Disclaimer- I don't own anything here except for Reia.

---Chapter Seven---

The dark figure's knife sped to Zoro's side.

And met Chopper's antlers. He was in reindeer form and pushed down on the ground with his hooves. The assailant slid backwards, then tried to get in a few stabs. Chopper's head moved quickly and blocked them. He suddenly noticed another glint moving towards him, and he tilted his head to deflect it. The first assailant's knife went quickly to his open neck, and then clattered to the floor as Sanji calmly nailed him in the stomach with his legs.

Hands in his pockets, he whammed the guy on the back down to the floor with his other leg. The assailant crumpled to the ground.

Zoro wasted no time and grabbed his katanas. He took his bandanna and tied it around his head, katana clenched in his mouth. Then he spun around, swords ready to deflect the coming blow.

The coming blows, actually. Three swords were brought down on him, and he blocked them. He started to whirl, swords flashing, too quick for the eye.

Barely three seconds passed before he paused, head bowed with the katana in his mouth. His three attackers stiffened, and then the sound of ripping fabric was followed by three thuds to the ground.

"Tch," he said disappointedly, smirking behind the katana. He glanced around and noticed Chopper standing over his fallen attacker. Sanji raced towards Nami.

She was busy with hers. Her hair stick was out, and she was continuously blocking dagger stabs with it. Her eyes looked frantically for a weak spot.

She suddenly started to trip. She smoothly stuck her stick in the attacker's leg while falling. Just where the ham string was. Her attacker screamed and fell.

As he fell, she rolled and double kicked his head, then side-punched him. He spun and fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes. She stood up and brushed her hands, pinning her hair back with the stick. Sanji looked surprised.

"Remember that Sanji," she told him smoothly.

"Looks can kill."

Zoro made a scoffing sound and sheathed his swords, glad to feel the familiar weight by his sides. Ghost flashed purple. Then he frowned.

"Nami?" he called. She looked up.

"Where's Usopp?"

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"OH GOD!!" Usopp screamed hysterically. He ran down the aisle with his hands in the air, his eyes scanning for his bag. His feet beat out a rhythm, and so did his pursuer's.

"Oh God, HELP ME!!" he screamed again. Suddenly he spied a tan bag hanging on the wall. He snatched it and resumed running, his hand rummaging in it. He grabbed a handful of transparent marbles and threw them on the ground. Then he stopped and turned around to survey his work.

They broke on the spot and showered his attacker with glass and green mist. The attacker choked, and then advanced menacingly towards Usopp.

Usopp quickly fitted his sling-shot and fired.

"Usopp's Air Stars!" The attacker dodged them easily, but screamed in agony as they exploded in midair. Usopp laughed.

The attacker snarled and ran faster.

"..Three,two,one,baby," Usopp counted. The attacker suddenly stiffened, then choked. He fell to the ground writhing and started to scream. Then he fell silent.

Usopp planted his hands on his hips.

"Usopp the brave warrior of the seas has triumphed again!" He noticed a small glass sphere on a pedestal with a white piece of paper attached to the wrist band. Other spheres were around him.There were seven pillows nearby, each holding a ball (Dragon ball?) except for the seventh. Heshrugged, grabbed the locator, and headed back to the sword aisle.

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Nami shook her head slowly.

"Poor Usopp," she said softly. Zoro made a disbelieving noise.

"That wasn't him, you know," he muttered. He ran a hand through his green hair and peered around.

"Zoro's right," Chopper piped up.

"Usopp has more of a whine to his yells," Sanji added thoughtfully.

"It's whiny 'cuz of his nose," Zoro said, smirking. Suddenly something flew at his head and struck the sheathed sword he lifted to block it. Usopp stepped out.

"I'm happy to know I was missed by somebody," he said dryly, glaring at Zoro. Usopp drew something out of his bag and gave it to Nami. She gasped.

"It's the locator! And there's a note…" Nami murmured. The others crowded around her. It read:

The locator's done setting

And so has the sun

I'm off with the fruits

Now my work is done

And your little monkey

Is stuck in the cavern

Why, he could get himself

Lost in a tavern!

This rhyme is bad

I know you complain

But the quicker you reach him

The less chance he'll be slain.

We'll meet again!

---Yours truly,

Mr. Lyon

P.S. Watch out for Panther.

Usopp sighed.

"That was awful," he said. Chopper nodded. "His name is Mr. Lyon?"

"He did sort of purr when we were talking to him," Nami said observantly. Then she turned to Chopper.

"Chopper, can you find the way to Reia and Luffy?" He nodded and stayed still for a moment, then raced down the aisle and turned left. The Straw Hats followed quickly.

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Luffy's arm snapped back and he stretched it. He relished the movement.

"Aaah!" he sighed with contentment. Reia picked herself up and dusted her knees. She suddenly looked back at Luffy with narrowed eyes.

"Luffy…" she began menacingly," …when was it when you were able to move?" Luffy pondered.

"Back by the gun," he said bluntly. Her jaw dropped, then she started to grit her teeth.

"I carried you for how long?!" Luffy shrugged.

"You had your own plans. I wanted to see what you were going to do," he said. Then he put his hand on his straw hat.

"I need to know all my crew's styles."

Reia gasped and stared at him.

"What do you mean, 'all', my dear monkey?" a dark voice purred.

Reia transformed and whirled wildly to Luffy's side. She transformed back. Dark shadows swirled in the spot where she had stood. The shadows came together and formed a lean, tall man. He was pale, and pupils were slits. Everything else about him blended in with the darkness, even his voice.

"Your crew are all long-gone now, or else my name isn't Panther. Thanks to my men," he said softly. He started to pace like a cat.

"My brother wanted to pay me a percent of the money from the fruit shipment of his, but I insisted on free of charge. Killing you will be…"

He licked his lips.

"…easy."

He suddenly disappeared into the darkness. He appeared at Luffy's side and proceeded to stick Luffy with a small knife. Luffy moved quickly and dodged the blow. He put a hand on the ground and pushed off, springing into the air. The knife slid into the ground he left.

"Twin Gum-Gum Pistols!"

His arm stretched and it shot towards Panther. He evaded it quickly, but was blown to the other side of the clearing as the other arm made contact with his face.

Panther rose amid the dust and snarled, then disappeared again.

He suddenly appeared right in front of Reia and drove the knife into her chest. She gasped.

It had gone right through her. Literally.

A faint mist surrounded the knife in her chest. She didn't even use her powers yet! Panther's sneering face turned into a confused one. She bared her teeth and stuck a finger in his eye.

Panther staggered back, howling in pain. Then she kneed him between the legs. He crumpled, and Luffy pounded him into the ground some more for good measure.

"Don't mess with the unexplained," she muttered darkly. She suddenly heard something behind her and spun around…

Then smiled in relief as she saw the other Straw Hats emerge from the tunnel. They came over and inspected the damage. Sanji took a drag, Nami was busy yelling at Luffy, and Usopp looked closely at Panther. He then took out an iron hammer and whacked him just to make sure.

Zoro sauntered over and also inspected Panther, his hands resting on his katanas. Chopper sniffed him and gagged. After he recovered, he managed to say:

"Lyon's relative." Then he walked away.

"He almost ran you through back there," Zoro remarked. He looked at her strangely. She narrowed her blue eyes and looked at him.

"He did, actually…" she said coolly. He raised his eyebrows in an incredulous way. Nami walked over to them.

"You didn't tell us that you could pass through things, Reia!" Nami said observantly. Reia nodded her head in agreement.

"I didn't know I could," she murmured and looked up to see Nami scan their surroundings.

"It must be the fruits radiating something…" she muttered thoughtfully. Then she suddenly looked at Reia.

"Aren't ghosts made up of some kind of energy?" she asked her. Reia shrugged.

"Ecta…Ectoplasm. It gives you telekinetic abilities, I think." Reia shrugged again. The others started to gather by them. Nami waved a hand impatiently.

"Here Reia, try this…" Nami whispered into Reia's ear. Her eyes widened in surprise and she started to giggle. All the others were mystified. Especially Zoro. He swore he had heard the word "katana"…

His eyes widened in shock and his hands darted to his side. Only Kuina's was left.

The other two were busy spinning in circles, chasing each other. Zoro's jaw fell in shock, and then he started to chase them around the clearing. Nami laughed hard, and the others were gaping at the spectacle.

He stole a glance at Reia, whose eyes were darting back and forth. He suddenly grinned at an idea of his and started to creep up behind her silently. Then he covered her eyes up with his hands. She gasped.

"Gimme back my swords or you…" he growled.Reia chuckled. He never got to finish.

The swords, sheathed of course, sped through her and made contact with Zoro who was behind her.

Only one sword hit him, though, so it didn't hurt as bad. Ghost twinkled mischievously. Zoro stood up scowlingand rubbed his shoulder. Reia turned around and smirked evilly, then turned back to Nami. She was laughing so hard she was holding her sides. Usopp applauded, and Chopper looked wide-eyed at Reia. Sanji grinned amusedly, and Luffy could barely hold his excitement in.

"Reia!! Reia! Do it again!" he cried out.

"I prefer not…" Zoro muttered darkly. She turned to look at him again, and he glared daggers at her. Now he had to guard his swords from Luffy, Usopp, and this girl. He sighed.

The experience was exhilarating. Why hadn't she known of this before? A thought struck her.

"Luffy, give me your fruit, please," she asked him quickly. He cocked his head, then reached into his pockets and took out a warai.

There were no bruises and it twinkled.

"Why isn't it all mashed up?" Usopp asked in wonder.

"A chemical reaction with the moonlight," Sanji explained. "That's why it's such a rarity. It stays firm and fresh for a while."

"It must be these," Nami murmured. Reia pocketed it. She suddenly noticed Chopper standing sniff and his eyes closed.

"Chopper, what's wrong?" she asked softly. Zoro unsheathed his swords an inch. Snow glinted, and Sanji straightened.

"We have company."