(Drumroll) And now, ladies and well... ladies probably, feast you senses on this brand new chapter. Also, maybe you've noticed it already but I don't use any Japanese honorifics in my fics. I know some people like to keep them in for added realism and they were also in the fansubs but there are some translator choices that Kaizoku Fansubs and I simply don't agree on. So every san, sama, kun, chwan and others will be omitted or replaced with an English equivalent if needed. Anyway, on with the show.
"Are you sure about this?"
There was a certain uneasiness in Usopp's voice. Sanji tore his gaze away from the blood-red line of the horizon and turned towards the marksman.
"You mean about the plan? I hope you are. It's yours after all. Well, yours and Robin's. Without her knowledge we would never have figured this out."
Usopp´s expression turned sour as he chewed on his lower lip and adjusted the slingshot mounted on his arm. His thoughts were so transparent that Sanji could almost read his mind. The fact that their resident archaeologist knew so much about ghost legends and demonic possessions had come as an unexpected surprise and it still bothered him a bit. There were just some things he would be better off not knowing about. It made life much simpler.
"I know...it's just... I feel really uncomfortable using that little girl as bait." Usopp slid guiltily back into the long shadows. "Aren't you?"
Sanji took a drag from his cigarette allowing himself a couple of seconds to think about his answer.
"I don't think we have much choice, really. Besides, we're not even sure he's going to show up here. We have the whole village keeping watch for a reason."
Usopp nodded enthusiastically, his eyes peering at the darkness ahead again.
"I just thought... Solomon said that thing always had to turn someone. It didn't manage to do that last night so it's bound to come back to finish the job."
Sanji felt himself shift in his seat uncomfortably. The marksman's words awoke a pang of guilt in him as well.
"I hate it for Kara but I really hope you're right. If he doesn't come here and strikes somewhere else, he could turn someone before we have time to get there and then we won't see him again for a whole year. I doubt Luffy will wait for that long."
"He made a promise. You can trust him to keep it."
"I know but even he has his limits. Remember the Baratie?"
Usopp rolled his eyes. In the faint light of the twilight, Sanji could see him smiling a little.
"Believe me, I wish I could forget. But it all worked out all right in the end, this is completely different. We've never fought ghosts before."
"Then consider this practice if we ever have to do it again." Sanji chuckled at the marksman disheartened expression. "Don't fret so much, we have this place covered. We got Zoro and Robin guarding the back of the house and Luffy and Chopper inside. And I can guarantee you; Nami will not let Kara out of her sight. Nothing's going to happen to her tonight."
Usopp let out a long sigh and looked at him with a glint of annoyance in his eyes.
"You don't have to reassure me, you know? It's my plan! As long as we do our job and guard the front like we're supposed to, everything will be all right."
"You were the one who asked, remember?"
Usopp's shoulders sagged, his ego deflated in a matter of seconds. His fingers sank into a box of projectiles he kept under his feet and shuffled them around to fill the long stretch of silence that fell between them. When he spoke again, his voice acquired a playful, almost mocking tone.
"Yeah, anyway, someone has to be the brains of this operation. I ran into Zoro when I was setting out the traps around the house, he said you planned to talk this thing to death."
Sanji lowered his head and gritted his teeth making a mental note to kick the swordsman's ass later. Zoro had a special talent to twist his words or put just the right spin on them to make them sound stupid or naive. He let his mind wander to their conversation on the terrace and winced slightly and the memory of Zoro's condescending smile. He turned to Usopp for a bit of reassurance himself.
"It's not that far fetched, though, is it? Robin said these kind of ghosts are normally driven by powerful emotions and an unfulfilled need."
Usopp nodded as he picked up a round projectile from the box and weighed it in his hand.
"Yeah, in this case, revenge. I mean, this guy didn't exactly go in a painless..."
"Exactly, this means that it's at least capable of thought, right?"
The marksman paused for a second. He slid the projectile inside his belt and dragged his fingers around it quietly counting his ammunition.
"Maybe but is it logical thought? The way I see it, this thing is the ghost equivalent of a murderous psycho. I highly doubt you can reason with something like that."
Sanji sighed and shook his head as his reassurance slipped away from him. He twisted his ankles in the grass to release the tension from his joints and looked at the horizon again. The small islet that had become Aron Fellman's grave was less than a grain of sand against the darkening sky but after spotting it for the first time, Sanji could no longer ignore it.
He looked at the marksman with a grim expression.
"Yeah, you're right, it was a stupid idea. Besides, I don't think we're even the right people to talk to it."
"Ah, but you see." Usopp raised his index finger with an air of wisdom and smugness. "In my years as a great pirate captain I have come to learn that it's not the right people but the right words that can turn around the most desperate situation."
Sanji grinned.
"That's from one of Robin's books, you know? I flicked through it once, too. Something about war and art and all the things bloody and disturbing at least according to the few pages I saw."
Usopp's satisfied expression faltered only for a split second before he composed himself and let his smile spread even wider.
"So what? It still happens to apply exactly to my current..."
His next words were drowned in a loud piercing cry. Less than ten meters away from the front gate, a part of the night shifted and swayed growing more solid with every movement. The shapeless form the size of a small elephant remained still for a few seconds as if surveying its surroundings and slid towards the house as silent as a shadow. The flat surface where its face used to be now featured only two enormous lidless eyes.
The marksman's tanned face paled a little in the rapidly dying light.
"It's here."
"It is." Sanji stood up and stubbed his cigarette against a stone pillar. "Let's see if that book has taught us anything."
The first thing he noticed was the sudden temperature drop. As the creature crashed into the front gate tearing it off its hinges, a wave of cold air washed over the garden almost leaving them both breathless. Sanji could hear the damp grass crackling under his feet as a thin ice sheet spread over it and frowned. This time, the spirit wasn't even bothering with taking a human form. No point in hiding around and blending with shadows anymore. He knew they were here.
And he was angry.
Usopp's first trap snapped.
A huge wide net tied expertly over the garden trees dropped from the branches over the creature that almost didn't seem to notice it until four heavy weights at the ends sank into the soft turf trapping it. Sanji could hear Usopp's triumphant yell as he slid a round projectile into his slingshot and fired at the black mess under the ropes before it had the chance to reshape itself. A cloud of red smoke exploded over the net and a second later, the unmistakable smell of sulphur filled his nostrils.
Sanji looked at Usopp wide-eyed.
"You want to kill it with fire?"
Usopp's mad grin was all the confirmation he needed.
"Technically, it's already dead, isn't it? I need your lighter! That blasted cold wave ruined my ignition agent!"
Sanji shrugged.
"Can't argue with that logic. Get down!"
The lighter described a long and wide arc through the air. Sanji barely had time to dive behind a stone pillar before the space around the net erupted violently and a whirling column of fire shot into the night sky igniting the tree tops in its path. Below it, the creature shrieked and thrashed against the ropes trying to escape the flames licking it. Another round projectile smashed against one of its sides and the patches of grass around the beast sizzled and melted. An acid star made it stagger backwards.
The net creaked.
"Will it hold?" Sanji could hear himself screaming over the roaring fire.
Usopp nodded not even looking at him. His eyes were fixed on the blazing inferno as he loaded up another projectile.
"Relax, the rope is treated! It will resist everything I throw at it. Besides, it just needs to hold long enough until..."
The net creaked again, tensed for a moment and flew up like a discarded rag as the creature tore the weights from the turf and charged towards the house. For a terrifying second Sanji was sure it would attack them while still on fire. He sprinted away from the stone pillar dragging a stunned marksman with him and felt somewhat relieved when the flames on the creature started dying down as the last of Usopp´s sulphur consumed itself in weak bursts of flames.
A new draft of freezing air almost made them both skid on the grass. Sanji's heart sank at the sight of dozens tentacles springing from the spirit's black core and shooting towards the front door. If it got inside, things could only go from bad to worse.
"Hey, you! Over here!"
The words left his lips half a second before he realized he had screamed them. Less than a meter away from the front door, the monster stopped dead in its tracks and turned to face them slowly, almost as if it was noticing them for the first time. Another acid star swished past his right ear, smashed against the creature and released its deadly contents all over the tentacles. The monster roared, swayed from side to side and rushed towards them.
It couldn't be helped. They would have to try a more direct approach.
Letting go of Usopp's arm he soared up and slammed his left leg between the creature's eyes.
And felt his mouth fall open in shock as it went right through the monster like a hammer through thick black fog.
Zoro couldn't shake the feeling that something was horribly wrong.
Technically, everything had gone according to plan. They had been pretty sure that the monster would come back for Kara and the ear splitting cry he heard not a minute ago seemed to confirm that. However, as he and Robin raced through the garden towards the front part of the house, there was something, a tiny part of his brain he was pretty sure dealt in precognition that was telling him to be on his guard. Sanji and Usopp were supposed to get the monster away from the house if it attacked from their side and do everything in their power to take the fight to the beach. As far as he could tell, the noise of the struggle was getting closer and closer to the mansion.
Stupid cook couldn't do anything right. It was always up to him to step up and set things straight.
He rushed into the grey ashen circle the fire had created, brandishing his swords.
"What are you still doing here? You were supposed to drive it awa..."
He stopped as he saw Sanji's kick go straight through the creature.
"What the...?"
The cook turned around at the sound of his voice. He bore a frantic, wild expression that lingered on his face for less than a second before he dropped to a handstand and flung a new attack at the writhing abomination only to miss again. As the long wiry legs spun through nothing but mist Zoro could feel his brain unraveling. He didn't remember the creature having that kind of power before. The kick should have dropped it, hell, with that sort of force, it should have probably liquified its insides. If they were fighting an incorporeal being now, all their strategy and careful planning had been for nothing.
Well, there was only one way to find out.
He charged forward whirling his blades in the air.
This time, they definitely connected with something solid. Zoro sucked in a sharp breath as the cold emanating from the monster hit him like a wall of ice. He felt his muscles go numb and his shoulders drop as he staggered back, dazed and confused. The air suddenly grew thin as darkness approached him much too fast for his liking. He tried to jump aside to gain enough terrain for his second attack but every movement now felt slow and clumsy. He felt Robin's arms on him dragging him away while more of them sprang from the ground and trees trying unsuccessfully to pin the spirit to the ground. She was talking to him, probably even screaming but her words sounded like a garbled mess in his ears. As he felt his strength returning again, a shock of blond hair flashed at the corner of his eye.
Sanji shot past him like a long black arrow and delivered a kick that split the tree behind the creature in half but dealt absolutely no harm. For a moment, Zoro had time to see his blue eyes widen in rage as he was getting ready to repeat his attack only to be brutally shoved aside by Zoro himself. Wadou sank into the exact same spot the cook's attack had been aimed towards and the creature roared in agony but did not retreat. Robin's arms, however, were not giving up as the archaeologist managed to hold their opponent in place and prevented in from sliding closer to the mansion.
Zoro panted and glared at the man next to him.
"What the hell is going on?" He stabbed the black mass looming over them and cursed as sharp pain shot through his arm, numbing it to the bone.
"That's what I would like to know!" Sanji swerved to avoid a long black tentacle threatening to coil around his throat and stepped back. His voice sounded almost desperate. "He... he did something to me! My attacks won't work against him!"
His right foot nudged a large block of a shattered stone pillar, hurled it in the air and launched it against the spirit only to for it to get embedded several centimeters in the wall behind him with no effect. Sanji swore and frantically searched around for a different weapon but a hand on his shoulder made him stop. Robin, who had practically materialized at his side, gave him a significant look and turned away from him. The gun in her hand fired three times. One of the bullets ricocheted against a metal plaque and caught the creature in one of its lidless eyes. Its cry shattered the windows on the second floor but Sanji could still feel it moving forward. The earth under his feet now felt frozen hard.
He grabbed Robin's hand still on his shoulder and stepped in front of her in a futile attempt to shield her from a new gust of cold wind flowing away from the monster. Behind him, the archeologist allowed herself a small exasperated smile.
"How is it doing that?" the cook's teeth were chattering a bit as his bangs turned to tiny blond icicles. "It's just some random emotions held together! How is it blocking me? Why me and not...?"
Zoro could see the blue eyes fixed upon him as he dodged another attack and plunged his blades into what he hoped was the creature's weak spot. Robin's frown slowly dissolved as her face became serene once again or as serene as it could be after stepping on a tentacle and shooting it. She grabbed Sanji's shoulders and made him face her. The unresisting cook's almost grinned at the welcome touch before the adoration vanished from his eyes and they widened in shock at Robin's expression. The archaeologist's lips moved. From his position, Zoro could tell that she had just asked a question but the exact words didn't reach him. Sanji's short nod through gritted teeth gave him a very bad feeling.
"What?" Zoro screamed over the screeching of the monster. "Talk to me, you two! What is it?"
Robin turned around and fired again. The bullet took out the creature's other eye.
"This spirit draws its power from feelings and thoughts. So far, it's been reacting to fear and anger." She took a step forward, away from Sanji who looked lost, arms dangling helplessly at his sides. She turned her head in the cook's direction and Zoro could see his fingers curl into fists waiting for her next words. "This is how it reacts to compassion."
The creature broke Robin's hold.
The archaeologist went white as a sheet and let out a soft gasp as the monster lunged forward breaking her bones. Behind him Zoro could hear Sanji curse every God and minor devil he could remember as more fragments of the pillar flew through the air and through the monster. He grunted and tried to regain his balance but another icy breath paralyzed him in his tracks. Long black streams poured from the creature and slid under the front door.
"Shit!" The cook rushed towards the door, kicking up frozen grass in this trail. "Usopp, get over here and help us! It's going to get insid...!
They both saw it at the same time. Their marksman was still hiding behind the only pillar left unshattered, still grasping the slingshot and a projectile. His face seemed to be paralyzed in a mute scream of horror and pain and his body was twisted in a weird position that suggested he was either about to take aim or turn around and run away. The only reason he was still standing upright was because his whole form was now encased in shining black marble like a newly carved statue.
"No..." Zoro didn't hear the words but he could read them on the cook's white lips. "No... shit... please not... GODDAMNIT!"
The sheer rage in his scream seemed to finally shake Robin from her daze. She pulled herself up, let out a painful cough and looked at Sanji who was still staring at Usopp. As she called his name he turned around almost mechanically.
Robin ran up the steps shooting the creature that was rapidly dissolving into streams across the wooden floor of the porch.
"Get Nami and Kara out of here! We'll try to contain it for as long as we can!"
The cook finally managed to look away form Usopp's statue. His eyes locked onto Zoro's almost involuntarily. Remorse, shame and impotence mixed in his pale features as the swordsman held his gaze. For a second he could see him hesitate.
Robin shook her head as if anticipating the reply.
"We'll be fine, we've still got Luffy and Chopper inside. Kara is the priority here, if this thing gets to her, it's over. Go!"
Sanji mouthed a curse, as he closed his eyes and looked away. His teeth sank into his lower lip so hard a thin line of blood trickled down his chin. His voice however, sounded steady and focused again.
"I'm sorry. We'll meet back at the beach."
Like it? Hate it? Let me know in the comments. Reviews give me inner strength.
Also, thanks to my only guest reviewer, anko. I'm glad you like my work so far!