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Chapter 4: Help From Friends?

Aro shifted her feet while watching the die come at her. She knew she couldn't stop it, but she had to do something. Moving her arm slightly, the scythe sunk into the wood with ease. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion for her. A voice came, and she didn't recognize it; at first. "Hissatsu Namari Boshi!" A pachinko ball flies past her head, and hits the die half way from getting to her. It exploded. Aro held on to her scythe while the flames licked around her and soon died down. She looked back at the shooter while there was a chance. The marksman on the Straw-Hat Crew stood there, sling shot out, and a nervous grin on his face. She noticed, also, that the rest of the people were gone.

"That thing was heading right for us," He said in a shaky voice and trailing off.

"Thank you." Aro said, quickly, looking back to see a large card standing where Guzen was. She frowned and pulled her scythe from the ground. She approached it slowly. "Guzen?" She asked, knowing he wouldn't answer. He was a puppet for Veldoro. She knew why no one got the courage to fight him now. Anyone who tried, and failed, became his servant. She put the tip of her scythe on top of the card, hesitating.

"ARO!"

She looked over to her right, seeing Cap riding up in his now empty cart. "Cap? What—" The sound of metal clicking got her attention back to the card. Another click. She tapped it with the tip of her scythe, and the sound of a hollow metal box sings out from the card. She looked at Cap, and opened her mouth to finish her question when a series of clicks made her jump back from the card. She held her scythe up like a shield. The clicking slowed. She peered around the scythe.

"ARO! Keep Away From It!" Cap called, jumping off the cart a few yards away. Aro could feel her ears trying to perk up under the bini.

"What's in there, Cap?" She came closer to the card.

"Aro!"

Suddenly, the front of the card exploded, sending Aro back a few feet. She let her scythe go, crossing her arms in front of her face to block the heat from the flames that shot out of it. The sounds of gears turning got her to look past the flames at the card. It was folding up to be a die about the size of a fist. The flames soon died. She stared at the die, not sure if she wanted to get close or not. It was face up on the side with a one on it. She frowned. Cap ran up, and slammed his hand on her back. She staggered forward a bit, and turns around, face red with anger. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?!" Everyone who knew Cap knew why no one rebelled against him. His fists could break rocks, shatter trees, and even send waves out like blades if he got angry enough.

"Your back was on fire." Cap said.

Aro blinked, and put one arm over her shoulder and fingered the burnt hole in her coat. "K-KUSO! THIS WAS YOUR COAT!!" She sheathed her scythe and glared at the die that still sat there. "GUZEN NO BAKA!!!" She pulled back her foot, and booted the die out into the water. It fell with a plop.

"Hey."

Cap and Aro turned to the owner's voice. It was Luffy. Aro felt her face flush some. She had forgotten that they were there for the moment. "… Luffy… Please help me save—"

"We're helping, don't worry my lovely." The cook said, coming up and taking Aro's hands. He leaned down to her. "We can't let such a lovely lady fight alone."

Aro gave a small smile. She had seen this man before on wanted posters. "Black Leg" Sanji. Wanted for 77,000,000 Belli. "Thank you."

"Hold it!" The navigator spoke this time. Aro knew her too. Cat burglar Nami. Wanted for 16,000,000 Belli. "What do we get out of it?"

"Free food?" Aro suggested.

"YEAH! FOOD!" Luffy cheered. Aro laughed a little. It was hard to believe that this guy was wanted for 300,000,000 Belli under the name of Straw Hat Luffy.

"One word of food, and he's sold." The first mate spoke, crossing his arms. Aro stared at him, and blinked. A look of surprised crossed her face. Pirate Hunter Zolo, was part of the Straw-Hat Crew with a bounty of 120,000,000 Belli on him. Aro let out a laugh. Cap looked at Zolo, somewhat amused like Aro was. Pirate hunter on a pirate ship.

Aro turned to Luffy, "So, is it a deal? I feed you and your crew, and you all—"

"Just hold on one second," The marksman spoke. Aro looked at him. She didn't know his name, but recognized him as Sogeking; bounty of 30,000,000 Belli. "My crew won't work for just anyone!"

Aro blinked, "Your crew?"

"Yes, my crew!" The marksman stood tall.

Aro got a small smile, and a sarcastic look in her eyes, "I don't think you could hold a crew that well…"

"And why not?"

"One: You just don't seem to fit the part at the moment. Two: When Guzen was still here, your knees were shaking."

Zolo howled with laughter, "She's got you pegged Usopp!" Aro smiled. Cap looked around, seeming to be thinking. Aro's eyes finally turned to him.

"Cap? What's wrong?"

"Just thinking… if this is the crew that you were telling me about… then… perhaps there may be hope for us yet…" Cap looked at her with a small smile. She fell out laughing suddenly, all eyes on her. Cap frowned, "What?"

"Your so cliché." She smiled at him then turned to the Straw-Hats with a grin. "Now, how about that food?"

"Yeah! Meat!" Luffy cheered.

"A good ale." Zolo spoke more to himself.

"If you're paying, then I'm starved." Nami said with a smile.

"Well, what are we waiting for then?" Cap asked, climbing into his cart. "Lets get going." Aro didn't have to be told twice, and jumped onto the very back of the cart. Nami sat next to Cap, while the rest piled in the back. Sanji sat next to where Aro stood, while Zolo sat behind Cap. Luffy sat behind, yet between Nami and Cap while Usopp sat behind Nami. The cart started down the docks.

"Hey, Cap, mind stopping by the end of the docks first?"

"Why?"

"I need to drop my scythe off. Can't take it around town now can I?"

"I guess not."

"Thanks Cap!"

He didn't answer. The cart rolled down the docks, noisy yet silent. Aro watched the water as they rode by. "So," Cap said, "Tell me about your crew, Luffy."

"Sure." Luffy started to talk, giving the cart some conversation. Soon, Cap knew about as much as Aro did about them; with the help of Nami, Zolo, Usopp, and Sanji correcting him that is. They got to the end of the docks, and Aro jumped down, heading to her ship.

She paused, looking around. The weight of everyone else's eyes made her uncomfortable. She ran over to where her ship was, and anger filled her. The last remains of her ship, her one-person sailboat, was the small mast, floating in the water with a few cards sticking out of the wood. She balled her hands up into fists. "Veldoro… Leave him alone…" She muttered, returning to the cart. Her aura was enough for everyone to know what she had seen. No one spoke as the cart started off to a large restaurant.