The smell of food entices Nami to leave her safe haven empty storage cabin. She sneaks out slowly, her guard up and alert. She can not forget that she is trapped on a Pirate ship. But in her solitude, she was forced to think about the conversation Izuku had with her. And it is unbelievable that there would be a pirate crew that is compassionate enough to save two 5-year-old brats from the marines. And she is shaken at the idea that the Marines would hunt a child, just because of who their parents may or may not be.
She thinks of Bellemere, the woman who retired from the marines and took her and her two sisters in. And she doesn't want to believe that the woman she viewed as a mother, was part of an organization that would condemn innocent children. She shakes her head, Izuku must be lying, he is a pirate, so it is possible. It's possible that Izuku just wants her to put her guard down, so they can take advantage of her.
But then a small part of her twinges in curiosity, the teen is obviously strong. So if he really was ruthless, why didn't he kill her the moment he knew she was uninvited on his ship? If this teen really was like other Pirate Crews, she has had experience with, he would have done some truly awful things to her. She shakes the thought out of her head, it doesn't bode to think about that. The Pirate captain left her alone, and none of the teen's crew has come to bother her. So at least the crew listens to the captain.
As she makes her way through the hallway, she is careful not to run into any of the crew. As she approaches the door that leads to the deck she opens it slowly, not wanting to draw the crew's attention to her. The crew seems to be lounging around on deck, seemingly at ease. The captain is nowhere to be found; she still doesn't know how the teen located her so fast. She figures this is her best chance to get out on the deck and try to raid the kitchen for any untainted food.
She makes a run for it, her heart raced in her chest at the thought of being caught. As she is running, she realizes she has no idea where the kitchen is. And she panics as she is out in the open, there is so many people out here for an unmarked Pirate crew. A hand lands on her shoulder and she freezes for a moment, she lashes out, kicking and elbowing behind her. Her elbow connects with the person behind her and a small oof sound escapes her assailant.
"Nami?" A familiar voice calls out to her.
Against her will, she starts to relax and take in her surroundings. She glances to the side and sees Izuku's smiling face. And she returns the smile with a cold glare, "don't touch me!"
Izuku removes his hand from her shoulder and bows apologetically, "Sorry, you were panicking, and I tried to call for you, but you didn't respond, so I thought maybe you would come out of your panic if someone you know approached you." He breaks off in a fit of nervous muttering.
Nami glares at the teen, "what do you want?"
A blush rises on Izuku's face, "I was gonna show you where the kitchens are, so you could get something to eat."
Nami continues to glare at the teen but relents with a nod and allows Izuku to show her where the kitchen is. So Izuku steps away from the girl and starts to walk off towards the direct Nami came from. He leads her into the Kitchen and walks up to a blond with swirly eyebrows, "Sanji," Izuku calls gaining the man's attention.
Sanji hums as he continues to prep some sort of meal, "What is it, Izuku?"
Izuku smiles, "Nami is hungry, can you make her something to hold her over until dinner."
Sanji nods willing to please the beautiful lady in front of him, "mademoiselle, what can I get started for you?" And Nami is sure his eyes turn into hearts and his legs go noodle-y as he flits around the kitchens.
Nami hums and decides to use Sanji's easy acceptance to her advantage, she blushes slightly, "do you have tangerines?" Sanji nods, hearts still in his eyes. Nami smiles demonically, "I'll have some honey chicken with a tangerine strawberry creamsicle smoothie"
Sanji doesn't notice the demonic smile coming from the girl as he excitedly starts to work on the food. She sits down at the bar-like table and prepares to watch the man cook her food, making sure he doesn't add anything that will harm her.
Izuku sits down a couple of seats away from her, but still close enough that if she wanted to talk to him, she could. But she has nothing to say to a filthy pirate, so she ignores him. She just wishes he would leave her alone. But to her great annoyance, he still sits in his spot staring at the table. So she glares at the captain, "What are you still doing here?"
Izuku continues to study the marble-like counter, "well you are gonna be stuck here for a few days, and it is not my intention for you to feel like you need to sneak around. I want to know what you are interested in… you must be a good navigator to be at sea on your own."
Against her better judgment she perks up in pride, "you wouldn't find a better navigator than me!"
"Is that so?" Izuku smiles softly.
Nami blushes as she realizes her outburst, "navigation skills, well, there are not a lot of people who know more about it than I do."
Izuku hums noncommittedly, "I see. Being a navigator is a useful skill. I know quite a bit about it myself."
Nami snorts disbelievingly, "can you tell when the weather is going to change based on the subtle changes in pressure and moisture around you?"
Izuku's tails and ears twitch involuntarily, "kinda. I can sense storms miles before they would be a problem."
Nami stares at the teen incredulously, "How?"
Izuku hums and puts a finger to his chin, "when I was younger, I ate a Devil Fruit." He points to his ears.
"Devil Fruit?" Nami asks, "I thought they were a myth."
"Nope," Izuku smiles, "I ate an ancient Zoan fruit: Model spirit wolf Named Fuji. I have the instincts and the abilities of a wolf… but amplified by like 100 times."
"I don't believe you," Nami denies.
Izuku shrugs, "well I would offer to transform, but my full wolf form is too much for the ship." And then Izuku snorts, "There is hardly any threats in the East Blue that would require me to use Fuji's full force."
Nami mutters something under her breath, a strike of fear piercing through her, "I doubt it."
Izuku tunes into Nami's emotions, it's obvious she is running from something she feels is too strong to risk anyone's help. But Izuku would be a very terrible wolf and hero if didn't at least try. "So Nami?"
"What," Nami asks coldly.
"Why do you want to buy an island?" Izuku asks curiously.
He senses the moment she pulls up false bravado, "I'm going to buy an island and live out the rest of my life filthy rich!"
Izuku nods hearing what she is not saying, the conviction to buy the Island is real, but the reasons for it are false. So recklessly Izuku comes to a decision, "I have a proposition for you if you're interested."
Nami glares, "What is it?"
"Be one of my Navigators, not as part of my crew, but let's say unaffiliated help," Izuku suggests.
Nami's eyes shine with interest, "What's in it for me?"
Izuku smirks, "I'm pretty strong, so we can take down higher priority Pirates and bounties. I give you half of the loot until you have enough to buy your island."
"That's all?" Nami asks suspiciously.
Izuku leans back in his chair and faces the ceiling, "well yea, I mean I could give you the money now, I have enough. But you're stuck with us for the time being, and my Navigator could use the extra help. While he knows the theory behind it, this is his first time putting it into practice. He doesn't know how to look out for changes in weather, or currents."
"So you want to pay me to what? Teach your Navigator his job?" Nami asks because this opportunity sounds too good to be true.
Izuku nods, "and when we get the amount of money you need, I'll take you to whatever island you want."
Nami hums in thought but doesn't say anything more on the matter, Sanji takes the break in the conversation to place Nami's meal in front of the girl. Izuku sighs and stands up, "I don't need your answer right now, just think about it." He turns to walk away to busy himself with the duties of being Captain.
Nami nibbles on her food, suddenly not hungry anymore, but she knows the importance of eating regular foods while in the open water, so she forces herself. Izuku's proposition keeps playing in her mind. If she accepts the deal she is guaranteed to be protected by the crew, and all she has to do is give the Navigator tips. On the other hand, if that crew finds out she is working with another crew they might not be strong enough to protect her. Can a few teens really be strong enough to fight against the might of the Fishmen? The Fishmen are said to be at least 10 times stronger than the average human.
But Izuku's easy takedown of Alvida, the way he presents himself, maybe he will stand a chance against the Fishmen. Izuku said there is hardly anyone in the east blue that would require his full strength, but he could be boasting his own power. Nami doesn't know. It wouldn't be the first time a pirate crew lied to her.
After taking some time to think, but not getting anywhere in her thoughts she finishes her meal and steps out onto the deck. She decided she will have to see for herself if they are as strong as Izuku says they are. And it's not like she can leave, her tiny ship was left attached to the cruise ship while she was trying to rob this ship. So her way out is long gone.
Another teen with Ash blond hair and red eyes makes his way to her, she freezes as the teen approaches. His piercing red eyes seem to glare at her, and she gulps, "do you know where I can find Izuku?"
He grunts nonverbally and signals Nami to follow him, he leads her to the stairs leading to the bridge. He opens the door and stomps inside, "Nerd, the stowaway is looking for you." His voice is low and rumbling, powerful and protective.
Izuku perks up from his talk with a red-and-white-haired teen, "Nami? Why?" Izuku asks, the ash-blond shrugs, he doesn't seem like the type for many words. Izuku smiles softly at the teen, "Thanks, Kacchan."
Kacchan grumbles something under his breath and stomps to sit on a comfortable-looking couch. Nami looks at the teen, he has a small blush on his cheeks, and the tail she is just now noticing is swaying slightly. She can't tell if it is from embarrassment or irritation. She tries to hold her chuckles in, but she fails, and she covers her mouth with her hand. Kacchan growls and flushes a deeper shade of red.
Izuku draws attention to himself, "hey Nami, what can I do for you?"
Nami sobers up a bit, "I figured since I'm stuck here, I'll take you up on your offer."
Izuku's eyes brighten, and his smile widens, "Really? That's great!" he moves to get up, seems like he wants to touch her again. But Nami steps back causing Izuku's ears to droop and a small whine to escape his throat. He straightens himself out after a couple of seconds and turns his bright green eyes to Nami, "Come let me introduce you to my Navigators and Helmsmen."
Nami nods and follows Izuku to the table he was previously at, she looks down at the table and notices several maps spread out. One is of what looks like the east blue, but a more detailed map than she has ever seen. Another is a close-up of the Grandline's entrance, the exact map she was looking for before she got herself into this mess. And the largest map is a detailed map of the Grandline. Mounted to the table are several different instruments, she recognizes the compass. But the other two spin erratically and she doesn't know what they are.
"What is this?" She points at a ball with a spinning arrow in it.
Izuku hums, "This is a log pose. Compasses do not work in the Grandline. The special magnetic waves produced from each island in the Grandline make it so a normal compass wouldn't be able to lock onto a single island. This is a standard log pose." He points at one that points off into a random direction, definitely not magnetic north. "This is an eternal Log pose; it is locked to a specific Island. In this case, it is locked onto Whitebeard's main port. This one is locked onto Shanks' main port." And he points to a log pose that has three arrows spinning wildly, "This is the upgraded version of the standard log pose, it is capable of locking onto three magnetic fields at a time. Typically used for traveling in the new world."
Nami narrows her eyes, "How do you know so much about the Grandline and the New World?"
Izuku stares at her, "because I have been there before."
"Then why are you in the East blue?" Nami asks.
"Because I promised Yasopp, I'd find his son. And I promised Sanji, I would return him home to the Baratie." Izuku sighs, "There are people I need to rescue."
"Rescue?"
Izuku nods but leaves it at that. He quickly changes the subject to introducing the other teens around him, "This is Shoto, my navigator. And Sabo my helmsman." He points at the respective teens, "Over there is Ace, he is the leader of my gunners." He points at a black-haired teen sitting and watching the radar screen. Off to the side bent over a desk and looking to be going over logbooks are two teens, "the red-haired teen with the tail is Gaara. And the teen next to him is Shikamaru. They are my quartermasters; their job is to keep records of everything on the ship and report to me when we are low on something." And then Izuku's face goes soft as he points to the ash blond, "That's Kacchan, my partner, my first mate."
Kacchan growls menacingly, "Fucking Nerd! I told you to stop introducing me like that."
Izuku chuckles at Kacchan's fury, so the Ash Blond sag and gives up. He sulks for a moment before he turns glaring red eyes onto Nami, "My name is Katsuki Bakugo."
If Nami had no will to survive she probably would have called him Kacchan just to see him rage, but she likes living so she nods, "Katsuki."
Katsuki nods and continues to sit on the couch content just to watch others on the bridge. Izuku smiles warmly at the other teen before he fixes his gaze on Nami. "I'll introduce the rest of the crew at dinner."
Nami nods, appreciating Izuku for not overwhelming her with new people. As grateful as she is for Izuku's perceptiveness, she would never thank a pirate. So she turns her gaze to the maps, "Where are we headed?"
"Gecko Islands," Izuku states with finality, "Usopp is there, and we need to pick him up."
Nami nods, out of habit she checks her position, speed, and direction of travel. She checks the sky to see if there are any changes in the expected weather, satisfied she turns to Sabo, "Sabo shift our direction two degrees eastward." Izuku raises an eyebrow, and Nami blushes, "there is a current ahead that we can use to get us to the islands faster. If we stay on our charted course, we will miss the current and we won't get to the island until after dark. If we hit the current…" She pauses to check the time, it is just about to hit noon, "…we should make port in 4 hours."
Izuku nods, "I see, Sabo, change our course two degrees eastward."
Sabo follows the order immediately, making sure the ship stays on its course. In only a few minutes the speed of the ship increases as it is picked up by a powerful current. Nami hums, "This current goes right between Gecko Islands and this one." She points at the Island labeled Island of Rare Animals.
"I see thank you Nami." Izuku smiles at the girl.
Nami blushes slightly and then glares down at the map. There is not much time before she is supposed to report to the Arlong Pirates. And her Island is getting closer, all her treasure that was on her boat is gone with the Cruise ship, and she only has about 15,000,000 beli saved up. It has taken her 8 years to gather that much on her own. She doesn't know how Izuku is going to help her with getting the rest.
Izuku calls out to her, "Nami come with me for a second?"
Nami glares at the teen.
Izuku smiles disarmingly, "I want to show you something."
Nami raises an eyebrow, "What is it?"
Izuku hums, "Something I think will help you."
Intrigued she follows Izuku out of the bridge. Izuku walks to one of the females and whispers something in her ear. The girl nods and bolts away to do whatever it is Izuku asked her to do. He continues to walk, going below deck to the areas where he found Nami. And Nami feels nervous because how can anything down here help her. Izuku stops in front of a door, "While you were eating, I started to unpack some of my things." He brushes his hand over a mark on the door before he opens it, he leads Nami into the room.
Nami's eyes bulge out, this is more treasure than she has ever seen in her life, "Why did you bring me here?"
Izuku sits down on the floor, eyes looking past his treasure, and he whines a little in his throat, "Nami my wolf allows me to read people's souls, their deepest fears and secrets. When we met this morning, sure you were on guard facing a stranger. But once I told you I'm a pirate, hatred, rage, guilt, sadness, and fear-filled your soul. When I asked you what you needed the money for, your conviction to buy your Island was true, but your reasons for it are a lie." Izuku turns his bright green eyes toward the girl.
"You don't know anything," Nami whispers coldly. "All pirates think the same, coming to islands, taking what they want. Doing what they want with no regard to anyone but themselves!" Izuku nods as he listens to her, "Even though you are a good person…" she has tears running down her face, "Pirates stole the life of someone who was precious to me, I hate pirates more than anything!"
"I see," Izuku hums, "you could never be a pirate. You lack the will."
Nami huffs, "Lack the will? Wonder what that is… is it killing innocent people like insects?" She glares coldly at Izuku, "Is that the will of a Pirate?"
Izuku growls, "No, it's not." He takes a breath to settle his rage that someone hurt the woman. "It's the idea of being strong enough to risk your life for what is important to you." A knock sounds in the room, and the girl Izuku whispered to before steps in and hands something to Izuku. Izuku smiles sadly, "thanks, TenTen."
The girl bows and leaves the two teens to their conversation. Izuku holds the roll of papers fiddling with the packet. "I told you I was in the Grandline before,"
Nami nods, eyebrow raised in confusion as to what that has to do with being a pirate and the will to put your life on the line.
"Do you remember what I told you my reasons for being a pirate are?" Izuku asks quietly.
Nami thinks back, "Something to do with the corruption in the Marines?"
Izuku sighs, "A few months ago, I had a vision of sorts, another power of having a God bound to my soul." He chuckles a bit and ignores the gasp from the girl behind him. "Anyways I had a vision of the destruction of not only my homeworld but several others. In my vision, the only way we saved my world was to convince certain people from the other world to help me. When I gathered enough information, I took a small group to the Grandline to start my search. We traveled here using a villains Devil Fruit, he sent us to Marine Ford so Ace and Luffy could be captured for the Crimes their fathers made. We landed in a war, Marco was on the execution platform, Whitebeard glaring down on the full force of the Marines. I recognized Marco from my visions, and I knew I could leave his survival to chance. So my team fought with the old man, the Marines found out Ace and Luffy were part of my group and started to attack them because of the sin of being born. We managed to fight off the Marines, saved Marco from execution, and we were just going to escape when Akainu Killed Ace." Something sad bubbles out of him as he remembers almost losing his brother, "Well he would have died if it wasn't for Fuji. The wolf is the God of life, my fire heals, and can pretty much heal anything except cure illness. In some cases, I can bring people back to life."
"Like zombies?!" Nami screeches.
Izuku chuckles slightly, "No, like a defibrillator but infinitely more powerful. I can see souls as long as the soul doesn't pass on, I can revive the body. But there is a time limit, a soul stays on this plane for a maximum of two hours before they move on to the afterlife. The only exceptions are death because of illness and old age the soul passes on immediately, and if the person commits suicide they can get lost in the void. They are banned from passing on, so if they don't tether themselves to something, they will be lost in the void. It is nearly impossible to bring back a soul that has been lost." Izuku recites, "Anyways souls that I revive continue life as if they never died."
"I see," Nami mumbles. "But what does this have to do with the Will of a pirate?"
Izuku smiles sadly, "I was enraged when I saw Akainu standing over the fallen body of my brother. He was going to kill my entire pack while they were grieving for Ace. I unleashed all my power and ended up killing him."
Nami gasps, "You killed an admiral?!"
Izuku nods, "I don't regret killing him, it was him or my pack." A fire lights in his eyes as he growls out, "I'll burn the world down myself if it would keep my pack safe."
Nami shivers at the conviction rumbling in Izuku's chest, "so keeping your Pack safe is your will of the Pirate?"
"That is part of it, I suppose." Izuku inhales, "I'm not really I pirate, this is not really a pirate crew. Not exactly anyways. See my homeworld doesn't have pirates or Marines, instead, we have Heroes and Villains. We are all Heroes, well training to be. But because of our appearance in the Grandline before, me opposing the Marines and preventing them from murdering my brothers, and killing Akainu, made it impossible not to be a pirate." He hands Nami the pile of papers, "those are our bounties and the newspaper from the war if you don't believe me."
Nami opens the roll of papers studying the bounty posters that were handed to her, she reads the paper and gasps at the image of the boy she met upstairs laying face down in a pool of his own blood, several people surround the body. She recognizes Shoto, the grief in his eyes heartbreaking, Katsuki is crying, and there is a boy screaming his sorrow to the sky. Akainu looms above the grieving kids, readying his next attack. But apparently, Izuku prevented that from happening, because she has seen all these teens, including the apparently dead Ace. She flips through the bounty posters, "you're worth a billion beli?!"
Izuku nods, "That's why I told you nothing in the East Blue would require my full strength." He sighs, "I want to help you, whatever crew hurt you, is still hurting you. And say you make the money to buy back your Island, how do you know for sure the Pirates would keep their word?"
Nami shakes her head, "He gave me his word, we have a deal. He wouldn't do that."
Izuku hums, "He might not have to."
Nami looks up at Izuku eyes teary and vulnerable, "What do you mean?"
Izuku shrugs, "It's just a hunch, but I have learned to never ignore them. I don't think he will betray you himself. But he can make certain events happen, that would prevent you from completing your end of the deal. I'm saying he could have someone else do it, a tip to the Marines that there is stolen property on the Island. He could buy off another crew to attack you and rob you, he makes the money, and you can never fulfill your end of the deal."
Nami huffs a breath, "he wouldn't be breaking his word, and I wouldn't be able to prove it. In fact, that same scenario has already happened before. I have spent 8 years collecting money and I got close to it, but I was attacked by a group of no names, and everything was gone. I had to start over."
Izuku pulls the crying girl into a hug, she doesn't fight him off. "Nami, do you think this pirate crew is stronger than the admirals?"
Nami's breath hitches, "But they're Fishman, they are 10 times stronger than average humans."
Izuku smirks dangerously, "Fishmen you say? Humm, any relation to Jimbe?"
Nami's eyes go wide as that name leaves Izuku's tongue. "He's supposedly their captain, he is a warlord of the sea, so they are granted immunity from the government."
Izuku hums and pulls something out from one of the piles next to him, he holds a device out to Nami, "put this on, we are going to have a little chat with a warlord."
Nami shakily puts on the headset, Izuku pushes a button to turn it on. "Old Man!"
The booming voice of Whitebeard crackles on the other end, "Brat!"
Izuku's voice hardens, "Whitebeard, I need to know if Jimbe is close to you?"
Another crackle sounds on the other end, "Izuku?"
"Jimbe, are you aware there is a crew of fishmen terrorizing an island in the East Blue." Izuku growls, "They are using your status as a warlord to enslave an Island of civilians."
"Arlong?" Jimbe sighs. "I did not know that is what he was doing. I have not been to the east blue in some time."
"I have someone on my ship that has told me that the fishmen made a deal with her that she could buy back her Island. But every time she has gotten close to the agreed-upon amount, it mysteriously goes missing." Izuku growls.
"If I leave now, I can be in the East Blue in a week. I can deal with them." Jimbe responds.
"That won't be necessary, I'll deal with them myself," Izuku commands.
"Why? I can deal with it; he will listen to me." Jimbe tries to argue.
"He made my navigator cry," Izuku warns a protective edge in his voice, "I am only giving you a courtesy call, because of your relation to the Old Man and Shanks. But Fishmen or not, I'll make him pay."
Jimbe sighs on the other end, "So be it, do what you have to do." He grumbles, "I warned him this would happen."
"I'm sorry Jimbe," Izuku states solemnly.
Jimbe grumbles out something on the other end and hangs up. Izuku turns to Nami, "I've got Jimbe's permission to deal with Arlong. Let me help you."
Nami chokes down on a sob, "but I… you… don't know me! Why are you helping me? Tell me why! Is it so you can force me to be on your crew?! Are you no better than Arlong, but even more powerful that no one will be able to stop you?!"
"You are right in a way," Izuku states quietly. Nami glares horrified at the teen. "I do plan on making you mine, but not in the same way as Arlong." Nami makes a confused sound, "I'm a wolf, Nami. Fuji and I are one, once I felt your pain, and heard your story. I want to make you mine, I need people to protect, to be strong for, to comfort. So you are right in a way that no one will be able to stop me from making you, my pack!"
"Pack?" Nami squeaks out.
"Like a wolf pack, everyone on this ship is my pack," Izuku states seriously. He points out to the piles of glittering gold and Jewels, "this treasure, this money, and gold, it is mostly meaningless to me. My treasure is my pack. And it's simple enough to restock our stores. So if I can help you buy your freedom, then why shouldn't I? And if Arlong keeps to his word and allows you to go free without me interfering, then it's settled. But if he goes back on his word, hurts you, or makes you cry any more tears, I'll put him so far into the ground he is going to wish he stayed in the ocean!"
Nami is so overwhelmed with emotions, but Izuku just pulls her into a hug and lets her cry it out. They stay like that for several long moments, it is impossible to know how much time has passed. But eventually, Nami's cries stop as she falls asleep. Izuku wraps her in his flames to further comfort her and lifts her in a bridal carry. He walks out of the cabin and uses his flames to reseal the door. His expression is thunderous as he thinks about what Arlong has done to this girl. He walks up to the deck and brings Nami to the Bridge, there is a couple of comfy couches in the room. So Izuku gently places her on one of the couches. He whispers to Shoto to keep an eye on her and to flare his presence if she starts to wake.
Katsuki drags his thunderous soulmate out of the bridge and to the back of the deck, far enough away from everyone that they have a bit of privacy, "What's wrong, Nerd?"
Izuku growls out what happened in the treasury, his eyes promise pain to the crew that hurt Nami. And Katsuki can already tell Izuku has claimed her. Izuku tells him about his talk with Jimbe and the permission he received to deal with the Arlong Pirates. Katsuki listens his own rage building and simmering inside him. He agrees with Izuku's plan, they will let Nami try to deal with the situation peacefully on her own, but they will be there to lend their power to her in case her way doesn't work.
Ace interrupts their moment, "Shoto said we are approaching the next Island, we will be at the docks in about 15 minutes."
"Thanks, Ace," Izuku nods.
Ace studies them for a moment, "What happened?"
Izuku shakes his head, "I'll tell everyone when we leave this Island. Don't worry about it for now."
Ace nods, "alright." He retreats back to the bridge. Izuku and Katsuki spend the next fifteen minutes trying to calm their rage. Izuku's rage simmers just below the surface when the ship is close enough to dock. It is such a small island that they do not have a dock, or even a deep enough inlet that they can drop anchor
"I'm going to have to shift and bring us to the coast," Izuku states. "Some of you need to guard the Ship."
After some deliberation, it has been decided that only devil fruit users and the people who can't use chakra fly on Izuku. The ninja uses their water walk to run across the water. Zoro stays on the ship to guard, along with Law, Kakashi, Iruka, and Aizawa. Izuku hears commotion coming from the village and perks his ears up.
"The pirates are coming! The Pirates are coming!"
The person or people shouting sound happy, with a slight inflection of innocent mischief. So Izuku concludes that whoever is shouting that they are here, did not actually sense them coming, they are just playing a practical joke on the villagers, no matter how true it might be. Izuku lands on the beach, Fuji wants to run around and play, and Izuku feels guilty that he won't be able to at the moment. But he promises the giant puppy that he will get his chance to play and run around when they get to a less populated island.
He senses a small presence radiating fear on top of the cliff overlooking the beach, but before he can shift and calm the child, they run off screaming into the village. Izuku sighs as he shifts, well, there's nothing he can do about it now.
The rest of the ninjas makes it to shore all sighing relieved breaths, "woo who it's been a while since we were on land!" Kaminari cheers.
The others nod their agreements, Ashido cheers, "We should have a beach party!"
Katsuki grunts out that he is surrounded by idiots but blushes and turns his head away at Izuku's exaggerated hurt look, "Not you, Nerd!"
Izuku smiles blindingly, "Aww Kacchan." While pouncing on the other teen bringing them to the soft sandy ground. Izuku imitates the actions of an excited puppy as he rubs his cheek against Katsuki's. And to Katsuki's mortification, and Izuku's glee; despite Katsuki's protests and struggling, his tail wags happily.
While everyone is causing chaos on the beach 2 curious presences, and 3 small flickering presence of fear come into Izuku's range. The two presences feel slightly old than a child's, so Izuku concludes they must at least be teenagers. Some rustling is heard from the bushes, and Izuku raises a curious eyebrow.
"The one before you is known as the Island Guardian! Leave now, before I smite you with my 80 thousand men." The voice booms down to the teens on the beach.
Izuku's face is shadowed, Katsuki smirks, "80,000 men, huh? Sounds fun." Katsuki readies his palm to let sparkling explosions leave his hands.
Three of the flags fall down and the kids leave with screams. The 'godly being' in the bushes panics, "Hey! You can't just leave!" the being sighs dramatically, "Ah, no matter, I will smite these beings with my 800 thousand men!"
"Ohh? 800 thousand now?" Katsuki's smirk widens as he licks his lips.
Izuku adopts an air of seriousness, as he growls, "I only sense 2 people."
Katsuki's face morphs into a dramatic betrayed look, "he lied to me?" He lets his ears and tail droop for good measure.
The teen on the cliff faulters, and makes himself known, he draws his slingshot and aims it at Izuku. The boy's legs shake in fear as he looks down on the group of Pirates. But Izuku notices, his legs might be shaking like a leaf in a storm, but his arms, his conviction to protect his home stands sturdy and true. But Izuku can't help himself but tease the teen more, "Now that you have drawn your weapon… Put your life on the line."
Katsuki smirks as the boy tightens his grip on his weapon even though he shakes violently. "Huh?!" The boy stutters in fear.
Izuku laces a small amount of Conquerors in his voice, letting his features shift slightly to look more feral, "I'm saying those aren't for threatening people."
Katsuki lets a couple of explosions escape his palms as he smirks wildly. Ace and Luffy both shadow their faces, Ace's shoulders flame a little, and Luffy cracks his knuckles. Sasuke has his Sharingan activated as he watches the playfully intimidating stand-off. Even Gaara stoically plays along making the sand around him circle him lazily. Katsuki licks his lips, "What stands before you are real Pirates!"
For several long moments, the boy stands there shaking, refusing to put down his slingshot. His shaking intensifies as he looks down at the Pirates below him. And he realizes, he won't stand a chance against these pirates on his own. But still, he refuses to back down, he will protect his village with everything he has.
Izuku watches the boy with a keen eye, smiling that he is not backing down. He pulls back his aura and laughs loudly, "you're… haha…" And he takes a few moments to contain his laughter and when he does, he looks at the teen with sharp eyes, "You're Yasopp's kid, Usopp, right?"
The teen, possibly Usopp startles, "Huh?!" he fumbles his way down the cliff face, "you know my dad?"
"Yea, he wanted me to check up on you." Izuku smiles. He fiddles in his pocket for two envelopes, "he wanted me to give this to you, and one to your mother."
Usopp's face falls as sadness grips him, "My mom is really sick. The doctors say she doesn't have much time left."
Izuku nods, "Mind if I take a look, I'm a healer."
"A healer?" Usopp questions skeptically.
Izuku nods and points at the boy's knee, he scraped it coming down the cliffside. "Here let me show you," he lights his hand on fire, and draws it closer to the boy. Fear and panic rise in Usopp's body causing the boy to freeze and squeeze his eyes shut. But he doesn't flinch or moves away from the hand. Izuku hovers his flames over the scrape and Usopp peeks his eyes open to watch. As he watches the wound close before his eyes, he relaxes, and watches intrigued. Once the scrape is healed Izuku steps back, "I can't cure her, but I can see if there is any damage the illness has caused her."
Usopp nods, "Thank you."
Izuku turns to Kacchan, "Let Law know we might have a patient. Illness is unknown, possibly contagious."
Katsuki nods and walks off so he can talk to Law. Izuku watches him go and turns to the others, "Stay here, for now, I'm sure Usopp won't mind if we use the beach to stretch our legs."
Usopp gulps as the others look at him, "Nah, I don't mind. Just um… the villagers…"
Izuku smiles warmly, "Don't worry about the villagers, my crew won't leave the beach."
Usopp nods with a relenting sigh, "I guess that will be ok." So with one last look at the pirates, Usopp leads Izuku and Katsuki to his house. His house is on the outskirts of the village and is no bigger than a shack. The woman on the bed is plagued by a coughing fit when she gets startled by the door slamming open. Usopp runs to his mother's bedside, "Mom!"
Izuku wastes no time flaring his flames over the bedded woman. Concentrating his flames on her lungs and throat. He can smell the blood in the air both new and old, so he believes the woman is ailed by a lung condition. Possibly bronchitis, or TB. As the flames heal the lesions in the lungs and soothe the torn cells, the woman's coughing slows in intensity.
Usopp hovers around his mother, "Mom, I brought a healer to help you get better."
The woman turns unfocused eyes to her son, "Usopp?" she croaks, Izuku fetches her some water. Usopp helps the woman sit up so Izuku can assist her. Izuku waits until she has finished the glass of water before he hands it over to Usopp.
"Ma'am, my name is Izuku Midoriya. I am a healer, though my healing focuses more on injuries rather than illnesses; I will try my best to help." Izuku smiles reassuringly. "From the diagnostic I performed, I can conclude that you have a lung condition. I won't know exactly what is damaging your lungs until I can run some tests."
The woman nods along, seemingly used to healers telling her this. "Okay."
Izuku studies the woman, "I'll need to take you to my ship. I am assuming your village does not have the proper equipment to treat you?"
Usopp straightens, this wasn't part of their agreement. But he will do almost anything to help his mother even trusting an unknown Pirate crew. So he nods his head, "okay…but I don't think she could walk that far."
Izuku hums, "That's fine, I can fly us there."
"FLY?!" Usopp screeches.
Izuku nods, "Kacchan will carry your mom." Izuku turns to walk out of the building. Katsuki helps Usopp carry his mother, supporting her weight between them.
Usopp screams and almost drops his mother in fear at the image before him, there is a massive green wolf, large wings unfurled, multiple bushy tails flicking behind him. And he almost stops Katsuki from approaching the wolf, "He—hey wait," Usopp stutters.
Katsuki grunts and forces Usopp to carry his mother's entire weight. He approaches the wolf and runs his fingers through the fiery fur of the wolf's neck. The wolf rumbles as he soaks in the attention. Katsuki turns back around and grabs onto Usopp's mother. He carries her in a bridal carry and leaps onto the wolf. He lays her down on the wolf's back and looks down at Usopp, "You coming?"
Usopp startles, knees shaking, as he puffs his chest out, "Of course I am, I am the brave warrior of the sea, Captain Usopp!"
Izuku tilts his head down so Usopp can climb up his neck, he sits stiffly by his mother. Katsuki grunts, "hold on," and pops a small explosion on Fuji's neck. The wolf unfurls his wings, engulfing himself in lightning, and with a powerful downward thrust of his wings, he leaps into the air. Usopp screams and forces himself not to flail so he doesn't fall off.
They make a brief landing at the beach where Katsuki explodes himself off the wolf and landing in front of a red-and-white-haired teen, "Icy-hot, you're in charge. The nerd and I need to take a patient to the ship."
The teen nods seriously and Katsuki leaps back onto the wolf, "Let's go."
With another leap into the air, the wolf glides over the expanse of the water. It doesn't take very long before Izuku is hovering over the deck of a massive ship. A man with a spotted white hat stands on deck with a stretcher, flipping a rock through his fingers.
"Room," The man calls, and a blue film bursts out from his fingers. Without Usopp noticing the man's move; his mother is now on the stretcher next to the unknown man. Usopp looks down confused and trying to make his brain understand what is going on, he notices a rock is where his mother used to be.
In a blur of motion Katsuki grabs him and plants him on the deck, Izuku is standing in front of him, the massive wolf is gone, and Usopp still remains confused. But Izuku and the unknown man are fretting over his mother, so he decides confusion is a fair price to pay for his mother's treatment.
While Usopp is trying to figure out what is happening, Izuku turns to the man, "Law, I think she has a lung condition possibly TB or bronchitis. I healed the damaged cells in the lungs and throat, but without your skills, I can't cure her."
Law nods, and hovers his hands over the woman, he scans her chest and throat. Izuku's healing closed up the sores, but there is a concerning amount of scar tissue in the lungs. He lowers his hands to his side and points his golden eyes toward the teen, "There is scarring in the lungs, treatment can slow the scarring but there is no known cure for her," Law states professionally.
Usopp starts to cry, "there must be something you can do! I'll do anything! Please!"
"I said there is no known cure for what she has, however, with my devil fruit, and Izuku's healing we can get as close to a cure as possible." Law glares at being interrupted.
Usopp sighs relieved, "whatever it takes."
Law nods, "Then Izuku and I will get to work, I'll let you know in a few hours what the results are." Law turns and starts walking to the med bay to start prepping for surgery. Izuku follows behind him hooking Banchina to the equipment and making sure the anesthesia does its job. He washes his hands and prepares himself for a very taxing procedure.
Law studies the teen, "you ready?"
Izuku nods determined, "yeah, let's do this."
They get to work, Law uses his devil fruit to remove sections of her lungs, Izuku uses his flames to force the removed cells to grow back. It's a long process, naturally as the body ages scars will shrink as the old cells die and the new ones replace them. Basically, what they are doing is forcing sections of the lungs to accelerate the natural process. But after a couple of hours, they have fully descarred one of the lungs. Izuku is starting to sweat, his body is starting to shake, but his flames are steady as they work on the other lung.
When they are done Izuku's flames flicker out, he breathes heavily and tries to take a step away from the operating table. Black spots grow from the corners of his vision, and he sways slightly. Law catches him before he faces plants the ground and moves him to sit on the chair he uses when he is filling outpatient packets. Izuku moves easily, slumping into the seat bonelessly, and already sleeping before his ass touches the seat. Law smiles fondly at the teen and leaves him be. As quietly as he can he makes his way to the deck, both Katsuki and Usopp are leaning against the wall waiting for him.
When Usopp spots the surgeon, he hastily clambers to his feet, "How is she?"
Law sighs, "the operation was a success. We have removed all the scar tissue from her lungs. I am uncertain if new scar tissue will form, in that case, she would need another treatment."
Usopp doesn't really understand all the technical jargon, but he does understand that his mother is going to be healthy. He bows in gratitude, "How can I ever repay you?"
Law sighs, "not my call, you are going to have to work something out with Izuku."
"Where's the nerd?" Katsuki asks.
Law smiles, "he's exhausted and passed out just as we finished. I have him in the med-bay."
Katsuki grunts and stands to make his way to the med bay to retrieve his Nerd. He finds Izuku leaning on a comfortable-looking office chair, and he tsks as he lifts his soulmate to place him on one of the beds to recover.
The woman chuckles slightly, her dainty hand in front of her mouth, as she watches the care the ash-blond teen pretends, he doesn't use to carry his charge. Vivid red eyes, reminiscent of a canine, flash towards her. She can tell the teen's guard comes up as his eyes shift from openly soft to a closed caution. He watches her like a hawk, and positions himself between her and the other teen, protectively she realizes. She relaxes her posture, treating him similar to the way someone would when they come across an animal protecting their wounded.
The boy huffs out, and lays next to the other teen, conveniently he places himself closer to the bedded woman, but he is no longer aggressively protective. She smiles disarmingly, "I owe you, my thanks."
"The fuck are you thanking me for?" The boy's words are harsh, but he is genuinely confused as to why she is thankful.
The woman chuckles, "for saving my life of course."
The boy blushes, and turns his head away, "I didn't do anything."
"Still," She smiles and bows as much as she can in her bed.
"Whatever," He grunts resigned, "you're welcome I guess." He turns to the bedded boy and runs his fingers through his hair. The boy's face is soft as he caresses the other boy's face.
"Is he ok?" She asks quietly.
"The Nerd?" Katsuki grunts for clarification, she nods but isn't sure who he is talking about, "yeah, he just exhausted his healing. He'll be fine in a few minutes."
"That's good, I'd never forgive myself if a youngster got hurt somehow healing me," she states. Katsuki makes a whine-like noise, he doesn't say anything, he just continues to fret over the other teen. The woman smiles softly, "My name is Banchina, Usopp's mother."
"I know," Katsuki grunts. "We know Yasopp."
"Yasopp? How is he?" She asks longingly.
Katsuki hums, "we went our separate ways a couple of days ago, he went back to Shanks' crew. Spent some time in Japan to set up a life there for you." Then he glares at nothing, "Old man wouldn't stop talking about how amazing his family is. So Naturally, the Nerd had to come see for himself."
"The Nerd?" She tilts her head.
Katsuki points to the boy next to him a slight blush on his cheeks. He adds with a shrug, "he's, my Nerd."
"I see," she smiles, "so… what do I call you?"
"Katsuki," he grunts out.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Katsuki." Banchina greets happily.
Katsuki looks away, not used to unknown adults being nice to him. "Yea, you too. Or whatever," he tacks on with a muffle.
Izuku starts mumbling and groaning as he starts to wake up, Katsuki forgets about the woman as he turns all attention to Izuku, "Nerd?" he gently shakes the teen's shoulder.
Izuku blinks his eyes open, "Kacchan?" he slurs, still heavy with sleep.
Katsuki smiles at the teen and pulls him in for a hug. Izuku takes a moment to wave the last bit of sleep from his mind. He jolts up as the few hours before he passed out catches up to him, "Did Banchina make it?"
"I am well, thank you…" Banchina smiles at the open panic in the teen's eyes.
Izuku slumps relieved, "Ah that's good, Usopp will be happy."
At that moment Usopp bursts into the Med-bay, "Mom! You're awake."
Banchina chuckles at her son as he launches to her bedside. His words are a continuous string of sounds, and she doesn't understand what she is saying, but that's ok. A tall man steps into the med-bay, he walks to the other side of her bed. He raises glowing hands and hovers them above her chest. She is not sure how it works, and she has heard about devil fruits before, but she has never seen one before today. The man hums and nods to himself as he steps away to write something in a folder.
The man turns around, "it seems like the surgery was a success, however, I would like to keep you here for a while to make sure there are no complications. Your village is ill-fitted to deal with Lung conditions in the event it's recurring."
Banchina nods, "I suppose I have no choice." Banchina smiles, "I am in your care."
Izuku cheers, "That's great, Yasopp will be glad to see you are well."
Banchina looks over at the boy shocked, "You're going to meet up with Yasopp?"
Izuku nods, "In a couple of months or so. He's waiting for us in the Grandline."
Usopp perks up, "Oh yeah, Izuku you mentioned my father sent you to come to find me?"
Izuku again nods, he tells them about the visions he had, that he has been in the Grandline before. He tells them about the world ending, and that he has been trying to save as many people as he can from the other worlds. He shows them the reports from the war of the best, his real bounty. He told them about the tragedy two boys went through because of the world government and the corruption of the Calamity. He tells them about his world, how the calamity hasn't started to corrupt it yet, that there is a chance to save at least one of the worlds.
Usopp wants to call him a liar, he is no stranger to tall tales. But he has never had evidence of being in a war, no matter how many times he told Kaya. And he thinks to himself, this is a world where you can eat a fruit and get powers, a pirate can become King… So going to another world, isn't really all that strange. He also thinks it must be true if his father is in on it. But "what about my friends?"
Izuku hums, "I don't see why we couldn't take them. I obviously can't save the entire world, and the last thing I want is to bring the corruption home, but we have space on the ship for a few extra people."
Usopp nods, he understands. It would be impossible to save an entire planet, and to bring all these people to where ever they are going will be a lot of mouths to feed. But Kaya and Bennet are orphans, they were the only people who listened to his stories and cheered him up when his mother's sickness was too much for him to see. "I have a friend," he blushes, "but her parents died a couple of months ago due to an illness. She's sick, bedridden, and weak, I visit her to keep her company when I can. And sometimes she seems like she is getting better, but then she gets sick again. Is there a way you can come see if you could help her? She wants to be a doctor and I think even if she is weak, she could still be useful." Usopp rushes out.
"I can't make any promises, I can't heal illnesses, I can only heal the damage done by the illness." Izuku states seriously, "but it wouldn't hurt to see what she has and if it could be treated by other means."
"Nerd," Katsuki growls warningly.
Izuku blushes, "I know Kacchan." He turns his hard eyes to Usopp, "That is not how illnesses naturally function. Unless it's autoimmune, then there isn't much I could do. But unless she has always had a weak immune system, she is unlikely to start showing symptoms of such an illness at her age. Unless of course, she has been active, in which case, we will need to test everyone she has been with."
"Do you think…?" Katsuki adds.
"Foul play?" Izuku hums, "it's possible. Toxins introduced in small amounts through food, would mimic an auto-immune disorder." He turns to Usopp, "How long after her parents died, did she start getting sick?"
Usopp hums, "umm maybe a week or two later? Or maybe a month?"
Izuku hums, "unless the illness has a long gestation period it wouldn't have taken that long to start showing symptoms. You visit her often, right?"
Usopp blushes again, "um yeah, we were um… together… before her parents died."
"Have you shown any symptoms?" Izuku questions.
Usopp shakes his head, "No."
"Ok, has anyone she spends significant time with shown any symptoms?" Izuku presses.
Usopp puts a finger to his chin, "not that I know of her butlers sure don't seem sick."
Izuku hums, the more information he gets from Usopp the more it sounds like foul play. "I think I know what is going on, but I'll need to check myself."
"How?" Usopp asks, "The butler don't let anyone in the house because lady Kaya is sick. They don't want to cause her any additional stress that could make the illness worse."
Izuku raises an eyebrow, "how do you visit her then?"
Usopp blushes, "I uh … I may have to sneak on the grounds. Then I sit by a tree and tell her stories. But then one of the butlers would kick me out."
"Can you take me to her?" Izuku asks.
"But the butlers?" Usopp protests.
Izuku gains a dangerous look in his eyes, "don't worry about them."
Usopp gulps and nods, "Sure I can take you."
"Now?" Izuku presses.
"Now?!" Usopp parrots, "Is that such a good idea?"
Izuku smirks, "the cover of darkness is the best time to sneak in, don't you think?"
It doesn't take much more convincing, Usopp gives in when his mother tells him to go, that she is tired and is going to sleep. Izuku asks Law to come with him just in case, he agrees. Out on deck, Izuku tells Kakashi and Aizawa about the woman in the med bay and if one of them could check in on her every once in a while. Izuku shifts into his wolf form, turning his fire black so he blends in with the night sky. Usopp doesn't hesitate to jump onto Fuji's back.
Usopp directs them to the Mansion, and Izuku lands near a tree next to an open window. Usopp uses a pebble to tap on the window. It takes a few minutes but soon enough a light turns on and the window opens. A girl, most likely Lady Kaya looks down confused at the group, she whispers, "Usopp? What are you doing here?"
So Usopp explains that he met some healers today, that they healed his mother. And he blushes as he tells her he thought about the Girl's sickness and asked them to help. Izuku introduces himself, "I'm Izuku, I use my fire to heal. That is Law, he is a surgeon. And this is…"
"Katsuki" The teen Glares at Izuku.
Izuku chuckles and starts asking her questions about her illness. His nose picks up the scent of something sickeningly sweet, with bitter undertones. He tries to convince her to come with him to the ship so he can run some tests on her. She hesitates for too long it seems because Izuku picks up a foul presence.
"What are you doing here?!" A tall lean man dressed in a black suit and tie steps out of the shadows, "you can't just barge into the mansion like this!"
"Who's he?" Izuku asks Usopp.
"URG! The Butler!"
Lady Kaya steels her emotions, "Clahador."
The man walks towards the group, Lady Kaya tries to intervene, "Listen Clahador, these people are…"
Clahador cuts her off rudely, "You don't have to explain! I will ask about it later." He brushes her words off, "Please get out!"
Izuku refuses to move, a rumbling growl building up in his chest. The man smirks smugly, "or is there something you need to say?"
"Actually yeah, I've got something to say," Izuku's eyes flash eerily in the dark. "I came here to speak with the Lady of the house. You are nothing but a butler. If the Lady wants me to leave I will but until then…" Izuku laces conqueror's in his voice, "SIT DOWN, SHUT UP, OR GO AWAY."
The man freezes to the spot, he hasn't felt a power like this since he fled the Grandline. To think there is a conqueror in the East Blue… Clahador hardens his face and studies the group, he will need to hurry up with his plans before these kids get involved. "Ohh?" he fakes surprise, "you…" he points at one of the teens, "You are Usopp… Right?"
Usopp tenses feeling a shiver go down his spine at the attention.
Clahador continues, "I have heard a rumor about you… the villagers talk about you all the time."
Usopp puffs his chest out, "oh… oh thank you, you may call me, Captain Usopp."
The man ignores the boasting rant, he uses the palm of his hand to push his glasses back into position. "The Guards said… you were lurking outside the gates… What do you want here?"
Usopp gulps, "I heard there was a mole inside the mansion! I wanted to see it for myself."
The man chuckles, "I see that you can lie pretty well!"
Usopp flinches back, "What?!"
"I have heard about your father too… you're the son of a filthy pirate…" He smirks evilly, "I'm not surprised you turned out this way… But you had better stay away from My Lady."
Izuku loses it unleashing his Haki, he speaks in an eerily calm voice, "if you knew anything about Yasopp, you wouldn't dare to call him anything other than great."
Clahador ignores Izuku, "you and My Lady belong to totally different worlds, is it money that you are after? Name your price!"
"THAT IS ENOUGH CLAHADOR! APOLOGIZE RIGHT NOW!" Lady Kaya shouts enraged.
The man looks at her unimpressed, "There is no need to apologize to these uncivilized pests! I'm just telling the truth!" he ignores the girl completely, still trying to attack Usopp with words, "I feel sorry for you… you must hate him, don't you?" Again he uses his palm to adjust his glasses, "because he is a "dumb treasure hunter" who deserted his family and village."
Izuku growls features starting to shift.
Usopp puts his arm out to the side of him, stopping Izuku from doing anything, "I won't let you say another bad thing about my father!"
"Ohh? Why are you so angry? You're not very smart, are you? You should have just told your usual lies…" The man smirks, "and say that your real father is a traveling merchant… or that you and he are not blood-related…"
Usopp has had enough and punches the butler.
The man falls to the ground holding his cheek, "Uh…Grh! See… you're so violent! Like father like son!"
"Shut up," Usopp growls out, "I'm proud that my dad is a pirate! I'm proud that he was a brave warrior of the Sea! You're right that I like to lie and tell ridiculous stories. But I am proud of having a pirate's blood in me! I don't have to pretend I'm not!" Usopp sucks in a deep breath and releases it with a shout of conviction, "I AM THE SON OF A PIRATE!"
"Pirates are Brave Warriors of the Sea?" The butler chuckles harshly, "Don't twist the truth, it's because you have that kind of savage bloodline that you like to lie so much and use violence when enraged." He stands up and dusts the dirt off his pants, "I believe you only get close to My Lady for the money…"
"What the hell are you talking about!"
"Who cares what your motive is, the fact that your father is a pirate is more than enough reason for me to kick you out!" he fixes his glasses, "Savages like you are not welcome here!"
Usopp glares at the ground, "fine… I understand…I'll leave without you telling me to!" Usopp starts to walk away, "I'll never come back here again!"
Izuku watches Usopp walk away with a whine in his throat, he turns to Katsuki, "Kacchan go with him please."
Katsuki nods, "yea, I got him, Nerd."
Izuku turns to the Lady of the house, "think about what I said alright?" he glares at the butler defiantly, "I refuse to believe a lowly butler would be so rude to disrespect his Lady, but it is late, so I understand his aggression. I'll be back tomorrow at a more reasonable time, how about Lunch?"
The butler tries to tell him, no, but Lady Kaya speaks up, "I will see you for Lunch tomorrow then."
Izuku hums, "actually I forgot, we have a lot to talk about so how about breakfast instead. Don't worry about the food, my personal chef is world-renowned."
Lady Kaya hums and nods in agreement. "That is acceptable."
Izuku bows formally, "Thank you, Lady Kaya. I look forward to our talks, I hope we can come to a mutually beneficial agreement."
Lady Kaya bows in return, "yes I should hope so, Mr. Midoriya."
With a final bow, Izuku and Law turn to leave the mansion. Once outside the mansion gates Izuku shifts into his wolf form and flies up to the roof. It doesn't take long for the butler to knock on Kaya's door. And Izuku listens to the man's story and he can tell the man is lying through his teeth, he doesn't care about Kaya, at all. His story about being fired from his ship is a lie. Izuku has to admit the guy is a great actor. He turns to Law, "did you get the chance to scan her?"
Law nods, "it's not an illness."
"Can you tell what it is?" Izuku asks.
Law hums, "not without a sample of her blood, or from how she is ingesting it."
Izuku waits until the butler leaves Kaya's room before he leaves the rooftop. He shifts back into his wolf form and flies to the beach. When he lands the others surround him, only giving him enough room to shift. Shoto inspects him for any injuries, "what happened?" he asks picking up the simmering rage in Izuku's body.
Izuku sighs, "we will be staying here for a couple of days. I have a bad feeling about something."
Shoto nods, "Should we do patrols?"
Izuku shakes his head, "It won't be necessary, I already have the target in my range. Pull a light guard, but nothing else. The villagers don't know we are here, and I don't want to cause a panic."
Shoto agrees and goes back to Ace. The group has gotten blankets and some tents (most likely from the ninja) to make a sort of camp. Most of the group is sitting around a campfire, and it looks cozy. A flare of Haki from the west alerts Izuku that Katsuki needs him. He shifts with a hasty warning to the crew.
He is only in the air for a few moments when he drops down to where Katsuki and Usopp are behind a tree looking down at the beach. There is a man, talking with the butler. And while Izuku sensed the butler over here, he thought maybe he was just out for a stroll. Izuku tunes in to the whispered conversation.
"Jango, I told you not to draw the attention of the villagers, why did you sleep in the middle of the street?" The butler scolds.
The man Jango does a weird moon-walk-like dance, "how can I attract any attention? It's not like I look weird or anything!"
Izuku turns to Usopp, "do you know him?"
"Never seen him before, who is he?" Usopp replies.
The butler uses his palm again to adjust his glasses, and something about that seems off to Izuku. "So… are you prepared for it?"
"Of Course," Jango responds, "we can start operation "Assassinate the Lady" at any time!"
Katsuki puts his hand over Usopp's mouth, so he doesn't scream and give their positions away.
"Assassinate" is such an ugly word!" The butler scolds.
Jango chuckles, "Ah! Yeah! Accident! We'll call it an accident! Isn't that right Captain Kuro?"
"Captain Kuro… I gave that name up 3 years ago, don't call me by that name again!" The butler orders, "You are the captain now!"
"I still remember that day… It simply shocked me…" Jango says.
"Hmm?" Kuro hums.
"You said you were going to give up being a pirate and made me captain!" Jango dances. "Everyone thinks that Captain Kuro has been executed by the Marines! But actually, you hid in this little village, and told us to come here in three years!" He sits on a rock, "before, when I worked for you, there was always a lot of benefits. That's the only reason I worked for you!" He looks up at the ex-captain, "I can get a good share this time, right?"
"Yes!" Kuro glares, "if you succeed, you'll get your share!"
"Good," Jango points both his thumbs to himself, "Leave that girl to me!"
"Killing her is not enough…" Kuro reminds, "you have to make sure it looks like an accident!" he pauses for a moment, "It looks like you're not ready yet!"
"Shut up! I'm completely ready!" Jango's outburst is short-lived. "When you send the signal, we'll charge into the village… and kill the girl, simple as that." He uses his finger to tilt his hat up, "then you can openly claim her inheritance."
The butler turns to walk away, "I wonder if your mom actually gave you a brain!" He adjusts his glasses, "I have no relation to her family, how can there be an inheritance for me?"
"We can work on it!" Jango argues.
"It's no use! The most important part is," He turns back towards Jango and gets in his face, "before you kill her, you have to hypnotize her…and make her write my name into the will!" He jabs his finger into Jango's chest, "I will leave all my wealth to my butler, Clahador!" he smirks, "This way I can openly claim her wealth. I have spent three years getting everyone to trust me, and as soon as she writes the will, no one would suspect me!"
"Just for this, you spent three years being a butler? If I, were you, I would have just robbed them straight on!" Jango points out.
Kuro sighs like he is judging the man's intelligence, "If I had done that, I would still be an outlaw, and the marines would still be chasing me. This plan can get me tons of money, plus I won't have the marines chasing me. I like using my head to find a peaceful way to settle things!"
Jango laughs, "Bahahaha! Peaceful way to settle things?" he looks pointedly at the butler, "you mean murdering her entire family is a peaceful way?"
Kuro rolls his eyes, "They died naturally." Then he sighs, "that was outside my plans!"
Jango's laughter pitters out, "whatever, let's not argue over this." He points at Kuro, "Anyways, you just need to send the signal! Our ship has been anchored close by… for almost a week! They can't hold back any longer…"
"Jango, tomorrow morning… take the crew to attack the village!" He turns to walk away, "Destroy some houses, make it look like I pirate raid… Then kill the girl."
Izuku wraps his tail around Usopp to prevent him from running into the village and screaming to evacuate. Usopp struggles against Izuku until the other teen glares at him. "We need to come up with a plan," Izuku whispers as he watches the two pirates walk down the shore.
Usopp panics, "you heard what they said! They are going to attack my village! Everyone is going to die! We have to warn them!"
Katsuki glares, "Shut up and calm down!"
Izuku narrows his eyes, "tomorrow will be like any other day. The villagers will wake up, to an early morning sunrise none the wiser. I commend you for wanting to keep them safe, but civilians are known to react rashly in moments of panic. Captain Kuro has gained the trust of the villagers, who have lied that pirates are coming every day. They are not suddenly going to believe you."
Usopp cries, "I love this village, I want to protect everyone…" he covers his eyes with his hands, "how can I just watch… as everyone gets killed?"
Izuku smiles, "What happened to Captain Usopp and his 80,000 men?"
"THAT WAS A LIE!" Usopp shouts enraged.
Izuku raises an eyebrow, "we might not have 80,000 men. But our numbers are nothing to scoff at."
"What…?" Usopp follows confused. "you guys are willing to fight with me?! Why?"
"Because the enemies outnumber you," Izuku states.
"You have the words "I'm scared" written all over your face," Katsuki adds.
Usopp puffs his chest out, "Idiots! Me? Scared? So what if they outnumber me?! They can't compete with me! I'm Captain Usopp! In my veins flows the blood of a courageous warrior!"
Izuku and Katsuki stand there with their arms crossed and dead serious expressions on their faces as they watch Usopp shake during his speech.
"Ah…" Usopp looks down at his shaking legs, "Stop shaking! Stop it! Stop it!" he glares at the two, "What are you looking at?! They're Captain Kuro's fleet! Of course, I'm scared! I don't need your Sympathy! Go away! Now!"
"We're not sympathizing with you," Katsuki growls. "We are commending you for having a courage!"
Izuku glares, "why else would we risk our own lives?"
"You… you guys…" Usopp sniffles, "I'm so touched!"
After a couple of moments so Usopp can settle his emotions Izuku starts to transform. Katsuki motions to get onto Izuku. Usopp follows the other teen and soon they are landing outside the area they claimed as a rest spot. Usopp and Katsuki leap off the wolf and Izuku shifts back, his presence heavy and restless. The awake pack members approach cautiously. "What's the matter, Izuku?" Ace asks.
"Gather everyone, I only want to explain once." Izuku states. Ace, Shoto, Luffy, and Gaara wake the others. Or gather the people in their tents. Once everyone has gathered Izuku sighs, "this island is going to be attacked tomorrow at dawn."
"By whom?" Neji asks.
"Captain Kuro and his fleet." Izuku states.
Law hums, "Kuro was executed by the marines 3 years ago."
Izuku shakes his head, "no he wasn't he faked his death. He goes by Clahador now."
"The butler?" Law asks.
Izuku nods and explains what he witnessed on the coast.
"So they have been anchored near the Island waiting for this butler to signal them to attack?" Shoto asks.
"Yes, we need to come up with a plan to make sure the village doesn't know anything about this. It would only cause panic and chaos. Their plan is to attack the village in the morning. Their target is a sick girl that lives in the mansion." Izuku states. "Law, Kacchan, and I have plans to meet up with her for breakfast to start her healing. This was confirmed in front of the butler."
"If you don't show, he could act rashly," Shoto warns.
"Exactly," Izuku nods. He turns to Usopp, "how many ways can they infiltrate the Island?"
Usopp hums, "the coast they had their meeting on is the only way."
Izuku hums "what about this coast?"
Usopp stares wide-eyed, "I guess you're right, I figured because they met up on the other coast that would be where they would attack from."
Izuku hums, "Jango said his ship was anchored close by…" his eyes flash eerily, "Neji, Sasuke, and Itachi will look for their ship. Signal me when you find it." The three nod, "I want 10 of you to go to the other cliffside. Set up some traps and barricade the area. 10 of you go to the village to keep guard and defend if needed. The rest of you, fortify this area."
Neji nods, "If we can sink their ship, they won't be able to attack."
Izuku smirks, "take sealing scrolls with. I want everything except the wood used to make their ship"
"You got it, Captain!" Neji smirks back.
Izuku nods, "I am going to contact Kakashi and Aizawa and tell them to be on guard."
With everyone knowing their plans and talking amongst themselves to protect the island everyone breaks off. On their current beach, Gaara erects walls made of sand to prevent the pirates from traveling up the slope. TenTen makes pitfall traps and buries caltrops to further slow the pirates down. After traps have been laid, they pack up the camp and hide in the forest.
In the middle of the night, 3 figures run across the water to a nearby anchored ship. Using their chakra they climb aboard the vessel. Silently, they move and take out the patrols that are still awake. Neji hits pressure points on all the sleeping pirates so they would be uncoordinated and sluggish. They get to the helm and disable the ship's capability to steer. Sasuke and Neji make their way down into the ship to look for anything of value. Finding the treasury, they seal the meager amount of gold and trinket they find.
Neji smirks at Sasuke, "The Captain wanted everything except the wood." As he makes his way into the sleeping quarters, he seals up the pirate's belongings in a separate scroll. All the weapons are confiscated as well, leaving them in whatever they fell asleep in. They make their way on deck again and meet up with Itachi.
"We are finished raiding," Neji informs.
"Alright, the ship is disabled. The lifeboats are still functional, but if they were smart, they would use the lifeboats to escape." Itachi sighs.
Neji calls over the headset that their mission is completed. Izuku praises them for a job well done.
Izuku spends the next couple of hours alert with his senses maxed out. The Sun is just below the horizon when Izuku rouses the others. He tells them to get into position and protect the island. He is going to keep Kuro busy.
Approaching the Mansion Izuku picks up the heavy scent of blood, he rushes to the building and lock picks the door with a feather. On the floor of the kitchen seems to be a butler that looks like a sheep. There is a small pool of blood under the man, and Izuku flares his healing around the butler. Izuku extends his Haki and concentrates it on the building. "Kacchan go find Lady Kaya. Upstairs to the left."
"Yea, yea I'm not it Nerd!" Katsuki grumbles and stops off to find the lady of the house.
Izuku turns to Law, "you any good at cooking?"
Law shrugs, "not the greatest, but my food is edible at least."
Izuku smirks, "I'll wait for Kacchan then." He ignores the man's glare, "can you help me move him to the couch?"
Law grunts as he moves the man to the couch, he uses his devil fruit to do a scan of the butler's injury and fixing what he can with his power. The man will survive. Katsuki comes downstairs with the Lady in tow.
"Merry!" Kaya shouts, "what happened to Merry?!"
Izuku shrugs, "Not sure, found him bleeding out on your kitchen floor when I got here." He points at the puddle on the floor. "I smelt blood and let myself in, I healed him as much as I could. He should wake in a few moments."
Lady Kaya looks around, "Where is Clahador?"
Izuku shakes his head, "wasn't here when I arrived."
Kaya hums, "what did you want to talk about last night."
Izuku stares at her, "you are not safe here Kaya."
Kaya startles, "What do you mean not safe here?"
"You are being poisoned," Izuku states seriously.
"Impossible," Kaya argues, "I have a weak immune system!"
Izuku nods, "were you born like that?"
Kaya shakes her head.
"A girl your age with no prior health issue doesn't just suddenly get an illness that attacks the immune system." He raises two fingers, "There are two ways it would be possible, the first is, you contracted it from someone else through sharing bodily fluids. Meaning intercourse."
"No! Never!" Kaya blushes furiously, "before I got sick, I was too young to be interested in that sort of thing. Now I don't have the energy to even think about physical intimacy."
Izuku nods, "The other way is through small amounts of toxins whittling away at your immune system. Mimicking an auto-immune deficiency. Either your food is being poisoned, or your water."
"Who would do something like that?" Kaya asks panicked.
"I overheard something last night, that you might not believe me. But the truth is your Clahador is actually Captain Kuro, who apparently died three years ago."
"Impossible, Clahador has been with my family for…" Kaya trails off.
Izuku stares at her with a serious air around him, "As we speak, Kuro's crew is planning on attacking the Island. His goal is to kill you after he makes you change your will, signing everything over him." Izuku looks at her sadly, "I know it is hard to believe, and I know you trusted him. But no one else is here, nothing is missing, and your other Butler was bleeding out on the floor."
"He could have chased the criminals off." She argues weakly, "and he is going to get help."
Izuku sighs, "I need to take Merry to my ship, he needs a blood transplant. When he wakes up, he can tell you who did this. But if I leave you alone and I am right, you are in danger. If you come with me, and I'm wrong, then you just get a nice breakfast and some fresh air; no harm done. I have medicine on my ship, and we can find out what is making you sick."
"But… what if Clahador comes back?" Kaya protests.
"We will leave a note that you found someone to help Merry and that you are on the south beach." Izuku nods, "When he comes to look for you, we will be there."
Kaya takes a few minutes to decide, "I will go with you if it makes Merry feel better that I am safe."
Izuku smiles, "our method of transportation is uh… unique."
"Unique?!" Kaya yells shocked.
Izuku's grin broadens but doesn't say anything. He just stands up and helps Law carry Merry. He heads outside and Katsuki stops Kaya from getting too close. He shifts into his wolf form with a low rumbling growl. Katsuki explains Izuku ate a spirit wolf devil fruit, that allows him to heal and fly. Law switches his position with a floating feather. And Katsuki leads Kaya to the wolf, she hesitantly follows. "He's mostly harmless, just a giant puppy," Katsuki smirks as he pets the wolf behind the ears getting a happy sounding yip from the wolf. Once Kaya relaxes Katsuki asks, "Are you ready?"
Kaya nods hesitantly, and Katsuki picks her up in a bridal carry, he uses one hand to blast his way to Fuji's back. He sits the girl down next to Law and Merry and tells her to hold on. He takes up his spot near Fuji's neck and sends a small explosion to the wolf. Fuji yips and expands his wings; he takes off in a massive leap. Up in the air, Kaya can see people on the shore to the north. There are several burly, grungy-looking men trying to fight their way up the cliffside. Kaya gasps as she watches the attacking pirates, shouting that Kuro would kill them if they were late. There appear to be people blocking the entrance to the village, Usopp is down there holding the pirates back. Even with all this evidence, she can't believe her butler is involved.
On the south shore, there is another group of people waiting, guarding she thinks. And she thinks they are going to land. But they continue flying out over the ocean, and she can see two ships. One that has a pirate flag, and another that looks like a large civilian ship. They get closer to the civilian vessel and the wolf hover a few inches above the deck. Law switches his and Merry's positions with a couple of pebbles. Katsuki grabs her again and carries her off the Wolf.
Landing on the deck was soft almost. And the wolf transforms back into the teenage form of Izuku. Law picks up the butler and carries him below deck, Izuku waves at her to follow. She follows hesitantly until she reaches a room that resembles a hospital room. There is a familiar woman, Kaya hasn't seen in a long time laying on one of the beds. The woman blinks at the sound of the door opening, "Welcome Back, Captain."
Izuku grumbles at the teasing tone but doesn't refute the accusation. Lady Kaya raises an eyebrow, "Captain?"
Izuku shrugs, "Sort of, it's a long story."
Kaya drops it for now and watches as Law lays Merry on a bed close to the woman. He hooks up bags of blood to an IV stand. He takes out a packet of tubes from one of the cabinets and an alcohol wipe to disinfect the area. He places a thin band over the top of Merry's elbow and feels around for the vein. Finding a good enough vein, Law inserts the needle and opens the bag. He lets the blood drip slowly into Merry's arm.
Kaya sighs relieved as she can see the color coming back to her butler's face. Before she got sick, she was studying to be a doctor. She has read about this procedure and is fascinated watching it in practice. Izuku comes to stand in front of her, "Kaya?" He calls.
Kaya makes eye contact with the teen, tilting her head in question. Izuku smiles at her, "can I take a blood sample to rule out any toxins?"
Kaya nods and holds out her arm, she watches fascinated as Izuku preps her arm to take a blood sample. He has a small needle in his hand as he searches for a good vein. Once the needle is placed, he tapes it down, so it doesn't move. He attaches the vial to the needle and releases the tourniquet. Once the vial is full, Izuku removes the needle and places a square of gauze over the slightly bleeding opening. He applies a little pressure and tapes the gauze in place.
He flits over to the other side of the med bay; he inserts the tube of blood into a blood analyzer. The machine hums to life as it begins to do its job and find out if there are toxins in her blood. As the Machine does its job, Izuku leans against the wall and closes his eyes. His face is pinched in concentration, and his ears twitch. Kaya looks on confused.
Katsuki sighs, "he is checking up on the battle."
"Huh? How?" Kaya asks confused.
Katsuki shrugs, "His enhanced senses allow him to sense presences on the island."
Izuku's eyes open, "Kuro has arrived on the battlefield. A wave of intense fear is radiating from that area."
Katsuki studies Izuku, "any injuries?"
Izuku shakes his head, "not on our side. But something fast attacks indiscriminately."
"What do you mean?" Katsuki pries.
"Something is attacking both sides randomly," Izuku hums. "Trees, the cliff wall, the pirates, pack. It seems that whatever is attacking them can't see. Or they are moving too fast for their eyes to keep up, resulting in tunnel vision."
"What are you gonna do?" Katsuki huffs.
Izuku rubs his neck sheepishly, "I know our pack is strong and could deal with this without my interference, but it's hard to predict something that random."
"Go nerd," Katsuki huffs. "I'll keep watch here."
Izuku beams, "really! Thanks, Kacchan."
"Just get out of here!" Katsuki growls. Katsuki huffs as he watches him leave.
"I should just give Clahador my fortune," Kaya sighs sadly.
Katsuki growls, "that is not going to solve anything. He is not going to be satisfied with just your money. What he wants is your fortune and peace of mind. If he keeps you alive you could go to the marines and tell them about him. He is not going to take that risk. It's why he didn't just take it from you by force, he wanted the trust of the villagers, he started to poison you and your parents to weaken you. When his crew attacked you would have been too weak to fight them off and parish in the attack."
Kaya gasps, "how would he do that? If I die, he won't get anything!"
Katsuki huffs, "he has hypnotist on his crew. Kuro doesn't need to do anything; his crew stages an attack. The Hypnotist gets you to sign everything over to Clahador. He kills the Hypnotist, with the villager's trust, your will, being your "trusted, protective" Butler, and your illness. They wouldn't even consider foul play."
"That's crazy!" Kaya denies.
"It's true," a voice croaks.
"Merry!" Kaya shouts, "Oh thank goodness you're alright!"
"Lady Kaya? Thank goodness you're safe." Merry tears up.
"Who did this to you?" Kaya presses.
"Clahador!" Merry shouts, "I gave him your present, he destroyed it and attacked me. I'm sorry Lady Kaya."
"He is probably assuming you are dead or will die." Law speaks up, "your injury wasn't severe enough to kill you instantly but going untreated would have caused you to bleed out." Law sighs and checks the man's vitals, "He obviously didn't hear most of our conversation yesterday, he had no idea Izuku is a healer."
"What makes you say that?" Kaya asks.
"He wouldn't have left me alive." Merry answers.
"So what do we do now," Kaya asks. "The villagers will be killed. Our lives are in danger."
Katsuki tsks, "don't worry about the attack. There is nothing you can do."
"I can't let them die!" Kaya shouts.
Katsuki growls, "I didn't say that you should! Listen, the Nerd will take care of it. Right now our entire crew is defending the village." Katsuki glares, palms clenching, "So shut up, and heal!"
***Location Change***
Meanwhile on the North Shore:
Captain Kuro has arrived, the ground is littered with his crew. A few unknown kids stand proud, halfway up the hill. Some of the still conscious pirates notice him there, "Cap…Cap…Captain… Kuro!"
"We're done for…"
Captain Kuro's face is shadowed, "It has been pretty long since dawn," he starts to make his way down the hill, "I was wondering why the plan wasn't carried out…" The captain raises his head, fury written all over his face, "What the fuck happened?!"
The pirates rush to pin the blame on the kids stopping them from advancing, Kuro sneers down at his fallen members, "I didn't expect you to be held up by these kids…" He sighs, "The Black Cat pirates have been reduced to a truly pathetic state…Isn't that right, Jango!?"
Jango stutters through excuses, "but these kids!"
Kuro sneers, "I figured they would come after us… I just didn't expect your uselessness! Enough with the excuses!" After proving his strength to the ones doubting him in their fear, he gives them 5 minutes to kill the kids and attack the village. Zoro makes easy work of the Nyaban Brothers, Jango keeps Hypnotizing the pirates forcing them to keep trying to attack. The pack is trying not to kill them, they are not murderers but at this point, they don't believe anything less than death will keep them down. Ace and Luffy are guarding the other coast, and Izuku and Katsuki are guarding the target. So using Conqueror's isn't going to happen.
Suddenly, with only a couple of minutes left, four people show up. A blond teenager followed by 3 kids. Usopp panics as the teenager draws attention to himself, "Benny's Adventure Team assemble!"
"Bennett?!" Usopp shouts. "What are you doing here?!"
Bennett smiles sheepishly, "I haven't seen you since yesterday, and thought something happened. I came to help!"
One of the kids shouts from behind Bennett, "Captain Usopp, we saw a wolf taking someone who looks like Lady Kaya to the south shore! We came to tell you!"
Usopp's eyes go wide, Kuro perks up and turn his attention to the kids. Usopp goes to attack Kuro, afraid that he is going to hurt his friend and the kids. Kuro sidesteps the attack causing Usopp to stumble and lose his balance. "That reminds me, I still haven't thanked you for that punch you gave me last time…" He raises his blades, "you hit me really hard…!"
He advances on Usopp, ready to kill him. He aims his finger blades at Usopp's heart. Suddenly, a boy appears between Usopp and Kuro. With his bare hand, he grips all five blades, his face shadowed by his green hair. Green fire erupts out of his hand to heal the deep gashes, his wings spread out behind him to shield Usopp and the kids. Kuro tries to push his blades, but the teen holds them firm just shy of piercing his heart. He turns his head slightly, a blinding smile on his face, "have no fear, I AM HERE!"
Usopp falls on his ass looking up at his savior with awe-filled eyes, "Izuku?"
Despite his smile, his eyes are hard and protective. A snarl builds in his throat, "if you don't like being hit… learn how to dodge!"
Kuro uses his other hand to push up his glasses. "I'm a bit curious… that fire is quite odd, looks like you possess the power of the devil's fruit…!"
Izuku stands firm and nods, "Yea, I ate an ancient Zoan devil fruit Model Fuji! And I've become a wolf!"
"What!? Devil's Fruit!?"
"This is bad! You mean they actually exist?!"
"No wonder that guy is so weird!"
"A wolfman huh?!"
"Jango!" Kuro shouts.
"Yes… Yes!" Jango responds.
Kuro Glares at Izuku, "I will take care of this kid! You go to the south shore and deal with Kaya… make her write her will, and then… kill her! And also… those three puny ants… they irritate me."
"Got it!" Jango goes to obey.
Izuku growls as he unleashes his Conqueror's Haki, "YOU WILL NOT TOUCH WHAT IS MINE!" he clenches his fist and shatters the blades in his hand. The enemy pirates start to fall over foaming at the mouths, as Izuku unleashes wave after wave of his presence. The pack, Usopp, Bennett, and the kids feel a heavy protective barrier surrounding them.
"Oh shit!" Kaminari shouts, thinking Izuku is about to lose it. "We need to get out of here!"
"No, we don't," Shoto states as he stares at Izuku. "He has not lost himself to rampage. His entire fury is directed at one person. He only willed the others unconscious for their own safety."
Eerily calm Izuku addresses Usopp without looking away from Kuro, "Usopp, take your friends to the south coast. Ask for Kacchan, he is protecting Kaya. He could use your help."
Usopp gulps at the tone, "Go-got it, Captain!"
Kuro disengages from Izuku after his swords were shattered, he uses his silent step technique to try and cut down Usopp and the others running up the hill. Izuku flashes in front of him, "I told you Kuro, I'm your opponent."
Usopp collapses at the top of the hill, "Danm it!"
"Usopp!"
"I can't move my body!"
Kuro laughs at Usopp laying on the ground, "you're a joke! It's probably safer for you to lie down here, anyway even if you could make it, you are in no condition to protect anyone!"
"Even if it hurts me! Even if I'm not strong enough! Even if it kills me! I will protect them!" Usopp declares.
"Ah?"
"Usopp…" The pack mutters, seeing the determination and conviction to put his life on the line to protect everyone he cares about.
One of the Nyaban Brothers moves to attack Usopp, Zoro intercepts. Using his swords in a reverse grip, "If you stay down like a good little kitty, I won't kill you."
"I'm the Captain of the Usopp Pirate group…! I'm a brave warrior of the sea! I won't let you hurt the villagers!"
Some of the other pirates are starting to regain consciousness, "Hehe! Look at him, shouting out loud in a weird style like that!"
"So pathetic!"
"HAHAHAHA"
Izuku flashes his glowing green eyes toward the newly recovering Pirates, "if you dare laugh at Usopp again I will…" His features start morphing into a feral appearance, he laces some of his wolf in his voice, "I WILL KILL YOU ALL!"
Shoto freezes a path to prevent the newly recovered Pirates from attacking the downed Usopp, "Izuku, I'm gonna take Usopp to the south shore." He lifts him in a fireman carry, "Do you have any problem with that?"
Izuku growls down at the pirates, "Nope! Get out of here!"
Shoto nods and turns to skate up the hill, Izuku calls after him, "Shoto!" Shoto pauses for a moment, Izuku smiles ferally, "Protect them with your life!"
Shoto grins back, "Yea, I won't let you down, Captain!"
Shoto goes skating past Kuro, Kuro raises his blade to swipe at Shoto's back, "Hey you! Who said you could get through me!?"
Izuku flash steps two feathers drawn and blocking the blades, "I did!"
Izuku bats him away with his tail and goes to punch him hard enough to knock him out. But Kuro dodges, he swings his blade wildly, and Izuku weaves between the random swipes.
"Th… that kid, he actually dares to attack Captain Kuro…!"
Kuro disengages when there is some space between them, "before we fight, I want to ask you one question… you're a stranger here, why are you getting so involved with this village?!"
Izuku hums and smiles blindingly, "Because a wolf's job is to protect what is theirs. Usopp is mine, I don't want to see him dead. He cares about this village, and he is not strong enough to protect it on his own. So until he is, I will protect this village!"
"What a simple reason," Kuro smirks amused. "Are you really okay with it? After all, it'll be your reason for dying…"
"That's ok," Izuku states seriously, "I'm not gonna die anyway!"
Kuro readies his attack, "Die," He charges.
"No way," Izuku refuses as he intercepts the incoming blades, he kicks the man in the face.
Kuro realizing he can't land a hit on Izuku starts to sway back and forth, the pirate panic behind Izuku, "Wah! That stance is…!"
"Don't tell me it's that special technique!"
"Against only one person?"
"I'm pretty sure that's it…!"
"That's the Shakushi!"
"Shit! We are not safe here either!"
"We'll be killed!"
"His true intention is to kill us!"
The pirates try to convince Kuro not to kill them, their pleas go ignored as Kuro disappears and starts attacking indiscriminately. "PLEASE STOP!"
"It's no use! When he is using his silent step technique, he can't discern one target from the next"
"He's so fast that even he doesn't know what he is attacking! He won't stop till he's tired!"
Pirates start getting cut through randomly, screaming erupting out the pirates, "at this rate, I don't know how many of us will die…Argh!"
"Ahh, please someone! Anyone HELP US!"
"Try to avoid it or hide if you can!"
Amongst the screaming pirates, Izuku growls. His flames erupt out of him, Covering the wounded pirates. His feathers launch toward the pirates to keep them down. He tracks Kuro's movements; he waits until the man slices him across the chest. He grabs onto the man and slams him to the ground. "Gotcha!"
"You bastard!" Kuro smirks wildly, "You should have just quietly let me chop you to pieces...!" He stands up and faces Izuku, "Look! It's all because of you, my beloved crew is half dead and in terrible agony!" Captain Kuro starts to sway again.
As soon as Kuro disappears, Izuku flash steps in front of him stopping him from finishing off his own crew. He powers up 100% OFA and grips the man's shoulder with a bone-breaking grip. At Kuro's confused shocked face Izuku smirks, "too slow!" Izuku punches Kuro into the ground. As Kuro falls to the ground Izuku stands there breathing heavily. He ignores the pirates cheering, he picks up Kuro and throws him to the pirates, "Take him back! And don't ever come back!"
The pirates run away with their wounded and Captain, Izuku coughs up blood. He looks down, he is bleeding heavily from the chest slashes, and he must have been stabbed in the stomach when he caught Kuro. He breathes heavily, and sways on his feet, "Shit… Kacchan?"
Someone catches him and slows his fall; he is almost unconscious, and his healing is slow. He healed a lot over the last 24 hours. Between Usopp's mom, Merry, the dying Pirates; he doesn't have much stamina to heal himself. He is on someone's back, a soft proud voice calls out to him, "You fought hard…sleep now."
Izuku smiles against the person's back and lets sleep claim him. While he is sleeping Fuji works on healing him. The next time he wakes up, he is on the soft sandy beach of the south shore on Katsuki's lap. Katsuki smiles softly down at him, Izuku smiles back "Kacchan."
"Nerd," Katsuki's voice is soft and full of relief.
Usopp's face appears in his vision, he is bloody, smiling, and happy, "Thank you! It's all because of you!" Izuku winces at the volume, Usopp lowers his voice, "if it weren't for you guys… the village wouldn't have been protected."
Izuku smiles weakly, "If you hadn't done anything, I wouldn't have either."
"In light of this," Usopp begins. "I have decided…to join you on your adventure."
Izuku's smile gains a little strength, "welcome aboard, Usopp."
Another teen Izuku thinks is Benny or Bennett comes to stand next to Usopp, "you can't go on an adventure without Benny's adventure squad."
"Bennett?" Usopp whispers emotionally.
Bennett smirks, "what you think I was gonna let my best friend go on an adventure without me! Ha, you have no adventure skills! You'll get yourself killed!"
Usopp rolls his eyes, "like you have any more than I do?"
Bennett smiles and points a thumb towards himself, "Of course I do, I'm the best adventure in the world. You'll never find a better partner than me!"
Usopp smiles softly at his friend, "well it is really not up to me…"
"Greatest adventurer?" Katsuki smirks, "sounds fun."
"We have ninja, we have pirates and heroes… I don't think we have any adventurers." Izuku hums, "that's another group of skills to add to my pack."
Katsuki nods in agreement, "welcome aboard."
Bennett cheers and looks relieved, "Thank you! I won't let you down!"
Izuku nods, still feeling the drain of his energy. Katsuki tells everyone to start packing everything up. Izuku uses the hour or so to finish replenishing his reserves enough to shift and fly to the ship. Katsuki helps him stand and hovers in case Izuku decides to face plant the ground again. When Izuku is stable, he starts to shift, Bennett looks at the wolf awed, radiating excitement. Everyone mounts the wolf, and he takes off leaving Syrup Village behind.
It doesn't take long to reach the ship, Izuku hovers like always, not knowing if the ship can support his wolf form. Katsuki, Gaara, and Shoto help the other dismount from Fuji's back. Izuku shifts back breathing heavily. Katsuki catches him, Aizawa and Kakashi hover radiating concern. "Is he ok?"
Izuku mumbles something too slurred to be words, Katsuki translates, "The idiot exhausted himself, he'll be fine with some rest."
Aizawa sighs, "Problem Child."
Shoto approaches, "since Izuku is indisposed at the moment, shall we continue on to the Baratie?"
Katsuki nods, "yea. Sounds good."
Shoto nods and heads to the Navigators station, he sets the course, and check with Nami to see if he is taking the fastest route. She has them do minor adjustments and nods to herself. With their course set and stable, Nami takes one of the spare compasses, attaches it to her wrist, and goes out on deck. Witnessing Izuku's motives to save an entire island, for someone he just met, gives her hope. But there is still a twinge of fear at the thought of these brave, kind teens going against the might of the Fishmen.
She spots Katsuki sitting on the figurehead, a sleeping Izuku using him as a pillow. She approaches and makes her presence known, "Hey Katsuki?"
Katsuki hums but doesn't stop looking at the other teen, she doesn't know anyone on this crew very well, but she has never seen such a soft look directed at anyone, except maybe on the most devoted of lovers. She smiles slightly, "How is he?"
Katsuki sighs, "it has been a while since he exhausted himself this badly. He spent several hours healing Usopp's mother, then stayed up all night, then saved Merry's life, and whatever energy he expended in the fight. He will be fine with a couple of hours of sleep. Fuji will replenish his reserves while he sleeps."
"I'm glad," Nami states sincerely. She hums, "Is he always like this?"
"Like what?" Katsuki raises an eyebrow.
"Ready to put himself at risk for others?" Nami asks.
Katsuki growls slightly, more like a rumble, "yeah, used to piss me off. Who gave him the right to save the world only to leave me behind?"
"You must really care for him, huh?" Nami wants to coo at the blush that covers the teen's face.
"Well he is mine, of course, I care about him," Katsuki grumbles embarrassedly.
Nami hums, "what does that mean? Kuro asked why he was so invested in the safety of the village, Izuku said because Usopp is his, he won't let him die."
Katsuki sighs again, "we share our souls with wolves, you could say we are wolves. We have the instincts of wolves, so it is only natural we want pack. The Nerd is more intense about it than I am, if it were up to him everyone would be pack. He likes to claim people, he needs to claim people. He needs people to be strong for. People think my nerd is strong because of the strength of his wolf, but it is not just that. The nerd is the strongest when he is being strong for someone else. When he is protecting someone, he cares about, there are not many that can stand against him." Katsuki looks back down at Izuku, "I have no idea what you are fighting against; but if there is one thing that is an absolute fact. It doesn't matter what the nerd is up against, be it Gods, Fishmen, Emperors, Admirals, whatever it is; if it threatens the people he cares about…" Katsuki smirks, "we will show them no mercy!"
