"Is there anything left on your end?" Hitetsu called out as he strolled along his garden.
After the massive storm that seemed to shake Wano to its core, many of the animals that had fled from Kuri were nowhere to be found. It concerned the old man as he inspected some of the vines. Some dragon fruit and kiwis could be salvaged... the rest not so much.
"The patches along here aren't looking too good Mr. Tengu..." Tama called out. "And our rice pond's all mucky."
The old man sighed. The stampede had left nothing in its wake, and after collecting water and ensuring that the roof was still viable over their heads, they had to ensure their garden was able to thrive. This was one of the few patches left in the Kuri Forest that had good soil for gardening.
The masked man walked over, taking in the damage, as his ward gathered what fruit she could find. This was their only way to grow food out there, save for hunting small animals. But Hitetsu wasn't a hunter. He could only catch hares, which were few and far between.
With any luck, the animals would be returning back to their natural environments. Whatever had spooked them should surely be calm for now... right?
The man once known as Kozuki Sukiyaki inspected Tama's side of the garden. As she had said, their slowly-grown rice paddy had been trampled over. With a sigh he got down on his knees, and slid his hands into the dirt.
"Come along now child. The paddy may be dirty, but it's not beyond repair. We can fix it."
The Tengu-mask wearing man offered a smile of consolidation. Tama beamed, nodding as she got down beside him and joined in the work. Her hands were small and dainty; a far cry from his weathered and grizzled ones.
"After this, let's have some fruit! I'm sure we can both use something sweet to eat Mr. Tengu!" exclaimed the violet-haired girl. Above them, the storm clouds rumbled. There always seemed to be storm clouds, these days.
"I'm sure we do. For now let's…"
"YAMATOOO!"
The voice boomed over the forest like a thunderclap. Tama screamed and covered her ears. Hitetsu winced, holding her tight, his ears ringing. He would never forget the tenor of that tone for as long he would live.
"Kaido...?!"
Hitetsu looked around, terrified. Was he here to finish the job? To extinguish the Kozukis once and for all?!
Then he saw it. The long reptilian body, coiling through the skies, flaming claws outstretched.
"SHOW YOURSELF NOW, AND YOUR LITTLE FRIEND DEKU WILL SUFFER ONLY A QUICK DEATH! WHERE ARE YOU HIDING!"
Hitetsu spotted the massive beast, flames licking from his maw as he flew overhead. He hugged the shivering Tama to him, then lifted her up and scurried into the hut; praying to the old Gods that the dragon would not notice them. He felt Kaido overhead, felt his gaze sweeping over the land. His presence, his will, was suffocating.
To think his son had fought that monstrosity alone. His great, foolish, goodhearted and stupid son, Oden.
He could hear it. He could hear Kaido breathing, rumbling over the trees, making his hut shake. Tama was hyperventilating, mad with terror, but all he could do was hold her tight.
"You..."
Hitetsu opened his eyes and felt his heart stop. A massive yellow eye glared through the doorway at him. Tama was silent, body and soul frozen still. Hitetsu felt his chest clench. He couldn't breathe.
"Have you seen a white-haired girl with horns, traveling with a little green boy?" asked the dragon. Its growl was straangely calm, almost reasonable.
Hitetsu was bewildered. A girl with horns? What did he…?
"SPEAK!"
Flames belched from his mouth, the heat washing over Hitetsu like the breath of hell.
He was angry. Angrier than Hitetsu had ever seen him. Beyond anything he had ever seen.
"No!" Hitetsu squeaked. "It's just me and my granddaughter! We've seen no one! I swear! Please! S-Spare us!"
He clutched the terrified Tama to him, wishing he could give his life to save her, despite how terrified he is. There was nothing else he could give, not now.
The dragon blinked, and drew back.
"Hmphh…"
One massive claw came down, rending a deep rut in the earth as the dragon pushed itself up, leaping into the sky. His tail slammed down, sweeping across the forest, knocking down trees as it went.
And coming their way.
He could not move. His body had frozen up. The strength of his youth was gone forever, as was his will. He could not move! And the tail was coming closer, trees flying about as if in some terrible storm.
He looked down at Tama. She lay in his arms, her eyes blank.
He screamed, and threw himself out of the hut; just as a tree came crashing down, smashing it to matchwood. He fell down, his old body a mass of pain. He looked up, into the sky riven with storm clouds, as Kaido flew away.
Sukiyaki looked back at his hut, his home for so many years. It was a pile of debris, with a tree trunk sticking absurdly out of it. He looked down at Tama, praying that she was alright.
But she wasn't. She just lay there, wide-eyed, unmoving.
"Tama... Tama look at me." He took her face in his hands. "It's going to be alright. Please..." He placed his ear on her chest, dreading what he might hear.
Her heart was still beating. But still she would not awaken. What could have done this? Had it been terror? Or Kaido's sheer presence?"
"No…" Hitetsu whimpered, his body shaking, his eyes brimming with tears. "No…Tama…please…"
Not like this. Not Tama, the only light in the darkness of his twilight years. Not Tama, the only person he had left to live for, the one worthy thing in his whole worthless, useless life.
Then she coughed, and her eyes fluttered open.
"Mr. Tengu?"
He almost sobbed with relief, even as he saw her eyes. Not the bright eyes of a moment ago, but hollow and lifeless.
"Why is this happening?" she asked, her voice matching her lifeless eyes. "Why is that mean dragon here?"
How was he to answer? How many reasons could he list? There were many things a man could want in Wano. Its mighty mountains, that had turned back so many invaders. Its lands, rich and fertile, full of wondrous bounties. And the minerals under them; the coal that had fired Wano's forges, and the ores they had cast into wondrous alloys, which centuries of wise swordsmiths had forged into mighty weapons.
Kaido wanted them all. He wanted its rich lands to feed his armies, and heal their bodies, and ease their miseries. He wanted its mountains to be his fortress, to keep out his enemies while he built his power. He wanted the coal and the ores to arm his ships and his pirates, that he might have fleets and armies greater than all others.
He wanted his ancient homeland; the land from which his ancestors had been driven by the Kozuki's long ago. Perhaps this was revenge, for them and for himself.
But what had that to do with him? And with Tama? Why would Kaido come out all this way? Who was this Yamato, and this Deku? Who were they to him?
"I do not know, young one," he said. "But he seems to be looking for two people. A girl, and a boy."
"So... if... the girl and that Deku didn't do anything to Kaido... would we still be ok?"
Sukiyaki sighed. Life had been manageable before that storm. He had been content to live out his days in this place, protecting this young orphan whose parents had gone to the factories in Kibi, never to return.
It was hardly a pleasant life, but so long as Kaido was content, things were relatively calm.
But now? This Yamato and Deku had unleashed a vicious dragon upon a lashed and suffering people.
"I don't know Tama... I just don't know..." He turned towards their little hut, and sighed. It had taken him a week to build, back when his old bones were not quite so old. Yet it had been destroyed in the blink of an eye. How easy it was to destroy, compared to creating.
He looked up at the clouds. It could rain at any moment, and they didn't have a roof any more.
"Come... we must collect what we can and find shelter." Hitetsu took Tama's hand and helped her to her feet. He led her towards the hut, her legs shaking as she tried to walk. They needed to gather their belongings - those that remained - and somewhere to hide from the rain.
But where?
Then he remembered. There was the old shrine deep in the woods, the shrine to Wano's guardian deity; the Okuchi no Makami.
But did he dare go there? Would the old gods permit it?
He knelt down, and began pulling the debris aside. Beggars couldn't be choosers. Besides, the shrine was made of good stone, and built into the roots of one of the great trees. It was as safe a place as he was likely to find; for all the risk of offending the gods. They will make for there, and pray that the storm that was Kaido would pass.
Just as people all across Wano prayed; and wondered just who this Yamato and Deku could possibly be.
(X)
Queen lit up his cigar, taking a drag as he strolled down the ramp onto the dock.
He turned, and watched as a group of Headliners lugged a stretcher down the ramp behind him. On it was Spytand Malice, strapped down, and deep in a medically-induced coma. His body was covered in bandages, and what was visible looked like it had been tenderized.
"Tch, had to act up," he grumbled. "Hey you, how long is he gonna be out again?"
The last he directed at the doctor who had accompanied them from the Prison Mine, who was following the grim procession down the ramp.
"Umm, about a week or so, if the medications work, Lord Queen. His Zoan regeneration is helping the process, but he forced himself to move during his manic episode shortly after we found him, doing more damage to his internals. To ensure he's fully healthy, he needs his rest."
Queen's lip curled. The damned fool had brought it on himself. Screaming and thrashing like that. Now his healing was going to take even longer than it needed to, and Kaido would have to wait for his explanation.
Which was only going to make him even angrier.
"Hmph! I know a way or two to speed it up. But, Lord Kaido wants him alive and healthy."
Ordinarily, having Spytand Malice at his mercy would have been a rare pleasure. Good test subjects were hard to find after all; and everyone knew Malice was out to get him. But there could be no funny business, not this time. Kaido knew him too well, and had made himself clear.
"So just you make sure he recovers, doc." He jabbed a meaty finger down at the man's chest. "If he dies, or if something goes wrong, it ain't gonna be my head on the block. Got it?"
The doctor paled, nodding and trotted after the Headliners. Queen turned, and stared out through the skull mountain's open mouth, out at the distant ocean. The clouds were dark and heavy, ready to crash with thunder and flash with lightning. He can see the ships of the other members of the Flying Six sailing for Wano, no doubt to begin their hunt for Yamato and Deku. King gave them only the slightest descriptor, in that this Deku had green hair and scars. They'll go through the ports first, and then comb over the provinces.
It was no exaggeration that Kaido would tear the entire country apart, down to the last stone until he found them.
Ulti and Page One would look over every inch of Hakumai. Black Maria and her spiders would be settled in the burnt Flower Capital. Who's Who and his band of flea bitten punks would prowl Kuri. And Sasaki and his armored division would tread the snows of Ringo. With Kibi being one on constant alert for the Factory Overseers and their marching orders to ensure production kept flowing, and to send Headliners to comb the countryside.
All with Kaido looming over their heads from time to time. Jack is getting preparations set for the expedition set for the coming days, and King is managing things here. And Queen would return to Udon in short order, where he can have his men split between watching over the thousands at the Mine, and out and about combing the province for the runaway heir to the Beast Pirates, and the thief.
He sighed. Yes, Kaido was pissed off this time. He hadn't seen his boss so angry for many years. Maybe he did love that silly girl after all.
Hopefully the Prison Mine wouldn't get too badly doused in the rain. It would slow down production, and make Kaido even angrier.
And that was all he needed right now.
(X)
Ensign Micah yawned as he walked along the dirt path, holding his coat together to protect him from the rain.
He paused, as he reached the top of what looked like a very large rock. Once he was satisfied that no one was watching, he opened the hatch, climbed inside, and pulled it shut behind him.
For the Marines of Surveillance Station Outpost 623, this was one of the worst positions to have. Their station was a camouflaged rock, built large enough to sustain four people with bedding and food, and smuggled to Wano aboard a ship designed solely for that purpose; courtesy of the genius of Dr. Vegapunk. SSO 623 had one goal:
To observe and watch the Land of Wano, within the depths of the New World.
Micah had been stationed there for four months; out of a six month shift. It wasn't a bad posting, most of the time. The weather was usually pleasant, and very little actually happened. He was getting Hazard Pay beyond what most Commanders would get, largely for standing around doing nothing.
But the danger was real, as was the necessity. The SS outposts existed to observe the most dangerous islands, and report back on what was happening there. Most SS outposts were in the New World, where the Four Emperors made their playground. SSO 623 had thus far gone unnoticed, and Micah intended to keep it that way. If Kaido found out they were there…
He reached the bottom of the ladder, and wiped some of the water off his brown hair. Nearby was Captain Tom, a thin man with a beard, staring through the thermoscope. It was his turn to man it, and he had been there for many hours.
But that wasn't all he was doing. Micah looked over his shoulder, and saw that he was writing; scribbling furiously in his journal, even as he stared through the thermoscope.
"What have you noticed, Captain?" Micah asked, his curiosity piqued. There was rarely anything worth writing down, letting alone reporting back.
"That storm over Wano... it hasn't gone away. It seems... almost unnatural," the older man mused. He stood aside, and Micah stepped up to the thermoscope.
He could see the storm clouds, hovering over the vast island of Wano. It was a big storm, the biggest he had ever seen on Wano. And if the manual left behind by the last crew was accurate, there shouldn't have been a major storm at all this time of year; let alone one on that scale.
"Should we inform Headquarters?"
"Nah, not yet..." Tom replied. "This continues on for a week longer, maybe. For all we know this could just be some massive storm system passing through..." He took a cigarette, lighting it up. "If I see anything of note, I'll give you a heads up..."
"They say that Kaido can affect the weather, is that true?"
"Son, all the Emperors can affect the weather, it's all based on their mood. Either we are seeing an uncommon long storm in this stormy part of the New World..." Tom sighed. "Or something... or someone, pissed off Kaido something fierce." He rose from his chair. "You man the watch, I'm going to sleep."
"Night Captain."
"Hnn." The old veteran marched past, taking his coat as he climbed the steps towards the hatch, leaving Micah alone; the Transponder snails staring at him from their rack.
Micah reached into his coat, and pulled out a bag of lettuce. He put it in front of the snails, and watched for a moment as they ate, their normally expressionless faces lighting up. Satisfied, he turned his eyes back to the scope, and looked out.
A common storm system that's lingering around... or Kaido was angry. And Kaido was not the sort to get angry over something petty. If it was the latter…
"Who on God's green earth could have pissed you off like this...?"
There you have it. Quick little Wano check in. Kaido is still on the hunt, the Flying Six are about to stomp across the Provinces, and Tama just got scarred for life, not in a meme sense but in a legit sense. And the outside world is beginning to take note on whats going on in Wano too...
Saving the life of another... can have consequences it seems.
Big thanks to WildJoker000 and IKnowNothing for their combing, and Juubi-K for his polish. He's writing up the next Doyle chapter as we speak as well. It's about... halfway done or so too.
As for those who are wondering "wait Kaido knows Deku has green hair? He wasn't told this?!" Guess who does know? Page One told Malice, who then told King during the RD Arc. So makes sense for King to mention to Kaido in passing since, ya know. Pretty darn important information since the color of his hair and scars is the one thing they have to go off of. Makes sense.
Also saw Film Red. Loved the music(bought the album on ITunes). and Uta's easily the most tragic of the OP movie villains. Still, wish tot Musica looked more intimidating. He looked too goofy. That said, the one part with Shanks fighting, and the entire gang working together and seeing the Red Hairs in action was awesome. And obviously, the Shanks+Luffy tag team at the end.
Still, Film Red gave me... material to work with. So stay tuned for that.
Hope you all enjoyed, and I'll see you next time.