It seemed to Ichigo that Klahadore, or more so Kuro was surprised to see Luffy, alive at least. From what the orange haired teen could figure out from what he had learned, Luffy had somehow been hypnotised by Jango to fall asleep which resulted in him falling off the cliff yesterday. Would explain why Luffy was just sleeping there when everything else was going on, wouldn't explain how the straw hat wearing teen was alive though. Sure he looked resilient enough but that drop would kill a normal person or at the very least severely injure them, yet Luffy didn't seem bothered by it at all when they had found him yesterday. Luffy was tougher then he looked, it would seem.

Then… there was everything he had stumbled upon just now, Luffy seemingly being crushed beneath the mast of the pirate ship, just how was this kid still up and moving about, there was no way he was infusing Reiatsu into his body to make himself more resilient, there was no such presence around him to show that he could do such a feat. Luffy just was either really lucky or wasn't normal.

Shaking his head from the thought Ichigo turned back up the slope to look at Kuro standing there, what would look like an intimidating sight to anyone else, Ichigo had faced far worse in his past. Zoro was looking up at Kuro as well, Ichigo walking up to stand beside the swordsman. The two were ready to go on the offence when Luffy called up to them both.

"Hey! Leave that Butler guy to me!" Luffy shouted causing the two to look back down at him. "He's mine." Zoro and Ichigo glanced at one another, Zoro simply cocked a slight smirk as Ichigo sighed, if Luffy wanted to fight this guy Ichigo saw no reason for him not to, plus it'll give him a little bit of insight of what his future Captain was really made of. Then, if Luffy couldn't do it, Ichigo had no qualms about dealing with Kuro himself in the end. He wouldn't let this pirate off.

"I was getting rather impatient." Kuro began, his fingers flexing causing the blades connected to the gloves to shimmer slightly in the morning light as he rose his arms up in a cross pattered across his chest. "Jango, you're pathetic." He sighed seeing the downed Hypnotist with his own chakram embedded in his shoulder. "You had one job, and you couldn't even manage that. Really, nothing more that a pathetic waste of space." Ichigo glanced at Jango where he lay on the ground, he was conscious as he pulled the chakram from his shoulder and pushed himself to his feet, blood staining his clothes from where the chakram had been embedded.

"Please Captain, I can make amends, allow us to fulfil our duty!" Jango cried as he stumbled forward, begging and pleading with the ruthless pirate above.

"He's moving off the adrenaline of fear alone, I'm surprised he has the strength left to stand." Ichigo frowned slightly as he glanced back at Kuro only to see that something had gained the pirates attention behind him. Narrowing his eyes, Ichigo readied himself feeling a person approaching at a slow run. The same person had caught Usopp's eye fear and dread completely overwhelming the young liar as he saw who it was. Ichigo moved as soon as Kuro rose up his weapons surprising Zoro who was stunned at the speed displayed right beside him as he witnessed Ichigo vanish before his eyes once more. That same green luminescent light at where his feet had been, he was going to have to ask Ichigo how he could do that, if he remembered after all of this. Seriously, first he fell from the sky and now he could do all this? He wasn't some random guy.

"Don't ever sneak up on me! Unless you want to die!" Kuro roared as he spun, intent on completely destroying the one approaching from behind.

"KAYA!" Usopp roared as he dashed to tackle Kaya out of the way with all the strength that he could muster within himself. Her small fragile frame was forced out of the way as the clang of steel echoed out across the clearing as Ichigo appeared before Usopp and Kaya, blade locked with all ten of Kuro's blades completely stunning the former pirate captain at the cold glare he was receiving from the orange haired teen holding off his blades.

"Just who are you?" Kuro questioned pressing his blades against the single blade in Ichigo's grip. "I didn't even recognise his movements, it's impossible that he could move faster than the Sidestep Maneuver, but just how did he clear the distance up the slope in an instant like that!?" With a flick of his wrist Ichigo sent all ten blades straight up into the air causing Kuro to jump back lest he be open to an attack. "He's skilled, he's capable of holding off my attack with a simple blade one handed. Just who is he?"

"Usopp, you okay?" Ichigo questioned without looking back at the downed teen.

"Y-Yeah, thank you, Ichigo." Usopp lowered his head as he looked to Kaya who was just as stunned as Usopp was at what had happened.

"Good." Ichigo started once more. "Get out of here, take her and run. She's the one that they're after right?" He asked, recalling what Usopp and Luffy had told them about the plan to kill some lady named Kaya after Jango had hypnotised her into handing over her fortune by making her write it in her will.

"I won't run!" Usopp shouted up at him. "I'll protect what's precious to me!" Ichigo glared over his shoulder at the downed teen making both Kaya and Usopp recoil at the anger etched onto his face.

"Then protect her!" Ichigo roared at him anger flashing through his eyes before they softened slightly and he turned back to Kuro, he hadn't deserved that. "There are times when you need to stand and fight, then there are times when you need to run." He spoke softly, he could respect what Usopp wanted to do. But Kaya was the pirates objective, meaning she was in the most danger just by being here. He didn't know if Usopp was blinded for his want to be the hero in this situation or he simply misjudged just how dangerous it was for Kaya to be here.

"Her being here is putting her life in danger, protect her. Don't think of it as running away, not when you're saving a life." He told him. "We said we'd help you out, you focus on the girl let us deal with the pirates."

"Ichigo..." Usopp whispered softly before nodding as Ichigo's words reached him, grabbing Kaya's hand. "Come on Kaya, let these guys deal with Kuro." Kaya didn't say anything, instead letting Usopp lead her away from the pirate who had posed as her butler for so long. The two met up with the three children of the Usopp pirates before disappearing over the hill.

"Hey Butler guy!" Luffy's shout grabbed both Kuro and Ichigo's attention and what happened next literally made Ichigo's jaw drop, sure over his course as a Shinigami he had seen an immeasurable amount of things that defied the laws of nature. But this… this was simply straight out of a manga or something. Luffy's arm had literally stretched out from his body defying the natural limitations of human physiology, throwing a punch from all the way down the slope which connected with Kuro's face sending the pirate to the ground. A punch thrown clearly over eighty meters. It was clear that this unnatural ability of Luffy's had certainly increased the effectiveness of his punch.

"Yo, Ichigo." Zoro called up to the stunned teen who turned down to the swordsman who had obviously seen Ichigo's reaction to the feat as he gave a smirk. "The Captain's a rubber man, his entire body is made out of Rubber." Ichigo turned to Luffy who grinned up at him as his arm whipped back seemingly retreating to how it once had been.

"Right..." Ichigo muttered running a hand down his face. "A pirate made out of rubber… what's next? I start dating a princess? Pcht, like that'd happen."

"Ichigo! Zoro!" Luffy called out to both sword wielders. "The butler's mine."

"You already said that." Zoro muttered. "What are we supposed to do, sit around and wait until you finish him off?"

"Deal with all these guys maybe?" Luffy questioned thrusting a thumb back at the other pirates that were still shocked that Luffy had actually hit their captain. Ichigo tilted his head, while it'd be easy for Ichigo just to deal with Kuro right now, it seemed Luffy wanted the glory of this fight. If he was being honest, the only reason Ichigo was giving Luffy the chance was to see this strange rubber technique of his.

"That hurt." Kuro muttered as he wiped blood from his lip as he sat up, glaring past Ichigo down to Luffy. "My my, that's quite a strange technique you've developed there. Do you have powers from eating the Devil Fruit?"

"Yep, I'm a Rubber Man." Luffy confirmed causing murmurs to raise up through the other pirates, mostly that of fear while Zoro heard Jango muse to himself about the feats that he had seen Luffy perform.

"Jango!" Kuro called out.

"Sir!" The hypnotist replied instantly.

"I can handle the boy!" Kuro continued, flexing his fingers causing the blades to glimmer in the light. "You handle Miss Kaya like we planned, have her write her butler into her will, then kill her. As for Usopp and the children, dispose of them."

"On it!" Jango muttered, using the last of his strength just to try and make it up the hill. Zoro watched him go, from the looks of the damage that he had taken from Ichigo it didn't look like he'd get far. Zoro's eyes widened beneath his black bandana as Ichigo appeared right before Jango, fist already cocked back. Zoro seriously had to know just how he could move that fast. Before Jango knew it, all the air had left him as Ichigo's gut planted itself in his stomach. "Damn it!" Jango gasped out as he slumped over on Ichigo.

"Yo, Luffy." Ichigo began gaining the straw hat wearing teens attention as Ichigo laid Jango down onto the slope, turning his attention down to the rubber teen. "This guy ruled his crew by fear, you that kind of Captain?" Ichigo questioned, eyes slightly narrowed.

"Not a chance." Luffy replied, a small grin coming to his face as he placed a hand on top of his hat. "We just have fun." Ichigo saw Zoro cock a smirk at that.

"Then hurry and kick this guy's ass." Ichigo smirked in return as he thrust a thumb up at Kuro. "You beat him, I'll join your crew."

"Gah! Really!?" Luffy shouted as he raced up the slope with a grin getting a nod from Ichigo as Luffy came to a stop before him. "Awesome! Zoro! Look, we got a new crew member, how cool is that!" Luffy shouted turning back to Zoro waving his arms up and down. "Ah! We have to give him a position! Can you cook!? Can you sing!? Are you a doctor!? Do you poo-!" Ichigo was suddenly barraged by a dozen more questions causing him to groan before he gripped Luffy by the face, did this kid seriously just ask him if he pooped?

"Defeat this guy, then we can work out the details." Ichigo told him.

"Crew!" Kuro shouted. "Do your job and get rid of the bastards in my way and destroy this village, the one that kills Miss Kaya is the one that'll become the next Captain of the Black Cat Pirates!" There was a burst of courage from the pirates, either by fear towards their Captain or perhaps the vigor of a prize such as becoming the new Captain. But either way, they were ready to fight once more. Luffy seeing this turned on the pirates now heading up the slope, he was about to join Zoro in readying for the attack before Ichigo placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You've got the butler guy, let Zoro and I take care of these guys."

"Right, then you join the crew!" Luffy grinned.

"Then I join your crew." Ichigo agreed as Luffy sprinted up the hill towards Kuro while Ichigo headed down the hill brandishing his machete like blade as Zoro readied his three swords.

"Welcome to the crew." Zoro smirked before both dashed down the slope, blades in a flurry of movement as the pirates encountered the sheer skill and power of the sword wielding duo.


"Ugh! We ran all the way…. to the Estate!" Usopp groaned, hands on his knees huffing heavily as Kaya panted beside him, Carrot, Spud and Onion all collapsed on the ground, their chests heaving as they tried to take as much air into their lungs as possible. "D-Don't worry Kaya, we'll protect you." Usopp told her. "We're the Usopp pirates after all." He grinned at her, getting a small smile in return before she was consumed by a coughing fit, Usopp getting the help of the three children to help her sit down. When she was able to calm the fit down she looked to Usopp with a small frown.

"Will your friends be alright, Usopp?" Kaya questioned softly, her worries back on the shore where Klahadore, no Captain Kuro had been about to strike her down before the orange haired teen had appeared before her, saving both her and Usopp from grievous harm.

"I hope so." Usopp thought to himself before grinning at Kaya to hide his own worry. "Of course they will be! They're members of the Great Usopp Pirates, not a force on the seas can stand against them! Hahaha!" Kaya had no idea who the pirates that were with Usopp were, even more so to the one who had saved her life. He hadn't been with the others when they had come to the estate before. But, they all deserved her thanks. "Now that I've seen you to safety Kaya, I must be off! The members of the Usopp pirates are in danger! You three, guard her with your life. That' an order as your Captain."

"Of course sir!" Onion, Spud and Carrot chanted all saluting at once. Usopp was about to turn to leave, even though he was incredible scared he wasn't going to let them die for him if he wasn't standing there alongside them. But before he could even take a step, his hand was gripped in Kaya's. Turning back to the blonde girl with wide eyes.

"I know you want to return Usopp." Kaya spoke to him. "I know what you're trying to prove. But..." Her body was trembling as Usopp looked down at her. "I'm scared of losing you like this."

"Kaya..." Usopp whispered softly as he remembered Ichigo's words, to protect Kaya, that they would handle the rest. "It's okay." Usopp smiled at her. "I can leave Kuro in their capable hands, I'll need to make it up to them somehow." He grinned, wiping his cheek.

"They said they needed a ship, right?" Kaya asked with a smile as Usopp grinned with a nod.


Nami couldn't believe it as she stood atop the deck of the Black Cat Pirates ship, looking down at the battlefield below. The entire crew of the Black Cat pirates was either unconscious, playing dead or gathered in a group that Zoro was currently running a rope around. Not to mention Luffy, she had seen him strike the final blow to Kuro with an incredible head butt that nobody but Luffy could have done, the butler barely stood a chance against the straw hat wearing Captain and Ichigo, she had caught sight of him watching every move of the fight in the last moments of the Captain duel that she had seen.

He was a complete anomaly to her, and the other members of her 'crew'. It almost made her want to pry and try to dig things up about his past, just to get all the juicy details. But, even just knowing him for a short while. She could see that he wasn't someone to push, to press boundaries nor was he one to give answers easily.

"Tch, a Lucky charm, yeah right, when does a lucky charm turn into a frigging sword!?" She huffed as she recalled the strange wooden object before a glint came to her eye. "Might fetch a pretty good price though. If I can convince him to join up with these morons, I can nick it before I jump ship."

"Ichigo!" Luffy shouted with a grin turning to the orange haired teen causing Nami to raise an eyebrow. "You'll join my crew now, right!? No take backs! You promised!" Nami had to blink, had she missed something?

"Sure thing, Captain." Ichigo replied with a half smile causing Luffy to cheer in his position on the slope.

"Guess I won't have to convince an idiot to join a bunch of idiots." She sighed digging a finger into her temple with an annoyed huff. "And to think, I thought he had half a brain."


Several hours later.

Ichigo was simply stunned as he stood beside an equally stunned Nami, Luffy's jaw had literally dropped several feet thanks to his crazy rubber ability that Ichigo was still getting use too, as Zoro stood with his arms crossed staring at what had been given to them. A ship. Kaya was giving them a damn ship for everything they had done. Sure fighting off pirates might seem like a big thing, but giving a ship as a reward? He seriously thought they were getting the better end of the stick at the point, he was no expert, but this seemed far out of the norm for a gift of gratitude. Sure he didn't know much about this world yet, but if he was guessing, a ship like this didn't come cheap. Just what kind of luck did Luffy have if he was getting things like this just for helping out?

"Are you actually giving this to us!" Luffy shouted directing his attention to Kaya who smiled with a nod.

"Yes, as a token of my appreciation." Kaya smiled. "Please use it." Then her attendant, Merry stepped forward.

"It's a slightly older model, but I personally designed it and she sails like a dream. She has a carvel-make caravel, with lateen sails and a central stern rudder. She's a fine ship and her name… the Going Merry!" While Ichigo was still stunned at the fact that they were being given a ship… there was also the elephant in the room that nobody else seemed to notice apart from himself… the man-sheep-guy currently addressing them. Glancing at Zoro, then to Nami and Luffy… yep, none were bothered by the sheep guy. Just him.

"Shouldn't let it phase me too much…., this world has sheep people, rubber people and probably a whole lot of other weird crap I should just come to accept for now." He mentally told himself, knowing full well that he had no idea what to expect when it came to this place. He had already been stunned with Luffy's powers, he couldn't be stunned at every little surprise that decides to round the next corner.

"Let me explain the rigging." Merry began turning to Luffy who simply blinked at him. "First, about the Kruger net yard adjustment-" Nami already stepped in front of Luffy halting Merry's explanation.

"No, no! You can explain all the technical ship stuff to me!" She declared as Luffy pushed past them both as he stared up at the ship with an awe inspired grin. It was probably for the best, Ichigo didn't know much about his new crew yet, but Nami seemed to know what she was doing, Luffy on the other hand… yeah, Ichigo might come to regret joining this crew.

"What a cool ship, have you seen the front it's totally awesome!" Luffy grinned as he looked up at the figurehead that was shaped look a sheep's head. Ichigo took in the figurehead for himself before raising an eyebrow at the shape of it… glancing from the figurehead to Merry who simply smiled at him in response as Ichigo glanced back from the sheep person to the Figurehead… no, it was better to not comment on it.

"We've loaded it with everything you might need on your voyage." Kaya smiled happily, truly glad that they were happy with the gift.

"Thanks, it leaves nothing to be tired." Luffy stated with a bow causing Ichigo to hang his head, why was his new Captain such an idiot? Kaya, to her credit smiled through the obvious blunder but the quick dart of her eye to Merry was more than enough to show Ichigo that she was unsure of what to think of what he had just said.

"That's 'leaves nothing to be desired,' moron." Zoro huffed, well at least Zoro didn't seem to be an idiot and had the same thoughts about their Captain as Ichigo did. The orange haired teen looked up to the ship, a small smile coming to his face.

"Looks like for now, this will be home." Walking along the side towards the front where Luffy was still looking up at the ship's figurehead. "I'll make what I can off it." Ichigo sighed gently to himself as the image of Yuzu and Karin along with his old man popped into his head, just the other day they had been eating happily together with no worries about anything. Last time he had seen them, they looked almost frightened, turned against him by the manipulation of memories. It hurt him to see his sisters like that. "Look after them for me, Dad." Luffy grinned as he saw Ichigo approach before pointing to the top of the sheep figurehead.

"That's gonna be my seat!" Ichigo chuckled lightly.

"All yours, Captain." Some more time passed, with more gratitude from Kaya for all that they had done. Zoro suggested that they should probably get a move on, Ichigo had to say he had to agree. If they were truly going to get anywhere… wait, what was Luffy's goal exactly? Oh, that's right, to be the King of the Pirates he heard him tell the other pirates… he'd have to ask the straw hat wearing teen to explain that one to him, if he could. Just as they were about to board the Going Merry for the first time, they heard a shout of panic and all looked up to see Usopp rolling towards them with an impossible large backpack.

"No, Usopp!" Kaya cried, completely shocked at his current state as he hurtled towards them.

"Hey, what's he doing?" Luffy questioned curiously at the rolling teen. "Looks fun." He grinned.

"Well we better stop him, that weird-o is in a collision course with our ship." Luffy nodded in an agreement as the two stepped forward, both raising their feet and slamming them both into Usopp's face, effectively halting the rolling teen in his tracks.

"T-Thanks, guys." Usopp sobbed beneath their shoes.

"Any time." Luffy stated without a care as Ichigo glanced over to them, it would seem that Usopp was going somewhere with how much baggage he was currently carrying. Feeling a tug on his sleeve he glanced down to Nami who had manoeuvred herself to stand beside him.

"You're really joining the crew?" She questioned. "To become a pirate?" The way she said pirate, it just didn't seem right coming from her, like she held a grudge against the very fabric of the meaning. But Ichigo didn't pry into it, they knew little about him and he about them, they weren't on good enough terms, at least in his eyes, to suddenly be asking personal questions. He'd keep an eye on her, see how things turned out, maybe he'd get a proper answer out of her soon.

"Guess I am." Ichigo nodded. "Promised Luffy I would if he won his fight." He shrugged. "Either way, I'm apart of the crew." He told her.

"Well, we better get aboard before the idiot of a Captain sails off without us." Ichigo glanced to where Luffy was now stretching his arms up to the railing of the ship, before flinging himself up.

"I don't think I'll ever get use to that." He muttered to himself as he headed over with Nami to where Zoro was with a rope ladder that would allow everyone else to board. Ichigo turned to say a thank you to Kaya for the ship but she and Usopp seemed to be in a deep conversation with one another as they looked out over the water. Grabbing the rope ladder he was about to look up and start climbing, but the moment he did he got a foot to the face.

"Pervert! Wait until I'm up, I'm wearing a skirt!" Nami shrieked as Ichigo groaned, holding his nose. Calming himself down, he waited for Nami to be off the ladder, Ichigo started to climb up when he was on deck, he himself pulled the ladder up from the railing, looking at the ladder he smiled lightly before deciding to leave ti down the side of the ship, only to hear Usopp shout from the shore line.

"You guys take care!" His voice rang out over the ship as Ichigo headed towards where the others were standing at the stern of the ship looking to where Kaya, Usopp and Merry were all standing on the shore. "I hope we meet again some time!" He grinned up at them.

"Huh, how come?" Luffy questioned, if Ichigo hadn't been expecting it he would have stumbled.

"Wha? Are you antisocial or something? I'm going to be a pirate too, so we'll probably meet on the high seas eventually." He tried to explain, however everyone just stared down at him, confusing Usopp even more.

"What are you talking about?" Zoro questioned as he pointed down to the ship. "Hurry and get on already."

"Huh?"

"We're friends aren't we?" Luffy questioned looking down at him. "So get on." Usopp stared up at the smiling faces of those that had saved his island, all of them were offering him this chance he had always dreamed off.

"This is it! I'm a real pirate Captain now!" He shouted in joy.

"Don't be stupid Usopp! I'm the Captain!" Luffy shouted back down at him getting laughter from the others as Usopp wished Kaya farewell as he rushed to the side of the ship, even before he was on deck Nami was barking orders at everyone to be able to get the ship to set sail, even Ichigo was being bossed around by her, sure he had no idea what the heck he was doing, but he figured he might as well pull his weight and listen for instruction until he did know what he was doing. When the Going Merry was finally away and Usopp was at the stern of the ship waving back at the island Ichigo relaxed at the bow, Luffy already seated on the sheep's head. Ichigo gave a small smile as they sailed forward.

"I guess this is the start of something new..."