I will be posting the next chapter shortly after this one. I would also like to thank Albertthe21stgenius for helping me with the chapters that ended the Goldfinger battle and the arcs after that one and the new chapters I can't wait to post so you can all see them.
XXX
Rodroy knew he was in trouble even if he managed to get that briefcase back in his hands. What was inside there was flooded with water by now making it useless. And it just so happened that the suitcase had landed in a dropoff zone, making it irrecoverable. Poor, poor Rodroy.
What had he done to deserve such misfortune? Slowly, the man faced Fletcher.
"You don't know what you've done . . ." he said, before turning and heading back the way he'd come. Dorobou had to be warned, his boss didn't deserve to be caught off guard by something like this. Rodroy sighed, wiping away his tears, wondering if the boss would be willing to take the cross-dresser with him.
XXX
Fletcher looked at Yokai in confusion. Yokai just frowned. That's when Christopher found them.
"Do you two have something to say?" Christopher asked, seeing their guilty expressions.
Fletcher gulped, eyes going wide. He started running as fast as he could.
Christopher began to give chase, leaving Yokai unsupervised. Yokai didn't know if he should run or just stand where he was . . . Then again, this was Christopher, and the damn cook had already proved himself adept at catching runaways. Yokai held up both hands in surrender, attempting to school his face into a placating expression while he waited.
Fletcher used some wind tricks to try and make himself impossible for Christopher to capture. Tricks such as making a whirlwind carry him high up in the air out of Christopher's reach. Fletcher seemed to forget that the pressure of the whirlwind wasn't enough to stop Christopher from stretching his tongue around the mast and pulling him back to the ship.
"Aaah!" Fletcher yelled as the cook's tongue wound around his ankle.
XXX
"I'm dreadfully sorry sir!" Rodroy cried as he crashed into the office.
Dorobou looked up from his counting with a frown.
"What is it?"
"Sir! I lost the special delivery! What else can I say? I don't wanna die!"
Dorobou went very still.
"Did you say that . . ." He didn't finish his sentence, Rodroy's frantic nodding telling him all he needed to know.
Dorobou went very pale.
He knew what was in the briefcase and he knew how important it was to have it. Rodroy wasn't his enemy for losing it; why would a bunch of people want to take away something worth more than a million beli's? Then again, why wouldn't they?
"What happened?" Dorobou demanded.
XXX
Fletcher rubbed his head, pouting. Chris was so mean!
Christopher was so mean it made Fletcher think about giving him a vacation just to diminish that temper. They had already been to an island of girls that did anything a man wanted so Fletcher wasn't sure where he could send Christopher. The moon? Too far, he needed Chris to cook him food.
Christopher had got the story from Yokai. Apparently, Fletcher had knocked over some weird guy in a dress, causing the man to accidentally throw a suitcase in the ocean. The man had been very upset by the loss of his suitcase, and had run away after uttering the cryptic words "You don't know what you've done . . ."
XXX
"We're doomed . . ."
"Yes sir. We're doomed . . ."
Dorobou and Rodroy sat back to back on the floor, a dark cloud of gloom hanging over their heads.
XXX
"Where is it? That fool knows better than to be late . . ."
A tall, dark man paced the floor, watched anxiously by his subordinates as his eyes gleamed.
XXX
What was Christopher going to do to Fletcher when he learned his mistake? Christopher was going to make Fletcher apologize of course.
And so, here they were, walking through town in search of high-heeled cross-dressers. They weren't having much luck. So far, all they'd found out was that his name was Rod-something. This information was not exactly helpful.
Christopher decided that, since they didn't have bounties yet, it would be safe enough to ask some officials for the whereabouts of Rod-something. It just so happened that he and his crew were passing an official-looking building. Christopher "suggested" that they go inside, and the other two didn't dare argue with him. So, in they went.
The place looked smaller on the inside than on the outside, but Christopher put that down to the dark red decorations. Made the place look stuffy.
"Hello?" He called. A muffled answer came from a door across the hall.
XXX
Christopher took one look at the gloomy human specimens upon the floor and diagnosed a case of Fletcheritis. It wasn't a very serious disease in Christopher's opinion, but it could still be hazardous if left untreated.
One of the men was wearing a dress. This was clearly Rod-something. Christopher smacked Fletcher upside the head.
" If I laugh will it make him happy again?" Fletcher asked.
Christopher's response was to hit Fletcher even harder, growling "Apologise, idiot."
Fletcher pouted.
"I'm sorry I made you drop the suitcase, and that I ran away."
"Technically, the dress-guy ran away . . ." Yokai muttered under his breath. He suddenly went pale, glancing at the formidable young cook. Luckily, Christopher hadn't heard him.
Dorobou stared at Fletcher for a moment, before turning to his now red-faced secretary.
"This is the guy?" He asked. Rodroy nodded in confirmation.
Today just wasn't Fletcher's day. He yelped, running around and around the room with Dorobou hot on his heels. Yokai was making himself dizzy watching them, while Christopher just raised an eyebrow.
" You can run but I can hit any target no matter how fast it moves!" Dorobou exclaimed.
Dorobou pulled some chains out of his shirt with something heavy attached to the tip of the chains. A spiked metal ball. Christopher decided that it was time to step in before someone killed his idiot captain.
In a flash, Christopher placed himself between Fletcher and Dorobou. He put a warning hand on the hilt of his sword.
"I've already dealt with the captain," he said looking at Dorobou, "so why don't we act like civilised people and talk about this, hm?"
The look in Christopher's eyes promised nothing good. Yokai watched the cross-dresser in the corner for sudden movements as Dorobou froze.
" I have something special for you," Dorobou said. " It's a card of mine that will slice your mind."
" Don't you mean 'blow your mind'?" Christopher said, frowning.
XXX
The pacing stopped. Gleaming eyes sliced through the shadows of the dimly lit room.
"He is now most definitely late. I thought he would have learnt his lesson by now . . ."
Sharp claws shone as the man made a fist, his subordinates shrinking back from him. He licked his lips.
"It would seem that we shall have to teach him his lesson all over again . . ."
XXX
Meanwhile . . .
"Aaargh!" Screamed Fletcher.
"Aaargh!" Screamed Yokai.
"Aaargh!" Screamed Rodroy.
"That's so cool!" they said together. Christopher sweat-dropped and Dorobou was surprised by three delinquents as they snatched the card out of his hands.
"I guess that is kind of cool," Dorobou said slowly. " I use to use that trick with coins, but I lost so much money trying it I had to look for another thing to throw fast enough to cut steel."
The three delinquents looked at Dorobou with sparkling eyes.
"So awesome . . ." They said together. Dorobou took a step back, somewhat creeped, completely forgetting that he'd been angry just a few seconds ago.
"Show us, show us, show us!" They demanded. Dorobou decided to hide behind Christopher, seeing as the swordsman appeared more capable of dealing with his idiot crew and also Rodroy. Come to think of it, Rodroy already knew about the card throwing thing, so why was he looking like that.
"Cut it out." Christopher's unimpressed tone snapped the three from their awed daze.
"Sorry." Fletcher said, though his expression was anything but.
Turning to face a relieved-looking Dorobou, Christopher asked the all important question: "Will you marry me?" Or at least, that's what Rodroy heard.
"Most certainly not! Dear, don't you dare say yes!" The crossdresser cried. Everyone looked at him in incomprehension. He continuing, yelling "You, boy," he pointed at Christopher, "will not be marrying the master!"
Christopher and Dorobou stared at Rodroy. Then they looked at eachother, before leaping away with a loud "No way!"
Then Dorobou screamed at Rodroy, "What on earth are you talking about?!"
Rodroy was perplexed. "Didn't he ask you to marry him?"
Fletcher choked, Christopher spluttered, Dorobou's eyes bulged. Yokai went pale as death, remembering the answer to a certain question he had asked on the last island.
When he finally got his breath back, Christopher glared at the crossdresser with blazing eyes.
"What the hell is wrong with you?! That's not what I said!" He shrieked indignantly.
"But I-" Rodroy was cut off as Christopher continued, yelling "What I said was: What's so special about that suitcase!"
A cloud of gloom immediately settled back over Dorobou and Rodroy.
"We're doomed . . ." Dorobou said.
"So doomed . . ." Rodroy said.
Christopher sweat-dropped again seeing the two of them drop back into their gloomy state. Should he apologize?
Before he could do so, however, Rodroy saw fit to explain the situation. With a sigh, the crossdresser began "Well, you see . . ."
XXX
"Are you about this, boss?"
One of his subordinates looked up at him nervously, eyeing his pointy teeth.
"What do you think?"
The unfortunate man cringed under the weight of his boss's gaze.
"Y-yes sir" he stuttered. Raver grinned.
"If that's all . . ." he said suggestively. No other complaints were forthcoming.
"In that case, let us begin."
XXX
" . . . And so, because we didn't make the payment on time, 'Roving' Raver will be coming here to exact punishment" Rodroy finished.
" Tell me more about this Roving Raver. Dangerous or not since we made this your problem we will do whatever it takes to protect you two," Christopher said.
Rodroy opened his mouth to speak, but Dorobou cut him off.
"Raver is a zoan. He ate the Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Boxer."
"I've heard about that model. It's said it's very strong and very few people have eaten it because they tend to go crazy afterwards, ripping everything and everyone to shreds," said Christopher.
Yokai gulped at the description. He wasn't the only one a little nervous about the model Raver could transform into with his Devil Fruit powers.
Rodroy looked like he was about to faint, as Dorobou continued.
"I'm the richest guy on the island, so I have to pay the ransom. If I don't pay Raver a certain amount each week, he'll attack the island in retaliation."
"'Revenge', as Rodroy said," Christopher commented. Dorobou nodded, saying to Fletcher angrily, "So because you lost the payment, my island is going to pay for it!"
Fletcher gulped. "Sorry." He said, actually meaning it this time. He was looking down at the thoughtfully. Thoughtfully? Yes, a miracle was taking place. Fletcher was thinking, his face beginning to flush from the effort, causing his crew mates to stare at him in worry.
Finally, he looked up.
"I can make it up to you, right? 'Cause I think Christopher gonna make me anyway . . ."
"That's right . . ." Christopher muttered, frowning at Fletcher.
Dorobou narrowed his eyes.
"And just how do you propose to fix this mess, hmm? There's only three of you, five if you include Rodroy and I."
Fletcher grinned.
"I'll just beat up that Raver guy. And then you'll join my crew!"
Christopher and Yokai sweat-dropped. They should have seen that one coming.
Dorobou stared at Fletcher, gulping like a goldfish. Finally he said "Why the hell would I join your crew?!"
Fletcher replied with a grin, "Because we'll help you beat up that Raver guy!"
Fletcher said it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Christopher pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed
"Here we go again . . ."
Yokai sighed too, before saying to Dorobou, "Don't bother arguing. It got me nowhere, so it won't do you much good either."
Rodroy looked outraged, while Dorobou continued to stare. Fletcher punched the air.
"Right, let's beat him up!"
XXX
"Idiot" Christopher said. Fletcher pouted.
They continued to wander the town, having left Dorobou and co. in shock while the three boys (Yokai was there too) looked around and waited for Raver to show up.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Yokai asked cautiously.
Christopher gave Yokai a look that told the navigator that it would be wise to keep his mouth shut. Then the formidable cook placed a hand on top of Fletcher's head, forcing the boy's head to turn. The rest of Fletcher followed suit, and so they avoided walking in circles.
While Fletcher was easily entertained, the other two just wished that Raver would show so they could kick his ass already. The faster they did that, the faster they could leave without regrets (and with a new crew member, when Fletcher got his way).
XXX
"Alright, they're headed your way." a man said from his perch on a rooftop.
"Okay, we got it." a voice replied.
The man perching on the rooftop thought that even pirates with muscles of steel couldn't defeat the person who he had just called.
This person had also eaten a zoan devil fruit. He had eaten the Dog Dog Fruit, Model: Chihuahua (yes, you read that right). While Chi-Chi's reputation wasn't nearly as fearsome as that of his boss (for obvious reasons), he was still very good at what he did. His job was to take care of any . . . problems that Raver might have.
The boys had been seen exiting Dorobou's office building. Therefore, they were a problem. Chi-Chi giggled in the shadows, waiting for his prey.
XXX
"I'm bored." Fletcher whined. Yokai scowled at him.
"It's your fault that we have to do this in the first place. If you hadn't knocked-"
"You were there too!"
The captain and the navigator began to argue, leaving the cook to sigh and keep watch on their surroundings.
If Christopher's father didn't make him build character, make him wake up so early for work, and show him the world of being trained he might have missed the people obviously pointing and saying something about him, the monk, and the birdbrain captain. The assassin-cook's eyes narrowed. Judging by the actions of the watcher's, something was up ahead.
If what was ahead was a trap, Christopher was willing to risk it. If what was ahead happened to be a someone, Christopher wasn't afraid to fight them.
After all, the three of them had overcome everything else so far. He idly wondered what Dorobou was doing right now . . .
XXX
Chi-Chi giggled. The scent of his prey was getting closer. He wanted his prey to get as close as it could without noticing him so it would be easier for him to tear them apart.
To avoid being noticed, he changed into his half-form, which was always oddly smaller than his human and full forms. He resembled an large bug-eyed rat.
Christopher might have seen him even when he changed form if Fletcher hadn't made such a big distraction. The young captain suddenly sent a whirl of wind in Yokai's direction, yelling, "It was your fault!"
Yokai dodged and yelled back, "It was your fault!"
"Art of Ether: Pack Hound" Christopher whispered, drawing his sword, intent on teaching the morons a lesson. They were suddenly surrounded by Ether-hounds, the Alpha striding proudly beside Christopher with twitching ears. Without breaking stride, Christopher flicked his sword at his idiot crew mates. The hounds leapt at the two, with the exception of the Alpha.
Ignoring the screams of terror now ringing through the alleyway, Christopher looked closely at the twitchy Alpha. What had him so riled up? The smoke-beast suddenly pointed its ears forward, a low growl emanating from his throat. Christopher looked ahead, narrowing his eyes.
Christopher focused on the shadows before him.
Christopher wasn't always the most patient of people. He only waited thirty seconds before flicking his sword in his crew mates' direction, calling off the Ether-hounds for a new task. He pointed the black blade ahead of them. "Art of Ether: Alpha Hunt" he said simply.
With howls and growls, the pack surged forward, led by the Alpha.
XXX
Chi-Chi's eyes widened, and he hurriedly took his full zoan form as dogs of mist attacked. He was smart enough to know his claws couldn't hurt dogs made of mist. He quickly jumped back, eyeing the smoke beasts warily.
XXX
Christopher raised an eyebrow. Yokai's eyes bulged as he struggled to contain his laughter. Fletcher had stars in his eyes.
In front of them stood the biggest chihuahua they'd ever seen.
After a few more seconds of staring, Yokai just couldn't contain himself as he burst out laughing.
The bug-eyed giant bared its sharp little teeth, hackles raised as it yipped loudly. Clearly, it did not appreciate being bailed up by Ether-hounds. Christopher waved his sword. The Ether-hounds stood down, growling at their prey. This seemed to give the enormous rat-dog confidence, as it seemed to smile down at everybody.
The swirling crystal on the hilt of Christopher's sword chose that moment to give off an extra big pulse. He narrowed his eyes.