Chapter XIX: Thatch? Thatchy!

"Speech"

Thoughts or emphasis or scenery changes or significant time gaps

ANGRY VOICE

*noises* (except laughter)

*actions*

'Telepathy' (Only for the telepath's voice)

/ Flashback or brief summaries of events /

The Moby Dick

Thatch

Luffy had stuck to the fourth commander like glue since dinner. Thatch was sitting at his desk, staring at the report he needed to file for Marco. Sitting on the floor next to him sat Luffy doodling on some paper. Thatch gave his report one long look before calling it a night.

"Luffy? Your brothers are probably worried. It's pretty late, too. I think it's time for you to get ready for bed."

"Mmm. No! I want to spend more time with you."

*Knock, knock.*

"Commander Thatch? Is Luffy in there?"

"Come in."

The door creaked open to reveal a slightly wet Kit in his gold fox hybrid form. The kid had the audacity to shake himself like a dog, spraying water on Luffy and Thatch.

"Sorry. The rain starting to really pour in the last few minutes. Sabo thought it might be best to have someone escort Luffy back to our rooms. We can't have him slipping off the deck again. Namur is not exactly with us right now."

"Good idea. Eh, how are going to keep you two dry?"

"Not to worry. I can use my telekinesis to create an 'umbrella' around us. Didn't bother on the way here. Mostly because I forgot." Kit muttered the last in the semi-familiar tone of the fox scolding himself for "being as witless as my brothers!"

"Teleks-whatis?"

"Telekinesis. The power to manipulate objects with the mind, Luffy."

"So it's a mystery power, shishishi." Kit made a noise of exasperation before walking to the sitting boy and slinging him into his arms. A nine-year-old – even one as skinny as Luffy - normally would not look like something a fourteen-year-old with a dancer's build could lift, but Zoans strength in spades.

"Yes little brother, my powers are quite mysterious. So, Thatch, have you figure out what the fruit is? Or what you're going to do with it?"

"Haruta may know. We're cycling commanders soon, so I figured I'd wait until then to decide. Pops said it was perfectly fine. I found it, so I can decide what to do with it." Kit peered around Thatch to the chest sitting on his desk.

"May I see it again?"

"Eh? Sure." Thatch stretched an arm to the far corner and unlocked the chest. The same purple fruit sat within it.

Where have I seen this? "Hmm. Still looks familiar, but I cannot say where I have seen it," muttered Kit.

"Well, if you remember it later tonight, be sure to tell me tomorrow morning." Thatch shut the chest.

"One thing I can say is that the fruit doesn't feel right." The fourth commander quirked an eyebrow. In Kit's arms, Luffy squirmed.

"I don't like it that much, either. It makes me feel bad," mumbled Luffy, burying his face into Kit's chest.

"I'll take that into consideration." A crash of thunder startled Kit, making him almost drop Luffy when the younger boy suddenly wrapped his arms around him, upsetting the elder's balance. "You two probably should head back before the storm gets too bad. Come on, I'll take you."

"Thatch? May I take the fruit to study tonight? I think I saw it in one of my books, and the actual fruit might help jog my memory."

"I suppose that will be alright. Just don't eat it. A person can only eat one fruit in their lifetime. A second fruit would tear them apart. Do you want me to hold Luffy?"

"No, no. Luffy barely weighs anything to me."

"Hmph. Maybe if the fruit is a Zoan-type, I'll eat it. You guys certainly have some amazing strength and stamina." Thatch snatched the chest and tucked it under his arm. He opened the cabin door, and they were off. True to his word, Kit could create a force to shield the three from the wind and rain.

"This sure is handy. Why haven't I seen you use it in combat?"

"Mm. The technique is really hard to maintain. Large encompassing shielding requires too much power and concentration to be battle-usable. I need a lot more practice and stamina. But, it does suffice for a storm. For example, a bunch of hail may get caught in the shield like nuts in peanut butter, but an actual attack will punch through it like nothing, unless we're talking about a real weakling." Thatch nodded his head in understanding.

"Zehahaha!"

Kit's shield faltered for a moment, letting the rain to soak the three briefly, before he composed himself. The fox jerked his head towards the laughter, yellow and white ears drawing back. Luffy dug his fingers more into his brother's fur. Coming up the three was Teach.

"Bad night, eh Commander Thatch? Escorting the brats to their cabin?"

"I am. What are you doing out in the rain? I figured most people would be staying in their cabin until we finally leave the storm system."

"Zehahaha! Nah. Me and some other second division members are taking watch tonight. That the chest with the fruit? Have you figure out what you're going to do with it?" Teach had walked right under Kit's shield. The boy stepped back, hiding behind Thatch's tall frame. Thatch couldn't blame him. Teach was starting to irritate him with the way he leaned so close to him.

"Maybe I should take the boys' advice and get rid of it if you ask me that one more tim-" Thatch had no warning. Teach's right fist slammed into his ribs, and the fourth commander could hear the sharp crack of ribs breaking. He doubled up. He could hear the boys behind him gasp. Teach's left fist collided down on his bent head. He felt disconnected for a moment, it was like he watching the traitor Teach as he leaned down to grab the chest.

"ZEHAHAHA! Why don't you give me this, Commander? I would know how to use so much better than you. You see, I've been looking for the fruit for years, and I had figure that joining Pops' crew would give me the best shot at it. Nothing personal, but I cannot have any witnesses, zehahaha."

The knife stabbing through his back jolted the fourth commander back into full consciousness. He could hear Luffy whimpering and Kit snarling. "I cannot have any witnesses." Thatch tried to muster enough energy to shout for the boys to flee, to get help, to just get away. All he could manage was a whisper. "Boys…run." His vision went dark.

Kitsune

Traitor. No, not in Pops' crew. Thatch… Kit felt like he was in a middle of a nightmare. The moment Teach punched Commander Thatch, the fox instinctively closed the shield tighter around Luffy and him. The rain did little to hide Teach's pummeling of the fourth commander before brutally stabbing the barely conscious man in the back.

In the entire time that the boys had met the man, Teach gave no indication of this kind of power. And Kit had attended enough battles to measure the strength of the man that set his sense afire. The entire scene felt surreal. The fox felt frozen in place, the only thing he could do was to clutch Luffy tighter into his arms. He couldn't even muster the courage talk or reassure the boys. Only when he heard Thatch's final words did the fox come back to his senses. Teach can't have any witnesses. Kit threw Luffy down behind him. Teach slowly approached the two with his bloodied knife.

"Zehahaha. I honestly didn't expect to have to deal with any of you brats. Good thing I took precautions. Those abilities of a Mythical Zoan-type can be a handful." Teach's right hand withdrew a pistol from his pants pocket. Kit didn't think as he pushed Luffy away and made a desperate lunge for Teach. *Crack!* He felt the bullet pierce his shoulder. Kit tried to ignore the sudden plummet of his energy, and the fox slashed down with his claws. His vision blurred. He could feel the sudden slap of flesh, and his body soared through the air. 'Run Luffy!' Kit could barely reach for his telekinesis as he sent the message.

"You little shit!" Kit grinned through the pain. Teach wouldn't be able to chase after Luffy. No, the man would be too preoccupied running after his precious devil fruit. That was Kit's last thought before he his vision went entirely.

Luffy

Tears streamed down the young boy's cheeks. I didn't do anything. I am a crybaby… Luffy watched as Teach, their crewmate, their brother, stab Thatch in the back. Then Kit pushed him away before jumping at the larger man. Luffy didn't think, he just ran off in fear, his brother's words speeding his feet. Luffy screamed in fear when he heard the crack of a gun and the thump of a body slamming against the ship deck. 'Don't stop, Anchor. Go. Go to Marco, Pops, anyone!'His brother's voice faded. Luffy ran. He ran and banged on every door he could, screaming "Someone help! Thatch and Kit need help!"

Marco

He could hear someone knocking rapidly against his door. The phoenix had just finished his last report only an hour ago. He groaned and laid in his bed for a minute before registering the muffled screams. Marco shot out of bed and slammed his door open. Standing in front of him was a hysterical Luffy.

"Luffy? Luffy, calm down and tell me what's wrong. Is it your brothers? I-"

"Th-That-Thatch and Kit are hurt!" cried Luffy. The first commander blanched.

"What?"

"Please hurry! Kit tried to save me, and I think Thatch is dying, and there was so much blood…"

Marco knelt and gathered the sobbing boy into his arms. He ran out into the rain. Several other confused members were already out on deck. There on his way to Thatch's room, the next sight froze the first commander in his steps. The peals of thunder and flashes of lightning emphasized the forbiddingly still forms of a man and young boy. Several nurses worked furiously around the bodies of the fourth commander and Kit.

"Move! We need to prep them for transport and surgery! If you aren't helping then go wake someone up who can!" yelled the head nurse Mara.

"Mara, what…"

"Marco, I don't have time to explain."

"My sons, what is going on?" The screams of Luffy and the shouts of the crew members has roused Pops from his sleep.

"Pops…It's Thatch and Kit. Someone attacked them. Kit tried to protect Luffy."

"Marco, bring Luffy along. We need to check to see if their assailant hurt him. The boy's hysteria may be numbing any pain. In any case, we won't be able to get anything out the poor boy until he calms down."

Marco nodded his head in agreement. Several crew members stepped up to help the nurses carry their injured brothers to the infirmary. The phoenix tucked Luffy closer into his arms, trying to shield him better from the rain still pouring down from the sky. "Shhh. The nurses will take care of both your big brothers," whispered Marco as he ran to the infirmary.

A/N: Waah. So sad. Sorry, but this scene will end here. :( Poor Kit and Thatch and Luffy. Read …*sob, cry* … review, vote, and/or follow. *Author wipes tear from corner of eye.*