the same no matter how many times you shoot. He changed the bullet's trajectory with the tip of his sword." Abel rarely heard Zoro speak in such a soft tone. He almost sounded... awed. He clearly respected whatever he'd seen. "I've never seen such graceful movements."
"A sword without grace is just a piece of metal."
By this time, their boat had made it around to get a good look at the scene. And what a scene it was. Krieg's ship, which had been in bad shape before, now floated in large chunks. It looked like a bomb had gone off. But the person commanding all the attention was the swordsman floating calmly in their midst in what appeared to be an oversized coffin. Even sitting down, Abel could tell he was tall, probably over six and a half feet. His features were very striking, and carried a refined air. He had jet black hair, short but hidden under black, wide-brimmed hat that had a white plume. His mustache and beard were carefully maintained and gave an angular look to his stern face. He sported a long black jacket with maroon lining and maroon paisley print on the sleeves, gray pants and heavy black boots. He wore no shirt under his jacket, exposing his lean, chiseled chest, decorated solely by a gold crucifix necklace. But it was his eyes... those penetrating golden eyes that instantly drew ones attention. Abel instinctively knew that catching those eyes would be like a bird looking into a snake's. Once you were caught, you could never look away.
Their own swordsman approached, standing on a broken piece of the galleon's deck with a few other pirates. He ignored them completely. "Did you cut this ship as well with that sword?" he asked.
"Yes, indeed," the hawk-eyed man answered easily.
A wolfish, excited grin stretched over Zoro's face. But for all his obvious excitement, he was sweating. He was nervous. "No wonder you really are the strongest." Zoro tugged at his bandana. Standing tall, he called to the other. "I set sail to meet you!"
The hawk-eyed swordsman finally inclined his head enough to stare at Zoro. "What do you aim for?"
"To be the strongest." Zoro tied his bandana securely before drawing a sword and pointing it at the man. "You said you're free, right? So let's have a duel."
By this point, the pirates had realized who Zoro was. The three swords gave it away. It wasn't exactly a common sword style. "It's him! Zoro! Roronoa Zoro of the Three Sword Style!"
"The Pirate Hunter...?" Krieg muttered.
"Him...!?" Abel tried not to smile at even Sanji's surprise.
Slowly, the hawk-eyed swordsman stood. Abel watched the scene with rapt attention. Strange how such an innocuous motion could seem so threatening. Absently, she was aware of Usopp tugged at her sleeve and demanding that they chase after Nami before they lost sight. But everyone seemed glued to the fight that was about to happen.
"Pitiful," the swordsman stated. "Weakling." In spite of his poor opinion of Zoro, however, joined the other on the broken deck.
It was only then that Abel realized the thing sticking out from behind him was his sword. For the love of... it's bigger than he is! The grip extended nearly a foot past the top of his hat, while the massive black blade ran all the way down the length of his back. The guard resembled a celtic cross, both ends extending nearly two feet from the center of the sword, encrusted with gems.
The hawk-eyed man examined Zoro. "If you're a competent swordsman, then I can demonstrate the clear difference in strength between you and I without needing to cross blades at all," the man said. But it didn't come across a boast. He was merely stating a fact. "But still, you dare to challenge me. Does your bravery come from your conviction? Or from ignorance?"
Undaunted by the man's attitude, Zoro drew all three swords. "It comes from my ambition... and a promise to a friend." Abel knew that there would be no backing down for Zoro now. But... "To be honest, I never thought I'd be able to meet you so early on."
"A waste, if you ask me," the other replied.
Even the cooks watched on in anxious tension. "The world's strongest swordsman versus the Pirate Hunter Zoro...!"
Ah... so that's it, Abel realized. If that man's the world's strongest swordsman, and Zoro defeats him, he'll gain that title. And his dream. Now Abel understood. It wasn't just about testing his mettle against another swordsman. This was his dream. That's why Zoro said he'd been looking for this man.
"There's not a chance someone can match our bro!" Yosaku cheered.
"Hopefully you're correct," Abel murmured, eyeing the hawk-eyed one. "That gentleman doesn't seem like the sort who finishes a fight by shaking hands."
The older swordsman considered the other a moment longer before pulling off his necklace. Zoro watched him carefully, not letting his guard down. "Just what're you planning to do with that?" he asked around his white sword.
"I'm different from those stupid brutes who'd go all out just to hunt a mere rabbit," the other replied. He pulled off the bottom section of the crucifix, revealing a small knife. "Though you may be a swordsman of some renown, this is the East Blue, the weakest of the four seas that are separated by the Red Line and Grand Line. Unfortunately, I do not have a blade smaller than this at the moment." Burned...
Zoro scowled. "There's a limit to just how much you can underestimate me! You better not regret it when you die!" He rushed at the other, swords out to the side.
The black-haired swordsman barely moved. "Hear me, little frog in his well. It's time for you to realize that the world is bigger than what it seems from your well."
His prodding just agged Zoro on. "Oni Giri!" But the unthinkable happened. The other stopped Zoro's attack dead in its tracks, using only the very point of the knife to hold all three blades at a single point. Zoro gasped at being held off so effortlessly. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't take a step closer.
"Zoro?" Luffy gasped in shock.
Johnny's jaw hit the ground. "Big Bro's Oni Giri was stopped!" he shouted, pointing out the obvious.
"No one's ever been able to stop that attack!" Yosaku chimed in.
Zoro was really starting to sweat now. I... can't move... There hasn't been a single man who could see through that move until now! So how can he stop me with that toy...!? This is... ridiculous! Overcome by rage, and probably a bit more desperation than he'd care to admit, Zoro attacked wildly. He swung his swords as fast as he could. But no matter how fast or how numerous his strikes, the other easily blocked them all. All the while, never changing from that pocket knife of his.
The longer she watched the fight go on, the more she realized that this would not end well for Zoro. Zoro was good, there was no doubt about that. But this was the greatest swordsman in the entire world. And as much as she didn't want to admit it, she feared what a defeat would cost Zoro. Not just physically, but mentally. Could he rise again to carry on if he fell here? His dream gave his strength. She'd hate to see him lose that.
A skillful parry sent Zoro tumbling to the ground. Breathing hard, Zoro staggered to his feet, glaring at the other man. This was not how things were supposed to go. There shouldn't be such a vast difference between us! There can't be! With a battle cry, Zoro charged again. He wouldn't back down. Not so long as there was breath left in him.
From the sidelines, his former partners cheered him on. Pirate and cook alike watched in awe, temporarily forgetting about their previous plans. And even the hawk-eyed swordsman seemed surprised at Zoro's ferocity, fruitless though it may be.
I didn't train so hard until today just to fight against this stupid little toy! Zoro would not dishonor Kuina's memory like this. "I trained to win! I came to beat this man!"
The man's piercing golden eyes stared into his own burning ones. "What burdens you so?" he asked. "What do you still desire at the extent of your strength, weakling?"
Abel jumped when Johnny and Yosaku tried to jump over her and the side of the boat to get at the swordsman. "How dare you call our bro a weakling!?"
"We oughta teach you a lesson, you bastard!"
Thankfully, Luffy grabbed them before they could get their fool selves killed. "Stop! Yosaku! Johnny! Don't interfere!" He shoved their heads against the deck, holding them firmly in place. "Stay put right here...!"
Usopp clearly saw how much it pained Luffy to stand by while Zoro got kicked around. But he managed to contain himself... for now. "Luffy..." he breathed.
Silently, Abel placed a hand on Luffy's shoulder. She felt his muscles tremble with tension beneath hear palm. Without a word, Luffy reached a hand up to cover Abel's. Abel told herself she was doing this to comfort Luffy, not to calm her own nerves.
Another parry sent Zoro sprawling on the broken deck. He quickly righted himself. Not that speed mattered at this point. The other man seemed content to let Zoro throw himself at him time and again, like waves breaking on a mountain.
"World's strongest swordsman! Sounds great! If you're gonna be the Pirate King's shipmate, you should be able to accomplish at least that much! Otherwise, It'll be embarrassing for me!"
Zoro raised his arms. "Tora..."
"Carrying the dreams of two people must be a heavy burden."
"... Gari!"
Moving like the wind through the trees, the hawk-eyed swordsman struck in a blink, weaving his knife through Zoro's attack, spearing him in the chest. Just below where his heart sat.
"Bro!" the bounty hunters screamed.
Luffy gripped Abel's hand so tightly her bones ground together. But considering her nails dug into his shoulder, drawing blood, she figured they were even. Abel had to remind herself to breathe. Each breath sent sympathy pains through her chest.
Zoro blinked. It took a moment to register what had just happened. His arms slowly lowered to his sides. It wasn't until he coughed up some blood, sending it dribbling down his chin, that it really hit him. He was going to die here...
For a long time, the only movement between them was Zoro's blood slowly dripping from his chest and the swordsman's knife. The hawk-eyed man stared up at Zoro, confusion written in those piercing eyes. "Do you wish for me to pierce your heart? Why do you refuse to step back?" Did this man lack any semblance of self-preservation?
Zoro gave a slight, pained chuckle. "Beats me... not really sure myself... But I get the feeling... that if I were to take even one step back right now, I'd lose something very important to me... a promise or oath... or whatever it is would be irreversibly broken. And that I'd never be able to return back to where I'm standing right now."
"Yes, such is defeat," the other answered.
"Then that's why I can't step back."
"Even if it means your death?"
In spite of all the pain and blood, Zoro still smirked. "I'd much rather die."
The hawk-eyed man considered the other swordsman for a moment before pulling his knife back. It made a sickening wet sound as it pulled from Zoro's chest. "Kid, tell me your name."
Zoro held his swords up in a windmill fashion. "Roronoa Zoro," he said with pride. It was now or never.
"I shall remember it, for your strength is not oft seen in this world." The hawk-eyed man reached behind him, pulling out his massive black sword. Abel had never seen anything so beautiful and terrible at the same time. "And to pay my respect to you as a fellow swordsman, I shall end this duel with my black sword, the world's strongest sword."
"He unsheathed it!" the pirates shrieked. "That sword he used to cut our ship with!"
Abel wasn't even sure her heart was beating anymore. It felt like it was lodged in her throat. If that sword can cut through ships like butter, what can it do to a person? She didn't want to watch, but she felt she had to.
Zoro readied himself. At least the man was taking him seriously enough to actually use his precious sword. It was an honor. So this is it... the final blow... If I miss here, I'll die. To be the world's strongest... or die here and now!
The black-haired swordsman charged at Zoro, sword drawn over his shoulder. You could feel everyone hold their breaths. Zoro started spinning his swords in a whirlwind fashion. "Three-Sword Style Secret Technique! Sanzen Sekai!"
The two men in a flash of steel. Zoro felt the cut along his stomach. Heard his two swords shatter, so that only the white remained. And in that instant, Zoro knew it was over. I lost... I'm not match for him... Zoro coughed up more blood. Never even thought about the possibility of losing... Crouching, he respectfully sheathed his remaining sword. Her sword. At least that would remain. So this is... the strength of the world's strongest!
Zoro surprised the other man by turning to face him. But instead of launching another attack, he held his arms out to the side. Leaving himself completely open. "What...?"
Zoro grinned, surprisingly at peace. "Wounds on the back are a swordsman's shame."
The other grinned in return. "Splendid." And without further ado, sliced Zoro deeply across the chest.
"ZORO!"
Abel always heard that when you were about to die, your life flashed before your eyes. But she never knew a similar thing happened when your friend was about to die, except it was the time you'd spent with them that flashed. Abel felt the beginnings of tunnel vision coming over her. Everything focused in on Zoro, and even he was moving in slow motion. Colors dulled, except for the brilliant red spraying from Zoro's chest. Vaguely, she was aware of Luffy, Usopp, Johnny and Yosaku screaming Zoro's name. Zoro's body sagged, teetering back towards the water. Abel was fairly certain she hit the water before Zoro did. It was pretty obvious where he was going.
The man sunk surprisingly fast. It was probably due to his weight and being completely unconscious. Abel's limbs propelled her swiftly through the water, and she caught up to Zoro reasonably quickly. As she wrapped her arms under his arms, she eyed the wound the hawk-eyed swordsman had inflicted on him. It looked really bad. That black sword had cut him almost from stem to stern, crossing his torso diagonally all the way from his shoulder to his hip. Even under water, blood wafted from the wound, floating through the water like red tendrils. Abel wasted no time pulling Zoro to the surface.
"Bro! Answer us, Big Bro!" the hunters yelled from the boat once the two broke the surface.
When she saw Zoro still wasn't breathing, Abel slapped him on the back as hard as she was capable. Probably not the best way to treat a dying man, but since it got him to cough up water it was all right. Of course, he coughed up blood too, but at least he was breathing again.
"Zoro!" Luffy shouted anxiously. As Abel swam over with Zoro to the bounty hunters' boat, she notice he had somehow made it over to the deck where the hawk-eyed swordsman remained, watching them intently. No doubt Luffy'd thrown himself at the other man after the fight was done.
"You're not allowed to die, Zoro," Abel said under her breath. "I haven't given you permission to die yet." She knew he couldn't hear her, but it made her feel better just saying it. Abel had seen a lot of good people die helping her father's clinic, and during the basilisk attacks, but never anyone close to her; she didn't want to start now.
Three pairs of hands reached down to help pull Zoro from Abel's arms. "Hurry up and get him on the boat!" Johnny urged frantically. Abel pulled herself up after, just as Usopp ran up carrying a bucket of medical supplies.
"I am Dracule Mihawk!" the hawk-eyed swordsman proclaimed. Abel turned and stared at the man. She wanted to hate him, but the fight had been Zoro's choice. This Mihawk did try to warn him off, and he could've just killed Zoro if he'd really wanted to. So why hadn't he? Not that Abel was complaining.
Mihawk's eyes burrowed in to Zoro. "It is must too early for you to die. Know thy self! Know thy world! And become strong, Roronoa! No matter how many months or years pass by, I shall stand here at the top of the world and wait for you! So forge on ahead with that fierce conviction and try to surpass my sword! Surpass me, Roronoa Zoro!"
Abel stared down at their unconscious swordsman while Usopp applied some medicine to his chest, absorbing Mihawk's words. She wouldn't claim to be an expert on swordsmanship philosophy, but she imagined Mihawk must've seen something in Zoro's conviction that was admirable. It must get lonely at the top, she thought. In a strange way, Mihawk was nurturing Zoro to become a better swordsman, until one day they could meet as equals. Abel mentally sighed. Men...
Turning from them, Mihawk stared down at Luffy, less hostile but no less intense. "Boy, what do you aim for?"
"The be the Pirate King!" Luffy answered without a hint of hesitation.
Mihawk chuckled. "A tough path indeed. Even tougher than surpassing myself."
"Whatever!" Luffy growled, sticking his tongue out at the swordsman obstinately. "I'm going to do it anyways!" Ignoring the other for the moment, Luffy called out to his crew, "Abel! Usopp! Is Zoro all right!?"
"Of course. People often survive being cut in twain," Abel answered the pointless question.
Usopp helpfully translated, "Like hell he'd be all right! But he's still alive! He only lost consciousness!"
The two hunters uselessly blubbered. "Bro...!"
"Please answer us...!" Their concern was touching, but not helping.
As Abel knelt to aid Usopp, she nearly fell backwards when a sword practically cut her face off. Wide eyed, Abel followed the blade down to the white handle, being held aloft by their bleeding swordsman. "Zoro?" Luffy gasped.
"L-Luffy..." Zoro panted. "C... can you hear me...?"
"Yeah!" Luffy replied quickly, climbing to his feet.
Zoro swallowed, cringing as he tasted blood. His entire body burned with white-hot pain. But this needed to be said. He needed to say it more than he needed to breathe. "Sorry for worrying you... I know... that if I don't become... the world's strongest swordsman, it will only embarrass you...!" Zoro coughed up more blood, the strain of talking taking its toll.
"Bro! Please don't talk anymore!" Yosaku pleaded.
But Zoro pressed on. "I SWEAR!" he shouted, his voice cracking as tears streamed down his face. "THAT I'M NEVER GOING TO LOSE AGAIN!" And even though is body shook from exhaustion and emotion, his hand never wavered. The sword that meant so much to him, that he was now pledging himself to his captain on, didn't so much as twitch. "UNTIL THE DAY I FIGHT HIM AND WIN... I SWEAR! TO NEVER LOST AGAIN!" Zoro had to pause to catch his breath. "Any problems? Pirate King!?"
Luffy laughed. "Nope!"
As Mihawk prepared to leave, Abel gently grabbed Zoro's outstretched hand. "That's enough bravado for one day," she said softly, carefully removing the sword from Zoro's grasp. And for once, the man didn't put up a fight. He must've been worse off than she thought.
"Hawk-eyes!" Abel looked up to see Krieg standing behind the swordsman, looking as smug as usual. "Didn't you come all the way out here for my head?" the pirate stupidly taunted. "The head of the infamous ruler of the East Blue, Don Krieg?"
Without even turning around, Mihawk replied, "For a while, yes. But I've already enjoyed myself here. And so I'll return back to my nap."
What is it with swordsmen and sleeping? Abel wondered to herself.
"No need to be so curt," Krieg continued. It was like his ego couldn't stand being upstaged in anything, so he had to make himself the center of attention. Abel wondered if he was a middle child. "You may have had your fun, but I sure haven't!"
Already seeing how this was going to go down, Abel knelt next to Zoro and said, "I'm afraid we're going to have to improvise on your strategy, Chief. In your state, you're better suited for chasing down our wayward navigator. I'll stay to help our captain."
"I'd hate for you to be remiss..." Zoro panted, but his eyes were far more lucid now.
Abel just chuckled. It was good to see him returning to normal. Abel was confident he'd recover fully in time. "I leave him in your hands," she told the others before leaping from the boat to the restaurant. Abel landed on the railing like an owl, startling several of the nearest cooks.
Back to the one-sided argument, Krieg shouted, "How about you die before leaving!?" He pulled out two pistols and fired them at the swordsman. At the same time, panels opened up in his armor to reveal hidden guns under his pauldrons and his side plating.
Mihawk didn't even flinch. "You never learn, do you?" He swung his sword once, creating a shockwave that sent waves crashing over the broke ship, allowing him to get back on his coffin-boat thing and sail away as pretty as you please.
The force sent Luffy flying through the air. "Boss," Abel called to him, holding out her hand.
Stretching his arm out, Luffy grabbed Abel's hand and reeling himself in. He slammed face-first into the railing, but managed to grab on so he didn't fall into the sea. Turning, Luffy saw the hunters' boat struggling with the choppy waves. "Usopp! Go on ahead!"
"All right!" Usopp shouted back, holding Luffy's straw hat up. He must've lost it when he went over to confront Mihawk. "Zoro and I'll definitely bring Nami back! So you make sure to get us a cook! Once we have five people in our crew, let's head to the Grand Line!" He threw Luffy's hat.
"Yeah!" Luffy agreed, placing hat back where it belonged.
Abel stepped down from the railing and pulled Luffy onto the ship proper. She nearly jumped when Sanji came up beside them and stated, "They're finally coming." He was referring to the pirates now with their eyes firmly set on the Baratie. The chef blew out a long stream of smoke. "Damn pests." Abel's nose crinkled at the acrid smell of the smoke. But at least he wasn't flirting. Nice to know he could act like a normal human being when he wanted to.
"Hey old man!" Luffy said with a grin. "If we chase them away for you, will you let me off the hook?"
"Sounds like a fair trade to me," Abel added.
Zeff sighed. Were these two dense or just that confident? "Fine, do as you wish."
To Be Continued...
I want to have the next chapter contain all of Krieg's fight, so it'll take a bit. But I'll get it done as soon as I can.
