Chapter 81: Vivi's Past
They arrived at the town to find it was devoid of life, in ruins just like the other town.
"This is horrible!" said Ino.
"Where's the water?" asked Luffy.
"The sand is accumulated, the desert is taking over." Said Vivi.
That's when noticed person an old man digging in the sand.
"Travelers from your journey, I'm sorry but Yuba is all dried up." Said the old man, "But stay, we still have our many inns, we're famous for our hospitality."
"Um we heard the Rebels were here." Said Vivi.
The old man got angry and began to throw things at them.
"What are you doing!" yelled Ino glaring at the old man.
"Oh you don't want to join then." Said the old man, "Those fools… they left here a long time ago."
"What!" yelled everyone.
"That was wasn't the first sand storm here. Three years ago the city began to dry up. The desert is at war with Yuba and little by little the town is losing ground. When the city ran out of water rebels left and moved their base to Katorea." Explained the old man.
"Katorea!" cried Vivi.
"Is that close Vivi?" asked Luffy.
"It's an oasis near Nanohana." Said Vivi.
"Nanohana!" yelled everyone else.
"We came all this way for nothing!" yelled Naruto.
"Did you say Vivi?" asked the old man.
"No… no… Vivi's not a Princess or anything!" yelled Luffy.
Zoro began to use Usopp to hit Luffy while Sakura pounded Luffy into the ground.
"IS that really you Princess Vivi?" asked the old man.
The old and left the hole he was digging then he grabbed Vivi… in joy…
"Oh Vivi! I'm so glad you're still alive. Well you don't recognize me, I guess I lost a little weight." Said the old man.
That's when Vivi did recognize him, "Old Toto?" asked Vivi.
"Old Toto?" asked Luffy.
"That's right Vivi." Said the old man.
Vivi gasped and was about to cry.
"Wait… I think I remember them…" said Ino.
"Don't worry, I know that the king would never betray his kingdom." Said the old man named Toto, "The rebellion is idiocy! Please Vivi stop them… only you can be the one stop them…"
Both Ino and Vivi looked at Toto remembering something form the past.
(Flashback)
A 5 year old Vivi along with a 3 year old Ino were in the hall of the palace with two other little kids, on was a rather chubby boy and the other was a lazy looking boy with black hair, they were Choji and Shikamaru. Oh and really small Carue was with them. That's when a boy who was crying ran past them.
"You crybaby…" said Vivi to the boy.
"Oh this is going to end well…" said the lazy boy who was Shikamaru who then yawned.
Not too long later Vivi and the three children of the guards stood before the king and Igaram… it should be pointed out that Vivi was beaten up.
"I got into a fight and I lost…" said Vivi.
"What!" yelled Igaram and the king.
"How dare you three! You're supposed to protect her!" yelled Igaram.
"We're 3 years old." Answered Shikamaru.
"He was bigger than us." Said Choji.
"Well that maybe!" yelled Igaram.
"They're being weird again…" said Ino.
"Let's just go outside." Said Shikamaru.
With that the three younger children ignored the overreacting adults and went to go play outside.
A few days later, in some ruins outside of the capital, Vivi once again challenge the boy whose name was Kohza to a fist fight. All the kids from the city had gathered to watch the fight, most of the boys cheered for Kohza, most of the girls cheered for Vivi…
"All right you can do it Vivi! You can beat him last time! Go for it!" yelled Ino as loud as she could, getting looks from the other kids.
"Ino… you're doing it again…" sighed Choji standing next to her.
Ino sweat dropped…
Both of them heard snoring… they saw that Shikamaru fell asleep…
"Hey wake up! You already had the nap today!" yelled Ino.
"Mommy… stop yelling… I'll get up in 10 minutes…" said Shikamaru who went back to sleep.
Both of them sweat dropped decided to turn back to the fight… which ended in a draw and the two making peace.
"All right! From this day forward Vivi is the 2nd in command of the Sand San Band!" called out Kohza.
The other kids cheered… expect for Shikamaru who muttered "Troublesome" in his sleep. That's when they noticed that Igaram and the King were watching them.
"Vivi… your dad needs a hobby." Said Ino.
Vivi could only sweat drop at the sight.
And so Vivi hung out with Kohza just about every day, the two of them became the best of friends.
One day when Vivi went to play with him, alongside Ino, Shikamaru and Choji. That's when two men showed up.
"Well, is it's the little Princess." Said one of the men.
Vivi flinched… that's when the other children showed up and attacked the men.
"Vivi they're after you! Get out of here!" yelled Kohza.
"What…" said Vivi.
That's when Ino grabbed her hand…
"Come on Ino-Shika-Cho Trio! Let's go protect Vivi!" yelled Ino.
"Who made you boss?" asked Shikamaru with a sweat drop.
Vivi stood there frozen as watched as her friends stopped them.
"Protect her with your life Sand Sand Band!" yelled Kohza.
That's when another man grabbed Vivi from behind. Choji managed to kick him in the shin… with Ino leading the way, Vivi, Shikamaru and Choji ran while the other kids held off the kidnapers.
The 4 of them hid in some nearby ruins.
"You think they'll find us?" asked Choji.
That's when one of the men jumped down from a wall… well morel like fell off the wall. And that's when Kohza appeared with a bat in hand protecting her.
"Chief!" cried Vivi.
"You know you should make grown up mad little kid!" said the man, "Just hand over the Princess and no one gets hurt."
"No way I'm not scared of that!" yelled Kohza.
"Kohza stop! Please!" cried Vivi.
Kohza ran towards the man with his bat… the man managed to cut Kohza near the eye while Kohza at the same time managed to knock him. Kohza fell to his knees in pain.
"Kohza…" whispered Vivi.
More men showed up… that's when the King and Igaram showed up beat them… yes… the king was beating them… and continued to kick them even after they were knocked out.
"Father Igaram!" cried Vivi.
"I don't think you should be kicking them anymore… they're dead…" said Shikamaru.
And so the kidnapping was stopped… even though Kohza was injured… Fortunately he received treatment.
Days later, at the palace, Kohza was giving the Princess and the future guards interesting news.
"Yuba?" asked Vivi.
"Yes, your father spoke to mine about it…" said Kohza.
"He did?" asked Vivi.
"Yes, right now it's an uninhabited oasis. Your father asked my father to build a city there." Said Kohza, "A lot of travelers got though there. It's the cross roads for the entire western desert. A city there would help a lot of people. Isn't that great?"
"Will you be going too?" asked Vivi.
"Yes! I know building an entire city won't be easy! But I'll do my part!" said Kohza.
"Oh that's too bad." Said Ino, "You and Vivi make a cute couple."
The older children began to blush, while Shikamaru asked, "Do you even know what that means?"
"No… but I heard our moms talking about something like that…" said Ino which made everyone sweat drop.
Days later, Vivi, the king, and her friends were saying good-bye to Kohza and his father Toto.
"I am counting on you Toto." Said the king.
"Yes my king, I will build a magnificent city for you." Answered Toto.
"You three take care of Vivi!" said Kohza to the three.
"All right!" said Ino.
"Okay!" said Choji.
"…" said Shikamaru, "Whatever…"
The last one made Kohza sweat drop…
And so the two friends parted ways…
(End of Flashback)
"I have faith in the king, and so most of the subjects. I stopped them many times. But I couldn't ever talk them out of it." Cried Toto, "They're exhausted and are backed into the corner. The next battle will decide everything! Please Princess Vivi! Stop those fools!"
Vivi sighed and took out a handkerchief.
"Good old Toto, please don't' worry." Said Vivi, "I'm going to stop the rebellion."
"Thank you…" sobbed Toto.
The Straw Hats looked at the old man… knowing that thing have gotten slightly more complicated… and Ino knew now, that Vivi had a much deep connection to this rebellion.
Next Time: Baroque Works meeting is held, they orders are given and the Kazekage learns about Naruto is helping Vivi! What are Gaara's ties to Naruto? And how is this related to the person following the Straw Hats? Meanwhile Luffy changes his minds about stopping the rebellion! What will happen? Find out next time!