The Kitsune's Heart Chapter 11, an one piece fanfic

The Kitsune's Heart

Chapter 11

That night, after another argument of whether the fox was going to straighten up and fly right with what happened now, the swordsman headed off to bed. Sanji sighed before leaning back from his spot on the couch. 'Damn it...I know I have to but how am I going to fight them being this weak just with three hoshi no tama on me. I would be surprised if I can at least knock out Jyabura but Lucci will rip me apart no matter how hard I tried. What he did before was just teasing the prey. If I even think of a serious battle, I won't last.' he thought and sighed as he rested his forehead. "I have to get them back. I don't know how but damn it, I'm losing and I hate to fucking lose." he murmured with a growl before getting up to head to bed.

The next day, Luffy was up and about wandering through the forest. He already had a stash of nikuman stuffed inside his pockets and was munching on one as he walked through the forest. He listened to the birds as they talked amongst one another but a conversation in particular made his ears perk up in curiosity.

"Did you hear? Jyabura and Lucci have returned."

"Yes, I know. And they're more frightening than before. I feel sorry that Sanji is their target…"

"And he's already encountered them twice. He fought so hard but he just can't handle them alone like he hoped. And with two of his hoshi no tama lost, it won't be long before they kill him and claim the land."

Luffy pouted. "Sanji is strong! How can you say such a thing about him?!" he called out to the birds and they looked down to him before one flitted down. "Without his hoshi no tama, Luffy, he can't stand a chance. Every lore creature knows that a kitsune is useless without the power of their hoshi no tama to give them strength." The bird chirped and Luffy pouted. "He's still strong! Zeff trained him after all!" he said before realization dawned on him. "Wait...he lost his hoshi no tama?! That's bad! We got to get them back!"

"We would but Lucci and Jyabura has them and you know that Hattori would rat us out if he sees us. You're on your own, Luffy-kun." The bird chittered before flying off with the rest. Luffy pouted some more before deciding too dash back into town, knowing that Nami and Robin's creative thinking might help him find a way to bypass Lucci and Jyabura so he could get Sanji's hoshi no tama back. As much as he wanted to fight them himself, he was told by Son Goku as well as Shanks to not interfere with fighting the two since it was Sanji's battle and his alone as the fates depicted.

Sanji had a simple breakfast lain out, not wanting to make something too heavy that neither he nor the swordsman would finish up. When Zoro came down, he took a seat at the table before looking to the kitsune across the table from him. "You look weary. Does taking those orbs really drain you that much?" he questioned. Sanji looked to him before giving a nod.

"Yes. The hoshi no tama is the source of a kitsune's power. Without them, they're no less than a normal fox. One tail kitsune are more at risk than one with more tails. Only the Kyuubi or the Tenko are the only ones that really pose no risk of losing power since they're the highest ranking of kitsune." he explained as he nibbled on a roll. Zoro gave a faint nod and then a sigh. "I take it with how you are now, chances are you need me in the vicinity until you figure out something, right?"

Sanji's ears perked up before giving a nod. "It would be accepted if you do but seeing as you see me as a constant bother, I'll leave that choice to you." he murmured, as much as it pained him to say those words. He could really use the swordsman's help but he also didn't want him to be an intentional target for Jyabura or Lucci to trap. Kitsune were very feeling-heavy and if he allowed something to happen to Zoro and he wasn't around to stop, no matter what amount of strength he had on him, he wouldn't be able to stop them from killing him in his self-regret.

Zoro gave a nod and said no more as he continued to eat. Sanji was actually waiting, hoping for a good answer from the swordsman but when he didn't get one, he gave a silent sigh and continued to eat. He'll just have to do his part and train enough to at least give himself some leeway again Jyabura before he tries his hand against Lucci. Fighting the leopard on his own will be at least a fraction easier than having that lying, cheating ookami jumping in when he wasn't needed.

After they finished, Zoro left to head into town while Sanji cleaned up. After doing so, he took one last glance to his two dull tails and sighed before heading up into the bedroom to start his training for the next battle. Whether or not he had his hoshi no tama, he's not going to be made a fool of. He probably shamed the Spirit of Inari for looking so weak in the midst of battle and he's not going to let it happen ever again.

'If I don't get strong now, everything will be lost here. Without Father around, with me as the only heir to this land, my death will be the cause of this entire forest and every spiritual kin to be in danger. Zeff won't be able to do a thing to save this place. He was only my guardian until I grew up and now that he's gone, I have to do things myself and not beg the Beasts to help me.' he thought to himself as he started on some basic stretches to limber up.

When he got into town, Luffy looked high and low for any sign of the cat or crow. "Nami! Robin! Where are you?!" he called as he swung from roof to roof looking for one or both. He spotted Tashigi making her rounds and, even though he was chased constantly by her or Smoker when he was out food shopping, as he calls it, she might have seen the cat around. So with a whoop of joy, he leapt down, landing on the dog's back. She yelped and ran in a panic, people looking on in curiosity but didn't help the ailing canine.

"Who's on my back?! Who's on my back?! Smoker-taisa!" she cried and Luffy laughed as he held on to her collar. "Tashigi! It's me!" he said as she slid to a grounding halt and turned her head enough to indeed see the monkey sitting there. "Luffy! You scared me to death! Where did you come from?" she questioned with a slight growl.

"From the roof!"

"And why were you on the roof?"

"I was looking for Nami or Robin. Have you seen them?"

Tashigi pondered, tilting her head off to the side. "I think I saw your cat friend at the fish market. She might still be there." she murmured and Luffy nodded. "Thanks, Tashigi!" he said before hopping off with a chatter and ran off towards the fish market...

...that was in the opposite direction.

"Wait, Luffy! You're going the wrong way!" Tashigi called as she ran after the simian.

After being led by the Shiba Inu, Luffy headed off into the fish market while Tashigi returned to her rounds before Smoker wondered where she was. Luffy started looking around the market, making a face at the smell of raw fish. He liked his meat but it was always better, and smelled better, when it's cooked. He looked around through stand after stand before eventually finding Nami being cute like she was and getting free fish from the vendor that was generous enough to give it to her. She meowed happily before taking her catch and walked off. "Nami!" Luffy called and she jumped a little before turning to him with a glare.

"What?!"

"I need your help! We need to help Sanji!"

Nami sighed before dispensing the fish in front of her before looking to him. "What happened to him now?" she questioned. She liked her fox friend, she really did, but sometimes the boy puts himself into so much trouble that it's a miracle that he doesn't get punished by Inari or the Four Beasts for half of the things he does. "Jyabura and Lucci are back and in Sanji's neck of the forest. He lost two of his hoshi no tama. I know Son Goku told me it's none of my business to get caught up in but I can't let Sanji be called a weakling no more. I need you and Robin to help me think of a plan to get them back without alerting Jyabura or Lucci." he explained and Nami hissed at the thought of meeting up with either but hummed. "You owe me if I do help. Get me a nice treasure with 200 percent interest and we're good to go."

"Ok!"

"Do you even know what I mean by interest?"

"Nope but I'll get it either way!"

She sighed but just nodded. "Alright. Let's find Robin and maybe get Usopp for bait and then we'll think of something."

After gathering the raven and kappa, who was once again being hunted down by Kureha for breaking another bottle, this time by complete accident, they gathered on the outskirts of the forest. "Ok, Luffy explained to me that Sanji lost two of his hoshi no tama to Jyabura and Lucci. Even though this is not our fight, we can't let them keep such a heavy advantage over him. It will be dark days for all lore kin in this part of the land if they defeat Sanji while the Kyuubi is gone from this area." Nami spoke as she looked to them all. "So, do we have a plan?" Usopp questioned, knees already knocking at the possible thought of meeting the two baddest creatures in their neck of the woods.

"Yes and most of it requires you." she said as she looked to the kappa. Usopp nodded slowly before squawking in terror. "What?!"

"Yes, we need you to lead them away. You can run fast, right?"

"Yes but this is Jyabura and Lucci we're talking about! They catch me, I'm dead!"

"Then run faster. You can do it." Nami said with finality and despite the whimper from Usopp, she continued on. "Now, while Usopp has their attention, Luffy and I will look around their hideout while you, Robin, keep an eye from the sky and make sure nothing will blow our cover." she said before looking to Luffy. "And for once, you need to be silent as we do this. If they hear you, chances are they'll come back when they put two and two together." she said.

Luffy nodded eagerly. "Don't worry, I'll be quiet!" he said happily before yelping as Nami covered his mouth. "Then start doing so now." she hissed as she moved her hand before looking to the others. "Alright. Let's get going before our cover is blown." she said and Robin nodded before taking to the skies and Nami, Luffy and Usopp headed into the forest.

The birds were awfully silent as the three headed into the deeper parts of the forest. Nami kept her ears at alert for any sounds that might've been either Jyabura or Lucci. Thankfully the silence helped with making it easier to pinpoint if one or the other was around. Usopp was still shivering at the fact he was being use to bait the two deadly creatures and it was a miracle to Nami that he hadn't ran off yet. Eventually, they came across ground that looked as to have been used and Nami nodded.

"I think we found their camping spot. Start searching and remember, be silent!" she hissed as she looked to the two behind her. They nodded before spreading out to look under rocks and piles of fallen leaves and twigs for any secret compartment they could've used to hide the hoshi no tama.

Nami's ears flicked with each sound she heard, eyes darting up every once in a while to take in her surroundings to make sure they weren't being watched.

"Nami! I found something!" Luffy called and he yowled before turning to Luffy.

"Luffy! Didn't I tell you to be quiet?" she hissed as she stomped over to the monkey. "Now, what did you find?" she questioned as she crossed her arms. "I found this!" he said, holding up a Hercules Beetle. She jumped back for a minute as the bug was thrusted into her face before slapping it out of Luffy's hand. "That's not what we're here for! We are looking for the hoshi no tama! Get that into your head!" she snapped, knocking Luffy's head with her fist with each word. But she stopped when she heard a tweet from a tree and looked up to see Hattori sitting there and felt cold dread seeping into her blood. Hattori tilted his head curiously as he looked to them and Usopp, after a moment of trying to squeak out something to say, walked over to the others.

"I...Isn't that..."

"Yes..."

"Oh look! A white bird! Maybe he knows where the hoshi no tama are!" Luffy cried. "Oiii, Mr. Bird! Do you know where Sanji's hoshi no tama are? We're looking for them!"

"Luffy!" Nami and Usopp hissed.

Hattori tilted his head before giving a crow and Luffy tilted his head in curiosity. "I don't understand." he murmured.

Nami moved over to him. "What did he say?"

But Luffy shook his head. "No, I just don't understand. He's giving a warning call but we're not dangerous." he said and Nami's tail bristled in horror. "We're not but the people he's calling are!" she said before grabbing Luffy. "We're aborting the mission!" she cried and Usopp was already a good distance ahead of her. "Hey! Get back here, you scaredy kappa!" she yowled before trailing after him, dragging the still wondering monkey behind her.

Robin landed before the panting animals and looked to Nami. "What happened?" she questioned. "Hattori was there...he gave a warning call so we had to run..." Nami breathed before sending a glare to Luffy. "And this blockhead gave away our plan so once he gave the warning call, we had to run before one of the two came and probably would've killed us."

Robin gave a nod. "I see. Guess we'll have to regroup and plan again." she murmured in thought. Nami nodded to this before looking to Luffy as he jumped up. "I got a better idea!" he said.

"What?"

"I really do!" he said happily as he looked to them. "Instead of us going in, why don't I see if Ace can find them?! Surely he can frighten them off if he's looking for the hoshi no tama!" Luffy exclaimed. Nami blinked for a moment before nodding slowly them more firmly. "He actually has a good point. Even if they are more powerful than us, they can't stand up to a subordinate of the Beasts. He can find them, return them to Sanji no cost and we won't get targeted for it! Oh, Luffy, you're a genius!" Nami said happily as she hugged the monkey.

"Now go! Go and find him. We'll be back in the village!" Nami said and walked off with a happy gait that she won't be risking any of her nine lives. "Oh thank merciful Kami…" Usopp whispered as he followed behind Nami. Robin chuckled and followed behind them while Luffy ran off to the spot that Ace usually frequented when he had little to nothing to do outside of messing with Smoker's head.

Ace hummed to himself as he sat within the branches of a tree. The brim of his hat was pulled over his face and looked as if he were sleeping for a moment. Luffy eventually found him after practically running around in circles of the tree he was in and climbed up to where he was. "Ace! Ace, I need your help!" he called right into his ear, making the phoenix jump. "Oi, Luffy! What did I tell you about yelling right in my ear?!"

"Not to do it."

"Exactly."

"Sorry, but it's an emergency and we need your help. By now, you probably know Sanji lost two of his hoshi no tama, right?" Luffy asked and he nodded. "Yes, yes I do. Are you about to ask what I think you're about to ask?"

"Can you help us get them back? Please, please, please!" Luffy begged, giving his brother the puppy dog look. Ace was about to speak but then poofed into a pile of ash that trickled down to the forest floor. Luffy pouted before hopping down and waited for his brother to be reborn. After a couple seconds, he returned back to normal and placed his fallen hat back on his head. "Now where were we?"

"I was asking if you could help get Sanji's hoshi no tama back from Jyabura and Lucci."

Ace huffed and turned his back to Luffy. The other patiently waited for his answer. After a moment of silence, Ace turned back to face his brother...

Zypher: Aaaaand cliffhanger! Well here we are with another new chapter. Trouble is stacking up as we go and all seems grim. Don't worry, it'll get better...later. Anyways, hoped you all enjoyed this little installment and poll-wise, we have come to an impasse. I need some more votes since we manage to end up at a tie. So I've extended the poll to 12/15. If we're still there at said impasse, it'll be extended again to 12/25. So for readers new to this story, please come to my profile and make a vote on the future of this story. We're slowly climbing up to the halfway point where more action and danger awaits for our favorite duo. See you soon.