No Rest for the Weary

Mikoto was breathing heavily and he was nearly collapsed as he laid on the shore just past the finished line, he had won, but his legs…they hurt…he had thought that possibly restricting the usage of Rapid-Fire down to small bursts like only two at a time would overcome his blatant weakness, but it seemed even then too many of them in succession would only hurt him worse. He knew he couldn't keep using it at his current level, but he also knew he needed it. It was his best weapon for the time being, if using it put him through pain, he'd just have to live with the pain. Still, though…Mikoto couldn't help, but think that it would be best to just seal it away and never touch it again. It was putting his body through that much stress…he tried to breathe deeply to calm himself down, but the idle pain in his legs returned. He bit his lip and struggled to stand, he only needed to last one more hour…after that everybody else would go to their separate ship and he could focus on healing. He just needed to claim back the team member of his choice. He moved to the podium about to declare his choice, when the dooming realization set in. Who would he pick?

He moved to the stadium and looked around him, Sage or Ridley. Both of them were out there under a different pirate's rule right now. Ridley knew more about the Davy Back Fight than anyone else on the crew so he could be helpful in the later rounds, but since they were calling it a day for now they'd need to eat dinner and breakfast before the next round started so it would be wise to pull Sage back. They were both scheduled for another fight, so it didn't really help him out at all to distinguish on that basis. Oh, no, basically the question came down to who did he want on his crew more right this instant…which meant it would basically be an insult to whoever he didn't pick…and he would have to live with that for the rest of his life. He could already hear them bickering now…maybe he should just pick somebody else from one of the other pirates' crews.

Ridley sat back and smiled, reclining in all too uncomfortable chair. This was technically a lose-lose position for Mikoto, if he picked Sage or Ridley he'd essentially be parting with a very valuable piece of power for the next few rounds. However, by that same token it was a win-win situation. No matter what Mikoto couldn't really screw the choice up as there was no correct answer. It was either if he wanted to outsmart your opponents and he picked Ridley, which only slightly bolstered their odds, or if he wanted to keep his crew up and at fighting levels, in which case Sage was the correct choice. Ridley leaned back and tried to think about it himself, he supposed if he was in Mikoto's shoes he'd pick…

Sage was still coiled up and tense, unlike Ridley who was making himself at home in the enemy's camp she seemed to be worrying more and more as time went along. And she was almost positive that Ridley had it worse. Everybody here seemed to be accepting her happily and were rather excited about being able to have good food for once, so nobody was mean to her. They were all obviously nice guys…she suppose in a way that was another difference Mikoto had to take into thinking who was in more danger behind enemy lines. She supposed if she was Mikoto she'd pick…

"SAGE!" shouted Mikoto defiantly standing on top of the podium and extending his arm outwards and into the crowd. "I'm taking back one of my crew members here and now! And I'll be taking back the other one first thing during the next fight." Mikoto lifted his arm up into the air, but it didn't seem like the crowd really cared. He was the opponent of most of them and he didn't have the same natural flair Shane did. He didn't have that instantaneous draw so most of them turned away, ignoring him. The few Skypenian shopkeepers who were still around managed to throw in a few whoops and hollers, but in the end they were silenced by the arguably larger mass of more powerful pirates. The crowd was beginning to disperse into the shadows leaving Mikoto shrugging them off and nearly hobbling back off of the stage. His crew looked smaller today, Maria had disappeared to the ship to do some last minute repairs on herself, Zesiro was still hauling his ship ashore, Enma was off in the infirmary preparing for tomorrow's events…Mikoto wished that was all it was…but he knew that just having Ridley missing made his crew seem infinitely smaller…they were missing a certain something.

"Damn it!" shouted Shino stomping his foot into the ground repeatedly, "I was hoping for some actual home-cooked meals rather than more instant ramen." Shane shrugged, the person on their crew with any halfway decent cooking skills were Suzanne and some of the random people he had picked up, but their foods were probably only three stars…barely edible in the slightest. He had heard that Sage's food was better back at the URA. He had managed to chat up some of the Fishman brothers, originally to extract information about Mikoto, but he didn't mind picking up a few extra tidbits.

"Um…if you guys want," began Sage as she looked over at them, a little bit reluctant to leave these guys hanging especially seeing as how Shane did help Mikoto win…besides the only reason why they picked her was for good meal, "I'm sure Mikoto would love to have you guys over for a party as long as you guys bring the ingredients and help me cook." Suzanne turned around about to bark at her about not needing any help, but Dango and Shino along with a few of the other low level crew members headed over with her ready to help.

"Relax, Suzanne," said Shane as he wrapped his arm around her briefly to pat her shoulder, "it is just dinner. Besides it is not like they are after our crew." Suzanne looked over at him and shook her head, didn't he come here to start a fight with Mikoto and now he was accepting his dinner invitation? She didn't know if it was just supposed to be a sign of respect of it Shane's thoughts were on something over than fighting for a change…still it would be a nice change of pace she supposed. She signed and quickly ran up to catch up to Shane, wrapping her arm around his. Perhaps a nice meal would be a good thing.

(-With Kraven-)

The big pirate laughed as he went into his ship followed by everyone else. The man he was talking to earlier today, Morco, stopped by and watched everyone else pour in, waiting for the chance to talk to his captain when he finally got the chance he stepped forward and spoke up, "Azu's wounds are all healed. We are ready for the finishing strategy." Kraven smirked and nodded, letting his comrade know he understood what he was pointing out to him. Morco paused for a second and quickly disappeared into the dead of the night, undoubtedly to put the finishing touches on their strategy. Kraven stayed by the doorway for a few more seconds watching the Infinity Pirates and the Dark Knight Pirates all crowd into the same ship and light the torches. Sounds of festivity could be heard from within causing Kraven to crack smile. He remembered those days. Kraven turned around and disappeared back into the depths of his ship. He passed the cafeteria, where his men quietly got their dinners…he walked further into the ship sighing as his men quietly ate their dinners and then he stopped by the barracks where his men were quietly snoring. He sighed. It was indeed a long time since he or his crew had had any fun…but it had gotten them this far into the Grand Line. It had made him Shichibukai…his goal surely he had almost completed it. He just needed to sacrifice a little more.

"I don't know what your problem is," said Ridley as he walked up to him and offered him a swig of his own alcohol, "but I do know you have one…and trust me I am a master of having problems." Ridley laughed and jumped over resting on one of the beds that were pulled out, sitting up on it and looking over at his new captain. "The best way to solve any problem is alcohol…and a lot of it." Ridley quickly tipped the bottle back and took a deep drink of it. "Like for one you can tell me why you are so hell bent on going after my captain. You seem like a nice enough guy, definitely not someone who would just pick and chose random victims."

"Hah," laughed Kraven as he continued to leave, however, as soon as he turned around, he sighed. "I sacrificed a lot to get here and my crew has as well. However, there is just one sacrifice we made that we will never forget. One thing that had been stripped from us that we will always remember." Kraven sighed and shook his head, "perhaps I am getting ahead of myself though. When I was your age about 20 years ago…I believed I was strong, smart, powerful, an all around unstoppable human being. I have never been more wrong in my life. I walked into the Grand Line so seemingly easily, nothing was capable of stopping me…my crew and I…we were happy back then."

(-20 years ago-)

Kraven was sitting on the railing his ship up by the enormous wolf figurehead that leapt forth from their ship's stern. He smiled as he looked on. Luck favored them once more, his bounty had already broke the 100 million belie mark and things just seemed to be going right all around. He wasn't dressed in his usual hoodie and instead opted for a more pirate look, a dark blue vest that matched his hair, a white undershirt, and a pair of dark pants. He looked…normal. He took better care of his body back in the day. He also seemed different, the air around him didn't seem charged with his usual bad aura, he was happy. Perhaps even overly so. They were sailing around in the Grand Line, but he didn't have a worry in the world. His crew was strong and so was he. They hadn't ran into any of the Shichibukai yet, but that didn't make him worry…even the countless Marines that have came for his head were child's play. He was just reclining and relaxing out in these deadly seas.

Kraven turned around to see his bustling crew, busying themselves behind them. They were about fifty men strong now and they were still growing, the name of 'Ghost Hook' Kraven was a commodity amongst wannabe pirates. Everybody wanted to be a part of Kraven's crew and Kraven welcomed most of them with open arms. They were his family, which was ironic because Kraven's real family had disappeared from his life years ago. Nobody really wanted to be associated with him, he was an infamous pirate after all. That wouldn't have blown over very well for his family, they would've immediately been thrown out. Disowning him was probably the best choice for everyone. Kraven wouldn't stop now, he was going to be King of the Pirates. Of course, the goal of King of the Pirates was only a prelude, he just wanted his own private paradise. A place where he and his crew can relax forever and it would be easier to find with the wealth and power of the Pirate King. Very few men could ever look at Pirate King as a stepping stone, but that's exactly what he considered it. It was nothing to him.

"Hey, boss," shouted one of his crewmembers as he walked back. Kraven waved hello back. It was rather boring out at sea. Nothing exciting has happened for the past few weeks. The last two islands they were on…were boring. He looked down and at the sea, there wasn't even a lousy Sea King floating around. That would probably make things more interesting. He looked down into the water and sighed, where's a giant terrifying monster when you needed one? Kraven shrugged it off and was about to head back downstairs when one of the pirates of his crew shouted something. Kraven turned his head to the crow's nest.

"What is it?" commanded Kraven, demanding an explanation. The men in the crow's nest immediately shot down and handed over the telescope pointing in one direction. Kraven picked it up and looked over the seas. His boredom was about to be cured. A marine ship was headed their way. "Rally the forces!" he declared his voice booming over the entire ship, "things are about to get interesting!" Kraven moved back, grabbing his infamously powerful long staff with a demonic curved blade attached to the end. It wasn't just one ship. Kraven smiled, lifting his head up and eyeing the opposition. It was five, today just went from boring to exciting. Kraven leapt over the ship's railing, practically catapulting himself onto the first ship that got close enough. The Marines began shouting, almost sounding surprised that they were being attacked, but nonetheless they drew their weapons and took aim, firing one shot after another each one came blasting towards him, but Kraven didn't seem too worried. To his eyes they were slow. Slow by a couple of seconds. He was already behind one of the Marine's, his long hooked staff trailing behind him and burning into the Marine's neck, dragging the Marine backwards before letting him fall to the ground like a worthless ragdoll. Kraven smiled. This was easier than he had planned. Kraven stepped back spinning away and sweeping his body forward, aiming for his next target.

He was like a demon on the smallish ship. He moved through the crowds without even a single pause in his steps. He moved past the first army, striking them down with surprising quickness before immediately rebounding back around and slicing through another. Most people would've imagined that he was nightmare come true…a demon in human form…a man without a soul. He was truly deserving of the name 'Ghost Hook'.

(-Modern Times-)

"I think you're pulling my leg," said Ridley stomping his foot down on the ground, "I don't buy that you took care of that many Marines." Kraven rolled his eyes and gave Ridley a disapproving, pitiful look. "What? I'm just saying you just became a Shichibukai, I believe if you were really as badass as you said you were you should've gotten the offer a long time ago." Kraven was about to shoot back with a quick-witted retort, but Goro quickly interrupted them.

"We're about ready to start, captain," he said with a polite bow. Kraven nodded and got up from his spot, waving good-bye to Ridley. Kraven decided business came before friendly conversation. And it was a shame he was just getting to the good part and after tonight it would be questionable if Ridley would ever even want to speak to him again after tonight. Victory above all else, that was the rule of this sea.

The Battle Tactics

And another chapter down. I'll try my best to keep up with these double updates up until chapter 200, but seeing as how I've kind of bottomed out with writing for Saga for the time being (it happens, no worries. I just got four stories it naturally happens that some catches my eye more often than others and Saga's upcoming arc needs a bit more planning rather than more writing) I don't think the double updates will persist past that (probably just shrink down to once a week again, so you know, still not a bad speed). That's all fer now!