"Captain," Makino breathed. Naia felt her cheeks flush as she glanced behind her causing the red-haired captain to catch her eye with a wink as he took a couple of steps toward her. The awkwardness she had left him in seemed to have disappeared completely.
"Oi Luffy, I thought your punches were going to be like a pistol?"
"Shanks! My punches will be like a pistol but I'm still not used to being rubber" Luffy whined, "Do you know how hard it is to control a limb that stretches beyond reason?"
"No, I can't say I do," Shanks laughed. The rest of his crews' laughter mixed with his own.
"It's you again. Haven't you cowards had enough?" Higuma sneered, "If not, I can gladly break some more dishes for you."
The other bandits let out chuckles as they threw out insults in tandem with their leader. Shanks held an air of confidence and carefreeness as he made his way toward the clustering of bandits.
"You willing to bet your life by pointing that at her or me?" Shanks grinned.
"What are you talking about?" The bandit sputtered.
"I'm saying guns are for actions, not threats." Naia flinched at the sound of a gun going off but the sight of the bandit falling had her retching his gun from his hand and shooting two of the bandits that flanked Higuma. Higuma stumbled back as his group started to dwindle, a look of fear passing through his eyes.
"That's not fair! You didn't give us any kind of warning!"
"We didn't know she knew how to shoot!" Various bandits outraged as Naia smirked, keeping the gun cocked just in case they decided to make a move.
"Stop whining! You're not dealing with saints." Benn smirked as the rest of the crew came to flank Shanks and Naia. "You're dealing with pirates."
Naia had to roll her eyes at the dramatics the crew was displaying.
"This had nothing to do with you!" One brave soul shouted. Naia shivered as anger rolled off Shanks in waves.
"Listen, you can pour drinks on me, throw food at me, you can even spit on me and I would be one to just laugh it off. But should you hurt one of my friends, good reason or not, I will not stand by!"*
"Nice speech, very intimidating but it's nothing but fancy words," Higuma mocked, "Let me show you why pirates will never stand up to mountain bandits! Kill them!"
"I'll take care of this, Captain," Benn said, cocking the butt of his gun as the bandits lunged at them. Naia smiled as she slipped away from the crowd unnoticed. Higuma wouldn't be running off with Luffy this time around. She avoided any unwanted attention as she moved to stand behind Higuma who had yet to take his eyes off the fight in front of him. It wasn't much of a fight as Benn made quick work of them without firing a single shot. "You should've brought a battleship or something if you wanted to fight us so badly."
"Naia? Where'd she go?" She heard Shanks ask as he looked around.
"It's the brat's fault! He started all this!" Higuma exclaimed, eyes wide.
"Doesn't matter, you're the one with a price on his head," Shanks smirked. Higuma's eyes frantically bounced around to his fellow bandit's unconscious bodies before throwing his arm up in the air. Poof! Smoke filled the air.
"What the? Luffy!" Shanks called out with a worried voice.
"Where do you think you're going?" Naia asked, letting her arm catch the bandit leader's neck. Higuma landed harshly on his back causing Luffy to tumble from his grasp. Naia held the man down with her foot as she cocked the gun to his face.
"Luffy!" The pirate crew shouted, grins returning to their faces.
"Naia!? When did you?" Shanks gaped at her.
"When everyone was fighting, it seemed like a good time to block off his exit," Naia explained, keeping her eyes trained on the man below her. "Now, what to do with you. Your bounty is nothing to write home about but it would be a nice sum of money to have for the kids."
"Please don't," Higuma whimpered, "I'll do anything you want."
"Anything I want?" Naia hummed.
"Money! Get the money!" Luffy giggled, "It'll go toward our pirate stash!"
"You have a pirate stash, Anchor?" Shanks arched an eyebrow at the boy.
"We both do! But mine and Sabo's is bigger!" Ace said proudly. Sabo gave a grin in triumph.
"So much bigger!"
"It's larger, boys, not bigger," Naia instinctively corrected. Shanks gave her a questioning look. "They're in a competition with each other of who can save up the most. Although, I think this is my catch and the cabin could use some updates."
"We'll do the work on the house! For free!" Higuma shrieked, "Just don't turn me in!"
"Are you begging for your life?" Naia asked incredulously, a dark look settling in her eye. "I doubt you listened to the pleas of the people you murdered nor those of that little boy."
"I got some chains!" Woop Slap said as he walked over. "These might be useful until we decide what to do. You can't stand there all day."
"I don't know, I quite like having him under my boot." An evil look crossing her face. "It's where he belongs after all."
"She's scary!" Luffy and Ace shouted as they hid behind Shanks' legs. Sabo laughed as Naia sighed and let her expression relax while Woop Slap attempted to chain up the bandit leader.
"She's so cool!" Sabo cheered.
"You sure you only work for merchants?" Shanks asked, "Because I would like you on my crew with that kind of fighting!"
"Shanks! That's no fair! I want to be on your crew!" Luffy growled.
"You're too much of a kid!" Shanks teased, "And don't even think about it. I wouldn't let you on either! Or you!"
Ace pouted as the man took whatever snide victory he might've had over Luffy. Sabo huffed as he crossed his arms. The three boys made quite an image as they pouted before her.
"Heh, you let your guard down." Higuma smirked when Naia cried out as he lodged a small dagger into her ankle.
"Naia!" She gritted her teeth as she crouched down, taking hold of the dagger's hilt.
"You ass," Naia hissed. Higuma sneered at her before turning tail and running. "Guess that decides that."
"Naia, hold on! Lucky went to go get the ship's doctor," Shanks fretted as he kneeled next to her. Naia tightened her grasp on the hilt and with a sharp breath, she pulled the dagger out. "What are you doing!?"
"Shanks! Watch out!" Luffy pulled on Shanks' shoulder, pulling him just in time for a bullet to go whizzing past them. Ace and Sabo let out shrieks in surprise when it lodged into the dirt in front of them. A few more bullets sailed by them causing Shanks to grab Luffy to keep him out of harm's way while Benn protected Ace and Yasopp grabbed Sabo.
"Higuma!" Naia growled, "Stop!" The bandit's body froze and the air grew thick with tension. A power surged through her words but as faint as it was, it left a taste in the mouth.
"Naia, what are you doing?" Shanks asked, taking careful steps toward her. Naia waved him off as Higuma slowly turned to face her. Her eyes narrowed into a death glare.
"What?- What is this?" Higuma croaked out, his hands reaching for his neck as he gasped for air.
"I haven't done anything," Naia hissed. Higuma's face turned red as his body was deprived of oxygen and blood was beginning to run down his front. He clawed at the delicate skin at his throat, tearing into the flesh with a desperation only a dying man would have.
"Naia! Stop this at once!" Luffy ordered, his voice sounding nothing like the young child he is. "This is too much."
"Once it has started it can not stop," Naia snarled, "Besides, his bounty is dead or alive."
"P-please, help me," Higuma pleaded, reaching out toward the group.