Chapter 3: Pirates Are Free

"Why do you dislike pirates, Chie? There must be a deeper reason behind it other than they are 'bad guys'. What happened to you?" Yu asked the girl in green. The two of them were eating meat at a nearby restaurant. At least, that was the only thing Yu could discern from it. It was literally a mountain of food meant to give energy to those who trained intensely. Yu wasn't sure if he could finish it. He'd never had a large appetite. He wished there were some vegetables to go with the protein pile in front of him. Chie was treating him, something that she insisted was a rarity and something he shouldn't expect from her regularly. According to her, this was to reward him for his help. Apparently, she always wanted a crime-fighting partner (Yu thought she just wanted a sidekick).

"Pirates are bad guys. That's something I know for certain. You seem like a good guy, so I'll tell you the story. I've never told this story to somebody not on this island before. Everybody else already knows it because they were there. So... I guess you can call this your reward for saving my life and the food your reward for helping me earlier. And with that, we're even. But don't laugh or make fun of me if I get emotional. Well, I should probably get started.

A few years ago, pirates invaded this island. As you can probably guess, it was a serious mistake for the pirates. This is an island of warriors in training and masters. We easily were overpowering them, destroying them with our superior training. However, despite our superior power, they managed to get away from us. Do you want to know how?" Chie asked. Yu nodded. Chie wanted to make sure he was paying attention. Chie continued, a melancholy tone entering her voice, "They took my best friend hostage. She was the apprentice of one of the only doctors on this island. She had so much potential. She wasn't the most talkative, but we always had fun together, her and me. She had this funny way of laughing when she would just laugh non-stop. We were always having fun. That day... she didn't laugh. She wept. She didn't just cry for the lost warriors on our side... but for the pirates on the other side too. She always cared so much for every living thing... But those bastard pirates... Th-they held a sword to her throat." Chie's voice cracked. The memory of this was causing her to cry, so powerful was the emotion behind it. Yu listened with rapt interest. This story sounded like his, yet so very different. She lost someone important to her too, but from pirates. It was strange how circumstance could change people. Could this be... part of the Truth he was searching for?

Tears formed in the corners of Chie's eyes, "S-she cried. Sh-sh-she was always so composed when we were together, but... sh-she screamed and begged for them to let her go. Sh-she cried so much, so loudly... Y-you know what they did? They hit her, beat her! Stole her, used her as a bargaining chip for their own horrid lives! Even after she treated their wounded and cared for them, even though they were the invaders! That's why pirates are bad guys!" Chie had gone from being sad, to being enraged in an instant. She stood, her hands slammed down upon the table, and a look of fury and determination was on her face. She then realized where she was and sat down slowly, her expression melting back to one of sorrow.

"I'm sorry... that story gets me emotional. I always got the feeling she wanted to leave this island. She always stared out at the sea when the merchant ships left, as if she was longing to leave and see the world. If she had stayed, then she would have been forced to become this island's doctor and would have been too busy to leave. In a twisted sort of way... she got what she longed for... that doesn't mean I hate the pirates any less. She didn't want to leave like that." Chie looked at Yu in such a way that it broke his heart. This girl wasn't very good at hiding her emotions. He had been wrong when he thought she had gone through a similar experience. This girl had the hope of her friend still being alive. She hadn't seen people burn to death like Yu had, watched her family die. However, her tale was still a tragic one. Even if her logic was flawed. Yu had to correct that.

"I apologize. I didn't know that you had such a tragic reason for hating pirates. However, there is a flaw in your reasoning. Pirates are people. Being a pirate isn't what defines a person. It is the person that defines the person. I used to think all marines were good. I soon learned otherwise. I once thought all pirates were bad. Then I realized that a pirate isn't just a 'bad guy' like I had thought. Pirates aren't good or bad. Pirates are free. People are good or bad. Freedom is a blessing and a curse." Yu said, hoping for it to all sink into Chie. He needed to show her the error in her thinking. The ignorance behind her logic was infuriating. Ignorance was what blinded people from the Truth. It was one of the reasons why he no longer had a home. Even so, as he spoke he began to understand things for himself.

"Are you defending them?! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Chie seemed outraged at his response. It wasn't the reaction he was hoping for, but it wasn't one he hadn't expected either. Her refusal to see his or even recognize his point of view was enraging.

"No, I'm not defending the people her stole your friend. But are you damning every single person that wants to be free and explore under the title of 'Pirate'? Do you really have that right? What the hell is wrong with you? You don't understand a damn thing. Some people don't have a choice. No, they get that choice stolen from them. Their only option is to become a pirate. Others just dream of living freely and without rules, without people telling them how to live their life and always asking them to pay taxes with money they don't have. I'm sorry for what you went through, but your ignorance is astounding. Condemning an entire people because of the few is just like if I were to condemn this entire island if a few punks who mugged me. Does that seem like a fair judgment to you? Does it seem like I have a right to say that? Not everyone can choose what they want to be and nobody can choose what everyone else is going to be. Each person, whether they are a pirate or marine, is held accountable and guilty for their own actions, not the actions of somebody else who shared their job. Thanks for the meal." With that, Yu stood from his table and left.

Strangely enough, Yu had just come to a conclusion he had never thought of before. He was blaming all the marines for the actions of the few, like Chie. But the difference was, he didn't care that he was doing it. He was a hypocrite, yes, but there was an entire island that needed to be avenged. The dead would not rest until he sent their murderers to join them. It was extremely personal. Chie's friend was not murdered before her eyes. Chie didn't see what he saw, didn't feel what he felt. Yu wouldn't be satisfied until his brother was back with him, sitting on that same pier, alive. Perhaps this was part of the Truth. Violence created by violence?

Chie seemed to be too shocked to say anything. However, a thoughtful look began to form on her face.

'Pirates that had no other choice but to be pirates? Pirates that just want to be free? That sounds like... Yukiko... I never thought it was like that for everyone... I suppose that... maybe... Everybody is pushed in a certain direction... And pirates are the option for the people that don't have any options. I-I-I don't know...' Chie thought.

Yu, on the other hand, was angry after the conversation. It was more than just anger at her ignorance.

She was insulting his brother's dreams.

And his only choice in life.

One Month Later

"Yosuke! Why did you stop running?" His sensei was yelling at him again during training, like always.

"I'm sorry, master! This extra boulder is kind of heavy! And did you really need to tie weights to my arms and legs too?"

"You improve too slowly! If you don't get faster, you'll be slaughtered in a real battle! Just imagine how fast you'll be when you take those weights off! Now go faster, or no supper for you! This is your last day, after all!"

Yosuke had quickly begun to hate his choice of a dojo with free lodging. At least he knew why there was nobody else going to this dojo now. There was training at night, too. And the worst part was...

His sensei could take away supper.

"Yes, ma'am!"

"That's sensei to you!"

"Understood, sensei!"

"Now I'm going back inside. You better not slack off!"

Yosuke's dojo offered him free food, lodging and lessons. That was because he was the only student. He later learned that it was because this particular sensei was far too harsh. She was kind and caring outside of training (she cried when Yosuke told her everyone on his island had been slaughtered), but she was a fierce demon when it came to training. She wasn't even that much older than Yosuke. Perhaps 2 or three years older at the most. She was a child prodigy that decided to start her own dojo.

Her name was Rio Iwasaki.

She had long black hair in the form of a ponytail. She was a very beautiful sensei that never seemed to dress fully as a sensei should. She was wearing the bottom half of a sensei's robes, but the top half seemed to be her own fashion sense. She wore a white collared shirt with the collar undone and a cream-colored, sleeveless vest over it. Apparently, she knew she was a sensei, but wanted to maintain her identity as a young girl.

But despite how she looked, she was fiercer than all the men and woman on the island when it came to training hard. She was so demanding that all of her students had abandoned her. Luckily, her father was quite wealthy and she could afford to keep a dojo open even if she made no income. However, keeping something open and maintaining it were two different things. She only had enough money to not shut her doors and provide for her singular, poor student. Yosuke often found himself wondering why he was staying at this place. The food wasn't even good quality, the beds were often not fully clean, and the training was unholy. But then he remembered why he stayed, why he never left.

Rio made the food herself.

Rio tried to clean his sheets every day, often neglecting her own, and always made his bed.

Rio wanted him to survive out in the world.

Rio was lonely.

Yosuke was the only student that didn't yell at her, complain loudly, or quit after the first day. He had the capacity to deal with the pain in order to get stronger. Rio and Yosuke grew close outside of training, almost as if they were family. Rio's parents never visited her, for they were far too busy. So it was a younger boy and an older girl underneath the same roof for a month. Yosuke felt what is was like to have a sister for the first time. Or even a mother.

When supper came, Yosuke sat down to eat, having already finished the last of his training for the day. There was no training at night. Nevertheless, he still wore his weights. It was rule number one in his dojo. Never take off your weights unless you're fighting, and, when you aren't fighting, you should be increasing the weight. He sat across from Rio at their small dinner table he looked down at his food, expecting the same old, same old. They sat on small cushions on the floor in front of an equally short and small table. However, this food looked delicious. There was even fresh Sea King meat! It was prepared wonderfully, as if a famous chef had made it. He looked across at Rio, awe covering his face. This was an expensive meal! She laughed.

"Don't give me that look. You earned it. You've been working hard all this time. This is a thank you. It's the result of countless trials of making edible and healthy food for you. You need to stay strong and survive out there in that cruel world. I spent a lot of time and money preparing you, my only true student, for the world. You'll continue training and getting stronger. When you become one of the most infamous people out on the sea, people will remember me as the best damn teacher around. Just... just make sure to come back one day okay, Yosuke? This dojo is as much my home as it is yours. Therefore, I want you to go show the world Rio's Fleeting Moonlight Style. Then you can come back here, back home." Yosuke felt very moved. He... had a home.

He totally did not spend the next hour crying and hugging his sensei.

Nope.

Definitely not.

It would be unmanly.

... Shut up.

"Yu!"

Yu turned to the voice who had called his name. He was in the middle of the forest located on the island. He had been training there in solitude for the past month. The animals on this island were strong and extremely large for some odd reason. Yu had to find ways other than Zio to take them down. And find them he did. The forest was a lot emptier now. Yu figured it would be okay. These animals could always repopulate.

"Chie. What are you doing here?" Yu asked as he sat down on an exceptionally large stump. He had gotten over his anger in the past. After he killed his 15th giant animal, of course. It had been an especially fierce tiger.

"Yu, I need your help! My idol is in trouble! I have to save him!" Yu raised an eyebrow. He remembered her speaking about some sort of idol when they had first arrived on the island. It was interesting that she had chosen to come to him of all people. Didn't he insult everything she knew just a month ago? Chie was also holding a newspaper. The news must have come in that day. That explained why she was panicking. Well... it didn't, but it explained why she was panicking at the present moment instead of the reason as to why. Speaking of reasons why...

"Why are you coming to me?" He asked, slightly irritated. Maybe he hadn't fully rid himself of all that anger. Alternatively, maybe he just didn't like being interrupted while he was on his 5-minute break from training. He didn't take many breaks. He had only one five minute break a day. He'd eat while training. He was very harsh on himself during training. Becoming the Pirate King required strength. He needed to be as strong as possible. He needed to be able to avenge the people of his island and to simultaneously achieve the pinnacle of defiance against the marines whilst achieving the Truth. The only way to do that while keeping his brother's dream alive and being free was to become the Pirate King. Kings had strength and followers. Yu needed both.

"You're the only one I know that can sail a boat!"

...

...

...

"Really? Out of curiosity, how many people do you know?" That was interesting. She doesn't know anybody else who could steer a ship? What kind of village is she from? Oh, wait... training village. Alright then, that is understandable.' Yu thought. Chie fidgeted nervously. Apparently, she was very nervous about coming to see him after a month of silence.

"I... only know my friend and my master. And you and Yosuke, of course. I don't really get along well with a lot of the people on this island. Look, I'm sorry if what I said made you mad. I thought about what you said for a long time. It... makes sense. Sometimes in life we don't have choices and being free doesn't necessarily mean being evil. I probably shouldn't have gone and 'condemned' every single pirate. Everybody has different circumstances. Like you. After all, you are one too, right? The way you reacted and the Devil Fruit powers were a dead giveaway.

Anyway, you saved me twice without asking anything in return except for directions. So I won't condemn you or Yosuke for being pirates. That doesn't mean I'll stop hating other pirates, though." Yu froze. He hadn't expected her to figure out he was a pirate from what he said. Then he realized that he had left pretty obvious and personal clues. Yu laughed. This girl may have made him angry in the past, but she was strong and at least more intelligent than Yosuke. He respected that. She also learned her lesson (even though it took her a month). Yu couldn't stay mad at the girl. The only grudge he kept was for the murderers of his brother.

She should join him. He needed followers, friends to help him climb his way to the throne of the King of Pirates. She brought a unique fighting style to the fray and she seemed able to balance out Yosuke. He didn't have an exact job for her, but she could serve as a temporary Navigator. Perhaps she could even be a cook. Yosuke couldn't do much at all. Hopefully he could at least fight more effectively now. Chie also had enough intelligence that he could bounce back plans with her. In addition, she knew he was a pirate. He couldn't have her telling everyone on an island full of people who beat the crap out of pirates in the past and were most likely hungering for more.

"Okay, that's a start. You'll learn more once you leave this island and see the world. I'll take you to 'save your idol', but in return, you have to join my pirate crew." Yu said with a sly smirk. Chie looked shocked. She didn't expect that counter offer. If anything, she expected him to just refuse. Yu decided to push more for her to join his crew even more. He could take advantage of her confusion.

"If you join my crew, it will be my duty as captain to make sure you are as effective as possible. That means that I can't possibly have fighting at half strength with your mind full of doubts and traumas. So... I'll help you find your friend as well. Then they can join my crew as well, to insure your mental stability. I will also protect your friend with all my power, seeing as they will become my nakama, my crew, and my... friends." Yu finished, hoping that the last word would convince her he wasn't one of those 'bad pirates.' Because it was true. He wanted to be friends with her. He didn't know why, but he felt a sort... bond to this girl. That bond demanded friendship and Yu would happily oblige. He may not show it, but Yu valued friendship. He didn't have many friends aside from his brother back on the island. It and his inherited dream to be Pirate King were all he had left.

"You... you want me to become a pirate, the very symbol of what I hate in exchange for a not only a ride to save my idol, but a chance to save my best friend that nobody else has ever offered before? And you want my sweet, innocent friend who was kidnapped by pirates to become one? Just because I said I wouldn't condemn you for being a pirate doesn't mean that I won't condemn you for some other reason. I mean, c'mon! Do you even understand what you're asking of me?!" Chie said, irritation building in her voice. She even leaned forward and glared at him. Yu nodded slowly. He was already chalking it up as a failure. Oh, well. He could always recruit someone much stronger and intelligent. Maybe a sniper? Or a doctor that was a master of poisons?

"Yes, I do." He deadpanned. It was no use trying to cover up the truth in petty bullshit. He wasn't that type of guy. He knew what he was asking seemed ridiculous. However, it was the only way he could think of to get her to join. His older brother probably would have babbled on about dreams and gotten her to join through sheer charisma. Yu wasn't much like that all. He had logic. He just hoped she was receptive to it. She would be gaining through this deal. He would be the one that was inconvenienced. Her ideals of hating pirates and whatnot were small compared to her regaining her friend and the constant protection of her as well as the saving of her idol.

"Well, in that case..."

WHAP!

She just kicked Yu in the side of the head, knocking his head to the side, but still not causing him to fall. He had taken it without flinching. Yu looked at her steadily. He'd been expecting that. It... hurt more than he thought he would have, yet it didn't seem as a strong a kick as he thought she could throw. Did she hold back? Suddenly, Chie smiled brightly. It was odd. Was kicking him really that pleasurable? Or was this tomboy just odd?

"Ha! I beat up one of those nasty, evil pirates! Looks like me and most of the pirates are even. How about we go and even the score for the rest, Captain? After all, there's no better way to beat up and humiliate pirates by doing it while being one of them!" Yu smiled. It was a relief to know that he made a new crew mate. And a girl at that. One that could kick the crap out of Yosuke if he got out of line. He still didn't even fully understand her reasoning for joining him, but as mother always said, 'girls are complicated.'

"I get the point, but did you really have to kick me?"

"You left me all alone at that restaurant a month ago, you ass! Do you know how much meat you wasted?! You're paying for the next meal and it's going to be good!"

Yu sweatdropped at that. Girls really did know how to keep grudges.

"What's she doing here, Captain?" Yosuke asked suspiciously, eyeing the girl that had walked with Yu. They were at the docks. Yosuke had been given a few parting gifts by his master. A black box that he couldn't seem to open and a slightly bigger boat. It even had more insane training equipment on it. Yosuke felt a flutter of joy when he imagined the face of his captain attempting to the training he did. Yosuke had been waiting for Yu to arrive at the docks. It had been exactly one month. He never expected his other guest. Yu stared at him blankly.

"She is part of our crew. Don't you remember the ride here? Besides, she tells me that her master wants her to continue training in the outside world. And, seeing as we have no idea where to go next anyway, we'll be going to a location to free her idol from the marines." Yu said calmly. Chie waved at Yosuke, a bright smile on her face. Yosuke cocked an eyebrow. His captain wanted him to do what now? A rescue mission? Did pirates even do that?

"And who exactly is your idol again?" Yosuke asked the girl in green.

"Pirate Hunter Zoro! My idol and hero!" Yu and Yosuke were both frozen in shock.

"You know... you're a pirate now... right?" Yu asked, still shocked by her outburst. Chie seemed to think for a little while.

"Yeah, I know that, but once we free him he'll be grateful. He might even join us. Besides, we aren't 'bad pirates'. We're 'free' pirates. We don't even have a bounty yet. Nobody will know unless we tell them." Chie concluded with a smirk.

"Just... get in the boat." Yosuke said tiredly. Yu and Chie obliged, and with that, they were leaving the island for the next location. Yu had gotten a new crewmember, a slightly bigger boat and a few missions he'd have to do if he wanted to keep that crewmember. If he didn't help her, he had the feeling she would leave.

Oh, and he needed a bounty.

Now the question was: How many marines would he have to kill to get the highest bounty?

Corpses were strewn about the area in various pieces. The scene was nothing short of horrifying. Blood covered the walls, floors, and ceilings of the marine base. The entire population of the marines had been wiped out within an hour. Two figures stood in the middle of the largest room of the base. It was circular and, like the rest of the base, bathed in blood. Skeletons decorated the walls, their numerous fractures and breaks telling the tale of how they died. The two figures smiled at the sight before them. It had been a rather successful mission. Without this marine base, they could call this island their turf. Then they could work on expanding it, making their territory stretch all the way into the New World. They would make their crew the greatest in the world. They would rid the world of the corrupt marines that made the lives of so many terrible.

They would save the world from itself whether the world wanted it or not.

"It looks like this Fruit is far more powerful than I had anticipated. It even actively tries to control me. Even right now, I feel the urge to slaughter you in cold blood. I think it may even be more powerful than yours."

"I doubt it, but I'm not going to test that idea. I wouldn't want to have to put you down for no good reason. Hey, how about we go and grab some girls, Captain Minato? I've been having that itch for a while."

"I think that is a fine idea, Ryoji. We'll bring Takaya along with us. He needs to be more social." Ryoji chuckled.

The two could do what they want, how they wanted, and whenever they wanted. Because they were pirates.

And pirates are free.

NEXT: Chapter 4: His Name is Straw Hat Luffy!

A/N: WHAT? Minato is brutal and evil?! Well, I blame it on the effects of his Devil Fruit. What is his Devil Fruit? Well, one of you got the name right, and another got almost the exact powers for it. I will tell you it is a Logia that is a counterpart to Yu's Fruit. As for the whole recruitment going kind of fast, I want these three as a base set so I can expand comedy. You won't see the fourth member for a while. And yes, there is time skip. If you don't like it, then oh well. It would be nearly pointless to spend another chapter on this island. This is just to get them some knowledge on how to fight. Next chapter will be fun and battles and death.

REVIEW REPLY TIME!:

HolyMageMouto: Yay, Minato lives!... but he isn't the Minato that we used to know~

SEESWildCard: Rest of the cast? Well, it should be a long time before the entire crew is assembled, like in One Piece. You should expect around 2 more to join before they hit the Grand Line. And Labrys and Aigis will still be robots. Because... well... robots exist in the One Piece universe. Good guess on the power by the way, but I'm not divulging anything... maybe. You were pretty close.

NYX'S WARDEN: Chie and the rest of the P4 cast are only like... 15 (save for the first years). They have plenty of time to grow up. :D

kroz phantomville: And he will become MOAR AWESOME! :D

Yuuji Narukami: Wow, you really like Marie. Well, expect her in a while. She'll be joining in the Grand Line, if my plan works out. And I hope it does. As for references to other series, they are spontaneous and should be fairly obvious. However, I haven't put any in this story yet.

Twin Judge of Gemini: His fruit is... Gomen. It appears as if I were about to tell you what his fruit does. You'll find out in time.

Mzr90: They might be marines. I have that odd feeling that they are. Or one of them is.

Matt: One piece characters will appear. Definitely. The name of the fruit is secret. Because I think everyone will love the surprise.

That's it for the reviews.

Question of the Chapter: What other One Piece character trained on the island Yu is currently leaving?

REVIEW, FAVORITE, FOLLOW. Pretty please with MEAT on top?