Star-crossed Island wasn't much different from most of the islands that the Straw Hat Pirates had visited before. A port, villages, plenty of land. Oh…and a forest of telescopes extending over the island like an octopus' tentacles. Ok, so the last part was somewhat different, but all the same, the usual process applied: find a hidden place to port that was still near enough to a village. After all, what sane island would allow a pirate ship to port in plain sight?
"OOOOOH! Urchin! It's a giant urchin!!" Luffy shouted from the prow of the ship, legs straddled over his sheep's head perch with a hand shielding his eyes as he peered out toward the approaching island.
"Oi, Luffy, it's not an urchin! Those are telescopes! See the lenses at the top!" Usopp corrected, pointing toward the centerpiece of the island, the almost comically large scope extending out from a domed building at the highest plateau.
"Ah, so it's a mystery island," Luffy quickly added with a sage nod, arms folded over his head, the response quickly met with a quick chiding hand-chop and an "Oi!" from the sharpshooter.
"Do you know where we can set anchor, Navigator-san?" Robin asked from the upper level of the deck, leaning over the railing with a bag already prepared over her shoulder as the crew prepared for their approach. Of all people, it seemed like Robin might have the most to gain from an island like this, one of fellow scholars. There could even be clues toward a Poneglyph!
"Hrm…" Nami studied the chart of the island carefully, looking around to make sure of safe port. "There should be a low clearing on the eastern side of the island we can drop anchor near. It's not too far from the village and it's hidden by the nearby bluffs." Turning toward the steering room, she shouted, "More to starboard!" A twin grunt of "AYE!" from Sanji and Chopper responded as the two pulled the whipstaff, guiding the ship toward their destination.
And Zoro….
Why do I still have a bad feeling about this? What is it about coming here that worries me so much? he pondered to himself, frowning as he walked up the deck from the stern, arm resting on the pommels of his swords. Staring over the railing toward the island, the felt that unease grow even more in his stomach. Something told him that he'd find little but trouble here on this island. Nothing but…
"Oi, Zoro, what's the matter?" The swordsman nearly fell over as he found Luffy suddenly right in front of him, the captain somehow sneaking up on him (from the front…somehow…) while he was thinking about that gut feeling of his. "You eat something bad or something?"
"Nghh!...Luffy, how the hell…no, I didn't eat anything bad! I…" He started to protest…before he found a foot sailing for the side of his head, a strike he quickly parried with a backhanded swing of his arm.
"YOU INSULTING MY COOKING, MARIMO?!" Sanji shouted, vein throbbing in his head. "Bakayarou!"
"You stay out of this, Magic Eyebrow!"
"You shitty little seaweed!"
"YOU WANT TO FIGHT?!" "YOU WANT TO FIGHT?!" the two of them shouted in unison at each other….before twin fists of justice met their chins, courtesy of Nami.
"You two shut up and calm down. We're already wanted as is, and we don't need to give people any more reason to notice us!!"
"HAI, NAMI-SAAAAN!" Sanji shouted dazedly from his place on the ground, while Zoro twitched, a vein throbbing in HIS head now as he grumbled internally about the navigator.
I'm going to kill that witch someday!
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One Piece:
Memories
By Kryptik
Chapter 2: What is...
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Disclaimer: One Piece and is characters are the property and creation of Mr. Eiichiro Oda and should be treated as such. In other words, I own NO ONE in this story.
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Tashigi didn't like laying in bed…at least, not when it wasn't night time. It just felt wrong…not to mention her horrible tendency to….
"SERGEANT MAJOR!!"
…fall off it and onto her face. Just like right now. It's a good thing she didn't have her glasses on. She doesn't think she could afford to lose her current pair right now, even as close to Star-Crossed as they were. "Owwww….."
"…um, Sergeant Major..., are you ok?" the hapless, somewhat embarrassed marine asked, blinking several times as he looked over the fallen Tashigi.
"Unn…yes, I think so. What is it?" she asked, rubbing her nose, eyes crossing as she did her best to see if it was messed up in any way…which only made her look even more ridiculous than she already did.
"W-we're approaching Star-Crossed Island right now. Captain Smoker wants you out on deck right now."
"Hai…" she said softly, still rubbing her nose as she picked herself off the floor. Sighing, she looked around the room. Shaking her head clear of the cobwebs as the subordinate walked off, she reached up to where her jacket hung on the wall. The next island was likely to be colder than Alubarna was, so she definitely would need it. As she slipped one arm into it, she frowned, remembering the last time she had it on.
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"I said not to get in my way!"
"How many times must you face me before you're satisfied?!"
"Dogs that run away to lick their wounds have no right to speak of justice. That is a rule of this sea. Now why don't you go back to your Marine Headquarters and discuss your justice some more!"
Her leg hyper-extended thanks to one Nico Robin, her sword too far out of reach for her to even dare think of reaching in without some painful crawling, Tashigi felt helpless. She knew that a bomb was going to go off in five minutes. She knew that Nico Robin had the king of the country in her grasp and was kidnapping him off to some unknown location…and she knew that Crocodile, in all his sneering, arrogant glory, had gone off to meet his accomplice for some unknown ends. And yet, all she could do was lie there, helpless and hopeless. She couldn't do anything. She could help save this country. She could help stop Crocodile or Baroque Works. She couldn't do anything. Was this Justice? Was there nothing she could do?
After much straining, much pain and blurred vision, she finally reached her beloved Shigure. Her leg, though still paining her, was able to at least support her a little as she rose up onto her knees. Just then, she saw a figure in red, with shaggy black hair. Even if he wasn't wearing his trademark, she knew who it was.
"Straw Hat!"
"Which way'd he go?! That Croc?!" he asks, huffing, anger in his eyes. Tashigi was taken aback by the passion of the fatigued man, one of the most wanted pirates in the world…and then, Cobra's words echoed in her head, reminding her of the bomb.
A million lives at stake. And now him. What can I…what can I…
She knew she couldn't take on Nico Robin…and Crocodile was even further out of the question. Taking on the Straw Hat was possibly a better fight, but even in her current state…and yet, despite being a pirate, despite being a known and unabashed criminal…he seemed to be the one most intent on defeating the Shichibukai member. And at this point…he might be the only one who could reach him and beat him….his arrogant, mocking laugh, his superior, self-serving, EVIL…
"Tell me! Where did that Croc go?!"
His anger was only met with narrowed eyes…she knew this was against everything a Marine should stand for. She knew that this man was a wanted pirate, and she had to do everything in her power to arrest him and see that Absolute Justice was paid in full. And yet…she couldn't ignore the crisis. She couldn't ignore the fact that unless someone did SOMETHING, a million people would die, and a country…possibly the WORLD would be thrown into chaos. With a heavy heart, Shigure fell from her grasp, rolling in front of her….and in silence, she pointed the way.
"Toward the Tomb area…"
"That way? Thanks!!"
As Straw Hat Luffy ran off full clip for a showdown with Crocodile, Tashigi was left alone, with thirty unconscious Marines. Her teeth gritted, a sob escaped from her throat…before her head dropped to the ground, her hand grasping weakly at the soil before her, etching grooves into the ground as she clenched her fist.
"What justice….what Marine Headquarters?!"
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What justice….what IS justice? Tashigi thought to herself. She used to be so sure of what she thought was justice. Even if she took to her own brand of justice, much like her Captain, her faith in that justice was shattered at Alubarna. Not only was she too weak to do anything but order her troops to guide the Straw Hats to where the bomb was and gather up the rest of the low level Baroque Works members, but she had to entrust her faith and the fate of a country to PIRATES. PIRATES. Pirates saved the country of Alabasta, while she and her marines could do nothing but assist them.
Is Justice truly only for the strong? I can't believe that. I can't…what kind of world is it where only the strong can survive, and the weak, used or killed? She had to find out what justice meant. What it meant to her. If she couldn't find out what her justice she call herself a Marine? Could she call herself a swordswoman? Could she call herself anything?
"TASHIGI!!" came the shout from outside, the ever familiar bellow of the White Hunter himself., the call surprising her enough that she crashed into the wall where Shigure was held, the sword popping out of its stand and dropping onto her chest.
...You'll help me, Shigure. We'll find our justice together, she thought, closing her eyes before finally standing up to meet her captain out on deck, thoughts of Alubarna, Headquarters, and of course Roronoa racing through her head as she stepped from her quarters.
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"Ehhhhh?"
He doesn't know how he got here…he doesn't know how the town just disappeared…and the Merry…and the rest of the crew. All Zoro knows is that somehow, he managed to find himself on some secluded area of the island. No signs, no roads, no buildings, just sand, rocks, trees, and water. "The hell?"
"ROAAAAAARR!"
Not to mention a rather large cross between what seems to be a bear and a jungle cat, rising up on hind legs with sharp claws intent on shredding the swordsman to ribbons.
"…hrmph. At least I'll have food to bring back when I find those lost idiots," he said to himself, teeth gritted and eyes focused as he reached for Yubashiri, steel flashing as he rushed the Bear-Cat, his other hand going for his Kitetsu as the first sword is drawn.
"Nitouryuu….TAKANAMI!!"
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…to be continued.