8- Battle With Captain Kuro

Mira

Luffy was ready for a battle and I was going to help. He can't do it alone. Luffy's determination was my determination.

Then, "What was that?!" "What did he do?!" Rang out around the crew below. I guess they've never seen someone like Luffy. "It looked like his arm stretched!" No duh... "He sent Captain Kuro flying!" Indeed, he did fly backward. His glasses were broken and his face was bruised up and he was knocked out cold.

Then, out of no where, "THE USOPP PIRATES ARE HERE!" And the three kids ran out into the open brandishing random objects. One held a frying pan, another with a shovel, and the third had a bat. They then began to whack the crap out of Kurahdol who was still laying on the ground.

"You guys!" Usopp shouted.

"Stay away!" begged Kaya.

"Say your prayers, butt-ler!" The dark skinned kid shouted.

"It's punishment time!" Purple haired kid yelled.

"Lousy pirate! Disrupting this village!" The kid with glasses added in. They just kept hitting him over and over and I face palmed. Their gonna get hurt...

"S-stop!" Usopp pleaded. He didn't want them to get involved, and neither did I.

"Damn you!" The crew screamed. "Lousy brats! Who are you! Stop hurting Captain Kuro!"

"What're those runts doing?!" I heard Zoro ask.

"Stop that!" Usopp tried again. "You guys, stop... Stop it!" Finally, they stop hitting Kurahdol and were panting hard. He didn't have a whole lot of damage done to him. He just looked pissed.

"Alright!" They said. "We'll let you off with just that!"

"Now Captain Kuro is really mad!" Jango sounded scared. "Those stupid brats!"

"Captain!" The kids shouted as they ran to Usopp. "I knew it! You were fighting, Captain!"

"Why didn't you tell us?! That's unbare!" The dark kid chimed in. I really need to get names right...

"No!" I think his name is Tamanegi. "I think you mean unfair!"

"Who cares about that right now!" Usopp interrupted. "You guys just gotta get out of here! Run!"

"No!" Purple hair (Ninjin?) shouted.

"We're gonna fight too!" Dark skin kid (Piiman?) added.

"The Usopp Pirates will be shamed if we run!" Tamanegi piped up.

I squeaked and pointed to Kurahdol who was right behind the kids. They slowly turned around. Kuro pushed his glasses up and the rest of the glass fell out. I almost laughed my ass off when the kids let out a loud scream and their eyes turned snow white and their mouths hung down to the ground. I held it in though, for if I was in their place, I'd probably do the same thing...

"You idiots!" Usopp yelled over the kids. "Get out of here! Now!"

But Kurahdol did something completely different than slicing the kids to bits. He walked right past them right up to Usopp. I was too late to stop Kurahdol from kicking Usopp square in the face.

I bared my teeth at him. "You bastard!" I tackled him and we rolled end over end, his claws nicking both him and me a couple times. I ended up on top, pinning his arms down at the elbows. "How dare you do that?!" I took one hand and pounded it into his face. His lip split. "Never," punch. "Touch," punch. "An injured," punch. "Man! He has done nothing too terribly wrong to you! Just one punch!" punch punch punch. "Big deal! I'll give you a thousand punches!" Three more punches and I got off him.

He didn't move. In fact, no one did. Their faces were the same way when I had tackled Kuro. I looked up and saw a stationary bird. Oops. Did it again...

I looked down the slope and saw Luffy staring at me. His eyes seemed to be following me. Can people who posses the Devil's Fruit see and hear everything even when frozen in time? Buggy seemed to when I squeezed his nose. Maybe... I'll have to ask Luffy later.

Time slowly came back into motion as I willed. Kurahdol stood and had the most wild look to his bleeding face. "You dare hit me?!"

I crossed my arm. "And?

He huffed and turned to Luffy. "That hurt quite a bit. What a strange ability you have. Do you possess the Devil's Fruit?"

"Yeah," He answered. "I ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi." Everyone on the slope backed up a bit in fear. "I'm a rubber person!" And they screamed like little girls.

"What?! A Devil's Fruit?!"

"He's dangerous!"

"They really do exist?!"

"I thought he seemed strange!" Rang out all at the same time. Jango started talking about how he knew now he wasn't hallucinating.

"Jango!"

"Yeah?!" He snapped to attention.

"I'll handle the boy and Mira." He stated. "You take care of Miss Kaya. As planned, have her write a will, then kill her!" His blades scraped together as he explained his plan in brief. Kaya became even paler, if that was even possible. "As for those three ants, they're an eyesore."

The kids paled. "On it." Jango started up the hill.

Zoro put his arm parallel to the ground in front of Jango. "Stop. I can't let you pass."

"Butchie!" He called out and fatso charged.

"CAT -ASTROPHE!!!" He launched himself in the air and started to fall right on Zoro.

"Not again!" Zoro complained. He readied himself and dodged at the last second. Butchie fell right to the ground and left a huge crater. I felt the vibrations from here. I cast my eyes to Kuro, contemplating when I should attack him openly again.

I moved my eyes over to the kids and saw them staring at my head and tail. I pointed to myself and mouthed "Neko." They nodded slightly, but weren't sure how to answer to that. I turned back to Kuro. All that happened in less that two seconds.

The impact of the crater caused a land slide and the entire ground split all the way down the slope. Everybody, except for Luffy was screaming and running for their lives. A wall of dust rose into the air. Through the dust, I could see Luffy and Captain Kuro locked in each other's hard gaze.

The dust quickly cleared and I saw Zoro block off a sneak attack from Butchie.

"Mira," I cast an eye to Kuro. "Do you like seeing your friends get hurt?"

My eyes narrowed. "Shut up. We will defeat you. It's not that hard."

He pushed his glasses up. "We shall see." Without warning, he charged me. I brought my claws up at the last second and held him off. "Do you know what my claws are made of, Mira?" I hissed at him. "Pure metal, Mira. I can easily beat you. Your real claws don't stand a chance." Our arms were shaking from all the force we were using to best the other. His were shaking more than mine were.

"Do you know the difference between us, Kuro?" I asked him.

"That I am better and have more experience?" He offered and I smirked.

"No, not that." I corrected. "I have the will to keep fighting and have the heart to put my best foot forward." In saying so, I brought my right foot up and clawed him from chest to stomach. He grunted and blood started to weep from his wounds.

My ears pricked up and listened to the fight between Butchie and Zoro. Zoro seemed to have the upper hand here. In my battle, I had the upper hand, for I didn't have to exert so much force to keep my opponent at bay. Kuro was having a hard time breaking through my defenses. His were quite easy to see through.

"KAYA!" Crap! I'd been so caught up in my battle, I forgot about Jango! I gritted my teeth and pushed. Kurahdol grunted as he tried to hold me back. Sweat dripped off his head as he fought to keep me back and not ruin his plan farther. "Usopp Pirates!"

"Y-yes sir!" The kids replied.

"Listen to me closely!" Usopp ordered.

"We're not running away!" The kids shouted.

"Not after what they did to you!" Piiman yelled.

"We're going to avenge you!" Tamanegi added in.

I almost didn't hear his command. "Protect Kaya." The kids were silent. "Listen closely. I'm giving you the most important task there is now! Take Kaya and get away from here! Don't tell me you can't! That was the reason we formed our pirate group: To become men who can protect what's important to us!"

I was proud of the immobile liar. His next words were too soft for me to hear, but the kids were loud and clear. "Yes, Captain!" They shouted in unison. "Hurry, Kaya-san! This way! This way!" And they were off.

"Jango!" Kuro grunted.

"Ah!" He stated. "I wound up gawking." And he continued his way up the slope after them.

I struggled to push Kuro off me. "Leave those kids alone!" I bellowed after Jango, but he kept on walking. Crap! Do I fight Kuro, or do I help the kids?!" I was having am argument with myself on what I should do. My father wants me to defeat Kuro, but the kids need help. What do I do?

I decided to stay with option number one. While my claws were still locked with Kurahdol's, I braced myself against the walls and delivered blow after blow with my hind feet to his exposed front.

Somehow, Kuro managed to pin my side to the wall with my own katana. It dug into my side and I was stuck to the wall, unable to move. He released me and let me hang on the stone. I used my heels to hold myself upright to keep the blade from slicing me in two.

He left me to battle Luffy, who was slowly making his way up the slope. "Butchie!" He cried out.

Said fake neko struggled to go after Zoro. "You already lost to me once!" Zoro told him. "I told you not to get in my way!" He brought his foot up. "Move!" and kicked him square in the jaw. Butchie fell backward.

I gripped the hilt of my katana and slowly eased it out. I hissed and stopped. It only moved an inch and it felt horrible. There has to be a way to get it out without hurting myself too badly. In doing so, I missed Zoro preform his fatal move on Butchie. I only saw the aftermath with him falling and Luffy coming to a stop near the top of the slope.

I watched as Zoro threw his swords high in the air and fall perfectly into their perspective sheaths. I was impressed, but still in pain.

"Zoro," I managed to say, blood running out the side of my mouth. He turned to me and his eyes widened slightly. "Teach me... Teach me how to do that."

"D-do you need help?" He questioned.

I shook my head. "N-no. I got it."

Suddenly, birds sprang up in the air. "Wh-what is that noise?" Usopp asked, sitting up slightly.

"Who knows?" Kuro asked calmly. "Old Jango is probably tearing the place up. Why not go and see for yourself?"

"Baka!" I shouted, blood flying into the air. "You know good as I do that he can't move!"

"Hn!" Kuro laughed in my direction. "It might already be too late, though."

"Damn you..." Usopp swore. "Don't you have even a shred of pity?! You lived with her for three years!" I watched as Usopp tried to get up. I slid my katana out a little farther. That bastard stuck it into the rock real deep.

"No. I already told you," Kurahdol answered. "Kaya is nothing more than a pawn in my plan." I gasped as I was able to pull it out farther. Just a little more... "Once she's dead, then I'll express some gratitude."

"Damn you..." Usopp swore again. A hiss of pain and I knew it wasn't much longer until I was free of the rock. I was going to have one nasty scar after this. I'll add it to the list of ones I have already.

"What a helplessly evil guy." I heard Zoro state.

"I don't plan to help him, though!" Luffy added in. "Usopp!" He cried out. "Go get them! We'll take over here." His face was serious. If I can wait until the timing is just perfect, I can deliver the fatal blow to Kurahdol.

I coughed up a mouthful of blood so I could speak. "Go, Usopp. Help them in any way you can." I flinched at the pain when I clung onto the hilt tighter. He then looked at me and gasped at my situation. My tail twitched. "Go, leave me here." My ears pricked in the direction of the kids. "They need your help."

"Leave it to us!" Zoro agreed. Finally, Usopp managed to get to his feet, but he was a little shaky.

"That's right, Usopp." I encouraged. "Just walk off the pain. Just walk it off like it isn't even there." That's how I got through life.

"Oh?" Kuro wondered. "You can still move? How impressive."

"Shut up." Usopp commanded. "I refuse to let you...have your way!" Such determination. I glanced over at Luffy and saw him staring intently at Usopp with a smug smirk. Is he helping in some way? But that's absurd. No one can heal others with a glance. "You went and betrayed the villager's-and Kaya's- feelings!" He continued on and sniffed hard. "I refuse to let you have your way anymore!" He took a step and his legs buckled.

"Usopp!" Luffy gasped.

"Damnit..." He huffed. "I... Can't.... Move..."

Kurahdol chuckled wickedly and loudly. "You really are a riot! I betrayed them, you say?! Cut the crap! This was all part of the plan! A kiddie pirate captain like you has no place to talk all-knowingly! Just stay on the ground there."

Luffy bared his teeth at Kuro. "Though, even if you did catch up with Jango," He egged on. "You'd be no match for him anyway. This is probably safest for you."

I growled silently. I'd had it with his bullshitting mouth. Like a Band-Aid, I ripped the remaining katana blade from me and the rock and threw it at him with all my might. My aim was off and it got him across the back of his neck instead of into his chest. He staggered and held onto the wound I inflicted. Of course, I can't defy gravity and I fell onto my hands and knees. Ouch, that hurt...

Usopp didn't see what happened and pressed on. "Even if I am no match for him, I will protect them! I am the captain of the Usopp-"

"You slimy bitch!" Kurahdol cut him off and ran right at me. He lifted me up and dug his claws into the rocks. His face made me think he had gone insane. "Just one tug and I can behead you!"

"I'd like to see you try!" I spat blood into his face. He rubbed it off on his vest sleeve.

I heard something down at the other end of the slope, the sound of people laughing, then the same people screaming their heads off. I would have turned to look, but one twist will kill me, so I kept my gaze locked in Kurahdol's to let him know I wasn't afraid.

"What's so funny?!" Luffy demanded threateningly.

"Luffy!" Zoro called. "Me and Usopp-" Usopp and I. I mentally corrected. "-Are going after the hypno-freak. That a problem?" He asked. I heard him lift Usopp onto his shoulder.

"Nope!" He answered. "Hurry!" And off the pair went. I knew they were going to win. They just had to. The poor girl is too young to die.

"Hold it, you two." Kuro said as he kept boring his eyes into mine. "Who said you could get past this hill?"

"Their captain." I answered for them. "And you're stuck with me and can't do anything about it." I smirked. "Go ahead, you two!" I called out to them.

"Works for me." And Zoro went right on walking like he was never stopped by Kurahdol.

"Face it, Kurahdol." He frowned slightly. "Your plan is going to fail and we will win, just like we did when we took down Captain Buggy. Hey, did you know that his nose squeaks?" I asked, trying to distract him. His mouth became a firm line as he fought to keep from laughing.

"To answer your question more thoroughly, I did!" Luffy shouted as he swung his arm right at Kuro. He ducked. "And another! Let go of Mira!" Luffy's body flew right for us and Kuro slipped his hand from his glove so he could disappear. Luffy flew right by him and rolled away just in time before he was slashed to pieces. It must be hard to attack someone with one weapon if you're used to using two.

"GOMU GOMU no... SPEAR!" His feet shot straight up and hit open air. "He disappeared again!" No duh, Luffy. "Oh well, at least they're past the hill."

I scanned the area to find Kurahdol. I have to learn how he is able to do that so I can use it against him. Luffy got back on his feet and scanned with me, though for a different purpose. There! I focused my eyes to his feet and watched closely.

"Before fighting, I have one thing to ask you." Kuro stated. "Why is an outsider like you butting into this village's business?"

Luffy grinned. "Because there is a man in this village I don't want to let die!" Simple enough.

"How simple." That's what I said! "Are you okay with that being why you die?" Kurahdol questioned.

"Yep!" Luffy grinned bigger. "I'm not gonna die, though!" He took a step towards Kuro and held up a fist in a crouched position. I edged the glove blades out of the rock and slid them on my hand, but kept a close watch on Kuro's feet.

"I'll make sure you do!" He cried out as he readied his single claw glove. He drove himself forward, but Luffy was quicker. He launched his arms forward to grab his shoulders and was aiming to ram his feet into Kuro's face.

Kuro saw right through that and twisted his body so that Luffy ran face first into the ground away from his target. "GOMU GOMU no... WHIP!" His leg shot out to trip Kuro but he jumped at the last second. Come on... Show me your foot work... "And pistol!" He shouted as Kuro landed again. Ah-HAH! I caught every movement and saw Kuro on top of Luffy's arm. I know how you do it, Kurahdol. Time to turn the tables.

The blades clanged together softly as I held them above the ground. I got onto my tip toes and followed his moves exactly. It felt amazing to be faster than the world! I was soon right behind Kurahdol and I made a huge gash in his back. He gasped in pain and surprise as he fell off of Luffy's arm to his knees.

"You rotten bitch..." He managed to choke out. Before I knew it, he was beside me and had his other glove back then right before us the next with both of his gloves securely in place. "You will pay for that."

His crew started cheering for him down below, calling him Captain Kuro. "Don't call me that name!" He ordered to the crowd below. They instantly shut up. "Do you still not get it?" His voice dropped. "This plan is so I can get rid of the name 'Captain Kuro'! I'm tired... Devising everyday for you men who only care about mayhem... Being relentlessly attacked by the government dogs and bounty hunters... I was absolutely sick of it all!" He hunched over and became a thing of instilling pure fear into all. He told us why he wanted Captain Kuro to be killed so he could live on as someone else.

"And when my plan today succeeds," He added on. "My goal will be fully achieved. Money and peace of mind will be mine! Do you understand, boy? Mira? I cannot allow this plan of three years to fail!"

"Tch!" I turned my head from him. "Good luck. You're as good as dead in the condition you're in."

"Speak for yourself!" He rounded on me.

"No," I lifted up my shirt to reveal the scar from my katana that he inflicted on me. "I don't have to."

"It scarred already?!"

"That's impossible!"

"Who is she?!" Yup, I had instilled fear in all of them. Point for me!

Kuro charged at us with his blades ready. Luffy reached behind him and brought down a huge boulder just in time for Kurahdol to jam his claws into it. "It seems you can do more than just stretch." He stated.

"That's right!" Luffy agreed. "I've toughened myself up to be a pirate!"

I walked around the boulder to inspect the damage. I winked to Luffy. "Stuck tight!" Luffy then proceeded to crush the boulder to a mere hourglass shaped rock and yanked. Kurahdol's blade snapped off at the end, leaving him with tiny stubs. He gasped in shock and caught his balance to keep from falling.

"You're tired?!" Luffy egged on. "You're not fit to be a pirate if a name on the sea scares you!" He seemed really smug after what he did. Then he went on and smashed the rock into Kurahdol's face and hit him dead on. "My ambition is much greater than yours!"

I stepped aside and whispered into Luffy's ear. "I want to give the final blow when all of this of over." He nodded and allowed me to do so when the time comes. I can't wait!