Author's Notes: Chapter four here and I figure I should explain the naming of Kaze Kaze Closed-Eye. It's a pun on Eye of the Hurricane, the safest point in the middle of it. If you close the eye by thinning the tornado, it becomes more a ground zero.
The giant stood tall against the shadows cast by the sun, eerily blocking out the view of everything behind him. His eyes remained blocked by the darkness under his helmet, making his expression as unreadable as that of the feminine man who was standing in the hole in the wall.
His axe was still leaning atop his shoulder as he had to stoop under the doorframe, although the non-Straw Hats present didn't seem particularly interested in his weapon.
Onji crossed his arms as he leaned back against the kitchen counter, glaring knowingly at the new arrival.
"Kintaro, what was that noise earlier? You didn't destroy any more of our island, I hope."
Kintaro simply turned to the side, allowing a familiar one-eyed swordsman to walk past him.
"Zoro! There you are! Did you get lost again?" Luffy asked with a stupid grin.
Risho turned to Zoro with slight confusion in his eyes but a huge grin that showed he really didn't care to clear it up.
Zoro snorted, "Of course not. I just went for a walk."
"Then what caused that loud noise earlier, Mr. Swordsman?" Robin asked with an unnervingly knowing gaze.
"Hm," Zoro hummed questioningly as he turned his attention to the ship archaeologist.
The two stared one another down as a cloud moved lazily over the sun. When it passed the two charged forward at the exact same moment as if by some unspoken agreement.
The first clash of metal could be heard for miles…
Zoro had covered a greater distance and his sword had managed to complete his swing while Kintaro, slowed by the weight of his protective garb, had only begun bringing his axe down when the two had collided.
Zoro's muscles tensed, his one visible eye narrowing intently as he gave all of his strength to the effort.
Kintaro seemed unshaken by the collision but his single-minded pushing downwards didn't seem to be that of a lazy man, indicating that he was giving as his much to his attack as his green haired opponent.
What at first appeared to be a stalemate quickly proved to be otherwise as Zoro's foot began being pushed against the ground harder, the grass being flattened beneath his boots in a worryingly straight line as he slid backwards.
Realising the battle was not going his way, Zoro had just one thought.
"I can only win in a sudden burst; I have to knock him off his feet now!"
In accordance with this strategy, Zoro's biceps bulged to a greater side, the image of a spectral green ape seeming to briefly pass behind him in support as Zoro gave a determined scream and shoved as hard as he could.
Kintaro took the entirety of the force… and stepped forward hard.
Zoro was sent skidding backwards and ended up landing a few feet away.
Zoro may have maintained his footing but Kintaro now stood where he had moments earlier and his loss was clear.
Breathing out, Zoro sheathed the black sword as Kintaro moved his axe's wooden part back atop his shoulder to ease the burden of carrying it.
Sensing no hostility, Zoro was not hesitant in following Kintaro when he gestured into the distance with his neck ("Where else am I supposed to go?").
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Robin," Zoro answered simply, only giving the slightest flinch when Robin's classy laugh filled the air following his denial.
"Well, that accounts for most of you, at least," Onji said with a sigh, clearly growing disinterested in the conversation. "I think you're meant to have someone else in your crew, though. Fred, Brach, Frink or something like that."
"How would you know that?" Nami's thin eyebrow rose inquisitively while Onji dismissed the query easily.
"In order to maintain our lifestyle, I've been forced to play the part of the local marine leader. I've also had to control the communication lines coming to and from the island. Your crew stands out. Now, if we're done playing twenty questions, I think I'm going to go check your ship."
"Why?!" Ussop stood in front of him so that they were almost nose-to-nose when he spoke, his protectiveness of the Merry having transferred somewhat to the Sunny.
"It's a small, isolated island and I enjoy new technologies. Perhaps it will help pass the time, is that a crime?" Onji challenged, smirking all the while.
Ussop crossed his arms and raised his chin defiantly. "No but I'm not letting you wander in alone. I'll be going with you!"
"Whatever," Onji said as he left the house, Ussop tailing closely behind the arrogant marine.
The dog in the marine outfit barked as they left and grabbed Brook's arm in his mouth as he moved to chase after them. Fearing losing the limb, Brook was forced to run alongside the dog even as he screamed in protest and spouted a terrible pun about being a skeleton that no one found particularly interesting.
"How I despise that man," the one member of Risho's crew yet to introduce himself mumbled before turning his attention back to the remaining Straw Hats, his eyes lazily passing over them until they lit up at the sight of Robin. "Well, that's a pleasant surprise."
Approaching the archaeologist, he kept his hands in his pockets and spoke in level tones, "My name is Bui and you are the only person in the room to interest me, Miss…"
"Nico Robin," the dark woman responded, her usual guarded smile in place.
"Miss Nico, I find youth insufferable and old age unbearable. As someone who is currently in between those extremes, perhaps you would like to accompany me for a… walk?"
A dark light seemed to appear in his eyes at the offer, something that put Robin oddly on edge.
"My, what a rude boy, you are," Robin answered, her arms subtly coming closer to her usual pose for manipulating her abilities.
"That may be so but it does not change the fact that the other women present are a brat and a hag, respectively," Bui said without a hint of emotion or hesitance.
"Screw you!" both Sakera and Nami shouted together, moving to hit him but being beaten to the punch by a certain woman-loving chef grabbing Bui's collar.
"How dare you insult Nami-Swan and Sakera-Chwan! I'll kick your ass if you say something like that again!" Sanji shouted passionately, something that was met with a scoff.
Bui's hands gripped Sanji's arms and easily pulled them away from his body, the older man giving Sanji little more than a bored stare.
"I assure you that any attempt to do such would only result in pain for you. I am confident enough in my abilities that arrogant brats like you no longer faze me," Bui said with a level, threatening tone, his confidence blatant to all who heard him speak.
"Shitty-Bastard!" Sanji all but roared as he threw his leg up in a quick kick.
Bui gracefully ducked the kick and moved backwards, moving as lightly as a sheet through air as Sanji's black shoe collided with the wall to create a large crater.
"Hey, watch the house!" Sakera shouted, motioning for the door. "Kick his ass outside so you don't mess up the place, Suit Guy."
"Of course, Sakera-Chwan!" Sanji said with as he waved his arms through the air in joy.
He turned his attention back to Bui but found nothing.
"Where did he…"
"You will regret this," Bui said calmly, appearing back-to-back with Sanji without making a single sound. "My speed is the least of your worries if you truly plan to face me."
"You…!" Sanji didn't get a chance to say anything else as Bui took off running.
Wasting no time and lost to his passions, the fiery chef chased after him. Much more surprisingly, Robin sprinted off as well.
"Where are you… she's gone," Nami said while blinking in confusion. "Wonder what's got her so excited. Oh well, say is there anything to do on this island."
"Care to go shopping?" Sakera ventured. "Allies of the captain get a 100% discount," she offered in a sing-song voice.
"100%... discount…" Nami was practically salivating at the thought, the Beli symbols where her eyes should have been even seemed to be made of gold instead of their usual black shade. "Chopper, you have to come too!"
"What, why?!" the little reindeer asked, having all but been forgotten in the previous conversation.
"Because Sanji's gone and someone has to help me carry my stuff," Nami explained simply.
"But I don't wanna!" Chopper protested. "I want to see some of the other animals on the island!"
"Please, I'm begging you!" Nami pleaded with tears in her eyes.
The little reindeer's resolve faltered at that sight. "Okay, you win…" Chopper said guiltily.
"I knew I could count on you," Nami said exuberantly, her tears having vanished into the ether ("You were faking! How cruel can you be?!" Chopper shouted).
Despite his annoyance, Chopper didn't resist when Nami caught his arm and dragged him outside, Sakera following after with a wide smirk.
"At least I get to travel with the ship's cutest guy~"
"Shut up~! You think that makes me happy~! You asshole~, asshole~!" Chopper shouted with very poorly masked joy.
Having been left alone, Zoro looked to the other three men in the room.
"So, is there anything to eat here?"
"Aye know where there's grub!" the Hornless Jinn's captain proclaimed like a small child while all but leaping out the hole in his kitchen's wall.
Luffy excitedly followed after, "Meat! Meat! Meat!"
Zoro felt a strange kinship with the silent Kintaro in that moment as he sighed and followed after the idiot captains.
Author's Notes: Sorry it took so long to update. I had another project I wanted to try.