I hope everyone has been enjoying the story so far.

Now, then on to a particular matter. I had mention in my last chapter tha I planned on adding two female characters from the OP world to Luffy's crew. Well, I have thought about it, I'm not sure if I will try that idea now, since it would seem like this is more of a romance story, which it is not. So, we will all ahve to wait and see.

Aslo, in terms of pairing that will be int he story. The RobinxOC will more then likely happen. I f it does don't expect Cortex to start trying ot win her over as soon as she meets.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don not own One Piece or any other references made. I do own the character and original ideas.

Chapter 5: Remembering A Promise

I was freaking out.

Ok, freaking out is an understatement. I was a few seconds away from falling over dead from a heart attack!

'Morgan! Why the hell, Kisame is here!?'

'I don't know!'

'What kind of Overseer doesn't know why a guy from one dimension is in another!'

'Hey! I've never heard or seen something like this! So, don't get pissy with me!'

'Can you at least tell me something to make me feel better!'

'If I had to make a guess, I would say that your being here has caused other Leaks to start appearing.'

'That still doesn't explain how Kisame is Arlong's brother!'

'The only thing I can think of is reality itself is warping to acompany your being here.'

'Huh?'

'Okay, in simpler terms. Reality is warping itself and the Leaks to make up for an extra person that should not be here to fight Arlong and his crew.'

'So, I can expect other Leaks to appear?'

'Yep! Your lucky though, since reality has warpped to make Kisame belong here he shouldn't have chakra and be like any other fishmen you know.'

'Should?'

'Like I said I've never even heard of something like this happening so for all I know he can use chakra as well.'

'Great..'

"GOMU-GOMU NO PIIINNWHHHEEEEL!"

I was brought out of my conversation with Morgan to see Luffy spinning the giant cow-fish around and sending it back into the ocean.

"Looks like we will need to dirty our hands a bit…" Kuroobi stated.

"And teach them the difference between our species…" Chew added on.

"Brother, allow us to take care of these damned humans…" Kisame spoke up.

"Yes, Arlong-san…Arlong Park will be destroyed if you get angry." Kuroobi added.

"Alright, there all yours." Arlong replied as he rested himself in his chair.

And with that the battle began. I wanted so much to actually help they guys.

Well...except Usopp, but that's only because, he needs to toughen up and this fight is the only way to do that, besides he wins in the end.

But, the large wall of shark-fin soup was making sure I did nothing to interfer.

"So," I said. "Your Arlong's brother? What's the matter not strong enough to be the captian of your own crew?"

Kisame looked at me like I was stupid. "My brother is the captian because, he excels on both land and the sea. I am built more for aquatic combat." he explained.

"Then I'm just going to ahve to make sure we keep this fight on land then." I retorted.

"Please, even if I'm not well suited for fighting on land, I'm still more than capable to crush a pathetic human, such as yourself." he replied.

"Well, see."

"Pulverizer!"

Now, when used this on some fish guys earlier they went flying. But, Kisame just scooted what looked like an inch or two and had a small bruise forming already.

He brought his hand up to where I punched him and gave it a small scratch, like it was nothing but an irritating ich.

"I'll say that you suprise me. No normal human can punch hard enough to actually make feel any sort of pain." he told me. "But, to me that was nothing more than an insect bite."

"The tiniest insect can bring down the largest of prey if they know how." I replied.

"Maybe, but I'll just squach you before you get the chance."

"Hyakumaigawara Seiken!"

Kisame delivered a punch to my gut that did was I was hoping to do earlier. I went flying back a good ways, landing pretty damn hard on my back.

'I think my chest was just caved in.'

'No, but he broke a rib and cracked three. I'll get to work on healing you, so don't waste any chakra that you don't need to.'

Before I could reply I noticed Kisame falling from the sky right towards me.

"Sementokurakkā ma Kikku!"

I manged to flip my way out of the path of his foot as he came down. I noticed that he had caused a large spider crack to form where my head was moments ago.

"Demolishing Kick!"

I ran up towards Kisame and gave him a nice roundhouse kick to the chest, but it didn't seem to be very effective.

Kisame had grabbed a hold of my leg after I kicked him and wasn't planning on letting go easily.

"Wanto Giri!"

He decided to deliver a nice fin to the neck with his other hand knocking the wind out of me.

"Don't you see," Kisame began while still holding on to my leg. "You maybe strong for a human, but to an elite species so as myself, you are nothing but a pathetic human."

I said nothing as I glared at the cocky bastard. He didn't seem to like that as he twisted my leg. I felt extreme pain and I think I heard something crack, as I let out a pained scream.

"Now, if you beg for your life I think I'll end your miserable life quickly." He told me.

I didn't say anything for a bit.

"How about this?" I asked.

Before he could make a reply, I sprung forward and head-butted him in the face. That did enough to make him let go and step back.

"Ha! You maybe strong, but your pretty damn stupid if you think I'm going to beg for my life!" I shouted at him.

He sent a death glare at me, his nose bleeding hell I didn't even know he had a nose by the look of him.

"I'm through playing around! I'll kill you nice and slow, then I'll kill your friends and every person on this island!" he roared in anger.

"Not if I have any say in the matter!"

I charged toward him while he still wasn't thinking clearly.

"Skull-Buster!"

He went flying back this time, probably because he sure wasn't prepared for the attack. But, that changed as he quickly steadied himself and jumped at me with all his might.

"Shākujetto!"

Kisame slamed into me with enough force to make a car crash look like a friendly fist bump. I went flying back and crashed into the wall around Arlong Park with enough force to make a nice imprint of my body.

I coughed up some blood, I honestly think about half my ribs were broke at this point. I fell out of the imprint and landed on my knees barely able to stand, that attack put not only all of his strength in it, but his body weight.

"Do you see now!" he yelled at me. "You are nothing more than a pathetic, weak, helpless human who can't do a damn thing!"

I honestly thought he might be right. I mean hell, even with all my new strength I couldn't do anything to stop him. Even if I survived here all I'll end up doing is causing more of these Leaks to appear and that makes things worse for Luffy and the gang.

'I can't believe your even thinking this crap!' Morgan shouted at me. 'What kind of cra are you going on about?'

'It's true. I'm not strong enough to help them here, so what difference could I make and with the chance of me causing more Leaks, I'll only be a burden.'

'Don't say that! Do you know that most people you have freaked out and tried to get home, if they were in your shoes? But, you didn't you decided to do what I couldn't! Change this world to help those who needed it! And you think you're weak? Bullshit! You worked yourself till you nearly collapsed to get where you are!'

I didn't reply so, Morgan tried one last thing to get me to see the light.

'What would your Grandfather think?'

That simple question, was what I needed as I remembered something very important.

It was six years ago. I was playing outside my grandfather's house, when some of the neighborhood kids came over and started picking on me, for what I don't even remeber.

But, I do remember what happened next.

Flashback...

"You on get out of here! You, little bastards!" shouted my grandfather, as he chased off the kids.

He turned around to look at me.

I was sitting on the ground with a black eye, bloody lip and nose.

"I'm sorry that you had to waste your time helping me, Gramps." I told him.

My grandfather looked at me like I was crazy.

"Boy, why would I be wasting my time helping you?" he asked.

"Because, I'm just a pathetic weakling who can't defend himself! Why should you, a strong veteran, waste your time helping me!?"

I shouted in anger, not at him but at myself.

My granfather didn't reply, he just walked towards me a crouched down.

"Cortez," he said in low voice, meaning he was serious. "To be honest, those little punks would have kicked my ass, if not the amount of them then cause of their age. But, do you know why they didn't?"

"Because, you have more experience?" I asked.

He gave out a light chuckle. "Now, that is true, but not the answer. I manged to beat them because, I was protecting you."

"Huh?"

"Strength isn't all about muscles. True, strength comes from wanting to protect your dreams and loved ones." he answered.

"So, to truely be strong I have to fight for my loved ones adn my dream?"

"Right on the nose."

"Then, I'll work hard to become stronger to keep you, mom, and my friends safe."

"What about your dream?"

I didn't know what my dream really was at the time, but after I though about it I knew.

"To be the strongest so, I know I can protect you guys!" I declared.

My grandfather gave me smile, took of his beret and put it on my head.

"I hope you fufill that dream, and remember you will meet people stronger then yourself, so promise me."

"Promise, what?"

"That no matter what, you will never give up and you'll keep getting stronger till you're the strongest there is."

"It's a promise!"

Flashback End...

I smiled at myself. "How could I forget?" I asked out loud.

"Forget what? How to beg for your life?" Kisame asked me.

I slowly stood from kneeling posistion, it was painful but I dealt with it. "I can't lose here. I need to fufill my dream."

I ran towards to Kisame why his guard was down.

"Crater Maker!"

I punched him as hard as I could in the stomach, but I didn't end there. I then pushed my fist even harder into his gut until he was lifted a little ways off the ground, then I slammed him full force back into the ground.

*BOOM*

When, he hit he strurred up a lot of dust. I saw that he had in fact made a small crater where he was slammed down, but he wasn't out.

Kisame kicked me back a little ways and strainghtened himself up.

"Do you still think you can win!? Just because, of some dream! I'll kill you here and now and you can see how pathetic your dream truely is!"

"Shākujetto!"

I copied his movement as I channeled more chakra into my legs and jumped towards him.

"I won't lose here! I still need to be the strongest in the world!" I shouted.

"Skull-Buster!"

Once we got to each other I threw a chakra charged punch at his face, that plus my momentum and his really made an impact.

Kisame went flying back farther than, I could have hoped to send him. Crashing into the wall on the other side of the park.

When, the dust cleared I saw he was out cold. Blood drippind from his mouth and nose, missing a few teeth, and his eyes rolled into the back of his head.

"Looks, like your the loser this day, Kisame."

Original Attack Used:

Shākujetto- Shark Jet

Sementokurakkā ma Kikku- Cement Cracker True Kick

I hope this chapter was to your liking. Also, if anyone is thinking that Cortez is going to have to fight WhiteBeard for the title 'Strongest in the World' you are going to be in for a suprise latter on in the story.

Don't forget to review!