Who Would You Pick?
"You know, Mikoto," asked Sage as she looked over at her faithful captain who was currently crouched down and trying to think. "If we win this match…" Sage's voice wandered off for a second as she looked at the match again…they were outnumbered three to five. Even with Hiro-Shu, Zesiro, and Enma they couldn't quite possibly win this match! It was obvious they'd lose in a match of strength. Five men were almost always stronger than two. Sage shook her head this wasn't about 'if' anymore this had to be about 'when' she had to rely on her crew's strength and that they would pull through no matter how unlikely! "Mikoto! When we win this match…" she paused again not because she felt another pang of hopelessness, but because she wasn't sure about how to ask this question. "When we win this match who are you going to pick?" Sage asked looking back over at their two nakama who were sitting down in Kraven's ship together, both remaining suspiciously quiet.
Mikoto perked up and looked over to Sage. "I don't know," he stated it rather hopelessly. There was no way he could possibly pick one. It was a question of his left arm or his right, expecting someone to be able to answer that question was next to impossible. Mikoto sighed and reclined. Looking at things from a manager's perspective a shipwright was worth more than a musician was…but Ridley was his first crewmate…they had sailed the seas together for the longest time. He couldn't just turn his back on him. But could he really throw Maria under the boat* like that? It wasn't an easy decision and Mikoto knew for a fact that no matter how hard he thought about it, it would never become one. He had to think of a way to get them both back on his crew. "Hey, Kraven!" began Mikoto before Kraven cut him off
"No," said the Shichibukai sternly, "and before you ask I do know what you were going to say. You were either going to ask me to raise the stakes or challenge me to another Davy Back Fight, either way the answer is no. As far as I'm concerned winning by one is still a win. In other words, I've already won only thing another fight would do is help you drag this thing out and into a draw. So, I'm sorry, but you are just going to have to live with yourself after this. Live with yourself after you have lost one of your trusted and precious nakama in a fight." Mikoto bit his lip and looked straight forward at the match.
"Who would you pick?" asked Mikoto looking up at Sage, who perked up slightly. Mikoto was a headstrong idiot it wasn't like him to ask for help…no more often than not he'd rush in blindly into any kind of danger. She kind of expected him to do the same thing here…like pick which crew member would return to the crew based off of eenie-meanie-minnie-mo. Sage paused as she contemplated this question. However, like Mikoto it wasn't an easy question she couldn't just state her opinion and be done with it…either way she would be screwing over one of her teammates. Sage just shrugged. "Yeah, I thought so," muttered Mikoto looking down between his legs and at the ground between them, "who do you think Ridley would pick?" In terms of selfishness, cruelty, and emotionless decision making Ridley was number one. He would pick out the best nakama to return to the crew in an instant…chances are he already did. However, Sage wouldn't know who he would pick perhaps his own bias would arise and he would pick himself or maybe he would do the selfless thing and pick Maria. Or since it was Ridley was it possible he had a third hidden card up his sleeve? Was such an option even possible? The choices were pick Maria or pick Ridley and since Kraven refused to budge there was no possibility for a third choice.
And even then it was all dependant on whether or not Mikoto's crew somehow through some miracle managed to get a win in this competition. Zesiro, Enma, and Hiro-Shu were barely holding their ground, their feet inching forward through the slick ground. It was becoming a telltale sign that they were going to lose. Mikoto stood back and he finally realized something…he felt completely helpless. He was watching his crew battle once more, trying their hardest to try and eek out another small win, but he was just sitting back, his nerves wracking themselves over and over again trying to find out some small chance of a 'true' win. He glanced up for a brief second at Kraven, a man who had not competed in a single competition and who has not lost a single crewmate yet in this Davy Back Fight. Mikoto tightened his grip, turning his knuckles a staunch white as he looked on. He wanted to punch him so bad right now!
"COME ON!" shouted Zesiro as he wrapped the rope tighter around his hand, feeling the untreated burs of the thread digging into his hands, cutting off circulation as it was pulled harder and grew tighter. "We can't give up! For RIDLEY!" Zesiro twisted around and tried to pull it in even more, Hiro-Shu and Enma quickly followed suit. Their sharp breaths were slowly uniting as one, forming a tight and powerful gang of synchronized breaths that unified themselves with every pull. "For Maria!" Again another powerful pull that barely pulled the Ghost Hook Pirate's team back an inch. Zesiro didn't understand why they just didn't give up here and now! It wasn't obvious that they would win, but even if they didn't what did the Ghost Hook Pirates have to lose? They were two ahead, a loss here would mean nothing to them! However, it would mean falling even further for the Infinity Pirates and for that reason and that reason alone they couldn't allow it! They yanked on the rope harder than before pulling the first member of the Ghost Hook Pirates into the muddy middle ground.
However, the Ghost Hook Pirates were quick to recover the lost ground pulling back twice as harder and nearly dragging Enma into the mess. "STRONGER!" shouted Enma, choking up on the rope and digging into the ground with his bone legs, "HARDER! Show them that we don't give up!" Enma managed to take one step back, putting his feet proudly out of the mud and back onto the earthy soil that surrounded them. He wasn't out of his element yet! He could still hold on and he could still stay strong! Small bones protruded from the bottom of his shoes digging into the soil and allowed him to stay on the ground for a little while longer. He wouldn't back down not now, not ever! And especially not with his friends on the line!
Hiro-Shu felt his own feet being ripped from their spot as the opposing crew applied a little more force to the pull again. Hiro-Shu grunted, gritting his teeth, trying to keep their end rooted to the outside of the mud puddle. He wasn't about to pulled along so easily. He would keep his footing and pull the opposing crew through the mud no matter how hard he had to pull! Hiro-Shu grunted, trying even harder to keep his footing while pulling. The ordinarily solid surface of the ground was beginning to get covered with mud, he was finding it harder and harder to keep his balance. His iron coated feet were beginning to slide amongst it. But now wasn't the time to worry about his balance, he had too many worries right now! He was worried for Ridley and Maria! He was worried for Mikoto! He was worried for the rest of his crew if they didn't win! This was his crew! He wouldn't allow them to lose another person to Kraven. No matter what!
The three pirates kept pulling, their combined strength somehow seemed to be matching up well even against all five of their opponent's, perhaps it was just their desire to win that made them seem so strong, or perhaps they had all gone up a level without knowing it…either way…they weren't giving in! However, the same could be said for the other crew, noticeable streaks of sweat began dripping down their faces as the fatigue set in, but they were managing to hold their own…no, they were doing better than holding their own right now the rope was mostly on their side…they were winning by about 60%.
"Come now, Mikoto," laughed Kraven, slapping his knee and waiting to see Mikoto's worried and disturbed face slowly rise up off of the ground. "Are you seriously telling me you still think you can win? Look it my side is already winning right now. You are going to lose another crew member right here and now." Mikoto's face darted over to the tug-of-war contest once more and his face grew even more pale. Sage looked down at him and felt a shiver run down her spine, their usual half-cocked, but full-energy Mikoto was shriveling away. She remembered back then back when Ridley left how much of a hole it left in Mikoto. How damaged he seemed to have become…and she could see it happen again. He was losing it, slowly, but surely Mikoto was beginning to break. His 'unbreakable' confidence had broken, his 'unbeatable' courage was shattered, the man whose crew she had joined…he wasn't there any more…he was slowly beginning to accept defeat. Even if they won…even if they managed to turn that 60% victory Kraven had to 0…they would still lose someone…Mikoto was breaking down at that thought.
He was supposed to be the captain. He was supposed to be the one protecting them. He was supposed to be the guy who was putting his life on the line for his nakama and yet here he sat…on the sidelines watching as he knew at least one of his nakama would be leaving him for good today. The entire crew didn't know what to say, they had all grown silent only the heavy grunts of the three men competing could be heard now. "Mi-Mikoto," Sage's voice wavered as she extended a hand out to him, unsure of how to comfort him. Tell him everything would be alright? That losing one of their own didn't matter? Or that somehow they'd all be together in the end? All of them were horrible lies. Kraven would make sure that they couldn't get their entire crew back. And in doing so he would make sure Mikoto would wind up being broken.
"OI!" shouted a voice, coupled with the sound of a crate exploding. Mikoto twisted his head to the side and saw Shane, standing up in front of him with his arms open and in the air! "What the hell do you think you are doing looking like that? You're my rival! You're the man that defeated a Shichibukai!? Show me what made you capable of doing that! Show me your spirit! Show me what made me decide to come after you! I was on the ground in the Blue Seas, but hearing you were up here I came charging up to fight you! Show me why I did THAT!" Shane's voice roared over the field, but they seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. Mikoto's body didn't react, he didn't stand up, he didn't get stronger all of a sudden…he remained a shriveled shell of who he once was. He realized something…he wasn't a captain. He wasn't a man capable of protecting his nakama…he was…he was just the son of the worst pirate ever…
"Mikoto…" Sage looked down at her fallen captain. Shane was right, he just needed to show his spirit. If he did that then perhaps things wouldn't look so bleak. Where was their captain? "Hey, Mikoto," Sage said, bumping his shoulder, "want to hear a riddle?" Mikoto's head didn't even move, "The worst storm of the century is happening in Logue Town a man walks outside, but he doesn't get wet. How is this possible?" If there was one thing that Mikoto couldn't resist it was a good riddle. She knew her captain even if his spirit was broken his love of riddles wouldn't be!
"Did he have an umbrella?" asked Mikoto flatly. Sage paused, he was wrong. Mikoto had answered all the riddles up to now with just one go…but this…this was like he didn't even try. She nudged him harder, trying to reawaken something from him. She wanted to see it, too…just like Shane she wanted to see the old Mikoto.
"Wow…how touching," mocked someone. Sage turned around, ready to pound in the person's face herself seeing as how Mikoto didn't seem to have the strength to do so, but found herself immediately face-to-face with Ridley. She was about scream and curse at him, but found herself unable to do so as tears strolled into her eyes. "Listen now, you idiotic coyote, cause apparently you aren't fit to be captain. See, if I was captain I would've already figured out a way to get both me and Maria back on the crew, you hear me? So, unless you can, too, you better not pick me because I will mutiny your butt right out of the captain's chair!" Sage turned around and tightened her grip.
"Ridley, you…you…gigantic ass!" she shouted causing Ridley to recoil slightly…Sage didn't usually curse at him…sure she probably thought those words numerous times before, but this was the first time she said them…or at least the first time he heard her say them, "can't you see we are fighting for you! Every last one of them and then you go and pick on Mikoto like that! Are you really that big of a jerk?! Mikoto is trying! Zesiro and everyone is trying to get you back, but you just don't care! You're right, maybe we shouldn't pick you! The crew…the crew is better off without you!" Kraven's jaw dropped as well as everybody else's…true such words had been said before. Sage has even said such words before, the two of them were always bickering about things like that…but this was the first time those words have ever been uttered with such vehemence. And this time, Mikoto nor did anyone else try to pick their heads up and stand up for Ridley.
"You're right," Ridley announced, "every single Infinity Pirate member is fighting right now even those not on the field. Rosa, Aaron, Zesiro, Enma, Hiro-Shu, you, and everyone else is putting their spirit and their head together right now. And Mikoto is wasting it all! He's wasting all of our hard work getting here! Pick your head up Mikoto! The rest of your crew is fighting! So, why the bloody hell aren't you!"
Sage glared over at Ridley and was very close to flipping him off, but she just turned her head away and focused back on Mikoto. "Come on Mikoto, ignore him. Show him he's wrong…show him you are fighting…" Sage bent down and looked upwards at Mikoto's eyes, "come on, Mikoto…I don't care if you don't have any spirit left you. Take mine, take ours! All of the Infinity Pirate's fighting spirit! All of it! It may not mean much to you, you usually have the most fighting spirit out all of us…probably even combined, but just use it for now." Sage grabbed onto Mikoto's hand, "come on, Mikoto. Show us your spirit."
Mikoto's head…remained slung between his shoulders.
Sage's voice cracked, her pleas had fallen on deaf ears. Mikoto felt as if he had failed his crew…and she felt as if she had failed Mikoto. Her head fell forwards and into Mikoto's chest. It was strange…after all they've been through. All the fights…all the adventures, she expected Mikoto's chest to be sturdy, strong…but right now it felt so small! "Come on…Mikoto…I'm here for you…show your spirit."
Suddenly a loud crash was heard behind her, she lifted her head and turned it around to look at the field. Zesiro's knuckles had turned bone white from the tension in them, Enma was gritting his teeth, Hiro-Shu was sweating buckets…but they were winning. They had managed to pull the opposing crew nearly halfway into the mud already! And they were still coming! Until finally with one last pull, the opposing crew completely lost their footing, flying a good three or four feet forward the entire group fell face first into the mud.
Zesiro looked down, ordinarily he would feel an incredible surge of confidence course through his veins, he had won. He thought about throwing his arms into the air, declaring his victory, but he realized something. He had just pushed the hardest decision of Mikoto's life right on top of him. Zesiro paused for a second and looked over at his captain. Asides from Sage and Ridley he had known Mikoto the longest…he saw the same thing Sage saw. A man who was only one-half of his true size. "I've done everything I could for you Mikoto…pick wisely."
The Way Out
*The saying actually goes under the bus…but I'm not sure they have buses in One Piece, so the saying is under the boat for the time being.
You've heard me say it before, but I'm going to say it again. I dislike heroes who are always so happy-go-lucky and I strive to constantly force them back and this is the way I've decided to do it for the time being. Mikoto is not one-hundred percent sure of himself, but he does see quite possibly a light at the end of the tunnel. Will Mikoto be able to pull it together? Will he be able to save his entire crew? Or will all of a sudden someone be leaving them?
Also, I'm unsure if the once a week updates will be coming to you guys on Mondays or Wednesdays...for this week...obviously Wednesday.