The Secrets of the Black Notebook!

The Goodbye Kiss!

Mikoto opened up the book and the first thing he noticed was a small piece of paper tucked away in the corner. He pulled it out with little difficulty and read it over.

"Dear Mikoto,

Somehow I doubt I'll see you when you become sixteen, whether I die due to the Marines or just old age (Or if I'm just off having an adventure !), I hope this book will be given to you. This is the logbook of the journey me and my crew took. The islands I visited, the people I saw, and the battles I fought. Here is some things you need to remember when you are about to sail off. Whether or not you choose to become a pirate, marine, or a bounty hunter is fine by me, but always remember these things.

1. Remember the supplies. I forgot to sail off without food or water on my first journey. Not a pleasant experience. So remember the supplies."

Mikoto laughed and remembered his first time sailing off. He forgot to bring the food along. Well, he was already doing better then his dad.

"2. Remember to become strong. There are going to be tough pirates, marines, bounty hunters, and armies out there. They may try to kill you, so I hope you will survive."

Hope? Hope! He could've been a little more encouraging to his one and only son! Of course, he'll survive!

"3. Get together a good crew. You'll be out at sea for many, many days. You'll need someone to talk to, whether they are younger, older, funnier, uglier, or female, you'll want someone to talk to."

Mikoto nodded. He was glad he had his crew gathered. Ridley, Sage, Zesiro, Hiro-Shu, and, now, Enma. He was going to be sailing in some pretty good company. Maybe he'll meet some good guys out there.

"4. Do something! You are on a journey! A journey across the seas and through the skies! If you are just going to go from island to island taste testing chicken all the way through you wasted a journey! Go do something to make your crew proud!"

Mikoto nodded. Pirate King. That was his goal. He leaned back and relaxed with the black notebook in his hand. The rest of his crew was boarding the ship. They were heading out today, Henry included. They were sailing for the Grand Line. Mikoto could almost see the treasures laying out in front of him, waiting for him to grab it. He could see the gold, the silver, the rubies! So much money!

Mikoto shook his head clear of thoughts and returned to his book.

"I know the journey will be tough and you may not win all of your fights, but you will win a lot! I have faith in you! Its hard becoming famous out on the sea and its even harder trying to do something out there. Me and my crew had books (have you started reading, yet? You should!), weights (got to keep in shape), and other stuff to do. But! We also kept track of some very important things that we learned after sailing into the Grand Line. Techniques!"

Mikoto paused for a second. Techniques? His father was collecting moves? He picked the book back up and read through the line again. Yeah…he wondered what they were.

"The sea is filled with different techniques. There's Shigan, Gears, Santoryu, Black Leg, Devil Fruits galore! Now, I don't know if you'll have any devil fruit powers by then, so most of these attacks will be out, but in case you have…I've included some of the techniques we collected within this book. Go kick some butt!"

Mikoto sighed and tossed the book onto the ground. He didn't need any help! He'd be the best pirate out there with or without help from his dad. He walked over the side of the ship and looked down. He saw Ridley walking up. In Ridley's hand was a big cardboard box.

"Hey, Mikoto!" shouted Ridley, "Enma's looking for you! He said its okay to move Hiro-Shu onto the ship now! He's in a deep enough sleep!"

Mikoto nodded and jumped from the railing. "Tell Sage to get dinner ready… I have a feeling I'm going to be hungry after this…" Mikoto knew Hiro-Shu was nowhere near to light and lifting him wouldn't be very easy. On an afterthought Mikoto grabbed Ridley's collar and pulled him close. "Keep a close eye on Henry," whispered Mikoto. Ridley nodded.

Mikoto headed off towards the inn. Ridley went onto the ship. Mikoto was starting to get second thoughts about leaving the ship. Zesiro, Ridley, and Sage may not be able to handle Henry. They still didn't know a thing about his power that knocked Hiro-Shu out, if he used that on them…they may not survive. Mikoto shook his head. He knew he had to trust him if his plan was going to work. If it didn't, they'd all end up in prison.

Mikoto arrived at the inn. Enma, Melanie, and Xavier were all huddled around Hiro-Shu's bed. Mikoto sighed. He really didn't want to deal with these people right now. His mind was already lost in a fog. "Hey! I'm here to help, Enma."

Enma smiled and nodded at the end of the stretcher nearest to Hiro-Shu's feet. Normally, Mikoto would've complained and made a joke, but he didn't want to do so in front of Melanie or Xavier. He was a man! Mikoto bent down and lifted Hiro-Shu's stretcher into the air with Enma at the other end. They proceeded to walk down through the city. The wall was torn down and the island was just like Mikoto remembered it, besides the rubble of a castle lying at the end. Not to mention the four cannons, which the town decided to keep for defensive purposes.

Melanie and Xavier wandered to the ship behind them. Mikoto was the first onboard, carefully stepping on it as not to dump Hiro-Shu into the ocean. They soon gathered in the men's room and laid Hiro-Shu down onto the table to rest. Enma put him down and kneeled besides his bed and began to pray. "Oh, great Death Lord, please allow my friend to continue his existence in this world."

Mikoto was frowning. He turned around and walked up the steps and onto the deck of the ship. Xavier and Melanie followed behind him. Mikoto bent down and picked up the black notebook he had thrown earlier. Hiro-Shu was like this because he didn't fight with Dai Mungi, he couldn't stop him from rampaging before he accumulated too much damage, and now they were entrusting their lives to some stranger, because HE may not be strong enough. Some help from his dad may be just what he needed.

"Hey, Mikoto?" said Melanie as she walked up to him and stood by his side. "Remember the last time you sailed away from this island?"

Mikoto looked over at her and smiled, "yeah. Those were the simple days." Mikoto scratched his head. "Back then I had a bathtub for a boat, no food, and it was only me. Funny how quickly things change."

"Yeah, now we got a junk pile for a boat, no money, and six mouths to feed," said Zesiro as he came up onto the deck, "seven, actually because of Henry. I hope Sage is going to be okay."

"Hey!" shouted Sage as she came up from the kitchen, "I've been cooking for a long time now! I've been cooking for five guys and myself for quite some time! Another guy certainly won't bring me down."

"That and I helped with dinner," said Henry offering a smile to Sage, "Speaking of which, we've came up here to say that is dinner is ready." He turned around to Sage and kneeled. He picked up Sage's hand, "and you, mon cherie, have done such a wonderful job. I've never seen anyone put so many meals together in such a wonderful manner." He planted a single kiss onto Sage's hand before returned his gaze up to Sage. She blushed briefly.

"Urgh," moaned Ridley as he stood up straight. He shook his head, "this really is a pathetic crew." He turned around and walked away, "next time you want to do something romantic make sure to include music. I'm off to eat."

Sage shook her head, "thank you, Henry. Its been awhile since anyone on this ship was as chivalrous as you…and didn't screw it up," she glared over at Mikoto. After a few seconds, Sage quickly stopped. Mikoto normally would've said something in his defense, but he didn't even manage a moan.

"Anyways," said Melanie as she tapped Mikoto's shoulder once more, "last time you left, I never got to see you off properly. So, this time…I'll do it correctly." She planted single kiss onto Mikoto's cheek.

That got Mikoto's attention. "WHAT!" he shouted as he jumped up into the air, "what was that for?"

"I'm just saying good-bye," said Melanie. Xavier was behind her, holding in a chuckle. "That's what happens. The young boy leaves and the young attractive female kisses him goodbye. Besides there aren't girls here who'll get jealous of me."

"I know there aren't!" shouted Mikoto.

"Then who are you worried about being jealous?" asked Melanie, "I mean Sage is the only girl on the ship." Sage let out a loud and deeply depressed moan, since she was once again reminded of her perpetual solitude from females. "Unless…"

"SHUT UP!" shouted Mikoto, "its not like anyone is going to be jealous, its just wrong for you to kiss me! You are like…five times my age!"

A large tick appeared on Melanie's forehead. Xavier piped up and quickly began to edge towards the dock to make a break for it. "I…am…only…" started Melanie in a low voice, almost a whisper, "TWENTY-EIGHT!" Her voice boomed as she brought her right fist over and straight into Mikoto's face sending him flying off of the side of the boat and into the water. Melanie was still fuming.

"Hell hath no wrath like a woman scorned," quoted Zesiro as he got up from his seat, "And now I got to go save our little Devil Fruit buddy."

"No, no, allow me too," said Henry, "its probably annoying for you to continually save him. So let me do it this once." He approached the side of the boat and leapt off and into the water.

Zesiro grunted. "So he's not a Devil Fruit user?" Zesiro was becoming more and more frustrated trying to find out what this guy's power was.

Melanie landed her hand onto Sage's shoulder, "I bet he gives you a reeaaalllllyyy hard time, doesn't he?"

Sage nodded at an extremely fast pace, afraid Melanie would slug her too.

"Don't worry about it," said Melanie as she turned around and began to leave, "he's a man. They are all a little slow." Xavier sighed. Sage let out a sigh of relief. Melanie grabbed onto Xavier's ear and pulled, "we are leaving!"

Henry pulled Mikoto onto the deck a few moments later.

"Is he alive?" questioned Zesiro. He didn't like Henry in the slightest, but he can't say that he didn't trust him. He just had the perfect opportunity to let Mikoto die and he passed it up. With Hiro-Shu out cold and Enma downstairs tending to Hiro-Shu's wounds, Henry would only have Zesiro to worry about right now. Knocking him and Sage unconscious would've been easy job.

"I better go check on Ridley," said Sage, "you two go haul Mikoto down to the men's room, "I'm sure Enma will be happy to have another patient." Zesiro nodded and picked up Mikoto's feet. Henry bowed and lifted up Mikoto's shoulders.

(-In the dining hall-)

Sage entered the dining room all alone. Ridley was sitting at the table. He hadn't even touched the food, yet. In his hand was a large green bottle. He swirled its alcoholic contents around. "Finally got me some alcohol."

"Ridley!" shouted Sage as she rushed up and grabbed the bottle out of his hand, "you know how much I hate having alcohol on this ship!" Her eyes traveled to the table and saw the three already empty bottles that were just laying about.

"Did you know Xavier had a bar?" said Ridley as he snatched the bottle back and began drinking again, "I have already drunk ten bottles, this is my eleventh and I still got nine more to go!"

"Well, go drink somewhere else!" shouted Sage as she crossed her arms across her chest, "I will not have you getting drunk on our ship!"

Ridley smiled. "There goes your big ego." He pushed his chair out and stood up. He placed the half-empty bottle onto the table. "Listen here, Sage. I want you to remember this. You are not as strong as anyone else on the crew. Everyone else on this ship, can beat you, that includes me. So, if I want to drink, I will drink," Ridley took another chug from his bottle, "regardless of your rules. Only reason why that rule even stands is because the rest of the crew feels sorry for you, because of how weak you are."

Ridley wiped his mouth clean of alcohol, "You got two options from here on out! Option One: get strong and stop depending on us to bail you out when things get tough or Option Two: stop getting on me about my drinking."

Ridley smirked as he stood up and left the room, "If you need me to restate your options, I'll be in my room. Drinking. Why? Because I ain't drunk, yet."

Sage sat up on the floor, still shaking. She hated that bastard. Tomorrow. Tomorrow she'll show him who can beat who.

Finally! Sage and Ridley Fight!

The Weakling Duo Duel!

O_O I am at a loss of words. There is nothing I can say on Ridley's behalf, except…he has a good reason!

Other then that, just the kind of a wacky Infinity Pirate chapter you've come to expect from me. The secrets of the Black Notebook are still to be revealed in depth over the next Arc! Mikoto got a kiss (and a punch) from Melanie! Henry's secret power is NOT a Devil Fruit! Finally, the talk of the ship…Ridley and Sage are going to fight it out! Any bets?