Wow, I have been super crazy busy as of late X_X Work has been chaotic in a good way (at least for me) with on and off family drama but eh, tis life.

Anyways, I want to thank everyone so much for the favorites and follows as well as a special thank you to my reviewers!
+ hollowking pain: Short does kill me lately but hopefully things start picking up for me so that I have more time to sit down with the chapters
+ bloodyrose: Glad you enjoyed

Here's to more writing and fun!

I do not own One Piece -that is property of Eiichiro Oda

EDIT: Wow, FFN had some hella format issues apparently with this chapter. Hopefully this fixes it

Chapter 21: Inazuma

Pausing his patrol of the areas outside Newkama control, Inazuma sipped at the wine in his left hand. Something doesn't smell right here. There is something foul in the air. Flicking his right hand out and carefully taking another controlled sip, the paramecia decided to take the chance and venture a bit further to investigate the unusual odor.

It was unusual to have any activity so close to where the okama prisoners had made their home due to the sheer hostility of the environment as well as the animals around the area. This made the man press on and he was astounded by the sight he saw. The giant monster zoan he knew as the Minotaurus was plodding along slowly with three people attached to his back by a white, hard substance. One of the people in fact, a young black haired youth, was unconscious but more encased in this than the other two. "How could you let us be dragged here?" the other dark haired man had screamed at the blue haired man also attached to the zoan.

Inazuma noted the dainty manner with which the man was acting and could not help but wonder if the man was an okama but the slight amount of makeup confirmed this but he did not get a chance to ask before the blue haired man yelled back towards his comrade. "What the fuck were we supposed to do? That candle guy is holding off Magellan off for us since he's the only one who truly can do a damn thing."

"You told him to glue me to this slobbering beast with his damn wax and had it run like a coward!" the former Baroque Works agent wailed as he attempted to free his legs from the wax.

"Hehe… Cow-ward," Luffy gurgled from the other side of the two, covered in the wax almost completely. What little of the youth Inazuma saw startled him. Parts of his skin looked like it was breaking out in boils, parts looked almost melted and the delirium he clearly was in was not a good sign.

"He doesn't look very good," the revolutionary okama murmured quietly before tilting his head towards the trio and the monstrous zoan. "Follow me if you wish to live."

"But my friend!" Mr. 2 protested loudly as he squirmed even further. "I cannot leave a comrade to die!"

Inazuma took a calm sip of his wine, ignoring how the calm action seemed to anger okama before him. "He did not stay behind for you weak fools to die of starvation, injury or neglect. Come with me to get taken care of and I will go back for your friend if he still lives."

Mr. 2 bit his lip and sniffled as he attempted to hold back the tears as well as profanities he wanted to unleash. "You promise?"

"I swear," Inazuma nodded solemnly before patting Minotaurus on a side of him not caked with any waxy residue. "Follow me, beast. Maybe we'll get you tended to as well."

"Moooo," Minotaurus roared lowly before his stomach quickly followed suit. Inazuma raised an elegant eyebrow as every one of their stomachs growled in agreement but the action was missed due to the glasses obscuring his eyes.

"So…" Buggy began as he had no idea to address this unusual, wine sipping man who kept his other hand out at an odd angle but walked so elegantly that he almost disregarded how he dressed. Almost. "Why help us?"

"You're prisoners. It's obvious by what you are wearing. Except that one with the straw hat. Was he brought here and busted out before they could strip him of any prized possessions? That is… or rather was a favorite of the jailers here. If they changed much from when Magellan assumed command…"

"He came here to save his brother," Buggy filled in, causing Mr. 2 to weep uncontrollably. "Portgas D. Ace is even further away than we thought but now, we're too late aren't we? Even further down in this hell hole without escape. Damn you, Straw Hat."

Luffy however was unable to respond coherently and merely sputtered slightly before his head moved slightly. "That isn't normal," Inazuma observed as the pirate captain's head lolled over the wax binding him to Minotaurus, causing the neck to stretch.

"He's a paramecia. We all are," Buggy said as he showed his head floating around and Mr. 2 helpfully displayed his own ability. Inazuma smirked with amusement before quickly showing with his free hand that he also was a paramecia. "Small world…"

"So it seems. Just a bit further west and we'll be safe," the elegant okama murmured as he sipped at his wine.

"How do you even tell direction in a place like this?" the wax encased okama grumbled under his breath as he looked all around him. "It all looks the same to me."

"Time has its way of making us aware of what is around us," Inazuma sighed as he motioned around towards the ceiling. "Half the time, I forget about the hells above and below. With so many under our command, we have other issues to worry since there has not been an invasion."

"What others could there be to command?" Buggy asked, trying hard to suppress his trademark sneer. "This is a prison and I see nothing."

"Unless…" Mr. 2 gasped as realization dawned.

"Welcome my friends," Inazuma waved dramatically with his free hand. "This is Newkama Land. I hope our paradise is kind to you. Ivankov might be able to help your rubbery friend here but I cannot promise the results will be pretty. He does not look like in the best of shape."

"What do you mean by that?" Inazuma's eyebrow once again rose as he was surprised by the former Baroque Works member's venomous tone. "If he can't be helped, then you should have gone back for our comrade."

Inazuma's free hand went to his brow and he massaged it quickly, trying to placate his rapidly building annoyance. "Tell me why I should prioritize his life over your own or the others? A life for a life and if he wished to protect you lot, honor that. Don't throw his sacrifice back in his face by dying needlessly."

"But you promised!"

The wax around Mr. 2 was cut quickly as Inazuma's hand turned into scissors. The wax fell almost like ribbons under his expert touch. "I do keep my promises but first, Ivankov will have to see to you lot now. At the very least, the rubbery one or else. Now, are you able to walk? We should reduce the strain on the Minotaurus to conserve his strength."

"Yeah I'll walk," Mr. 2 grumbled and when Buggy also nodded, Inazuma cut him free as well. They left Luffy attached to Minotaurus as they began the slow trek.

Mr. 3 sighed as he looked down at his hands. He disliked getting too close and personal when it came to exchanging blows with anything. If he could have it be so, he preferred being from a distance or at least making the way he fought look like art but this… "Disgusting," he spat as he barely pushed back the next wave of venom with a wall of wax. Shit, I hope I can get away… But I don't think he'll be fooled by my wax clone! Damn you, Mr. 2! I should have taken your offer to pretend to be me or at least the damn Straw Hat. I can't believe I'm risking my life for you people.