The First Fight with the Navy

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+~*~*~*~*~*~+

"Are you really okay?" I look all over the small girl's arms and legs, praying that I don't find any scraps.

"I promise that I am okay," the little girl giggles. "He saved me from the fall," she points at Luffy.

"He does do that," I straighten up, placing my hands on my hips as I smile. "What's your name, little girl? I'm Akari, and the boy who saved you is Luffy, and the kid with glasses is Koby."

"I'm Rika," the little girl smiles. "It's nice to meet you all."

"Oh, Zoro wanted me to tell you that he ate your rice balls, and he said it was delicious," Luffy grins, sitting on the steps of Rika's house.

"Really!?" Rika bounces around.

"Yep! He ate it all up," Luffy nods a few times.

"I'm so happy!"

"Could that guy really be as terrible as everyone says?" Koby asks from his place on a barrel.

"He's not a bad guy," Rika and I snap.

"I knew I liked you," I grin, placing my arm around her shoulders.

"Everyone in town is afraid of him," Rika begins to explain. "But he hasn't even done anything wrong. The whole reason he got thrown into prison is because of me. Helmeppo had a bunch of mean dogs, and they attacked me. Roronoa Zoro saved me! Those dogs were running loose, attacking and scaring everyone in town. He did us all a favor."

"Are you serious?" I roll my eyes. "I hate that blond guy even more now."

"So that's why Zoro is in prison? All because he hurt that guy's dogs to save you?"

"Correct," Rika firmly nods.

"That makes sense," Koby messes with his glasses. "Zoro's scary, but he only goes after people with a bounty on their heads. He wouldn't get thrown into prison for getting rid of them."

"Captain Morgan and his son are the bad guys," Rika angrily pouts, sitting down on the step above Luffy.

"I figured," I sigh, taking a place next to Rika.

"They put people to death for no reason all the time! Everyone is afraid of them."

The annoying laugh of that bastard Helmeppo silences us. "You're not bowing your heads low enough, scum! I'll tell my daddy on all of you!! Do you want to be a failure like Roronoa Zoro! We're going to hold a public execution for him in three days! We'll make an example of him! I can hardly wait!"

Luffy stands up, walking to the street to meet the asshole.

"Three days?" I furrow my eyebrows, standing up with Luffy. Koby is close behind.

"You made a promise to him!?" Luffy calls out to Helmeppo.

"What? How did you hear that?" Helmeppo looks over at us. "That was just a joke. He's an idiot for believing it!"

"You're no man then," I snarl.

Luffy quickly pulls his arm back, and then punches Helmeppo across the face.

"Luffy!" Koby gasps, grabbing his arm. "Stop! Calm down!"

"That guy is scum and needs to learn his lesson." Luffy scowls at the man on the ground.

"You want to make an enemy of the Navy, do you?" Helmeppo coughs, spitting out blood.

"Hell yes," I evilly grin.

"Koby, I've made my decision," Luffy readies up with his other arm. "I'm going to ask Zoro to join my crew, and that is final."

"He really did it!" A man in the crow shouts. "He punched that captain's son!"

"Captain Morgan will be furious!" A woman screams.

"Luffy! Stop, are you trying to pick a fight with the whole Navy?" Koby is now holding both of Luffy's arms so he can't punch again.

"He deserves it," I snatch my shuriken bag out of my backpack, grabbing a few to be ready.

"Scum is scum, no matter who their father is," Luffy's face is full of anger.

"You, you hit me! You really hit me!" Helmeppo sits up as his guards rush to his side. "No one has ever hit me. Not even my daddy!"

"He should have," I lowly chuckle.

"I'm Captain Morgan's beloved son!" Helmeppo bellows. "And I am telling him what you did!"

The whole crowd gasps, as if the whole world is going to end.

"Don't run crying to your father!" Luffy takes a step towards the man. "Face me like a man!"

"Luffy, please stop!" Koby pleads.

Helmeppo's guards have helped him into a standing position, and have begun to walk away.

"You'll die begging for mercy!" Helmeppo screams. "You're a walking corpse! My father will kill you!"

"He's not worth hitting," Luffy pulls his arms out of Koby's grasp. "He is a weakly not worth anyone's time."

"You booger face!" Helmeppo screams as he just gets out of range.

"You've done it now," Koby sighs, shaking his head.

"Oh, he knows," I grin, placing my shurikens back in their bag.

"You were great, big brother!" Rika rushes out to us, a big smile on her face. "And big sister, if only you had a chance to throw a shuriken. I feel a lot better now."

"Ah, then I wish I could have gotten a few more whacks in for you," Luffy crosses his arms.

"I wish I could have thrown to show my skill," I giggle.

"Rika! Get over here!" An older women's voice slices through the air. Then she appears next to Rika, and I know she must be here mother. "You shouldn't be talking to those people. If they think you're a friend of theirs, they'll kill you too!"

"But mommy," Rika whines. "He's a good man, and she's a good girl. And Zoro, he's a good-"

"What are you saying!" Rika's mother cuts her off before she can say anymore. "You didn't go to the parade ground, did you?"

"Well, um, no," Rika draws out the word.

"Hurry up, let's get inside," Rika's mother pulls her toward their front door.

Rika looks back at us with sadness swirling in her eyes.

And then she is gone behind the slammed door of her house.

"Aw, I really like her," I pout. "Mothers are protective, so I understand the fear."

"They won't let you get away with this!" Koby is back to his hysterical self. "Captain Morgan has the whole Navy behind him, and the whole island afraid of him!"

"Whatever, don't care, I need to talk to Zoro," Luffy grabs my arm, pulling me towards the Marine base.

"What are you going to do, Koby?" I look back at the boy. "You probably shouldn't follow us, so we'll see you later."

"You two are crazy!" Koby shouts at us.

"Thank you!" I giggle as I pick up the pace to keep up with Luffy.

It takes a few minutes to get out of the city, and back on the path towards the base. The warmth of Luffy's hand on my arm makes the blush rise on my cheeks.

"What if he says no to joining?" I speak up after a moment.

"Then we have to find someone else," Luffy shrugs. "But, in the predicament he is in, I think that we have a good chance of finding a new crewmate."

+~*~*~*~*~*~+

"I am still not loving you holding me and jumping meters into the air," I sigh, fixing my shirt. Now, Luffy's arm around my torso, I will always love that.

"I could always toss you," Luffy suggests.

"No-no-no-no," I rapidly say, shaking my head as Luffy chuckles. "Keep picking me up. Never stop grabbing me and flinging us through the air."

"Hey!" Luffy calls to Zoro, tugging me to walk over to him.

"You two again?" Zoro lifts his head up. The dried blood somehow looks worse than when we saw him earlier. "If this is about me joining your crew, my answer is still no!"

"Call me Luffy, and this is Akari," Luffy jabs his thumb in my direction. "We'll untie you if you'll join the crew, okay?"

"You don't listen, do you?" Zoro grumbles. "I have my own mission, and it does not involve becoming a stinking pirate."

"You're too good to be a pirate?" I furrow my eyebrows as I look Zoro over. "You, a bounty hunter that everyone is afraid of because they view you as a demon? But being a pirate is not much better?"

"I don't care what people think of me. I live by my own code. I have never done anything I regret, and I don't intend to. Which is why I will never be a pirate!"

"Sorry," Luffy crosses his arms. "I have made up my mind. You are joining my crew!"

"I don't care what you've decided!" Zoro explodes.

"I heard you can use a sword," I give Luffy a small shove. "A swordsman does have his own set of rules, so I can understand why you are acting this way."

"Where are your swords now?" Luffy looks back at Zoro.

"The captain's idiot son took them from me," Zoro sighs. "Next to me life, those swords are my dearest treasure."

"Treasures, huh? Too bad they took them, then," Luffy nods.

"Luffy," I mumble.

"I know! I'll get your swords back from them, and then if you want them from me, you'll have to join my crew!" Luffy points at Zoro.

"You're a little rat!" Zoro struggles against his restraints.

"Akari, stay here, and I will be back soon!" Luffy rushes off in the direction of the fortress.

"Man, he is really dumb," Zoro shakes his head, and then looks right at me. "So, what are you?"

"Oh," I jump a little. "Well, I am a blacksmith, and I am working hard to one day make a legendary sword. I still have a long way to go, but, I know I can do it."

"Do you fight?"

"Yes, I do," I nod. "I have shurikens, but I haven't been able to use them on a person yet. Luffy, well, you saw him. He'll rush into any fight he can."

"Hm," Zoro looks over at the main fortress. "Have you known him long?"

"All my life," I slightly smile. "He's a bit of a handful, but I can't imagine how boring my life would be without him."

"Ah, I see what's going on here," Zoro smirks as he looks back at me. "He doesn't know because he's too stupid, right?"

"Luffy is a lot smarter than you are giving him credit," I glare as I place my hands on my hips. "You're lucky that I have a good feeling about you, Roronoa Zoro, and I want you on our crew just as much as Luffy."

"You dodged the question like an expert. Akari, was it?"

"Oh, um, yes," I let my hands fall off my hips.

"That little girl told you what happened, didn't she?"

"You mean Rika, and she did. In my opinion, you're the good guy in this situation."

"Yeah, well, no one else was going to protect her, so I felt like I had to."

"Akari!" Koby's voice pierces through my head.

"Koby?" I turn to see the boy rushing at us. "I told you to stay back in town."

"What kind of man would I be if I let you two run off to uphold justice, and I cowered back in town?" Koby takes a deep breath, pushing his glasses back up his nose.

"You'd be as low as Helmeppo," I grin. "Thanks for coming, Koby."

"Where's Luffy?"

"Oh, yeah, he ran for the fortress," I point to the compound behind us. "He's going to get Zoro's swords back."

"What! He ran in there all by himself? Ugh, why is he so reckless?" Koby groans.

"I've noticed that," Zoro speaks up. "Who is he anyway?"

"Akari, help me with the ropes," Koby steps up to the right of Zoro and begins to untie the knots.

"Sure thing," I smile, stepping up to the left and starting my work.

"Hey! Wait! Now you two are being just as reckless," Zoro gasps. "If they catch you, they'll kill you."

"They are the ones who imprisoned you unfairly," Koby says. "I can't stand to see the Marines act so improperly. I am going to be a proper sailor. Just like how Luffy is going to be King of the Pirates!"

"King of the Pirates?" Zoro chokes out. "Does he even know what that means?"

I giggle, "He knows, and when it happens, I will be queen."

"Are you serious?"

Koby chuckles, "I was shocked when I first heard it too. He'll succeed, though, or die trying! That's how he is."

"I can confirm that," I nod.

The knot finally feels like it is close to coming undone when the unthinkable happens. Two gunshots fill my ears, and then a slicing pain rips through my side. I look over to see Koby falling to the ground moments after me.

"What?" I reach down to touch my side, feeling a warm liquid on my fingers. For a second, I feel my vision threaten to go black, but I push down that feeling. "Well, Luffy is not going to be happy." I carefully push myself into a sitting position.

"I've been shot!" Koby exclaims, gently touching his shoulder. His glasses are behind him in the dirt. "I'm bleeding!"

"Koby, calm down," I pull my hand away, hoping that my shirt will act as a band aid.

"I'm gonna die!"

"Ah, you're both still alive. That's good," Zoro lets out a relieved breath. "Now, get out of here. They're on their way down, and it can't get any better."

"But, but," I bend my leg to get ready to stand up.

"We haven't untied you yet," Koby cries, still lying on the ground.

"Don't worry about me. I just have to survive the month, and then they are going to let me go. So, beat it!"

"They're not going to let you go!" I scream. "Your execution is scheduled for three days from now!"

"What are you saying? That idiot son promised me if I survive a whole month, he would set me free."

"He never intended to keep that promise," Koby shouts, pushing himself into a sitting position. "That's why Luffy punched him, because he found out that Helmeppo lied to you!"

"What?" Zoro's eyes widen in shock.

"The Navy is your enemy now, and that is never going to change," I groan as I slowly stand up.

"Please!" Koby joins in. "If we untie you, will you help Luffy?" He is now on his knees. "He's really strong, and so is Akari, and so are you! If you team up, you can escape from here! Please, I beg you, help him!"

"Stay where you are!" A male voice shouts at us.

I look over to see a large group of guards has blocked our way out.

"Captain Morgan has ordered your immediate execution!" Another guard shouts out.

I notice that a large man has begun to approach from way back. "Shit," I breath out.

Koby lets out a terrified scream as Zoro clenches his jaw in anger.

"Surround the fortress! If that rascal in the straw-hat escapes, you'll all be sorry!" The man who appears to have an axe has almost reached us. "You four aren't simple outlaws, are you? You're trying to overthrow me!"

"Yeah right," I whisper so quietly that I can barely hear the words that come out of my mouth.

"Roronoa Zoro! Peasants and pirates may tremble at your name, but you're no match for the great one! You may be a barracuda, but I am a great white shark! Guards, take aim!"

I feel my whole body stiffen in fear as the guards aim their guns at the three of us. "Luffy," I cry, feeling my life flash before me.

Koby's whole face is scrunched up in fear, and tears are streaming down his cheeks.

Zoro looks in utter shock as he stares at the Marines.

This is it, then. I am going to die at the hands of the Marines before I even have a bounty on my head. Before I have even gone on one real adventure, or participated in one real fight. Before I can ever tell Luffy how I actually feel about him.

"Fire!" Captain Morgan exclaims.

I feel my heart clench and my brain go blank as the guns all pop as the guards open fire.

But the bullets never reach us, as Luffy lands right in front of us and the bullets stretch out his body.

"You!?" Zoro calls out in shock.

"Luffy!" Koby cries.

"Luffy!" I exclaim in happiness.

"Straw Hat," Captain Morgan growls.

Luffy is bent over as the bullets lose their momentum, and then he straightens up to let the bullets go back at the guards. "Bullets can't hurt me!"

"Look out!" The guards scream as they run to dodge the bullets.

Luffy breaks out into laughter at the chaos he has caused.

Koby seems to have passed out and is foaming at the mouth.

"What are you?!" Zoro yells.

"I'm the guy, who is going be King of the Pirates!" Luffy looks back at us with a grin on his face.

It is now that I notice that Luffy is carrying three swords. Two of those must be for Zoro, meaning that he grabbed an extra one just in case.

"So, which one of these swords is yours," Luffy steps up to Zoro, holding up the three swords for his view. "I didn't know, so I just brought all three."

"All of them. They're all mine," Zoro answers, a slight smirk on his lips. "I practice santoryu, three-sword style."

"If you fight the Marines with us here and now, in the eyes of the government, you'll be one of the bad guys!"

"Of course, you could obey the law, and let them kill you," I step closer, pulling a few shurikens out.

"You must be demon spawn, but I'm not ready to die without a fight!" Zoro declares. "You've got yourself a pirate."

"Really!?" I gasp. "I never thought that you would actually agree."

"You'll really join my crew?" Luffy raises his fists in victory.

"I don't have much of a choice!" Zoro is baffled. "Now, untie me!"

"What is he?" Multiple guards shout. "The bullets bounced right off him!"

"He's no ordinary human!" Captain Morgan bellows. "He ate one of those Devil Fruits!"

"Come on, Luffy, we need to get these ropes off him," I step up to one side, starting to saw at the rope with a shuriken.

"Oh, yeah," Luffy places the swords down on the ground.

"He ate one of the treasures from those sears!" A guard yells. "No way! That's his power!"

"Captain, he's untying Zoro!" Another guard screams.

"Well, stop them, you idiots," Captain Morgan orders. "If bullets can't hurt him, then use your swords! They must not escape."

"Ugh, these knots are too tie," Luffy pouts.

"The rope is so thick," I whine. "My shuriken is taking forever."

"Ow, where am I?"

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