Brown eyes snapped open, he sat up with a groan. The hum of music still could be heard outside, the residents of Cocoyasi still partying deep into the night. He couldn't blame them to be honest, they were celebrating their freedom after so long. Even so, hearing the festivities made him want to curl up and go back to sleep. He still didn't feel like going out and partying, most people wouldn't see Ichigo as the partying type and they wouldn't be wrong.
From the looks of things, he had been asleep for maybe an hour, possibly two. Not very long. Even so, he was feeling better. Maybe he still had remnants of his regeneration from his hollow days, scary thought that. Considering his Fullbring was the very fabric of Hollow Powers, it shouldn't have been surprising. It might even come in handy if he was being honest. Still... did he want to rely on Hollow powers?
Reaching for his badge he stopped, realising Nami still had it. He didn't think she had taken it for malicious intentions, but it still irritated him to think that she could just steal it whenever she pleased. He was so going to ride her ass if she kept that up. Somebody had to knock some sense into her, considering Bell-mère was gone and sure as hell wasn't a decent role model to begin with.
Sighing he pulled the sheet off of himself and moved to sit in an all too familiar position on the bed, legs crossed and eyes closed as he concentrated before feeling the pull and when he opened his eyes, he was once more underwater in a sunken city. The same city he had been in once before when he had entered his inner world upon training in the Precipice World.
Currently the teen was on the side of a building under dense levels of water, chains still bound his form but he noticed now that they were more loose then even when he had come in here during his fight with Arlong. Something had changed, was it because of the use of two cero's or was it due to that other strange power that he had somehow used?
Even if the old man's guidance was vague and cryptic, he would have loved to just ask Zangetsu what it all meant. At least then he might get an ounce of sense out of what had happened when Arlong first struck him and then when Arlong's jaws broke when trying to bite into him. Was it some kind of Hierro? It hadn't felt Hollow like, he couldn't quite place what kind of power it was.
"I need to concentrate." Ichigo muttered as he felt the weight of the chains binding him. They were the restriction of his current abilities. With the chains binding him, he wouldn't be able to grow further. Ginjo had told him his Fullbring would lead him back to his Shinigami powers, he just never really went into detail on how that would come about. That's what he needed to focus on, finding the link between Fullbring and Shinigami.
Time passed and nothing changed, the chains remained constricting and he didn't feel any difference in his powers. Using Cero's in Fullbring could come in handy, but did that somehow disrupt how his powers were supposed to diverge into Shinigami powers? He really should have gotten a play by play from Ginjo on how all of this was supposed to work out but the guy had been vague on it all.
Retreating from his inner world he stretched his arms out as he glanced at the window, the silhouettes of people moving by as the soft drum of music drifted into the room.
"Better face the music." He sighed gently to himself knowing he was going to have to face Luffy at one point or another. He was just hoping to push it off. The other world teen could already see that, him joining Luffy's crew… didn't seem like it would work out. It had so far but it was clear it wasn't meant to be. Luffy lived by his own code, and Ichigo in a way lived by his own and from what he knew of Luffy, they would clash in the future and Ichigo didn't want that to happen. It would be better for them to part ways here, on better terms rather than on bad terms further down the track.
Stepping off the bed he headed for the exit.
Nojiko had to raise an eyebrow as she sat across from Nami, the young thief had been busy for quite a while now holding onto some wooden badge as she attached some kind of belt to it. To Nojiko it was an odd sight, all this reverally going around and all she could focus on was that badge? She had said that she had found Ichigo and that he needed some more time to recover from his fight with the Fishmen. Nojiko still didn't know how to comprehend what she had witnessed earlier and wanted answers, all Nami had told her was that Ichigo hadn't told her anything either, only that he could see spirits or something along those lines.
Which was just mind boggling in of itself.
Nojiko had so many questions and little to no answers. How did Ichigo and Nami know each other to the point that Ichigo was willing to risk so much just to save them? He was a pirate right, so why go so far? How did that whole thing with Bell-mère work, was it some kind of dream? Hallucination? She had no idea. It seemed that most of her questions right now originated on the teen that had become a hero to Cocoyasi and the entire island seemingly overnight.
"So." Nojiko began getting a glance from her younger sister. "What are you going to do now?" She questioned before raising her mug up and downing half her drink. Nami's hands stopped what they were doing and she glanced out over the party that had been going on and didn't look like it would be stopping any time soon.
She could see Usopp atop his mountain of tables singing and dancing, the liar who had a heart of gold. Sanji was continuously cooking extravagant meals for the party goers, while not particularly close with the chef he seemed like a good enough guy, though perverted. Zoro was drinking with several others, the swordsman who was loyal to a fault. After everything that happened, she didn't think Zoro would truly trust her again.
Luffy was making the rounds, stacks of food in each hand and more than enough already in his swollen rubber gut but that didn't stop him from shoving more in when he got the chance. There was no doubt in her mind that he would welcome her back aboard the Going Merry with open arms regardless of what anyone else had to say on the matter.
A life full of adventure waited for her if she wanted to take it, sail to the Grandline and fulfill her childhood dream of drawing a map of the entire world. It wouldn't be the worst pirate crew in the world. In her time serving under Arlong, she had seen pirate crews of all kinds, and Luffy was certainly not your average pirate.
So what was holding her back? She wanted a life full of adventure, to fulfill the dream Bell-mère believed in. There was a simple answer to all of this that it unnerved her.
"What's he going to do?"
It all came back to their conversation after she found him at Arlong Park a few hours ago. From the way he spoke, it was almost as if he didn't intend to go on with Luffy aboard the Going Merry any further, like he was going to set out on his own and do his own thing. She had only known Ichigo for a few days, spotting him in the water before getting him on their small boat.
A lot had happened since then. Defeating Kuro and his gang, sailing together aboard the Going Merry, arriving at the Baratie and then everything that happened here with Arlong. It almost felt like a lifetime since they first met but in reality only a few short days. A bond had formed between everyone of the Going Merry and Ichigo regardless. Just to see him walk away from it all… did they mean that little to him?
"I thought it was a rather simple question." Nojiko joked snapping Nami from her thoughts.
"I don't know quite yet." Nami finally answered. "I guess I've got some things I've got to figure out for myself before I decide." Nojiko nodded as she leaned forward causing Nami to raise an eyebrow at her.
"So what's Ichigo's deal?" She questioned.
"His deal? Ask him yourself." Nami huffed, turning her attention back to the badge in her grip, continuing to fix the strap to it.
"Well I mean, I figured you'd at least have some kind of idea. He saved everyone for you didn't he?" Nami's hand stopped working as she looked up with a small frown.
"You got something wrong there." Nami told her. "He didn't do it for me, he did it for this." She explained showing her sister the badge. "I stole it from him when we got here, figured it would catch a pretty good price." She explained as Nojiko held out her hand for it, Nami handing it over as she watched her sister examine it. "It's really nothing more than a plank of wood, to us that is. To Ichigo, it's more than that." Nojiko's thumb rubbed over the surface of the wood before giving her sister a stare.
"You're supposed to be the smart one, Nami." Nojiko chuckled, handing the badge back. "He could have gotten this badge back any other way, and you think he went the hardest route, what? Just because?" Nojiko shook her head. "I think Bell-mère informed him of what was going on, he knew things you would never tell him." Nami frowned slightly before Nojiko leaned forward and flicked Nami in the forehead.
"Ow!" She hissed back at her sister.
"He didn't just do it for the badge Nami." She said with a smile. "Pretty sure the guy has a hero complex and just doesn't want to show it." She laughed, causing Nami to smirk. "The guy wouldn't have done everything he did for us, if you weren't his friend Nami." Nami smiled gently as she set back to her work on the final few stitches. "You still didn't tell me his deal." She added with a smirk as Nami shook her head in amusement.
"ICHIGO!" Both looked up at the shout to see that the partying had stopped, cheers were being shouted out as no doubt Ichigo was making his presence known. The crowds were gathered and Nami had to sigh as she already saw Luffy with a determined look on his face pushing through the crowd. He clearly wasn't happy and Ichigo was about to be on the other end of that.
"This can't be good." Nami grabbed the now finished accessory to the badge and stood up from the table before rushing over to the large commotion taking place. Nojiko shrugged and followed after to see what was going to happen. When the two got closer they saw that a large circle surrounded Ichigo and Luffy, the Captain currently finishing off the last of his food that he had on hand as he licked his fingers clean as Ichigo stood across from him.
"Luffy." Ichigo began. "We need to talk."
"Damn right we do!" Luffy shouted. "I can forgive the stealing of the ship! But!" He would have gone on but Ichigo interrupted by raising his hand, wanting to clear his name.
"I didn't steal it, Nami did. I was asleep and not a participant in any way." Ichigo defended, smirking slightly as he saw Nami glare at him from where she was standing for being ratted out like that.
"Gah! That isn't what I'm getting at!" Luffy shouted. "I'm the Captain!" He declared.
"Uh huh." Ichigo nodded. "I don't doubt that." Ichigo told him. "What's your point?"
"I'm the Captain so I get to beat up the strongest guy! That's how all of this works! That's how my crew works!" Ichigo sighed to himself, this is why he was conflicted on going on with Luffy. Nami had breached the subject when they had spoken earlier and knowing Luffy it was all too true. He saw that since he was the Captain, he was the strongest member of the crew therefore he fought the strongest 'boss' to put it into simple terms.
But what would happen should a time come that Luffy wasn't strong enough? True, Ichigo didn't know the full extent of Luffy's capabilities but he knew from experience, there was always someone stronger. But should someone come along that Luffy can't defeat, what should he do? Just stand aside and do nothing?
While Usopp wasn't present, currently intoxicated to a greater degree somewhere singing to the high heavens, Sanji and Zoro were on Luffy's side of the circle and Ichigo believed that they were in agreement with Luffy's statement. The Captain made the laws of a crew, if they were Luffy's laws, then Ichigo's mind was already made up.
"So I should have just waited then?" Ichigo asked.
"That's right!" Luffy nodded, folding his arms. "I was on my way anyway to get you guys and the ship. It wouldn't have been that long." He added with a nod to himself.
Nami felt anger in her rise up at that, who knows what Arlong could have done in that time frame, Zoro, Usopp and Johnny got here first. Undoubtedly something would have happened and people would have gotten hurt. If it wasn't for Ichigo being aboard when she stole the Merry, who knows what could have happened.
"Luffy." Ichigo began the atmosphere which had been full of life and joy now cold and distant, Ichigo's voice even more so. Even Luffy despite his lack of intelligence could see that this was no joking matter. "I like you." He stated. "But I think going our separate ways would be for the best." He stated. "I won't be part of your crew anymore." Luffy seemed shocked by the sudden announcement as silence rang over the gathered members of Cocoyasi. "We don't know each other well. It's only been a few days since we met. While I appreciate the offer to join your crew, it wouldn't work out." He finished.
"I refuse!" Luffy shouted at him. "You're part of the crew! I'm not letting you leave!" Ichigo just smiled as he waved the notion away.
"I didn't even have an official job title and I don't think the pirate life is for me." He shrugged. "I won't be going with you when you leave." With that, Ichigo turned and walked back into the crowd leaving Luffy standing there a frown on his face.
"Luffy." Zoro began making the straw hat wearing teen glance back at him. "Let him go. He won't change his mind, no matter what you say." He concluded. Sanji simply pulled out a cigarette and lit it, taking a long drag from it. That's when Luffy's gaze turned to Nami, or where Nami had been standing amidst it all. However the spot she had been standing was vacant.
Ichigo would have closed the door behind him, however Nami stood present making him raise an eyebrow in question. He hadn't expected her to come looking for him after all that. Walking into the room she followed after him as he sat on the bed only for Nami to toss his badge across the room which he caught. His eyes widening as a smile came to his face as he saw a small rope attached to it.
"You keep losing it so I figured you'd need something to keep it on you." She explained, taking a seat at the small table. The rope she had attached to it wasn't unlike the strap that the badge once had when Ukitake had handed it to him.
"Thanks." Ichigo nodded as he placed the badge back in his pocket. There was a tense air of silence that hung between them.
"You're really not going with Luffy then? When they leave?" Nami asked, breaking through the silence. Ichigo wasn't ignorant when Nami said 'they', not 'we'.
"It's for the best." Ichigo told her. "We'd just clash heads, Luffy's set in his ways and I'm set in mine, we'd just get into pointless arguments. The situation would only get worse as time went on and eventually we'd go our separate ways anyway." Ichigo shrugged. Silence once more drifted between them, Nami fidgeting slightly in her chair before Ichigo let out a sigh. "You should go with them."
"Huh?" Nami looked up at Ichigo with wide eyes as he stared back at her.
"Despite them being… them." Ichigo shook his head, trying to sum up Luffy's ragtag crew in a singular word was difficult. "They're good people, you'll see the world. Fulfill the dream you have. Who else is going to make a map of the world if you don't?" He asked with a smirk.
"So, she did tell you everything?" Nami spoke softly.
"Yeah." Ichigo nodded. "At least the important parts anyway." Ichigo added. "That ragtag group of pirate wannabes… you'll fit in fine."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Nami growled at him as Ichigo chuckled, Nami smiling already knowing that she fit in perfectly fine with them, despite their abnormal tendencies. Sure it might take some time before the crew trusted her again but she would be able to prove herself more than enough by helping out. Who else was going to get Luffy's ass to the One Piece if not her? "You really think they'll just welcome me back?"
"Have you met Luffy?" Ichigo questioned causing Nami to laugh lightly and nod, he had a good point. "I don't think you'll have any problems with Usopp or the new guy, Zoro might take a while." Ichigo told her honestly.
But that still left one thing…
"What about you?" She questioned softly, Ichigo pausing for a moment fingers threading together as he looked down at them.
"I honestly have no idea what I'll do from here." Ichigo admitted. "I still have a lot to figure out for myself. Come to terms with everything." Nami frowned slightly at his words, even if she asked, she doubted he'd tell her about what he was talking about.
"Well then." She began as she rose up from her chair. "No doubt we'll see each other out there on the sea some day." She smiled before leaving, shutting the door behind her.
Ichigo watched on from behind the crowd of villagers. It was a big display of Nami robbing everyone blind before hauling ass off the dock and onto the Going Merry where she was welcomed by the rest of the crew. It was clear that Zoro would be keeping his eye on her, but someone had to keep Nami in line too. At Least Ichigo knew that she'd be taken care of on the Merry. No doubt, they were off to cause trouble somewhere. Even now the Merry was becoming smaller and smaller on the horizon.
Luffy still wasn't happy that Ichigo wasn't going with them, trying to talk 'sense' into him once he had gone to wish them a farewell. But Ichigo still believed that it was the right decision, he didn't particularly fit in with the crew either. No didn't doubt that he'd made friends for life with Luffy and he wouldn't soon forget Nami, but he didn't feel like that was where he belonged.
Reaching into his pocket, fishing out his substitute badge with it's new rope attachment, he saw that Nami had added a quick release trigger so he could easily pull it off and click it back on. Quickly attaching it to his pants he went to turn around only to stop and groan slightly at the sight before him.
Johnny and Yosaku. The two idiots that had decided to remain here on Conomio Island for a while until whatever came next for them. The two bounty hunters would no doubt go seeking another bounty sooner than later. Unfortunately, the last few days the two had been asking for Ichigo, the Slayer of Arlong, to train them or at least aid them in helping with their swordplay. Not something Ichigo was exactly thrilled about, but the two had been relentless in their begging.
"No." Ichigo simply stated before walking off, however the two hurried after him.
"Come on Big Bro! Please!?" Johnny begged.
"Yeah Big Bro!" Yosaku added.
"You're both older than me!" Ichigo snapped at them, it was almost as bad as dealing with Keigo. For whatever reason they had taken to calling him Big Bro like they had Zoro or similar to how they called Nami 'Big Sis', despite clearing being the older ones in the whole dynamic. Ichigo mentally blocked out their constant blabbering as he walked, his feet taking him towards Arlong Park.
The massive structure was still present, it was already stated that the whole park was going to be torn down and destroyed to erase the Fishmen's presence from the island entirely, but Ichigo wanted to look around to see if there might be anything of use before that actually happened.
While he had told Luffy that the life of a Pirate wasn't his style, it didn't mean he couldn't go out on the ocean, still feeling that unnatural pull he felt from it. He could make a living off bounty hunting, traveling the ocean as he saw fit. It's not like he had a place to call home exactly. Didn't mean he had to be a pirate. Maybe he'd meet Luffy and Nami out on the ocean like Nami had predicted. It wouldn't hurt to make sure they were doing okay out there from time to time.
Coming up to Arlong Park, Johnny and Yosaku became quiet. Despite the fact that the fishmen were longer present, the very place made the people that knew of Fishmen hesitate. Not bothering to wait for them, he headed through the gate and into the park's interior.
Ichigo hadn't really bothered to take much of a look around after his fight with the Fishmen, or when he had set up a shrine to those he had killed. But now that he did, he saw just how much damage his Gran Rey Cero had done. While not to the extent of Grimjow's destructive power, that he had been on the receiving end of in Las Noches, he now understood the backlash from the blast.
While the main structure of the building was untouched, apart from where he had been thrown into the building by Arlong's attack, his cero had mostly been focused on the courtyard. There was no longer a wall blocking the view from the ocean, and the pool that lay in the centre was severely opened on a larger scale, tiles from the ground now gouged away by the spiritual blast waves rolling in washing over the courtyard.
"Did Ginjo know that Fullbring gave access to powerful Hollow abilities?" Ichigo wondered, just how much of a hollow's powers could a Fullbring user use? Just where was the limit and just how present was a Hollow inside of a Fullbringer?
The image of his inner Hollow surfaced in his mind causing him to grit his teeth, before shaking the thoughts from his head, he didn't have the means to answer the questions and he doubted he'd ever see Ginjo again to ask him. No point worrying about it, he'd figure it out in time as he used his Fullbring and came to understand it more.
"Woah Big Bro, just how'd you do all this?" Yosaku questioned, staring in awe with Johnny. While both had seen the aftermath of the battle before, they still didn't know exactly what happened, Nami nor Ichigo had been forthcoming with the details of the battle. Blood still stained some of the area, but the bodies had been disposed of.
"Did you come to get something of Arlong's to prove the bounty?" Johnny questioned halting Ichigo, Arlong had a bounty on him? He shouldn't be surprised, but wasn't there a military presence or something here? Why hadn't the Marines done anything to stop Arlong's reign over the island? Something wasn't sitting right with the teen. Why was a pirate's presence, such as Arlong's, allowed to sustain itself for so long?
"How much was Arlong's bounty?" Ichigo inquired.
"Well…" Yosaku began fishing around inside of his green coat before pulling out a mass amount of papers that had seen better days. He began flicking through them before pulling one out. "Here it is, Arlong the Saw… bounty is, 20 million beri."
"But, considering Arlong's dead, the bounty office has a bit of an issue with dead bounties, they usually subtract at least thirty percent of the total bounty." Johnny added with a confirmation nod from Yosaku.
"That comes too…" Ichigo watched with an annoyed expression as the two tried to come up with the numbers by trying to count their fingers. How did these two conduct business if they couldn't work out simple percentages?
"Thirty percent of 20 million is 6 million, so the total would be 14 million." Ichigo sighed before Johnny and Yosaku glanced at one another, quickly linked arms and began dancing around in a circle.
"We're rich!" Ichigo groaned and turned away from the dancing trio, back to the ruins of the massive building that made up a large sum of Arlong Park. Walking through the wreckage, he heard Johnny and Yosaku telling him to wait up but he ignored them not wanting much to do with them. Once more he found himself in the armory, weapons of all kinds lining the walls.
"Hey Yosaku, look at this!"
"So cool!"
"Gah it's heavy!" Ichigo glanced back to see Johnny lifting the same weapon he had used to defeat the Fishmen that had told him something about Fishmen karate, apparently it was an important weapon to Arlong to send him into a rage just seeing it in the hands of a human. The black haired man hefted it onto his shoulder not unlike Ichigo would do with Ichigo, however Johnny was clearly struggling underneath it's weight.
"C-Cool, huh?" Johnny asked as he looked to Ichigo. Ignoring them once more, Ichigo looked around seeing several katana's on the walls, among other things he searched around a bit more pushing past a set of doors intent on searching through the entire building.
After a while he returned to the courtyard, seeing Johnny doing his best to handle the weapon he had picked up, despite it throwing him around as he tried to swing it he seemed to be handling it better than he had when he first picked it up, getting used to its weight no doubt. Ichigo was surprised he hadn't hurt himself but he had to have some skill as a swordsman as he hadn't done so. Yosaku seemed to have raided the armory, looking for something for himself now that his partner was outfitted with a new weapon. It seemed like he had drawn it down to two options, a large morning star and a trident.
While there were numerous treasures hidden within the walls of the tower, he didn't take any, not seeing the point to do so. The residents of Conomi island would benefit more form what was inside then he would and if he did claim Arlong's bounty then he wouldn't be in need of money any time soon, or at least he didn't think so.
"Hmm… This one." Ichigo figured Yosaku would have picked a sword, however it seemed like he wanted to change it up a bit as he ended up picking the three pronged trident, giving a few jabs with it before grinning.
"Are you both having fun?" Ichigo questioned making them turn to him with grins on their faces.
"You guys!" Nojiko's voice came from the gate causing the three to turn to see her slightly out of breath. "It's the Marines! They're here!" Ichigo scoffed slightly to himself, a little late weren't they? Only arriving no doubt after the news of Arlong was defeated.
"Alright! Let's go collect our bounty Ichigo!" Yosaku laughed as both he and Johnny, with their newly acquired weapons headed for Nojiko, the woman glancing at both with their new arms and raising an eyebrow as they passed her.
"Couldn't take her eyes off of us." Johnny grinned.
"These weapons are going to make us hits with the ladies." Yosaku laughed alongside him.
Ichigo shook his head at the comment, not to mention the suggestion of 'our' bounty. When was it decided that they were getting a cut? About to head after them he stopped, something felt off and he glanced around Arlong park. He had felt like something had been watching him… His eyes narrowed slightly, there was definitely another presence here other than himself and the other three. It was strange, to actually pick up on another's signature here he had to focus on them specifically, perhaps because the signatures were so weak?
Walking to the water's edge he peered into the depths. A Fishman? Had one come back? He couldn't see very far into the water, he himself knew how deep it was having been dragged down to the ocean's floor.
"Why isn't it attacking? Afraid maybe? Something's not right." As he thought that he felt the signature move before dashing out into the ocean, leaving Arlong Park behind. "It's… gone…?"
"Everything okay?" Nojiko questioned walking up behind the orange haired teen.
"Ah yeah." Ichigo nodded, turning to face her. "What do the Marine's want?" Nojiko shook her head, unsure herself what the Marines were doing here.
"No idea, Genzo spotted the ships and I came to let you guys know. If you're going to claim Arlong's bounty, they're the best ones to speak to about it." Ichigo nodded in agreement as the two left Arlong park together, heading back to Cocoyasi Village.
By the time Ichigo and Nojiko arrived in Cocoyasi, just after Johnny and Yosaku, it was clear that the Marines were making their way to the island. The ship was docked not far off, however unlike the Going Merry it was much larger and couldn't just dock on the island.
"The Marines could never get close to the island before now, Arlong and his men would just sink the ships that tried." Genzo spoke to Ichigo as they walked up to the dock where the Marines were headed, he had to wonder if that was the only reason why the Marines hadn't come. "No doubt word's gotten out now that Arlong has been defeated."
The blue and white uniforms of the Marines came into view as they rowed their boats towards the island. Nojiko and Genzo stood on the dock waiting to welcome them as Ichigo, Johnny and Yosaku stood a little ways back, the two bounty hunters beside him getting accustomed to their new weaponry. Ichigo watched on, taking a backseat figuring he could let Genzo and Nojiko deal with it, once their stuff was settled he, or not doubt Johnny and Yosaku would bring up Arlong's bounty. With any luck, there wouldn't be any problems.
He made sure that Johnny and Yosaku didn't rush off to tell the Marine's that they were the ones to defeat Arlong, no doubt that would cause all kinds of trouble, instead waited with the two as the residents gathered around the Marines.
"Greetings residents of Cocoyasi Village." The Marine called out in greeting before deciding to introduce himself with a hand on his chest and a slight bow. "I am Commodore Pudding Pudding." Ichigo raised an eyebrow at the strange man's name and appearance, a rare choice in hair design that was for sure.
"No way, a Commodore? I figured they'd send a Captain." Yosaku whispered, getting a nod from Johnny in return. Ichigo didn't know too much about military ranks both here and back in Japan, but a Commodore was pretty high up the scale weren't they?
"We've heard that Arlong has been defeated and that Fishmen no longer inhabit the island, you have my sincerest apologies that we could not do something sooner for the people of the Conomi Islands." He apologised to them which actually felt sincere from the man. "We're here to assist in any way that we can."
"We understand and are grateful for the help." Genzo spoke as he walked up to the Commodore, his past scars still present making the Marine frown. "The nightmare is over now." Genzo continued.
"You have my word that a full investigation will be held and the destruction of Arlong Park will commence immediately." At his words a small platoon of Marines acted at his orders and headed into the island, no doubt to do just that. "It is unfortunate, however everything we find in Arlong park will need to be confiscated as it will be treated as stolen property and handed to the Government."
Ichigo's attention perked up at that, they were seriously taking all the treasure in the park? That could really help out the island rebuilding, helping them get back on their feet. Moving through the crowd, Johnny and Yosaku following after him. He went to pass Nojiko, gaining the Commodore's attention but she quickly grabbed his wrist and pulled him to a stop.
"Don't." She whispered to him. "We don't need it, Nami's savings are still safe, there is more than enough." She continued with a hushed tone causing Ichigo to hesitate, she was right. There was almost a 100 million beri buried up on the tangerine farm. Deciding to let it go, to follow Nojiko's advice the teen nodded.
"Who do we have here?" Pudding Pudding inquired intrigued by the young man before him.
"The Bounty Hunter who took down Arlong." Genzo quickly explained. "Kurosaki Ichigo." Surprise was evident on the Commodore's face as he took another look at the teen before him.
"Do you have some kind of evidence?" Commodore Pudding questioned while Ichigo locked eyes with the man before throwing his hand to the side.
"Johnny." Ichigo simply stated causing the black haired man to pause for a moment, curious to know what Ichigo was getting at before he blinked coming to the realisation before passing him Kiribachi, despite groaning at the effort it took to do so. Ichigo easily hefted the weapon up, holding it out to the Commodore without the slightest bit of strain. "Far as I know, this was Arlong's prized possession. He seemed kind of enraged when I picked it up."
"Hmm." Pudding hummed as he inspected the blade. "It was said that Arlong in his younger days on the Grand Line used such a weapon." He nodded. "While I don't condone the work you bounty hunters do, I must say that you've done a good job dealing with one of the scums of the East Blue. You have my thanks." He told him. "Once Arlong's body has been found and his death confirmed, I'll issue the bounty. Due to regulations, the twenty million will be cut by thirty percent."
"Got it." Ichigo nodded as he turned to Nojiko who nodded with a smile. "There's a small tangerine farm just up the road, I'll be there." Ichigo finished as he handed Kiribachi back to Johnny and walked away, Johnny once more struggled to get a handle on it before he and Yosaku rushed after him.
"I'll go get them settled." Nojiko told Genzo who nodded before she too followed after the three. Genzo himself going with the Marine's to confirm Arlongs death.
The four walked up the road that led to Nojiko's house, the Tangerine trees already in view ahead. Johnny and Yosaku had already asked Nojiko if there was a spot where they could practice with their new weapons and she had told them that there was, just to be careful. Maybe it was because she was Nami's big sister but the two listened to it as if it was an order from Nami herself.
"Maybe I should have warned them about a Fishman lurking about?" Ichigo mused to himself as he walked beside Nojiko. "Surely that many Marines can take out a single one if it shows up?"
"It's got to be here somewhere! Spread out and find it!" A voice came from deep within the grove of the tangerine orchard causing Ichigo and Nojiko to pause. A quick glance at the anger growing on Nojiko's face told Ichigo she wasn't expecting visitors. However before she could rush off to confront them, Ichigo's hand landed on her shoulder.
"Stay with them." Ichigo surprised her as he turned to Johnny and Yosaku. "Look after her."
"With our lives Big Bro!" Both saluted before Ichigo disappeared from sight, the whisks of green light where his feet had been. Ichigo appeared in the orchard, behind some trees already removing the badge from his belt as he spotted several Marine's with shovels, some already digging up the earth searching for what was clearly Nami's treasure. What surprised him the most though was that not one of the Marines he saw were the same as those that had come ashore with the Commodore.
"If what Arlong said, it should be buried somewhere among the tangerine trees, just why is it so hard to find!?" A man cursed causing Ichigo to narrow his eyes.
"Captain Nezumi! We found something!" One of the Marines called out.
"Finally!" The Captain growled as he marched through the Marines to where they had been digging to find a large case covered in dirt. "Well, bring it out of the mud already!" He ordered.
"Yes sir!" Four of the Marine's did just that, pulling the case from the ground and placing it to the side. Another Marine already presented a bar to open it.
"Hurry it up! Pudding is already here! We have to leave before we're spotted!" Nezumi growled as the Marine pried open the lid, Nazumi pushing him to the side and looking at the contents of the container. Gold, beri's, jewels of all kinds lined the inside of the container. Almost a 100 millions worth.
"I thought it was odd." Nezumi's head shot up, looking back and forth. "How Arlong got away with what he did for so long, of course he had help from a corrupt official."
"Who's there!?" Nezumi shouted as the Marine's around him raised their rifles aiming in all directions.
"Arlong's dead, so you'd thought you'd get what you could out of the deal you made with him."
"Sir!? What do we do!?" A Marine called out as Nezumi tried to locate the direction of the voice.
"Fire at will! If it moves, kill it!" Nezumi ordered and immediately the entire tangerine orchard lit up as gunfire rang out. Several moments of blasting into the tangerine trees silence soon settled in. Nezumi smirked as he dusted off his coat with one hand before casting it out. "Now hurry it up, the gunfire would have attracted attention. Get this all... back to the... ship...!" Nezumi's face paled as the arm he had thrown out with his order, now just a stump, his arm laying on the ground.
"GAHHHH!" The Captain cried out in pain, raising a hand up to the stump to stop the bleeding but the flow didn't stop. Ichigo stood in the centre of the circled Marines blade in hand blood dripping down the blade. He cast his gaze over their frightened faces before his eyes turned blue and he raised his reiatsu.
Immediately the surrounding Marine's knees began to buckle under the strain, his spiritual pressure not as dense as it once was but it was enough to force them to their knees. He forced them all to their knees, all of them dropping their weapons before he released it. What he was surprised by was the fact that they all fell unconscious afterwards.
"Probably never felt spirit pressure before." Ichigo mused as his sword turned back into the badge which he attached back to the clip on his pants.
"Big Bro!" Ichigo turned to find Nojiko burst through a line of tangerine trees, the woman obviously having come running after the gunfire was heard. Johnny and Yosaku burst through after her to the scene surrounding Ichigo.
"Wha? Marines!?" Nojiko was shocked just as well as angered.
"These ones aren't a part of the Commodore's crew." Ichigo explained, knowing that Nojiko was trying to connect the dots. "This one's a Captain." Ichigo stated as he nudged the rat faced man in the side with his shoe. "Turns out he was in league with Arlong somehow."
"Damn it!" Nojiko grit her teeth.
"Hey, it's all over now right? Big Bro took care of them. Nothing to worry about." Yosaku tried to cheer the blue haired woman up.
"Johnny, Yosaku. Tie them up, we'll hand them over to the Commodore when he comes to give the bounty." Ichigo told them getting a nod from the two as they went to work. Ichigo looked down at the large case that contained the millions of stolen treasure inside. "This will be put to rebuilding up this island Nami, I assure you of that." He closed the lid on the container and slid it back into the hole, Nojiko helping to cover it with dirt. While the Marines were here, it was best to keep it secret.
"Big Bro!" Ichigo glanced at the two to see them having tied up all the Marines in a large circle, even going so far as to gag the Marines so that if they regained consciousness they wouldn't be able to talk.
"Come on." Nojiko told Ichigo. "I'll make us all some lunch while we wait for the Commodore and his men."
"Alright! I'm starving!" Yosaku cheered as the two bounty hunters once more linked arms and began to dance around in circles with one another. Ichigo simply shook his head as he followed Nojiko out of the tangerine orchard.
