A.n I own nothing.

The poll for the Ryu-Ryu no Mi is still open and it will be closing in chapter 12. Our current standing is:

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Jacob didn't know what to think, traveling with the Straw Hats was interesting. The Merry had been at sea for three days now and would not arrive in Alabasta for another two. On the first day Jacob had been very cautious of the pirates, he found Luffys and Usopps antics disturbing. Nami and Vivi were always together, Zoro spent most of his time napping while Connor and Chopper were drawn into Luffys games.

At first he was just content to lean against the wall next to the kitchen door and keep watch, he positioned himself so he could grab anyone coming out of the kitchen. Jacob thought that the pirates were just trying to get him to lower his guard by acting like idiots. When Sanji came out with drinks for the ladies Jacob noticed that there were three, the third was offered to his sister while he flirted with them.

Jacob was very surprised when Evie not only took the drink and drank it, but she didn't punch Sanji for flirting with her. Evie hated that people treated her different simply because of her gender and some men saw her as an object not a person; of course those men often wound up in the emergency room fairly quickly.

"Want a taste? It's really good," Evie asked her brother and offered him her drink.

"How can you drink that? What if that pirate poisoned it?" Jacob scolded his sister.

"Of course it's poisoned, it's alcoholic," Evie joked.

Jacob glared at her.

Later Zoro and Connor trained together and Jacob was quite interested, he was impressed at the boys' skill but Connor was no match for Zoros strength. Every time Connor got knocked down he'd get back up again. Jacob noticed that he wasn't the only one interested in the duel, Vivi was watching as well and she didn't look happy.

"You don't like fighting miss?" Jacob asked the princess.

"No I don't," Vivi answered.

"I think it's good that he's learning how to defend himself,"

"I have no issue with that; with all the pirates around these days it's a good idea to learn some kind of self-defence,"

"So what's the problem?"

"The problem is Connor is thirteen and he's on a pirate ship, he shouldn't be here. If he wants to learn self-defence he should go to a dojo or something. Zoro is just too rough,"

Jacob nodded in agreement but remained silent. He had his own suspicions about the boy when he met him and Evie informed him about his pirate status, she had also explained the situation with Vivi. A 13-year old with no parents and probably no home would not be missed, an easy target for pirates.

Chopper had also expressed concerns over Connor sparing with Zoro and when it was over he yelled at Zoro for making the boy exhausted. Zoro brushed it off claiming that Connor had improved greatly and that their training time used to only last half as long. Connor also told chopper not to worry about it because he'd be fine.

That night Jacob didn't eat any dinner partly because Luffy stole it off his plate before he could eat it, but mostly because he still didn't trust Sanji's cooking. When it came to sleeping arrangements Nami had dragged Evie off to her room to sleep with the girls and Jacob was left with the boys.

"Nami don't invite strangers into our sleeping area, who knows what they'll do," Zoro objected.

"What's that Zoro? You've got the money to pay me back," Nami smiled evilly.

Zoro shut up after that and stormed off.

Jacob found himself stuck with the boys and because Usopp was on watch tonight he was able to use his hammock, Zoro had forfeited his hammock to Chopper and slept on the couch that was in the room.

Jacob didn't sleep; he was just lying there staring at the ceiling and listening to the snores and arguments.

'Who new people could argue in their sleep,' Jacob thought.

About half way through the night he heard someone moaning in their sleep, he looked over the sleeping crew and found that it was Connor; he was tossing violently in his sleep. After a few minutes the boy shot up breathing heavily and looking around the room in panic.

Once Connor realized where he was he got out of bed and silently left the room, Jacob watched him go and followed him. On deck he found Connor staring over the ocean, if the boy knew he was being watched he made no signs to show it. Jacob wasn't the only one who had heard Connor leave, Chopper had also woken up.

The next day was similar to the first except that Chopper confronted Connor about not getting enough sleep; Connor looked extremely uncomfortable when the new doctor asked if he needed sleeping pills. Luffy told Chopper not to bother the boy about it, but Chopper was not going to let the subject go without a good reason.

"You should tell him Luffy," Zoro suggested "he's part of the crew so he needs to know,"

Luffy looked at Connor for permission and Connor nodded. Luffy pulled Chopper into the kitchen and Sanji came out and closed the door, he had a faraway look on his face.

A few minutes later Luffy, Chopper and Vivi came out of the kitchen; both Vivi and Chopper had very disturbed looks on their faces. Vivi had been in the Kitchen when Luffy and Chopper had come in, Sanji had suggested that Luffy tell her as well; which he did.

Vivi immediately went up to Zoro and apologized for her behaviour towards him and Connors' training. Chopper however went over to Nami and requested that she buy some psychology books for him next time they docked.

The rest of the day past without incident and Evie urged Jacob to talk to the Straw Hats.

"Evie you and I have very good reasons not to trust them," Jacob argued.

"I know, but even you've got to admit that they're different from other pirates," Evie pointed out.

"Yes they are different and that could mean disaster,"

"You're overreacting as usual,"

"I'm being serious sis, what if this crew turns out to be the most wanted and dangerous crew in the world,"

"Look if you didn't want to travel with them you should not have come to Drum,"

"Evie I nearly lost you once, I do not want it to happen a second time,"

"Jacob that was years ago, I thought you were over that,"

"It was my fault Evie and you know it,"

"No it was that fat, obese bastards fault and you were just trying to protect me,"

"Look I just can't trust them and I never will,"

"You don't have to trust them, just give them a chance. Who knows the next time we'll have some time off,"

"You just like being waited on by that love sick cook,"

"Maybe a little, the rest aren't so bad ether,"

Jacob raised an eyebrow at that.

"Look at least thank Luffy for giving us a ride, without them I'd still be stuck on Little Garden,"

"Alright I'll thank him, but that's it. We're not friends after all," Jacob finished.

The next morning Luffy, Usopp, Connor and Chopper were fishing. Nami and Vivi were checking their current course, Sanji was in the kitchen and Zoro was napping. Jacob sighed and made his way over to Luffy and his fishing group.

"Hey, are they biting?" Jacob asked, attempting to be friendly.

"No, not yet," Luffy answered.

"Oh, that's a bummer. What are you hoping to catch?"

"Lunch," Chopper replied.

"Dinner," Connor answered.

"An offering to Sanji," Usopp said hopefully

"A sea king," Luffy claimed with a big smile.

Jacob blinked and looked at the four pirates, he took a deep breath; it was now or never.

"So Luffy…Thanks for giving my sister and I a lift,"

Luffy looked over at the younger twin.

"No problem, she's fun," he said with his trademark grin on.

Jacob blinked, and glanced over to where Evie was watching him. 'Are we talking about the same person?' Jacob wondered.

"Right… not that I'm ungrateful but why did you let us on board? I mean I could have taken Evie with me after drum,"

"Well I said I'd give her a ride and the more people on board the more adventures we'll have,"

"I don't think it works that way, Luffy," Usopp interrupted.

"It doesn't? Well it should. Hey Jacob are you a musician?"

"Umm…no," Jacob answered back, a little confused at the question.

"Pity, if you were I'd get you to join my crew,"

"Join your crew?"

"Yeah I asked Evie but she said no. I thought if you joined then she would too,"

Jacob was stunned; Evie had failed to mention that offer.

"As much I appreciate the offer, nether Evie nor I have any intention of becoming pirates. In fact we both despise them,"

"So did Nami," Connor added.

"Really?" Jacob looked over to where Nami was "what made her decide to join you then?"

"We saved her village from a freaky fish guy," Luffy claimed "then she decided that she liked us too much to leave,"

Usopp looked over to see Jacobs confused face.

"We beat up a Fishman named Arlong that was oppressing her Island," Usopp clarified.

"Arlong…that was you guys?" Jacob asked in surprise.

"Yep," Luffy suddenly felt his line tug "Hey a bite,"

Luffy pulled on his fishing rod trying to bring up whatever he'd caught. Usopp and Chopper cheered him on Luffy struggled to reel in his rod and eventually he was successful; his prize was a little disappointing.

Luffy had caught a tiny fish no bigger than a herring.

"Aww we can't eat this," Luffy moaned.

Jacob let out a small giggle.

"Maybe we could use it as bait," Connor suggested.

"I doubt any fish would even bother eating a tiny thing like this," Usopp pointed out.

Suddenly a large sea monster broke the surface and it's eyes were focused on the Merry, particularly the small fish that Luffy had caught. Jacob took two steps back and Zoro and Sanji rushed passed him. Usopp and Chopper began running around on deck screaming like scared children and Nami, Vivi and Evie came over to see what all the commotion was about.

"Oi Luffy nice catch," Sanji complemented his captain.

"Sanji can we eat this?" Luffy asked.

"Sure I think I can work with it,"

"Awesome, Gomu-Gomu Pistol," Luffy yelled. He stretchered his arm out to deliver a powerful punch to the monsters face.

Jacobs jaw dropped as Luffys arm stretched, "What the hell, Luffy has devils fruit powers,"

The monster was knocked down in one blow, Luffy then stretched onto the monsters body; careful not to touch the sea water. Once he was on the monster suddenly started to swim back and forth rapidly, Luffy managed to wrap his arm around the top fin and was pulled along with it.

"WAHHHHHHHH!" Luffy screamed, as he bounced off the water.

"Idiot," Zoro said "if we lose our dinner because of him, I'll be pissed,"

"HEY LUFFY, PLANT YOUR HEELS IN THE WATER!" Usopp yelled out.

Jacob just watched in amazement and was unsure whether to be concerned or not. Luffy a pirate captain and a Devil fruit user was water skiing of the back of a very large and dangerous sea monster.

Suddenly the monster batted Luffy back to the ship with its tail and Luffy crashed into Connor, the boy was sent flying over the opposite railing and splashed into the ocean.

Jacob, Evie, Vivi and the Straw Hats ran to the other railing and were relieved when the boy resurfaced. Suddenly Connor disappeared underwater he quickly resurfaced for a second before disappearing under the water again.

"What's going on? Where did he go?" Chopper asked in panic.

"Can he swim?" Jacob asked urgently.

"Yes, he hasn't eaten a devil fruit," Sanji responded.

"Then it's possible that the monster is pulling him under,"

Both Zoro and Sanji were immediately about to jump in the ocean after Connor, but stopped; a growing red patch appeared on the surface and something was floating to the surface.

Nami's eyes widened in panic "No," she gasped.

The monsters corpse floated to the surface, first the head and then the body. Connors head suddenly broke the surface and the boy took a deep breath of air.

Luffy stretched his arm down and grabbed the boys' jacket collar, pulling him back on the Merry. Chopper instantly went over and checked Connor for injuries.

"Nice catch kid," Zoro complemented.

"Thanks though next time I'd rather not be the bait," Connor joked.

"Oi Luffy, Moss head. Get that thing on board," Sanji ordered.

"Okay," Luffy said happily.

"Since when do you get to order me around, cook?" Zoro snapped back.

"If it concerns food my word is law," Sanji reminded him.

As the excitement was over the girls went back inside and left the boys to deal with the sea monsters remains.

Jacob stared at the dead sea monster, the head had been cut clean off. When the body was brought on board he felt the scales, they were extremely hard; this monster was one of the tougher varieties. How had a thirteen year old cut its head off in one blow?

Jacob looked over at the boy and noticed his blade, it was wet and had blood on it. Jacob wanted to get a better look at it.

That night when everyone was asleep Jacob snuck over too Connors hammock and lightly stole his sword, he went up on deck.

On deck he heard Zoro's snoring coming from the crow's nest, the swordsmen was on watch and he was not doing a good job. Jacob unsheathed the blade and gave it a few test swings. He examined the blades dull edge and traced his fingers along the hilt looking for anything that could help identify who made it. When he found the emblem he immediately drew his own Kuki, the emblems on both were a match.

"Crap," Jacob sighed "Looks like I may have to kill these pirates after all,"

On the third day Jacob pulled Evie aside and explained to her about the emblem on Connors sword.

"Maybe it's a replica," Evie reasoned.

Jacob shook his head "No it's not. The edges are deceptively dull and it has our logo on it,"

"A very good replica,"

"Evie it's one of ours. How many people do you know that can make swords like that?"

"Only one person alive can,"

"And he's safely back home,"

"It might not be made from the same material; I'll touch the blade to confirm it,"

"And if it is?"

"Maybe he has a good reason for having it, like an inheritance or something,"

"If he doesn't then…these pirates will never leave Alabasta alive," Jacob warned.

Jacob and Evie approached Connor who was fishing with Luffy, Usopp and Chopper.

"Hey Connor can we see your sword for a sec?" Evie asked.

Connor looked at the twins then at Luffy, the captain was just as confused as he was about the odd request.

"Sure," Connor said and unsheathed his blade, he handed it too Evie.

Evie took the short sword and examined it for a second, her keen eyes found the emblem. She took off her left hand glove and hesitantly touched the flat part of the blade; her finger barely touched it before she retracted it and touched it again.

Evie looked at Jacob and nodded in confirmation. She gave the sword back to Connor.

"Everything okay?" Usopp asked.

"Yes, just curious about where Connor got this sword. Did you inherit it?" Jacob asked.

"No Zoro gave it to me," Connor claimed and sheathed his sword.

Jacob and Evie thanked the boy and immediately went over to where Zoro was napping; the swordsman woke up as the twins approached.

"What do you two want?" Zoro yawned.

"That blade you gave to Connor, where'd you get it?" Jacob asked.

"From Nami, why?" Zoro asked in suspicion.

"A short sword that can cut the head off a sea monster like it was made of paper, I want one," Jacob claimed and the twins left to go talk to Nami.

Nami was in the kitchen writing in a journal, Vivi was reading the paper, looking for any news on Alabasta.

"Nami, can I ask you something?" Jacob said as he walked in.

"Where still two days from Alabasta," Nami claimed.

"No, not that. Where did you get Connors sword from?"

"Oh I stole it from a pirate called Buggy the Clown,"

This peaked Vivis interest and she looked up from her paper.

"Stole?" Evie asked.

"Yeah, when I met Luffy I was in the process of robbing Buggy. In the end I was successful and that sword was amongst the treasure pile," Nami explained "There were others, so I brought them to Zoro to look at being a swordsman and all; but they were mainly decorative. He asked me if he could give the blade to Connor, and I agreed,"

"Oh, do you know where Buggy got it?"

"Not a clue," Nami finished.

Jacob thanked Nami and left to talk to Evie in private.

"So they're all innocent then," Evie said "we can't harm any of them,"

"Well they are pirates, but in this case yes they are innocent," Jacob agreed.

"Why not let him keep the sword?"

Jacob looked at Evie in surprise "You can't be serious, what about the third tenant?"

"They don't know about us, the blades origin or the man who made it. So we're not really compromising the brotherhood,"

"And if we try to take it they'll ask questions," Jacob sighed.

"Questions that would compromise the brotherhood," Evie claimed.

Later on in the afternoon Zoro called Connor away from Luffy for a lesson.

"Aww can't he fish with us a bit longer?" Luffy complained.

"He's been with you three all day," Zoro pointed out "do I need to remind you what we're about to face in Alabasta,"

"Fine take him," Luffy grumbled.

Connor pulled in his line and left his rod leaning against the mast, he went off with Zoro for what was another exhausting training session. Jacob and Evie happened to walk by at that moment.

"Jacob, come join us," Luffy ordered and instantly brightened up.

The twins stopped walking and looked at the young Captain. After what happened yesterday there was no way he was going to fish with the crazy Captain.

"He'd be delighted," Evie answered for her brother.

"I what?" Jacob responded.

Evie gave him a warning look and Jacob new better than to argue with her so he picked up the rod and sat next to Luffy. They sat in silence with the sounds of swords hitting each other in the background.

"So Jacob can I ask you something?" Luffy wondered.

"Shoot," Jacob answered.

"When I asked Evie to join my crew, she said she was indebted to someone do you know anything about it?"

Jacob thought for a moment on how to answer, he knew all about it and he was indebted to the same person.

"Evie and I are indebted to the same man," Jacob claimed "He rescued us from…"

He paused and wondered why he was telling this to a pirate, but Luffy just stared at him waiting for him to continue.

"From some bad people and took us in. He rescued us in more ways than one and we wish to repay that kindness,"

"Were they pirates? Is that why you hate us?"

"No they weren't in fact they were worse than pirates. Evie and I have a different reason to hate pirates, though we don't hate your crew,"

"That's good. Once that debt is paid off you should join my crew, Evie can too," Luffy suggested.

"You're still on about that?"

"Luffy doesn't drop things like this," Usopp pointed out.

"Sorry but I have my own dream, I want to run a street gang," Jacob declared.

"That's sounds boring," Luffy stated.

"It won't be we'll have our own hide out, a hand in every activity legal or otherwise, an information network, contacts in the local Marines and our own mark,"

"So you do want to be a pirate,"

"It won't be a pirate crew,"

"Sounds like one,"

"Look pirates sail the seas, I have no interest in that,"

"So you'll take over an Island, then what?"

"What do you mean?"

"Won't taking over just one island be too small? What about other Islands? A gang has to have territory after all,"

"Umm…I guess,"

"What would you call yourself?"

"I've got a great name picked out. We'd be The Rooks,"

"Awesome, so you are a pirate then,"

"No I'm not,"

"But from the way you described it. It sounds like a street gang is a pirate crew on land,"

"Huh…I never thought of it that way,"

That night Jacob woke up and found himself in the men's quarters alone, the room itself was bare and his head hurt.

"Did someone get that ships name?" he asked, but got no response.

Jacob looked around the room and it was the men's sleeping quarters, only he was the only one in it.

"Luffy? Evie?" Jacob called but got no response.

Jacob went over to the exit hatch and found that it was locked, he reached for his Kuki and found it missing; in fact all of his weapons were missing; except his hidden blade. He banged on the latch but it didn't open.

"Dam it, where's Evie? Why am I locked in?" Jacob asked himself.

He paced around the room trying to think of a way out, suddenly the latch opened and the Straw Hats walked in.

"Why have you locked me in? Where's my sister?" Jacob demanded.

Luffy smirked and threw a female at his feet, it was Evie. Evie was bruised, her clothes were gone and had cuts all over her body.

"Evie!" Jacob cried and was knelling next to her in a second.

"J…A…C…O…B…" Evie said weakly and she went still.

Jacob felt for a pulse and found none, "NO, NO, NO EVIE! STAY WITH ME!"

Evie did not wake up.

Jacob looked at the crew who had killed his sister.

"Why," he hissed "Why her? What did she ever do to you?"

"We're pirates, do we need a reason to murder people?" Zoro asked.

"She was very hard to break, she kept screaming your name, hoping you'd save her," Usopp laughed.

"Jacob, Jacob please help me," Nami mocked.

"I tortured her for a bit and had my way with her once she gave up on you rescuing her," Sanji said.

Jacob clutched his sisters' dead body tightly, how dare they mock the dead. How dare they do that to his sister? The Straw Hats continued to mock him and Chopper came down.

"I'm ready for my next patient now," the reindeer grinned evilly.

Suddenly a shadowy hand gripped Jacobs shoulder, reacting on instinct he grabbed his assailants arm and flipped him over. The shadowy figure landed on its back, Jacob rushed over to it and began punching it in the face. The shadow was struggling to escape Jacob drew his fist back and flicked his wrist, his hidden blade activated and he plunged it into the shadowy figures stomach.

"Jacob?" a familiar voice said from behind him.

Jacob whirled around and saw Evie staring at him in shock.

"Evie? You're alive?"

"Jacob what have you done?" Evie whispered, staring at the shadowy figure.

Jacob followed her gaze and looked back at the shadowy figure and the shadows faded away to reveal Connor. He was clutching his stomach as blood poured out of the wound.

Jacob looked at his wrist and fond his hidden blade was out and it was covered in blood.

"Oh s***," he swore.