Cayna had just watched a powerful marine by the name of Iron Jaw triumphantly walk away with her first mate and the marksman she wanted to beat up herself—one of the only things she could do was ponder. What could she possibly do to face such a strong opponent? She couldn't face him head-on. No, that'd be plain dumb. But what other options did she have?

Cayna carefully leaped over rooftops, 'That guy looked crazy strong, especially if Arondite was caught so quickly! What can I do other than attack head-on!? I can't just leave him, and I want to beat up that prick myself!' She thought with a pout, obviously referring to Bianca.

Cayna slowly made her way to rooftops that placed themselves lower to the ground beneath until she finally landed on a nearby dumpster and hopped on the pavement, "Great!—" She quickly covered her mouth and peeked around the corner of the alleyway she was in, hoping no one heard her loud, booming voice. Everybody seemed to be walking casually, and ignoring her cheerful voice. But she did spot some Marines scouting the streets, "Shoot. I can't believe they've infested the streets so quickly..." Cayna says, despite being a tad bit nervous, quite impressed by how fast Iron Jaw's Marines make moves.

Cayna decided the best choice she was able to make at the moment was to get the upper hand and sneak around the Marines. She thought to herself, 'As much as this is not my style, the choice I have to make is to either go in guns blazing...or TRY to go for a tactical sneak attack against my enemies for now...' And to Cayna, the latter was sounding nice right about now.

Cayna snuck behind some small houses as she leaped behind stands and said in a low tone, "Heh. Piece of cake—" She leans on the fruit stand she snuck past them to but her eyes widened when the stand creaked and suddenly fell apart, gaining the attention of the group of marines. "Aww, come on!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms in the air.

"There!! Get her!!" The Marine soldier shouted, causing many others on the path to start rushing towards her. "Crud!!!" Cayna yelped, starting to run away from the Marines. Even if Cayna could easily beat them, she knew the number of marines chasing her outnumbered her drastically, and she couldn't risk the appearance of Iron Jaw making the situation worse. "Shoot! Shoot! Shoot! Stupid fruit stand!" She continued to run away from the marine soldiers chasing her and made a turn to lose them, but didn't expect a few of them to come from that direction either. "CRAP!" She suddenly scaled the wall next to her using reptilian-like hands. "Don't let her get away!" One of the soldiers yelled and aimed his musket at her, but another forced the marine's hands down "What are you doing!? We can't kill her! Just let the rooftop patrol deal with her!"

When Cayna leaped onto the roof, she was met by dozens of Marines on the roof who pointed muskets at her, some of them even snickering to themselves. "You have nowhere to run to now, "Dread Jaw" Cayna! Surrender!"

"NEVER!" Cayna responded childishly as she flailed her arms and prepared to face the dozens of Marines and thought to herself, 'How could I POSSIBLY handle all these guys!?' A blur suddenly came from a distant rooftop and shot a Marine right through the head. It was an arrow imbued with some powerful aura that no person can see.

"Huh!?" Cayna sounded in shock before seeing multiple arrows fly through the sky and shoot down Marines left and right. It almost looked like arrows was raining from the sky as she watched in disbelief at how fast the arrows fell from the sky, but none of them aimed or hit her.

"Yo. It looks like you need help." Cayna heard a faint voice stating the obvious in the distance and turned her head to see a figure on a nearby roof, "Mind if I help you out?" A masculine voice from the mysterious figure asked before raising his bow again, and shooting an arrow at the rooftop Cayna resided on, creating a Zipline.

Cayna looks at the carnage on the rooftop as the male uses the Zipline to come over, revealing himself to the Captain as the bartender from the bar Bianca is regularly in. The man has the appearance of an adult male teenager despite being WAAY older. He is above average in height and has a tall, lean figure. He has red hair and large, innocent-looking hazel eyes. He is wearing a green tunic with simple brown leather armor and carries a mysterious curved bow. He also bore decently-sized pouches around his waist.

"Who are you!?" Cayna questioned as she held up a rock she found on the roof, prepared to throw it at the man with a comically serious expression. "Explain yourself or I'm going to throw this rock so hard at your head you'll see stars! Why'd you help me!"

"My name is Wakasa Arrowhead." The archer told her before seeing Marines in the distance climbing onto the roofs after hearing all the commotion and he asked Cayna, "Are you sure you want to hear more about me at the moment? Or would you rather live to see another day and follow me, Ms. Reptile?"

Cayna blinked at him with a comical face of confliction—she didn't know if she should find the name humorous or offensive but nodded quickly, "Uh yeah! I think we can hold off on introductions for now! But, where do we go!?" Cayna asked him before Wakasa walked to the edge of the roof and pointed at a bar in the distance.

"There. I have a bar near the edge of the island. It's closed today because of the stunt and damages my daughter did a day ago." Wakasa explained, causing Cayna to nod with a grin.

"Great! Now, how are we going to get there!?" Cayna questioned as Wakasa's bow lifted and aimed at a food stand in the distance. "Simple. Pirates always find a way, right? We'll force our way through." He shot an arrow at the stand, creating another Zipline. Wakasa grabbed onto the Zipline and told her, "Let's get going, shall we?" The two used the Zipline to get down to the ground.

Cayna and Wakasa turned their heads to see marines dashing through the streets to catch up to them and Wakasa stated casually, "That's the direction we have to go..." Cayna prepared to face the Marines, but Wakasa flicked his wrists quickly from the bags on his waist, revealing two crossbows connected to his wrists, "Hmph. Watch this...why get up close when you can handle them before even getting close enough to make out their faces...?" His eyes let off a faint glow before he let off a relentless barrage of arrows into the horde of Marines as the two of them charged through. Cayna looked at Wakasa in awe as she thought as they ran, 'HE'S SO COOL!!!' Cayna continued to follow Wakasa since he knew the best route to the bar without running into many issues.

The two dashed into a bar that Bianca is usually seen at and Wakasa welcomed Cayna to his bar nonchalantly, "Welcome to Lvneel Bar. My bar earned its name for being one of the more famous places for booze, rum, and ale...But, that's not all this bar is worth. Follow me." Wakasa explained as the two stood in the center of the bar before he pointed to a door behind the counter, "Our destination is there. It's safer." Cayna followed him into the backroom of the bar to a supply door and opened the door for her, "Lady's first."

Cayna blinked at him before hesitantly walking into the door to see a long slide that goes to the "basement" of the bar, "Eh? A slide—Huh?" Wakasa suddenly used his foot to push her down the slide and he followed behind her, going down the slide with his arms crossed. "WAAAAA—OOOF!!" Cayna kept going down until she faceplants into the floor at the bottom of the slide while Wakasa leaped over her as he slid down and landed on his feet.

Cayna lifted her face to see they were in a large room full of shelves that held countless books and Wakasa explained, "This underground area is my library and a place to isolate myself." He informed Cayna who stood up and looked around in curiosity and awe before Wakasa mumbled to himself, reminiscing on the times he spent with a certain female bandit, "But, it's also where Bianca studied maps of the seas and learned everything there is to know about geography..." He looked at the rows of books on the shelves as he placed the crossbows back into the pouches around his waist.

Cayna returned her attention to Wakasa and asked him again, "Who are you, and why did you help me?"

"Hmm?" Wakasa turned his head to Cayna as he took a seat in a recliner chair near the bookshelves and said, "Oh. As you know, your crewmate was taken by Iron Jaw and his crew of tactical marines. I honestly could have left you to be caught but I have a heart for people only trying to survive in this world." He told her, "I thought since Iron Jaw also caught my daughter, Bianca, it would be a swell idea if you and I worked together to get them back-"

"WAIT A MINUTE! THAT THIEF IS YOUR DAUGHTER!?" Cayna asked with a comical expression of anger, "HOW COULD SUCH A NICE MAN RAISE SOME PETTY THIEF LIKE THAT!?"

Wakasa sweatdropped and apologized, "I am truly sorry for her behavior. I don't know where she got this instinct to steal." He then shook his head and corrected himself, "No, I do know. She's simply surviving on her own." He looked down a bit before he informed Cayna, "Despite me doing my best to take care of her, the older she got, the more she starved for independence and survival...I think she believes she's holding me back by staying around and being a target for the Marines..." He mumbled softly as he rubbed his chin. Cayna blinked at him and thought about the strained relationship between him and his daughter, Bianca, before sitting in front of him and crossing her legs, wanting to hear their story. "Your daughter-why does she act like such a...such a jerk!? Did she grow up like that!? How is she YOUR daughter!? You two act and look nothing alike!!"

Wakasa blinked at Cayna and asked, "Why do you want to know about Bianca's past?"

"Because before we go save Arondite and Bianca, I want to know if I'll have to beat her up or give her a simple punch to the face for stealing my food!!" Cayna exclaimed with a pout.

Wakasa simply chuckled and said, "Well, I guess I can tell you if it'll speed up the process..."

"Yeah, I need to save my swordsman NOW!" Cayna told him, prepared to hear Bianca's side of the story.

~BEGINNING OF FLASHBACK~

"Bianca belonged to a rich family before being taken under my roof. Her parents were famous traders. They died one day and left their daughter alone in this cruel world. I remember when she appeared in my bar one night, bloody and bruised. To be honest, I thought she died alongside her parents in the assassination. I didn't know what happened, but a few years later I heard around the bar before I closed that someone murdered an entire room of people with nothing but two pistols to their name, and shot down a marine..."

It was raining heavily outside. The rain crashed against the bar's window as Wakasa hummed softly, cleaning up after the people that left the bar. But suddenly, someone dashed into the bar! The young Bianca pants heavily, leaning against the bar doors with two pistols attached to her side and Wakasa simply stared at her, wiping alcohol out of cups on the counter, "Huh? Bianca?" Bianca quickly limps over to the bar's counter and she begged, tears leaving her eyes, "H-Help me!" Wakasa merely stared at her, understanding the entire situation from simply looking into her eyes. "I see..."

Wakasa lifted Bianca from under her arms and placed her behind the counter, saying, "Remain quiet..." As he told her this, some Marines busted into the bar as Wakasa pretended to wipe some glass cups casually. He looked up at the Marines, "Hmm?" One of them marched over to the counter and asked, "Sir, did you see any girl with short brown hair and two pistols?"

Wakasa shook his head as he continued to clean the cups with a rag, "Nope. I haven't seen anyone around here today. Everybody left earlier..."

The marine soldier stared into Wakasa's eyes and seemed a bit skeptical. Wakasa didn't flinch and placed the glass cup down on the table, "Are you suspicious, sir? You know it's rude to stare at people." He informed the marine soldier who sighed and took a few steps back before turning back to his comrades. "Come on boys. We have to keep looking! She couldn't have gotten far!" The marines dash out of the bar and he sighs softly, "Come on. You're innocent until proven guilty when it comes to me. Tell me what happened." Wakasa spoke straightforwardly, picking up Bianca from behind the counter and placing her on it. Bianca was quietly crying as she tried to tell Wakasa.

"She told me everything...Her parents were assassinated. They became martyrs to show men and women alike what happens to people who become successful. They were murdered by a bunch of envious men. I remember that, and I always wondered what happened to their little girl after that day...Well, that's until she appeared in my bar that day...Bianca told me that she mercilessly killed the people that took out her parents, but the marines came at the worse time and accused her of the murders happening around the island, including the death of her parents...So, she panicked and killed one of them in front of a Marine Captain...I decided to take her in as my own and have her hunt for me...Everything was going swimmingly until she was accidentally spotted by marines one day...she panicked and ran back to the bar, hiding in a barrel...she felt horrible when she saw the way they "interrogated" me through a hole in the barrel...I allowed them to toss and push me around. I even allowed them to dump booze on me as I denied the fact of Bianca being in my bar..." Wakasa told Cayna, "After they left, she argued with me about leaving and going somewhere else. She believed that she only attracted trouble to me...I refused to let her go out there on her own so...she shot me in the shoulder and ran...I didn't see her for months...But then, it looked like destiny wanted me to find her again..."

"N-Ngh..." Bianca winced as she sat on a rock in the forest of Lvneel, her injuries worsening from the lack of care for them. "D-Damn it, I didn't think I'd actually get hit...that bastard got a lucky shot..." Bianca looked at her leg to see the bullet wound and closed her eyes tightly, "Bianca! You weren't supposed to look at it. It'll only h-hurt more..." The rain continued to fall until she felt it stop and looked up to see an umbrella over her head. She then looked over to the person holding the umbrella and her eyes widened a bit.

"And what are you doing out here all alone, missy?" Wakasa asked, hunting for wild animals to serve in his bar. Bianca had looked to the side in embarrassment, never wanting to be seen in such a weak state, "Oh, it's you, Mr. Arrowhead..." She mumbled under her breath. "Shouldn't you be staying away from me or somethin'...? You do know I'm a wanted criminal, right? It'd do you well to leave me alone..."

Wakasa shook his head and kneeled in front of her, "Bianca. You know I can't do that..." He suddenly heard a click and he looked down to see Bianca pointing the head of the pistol at his chest. Wakasa only stared at it as Bianca shakily cocked the pistol. She gritted her teeth as heavy, shaky pants escaped her mouth and narrowed her eyes at him, trying to refrain from letting tears leave her eyes.

"Why...? Why won't you leave me alone? Isn't feeding and bathing me enough!? You took care of me long enough!" Bianca shouted at him. "I've robbed you of your peace! I have made messes in your bar! I even shot you in the shoulder last week! Why won't you leave me alone!? I'm a bad person! I'm not worth being around, and I'm sure you have something better to do than messing with me—OUCH!" Wakasa slowly lifted her leg and eyed the wound, "You've been shot, huh? How old is it? How old is the injury, Bianca?" He asked calmly, lowering her wrist that held the pistol and pulling out a small bag carrying medical supplies. Her eyes widened a bit and her lip quivered, 'H-He planned to find me...' She could see it in his eyes. Yes, he was outside hunting for the meals he served at the bar. But, he was also hunting...for her...

Bianca blinked at him. She was confused. She was angered by his actions. Why was he still helping her? She didn't even know him all that well other than the times her father and mother would head to the bar to get drinks for the parties they held in the mansion she called home. "T-Two days ago..." She told him truthfully with a slight stutter and tipped her hat over her eyes. "I see. Let me take you back to the bar to patch you up some more, okay?" He told her while wrapping the bandages around Bianca's injured leg.

Bianca quickly shook her head and used her cowboy hat to cover her face, "No! I'll just cause you more problems and you'll get hurt because of me-" Wakasa removed Bianca's hat from her face to see that she was crying. Wakasa opened his arms to her and she slowly shuffled into his grasp, crying loudly. "It must've been hard being alone...when you shot me that day, it didn't hurt me at all...I knew you were the one in pain..." Wakasa told her.

"I-I'm scared! I miss mama! I miss papa! I miss home! I don't have anywhere to go!!!" Bianca wailed.

Wakasa shook his head and told her, "Yes, you do...your home is with me. I'll take care of you as long as you want me to..." Bianca sniffled but slowly nodded. "You can be my daughter from here on out, okay? I'm not going to betray nor am I going to leave you behind. I promise you're safe with me...I'll take care of you until you can fly on your own..." Wakasa rubbed Bianca's head as she cried into his chest, gripping his tunic tightly, "You'll go your own way and you'll be okay. I'm sure you will find your calling in the future, but for now, you're with me..."

~END OF FLASHBACK~

"And now, she is an independent woman with goals that I can't even understand at this point. I think she might be bored. I want her to leave this island and find something else to do other than drink, steal, and kill." Wakasa claimed as he stood up at the same time as Cayna.

Cayna thought about Wakasa's words and groaned slightly, sort of resenting the idea that popped into her mind. But, she decided to keep it to herself for now before she smiled and held her hand out to Wakasa, "I see! So, that means I'm not going to beat her up! I'm just going to punch her in the face! Haha! I also have an idea after we save them, but that's only if Bianca agrees to it!" Wakasa shook her hand and nodded a bit, "Alright then, let's go save my daughter and your swordsman..."

To Be Continued...

Just real quick, wanna give a huge shoutout to @Det3rmined_Writ3r  for writing this chapter! I highly recommend going over and checking out their profile, they're an incredibly talented writer, and just plain awesome! Next chapter drops next Saturday, see you all then!