All I have to say about this chapter is that it's longer than the last. Kasumi made an interesting first impression on the Straw hat crew. What's the worst first impression you've made or had? Lemme know ;D – Shuff
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As Kasumi pulled back the curtain and stepped out into the street, she was momentarily blinded by the brightness of the Sun and greeted by the smell of the salty harbour air. Piper was a fair distance away from the entrance, standing in the street proclaiming the glorious limited offers Le Restaurant des Fortunes had to offer this week. His efforts appeared to be failing, the majority of the public were giving him a wide birth, while those brave enough to venture within ten metres simply pretended he didn't exist. Rather than be downhearted, Piper just got louder, as if he wasn't speaking loud enough already. He wouldn't notice if she slipped away for an hour or two, he rarely did, and so she set off down the street.
When she could no longer hear Piper, Kasumi decided it was safe to find a place to sit, out of the way of any tradesmen. She looked around at all the ships that were docked, and smiled, each day there were different ones, ones with beautiful mermaids with flowing hair carved into them or figure heads of fierce beasts she had only heard of in stories. One ship caught her eye, it was a small caravel class ship, with a cannon in the bow, it was dwarfed by some of the larger ships in the harbour. What drew her attention to the ship was its figurehead. It was a Ram and a cheery looking one at that. As she studied the ship further she noticed something stranger… Were those orange trees growing on the ship? She glanced around, looking for the closest dock with the fewest tradesmen on. She chose the one to the left of where she was standing and sat down, dangling her legs over the edge. Opening her bag she drew out a worn looking sketchbook along with a tin case, containing her pencils, they were short from over usage, but not so short that they could not be used. She studied the ship for a while, noting all it's details, then she began, drawing her pencil so lightly over the paper, they barely even touched.
She was unaware of how long she had been drawing, time seemed to stop when she focused on her art, but she was distracted by a familiar voice in her ear. "Wow! You're good!" Kasumi jumped slightly in surprise, almost dropping her book into the sea, she hadn't realised someone had been behind her. As she turned around she was even more surprised to see the boy from the restaurant crouching down, peering over her shoulder. He grinned, an enormous grin. "Looks just like it." He commented. Kasumi smiled slightly and replied with a simple "Thank you."
"You didn't answer my question from before. Are you a cleaner?" He asked. Kasumi nodded in response. He chuckled "That's good! You should join us!" He said sitting down beside her.
"Join you?" She asked. What did he mean by that? He nodded.
"Mm, I have decided, that you shall join my crew, Nami says we need a cleaner."
Kasumi frowned "What?" That wasn't how these things worked. "No." She said firmly.
"WHAT! I won't allow this!" He yelled, slightly deafening Kasumi in one ear and folded his arms. "We need a cleaner!"
Kasumi sighed; she could tell this was going to be difficult. "And I'm sorry but you'll have to look elsewhere for a cleaner. I've only just met you…"
"Hmm…" The boy thought for a moment. "My name's Luffy." He said holding out his hand. Slowly, Kasumi took it in her grasp and shook it gently. His hand felt strange, it had an almost, rubber feel to it. "Kasumi." Luffy grinned.
"I guess this means we're friends now." Kasumi nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, I guess so."
"So, you'll join us now?" He asked hopefully. Kasumi smiled slightly and sighed.
"Persistent, aren't you?" She thought for a moment "I'll have to think about your offer" She said looking down at the water below. He obviously wasn't going to take 'no' for an answer. "Maybe if I hold out long enough, the marines will realise there are pirates and he'll leave in a hurry without me" She thought to herself. "R-REALLY!?" Luffy exclaimed. Kasumi rubbed her ear and smiled. He didn't seem like a bad person. "Have you decided yet?" He asked. Kasumi laughed slightly, and shook her head. "You're gonna have to wait longer then that for me to decide. Becoming a pirate, is a pretty big decision."
"How long are you gonna make me wait?" Luffy pouted, he was obviously impatient. She shrugged in response. Kasumi closed her sketchbook deciding she wasn't going to get anymore work done and balanced it on her lap as she began to put her pencils back in their case. Luffy observed her for a moment and then let his eyes rest upon the book on her lap. "Can I look?" He said, reaching out a little, ready to take it from her. "Mm sure." Luffy snatched the book from her and began to flick through it, briefly looking over they faces of the people that smiled back out at him from the pages. He 'Ooo'd and 'Aaahh'd" at her work, chorused with gasps of excitement. "You're good!" He said, snapping the book shut and handing it back to her. "Where did you learn to draw like that?" Kasumi smiled, her cheeks reddened slightly at the compliment. She took the book from him and slipped it into her brown shoulderbag. "Self-taught, mostly." She answered.
"Aah" Said Luffy nodding his head slightly "That's so cool… Did you teach yourself to see the future too?" He said after a pause, he tilted his head slightly to the side. Kasumi blinked in surprise. "What do you mean? I just made that stuff up about the money and the women." A slight smile forming on her lips. "That's a shame. I wanted you to teach me how to do it. You looked pretty convincing…" He cast his gaze to the sky. "Pretty convincing?" She parroted.
"Yeah, you got this look about you and then your voice went weird." He softened his voice slightly, attempting to mimic her actions back at the restaurant "I see …Death. In your future"
Kasumi stared at him. She'd seen death in his future? She looked down and stared into her lap while playing with her hands. "That had been a terrible first impression I made…" She thought. "Sorry" She mumbled. "I-I can't help when I do that… " Luffy looked at her
"Eh? So you mean you didn't make that one up?" Kasumi nodded slowly.
"Sometimes when I'm like that, I say things that sometimes come true…but not always…" Luffy grinned, "Two out of three guesses right, isn't so bad. Zoro and Sanji may have bad luck, but I won't die" Speaking of death "You wouldn't happen to know where the execution platform is, would you? I was looking for it and I ended up here." Luffy said with a frown rubbing the back of his head.
"The execution platform?" Kasumi thought, relief washed over her. "That must have been the 'Death' I'd seen. Not actual death, but a place of death!" She said, looking up at Luffy who was grinning madly. "Three out of three!" Luffy cried excitedly, "You have to join us now!"
"I said I'd think about it didn't I?"
Luffy nodded "But you're cool, so you should come with us! We need a cleaner, and you haven't finished drawing my ship yet?"
"Your ship?"
He pointed proudly to the ship with the Ram figurehead and Orange trees. "The Going Merry! It's my ship." Kasumi wasn't surprised that he owned, possibly one of the strangest ships she'd ever seen. "You want me to show you the execution stand?" Maybe if she changed the subject he'd forget about her joining his crew. He nodded as he got to his feet. "I want to see the place the Pirate King died!" Kasumi stood up and readjusted her bag over her shoulder. "Follow me, try not to get lost in the crowd." She said as she began to head into town.
Kasumi and Luffy walked through the crowd without saying a word to each other. Luffy was the first to break the silence. "Have you decided yet?" Kasumi sighed, so much for him forgetting. "Not yet."
"Ah c'mon! You're taking ages!" He complained.
"Well, you see it's not that easy…I have a job here, I can't just leave."
"Why?" Luffy questioned, with slight interest. "Shut in a dark room all day, can't be that much fun?"
"Well, I need the money, I don't really have a choice." She mumbled, it wasn't really any of his business. Luffy chuckled "Become a pirate, and find treasure instead!" Kasumi frowned and looked down, slightly annoyed. Did he have an answer for everything? "We're almost at the main square. It's just up ahead." She responded, changing the subject again. It worked in distracting him. "I can't wait!" He said, and with that he set off at a run. Kasumi was about to turn back to the harbour when she stopped; something on a wall caught her eye. A wanted poster. A boy with messy black hair beamed out at her from under a straw hat. She tore it down from the wall and inspected it closely "Monkey D Luffy" The name read "30 Million Beli" Kasumi gulped, the boy she was just with, was worth 30 million Beli! What if someone recognised him at the main square? The marines would be on the lookout for someone with a bounty like his! She looked in the direction of the main square, he didn't seem like a bad person, she couldn't just leave him... Could she? Kasumi crumpled the poster in her hand and set off at a run towards after the pirate.
Kasumi weaved her way through the crowd at the main square, trying to avoid being stepped on, while searching for Luffy's bright red vest among the crowd. Where had he gotten too? "Hey! Look up there on the platform!" She heard someone in the crowd say. She stopped and looked towards the back of the square where the platform stood. Her jaw dropped, was that Luffy standing up on the platform! She shook off her shock and began to push her way forward through the crowd, she could already hear an officer ordering him to get down. She had to get him down, he had to hide before he was discovered as a pirate. It was already a miracle that the local marines hadn't detected him! Luffy looked like he was enjoying himself up there, the officer however, was beginning to lose his temper, "Come down now, or I'll arrest y-" he stopped. Had Luffy come down? Kasumi pushed her way to the front of her crowd and much to her annoyance, Luffy was still up on the platform. The officer, was on the floor out cold, standing over him was the culprit. A beautiful, young woman, with long back wavy hair flowing down her back, in her hand she held a malice. She had clearly drawn the attention of the men and some of the women in the crowd, Luffy stared at her looking confused. "Who are you?" he asked. She answered him with a question. "You still haven't realised?" Kasumi looked around, "What's going on here?" she thought.
Police were gathering now. "For openly assaulting an officers, you are under arrest!" One of them called, from a safe distance, not wanting to get within range of her malice. "AND YOU GET OFF THE DAMN PLATFORM" He screamed up at Luffy.
"My dears, so it is you who are going to arrest me." Said the beautiful woman, softly to the officers, stroking her hair out of her face. They lowered their weapons, obviously falling under the spell of her beauty. Then suddenly, the ground shook, accompanied by a loud boom! There had been an explosion, sending the square's fountain hurting in pieces in all directions. The crowd and officers ducked for cover, when all was calm, everyone began to unfold themselves, and get up off the floor. As the dust cleared it became apparent a new group of people had appeared beside the woman. A man, dressed as a clown was among them, he glared up at Luffy who looked as if he was thinking hard. "Hmm…What was it again?" He thought aloud "Boggy? No, Buggie? It's not Buhii…Oh yeah! Buffoon!" There was a long pause. The clown was obviously unimpressed. "BUFFOON?!" He parroted angrily "WATCH YOUR MOUTH! YOU'RE AS CHEEKY AS EVER YOU LITTLE BASTARD!"
"It's … IT'S BUGGY THE CLOWN!" someone yelled in the crowd in realisation. Buggy was one of the most wanted pirates in the East Blue. Panic moved across the crowd like a wave. People were screaming and running in all directions. Kasumi tried to fight against the crowd, and avoid being trampled at the same time. But she was pushed back. "Good people, nobody move a flashy muscle." Were Buggy's orders to the crowd, as his crewmembers drew their weapons. Those closest to the platform stopped dead in their tracks, whiles those far enough to risk it, kept going. "I will now display my full terror…" He continued. "And you will all be watching." Silence fell upon the square.
"Ah I got it! It's Buggy!" Luffy said triumphantly. His victory was cut short, a man appeared behind him, and brought a pranger down upon him, trapping his arms and neck. "A most super flashy execution is about to begin!" Buggy declared, "Monkey D Luffy, there is no escape, you should feel honoured. You get to die in the same place as the pirate king!" Buggy laughed maniacally as he made his way up the platform. Kasumi felt fear knot in her stomach. "No" She said quietly, almost in a whisper before running towards the platform. "No!" She cried a little louder - She would not let this prediction come true! She didn't know what she could do, but she had to try something… Anything... She yelped as a man caught her around the neck in the crook of his arm and tightened it around her.
"What do we have 'ere, eh? One of his crew?" He laughed as Kasumi struggled against his hold.
"I-" the rest of her words were choked back as he tightened his arm. There was nothing she could do now but watch. "Just sit back and enjoy the show" He teased. She stared up at Luffy, tears pricked at her eyes. She had seen this before, although she couldn't remember, but there was a sense of familiarity, a terrible sense of Déjà vu. She hadn't been able to warn him properly that this is when she saw. She felt so guilty. The pirates around her erupted into celebrations, firing their guns off into the air and cheering. She'd never felt more useless than she did now. "It's the first time I've ever seen an execution." Luffy announced happily. She looked down at the ground, unable to look at him. "…This is your execution!" Buggy corrected. His face whitened and Luffy began to struggle again. "AND NOW! OUR MAIN EVENT! THE FLASHY EXECUTION! SHALL COMMENCE!" Said Buggy over Luffy's cries for help.
"I'm sorry… I won't do it again. Please spare me." Luffy mumbled, almost sounding bored.
"I'm not saving you. Any last words, Strawhat?" Luffy stared out across the square for a moment. He drew a deep breath "I'M THE MAN WHO IS GOING TO BE PIRATE KING!" His words echoed across the silent square, and when the echoes had faded murmurs began to spread through the crowd. Her head bolted upright at his declaration. "How bold…Of all places to say that…" Kasumi thought.
"THIS EXECUTION IS CANCELLED!" Someone shouted from the back of the crowd. Everyone turned to see who intended to defy Buggy. There stood Zoro and Sanji, looking ready for a fight. The crowd began to scatter, a fight was brewing and they did not want to be involved.
Buggy's men rushed forward to greet the Strawhats and the fight erupted. The man who had Kasumi in his grip did not release her, his hold only seemed to tighten. Zoro and Sanji were strong, but they weren't fast enough in bringing down Buggy' horde of men. Buggy laughed maniacally as he raised his sword above his head, ready to strike. Then Luffy called out to his crew. "ZORO! SANJI! USOPP! NAMI!" Kasumi looked up at him, she felt sick. Her eyes widened with shock. Was he grinning? With a sword about to decapitate him, Luffy was smiling. "I'm sorry. I'm Dead" Then something else happened, that shocked everyone within the square, and Buggy…literally. Above the battle, storm clouds had formed. And with a deafening crack of thunder, lightening shot down from the heavens, and struck Buggy.
The battle stopped. Blue flames erupted from the top of the platform as it began to collapse. Everyone stared at the scene before them, their mouths almost touching the floor. Luffy caught his Straw hat as it fell from the sky and chuckled "Hey, I'm alive." And replaced his hat on his head. Whistles began to sound outside of the square. The Marines were coming. Kasumi bit down onto the arm the constricted her and elbowed her captor as hard as she could in his stomach, winding him. His grip loosened enough for her to wriggle free. She ran forward and grabbed Luffy by the wrist. It was no time for him, Zoro and Sanji to be having a reunion, marines were pouring into the square and some already engaging with Buggy's men. "Follow me!" She said as she set off running towards a side street to their left, pulling Luffy behind her, followed by Zoro and Sanji. "We need to get to our ship!" Zoro called.
"Just follow me!" Kasumi answered, not bothering to look back. She knew the streets well, and knew where she was going.
It had begun to rain hard, and visibility was becoming less. Kasumi squinted her eyes, was that a woman ahead of them? The four of them slowed, and sure enough, was a woman. But not just any woman, Sergeant Major Tashigi and the marines stood there. She glared at the four of them, rage flickered in her eyes as they rested upon Zoro. "So you're Roronoa Zoro, a pirate…You lied to me!" She yelled as she drew her katana and launched herself at Zoro. Zoro quickly drew his katana and blocked her attack. "I didn't lie, you just never asked my name." He replied in a cocky tone.
"HOW DARE YOU ATTACK A WOMAN!" Sanji scolded, moving forwards as if to defend Tashigi. "Please, Stay out of this!" She called to the cook, who stopped.
"You heard her, go on ahead!" Zoro continued. Kasumi wasted no time. She grabbed Luffy's wrist and set off again.
The road to the harbour was an easy one to follow, however Kasumi decided it was safer to lead Sanji and Luffy through side streets and alleys, incase the marines had already prepared a roadblock.
'Not long now! The Harbour is just down this street!" Kasumi reassured Luffy and Sanji as they came out of an alley. "Hey, who's that up ahead?" Sanji asked. Kasumi looked up, sure enough, someone was blocking their path. He was a large, muscular man with bluish-grey hair; two cigars were in his mouth at the same time. Kasumi gasped with realisation of who was in their way. She skidded to a halt and slipped on the wet ground, falling before Major Smoker of the marines. "Monkey D. Luffy. I won't allow you to leave here." He said, his voice full of authority.
"W-what is this?!" Kasumi gasped as white smoke began to pour from Smoker's body and coil itself around her arms and legs. She tried to pull her limbs free but there was something odd about this smoke, it held her tightly in it's grip. "And you, girl, are under arrest for assisting these criminals." Her eyes widened as she looked up at Smoker. "Oi, that's no way to treat a lady." Sanji growled.
"It's fine…Please run!" She pleaded looking back at them.
"It's too late." Said Smoker stepping forward to face Luffy. "If you cannot beat me, then you will not be able to enter The Grandline." Luffy smiled.
"Alright then. Sanji, go on ahead." Sanji cocked one of his curled eyebrows.
"Eh! After how he's treated a Lady. I will kick his shi-?"
"Sanji." Luffy interrupted, as he cracked his knuckles. "I can deal with him." Sanji gritted his teeth nodded his head slightly and ran on. "You better not hurt her!" He yelled back at Smoker.
The rain came down harder as Luffy and Smoker stood opposite each other in silence. "I'll defeat you and enter The Grandline!" Luffy declared. Smoker frowned and raised his arms, which slowly evaporated into white smoke. Kasumi's eyes widened, he was a Devil's Fruit user! "You won't be spouting off that sort of rubbish anymore." Smoker replied. The smoke surrounded Luffy before constricting around him. "Eh! W-What!" Luffy yelled in surprise as he was lifted up off the ground, into the air. "I ate the Moku-Moku Fruit[1], my entire body can become smoke at a whim!" Smoker informed before slamming Luffy to the ground. Luffy struggled to his feet and took a deep breath, clenching his fists. "Gomu-Gomu No Gatling Gun!" Luffy yelled, his arms shot out in front of him, his arms stretching at an unbelievable distance to reach Smoker. Kasumi's jaw dropped. Another Devil's Fruit user! It wasn't the first time she'd seen someone with a Devil's Fruit ability, but the first time she'd seen these abilities used in a fight, and used against her. His punches were so fast that she could barely keep up with where his fist was were going. Luffy stopped suddenly, one of his arms still stretched out, his fist in Smoker's face. Or where Smoker's face should have been, the area of his face where Luffy's fist rested had turned to smoke. "Eww! That's creepy!" Said Luffy, recoiling his arm.
"WHITE BLOW!" Smoker yelled, as his a dense white smoke shot from his arms, striking Luffy with such force he was thrown into wall behind, and held there. "Damn it!" Luffy cried, firing his fist towards Smoker. Luffy's punch met its target. Smoker smirked, as his body began to turn to smoke and then, he vanished.
Kasumi shrieked as Smoker's shape began to form from the smoke beside Luffy and slowly turn human. It was like something from a nightmare. Luffy continued to stare confusedly at where Smoker had been standing, completely unaware of his opponent's position. "You get it now?" Smoker asked, forcing Luffy head first to the ground. "Just like I said; you can't ever go to The Grandline." Luffy struggled beneath him, but said nothing. "This head is worth 30 million then?" Smoker thought aloud, as he gripped his Jutte, intending to strike the pirate. Kasumi looked down, she couldn't bare to watch. "I'm sorry Luffy…Maybe this was meant to be?" She thought solemnly.
"Looks like my run of bad luck is over." Smoker commented. Kasumi gulped and waited for it to end.
"Well, I wouldn't say that exactly." Said a new voice. Kasumi looked up in the direction it came from. Standing behind Smoker, was a tall-cloaked figure, his face hidden beneath a green hood. His hand rested on Smoker's jutte, preventing the major from raising it from his back. Smoker glared up at him for a moment, from where he was positioned he could see the face of this stranger. His glare intensified as he recognised who he was. "The Government wants your head as well"
"And the world is awaiting our answer." The stranger replied. There was a flash of lightning and a loud crack of thunder at the end of his words. Kasumi flinched. Then the rain ceased and a powerful gust of green hued wind swept through Loguetown. It tore through the streets with tremendous force, picking up marine and pirate alike, as well as anyone unlucky enough to be caught out in the storm. The wind stripped away the smoke holding Kasumi before catching her and carrying her away. Roofs were robbed of tiles, stalls over turned and debris flew through the air as the wind ripped through Loguetown. Then, just as suddenly as the wind had come, it stopped, and the rain returned.
Kasumi lay on her back, staring up at the black clouds above, momentarily stunned. What had just happened? Slowly she sat upright and looked around, the wind had carried her to the harbour, and there was no sign of Smoker. Nearby several marines lay scattered on the ground, they appeared to be unconscious. "Maybe I should see if they're okay" Kasumi thought, then behind her the rubble shifted. She turned around and saw Zoro getting to his feet, rubbing his head slightly. Opposite from Zoro, Luffy, Sanji and the man with a long nose one by one slowly stood up. "Eh? What happened?" Said Luffy as he readjusted his hat and looked around.
"Luffy." Sanji called to his captain and pointed out to the sea. The Going Merry was slowly drifting further and further away. "We have to act quickly or it'll be too far out for us to catch." Luffy nodded in understanding. He then turned his attention on Kasumi. "Oi! Have you decided yet?" He asked. Kasumi looked at him for a moment then out at the ship caught in the current. She couldn't keep them waiting any longer on her answer. She looked at the marines, and then at the town. "And you, girl, are under arrest for assisting these criminals." Smoker's words repeated in her mind. She couldn't stay here any longer…If she did, she'd be arrested... But to become a pirate?
"Mother…" Kasumi thought, "Would you be ashamed of me?" She stood up, her eyes still fixed on the town. She turned her gaze to Luffy and nodded. Luffy waited for her answer. "Lets go then…Captain." She said, forcing a grin. Her grin was nowhere near as big as Luffy's. "Alright!" He said before running in the opposite direction. Kasumi blinked. Where was he going to now? "Gomu-Gomu No-" Luffy shot his arms out and grabbed onto a railing, his arms began to retract to their normal length, pulling him closer to the railing and gathering speed. Sanji, Zoro and their friend held their breath. "He wouldn't? Would he?" Said Zoro as Luffy over shot the railing, as he did so his arms stretched and retracted again, changing his direction back at them. "-ROCKET!" He yelled. Kasumi froze as he hurtled towards her, while the others attempted to out run him. Each one of the shrieked on impact, the force of being hit by Luffy's Gomu-Gomu No Rocket fired them out across the sea at speed, towards the Ship.
[1 ]Moku-Moku No Mi Fruit = Plume-Plume Fruit//Smoke-Smoke Fruit
[Logia type]
