The Gate to Kisho
Tohru's Diary
Day 4: With much enthusiasm, the four of us entered the lovely Commence Town, said to be a common spot for tourists and rarely ever pirates. Luckily we don't have a ship yet so we shouldn't be recognized – this town is not one for pirates. But this is the town where we will stock up on everything. I'm ready to see Mike Jinsoku's pirate skills… what sort of profession will he get? He spoke something of medicine earlier…
Chapter 12
Four Sail to Sea
Mike seemed shy as he made his way through the early streets of the town. Fuyu looked around in a casual manner – hands in pocket, slow steps, not in any rush. On the other hand, Tohru and Zato…
"Stop making fun of my height, it's not like you're that tall!" Tohru spat in his face.
Zato put up an obnoxious look and turned his head away, his arms crossed and his weapons neatly tucked into their sheaths as he ambled behind Fuyu. "If Marines catch us in this town, you'll probably put up that humorous innocent act again."
Several bystanders suddenly put up suspicious looks, causing Fuyu to grab Zato and mutter, "Shut it or you'll attract attention."
"Look what you've done… talking this close is gonna attract even more," Zato responded. He spoke correctly – four men in black had posted themselves in a ring around the crew.
"Ya'll seem too guilty to be just some children having fun. Especially because I see a man carrying two swords in the middle of this jumble."
"And what's with the black cat? Trying to spread bad charms around this town?"
Mike put up a ferocious face, ready to pounce on the man who had just spoken, when Zato put his foot in the way. "Be a good boy and don't fight," Zato whispered before facing the men.
"Ahaha, sir, we're just tourists on our way for a shopping spree. And he's… our bodyguard. Rather grumpy fellow he is, eh Fuyu?"
Both Fuyu and Mike put up dirty looks – Tohru had revealed Fuyu's identity. "Nice going, brat," Fuyu hissed, getting a grip on his swords.
The tallest of the four men pointed down the road, and the other three nodded. They immediately began to walk in that direction. "I don't know what you're up to, but just know that in the end, justice is always served in this town."
As the last of their sudden enemies jostled away, Tohru put up a confused look. "What was that about?"
Zato looked around all of a sudden, sensing something. He returned to his normal state of consciousness and faced the group once more. "Tohru brought up a good point – we need to stock up on supplies here."
As the crew spread about the town, a figure swept through the dark aisles. Stopping beside a dumpster, he opened his palm and turned on the Den Den Mushi. "Captain, I have a marking on all three members – Zato Alba, Tohru Makino, and Fuyu Sashimi. The government has a secret facility here. Shall I continue with the plan?"
"Yes, Raiga. With the government as their enemies, there's no chance they'll escape. Send them towards this dark island!"
The Den Den Mushi shut off and Raiga continued moving, now towards the government office. Standing at the nearby corner, Mike watched in puzzlement. 'Enemies..? I'll warn Zato then first." As soon as Mike turned around, he realized that the group had split up. "That's if I can find Zato first…"
Tohru paced back and forth from shop to shop, trying to find the latest fashions at the cheapest prices. "Darn… not here either."
A mob suddenly crashed out of the local store, taking her down in the way, and darted towards a recently installed statue in the center of the plaza. Hundreds of fangirls screamed at the sight of the legendary pirate Oguri Shun… or at least his statue. "OH MY GOSH!" Tohru screamed, rushing to the side of the crowd.
Unknown to her distracted eyes, Raiga slowly crept by, coming closer and closer to the government building.
Mike darted from alley to alley, store to store, house to house, anywhere to anywhere, hoping he could find Zato.
Fuyu lay relaxed on the seashore, resting in a well-set hammock under the umbrage of two large and trees. "It feels great to be away from chaos."
Mike entered a string store and began to play with a ball of yarn on the floor. The owner quickly flung him out the window and locked the doors. 'I'd transform and beat that guy, but Zato said not to attract attention… ZATO!'
Tohru attempted to squish through the crowd, but she was only pushed back further. "Argh, you guys sure know how to piss me off."
Raiga finally entered the West Government's base. "I have some fine news for you, but it only comes for a small token."
Tohru made a final attempt at reaching the statue, but a second noise brought her back to pirate consciousness. The doors to the government building slammed open and Marines began to pour out. "I don't like the sight of this," Tohru muttered.
"Maybe if you hadn't been wasting your time all along, you'd have found out!" a voice roared hysterically. "Down there!" Raiga pointed from the roof. "That girl is one of Zato's crew members!"
The Marines stopped and formed a large circle around the crowd that encircled the statue. "What's going on?" citizens began crying. "Why are the Marines…?"
Tohru had finally managed to get into the crowd, and luckily she stuck herself in the center. 'I should be safe here…'
"Psst! Tohru, you'll definetly be safe being that small!" another voice whispered. Tohru nearly jumped at the sight of Mike right beneath her. She put up an angry look, ready to choke him for pointing out her size. "Wait! I heard someone named Raiga speaking on a Den Den Mushi! The same one as that man on the roof!"
Tohru looked up and gasped. "He's back??"
"He was speaking to someone superior to him, talking about how they'd report us to the government. With the government as our enemies, there's no way we'd survive!" Mike cried.
"Quick, Mike. Transform and we can get out of here!"
Raiga leapt down from his position, but before he could enter the crowd, Mike exploded upwards with rage in his massive form. A single roar caused the mob to scatter and even stunned most of the Marines. "Quick Tohru, go. I'll take care of these guys!"
"You aren't getting away anywhere!" Raiga shouted. "Shoot at them now!"
The Marines immediately took aim, filling both Tohru and Mike's eyes with terror… until: "Block Block Rotation!!"
Zato executed a spiral entrance into the fray and released a ray of energy, reversing each and every bullet before they could escape their guns. Right there in the hands of the Marines, the guns exploded.
"Must've given you a shock. Well, get moving towards the shore. There's a surprise waiting there!" Zato exclaimed. He faced Raiga with a serious look and attacked at once.
"Star Flurry!" Zato cried. He opened and closed his palms rapidly to release energy in short bursts, each appearing in star-like patterns. Raiga soared into the air for a swift dodge and came down only to be headbutted by a direct strike from Mike. "It'd be better for us all to go!"
Zato nodded and joined his comrades in their flee from Commence Town. "Alright guys, here's where our real journey begins. From this point, we are true pirates of the sea. But we couldn't be pirates without a ship!"
Tohru and Mike instantly knew their 'surprise' from the grin on Zato's face. "What did you do in this whole free time?!"
Before Zato could answer, a line of bullets flew over their heads. "Catch them!" Raiga roared. "We cannot live with evil pirates roaming freely!"
Zato spun and yelled, "Star Minefield!" Using a similar hand motion, he scattered clusters of energy across the entire street. "Sorry to you innocent citizens, but we're heading out! Forgive us for whatever trouble we've caused!!"
At last they arrived at the face of the vast blue sea. Yet it was something else that had grasped their attention immediately. Fuyu had even emerged from his hammock to take a look.
A beautiful ship had been anchored at the coast. "I simply pulled a few strings, begged, explained our story, and the ship was ours. It's surely a fine vessel. But there's no time to waste, board at once!"
The mast had already been decorated, depicting a skull hanging upon a large golden star. A five-pronged diamond filled the main section of the bow, and the lar and starboards both held extendable ladders for extra reach.
Raiga managed to arrive at the coast… only to see the Star Crew near the horizon. With Tohru taking hold of the wheel, it glided in a majestic manner through the grand sea!
"I must apologize, Captain," Raiga muttered. "Zato Alba is much more of a threat than I had imagined. And the Marines themselves are rather useless. I should've gone myself and stopped them."
"Do not worry, the plan has just begun. There's no way Zato will be able to match my power – I am the Lightning Thief, remember? I have journeyed to the gates of Hell and back. I will not simply be defeated by Zato."
"But there still remains a secondary threat, right? If the rumors are true, then Akaiso Works could possibly go against most of our plans!"
"Ignore Akaiso. There is something special about Mr. 2. Raiga, do you know of the legendary Shikaku no Kazan?"
"So he did survive. It's alright, things will be fine. Eliminate Akaiso and Zato, those are the only two of our tasks."
"By the way… we're going with the secondary plan. That way… I can get closer to Zato Alba."
Raiga and his mysterious Captain continue plotting. But the Star Crew heads off for their great adventure!
Enjoy and review!