I have no excuse for being away this long from this story. I really don't. All I can say is the quality, starting from the next chapter since this one was about half done when I started working on it again, will improve. I will also be needing all of those loyal enough to still be around to give me feedback. If you've been reading my other story, what aspects do you want me to bring over? Should the chapters be about as long as those, or stay the same. I would like to give my most sincere apologies for making those of you who really enjoy this story wait.
Robin looked at the injured woman on the ground. She didn't really have a strong feeling about Miss Valentine. She was good enough at her job to be an officer, but nothing really special. Now she looked like a pathetic billions agent. "I believe that's up to you, Luffy." Robin responded to Luffy's question as the piece of human cattle below her looked up, pleading with her eyes.
"Please don't ki-" Miss Valentine tried to beg, but Luffy cut her off.
"I don't wanna kill her, Robin. But what if she comes after us again? She's not a big threat to us, but she could hurt Merry with her fat power!" Luffy said, ignoring the woman's plea while at the same time answering it. First time around, Luffy wouldn't have even thought about the dangers. But now he knew what was at stake.
"I won't try anything! I prom-" Miss Valentine really couldn't get a word in edgewise on the two-person conversation. She also didn't appreciate the term 'Fat Power' to describe her Devil Fruit, but that was really secondary to her life.
"That's a good point, Luffy." Robin cut her off once more, not even paying her any mind. She didn't know what Luffy did last time, but she had to assume he spared her for this to be troubling him now. "We could hand her over to Miss Monday and Mr. Nine. They may not be as strong as her, but if we were to incapacitate her, she would be easy to handle."
"I didn't know he was an agent! Please, I can go back to wor-" Miss Valentine was offering the oldest and least successful bargain in witness history. That she'd just forget what she saw and go back to business as usual. When your business is murder, that's no longer an option.
Robin got tired of the slight outbursts and covered up Valentine's mouth with flowed hands. This way she and Luffy could have a decent conversation. Luffy took advantage and yelled "Great idea!" Before picking up the woman, who was still a few hundred kilos in weight. Robin didn't know, Luffy hardly noticed, and Miss Valentine was terrified by the overwhelming strength the man displayed with no effort.
The trio returned back to the ship at a leisurely pace. Luffy and Robin were enjoying the night air, and quite frankly Miss Valentine couldn't protest. They walked side by side with her arm around his back. Miss Valentine was thrown over Luffy's other shoulder and keeping quiet even though the sprouted hands were gone, at risk of her own life. She was an unwanted third party for their beautiful walk together.
The town had quieted down since they had left. With the ruse over and no bounty to be claimed anyway, it was a waste to party. Instead, the people sorted out rations while the guests enjoyed the one thing none of the residents needed. Booze.
Nami was drunk as a skunk who thought her bunk contained a hunk. Or just plain hammered as most would call it. She gathered up a fine assortment of cheap this and cheap that and had some drinking contests with those stupid enough to think they had a chance. She drank them under the table and gave their livers' a remember me by.
Zoro was left with a true pirate's drink. Rum. He was drinking like a fish and smiling like a clown. Rum had the surprising effect of making him a Happy Drunk. Singing one of the couple sea shanties he picked up from here and there during his travels. The bounty hunters who decided to join him were singing along to the broken, slurred version of Drunken Sailor merrily.
Sanji wasn't drinking. Last time ended with him in bed with women who were individually more man than he was, and he would not be making the same mistake. He was hitting on a couple ladies who looked like they carried a card for Miss Monday's fan club, seeing as they were wearing nearly identical nun outfits. He was having more luck with them than he did with most, which wasn't saying much.
Usopp had gotten more acquainted with Mr. 9 while they stayed of their own free will. He was an interesting guy, at least if you could peel back the layer of anonymity the job he previously had forced upon him. He had been a member of some band of people on an island he wouldn't divulge the name of, for some reason. Though since marching, rock, and bandit bands are all bad news it was obvious he had been breaking the law for a while. The dual bats were so he wouldn't have to kill anyone in battle. The news of his skills spread and he was eventually offered a spot as number nine in Baroque Works after he was forced to fight the current number nine. That lunatic fought with a staff like some monk, claiming it was the weapon of god.
That, however, was where Mr. Nine stopped talking. Partly over discomfort, partly because his girlfriend looked uneasy. Once he walked over to her, he saw why.
Luffy kicked open the door lightly, which meant it was so warped it would need to be replaced, and barged in with a woman draped over his shoulders. In Viking times this would mean a battle well fought! In pirate terms, it meant a battle most likely fought dirtily. In starving bounty hunters who planned on murdering these people terms, it meant they stood no chance. While none of them really knew Miss Valentine, they knew her power. That boy was carrying a thousand kilos over his shoulder and didn't break a sweat. In fact, he threw her down to the floor in front of the muscle-bound nun with such force the floor cracked. "Hey, muscle lady. Think you could watch her or something? I don't want to kill her too if I don't have to."
The room went dead silent. All eyes now on the jolly red boy who swooped in and made them all seem like weaklings. He had captured an officer agent nearly twice as powerful as Miss Monday, at very least in ranking, and just threw her down lack a sack of potatoes. This was followed by him making a declaration that suggested her partner, Mr. Five, was dead as a doornail. Finally, after people started to choke on the thick air of fear, the ice was broken. "If those two came here…" Considering the large jump between officers, there was no good reason for the five pair to come here. It most likely meant a cleaning expedition. "Three cheers for the monster kid! Mugi-wara! Mugi-wara!" The crowd started to cheer, spirits lifting up when they realized they avoided death. Miss Valentine was tied up by the nimble Mr. Nine before she could move. Not that she would so long as the Straw Hat boy was still there. Luffy smiled wide at the crowd and hugged Robin. "Cheers to her too!" The crowd would have cheered for anyone the boy told them to, so they started cheering for her as well. It spread through quickly once the numbered agents found out and started blabbing...(Cough Cough Mr. Nine Cough)
After the chanting, the couple went in search of a certain blue-haired woman who was no longer in the bar/restaurant area. They did hear her voice, however. Her loud, defensive voice. "Igaram I know it's strange! But he knew our identities anyway! Why would he offer to help if he wasn't serious about it? He'd have no trouble forcing us to go with him, or killing us for that matter…"
"It could be a con, princess! The evil mind of a pirate thinks… Ma, Ma, Ma … much differently." Igaram said to the woman he swore to protect. He found it suspicious that they'd swoop in, knowing all about her, and rescue their country.
"Hey, weird hair guy!" Luffy yelled, scaring both of the unsuspecting people. "You know you could talk to us directly, right?" Luffy said, walking over to them with Robin at his side.
Igaram was less than happy to hear us, then downright depressed to see Nico Robin being the 'Us' in question. "You're right. But it would change nothing. I do not like the idea of you taking away the Princess." Igaram stated, dreadfully contradicting what he had said last time. Though desperate men do desperate things…
"What does the princess think?" Robin asked before Luffy could retort. Igaram wanted to retort, but he'd only be proving the woman's point. She was a smart woman who would make the right-
"I trust you and your crew. You seem like good people." Vivi responded with a smile, though the comment was directed at Luffy. Whether it was out of bad blood or deference to the captain, Robin couldn't tell, but it did upset Igaram, which was nice.
"But princess! I have a, Ma Ma Ma!, ship ready to take us back to Alabasta. We don't need the help of these pir-"
"Oh yeah! That reminds me. Bomb guy's dead, and fat girl is back at the bar." The mention of the ship reminded Luffy of when it exploded. The correlation wasn't prevalent to the others there, but that was for the best given the circumstances.
Igaram stared in shock for a moment, brain running at the pace of Crocus's speech. Finally, he said, "Are you talking about the officer agents, Mr. Five and Miss Valentine?"
"Bomb Guy and Fat Girl," Luffy responded, seemingly unaware they had names besides the ones he felt fit to give them.
Robin, however, cleared things up. "Yes. Luffy here… Disposed of Mr. Five with Miss Valentine's body. She is currently being held by Miss Monday and Mr. Nine."
Vivi was less than happy with the fact they killed Mr. Five. The only one that deserved to die in her mind was Crocodile. "Do you believe them now, Igaram?" She asked, not suppressing the 'I told you so' in her tone at all.
Igaram couldn't blink. His eyes wouldn't allow it. He looked at the two over and over. "You truly mean her no harm?" He asked, standing by Vivi.
"Nope! I just want to get her home safe and kick Crocodile's ass!" Luffy half-yelled knowing that the alligator, which he had planned to call him as he kicked the warlord's ass, was a secret.
At the mention of his name, the unlikely unlucky pair flew overhead and perched on a nearby building. Before they could doodle a single rough draft of their new enemies, they had flowered arms sprout and grip them by the throats. After a quick panicked screech, and whatever you'd call the sound of a dying otter, the two were taken care of. All without a single word from Robin on the matter.
"If that's the case… I suppose you could-"
"Woohoo!" Luffy yelled, interrupting Igarappa the rappa, I mean Igaram, on purpose so he didn't give any stupid rules. Last time he begged them to take her!
Vivi chased after him while Robin stood behind, smiling and watching her seemingly cocaine-fueled boyfriend/fiancee literally bounce off the walls as he made his way back to the ship. Just as she was about to walk back herself, Igaram approached her.
"I don't know what you've done to fool them, but if you hurt the princess I will-" Once again Igaram was cut off, this time by a sharp stare instead of a blunt yell.
"I do not need to fool you, her, or anyone else anymore," Robin said before walking away, confident in her answer.
She was right to feel confident. Igaram was left speechless. He didn't expect the 'I don't need to lie' excuse. After all, it's what she was known for. But she really did have no reason to lie that he could see. The boy she was with had defeated two people vastly stronger than Igaram himself with ease, so Igaram would pose no threat to Luffy.
Robin walked on steadily. Enjoying the peace she felt after saying something so self-fulfilling. The best part of it was, it was the truth. She had someone who would die to protect her. Something she hadn't had in a very, very long time. It would've brought tears to her eyes if she wouldn't have to kill the witnesses.
Luffy's bouncing had gotten the attention of the people of Whiskey Peak, who at that point just thought he was insanely strong. Now he was an extremely strong...bouncy ball? It kind of took away from the intimidation, but not the overall threat. How would it feel to be beaten up by a dude whose power was to be bounce? Some bounce man beating you...ridiculous.
Nevertheless, Luffy finally made it to the ship and led the newest addition up to the ship. Showed her around. He gave her the old friend tour. By the time he was done, his crew was flocking to the boat.
"Hey, Luffy!" Zoro yelled, getting the attention of his captain. "We going to spend the night here or what? They don't look like they got much in the way of inns here." Zoro said, referencing the fact that no one who really came here would leave. Not of their own free will anyway… In cuffs on a marine ship, that was a different story.
"Yeah! Let's stay tonight and leave at dawn. I'm tired..." Luffy said, suddenly hit with the realization he's a human who needs to sleep. Though then again he'd need to be reminded of things like the cold.
Everyone groaned in relief. Most all of them were on the verge of passing out, and a hammock beats the ground. Everyone retired to their bunks, and the three men could have a quick talk.
"Are any of you guys worried about Luffy?" Usopp asked, very carefully. Trying to prevent sounding like he was distrusting his captain, and like the concern it was.
"The lucky bastard has a woman to hold at night, he's got nothing to worry about," Sanji said, complaining that he didn't have a woman in his hammock.
"I'm worried," Zoro said, contradicting his normal nature. "I'm worried Luffy's some sort of superhuman monster that got dropped off back in East Blue..." Zoro's thoughts were stuck on what Luffy had done. First, most recently, with the arm wrestling contest. He had given it his all while Luffy barely tried. Then back to the Laboon problem. He shoved the equivalent of an island out of the way. Then, the biggest of all. He scared Dracule Mihawk, a man so deadly he beat Zoro with a pocket knife. But one word from Luffy and he was taking out a weapon he used on ships and to deal death blows.
"I'm worried he's losing it…" Usopp said, thinking about all the unnerving things Luffy had done. He was explosively violent at times with what seemed like some minor things. The kiss, fighting an island whale, and that rampage through the city. Then he'd mellow out and go off with that stranger he calls a girlfriend.
"Yeah well, we knew he wasn't quite right when we all joined up with him," Zoro said, having been his longest-serving crew member, if by a slim margin. "But yeah, I get what you mean. If he goes bipolar and has nothing to hit, we'll either be turned to paste or sink to the bottom of the ocean after he punches a hole straight through..." Zoro said, not an ounce of humor behind it. That's what he truly believed the options were.
"That's not funny! I don't wanna drown! Or turn into a paste..." Usopp said, shaking in his hammock at the thought of it. It seemed realistic enough, when you consider he beat a whale in a one-on-one fist fight.
"Oh shut up. You won't drown. Luffy might be a bipolar maniac, but he wouldn't hurt our lovely ladies." Sanji replied, thinking of Robin for a mere moment, then Nami. He didn't want to admit it, but he was worried about Luffy as well.
"We're not ladies you moron!" Usopp replied angrily, wanting to go over and hit Sanji over the head for his narrow-minded thinking. Luffy may not have any control of what he hurt. It was obvious sometimes he didn't act like himself.
"Okay that's enough. This is getting us no where. Let's turn in for the night so we have enough energy for whatever Luffy gets us in tomorrow." Zoro finally said, throwing his arm over his eyes so he could get some sleep.
The other two complied, zipping their lips and getting some shut eye. Getting some relatively peaceful sleep for the night.
Meanwhile, Nami crashed in as close to a literal way as possible. She never made it to her own room. Instead, she was passed out on the deck a couple yards from the door to the girl's bedroom. Though this would likely mean she'd wake up feeling like crap, it was good news for two people.
Luffy and Robin cuddled against one another in Robin's bed. Both were down to their sleep wear, covered up and keeping warm. "Luffy. Do you have a problem with taking another person's life?" Robin asked, concerned with the psyche of her future-husband. She had twenty years of life dulling her to the act, Luffy was still full of life, despite all he had suffered.
"I don't try to do it..." Luffy said, looking away from her as he felt guilty for the how careless he had been. "I'm a lot stronger than I was the last time, and no one else is. So it's easy to..." Luffy had been doing his best to justify the rampant life taking he had been doing. That it wasn't his fault. That these people deserved it. He wasn't as innocent as he was the last time around. His brain wasn't locked into that of a seven-year-old from his Gum-Gum Fruit locking it in. But there was still only two people he wanted dead.
Robin scooted off of his chest to pull him intro hers, hugging him tight. She didn't say a word; none would help. She just held him tight and petted his head. "What's our next stop?" She asked, curious as to what was in store.
Luffy smiled at Robin's effort to comfort him. It was a sweet gesture she didn't often give. He took a moment to think about the question… "It won't be a pleasant one..." Luffy muttered, knowing what would need to happen for them to get Chopper…