Breathe. Focus. And oblige.
"R-Right, s-sorry sir." Izuku scooted aside, shuffling down along the couch. He could feel their eyes on him.
There were others sitting around nearby. He could see the glow of cigars in the darkness, and smell the smoke. Their eyes were upon him.
"You're a bit underdressed for the Cat Cafe there buddy," commented Who's Who. "Did you get the memo that formal attire is required to attend?"
The tiger's paws clicked upon the stone, with claws as sharp as swords. Izuku gulped, and forced himself to look into the…person's eyes.
"Yeah, he came scrambling in from the entrance with a few others boss," said one feline individual, looking like a thin Pallas cat. He chomped on his cigar, leering down at Izuku with obvious amusement. "You can see'em across the lounge too."
"Huh, guess so" Who's Who mused as Izuku saw him looking around. Even in the darkness of this bizarre Cat Cafe, he could see pirates in capes, chatting with the suited pirates. "Methinks there's something going on I'm not in the know about."
The tiger stretched, and then climbed out from under the shrine, prowling towards the couch. Izuku forced himself to breathe slowly. He didn't seem to be as unhinged as Ulti. Just play it cool…
He watched as Who's Who transformed, his form shifting from tiger to human; somehow dressed in a red suit, his face covered by a red helmet, wild pink hair hanging down his back. He sauntered over, a cigarette between his lips, and sat down where Izuku had been a moment earlier.
"You, what's your story? Ya seemed in quite the hurry when ya came in."
"Oh ummm..." He was looking at him now. "Well, I was just, minding my own business and-"
"You sound young," Who's Who interrupted languidly. "You new here?"
"Yes sir, I am. Came in several days ago." Izuku replied.
"On who's ship?" Who's Who asked on the dot, and Izuku remembered. He worked under that Sasaki fellow when he first began to explore and navigate.
"Lord Sasaki sir."
"Then shouldn't you be partying with him? He's more of a party guy than I am. Here? This is where we unwind." His arm gestured around the Cat Cafe. "Me and my crew aren't like most of the Beast Pirates. This is a place to relax, but only for my people."
"I-I would be sir but... did you hear yelling and, umm, quaking earlier?" Izuku asked.
"Yeah, what about it?"
"That would be Lady Ulti, she's... on the hunt for a missing boyfriend." Izuku admitted, "And I… well… ended up here."
Who's Who groaned.
"Ulti's at it again, huh? Figures as much. Once the girl latches onto something she never lets go. Sorry to hear that, but on the plus side at least you'll be able to walk away. Can't say the same for the other guy."
Izuku gulped, as those present began to snigger.
"Still," Who's who said, settling back, "Better than being eyed by Black Maria though... If that happens to you kid, do yourself a favor and bite your own tongue out, it'll hurt less."
"Lady Black Maria you mean?"
Yamato had mentioned such a person. A tall Oni woman, and Kaido's courtesan. Izuku had heard plenty of her, but had never actually seen her.
"Yep. Replace Maria with Widow and you have her in a nutshell. Chews men up, spits 'em out, literally if you believe some of the rumors."
Who's Who took a drag, then crushed his cigarette into an ashtray at his elbow. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a pack, and taking another one.
"Ulti's as predictable as a storm on the sea, and about as merciful. So yeah, a quick prayer for the poor guy, but, ain't my problem." He brought the new cigarette to his lips, and brought out a lighter. He flicked at it, but only sparks came. Again he flicked, but nothing. And again.
Izuku reached into his pocket and pulled out a book of matches. Willing his hands not to shake, he struck the match, and it spluttered into flame. Better to build some good will to pry himself to leave...
Who's Who's eyes fell on him, and he leaned forward. Taking the hint, Izuku held out the match, and the cigarette lit.
"Thanks," Who's Who said lightly.
"Lord Who's Who, care for drinks?" purred a voice. Izuku turned, seeing... a shapely woman of about college age, holding a tray of cocktails
"Ah yeah," Who's Who raised a hand. "Brandy on the rocks. How about you Babyface?"
"B-Babyface?" Izuku mused.
"You're young, and you ain't showing your face." Who's Who said. "So I bet behind your bandana is a babyface. Unless you got a name?"
He couldn't use Izuku. And he couldn't use Deku either. If Ulti were to show up, it would be game over.
"Use mine," whispered Yoichi, in a voice at the back of his mind.
"Yoichi sir. The name's Yoichi."
"Whatever you say Babyface," Who's Who shrugged. "Want anything to drink?"
Crap. Izuku had never drank before, but the pirates on this island seemed to do little else. If he turned Who's Who down, they would surely get suspicious.
"Can I have..." What was it Mom would use to have a lot back when he was young? Some kind of alcohol with cola.
"Rum with coke." Daigoro replied, as if reading his thoughts.
"Water it down, you're underaged after all." Nana added like the parental figure she was.
"Rum with coke, and can you add water too please?" Izuku replied, a sinking feeling settling in.. "Oh and, can I get something to eat too please?"
"Didn't get anything to eat Babyface?" Who's Who inquired. "Same here too doll. Ya know what I like."
He ran a hand over her backside, making her giggle. Izuku bit his lip.
"Coming soon sir." She sashayed away, vanishing into the darkness.
"No, I've been busy," Izuku said, desperate to fill the silence. "Then the assembly came. After that, I was trying to find my way to Sasaki's lounge. It's kinda crowded out there, ya know?"
"I hear ya. So, what sea ya from Babyface? You intrigue me." Who's Who leant back on the couch, arms along the top. "Don't see kids join often these days. Last time we got someone younger than ya, well, they turned into Ulti and Page One. Strong yeah but, they're still stupid brats."
He looked up at the ceiling, fiddling around with his cigarette. Izuku took a deep breath, steadying himself. If this strange pirate was in any way suspicious, he made no show of it. He seemed completely relaxed.
"Well, I hope I can live up to that standard then, Lord Who's Who," replied Izuku, a little too earnestly. "And I'm from the East Blue sir."
That was Roger's sea according to Yamato's stories. Best to stick with that.
"Weak place, glad you got out. Cause listen here kid, as long as you got power, you can do whatever you want." Who's Who took a deep drag, leaning forward and dashing some ash on the ashtray on the coffee table. "The strong take what they can get, the weak make do with what's left. It's the way of the world, and just how the World Government likes it."
The World Government. A massive entity outside of Wano, controlling as many nations as the United Nations back home. Oden's journal described the Marines who served them, and their clashes with the Whitebeards and the Roger Pirates. That much made sense to Izuku; they were pirates after all. It was the job of law enforcers to oppose such people, and stop them.
Or at least, it was in his world.
"And lemme tell ya Babyface. Here in the Beast Pirates, if you got strength, it's real. Legit. You can do whatever you desire, so long as you don't step on Lord Kaido's toes or piss off an All-Star."
Who's Who frowned as he rested his arms on the cushions.
"Under them? The Government? They give you medals and fancy titles for doing a job well done, being on the straight and narrow, thinking you're powerful…"
His tone lowered to a growl. The air around him felt suddenly cold
"But just one fuck up you couldn't stop, one battle you couldn't win…"
The muscles in his hand bulged, and Izuku saw claws growing from his fingers, biting into the cushions. He looked into the pirate's eyes, and his blood ran cold. They were bright with hate, illuminated within the darkness of the lounge.
"They toss you in the slammer, key down the drain. Protect and Serve from the shadows my ass…all over that fucking rubber fruit..."
"That... sounds awful sir." Izuku replied, trying very hard not to shiver. Who's Who hated the World Government, that much was clear. It probably shouldn't have been a surprise, since he was a pirate. But he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more.
"Well, it's all in the past." The frigid air was gone, as were the claws. Who's Who took another drag on his cigarette, his previous langor back in place. "And ever since then, I've made out like a bandit. I've plundered from one end of this world to the other. I know Marine battleships like the back of my hand, and I've sent plenty to the bottom. I can get anything I want, from the finest tobacco in the Blues to the very best of women; teens, married, you name it. You should see my wedding ring collection."
Under his mask, his face shifted into what might have been a smirk all while Izuku's stomach churned.
"Trust me Babyface, get strong here in the Beast Pirates, and the world's your oyster. You can do whatever. You. Want." His eyes fixed Izuku, and Izuku knew he was grinning.
"That... sounds very nice," he said, nodding.
It was all he could do not to clench his fists. This man seemed so reasonable, so friendly. Yet he spent his days plundering, killing and maybe worse, and living high off the proceeds. Had such a man existed in his own world, he would have been hunted to the ends of the Earth! But here, on Onigashima, in the world Kaido had created, he was a master of his own destiny.
Someone else was on the couch. Izuku turned, and saw what might have been a woman prowling towards him on all fours; green eyes fixed on him.
"Oh ho, seems like Xandra's taken a shine to ya Babyface," Who's Who leered. The others chuckled as Xandra moved in closer, reaching to stroke his cheek. Her body was covered in soft black fur, and her face had a feline snout, and even whiskers.
She was an actual, real-life, honest-to-goodness cat-lady.
"Whose this hot piece of ass Who's Who? He's a cutie," purred the woman. She sounded older, maybe in her thirties.
Was he being assailed by a Christmas Cake cougar?!
"Kid, say you gotta go to the bathroom." Daigoro said in his ear as Izuku felt her slide beside him.
"Some new kid in Sasaki's crew. Got barreled in here with those other guys. Ulti's on the rampage again." Who's Who waved his hand. "Well, go on Babyface. There's nowhere safer than this. We won't judge."
Izuku gulped, feeling her hand/paw stroke his chest.
"My my, I can hear his heartbeat too... and you're hiding your cute face behind a bandana, I can tell from your sweet voice..." Xandra cooed. "Don't you want a little action sugar?"
"I-I uh... ummm... I..." babbled Izuku. Who's Who laughed.
"You really are green ain'tcha. Never been with a woman before?" He leered. "Well, you're in for a treat. Xandra will show ya a good time and…"
"I have to use the bathroom, excuse me sir!" Izuku got up, and aimed to power walk past…
Until a hand gripped his, stopping him, and his blood turned cold.
"Hey. Babyface..." Who's Who's tone remained warm but Izuku can sense the steel hidden behind it. "You're going to show one of my crew members a good time, a time she is offering of her own free will."
"But I…"
"That isn't a request, kid." His Danger Sense buzzed as he saw the glare. "That's a fucking order."
He let go. Izuku slowly returned to his spot, and sat down. The others were all watching, sniggering.
"You nervous baby?" Xandra asked, licking her lips and laying a hand on his chest. Izuku nodded, his cheeks burning with mingled fear and embarrassment. All eyes were upon him as Xandra snuggled closer, stroking his cheek. It wasn't that she was unattractive. Far from it.
But he couldn't have his first time like this! And that's not even getting into the fact he's on a timer here!
"Well… you don't seem to be loosened up," Xandra purred, nibbling his ear as Izuku shivered, seeing her claws settle on his thigh. "We can go all the way if you like. I can teach you all the moves."
She patted his leg. Izuku could feel Who's Who's eyes on him. He had to stay calm. The plan was still viable. He just had to…
"When you're a bit older."
Xandra let go, and Izuku froze, looking her way. She giggled, but Who's Who nearly doubled over laughing.
"Not taking his cherry Xandra?" Who's Who asked with a large mocking grin.
"Yeah, would feel a bit weird if he swings the other way. He sure is acting like it. Besides, if he does need to go… I ain't guzzling down piss, even I have standards." Xandra stretched and rested in her spot on the sofa. "I think give him a bit of time to come around. Plus, I like my guys taller anyway." She shrugged, smirking. "Makes for riding them all the fun ya know Cap?"
Who's Who raised his hands in mock defeat.
"Whelp. Just wait for your chance then Babyface," The relaxing tone was back. "And I'm sure Xandra would be an open door for ya."
He looked towards Xandra, who giggled at the entendre.
"Pity, I set you up with a virgin too, I know you love those."
"Ah well, better to let this one mature and age like fine wine, I have a feelin' about him that way" Xandra said, reaching into her cleavage for a cigarette and placing it in her mouth as she leaned in. Who's Who obliged, leaning in to light her cigarette with hers. The cat-woman turned, smirking towards Izuku.
"So you just keep yourself nice and pure until that day comes, kay sweetie~? I'll give you the ride of your fucking life if ya do~."
She winked, giggling as Who's Who laughed along with her, groping her breast with one hand as she sat next to him.
Izuku shuddered. Was he about to kiss a smoker? He looked away, blanching lightly.
"Well, go ahead and do your duty Babyface." Who's Who said, leaning back in the sofa. "Tell Sasaki he needs to get his own people in order too ya hear?"
The cigar-chomping Pallas cat fellow chuckled. "Heh, duty." And that brought out snickers galore all around.
"I will. T-Thank you for your time Lord Who's Who." Izuku nodded, bowing. "And you can have my drink and snack too, Xandra. Sorry for, ummm, leading you on like that…" It wasn't really leading her on but… what else can he do now!
The black-cat lady chuckled, waving him off.
"Aww appreciate it sweetie, and don't worry about it. You go enjoy the Festival."
And Izuku turned and strode off, forcing himself not to run. He headed straight for the bar; which was being managed by a very large, well-dressed Tiger-man.
"Excuse me, where can I find the bathroom?"
The tiger-man regarded him, one eyebrow raised, and then shrugged.
"Go left down the hall," he said while cleaning a glass, "Men's room on the right. Can't miss it."
"Thank you sir." Izuku nodded, and walked around the bar, heading down the lit-up hallway. Inside, two girls in cat masks were up against the wall, kissing and groping each-other, with one hand in the other's…short shorts. He strode on, forcing himself not to look.
"Place really is a den of vice, isn't it." Yoichi mused. "What sort of people would come and join this crew... this army?"
"Those who lust for blood or power. Or those with nowhere to go, and nothing to lose," replied the Second User, as Izuku entered the men's restroom. It was a lot more upscale than the one from before, and a lot cleaner. He quickly found a stall, locked the door, and sat down.
"Still... all of those people cried out for blood at the assembly. They've become like beasts," En mused. "This is an animal kingdom, and the only way to survive is to climb the food chain."
"Or find a niche, as these Flying Six have done," Nana added. "You're doing good Midoriya. You should see Toshinori. He was as worried as we were, but he's beaming with pride!"
Izuku smiled. It was a small comfort, but he needed all the comfort and moral support he could get.
"Steady yourself Midoriya." The Second User said. "Once you leave, find the room, you have time."
Izuku pulled out his watch. 10:45. He could be there in fifteen minutes or so if he ran, but that would draw attention.
"I should use Float when I get in the vents," he mused aloud. "That way, no one will hear me."
"Smart kid." Daigoro said proudly.
"Use the chalk if you get lost to mark your way."
Izuku patted his pocket at Nana's suggestion, feeling the chalk and matches he had brought along for just such an eventuality.
"You're doing well Midoriya. We're right with you, every step of the way." Yoichi whispered. Izuku smiled, and headed for the nearest wash basin. After giving his face a quick wash, he put his bandana back on, and left the bathroom.
As he stepped through the door, his stomach rumbled.
"I should get something to eat."
"Good idea. You'll need it for the long flight to who-knows-where once we free Yamato." Nana added.
"Or it can be our last supper," Daigoro cut in.
"Can you not…" the Second User said dryly. Izuku could feel All Might's shade glaring into the bald biker from Izuku's hand.
It wouldn't hurt to keep his strength up. And there were plenty of those kiosks giving free food. Something to hold him over.
He left the hallway, keeping to the side of the massive lounge. Who's Who was still on his couch, drinking from a bottle, while a bunch of girls in cat-ears and helmets slouched and draped themselves against him.
Izuku looked away. Of all the Flying Six he had met, Who's Who was the most reasonable, even more so than Sasaki. But he was still a Beast Pirate, a man who did well out of the evil Kaido had nurtured in this place; and who talked about it as if it were perfectly normal.
It made Izuku feel sick. It made him wonder why the so-called World Government hadn't done something about the Beast Pirates. Was it unable, or unwilling? Or maybe both?
It wasn't a pleasant thought. Who's Who had spoken of it as if he had served it at one point; and been punished for some sort of failure; a failure involving a rubber fruit. Was that why he had become a pirate? Had he been driven to it?
And why would they have punished him over a fruit? Was it a Devil fruit? Was it particularly valuable?
He shook his head. Now was not the time for distractions.
He strode over the lounge, heading straight for the door. As he went, he spotted Xandra hanging out with some other girls. She spotted him, and blew him a kiss, making him blush under his bandanna.
And then a pirate ran through the door, slamming it shut behind him. He looked like the hounds of hell were snapping at his heels. Izuku's Danger Sense flared, and he felt the floor rumble.
The door exploded, as something very large crashed through it. Izuku turned around, leaping and falling on top of Xandra as debris smashed into the wall where she once stood.
"Dekyuuun where are youuu~! You're in one of these rooms I know iiiiiit~! Now come out~. We're gonna have a lovely-dovely romantic dinner~!" She then grew angry. "AND YOU BETTER GIVE HIM BACK TO ME YAMATO! YA MANGY FUCK!"
It was Ulti, still in her dinosaur form, and still going back and forth between crazy-stalker-schoolgirl and angry-as-hell.
"It's okay, stay still," Izuku said, falling back into his Hero habits. Xandra stared at him with disbelieving eyes.
"You..saved me," she said, wincing as Ulti stomped over them, ignoring them. The new horns, the low lighting of the lounge, and him facing away from her has paid off.
"Sis seriously! This is Who's Who's lounge!" yelled Page One, scrambling over the wreckage, running up to join his sister. "Yamato can't possibly be in here! We're gonna get in trouble!"
The dinosaur-girl ignored him, stomping into the lounge, her legs kicking couches and tables out of the way. The pirates were on their feet, yelling and gesticulating.
"Get out!"
"This is our lounge!"
"Fuck you!"
"Where's my Dekyun ya hairball hacking scumshit! Did Yamato take him through here?!" Ulti bellowed, grabbing the Pallas-cat fellow from his couch.
"God…"
Who's Who stood up, shaking violently.
"Fucking…"
"Oh he's mad." Xandra uttered wide eyed as she and Izuku looked towards him.
"DAMNIT ULTI!"
The man was gone. In a blur, the bus-sized Sabretooth Tiger charged at the dinosaur-girl, barrelling into her and smashing her into the wall.
"Come on, you need to go," Izuku said, helping Xandra to her feet. "You need to get somewhere safe."
"What about you Yoichi-baby?"
She sounded worried, and something in her eyes told Izuku that she meant it. For a moment, Izuku wondered what could have driven her to this place, to this life. She clearly wasn't heartless.
"I'll be okay. Just take care of yourself alright?" He smiled behind the bandanna. He could feel the floor shaking as Ulti and Who's Who battled.
"Get the fuck out of my lounge ya nosy cunt!" Who's Who cursed as he dodged Ulti's charging headbutt, the woman crashing into a wooden column. He leapt, fangs bared, but Ulti was faster; catching his head with a clawed hand and throwing him to the floor.
"You fuck off! I'm trying to find my boyfriend!" she hollered. "Yamato had to go through one of these doors with him and-Yowch!" She cried out in pain, as explosions erupted from her back.
"We got your back Cap!"
"Piss off! This is our Lounge!"
"Yeah we don't go into your crib, bitch!"
"Blast her!"
Izuku stared, as suit-clad pirates swarmed in from side doors, carrying an array of weapons; ranging from archaic-looking guns to weird-looking bazookas.
"LIGHT'EM UP!" And they fired as one like mobsters towards the giant Dinosaur, guns ablazing.
"Leave my Sister alone! BASTAAAARDS!" roared Page One, now in his own dinosaur form. He charged at the pirates, scattering them left and right.
Izuku grabbed Xandra by the hand, and led her towards the door. Best to get out while they were distracted.
"You go someplace safe for the night and relax," he said.
"T-Thanks Yoichi, I will." The cat woman saw the other girls, the ones she had been hanging out with, heading out through the door.
"My girlfriends are there," she said, chuckling. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, hand on her chest before reopening them with a smile. An earnest one. "I gotta say, you're not only a sweetheart, but my hero too."
Hero…her hero…
"You're welcome!" declared Izuku, in cheerful Hero mode. "Take care, and enjoy the festival!"
"I will." Xandra smiled a bit, then trotted over to the other scantily clad woman. There was a well-dressed man in a dress there too.
An explosion drew his attention back to the battle inside the lounge. Ulti and Who's Who were still battling, while some of the pirates had managed to flank Page One, with enough distance to turn their weapons on him.
Yes. They knew what they were doing, this bunch. Basic squad and platoon tactics at least, and different weapons. He could even see one of them talking into a snail behind some makeshift cover.
A snail.
A snail.
Yes, a Transponder Snail. A snail that served as a communication device; much like a phone or a radio. Just as Yamato had described. Izuku continued to stare.
How did they work? How did they breed? How did they add whatever it was that made communication possible without killing the snail? Was the ability somehow natural? Did it involve some kind of telepathy? Or was it a…
"Now's not the time kid! We gotta make like a tree and leave!" Daigoro said urgently.
"Head left, if our sense of direction is right, the Ventilation Room is that way," Hikage added.
"Right, they're probably calling an All-Star right now," Izuku muttered as he turned, falling in with some other pirates. The walls nearby were full of Ulti-sized holes, and the floor was indented with dinosaur footprints. Ulti had really been on the rampage.
He paused beside a kiosk. The sign was advertising Chicken Katsu; breaded chicken cutlets over rice, with sauce and green onions.
It sounded good. It might not be his favorite katsudon, but it would fill him up. Even better, the vendors were still there; apparently heedless of Ulti's antics. They were probably used to such things.
"One extra large please." Izuku said, as his turn came.
"No problem." The vendor was a gangly man with a few strings of hair in his head. As he got to work, Izuku looked past him, at the well-polished pots and pans hanging behind him, and a mirror set into the back wall.
Then he saw him. A man in a dark coat, with blonde hair, and an expression that would have made battle-hardened Villains nervous. His eyes, narrow and cold, were scanning from left to right, looking for something.
Or someone.
Mercifully, another explosion sounded from Who's Who's lounge. The man looked up, and trotted towards it.
"That was Spytand Malice," muttered a man behind him. "Looks like he's on the hunt."
"Heh, when is that stick-up-the-ass not?" scoffed a woman. "Totally lame in bed, probably. Bet he's the size of my pinky. Like all those kiss-ass government dogs."
"He's been prowling about more than usual," added another, dull-sounding pirate.
"Yeah, heard he's looking for someone. Seen him talking to some guys earlier."
The boy perked up.
"What for? Got a clue?"
"Nothing much, save for some kid in green hair and having an average looking face."
…
"Fuck." Daigoro mused flatly.
"Language Banjo." Nana sternly replied.
Izuku gulped as the bowl was placed in front of him. "Here ya go chief."
That's two of the Flying Six hunting for him now. One wanting to smother him, the other… unknown. But Izuku did not want to find out.
"T-Than-," Izuku coughed. "Thanks." He took it, grabbing a spoon and hurrying away, still worried and nervous.
"You better eat fast." Yoichi murmured in his head as Izuku walked down the hallway, eating under his bandana. With any luck, Malice would be too busy trying to break up that brawl in the lounge to worry about anything else. Time to get a lead on him.
Up ahead, he saw it. The sign above one of the rooms. VENTILATION ROOM. It was about fifty meters away!
Izuku sat down on a convenient bench, and continued to inhale his dinner. Why did he have to order extra-large? Around him, other pirates laughed and caroused, apparently unfazed by the holes in the walls. Izuku kept his head down, finishing his hasty meal.
He heard, or maybe felt, what might have been a rumble.
"Finished that in record time! You'd do good at an eating contest kid!" Daigoro beamed.
"Just handle your business. We are almost there."
Izuku nodded at the Second User's suggestion. He dropped the bowl into the nearest trashcan, and headed towards the Ventilation Room. And there was another rumble. And another.
Then a very large door open. Izuku's Danger Sense simmered as he looked up.
A man stepped through the door. He was very tall, and heavy set; about Queen's height, but lean and muscular, his whole body covered in black leather attire. Enormous jet-black wings hung from his back, along with a katana in an orange sheath. Around his neck, bright flames danced. Only his red eyes were visible, gazing down at him as if he were some small and irrelevant nuisance.
"L-Lord King sir!" Izuku leapt out of the way and snapped to attention.
"There's been a disturbance on this floor between the Flying Six," said the angel of death otherwise known as King, eyes glowering. "What is the shortest route to the Cat Cafe?"
His speech was curt, to the point. With the implication that he expected any answer to be brief, to the point, and accurate; with dire consequences for anything else.
"You're facing the right way sir!" Izuku nodded, playing the earnest subordinate. It was all he could think of.
But…should a pirate act like that? What if…?
"Thank you," King replied, his words sending Izuku's panic-stricken train of thought off the tracks and into a nearby town. He strode off down the way, paying Izuku no further mind. Izuku stood where he was, gulping down cold dread.
So…it had worked.
"Okay, that worked out better than I expected." Nana uttered, sounding as dumbfounded as he was.
"Let's not stand around with our mouths open." En toned. "We're almost there."
Izuku took a deep breath, patting his cheeks, and then headed towards the Ventilation Room. He glanced around, but the pirates paid him no mind. He opened the door, slipping inside and closing it behind him.
It was noticeably cooler on the inside; as one might expect in a ventilation room. Izuku activated Float, and made his way down the corridor.
(X)
Outside, a small girl in a fur cape was busy rummaging through the trash can. She had long blonde hair, shaggy for want of washing, covering her eyes.
"Hmm. I wonder," she said aloud, picking the meat off a chicken leg bone. "I can't get in those long lines, because they just push me out. I can't drink yet either. So this is the best I can get."
The young Waiter named Bao Huang glanced towards the Ventilation Room, into which a young pirate had just disappeared.
"I guess he was late for his shift! Most pirates go in and out of doors! Everyone does! Still, I wonder what Lord King was doing down here? Maybe something to do with Lady Ulti screaming earlier? Oh! I should go and check and…oh wow! They're selling ice cream!"
Bao Huang trotted off, humming happily to herself, her mind on many things.
(X)
The room was a mass of pipes running in and out of the walls; the machinery whirring and clanking. Pirates moved here and there, checking the gauges, occasionally turning a wheel or two, and once or twice giving something a kick.
Izuku levitated up towards the ceiling, depositing himself on top of a particularly large machine; the function of which he did not know, and did not have time to figure out. Regardless, he was well out of sight of the pirates.
"Man, we could be out there drinking and partying, and we gotta be here of all places!" grumbled a large, scarred pirate.
"Oh relax," replied his cohort, a woman who had a spiked mohawk. "Our shift's up in a couple of hours, and the bars are gonna remain open, same with the food stalls. It's fine. Anyone gonna change that? It's getting annoying."
Izuku saw a light flickering overhead. It was one of several, hanging from a tether along the ceiling.
"Still… we missed Queen's Concert! I've never get to see one of those!"
Izuku paid them little mind as he floated amongst the pipes. He moved from one to the next, glancing down to make sure no one was watching.
He heard a door clunk open, and darted behind a pipe. He was right next to a suspended walkway, down which a pirate was striding. He had blue hair, big wide goggles, and a clipboard in his hand. Izuku was sure he had seen him a moment ago.
The pirate paused beside a machine, looking over various levers and gauges. He moved one of the levers, and Izuku heard the pipes clunk and hiss, the sound shifting in tone.
He levitated again, finally reaching the ceiling, and looked around. Yamato had said there were vents connected to the pipes, but where were they?
Finally he found one; more than big enough for him to fit inside. But it was just in view of that blue-haired pirate. Izuku hovered where he was, waiting for the pirate to move on. He checked his watch; 11:10.
The pirate was writing something on his clipboard. Izuku's heart began to pound.
"Ring ring ring ring," said a voice. "Ring ring ring ring."
The pirate reached into his coat. "Clank."
"Yes?" There was loud talking from the other end. "Ah, cooler air for the Red Light District? Understood Lord Queen, it'll be done."
"And make it snappy too!" Queen barked from the Transponder Snail. That could be heard.
"Click." The Snail slumped, and the man returned to work, flipping a lever on and walking down the causeway.
Izuku aimed his hand towards the vent door. Black Whip ejected in a thin strand, pulling the latch, and unlocking the vent.
"Now to get inside."
Izuku retracted the strand, and glanced down. The pirates were still down there, still about their duties. But if one of them were to look up, there would be nowhere to hide; and no way to explain what he was doing up there.
There were three of them. Goggles from before, and Mohawk and Scarface, talking to each other. Right under the flickering lightbulb.
The lightbulb…
He aimed his index finger at the lightbulb, rousing his power. Five per cent of One for All, more than enough. He aimed, squinting down his finger, ready to leap for the vent.
"Air Force…"
Go from Five to Thirty-Five. That would do it.
"...Idaho Smash."
He flicked his finger. The bullet of compressed air leapt from his fingertip, smashing into the bulb. The bulb blew apart in a shower of glass and sparks. The trio below looked up, yelling in surprise as the glass rained down on them.
"The hell was that?!" Scarface yelled.
"The friggin bulb went out moron! We should have changed that, fuck me!" Mohawk swore.
"Get a ladder then!" Goggles barked. "And get a new one from inventory, and be quick about it! Got glass on my new coat too…"
Neither of them saw or heard the vent latch closing.
"Okay." Izuku sighed, smiling as he floated down the tube. It was quite large, about a meter and a half in diameter; more than enough. He handed himself along the tube, moving easily to the end.
He looked up. The tube opened into a vertical tube, rising up about twenty meters.. Nowhere near the rumored location of the top floor of Kaido's Castle, where Kaido himself resided.
Izuku looked at his watch. 11:13.
"And now for the long climb…" he said to himself. He floated up to the top, and looked around. The tube opened into two more tubes; each with a fan spinning at the end.
He headed down one of them, glancing down through the vent notches. It looked like the third floor. He continued on to a dead end, and looked down again.
It was a lounge; with pirates enjoying food and drink, and playing games like darts and pool. Even singing Karaoke off to the side in drunken merriment. He saw a plump figure, and recognized it as Sasaki. This was his lounge.
Izuku took out a piece of chalk, and made a mark on the side of the tube. He went back the way he had come, and tried the other. This one had a bathroom down below…with ladies.
He kept his eyes up, away from the forbidden sights. He saw a pipe leading upward, and headed for it as fast as he could; beginning the long ascent towards Kaido's Lair.
He had four or five hours until Yamato began her attack. He had to move efficiently, and fast.
So there ya have it. Think I'd leave on another cliffhanger like before? Nope. Said I was going for suspense and tension and I hoped I pulled it off well enough. Big thanks to Juubi-K and IKnowNothing for their help on this one.
Next chapter should be intriguing with some pivotal information... and the beginning of the moment we've all been waiting for too, the moment that has been alluded to when Izuku said he will take Kaido's key. We're closing in the climax... get ready.
Writing suspense is quite fun too!