Chapter 6: So You Are Fishmen? I Am Not A Hero!
"Damn it," I growl into my palm as I felt my headache. "I can't believe I have to trust you two to lead us to this place."
My annoyance was directed at the duo of dipshits with bad fashion sense. After departing I'd asked a pretty important question. 'Where are we going?' After a moment of awkward silence, it came to me that neither of them actually knew. The distance between Nami and us made tracing her path impossible.
So I had to pick up the slack and reason her destination. I didn't have a lot to work with so we seemed screwed, but I was very good at taking leaps in logic to find small connections.
Right before Nami went turncoat on us, she'd shown no signs of planning this, so I'd assume she did what she did in a hurry. That meant that within a fairly short time-frame there was an inciting incident to drive her to it. When I racked my brain only one thing came to mind. The name I had spoken out loud while looking at the wanted posters.
It was a longshot, but Nami maybe had a connection to this Arlong feller. And I had to go with that, as it was the all I had at this point. But then a miracle came upon me to help out.
The white piece of garbage finally came through on something! The Codex had a new entry on Cocomi Island, the base of the Arlong Pirates and, as stated by a suspiciously helpful footnote, Nami's home island.
So with a confirmed destination, I was forced to rely on Bertie and Ernie here to get us there. I feel the pain in my head, which reminds me not to get too worked up. Luckily my bandaged skull was largely hidden underneath my wig, so I didn't need to worry about looking ridiculous.
"Have no fear, Abel-Banchou! We know where this island is," Johny said, controlling the rudder and our course.
"If there's anything we bounty hunters know, it's the big names and their favored locales," Yosaku continued, tightening the ropes holding the sail steady.
"Basically, you need to know when to avoid something out of your league," I remark, to both their indignation. "I'm not throwing shade at you, that's just smart. Always good to avoid fights you can't win."
"Thank you, Abel-Banchou!" Both of them were suddenly prostrating themselves before where I was seated.
"Don't thank me for calling you smart, cowards!" I snap at them, only wincing slightly my own raised tone. "Just get us there. The faster I get my stuff back the better."
The two obediently went back to their tasks.
"You know, why aren't you helping?" The third nuisance spoke up.
"Because I have a concussion and I really shouldn't move around too much for a while," I explained with a 'you fucking idiot' written on my face. "Not to mention a boat this small is meant to operate with a very small number of people. I'd only get in the way, not knowing shit about sailing. The most I can do is make sure none of you slack off and keep an eye on Zoro."
Long-nose gave a short "Oh," and went back to scouting the horizon. And speaking of the unconscious swordsman. He was a mess.
I'd taken it upon myself to change his bandages to give myself something to do, and it was not pretty. The long gash on his chest almost gave the impression he'd almost been cleaved in half, and the stitching was very amateurish and made in a hurry. It would work for now, but I didn't expect those stitches to last that long.
By all rights, and by my limited medical knowledge, I was looking at a dead man. Yet here he was, breathing and sleeping his injuries away, replenishing lost blood. I was starting to get Zoro's confidence. His will to live was unreal.
I shook my head softly, turning my attention to figuring out the bigger picture. Why had Nami betrayed us so suddenly? For what purpose? I asked myself questions like this to try and make sense of the situation and figure out her motivations.
The facts were: She was a thief, she had a borderline complex about money, and she seemed to have a connection to Arlong, who resided on her home island. Not much to work with, but I was gifted in logical reasoning.
My first thought was that she needed money for something, stealing it from pirates and the like, perhaps using a similar trick she used on us. But what for? Perhaps... to pay off a debt, maybe? No, that wouldn't give an air of desperation that hasty betrayal invoked. To buy something? More likely. Being extorted? Also a possibility.
She must've needed the money to do something with Arlong. A business deal? Contracted servitude? Forced servitude? She did say she was sorry before trying to cave my skull in...
Too many possibilities, none of them painting a pretty picture.
I looked out at the horizon. I hope we find that island quickly. And I hope I can manage to stay out of this inevitable clusterfuck. I'm not holding my breath on that though.
...
Maybe it's time to practice that technique again. I'll need anything to get by on an island that's likely lorded over by pirates. I have bullets, ridiculously explosive ones at that, but this needs something more subtle. And maybe my nature as an outsider in this world will help as well if my theory can hold water. Only one way to find out.
I cross my legs beneath my dress in a lotus pose and begin meditating. If I can recall how to do this, my chances of survival bump up considerably. I take a deep breath and concentrate, shutting out the world around me. Separating myself from it and its stimuli. Now...
...
How does this exercise go again?
-o~O-O~o-
We're getting close, maybe. I was getting bored of just resting to not aggravate my concussion, though that was slowly fading away. Better safe than sorry though. Didn't help that I wasn't that aware of our current situation. In hindsight, maybe should've done this later.
That's the problem with this particular meditation exercise. You kind of drift away from the world and become blind, deaf and numb to it. Hard to maintain a connection while also distancing yourself. That just means I've got a lot of work to do until I can do this properly. In this state, that technique will not be perfect, but it will do in a pinch.
My meditation being rusty aside, I bring the visual and auditory world closer to my conscious mind, to see and listen while maintaining this state. It should be a good exercise for active use.
I slowly open my eyes and let sound return to my consciousness. The distance between me and the world creates a bridge instead of simply joining it. And so it is I am aware again. I see pier just out of reach. And that's the Merry... Huh? Thought finding it would be harder.
Uh... Wait... Where is everyone?
Why is Zoro tied to the cabin?! What did I miss?! What the fu-
Danger!
I regain my mental composure and still my body and control my breathing to be as soft and silent as possible. Even the beating of my heart softens and slows down. I gather as much distance between me and the real world as I can without losing my senses. Just in time too.
The water splashes and two people jump out of the sea and onto the boat, causing it to rock slightly. The motion causes slight discomfort in my brain, but I shrug it off in favor of keeping control of myself.
The two seemed off. Obviously not human based on the fins on them and the unusual skin tones. Fishmen? We got the right place then. Those three clowns must've run for it and left Zoro, and yours truly, behind, Smart move, but it still makes me mad.
No, keep calm. Think of this as a practice round.
One of the Fishmen speaks, a blue-tinted one with the king of all underbites."What? Only one guy."
"Maybe he just drifted here from somewhere?" the other says. He's a brownish color and seems to have some kind of horn(?) on his head.
"Y-you could say so," Zoro mutters, sounding a tad more annoyed than anything, underlined with resentment and a silent vow for revenge. I totally get him.
Just stay calm and keep your focus, Abel. You are doing good so far.
"I see," Brownie says, looking quite smug. "I bet that injury is from the crew torturing you."
"Okay, let's bring this guy to Arlong-san before anything else," Underbite says.
Welp, tough luck Zoro! I hope the best for you, man, but I will not feel sorry for being a passive bystander!
Then Brownie's eyes move just a tad, enough to potentially view me from the corner of his eye. His eyes widen a bit and he grins. "Oh, there's another one after all! Let's bring the girl too."
Now both of their attentions are on me. Even Zoro is looking straight at me, an expression of shock on his face.
...
I give the two my sweetest smile. "Please, go easy on the ropes. I'm injured and of a particularly frail constitution. Okay~?"
I mentally scream my second favorite one-word expletive.
-o~O-O~o-
"I'll ask you again," the deep voice asks, as he insinuates, once more. "What is your purpose here?"
"Like I said, I'm here looking for a woman, you half-fish bastard!" Zoro irritatedly snarls at the big Fishman before him, who I'd long since recognized as the one from the bounty poster. Why he insists on antagonizing a foe, while tied up and lacking means to defend himself, is beyond me.
I tug my own bindings slightly, simple rope around my arms and torso. Nothing complex. The only negative right now is that I'm here as well. Which sucks. Sitting is also getting uncomfortable. Urgh.
"Oh," Arlong raises his nose and sneers at the haughty swordsman. "This low-life human has guts. I'll let you slip by me this time, but you aren't allowed to say half-fish ever again."
Oh great, he took offense to that. Nice one, idiot!
"Us Fishmen are beings who can breathe underwater, much more evolved and superior than you lowly humans," Arlong continues with a lazy hand gesture straight out of the Guide for Villains. "Merely the power we hold is proof we are better than humans. You better understand that the most superior beings on earth are the Fishmen, not you humans. If humans go against us it'd be defying the laws of nature."
"Actually, it'd be more like things following the natural order."
Silence descends on the grounds of what I presume is Arlong's home base, Arlong Park. And all eyes are converged on a single point. And one, in particular, that has an annoyed look in them.
I'm that point. Way to stay quiet and out of this, dumbass! Why did you correct him?! You asshole!
"And what might you mean by that, girl?" Arlong growls. Shit, I'd forgotten to not do the voice.
"Man, actually," I say in my natural voice, and briefly turn my head to address the two shocked gasps from the crowd of Fishmen. "Sorry for playing you two there. Didn't mean anything mean spirited by that flirting. Just panicked, is all."
I then adamantly ignored them and gave the big Fishman sitting on his lounge chair my utmost attention.
"As for what I meant, is that that theory of yours has a flaw in it I can't quite allow to pass by unmentioned."
"Oh?" Arlong says, keeping a calm facâde that I'm not buying for a second. "And what flaw might that be?"
"The part where you said that something weaker going up against something stronger is against the laws of nature," I state, keeping my cool. "It's not. It's actually perfectly natural for weaker beings to attempt to defeat their superiors.
"For you see, it is a common survival tactic to avoid things more powerful than you. That's where you are correct, as I'm sure everyone likes living," I explain. "However, that is but one of the reactions to greater beings. It is also natural to do battle with this stronger entity, to attempt to defeat not only your foe but your own limits. It is simply climbing the natural ladder we call evolution. "
I give a faint grin that is probably as hollow and jaded as it feels. "There's a reason this particular subject is called a Fight or Flight reflex, after all. Both paths are equally as important for evolution. And you must know the saying, no risk taken is nothing gained."
He stares straight into my soul, so I return the favor, keeping my face as neutral as possible. This tense staring match continues for a few even tenser second. If I was a lesser man, I'd be sweating bullets. But eventually...
"... Sha ha," Arlong chuckles softly, before erupting into full on laughter. "Shahahahaha!" This continues for a bit, much to the apparent shock of his crew. Probably expected him to just kill me then and there. Granted, so did I.
And then he stops, keeping a faint, feral grin. "I've got to say, your words sound fairly convincing, for a human. A good laugh, if nothing else."
"Thank you so much for your critique," I deadpan. "I'll be sure to shove them up someone's ass later."
My snark apparently amuses him, as he laughs a bit more. "Shahahaha! A joker and a talker. A rarity amongst you humans."
"Backhanded, but I'll take it," I mutter. Why am I not dead yet? Why am I not shutting up?!
"Anyway, now that I remember," Arlong says, shifting gears to serious. "Just what is your purpose here, okama-human?"
"Again with that word," I mumble under my breath, feeling strangely insulted for no apparent reason. "Well, I'm here kind of for the same reason as this idiot meathead." I gesture at Zoro with my head. He growls, taking exception to that. "Except for different reasons."
"And what reason might that be?" Arlong asks, appearing patient. I think he just tolerates me out of a whim. So I'm honest with him.
"To slap a bitch," I state in utter seriousness.
"I'd be careful of what you say around here," A very familiar voice speaks up, walking out of the big building that takes up most of Arlong Park. "I don't think you realize the situation you're in."
"Speak and you shall receive," I faux-whisper to the skies above before looking at the orange-haired thief with a neutral expression.
Beside me, Zoro was shocked to see her here. I pity the less informed.
"Why so serious, Nami?" Arlong speaks to the girl. "Did this okama do something to you, our greatest cartographer? Your maps are the most accurate we can get."
The opposite, actually. So she's working for them? Called it! But for what reason? Anyway, I just keep staring at her.
"Obviously, because our brains work differently," Nami remarks. Nice backhandedness there. Basically calling the big, scary pirate man stupid.
"Hey, Nami! What does he mean by 'our greatest cartographer'?" Zoro speaks up, addressing the thief. "Why are you so close to this guy?"
"Oh? You know each other?" Arlong asks Nami.
"Don't be ridiculous!" She denies the thought, walking closer to Zoro. "He's just another victim. I gained a lot of loot from them" She stops and kneels in front of him. "You don't even realize you've been deceived. And you still chase after me. You're just plain stupid."
"So this is your true nature?" Zoro asks, serious as a stormcloud. "And to think you hated pirates..."
"Surprised?" No, not really. I figured something was off way back, just had nothing to base it on. "Everything was an act. You'll understand better after seeing this..." Nami then leaned to the side, showing Zoro her left shoulder where a symbol was proudly inked upon. A symbol with a saw-like nose.
Based on the look on Zoro's face, he finally gets what is really going on.
"I am part of this invincible crew," Nami proclaims, standing up, gesturing at the Fishmen surrounding us. "An officer of Arlong's crew!"
...
Wow. That is hamming the evil up so much, it's almost respectable.
Still not fully buying it.
"Do you see now? From the beginning, I've been only using you." Nami continues being all 'villain'. "You were good at fighting though. Really useful muscle."
"Shahahaa!" Arlong laughed. "You were blindly fooled, weren't you? She'd even sell out her own family for money. This woman is a cold-blooded witch. You shouldn't have underestimated her."
There! A reaction springs from Nami, one of absolute outrage. It is brief and she buries it adeptly, but that comment really seems to hurt.
"I see how it is..." Zoro says, oddly confident. "I never trusted you from the beginning." Honestly, me neither. "Wouldn't be surprised if she was a murderer even."
"So you get it now?" Nami says. "Then just get lost already! You're an eyesore."
Zoro just grins in response and kicks himself backward... right into the water behind him. Zoro sinks below and I can only assume that with those ropes binding him, he's not getting up.
"... Moron" is all I have to say on the matter.
"Not going to help your friend, okama?" Arlong asks, addressing the question to me.
"Okay, making a lot of assumptions there, pal," I say coolly. "If the man wants to drown himself, that's none of my business." My coldness to a "friend" in need makes him smirk. Amuses him. I then let my upper body relax and I let all the breath out of my lungs. The rope tied around me just slacks and falls off of me, losing all the purposeful resistance I was putting on it. I then start to untie my feet.
"Hmm?" Arlong hums, inspecting me as I get the ropes off my feet in an instant and stand up.
"Yeah, your goons really don't know how to tie a person properly," I comment, doing stretches for the hell of it. "Should give them lessons in proper rope tightness so that won't happen."
I'm distracted by a sound of something clattering on the stone tiling and manage to catch a glimpse of Nami without her shoes diving into the water.
"... Bi-polar bitch," I mutter, turning to look at the body of water with my arms crossed. Soon enough Nami surfaces near the edge, Zoro in tow. There were words spoken, but I didn't quite catch them. One thing was certain though.
Nami was definitely acting tough for a crowd just now.
Then she steps on Zoro's back, angered by something. "Shut your face! If you get involved with me anymore, you'll die!"
"Heh," Zoro laughs weakly. "I wonder about that."
"Nice bandage you've got there."
"Couldn't afford new clothes. This is a substitute."
I swear, I've heard better banter in a novella that is obscure for a reason. Anyway, Nami punches Zoro in his wound, which can't be pleasant considering how bad it is. Zoro collapses on his knees and Nami walks away.
"Hey, Nami. What are you planning for him?" Arlong questions the thief.
"Lock him up. I'll take care of it," She commands, calmly yet obviously annoyed and upset. She stops close to me, but not within grabbing distance. Clever girl. "When'd you escape."
I stare at her silently, face like an undisturbed pool of water.
"Tch," She scoffs at me and attempts to walk way.
"Bend over."
She stops in place, snapping her attention to me. "Huh?"
"Bend over," I repeat. "So I can shove my boot up your ass." I then give a lopsided grin that could be interpreted in many suggestive ways. "Or a spanking perhaps, since your mother apparently forgot to do that."
She bares her teeth angrily at me. Like a frightened animal trying to act tough. Appropriate. "Why are you even here?"
"Why am I-" I mumble, a look of outrage implanting itself on my features as I step forward quickly, ending up nose to nose with Nami. "You gave me a concussion and stole my stuff!"
"No I didn't!" She yelled at me. "I never even got a glimpse at your junk, and not for the lack of trying!"
"Naughty~," I sing-song at the innuendo before getting back to the point. "And yes you did! It was on the damn ship you stole!"
"How the hell is you leaving your garbage lying around my fault?!" Nami screams.
I grab hold of both her cheeks and pull. They are oddly elastic. "Don't call my only worldly possessions garbage! I ought to teach you manners, young lady!" Her eyes briefly shine with something at my semi-parental way of speaking, but it's quickly covered by further outrage.
Her fist moves to punch me in the face, to which I respond by letting go and lifting the bangs of my wig. Her fist stops, eyes drawn to the bandage on my skull. My eyes narrow.
"... I'm still recovering from the skull slamming you gave me," I say to her calmly, low enough so no one else can hear. "A strike from you might actually make it bad enough to become severe and dangerous for my life. You don't even know me that well, yet you hesitate, knowing the consequences of your actions." I crack a slight grin. "It seems your mother raised you well after all."
Her face shifts, warring between frustrated anger at my sudden kindness and... something else. Something deeper and softer. Fond, yet sad. I step back and let her have space. That and get out of the range of that fist. I'd shocked her into stopping on a hunch. I'm not risking it a second time. But now I knew more of Nami's real self.
"Arlong-san!" A Fishman ran in through what I assume is the front gate. Oh, it's Underbite! Neat. "A long-nosed human was with them, but I failed to catch him."
Oh, so Long-nose is still around? Good. With his talents, it'd be simple for a coward like him to lie low and not do risky stupid bullshit. Come one, Long-nose, prove you are worth something!
"I think he fled into Cocoyasi Village, but..." Underbite said.
"I see," Arlong replied with a blazê attitude. "Cocoyasi Village? Good timing. I've got some errands to run there. Shall I pay them a visit?"
I noticed a slight tremble in Nami's clenched fist. Subtle, but she was angry. And I don't think it was because of me.
"Actually," I butt in, taking a few steps in Arlong's direction. "If I could ask something of you."
Arlong eyes me warily. "And what might that be, human?"
"You see, the only reason I'm here is because your cartographer accidentally stole literally everything I own," I explain calmly, seeing no reason to lie. "Seeing as none of it is money or has much if any monetary value, I don't see it being worth your time. So if I simply could ask to have my possessions returned to me, I would be well off on my way, never to bother you again. I'd demand the thief themselves return them, but seeing as a captain's order is the law..."
I let the last part hand in there. Arlong was silent, maybe considering my words.
"And what if I don't?" He asks evenly.
I give him a shrug. "Then there really isn't much I can do about it. Taking it by force is tantamount to suicide and a most idiotic move to make in present company. Logically speaking, asking politely is my only option. I would bow to you, if it pleases you, as long as I get my belongings. And then, as I now swear on my name, I'll be gone and you never see me again," I tell him. "Though, whichever it is, I will have to ask for my gun and ammo back. I kind of need that to not die out there."
I am so bluffing all this confidence! I'm surprised I'm not dead yet! Why am I not super dead yet?!
"..." Arlong is quiet. I don't like that. "Sheha... Shehahaha!" Oh, now he's laughing. That's... good? I like that even less. He keeps laughing for a few second before stopping. "Tell me, what is your name, human?"
"... Abel," I say, maintaining a cool and serious face. "Cain Abel, your typical crossdressing nobody."
"Well then, maybe you could persuade me to return your possessions," Arlong says with a feral grin. "A token of good faith, if you will. I'm sure you understand that I can't just trust you to keep your word, now can I?"
"No, I suppose not." I let out a sigh. "So, what might this so-called token be? I'm all ears."
His rows of shark teeth are really starting to unnerve me, with how he's presenting them. His smile has a nefarious feel to it. Truly a predator, if I ever saw one. I need to watch myself, or those jaws might be the last thing I see.
"How about you prove you mean what you say by, let's say, killing that 'friend' of yours?" Arlong proposed with a smile that was borderline evil. So that's his game.
"Hey!" Nami interjects angrily. I ignore her and walk past her. "I told you I'd handle it! And do you honestly think that that freak would do something like-"
*BANG!*
Once again, all noise stilled. Except for the audible scream of a green-haired idiot. I stared down one of my trusty derringers, Lucifer, which the Fishmen had failed to locate and take off of me. And the bleeding hole in Zoro's posterior. I coolly spun it in my hand once and blew the smoke coming out of it.
"Sorry, but I can't kill this meatheaded imbecile," I stated coldly. "I owe a life debt to him and his crew, so it would be improper. Now shooting him in the ass, however, just seems plain fun."
I gauge the reactions from around me. The fishmen are shocked that I still had a weapon, Nami was borderline catatonic in shock that was clearly evident on her face. And Arlong. He was smiling with those jagged teeth of his. Jackpot!
Zoro on the other hand...
"Y-you..." He snarled weakly, his glare making up for it in intensity. He struggled to not let the pain show. "You bastard..."
"Yes, I suppose so," I reply emotionlessly. "Do keep in mind, I only sailed on your ship out of convenience. As I stated before, I hold no loyalty to any of you. This is not a personal attack, just a convenient route that leads me to my goal. Consider your service to me complete, and try not to drown yourself again." I turn and walk away. "Watching men off themselves is no fun at all."
The underlying message of 'It's nothing personal' must've ringed pretty hollow to him. Oh well, I'm sure a meathead like him can get over it. As I passed Nami I couldn't miss the conflict in her eyes. Like she didn't know what to think of me. Understandable. Still, I ignore her and walked in front of Arlong, derringer still in my hand.
"Does that suffice? Because while I do want my things, I will not kill someone I owe a debt to just to obtain it." I state to him in no uncertain terms. He either gives me my things or not.
"It's not often I find humans as cold and driven as you. You remind me of Nami, in a way. That willingness to do just about anything to achieve what you set out to do," Arlong muses humorously. "In all honestly, I admire your guts and resolve." He craned his neck to the side. "What are your possessions?"
"All of them are inside a large brown sack, alongside what your men confiscated from me when bringing me here;" I speak clearly, meeting his gaze levelly.
He nudges his head to someone behind me. "Get the man his possessions."
... Holy shit, I did it! I mask how happy hearing those words makes me.
"A-Arlong-san?" One of the fishmen behind me stutters. "Are you sure?"
"Eh, I'm in a good mood today," Arlong says. "Now get to it!" A couple of fishmen rush inside the building to retrieve my thing, I assume. "And drag the swordsman somewhere and lock him up." A few got to that as well. Me, I had other worries.
Sorry, Zoro. But right now getting my stuff back and getting to walk out of here alive is worth shooting you in the ass.
I turn to look for the one who'd taken possession of my gun and harness. Turns out it was that one Fishman who found me, Brownie. I walk to him and held out my hands. He hesitates a bit, but seeing as it is an order from his captain, he places the items in my hands.
"Thank you kindly," I say earnestly with a mild bow, set the rifle down by my feet and begin the quick process of putting the harness on. I feel weird without it. "Sorry."
"... Huh?" Brownie asks me dumbly, confused at the abrupt apology.
"I apologize for how I acted while captured." I can already tell he's awkward about it. I give a wry smile. "And for making your rope work seem inadequate. You need to work on the tightness, so the captive can't put fake pressure on the ropes that make them lax when they relax."
"Uhh... Thanks?" Brownie the Fishman says uncertainly. As I adjust my harness and make sure both the ammo bag and the damn book holster are present and secure, an idea strikes me. I then fish about in my ammo bag, and pull out the 15.000 I won from Nami. Despite not knowing how valuable the amount was, I offer them to the Fishman. "... Huh?"
Oh man, he's so confused. "Take it, as repayment for making a fool out of you. Share it with your pals, or something." Better endear myself to some of these Fishmen, just in case.
With a baffled expression, I pretty much shove the slips of paper into his hands. I then pick up my rifle and place it on my back, where it belongs. Finally, I feel complete again. I might be growing a slight dependency. I then turn towards the entrance to the main building, waiting for the rest.
Within the minute two fishmen return, hauling the large sack I was familiar with. Only, something was off about what I was seeing. Both of them were carrying the bag and seemed to be struggling with it. The large sack was dropped on the ground as soon as they got it out in the open.
"Oi, watch it! Some of that is fragile." I snap at the two winded Fishmen. How odd. It's not that heavy.
"W-what the hell is in there?" One of them asks between breaths. The other one I realize is Underbite. Neat!
"It's not that heavy, is it?" I ask skeptically, walking over and easily lifting the sack so that I carry it over my shoulders. I bounce it softly a couple of times. "... Are you two fucking with me right now?" I ask with a suspicious frown. The sack isn't any heavier than when I first got it, so why are these strong-looking guys having any trouble with it?
Fucking questions with no answers! I hate those so much!
"There, you have your possessions," Arlong cuts in before I can get an answer out of the two. "Now begone, human."
"Yeah, yeah," I wave my hand in a dismissing gesture. "I'm a man of my word. I suppose I'll look for a village and steal a boat, or something."
Honestly, I had no plan, I just want to leave.
I give Arlong a two-finger salute. "Been a pleasure dealing with you folks. Now excuse me while I make like a bird and fuck off!" I head for the gate as I hear Arlong laugh in that peculiar way he does at my comment. I don't walk too fast and keep a mellow pace until I've already passed the open iron gate. The further the distance gets between me and Arlong Park, the quicker I make my pace.
Finally, I feel like I'm a good distance away and I let out a crushing sigh.
"Holy crap," I gasp, holding my chest. "That got way too tense!" Finally allowed to unwind, all the accumulated stress hits me like a bullet train. Damnit all, that was not fun! I totally get why Johny and Yosaku were scared of Arlong. His presence was suffocating. But I held firm and kept my cool, and somehow got out of that death trap alive and with my things.
A flawless victory!
Is what I'd like to say, sadly. Having to leave Zoro behind and shooting him had been a desperate move on my part, and I held no illusions that if he got out of there he'd be more than cross with me. I don't think Luffy or anyone really will be happy with me after that stunt. But I needed Arlong to trust me enough to let me leave, and it worked!
I did what I had to do. Simple as that. Besides, out of all the places, the ass is the safest place to shoot someone. He'll be fine... ish.
...
Damnit, being a massive asshole is always the hardest part to play. It's not a part I take lightly, nor do I like it. It kind of scares me though, how plain good I'm at it. I don't think I like what that says about me, personally.
My face turns serious. No time for this now. I talked a lot back there, but I'm definitely not leaving yet. Damn my curiosity, but this time I agree to go with it. I need to figure out the deal with Nami and Arlong. There are way too many contradictions in her words and actions. Something deeper is going on here, and I want to know what.
That decided, I find the biggest bush I can find, hide behind it and wait. Arlong said he had business at a village, as I recall. He will undoubtedly walk through this road. So I'll just wait and tail them. But first I need to get in the right frame of mind. It failed on the boat, but not this time. That is not an option.
The distance between me and the world grows. I maintain a visual bridge to make sure I can see, cutting of all other connections. The sounds of the world disappeared. The smells become fainter until they too vanish, followed by touch and taste. Only the sight remains. My breathing becomes slow and level; heart beating softer and quiet. A wordless phrase exits my silent lips.
"Faint"
This technique is meant to mask the physical presence and diminish it, becoming undetectable to others. A sort of 'Wallflower'-technique, though I dislike that name, so I call it Faint. While hardly making me invisible, it makes me harder to notice and pay attention to. No one would be aware of my presence unless they were alerted to it in some way, or if they already knew I was there. In theory. Back at the boat, this trick had failed, because my mind wasn't clear or focused enough due to the pain caused by the concussion.
But after the tense situation at Arlong Park... Now my mind is clearer and sharper than it ever has been. The pain was a mere memory, shut out and isolated completely. It should work- no, it will work now. I can't leave the sack with my stuff behind, so that might affect it somewhat. But I should be able to extend Faint to it as well, to some extent. In theory.
I'm making a lot of assumptions today. That's a bad habit, but it's all I've got right now. And doubt is far more dangerous than something as petty as making educated assumptions.
Now all I had to do was wait. And I didn't need to wait long. Arlong, leading a small entourage of his crew, walking at a leisurely pace down the road. I let them go a fair bit ahead before I dare to move. Cover isn't plentiful in the area, so I move carefully, my focus remaining solely on tracking the Fishmen and moving my feet. Thankfully, they remain oblivious to my presence, and I manage to tail them until they hit the village, Cocoyasi I think. A homely little township. I try to find a good vantage point to take cover in, while also opening my mind to accept sound.
This tailing would be pretty useless unless I could eavesdrop. More connections to reality make Faint less reliable, but as long as I stay hidden and out of direct line-of-sight, I should be fine.
Just as I find a good spot, a fair distance away, covering behind a wall of a building. I focus on my hearing to pick up what is being spoken. Because a scene is unfolding before me. Arlong talking to a man wearing brown, the most striking features being a pinwheel on his hat and the numerous stitched up scars all over his limbs and face.
That man has experienced some pain in the past and lots of it.
Apparently, the man, Genzo I think I heard him be called, was being targeted for owning a weapon in Arlong's territory. And he seemed to collect "tributes" as well and had already destroyed one other village for not paying up. How very fascist of him. Arlong seemed to hold a tight grip on this community, everyone had hidden into their homes and some were glaring behind those windows. Not a popular guy, Arlong. Racist also, which wasn't cool.
Still, this Genzo fellow was soon being lifted by the throat for his crime of being a bad influence with his weapon owning. It appeared Arlong was about to make an example of this brave, stupid man. It seemed this was not okay with the townspeople, who were leaving the safety of their homes in a futile show that they weren't having this petty crap.
And neither was I.
Callousness and being a dick has its place in survival, but right now I'm not that fond of Arlong for putting me through all this bullshit. So as this had been going on, I had drawn my rifle, loaded a normal bullet and had taken my sweet time aiming to avoid hitting someone else by accident. From my vantage point, I had a great view of exactly where I wanted to fire, and maybe, divert attention elsewhere. I watched as Genzo was thrown callously into the dirt with excessive force, and was prepared to do so again, this time hard enough to kill. My finger was all ready to pull the trigger and release a bullet into the large Fishman's gut.
Then something else hit arlong in the face. Something that exploded in his face. Not even close to my Doomsday Rounds. I highly doubt that'd kill him, by how he seemed to tank the blast without as much as flinching. But I try to track that shot. Based on the angle it came from and the yell that preceded it...
... Wait, is that...
I can't believe it. Standing on top of one of the taller building in the village stand the damned Long-nose, posing defiantly with his arms crossed and holding a... slingshot? That explosive thing was fired from a slingshot?!
Long-nose began screaming boastful introductions and trying to act braver than he obviously was. I could hear his knees rattling from my vantage point. Despite seeing through it, I will admit, that interference despite his obvious cowardice made me respect the guy a bit. Just a tiny amount.
Unfortunately, he was immediately recognized as the guy one of Arlong's underling let get away, which broke what little of his facâde he had left. And Arlong was pissed off at being defied, clearly not happy with the idea of being assaulted by a wimpy human like Long-nose. For a terrifying pirate, he does seem to whine a whole lot.
Then he starts to lift the fucking building Long-nose is standing on and uprooting it by its foundations! Holy shit, these Fishmen are terrifyingly strong! I'm so lucky I got out of Arlong park alive!
But at that moment I spotted a chance to fuck with this man something fierce, while also creating a diversion. So I quickly ran the math, took aim, and fired. The loud bang echoed, partially covered by the sound of Arlong uprooting a damn building, as the bullet spat by Azazel hit its mark!
More specifically, the Achilles tendon in the foot Arlong was using to carry the weight of that building. And with that tendon fucked with, he stumbled harshly. I cherished his shocked expression as the building he was supporting became too much for his supporting leg to carry and it crashed on top of him.
His crew was in just as much shock, as was every single one of the villagers. None of them could process what had just happened. In this chaos I took my opportunity to grab my shit start running the fuck away from here, keeping my presence as low as possible while in a mad dash and staying as out of sight as much as I possibly could. If I'd dare, I'd be howling with mocking, evil laughter.
It feels so good to be an unrepentant cheat!
-o~O-O~o-
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"... *cough cough*"
Well, this isn't awkward at all. Or potentially unsafe for my continued well-being.
Right, context is needed.
After getting the fuck out of Cocoyasi Village so that I could avoid death by Arlong, I'd headed into a random direction in an effort to not be predictable in my movements. That and I didn't know the lay of the land, so... Yeah. So I was walking around for a while in a forest and keeping low profile. I'd allowed myself to relax and just enjoy a pleasant stroll through the woods. It was... nice.
Naturally, as seemed to be mandatory at this point, my peace just can't be allowed to last.
Which kind of left me in this particular situation of being glared at rather murderously. Naturally, I only had one logical way to break this absolutely crushing silence.
"So..." I drawl out, sounding about as awkward I felt. "... How's your ass?"
Zoro didn't appreciate that his hands darting to his swords.
"Whoa, whoawhoawhoaWHOA!" I drop the sack and place my arms in front of me in a placative and protective manner, shaking them for emphasis. "Wait! let's not be rash here. You are, quite understandably, upset so how about we just talk it out like adults- GURH!"
Instead of a sword to the gut, I got a punch to the face. Thankfully my neck didn't snap from the force, though my jaw almost dislocated by how it felt. I'd have flown back if my sack of stuff didn't catch me, so I slumped against it instead of going for a short flight. And despite this, I don't think he'd even hit me as hard as he could've. So... good sign?
"... Okay. I deserved that," I wheeze out from my sitting position, rubbing my jaw. "Thanks for holding back. I think my concussion wouldn't have been okay with getting brained again. That said, ooooowwwww." I grabbed my head. The pulsing pain within the confines of my skull was back. Awesome!
"You're welcome," Zoro snarled. Yup, he was mad.
"Anything else you want to get off your chest? Maybe call me names? Break one of my fingers? Confess your true feelings?" I ask, the last of the three more teasing than serious. When no response came, it was somehow worse than any of those. I let out a sigh. "Nice sucker punch, by the way. So honorable."
"Not that you'd know much about it," Zoro growls. I take offense to this remark, though not for the reason some might expect.
"Well excuse me for prioritizing staying alive to having the 'moral high ground'! If it meant I'd stay alive and not be killed by a smorgasbord of very strong Fishmen, I'd let them spit on me, sell my hypothetical annoying sibling I hate, and maybe, if things got rough enough, literally fuck me!" I snap back at him with intensity he clearly wasn't expecting "Note, one of those is actually a lie. Hint: it's not the last one."
He kept staring at me, that anger gone after that... moment. But then both our attentions were diverted from out little powwow to something... odd. It seemed both our instincts and skills of observation were pretty sharp, as our reactions were more or less synched.
Something was causing the ground to rumble and made a lot of noise. Bot Zoro and I noticed and exchanged glances, as the sound came closer really, really fast.. Then Zoro was hit by a boat sliding across the ground, getting dragged with it further inland until I heard a crash not far from where I sat.
What. The. Fuck.
Naturally, I got off my ass, grabbed my stuff and ran after the easily trackable trail left in the earth. Curiosity calls! And so I soon came across what must've been the remains of a late, inexplicably earthbound sea vessel. And wouldn't you know, I had some culprits to blame for this ridiculous scene!
Luffy and Yosaku(why was he with them?) were amongst the wreck. I also spotted Sanji. Huh, must've given into Luffy's pestering. It does not fill me with confidence for my own path of resistance. He seemed so smart too. For an easily exploitable womanizing idiot, sure, but he had his moments.
And, somehow, Zoro wasn't dead from being hit by a speeding land-boat! In fact, he seemed fine. HOW?!
"Why am I a part of this?" I ask the heavens, never expecting an answer. My, the sky is pretty today. Then I spotted someone I'd not seen for a while and had quite a lot to say too.
With a calm pace, unstrapping my rifle and holding it in my right hand, I made my way to the man who was about to meet half of my shared aggravation for his sins.
"Johny..." I drawl out, in a low, dangerous tone. He flinches visibly and as he starts to turn shakily, I do what I'd wanted to do since earlier today. I swung with both hands and smacked Azazel's stock right to his right temple, making him fall with a loud yelp. Instead of being a good sport and leaving it at that, I then start stomping on his downed body.
"HOW DARE YOU TWO ABANDON ME JUST SO YOU COULD RUN AWAY? Have you any idea what I've had to go through to not get killed today? Because I don't think you do!" I scream at the man shielding himself from my onslaught of righteous vengeance.
"Hey, Abel!"
"Yo," I off-handedly greet Luffy with a lackluster wave, not stopping what I was doing. What does stop me is a continuous high-pitched sound that is really annoying. So I leave Johny alone for now and turn to the culprit of this mosquito level annoyance.
I evenly meet the gaze of Sanji, mouth, and eyes somewhat more open than usual in some form of shocked denial. Then I remember that, oh yeah, I wasn't in character right now.
Well, better get this out of the way and nip this in the bud.
"Sanji, dear~," I start out in my female voice. I've got his attention.
"A-Able-chan?" He asks, eyes filled with desperate hope that he was just heading things. Which I then dash mercilessly with one flirtatious wink and an extra deep man voice, placing extra emphasis one the final part.
"I have a dick."
The results are immediate and glorious. Sanji lets out an ear piercing scream and sinks on all fours, a literal aura of gloom hovering around his form as he pounds on the dirt with his fist. Dismissing this fascinating phenomenon, I do the natural reaction to this scene I just caused.
"Kehehehe! Kehehehehee," I let out a slow, mocking laugh at his expense.
I am going to hell, but damnit if the ride, there isn't fun!
"Sanji, darling~, I must make it clear that I just used you for the free food," I say with utmost honesty and a crooked smile, posing in a 'what do you do?'-manner, if that means anything. "Sorry, not sorry. I hope the kisses were a fitting compensation for this little lie of mine."
The words seemed to pierce his body, heart, and soul like spears and... Oh my god, was he coughing up blood? Holy crap, what a visceral reaction to surprise gay.
I love it!
"Now, all that is missing is Long-nose and the crew is back together," I remark, ignoring Sanji's anguished pain. "I've still got some beatings reserved for that coward. Wonder if Arlong's goons caught him?"
"Actually... About that, Abel-Banchou," Johny says, kneeling on the ground, seeming very upset with something. "Usopp-aniki... was caught by Arlong's men and then... then..." He seemed to hesitate before crying out dramatically, "Nami killed him and threw his corpse into the sea!"
I stared at him plainly before taking in the reactions of others. Seem they heard this before and were varying levels of affected. I, however...
"Yeah, that's not true," I stated casually.
"Wha- but Banchou! I saw it happen with my own two eyes! She stabbed Usopp-aniki!" Johny persists on his claim.
"Yeah, knowing what I know, some educated guesswork and what I've gathered of Nami's character, that seems unlikely. She had an equal chance of killing off Zoro earlier today for being a dumbass, but saved his ass instead," I rebuke him. "Also, there is a thing called deception. I showcased it just now and do it all the time." I point at the still nigh-catatonic Sanji with my thumb. To prove my point.
"I knew it! There's no way Usopp died!" Luffy exclaimed. "She's our friend!"
"Just who is your friend, Luffy?"
Everyone turns to see the contested thief standing a few paces away. What a coincidence! I narrowed my eyes, keeping a close eye on any subtle signs.
"Nami?" Luffy asks, turning to face the thief.
"Why did you come here?" Nami asks.
"What are you talking about?" Luffy asked cluelessly. "You're my companion. I came to get you." Logic truly fitting for an innocent child, that there.
"How annoying," Nami scoffs with a controlled expression that didn't give much way. "Friends? Don't make me laugh. You're more like a pathetic group of cooperators, don't you think?"
Johny stood up and tried to be threatening. "Why you... I saw it with my own eyes! How you-" Then I bonked him on the head with my rifle again to shut him up.
"By the Ancestors, nobody is dead!" I growl out at him.
"Oh? You," Name acknowledged in my presence.
"Me," I respond, cool as a cucumber.
"Why are you still here?" She asks. My eye twitches slightly as I stare back at her.
"I don't have a boat, thanks to someone who shall not be specifically mentioned, Nami," I tell her, then cock my head to the side just to be theatric. "Also, I didn't feel like it. Now, how about you stop this farce, young lady?"
She bares her teeth slightly in response. "Don't speak like you understand anything, you damn okama!"
"What is that word..." I murmur quietly, honestly curious now. I shake my head, both to clear my head and emphasize my denial of her claim. "Well, although you may be right, I think I'm a pretty smart guy and have seen quite a lot of interesting things today," I say, rubbing my chin in an act of contemplation. "Let's just say that I've had a lot of data to analyze, and I think I could deduce what is going on here, with Arlong, you... and others."
That got a reaction. It was subtle but her mask cracked for a second. Her lips tightening shut and her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. The last part was meant solely to confirm a theory I had been working on, and that more or less confirmed it.
"Oh," Nami said, collecting herself. "Do tell me what you think is happening? I'm all ears."
I shoot her a beaming, sweet, radiant smile. "Nope~."
"Then stop wasting my time!" She shouts at me. I just shrug with the smile still in place. She chooses to ignore me and go back to addressing the rest of the motley. "I'm not your friend or your comrade. I never was, and I never will be. Right now Arlong wants to kill Roronoa Zoro and his posse because he did something he shouldn't have."
Makes sense to me, seeing as the ways he could escape would include fighting his way out. Anyway, Nami continued.
"You may have monster-like powers, but Arlong is on a whole another level. You'll never beat a real monster, no matter how strong you are. Hang around here too long and you'll all be killed."
Zoro and I, being somewhat saner than the rest, were both equally aware of that what she said was true, in a sense. We even exchanged glances, having our own wordless conversation, where we affirmed our situation and decided to forget about the little grudge between us for now.
Sanji, on the other hand...
"Oooh, her cool look is so charming!" The damn cook crooned, blushing at the traitorous thief. Then his eyes turned into hearts(still creepy) and started flailing around like a lovestruck baboon "Hey, Nami-san! It's me, do you remember, do you? Let's go on a cruise together."
"Well someone recovered quickly," I murmur to myself. Zoro caught it and we shared another look, this one of the sly and amusing variety.
"Stay out of this, Love Cook! We don't need any more stupid distractions," Zoro snapped at Sanji.
"What'd you say!?" Sanji responded with hostility. "My love is always a hurricane." I deemed it necessary for me to step in, with my sweetest face and the most melodic voice.
"Sanji, dear! No fighting, please~!" I plead cutely. Abel uses Charm. It's super effective!
"Yes, my Dark Angel, Abel-SwHraN!" He responded on reflex and cried out the last part of it as if it was physically causing him pain. Seriously, he sounded like an ancient, broken foghorn.
Naturally, ignoring the otherwise tense atmosphere, Zoro and I bust a gut laughing at his expense, as he succumbed to his depressed anguish all over again at being reminded of my true nature. Poor Sanji. I don't feel bad in the slightest.
He is so killing me later.
"Please take this seriously, Zoro-aniki, Abel-Banchou!" Yosaku screamed at the two of us. Just to humor him, we pulled on our serious faces on a flip of a switch.
"Yeah, levity and pathetic mental fortitude aside, we all are in a bit of a bind," I give my two cents.
"Seems like we're in for a fight," Zoro remarked, hand on his blade.
"Hey, let's not get too ahead of ourselves yet," I say. "I don't like the fighting idea." Mainly because I'd die.
"Then you'd be the smart one," Nami said coldly. "If you fight, you will be killed. Outsiders like you shouldn't be sticking your noses into business that doesn't concern you." Somehow that felt... surprisingly personal. Damn my vices! "Don't you still get it? The only reason I got close to you was for the money and nothing else. You are of no more use to me."
Laying this whole 'I'm your enemy!'-schtick a bit thick there, Nami.
"I'll return your ship," she continues "so why don't you find another navigator and head to the Grand Line. Go find One Piece or whatever... Just get the hell out of here! You're a bother!" Her head tilted downwards slightly, her eyes shadowed by her hair. "Goodbye."
...
"Nami," Luffy mumbled. After a moment, his body fell backward to the ground.
"Luffy-aniki?" Johny asked, confused and concerned for no reason. Just what is Luffy doing?
"I'm sleeping," He says as if reading my mind and crosses his arms behind his head in a comfortable position.
"Right now?!" Johny exclaims.
"In the middle of the street?" Yosaku questions.
"Technically, it's a road," I correct him, but go ignored.
"I don't feel like leaving the island. I don't care about what is happening here. I'm a bit sleepy," Luffy prattles on, yawning. "So I'm sleeping."
I smacked my palm on my face slightly. "Of course he can be passive aggressive at the worst of times. Kehehe..." My weak chuckles are not enough to convince me that this was going in a direction that I'd like.
Still, looking at Nami... wait. I just noticed that she has a glove on her left hand that seems very out of place. Interesting. Her hand was shaking too, from anger and frustration no doubt.
"Then..." Nami growled before yelling in anger. "DO WHATEVER YOU WANT! GO AHEAD AND DIE!" Then she turned and ran away.
Well... that was a thing.
I glanced at the sleeping Luffy. Once again I found myself questioning just how dumb and simple he was. He'd obviously done this for a reason. Is it that persistence that bested Sanji? Is he so zeroed on Nami being his navigator? Or... does he sense that there is something bigger going on here, and it involves Nami in a big way?
Monkey D. Luffy... You confound me.
-o~O-O~o-
"Are you serious, Zoro-aniki?" Yosaku asked in disbelief. "Arlong and his gang have targeted you specifically. Why aren't you running away!?"
"Now that we know Nami is that kind of a low-life, there is no reason for us to stay on this island!" Johny added.
"There is a reason," Zoro said casually, inclining his head towards the sleeping Straw Hat. "He's still staying here."
"And Captain's order is law on the sea," I add from my spot under a nearby tree. I like the shade. "As long as Luffy keeps being a stubborn idiot, none of those guys are leaving."
"Then why are you here, Abel-Banchou? You aren't part of Luffy-aniki's crew, right? So why won't you run." Johny asks. I close my eyes and gave a second to contemplate my reasons for not being miles away from this place.
"Aside from needing the help of these hooligan kids to leave... I'm curious by nature," I explain. "My base instinct is to learn something I don't understand, or find answers to a question bugging me. And I'd be lying if this island's, and by extension, Nami's whole situation isn't a curious one to me."
"I don't understand, Banchou..." Yosaku mutters quietly.
"You don't need to," I reply, opening my eyes to look at the bounty hunter duo. "You two don't hold any stake in this situation we are embroiling ourselves in. You are free to leave, and no one will blame you for making that call."
Both of their heads lower and set their gazes onto the ground. They are thinking of what I said, and by the way, their fists are clenched, they've come to a realization.
"... If even you, Abel-Banchou, refuse to run away," Yosaku says, both of them lifted their heads with newfound determination burning in their features.
"Then what sort of men would we be if we did?" Johny finishes the thought.
Honestly, I have nothing snide or sarcastic to say to that. I merely shoot them a proud grin. "Then that is your choice, made in earnest."
A while passed in silence, as waiting was all we could do, pretty much.
...
...
This is so boring.
"Say..." Thank you, Sanji! "Why was Nami-san crying back then?"
"That woman? Crying?" Zoro asked, skeptical.
"She was crying in her heart," Sanji explained.
"Tch, yeah, right. You're just imagining it in your pervert mind."
"Actually," I butt into the conversation, "he's right. Nami is definitely hiding some things, no question about that. And, as we've seen today, there is this effective thing called acting. It's really awesome stuff if you can do it, I tell you."
"SHUT IT, YOU FREAK!" Sanji screamed at me, angry at me bringing up his harrowing despair episode. Coincidentally, we sat under the same tree, but as far away from each other as we could manage. Not the safest spot for me, but I wasn't about to move just because I was afraid of pain.
"Watch your tongue, brat!" I snap at him, keeping my calm intact. "Show some respect for the lifestyle choices of others! If you want to call me names, at least call me something more correct for the situation. Like a filthy liar, or something."
"Damn freak... I ought to..." He snarled from behind his clenched teeth. I sighed and stood up.
"Okay, fuck this. We're doing this," I announce. "Get off your ass, cook!"
"What the hell are you on about now?" Zoro asks.
"Silence in the bean council!" I snap at him. I turn my full attention to Sanji. "You. Punch me." That catches him by surprise.
"What?"
"Hit me," I repeat. "You're mad, I'm a lying piece of shit that took advantage of your promiscuous nature- which is entirely your own fault if you think about it -and this air needs to be cleared. I don't want this thing to last any longer than it needs to, so come on. Hit me!" I shout at him.
...
"Just, you know, not in the face. Or head, 'cause of my concussion-OOOH!" I started to clarify before a foot was directed at the side of my head. I swear time entered slow motion as something... unexpected occurred. Before the kick could connect with my skull, Sanji's leg inexplicably moved so that it missed my head entirely.
Weirder still, it still it something.
I blinked, moving my eyes from Sanji's surprised face, to his leg and finally to the mess on the ground next to us. A mess with a very distinctive long nose.
"... Knew it!" I cheered at being right, raising my fists up in triumph.
-o~O-O~o-
"AAAAH! USOPP! What did Nami do to you?!"
"Hang in there, Usopp-aniki!" The bounty hunter duo cheered the boy on.
"Don't be an idiot," I snark at Luffy cradling the apparently dazed Long-Nose. "Clearly the footprint fits someone better, am I right, Mr. Cook?"
"Bite me, girly-man," Sanji snarls back.
"Well," I start, switching into a feminine, husky voice. "If you're offering~" I lick my lips seductively and flutter my eyelashes.
He blushes heavily with a smile on his face, before realizing what he's doing and blanching in horror at his own automatic reaction. Huh? So my charms still work on him, even now?
Oh, this could be fun... But back to the situation.
"So, Long-nose," I address the curly-haired boy. "Nami didn't actually stab you, did she?"
"Huh? Well, no, she didn't. Here, let me explain..."
I was proven, once again, correct. Based on Long-noses story, Nami had only pretended to stab him to allow him to escape, faking the blood by stabbing herself in the hand. Very impressive on-the-spot method acting. That takes dedication and guts to pull. So that was why she was wearing that glove, to hide the injury. Clever girl.
...
She can act like that, yet I see right through her bad-guy act? Or is she doing that on purpose as an unconscious call for help?
Hmm...
"So I was correct after all," I muse to myself.
"You knew?" Long-nose asked.
"Well, not really. But I had a strong suspicion," I explained, crossing my arms in thought. "Nami's actions and words were filled with contradictions. Even when I was at Arlong Park alongside Zoro, I probed her for certain reactions by mentioning specific topics to learn a more definite picture.
"From what I've gathered, this Island is her home and is under the rule of Arlong and his gang. He makes the locals pay tribute to him for their safety and Nami, despite acting indifferent, seems to obviously care a whole lot about this whole situation. Might be the very reason she works for him, in fact."
"You are more correct than you think."
"What is it with convenient arrivals today?" I mumble and join the rest at focusing on the new arrival. A woman with slightly tan skin and... lavender blue hair. I'd call hair dye, but Zoro's green do is apparently natural, so...
"Nojiko?"
"Who's that?" Luffy asks Long-nose, who apparently knows this person.
"She's Nami's older sister."
So I can add family to a motivations list for Nami? O-kay!
"N-Nami's older sister!? She's such a beauty!"
"Damnit, cook," I grumble at Sanji's predictable reaction.
"Hey, you," Zoro addresses Nojiko, ignoring Sanji getting pissed at his lack of manners. "You know what is going on with Nami?"
"That I do. In fact, your friend there was pretty close to the truth."
"Making a lot of assumptions there, but thanks," I grumble. "Could you perhaps help us understand this whole situation then? Getting some much-needed context from a reliable source would be killer right about now."
"I'll tell you, but you must not get involved with our village's business and leave Nami alone, understand?"
"I promise nothing," I say honestly. "I can't talk for the rest of these clowns, but I suppose making them understand is your job now."
"I don't care," Luffy says and begins walking past Nojiko. "I don't care about her past."
"Where are you going, Luffy?" Sanji asks.
"A walk." And with that, he was off.
Nojiko raised an eyebrow slightly. "What's with him?"
"Don't care," I say, having a thought. "If I may ask something, Nojiko. Unless this comes off as too rude, do you two have a mother?"
She eyes me suspiciously, but answers. "We did."
I clap my hands. Jackpot! "And like that, I know what happened, more or less." I go pick um my sack of stuff and start walking by her too, following the road. "Have fun telling stories! I'm off for a casual walk in town!"
"Hey, aren't you going to listen when the fair lady tries to tell a story?"
"Stories are no fun when you already can figure out the contents!" I yell back at the cook without looking back. I spare them a lazy wave. "Have fun with story time, kids! I'll go find something more interesting to do."
With that said, I ignored them all and just kept walking. I was almost certain I knew Nami's deal now. I didn't need the extra fluff, so I might as well go take in the town, see if I can figure something out.
I hardened my eyes, as well as intoned what I had always been aware of.
I'm not a hero. And this isn't my fight.
-o~O-O~o-
Marine Captain Nezumi was a rat in almost every sense of the word, and not just because of his looks or choice of apparel. He was a weak and cowardly individual, who'd used trickery and innumerable counts of brown nosing to climb the ranks to his position. While smart in his own right, his arrogance made that an almost null quality. But what truly made him a rat in body, mind, and soul was his lack of a single functioning moral fiber in his body.
When Arlong had tipped him off that there was certain 'contraband' on Cocoyasi Island, under the possession of a girl called Nami, he'd been all too eager to take action and 'retake' this stolen property. After all, that's what a Marine does, isn't it? Take back stolen things from thieves. He was so pleased by the village leader Genzo's cooperation.
So naturally, he hadn't been happy when the girl in question had tried to intervene with his perfectly lawful search in the damn thief's home and surrounding tangerine grove. Thankfully the girl was soon deterred and ran off in a fit of anger. But it just couldn't be the end of it.
When another blue-haired woman had arrived on the scene and convinced Genzo to not be so cooperative anymore, Nezumi had about had it with interruptions for a day.
Which led Nezumi and his troops ready to 'subdue' these hostile elements that stood in the way of his rightful investigation. He himself was just about to fire upon the bluenette.
When a gunshot rang and he dropped the pistol he'd been holding, staring wide-eyed at the blood gushing out of his wrist where a bullet had just passed clean through. Within two seconds the shock passed and he screamed in pain. The marine soldiers were just as shocked at this development.
"W-wh-what are you STANDING AROUND FOR?! Find w-whoever did-" Another gunshot, and a marine fell, holding his now bleeding leg. After that, a new shot came every 2.4 seconds, meaning another felled marine from some sort of injury to the limbs. Taking cover was nigh-impossible, there just wasn't enough cover to hide behind, and despite their best effort none of the marine soldiers could figure out where the shots were coming from.
In the ensuing chaos Genzo and Nojiko fled the scene, and soon enough all but four of Nezumi's entourage lay with temporarily crippling wounds. Almost all the bullets had impacted the legs specifically. Almost all of them would live, but wouldn't be going anywhere in a while.
Left utterly terrified, Nezumi and the remaining marines didn't dare to move until there hadn't been more shots for a good ten minutes. The remaining marines had convinced their superior to fell back to their ship to get the men patched up, which Nezumi agreed to if only to bandage up his still bleeding arm. The sniper preying on them was long gone, and the treasure in the Tangerine Grove was left uncovered and untouched.
See, much to their misfortune, they'd bee spotted in town and followed by a very special individual, who trailed them and observed them on a gut feeling. And upon witnessing the 'justice' they were enforcing, took it upon his rifle to deliver righteous retribution. It was none of his business, but he really disliked Captain Nezumi, despite not even knowing his name. It was a stroke of sheer bad luck that drove a dark angel to rain demise on their wretched numbers.
The lesson to learn here is that a man using proper cover and a special concealment technique makes for a cheap, yet effective camping strategy. Hardly fair, but you couldn't argue the results.
After all, he wasn't a hero.
-o~O-O~o-
"Well, that was fun," I mumbled to myself, heading back to town after that outing. It had been a... nice distraction. Shooting corrupt law enforcement for being assholes. Whose dream isn't to do that?
No this guy's, that's who!
Still, damn that Nami for making me do these things for her sake! I know it was a pure accident and a whim I chose to investigate odd marine activity in a place run by a pirate. At least it was fun, putting some tools back in their place.
As I arrived back into town, I was met with a sight of a mob advancing to the general direction of Arlong Park. I spotted Nami standing behind them, watching them with shock clear in her features. She then sank onto her knees in a shivering mess.
So, they'd finally had enough of Arlong, huh? Better to fight for your freedom and die than live a slave. I prefer living above all else, but that isn't the point.
My pleased surprise shifted into concern when Nami started using the dagger in her hand to stab into her own shoulder. The one with Arlong's tattoo. I took a few quick steps to intervene, but someone beat me to it. I still got closer until I was well within hearing distance.
"LWhy are you still here?" Nami spat angrily at the straw hat wearing boy, the dagger was thrown away from her reach. "What do you want? You don't understand anything. You don't understand what has happened to this island for eight long years."
"Yeah, I don't," Luffy answered bluntly.
Nami was shaking, from anger or sadness. One or the other. "This is none of your business! I told you to leave this island, didn't I?"
"Yeah, you did," comes Luffy's casual answer.
"Go away!" Nami yelled, weakly and ineffectively throwing sand back at the straw-hat boy. "Go away! Go away! GO AWAY! Go away! Go away..." Her cries got weaker and weaker until she was whispering to the wind. She had completely broken down now, crying openly and showing her true feelings.
"Luffy..." Nami spoke softly, weakly. She raised her head slowly, turned to slowly glance back at the for now passively observing boy. "... Help me."
There it was. The real thing she wanted to ask since the beginning of this mess. Without any notable change in his expression, Luffy reaches for his straw hat to pull it off and places it on Nami's head. I think this is the first time I've seen him without it. He steps ahead of Nami, takes a deep breath and lets out a mighty answer.
"HELL YEAH, I WILL!" He yells, throwing his fists in the air. He then starts walking towards the direction of Arlong Park. I see Zoro, Sanji, and Long-nose waiting for him and join up to walk towards the pirate base, side by side. For my part, I'd walked over to Nami's side, but kept my eyes locked on the four.
It seems like their minds and hearts are set. Nothing save for death will stop them now.
...
'Useless coward...'
...
'Worse than garbage...'
...
'... y-you... mo-monster...'
"Tch," I scoff, alerting Nami to my presence. "What a bunch of reckless idiots." I set my bag down, open it up and start searching its contents.
"... Abel?" Nami asks me softly.
"I'm not a damn hero!" I growl at no one. "I don't do self-sacrifice! I don't do charity! I'm not a good person, damnit!" I find what I'm looking for and start pulling them onto the ground beside me. These should work for my purposes.
"What are you..." She asks me. I look her in the eyes, and what I see is the most unsettlingly nostalgic thing I'd hoped to never have to face again. A girl crying.
"... I'm not a hero who saves people at his own expense," I say, finishing up my emergency set up. "I might be a weak, pathetic prick, but I sure as hell am not a fucking coward! So you know what?"
I finish up and stare seriously at my chemistry set and assorted jars filled with chemical compounds as my head begins to make the magic happen.
"If I'm going into a fucking fight, then I'll fight MY way!"
-o~O-O~o-
Next Chapter: Arlong Vs. Abel! Three Mighty Steps!
This time some more proof that Abel is a bit of an asshole if it serves his purposes, yet not so much of an asshole as to ignore what is right in front of him. Smell that? It's the nice smell of the moral gray area, where right and wrong become nothing but an ever changing perspective.
I hope you enjoyed. The next one will be a... well, you'll see ;)
-Professional Dirtbag, C-Hablerie