Chapter 27: The Plot

"Cat, Imma kitty-cat." I said happily as I ate another barrel of fruit. Maybe they'd all get scurvy...that'd be nice. My stomach rumbled, even as I ate. Normally, I was good at eating a nice, normal amount, but really, I was almost always hungry...

I walked contently to where they had coils of extra rope and then proceeded to cut it into unusable lengths. I used the hull to sharpen my claws and smiled lightly. I put small holes in the barrels of rum and fresh water.

I popped open a crate and dumped a small part of its contents, apples, into my side bag before helping myself to an even larger part. And then I tipped it over and proceeded to crush the extras.

It was a waste of food, I know, but they didn't deserve to eat. I hate the thieving, murdering pirates. The sea would be happier if they were all the fun loving, rule breaking pirates that set sail to have fun.

I myself knew what it is like to starve, and that's why I always eat as much and as often as I can. I often nearly died while I was a slave...because I wasn't fed very often...so I was really weak most of the time. that's why it had taken me so long to get away from them...because I needed the right time, and I needed to have enough strength. I knew I could turn into a cat, but I also knew the first shift was really difficult and it could take some time...but I had tried it anyway...

I looked around at all the smashed crates and leaking barrels. All the wasted food and the tiny amount of sea water that was now drizzling down the side of the hull ad spraying in tiny little squirts.

No, these pirates wouldn't last long.

I couldn't help but grin at that.

I turned into a calico-girl and walked into another room. This one belonged to Jango. How did I know? Because the room was full of glitter and sequins. They were on his clothes, his walls, his carpet. Everything!

I rolled my eyes before I started shredding clothes, taking money, jewelry, treasure, anything worth value and putting it in my pockets and bag. What? I'm a thief, I rob the rich and give to the poor.

Me~!

I smashed his mirror next, although I wandered how no one heard that...I shrugged before I quickly started breaking other things. I ripped pages out of boos and tossed them around the room.

By the time I was done, the bed was a smoldering pile of ashes and there was what looked like a crater in the middle of the room. I dusted my hands off before I moved on to the next room. I couldn't help but have my Cheshire grin plastered across my face. This was fun for me. No one got hurt, but I still win~!

The next room as a crew room, so I rushed through it. I really didn't give a damn about any of the crew. They were just lackeys, so I was a bit nicer...but not that much.

I soon found myself out of bellow-deck-mischief, so I morphed into a cat and slunk out on deck. I was slightly disappointed that I hadn't been noticed, but I shrugged it off and climbed up the mast.

I then made quick work of the ships sails and all the ropes...

And then I, 'gracefully' high-tailed it out of there with a huge Cheshire grin on my face. I morphed into a cheetah the moment I hit the beach and I raced into town. On my way though, I saw Usopp, Luffy and all the other misfits he hung out with.

I turned into a human, "Hey Usopp, I did my best to delay the pirates...bad time?"

I could smell blood on Usopp, along with sweat and tears. His three minions looked pissed, and I had come in just when the nerdy-lookin' one was saying something about never thinking Usopp would tell lies to hurt people...

Luffy was quiet, along with his crew.

"Yeah...bad time...imma just gonna go now..." I said taking a step back. The kids igored me and ran off home. I took another step, only to bump into Zoro. I suddenly had to ask, "What'd I miss whilst wreaking havoc?"

"What? Ah whatever, we saw Usopp, so we decided to talk to him about the pirate raid. But now he's spouting crap about it all being a joke." Zoro growled. I nodded.

"Well, its not, since I just destroyed all their supplies, personal belongings and their sails...I was thinking of cutting their anchor, but I'm not that heartless..." I said, before a grin crossed my face, "But the sea isn't..."

"What's that supposed to~" Zoro was cut off by his captain.

"HEY! ITS THAT CAT-GIRL! JOIN MY CREW!"

Sometimes I really wonder why Zoro hasn't just killed the guy...there's a time when honour can't stop you...especially when the numb-skull is involved.

"Sorry twerp, I already have a captain." I said, my grin was gone now, but I did my best to keep a small smile.

"Huh!? Where's your captain? You're always alone!" Luffy asked. I was surprised he hadn't said anything about Dez being my captain, but I guess it was sort of obvious.

"My captain and I got separated a few years back...but I'll find him. He's somewhere in the Grand-line..." My grin came back on, "And when I find him, he's going to be Pirate-King."

I then proceeded to run like there was an army of marines on my tail. But no, what was chasing me was even worse. It was a wild Luffy.

"DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZ!" I shouted before I darted over to the older man who had been dozing against the tree I left him by. Dez jolted awake, but he relaxed when he saw it was me racing towards him. "I pissed off Luffy!"

Dez chuckled as I dived behind him. "What did you say?"

"I only told him the truth...Ace is going to be Pirate King." I think Dez might have face-palmed, but I'm not sure, since I was hiding behind him.

"HEY, GRAMPS!" I sweat-dropped as I listened to Luffy talking to Dez, "Have you seen a cat-girl around here?"

I turned into a cat as Dez said that he hadn't seen me. I walked out from behind him and mewed.

"Why are you after Chesh anyways?" Dez asked, even though he knew.

"Because she doesn't believe that I can be pirate king!" Luffy said as he plopped down next to Dez. "And who's Chesh!?"

"Well, Cheshire is the cat girl you're after... and she has her own captain, and he's a very important person to her, so of course its only natural for her to believe he is going to be Pirate King over you." I let out a purr at what he had said, since it was exactly what I felt. I was Ace's nakama, not Luffy's, although I would like to be. Maybe if things didn't work out with Ace...

After all...he could be dead for all I know.

I shook the thought from my head and went back to the conversation.

"Oh! So she's a really loyal pirate! Her captain must be lucky to have a nakama like that!" Luffy said with his classical grin.

We all looked up when we heard people running over. It was Luffy's crew and Usopp. They sat down with us.

Usopp seemed alarmed at Dez's presence and I grinned as he spoke, "W-who are you!?"

Dez grinned, "Dez D. Wolfbane, ex-member of Gol D. Roger's crew." this had Nami and Usopp freaking out, and Luffy was...fan-girling? While Zoro just smirked.

I jumped up and sat on Dez's shoulder, making it so I could look at everyone in the eye instead of them looking down on me. I hate being looked down on.

I suddenly noticed how dark it was...the moon was a bright crescent in the dark sky. I could hear the sea singing as she waited for something to happen.

Now, I know it really isn't a good thing, but I couldn't help but space off as they all spoke, although a part of me was aware of what was being said.

Usopp was explaining how when he was warning the villagers, non of them believed him because he always lied.

I watched, actually feeling very bored as Usopp declared to protect everyone. I was almost tired of the drama...it was a very heartless thing to think, but I didn't know any of the people on this Island...maybe that's why the sea wouldn't let me leave. She wanted me to learn to be kind, or something corny like that...

"Although they...fired guns at me...and they chased after me with broom sticks...here...in the village I grew up!" Usopp had his head down and he showed the others his wounded arm.

Since everyone was transfixed on Usopp, they didn't notice as I jumped down from Dez's shoulder and morphed into a cheetah.

"I love this village! I wanrt to protect everyone..." I slowly walked up to him as she covered his face with his hands, "How can I watch...everyone get killed...?"

I sat in front of him and licked away the blood from his arm. The wound was going to get infected soon... He looked up at me in alarm. I chose this time to speak, "Stupid human. You're useless alone."

He was about to protest when I continued, "So, human needs help. I help."

Zoro spoke next, "You're a pretty good guy, you lied to your crew so that you can do this alone..."

"Okay! I'm definitely going to butt-in this one!" Luffy said, stretching like he was about to fight.

"But first thing's first! All their treasure is mine!" Nami said. I nearly laughed as I thought of all the loot I had in my bag...

"Well...an old man like me could use some light exercise." Dez said with a grin, and I noticed the way his eyes flashed yellow at the idea of fighting. 'And I had just gotten over the trauma of seeing Dez fight...'

"And I'm sure that other girl will help..." Zoro said thoughtfully.

And then, all poor, confused Usopp could say was, "What?"

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