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"Strawberry...Stephanie?"

She chewed on the desert watching the bounty hunters falter and out of the corner of her eye she saw Kidd go red with rage while Killers shoulders sagged.

"Yes problem?"

"That is the dumbest" "Portaru"

The hole opened up beside her and the bounty hunters paused. She slid her hand into it. "Names are deceiving" her arm flexed

The offending bounty hunter screamed collapsing to his knees and Stephanie gave a tug blood squirted from the portal and she pulled her arm free.

An organ hit the floor. The bounty hunter stared. "And I call you morbid Captain, I really gotta control myself" she sighed. "But he was really annoying"

Killer looked at Kidd from under his mask. "She got that from you"

Kidd snarled and moved his arm "repel" the massive ball above them dropped, Killer dived out of the way as Stephanie's eyes widened and she rolled, a portal sprang open swallowing her whole and the explosion followed the ball.

Kidd cackled as the smoke began to clear. Killer landed next to him, a portal opening on his other side. "What was that for! I could've been flattened like a pancake!" Stephanie exclaimed stepping out and dusting off her skinny jeans.

Kidd grabbed her chin and glared down at her, "you and your smartass! Strawberry! What the fuck is wrong with you!"

She flinched and frowned, "so-rry! If you don't like it but you two deserve it claiming me like I'm property!"

Kidd pulled her face close, "if I wanted you as my property I'd have you as it understand" he snarled.

"A-Hem" they turned their head, the dust had settle and the group of bounty hunters had actually grown,

"Could we possibly argue later?" Stephanie whispered,

"Smartest thing you said all day"

The lead bounty hunter chuckled stroking his beard, "get them"

The street exploded, Killer skidded along the path and raised his scythes body tense, Kidd landed heavily on the stones beside him. Stephanie vaulted backwards and landed somewhat gracefully behind Kidd.

"That didn't seem good"

"Well you aren't dead yet" Killer growled,

"And I thank you for that"

Kidds eyes narrowed, "they aren't using metal"

"Unless they have a catapult they can't launch stuff very-" something broke through the smoke.

"Stephanie!"

Her hand went up, veins burning, "Portaru!"

The stone was swallowed up and she lowered her arm, "we need to work on that" Killer hissed as the bounty hunters broke through the rubble.

"Could I suggest splitting up?"

"She's got a point" Killer snapped.

"Tch, fine, find the crew get rid of the bounty hunters" Kidd ordered.

Stephanie nodded an glanced at Killer, the masked man turned his head to her before sprinting in a different direction. She looked to Kidd. "If its any constellation. I wasn't wanting to piss you off today" she turned on her heel running.

Kidd frowned, what did she mean by that.

Stephanie caught a street lamp and spun herself flinging her leg up, the heel of her boot hit the jaw of the bounty hunter shattering it with a sickening crunch before she let go and landed on the street, she looked at the bounty hunter then the others down the street. She muttered and patted the mans coat.

"Yahtzee" she took the weapon stuffing it in her belt and stood taking off

The bounty hunters caught up and she was forced to a halt standing with her hands raised. "Alright pirate girl, any last words before we take you to the marines!?"

"Portaru" the portals sprang open around her, "reject" a mass of rocks exploded from the portals. "Hm...ok then" she closed the portals and looked around.

"Girlie?!"

She turned her head, Wren and Eddie with the rest of the crew stood in shock.

"Oh...hi"

"It's the rest of Kidds crew!"

"...run?" Eddie asked.

"Please?"

The crew took off, "how'd you do that missy!?" Wren panted as they ran down the street, "I'll explain it later ok! I kinda just perfected it today!"

The crew turned the corner, "running isn't exactly a Kidd crew style" Mohawk shouted.

"I realize that!"

Eddie looked at her, "what are you planning miss"

"I'm thinking I'm thinking!" They turned another corner, and hit a dead end.

"Think quick!" Someone hissed as the bounty hunters became audible.

Stephanie places her hand on the wall looking up at the building around them, "Portaru"

The bounty hunters charged into the alley and froze, "where did they go!"

A whistle got them to look up, Stephanie waved a she sat on the ledge of the building, legs crossed, "hiya"

"You little wench"

"Portaru" the walls shimmered and the bounty hunters huddled into themselves,

"The gates of hell"

"Demons demons everywhere"

Screaming echoed the alley.

Kidd tipped his head swallowing a mouthful of grog. Killer sat beside him covered in dirt and scratches.

"They weren't strong but the were a nuisance" the two looked up at Stephanie's voice. The rest of the crew stood behind her covered in flecks of blood.

"Well I'm covered in blood, dirt and sweat, I need a shower"

A few members of the crew blushes as Stephanie sat on a crate beside Kidd.

"Eddie" Kidd growled, the blue haired man nodded and with Wren left in search of an inn.

Killer dismissed the rest of the crew with the wave of his hand, leaving Kidd to glower at Stephanie.

"What?" She choked as he gripped her throat.

"Strawberry!?" He snarled through a clenched jaw.

"K-Kidd can't" she squirmed.

"Are you fucking kidding me! A damned strawberry!" He lifted her up.

She clawed at his hand.

"Kidd...let her go" Killer drawled, the red head faltered and lowered Stephanie loosening his grip.

"She's proven herself enough worth, and saved our hides a few times, so what if she has a shitty name, the marines won't think twice about her, they'll leave her be"

Kidd snorted and sighed letting Stephanie's throat go. "Better that way"

"Captain?" She rubbed at the red mark.

"Shut up Stephanie"

She frowned as her Captain sat back down, she did the same her body felt like lead, she used to much energy, now it was taking its toll.

A metal click caught her attention and she stiffened. A gunshot went off. She inhaled and dived.

Kidd grunted as he hit the ground, Stephanie groaned and tried to force herself up.

Killer was on his feet eyes searching, he spotted it, a man on a roof, one more bounty hunter, a sniper.

"Stephanie, portal now" he looked at her. The girls face was pale, he knew that look, "it won't be stable..I can try but" she reached out placing her hand on the ground, "I can't" Killers eyes widened behind his mask seeing spots of blood speckling the ground.

"Stephanie" he hissed, Kidd lifted his crew member up, blood poured from her shoulder, the same shoulder Killer had once buried his scythe in.

"I've gotta stop taking bullets for you captain,"

"Idiot you could have used your power"

"Not enough time, or energy, needed more food" she panted leaning into Kidds supporting arm.

" KIDD!" Killer barked seeing the gun take aim.

Kidd stared at Stephanie who gave a weak smile, "it can't kill me, tis but a scratch"

The gunshot went off, Kidd raised his hand still staring at those emerald eyes.

"Repel"

Stephanie slumped into him, inescapable loyalty was a bitch.

"Let's get to the others, Doc can patch her up she needs to get protein in her" Killer stated once noting the bullet went to its intended target

Kidd shifted and Lifted Stephanie into his arms.

"Sorry I'm a burden Captain"

She almost missed his next words. "Not a burden Stephanie, your not a burden anymore"

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