Welcome to chapter 2.
Hopefully a little less wordy then chapter 1 as most of the exposition of how the island is run and works have been dealt with. As with chapter 1 if you find mistakes or parts that just don't make sense feel free to let me know in comments or PM. I am new to this and appreciate the chance to look things over from a different set of eyes to improve on anything that might be unclear or too this will probably be the most likely update schedule. I work 12-hour shifts Thu-sun so middle of the week tue-wed is the most likely update time. I am planning to try one update a week but to be honest if work keeps me busy enough I might be more realistically be posting every 2 weeks.
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The night was long for me. The kids with all the stress and pent up emotions let loose were quick to fall asleep. Even with the fact they were sleeping on stone with just a rolled-up cloak to rest their heads on they were still out in minutes. I couldn't sleep however. The new bombshell of Yuna being a devil fruit user, and an especially lethal and dangerous user at that was an added concern on the mountain of issues I already had to work with. The story I remembered so fondly did not in fact share a lot of information on the particulars of devil fruits. I don't remember anything about a fruit with such a drawback, then again the actual powerful applications of the fruit would make Yuna almost impossible to catch. Silver linings and all that.I had made a quick decision to save the kids. I didn't regret it. However now that I was down here in this sparse cavern, the enormity of the situation was finally hitting me.
My parents would not let this go, first of all. I would probably have a bounty placed on my head. No doubt a large one, large for this place anyway. The only bright side is that my parents were unlikely to bring the kids into it, they wouldn't want people to know about the missing royals. No way were they getting the kids back if everyone on the island found out how much they were worth. That also likely meant my bounty would stress I was needed alive... I would have to figure out something to keep on me to ensure I was never taken alive. I held no doubts about my ability to withstand the kind of torture people like my parents would be able to bring down on me. I had killed in the past and been beaten up enough, torture was not something I could stomach even thinking about.
So, a bounty... I would have a difficult time moving around for quite a while. That was going to be an issue. This place wasn't set up to keep this many people comfortable. I couldn't move as freely up top anymore so gathering supplies would be more hazardous. And added onto that was now the fact Yuna would need a lot more food then all of us combined.I likely couldn't count on my only friend as he was already covering for this entire hideout, supplying us with water, air, and ventilation, not to mention the fact he built the hideout, to begin with, and was letting me use it. He might be my only real choice, but to count on just feelings...Friendship in a place like this could only go so far. If I pushed further I might sour the relationship and find myself in too much trouble to handle.
He would be the only one who would be able to sell out where we all are after all. I trusted him enough to not do it simply for the bounty...Well depending on how crazy it was going to be, I wasn't sure it would be wise to push further either if I somehow managed to finagle a solution to the problems of the hideout and the food situation... I still had the issue of their older sibling, Yoko. The star attraction no doubt of the most expensive brothel in town. No doubt a very well defended building... And a heavy guard on the princess. And my parents might expect that I would make a play to save her now that I saved the others, so undoubtedly the owner and all guards would have a very good description of me, and the beefed security to ensure I never got close.
I couldn't even begin to figure out how I was going to pull that one off...I needed to be stronger... Since figuring out I was in One Piece I had spent all my free time training, which wasn't as much as I would have liked to begin with. My parents did not enjoy having me outside of their reach for long periods of time, why I might get strange ideas. Specifically I had been focusing on my legs trying without success so far to replicate Shave, Skywalk, and Storm Leg. Three of the Six powers that I remembered were in use by the World Governments assassination squads, as well as high ranking because I found those to be the most useful in any escape attempt from the island. The ability to run on-air, to move at high speed, and to utilize those powers to defend myself if caught with Storm legs blades of wind. I was already faster then anyone I had run in to on the island during the last year or two, when not caught in an ambush with three dependents anyway. However I still had never seen an inkling that I could reach those heights. Perhaps real battle experience brought the skill forward to accomplish the techniques, something I did not have, as my fights tended to be ambushes that had my opponent down before realizing I was there. Or me ambushed and beaten down before I could do much.I would have to put even more effort into training, I would have the time now that my parents wouldn't be wasting a big chunk of my time. It would have to be my priority after ensuring we have
enough food for Yuna.
I would need something that gave me an edge if I was going to have a chance to save Yoko. And the six powers were the only ones I could possibly get. No simple thug guarding the place would be able to stop me if I could use even just Shave. There were very few on the island, to begin with, that had any kind of special power. I only knew of four. And I was counting than throwing daggers and knives I had no special weapon skill, nothing that would give me enough of an edge against being outnumbered against adults, bigger and stronger then me. Guns were hard to get here if you weren't the member of a gang, and besides the kind of guns they had here would not be good enough. What I wouldn't give for an Uzi or AK-47 right now. Flintlocks would hardly take care of a whole gang of thugs what with the reloading time, and that's with the low odds of me even getting a hold of one and enough ammunition to give it a go.
No, guns wouldn't be an , the six powers were the only option I had even remotely available... Which meant saving Yoko would not be an immediate task, probably for the best. Needed the heat to die down first. Kids would not take it well though. As I finally started to drift to sleep my mind switched away from the problems of the future and just focused on the fact that for now, we were safe.
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"Wheeeeeeee!" "OOF, what the he-?" The high pitched noise followed by a hyperactive brat jumping on my chest was quite the awakening. I just barely managed to stop myself from swearing or tossing the girl off. "Good morning Yuna." I sigh patting her head as I roll her off me. The girl simply giggles and speeds off to where her brothers are sitting talking quietly. Well Yuuma is quiet, Youta seems as usual to be quite animated and heated.
My body protests as I gingerly stretch and get up, the stone floor had not offered much comfort, the very little sleep I had managed to achieve not enough to make me feel rested. My nerves felt even more frayed today. I walk up to the brothers as Yuna zooms around the cavern investigating everything, thankfully her speed seems more the usual energetic spaz kind then aided by devil fruit. To my dismay I notice that the kids had already had breakfast. And that almost the entirety of the food I had brought had already been used up. It was one thing to hear about, quite another to see. And she had not even used her ability much the night before, three rushes and that was it. It explained the resigned look of Yuuma's face and the stressed anger Youta was exhibiting. They were worried, and scared for their sister.
"Did she eat enough?" I ask quietly as I sit down next to them, Youta sneering at my presence but keeping the peace."It appears so, she said she was full either way." Yuuma tiredly rubs his red eyes as he answers, another that has not had the best sleep it seems. Odd that I never noticed he was awake during the night.
"And you guys?"Yuuma sends a sidelong glance towards Youta who is keeping his face masterfully blank for his age, his lips in a thin line. "Ah...We are content." Yuuma finally allows. So they ate the minimum they could...
"I will be heading topside in a few minutes... I need to figure out the food situation." I scratch my chin frowning as I can feel some stubble. Huh that's new, my previous life I didn't have to worry until my early twenties. Somehow this tiny change left me feeling off-balance. I didn't have any shaving supplies.
"Is that...Safe?" Yuuma asks quietly. Before I can answer we are interrupted as a small girl shaped missile bowls over Youta who howls in indignation. "YUNA! You little brat! Get back here!" Yuuma and I watch with a sweatdrop as the two start running around the cavern, Yuna laughing wildly as Youta tries to catch her, while shouting at his sister to stop and receive her justified comeuppance. I turn to Yuuma who now sports a small soft smile as he watches his siblings act out what I guess is a normal routine for them. Normality must be a sight for sore eyes at this point, with the week they have had.
I bring his attention back to me with a gesture. "No, it isn't going to be the safest, but it is a necessity either way. We can't even start to work on getting your sister, or getting off this island until we sort out how to survive from day to day." I explain to him. He frowns but I can see understanding in his eyes. This is one remarkably mature kid."You guys just keep playing with Yuna, or get some extra sleep. If I am not back by tonight, you know who to search out." Yuuma's frown deepens as I mention the possibility of having to fend for themselves, but he nods in acceptance anyway. Not like he has a choice really. I think, somewhat uncomfortable just being around them.
I give the two feuding or playing siblings a glance before looking back at their more sensible sibling. "I will head out now, before Yuna can see me leave, take care." I ruffle the kid's hair hesitantly bringing out a small smile on his too serious face. I must look so odd acting like I am that older than them when all they see is someone not far from their own age. I slip out of the cavern and slowly make my way down the sewer.
I have a choice to make... There is an entrance not too far away from here that will let me access a ladder right into the living area of the bar my friend Daisuke owns. I was hesitant to use it as he had made it very clear if it wasn't an emergency he would take it out of my hide if I just showed up in his home like that. The only other option was making my way topside and then get there via the streets. It wasn't far, but anytime on the streets right now would be insanely risky. I had no idea what the reaction up there was yet. In the end, I had to risk his wrath, the risks were too great to be on the streets until I manage to get a hold of a disguise, some dye for my hair, maybe even make up to subtly change my look.
Although I have never actually used this hidden entrance before I find it easily enough thanks to the description from Daisuke. Find the spot on the top of the tunnel where it looks like someone somehow shat all over the ceiling. Lovely description, but it was apt. that's where the collapsible ladder will come down if you poke the area with a stick or metal pipe long enough until you find the button that unlatches the cover. Never made much sense why he built all this, he wasn't sharing that information nor did I have anything to barter it out of him. A few minutes later I am climbing up the ladder in the very cramped tunnel leading me upwards towards the Big Buddha's Balls bar. The name as always makes me remember the first time I entered the bar those years ago.(Flashback) Kaito age 7.
"Shitshitshitshit!" I chant in panic in between my panting as I rush down the street, desperately trying any door, hoping for any small chance of luck of avoiding death. I had to find somewhere to shake him off, couldn't lead him home or death was assured, if not from him, then from my parents when I brought him down on them. They would let him skin me while they watched if I brought the gangs down on their businesses.
The him in question was following behind me leisurely, his large steps easily keeping pace with my 7-year-old legs running as fast as I can. Aki the butcher was an enforcer for the Red whip gang, a former pirate with a bounty of 30 million Beri. He was 9 feet tall and built like a tank. He was known for his cruelty, he liked to play with his victims before skinning them while still alive. And I had accidentally knocked his drink out of his hand when I mistimed one of my jumps between the roofs of the tiny stalls in the bazaar sector. Tears fell down my face as yet another door was firmly shut right in front of me. I was going to die, no one would let me in, even just to run through the backdoor to lose the huge man after my skin. I cursed every being that ever stepped foot on this shit island.
I try another door with a peculiar golden Buddha sign, crying in relief as it swings open. I rush towards the back immediately, trying to find a way out, not paying any attention to the people inside in my haste. Just as I reach the door for the kitchen from where I am sure I can find an exit, a hand snags my collar and stops me, almost choking me as I desperately try to continue running. Leaving the image of my tiny legs and feet running on air in the hold until my body catches up to the futility. I get turned around to face the man that caught me, tears and snot falling down my sooty and dirty face as I give up any hope of escaping Aki. I can already hear the heavy footfalls of the man entering through the same door I did.
"What do we have here, hmm?" The man that caught me looks impossibly old, the hand holding me thick and gnarly like an oak tree, his long white hair and long white beard both tucked into his belt. I can't even see his eyes they are so covered by a set of bushy white eyebrows set into a face that looks like it has been re-arranged by way of fists so many times its hard to tell what kind of look he is giving me. And he appears to be wearing a pink bathrobe... With a skull and crossbones leather belt. I can't answer the man, even my panic stopped in its track as I try to make any sense of what the hell exactly I am seeing.
"Glahahaha, hey old-timer, that's my prey you've gone and caught there, hand him over." Aki bellows as he walks in-between the tables of what I can now tell is a small bar. everything looking beaten and well used, and impossibly dirty. No wonder I can only see one person in here drinking, this place is filthy. I can't explain why but my panic is completely fading away even as I am held by the old man and Aki is coming closer. Maybe I have accepted death?
"Ohohoh, he's yours is he, hmm?" The old man laughs and I gulp as I feel something, predatory behind it. Suddenly the old man feels way more scary than the murderous enforcer.
Aki snorts, hefting his big battle-ax and slamming it through one of the tables, the ax going right through and even sinking into the floor. I blanch at that feat of strength, there's no way this old man can...
"Yes, he's number 94, I'm so close to 100 skinned weaklings, so give him here old-timer if you know what's good for ya!" The former pirate is grinning in glee as he stares at me, he compares to my parents in the pure malice in that look.
The old man smiles and I gulp at the pressure I feel radiating from him, I no longer think Aki is the scariest thing in the room. "How about we play a little game, hmm?" He asks. Aki blinks at him in confusion as the only patron in the bar spits out his ale blanching white as a sheet and promptly bolting out of the place so fast he forgets his gun and money pouch on the table. Uh..What!?
"Old man... I will kill you if you keep fucking with me, just give me the boy now." Aki growls, the giant man is sweating and his eyes flicker nervously but he is obviously used to being the one feared he pushes on. Cruel he might be, intelligent, obviously not.
Still holding me up casually with one hand the old man reaches into his bathrobe and withdraws what appears to be a golden playing chip, like one used at any of the casinos on the island. Aki and I both blink in confusion although Aki's confusion is growing into a rage.
"Let's play... This time, how about Shogi hmm?"
I gasp in shock as the old man flips the coin and the floor slides away pieces of what appears to be a shogi board appearing instead, the tables and chairs and everything around inside turning into the pieces. Aki on one side, the old man and I on the other.
"What the fuck!" Aki bellows, backing up eyes flickering from where his ax had been turned into a game piece and then up to the old man and me.
The old man grins playing with his coin which is starting to glow. "I ate the Game Game fruit boy, I can turn anything into a game, hmm.. Follow the rules or else!" I stare in wonder all around me, what a cool ability. I wonder what happens if one doesn't follow the rules, and what happens when the fruit user himself loses the game.
"The loser of this game. Loses his life!" The old man states holding his coin out. A golden line appears between the coin and the game board as well as the contestants and I stare at in puzzlement. I can't remember seeing a devil fruit needing any kind of manifestation like that before from my memories.
"Fuck you old man, I'll snap your neck with my bare hands!" Aki yells stepping forward bristling in fear and rage. A loud gong can be heard the second Aki steps on the board. The game starts vibrating.
"Ah, too bad. You broke the rules, hmm." The old man says lazily flicking his coin into the air. The coin starts glowing and Aki suddenly starts to be pulled towards it, gravity pulling him as he fights hard to remain on the ground, grasping for anything to hold on to. "Burn in hell, hmm." The old man says cheerfully with a wave as the big man gets drawn into the coin disappearing, the board game returning to the normal interior of the bar. The old man snaps his hand up and captures the gold coin inspecting it critically like he expected Aki to have blemished it somehow.
Then he turns to me again, his grip still tight on my collar. "Want to play a game, hmm?" He asks and I am not ashamed to admit I peed myself and then promptly passed out in terror.
I come to with a start, and immediately start to fearfully look around. I am still in the bar, now seated on one of the bar stools and the old man is staring right at me... Or so I assume as his face is turned my way, I can't actually see his eyes. "Please don't eat my soul!" I squeak out.
"Don't be ridiculous, hmm." He scoffs at me wiping down the bar counter with the dirtiest rag I've ever seen. "You'd only die at worst, hmm."
"I don't want to die!" I snap at him before putting my hands on my mouth to shut myself up. I look at him to see if my death is coming just to see him chuckling to himself. "So you do have some
spunk, hmm? Good. What's your name kid, hmm?"
"Kaito, Kitanai Kaito." I say quietly hoping that he has not heard of my parents. My heart sinks as his body language changes, he has definitely heard of my parents...Poo "Ah, my parent's and me are totally
different!" I try with a shaky smile.
He quietly wipes the bar counter for a few minutes. My heart is beating so fast I am sure I will break the record for the youngest heart attack on the island. "I'm too cute to die?" I try weakly.
He raises an eyebrow and just stares at me, my dirty face, the rags I'm wearing, and my shoulders slump. "Yeah, I didn't think that would work," I admit, his continued silence unnerving me. Just kill me or don't already!
He suddenly breaks the silence, putting the rag over his shoulder and I cringe at the sludge dripping down on his bathrobe, how can he not notice the filth. "The way my ability works hmm... I set a condition for the game, whoever loses, even if it's me, pays the price of that condition hmm. I can't change the rules of the game, I can only change the consequence." Uh.. Why are you explaining this?
I mull that over for a few minutes anyway, if nothing else I still get to live for a while longer. "So... When Aki stepped on the board and tried to attack you, he broke the rules, by trying to bypass the game pieces and get at you himself, and the coin and the golden line was your representation of the consequence of the loser dies as your stated rule?"
"Exactly, my coin is simply the physical representation of the RULE, hmm, it appeared when I awakened my ability way back when, the ability to impose the punishment, on him or me, the core power of my fruit hmm. I can not change the rules of the games hmm, only the RULE of loss.. If he had simply attempted to move a game piece according to the rules of Shogi, and beaten me at the game without breaking any of Shogi's rules, or trying to flee or attack me. I would have died hmm, as death was the consequence I imposed as the RULE." I can hear the capitalization every time he says the rule, and boy is that terrifying.. If the fruit simply takes the owners knowledge of games and apply it, then if someone has never played games or have only a small bit of knowledge...How easy it would be to run afoul of the rules of the game and lose. That's so broken it's unreal.
"Why are you explaining this to me?" I ask with a bad feeling, I was just some random kid he grabbed. And this was a full, nothing hidden explanation of his ability.
"You've seen my ability hmm... I can't trust you, especially with your parent's reputation. So we are going to play a game hmm." He explains calmly. "Normally I kill everyone that sees my work, feel special, hmm."
I gulp and try to look for the exit surreptitiously. I was no whizz at games of any kind, no way would I beat some century-old geezer that had an ability to fight using them and probably knew every game possible inside and out. What a scary devil fruit. "What happens if I don't want to?"
"I can impose a game on anyone within 100 feet hmm, whether they like it or not." He says and hefts me up a bit higher in the air. "What do you think hmm? Are you close enough?"
I start kicking and twisting and trying to desperately get free, therefore its a great shock to me when I hit the floor the old man simply having let me go. I get up to run but its too late. He is holding his coin and its glowing again. "Let's play a game, hmm.."
I can feel it, in the back of my mind there's this pressure suddenly, almost feels like I am tethered to something. Probably the damn glow coin. "Well fuck." I say succinctly slumping to the ground feeling sad and miserable, only 7 years this life, how pathetic of me. Get away from one killer just to get killed in a more interesting way.
"The loser of this game... Has to answer 3 questions honestly and truthfully from the winner, hmm. And the game. Rock, Paper and Scissors, hmm." The old man states cheerfully completely throwing me off as the gold line extends from the coin to wrap around both our hands. "What the fuck old man!?" I screech. "My heart can't take all of this, am I dying or not dying bullshit!"
"Such a foul-mouthed youth, hmm, why so sure of a death game, hmm?" Oh I don't know... Maybe the literal fucking death game you had you shriveled old coot! I scream inside my head not brave enough to actually tell him that.
I stare at him in disbelief that he would even say that. "You do know what island you are on right?" I mean he's so old it's possible he was here before it became a shit hole..
"Point, hmm." The old man acknowledges. "Call me Daisuke, hmm, and let's play young one."
I can't believe I am playing rock paper scissors helped by a game devil fruit that will enforce its power on the loser. What even is my life, where's the regular damn devil fruits like rubber, Ice, and shit, you know the ones that don't need to blow my mind. To my great surprise I pick scissors and he had paper. The golden connection between myself and the coin disappears although it still remains on Daisuke, probably enforcing that he tells the truth.. What a broken ability. There must be some huge ass weakness...No fruit is this insane.
"Hmmmm, that is unfortunate hmm, now I can't get my answers until we play another game and I win hmm.," Daisuke complains sitting down at one of the tables plopping his filthy rag in his lap. Seriously this guy...
"Why did you save me?" I ask first as he just serenely sits there like its normal to be forced to tell the truth.
"Because I wanted to, hmm." He answered simply. I wait for the rest. And wait. And wait. He wipes his nose with his filthy rag, and then I wait again.. And then I explode on him. "What the hell!? Answer more detailed then that!"
He looks amused at my rage. "Ask better questions hmm, I answered perfectly."
"Who are you?" I ask before slapping my face in exasperation realizing I just gave him the perfect opportunity for another short answer.
"Portgas D Daisuke." He answered promptly without any intention of supplying anything more. I immediately had to clamp down the urge to ask him any more questions in regards to his name. I wasn't
aware of exactly where in the timeline I was except Gol D Roger was definitely dead, no newspapers arrived here so no better idea of a timeline on when I was, so this must be like Portgas D Rogues
great grandfather or something. I itched to ask what the relation was, but there was always the chance he did not even know Rogue or her relationship with Roger as old as he was, and as old as
the bar looked, he probably hadn't left for quite awhile. Also he was a FUCKING D! like what the hell!
He suddenly feels more intent on me than before. Crap I probably showed how freaked out I was over him being a D, there's no way I should have that information. Crap.
"What's the story with the bar? The full story?" I ask instead, in all likelihood that would at least give me a ballpark on how long he has been here and some of his story. It would be too weird for me to ask about Rogue or even Ace since I had never left the island. And hopefully distract him from any thoughts of me knowing things.
"Hmm, so you can learn, hmm?" He chuckles as he leans back. "Well hmm, the bar is not quite as long a story as I think you hoped for hmm. I used to be a pirate, part of two strong crews in my day. Traveled all over the world, many fights, many wonders. I got old hmm. I decided some 20 years ago to settle here and built this bar with my own hands, hmm."
"What pirate crews?" I ask wondering if he knew anyone I would remember from canon. Probably not, he was old as dirt.
The coin stopped glowing and fell back into Daisuke's hand the line fading away and he smirked at me. "Ah, three questions only, hmm."
"Oh come on! You didn't even tell me the name of the bar or what that strange sign outside means!?" I protested feeling cheated.
"Hmm, alright... The name of the bar is Big Buddah's Balls hmm... And that is the sign outside young one, perhaps you are too young to be aware you have them, hmm?"
My face reddens slightly at the teasing but I am not shying away from the topic. "Why name it that of all things?"
He grins a full toothed grin. "It's from when I kicked that brat Sengoku in the balls! In front of all his buddies too, hmm." He guffaws after delivering that piece of information. And I am torn between amusement and wishing that the game was still enforced so I could know for sure whether he was telling the truth on that. Man, no wonder Sengoku wanted Ace dead so bad, it wasn't really his Gol D Roger heritage to him, it was the Portgas side! Goda if Garp was there... Sengoku probably had never heard the end of a pirate hitting him between the legs for his entire career!
"How damn old are you that you're calling Sengoku a brat!" I yell at him trying to cover the pure shock I am in from the last few revelations.
"I'll have you know I am a perfectly spry 85 years old you little brat! Hmm. And I am very curious when I win the next game.. To find out how you seem to know both Sengoku and about the will of D for a brat that is stuck on the island with no news from the outside hmm!" Daisuke starts out with a friendly demeanor, slowly growing darker, until he finishes with a dark grin directed to me and I feel like I am being stared down by a T-rex or some other monster just about to eat me.
"Meep?" Is my counterargument. I was very proud I was able to be that eloquent while wanting to pee myself.
"Let's see who wins hmm? The loser of this game hmm, has to answer 3 questions honestly and truthfully from the winner hmm. And the game, once again, is Rock Paper and Scissors, hmm." Daisuke flips his coin in the air and I once again feel that tether at the back of my mind.
And of course I lose this time. No doubt the man would not be inclined to play another game and have to answer my questions truthfully once he already had his answers. I will just have to try
and give minimal answers like he did to me.
"Hmm, hmm, hmm... What to ask?" Daisuke hums as he taps the table with gnarly scarred fingers. He peers at me, or so it looks like. "Hmm... How do you know of information that you should not
know of, such as the will of D hmm?"
Okay I think to myself, small answers now, don't give too much away. "I'm from another world where this world existed as entertainment thereby giving me a vast store of information on many
topics." Before I could continue trying to minimize my response it just all slipped out of my mouth and I stare at Daisuke in horror as I realize how bad this could get. What the hell? How does he give his short ass answers when I can't even control my mouth!
"Hmmmmm." Daisuke says before turning towards the coin and poking at it, standing up and looking at it from all angles. "Hmm, this has never malfunctioned before, curious hmm." He glances down at me, and the golden light wrapped around my hand still enforcing the conditions of the loser. "Curiouser and Curiouser, hmm."
I sit quietly holding my lips tight not wanting to make things worse. He was a D which hopefully meant he wasn't likely to murder me for kicks or enslave me. Then again Blackbeard was a D...So better safe then sorry.
"hmm, test question to verify then, hmm yes, that is the only way to be sure," Daisuke mumbles to himself stroking his beard. He turns back to me again. "Hmm, it would be impossible for you
to know this information... Impel down has how many levels?"
"Six." I clamp my hands over my mouth again but not quick enough. Daisuke's eyebrows rise in surprise, I can almost see eyes underneath all that hair. "Name the levels!" He demands his hands
shaking slightly.
"Crimson hell, Wild beast hell, Starvation hell, Blazing hell, Freezing hell and Eternal hell," I answer morosely knowing without a doubt that such information would prove my knowledge, now the
question was what would he do with it?"
The golden light faded yet again and Daisuke snapped the coin up from habit alone as he sank back into the chair and started mumbling to himself. And that is how I made a friend. Through peeing myself in terror and being completely outclassed at Rock Paper Scissors.
(Flashback end)
Big Buddha's Balls Bar. Living area.
After a few minutes of climbing I finally come to the end of the tunnel and the wooden trap door that allows me entry into Daisuke's living area. I really shouldn't be surprised that the first thing I see when I pop open the door and peek around the room is Daisuke sitting calmly by his kitchen table drinking tea and waiting for me, as always clad in the most ridiculous bathrobe. Dude probably has insane observation haki or something.
"How bad is it?" I ask as I climb up and join him at the table, my own cup already waiting for me, steaming hot. Somehow Daisuke knew exactly when I would arrive, that is somewhat terrifying and probably haki. It is also why I already asked him about the fallout, he wouldn't be here waiting for me if he didn't know.
Daisuke takes a slow sip of his tea, ignoring the fact he spills half over his beard. I turn away with disgust as he daintily cleans his lips off with the filthy rag he's always carrying around, according to him, the same rag from when he opened the bar. "Hmm, what did you do?" He asks, pronouncing the words slowly as if not sure he wants the answer. As he always loves trolling me, this does not fill me with confidence.
I frown staring at him, must be really bad though, he seems actually rattled. "Why, how bad is it?" I ask again, dread filling me.
"You have a bounty of 55 million beri, hmm..." Daisuke reaches into his bathrobe and pulls out a crumpled poster. It had a pretty decent rendition of my face as well as information on what areas I frequent, and the big 55 million printed below. Alive. My parents weren't pulling any punches, this would entice every single person on the island, maybe even...
"Going to turn me in?" I ask lightly as I pocket the bounty poster. If he was, I stood no chance.I guess if the payment for the kids were in the hundreds spending 55 to get ahold of me made sense...Still for this island that was beyond insane of an amount. And more then I thought they had left since my little theft. Guess I wasn't the only one keeping secrets.
"What would I do with that paltry sum boy, don't flatter yourself hmm! Your not worth my time to hunt down, hmm." Daisuke scoffs, looking deeply offended.
I sweatdrop. "Yes, the hunt would be oh so difficult, since you know, I am sitting right here in your kitchen, not that I am not thankful. I was hoping I could trust you, and I am glad I was right."
"Then you are an idiot hmm.. Don't trust old pirates so easily, old people are sneaky, hmm." Daisuke answers as he stoops his shoulders to look more of a weak old man.
"I need a favor, it has to do with why I am suddenly the most wanted man on the island." I interrupt his usual spiel, knowing that it could be half an hour before he knocks off the old man's routine just to annoy me, and I only have so much time that I am willing to leave the kids alone so soon.
Daisuke straightens up with a pout and lifts a finger in the air. "First hmm, I don't do favors." He raises a second finger in the air. "Second hmm, you can hardly call yourself a man, annoying little boy, hmm." The third finger goes up as I flip him off for the last comment. " You are not even close to the most wanted man on this island, hmm, I myself have a bounty of 400 million beri!"
"Had." I point out dryly. "You had a bounty of 400 million beri, you've been gone so long I doubt anyone thinks your old ass is still alive, I sometimes worry you have died in the middle of our conversations."
"Such respect from someone that wants a favor, hmm?" The old man rebuts sharply. His aura becoming more menacing as shadows grow behind him. I am so used to his antics I just stare at him unimpressed while tapping my fingers on the kitchen table waiting for him to finish his fun. "Bah! I liked you more when you were scared of me! Hmm."
"No, you didn't" I snark back at him. "You constantly bitched about how annoying it was that I kept freaking out whenever you'd get like this."
"Disrespectful brat!" He roars at me standing up and spilling his tea all over the table soaking his beard even more in the process.
"Senile old coot." I calmly say while yawning theatrically, still tapping my fingers on the table.
"Hmm, you are absolutely no fun anymore at all!" He whines as he sits back down idly cleaning his beard with his dirty rag. As usual not noticing how it's just making it worse.
"Not everything is a game." I remind him, something I have repeated more times then I can count over the last 8 years.
"If you want something from me hmm, I want the story first of how you are in whatever mess hmm." Daisuke pouts as he finally gives up on the games and theatrics.
"Well..You are usually pretty well informed.. Somehow... Do you know what's happened on Centaurea lately?" I ask taking the chance to fish for some information while Daisuke is interested.
Daisuke laughs with an undertone of malice. "Ah, yes those idiots, hmm!"
I raise an eyebrow in a questioning manner while internally I am starting to worry that my only "ally" has some sort of issue with the home country of my new charges.
"The king, in his infinite wisdom, hmm. Petitioned the world government for assistance "coughidiotcough" with the surge of pirate attacks last year. The elder stars sent an "adviser" and a bunch of agents to help the king get his shit in order, hmm." The glee pouring off the old man is almost visible in the air behind him.
I groan putting my face on the table. "Let me guess, the adviser is now the king and the world government has their claws all over the country exploiting the shit out of it?"
"Of course, hmm! Centaurea has a lot of precious minerals hmm, including a fuckton of seastone rich underwater mountains underneath the sea in their vicinity. The royal family hardly touched the stuff in the name of keeping the country beautiful and rich in marine biology and flora and fauna and such drivel, hmm. Within a year of their new advisor arriving most of their nobles and military leadership sold out in exchange for percentages of the world governments new mining colony." Daisuke seemed darkly amused at the whole thing.
"So basically the whole country is getting shat on, the advisor gets to play king, the world government gets cheap seastone. Everyone wins...Except the civilians and the former royals of course." I summarize, this is not information I can tell the kids right now, Youta alone would try and fight his way back home through the whole damn island consequences be damned. Also Yuna would probably cry... Yep, not telling them it is.
"Eh, sucks to be them, when you've got a king naive enough to invite a man like Spandine inside his circle he deserves to be betrayed." Daisuke shrugs callously. The old man and I had always vastly disagreed on peoples right to live. In his opinion if you didn't fight for it in the first place, you hardly deserved to benefit from it. A very pirate outlook on life. I knew I was a horrible person, I am a murderer already, a thief, a burglar, and numerous things. However I still believe innocent people don't deserve the kind of shit the world government is feeding them.
A lightbulb goes off over my head as I realize what he just said. "Wait a minute! Did you just say Spandine is the new king of Centaurea!?" What the hell... Spandam's father, the butcher of Ohara.. At least it does confirm that I am fairly close to the timeline of Roger's death as its unlikely Spandine would have the clout to take over a country after his son completely fucks up Enies Lobby, also unlikely he had time to play king right after Ohara, this must be some years after. "How the hell do you even get this information!?" It also explains why Spandam was such an entitled bitch! Spent some time as an actual fucking prince under dear daddy!
"I sailed the grand line and the new world for decades you little brat! Hmm. Of course, I have good contacts! Now spill your end of the deal, what the hell does your bounty have to do with Centaurea hmm?"
I scratch the back of my head sheepishly. "Well...My parents happened to get a hold of the royal family, what's left of it anyway. And they are all kids, my parents were going to see them dead or enslaved. I had to do something, couldn't let people like my parents ruin more kids lives." No one should have to turn out like me...
Daisuke sighs loudly and starts rubbing his temple. "Do I even want to know what you want from me hmm? You annoying brat always with the headaches, hmm."
"Well. We are using the hideout you built, but ran into a little snag." I admit, feeling nervous, Daisuke was my best chance at being able to fix this. And he usually did not help one iota without getting something out of it.
"Boy!..Hmm...If you've broken my hideout..." Daisuke starts with a growl and I frantically wave my hands in the air. "No, no no the hideout is safe!"
I squirm a bit wondering how to explain. "The problem is the food supply." I decide to start with, not sure if I really wanted to explain the full scope of the issue, nothing so far really said that help would be offered. Daisuke could be very mercurial about what he considered worthy of assistance. For example he considered my constant abuse from my parents as not his issue and constantly pointed out that if I was too weak to stop them or leave, that was my issue. Nothing in life is free was something he often brought up.
"I might have missed some information somewhere, hmm. Nowhere does it say the royal family of Centaurea has a dozen brats, hmm. You know how to steal food, just steal extra." Daisuke retorts starting to look severely un-amused. The undercurrent that I could read off his face, clearly showing that he was not interested.
I give up the hope of being able to hold any information back, Daisuke had already shown he wouldn't lift a finger without a good reason. "Fine. The youngest, Yuna. She ate a devil fruit that is hard on her body, she needs to eat at least 10 times what a normal kid would need. I have no hope of being able to steal that much on a daily basis and getting away with it." Hell even if I wasn't the most wanted guy on the island I still couldn't pull that off!
Daisuke strokes his beard in thought, keeping quiet. I don't fall for the bait and wait in silence. Finally several minutes later he speaks. "Which of the 5 does she have? Hmm." Of course he guessed at that, he already seemed full of information on Centaurea in the first place. Which, is really weird, grand line pirate and all, a kingdom in south blue is not exactly on the grand line's radar.
"Speed." I admit grudgingly.
"Hmm, hmm, yes that would be tricky. Hmm." My eyebrows twitch as he simply hums a little tune while slowly, very slowly thinking it over. "I could, hmm. Be persuaded to offer assistance." He finally allows.
I sigh, half in relief, half in exasperation. "What do you want?"
"The girl hmm, I want to study her." He tilts his head quizzically as he looks at my now stormy countenance. "Her ability hmm, is very interesting. I'm not going to dissect the girl hmm, keep your panties on boy."
I take a deep breath to settle my growing unease. This is the only way. "In what way, would you study her. I won't agree to anything that would hurt her!"
The old man plays at an innocent look, I don't buy it for a second. If he ever made anything clear enough it was that he only did things nowadays because they either amused him or were useful to him. Jury's out on which category I would fit in at the moment.
"Just some testing of her ability, how it works, its limits, hmm." He grins at me showing his teeth. "Don't worry boy hmm, nothing else or untowards... And you'll get the food you need. Can't have her die of starvation, would be a waste of my curiosity, hmm."
"Can you do it, get that much I mean?" I ask just to make sure, my heart beating fast as the somewhat best-case scenario for food looked like it would work out. With some unwanted bits added, but I could not afford to be picky.
"Easy enough, hmm, I have the money. I will just claim to work on a new menu. The bosses don't mess with me anyway, they won't see anything, no one knows you know me after all, hmm." Daisuke claims entirely unconcerned with the prospect of the gangs asking questions. I guess if he had 400 million beri as a bounty once he isn't wary of some gangsters. There's also that broken ability of his. I still did not know what the weakness was, there had to be one.
"Can you start today?" I ask hands clasped in front of me. I don't even try for an innocent face. I just can't pull that off.
He sighs and stands up slowly, bones creaking as he does. "Annoying brat, hmm. I will have it ready in a few hours, hmm, just come up here and grab it. I'm not a delivery service." He stops in the doorway and points a finger at me threateningly. "The girl better be ready for testing and following orders by tomorrow morning, hmm!"
I chuckle wearily as he leaves the kitchen. Yuna. Following orders. Alright. "He is going to yell at me so much." I groan quietly to the empty kitchen. I can't stop a small relieved smile from appearing on my face though, at least the most important step was completed, without too much difficulty too. My first plan worked... That never happens... Shit, what is going to go wrong?
Buddha's hideout
I figured out what was going to go wrong... Apparently telling two princes that the food situation is solved but an old pirate is going to be experimenting on their baby sisters powers in exchange slipped through my mouth without ever stopping at my brain and going. Hey... Maybe you know, ease them into it.
They were currently "not talking" to me and had even grabbed a protesting Yuna and dragged her to their little corner to sit and stare angrily at me. Yuna kept ruining it by waving cheerfully or sticking her tongue out at me. I thought Youta was going to suffer a stroke when I stuck my tongue back at her.
It lead me to the current situation of trying to work out how to achieve shave. All I really knew from the manga and anime was the supposed ten steps in an instant thing. I had almost gotten to a point of being able to step that fast, I wasn't sure however if anything would happen. Maybe One Piece had a special system for power-ups? Once you reach the line and go over stuff starts to work? Because so far I am almost at that ten steps in an instant milestone and yet have seen nothing in the way of achievement out of it. Well except for kickass leg muscles and being able to run away fast.
I can feel the burning eyes of some pretty upset kids the entire time I am training and in the end I still can not achieve Shave. I am forced to stop when the door to the hideout starts to open. What the hell!
I am at the door so quick I can almost believe I performed a Shave technique. No one should know about this place. To my immense irritation and relief it turns out to be Daisuke.
"What the hell old man!? You told me to come see you! Don't fucking scare me like that!" I yell at him incensed at the idiotic idea of him randomly showing up like this.
Daisuke simply glares at me as he hobbles inside sending a quick glance over to the kid's corner where Youta and Yuuma are with great effort hiding Yuna behind their bodies. "Like I wanted to see you sooner brat, hmm!" He scoffs leaning on his cane.
"Since when do you have a cane?" I ask in shock having never seen him use one, it displays weakness he had told me. Hang on.. "Why are you actually here?"
"Hmm, you have no idea what a tizzy there really is up there do you?" He asks simply seemingly glaring at me through those bushy eyebrows.
"Yeah... You told me remember? Big bounty, everyone out to get me?" Don't tell me he picked today of all days to grow fucking senile!
"War." Daisuke states simply letting loose a world-weary sigh.
I gape slack-jawed. "What the fuck do you mean war!" I can hear Yuuma give a soft gasp in the background. No doubt the kids have seen enough of that shit already. "Centaurea attacked?" I guess.
"Humph, that would have been better, hmm. Don't know how your parents did it... The Big time gang's leadership are all dead. Your mother is in charge and she is already warring against the other gangs, forcing anyone undecided into her new gang. Promising a windfall of almost 600 million beri if only they kill the other gangs and find you." Daisuke shakes his head in disbelief. "In one night, she has managed what no one has for the past decades, hmm."
"How in the hell..." I gasp weakly. Its been one night!
"Your mother got a meeting with the boss, lots of tales of riches untold, and all that jazz hmm, when she got in she immediately killed everyone off together with your dad, hmm." Daisuke seems impressed and it really doesn't sit well with me as he continues. "Never thought much of your parents, hmm. And well war is bad for business... Balls on them though, hmm."
"There is nothing impressive in what they are doing!" I spit out suddenly very angry. "And she isn't any parent of mine!"
"Well, that's not my business boy, hmm. Can't say I'd want to be born out of that either ha!" He teases me before turning slightly serious. "You can't go walkabouts now boy, hmm. Rivers of blood up there, there is."
"One night." I groan slapping my face. "They started a takeover of an island in one night." Honestly as much as they scared the ever-living fuck out of me on a daily basis I had never really believed them strong enough for that. Something stank. Well, something other than the sewer stank.
"Impressive, hmm. Shortsighted, but impressive." Daisuke admits slowly. "Also, very odd. I have lived here for quite some time. This is not usual, hmm."
"I have never even heard of anything like it, hell there aren't even riots, no one dares to go that far against any of the gangs. My parents included. What the hell is going on up there!" I am ready to tear my hair out, food would be sorted, Daisuke did not break promises. However now everything else was just plain out. "Hey..." I start slowly an unpleasant thought occurring. "What gang would you take over if you wanted the most access to the sewers?"
Daisuke blinks before starting to laugh. "Ohoho, that is pretty smart of her, hmm?"
"This is not funny!" I snap feeling like everything is just falling apart one thing after another. "What if they find this place!"
Daisuke stops laughing and looks offended. "No one will find this place hmm! I built it, I hid it on all maps. No two-bit loan shark is going to outfox me, hmm!"
"Make up your mind! She is either a two-bit loan shark or a criminal genius! Stop switching in-between them!"
"If I can interject?" Yuuma says hesitantly having taken a few steps towards us. At my tired nod and Daisuke's indifference he continues. "If this is unusual behavior, is it not likely it is an unknown variable that has been added to the mix, as we were when this all started."
"Heh, yeah probably, Goda knows dear mother shouldn't have had the clout or balls to pull this shit off, no matter what promises of money." I admit easy enough, calm returning slightly as I take deep breaths.
I turn back to Daisuke after sending Yuuma a thankful look. "He is right, we need more information, someone is involved that we don't know about. And I can as you say, not move right now."
Daisuke taps his new cane on the stone floor several times looking irritated. "Perhaps he is right, hmm. It is highly unusual how this all happened..." He points at Yuuma. "If I am doing you another favor I want that brat to study too, hmm!"
"What! He doesn't have a devil fruit!?" I shout in alarm in conjunction with Yuuma's squeaked "What?" Youta's "Oh hell no!" And Yuna's "Strawberries!" We all look at her, she beams at us, and we all at the same time return to the argument.
I had a feeling we weren't winning this one either. However it's not what worries me the most. My parents had grabbed a significant chunk of the island, completely acting against any previous actions or personalities. It is the last thing I would have guessed for them to do, because it's impossible. My parents are strong, but not take over a gang strong, or an island. Right?...Right? What the hell was going on up there...
Meanwhile top side, Big Time gangs HQ main office.
"It has been done, we have a grasp of one-third of the island already." The female voice was simpering and subservient with a healthy dose of fear.
"And my prize? The little royals?"
"Eh...heh...No-Not really found em yet beg yer pardon! Well except the girlie we grabbed back from that fella'" The male voice sounded more constipated then subservient. The fear was there however.
"Then why do I keep you alive? What use are you to me!?" The voice on the den den mushi is dripping with malice and unleashed cruelty.
Everyone in the room starts shouting apologies at the same time in a cacophony of noise. All begging for their lives or just a little more time.
"ENOUGH!" The people present immediately stop talking, some stop breathing just to avoid making too much noise. "I sent you a representative for a reason you weak fools, he will find your lost royals. Obey him as you would me..." The voice trails off menacingly before the den den mushi disconnects and the large shadow at the very back of the room moves forward into the light.
At the other end of the room two large people put their heads together to whisper. "We should have just kept the deal with Spandine. This is too much!" One hisses.
"Aye, it's getting outta hand, now there's two of em!"
"We should not have made this bargain!" The female grits out with hatred and fear.
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End of chapter two. I might end up spending an extra chapter on this island then planned. Things move a little bit slower then planned, apparently I am bad at ballparking how much I needed to get through to get where I wanted before island leaving time. And although it is a SI. Let me know what you think about sometimes having such as above snippets. Its information the SI won't have but expounds on backstory for you the readers.