A desperate escape across the wasteland and into the forests surrounding it...there's no other way for Run to describe it. The bitter taste of a defeat...when is the last time he'd felt this way? Even when staring down Shanks on Yukiryu he hadn't felt so out of his depth. The chirping and trilling of insects fills the air beyond the rushing of the frigid wind accompanying the wolves. Running and running until the sun finally sinks below the horizon, and he's sure that he's left behind Kaido and his men...only then does he stop. Sliding from the back of the wolf, he issues a low whistle and both disappear into the shadows surrounding them. Finding himself confronted by a large river and a waterfall feeding it, he limps to the edge of the water and kneels down to examine his reflection.
He'd managed to stop the bleeding from the cut on his head, or rather it had simply tapered off on it's own. Ignoring the toxic smell of the river, which is nearly overwhelming to his sensitive smell, he dips a hand in and carefully scrubs his face clean...only stopping when the light 'snap!' of a twig reaches his ears. There's only one person who has consistently taken his back since he's been here, and a chuckle escapes him as he continues to stare at his reflection.
"Aaah...this is a really bad time fer me, Junko," Run says, iris' flashing a brilliant crimson in the darkness. "Don't s'pose ya'd back off...would ya kindly?"
"Hmm...there's no sport in capturing a wounded beast," Junko tells him, accompanied a rumble of thunder over head and the sound of rain spattering against the earth.
"Hah. Here I was expectin' a little more fanaticism."
"What I want and what Kaido want are two very separate things, red hair. He'd prefer you dead...especially after you wounded him. Where as I-"
"Wounded?" echos Run, glancing back in her direction. "How badly?"
"Ahahaha~! My, my~...what a wonderful look in your eyes~." Junko approaches closer, a grin splitting her face. "Do you want know more?" Run's iris' flash crimson and the two flicker from existence, reappearing on the opposite bank with Junko grasping him by the front of his shirt. Run grasps the hilt of his cutlass and Junko immediately jams her palm into the pommel, stopping him from drawing it. "Too bad~! You are wounded and weak right now, red hair. Even if I told you more it wouldn't matter...since it would be sending you off to die." The woman turns, throwing him over her shoulder with ease. She's briefly surprised, however, when the red head twists in air and lands firmly on his feet. A hand grasps the back of her head and her vision darkens around the edges when his fist slams into her chin.
"Wounded or not, I ain't gonna lose!" Junko thrusts a palm towards his stomach, and Run's iris' flash. "Shit!"
"Internal Destruction." Run is thrown backwards on impact, sliding across the rocky bank and into near calf deep water of the river. "Ahaha~! I guess even wounded a beast still has fangs!" The red head presses a hand against his stomach for a moment before turning and spitting out a mouthful of blood. He'd tried to shield himself as best as possible but it doesn't seem to have done much to blunt it. There's got to be a way...something can be done to nullify it. "Fine. If you're so eager to continue our fight, then how could I deny you?" Junko grins at him as she grasps the tsuka of her katana. "Now, show me your motivation!"
"Kamusari!" calls Run, swinging his cutlass in Junko's direction without hesitation. He'd been reluctant to use one Shanks' personal sword techniques...but when confronted by someone like Kaido or Junko it doesn't seem like there's any other choice. The wave of Haki sails in her direction, and rather than dodge she instead presses forward, drawing her katana and cutting it in half...as well as sending her own Haki sailing back at him. Run dodges out of the path quickly, disappearing and reappearing several meters away as it carves through stone and earth with ease.
"Ahahah~! Pathetic, red hair!" laughs Junko. "What's wrong? Have a few little scratches weakened you so much?" The woman appears before him almost immediately, their swords crossing and then locking as he slides backwards through the river. His palms burn, a small spray of blood erupting from them and a thin cut now opened on his neck."C'mon! That's the best you've got?" His iris' flash and he begins to step back only too slowly as she actually grasps the blade of his cutlass, and tears it from his grip. The weapon sails through the air, burying itself deep into the rocky bank with ease. A sharp kick to the back of Junko's calf nearly knocks her from her feet before she can catch herself and Run steps forward immediately after.
"Sea King's Lash!" Her katana whips up, intercepting his kick and with a shower of sparks and brief spray of blood as her Haki cuts through. The woman slides backwards on unstable footing, and once more Run steps in. "Sea King's Bite!" His fist lands on her jaw with a spray of blood and a molar erupting past her lips. If it phases her, Junko doesn't show it; reacting immediately by turning back with a swipe of her katana. The red head raises an arm, intercepting her blade with his forearm and gritting his teeth in pain as it cuts in. His free hand quickly grasps her by the throat, and Junko finds herself lifted and then thrown straight back as if weightless into the waterfall. The impact shatters the cliff face, spewing rocks, water and dust in all directions while Run moves to recover his cutlass quickly.
His fingers have barely captured the hilt before his iris' flash and he turns quickly to be met by a knee driving into his chin. He sails backwards through the forest, smashing through tree after tree before finally getting his feet under him and quickly back pedaling as she closes in. He raises his cutlass, intercepting her katana but grunting loudly as she plants boot feet in his gut and grasps him by the hair of the head, slamming his into the ground hard enough to shatter it.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me you're getting tired? You-" Run suddenly reaches up, grasps her by the throat and pulls her to one side to slam her into the ground. Junko pushes with both legs separating the two of them with ease while she quickly stands. "I asked you to show me your motivation! You will never defeat me holding back like you are!"
"'Holdin' back'?" echos Run. "Aah, ya talk too much."
"Hmm~...fine! If you're not willing to give it your all...then maybe one of your companions will? I suppose I could start with that woman of yours...what was her name? Nico-" Run's figure flickers, appearing before Junko who raises her katana quickly. Their weapons collide with a resounding 'boom!' and Junko is forced to a knee immediately under the pressure. "Oh-ho~! Stuck a nerve, have I? Guess you value your friends lives more highly than I-" Run's heel drives into her gut sending her tumbling backwards across the earth, leveling several trees in her path before she finally comes to a stop in a tangled mess of branches. With a grunt she quickly frees herself from the mess, casually brushing herself off even as Run calmly stalks in her direction. "Hoh? My, my~...what a lovely look in your eyes, Runelle."
"I made a mistake..." His cutlass crackles dangerously, the trees surrounding them groaning...and then cracking loudly as several collapse under the weight of his Haoshoku. "...I shoulda crushed ya from the start." Junko's iris' flash a brilliant crimson as Run appears several feet in front of her with his cutlass at the ready. The hair on the back of her neck stands on end, and her heart hammers in her ears...dangerous! "Sundering Tide." He seems to almost casually lower his cutlass in her direction as she raises her katana. Her free comes up with a glint of light across a blade briefly catching his eye before she disappears in the wave of his Haki.
It slices through everything in it's path, carving deep into the earth before finally exploding skyward. A deep gouge remains, rapidly filling with rain...which Run notes has stopped. A single peek skyward reveals a clear night sky surrounding his location for miles...a feat he'd witnessed only once before when Shanks and Mihawk had confronted each other when he was a boy. A wave of fresh pain causes him to glance downward, eyes narrowing slightly when he spots the tsuka of a wakazashi jutting from his stomach.
"Aah...how spiteful, Junko..."
"Ahahaha~! Hnngh!" laughs Junko, as Run glances over his shoulder. She clutches the tsuka of a shattered katana in her right hand, and yanks tight on a strap coiled around the stump of her left arm with her teeth. "Sorry~! But I thought it might be rude to leave without a parting gift, Runelle~!" She reaches up, sweeping her blood spattered hair from her eyes with a grin. "I think I'll withdraw for now...I may not be able to feel pain but that just means I can't measure the damage that's been done by your attack."
"Think I'll let- unnh!" The red head staggers as he turns in her direction, free hand grasping the tsuka of the blade.
"Of course not! No beast would willingly release it's prey...that's why I coated that blade in the venom of the Yuda."
"Yuda? Even Sea Kings won't fight with 'em."
"Oh? I guess I don't have to explain what kind of situation you find yourself in, then! Strong as you are I'd wager you've two maybe three hours. Maybe less given the state of your body, and the location of the wound- oh! Don't worry, I avoided hitting anything too vital. 'Till we meet again..." Junko takes a single step back, and Run yanks the wakizashi out with a grunt and spray of blood before hurling it in her direction with all his might. Her figure flickers, and the blade buries itself to the tsuka in a tree behind her.
Run focuses his Kenbunshoku, expanding it in all directions as far as he can manage. The people in Okubore and Bakura...wildlife...people hidden in the forest...even Trafalgar Law and a small group accompanying him...but no Junko. With a snort in irritation he approaches the tree and pulls the wakizashi free.
"Junko...I'll make sure to return the favor." He presses a hand against the wound on his stomach. "First things first...I need to get Law to stitch me up..."
"I can't tell if you're an idiot or a genius," Law says, approaching the prone red head with needle in hand. "You made a big enough scene that Kaido and his men almost completely forgot about the rest of us, Red-Hair-ya." It's a task in an of itself to find a gap in the bandages wrapping Run from head to toe in a manner more similar to a mummy than a patient. "I never thought I'd be administering anti-venom for Yuda venom. It's a good thing you brought that dagger with you." Truthfully, he'd barely made it to Law in a mad scramble for treatment. A few minutes later and it might have actually been curtains for the red head. Of course, that came with an absolute ear full of complaints over his condition as well as the final results of the battle with Kaido including the capture of Luffy.
"Aah, what can I say," Run says with a grin. "Guess I must be special. That said...your bedside manner could use some work." Law snorts in response, stepping back after the injection and handing the needle off to Kin'emon who quickly disposes of it.
"Shut-up. If you don't like my manners you're welcome to find another doctor."
"Dahaha~! Relax, relax~! No need to be so touchy, doc." Run sits up with a grunt, surprised that his wounds don't hurt as bad as he thought might. "Hoh? I actually feel pretty good. Ya know, I don't care what anyone says about ya, Law! You're alright in my book!"
"Don't think for a second that you're alright. Your body has taken significant damage, and you've had to have a surgery." Run raises a hand, making mocking motions with it while a vein throbs in Law's temple. "You need to rest for at least a week before you even think about getting back on your feet."
"Whoa-ho! Rest? No can do, doc! First things first I've got some jail-breaking to do. After I've sprung Luffy I have a few things I need to do myself..." Run flexes the fingers on the hand he's been mocking Law with and Haoshoku crackles briefly from it before the skin turns an inky black. "...like getting the hang of what I've seen."
"Hmph. I guess I misjudged you...you might actually be a genius..."
"Yo hohoho~, yoho-ho-ho~," Run sings, striding across the wasteland. The last two days spent in recovery have been some of the longest and more boring days that Run can remember. Too uncomfortable to nap and too stiff to do much of any kind of training and experimenting. "Gather up all of the crew, it's time to ship out Bink's brew! Sea wind blows! To where? Who knows? The waves will be our guide!" Run's iris' briefly flash a brilliant crimson and a grin splits his face. He can sense Luffy ahead in the place Kin'emon called 'Udon', one of Kaido's prison camps.
He feels a little bad about lying to Kin'emon about just 'taking a walk' but since he wouldn't exactly let him waltz down to Udon without a fight it seemed the best course of action. The massive gates loom in the distance, and loud cheering echos from within the camp. It seems that they're having one hell of a party despite the intention of the camp. The red head approaches the gate, grasping the hilt of his cutlass...it's only good manners to knock before entering, right? He draws his sword, energy crackling madly from the blade as he steps forward.
"Kamusari!" A wave of Haki flies from his sword, cleaving through the doors and stone alike as a massive explosion rings out. A storm of dust and rock briefly obscure the entrance to Udon, and the alarms begin to blare immediately as Run calmly strides forward through the destruction. Numerous shouts and cries echo through the camp, accompanied by the sound of sprinting footsteps as dozens of guards storm in the direction of the collapsed gates. They stop several meters short of the cloud of dust, watching as Run casually strides through in their direction coming to a stop when he notices them. "Hoh? Dahahaha~! Now, talk about a welcoming party!"
"Who are you?!" demands a six armed woman. "Identify yourself immediately!"
"Aaah...sorry, but I'm a little short on time right now. I'm just here for Luffy and then I'll be out of your hair."
"Do you have any idea what you're doing right now?! Attempting to free a criminal is-"
"Yeah, yeah. Like I said, I'm short on time so..." The guards gathered before him suddenly collapse face first to the ground, weapons clattering uselessly around them. His figure flickers and he reappears several dozen meters away, standing on the top of several large stone blocks. This quarry is beyond massive, and if he were just blindly searching it might take him some time to reach Luffy...but thankfully he isn't blindly searching. Instead, he follows his Kenbunshoku through the labor camp in the direction of his captain until only a second set of doors stands between him and his destination...which he promptly destroys with ease. When the dust settles he finds himself confronted by a massive gathering of soldiers beyond which stands a raised ring and Luffy confronting a large man dressed in striped overalls. "Dahaha~! Luffy! Fancy meetin' you here!"
"Kishishishi~! Run!" laughs Luffy, grinning at the man. "I had a feeling that was you making all that noise!"
"Aah, you know me well, Luffy. Hang on a second and I'll have you-"
"Ma-ma-mama~!" echos a familiar and irritating voice from above, causing Run to glance up quickly as the figure of Big Mom comes crashing down to the earth in front of him.
"Uhhh...yer friggin' kiddin' me, right?"
"B-B-Big Mom?!" echo the guards, staring at the large woman.
"Big Mom?!" shouts the large man in the ring. "How?! I heard that her ship was sunk!"
"Red-bean soup," Big Mom mutters, scanning the area slowly. "Hm? Ohhh! Red-bean soup!" The woman whirls around, nearly trampling Run under foot as his figure flickers and he reappears in the ring beside Luffy. Whatever is getting ready to happen he needs to spring his captain. "Otama! Come quickly! I smell red-bean soup! Lets eat it together!"
"Alright, Luffy!" Run says with a grin, reaching up towards the collar. "Let's have you out of this, huh?"
"O-O-Oi! Wait a second!" Luffy says quickly, grasping his wrist. "This thing will explode if-"
"Aah, relax, relax~! I can have it off in a second!" After a few seconds Luffy nods and Run grasps the collar...before suddenly pulling it free and tossing it outside of the ring where it immediately explodes. "See? Easy enough, Luffy!"
"Wh-What the?!" demand several guards. "He removed the collar with his bare hands?!"
"Oi, old bag!" bellows the large man. "Did you say 'red-bean soup'?!"
"I did!" confirms Big Mom. "Give it to me already! I heard I could eat a lot of it here, so I came all this way!"
"Screw that! Who told you such nonsense?! You can eat a lot of it?! Did you come to steal it know that it's my favorite?!" The chains behind them begin to shake and rattle and with a quick glance Run figures out that two men are actually attached to the chains and submerged in the water! "Red-bean soup is like oxygen to me!" The large man's body begins to shake as he slowly starts to transform. "It keeps me alive!" The man, who Run figures out is named 'Queen' by the shouts of his subordinates, slowly transforms into a massive dinosaur before their very eyes.
"Aaaah! We need to pull them up, Run!" Luffy shouts. "Jaggy and the other guy will drown if we leave them!"
"Jaggy?" Run echos, confusion appearing on his face as he approaches the large basin of water. "Who is..." His words trail off and his brow furrows as he recognizes one of the two men dunked in the water. Of all the people in the world...what are the odds that he would happen across HIM here? "...aaah, yer kiddin' me." Energy crackles from the blade of his cutlass and with a single swing he splits the basin in half, splattering water across the quarry as he leaps down from the ring towards the now hacking and coughing men. "Dahahaha~! Hello, there, Eustass." The man sputters and coughs, eyes widening in surprise before turning into a fierce glare.
"Red Hair!" snarls Eustass, reaching out in his direction only for his wrist to be captured easily.
"I see we've been havin' ourselves a good time."
"I'll kill you!"
"What a coincidence." A grin appears on Run's face, exposing four rather sharp canine teeth as he readies his cutlass. "Seems we're on the same page..." Before he can make a move, however, a pair of hands quickly grasp his shoulders and pull him away from Eustass back towards the ring.
"Run, stop!" Luffy tells him. "You can't fight Jaggy! You- whoa! Get down!" Luffy quickly heaves Run to the ground as a large figure sails over their heads, smashing into the far wall of the quarry and toppling the frame that Eustass and the blond man are hanging from. "Oi! Are you alright?!"
"Shut up!" bellows Kid. "We don't need your pity! We're not that helpless!" The transformed body of Queen slowly changes back to his normal form, as his subordinates gather around. It seems Big Mom actually knocked the man out with a single throw.
"She beat the formidable Queen so easily," mutters the old man beside them. "She's on another level...that's the strength of the Yonko Big Mom!" Big Mom wanders through the quarry, following her nose in search of the red-bead soup she's craving, and quickly digging out a massive pot labelled 'Queen'.
"Ohhh~! There's no mistake!" cries Big Mom, hefting the pop with ease. "This smell! Red...Bean...Soup! How sweet and rich the smell is! And there's so much of it to be had! It was worth coming all the way here!" She slams the pop down, and promptly removes the lid...only to discover it's empty. The guards surrounding them all immediately begin to retreat, leaving behind the rather depressed looking Big Mom as quickly as their feet will carry them.
"Aah, I see," Luffy chirps. "She really wanted to eat it. I understand why she's sad because I want to eat it again, too! The red-bean soup was so delicious!" Run clamps a hand over his captain's mouth quickly, attempting to silence him but it seems the damage has been done as Big Mom slowly turns to look in their direction, along with the guards who quickly stop their retreat.
"Oh, boy," Run mutters. Luffy reaches up and pulls Run's hand from his mouth.
"Why is everyone looking at me like that?"
"Well...because you admitted to eating the soup she was craving, obviously." Big Mom throws the pot in their direction, and Luffy easily bats it away with a single fist. The massive Yonko stomps in their direction, bending down to their level to look them in the eyes.
"Oi! Did you...eat all the red-bead soup?!" demands Big Mom. "You smell like red-bean soup!" She quickly leans up, and draws back quickly. Luffy is quick to tuck the old man under an arm while Run surprises everyone present by surging forward. His arm is dyed an inky black as he rushes head-long to meet her fist.
"Sea King's Bite!" calls Run, their attacks colliding several meters apart from one another with a deafening 'boom!'. Arcs of Haki surge between the two for several tense moments before Big Mom actually recoils, staggering backwards several steps before catching herself. "...Almost." Run clenches his fist tightly, Haoshoku surging and arcing from his fist before he finally opens his hand and stares at his palm. "Redirect the force of Haoshoku through the same paths as Busoshoku..." Big Mom charges forward, launching a punch at the red head who once again steps forward, and sends the Yonko recoiling. "...neither forcefully nor gently, it needs to flow in tandem..." The red head steps forward, clenching his fist tightly. "...a perfect balancing act."
"Red-bean soup!" Big Mom bellows, irritation getting the best of her as she charges forward. Run's figure flickers, and he reappears above the woman.
"Sea King's Roll." He spins through the air before driving the heel of his foot firmly into the top of her head with a resounding 'boom!' once more echoing out. Her head snaps down as she's driven to a knee with a rumble following before the earth around them shatters, showering rock in all directions. The massive Yonko rebounds to her feet almost immediately, staggering backwards with her arms held out to keep balance. Run lands several meters away with a grunt, pressing a hand against his stomach. "Hah. What a wonderful dance." Big Mom staggers about wildly for several long moments before suddenly stamping her foot and stopping herself in place.
"Now I remember. Now I remember everything!" Arcs of Haki spring to life between the two for several long moments before dying off completely. "Red Hair...did you kick me in the head just now? Yes...thanks to that I remember everything now. Aah, I'm so hungry..." Big Mom begins walking in his direction.
"Aah, I really gave that kick my all. Guess I'm really not bad to full strength, yet."
"I came all this way for your crew. But before all of that I'll have the red-bead soup I've been craving! Red-bean soup! Red-bean soup! Give me the red-bean soup!" The Yonko suddenly staggers and collapses face first to the ground several dozen meters in front of the red head before rolling onto her back...asleep?
"...Yer kiddin' me."
"E-Everyone! Bring one-hundred percent pure Sea Prism Stone cuffs and chains!" bellows Queen, surprising everyone present. His men immediately act on his orders, gathering massive chains and cuffs and wrapping her from head to toe as quickly as possible. They even go so far as to inject her with dose after dose of tranquilizer but rapidly loading her onto a transport ship bound for Kaido.
"Run! We need to get this collar off!" Luffy calls, attracting his attention. Run's figure flickers and he appears beside the Luffy and the old man. With a simple motion he reaches out and removes the collar, tossing it skyward where it explodes loudly.
"Alright!" Run says with a grin, turning to face those guards left behind. "Let's mop these guys up and-" Luffy grasps his shoulder quickly. "Hah? Luffy?"
"Wait. I'll do it. I can't always rely on you to face someone like Big Mom or Kaido."
"Dahahaha~! Why not? If that's what we need, then I'll do it, Luffy!" Run grins at him over his shoulder. "If your Haki isn't strong enough then I'll make MINE strong enough! If we need it then I'll become the strongest Haki user in the world." Luffy grins at him and nods before stepping up beside him.
"Alright! The King of the Pirates should have someone like that...the man with the strongest Haki! But for now, I'll take care of these guys! You just tell me what I need to do to improve!" Run nods firmly in response while Luffy cracks his knuckles loudly. "Now...let's go...!"