Finally, I've managed to work on Scarlet Wind and finish and upload a new chapter.
However, I must admit, I'm starting to really hate my style of writing in Scarlet Wind (telling a story in the present tense is hard and it just doesn't feel good to me to be honest). What is your opinion on this? Would you rather I write the story in the past tense or keep it in the present?
Chapter 2: Catalysts Act 2
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Kingofpirates56: HEEELLLLPPPP NAMI!11
MikanLover35: Why, what's wrong?
Mr Bushido: Yeah Luff, what's up?
GreatcaptainUsopp: You seem a little jumpy…what's the problem?
Kingofpirates56: Well, if you'd give me a chance, I'd explain things!
MikanLover35: Alright Luffy, we're all ears. What's the problem?
Kingofpirates56: Garp
Mr Bushido: Oh crap
MikanLover35: HE'S THERE?
GreatcaptainUsopp: Nice knowing you Luffy…
Baratielovecook: Sounds shitty
DoctorReindeer6: LUFFY! NO!
Bookworm777: Sounds good Maybe you two can get to know each other better?
DesertPrincess: Luffy, I'm sorry for sounding out of the loop but, who's Garp?
MikanLover35: Luffy's Grandpa
Kingofpirates56: My CRAZY AND ABUSIVE Grandpa
Bookworm777: He's not that bad Luffy, you're exaggerating!
Kingofpirates56: :( Don't start with me Robin, I'm not in the mood.
MikanLove35:…and the thing you want me to help with is?
Kingofpirates56: HANG OUT WITH ME TOMORROW!
MikanLover35: Can't
Kingofpirates56: NAMI!
MikanLover35: I'm starting my weekend job at the Grand Line times tomorrow Luffy. Bellemere worked hard to get it for me and I'm not going to screw it up by not showing up on the first day.
Kingofpirates56: I'll come with you then
MikanLover35: No, personnel only :P
Kingofpirates56: …Zoro?
Mr Bushido: I'm visiting Kuina tomorrow remember?
Kingofpirates56: Okay…Usopp, buddy, pal
GreatcaptainUsopp: Family reunion
Kingofpirates56: I thought WE were as close as family? Why wasn't I invited?
Bookworm777: Because you have a trip with Grandpa I presume
Kingofpirates56: Robin, not now, can't you see I and Usopp are discussing family matters?
GreatcaptainUsopp: Sorry Luffy, Dad and Mum have got enough on to do without catering for you as well
Kingofpirates56: Better yet, I could take you off their hands and we could go shopping for those backward comic books you like
GreatcaptainUsopp: They're called 'Manga'…AND YOU SHOULD KNOW, YOU BOUGHT THE LAST VOLUME OF FAIRY TAIL!
Kingofpirates56:…So it's a yes?
GreatcaptainUsopp: No
Kingofpirates56: COME ON! I'll buy you the latest volume of Naruto...
GreatcaptainUsopp: Oh…I've been saving up for that…
Bookworm777: DON'T GIVE IN USOPP!
Kingofpirates56: I'll get you anything, anything. I'll buy you all the Full Metal Alchemist volumes to date
GreatcaptainUsopp: You don't have that much money…
Kingofpirates56: THEN I'LL OWE YOU, WON'T I? Come on Usopp, I'll be in your debt.
GreatcaptainUsopp is offline
Kingofpirates56: YOU COWARD! HOW DARE YOU ABANDON YOUR FAMILY IN THIS TIME OF NEED!...Sanji?
Baratielovecook: I'm working and no, you can't hang out here…not since last time…
Kingofpirates56: For the last time, how I was I supposed to know the cake was for that married couple?
Baratielovecook: BECAUSE THE ICING YOU LICKED OFF IT SAID 'HAPPY ANNIVERSARY'!
Kingofpirates56: But it was so tasty…fine then, Chopper
DoctorReindeer6: I'd love too Luffy…but Dad needs help around the pharmacy tomorrow
Kingofpirates56: Vivi! Any help?
DesertPrincess: I don't see how it's a problem that your Grandpa wants to spend time with you
Kingofpirates56: This is the same Grandpa who threw me into a lion den at the Zoo to 'make me stronger'
DesertPrincess:…Well…good luck with that…
DesertPrincess is offline
Kingofpirates56: Robin?
Bookworm777: I've said it once and I'll say it again…you should give him a chance, maybe it'll end up being fun
Kingofpirates56: Why is it that whenever I want a realistic answer people keep giving me an optimistic one?
Bookworm777: Because it's the right one
Kingofpirates56: (sigh) Whatever, see ya later Robin
Signing out…
I let out a loud angry sigh, kicking the wooden desk out in front of me. As you may have guessed, I am not in a good mood right now. Having to meet up with my Grandpa was bad enough…but this? This was some form of torture. With another sigh, I close my eyes and think back to a few minutes ago when I was first plunged into this nightmare.
"AN A-? THAT'S MY BOY!" Grandpa Garp congratulated happily, pulling me into one of his back breaking embraces.
"GRAMPS? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" I asked, my eyes widening in complete surprise. I really didn't expect (nor particularly want) to see my Grandpa today.
"CAN'T I JUST VISIT MY FAVOURITE GRANDSONS IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!"
"I'd like to remind you me and Ace are your ONLY Grandsons 'in the whole wide…" I began to mock, only for Gramps to whack me over the head "WHAT WAS THAT FOR?"
"ME AND ACE? THE CORRECT GRAMATICAL TERM WOULD BE 'Ace and I'. NO WONDER YOU GOT THAT A IN SCIENCE AND NOT IN ENGLISH! BWAHAHAHA!" Gramps responded. I growled, nursing my hurt head with my hands. I wondered whether or not it was possible to just develop invisibility from my supposed mutation right now…yeah, that'd be cool…
"Luffy, get in here" Gramps yelled as he strolled back into the living room "Ace is waiting here so we can all have a family chat"
"You can't pick your family" I mumbled angrily "but you should be able to in order to avoid times like this…" Never the less, I followed Gramps into the living room where, as he had said, Ace was waiting. He didn't look pleased…not at all…
We exchanged a nod of the head as I entered and, with a sigh, I plopped down next to him on the couch. Gramps laughed happily as we sat together.
"LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ALL JUST ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY NOW!" he shouted with joy.
"Garp, do you mind being a bit quieter?" Makino called from the kitchen "I can hear you all the way over here…"
"SORRY MAKINO! WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN!" he continued to yell.
"Loudmouth" Ace mumbled under his breath.
"Anyway, you two, I've just come to see how you guys are going right now. After all, it's been too long since we last saw each other" Gramps said with a wide grin.
"Not long enough if you ask me" I mumbled to Ace, who gave a small nod in agreement. Luckily, Gramps didn't seem to notice and turned towards Ace with a grin.
"Well since we already know about Luffy and his great grades, I was wondering what was happening with you at your job"
"Nothing" Ace replied simply, scratching his cheeks in boredom.
"Oh come on Ace, something exciting must have happened, it's been over three weeks since we last talked" Gramps reasoned, staring at Ace intently.
"Maybe my job's just boring" Ace lazily replied. At this comment, Gramps burst into laughter.
"Right, a job as a fire fighter is boring! I can see you get your old Grandpa's sense of humour!" Ace shuddered at this and glared at the old man angrily "What about you Luffy? Anything new happening with you?" I shook my head "So you've still not got a girlfriend have you?" I growled angrily, shuffling in my seat so I was looking away from Grandpa "I'll take that as a no"
"You can take that as a 'mind your own business'" I replied bitterly. Ace gave me a stern glare at this but, surprisingly; Gramps just seemed to laugh it off.
"I understand" he said "we men often have subjects we don't want to talk about"
"So…how is your job going?" Ace asked.
"That is one of those subjects I don't want to talk about" Gramps responded, his eyes moving to look at the floor.
"Caught any criminals lately or has that Scarlet super hero guy been doing it all for you?" I finally said, turning to face Gramps with a sly grin. You have no idea how happy it made me to see his cheeks turn red with embarrassment at the question.
Usually, I didn't like talking about my secret identity when I was 'off duty'…but I found it oddly satisfying to rub in the fact that Scarlet was doing a lot better than Gramps in the crook catching department.
"THAT JOKER IS A MENACE TO SOCIETY!" Gramps exclaimed angrily "It seems like everyone's just forgotten about how that criminal was acting a few months ago when he first showed up. HE PUT FIVE OF MY BEST MEN IN THE HOSPITAL!"
"People make mistakes…people can change" I mumbled, my heart breaking at the mention of 'that' time. I suddenly found I couldn't look Gramps in the eye.
"Change is alright…but REFORM is better!" Gramps grumbled, banging his fist on the arms of his chair "if someone steals from a shop and then starts buying from the shop later, that doesn't mean he's absolved of his guilt for robbing the shop in the first place"
"Well, what if the thief was giving something back to the shop?" I asked, glaring fiercely at Gramps.
"Then the shopkeeper would still have the right to bring him to justice…" he replied, glaring back at me.
"But what if…" I began, only for Ace to interrupt.
"Can we stop it with the extended metaphors guys? It's making my head hurt…"the raven haired man yelled. With a groan, both I and Gramps nodded.
"You're right Ace…besides; we shouldn't be talking about things like that. This is a family discussion and no vigilante in tights will change that" Gramps said "besides…I've come to talk to you because of one main important reason…" Both I and Ace exchanged glances before turning to face Gramps once more.
"Tomorrow, the three of us are going to have a family outing together! What do you say?"
Of course we're not heartless and me and Ace…sorry, Ace and I said that we would…but let's be honest now. Garp is possibly the world's worst grandpa.
When I was little, Gramps was looking after me, Ace and Sabo whilst Makino and Shanks celebrated their honeymoon. We spent four days with him…
And I will honestly say without a doubt that those four days were the worst four days in my whole life…and they'll probably remain the worst days of my life till the day I die.
I thought Lucci was bad?
Gramps was like sixty of Lucci…
If Lucci could shoot laser beams from his eyes…
And he was twelve feet tall…
In fact, Gramps wasn't even comparable to Lucci in anyway.
If whatever gang leader had sent Lucci after me wanted me well and truly dead, he should have sent Gramps to do it!
Sabo got off easy, seeing as he was the oldest and had managed to get a date with a girl who worked at a shop near Grandpa's home, so he was gone most of the four days.
I and Ace on the other hand were put through four days of hell, the likes of which I could never have imagined…
But enough about that…
The point was that Gramps was senile, to the point of almost insanity.
He was good sometimes, I'll admit (mostly around Christmas or Birthdays) and you could tell he loved us to bits (and we loved him too)…but most of the time; he acted like a drill sergeant in the army. Gramps had literally invented the word 'strict'.
Plus, when he was trying to be (what did he call it?) 'hip' and 'funky fresh' he was the single most embarrassing person in the universe which is why I was looking for a way out of hanging around with him tomorrow.
Unfortunately, all of my friends are TREACHEROUS CRUEL COLD HEARTED SCOUNDRELS!
At that moment, the door swung open and I sharply look up to see Ace of all people standing in the doorway.
"Any luck?" I ask…no, I PLEAD. Ace shakes his head mournfully.
"Sorry bro, we're on our own this time. Marco's got a date tomorrow and Jozu is planning on getting so hung over tonight, he won't be able to stand. Plus, Nojiko told me it would be best to go on this meeting. She said it would be fun…"
"Same with Robin" I mutter angrily "Has Nojiko ever met Gramps?" Ace shook his head "then that makes even more sense"
"You two are really blowing this out of proportion" a sweet feminine voice says from nearby. Both I and Ace turn around to glare at Makino, who was smiling at us from the landing.
"I AM NOT SPEAKING TO YOU!" I reply loudly. Makino chuckles at my rage and fakes an innocent expression.
"Why not?" she asks calmly.
"YOU KNOW WHY! WHAT KIND OF A MOTHER ALLOWS HER CHILD, WHO IS GROUNDED I MAY REMIND YOU, TO GO OUT ON THE WEEKEND? Shame on you Makino! You should be punishing me! You know, by forcing me to stay in all day, instead of letting me go out and have 'fun' with Gramps!" I plead, leaping out of my chair and clutching Makino's leg, whilst I give her my best puppy dog eyes. Makino's smile widens and she laughs again.
"Oh, well…I suppose I have been hard on you recently. That's why I'm going easy on you…" she says, before turning to walk towards her bedroom.
"YOU CAN'T DO THIS!" I yell, grabbing her leg once more as she leaves "I'VE LEARNT MY LESSON! I'M SORRY! I'LL NEVER COME IN LATE AGAIN…JUST DON'T MAKE ME DO THIS FAMILY BONDING WITH GRANDPA! PLEASE I BEG OF YOU!" Makino laughs louder this time, carefully getting out of my leg hold. As she did so, she turns to walk away…only to be once more grabbed around the leg, this time by Ace.
"WHAT ABOUT ME? I'M INNOCENT IN ALL OF THIS!" he cries mournfully. Makino's evil smirk returns once more as Ace says this.
"I'm sending you with Garp to learn some humility and some modesty…especially after last week…" At the words 'last week', Ace tenses up but still acts dumb.
"What do you mean? What happened last week?" he asks with a nervous laugh.
"You don't remember when I came home with Kiwi and Mozu last Sunday because we were going to have lunch together and we found you lying on the sofa asleep"
"A man should be able to relax in his own home…" Ace mumbles.
"You were butt-naked" Makino reminds him with a glare. For a moment, the room is silent, before Ace smiles.
"Did they like what they saw?"
I held in a laugh as Makino pulled her leg out of Ace's grasp without bothering to reply. I shake my head at Ace and then walk into my own room. Once there, I flop on my bed. Suddenly, I feel a lot more depressed than I was before. I was going to be spending a whole day with Gramps tomorrow. I had already spent about two hours with him today and my head was already aching from all his grammar corrections. Lazily, I glance towards the clock. It's just around half past seven. I'll need to kill a few hours before going to bed…and seeing as though Makino's got me grounded, I can't try and sneak out tonight to do some more heroics. With a loud sigh, I turned on the radio nearby and then lay back down on my bed, with one major thought on my mind.
Tomorrow was going to suck.
"Luffy…"
I groan and roll over. My eyes remain closed as I do so. It's a Saturday right? Meaning, I shouldn't be waking up yet...
I wonder what we'll have for Breakfast?
"LUFFY"
The voice gets louder. Wearily, I open one of my eyes. My vision is blurred and I can barely make out anything. Whoever it is who's standing over my bed, they have a long white beard and they're wearing red…
Now I know I'm definitely dreaming…
"Not now Santa, it's Saturday" I grumbled, allowing myself to fall gently back onto my bed. My eye closes and I give a content sigh.
"MONKEY D. LUFFY, FRONT AND CENTRE!"
"Make me asshole" I slur, blinking as light shines on my face. Someone pulled back the curtains. It's sunny. What time of year is it? It feels sort of a weak sun…is it around Autumn? Must be…
My fractured thoughts are suddenly silenced quite quickly as a large force hits the side of my head. With a loud shout, I fall onto the floor, eyes wide open. I'm in my room. I can tell by the wallpaper, which is a bland beige sort of colour. My blue carpet is what I'm currently resting my head on. It looks a bit messy. With a groan, I look upwards. Gramps is standing in the doorway.
"What are you doing here dickhead?" I grumble, still half asleep.
"HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT TO YOUR GRANDFATHER!" Grandpa yells, whacking me across the head and instantly waking me up.
"Gramps? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" I ask, eyes widening with fear.
"FOR THE START OF OUR FAMILY DAYOUT OF COURSE!" Gramps exclaims with a smile.
Right then and there I REALLY wanted to drop dead on the floor…
Angrily, I glance at the clock.
"It's six thirty in the morning…" I moan, rubbing my eyes.
"EXACTLY!" Garp shouts "I THOUGHT I'D TAKE US ALL OUT TO BREAKFAST…"
"Be quiet old man, Makino's still sleeping" Ace's voice whispers from nearby. I look around Gramps and my raven haired brother is standing there, still in his underwear and nursing a bruise on his head. I knew why that was…
"Right…" Gramps whispers in reply with a quiet laugh "Luffy, get dressed now! Ace, you too!"
"What about having a shower?" I ask. In truth, I'm faking interest in that infernal chamber of water, soap and doom. I'm just trying to buy some time so I didn't have to spend as long with Gramps.
"Idiot!" the old bearded man barks, whacking me over the head "We don't have time for that. Just get dressed, spray some deodorant and you'll be golden" With a loud sigh, I stand to my feet, shuddering slightly as I begin to lose balance. I stumble over to my wardrobe, quickly pulling the doors open before searching for clothes. I make sure as I take off my underwear from last night, to fling the pair in Gramp's face.
"Ever heard of privacy?" I asked. Gramps grunted and turned his back to me.
"So, why are we getting up so early?" I ask, fishing into an open draw to retrieve a new pair of boxers.
"I told you, we're heading off to get some breakfast" Gramps repeats.
"Yeah…but why are we getting up so early to get breakfast?" I question once more, pulling on a blue t-shirt. The white numbers of fifty-six are emblazoned on the shirt.
"Because Dadan stops serving breakfast at ten!" My eyes widen and I can tell that Ace is a little shocked as well.
"We're going to see Aunt Dadan?" Ace asks for me, as I slip on a pair of dark jeans, the weather being too cold for shorts "but her diner is all the way over the other side of town? Isn't that an hour and a half ride just to get there?"
"And now you know why I got you up so early" Gramps says with a grin, tapping his nose knowingly with his finger "It'll take about an hour and a half to get there for Breakfast, two tops if the traffic is bad"
"IT'S SIX IN THE MORNING!" I chime in with a growl, slipping socks onto my feet "WHAT TRAFFIC ARE WE GOING TO RUN INTO?"
"We may find out if you don't HURRY UP!"
"CAN YOU GUYS SHUT UP?" Makino's voice suddenly yells from her room "SOME OF US ARE TRYING TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF BEAUTY SLEEP!"
"Please Makino, you don't need it anyway" Ace says with a sly smile. A growl is the reply he receives. With a loud sigh, I shut the door revealing myself to be now wearing a dark jacket.
"Let's get going then" I say, pushing Gramps out of my room. As I'm about to leave, however, I stop, spotting the bag with my new Scarlet costume inside. After a small moment of hesitation, I look over to Gramp's, who is still waiting for Ace to get ready.
Silently, I reach over grabbing the bag and haul it onto my right shoulder. Part of me was begging and pleading that I shouldn't do this. After all, if Ace or Gramps looked inside my bag, my double life would be over. They'd know who I was. Gramps in particular would be pissed. He'd probably lock me up and throw away the key without hesitation. That was the kind of man he was. He knew that in the police line of work your own personal matters should come second over the matters of others and despite how much I would disagree with Gramps on other things, I had always respected he had a responsibility to serve and protect the community and he couldn't play favourites, even with his own grandson.
Unfortunately, my sense of precaution was disregarded mainly due to one fact.
Like Gramps had a responsibility to put other people's safety and happiness before his, I was going to do the same. If something did happen today, like a bank robbery or any other kind of crime, I had to be ready to step in and help.
"I'll go wait downstairs" I say. Gramps nods, still looking towards Ace's closed door.
"It's for the best. You know how Ace is when he tries getting ready" Gramps replies.
"I heard that…" Ace replies with a growl. I chuckle at this and then quickly walk down the stairs. I didn't know how much time I had so I quickly slipped out of the house and headed over to Garp's car. Of course, despite the fact that Garp was part of the police force, he still hadn't learned the basic rule that when you have a car YOU LOCK IT! Personally, I think Garp was counting on the fact that his car was so old and troublesome to handle that if anyone did try and steal it, they'd give up halfway. Luckily, seeing as the car is unlocked, I can slip in the bag with my costume inside into the boot of the car without anyone spotting. After I had done this, I quickly made my way back into the house and stood at the foot of the stairs, watching as a now fully dressed and irritated Ace and Gramps walk down the stairs towards me.
"BYE MAKINO!" Garp shouts as he walks down waving at the wall. Makino grunts in response, probably rolling over onto her other side.
It may be cruel of me…but I'm glad she's suffering a little too…
As I leave the house, following after Garp and Ace, I pull out my mobile and as fast as I can I text a single word and then forward it to Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin and Vivi before I get into Gramp's car.
They should be woken up now all over the city by a single word…
'Traitors!'
Like I said, I'm not going to suffer through this alone…
Nami P.O.V
I wonder if this was exactly what it felt like to be a fish out of water. As soon as I enter the room, everyone looks towards me, their eyes trained to my features, as if they were analysing me. Not allowing my confidence to falter, I calmly stroll towards the main office, ignoring the questioning looks I get from other people in the room. When I reached it, I freeze for a second before knocking on the door again.
This is it. My first step into journalism starts here, at the door marked 'Shiki G. Lion'. I really have to thank Bellemere later for getting me this job. I would have had a really tough time trying to get into becoming a journalist otherwise if she hadn't had this connection. Believe it or not, I also need to thank Luffy. His text this morning actually woke me and that allowed me to get ready for the day ahead. Before opening the door in front of me, I look down once more at my attire, a casual blue shirt with a light blue tie and my usual skirt. No wonder I was getting looks.
Bellemere was right.
I really did have no modesty, did I?
With a small sigh, I open the door, stepping confidently into Shiki's office. As I do so, Shiki's head immediately looks up, his eyes flaring to life. It looks like he was reading his own paper.
Bellemere was right again.
This guy did have a HUGE ego.
"Ah Nami!" Shiki says happily with a wide grin "so glad you could come and join us and may I say, it is an honour to have you here working with us"
"Oh trust me, the pleasure is all mine" I say politely, gripping Shiki's hand in a firm handshake.
"That's what I like to hear in a young lady like yourself. Someone kind and polite, you'll fit in well here. Now, you must be aware that usually I wouldn't give someone this new to my employ on a case such as this…but, unfortunately, none of the photographers on our payroll are really fond of working with Indigo" I stare at Shiki confused for a moment.
"Indigo?" I ask. Shiki sighs and raises a hand to me.
"Trust me, you don't want to know" he replies with a shake of his head "the point is that I need a freelance photographer to go with him on our latest scoop. You see (rather unfortunately) Indigo is one of the best reporters in this place, don't ask me how though. You can work a camera, right kid?" I nod in reply, still a little bemused "Good" Shiki says with a grin "you'll be perfect then Nami. All you have to help Indigo complete a report, a special project I've personally given him, based around one of our town's biggest celebrities" With a smile, Shiki then flips over the newspaper on his desk, revealing today's headline to me. Ironically, despite me always reading the paper, I haven't seen today's copy and so, obviously, I am slightly shocked by the front of the newspaper. Of course, the title of the 'Grand Line Times' is at the top of the paper but it's relatively small, seeing as how the picture encompasses the whole of the front page. In the centre of the picture, there's a red silhouette of a face, whilst the bottom of the picture manages to barely show the silhouette's proud broad shoulders and chest. The silhouette was patterned by an odd mask design coloured in white. Despite the odd pattern, I recognise it immediately. Above the red man's silhouetted crimson locks, there is a large red object over his head, sort of like a hat. Either side of this silhouette image was a white outline, followed by a black background. If the image itself didn't fulfil its purpose, then the black question mark over the face certainly hinted strongly at what today's top article was about. At the bottom of the picture, white letters were positioned, posing a simple question.
"Who is the Scarlet Wind?"
"You've found out who he is?" I ask, suddenly feeling a little lightheaded for some reason. Shiki laughs at my question but quickly recovers.
"Unfortunately, no…" he replies "But, we have just issued a reward for ANY information regarding him…however, every word we've been told so far has just been hecklers or people playing practical jokes…I still don't understand why they were asking for a Mike Crotch. I asked everyone in the office if they'd seen Mike Crotch recently but all they did was start laughing. Not sure why…" I held in a laugh and shook my head.
"I don't get it either sir…" I mumble, hiding the sly smile on my face. Shiki nods and then, his gaze wanders behind me.
"Looks like Indigo's finally here" he says, gesturing me to side aside. I do and almost immediately, the door opens and a man walks in through the door I was standing nearby. I've seen a lot of crazy things but THIS was definitely high up the list. As it turned out, Indigo is a tall man. He easily towers over me as he walks in the room (plus I think something's wrong with his shoes because I keep hearing this awful squeaking/farting sound). He's dressed in a long white coat of some kind and underneath, he wore a pair of blue suspenders and a white shirt underneath. His face also had a weird pattern to it, painted in a way so it made Indigo look like a mime. I was starting to see why this guy was so difficult to work with…
"Hello Shiki, you're looking well today" Indigo shouts with a low bow.
"Yes yes Indigo, it's good to see you too…NOW, I'd like to introduce you to Miss Nami here. She is going to be your new photographer" Shiki says, pointing towards me. I wave at Indigo and he smiles at me in return.
"Hello Sami"
"Nami" I correct him, holding out a hand for him to shake.
"So it is! Piro-piro-piro!" Indigo laughs distinctly as he grabs my hand with such force that I actually wince.
"Indigo, show Nami here the ropes, she's an up and coming reporter, a general prodigy from what I've seen from her articles in the school paper"
"You've read my school paper articles from last year?" I ask, a smile coming to my lips. I admit I feel quite happy about the editor of a paper actually reading my article and considering it as good as he's saying.
"Well of course, why else do you think I even considered that deal with Bellemere to get you a job here?" Shiki asks "To be honest, if you were some random girl off the street with no skill at all, I would have dropped you faster than that diet I tried last month…but what I read showed promise! That's why I got you a job here kid, because you had skill, flare but, you've got to start somewhere. Feel lucky that I managed to pull some strings so you're working with Indigo in the field instead of being locked up in some stuffy office all day rearranging files"
"Yes sir, thank you" I reply bowing slightly.
"Remember though you two, if you can, get me news on that Scarlet Wind. That freak sells papers and we need to sell papers!" Shiki exclaims with a laugh "Yesterday, we published a paper about his fights with that leopard guy and the amount of copies we sold at the news-stands was through the roof! We don't want to lose such a following so soon now do we?" With that Shiki smiles and spins around on his chair.
"Don't worry sir" I say with an encouraging smile "you won't regret…"
"What? You're still here? GET GOING NAMI AND GET ME THOSE PHOTOS!" Shiki shouts loudly. Quickly, I nod and race out of the room, following Indigo along to the elevator. As we walk, I hazard a glance backwards towards Shiki, who seems to be ranting and raving at a large gorilla looking man to get him some coffee. So that's the true Shiki? Loud mouthed and brash?
Suddenly, all those stories Bellemere told me about Shiki were making a lot more sense.
However, it's not like I can complain. After all, it's my first day on the job and things are already going quite smoothly...
I just wonder where on earth I'm going to find the Scarlet Wind at this time of today?
Luffy P.O.V
I suddenly sneeze loudly, attracting Ace and Gramp's attention.
"LUFFY! COVER YOUR MOUTH WHEN YOU SNEEZE!" Gramp shouts as he bangs me across the head.
"Sorry" I mumble rubbing my sir head, ignoring the stares I'm getting from all of the people around us. To be honest, I don't know what Gramps is complaining about. After all, today I've been through much worse than him. Breakfast at Dadan's was good and, since she was an old friend of the family, I was glad I got a chance to see her again. Luckily, she understand what a day with Gramps really meant so that's why she managed to slip Ace and I an extra rash of bacon in our meals (for good luck, she said). After we had effectively destroyed the food that Dadan had placed on our plates, getting weird looks from passers by as we did so, Gramps then dragged I and Ace off for some 'family time'. It turned out Gramps had really thought things out seeing that on the day we were going out, there was actually a fun fair passing through town and so we went there for the day. Garp kept telling us to have play the side carnival games, which usually involved hitting targets with balls.
"Hand eye co-ordination will be good for when you're a police officer Luffy" he'd say to me as he threw the ball, smashing a whole straight through the target. Of course, I replied that I didn't want to be in the police…only for Gramps to whack me on the head again and grumble at my insolence. Ace managed to win a prize from one of the stands, a large and fluffy shark plushie he wanted to give to Nojiko. There was no doubt we all looked a sight with the three of us walking down the street, Ace with a huge toy shark on his shoulder and I and Gramps arguing at every turn about almost anything.
"Ketchup!" I yelled and Gramps would say 'MUSTARD!"
"Red!" I said and Gramps would reply with 'BLUE!"
I admit it was good getting all my frustration out on the old man. It was relaxing in a rather odd way.
It wasn't like I was having fun with him though, I wasn't…
Seriously, I wasn't enjoying myself in the slightest!
That much anyway…
"Hello sirs, can I take your order?" At the sound of the voice, I immediately look up to see a woman standing over us. She has long brown hair tied back in a ponytail and light green eyes. The neon pink highlights in her hair are the first thing to catch my eye however.
"Thank you my dear" Gramps greets her with a laugh "I'll have your finest meat feast pizza for me and my grandsons here" The girl nods and looks down at me and Ace for a second. It's as if she's feeling sorry for us.
"Of course sir, coming right up. Can I get you some drinks whilst you're waiting?" she asks with another smile.
"A water just for me thank you Miss" Gramps says with a wide grinning smile.
"Coke" I and Ace mutter unanimously. The girl quickly scribbles down our orders and then smiles before scuttling over towards the kitchen. I notice Ace taking a peek at her retreating figure as she does so. The second she's out of sight, Gramps kicks me and Ace under the table.
"WHERE WAS A THANK YOU FOR THAT NICE LADY?" Gramps asks with a growl "I THOUGHT I TAUGHT YOU TOO BETTER THAN THAT!"
"We learn by example Old Man! KICKING US UNDER THE TABLE ISN'T GOING TO TEACH US A LESSON!" Ace groans, kicking Gramps back, causing the old man to wince.
"MAYBE I'M NOT KICKING HARD ENOUGH THEN!" Gramps replies and before I know it, Ace and Gramps are engaged in a foot wrestling competition, trying to stamp each others foot into the ground. We were currently sitting at a table in one of Garp's favourite bars in town. The place has a friendly atmosphere about it, with people all of all ages sitting down having a meal. The bar is quite big but the lighting was pretty dull, except for the karaoke stage, which was the main attraction for patrons today. Currently, there's a woman up there singing Cee Lo Green's 'Forget You' as loud as she can down the microphone, hoping it would equate to an actual tone.
She was failing at it so far…
As the woman finishes her song and goes to sit down, a man comes to the stage and grabs the microphone.
"Thanks Aika for that…different take on a great song. Now, as you all know, it's a Karaoke fun day today where all proceeds go to Charity so if you have a song you want to sing, just go up to the desk, register your time slot and give in a donation of five beri's for your chance to sing on stage" I chuckle slightly at the very idea. I know it was for charity but seriously, a Karaoke day? What sort of idiot would actually sign up for that thing?
"Anyway" the man says, clearing his throat "the next singer on stage will be…Monkey D. Garp" My mouth drops open and I can hear Ace choking on his drink. Gramps laughs at this and stands up from his seat.
"Excuse me you two, I have an audience to perform too" he says before walking towards the stage.
"He's not…" I mumble my eyes wide with disbelief.
"He…he is…" Ace replies, his own face matching mine.
"Ace…"
"Luffy…this is going to be the single most embarrassing yet also the funniest thing I will ever see in my life" Ace says, laughing loudly. Even I find myself laughing at this.
"He's seriously going to…this will be hilarious" I admit, chuckling between words. Finally, Gramps takes his spot on stage and gives a low bow. There's applause,
"Thank you! How is everyone doing today!" Gramps asks. Everyone cheers back at him in reply, Ace and I cheering louder than anyone else "Good to hear" Gramps continues "This song is dedicated to my two amazing Grandkids, who I haven't seen in such a long time" The people in the bar give him an 'aw' before letting him carry on. I can feel my face going red as people turn to look at me and even Ace scratches his cheek with an awkward grin. Gramps chuckles again and then begins to twirl around the microphone cord in his hand.
"This is an oldie but goodie from back in the Eighties by the legendary duo 'Hall and Oates'" Gramps announces "called 'You Make My Dreams Come True'" Some of the older people in the bar give a cheer but some of the younger members of the audience merely looked at each other in confusion. Ace and I find ourselves one of them, sharing an odd glance before turning our attention back to Garp.
"He's singing something from the Eighties?" I ask Ace.
"I know, this is gonna be good!" Ace replies, already laughing up a storm before Gramps even starts. Speaking of Gramps, he points to the woman behind the bar and she nods, pressing the play button on the karaoke machine as the music begins to play. From the start of the melody, it's obvious this is an old song because of the rhythmic blues melody containing elements of rock. Personally though, the music isn't the thing I'm paying attention to. What I'm more interested in is the fact that Gramps is singing (and dancing) to it. The crowd laughs as Gramps starts shuffling around the stage doing what is possible the worst dancing I've ever seen in my life with his arms pumping up and down and his legs shimmying from side to side with the music before he stops and starts singing.
"~What I want, you got and it might be hard to handle!~"
"~BUT LIKE A FLAME BURNS THE CANDLE, THE CANDLE FEEDS THE FLAME!~" Gramps sings loudly. Surprisingly, I think he's actually not that bad a singer and as he keeps singing, I can't help but smile widely and laugh.
Okay, maybe I'm enjoying my day with the old man just a little…
Of course, it's at that joyous moment that my phone started to ring. Quizzically, I fish my hand into my bag, brushing against my Scarlet mask before finding and pulling out my mobile. Makino's name comes up on the caller ID. With a small sigh, I tap Ace's shoulder and show him the phone. He nods when he sees the number and then returns to clapping along with the song with a smile. I shake my head with a large grin and quickly make my way out of the room so I can answer my phone. In the entrance hall to the bar, the music is slightly less noisy out here and seeing as there's a public pay phone in the room, I suppose it must be quiet enough to talk to someone.
"Hello" I say, answering the mobile with a grin.
"Hey Luffy, how's everything going today?" Makino's voice asks over the phone.
"It's…alright…I guess" I mumble with a smile.
"Good to hear you're enjoying yourself" Makino replies.
"I never said I was enjoying myself" I quickly correct her "I'm just tolerating it"
"Sure you are…." Makino mumbles with a chuckle. I sigh loudly and I'm about to reply when, suddenly, I notice someone storm in through the front door. I wasn't sure who the person was but whoever it was, he certainly looked worried. Almost immediately, he walked over towards the pay phone and began dialling in a number. At first, I'm not interested in what he was saying (I'm not that nosy) but from the first sentence spoken, the call captures my interest.
"Hello, is this is the police? Oh thank god, I need help! It's horrible! A bunch of criminals are robbing a jewellery store on Amber Street. Please, you have to get here as soon as possible!" By the end of the call, I can't help but sigh.
"Luffy? Are you there?" Makino's voice calls from the other side of the phone.
"Yeah. Sorry Makino but I think I have to get going. It's something important" Luffy groaned angrily
"Er…okay, bye Luffy" Makino mumbles notably feeling a little awkward at how I am suddenly hanging up on her for no reason. I mumble a quick farewell down the phone then, as soon as I hang up, I run out of the door as fast as I can, heading straight towards Gramp's car. Luckily, once again, Garp had failed to lock his car (again, thank god for his forgetful nature). I quickly pulled open the car boot, grabbed the bag that had my Scarlet costume inside and made my way straight towards a nearby alleyway.
I guess heroes never get a day off…
"FLASHY FOOLS! GET TO WORK! LOAD ALL THE GOODS INTO THE VAN! MOVE IT!" Buggy yells loudly. Right behind him are Mohji and Cabaji, who both walk out of the back door of the Jewellers carrying sacks full of what I can only imagine were the stolen gems.
"This is amazing Captain Buggy!" Mohji says with a grin.
"Yeah" Cabaji agrees "we've got ourselves a pretty big score, haven't we?"
"Save the flashy celebrating till later men!" Buggy commands "remember why we're here…"
"But boss, the guy's not gonna show!" Mohji reasons "it's been ten minutes and if he's not here yet, then he just won't be coming. Let's get out of here with the payload!"
"Payload? No, I want payback" Buggy replies "and you should to you flashily idiot! Now, I suggest you finish up over there…"
"Excuse me!" I call from above, startling the trio of criminals there and causing them to look up at me "if you're going to be taking that, I'll need to see a receipt!"
"THE SCARLET WIND!" Mohji and Cabji bellow, dropping the sacks they're carrying (causing each one to fall on Buggy's feet). The clown lets out a loud irritated scream before pulling out a pair of pistols and aiming them towards me.
"DON'T YOU EVER FLASHILY GIVE UP?" he shouts before firing a hail of bullets towards me.
"Of course not!" I reply, leaping down from the street lamp I was perched on and landing on the street, dodging the shots fired by Buggy in the process "Why else do you think I'm Dawn city's number one superhero?"
"Because you're the only one…soon to be the dead one, this city has ever head" Mohji spoke up, removing a SMG from his pocket and joining in on the shooting spree. With a lazy smile, I jump upwards, stretching an arm to grab hold of the fire escape walkway above the alley, using it to swing over the group of thieves.
"Oh come on Mohji! That's your best shot? Someone really needs to go back to shooting ducks at the fair" I taunt, kicking off the wall and flying into Mohji, kicking him in the face and sending him to the ground. As I land on the floor, I hear the click of a pocket knife unfurling and step backwards just in time to dodge Cabaji as he takes a stab at me.
"Didn't your mother ever tell you it was dangerous to play with knives?" I mumble, ducking under another one of his slashes and elbowing him in the gut. Cabaji let out a groan and fell to the floor, unconscious. Buggy is the only one left now. He panics for a second before revealing a set of two knives, holding one in each hand. Seeing him holding the cold steel makes me shiver from an unpleasant memory.
"Buggy…put the knife down…" I mutter, gesturing to him with my right hand. Buggy cackles loudly at this.
"Oh yes and then let you take me back to prison? I don't think so!" he retorts angrily.
"Buggy…the last time you held a knife people got hurt" I remind him.
"Brings back memories, doesn't it Scarlet?" he taunts with a grin. I don't reply. It did. It brought back very unpleasant memories "the scars run deep, don't they?"
"Some scars heal" I mutter "but they never will if you keep living in the past like this…"
"I'm not living in the past!" Buggy responds bitterly "I'm looking for the future! I'm going to steal my way to the top, get rich beyond my wildest dreams and get EVERYTHING I deserve and get revenge on everyone who ever stood in my way" I sigh sadly.
"Alright Buggy…but don't say I didn't give you a chance…" I mutter, before shooting forward my fist at lightning speed. Before Buggy can dodge, the fist connects to his face, sending him flying against the wall. Buggy lets out a loud groan of pain and I walk over to him, kicking the two knives he dropped away from him with my foot.
"Alright then, you three stooges are beaten" I say with a grin "what's wrong? No Galdino today?" Oddly enough, Buggy laughs at the question.
"Oh…he's here, in the truck actually…" the clown says with a chuckle. Suddenly, I feel very uneasy. Never the less, however, I walk over towards the back of the van. The doors are closed and on closer inspection, it looks as if there's something really heavy inside, seeing as how the wheels at the back of the van deflate a little. Buggy must have really been doing a crime spree to get THAT much stuff in there.
"Alright Galdino!" I call, gripping hold of the rear doors to the van with both hands "come out with your hands up and I won't have to…" My speech is interrupted as suddenly, a force hits the door, causing them to fly of their hinges and hit me backwards. I let out a loud groan as this happened, barely having enough time to flip the doors over me before they crush me into the ground.
"What the hell was that?" I ask, looking up towards the van. My eyes widen as I do so. The back of the van is ripped apart and now, towering over me was a large purple suit of armour. The shoulder pads were covered in spikes and two long and thick red boxing gloves were sticking out of the circular shoulder pads as hands. In the middle of the armour, I see a familiar face.
"Galdino?" I mutter, immediately jumping to my feet. I can tell by the man's loud and boisterous laugh that it is indeed Galdino.
"You could say that Scarlet…but now, I feel as though I need a new name, due to this new found power. Call me…WAXWORK!"
I know I'm staring down a giant right now…
I know that he just had the strength to break open two steel doors with enough force o send them flying…
I know all that…
But I still can't help but laugh loudly!
"Waxwork? Seriously? I mean I know I had to name my last super-villain but I didn't think that was going to be a running theme!" I bellow loudly, launching into a loud streak of laughter. Surprisingly, Galdino laughs a long.
"Ah well…I suppose it is a silly name…but that doesn't matter, you see…" Galdino paused for a moment. My eyes widen as the right and left fist's on his large suit of armour begins to pulsate, as if morphing into something else. In truth, that is exactly what the boxing gloves on each hand was doing, transforming themselves into two large drills.
"It's really clothes that make the man after all…" Galdino mutters, grinning happily as the drills begin to spin.
As Waxwork begins to bound towards me, each step sounding like an earthquake, I suddenly get the feeling that whenever I say something struck me like a tonne of bricks, I think I'll now have something to compare it to…
To be continued in Chapter 2: Catalyst Act 3
Until then I'm Shadowonthewall6 and I hope you've enjoyed this chapter
Please review. Positive criticism is welcome.