Bounty Seven Chapter 24: The Heroine of Love and Justice, Part 4, an one piece fanfic

One Piece: Bounty Seven

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Heroine of Love and Justice, Part 4

"Aaaand without further ado~!" Venus said, spreading her arms and smiling wide. "Here-"

"Any chance you could get off my head now, and skip the theatrics? This is damn embarrassing."

Venus poked her with the rod. "When we're on your island, you can make the rules, Mr. Gloomy. Now be quiet - you're gonna throw off my rhythm."

"It's Adrian."

She ignored her. The assassin wondered how cute and adorable the girl would like if she knocked her off her shoulders right now. But hell, if anyone could make that look good, it was her.

"Now here~. We~. GO~!"

Adrian couldn't resist. As the heroine hopped off, up came her hand, smacking into the bottom of Venus' shoe. With a yelp, the girl went just a bit higher than she had expected. But right away Adrian could tell it was a staged one - she'd expected it? Well, fair enough, not like you needed precognition. It would take a special kind of idiot to act like that and not realize you'd be pissing people off.

As the assassin held back to not get caught in the inevitable lightshow, Siegfried's voice popped into her head. "Everything going alright there, Kitten?"

"Just that noble playing 'whack the suitor' again. Your buddy decided to stick his empty head into it up to his neck, too. He's got that glass woman working for him now."

"Hm. I thought it'd be something like that. He was quite nervous earlier; I doubt he's used to this sort of thing at all."

Adrian raised a hand as the pink glow grew overhead."You seem pretty happy. Something happen."

"Oh, I just uncovered the identity of our lovely heroine, that's all." he said smugly. "It was really quite-"

Adrian grinned. "Who is it? I'll tell her the first chance I get over here; ought to take the wind out of her sails."

"...what? What do you - ugh!"

"Something wrong?" She tapped her foot as the beams ran down, nailing most of the grunts except those who'd had the sense to run backward. For some reason none of them wanted to escape ahead - wonder why.

"N-not at all." Siegfried said back, which might as well have been 'definitely'. "You're positive that she's there?"

If he was asking a question like that, he really had been thrown for a loop. "Uh, yeah. You remember what she looks like, right?"

Venus landed and struck a bow to applause. "Well, yes, you're right, but that isn't possible! I was certain - grk."

"Look, just concentrate on what you're doing, okay? I'll try to get some answers out of her now that we're 'buddies'. We can talk about how you were wrong later."

No snippy comeback. So Siegfried didn't like being wrong; what a shocking development.

Over the mess of prone bodies caused by Venus' attack came Rottwell, flinging out his fist to add a big blemish to the heroine's lovely face. What it met instead was one of her barriers.

Quickly moving in from the side, Adrian got to see the young lady's smirk cloud over as a large crack spread across the shield. The bodyguard's fists flew quickly. "Beagle Nibbles Shoes!"

The crack became a spiderweb, and Venus was quickly launched backward as the projection broke - his fists didn't touch her, however, especially not after Adrian leaped in-between them. "Let me handle this guy," she called back as they traded blows, "just take care of-"

She flinched as one of the lasers shot right between her legs. That would have been impressive enough, but it blew a perfect hole just under Rottwell's foot, sending him off balance. Punching him in the chin, Adrian turned to Venus as he put some distance. "What'd I just say?" she asked, but not nastily. If the girl didn't want to shoot her,

The heroine shrugged. "To take out some dumb goons? I can do that until I'm blue in the face and it won't get rid of Rolando. The only reason they think they have a chance is because of this dummy - take him out and they'll run for sure."

"Ha!" Rottwell snorted. "My men are made of sterner stuff than that, girl! Aren't you?" he turned.

"Uh...sure. Yeah."

"We're right behind you."

That said, something about the bodyguard's enthusiasm rubbed off on you. Even the ones Venus had blasted rose, drawing weapons.

But morale couldn't change some facts, and one of them was that the group had someone even better at crowd control than Venus. The wind picked up around the men, and abruptly grew into a great, localized tornado. Not great enough to lift anyone up their feet, but disarm them? You bet.

Venus leaned forward and whistled appreciatively as the weapons whirled around, cutting or smacking into the thugs. Not entirely them, though. Nearby Richard gasped as some of improvised projectiles spun right at him.

No-one should have been able to move that fast in a ballgown, but Richard's body-guard managed it. She swept her arm contemptuously through the air, and the weapons shuddered to a halt, trapped inside a thick pane of glass. Then she tapped it, and the glass folded, moving inward to take on a spherical shape. Richard stared, impressed, until Cindy politely nudged him aside. She pulled her spear back like it was a croquet mallet...

Adrian had to admit, it was pretty. In a maiming sort of way. The sphere sailed about halfway between her and them before it shattered, propelling the weapons forward like pinballs. It didn't just leave it there, either; the glass shattered many times more, until it was a whole cloud coming at them, like some china shop's revenge. Even just one could sever an artery if it hit the right place, and Adrian didn't doubt they were all razor sharp.

"Iron Body!"

"Venus Shell!"

Both techniques did their job perfectly. This move of Cindy's was meant as a literal death of a thousand cuts, not to break through a strong defense.

"Well, that wasn't so bad." Venus chirped, making a show of dusting herself off. "Was it, Mis - oh."

Adrian spat, and the knife that had been vibrating between her teeth clattered on the ground. She winced, brushing off her clothes. "Figures it came right at me." Off to the side, Asakura swung out of a window. "Huh. Guess we could have done that."

"You okay, kid?"

Once again she saw the momentary scowl - not used to getting disrespect on her turf, eh? Too damn bad. "Fine~" Venus said, twirling her rod. Abruptly she spun into a cartwheel, landing behind Adrian and flinging out a shield. A gunshot went off from that direction and was deflected just in time. She turned to see one of the scattered guns, which had just fired.

"That's the silly thing about Devil Fruit powers - some of them can make guns just go off all of a sudden." She tapped her chin. "Oh, but you probably already knew that, didn't you? Sorry if I sounded...patronizing."

Okay. Even if she didn't know who Adrian was, she still had some idea of what the assassin could do. Saying something like that while being in arm's reach of her deserved some credit.

There was a squeak as the Black Cat's arm shot out, snatching Venus by the scruff of her neck and plopping her down next to her. "Okay, you made your point. Think you can take care of her? Getting a fistful of glass isn't my idea of a good time. Or getting it in the back, for that matter. Wouldn't be a very heroic sight, you know."

"'kay~" Venus said, smiling sweetly. "He looks more like your type anyway. I don't really like dealing with brute force so much, y'know?"

Asakura looked between the two of them. She was beginning to realize that if Adrian disliked you, as she obviously did the shinobi, that it also meant she did like you, in a very odd way. Almost as odd as someone seemng to share that outlook. "I suppose I shall take care of the rest of them, then?"

"Yeah, I guess." Venus said. She tapped her rod on her chin. "Gosh, too bad Oxwald didn't hire anyone for you to fight, eh...wait, that's not a bad thing at all. But hey, you can have a turn with Rolando once we get him alone. Once I'm done with him, anyway."

"Can't ask for a better deal than that, eh?" Adrian said, and snickered.

She turned to smile at the grunts. "You know, you guys could come at us any time, with us jawing away like this. Hope you don't think you're gonna get any points for being polite, are ya?"

"...how come the girl in the creepy bird mask is the least scary one?"

"This is ridiculous."

Siegfried was thinking this in regards to two different things. One, the fact that assumptions he'd thought to be ironclad had been about as durable as twigs. And two, the fact that being surprised at this had let that idiot lay two punches on him.

The second had sent him through this house's window - thankfully onto a sofa. He readjusted his glasses and stood up.

She had a clear affection for this town, and a great deal of influence within it. She could get an early glimpse of any pirates coming toward the island. They even had the same tic with their hair! He couldn't think of any way Victoria Lancaster couldn't be Venus...and yet apparently she was halfway across the island at the moment.

On the other hand, the heroine's appearance coinciding so well with the lady's didn't sound like a coincidence. He'd assumed - and now that irritating little saying about assumptions was coming to mind - that her comment about Venus' identity had been her way of admitting it. What did it mean now? And it did mean something; she was too clever for it not to.

Victoria claimed she didn't know how to contact Venus, but was that true? If it was, did that necessarily mean the girl wasn't her bodyguard? Did she know her identity? If not Victoria, who was Venus?

Siegfried didn't mind questions. Questions that came out of him being totally wrong, however...he was man enough to admit when that was the case but as a psychic he thought highly of his, well, thoughts. If they were every wrong about something, he'd devote his mind to making sure that didn't happen again.

But first, he'd have to devote another part of himself to a more current problem.

"Something wrong, man?" Oxwald said, rubbing his golden knuckles together. "You look a tad vexed. I hope it's nothing to do with me."

That didn't help his annoyance. "Really? Seems like you're the type to think the opposite way."

The massive noble shrugged. "Say what you please. I'll admit I only came here because of Miss Lancaster's wealth, but I didn't bring a small army here to do it, or hire someone to fight my battles for me. And I assure you, the Warrington family has much to offer besides that for a new member. All things considered, I'd say I am the best possible option for your lady at the moment." He grinned. "Although, depending on how professional you are, there might be a close second."

"I'm afraid she's not my type." Siegfried replied. "A proper lady doesn't really suit me."

"Mm." Oxwald muttered. "I must admit, if I had a choice I'd pick someone with a bit more...fire."

"Are you aware that I can hear you from where I am, Oxwald?"

Siegfried shrugged as Oxwald looked uncomfortable. "Somehow I think Oxwald also prefers the company of ladies who know what not to hear."

The Warrington grunted, grinding his hands together with the sound of clinking gold bars. "Very amusing. If we could continue..."

"If you like." Siegfried said casually, but his mind was working at full speed - he couldn't be distracted by this mystery any longer. Oxwald might have been a few coins short of a sensible bank vault, but he was stronger and even bigger than him than Adrian. Yes, Adrian: she'd probably have him dismantled like a pile of counterfeit gold in just a few minutes. But if he relied on her for something like this, what would that make him? Not someone worth her time or respect, that was what. Using someone powerful like an attack dog whenever a difficult problem came up...he knew the results of that. And he wasn't going to have anyone who would take that in stride on this team.

Besides, if he asked someone else to do it then he wouldn't be able to split Oxwald's golden jaw wide open personally. You had to have some entertainment, after all.

The psychic had enough time to give Victoria a smile before Oxwald came charging at him again. When he'd first seen the noblemen, Siegfried had pegged him as someone who had learned how to fight through books, or maybe a teacher who wasn't allowed to lay a finger on him. But underestimating him was just as dangerous as with Venus. It was obvious now that Oxwald had only read one book on fighting, and it was the one written by the street. That had been an unofficial teacher for many of the cadets, including him; he was the commander's favored student, after all. Having a name with more than six letters had just been the cherry on top. And of course, it was probably very easy to imagine Oxwald's name adorning a blank cheque to you with his one good hand.

But if that had ever happened, it was because he'd broken it on someone's skull. He did box, and had probably taken a class or two (it was hard to imagine a coach signing him up for say, gymnastics, even if that would be very funny), but augmented it with unsportsmanlike viciousness and every vicious move imaginable: thumb jabs, elbows, even a few attempted groin shots. That was certainly one way of thinning the herd, and probably a bit of a compliment that he was trying to do it to him...probably.

All of this was an extra bonus to the biggest problem, namely Oxwald's devil fruit. With it active, the noble could have fought like a rank amateur and still come out unscathed against many foes, and it was looking like he was among them. Even his psychic fists hadn't made a dent in the golden armor so far, and that was a first for him.

Oxwald came charging in fast, swinging a vicious haymaker at Siegfried's gut. The bounty hunter ducked quickly, feeling the punch whistle over his head like a cannon shot. That was the thing about Oxwald, though: he could move fast for a man his size, but between attacks he was a bit sluggish. Diving forward, he swung three punches of his own at the nobleman's chest.

If he was making any progress, it didn't bear fruit this time, unless you counted ruffling Oxwald's suit. He grinned widely, raising his arms overhead, clasped together. "Nine Carat..."

Siegfried quickly threw out a mental palm, using the impact to knock himself away. Not a second too soon, either. "BREAKER!"

The cobblestones under and around Oxwald were pulverized by the blow, and they weren't the only things that broke: his golden armor also snapped off him altogether, bouncing around the street like shrapnel. And he'd been thinking that ranged attacks could be a weakness of his. It showed where underestimating people got you.

Siegfried ducked and weaved, and even punched away a few of them, but he wasn't prepared; one clipped him across the ankle, and he tumbled.

He rolled, trying to get back to his feet as quickly as possible, but the first thing he saw was Oxwald's boot, raised to stomp on his neck. That wasn't the only thing he saw, though. "Victoria!"

It was probably the only thing he could have said that Oxwald would actually notice, and the giant turned and gulped before lowering his boot. The Lady Lancaster had collapsed, and was lying limp in the store's hole. Siegfried quickly rose and ran back, gently turning her over. If just one had hit her...

There was no wound, thankfully, but her breathing was labored, and she had a dazed look in her half-shut eyes.

"Well well." Oxwald said from behind him. "You seem to have great luck with our bouts, don't you?" He turned and began to walk away. "It would be bad form to keep going now. Another time, then: my schedule is quite clear."

Siegfried stared at the back of him, growled, and carefully lifted Victoria. She didn't look hurt at all, and beyond that he wasn't sure. But she hadn't seemed sick in the store, and didn't now, just...tired. He wasn't a doctor, of course. There were any number of diseases that had you looking fine right up until you weren't. And heaven knew she had enough viruses trying to get into her estate without

When he got back in, the store owner poked his head up from under the counter. His expression once he saw Victoria was heartening: it said that this wasn't out of the ordinary. "Ah, I thought that might happen. Put her in one of the chairs there, will you?"

He did. "I take it that means she isn't sick?" If it wasn't an illness, that narrowed the possibilities down a bit.

The shopkeeper seemed to think about it. "I'd say you don't have a right to now that, but pretty much everyone on this island has an idea if they haven't seen it for themselves. No, she's not sick, at least not how most people are. There's nothing in her body making her sick-"

"It's my body itself that's sick." Victoria suddenly spoke up, quietly. She seemed conscious again, but the exhaustion was still there. "Ever since I can remember, it's just been...weaker than other people's. It's some sort of anemia. Whenever I'm stressed or try to do things I shouldn't - which is most things - I often just collapse. Sometimes only for a few minutes, sometimes longer. I've spoken to several doctors, and none of them can name a sure cause, or a cure for that matter. It's just part of who I am."

She smiled ruefully. "I'm sorry if you were worried."

Siegfried thought two things in quick succession then. The first was that he couldn't imagine how difficult such a condition made life for her. He valued the training and skills Heinrich had given him highly, and they were things she'd never have.

The second, and he hated himself for thinking it so quickly, was that Victoria couldn't be Venus, then. Any of the feats he'd seen the heroine do so far would make her collapse like this instantly. He was back to square one for sure.

The people part of him smiled. "You have nothing to apologize for, Victoria. All this means is I'll have to wait a while before dealing with him for good. And what he'd look like afterward isn't something a lady should witness, after all."

He ignored the snort that came from behind him.

Victoria looked over at the clock on the wall. "Ah, Johnathan will be arriving soon." she rose, wavered, and then stood up.

It was obvious the anemia's effects hadn't left her; she simply didn't want to look weak. Not merely in front of him, but to the world in general. At the academy any slip-up or bad habit brought on gossip, but it was probably child's play compared to what nobles might say or do if they thought a fellow equal really wasn't. There probably wasn't much more stressful than thinking about what someone like Rolando would do with that knowledge. More and more he found it unfortunate she wasn't a good fit for his group: bringing a lady along would be one thing, but someone with her condition was another entirely, even if she was spirited.

Well, that and she might find trying to overthrow the foundations of the World's strongest and most long-lasting government a bit...improper.

"I'll wait with you outside." Siegfried said. "I'm sure you're alright, but Oxwald is-"

"A loud, clumsy oaf?" Victoria finished.

No-one could make a remark that cutting while completely sick. He relaxed more. "I wouldn't say clumsy, but it'd be hard to miss a man that big."

"Really?" she smiled. "You seemed to manage it."

Yes, quite a shame.

Adrian cursed and rolled to one side as another volley of glass scattered through her and Rottwell's location like glittery shrapnel. She didn't mind leaving that merc up to Venus - their powers were pretty good matches for each-other, not to mention how stupid their outfits were - but she could at least try to keep this crap on her side. She saw the heroine catch her gaze, and flash a thumbs-up. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

She ducked out of the way of another punch by Rottwell, and retaliated with a kick that forced him backward. "Kinda funny; a three-way war over some girl, an army of goons, not to mention the guy I'm working for: and this still isn't even the weirdest way we've ever ended up fighting."

The bodyguard snorted. "It matters not how we meet. We will fight as men!"

"...yep. Like men. Sure."

Rottwell sprang forward into a series of flips, ending with him diving head-first at Adrian in a spin. "Canine Art Nineteen: Poodle Dives at Bird!"

She hadn't seen that one before.. He was always coming up with new moves, or at least remembering ones he had. Hard to tell with these numbers - she'd eat a cigarette if it ever turned out they had some logic behind them.

Adrian would have jumped away...if she was a wimp. "Moonwalk!" Which chained nicely into: "Iron Body: Tiger Crush!" Typically she used this with her arm, but this time it was her head that hardened. Blow for blow, after all.

She heard a crack on his side of things as they collided, but that didn't mean much. It was far from the first crack she'd given Rottwell in their relationship, and she had the feeling he'd taken his fair share before they'd met, too. He fell back, but somehow or another he flipped around completely in mid-air. "Canine Art Three: Rex Wins Doggie Show!"

Her teeth clacked together as the powerful kick slammed down on her skull, breaking through the defensive technique. As hard as he'd wanted her to learn it, you'd think it'd be more useful when she needed it. What, was she supposed to let people attack her to practice it?

Nearby, Cindy flicked her wrist, creating a small mirror over her shoulder that deflected an attack not aimed at her. "Richard, perhaps it would be best if you watched from afar."

The nobleman looked hurt. "And watch while a lady fights alone?"

He yelped as another laser shot right over his head. "As opposed to watching her fight alone, not helping, and being a very nice target?" Venus said with her typical cheer. "Seriously, buzz off." Another glimmer of pink energy appeared on the front of her rod as she twirled it. "Unless you think those good looks are enough to keep me from blasting you - which they aren't. Maybe after a different haircut," she paused, and began to tick off her fingers, "different fashion sense, better attitude, better way of talking, not hiring dangerous mercenaries you know nothing about...hm, I guess that's getting away from looks, isn't it?"

"You're...not very ladylike." Richard blurted out.

"...n-not ladylike?" Venus said quietly, holding up a hand in front of her quivering lip. "That's...that's really-"

His parents had Views on making young ladies cry, even if, frankly, they'd started it. "I'm sorry, I didn't meant to-"

"Oooh, not being witty and not having a spine." two more fingers went down, while she spun around and blasted two thugs who had been sneaking up behind her. When she was back around, Venus' smile had reappeared like magic. "Sort of a flawed gem, aren't you?"

Richard's face was bright red. He might have said something quite ungentlemanly if Cindy hadn't spoken up. "Richard. Go." Her eyes had been pointed up at the sky during this whole exchange.

"...very well. But, be careful." the young noble disappeared down the nearby alley.

Venus pouted. "Aw, now I'd rather tease him than fight you." She looked over at the glass user. "At least he won't be in the way now - learned how to push his buttons pretty quick, eh? If I didn't know better, I'd say this isn't the first time you've met him." The heroine smiled. "But that's silly, right? I say things like that all the time, just ignore me~."

She rocked back and forth, as if the mercenary's stare would freeze her in place otherwise. "Yes, I can tell you almost never stop talking. Something will have to be done about that, indeed."

"...you know 'yes' and 'indeed' both mean the same thing, right?" Venus asked innocently. "Well, I hope you don't, actually, because using them both at once makes you really du-"

A single twitch of the eyebrow betrayed her intentions a second earlier, which didn't matter much: all of Cindy's moves seemed to take a little while to use. Or, rather, it wouldn't have mattered ordinarily. But her defenses weren't as impregnable to Venus as she seemed to think; she wouldn't be much of a heroine if she was stopped by something a rock would break, right?

"Shattered Invitation." Cindy said with icy calmness as another hail of glass shot at Venus' lovely face.

Venus thrust out her hand. "Venus-"

She was a pretty fast learner. Cindy had lunged forward just as her glass did, and pulled back the jagged end of her weapon to pierce Venus' barrier, then her chest.

"REFLECTOR!"

Cindy quickly snapped her fingers, sending the glass back to whatever aether her devil fruit had taken them other attack continued, but the Venus slipped through the space her move had made, ducked, raised her rod-

The glass woman grunted as three of the heroine's lasers hit her in the chest, too close for the glass dress to do much good about it. Parts of it shattered...oh. Venus yelped as the shards shot past her face, one of cutting her cheek. Amidst the storm, Cindy spun forward gracefully and swung her weapon around at head height.

Venus ducked, in a way that was only one step above falling on her behind. This evaded the attack, and gave her a nice glimpse of her opponent's shoes. They were pretty nice, actually, and made of...glass...

"Dreamer's Step."

With a swift kick, the piece of footwear flew off her foot, spinning through the air toward Venus looking quite unlike the grenade she knew it to be. She prepared to shoot - and then her eyes darted around, at all the people watching.

Cindy smiled as the blonde girl flung up another barrier. She clicked her fingers, and the shoe changed, a spike jutting out of the front. It picked up speed as it flew, and hit the pink shield nearly hard enough to jolt Venus out of her own shoes. She dug her feet in, and doubled her concentration. There was no other choice: the shoe was now boring through her shield like a drill, piercing layers just as fast as she could make them. Which would be fine, eventually the thing had to run out of steam...except that eventually, she'd run out of space to move back.

Oh, yeah, and there were a couple dozen other problems.

Venus gulped as a couple of Roland's thugs lined up shots on her head. When they fired, though, the bullets travelled a short distance before falling to the ground - and they nearly joined them as a localized blast of wind came straight down. Before they could react they were felled with a few quick blows.

"If you can't fight her without the aid of someone who isn't even on your side, I'm not surprised you don't wish to fight me." Asakura said, addressing all of them. "Would any of you care to try again?"

Reactions were mixed at that idea, to say the least. "There will be no need for that, men." A voice said from behind them; Roland. Not coincidentally, he looked very confident. "With her abilities she could stop everything you tried...but not everything I can."

He held up the photo his men had taken. "You know, Miss Venus, you're as lovely as you are irritating. I've tried for a while to get a nice portrait of you, and at last I did."

Venus gulped again.

Rolando's smile grew. "Now I just need..." he reached into his pocket, and retrieved a large, brass safety pin. "...to pin it up."

Asakura didn't know exactly what this meant, but she was no fool. Quickly she tossed three shuriken toward him.

One was deflected by one of his men. As for the other two, the noble was quicker than he looked, dodging both. He smiled, and drove the pin home into the portrait's right leg.

Venus spasmed, and let out a cry of sheer pain as her leg buckled, dropping her down to one knee. Underneath the stocking on that leg, a wound had opened like magic. Quickly she tried to renew her barrier, but the distraction had cost her; the shoe broke through, sending her flying back as the shield burst. In mid-air, she watched as the drill-shoe drove right for her chest.

"...well, uh...poop."

"Hm? Are you alright, Victoria?"

She had shut her eyes for a moment, and now opened them as she nodded. "Oh, yes. Just an after-effect of the anemia, I think - I'm not used to this much excitement."

"It's a bit of a first for me, as well." Siegfried admitted. "I probably wouldn't have dealt with a marriage dispute in my first choice of a job."

Victoria smiled. "Oh? Don't tell me...it was being a floralist, right? I thought that just from looking at you."

" Ah, if only. I was just training to be a marine."

"That I can see." she said, and took on a dramatic tone. "The young, prodigy marine, traveling around defeating villains, wooing young ladies...I suppose what you're doing now isn't too different, but is there any reason why you changed your mind?"

He paused. "I...just decided it was what was best, that's all. It wasn't a choice I made lightly, don't worry."

She sighed. "That's good. I really admire people who know what they want to do in life."

Siegfried would have asked what that meant, but a carriage pulled out from the main road and stopped before them. Johnathan was manning the horses. "There seems to have been some commotion here - are you alright, Victoria?"

His eyes settled on the bounty hunter. "Ah, I see there was no need to worry with your talented body guard here. Good work, Sir Siegfried."

It was probably a good he'd become a butler rather than an actor. "I deliver her back to you safe and sound." he replied, bowing.

"I'll meet you again later, Siegfried." Victoria said, climbing aboard. "Good luck with your plans down here."

"There's only one person I think I'll need a bit of luck for."

When she had departed, he quickly turned and began making his way back to the other street. "Adrian? What's happening now?"

"Busy. Talk later."

"...alright." That didn't sound promising.

"That...hurt a little bit less than I thought it would. But it did flip me upside...down..."

Venus opened her eyes. "Oh."

"Hey." said Adrian. "I know what you said about me getting in the way, but I just couldn't help myself, sorry." In one hand she held the girl dangling by one leg, in the other the shoe drilled futilely. "If I'm a problem, just lemme know and I'll get out of the way lickity-split."

"...well I guess if you're that enthusiastic, I can allow it." the heroine replied diplomatically. "Just don't say 'lickity-split' again."

"What, a word too stupid for you?" the assassin shot back, dropping her, and tossing the shoe into the air at the same time. "Finger Pistol!"

Her finger broke the projectile into pieces, and then those pieces into others. When Adrian was through the tooth-pick sized shards swiveled toward her - until she ducked, and Venus disintegrated them with one shot.

Adrian turned to look at her. The kid's leg was shaky, but it could still keep her upright.

Something Rolando had a problem with. He held the pin up again-

"Nope." Venus said, glaring, and flung up her hand. Rolando prepared to dodge again, but it didn't matter. He and his men recoiled as intense light shot from her hand, blinding them. The noble himself ducked low, behind the hired help.

"Unless he's waaaaay dumber than I thought, I'm guessing he has to be looking at what the picture's of before he can do that." she commented. "But I'd rather not find out I'm wrong." The heroine started backing up. "Mind giving another boost?"

Adrian nodded. "Sure." She executed a quick shave, blocking a leaping kick from Rottwell. "Just hurry up."

"'kay." Venus called, dashing forward toward Adrian. A shard of glass flew to intercept her, but a quick tempest kick took care of that. Cindy frowned, while The Black Cat only sneered in response.

Forcing the bodyguard back with a flurry of blows, she raised her hand and threw Venus upward, like earlier.

"Aw, you wanted something picturesque from me, Rolando?" the blonde grinned. "All you had to do was ask. Venuuuuuuuuus..."

Contrary to appearances, the noble wasn't a complete coward - as long as there was the possibility of him winning, he had nerve by the bucketload. He stood there blinking the light from his eyes, trying to get a clear picture of the girl. Yes, he still had a clear line of sight on her, despite the gathering pink glow. No playing around this time, either. He drove the pin over the picture Venus' head, and drove it forward-

"SHOWER!"

-into nothing, and let out a cry of frustration as she fired a set of beams that completely obscured his vision. Why had that idiotic brute gotten in the way? And that injury should have left the girl unable to do her acrobatics - it had never failed to cripple someone before!

The lasers rained down, sending his men flying. Quickly he grabbed two men who were fleeing and dragged them in front of him. "Pay raise!"

They looked at each-other and shrugged as the boss ducked down low. It was a living.

They both got a laser in the face each, but stood standing, half because of sturdiness, half because Rolando had them by the collar. They collapsed shortly after the attack concluded. Surprisingly, most of the lasers had hit their mark perfectly, and the street had only suffered a bit of damage. But the noble hadn't been hit, and neither had his picture. "Nice try," he crooned as Venus fell back to the ground, "but it didn't work." He held up the safety pin over a particular area. "I wonder if you'll still have your marksmanship or charisma when you're missing an ey...I...I..."

Asakura had come out of nowhere, shoving an elbow into his chest. She followed it up with a punch to the nose, and then threw a shuriken; it ripped the picture in two.

Adrian looked down from grappling with Rottwell. "That cut you in half, kid?"

Venus stared. And stared. "...wow, I actually can't even come up with a dumb joke for that. No."

"Just making sure. Never know, right?"

"Suuuure."

With a tortured groan, Rolando cradled his nose. "The pain...you've shattered it, you foolish woman..."

Practically skipping forward with her good cheer restored, Venus whistled. "Wow, sounds like it." She clapped briefly at Asakura. "Nice job. I kept wanting to do that myself, but blood is one of the top five things of his I want nowhere near me."

She looked around. "Lessee here...your men are all busted, your bodyguard is busy with my new friend-"

"Oh, he has another bodyguard?" Adrian sniped from behind. Venus just giggled.

"No, I am the only agent he-"

"I know, kibble-brain."

Venus then waved a hand at the last remaining person of note. "I guess you do have a chance, if you could somehow convince someone helping a guy you'd happily put six feet under to save you" Holding her rod in both hands, she leaned forward at Cindy. "I mean, c'mon - he's only middle-aged, a little irritating...kinda - well, okay, pretty creepy. Kind of a weakling too, and not in the charming way that you like."

The glass woman stared coldly, and then vanished down an alleyway.

"Alas," Venus said, wiping away a fake tear, "I tried." She smiled. "But I'm sure we can give you a nice consolation prize, hm?"

Asakura, moving around behind the frozen noble, did not reply.

"Oh?" she said anyway, starting to twirl her weapon. "You think he could do with a makeover, eh? Can't really argue there. Bu~t, I wouldn't know where to begin, being a natural beauty and all."

She suddenly snapped the rod up to point at Rolando. Her eyes met his and narrowed, but the smile remained. It was just a teensy bit less pleasant. "So then, might as well start everywhere. Venuuuuuuus..."

The glow on the end of her wand was practically blinding this time. And like a magic trick, it made the last of Rolando's nerve disappear. "ROTTWEEELL!"

Adrian could have sworn his ears actually twitched. He ducked aside another punch, and stared at his employer as they went through another exchange. "DO IT! NOOOOW!"

"If anyone could be more terrible at this I'd sure as hell like to see it." The Black Cat saw the hound's stance change just slightly before he threw his next punch: a strong one to force her out of the way, and probably with something extra on the end of it too. Fine by her. Adrian threw one of her own without hesitating. No move of his before had been all that bad.

But there was a first time for everything. She flinched as their fists collided; Rottwell's hand was now lined with a blazing red aura, like it was on fire. It certainly felt like it to her own, but this fire went straight to the bone without even bothering with the skin.

If it was one thing she hated more than Devil Fruit powers, it was this ki crap, or chakra, or whatever the hell you wanted to call it. Just like the fruits, people with it could do almost anything they thought of. Even the Six Styles, as strong as they were, only extended as far as the physical realm, and she'd had to train for years to learn them. Hell, even with the fruits you had to actually find one to eat it, and you might end up with a shitty one - maybe even literally. But with Ki you could be born with something that so many people didn't have, and wouldn't ever have. Just like - "Huh, yeah, nobility." Thank god the two didn't go well together. She didn't like to think of herself as having a temper (not that this meant she wasn't angry - just not angrier than usual), but someone like that would shorten her fuse like nothing else.

Not the time to be thinking about this stuff, though. Pretty obvious what the idea was here: force past her while she was still wrapping her head around this little trick. Rottwell prepared another punch.

Adrian didn't back down from anything, but trading punches with a pair of flaming fists wasn't being brave. She hopped back, away from the punch, and fired a Razor Wind. See if he could get around-

"Of -ing course." she muttered as Rottwell threw another blow; this one sent a wave of heat forward that slammed into the slashing wind, dissipating both. Adrian growled. "If that's how it has to go..." She dove forward-

And he dove straight up. Adrian caught a glimpse of the flames encircling his legs as well, just before one stomped down on her head as he used like a springboard. The bodyguard hit the ground ahead, running headlong at the other two women. Venus spun, firing a pair of lasers, but they might as well have come from a slingshot for how close they came to him. A hail of weapons from Asakura came afterward, but he weaved in-between them like the prize-winning pup at the dog show. Sliding past her, he snatched up Roland and was off.

"Dammit, if you think you can get away from me-" Adrian growled, starting forward, and nearly slammed into a pink, glowing stop sign.

"As much as it pains me to say this," Venus said, dispelling the projection, "it might be best if he's right about something." She shuddered. "Yep, as bad as I thought."

The Black Cat glowered down at the younger girl, not looking amused. "...yeah, you're probably right." she sighed. "No telling what he'd do while cornered like that."

Venus' face fell. "Aw, and I wanted to explain why you were wrong."

"No worries. I'm sure another chance to make me want to rip off those pigtails will come right along."

"Mmm, probably." the heroine turned and looked at the sun's position. "Well, now that my work here is done, I'd better be off. Things to do, y'know?"

Adrian held up a hand. "Hey, I think Birdie here has some stuff that could help that wound. Ones like that can cause troube later, especially with how you fight."

She expected the kid to brush it off as nothing, but instead Venus just blinked, like the comment had made her remember it was there to start with. "Oh, yeah...well, I think it'll be fine. It takes more than that to keep a hero down, y'know?"

The Black Cat probably wasn't in the top ten of the many people who didn't 'y'know' about that, but at the moment she was pretty happy just to be among their esteemed number. What she did know, though, was about pride. During her days at the academy there had been plenty of times when she'd refused aid, intending on patching herself up back in her home. Intended to, anyway, because the GLAA had certain views on prospective assassins wasting their time and efforts by doing selfish things like bleeding out. She'd even been like that back at the Old Man's place, which he'd just found hilarious, just like most things she had done (or tried to do) back then.

Point was, even if it was stupid, Adrian knew all about refusing other people's help. It was just something you had to do sometimes. "If you say so. Not like I care that much, but I'm sure your public will be a little upset if you have to show up in a leg brace next time. Might not set the mood you're going for here."

"I'll keep that that in mind." Venus said, turning away...and then abruptly hopping back, landing with her face just an inch or so away from Adrian's. "Oh yeah," she said to the assassin, who hadn't moved an inch, "and you can tell that wise guy boss of yours I'll meet him on the roof of your hotel, tonight. You can come too, if you want."

Then she leaped, landing on top of a rooftop. As she went up, Adrian squinted, and noticed tiny, pink wings coming off the sides of her shoes. Of course.

Venus struck a bow and was gone amidst applause, like she hadn't almost died trying to help them. The Black Cat shook her head. "He's bang-on about needing someone like her: no way could I ever really get into this hero business, or even make anyone think I was."

She sighed, looking over at Asakura, who was stooped over one of the unconscious thugs. Those who weren't had fled. It was the same with her, really: these ninja guys were out to help the world, at least according to the totally unbiased source of one of them, but no way could they be used to the limelight. "Let's just hope she can make other people look as good as she does herself, I guess. No telling what other weirdos we'll end up with, so she and Siegfried might have their work cut out for 'em. Assuming she's even up for it to begin with."

Adrian walked over and scoffed when she saw what the shinobi was doing. "Tying him up? You really think it's worth the trouble?"

Asakura nodded, finishing the knot on the cord she had used. "Of course. One less enemy is never a waste, even ones below our level. He won't be able to replace them before our job here is done, at this rate. I'm sure she would do the same if she could create permanent restraints." She extended a hand filled with more of the cord.

"Guess you got a point." Adrian admitted, and took the pile, applying it to another conked out henchmen. "I wouldn't put too much into assumptions with her, though. She said to meet her on top of our hotel tonight - think Siegfried told her where that is?"

"No."

"Me neither, and I'd swear she knew I knew that. Brain like a sword blade behind a pretty face; no wonder Siegfried took a shine to her." She turned and called to one bystander. "Hey, you guys have a jail or something here for these guys."

He nodded. "Whenever Venus busts up a group of guys like this, we usually just chuck 'em in the local stables. Farmer there makes his own special fertilizer, so they get to, heh, ruminate on what they did wrong a while until the Marines show up."

"So everyone here thinks they're funny, eh?" Aloud, Adrian nodded. "Sounds like she gets around a lot."

"Uh-huh. Only time we don't see her during trouble is when it's raining, but with that hair you can't really blame her."

Adrian couldn't help wondering what these people would feel like blaming Venus for. Some people with their vanity...huh, speaking of, how was Rolando dealing with that broken nose, she wondered? Oh, to be the fly on that wall...

"The humiliation."

"I think it'll heal up fine, boss."

"The agonizing, despicable humiliation."

"He's right, sir, I've seen him set bones before, sometimes other people's. It usually turns out well, more or less."

Rolando glared at the two of them. With how much he was paying them, you'd think they could at least come up with a consistent title for him. He certainly wasn't getting physical competence as compensation. "It isn't just about my marred visage, you twits. Although," he sniffed sadly, "I'm sure more than one or two maidens will be beside themselves when I return."

The noble stood up and began to pace angrily. "At this rate, it may very well be empty-handed. This was meant to be when I would rid myself of that imp once and for all. Instead both my aces are out in the open with nothing to show for it. They've seen my Devil Fruit power personally, and no doubt understand its weaknesses because of it. I won't be able to catch them off-guard any longer." He waved a hand at his bodyguard. "And I had hoped to catch that man in black by surprise with Rottwell's new skill, and now he's surely thinking of a way around it."

"Not to disparage your skills of course, man," Rolando added quickly, "but he was able to fight evenly with you to start with, and - Rottwell?"

The canine fighter was seated in the corner, staring down at one of his shoes. "I'm listening, Mr. Tepe. I just noticed I tracked something here on the way. I thought it to be some of the girl's blood, but it's something else, although it stains just as strongly."

Raising an eyebrow, the noble walked over. "Some bit of refuse, no doubt. Why am I not surprised? Here, let me-"

He stopped as he saw what was on the bottom of his bodyguard's shoe. It was something he had seen before quite often. "Rottwell," Rolando said slowly, thoughtfully, "you say you thought it was her blood? Meaning you're sure you didn't step in it on the way here, yes?"

The man's face twisted in thought. "I'm quite certain, Mr. Rottwell. Why?"

"It could be very important." Rolando said. "Hold that pose, and don't touch it." He turned and ran into his dark room, coming back at a surprising turn of speed. In his hands he held a brush, a magnifying glass, and a sheet of paper. Running the brush across Rottwell's boot, he then applied it to the paper, placing it gingerly on the table. His men leaned in curiously as he stared intently through the lens at the black, messy substance. "Yes...yeeesss, just as I thought!" He sprang up, grabbing a book from the shelf - the current Devil Fruit guide.

It didn't take long to find what he was looking for: it was right near the front, in fact. Rolando read the entry, and then again to be sure. A slow grin spread across his features. "It seems I was mistaken. In casting my hand, Venus has cast hers as well, with blissful ignorance I'll be only too happy to shatter."

The henchmen stared uncomfortably at each-other. When your boss started talking like that, you knew you weren't getting the rest of the day off.

"Her identity is still unknown to me, but that no longer matters. With what I now know of her, Venus will be beneath my heel before dawn tomorrow." he smiled wickedly. "This heroine's tale is about to come to a very swift end."

To be continued...

Next Time on One Piece: Bounty Seven...

Venus: You seem to think you know an awful lot, cutie. Do you?

Siegfried: There certainly are more than a few mysteries about you...but also some discrepencies.

Adrian: This kinda thing is really more our territory, you know.

The Heroine of Love and Justice, Part 5

Venus: N-not that! Anything but that!

No reviews this time, but hopefully that'll change next chapter, which I'll try to make a bit sooner.