Chapter 1- A Man and His Journey

The bustling sounds of a tavern filled the air. A room filled with lowlifes, waitresses, and down on their luck folk was an everyday occurrence. The town surrounding the tavern was small, but cozy. Enough to hide in for those with someone after them, but not so much to get a feeling of being overwhelmed. The music was a happy sort, something to get people feeling vibrant and alive. All was well. All was normal. Though, normal never lasts for long.

A cloaked figure, about 5 foot 3 inches tall walked in. The cloak was ragged and torn, seemingly used for decades, almost tore off as the end of it got caught the closing door. The figure fought for a moment before finally ripping off the end and stumbling forwards towards the bar counter. They slammed themselves down, a raspy cough coming through. The bartender, a man with a small bit of scruff and some basic muscles walked over, awaiting the new patron's order. A deep, low rung voice called from under the cloak.

"Milk."

Confused, the bartender spoke.

"Excuse me?"

Another cough came out, the voice simply repeating "Milk."

Sure enough, the bartender grabbed a jug and handed it over, not really sure how to respond. Not many walked in wanting milk of all things.

The cloaked figure went about himself, chugging whatever milk he could before needing a breath. One would think he hadn't had anything to drink in a couple days. Finally, after the jug was gone, he let out a wheeze and cleared his throat, his low rung voice now replaced with that reminiscent of a child, though maybe an octave deeper, coming out.

"Thank you! I really needed that. I hadn't had any in like 30 minutes."

The bartender looked on, dumbfounded as a voice crack came out on the last word. And even more so when the patron took off their hood, revealing a young, red, freckled piranha fishman was at his bar counter. He stopped wiping his dishes, only to walk over and lean into him, only making out one sentence.

"Are you even old enough to drink, kid?"

"Nah. I'm just 14. Anyways. Have you seen this man?"

The fishman pulled out a wanted poster from under his cloak. On it was a skinny man with a long face, crazy hair, and a small mustache. Certainly out there. He was worth 500,000 berries though.

The bartender looked it over with curious eyes before returning his gaze back to the fishman at his counter.

"Why? Got a bone to pick?"

"I'm a bounty hunter sir. And he has a bounty. So I'm hunting him." A jubilant tone came out, one that seemed to be natural. And sometimes possibly annoying.

"With all due respect, kid, are you old enough for that?"

"Why not?"

And with that last remark, the bartender shook his head as he nodded and gestured towards one of the men playing cards.

"There. He comes in all the time. Causes no trouble. Just don't bother the other patrons. I don't care what you do to him otherwise."

"Thank you!"

The fishman got up and walked over, shoulders held high. He sat down on an empty chair at the roundtable of card players and was dealt a hand. He looked at his two cards and gave a look around to the seemingly curious players. One looked over and laid down his two cards face up, giving an evil eye to the newcomer.

"Go fish." The fishman responded. Once again, all dumbfounded. He looked at them again, confused. "Is that not what we're playing?"

"We're playing poker," the man on the poster responded, standing and obviously angry, "and we'd appreciate you going, fish."

"Only if you come with me." The fishman responded, giving a slight wink as to poke fun. It only created more anger.

"You want to settle things outside?"

"Yeah. Let's."

Both parties proceeded to get up and walk out, the fishman having a smile on his face. He got him out. Now he could do what he was here to do. The two stood across from each other, within a close distance. The man from the poster took out an axe, tongue in cheek.

"I'm gonna have fun slicing you up and making some nice fish filet kid. Sorry you ran into me, Baby Jack, on a bad day." The man raised up his axe preparing to slash down his nuisance, before speaking once more, "Tell me your name so that I can carve it into my good meals list." He followed his last word with a swing bring it down full force.

"My name?" The fishman asked before moving with a smirk as his cloak was left to get slashed apart by the axe. He soon swung from behind with the hilt of a scimitar, one of two, aiming for his opponent's spine. "It's Hozuro Iscariot. Thank you for asking."

The man fell to the ground with a thud, conked out from the blow. His pupils disappeared and his mouth was left agape. Hozuro smiled and laughed a bit before reaching down for his prey. "Ha. Fish filet. That's a good one."

Hozuro reached down with webbed, clawed hands at what was now nothing. He looked down, seeing his target missing. Searching frantically, he looks up at another cloaked figure running across the rooftops and with Baby Jack in hand. He chased after the small, lean figure, calling out all the while.

"Hey! That was my catch!"

The bounty stealer continued, heading for the far end of town. They were nimble, adeptly jumping across the rooftops without any hesitation. And their speed wasn't to be scoffed at. They certainly knew their way around better.

Soon, they jumped down into a side street, out of Hozuro's view. And when he turned the corner, they were gone. He looked around, scanning the area, finding no trace. He took a guess and looked into the bounty office, finding his catch already turned in and the money given to the figure he was chasing.

"What the heck!? Why did you just turn in my bounty!? MY bounty!?"

The figure simply walked past to the outside, leaving with the money. Hozuro followed in suite, determined to get a reason or the money. Or both.

"Excuse me, I'm talking to you. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hey. You. Hey. Heyo."

And so continued for about 10 minutes of walking before the figure stopped in irritation and yelled at him. A strong feminine voice come out of the person's lips and long flowing blonde hair drifted out from the hood.

"Would you stop!? It's kind of annoying. I got him and turned him in fair and square. Now leave me alone, will ya?"

Hozuro looked at her, obviously annoyed, but he controlled himself and left well enough alone.

"Fine. Go on about your day. I'll go find another one."

And he just walked off, stepping into a side street and immediately stopping behind the corner. Waiting. She continued forth, exiting town. And Hozuro followed. For the next hour or so he kept hidden, tailing this girl. He'd get his money back.

Soon, she entered a bustling port town full of people and places. She found her through the crowd to a broken down church atop a hill. She entered, and of course, so did Hozuro not having a second thought. He walked in, finding her standing there, hood off, arms crossed, and an annoyed expression.

"You followed me here? All the way here? For an hour?"

~End of Chapter 1