Hey everyone! sorry for this long ass wait for this story to be updated. i lost some inspiration to the story and took a nice long break and slowly started getting inspired again. i have about two more chapters in the making currently and hopefully a few more original chapters before i get into the Thriller Bark Arc. And yes this chapter is a little shorter then the others but come on give me a little credit as a writer. Plus bow I'm into the series Supernatural and watched the entire 15 seasons and watched the series finale. Cried my heart out the last three episodes. Anyways! i also noticed that theres a lot of viewing traffic on this story even if i haven't updated it in a while. its not much but please leave a comment in the review and let me now what you all think about this story! l don't mind criticism or whats the right word... constructive criticism! So please leave a comment when you finish each chapter or the story.

I do not own the anime of One Piece. If I did i wouldn't have let Ace die and he'd still be alive. I inky own my two oC's and the other non cannon stuff that come out of my head. Enjoy the read!

Tale of a Nine Tail Chapter 8

One would think being with the straw hat crew would teach one or all to expect the unexpected or they will always get dragged into fights that isn't necessarily their right to fight in. For Usopp? No such luck despite his protests to his captain or to the crew for joining in on fights with people that want to take them in for their bounties or kill them! And in this instance? They were asked to stay behind and stay out of the fight. For once, they weren't needed and didn't have to risk getting themselves killed again. But when Zoro stupidly took off for a walk, he had to get lost again, and the entire crew just up and headed out to find him... Again! And then somehow along the line of traveling through the unknown jungle he trips and falls, rolling down a hidden hill along there path and landed at the bottom of said hill all dazed and hurt.

"L-Last time I ever follow Luffy into a jungle with no sense of direction." He groaned out managing to get himself back up to his feet and dust himself off. "He's almost as bad as Zoro." He muttered as he finally looks around his surroundings.

The black night sky, littered with stars and a crescent moon was shining in the sky. The jungle around him was dense and he couldn't make out what's ten feet in-front of him. The sounds of the howling monkeys raged in the night, leaves and branches moved about lightly, as small creatures skitter and jump from limb to limb searching for food. These sounds were unknown to Usopp and it sent the jitters to his legs, shaking as bad as the branches that lay above him.

Sweat dribbled down his face, his eyes dart back and forth looking for anything making these noises, and looking for any dangerous creatures lurking about. At least it wasn't as bad as Little Garden in his opinion. But! This place was worse! He couldn't figure out what made the constant noises in the trees or the howling in the night. He did what any brave pirate would do! And that was run for his fucking life!

He didn't know where he was running to. All he wanted was a way out of this jungle or a safe place to hide and stay put for a crew member to find him! Please let his prayers be answered! His foot was caught under a tree root agin and proceeded to tumble a bit and fall face first into a moderately sized mud puddle. He grumbled in the mud; creating bubbles from down under as he lifts his face out of the mud and from first glance... he looked like a mud monster.

"W-Why me? Why does this kind of crap always happen to me?" He groaned once more as he pulled himself out of the puddle and found mud all over himself and his clothes. "Great now I need a bath..." he muttered to himself as tried to wipe off as much mud off as possible.

Once satisfied with his work he looks around once more and he finds himself in an unusual place. He was standing at; what seemed to be the entrance of a small settlement. Perhaps it was some of the island folk living here in the jungle rather then any of the towns along to coast lines. Or were they camping out here? No, the paths leading to some of the tents he could spot right away could be deducted as regularly used paths thus concluding this place was well used. And despite his fear of wanting to leave the settlement his gut feeling was telling him to go search the place.

"Ugh! Why must my mind and gut think two different things!" He grasper his head in irritation nearly wanting the urge to pull his hair out!

Footsteps were heard in the distance coming towards where he lay. Usopp quickly made a split decision in his panic and ran into the settlement and hid inside one of the tents closing his eyes shut and praying. As the footsteps and person they belonged to continued walking onward not even noticing the intruder hiding in one of their tents. Usopp sighed in relief as the danger passed, he opens his eyes and gasped in surprise at what he just found inside this tent.

"Ray?" He said in surprise as he could just gaze at her. She lay prone, unconscious, and what looks extremely uncomfortable as her hands are tied behind a tent post to prevent her escape if she awakes.

Back in Town...

Zora was for once, having fun. It's been a while since he's had a nice duel with someone this formidable to fight with their bare hands. Unfortunately he promised he wouldn't hurt the girl too badly. His stupid captain was still hellbent on making her and the sister apart of the crew. Plus her mom is scary. Currently the Guardian was still in control of the girl's body and he needed to figure out how to beat her without hurting too badly. He used some of his immense strength and pushed her back a sizable distance away.

The guardian smirked and stared at the swordsman that her host was so fond of. He's been giving her a good fight. It's been a thousand years since she's been able to let loose this much. But she wanted to make it more interesting. "Oh swordsman~" she sang out to him. "How about a wager? Hmmm...If I beat you fair and square you let me kill that stupid boys that's caused my host so many years of misery!" She wagered up.

"And if I win you let the girl be back in control and not kill the boy." Zoro told her for his win.

"It's a deal swordsman." She licked her lips and lets some of the jewel's fire wrap around her left arm. "Kit Kit Red Hook!" She leaped at him and he blocks it with two of his swords. He could feel the heat of that burning fire brushing his chest as the fire was beginning to singe his shirt and make him sweat. With a grunt he pushed her back and flicks one of his swords. "Tatsu-Maki!" With a flick of his right hand he sends the guardian up into the air, catching her completely off guard. Spinning inside that gust she was disoriented a little but she could still make out the green swordsman. She was not a guardian for nothing. With a flick of her tails they extend outwards and before she could even flick them the wind was knocked out of her by the bottom handle of his swords punching into her gut. She gritted her teeth and instinctually used one of the tails to slap him back into the pageant stage creating a even bigger hole in it as she falls to the ground.

The guardian tasted copper in her mouth and spat out sone of the blood smirking as she stared at the blood on the ground. "N-Not bad swordsman. Been a while since I was caught off guard with such speed." She grinned as she slowly got back up to one knee and turn her head to the stage as splintering wood was heard. The swordsman slowly pulled himself out of the hole, clothes tattered and soot decorating his clothes from some of the singed wood he landed on. She snarled and kicked off with incredible speed and just barely enough reaction time to protect himself from the claws. She grunts and her elongated nails slashed at his arms.

"Onigiri!" He grinned and slashed her back into another abandoned booth. "I ain't done yet fox!" And he charges her once more.

A little ways from the town square the hunters are all hiding at the edge of the town forest quietly watching the duel happen. Once the fox girl was exhausted after the duel, that's when they'll do the finishing blow and free this island of its scar to start finally healing.

At the edge of the town, the Straw Hat crew make it through the forest and notice the town is near empty, save for the faint fighting they could hear in the distance. Luffy just chuckles at the sound of the fighting. "I bet that's Zoro having fun with out me!" Frankie pointed out hearing the sounds of steel clashing with whatever it was that he was fighting.

"Has anyone noticed that Mr Sniper is missing?" Robin pointed out now that they were in the light of the town and they all finally notice Usopp was missing.

"I'm sure Usopp is fine. Probably hiding. Now let's get Zoro and hopefully stay out of this mess a bit longer." Nami said as she kinda lead the crew towards town square.

As they continued forward they can hear the fighting much more clearer and most of the destruction surrounding them as they continued to town square. As they approach the square, Zoro is thrown in their direction and promptly crashed into Sanji and Luffy.

"Hey! We found Zoro!" Luffy laughed as both he and Zoro are kicked off.

"Watch where your landing your stupid swordsman!" Sanji seethed at the swordsman.

"You try facing off a fox deity!" Zoro shot back frustrated a little. Finally he didn't care at the moment and just didn't bother fighting the Ero-cook. He got up and ran back into his duel with the island's guardian. And once Sanji see's who he's fighting and not knowing the island guardian has taken over her body he gets pissed.

"What are you doing slashing at Aria-Chan!" He shouted and charges at the duel but Robin manages to catch him by his feet with her devil fruit power. He falls face first into the granite road groaning.

"Hold off Sanji. Take a closer look. That's not Ms Fox in charge of the fight." Now that Robin pointed that out the rest of the crew noticed how much white was in her hair and how much more prominent her hybrid form looked. Plus her eyes were sending chills down everyone's spines. "That there is the island guardian Karuma Kushina in charge."

"Then how do we stop the fight?" Nami asked kinda inching away and hiding a little behind Robin from seeing the killing intent she could feel in those eyes.

"We can't. It's a duel with the guardian. If she is defeated or surrenders in a duel then that's when we know she'll relinquish control of Aria's body." Robin explained to them

Sanji was released from his little prison after Robin's explanation and dusted himself off. "Then the Marimo better not hurt her too much." Sanji gritted lighting another cigarette.

"Has anyone noticed the Super tall and dark figures on the roofs surrounding the square?" Frankie pointed out and everyone finally noticed the figures just standing there and watching the duel. Everyone looked up and could make out their figures and looked around and found quite a few people standing on the roofs and just watching the duel.

"I-I have a feeling they aren't just here to try and break up the duel..." Chopper shook a little seeing the dark and gloomy figures and making out the glaring eyes at the duel.

"Didn't Ray say that this town held a super huge grudge against their eldest daughter?" Frankie wondered out loud remembering the youngest Mitsu telling him and Usopp the story of her big sister's torment.

Robin looked up at the roofs scanning around until she found a tall male figure with a women figure next to him and they both were looking at the duel with such hatred. "I believe they may be here to finish off the job of killing Aria after the duel when they are at the most exhausted."

"Say what?!" They all freaked out at Robin's theory. But it wasn't completely thrown out of the window. It just may prove that some people just can't have any sense of justice until the cause of the problem is wiped out from existence.

"Then, we protect the painter, and then we get our baker!" Luffy grinned thinking about that bacon dessert he loved so much!

Nami groaned and bonked Luffy on the head. "Idiot! We don't need more crew members! We have enough as it is!" She seethed at her captain who seemed unfazed from the hit to the head.

Frankie though began thinking up of already adding two new rooms for their future crew members since he's seen first hand how persistent his captain can be. "Well Nami, it wouldn't be too hard for me to whip up two new super rooms." He smirked in thought not even noticing Nami had a growing angry tick on her head.

"Not you too!" She screeched in frustration "I can never win anything concerning crew members!"

Meanwhile up on the roofs...

"Glad the swordsman is doing our job for us." Doran smirked watching the demon fight with the green hair man and analyzing how she was fighting.

"It's safe to say that she doesn't know much about long range attacks." Mania pointed out smirking and getting a small single shot handgun ready with a sea stone bullet. "I thank kami for black markets. Who would've thought we manage to find a few sea stone bullets?" She chuckled a little and finished loading the gun.

"Now we just wait for the guardian to release her control on that demon and take her out. The guardian chose the wrong host and we WILL rectify it." Doran gritted clenching his fist.

"And of the mayor and his daughter?" Mania asked and Doran waved it off.

"I already sent Bo Jack and Derrick to take care of them. We'll just place the blame on the demon." He explained and felt a warm wind blast up into the air and grazing their figures as the demon was beginning to use her tails to battle off the swordsman. Neither person noticed an ear hiding in one of the shingles of the roof and it disappears in a flurry of flower petals.

Down at the streets...

Robin opens her eyes and uncrosses her arms. After listening in on the two leaders the crew had to ensure the mayor of the island and his daughter as well as Aria are protected.

"Everyone, we may have a problem." Everyone turned their attention to Robin. "These, hunters plan on killing Aria once the duel is over."

"Say what?!" Frankie and Chopper freaked out.

"Plus they plan on murdering the mayor and his daughter for being 'supporters' of Aria." She added and she glanced at Luffy who had his straw hat overshadowing his eyes. She already knows her captain will be going after Doran and possibly the women as well.

"I suggest someone goes to protect the mayor and his daughter?" Nami looked around at the crew. Frankie volunteered himself to go protect the mayor since he's been to town the hall before.

"I'll tag along Frankie. Can't let these bastards lay their hands on a lady!" Sanji practically had smoke blowing out of his nose.

"Then get to it!" Nami practically orders and the two head off towards town hall. She might as well accept that they were gonna lend a hand whether she liked it or not. At least she might make something out of this!

"Captain I assume you want to fight the leader?" Robin asked him but it wasn't needed since everyone knew he would normally go after the boss.

"I'm kicking his ass!" He seethed and used his Gum-Gum Rocket to propel himself onto the roofs and goes after Doran.

"The rest of us can handle the rest of the hunters." Robin said as Chopper and Nami nod and the two head up to the roofs. Robin stays in the alleyway with her arms crossed once more and uses her devil fruit abilities to hold some of the hunters in place for Nami and Chopper to take care of. She also hopes that wherever Usopp is he's doing ok and staying alive.

With the mayor...

After applying some first aid on Antonio's now scarred jaw, who's pretty much unconscious from the adrenaline and slight burns from the guardian swiping him, the mayor takes a break and places the stupid boy against one of the pillars. One would think this boy would learn from his past mistakes

"Damn Hunters... they better not kill her, or else they'll have a pair of angry parents on their asses." He mildly chuckled thinking of how Sora and Ken would beat their asses to the ground. He wouldn't even be surprised if the hunters came after him since he and his daughter have been trying for years to sway the towns view on the young girl. And after tonight he was sure she and her sister would need to leave the island as soon as possible. He didn't want them suffering anymore with the damn citizens tormenting Aria and trying to isolate Ray from her sister.

His senses could detect multiple people coming towards him from the roof tops. "Hn. They really don't know what their up against..." He mutters laying against a wall as he barely glanced at the group of ten people holding guns and swords aimed towards him.

"You all really want a death wish?" He wonders opening just one of his eyes scanning the group of ten. They were either grinning like idiots or glaring at him with hate for protecting little Aria. He knew they would come after him when the time was right and the events of tonight just proven his theory.

"Sorry 'Mayor' but orders are orders." One gentleman with a spiked red mohawk said with no signs of regret in his tone of voice. Most of the group were men and were wearing just simple black and white business suits while the two women of the group were wearing more kinda flashy outfits.

"I give you all to the count of three to run. If not I hold no morales of killing or incapacitating you all for the rest of your lives." He threatened to which the hunters just laughed at the old man. They don't believe he can take them down with his age and body.

"Sorry mayor, but your way past your prime to be doing any kind of fighting." The blonde women with black hair, wearing a strapless yellow sequin dress that just barely covered her ass, wearing black tights and matching yellow high heels and she's about maybe 5' 5" in height.

"Yeah like your gonna break you back before you can even land a hit on us." The other women with blonde hair, dressed in a long red sequin dress with a cut slit on the right and left side, wearing white gloves and hair up in a tight bun.

"One..."

The hunters primes up their guns and the sword users get into stance. The two girls smirked and got their own guns ready.

"Two..."

Guns were cocked and the swords users charged at him.

"Three."

In a flash the mayor leaped at the group and kneed the first two men in the gut. The mayor easily dodge the sloppy sword strikes and hit them in the wrists with his cane making them drop their swords. Throwing punches left and right, dodging the bullets easily with round house kicks and twirls. Finally he easily knocked out the two women. His daughter Aileen came running with Rose and found the group of hunters all knocked out and bullet holes decorating the wall near an unconscious Antonio.

Sanji and Frankie arrive around the same time and seeing all the defeated hunters on the ground and the old man mayor grinning like Luffy would.

"D-Did the mayor actually do all this himself?" Sanji wondered in disbelief

"Your damn right I did. This old man still got it!" The daughter groaned in annoyance at her shit eating grinning father. And once she heard the inevitable crack of his back and his shouts of pain she seethed.

"This is exactly why I explicitly said no more ninja fights dad! Your body can't handle much more of it!" The old mayor smiled sheepishly through his pain at his daughter knowing he'll be getting an ear full from his wife too back home... Rose on the other hand began dragging her unconscious brother home. She and her parents will deal with him.

"Mayor. Aileen. Make sure these stupid hunters don't cause too much damage." Rose said as she left with her brother in hand.

"Well, I guess that takes care of that problem." Aileen sighed and rested her hand on her hip.

Sanji leaps forward taking a knee and presenting a rose to her. "My sweet! I must know your name so I can proclaim my love-" A red gemmed fist slammed into his face and the force threw him into a wall.

"I don't appreciate you touching me or saying you proclaim your love for me! I know it's fake!" She was a little pissed. She didn't appreciate men like him throwing themselves onto every women they meet. Plus she's seen him around earlier in the day during the festival and just watching him flirt with almost any women he passed by. But she could sense he has a strong protectiveness to his crew too.

"Now mind telling me why the hunters have decided tonight was the perfect night to ambush you dad?" Aileen gave her father a pointed look.

"Aria been tipped over and the guardian is pissed." Alan the mayor explained seriously to his daughter. Aileen paled at the mentioning of Aria finally snapping. "She's battling it out with this crew's swordsman and if he can beat her in battle everything will settle down. But Aria and Ray will need to leave the island as soon as possible after tonight."

"You know our captain is fighting tooth and nail to get them both to join us to the new world." Frankie joined in on the conversation. "Only reason because he likes those Bacon scones Ray made. And we all know she won't leave without her sister. So after he saw her painting on stage he wants Aria as the ship's painter." Frankie knew the tight bonds of family. His own quirky weird family back at Water 7 is proof.

"Then lets make sure she doesn't die tonight." Aileen smirked and looked over to her father. "You use the underground tunnels and get to town square dad. We'll head up on the roof tops and hold off the hunters." Her father nods in acknowledgment. "Could you put my back in place first?" Aileen sighs but kicks her dad in his stomach and a pop was heard. The mayor grins as he stretches. "Ahh much better! Be careful." He pulls down on the unlit lamppost above the barrels and a secret door in the wall opens up. He jogs inside and the door quickly closes right behind him.

"Is there... super secret tunnels everywhere?" Frankie was kind freaked out but impressed with how well hidden it was.

"There is. Now let's get your pervert crew mate and wake him up. We have some hunters to take out!" She smirked tying her red hair into a messy bun.

Back at the camp...

Ray was just waking up when Usopp found her. And he knew he had to get her out of this tent and get out of this creepy place!

"U-Usopp?" She questioned and went to rub her eyes only, to find her hands were tied behind her back and they had sea stone imbedded with them. No wonder she felt so weak and tired. But why were they inside a tent?

"Oh my god Ray! Your ok?!" She was confused as he came around and began messing with the rope.

"W-What's going on? W-Why are we in a tent? And where's my sister?" She asked worriedly hoping and praying her family was ok.

"I'll explain once I get you out of here." He finally undid the rope and Ray sighed in relief and rubbed her sore wrists. Usopp quickly helps her up to her feet since she's still a little out of it with her strength returning. "Come on, lets get out through the back." He ushered her to the back of the tent.

Before they could, a small thin projectiles pass Usopp's head and created small holes in the fabric of the door in-front of him. He can feel the blood drain from his face at how close whatever it was came to piercing his head!

"I can't let you both leave." A melancholy monotone voice proclaimed as the gentleman he saw patrolling earlier had returned. "Doran said to not harm the girl. You on the other hand are free game." Bone's literally grew out of his wrist down to his fingers and freaked out both Ray and Usopp. It was enough to make Usopp scramble and push himself and ray out of the tent before the bone man slashed at the fabric missing them by a single hair. The bone man narrowed his brows in irritation for missing his target but no matter. He'll get the long nose.

Usopp and Ray panted as they ran aimlessly through the seemingly large camp. Another bone projectile whizzed passed his head again and he looks back and shouts in surprise as the bone man was gaining on them.

"Come on Ray run faster!" He cried out and tried helping her run faster by placing both hands on her back and pushing her with his speed. But in the end it only succeeded in tripping both people.

"Bone-Bone Spear!" A long sharp bone emerged from his left arms and throws it at Usopp.

"Ram-Ram Iron Hooves!" A set of harden hands like hooves catch the spear just near centimeters from Usopp's face. Ray crushed the bone with her hands while glaring at the man.

"Usopp, think you can land a bit on him while I distract him?" She quietly asked him.

"I-I d-d-don't know!" He whispered back with beads of sweat coming down on his face as his fear was ready to take him over and run from the battle.

"But you said you were a brave warrior of the sea. Where's that brave warrior you told me about!" She asked him

He stops sweating and looks at Ray. His heart clenched at seeing her hurt face and he really couldn't handle upsetting her or seeing that hurt look. He gritted his teeth and pushed his fear down. His body still shaking in fear but he was gonna push through and be a brave warrior! "H-He's right here!" He proclaimed and quickly got up and helped Ray up to her feet. She could see he was still shaking but he was pushing through his fear and being brave. "I'm a brave warrior of the sea! An-And I won't let you hurt Ray-Ray!" He whips out one of his stars and slingshot and was primed and ready.

Ray smiled and turned around and formed her hands into fists facing the bone man. He wasn't gonna let him get in the way of getting back to her family!

"Let's do this Usopp!" She charged at the bone man and he readied another spear.

"Guess I will have to hurt you both." He said looking a little bored as he readied himself for a fight with the long nose and ram.

To Be Continued...