Ever since they had left, everything had seemed so quiet now. First it was Nami, always going off, Nojiko always listened to her little sisters stories that she came back with, no matter how horrifying some of them were. Everything Nami had to go through alone, she regretted now more than ever not being able to help her, or be there with her when she desperately needed her. What had stopped her from going with her? The Fear of Arlong finding out? Nami constantly rejecting of her to go, to keep her safe? She was the big sister, she was suppose to protect Nami. Something Bell-mère had instilled in her since she was a young girl, always look out for Nami. Her biggest failure and her constant regret was never being able to be there for her like she truly needed.
But she had left again, to become a pirate and sail the seas and follow her dream of making a map of the entire world. Nojiko was happy for her, she was finally free of her nightmare and free to do what she wanted. She had those of her crew, while it may take some time for the swordsman of the crew to trust her again, she had no doubt in her mind Nami would be fine with them. However as she sat at Bell-mère's grave, looking out at the ocean, she felt that Nami had one regret. A certain orange haired regret. Nojiko had no doubt that had he asked, Nami would have jumped at the chance to go with Ichigo, after all she felt like there was something brewing there, an older sisters intuition told her so.
However, Ichigo was more lost than anyone it seemed, no idea on what to do with himself let alone where he was going. Nami saw that more than anyone and lumped the two bounty hunter morons with him to occupy his mind. No doubt Johnny and Yosaku would keep his mind busy, if not drive him totally insane with their antics. Their little time spent together at Bell-mère's orchard waiting for Commodore Pudding Pudding was evident enough of that. Nojiko recalled seeing them off, watching the boat they were in grow further and further out to sea. She had felt two things, and even now those feelings hadn't left her.
The first was regret. What could have happened if she had said take me with you? But that had been selfish, she needed to be here to help Cocoyasi and the rest of the island recover from almost a decade of terror and there was still Bell-mère's orchard to tend and look after, she had to many responsibilities to just go off and live a carefree life. But still... she knew that it had been a lifetime opportunity and she had let it pass her by, no doubt she'd regret that moment for the rest of her life, not going out to see with those three. But her place was here.
The second was fear, no doubt all those of Cocoyasi held in their hearts, but in her it was deep rooted, almost every night since Ichigo had left she had nightmares, too real for her to just ignore. The return of the surviving Fishmen. Ichigo had admitted himself that numerous Fishmen had fled during his attack on Arlong's fortress. It sent chills through her that their nightmare could return any moment from the sea. They had informed the Marine's of the fact that several of the Fishmen had escaped but they just waved it off, saying that they were no longer a threat. The Commodore and his ships had left after news had arrived that Logue Town was in such a lawless state after Captain Smoker left his post. Leaving only a small platoon of Marines here on the island. If the Fishmen returned wanting revenge for what happened, there was no way such a small force would stand up to them. The islanders had witnessed it time and time again, the monstrous strength of those creatures.
She spent as much time as she could, watching the ocean. She didn't want her recent nightmares to be real and if they did come to pass, she hoped to be able to spot it and warn everyone. Her gut told her something was coming, that they should be ready. She had spoken with Genzo and he had trusted her, he himself not a fan of the laid back attitude the remaining Marines on the island had. Genzo had taken to buying weapons from the passing trade ships that could finally dock on their island with some of the money Nami had left them. They now at least had some weapons to defend themselves instead of just farm tools and the like. But experience proved that such weapons weren't much of a threat against a Fishman.
Sitting beside Bell-mère's grave, having brought a small offering of tangerines, she had her knee's pulled up to her chest with her arms wrapped around them as she watched the ocean. That nagging feeling that something was wrong only rooting itself deeper as her eyes scanned the endless blue. The small Marine Vessel was docked a few hundred yards off shore. No doubt manned by a few men, the few men that were on the island were either scouring through the remains of Arlong Park, or lazying about elsewhere.
"I thought I'd find you here." The voice spooked her, having been so focused on the ocean Nojiko hadn't heard Genzo's approach. Looking up she saw the scarred man approach, the small windmill in his hat generally alerted anyone to his presence. "Still keeping watch?"
"I can't get rid of this feeling." Nojiko admitted, turning her attention back to the ocean. "I really think we're in danger." Genzo knelt beside her, placing a hand on her tattooed shoulder. "I just can't place it." She breathed out.
"We'll be ready." Genzo assured her. "We've got a few boats at the ready to leave as soon as needed." Nojiko's eyes widened as she turned to him with a shocked look. "A few of us have already decided that we'll keep whatever comes out of the water at bay until you and everyone else can get as far from here as you can, with any luck the Marines won't be totally useless." He chuckled halfheartedly, knowing the severity of the situation.
"Genzo..." Nojiko clenched her eyes shut, not wanting the tears to fall. Genzo wrapped his arm around her, comforting her.
"None of us want to relive that nightmare Nojiko, if you get the chance. Run, don't stop, don't look back. You run." Genzo assured her as Nojiko looked up at him. "Promise me Nojiko." Nodding softly Nojiko lowered her head to her arms, trembling quietly as tears fell.
"I promise Genzo." Nojiko whispered softly. Silence rang out over the ocean, only a slight brisk sea breeze washing over them and a few soft crashes of the waves below the cliff face. No sound of seagulls, or any animals just the grass whistling. So when it happened, they heard it as plain as day. The cracking of wood, the blasts of gunfire the echoing shriek of a dying man. Both of their heads shot up as they quickly got to their feet, looking out to the Marine ship.
Fear was etched on both of their faces as they heard the gunfire, before the ship itself seemed to be torn apart. The main mast was seemingly ripped from the deck and swung about with ease before it pierced the deck. The sound of a cannon rang out and the structure at the back of the ship exploded outward over the ocean. Slowly over time the gunfire died out, and the ship itself was slowly sinking down into the water, the hull pierced by the mast. Nojiko and Genzo watched as several large humanoid figures on the ship jumped into the water.
"They're coming..." Nojiko took a step back in fear, there was no one here to protect them. The Marine's wouldn't be able to do anything. Genzo rounded on her, grabbing her shoulders and forcibly turning her to face him.
"Nojiko!" Genzo shouted roughly shaking her from her stupor, seemingly snapping her out of her trance she looked at him with a fearful expression. "You get as many people to those boats as you can! Do you understand me!? They're docked in Gosa Village! You get as many people as you can and you get as far away form here as possible!" Nojiko was trembling but Genzo gripped her arms tightly. "Do you understand Nojiko!"
"Y-Yes!" Nojiko nodded as Genzo let her go.
"Go. Now." Genzo told her, Nojiko hesitated for a moment. "NOW NOJIKO!" He yelled, tears streamed from her eyes as she turned and ran as fast as her feet would carry her, down the path that led to Cocoyasi, she had to warn as many people as she could if they didn't already hear the gunfire and cannon fire with any luck they were already on the way to the boats. Genzo watched her run off as he turned back to Bell-mere's grave, placing a hand atop of it. "I'll make sure she gets away safe."
A frown marred the orange haired teen's face as he stood on the sand. They had docked off of the far side of Conomi island, far from the Marine Ship that was anchored off of Cocoyasi Village so as to avoid any unnecessary trouble while they were here, using the small boat to ferry them ashore. The engine was off so they had no worries about anyone stealing the ship considering Ichigo was the only one able to start it. But as soon as they landed... something felt, off. There were a half dozen small boats lined up, and from a quick inspection from Johnny and Yosaku they seemed to be stocked with a few days worth of supplies for a dozen people or so, per boat which would easily go over the overcapacity levels. Someone was looking to leave and in a hurry if it called for it.
"Ichigo." Hatchan started, hand already on the hilt of his sword as he eyed the surrounding village, Gosa was still in ruins but there was the clear sign that rebuilding had started, a few houses that Arlong and Momoo had flipped over were beginning to be torn down already and reconstruction would soon start. But right now, the entire town of Gosa was a ghost town, not a person in sight.
"Yeah." Ichigo nodded, feeling the same as Hachi. Something was definitely wrong here.
"What happened here?" Silk questioned, not having heard of what had happened . All Silk knew was that they were making a stop on some personal business for Hachi, not the specifics or such. Nobody had filled her in and she had been too busy training the last few days to ask many questions, between being exhausted and helping tidy the ship.
"We'll explain later Little Sis." Johnny told her as Yosaku nodded surprising the youngest of the group at how serious the two were, both thought that Silk might look at Hachi differently after she learned the truth.
"Looks like we might have trouble." Ichigo led the group from the beach into the ruined street, the emptiness of the town was just how Ichigo recalled it to be the last time. As they entered the street from the beach, Ichigo stopped feeling dozens of people heading towards them. He was about to reach for his badge before he spotted the group of people running towards them, or more specifically for the boats on the beach.
"There's people coming." Hachi spoke softly.
"Not just people." Ichigo growled. "Fishmen." Hachi's eyes widened as he peered past the people rushing towards them, immediately he recognized the two Fishmen chasing the humans as members of Arlong's crew. Pisaro and Kaneshiro. Those that had survived Ichigo's onslaught at Arlong Park had come back.
Pisaro, a normal sized fishman, with large lips and light blue skin, and curly brown hair. He wore a purple short-sleeved, button-up open shirt with pink stars on it. He also wears a puffed collar around his neck, a white sash, tan shorts, and sandals, and just like always, his maracas were in hand. He has a red star tattoo on his chest.
Kaneshiro, a Goldfish fishman, with light pink skin, and two big blue fins on either side of his head. The tattoos on his head and his chest is the kanji for "gold" . He has a sun mark on his left arm. He wore an orange, open shirt, with circles on it, and white pants, with a light purple sash. He also has a tiny yellow hat on the top of his head he had a saber in hand as he chased the humans.
Both were friends of his, crew-mates that sang, drank and pirated together back when they were apart of the Sun Pirates, but regardless he was here for a reason and if it meant protecting the humans from former crew mates, he would. When he fled from Arlong Park, he no longer wanted to be apart of what Arlong called a crew, the hate he didn't want to be consumed by it like Arlong was for so many years. He had failed Fisher Tiger all these years by letting Arlong be consumed by his hatred, he wanted what Queen Otohime wanted, unity between the races not hate.
Over the last few days, with his time spent with Ichigo and even Johnny and Yosaku and most recently Silk, he could see that unity. They didn't care that he was a Fishman, to them he was a friend, a comrade and they treated him nicely and with respect. Ichigo most of all treated him like a close friend, even asking him to be his First Mate. He wanted to bring them all to Fishman Island and show everyone that Queen Otohime was right, there could be peace between humans and Fishman. Too long had there been hate, he knew it wasn't as easy as that but it would be a start, a way to show everyone on Fishman Island that not all humans were bad. It's what both Fisher Tiger and Queen Otohime would have wanted, to stop the cycle of hatred. He would play his part.
"Ichigo." Hachi began stepping forward. "Let me."
"You sure?" Ichigo asked, Hachi simply nodded as Ichigo turned to Johnny and Yosaku who were nervous at the approaching Fishmen chasing down the humans. "You two, either side of the street direct the people between the buildings away from the fighting, Silk stay here." Ichigo ordered. Johnny and Yosaku looked at one another and nodded before running past Ichigo and Hachi, Johnny to the left side of the street while Yosaku to the right. Ichigo glanced at those running in terror towards them. "You got this Hachi?"
"Yeah." Hatchan nodded.
"I'll leave it to you then." With that, Ichigo disappeared startling Silk as she watched him vanish into nothing but air.
"Wha! How!?" Stunned and confused she stared bewildered at the spot Ichigo had been standing.
"Silk, you may want to stand back." Hatchan stated as he heard Johnny and Yosaku calling out to those fleeing in fear, directing the humans from the middle of the street, it left the two Fishmen confused as they stood in the center of the street looking at the retreating figures into the gaps between the houses. Hachi began to walk forward, hand still on his sword gaining the attention of the two Fishmen that were surprised to see him.
"Hachi! Is that you!?" Pisaro called out happily.
"We thought you were dead!" Kaneshiro added.
"Why?" Hachi began as he walked towards them. "Why did you come back here?" He asked, his tone was pleading but he stood tall, strong. He knew what he would have to do if they insisted. Both were fearful of Arlong, had been for years. They followed Arlong out of fear, but they still respected him and the way he viewed humans as lesser creatures. They were apart of the cycle of hate that Arlong fed over the years. It had to stop.
"Hachi?" Pisaro questioned.
"You didn't have to come back! You could have just gone home!" Hachi called out to them. "Why didn't you just leave!?"
"What's gotten into you Hachi!? After what that human did! You think we'd just let him get away with it! Everyone on this island deserves to pay for what he did!" Kaneshiro shouted back at him, already drawing the cutlass at his waist. His eyes narrowed as he saw the blonde girl standing behind him. "You've lost your way Hachi! Human Sympathizer!" He roared in furious anger as he charged forward, blade drawn.
Hachi gripped the hilt of his new sword, as Kaneshiro got closer Hachi took a step drew his blade the katana easily slicing through the saber surprising both Fishmen at the superior quality of Hatchan's new blade. However Hachi recovered first, reaching out with two of his left hands gripping Kaneshiro's arm and with all his strength pulled him to the ground beside him, while not fatal the strength Hachi put into the throw was more than enough to kill a human.
Pisaro was already on him, but Hachi hadn't been an officer under Arlong for nothing, Pisaro had thrown a punch to Hachi's side but Hachi used the remaining two of his right arms to block the punch before whirling around and throwing a left hook. Hachi's fist connected with the Fishman's jaw sending Pisaro flying down the street.
"Bastard!" Kaneshiro coughed from the ground beside Hachi, the goldfish Fishman doing his best to stand. "You spit on Fisher Tiger's legacy!" He slashed upwards with his broken cutlass but Hachi easily stepped out of the range of the slash. A clash of steel brought Hachi's attention to Pisaro who had slammed both his maracas down onto Johnny's sword, the Fishman forcing the human down to one knee with his strength as Yosaku charged from the other side of the street with his sword drawn. Seeing their predicament Hachi grit his teeth and ran towards them, however the moment he did he heard Silk scream and turned, Kaneshiro was charging at her.
Silk drew her blade but under the ferocious gaze of the Fishman she froze up, sword half drawn as the Fishman reared back with his own broken blade ready to slash downward on the frightened teen. Silk only registered the blood, not sure if it was hers, or not. But a few seconds past as the goldfish Fishman stumbled dropping his broken sword and fell beside her leaving Hachi standing behind Kaneshiro, blade bloodied. Silk fell to her knees, trembling. Hachi frowned, he knew his blade had ended a friend, but he wasn't about to let Kaneshiro kill Silk. Turning he saw Yosaku slammed in the stomach by one of Pisaro's maracas sending him tumbling across the street.
"Yosaku!" Johnny shouted slashing out at Pisaro, the blade leaving a shallow cut on the Fishman's chest only seeming to anger Pisaro as he growled and rose both his maraca's up, Johnny diving to the side as the maracas came slamming down, hitting the earth and sending tremors through the ground. Hachi turned to Silk who looked up, her eyes showing how terrified she was at what she had just witnessed, of what was going on around her and how outmatched she was. Gally was nothing compared to a Fishman.
"I'm going to borrow this, okay?" Hachi asked as he took the handle of her sword and she nodded weakly as he drew the blade from it's sheath. He turned, resolving himself as he charged towards Pisaro with two blades. Hearing the thundering steps of Hatchan, Pisaro grabbed Johnny by the head and threw him at Yosaku, seeing Kaneshiro on the ground in a bloody mess only strengthened Pisaro's anger.
"You bastard!" Pisaro charged back at Hatchan, maracas at the ready. While usually just a instrument, Pisaro had modified his into weapons long ago when they were still Sun Pirates. Pisaro leaped into the air, both maracas raised high above his head. "YAH!" The Fishman came down the tremendous force, Hachi crossing his blade over silk's in a cross over head but under the strength of Pisaro was still forced down to one knee. But with the momentum of the fall leaving Pisaro the pressure on of the maracas pushing down on the blades lessened, Hachi sliced both blades outwards sending Pisaro flying back, the fishman flipping and landing on his feet skidding across the dirt.
"Johnny! Yosaku! Your swords!" Hachi called out, holding a hand out to both of them. Johnny and Yosaku shared a glance with one another before nodding and grabbing their swords they tossed them through the air towards Hatchan. But Pisaro was already charging at Hatchan again, swinging wildly with his maracas, Hachi fended off the blows, sending the heavy musical instruments away each time but not able to send Pisaro off balance. The Fishman kept swinging wildly, anger etched on his face that Hachi knew all to well, the two came to interlock again and by that time Johnny's and Yosaku's swords had crossed through the air allowing for Hachi to snatch them and rear back, planting his foot in Pisaro's chest.
Pisaro grunted as Hachi created a gap between them, now wielding four swords Pisaro growled at his long time friend. Hachi frowned but knew Pisaro wouldn't stop, not when they had already come this far.
"Four Blades!" Hachi called out as he dashed forward, the four of his arms holding swords wiggling wildly, his two unoccupied hands curled up behind him as to not get in the way of any of his blades. "Tentacle Overload!" Pisaro's eyes widened in horror, raising his maracas up but deep down he knew he wouldn't come out on top here. Hachi was the second best swordsman in all of Fishman Island, one of Tiger Fishers original crew members and not someone the likes of him could beat. His maracas shattered and all four blades sliced deeply everywhere they cut, dozens of times over, slice after slice before Hachi forced himself to stop knowing the fight was over, leaving Pisaro lifeless where he stood before he fell to his knees and then finally to the ground.
"Big Bro Hachi." Johnny began as they walked towards the Fishman, Yosaku limping beside him. "You okay?"
"Yeah Big Bro, that couldn't have been easy for you." Yosaku added, feeling as though Hachi had just done something he might have regretted.
"I'm just glad that you're all safe." Hachi admitted before he looked up, hearing the murmurs of the people Kaneshiro and Pisaro had been chasing, the residents of Conomi Island were already looking at him in terror from where they were coming from between the buildings, a Fishman that had terrorized their lives for years. "Here." Hachi handed the two their swords back as he sheathed his own. "Silk's too." He added handing over Silk's cutlass he had borrowed, to Johnny. "I'm going after Ichigo. Make sure these people are safe, got that?"
"Yes Big Bro!" Both nodded. "You have our word!" Hachi nodded before casting a gaze over the terrified people before he ran off down the street, no doubt whoever else was left from Arlong Park would be at Cocoyasi Village, it's where their anger would be most directed at.
