X-Earlier-X

Nojiko just having arrived back Cocoyasi, was slightly out of breath from her sprint down from Bell-mere's grave, more than what she should have been having run just that small distance but the fear she was feeling was almost too much to bare. The young woman stood in the main street but Cocoyasi Village was already in chaos, people running past her, away from the ocean. No doubt Genzo had already informed numerous others about the escape boats in Gosa Village, they just had to make it there. Gunfire rang out and Nojiko paled, the Fishmen were already here, looking past the terrified people she saw the Marines in a line, doing their duties rifles in hand. But also people she knew, saw everyday with weapons willing to fight to buy time for everyone to leave.

She knew Genzo had told her to run, to get on the boats. To save herself from this nightmare. But she couldn't just run away. As afraid as she was, she couldn't just leave like this. Gritting her teeth, pushing down the fear, she ran through the panicking crowds towards the ocean. When she arrived several meters from the back line, it was already to late, four figures emerged from the sea. The Marines as lazy as they had been before were doing their duty even organizing the residents of Cocoyasi into proper positions,there were two rows the first made up of Marines in a row crouching with rifles raised, the ones behind them, residents of Cocoyasi standing with rifles at the ready.

"Fire at will!" One of the Marine's called out and the thundering sounds of rifles was all anybody could hear. It was so loud Nojiko covered her ears and winced, the hail of gunfire directed at the Fishmen. But it didn't last, as soon as it was time for them to reload, the horror began.

"Hundred-Shot Water Gun!" Hundreds of blasts of water shot forth like bullets themselves, impacting several times in the blink of an eye hitting marines and residents of Conomi village alike. The attack blasted the man made wall apart, people thrown about, some bleeding others unconscious.

"Pisaro! Kaneshiro! Get the ones that ran away, drag them back." The commanding voice of one of the Fishmen spoke, casting her gaze past the wall of people, she saw the two that had always been at Arlong's side, two of his three officers. Chew and Kuroobi. As Nojiko collapsed to her knees, two Fishmen ran past her chasing after the residents of Cocoyasi. This was it, it was all over and she couldn't do anything. No one was coming to save them this time. She couldn't do anything. Gripping fistfuls of dirt, tears streaming down her face. The faces of everyone she loved in this village, on the entire island past through her mind. Why did they have suffer so much? Hadn't they had enough?

"It's okay Nojiko." Her head shot up as Genzo placed a hand on her shoulder, the man that was almost like a father to them standing beside her. "We're not down yet." Nojiko looked up, several Marines were starting to stand back up, drawing their swords, even some of the villagers were slowly getting to their feet. "We'll fight to the last. Now go on. Get going." Genzo drew his blade as he left her side, the two ranking officers of Arlong's crew stood on the beach smug smirks on their face, while Chew seemed fine it seemed the Kuroobi's arm was in a makeshift sling, no doubt a wound from when they fought against Ichigo.

Genzo charged into the fighting, everyone, Marines and Villages alike giving it their all in the battle against the two Fishmen. Gunfire rang out, the clash of steel as they tried to drive the repeat invaders back. But as Nojiko watched person after person fall, it was too much. Despite the numbers, they were no match for the Fishmen. They never had been. They weren't remarkable people, didn't have incredible strength or powers like Ichigo or those that made up Nami's crew. Chew and Kuroobi all the while were grinning as they fought back, not even needing weapons throwing punches and kicks dealing blow after blow.

Gritting her teeth anger flared in her, it wasn't going to end like this. They wouldn't win this time! How unfair did the world have to be!? Reaching up beneath the back of her shirt, just over the back of her her pants she grabbed the three objects. It was one of Nami's earlier collapsable bo-staff's. She probably wasn't as proficient as Nami, never having to use it in real combat but she had been training with it in secret for several years. Connecting the three parts together she dashed into the fray after Genzo. People surrounded her and soon she was hit by splatters of blood but she pushed forward, the tall smelt whiting-fish Fishman standing tall over everyone else was her target. Using one of the Marine's legs as a stand she leapt up above the fray, bo-staff in hand she swung it down.

Chew however saw her coming and grinned as he recognized her instantly, tilting his body out of the way of the blow, the staff passing him by he quickly reached up engulfing Nojiko's entire head in the grip of his palm. Nojiko struggled in his grip, flailing the staff in her hands trying to hit him before Chew snatched it out of her hands throwing it to the side knocking a few Marines that were charging at him back. Nojiko's muffled scream escaped her, both in frustration and pain as he tightened his grip, the young woman reaching up digging her nails into his wrists clawing at him with everything she had. Kicking out her legs couldn't reach but she didn't give up, using all her strength she did her best but nothing came of it.

"Kuroobi! I got her! chew. Nami's sister!" The Fishman called out over the raging battle causing Kuroobi to look up, but he wasn't the only one. Genzo hearing the shout turned and looked to the Fishman holding Nojiko in his grip like some kind of doll as he slammed his other fist into a Marine sending him toppling back into a group of Cocoyasi villagers and his heart sank.

"Nojiko!" Genzo's voice echoed out over the fighting as he tried to make his way through the battle field, only for Kuroobi to block his way a sickening smirk on his face and backhanded Genzo sending him toppling to the ground. Grunting he tried to get to his feet only for Kuroobi to plant his foot on the man's back crashing him back to the ground.

"Now, tell us where it is girl!" Chew growled, increasing the grip he had on her head. "Where's Nami's treasure! chew!" Nojiko screamed at the added pressure grew even more painful.

"AHHHHHHHH!" Her scream echoed out halting the cries of battle, bringing everyone's attention to what was happening, everyone horrified at the nightmarish scene playing out before them.

"You're killing her!" Genzo shouted only for Kuroobi to apply more pressure onto his back.

"I'll crush her skull like an egg if someone doesn't tell me where Nami's treasure is! chew!" The Fishman bellowed out over the crowd. The Marines themselves looked confused, not knowing who Nami was or what the treasure they spoke of could be. Unfortunately, most of the residents of Cocoyasi didn't know it's location only knowing that Nami had been close to a hundred million beri's that was somewhere on the island.

Then in an instant the screaming stopped the air filled with a soft buzz, Nojiko was no longer suspended in the air by the Fishman's arm, instead gently cradled in the arm of an orange haired teen, the Fishman's arm was nowhere to be seen, only the stump of where it had been cut off. Chew barely had time to register what had happened before Ichigo looked up, his eyes black and gold as he held Nojiko close in one arm, the other reared back with a ball of black and red energy. Fear passed through Chew's eyes, as realization set it.

"Bala." The bullet like Cero impacted Chew's gut before flinging him out over the ocean. Ichigo then disappeared with Nojiko using his bringer light, flickers of green light encircling where he had been. Kuroobi was furious as he turned looking everywhere he could for the orange haired human only for the teen to appear before him this time Nojiko nowhere in sight, fist cocked back another red and black energy ball in hand.

"Like Hell!" Kuroobi shouted raising his pectoral arm fin up, the Bala connecting with the fish appendage sending him reeling back but having braced himself it only sent him out of the group of people and back into the street of Cocoyasi. Ichigo knelt down next to Genzo the teen looking at him with a small smile.

"You're alright now."

"You came back." Genzo chuckled as Ichigo offered him a hand the older man taking it as Ichigo helped him to his feet.

"Had a little unfinished business to take care of." Ichigo shrugged, glancing over the area where there were bodies strewn out from the fighting, Marines and Villagers alike. Most of the ones on their feet wouldn't be like that for very long it seemed, their injuries would soon take their toll. They were fighting with the sole purpose to give those that ran a chance of survival. "Sorry I got here so late."

"Better late than never." Genzo chuckled. "Nojiko?"

"Safe." Ichigo nodded over to the side of the street where there was a small house, Nojiko was standing there leaning on one of the veranda pillars seemingly still trying to come to terms with what had just happened, or get over the vertigo of having moved so fast.

"What's that! What's he doing!?" A shout came from behind causing both Ichigo and Genzo to turn and look out to where Chew stood in knee deep water, face in the waves as his long mouth seemed to be sucking up sea water his gut expanding into a massive size. Ichigo's eyes narrowed as he watched the Fishman continue to suck up water from the ocean to the point the waves started to recede.

"Get everyone back." Ichigo told Genzo, the man nodding as he started shouting orders for everyone to clear out of the way. Ichigo cast a glance behind him to where Kuroobi still was, not trusting the other Fishman to not act while everyone was getting out of the way. He seemed to still be injured from the teeth of Kiribachi. Considering what had happened here, he still had enough strength to terrorize the populace here. However first he had to deal with the sea drinking Fishman, then he'd deal with the other one. Chew finally reared back, slightly unstable after losing an arm but aimed his long mouth straight at Ichigo.

"Water Canon!" Just as what he called out, the massive blast of water was like that of a Cannon that shot towards Ichigo. However, the teen was ready for it, gripping the hilt of his sword and casting it out behind him, a massive reiatsu filled cross appeared over his sword. Swinging his sword forward he sent six spinning, propeller-like blasts of black spiritual energy, outlined in red straight for the blast of water.

The first two caused the massive ball of water to explode before it could even reach the shore, the remaining four cut through the watery explosion and flew over the ocean heading straight for the Fishman. Chew too surprised by the sudden attack and the disruption of his own was struck by all four, sending him hurtling back further into the ocean. The moment his attack left his sword, Ichigo instantly ducked the overhead kick that would have easily decapitated anyone had it hit it's intended target, poised on the ground he was forced to leap back as Kuroobi followed through with a downwards axe kick that split the ground.

"I underestimated you last time human! I won't do so again!" Kuroobi shouted, whipping his head around, his hair whipping forward latching onto Ichigo's blade surprising the teen before it was reefed from his grip, without the flow of reiatsu into the badge it quickly transformed back into the wooden slab. "I saw it last time, you were basically useless without that hunk of wood!" Kuroobi shouted as he threw a punch towards the teen, Ichigo enforcing his fists with reiatsu he batted the fist to the side before throwing a punch of his own directly at Kuroobi's gut. "Heh." Kuroobi smirked down at him, while the blow was strong, it barely affected the Fishman even with the reiatsu. "Pathetic, have a taste of Fishman Karate! Hundred Brick Fist!" Kuroobi threw his fist directly at Ichigo's gut, it hitting directly as intended sending the teen flying back.

"Crap." Ichigo growled, as he skidded back, he was still getting the hang of infusing his body with reiatsu to increase his strength. If it wasn't for Blut Vene, he'd probably be keeled over right now. Having been training himself the last few days before everyone awoke, he had learned how to activate Blut Vene on command, not just in life saving situations.

"If it's a perfect defense." Zangetsu's echoing voice suddenly reached him. "It should also be a perfect offence." Ichigo frowned, he had tried to see the strength that he could wield while using Blue Vene, but it wasn't much more than what he could do by just infusing his body with reiatsu. Was there another way to use it? Unfortunately he didn't have time to think as Kuroobi was already on him with a spinning heel kick. Ichigo raised his arms up in time his arms glowing blue with Blue Vene as he skidded back once more.

"You're tough I'll give you that." Kuroobi shrugged his shoulders so the sling on his arm would come off, he stretched his unused arm, there was still massive wounds that hadn't fully healed yet but it didn't seem like Kuroobi was going to be holding back this time as he took on his stance. Ichigo breathed steadily, feeling the flow of the reiatsu through his veins that made the Blut activate. As he focused on it... it all seemed to be flowing the same way. Smirking he felt Zangetsu's approval as he figured it out. Reversing the flow of reiatsu he immediately felt the difference.

"Watch out!" The call from Genzo came to late as Chew came from up behind, grabbed his outstretched hand and raised him up off the ground before swinging him, Ichigo growled using his bringer light to kick back against the air surprising Chew at the sudden change as Ichigo reversed the grip on Chew, grabbing him by the wrist, using his bringer light he forced his feet back to the ground and with his newly infused strength of his now Blut Arterie pulled back against Chew the strength difference showing as Ichigo hefted him off his feet and slammed him down into the ground.

"Ichigo!" Nojiko's voice reached him, the young woman having watched his badge fly across the sky had gone to retrieve it. However Kuroobi saw her intention and turned, crouching down he launched himself at Nojiko as she was just about to throw the badge. Ichigo shot forward, kicking off with his bringer light, his veins burning with reiatsu as he went to close the gap but suddenly his feet was caught. Chew had reached up a grabbed his ankle. Angry Ichigo flooded his leg with Reiatsu to to point his pant leg burst showing the blue vein like markings before slamming his foot into the Fishman's face leaving an unspeakable sight. Shooting once more towards Kuroobi there was not enough time.

"You're dead! Thousand Brick Fist!" Nobody, least of all Nojiko expected what happened next as Hatchan appeared before her, all six arms spread out wide Kuroobi's eyes widened but the damage was already done as his fist impacted Hachi's gut. The blow that impacted forced Nojiko who was behind him to fly back several meters, the pressure felt through Hachi's body.

"Hachi!" Ichigo roared as he cast his arm back, a red and black mass of reiatsu forming as he flew towards Kuroobi. The ray like Fishman looked over his shoulder horrified at the dense pressure he was feeling and paled at the black and gold eyes that glared back at him. "CERO!" The black and red blast completely obliterated the fishman, the blast of the explosion blowing Hatchan backwards as Nojiko cradled herself into a ball protecting herself.

Ichigo dashed to Hachi's side, the fishman coughing up a mouthful of blood. Quickly ripping the Fishman's shirt open Ichigo was stunned at the damage that had been dealt by that one blow. Casting his gaze over to the group fo gathered Marines and Villagers.

"We need a doctor!" Ichigo called out as he looked back down at Hachi, the wound was serious and who knows what it had done internally. There was movement and soon the same doctor that had treated him days ago was beside him.

"Hurry, let's get him to my clinic." Nako told Ichigo who nodded, looking up hoping for someone to offer a hand to move Hachi. Seeing the stunned looks on their faces and the realization that Hachi was a Fishman, Ichigo scowled before Genzo rushed forward.

"Let me help." Ichigo nodded, both wrapping one of Hachi's arms around their shoulders before Nako led them over to his clinic, ushering them inside.


This and the last chapter was going to be one, but I decided to split them up.