I got a small confession to make.
Jou: A small one? Bro, you F'd up.
Yes, I know. I made an error in the last chapter. There was a scene where Jou threw one of his throwing knives at Buggy's arm. I know that some of you guys saw that as Jou's knives being made of Seastone. I will tell you now that they are not. I assumed that Buggy's arm when they separated is just simply flesh and thought that blades can hurt him even though he'd likely just separate to avoid it. So, yeah. Sorry about that. I apologize if anyone thought it was interesting if Jou's throwing knives were made of Seastone. I have gone back and edited that bit out of the chapter. It's still early for this story as it was made only two weeks ago but I'd like to give Jou a bit more focus in this version of this story and still also not trying to make him into a special little snowflake just because he's got a few new additions. I'll try to be careful about anything that happens in the story from now on.
Anyway, enough talk. Let's get to the chapter.
I do not own One Piece
It is owned by Oda
I just own my OC and other's that may appear
Enjoy!
After having to have finally escaped from Buggy the Clown, Zoro dragged Luffy's cage somewhere far away from Buggy's pub. The swordsman was barely holding together due to his wound. Jou was walking ahead of them, his red chain was over his shoulder. Though, Jou was stepping along with a slight limp due to the wound in his leg.
"Alright..." Jou breathed. "I... think we're far enough away from them."
Zoro took that as a sign to put Luffy's cage down and fell face-first into the ground. Jou sat down and leaned against the cage. Luffy looked between the swordsman and chain-wielder.
"Hey, are you guys sure you're alright?" Luffy asked. He was concerned if his two crewmates were okay.
"We're fine, Captain," Jou assured. "I guess just give us a minute."
"Huh?" Zoro mouthed bringing his head up.
"Hmm?" Jou hummed looking in the direction Zor was looking. What got their attention was a small dog just sitting there. Giving a blank stare at the three Pirates.
"What's with this dog?" Zoro wondered.
"And what's it doing out here by itself?" Jou questioned. "Poor thing. Maybe it's lost?"
"Doggy," Luffy grinned and then started shuffling from inside the cage and making his way toward the dog.
"Wah!" Jou gave out a short scream as he fell over on his back since Luffy shuffled away from inside the cage as Jou was leaning against it. Luffy got close to the dog to greet the small animal and started making faces at it just to see if he could get a reaction out of it. There was no reaction what so ever as the dog remained stoic.
"Zoro, Jou, it looks like this dog is frozen," Luffy stated.
"I don't give a damn," Zoro said. "It could sit there forever for all I care."
"For a dog, it doesn't seem very active," Jou remarked. The dog wasn't anything like Ashe. Ashe would always jump at the opportunity to go almost anywhere with Jou and sometimes she was the kinda dog that wouldn't stay still. This little dog didn't even seem to want to move from this spot. Jou had to wonder why that was.
"I wonder if it's dead?" Luffy started reaching a hand toward the dog and poked its head. The dog's expression changed from stoic to furious just from Luffy touching it once as bit Luffy right in his rubbery face.
"GET OFF! GET OFF! GET OFF!" Luffy repeated over and over as he was trying to get the dog from his face while shaking around inside the cage.
"LUFFY, QUIT GOOFING AROUND! GET SERIOUS!" Zoro shouted. The dog let go of the straw hat's face as Luffy fell over on his back.
"Damn dog..." Luffy groaned.
"I don't feel good..." moaned Zoro from where he was lying down. Jou limped his way over and sat down, leaning his back against the cage again.
"This is a great start to our Grand Line journey, right boys?" Jou chuckled. The only response he got was a pair of groans from his Captain and crewmate. Jou heard a pair of footsteps from the side and saw Nami who approached them slowly. "Oh, it's you again." Jou stood up slowly and approached her. "We've met briefly but we haven't been properly introduced. I'm Kusari Jou but people just call me Jou."
"She's our Navigator," Luffy declared grinning.
"Our Navigator, huh?" Jou remarked. "You don't say?"
"I never agreed to that!" Nami reminded but realized and relaxed. "Oh, my names Nami," she mentioned to Jou.
"Okay, Nami..." Jou said. "I got to know something? Was getting Luffy trapped in that cage apart of some plan of yours?" Jou remembered that Nami tried to help Luffy as she had to put out the cannon fuse with her bare hands. Jou thought that was pretty admirable of her but that doesn't mean he should trust her easily. Jou had to think if she had some kind of hidden motive.
"I'm a thief that steals strictly from Pirates," Nami said. "My plan was to infiltrate Buggy and his crew and get the Grand Line chart and his treasure." Nami looked toward Luffy in the cage. "Getting him caught into that cage pretty much just happened," Nami remembered something that she had on her. "Speaking of which, I guess you can have this." Nami tossed a key on the ground. "You got me out of a pretty sticky situation."
"Great!" Luffy smiled. "The key to the cage! Did you go steal it for me? Thanks, Nami!"
"I only did it so we'd be even," Nami noted. "And now I don't owe you anything so we're square, okay?"
"Yeah, sure," Luffy went to reach for the key but the dog had taken it with its mouth before Luffy could even grab it and swallowed it down.
"That's really bad..." Jou stated with a frown. Luffy out of anger started violently choking and shaking the dog. Jou, Nami, and Zoro only watched the whole entire scene unfold and not even doing anything to stop it.
"Hey, stop that!"
Walking up to them was an elderly man with grey hair that was arranged in three lumps: two on the sides, and the front. He wore a pair of glasses on his eyes a dark yellow lined shirt with dark green pants. He even wore brown chest armor complete with a set of gauntlets.
"Stop picking on poor Chouchou!" the old man yelled. "Leave him alone!"
"And who might you be, old man?" Zoro asked the man as walked up to the group of teens.
"Old man? Why I am the Mayor of this town. Boodle is the name." said the Mayor. "Who are you and why are you hurting Chouchou?" he finally noticed Zoro and a saw his wounded side. He saw Jou who was hunching over a little and holding his own injury in his leg. "My my, those are quite the injuries you have there. I take it you had a run-in with Captain Buggy. We need to get you both to a doctor."
They didn't exactly go to a doctor, they just stopped at the Mayor's home where he quickly patched the two of them up. The wound in Jou's leg was bandaged up so he can walk a bit better now. Jou and the Mayor were walking back to join the others outside.
"How's Zoro?" Luffy asked Boodle.
"I told him he really should see a doctor but he insisted that he didn't need to and just wanted to sleep it off," Boodle said.
"What about you, Jou?" Luffy questioned. "Are you still hurt?"
"He didn't want to see a doctor either," Boodle answered. "So, I bandaged him up the best I could. Though, he probably won't be able to move around too well with that wound in his leg."
"I'll be fine," Jou declared. "Trust me. The wound isn't anything too serious. I'm able to actually walk now." Jou turned his head over the Chouchou who let out a yawn.
"So, this dog's name is Chouchou?" Nami asked as she gently rubbed Chouchou's head.
"Is he your dog?" Jou wondered as he also softly pet the dog. Chouchou didn't react to any of the petting as he only kept still.
"Why is he just sitting there like that?" Luffy chuckled. "He sure is a lazy dog."
"He's guarding the store," Boodle mentioned.
"He's guarding it?" Nami questioned and then turned around and saw what was behind Chouchou. "Oh, I see! It's a pet food shop!"
"That's right," Boodle commented taking a step forward. "And the man that used to run this store was a very close friend of mine." he set a bowl of dog food in front of Chouchou. "There you go."
"I take it he was Chouchou's owner, huh?" Jou asked.
"Yes and when he passed, I assumed responsibility of taking care of Chouchou," Boodle informed.
"He died?" Nami implored.
"Yes," Boodle said. "Three months ago after fighting his illness for a very long time."
"Don't tell me he's been waiting for his master to return for a very long time?" Nami asked.
"That seems to be the consensus," Boodle sighed. "But I find that very hard to believe."
"Why?" Jou wondered. "You think Chouchou already knows that his owner will never return?"
"Chouchou is a smart dog," Boodle noted. "He's probably known for a while that his master is never coming back."
"Then, why does he stay here at the store?" inquired Nami.
"I guess because he has a connection to it," Boodle stated. "It's his treasure. He's guarding it. His master left him with this shop and that's why he protects it. I've tried to bring him back to my place so he won't be out in the elements but he won't take so much as a step away from it."
Jou only looked down at Chouchou. He could see that the dog tries very hard to protect his master's shop. The bruises on the little dog's face were evident that Chouchou's been protecting the shop with everything he has. Jou could really admire what the dog is doing. Chouchou saw the pet food store as his treasure. A treasure he wants to protect and guard with his life. Jou slowly reached up and grabbed his blue beanie and smirked a little.
"What are you smirking about?" Nami asked Jou.
"Hmm?" Jou looked in her direction. "Oh, it's nothing." he completely dodged her question. "It's none of your business anyway."
"Excuse me," Nami scoffed at him with a fold her arms. That was when there was a slight rumbling in the distance. Chouchou's now-empty food bowl rattled from the small tremor. From beyond the rest of the town, animalistic-roaring was heard.
"RAAAAWR!"
"What's that sound?" Nami wondered with wide eyes.
"It's him! 'Beast Tamer' Mohji!" Boodle screamed. "We gotta go! Run!"
"What do you mean by 'Beast Tamer'!?" Nami questioned. "Wait! Hold on!" Nami followed the Mayor who had ran away. Jou stayed by with his Captain and Chouchou and sat cross-legged on top of the cage.
"C'mon, puppy," Luffy said to Chouchou. "Why don't you just give me that key back?"
"Luffy, he ate it," Jou stated. "Unless he craps it out, then that would be a miracle." Jou let out a sigh. "Don't worry, Captain. I'll handle whatever is coming."
From behind, Jou and Luffy were both shadowed by something big. They looked up and saw a huge white lion with red eyes and sharp teeth. On top of the lion was a man wearing a white fur vest that covered his chest, blue pants, a yellow sash, and shoes shaped like animal fur feet.
"Who the heck are you?" Luffy asked.
"I'm known as the 'Beast Tamer' Mohji," Mohji said. "A member of the Buggy Pirates."
"Woah, that's a weird animal suit you got on?" Luffy wondered.
"Yeah, nice hat," Jou smirked. "You lose a bet or are you trying to make some bad fashion statement?" Mohji's lion roared as it kept leering down at Jou and Luffy.
"That was rude!" Mohji commented. "This is manly hair!"
"Okay, that's even weirder," Luffy replied.
"I don't see what's so manly about your little animal ears," Jou mentioned. "You look like a furless Care Bear."
Mohji glared with grit teeth and shook his head. "You must not know of my terrifying skill!" Mohji seethed in anger. He jumped off of his lion and made his way up to Chouchou who was snarling at Mohji. "There is not an animal in this world that Beast Tamer Mohji can't bend to do his bidding." Mohji knelt down to Chouchou's level and put his hand out. "Shake." Chouchou bit down on Mohji's hand as the so-called 'Beast Tamer' tried to shake the dog off until the dog finally let go. "You nameless thieves, I've no interest in killing either of you but tell me where Roronoa Zoro is?" Mohji asked. "Before I change my mind."
"Hell no," Jou said.
"No way," Luffy declared.
"Richie!" Mohji's had enough at this point as he ordered his pet lion, Richie to attack Jou and Luffy. Jou hopped off of the cage as Richie slammed his paw down onto the cage.
"Haha!" Luffy cheered. "Yes, I'm finally out!" Richie then followed with a strike with his paw and knocked Luffy away, causing the Straw hat to crash into a building.
"LUFFY!" Jou shouted. Jou never had a chance to react fast enough either as Richie had sent a paw in his direction, too. Jou went flying into a building as well. The whole thing shattering in large pieces and crumbling down on top of him.
"Nice work," Mohji smiled victoriously. "Good boy, Richie! Now, let's go find Zoro so I can defeat him and strengthen my reputation." Mohji saw Richie had his focus on something else. His lion's eyes were focused on the store Chouchou is guarding. "Oh, it's a pet food store. Make it quick then let's go."
Chouchou started barking at Mohji and Richie as they approached him and the shop that the little dog guarded with all of his life.
Luffy was knocked through the building and was just sitting down on the ground and was unscathed like nothing even touched him.
"Phew! That was intense!" Luffy exclaimed. "At least now I'm out of that cage!" Luffy grinned as he clenched a fist. "First thing, I need to teach those Buggy Pirates a lesson and then I convince Nami to be the Navigator for my crew."
Nami and Boodle had both found Luffy just seated on the ground.
"How did you survive that attack!?" Nami questioned.
"You're alive!?" Boodle was also surprised by this discovery.
"Just got lucky, I guess," Luffy said.
"Surviving an attack like that isn't normal," Nami noted. "I figured you'd be scattered all over."
"It's not normal?" Luffy repeated.
"By the way, what happened to your other friend?" Nami asked. "Jou, he said his name was. He was sent flying, too!"
"He was?" Luffy asked.
"Somebody say my name?" a muffled voice was heard as everyone turned to the source of it. Jou pushed all the rubble from the destroyed building off him. As he did, he managed to remain all in one piece, though he did sustain a few scrapes and bruises.
"Damn it," Jou muttered. "I won't lie, but that guy's lion sure does pack one hell of a punch." Jou made his way out of the destroyed building. "Good thing for me, I got some pretty tough skin."
"Jou, you alright?" Luffy asked with a smile.
"I'm good, Captain," Jou nodded. "Thanks for asking."
"And how are you even still alive!?" Nami asked him. "I assumed you would've been dead!?"
"Nah," Jou shook his head. "It'd take a little more than something like that to kill me."
Nami had to just stare at Jou and Luffy. Her eyes darting back and forth to either of them. Wondering if these guys are even for real or if they were even human.
"Neither of you two is even normal at all, are you?" Nami questioned the two of them.
"Why exactly did you decide to come to this town?" Boodle asked. "And how did you get involved with those Pirates!?"
"All I'm doing is searching for a chart of the Grand Line and a good Navigator to join my Pirate Crew," Luffy claimed running away. "I think the guy in the animal suit said he was looking for Zoro! So, I gotta go!"
"Never a dull moment with you, huh Luffy?" Jou smirked while shaking his head. Jou looked at Nami and smiled at her as they locked eyes for a second and ran off after his Captain.
The pet food store was soon found in a destroyed state as flames had engulfed the whole establishment. Chouchou, the little dog, bleeding with his own bruises only stared at the now burning shop with sad eyes. Jou and Luffy stood not too far away from the dog and the store.
"He has a connection to it, it's his treasure. He's guarding it. His master left him with this shop and that's why he protects it."
Chouchou could only howl at the once petfood shop now up in flames before him. Jou only gave the poor small dog a sad look. Here was this poor dog's treasure that he guarded with his life just being destroyed like this. Jou gripped his dark blue beanie that was wrapped his head as he closed his eyes.
"Before you were born, Jou..." he heard his mother's voice in his mind. "I wanted to make you something special. That hat is just for you. Treasure it always and take good care of it, squirt."
Jou's grip tightened on one of his few treasures from his mom. He opened his eyes and stared directly at his Captain.
"Luffy," Jou spoke softly.
"Hmm?" Luffy hummed.
"I know what you're thinking," Jou voiced. "But will allow me to do it? Let me teach that jackass and his lion a lesson."
Mohji and Richie were still making their way through town, looking for Zoro. Mohji couldn't help but look at the small wound that Chouchou inflicted on him.
"Damn it!" grunted the 'Beast Tamer'. "I can't believe that annoying little dog bit me!"
Jou stepped in front of the two, both of his chains over his shoulders. Mohji saw who was blocking his and Richie's path and was honestly surprised.
"I thought I killed you!?" questioned Mohji. "What are you still doing alive!?"
"I'm tough to kill," Jou shrugged as he smirked. "It'll take more than knocking me in a building to take me down. Looks like your overgrown kitty cat didn't finish the job."
"This time crush his head into the ground, Richie!" Mohji ordered as he jumped off Richie as the lion roared, the lion dropping the pet food out of its mouth.
OK!" Jou said as he quickly dashed toward Richie. The lion snapped at the chain-wielder with his teeth. Jou jumped away to avoid the large bite and followed with a chain-slash across the lion's face. Richie leaped up with his claws out and tried to slam them down onto Jou who just jumped to the side causing Richie to plant his claws in to ground causing the ground to crack from the impact. Jou used Fade-Step to land 2 separate chain strikes, dashing from each side. Jou jumped onto Richie's head and hopped off it and then wrapped his chains around the lion's neck and then with a huge swing he brought the lion into the air and then made Richie crash into the ground headfirst. Mohji gasped as he had developed fearful tears in his eyes. He had just watched his lion get taken down easily so how could he not be afraid. Jou was crouched as he stood back up and twirled his chains. He slowly turned his head toward Mohji and walked toward the Beast Tamer who stepped back.
"S-Stay back!" Mohji cried as he pulled out his whip. It didn't do much as Jou kept his trek up to him. He cracked his said whip at Jou and missed since Jou had pretty much vanished before his eyes. Mohji looked from left to right until he turned his head around and saw Jou, glaring down at him. Mohji drew away as quickly as he dropped his whip and extended his arms to keep the chain-wielder at bay.
"Sorry!" Mohji expressed.
"You're sorry!?" Jou raised his voice causing Mohji to fall on his backside. "I'm not the one who you should be apologizing to!" Jou stepped up causing Mohji to shuffle away. "Honestly, your 'sorry's' don't even compare to what you did! That dog defended that store with all he had and you took it away from him!" Jou was tightly holding onto his chains now. "All the sorry's in the world can't help you now, you jackass."
Jou had wrapped his red chain around both of Mohji's ankles. He had hoisted the Beast Tamer high in the air causing him to shriek in fear as Jou had slammed him right into the ground unconscious.
Nami was staring at Chouchou as the dog was only looking at what remained left of the pet food shop.
"Pirates are all the same," Nami commented bitterly. "They're all just a bunch of heartless bastards. They destroy everything that people hold dear without giving it a second thought." she turned around and saw Luffy. "Oh, you're alive, Pirate!" Nami smirked. "Ya know, I thought for sure that lion was gonna tear your head off and then end it all." her face turned in a glare. "And I wish he had, cause then there'd be one less Pirate in the world!" Luffy was only staring at her not saying a word. "Maybe I should kill you right now before you gather a crew and then destroy everything else!"
"Come now!" Boodle said as he stopped Nami in her tracks holding her back. "There's no need for violence!"
"As if you could ever kill me," Luffy remarked walking away.
"Well, maybe I'll try it and see!" Nami added. "What happened to your friend!? The one with the blue hat and the chains! Did you send him to his death to the lion, too! If not, maybe I'll kill him, too since he's also a Pirate!"
"I said stop!" Boodle kept trying to calm Nami down.
"Kill me, huh?" a voice said. "Well, that's a little harsh."
Everyone turned around and saw Jou just making his way up. Luffy smiled as he saw crewmate, showing that he completed what he asked to do. Jou made eyes with Nami as she glared at him. The orange-haired girl trying to glare a hole into him with her angry gaze.
"What are you staring at!?" Nami snarled as Boodle kept hold of her. "I meant what I said! All of you Pirates should just go and die already!"
Jou ignored her and only kept walking up to Chouchou. Jou had a box of pet food tucked under his arm. He sat down cross-legged next to Chouchou and placed the box in front of the dog.
"Shame about your store," Jou stated. "Sorry about that. That little box right there was all I could get since that jackass of a lion ate the rest of it." Jou sighed as he leaned back on his hands. "Listen Chouchou, your treasure might be gone now but..." Jou smiled down at the dog. "All of the memories you have of it live on in you. If you keep thinking that, your treasure is never gone or forgotten." Jou smirked as he continued petting Chouchou who seemed to be leaning into the affection and started licking his hand. Jou took the dog's licking as a way of saying 'thank you'. "Yeah, you're welcome," Jou remarked with a nod.
'He fought the lion in order to save the dogs food...' Nami thought in surprise. She was amazed that someone like Jou, who was a Pirate would risk his life for such a thing.
"You're one brave dog," Jou commented.
"Yeah, you fought well," Luffy said walking up and giving Chouchou a kind smile. "Course I didn't actually see you defend the store but I can tell you gave it your all."
Chouchou took the box of petfood in his mouth and started walking away. "Arf Arf!" he barked back at Jou and Luffy who both smiled in response.
"Thanks!" Luffy smiled. "Good luck to you, too, doggy!"
"Yep, take care of yourself!" Jou smirked. "Remember what I said, okay?"
Chouchou let out a couple more barks at the two and the picked up the food and started off on his way.
"What a loyal dog," Jou sighed contently as he watched Chouchou run.
Nami couldn't but smile from the heart-warming scene that had unfolded. She may hate Pirates but to her, the scene was just simply sweet that she had to drop all the anger that she had inside of her right now.
'I suppose that not all Pirates can be that bad...' Nami thought.
"You were defeated!?" Buggy seethed at Mohji in anger. "How?"
"I'm very sorry Captain..." Mohji professed. "Sorry, I failed." the Beast Tamer was kneeling down in front of Buggy with bruises on his face and arms with an unconscious Richie behind him.
"Mohji," Buggy said. "I can't believe you were defeated by Zoro."
"No, it wasn't Zoro!" Mohji claimed. "It was the guy with the chains!"
"What!?" Buggy questioned. "There's no way that someone using just chains could've gotten the better of you!" Mohji! Tell me you at least killed that annoying straw hat brat! You at least killed him, didn't you?" Mohji's only answer was a pained moan as he fell over unconscious. "Alright! Prepare all the remaining special Buggy Balls! I'm going to blow this entire miserable town to smithereens!"
"Captain?" a voice called. "If I can offer an idea?"
The voice who spoke up belonged to a man wearing a black trilby hat with a purple ribbon and brim, a purple bowtie, a purple vest, underneath the vest he wears is a dark green button-up shirt, purple slacks that match his vest, and green dress shoes. His skin color is fair and had dirty-blonde hair.
"Yes, Ringo?" Buggy looked to his other crewmate. "What is it?"
"There's a chance that Zoro and his group of thieves may go after the treasure at the warehouse?" Ringo asked. "I would like your permission to watch over it."
"Hmm?" Buggy hummed as he thought. "That may be a good idea. OK, Ringo! Your job is to make sure they never lay a hand on our treasure." Buggy smirked evilly. "Whoever comes along kill them however you want."
Ringo reached behind his back and pulled out a few juggling pins. He expertly tossed each of them in the air until he caught all three in his hands.
"It'll be my pleasure," Ringo remarked with a grin. "Captain Buggy."
Jou and Luffy were both talking to each other as Nami had approached them, getting their attention with a clear of her throat.
"Sorry about earlier," Nami said. "I didn't mean to yell at you two."
"That's okay," Luffy stated forgiving her quickly. "You've been under a lot of stress lately."
"It's no big deal," Jou gave her a smile. "Don't worry about it." Nami returned the smile back at them both. "I've heard much worse from other people." Jou shrugged his shoulders.
"Yeah, no need to apologize," Luffy assured.
"I'm pathetic!" Boodle conveyed with clenched fists. "Chouchou and these kids have fought so hard and, I, the Mayor have done nothing but sit back and watch our town be destroyed by Buggy and his despicable crew!"
"Calm down!" Nami expressed. "It's not that bad!"
"Forty years ago, this area was nothing but barren, rugged land," Boodle phrased. "We all worked together to create fields for our crops. We opened stores and built everything from the ground up. This town is a treasure to me and all its citizens! From here on out, I refuse to let Buggy and his crew terrorize us anymore!"
An explosion had followed soon after the Mayor made his claim and tore through the town, destroying his houses in its wake. Luffy, Jou, Nami, and Boodle all looked toward the destruction the explosion had caused.
"Holy crap!" Jou cursed. "Wait a sec!?" Jou walked for a bit. "Wasn't that your house that was blown up, Mr. Mayor!?"
"AHHH!" Luffy screamed. "ZORO WAS SLEEPING IN THERE!"
"I'm sure he's dead now..." Boodle commented like he was giving up all hope.
"Zoro!" Luffy shouted. "Are you still alive!?"
"Are you alive in there, Zoro!?" Jou yelled. "At least make a sound or something!?"
"That's one hell of a way to wake a guy up..." Zoro spoke from the smoke and rubble that was covering him. Luffy laughed happily since his other crewmate was still up and around. "I could've used a few more Z's"
"How did you survive that blast?" Nami wondered sounding impressed.
"He's tough, that's why," Jou reminded. "How do you think Luffy and I survived getting battered into a couple of buildings?"
"I don't think that's much of an explanation?" Nami questioned Jou.
"Alright!" Luffy cheered. "You're alive!"
"I refuse to let him get away with this," Boodle muttered. "I won't stand for it. I can't let this scumbag destroy all that my townspeople worked for these last 40 years." Boodle clenched his fist. "I am the Mayor of this town. I WILL PROTECT IT AND IT'S INHABITANTS! I SWEAR TO MY LAST DYING BREATH!"
Jou, Luffy, and Zoro all stared at the Mayor as he made his brave declaration to protect his town. Boodle grabbed his spear in hand and tried to run off but Nami was quick to stop him as she didn't want the older man to be killed by Buggy and his Pirates.
"Stop!" Nami pleaded. "You can't defeat Buggy!"
"Perhaps but there are some fights that a man can't run from!" Boodle remarked. "Isn't that right?"
"That's right, old man!" Luffy grinned in agreement.
"Mmhm!" Jou nodded. "Fight to protect what's yours."
"Shut up!" Nami told them. "Don't egg him on, you two! It's dangerous for him to fight Buggy!"
"I know it's dangerous!" Boodle said which made Nami let go of him seeing the tears in the old man's eyes and start running to where Buggy was. "I'M COMING FOR YOU, BUGGY THE CLOWN!"
"The Mayor was crying..." Nami said slowly.
"He was?" Luffy asked. "Huh, I didn't notice."
"It looks like the party's getting more exciting," Zoro smirked.
"Sure does," Luffy agreed.
"Hahaha!" Jou chuckled. "I guess you could say that this is where the fun begins!" all three of Luffy, Zoro, and Jou all chuckled together. Nami could only stare unbelievably at the three of them.
"This is no time for laughter..." Nami tried to remind the trio.
"Don't worry, I started to grow fond of that old man," Luffy said. "There's no way I'd let him die."
"Let's give the old Mayor a hand," Jou commented as he walked up to Luffy.
"Well, in that case," Zoro was in agreement as he strolled up to join Luffy and Jou.
"You're gonna go, too!?" Nami said to Zoro. "You're wounded!"
"Yeah, so what?" Zoro noted as he tied his bandana on his head. "The injury to my reputation is a lot worse than the injury to my gut."
"Well, if we wanna get to the Grand Line..." Luffy said. "We better go steal that chart back."
"That chart would definitely come in handy," Jou mentioned. "Though, I'm sure that Grand Line chart would be very useful if we have someone who's got the skill and knowledge to use one." Jou turned his eyes toward Nami who only stared at him with a bewildered look.
"Well, are you gonna join our crew or what?" Luffy asked her as he extended a hand. "Come on."
Nami's face turned serious. It's true that she initially wanted to steal the chart from Buggy and go to the Grand Line. But, maybe she'll be able to do it with the help of these guys. All three of them were strong and it would help and benefit her. So, instead, she decided to tell them that she's not joining the crew, but rather, she will cooperate with them.
"I'll never sink so low as to become a Pirate," Nami declared but smiled as she slapped Luffy's hand away. "But I suppose we could team up, in order to achieve our common goal."
The decision has been made. The four knew what they were in for and what their current goal was. It was time to take the fight to Buggy The Clown.
And that's a wrap! Next time will be the finale for the Orange Town Arc. Ya know, I just realized I'm a little terrible when it comes to ending chapters. But, I'm pretty satisfied with how the chapter turned out.
Jou: Dude, you're endings are terrible. You know that, right?
Shut up! I don't need my own creation telling me that!
Reviews...
Darkmaster10000000:
Jou: *Wearing the x-ray goggles* I HAVE THE POWEEEEEEEEEER!
*Author takes glasses and crushes them under his foot*
Jou: Welp, the power's gone...
Trust me. It was for the best.
XFangHeartX: Unfortunately, I had to take Jou's knife throwing part out of the last chapter.
Jou: Curse you, author! The one scene to possibly make me look cool in front of everyone and you take it out!
It was necessary. Oh, cool. I guess Jou now has another inspiration for his fighting style. The first two being Delsin from Infamous: Second Son and Kratos from God of War.
johannvanguard:
Jou: That Beast Tamer jackass was nothing! Where's my real opponent, author? I'm ready to kick ass and take names!
Geez, so violent. Jou's opponent has appeared in this chapter. I don't want him to just stand around and do nothing.
Drakedragon297: Jou's only job on the crew will be Look-out just like the previous story.
Jou: Arkham City is one of the greatest games of all time. It even won the game of the year. Those batmobile and riddler quests were annoying in Arkham Knight though.
Yeah, I didn't like those much either in Arkham Knight.
Jou: By the way, Drake? Do you wanna know how I got these scars?
The heck is going on here...?
ShadowUzumaki55: Speaking of throwing knives, Jou will have to get more at some point. Maybe the next time he gets more he will be able to have Seastone ones.
Jou: Then, I will be an unstoppable force to be reckoned with!
BlueRaptor629: Thanks, man!
pokemonking0924: You know, if the Jou talking to himself out loud thing works out, that might be his humorous quirk since all of the Straw hat crew have their own, so that could be Jou's. Though, Jou's already got a couple of other quirks. One of them is a small hint that people have missed and the other will be established later.
Lightwave: Yeah, Punk Hazard is long ways off, but I have been thinking about who Jou's switches bodies with. Him switching with Zoro would be interesting if I had to be honest.
Jou: What's this switching bodies business?
Oh, you'll see when we get there.
searge: Jou's gonna have his real fight coming in for next chapter.
That's all for this one. Next time we will finish up the arc in one go.
Jou: Next time, everyone!
Later!