CHAPTER 4 - Dire Straits

"K… Kanae Kocho…" Tomioka couldn't believe his eyes.

"Wait, she's Kocho-ya's sibling?" Law was shocked.

Shinobu took over the battle from Zoro, clashing swords against the opponent.

"How do you know that?" Tomioka was surprised. He had no idea that Law had any knowledge of Shinobu's sister.

"Zoro-ya?"

"That's the deceased sister Shinobu was talking about." Zoro mentioned, "This has been a morbid night."

Kanae Kocho was much stronger than Shinobu had remembered since the last time. The master of the Flower Breath Style attacked with a much robust and aggressive strength against her known graceful movements.

"Big sister! What's wrong with you?" Shinobu hollered.

"Big sister? Poor thing, I believe you must've mistaken me for someone else." Kanae replied.

Against everyone's expectations, she withdrew her blade, "I came to hunt demons. You don't look like the ones I'm looking for. I don't have the time to drag this fight any longer."

But Shinobu wasn't satisfied. She wanted answers. She was upset. She wanted Kanae to remember.

Blades clashed once again.

"I guess you wouldn't stop? It's a pity that I'll have to kill you." Kanae said, "Breath of Flower, Fourth Form…"

"I think this should stop." Law suggested. Zoro didn't move.

"Crimson Hanagoromo."

To Shinobu's eyes, Kanae performed one of her own techniques for the first time. Shinobu was overwhelmed, despite her deployed defence. Her guard broke, throwing her off her stance. Tomioka rushed in to protect Shinobu. But Kanae showed no restraint.

She's too fast. Tomioka drew his sword, hoping to reach in time and block the move.

"No mercy." Kanae said, hacking her blade upon her forgotten sister. Tomioka was too late.

"Lion's Song!"

To Kanae's surprise, her blade was cut in two.

A strong attack, dicing her blade into two. Zoro turned back and aimed his Shusui.

"This fight is over. Your opponent's down." he mentioned, "If you are eager to continue, I'll take over."

Kanae looked at her blade and immediately realised Zoro's skill and strength. She returned her gaze upon Tomioka, who was protecting a wounded Shinobu.

"Very well." Kanae withdrew her broken blade.

Zoro and Tomioka kept their guard.

"I'll leave." Kanae declared.

"But before that, tell us one thing." Law stepped up into the game. Kanae shifted her gaze.

"Did you kill those people back in the forest?"

Kanae continued to look upon him.

"I don't know what you are talking about." she replied, looking upon Shinobu.

"Don't you remember your younger sister?" Tomioka demanded.

Kanae glared upon her fallen opponent, "My… younger sister…" She sighed after a ponder, "I don't remember having any siblings."

With a cold reply, Kanae Kocho, departed from the area. Zoro and Law decided not to pursue her.

"You wanted to let her go?" Law asked.

"I'd ask you the same thing. You didn't lift a finger." Zoro replied.

"It doesn't matter. Besides, Kocho-ya's not in good shape. It was her fight." Law said.

Both agreed upon a conclusion.

Law treated Shinobu's wounds. All of them waited for her to regain consciousness. The world looked blurry in the dead of the night.

"Ah!" Shinobu woke up with a start, "Where's she?"

"Gone." Zoro replied.

The lady discovered her companions amidst her agitation.

"You alright?" Tomioka asked.

"I think so." Shinobu remembered the whole thing.

"I'm sorry for getting worked up." she apologised, "I never expected to find her here. Guess I got knocked out."

"This night is getting stranger." Law noted, knowing it did not bode well for the long run, "We believed that sister of yours was dead. What the hell's going on?"

"She was dead." assured Tomioka, "I heard she died fighting an Upper Demon Moon."

"Then why's she here? What is this loony island?" Law demanded.

"We are in the dark as you are."

"She has become much stronger than before." Shinobu mentioned, "And she used techniques that are unaware to me."

"Maybe she had faked her death and has been training all these years." Zoro blurted.

"It seems unlikely." Tomioka replied.

"I saw her for the last rites. How dare you mock her death?" Shinobu seemed provoked.

"Because she looked pretty alive." Zoro retorted.

"We can't waste time arguing about this woman." Law got to the point, "And we can't stay here like sitting ducks. Confronting those Demons are our priority. Let's get things straight."

Tomioka agreed, "The northern shore's a few ways up ahead."

"What do you think, Tomioka?" Shinobu asked.

"She has changed since the last time." Tomioka noted, "But it was her, alright. That Crimson Hanagoromo was a good reminder."

Shinobu nodded. Tomioka asked Law, "Tell me? Why did you ask her of the forest massacre? Do you believe she killed those people?"

"I had my doubts. She qualified for the criteria. A skilled swordswoman, she showed hostility and was no Demon from what I could tell. Maybe she might've hacked those poor folks on a whim."

Shinobu looked back with an angry stare. There seemed to be mockery in his statement, she believed. But Tomioka took it in a logical sense. He understood Law's better assessment to suspect.

"She talked about killing demons." Law revealed his analysis, "Of course, there's the chance that she might have lied, but I have a feeling she may be working for someone."

"How do you know?" Shinobu demanded.

"I don't. I'm sorting out the possibilities. I don't know what she was like back in your day, but, it's best we are prepared for uncertainties."

The sun was on the rise. The group cleared the forest finding themselves at the northern shore. They found a boat docked at the beach.

"Is that yours?" Zoro asked.

Tomioka and Shinobu denied. Law walked ahead. The wind blew in from the sea and he was shocked to find a Jolly Roger flying above the mighty mast. He couldn't mistake the symbol.

"Whose Jolly Roger is that?" Zoro asked Law.

The latter looked around and found no one in the area. For a moment, he had thought to take the boat and escape out to sea, hoping that they'll find the Barto Club's ship and the Straw Hat Pirates. But he resisted from many things that seemed uncertain.

There was no one on the boat.

"Room!" Law bellowed, "Shambles!"

He made the boat disappear from the shore.

"Hey, what's going on?" Tomioka asked in surprise.

Law rushed back with an unsettled demeanour. If they are forced to escape, they'll need that boat as the last straw. He had no idea who had landed on the shores of that island but it was bad news.

Zoro wanted an answer.

"Why did you hide the boat?" he asked.

"That flag belongs to the Beast Pirates. Kaido's men have made it ashore." Law declared.

"Did they follow us or something?" Zoro was shocked.

"I doubt it. If they had known of our arrival, Kaido's men might've got wind of our presence out here. It's just a matter of coincidence and luck that we've discovered their vessel before they found us. The boat isn't big enough for a full-fledged crew. I'd assume it's some sort of an evacuation vessel." The boat was hidden inside the forest, "But let's leave it at that for now. We can't risk running into them, and speaking of which we will need to get out of here sooner than later."

Shinobu and Tomioka had no idea what was going on, but they realised that the people who had made ashore were bad news. Law's demeanour was enough to tell them. Whilst retreating back into the forest, Law had mentioned them the discovery he had made.

"I was careless. The island can be wiped out if we are not careful." Law mentioned, "This changes things."

An explosion shook the northern beaches.

"Apapapa… and I thought this island was deserted. You are a nasty lady."

Kanae Kocho confronted an unknown face. A weird man who used sorcery to create explosions.

"I believe you are not here to meet the Master?" Kanae asked. She had retained her broken blade ready to attack at moment's notice.

"Master? Apapa… I guess I have enraged the guardians of this island. What a mess! I shouldn't have joined the team to save Doflamingo's ass." the guy told himself, "Lady! Have you seen any marines out here?"

"Marines? You not from around here, are you?" Kanae was annoyed. She was eager to fight.

"Very well, then. You don't seem the kind who'd back away if asked nicely." the guy said, "Get ready to be defeated by the 'Roar of the Sea', behold Scratchmen Apoo!" he struck a pose.

TO BE CONTINUED…