Yelling and screaming jolted me from my sleep.
Juubi what was that?
Sneaking out of the cave I scanned the surrounding area. From the small peninsula I could spot the north shore's picturesque cove surrounded by outcroppings. And sailing out from behind one of those outcroppings was the bloody Black Cat Pirate's ship. Even from the opposite side of the cove I could hear their excitement at the soon to be blood bath.
And humans say we Yokai are bloodthirsty animals. I shook my head in despair. And it figures fate would damn me to witness this battle. Sighing I shook my head. Maybe the ningen got scared and high tailed it out of here. So much for our future Pirate King. I thought in distaste.
"Captain, there are two strange boats over there." One of the Black Cat's crew yelled.
Glancing over at the very edge of the cove, hidden partly by the outcroppings were definitely Luffy's boats.
Okay so the kid didn't leave. If he didn't leave where is he? He said that he was going to kick their butts. They couldn't have…
"You!" a nasally called out.
Looking towards the cliff I noticed long nosed Usopp standing there his slingshot at the ready.
"If you don't want to die you had better get out of this village! I am captain Usopp and I have been waiting for you, I have already planned to fight you!"
"The kid is going to die" I muttered face palming.
"You, you're the kid that overheard our plan. What do you want?" Jango growled staring straight at Usopp. At least I think he was staring at Ussop, its kind of hard to tell when he is wearing those shades. Unimportant at the moment Aka, just pay attention.
"This is your last warning! If you don't dive up now my crew of a billion will destroy you!"
"That's a lie," muttered one of the crew.
You think? Only someone completely stupid would believe that. I deadpanned.
"What? One Billion?" Jango screeched, shaking in his boots.
I rest my case.
"Captain! He's lying! He is just trying to trick us!" The same crewmember shouted.
"They know!" Usopp gasped.
I silently face palmed once more. They do now.
"You, how dare you trick me!" Jango growled up at the quivering boy.
"Captain Jango sir! We found some treasure in that boat!" another crewmember shouted.
"How much?" Jango shouted over his shoulder.
"About five million beli."
"WHAT!" Jango screamed looking at his crewmember.
"That is quite a bit," I muttered looking over at the ship.
"That's my treasure. I can give it to you." The long nosed boy cried out.
"Stop doing something stupid!" a feminine voice screamed. Nami, if I remember correctly, appeared out of nowhere and slammed her Bo staff into Usopp's head.
"That treasure is mine and I won't give a single beli to anyone!"
And I thought that the goblins were greedy? I mused.
"Ow, that hurts! Couldn't you have just told me?" Usopp rubbed his head" Then don't mess with my stuff!" she yelled back. "By the way, where is Luffy? I thought he was the first one who ran to here?"
"Maybe he is lost or afraid?"
"That boy doesn't know the meaning of the word fear, he is too stupid to know," I murmured as I watched the ningen and his green haired swordsman appear over the edge.
"Gomu gomu no Gatling gun!" A volley of fist went flying past me and knocked the advancing pirates back down the slope. Clasping my hands over my sensitive ears I watched Luffy and Zoro standing there arguing with the greedy woman who smells of mikan and the long nosed sniper.
"Nami! You really are a pain! You stepped on my head!" Zoro growled gritting his teeth.
"Usopp! Next time, you should tell me where North is!" Luffy yelled. I just face palmed for the third time this day.
"Who are they?" Jango muttered.
"Why are you so late? Gee!" Nami complained to the green haired swordsman.
"Isn't that your fault? You are the one who pushed me down the slope!" Zoro spat out.
"It was an accident. I can't help that. Besides, it would be better if one of us could get out of that." She reasoned.
"Then why don't you be the person who falls!" He yelled.
At the same time Luffy and Usopp were arguing.
"You only said North! How can I know where North is! Luffy shouted.
"I saw you run first, I thought you knew." Usopp reasoned.
"Don't change the subject!" Luffy stamped his foot.
This pointless arguing is getting us nowhere. Jumping up to one of the outcroppings I shouted at the ningen. "Oi, Straw Hat" ting everyone in the vincinity turned their attention towards me.
"Oi, it's the mystery person! Hey I found you so you got to join my crew!" Luffy laughed.
"No, I found you. After all I was the one who called out to you so the bet is still going." I smirked.
"No fair!" Luffy pouted.
"Life's not fair kid!" I replied.
"Luffy who is this" Zoro asked glancing at me for the first time.
"Oh, this is the mystery person! He's going to join my crew!" At this moment I looked down at myself. I know the cloak I'm wearing is a little masculine but you would think that people could tell I was a girl, although the whole point to wearing this coat was to hide my gender so the argument is a moot point.
"Luffy! Your going to let some guy that you don't even know join your crew!" Nami shouted while the Usopp gained a I-can't-be –around-mysterious-people sickness, or so he claims. The group blew into a heated discussion about the new 'guy', ignoring the fact that I had quickly tranversed the space between us and was standing right beside them. I rolled my hidden eyes and chuckled slightly.
"Luffy" I paused my kitsune mask overshadowed by my hood. The gang turned to me. Usopp was shaking like a leaf and Nami and Zoro were on their guard. Luffy was his typical oblivious self.
"Yeah?"
"You know I'm standing right here?" I chuckled.
"Yeah?" He supplied
"Then why are you and your crew talking as if I don't exist?" Nami and Usopp shuffled their feet but Zoro stood his ground.
"Who are you and what do you want with us?" Zoro growled clutching one of his three swords.
"Does it matter? Right now we have a crew of blood thirsty pirates planning to massacre a town and your worried about little details?"
"When they pertain to the safety of the crew I worry" he spat.
"It was your captain who made the bet, not you. You should trust your captain some more." Zoro growled in annoyance.
"I'm tired of waiting on you weaklings. Let's destroy them men!" one of the Black Cat pirates cried out eliciting a rousing cheer from his comrades.
"Weakling?" I twitched
"No wait! Don't move!" Jango shouted only to be ignored by the majority of the crew.
"Shut up you pathetic worms." I glared, gathering my youki in my hand causing a large fireball to appear. Consumed in anger I threw the flaming orb right at the Black Cat's ship. After that display of power I watched as Nami and Usopp shook in fear. "Lets destroy these underlings." Two continued to shake in fear while the other two nodded their heads grinning.
"Sugoi! That was awesome! You'll be the fire throwing mystery person on my crew." Luffy laughed. The others including me deadpanned.
"Is he always like this," I asked the three.
"Always" replied the crewmembers.
"Sigh… What have I gotten myself into?"
"I ask myself that everyday," the navigator replied.
"Hey you destroyed our ship!" The five of us glanced down at two brothers who were standing at the base of the slope.
"We're Buchi and Sham the Nyaban-brothers! And we'll destroy you" The two yowled.
"Stop!" Jango cried, "You can't beat them!"
"Those kids don't look like much" Buchi growled.
"I'm not worried about the kid and his crew but instead of the guy in the mask." Jango comically cried while the others sweat dropped.
"Hey I'm strong too!" Luffy cried.
"The guy can throw fireballs, so what." Sham sniffed.
"The guy can do more than that you idiots!" Jango screeched. "He was the one who single handily took this crew down a year ago!" At this statement the cove became deathly silent except for myself who was conveniently filing my nails.
"WHAT!" The crew screeched.
"Hmm" I glanced up looking at the cowering crew. "Oh you mean that incident back at Onsen Island, right?" I asked with a maniacal glint to my eyes. "That's what you perverts get for peeping in the girls side of the baths."
The Black Cat crew was simply gaping at me while behind me Usopp was stammering in shock.
"K-Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates is the most intelligent man in all of East Blue! He is k-known as Kuro of the Hundred P-plans because of his elaborate p-plans. H-he is also o-one of the f-fastest."
"I've seen faster and smarter." I replied. "Kuro-kun is really no more than a kitten compared to those back home."
"Where are you from!" Nami shrieked.
"The New World." At their blank looks I elaborated. "The second half of the Grand Line."
"Sugoi!" Luffy shouted while the Black Cat Pirates were staring at me in fear, even Buchi and Sham were apprehensive.
"Compared to that Kuro-kun is pretty slow, both mentally and phisically."
"So I am slow boy." A venomous voice spat.
Turning around the gang and I along with the Black Cat crew noticed Klahador, or should I say Kuro, standing at the top of the slope.
"That and predictable" I said in my happiest voice. I could hear Kuro grinding his teeth in frustration.
"Jango" Kuro growled.
"Y-yes C-captain"
"It has passed dawn, but my plan has still not worked. What the hell are you doing!" The normally calm strategist screamed at his former crew. Many including Jango were shaking violently. But Sham and Buchi just glared defiantly.
"I'd like to see you get past these five, especially the one in the mask which you lost to in your prime. If you lost back then there is no way you would beat him now." Sham shouted at his former captain.
"That's right! For three years you have been lounging about while we have been training! Even now we could take you down easily." Buchi yelled flexing his clawed hand.
"Is that right?" Kuro whispered from behind the Nyaban brothers before the two collapsed in a small spray of blood. Kuro just stood there flexing his sword like claws.
"Wow! Captain is so fast"
"Yeah really, I didn't even see him!"
"We'll win for sure!"
"This is going to be boring" I yawned. Luffy's gang and the Black Cat crew openly stared at me.
"You know," I said turning to Luffy "I have already beaten Kuro-kun into the ground once and doing so again would be boring. Why don't I leave him for you to take care of and the idiot duo to the swordsman" I said motioning to the Nyaban brothers who were slowly standing up again despite their wounds. "Think of it as a test to see if you are really worthy to be my captain. Usopp why don't you protect the runts who are spying on us from behind the bushes and leave Nami to do her thing." I finished hearing the yelp of the three kids and the slightly silent gasp of the sickly girl still hidden in the bushes.
"And what about you?" Zoro questioned raising an eyebrow as he drew his swords.
"Easy, I'll take care of these little kittens." I said motioning to the crewmembers down below. "I think I'll start with the hypnotist," I muttered tapping my chin lightly and causing said hypnotist to have a heart attack.
"Whatever, just don't get in my way" Zoro said turning to the two brothers that were unsuccessfully trying to sneak up on him.
"I'm going to kick your butt you stupid butler!" Luffy shouted readying his arm for another flying fist.
"Alright that means all of you are left for me" I said in my best imitation of the sadistic Yamata no Orochi. I think it was a very good impression because many of the crewmembers wetted themselves right there.
"Here little kittens, let me introduce you to my kits." I smiled raising my arm and gathering my youki. "Kitsune-bi: Hirō no Honō" I shouted.
Red flames burst to life around me growing into medium fireballs that shot at the terrified crew. Half way threw their arc the fiery projectiles morphed into medium sized foxes, which then chased down all of the Black Cats and consumed them in low flames. Instead of causing burns the flames sapped at the crew's strength until they collapsed with exhaustion.
I love illusions and spells. Now there is still one more thing I need to take care of.
I grinned looking at the cowering hypnotist. "Hello there, Jango. I see you didn't deliver my message to your captain. Why don't we play a little hmm?" I giggled setting my hand aflame once more. All that was heard from Jango were some pathetic whimpers until the screaming started.
"What did he do to deserve that?" Zoro shuddered looking at the traumatized hypnotist who was crying a river of tears.
"It's the standard procedure that all perverts get" I hissed glaring at the man who was curled up in a fetal position.
"But don't you think that is going a little too far" He asked glancing back at me.
My eyes darkened and I slowly turned to him. "Would you like to undergo the same procedure," I whispered holding up my hand showing him the crimson claws made from fire.
The swordsman gulped taking a step backwards. "No, no. That's alright." He said waving his hands quickly.
"Good" I replied lowering my hand.
"Oi mystery person! Join my crew!" Luffy yelled over from the unconscious form of Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates.
"No! you didn't find me, I found you remember!" I shouted back.
"But I found you again after the battle, I called out to you, so I win. Now you have to join my crew, you promised!" he shouted back smiling. I could feel my eyebrow twitching. The little brat outsmarted me without even realizing it. And I completely fell for it. Well not completely outsmarted.
"Ah ah ah, finding me was only the first half of the bet. You needed to also get my name." I smiled.
"Eh! That's not fair!" Luffy cried out.
"Life's not fair kid." I smirked.
"Ne ne, what's your name then?"
"Hmm." I paused looking over the lithe boy. "Not telling you."
"What! Why?"
"Because you haven't earned it yet. You need to still prove yourself."
"Ne ne, tell me your name!"
"I told you, you haven't earned the right to hear my name yet."
"Ne ne, tell me your name!"
"Why do I feel like I am talking to thin air?" I muttered placing my hand over my mask as I began my way back to town.
"Air is smarter than him," groused Nami as she pointed toward Luffy who was asking Usopp if he knew the mystery person's name."
"And its only the middle of the day" I sighed following my exuberant captain down the dirt road.
"The ship is named the Going Merry" Kaya's elderly butler with the odd haircut announced.
I looked at the caravel, admiring its build. Hmm not too big to be cumbersome yet not so small that it will be torn apart in the Grand Line seas. I like it.
"Look out" the familiar voice of Usopp cried out. Turning my head I noticed Usopp strapped to an overstuffed bag rolling down the slope. Luffy and Zoro raised their leg and stopped Usopp's descent while simultaneously squashing his face.
"Thanks guys" he replied getting up and dusting himself off. "Well, I'm heading out to sea!" he declared.
"Your leaving" a sadden Kaya asked.
"Yeah, I'm going out to sea and become a brave warrior of the sea like my dad. Then I'll come back and tell you all of my adventures" He answered a happier Kaya. "Well, I guess I'll see you soon." Usopp called up to us on the Going Merri.
"Why?" Luffy questioned.
"Why? Because I'm going out to sea!" replied Usopp.
"Just shut up and get on," Zoro yelled from the deck.
"Huh?"
"They inviting you to join them" I answered the long nosed boy.
"Really? Well, I'll be honored to join and become your captain." Usopp grinned.
"No way! I'm the captain!" Luffy shouted back. We all ended up laughing. Maybe traveling with these people wouldn't be that bad. In fact it might actually be fun. Providing none of them find out anything important.
Smiling I boarded the ship.
"What is he doing here?" Zoro question as he placed his hand on his sword hilt."
"The deal was if Luffy could find me and get my name then I'll join his crew. If he wasn't able to before he left the island then he owed me a favor, which I'm cashing in right now."
"And that is?" Nami asked skeptically.
"Passageway to your next island. Since the raft that I had been using was destroyed during the battle ago."
"Ne ne, mystery person. Tell me your name!" Luffy shouted as he dropped towards the deck below.
"No, you haven't earned it yet."
"Ne ne, mystery person. Tell me your name!"
"By Juubi your persistent!"
Omake: Ero-Jango
(several years ago)
"Captain Kuro sir! We are approaching the Onsen Island. What are your orders Sir?" a feline crewmember asked.
"Dock, gather supplies, then do as you please" the famed captain replied before returning to his written plans and strategies.
"Hear that boys! Were going to Onsen Island!" The same crewmember announced to the celebrating crew.
"I've heard the island is famous for their hot springs." A second crewmember whispered to a third.
"Yeah and where there are hot springs there are beautiful goddesses rid of their celestial clothes." The third winked before being hit over the head for being too poetic. Around the corner however was a slightly younger Jango drooling at the mental images.
"I definitely know what I'm going to during my free time." The perverted hypnotist muttered to himself.
(Several hours later)
The perverted hypnotist managed to lose the rest of his crew and climbed up the steep slope ready to get a glimpse of heaven. Carefully, so not to be heard he drilled a small hole in the bamboo fence before him. The slightly younger man gazed into the mists. Seeing such a spectacular view Jango let out a soft perverted giggle. Unfortunately for Jango a passing wanderer wearing a black cloak and a kitsune mask heard him. Glancing across the alleyway the mysterious person in the mask spotted to perverted hypnotist. Great, perverts. Aka watched as the man's nose bled. At least he isn't as bad as Aunty Nibi. Aka shuddered in fear before smiling maniacally. Lets see if he can deal with the consequences. "Oi! What are you doing spying on the girl's onsen!"
After that utterance a frightful din broke out behind the fence. A horde of women rushed out of the onsen intending to pummel a certain hypnotist to death. Fearing for his sad little life Jango fled from the sights of the enraged woman back towards his ship, although he did not escape the view of one little kitsune. I think I need to pay his captain a visit.
Dashing through the small village Aka chased after the hypnotist all the way to a small tavern called the Dancing Cat.
"What do you want Jango?" Aka heard a frigid voice hiss.
"N-n-nothing Captain." Glancing through the window Aka looked into the nearly abandoned bar. Just the bartender, the captain and the member named Jango. Making up her mind Aka scrawled a short note before entering the bar, passing the duo and sitting beside the bartender.
"Sake" she mumbled slipping a few coins and the note into the bartender's hand. The bartender turned his back briefly on Aka before tuning back with a small bottle of sake. Nodding his head he disappeared into the back room. Draining her cup, she lumbered up to Jango and his captain.
"You're his captain?" She growled lowering her voice to an even lower baritone.
"Who is asking?"
"The brother of the woman he was peeping on." She smirked as Jango slightly shrunk. "I suggest you control your crew better."
"I don't care for your tone boy." Sneered Kuro.
"Y-yeah, don't you know who this is?" Stuttered Jango. "This here is Captain Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates."
"So your pirates?"
"Your point?"
"You look too weak to be pirates." Kuro's eyes flashed while Jango looked gobsmaked.
"Y-you got to know who Captain Kuro is! He is the man with a thousand plans!" screeched Jango.
"Doesn't look like much to me."
"Ignore him Jango, he is just an ignorant villager." Kuro sneered.
"Oh no, you misunderstand me, I know all about The Black Cat Pirates, I just think that their Captain is not only dumb to come up with true masterpieces of plans but too weak to carry out his pathetic plans efficiently."
A hard edge entered Kuro's voice. "What are you implying?"
"That I could very well beat you at your own game and that for you to try to pass me off would be just your way of backing out because you know yourself that you are too weak." Aka could hear the man's teeth grinding. "If you accept my challenge meet me in the woods tomorrow afternoon, if you don't show up then I know and everyone else will know that Captain Kuro thinks himself weak, and rightly so." Turning on her heel Aka stormed out of the tavern leaving an irate Kuro and an aghast Jango.
At the prescribed time the three people showed. "Rules of the game, fight till one falls unconcious, and no fatal wounds."
"Afraid you won't survive?" Kuro snidely remarked.
"More like I won't go overboard and leave you a smear on the forest floor."
Kuro clenched his teeth before dashing forward in a blur. He stopped suddenly claws outstreached grinning at the foolish villager on the end of his claws, except all that was there was empty air.
"Oh Kuro-kun." Quickly turning around, Kuro got backhanded by the villager. Spinning through the air he crashed into one of the maple trees and slid down its trunk already unconcious.
"Aw, what a shame. Wasn't even worth it." Sighing Aka turned to the quivering Jango. No more perverts. If I so much as hear you peeping again I will personally fix you, got that?" Aka turned and walked away, ignoring Jango's shuddering. "Oh and tell Kuro-kun to double his training program, he is pathetically weak."
Days later Aka did come across the Black Cat pirates, although it was in the passing, on a marine based island. Jango of course was hiding from sight but Kuro kept glaring with his slightly scratched up face. He was continuously using the heel of his hand to push up his constantly slipping glasses.
Author notes/definitions
Kitsune-bi: hirō no honō – Foxfire: flames of fatigue. summons foxes made of flame that drain the energy/stamina of a person or group instead of burning.
Kitsune-bi – translation foxfire. Usually illusion-based attacks but some are fire based and sometimes even summon animals of their kind in a particular element. The strength and variety of attacks relate to the social standing within the kitsune clan.
Kuro slow and stupid – I know it seems Aka is overpowering, but that is not the case. Youkai are naturally stronger than the average humans and their strength correlates with their age and experience. Kitsune are famous for their speed, stealth and plans which plays a major role in their pranking. These are pretty much the only things Kuro was good at. Kitsune are not the strongest youkai, also a majority of kitsune's are aligned with fire and illusion. Generally their defense and attacks are relatively weak so they make up for it with speed and flexibility. Kitsune-bi: hirō no honō are one of the higher tiered attacks a high-ranking kitsune can employ in the illusion bracket. Aka is still learning about her abilities and she will grow stronger like the rest of the Straw Hats do throughout the series. Not only physically grow, but mentally.
Omakes – side stories, this one explains Aka's connection with Kuro and more importantly, Jango.
Onsens – they are natural hot springs/public baths, very comfortable and relaxing.