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The sweet, sweet aroma of finely prepared food drew young Jefu into the restaurant as if it had become a tangible hand dragging him by his nostrils. Completely disregarding the tiny brawl he was just involved in, even with the battle wounds he had received from the oddity of a giant jungle cat in the middle of an urban area, the boy wandered the back halls until he reached the door with the words: "KITCHEN" above it. A joyous grin overtook his small face as he was ready to push through the doors and grab his treasure. He was a pirate after all, and a pirate's treasure is whatever he makes it out to be.

     "BOY!" came a shout from behind. Jefu twisted around slowly, extending a lazy finger to himself.
     "Naa?"
     "What do you think you're doin' at a time like this!?" the man practically shrieked. He was sweaty and disheveled from something with his collar undone and shirt partially untucked. He wasn't anything special looking, in fact he was rather bland with almost no distinguishing features... had it not been for that pencil thin moustache on his upper lip. Jefu stared at him, the moment trapped in silence outside of the clinks and sizzles of the kitchen nextdoor. "Well!?" the man blurted out impatiently.
     "...I was gonna get some food." the boy answered honestly. For a second, the wreck of a man looked at the kid with a disbelieving look as if Jefu had said something outlandish. But with a sudden change of emotion, the man hurried over to the boy with an awkward smile on his face.
     "OH! You must be the new waiter that the boss hired. I heard you weren't due 'til tomorrow but we could use you more than ever right now," he said as he placed two firm hands on Jefu's shoulders and twirled him around, leading him in the opposite direction of the kitchen. The boy looked longily back at the double doors as the man continue to talk. "you see, there has been an... well, accident with the Top Chef's assistant and now everyone is in a panic! Some of our chefs and most of our servers just upright left! Can you believe it? A little blood and they call it quits! You'd wonder how some plan to make it in life... By the way, you're a bit messy yourself," the man pushed Jefu into a side room and flicked on an oil latern, revealing a room full of hanging clothes. He looked at the boy and lightly gasped. "You're bleeding! Are you alright? That's a mighty large cut on your chest."
     "Eh? Well, I'm fin--" Before he even finished, the quirky man had quickly wrapped him once over in bandage that had seemingly appeared out of thin air. "Wow! That was pretty fast!" The boy remarked.
     "Yes, yes. You need to be prepared for these things you know." he leaned in close to the young fighter's face. "Can't have some dirty ruffian serving our patrons, hm?" he said with a flamboyant wink and the slap of small bandage thrown onto the younger's cheek. Jefu could only blink in retortion. "Now! Take this and this, and-- no, no. This doesn't match. Ah, yes; this too, and meet me in the kitchen when you're done changing, okay?" the strange man with authority commanded as he was already at the door. Jefu, only hearing the part about meeting in the kitchen, nodded enthusiastically with the pile of clothes in his arms.
     "Sure!" the boy exclaimed.
     "Good. By the way, I'm Chaz Ontrey- the Staff Manager here." and with that, the door was slammed in young Jefu's face.


The boy entered the kitchen awkwardly, not used to such stiff and confining clothing. His white dress shirt had far too much starch and basically creaked with the movement of his arms. The black vest was a bit too tight, even for Jefu's small frame, and the matching pants were kind of itchy. He sighed in discomfort, sneaking a hand under his cap, which he had left on, and scratched through golden locks. The wave of heat from the roaring stoves didn't help much either, but it didn't phase the kid too much; the delightful aroma was stronger than ever now and leading him over to the plate on the iron counter. Jefu smiled as he leered over the plate, deciding which morsel to devour first. It smelt wonderful, like the meal onii-chan had made him, but looked super fancy.
     "Don't just stare at!" came a familiar voice. Jefu turned to see Chaz Ontrey shove another kid dressed the same as he was out of the way. He marched right over and Jefu felt obliged to stand in attention for some reason. "It's bad enough that you're wearing that grubby cap but we we're too busy to let it matter. Okay, I know you don't know the table system yet but this one's an easy one." The manager aggressively lifted Jefu's hand, as well as the plate, and balanced the food as a waiter would carry it. "Okay, this one is just--"

Smash. That delightful lunch was now splattered across the kitchen's floor.

     "WHHHAAAATTTT!??!?" Chaz shrieked, instantly running to the chef and shouting to create another plate. It only took a second, somehow, and the manager rushed back to Jefu, sweating profusely with new plate in hand. The boy looked at him with a finger in his ear and a smile on his face.
     "That one for me?"
     "OF COURSE NOT!! This is table 13's entree. Do NOT drop this one, alright!?" Chaz exclaimed as he placed the plate on the boy's hand like before. "You'd think a boy applying for a waiter's position would--"

Smash. So much wasted food on the kitchen floor.

Chaz's face, horrified and seemingly frozen in stone, cracked into another shriek before he repeated his prior steps with more exaggerated shouts at the poor chef who was beginning to question why he had to make the same meal 3 times in a row. Chaz ran over to Jefu again, this time even more worn out, with hair wild and greasy, and placed the plate in both the child's hands this time, ensuring his grip was secure. With only angry grunts, Chaz shoved Jefu out another set of double doors.
     "JUST SERVE THAT FOOD!! SECOND TO LAST TABLE ON THE LEFT! AY YAI YAI!!" was the scream heard before the doors closed shut behind the boy. He just looked at them slowly clamp shut with a confused look before noticing he had a plate of delicious food in his hands. He was about to grab some of the meat when a spoon came hurling at his head, bouncing off and landing in some unfortunate lady's soup. Well, it was sort of fortunate considering she had just dropped her previous one on the ground. "AND DON'T EAT THE CUSTOMER'S FOOD!!" Came one last yell. Jefu scowled and trudged off, somehow compelled to listen to that Chaz fellow.


At the far end of the restaurant that was teeming with both hungry and satisfied patrons, the second to last table, on the left, were two customers dressed in elegant business suits and equipped with sleek sunglasses. Their meal had not arrived yet, but that wasn't an important concern. They had some fine wine and their business papers. The menus, from which they had already selected from, were still on the table.
     "So everything is written out in that document then, right?" one man with a wine glass in hand asked.
     "Of course," the second, now pulling out a few papers, responded. "Everything about tonight's events are right here. The boss handed 'em to me himself to make sure this thing goes down right."
     "Good, good." the first flashed a coy smile. "Y'know, I hear they think they captured him."
     "Who?"
     "The Silver Swiper."
     "That's impossible. I saw him just before I came here."
     "Oh, I know. Just some street gossip. It should make things THAT much easier for ton--"
     "Hey ossan, this yours?" came Jefu's interrupting voice. Two angry faces greeted him, but the boy paid no mind, dropping the plate lazily on the table even before an answer. Some of the meal spilt over on the table and everything looked all mixed together. The man with the papers, who had ordered it, glared at the boy who was picking in his ear again. Trying to keep his cool, he asked,
     "...Aren't ya gonna take the menu back first?" He was referring to the papers under the plate. Jefu looked, uninterested at them and jealously at the meal that wasn't his.
     "Oi, they aren't mine, ossan."
     "...What do ya mean they're not--"
     "Fine." Jefu responded bluntly, yanking at the menu and causing the plate to flip onto the man's lap. Papers clattered to the floor from both the boy and the man dressed in both a fine suit and fine dining. He shot up, anger rising fast as the boy couldn't help but laugh out loud. The other man, seeing the plans fall to the ground quickly gathered up the fallen papers, handing half to Jefu and shoving half into his suit pocket. The now soiled man's voice began to raise.
     "What do ya think you're laughin' at kid!? Do you know who the hell I am!?"
     "Haa-hahahahaa!!" Jefu doubled over. "Ossan's wearing his lunch! Haa-hahahaha!"
     "THAT'S IT KID!!" the suspicious man shouted and the restaurant grew silent. This stopped both him and Jefu as well as the other suited man came up to him.
     "We better leave before we cause too much commotion... I have the plans, so let's just go."

The two suited fellows discussed a few things and decided to leave. Jefu, decidedly bored again, watched as they headed for the door just as it opened from the outside. In walked someone the boy actually knew, just as he had bumped into the suspicious suited men. Jefu waved excitedly over to his cowboy-hat wearing nakama.
     "Oiiiii!! Nelison, hey!! Are you here for some good food too!?"

The tropical breeze made the twin braids of beard sway like willows. The old rocking-chair creaked over the distant roll of waves, far below the old ship that rested partially buried in the side of the verdant hill, poking through it like an arrow through a mound. The stern-castle fitted with a veranda, where the aging pirate sat humming the peaceful afternoon away. An old weathered wanted-poster, framed like a valued picture, showed the unmistakable features of the Pirate King himself. The old pirate looked at a letter brought to him by a stern-looking falcon, wearing an azure bandanna emblazoned with a jolly roger.

"Oh Roger, what am I supposed to do now? The betrayals shattered us in the new world, and now we are hardly anything but a near forgotten faction, obscure even in our own blue. I tell you, it is hard times for all. You made quite a ruckus when you left us your crazy legacy." the old face wrinkled up in a smile, blooming to a full laugh "HAH! You're most likely laughing it up in the afterlife, sharing drinks with the pirates who fell trying to become you!"

Taking a deep swig from a ceramic jug, the old pirate coughed in response to the strong brew. "Haaaah... South Blue still has the shittiest rum of all the blues..." he croaked while eying the jug with contempt. A voice called from atop the stern castle "That is because you make it yourself, uncle Falk. And YOU make the shittiest rum of all the blues!" Looking up from his questionable drink, the old man grinned at the sight of a middle-aged man wearing a pair of cargo shorts and an open colorful shirt, revealing a large number of bandages and scars. The man looked average in all physical respects, with a short trimmed beard and a shaved head. “John, my boy! How are your injuries coming along?”

John sprang from the stern castle and landed on the veranda ten feet below, groaning slightly on the impact, but smiling the pain away. “It’s coming along. But I am not here to discuss my health. What news did you get this time?” The old man Falk sighed and handed him the letter. “It seems like you were right, as usual. The Iron Commander is onto it, and from what my arthritis tells me, we are going to have one hell of a storm on our hands. To make things worse, that idiot Graid went and got himself arrested.”

John mulled over the contents of the letter and eventually nodded. “Just as I expected, this is actually going smoother than I dared hope.” Falk choked on the home-made rum and looked at John with a startled question mark painted on his face, before starting to laugh.

A bubbling ringing tore sergeant Briza from her reverie. The laid-back green haired woman of twenty-something years lifted her crossed legs off the desk and drove the heel into it, making the den-den mushi receiver hop off, catching it midair. “Sgt Briza here. Wha’cha want?” The snail creature frowned “That is no way to answer a superior! This is Captain Worthridge of the Iron Four!” Briza almost snorted in response. “Scuse me, captain. What can I do for you” she said, voice dripping with sarcasm. Dense as the cliffs that make the Red Line, Captain Worthridge went on “Much better. I am sending you a collection of wanted-posters. I have taken the liberty of calling uncl- Vice-Admiral Worthridge, and have these bounties approved PERSONALLY, so I want to see them spread as soon as possible!”

Briza pulled a stack of sheet paper from the fax and chuckled. The picture was of Ky Trier, his face in a serious scowl from when he was facing off with Troyus, holding his blade on the ready “Silverhaired Ky. 10 million”.

Behind him was “Wild Amazon Tevai. 8 million” Tevai in her furious ORAAA!-pose after slamming several marines off the ship.

Next up came "Kinetic Chris. 8 million" Hand outstretched, grin on his face, as a cannonball hovers in the air before him.

Following him was “Black-hat Jefu The Brawler 7 million” with his usual gleeful face almost waving to the photographer.

Next out was Nelison Collie, his weary face in a smirking grin from when he handed over the gunpowder for the mine that he planned to take out Worthridge with. “Nelson the Collie. 7 million”.

After that “Lovely Celest the Dancer – 5 million” appeared, the picture as artistic as one could expect, even signed by the dancer herself.

“Slasher Cook Yake – 4 million” followed, with Yake dashing low with knives in hand, as he was taking out marines.

Finally was “Mastermind Ravona – 1 million” with her usual passive expression.

Briza hummed. “50 million total, eh? For first time offenders, that’s very impressive. Gonna get every bounty-hunter in South Blue interested, that is for sure.” Worthridge gave a chortle. “The captain tried to kill the Iron Commander, and the rest managed to incapacitate the forces of a marine captain!” Briza grinned. Of all the four captains under Holingrave’s command, only one would go to such lengths. “So, they beat you, huh?” Worthridge growled “None of your business! Just get the posters out!”

Briza laughed and handed the posters to her subordinates. “Oi, make sure these adorn the walls of local taverns and billboards. I am gonna contemplate on the case a little more. ‘Sides, fat chance that these new hot names pop up on THIS island anyway…”

Last edited by Crimson Cade (2007-12-05 08:00:54)

Celest and Ravona were in a bookstore where all of the commotion that Ky made distracted everyone from their reading and perusing. Celest took Ky by the leg and dragged him over to where Ravona was looking. It was a giant book labeled Atlas of the 4 Blues. The book was as large as Ravona was and apparently twice as heavy as Ravona was having a tough time pushing the large tome down onto the floor. When she did, it made a loud SLAM! sound and caused some dust to fly into the air. Ravona flipped to a random page and climbed on top of the book to get a better read of it. Some of the patrons of the store were originally disturbed and upset by the commotion, but the sight of the small girl on top of the large book sent their cute sensors on overload. As a result they kept silent.

"So, whats with the giant book bright eyes?" asked Celest.

"I am capable of steering the ship and I am skilled in navigation, however we have no maps on hand which means we will be sailing blind. It was only by mere chance that Jefu and I spotted this island and it would be most undesirable and inefficient if we were to continue in this fashion." said Ravona in her trademark monotone voice.

Celest thought it through, the book looked expensive, and she's already spent a lot of money on clothes and various other knick-knacks, though as usual, Ravona was right. They were flying blind and if she wanted to make it through this journey, they're gonna have to be better prepared. She looked around and pointed at a store clerk.

"Oi! Shop-keep! What's the story with this book?" she asked.

"Hmm? Oh that! Well this marvelous tome is the work of Byouga Island's very own....blah blah blah....his other great works include...blah blah blah....he once took his own ear...."

"I don't care!" Yelled Celest. "Just why is it called 4 Blues? What about the Grand Line? Doesn't that count as a Blue?" she asked.

"Ah yes, however our artists are simply artists, not pirates, and the Grand Line is a death sentence for those not prepared to take the trip. That is why the Grand Line is a mystery to most people outside of the Marine or Piracy line of work. But that doesn't mean this book is without merit. Within the rather large bindings are detailed topographic maps of the Blues, as well as the islands within." he said.

"If it's so great, then why does it looks like it's been here for ages?" she asked in her condescending, you better give me a good price for this tone. The clerk was beginning to sweat a little.

"Well, the truth is most people here on Byouga island don't travel very often. Most prefer to stay here and focus on their work." he said.

"Fine then, what's the price on it then?" asked Celest, a little bored of hearing him talk.

"It's worth 5000 beri." he said.

"What's the price on it then?" She asked a little harder and menacingly, getting up on her tip toes to look down on him.

"Um...2,500 beri?" he then said, the fire in Celest's eyes freaking him out. Celest handed the man the cash and smiled to herself.

"Alright, we own the book Ravona, get off." she said. Ravona did what she was told and Celest kicked the book shut. Ravona then attempted to drag the book with her, however it wouldn't budge an inch. Her grip slipped and she fell on her butt which made everyone eying her give out an "AWWWW" which was quickly silenced when Ravona looked in their direction.

"Don't worry about it Ravona, we've got our own lunk of a "captain" to carry it for us." said Celest. Ky snapped out of his stupor and stood up and said,

"I'm not a...!" which was then cut short when Celest kicked the giant book at Ky, his arm and back strength being the only thing that could support it.

"Be a dear and carry this for us? We're going back to the ship to load it up with the stuff we bought. she said.

"Ugh....then we're out of here?" asked Ky.

"Why be in such a rush? There's still so much to see around this place. It is after all, artists heaven and I consider myself an artist as well. The Moracca Traveling Circus has never been to Byouga Island before because there were usually too many people hung up on their version of art and entertainment to pay much attention to us so it was never really profitable for us to come here, but I might as well educate these people as to why I'm so awesome while I'm here." she said, crossing her arms nodding to herself. Ravona copied Celest and Ky stood there looking in disbelief. He's personally has had enough of this place and can't wait to haul anchor and set sail.

                                                       ***

"'The Bladed Life Windmill'. huh, kind of a loaded title." Said Ms. April looking on at the new addition to the Museum. Ms. April personally thought it looked quite ugly, which is exactly what she thought about most of the pieces up in the museum. Especially Mr. Saitou's personal picks. Right next to "The Bladed Life Windmill" was a pedestal reserved for a Rio Nardo, another artist that Ms. April thought little of but knew that Saitou was going to embrace. She could list 20 other more deserving sculptors back in Copic Village but her opinion mattered very little to Mr. Saitou.

It kind of depressed her a little to think of the artists back in Copic Village. All so talented, but all ignored too. Everyone cheered her on when she got the job to assistant to the head manager of the Grand Canvas Museum. There was a party thrown in her honor by Sakiyama, Vincent and her other friends. She promised them that their voices would finally be heard, that she would act as the mouth piece of Copic Village. It's been 3 years since then and not a single recommendation of hers had been accepted. She had had enough of it. It was a knot that had been building up in her stomach and now Ms. April just had to let it out. She stomped her way to Saitou's office and was finally about to rant about how tired she was of being ignored. She walked down the hall and heard him in his office talking to someone. He must've been on a Den-Den Mushi since he normally doesn't allow others in his office during these hours. Ms April walked quietly and approached the door as to not disturb his call, however she could not help but over hear him.

"No, no, everything is going smoothly Ms. Malachite, I assure you that the most unique pieces will be making their way to your estate soon."

"Vell, eet better not be anymore of zat garbage from Canvas Ceety. Zose peeple have lost zere touch." said the voice on the other end, Ms. Malachite.

"Do not worry, the finest of the finest will be finding their way to you after tomorrow evening. Those Copic Village people really do know their art, and my assistant Ms. April has quite an eye. She is the one that has picked out he best pieces after all." said Saitou. Ms. April was taken aback by this statement. What was happening in there? Things were being said so fast that she could not make sense of it all.

"Also, vat is zeese news of a Zeelver Zwiper being caught? My agents are reporting zat ze art teef has been captured, yet here I am talking to you." said the voice on the other end of the Den Den Mushi.

What! Thought Ms. April. Saitou is the art thief, and I've been helping him pick what pieces to steal!. Her mind was practically screaming. She clasped her mouth to keep herself from making any sound as she peeked into the slightly ajar door. His back was turned to the door, much to Ms. April's relief.

"Hohoho," laughed Saitou. "Those simps that call themselves the police force of Byouga island think they have "The Silver Swiper". They arrested some poor kid that just coincidentally happened to have silver hair." and when Saitou said this, his hair began to stand on end and turn silver. Ms. April's eyes practically popped out of her skull. "Of course though, as long as I have my power, they will never find out the truth." As he finished his statement, his hair changed from silver to red, then to green, then to orange. Ms. April backed up quietly as not to alarm him. Her elbow grazed a flower pot decorating the hallway and it wobbled a little but she caught it before it fell down and made a noise. She turned around and quickly began to run out of the museum when she was suddenly tugged from behind. It was a sticky, slimy, pink thing that was coming from Saitou's office!.

"Aaaahhhh!" she screamed as the large pink thing pulled her back quickly. When she slammed into the office, she saw that the large pink thing was actually Saitou's tongue!

"Wha....what's happening!" she screamed. Saitou rolled his tongue back into his mouth and smiled.

"Oh Ms. Mona April, why did you have to peek through the door? Everything was going so well, and I was beginning to like you too, even if you were a bit self righteous." he said.

"W-w-what d-do you mean? I didn't see anything, hear anything, h-how could you see me?" she asked.

"Ms. April, didn't you know?" he then bent down to the floored Ms. April so they were face to face when his eyes began to change. They were growing out of his skull and to the sides, on stalks. His skin pigmentation was turning green, and a curly tail erupted out of the back end of his pants. He grew taller and much thinner, his mouth became large, his nose flattening down to two slits. His skin became smooth and leathery, spikes breaking his shirt and jacket in half. "Chameleons can see everything!" he yelled, his large pink tongue flopping out of his mouth as he laughed, his eye stalks spinning around, Ms. April's hair was standing on end as she began to freak out from the sight of this monster.

"Saitou-san, what are you!" she yelled out.

"I'm a Chameleon-man courtesy of the Lizard Lizard Fruit: Model Chameleon! I am also known the "Silver Swiper", "Blue Bandit", "Red Robber", and so many other names. And now that you know my secret, I am sorry to say that I am no longer in need of your services."

"W-w-what do you plan to do with me?" she said, fearing the worst. Saitou gave a wide smile and licked his lips with his large tongue.

"Itadakimasu!" he yelled and his tongue shot out of his mouth and wrapped around Ms. April's waist. This was  not the worst that she thought of. This was worst than the worst. She was dragged closer and closer to his wide mouth, her struggling pretty much useless against the strong and sticky tongue. She was close enough for him to chomp down on her skull when she grabbed his eye stalks. This surprised Saitou into loosening his grip. With everything she had, she pulled on the eye stalks and slammed the large, white orbs together causing Saitou to cry out in pain, Ms. April falling back on the floor. She sprinted out of the office and down the hallway when Saitou was seen giving chase behind her, by crawling on the ceiling. She quickly ran into the modern sculpture exhibit and was about to run out when she remembered the swords in the "Windmill". She grabbed hold of the shortest sword and pulled it out of the sheath and faced her pursuer. He lunged off of the ceiling, bolting towards her with incredible speed, the added leg muscle giving him a boost when Ms. April slashed at him, only grazing his cheek, but it was enough to knock down Saitou long enough for her to run out of the museum, still holding on to the sword in case he came after her.

Last edited by Okami Kugatsu (2008-03-06 01:55:23)

"Where is he? Where is he!" Ms. April was screaming, the panic and paranoia clearly beginning to get the best of her.

"Hey! C'mon, you gotta calm down, your drawing attention to yourself? Try showering some of that stuff over here!" said Celest, pointing to herself. Ky was getting nervous himself, but not because of an unknown lizard man, but because the attention was beginning to draw in some officers that were on patrol.

"Crap!" he said when he noticed them walking from behind. "C'mon Celest, let's get out of here already and leave her to the police!" He said, actually being able to make a demand in Celest's direction, but only because she was obscured by the giant book he was still carrying.


"No, please, don't leave me alone! He'll get me! Please Mr. Book-man, you need to save help me!" she pleaded, grabbing the book in Ky's hands with her left hand and shaking it about, making Ky shake back and forth.

"AAAaaaAAAaa let go of me!" he said when he noticed that clutched in her right hand was a very familiar sword. "Hey, wait, that sword is mine!" he realized

"It left." said Ravona, though no one was really paying too much attention.

"Hey, whats all of this noise on about!" said a voice from behind Ky. It was the policemen that responded to the screaming Ms. April was making. Ky quickly turned around so they wouldn't notice his hair  and backed up near to Celest.

"We need to get the crazy girl with us, I think she knows where my swords are." he whispered.

"Hmm? Oh yeah, I noticed you were missing something. Well a swordsman is pretty useless without his swords." she said nodding. Ky's eyebrow twitched a bit at the annoyance of pretty much being called useless. Celest stepped forward to address the police.

"Hey officers, don't worry about us, my friends and I were just rehearsing lines from a play we were throwing, isn't that right Book-Man?" she said, elbowing Ky. Ky's eyebrow twitched yet again at being called Book-Man once again but he complied with Celest's act by nodding the book up and down. However, the officer took a look at Ms. April, her mussed up hair, her slightly torn dress, and finally, the small spot of what looked like blood on the sword she was holding.

"Ms., I believe you and your friends should come with us to the station and answer some questions." he said curtly.

"But, we didn't do anything!" said Celest.

"I beg to differ!" said a mysterious voice from behind them.

"It's back." said Ravona.  Everyone turned around at the arrival of the new voice and it was a now human looking Saitou. Ms. April began to visibly shake, her grip on the sword tightened, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"I want that woman with the sword put under arrest. I am pressing full charges of assault on her. That woman, who was my assistant up until today attacked me!" he said pointing at her accusingly, his eyes piercing through her and his face twisted in boiling anger.

"NO! YOUR THE ONE THAT ATTACKED ME! YOU TURNED INTO A MONSTER, YOU SAID IT YOURSELF! YOU ATE A DEVIL FRUIT!" she yelled. Celest's eyes widened at the mention of a Devil Fruit. Even though Ms. April was still appearing to be deranged, a part of Celest began to believe her more.

"Clearly, the I have overworked the woman to the point that she's become delirious and I apologize for that, however that is no excuse for attacking me in my office!" He said turning his face to reveal the fresh cut from Ky's blade. The policemen were now dead certain that they had a criminal in their midsts. They removed from their sides pistols and raised them at Ms. April, Celest, Ravona and Ky/Book-Man.

"Alright everyone, you are all coming with us in the name of the Byouga Island Police Department." Said officer number 1. Officer number two was got his handcuffs out and ready.

"No, please, you have to listen to me, I was the one attacked, he's been stealing the art pieces, he's a monster!" cried Ms. April, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"We have to do something." said Ky to Celest.

"Don't worry, I recognize a cue when I see one." she said with a grin. Celest then jumped up suddenly. The cops' attention was drawn to her as they raised their guns at her.

"She's trying to get away!" said officer number 2. They started to take shots at her, however Celest made herself twist and bend in mid-air, a graceful and dazzling display up until her body was blotted out by the setting sunlight. The cops who's eyes were locked on her were suddenly momentarily blinded. They turned their heads away and covered their eyes to recover them. When they turned their eyes back up to the sky, they saw Celest's form coming back down at a frightening speed, her right leg held high practically over head.

"Huh, what is she doing!" yelled cop number 1. Celest continued to drop until her bare heel landed on the ground, a huge shock wave caused a massive dust cloud to surround Celest and the others. The dust blew into the eyes of Saitou and the police men who choked on the air. When the dust settled, Ky, Celest and company were gone.

"Huh, where did they disappear to?" said the cops. Saitou's look was understandably displeased.

"What a worthless police force. You let an insane group of criminals escape right from under your noses!" he yelled. The police men looked down in shame. "Well! Get looking for them already!" he yelled again. The cops nodded and ran off. Saitou turned back to his museum and smiled wide, now reassured that his plans were now completely unstoppable.

                                                      ***

Ky, Celest, Ravona and Ms. April, in Celest's hand were running off towards the beach.

"What the heck was that back there!" yelled Ms. April.

"That was Celest's Heavy Heel Glory. A result of her intense training as a dancer of the Moracca Traveling Circus as well as some apparent previous trianing..."

"Ok Ravona! I think she gets the idea." interrupted Celest.

"B-but where are we going?"

"We're heading to our boat." said Celest.

"Thank god!" said Ky, relieved that he would soon be rid of the book and this island.

"But we can't leave this place! Saitou's the one stealing the art from this island, every terrible thing has been a result of him!" She yelled, a picture of Vincent flashing in her memory. "I need to do something to help them!" she said.

"Who the heck said anything about leaving? We've got a few friends here too, we just need to hide out somewhere for a while." she said.

"And I need to get my swords back!" said Ky.

"Then take me to the other side of the island! There's a small port on the other side that leads to Copic Village!"

"What will keep those cops from searching there?" asked Ky.

"You heard Saitou, he said that I was his assistant in the museum. No one that works in Canvas City ever lives in Copic Village much less associate with anyone from there! The cops won't even give it a second thought." she said.

"Great, you heard her Ravona. When we get to the boat, head for the other side of the island." said Celest.

"Understood." said Ravona.

In last week’s (or year’s...) episode:

Jefu found his way into a restaurant, where, poorly working as a waiter, he spilled a meal on a shady character and may or may not have received plans for some nefarious plot instead of the menus he was attempting to take.

[Enter Izzy and Neilson, stage right]

As the gunman, Neilson reached for the door, it flung open, nearly striking his hand, but for his quick movement towards the revolver naked on his hip. His entire composure changed with the percieved threat, the tension in his neck, shoulders and arms was palpable. The vacuum created by the heavy door delayed the onset of the scents contained within the restaurant for one tense, dragging moment before the assault. Izzy averted her eyes and batted at her nose, and found herself in unintended contact with an angry patron who had pushed past the gunman. Though his features were not familiar, he owned the expression of many men Izzy had seen in the past. His heavy, putrid cologne was matched only by the stench of rotting meat saturated with a greasy sauce of stale herbs. His eyes flashed rage at Izzy, and she supposed if she had not been following the gunman at an appropriate distance, he would have liked to hit her as well. Izzy’s lips tightened, but he passed without incident, quickly followed by a smaller man with an air of bitter sweat who clutched in his soft grip a mess of papers. He held his nose so high in the air, the sun reflected in his thin glasses.

"Oiiiii!! Nelison, hey!! Are you here for some good food too!?" A young voice asked, arresting Izzy’s scattered attention. As though by some manner of magic, the tension that was formerly contained in the gunman’s body had disappeared. The hand that once reached for his gun was waving at boy in an ill-fitting waiter costume. Izzy sniffed and returned hers to the coat, clutched it tight around her body.

Neilson’s hand went behind his head and he rubbed his neck and laughed softly. “Gee, I’d love to kid, but the little lady has my wallet, and,” he paused, flushing and a drop of sweat stood out on his temple, “I can’t exactly ask for it back.”

“Waaaaah?” the boy’s large blue eyes seemed impossibly large, darting between Neilson and Izzy. “Neilson, you got married!?”

The gunman, startled, tripped where he stood and Izzy stared, dumbfounded. Her face felt hot and she attempted to say something, but her voice would not come. The tall boy danced in front of her, a mess of papers fluttering in the artificial wind, then stopped and grinned in her face. “Oiy, Mamma-san, do you cook?”

“Ye-Yes, I do cook, but-“ she started.

“Great! I sure am hungry. Make sure you save the biggest piece of meat for me! Yake always piles my plate with vegetables,” he began frowning, then stopped and looked at Neilson. “Hey, where are the others?”

“Er, um,” the gunman squeaked, slowly regaining his composure. “Celeste was buying clothes, and Ravona and Ky…” he continued, voice getting smaller.

The boy, Jefu, blanched and looked away, pushed the dust beneath the toe of his shoe but was otherwise still. As quickly as the moment had come, it was gone, his energy returned. “Mamma-san, you going to come live with us on the ship, too?”

“Ship?” Izzy repeated, casting a glance towards Neilson, and back again at the boy. Since she had landed on the island several months ago, the only ships that had come and gone were heavily guarded merchant ships. Neilson’s surly demeanor and unkempt appearance did not strike her as professional but he could pass for a guardsman, but the boy, and others? “Pirates?” she barely whispered.

“Ah. Heh heh,” Neilson chuckled, and scratched at the back of his head. Even the boy, Jefu, had the courtesy to look ashamed at his outburst. “Ha, yes. We are… the p-word,” he grinned large and uncomfortable, eyes darting around nervously, as though he expected the Marines to be summoned with a word. Jefu began fanning himself with the crumpled fist of paper and wandering from the pair aimless and increasingly larger circles.

“Take me there,” Izzy implored, voice as small as her amber eyes were large and pleading. “Please. You must help me. I must leave this island."

Neilson looked at the woman, now more a girl with his heavy coat drawn around her slender, yet scarred body begging for help. The nervous smile on his face fell, and that familiar tension returned.

"Who am I to refuse a damsel in distress?" he replied, forcing a smile.

"Thank you," Izzy breathed, nearly melting.

"Don't mention it," he shrugged. "Besides, I'd have to get my coat back from you at some point. C'mon, we have to catch up to him before he wanders into Grandma's kitchen."

Last edited by The Ed Monster (2008-06-18 20:58:04)