The next chapter is here. I dearly hope you like this one, it took me ages to write. Also, I am going to a quick shout to KONY 2012. I'm sure most of you have heard the term floating around by now. If you haven't I'd suggest doing so research on it.
A very nice reviewer and reader sent in a picture of Mamori and I thought I'd share it with you. reddragon64. deviantart. com/art/Mamori-Fanart-289373119
Thank you Red Dragon 64! :)
Anyway, as always, enjoy!
A thick fog had settled over the ship as we sail through the channel but my nose picked up the smell of life and a town. My ears flicked lightly as the mumbled sound of voices reached me, but I could still see nothing.
As we sailed smoothly out of the mist and my eyes widened in surprise as I saw all the people lining the shore, all of them wearing happy faces. Behind them was a large city and many buildings the huge cacti in the distance behind the town.
"PIRATES!" Several voices called out from the shore. "WELCOME TO OUR TOWN!"
"Oh?" Luffy said in a pleased manner as he saw that the villagers were friendly and welcoming.
"Huh?" Usopp said in a dumbfounded way. "Not only are there no monsters, there're people greeting us."
"What's going on…" Sanji muttered as he glared suspiciously at the shore. My own eyes by this point had narrowed too as I stared at the people on the shore. Not all of them could be pirate hunters… Right? There a few women and kids in the crowd too… How could they all be pirate hunters?
"LONG LIVE THE BRAVE WARRIORS OF THE SEA!" Someone from the shore called out as they all waved and cheered us.
"T-There is a bunch of lovely ladies too!" Sanji exclaimed as his eyes landed on some women from shore.
"Talk about a warm welcome!" Usopp exclaimed as he blew kisses to the crowd. "Looks like pirates really are these people's heroes!"
"YAHOO!" Luffy yelled as he waved at the people lining the shore. Both him and Usopp were way too naïve…
"Welg-Ahem! Ma, ma, maa~ Welcome, my name is Igarappoi," The odd looking man said from his place standing in front of us. Once we had docked the ship we had all jumped off and this is the man that came up to us and introduced himself. "This is Whiskey Peak! The town of music and liquor. It's our honor to welcome you. We have plenty of liquor here, please tell us about your journey. If you don't mind, I'd like to ask you to join a party."
Everyone, myself included stared blankly at him for a second, a bit surprised by his warm welcome considering we were pirates. But of course the silence was quickly broken by Sanji, Usopp, and Luffy linking shoulders and yelling, "SURE!"
Nami ignored them and turned to more important matters. Or what she considered more important, "How long will it take to record the magnetic field of this island?"
"Record?" Igarappoi asked stupidly before dodging the subject. "We shall talk about that after you have rested."
He then pulled Nami towards him as he threw an arm over her shoulder causing me to growl softly in warning from the background. I saw his eyes flick curiously down towards and I meet his stare with a cold and malicious one of my own. Like hell I was about to let him mess with my friends and get away with it.
He quickly looked away from me though and cried out, "Let's party!"
My ringing ears hurt, and don't even get me started on my huge headache. The people yelling and partying along with the loud music was like hell on my sensitive hearing and the people were everywhere in this place. I was struggling to not hyperventilate and freak out about all the people all around me because I wasn't about to go outside in this sort of place. Who knows what would happen? It was better to stick with everyone else.
I squeezed my eyes closed and tried to take in a deep breath although it came out shaky. I then reached forward and stuck my nose out a bit from the cupboard that I have conveniently wiggled under when the party got too much for me. Someone had tried to offer me a rawhide bone and some water, but I wouldn't put it past them to drug it. So I had refused it and dove under the cupboard. At least from what I can hear around the room the others were having fun. I just can't wait for this night to end…
Later we were all sprawled around the place and sleeping. I was curled into Luffy's side, one of his arms slung over my back as I felt his food stuffed chest rise and fall against my side. Some part of me was glad to see them all so happy; even in the dangerous situation we were in.
After what seemed like ages, although there was no way to tell the exact amount of time, I heard movement in the room. My eyes sprung open as all the muscles in my body tensed, all my fur standing on end. I silently flicked my eyes to the side and saw Zoro picking up his swords and strapping them to his belt. I relaxed my body again and quietly slipped out from under Luffy's arm, hoping it wouldn't wake him up. My worry was for naught though, it doesn't seem like much could wake him up.
I saw Zoro stride towards the door; his body posture said the he was on a mission. I propelled myself forward and fell in step with him. I saw his body tense for a second as he flicked his gaze to the side. When he saw it was me he relaxed again, sending me a curious glance. That only lasted a second before he shook his head and flashed me a smirk, apparently approving of my presence. He inclined his head a silent greeting, and I repeated the motion. That was all that needed to pass between us before we set off. Apparently Zoro and I had some sort of understanding with each other. Interesting...
"Hurry up and get their treasure out of their ship and tie them up!" Igarappoi ordered. "If we kill them we will get 30% less money because the government wants them alive to execute in front of people."
"I'm sorry but I don't think they will let you do that even if they're tired from the journey," Zoro butted in from place siting cross legged on top of a building that shadowed over the pirate hunters. A let out a soft growl in agreement to his statement, my narrowed eyes staring down at the people below us. My own butt was also sitting on the building right by Zoro's side, but my head was held in aloof manner.
I cocked my ears as I heard a commotion coming for the bottom of the building, "Mr. Eight! Ms. Monday! One of them and the dog is missing!" A voice cried out as several people ran forward.
"Why you...! Weren't you passed out cold after drinking too much a moment ago...?" Asked Igarappoi as he learned the news.
"A real swordsman will never fall for a trick like that!" Zoro called out as he lifted one of his swords into the air. This time I stayed silent, calculating things. "So, this is the truth? This place is a place for pirate hunters who are waiting for pirates that are going to the Grand Line?"
Zoro pushed himself gracefully up to his feet as more pirate hunters began to gather below us, and I slowly stood up to my feet as well. I felt my stomach flopping in nervousness as I stared below us. There were lots of them against Zoro and I… I knew Zoro could handle himself, I just hope I don't get in his way. Well, he hasn't been training me for nothing. After the whole Arlong arc he picked up our training again. This time he taught me how to use the knife properly, how to hold it, to knock blows away from my body, and how to injure people. Apparently he has taken it upon himself to teach me, and oddly, not once has he even mentioned about how I got the knife. Everyone on the boat just seemed to accept it.
"One hundred hunters?" Zoro mused. "We will be your challenge tonight Baroque Works!"
I heard a few of them exclaim in shock at Zoro's statement, Mr. Eight calling out, "How do you know the name of our organization!"
"Back when I was a hunter, your company sent an agent to ask me to join you, I refused of course," I sent Zoro a curious glance, I didn't know that. "It was a company where every employee's past is a secret, and everyone will call each other by code names. And, no one will know who the boss is or where he lives. You are the ground mercenaries that follow orders without question! And you call yourselves Baroque Works. Haha, so this is a secret?"
"That's very interesting…" Igarappoi said after a pause. "Now you know out secret, we can't let you live. We will add one more gravestone on the Cactus Mountain. And I'll bury that dog with you."
I glowered down at the curly haired guy as he said that, my lips twitching to flash my fangs. Bring it on. I have beaten the Lionfish after all, some normal humans should be easier… Right?
"Kill them!" I heard Igarappoi order and I quickly sprang into action, flipping on backwards onto the building and ducking behind the ledge of it so that they couldn't see me. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw Zoro moving as well, although he was gone from my vision quicker than I could see. He moved so fast it was insane!
"EH!" I heard of the crowd scream at Zoro and my disappearance.
"He's not there anymore!" Mr. Eight cried from below.
"Where did they go?" Called Igarappoi.
It was silent for a few seconds, the air thick with tension. I then could have sworn I heard several intakes of breath, almost tempting me to look over the ledge of the building.
"So?" I heard Zoro's voice ask from below, and I heard the humor in his voice. He was going to have fun by the sounds of it. "Shall we begin?"
I then heard several guns going off causing me to launch myself up, carelessly sticking my head back over the side of the building to check on Zoro.
"Idiots!" Igarappoi cried and I saw several pirate hunters collapse on the ground from apparently shooting themselves.
"It's impossible! He moves too fast!" A random pirate hunter cried and I saw a flash of white and green. It appeared Zoro was fine, while they're distracted I should get down from my perch.
I glanced down the side of the building and saw that it had several layers, a shelf every 5 or so meters down till it reached the bottom. I slunk to the side and took a breath in as I closed my eyes. Then, without giving myself too long to think about it, I flung myself over the side. I landed with a bit of a grunt on the shelf, but I was no worse for wear. Seeing that I could actually do this, I jumped down the last few shelves easily, landing in a dark alley. Now, for the plan of attack…
I listened for a few minutes as a commotion went on and then it seemed to calm down again. I slunk up to the entrance of the ally, staying in the shadows so that no one could see me. The moon's position was perfectly shadowing the alley so that no one could see in. Bonus.
I listened quietly and figured that they had lost Zoro already; he must be plotting a something already.
"Where did that swordsman run off too?" I heard someone growl.
"Is he really thinking of taking us on by himself?" A female voice hissed, and I twitched.
'By himself?' I snarled silently to myself in anger. 'Bitch please! Why does everyone underestimate me or forget about me!'
I slunk fully up to the edge of the entrance, my gaze flickering around to the people that were oblivious to my presence. They pushed my buttons with that last statement, so I figured now was a good a time as any to let them know I fight and to kick their ass while I was at. I wasn't here to stand around and watch Zoro… I just had a subtle way about handing my affairs.
Most of the pirate hunters had their backs turned on me so it was easy for me to pick my prey. I let an impish smirk cross my muzzle, praying to God this would work. And with that said, I lunged.
The pirate hunters were all gathered around, trying to figure out where the green haired swordsman could be hiding. A few of them were shifting nervously from his earlier show of strength, and others were gritting their teeth in anger.
A grunt and a thump was heard from the back of the group, and by the time everyone spun around all they saw was the torso of a man, half dragged into the alley, his hands and fingers dug into the ground as he screamed loudly. The sound of vicious growls and snarls were heard over his screams as the rest of his body was dragged into the shadow and out of their view. As soon as his fingers were out of sight, leaving tracks in the dirt, all the sound was cut off. The growling and screaming had stopped as most of the pirate hunters stared into the darkness with a mix of shock and horror. A few of the braver pirate hunters pulled out their weapons and ran into the alley at the ready. After their vision cleared, the only thing they could see was they body of their colleague sprawled out on the ground. He wasn't moving at all and blood was running from his temple. There was nothing else in the alley with him from what they could see, leaving them all in shock...
I breathed heavily as I pressed myself against the side of the building. That had turned out way better than I could have hoped for. The looks on their faces were priceless! As soon as I dragged the guy into the alley by his ankle I had knocked him out with the butt of my knife, jumped on top of a bin and launched myself back up onto the first shelf of the building. Apparently no one thought to look there for me here as I heard people exclaim in shock down below me.
I stayed silent as some of the people moved away in search of Zoro, although some of the pirate hunters still lingered around beneath me. I stayed pressed against the wall, the cold of it seeping through my fur to help calm me down. Squeezing my ears closed so that I could concentrate fully on the sounds below I blocked out everything else around me.
"Got you," A voice whispered eerily through the air, causing me to completely freeze up in shock.
I vaguely heard the click of a trigger on a gun and that caused me to spring into action. Without a second thought, I launched myself directly away from the wall and the person behind me, straight over the side of the building and into the mob of people below. A loud bang echoed in my ears behind me as the gun was set off, bits of rubble flying from the place I had been mere moments ago. I felt fear creeping in my bones; I was way to close to dying there for comfort! I shouldn't have tried to be a smart ass and show off before! Look where it got me!
Out of the corner of my eyes I glanced back and my eyes widened in shock. Standing there, with the gun in his hands was the guy in the cloak. The one that gave me the knife! Why would he do that! Unless he wants me to fight these guys…
The people below me began to look up as I fell down and I counted around two dozen of them causing my eyes to widen even further. Without having too much time to plan anything I angled myself so that my front paws smashed into one of the men's head, causing him to go flying into the dirt with me on top of him. Having no time to breathe, I jumped back up and darted for the exit to alley. I flinched as bullet shots echoed in the alley, flying rubble hitting me as the shots just missed.
I gritted my teeth to hold in a yelp as a bullet grazed my left heel, barely scratching the surface; although it was still enough to unsettle me greatly.
Flying forward, I dodged around people and between their feet, a small part of me celebrating as some cries of pain came from behind me. Obviously they really were bad at aiming and they were hitting each other like they had done with Zoro before. Guns and small places didn't fit well together to say the least.
As I broke out of the alley, I flung myself to the left, out of the way of the bullets for now. I spun around and pulled my knife out of its holder and crouched down against the ground waiting. Running now would be pointless; it would only get me shot at more. It was better to fight at close range for as long as I can.
"GET IT!" I heard a voice order from the alley.
As the first man came running out of the alley and turned my way I was on him before he could realize what was happening. I smashed the butt of my knife into his forehead to knock him out, my paws balanced on his chest as he fell over. Before he had hit the ground I launched myself off him and directly at the next advancing bounty hunter. I heard shots echo, aimed for the place I had been seconds before. My blood was pumping in my ears, blocking out all sounds but that of the bullets and the rustles as people moved. Everything was happening so slowly, even my movements. But my mind was going a million miles an hour, thoughts popping in and out of my head before I had time to understand them. My heart was thumping against my chest as it tried to escape; my mind a flurry of instinctual survival skills. Fighting one on one compared fighting this many against you at once is insane. It wasn't like Lougetown where the pirates there weren't armed with guns and they were weaklings compared to these guys.
As I collided with the next guy's chest, I threw my knife up in the air and wrapped my jaws around his wrist. A crunch of bones echoed numbly in my ears as he cried out in pain and dropped his gun. I fell with him to the ground, jumping off to the side as I caught the knife awkwardly in my mouth. I was lucky enough to catch the hilt, another thing Zoro had taught me to do. I jumped to the right, over the fallen guy as bullets landed right where I was before, another man charging towards me with a club raised. This was the first time I took notice that not all the pirate hunters had guns, some used other weapons. From what I could see from the corner of my eye, only three more men were armed with guns. Another had a rifle and the rest had an assortment of other weapons. About ten of the men were already down, either from my attacks or from getting hit by friendly fire.
"DIE!" Mr. Club Man screamed as he reached me.
He towered over me as he swung his club in a downward arc towards me, his bulky body blocking the path of any bullets. I watched him is some sort of horror filled admiration, the club was huge and he was moving it around as if it was one of the foam noodles you use in a pool! I didn't have to long to stare though as the club came straight at me, causing me to throw myself to the right. I decided to see if something else worked because now I'm 'in the open' again I could get shot any second. I needed to keep moving. I ran straight at the wall, which was rather close. It took less than two or three bounds to reach it and I jumped against it. My paw slapped against the cold alley wall, my head twisting to survey my flight path. I pushed off the wall, flying upwards in the air. I twisted my body around so I was heading straight for the guy, my knife flashing ominously. By this time he had his club coming towards me like one would hit a baseball with a bat. I swore mentally at how fast this guy was, my front paws touching down against his club. How other people do this, I will never know. Pain shot up my legs, the unexpected force behind it causing me to grunt and flip awkwardly. I ended up flipping over the club and into the huge guy, my body connecting with his head. Before I had time to regain my senses I found myself on the ground, on top of the guy with my sight swimming dizzily.
"Get the dog now!" Another voice ordered, the sounds rolling around dully in my ears. I wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying.
I heard shots echo and I felt one skin past my shoulder blade causing me to yelp loudly. It was enough for my senses to snap back to me and I rolled off the guy, jumping to the left. I then darted forward in a zigzagging pattern, trying to avoid any more shots. The next two people I attacked were two gun men, my blade flashing in my grip as I charged. I launched myself at the first guy, still zigzagging to avoid getting shot. I drove the hilt of my knife right into his gut, causing him to keel over. I darted past him and straight for the other gun wielder, repeating the same thing. Shots kept echoing around the place though as the last gunman and rifleman kept trying to shoot me. The shots seemed to be closer and closer to hitting me, so I took another plan of action.
I threw myself to the right and jumped behind the metal bin from before, filching as I heard the bullets bouncing off the metal. I quietly slipped my knife back in its holster, trying to move as fast as I could. I could already hear people coming this way. I then reached up, grasping the lid of the bin and pulling it towards me so that the metal bin fell over. Before it hit the ground I grasped the handle of the bin lid and yanked it off the bin. The trash spilled everywhere as the bin clattered to the ground, the bin lid staying in my grasp. I held the lid in front of me as more bullets bounced off. The bin lid acted as a very, very handy shield. If only I could see past it!
I heard two men release some sort of a battle cry as they charged at me, so I started to run forward. I smashed the lid into the side of the bin and pushed it forward with the lid. The bin rolled in front of me and acted like a sort of odd, homemade bulldozer. When I was mere meters in front of the men I ground to a halt, the bin still flying forward. I quickly turned to the side, angling my bin lid so it mostly rested again my shoulder. I heard them both cry out as they fell over the bin. I let out a grunt as both of their heads conveniently smashed into the lid that I was holding, the force of the blow causing me to stumble back a few steps. I saw two spears roll past me, realizing that the spears were their weapons and if the angled them right on their fall they could have gutted me like a pig. It is so not safe to fight without sight…
More bullets bounced off the lid, snapping me back to the present yet again. For all the help my mind was in coming up with plans and strategies, it was hopeless at paying attention for a long amount of time. One more gunman and a rifleman were now my main adversaries that had to be dealt with. The others will be easier to deal with I hope. I charged again, straight to where I could hear the bullets of a gunman coming from. The bullets kept bouncing off my shield as I got, my blind charge shielded by the bin lid. My paws grasped the ground as I heaved myself forward. I calculated the distance roughly in my head, and when I was close enough I jumped, shield first. I smashed the shield into where I presumed the man's head was, and I was reward with a loud 'bang' as the lid slammed against flesh.
His body crumbled beneath me as I landed and stumbled away from him, a bit dizzy from the lid also smacking into my head from the rebound. I saw something moving in the corner of my eyes and brought my head around quickly to block something on my shield. It rattled and fell to the ground near my paw. I blinked owlishly at the chain for a few seconds before mentally swearing. How was I meant to fight a chain like that without my proper sight and movement! If I could safely take out that damned sniper so I wouldn't get shot in the back while fighting I would be right.
I decided to try and ignore the man with the chain, and charged past him to the side as I charged towards where the sniper should have been. I heard the chain coming for me again at the same time some more bullets bounced off my shield. I duck low to the ground, the bin lid dragging against in the dirt as I heard the chain go flying over me and impact on the wall. That didn't stop me, I had my goal set on the sniper and I wasn't about to stop.
The sniper kept trying to shoot me, and as I got closer I heard him fumbling a bit with his gun. No amount bullets he shot could stop me; they just bounced off my shield. When I was but a few paces away from him I heard him throw away his sniper with a cry, stumbling to get away from my charge. It was no use though, I just ran right into his legs, plowing him over. As he hit the ground I dropped the bin lid shield and jumped onto his chest. His hands came up to try and push me away as he cried out. I just threw my weight forward, the top of skull slamming into his chin. He slumped to the ground, out cold.
My victory was short lived however as I felt a chain wrap around my back left heel, my head snapping around in time to see the chain guy behind me. He sent me a smirk and roughly jerked his chain towards him so that I was thrown back, landing on my side in the dirt with a grunt. I snapped my eyes back open in time to see another two pirate hunters charge at me while the chain guy stood back, content enough with having his chain around my leg to hold me down. I did a quick assessment of my next two opponents; one was armed with an axe and the other with a sword.
The swordsman ran slightly in front of the axe wielder and because of the chain I wouldn't be able to dodge swing from such dangerous weapons. My best shot would be to run towards the chain wielder, so I have more room to move the end of the chain, and hope he doesn't have the time to tighten the chain before I dealt with these two lugs.
With that decided I rolled back onto my paws, jumping back up. My legs and muscles already protested, not being used to this much movement so quickly in such a situation as this.
I ran straight at the swordsman first, making a beeline to him. He began to swing his sword in a sweeping motion, coming in from the left. I threw myself against the dirt so that I skidded past him on my stomach, going under his sword. I then jumped back up and ran behind his back. As he twisted around to face me I kept going, doing a full circle around him and dodging his next swing again as I went. I then dashed past him, heading for the axe wielder now. When I got several paces away from the swordsman I was yanked to a stop by the chain around my ankle. I heard an exclamation behind me as the swordsman was yanked to the ground the chain. Now if the chain guy tried to tighten his chain he would pull in his friend first. I then purposely baited the axe man, dancing around on swift paws in front of him. He cleaved through the air with axe, the blade sliding past my fur. I felt the breeze that came from the moving object, but I smirk as at the last second I shifted my back left leg so that the chain just under his axe. The axe smashed into the chain and broke right through it. Image if that was my flesh and bone… Ouch!
"IDIOT!" I heard the chain guy cry out as his chain was broken.
I felt the chain loosen and fall off my heel as the axe wielder hefted his heavy axe up for another swing at me. I didn't give him time though as I threw my head into his crotch. This really was becoming a trade move of mine.
He squeaked in a high pitched voice, dropping his axe as he fell to his knew grasping his crotch. I quickly swiped my knife out of its holster yet again, slamming the hilt into his temple. Another one down. Two more to go.
I turned in time to almost get my tail chopped off by the sword wielder; apparently he had managed to get out of the chain already. He moved very fast and if I slowed down his speed I would be able to deal with him easily. I slipped past his sword and stuck the blade of my knife straight into his thigh. He screamed in pain and brought down his sword at me again. I quickly yanked my knife back as I threw myself behind him. I landed on front paw and pivoted around, pushing off with my hind legs as I threw my head into the back of his knees. His legs gave out on him as he fell to his knees and I smashed the top of my skull into the back of his head. He gasped slightly before slumping over. I was going to get permanent brain damage if I keep using my head as a weapon like this...
I slowly angled my body around so that I could glower at the chain man, the last one left to beat. He had a furious look on his face, his chain clenched between his hands. My tail raised stiffly behind my body as I began to growl at him, stalking forward in an ominous manner. The chain man threw the end of his chain up in the air, the chain spinning around like a blade of a helicopter. It made and odd whooshing sound as it swung in the air, but I ignored that, my options and battle plans flying through my head. I was a short range fighter; he was a long ranged one. This should be easy. I have the upper hand if I can get close to him. I would wait for him to make the first move though, because once his chain was throw it would take him time to get it back in to him again for use. I could use that time to get close to him. I slipped my knife away again. It wouldn't help a lot in getting past a chain.
I stopped, just within range of his chain, my blue eyes narrowed dangerously as I challenged him with my growl. We stared at each other for a few minutes, seeming to be at a stalemate. I could guess that he knew what my plan was. And I knew what his was. He would wait for me to move first; thinking that I was just a dumb dog.
The silence and the tension seemed to crackle in the air, as still neither of us refused to move. This was broken when I felt an arm encircle my neck, something cold pressing to the side of my head, just behind my left eye. My bandanna was squished down uncomfortably, but it somewhat shielded me from the tight grip. I heard an audible click and froze, seeing out of the corner of my eyes that it was the gunman from before. The one whose wrist I had broken. How he got that close I don't know; I must have been too busy concentrating on the chain guy.
"Don't move doggy, if you don't want your head blown off," Said Mr. Broken Wrist as he pressed the barrel of the gun further into my fur.
I glanced back at the chain guy, who seemed rather pleased with himself. Of course, he must have seen this guy coming towards me. He has a damn good poker face, which was all I could say.
"What are you going to do now?" Mr. Chain Guy taunted me. As if my pride wasn't wounded enough being caught like this, but this guy thought he could taunt me as well.