Ch. 23- A True Pirate
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard, Monkey D. Aika, Kumi, Kovar, and Monkey D. Star © Me
The memory shifted once again, and with it brought the dawn of another day on the Gecko Islands. Luffy, Past Zoro, Past Nami, and Past Usopp stood at the shore while the present-day Straw Hats watched. All four of them had an air of confidence and determination, the kind the Straw Hats usually had whenever they were about to head off into some big battle. The quartet had just set up the traps for the pirates, and now, they were just waiting for them to show.
"Usopp, you look so brave!" Chopper exclaimed.
"The lighting helps," Usopp humored, causing the other Straw Hats to chuckle.
"That's funny," Aika said.
"Thank you," Usopp replied.
"Get ready," Past Usopp said. "They'll be showing up, any minute!"
"I'm looking forward to this," Past Zoro smirked.
"Yeah, bring it!" Luffy exclaimed.
"I'm just getting ready to nab whatever treasure they've got," Past Nami said while sticking out her tongue.
"...I forgot I used to do that," Nami muttered. "I mean...I mostly do that whenever Luffy and I-"
"AHE-HE-HEM!" Usopp cleared his throat as he pointed to Aika and Kumi. "There are CHILDREN present, thank you!"
After a while, the quartet was still standing on the beach, waiting for the Black Cat Pirates, but they still didn't show.
"...Okay, I'm starting to get bored, here," Luffy said.
"Yeah, where are they?" Past Nami asked.
"I don't get it," Past Usopp answered. "How come they haven't shown up yet? It's already dawn!"
"Maybe they overslept?" Past Zoro asked.
"This coming from the one who oversleeps every morning," Sanji quipped.
"Watch it...!" Zoro sneered.
"It is strange," Brook said. "Did they not say they would meet at this beach at dawn?"
"Well...about that," Nami answered, until Past Nami suddenly put a hand to her ear.
"Hold it," she said. "Is it me, or do I hear a bunch of voices yelling up north from us?"
"W-wait," Past Usopp stammered with dread. "Did you say 'north'?!"
"Yeah," Past Nami answered. "I definitely hear something coming from the north side of the island."
"Hey, what's wrong?!" Past Zoro questioned.
"CRAP!" Past Usopp cursed. "I just remembered! There's another beach on the north! The one where I met you guys!"
"Wait, you mean we came to the wrong beach the whole time?!" Luffy asked in shock.
"Why were you at this beach?!" Franky asked.
"I thought that since Kuro and Jango had there meeting at that beach, I assumed that they would be landing there!" Usopp answered. "I made a mistake, okay?!"
"Quick!" Past Usopp exclaimed. "If we run straight norht, we should be able to meet the pirates in three minutes! There's another pass that looks just like this one! We'll be able to head them off there!"
"Wait a minute!" Past Nami cried. "Our boats are at the northern beach! They'll take all the treasure I stole from Buggy!"
"...Seriously?" Past Zoro asked.
"Leave it to me!" Luffy exclaimed as he ran off. "I'll be there in 20 seconds!"
As he kept running, the Straw Hats noticed something.
"Wait a minute!" Sanji exclaimed. "Why's he going that way?! That's not north! That's west, where the village is!"
Sure enough, Luffy found himself standing right on the outskirts of Syrup Village.
"EH?!" Luffy questioned. "Wait a minute! How'd I end up back at the village?! Usopp said north, so I just went in the direction that seemed colder!"
"...Really?" Blizzard deadpanned.
"Yes, Blizzard, really," Usopp answered, just as incredulous as the wolf-dog.
"Huh," Aika muttered. "I thought Zoro got lost all the time."
"No, Aika, your brother gets lost, too," Nami muttered before she heaved a sigh.
With a frantic whine, Luffy turned and ran back in the direction he came from.
"Gotta find Usopp, gotta find Usopp!" he exclaimed. "Oh, man, what am I gonna do?!"
He then found himself in the middle of the forest.
"Huh?!" he questioned. "How'd I get here?!"
"Seriously?!" Usopp asked. "This is what he was doing while I was risking my life?!"
Luffy growled before he turned and ran off, again.
"Just head north! Head north!" he exclaimed before he stopped and looked up at a cliff. "...WHICH WAY IS NORTH, ANYWAY?!"
The Straw Hats all face-palmed, save for Aika and Kumi.
"Why didn't Luffy just follow all the yelling to know where the pirates were?" asked Kumi.
"I guess he didn't think about it," Aika said. "That doesn't mean he's stupid, though...does it?"
"N-no, honey, of course not!" Nami replied with a sheepish chuckle.
"LUFFY!"
Luffy braked to a halt when he heard Past Zoro's voice, causing the boy to look up and see him running into the forest, too. For some reason, he had a large oil stain on his face.
"Wait a minute! I remember this!" he shouted. "Nami, you left me in that oil slick!"
"Oh, come on, are you still holding that against me?!" Nami asked. "I told you, I had no choice! They were gonna take my treasure!"
"Zoro?!" Luffy asked as he ran over to him. "Where'd you come from?!"
"Don't ask!" Past Zoro barked. "We gotta find Usopp and Nami, that bitch!"
"Right," Luffy replied. "Uhh...do you know which way north is? I've been running around all this time, and I can't find Usopp or Nami anywhere!"
"How about we just follow the sound of the pirates yelling?" asked Past Zoro.
"... ... ...Oh!" Luffy exclaimed as he pounded a fist in his palm. "That makes sense! C'mon, let's get moving!"
On that, the pair took off, heading in the right direction, this time.
"Damn that Nami," Past Zoro cursed. "Leaving me behind in that oil! I'll get her for this!"
"I'm more worried about finding Usopp!" Luffy said, panting as he ran. "He's going up against some real pirates! As brave as he is, it doesn't mean anything if he doesn't have the strength to back that up! If we don't hurry, he's gonna get himself killed!"
That's when the Straw Hats noticed something in Luffy's voice: genuine worry.
"...Was Luffy really that worried for me?" Usopp asked in disbelief.
"Apparently, he was," Robin said. "I think he says this because he speaks from experience."
"Experience?" Nami repeated.
"Are you talking about when he tried to fight those bandits and Bluejam's crew?" asked Franky.
"Exactly," Robin nodded.
"I see now," Brook added. "In those instances, Luffy nearly lost his life. That's why he's so worried for Usopp, here. Because he knows what he'll really be going up against."
"That's why he was desperate to find Usopp," Chopper realized.
"...Luffy..." Usopp whispered.
Before too long, the duo managed to find their way to the beach where they met Past Usopp, and soon, they found a large group of pirates running by Past Nami and Past Usopp, who was bleeding from his head, obviously injured from trying to fight the brutes off.
"Zoro!" Luffy called out as he started to stretch his arm back.
"Right!" Past Zoro exclaimed as he drew his swords and charged forward, then slashed the pirates with his blades, while Luffy punched them away with his Gum-Gum Pistol, and the result sent the pirates flying back down to the beach, to Past Nami and Past Usopp's surprise.
"Yes!" Aika cheered. "They did it!"
"That's Luffy and Zoro for you!" Kumi added.
The Black Cat Pirates groaned in pain before one of them looked up at Jango, who gawked in shock and confusion at the duo's entrance.
"Hey, Jango, what the hell is this?!" one of them questioned. "You never mentioned that we'd be facing demons on this job!"
"Hmph!" Past Zoro scoffed. "That wasn't much of a challenge. What the hell was that?"
"How the hell would I know?" Luffy asked. "I'm in a real bad mood, now!"
'Usopp's hurt pretty bad...good thing I got here in time. Those bastards are gonna pay for this!'
"Nami!" Past Zoro barked. "You left me stranded in that oil, you wench!"
"Dammit, Usopp, why didn't you say which north was?!" Luffy questioned in frustration, while the Black Cat Pirates gaped in disbelief.
"Are they stupid or something...?" Jango asked.
"That's what I ask myself, sometimes," Sanji muttered while Robin chuckled.
"What took you two so long?!" Past Nami asked. "Did you stop for a manicure or something?!"
"You've gotta be kidding me!" Past Zoro shouted. "You pushed me into that oil slick and left me looking like a fool!"
"It was an accident!" Past Nami objected. "Besides, it was better if one of us got stuck than the both of us!"
"THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU STAY STUCK?!" Past Zoro questioned.
"And how the hell was I supposed to know which way north way, anyways?!" Luffy asked.
"I thought you knew where you were going!" Past Usopp countered.
"Boy was I wrong," the current Usopp quipped.
"Luffy sure knows how to hide concern, sometimes, huh?" Chopper asked.
"And here I was, thinking he was easy to read," Nami mused. "But then again, there have been times that I thought I knew what he was thinking, but it turned out to be something else entirely."
"That's true," Sanji nodded.
"I beg your pardon," Jango said to the staggering Black Cat Pirates, "but can anyone tell me how about a bunch of mere children bested you all?!"
"Hey! We weren't kids!" Usopp argued.
"Technically, we were teenagers," Nami replied. "Well, okay, you and Luffy were teenagers. Zoro and I were adults...legally, that is."
"Why get technical?" Zoro asked. "Just shut up and watch the memory."
"Whoa, look at that!" Luffy exclaimed as he watched the Black Cat Pirates get to their feet. "They're still up and kickin'!"
"Now listen up!" Jango called. "If our enemies are strong, we might as well be stronger than they are!" He then held up his ring. "Now, look here at this ring! When I say '1, 2, Jango', you will all be given superhuman strength! Your wounds will heal in an instant, and you will get stronger and stronger!"
"Eh?" Luffy muttered. "What are they doing?"
"No idea," Past Usopp answered, "but somehow, I got a bad feeling about this."
For some reason, Luffy was only focusing on the ring that Jango was dangling in front of his crew and any other sound around him was suddenly drowned out, so the Straw Hats could barely make out Past Nami's voice.
"How come Big Brother's just looking at that weird ring?" asked Aika.
"...Oh, no," Nami said with dread. "I remember what happens here!"
"Wait, what?" Kumi asked.
"1...2...JANGO!" Jango shouted as he pulled his hat down...and not long after, the Black Cat Pirates roared fiercely, as if they had just been brought back from the dead. One of them even managed to destroy a cliff face with just one punch, alone!
"Wait, that hypnosis thing really worked?!" Franky questioned.
"My word!" Brook exclaimed. "He destroyed that cliff!"
"Yeah...and imagine what they would've done to us if Luffy hadn't been there," Usopp said, worriedly.
"What do you mean?" asked Aika.
"Just watch, kid," Zoro answered as he pet Aika on the head.
Soon, on Jango's order, the Black Cat Pirates charged at the quartet. For some reason, though, Past Zoro's voice was still drowned out, but the Straw Hats could make out the words "get to safety", which he most likely said to Past Nami and Past Usopp, since the latter was so heavily injured. Just as the swordsman was about to deal with them, Luffy suddenly let out a loud cry of his own.
"Wait a minute..." Franky muttered.
"Did that moron really get himself hypnotized, too?!" Blizzard questioned.
"I know Luffy has the brain of animal sometimes," Chopper began, "but even this is overdoing it!"
Before long, Luffy charged at the Black Cat Pirates before he began to make a flurry of rapid-fire punches.
"GUUUUUUUM-GUUUUUUUUUUUM GATLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!"
Soon, the Black Cat Pirates were blown away by the powerful attack.
"Yes!" Aika cheered. "He did it, even though he was hypno...something or other!"
"Gotta admit," Sanji began, "that was pretty impressive...despite the circumstances."
Robin only chuckled in amusement.
Soon, Luffy let out another roar as he seemingly chased after the Black Cat Pirates, who screamed and ran away like the cowards they truly were. However, instead of thrashing them about (like Aika had hoped), Luffy instead ran to their ship and tore off the stempost for the figurehead...which actually seemed to be sweatdropping in disbelief.
"Oh, no!" cried one of the Black Cat Pirates. "He's gonna crush us with it! EVERYBODY RUN!"
And run they did, while Luffy stomped after them, growling like an angry gorilla. Even his arms bulged unnaturally as he let out a ferocious roar.
"DO SOMETHING, CAPTAIN JANGO!" cried one of the pirates.
Jango yelped before he looked around in fright, then brought out his ring.
"1, 2, JANGO, AND YOU WILL FALL ASLEEP!" he shouted. "1...2...JANGO!"
Before anyone knew it, Luffy's arms shrank, his eyelids grew heavy, and he collapsed on the sand, and the stempost soon fell on top of him while he snored loudly. Not long after, the memory went dark.
"Jeez!" Sanji exclaimed. "I can't believe he fell asleep, just like that! Let alone be susceptible to hypnosis!"
Nami only sighed and shook her head.
"What can you do, Sanji?" she asked.
"Luffy really never was that bright, huh?" Franky asked.
"I still can't explain how he could fall for something like that," Usopp said.
All of a sudden, a new scene had appeared before the Straw Hats, just abruptly, as they Luffy make a grunt of pain, and they soon saw why: Past Nami was stepping right on his face!
"WAKE UP, YOU IDIOT!" she shouted, to everyone's shock.
"Jeez, did you have to go far?!" Zoro asked.
"Well, I didn't see YOU coming with any ideas, now did I?!" Nami spat.
"For your information, I was fighting a maniac!" Zoro argued.
"Shh~! Guys, look!" Chopper called.
Luffy grunted before he stood up and grabbed Past Nami by her leg, accidentally pulling her to the ground as he did so.
"WHAT THE HELL, NAMI?!" Luffy questioned. "WHY WOULD GO STEPPING ON MY HEAD- UGH!" His outburst was cut short, however, when Jango's chakram ended up hitting him in the back of his head, causing Chopper to shriek while Aika covered her eyes in fright.
"AAH! BIG BROTHER'S HEAD GOT CUT!" she cried.
"That could've fractured his skull!" Chopper shouted. "Or worse, hit him in his brain!"
"That brat is still alive?!" Jango questioned in disbelief.
"You gotta be kidding me!" Past Zoro shouted. "What lousy timing! ...Then again, maybe not."
"Nope," Zoro smirked. "Perfect timing."
A pause...but then Luffy shakily reached back behind his head, grabbed the chakram, and yanked it right out...and then let out a scream of pain, like he had ripped off a bandage.
"THAT HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURT!" he roared before he looked at Past Nami. "WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!"
"Wait, Luffy!" Past Nami cried. "It wasn't me! It was-" She suddenly gave a grunt of pain before she clutched her bleeding shoulder, then fell to the ground on her knees, to Luffy's and Sanji's concern.
"What happened?!" Sanji questioned. "Did those scumbags hurt you, Nami?!"
"I got careless," Nami answered. "Jango's chakram hit me while Luffy was out."
"N-Nami?" Luffy asked. "Your shoulder's bleeding...are you hurt?!"
"It's okay," Past Nami reassured. "It's just a scratch!"
Aika blinked before she looked up at Nami's right shoulder, and she could just barely make a tiny scar on it.
"Big Sis," Aika said. "Did it hurt?"
"A little..." Nami answered. "I've felt worse, though."
"Are you sure?" Sanji asked.
"Positive," Nami nodded, "but thanks for your concern."
"I've done everything I can," Past Nami began as she looked up at Luffy. "It's all up to you now, Luffy...after all...this is a fight we have to win!"
Luffy blinked before he looked up at Past Usopp, who looked a bit bloodier than before. Then, he gave that same grin of confidence before he looked over at Past Nami and nodded his head.
"You got it," he said. "Leave it to me!"
"Good," Past Nami said. "Besides, there's a lot of treasure on this, too."
"...Figured you might say that," Luffy said as he put his hat on his head, although he didn't sound at all annoyed.
"You really do have your priorities straight, don't you, Nami?" Robin asked with an amused smile.
"Well, you know me," Nami shrugged.
"Still, it's nice to be reminded you still cared enough to help me out," Usopp smiled. "Seriously, I appreciate that."
"Ah, think nothing of it," Nami said. "That's what friends do for friends. Besides, I'm a new me, now! At least I'm not as greedy as I was before."
"Still pretty greedy though," Zoro pointed out.
Just then, Luffy suddenly went on high alert as he looked up and saw Kuro approach...and the very sight made the Black Cat Pirates shudder in fear.
"Hey," Luffy acknowledged. "The evil butler guy is here."
Kuro only glowered down at the group...wearing katana blades on a pair of furry gloves.
"He has swords on his fingers," Aika said.
"His Cat Claws," Usopp said, hatefully.
"Suddenly, I'm really nervous," Kumi muttered.
"Yeah, me too," Blizzard whispered. "I mean, I know Luffy could probably take this guy, but every time he fights, I always get uneasy."
"...3 minutes," Kuro spoke as he looked at his watch. "That's all you have left until I send you all to the slaughter."
"AAAAH!" the Black Cat Pirates screamed.
"W-wait, Captain Kuro!" cried one of them as they pointed to Luffy and Past Zoro. "Even Jango and Butchie can't stop these two in just 3 minutes!"
"...Did he just threaten to kill his crew?" Aika asked.
"Why would he do something like that?" Kumi asked.
"He's despicable, that's why," said Usopp.
"I'm afraid this is how many pirates act, young Miss Aika," Brook said. "If a pirate captain deems someone in his crew worthless, they will easily abandon or kill them on the spot...disgraceful, in my opinion."
"...Wow," Aika whispered. "Sounds familiar to me..."
"Butchie!" Jango shouted. "There's no time to think! Just kill the man with the belly warmer, and I'll kill the straw hat boy!"
Just then, someone else appeared on the scene: Kaya, who was wearing a long coat. She seemed to be having a bit of a hard time, breathing, and she was wobbling a bit, too.
"What the-?!" Sanji questioned. "What's she doing there?!"
"Was it safe for her to be out in her condition?!" Chopper asked, worriedly.
"Klahadore!" Kaya yelled. "Stop it, right now!"
Kuro turned to Kaya, his cold glare unwavering, although the way he was sweating showed that he was slightly surprised to see her there.
"Kaya?!" Past Usopp questioned. "What do you think you're doing here?!"
"The girl from the mansion!" Jango exclaimed. "Perfect! We just have to kill her!"
"We don't have to ransack the village, after all!" said one of the Black Cat Pirates.
"Miss Kaya," Kuro said, trying to act nonchalant. "This is a lovely surprise...what brings you here?"
"...Merry told me everything," Kaya answered.
"Merry?" Kuro repeated. "So he's alive, after all? I thought for sure that I had killed him."
Hearing that caused Kaya to tense up, and it looked like it took everything she had to keep herself from crying.
"Such a brave girl," Franky whispered.
"She sure was," Usopp agreed, "risking her life to confront Kuro like that...in fact, I kinda followed her example, at times after seeing her do that."
"...Usopp," Kaya said as she looked over at Past Usopp, who blinked at her. "I'm...I'm so sorry! How can you ever forgive me? I was wrong to doubt you...I just didn't want to believe that Klahadore was a pirate."
"...That poor girl," Robin whispered.
"It's fine, Kaya!" Past Usopp shouted. "But why the hell would you come here?! You've gotta get away! Don't you understand?! Those pirates are here to kill you!"
"But aren't you fighting them?!" Kaya asked, tears forming in her eyes. "Even after the way everyone treated you? Even though your bleeding from head-to-toe?!"
"Well...of course I am!" Past Usopp shouted. "I'm a brave warrior of the sea, after all!"
Luffy just silently stood by, watching the scene unfold.
"How come whenever something like this happens," Chopper began, "Luffy just stands there and does nothing until the last second?"
"I think Luffy's analyzing," Nami answered. "He's waiting to see what someone might do before he decides if he should step in or not."
"He's always been like that, huh?" Franky inquired.
"Perhaps Luffy's checking to see if one of us can handle it," Robin said. "If not, then he steps in and takes over."
"So in a way, he's a bit smarter when it comes to that," Blizzard spoke up.
Despite her growing stress, Kaya wiped her eyes of their tears before she glared at Kuro.
"Klahadore!" she shouted. "If you want my money, then take it! I'll give it all to you! Take it and leave the village in peace!"
A pause...but then Kuro pushed his glasses up, again.
"That's not good enough, Miss Kaya," he said, coldly. "While I do want your fortune, what I'm also looking for...is peace of mind."
"Peace of mind?" Sanji asked in disgust. "How can someone like him have peace of mind, killing an innocent lady?!"
"He's sick, that's why," Usopp growled.
Kuro then went on about how he had spent three years in Syrup Village, earning everyone's trust, saying how he had gotten comfortable with being friends with the locals. He then proceeded to tell Kaya that by pretending that her death was an accident and not a real murder, he could have his so-called "peace of mind". Past Usopp urged Kaya to run away, saying that she was not worth her words, but she wouldn't hear of it...and instead, she drew a pistol and pointed it at Kuro, which stunned everybody except for Luffy and Past Zoro.
"You WILL leave the village alone, Klahadore!" Kaya shouted.
"Holding a gun?" asked Kuro, mockingly. "My...you've certainly gotten bolder in the last three years, haven't you, Miss Kaya? And I've been by your side ever since then, haven't I? Even before you lost your beloved parents and you became ill...we had spent a lot of time together...we went sailing, went on shopping trips in town, and whenever you were sick with a fever, I would stay by your bedside and made absolutely sure you will 100% well...I suffered with you, Miss Kaya...I laughed with you...I was but your humble servant." He then glared at Kaya...with a malicious grin on his face. "I humored you, all that time, in all your infantile dreams...and I endured it...all for the day that I could kill you!"
Hearing that caused Kaya's hands to shake while she tried her hardest to hold back tears...and the Straw Hats found themselves getting angry as well.
"What a horrible man!" Aika shouted.
"How dare he...!" Sanji hissed. "How dare he play a woman's feelings like that?!"
"He has no shame...no heart!" Brook added.
"I wanted to slug him," Nami snarled.
"...I can't stand men like him," Robin said, her eyes cold and icy. "People who break others' hearts, just for their own gain...it makes me sick..."
Blizzard growled viciously in agreement, his fangs bare for all to see.
"Hearing that again," Usopp said with clenched fists, "it reminds me just how much I hate that bastard for what he did to her...and if I ever see him again, I'll bash his face in!"
"Bastard...!" Past Usopp growled, his blood boiling within him.
"I, the once dreaded Captain Kuro," Kuro went on, "bowed and scraped to a spoiled little girl, catering to her every whim, day and night! Can you imagine my humiliation?!"
That was more than she could take. Kaya dropped the gun and covered her mouth, sobbing uncontrollably. Aika wanted to go up and give her consolation hug, but she knew that since this was a memory, she couldn't do that. That's when Past Usopp lunged for Kuro with a first reeled back.
"KURO, YOU BASTARD!" he roared...only for Kuro to disappear in the blink of an eye, and then reappear beside him.
"Whoa!" Sanji exclaimed. "Did you see that?!"
"He was fast!" Chopper cried.
"That reminds me, Usopp," Kuro said, "I still owe you for punching me the other day...and I do so HATE to get hit!"
"Oh, yeah?!"
WHAPOW! Before anyone could react, Luffy stretched his arm out and punched Kuro right smack in the middle of his face, sending him crashing to the ground, to the Black Cat Pirates' shock.
"CAPTAIN KURO IS DOWN!" they all shouted.
Luffy smirked as his arm retracted back into its normal position.
"If you hate getting hit so much," Luffy began, "then you're about to have a really bad day!"
At that moment, the memory shifted, once more.
"How come we're skipping so much?" Nami asked.
"Probably because there's a lot to see," Robin began, "and we only need to see the important details."
"So where's it skipping to?" asked Usopp, and he soon got his answer when he saw that Butchie had been defeated by Zoro while Luffy stood, prepared to face Kuro. Plus, Kaya was nowhere to be found, and neither was Jango.
"Where did Miss Kaya go?" Brook asked, worriedly.
"Usopp's friends came and got her," Nami answered. "He told them to take her into the forest to protect her, but Jango went after them."
"Well, at least she's safe," Sanji added.
Just then, Aika gasped as she saw Past Usopp, collapsed on the ground.
"Usopp!" she cried.
"Oh, no!" Chopper shouted. "What happened to you, Usopp?!"
"...I lost too much blood," Usopp answered, begrudgingly. "I spent all that time, fighting with bloody injury on my head, I didn't stop to think about the consequences." He then chuckled. "I...I guess Luffy's recklessness kind of rubbed off on me, huh?"
"It's not funny!" Chopper chided.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Kuro cackled. "Look at how pathetic you look, Usopp! But perhaps it's better if you just stay on the ground, like that! If you managed to catch up to Jango, he'd just kill you in an instant!"
"...It...it doesn't matter...!" Past Usopp whispered as tears spilled from his eyes. "I...I gotta protect them! Kaya...my friends...the village! EVERYONE! I DON'T WANNA LOSE ANYBODY!"
Luffy's eyes went wide, as did the Straw Hats...as they remembered when their captain made his vow to get stronger, so that he could protect the people he cared for.
"I am the Great Captain Usopp," Past Usopp continued, "and they are my crew! I'm a brave warrior of the sea, just like my Father before me! I won't let any of you bastards hurt my friends or my neighbors!"
'...You're not gonna lose anyone, Usopp...not as long as I can do anything about it.'
"...My god...!" Usopp whispered. Hearing Luffy's inner thoughts made him realize just how much the two of them had in common...and even more so, he realized just how much his conviction meant to Luffy.
The Black Cat Pirates, however, just broke out laughing.
"Look at him, crying like a pathetic wimp while his ass is in the air!" yelled one of them.
"What a loser!" added another...but their laughter was quickly silenced when Luffy threw a boulder at them, which caused them to disperse in a panic. Luffy growled as he glowered down at the pirates, who whimpered like a bunch of pathetic dogs with their tails between their legs. If looks could kill, then these pirates would certainly be ten feet under by now.
"WHAT'S SO FUNNY?!" Luffy roared.
"Nothing!" Aika shouted. "Absolutely nothing!"
"That's right, Aika," Usopp smiled. "Don't ever let anyone laugh at your friends. Got it?"
"Got it!" Aika answered.
"Good," Usopp smiled. "Keep that in mind, and you'll be a right proper pirate captain, like your brother."
"Luffy!" Past Zoro called as he picked Past Usopp and put him over his shoulder. "Usopp and I are going on ahead!"
"Yeah, you do that!" Luffy called.
"Sorry about this," Past Usopp apologized.
"Don't worry about it," Past Zoro answered. "I'd go on my own, but you're the only one who knows this forest, so you better come with me."
"...Did Moss-head just admit that he'd get lost?" asked Sanji.
"Watch it," Zoro glared at the cook.
"Hold on," Kuro said as Past Zoro and Past Usopp were about to make their way passed him. "Just who gave you two permission to climb up this slope?"
"I did!" Luffy shouted as he rushed Kuro, who gasped in surprise as he dodged the Straw Hat Captain's punch. "Zoro! Usopp! Hurry!"
"Right!" Past Zoro answered as he made a run for it, leaving Luffy to fight Kuro on his own.
"Take THIS!" Luffy yelled as he tried to land another Gum-Gum Pistol on Kuro, but the Black Cat Pirate Captain soon vanished into thin air. "Huh?! Where'd he go?!"
However, he suddenly tensed up, sensing something behind him before he dropped down to the ground, narrowly avoiding a slash from Kuro's Cat Claws.
"Oh, nice dodge!" Kumi shouted.
"Get him, now, Big Brother!" Aika shouted.
"He was lucky," Blizzard said. "Even if he didn't Observation Haki, he timed that dodge just right because of his instincts."
"Heh!" Luffy smirked, standing on his hands and putting his feet together. "Now Gum-Gum...SPEAR!" He stretched both feet forward, attempting to jab Kuro with his legs, but once again, the deceptive pirate managed to evade him. "Dammit, now where did he go?!" He then jumped up onto his feet. "Ah, oh well. At least Zoro and Usopp made it up the slope." That's when he turned around and saw Kuro, who glared at him.
"Oh!" Luffy exclaimed. "There you are!"
"I do say," Brook began, "he's about as fast I am! Not that I'm impressed, mind you."
"I'll tell you this much," Nami said. "Luffy sure had a bit of a time with this guy."
"Before we fight seriously," Kuro began, "I have to asked...why are you, an outsider, getting yourself with this village? It doesn't concern you."
A pause...before Luffy grinned.
"Because," he started, "there's a certain man in this village that I don't wanna let die."
"...Thank you, Luffy," Usopp smiled while Zoro put a hand on his shoulder.
"I see," Kuro smirked. "How simple...but is that pathetic boy really someone you're willing to die for?"
"He sure as hell is!" Luffy answered as he took a fighting stance. "But I'm not gonna die, either!"
"You tell him, Big Brother!" Aika cheered.
"That's right!" Chopper added.
"Go get 'em, Luffy!" Kumi exclaimed.
The wind blew softly as Luffy and Kuro faced each other...but then...the latter looked up at the former with great killer intent.
"Die, boy...!" he hissed before he charged at Luffy, who stretched his arms behind him.
"Sorry, but not today!" he declared as he stretched his arms forward and grabbed Kuro by the wrists, then jumped up into the air as he prepared to stamp his face in. However, Kuro simply swung his arms and threw Luffy to the ground, forcing him to let go. Not one to lose ground in a fight, Luffy quickly got up on one hand and stretched his leg out.
"Gum-Gum WHIP!" he shouted as he sweeped his leg at Kuro, but once again, his foe proved to be one step ahead, for he jumped over his leg, dodging the attack. Then, Luffy stood up on his feet once his leg retracted, then shot his fist forward...only for Kuro to jump up onto his arm.
"...You bore me...stupid child," Kuro said mockingly before he ran along the length of Luffy's arm before he could reel it back in and kicked him in the jaw, sending the raven-haired teen to the ground.
"Oh, no!" Aika cried.
"Easy now, Aika!" Sanji assured. "Your brother's gonna be fine!"
Luffy grunted as he stood up, his fat having fallen off, before he spat out some blood that was dripping from his lip. Meanwhile, the Black Cat Pirates, though stunned by the display, began to cheer once they saw that their enemy was beginning to lose ground to their captain. They began to chant his name, over and over...but then, their came something really unexpected.
"DON'T EVER CALL ME BY THAT NAME, YOU HOWLING FOOLS!" Kuro bellowed, causing the Black Cat Pirates to freeze.
"Huh...?" Luffy muttered as he wiped his lip of blood.
"He's mad because they called him by his name?" Aika asked.
"I don't get it," Kumi added.
"Don't you idiots understand?" Kuro asked. "The whole point of this plan was to be rid of the name 'Captain Kuro' forever! I tired me...crafting a thousand brilliant plans for a bunch of blathering idiots with nothing but plunder and pillaging on their minds! And what did my hard work get me? The entirety of the Marines on my heels! Bounty hunters, spies, mercenaries! Everywhere I went, it was nothing but endless harrassment! So on that faithful day, three years ago...I decided to end my life!"
"Wait...he killed himself?" Chopper asked.
"All this, because he didn't wanna be a pirate, anymore?" Sanji asked.
"That's weird," Nami said. "If I didn't know better, he kinda sounds like Bluejam."
"How so?" Franky asked.
"Bluejam also stopped being a pirate because he wanted ot live a life of luxury, like the nobles in Goa Kingdom. Kuro did it to run away from his life."
"But it doesn't make sense," Aika said. "If you're a pirate, then of course are gonna hunt you down, aren't they?"
"Some people just aren't cut out for the life of a pirate, Aika," said Zoro.
"Don't you get it, you simpleton?" Kuro asked Luffy, who glared up at him. "There's simply no room for error in my three-year plan...and my plans NEVER go off course!" On that, he lunged for Luffy with his Cat Claws outstretched, causing Luffy to gasp before he grabbed a boulder and hefted it up, using it as a shield, and Kuro's Cat Claws ended up stuck in the rock.
"All right!" Aika and Kumi cheered.
"I see," Kuro said. "So stretching isn't the only thing you're capable of, is it?"
"Nope!" Luffy answered with a cocky grin. "I've been training myself for ten years...to be a pirate!" On that, he threw the boulder to the side, causing Kuro's claws to break off.
"What the-?!" Kuro questioned.
"And another thing!" Luffy added. "If you don't want a reputation..."
WHAM! He struck Kuro with the boulder, knocking him to the ground.
"DON'T BE A PIRATE!"
"Damn right!" Usopp agreed.
"Way to go, Big Brother!" Aika cheered. "I mean, I know you can't really hear me, but yay!"
"That's Luffy for you!" Blizzard added.
"Heh!" Luffy grinned. "If you ever wanna compare plans, then mine is a lot bigger than yours!"
A pause...but then Kuro stood back, strands of hair now hanging loosely over his forehead. His eyes were dark and blood dripped from temple. Even then, though, the Black Cat Pirates continued to cheer, even though some advised their crewmates not to call their captain by his name.
"Shut your mouths!" Kuro barked. "I'll deal with you idiots, later...Jango, too."
"EH?!" the Black Cat Pirates questioned in shock.
"B-but why us?!" asked one of them.
"Yeah, stop joking around!" cried another. "It's not too late to attack the village, right?!"
"Yeah! As long as Jango gets that rich girl to write her will, the plan's a success!" exclaimed one more.
"They just don't get it," Usopp whispered.
"Don't any of you worry your heads about my plan," Kuro answered. "If none of you fools live to tell about it, I can pin all the blame on you."
Hearing that caused the Black Cat Pirates to gasp in horror.
"I never intended for any of you to leave this place alive," Kuro continued. "I can't let anyone live as long as they know my true identity."
"So...you planned to kill us all along?!" asked one of the Black Cat Pirates in disbelief.
"Of course I did!" Kuro said with a malicious grin. "Even three years ago, back when I was still Captain Kuro! It was all part of my plan!"
"...Such a horrid man," Robin whispered in disgust. "Talking about killing them with such an evil grin on his face."
"How can he be so depraved?" Brook asked. "He's clearly mad!"
"He's lucky he's not a real cat," Blizzard said. "I'd bite his tail off...pirates who go and give up on the sea, just because they can't handle the pressure of being one...they shouldn't be pirates, at all."
"Are you stupid?" Luffy asked as he looked at the Black Cat Pirates. "Man, they really are a dumb bunch of pirates, huh?"
"Dumb?" Kuro repeated. "Ha! Of course they are! Pirates are just a bunch of wild dogs, thrown out like trash by society. Without someone to lead them, they're nothing but helpless sheep. Their job was to just shut up and follow my plan. Pirates should only be faithful and loyal pawns to their capain. If you say they die, then they die, and if you say they live, then they live. They should've just followed my plan to the letter, no matter what sprung up to impede...such as an insignificant brat who's trying to be play at being a pirate."
Luffy sneered at that remark, as did the rest of the Straw Hats.
"They should've died trying to fulfill my plan," Kuro continued. "That's how a pirate lives! Vagabond brats like you should just stay out of it!"
"...Even if you're the captain of 100 hundred men who obeyed your every command," Luffy said, "there's no way you could beat me or Usopp!"
"...Wow...!" Usopp muttered with a slight blush while Zoro chuckled.
"You're bluffing," Kuro said. "Me, lose to a boy who's playing pirate?"
"That's right," Luffy answered...which caused Kuro to laugh, loudly.
"How very amusing!" he exclaimed. "However, if I were you, I wouldn't get cocky, just because you broke my claws! Tell me..." He then vanished. "Why do you think I would lose to the likes of him?!"
"He disappeared, again!" cried Chopper.
"Wait for it," Nami smirked.
"...It's your style," Luffy said...as he swung his arm behind him and punched Kuro right in the face. "You don't even look like a true pirate!"
"He got him!" Aika cheered as Kuro was sent crashing into the cliff behind himself...only to sit right back up again, blood dripping from his head as he pushed up his glasses, once more.
"...Now you've insulted me," Kuro said. "Fine...if you want to talk about a true pirate...then let me show just how terrifying true pirates can be!" Then he stood up...and began to sway left and right. "I'll show you the ferocity...of a pirate who's a faced a thousand deaths!"
For some reason, the Black Cat Pirates began to panic.
"Oh, no! That stance!"
"He's going to use THAT move!"
"His special attack on only one opponent?! He's crazy!"
"It's the Cat-Out-Of-The-Bag Technique!"
"The Cat-Out-Of-The-What-Now?" Blizzard asked.
"Wait a minute!" cried one of the Black Cat Pirates. "We're in deep crap, too! Didn't he say he'd kill us all?!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" the whole crew shrieked.
"Please don't kill me, Captain Kuro! I promise, I won't tell anybody about you being alive!"
"What about me, you jerk?!"
"I won't say it either, Captain! Don't kill me, please!"
"Yeah, me neither!"
"What are they all panicking about?" Luffy asked as he looked to Kuro. "All he's doing is just slouching and swaying back and forth."
However, when Kuro raised his head...Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hats gasped upon seeing that his eyes had rolled up into the back of his skull, making them look they were a ghostly white.
"What's he doing?!" Kumi asked. "How come his eyes look like that?!"
"Ah! That's creepy!" Aika cried.
Then, out of nowhere, Kuro disappeared again, and at first, nothing seemed to be happening...until one of the Black Cat Pirates screamed in agony as four long gashed appeared on his chest before he collapsed, followed by another, and then another. Luffy only gaped in shock at what he was seeing, as did the Straw Hats. Even as the pirates cried out for their captain to stop, the slaughter continued.
"Damn, he's fast...!" Sanji cursed.
"Yeah! I can't even see where he is!" Aika added.
"But he's attacking blindly," Robin said. "This Cat-Out-Of-The-Bag is just reckless."
"He doesn't care," Nami began, "as long as he can kill Luffy and his own men."
"...I know he was cruel," Usopp said, "but...even his own crew doesn't deserve this!"
Luffy just stood there, horrified, even as Kuro ended up cutting his chest and shoulder...but then, he began to seethe angrily as he saw more of the Black Cat Pirates drop like flies.
"YOU BASTAAAAAARD!" he roared. "DON'T YOU HAVE ANY HONOR?! THOSE MEN ARE YOUR FRIENDS!"
Just then, Luffy grunted as he ended up getting slashed, again...but then, he reached out and grabbed Kuro by his arm and slammed him into the ground!
"...Gotcha...!" he smirked.
"Yes!" Aika cheered. "He can still win this thing!"
"...Damn you...!" Kuro cursed. "Why won't you just lie down and die, boy?" He the gestured to his bloodied crew. "Look at what you've done, now...because of you, my crew is suffering instead of dying a painless death!"
"Son of a bitch...!" Usopp cursed.
"Those poor men," Brook whispered, sadly.
Luffy looked down at the Black Cat Pirates, who all moaned in agony...and yet, he said nothing.
"You have something to say?" asked Kuro.
"...I do, actually," Luffy answered as he cracked his knuckles. "I'm NEVER gonna be a pirate like you."
"Hmph!" Kuro scoffed as he pushed his glasses up, again. "I wouldn't worry about that. You could never be like me, boy...since I'm going to kill you, anyway." He then prepared to do the Cat-Out-Of-The-Bag Technique, again, but this time, Luffy was ready for him.
"No way!" Luffy shouted as he wrapped his arms and legs around him. "You can't try that little trick of yours, now, can you?!"
"This is it!" Usopp exclaimed.
"Here it comes!" Chopper added.
"Damn you!" Kuro cursed. "Let me go!"
"Face it!" Luffy said. "Your three-year plan failed, big time!"
"What?!" Kuro questioned.
"He's got Captain Kuro...!" whispered one of the Black Cat Pirates.
"Does this mean we're saved?!" asked another, and soon, they all began to cheer.
"Yeah, go get him, rubber kid!"
"Finish him off!"
Luffy growled before he slammed his forehead against Kuro's, then stretched his neck all the way back, frightening the Black Cat Pirates.
"SHUT UP!" he shouted. "WHO THE HELL SAID YOU GUYS COULD CHEER FOR ME?! I'LL KICK YOUR ASSES NEXT!"
"Come on, Big Brother...!" Aika whispered. "Come on!"
"NOW GUM-GUUUUUUUM..." Luffy roared.
"No! This is impossible!" Kuro shouted. "My plan...my three-year plan...IT CAN'T FAIL~!"
"...You lose, Kuro," Usopp smirked.
"BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELL!"
KABONG! Luffy slammed his forehead right against Kuro's, once again...and this time, the latter was down for the count.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Aika: Yes! Big Brother won, again!
Nami: But there's still a lot more to see!
Merry: Presenting...the Going Merry!
Usopp: *gasps* Merry?!
Sanji: Wow...never thought I'd see her again.
Luffy: Ta-dah! It's our pirate flag!
Chopper: What comes after this?
Yosaku: Hey! Who the hell shot at us?!
Sanji: Hey, wait a minute...this is when I show up!
Next time: Merry and the Fourth
Finally got this one up! Thanks for being so patient, guys, it's just that these chapters are so long. Plus, I'm working on getting my computer fixed or replaced, if it should come to that.
Review, please!