The six of us followed Kori as he scurried in front of us, muttering reminders under his breath.

"Kori," Kin drawled. "Mind telling us where the hell you're taking us?"

"One second," the man sung, flinging open a door. "Here we are!"

Shinji fingered with his earring (one of two I didn't notice before) and took a step forward, his midnight-blue gaze flicking around the room as he took another few paces in.

Chiko followed close behind me, his own footsteps rather wary. I myself was slightly off at the sight of several blades lined against the wall, a pair of two sleek guns resting on a tray upon a table, and a rather large amount of small needles on another tray.

"Do you expect us to do something?"

Kori clapped his hands together when Ferphina, the last one, ducked in. "Of course, if you sail the seas, you must prepare yourself for the danger that lies ahead."

I heard a snicker, and glowered at Shinzo, who was attempting to muffle his snorts with a gloved hand. The blonde lifted a finger, telling me he would be done soon, then straightened.

"As I was saying, many vicious pirates roam the waters, and you must be trained in a certain area of weapons if we're to let you go."

Kin crossed her arms, her hard eyes traveling the room and sucking in the details. "And you're giving us two fruits to start with?" with a rather irritated manner, she jutted her thumb at a bag shoved into the corner of the wall. Now that she mentioned it, I could see two somewhat oval-shaped lumps, one a deep crimson and the other a creamy peach color.

"Ah, ah," Kori shook his finger at Kin. "Don't be sure that these are just any fruits, my dear Kin."

With that, he stalked over to the bag, pulling out the two fruits and holding them to eye-level. "These are Devil Fruits."

A silence took over the room before Shinzo broke it with harsh laughter. "Hang on, hang on! You expect us to go on a boat with two fruits that'll render us unable to swim?"

"Only two of you."

"Still, still," he waved it off. "Honestly, can you believe this guy?" Shinzo turned to us, his brown eyes twinkling as he awaited our answer.

"Actually, I find it quite understandable." Shinji replied, not glancing up from his inspection of the pistols. "There are many pirates who have a Fruit. I don't see what is the problem of two of us having a Fruit, while the other four don't."

Shinzo visibly deflated, pouting as he then turned to Chiko. The said cloaked Marine, as expected, said nothing, and stood there.

"You guys are impossible," Shinzo groaned, smacking his hand into his forehead in a playful manner.

"I'm not impossible, am I?" Ferphina asked, cocking her head as she played with a coil of her ginger hair.

Shinzo immediately lost his somewhat moody manner, brightening instantly. He opened his mouth to say something to my sister when Kori cut in.

"Now..." he clasped his hands together. "Who would like to have the Fruits?"

We all exchanged glances. Even Ferphina looked rather reluctant to eat the rumored 'Devil of the Seas' food.
A soft tap alerted our attention to the front as Chiko held out his hand, extending towards the red-colored Fruit.

"This one, Chiko?" Kori questioned, and the figure nodded, a slight movement of his head. The plump man lowered the other fruit before pressing the red Devil Fruit into his outstretched hand before continuing. "This is the Fluid-Fluid no Mi. Take good care of it, dear Chiko."

The said Marine stayed silent as he clutched the fruit, taking a step back.

"Anyone else?"

Shinzo cleared his throat, and my eyes flicked to him in surprise. He mouthed something I couldn't exactly make out, then strode forward.

"...Shinzo?" Kori himself seemed rather uncertain, but shook his head before plopping the cream-colored fruit in his open palm.

"What's it called?" Puzzled, Shinzo peered at it.

"It's called the String-String no Mi," Kori said, folding his arms across his chest. Shinzo shrugged and pocketed it, gazing wistfully at the weapons. "Now...for your weapons...Jaxson, Chiko, you seem like the blade type."

I turned my head towards the line of swords and katanas, pursing my lips. "I guess you could say that, I'm somewhat skilled in that...art."

Kori cocked an eyebrow. "Ah...let's try this blade..." he jumped and swiped at a blade, plucking it off the wall before turning it to me. Hesitantly, I gripped the hilt tightly, the worn fabric shifting beneath my skin.

Chiko watched as Kori took another blade and presented it before wrapping his bony fingers around the hilt. Then he stepped back, swiping at empty air.

The blade hissed as it cut through the air, and Chiko nodded, seeming to be content with his weapon.

"I'll take the gun," Shinji stated, swiftly plucking up the sleek weapon from the table.

Ferphina looked uncertain, but she nodded. "I'll try the gun too," she offered.

Shinzo crossed his arms, shrugging.

"Try these," Kori said, grabbing Shinzo's wrist and attaching a small device to it. It looked almost like a mini slingshot, and Kori's careful fingers easily managed to put the small needles into what seemed to be compartment. The blonde peered at them before Kori handed him a small satchel. "More needles."

"Why are they color-coded?"

"I'll tell you the differences later," Kori explained, taking another and attaching it to Kin's wrist before giving her a similar bag to hold the needles. He took the two by the wrists and led them away.

"Once I explain the needles to these two, we'll face you off with each other!"

My sister and I exchanged glances.

...dammit.

A/N~

Ewo, Rio here.

Nom, chapter two of FTF! I was debating whenever not to put a fight scene in, then I decided against it.

So, tell me what you liked or hated in this chapter. ^~^ Vote, comment, share, do whatever you prefer.

There will be pictures in the media, whenever it's a banner I made, or an edit that I made that suited one of the characters. I will state if I made the banner, or I just saved it and put it here. Or if someone else made it for me, ya know?

See ya~!

~Rio