Brand New World
Ch. 27: Premonitions, Power, and a Problem
-X-
Disclaimer: The following is a fan made work of fiction. One Piece is owned by Funimation, Toei Animation, Fuji TV, Shueisha, Shonen Jump Manga, and Eiichiro Oda. I do not own One Piece or any of its characters, nor any of the songs I put in here. The only thing I own here is Kakusei and a few fan characters.
Summary: I`m Kakusei. I have no idea where I am, or who I am, but I feel I m in a familiar world, just not my own. Mentions other mangas as the character is from our world. I`m being realistic.
Rating: T for Language, Violence, and Blood.
-X-
-Kakusei`s journal-
-X-
Well, we ended up staying another 3 days on Long Ring Long Land so Robin could get some rest and Luffy and I could adjust to our training results. I write this entry the morning of the 3rd day after we left the island. During that time between when we left and now, I had a strange dream one night.
-Flashback-
"What? Where am I?" Kakusei said as he looked around seeing nothing but white.
"I needed to talk to you," a deep and calm voice said, causing Kakusei to turn around and see a Japanese Dragon made of Blue flames. The dragon then curled into a ball of flames, shifted to a human-like shape, and the flames dissipated, revealing a man with long, white hair, piercing blue reptile-like eyes and a slim-looking physique dressed in a traditional Japanese Jujitsu uniform, complete with tabi socks and sandals.
"And you are?" Kakusei asked.
"I am called Seiran," the man said calmly. "It took your passage into this world and being here to awaken me."
"So you`re saying you`ve been inside me since I got here and now you need my help?" Kakusei asked in a slightly sarcastic tone.
"No, but you`ll need mine," Seiran said still calm. "Do you remember that dream you had a while ago?"
"Wait… That was you?" I said in shock realizing he was the blue-flame dragon from that earlier dream.
"Yes, it was, or, I should say, will be," Seiran said. "You saw a vision of the future."
"Okay, that`s not that implausible," Kakusei said calmly. "That kind of thing has happened to me before. But that was back home and I couldn`t control it."
"While that may be true, your arrival here caused what you dubbed as the MÄR effect," Seiran said calmly. "Not only did your physical abilities increase your natural ability to have those visions increased as well."
"So I may be able to control them one day?" Kakusei asked.
"It is possible," Seiran said calmly. "But your visions will become more frequent if anything."
"Alright," Kakusei said as the blank world around them began fading. "Guess I`m waking up."
"You are," Seiran replied. "I should be able to make contact again in a few days. We`ll talk again."
-End Flashback-
Since then, I haven`t heard the supposed contact from Seiran, but he may still pop up soon.
"Did you think I was lying?" I heard in my head.
"Seiran?" I asked mentally.
"It is," he replied. "I kept my promise."
"So why are you talking to me in my head?" I asked him.
"Well, I figured you could use a second opinion in your life, and I wanted to learn in first perspective what`s going on," he replied.
"Just what I needed, another little voice in my head," I replied sarcastically.
"I`m the only other voice in your head," Seiran said.
"Oh shut it," I said a bit ticked about the idea of having a lingering voice in my head. I closed my journal and walked out onto the deck to see Nami lounging, and Sanji and Zoro arguing again. Then Luffy popped a flour sack made did his impersonation of his frozen self. He always approaches the bad with comedy, when appropriate. Then Luffy asked Nami where she got her food, and she told him Sanji made it, causing Luffy to ask for some, while Sanji and Zoro continued to argue. Then the door opened, drawing Nami and my attention.
"Robin!" Nami said, drawing the remaining crew`s attention to her as she came out.
"Robin, how`re you feeling?" Chopper asked happily. "Do you feel cold?"
"Thank to you I feel great now," Robin said with her smile on her face. "Thanks doctor."
That sent Chopper into his happy denial dance, and Nami told Robin she didn`t have to get up because Luffy was up while stretching Luffy`s face.
"Robin, I`ll make you something warm," Sanji said with a smile on his face. "What would you like?"
"May I have a cup of coffee?" Robin asked.
"OF COURSE!" Sanji replied. As Sanji served Robin coffee, the rest of us had lunch. Luffy, Chopper and Usopp were having a discussion about what paille was, leading to Usopp spinning another tall tale. As I was eating, all of a sudden, my vision whited out for about a second, then I saw a frog swimming ahead of our ship doing the breaststroke, then a train station and a train heading right at us, and then a city that looked like a water fountain.
"And there`s your first vision," Seiran said in my head. "The first one in daylight anyway."
"It was?" I asked him.
"Oi, Kakusei, you alright?" Zoro asked me bluntly before turning his head back out to the ocean.
"Yeah, I`m fine," I said as Zoro and I just saw the frog I saw in my vision.
"Is that a frog?" Zoro asked.
"Swimming in free-style?" Usopp asked.
"Follow that frog!" I yelled almost dropping my lunch. If my past experience with Psychic visions have taught me anything, it`s follow them.
"Let`s catch him!" Luffy yelled agreeing with my statement. With that, we broke out the oars and started paddling to catch it, and after Nami asked why we changed course, we found out Luffy wanted to eat it… Of course he does. Then Nami whipped out a pair of binoculars and found out the frog was heading for the lighthouse. After a confirmation from Robin and a little recipe on preparation of frog from Sanji, we headed over there. A few minutes later, we caught up to the lighthouse and the frog stopped at our side. We began heading a strange sound which got louder and louder, and then someone yelled at us to turn around immediately. Then we all turned and saw a train on the sea, vision number 2.
"Shit!" I yelled as we barely out of the way of the train just in time, as the train shot by where we just were.
"But that shape…" Nami said shocked at the train. "It shouldn`t be able to sail!" Then the frog got slammed by the train, sending it flying. Well, 2 out of three so far, which means our next stop was that giant fountain city.
"That ship was blowing smoke…" Chopper said in shock. Again, Robin and I were the only two not in shock over what we just saw. I was still scared to almost shitting my pants over that. I`ve seen the train carnage videos back home…
"Ah! Oh no! Grandma, Grandma, pirates!" yelled a little girl in a striped dress with braided pigtails that stood straight out of her head.
"What? Really, Chimney? Hokay, jush wait a shec!" replied a large woman wearing a hat that looked like a cross between a chef`s hat and conductor`s hat.
"Uh-oh, someone's coming out of the building!" Zoro said getting ready for a fight. "They're gonna call for backup..."
"Nope," I said. "And you`ll see why soon."
"UH...! H'LLO? UMMMM! What wash it again? I fergot! HIC!" the lady said in a drunken slur.
"SHE'S DRUNK!" Zoro and Usopp yelled simultaneously.
"And that`s why," I said smiling happily.
"Ohhh... Paille? I see... Makes a good snack for drinkin' beer," the lady said after hearing Luffy`s explanation of what happened.
"Wow, this is yummy! My name is Chimney!" Chimney said as she and her rabbit munched on the paille. "This is my cat Gonbe, and Grandma Kokoro!"
"Uh, that`s not…" Usopp tried to say before I stopped him.
"Let her believe what she wants to," I said calmly. "Besides, Gonbe acts like a cat."
"Y'all better not be train robbers, y'hear me? Ngagaga!" Kokoro said laughing.
"I'm Luffy, the future Pirate King!" Luffy said introducing himself.
"Really?" Kokoro asked.
"Yeah," Luffy replied bluntly.
"Ngagaga, you're a funny one," Kokoro replied laughing.
"Chimney that was a steam engine, right?" Nami asked. "How can it possibly travel on the water...?"
"Bet you've never seen anything like it before," Chimney said with a smile on her face. "You won't find it anywhere else in the world! That's the "Sea Train," Puffing Tom."
"Puffing Tom?" Nami asked.
"It's a steam engine that uses paddles to travel along the sea tracks!" Chimney replied.
"Sea tracks?" Nami asked.
"Yeah, they`re right down there below the surface of the water," I said pointing them out. "It`s essentially a steamboat on tracks."
"The train goes around the same islands every day, carrying passengers. It can also ferry ships and mail," Chimney said explaining things.
"Kakusei's right, there ARE tracks," Usopp said looking into the water.
"Yeah! There are boundaries," Kokoro explained. "I don't know why you wanted to put yourselves in danger by barging in on your ship."
"Dangerous for US? But frogs don't understand that. You didn't have to hit that guy!" Luffy said in a whiny voice. "He was our prey, anyways."
"Oh... that's "Yokozuna." He's the root of Shift Station's troubles," Chimney explained. "He loves battles of strength, so he always tries to beat the train. He won't die; he'll be back soon enough!"
"A battle of strength? ...oh, no wonder he didn't jump out of the way!" Luffy said in realization. "That frog's got guts!"
"It's not a good thing! He keeps destroying the grill on the front of the train! Every time he shows up, it's bad news for our customers!" Chimney continued complaining.
"I see now... Okay! I'm not gonna eat him! I can't eat guys who work hard!" Luffy said striking a battle pose.
"It's a frog; you shouldn't eat it in the first place," Nami said to Luffy.
"What, you`ve never heard of Frog`s legs?" I asked.
"So? Where egzactly are ya headed?" Kokoro asked. "If ya wanna take the Sea Train, you can go to... The "Spring Queen Town," St. Poplar, the "Gourmet Town," Pucci, or the "Carnival Town," San Faldo. All fun destinations! We have a separate express solely for government employees and officials, but that's another matter."
"REALLY? GOURMET TOWN!" Luffy said with excitement in his voice.
"No, we have a ship, we're not riding the train," Nami said hitting Luffy upside the head. "We're just following the Log."
"Oh? Where's it pointing?" Kokoro asked.
"To the west of here," Nami replied calmly.
"You'll be headin' for Water Seven, then," Kokoro replied in her drunken slur. "That train y'just shaw came from Blue Station over on that island. It'sh a nice place; they call it the Water Metropolis. That city was BUILT on their ability to create ships... they're the besht in the world! Even the world governmentsh turn to them to have their ships made!"
"Wow, there must be some good shipwrights there!" Luffy said.
"Ngagagagaga, not just "some"! It's where you'll find all the greatest shipwrights in the world!" Kokoro said confidently.
"Usopp!" Luffy yelled.
"Yeah!" Usopp replied.
"...then it's settled!" Luffy said. " We're going there TO ADD A SHIPWRIGHT TO OUR CREW!"
"Could I ask a favor Kokoro?" I asked aloud.
"What ish it?" Kokoro asked me.
"Could you give us a map to Water Seven and a letter to introduce us to someone who can help us?" I asked. "Since we don`t know anyone there, it`s be nice if we had word from someone who knows a person who can help us."
"Oh shure!" She replied. "I`ll write ta Iceberg. He`s a drinkin` buddy of mine." She then went inside and after a few minutes, came back with a folded piece of paper. "Here ya go, then! A letter of introdukshun and an easy-to-read map. Go get yer ship fixed up! Water Seven's a big place, don't get losht."
"Thank you," I said bowing in thanks. "This will be a great help to us. By the way, does Water Seven look like a giant water fountain?"
"Actually, it does!" Chimney said in response. "We're going back to Water Seven soon!"
"Tha's right!" Kokoro said as a follow-up. "If I see ya again, I'll take ya for a drink at my fav'rit bar, ngagaga!"
"I`ll have to treat you to drinks later then," I said smiling a bit.
"Great! I hope we meet again!" Luffy said waving good-bye.
"The Log at Water Seven takes a week, so enjoy yourselves!" Kokoro said, giving us a good hope for actually getting a break.
"Here we go, then!" Nami said as we waved good-bye. "Thanks for all the info, Cocoro and Chimney!"
"Prepare to sail, boys!" Luffy yelled.
"YEAH!" Sanji, Chopper, Usopp and I cheered.
"Take care!" Chimney yelled as we left.
"Look out fer them government officials!" Kokoro said giving us good warning. And slowly, Kokoro`s train station fell out of our sight.
"Yahoooo! Off we go, to the Meat Metropolis!" Luffy yelled happily.
"Were you even listening?" I asked Luffy. A little later, we ended up having a conversation about what we wanted in a shipwright.
"Luffy! Just let me find us a shipwright!" Sanji said while sitting on the second floor railing. "I'll find a super-hot babe!"
"Are you nuts? It's like a carpenter!" Luffy said making gestures whit his arms. "It needs to be a huge burly guy! 5 meters tall!"
"If he's that big, how's he even going to live on this ship?" Usopp asked.
"I don't care who it is, as long as they're good," Zoro said. "But the biggest problem could be finding one who's crazy enough to become a pirate."
"And with the work we do, they need good fighting ability as well," I said adding in.
"I'm excited about getting a new member!" Chopper said happily.
"We were lucky to hit that station. Now we have a map. All we have to do is follow the map and ask for the person named Iceberg," Nami said as she unfurled the map. "A-ha." Nami said flatly. "THAT TELLS US NOTHING!"
"We should have expected this," I said as I pulled out my sketchpad and began sketching. "She was drunk after all. At least the letter is well written. We`re probably looking for a place like this." I showed Nami my sketch of Water Seven, made from the simplistic sketch Kokoro gave us and what I saw in my vision.
"Holy… How did you get that from this?" Nami asked. "Wait, didn`t you ask if Water Seven looked like a fountain?"
"He did," Robin replied calmly from her seat on the steps near Luffy.
"See, we have to all look for someone like this!" Luffy said as he held up his horrible sketch of what he wanted in a shipwright.
"If I see anyone like that, I'm running," Usopp said as he looked at Luffy`s drawing.
"Me too, I'd get on the ship and set sail... but that thing looks like it`s part octopus, so he'd come chasing after us anyways."
"What the hell are you guys talking about?" Zoro asked from the other higher deck.
"He`s talking about Luffy`s horrible sketch," I said as I took my sketchpad and sketched out a better version of what Luffy wanted. When I finished, I showed them a guy with an Elvis Pompadour, huge Popeye-arms, skinny legs, a moderately muscled chest, and a metal nose on his face.
"I`m still running from that," Usopp said still scared.
"I think I`d be fine with that," Sanji said looking a bit calmer.
"Hey, take another look at your sketch," Seiran said to me in my mind.
"What is it?" I said looking the sketch over. "I don`t see anything wrong with it."
"Doesn`t this guy look familiar?" Seiran asked me. I took a second look at the sketch and I realized that this guy kinda looked like that guy I saw on the bridge in my dream.
"So if we see a guy like this, he`s important?" I asked Seiran in my mind.
"Bingo," Seiran said calmly. "Keep an eye out for a guy like this. He`ll be important in the future."
"How do you know?" I asked Seiran.
"Well, I um…" Seiran said sounding very nervous.
"Everyone over here!" Nami said snapping me back to reality. "I'll give you special allowances for the week we spend here."
"WOOOO! Disposable income!" Luffy cheered.
"I guess I better help with this," I said walking up to Nami.
"Dodged a bullet there," Seiran said to himself without me hearing him.
"Hey Kakusei, what`s been with you lately?" Nami asked me.
"Would you guys believe me if I said I was Psychic?" I asked.
"Depends on the evidence you give us," Robin said calmly.
"Well, I had a short vision today before we saw Yokozuna," I said. "I saw Yokozuna swimming, then the train about to hit us, and finally, I saw what I`m guessing is Water Seven."
"Which is how you drew this!" Nami said as she held up my self-made map of Water Seven, bringing Robin to attention.
"Well, if Water Seven really looks like that, we can assume Kakusei is Psychic," Robin said calmly.
"So how long have you been Psychic?" Nami asked.
"Well, since I was about 9 or 10 years old," I said thinking back. "I was sleeping one night and while I was dreaming, I saw the weather report for like a month later. When I saw that weather report again, I made note of it, but it was a few years until I had any more visions of my future in my dreams. Today was the first time I had one in the middle of the day."
"What`s it like?" Sanji asked.
"Well, it`s weird," I said. "It`s like seeing a scene play out as I see it through my own eyes before it happens. And when the vision happens, it`s exactly like Déjà Vu, if anyone here knows what that`s like."
"Nope," Sanji said.
"No, I don`t," Nami said in response.
"Can`t say I do," Robin said smiling.
"What's up, Usopp?" Luffy asked Usopp, who was hugging the mast tightly.
"All these metal reinforcements... They're like memories of our battles and adventures..." he said in a dream-like voice. "Once I realized they were going to be fixed and repaired, it makes me feel a bit nostalgic..."
"I can understand... ever since we entered the Grand Line, Merry's taken some pretty bad beatings," Sanji said. "The creaking of the deck and the leaking down below are awful."
"At the current rate, this ship's going to turn dangerous to us," Nami said.
"Yeah! But now we have lots of money!" Luffy said happily. "We can fix it up nice! Power-up time!"
"We need more cannons!" Usopp said excitedly.
"Don't forget a giant statue," Luffy replied.
"Slow down Luffy," I said grabbing his shoulder. "One thing at a time. Let`s get Merry patched up first."
"Isn't that it?" Zoro asked, causing us all to look out where he gestured to.
"LAND HO!" Luffy yelled.
"I SEE THE ISLAND!" Usopp yelled.
"Okay boys, row!" Luffy ordered us.
"Don't waste your strength," Nami said flatly.
"She`s right, we`ll get there when we get there," I added in.
"Whoa!" Luffy said as Usopp stared speechless.
"It's lovely," Robin said calmly.
"WOW!" Chopper yelled.
"I can`t believe it," Nami said looking at the island.
"Oooh," Sanji said staring at the island as well.
"It`s just like I saw it," I said staring at the giant fountain-shaped city in awe.
"Amazing, isn`t it?" Seiran said in awe as well.
"WHOAAA! What's THAT?" Chopper asked.
"It's a huuuuge fountain!" Luffy yelled out.
"Guess you`re a Psychic Kakusei," Nami said smiling a bit.
"Seems so," Robin added in.
"Wow, is this a metropolis?" Usopp asked while bugging out.
"No wonder they've got sea trains," Sanji said amazed.
"That must be the station up in front; it says "Blue Station"," Nami said looking at the Blue Station.
"Where's the port, then?" Sanji asked.
"It`s probably around back," I said. "They probably don`t want pirates being shown to the public and government."
"Heeey! You there!" a man in a fisherman`s boat yelled at us.
"Huh?" Luffy asked.
"You can't just sail in the front way if you're pirates!" the man continued. "Go around to the back end of town!"
"Okay! Thanks!" Luffy said to the man.
"Told you," I said with a smug look on my face.
"Wow, a city on the water?" Sanji said astonished.
"I like this place!" Luffy said.
"It's beautiful," Nami said amazed.
"Reminds me of Venice, Italy," I said smiling. "Never been there, but I`ve seen pictures."
"The town... it's flooding!" Usopp yelled. "Don't you see the houses sinking into the water?""
"No, it's a city that was built on a sunken island," Robin said calmly. "Look at the foundations of the buildings."
"You're right, they're pillars!" Chopper said as he looked closely at the house foundations.
"I see... so that's why it's the Water Metropolis," Sanji said.
"Woohoo! Let's go find the shipwrights!" Luffy yelled while sitting on his seat.
"Hey, you pirates!" Yelled a man with a shaved head sitting at a café. "You can't come in this way! What are you here for, plunder?"
"Nah, we're just here to get our ship repaired." Luffy replied honestly.
"Do people normally ask if you're coming to plunder?" Nami asked with a sweat-drop appearing on the side of her head.
"Then there's a cape up ahead," the man replied. "You should anchor your ship there."
"...oh. Thanks!" Luffy replied.
"This looks about right," I said later as we approached a tract of land.
"Okay! Hoist the sail!" Nami ordered to Zoro. As Zoro was hoisting the sail, we all heard a loud CRACK! We all took a look at what happened and saw the mast was bending!
"AAAAH! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Usopp yelled at Zoro.
"No...! I just pulled on the rope!" Zoro said in his defense. "Goddamn... I didn't realize the Going Merry was in such bad shape..."
"Why don't the people on this island fear pirates?" Nami asked as Zoro was repairing the Merry while being chopped and scolded by Usopp.
"Cause the pirates are probably customers at the shipyard, too," I said calmly.
"Or maybe they have defense forces strong enough to repel pirates," Robin added in.
"Yeah, they probably do... it's a big city," Sanji added in as well.
:What? Really?" Usopp said freaking out and taking a break from beating Zoro. "What are we gonna do, then? We're in danger!"
"No we're not. We're customers," Sanji said calmly.
"Huh? Oh yeah," Usopp said calmed down now.
"We're off, then!" Luffy and Usopp said as they ran off.
"Luffy, Usopp, wait! You have to come with me!" Nami yelled at the two of them.
"Where to?" Usopp asked.
"Well, I've got Kokoro-san's letter. We need to look for someone named "Iceberg"," Nami began. "We can rely on him to get the ship fixed... And I need to look for a place to exchange our gold for money."
"...okay," Luffy replied. "So anyways! Onward! To the Water Metropolis!"
As they left, the rest of us sat around for a bit until Nami, Luffy, and Usopp were out of sight. I decided to grab my allowance and my backpack and go walk around the city. As I passed through the city, I noticed a lot of people wearing masks. Then I remembered that there was a costume party taking place, so I brushed it off. I kept walking for awhile and I saw a guy with a long square nose and a baseball cap running across the roofs.
"That`s pretty awesome!" I said aloud. "I didn`t know people could run like that."
"You might want to catch up to him," Seiran told me in my mind.
"Why?" I asked him.
"Cause he`s heading right for the Going Merry," he replied calmly.
"Crap! Time to play catch-up," I said. "Let`s try out those new tricks Tetsuga helped me learn." I jumped a bit into the air, and used my Ki to make a small invisible platform about the size of my feet, and kicked off it. I bounced a few times before I reached the roof, then I used my second trick. I kicked off the roof a little more than 10 times normal speed, and sped off after that guy. The people watching me were kinda freaked out, and took my tricks as a show. In a few minutes I had caught up to him and was running beside him. "Hey, where are you going?" I asked as we ran side-by-side.
"Oh, are you a part of the Straw-hat Pirates?" he asked me. "I`m Kaku, and I`m heading over to look at your ship. I`m one of the Shipwrights here."
"Oh, I`m sorry," I apologized. "I`m Kakusei. I was just being defensive, that`s all. Bounty hunters and all that. Gotta fight `em sometimes, not that I don`t mind."
"So we have similar name and share hobbies," Kaku said smiling. "If I didn`t know better, I`d say we were long-lost brothers."
"Well, I can assure you we`re not related," I said smiling a bit. "Alright, I`ll let you get back to work. I`ll turn off here."
"Alright, have a good time here!" Kaku said as I turned off and ran back to where I left off. "He was able to catch up to me with Soru, and he used Geppou to get up here," Kaku said under his breath as he ran towards the Merry. "His name wasn`t mentioned in the reports… Who is Kakusei? Anyway, back to work!"
A good distance away, I landed back on the place I left, and I was greeted by applause from those who were obviously watching me.
"Amazing!" One man said coming up to me. "I`ve never seen someone who can catch up to Kaku, the Yamakaze (Mountain Wind)!"
"Where did you come from?" another man asked.
"I just arrived here on a ship," I said calmly and enjoying the praise a bit.
"You should join the shipwrights here!" a woman commented.
"No, no, I`m already on a crew, but thanks for the notion," I said as I walked away. I spent a little while walking around, and I ended up stopping at a newsstand, when the front lines of a paper caught my eye, or it caught Seiran`s.
"Hey, check out that headline," Seiran said, drawing my attention to the newspaper.
"Vice-Admiral Storm D. Kenjiro comes to Grand Line," I said reading the headline on the paper. I bought the paper from the newsstand and I read the story. "Vice-Admiral Storm D. Kenjiro, alias Arashiken (Storm Fist) Kenjiro, has recently left for the Grand Line in order to take a vacation. However, he had been criticized for his habit of taking too many vacations, though he still manages to complete his work over them, and capturing criminals while off duty. Kenjiro has not been able to be interviewed for a comment on this, though he has been rumored to have been seen near the city of Water Seven." That last part made me gulp hard. I certainly didn`t remember this guy at all.
"Nervous I see," a voice said from behind me. I turned around and saw an old man who was hunched over in an oversized blue Hawaiian shirt with a green floral print on it and a pair of straw sandals. I noticed him smoking a long, old-style Japanese pipe and I was hoping he was wearing shorts under that shirt. His grey, almost silver hair was styled to look like his ponytail was a lit fire, while the rest of his hair was pulled back, and he had a long beard and moustache that reminded me of Yamamoto from Bleach. He was walking around with a large black hammer, using the hammer as a walking stick. "You must be a pirate." He sounded much less like an old man than he should have been. His voice was very deep and smooth. "You wouldn`t be so nervous unless you weren`t."
"Yeah, I am," I said honestly. "May I ask your name?"
"It`s more polite to introduce yourself before you ask someone else`s name young man, especially an elders," the old man said.
"I`m Kakusei," I said calmly. "And your name?"
"Tetsuno Genkai, my boy," Genkai replied. "You seem very nice for a pirate. You must be part of a peace maine crew."
"I am," I replied. "You are very insightful for someone who just met me."
"I get that a lot," Genkai replied laughing a bit. "Mind seeing where an old man works?"
Just then, I saw Kaku running across the roofs back to wherever he came from.
"I`m sorry, but I have to leave," I said politely as I turned back to Genkai, seeing him write something down on a small piece of paper.
"Here," he said as he handed me the paper. "Come by that address tomorrow morning. Go and see how your ship`s doing."
"Thank you," I said as I took the paper. "See you tomorrow!" I said as I bounded up to the roof and shot off after Kaku.
"Nice boy," Genkai said to himself as I left. "He`s a lucky one he is."
"He was a nice man," Seiran said to me in my mind as I ran to catch up to Kaku. "You really should visit him tomorrow."
"And you thought I wasn`t gonna?" I asked him. "He`s nice, and he seems interesting." I put on a burst of speed and managed to catch up to Kaku. "Hey Kaku, done inspecting the ship already?" I asked.
"Yes," Kaku replied. "And now I`m heading back to the docks. Hey, how about a race there?"
"Sounds good to me!" I said smiling a bit.
"Good, I can test his abilities a bit more now," Kaku said in his mind. "Alright, let`s go!" He bolted off, putting on a burst of speed to pull ahead.
"Hey, no fair!" I yelled, running after him gradually gaining speed myself. Kaku and I managed to stay pretty close to each other.
"This seems odd," Seiran said in my mind.
"What`s so odd about it?" I asked him. "We`re just having a race."
"I don`t know, it seems like he`s testing you," Seiran said suspiciously.
"Oh lighten up," I said happily in response. "We`re just having fun!" I pulled ahead of Kaku a bit and got to the gate before he did. I jumped off the gate, and began a series of somersaults to land on the ground, but in that, Kaku somehow ran faster than me and landed before I did.
"Huh? Kaku, where were you?" Paulie asked. "And who the hell are you?"
"On an inspection..." Kaku said calmly.
"I`m Kakusei, part of the Straw-hat Pirates," I replied honestly.
"Are our clients in here?" Kaku asked Paulie.
"Right over there Kaku," I said pointing them out.
"Oh! You're the man from before!" Nami said in her business outfit. "Did you look at our ship?"
"Indeed I did. Iceberg-san is here too?" Kaku said looking at Nami then Iceberg.
"I know the story. How did it look?" Iceberg asked.
"Come down from there, Luffy!" Nami yelled at Luffy, who was on a scaffold.
"Excuse me sir, but I don`t recognize you as a shipwright, so I must ask you to leave," Kalifa said to me.
"I`m a Straw-hat Pirate, Miss," I said politely. "My name is Kakusei."
"I don`t recall having you on the report," Kalifa said looking at her clipboard. "Is he the most recent member?"
"He is," Nami said vouching for me.
"Then I`ll add him in," Kalifa said writing on her clipboard. "How did you get in here?"
"I followed Kaku in," I said.
"I`m just shocked he can keep up with me," Kaku said laughing a bit.
"Now that is a shock," Iceberg replied laughing a bit.
"Where's Usopp?" Luffy asked as he landed.
"He was over there ogling the equipment over there a minute ago," Nami replied. "But he left the cases of money here, so I guess it`s okay."
"So? How much will it cost?" Luffy asked Kaku. "We can pay as much as you want, because we've got all the money right here! If possible, we'd like you to tougher and faster, with more cannons!"
"Also, can you add some decorations to the hull?" Nami asked. "And what about making over the cabins?"
"Hold on. I'll make this short..." Kaku said bluntly. "Your ship's battle wounds are too deep. I'm sure you've had a grand journey."
"Oh, yeah," Luffy said honestly. "We were climbing mountains, flying through the sky, getting skewered, everything. We've been through a lot. That's why we need you to fix 'im up!"
"Is it going to take a while?" Nami asked.
"...no. I'll be brutally honest," Kaku said bluntly again. "With our level of skill, your ship cannot be repaired!"
"What?" Nami said shocked.
"Even if we tried to fix it up," Kaku said slowly, "the chance you have of getting to the next island is zero."
"No!" Nami said in response. "We were just sailing fine with it today!"
"...is the keel damaged?" Paulie asked.
"Yes. Badly," Kaku answered.
"YOU CAN'T FIX THE MERRY? WHY NOT? I thought you were supposed to be amazing shipwrights!" Luffy said like a child throwing a tantrum. "Look! We have all the money you'll need!"
"Money Is not the issue," Kaku said calmly. "No amount of wealth will fix that ship. It is a wonder it even made it here, in that condition. You should be glad to even get this far."
"What do you mean?" Nami asked loudly. "What's wrong with the Merry?"
"Do you know what the "keel" is, lewd girl?" Paulie asked Nami.
"I do," I said, stepping in for Nami as I remembered the explanation Paulie was about to give. "The keel is like the backbone of the ship, cause it`s the part the rest of the ship is built on. It`s like the foundation of a house, or a human spine. Break that, and the ship will eventually break along with it, right?"
"On the nose, Kakusei," Paulie replied. "The keel is the "life of the ship," the part that brings all of it together. If it's badly damaged, you can't just take it out and replace it with another. It would be the same as starting another ship from scratch. That's why no one can fix it. Your ship is now nothing more than a pile of wood waiting to fall apart."
"...STOP! You don't have to say it like that!" Nami objected.
"Why not? It's true," Paulie replied.
"...OK then! Build our ship over again from scratch!" Luffy yelled. "Make us another Going Merry!"
"Can't do that, either," Hattori said speaking for Rob Lucci. "Hoo hoo." Something about Rob Lucci just rubbed me the wrong way. I don`t know what it was, but I didn`t like him.
"WHY NOT?" Luffy yelled like a child again.
"We can create a ship that is LIKE it, but strictly speaking, no one can create the exact same ship again," Hattori/Rob Lucci continued. "No two ships are completely alike."
"What do you mean?" Nami asked.
"How many trees are exactly identical?" Hattori/Rob Lucci asked Nami. "Ships are mainly constructed of wood. A ship's size and curves depend on the tree that is used. Even if you use the same plans, you can't create the exact same ship. Even if we did that for you, it would be all of you who would feel most of all, that this ship was not the same. Hoo hoo."
"...but... are you really sure the Going Merry will never sail again?" Nami asked.
"Most likely. You can either wait for it to sink..." Kaku said dramatically. "…or disassemble it now."
"Well! That's the lifespan of your ship," Iceberg said bluntly. "This is a good opportunity for you. Buy yourself a brand new ship. You have money, don't you? I hear your old one was a caravel. You'd have a hard time with the voyage ahead, using an older model like that."
"...NO! I DON'T WANT TO CHANGE SHIPS!" Luffy yelled complaining as he did.
"Luffy..." Nami said slowly.
"OUR SHIP IS THE GOING MERRY! YOU CAN REPAIR IT, AND IT'LL SAIL AGAIN! I KNOW IT! IT WAS SAILING JUST FINE TODAY! YOU CAN'T JUST SAY IT WON'T WORK ANYMORE... AND EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE IT!" Luffy yelled in Iceberg`s face. "YOU'RE ONLY SAYING THAT BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TOUGH IT IS!"
"So you won't be satisfied until it sinks... I'm disgusted..." Iceberg said sounding a bit, well, disgusted. "You call yourself a captain. Well, it seems our discussion is over. Think about it. If you feel like buying a new ship, come to us. Give us that 300 million you've got and we'll build you the newest type of ship there is. Kalifa."
"Sir. Please read this. It's a catalogue of our new and used ships. It should help you settle on a price..." Kalifa said handing us a catalog of ship types.
"Thank you Miss," I said calmly. "I`ll hold onto it, as I think Iceberg just gave my captain a lot to think about."
"Kakusei, may I ask why you don`t refer to me by name?" Kalifa asked.
"I would refer to you by name, but I might get accused of sexual harassment," I said smiling a bit at my joke. Kalifa smiled herself a bit at this.
"I guess you might," she replied as she returned to Iceberg`s side.
"Iceburg-san! You have guests, at the gate. They look like government officials again," a tall, tan man with tattoos on his chest and arms and a single spike of hair sticking out of his head said to Iceberg. I recognized him as Peepy Lulu. Funny name for a guy. "Shall I chase them off?"
"Hmmm, yes," Iceberg replied. "Tell them I'm not here. My goodness Lulu, you once again have the most fascinating bed-hair."
"That`s bed-hair?" I said astonished.
"OOPS! Pardon me," Lulu said a bit embarrassed. "I'll send them away, then."
"Please do," Iceberg replied.
Then the government official showed up and gave Iceberg a hard time while we watched from the sidelines.
"Huh?" Luffy said as he picked up the briefcases Usopp left.
"What?" Nami asked.
"It's light.." Luffy said as he held up one of the cases..
"Why? Stop joking!" Nami said seriously. "It can't be light, with all that money inside..." Then Nami opened the cases.
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Luffy screamed.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Nami screamed. They both almost made me deaf.
"What the HELL are you screaming about?" Paulie asked as he came to see what was up. "Ack! Hey, woman! Don't sit like that, or..."
"OUR 200 MILLION BERRIES…" Luffy started.
"…ARE GONE!" Nami finished. "AND THESE AREN'T EVEN OUR CASES!"
"What's with all the shouting?" Hattori/Rob Lucci asked.
"WHAT?" Paulie said. "That wasn't ME, you know!"
"What a mess," Lulu commented. "Anyways... Kaku. Didn't I just see you with the Frankys?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Kaku replied. " I haven't seen the Frankys all day."
"...strange," Lulu replied. "I'm sure I saw your REALLY LONG NOSE."
"WAIT A MINUTE!" Nami yelled to Lulu.
"THAT'S USOPP!" Luffy yelled.
"HE WAS WITH THE FRANKYS?" Nami asked.
"Well, by "with" I mean "being dragged around by"," Lulu replied.
"That idiot went and got himself kidnapped!" I yelled, but not as loud as Luffy and Nami.
"Hurry, Luffy! Look for them!" Nami yelled at Luffy, toning it down a bit.
"OK!" Luffy said running off.
"No, wait Luffy, where are you going to go?" Nami yelled trying to get Luffy to listen. "Hey! Where is the Franky Family's hideout?"
"Hideout?" Paulie replied. "Well, the disassembly yard is on the shore way northeast of where you stopped your ship, on the Rocky Cape. It's called the "Franky House"."
After that, Nami and I climbed in her Yagura Bull and sped off, trying to find Luffy.
"Luffy! Luuuuffy!" Nami yelled from her Yagura Bull trying to get Luffy`s attention. "Geez, he knows he's not smart enough to search for anyone on his own! I don't have time to look for Luffy!"
"I got him Nami, you just get that case secured!" I said as I jumped out and ran to look for Luffy. "The Franky Family is gonna be sorry they ever messed with the Straw-hat pirates!"
-X-
We finally made it to Water Seven, and events have certainly come into full view!
Next chapter, we make an offer the Franky Family can`t refuse!
Tsugino jikan made! (Until next time!)