The Gate to Kisho

Tohru's Diary

Day 7 continued: As Evian snoozed at midday (which didn't seem so in the mist, but we were quick to get out), Zato decided to make him a member of the crew, saying it would be to their advantage if they did so.

Yet still, while Evian roamed about awake, the two of them didn't come on good terms…

Zato also agreed that we had seriously gone off course. Now we were to make another stop before reaching the Gate of Kisho – a gloomy island known as Smoke Island.

Chapter 16

Smoke Island?

"A sword master?" said Fuyu.

Evian nodded. "Yeah, there's an old man who gives swords to the best of warriors… and he accepts challenges."

"Old man? Then I won't shatter what dignity he has left," Fuyu replied. Clank! Fuyu's reflexes (and instinct) allowed him to bring his right sword up to block Tohru's rod, without him even moving any other muscle. "You really have a tendency of hitting people."

Zato climbed down from the viewing post and sat beside Mike. "He said he's met Captain Warren, didn't he?"

Mike sighed, yawned, and nodded at the same time, giving him an awkward expression on his face. "Yeah… but I'd rather not think about it now. Shouldn't we get off the ship now and go look around this island?"

Zato did the same as Mike before getting up and pointed to Smoke Town's entrance. "Who'll keep watch on the ship?"

Evian immediately volunteered but was given a glare by Zato, Fuyu, and Mike. "Geez, I'm just tryin' to help. Gosh.. you're make me feel bad!" Mike interrupted him quickly. "I'll stay back and keep watch. Ya'll go on."

\/\/-\/\/

Tohru and Zato decided to head down the west road of the town, knowing that neither of them would be able to travel with Evian without the result of blood.

Fuyu and Evian took the east road – an awkward combination. "Waha, Fuyu you're such a cool guy!"

"Shut your trap or I'll skin you alive," Fuyu muttered. "I'm not really in the mood for talking. I'm just here to find this sword master. So lead the way!"

"Wahaahaa!" Evian roared. "You need to be more relaxed. And besides, if you killed me…"

"I wouldn't have to live with your annoying voice in my head," Fuyu responded.

Evian sighed. "Wow, thanks. Way to make me feel like shit."

Meanwhile, Mike lay curled up in a small furball, exhausted from the events at Mistrap. "Captain… where are you?" he whispered. "Hopefully we'll cross paths. You must… meet Zato Alba."

"Do not worry, Mike. I am with you… spiritually!" Warren's voice replied, reverberating through his head.

Mike immediately jumped up and looked around. "I can swear… I heard his voice…!"

Tohru paced between the two different malls, wondering which was the better deal. "Better for higher price… not as sweet but cheap! What should I do? Probably the cheaper… but the expensives are just gorgeous!"

Zato rolled his eyes and walked off, but he was knocked down by a hurrying kid. "Hey! Watch it!" That was when he realized why the rush…

Two large men, both dressed in black suits, came charging by with suitcases in their hands. "Get back here, runt!"

"Help!" the kid yelped.

"Anyone who assists this child will be arrested. We serve the World Government!" the larger of the two roared. "The Blackbelt Twins, hailing from South Blue's Karate Island! I am…"

"Shutup and catch the twerp!" his younger twin (by only a few seconds) screeched, and they continued dashing off.

Zato wiped the dust off his shorts and glew red with anger. "Block Block Blast!" An explosion occurred and sent Zato soaring straight into the back of the younger twin, knocking him over. "So much for arresting me, you fool."

"Moko!" the elder shouted. "Who are you?" he roared, facing Zato now. "Well, that doesn't matter. I am Blackbelt Yoko! Feel the wrath of my Karate…"

Thwack! Zato slid and did an uppercut kick move. Yoko came down from the air and landed right on his head. "Geez, are you serious about being with the government?"

The child now sat huddled up beside a tree, sobbing, "Keep them away! Keep them away!"

Tohru, who had retreated from her "mall dilemma", sat down beside him. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"Those two… Woko and Koko, those freaky karate freaks.. they're a lying and cunning duo!"

'Er… am I supposed to know what you're talking about?' Tohru thought. "Don't worry. If there's some people bugging you, my crew'll take care of them easily."

The next moment she was running from a mob roaring, "PIRATES! CATCH THEM BEFORE THEY KILL US ALL!"

Moko and Yoko got up and scowled. "Damn those runts! Both got away… now we're gonna be stumped!"

Pow! Pow Pow! Both collapsed all of a sudden from bullets. Standing behind them was a legendary figure… to be feared. "You cowards stand no chance against pirates. That's why you don't deserve to stay as the World Government's underlings. You're just a disgrace. So here ends the tale of the heroic Blackbelt Twins… oh wait, they never even had a tale." The brutal and ferocious Vice-Admiral Agora, son of Admiral Akainu, growled with saliva dripping from his large teeth.

"It's ironic how Smoker came from a relatively peaceful town here. What inspired him to become the commodore he is… who knows?"

Zato held his position behind a boulder and watched as Agora walked into the center of town. "Three from the World Government at this island? And that one seems stronger and meaner than the ones we've met up to this point. Plus… what did they want with that kid?"

"Excuse me," the child whispered into his air, startling Zato. "Wait! Please! I want to thank you for saving me!"

Zato nodded and asked, "What did they want with you?"

"I overheard their conversation, saying something about a Star Crew nearby. It didn't seem like bad information! I mean, they wanted to catch pirates! They're good!"

Zato sighed and patted the boy on his shoulder. "What's your name?"

"Milo. By the way, there was this girl who's a pirate! The mob chased her! How 'bout we go help catch her?"

Zato's eyes bulged and he immediately darted in the direction Agora went. "Tohru!"

\/\/-\/\/

"Hello dear. You don't happen to be a member of the Star Pirate Crew, do you?" Agora whispered. Tohru was cornered in an alley.. but surprisingly this man found her before the mob did. She gulped and scooted back to the fence. 'Crud… I'll cornered. I could climb this fence….'

"Running won't work, missy. If you haven't realized, I'm a man going by the name Agora."

Tohru's eyes bulged and she felt weak. Standing before her was a tough figure, large teeth, pierced ears, large body, red coat. "Agora.. the Vice-Admiral? What are you… doing here?"

"It's good that you know me. Now, speak up before you face the gates of Hell! Where is Zato…"

"I'm not a pirate!" she cried. Agora pulled out his gun and began to reload it, giving Tohru a shock. "Go ahead then! Kill me! You won't get anything out of me though!"

"Alright then," Agora muttered. He fired.

Fuyu and Evian immediately stopped at the sound of gunfire. "What the hell!" Fuyu shouted.

"It's coming from the road the other two went on!"

Agora sighed and walked off. "People these days. They should value their lives. Rather than giving them up in that simple manner. Oh whatever, catching Alba won't be very difficult."

"And you honestly think that shot did it?" a masculine voice replied from Tohru's location. Agora chuckled and spun around.

"Zato Alba. I should've known you'd jump into the scene immediately. Well then, I guess I'll get an easy bounty here. Ever since I heard from those at Rogueport about your Devil Fruit Powers, I took a particular interest in your profile."

Zato had taken the shot directly, but he was perfectly fine. In a flash Fuyu and Evian both landed to his sides, each arming themselves with their swords and lightning staff respectively. "Alright, Star Crew. This aught to show ya'll my proficiency with electricity!" Evian hissed.

Fuyu recognized the enemy at once and took a step back. "Red Snake Agora, if I'm not mistaken. Zato, do you know…"

"Yes," the captain said, cutting him off. "Unfortunately this town isn't fond of pirates, and he happened to be amongst the crowd that chased Tohru here."

Tohru, finally reviving from the shock, pushed herself off the ground and joined her friends as they formed a line against Agora. Suddenly, the admiral fired another bullet, scattering the crew as they jumped to all different directions.

Fuyu kicked off the side alley wall and flipped over Agora, landing behind him. He immediately swung his blades around and went for his opponent. Clank! Surprisingly, he was countered by a staff similar to Evian's, only Agora's was bloody red and had a flaming network of textures and patterns. "Fuyu Sashimi, you'll be the first to perish!"

Without warning, a burst of flames exploded in front of Fuyu. Agora spun his staff around and knocked out a large blade from the end. With it, he smashed both of Fuyu's weapons out of his hands and moved for the kill…

"Lightning Ball!" Evian shouted, which was enough of a warning for Agora to get out of the way. From Evian's staff, a sphere of electricity zipped down and hit the ground, sparking another explosion. Agora began to dash up the wall, so Evian followed and did the same with his mystic ability. He swung his staff again and again, sending a series of lightning balls straight at Agora.

The admiral stopped right there, turned around (holding his balance while standing on a vertical slope), and batted each static sphere back at Evian. "Damn!" he shouted before falling victim to Agora's skill.

"Block Block Burst!" Zato cried, and he managed to nail Agora. Tohru put her two rods together and swung them right at the vice-admiral's head. Before the blow was successful, Agora himself incinerated and reappeared back where Fuyu stood.

"Don't think I was through with you," he muttered. Agora brought the staff down, but missed as Fuyu rolled to the side and snatched one of his swords.

"Zato! We made a mistake in fighting this guy!" Fuyu shouted while holding Agora back in a short duel. Evian himself was stuck unable to move; Tohru and Zato raced down to help their crewmates.

Fuyu swung left and right, unable to make a clean hit, and eventually attempted to slide across the ground to get his second sword. 'Damn! There's no way we could fight this guy!' he thought. 'We need to get out of here…!'

Zato came from behind and yelled, "Block Star Spin!" Agora prepared for the blow and quickly caught Fuyu by the hands. Zato realized too late that Fuyu was being held as a shield, and unfortunately collided into his comrade. The two continued soaring back out of the alley.

A few citizens noticed and shrieked when Agora suddenly flickered beside them, his staff ready. "Wait… isn't that Fuyu Sashimi?" one man cried.

"Zato Alba too!"

"No wonder Vice-Admiral Agora is here!"

"Stay away! Agora's the type that spares none!"

"He may even kill us!"

Zato cursed… it was over for him. Agora brought the staff down.

Then, he blanked out.

\/\/-\/\/

"Vice-Admiral Agora!" a voice yelped. "That man was Agora?"

"Yeah… I hope they'll be alright. Are you sure your 'medicine' worked?"

"I'm sure. They weren't too bad. Evian and Fuyu suffered the most. Evian seemed in pain all over, while Fuyu had some second-degree burns. We really have to be careful."

Zato finally opened his eyes, realizing where he was. "Tohru… Mike?" He could hear the sound of the ocean. "We set sail? But what about… Smoke Island?"

Mike walked up to him and insisted that he continued resting. "Well, you were the only one that was knocked out. Fuyu suffered, but he was conscious so that helped. Tohru helped Evian get away. Agora slammed you in the head with his staff, but I arrived before he could seriously finish you off. He was… 'intrigued' by my transforming powers. Luckily, I carried you and Fuyu back here. We got the ship moving immediately – one marine ship tailed us for a bit."

Zato's eyes bulged. "That much happened?"

"Yup," Tohru sighed. "Evian had to use up his last Lightning Sphere, and luckily it damaged their ship so badly, chasing us wasn't in their agenda anymore."

Zato shut his eyes, going back to rest. 'Nakama. We are a close crew. But it isn't enough. What happened at Smoke Island shows me that we aren't strong enough as a crew.'

And so, the ship sailed from a rough day, heading north to whatever obstacle that faced them next. The crew, battered down from their fighting that day, rested, and they experienced a full moonlit night on the way to the final portion of Lightblue Sea – the Gate of Kisho!"

A rough battle leaves Zato weakened and crushed. Knowing that the pirate world is filled with more than just simple enemies, such as the former gang and the Light Kirra Tribe, they move with the goal of gaining strength – physically and spiritually.

Next Time! – Last Step!