7. Count Rickety Arc: Mazes and Deals
Law gave an involuntary groan. Ouch. That hurt.
Should have used Room.
His chain of thoughts broke as someone else beside him groaned.
Red spiky hair, Purple lipstick, bloodstained white shirt… okay… may be he was making that last part p to add to horror effect and who could blame him anyway? This was the best entertainment he was going to get out of this island. Anyway he was with the one person who, Law was sure, was out for his blood.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Kid yelled. It seemed as if the red-headed had just realize he was with Law.
Slow. Figures.
"I believe I was standing right next to you."
"So was Luffy." Kid paused and thought for a moment. "Oh it was Luffy." He let out, resigned.
Law looked at him oddly.
"He might have run off on his own." Kid shrugged, explaining.
"You have a weird crew."
"If you have a problem with it then don't join."
"Why are you so against me anyway?"
"Don't trust you." Came the short reply.
Law bit his lip to contain a sarcastic retort from escaping his mouth.
"Though I could also be trying to preserve your sanity." Kid added a little cheerfully.
Law tripped on his feet.
"Huh?"
"You won't have much of it left after you join us."
"Just like you?"
"Yes just like me- Oi."
"I think I'm gonnna stick around."
"Seriously? Why?"
"To monitor your mental state of course. I am a doctor after all."
"Why don't you check yours first Mr. Doctor?"
"We could bicker all day or we could go find Luffy-ya. Who knows how long it's going to take us to find him here." Law said sagely.
"Huh? Why do we need to find him? It's just wasteland- Woah!"
Kid glanced around to see huge vine walls surrounding them in an inconsistent kind of way.
"It's some kind of maze. Finding a way out is going to be troublesome." The black headed devil user frowned.
"Where DID this come from?"
Law sweatdropped.
"You just saw it?"
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Luffy was lost. Oh come on. It was a freaking maze. He was supposed to get lost. Probably. But this was so cool.
HUGE GIANT PLANTS.
Maybe he could eat them.
"Oi Old Man. Can I eat them? I wonder if they are tasty." Luffy turned around a corner.
"How did you know I was here boy?"
Luffy curiously examined the person from head to toe. The man was old and wrinkly, just like Garp, though he was dressed quite formally. Luffy was vaguely reminded of the nobles from Goa.
"Hmm? Why wouldn't I?"
Luffy made an innocent face.
The old man didn't even bat an eyelash.
"Haki huh? No wonder you sensed me."
"Oh you're no fun old man. You know Haki?"
"Of course. And please don't eat my defense mechanism." He pointed to Luffy who already had one end of the vine between his teeth.
Luffy reluctantly let go.
"Ne ne Old man. My name's Monkey D. Luffy. The man who's going to be the Pirate King. Who're you?"
The old man's eyes widened as his head shot up.
"D?"
"Yep." Luffy's grin did not falter.
Slowly the man smiled showing his pearly white teeth.
"Monkey D. Luffy – san. My name is Count Rickety. Do you want to make a deal?"
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Kid did not scream like a little girl. Law was convinced otherwise.
"So how did you manage to sound like a girl. I was so sure - "
"Shut up Trafalgar. Didn't you freaking see? The damn plant was trying to eat me. And its mouth and saliva were disgusting. What else was I supposed to do?" Kid huffed his face turning into a frown as if trying to forget his previous ordeals.
"You could have fought." Law drawled as if stating the obvious.
"There isn't any metal on this island. Other than your nodaichi which you absolutely refuse to let go."
"Well it's mine."
Silence.
"So you screamed like a little girl."
"Shut up, Trafalgar."
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Law was joking when he asked the guy in the strawhat to join his crew. His pirate instinct had kicked in and he just blurted it out. He was so sure that he'll be rejected. The two had no idea who he was and what was he doing here. He was a total stranger to them. Imagine his surprise when he heard.
"Sure." That was … weird.
As far a Law knew the unofficial Strawhat Pirates had three members … if he forcefully included himself.
The Captian was a crazy, mysterious blockhead.
The first mate was a hot tempered idiot who screamed like a girl.
"Trafalgar."
And he a creepy, sadistic doctor. Now that's a variety.
"Trafalgar listen to me you blockhead."
What? Who is the blockheaded calling blockhead?
"Don't order me around Eusstass-ya."
"I'm not ordering you. I told you too fucking stop walking."
"That counts as ordering." Law blanked.
"Tch. Whatever. There's someone else here."
Indeed now Law was more observant he felt a presence ahead.
"Show yourself." Kid called out.
The sound of footsteps echoed in the dead silence and Law had to squint to make the silhouette of the person now walking towards them. The old man that came out was dressed as a noble.
"As expected of the crewmembers." The man spoke up. "Perspective just as their Captain."
Law saw Kid's eyes widen as realization hit in.
"Where's Luffy?" He yelled.
"Who knows."
Clenching his fist Kid attacked.
"Don't." Law yelled.
Kid harmlessly passé through the man and nearly drove himself into an ivy covered wall.
The old man pointed a thin long finger at Law.
"You wish to acquire the medical books from my library." He accused..
Law bit his lips. Opening his mouth to speak, the man raised is hand and interrupted.
" You can have them in exchange…" A smirk made its way to his lips, stretching his wrinkled lips to their limit.
"… I need you to kill the red headed over there."
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Done. Next time the conclusion. Tell me what you think.