Kuro sat on the front steps of the mansion. "If you're wondering, your friends are at the south slope. Bye-bye, Princess."
Dagger raised her eyebrow, but decided not to ask. She ran south as fast as she could. Morning was approaching fast.
In a few minutes, she reached the cliffs, ran down the slope and skidded to a stop. She gasped for air as her four companions looked at her.
"Dagger?" Nami knelt down, "Are you alright?"
"Pirate… Cartaker… Kaya…"
"Oh, we know that already." Luffy said to her.
Dagger shot up, "WHAT! I ran all the way here too… Ugh…" She fell backward and landed in repose. "Tell me when they come; I'm going to take a nap."
"Are you crazy?" Usopp asked, "They are going to come any minute!"
"Then I'll just close my eyes." Dagger waved him off.
Within a few moments, the sun rose and lit up the whole sky with its light. Luffy looked around, "Not here yet? And it's such a nice day too. What do you think happened?"
Zoro looked down at Dagger, "Maybe they overslept?"
"No way," Usopp replied, "They'll definitely come. They're just a little late."
Nami looked straight out into the ocean, "Huh?" She cupped her ear and walked toward north, "Hey guys… I'm not sure if it's just me hearing things, but there seems to be people shouting somewhere… Yeah, I definitely hear them."
Dagger opened one eye to look at Usopp, "Now you mention it…"
"Hey, what's wrong?" Zoro asked.
"There's an exact slope up north!" He clutched his head, "Don't tell me…"
Luffy asked, "Are we at the wrong coast?"
"I assumed they would come on this coast because they met here!"
"Hey! We have to hurry and stop them from attacking the village! Where is it?"
"Head straight north from here. The landscape is similar to this one. We just need to stop them from climbing the slope, but…"
"Don't worry, we'll make it somehow."
"AHHH! Oh crap!" Nami screamed, "Our ships are docked on that coast! MY TREASURE! They're going to take it all!" Dagger jumped up.
Luffy looked at her before dashing off, "I can be there in less than 20 seconds!"
"Damn! I came up with this great plan for nothing!" Usopp ran after Luffy.
"My treasure…" Nami said to herself, shocked.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Zoro asked, "Let's go."
Nami nodded and took a step. Her left foot was on the slick oil and she slipped. She grabbed onto Zoro's sword and pulled him down with her. Zoro grabbed on to Dagger's ponytail and she fell too.
"Help me, I'm slipping!" Nami demanded.
"Get your hands off, you idiot!" Zoro said to her.
"Dammit Zoro," Dagger cried, "My hair!"
"Sorry!" Nami shouted, but then she smirked. She pulled herself up and step on Zoro and Dagger as a path off the oil. "Sorry! But my treasure is important!" She ran off shouting, "Find a way to get up! My treasure is in danger!"
Dagger and Zoro both slipped down. Dagger slipped much faster than Zoro. She rolled and rolled, but not straight down. She rolled and hit her head on a rock. Zoro slipped down slower. Once he stopped, he ran over to Dagger.
"Hey! Wake up!" Zoro shook her, "You can't be knocked out this easily!" Dagger moaned and groaned. "Dagger! Wake up, we got to get up." He laid her down and rushed to the beach. Scooping water into his palms, he brought it back and slashed it on her face.
Dagger sat up with a jolt. "AHHH!" She screamed. With her hand, she rubbed the head and looked at Zoro.
"Dagger?" he asked, "Are you alright?"
"D-dagger?" She replied slowly, "Who's Dagger?"
Zoro looked at her in shock, "Don't tell me you forgot! Oh man… How can you get a concussion from that!"
Dagger blinked a few times and looked at Zoro who was clutching his head mumbling to himself. "Ha ha ha!" Dagger laughed, "Just kidding, Zoro. Sorry!" She stood up and stretched.
"What!" Zoro shouted, "Don't scare me there!"
Dagger smiled innocently, "Guess what?"
Zoro raised his eyebrow, "…what?"
She jumped up and fell back down. However, her feet did not land on the ground. She was floating in air, "Look, I can glide around. Ha ha ha." She moved around Zoro like that.
"How can that happen?"
"I ate Kaze Kaze Fruit. I can manipulate the air around me." Dagger waved her hand. Zoro saw streams of air flow between her fingers. "Don't struggle," She wrapped her arms under Zoro's arms and pulled him up. They floated over the oil spill. Dagger dropped Zoro and landed her feet on the ground. "How come you're so heavy?" She asked, catching her breath.
"It's call muscle. They are going to need us so let's go!" Zoro shouted as he ran off. "Stop playing around."
Dagger gasped, "I helped you over the oil! I could've just gone myself! What's wrong with you! I still need to kill you for pulling me down and hitting my head!" She added to herself, "Because I hit my head, I remembered my power. But ff I get a hit harder, I might remember everything… or forget everything..."
Without another word, Dagger jumped up and glided in front of Zoro. She was moving backwards and smiling. "I'll race you there."
Zoro smirked, "I'm not going to lose to you." He dashed passed her. As he did, he pushed her and made her spin in a 360 turn three times.
She set herself down to stop the momentum, "That's not far!" She shouted as she rubbed her aching head. "It's not like I can fly or anything!"
"You can't fly?" Zoro called back.
"I don't have wings, idiot. I glide." Dagger shouted as she dashed off after him on foot, "I'll still beat you without gliding." Zoro grunted as she passed him.
He sighed and decided to let her win so he jogged the last part. Luffy appeared next to him. The two of them stopped next to Dagger. She pointed at the mobs of pirates coming up the slope.
Luffy growled and charged at them. Dagger and Zoro followed. Zoro pulled out a sword and Dagger unleashed her daggers. The mobs of pirates were sent flying back down the slope. The three of them walked haggardly into view of everyone.
"They're finally here." Nami said from her position on the grass. She was knocked onto her side. Usopp sat up with shock on his face.
"What's all the ruckus?" Zoro stated as his eyes were shadow by his bandana.
"How should I know," Luffy replied heaving for air, "But I'm still pissed off."
"NAMI!" Dagger shouted, "How could you trample me down the slope! You could've helped me and not Zoro!"
"Shut up," Zoro turned to Dagger. "You remember your fruit. Be happy."
"USOPP YOU BASTARD!" Luffy shouted, "You didn't tell me which way was north!"
Usopp frowned and rebutted, "What? You ran off before I could tell you!"
Luffy calmed down, "That happened… unconsciously, out of whim…"
"What's he doing?" Dagger asked looking down the slope.
"Crew! Don't tell me you're going to allow mere kids to defeat you! Listen, we don't have time to screw around." The pirates got up and Jango pulled out a ring, "They're strong, so we'll just have to be stronger. Now, stare into the ring. With 'One, Two, Jango!', you'll become strong! You injuries will heal and you'll become very, very, very strong!"
"Hypnosis." Nami replied with a scoff, "Making them believe that they're strong, that's stupid."
"You will become strong! Much Stronger! ONE! TWO! JANGO!"
"No way!" Nami shouted as the pirate crew cried and holler. They were rallied up and rejuvenated. One of them slammed his fist into the rocky cliff and made it crumble. They made a charge up the slope.
"Get out of the way Luffy!" Dagger demanded, "Luffy?" Luffy raised his head and arms in the air and screamed manically.
Zoro shouted in shock, "YOU'RE HYPNOTIZED TOO!"
Nami looked back as she helped Usopp off the slope, "What a simpleton."
Dagger cringed as she watched Luffy run down the slope punching the pirates as he went. Everyone watched as he ran pass Jango and to the figure head of the ship. The pirates screamed in fear as Luffy ripped it off and lifted it toward them.
Jango quickly pulled out his ring, "One-two-jango! Go to sleep!" Luffy fell backwards with the figure head on his shoulder. The pirates ran away and fell. It barely missed Jango by a few feet.
Dagger and Zoro watched with a straight face. Nami carried Usopp as she looked down the slope, "Seems like they got wiped out."
"Looks like it," Zoro repeated.
"Hey, shouldn't we be more concerned that Luffy is under that thing?"
"Nah," Dagger grinned, "He's not going to die. You should be more worried about your own injuries."
"Come out! Nyaban Brother!" Jango called. Two figures jumped down from the ship and landed on their feet at Jango's side.
The smaller one asked, "You called, Captain Jango?" He was hunched over with green hair, a short black shirt and shorts. The bigger one next to him repeated, "You called?" The bigger one wore a bell around his neck. One of his eyes and arm was painted black. He had on a cape and stripes pants. They both wore gloves with claws at the fingertips.
"Sham!" The smaller one called out. The bigger one shouted, "Buchi! Together, we are the Nyaban Brothers!"
"Buchi. Sham. We must get pass this slope, but… there's a few road blocks I need you to take care off. Take care of them." Jango looked up at Dagger and Zoro. Zoro rested his sword on his shoulder and Dagger stretched her arms and legs.
"But! That's impossible for us! Right Buchi?" Sham asked his brother.
"Yeah, he seems very strong!"
Dagger shot them a look, "What about me? You guys are stupid." She turned away crossing her arms. Zoro looked at them confused.
Sham cringed back, "Besides, our job is to watch over the ship."
"Yeah," Buchi added, "We're not responsible for battles."
Usopp asked, "What's this? Aren't they supposed to be the Trump Card?"
"Sham," Jango said plainly, "Just do it."
Sham screamed, "Eh! Me? Alright… Don't shout," He covered his ears and walked past his captain.
Nami asked, "What are they up to? How can he fight like that?" Dagger sighed and placed her hand on her daggers ready to strike.
Sham was running up the slope waving his hands up on the air. "Hey you! Be prepared because I'm going to tear you up with these claws!" He shrieked like a girl.
"What am I suppose to do with this guy?" Zoro shouted, "You! If you don't stop, I'll have to kill you!"
In a second, Sham's tone changed, "That's if you can kill me." He jumped onto Zoro. "You took me too lightly. You block it well, but I was acting well too. I may be tiny but don't take Sham of the Nyaban Brothers too lightly."
"I didn't." Dagger appeared font of him in a blink of an eye and kicked him in the stomach. He fell back in his back. Dagger hopped backwards on one leg and leaned on the cliff face. "Aiya… Owie…" She rubbed her shin. It was bruised. "I need some shin protectors…." She said to herself.
"My swords!" Zoro gasped. "Give me back my katanas!"
Sham leaned over holding his stomach, "How about no. They'll get in the way." He threw them behind him.
"How dare you throw my precious belonging?" Zorr charged and slashed Sham. Only a few feet away from his white katana, Sham jumped on his back and placed him under an arm lock.
"What were you trying to cut? You're friend caught me by surprise, but it won't happen again. I'm a cat, after all. Buchi! You're turn!"
"Alright!" Buchi ran up the slope. He jumped up high in the air, "What this!" He stuck out his foot.
"DAGGER!" Zoro called for help.
From behind him, Sham looked up to see the girl jump up and kick Buchi down. With his jaw dropped, he watched his brother landed on his back with Dagger standing over him.
"You owe me new boots, Zoro." Dagger hopped off Buchi to clutch her right foot. The heel on the boot she wore was cracked. With her dagger, she cut off the remaining part of the heel and the one of her left foot creating deformed slippers for herself. "No, you." She looked at Buchi "You owe me new boots."
"Why you!" Sham jumped off Zoro and at Dagger. Without even noticing him, she knelt down to trim her heel down a little more. Sham flew pass her and landed on Buchi. Dagger stood back up and turned around.
"Did you say anything?" She helped Zoro up.
"Damn!" Sham cursed. He and Buchi got up. "You won't get away this time!"
"Of course not!"
"I'm not familiar with one sword techniques, but… I guess I can't help it."
"Who do you want?" Dagger asked, "I want Buchi. He owes me new shoes."
"No, I'll have him. He's too strong for you to handle." Dagger raised her eye brow to question him.
But she sighed and gave in to him, "Fine. I'll take on Sham." She pulled out her daggers and stood her stance beside Zoro.
"Let's go, Buchi!" Sham gave the commanded and the two charged. "Got'cha Sham! CAT CLAWS ATTACK!" They charged at Dagger and Zolo.
Both Dagger and Zoro stood their ground and parried the attacks of the brothers. With only one katana, Zoro could only defend himself. Dagger, on the other hand, had a difficult time pairing Sham's quick swipes with her short range weapon.
From their place on the slope, Nami and Usopp watched in horror at the duo. "This is bad. They're under heavy pressure." Nami told Usopp, "What are you trying to do?"
Usopp took out his sling shot and aimed at Buchi, "If they keep attacking like that, there's no chance either of them will win. I'll take care of the larger one. Go! NAMARI BOSHI (Lead Star)!" Usopp released his pachinko. (Japanese pinball)
Dagger saw it coming and turned her back to Sham and sliced the pachinko. It fell apart into two pieces. Zoro saw Sham moved in toward her. He back off from Buchi and jumped in front of Sham to protect Dagger's back.
"An opening Buchi!" Zoro turned to Buchi. It was his mistake. Sham slashed him and Buchi followed with another slash. Zoro fell back onto Dagger. They both fell down. A dagger slipped out of Dagger's hands. It flew over their heads.
Buchi caught it, "What's this?" He turned to Sham with a smirk, "What should we do with this?"
"Give it to me," Sham took it from Buchi and snapped it into with ease.
"What?" Dagger looked over her shoulder. "My dagger! How can it break like that! The store owner's wife said it was indestructible!"
"It's cheap dagger, dumbass. I could get one for a belli." Sham threw it over his shoulder. "You should've believed everything merchants tell you."
Dagger cursed but ignored them and turned to Zoro to examine his wound. Zoro shouted at Usopp, "You moron! Usopp! You want to die?" When he turned his head toward Dagger, he was the Brothers approaching, ready to strike. He knew Dagger couldn't stand a chance against them with only one dagger. He leaped up and shoved her out of the way so the Brothers could attack him.
Dagger wasn't hurt with the shove, it just surprised her. Shaking it off, she looked over to see Nami running down the slope to get Zoro's swords. Dagger saw Jango go after her with his ring in his hands. She dashed after Nami but was too late. Jango slashed at her shoulder. She cried out in pain.
Nami fell to the ground. Jango asked her, "What do you want with these katanas?" Jango looked up at Dagger and screamed.
Not at her, but the person behind her. It was Kuro. The two brothers screamed as well as they stopped their attack. Zoro turned around to have a better look. The two brothers were too afraid to move. Dagger turned around too and moved closer, avoiding the Brothers. She stood a few feet away from Zoro.
"There's a good reason for this…" Jango stuttered.
"The sky's been bright for a while. Why didn't you act according to plan?" He pushed his glasses up with his palm and then shouts, "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON! I never thought you guys would be tripped by these brats. The Black Cat Pirates isn't what is used to be. Eh? JANGO!" The echo of the name made the ground shake.
"But… Didn't you say… that these pesky kids wouldn't be a problem?" Jango laughed uneasily.
"Yes, I did. So what? I knew they would come and try to stop us. But what I didn't expect was that you FOOL ARE SO DAMN USELESS!"
"We… are use… useless?"
"WHO"S USELESS?" The Nyaban Brothers shouted. "How dare you say that, Captain Kuro! It's true you were strong once before, but that's a three year old tale! When you were fooling around in this village, we weren't just hanging doing nothing! We pillaged countless villages and defeated other pirate gangs."
Kuro stared down at the two of them, "What are you implying?"
"After thee three years, do you still have it in you to beat us!" They charged at him. "KILL HIM!"
"Stop!" Jango called, "Buchi! Sham!" But they wouldn't listen.
"Who did you want to kill?" Kuro appeared behind them. Everyone stared in shock because he moved so fast. The scabbards fell off his glove swords as he stood up. Dagger watched him closely. She whispered to herself, "The air around his feet…"
"It's appeared," Jango said out loud, "Stealth Foot."
"You guys were right." Kuro appeared behind the two Brothers with his claws against their bodies. "I'm not as fast as I was." The Brothers shook in fear; their teeth hit the sword blade making a tap-tap sound. Kuro laughed as he released the Brother's from his grasp, "I've become more humble since I've been on this Island for three years. I'll give you five minutes. If you don't finish them off in five minutes, I'll kill you all."
Hmmm, longer than I expected. What do you guys think of this chapter and Dagger's Devil Fruit Power? FYI, she can do more than gilding lol.
Thanks for the reviews: I-dun-did-it, magusanubis, Loki's Beloved, Neji's wife, and Shadw.