~Queen Of The Sea~
10
Dear Old Uncle Buggy~
Everyone just simply stared while this mysterious pirate who fell from the sky dusted himself off and walked off as though everything was normal.
They were simply stunned into shock and silence.
"Jeeze…I'm so hungry…" said Luffy.
"Oh! Hey Boss! Thanks for coming to save me~" the mysterious ginger haired stranger walked up to Luffy and put her ploy into play–
"Huh? Who are you?"
But she didn't bother giving him an answer.
Taking advantage of the chaos to make her escape and leave Luffy to pick up the pieces.
"They're all yours now, boss! Have fun~!"
"Hey~ that girl's getting away!"
"Doesn't matter, we've got her boss now~"
"You're in trouble now kid– you should have let your crony fend for herself!"
Though these threats didn't seem to phase Luffy one way or another…
He was far more focused on his growling stomach…
"You guys know of any place good to eat around here?" he asks.
"Food's the least of your worries now!"
One of the bigger cronies went in for a punch which sent Luffy's hat flying–
Under normal circumstance, Luffy was a pretty fun loving and easy going guy.
But when it came to messing with his hat…
A rubber fist rocketed into the target's nose, catching the free-falling apparent in his free hand and placing it back on his head where it belonged.
"You better keep your hands off my hat…"
"You Bastard!"
That was, however, the only warning Monkey D. Luffy was planning to give…
Xxx
Meanwhile…
Rheddii scouted all the alleys and cranies…
Any possibly shady looking area that looked like it could be a place fit for hiding out.
I saw his Jolly Roger…
She thought to himself.
So he HAS to be around here somewhere…
Right?
It seemed Luffy was the least of her problems.
Because while she was of course looking for him too–
Her real target seemed to be the notorious captain of the Buggy Pirates–
Captain Buggy himself.
I can't seem to find him anywhere…
She sighed as she wandered out into the open light, her red gaze scanning the sky.
I was certain that cannonball had to be one of Uncle Buggy's Buggy Balls…
She sighed.
…So where could he be!?
She sighed once more glancing around the the buildings and smiles.
"You know…this is actually a pretty nice little town, isn't it…?" she smiled as she shifted in her pocket for her supplies…
A Tube of paint and a small brush.
It wasn't much–
But enough to get the job down.
"This is an island I've never been on…so…I guess I better leave my calling card~ huh?" She giggled and began her work.
The Queen Of The Sea
Reigned here~
That was all she wrote.
It wasn't eye popping…but it would certainly capture someone's attention if they came walking by…
"Maybe I'll leave it in a few more places as we wander around here~" she giggled.
Much to her luck however…
Rheddii seemed to spot someone who wore the Pirate's emblem.
A smile of relief lit up her features as she called out to him.
"Heeeeeey~ You're part of the Buggy Pirate Crew, right~?" she asked him.
"Huh!?" The man stopped and looked at her with a raised brow, "Yeah maybe I am, what of it? What's it to you?" he asked.
"Oh, that's great!" she grinned as she rushed over to meet him, "I've been looking for him everywhere, you don't think you could put me in contact with your boss, do you? Pretty please?" she beamed, clasping her hands together.
"Wh…say what!?" the man gruffed raising a brow, "Yeah right, like I'd just lead you right to him!" he scoffed, "What do you wanna join up or somethin'? FEH don't waste the captain's time…"
Rheddii's expression shifted into a pout and she huffed out a puff of air.
"All right then…I tried being polite about it…no need to be so rude to me." she mumbled folding her arms, "...Guess I'll have to get Buggy's attention the hard way~" she smirked as she slowly slid out a few of her hidden knives out between her fingers with a wicked grin and a crimson glare that sent shivers of despair down his spine…
Xxx
"GUM GUM PISTOL!"
Luffy's voice echoed as he called out his attack, sending two rubber fists flying forward and knocking the goons out cold.
"Wow…you're really strong!"
"Huh?" Luffy looked up curiously to find the very same ginger from earlier watching the show from over head.
"Even though both of them had sabers…you beat them bare handed!"
"Hey…you're the girl who set me up." said Luffy, "Who are you?"
"I'm a talented thief who steals strictly from pirates!" she said smugly, "The name's Nami!" she hums, "Say…do you wanna team up with me~!?"
"...Uhm…thanks anyway lady, but, I think I'll pass." Luffy said slightly with disinterest in his tone before turning to find his way out of the conversation.
"Hey! Hold on!" But it seems Nami didn't wanna give up yet–
"At least think about it first!"
Though–
She was soon interrupted by the sound of Luffy's grumbling stomach.
"I just remembered…" Luffy groaned softly lowering himself to his knees, "...I'm still so hungry…~" he whined.
"Well come with me, and I'll find you something to eat!" Nami giggled.
"Yeah!? Are you serious!?"
And so…
An alliance between a Pirate captain and a Pirate thief was formed…
At the cost of food.
Weather this turned out to work well in favor or not…
Only fate would decide that.
Meanwhile however, on another part of the island hidden in a randomly pitched tent a few crew members were reporting to a very disgruntled clown pirate…
"...You're telling me they STILL haven't caught the thief…?"
His voice was gravely and disgruntled, relating more closely to a growl than to actual words…
"Uhm…n-not yet…but they should be in pursuit–" The poor henchmen's knees trembled.
"Now explain to me– how in the hell did she even manage to get her hands on that chart, huh!?" asked the boss, bringing a hand to his chin to rest on his propped elbow, light shining off of his big bright red nose.
"If we're preparing to enter The Grand Line and go on a rampage…then why wasn't that chart properly guarded!?"
"I'm not sure, sir…" said the grunt, "I mean…it was just sitting out– plain as the nose on your face–"
"...What was that!?"
"I-I only mean it was easy for her to find and take it…!"
"DID YOU SAY SOMETHING ABOUT MY NOSE!?"
Fear struck all that surrounded the two as they spoke.
Whispers began as they groveled in fear– preparing for the worst as they made preparations to try and run in case the captain decided to turn on them with his Devil Fruit Power.
What appeared to most at first glance, seemed to be an invisible force gripping tightly around the grunt's neck, slowly lifting and floating him forward from the distance he stood–
Up close and Personal with the Captain and his clown nosed face.
"I– I didn't mean– N-No sir– y-you misunderstood!"
"Oh no…you were perfectly clear~" the clown hummed…
And that invisible grip got tighter.
"Tell me something…who am I?" he asked.
"C…Captain…Buggy…" grunted the man in response.
"That's right~" he chuckled, "And…what happens if someone defies me?"
"F…Flashy…Death…awaits…!"
"Good….very good~" Buggy chuckled as he finally released the man–dropping him down to his knees, "...Now quit your groveling…" he said to him, "I'll overlook your slip up and forgive you this time." he states with a flashy turn, flipping back his coat to flutter like a cape in the breeze, "...But you better get that chart back. Don't screw up again! Or Else~"
"YES, CAPTAIN BUGGY!"
"Ugh…" Buggy sighed as he retreated to his tent and sat on his makeshift throne, pinching between his eyes.
"...I swear I'm surrounded by Imbeciles…" he said to himself in a low groan, "..Who the hell just leaves something as valuable as a Chart of the grand line just out in the open air like that!? Huh!?" he sighed, gripping tightly around the neck of a bottle and guzzling down the contents inside.
"Uhm…C-Captain Buggy Sir…?"
"NOW what!?" Buggy huffed with a heavy sigh, "Jeez can't I have a moment's peace!?"
"S-Sorry sir…it's just uhm…there's…been another problem."
"Say what now!?" Buggy gruffed clenching his fists, "I know you did NOT just screw up again after I explicitly ordered you not to–!?"
"NO! Er…What I mean is…uh…" The poor grunt sighed as he motioned for someone to step into the light. A small group of people came dragging in what looked to be like…a crucifixion of some sort.
Needless to say Buggy was semi-intrigued and raised a brow out of curiosity.
Upon the planks was none other than one of his own men…pinned to the boards in various spots through his clothes…by knives.
*SNORT*
"What the hell is this mess!?" Buggy laughed out loud.
He couldn't help himself.
His henchmen wasn't hurt or anything but damn was the sight of him like this amusing-
"I-I'm sorry sir– It just– happened so fast!" said the grunt as he stumbled to try and explain his situation, "I ran into some girl who was looking for you by name and so I just–"
"Huh?" Buggy interrupted the man by raising his hand, "A young girl looking for me by name you say?" he asked.
And the whispers started again.
"Yeah that's crazy– a woman knows Captain Buggy? And was looking for him!?"
"Can it be that he has a girlfriend or something we don't know about!?"
"Talk about wild~!"
Buggy twitched as the whispers around him and groaned, pinching between his eyes once again.
"Tell me something, my good man…"
"Uh– Y-Yes sir?"
"This girl…did she happen to have flashy red hair, perchance?"
"Uh–Y-Yeah she did!" said the grunt, "H-How did you know that!? Do you really know that kid, sir!?"
It was then that Buggy burst out laughing as he stood up and began slowly removing the knives from his henchman.
"Oh yeah~" he snorted, "...I'd recognize this botched work anywhere…" he chuckled, "Where is she now? Do you know?"
"W-Well uh…she was pretty insistent about meeting with you sir…so I…"
"...I see." Buggy smirked, "Very well then…send her in~"
"I can walk myself in, thank you very much!" the sound of Rheddii's chipper voice cut through before anyone could speak and she clomped her have brown boots out into the light–
Staging herself at the door way of Buggy's tent with her hands on her hips and a smirk of her own.
"...Rheddii Steadii~" Buggy chuckled returning back into his makeshift throne.
"Long time no see, Uncle Buggy~ It's been a while!" she grinned.
"Indeed it has been, hasn't it…my dear darling little niece of mine~" he scoffed with a cheeky grin.
"UNCLE BUGGY!?" the crew all gasped as the girl waltzed in and approached their captain so casually.
"And he actually called her his niece too…so it's true!?" they whispered.
"MEN!" Buggy barked, "I need to have a word with my darling little niece here~ grant us the room." he said to them, "AND CLOSE THE DAMN FLAPS!"
"AHH– Y-YES SIR!" they all quickly stammered away and loosened the draw strings letting the tend flaps fall while Buggy spraked up a match and lit a lanturn so that they could have a bit of light while they spoke.
"Jeez uncle Buggy you're ruthless…" she said softly, "You could be a little nicer to them you know…"
Buggy chuckled.
"Sorry sweetie, but I'm a Pirate Captain now and the position requires a bit of a firm hand." he explained, "I'm afraid it's part of the job description." he shrugs chuckling, "Now then…" he hummed, "You clearly wanted my attention dear…and now? You've got it~" he grinned, shifting his gaze over to her in the ominous light.
"...So let's have ourselves a little chat…shall we~?"
To Be Continued