Chapter 105: Dissenting Opinion
Zoro had no idea how he had managed to find one of the agents but he wasn't going to pontificate on the wonders of the human mind. Truth be told, he'd hoped that he would be the first to find Lucci yet he knew Luffy would be fighting him by now. And so he had found himself staring down the long nosed shipwright/ government agent; whom appeared to be more sullen than he had been back at Galley-La and then at the Tower of Law. "So we gonna fight or what?" Zoro growled drawing all three of his swords. Kaku's room looked more like a private study than a warriors dojo, the walls lined with bookshelves and maps. The long-nosed agent had risen from a plush red armchair with a book in his hand, the title was clearly visible; 'Justice: Honour and Duty'. Two katanas were tucked into the side of his black suit, and a pensive expression on his face.
"You pirates are stronger than I first thought..." Kaku admitted, closing his book. He immediately flinched after looking up at his opponent; the rage and resolve in those eyes was downright evil. Instinctively, he reached for his swords only to pause once realising that it might send the wrong message. So instead Kaku removed the key from around his neck and threw it down on the floor before Zoro. "Take it...it's too late for me now. I'm damned if I stay and damned if I run". The scowl on Zoro's face disappeared replaced by confusion as he attempted to suss out if this some sort of ploy. "What are you doing?" The swordsman uttered lowing his weapons but not sheathing then. "I may be dense but even I can see that you are wavering between morals and loyalty. And quite frankly I don't think that it's worth my time fighting you especially as you have already decided to throw the fight". Kaku dropped to his knees and wept, "Sorry," he replied blinking away tears. "I liked working as a shipwright, I was there for such a long time that I nearly forgot about that I'm a government agent. Lucci and the others merely saw it as an encumbrance but I leant how the outside world really is. And now I don't want to work for Mariejois anymore". Zoro grinned as he walked forwards and grabbed Kaku by the shoulder and yanked him upwards; "if you really want to quit why didn't you..." he was interrupted by the agent suddenly crying always being kept "tabs" on by Lucci and Chief Spandam. Additionally, Fukurou's creepy habit of announcing his colleagues current skill skill prowess, and his uncanny ability to know where everyone was made 'flight' difficult from Enies Lobby.
"Tempest Kick: Sky Slicer!" For the briefest of moments he thought that he had been duped, but Zoro then realised that the attack had struck Kaku across the chest; throwing him to the ground with a huge bloody wound diagonally across his chest. "What a disappointment. We had such high hopes for you Kaku..." Jabra spat, appearing standing over his former colleagues body, his hands covered in blood. "You're a traitor and a coward!"
From where he stood, Zoro gripped his swords tightly with barely controlled rage. "You struck your own ally, dog of the government!" Zoro spun himself around and out of the reach of the enraged Jabra, who hurled himself at the green haired pirate. "What did you just call me?" he growled, then shaving back to the fallen Kaku and stamping down on his stomach after hearing a slow rasping laugh coming from him. Zoro didn't reply he simply bit down on the handle of Wado Ichimonji whist holding on to Kitetsu and Elucidator, then with a near flawless strike of movement and precision a swirling crisscross of strident slashes began cutting into Jabra. Whom was now caught in the middle of the sword attack. "Dragon Twister!" The incapacitated Jabra was hurled fifty feet into the air, smashing through the ceiling of the tower of law before landing onboard a navy battleship nearby. Sheathing his weapons, Zoro moved towards Kaku and slowing began to rudimentarily bandage the former enemies injuries. "—That move...where did you learn that—" Kaku wheezed, as the swordsman was helped to his feet. "It's a move I created myself," Zoro explained. "It's not complete yet, I'm still training myself to use it at its most deadliest. The skill itself is for someone far more dangerous than anyone the government can throw at me; and it will land me the top spot in the worlds ranking of greatest swordsmen alive". "Why are you taking me with you? I-I was one of the people who kidnapped Nico Robin, and threatened your crew?" Kaku stuttered. Zoro scowled, not really wanting to particular air his sensitive side. "You may been a bad person in the past, and the government trained you to be a cold merciless obedient killer but I can tell that you are remorseful. Your time working at Galley-La has given you back your humanity, and I'm not leaving you to die at the hands of your friends".
Never before had Kaku felt like he was being given hope and friendship, true friendship. And although he knew that Zoro would be most likely sailing away with the rest of the Straw Hat pirates, he still felt really happy about finally given a second chance at life. "Thank you, Roranoa..." kaku whispered as he and the swordsman left the ruins of the formers ruined room, for the direction of the Bridge of Hesitation. It was then that they both heard screaming coming from below and through the tannoy system around the tower complex; "buster call...impunity, —authority given to me", those were the only words they could make out. Pointing towards a hidden staircase, Kaku managed to utter "...short cut". Zoro heeded the advice and soon found themselves walking out from the tower of law across a well worn brick edge to more steps on the side of a buttress of the bridge itself. Just as they had made it on to the buttress steps, a huge section of the tower of law vanished reappearing further along the bridge and then smashing down on something of someone. "Dammit luffy!" Zoro groaned as he wiped sweat from his forehead, "we could have been in there mere moments ago". Kaku smiled Ashe took in the look of resounding acceptance upon Zoro's face, "your captain certainly is a strange. But being a relation of The Conqueror, I really shouldn't be surprised". Before the green haired man could ask for clarification another voice rang out, "zoro you're here!" Vivi rushed over to him but upon seeing Kaku she summoned sand blades in each hand and threatening to use them if he didn't surrender.
Robin turned around at hearing Vinci's joyous exclamation but found herself behind the tall frame of Franky, who shielded her. "What's he doing here!" Vivi snapped, as Suki pulled out her art supplied and mixed up a supply of "calming blue". "Relax guys," Zoro spoke, adjusting his hold on the injured former agent. "Relax, relax! He's part of CP9. He kidnapped Robin..." Usopp yelled running forward and aiming his rifle at Kaku. "Guys I know it's hard to believe but Kaku isn't our enemy. He intended to throw his fight with me so he could leave Enies Lobby and the government behind. His injuries are from another agent; Jabra, who tried to kill him". Tentatively, Robin looked around Franky's hulking cyborg body and took in Kaku's appearance; bloody and suffering, moving forwards despite Vivi and Suki's protests she knelt down beside her former enemy: wincing at the sight of the deep wound on his stomach.
"You defected..." she whispered, "I knew I saw unease in your eyes but I didn't think that you would abandon everything..." Kaku looked up at Robin with tears in his eyes. "Being at Water Seven for so long; working undercover amongst the ordinary people has made me realise that I don't want to continue to be used by the navy, celestial dragons and government. Roronoa Zoro and 'Straw Hat' Luffy both made me remember what it means to be human and to fight with integrity and honour". Robin pulled the injured man into an embrace, "I forgive you Kaku. But you know you won't be able to come with us..." "I know that, and as much as I would like to know that I have redeem myself further before I can truly be free from my past. Perhaps I'll seek out the revolutionaries, or even go to ERA and the Republic". With a hand on his shoulder, Zoro grinned "now there's a worthy goal. The next time we see each other we will have begun to change the world in our own ways. Me the future greatest swordsman alive, and you a revolutionary commander or Republic General".
Leading the way, Franky continued to unleash a barrage of "weapons left" along with "strong right", bodily cyborg modifications, into any marines that got in their way. "The ship should be just ahead of us, beyonds that archway and down those steps..." he yelled just as the large pink haired agent Kumadori appeared out of thin air blocking the way. "Oh too bad little ones! You won't get past me!" Robin scowled at the pink haired man but was beaten to the punch by Kaku moving forwards griping his two katanas. "You all go, you gave me back my life. Now I'll return the favour".