[Hermes]
Silence took over the place. In front of us is a man, Rayleigh, who wears a smile with a yandere like face while beside me is marine, Niku~san, who only wants a civilian to be safe from the wrath of an ex-pirate. Though I understand the position of the one beside me, Rayleigh seemed to be not amused with this guy.
"Kid, run while I get this guy's attention! If you happen to see Admiral Kizaru or any marines, tell them the situation we are in. Run before this pirate attacks you..." I just stood there sweating. It would've been cool and heroic of him to do that to me. But considering that Rayleigh knows me and I am his acquaintance or something like that... I find this scene not funny and uncomfortable
"Uhhhh... uhhhh... Niku~san? You can run if you want to... Cuz I'm obviously not interested in running and if you fight, it's obviously a one sided fight..." he glared at me and pushed me a little back
"This is no time for that mocking session of yours Hermes! And I am a Marine! I will stand proudly and fight pirates even though I already know the consequences!" I patted his shoulder gently and gave him a small assuring smile
"Don't worry Niku~san, Rayleigh is somehow a friend of my friend. He won't hurt me obviously. And besides, he's actually looking for me because Shakky~san knew that I will have trouble with the marines..." he was about to say something epic-like but then he realized what i just said
"You what?!" I sighed and scratched my back
"Well... you see... I made some trouble in the Human Auction and helped Luffy~san and the other Superonova's. It was really troublesome cause I got shot by a Celestial Dragon and then Rayleigh came. Annnnd that's how everything ended up. Also, the reason why I want to become an Alchemist is because I'm going to become a pirate. I didn't tell you this because you never noticed and asked. but all the things we discussed are true. No lies were said..." his mouth hung while Rayleigh laughed out loudly at the trouble I just made to this marine
"Wahahahaha! Well there Marine~kun... Would you mind if I take this little kid here? We have something more important to discuss..." Niku gritted his teeth and glared at me. He looked so mad and betrayed that made me feel a bit guilty...
"You... you tricked me! And there I thought that I found myself a more trusting recruit!" Eh..? What..?
"What are you talking about?" I asked in confusion but it only made his glare more intensified
"I thought I finally met someone who will be with me with my missions. You would've been a good marine! But I* never thought that someone simple minded but smart like you would be a pirate wanna be..." his face slowly melted that made me jump back in surprise.
"... but I guess Admiral Akainu was right... Pirates these days are too confusing to tell out..." then some molten part of him jumped to me and made me fall down on the ground with it covered in some part of my chest
"What the- a devil fruit?" he smirked at me and made it encircle me tightly in my arms
"Yes, it is a devil fruit... Since you are knowledgeable with these kinds of things... Guess what it is?" it got tighter that made me gasp and squirm. It felt mushy and moist like clay. Then the moment of realization hit me. Isn't this… mud? Yes, it's mud. Yup… It's mud…
"WTF?! WHY WOULD YOU HAVE SUCH A RIDICULOUS DEVIL FRUIT?!" I snapped at him with a ridiculed expression
"DON'T TAKE MY DEVIL FRUIT TOO LIGHTLY!" he barked back at me with an annoyed face. He rubbed his head and sighed
"You seem to know what it is already. Yes, I ate the Mud Mud fruit. I am obviously a mud human. Don't mock my devil fruit yet, you never seen me use my full ability…" I tried to break free from the bind I am in but the mud seemed to harden already. I had to act fast… I can't just get caught by a marine this easily
"What was it called again? Ummm… Ah! Inventory!" a screen popped up in front of my face but it didn't startle me like always
"Weapon section… " then the inventory revealed the item I received from taking the quest earlier.
"Item Equip: Moonlight Symphony Dagger..." then I felt something in my hand that made me sure that my ability was working smoothly. Niku looked at me with surprise
"What was that? A devil fruit? How come you have to speak just to summon that piece of dagger..." Uhhhhh... he had a point. But right now, how would he expect for me to use my hands if my arm is bonded by his mud?
"Yeah right... cause my devil fruit is quite weird that you guys have... Let's just say, it's part of god's plan on how to annoy me..." then i stabbed the hardened mud on my arm and it made a crack. I used my brute strength to break it all into crumbs on the floor. He smirked and crossed his arms...
"Good... That will make sure that fighting you would be worth my wasted time. Get ready now, Pirate Hermes... I will not hold back against you..." then his left arm started to form something weird that made me hold up my dagger with a defending stance.
All I have to do now is to remember what Hiji~sensei taught me while I was still in Offence training. If I don't win this fight, it would be game over...
"Don't hold back... It will insult my impression of you..." he gritted his teeth and ran while molding his arm
"Mud Modeling: Claymore!" then his arm turned into a sharp clay sword that was countered with my dagger. A shockwave was felt when the two blades clashed to each other. I don't know why but my hand suddenly pushed away the sword making Niku fallback with shocked face. I stared at him while he stared at me...
Uummm... Stats, maybe?
"So you are hiding your true strength all this time? Fight me with full force damn it! Don't look down at me!" he shouted with anger and started changing his arm again
"Mud Modeling: Clay spear!" he thursted his arm-spear forward with no warning and almost pierced my stomach. Thanks to my reflexes, I only had a bleeding graze on my thigh and it wasn't that fatal. I sighed and held my wound that stung a lot
"I guess your devil fruit isn't that bad..." then I swung my dagger vertically making him jump back to dodge. I pursued him while slashing the dagger and managed to slash his chest. I was about to smile but then his wounds reverted back
"Logia?" then he punched my stomach making me cry in pain
"Tch! So you don't know how to use haki? Then you are in disadvantage in this fight..." I glared at him and positioned myself to fight again.
'Damn... Maybe I'm not yet fit to fight an Admiral... I can't rush my ability that I barely know and I don't know how to use any form of haki... In this fight, the one who obviously lost is me...'
"Hmmm... I guess that will be enough..." then both our attention was taken by Rayleigh. In a blink, Niku collapsed and slumped into the floor asleep. Rayleigh stood there in front of me with a bright old man smile on his face and reached his arm that was holding the grocery I bought
"Oh, thanks..." smiled and took it from him. We both walked towards the bar which was a bit more farther
"Sooooo... What was that 'something' you want to discuss?" he stopped and took a good look on me. My hands turned sweaty as his eyes venture from my foot to my face. He turned back and continued walking
"We will talk once we reach back to the bar... But you really have grown from all these years... It's nice that it wasn't a ghost that is accompanying me right now..." huh? What? Why is he talking like he knows me? What does he meant about 'ghost'?
"What are you talking about..." he kept walking silent making me feel really awkward...
[Rayleigh]
Somewhere in the past 22 years...
The sounds of gunshots and canons has flooded through the air. The island was already darkened by the night but was lit by the flames of the burning houses
"... Rayray..." here in my arms, Kaye whispered with a raspy voice. I looked at her emotionless for I don't want her to see me in my weakness. She was hurt, badly wounded. Blood was covering her white dress that she has always loathed the most. Why now? Now that she chose to live the life of a normal woman who would take care of her only son.
But how can she ever do that... if her very own son was taken away from her..?
"... my baby... my brave brave baby... have you seen him smile?" please don't look at me like that... your beautiful face that is now pale and cold... I can't just look at you directly
"Kaye, I'll take you to the hospital... to the doctor... to anyone! Just hang on okay?" she wiped the unnoticed tear on my check slowly with her cold hand. She smiled even wider even without forcing it
"Rayray... if you ever meet our son again... tell him... tell him I am so proud of him... tel him he's so brave. Ray..." with those last words, her hand fell on her chest lifelessly limp making me feel the void of this painful heart
Kaye... the most beautiful woman I met in my entire life... has now fallen because of my own stupidity... I should've known this would've happened... but I never even tried to think about it...
"Rayleigh? RAYLEEEEEIHG!" I snpped from my thoughts and looked at the impatient boy beside me. He was puffing his cheeks like a bird getting mad at something
"We're here already! Look! The door is obviously in front of you! There! just 10 inches away from you! Just open it already!" I chuckled and opened the door of the bar. We both entered with ease and he placed the bags of food and supplies on the floor
"Shakky~san! The groceries are already done! And also the change..." he gave her the remains of the money she gave. She looked a bit surprised and ruffled his hair
"My my... I may be over pricing goods, you are good at discounting. I bet those shops would close if they see you again..." she laughed seeing the annoyed expression of the boy. They made a small talk until he went to me
"Nee, Rayleigh... what were you going to tell me again?" I smiled and pointed at his injury he got
"You have to get bandaged up then were going somewhere..." he looked at his thigh and sighed
"Ahhh damn... The shirt got bloodied... But it's alright anyway. I don't need bandages. My wounds have already healed up..."
"That fast..?" he smiled and nodded. I walked to exit the door
"Then let go on... We both have a place to visit..." I knew he was confused but followed me anyway...
'We're both coming... Kaye...'
/TO BE CONTINUED/
YO yo yo! OMG what is this?! Something is happening! But of course, I'm not telling! Lolz! Anyway, the computer is screwing with me and I'll be needing to get it fixed. It might take days to I'll have to go to the computer shop to update this... But of course, it still contains errors... Though i wish you all enjoyed it! See ya next update!
-June_Vennoia(Anoia)