Chapter 4: Poachers!

Kc gritted her teeth in pain but mostly in irritation when she tried to play her guitar. "I hope that fatass has a heart attack or has a slow and painful death ." Kc muttered in anger, knowing she can't play guitar the same way ever again because of Black Beard.

Just as Kc was laying on the deck, snow started falling down onto the ship.

"Wow! A winter island! Kc jumped up and down in excitement. *This is the perfect place for practice and to test the limits of my devil fruit abilites.* Kc thought to herself.

Transforming into her Beast Form, Kc then jumped head first into a large pile of snow with her tails sticking out.

Kc had practiced with her tails for over an hour now and found out she can extend her tails more than 25 feet. But the catch was the longer it was the more heavy and harder to control it became.

And she also discovered she can completely freeze anything but if only her body comes into contact with it. But she can use her ice breath at a pretty good distance just not as affected when touching something or someone. She also discovered if she holds her breath for at least 10 seconds, she then can generate a mini ice beam that can shoot at a long distance.

Feeling like she learned enough information about her devil-fruit ability for today, she transformed back to her human form and decided to create a giant snowman army. Moving her hands in a circular motion, Kc then created another snowman.

"So, what do you think?" Kc asked with a smirk when she spotted Killer staring at her in slight amazement at her snowman army.

"Impressive, what else can you do with your devil fruit?" Killer asked.

She smirks slightly before extending her tails and grabs Killer by the waist and lifts him up a few feet.

"For one thing, I can do this." Kc stated after retracting back her tails.

"Not bad, this can be useful for sneak attacks." Killer commented.

KC decided she wants to explore the forest next. After much insisting, Killer decides to accompant her, still feeling a bit guilty after their encounter with the Black Beard Pirates.

The blond and raven-haired girl hurried past the many igloos and snowmen she had created with her devil fruit, and delved into the trees and endless white snow.

Hopping one tree branch after another in her full transformation, she kept on jumping with Killer right behind her.

KC feels no fear, however; excitement hums with her dark brown eyes admiring the winter wonderland.

"Yahoo! This is so much fun." Kc said happily while jumping onto another branch.

Wildlife of all shapes and sizes, from small bunnies that blend perfectly in the snow to birds chirping in their nests, can hardly be seen as they make themselves completely unnoticed by 2 humans invading their territories.

But Kc can hear it all since her hearing becomes 50 times better when she is in her fox- form and even in her hybrid form she still has really good hearing .

She wants to go further, deeper into the forest where the trees are at their thickest, despite Kid's orders to be back at sun down but the call to adventure-

She freezes.

*Was t-that a voice.* She thought to herself.

Kc took a step back, and another, and another, it was getting louder. It echoes from deep within the forest, the 'voice' from the person, creature or whatever the hell it is, was scared and in a lot of pain.

"...Trapped, caught in a trap by mean humans. Help, blood everywhere…"
KC breath hitches.

Like if a switch has been turned on, Kc is full-on sprinting to where the voice came from. Killer shouted after her, confused or panicked, but she didn't stop.

She needed to help, to do something, drowning out Killer's shouts and even the call of adventure.

Kc bursts through a large bush, and freezes in horror. With wide eyes she stares at the massive animal writhing and yowling in agony, its right paw trapped in the metal jaws of a bear trap.

Kc stares. It looks like a... wolf. A very large and very hurt wolf with gigantic fangs that gnawed at the tray in a pointless attempt to free its leg. It pays Kc no mind, not even when the 2 tailed fox takes a cautious step closer to it.

It does notice when Killer barreled through the bush in a flurry of snow, leaves and muttered swear words. The wolf's head jerks up to Killer's direction , ears and tail twitching.

The animal tries to appear as threatening as possible despite his predicament, and turns to the 2 tailed fox. "H-How...did you even find this thing?" Killer asked.

"It was speaking to me." Was all Kc said after transforming back to normal.

Blowing cold air to where the piece of metal encircular the wolf's leg, Kc then kicked it into tiny little pieces.

"Shhhhh, it's okay," Kc whispers, low and soothing, like when one of her many little brothers had a nightmare. "You're safe, I'm not going to hurt you."

Kc's hand pressed carefully against the wolf's leg. A second passes and all of the tension in it's body dies down as the wolf moves his head to cautiously press his nose against Kc's hand.

Ripping off a sleeve from her shirt, Kc then wraps the long piece of cloth around the wound, trying it tight enough to stop the flow of blood.

Dark blue eyes blink slowly at the girl, and then the wolf walks away into the snow and trees. The 2 of them watched it go until he disappeared into the large forest.

The wolf's free now, thanks to her. Wounded, but still alive and free. Even so, how's he gonna hunt with a hurt leg. Does he have anyone to help him, family or friends, not to mention the poachers who have injured the poor wolf and are still roaming around in the forest .

Kc's plan is set without turning back, the only issue is how she won't be noticed by Kid and his crew.

Killer and Kc went into an Inn at the middle of the town and the crew had already made a large mess of the place.

Jumping onto her bed, Kc's eyelids got heavier as she curled up on her side while using her fluffy tails as a blanket before taking a nap.

Making sure everyone is asleep, Kc tiptoed down the stairs and quietly opened and shut the Inn's door.

-x-

Kc hums a tune to herself as she trudges through the growing inches of snow while holding a steaming piece of meat in her hand. The wood is dark even in the light of the full moon, a glaring contrast of the once beautiful winter wonderland this afternoon.

A flicker of something, heightened up her senses, feral and fierce was her only warning.

Kc stops, looks over her shoulder. The wolf stopped growling when he saw the familiar raven-hair girl who had freed and helped him. Her sleeve is still wrapped tight around his wounded leg.

The wolf finally opened his mouth after sniffing it to make sure it was safe, he then took the meat from her hands. She blinks, looks down, and sees the wolf licking the back of Kc's fingers to either lick off the flavor of the meat or as a gesture of thanks. Kc then rubs the top of the wolf's head which makes the animal climb onto Kc, putting all his weight on the girl until she's pinned in the snow on her back. Feeling the cold water melt from her body heat, Kc then transformed into her majestic Beast Form and cuddled next to the large wolf.

"In a way, we're kinda like cousins since we are both from the dog family after all." Kc said as she nudged closer to the larger animal.

"I hope Kid won't be too angry with me if I take a little nap ." Those were the last words she mumbled before driftting off into a deep slumber.

"What a beautiful and rare looking fox, how much do you think we will get for it?" A man with a big mustach whispered softly.

"A lot more than the wolf that is now cuddling with it." Another man stated with a wicked smirk.

"Hey boss look, the fox has 2 tails, this is truly a good discovery indeed. I heard if a fox has more than 1 tail then it's a Kitsune. Like the one's you only heard in legends and mythologys." A man wearing a top hat said.

"Men, trap them and bring them back to the hideout." The leader of the group of poachers ordered.

Both Kc and the wolf woke up when something large engulfed them. Kc scanned her surroundings and realized she and her wolf friend had a net on top of them and was now being dragged across the thick snow.

"Hey!" Kc called out which made the men froze in shock.

"Y-you can talk?" Top hat guy asked with wide unbelieveing eyes.

"Uh ..Yeah, now let me go." Kc demanded as she thrashed around in the small net.

The leader of the group of poachers smiles too widely for Kc's liking.

"This is too good, we're going to be freaking rich!" He said proudly.

Taking a deep breath and blowing, she then freezed the net with ease and glared back at the poachers. "Come on Mister wolf let's go." Kc said as she walked away from the group of men. The guy wearing a top hat snapped and lifted his gun at the wolf and fired. The classic 'bang!' is thunderous and jarring, but instead of hitting his intended target he shot someone else.

"Ahhhh!" Kc yelps in pain as she clenches her bleeding shoulder.

"You're dead!" Kc declared coldly, already preparing a large ice beam in her mouth.

Just before she could release her attack, Kc felt like she was being injected with something which made her eyes start fluttering shut before everything went black.

"Great work Josh, it's a good thing we still have a few tranquilizing darts with us." The Boss stated as he smiled at his 2 prizes.

His and everyone's jaws were now on the ground after the fox had transformed back into a girl with dark black hair. "Oh my god, it really is a real Kitsune." The leader muttered, hearing the legend that Kitsune can take the form of a young pretty woman.

-x-

Finishing the last of his breakfast, Kid then walked to where Kc's room was located.
"Hey bitch, wake u-p-" Kid stopped himself when he realized the bed was completely empty.

"Shit, that little." Kid scoffs before slamming the door and stomps back to the dining room.

"Men, we have a missing crew mate. Form teams of 2, go look around the island and don't come back until you find Kc." Kid ordered which everyone responded with a 'Yes Captain.'

-x-

Cracking her eyes, Kc and her wolf friend were now stuck in a small cage together.

The head poacher steps forward and tilts Kc's chin upwards. The poacher didn't pay attention to her deadly glare by turning the girl this and that, examining her like she is nothing more but property.

"You're quite the beauty, aren't you." He stated while brushing her long black hair with his long fingernails.

"What the hell, I'm a freakin human being. Now let me go!" Kc demanded.

The poacher only scoffs. "Shut up Kitsune, you're just a fox in disguise as a woman."

"You idiot, have you ever heard what a devil fruit is." She retorted.

Gripping onto the cage's bars , she froze the hard metal to the point a single touch can shatter it into tiny little pieces.

Curling her hand into a fist , she then punched the shock poacher who was begging on his knees after she got out of the cage.

Making her tails sharp and hard as steel by coating them with ice, she then uses them as blades to cut down or kill anyone in her way. Hearing other animals' voices in the poacher's base, she and the wolf then rushed to a room that had cages stacked to the ceiling with exotic-looking animals.

Freezing and breaking the last lock, Kc then leads the captured animals to freedom.

"Mister Wolf, you take the rest of the animals to safety, I need to do one last thing before I leave." Kc ordered the wolf before taking off in the opposite direction to where the exit was.

-x-

After the wolf's task was done, he then started searching for the same blond man that he knew was friends with Kc. Sniffing for his scent, the wolf followed where the familiar smell was coming from.

Kid and the rest of his crew jumped a few inches back when a large wolf burst through the frozen floor with a bellowing cry that turned every head in the area. It stopped just outside the area of trees, glowing eyes scanning all over until they landed on Killer.

"Where the hell did this thing even come from? "Kid breathes, then pauses, and notices the blue piece of cloth secured wrapped around the leg of the wild animal. "Is that Kacey's sleeve. Killer, did you 2-?"

"We found him in a trap. Kc used her sleeve to wrap his wound." Killer replies, walking around Kid to approach the Wolf. The growling stopped, and the wolf then licked Killer's mask lightly showing him that he meant no harm. The wolf then leads Killer and the rest of the Kid pirates to where the Poacher's base was located.

Killer had a bad feeling, but this wolf didn't have any point to charge a group of dangerous pirates to seek out one human unless it's something really important.

-x-

"Okay,I think that enough gasoline to make an explosion big enough to destroy this whole building." Kc muttered to herself while pouring gas on the floor that she found in the storage room. Using her cigarette lighter to set it off, she then transformed into her Beast Form and sprinted like crazy so she won't get caught in the explosion.

Jumping out of the door just in the nic of time, the building made a loud boom that shook the island a bit. Smirking at the destruction she had created, Kc didn't even notice her body was caught into a strange substance that made her weak on her knees in an instant.

*What the? Why do I feel so weak, did I really use that much of my powers?* Kc thought to herself as her body started getting weaker and weaker.

"Ha, you shouldn't tell me you were a devil fruit user. This net is coated with sea stone which is known for weakening and taking away anyone's devil fruit abilities." The leader of the poacher stated with all of the sanity lost from him.

"Hey, let her go!" Killer demanded with blades spinning.

"Stop right there, come any closer or I will blow her brains out." The poacher shouted while having Kc at gunpoint.

"How about you point that gun at me." This time it was Kid who spoke up with a large metal arm ready to strike anything and anyone.

"You are quite a trouble-maker aren't you, but don't worry. I'll bail out your sorry ass this time." Kid stated while enjoying the piss and exhausted look on her face.

She then stuck out her tongue. "Get lost, I don't need your stupid help!"

The poacher's jaw was now dislocated after recognizing the familiar red-hair captain with a bounty over 100 million beri. "Eustass Kid, Captain of the Kid Pirates." He managed to stutter out.

"Kill them, men!" The poacher demanded, making a large group of men come out from their hiding spot.

Without even trying Kid easily defeated all of them in an instant with one swing from his metal arm.

"Damn it!" The leader of the poacher cursed loudly before throwing down a smoke-bomb.

"A smokescreen! Shit I let my guard down!" Kid said in an angry tone.

-x-

"Hahaha, looks like I made a clean getaway! . Now, where did I put my climbing rope, I made an escape tunnel at the bottom of this ridge a few years ago."

"Damnit! Let me go, you dumb ass! I'm going to make sure you will have a slow and painful death!" Kc shouted at the top of her lungs.

"Shut up or I will turn you into a rug-! ' Before the poacher could say anything else a purple dagger was now sticking out of his throat.

Holding his throat as he stumbled back, the poacher then fell at the end of the cliff with the net caught around his foot.

"NO!" Both Kid and Killer yells after they leaped onto the hard-stone ground, their fingertips barely brushing the intertwined pieces of rope as it plunges over the cliff.

Easily slipping off the sea prism stone-coated net, she didn't know what to do next. Kc was about 50 meters away from a certain bloody death.

*Damn it, why does this feel like deja vu. But this time there is no water to cushion or any magical portal to save me this time. This is really it, I'm really going to die.*

Kc was confused when a minute had passed and her guts weren't splatter on the ground yet, in fact she was...wait hovering?

Scanning her surroundings to see what had saved her from doom, her eyes widened in amazement when she watched her tails were now spinning like a helicopter.

"Awesome! I can Fly!"

"Hi you guys." Kc greeted them after she flewed back to where her now shocked captain and his first mate was standing.

"Since when can you fly?!" Kid asked in anger but mostly in relief.

"Just now, look what I can do." Kc said before doing a few flips while still in the air.

Feeling tired after losing a large amount of blood and from using too much of her powers, her eyes were fighting to stay open before she crashed into the fiery red-head's arms.

"Ouch! You damn bitch!" Kid scoff while getting up.

-x-

"Now talk, how the hell did you get captured by poachers? And don't you even dare lie your way out of this?" Kid asked with cross arms and an irritated expression on his face.

"I made friends with a wolf after I freed it from a bear trap and knowing it couldn't hunt that well with an injured leg, I brought it a piece of meat and then decided to sleep with it for the night. Then some annoying poachers caught both of us but we escaped from their base without any problems. I even blew up their building into nothing but rubble as payback for shooting me. I'm pretty sure you can figure out the rest." Kc explained with a light shrug like she doesn't have a care in the world.

"You're a lot more trouble than you are really worth, you know that." Kid stated.

She only rolled her eyes. "Like hell I care what you think, don't worry once I get an offer for a record deal you don't have to deal with my shit anymore."

"I can't wait until that day comes, because my hatred toward you just double!" Kid retorted.

"Same here asshole." She shouted before getting hit across the head by Kid.

"Ouch, you're a meanie," KC said with her tongue sticking out.