~.~
"What is one of the Yonko doing in Paradise, I wonder?" Kizaru drowned out the words in his annoying manner enraging the red-haired captain even more.
"Didn't know you were at a back-and-call of Warlords now." Shanks retorted annoyed. The marines weren't here to fight them, not really. They were merely dragging things out and standing in their way, while being a general pain in the ass and nuisance altogether. Moria was a Warlord and however cowardly it was form him to relay on the marines to fight his battles he wouldn't do something like this without a reason. Obviously Luffy had been their objective. He truly hopped the young teen hadn't done anything stupid at least Mihawk was there with him. He surely couldn't get into that much trouble, right… Who was he kidding Greatest swordsman or not this was Luffy he was talking about, trouble always found him.
"Move it." Shanks spoke and if looks could kill... Kizaru for once really hopped Moria knew just what he was doing. Or soon there will be one less Warlord and that would be too troublesome to deal with.
~.~
"Hmm… I suppose we arrived too soon." Mihawk commented nonchalantly as they both sighed inwardly for different reasons altogether.
The Warlord got an urgent summon notice from the Marines he usually would just ignore such trivia but this time it had Sengoku's personal stamp on it. It made him curios to say at least. Luffy on the other head really hopped he could spend some more time with the swordsman or at least until Shanks and the guys got here. It was selfish of him, no doubt, more so since the man sacrificed more than a month and half of his time on him.
"You should go." Luffy finally said. "I don't want you to" the boy quickly clarified "but I know you want to." The man only raised an eyebrow. "You're curios." It was a statement and the swordsman didn't deny it. The boy was direct with his words, most people usually hate the kind but he kind of admired the teen for it. It was an honorable trait that few had. "Beside the guys will probably be here soon enough. I'll just find an inn or something and play some cards till then. We'll meet up; this island is just so big after all"
Mihawk took a moment to think about it. Luffy was strong but Moria was still gunning after the nekomimi. Chances were he'd get attacked, but then again Shanks should arrive soon. Benn wouldn't stood them up. Even Luffy couldn't get into that much trouble until then. "…Fine. I believe you will be able to take care of yourself for at least a few hours."
"Oi!" the teen protested annoyed.
The man ignored it in favor of setting sail. "Well then Luffy, I will see you soon."
"Oh… How so?!" But the man only grinned mysteriously as the small boat departed making the nekomimi huff slightly in irritation before he grinned and waved slightly. "Take care and see you soon then Mihawk!" The boy shouted as watched the boat grew smaller and smaller before it disappeared completely on the horizon.
Luffy throw the small backpack over his shoulder and then started to walk. He was at the island's south beach and the only place the Red Force could dock, Benn usually took great care not to arrive late for any appointment more so if it was made by him. Something surely must have happened, knowing the red-haired pirates anything raging from –lack of booze –to- attack of another yonko was a possibility. No use overthinking it. According to Mihawk there was a small town up ahead, and true to his words he found it easily enough. He found a tavern, the bar downstairs was full and lively.
It was that is, until he stepped inside. Even the music stopped for a small seconds as the people inside sized him up. He paid them seemingly no heed, all while inconspicuously determining their threat level. For a small peaceful town there were just too many people that looked like shabby beggars with hide weapons on them.
Pirates or maybe bounty hunters? Well this ought to be fun anyway.
"Can I get you anything boya?" The women asked, Luffy studied her for a small second. She was a beautiful blond almost silver hair in a long dark dress that showed off her figure nicely more so her bust. A long cigar held elegantly between her well-manicured finger.
The nekomimi smiled up at her innocently and the women blushed instantly. "Evening ma'am! Got a free room for tonight?"
"Y-Yeah…"
"How much?" He beamed up at her and she looked star-struck for a small second, before she collected herself.
"It's of course" The women took a deep breath before she spoke "free. Because you're cute. Also drop the ma'am, not that old yet boya." She said amused.
"Thanks, beautiful nee-chan." Now she turned into a deep shade of red similar to Shanks hair.
"Can I get you anything to drink?"
"Only if you drink with me."
"Smooth." The women said before she turned to the bar, the blush still yet to leave her face. "So what's your poison?"
"Just milk please." Luffy responded earnestly making the man who set beside him snicker. The nekomimi ignored him expertly, not so much the one mixing the drinks.
"Sorry kid." The women said placing in front of him something he was sure wasn't milk, or at least not entirely. "we only use milk for drinks here, no food either."
Luffy nodded with a smile "I see."
"This is a Brandy Milk Punch, is sweet but has alcohol, so better drink slowly." She explained while the teen only nodded along.
"Okay then Cheers!" / "Cheers!" The taste was not bad, Luffy mused, just unusual, besides is not like it's the first time he ever drunk alcohol beverages, Makino owned a bar. It funny how no one on the Red-force knew that though. In his defense he was a curios person by nature and he never drunk enough to get smashed, only a bit from each to find out how they tasted. It was also a fact that he had never mixed them, but he could tell by the taste this was a mix of at least two alcoholic beverages he recognized.
"Not bad." He murmured slowly while a few tables away a man stood up with an angry face. "Do you recon they'll let me join?" The boy asked as he looked at the poker cards the man in the middle was shuffling.
"Bad company that lot." The bar-tender said with a shake of her head. "Better stay out of their way." But of course Luffy wouldn't be Luffy if he'd listen. He hummed before emptying his glass then winked at her before walking over to the four guys. The bar-tender only sighed in resignation. She already knew this couldn't end well.
"Can I play?" Luffy asked politely making the four share a look.
"Hmph… sure kid" the man snickered "If you have any money." Didn't take a genius to know they wanted to rip him off.
"Of course." He sit down with an eye-smile. It all started nicely enough, he even let them have the first round, needed to let them think they had some chance against him, boost their ego and make them more comfortable. Not even Benn was able to beat him at poker and the man was a genius when it came to strategy. It was an easy win, true to be told.
The enraged fool seated beside him at the left couldn't help but let a small- "Grrah braat-"out
"Wait, is just luck." The one beside him offered. "It can happen to everyone." Let's call him naïve idiot. The bigot that was seated right in front of Luffy just sneered. To high and mighty to talk was he?
"Let's play again." The fourth idiot proposed. He had only one eye so Luffy called him that- One eyed macho not much man and yeah he knew he had no naming sense what-so-ever; Ace and Sabo reminded him enough times of that. It was his turn to make the cards and decided to put on a small show for them. No reason to know card tricks if you don't show it off now and then after all. If he had to say, by the way the people's mouth were left hanging open, he was quite good. He dealt the cards and so the game started again. But now his opponents were just a bit wary of him. Good, no use playing against weaklings if they weren't at least on guard. The people in the bar were now all watching the game with curiosity.
"You cheat." Mister bigot accused as he won yet again.
"Really?" He asked with a raised eyebrow as he pocketed his winnings seemingly uncaring of the ragging bulls at the table.
The man answered back with a curt "Really." before he stood up and walked toward the bar. "No one is that lucky, but then again… I don't really think you are lucky at all."
"Hooh?" the boy asked with mock amazement.
"It all happened like Moria-san predicted after all!" The people in the tavern pointed their weapons at Luffy.
"Moria?" Luffy asked curiously as he leaned back in his seat. He looked so relaxed that it pissed them off even more.
"Yes, but you don't know do you? Why red-head isn't here, why Mihawk left and what happened to your little girlfriend?" The man asked with a smirk as he ordered another drink from the scared bar-tender. Luffy's eyes turned cold, but they were still had no unease or worry in them.
"Those eyes piss me off, do it!" The bigot said with a nod to enraged fool who took a swing at Luffy and punched him in the face.
"Ouch…" the boy said as he opened his eyes and glared at the man who took the swing at him. "that hurt." By the dull tone the boy spoke with, it was a sarcastic remark.
"You!" The man flinched at the glare without himself noticing. Sweat seemed to run down his back but the words spoken by the teen managed to enrage him enough to override his previous emotion, fear that is. "There is more from where that's coming from." The man said threateningly but Luffy didn't bother with the Enraged fool any more than that. That fact that he didn't fell to the ground after taking such a hit didn't raise any question in any of them, not even the man who hit him, was somehow funny.
"I'm sorry…" The nekomimi said finally looking at the Bigoted idiot who was sipping his drink with a chuckle. "I seriously don't know what is going on. Perhaps you could explain?" The man laughed even more hearing his words but Luffy waited patiently. If there was one thing he learned from Sabo was to never rush an interrogation.
"Well you see this is -" the man said taking out a paper from his breast-pocked, then unfolded it really slowly and turned it around. "what I'm talking about."
A Wanted poster, not just any Wanted poster but his wanted poster. Meaning Moria managed to pressure the marines into releasing his wanted poster ergo these men were probably bounty-hunters. No it was better not to make such deductions so soon. They could still be pirates for all he knew, looking to take down a weakling from the Yonko's crew and hope for fame or something equally stupid. That also explained the urgent message from the marines to Mihawk. The nekomimi sincerely hoped the swordsman won't get in too much trouble for helping someone affiliated with the Red-haired pirates. Two questions answered out of four.
"I see." The boy replied in a calm manner. "But that still doesn't explain what happened with Shanks and Perona."
The macho not so much with one eye if something felt even more annoyed by the boy's calm demeanor. Why was it that it was he himself who felt pressured? He swing his sword at the boy with full power, barely stopped it a few centimeters away from the boy's right eye. And the teen didn't even bat an eyelash at it through. "I'll take your eye out and squash it under my foot, you little piece of shit." The man grumbled and the naïve idiot laughed.
"Ah the kid's so scared he's totally frozen up! Hahaha!"
The bigot chuckled along the others before he started talking again as he leaned back in the bar stool. "You see Moria doesn't take to well on someone quitting on him without his approval, but to make sure the bitch-" Luffy's eye narrowed dangerously hearing that word. "knows he is capable of forgiveness sent her a little present. Her subordinates that is. One by one-" the man smirked. "piece by piece. Isn't he a nice man?" The man throw his head back and laughed accompanied by many others. "And you know what the best thing is?" The man asked in a giddy way. "Tricking Mister bigshit Yonko and stealing her away right form under their nose. It was hard man, sure but… it felt So good at the same time. I recon by now the wretch had been delivered to Moria-san, and the Shanks will never make it in time. You see, Moria isn't hiding on an island after all… but on a ship."
"A lot happened in such a short time." Luffy said lowering his head. "But by the way you speak… " he smirked. "You know where Moria is, don't you?"
"Of course I know." The man boosted.
"Good. That mean even if I kill everyone else, you can still take me to him."
~.~
It was expected, Perona knew after all her betrayal won't go unpunished. Moria was powerful, he was a Warlord and apparently decided to use his influence and work his dirty scheme behind the scenes. It all started with those dreadful news.
Shanks and the crew tried to keep Luffy's existence a secret for a reason. They made sure the marines had no chance to give him a bounty so the nekomimi would start with a clean plate in East Blue but all in vain thanks to the Warlord. Shanks was annoyed by that but choose instead to celebrate Luffy's first bounty all while promising to get his revenge on Moria. It was an impressive sum for someone so young 50.000.000 beri, but she felt it was not in league with the rest of the crew's. That was part of the problem, while the article in the newspaper spoke of the cruel red-haired pirates who recruited kids now; the wanted poster read affiliation- None. Moria made Luffy a target for everyone and Benn was quite pissed for that.
The first-mate was sure that everyone with a bit of brain was capable of putting those clues together. So not only the bounty hunter that usually wouldn't go after a crewmember of the yonko targeted the teen but everyone who wanted to get revenge on them. They could claim they simply didn't know, of course everyone knew that wouldn't stop them for retaliating but the Marines give them the perfect excuse to start a fight. The balance between the yonko was quite fragile as it was. And if that wasn't enough the sum was big enough to send strong opponents Luffy's way but compared to anyone's on the yonko's crew it was basically an insult. The poster read simply Cheshire, the pic only showed half of the boy's face since the hoodie covered the other half but his grin and glowing eyes made it easy for anyone who know the boy to recognize Luffy.
That was the first, it was followed by the gifts send to her. She didn't know how he even managed to find their location, least again and again, but it was aggravating. Even the red-haired pirates were getting pissed off. Parts and parts of her old subordinates sent to her in pieces, the yonko couldn't imagine at first what made her sick upon seeing a bloodied teddy bear's head, but soon made the connection. She wasn't heartless or maybe she was because even if she could go back in time she knew she'd never change her decision. She would still join Luffy's crew. There was no doubt in her heart that it had been the right choice. Her subordinates while they never been especially close to her they were all she had back there. Many didn't even like her, called her a spoiled stupid child, but they feared her enough to never oppose her. Not surprise there, the only reason she had been able to join the Mysterious Four was because of her devil fruit was as powerful as it was. So why was it that she got so upset upon seeing these gifts?
Shanks crew had become very protective of her. They didn't even let her explore the new island alone and yet had been all in vain. Here she was in chained, but worse than the pain she had to suffer or the shame for getting kidnapped was the fact that she had become bait for Luffy. It was the only reason why she hadn't been killed yet, she was sure of that. At least she was grateful that no red-haired pirate had been hurt in the kidnapping, Moria was bold but not stupid, he did not want to turn the ire of a Yonko against himself. Too bad, the ghost princess thought, knowing the man as well as she did the Warlord had managed to do that already.
The ship she was on shook violently and she knew what that meant for her. "Stand up wrench, Moria-sama is waiting for you!" The pirate-wanna be shouted in annoyance, poor idiot. Didn't he know that Moria never struck deals with other pirates. He only used them, she somehow pitied him, well at least until the man grabbed her arms too tightly to hoist her to her feet. She will have doubt about marks on her arm.
"Watch it, you idiot ape!" She glared at the idiot who only laughed before grabbing her even more roughly by her should.
"No you watch it princess, or I might just brake your nice-manicured fingers one by one."
Her dark eyes narrowed dangerously. "You should pray I find you first and not my captain." Perona whispered amused.
"Shut up!" the man shouted before he stricken her. Right in the face, in her weakened form she wasn't able to stand up and hit the ground quite hardly. She felt something warm run down on her face before darkness overtook her.
~.~
"Oi, doesn't this ship go any faster?" Luffy asked annoyed Bigot annoyed.
"I-I-t's a-a-lrea-d-dy g-going as… as f-fast as it c-can." The man stuttered.
"Hmm, you better not lie to me." The teen said with glowing eye making the man let out a scream more befitting a women before he shook his head fast in denial.
"I-I WOULD NEVER!" How could he? He saw first-hand what this… this demon did.
~Flashback~
Fast, that was the first thought that finally registered. How could everything change just so suddenly? Everything went according to the plan and then in just a few seconds… their position of hunter and hunted changed so fast it wasn't even funny.
The boy didn't even move from his place, one of the man simply run at him and the boy caught the punch sent his way all while sitting in his chair. He didn't even move a centimeter, and then… the man caught fire, blue flames. It didn't take much if any time for the flames to burn him alive. Then the gunshots followed, but they never reached their target as the got stuck in a glass like structure, and the boy seemingly disappeared and the chair fell back empty. Then the screaming started… those dreadful sound he couldn't get out of his mind even now. They were getting torn to pieces and as more screams filled the air the man couldn't help but think that this suffering, the pain, those cry and wails for help… this was hell. He had fallen into the inferno surely.
Luffy stood in front of him, with yellow glowing golden eyes and the man tried to move as far away as he could but the boy was there before the man could even register. Grabbed him by the neck and hoisted him up into the air with one hand and seemingly no effort at all.
"You called my nakama by some nasty names." He said with a face free of any emotion, no rage, no hate nothing but his eyes though, a raging fire there. "That just won't do." The teen said slowly. The man understood every word the boy said even though surely his brain should not be able to function without air for so long. His lungs burned like a bitch. But more than that he realized there was something more dangerous than lack of oxygen for him.
"I will kill you if you ever do that." The monster no demon said before dropping him like a sack of potatoes. "Take me to Moria." The boy demanded and he wasn't stupid enough to oppose.
~.~
The nekomimi could tell the more they advanced, the more the fog in the air turned heavier and darker. The wind seemed to pick up too.
"W-w-we ar-re c-cc-clos-ser…" So that was what caused the atmosphere change. He remembered Benn telling him something about that not so long ago; something about each island having their own climate and some stuff he just couldn't seem remember. Still he had to be careful, who knows just what kind of surprises could have Moria left him with. Everyone on board worked in silence and seemingly as quiet as possibly but the waters were getting turbulent. The storm hit the ship seemingly out of nowhere many of the sailors were losing their confidence and started to wail and cry. They were going to get killed like this.
"Quickly, grab the ropes, we're trimming the sails!" Luffy shouted taking command when seemingly no one did. "Hurry up!" He commanded but mother nature was just too scary for them to pay any attention to the albeit small but dangerous boy.
"We're going to capsize!" the first-mate shouted in despair.
"No we're not!" The nekomimi retorted confidently. "You either help me stabilize the ship or I will throw you overboard myself." With such a threat hanging over their head the sailors had no choice but to comply since everyone knew he wasn't joking around. Chances were they could survive somehow if they did as Luffy told them, but if they got thrown overboard in such weather...
They all fought against the heavy storm for more than two hours and it seemed like they just might make it, the storm seemed to ease up to when the ship broke in two, right in the middle. There just wasn't anything they could do about that, not that much time to think either. For Luffy getting killed by falling into the ocean just wasn't an option. Not when Perona had been kidnapped by Moria. He wasn't gonna allow himself such a luxury. So he pushed himself over the limit, not caring about how more and more water rushed in. The teen knew the ship would go under in a few minutes, so he grabbed the Bigoted man who was still in shock knocked him out then threw him over his shoulder. The man's hysterics actions would just sabotage their chances of survival otherwise.
Luffy search wasn't fruitless he happily found a small lifeboat just in time. He cut the rope the was holding it up and jumped onto it as it fall into the ocean. He didn't know if anyone else made it, as he lay in the dingy and fought with the drowsiness caused by the sea water. He hated feeling so weakened… He might have passed out just for a short while there but happily his guest on board hadn't woken up before him. The boy stood up still a bit dizzy but feeling much better than before. The heavy storm has finally let on, but a few rain-drops still fell here and there. Another thing to worry about was their position. He hoped they were heading into the right direction but before he could wake Bigot up he felt something big was approaching them, fast. If it was a ship, Luffy prepared himself to commandeer it. It might be their only chance to reach their destination seeing how desolated was this part of the sea.
"Yo-ho-ho-ho," It was a pirate ship, a big one! Luffy grinned and activated geppo after grabbing his hostage by the scurf of his clothes. "Yo-ho-ho-ho Yo-ho-ho-ho~!" the voice continued to sing slowly with a hunting beauty "Binkusu no sake wo, todoke ni yuku yo~" It was beautiful and at the same time it seemed incredibly sad. It was a pirate song and Luffy couldn't help but smile politely at the man who was still facing the ocean. He had an afro which Luffy considered pretty awesome in itself, not to mention the guy was tall, like really really tall.
"Excuse me sir, I boarded your ship without any permission." The teen said sheepishly. Makino and Sabo always said he needed to be polite to strangers, more so when he had a favor to ask from them.
"Oh!" the man said surprised before he turned around and greeted them with a jolly voice "Good afternoon, everyone Yohoho! I am so surprised, how many years has it been since I last saw someone else? I've been yearning for company but there are only Ghost Ships here, now- please come make yourself comfortable. We can have a nice long conversation-"
"A skeleton… a talking skeleton with an afro…" Luffy said with amazement. Indeed the man was all but bones, dressed in black coat, trousers and a top-hat. In addition he had a blue cravat tied between his coat and around his neck and a purple cane.
"I'm sure you have lots of questions, like where we are what happened to this ship-" The skeleton talked a mile an hour but the boy only smiled and nodded along absentmindedly before he followed up without missing a beat.
"More important may I have some tea too?"
"Ah, sure. I'm sorry for being such a lousy host, not to many visitors" The skeleton answered making the nekomimi let out a loud Shishishi.
~Brook pov mostly~
Before long they were both sitting at a table with a tea-cup in front of them in the dinning room, or what remained of it and Brook decided to introduce himself.
"I'm Dead Pure-bones Brook, may I ask your precious names-"
"Cheshire D. Luffy, nice to meet you Brook." The boy said as he took off his hoodie and give the man a chance to study him in turn. What an intriguing person, Brook decided, he could tell the boy's smile was truthful even now. He didn't even look scared of him, more like fascinated. But Luffy looked young and skeleton didn't know how to feel about that, he had entertained that thought ever since he first heard Luffy's voice. The boy was petite; but instead of handsome he'd rather describe the boy as cute; adorable. Those dark orb looked up at him with wonder instead of fear or disgust he couldn't help but find the boy endearing.
"Cute!" The man shouted fangirling a bit and then he smiled "Luffy-san then and…" the man/skeleton turned to the still knocked out guy and the nekomimi sweat-dropped.
Luffy wondered how to explain this "Ah he's my well …hostage kind of." He said bluntly.
"Hostage?" The pirate repeated. True to be told he wasn't sure he could or more like would want to fight the boy, if he turned out to be an enemy.
"Yes he has to take me to Thriller Bark, so I'm sorry this might be soon but could you please lend me your ship?" This time he asked with a small bow.
"EH? Thriller Bark?!" The skeleton shouted out in shock. Luffy words were truthful even now. And that raised an entire different kind of question. Just what kind of business could someone so young have with the Warlord? The boy had his shadow so that couldn't be the reason. He studied him again trying to determine what had he missed. Luffy was practically a child but then again he carried himself as a warrior. His movement were precise, too precise and silent, the sound of his steps almost non-existent. It spoke of years of practice and while the term child-soldier wasn't unfamiliar to him he couldn't help but frown inwardly at the implication.
"Yes. I have to find Moria and take back Perona, she's my nakama. I have to rescue her." Nakama Luffy said, was he a pirate then? The boy's eyes turned cold when he talked about the Warlord but when he mentioned Perona's name, Brook could see the worry shine in them. So Luffy didn't work with Moria but the Warlord had kidnapped someone the boy considered nakama. Those onyx eyes filled with determination were now trained at him; the kid's eyes were truly expressive.
"Moria? The Warlord? You know him?" Brook asked just to be sure and Luffy frowned.
"Fought him once." The boy said clearly not sure if one could call that knowing someone. "judging by your reaction though, you know him too."
"He's the reason I've been wondering this seas." The boy listened curiously and Brook decided to tell his story, it only seemed fair. "He stole my shadows. Because I don't have a shadow, I can't exist in the sunlight, right now because of the darkness and thick fog I am somehow alive, but… "
"What would happen if you'd step into the light?" The boy asked wary. He could tell the boy didn't want to upset him with his question but couldn't quite stop his curiosity.
"A long time ago I saw another man whose shadow had been stolen walk into the sun, his body was completely decimated. It was so terrifying that my hair stood on end, even though I am a skeleton and have no hair." He considered adding the 'skull joke' but the conversation was too serious for that. "It is because I have no visible shadow... also as a direct result of this, my appearance is not visible in pictures or mirrors. Basically, I am trapped in a life of darkness and all of my friends have been killed." The air felt heavy and yet or maybe because of that Brook couldn't stop himself. "Still, I am glad to be alive. Yohohoh! I am Full Bone, Dead- bony Brook. Glad to meet you!"
"How can you be so happy?" Luffy asked with a small frown marrying his delicate features.
"Yohohohoho- yohohohoho-yohohohoho! Today is such an amazing day. I have met other people! There was no way for me to tell the days apart in this deeply foggy dark sea. My friends had all died, and I was all alone on a ship with a broken rudder. I just moved along aimlessly for decades. I was extremely lonely… I was lonely afraid and I wanted to die. Well I suppose that is what an extended life is about. People are my happiness. Meeting you is pure happiness to me. I can't shad tears, but if I could I would be crying in happiness right about now! "
"I decided." Luffy said as he stood up. "Brook, become my nakama. Is alright," The little boy added in hurry. "You don't need to answer right now. Think about it. As for your shadow, Moria had already pissed me off to start with… I'll bite him to death. Nothing less is acceptable."
"You… are a really good person aren't you? I am surprised, But I can't allow you to get angry on my behalf. I can't ask someone I just met to die for my sake."
"I'm not going to die." Luffy started it like a fact. "More so I'm not going to die for some else's sake. I'm going to live and fight for what I believe in and that's all there is. Nothing more nothing less." His words were sincere and somehow Brook couldn't help but be amazed by the boy's conviction. He understood those words somehow. Luffy didn't want to die for his sake, he didn't want to cause him pain by leaving him behind not after what had happened . No the little boy wanted to live for his sake and he wanted him Brook, who was a living skeleton, a freak by nature to live too, by his side. He couldn't help but feel overwhelmed and feel unworthy at the same time. He had done anything to earn this kindness, he could feel his resolve slipping already. But before he offer an answer the entire ship was shocked by a tremor.
~.~
"Well well well, look who finally decided to join the world of the living, if it isn't the prodigal son… daughter? Kishishishi" Moria laughed at his own joke while Perona eyes fluttered open. Her head felt like it was just about to explode, and the warlord's voice was grating. It literally felt like his every word was scratched the inside of her head similar to the irritating sound of chalk across a blackboard or a metallic screeching sound. Moria was probably obvious to the discomfort he caused her only by speaking or maybe just enjoyed the pained expression across her face because he lunched in a long monologue.
"I would ask how you are but then again a picture speaks a thousand words. Even by just looking at you I can tell you are miserable. Kishishishi, should have thinking about it before you decided to throw my kindness back into my face. Did I not take good care of you? You had everything you could wish for cloths, food, money subordinates. I even tolerated your childish rebellions and temper tantrums."
"God… shut up! Your voice is… truly irritating." Perona shouted annoyed at him and decided to ignore the similarities between her actions and that of a certain yonko when hangover. "I think I'm going to vomit…" She added when she saw Moria approach her with a raised hand. Her words had the desired effect and make the Warlord stop in his way.
"Oh does your head hurt Kishishishishi? Poor little girl… all alone, hurt and chained." The Warlord gloated. "I wonder where your new friends are? Where is the man you call captain now?"
"Cut the chase… what do you want Moria." The ghost princess asked as she looked into the man's eyes she not so long ago called captain.
"… Well I am in a rather forgiving mood. If you beg for mercy and forgiveness I might just listen. Just say you're sorry, that you made a mistake that you were just playing around, that you made an error in your judgement! It can all end so easily, I'll forgive you honestly... I wouldn't do this for just any traitor, but you Perona."
"I never… ever will betray Luffy." She could see the anger rolling off the warlord in waves. "the Future Pirate King is gonna be him! Ghaag!"
"You!" Moria shouted in anger as his shadow hit her. The pink-haired ghost princess hit the ground as the chair tipped over with a loud thud accompanied by a pained scream. "Ungrateful little witch! Fine if that's what you want!" The warlord grabbed her shadow and she could only try in vain to get away. "Kishishishi, you will be the key to defeat the Cheshire."
"Noo!"
~.~
The two of them quickly run to the dock as the ship started to shake making the third passenger wake up, scream bloody-murder as he saw Brook before a falling debris knocked him out again, or maybe just the shock of seeing a living skeleton, who knows.
"Could it be?" Brook asked as he finally laid eyes upon the island.
"Let me guess Thriller Bark." Luffy said putting his hoodie on.
"Still what an amazing day, not only did I meet people, but my wish came true as well." The skeleton said as he placed on his hat on and grabbed his cane. "You should try and find a safe way to get away from this island. Docking here is out of question-"
He shouldn't feel insulted, most people didn't believe he was as strong as he claimed to be so he settled for an amused- "Trying to ditch me?"
"I'm so glad that I met you today! I will not forget this for the rest of my life! If we ever meet again I'd be honored to fight along your side. Well then, take care!" The man shouted before he jumped down the ship, right into the water and Luffy jumped after the skeleton with no hesitation and a small grin playing on his lips.
"What a light body." Luffy praised surprising the skeleton who couldn't believe the nekomimi boy was keeping up with him. He was after all running on the water.
"Eh? Ah I'm just "Dead Bones" after all." Brook's response was automatic. "But more importantly EH?!" The skeleton expressed his shock once again. "How can you do that?"
"Shishishi" the boy laughed. "Race you to the land!" Luffy shouted before he speed up.
The skeleton was panting slightly as he finally cached up. "Luffy-san" He couldn't believe the boy could move so fast. It took quite an effort to even follow it with naked eyes let alone keep up. But he had no choice but run himself ragged. He couldn't let the boy step on the island all alone. Brook only realized now, but he was already quite protective of the petite boy. He shouldn't even be here on this dangerous island to start with, Moria was a powerful foe after all. Brook wasn't that overconfident that he'd even consider fighting him all while protecting Luffy.
"Brook I didn't tell you yet, did I?" The boy was standing in front of him so he could only see the boy's back. Luffy glanced back and Brooks eyes meet his glowing golden orbs. "I am Strong." Of all the things the boy could have said that was the least he expected. "More so, I don't forgive anyone who harms my nakamas. Leaving here without her was never an option."
One again the skeleton was shocked. Child or not he could not trample all over someone's determination. "I'm sorry, that was rude of me."
"Uhm, I forgive you… now come on!" Luffy said if Brook had to say quite excited.
"You don't look all that nervous or furious." The skeleton said as they walked side by side. Luffy was excited but he opted to wait for him, which made it all more endearing. "If may… why is that?"
"I am absolutely livid." The boy said with an eye-smile out of all things. "But I'm furious at Moria and I know Perona is fine for now. She has to be or else he wouldn't have lured me here." Luffy had no doubt that the whole thing had been a set-up and Perona was the bait. The man used his connection with the marines and separated him from Mihawk and Shanks for that reason alone. Then he told those pirate-hunters where they could find him to make sure Luffy would come to him.
"I still want to kick his ass as soon as possible but nervous? Why would I be nervous?" Luffy had no idea what the man had been planning, so there was no reason for him to stress over it. Moria also must know he was Shanks's apprentice, not that he's try to hide behind the man but the yonko was probably already pissed off at the Warlord. Ah shit… thinking about it he was so going to get it. Benn was going to make him suffer for not waiting for them and for rushing into things without a plan, wasn't he?
Brook was amazed once again by the little boy's words but he decided to explain his question. "Luffy-san you do know this place is famous for being a ghost island, right?" He himself was still slightly terrified of all the weird creatures he encountered last time.
"Shishishishi" the boy laughed. "I see… but still, Brook you're a pirate too" was that an accusation, the skeleton wondered "Is an adventure, you have to enjoy it!" Luffy said with a megawatt smile making Brook happy for once that he was a skeleton. This way his blush wasn't noticeable... "It's the entrance." Luffy pointed out the obvious.
"Yes." The older pirate replayed.
"Such an obvious trap." The boy commented with seemingly with no expression on his face and Brook had to agree. "Might as well go along with these idiots..."
They only managed to walk a few moments before some sort of dog stopped right in front of them. Luffy's eyebrow twitched once in annoyance. Of course the Warlord would have a dog as a pet. Even when he could have picked any other creature, it just had to be a dog, a three headed… wait was one of those heads a fox?
"A Cerberus Yohohoho? I wonder what it's doing here?" the skeleton laughed cheery but it turned slightly fearful when the dog was cheeky enough to growl at them and then gaze at the skeleton with hunger in its eyes. Something Luffy feline pride would never allow to happen.
Brook took half a step back with a small "Kyaa" all while readying his weapon. The action made two things happen at once, one the beast step closer, two since Luffy had yet to move he was in front of Brook and right in front of the beast.
"Huh? You got a problem asshole?" Luffy asked suddenly glaring down his opponent. He could feel the Bakeneko's emotions clearly rampaging through his body. Annoyance for one, how dare the small fry even look him in the eye? Didn't the idiot know just how far below in the foot-chain the stupid mutt was from him? Luffy let his eyes glow with more power and he could practically feel the beasts resolve crumble as fear kicked in. It didn't take much for the beast to whimper as the nekomimi's eyes narrowed. Luffy smirked to himself as he saw the beast hung his heads in submission.
"Want to ride it?" Luffy asked as he turned to Brook with a small angelic smile, the boy was truly surprising. But the speed his character and mood changed was even more surprising and a bit terrifying if he had to admit.
"Yes." The skeleton replied; it was easier to just go along with it, beside how many people could say they rode Cerberus? They both ignored the downright bizarre sight of an unicorn and old-man faced tree drinking sake until they attacked them of course. Luffy easily knocked the two out and continued their conversation like nothing happened, totally unfazed.
Brook couldn't help but swoon over it "So cool! Yohohoho!" he exclaimed before turning a bit more serious. " Still Luffy-san about this annoying fly…" Brook started knowing Luffy would understand his words. And he did but for once the nekomimi wasn't sure how to proceed. He knew one of Moria's men was following them ever since they entered the island. It had yet to approach them, of course it could be just waiting for an opportunity, an opening.
"… I'll squash it if it gets too close." Their conversation was yet again interrupted by some weird creature. Luffy only sighed in annoyance as he kicked it away. Then came the zombies, Brook flinched as he saw them.
"Hi guys!" Luffy said with a small smile and the zombies reacted in kind. They were all cheerful and apparently happy to see him again.
"For zombies they are quite lively, yohohoho!" Brook laughed along bringing attention to himself and making them freeze then scoot back.
The zombies gapped comically before they shouted a loud "You!"
"Long time no see! Yohohoho!" Luffy could see his companion wasn't in fact as cheerful as he appeared to be. The skeleton seemed scared of zombies. He couldn't help but find it somehow amusing. But they weren't here for his amusement so he decided to just cut the chase and ask them.
"You guys saw Moria around here somewhere?"
The zombies looked at each other with a frown."Luffy-san you are searching for Moria-sama?"
"Yes, He kidnapped Perona."
"Eh… something like that happened…"
"You guys haven't been told?" Brook asked this time all while keeping a safe distance from the zombies and the zombies in turn did the same.
"No we're mere foot soldiers, our orders were to be on alert for any intruder…" The two could see the wheels turning in their heads. "Ehhh?! You two are the intruders?" Luffy and Brook only nodded truthfully. They had no reason to lie. "S-so we have to fight Y-Y-YOU?!"
"Don't worry. I get it, is your job… I'll go easy on you, Shishishi!" The nekomimi said with a small grin.
"No way!" The zombies shouted as one. If something they were absolutely sure about was the fact that while Luffy was personality wise quite a nice person could be even called an angel, power wise he was an absolute monster. He was just too strong for them. They could still feel phantom pain in where they had been hit last time.
~.~
Perona couldn't help but curse inwardly. She never knew, never thought about how scary it would be getting ones shadow stolen. But then again she hadn't thought of a lot of things. She had never been a compassionate person but after spending so much time with them, Luffy, Benn, Shanks and the rest of the crew she couldn't help but think something was definitely wrong with them, maybe even her for that matter. She still couldn't understand what Luffy ever saw in her to ask her to be his nakama but she was god-damn grateful for it and refused to waste her chance.
Thankfully Moria only almost stole her shadow. He had been stopped in the nick of the time by Hildon's sudden appearance and report according to which Luffy and Humming had just docked on the island. The ghost princess couldn't help but worry hearing that. Luffy came here without the Red-haired Pirates, and she suspected Moria had a play in that but at least he wasn't completely alone. Then again Humming? How did those two even meet? Her captain's sudden arrival made Moria rethink his plan. Since the nekomimi was already on the island he decided against taking her shadows. The warlord wanted to take pleasure in making her watch him defeat Luffy and that wouldn't happen if she was unconscious for two days as a result of him stealing her shadow.
And so the pink haired girl cursed again as they throw her into a cold prison cell. He could still hear Moria's laughter as they slowly faded away together with his footsteps. If only she could have been stronger. Had she not grow at all since then? No. She was stronger… that won't happen again. She had sworn she'd never allow that to happen again. No one was ever going to defeat her captain while she stood helplessly and watched it happen. She had promised, they had to go through her first. Was she always so useless. If she could at least use her powers…but her hands were bound by the sea-stone shackles…
She had to open them somehow… but there was nothing in this prison cell that she could use as lock pick. "Think Perona…think" the pink haired girl repeated slowly to herself.
~.~
"This is Hogback's mansion. I expect we will encounter some resistance here." Luffy nodded mentally preparing himself for battle while his face remained expressionless outward. "Let's go, to the Hunted house, Yohohoho!" The nekomimi's lips barely twitched as Brook cut down and Luffy kicked in the gate. It fall into the middle of the road with a loud thud followed by the sound of their light footsteps as they waked in.
"Fosh, fosh, fosh fosh," The weird laughter resounded through the silence. It draw everyone's attention to the veranda and the man standing there. "Welcome to my house!" Hogback, for he was sure the man was Hogback was quite tall and round with thin arms and legs, Luffy observed. The man had a long nose that resembled a beak with sharp and canine looking long teeth and ears; his face was scared while his black hair was slicked back. A tattoo ran from the left side of his neck all the way to his torso visible through his fishnet vest. His outfit consisted in continuation of purple leather pants a thick black tie and purple gloves covering his long claw-like fingers; a white surgical mask under his chin; a pair of very small black gold-rimmed sunglasses. A violet feathery cape that was black on the inside which Luffy thought that made the man look like a giant beetle and a pair of high-heeled boots.
"I'm surprised you managed to make this far even though it seems like you picked up a stray on the way" the man said giving Brook a dirty look. Apparently the two had quite a history if the heated glares were anything to go by. "…Not that it matters, all preparations are complete Let the Night Raid begun! Cindy-chan, samurai- Ryuma throw them into the world of shadows right now!" the man commanded and two shadows jumped at them from the balcony.
"Yohohoho!"/ "Yohohoho!" The two swordsman locked swords while Luffy dodged a flying plate.
"To think you'd come back! Are you going to run away, begging "Not the afro!" once again?" Ryuma taunted the man as they locked swords again.
"This time it won't end like that." Brook spoke determined as they pushed away from each other.
"This is the city of the dead, Thriller Bark!" Hogback shouted "The land of shadows in the light, the Night Attack has already begun! Fosh, fosh, fosh ,fosh!" The zombies were advancing towards them from behind. They were going to get boxed if this continued. "This two are different from the zombies you encountered till now. They are special, The samurai Ryuma is actually a General Zombie! He is originally from the country of Wano that is located in the 'New World'. He is a legendary samurai who supposedly killed a dragon many years ago." Hogback loved to talk and while Luffy was growing bored of all this talk "Isn't it magnificent!?" for once the nekomimi had to agree. "They say that when a true master cuts you, you have to walk away humming before you realize you have been cut. To see such a mastery is quite rare; but to witness a battle between two." The man laughed again. "Sorry… between one and its own shadow. Fosh, fosh, fosh, fosh!"
It was a dirty trick… To force Brook to fight against his own shadow. It would be like one fighting against himself, winning would be rather hard not to mention the samurai had a huge advantage over Brook who was just a skeleton for that reason precisely.
~.~
Shanks Haki swept through the room chilling everyone even his crew down to the bones.
"Devil?" The red-head asked again slower this time. "Luffy is not a devil even though he can be scary as hell. But still he is a pirate, my apprentice to be precise." The man said with a small and fond smile. "He is a good kid, strong oh yeah but can act pretty stupid sometimes and is way too straightforward…" Just like in this situation. Why the hell couldn't he just sit still and wait for them to arrive? "He is not a devil. He is not a monster and would never, never attack unprovoked."
"Y-you just say because you haven't saw what he did!" The blond bartender spoke up even through frightened to the core and shaking like a leaf. "He tore th-those man… to pieces." She was getting sick just remembering. "That thing was no child it was a savage beast!"
Shanks growled hearing that. He could remembered with perfect clarity another precedent, way too similar to this… and a small frightened broken little boy. Every part of his being screamed at him all at one to fight and protect that little boy. He had promised he wouldn't let something like that happen again. Shanks won't allow anyone, more so a stupid civilian to destroy the brats confidence.
"Where is he?" His tone made her sob into her hand as she took a frightened step back.
"Captain, calm down." Benn said as he entered silently the tavern. The red-head wanted to shout at his first-mate; this was not the time to tell him to just calm down. Where had the man even gone to at such a critical time? But before he could formulate his question Benn pushed someone inside. "It's useless questioning her anyway, him on the other hand… he has a really interesting story to tell. One about a scary little brat that commandeered their ship, does that sound familiar?"
"Good job Benn" Shanks said before he turned his focus at the man with a predatory grin. "Now then who are you?"
"…pi-pirate hunter" the man whimpered slightly. This was just not his day. First their boss got taken hostage then their ship had sink, and he couldn't even remember how he survived that and now he got captured by pirates, and not just any pirates. No he got caught by red-haired Shank's crew, one of the Yonko's.
~.~
"You cannot win against me!" Ryuma shouted. "And I don't want to witness such a lousy performance ever again." His katana's strike blow away Brook's hat but the skeleton managed to catch it before it fell to the ground and place it back to its place.
"In the last two years… for this second chance alone, I have become stronger!" Brook said as he parried another slash. "I'll have you come back to me, right to my feet. You are my shadow after all!"
Their fight resembled a well-choreographed dance, their hands and sword moved in such speed it all seemed to be a blur.
"Yohohoho! You have become stronger these past two years, and so have I!" Ryuma katana went through Brook who dodged a slash aimed at his afro and chipped off a little bit of bone. "Since we both think the same way!" This time the katana went through his middle and Brook was sent flying by the swing's strength. "As always, the afro is so important to you… but there is no way you can protect that big of a weak point."
Brook adjusted his grip on the sword as he stood up and rushed to attack. There was one advantage he had a cut that would damage his internal organ did nothing now but cut through the air. Ryuma too realized that so he angled his attack at the skull and it when through unfortunately. Cutting right into his eye-socket and while technically Brook knew he was a skeleton and there was nothing for Ryuma to cut into but his skull he couldn't help but freeze up for a second, before he kicked himself away from the samurai. Brook stood up once again. Although it took a bigger effort this time to gather his strength. All of Ryuma's moves were sharp and on point, Brook parried relentlessly but he was overwhelmed once again.
But it didn't matter in the end, no matter how many times he was beat down he just had to keep trying and standing up. There was no other way for him to win and it was infuriating. The man was after all using his moves. Not to mention whenever the skeleton thought he was finally catching up, Ryuma changed his tempo or rhythm of his attack. Swords-play was similar in a way to deciphering and speaking a language. They had rhythms, tempo, katas one had to read his opponent carefully to be able to defend himself from his strikes. To attack you had to go even above that, but what if you were wrong from the very start? Brook felt like he was going crazy, this was his style, his moves and yet he was the one who slowly couldn't follow or keep up with it. A small cloud of dirt and sand rose into the air from as he hit the ground yet again.
"How about you admit defeat honorably? Yohohoho" Brook gathered his strength to stand up yet again, but he barely managed a knelling position even so his frame was shacking slightly. "Huh you are still able to move yohohoho? It's like you're a phoenix… or maybe a zombie?" Ryuma asked unsure. "You shouldn't be able to stand much longer. I will paralyze you soon, so you'll never come again to try to take your shadow back. Do you want me to cut you down with my Yahazugiri?"
"Anything… you don't know anything… Don't use that name!" Brooks was shaking both in exhaustion and anger. "The fast cutting technique from my Kingdom's Assault Squad that I made my own was named Requiem la Bandoul. That same technique was praised by my comrades and nicknamed… Hanauta Sanchou Yahazugiri (Flower song; Three petal Arrow Notch Strike)! Even if you have my personality and techniques, I do not want someone who had forgotten my memories and feelings to use that name!"
"Yohohoho! If you insist that you're the real thing, why don't you tear apart my fakes? This is your last chance." Ryuma spoke with a warning in his voice and Brook stood up shakily. His breathing was ragged unlike the samurai's who seemed to be in perfect fighting condition even now. They both were facing each other and started walking calmly toward their opponent. The battle was over in a friction of a moment, they both walked a few more steps before uttering
"Hanauta Sanchou Yahazugiri!" / "Hanauta Sanchou Yahazugiri!" both sword were placed in their sheath with a small click and Brook collapsed. He had been the one who got cut down. The skeleton heard Luffy voice in the back of his mind shouting his name in concern but knew it was probably only his imagination. Ryuma turned around and placed his katana over his shoulder confidently.
"Laboon…" the skeleton whispered. 'more than anything else… I want to apologize to you… For the unfortunate me to apologize. On this dark ocean for 50 years… It has been so long… and to think there was no reason to live… It's so lonely…my life… So lonely. '
"Now where should I start cutting? Yohohoho!" Ryuma asked himself as he grabbed and hoisted Brook up by his hair. "First of all will be of course this afro. Yohohohoho-"
~.~
AN: Sorry for the long wait and thank you for the reviews. Hope you enjoy the new chapter also really important question from me- Do you guys think Perona's negative hollow would have an effect on the zombies? As for the zombies from the cemetery, yup they are totally part of the Luffy- fanclub. But they are zombies, so have to follow their orders and attack the intruders.
Ryan Mashall: Luffy is at the moment is 15, he was 14 when he meet up with Shanks since then quite a few months had passed since they are now in Paradise after visiting a few islands in the Blues meeting with Basil and all that stuff. Also Luffy doesn't look that old he is small, looks more like a 10-12 year old or such thanks to his devil fruit, one of the applications of bakeneko physiology (source –power/ listing -wikia) is decelerated aging. His two-tailed form is a reflection of what his real height should be, remember how he felt himself grow taller in that form? that's because he actually did. Why I decided to do so was because I want to maintain his cute/ adorable image for as long as possible. Him grown up would be more likely called handsome than cute, I believe.
Once again thank you everyone for the reviews, follows and favorites, it truly means a lot to me, See you soon, minasan!