Chapter 16:
I do not own One Piece! :D
Yes, I am happy about it, it's too much responsibility for me. So enjoy my weaker fanfiction. It is nothing near as creative and awesome as The Creator's words and works, but I hope it provides you with some moderate entertainment.
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Tashigi's Heart: The Mysterious Swordsman
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It has been almost two weeks since Whiskey Peak, and I was very thankful to leave it behind. The young Bounty hunter in training was brought on board for questioning. I think I was questioned just as much as he was, except he had time to think about what he needed to say, and he could just say it. I had to give a brief speech of what happened to me, and then go and write a full report, hand it to the captain, and then page it to HQ. It was a very tiring process.
The crew didn't seem to thrilled to have me back on board, and yes, they were very respectable towards me, but you can sometimes feel that you are trying fit into a space and everyone else sees you as the third wheel on a perfect bike. Well that should soon change.
I spent a lot of my time with the communications officer trying to decipher messages and hacking codes sent by HQ. I really liked doing that Job, and I think he appreciated the company. But I'm very aware that I shouldn't spend one too many visits with certain people, or else gossip spread unnecessarily like wild fire. So I tend to go out of my way to check up on lots of different groups and members.
The Eels we caught two weeks ago had hatched out of their rubbery container, and were now being kept in a tank in the Captain's cabin. He seemed to like watching them when he was having his evening smoke, and sticking his Kairoseki poll into the tank letting them latch onto it for a few seconds and then suddenly pulling it out to see if he could catch one. However they seemed smart enough not to be pulled out of the water. I think they look beautiful! Probably the most colourful and stunning eel that has ever been seen. They weren't fiery red like the adult had been, but a magenta colour with speckles of vivid green, and I'm quite sure that their colour changes due to stress and emotions they are going through. One of the younger chefs tried to find a good way to cook a few after they had just caught them, but became very sick afterwards. Idiots! Didn't they know it was poisonous until it was about three years old, some people never do their research.
However, today is yet another very sunny Day on the 'Smoker Marine'. I have found the weather climates here in the Grand Line, although unpredictable, seem to get worse when one nears a new Island. And so now that we have entered into a peaceful patch the Captain has order a routine check on board. Everyone has been running about all day changing this and that, scrubbing the deck, fishing, cleaning the eel tank, taking down the sails and making repairs, fixing the lines, washing uniforms, and drying them outside instead of hanging them up next to the heaters in the cabins. Everyone was productively busy, well almost everyone.
Smoker is now taking this opportunity for some sun bathing. I saw him head outside with his paper. The thought never occurs to him that there might be people who need his help or could do with some help. I mean, come on! does he need to be so utterly lazy. He thinks he doesn't need to do any work. I ask you! He is a very good leader, and excellent at delegating tasks to others, but why can't he lead by example.
Anyway, I have been slaving away all morning, and I think I deserve a break from the hot blazing sun. So I have come back inside to polish up a new find. I couldn't believe it when we confiscated it from the queer dressed up old man, who refused to cooperate with us. This was a Hitatsura, a Katana that has a burned pattern on it that is created by forging the cutting and blunt edges together in an unusual way.
"What a splendid Hitatsura," I pulled my glasses down to get a better look. "one of the Ryouwaza Mono...Kashiu." This work was meant to be admired. I doubt that even a person who has no clue what Katanas are would still be able to appreciate the beauty and elegant qualities of this blade.
"I expected nothing less from the Grand Line." I said aloud to myself, "But to meet with such a beautiful Meitou so soon." It's a dream come true.
"TASHIGI! OI!" Smoker yelled, "ARE YOU DEAF, YOU KATANA FREAK!?" Wait, was that Smoker? How long had he been calling me?
"Yes, sir!" I grabbed Shigure and ran full pelt out of my cabin and down the stairs to the main deck. "I'm coming Captain!" As luck would have it I tripped up, I mean down, on the eighth step and face-planted the deck. It was such a shock for me I rolled to try to get my bearings and bring back feeling into my face. But that didn't last long as Shigure landed right smack alongside my face. If I had done one more turn it would have cut my nose off.
"Ahhhhh!" I pulled myself away from the blade. That was WAY to close! How mean of you Shigure, you almost killed me! ANOTHER STUPID CLUMSY MOMENT!
"Stop clowning around and get over here. I need you to listen to this!" The Captain yelled. So he actually needed something, or did he just want another cup of coffee. Wait a minute what was that?
"Oh! Neat! That's a Black Wiretap Den Den Mushi!" I had seen it in the communications room, but never being used before. Wow! This was exciting! This was used for the sole purpose of hacking into other Peoples communication calls. just what had we picked up?
"Now listen close," woah, the Captain actually sounded serious. "We just picked up this conversation minutes ago."
"With your permission, Sergeant Major, I'll replay it." Saunder asked.
"Yes, please proceed." I answered.
"...Mr. 0...That was a weird name to give yourself.
...Princess Vivi and those Straw Hat Pira...
"The Straw Hat Pirates!?" Okay, what on earth is going on!
"...Yeah, mission accomplished...
….stablish communication... receiving orders unt... That is all...
"There was too much interference to decipher any more." Saunder lifted up the snail and shut it off.
"Even with transmission interference, we managed to catch 4 key words from the conversation between these two" Smoker said as he was leaning and smoking against the banister.
"Princess Vivi."
"Straw Hats"
"Orders"
and
"Mr. 0".
He's right there is actually quite a lot to go on. "Mr. 0?" I asked, "Could that be some form of codename? If it is, he may be connected with the suspicious swordsman we captured in 'Runes' the other day. That man called himself 'Mr. 11'." I pointed down to the odd looking man that we had tied up to the main mast.
"Good point." Smoker answered, "Probably a criminal organization where the members have numbers as code names and its members execute 'orders'." He looked over his shoulder at our prisoner who had recently been tied to the mast to enjoy the sun while we tidied up beneath deck. "Something like that?" It was hardly a question it was a statement. Smoker you've hit the nail on the head.
The old gentleman had his back turned to us, but was obviously listening intently to are conversation. "Mr. 0? Criminal Organization? I don't know Them! Don't talk to me about such nonsense.!"Was he really trying to back out of this? When he hadn't even given us his real name, but a number. How dumb was this organization?
"If that's true, then what were those detailed orders you had in your pocket?" The Captain returned.
I saw him stiffen up, and he managed to turn his head around to answer us. "Th-Those were... Ummmm... not mine!"
"That's funny," the Captain starting chewing on his cigars again, "because we didn't find anything in your damn pocket."
The swordsman glared and turned back around. Well that sorts that out. He must be from the same organization.
The Captain was starting to look keen and interested in something again, "Princess Vivi, If I recall, that's the name of the Princess of Alabasta. Her current whereabouts are unknown." He puffed out another breath of smoke.
Princess Vivi might have been kidnapped by the Strawhats? No, they weren't here in the Grand Line at the time of her disappearance.
"But isn't the Alabasta Kingdom in the midst of a coup d'etat?" I asked, "Could it be that this secret criminal organization and the Straw Hat Pirates are somehow involved in the uprising?" If so this is going to get messy pretty fast, very soon.
"I don't know. But for now, this is the only clue we have about the Straw Hat's location."
"Then, from here..." I asked. This was getting better by the minute.
"Yes, YOU! Get on the horn with Headquarters, and get us an Eternal Pose!"
"SIR!" Sauders ran off to do Smoker's bidding.
"Let's take a little trip." The Captain said as he leaned back into his chair, "To the Kingdom of Alabasta." and now with that said and done the Captain predictably smoked himself to sleep. I checked on him a number of times, but he's okay and still alive.
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Well the next chapter welcomes us into Alabasta. I hope you're ready for it!