Yo people! I'm back!
Haha..
Really missed being in this realm~
Usopp: you got yourself addicted to that shichibukai Trafalgar Law.. ¬_¬..
Hira: Teehee~
Usopp: What kind of woman would hook up with that creepy guy!?
Hira: Me? *throws a book at Usopp* stop calling him creepy. He's cool~ *dreamy sigh*
Usopp: Ugh.. there she goes.
Luffy: Shishishi.. You're funny! But ill root for you, Traffy is a funny guy too! *grins*
Hira: *Clasps Luffy's hand* Thank you~
Zoro: Don't mind these idiots here and start reading. *walks away*
Nami: Zoro, you're going on the wrong direction!
Sanji: *lits a cigarette* Ahou Marimo.
Zoro: What was that Shitty Cook?!
Nami; *sigh*
Hira: I own—
Franky: Suuper nothing, oujo-chan.
Hira: *pouts* stingy..
(~pagebreak~)
How long has it been since she had been unconscious? Sei asked herself as she tried to make her beaten up limbs to coordinate with her. She had been numbed by the continuous blood loss that started to take its toll on her body. Obviously the captain of the Demon Pirates still wanted her alive. Of course who wouldn't? Her blood is the only thing that could make the weapons which Mendel desires. Once more she had become someone's tool.
I bear no difference from the weapons I create.
A tool born for destruction. An enigma that must be erased from this world.
She doesn't blame his captain at all for leaving her. Actually, she as quite relieved that she wouldn't be causing more troubles for the Straw Hats anymore. Although Luffy had accepted her despite knowing her pursuers, deep inside her mind, she is still worrying that she might cause the crews' downfall. They had been so kind to her, treated her like family and she doesn't want to cause them trouble. Not those kind people who accepted her without hesitation.
All what's left to do is to die. She does not wish to be a tool for Mendel's underground transactions. If her death is the only thing that would make that happen, she will accept her fate with wide arms. Yes, she had been wished to live by her family. She is the last surviving member of the Ravensdale. But she knew, she had lived long enough despite being young. Her wish to find a family had been fulfilled ever since she stayed with the Straw Hats. Despite the short time, she is still glad that she met her comrades. That is more than enough for someone like her.
As for Ace…
Sei's eyes went solemn upon remembering the persistent man. The guy is just like his brother, accepted her despite being an enigma. He had been nice with her. He treated her like she is an important person in his life.
"I'm sorry Ace, I cannot give my proper response to your feelings."
A cursed human like me will never be suited for you. She ignored the slight disapproval inside her upon wishing Ace to find a girl who would answer his feelings. A woman who deserves such a great guy like Portgas D Ace.
That is not me Ace. Not a cursed Raven like me.
Trying to ignore those moments with Ace that started flashing inside her fogged mind, Sei tried to find a way to escape that bloody prison. She refuses to stay there for the rest of her life. She'd rather drown or kill herself with her swords than be one of Mendel's pawn once more. But first she needed to take her shackles off. With the greatest concentration and will power she has, the blacksmith tried to pull her hand off the shackles, ignoring the pain that shot through her body with every move she makes.
Clang!
The shackles fell on the floor.
Sei unceremoniously fell on the floor after losing the force that only helps her on her feet.
What?
She stared at the metal shackles that had bound her a few seconds ago. Sei took note of the melted appearance of the metal. Of course she had expected that its be near impossible to escape those metal chains with the little amount of energy left on her body that is why it shocked her to no end that she was able to do so with just a first try. She had actually prepared herself on fighting to death just to get out of that ship.
"H-How…" raspy voice came out her throat.
It was then she remembered that Mendel's men forcibly made her eat something. And the man had been ranting about a devil fruit.
It is indeed a devil's luck.
Erasing the urge to think, Sei began to move slowly and quietly, getting alert as much as she could in her current situation. The shackles falling on the floor made quite a sound and her hope is that she won't be spotted by someone. She held close on the wall for support as she trailed the dark corridor of the prison hall.
I need to get out of here…
As she was able to gain distance from her cell, it was then that the lavender-haired blacksmith noticed the lack of guards on the corridor. She knew that the sound of her shackles isn't a whisper, and it is indeed a surprising thing that no one had been checking on her. They had thought that I lost enough blood to keep me on that cell.
Well, if they are going to be lax on their security it does a favor for her anyways. She wanted to get out of there no matter what the means she had to use. After all she had no regrets with her life. If I am going to die, then I bear no grudge.
Sei stopped to catch her breath.
But I won't be dying on such place.
She wanted to die free and not some kind of animal being kept on a cage.
Sei's ears' perked up as she sensed some noises above the deck. Fearing that Mendel had already noticed her absence, she tried to will her limbs to move faster. To whatever deities that made Roger the Pirate King, I ask for your help.
(~)
Straw Hat Pirates…
After the captain's order to look for their missing comrade, the Straw Hats decided to group themselves to make the information gathering faster. Each of the group carries baby Den Den mushis in case that they found out something. Luffy already disappeared at the Sunny's deck before Nami could strategize their moves which left the other Straw Hats on the ship.
Luffy always comes at the greatest timing—everyone thought. Robin and Chopper went to different weapons shops in the town hopefully searching for their blacksmith. They knew for a fact that Sei loves weapons and she doesn't miss a chance to visit one every time they dock in a town. All they hope is that those shop keepers were able to spot Sei in case she got abducted or something.
"Oh, you mean that girl wearing a cowboy hat together with a topless guy?" An old man asked in confirmation on Robin and Chopper's question.
"Have you seen the girl around here?" Chopper hopefully asked.
"Well, they did come here around in the morning together with that green-haired nii-chan with three swords." The old man smiled upon remembering his customers. "Those two really have eyes for weapons. Indeed, very rare."
"But have you seen them after that?"
The old man shook his head.
(~)
"Have you seen someone with violet hair around here?" Sanji and brook were paired up knowing that the cook will just argue with Zoro if they were going to search together.
The shop owner looked surprised. "Nii-chan are you awake? That hair color doesn't exist."
"Tch." Sanji clicked his tongue.
Brook would frown if ever he had muscles. Now he knew why their blacksmith always hid her hair from public view. Not only that it grabs attention but it also creates unnecessary chaos. The skeleton noticed the scared looks on the people around them, particularly from the older people. "Sanji-san."
The cook nodded in agreement. He too can feel the sudden heavy atmosphere. "Thanks old man."
The two glanced at the crowd who were murmuring. No doubt, they are the main topic of their conversation. If this is the reaction of people when the features of Sei just being described, how much were to happen if they saw the girl in real flesh? They both grimaced at the thought, realizing how much pain these reactions might have caused their blacksmith. It was no wonder it took one hell of a time of convincing from Luffy to make the girl join their crew. Yet at the same time it was touching how the girl managed to trust them and tried to save them even though she had been through a rough childhood. Not everyone will just be willing to save strangers especially knowing that they are pirates. Sei tried to lure the world government and the Navy away from them just to help them escape the first time they got into trouble. She didn't even care for the fact that she would be branded as a criminal and she would be immediately imprisoned for just letting the Strawhats Pirates escape. Sei was outnumbered by that time yet, there was a soft smile on her face as she pulled her twin swords from their scabbard.
"I'll take care of this. Kindly escape immediately from this island."
"Sanji-san!" Brook's voice snapped the cook out of his little stupor. Staring at the musician's line of vision, Sanji saw a man hiding form a galley. Definitely staring at them. The normal side of his head was telling him that it is just another small fry who were trying to rat them out to the marines probably going after the rewards on their head but the other part of his head tells otherwise. The skeleton seems like he had been feeling the same too. Both of them nodded at each other and sprinted towards the spy's direction who bolted out after noticing that Sanji and Brook is going after him.
Before the pirates were able to catch up with their target, they caught a sound of the man's conversation with someone over the den den mushi he was holding.
"It seems like they are looking for the blacksmith, captain."
With this, the two men perked their ears up and in less than a second the man found himself pinned down by a furious Sanji.
"Where is Sei?" Sanji growled, his grip tightening with every word he spat. Though they haven't confirmed that the 'blacksmith' they are referring to is Sei, his instincts were kicking in. He just knew they found the right target.
"I don't know what you are talking about!" The man shouted, trying to free himself from Sanji's grasp.
"Don't fuck with me you piece of shit. I'm not in a very good mood right now. So either you talk or I'm going to make you talk." The cook glared.
*laugh*
Those Strawhats think that they can ruin my business? Hah! They should never underestimate the power of the underground society! They will never see Raven again. As if she can escape me now that I just left her barely alive.
The man underneath Sanji began to tremble with pure fear. His boss on the phone definitely triggered the man and the skeleton in front of him. The rage that is seen on Sanji's visible eye is enough to threaten even the toughest men in the fleet. Right now he realizes, they have taken the wrong pirates to mess with. Yeah, their boss may be powerful and possesses quite a number of large connections underground, but his instincts are telling him right now that they are going to be screwed.
Big time.
Brook unsheathed his sword and pointed its tip just below the man's neck. The skeleton's posture was high and proud, but if anyone would look closely it is similar scene of a predator ready to kill of its prey. Even the cook himself was surprised at the act, Brook is really a laid back person in any situation and he never seen the gentleman act such way to his enemies except in a full blown fight.
"Talk."
One word is all it took for the man to spill everything to them. The man wasn't scared by the fact that there is an alive and talking skeleton in front of him but even with the lack of muscles and skin, the man could fill the murderous aura seething from the swordsman.
After giving the directions to the ship and its directions, Sanji asked what had been done to their blacksmith. No he isn't the type to be sadistic enough to know the kind of torment the girl had been put to, but it feels like he needs to know. It may hurt them bad, but they deserve to know it. In order to know the type of pain they would give to the group who dared hurt their blacksmith.
They need to return the favor after all.
After dropping the frightened man and leaving him to deal with his trauma, Sanji and Brook wasted to time and immediately ran towards the port. They still got a nakama to save. After that they could kick those guy's asses later as much as they want.
"Hold on there Sei. We are taking you back!"
(~)
"SEEEEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! WWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEERRRRRREEEEEE AAAAAAAARRRRRREEEEEEEEEEE YYYYYYOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUU?!" Luffy's voice echoed almost to the entire town as he called for his blacksmith. The rubber captain neither cared for the looks people were giving him as he catapult himself all over the place. His system started to recognize uneasiness for every minute passing with him not having any information about his blacksmith's whereabouts.
Luffy knew that he had nothing to be panicked about because his brother would definitely be able to find Sei but it seems like his worry at Marineford War is still in his system. There is something nagging inside him that he cannot ignore. The same feeling he had when he saw Ace's Vivre card burning and realizing the true meaning behind it.
His comrade is falling the way his brother did before he saved him.
"SEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" Luffy once more called, hoping that he would get an answer. He knew that his comrade is just somewhere near them. He cannot explain it, but some kind of strong pull his directing him towards somewhere. His instincts always saves him, he trust it enough to save his comrade. He cannot fail, he cannot let his crewmate down. "Wait for me SEIIIIIIIIIIIIII! LIKE HELL YOU ARE GOING ANYWHERE WITHOUT US!"
"What a pleasant day it is." A gang of people obviously bounty hunters halted in front of Luffy just as his feet touches the ground. Luffy stared at them annoyingly hoping that they would just buzz off. He doesn't need any bounty hunters now trying to get his head at the moment. Luffy proceeded at ignoring their existence as he walked through them. Of course no bounty hunter would be so happy knowing that they were being toyed by their supposed to be prey.
"Damn you Straw Hat! Let's see how that smug attitude of you will disappear once I hand you down to the authorities!" The men started charging towards Luffy hopefully thinking that they could overcome him in numbers.
Instead of being his normal playful self, Luffy sent a glare on his attackers and readied his fist for one powerful strike. "I TOLD YOU I'M BUSY AT THE MOMENT DAMN IT!"
All hell started to break lose.
Luffy didn't know how it happened but as he started beating those pirate hunters down, a surge of energy busted in his body. He felt light and seemed like that the world had slowdown in motion. He could clearly foresee his enemies attack and he was able to dodge them gracefully. He wouldn't believe it himself, but the surprised looks on his opponent's faces were screaming to be true.
He can feel every motion around him, he could hear them clearly, the could see their attacks so well. It was then that he realized that someone was nearby observing him. The rubber captain would've brushed it off if not for something that he heard.
"It is confirmed, Captain. The Raven was part of the StrawHats pirate crew!" At the corner of his eyes Luffy saw a pirate hiding in an alleyway while talking to an evil looking den den mushi. But that is not why it caught his attention. The fact that the man spoke the word 'Raven' pertaining to someone was what bothered him in a way. Luffy may not be the smartest among his crew but he definitely had a knack for important things.
The den den mushi looks amused. "Ho~ that bitch really betrayed me." A sound of something snapping was heard. "Hah. But she won't be seeing those StrawHats again. I'm her captain now. Too bad for StrawHat but he got his hands on other person's property and I am not the type of man who would just give his property away. Especially when it poses as a great investment. Hahahahahaha!"
Unknown to the pirate Luffy was already behind him, hearing every word they are having. He still isn't sure if they are talking about his missing crewmate but his instincts were kicking so hard to punch the man in front of him and hunt down the person he was talking over the phone.
"But C-Captain, Strawhat is looking for her! I-If he finds out…" The man's voice trembled in fear. It had been a rumor that the reason Strawhat Luffy attacked Enies Lobby is to retrieve his crewmate. If the captain is protective over his crew, he wouldn't like to know what would be the reaction of Strawhat Luffy if he were to know that they had abducted one of his crews and is currently under torture. May he have mercy on their poor souls.
Upon hearing of the word 'torture' Luffy decided to let the man know of his presence. "Oi… you know where Sei is?"
The man grunted, annoyed that he was interrupted by someone while he was talking over the phone. Huh? Sei? I don't know anyone—"
"Violet hair, blacksmith." Luffy added hoping that they would be able to recognize the person he was looking for. Well, deep inside of him, he didn't want the man to have connection with his missing crewmate. If he heard it right, Sei might be…right now…
"That cursed bitch?"
Luffy barely contained the growl that came out of his throat, not liking the name call directed towards his crewmate.
The man dismissively waved his hand. "Probably at deaths door. Actually deserving, if not only for her blood he would've been killed instantly by captain." The man let out a laugh.
Luffy eyes were suddenly hidden by the shadow of his straw hat. His body language was too calm and in contrast to the boiling rage inside him. He had let these guys take one of crews away just to be tortured? What the hell are they talking about her blood? He had chosen Sei as one of his crewmembers because he never saw doubt on those violet orbs which he found too interesting.
"Where is she?" Luffy wasn't able to suppress the rage coating his voice. He balled his fist tight enough to make his knuckles white. He wasn't impressed. Not happy at all. To think that all those marks and cracks he saw on his blacksmith's compass were caused by these crew.
They were nakama right?
He couldn't understand why do they need to hurt someone whom you refer as comrade.
The man got annoyed by the demanding tone that was used. "Who the fuck do you think you are… talking… to….?" As soon as he turned, his vision revealed a man with a red vest and blue shorts. No that isn't the thing that caught his attention. It was the strawhat sitting above his head.
"I am asking you. Where is Sei?" Once more Luffy asked his body clearly emitting aura of danger which was obviously felt by the man.
"M-M-Mu-Mug-Mugiwara!"
"Ho~ Mugiwara huh…" The den den mushi suddenly interrupted the two. Mendell who was on the other line had been curious of the person whom his crew had been talking to. It was too much of a coincidence that someone had spotted one of his trusted spies after all.
"Where is Sei?"
An obvious feint of confusion was obvious with Mendell's voice. "Sei? I my greatest apologies but I don't know whom you are talking about Mr. StrawHat Luffy."
"Where is my nakama?" Once more Luffy asked ignoring the man's words.
Medell laughed on the other line, clearly mocking the rubber captain. "'Nakama?' Are you out of your head StrawHat? That woman isn't a human. That woman is only a tool, a tool which if used properly will be more functional~ 'you don't have to flatter her and call her as 'nakama'." Mendel laughed once again.
Tool?
The word seemed struck to his ears. His could feel his blood boiling with rage. How dare he speak of his nakama like that? The man may be Sei's previous captain but he is sure as hell he doesn't deserve her. Not a little.
"Sit where you are right now bastard. Don't move. I'm going there and I'm going to kick your ass!" And Luffy cut the line.
The rubber captain turned to the trembling man in front of him. His eyes never gave up the glare as he collared the whimpering man. "Where is my nakama?" Luffy growled ferociously .
The man flinched and gave his reply stutteringly. "T-The s-s-s-s-s-sea… C-ca…-captain left a f….ew m-m-m-m-minutes a-a-a…ag-g..go…"
He's definitely going to take his blacksmith back!
(~)
At Ace…
The Fire Fist took hurried movements towards the harbor of the town, hoping that the ship is still there. He glanced at the compass he holds in his hands, only to get more anxious as he found that the compass had more scratches and cracks than the last time he glanced at it. He wanted to move faster, faster than he is right now. Faster, so that he can reach the ship in time.
Oh, god he didn't want to think what is probably happening right now. He could clearly feel the glass of the compass forming cracks on his hands. He didn't even mind when he got cut. He didn't even bothered to avoid himself getting cut. It was nothing. He could handle more than that. On the other hand…
Sei is… right now… Ace's body grew more tense.
Every time the pyro looks at the compass in his hands, the ugly feeling of the increasing knots in his stomach bothered his whole being. The once beautiful compass was now beyond recognition, its glass were full of cracks and scratches.
Why was he so worried anyways?
She's just like Nami and Robin—a part of his brother's crew. He had doubts that he would feel the same if those two were in the same situation.
Why the hell is he so different with Sei?
Was it because he had met her before?
No that wasn't it. They just met once and barely made an interaction.
Was it because he proposed to her?
He should've been thankful that the girl brushed it off as a childish promise.
Damn it! I don't any explanation!
Ace mentally cursed himself fore thinking such things at a time like this.
Why the hell is he getting bothered? He should just concentrate on saving the girl and bringing her back to her crew. Ace hardened his resolves as he recognized the flag on the nearby ship few kilometers away from the port.
Ace landed gracefully on the railing of the deck which successfully caught the attention of the pirates on look.
He smiled politely. "You've got a minute to release my fiancé and bring her to me unharmed unless you want me to destroy this ship faster than it should be."
Everyone snapped on attention and started getting ready for combat.
(~pagebreak~)
Sorry I've got to stop there.. shishishi…
My apologies for updating long on this chapter..
Well you see im kinda stressed out with the real world and it took quite a long time before ive got my plot bunnies back in order.
I decided to put a notebook on my desk and bring out my pencil to write out all the possible ideas I have in mind. Well, I write during lunch break.. haha.. my officemates were actually thinking that in writing on my diary..
Pfffffffttttttttttt… hahahaha… as if I have a diary.
Well, well, going back to the topic… do you have any suggestions on how Ace would kick everyone's ass in that ship? :D
Feel free to suggest..
Finally I was able to overcome this chapter..
The next update will be faster than this one..
Oh by the way.. I'll be attending Best of 2013 event..
Shishishi~
Ill be cosplaying as Portgas D. Ace… See you guys.. ill just be loitering around.. XDD
And I'll be cosplaying as Trafalgar Law on Cosmania 13.. XDDD
Eh? My gender? I'm a girl... haha..