it was nearly nightfall when his new 'friend' woke up. maybe he had hit him too hard, kaze thought.

sand kicked up around crocodile as he struggled in the bundle he was in, it felt like steel was weighing him down.

kaze let go of the cloak to watch the man flop like a fish, it reminded him of how chobi would bite ai's hair, it amused him.

crocodile stopped wiggling to catch his breath, the cloak acted like sea stone and he was the least bit happy about that thought.

kaze walked into the man's view, 'why don't you use your hook? don't do it, no other cloak.'

crocodile held back a flinch, he couldn't feel kaze's presence, as he craned up to look at the stranger.

'thats none of your business, swine.'

'hmm,' kaze stared at crocodile.

'what're you looking at, either get me out or leave.'

'hmmm,' kaze's gaze intensified.

crocodile scowled as he thrashed to get his hook on the man,' you insolent-'

'do you know how to get out ,' kaze asked as he looked away.

crocodile stopped moving, 'get out of where?'

'this desert. it's wrong.'

'the only way out is death, it's my kingdom,' crocodile laughed.

'it's the cube,' kaze nodded to himself, glad to have made the connection.

kaze looked back over to the man as he processed the last sentence the man had spoken, ' your kingdom.. just have to kill you then.'

crocodile doubled over in laughter, 'you'll kill me? you're a hundred years too early to make that claim.'

kaze drew the shotgun from his belt and aimed it at the man, 'may chaos guide you.'

crocodile rolled away from the shot, a hole marked where he once sat, 'wait chaos- like joyboy?!'

kaze adjusted his aim, 'don't know what joyboy is.'

'i'll tell you about him if you let me go.'

'no.'

kaze steadied his arm.

'fine, i'll get you out of this desert, how about that.'

he lowered his gun, 'and joyboy.'

'you said- fine yes.'

kaze placed the gun back at his hip, he was careful to not let the barrel touch his side, it was still hot and he did not want to deal with that headache.

'show me the way.'

crocodile coughed harshly, 'get me out first.'

'oh,' kaze quickly began untying the knots he made, he had forgotten about them during the situation.

he wrapped himself in the cloth, adjusting it several times til it sat the way he liked it. it was perfect.

crocodile shook his body out, dusting his coat as he lit a cigar. his nose wrinkled at the state of his suit.

'lead the way.'

'yeah sure,' the warlord scowled, he was not having a good day.