CHAPTER 22 - Hit & Run
"I have a name. And it's Daki." she mentioned her demon name.
"Just like that Kokushibo. I believe you are an Upper Moon-demon?"
"Very perceptive of you, Captain Law." Daki replied, getting up.
The girls in the establishment were surprised to find the hardened man walk out with one of the renowned Oirans in the Yoshiwara district. They began to form regard for the Heart Pirates Captain, who was personally selected by someone like Warabihime. But the manager was against Law's decision.
"I need to leave the city. Some urgent business." Law said, making an extra payment to avoid trouble.
"This lady wants to have a business chat someplace else." he lied, "Thanks for your help, and uh, let the shipwright boss know that I'm once again grateful." Law told the manager. The girls thought he was going for a night out someplace else. That made them jealous of the Oiran from another house, who had barged into their settlement . The manager nodded to his words. His taxing look whilst leaving the Tokito House made her realise that he was in trouble.
They came up upon a back alley where people didn't show up at the hour. No one would've expected an Oiran as Warabihime to venture into shady places that night.
"Tell me about this Blood Demon Art of yours? How do you store the people?" Law asked.
"Why must you ask?" Daki returned the question.
"I have consented to your deal. I believe we are in the same boat until we meet your leader?"
"I guess it wouldn't hurt to say. The sashes are part of my flesh, capable of storing humans inside me as I see fit." Daki explained, "I heard you are working with the Demon Slayers?"
"I was."
"Those morons don't have a chance of confronting the Master. I myself have defeated and devoured Seven Hashiras in the past." Daki said, "I don't know why but it seems you are one of the few humans that the Master has taken an interest in."
"He'll turn me into a Demon, I believe." Law assumed.
"You'll gain eternal life and unbelievable strength, much beneficial than being a puny human." Daki said, indicating at her sash, "I caught these three rats trying to find my truth behind my back."
Whilst they waited in the middle of the lonely alley, Daki extended her sash, revealing three women from inside. Law was surprised that Daki's ability was similar to certain Devil Fruit Powers with storage capabilities.
"Y... you are a human." muttered one of those women. She was awake and conscious, unlike the others.
"He worked with the Demon Slayers." Daki revealed to her, "You both might be acquainted."
The woman was pretty looking and could've passed easily for a service girl. She had long black hair tied to a ponytail and had a mole located beneath her left eye. But Law's attention caught her terrified face.
"I haven't seen you." she replied.
"What's your name?" Law asked.
"H... Hinatsuru." the woman trembled, "I work for Tengen Uzui, the Sound Hashira."
"Hah, well he will be surprised finding you in my belly soon enough." Daki mocked.
"You have to help us. There are fifteen women trapped inside." Hinatsuri pleaded.
Law shook his head, "I'm sorry, lady. As you can see, I'm in a conundrum. You all will be killed if I don't meet the Demon Master. I'll try to make a deal."
"Please!" Hinatsuri pleaded, but Daki engulfed her and her fainted companions back into the sash.
"I might let them go depending on the Master's decision." Daki said, with a cold look.
"You said they all are trapped inside your sashes?" Law asked.
"That's right and as she said, I have fifteen of them inside."
"I see." Law nodded, "So what are we waiting here for?"
"The Biwa-woman shall arrive. We shall meet the Master soon after that."
"Very well." Law adjusted his hat, "Room!"
"What the..."
"Radio Knife!" Law hacked the demon lady into three pieces, cutting down the sashes into segments.
"What are you doing?" Daki was shocked.
Law had no time to spare. He stabbed his sword into the woman's face.
"Injection Shot!"
An explosion shook the lonely alley, shooting Daki's head far away into a crash. The electric shock from the Radio Knife had paralysed the remaining demonic body, releasing its control over the cut-down and weakened sashes. All the fifteen women trapped inside popped out into the open. The surprise attack reminded Law of the moment when Usopp had defeated Sugar liberating all the toys back in Dressrosa. Hinatsuru was the only one who was conscious.
"Y... you saved us." she realised, shocked.
"We'll talk later. Is this all of them?" Law demanded. Hinatsuri looked around and nodded that everyone was accounted for.
"Okay, Shambles!" Law teleported all the fifteen ladies away from the area.
"Who in the world are you?" Hinatsuru asked. Her companions began to wake up one after the other.
The shipwright boss wasn't pleased with Law's sudden request but he couldn't keep his surprise to find all those women. Law requested the man to hide them from the common enemy.
"They had all disappeared from what I've heard. And there were more." the shipwright boss said.
"A demon was responsible, posing as a head lady in one of those brothels." Law explained.
"Her Oiran name is Warabihime." Hinatsuri said.
"Well, she told me her name was Daki, but whatever." Law looked at her.
"Warabihime!" the shipwright boss was surprised.
"Your reference led me to a brothel." Law told the man.
"Ah, the manager of the Tokito House is a good friend of mine. A drinking buddy, you could say. I hope she welcomed you?"
"She did." Law nodded, despite all the trouble he had to face, "Listen, does this Daki or Wara...whatever know of your connection with the manager lady?"
"I don't think so. I've heard of these demons. Am I in danger?" the boss asked.
"Not as much as me." Law said, "As far as I know, the whole gang might show up after me for my stunt."
"What did you do?" the shipwright was frightened.
Law explained to the shipwright that Daki and the other Demons might come after him, since he made a somewhat declaration of war against them. Law told them all that he'll be leaving Tokyo as soon as possible. That would leave the city and the Yoshiwara district cleared away of the demons.
"Let the ladies known what happened once they wake up. I think they'll remember the Demon. And also, spread the news of what I have said should that demon lady disappear from the city." Law concluded.
"But Captain Law, what should happen to you?" the shipwright boss asked, "I can only say that you've done a great deed saving these women's lives."
"And I want you to keep them hidden and alive for a while. That's for their safety and yours as well. You've made a fine ship and let's consider my contribution tonight as even. I shall come back later."
The shipwright boss nodded.
"Alright, I'm off. Don't want to endanger anyone further."
Law left the wharf, finding three women in front of him. Hinatsuru was among them.
"You are Captain Law, the new Hashira?" Hinatsuru asked.
"Right."
The three of them bowed in his presence.
"I'm Hinatsuru as I've mentioned, and these are Suma and Makio. We three are co-wives to Tengen Uzui, who happens to be our husband."
Law wasn't expecting the surprise.
"We would like to accompany you to the Demon Slayer Headquarters if you don't mind." Makio said.
"Very well."
Law consented, explaining they might have to face trouble on the return journey.
Daki, the Upper Demon Moon, did not show up once they were aboard a returning train. Unlike his previous journey, Law was no longer a stowaway but a respectable customer. He walked outside the last compartment gangway that resembled a small veranda. Dawn lighted the sky. He hoped that the return would be smooth, travelling distance at daylight. Hinatsuru showed up and brought him breakfast.
"Thanks." Law replied, "How are your co-wives... I mean your companions doing?"
"It's alright." Hinatsuru chuckled, "They will be okay. They are just tired from the ordeal. Thank you for the health check-up back at the wharf. I believe all the ladies would be indebted to all the help you had done for us."
"Doctor's duty." Law said, "But I was kind of surprised to find an Upper Moon-demon in the city."
"Makio, Suma, and I were sent to investigate a rumour a while back. But that got us caught onto the spider's web." Hinatsuru said.
"Well at the least, you three are returning home." Law said, "Since you are related to him, I met Uzu-ya a while back. He went on ahead to find an allied shipmate of mine."
"We have heard of you and Hashira Zoro. Tengen mentioned that your friend had defeated Hashira Shinazugawa in a one-on-one fight."
"That was an unneeded battle. That Shinazugawa was a maniac to start a fight. But I don't understand one thing amongst all the Demons Slayers. None of them would stop yapping about our encounters with Kokushibo, that Upper Moon-demon."
"That's a pretty big deal, sir." Hinatsuru appreciated the significance.
"No need for 'sir'. I won't be around as a Hashira for long. Will be out of the mainland before long." Law replied.
"How about 'Captain'?"
"Be my guest."
Hinatsuru chuckled to the man's reply, admiring his friendly, laid-back and humble personality. Law wasn't feeling half bad himself despite being sleep-deprived. He asked Hinatsuru to keep a look out whilst he decided to take a nap outside. She gladly accepted to help.
TO BE CONTINUED...