Even More Trouble
"Special soba! It's Sangoro's special soba!" Sanji scooped together another bowl of soba and handed it to the lady in front of him.
Neo blew on her own noodles and sucked them through her lips, careful not to drip any hot juices on Cora. Flavor exploded on her tongue as she tried to figure out where she had left off. Though she didn't know why she tried to count how many bowls of soba noodles Sanji had sold. She lost count when Robin, Usopp, and Franky walked over. The three Straw Hats came to spent time with her and Sanji, also to get some of the cook's food.
"Any information on Luffy?" Robin asked.
"Not since he left the mainland," Usopp said.
"Raizo is dropping in on him still, but nothing new has developed." Neo licked her lips. "In typical Luffy fashion, he's have fun in there."
"Hopefully he'll keep himself out of trouble," Usopp said. "Though I highly doubt it with Kid in that prison with him. Are you sure we should leave him in there?"
"Law still believe it's best," Neo said.
"He should be out by the day of the battle, thought," Franky said. "That's good enough."
Usopp slurped down some noodles."Yummy! This stuff's stupidly delicious! I'm so glad you made it back to us!"
"I couldn't care less about you two, but O-Robi! O-Neo! How does it taste?!" Sanji asked.
"It's very good," Robin said.
"The best ever!" Neo said. "As always!"
"O-Robi the geisha is the best!" Sanji gushed with hearts in his eyes. "And O-Neo! You were so cute before now you are amazingly beautiful as a mother!"
"I've missed you so much!" Neo grinned.
"The soba's amazing, but isn't it a little too popular with girls, Sangoro? Make something that goes better with sake! Something spicy, to attract samurai!" Franky said. Sanji curled his nose. "Why are you giving me that look?! Are you trying to gather allies or not, block head?"
Neo suppressed a giggle. Women had lined up since earlier that day, creating a line that went a few blocks over. A few men had come as well, but for some reason it was mostly women.
"Wait! Franosuke, look! Male customers!" Usopp pointed his chopsticks to three rough looking men. The men pushed through the crowd as they made their way over.
"Sorry! Excuse me!"
"Sorry about that, girls!"
"Hey! No cutting, mister!"
"Shut it!"
Neo looked to the men. The tallest of the three had his hair split in three sections and a black mask over his eyes. The second tallest was the heavier of the three with stubble over his chin and upper lip. The shortest of the three wore a checkered kimono.
Her body tensed. These men were looking for trouble.
"You've got people linin' up for yer food here, huh, mister," the heavier of the three said.
"Yes, I do. You're going to get in the end of the line if you want some," Sanji said.
"That's not why we're here. Mister, whose permission didja get to open this little stall?" the shorter one asked. "This is the territory of the Kyoshiro clan."
"Can't open shop here without payin' up!" the masked man said.
"Why?" Sanji asked.
"Why, if something happened to this place, we won't be able to protect ya."
"Don't need protection. I can handle myself," Sanji said.
"Some time ago, I visited the mansion of a man named Kyoshiro," Robin said. "These are probably his underlings. He was quite the arrogant samurai. But to think that he was actually a yakuza…"
"Well, try handling this!" The man kicked the pot off the stall. The noodles splatted on the ground.
"Oh dear," Neo said looking at the noodles now laying on the ground, the liquid soaked into the dirt. "Sanji's not going to like that at all. Such a waste."
Sanji's face clouded over.
"Hey! How dare you eat this shop's goods!" The heavier one slapped the bowl from a little girl's hands.
"My soba!" Tears streaked the girl's face but she remained smiling.
"Go home, everyone! This shop's closed!"
"This is bad. Get back!" Usopp said. "Sanji's going to fly off the handle, I know it!"
"Hm? A fight?" Franky asked with a sparkle in his eyes.
"I'm going to make you eat that, Mister Customer," Sanji growled.
"Huh? You tryna fight?" the shorter man asked.
"Everyone! Get back!" The crowd scattered.
"Hey! Kaku! Suke! Ge-"
Sanji slammed his heel onto the shorter man's cheek before he could finish his sentence. He pushed the guy all the way to the ground.
Neo noted the long line dissipating. She couldn't blame them.
"Franosuke! Iron…" Franky jumped up.
"Stop it! This is dangerous! What are you-" Usopp called out.
"Here we go!" Franky slammed the big guy into the ground from several feet in the air.
Sanji picked up the noodles and crammed it into the guy's mouth. "Eat it! All of it! The soba you spilled!"
Neo sipped up a noodle. "Those poor noodles."
"Well, I can't say I didn't expect this to happen, but it this really okay?" Usopp asked through a mouthful of noodles. "We might have crossed the wrong people. Look. That huge line. Gone without a trace. They're probably going to call someone even stronger than them."
"That's possible. Law's not going to be happy about this." Neo sighed.
"You going to send him a message?" Usopp asked.
Neo nodded, sent a quick message to Law, then spotted the little girl, who's soba was knocked from her hands, peeking around a corner. "Hey, we still have a guest."
"It's the kid whose soba was spilled," Franky said.
"She was still smiling, even when she was crying. Strange kid," Usopp said.
Sanji scooped out what remained of the noodles and handed the bowl to the girl. "I've got just enough for one bowl. Here you go."
"What? Thank you!" She slurped some down. "Yummy! Everyone's talking about this special soba! I really wanted to try it! I waited in line for so long. Even though I'm already late for work. But I saved up my allowance. And I finally managed to buy it. But then it fell. I was so sad. I've never had soba this good!"
"You're making me laugh too, kid." Sanji smiled. "Say, what's your name?"
"My name's Toko. Try putting an O in front of it," Toko said.
"An O?" Franky asked.
"Okay, O-Toko," Robin said.
"But I'm a girl!" Toko laughed. "Except my name's O-Toko! Did you like that one? Everyone says my name is easy to remember!" She handed her bowl back to Sanji. "Ah, that was so good. Thanks."
"Of course. Come back anytime." Sanji took the bowl and pat her on the head.
"She's so cute." Neo smiled.
"Not as cute as you, Neo my dear!" Sanji gushed.
"Oh no! I really am late! I'm super late!" Toko said. "Ah! That's right! I'll be back down this street soon! The courtesans' procession is today!"
"Toko, are you a kamuro?" Robin asked.
"Yup. I'm a kamuro! It's all ready started. I've got to hurry! Bye-bye! See ya later!" Toko waved at them.
"The courtesans are all super pretty!" Sanji said.
"You should watch!" Toko ran down the street.
"Ah, what a funny kid," Usopp said.
"Toko's such a bright little girl. So cute," Robin said.
"The fabled courtesans procession is going to pass through here?!" Sanji asked.
"Courtesan? Kamuro?" Franky asked.
"I was wondering the same thing." Neo tapped her lips with her chopsticks. "I don't recall ever hearing those words before."
"A courtesan is!" An old woman holding a stringed instrument skidded to a stop beside them.
"Where did this lantern carrying granny pop out of?!" Usopp jumped.
"Who are you calling a wrinkled granny, you brat?! I'll light up that head of yours! O-Robi! I have good news! I've searched all of the flower capital for you! Essentially, courtesans are Wano country's top idols. Super stars."
"Oh." Franky cupped his chin.
Neo placed her chopsticks on her bowl then handed it to Sanji when he motioned for it. "Thank you."
"At the moment there exists but one. The name of that chosen woman is Komurasaki. A man's dream! A woman's wish! Of refined upbringing! Beauty enough to topple a nation!" the woman sang.
The boys stiffened with a familiar look Neo often saw in her crew when they crossed pretty women.
"Nobility even a god couldn't match! Such is the courtesan Komurasaki!"
"I-Impossible! There's no way such a woman exists!" Franky and Usopp said.
"See for yourselves," the old woman said. "Listen. You can hear it. The cheers of the crowds that follow her. The music of her accompaniment. Today, in Orochi castle, the shogun is holding a banquet. And the courtesan's procession heads towards his castle for that event. That child just now was a kamuro; a young girl that waits on a courtesan. Speaking of which, congratulations, O-Robi! You've been chosen too! They've summoned you to the mansion!"
Neo frowned. Her friend was going to be so close to the enemy.
"Huh?" Robin blinked.
"I know how long you've been waiting for a chance to meet the shogun!"
"Yes." Robin smiled.
"Wow! You're amazing, O-Robi!" Sanji said.
"Return for the preparations soon!"
"Yes! I can't wait!" Robin said as the elder woman raced off.
Neo huffed. "I know this is what you were waiting for but I don't like it."
"Don't worry." Robin patted Neo's knee. "I'll be fine."
"Should I send a couple elementals with you? Or maybe have them hide outside the mansion somewhere? That way they'll be there if you need help." Neo pressed her finger to her lips in thought.
"That's not necessary. I promise I'll be fine. Orochi's men might noticed the elementals if they get too close."
Neo breathed through her nose. "Fine. But I still might send some elementals. They can fly over head, using clouds to hide."
"If that'll make you feel better." Robin patted Neo's shoulder and stood. "Sorry, I have to go now."
"Take care. Say bye to Aunt Robin, Cora." Cora opened his eyes for a second before closing them again.
Robin waved and walked off.
"So what should we do now?" Usopp asked. "I really want to see this Komurasaki."
"Well, I can hear music." Franky cupped his ear. "So she should be here soon."
Sanji picked up the pot and placed it on the stall. "Let's go. I can take care of this mess later. Did you report to Law about what happened?"
"I did. He's not happy about it, but it's understandable." Neo stood and walked down the street with the boys.
Excited chattered met their ears a minute later. Citizens, mostly men, had already lined up on the road.
Neo glanced down the street. She spotted some dark shadows moving towards them. Whistles and shouts erupted.
"Make way for Lady Komurasaki!"
"Here she comes! Lady Komurasaki!"
"The courtesan's procession!"
"There's a lot of people here," Franky said.
"I wonder what sort of beauty she's going to be." Usopp eagerly looked down the street.
"You boys and your hormones," Neo said.
"You have no room to talk." Usopp tossed her a glance.
"I had a baby."
Usopp didn't reply.
A glint of light caught Neo's eye. She turned to see three rough looking men step in the road wielding knives. "What are they doing?"
"Looks like some trouble's showed up," Franky said.
The three men charged forward towards the procession. They only got a few steps before a man sliced them down with a staff that had a blade on each end.
"That was fast," Neo said. "I almost missed it."
"Drop dead gorgeous!" Sanji squealed.
"Whooaaa!" Franky's mouth fell open.
"She's sparkling!" Usopp pulled down his goggles over his eyes.
Neo eyed the scene before her. The woman, who grabbed every man's attention, was walking on stilts, putting her taller than everyone else around her. She wore a beautiful kimono decorated with a peacock and an elaborate headdress that held up her light green hair. "How can she walk on stilts? I can't even walk in high heels."
"Komurasaki!"
"Komurasaki!"
Neo turned to the beaten men. They were crying and reaching out for the woman.
"I traded my house, my family, everything! For money! Give me back my money, you dirty thief!" one of the men said.
Neo looked back at the woman. Did she really do all that? I don't really get a bad feeling from her, but there's something off about her.
"Asking for a gift back is the height of unseemliness. To me, men are but dogs that bring me money. No money, and I have no use for them," Komurasaki said.
"She might be pretty but she doesn't seem to be very nice," Neo said. She turns away when the three men are given a beating.
"Well, now that that's over, I should be heading back to work," Franky said.
"Me too," Usopp said.
"Behave, boys," Neo ordered.
"We will." Franky and Usopp waved as they walked off.
"Shall we return to the shop?" Sanji offered her his arm.
"Of course." Neo placed her hand in the crook of his elbow and walked back to the soba shop with him. "Hm?"
Back at the soba shop Neo sat down and continued to watch Sanji work, occasionally helping with a large enough crowd called for it. "Law."
Law stepped up behind Sanji.
"What are you doing here?" the cook asked.
"We have a problem. You need to hide somewhere, Blackleg." Law pushed up his wicker face cover.
Neo stood and rushed over to them. "Law?"
"It's about that fight earlier, right? If they come back, I'll beat them again," Sanji said.
"That's not it. The guys who are coming know who we are," Law said.
"Is it Hawkins?" Sanji asked.
"It wouldn't be so bad if it was just him. The strongest six among the headliners are called the Tobi Roppo. And two among them..."
"Two?"
"One is Page One of the Tobi Roppo."
"Tobi Roppo... Page One..."
"The other one is X Drake from the Tobi Roppo."
"Drake? He's from the worst generation."
"Let's get out of here," Law said.
Neo nodded. They walked away from the soba stand as if it were any normal day.
"Whoa!" Usopp suddenly shrieked. "Oh, thank goodness. It's you guys."
"Usopp." Neo looked to her left where Usopp and Franky were standing. "What are you doing here?"
"We heard they're sending someone after Sanji," Usopp said. "We came as quickly as we could."
"It's not safe here. Let's go." Law led them forward. Coming to the end of the block, he gave Neo a nod. She nodded back and felt out through the ground if anyone way waiting. When she gave the all clear they continued. "The situation is bad. It doesn't matter what triggered this. If one of you gets caught and your true identity is reveal, it's going to be quite a mess. They'll start searching for the rest of the crews."
Neo gritted her teeth. "It'll be very bad if they find the elementals."
"Oh, no! Nami and Robin are in danger!" Sanji said.
"It's fine if it's just you guys," Law said. "But if they find out you're involved with the Kozuki family in anyway, this vengeful plan of twenty years will be blown. If they catch you, don't you dare utter a word about the samurai or the minks! Die without divulging a single secret!"
"You're insane! Luffy would never say something like that!" Usopp said.
"I'm not Straw Hat," Law said.
"Come on, Law. No one has to die. There's got to be something else we can do," Neo said.
"What about hiding our faces and then fighting?" Franky asked.
"That could work," Neo said.
Law sighed. "Only ff you're a hundred percent sure you can win then fine. Cover your faces and fight. But a single loss of any of us could reduce our strength at the final battle. It's best to not fight at all right now."
You're officially the worst captain ever!" Usopp said. "If they catch me I'm going to spill the beans and save myself!"
"Are you serious?! Fine, I'll just protect you!" Sanji said.
"Yay!" Usopp cheered.
"What is wrong with you two?!" Law asked.
Neo giggled. "Their always so lively. Hm? I feel something."
"What is it?" Law asked.
"A dinosaur."
A woman screamed.
"A lady?" Sanji asked. They all stopped running.
"Is that house falling?" Neo asked when they glance up. Wood snapped. Boards clattered to the ground as the house fell.
What's going on?" Sanji asked.
"Sangoro! Get out of here!" someone called out. "Come out, Sangoro! Take responsibility for what you've done!"
"It's Page One. He's destroying the town. " Neo noticed Sanji walking towards the voices. "Sanji, where are you going?"
"Hey! Wait, Sanji!" Franky said.
"Sanji?" Neo looked back and forth between the two. "Law?"
"Let's go!" Law took the lead and followed after the Straw Hat cook. Passing between two buildings, they found Sanji already engaged in battle with Page One in his dinosaur form. The dino man swung his tail, knocking down more buildings. People screamed and ran.
Neo rocked Cora as he fussed. "Hush, sweet boy. It's okay."
"What are you doing, Sangoro?! Don't fight him!" Usopp jumped upon Franky's shoulder and called out for his friend.
"Once Drake and Hawkins get here we're done for." Law gripped his sword. "Neo, can you sense them?"
"They're not very far out," Neo said. "Sanji, please."
"It'll be fine, Neo. Thankfully this guy doesn't know who I am," Sanji said. "And I won't let him find out or let myself get hurt. I can deal with an idiot like this before you know it. Increasing our strength is a good idea, but reducing theirs ain't bad either. Go on ahead, guys. It's fine as they don't find out who I am, right? Who I really am." He tossed a can with the number three on it up and down.
"What's that can for?" Neo asked.
"Perfect time to transform, wouldn't you say?" Sanji said.
"Transform?" Neo tugged on Law's kimono sleeve. "What's he talking about?"
"What are you doing, Sangoro?!" Usopp asked.
"Just forget about the town," Law said.
"We're at war with an emperor. If we stay prideful, there maybe times when we can't save a life. But if we toss aside that pride, there are probably people we can save. That is, if this thing is up to the task." Sanji threw the can into the air again. "Just putting this thing on shouldn't bring me down to the level of the Germa. I've got to try it sooner or later."
"Germa? Your ex-family?" Neo asked. But Sanji didn't answer.
"What's going on?!" Usopp asked as Sanji jumped into the air and threw off his coat. A light swirled in front of Sanji's torso then wrapped around his limbs.
Neo pressed into Law. "What's happening to him?"
"A transformation?!" Franky's eyes sparkle.
"That's so cool! What technology is that?!" Usopp asked.
"Transformation?" Neo knitted her eyebrows at Sanji's now black outfit and a three on the cape. "Law, isn't that...?"
"Yeah." Law nodded.
Sanji landed on a near by roof.
"Why are you standing there on that roof?" One Page asked.
"Why does he have that suit? That's definitely number three of the army of evil, the Germa 66," Law said. "Stealth Black!"
"Germa 66?" Neo blinked. "That comic book series you told me about before?"
"Yeah." Law nodded. "That's the one."
"Why do you two know about that?!" Sanji glanced down at the Heart Pirates.
"Everyone in the North Blue does," Law said. "I told Neo all about them."
"Well, I don't care what you know! Don't ever call me part of Germa!" Sanji snapped.
"I'm a dyed in the wool reader. I hated the Germa." Law knitted his brow.
"Me too, you idiot!" Sanji snapped.
Neo huffed. Annoyance from Sanji wearing something that came from his ex-family bubbled in her chest. "Does he have to wear that suit? It's from his ex-family. I don't like it."
"So I take it you're not a mere soba seller," One Page said. "Who are you?"
"Soba Mask," Sanji said.
"That's what he came up with?" Neo tilted her head.
"That's the worst name ever! Change it!" Usopp demanded.
"Let us change it for you!" Franky added.
"Here we go, lizard face!" Sanji bent his knees then jumped into the air and disappeared.
"Where did he-" Before Neo could finish her question Page One slammed into the ground.
"He's so strong! But where is he attacking from?" Usopp looked around.
"He's so fast we can't even see him!" Franky said.
"No. The papers said all about this. The comic strip 'Sora, Warrior of the Seas' and his enemies, the army of evil the Germa 66. Their member Stealth Black can hide his own form. A very troublesome foe," Law said. "He projects his background onto his own body. Making it impossible to see him."
"You know way too much about this!" Usopp said.
"Yeah." Neo poked Law's chest. "But he's the cutest when he geeks out like this. Hard to believe the Surgeon of Death can be such a fan boy."
"You said it." Usopp nodded.
Page One shifted into his human beast form and charged at Sanji with sharp nails.
"Should I help him?" Neo asked.
"No, let him handle this," Law said.
Sanji blocked the attack with a kick but Page One swatted him away.
"Whoa! Are you okay, Sanji?!" Usopp shouted.
"Ancient types really are something," Law said. He turned from the fight. "Let's go."
Neo hesitated. She didn't want to leave Sanji behind on his own. But as long as he finished this fight before Drake and Hawkins got here then he should be fine.
"Hey! Why are we leaving Sangoro behind?!" Usopp asked.
"Because he told us to," Law said.
"Yeah, but…" Usopp said.
"More will come after him. And the commotion's just going to get worse. We can't be seen in the capital for some time," Law said.
"Oh," Usopp said.
"We'll have to hide somewhere." Neo glanced down at Cora. The young elemental had fallen asleep again. "I hope Robin will be okay."
"Let's hide out in Ebisu Town for a while," Law said.
"Ebisu?" Usopp asked.
"It's a town at the corner of the Flower Capital," Neo said.
"How do you know that?" The sniper glanced at her.
"Law had me memorize a map of the country." Neo blinked.
"You memorized the entire island?" Sweat dripped down Usopp's forehead.
"More or less. I can't get every detail memorized, but I have the basic outlines of towns and important places memorized."
"You people are so hard core," Usopp grumbled. "That's far too much work for me."
Neo smiled. "Law likes the finest details."
"Yeah." More sweat ran down Usopp's face. "I've noticed that."
"Hm?" Worry settled in Neo's chest as an image of Penguin, Shachi, and Bepo crossed her mind.
"What is it, Neo?" Law asked.
"I've got a bad feeling." Neo glanced down at Cora while the boys exchanged concerned glances.
