Ch. 43- A Deal
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard, Aika, Kumi, and Jupiter © Me
"You want to take down all of the Four Emperors?" Law asked in disbelief.
"Look, Straw Hat," Jupiter said. "Our interests may seemed to be aligned here, but you obviously see this a joke."
"Who said I was joking?" Luffy asked.
"We're serious, here!" Law said. "These are the Four Emperors of the Sea, massively powerful people who engaged in constant territorial clashes with the great Whitebeard, and Kaido, the King of the Beasts, is often called the Most Powerful Creature in the World!"
"Most Powerful Creature?" Aika repeated.
"Y-you mean…he's not even human?!" Nami asked.
"There have been rumors about that, actually," Law answered. "Our alliance only lasts until we bring down Kaido, and the chance of success is about…I'd say…30%."
"THAT'S WAY TOO LOW, YOU MANIAC!" Blizzard barked. "Luffy, I say we ditch this guy! Luffy? Luffy?!"
"…I see," Luffy grinned. "Count me in!"
Flashback end
"The fact that I let you live," Law began, "means absolutely nothing, White Chase."
He then proceeded to finish off his soup.
"Incidentally," Law continued, "Jupiter and I are planning to head for Green Bit, next. We'll see if the Straw Hats are compliant enough…to go along with my plan."
He then walked over to Baby-5 and Buffalo, the latter giving Law a smug grin.
Back at the party, everyone was seen, having a good time. A couple of the G-5 men were having a contest to see who could lift up on of the bigger kids and for how long. While the one holding Beeyo seemed to last about maybe 30 seconds, the one holding a boy that was his size soon dropped.
Meanwhile, Luffy had stuffed himself to the point where he looked like a balloon about 6 times his normal size, and Aika and Kumi laughed as they jumped and down on his giant belly like a trampoline. Luffy was so lethargic from eating, he didn't seem to notice at all.
Eventually, the party was over and everyone decided it was time part ways.
"I thought you guys were taking the tanker," said Smoker.
"Nah," Luffy said. "You see, Nami and Chopper are we can't leave yet until we've seen the kids off, and things will get sticky if we wait around for other Marine guys to get here, so we want you to leave with kids on this ship, first, okay?"
"Okay!" called a G-5 soldier. "Get on board, you little tykes! We're taking you guys home!"
"Yay~!" the kids cheered as they ran aboard the tanker…except for Aika and Kumi.
"Hey, you! Kid with the puppy!" said a G-5 rifleman. "C'mon! What are you waiting for? Get on board!"
"Uh…actually," Aika said. "I…err…"
"Aika's not going with you guys," Luffy said as he walked up to Aika and placed his hands on her shoulders. "She and Kumi are going with me and my crew."
"EEEEEEEEHH?!" the G-5 soldiers questioned.
"I…I am?" Aika asked.
Luffy grinned and said, "I forgot to tell ya, but I decided I'm gonna take you and Kumi with us!"
"Wait, really?" Kumi asked. "You're sure?!"
"Yeah! Nami even said it's okay!" Luffy answered. "Shishishishi!"
Flashback
"We're taking Aika and Kumi with us?!" Nami asked, talking to Luffy after she and him had their little dance.
"I thought about it, and I decided I wanna take them," Luffy said. "I know you said that all the kids were supposed to go with the Marines, but…something tells me I shouldn't let Aika go."
"A-actually, Luffy," Nami stammered, "I was gonna ask if we could take Aika and Kumi with us, myself."
"Really?" Luffy asked, surprised.
"Yeah," Nami answered. "Also…there's something else you should know. She told me doesn't have a home anymore."
"She doesn't?" Luffy asked, concerned.
"No," Nami replied. "Plus…I think she's afraid of the Marines."
"She is?" Luffy asked. "What makes you say that?"
"Well…earlier, when she saw the Marines," Nami explained, "her eyes bugged out and she started to shake a leaf. I think she might've had a bad experience with them, once. I even told Tashigi about it and she said it's okay for us to take Aika…what do you think?"
"Well, if you're sure," Luffy said, "okay. We'll take Aika and Kumi! Besides, we're all pretty strong! We'll protect them, right?"
"Right," Nami answered, smiling.
Flashback end
"You're not serious about this, are you?!" asked a G-5 soldier. "A kid on a pirate ship?! That's ludicrous! Tell him, Cap'n Tashigi!"
"I actually agreed to these terms," Tashigi said. "As long as we don't hear anything about wanted posters with her face on them at her age, it's fine."
The G-5 soldiers gasped at this before they began to clamor amongst themselves, while they were distracted, Tashigi then approached Law.
"Can I help you?" Law asked.
"…Is anyone looking?" Tashigi asked.
"What?" Law asked, confused.
"I said 'is anyone looking'?" Tashigi repeated.
Law took a good look around. It looked like Smoker was talking to his men, Luffy and the others were discussing Aika and Kumi's recruitment, and Brownbeard and his men were talking about who-knows-what.
"No," Law replied. "Looks like nobody's watching."
"Good," Tashigi said. "Which means I can do this."
Smooch! Without warning…Tashigi suddenly captured Law's lips into her own, much to the latter's surprise. Then, as quickly as she did so…she pulled away and smiled, leaving Law blushing as red as a tomato.
"W…what was that for?" Law asked, having been caught completely off guard by the kiss.
"Well…I honestly didn't want to show it in front of Smoker back when we saw you," Tashigi said, "but…between you and me, I've had a bit of a crush on you since I saw your wanted poster."
Law just stared at Tashigi…before he gave her a grin.
"Well…I have to admit, you're pretty easy on the eyes yourself," he said…before he slipped something into her coat pocket. Tashigi pulled it out and saw that it was a 7-digit number on a piece of paper. She smiled before she put it back in her pocket and boarded the tanker.
"She's not so bad for a Marine," Jupiter said.
"What the-?!" Law questioned. "How long have you been watching us?!"
"Oh, long enough," Jupiter smirked.
"Listen up, you scumbag pirates!" a G-5 shoulder shouted as he painted a new line between the Marines and the Straw Hats. "If the tanker belongs to us, then this here's the boundary between justice and evil, SO DON'T YOU DARE CROSS IT!"
"Oh, c'mon, this again?" Luffy asked, having slimmed down to his regular figure. "We were just partying together not too long ago!"
"Oh, no! We're grateful for your hospitality! Don't get us wrong!" said a G-5 swordsmen. "But you guys are still pirates! The scum of the world!"
"Yeah!" the other soldiers agreed before they set up a large banner with the Marine insignia, blocking the children's view from them. Nami made sure to cover Aika's eyes, knowing how much the mark frightened her.
Despite this, the kids started calling for the Straw Hats.
"Miss Nami!"
"Hey, Mr. Chopper!"
"Where's the robot man?!"
"And the white doggie?!"
"What happened to the pirates?!"
"You're blocking our view," Sanji said. "Move your ugly asses so we can say goodbye to the kids!"
"No way!" shouted a G-5 gunman. "We're making a barrier, you scumbag! Pirates are nothing but poison for young eyes such as these!"
"Like you G-5 types are any better," Franky pointed.
"Well, at least they're on the ship, safe and sound," Nami said.
"Will they make it home safely?" Aika asked. "They're my friends, now, so I wanna make sure they're okay."
"Miss Tashigi will see to it that they make it home without a hitch, Aika," Robin reassured.
"We're the men who stand for justice!" the G-5 soldiers shouted. "It's our job to crush any pirates who cause misery to law-abiding citizens, everywhere!"
As they said this, they saw a brief memory of Vergo, the man they once looked up to, attacking them.
"Pirates are scum! The dregs of society!"
"Yeah! To hell with them all!"
"Well…I guess it's time to go," Nami said before she, the Straw Hats, Law, and Jupiter turned to leave.
"Yep," Sanji agreed. "I gotta say, even though I talked pretty rude to them…those little tykes have grown on me."
"I feel the same," Robin agreed.
"They said that they'll ask Vegapunk about developing a cure for those drugs Caesar gave them," Blizzard said to Chopper.
"Really?" Chopper asked. "That's great!"
"Hey," Zoro said, pointing at Law. "Is he coming with us?"
"Oh, yeah," Usopp said. "We'll explain when we get on the ship."
"Yohohohoho!" Brook chortled.
Kumi soon followed the others, but then, she turned and saw that Aika was not following.
"Aika!" she called. "C'mon! You're gonna get left behind, you know! Hurry up!"
Aika gasped before she turned around and ran after the Straw Hats.
"Hey, wait!" she cried. "I'm coming!"
Luffy turned around as Aika ran up to him, only stopping for a moment to catch her breath before she went up and grabbed his hand. Then she looked at him, looking unsure, yet also hopeful.
Luffy just smiled at her and asked, "You ready?"
"Yeah," Aika answered. "I'm nervous, but…I think I'll be okay. I've got Kumi…and I've got you, too, right?"
"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed. "Yeah."
"Shishishi!" Aika giggled.
As the Straw Hats proceeded to leave with their two new recruits, the kids continued to call out for them.
"Where's the Curly-Brow Man?!" asked Dolan.
"Get outta the way, Marines!" Synd shouted.
"We wanna see the pirates!" Mocha shouted.
One of the G-5 soldiers growled before they aimed their firearms at the children, causing them to duck down!
"Only naughty little brats would dare to speak to pirates like them!"
"If you really wanna thank 'em, you can stay here on this island while everyone else goes home!"
The children all got quiet at this.
"Now you listen, huh?!" asked a soldier. "Listen here, you brats! Pirates are evil! The Marines are the real good guys you should looked up to!"
"But…but…!" Mocha sniffled. "But…we asked them to save us…and they did!"
Tashigi gasped silently at this while the Straw Hats kept walking away, with Nami feeding Luffy a piece of meat as they did.
"They didn't even know us," Mocha continued, "they didn't have to save us and our big overgrown bodies…but they helped us break free without thinking twice!"
Soon, all the other kids started crying.
"No one else ever came to this empty island," Synd sobbed, "but THEY DID!"
While the kids kept crying, the G-5 men continued to block their view of the Straw Hats and insult them.
"Pirates are all dirty and smell and gross!"
"But us Marines, on the other hand…"
"If you can't let us say our goodbyes and thanks to them," sobbed Kombu, "then…the Marines are even worse than-"
"Wait, wait!" Tashigi cried. "Kids, I'm sorry!"
"The Marines are brave and gallant…"
"SHUT UP, YOU IDIOTS!" Tashigi shouted at the G-5 soldiers. "STOP WITH ALL THAT NONSENSE AND LET THE CHILDREN SAY THEIR GOODBYES TO THE STRAW HAT PIRATES, PROPERLY!"
A pause…but then…one of the soldiers began to sniffle…and soon, all of them began to do the same.
"But…Cap'n!" one cried. "If we don't keep insulting them like this…then…we can't help but admit…THAT WE'VE COME LOVE THE BASTARDS! EVEN IF THEY ARE PIRATES!"
Soon, they all began to cry, much Smoker's exasperation while Tashigi just laughed.
"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed. "What a bunch of weirdoes."
The soldiers decided that it was useless to stop the children. They dropped the banner and allowed them to say their goodbyes and thanks properly.
"Thank you, Pirates!" shouted Kombu.
"We'll never forget you!" Mocha cried.
"Thanks for saving us!" Synd shouted. "When we grow up…we'll all be pirates, just like you!"
"NO! DON'T!" the G-5 soldiers.
"Bye! See ya!" Luffy called.
"Be safe!" Nami shouted. "Don't catch a cold!"
"Give your Mommies and Daddies a big hug when you see them!" Aika added.
"Not too tight though!" Sanji called. "You might break their backs!"
"Hope you guys shrink back down, soon!" Chopper added.
Law smirked before he and the Straw Hats boarded the Thousand Sunny…and with that, they all sailed away, leaving Punk Hazard far behind them…
…And their timing couldn't be more perfect, for a very dangerous man was nearing the island.
XXX
Not too far from Punk Hazard…Doflamingo is still flying through the sky, leaving behind a trail of pink feathers from his coat.
"Looks like you've got the Devil's own luck, kids," Doflamingo hissed as he kept flying through the air. "I didn't expect my sky path would get cut short!"
But then…he spotted a plume of smoke billowing in the sky. He looked down and he spotted a life-raft…with Buffalo and Baby-5's severed heads!
"Young Master!" Buffalo cried.
"It's true, dammit!" Baby-5 cursed with tears in her eyes. "Law and Jupiter really did betray us! Forgive me! I wish I could die to repay my failure! You NEEDED me…and I could not live up to your desire!"
"This is the life-raft from the tanker," Doflamingo said.
"Yes, I know!" Baby-5 cried. "I'm a miserable failure! They've still got-"
"No need to say it," Doflamingo said. "I know. You were simply following my orders."
He then spotted…a barrel, which had several dynamite charges lit, and even a timer. Without a second thought, the Heavenly Demon stomped his foot and smashed it to pieces, disarming it.
"Well, well…what a surprise this is."
Doflamingo looked and spotted a Transponder Snail that looked just like Law.
"The Boss, Joker, himself in the flesh…" Law's voice was heard saying.
"That you, Law?" Doflamingo asked. "For the amount of time it's been, you seem awfully resistant to a proper reunion."
"If you're looking for Caesar, he's with me. Wait here, I'll put him on."
"JOKER~!" the snail screamed, taking Caesar's expression of shock and fear. "SAVE MEEEE!"
"Where are Baby-5 and Buffalo's bodies?" asked Doflamingo.
"I couldn't say," Law answered, "but please, no pointless questions. What's say you and I make a deal?"
Hearing this, Doflamingo's smile fell, just slightly, but then he chuckled.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" he said. "Calm down there, Law. I think you're getting in way over your head at this. You're a kid, playing in an adult business! Where are you now?! You don't wanna piss me off, do ya?!"
"Me, make you angry?" Law inquired. "Why, no, Joker…I know who your most precious trading partner is: Kaido, King of the Beasts, one of the Four Emperors. If there's anyone you don't wanna make angry, it's him."
As Law said this…Doflamingo seemed to quiver, not out of anger…but it appeared to be out of fear.
"What happens if he finds out you can no longer produce your precious SMILE?" Law asked.
"Uh…Young Master?" Buffalo asked, nervously. "You're not looking so good."
"He's not the kind of man you can reason with, you know," Law continued. "The ensuing fray would be a bloody one, indeed. He'd wipe off you clean off the face of this world."
"No hold it, right there!" Doflamingo barked. "This isn't funny anymore, Law! What'll it take to get Caesar back?! What the fuck do you want from me?! HUH?!"
"…I want you…to resign from the Seven Warlords."
Doflamingo gasped silently at this.
"The nerve of that brat!" Buffalo shouted.
"We'll be forced to leave Dressrosa!" Baby-5 cried.
"Abandon the status you've built over the last 10 years," Law said, "and go back to being a simple, run-of-the-mill pirates. That's all. But once that happens, the Admirals at Marine Headquarters won't turn a blind eye to you any longer! You time limit is in at least 2 weeks. I'll be waiting for your answer in the newspaper. If the front page screams 'Doflamingo Leaves Seven Warlords', bright and loud…then you will hear from me again…but if there's no article, than the deal's off. Have a good day…Joker."
"No! Wait!" Doflamingo shouted. "Law, hold it! I-"
KOCHEP! The snail fell asleep. A pause…but then, Doflamingo was heard seething.
"Y…Young Master?" Baby-5 asked nervously.
"You okay?" Buffalo asked, just as nervous.
"…I will be," Doflamingo replied, "that is…AS SOON AS I FIND LAW AND RIP HIM A FUCKING NEW ONE~!
TO BE CONTINUED…
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