Ch. 4- Amigasa Village
One Piece © Oda
OCs © Me
Luffy and Blizzard stood before Hitetsu, who held the ailing Tama in his arms. The girl panted heavily, her face breaking out in a cold sweat as she let out a harsh cough. However... Hitetsu did not miss the expression of hesitation on the two pirates' faces.
"Is there something wrong?" he asked, prompting Luffy to take a deep breath before exhaling through his nose. He hated to do this... but it had to be done.
"You say Tama was waiting for Ace, huh?" he asked.
"Do... do you know Big Bro Ace... Big Bro Luffy?" Tama asked, weakly raising her head.
"Yeah... I knew him," Luffy answered. "Tama... I'm sorry to tell you this, but... Ace is never coming back here." His eyes went steely as he said...
"He's been dead for 2 years."
It was almost as if Tama had been slapped in the face. Her eyes went wide in shock, a stunned gasp escaping her lips while Hitetsu gaped in disbelief. Blizzard closed his eyes and turned away, pinning his ears to his head.
"No...!" Tama whispered tearfully. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The shock was so great for the poor child that she soon passed out in her master's arms, forcing him to take her inside and put her to bed while placing a cloth over her forehead.
"I don't believe it..." Hitetsu whispered. "So this whole time, the man that Tama is waiting for has been dead for 2 years, eh?" He sighed and shook his head. "Dreadful. Since Wano is a closed-doors country, we had no way of knowing the truth..."
"...I'm really sorry," Luffy apologized, his expression remorseful. "I shouldn't have told her while she was sick like this."
"No," Hitetsu replied. "It's best that you did tell her... otherwise, the poor child would have been waiting all this time for nothing." He then glanced back at Luffy, who had his eyes cast to the floor while Blizzard sat beside him in concern. "I can tell that was not easy for you to say, either... though it was very mature of you to do so. Tell me... does Ace hold some importance to you, as well?"
"...He was my older brother," Luffy replied. "If it weren't for him... I wouldn't even be here, right now. He saved my life by giving up his own."
"I see," Hitetsu said. "My condolences, then. So... who are you, young man?"
"I'm Luffy," Luffy introduced himself. "I'm the man who's gonna be the King of the Pirates! And this is my dog, Blizzard."
Blizzard nodded his head in acknowledgment.
"So, you're a pirate, are you?" asked Hitetsu. "I normally hate them as a general rule... however, seeing as how you seem to be a friend of Tama's, I shall overlook that for now." He then turned and stood up to face the two Straw Hats.
"My name is Tenguyama Hitetsu!" he declared. "A blacksmith... and I, too, have been awaiting the arrival of someone for a very long time, now."
TENGUYAMA HITETSU
KATANA BLACKSMITH
(And cute girl Kokeshi Doll Collector)
"O-Tama and I are the only ones residing here," Hitetsu continued, "but this forest was once Amigasa, the Village of Woven Hats. Just over a year ago, Kaido's forces added a new 'Headliner'. His name is X Drake... and he was the one who lay waste to this village."
Outside, the forest was littered with old empty houses... and some of them looked like they were cut through by swords while others looked as if they had been chomped through by huge teeth. Basically, the place looked like a ghost town, now.
'Jeez...!' Blizzard thought as he looked over the ruins of the village. 'It's like a monster tore through this place!'
"The 5 samurai who protected our territory," Hitetsu continued, "were wiped out... and soon after, our houses and buildings were destroyed. Now, the place is overrun by the wild mountain dogs that roam here."
"Tama told us about the dogs," Luffy pointed out.
"At this point," Hitetsu continued, "the only place in the Country of Wano that still flourishes... is the Flower Capital, where Shogun Orochi resides... but everywhere else in this country has been reduced to a lawless wasteland due to the wicked deeds of Kaido's Beast Pirates!"
"Have things really gotten that bad?" Luffy asked.
"It was nearly 4 years ago, I believe," said Hitetsu. "The village had completely run out of food... and our people were on the brink of starvation. Just when it seemed that all was lost for us... a pirate ship washed ashore nearby. Seizing an opportunity, the villagers tied the weakened pirates, then we took all their food and water for our own survival. Once we had eaten... through some strange magic, the captain of those pirates set his body aflame and freed himself of his own ropes!"
"Hahaha!" Luffy laughed. "Yeah, that sounds like Ace, alright!"
Even Blizzard couldn't help smiling fondly, even if he hadn't known Ace that long. The fact that Luffy was able to talk about him without feeling heartbroken about it made it all the better.
"We feared the man's reputation," Hitetsu continued, "but all he asked was if he could join us in our meal. We were stunned. A pirate who we had just met and tied up had saved our lives... and they stayed for several weeks... and O-Tama was particularly fond of them."
"...I get it, now," Luffy smiled. "Ace was such an amazing guy, wasn't he? I'm proud that he was my brother."
"...Yes... he was quite an amazing man," Hitetsu replied.
A little while later, Luffy was seen standing in the middle of Hitetsu's house... wearing a completely different outfit than before. He was wearing a red yukata with cyan patchwork of a blue sun as well as a yellow obi, and he had his hair tied up in a traditional Wano topknot. As for Blizzard, he had on a mahogany yukata with white patchwork of a light blue swirl, a pale rose obi, and he was wearing a woven straw hat on his head. Also, for some reason, he had a twig with two leaves sticking out of his mouth.
"Nice duds!" Luffy exclaimed.
"You plan on taking O-Tama to get help, no?" asked Hitetsu.
"Yeah!" Luffy replied. "I need to pay her back for the rice she made for me!"
"Then it's best if you wear these clothes," Hitetsu advised. "If you go out in your usual attire, you'll draw too much attention to yourself."
"Aren't you coming?" Luffy asked.
"I cannot leave due to my own reasons," replied Hitetsu, "so I must ask that you go in my stead! You'll have to borrow the money for it, somehow!"
"Well... my friends are somewhere around here," Luffy began, "so maybe if I run into them first, then they'll be able to help you guys out! Shishishi!"
Suddenly, something else caught Luffy's attention: a katana that was nailed to the wall. Its scabbard was a deep purple with a pale purple stripe, which continued down to the hilt, which also had two golden clasps and white wrapping. The handguard looked like a rounded cross, as well.
"Ooh, a katana!" he exclaimed before he stretched his arm and yanked it off the wall before placing it in his obi. "Now I really look like a samurai!"
"You with a sword, Luffy?!" Blizzard questioned. "Now that's really got me nervous!"
"Whatever," Luffy said as he climbed onto the wolf-dog's back while carefully holding Tama. "Let's hurry and get Tama to a doctor!"
"No! Wait!" Hitetsu cried as they prepared to head out the door. "You can't take that sword!"
"Why not?" Luffy asked. "It looks cool!"
"You fool!" Hitetsu shouted. "It is disrespectful to so much as even touch that blade without reverence! That katana was forged by my forefather, Kotetsu! It is one of the most famous weapons in the world!"
"It is?" Luffy asked as he glanced down at the sword at his left hip.
"Indeed!" Hitetsu confirmed. "It is counted among one of the 21 Excellent-Grade Blades! Its name... is Kitetsu II!"
The Great Blades. Among the countless weapons in the world, be they swords, spears, or otherwise, these blades are the ones forged by celebrated masters of the art. There are the 12 Supreme-Grade Blades, the 21 Excellent-Grade Blades, and the 50 Fine-Grade Blades. These blades are so famed and rare that they are prized by many sword collectors and treasure hunters.
"Kitetsu...?" Luffy repeated. "I think I might have heard that name before."
"Isn't that the name of one of Zoro's swords?" Blizzard asked.
"Eh," Luffy shrugged. "Whatever. I'll take it anyway!"
"NO, NO, NO, YOU MAY NOT!" cried Hitetsu as he stood in his path, poking his overly-long nose into his face.
"OUCH!" Luffy cried. "What are you tryin' to do, Pops?! Poke my eye out?!" He then groaned. "Well then... trade me your sword for this one!"
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Hitetsu shouted as he put his hand on his own sword. "This sword is very precious, as well, and I'd sooner die than carry that cursed blade!"
"Uh... did he say 'cursed'?" asked Blizzard.
"Ah, forget it!" Luffy shouted. "We're wasting time! Let's go, Blizzard!"
Blizzard nodded before he soon dashed off, leaving Hitetsu's house.
"No! Wait! COME BACK!" Hitetsu cried. "THAT SWORD WILL CURSE YOU, AS WELL! IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO O-TAMA, YOU WILL PAY FOR IT WITH YOUR LIFE!"
"Got it!" Luffy called. "Thanks!"
"I'M TELLING YOU TO BRING IT BACK, YOU FOOL!" Hitetsu shouted. "WHY ARE YOU NOT LISTENING?!"
Blizzard panted as he galloped through the forest, but as he ran, much larger footfalls joined his own, and as a huge shadow cast over him, Luffy, and Tama, the two Straw Hats looked up to see it was none other than Komachiyo.
"Oh, hey, it's the boar-dog thing!" Luffy exclaimed. "Koma-something!"
"It's Komachiyo!" Komachiyo corrected. "You're taking Tama to a doctor, right? Hop on my back and I'll take you there myself!"
"That's mighty helpful of you!" Blizzard replied. "We'll take it, thanks!"
"Yeah, thanks, big guy!" Luffy added. "Shishishi!"
Soon, the trio had climbed onto the komainu's back, allowing him to carry him through the bamboo forest. As they did, Blizzard glanced over at Luffy, who had his eyes focused on the horizon... but the wolf-dog could see just a hint of sadness in his eyes. Concerned, he placed his paw on Luffy's shoulder, causing him to glance up at his canine friend.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"...Yeah," Luffy replied with a smile... a genuine smile that didn't look forced, at all. "I'm okay... it doesn't hurt to talk about him as much, anymore."
"That's good," Blizzard replied... but then, a soft moan broke the silence between the two, causing them to look back and see Tama beginning to open her eyes.
"Oh, Tama!" Luffy exclaimed. "You're awake! Listen, we're taking you to the doctor, okay?"
Tama blinked at Luffy before she turned away, puffing her cheeks in a pout.
"I don't like you, Big Bro Luffy," she said. "You're a liar!"
"What are you talkin' about?" Luffy asked. "I'm not a liar!"
"Yes, you are!" Tama shouted. "Big Bro Ace isn't dead! He can't be!"
Luffy's eyes softened before he looked away.
"Tama... I'm sorry, but he is," he said.
"No, no, no! He can't be dead!" Tama shouted. "I don't believe you!"
"Tama, I'm not making this up!" Luffy argued. "I'm sorry, but Ace is dead, and I know because..." He trailed off, but then swallowed thickly. "I know... because I saw him die. In fact, I didn't just see him... he died in my arms... and I couldn't do anything to help him. Tama... Ace is never coming back."
"But... but that can't be...!" Tama whimpered as tears formed in her eyes. "He... he promised!"
"He promised you what?" Luffy asked.
"He promised that the next time he saw me," Tama began, "that he'd let me join his crew when I became a bewitching kunoichi! He said he'd come back! HE PROMISED!"
Luffy's eyes softened before he looked away.
"...He promised me something, too..." he muttered, causing Tama to gasp as she caught those words. "Tama... it wasn't easy for me to tell that to you and I'm really sorry... but you had to know the truth."
"But... how did you know Big Bro Ace, anyway?" asked Tama.
"Because he was my-" Luffy started.
"Uh... Luffy?" Blizzard asked as he stared toward the open plain. "You might wanna look at this."
As Luffy turned his attention to the horizon... he gasped as he saw that the whole plain was nothing more than a barren, dusty wasteland, littered with old bones and dry twigs. In the distance, he could see buildings that were churning out huge clouds of thick, black smoke... and even from where he was sitting, the pungent smell was enough to turn even his stomach. Tama's eyes softened sadly as she looked over Luffy's shoulder, causing him to glance down at her.
"It's awful, isn't it?" she asked.
"I know that Long-Nosed Pops said that it was a wasteland," Luffy began, "but... jeez...!" He looked toward the buildings. "What are those buildings over there?"
"Kaido's weapon factories," Tama answered. "There's also a mine there, too... and the whole place is full of Kaido's followers."
"That's not enough the worst part," said Komachiyo as he glanced over at a boar that was being chased by a tiger, followed by some sort of giant creature that looked like a cross between a shark and a crocodile... but then, all of a sudden, all three animals just keeled over and fell to the ground.
"What the hell?!" Blizzard questioned.
"They... they died!" Luffy exclaimed.
"That's right," Tama said. "The animals that live here have been drinking the contaminated water... so they've been poisoned, too. Not even their meat is good enough to eat."
"Wait, so we can't even eat 'em?!" Luffy questioned in disbelief. "That's awful!"
Blizzard's ears drooped at this. He couldn't help wondering about Kumi. After all, this place was her home, so it must have been devastating for the Akita to find her homeland in such a state.
"Hey, wait a sec!" Luffy said. "If the animals here are poisoned, then what do Kaido's goons eat?!"
"The Shogun and Kaido have a special untouched farm that makes food just for them," replied Tama. "It has all the clean water... and rice... and fish... and meat that you could ever dream of..." Her stomach grumbled loudly at this while Luffy growled.
"Why do they get all the good stuff?!" Luffy questioned.
"It's probably to keep the lower citizens of Wano in line," Blizzard said. "Starving them makes it so nobody can oppose them... bastards..."
"Uuuggh..." Tama groaned as she suddenly slumped against Luffy's back.
"H-hey! Tama!" Luffy cried as he held her and touched her forehead. "Ah, crap! Her fever's getting worse! We gotta find her a doctor, soon!"
"Dammit, if only Chopper was here!" Blizzard cursed.
"No! Please, don't! Forgive me!" a voice cried in the distance, causing the pair to look up.
"Hahahaha! Wait up, lady!" shouted another voice.
"Wait, 'lady'?" Luffy asked as he spotted a couple of Kaido's men riding on a pair of lizards... chasing a woman across the plains. "Is that Sanji?"
"Nah, you know that he doesn't go skirt-chasing as much, anymore," Blizzard answered. "Even he's not THAT desperate." That's when he noticed someone else coming up from behind the two Beast Pirates. "Hey, who's that?"
In barely the blink of an eye, the creeps were easily cut down along with their mounts!
"Whoa! He got 'em!" Luffy exclaimed. "He sure is strong! Is he a samurai?"
"Wait a minute..." Blizzard whispered while sniffing the air. "Luffy... that scent!"
"Phew...!" the mysterious samurai sighed as he sat down, taking a flask of sake from the waist of the Beast Pirate he had just cut down.
"Good sir," the woman said as she stood nearby. "Whoever you are, thank you so much for saving me!"
"Oh, don't worry about it," the samurai answered. "I only did it because I wanted their booze... err... verily."
"I must repay you, somehow!" the woman insisted.
"I'll take booze if you got it... uh... forsooth," the samurai answered.
"I... I don't have any," the woman replied.
"Booze?" Luffy repeated before he got a closer look... and then he gasped as a broad grin soon appeard on his face, for it was soon revealed to be none other than Zoro! He was wearing a white yukata with black details and a green cloud pattern around the bottom, and draped over his shoulders was a dark green jittoku haori with a mon of a black sun over a khaki gear, and a pair of wooden zori sandals with black straps, not to mention he still had his hair in a topknot... but it was definitely him!
"ZORO!" Luffy called out.
"I thought I recognized that smell!" Blizzard added.
"Huh?" Zoro muttered before he turned around, and the moment he did, he grinned in excitement upon seeing his two crewmates. "Hey! Luffy! Blizzard! You're finally here!"
"ZOOOOOOROOOOOOOO!" Luffy cheered as he launched himself into the air and wrapped his arms and legs around Zoro's head, causing him to stumble.
"HEY! GET OFF!" Zoro cried as he tried to pull his captain off.
"It's been a while, huh?!" Luffy asked. "I missed ya, Zoro!"
"Urgh... yeah... I missed you, too, Captain...!" Zoro grunted. "Verily... so... where are the others?"
"We got split up," said Luffy, "but I'm sure they're okay!"
"Jeez, again?" Zoro asked. "That seems to happen to us, a lot, lately."
"That's what I was thinking," said Blizzard as he walked toward Zoro while carrying the unconscious Tama on his back.
"Hey, Zoro, you got any food?" Luffy asked as he rubbed his stomach. "I'm hungry!"
"Well, it just so happens I do have some meat here," Zoro answered as he pulled up a sack. "Help yourself."
"WHOO-HOO!" Luffy cheered as he grabbed the sack and pulled out a piece of meat from it. "Thanks, Zoro! You're the best!"
"I tell you, Luffy, this place is a free-for-all!" Zoro added. "It's teeming with all kinds of animals! We could eat for days if we wanted!"
"Well, actually," Luffy said while chomping on the drumstick, "we gotta be careful about what we eat. The water's poisoned, so the animals and fish have been poisoned, too."
"Then why the hell are you eating the meat if you know that?!" Blizzard questioned.
"Poisoned, huh?" Zoro asked. "I wondered why my stomach was hurting a little bit."
"YOUR STOMACH WOULD MORE THAN JUST HURT!" Blizzard shouted.
"Hmm?" Zoro hummed as he noticed Tama strewn on the wolf-dog's back, and almost instantly, his good eye went wide in surprise. "Whoa, that kid's not looking so good!"
"Oh, right!" Luffy remembered. "Thanks for reminding me, Zoro! That's Tama and she helped me out, so we gotta get her to a doctor!"
"Well, then, what are we doing standing here?" Zoro asked. "Let's go!"
"Hold it, right there! Are you the wanted ronin, Zorojuro, and his companions?"
The group turned around upon hearing that voice... and it was soon revealed to be none other Basil Hawkins, along with his underlings. While the Beast Pirate thugs were riding on the backs of the bipedal lizards, Hawkins was riding on a hoofed creature with golden yellow fur, huge antlers, and a fang-toothed maw.
"Well, well," Hawkins mused. "If it isn't Straw Hat and White Wolf? I was just on my way to Kuri Beach. You're the culprits I'm after, I presume."
"Hey! I think I've seen that guy before!" Luffy exclaimed.
"That's Basil Hawkins, one of the Worst Generation!" Blizzard answered. "What's he doing here?!"
"Oh, yeah," Zoro sneered. "That punk works for Kaido."
"I've lost two of my men and a baboon," Hawkins stated. "The likelihood that you and White Wolf are behind it, Straw Hat, are 98%! But that doesn't matter, now. You have two choices here in Wano: either join the mighty... or scramble in fear and run."
"Sorry," Luffy said, "but I'd rather take the third option... which is to kick your ass!"
"Luffy," Zoro said as he drew Shisui from its scabbard, "Kin'emon told me to pass this along to you. 'Don't cause a commotion'!"
"Is that right?" Luffy asked s he put his hand on Kitetsu II's hilt. "Well then... I guess we'll have to apologize to him when we see him, later!"
"Oh, boy, here we go..." Blizzard muttered while Tama clung to his back, still breathing heavily.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Next time on One Piece: The Chronicles of Wano!
Hawkins: Are you even aware of who controls this country from the shadows?
Luffy: Yeah, I do! It's Kaido! And I'm gonna kick his ass way outta here!
Blizzard: Luffy! I'm taking Tama on ahead! Do what you want here!
Luffy: Bring it ON!
Zoro: Wait a minute, Luffy! You don't even know any swordplay! AAH! WATCH IT! WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO?!
Hawkins: What fools... you have no idea what you're dealing with.
Next time: The Crane Returns the Favor