Fearless Fighters: Jessie vs. Neru

Smoke filled the air as fires lit up the night sky. The two faced off amongst the carnage and destruction. The man and the hulking beast stood against one another, weapons drawn and at the ready. The environment was electric with their fighting instincts on high alert.

"You really shouldn't have gotten in my way." Neru sneered. "You only prolong their suffering. Now you too will pay the price."

Jesse remained unmoved. "Thanks for stating the obvious, as if the words of a man who hunts children would be much of a threat."

The over-sized badger chuckled at the man. "Men, women, children, it doesn't matter. All that are not a part of my crew are prey to my claws. Soon, you will end up just like them. IN PIECES!"

Neru's meter-long claws fanned out as he charged like a locomotive. Jesse rolled out of the way as the street was carved from the blades.

Seizing the opportunity, the man leaped high into the air as he unleashed a hail of bullets from above.

Neru didn't seem to acknowledge the barrage as the projectiles ricocheted off of his body. "Oh I hope you can do better than that. A honey badger's hide is notoriously thick. It took me a long time to find this particular fruit."

Jesse adjusted his hat as gravity took hold. "Ok, then try this! 105 mm Howitzer!" Jesse spun like a drill as he launched explosively at his target as Neru raised his arms to intercept. The collision created such seismic force that the surrounding buildings crumbled from the shockwave.

Neru snickered wickedly. "Not bad, but not enough to give me a thrill."

Jesse sensed danger as he backed off as 5 crescent blades sliced the air.

The man landed a short distance from the badgerman, a brief look over his shoulder revealed to him the 5 cuts had split everything behind him as far as he could see.

"Don't be so shocked. My 10-sword style is unmatched when combined with this body." Neru boasted. "The average badger is vicious enough to scare off lions. It is truly a creature that fears no other. Like this, I am unstoppable."

"Sounds like you're just enamored with killing to me. All of that bravado and you prefer to attack those weaker than yourself. You're just a common sadist." Jesse retorted.

"Yes, all of the blood… all of the pain... all of it is just… delicious. I can even see that you are no stranger to it yourself."

"Comes with the territory, but I take no pleasure in it."

"Oh, but what is pleasure without pain. You cannot truly appreciate one without experiencing the other." Neru lowered his head as he spread his arms and claws menacingly. "Now I want to see how much you can experience before you die."

Jesse snapped into a stance. "I won't make it easy for you."

"Promises, promises." Neru massive form vanished in a blur.

"Above." Jesse looked up as Neru dove with his arms crossed as he narrowly avoided the attacks as a dust cloud obscured his vision.

"5-sword Impalement!" Neru's arms shot out, claw tips together as Jesse crossed his guns to absorb the blow, the sheer force driving him back as his feet dug trenches.

Jesse flipped over the limb and struck Neru with a knee before slamming Neru across the face with a roundhouse, sending him crashing to the ground, but Neru was up almost instantly as he swiped aggressively. Jesse 's haki kicked in as he spun out of the way, firing to cover his retreat and create more distance between them.

"Smart move, I was just about to take one of your legs, but you have no killer instinct. Your attacks appear to be deliberate so as not to be a fatal blow. Why?"

"Captain's orders, simple as that." Jesse explained. "Of course, bounties are worth more when captured alive."

Neru huffed in annoyance. "I'll accept the pragmatic part, but only a weak captain shows mercy to their enemies. A testament to the kind of crew they lead."

"Says the man who enjoys slaughtering defenseless people."

Neru just shrugged. "That is the way we predators are. It is the natural order where only the strong survive. Everything else is just prey." Neru chuckled wickedly.

Jesse cracked his neck as he leveled a pistol at his quarry. "Then tell me, what does a predator become when they face something stronger?"

XXXXX

The girls carefully navigated the streets. Their senses on high alert, but the many beaten and broken pirates they came across was a testament to Jesse's word. He had indeed cleared a path for them.

"Man, I didn't give these guys the credit they deserve." She said as they carefully walked around the pummeled bodies.

A hand suddenly grabbed her ankle as she looked down in shock as the bruised and swollen face of a pirate.

"Help…the pain,,,monster." He begged.

"AHHHHHH!" She shrieked as she rapidly stomped his face. "LetmegoLetmegoLetmego!"

Mindy joined the fray as she too kicked the beaten man until he finally released; his words now pained groans through swollen lips as the two bolted away in a cloud of dust.

The two continued screaming until they heard the loud thundering of feet. Fearing reinforcements, the two ducked behind a large pile of rubble, shrinking down as far as they could.

"Come on men! On the double!" Someone shouted as the footsteps shook the ground, but continued on without slowing.

"Phew, I think we lost them." Cassidy said, checking if the coast was clear. "What was that about a monster?"

"Do you think they were pirates?" Mindy whispered.

"Doesn't matter, now let's go."

XXXXX

Sometime later, a knock came from the door.

"Cindy! Cindy! It's me, Cassidy! Are you there!?"

Seconds later, the door opened to see a smiling face, which was quickly turned into concern she saw theirs.

"Is everything ok? What happened?" She asked before her daughter broke her brave face and dove into her arms, crying into her shoulder.

Cassidy was visibly shaken when she saw the girl broke down. She herself felt like doing that too, but steeled herself for what was to come. "In a word, Pirates." Cassidy explained with remorse. "I'm so sorry that this happened."

Unexpectedly, Cindy wasn't angry, more worried. "Well I'm glad that you're both safe and thank you for taking care of my little girl. I didn't even know that we were under attack. I guess they never made it this far into town."

"Well I can guess why." Cassidy said, remembering the chaos they just traversed.

"I did notice some Marines had run by not too long ago. Quite a lot actually. I'm sure they can handle the pirates for us."

Cassidy had a gasp in shock at this new information. If the Marines are here, then the others will be…

"I gotta go. Stay here where it's safe." Not giving Cindy time to stop her, the salvager ran out of the door in a dead sprint. "I've got to warn the guys… Or they'll get arrested."

XXXXX

Jesse crashed into the ground, but ignored the pain as he brought up a leg to intercept the paw that fell upon him, the claws buried into the earth around him like a bars.

"Not bad, but aren't you forgetting that's not the dangerous part." Neru slowly clenched his hand, the claws cutting through the ground, turning into a cage of death.

Jesse noticed the encroaching blades as the badger chuckled in delight. "What was that about being stronger than me?"

A blast of energy shot Neru's arm away, a look of shock on his face as he looked at his singed limb before looking back to see Jesse back on his feet.

"Don't worry, I haven't unlocked my entire arsenal yet." Jesse loaded a leg as it surged with power. "Gustav!"

Neru was caught full force by the attack as it slammed into his chest, sending him through a building as it collapsed down on him.

"Satisfied now?" Jesse asked, adjusting his hat.

"So you DO have some bite to go with that bark?" The badgerman stood up from the tons of debris. "I am looking forward to getting much closer to you."

A sweatdrop appeared on Jesse's face. "Come again?"

Neru chuckled as he rubbed the edges of his claws together like they were silverware as if preparing for a meal. "You know there is a saying that when people are moments from death, their true self comes out. I've seen those who claim to be brave turn into whining babies before me. Try as they might to deny it, but in the end they all become consumed with such glorious fear. Thus, making me closer to them than even their most intimate lovers."

Jesse couldn't help but get a bad taste in his mouth as he listened to the beast's rambling. "I'm fighting a psychotic weirdo…great."

The Zoan chuckled evilly as he charged out of the rubble. "I am really looking forward to seeing what your fear looks like! 2 Sword Style, Feral Barrage!" A blazing series of strikes fell upon the gunman as he defended with his feet, but the beast only laughed more. "4 swords…6 swords…8 swords!" With each increase in number, the assault was pushing him back as cuts began to get through his guard.

"Yes, bleed for me! Let me hear your pain! Let me see your fear!" The maniac laughed as he continued the pressure.

Jesse was pushed against a wall as the slashes cut shredded both him and the building, yet he endured silently, refusing to give the beast what he wanted.

"You're pretty tough to endure so many attacks without so much as flinching. I feel like a kid tearing open a present. It's just a matter of time until I get to what's inside." He laughed as the walls were painted red from Jesse's blood.

Seeing his defenses failing, Jesse decided a shift in tactics was needed. "Despite his crazy nature, his attacks aren't as wild as he's making them out to be. He's purposefully trying to extend this fight as much as possible in order to inflict the most about of pain. Given his confidence in his devil fruit's defensive capabilities, I can understand he hasn't been going all out. I need to break his defenses. In order to do that, I may have to go a bit more reckless."

"Minigun!" Jesse answered with his own flurry of attacks as legs and claws collided, tossing chunks of earth and rock in all directions.

Neru was taken by surprise as Jesse was fighting back. As counterintuitive it was, he noticed that Jesse was taking less damage, his attacks catching his claws with his feet while even getting some of his kicks in.

Eventually, the sheer force from their exchange knocked them apart explosively.

"So my present refuses to open up. It would be a shame for you to die without showing me who you really are." He snickered as he slowly drummed his blood soaked claws.

Jesse adjusted his grip on his pistols. "As I am, fighting him normally will almost certainly lead to my death. His strength is the greatest I've encountered having combined his sword skills with that of his devil fruit. If there is any chance of victory, I'll have to start using some combinations of my own."

Jesse slid into an aggressive stance. "Well if you are so set on it. You'll have to do more than give me papercuts." He provoked before charging.

"That can be arranged." Neru answered with his own as he raised an arm and sliced Jesse, who disappeared.

Neru looked up just in time to see his opponent was only a few feet above him. "Gustav X Dora!" The man had momentary look of shock as he reflexively raised his arms to block as the twin blasts slammed into him.

He grimaced as the twin blasts began to crush him as his feet began to sink with every second. "Damn, how does he have this much power despite his injuries?"

"Because you like to play too much." Neru looked down to see Jesse's leg raised to strike. "Armor Piercing Blunder Buster!"

The shockwave exploded out of Neru's back, obliterating the ground behind him. The badger coughed up some blood, shocked that he suffered such damage from a single hit.

Jesse didn't stop there, wanting to make sure that he didn't lose this opportunity as he spun like a tornado. "Thunder Mortar!" Neru was launched into the air by Jesse's heel.

Jesse landed, but the new pain caused him to pause as he could hear his bones cracking under the strain. He clenched his pistols tighter as he growled. "COME ON!" He angrily commanded his body as he launched himself skyward.

Neru's eyes were glazed over as Jesse flew high above him with a series of gunshots as he arced his foot over his head to replicate his spin.

"Thunder Hammer Kick!" The boot slammed into the Zoan's head, sending him rocketing to the ground as the group rippled from the impact. The gunman angled his guns behind him as he pursued like a shining comet. "105 mm Vulcan Knee!"

The surrounding area cratered and erupted violently as the very earth convulsed for several long seconds before it finally settled.

From the large crater, Jesse groaned as he slowly crawled over the edge. His injuries were beginning to catch up to him as he stood up. "Combining so many attacks in succession was probably not the best idea. That really took a lot out of me."

As he took a moment to relax, the center of the hole began to stir before exploding, causing the man to turn around in surprise.

Neru was hunched over, his body visibly damaged; the smile on his face was no longer present. "You're the first to hurt me this bad since the Captain. I hate getting hurt! Now I will pay you back a hundred times over!"

Jesse's haki sensed the intent to kill as the badger's muscles bulged with his rage. "Now I will make sure your pain is deep. Even if I have to peel the flesh from your bones!"

The Zoan disappeared in a blur as Jesse felt slashes from behind as he was sent flying, tossing debris of ruined buildings from his flailing form.

Jesse finally stopped as his back was on fire from the bleeding slashes beneath him.

"You said you didn't want papercuts." Neru appeared over him, casting a looming shadow.

Jesse tried to strike, but Neru cut him off before he could get off his attack. "Now scream for me!"

Jesse was cut open again as he was slammed into the ground, pinned by the massive body of Neru. "You are more dangerous than I care to admit so I can't afford to take my time anymore, but I will see your fear in your final moments."

Neru used a claw from his free hand and slowly traced a line across Jesse's body as the man belted out a cry of anguish.

"There… was that so hard? No matter who they are, everyone breaks eventually. Now show me more pain, more fear. Show me who you truly are!"

A deeper cut crossed Jesse's body as he gasped, blood flowing from his mouth as he coughed. "You want to see who I really am?" He wheezed.

"Yes, let me burn your anguish into my mind so that you can forever be in my fondest memories."

Jesse cried out before slamming his teeth down on a finger in response.

"AAyyyyeee!" The badgerman shrieked as he shot back up and swung his hand wildly in pain, but Jesse hung on like a piranha as his body flailed.

"You little fucker!" Neru batted the man away flew several blocks to crash into one of the few standing buildings. "You're going to regret that!"

Jesse coughed through the dust as he was partially buried from the collapsed building. "Damn, even after all of that, he can still fight when I can barely stay conscious."

"Come on out! I'm going to make sure that the last thing you see are my claws going through your eyes!" Blades of wind ripped the surrounding area apart as the Zoan searched rampantly and Jesse knew that it was only a matter of time before he was found.

"This won't turn out well if I can't find a way to beat him in one shot. Now think."

Jesse took a breath as he visualized his past encounters, Sangre Spada, Mondo, Roanoa Zoro, and Dex. As he focused on these swordsmen, each one were facing him with a lowered stance as their arms moved across their body, grabbing the hilt of their swords. Then a pattern arose as each one was now overlapping each other. No matter the differences in technique, style, or number of blades; each one took the exact same pose. There had to be a reason for it… Then it all made sense.

"Well there's only one way to find out." Jesse said as he took off his belt and went to work.

Neru slashed the area randomly, but his search yielded nothing. "Damn, did he get away or did he die when I threw him? Talk about a letdown."

"How about none of the above?" Jesse said, exiting from behind a pile of rubble. A trail of blood following him with every step.

Neru chuckled with excitement. "So you did survive. Good, I didn't want this to end on such a sour note."

"Well I figured that this fight was going to end with one of us on the ground or in it. I guess now is as good a time as any." Jesse replied. As he spoke, he took off his glasses, allowing darkness to envelope him as he shut his eyes.

"So you want this over now? Fair enough, although it is a shame to not see your last moments gripped with fear."

"Get used to disappointment." The gunslinger retorted.

Neru snorted with annoyance. "Then I will end you with my best move." Neru lurched over, lowering his arms at his hips.

"JUUTOURYU IAI...!"

"I wouldn't expect anything less. So here is my answer." Jesse said, mimicking his opponent's gesture as he placed his right hand on his left gun, showing that his holster was reversed.

"V-3..."

The brief moment of intensity between them suddenly became quiet.

"DEATH RATEL!"

"RETRIBUTION!"

The two crossed in a flash of light and sound, the area around them exploded into a fountain of debris.

If not for the fact that they had switched places, it would have been as if they had even moved at all.

Time restored itself when Jesse took a knee as several new cuts erupted from his body.

Neru lowered his arms, turning around to face the kneeling fighter. "So… that's your answer?" He asked with ragged breathing. "Six bullets fired in an instant. All of that power used to amplify your kick several times greater than before... " As he said this, his chest was revealed to have a large dent with an even larger exit wound on his back . "Impressive."

Jesse grunted as he struggled to his feet before turning around. "Have you ever heard of the phrase, "The Quick and the Dead"?" He asked. "Many misinterpret quick as to meaning speed since that is what it is commonly used for, but in this context it is used to mean life." The man said as he pulled out his glasses and placed them back on his face. "You see, the reason you never saw my fear… was because I was already afraid."

Neru was a little confused by this revelation as his prey continued.

"I have faced death with several dangerous men since I entered the Grand Line and not once did I think I would survive. Many think of fear as a meaningless emotion for the weak, but it is in fact Humanity's strongest instinct for self-preservation. For many, the Fight or Flight instinct causes them to run away from danger, others to face it… Ever since I lost my sight, I now lean towards the former. However, once I decided to enter the Grand Line. I decided to use that fear. So when I take off my glasses, I embrace it, weaponizing it in order to find the best opportunity to survive and achieve victory. THAT is where courage is born."

Neru grinned. "I see now…" He chuckled to himself at the irony before him. "You've been showing me your true self… this whole time." His words fading with his consciousness as he collapsed like a tree.

Jesse tipped his hat in acknowledgement. "And don't you forget it."

XXXXX

A/N

Well this took a while to set up, but I hope you enjoyed it. Jesse is a fun character to write, but his fighting style is a bit complex to say the least.

V-3 (Vergeltungswaffe 3, "Retribution Weapon 3") is a German supergun that uses timed explosive charges to accelerate a projectile along its barrel. This greatly increased its range, but was so long that had to be specifically built to face a target for long term bombardment.

Ratel is another name for the honey badger, punning with his last attack "Death Rattle" something that dying people can experience when they breathe. It also bears similarities to weasels, which he uses a lot of wind blades when he attacks.

I wanted Neru to talk incessantly (badgering) while he was transformed to further pun on his animal type, but I couldn't get it to work the way I wanted it to.