I don't own One Piece

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The guards were beyond easy for us to handle. Within a few minutes we had defeated them. Zoro and I even chained up the King to make sure they wouldn't try to attack again. It was going quite smoothly.

"This is just too much!" Usopp yelled, looking around us in panic.

Brook nodded, glaring at Zoro and I. "He's right! You two reflect on what you did!"

I blinked, "Huh?" Was Brook trying to scold us?

Zoro glared back at Brook, "You started the fight! We're all accomplices here!"

"You guys were the ones trying to take them down." I mumbled.

Usopp raised his and to help clarify. "I just wanted to scare them and find an opening to run away!"

"To where?" I deadpanned, "We're surrounded by water."

Nami sighed tiredly, rubbing her forehead. "I was hoping to take a tour and go shopping."

I turned to the woman and patter her back sympathetically. "Ah, I wanted to keep sleeping. Such a shame."

She frowned at me looking over my face, "Why are you so tired?"

I shrugged, "Weird sleep schedule. Naps are life." I simplified.

Having spent two years on Artist Haven, I've grown accustomed to sleeping with noise. Just like I've grown accustomed to being able to feel the shift in the air in my sleep. The only chance I had to sleep on our ship had not ended well. It was far too quiet in the room I shared with Robin and Nami, which left me to just go out on deck and stand guard.

I had managed to hide my sleepiness for a while but after I had stuffed myself with oranges I felt incredibly tired. Of course none of that mattered now.

"It's too late now! What's done is done, so stop complaining!" Zoro yelled, resting one of his swords over his shoulder lazily.

"Mr. Hottie dosen't lose hot points even when angry. Good to note." I muttered, ignoring the look Nami sent me.

"It dosen't work like that!" Brook protested, "We dropped by Fishman Island and occupied Ryugu castle?! What kind of evil pirates are we?!" The skeleton cried.

I shrugged, "The stereotype, but only if they don't look at the whole picture. They attacked us first. I hope you're not saying we should have just let them take us all prisoner."

Zoro nodded in agreement, "Exactly! You guys mean we would've just let them attack you!"

Usopp groaned loudly, shoving a finger towards Zoro and I. "I keep telling you, we were looking for a chance to run away!"

"And I keep saying we're surrounded by water!" I yelled, my hand clenching as I tired to keep in my anger. "There is no where for you to run to, so we did the only acceptable option!"

"That's not acceptable!" Both Usopp and Brook yelled back.

Zoro softly nudged me back, handing me my sketchbook to distract me. As I grabbed it he placed his hand on top oh my head and guided me down to the ground before handing me a pencil. Then he looked back at Usopp and rolled his eyes. "She's right, you don't know how to run away and Luffy isn't here anyway."

I took in a deep breath before opening the sketchbook. We were stuck here anyway. Zoro at least knew now was a good time for me to sketch.

Looking up at the tired King, I smiled. "Ah, sorry about that. Anyway, are you cool if I draw you?"

However it wasn't the King that answered me. It was some old fishman with a long beard and mustache. "How dare you ask such a thing!" He growled, "You may NOT do-"

I blew a raspberry, keeping my face blank.

He blinked in shock, "Oh-"

"Shut it. I wasn't talking to you. Unless somehow you're the king now." He turned red at my comment. I turned back to the King, who had remained silent. "I really do need to get our side of the story. For both my Captain and I believe it's important to get all the details in." Then I snickered, "If this gets resolved later, you'll feel like a jerk and it'll just be funnier to see."

"You stop it too, Katsu! You're worse than Soul King!" Usopp yelled at me.

I simply ignored him, realizing the King was quivering in pain. "Are you okay? Zoro didn't go too hard did he?" When I didn't receive a response I closed my sketchbook and frowned. "I can't draw someone in pain. I also can't help unfortunately, since I'm not a doctor. Do you have any medication that can help?"

If the King was going to answer, he didn't get the chance.

"Katsu, get over here." Zoro said, making me look up. "And stop socializing with them."

Pouting I stood up and dusted off my shorts. I paused, however, at the sound of a bell. My eyes went to a guard, where I could make out a snail in his pocket, which was ringing.

Picking the snail out of his pocket, I looked at Zoro who was frowning at me. "Try this." I grinned, holding out the snail.

Zoro picked up the snail, scowling at it. "Hello, who is this?" A voice asked from the other end.

"Hey! You can't answer that!" The guard finally protested, apparently just realizing our intent with the snail.

"Oh, why didn't you tell us sooner?" I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms.

"Bring down the connecting hallway, open the castle gates. And open the imperial gates of the palace this instant!" The voice demanded.

I frowned, listening in as I leaned against Zoro looking at the snail in his hand. "Well, isn't he pushy?"

"Then what?" Zoro frowned, "We can't do that."

I smirked looking at the snail. Though Usopp, Caime, and Pappag were crying in the background.

"Which one of the Straw Hat's are you?" The snail frowned.

"The hot one." I answered, grinning as Zoro glared down at me.

"Fukaboshi, he's the Straw Hats swordsman! His bounty is 120 million! He's the Pirate Hunter Zori!" The King finally broke his silence only to butcher Zoro's name.

"That's Zoro!" Zoro growled, his teeth sharpening as he glared at the King.

"Or Mr. Hottie." I muttered low enough for the snail to pick it up and Zoro.

"Stop it, woman!" Zoro glared at me, much to my amusement. His attention went back to the snail. "You heard him. We have hostages, and one of them is your King. If you want them back alive, you'd better do what I say."

I frowned a little, glancing back at the King with slightly guilty eyes. Though I doubt any of us would keep that promise, I can imagine the panic going through the prince's right now. Their father's life is on the line.

Arisu will scold me for this when she finds out. Taking hostages was where she drew the line for me, though she was fine with me being a pirate. Mamoru would probably be disappointed as well. He made it clear that taking hostages was something cowardly.

When the King caught my eye I quickly looked away. It would look bad if I tried to correct Zoro now. On both him and our crew.

"We'll need a new coating for our ship, Sunny. Then we'll need the rest of our crew. One dark woman, one robot, one raccoon dog, and one perverted troll." Zoro continued.

While Brook kneeled over laughing over Sanji's description, I couldn't stop a giggle.

However, I had to correct the troll part. "The pervert is hot! Just look for the nosebleed guy!"

"Zoro, ask for a billion berries too!" Nami smiled.

I frowned at the woman. "Ah, don't do that. We've caused enough trouble, we don't wanna fuck up their economy too."

"Knock it off!" Usopp demanded at the same time I started talking.

"We understand your demands. We will arrange for you and your crew to leave this island as soon as possible." The prince responded. "In exchange, you must guarantee the safety of the hostages."

"So long as you keep your end." Zoro responded.

There was a pause before the prince answered again. "One thing, Zoro. I'm reluctant to do this now, but I must keep a promise I made to Jimbei."

My attention snapped over to a guard who was squirming. Peeling away from Zoro, I walked over to the shifting fishman. The rest of my crew had their attention on Zoro and the snail, so they didn't bother interfering.

Squatting down beside the fishman quietly, I stared at him. Though the other guards had noticed me, they didn't say anything despite looking nervous. Leaning forward towards the guard, I realized he was trying to reach his sword strapped to his side.

"That doesn't seem like a good idea." I muttered, making him jump and look at me with wide eyes. I stared at him blankly, slowly blinking my eyes before pointing back at Zoro. "He's one hell of a swordsman. You against him won't last a second, and you'll piss him off. Nothing bad is going to happen honestly, but you guys just gotta sit here."

Before he could respond, my eyes widened and I turned around just before a loud crash rumbled through the castle. The guards did express concern, but the King appeared the most alarmed.

"What's that noise!" He yelled, looking around in panic. "Is it another one of Vander Decken's spears?!" His head looked towards the direction the crash had sounded from. "It's coming from Shell Tower! Shirahoshi is in danger! Are the guards with her?!"

The guard I had just warned turned to look around worriedly, his own eyes widening. "No! We're all here!"

"Pirates! Go see that the Princess is safe!" The King ordered.

I stood back up, pursing my lips. He was panicked. Rightfully so, since this involved his daughter, and since we had chained him up so he can't do anything. I did find both amusement and slight irritation at being ordered by him.

"-We'll expose the Princess to danger with these pirates!" That same guard protested, making me glance down at him.

"We have no choice right now!" The King bellowed, his eyes glaring down at us. "Shell Tower is in the North-East sector of the castle! Go quickly!"

Zoro placed his hands on his hips, scowling up at the King. "Why is the hostage telling us what to-"

I softly nudged him as I walked back over to him, sending him a soft glare which he responded with a look as if I was crazy. "Stop that, Mr. Hottie. That's his daughter, he has a right to act like that."

"The mermaid Princess?!" Brook cried joyfully, making my eyes widen as I snapped my attention over to the skeleton. "I gotta have a look! I'll go and protect her right away!"

"I feel like his intentions aren't completely pure." I muttered.

Around the same time Usopp held out his arm to Brook, his own eyes wide. "Wait, Brook!"

"Would it be alright is I looked at her underwear?!"

"Ah shit," I slapped my face, sighing into my hand. "We can't let the perv alone." If I'm correct, the famous mermaid Princess is sixteen. Though I'm not sure if Brook is aware of the age or not, either way I don't want him saying such a thing to a teenager.

"You can leave me tied up, but take me with you!" One of the minister's yelled, he appeared to be the same one that had promised me a transponder snail earlier. "Shell tower is under my jurisdiction! If anything happens to the Princess, I'll never forgive myself!"

I glanced at Nami, "I'm gonna go too. Brook's a little worse than Sanji, and I get the feeling he doesn't know how old she is." The navigator nodded in agreement. Besides, this might actually be a great opportunity to draw her! The only person in the fishmen royal family that Arisu hasn't been allowed to draw has been the Princess.

"You're a bad boy too!" Brook laughed, making my head snap back towards him.

"Dumb ass," I rolled my eyes, using air to push me faster to catch up with them as Brook ran as fast as he could. He clearly was in a hurry.

"Oi Katsu-!" Zoro's demand was ignored.

Thankfully I had caught up to Brook rather quickly. The stupid skeleton was still giggling childishly. Something about being ahead of Sanji, whatever that meant.

"Stop that, Brook." I sighed, scaring both men as they turned to look at me.

"I didn't notice you there, Katsu!" Brook laughed after recovering.

"I had to come because you might try something indecent." I stated, "If you ask to see her panties, know three things." I held up one finger. "I'll break your spine as punishment." Then I held up another finger. "I'm pretty sure she's sixteen, so that might make you a pedophile." Then I frowned and held up my third finger. "Also, she's a mermaid. I'm pretty sure she doesn't wear panties. Once again, I still don't understand the whole obsession with mermaids."

Brook didn't stop running, but he did stare at me. "Why did you really come along, Katsu-san?"

"I told you already!" He continued to stare at me. After a good minute under his hallow gaze I sighed. "Well, I would also like to draw her. It's not completely for me though! Luffy would want me to draw her too! And so would my mentor!"

"Yohohoho! Even your intentions aren't pure!" Brook grinned.

"More pure than yours!" I growled, my teeth sharpening for a moment.

Our attention went to the area which apparently was Shell Tower. Immediately, I directed the air to form platforms to lift me into the air so I could get a better view of the damage. My eyes widened once I realized it wasn't weapons being thrown. Instead it was actual living pirates, which were incredibly bloody and appeared knocked out currently.

Not the best sight, honestly.

I looked down at Brook, frowning. "This really doesn't loo-"

"Go Shark!" The air was knocked out of me as something hit my in the stomach. "To the forest of the sea!"

"Watch where you're going!" I yelled through the grunt that escaped me from the impact. Then a lunch of water filled my mouth, my eyes going white.

"Eh?! Katsu!" An arm pulled me away from the object I was stuck to. Thankfully they pulled me into a bubble, allowing the water to dribble out of my mouth and air to fill my lungs again. "What are you doing on Shark? You know you can't swim. Also, I was looking for you earlier!"

I panted, blinking at my Captain for a moment. "I was looking for you too, and the Princess. Have you seen her?"

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End of chapter 63!

No real fighting in this chapter, and you won't really see Katsu fight until the whole crew is back together. Fingers crossed that I can write it good!

So I'm planning on going to an anime convention in August, and I've been trying to figure out who to cosplay. Like I want to go as a my hero academia character, but I also feel like everyone is going to go as one of those characters... Ideas?

This is not edited