CHAPTER 22 - Hit & Run
"I have a name. And it's Daki." she mentioned her demon name.
"Just like that Kokushibo. I believe you are an Upper Moon-demon?"
"Very perceptive of you, Captain Law." Daki replied, getting up.
The girls in the establishment were surprised to find the hardened man walk out with one of the renowned Oirans in the Yoshiwara district. They began to form regard for the Heart Pirates Captain, who was personally selected by someone like Warabihime. But the manager was against Law's decision.
"I need to leave the city. Some urgent business." Law said, making an extra payment to avoid trouble.
"This lady wants to have a business chat someplace else." he lied, "Thanks for your help, and uh, let the shipwright boss know that I'm once again grateful." Law told the manager. The girls thought he was going for a night out someplace else. That made them jealous of the Oiran who had barged into their settlement from another house. The manager believed his words. His taxing look whilst leaving the Tokito House made her realise that he was in trouble.
They came up upon a back alley where people didn't show up at the hour. No one would've expected an Oiran as Warabihime to venture into shady places that night.
"Tell me about this Blood Demon Art of yours? How do you store the people?" Law asked.
"Why must you ask?" Daki returned the question.
"I have consented to your deal. I believe we are in the same boat until we meet your leader?"
"I guess it wouldn't hurt to say. The sashes are part of my flesh, capable of storing humans inside me as I see fit." Daki explained, "I heard you are associated with the Demon Slayers?"
"I was."
"Those morons don't have a chance of confronting the Master. I myself have defeated and devoured Seven Pillars in the past." Daki said, "I don't know why but it seems you are one of the few humans that the Master has taken an interest in."
"He'll turn me into a Demon, I believe." Law assumed.
"You'll gain eternal life and unbelievable strength, much beneficial than a puny human." Daki said, giving a look at her sash, "I caught these three rats trying to find my truth behind my back."
Whilst they waited in the middle of the lonely alley, Daki extended her sash, revealing three women from inside. Law was surprised that Daki's ability was similar to Devil Fruit Powers with storing capabilities.
"Y… you are a human." muttered one of those women. She was awake and conscious, unlike the others.
"He worked with the Demon Slayers." Daki revealed to her, "You both might be acquainted."
The woman was pretty and could've passed easily for a service girl. She had long black hair tied to a ponytail and had a mole located beneath her left eye. But Law's attention caught her terrified face.
"I haven't seen you." she replied.
"What's your name?" Law asked.
"H… Hinatsuru." the woman trembled, "I work for Pillar Tengen Uzui."
"Hah, well he must be surprised finding you in my belly soon enough." Daki mocked.
"You have to help us. There are fifteen women trapped inside." Hinatsuri pleaded.
Law shook his head, "I'm sorry lady. As you can see, I'm in a conundrum. You all will be killed if I don't meet the Demon Master. I'll try to make a deal."
"Please!" Hinatsuri pleaded, but Daki engulfed her, and her fainted companions back into the sash.
"I might let them go depending on the Master's decision." Daki said.
"You said they all are trapped inside you sashes?" Law asked.
"That's right and as she said, I have fifteen of them inside."
"I see. So what are we waiting here for?"
"The Biwa-woman shall arrive soon. We shall meet the Master soon after that."
"Very well." Law adjusted his hat, "Room!"
"What the…"
"Radio Knife!" Law hacked the demon lady into three pieces, cutting down the sashes into segments.
"What are you doing?" Daki was shocked.
Law had no time to spare. He stabbed his sword into the woman's face.
"Injection Shot!"
An explosion shook the lonely alley shooting Daki's head far away into a crash. The electric shock from the Radio Knife paralysed the remaining body, releasing its control over the cut-down weakened sashes. All the fifteen women trapped inside popped out into the open. The surprising reminded Law of the moment when Usopp defeated Sugar liberating all the toys back in Dressrosa. Hinatsuru was the only one who was conscious.
"Y… you saved us." she realised, shocked.
"We'll talk later. Is this all of them?" Law demanded. Hinatsuri looked around and nodded that everyone was accounted for.
"Okay, Shambles!" Law teleported all the fifteen ladies away from the area.
"Who in the world are you?" Hinatsuru asked. Her companions began to wake up one. The shipwright boss wasn't pleased with the sudden request but he couldn't keep his surprise at all those women. Law requested the man to hide them from the common enemy.
"They had all disappeared from what I've heard. And there were more." the shipwright boss said.
"A demon was responsible, posing as a head lady in one of those brothels." Law explained.
"Her Oiran name is Warabihime." Hinatsuri said.
"Well, she told me it was Daki, but whatever." Law looked at her.
"Warabihime!" the shipwright boss was surprised.
"Your reference led me to a brothel." Law told the man.
"Ah, the manager of the Tokito House is a good friend of mind. A drinking buddy, you could say. I hope she welcomed you?"
"She did." Law nodded, despite all the trouble he had to face, "Listen, does this Daki or Wara…whatever know of your connection with the manager lady?"
"I don't think so? I've heard of these demons. Am I in danger?" the boss asked.
"Not as much as me." Law said, "As par I know, the whole gang might show up at my back from the stunt I had pulled."
"What did you do?" the shipwright was frightened.
Law explained to him that Daki and the other Demons would come after him, making somewhat a declaration of war against them. He told that he'll be leaving Tokyo. That would leave the city and the Yoshiwara district away clear of the demons.
"They have been after me for a while. Let the ladies known of what happened once they wake up. I think they'll remember what happened. And also, spread the news of what I have said if that demon lady is no more seen in the city." Law concluded.
"But Captain Law, what should happen to you?" the shipwright boss said, "I can only say that you've done a great deed saving these women's lives."
"And I want you to keep them hidden for a while. That's for your safety and theirs. You've made a fine ship and let's consider my contribution as even. I shall come back later."
The shipwright boss nodded.
"Alright, I'm off. Don't want to endanger anyone further."
Law left the wharf, finding three women in front of him. Hinatsuru was among them.
"You are Captain Law, the new Pillar?" Hinatsuru asked.
The three of them bowed in his presence.
"I'm Hinatsuru as I've mentioned, and these are Suma and Makio. We three are co-wives to Tengen Uzui, who happens to be our husband."
Law wasn't expecting the surprise.
"We would like to accompany you the Demon Slayer Headquarters if you don't mind." Makio said.
"I believe you are done here?" Law asked.
They nodded.
Law consented, explaining that they'll be taking a returning train.
Daki, the Upper Demon Moon, did not show up after they were aboard the train. Unlike his previous journey, Law wasn't a stowaway but a respectable customer paying for all four of them. He walked outside the last compartment gangway that resembled a small veranda, similar to his previous train journey. Dawn lighted the sky. He expected that the return would be smooth, travelling distance at daylight. Hinatsuru showed up and brought him breakfast.
"Thanks." Law replied, "How are your co-wives… I mean your companions doing?"
"It's alright." Hinatsuru chuckled, "They will be okay. They are just tired after the ordeal. Thank you for the check-up back at the wharf. I believe all the ladies would be indebted to all the help you had done for us."
"I did what I could have." Law said, "But I was kind of surprised to find an Upper Moon-demon in the city."
"Makio, Suma, and I were sent to investigate the rumour. But that got us caught onto the spider's web." Hinatsuru said.
"Well at the least, you three are safe now." Law said, "Since you are related to him, I met Uzui a while back. He went on ahead to find an allied shipmate of mine."
"We have heard of you and Pillar Zoro. Tengen mentioned that your friend had defeated Pillar Shinazugawa in a one-on-one fight."
"It was an unneeded battle. That Shinazugawa was a maniac to start a fight. And I don't understand one thing amongst all the Demons Slayers. None of them would stop yapping about our encounters with Kokushibo, that Upper Moon-demon. It puts us at risk."
"That's a pretty big deal, sir." Hinatsuru appreciated the significance.
"No need for 'sir'. I won't be around as a Pillar for long. Will be out of the mainland before long." Law replied.
"How about 'Captain'?"
"I won't mind that."
Hinatsuru chuckled to the man's laid-back reply, admiring his friendly and humble personality. Law wasn't feeling half bad despite being sleep deprived. He asked Hinatsuru to lookout whilst he took a nap outside. She gladly accepted to help.
TO BE CONTINUED...