Gyo-jin Pride
Chapter Twenty-Five:
Fire and Water
Stone Beach; Stone Island: Chuu wiped the blood from his lip and stared out at Arlong and Ace. He could barely conceal his rage toward Arlong, who had struck him earlier, before challenging Ace to a battle. Things didn't look good, the Gyo-Jin police who had come were intimidated by Arlong and his men, and the fact that Arlong had been pardoned while Ace was still wanted for piracy lessened their resolve to step in. Kurobi shot Chuu a murderous glance, and Chuu returned the favor. He was furious at his former crew mates for invading the peace of this town, his home . . .
Ace smirked at Arlong, "Ready now?" Ace's hand began to glow brightly and erupted into a white-hot flame, he extended his arm and the flames lept toward Arlong. Arlong lifted a handful of water to his lips and blew lightly, the gust dispersed the flames and knocked his young human opponent off of his feet. "Ha! You humans are nothing before my power!" Ace sat up, "If that were true, my little brother wouldn't have kicked your butt out of the East Blue!" Arlong flinched, "I'm going to make you wish you'd been born an only child!" Arlong leapt at Ace, his razor sharp snout pointed directly at the young man's heart, but Ace nimbly moved aside and sent a jet of flame at Arlong. Arlong had no time to deflect it, and caught the full force of the blast, landing in a heap with his hair and clothes smoking. Chuu winced, he knew the feeling. As mad as he was at Arlong, he wouldn't wish burning on anyone. But Arlong was unfazed, he jumped back up and flung a handful of sand at Ace, scratching his bare skin with the force of a sandstorm.
Ace responded with a withering flame, his whole body began to shimmer, erupting in a swirling fire that swung toward Arlong, engulfing him in a flaming twister. Arlong howled and jumped into the ocean, steam rising from the spot where he'd plunged in. Kurobi and the rest of his crew jumped to attack Ace, only to find themselves confronted by the Gyo-Jin Stone Island Police. Arlong rose up from the water and leapt again at Ace, only to struck full force in the face by Chuu's Water Cannon blast, which knocked him backwards onto the beach. "CHUU!" Arlong roared, rushing at Chuu and striking him, knocking him to the ground. Chuu painfully got back up, and, looking Arlong square in the eye, he swung with all of his strength, shattering Arlong's teeth, which promptly grew back. The enraged Sawfish-Man grabbed Chuu by the neck, and lifted him, kicking, into the air. A clawed hand came down across Arlong's face as Togorogiri struck him, cutting deeply, Arlong tossed Chuu aside and turned to the Tatsu-Jin, only to be hit by a blast of white-hot flame. Ace poured flames onto Arlong, driving him backwards, stumbling, into the sea. Chuu stood up, rubbing his throat, as Arlong fell. Kurobi was holding his own against the police, using his Gyo-Jin Karate, until Chuu hit him with a jet of pressurized water, knocking him to the ground long enough for the police to subdue him. Arlong rose from the sea, trembling with rage, and stormed toward the beach, he would destroy the whole town for this insult. Streams of water and flame beat against him, but he pushed forward, then, suddenly, he fell. The shattered remnants of a cannon ball could be seen falling from the back of his skull. Arlong fell into the surf, unconscious, as the Marine vessel moved in toward the island.
"Well, thanks for the help, but it's time I hit the road, I am a wanted man after all." Ace turned and ran to his small boat at the dock, taking full advantage of the Marines' distraction with Arlong and his crew. The police made no attempt to arrest him.
"We saw Arlong's ship and figured you could use some help." The Marine Commander said, looking over the scene of the fight, "It looks like we were right. Okay, take them in." Several of the Marines, seeing Chuu's tattoo, moved toward him. "He's not with them," Katarina spoke up, "He was fighting for us." "Then why is he wearing the Mark of Arlong?" A Marine asked. "I quit a long time ago. I kept the tattoo to remind me of my mistakes . . . Chu." "All right. I can see you weren't a part of this. Leave him be." The Commander turned to his men, "Take the others to the brig. What about Ace?" "He got away, Sir." The Marine replied. Arlong, shackled, manacled and muzzled with special Gyo-Jin irons, was carried aboard the Marine vessel by five strong Gyo-Jin policemen, trashing wildly and cursing as well as he could in his bound condition. Kurobi watched his lord being dragged into the brig and felt a deep sense of sadness. He was gone. Arlong's mind was shattered. The once proud pirate he'd served under had been broken. He knew that Jimbei-Sama would not allow even a disgraced Gyo-Jin under his command to hang. There was still hope. They would return, even if they had to tear the prison down, they would come back to this island and repay their traitorous former friend.
The Siren's Call; Stone Town: Chuu sipped a little Gyo-Jin Saki to ease his sore throat. He wasn't seriously harmed, just badly bruised where Arlong had punched and throttled him. If Togorogiri hadn't stepped in when he did, Arlong would have broken his neck, the Tatsu-Jin didn't have much in the way of natural weaponry, but he had plenty of guts. Togorogiri and Katarina sat nearby, shaken but unharmed, "What do you think they'll do to Arlong?" Katarina asked, "Will they hang him?" "They might try, but they'd need a really strong rope . . . " Chuu rasped, then laughed hoarsely. "His neck's a lot stronger than mine. Chu." "Maybe, but his spirit is far weaker." Togorogiri replied.
To Be Continued ...?