CHAPTER 13 - Mage
"Shut your yap and drink that medicine." Law said.
The Heart Pirates Captain was in-charge of looking after the patients injured in the train incident. The event that led to the demise of Pillar Rengoku.
"I don't wanna. It's so bitter!" Zenitsu complained.
"Listen to the Doctor, Zenitsu. Why are you whining like a brat?" Aoi was annoyed, "Just sit down and drink up."
Zenitsu showed no restraints in his behaviour, until Law drew out his sword.
"You got a problem?"
The problem-child was put in his place, drinking the bitter medicine he so hated and without further complaint.
"Alright, I'm done here for now. I'll be in my room if anything comes up." Law mentioned.
"Yes, sir." Aoi replied.
Law searched through various contexts to get a clue on how they had landed on a different realm. He found out that the Kraken was a real deal. It was expected to be responsible for the countless shipwreck those that ventured through the same patch of waters along the Ryukyu Island chain.
Law and Zoro weren't the only ones to find themselves out of the New World. The New Gecko Pirates along with a strong contingent of the Beast Pirates were added to the confusion. Law was beginning to wonder if the Grand Line of the New World shifted towards a new horizon that he had believed unforeseen. He remembered, there had been a thick fog on their departure from Dressrosa as Bartolomeo's ship made way for Zou.
The Heart Pirates Captain knew that something was up. Something connecting the fog from the New World and the Kraken.
There had been instances of people and ships disappearing at sea, but no significant information was being mentioned in the sources. Gecko Moria, under Law's custody, was tight-lipped as ever giving no answers despite the dangers and threats he had faced from Law. Kiyo showed up later in the afternoon for the Captain's lunch.
"Thank you." Law appreciated as he relished the meal.
"You must be tired. You have been working for three days straight." Kiyo said.
"I'll be fine." Law replied, "I'm a ship's Captain. I need to keep myself informed. People are depending on us to return back."
"Are you leaving soon?"
There was a sad look in her eyes. Law observed her.
"I shall be staying around until your mistress returns back. Besides, I gave my word to help out." he said.
Kiyo's face brightened up. She bowed and left with a smile.
Later, Aoi mentioned that a Kakushi had shown up with a message for him. Law left his books and walked to the entrance.
"Are you Trafalgar Law?" she asked.
"That's me." Law replied.
"A message from Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Pillar."
"Hmm… news sooner than I expected." Law wondered as he opened the letter.
But Aoi soon found him grave from the news.
"Damn it, Zoro-ya! How in the world did this happen?" Law grasped the paper in shock.
One day before…
"I don't know if it's normal to be attacked by demons frequent as the previous night." Zoro asked.
Pillar Shinobu Kocho, her sister Kanae and Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro were on their second day embarking on their journey to the eastern coast.
"Not to mention the highwaymen. But what's the complaint about? They are all taken care of." Shinobu replied.
"That's not what I meant. Setting aside the usual riff-raffs that should show up every once in a while, I refer to the demons. It almost seems according to Kagaya Ubuyashiki regarding the demon named Kibutsuji."
"What do you expect? The Demon Slayers are in excitement after news spread of Law and yourself confronting two Demon Moons. The enemy is well aware of your doings." Shinobu revealed, "And I believe they are beginning to understand your potential since the Ryukyu Island incidents. I don't want to sound pessimistic, but we should be concerned in a way."
"Well, I'm not complaining if I get the chance to face that swordsman, Kokushibo. But I wonder what's that Kibutsuji's like? He wouldn't be half as bad if he's the boss of that swordsman." Zoro wondered.
"You have no clue of the danger you are in, are you?" Shinobu asked in pity, "But alas, you are a hard-headed optimist. I won't argue with that."
"What do you mean by hard-headed?" Zoro asked annoyed.
Shinobu observed a stack of paper inside Zoro's jacket.
"What are those?" she asked.
"These?" Zoro took them out and gave them to her, "Have a look for yourself."
"Wait, are these bounty posters?" she asked.
"That's right."
"Monkey D. Luffy - 500 million, Roronoa Zoro - 320 million, God Usopp - 200 million… these are your crewmates? Look, here's Trafalgar Law - 500 million." Shinobu was surprised.
"That's right." Zoro nodded, "Luffy is the captain of our crew."
"Law is a crew Captain, isn't he? His bounty is the same as Monkey D. Luffy. But what did you do to get such nasty numbers?"
"We pissed off the government and more." Zoro said with pride, "But as for the two Captains, Luffy and Tora-o have an agreed alliance between our crews. The plan was to defeat a Warlord named Doflamingo and later take down Emperor Kaido."
"A Warlord, you mean like Law and that Moria? I can only fathom from their strength and the possible threat."
"That's right. Warlords can hold their own against enemies. These guys have been a pain in our butt for a while now. First, it was Crocodile, then Gecko Moria, and finally Donquixote Doflamingo, who was defeated a few weeks back."
"You defeated them all?"
"I had been involved in the circumstances, but Luffy's the one."
"Your Captain must be a formidable man. But I wonder why you'd have these posters now?"
"Tora-o made a valid point when he gave them to me. After discovering Jack and his crewmates along with Gecko Moria in this realm, there might be a chance to encounter my crew out here."
"I guess time will tell." Zoro looked at Kanae, "But what about her? Is it alright to bring your sister along?"
"Master Ubuyashiki said so." Shinobu replied.
"Don't you think she has had enough with this crap? It was bad enough when Moria brought her back." Zoro said.
"Do you have any problems with that?" Kanae asked, "Master Moria has relinquished his control over me since Captain Law is in control. It was my consent to come along. I cannot let my sister roam free in such a dangerous mission."
"That's your choice then. But I'm surprised you have recognised Shinobu as your sibling. I mean, you had tried to kill her the first few times." Zoro asked.
"My memories were obscure but they have returned back by the time we were ashore. Over time, my body began to remember more and more in regard to its past life. I met Master Ubuyashiki the night after your meeting at the graveyard, where my body had been put to rest before. He reminded me of the things I had accomplished as a Demon Slayer, the things I had cherished, my family who had perished from a demon attack, leaving my sister and myself alive, and in the end, my own death, from an Upper Demon Moon named Doma."
"So what's your point? You want to find this Demon bastard?" Zoro asked.
"After your fight with Kokushibo, I doubt Muzan Kibutsuji would let you go free. For both you and Law. I heard that you had messed up Kibutsuji's plans on the island where we met. I'd be careful, if I were you." Kanae mentioned.
Despite the potential threat, Kanae had a glad look.
"From your demeanor, I'd say you are looking forward to this?" Zoro was amused, "If you are expecting that Upper Demon Moon that killed you showing up, I ain't complaining."
Kanae smiled in reply.
"I can't believe you guys." Shinobu sighed.
They arrived upon the eastern coast the same afternoon. A long beach awaited their sights. There seemed to be a fishing village at the far end but no sign of the threat they had been expecting. They decided to enquire the locals, regarding any sightings of ships with Jolly Rogers. But to their surprise, they found the village was devoid of any humans. It reminded Zoro and Shinobu of the day when they had encountered each other at the Ryukyu Island village.
"What do you think?" Zoro asked.
"I can't say for certain. There is no bloodshed nor any form of destruction. Besides, it doesn't seem that the people have been gone for much long." Shinobu glanced upon the sun, "The sun will set in a few hours."
"The Demons attacked us the previous night. Wait, I believe we are closing onto something." Zoro sensed a presence with his Observation Haki.
"There's someone nearby." he said, walking through the village. It was eerie enough that the houses were abandoned in broad daylight. Some of them reeked of fish that were being caught as the morning haul. Shinobu was surprised by Zoro's rush. Kanae followed them.
To Shinobu's amazement, Zoro faced a man at the end of the street. The Pirate Hunter had a serious look on his face. Shinobu and Kanae observed the man blocking their way on the road.
"It's been a while since I last saw you, Pirate Hunter Zoro." the man said.
Shinobu and Kanae went on guard.
"Who's he?" Shinobu asked.
"I might've seen him somewhere, but I can't seem to remember." Zoro replied. He drew out his Shusui but decided not to show hostility before he got some answers.
"It's a shame, but nevertheless, I commend Straw Hat and Trafalgar Law's alliance in taking down Doflamingo. Not that it did any good for you guys, but I guess now I can understand why the Captain of the Heart Pirates saved Straw Hat back in Marineford. You people are audacious if nothing else." the man said.
"Who the hell are you?" Zoro realised that the man knew more than he himself had assumed, realising he was formidable. Zoro aimed his sword upon the stranger.
"Your survival chance is 33 percent within the next few days. Hmm… more than I had assumed. But my victory here is 87 percent. Very fascinating." the man looked through some cards, before returning his gaze back upon Zoro, "My name is Basil Hawkins, I remember you back in Sabaody Archipelago trying to cut down the Celestial Dragon without thinking of the repercussions. Not that it mattered in the end, your Captain saw to that either way."
"Hawkins? I heard that name before."
"I was one of the Eleven Supernovas along with Straw Hat, Trafalgar Law, and yourself."
"So, you had a bounty beyond 100 million before entering the New World." Zoro said grinning, "And I presume you are working for Kaido since you are here?"
"They made landfall?" Shinobu was surprised.
"Well then, there's no need to drag the talks further." Hawkins drew out his sword.
"That's a weird sword you've got." Zoro observed Hawkins straw-sword, supplemented by the latter's Devil-fruit ability.
"You guys stay back. I'll handle him." Zoro mentioned, "There seems to be more of them ahead. It seems Jack's crew has made it ashore."
"Do we confront them?" Shinobu asked.
"Let me get this guy out of the way before you go ahead. I have a bad feeling about this." Zoro replied, glaring back upon Hawkins.
TO BE CONTINUED...