A very colorful library...Literally! The place itself looks like it was painted by children, but apparently its where some of the best books can be read. Fukurou loved reading books about the world...but that was mainly because he also liked to research people's personal lives so he could blab about it at the most awkward times; true to his nature of course. "Hm...what strange and wonderful things could I find in this library", Fukurou asked as he entered the door. It was very cold inside, and very silent as well.
"Hi, welcome to the library", a quiet lady said from behind the counter. Her hair was long and green. There were realistic flowers all over it...though they may have actually been real flowers. She wasn't very tall, and her clothes were loose.
"Hi! What kind of books to you have here", Fukurou asked loudly!
The lady cringed as he spoke. "Eh, could you be a little more quiet please", she asked. She put her finger to her lips and shushed him.
"Sorry.", he replied as he held his mouth. "Dm ynu harve annnny booksh on...".
"You don't have to cover your mouth, just be a little softer ", the librarian repeated. "We have millions of books, on whats going on in the outside world. What were you looking for in particular?"
"Maybe...something about the world government", Fukurou asked? Something had occurred to him the other day whilst he was job searching. The ex cp9 members had a very big problem. The government was still after them...and eventually they would be found again. Not only that, but they all vowed they would hunt Spandam down. That was before Lucci and Kaku decided to betray them, which only added to the problem. Fukurou had decided that while the others got themselves together, he would find out a way out of this situation.
"Plenty...but your not going to find out any dirt on them", she replied without looking up from her book. Fukurou jumped in surprise. How did SHE know what he was trying to do. "Shocked huh? Usually when people want to 'get back at the marines' the first thing they do is come here and try to see what they can use against them...usually to no avail. So what did they do to you?"
"They hunted down my friends and the rest of cp9", he whispered to her. He wasn't supposed to speak of such a thing, but considering his tendency to blurt out personal information, it was bound to happen. Truth be told it wasn't the first time he's told someone in the few weeks they've all been separated.
The librarian gasped, and looked around. "Come with me please!"
She grabbed Fukurou by the arm, and pulled him towards the back room, much to his surprise. "Chapapa, whats going on?"
"They're looking for you! You're pretty gutsy to be out in the open!" It would seem that she knew something.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, that they're still hunting down the most recent Cipher Pole members. I know this because I...hear things", the flowered lady said.
"Hmph...then let them come. They sent someone after us last time too, and we took care of them no problem. Why is it any concern of yours...out of curiosity of course", Fukurou asked.
"Because I used to be part of cipher pole! Two generations before yours even. That's why I know everything that goes on with them!
Fukruou gasped. He didn't expect to see an ex CP member outside of his previous team. She looked on the slightly older side. Now that he took a GOOD look at her, she did kind of look familiar. Other than the bundle of flowers in her hair, and paler complexion, she looked just like a lady on a picture he once saw back at the tower of Justice. "Wait! Are you Serenity!? This is where you disappeared to", Fukurou asked loudly.
She instantly grabbed his zipper of mouth and zipped it closed. Not so loud! Yes, its me, Serenity...I retired at an early age, and I came here to get away from all that. I keep in touch with other ex Cipher Pole members. I recently heard that some pirates invaded Enies Lobby by the dozen! They took down the tower, and cp9 with it. Was the first time such a thing happened really. It didn't really concern me though...I knew it would happen one day. The government always finds ways to push SOMEONES buttons afterall", Serenity said as she took out one of the flowers from her hair.
"But...you were one of the strongest Cipher Pole members in history. You ate that logia fruit, didn't you?"
"Indeed. The grow grow fruit. It allows to create become and control plants", she said as she crushed the flower in her hand. The second she did, she opened her palm again. The flower was crushed and in pieces...but after a small green glow erupted from her hand, it became one again. If anything, it looked healthier than before she crushed it. "That's irrelevant right now! To put it bluntly, they only sent the small fries after you. There's a whole part of cipher pole that you youngsters know nothing about!"
"You mean CP0? We already heard about that! Its where Lucci Kaku and Hattori went."
"They did? So THOSE were the new recruits...but either way I'm not talking about CP0! Its something way worst! They're the SILENCERS. They're part of Cipher Pole, but...they don't necessarily target pirates. They go after bigger fish!"
"Like", Fukurou asked as he leaned in. This conversation was becoming very interesting to him...at the same time it was starting to worry him.
"They target rouge government officials, whether they be Marine, or cipher pole members. It happened to a member of my team once. Someone who decided to betray the government...he was killed only an hour after they found out! He was the strongest cipher pole member at the time and he was killed almost instantly."
"Woah! That's not possible! Cipher pole is supposed to be the pinnacle of strength in the government! Who could have taken him down?"
"One of the silencers...they're precise...and they were trained in the same fashion that you and I were...but they were 'special cases'. There was something about them that made them even more terrifying."
"Are you saying that they'll come after us too? It sure is taking them a long time to try it."
"Thats what makes them so dangerous. Back then...our strongest was a little more predictable...but times have changed, and the generations have been getting stronger and stronger. The reason they are taking so long to find you is...because they are watching you...thats all I can say really. You and your friends are in danger."
Fukurou shook his head at this. "No way! That cant be! I have to warn the others!"
"Thats not going to help you! Once they pick their targets, its guaranteed to be a sure kill. That's how its always been for rouge agents."
"Who could have authorized this?"
"There's a rumor that says its an order from the strongest person in the government...but that 'title' changes around so much its hard to stamp who it is."
"The perfect trail eraser huh? Hm...this isn't good."
"I wish I could offer you some advice, but I honestly don't know what to offer. They always get their targets. Even someone like ME would have trouble against the power of a silencer."
Fukurou thought hard on this. It was like she was basically telling him that he and the rest of the ex agents are going to be killed. There had to be SOME way to stop that from happening. "Let me work here!"
"Wait, what!? What does that have to do with..."
"I need to find out everything I can about the silencers, and you wont tell me, right", Fukurou asked. Serenity shook her head which was to be expected. The fact that someone knows about them wont help their target much, but if she blabbed too much, she might let something slip that shouldn't have been said. Then she's find herself as one of thier targets. "If that's the case I need to warn the others, and see if there's any way to stop this! There's got to be something in one of these books that can help me!"
"That might not be the best idea. I mean, you guys are the targets...but there's no guarantee that they wont come after anyone else..."
"Please! I know it sounds dangerous, but...as a favor from one ex cipher pole to another? My team and I may not be as close as we should be, but I don't want to see any of them die", Fukurou said as he looked down.
"You know...we're not supposed to get emotionally attached to anyone." Oh if only she knew of that wasn't the case for many of the members. "Ok, I'll make you a deal. You can work here and use the books to your advantage; on your own time! But if there's any ounce of danger whatsoever, you get as far away from me and this library as possible. Deal?"
Her words were icy, but Fukurou could tell she wasn't that kind of person. Its probably been so long since she's had to fight anyone, she may just not know how to express her concern. Not to mention some librarians aren't always the interacting type. "Ok you have a deal! Wait till I tell EVERYONE I ran into Serenity! They'll be so jealous!"
"You cant tell ANYONE bigmouth! Hows this zipper supposed to work", Serenity asked as she pulled on his face.
"You gotta let me test your Doriki Chapapa!"
"Nonono! Come on, stop being so loud!"
-
"Ok, so there's nothing to it...I know it's hard for you, but just try not to be too loud. You'll scare away the people AND draw attention to yourself from You-Know-Who.
"Right, right! Now if you'll excuse me, I have to check out that book section over there", Fukurou said as he used his Geppo technique to float over to the section of books.
"Ugh, that's so NOT discreet...but there's something off about him. I mean other than the zipper on his face. Any regular agent wouldn't worry about anyone but themselves in a situation like this. I mean there's no guarantee that the silencers are after them yet. Not even my grapevine can get word of their actions before their target is killed...and even then, if they are deployed...then that would leave another question. Who would even bother?
Fukurou sifted through the books on the shelves. He already knew more than most when it came to the cipher pole branch, but he needed to dig deeper. At this point its not out of the question that their lives could be in danger, and he needed some leverage.