"Oww!" Nami cried as she fell over.
"Meeeeow... Tao feels diiiizy..." Tao whined.
Jubei and Jimbei looked around and saw that they were no longer floating atop the water. Instead the ship was now on solid land. In the middle of a storm.
"What the hell?!" Jimbei exclaimed.
"How the hell did we get on dry land?" Jubei questioned.
Byakuya pulled out his communicator and turned it on.
"This is Captain Byakuya Kuchiki. I have arrived in Rukon Forest. Request Squad 4 Captain, Isane Kotetsu for pickup, at once." He spoke into the ear piece.
"On my way, Captain Kuchiki!" A female voivce replied.
Byakuya was a little suprised that he was already in contact with Isane. Usually he would connect to a random doctor. He put away his ear piece and Flash Stepped behind Tao, then slammed his foot hard on Tao's tail.
"MEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOCH!" Tao screamed.
This allowed him to grab Noel and get to Squad 4 for recovery. However, Jubei came rushing towards Byakuya with Musashi unsheathed.
"Put her down! Miroku: SPHERICAL ILLUSION!"
Jubei charged with his swords ready to strike. Byakuya's hands were full so he could not defend himself. Thankfully...
*CLASH*
"Huh?!" Jubei exclaimed.
His Exceed Accel was block by a large fan held by another figured. The fan then started to glow with power.
"Uchiha Reflection!"
A burst of energy sent Jubei flying and then crashing into the ship's kitchen, where he landed ass first on a hot stove.
"AAAAAAAH!" He screamed in pain.
Byakuya looked at the figure with his brooding eyes. It was a man. He had long black hair, dawned red Japanese armor and strange purple eyes.
"Sorry for the wait. It's much harder to summon something that exists in a parallel dimension." The man apologized.
"It's fine." Byakuya replied.
"Might want to look up." The purple eyed man said.
Byakuya looked up and saw Jimbei diving down towards them like a meteor. They both dodged in time and Jimbei went straight through the deck. He then jumped out of the hole and regained his stance.
"That was close." Byakuya said.
"If you don't drop that girl now, it gonna get even closer!" The Fishman threatened.
"Umm... What is that?" The man asked Byakuya.
"A Fishman. An inhabitant of the world I ventured to to retrieve Noel Vermillion." He explained.
"A Fishman, huh? Interesting." The man mumbled.
"Never seen a Fishman before, huh? That certainly helps me then." Jimbei smirked.
This means that these two don't know any of his powers and techniques. That give him an advantage.
"How arrogant you are. I can tell you posses an amount of Chakra that would make you a decent sparing partner, but one Fishman won't be enough to stop us." The man coldly said.
He put his huge fan on his back.
"Come. I will remind you that Humanity will always be a superior race, while freaks like you cower in the shadows of man." He taunted.
"What was that?!" Jimbei growled.
People looking down upon him and his kind always sent Jimbei over the edge.
"You think your better than my people, is that it?! You think that we can just be looked down upon by you?! I'll rip that racist little mouth off your face, you purple eyed freak!" He shouted.
Jimbei disappeared in a burst of speed and reappeared I front of Byakuya.
"Fishman Karate: 5000 TILE TRUE PUNCH!"
The Fishman swung his fist hard into Byakuya's throat. He was sent flying into the remains of the mast. Thankfully, Jimbei had his free arm wrapped around Noel before he struck the man. The new figure tried to slice Jimbei's Head off with his large fan, but Jimbei jumped backwards to avoid it. He then conjured a ball of water in his hand and it soon started to whirl around.
"WAVE SPEAR!"
Jimbei fired a tornado of water from his hand at the man. It came into contact with him but...
"Huh?!"
A large blue ribcage was surrounding the man and protecting him from the torrent of water.
'W-what is that?!' Jimbei thought.
The man then pointed his finger at the torrent of water and it soon started to emit electricity.
"Lightning Style: SHOCK BREAKER!"
Lightning was now traveling through the water and was heading for Jimbei, but he disengaged the attack, grabbed Noel and jumped away before the lightning hit him. He landed on the upper deck next to the big black box that held Zoro inside.
"Well now, you certainly aren't slow, Fishman." The man complemented.
The ribcage disappeared and he was now exposed. Rain was now starting to fall on the Sunny and drenched everything in the area.
"And the name's not Purple Eyed Freak. It's Madara, Madara Uchiha." He said as the thunder and lightning boomed in the sky, showing his purple eyes. The Rinnegan.
Meanwhile...
Ragna was heading towards the Sunny to see if this feeling he had wasn't something else. He slipped on the mud and fell on his knees, but got right back up and started moving again.
'It can't be! Is it really her?!' He thought.
*Sheol Gate*
"Give me your hand, hurry!"
"!"
Ragna grabbed someone's hand before he fell into the Cauldron. A girl was holding onto Ragna's coat, trying not to fall into the lava below. At least not alone.
"No! Ragna is Nu's! Ragna is coming with Nu!"
The figure used her free hand to pull out a large white gun and pointed it at Nu.
"Like hell he is!"
A loud bang echoed through the room as the girl, now with a bullet in her head, fell into the fiery pit... Alone.
The figure pulled Ragna up onto the platform, saving his life.
*pant* *pant* "Damn, that was close... Thought I was done for."
"What's wrong with you?!"
"Huh?"
"Are you trying to scare me to death?!"
"Uhh..."
"How could you do that?! I was really..! really..!"
"H-hey! What are yo-"
"YOU'RE SO STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID!"
"Hey! Quit calling me stupid!"
"STUPID!"
"Hey, I! ... Sorry... T-thanks, kid. I really owe you one."
Soon, the woman grabbed Ragna's chest and started balling her eyes out.
*CONTINUUM*
A figure fired lasers at Ragna but he managed to block them with his sword and he charged at the figure, but not before he was shot in the left shoulder by a beam. He grabbed the figures face and his left hand started to glow blue.
"Wake the hell up, you idiot!"
He squeezed his hand on the metal crown attached to the figure's head, causing it to shatter.
*Kagura's NOL Branch*
*gasp* "Can't breath..! B-brother..! Save me, brother!"
"Huh?! That you, Noel?! Makoto, move!"
Ragna busted the door down.
"Noel! You!"
A black blob with a white mask was on top of Noel, trying to eat her alive.
"Guh! Azure! AZURE! AZURE! AZURE! AZURE! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Get off of her, Arakune!"
"Out of my way, Ragna!"
"What are you doing, Kag- woah! Woah!"
Kagura unleashed his massive blade.
"You! You did this to Noel Baby! I'll kill you, you stupid puddle of living tar! I'LL MURDER YOU! You bastard, don't think you're gonna leave this place alive!"
*Sight of Gods*
Noel grabbed Izanami from behind.
"Got you!" She exclaimed.
Izanami started to glow a murderous purple aura.
"Fools. You actually think you can stop me? The Day of Reckoning is inevitable. You will never kill death itself." Izanami laughed.
Ragna put his right arm on Izanami's shoulder and activated the Blazblue.
"W-what?!" She exclaimed.
"You're wrong, Saya. We're not going to kill you, were going to save you." Ragna said comfortingly, as he let the Blazblue do its thing.
*Present*
"Damnit! If Makoto's here then it would be obvious! Shit! Shit! Shit!" Ragna mumbled to himself.
He climbed up the side of the Sunny and then jumped up high into the air as soon as he reached the edge. He then saw Jimbei, holding in his arms the girl Ragna knew too well. His eyes were now as wide as dinner plates from what he saw. Memories then flooded his mind. The first meeting with the girl, saving her, befriending her, fighting along side her... seeing her warm smile. Seeing her unconscious with a mouth covered in blood boiled Ragna's blood to the max.
The Grim Reaper then dove down towards Jimbei with a flaming spear in his hand. Jimbei noticed something and looked up, seeing Ragna heading straight for him with a license to kill.
"What the hell?!"
"PUT! HER! DOWN!"
Jimbei jumped away from his spot before Ragna made the impact. The landing cracked and split the ship's wood even more than it already was. The Fishman landed and gazed at his attacker.
"Great, there's more." He groaned.
He saw Ragna with his jacket glowing in its black aura and his eye glowing red. The Blazblue MK2 was activated.
"Jimbei! You ok?" Nami called.
"Fine." Jimbei replied.
She saw Ragna standing on top of the deck with bloodlust during through his eyes.
"W-who is that?" Nami questioned in slight fear.
"I don't know, but he's dangerous." Jimbei answered.
"Put her down now, you fish faced freak!" Ragna demanded.
"What did you say?!" Jimbei growled in a dark tone.
He handed Noel over to Nami so he could fight.
"Take care of her, Nami. I'm going to rip this racist bastard in half!" The Fishman said coldly.
"Try it, ya lump of sushi!" Ragna taunted.
"9 SWORD STYLE!"
The giant black box beside Ragna was sliced into pieces and Zoro was now free, with his swords readied.
"Now then, you're going to leave now, if you don't wanna be turned into confetti." Zoro threatened as he charged Ragna. However, he was blocked by Byakuya. Zoro grunted in annoyance.
"Impressive, Roronoa Zoro. To escape so many Kido restraints. Your very stubborn." He said.
Ragna got a good look at his savior. He wore a Soul Reaper uniform and had the number 6 on his back. Ragna then remembered something Ichigo said when they were camping.
"Hey, are you Byakuya?" He asked.
"You know me?" Byakuya answered with a question.
"I'm friends with Ichigo, he saved my ass." Ragna answered.
"Are you now? I see. How is that dull minded boy doing?" Byakuya asked.
'Dull minded? Ichigo wasn't kidding about this guy being a cunt.' Ragna thought.
"Fine. What the hell's going on here?" He asked the Captain.
"We were ordered to retrieve the girl with the blond hair and bring her to safety, at the request of a girl with a squirrel tail, but these fools don't believe us, so they attacked us." Byakuya explained.
"Oh, so they're idiots." Ragna chuckled.
"Hey, Shut up!" Zoro yelled.
'Squirrel tail? He's talking about Makoto.' Ragna thought.
"Hold in, If this guy is only trying to help, why are you fighting?" Ragna asked Zoro.
"Considering that this guy just brutally killed someone right in front of us without hesitation, we have our doubts about his words." Roronoa explained.
"And what about me?" Ragna asked.
"You attacked Jimbei out of nowhere, so if I didn't know any better, you guys spell trouble." Zoro said, pointing his sword at Ragna.
"I only attacked him because she was unconscious and had blood dripping out of her mouth!" Ragna explained in an aggravated tone.
He pointed his spear at Jimbei.
"Why wouldn't I attack that monster?!" Bloodedge growled.
"I was only trying to help that girl. She was already injured by the time I found the Straw Hat's ship." Jimbei explained.
"She... She was?" Ragna asked.
Jimbei nodded.
"She and the rest of my friends here were being attacked by the Marines and were about to be arrested, if I hadn't showed up." The Fishman told the Reaper.
Ragna lowered his spear.
"Why do you care about this girl so much, anyway?" Jimbei asked.
"Because he's her friend."
Ragna, Jimbei, Zoro and Byakuya all turned to Nami, who was still holding the unconscious Noel.
"Are you Ragna the Bloodedge?" Nami asked the Reaper.
"You know who I am?" Ragna asked back.
"Noel told me all about you." Nami answered.
"Nami, What are you talking about?" Zoro questioned his friend.
"Zoro, this is the guy that Noel was looking for. She told me all about him while we were in the market place earlier today." She explained.
Zoro looked at Ragna.
'She's been lookin' for this guy? He looks a little dangerous.' Zoro thought.
"Is she ok? Tell me!" Ragna asked impatiently.
"She's been hurt badly, we were gonna get her to a doctor until the guy with the katana showed up." Nami told Ragna.
"A normal doctor cannot treat injuries as severe as hers. The only ones who can help her now are the members of Squad 4. Please, give the girl to me." Byakuya said, holding out his hand.
Nami stepped back cautiously.
"Nami, right? Hey, I'm friends with this guy's acquaintance. He may seem like an emotionless prick, and man, Ichigo said he is, I'm sure he's telling the truth when he says that he wants to help. Please, he could be my sister's only hope." Ragna attempted to reason with her.
Nani's eyes widened.
"Sister? Noel is your... Sister?" She asked.
Ragna nodded his head.
"Please. Let this guy take her to get the help she needs." Ragna begged.
Nami looked at the unconscious Noel and hesitated for a minute. She started to remember that moment in the market.
*flashback*
"Hey, Noel. I've been meaning to ask. How did you are your friends end up in the ocean?" Nami asked.
"Oh. Uhh... I was looking for a friend of mine and... our... boat sank." Noel half answered.
"Your boat sank? We didn't see any ship wrecks along the way we were traveling. Are you serious?" Nami questioned.
"It was a small boat." Noel lied.
She worried if she told Nami that she was from another world, the girl might freak out, so she had to cover it up, despite the fact that Noel hated lying.
"Oh. Well, I guess that makes sense then." Nami said.
The girls then walked into change rooms with the clothes they wanted to try on.
"So, tell me about this friend about this friend of yours. What's his or her name?" Nami asked.
"His name's Ragna. Ragna the Bloodedge." Noel answered.
She took an old picture out of her pocket and slid it over to Nami's changing room. Nami picked it up. It was a picture of her, Ragna and Jin, all together at the old, burned-down church where the brothers use to live, paying a visit to the Sister that took them and their little sister in.
Ragna had his arm wrapped around Noel's shoulder with Noel making a piece sign. Jin on the other hand, looking like he was about to kill one of the two with his sword slightly unsheathed and a vein popping out of his head. You know, the usual.
"Cool name, what's he like?" Nami asked again.
"Well, he's a lot of things. On one hand, he's cruel, hot tempered, punch happy and a bit of a jerk, at times, but on the other, he's kind, selfless, gentle, caring, and he always keeps his promises."
Noel then started to remember when she first met Ragna. She was freaking out, screaming, and I quote, YOU ARE UNDER SILENT! YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN ARREST!
"He's an amazing fighter, too. One of the best I've seen." Noel finished.
"Sounds like a cool guy. What happened to him?" Nami once again asked.
"He... He had to leave. I'm not sure why, but he just had to." Noel answered.
She slipped on some pants and buttoned them up.
"That's why I want to find him, so I can find out why he had to leave."
*Present*
"...Ok." Nami finally said.
She slowly walked over to Ragna and Byakuya with Noel in her arms.
"Nami! You're not actually considering this, are ya?!" Zoro questioned her choice.
"What choice do we have, if I don't, Noel's gonna die." Nami replied.
Zoro grunted. He didn't trust Byakuya, but if he says that he can help Noel, not much choice is out there.
Nami handed Noel to Ragna, her unconscious body hanging limp in his arms, without motion, barely any sign of life.
"Don't worry, kiddo. What ever happened to you, I'm gonna make sure you get through this." Ragna promised.
He also took a look at her face and was a little surprised. Noel has a few slight wrinkles on her face and her golden hair seemed a little paler.
'That's weird, why does Noel look so much... older?" Ragna thought.
"Finally, I thought you guys would NEVER grow brains!" Madara shouted from atop the ship's hood ornament.
They all glared at the purple eyed man.
"What? I just want to get the girl to Squad 4 before she kicks the dust." He said, sticking his pinky in his ear.
Ragna turned his head back to Nami.
"Thank you, Nami. I owe you and your friends for looking after Noel." He thanked.
"No need to-"
Suddenly, a fist flew in out of no where and slammed into Byakuya's face, sending him flying into the wooden wall.
"What in the fuckityfuck?!" Ragna exclaimed.
"Ok, now that the blood guy is gone, time for me get back into the fray." A voice said.
Ragna then saw Luffy, up on his feet and walking straight towards him, anger flowing in his onyx eyes.
"Luffy!" Nami exclaimed.
"Nami, this guy giving you trouble?" Luffy asked seriously.
Just then, he saw Noel, unconscious in Ragna's arms.
"Hey! What do you think your doing with Noel?! Are you with the Marines too?!" Luffy shouted.
"Wait, Luffy! You don't understand! This guy-"
Luffy pulled his arm back and laughed a stretching punch towards Ragna.
'What the?! Did this kid's arm just stretch?!' Ragna thought.
"PUT HER DOWN, YOU BASTARD!" Straw Hat demanded.
"Luffy, no!" Nami begged.
The punch was zooming straight towards Ragna at high speed, but was blocked by a black blues with a huge sword. The fist hitting the metal of the sword made a loud bang and slightly dented the metal. Ragna got a look at the blur and noticed familiar orange hair.
"Got here in the nick of time. Isane's really gotten better at her healing since she was promoted." The blur said.
It turned around and it was reviled to be Ichigo, all patched up from his recent stabbing from Sajin.
"Took you long enough." Ragna chuckled.
Byakuya reemerged from the broken wood and noticed his old acquaintance.
"Ichigo Kurosaki." He said.
"Hey there, Byakuya. Seems like you could use a hand." Ichigo greeted the Captain.
Luffy retracted his arm and Ichigo held his giant sword over his shoulders.
"Ok, what's going on here? Who are you people?" Ichigo asked.
"The name's Luffy, and this is my crew." Luffy replied.
"I'm just a friends of theirs." Jimbei added on.
"I can tell you guys are human, that much. Why did you attack my friend like that?" Ichigo questioned.
"Because he's got MY friend knocked out in his arm with blood dripping out of her mouth!" Luffy answered angrily.
Ichigo looked at the girl Ragna was holding and his eyes widened. This was the girl from the picture he found in the Reaper's coat.
"Hold on, how the hell do you guys even know Noel?" Ragna asked.
"We found her and her friends being held hostage by other Pirates, so we came in to rescue them." Luffy answered.
Noel was held hostage by Pirates? How did that happen?
"She and her friends are passengers on my ship, and as Captain, they're my responsibility. So hand her over." Straw Hat demanded.
Ichigo lowered his sword. This kid reminded him of himself.
"You risked your life to save someone you didn't even know, that was very noble of you. I'm sure that girl and her friends appreciated it very much, however, I can't let her stay with you, not with those injuries." He replied as calmly as he could, clearly trying to avoid conflict.
"I just need to get her to my crew doctor and she'll be fine." Luffy argued.
"I'm a doctor, I'm sure I'll be able to help if you'll let me." Ichigo explained.
"You won't." Byakuya said.
Ichigo turned to the Soul Reaper Captain.
"Her veins and arteries have sustained immense amounts of damage from someone who could control blood. There is no way that you or this ship's doctor can save her, that is why I am trying to get her to Squad 4." He explained.
"You don't know that! We won't know unless we try!" Luffy continues to argue.
Nami tried to step in.
"Luffy, please! You don't under-"
Ichigo blocker her way with his arm.
"Captain, why are you so mistrusting of us?" Ichigo asked.
"Considering that the guy who attacked us a while ago is now a pile of chopped meat over there on the deck, there's blood dripping off of the black haired guy's sword that's probably the blood guy's and the fact that he's wearing a uniform similar to the Marines'. What can I trust about you?" Straw Hat told Kurosaki.
"I take it you don't trust these 'Marines' then?" Ichigo guessed.
Luffy nodded.
"The Marines, or World Government. They're corrupt, use their power to control the world, allow slavery, let jerks and bullies become nobles, and god only knows what else." Luffy explained.
Ragna's eyes widened. Government that allows crap like that? He thought the NOL was bad.
"I see." Ichigo said.
"Look, I honestly don't care if you're a good guy, bad guy or what ever, but as a Captain, I have to protect the passengers of my ship along with my crew. Now, give her back, or else." Luffy threatened.
"Sorry, that's not gonna happen." Ichigo said boldly.
Luffy grunted.
"Then how about this. We fight, and if you win, I let Noel go with you." He wagered.
"Are you kidding me?! You're actually gonna risk her life trying to get her to a doctor who won't be able to help at all?!" Ichigo argued.
"Not if I end this and get her to Chopper fast!" Luffy shouted.
He launched another punch towards Ichigo, but was blocked by his blade again.
"I didn't even agree to anything!" Ichigo yelled.
"Should have figured this would happen..." Ragna sighed.
"Does that idiot ever learn?!" Zoro and Jimbei said, facepalming themselves.
Next time
Ichigo and Luffy throw down in a dispute over Noel's life. Who will triumph? The Captain of the Straw Hats or the Substitute Soul Reaper?