Me- Hello again everyone, this is the follow up chapter to chapter 10, then after comes chapter 11, and finally the Sanji arch, Also please review, it lets me know how I'm doing, so enjoy!
Hime-sama no Kaizoku
Chapter 11: Winning the battle; Leif's tearful apology!
Luffy and Zoro were fighting both with their individual opponents; Luffy with Jango and Zoro with Buchi. That didn't exactly stop Kuro though as he counted down the last number and smiled.
"Well time's up which means that time is up, and everyone here will die." Kuro laughed out as everyone stared at him with widened eyes, but before he had a chance to do anything Kaya came.
"Kurahodol stop, don't do this!" Kaya cried as she stepped in front of him. Kuro however wasn't going to listen as he got ready to slash her, but Usopp wouldn't let that happen as he dived to get her out of the way.
"Kaya what are you doing?" Usopp questioned as Kaya looked down at him.
"I'm protecting the village, and you, I can't bear to see you get hurt. Kurahodol, I promise to give you my money and whatever you need as long as you leave the island." Kaya spoke as Kuro made his way over to Leif's form which terrified the girl to know end.
"I'm afraid that's not gonna work; I'm a ruthless killer after all." Kuro spoke as he grabbed hold of Leif's hair and lifted her a little bit off the ground to place his claws near her neck. Leif felt absolutely terrified, was this it, she wasn't ready to die yet.
"Stop right now!" Usopp stated as he held up his sling shot ready to shoot one of his pachinko balls to stop him.
"I won't hesitate to kill anyone, not till everyone's dead on this island." Kuro laughed as Leif struggled in his grip as she raised her arms to grab a hold of his wrists. She only had one chance at getting away, and she was going to take it. She used his arm almost like a catapult, and by the sudden movement he had released her hair as she landed behind him unscathed from the sudden movement. She grasped her stomach that the man had kicked before; she didn't understand why it hurt so badly.
"Leif, run, now!" Kaya called as she pulled out a gun. Kuro had immediately taken notice to this as he began to remind the girl of his three years with her and how much he had cared for her which was leading her to drop her guard down enough to let him knock the gun away from her. Usopp then grabs the gun and shoots at the pirate as the onlookers stare in disbelief. Kuro, however was not amused as he appeared behind the sharp shooter, ready to kill him, but luckily for Usopp, Luffy punched him at the last second to save him.
"Luffy…" Leif spoke in admiration as she walked over to where Usopp was. Luffy had punched Kuro in the face and had knocked him down in the process; it was a very big deal considering the fact that he had done it without the slightest hesitation.
"Leif are you ok?" Usopp questioned.
"Yeah I'm perfectly fine, but I don't understand why that kick had hurt so much." Leif whined as Kaya crawled over to them.
"That man that you had fought looked like he had some type of metal piece on his knee from the observations I made." Usopp pointed out as Kaya looked between them.
"Will they be alright with fighting Kurahodol and everyone?" Kaya questioned as Leif smiled.
"I have complete faith in Zoro and Luffy; they are my nakama, my family." Leif spoke highly of her two crew mates. One in particular that happened to be her captain; Zoro she saw as an older brother whom she loved to fight with as Luffy was her best friend and they had known each other two weeks so far and she still felt guilty about not telling them about her status as a princess but hopefully she would be able to explain to them. She'd just leave some of the minor details out is all.
Eventually the Usopp pirates had arrived and Kaya, Usopp, and Leif's hearts had sunk; why were they in such a dangerous place?
"Captain Usopp, we came to help!" The kids yelled out as Jango tried to stop them knowing it would only make Kuro even worse.
"Why the hell did you guys come here?" Usopp questioned them.
"Why did you lie to us about the situation?" questioned one of the boys in the group; his face contorted in anger.
"Don't worry about that right now, and run away." Usopp pleaded as the kids refused him.
"It will disrespect the Usopp pirates if we run." The kids agreed as Leif pleaded with them to run, again they refused. Kuro then stirs, waking up, thus scarring the Usopp pirates as they let out a scream.
"He's awake now." Leif stated the obvious as she fell to her knees. Kuro then proceeds to walk toward the group, ready to kill Usopp, before turning toward the straw hat captain whom had punched him.
"Straw hat, did you eat a devils fruit?" Kuro questioned as Luffy smiles.
"Yup, I ate the gomu gomu no mi." Luffy stated while laughing, leaving the crew terrified of his presence.
"I see, Jango take care of Kaya and those little brats; I'll handle the straw hat." Kuro spoke as Jango nodded. Jango then proceeds by walking toward Kaya as Usopp takes his eyes off of Zoro's ongoing battle with Buchi.
"Protect Kaya; this is the reason why we had become pirates in the first place; to protect what's dear to us." Usopp told the Usopp pirates as they nodded, running to Kaya and carrying her off into the woods.
"Not so fast!" Jango yells as he swings his pendulum toward the group which is stopped in mid air by one of Usopp's pachinko balls. Jango glares at Usopp as he picks up his pendulum ready to attack the long nose.
"Don't worry about him, and go get Kaya and the brats." Kuro ordered as Jango followed through and went after them.
"Wait a minute!" Leif called after as she got up on to her feet, trying to catch up with the hypnotist.
"Leif, wait, your hurt remember!" Usopp called as Leif turned to look at him, cringing at the pain; blood visible on her vest.
"Kaya's important to you, so I'm gonna do my best to protect her." Leif announced as she went back to running ignoring the pain in her stomach and the blood that was coming out from the wound. She really had to find out how that guy had caused such a wound. Luffy couldn't help but smile at Leif's declaration as he looked toward Kuro, and advances on him.
"Leif…" Usopp cried in happiness. At this time Zoro had finished up Buchi with his technique 'oni giri'.
Usopp then manages to get up off the ground as he hears noises coming from the forest. He couldn't help but feel worried over Kaya, the Usopp pirates, and the brunette that had gone after them.
"Jango must be tearing the forest apart by now." Kuro laughed.
"Where's your shred of pity, don't you even care?" Usopp questioned as Kuro laughed.
"Kaya was only a pawn to my plan; it'll be wonderful once she's dead." Kuro said as Usopp glared at the captain.
"Usopp, go help Leif, and save Kaya, I'll take care of this guy." Luffy spoke as Usopp then gets up despite the multiple wounds he had.
"Even if you get to them, Jango will kill you." Kuro stated as Usopp looked toward him.
"Despite my weakness, I will protect this village." Usopp spoke as he walked away. The black cat pirates then began to laugh at him as he freezes.
"Don't laugh at Usopp." Luffy yells as he throws rocks at them.
"I'll go too." Zoro stated as he tapped Usopp shoulder. Luffy nods in agreement as the two go into the forest after them.
"Stop right there!" Kuro yells as he runs toward them only to be stopped by Luffy that attacks him at full force with his attack gomu gomu no Kama. Kuro, angered then uses his claws in order to try to get a hit which is dodged by the younger. Kuro having had enough adjusts his classes as his speed accelerates to the point of where Luffy can't see him coming. 'I hope there're ok.' Was the only thought that had popped into his head as he fought with Kuro.
"Stop right there!" Leif called as she pointed an index finger toward Jango whom turned around to face the brunette.
"Great, all I need is a pest to interfere, no matter." Jango smoke as he began to swing his pendulum back and forth. Leif knew what he was going to do so before he could even try she ran up to him and kicked the pendulum away from him.
"You bitch." Jango cursed as Leif smirked dodging the punch he threw her way which had almost caught her off guard.
"I made someone mad." Leif giggled as Jango recalled something about this girl that Kuro had once told him.
"Of course you did you slut." Jango spat, emphasizing the last word. Leif couldn't help but freeze up at that word.
"No, that isn't true, nothing happened." Leif cried as she grabbed hold of her head, the bad memories flooding into her memory at once.
"I can't believe you had such a simple weakness, the rumors of your childhood, the ones that made you out to be a dirty whore." Jango laughed as he kicked Leif in the stomach again, making her bleed even more as she fell to the ground struggling from the pain.
"I have to protect Kaya, I'm so stupid." Leif cried out as Jango looked toward her as he picked up his pendulum piece.
"Don't worry; you won't have to worry much in heaven." Jango spoke as he prepared to use his pendulum piece to pierce through her. Leif closed her eyes as she prepared for impact but Luffy, Usopp, Zoro, Nami, the Usopp pirates, and Kaya appeared in her mind. As Jango brought the piece closer, Leif opened her eyes as she grabbed his wrist, using all of her strength to hold him back. She had people who cared about her, she wasn't going to die.
"Very persistent; I don't have time for this though." Jango sighed as Leif began to get up off of the ground, pushing through the pain to push the pendulum piece away from her.
"I'm not gonna die here, there are people who care for me, and people I need to protect!" Leif yelled as she got the pendulum piece to strike Jango in his shoulder.
"Why didn't you aim for my chest?" Jango questioned the brunette who was breathing heavily while clutching her stomach.
"When my dad was alive, he wanted me to use my strength for good, and to defend myself, but I could never bring myself to kill anyone no matter how in danger I was. I had also promised my father to see the good in people, no matter what type of situation I face; I don't want to let my late father down." Leif admitted as Jango looked up at the brunette.
"That's quite a speech, but you know I'm still going to go after Kaya." Jango spoke as Leif looked toward him.
"It's Kuro who wants you to do that, and I refuse to kill you so what will you do?" Leif questioned as Zoro and Usopp finally arrived after several attempts to find Jango and them. "It took you long enough, directionally challenged swordsman."
"Shut up, damn princess." Zoro snapped; even after finding out about her identity, nothing had changed and Leif couldn't be happier.
"Leif, your wound is bigger than before!" Usopp yelled, pointing at the blood in the middle of her vest.
"What the hell, idiot!" Zoro snapped as Leif looked up at the swordsman with a glare.
"Maybe if you were here sooner then I wouldn't have this wound." Leif yelled as Zoro glared back.
"Shut up already!" Jango snapped on the trio.
"I'm positive Luffy should be done fighting with Kuro by now." Usopp spoke with a smile as Leif looked toward Jango. She didn't defeat him, he just didn't want to get up, he was a strong opponent, but she couldn't let that word affect her anymore. Zoro and Luffy wouldn't always be there to bail her out.
"Let's go see shall we." Leif spoke as she lifted Jango up.
"Understood." Usopp spoke as he went on ahead of them.
"Let me help you." Zoro spoke as he helped Leif carry Jango back.
"Why are you carrying me anyway, I can walk ya know." Jango told her as Leif smiled.
"That way, you won't be in that much trouble with your captain; besides I don't trust you to walk by yourself." Leif spoke while a sweat drop appeared on her head.
"Agreed." Zoro nodded as they shuffled out of the woods.
Luffy was standing with multiple wounds while Kuro laid on the ground unconscious. Leif immediately let go of Jango, leaving Zoro with the hypnotist as she ran over to Luffy and hugged him.
"Get off." Luffy snapped as Leif shook her head no. She was way too happy that they won to let go of her straw hat captain.
"I'm just happy that we won." Leif exclaimed as Luffy stared down at her in disbelief before returning the hug unwillingly.
Eventually the pirates had shuffled out with their defeated captain as Nami came forward with the treasure from there ship.
"They had a lot of treasure." Nami spoke as Luffy laughed at the antics of his navigator.
"I almost forgot, we still need a ship." Leif spoke as Usopp walked over to Luffy and tapped him on the shoulder. The straw hat captain turned toward Usopp in confusion.
"I think I'm gonna take you up on that offer." Usopp spoke as Luffy looked clueless while Leif smiled remembering what Luffy had asked Usopp previously.
"I'm sorry but what are you talking about?" Luffy questioned the longed nose teen who looked at him in disbelief.
"Idiot, you asked him to join the crew remember." Leif yelled as she hit Luffy's head.
"Ah, that's right, welcome to the crew Usopp." Luffy exclaimed as his crew mates fell to the ground anima style.
"Leif-san!" a voice yelled as Leif turned toward it.
"Kaya?" Leif questioned as Kaya held up bandages and such.
"You guys got hurt protecting me, so it's my turn to help you." Kaya spoke as she wrapped everyone who needed it.
"Anyway as I was saying, we really need a ship." Leif spoke as Kaya looked up from wrapping Leif's stomach.
"I have a ship; I'll give it to you." Kaya spoke as the crew looked at her in disbelief.
"Why give it to us?" Zoro questioned as Kaya smiled.
"You guys protected everyone in this village, and saved my life, it's the best way I can think of to repay you." Kaya spoke as Leif smile gently.
"Thank you lady Kaya, we are forever in your debt." It was Leif's way of speaking which had reminded Zoro about her status.
"While we are here, Leif you mind telling us why you lied about being a princess?" Zoro questioned as Leif frowned.
"A princess, really, Sugoi!" Luffy said as Nami decided to walk away.
"Yes I'm a princess, but I never meant to lie to you. I guess it started when my father had died, he left me with my step mother, and the woman tended to hit me or any means she can to make my life miserable. I couldn't take it anymore, and it didn't help when she kept bringing up my past, I absolutely hated the woman, and I couldn't take the torment anymore so that's when I had decided to run away." Leif explained as Zoro looked toward her.
"What past are you referring too?" Zoro questioned.
"I didn't exactly want to talk about it, but when I was younger, someone had almost raped me, and because of his failed attempt, he spread rumors all over of me being a slut, a person who slept with anyone she could. I couldn't exactly take it, but it was forever stained on my body." Leif explained.
"Why didn't you tell us till now?" Zoro questioned as Luffy, now serious, looked up at his first mate.
"I didn't mean to lie, I swear," Leif cried as the tears began to fall from her eyes. "I didn't even plan to join you guys, but then those girls attacked me out of nowhere, and I completely froze up. Luffy came out of nowhere and saved me, and I wanted to thank him for that so when he asked me to join, I was surprised. I never expected that to come from his mouth, and yet I was so happy that somebody had accepted me, and didn't hate me or think ill of me. I love this crew, you're my family now, and the only ones I have. I love all of you, and I'm sorry for lying. I'm so sorry, very sorry."
"Don't cry anymore, Shishishi." Luffy spoke as he placed his hat on top of her head.
"Luffy…" Leif couldn't stop from crying more as she hugged him again with him trying to push her off of him.
"Leif let go." Luffy yelled as Leif released him while wiping her tears away.
"Why are you always hugging, Luffy?" Usopp questioned.
"Why you want a hug to, Usopp?" Leif questioned as she prepared to hug the sharpshooter as well.
"No thank you." Usopp passed as Kaya laugher at the pouting Leif.
"You've really changed since the first time we've met, princess." Zoro pointed out.
"How so?" Leif questioned, partially annoyed.
"You were much colder, and you weren't as open with us before, but now you are." Zoro spoke as Leif looked up at the swordsman whom had a genuine smile.
"Thank you, Zoro." Leif spoke as she hugged him which surprised him a big before he hugged back, slightly embarrassed.
"Why the hug?" Zoro questioned the brunette.
"You always know what to say sometimes, and you are like an older brother to me," Leif smiled. "I wish I had siblings growing up."
"There lots of fun Shishishi." Luffy spoke as Leif parted from Zoro and questioned him.
"You have brothers, Luffy?" Leif couldn't help but smile when he nodded.
"When we board the ship, can you tell me about them, I want to know?" Leif questioned as Luffy nodded. Leif then grabbed her captain's hand in a friendly gesture which had confused Luffy at first but he couldn't help but smile at his crewmate.
(Ending: Life is like a boat by Rie Fu)
Me- yeah I know a lot of things are a bit different, but I also got lazy with the fighting scenes this chapter. I just couldn't do it, and plus I wanted to end this arch already, and next chapter you guys finally get to meet Mr. Sanji. Also in the beginning it kind of time skipped so you don't get to see the conversation Leif and Luffy had but I will include it in my side story, story. All the stories didn't happen but I'll make an exception as long as you guys are curious about what they talked about that is. It's mostly around the lines of stories about Ace and Sabo, so it's nothing really of importance. Anyway can you guess what line foreshadows a later arch that I had created? I want to see you guys guess. Also in the Arlong arch, I might get a little lazy with the fighting, and basically if you want to know how the fights went then you can always re-watch the episodes, but we will see, I want to get this story caught up so that I can right the sequel which will include the next generation and that story is going to be a bit dark compared to this one, so for the sequel, I suggest reading at your own risk or at least bring tissues because even though I plan for the sequel to be shorter than this one, it is going to be a real tear jerker, and just a very dark story line although there will be some humor like one piece has. I'm still planning it out, but so far I had figured out all of the names of the character, and what they look like, and for about three I had created dark pasts that led them to join the pirate crew or lead it. Anyway please review and let me know what you think and remember if know one enters the contest than there will be no winner.