"Aw, come on Buggy" Shanks teased him. Buggy was sick of his crew mate. The other cabin boy was poking him with his mop. It was infuriating. When Buggy set out to become a pirate, he was expecting mounds of treasure and a life of luxury. What he wasn't expecting was having to deal with an annoying red-head, scrubbing away at the deck all day, and catching random bouts of scurvy, leaving him unable to hunt for treasure on any of the islands they landed on. In his 2 years with the Roger Pirates, Buggy had barely been able to scrounge up enough Beri for a fancy meal! Which wasn't even really necessary because the cooks on Roger's ship made the best food. But that wasn't the point!
"What are you so caught up on, Rubber Nose?" Shanks asked, reaching forward to yank on his Nakama's honker.
"Get away from me, tomato-top!" Buggy protested, swatting at the other cabin boy. Shanks stuck out his tongue at his blue-haired friend.
"As if your blueberry locks are any better!" Shanks grinned. Buggy smacked him. Shanks was about to strike him back when Rayleigh passed by. Both boys snapped to attention, arms whipping into a salute. Rayleigh noticed them and smiled softly before laughing.
"This isn't the navy, you little whipper-snappers!" Rayleigh guffawed, doubling over. "Get back to work, will ya!"
"Yes sir!" the boys responded, "Right away sir!"
Rayleigh shook his head despondently and walked off. Buggy made a face at Shanks before soaking his mop in his bucket.
"How can you stand it?" Buggy asked, slapping the mop to the deck, and pushing the suds around before finally digging in. Shanks raised an eyebrow.
"Stand what?" he asked, dipping into his own pail.
"All their patronizing!" Buggy exclaimed, raising his mop into the air in protest and sending dirty water everywhere.
"What patronizing?" Shanks asked, scrunching up his nose. Buggy sighed in exasperation.
"They're treating us for fools!" Buggy whispered frantically, checking to make sure no one else was around.
"What do you mean by that?" Shanks narrowed his eyes.
"Think about it tomato-top," Buggy said, "they force us to work all day, never let us have any treasure, and don't let us go off on our own! They're acting like we're children!"
Shanks hummed thoughtfully.
"We are children, though."
"That's besides the point!" Buggy pouted. "We left our homes to go on this journey! We're mature enough to handle everything!"
"Uh-huh." Shanks laughed, "Sure. There's a reason they force us to work all day. We're not strong enough to do anything else. Heck, we don't even qualify for the lowest ranks of fighters! We're lucky to even be on the Oro Jackson!"
"I don't know about you, tomato-top, but I'm pretty strong!" Buggy objected.
"Prove it!" Shanks said, waggling his tongue and dropping to the ground. His elbow rested on the floor, and he raised his hand tauntingly.
"You're gonna regret this," said Buggy, lying down beside him. The boys clasped hands, and Shanks began the countdown. 3. 2. 1. Both Boys began pressing against the other's hand, trying to force them to bend to the floor. Every time it seemed one of them would win, the other would press back. One of their crewmates saw them arm-wrestling, and quickly called over a few others to watch. Before long, a crowd had gathered, and one person was even taking bets. Both boys were drenched with sweat, but they both refused to give in.
"Just… Let it go… Already…" Buggy muttered through gritted teeth.
"No… Way…" Shanks gasped, pushing even harder. Suddenly, both boys froze, as a dark shadow loomed over them. They looked around, and saw that the rest of their crew mates had returned to their posts. They looked up.
"Playing around, are we?" Rayleigh asked, his eyebrow twitching. "This isn't the navy, boys, but don't think you can get away with not doing your chores!"
Buggy and Shanks yelped as the Dark King picked them up by their shirt collars and launched them over board.
Buggy shouted as he hit the water, which was biting with cold. Shanks looked as if he shared the sentiment.
"We'll haul you back up in half an hour!" Rayleigh called from the ship, "Don't die!"
"I blame you entirely," Buggy chattered.
Hatchan felt numb in the center of his chest. Every other inch of his body felt completely alive, sensitive, and reactive. But his chest. A small, 1 centimetre hole in his chest. Felt nothing. It was frightening. But it only lasted for a second. As soon as the shock fell away, it relented to pain. Mind-numbing, burning pain. In all his years with Arlong and Tiger, Hachi had never felt anything like this. The bullet had been burried deep within him. Saint Charloss was a freakishly idiotic man, but he did know how to use a weapon. Hachi felt blood seep into his sweatshirt, and dribble down his arm. It was hot. Firey. The tips of his fingers dripped with the liquid, and in the dead silence, every single drop that fell to the ground could be heard. Through the pain, Hachi could hear Saint Charloss laughing, but the words coming out of his mouth were incoherent. Hachi felt like he was going to throw up. The auction's audience began murmurring, their whispers slowly filling the room. Hachi heard someone, walking up the steps. It was the Straw Hat boy. He was… Moving towards Saint Charloss..Hachi's breathing was laboured. He felt weak. But, for the sake of the island… For all the people on it..
"W..Wait…Please,
" Hachi grabbed Straw Hat as he passed by him. The boy tried to tug away, but Hachi held fast. God, it hurt.
"Straw Hat…" Hachi heaved, "You can't…get upset…I was just careless, that's all…"
Straw Hat turned to look at him. Hachi saw his that his eyes were wide and his mouth was glued into a grimace. He was furious. Hachi had to ensure… That he didn't hurt anyone…
"You promised that…" Hachi managed, "Even if someone was shot right before your eyes…you wouldn't lay a hand on the Celestial Dragons, right?!" Hachi raised his voice, sending himself into a coughing fit. He could barely breathe.
The Straw Hat flinched, his eye twitching into a narrow slit.
"After all," Hachi continued painfully, "I used to be a pirate…I did so many awful things, so…I had this coming…"
The Straw Hat's face was a mask. Hachi wasn't getting through to him. It seemed ridiculous. How could the laughing, hearty, optimistic boy that was Straw Hat be the same person as this cold, uncaring youth?
"Sorry… I never wanted this to happen…I just wanted…to make up for all the things I did to Nami…!" Hachi coughed. His breaths were wheezing now. "I was trying to help you, but…As always…I just screw up no matter what I do…!"
The glint in Straw Hat's eyes faded as the boy took Hachi's hand into his own. He knelt down to Hachi, and placed his hand near the wound.
"I really am… clumsy after all…" Hachi attempted a feeble laugh, but broke off into a coughing fit. "In the end… I just caused you trouble…! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
"Yoo damn fish!" Saint Charloss whined. The glint in Straw Hat's eyes returned. "Even after I shooot yoo, yoo keep talking! Yoo're annoying!"
Saint Charloss aimed his gun at Hachi, and Straw Hat turned to face the noble. No! He couldn't do this! There were millions of pirates on the island. If Straw Hat raised a finger against Charloss…!
"Yoo, what's with that look of yoors?" Charloss drawled, staring down the Straw Hat. The Straw Hat began walking up the steps. Hachi could hear Pappug trying to stop him, trying to calm him down, but it did no good. Straw Hat was furious. Nothing would stop him. Hachi felt faint. Holding the Straw Hat back had drained him of his health. He slipped in and out of darkness. The last thing he remembered before fainting was Straw Hat's scream as he auditorium rang with the cracking sound of Charloss's helmet and face.
A.N: Oop. It's a bit late, forgive me? Buggy is an awesome character. Frankly, it's so much fun to see him popping up throughout the series, and trying to guess what arc he'll appear in next! I thought I'd blast to the past and write out his relationship with our favourite Yonko. I honestly like how it turned out a lot! Hate was a little more difficult. You'll notice that they're both rather situational, but I tried to write Hachi's in a reflective point regarding a canon scene. So I hope that balanced it at least a bit. Reviews, Favourites, Subscriptions, Reader Birthdays, and Reviews are welcomed and much appreciated. I'll see you tomorrow for Wapol and Vegapunk!