"Get this place cleaned up on the double! I won't stand for my royal halls to be muddied with stains!"
"Yes Lord Orochi! Understood!"
The balding Shogun grumbled as he marched through the halls of the palace. One minute he was enjoying himself with his courtesans, the next he was sprawled on the floor; his robes damp with sake, servants running around in a panic outside. Fortunately, the ever-loyal Fukurojo had rushed to tend to him, and explain the situation.
Yet, the story he told made no sense.
He spokeof a thunderstorm arising in the south, a storm so powerful that animals of all sizes ran from it; fleeing in blind terror, as if from an earthquake. As this happened, some terrible force had struck the capital, rendering all within it unconscious.
Now the city was on fire. The fires had burned out of control; forge fires, pottery kilns, cooking fires, all with no one to tend them, and no one to notice as they spread. The people had awakened to find their city in flames; terrified animals charging through it all, heedless of the danger.
He paused by one of the windows. The capital was wreathed in black smoke and a blood red glow, as it had been when he had awoken. He could see the people too, running around like the headless chickens they had always been. Some threw buckets of water on the flames, others tried to carry their belongings or their children away. He could hear them yelling, screaming, crying.
Orochi gritted his teeth at the noise. Those groveling curs would just have to fend for themselves. Once the ninja reported that the palace was safe, then he would send some help. A small mercy for the rats who had supported the Kurozumi genocide all those years ago.
"The Flower Capital has always had the weather of spring. What's with the sudden storm huh?" he grumbled aloud, looking towards the still storming skies.
"My lord, if I may," interjected Fukurojo. "We should retreat into the palace until the storm has passed. The lightning has been getting worse."
Orochi felt the wind blow through the open windows. It was cold, and made him shiver, yet he remained unfazed.
"Tch, in all my years on Wano, this has to be the craziest storm ever! It can't just be the Flower Capital being affected can it?"
"We must assume not, my Lord. The clouds stretch over the horizon."
Orochi glanced at Fukurojo, the captain of his ninja, and most faithful retainer. Tall and bald, his head as well as his body, with his eyes hidden behind sunglasses, Fukurojo was normally a model of calm. Orochi couldn't remember seeing him look so worried. Even now his massive forehead was soaked, and he could tell it was sweat not rain.
"Well, ain't gonna be my problem," he huffed. "Storms happen. It'll pass by before…"
"Lord Orochi! Lord Orochiiii!"
Orochi looked up. An attendant, whose name he could not remember, came racing down the hallway.
"What's the matter now!?" the Shogun griped. This was getting on his nerves.
"My lord! The sky!"
The attendant pointed frantically. Orochi looked…
He froze, his blood running cold, as he saw what had so terrified his servant.
The sky was swirling, in a way that no storm should be able to cause. As he watched, an enormous blue claw emerged from the smoke-tainted clouds. A moment later, a dragon's head followed it, looming in the sky over the capital.
The people were screaming, howling in terror and despair, the flames that engulfed their city forgotten. On any other day the sound would have amused him. But he could not be amused.
Not when the dragon was looking straight at him.
What was more, it was coming towards him. The head descended slowly from the sky, its mighty body coiling in the sky behind it. Beside it, Orochi could make out the black-winged, flame-wreathed figure of King the Wildfire.
Both of them. Both of them had come.
"Well…this is unexpected," Orochi forced himself to say, as the dragon loomed over him. "My…"
"OROCHIII!" roared the Dragon. Orochi backed against the wall, the force of Kaido's will buffeting him like a tsunami.
Yes, that was what had laid him out. It was weaker now, not enough to render him unconscious. But he knew it all the same.
"We need to talk. Now." The dragon rumbled. "In your pavilion."
Orochi clenched his fists, willing himself not to shake. He glanced at Fukuroko and the attendant; who were making no such effort. He had never seen them so afraid.
"W-Well what are you waiting for! Clear the way!" Orochi barked, power walking down the hall. The kitchens would have to wait, as would his mochi…
"RUN, NOW!" boomed the beast. The out-of-shape Shogun leapt into action, scurrying down the hallway as if the devil himself were snapping at his heels. He was almost tempted to use his own Devil Fruit abilities.
"What could have caused him to be so angry?!" Orochi yelled, panting as he legged through the halls. Fukurojo was by his side, effortlessly keeping pace.
"I don't know my lord. Something serious must have happened," Fukurojo replied. His face was like stone but Orochi could see the sweat on his brow.
What was going on? Had Kaido woken up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? What gives! The old drunk could be wild, Orochi knew. But he usually kept his chaos on Onigashima, or out on the seas. Why was he here? And why was he in that form, ready for war?|
Orochi panted, trotting up the stairs and resting against a pillar as he finally arrived at the balcony. Kaido was already there, glaring down at him.
"What's the deal huh?" demanded Orochi, his temper flaring. He was the Shogun, not some flunky to be sent running around!
"Orochi." Kaido growled. "Who gave you permission to speak?"
His bravado evaporated, as those eyes bored into his soul and froze his blood. He was the Shogun, but he knew, only too well, what Kaido was capable of.
"I have a use for you," he hissed. Around him the thunder roared, and lightning crackled down all around the capital. It was as if the heavens themselves were crying out in protest, but dared not strike him.
"W-What is it?" Orochi asked. "You have but to ask, old friend!"
"Your Flower Capital has artists, yes?"
Artists? The hell?
"Why, of course. I only ask for the finest paintings and-"
"You will bring your artists to the capital. Your very best, from wherever they might be. There they will await my command."
"For what purpose?" Orochi inquired.
"Wanted posters." Kaido's eyes hardened. "Within Wano, two fugitives are scurrying about... and I want them both. Alive."
"W-Wanted posters? Of course…t-that can be arranged!"
King chose that moment to land on the balcony. He strode forward, and handed Orochi a document.
"Know this as well, as a courtesy." Kaido uttered. "My men will be combing the countryside for the fugitives, once the posters are made. They will go into every house. Every building. And they will find these two, with your full cooperation... or else."
Orochi gulped. Not twelve hours ago Kaido had been festive, jolly even. What on earth could have brought this on?
His anger flared again. This was not supposed to happen. Yes, he had turned over Wano to the needs of the Beast Pirates, but there had to be limits. Kaido was about to burn half of Wano to the ground, and leave him to clean up the mess.
"Fine, do what you want then Kaido." Orochi shrugged, trying to maintain some level of dignity. "If that's all-"
"The Flower Capital is not exempt." Kaido cut him off, and Orochi perked up. "Every estate. Every business. Even the Palace will be thoroughly combed."
"Hang on! You can't just barge into my Palace and look for some... fugitives!" Orochi yelled. "This is my Palace and…"
"Your Palace? Did I hear you correctly?" Kaido hissed, and Orochi clenched his jaw shut as King strode forward, his red eyes glaring.
"H-Hey, what are you-Ack!"
King's hand clamped around his throat, and slammed him against the wall. He could feel the sweat evaporating from his skin, his cheeks stinging under the heat as King glared into his soul.
"You overestimate your station." Kaido growled. "You rule from this Palace. From this capital..." The dragon hovered closer as King turned around, and brought the flailing Orochi over to the beast.
"...on my sufferance."
The slitted eyes filled his world, engulfing him like a tidal wave as Orochi can see his own reflection off of Kaido's schlera.
"Keep your men on standby and have them ready to move out, on my order. Nod your head, snake"
Orochi nodded, feverishly. He could barely breathe, with King's gloved hand around his throat. And the heat was becoming unbearable.
Finally, mercifully, King released him, letting him fall to the ground.
"We will return for the posters once we have the required information for the two fugitives, and you will distribute them around the country in conjunction with my Beast Pirates. And you will give them all assistance, and spare no expense. Do I make myself clear?"
Orochi coughed, Fukurojo by his side to help him up. "Y-Yes... Got it..."
The mighty dragon huffed and turned about, his winged companion taking to the skies alongside him; his body shifting into its dinosaur form.
Orochi glared after them. As much as he enjoyed being Shogun, there were times he wished he had never met Kaido, King of the Beasts.
(X)
"I will search along the coasts, and the Ports." Kaido growled. "To get a headstart. Return to Onigashima and wait for Malice's return. I want him healthy before I see him. He alone knows what this Deku looks like."
"Understood Kaido." King replied, nodding. "Good hunting."
"Hmmph." The Dragon King banked right, no doubt heading towards Hapu Port. It was the closest Port to Onigashima, and the most likely place for Deku and Yamato to land. Jack had already interrogated every pirate on duty at the Torii gate. No ships had passed through until the late morning, and they are docked in Onigashima's docks.
King spread his wings, flapped until he found the right wind, and let it carry him back to Onigashima. He arrived in mere minutes, landing on his balcony and transforming back into his humanoid form.
The place was a mess. As he strode through the corridors, he could see pirates hard at work; clearing up the shattered glass and removing broken furniture. His Headliners were overseeing the work; their faces drawn, their eyes bloodshot, from where Kaido's fury had blasted them from their drug-induced fantasies.
That was good. Normally he was content to let them enjoy themselves if they were off duty, but this was not a normal day. A dozen good Headliners were on their way to the Udon Prison Mine to bring Spytand Malice back; leaving him shorthanded until they returned. Kaido had ordered him not to be harmed, but Queen sometimes had trouble controlling himself.
He reached his office, and opened the door. With any luck Bao Huang hadn't been…
"Heya Lord King!" the blonde haired girl chirped up as she... glided in front of him. "Just about done organizing your files!"
...
"What?"
"I know right!" Bao Haung giggled. "I got these new wings under my arms, and this cute tail too!"
The girl lifted her arms and flapped them like wings. There were membranes between her arms and her legs that hadn't been there before; and a long, bushy tail, that had definitely not been there before.
"Nice, huh!" The girl looked very pleased with herself. "They came right after I ate that yucky fruit!"
Yucky…fruit?
King burst into the office, and saw the chest - the one he had kept that Devil Fruit he had been saving in - sitting open on the desk. His filing cabinet was open, as were all his desk draws. The files and paperwork he had left lying around were now neatly arranged, and all the draws carefully labeled; and not with his penmanship.
"Bao…Huang…"
"Yep, Lord King?"
"Do you understand... what you've done?"
"Yep! You're totally the kind of guy who likes organized chaos, but I think filing dossiers, maps, and invasion plans by date is more effect…"
"That Devil Fruit was for a Headliner you fool!" King barked. "To be awarded! Those don't grow on trees you know!"
"Oh, Ohhhhh so that's what I ate." The blonde girl poked at her glands. "Well, ya shouldn't have given me yucky Rice crackers!"
"Rice Crackers?! I gave you cookies you... you...!" He plucked her by the nape of her shirt, glaring into her like an owner holding a cat.
"Well you keep yummy stuff hidden away, like cookies in a jar right! I saw the chest, and the fruit inside! You said you were gonna give me a reward, and I wanted sweets! And trust me, I searched all over for anything sugary here and I couldn't find jack! Not Lord Jack but jack squat! Then I fell asleep, then I woke up, and everything was a mess so I had to clean it up before ya got back!"
King's jaw was clenched. This child had eaten a Devil Fruit, a Devil Fruit he had been saving for one of his own Headliners. By all rights he should tear off her head. But she seemed completely unafraid of him; indeed, she actually looked miffed, as if he had done her wrong!
On a strange whim, he glanced towards the wastebasket. There, inside, was the white bag he had given her. He plucked it out and opened it…and there indeed were bland, tasteless rice crackers.
Well…he had promised her cookies. And he hadn't exactly made much effort to lock up that Devil Fruit. And it wasn't as if she knew what it was.
He set her down, and out his hand over his face as he let out a very long drawn out sigh. What the hell was he going to do now?
"Did I... do something wrong?" Bao Haung asked, and he turned. He couldn't see the girl's eyes behind the large mass of blonde hair, but something told him she was starting to understand what she had done.
"You should not have taken that," he said, as gently as he could manage. "I know I promised you cookies, but that Devil Fruit, any Devil Fruit, was rare and valuable."
"Uh huh."
"Not one of those SMILEs, you understand," he went on. "But a true Devil Fruit. Such a thing must be earned. And besides, in this place, you should not eat something you don't recognize."
"Uh huh."
King pinched the bridge of his nose. By all rights he should punish her, but how? Killing her would earn him no respect, and he wasn't sure he even wanted to.
Besides…he had never seen his cabinet like this. He had never seen it so tidy, so carefully arranged. Everything was in its proper order, and neatly labeled. He had known for a long time that he needed to sort out his paperwork, but he never had the time or the energy.
He heard something land on his shoulder , and found it was Bao Haung. The Lunarian saw that she didn't even seem to mind the heat his flames gave off.
He let out a large sigh.
"Thank you for organizing my office..."
"No problem Lord King! Plus, I like flying a lot! Gonna need a bit of practice though. Oh! Think I'll fly as good as you someday?"
...
"With training perhaps. Come, I'm in need of your services." King strode towards his desk and pulled out a map of Wano.
"Oh oh! We planning an invasion?" Bao Haung glided down on the desk, sitting down on the table as King sat in the chair. "Oh? Why Wano?"
"Because, we are going to be hunting," King mused, as he lifted out his playing pieces, and began to set them on the map.
They were in Wano, of that much he was certain. While they could not have left by sea, they could not have flown any further than that. There were those who could, but King knew them all, and could count them on one hand excluding himself. There was the Golden Lion Shiki, who had died when he attacked Marineford two decades ago. And then there was Marco the Phoenix of the Whitebeards, and Kaido himself.
He would find them, on Wano. The Beast Pirates would find them. It was just a matter of time.
So yeah, here's the first look of a Wano without Yamato. And so far, Hiyori and Denjiro gonna have to deal with lots of fire damage...
We will be having intermittent chapters like these cutting back to see the results of Izuku's actions. Next chapter I'll get to work on sometime next weekish.
Also Dr. Vegapunk-chan looks neat.