Kitsune here with the next chapter! Sorry about how long that took, everyone. Things happened. Lots of them. Like getting really badly bitten by my iguana…. I'm alright though! And I didn't kill the lizard. Some of you wanted to see the tattoo I got. So I'm posting a picture on my tumblr page. Go there and if it's not on the front page search "Tattoo". Also, I'm treating you all to a bit of Brook. He didn't leave right away, sometime right before the fight with Ace. So…. Yeah it just didn't fit in the last chapter, sorry.
Question of the chapter: "What fantasy item to you wish was real?" Right now? Healing potions!
Introlude of Brook
Brook strolled along the deck of the Moby Dick, humming to himself as he went. The fact that most of the Whitebeard Pirates avoided him would have bothered him once upon a time, but that was before he'd met Luffy and the others. What should he care for the silly fears of others if his crew accepted him? Better still if he could use that fear to the Strawhat's advantage. True, at first some of his crewmates had been… wary of his appearance. He could easily understand that, and they'd all grown past that quickly. He couldn't very well judge when he'd found Franky a tad frightening himself afterall. Luffy, though. Luffy was special. Sometimes he wondered if maybe the young Captain saw him not as a pile of bones held together and animated by a devil fruit but possibly as he once was? It was a foolish thought and one he dismissed more often than not but sometimes he wondered just what went on in his Captain's head. How different he must see the world.
"It's unusual to see you on deck, Brook, was it?" A voice cut through his musing.
Turning his head he saw the great Captain, Whitebeard, watching him. "Excuse me. It's such a vast ship there are plenty of places for me to stay where I find I am less of a distraction."
"Ahhh. Then I should thank you for your kindness towards my children." The man waved him over and gestured for him to sit. "Do you often have to hide on your own ship?"
Even seated Brook felt his spine stiffen. If he'd still had flesh on his face he would have been scowling. As it were his clipped words would have to be enough. "There is no need to hide on Thousand Sunny. I am a Strawhat Pirate, sir."
"But before you were a Rumbar Pirate." Whitebeard took a sip of his drink, "I'd heard of you: 'The Humming Swordsman' Brook. Your crew was an inspiration."
"Thank you. They were good men." They sat a moment in silence that was soon filled by Brook as the fellow began to hum softly.
"Some of my sons have wondered why a pirate of such notoriety as yourself would follow Strawhat."
"Because he asked." Came the simple, honest answer. Truly there was more to it than that and Whitebeard could obviously tell if his laugh was anything to go by. No seasoned pirate would just join a rookie for such a frivolous reason; not even Brook after his long isolation.
Once the laughter between the two had died down to a chuckle the younger Pirate spoke. "Ah. A good reason. I'll be sure to tell them." Gold eyes twinkled in humor and Brook found himself wishing he could have met the man forty years ago. They'd have gotten on well he thought. "Your boy-Captain is something."
"Luffy-San allows us to be strong." Brook paused, trying to explain to the man. "He puts his trust in you, and you won't, no can't, let him down. At times he is the kindest person I have ever met." The skeleton laughed, "and yet the most selfish. As capricious as the seas; and the only one I deem fit to rule it."
"Yet he was defeated at Sanbody."
Brook winced, his voice turning mournful, "that was our fault, not Luffy-San's. We were not strong enough to protect ourselves. A good Captain protects their crew," Whitebeard nodded to this, "and Luffy is the best kind of Captain. He would not leave us, even as we slowed him down. So, we must get stronger."
The great Captain seemed to think on his words as he took a long drink from his mug. "Is that why you're leaving your Captain's side and sailing out with my sons on the raid tomorrow?"
"Yes. If I stay here I'll just hold him back right now." Brook allowed a bit of a smile to enter his voice, "But we'll be back for him. You might wish him for a son, but our Luffy-San belongs to the Strawhats first."
"Heard about that, did you?" Whitebeard grinned. "It sounds like your Captain isn't the only selfish one on your crew."
"Of course not. We're Pirates after all." Brook stood, dusting off his pants even though there was no need before bowing politely to Whitebeard. It had been nice talking with the man, and he thought maybe he understood just what drove the small crew to such lengths. It truly did his heart good to know he was leaving Luffy in these hands - though he had no heart - because this was a man who would fight just as fiercely as they to protect what he'd claimed as his. "A man can't serve on two crews. But a family is perhaps is different than a crew."
"Perhaps." The larger man agreed.
"Please - Take care of him for us! He is more than just our Captain; he is our friend, or saviour, our Luffy-San." Bones creaked as Brook clenched a fist, "We, I, can not lose him!"
There was a pause and when Brook dared to look up Whitebeard was looking at him with warm eyes. "He can't lose you, either. So be careful out there." He nodded, "Now go find the brat. You leave at dawn and I'm sure you two aren't done terrorizing my crew."
"Yohohohohoo~ You're right. Well then. Excuse me." Bowing once more, because it was only polite in the face of such a noble Captain, Brook turned and left, a spring in his step that hadn't been there when he'd come out on deck. He'd find Luffy-San and together the two of them would raise merry hell today and party all night for tomorrow Brook would leave his Captain behind. Now though, he was sure he was leaving the young man in capable hands. Even if Whitebeard might not quite understand what he'd signed up for. But that was alright - few ever did when they got involved with Luffy-San.
IZO
It was much too early to even begin thinking about watch for most of his brothers, but Izo was up. It was only natural he was one of the earlier risers on board, what with his quite elaborate beauty routine. Even he had to admit it was a bit much some days, but there was something soothing about the simple steps of applying makeup layer by layer until the face he wanted to show the world was presented. The kimono was much the same way with it's folds, pleats, and long obi sash. It all relaxed him. Well, except for the hair. His hair pissed him the fuck off most mornings. Which is why he did it first. Honestly it might be shiny enough, but it had no body, no life of it's own. It would just lay there flat and boring if he let it. Stupid hair. He envied Thatch and the wave his hair had, not that he'd ever tell him.
Being up so early had the added benefit of being able to catch one of the dozen or so news coo that stopped by the ship to drop off the papers and get a copy before one of his many siblings had. It meant a paper without missing pages, coffee stains, rips, or whatever else they do to it. Slipping a waiting coo the required beli he pulled a paper out and snapped it open to see a headline that was more than guaranteed to wake him up if he wasn't already.
Strawhat Luffy joined Whitebeards?!
"This could be a problem…" Calmly Izo made his way over to a barrel and sat before daring to read the paper. He'd known that Thatch and that little idiot had run into some Marines, but he'd been hoping - along with a good number of the crew - that they'd be too embarrassed by the defeat to broadcast it. It looked like it was a foolish wish.
'The Supernova was spotted on Fie Island in the company of the Fourth Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, 'Lightning Strike' Thatch.
"Well, at least they got his Epitaph right this time." Izo muttered darkly. Thatch had gotten a little sulky last time they had misprinted it, and in retaliation the crew had sunk a few Marine ships.
The two merciless Pirates annihilated a squadron of Marines who were valiantly trying to protect the island, only leaving half alive. Just what does this mean? Has Strawhat Luffy abandoned his crew after he cowardly flead Sabaody to join Whitebeard?'
Izo scowled at the paper, taking offence to the wording. For all that the Strawhat brat was a pain, he was no coward. The idea of him fleeing any battle was ludicrous, even without knowing the whole story. Knowing what he did, well. His brothers and sisters weren't going to take kindly to the insinuation that they'd recruit a coward into their crew at any rate. As if the thoughts had summoned him, the little rubber idiot appeared on deck with a cheer that was downright grating this early in the morning.
"What are you doing, brat?"
Grinning the boy turned to him and trotted over. "Izo! Hi!"
"Yes. Hi." He tried not to smile in reply as he folded the paper. No reason to encourage the brat. "You still haven't answered my question."
"Mm? Oh. I raided the kitchen. Shihihihi."
"... Didn't Thatch lock up the kitchen?"
"Yep. Sanji does that too. Once, he put this super big mouse trap in front of the fridge, the big meanie. I just wanted a midnight snack. Ah, but it's morning now. So it should be fine. They're gonna cook breakfast soon, right?"
Izo took a calming breath before whacking the brat with the rolled up newspaper. It wasn't anywhere near as satisfying as he was hoping, mostly because the kid just laughed it off. Still, it didn't stop him from hitting Luffy again as he scolded him. "You're not supposed to raid the kitchen! If they're going to start cooking breakfast wait a little longer and then go eat! You little monster you're going to eat all our food at this rate!"
"I left plenty for everyone else!"
Izo raised an eyebrow. "Enough for Ace, even?"
The teen pouted, looking away. Obviously they were still fighting. "If Ace wanted some he should have gotten up with me."
"And I'm sure you woke him." Luffy wouldn't meet his eyes, and Izo sighed. "How long are you going to be mad at him?"
"I'm not mad. I just want him to let me have fun, too!"
The commander wagged the newspaper at the young Captain, "The kind of fun that ends up with a bunch of dead Marines and you in the paper?"
"I made the paper? Cool!" He made to grab it but Izo wasn't a Commander for nothing.
"I'm not done with this. Hands off, brat." He flicked Luffy between the eyes. "And yes, you and Thatch are both in the paper. You do realize this is the sort of thing Ace was trying to prevent?"
He received a shrug in reply. "What's it say? Come on tell me!"
"The usual drivel about big bad Pirates picking on Marines." The older Pirate pursed his lips, "they called you a coward at Shabondy, brat." When there was no reaction to that even he was a little weirded out. Most Pirates didn't take kindly to such words and even Izo had been offended on his behalf.
"Is that it?"
"Apparently they believe you've joined our crew."
A definitive nod, "Good." Before he could ask what the brat meant by that Luffy grinned. "Hey, did my bounty go up? Did it? Come on, tell me…"
"Your bounty? Why would it go up?"
"Because I was in the paper!" Luffy chirped.
Izo was beginning to think maybe he should have slept in this morning and saved himself some hastle. "It doesn't work that way, you idiot."
Dark eyes stared at him as the teen cocked his head to the side (cutely. God, why did it have to be cute?), "But it's always gone up before when I was in the paper."
"That does not make it a rule." Seeing the return of the pout he relented, "Maybe next time, though."
"Oh! Ok! I'm gonna go tell Ace I was in the paper! Wanna come?"
"No, I just got my hair the way I like it and I'd like to keep it that way for a few hours more. Thanks anyway, brat."
"See you at breakfast then, Izo!"
"Sure." As the teen trotted off Izo called out, "why is it good?" To the blank look, "That the paper said you've joined our crew."
A wide happy grin answered him, "Cause Franky Usopp and Nami'll see it." He laughed. "Nami's gonna be pissed. She makes the best faces."
"Right…" Izo agreed as Luffy turned and went racing to wake his brother up. Opening the paper again he thought to himself, he couldn't have planned this, right? Before resigning himself to the idea that if Ace couldn't predict his brother, he didn't have a chance.
Ace
This was a bad idea. He didn't care what Thatch or Marco said, letting his idiot little brother spar against the crew was going to end up with someone hurt. More than likely it was going to end up with Luffy hurt or worse, and Ace just couldn't handle that. Not again. Sabo had been right, he was shit at being a big brother and Luffy had every reason to be pissed at him. He was trying though, dammit! It was hard to be a good big brother and to know when to be protective and when to let go!
There really needed to be a rulebook or some shit about this. He watched Luffy toss three crewmen across the deck, one overboard, "Of course I'd just have to toss it out with him as a little brother…"
"Still freaking out about letting your darling little brother spar?" Thatch teased as he sat down next to Ace.
Like the white knuckles weren't a giveaway? Marco had threatened to throw him overboard if he interfered again. "Of course I'm worried! It's Luffy! Have you met my brother, Thatch?"
The pompadoured man laughed easily. "He is something. What, I'm not sure. But something. Really Ace, don't worry so much. Everyone we're letting spar with the little guy knows better than to bust him up too badly. They'd have to answer to you and Marco and me and Numar and Haruta and Izo and Pops. No one is that stupid." He grinned, "Except maybe for you. And maybe Luffy."
"Accidents can still happen." He stubbornly replied.
"Don't you trust Luffy? You were singing his praises before he got here, brother."
Ace bit his lip, wincing slightly as his little brother narrowly avoided getting cut in half only to be kicked back into another opponent. "I do. It's just. Teach is after him, and Lu's such a trouble magnet as it is… After hearing about the things that idiot has done - without a second thought!..."
"It's only natural to be worried about him I guess." Thatch agreed and he felt some of the tension ease out of him. "That's why we gotta make sure he's strong enough for what's coming, right? He's not just your little brother anymore-"
"Yeah yeah. I know he's a super rookie. Captain of the Strawhats-"
"That too." Thatch agreed, "I was gonna say he's our little brother, too, now."
Ace looked at his friend, surprised. "What?"
Thatch laughed, "You think Pops was letting him stay just because you asked?" Yeah, actually he kinda had… "He likes the brat. Your brother makes one hell of an impression. And you know how Pops is. Once he claims someone…"
Ace had to laugh himself at that. He'd learned the hard way that there was no dissuading the world's strongest when he wanted something, be it booze or a son. "Poor Luffy…"
"Yeah. Now he's got hundreds of overprotective big brothers and sisters." Thatch stood, slapping him on the back hard enough to sting. "We're gonna make sure he's ready for anything, just you watch."
"But are our ship-brothers really ready for a little brother like that?" Ace asked, pointing to where Luffy had somehow managed to get tangled up with two other people.
"... Probably not. But we'll manage. You did, after all."
He did, didn't he? And yeah, he might not be the best big brother… And he and Luffy fought sometimes, but his kid brother knew he had his back. He'd do anything for Luffy, and he supposed that had to include letting him fight his crewmembers. Even if he didn't like it. He'd apologize for doubting Luffy later. "Yeah, you're right."
