"EIYAAAAAAAAAH!"
Carefully placing a few sheets of rolled up parchment in the satchel the medium sized gull she had called down carried, Toffee paused when hearing the frightened scream.
"That sounded like Nami...I thought she and the others were partying, so why's she in the woods?" Toffee pondered thoughtfully with a small frown. "Do you think everyone might be in some sort of trouble?"
Heartless placed a claw against his hidden mouth as if he were in thought. When he noticed a small beetle crawling close by, he picked it up and placed it on his head and then proceeded to run back and forth-as if in a panicked state-while waving his arms.
"So, you think they might have just run into some creepy crawlies? I hope you're right about that...And I guess Luffy, Zoro, Robin, and Sanji are with them..." Toffee sighed out, smiling at the seagull as she handed it the small coin it was waiting on. "Make sure you deliver this into Theo's hands, okay?"
The gull held up its wing in a salute to the female before flying off. Toffee watched it until she could no longer see the birds form, hopping off the moderate sized rock she had been standing upon. While she always enjoyed the Straw Hats rather exuberate parties, she had gone outside for a breath of fresh air where she had chanced upon the News Coo flying across the nighttime sky.
She ended up having to run and find a higher location in order to catch the mail carrier's attention, yet this would be the best method to get her feelings across to her oldest sibling. Knowing they were on the Grand Line, there was a chance her new friends could run into her family at any time.
"I'm sure Cain reassured big brother that I'm fine, but I want him to read about all the amazing things Luffy and the others have done. He needs to see that not all pirates are evil," Toffee voiced, walking with her arms resting behind his back. "Theo's often attacked pirates just for bumping into him, and I don't want him to do the same with the Straw Hats..."
Feeling a tug at the white shorts she wore, Toffee looked curiously down at Heartless. His rounded eyes had narrowed, and his antennas were twitching sporadically. He had picked up on something...and it happened to be coming from Cricket's house.
Sharing a look with each other, Toffee and her shadow nodded in understanding; Heartless fazing back into the ground after the gray-haired girl took off at a mad dash. She might not have known Cricket and his comrades for long, but they had all appeared strong in their own right. That's why it alarmed her to find the three of them on the ground in a bloody and horribly beaten state.
"So much for your Saruyama Alliance! You're just an old man and a couple of overgrown apes! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Toffee's hands gripped tightly at her sides, her body shaking in anger. This tall and tan skinned man's demeanor was completely putting her off. She could actually feel his over confidence and conceitedness pouring off of him like a foul odor that truthfully made her sick. He was clearly the type to target those weaker than him sheerly for mere thrills...
"Just what do you think you're doing attacking Cricket, Masira, and Shojo like that?! You have no right!" Toffee yelled out heatedly. Her eyes narrowed dangerously seeing one of the pirates removing the gold Montblanc had shown them from the small house. "And that doesn't belong to you!"
The unkempt blond-haired man turned to Toffee with an expression that said he wasn't registering what he was seeing. His mouth gave a small twitch, a grin breaking out onto his features and a louder laugh, than the one he unleashed before, left his lips.
"And just who are you supposed to be, little girl?"
A man with wavy shoulder-length blue hair and a purple-tinted visor over his eyes let out a snicker. "My guess is she's one of those weaklings of the Straw Hat crew, Bellamy,"
Bellamy? So this is the one that pirate mentioned back in Mock Town Toffee pondered, a hand moving to her waist bag. I wouldn't put it past these people to be the ones that gave Nami, Luffy, and Zoro trouble...
"You're telling me this tiny thing is a pirate, Sarquiss? That's just too funny!" a blond-haired female wearing a bandanna and sunglasses giggled out mockingly.
"Haven't you heard appearances can be deceiving?" Toffee expressed, clutching her dagger in her hand, a very small tick mark on the side of her head.
Lifting up his head, Cricket struggled to pull himself off the ground. "D-don't be foolish, Toffee! You don't stand a chance against him...Leave us and go find the others!" He didn't want to say it to her face, but out of those kids, this woman looked the weakest. She seemed far too docile to be picking a fight with a bloodthirsty pirate like Bellamy.
"It'll be alright, Montblanc-san. Just rest," Toffee comforted. A gasp left her lips when Bellamy stomped Crickets head into the ground, something that made the old man cough. "Stop that! There's no need to hurt someone who can't fight anymore!"
The Bellamy Pirates exchanged looks, the laughter they broke out into causing Toffee's cheeks to turn pink.
"Just what the hell is up with this chick?"
"These Straw Hats are complete losers!"
Sarquiss smirked, spinning around a giant dagger that resembled a kukri. "What could we expect when those other two cowards wouldn't even fight back against us? Should I show you what a real battle looks like?" Running at Toffee, her eyes didn't show any acknowledgement until Masira moved in front of her, fully taking on the cocky blue haired male's vertical spinning attack.
"Why...?" Toffee whispered out, the weapon in her own hand shaking seeing the severe slash across Masira's back when the male fell to the ground.
"That fool..." Cricket muttered, having managed to sit up, frowning when he noticed Shojo was back on his feet.
"Old timer! You and Toffee get down!" Shojo shouted out, pulling out his microphone and unleashing his havoc sonar wave. The sound caused the earth to crack beneath the pirate's feet, something that made Bellamy's crew stumble. Yet Toffee furrowed her brow's noticing Sarquiss and Bellamy weren't fazed.
"Wait, Sarquiss. I'll end his life," Bellamy stated, his legs shifting into springs of all things. Hearing Cricket screaming for Shojo to run, Neoshadow appeared in front of the large, rounded male, using his palms to stop Bellamy's attack from connecting with the green haired pirate.
"What? Where did this thing come from?!" Bellamy exclaimed in shock since the monstrosity had popped out of nowhere. And before the creature could try anything. Bellamy distanced himself a few feet away from Neoshadow.
Grabbing up a startled Shojo, Neoshadow caused him to shriek when he flung the man over to where Cricket was, dusting off his claws as if he had just moved something that had been in the way.
"You didn't have to fling poor Shojo like that," Toffee said softly, moving to stand next to her partner. "That's a pretty unique Devil Fruit you have, Bellamy, was it? But I'm not going to let you hurt anyone else with it. Your crew mate was wrong. I'm more accustomed to the battlefield than you know..."
Licking his lower lip at this, Bellamy gave a maddening grin. "So that creature is your Devil Fruit? Looks like I might get a semi decent challenge. It has a fair amount of strength if nothing else,"
Extending out her dagger to stop her shadow, who was cracking its hands and moving forward, Toffee uttered out quietly, "I'll be the one fighting you instead of my shadow."
"Your shadow doesn't seem to approve of that decision," Bellamy snickered out when the creatures head had snapped on her. "Either is fine with me. Your battered body should be a good message to that fool of a captain that the Grand Line isn't a place for foolish dreamers like him or that weak old man over there."
Launching himself at her like a charging torpedo, Toffee's eyes grew big when the pirate captain's fist connected with her stomach before she could react. Toffee ended up coughing up a small bit of blood as she was sent flying into the front part of the Going Merry that had been severed from the rest of the caravel ship, feeling worse that her impact had further damaged their ship.
Even you were injured...I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner, Merry-chan Toffee thought, reaching back to place her hand on the cracked wood. Could vessels feel pain, she wondered? Strangely enough, it felt like Merry could...and she quickly jumped to dodge Bellmay's kick, not wanting any more harm to come to the beloved ship.
Her form still hovering in the air, Bellamy was hopping around her like a jackrabbit. He was taunting Toffee-in his own way saying she was no match for him. That was why Toffee was certain he had let out that hyena-like laugh when his feet impacted with her back, and she went crashing face first in the sand.
"Maybe you're not so worthless after all. I haven't been holding back, yet you can still stand on your feet," Bellamy cackled out, watching the petite girl wipe the blood at her mouth away with the back of her hand. "Tell you what, get down on your hand and knees in front of me and say the Bellamy Pirates are the strongest on the Grand Line and how your crew could never hope to beat mine. I won't have to injure that cute face of yours anymore if you do."
Staring at the ground, Toffee voiced quietly, "Over confidence, will be your downfall...If you and your crew leave now, I won't have to show you just what I mean by that..."
"Stupid brat! Just do what he says!" Cricket yelled out while being supported by a wide eyed Shojo.
"Shut up, old timer! This is getting amusing!" Sarquiss said gleefully, his hand covering his face.
Legs having turned back to normal, Bellamy started to steadily approach the gray-haired woman; his tongue hanging out of his mouth. "Oh? And just what is it you plan on showing me?"
"Something my older brother taught me a long time ago..."
Thirteen years ago...
"THEO!" Toffee shouted, struggling to break out of Ashley's grip.
The man they were here to kill had hired pirates for actual bodyguards, having somehow discovered he was her family's next target. Theo had just been assaulted by the pirate captains unique attack-a Devil Fruit that allowed him to make diamond-like spikes protrude from anywhere on his body-and Theo's entire right side became stained with blood when his body was pierced.
"Gayahahahaha! I can't believe someone pathetic like you are known to be the worst terrors among the East Blue! You must have gotten lucky with your other kills. But when people learn I killed the actual demon: Theo of the Shadow Strikers, my renown will increase tenfold!"
"Calm yourself, sweet Toffee. Our foolish big brother is just fine," Ashley whispered into the frightened girl's ear with a small smirk. "Just watch."
"Diamond is known for being the strongest mineral in the world. Nothing can shatter it! That's why my Devil Fruit is the most powerful when it comes to defense and power!"
"I wouldn't be so sure about that..."
The pirate wasn't able to respond for the red and golden eyed male had slashed straight through him. Torrents of blood shot from the large wound, and the pirate's eyes had rolled into the back of his head; his body stumbling a bit before he fell backwards where the diamonds on his body shattered when they connected with the ground.
Toffee's lips parted from the sight. She was so stunned that she hadn't realized Ashley had released her, rushing right over to Theo's side the moment she did.
"Theo! Your hurt!" Toffee said with a small whimper, sitting down on her knees by the teenager who had lazily slouched on the ground.
"It's not as bad the way it looks," Theo mused, placing a hand on Toffee's head where he gave a small ruffle to her hair.
"Why do you insist on taunting opponents like that? You're going to have a nasty scar there, now," Ashley voiced disapprovingly with a click of his tongue. His eyes lit up when he bent down to pick up some of the diamonds. "To think someone so ugly would have something so beautiful all over his body. This lovely little prize is coming home with me~"
Theo rolled his eyes at the silver haired boy. "Unlike you, I could care less about the scars on my body..." Noticing the tears in Toffee's eyes, Theo's lips creased into a frown. "I scared you, huh? Sorry about that...I just can't stand egotistical people like him."
"Egotistical? That means people who are really confident, right?" Toffee sniffled out, rubbing at her eyes.
"Shyehehehe! That's the nicer way of putting it. It's more like the person has a big ol' stick stuck up their a-Ouch!" Deimos hissed for Cain had slapped him upside the head before he could finish that sentence, and he glared at his innocently smiling twin.
Tilting her head in confusion, Toffee gave Theo, who was massaging him temple, a confused expression. "But aren't all of you confident when you go into battle? I've never seen you afraid before, Theo. You're always super cool!"
Theo shook his head at this. "I may act that way, but the truth is I'm terrified every time I enter a new battle. Not for myself, but at the thought of losing you or those other idiots...Being confident is one thing but allowing it to get the better of you will lead you to making multiple mistakes, putting what you care most about at risk...I once allowed various people I loved to die because I was foolish...I won't ever permit that to happen again."
Toffee noticed the sadness within Theo's normally cold eyes, but a small smile was on his face. "Toffee, if you ever encounter a person like that, let them believe they have the upper hand. That's when they'll let down their guard, and you'll be able to shatter their pride and overcome them in the fight,"
Deimos held up his hands and shook his head. "Didn't you just kill the guy? Doesn't really seem like you shattered his pride at a-Ouch! Dammit!" Heartless had been the one to smack him in the head this time. "Why does everyone keep hitting me?!"
"Because you're ruining such a heartwarming moment." Ashley claimed, blowing into a tissue.
Theo was looking at the four in exhaustion, but Toffee found herself smiling with a small blush. "I see. So that's why you were allowing him to hurt you...You're really ama-Eeek! You're bleeding so much, big brother?!"
"Oh? I didn't notice. I might bleed out at this rate..."
"Eh?! Does that mean you're going to die?!"
"Stop scaring her like that!" Cain, Deimos, and Ashley all scolded with angered eyes, punching Theo upside his head while Heartless gently patted at his teary-eyed masters back.
Bellamy's brow questioningly lifted up. The gray-haired girl had started to giggle for no reason. "Oi? Did fear cause you to lose your mind? I would promise you this isn't going to hurt...but well, then I'd be lying, hah hah! Spring...Snipe!"
Taking in a calming breath, Toffee disappeared before Bellamy's punch could connect with her stomach. Her actions made Bellamy's dark eyes pop, and the man quickly stopped himself, by placing his hand on the sand to come to a skidding halt, before he could lose momentum and crash.
"Bellamy! She's behind you!"
Gritting his teeth, Bellamy flipped around and swung his leg at the pink eyed girl. He could see the bruise forming on her arm she had used to block it with, something that made him smirk. She was weak, so he couldn't understand why her eyes looked so calm as she weaved her head to dodge his rapid punches.
"What? Too scared to fight me?!" Bellamy baited for she had vanished on the spot again.
"If you don't like that trick, I can always use another," Toffee suggested. What looked like multiple copies of her formed around Bellamy, and she slowly started to circle around him. "I call this Dark Steps: Afterimage Dance. Can you tell which one of me is the real one?"
"Tch! A lame parlor trick! I don't have to guess! I'll just take all of your so-called afterimages down!" Bouncing upwards, the blond-haired male came launching down at the first clone, destroying one after the other until none remained. That didn't make any sense. Where was the girl?
"Wrong," Toffee said softly, having seemed to be beside him one moment and then behind him the next.
What occurred next seemed to happen in slow motion. Bellamy barely registered the pain, the sounds of Sarquiss and the others screaming his name confusing him until he looked down and noticed the large gash that had cut through his pink shirt. The wound was pretty deep. How had she been able to cut him this badly with a measly dagger?
"Bellamy!" Sarquiss shouted out, spinning his blade as he rushed for the girl. "You're going to pay for that!"
That shadow of Toffee's had moved protectively in front of her, the pirate's eyes dimming when this creature grabbed his weapon with both of its clawed hands and broke it. What remained of the machete fell to the earth, and Sarquiss felt pain in his cheek as he was sent flying, crashing into another member of his crew.
"Sarquiss!" a pink haired girl wearing a rather revealing yellow dress shrieked out. The first mate's face was badly swollen, and he looked close to losing consciousness.
Toffee moved in front of Bellamy who had fallen to his knees. She kept her head low where he couldn't see her eyes, but she noticed he was breathing heavily and holding onto his wound. The man appeared to be in a state of shock.
"The wound isn't fatal, but I'd get it patched up as soon as possible. Now, I have two requests of you. Considering how you injured Montblanc-san and his friends, not to mention our ship...I want you to leave any treasure you have on you behind. That should make up for your actions,"
"Wh-who do you think you are tryin' to tell me what to-" Bellamy wasn't able to finish that sentence, the back of his neck breaking out into a cold sweat. For such a weak looking person, he couldn't understand the sudden fear that had curled around him. It felt like a serpent was trying to choke the life from him when Toffee's eyes met his. There was nothing in her pupils but darkness. It was akin to looking into a pitch-black tunnel where there was no light.
"My second request is you return back to Mock Town and never come back here. If I learn you ever attack or threaten Cricket-san, Masira, Shojo-and the same goes for my crew-again...I'll kill you all myself."
Bellamy said nothing to this, but his body lightly trembled. He could hear one of the females on his crew letting out a terrified sob as she had seemed to slump to the ground. Her crying was the only sound he heard for a deathly silence had fallen.
"We're leaving..." Bellamy muttered, wincing slightly from the pain as he bent down to grab his captain's coat, continuing to make his way for his vessel.
Waiting until they had all boarded, Toffee let out a heavy sigh and slumped down onto her knees; gripping onto her shorts while beads of sweat had gathered on her forehead.
"And just when I was thinking to myself not all pirates are bad...B-but I did it. I managed...to fight without hyperventilating or passing out from the blood this time," Toffee spoke to herself with a small uneasy laugh. "My bodies still shaking...but I've gotten better. I can...finally start fighting decently again."
"Oi, girl," Considering how honestly terrifying she had been there for a moment, Cricket was shocked when Toffee let out a squeak and gave a small, startled jump. "What was all that?"
Sharing a look with her shadow, a blush formed on Toffee's cheeks, and she rubbed at the back of her head in embarrassment-an action her shadow mimicked. "O-oh that...I guess Robin-san and Zoro did both say I shouldn't deny my past...While I am technically just the Straw Hats log keeper, I was a former assassin...A-and I know I threatened to kill them, but I really wouldn't! I-I mean not unless I had no other choice...But Luffy and the other's might be mad if they learn I even suggested such a thing..."
A small sweat drop rolled down Shojo's head since Toffee had started to mumble to herself. "An assassin? Is that even possible?" Though recalling something else, he left Cricket's side to quickly check on his injured sibling.
I guess she's right. You shouldn't be deceived by appearances...Toffee might be one of the more dangerous members on that crew Montblanc pondered, narrowing his eyes at the now pacing female. Though his own bead of sweat trailed down his head when she tripped over a seashell of all things. Then again, maybe not...
After having finished bandaging Bellamy's wound, Muret looked down at the male with deep concern. He had been laying on his back, staring up at the ceiling without having said anything to them other than instructing Rivers to find their wanted posters.
Then again, this had to be deeply upsetting to him. He had never lost a fight before.
"I looked through them like you said, boss. And...you're not going to believe it. The woman was only a brat when this was made, but even so..."
Snatching the paper out of Rivers hand, Bellamy was met with a small girl shyly hiding behind the leg of a tall man whose features weren't captured. Though the price at the bottom earned a blank expression for a few seconds before Bellamy broke out into loud laughter.
"50,000? You're telling me that woman and her pet monster are only worth 50,000 beli?!" Bellamy bellowed, falling back onto his bed after having ripped up the poster. It angered him beyond belief that he had been defeated and even frightened by this woman. Not only that, but Rivers had also shown him Straw Hats wanted poster. 100,000,000 beli?! How did that scrawny male manage to increase his bounty in such a short amount of time?
Did that mean that swordsman and him were just holding back, not believing he was worth their time?
Just how strong was Luffy? Yet that wasn't the main thing that concerned him.
What would happen if he found out about this embarrassment? The thought once again made a cold sweat break out across the back of the man known as the Laughing Hyena's neck.
(A/N: I was going back and forth debating on whether to use this idea in the next chapter but decided Toffee should have her own chance to shine. Showing her assassin skills haven't left her and she's kind of messed up in her own way like the rest of her family. Even if she does have some regrets when she uses her abilities, she still has that mindset that she'll kill if it means protecting others. ^^)