I do not own One Piece
It is owned by Oda
I just own Jou and other OC's who appear
Enjoy!
"The second shot is ready, sir!"
Buggy and his crew had fired the highly explosive Buggy Ball at the town. His crew had readied a second shot and were about to ignite the fuse but they were soon interrupted.
"COME OUT, BUGGY THE CLOWN!" Boodle had appeared before Buggy and his Pirates, holding his spear. "I'M MAYOR BOODLE AND THIS TOWN IS MY TREASURE! I WON'T LET YOU TERRORIZE MY PEOPLE ANY LONGER SO COME OUT AND FIGHT ME!"
"You idiot..." Buggy glared down at the Mayor. "This town is no treasure! Treasure is gold, silver, and jewelry! So cut the crap, old man and get out of here before I kill you!"
"YOU COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND HOW I FEEL!?" Boodle declared back until Buggy's hand grasped him by the throat.
"Soon I'm going to conquer the Grand Line and flashily obtain all the world's riches!" Buggy commented with a laugh. "And there's nothing you can do to stop me! All the world will belong to me! Now, if this town means so much to you, then perhaps I'll do you a favor and kill you first! That way, you won't have to see me destroy your precious village!"
"Shut... up...!" the Mayor managed. "And fight me already...! I'll... never let you destroy this town! If it cost me my very life..."
Buggy grinned as his hand tightened around Boodle's neck. The Mayor feeling like he was suffocating from Buggy's grip.
"So be it!" Buggy commented and then gasped in surprise. Luffy appeared from out of nowhere and had taken Buggy's hand from the Mayor's throat.
"I'm here to kick your ass just like I promised I would, Buggy," Luffy flashed the clown a grin as he made his claim.
"Damn you, Straw hat!" Buggy cursed as his hand floated back to him. Zoro, Jou, and Nami had all fallen in the beside Luffy. "How dare you! You can't just waltz up to me and treat me like this! I'M CAPTAIN BUGGY AND I WON'T STAND FOR IT!"
"Listen to me," Nami noted to Jou and Zoro. "All I want is the chart and the treasure, then I'm out of here. You got it?"
"Yeah, I got it," Zoro said.
"Whatever you say," Jou only shrugged at her. Boodle was kneeling on the ground, rubbing his throat, letting out a few coughs. "Mayor, you alright?" Jou wondered. "You aren't seriously hurt, are you?"
"Get outta here..." Boodle hoarsely responded. "Why'd you follow me? Your outsiders! Leave this to me! This is my fight and I need to be the one to protect my town!" he picked up his spear again and stood up. "BUGGY IS MY FIGHT!"
Luffy quickly slammed Boodle into a nearby wall. The act caused Nami's eyes to widen and even surprised Buggy himself. Boodle let out a groan as he fell on the ground unconscious.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!?" Nami screamed. "Why'd you knock out the Mayor!?"
"Because," Luffy simply replied with a smile.
"It's not a bad idea," Zoro agreed. "If the old man had continued to fight, he would've died."
"That's true," Jou nodded. "Honestly, he would've gotten himself killed if he was planning to go on against Buggy on his own."
"Yeah," Zoro said. "It's for the best."
"You didn't have to hit him!" Nami yelled at Luffy. "I'm sure we could have thought of a more humane way to deal with this situation!"
"Are done with all the screeching?" Jou questioned Nami who had brought her glare toward him. "You're wasting your time, you know that right? I realized when Luffy does something, he does it for a reason."
"He didn't have to him that hard!" Nami remarked with her hands on her hips. "He shouldn't have hit him at all!"
Jou only rolled his eyes and decided to ignore the orange-haired girl. If she was going to keep up her yelling then there was no point in even talking with her. Luffy walked a few feet toward Buggy's pub, the clown snorting at the sight of the Straw-hatted boy.
"Here goes..." Luffy said staring directly at Buggy.
"Hey Captain, hold on," Jou quickly ran up to Luffy before he could say anything. "Try saying something like this." Jou had started whispering into Luffy's ear. Nami and Zoro were both wondering what Jou was even going have Luffy say. Luffy let out a few snickers at Jou's idea. "Alright, go for it. Trust me, it's gonna be good."
Luffy smirked and then took a long breath and shouted: "HEY, BIG NOSE! YOU'RE A DIRT-EATING PIECE OF SLIME AND A SCUM-SUCKING PIG, YOU SON OF A MOTHERLESS GOAT!"
The reactions were exactly you would expect. Buggy and his crew were absolutely stunned. Nami was just ultimately horrified at what Jou had Luffy just say. Nami knew that if Buggy wanted them all dead before, he would really want them all dead right now.
"Oh, you damn, flashy idiot," Buggy growled. "I won't stand for this. TAKE AIM AND FIRE THE BUGGY BALL!" the cannon was aimed right at the four teens down below.
"Why'd you have to make him say that!?" Nami asked Jou as she ran out of the way of the cannon.
"It may have been a bit of fun on my part..." Jou mentioned. "But it probably was a little too much, now that I think about it."
"You think?" Zoro remarked. "C'mon, Luffy! We gotta go!"
"You go ahead," Luffy smiled confidently. "I'm fine. Just watch."
"TIME TO DIE!" Buggy screeched angrily. The cannon had fired the Buggy Ball directly at Luffy. The Straw hat never moved a single muscle as the cannonball was shot at him.
"Gum-Gum Balloon!" Luffy sucked in the air as his normally thin frame inflated causing the cannonball to collide into Luffy's now larger form. Buggy and his Pirates were shocked as their eyes widened and could only wonder what Luffy even was since he was able to catch the Buggy ball.
"He coulda warned us," Zoro commented next to Jou while face-palming.
"I suppose anything is possible at this point," Jou remarked rubbing the back of his head. The Buggy Ball flew right back at Buggy and his crew. Each of them screaming out in fear as they were going to be hit with a Buggy Ball a second time today. The Buggy Ball had destroyed the pub, leaving the place in only rubble and lot of Pirates buried underneath it all.
"Alright!" Luffy smiled. "I got 'em!"
"What the hell kinda monster are you!?" Nami yelled with shark teeth.
"I think you freaked her out," Zoro remarked.
"I guess it's understandable for her to be," Jou expressed with a shrug. The Buggy Ball that was sent back at the Buggy Pirates had knocked every one of them out.
"I knew that something was weird after you survived being hit by that lion!?" Nami shouted.
"Ya know, I survived being hit by the lion, too," Jou reminded her with a smile. "I even defeated it single-handedly."
"Yeah, but he's a completely different story!" Nami replied while pointing at Luffy. "No human being can do what you do! Now, explain yourself! What the hell was that 'balloon, inflaty thing' you did just now!"
"That was the Gum-Gum Balloon," Luffy stated proudly.
"I don't care what you call it just tell me how you did it!" Nami yelled. "What're you!? Some kind of freak!"
From the remains of the pub revealed Buggy the Clown. He had used two of his own men as human shields to protect from the cannonball.
"How dare you try to flashily do me in," Buggy seethed.
"Unreal," Nami commented folding her arms. "Using his men as a shield."
Mohji had come up from the rubble and saw everyone one of the Buggy Pirates lying unconscious. Mohji finally looked and saw Luffy, Jou, Zoro, and Nami. He more specifically looked at chain-wielder, his expression into one of fear.
"No!" Mohji screamed fearfully. "It's you!"
"You again, huh?" Jou glared crossing his arms. "What? You want round 2, jackass?" he turned to Nami. "If you're still curious about Luffy's abilities, he's a rubber person."
"He's what?" Nami rose her brows and then looked at Luffy. "A rubber person."
"Yeah, see?" Luffy had grabbed hold of his cheeks, stretching them out. The act causing Nami to freak out a little.
"A Devil Fruit," Buggy said. "That explains how he bounced that Buggy Ball back at us."
From behind Buggy and Mohji, a third individual came out from the pile of rubble. He had dark hair with three yellow lines on the side, a dark blue vest, a white and blue checkered scarf around his neck, white pants and shoes. This was Cabaji, Chief of Staff of the Buggy Pirates
"How do you plan to respond to this insult, Captain?" Cabaji asked as he was holding Richie, Mohji's lion who is still unconscious, with a single hand.
"Oh, Cabaji," Buggy said. "I don't know. I'm too angry to even fart."
"Cabaji!" Mohji shouted in anger. "What the hell did you do to my Richie!?"
"This cat?" Cabaji remarked. "I used it as a shield to keep my clothes from getting dirty." he dropped Richie on the ground. Richie had woken up and made eye contact with Cabaji and became frightened, scampering behind a piece of rubble.
"Damn you!" Mohji cursed at Cabaji. "You bastard!" he tried to attack him but Cabaji kicked Mohji and sent him flying at Luffy and the others. "OUT OF MY WAY!" Mohji screamed as he was sent hurtling toward the four teens.
"How about... out of my way!" Luffy kicked Mohji right in the face, making the Beast Tamer crash into a building that was close by.
"Captain Buggy?" Cabaji spoke. "Allow me to repay their disrespect."
"Fine!" Buggy smirked. "But make it a good show for everyone!"
Cabaji chuckled as he jumped high into the air and landed on the ground. He was holding a sword and was riding a unicycle making his way over to four in front of him.
"You may call me "Acrobat" Cabaji!" Cabaji announced. "Captain Buggy's, Chief of Staff! You will pay for your insolence!" he was making his way over to Luffy and was about to strike with his sword. Until Zoro had intervened, pulling out his own sword, blocking it with the flat of the blade.
"I'll clash swords with you," Zoro declared.
"It's an honor, Roronoa Zoro," Cabaji noted. "As a swordsman myself, I relish this chance to slay you." Cabaji had noticed that Zoro was bleeding from his side.
"Hey, Zoro?" Luffy said. "You really should get some rest, let me or Jou handle this guy."
"Luffy's right, Zoro," Jou spoke. "You should sit out for this."
"Just stay back," Zoro asserted.
'That's the stab wound the Captain inflicted on him,' Cabaji noted in thought. 'The fool.'
"Arsonist Technique!"
Cabaji had blown a stream of fire from his mouth straight in Zoro's face. He followed up with a kick straight into Zoro's wound. Luffy, Jou, and Nami's eyes had wide widened, seemingly worried for the swordsman. Zoro yelled in pain as he fell on the ground.
"What's wrong?" Cabaji questioned. "I didn't kick you that hard, now did I?"
"He fight's dirty!" Nami expressed. "Going after his injury like that!"
Buggy smirked as he saw that Cabaji completely had Zoro right where he wanted him and could easily finish off at any time.
"Acrobat Technique: Murder at the Steambath!" Cabaji spun his sword in one hand, sending up dust in the air so Zoro wasn't able to see him.
"Acrobat, my ass," Zoro stated. "That's just an ordinary dust cloud." Zoro quickly blocked Cabaji's sword that came out from the cloud, blocking it in between two of his own swords. Cabaji then kicked Zoro in his wound hard. Zoro screamed in agony once more as he rolled across the ground.
"He did it again!" Nami said.
"What's this?" Cabaji asked. "It's such a disgrace to see a grown man moaning. I suppose now you can see how foolish it was to make an enemy of the Buggy Pirates."
"To keep fighting with such a bad injury," Nami conveyed. "It's so bad, I don't know how he's managing to stay in the fight?" she angrily looked at Jou and Luffy. "Why are you both standing there watching him!? He's gonna get himself killed, you know!"
Jou and Luffy never responded to Nami and kept watching Zoro. Zoro decided to duel Cabaji on his own. It wouldn't be fair to Zoro if either of the two just ran in and took over for him.
"Roronoa Zoro... IS FINISHED!" Cabaji cycled toward Zoro to exterminate him.
"You annoying little bastard..." Zoro remarked confidently. "You having fun poking at my wound? Then go ahead!" Cabaji had slashed Zoro directly in his wound.
"Ouchie..." Luffy grimaced as he watched the scene. Jou grit his teeth in worry. Cabaji cycled passed Zoro who was still standing from the attack.
"Why didn't you dodge his attack?" Nami wondered.
"Is that enough of a handicap for ya?" Zoro questioned Cabaji and turned around smirking. "And now let me show you. Just how superior my skills are to yours."
"Yeah, Zoro!" Luffy cheered. "Get him!" Jou shared Luffy's enthusiasm by folding his arms across his chest with a smile.
"Fool," Cabaji commented. "You've made a vast error in judgment. I won't be mocked."
"My sword's aim to be the World's Greatest," Zoro announced. "I refuse to lose even once to anyone who calls himself a swordsman."
"I see," Cabaji said. "A strong resolve keeps you going. But have no fear. Wounds as bad as yours will be more than enough of an excuse. Or losing to me."
"To hell with that," Zoro retorted. "If I lose to someone like you, even with these minimal injuries, then I don't have a very bright future ahead of me, Do I?" he placed his white katana in his mouth.
"Why you..." Cabaji has had enough of Zoro's words.
"Alright, yeah!" Luffy cheered. Nami, however, wasn't sharing Luffy's enthusiasm and gave out a low sigh.
"I won't stay and watch this," Nami decided. "You Pirates can stand around for the rest of time and kill each other for all I care." Nami started walking away. "I mean it doesn't matter to me whether you guys win or lose." she turned around with a smile. "I gonna take this time to swipe their treasure and get outta here."
"Huh?" Luffy only mouthed at her. Jou placed a hand on his hip and gave Nami a questioning look.
"You know, it might be bad for you to go alone?" Jou questioned her. "You never know if they placed someone there to guard their treasure in case anyone tried stealing it. You'd be walking into a trap."
Nami smirked with a wink. "Please? Even if they did place someone to guard it, I could just knock the person out and take it before they even wake up. I can handle myself." Nami kept her smile. "Maybe we can team up again if we ever get the chance. Seeya! Good luck with the fight!"
"Yeah, thanks!" Luffy waved. "Seeya!"
Jou only watched Nami runoff. She probably could steal the treasure even if there was someone guarding it. But, he had a gut feeling that she might be running into trouble on her own.
"They're not normal," Nami mentioned to herself. "All of Luffy, Jou, and Zoro are completely crazy. If I join up with them, I can tell that nothing good will come of it."
Nami realized she wasting tie watching a pointless fight between Pirates. There was treasure hidden around here somewhere. Buggy's a Pirate so he'd obviously have a secret stash that had to be where the treasure was. Just where Buggy's pub was a basement of a nearby building. Nami saw that Buggy was too pre-occupied watching Zoro's fight.
The basement was covered by a wooden panel which the girl easily tore off. There was a lone Pirate just sitting at the edge of the stairs who was sleeping and was obviously drunk and didn't even hear her even come on. Nami came across the door that was closed with a lock on it.
"Here we are," Nami commented with a smile. "Now, I steal their treasure and then their chart and get the hell out of here." she busted the rusty lock with a nearby stick, allowing her entry inside the once locked room.
After doing that, she became excited once she found the mountain of treasure. Nami couldn't but be giddy with finding this much treasure in one place. She was excited until the Pirate that she found sleeping had woken up. Nami was able to trick him by acting like her chest started to hurt. The trick for that was to get the Pirate to stare at her 'chest'. It allowed her to knock the Pirate out cold once with a swing of her three-piece staff.
If this was what Jou was talking about when he said someone would be guarding the treasure and that it would be a trap, then he was obviously wrong.
Nami noticed around the Pirate's neck, she saw a key. She grabbed it from the unconscious Pirate and saw a lone chest inside the treasure room. Nami was about to put the key inside the lock until she heard a voice behind her.
"I wouldn't open that if I were you," the voice said. "Besides, you shouldn't touch what's not yours."
Nami turned her head and saw a man with black, green, purple styled clothes with a hat to match. The man had brought his head up, his hat shadowing his eyes as he glared at Nami.
"I see," the man said taking a step forward as Nami took a step back. "You're the thief that made off with our chart of the Grand Line." he took another step toward her and took out his trio of juggling pins. "Then, you betrayed Captain Buggy by lying to him about joining our crew." He tossed one of them into the air and then caught it. "It seems that, I, Ringo The Juggler. The Second Mate of the Buggy Pirates will teach you what happens when you double-cross our crew!"
Ringo's juggling pin unsealed as a long rope shot out from it. It was a rope with a long blade attached to the end of it. He rotated the rope in his hand and then hurled it at Nami. Nami jumped out of the way to avoid blade that came her way.
"Now, now..." Ringo said. "There's no need to run. I promise you, I'll make this quick.
Nami should've known there would be someone else that would be watching the treasure. This guy looked more prepared than that other Buggy Pirate she had just knocked out. Ringo threw the rope again as the bladed piece made its way toward Nami as her eyes widened.
'Dammit!' she cursed in thought. 'I hate to admit it, but maybe Jou was right! I might've walked into a trap!'
Nami shut her eyes as she fearfully waited for whatever demise she was to meet. What shocked her was that she didn't feel anything. She was pretty sure she was about to die. Nami opened her eyes and saw that the rope had been jerked away from her in another direction. A red chain had curled around Ringo's rope. Nami saw just who had come along just in time.
"Jou!"Nami exclaimed in surprise. Nami wouldn't admit out loud but she was honestly relieved that someone had come along.
"That's my name," Jou remarked. "Don't wear it out." Jou kept a hold of the rope with his chain as he glanced in Nami's direction. "I thought you said you can handle yourself?"
Nami's face morphed into a look of irritation as she stood up. "Just shut it and defeat that guy so I can get my treasure!" she demanded with a hand on her hip.
"Ya know, a please would be nice, right?" Jou quipped as Nami continued glaring at him. "Fine." he sighed. "You want that treasure? You got it. Just hang back and let me fight this guy." Jou looked at Ringo. "You hear that, jackass? Your opponent is me." Jou kept hold of Ringo's rope allowing Nami to run and take cover behind the doorway.
"Ah, you must be the 'chain-fighter' that Mohji spoke about?" Ringo asked managing to pull back his blade rope. "It's impressive and also not so surprising you were able to best he and his lion so easily. However, I won't be beaten easily." Ringo had pulled out another two juggling pins and threw each of them in the air together in sync as he caught them. "Its time to put on a show for my juggling act!"
"A juggler, eh?" Jou said as he tossed his red chain over his shoulder. "Hey, Nami? Do you know any more tricks besides that bladed rope of his?"
"No," Nami shook her head. "That's all I've seen until you showed up. I'm not sure what those other pins of his do."
"Alright," Jou nodded. "Guess I'll have to figure it out as I go." Jou walked toward Ringo and flicked his wrist, grabbing his steel chain. Jou strolled up to Ringo as the man once again expertly tossed his pins in the air. He caught a single pin in one hand and captured the remaining two in another. The one pin Ringo held in his hand, held it like he was going to throw.
"Juggler Act: Knife Toss!" Ringo had thrown his juggling pin directly at Jou. The pin came apart to reveal a short knife blade. Jou never moved from his spot as he reached into his holster on his right side and quickly grabbed a throwing knife. Jou had thrown his own knife and used it to deflect Ringo's own both projectiles hitting the ground.
"Fade Step!" Jou kicks off the ground and appeared in front of Ringo. The man's eyes widening from seeing Jou move at such a speed. Jou spinning his chains swung them both at Ringo.
"Dual-Chain Revolver!" Jou slashed at Ringo with both of his chains. Ringo had no choice but to jump out of the way from Jou in order to avoid his attack. Ringo had gotten out his pin that had his bladed rope attachment. The rope had extended as Ringo grabbed onto it and swung it around a few times.
"Juggler Act: Bladed Rope Attack!" Ringo slashed at Jou a few times. Jou countered each of the slashes with his chains. Jou tried to take a step in order to get close to Ringo. Ringo never allowed Jou to get anywhere close to him. Ringo had noticed that Jou's leg was bandaged, realizing it must be where Captain Buggy had stabbed him earlier.
'It looks like I have an ace up my sleeve, after all,' Ringo thought with a devious smirk.
Ringo pulled back his bladed rope as Jou had gotten close to him. Jou dashed up to bring down another attack on Ringo who had dodged to avoid the attack as he reached for his other pin that unveiled the knife.
"Knife Toss!" Ringo threw the blade at Jou, aimed right at his head. Jou weaved his head to avoid the knife as it hit the wall behind him.
Jou who was standing still felt something around his leg. He looked and saw Ringo's rope had encircled it. Jou looked up and saw that Ringo had a sneer across his face. Ringo then yanked on the rope that had tightened around Jou's leg. The tug had caused the wound in Jou's leg to spurt blood.
Jou had gritted his teeth as his wound that he almost forgot about, spouted blood from his leg. Nami had shut her eyes, tearing her head away from the side of Jou's bleeding wound.
'Of course, he would attack his wound...' Nami thought. 'Pirates are never fair when it comes to a fight.'
Ringo yanked on the rope one more time as Jou let out a short yell of pain, falling down to one knee.
"Captain Buggy had told me about the wound he had inflicted on you," Ringo remarked to Jou. "It's not as serious as Roronoa Zoro's, but I will surely use it to my advantage and you're not able to move if I keep my hold on you. Let me end this quickly!" Ringo pulled out a few brightly-colored juggling balls and lobbed each of them into the air.
"Juggling Act: Smoke Surprise!" he threw the juggling ball right near Jou's foot. Smoke started to quickly billow out of ball which left a huge dark cloud that completely enveloped Jou into it.
"Not done yet!" Ringo announced as he tossed the remaining two juggling balls in one hand.
"Juggling Act: Jacks of Trade!" Ringo hurled both of the projectiles into smoke knowing that they would hit their mark. The juggling balls erupted into a mass of sharp caltrops making them scatter about the room, the walls, floor, the ceiling, etc.
"Gah!" Jou let out a short scream from the smoke. Signaling that he was hit by the spray of caltrops. Nami hid behind the wall she was using as cover. A few of the caltrops hit the wall in front of her.
"Jou!" Nami shouted. She checked to see if she can spot him but it was no good as the smoke was still covering him.
Ringo smiled victoriously as if he had won. Something had shot from the smoke and had pierced him. Ringo cursed out in pain as he had seen what had just hit him. It was a throwing knife that was sticking out of his shoulder. Ringo was pulled toward the faded cloud of smoke by his own rope and was met with a boot kicking him in the face.
"Ah!" screamed Ringo as he flew backward as he hit the ground, nose bleeding. Ringo sat up, wiping the blood under his nose and then yanking the knife out of his shoulder, throwing it to the ground.
The smoke cleared enough for Nami to see Jou. She gasped when she saw him, holding Ringo's rope in his hand had even dropped his red chain. Jou had a few caltrops had punctured his left forearm, two of them had pierced him in the right shoulder, one was in his chest, and a final one was pricked into his hand. Blood seeped from each of the caltrops that were stuck into him.
"Are you done, jackass?" Jou asked with a glare as he threw Ringo's blade rope back at the juggler's feet. "That really the best you can do?"
"What do you mean by that!?" Ringo spat. "That's an attack that is guaranteed to kill a total of five and you are still standing!"
Jou stood straight and had started to remove the caltrops from his body. Starting with the few in his forearm, the two in his shoulder, then last was the one in his hand. He finally picked up his red chain, he twirled it around and rested it on his shoulder.
"Do you really think I'd go down from cheap parlor tricks like that?" Jou mentioned causing Ringo to growl in anger at him. "You call yourself a juggler but your 'tricks' are nothing but a complete joke. At best. It'd be pathetic if I were to get killed from some bad excuse of a juggler. If anyone can even consider you one. The most boring show I've ever seen."
Ringo has had it at this point. No one insults his juggler technique and he was going show Jou why that was with a final attack. Ringo picked up his blade rope and glared at Jou with rage in his eyes.
"No one insults my Juggler Act and gets to live with their life!" Ringo shouted. "This final Act will be the 'coup de grâce' that finishes you off!" Ringo took hold of his rope and had begun swinging it.
Jou gripped his chains as he stood ready and waiting for the Ringo's attack. Nami had to wonder what Jou was going to do to beat this guy. She saw that his wound had begun bleeding again. Would he be able to dodge the attack? If he loses here, then that means that she won't be able to nab the treasure from his place.
"Time for the finish!" Ringo announced. "Juggler Act: Bladed Rope Finale!" Ringo finished swirling his weapon and swung the bladed rope at Jou.
"Fade-Step!" Jou had managed to use Fade-Step even with his bleeding leg and had appeared in front of Ringo. The Juggler's eyes shot open as Jou whirled his chains around as he stood in front of Ringo.
"Dual-Chain Cross Slash!" Jou X-slashed Ringo right across the torso. The attack landed as Ringo spat blood out of his mouth and dropped his blade rope falling to his knees.
"Ringo The Juggler..." he managed to mutter out. "Proud member of the Buggy Pirates was beaten by a thief."
"I'm no thief..." Jou declared standing up and hanging his red chain over his shoulder. "I'm a Pirate."
Ringo spurted blood one last time as his eyes rolled back as he fell over onto his side unconscious. Jou twirled his chains as they both wrapped around their respective wrist.
"Wow, you actually won," Nami commented as she had joined Jou in the treasure room. Jou's only response was a nod as Nami looked at his wounds. "Are you okay? Those look pretty bad."
"Oh, are you worried about me?" Jou questioned smirking at Nami. "I have to say, Nami, I'm quite flattered that you're concerned for my safety and-Grr!" Jou didn't expect Nami to swiftly pull out the remaining caltrop that was in Jou's chest. He had forgotten about that last one, he didn't even notice it until she had yanked it out. Nami had even done it with a sweet smile that did little to mask her obvious fury. Jou lightly touched his chest as Nami tossed the caltrop on the ground.
"You, um, asked if I was okay earlier?" Jou asked painfully. "I'm just peachy." he squeaked out. "I'll survive. Go ahead and grab whatever treasure you can." Jou began walking out of the room. "I'm gonna get out of here and check on Luffy and Zoro."
"You do that," Nami told him as she started working on the lock for the chest. She turned her head as she saw Jou just walking out. "Jou? Wait a second?"
"Hmm?" Jou hummed in wonder. "What is it?"
"I just wanted to say..." Nami looked down until she glanced up at him with a grin on her face. "I'm going to need help carrying up all of this treasure, cause it's a lot!"
Jou was too focused on his fight that he didn't notice the treasure. He wasn't surprised that Buggy had quite the stash of treasure.
"Right," Jou nodded. "Fine, I'll help you carry it up."
"Just so we're clear, it's all mine," Nami stated. "Got it!"
"I hear you," Jou said. Nami walked up to the chest that was in the room and used the key to open the lock. She opened the chest and inside it was the Grand Line chart that she wanted.
"Yes!" Nami cheered. "The chart of the Grand Line!" she was so happy, she didn't notice Jou peeking over her shoulder getting a glimpse of the map.
"So, that's the Grand Line, huh?" Jou commented rubbing his chin. "Looks a lot bigger than I imagined."
"Hey, hey!" Nami pushed him back. "Don't get any ideas! This map is mine!" she put her hands on her hips. "Hurry up and bag up all the treasure so we can leave this place!"
"Who do you think you're ordering around, 'princess'?" Jou asked glaring down at her. "If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be able to get that map or the treasure! You would have been killed!" he sighed shaking his head. "Fine, whatever. I'll pack the treasure and carry it but you're going to at least help me."
Jou did as Nami asked and stuffed the treasure in a big sack with some assistance from her. Jou heaved the sack over his shoulder and carried it up and into an alleyway.
"Okay, that'll do!" Nami stated proudly. "I'll take it from here."
"Okay... if you say so," Jou strained out as he placed the sack on the ground. He stepped away from the bag which allowed Nami to take a seat on top of it.
"I scored an impressive haul from the Buggy Pirates," Nami sighed with relief.
"You sure did," Jou expressed slowly. Even though he was the one who carried the treasure up.
"But still, thanks Jou," Nami smiled. "Hauling treasure is tiring especially when there's a lot by myself."
"So, now that you got that chart..." Jou said. "What's your plan? You gonna head to the Grand Line?"
"That's right," Nami claimed as she leaned back. "The Grand Line is bound to have plenty of Pirates with lots of treasure on them." Nami kept her smirk as she thought of an idea. "Hey Jou, how about you come along to the Grand Line with me?"
"Huh?" Jou rose an eyebrow at her.
"I said come along and team-up with me," Nami repeated. "The Grand Line is dangerous so it'd be nice to have some assistance while out there. You're pretty strong so, while I go search for treasure, you can take out any trouble that comes our way. We can even split the profits between us." Nami crossed a leg over the other, resting her chin in her palm. "So, what do you say?"
"No, I refuse," Jou told her putting his arms behind his head. "I already decided to go with Luffy to the Grand Line. I'm a Pirate and he's my Captain. It would wrong if I just left him." Jou gave Nami a shrug. "I have no interest in being a thief."
"Eh, ah well," Nami shrugged herself. "Your loss then."
"By the way...?" Jou wondered. "What are you going to do now? You must be planning on leaving the island with your treasure? These people have suffered under what Buggy had done to their town and you're just going to up and leave? That and leave us, too."
"What are you trying to get at?" Nami questioned raising a brow.
"Luffy called you our Navigator," Jou mentioned. "We can really use one of those right now. You may not like Pirates but maybe we can help each other out." Jou shook his head. "If not, then I'll see you around, I guess. I'm going back to find Luffy and Zoro." he waved at her. "Later, Nami."
With that, Jou walked away leaving Nami alone with her sack of treasure. Nami was left wondering if Jou meant what he said. She closed her eyes and sighed. She shook off her thoughts and hopped off the bag of treasure.
"Anyway, I gotta find a way off this island ASAP," Nami remarked. She grabbed the sack and was about to drag it until what Jou had said sunk back into her mind.
"These people have suffered under what Buggy had done to their town and you're just going to up and leave?"
"You may not like Pirates but maybe we can help each other out."
Jou was right. This town had suffered due to Buggy's reign over it. The Mayor, Chouchou, the townspeople. It reminded her a lot of her hometown which caused her to bite her lip. The treasure was tough to obtain, especially from large Pirate crew's. Stealing was easy a lot of the time but maybe with help, it'll make it a lot less difficult. Nami turned her head to the direction where Jou was headed.
Zoro was still fighting against Cabaji. Buggy tried to interfere with Zoro's fight but that was until Luffy had stamped his foot on Buggy's hand causing the clown to scream in pain and scowl at him. Cabaji used his Dance of 100 Kamikaze Tops. Zoro effortlessly sliced the tops in half as they came at him. Cabaji decided to end the fight with Zoro. Zoro was ready with his own swords and became prepared with his own attack.
"Oni-Giri!" Zoro slashed Cabaji with three separate slices across the Acrobat's body.
"Cabaji!" Buggy screamed for his Chief of Staff.
"I can't believe the Buggy Pirates..." muttered Cabaji. "Were defeated by petty thieves..." he fell on the ground onto his back.
"We aren't petty thieves..." Zoro stated as he fell to the ground himself. "We're Pirates. Luffy I'm going to sleep." As Zoro snoozed off to sleep, Jou had arrived on the street as Luffy looked at Jou with a smile.
"Jou, you're here!" Luffy noticed the new wounds Jou had obtained. "Did you get hurt or something?"
"Yeah, I got into a fight," Jou shrugged. "I won, though." he noticed Zoro on the ground snoring. "Is Zoro okay? He's not dead, is he?"
"Nah, he beat that guy he was fighting," Luffy stated. "He's just sleeping."
"Nice to know," Jou leaned against a building and sat down. "I sit right here. You go ahead and fight." Jou smirked at Luffy. "Buggy is all yours, Captain."
"Good!" Luffy smiled and turned to Buggy clenching his fist. "I'm looking forward to this!"
"You guys are Pirates?" Buggy asked Luffy.
"Yeah, we're searching for the Grand Line," Luffy said.
"Ha!" Buggy laughed mockingly. "That's not an easy voyage, you know! I don't think that three half-wits like the likes of you can handle it! And will you do if by some miracle you manage to make it there? Go on a sight-seeing tour or something?"
"Be King of the Pirates," Luffy claimed with a straight face.
"You can't be serious, you idiot!" Buggy shouted. "If you were King of the Pirates, then that would make me god! There's only one who could be King of the Pirates and obtain all this world's treasures and it's gonna be me, you got it!?"
"You're annoying," Luffy commented.
"Definitely," Jou agreed.
"Let's go ahead and settle this," Luffy got into a fight stance. Buggy brandished four knives in each of his hands.
"Seeing that Straw hat brings back memories of him and that really gets my blood boiling," Buggy announced. "So, bring it on, you wanna-be Pirate! You remind me of him. That damn cheeky red-haired Pirate."
"What did you say?" Luffy questioned as he heard what Buggy had just said. "Wait, are you saying you knew my old friend Shanks?"
"That's right," Buggy answered. "I knew Shanks once."
"Do you know where he is now?" Luffy queried.
"I guess that depends, straw hat," Buggy grinned. "Maybe I do and maybe I don't."
"What are you talking about?" Luffy asked as everything went quiet. "Did you forget?"
"NO, I DIDN'T FORGET, YOU MORON!" Buggy screamed. "But I'm not going to tell you where he is out of the kindness of my heart!" Buggy held up his knives. "You have to work for that info."
"Fine," Luffy declared. "I'll make you tell me."
"You can give it your best shot but I don't like your chances," Buggy stamped his foot as a blade protruded from it. "I doubt rubber can bounce back from a blade."
"You're right," Luffy nodded.
"Chop-Chop Rice Cracker!" Buggy sent his legs spiraling at Luffy. Luffy jumped into the air to avoid them.
"Can't move in mid-air, can you?" Buggy observed. "Too bad." he threw all of his knives at Luffy.
"No, you're wrong," Luffy grabbed for a wood support beam to avoid the knives. Buggy's legs went back to the rest of his body.
"Oh-ho-ho!" said Buggy. "How interesting!"
"You're not so bad either," Luffy smiled. "But here comes... Gum-Gum Pistol!" Luffy's arm extended to send a punch at Buggy, who moved his to the side to avoid it.
"They're neat abilities..." Buggy acknowledged. "But they leave you wide open. I'LL CARVE YOU UP!" Buggy with a knife in hand brought it down to strike Luffy's stretched arm. Luffy's hand took hold of a nearby tree as his arm brought him toward Buggy.
"Gum-Gum Sickle!" Luffy attacked the clown with his arm out like a clothesline.
"Chop-Chop Quick Escape!" Buggy, to avoid the attack used his powers to remove his head. Luffy was sent flying into a pile of rubble with a huge crash.
"Not good enough, Gum-Gum," Buggy laughed his head reattached itself to his body. Luffy burst from the rubble, placing his straw hat back on his head.
"Damn, you keep breaking into pieces," Luffy commented.
"Chop-Chop Cannon!" Buggy holding four knives in-between his fingers in his hand fired them at Luffy. Luffy grabbed Buggy's hand to stop knives, the blades only inches to his face. "Separate." the hand came apart from the arm, one of the knives cut Luffy across the cheek and even knocked Luffy on his feet. "So, runt! You wanna give up yet!?"
Luffy sat up and picked up his straw hat. The hat had a small nick in the brim. Luffy glared directly at Buggy, his body visibly shaking in anger.
"YOU BASTARD!" Luffy shouted.
"How's that...?" Buggy asked snidely. "Was I not supposed to scratch your face or something?"
"Bastard..." Luffy growled. "No damages my lucky hat and walks away from it alive! THIS HAT IS MY ONLY TREASURE AND ANYONE THAT SO MUCH AS LAYS A FINGER ON IT GONNA PAY!"
Jou, who was still watching the fight between Luffy and Buggy saw how visibly angry he was getting. That straw hat means a lot to Luffy.
"It seems that hat has a history to it," Buggy commented.
"That's right!" Luffy declared.
"Is it really all that special?" Buggy wondered. Unknowingly, from behind Buggy tossed a knife at Luffy. Luffy using his instincts and noticed the attack and avoided the knife. "If that's the case, YOU SHOULD PROTECT IT!"
Buggy's knives ran right through Luffy's hat. Luffy screamed in surprise seeing his prized hat being destroyed like that. Shanks gave up his arm to save Luffy and Shanks left his straw hat to Luffy as a promise to return it to him when they meet again.
"I'll leave this hat to you. It means more to me than anything in the world. So you better take good care of it. You hear me? I want you to bring this hat back to me someday, in good condition. And only once you've become a great Pirate. That's our promise, Luffy."
Buggy's hand attached to his body, his knives still pierced into the straw hat.
"How is this old, tattered hat a treasure?" Buggy questioned. "Treasure refers to sparkling gold, silver, and jewels. And all those things reflects their owner's grandeur! You really consider this worthless, dirty straw hat a treasure?" he asked Luffy. "You need to grow up, boy."
"Shut up!" Luffy growled. "When Shanks gave me that, I made a promise!"
"What!?" Buggy said.
'I guess that's why that hat is very important to Luffy,' Jou thought. 'I swear you're just full of surprises, aren't you Luffy? Even knowing someone like the 'Red-Haired' Shanks. It's pretty amazing.'
"So, you're telling me that this used to be Shanks' hat!?" Buggy questioned as he angrily threw the straw hat on the ground. "No wonder it looked so familiar. He always wore it when I knew him."
Luffy gasped. "So, you and Shanks were members of the same Pirate crew!?"
"Yeah," Buggy stated. "Back when we were Pirates-in-training, we were fellow comrades. That damn, detestable red-haired bastard!" Buggy's voice held a venom in it as he talked about Shanks, even going as far as to step onto the hat in anger.
"Shanks is a much better man than you'll ever be!" Luffy growled in anger and charged Buggy. "You don't have the right to call him comrade! Don't you ever bad mouth him again!"
As Luffy got closer, Buggy used his Chop-Chop Quick Escape and only separated his head. Luffy kicked Buggy hard in the stomach, knocking the Clown on the ground.
"I don't want you ever mention Shanks' name to me again, you bastard!" Luffy shouted.
"I can say whatever the hell I want about Shanks..." Buggy coughed as he tried to catch his breath. Luffy stood over Buggy and grabbed his face and started pulling on it.
"Tell me!" Luffy interrogated. "What happened between you and Shanks and where can I find him now!? "Dammit..." Luffy dropped and looked down at the straw hat. "How dare you tear up my treasured straw hat!"
"Do you really wanna know?" Buggy muttered sitting up. "He's the one person that loathe. I'll curse his name for the rest of my life." Buggy's face was seething in fury. "As long as there is breath in my body, Shanks... I will never forgive you."
Buggy recalled the story of when he and Shanks were both Pirate Apprentices on a Pirate crew. During a fight against another Pirate crew, Buggy had found a map that will lead him to a treasure that was under the ocean. Their crew had even found a Devil Fruit, Shanks mentions to Buggy that the fruit can be sold for 100,000,000 Berri's.
Buggy fakes eating the fruit in front of the crew to begin his plan to grab the treasure that's under the ocean and sell the real fruit. Shanks finds Buggy about to cast off in a boat, Buggy hides the fruit his mouth and ends up swallowing it. In the midst of it all, he dropped his map and dives in after it but soon realizes that he lost his ability to swim due to the fruit. He was saved by Shanks who dove in after him.
From that day forward, Buggy blamed Shanks for making him eat the fruit and has hated him ever since.
"So, are you telling me that Shanks saved your life?" Luffy asked.
"No! That's not the point I'm trying to get across!" Buggy retorted.
"Boohoo, jackass," Jou stated crossing his arms. "The man saved your ass from drowning and all you can think about is that he's the one to blame because you couldn't get your precious treasure? Cry me a damn river."
"Shut up!" Buggy spat. "Because of what he did to me, I was unable to swim and therefore unable to obtain my sunken treasure! Then I had a revelation! If I couldn't go underwater, then I just obtain all the treasure on dry land! Using my brand-new Chop-Chop powers!" Buggy torso started to float from his body. "And now I won't let anyone who touches my treasure live! DEATH TO THOSE WHO TRY TO PILFER MY HARD-EARNED TREASURE! GET BACK HERE, YOU THIEF!"
Buggy saw Nami who was walking away with the huge sack of treasure. Nami screamed in fear as she saw Buggy fast approaching her.
"Dammit!" Nami cursed. "He spotted me!" she quickly ran away from him. Jou had looked over noticed Buggy's waist-down was all that was left behind, not standing far away from himself and Luffy.
"You don't stand a chance of escaping from me!" Buggy shouted. "I'm going to flashily chop you up!" Buggy's face went to complete pain as he paused mid-air in front of Nami.
Jou had kicked Buggy in the 'treasures' inside the clown's pants. Buggy fell face-first into the ground at Nami's feet. Buggy cried tears, his face in complete agony.
"My... balls... my balls..." he croaked out. "That was a cheap shot."
"Sorry for interfering, Luffy," Jou said. "I just think that Buggy had no right to damage your treasure like that. That, and I think Buggy is just a dishonorable jackass." Jou smiled at Luffy. "Don't worry, I won't interfere from here on out. Buggy is all yours, Captain.
"Thanks," Luffy smiled and turned back to Buggy. "Don't run off yet. We're not done." Nami was still staring down at the stunned clown Pirate on the ground. "Hey, you better drop that treasure and get out of here, Nami."
"What are you still doing here?" Jou asked. "I thought after we grabbed all the treasure, you were leaving. You should just ditch the treasure. Buggy will kill you if you don't."
"No!" Nami shouted. "'Ditch the treasure'? No way! Why should I leave my treasure behind?"
"Did you just call it your treasure...?" Buggy growled from the ground glaring at Nami.
"That's right!" Nami declared. "You heard me! I'm a thief who steals from Pirates and I just stole a lot of treasure from a really annoying one!" Nami held up a fist. "So, that makes this my treasure now, understand!"
"That makes sense," Luffy said pounding a fist in his palm.
"I guess..." Jou crossed his arms shrugging.
"That's pure nonsense!" Buggy yelled. "That's my treasure and just because you stole it from me it doesn't make it yours, you dirty sneaky thief! Honestly! What did your parents teach you!?"
"A criminal threatening another criminal...?" Nami questioned with half-lidded eyes and smirked. "Ridiculous. The day I take a morality lesson from you is the day I stop being a thief," she remarked sticking her tongue out at him.
Buggy was beyond furious at this point. No one. Not even some thief so much as lays a finger on his treasure.
"Chop-Chop...!" Buggy shouted. "Festival!" Buggy's entire body all split apart. His lower body quickly flew past a surprised Jou and Luffy.
"I'd like you two to try and see if you can save your friend from me now!" Buggy laughed.
"Dammit!" Luffy growled. "He broke up into smaller pieces!"
"Captain, look," Jou pointed down at the ground. Luffy followed where Jou was pointing and saw Buggy's feet just walking along on their own.
"Nami... GIVE ME BACK MY TREASURE!" Buggy started floating after Nami.
"No way!" Nami stated as she just ran away.
"Ya know, this is the strangest thing I've ever seen in my life," Jou remarked. When Jou started his quest for the All Scope he never thought that during it he would kick a dismembered man in his 'nether regions' and then split his body into separate pieces chase after a girl for treasure. Little did he know, that's not the strangest thing he would see on this voyage.
Not too far from him, Luffy had grabbed one of Buggy's feet. He took his foot out of the shoe and did a few different acts to it which caused Buggy to react. Luffy tickled the foot, pulled the skin, and smashed the body part into the ground.
"Dammit!" Buggy shouted. "Knock it off!"
"No, you knock it off!" Nami voiced as she went to smack Buggy in the face with her bag of treasure. Though, Buggy chuckled as he had grabbed the treasure.
"Thanks for giving me my treasure back, Nami," Buggy grinned.
"Let go!" Nami yelled as she tried to pull the bag away from Buggy's hands.
"You let go!" Buggy said back. "This is my treasure so get your grubby hands off it!"
"You haven't finished dealing with me yet!" Luffy ran up and kicked Buggy in the face. The clown's face smacking right into the sack of treasure and finally skidding across the ground. Buggy was now unconscious as all of his body parts fell on the ground.
"Consider that finishing move a little gift from the old mayor guy," Luffy grinned.
"Guess that took care of him," Jou commented. "Looks like we can get that Grand Line chart now." Jou looked toward where Buggy was knocked down.
"Oh, yeah!" Luffy said following his gaze. "The map!" Nami looked in their direction as well but her expression turned to one of fear as Buggy's head was floating.
"This isn't over yet, Gum-Gum!" Buggy claimed.
"He's still alive!?" Luffy said.
"Stubborn, isn't he?" Jou mentioned.
"Shut up!" Buggy growled. "How dare you flashily do this to me! You'll pay for this! Assemble Chop-Chop parts!" Buggy's body parts came back together but it was only his head, arms, and legs which made him much shorter since he didn't get his torso which made him just tiny.
"You looking for these, Buggy?" Nami asked with a smile as she was the one who had tied up the rest of Buggy's parts with a rope.
"My... My parts!" Buggy screamed in surprise. Luffy and Jou couldn't help but chuckle themselves.
"Looks like it's true what they say!" Jou laughed. "Sometimes when you're going after treasure, you just come up with 'short supply'!" he chuckled at his joke along with Luffy. Even Nami couldn't help giggle just a little.
"Alright!" Luffy cheered as he stretched his arms back.
"Stop it now!" Buggy shouted fearfully.
"Seeya, Buggy!" Luffy commented. "Gum-Gum Bazooka!" Luffy sent Buggy flying high into the air with a small light blinked in the sky. "I win!" Luffy celebrated his victory.
"You sure did," Jou agreed as he had picked up Luffy's straw hat. "Here you go, Captain. I believe this belongs to you." he handed back the hat to him, still having the three large knife marks in it.
"Thanks, Jou!" Luffy smiled taking his hat.
"Sorry your hat's all torn up," Nami spoke.
"Don't worry," Luffy assured placing the straw hat on his head. "I can still put it on and I got Buggy out of here so I'm satisfied for now."
"I'll fix it for you... if you like," Nami offered.
"What's that?" Luffy wondered not hearing what she said.
"Oh, forget it," Nami gave up as she stared at Luffy and Jou. "I put this into two bags so one of you give me a hand and carry half of it! It's too heavy for me!"
"Bossy," Jou whispered to Luffy. "Bet she's worried she'll break a nail."
"What was that?" Nami asked with a glare toward Jou. "I don't think I heard what you just said, Jou."
"Nothing," Jou shook his head and walked up to her. "Here, Nami. Let me take one of those from you. Don't worry, I won't lose it. By the way...?"
"What is it?" Nami questioned.
"Remember I promised you'd get the treasure?" Jou reminded.
Nami recalled Jou did promise her that he'd get her the treasure once he defeated that juggler. Nami knew that she wouldn't have been to able to get it if he didn't come in at the last minute. She was pretty grateful he came when he did.
"Yeah, I know," Nami gave a tiny smile. "Thanks."
"Welcome," Jou smirked.
"That sure is a lot," Luffy commented on the treasure.
"If anything, that clown Buggy knew quality treasure when he saw it and now it's all mine," Nami stated giddily. "I bet I can sell this for at least 10,000,000 Berri's!" Nami pulled out the chart of the Grand Line and handed it to Luffy. "It's the chart to the Grand Line. You wanted it, don't you?"
"Thanks, Nami!" Luffy smiled taking the map. "Now, I finally have it! A map of the Grand Line! Hurray!"
Nami couldn't but smile at Luffy cheers. Jou turned his head toward Nami and grinned at her.
"That'll make it easier for us when we get there," Jou said to her. "Looks like you got a heart, after all. Do you, Nami?"
"I'm only giving it to you because you guys saved my life," Nami crossed her arms as she turned away but kept her smile on her face.
"Does this also mean you'll be joining me and my Pirate crew?" Luffy asked Nami.
"I told you, no matter what, I'll never join a Pirate crew!" Nami retorted.
"I never wanted to join either, but here I am," Jou stated. "Since we are Pirates we are bound to find some treasure during our journey in the Grand Line," Jou smirked at Nami knowingly. "So, what're we going to do with all of that treasure we come across?"
Nami knew what Jou was getting at. There were a lot of Pirates that had treasure out on the sea. Nami figured that Luffy and Jou seemed capable enough so she could nab the treasure while they handle the Pirates. That could work in her favor and help her achieve her current goal.
"Okay, hanging around with you guys seems profitable enough," Nami agreed. "Just remember this, I'm only joining you because it's in my interest."
"Sure," Luffy grinned in agreement.
"Suppose that's a start," Jou shrugged but agreed as well. Luffy went over to Zoro's sleeping body to wake him up.
"Zoro, we're leaving," Luffy said tapping the swordsman on the head.
"Did we take care of everything?" Zoro asked slowly getting up.
"Yeah!" Luffy said. "And we got a Navigator and we got a chart of the Grand Line!"
"Things are looking up so far," Jou commented. Zoro glared up at Nami. Nami couldn't help but feel intimidated by the swordsman's gaze until he groaned clutching his head.
"I'm not sure about this," Zoro said. "I feel light-headed."
"Course you do," Nami said. "It's always something with you three. Honestly."
"What did I do?" Luffy wondered.
"You're the worst of them all!" Nami remarked with shark teeth.
"Well, I don't think I'm that bad," Jou frowned at her. "Besides, that just adds to my charm, don't you think?" he smirked at her.
"'Your charm?" Nami folded her arms. "Give me a break. I can tell you have your moments. Anyway, we should wake the Mayor."
"You there!"
All the townspeople appeared before the four teens all carrying staffs and spears like they were expecting a fight.
"You're not residence of this village!" shouted a villager.
"Nope, and who are you?" Luffy asked.
"I suppose these are the townspeople of this town," Jou noted.
"Oh good, there just citizens," Nami said. "I thought that maybe they were more Pirates."
The villagers noticed Mayor Boodle on the ground unconscious. They all guessed that Buggy and his crew were the ones that did that knocked him out.
"No, I'm the one that kicked that old man's ass," Luffy stated as the villagers glared at four.
"You didn't have to tell them that!?" Nami hissed.
"You saw," Jou said. "Luffy did hit him."
"Maybe he should explain so that they don't get angry!" Nami remarked but it was too late as the villagers stood up to face them.
The villagers were angry to find their Mayor just laying there in the street to die. They were now crowding the teens as they continued asking them questions. Nami felt that they couldn't let them know what they were.
"We're Pirates," Luffy blurted without thinking.
"Just as we thought!" the villagers yelled in unison.
"How dare you ravage our town!"
"We won't show you any mercy for what you've done!"
"What now?" Zoro wondered. "Doesn't look like they're up for a discussion?"
"RUN!" Luffy announced with a grin as he put an arm around Zoro.
"Race you to the boat!" Jou stated with a smile as he was holding onto a bag of treasure with Nami carrying the other one. The angry villagers were chasing after them now to avenge their Mayor as the Pirates and thief ran away from them.
"How do you always make things worse!?" Nami asked.
"Are you not having fun?" Jou remarked smirking.
"This is not what I would call fun!" Nami snapped.
"This is a good town," Luffy noted. "Everyone is so mad. Just because of the old Mayor guy."
"Yeah, I bet even if we told them what happened they wouldn't believe us," Jou said. "This way, Nami. Keep up." Nami saw that Luffy and Jou had taken a turn through an alleyway and turning around to get after the two.
"Hold on!" she shouted. "You got to let me know sooner!"They were running through the alley and were met with the familiar face of Chouchou just standing in the middle of the alleyway.
"Chouchou?" Jou and Nami said in unison.
"Doggy?" Luffy said. Chouchou barked at the villagers as he was basically blocking them off so the four could escape.
"Move, Chouchou!" a villager yelled. "Those four are Pirates!" Chouchou only continued barking at the villagers to keep them back. Chouchou looked at Jou and Luffy and gave a grin.
"You're a badass, Chouchou!" Jou grinned back at the dog, giving him a two-fingered salute.
"Later, doggy!" Luffy shouted as he, Jou, and Nami ran away.
They managed to get out of the town and make it to the docks. Jou set the bag of the treasure he was holding on the ground and stretched his arms over his head.
"Well, that was a workout," Jou expressed to no one in particular.
"That was close," Nami breathed. "We only made it because of Chouchou. Why do we have to put up with this?"
"Does it matter now?" Luffy asked. "We're done here anyway. Hey, is this your boat?" he asked Nami. "It's great!"
"It's nothing special, but I suppose it'll do," Nami commented. "I stole it from some dumb Pirates."
"That's a big mouth you got!" the three Buggy Pirates who sailed Jou and Zoro to island 'Dumb', 'Dumber', and 'Dumbass' as Jou had called them jumped out from the boat.
"We've been waitin' for ya, ya little thief," Dumb said.
"Never thought you'd run into us here now did ya, girly?" Dumber mentioned.
"These three are the ones you stole from?" Jou asked Nami.
"Y-Yeah," Nami stuttered.
"They mentioned a girl stole their boat from them," Jou recalled placing a hand on his hip. "I'm starting to put the pieces together now."
"You know these guys?" Luffy asked Nami.
"Sort of," Nami answered.
"We're bound together by fate," Dumb stated. "It's time you learn what happens when you steal other peoples stuff." he started patting Zoro's head not even seeing his face. "Hey, you! You hear me? Time for your medicine!"
Zoro brought his head back up with a glare. The three Pirates become frightened seeing the swordsman. None of them noticed Jou make his way behind them and cleared of his throat. They looked behind themselves and became scared once again when they saw Jou with his beanie shadowing his eyes.
"Boo," Jou said as his eyes opened with a glare. The three screamed in fear as they had backed away from him. "What're you three jackasses still doing here?"
"W-Well we were uh... keeping watch over your boat! Right, guys!?" Dumb said to Dumber and Dumbass.
"How nice," Jou remarked folding his arms. "By the way, we're gonna take this other boat. Is that alright?"
"Y-Yeah!" Dumb quickly nodded his head. "That's fine! You can keep it!"
"Good," Jou nodded. "Don't let us catch you all again. If you come across us we'll kick your asses again, got it?"
"YESSIR, MR. JOU AND MR. ZORO!" Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbass quickly scampered away. The four teens boarded into their boats. Luffy, Jou, and Zoro in their's and Nami in her own as they started sailing away from the island.
"HEY, WAIT!" a voice shouted at them.
"It's the Mayor," Jou said. Mayor Boodle was standing at the dock shouting at them.
"YOUNG ONES!" Boodle yelled. As the boats were sailing away the four were waiting for what the Mayor was going to say. Boodle picked up his head as he had tears of joy in his eyes. "THANKS! THANK YOU!"
Luffy, Zoro, Jou, and Nami only smiled in response to the old Mayor who was showing his gratitude to them.
"DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT!" Luffy called back. "TAKE IT EASY!"
'Damn you, young ones...' Boodle said over and over in his thoughts. He'll never forget that a bunch of kids saved his town and he will be forever grateful. What surprised him was a single bag that had something stuffed in it was left behind.
"You did what!?" Nami yelled at Jou. "Jou, did you really leave that bag of treasure back there!?"
"Guilty as charged," Jou smiled putting his arms behind his head. Luffy and Zoro only chuckled at Jou's response.
"THAT BAG WAS WORTH AROUND 5,000,000 BERRI'S, YOU IDIOT!" Nami screeched at him.
"5 mil, huh?" Jou commented with a hand on his chin. "Good. The villagers are gonna need it."
"Yep, they sure are," Luffy agreed.
"You have a bag of treasure right there," Jou said standing up to face Nami. "There's 5,000,000 in that one too, isn't there? What's wrong with letting the villagers keep the other one?"
"BECAUSE THAT WAS MY TREASURE, JERK!" Nami screeched. Jou touched his ear checking to see if he can still hear out of it.
"Geez, if you keep trying screeching like that I swear you're gonna make me go deaf," Jou professed.
"Going deaf is going to be the least of your worries!" Nami yelled as she quickly took Jou by the cardigan and pulled him into her boat as she had straddled him and started strangling him by his neck with her hands. "That treasure was mine you hear me!"
"O-Oh, I'm sure it was!" Jou answered through all the strangling as Luffy and Zoro laughed at the scene. Due to Nami strangling Jou, the boat was starting to rock which didn't go unnoticed by Jou.
"Wait, Nami!" Jou managed to say. "If you don't stop we're gonna-" True enough, Jou and Nami had both tumbled off the boat together, making a couple of huge splashes into the ocean.
"Woah!" Luffy said.
"They both went overboard!" Zoro commented. Jou and Nami had both come up from the water the chain-wielder looked at Nami with a smile.
"I tried to warn you," Jou mentioned.
"Thanks a lot!" Nami shouted at him. "This is all your fault!"
"Everyone's to blame but you, huh?" Jou asked rolling his eyes. They swam back to their boats and got in them. Jou had taken off his beanie, squeezing the water out from it. He saw Nami visibly shivering.
"Great, now I'm all soaked," Nami muttered to herself. Nami's eyes widened when a grey t-shirt draped over her head.
"Go ahead and put that on," Jou said as he had taken a shirt out from his backpack. "It's dry." Jou grinned at her. "Don't worry, I'm sure we're all gentleman here and we won't look." Nami glared at Jou again but dropped her anger, taking the shirt off her head and turning her head away with a smile.
Now that the crew had a Navigator, their journey across the sea was going to get a bit easier from here on out and are now sailing to their next adventure.
And that's a wrap. Decided to just finish off Orange Town in one big chapter.
Jou: You're not trying to rush are you?
Of course not. I'm just trying to pace things better. With how I'm going to do this we can probably reach where we originally were in about a year. Maybe less than that but I won't make any promises.
Jou: Looks like we got a long road ahead of us, again.
That we do.
Reviews!
johannvanguard: Glad you liked it. Thanks.
XFangHeartX: Mohji getting his ass kicked is something we've seen a lot.
Jou: But he totally deserved it, though.
ShadowUzumaki55: Jou will eventually run out of his current throwing knives so he'll obviously need more when the time comes.
Darkmaster10000000: Thanks, I hope this one turned out okay, too.
Jou: I guess it'd be rude not to accept a gift *holding the glasses, blushes at the thought of using them*
Where did-Oh, who am I kidding... you can't keep this up forever! *plots to break every single pair of glasses that are sent*
Drakedragon297:
Jou: It's okay. You win, Drake. Hey, author, you just got served!
I guess I didn't see it that way, a Look-out and a scout being the same thing. They really are similar and-
Jou: BURN!
Shush! Though, Jou will primarily be the Look-out.
Jou: Coming at me with a sword, huh? ZA WARUDO!
*everything around freezes except Jay*
Dammit, I knew I should've let Jou watch Jojo...
BrightDragon: Yeah, I get what you're saying and I've heard it before. Though, I don't know where you got that idea from where Jou said: "I don't like to cut down weak opponents". I don't think he said that at all, though whatever Jou said there it probably just came off that way to some people. I plan to take Loguetown in a bit of a different approach when we get there.
KP360: Yeah, the East Blue arcs aren't really as popular as the one's later on. I mean, a lot of fights are kinda "whatever", though some are pretty entertaining(Like Luffy's fight with Kuro and Krieg)
Jou: According to my author, later on down the line I'm gonna have some pretty epic fights.
Even more so since I took a day to a make a load of new attacks for you, Jou. About those seastone ideas, Jou is going to get some accessories that may have that in it. Later on, Jou may get a special chain made of seastone. But he, unfortunately, won't get it until the time skip. Can't have his fights being too easy now, would we?
Sonic7:
Jou: Yo, author, I didn't know we were promoting?
Me neither. I guess I didn't read the fine print that said I signed a contract to promote stories. Jou, are we gonna read this story?
Jou: Nope.
pokemonking0924: I hope that fight was good. I mean, I think I could've done a little better but it was what I wanted it to be. An early East Blue fight.
searge: This is nothing. If you want blood, you'll definitely see blood later.
Jou:... and I'm gonna be the one bleeding. But momma literally didn't raise no bitch!
Lightwave: Just like the previous story, it'll take some time until Jou and Nami start to develop feelings. There'll be some hopefully subtle moments between them, nothing too heavy.
Guest: Not sure why you're curious about me, but I have no problem with it. Well, I'm male and I'm in my twenties(which may come as surprising since I'm sure people assume I'm a teen due to my writing style). I'm not going to go into too much detail since people want to read stories and not learn about the author.
Jou: Plus, this guy would just bore you to death.
Hey!
Anyway, that'll do it for this one. We managed to finish Orange Town in three chapters. I hope Jou's fight with Ringo was alright. I just thought it wouldn't be any fun if Jou was just standing around doing nothing while Luffy and Zoro do all the fighting. I remember someone telling me if Jou's fights would be better described this time around. I do like to write fight scenes but I'll admit they are challenging to write out, even with all the planning that goes into them.
I got a lot of plans for Jou's upcoming/future fights. He'll have an opponent for pretty much every arc, most of them are OC, of course.
That's all for now.
I'll see you guys next time!
Jou: Hope to you guys for the next chapter!
Later!