I do not own One Piece
It is owned by Oda
I just own my OC's
Enjoy!
One Piece: All Scope Adventure Pt.9
Jango stared at his entire crew of blood-thirsty Pirates moan on the ground from the huge attack that sent them all flying backward. If Jou wasn't big enough trouble already, then the apparent arrival of Luffy and Zoro further complicated things for their plan to raid the village and kill the rich girl. Usopp was on the ground, shocked by the as well by the sudden coming of Luffy and Zoro.
"Well, it's about time," Nami commented irritably yet relieved.
"I know right," Jou smirked and tossed his red chain over his shoulder. "And here I thought I was going to have to do all the fighting alone. But I'm glad you guys could make it."
"Wow!" Usopp mouthed in amazement. "That was great! You guys are really that strong! And I thought Jou was something else!"
"Don't count me out yet, Usopp," Jou smiled with an adjustment of his beanie. "I happened to hold off these guys long enough for these 2 slowpokes to get here."
"Could you have been slower?" Nami inquired angrily. "What took you so long!?"
"You're the one who pushed me down that oil slick so you can get out!" Zoro grunted at her. "And you! Jou!" Zoro called getting Jou's attention.
"Yo, Zoro!" Jou waved while walking up the slope to join the others.
"Don't 'yo' me!" Zoro yelled. "I can't believe you just left me down there without even bothering to help and just ran off with her!"
"Oh, right..." Jou replied shyly scratching his chin. "I did do that," Jou remembered the whole thing when Nami and Zoro were both slowly sliding down the oil and then Nami using Zoro human stepping stool to get off the oil.
"C'mon, you can't stay mad about that forever," Jou smiled smugly. "Besides, remember that drink I promised to buy you? C'mon, be a pal and forgive me. And let's not forget we were kinda in a hurry to get here and it was Nami's idea to just leave you down there."
"Hey, I didn't do anything!" Nami argued. "Don't try to pin this on me!"
"Oh, really?" Jou questioned. "I believe what you said went a little like this?" Jou cleared his throat. "'Forget him!'" Jou exclaimed doing the best, high-pitched girly voice he could muster with his vocal cords. 'They're gonna get my treasure!'" he mimicked while clasping his hands together.
"I don't sound anything thing like that!" Nami retorted at him.
"Then you must not hear yourself talk," Jou claimed.
"Whatever," Nami glared at Jou. "And it was an accident. I slipped, Zoro fell. At least one of us made it out of there. Better than both of us being stuck at the bottom."
"It should've just been you!" Zoro shouted with shark teeth. "And don't you think you're off the hook either, Jou!"
"Zoro, c'mon," Jou tried to reason. "Free drink." While that whole discussion was going on, Luffy had a few words for Usopp since Luffy had gotten lost and couldn't even find the northern shore which he was blaming Usopp for.
"'Run straight north', he says," Luffy muttered at Usopp. "That's just great! I mean how am I supposed to know which way north even is out here!?"
"Shut up!" Usopp retorted. "You're the one who ran so sure of yourself! Ready to take on anyone!"
"Well, I just got so excited I started running, you know?" Luffy replied. The crew and Usopp kept up their separate discussions as Jango and the rest of the Black Cat Pirates only watched the teens continue to squabble with each other.
"The sun rises high in the sky now..." Jango remarked. "And that means Captain Kuro grows very impatient." the thought of Kuro caused the hypnotists shiver. "Men, don't just lie there. You can't tell me you're going to let them win! They're just a couple of idiots!" The Pirates began to weakly stand at the raising of Jango's voice
"The fact is that we don't have to lollygag any longer," Jango reached into his coat, pulling out of his hypnosis ring. "If our enemy is strong then we must become stronger than them. Here, stare deeply into his ring." the ring started to sway back and forth as all the Pirates eyed it. "Now, I will count 1, 2, Jango and after that, you'll begin to grow stronger. Your wounds will heal and you'll grow stronger still."
"So, what is he doing?" Luffy wondered as he and the others now had their attention back at the Pirates. "It looks weird."
"Looks like Hypnosis," Nami figured out. "He's trying to convince them they're stronger than they are," she stated scoffing. "Like that'll work."
"I've never believed in things like that," Jou remarked. "But there's no way something like hypnosis could really do anything to make someone believe they're strong."
"1... 2... JANGO!" as Jango uttered out his name, it took a few short minutes for the hypnosis to kick in as the entire Black Cat Pirates crew erupted with a resounding roar. One of the Pirates slammed his fist into the side of the cliff, causing a huge chunk of it to fall off.
"No way!" Nami said in disbelief. "I always thought hypnotizing people was a bunch of crap!"
"That one guy completely destroyed the cliff!" Zoro couldn't believe his eyes as well. "Now that's what I call power!"
"Right!?" Jou agreed with unbelieving eyes. "I didn't think something like hypnosis could even make someone able to do that!"
"That was just one of them..." Usopp was even in complete shock. "Imagine what the whole crew can do!"
"Now, go!" Jango ordered his hypnotized Pirates. "And strike down all who stand in your way!" The Black Cat Pirates began charging up the slope all of them howling with the intent to demolish the four teens at the top of the slope and anything that comes after them.
"Nami, Usopp!" Jou called the two. "Both of you out of the way now! Luffy, Zoro, and I will handle this!" Nami and Usopp both got to a safe distance which left Jou, Luffy, Zoro to fight the Pirates who were still fast approaching.
"Alright then, what now?" Zoro asked standing ready with one sword.
"We see how many we can take out," Jou stated as his red chain was hung over his shoulder. "Ready, Captain?" Jou addressed Luffy but got no response. "Luffy, are you alright?" he turned around with a raised brown only to find his Captain being awfully quiet.
"Uh, Luffy?" Zoro called the straw-hatted boy also wondering what was wrong with his Captain.
Luffy, standing in between the chain-wielder and swordsman made a low growling sound as his head was down. It was until that moment that Luffy raised his arms up in the air as he let out a loud, furious roar, his pupilless eyes white with anger.
"Don't tell me you let that freak hypnotize you, too!?" Zoro screamed with shark teeth
"For crying out loud, Luffy!" Jou shouted. "Seriously!?" Jou's own teeth also mirroring a shark that showed his obvious frustration with his Captain. Luffy gave out a thundering battle cry as he charged at the Pirates.
"He really is a simple-minded idiot!" Nami commented.
"Gum-Gum... Gatling!" Luffy charged the Pirates started throwing punches so fast that it looked like he had multiple fists. It caused the Pirates to completely stop in their tracks as they were all met with Luffy's fists which had sent them all reeling backward down the slope.
The hypnotized Pirates looked at Luffy who was also in the same state as they were when the Pirates started running at them which caused them all to sprint away fearfully. All the Pirates fell on the ground, though they weren't Luffy's prime target. Jango was worried that it was him that Luffy was after but he had passed him, too.
"Where's he going!?" Zoro wondered sweat-dropping.
"I... I think he's going to their ship, I think?" Jou answered unsurely.
Luffy was most definitely after the Black Cat Pirates ship. Mainly, the front piece of the ship with the figurehead on top. Luffy grabbed the piece with both hands as he struggled to try and rip it off the ship's front. With all his might and digging his feet into the ground, Luffy had managed to tear the front of the Pirate Ship completely off. Luffy was now gripping onto the front piece of the ship in his hands with the figurehead on top and angrily growled at the Black Cat Pirates.
"Oh, no!" a Pirate shrieked frighteningly. "He's gonna crush us with it!" the other members of the crew believing this was Luffy's intention as all the Pirates start running to get away from Luffy's wrath. "Captain, do something!"
Jango realized just watching Luffy about to go on a rampage wasn't helping. He pulled out his hypnotize ring and held it out for Luffy to see.
"1-2-JANGO! YOU WILL FALL ASLEEP!" Jango chanted. "1-2-JANGO!"
Zoro, Jou, Nami, and Usopp could only watch the entire scene before them. Jango's chant worked as Luffy eyes lulled closed as he had begun snoring. But as the sleeping Luffy started falling over, the front part of the ship did as well. The front piece with the figurehead crashed down hard as all Pirates had hit the ground beside it. The piece had also landed on top of the snoring Luffy as a result of him holding the piece.
"Looks like those guys are probably down for the count?" Nami questioned. "Don't you guys think?" she asked Jou and Zoro.
"I guess," Zoro answered.
"Maybe...?" Usopp said with an arm around Nami, who was keeping him up on his feet. "But Luffy's still trapped underneath that cat? Just look!"
"Don't worry, Luffy's alright," Jou assured him with a smile. "Trust me. Besides, the one who's in really bad shape is you, Usopp."
"Damn that little brat," Jango muttered as he slowly stood up as all his men were scattered around him unconscious. "Now our whole plans shot to hell! What am I gonna do with this mess!? Captain Kuro see's this and he'll kill us!"
"Jango, you mind telling me what's all the commotion?"
Jango became startled from the voice behind him and turned to the source of it. Sitting with legs dangling off the side of the ship was a man with pale-colored skin and black slicked-back hair. He wore a black zip-up vest that's zipped halfway up his torso, a pair of dark blue pants and black boots. What looks to be strapped to his back was a dark brown pole with a shiny blade at the top, a Naginata.
"Oh, Jiro!" Jango exclaimed at the man. "I almost forgot you were still on board."
"So, whats with all the noise?" Jiro questioned. "I assumed you and those morons down there had managed to get to the village to enact Captain Kuro's plan?"
"Well, we would have been able to if it wasn't for a minor complication?" Jango said.
"I see," Jiro said as he looked around at the scene before him, even seeing Jou, Zoro, Usopp, and Nami on top of the slope and even seeing the sleeping Luffy underneath the part of their ship that had been obviously ripped off. "So, you let a handful of children get the best of you. Oh, Captain Kuro won't be happy."
"I-I'm well aware of that Jiro!" Jango shouted. "Listen, get down here and give us a hand here!"
"Hmm?" Jiro hummed as he crossed his arms and then shrugged. "Fine." he stood up on the side of the ship and took his Naginata off his back. "Oh, that's right." he snapped his fingers in realization. "You want the other two out here, too?"
"Yes, of course!" Jango exclaimed in realization. "With you here, Jiro, along with our 'trump card' we'll have a chance at pulling off Captain Kuro's plan!"
"Right," Jiro nodded at Jango as he cupped a hand to his mouth. "Hey, Sham! Buchi! Get out here! Captain Jango needs your help!" as Jiro shouted that he hopped off the side of the ship.
"That's right!" Jango yelled. "COME FORTH, NYABAN BROTHERS!"
"Buchi, come check this out!" a shrill voice called from the ship. "There's some bad stuff going on!"
Two figures leaped down from the ship by Jango and Jiro. The thinner of the two was shorter than his brother but was hunched over making it look like he had a hump on his back, his hair was green, his eyes similar to a cat, and had on a pair of gloves that were clawed. The second had a huskier build than his brother, he wore a black hat on his head with small animal ears protruding from the top and from his teeth was a set of fangs, hanging from his neck was a cat bell and on his hands were a set of purple gloves with claws like his brother.
"Sham!" the shorter one introduced with a pose.
"And Buchi!" the husky one did the same.
"Together we are the Nyaban Brothers!" they both spoke. "At your service!" Jiro only sighed in annoyance at Sham and Buchi's introduction.
"Must the both of you always announce yourselves with those ridiculous poses?" Jiro wondered as he only rolled his eyes.
"You are only jealous of our natural prowess and our style, Jiro!" Sham proclaimed. "Right, Buchi!"
"Yeah, style!" Buchi repeated as he and his brother struck another pose together. Jiro's only response was another roll of his eyes as he looked at Jango.
"Trump card, huh?" Jiro remarked to Jango.
"We need to get up to that slope, Jiro," Jango reminded. "And if we don't Captain Kuro won't forgive us if we don't. He'll kill us all. Do you understand?"
"Y-Yeah," Jiro gulped seeming to remember how frightening Captain Kuro is. "That's something I certainly don't want."
"Exactly!" Jango exclaimed. "Now, Jiro, Buchi, Sham... we absolutely must get up this hill but as you can blatantly see our path is blocked! If you would be as so kind as to remove this obstacle immediately!"
"If you don't mind, I'm going to get started right now!" Jiro grinned as he dashed up the slope, Naginata in hand and making a run at the 4 teens that were blocking the path up.
"Go, Jiro!" Jango cheered pumping a fist in the air. As Jiro was nearing the top, Zoro was about to walk forward but Jou had darted at Jiro before he could.
"Naginata: Wind Slice!" Jiro swung his Naginata and sent a blade of wind reeling at Jou. Jou had dissipated the attack as he lashed the wind blade with both of his chains. After Jou canceled the attack, he turned back to Zoro.
"Sorry to rush in first," Jou smiled. "But do you mind if I take this guy on?"
"Go for it," Zoro shrugged. "Don't lose."
"Heh," Jou chuckled shortly. "You kidding. I don't plan to." Zoro smirked at Jou as the chain-wielder turned around to face Jiro.
"Not bad, I'm impressed you were able to block that attack," Jiro commented. "If you didn't, you would have been cleaved right in half."
"Like I'd be stupid enough for that to happen," Jou remarked as he twirled his red chain as he hung it over his shoulder.
"Okay, let's see how well you can handle yourself," Jiro said as he and Jou engaged one another. Jiro made the first move as he rushed at Jou for an attack.
"Naginata: Wind-Slice!" Jiro sent another airwave reeling at Jou. Jou was easily ready for it as he canceled the attack with both chains much like earlier.
"Heh, you already used that attack before, pal!" Jou commented smirking and hanged his red chain over his shoulder. "C'mon, at least make it a challenge!"
"Oh, I have more than one trick," Jiro retorted with a flourish of his Naginata and dashed at Jou again.
"Naginata: Gash!" Jiro thrust the bladed part of his weapon forward, directing it toward the side of Jou's body. Jou quickly avoided the blow, leaping side-ways. Jou Jou skidded across the ground and then quickly charged Jiro while spinning his chains in his hands.
"Dual-Chain: Revolver!" Jou landed a chain strike into Jiro's chest that sent the Naginata user backward. The attack gave Jou and Jiro some distance from each other. Jou reached into his knife holster and tossed one of his throwing knives at Jiro. Jiro rotated his weapon in his hand which completely deflected the knife that was hurled.
"Fade-Step!" Jou took a single step forward and then disappeared. Jiro's eyes widened as soon as Jou seemed to had vanished and then re-emerged behind him. Jiro was quick to react as he quickly spun around doing an overhead swipe. Jou ducked under the attack only to narrowly dodge another attack from Jiro by leaping away from it. Jou used Fade-Step again as a means to get close to Jiro for another attack.
"Dual-Chain: Cross Slash!" Jou struck Jiro with an X-shaped slash across Jiro's body. Jiro ground his teeth from the attack. Jiro had then swung his blade in a wide arc only for Jou to avoid it with the 3rd use of Fade-Step. Jou emerged behind Jiro again, rotating both chains in his hands for another attack. Jou was soon met with the staff of Jiro's Naginata into his stomach. Jou felt the air get knocked out of him as the attack had managed to stun him.
"Gash!" Jiro jabbed his weapon and forward and sliced Jou into the side of his body. It was Jou's turn to grit his own teeth in pain. Jou fell down to one knee and wasn't prepared for the boot that was sent into his chest which caused Jou to roll partway down the slope. Jou slowly got back up and looked up at Jiro and saw him holding his Naginata like a throwing spear.
"Naginata: Aerial Stab!" Jiro had thrown his Naginata, it sailed its way toward Jou. Jou did nothing but just stood still and let the attack hit him. The Naginata blade had pierced Jou through the right shoulder which caused him to slide back on his feet. Jiro dashed up to Jou, roughly taking the weapon out of Jou's shoulder causing him to shout in pain. Jiro then followed up with a knee into Jou's chest which caused him to fall back partway down the slope and quickly rolling to his feet.
"I thought you were a quick one?" Jiro questioned smirking. "You could have easily dodged my Aerial Stab but chose not to? Why is that, I wonder?" Jou slowly rose back and slowly brought a hand to his wounded shoulder.
'He's right,' thought Jou. 'I could have easily avoided that blow to my stomach since that's what gave him the opening on me. I'd have easily used Fade-Step to get out of the way and probably finish him in one attack. But I've used it 3 times now, once I used it a 4th, I'll become tired which may slow down my ability to fight. I'll use it if it comes down to it though I'd like to avoid using it if I can...'
"Don't space out yet!" Jiro yelled as he ran to stab Jou again which made the chain-wielder avoid the attacks while dodging normally.
-X-
Nami and Usopp took to watching the fights from the sidelines. While Jou and Jiro had their fight, Sham and Buchi were ordered by Jango to deal with Zoro. Sham had run in first, putting on a show as if he were afraid to fight the swordsman, it turning out to be a trick. Sham had even snatched Zoro's two other swords from him. It got worse once Sham had called Buchi in as the two were teaming up against Zoro who had to defend himself with only one sword.
"This isn't good!" Nami commented. "They got him on the defensive!" she turned her head to see Usopp pulling back his slingshot. "What are you doing, Usopp?"
"There's no way Zoro can gain any ground if he's too busy blocking their attacks," Usopp said. "I'm gonna help him. Once I do, I'll even do the same for Jou, too!"
"Right," Nami said as she turned her head toward Jou's fight with Jiro. Despite the wounds received, the chain-wielder was still holding his own.
"This one's for Zoro!" Usopp exclaimed pulling back the sling. "Take this! LEAD-STAR!" Usopp released the lead pellet toward the Nyaban Brothers, but what surprised Usopp was Zoro ending up taking the hit from his pellet for some reason.
"This is our chance!" Sham said as he and Buchi saw their opening as both of them clawed Zoro across his chest. The attack made the swordsman scream in pain as he quickly recovered and rolled back onto his feet.
"You're supposed to shoot at the bad guys, you idiot!" Nami scolded Usopp.
"But I did!" Usopp told her. "It was like he moved in front of my shot on purpose!"
"But why would he do that?" Nami wondered.
"You dumbass!" Zoro yelled at Usopp. "Don't help me! Do you wanna die!?" Usopp was shocked by Zoro's words as the Nyaban Brothers went back on the attack at Zoro, using only one sword to block.
"It's just a thought, but..." Nami said. "Maybe it's the two of us who just got saved," she mentioned looking toward Zoro just barely holding off both Nyaban Brothers. "If you actually hit one of those guys, they would've come after us instead and we wouldn't have had a chance of holding up against that. The same can be said for Jou, too..."
Nami turned her to where Jou was fighting against Jiro. Jou lashing at him with his chains, Jiro dodging and then countering with a few swipes with his Naginata.
"When we were dealing with the Pirates, Jou promised us he wouldn't let us get hurt and protected us while we fought them together," Nami added. "Even now he's doing that while fighting that guy right now and we wouldn't have any chance of surviving."
"What great guys..." Usopp said amazement. "All this time they were worried about us."
'If I just had one more sword I can take these guys!' Zoro thought alarmingly while continuing to block every swipe Sham and Buchi brought down on him. Nami stood up from where she and Usopp were hanging back.
"I'm gonna get the swords," Nami declared. If I can get them back to Zoro, there'd be no way he can lose."
"Let me get the swords!" Usopp urged as he tried to stand up.
"Don't push yourself," Nami smirked. "You can barely even stand up on your own."
"Nami!" Usopp called after the girl. Nami no longer listening to any of Usopp's pleas had already leaped off the cliff, her staff in hand. She sprinted toward Zoro's swords, even managing to get past the fighting Jou and Jiro. Jou, who lashed Jiro with his red chain to gain distance from the Naginata user saw Nami just dashing by.
'This idiot,' Jou thought. 'What the hell is she doing?'
Jou as he was watching Nami from the corner of his eye just barely avoided a thrust attack from Jiro, the edge just grazing his cheek. Nami was almost to the swords until Jango had intercepted her himself and sliced her in the shoulder with his chakram. The sudden attack caused Nami to gasp in pain as she fell on the ground.
"NAMI!" Usopp yelled worriedly.
"What do you need swords for?" Jango questioned and then looked up and saw someone he did not expect to see, yelling in fright by their appearance.
Zoro, Sham, and Buchi paused their fight to see who had just come. Jou and Jiro stopping their own duel turned to see Kuro himself standing at the top of the slope. And he did not look too ecstatic to see the kind of progress his so-called crew had accomplished.
"No, I'm sorry!" Jango whimpered. "I can explain all of this!"
"The night has long since past..." Kuro spoke. "So why is it that you seem to have made no progress on the plan?"
"It's all over..." Usopp voiced anxiously staring at the angered Kuro.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!" Kuro yelled causing Jango and all of the Black Cat Pirates to jump in fear at the sight of their Captain. "To think that these brats have held you back?" Kuro questioned as he dropped a bag he was holding in his hand on the ground. "How the Black Cat Pirates have fallen. What have you got to say for yourself? JANGO!"
"But, uh well..." stuttered Jango. "I... you said... sorry, sir but you said letting those kids go wouldn't cause any problems." Jango stated nervously with a laugh.
"I did say that," Kuro said. "What's your point? Usopp's an idiot! I knew no one would listen to his warnings and that he would come stumbling back to take a stand against us. But the one who thing that I hadn't taken accounted for... was your inexcusable weakness!"
"Sir, we're not weak..." Jango replied slowly. "It's just that-"
"Who are you to call us weak!?" Sham wondered and he faced Kuro.
"Watch what you say, Captain Kuro!" Buchi said turning toward Kuro like his brother.
"You used to be quite the killer..." Sham started. "But face it, Kuro, it's been 3 years and we haven't exactly been living the good life waiting on rich girl's hand and foot!"
"Yeah, that's right!" Buchi agreed. "For 3 long years, we've been out sinking Pirate ships and massacring villages!"
"Very good, finished...?" Kuro asked calmly. Despite his calm demeanor, there was evident sarcasm in his voice.
"But now you've done nothing this whole time!" Sham said. "We've been killing!"
"There's no way you can beat the Nyaban Brothers!" Buchi exclaimed as he and Sham ran passed Zoro to go after Kuro, sprinting at him with outstretched claws.
"Don't Buchi! Sham!" Jango called the two. "Stop!"
"You fools!" Jiro called and was even trying to warn them. "Do you have any idea what you're getting yourselves into!"
Both Jango and Jiro's warnings went unheard as Sham and Buchi ran at Kuro. It was hard for anyone to see what happened, but Kuro had done some kind of move with his feet and disappeared only for Sham and Buchi to slice into the bag that was held by the butler.
"No way..." Jou said with widened eyes. "He moved so fast that anyone could hardly see him."
"What's with those crazy weapons?" Zoro wondered voicing his own thoughts
"Who...?" Kuro said to Sham and Buchi as he was right behind the two of them. "Who are you going to kill?" Kuro asked menacingly as he was wearing furred gloves that had 5 blades on each finger and placed the blades around Sham and Buchi's heads.
"Captain Kuro's technique..." Jiro mouthed which made Jou stare at the Naginata user in confusion.
"Pussy Foot Maneuver..." Jango muttered.
"Pussy Foot...?" Nami repeated weakly where she laid on the ground, holding her wound. Kuro did the 'Pussy Foot Maneuver' again and walked around like he were invisible, though his footsteps were still shown moving across the ground it was still hard to pinpoint where he even was.
"You know, you're right," Kuro agreed as he was behind Sham and Buchi, the blades on each of his thumbs pointed at the brothers. "I do feel a bit sluggish after all these years."
'He's handling them like babies,' thought Nami. 'And those two nearly defeated Zoro.'
'With his Pussy Foot Maneuver, Captain Kuro can shred everyone on this beach before we drew our next breath,' Jango thought frightfully. 'And we won't even see it coming. There's no escape from a killing machine like him. I knew he hadn't grown soft when I saw that old habit of his. That strange way of lifting his glasses so he wouldn't cut his face. It's like he never stopped wearing those cat claws. They're almost apart of his body. Of course, he hasn't forgotten how to fight.'
"You're very lucky..." Kuro smiled. "I'm feeling somewhat merciful. Maybe these years on dry land have made me soft." Kuro noted and took the blades away from Sham and Buchi's necks. "I'll give 5 minutes. If you can't deal with his situation in 5 minutes then I'll kill every last one of you. Now have I made myself clear?" Kuro stated while raising all 10 of his blades. The Pirates started to become ultimately afraid of their Captain, seeing he hasn't lost his edge and seemed to understand his terms.
"Oh, yes!" Jango answered sweating profusely. "Yes, of course, that's perfectly clear! All we have to do is take care of those two!" Jango spoke about Zoro and Jou. "That's all! 5 minutes will be more than enough time for them!"
Jou who had his eyes on Kuro, turned his head around just in time to see Jiro who took a slice at him with his Naginata. Jou leaped away in time as he skidded backward on his feet.
"Jiro!" Kuro called getting the Naginata user's attention.
"Y-Yes, Captain Kuro!" Jiro stammered a bit startled by Kuro calling him.
"Remember: you have 5 minutes to kill that one or else..." Kuro reminded. With accepting Kuro's term, Sham and Buchi brought their attention toward Zoro, going to back to finish him off.
"We nearly had him a few minutes ago!" Buchi exclaimed.
"We only need one minute to finish him this time!" Sham declared.
"We're counting on you!" Jango yelled. "Kill him! Kill him dead!" Just limping passed Jango was Nami, who was holding her wounded shoulder.
"Zoro!" she shouted and used her foot to kick both of Zoro's swords in the air, both of them flying toward him.
"Hey, easy there!" Zoro said in concern for his swords. "You can't just kick 'em! Those are my swords!" until he smirked. "I appreciate it." Zoro placed the white-handled katana in his mouth and unsheathed the two other katana in his hands. He held his swords in a signature pose for his attack to finish the Nyaban Brothers who were quickly advancing and ready to finish him.
"You idiot!" Sham screeched. "It won't matter how many swords you have!" once Sham and Buchi had gotten near Zoro, the swordsman was prepared for them with his own attack.
"Tiger Hunt!" Zoro sliced both Sham and Buchi across their bodies, leaving large slash marks.
"Carrying 3 swords won't help you at all..." Zoro stated confidently. "Unless you know Three-Sword Style."
"Oh no..." Jango uttered out as he watched both Sham and Buchi both crash into the ground, eyes rolled into the back of their heads.
'He took down the Nyaban Brothers with one attack...' Jango thought in disbelief. Jango looked down at the unconscious forms of Sham and Buchi. The Nyaban Brothers may have lost but there was still Jiro. The Naginata user was still dueling it out with Jou, Jiro nearly slices into Jou who had quickly avoided the attack by only taking a few short steps back.
"Jiro, what're you waiting for!?" Jango exclaimed. "Hurry up and kill that one already!" Jango pointed at Jou. "If you do, we may still have a chance!"
"It will be done," Jiro nodded slowly and brought all his focus onto Jou. "Let's take this up a notch, shall we?"
Jou didn't know Jiro meant until the Naginata user held his weapon with both hands. He twisted the upper part of the staff as it separated from the opposite piece. The top part of Naginata was pulled apart to reveal a long chain as Jiro grinned at Jou as he swung around his weapon in a short arc.
"Ah!" Jango grinned proudly. "Perfect! Jiro is using his Naginata-Whiplash! I've seen him cut men to ribbons with that!"
"Yeah, so what?" Jou said unimpressed. "His weapon just gives him more reach. Though, this means now we fight almost identically now. C'mon." Jou smirked. "Show me what you can do with that thing, Jackass."
"It won't be pretty," Jiro grinned deviously and swung his Naginata-Whiplash around until he hurled the blade at Jou. Jou deflected the blade away with the use of his own chains and dodging each lash Jiro threw at him. Jou rolled under the final lash from Jiro and pulled a knife from his holster and threw it.
"Naginata-Whiplash: Vertical Laceration!" Jiro swirled the chain over his head and swung the blade in a vertical fashion completely countering Jou's throwing knife. Jou tried to leap away from the Jiro's attack but was ultimately struck by it. The blade sliced across Jou's torso as some blood spurted from the wound, if he didn't leap away he would have been severed in half. Jou skidded back and fell onto one knee, holding his wound with one arm.
'This will all be over soon,' thought Jiro while smirking. 'There's no way, he'll be able to dodge from this one. If I kill him, Captain Kuro will spare my life.'
"Jou!" Nami called to him. "Zoro, can't you help him!?" she turned to the swordsman.
"I won't," Zoro simply told her.
"What!?" Nami questioned. "Why not!?"
"Jou said he wanted to take this guy on," Zoro reminded. "I'm not going to butt-in someone else's fight."
"That's ridiculous!" Nami retorted irately. "He's going to be killed!"
"Shut it!" Jou yelled bringing all eyes on him. "You should learn to have more faith in your crewmate, Nami." he turned his head to gaze at her from the corner of his eye with a smirk as Nami only staring back at him with her mouth agape.
Jou stood up, still gripping his chains in both hands. Jou knew he could just use his last Fade-Step and just take Jiro down with one attack. But he wasn't going to do that as he only had one more use left. Jou started to go deep into the back of his mind and try to remember something important his mother once told him while she was training him, remembering one key thing she had taught him.
'Listen up, Squirt. If you can feel all the wind around you, you'll be able to evade anything. Not just that, the wind could also be your greatest ally when you're in a fight.'
Jou, remembered his mother's voice and words and closed his eyes. Jou held up his chains and started to slowly spin them as he increased the velocity of how quick he spun them. They became blur's in his hands as the wind started to pick up around him. The wind blew around everyone in the vicinity as Jou gathered all the wind he picked to his chains. Jou's eyes shot open as he dashed at Jiro, chains fluttering behind him.
"Foolish!" Jiro yelled as he swung his weapon. Jou effortlessly avoided every single lash from Jiro's weapon. Jou ducked and rolled under each strike, all while running up the slope toward Jiro. Jiro kept throwing lash after lash but Jou just wouldn't hold still while he was still advancing. Jiro swung his whiplash low as Jou jumped over it, landing on the ground with a combat roll and had gotten right in front of Jiro.
"It's over! Naginata-Whiplash: Cat Pounce Claw!" Jiro brought his weapon in a downward strike. Jou spun his chains and released his own attack at the exact moment Jiro unleashed his own but Jou's being faster out of both of them.
"Dual-Chain Whirlwind!" Jou sped right past Jiro, the Naginata user screamed as he was sent into the air, his body spinning while encased in a whirlwind gust. Everyone watched as the gust faded out as Jiro's unconscious body crashed into the ground hard as it left a small crater, his eyes were rolled back into his head as blood poured from his mouth.
"Jiro!" Jango called but the Naginata-Whiplash user was completely unconscious.
'He actually managed to defeat Jiro with the use of just those chains!?' Jango thought in disbelief. 'Just what are these guys!?' Jou rose up and twirled his chains, dangling both from his shoulders. He wandered up beside Zoro, both of them facing Kuro.
"Not bad, huh?" Jou asked with a side-glance at Zoro. The swordsman only smirked in response through his sword.
"Don't worry," Zoro chuckled darkly at Captain Kuro and pointed a katana at him. "I can promise you, everything will be taken care of in less than 5 minutes." Kuro only grinned as he pushed his glasses up. Jou only rose an eyebrow wondering what there was for him to even smile about.
"What are you smirking for?" Jou questioned. "You find it amusing that your plan's a complete failure?"
"Not at all," Kuro stated. "There are 3 minutes left." At Jango's feet was Buchi, who was still conscious after Zoro's sword slashes. He grabbed onto Jango's ankle surprising the hypnotist. The larger of the Nyaban Brother's body shook from where he was on the ground.
"I-I'll slaughter them...!" Buchi said. "Please, Captain! I can do it! Hypnotize me!" Buchi requested with teary eyes. "Just do it, Captain!"
"Zoro..." Jou said as he turned around. "It's one of those brothers you beat. He's still up." Zoro craned his head to see Jango kneeling in front of Buchi.
"He's still alive," Kuro remarked. "You do sloppy work."
"So, he is," Zoro noticed. "Guess all that blubber protected his vitals."
Zoro and Jou both fully turned around only to find Jango hypnotizing Buchi. They both saw as Buchi's normally obese form seem to become more burly, his own footsteps cracked the ground underneath due to the increase in strength and let out a mighty roar showing off that he had somehow grown fangs, saliva dripping from his mouth like he were a wild animal ready to carve into its prey.
"Buchi, kill them!" Jango ordered Buchi to deal with Zoro and Jou. Nami who was standing behind Jango; turned back at the sleeping Luffy who was still pinned under the Black Cat Pirates figurehead.
"You back for more?" Zoro asked and then got into his Three-Sword Style stance. "Jou, you leave him to me!"
"If that's what you want, then I won't stop you, Zoro!" Jou nodded in agreement to hang back to let Zoro fight the hypnotized Buchi and saw Nami immediately dash the other direction right down the slope.
"What the hell is doing now...?" Jou wondered as he was watching her run.
"Now's my chance!" Nami exclaimed as she kept running. "I gotta wake up that lazy jerk while I have the chance!" she was running toward the figurehead of the Black Cat Pirates ship where Luffy was pinned under.
"What is that girl up to...?" Jango said as he too saw Nami running away and had started spinning his hypnosis ring from a thin rope. "Something tricky, I'm sure." Jango increased the alacrity of the spinning.
Jou had run and quickly leaped over Buchi's head and made a dash down the slope. Jou noticed that Nami was obviously going to wake Luffy up. Though, she had no clue she was about to be beheaded by Jango's ring. Jou knew that running normally wasn't going to work and he won't be able to reach her in time.
'I'm going to use my last use of Fade-Step,' Jou thought urgently. 'It's going to tire me the hell out but I'll get there before Jango's weapon can. Nami, you have no idea how lucky you are right now!'
"Everyone's busy fighting for their lives and he's just sleeping!" Nami said as she continued sprinting toward the napping straw hat. At the same time, Jango had thrown his ring as he soared threw the air toward Nami without her knowing.
"GET UP, YOU BUM!" Nami slammed the heel of her boot into Luffy's face, causing Luffy's eyes to snap open.
"NAMI, LOOK OUT!" Zoro called in a warning.
"Now, Fade-Step!" Jou while running had leaped off the ground and vanished into the air. Nami turned around and saw the Jango's Hypno ring spinning through the air at her.
'I thought it was just a hypnotic charm...?' Nami thought in surprise. 'But it's also his weapon!'
Nami was sure she was done for by how quickly the weapon was advancing toward her. Not as quick as Jou who had just appeared before her. She let out a small yelp as Jou had taken her by the shoulders and took her down to the ground with him.
"What're you stupid!?" Jou exclaimed as they both hit the surface beneath them. In all that Luffy had been woken up and had sprung up his feet, sending a glare down at Nami.
"Nami!" he shouted. "You can not go around stepping people's eyes!" At that moment, Jango's ring that was meant for Nami had ended up hitting Luffy instead. But he somehow had caught the ring in his mouth, clenching it in between his teeth.
"No!" Jango worriedly exclaimed. "How's that twerp still alive!?"
"It's either the best timing or the worst timing," Zoro commented with a sigh. "I can't tell..." Meanwhile, Jou was on his knees holding Nami from around her shoulders, making sure to not touch the wound she had received, he stared down at her as she looked back at him.
"Thanks, Jou," Nami said with an expression of relief. "You saved my life."
"Looks like that's twice you owe me now," Jou remarked while giving her a wink. The two looked up at the finally awake Luffy standing completely still with the ring in between his teeth.
"Uh, Luffy...?" Nami slowly said.
"Luffy...?" Jou said.
Luffy's body was slightly bent backward with his reeled back. He leaned forward and broke the ring with his own teeth.
"Luffy!" Nami exclaimed happily.
"Welcome back, Captain!" Jou smirked. Luffy lightly touched the corner of his mouth and screamed in pain. Luffy was still angry at Nami for stepping on his face and making his fury obvious to her.
"That hurt, you jerk!" Luffy yelled. "Why'd you do that!?"
"Hey, 'sleeping beauty', it wasn't me!" Nami retorted. "It wasn't me..." she said weakly and began to fall to the ground.
"Nami!" Jou called seeming concerned. "Careful, I got you!" he fell to his knees and caught her before she could hit the ground.
"Nami, did you get hurt?" Luffy questioned worriedly. "Let me see it." he knelt down beside Jou to look at Nami's wounded shoulder.
"It's nothing, I'm fine," Nami assured as she winced from her shoulder. "I've done everything I can for now. The rest is up to you."
"Don't move," Jou told her. "You'll open the wound if you do." Luffy noticed Jou had some wounds of his own. He couldn't help but become concerned about seeing his crewmates in such a state.
"Jou, you're hurt too," Luffy said.
"I'm okay, Captain," Jou smiled. "I got in a fight and won. I've done my part. With you here now, Luffy, we can win this fight."
"Jou's right," Nami declared. "We can't afford to lose this fight. Do you understand?" Luffy smiled and nodded in agreement. "Do it for..." she paused with a smirk on her face. "...the treasure."
"Yeah, do it for-WAIT WHAT!?" Jou shouted with widened eyes.
"Alright, sure," Luffy said seeming rather unsure himself. Fighting for treasure isn't what he has in mind but he stood up and picked up his straw hat, placing it on his head.
"Okay, go win this and protect my treasure," Nami added.
"Yeah, yeah," Luffy stated as he walked up the slope. Nami smiled victoriously just thinking about all the treasure these Pirates have. She was still held in Jou's arms as the chain-wielder was only giving her an unamused and disapproving look.
"Are you kidding me...?" Jou said and unceremoniously dropped Nami on the ground.
"Oww!" Nami screamed in pain as she hit the ground, even landing on her wounded shoulder.
"What the hell!?" Nami shouted up at him. "Don't just drop me!" he never responded to her and just fell on ground beside her with an arm draped over her. Nami lightly blushed but it quickly faded as she was honesty furious at Jou for dropping her.
"Get off me!" she demanded.
"Believe me, I would if I could..." Jou replied weakly. Nami grabbed Jou's limp arm and tossed it off of her as Jou groaned and was put on his back beside her.
"Guess I'm not surprised you're so exhausted..." Nami sighed as she looked at Jou from the corner of her eye. "From all of the wounds you got."
"It's not that..." Jou breathed out. "That's not the reason why I'm exhausted. Fade-Step, you've seen me use it, right?"
"Yeah, what about it?" Nami wondered.
"If I use it a total of 4 times, my body just kinda gives out," Jou explained. "So I'm pretty much spent right now. I only used it 3 times in that fight but I used a 4th when I came down here to get to you." Jou smirked at her. "You should count yourself lucky that I'd use it just for you. Hell, that's twice I've saved you now, 'princess'. You're gonna have to start owing me pretty soon."
"Great," Nami huffed in irritation. "My 'hero'," she remarked sarcastically. Luffy continued up the slope as the other Black Cat Pirates moved out of his way to let him pass through.
"One minute and counting," Kuro said.
"Buchi!" Jango called the larger, hypnotized Nyaban Brother. "Hurry there's no time to waste! Kill that three sword bastard! I'll take care of the freaky, bendable kid!" Jango pulled out two more rings from his coat and faced toward the approaching Luffy. "I'm coming for you, 'Straw Hat'!"
"Times up," Kuro declared. "You knew the deal. Now, you die." Luffy stopped walking and had finally realized Kuro standing at the top of the slope.
"Hey, wait...?" Luffy questioned. "Why is that shady butler here?"
Usopp who was was staying out of all the fighting saw someone he had hoped not to see here. Kuro on pure instinct noticed the presence behind him and turned around to attack with his claws.
"Don't ever sneak up on me unless you want to die!" Kuro stated and turned around to slash at whoever was behind him. Usopp sprang into action and had gotten in front of the person to shield whoever was going to be hit.
"KAYA!" Usopp yelled as he had gotten slashed in the back for Kaya and fell on top of her. A slash mark decorated across the liar's back.
I've returned! You all miss ya boy? Eh? Eh?
Jou: Nobody missed you. They came to see me.
Jerk. Anyway, sorry I took so long. It's been a rough few weeks being in quarantine and all. And I haven't been inspired to write much as of late but here we are. That and I've been trying to work on stories new and current ones. But don't be surprised if I work on this one more since I have quite a few new ideas for it.
Reviews...
Reptil: Thank you.
leopard23jose: I wouldn't call it the best story unless I'm just super unconfident in myself. But thank you for your kind words.
Jou: Turbulent times the world is in right now.
Rosethorn: Here, this update is just for you.
johannvanguard: Jou, just like the last story fought Jiro but this time I added a new addition to Jiro's weapon. Most of Jou's opponents will have a weapon similar to his chains kinda like how the rest of Monster Trio have their own specific opponent. Luffy mostly fights the leader, Zoro fights the swordsman, and Sanji fights the martial artist.
Jou: That means I will mostly deal with the one that has a chain/whip-based weapon.
Pretty much.
Jonnie: I'm going to complete this story. Since this time I'm taking time to actually plan stuff out rather than just winging it most of the time. When we reach the time skip, I plan to make a separate story which will be a sequel.
Requiem: I will confirm that Jou will be the one to carry Nami when that time comes.
Jou: Man, I'm getting flashbacks from those days in the old story.
Guest: I'm not saying anything because of spoilers. But I'll just say that Jou has a new opponent for that arc.
Jou: I'm going to be getting beat up regardless of whoever I fight.
Clarent excalibur: Honestly, I'm looking forward to Arlong Park, too.
samuelcaldeira76: I hope you liked this one. Thank you.
searge: I guess you can go ahead and see it like that. I just feel like Jou could bond a little more with the crew rather than just Nami like I did before. But Jou will obviously grow very close to Nami when it comes to their relationship later.
Guest: Thanks for reading.
KP360: I mean, I'd be lying if I didn't say I enjoy writing the banter between Jou and Nami.
Jou: I mean, my author has to have me fight someone. If I didn't I'd just be standing around twiddling my thumbs but lookin' damn attractive while I do.
Yeah, you go ahead and believe that.
Jou: Oh, I will!
NovaBeast13:
Jou: Go read it! I sure as heck won't...
I didn't know when I made my account for this site I signed up to be a promoter.
pokemonking0924: They're making slow progress with their relationship. You can bet that Zoro and Jou will be drinking buddies.
Jou: Booze. Booze brings everybody together.
Do I gotta send you to AA?
ShadowUzumaki55: I'll get to work on those stories but I'm just a little more motivated working on this one.
Jou: Lazy...
Silence! But don't worry those stories aren't dead. I haven't forgotten about them.
nickseverino8: Here you go! A chapter just for you.
Drakedragon297:
Jou: Author claims this time he's going to make sure to do things right and hopes we don't have to go through another rewrite.
Our main focus here is to get out of East Blue as fast as we can, so we can get to the fun stuff. But we are going to tackle the Warship Island arc again before we head into the Grandline.
Guest: A drawing of Jou would be really cool. Oddly enough, if I knew how to draw, I would. I can draw a badass stick figure but that's as far as my drawing skills go. But if someone were to draw him and ask me for any details, I'll try to be as descriptive as possible.
Jou: Just make sure to get my good side. What's that you ask? All of me!
Gosh, you're a jerk.
Okay, I promise that we will finish this arc next chapter. It's gonna be the finale so it's gonna be a lengthy one. It may take a bit longer to get out but we'll be halfway there to Arlong Park.
That's all for now and Jou will play Resident Evil 3: Nemesis remake.
Jou: How does Nemesis always find me?
I'll see you guys next time!
Later!