'I don't like you' by BloodyMarryMe
Disclaimer: This story is rated T for blood, violence, language and suggestive themes. I do not own One Piece or any of its character, but I do own the OC Suzune Miyako.
Hey guys, I hope everyone's enjoying their summer! Unfortunately, mine is coming to an end (the studying has to start again T_T), but I'll still try to write as much as possible whenever I have time!
The new chapter is here. I hope you'll enjoy it!
CHAPTER 66
"Miyako-chan!? Miyako-chaaan!? Honestly, where did that girl go now!?"
An elderly woman in a black kimono and a yellow obi crossed her arms on her chest as she frowned in impatience. She had her hair, with a few silver slivers combed through it, tightly pulled back into a bun and not a single crease on her attire. Even though she wasn't a noble and hardly wealthy, her very air around her seeped with elegance and pride. That only made her even more fitting for her job, which was managing the Kuroda household as the head of the servants. All the other employees there answered directly to Kiroi-san and she only answered to the master of the household; Saazai Kuroda. And more often than not, it seemed the other way around as Kiroi-san took care of most of the household business, including deciding even on his meals. More than once would the other servants hear her lecture him about proper diet, house managing or how he was never around and will 'work himself to death' as she called it. At those times she appeared as a mother scolding a child and would ignore any of his complaints and quiet grumbles, though he rarely dared to oppose her directly. Nobody wanted to face Kiroi-san while she was in an ill mood; master Kuroda included. The fact that he was one of the pillars of this country, one of the great Four Samurai of Wanokuni, didn't seem to help him much when facing a displeased Kiroi in a discussion.
She was grinding on him even more lately, ever since he brought that child back home. When he simply appeared one day with a small, sickly girl in his arms, even Kiroi couldn't tell what he was thinking. The girl was unresponsive and seemed on the brink of death from starvation. Everyone expected Kiroi to be the first to start asking questions about the scene, but the manager knew better than that. She could tell when her employer and friend, who she knew for almost twenty years, was serious. So without a word, she took the child from him and cleaned the girl up with the help of other servant girls. Still, even she was surprised that Kuroda didn't show his usual flaky attitude that he did towards household chores and finances, and all other duties he let her handle instead, but stayed by the girl's side day and night until she started recovering both mentally and physically. At that time, Kiroi had no idea who the girl was and where she came from, but she could tell it was important to the samurai that she survives.
However, if he wanted to raise a child, he should definitely set better boundaries and start rising her like a proper girl. Kiroi puffed air out of her chest in annoyance. Instead, he let her play barefoot and run around like a boy. He even started teaching her swordsmanship…a girl! What was that man thinking!?
"Ah, is she back yet?"
The target of her dark thoughts peered from one of the rooms, leisurely stepping on the porch with his arms resting in the sleeves of his gi. As usual he wore simple attire despite his noble heritage and high status. There were circles under his eyes, indicating he had been burning the midnight oil well into the night again. That pasty complexion was even more prominent by the dark brown hair that stuck into the air as if he still had bed hair; though it was naturally like that. He had even more threads of grey hair than the woman did, though some of it could be from stress. His friends often teased him that he would grow bold or ghostly white before even reaching 50. On the other hand, he was in his forties now, so there wasn't much left till then anyway.
He grimaced and took a step back instantly when he saw a displeased Kiroi's sudden glare piercing him. It was obvious his expression was asking, 'What did I do now?'
"Who knows where that child went off to play again. Or she might even be swinging that bokkuto you gave her. Honestly, what are you thinking; she should be raised as a proper girl. You will ruin all her chances of marriage!" Her glare became more accusing as she stared at the Samurai.
Kuroda only sighed in exasperation. After all, this was hardly a new topic for them as Kiroi-san complained about this very thing for years now. "Even if you tried, you couldn't force her to change. I tried to explain it to her many times, but that only made her go off and train at night on her own. So if she's so determined to wield a sword, at least she can learn to swing it correctly. Besides, I told her that she is not to neglect her everyday duties, which also means her studies, calligraphy lessons or tea ceremony," he finally ended his long explanation that he repeated so many times already. If someone would to wake him up in the middle of the night, he would still know how to recite it perfectly. "That girl is too stubborn to listen to anyone."
"Yet she is mostly late for all those duties," Kiroi grumbled, not convinced.
"Really? Because she always comes to our kendo lessons on time," Kuroda answered with a grin, which immediately disappeared when he saw Kiroi wasn't amused.
Just as Kuroda opened his mouth to try and defend himself again, a cheerful voice came from the front, as a tapping of sandals brought the pair's attention. "I'm here!" The sandals created a steady rhythm as a small girl of no more than 9 ran over to them. She panted from rushing over as fast as she could before staring up at Kiroi and Kuroda with two big, bright golden eyes. With her dark blue, straight hair reaching her shoulders and those golden orbs, she resembled her mother more each day; Kuroda noted. She even had that same red ribbon intertwined in her strands of hair. What's more, it was refreshing to see the girl in high spirits and running around healthily. Especially when he remembered what she looked like when he first found her. Kuroda's grin faltered a little at the memory.
However, Kiroi-san wasn't as pleased. Instead, she stared at the girl in complete shock and disbelief. Mostly she was staring at the crusty stains of mud and grass all over the girl's kimono, hair and face. "What did you do to your new kimono I bought you!?" True, she bought the girl's clothes from the household finances, meaning Kuroda's money, but that still didn't lessens her fury at seeing them destroyed. What's more, a large piece of it was missing, revealing the girl's legs. If she wasn't still only a child, it would have been an improper appearance that would have brought shame to this households and the girl's good name.
"I was practicing, but it's so hard to move in a kimono, so I fell down a couple of times. Finally I decided to rip the bottom, to give me more room to move in," the girl explained in a matter-of fact tone, grinning all the while. It seemed she was proud of herself for coming up with that solution rather than sorry for destroying her clothes.
"You….you….unbelievable!" For once, Kiroi-san was at a loss of words from her bewilderment. "You can't do that!"
"But you're the one who said I had to wear a kimono, Kiroi-san," Miyako blinked in confusion as she simply shrugged.
"That's because girls are supposed to wear kimonos, and they're not supposed to go running and fighting in them, and especially not training swordsmanship!" Finally, the manager turned to Kuroda to get some support. "You say something too!"
"Next time just wear a hakama, it's easier to move in it," the master answered.
"Don't encourage her!" Kiroi-san was fuming even more, angry at both parties. Finally, she realized stressing out won't do her any good since both of them were just as stubborn, so she sighed in defeat. "Let's get you cleaned up. We have a guest coming soon," she took the girl's hand and urged her towards the bathhouse.
"Sorry for always giving you trouble, Arin," Kuroda smiled apologetically to the woman. He was the only one in the household calling her by her first name and without any honorifics. She often complained it was rude and brazen of him, but accepted it after a time. After all, they knew each other for so long; they weren't just a master and his housekeeper anymore, they were friends.
~….~
Little Miyako was dragged away to get all the dirt scrubbed from her and then taken to her room where the servants dressed her in a new kimono. The girl was frowning the whole time, but decided to keep quiet lest she tasted Kiroi-san's wrath. Even the small girl, although often clever with her comments, which she clearly learnt from the old Samurai in Kiroi's opinion, knew not to piss off the older woman too much.
Some of the servants were waiting in the hall, together with the master, expecting their new guest's arrival any minute now. Finally, a servant girl in training that couldn't be older than 16 came around the corner and hurriedly approached Kuroda. "Kuroda-sama, he has arrived. He is waiting for you in the guest's room," she announced silently.
"Excellent!" Kuroda's grin returned to his face. "I will go greet him immediately." He was just about to leave when a silhouette passed by the corner of his eyes.
Half an hour later from her departure, the girl returned again, luckily in much more suited attire. She wore a simple pink kimono with white cherry blossoms painted on it, with a light blue obi tying her small waist. However, as much as the girl appeared proper, it didn't do much for her unruly behavior.
"I'm back," Miyako sang as she slid right passed him on the wooden floor. It appeared she took off her sandals and was left in snow-white socks, enabling her to slide across the floorboards on the porch with ease.
"What are you-" Kuroda blinked in surprise, but before he could finish the sentence, the girl slipped and fell forward, right onto her face.
"….." Silence washed over the area as the servants stood both in shock and anticipation of what will happen next. Usually, this was the time the children started bawling from pain and surprise they experience during the fall, but for now the girl stayed unmoving and deadly quiet. Some even started to worry that she was injured. Even Kuroda stayed at the side, staring at her, though his expression was simply interested rather than worried.
The small child slowly rose up on her trembling hands and knees, while her bangs covered her pale face from view. They could only see her lips drawn in a tight line. As she lift up her head, they could see a red bump on her forehead, while large watery eyes stared into the distance as they threatened to spill waterfalls of tears at any moment. Her lower lip trembled once before she bit it to stop it from quivering. Finally, Miyako spoke in a wavering voice as she tried hard to make it sound strong. "I-it…it doesn't hurt at all!"
The servants almost chocked on air with surprise as they tried their best to keep their usual collected faces while facing their employer. However, they were all thinking the same thing in silent shock, *She's trying to act tough!?*
However, Miyako's master only smirked as if pleased with something, while he watched the girl stand back up and rub her sore forehead to ease the pain. Finally, he decided the show was over and urged the girl with him. "Come. I want you to meet someone," he ordered in the usual strong tone of voice he held.
Unlike with Kiroi-san, Miyako never had to be told twice to obey her swordsmanship master. She was beside him in a second, trying to match his long stride with her short legs.
The household manager only sighed as she saw the small girl leave with the Samurai, staring up at him with curious eyes. "You say she's so stubborn, but she obviously listens so attentively to every word you say," Kiroi muttered under her breath. "What a troublesome child." Even as she said that, a small and very rare smile appeared on the woman's strict face.
~…..~
The doors of the guest room slid open, revealing a medium-sized tatami room. It was barely furnished, with only a small coffee table and colorful cushions to sit around it. There were calligraphy paintings gracing the wall, and a single tall vase of carefully arranged flowers; complements of Kiroi-san's ikebana skills. As Kuroda stepped in, there was already a man sitting relaxed on one of the cushions with his legs crossed. In one of his hands was a katana in an old wooden scabbard without a guard, which he used to lean on like a crutch for his upper body. However, when he heard the doors slide open, he sat up straight and stared at the newcomers.
"It's been a long time, Saazai-san," the man, about the same age as Kuroda, called out with a slight smile on his face. It looked nostalgic, as if he was clearly remembering the last time they met.
"Indeed, it has been too long. I've heard you've also been busy lately, Isshou-san," the other samurai boomed with a wide grin across his face. It was obvious he was genuinely glad to see his old friend. "I was hoping we would meet for at least one match of shogi or mahjong. Has your gambling improved any?" He teased.
Ignoring Kuroda's words, Isshou, instead, turned his head somewhere towards the Samurai's knees. He was focusing on the other presence he could clearly feel, even if his blind eyes couldn't see them. "And who might that be, over there?" There was a light tone in his voice as he smiled, not wanting to come across as interrogatory and scare the child.
Miyako was hiding behind Kuroda's legs, clutching on the tall samurai's hakama and peering in interest at their new guest. It was obvious he was another samurai from his form and the sword near his side. He looked neat and clean-shaven, with his crew-cut dark hair and not a crease on his attire. However, what made his appearance so peculiar to the girl was the large scare across his face that covered both his eyes which stayed closed even as he spoke.
When she heard the man known as Isshou address her, the girl flinched and hid behind her master once again. That is, until he gently urged her forward with a light push to her back. Even gentle, that push was enough to make the girl stumble forward and reveal herself in front of the arrival. She gazed up at Kuroda in askance and he only nodded once as a small sign for her to proceed. Not needing any more encouragement, the girl stepped forward with her head held high and bowed down to their guest. "My name is Suzune Miyako, I am master Kuroda-sama's ward," she said clearly.
"Hooo, so the rumors were true. The great Samurai Saazai Kuroda took in a protégé. I am surprised. I heard you took a pupil under your wing, yet this is undoubtedly a girl," Isshou responded, rubbing his chin in interest as he examined the girl. The girl of everyone's focus shifted as she felt she was being pierced under his examining gaze even if he couldn't really see her. If not for the visible injury on his eyes, one would never believe this man was truly blind.
As Miyako heard the mention of her gender, she bit her tongue as emotions started rising inside her. She wanted to respond, but stayed quiet so she wouldn't disrespect Kuroda's friend in some way.
Her master chuckled at Isshou's words, but didn't take any offense. He was well aware that his judgment would be doubted by many once they realize he has taken a girl under his wing to teach her swordsmanship. It was not only unorthodox, but bordered with pure profanity as some would say. The again, Kuroda was never one to follow tradition and rules so blindly. His power and status, which he rightfully earned, prevented anyone from questioning him or accusing him, giving him more freedom than others had. Freedom to do things his own way now and then: this being one of those times. "She did win fairly and I was obliged to keep to our deal. I would say she is a hardworking student, but I am afraid it would go to her head. And this little smart-ass still has much to learn." Kuroda grinned as he stared down at the girl for a moment.
She knew that was the closest she would get to a compliment from him, but she was much more interested in development and results from her master than compliments, anyway.
Isshou seemed a bit confused about what Kuroda said and his expression showed slight surprise. Miyako was sure he would instantly discard the idea just like everyone else near Kuroda, even the students at his own dojo who refuse to accept her no matter how much progress she makes. Feeling she was about to be provoked by this man like with everyone else, the girl prepared herself and decided to say something in her defense. However, her intentions were completely blown away by Isshou's next move.
The man laughed. At first she thought he was laughing at the idea of a woman becoming a kenshi, but his laugh was whole-hearted and sounded amused, not scornful. The girl couldn't help but blink in puzzlement with wide eyes, startled by the loud sound that spread through the room. "Eh?"
"Haha, you might have outdone yourself this time, Saazai-san! Of all the crazy things…haha I'm just regretful I could not see the faces of those other three when they heard. I bet they were all out of their wits. Hahaha!"
Feeling a bit confused, Miyako couldn't help but speak up and address the man. "You…You don't mind me studying kenjutsu?"
The man's laughs broke down into small snickers before he finally calmed down his shaking form. "Mind? Any person who is serious in taking the way of the sword, and is willing to give their all to achieve their dream should not be ostracized by anyone. The road you have chosen is a hard one, my dear. You may yet regret it. However, if you stick to it until the end and truly wish to become a kenshi, this country might yet see the rise of a new warrior nobody has seen before. I am truly interested to see how you will grow, young lady. I will be anticipating your arrival into the world of samurai," Isshou grinned widely, focusing his blind eyes on her. Kuroda didn't say anything, only grinned as well and sat down across his friend.
Miyako felt something inside of her rise as a boost of determination spread through her from the man's words. "I will do it! No matter how hard to road is, this is my dream, and I will not give up!" She clenched her small fists as she stared right back at Isshou, her voice rising higher with every word. "I won't let anything stand in my way!" Her golden eyes glowed with a fire of confidence in them. Her fighting spirit was encircling around her, mixing with her aura, even if the girl couldn't feel it yet. However, the two samurai could.
Isshou smirked and glanced back at Kuroda. "I can see now why you chose her. There is potential," he told his friend.
Miyako's master only smirked at that comment. "I think she was the one who chose me…in a way." He gazed back at the small girl who appeared confused by his words. "Miyako, go get us some tea," he ordered.
The girl was a bit startled since she was suddenly pulled back from her zone, but in an instant she calmed down again. She nodded to her master before exiting the room with care. "Right away, master Kuroda."
~…..~
Miyako yawned as she carefully walked back to the guest room, keeping a good grip on the wooden tray with three cups of steaming tea on it. She wanted to hurry before it gets cold, but also had to be careful not to trip over her kimono again and fall on her face with the piping hot tea in her hands.
As she approached the room, she could hear voices belonging to Isshou-san and Kuroda-san, discussing something. The sliding doors were left lightly open so she could make out some of the conversation. The girl didn't really mean to pry, but before she even realized it, she was drawn in by the topic of conversation.
"It's getting worse, Saazai-san," Isshou sighed as he continued the conversation.
"I'm not surprised…an unattended wound cannot heal by itself, it will simply fester. Right now, this country is wounded, Isshou," her master responded in a dark tone of his voice. There was an ominous aura surrounding the two, as it could be heard through their grim voices and long silences while both were in thought and deeply troubled by something.
However, Miyako couldn't understand what. What were they talking about? What was getting worse? The girl stepped closer, carefully not to be heard as she listened to the conversation.
"Wanokuni is far from stable right now. Some parts are prosperous, while other are dying. The people can feel it; there have been more raids on the villages and banditry lately. The taxes are getting higher, set by the lords, while the villagers starve. The class difference in this country is getting further apart every year. If this goes on…" Isshou never finished the sentence, but Kuroda knew exactly what he meant.
"I will talk to them again. I keep warning them a war will arise if we keep this up, but they don't listen, seeing the situation isn't all that bad yet. Maybe this generation will be spared, but the next…In five or ten years, if we don't do anything…" Kuroda sighed, shaking his head in sadness.
"If there will be a war in the future, the surrounding countries might seize that opportunity and attack while we're weak. The World Government has been trying to get its hold over us for years," the other samurai warned.
"I'm sure, they will also want to make use of the situation. The World Government will offer us support, but at what cost? The price will be Wanokuni's independence, no doubt," Kuroda responded. "We cannot count on them. They already tried to offer us their technology and even medicine as an unspoken bribe. To be honest, we've suffered some great losses due to sickness over the years and our knowledge in medicine is hardly enough to handle it. It is mostly contained by now, but if another plague or a wave of sickness would spread…I think that's the only thing keeping the lower-class people somewhat docile still. They have their own problems to worry about, so they don't have time to start a mutiny. But for how long, I wonder." Saazai sighed once again as he remembered something distasteful. "That child was also a victim of it…Miyako had someone to save her, but I wonder how many children die each day of sickness or starvation."
Hearing those words, Miyako's eyes softened and glazed over with grief at the memory of her parents. She stared down at her feet, trying not to relive those moments she remembered. It was a part of her life she would rather forget. It has been almost three years since she came to this household, yet she still sometimes wakes up in sweat from an occasional nightmare. The rest of the conversation brought her thoughts back to reality once again.
"It is not as if this country couldn't be prosperous. It has the ability to change, to evolve and move forward. However, only the people can decided on it. The ruling class is content and barely thinks of the ones below them. There are still a lot of supporters of our government, of course…But also a lot of dissatisfied souls who yearn for a change. The way things are, we are looking at the beginnings of a civil war," Isshou commented.
The other samurai nodded in agreement. "Isshou…we are too old to change our own future now. But we still hold the responsibility on our backs for the future generations. What we must do now is think of them, and create a brighter future for them. That is why I decided to join the Samurai Lords. I believe in the potential that this country has. A potential to change, rise up and prosper."
Isshou nodded. "I must also do what I can, my friend. There is an evil in this country…no, in this world. An evil rooted deep into it, that needs to be cut down. My sword will guide me in that quest. Even if my path takes me in a different direction than yours."
Kuroda smiled only slightly, but there was melancholy in his light grey eyes. "I was hoping to talk you into joining the Samurai lords after I retire. But I see there is still no hope for that?" Even when asking, Kuroda already knew the answer. He tried to change Isshou's mind many times, but the other samurai stood firm on that idea.
The samurai shook his head. "No. I will leave you with the politics. I see how much it tires you to run this country and try and persuade those fools to do the right thing. However, I do not have time for such roundabout ways. I need to find a way to save this world from corruption more directly. Even if I need to use my katana to achieve it. I will always be a warrior, not a politician."
"We are samurai after all. My duty was always to fight. I was always thought to cut at the problem. Then I was suddenly thrust in a world of politics and distorted finesse." Kuroda took a pause for a deep sigh before continuing. "I always wondered if I was truly a man for this job…yet I find I have little choice."
"We always have a choice, Saazai-san, and you've made yours. Now you need to do the best you can with it."
"I agree," Kuroda grinned. "On the other hand, you are as straight-forward as always, Isshou-dono. How lucky to be you," he teased, some of his usual mischief returning to him.
Isshou only shook his head at the comment. "I also understand things aren't always so black and white, Sazaai-san."
Kuroda also nodded in agreement.
Realizing their conversation was coming to an end, Miyako decided to interrupt at that moment and step inside the room. She knelt down in front of the doors and set her tray down onto the floor next to her, before opening the sliding doors. "Excuse me," she exclaimed loud enough for the pair inside to hear as she opened the doors. After announcind herself, the girl stepped inside and knelt near the coffee table. "Here's the tea." She first served a cup to Isshou-san before putting another one on the table in front of Kuroda. Finally she sat on a cushion next to him and took her own cup. Giving the green tea a sip, Miyako grimaced. "Cold," she announced, despite herself.
Kuroda took a sip as well, his expression not betraying any of his thoughts. "Indeed." Then he put the cup down slowly. "Perhaps it would have been warm if you hadn't wasted all that time eavesdropping!" On that note, his fist came down onto the top of her head, giving her a nice sock on the head. It wasn't with all his strength, but enough to give her a bump and teach her a lesson.
"Ouch!" The girl yelped and rubbed her sore head.
Isshou only laughed again, amused by the duo.
Getting a bit braver from the returning bright atmosphere that chased away the previous tension in the room, Miyako finally found the courage to ask what was gnawing at her mind all this time. "Nee…How did you get that scar?" She asked Isshou, staring right at his large cross-shaped scar on his face.
However, the question earned her another warning glare from her master. "Oy, don't be rude now." His voice was sterner than a moment ago.
Yet, the other samurai only smirked. "It's quite alright. It was…from fighting evil," he responded after forming his words carefully.
Miyako didn't seem to understand. She was barely nine after all. The girl tilted her head in question. Yet another thought arose in her mind and the girl remained curious. "Did you win?"
Isshou gave her a wide grin in returned. Something about her question amused him, though she couldn't understand what. "Well…I wonder now…"
The girl was even more perplexed by his response, but he didn't seem to be willing to elaborate any further.
~…..~
All around her Miyako could hear shouts. A wave of white was coming their way as they were being surrounded by the marines. Their uniforms and coats danced on the wind as they ran towards the small group of pirates, clutching their rifles and swords in strong hands. Hands determined to defeat their enemy.
"Our cover's been blown, we need to get out of here!" Zoro shouted, cursing at their misfortune. The marines finally decided to make their move, rushing towards them to attack.
Yet the girl didn't move. Perhaps her mind was still in shock after what she just witnessed. She was still processing everything, unable to believe what she saw before her eyes only minutes ago. Law just got shot down cruelly and she wasn't even sure he was still alive. Not only that, but the person who was standing between her and her captain was none other than Isshou-san, a man who was an old friend of her master. A man she remembered to be just and good. A man she respected. Yet that same man was now aiding Doflamingo; a notorious villain. Why? That question kept repeating in Miyako's mind.
Her fingers twitched as she slowly started to will her body to move. She could feel the rough surface of the hilt of her katana on her fingertips and she clutched it even harder. It gave her a sense of comfort and security. Something to hold onto, which she desperately needed now.
What came after her confusion and shock was rage. As the surprise slowly died down, anger replaced it. Fury that was meant for Doflamingo, a target nowhere to be found, so she redirected it to the closest enemy – the marines. She gritted her teeth as her face hardened, her golden eyes darkening suddenly. There was a death glare on her face as she lifted her katana again.
Ignoring Zoro and Kin'emon, who retreated back towards the Coliseum, Miyako leaped forward into the crowd of marines. The soldiers were no match for her skill as she sliced through them, dancing around with her blade like a goddess of death. Soon, every white uniform was marred with crimson blood, as screams echoed around them. Miyako ignored their cries and she could only see red. The grinning face of the Shichibukai was still in her mind's eyes; mocking her, telling her he's already won. That only made the samurai's blood boil more as she sliced through the torso of one more marine and dodged a sword before cutting into another's neck. It was the first time Miyako felt such strong urge to destroy everything and anything. The first time she lost her cool and simply slaughtered her enemy, letting her katana be an outlet of her rage. It was the first time she felt such uncontrollable anger. The scene couldn't even be called a fight anymore, it looked more like simple carnage.
"Oy, Suzune, we need to pull back for now! Luffy, find an exit from this place, fast!" Zoro yelled to both sides, while Kin'emon fended off enemies that came their way.
However, the girl ignored him as she continued to slice through her enemies one after the other. Blood sprayed on her, staining her face and suit. The white dress-shit under her jacket was half-red by now. The two golden eyes filled with fire only made a greater contrast with the crimson smeared on her face, making it seem as if her eyes were burning brightly with a glowing color of gold. She didn't seem to care, not even stopping to wipe the blood off her cheeks and brow.
Luffy's voice finally broke through to her. "Miyako! The 'voice' of Law has not vanished completely! He's still alive! We need to hurry!"
The shout coming from the pirate captain made Miyako blink as she stopped in her tracks just as another dead marine fell before her feat. She turned around slowly and stared at him as if her mind needed to process his words. Her fingers twitched and she bit her lip, her temper calming down. "Law…You're sure he's alive?"
Luffy nodded earnestly. "I'm sure. We need to save him! Don't worry, I won't let him die! He's our friend after all!"
The words made Miyako stop and she smiled sadly. To Law, their alliance was nothing but business, yet Strawhat saw this 'alliance' as 'friendship.' It was a naive and childish way of thinking that shouldn't befit a pirate captain, yet it sounded somewhat comforting when it came from Luffy's mouth.
"Anyway, we need to go. It appears the Thousand Sunny is in danger as well. Big Mom's ship is after them!" Kin'emon announced.
Miyako was once again startled. After her fit of rage, she didn't hear or see anything happening around her but her enemies, so she didn't even hear the yelling sounds coming from the den den mushi.
"But Sanji will figure out something, I'm sure. I left it to him," Luffy answered with confidence, not worried even for a second. That's how much trust he had in his nakama.
"Listen Luffy!" Nami's voice came out of the den den mushi, getting everyone's attention. "We still have a plan to see though. We haven't destroyed the factory yet so that card it in the enemy's hands, but we still have the remaining two cards – Caesar and Momonosuke! Law kamikaze-ing Doflamingo may have been to lead them away from these two cards. And maybe to create a window allowing us to sabotage the factory!"
Miyako bit her bottom lip until it bled as she heard the navigator's words. She was sure Nami was on the right track. Hearing that Law sacrificed himself for this plan was painful, nevertheless.
The Strawhats' navigator continued, "If we hand over the cards Law tried to protect with his life to the enemy…We will let him down!"
Miyako clenched her fists around Yawarakai-Te as a painful throb attacked her chest. She gritted her teeth and closer her eyes to try and push the pain away and deep into her. Now was not the time to grieve…it was the time to act! Nami was right; they couldn't let Law's sacrifice go to waste.
"I understand," Luffy's voice was unusually serious. "Sanji…after dealing with Big Mom, you guys sail to Zou first, we'll meet you there. Franky, you handle the factory as planned." For once, the boy was speaking like a true captain. His serious gaze turned to Miyako and stared right into her eyes as he decided on his next words, "We will go to the palace…to kick Doflamingo's ass!"
"Aye Aye captain!" The cheer could be heard over the transponder snail.
Miyako didn't say anything, but her gaze stayed firmly locked with Luffy's as she nodded once in acknowledgment. She was grateful to the Strawhats and Luffy for making this decision, which she showed silently through her expression.
"Sorry to burst the moment, but we gotta move!" Zoro said irritably as he cut in the conversation.
"For now let's run from the marines and find a place to lay low while we wait for Luffy," Miyako suggested, seeing new troops of marines in the distance.
The other two nodded in agreement.
"I'll be right out, guys!" Strawhat yelled behind him as he started running along the Coliseum wall, trying to find an exit.
The trio also ran from the window, trying to lose the marines as they mingled with the crowd of people, looking for some dark alley they could hide in. Finally they found one at the back of the Corida Coliseum and the trio rushed inside. It was narrow and tight, making it hard for all three of them to fit.
"We need to do something about our appearances," Miyako warned, panting slightly from the run. Indeed, they were far too conspicuous to go out into the open. A green-haired swordsman, a tall samurai with a top-knot, and a woman with golden eyes and covered in blood.
"Agreed. I shall work my magic again to disguise us!" Kin'emon suggested and quickly turned to the girl, putting a small pebble from the ground onto her head.
With a quick puff, air shifted around the samurai girl and her appearance changed yet again. When the smoke finally cleared, it revealed a…giant fox? Zoro blinked in wonder and then snorted once, almost bursting into laugher.
The girl looked down, seeing she had large paws instead of hands. She felt for her face, only to realize there was a sharp orange snout with a white line instead of her nose. Raising her hands up and feeling for her head, she could feel two fox ears on the top, replacing her ears. She was definitely inside a giant fox suit, no doubt about it. The girl's eyebrow twitched in anger and she glared back at Kin'emon. "What the hell is this!? How is this inconspicuous!?"
Unable to hold his laughter any longer, Zoro started chuckling at the sight. "I don't know, I think it kinda suits you!"
Ignoring them both, Kin'emon turned to the swordsman. "Now for Zoro-dono…" In an instant, Zoro's appearance was also changed at the man turned into a tall cat with a top knot of a pony-tail on its head. Why a cat needed a hairstyle was beyond Miyako.
Now it was the girl's time to laugh as she reveled in a sweet thing called karma. "Bahaha! You look even more ridiculous!" She pointed at the large cat suit, not even trying to hide her amusement.
"What are you laughing at, Fox-girl!?" Zoro bit back, annoyed by her straightforward behavior.
"Cease this argument, both of you," a giant green frog scolded them both. Only then did they realize that Kin'emon turned himself into a frog with human hair that was raised into another type of top-knot.
"And you're the most noticeable here…," Miyako muttered with a sweat-drop as she silently pondered why the samurai hairstyle was necessary.
Let us meet with Luffy-dono and be on our way," the older samurai suggested as he once again ignored Miyako's comment.
"Ooooy!" Just then they heard the familiar voice of the Strawhat captain as the boy ran towards them, waving his hands and getting everyone's attention. What's worse, he wasn't even disguised anymore, plainly showing his well-known features and the recognizable straw hat to the world.
"Idiot!" Zoro exclaimed and grabbed Luffy's arm, quickly pulling him into the alley which was getting even more crowded now. They barely had room to breathe. "We're trying to be unnoticeable, remember!?"
However, Zoro's warning flew right passed his captain's head. That's when they realized the boy was bawling, completely covered in tears and snot. He wouldn't stop crying and only managed to calm down enough to turn his crying into sobs.
"Whoa, what's wrong with you!?" Zoro let go of Luffy's arm, stepping backwards from the shock. He didn't see Luffy cry this hard since that day Usopp rejoined their crew at Water 7.
"Luffy-san, what's wrong!? Are you alright?" Miyako was genuinely worried as it was the first time she saw the boy cry.
"H-he…he's aliveeee!" The captain barely finished his sentence before he started crying again. Suddenly he focused more intently on the trio as if only now realizing they were all wearing animal suits. Without tact, the boy started laughing loudly until tears started flowing for a completely different reason, pointing at the three animal suits. "What is that!? Hahahaha! *sob* haha *sob*" He managed to laugh and cry at the same time, until the rest couldn't even tell was he sad or amused.
Roronoa all but growled in annoyance and embarrassment, trying to hide his shame under a mask of anger. Miyako only sighed in defeat, her fox ears hanging down sadly.
The boy's fit of laughter stopped soon enough when Kin'emon transformed him into a fish. A carp stared at the trio in wonder while Zoro and Miyako both snickered in glee at the ridiculous sight.
"And the award for the most stupid disguise definitively goes to you," the girl commented, staring at the carp in front of her. What's more, the fish actually had a top knot on its head. Soon she realized that all four of them had different kinds of top-knots. Hers was a long black pony tail, similar to the one she usually wore, though it wasn't her real hair, but the suit's.
"Really? *snif* *snif*" The boy looked at her in question, but was still sniffling and crying for some unknown reason, making her feel bad even though she knew it had nothing to do with her remark.
"Seriously, what's wrong with you!?" Zoro asked his captain once more, but Luffy was unable to form a comprehensible sentence as he continued to cry.
"I'm…*sob* I'm just so…*snif* glaaaad!" The answer must've triggered some kind of memory because he started weeping again, even harder.
"Argh, we have no time for this! Let's go to the palace!" Roronoa finally decided to get a move on and they all nodded, including a still-sobbing Luffy.
The swordsman pulled Luffy once more and they all started to run to the palace, mingling with the crowd.
After a while of running, Miyako realized they weren't as evident as she thought they would be. Since Dressrosa was a country filled with living toys and stuffed animals, four large animals actually didn't attract as much attention as she feared. The townspeople simply thought they were toys and moved out of their way as the four animals ran through the town. Though they did receive a puzzled glance now and then since the running carp was still bawling.
"There is no more problem with the mera mera fruit. It's in good hands," Luffy said through his tears.
"Isn't that a good thing? So why are you weeping?" Kin'emon, now a giant frog, asked in confusion.
"Be-because…I always thought…I always thought he was dead!" Luffy exclaimed, sobbing uncontrollably.
Of course such a brief explanation didn't help at all and only left the others more confused. The trio stared at each other in wonder, all thinking the same thing with questioning eyes. Luffy didn't seem to notice as he continued to cry while running.
Miyako was a bit troubled as she glanced at the pirate captain. *We'll he really be in a condition to fight Doflamingo like this?*
~…..~
As soon as Fujitora dropped them off at the highest floor of the palace, Doflamingo stepped down onto his balcony and tossed Law inside the room like a sack of garbage he had no use for. The only indication that the younger man was still alive, was the painful grunt when he landed and rolled on the stony floor. However, his eyes stayed closed as he was still too weak to even think straight and his consciousness was far too gone to wake up properly.
"Oy," he turned to one of his lesser subordinates; one of those small-fry he didn't even bother remembering the names of.
"Y-yessir!?" The masked man saluted like a soldier, hurriedly answering his boss, the man they all both feared and respected. It was a combination only a few could muster, yet Doflamingo achieved it easily.
"Find a pair of sea stone cuffs and tie him to the Heart chair. I'll have a use for him later when he wakes up," the tall blonde gestured towards Trafalgar with a nod of his head. He barely gave the beaten pirate a glance.
"Heavenly Yaksha…was all that truly necessary. The boy was already beaten even before you shot him." Fujitora walked over next to the Shichibukai, staring at the pirate who was currently being dragged away towards a large red chair with a heart-shaped seat. Even so, there was no clear tone in his voice that would signal whether he was against Doflamingo's actions or not. He kept his calm expression, seemingly emotionless as he spoke.
The blonde Shichibukai smirked as he stared at the worn out and beaten younger pirate. "It was to make a statement. I needed to show those brats what they got themselves in to. And I am hardly done," he added, with obvious malice behind his amused tone.
"That is what I fear," Isshou muttered in answer, clutching the sheeted katana in his hands.
"But I have nothing to worry about with the marines on my side…isn't that right, Fujitora?" The blonde suddenly grinned as he pierced the marine admiral with his eyes, still hidden behind the eccentric sunglasses. There was a shade of mocking mixed with a question in his voice, as if he was testing the other man, interested to see whose side the admiral was truly on.
The old swordsman stayed quiet for a while as if contemplating his answer. Doflamingo's smirk was instantly wiped out, replaced by a frown as he watched the silent man suspiciously. Just then, the admiral spoke. "I will not speak of your sin. You are a Tenryuubito and my orders are clear; to leave your business aside and focus on destroying the allied pirates. Trafalgar Law and Monkey D. Luffy are my two concerns. However…I will watch the flow of the events to come, carefully."
The frown once again turned to a wide grin. Doflamingo didn't trust Fujitora, far from it. But as long as he could use the marine admiral for his own benefit, he will do so. And once he didn't need the man, who already knew too much, anymore…he will have no qualms about disposing of him. He could already see the reports; 'A marine admiral dies in a chaotic battle between the Navy and the allied pirate forces.' The idea sounded deliciously good to the Shichibukai.
"There has been a lot of unexpected revelations in this country," Isshou continued, though his muttering voice trailed off as he plunged himself in his own thoughts.
"That's right…it appears you know one or two of those pirate brats. How so?" Once again, Doflamingo's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Fujitora walked towards a wooden chair before answering, using his wooden scabbard as a cane. Not many would guess that there was actually a lethal and sharp weapon hidden inside. He sat down with a grunt, muttering something about his old knees. Doflamingo only followed him with a serious gaze, trying to decipher the man's expression, yet it was impossible. He couldn't tell what the other man was thinking, which only unnerved him, even if he wouldn't show it.
"I met them at one of the restaurants in Dressrosa. I wonder; was it a fated meeting? To bite down on the hand of the ones who helped me…The idea still pains me, but such is this cruel world." The old samurai shook his head as his tone darkened in sorrow.
Doflamingo didn't quite understand what the man was talking about, but he heard enough. Still, there was one detail still bothering him about their previous encounter with the pirates. One issue that still hung over them as he noticed something strange when facing one of the pirates. "The girl too?" His question sounded like a blade cutting through air; sharp and with a hidden threat behind it. He was sure it would bring some sort of reaction from the older man, but there was hardly any to speak of.
Once again, the admiral was silent before sighing deeply. "Burning-Eyed Miyako, was it? Our encounter was a lifetime ago…" He lifted his head as if gazing at the roof, even as his eyes stayed closed, while he remembered something from his past. "I did not expect to see her here."
The blonde Shichibukai was in no way interested in Fujitora's nostalgia, though. There was a completely different reason behind his question. "Will it cause a problem?" He didn't want the admiral going soft on his enemies now.
"The choices we make in life seal our fate. It is inevitable. She has made her choice…and so have I," the samurai finally stated. It wasn't a direct answer to Doflamingo's question, but the blonde soon realized it was the most he would get out of the man on the matter. Still, even if Fujitora would spare the girl, Doflamingo had no worries about being able to take care of them both afterwards.
~…~
"I still can't believe that all the toys in this country are actually humans. Doflamingo has been keeping them like slaves for 10 years. That man is truly a monster," Miyako, the large fox, commented through ragged breathes as they continued to run towards the Shichibukai's palace. They could already see the large, stony structure rise up in front of them with an impending presence, casting a shadow down at the smaller structures. They had to get all the way to the top if they wanted to save Law. No doubt, the way there will be filled with Donquixote's underlings and maybe even some of those Executives Trafalgar warned them about. The road definitely won't be an easy one, but the samurai already made up her mind; she's not leaving there without her captain.
"I knew this country had a darkness hidden deep within," Kin'emon shook his head as he furrowed his brow. Or rather, the giant frog did, as they were all still wearing their disguises.
"More importantly, how do we get up there unseen? We don't even know where Torao and Doflamingo are," Zoro asked just before making a sharp turn in the wrong direction.
"Not that way!" Miyako, who was desperately trying to keep him from getting lost during their run, yelled and pulled him back by the collar before he managed to escape them. "I swear I'll tie you on a leash!" This was already the fifth time the man changed directions and almost got lost in the process. She still couldn't understand how can someone's sense of direction be that bad. The King's Palace was right in front of them, clearly visible to everyone, after all! It was as if he was actually putting an effort in getting lost on the way. However, the samurai girl had no time to waste on trying to find him if he does get lost; they had more important business to attend to now. So instead, she kept a close eye on him and kept dragging him back every time he took a wrong turn. She wouldn't be surprised if Law later finds an ulcer in her stomach from all the frustration of this day. The quick thought surprised her when she realized how optimistic her thought had just been She thought about Law and her, after all of this, as if certain it will end with their lives still in their hands.
Just as the group started mulling over the swordsman's question, which was for once a seriously legit one, they heard a long squeak before something crashed right into Zoro's head.
"Whoa!" The man stumbled and caught whatever it was, gripping it in irritation and removing it from his face. That's when he realized he was holding a large woozy bee and a small, confused rider on top of it.
"Wikka!" Miyako exclaimed in surprise, recognizing the small blue-hair of the Tontatta tribe.
The said dwarf shook her head in order to disperse her dizziness from the impact before she started explaining in a hurry. "The SOP operation has already started! We need to hurry inside the palace!"
"Oh, it's that fairy! Fairy-san, do you know how to get to the Toy House in the palace? I need to save Kanjuuro," Kin'emon asked.
Wikka nodded in response, "Everything in the palace is connected so you can get to the Toy House from inside. The Toy House is in the lower levels."
"I still can't believe these tiny people exist…" The samurai man commented as he stared down at the dwarf who was standing on Roronoa's palm now.
"They're really like toys!" Luffy exclaimed as he poked Wikka's cheek, much to her discontent.
"But they're so cute," Miyako grinned as she clasped her hands in adoration of the small creature in front of her. She just couldn't resist.
The Tontatta ignored their remarks as she continued. "Normally we only show ourselves to the important people of the royal family, but the Strawhat crew are allies. The Usolanders are different!"
"Uso…landers?" The group blinked in confusion as they stared back at the small female.
They didn't get a response since instead Wikka shouted, pointing at the royal palace which was now clearly visible in front of them. "Look, we're here! The King's Plateau!" She pointed at the large entrance in their way. "This lift takes you to the main hall of the royal palace!"
The samurai girl frowned in thought, staring at the large gates skeptically. "Can we really just burst through the main doors? Maybe we should look for another entrance…a more secluded one?" If they just smash in through the front, they'll alert every enemy in the palace, including Doflamingo and Isshou-san. There had to be a more subtle way that would let them sneak all the way to the top of the palace, unseen.
"Don't worry, I'll just kick all the guards away!" Strawhat stated bluntly without even stopping in his run.
The girl sweat-dropped as she looked at him. *He really didn't think this through…* She shook her head at the boy before dismissing his idea. "If you do that and cause a ruckus, the enemy will notice and then we will have to fight through a whole army of them just to get to Doflamingo. It would slow us down and alert them of our presence. Who knows what Doflamingo would do to Law in that time!"
"Mmm…" The captain boy hummed with a highly troubled expression, thinking of Miyako's reasons. She had a point, but what else to do then?
Suddenly they all felt a presence approaching with their haki. They turned to see a figure clad in a cloak, her hooded head turned and staring at them.
"An enemy?" Luffy asked in thought, already ready for a fight.
"No…," Miyako answered, remembering the feel of that aura as she recognized it. Still, she was cautious of the approaching woman since she didn't know what the other came here to do.
"Are you Strawhat Luffy!?" The woman raised her head, showing two bright brown eyes. "I was waiting for you! I'll get you into the palace!"
"Eh!?" Kin'emon, Zoro and Luffy all questioned in surprise.
Miyako just smirked at how the story developed. "Don't you just love when the answer to our problems simply falls into our laps so easily? I'm really starting to like this woman," she commented jokingly.
The group, now led by Violet, ran to the side entrance where another elevator stood. It was an elevator going from King's Plateau to the main entrance of the Royal Palace, but unlike the other one, this one had only been used for supplies that were delivered to the palace. As Violet explained, however, it wasn't in use anymore. It also needed a pass to open, but luckily Violet even had that covered. Miyako was slow to trust the woman at first, but she was becoming a great asset to their cause, making the girl wonder if she should stop being so wary of her. Still, the samurai couldn't let her guard down for anyone; their mission now was far too important and she didn't want any more surprises. She wanted things to go right for a change.
Her musings were interrupted when Violet spoke again. "You can use this lift to go to the main entrance of the palace, but if they find you and stop the elevator, it's all over. You should give up…you're definitely too suspicious," the woman deadpanned.
"How rude," Kin'emon stated as his taste in disguises was once again being questioned.
"No, she's definitely right," Miyako sighed as Violet said what the samurai girl has been thinking since the moment they changed into these forms. What's more, it was getting stuffy and uncomfortable inside her suit and the large body made it hard for her to move. What's more, she had paws, so how was she even supposed to take out her katana if things get dire!?
"Ah, you're the one who took our cook away before," Zoro suddenly commented with a dull tone as he stared at the woman blankly.
The samurai girl turned to him with a genuinely shocked expression. "Wait, you only now recognized her!? We've been talking to her for 10 minutes!"
The swordsman simply shrugged at her, not seeing why she would be so startled by it. Miyako, on the other hand, wondered why she was even surprised by that anymore. The guy was a clear muscle-head, almost bordering with a simpleton. He was a genius with a katana, but sometimes seemed like a completely different person in everyday life.
"Sanji?" Luffy tilted his head at Zoro's words. "Right, didn't you say you were working with Mingo?" The boy seemed confused, but not threatening her even though she could be Doflamingo's subordinate for all he knew.
"She's only pretending to work for Doflamingo!" Wikka suddenly exclaimed, jumping into Violet's palm. The two exchanged greetings and a few sentimental words as they reminisced of the old days when they could all be friends properly. Days before Doflamingo; when her sister, Rebecca's mother, was still alive. When their father, King Riku, was still on the throne and loved by all.
After Wikka calmed down and stopped crying tears of both joy at seeing her friend again and pain for her misfortune, Violet led them down a corridor and through a hidden doors that led to the elevator shaft.
"Ooh, a hidden door, just like a ninja! I see, so you are a kunoichi!" once again Kin'emon formed a misconception based on their own world in Wanokuni, which was immensely far from the truth. However, Miyako had no strength left to correct him as she had more important things to worry about right now….like taking caution so Zoro doesn't get separated again.
"So you were the queen?! Are you Rebecca's mom!?" Luffy asked straightforwardly.
Violet shook her head at the question. "No, Rebecca is my niece. She is my sister's daughter. But my sister died…10 years ago, when all of this happened." There were several emotions mixed together in Violet's beautiful eyes; pain, sadness, anger...Miyako could feel the woman's thirst for revenge.
The group finally stopped as their reached an emergency passage that existed since the palace was created. Even Doflamingo was unaware of it. They saw a large basket that was once used for taking the supplies up and down on it, tied to a large rope that seemed endless as it went up the narrow tower they were currently in. Another rope was right beside it, which was used to pull on so that the basket would climb up. Miyako felt sorry for whoever had to pull that rope every day to get the supplies up, because it must've been a very strenuous job.
The green-haired swordsman suddenly got an idea as he saw a large block of stone beside the basket. "Luffy, take this rock and go to the top. If you grab the chain and jump down, we'll be able to go up," he explained.
The rest of the guys didn't seem concerned by that plan at all, but the two women definitely had their doubts. Miyako was especially skeptical. Just the thought of someone lifting that giant rock was absurd enough. And here they were talking about climbing that long rope up with that heavy rock on their back. "Don't be ridiculous, that's not possi-" The girl started, about to dismiss that idea and think of a proper solution.
"Alright!" Luffy suddenly exclaimed, cutting her off as if he didn't even hear her complains, and easily tied the heavy piece of stone onto his back.
"He's doing it!" Miyako couldn't help but shout at the unbelievable sight as the boy's rubber arm stretched all the way up until he reached for the top of the rope and grabbed it.
"You two should get inside." The cat and the frog already awaited them in the large basket, completely unaffected at what they were seeing. It appears that to them, displays of unbelievable strength weren't anything new or shocking. It only made the whole scene even more ridiculous, as if the animal suits weren't already doing a good enough job of that.
The basket started flying upwards, even faster than they thought it would as Luffy's additional weight shot it into the air. Miyako felt her stomach churn as the strange feeling of suddenly moving upwards hit her, making her grip the rim of the basket tightly for support. She wasn't enjoying it, but it was the only way for them to get to the palace area. As suddenly as it moved, the basket stopped as they reached the top, swaying harshly on the rope a few times before it finally stopped moving. The Strawhats' captain was already at the top, standing there with his hands on his hips and grinning at the group with satisfaction. The block of stone was discarded and forgotten on the side.
The samurai and the rest stepped out of the basket, their legs still a little wobbly from the ride, before they gazed at their surroundings. They were in the lower section of the palace, at the rampart tower, still a long way from the actual main hall, which was their objective.
~…..~
"Are we there yet?" Luffy asked in impatience, as the group continued to sneak alongside the wall of the castle, slowly and quietly inching towards the main entrance.
"No! Just like we weren't a second before, the last time you asked," the Wano girl argued in frustration through gritted teeth while she tried to keep her voice down in a whisper. On the other hand, Strawhat was completely unconcerned with secrecy as he spoke in his usual loud tone. Luckily, they didn't stumble upon any guards yet that could hear them. Though at this rate, the girl concluded, it was only a matter of time.
The group stopped and stacked onto each other like cards as they all peered behind the corner. Their aim were the large doors with Donquixote Family's insignia on it, just across the courtyard. The only problem were the dozens of guards in front of it, blocking their way in. "Come, we must not be seen by the gatekeepers. We shall find another way in," Kin'emon whispered his suggestion.
"There's a secret entrance into the ramparts tower. Let's go there!" Violet informed them and the group was just about to move when they all noticed something was amiss.
Zoro gave a knowing look to Kin'emon, who gave a troubling stare to Miyako. The samurai girl swallowed loudly as she felt cold sweat form on her brow. Even before the question passed her lips, she already knew the answer to it. A bad feeling arose in her stomach, freezing her blood in anxiousness. "Where's Luffy-san?"
"GOMU GOMU NO…GIGANT PISTOL!"
The pirate captain's voice echoed loudly throughout the courtyard, followed by an even louder crash that was deafening to their ears. All of them turned in disbelief as a large shadow loomed over them. Looking up with wide eyes, they could see a hand of a giant crashing through the front gates of the palace.
"What the hell is he doing!?" Everyone shouted in panic as they saw the captain boy blow the doors away together with all the guards standing in front of them.
The said captain landed back on his feet with a slap of his sandals when they hit the cobblestone, and grinned at his group as his arm retracted back to its normal state. Once again he had his hands on his hips as he stood there proudly, feeling good about himself while he grinned at them foolishly. "It's open," he simply stated.
"That's not the problem here!" Zoro yelled both in surprise and anger at his simpleton of a captain. The rest also just stared in disbelief and Miyako slowly rested her face in her hand, closing her eyes as she felt a headache coming.
"Well, what's done is done. We might as well go in! Come on!" Violet, quick to go with the flow and adjust, hurried them all inside.
"At least we don't have to wear these stupid disguises anymore," the samurai girl sighed and finally took off the fox suit. It was getting too hot in there anyway. Now that their cover was blown and they alerted the enemy of their presence, there was no need for disguises.
"How rude, after I went through all this trouble," Kin'emon complained, but took his suit off anyway. Luffy and Zoro did the same. As soon as the animal disguises were taken off, they disappeared into another puff of white smoke, the same way they appeared.
Suddenly, the group found themselves surrounded by loud noises and shouts as Doflamingo's subordinates reported the status of the damage and the intruders that entered with it. However, the pirates simply ignored it all as they continued to run forward, towards the main hall of the castle.
Miyako only gazed up ahead as she ran, ignoring everything and everyone else. She only had one goal set in mind, and she was getting closer to it with every fast step she took. *Wait for us Law. We'll definitely save you!*
Glossary:
Ikebana – the art of flower arrangement.
gi – the loose jacket of a traditiona Japanese attire. (torso part)
hakama – the wide pants of a traditional Japanese attire (lower body part)
obi – the sash that ties the kimono
Shogi - Japanese chess or the Generals' Game, a two-player strategy board game in the same family as Western chess.
Mahjong - a Chinese game played, usually by four people, with 136 or 144 rectangular pieces called tiles.
Thank you for reading yet another chapter everyone! I'm sorry if this one took a bit longer, I was away from home and my computer. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and that it wasn't too boring or predictable since it's based on cannon. I always try to write some additional scenes or changes from the cannon to keep it more interesting. Thank you everyone for the wonderful reviews, I'm always happy to know what you think of my new chapters! It gives me a good insight on how I'm doing with the story. ^^
TheaTheGiraffe: First of all, welcome to the site. I hope you'll have some wonderful writing experiences here; I know I did. I'm sure you'll like it, the community is really nice. :) I'm also very grateful that you took the time to read and review the story. It's true, the chapters aren't always easy to write, but I have fun with it and I hope you will have as much fun reading it. Don't worry, even if I don't always post regularly due to other obligations, I have no intentions of giving up on the story. It would be a shame, after all the time and thought I put into it. ^^ Finally, thank you for all the lovely wishes and I wish you all the best as well. I agree that sometimes it's easy to forget why you even started writing and what your motives were then. It's just as you say; as long as you're happy with your story and have fun writing it, then all is well. Because firstly, you write for yourself. :)
Guest: Thanks for reading and reviewing! :D
Orion's Left Arm: Thanks for the review! Yep, you're right, some of the scenes are taken from the manga/anime, but I put them in different time or situation. Just to mix things up a bit, so I don't have to follow exactly with the plot and just copy everything from cannon. :P I thought it might be more interesting to read like this. Heh, I wanted so hard to make Law beat the crap out of Mingo on that bridge. :( Damn you cannon, daaamn youuu! Thanks, I'll check it out. I proofread it a bit fast so I must've missed some mistakes. :/ Thanks for reading! :D
Red knight 2004: I have some other plans for Miyako. ;)
Bioware: I'm glad I was able to incorporate her so well into the cannon. ^^ Well, everybody knows how the Arc goes, so I try to keep the copying of the plot to a minimum, so it wouldn't get boring. I'm really happy to hear that, I hope your writing goes well. I wish you all the best in it and don't forget to have fun while writing! :D
Haha, maaaybe. ;) Wouldn't that be a twist! Unfortunately no, I'm not that lucky to have Oda-sensei's talents. ^^'
Xliaf: heh, I know what you mean. I miss the whole Hearts crew too and writing about their adventures. But don't worry, I'm sure there will be plenty of time for that too (I know I have plenty of ideas, at least :D). And who knows, I might be able to write an original plot for a filler or two with the Strawhats, Law and Miyako after this Arc. :) Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! I hope you enjoy this chapter as well!
Lawfan: I hope this one wasn't too long of a wait. At least it's longer. :P Enjoy!
Bizzy: I totally imagine him being a picky eater now. XD Thanks, I just hope I will make this arc interesting for you all. Hehe You'll just have to wait and see what happens. ;) I did that, I have no idea who drew it in the cannon, they didn't say yet. I just tried to find a plausible explanation why the map would look so crappy. XD Thanks for reviewing!
Trainer Azurite: I agree, maybe that's why he actually gets along with Luffy. They're more alike than Law would like to admit. :P I might write some, but then they won't be chapters in this story, but stand as a story for themselves. Like I did with "How to Celebrate Christmas the Pirate Way." Thanks for commenting and reading! Hope you like this chapter as well!
Hitoshirezu Ryu: Thanks, I was trying to find a catchy nickname about some feature that stands out on her, hence Ribbonland. :) And Miyako certainly had practice with interpreting all kinds of funny accents during her voyage with the Hearts. I'm glad you caught the emotions behind the scene with Law, I really wanted to show how desperate he was to defeat Doflamingo, and not just for his revenge, but also his crew. I'm happy that you liked it. Thanks for continuing to read my story and reviewing!
Lucy Jacob: Hehe I'm glad. then here's another one! :D
I know what you mean; Oda-sensei has been giving us small heart attacks throughout this Arc, every time it looked like Law would die. Thanks for reading and the review! I hope you enjoy this chapter too, and have a good rest of the summer!
ZeroHibiscus: That's no problem, I'm glad that you're reading my story. Thank you very much for the review. ^^ I feel the same; since we already know what happens, just copying the cannon would be boring. So hopefully, adding a new perspective to the story that isn't in the cannon will make it more interesting. And I think your feelings will prove right. ;) Oh, you too? :( The same here, another heat wave is coming. At this point, I try not to go out before sunset. XD
Maisaahamdan: You'll find out more about them in this chapter anyway. :D She has great respect for him. You'll have to wait a bit more before learning all of Miyako's past, though. :P But Law's will definitely be revealed. Thanks for reading and reviewing! Enjoy your summer!
Chocogirl24: Hope I didn't keep you waiting for long! Enjoy! :D
Guest: I know exactly how you feel. :') Imagine having to write it! Sometimes I just want to change it all and let Law kick Doflamingo's ass. I had to contain myself from it when writing the fighting scene on the bridge.
SphereShadow: Thank you! And thanks for reading and reviewing! :D
Apple Bloom: Yep, yep. :D
Reflected Darkness: I feel the same way about writing it; I think I'll be emotional just writing the chapters about it. Yeah, I guess their next move will be Big Mom now.