Chapter 21: Kuma Arrives
I don't own One Piece.
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3RD POV
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Makoto let out an annoyed sigh. The transponder snail still in his hand. Sato had called him again. Mainly to scold him for hanging up, but also for information. Kuma had landed, and he wasn't answering.
"Stupid Warlords." Makoto scoffed, walking away from the main fight. "I wanted to fight the zombie too. Now I have to hunt Kuma down."
Though with his shadow back, he didn't have to worry about the rising sun anymore. It left one less thing for him to worry about. Makoto kicked a rock as his attention was brought back to the castle, where a loud crash echoed.
Makoto paused, looking from the direction of the port to the castle. "Technically speaking." He muttered, "Kuma should be going towards the castle." A grin formed on his face. "Why not kill two birds with one stone?"
Turning on his heel, Makoto kicked his feet up into a run. His new destination now the castle.
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"Ki Shi Shi Shi!" The warlord laughed, staring at the large man holding a bible. "You were quick to come, Kuma." A smirk played on his lips showing his pointed teeth. "No wonder you're the government's favorite. Coming to retrieve their property like a good dog."
The large man, Kuma, was unaffected by Morria's words. "I'm not just here for the government's escaped experiment." Morria raised an eyebrow in question, his lips pulling down just the slightest. "Along with the retrieval of their property, I'm bringing you news of the new Warlord."
"Oh?" Morria asked, "So who is it? There are plenty of pirates who would kill for the job."
"Marshall D. Teach." Kuma answered, glancing at Morria. "Also known as Blackbeard."
"Blackbeard?" Morria frowned, pausing at the doorway he was walking out of. "Never heard of him."
"He was a former member of the Whitebeard pirates." Kuma informed, not bothering to look in Morria's direction. "He fled from there and proved his abilities before being appointed."
"Hmm..." Morria mused, "What's his bounty?"
"Zero."
A large sharp toothed grin formed on Morria's face. "Ki Shi Shi Shi! Completely unknown!" Morria looked over the edge of the balcony. The red haired girl appeared unconscious, her body sunken into the ground as blood pooled from her arm and head. "The government property should be easier to take now-"
"There's one thing that has the government on edge." Kuma interrupted, turning to face Morria now. "After the incident at Enies Lobby, they are more cautious than ever about the movement of the Straw Hat pirates. If they are heading towards fishman island from water seven, there is a high chance that they will end up here." Kuma explained, "Do you understand what the government is worried about?"
Kuma gave Morris a chance to answer before continuing. "The government is concerned that another one of the seven Warlords will be taken by Straw Hat."
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Three shots were made, followed by three bodies falling to the ground. Rolling his eyes, the blue haired pirate returned his guns to his sides.
"You guys are really easy targets." He sighed, looking up at the large castle. "Hopefully the large zombie ends up being a challenge."
"Oi, Katsu!" A loud deep voice yelled, "Watch out!"
"Huh?" A lighter, more feminine voice chimed before a loud crash.
"Katsu!" A squeaky voice cried.
Makoto winced in sympathy, "Sounds like she'll be out for the count." He looked around his surroundings. "Now then, how do I get over there?"
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The fighting continued around her. When she tried to move her body screamed in sharp pain. Even breathing pained her, as every breath delivered a sharp stab to her chest.
Katsu saw her crew still fighting. She should still be fighting. Yet, she couldn't muster the strength to stand. Every movement brought pain. She had yet to numb it.
Now, she counted down the minute until her body would grow numb. Then she would try to stand once more. She had to buy time for her Captain.
"Robin!" She knew that voice belonged to Sanji.
Shakily and painfully, Katsu tried to lift her head to see Morria standing behind the raven haired female.
"R-Robin..." Katsu muttered, trying to stand again. "No...." her eyes widened as Robin fell to the ground, her shadow in Morria's hand.
Pain doubled, sending her back to the ground. She had fourth five seconds left. Her eyelids were growing heavy.
"I can't sleep." She whispered.
Another rumble on the ground, then more cries. Two more crew mates down.
Black spots filled her vision. She was starting to numb. However, the more numb she grew the less she could see.
The last thing she heard was Nami's cries for another crew member. Then, silence welcomed her and darkness surrounded her.
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The ground shook and spoke filled the air. Makoto gripped the stone wall for support, his eyes going to the dust that polluted the air.
Seeing the large zombie's body lying on the ground made him blink. "Weren't they just losing?" Shrugging he started running once more. An entrance just ahead of him.
In a matter of minutes, the zombie and Morria had been defeated. Makoto blinked, his gaze going over the destruction made from the fighting. People flooded the battlefield, all of them watching a figure fall from the sky. The male's figure growing smaller and smaller as he neared the ground, shadows escaping him.
"Is nobody going to catch him?" Makoto muttered, watching the teen fall. "Guess not."
"Luffy!" A orange haired female yelled.
"Luffy! Are you okay?!" Makoto recognized that voice from earlier.
He watched as all the people from him ran to the boy named Luffy. A smirk played on his lips, "For a runt he didn't do too bad."
"Thriller Bark has fallen!" Makoto knew that voice to be one of the other pirates who had their shadow stolen.
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"Katsu!" Makoto ignored the pirate crew that mostly appeared fine now. His attention was spent on locating a red haired female.
"Careful!" The reindeer yelled, "Her ribs are broken! She should be moved carefully!"
Curious of the commotion, Makoto glanced over. The vibrant crimson red entered his vision, followed by the unconscious female's face. Instantly, the female's face changed to a similar vision, but younger and more childlike. Makoto's body froze, his heart hammering in his chest as he looked at the female.
"Mitsu...?" A chill ran up his spine and down his arms as he whispered her name. He didn't waste another moment and began running to her. However, he was quickly halted.
"Oi! Don't get too close." The blonde with a signature curly brow frowned.
"Move out of my way." Makoto went to shove him, but a sword stopped him. Looking to the owner Makoto raised an eyebrow. "Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro."
"Yeah, and we said you don't get any closer." He glared, "Who are you?"
"I'm not an enemy." Makoto stated, "Actually I've been looking for Mitsu-"
"Well we don't know any Mitsu." Zoro interrupted roughly, glaring at the blue haired pirate. "Get lost."
Makoto blinked, looking around Zoro towards the girl again. He noticed the swordsman stiffen as well as the blonde with the curly brows. "But..." He stopped at a new voice entering the field. "Kuma."
Turning around he looked up at the Warlord. In an instant the tall man was standing in front of Makoto, making the blue haired pirate appear smaller next to his giant frame. Kuma slid off his glove, touching a few pirates near him. Makoto didn't look away from the Warlord as the pirated disappeared.
"Pirate Hunter Zoro." Kuma muttered, "I'll start with you."
Rather than let the Warlord move, Makoto held up an arm. "Pirate Hunter." He said, staring at Kuma. "You on the same crew as that girl?"
Zoro glanced at the blue haired pirate. "I might be."
"I see." Makoto muttered, taking a step towards Kuma who raised an eyebrow. "Well then. As an older brother, it's my duty to protect my sibling. The protection branches off to her crew at times."
"Brother?!"
Makoto glanced behind him towards the pirates that surrounded the girl he knew at Mitsu and grinned. "Yeah. Nice to meet ya, I'm Mitsu's older brother. Sorta."
Kuma looked at the blue haired pirate. "Makoto. Why are you here?"
"Look, Kuma, I get it you have orders and all..." Makoto sighed, "But I really can't let you hurt my sister's crew."
Kuma remained silent. Makoto clenched his fist. Kuma was never exactly fond of him. Sato would have been better in this situation. "Remember those favors you owe us? We wanna cash them in. You let Mitsu and the Straw Hats go. And then we're even."
Kuma raised an eyebrow. "You think two favors are worth all that?"
"We saved your life." Makoto deadpanned, holding up two fingers. "Twice."
Kuma stared at him. "You don't seem to understand the girl's importance. The government's spent money on her, more than imagined. They've been searching for her."
"As have my family." Makoto glared.
"I can maybe leave her alone," Kuma muttered, "But there's no promises for the Straw Hats."
Makoto curled his lip, his hand itching towards his pistol. A click from Zoro's swords made Makoto's ears twitch.
"Kuma, are the Straw Hats really worth that much?" Makoto raised an eyebrow. An annoyed protest sounded from the swordsman behind Makoto. Before the pirate could respond, a smirk grew on Makoto's lips. "More than me?"
To this Kuma paused, staring at the blue haired pirate. "Silent Bullet Makoto." Kuma recited, "Worth 450,000,000 beli. Partners with multiple pirate crews, two of which are emperors. Considered a high priority."
Rolling his eyes, Makoto sighed. "Was all that information really needed? Is that a yes or a no?"
Behind the blue haired pirate, Zoro clenched his fist. He didn't like the idea of letting a random pirate take the fall for his crew.
"You're just going to turn yourself in?" Kuma inquired, an eyebrow raising.
A smirk played on Makoto's lips. "Well, who said I was going down without a fight? I just promise I won't disappear before you get a chance to take me in."
Zero glanced beside him at his crew mates, who were crowded around Katsu currently. No doubt they wanted to get to Luffy, but Kuma was still standing in their way. "Oi," He muttered as Makoto negotiated. "Get out of here, and take Katsu with you. I'll get Luffy in a moment."
Not wanting to argue, the crew made quick work of carefully lifting the artist and clearing the area. Sanji and Chopper working together to ensure Katsu was transported with care. Makoto saw the movement from the corner of his eye, his smirk growing more.
Seeing the fleeing crew, Kuma took a step forward. His body froze when a slight sharp sting entered his foot, followed by a small pop. Smoke rose from the gun in the blue haired pirate's hand.
"Oi, you don't get to make a move on that crew." Makoto glared, "Especially towards Mitsu."
Intrigued, Kuma placed his full attention on Makoto. The warlord studied the pirate. "You don't know for certain that's Mitsu." Kuma stated, "You don't know this crew either. Why?"
Makoto's gun was still pointed at Kuma. His smirk still on his face. "I know Mitsu. That's her. I bet my life on it."
Zero wrinkled his nose. The swordsman was sure this pirate was wrong, but he knew his crew wouldn't last another fight so he let the pirate talk.
"I already sworn I would protect her if I ever found her again." Makoto answered. "And if she's in a crew, my protection goes over them as well. I don't know them, but I'm sure they mean a lot to her. And as a brother, I'll protect that."
"I see." Now a small smirk played on Kuma's face. A certain fondness crossing his lips. "I'll make a deal then."
By then only four figures were left in the field. Three standing, one defeated on the ground.
Kuma picked up the lone figure with a straw hat. "You take his pain, and survive, I'll leave." Placing his palm to Luffy's chest, a bubble three times the size of Kuma came out.
"Fine." Makoto said.
"Oi!" Both pirates paused at the new voice. Zero crossed his arms, "You're going to take Luffy's pain?" No hesitation, Makoto nodded. "That's not your responsibility. You're not in this crew."
"My sister-"
"Her name is Katsu." Zero glared. "And I know she doesn't remember you. Katsu has no memories, so she may or may not be this Mitsu you keep talking about. You might be throwing your life away for some nobody."
Makoto looked down, allowing a few strands of hair to escape his bandana. A small smile on his face. "I know it's her, believe me. Even if she doesn't remember, I do. And I'm just glad she's alive. I would do anything for her, even this."
Zero scoffed, "You're stupid. That's my captain." Clicking his swords back into place, the swordsman stepped forward. "Meaning I'll take it. As first mate I'll accept Luffy's pain. Not some random pirate who doesn't even know us."
Makoto wrinkled his nose, "Here I am trying to be nice."
Kuma looked between the two, "I suppose either of you will do."
"Good." Zoro said, crossing his arms. "Than I'm doing it."
Makoto sighed, rolling his eyes. "Why did I even try?"
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End of Chapter 21! Hey guys! I had some time this weekend so I figured why not update! I'm low key freaking out because I have like 10 more weeks of classes then I graduate... Time has gone by so fast!! I feel like just yesterday I was starting class! On another note, while I'll be graduating I've decided to go back to school for my bachelors for baking and and pastry management, granted I need to be accepted first... Anyway, I hope you guys liked the chapter! Any thoughts on Makoto?
This is not edited!
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