"I'm not so sure this is a good idea, Moira. It's a technique that takes years to master", Blueno said. He was in the middle of being asked a favor by Moira. Apparently, she wanted to learn his iron body technique. They were just along the outskirts of town, right by the beach.
"If I learn how to do this, maybe dad won't be so stressed about me wanting to go out to sea. I mean sure I could just leave, but I don't want him worry about me."
"I can understand that, but the technique takes more work and endurance than I think you would be able to handle. Not to mention there's a lot of trial and error, and I'd rather you not injure yourself in the process."
"If I cant handle the training, then what would be the purpose of me wanting to leave?"
"Well, I suppose you could be tougher than I'm giving you credit for, but...maybe we could start off with you at least seeing how its done."
"Oh right! I've seen it once, when that drunk guy tried to hit you with a bar stool the other day...which only resulted with him going to the hospital. So what do you want me to do?"
"Pick up that rock and chuck it at my face. Don't worry, I wont feel it", Blueno instructed as he pointed to a small pear-sized rock next to Moira.
"Are you sure? I mean, I throw pretty hard. I don't want to break your nose."
"Dont worry. Throw away", Blueno said. He held his arms down to his side to give her a better opening.
"Ok, if you insist", she picked up the rock and tossed at straight at Blueno's face! As he told her, the rock had no effect on him. In fact, the rock shattered after it hit him. "Wow! That DID work! How long did it take you to learn that?"
"Well as I said, it took several years. It took a while to perfect it but I first started using it when I was a child. Out of all my cohorts, I'm the most efficient at it.
"But...isn't there another technique like it? The sailors who come in sometimes mention something called 'Haki'. I hear bits and pieces, but it involves hardening the body, right?
Blueno nodded. "Similiar yes. Very close, but not the same thing. The iron body technique I use involves hardening the muscles, which is more beneficial for people with more physical strength, hence one of the reasons I don't think it would benefit you as much." Moira was very slender. While it wouldn't be useless for her to learn it, she would be better off without it honestly. This may also explain why Kalifa probably rarely used hers.
"Really? Its also a technique that has been taught to you, right?"
"Indeed. Then there is Haki. It allows one to create an invisible armor around various parts of their body. Some can even form it around their ENTIRE body. The use and intensity of Haki is based on ones' willpower and life force. Another difference in the usage is the fact that, they each have different advantages and disadvantages. The iron body technique isn't as taxing as 'Armament Haki', but when using Haki, you are also able to freely move around. Iron body prevents this in MOST people. One of my friends is able to use it while moving, due to a different kind of training. Anyway, in your particular case, I'd say you have enough willpower to effectively use Haki...if you were to obtain it.
"And can YOU use this Haki?"
"I can. Though I usually reply on my six iron body, therefore I haven't taken many opportunities to better my Haki skills."
"Then is it possible to teach me that instead? That Haki stuff?"
"Well, I suppose it probably wouldn't take as long as the iron body technique."
"You failed to tell her about the other six powers techniques", a feminine voice said. Both Blueno and Moira looked around in an attempt to pinpoint the voice, when they observed a lady sitting on a bench. Her hair was blue and it almost went down to her thighs. Both her lips bore a different color lipstick. The top was red, and the bottom was yellow. "You also failed to tell her more than you let on...Blueno", the lady said.
"How do you know me? And even more so, how do you know about six powers", Blueno asked. For the first time in a while, he was becoming nervous. Who was this woman, and how did she know him?
"Oh hello. I haven't seen you around before", Moira said over to the lady.
She looked at Moira and gave a smile. "Well, I'm sort of new to the island. Just got here not too long ago.
"You know about the stuff he's referring to? Were you also trained under it", Moira asked. Blueno's gaze intensified. He was hoping she would have no idea of any of the sort. He knew nothing about her, despite his expansive knowledge of the Cipher Pole branch, so if she knew ANYTHING about him other than his name..."
"Nah. I'm afraid I only hear about six powers during my travels. And I recognize Blueno from the bar back in water 7."
Blueno nearly felt like a heavy weight was just lifted off his shoulders. Its not entirely impossible she came into his bar one day, and he had just forgotten her face. "Oh! Hehe. So you recognize me huh?" There was that fake laugh he gave whenever he gathered information from customers back at water 7. "After the whole flooding incident, I had no choice but to relocate my business."
"Oh, I see! Well that's good. Sorry if I'm intruding. I just couldn't help myself, plus I just wanted to say hi to old Blueno here.
"Would you like to come back to the Tox fox? We'll serve you the best drinks you'll ever have", Moira said.
"I just might take you up on that offer...but another day. I'm afraid I have some stuff to take care of...um...", the lady said. She was at a losds for Moira's name.
"I'm Moira, and I guess you already know Blueno."
"Indeed. You can call me... Rita." She hesitated for a second. Almost as if she a forgotten her own name. "Now if you'll excuse me, I must be on my way. As she walked away, she gave Blueno another look...and this time Blueno got a better look at her eyes. They were previously warm and friendly...but when she looked him in the eyes...he saw something he only ever saw in cipher pole. The "assassin eyes!" Members of cipher pole always had a "look" they gave one another to let each other know that they were part of the same organization. They were trained to identify this over and over again. As Blueno previously stated to himself; he did not remember her face. Not from the bar, and not from cipher pole. At this point, he was starting to get an uneasy feeling again.
"Earth to Blueno! Did you hear me", Moira asked? She quickly got his attention. "I was saying, let's go down to the dock."
"Why do you want to go there? An event of some sort?"
"No. I just like to watch the boats and the sea, before I go home. Sometimes some sea kings pop up, and I blow them away. Sometimes other people get rid of them. It just passes the time, and I use it to train my ability."
"Sea kings? I don't recall seeing any of them on my way here", Blueno said. He recalled that they had to walk across the train track. If any sea kings did attack, they would have had to hide in an air door due to them being battle worn.
"You said you and your friend got here from water 7, right? That's north from here. Sea kings swim in from the west, when they're chasing their prey. Rumor has it they even come from All Blue sometimes."
"That imaginary place? You actually believe that place exists?"
"Say what you want, but there are plenty of places that we have yet to explore. People and creatures, we have yet to see."
"I suppose that one way to look at it. But, there are just some things that don't add up."
"You cant explain everything with logic, Blueno. There are things out there that defy science...evident by the powers you and I possess. Even so, sometimes even if a place doesn't exist...its just fun to think about it, you know? Don't you have an imagination?"
"Nope. In fact I've been told I'm boring. Sometimes I even see it as a compliment."
"Oh dear. Well, I suppose I'm not the funnest person to be around either, which probably gives us a cooperative chemistry. Truth be told, if I didn't want to go out to sea so bad, we'd make the perfect bar owners."
"If I could decipher the meaning behind your words...you perhaps also plan on leaving soon...dont you?"
"I do. I wont be happy working in a bar, or a market of any sort for the rest of my life. I want to travel the world, and the only way to do that is by sea.", Moira said as she stared out into the waters. "Now if I may decipher YOUR words..."
"Hm? What do you mean, Moira?"
"You asked if I plan to leave 'also', and I cant help but feel like you were not including my dad in there. Call it a girls intuition. Blueno...do you plan on leaving already?"
Blueno didn't quite know how to answer the question. He didn't WANT to leave necessarily, but he knew he's have to. The ex cp9 agents still had a bug to squash, and now they possibly had Lucci and Kaku to go through to get to him. Not only that, but these "silencers" were still a threat that he couldn't simply ignore. Whether that lady had the "look", or his eyes were playing tricks on him due to paranoia, remained to be seen...but either way, the agents would not be able to stay on this island for much longer. Even their so-called new lives were already becoming compromised. "Well, I can say for certain I'll be around for a little longer, but a time will come when there's something I have to do."
"I see. Dad will lose two of his children then", Moira said.
"Two? You have siblings?"
"No. We've taken a shine to you, ya know", she said. She turned away as she said it.
Blueno could almost swear his face grew warm. If he didn't have a heart before, his chest sure did beat like it had one. What was happening to him? Its like he softened up or something. First the other ex cipher pole members treated him like family, and now these two were as well? It wasn't a feeling he was very familiar with until recently. "Oh? I-is that so?"
"Did I catch you off guard", Moira asked jokingly.
"Go home", Blueno said as he pointed towards the town. He tried to keep a straight face, but a smile kept trying to break through.
"Hehe. I guess the dock can wait for another day. See you tomorrow Blueno", Moira said before walking off.
"What nonsense. Taking a shine", he repeated to himself. Though he tried to act calm and collected, he clearly wasn't disliking the idea.
"Back at in town, at a table just outside the mall", the lady with the flowing blue hair, and mismatch lips sat. She took turned on her miniature den den mushi and spoke into it. "Chief, this is Claire reporting in. Target Blueno has been found."