Serious : Chapter II Following The Trail

[Guest]

“What do you mean he got taken out?...All of them? One Person…A Girl!?” said the thin looking man with green plaits as his voice rose higher with each word. He found himself leaned against a large concrete wall of the harbour side of Shimotsuki Village accompanied by his two crew mates a bald headed man who stood 10 foot high in the air and who had more scars on his body than he did teeth he was simply known as “Dickov” and his biceps were as large as the green haired man’s head. Next was a small girl who had brown hair that were neatly tied into pigtails with ribbons and a black and white gothic looking dress with a blacked spiked bat that was the twice the size of her.

“The Exec will not be pleased with this…lucky for you were here to smooth thigns over before he blows a gasket and slaughters the entire village. You know how he gets when he is angry…” remarked the green haired man with an arrogant smirk, who was known as Spider mostly due to his sickly thin frame and his pointed fingers. Turning to Dickov and Matilda who was the slightly masochistic looking young girl with a seastone bat in her hands he smiled.

““Looks like our …how do I put it associates… have been de-comissioned by someone else other than us and you know what the means, the exec is losing good labour and his income from shimotsuki. We need to deal with this before he comes down here.” Said Spider as he began to lead the trio to the center of the Village in hot pursuits of the girl better known as Zelda Flay.

[Vaetric]

Zelda continued to walk along the island. She was headed to the building in which she met the leader of the Shark Shriaek Gang. His betrayal would be noted, and she would never work with any of them again. She would also write a formal complaint to the Mob about their actions, by formal complaint she meant she’d send on of their severed heads in a box to the gang boss of the East Blue, or one of them.
 
Furthermore, they ruined her dress, which was tailor made to fit her without restricting. Holes dotted along it, she didn’t quite care as much as the next person of what they revealed, though they missed most of the damning areas. However, she suddenly remembered to get her daggers back, turning on her heels, she would move back to the location of the Fan of Knives, bending to pick the blades from the corpses smoothly and, once finished, would walk back in the direction of the town.

[Roku-Sama]

"All that work for nothing. Not a map, no worthwhile weapons and the most I managed to scrape up from all these corpses was around 1000 Beli." Sid exclaimed. Fastening his pipe blade into the sheath on his back, Sid stumbled out the ransacked prison and trotted slowly away as his open wound continued to stain his favorite undershirt. "Damn it... I need to get my shoulder patched up. What was with that woman, her eyes, it was like they had no life. I've seen eyes like those before... It's the same look Rook had on his face when he delivered the Pipe Blade... or is it like my dad, on his death bed. The stillness.." Sid walked lost in his thoughts. The sun began to set, as the horizon overlooking the sea created an orange hue on the village. Sid watched the man who had exited shortly before him, around ten meters away from his current position. "I assumed they were together but it looks like he's following her. If I get involved with them it's trouble-" Sid's thoughts were interrupted by the marines that were happening to patrol the area, old drinking buddies of Hornblade. Aimlessly walking into them, he fell to the ground, peering up at the three or so officers. "Shit." Sid thought. The marines had yet to realize the incident that had transpired within the prison house. Sid got up, dusting himself off, proceed to advance away from the prison. "Hey Kid!" one of the marine grunt cried out. Sid pretended not to hear the marine's plea and was almost about to begin to make a sprint for it when the biggest of the lot placed a firm grip on Sid's shoulder. The wound was now tender and festering from being ripped open from the naginata, the marine officer's firm grip only caused the wound to open wider. "DAMN IT MAN! THAT FUCKING HURTS." Sid exclaimed. His thoughts had slipped him and he was pretty much fed up with this day so far. "What was that-" Sid didn't give the officer anytime to finish his statement, Sid dashed off, running behind the man who gingerly followed the woman stealthy. "Should we chase after him?" the tiny marine recruit inquired. "Nah. Look at his clothes, that wound, probably some lowly street urchin. Leave him. I got this bottle of rum to drink my ol' pal Hornblade" the marine said smugly. Laughing to the merriment of good Saki, the three marines entered the prison, only to see body of Hornblade, charred like bacon in a hot skillet on the floor of the building. "What in the world happened here..." the tallest marine exclaimed.

[Guest]

As Coyote jogged out of the prison’s gate he quickly located Zelda as she stormed through the island it was exactly a difficult first as she was the only one with skin that pale and that dull a shade of grey, plus the fabrics that coated her body had been ripped to shreds which Coyote wasn’t quite sure how they got there but he soon ascertained it must have been from the scuffle with the corpse she had dropped back into the prison.

Accelerating slightly to match the pace of Zelda soon he was all but a meter behind her as he gripped her by the shoulder and spun her around, although knowing her this probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do however before he could speak he was interrupted by the sounds of footsteps smacking loudly against the concrete floor which echoed around the alley.

Coyote squinted hard to make out the figures in the fog of the alleyway and as they approached three black silhouettes appeared, two men and a child the trio that had been seen earlier at the harbour side of Shimotsuki and the ones whom had been spoken to the mysterious man over a Den Den Mushi. Nearing even closer Coyote finally saw all three individuals within the trio the man in the centre with a slim slender build and flowing green hair that flowed down the majority of his back accompanied by the younger girl Matilda and the towering frame of Dickov to his left.

As the grin widened on Spiders face he continued until he was standing directly in front of both Zelda and Coyote before reaching into his blazer pocket and handing a roll of Beli Notes to Zelda.
“A Pretty girl like you should not be wearing rags like that…have a good day” said Spider as he whistled and signalled for both Matilda and Dickov to follow him as he continued on his way not even paying the slightest bit of attention to Coyote, there was something about him that instinctively made the young man weary he could sense that man was a dangerous man he didn’t know why but he could feel it in his gut.

[Vaetric]

Zelda continued to walk away from the frantic prison. She needed to get to her tailor, or any tailor so she could replace the dress. Perhaps this time she would get clothing made of a stronger material. She began to hear footsteps, stopping and turning to look around she was spun around by the prison. Turning her arm into a blade, she was about to impale him before she heard more footsteps.
 
He seemed to be distracted by them, she placed the arm blade in front of herself before looking behind her. Three people walked toward them. One offered a roll of beli to her, she stared at him. Accepting the beli, she at least made some profit out of the whole thing. Once they continued to walk on, she turned back to the prisoner and jumped up, attempting to land a kick to the side of his neck with a bladed foot.

[Roku-Sama]

"Once they find out what transpired in the prison, things are going to go south quickly." Sid thought to himself. It was about time Sid flee the island, he had only revisited Shimotsuki to pay respects to his Masters food stuff, not to be fighting giants almost twice his size. The stalker's pace increased steadily following him through alleyways until he grabbed onto the tatter clothed woman's shoulder. If she was the cause of all of that ruckus upstairs, Sid didn't think that was the brightest of ideas. Before the duo could resolved the scenario, the trio confronted them, placing some Beli into the ragged clothed woman's hand, smiling and advancing forward. For a minute, Sid glared at the tallest of the trio, Dickov but diverted his eyes shortly afterwards, the ragged woman's foot had now transformed into a blade. "What in the world... Is she a Devil Fruit User? That guys in trouble if her kick manages to make contact." Sid uttered to himself.

Meanwhile back at the prison house, the three marines who entered the prison tried to investigate the bulk of the situation. "They're all dead... Whoever did this left no witnesses." the puny marine, James Riddle said. "Could that kid be responsible for this!?" the red haired marine, Franco who question Sid outside the prison moments ago queried. "Impossible. This looks like the work of a crew. They'd have to be at least... ten people to take out these many guards." the highest ranking of the three, Maokin exclaimed. "At any rate, we need to call this in. Franco, check the records for the names of the prisoners admitted here today. James! Call the base and tell them to send reinforcements, then shut off the prison. I'll check for any survivors..." Maokin ordered.

[Guest]

Without having time to react to Spider and his associates Coyote was once more in a hostile environment with Zelda as she aimed her foot at his neck, to which the bounty hunter nipped his neck back to avoid a possible decapitation. Holding out his palm Coyote would once again activate his devil fruit powers in an attempt to subdue the oncoming Zelda.

Repel

As his palm began to crackle Coyote quickly thrusted his palm to the left hand side which would cause the leg of Zelda to to be pushed back behind her and would result in her being sent crashing to the ground with a loud thud.

“Why do you insist on fighting you will never be able to beat me”

[Vaetric]

Instead of crashing in a loud thud, her leg would be pushed back behind her, causing her to spin toward the ground. This would cause a rather noticeable slice as she rightens herself via spinning before turning to face the prisoner once more. He seemed to be able to push her away, she didn’t understand.
 
But what she did understand, was that so far he could only push her away. She changed her feet to having claw-like protrusions in form Seven, digging her feet into the ground as she stomped her way to Coyote, she was less likely to be pushed back now. Now she could be rid of the nuisance. Once Coyote came within range, she would attempt to make quick scratches toward him aiming for the face, her feet still dug in to the ground.

[Roku-Sama]

Sid watched the scene play out in front of him as the man deflected the woman's kick into the floor. "He's pretty confident that he'd be able to defeat her." Sid thought to himself as the man backed up his presumptuous statement. "Aye. Word of advice... I wouldn't underestimate her if I were you. Her eyes... aren't those of someone whose defeated." Sid said. The small kid covered his mouth, his internal dialogue had slipped out, as if he was the judge of some match. The conflict was fast pace, the lady lunged towards the man with great precision. 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Put Maokin on the phone" the superior who now talked to the stuttering James was furious once he heard about the situation in Shimotsuki. Maokin with great anxiety took the phone, however, switching on his very chipper personality he answered with a bustling response. "OI CHIEF! YOU WANTED TO-" Maokin was cut short with the man's cold, calm tone. "Shut up. What's this about the prison guards being wiped out. In an old back water sea like the East Blue, I don't have the time or resources to send you reinforcements. Fix it yourself." the superior stated. "Sir, no offense to Officer James and Franco but at their current skill level, I think it'd be wise If I track down the attackers." Maokin suggested with a smile on his face. "Do whatever you want. Just know, I expect results Maokin. Honestly, so does your father." the superior's words echoed in Maokin's soul as he hung up the Den Den Mushi.

[Guest]

As Zelda approached having burrowed her feet into the paved concrete of the dimly lit alleyway Coyote rolled over his shoulder to narrowly avoid the oncoming attack and managed to create some distance between the two foes. In the near distance Coyote heard a squeaky voice that sounded vaguely familiar to him he was unsure where from however these suspiscions were quickly confirmed as he noted the silver hair, it was the child from the prison whom had warned him of engaging with Zelda.

“This doesn’t concern you…boy. Move along” said the young bounty hunter as he brushed his hair away from his eyes to clear up his vision. It seemed as though Zelda had caught onto the fact that her vertical base was compromised with Coyote’s powers hence for the additional foundation she provided for herself via her feet which were deeply rooted into the concrete floor.

Repel

Reaching out once more with his palm Coyote’s fingers were lined with a purplish pinkish hue as he directly targeted the left arm of Zelda and drove it upwards past her neck forcefully as he held it there which if successful would result in Zelda finding herself in a self-applied sleeper hold as Coyote tightened the pressure with every passing moment with an anaconda like technique.

[Vaetric]

Zelda ignored the other voice, she’d kill him or her after this one. She stomped after the prisoner as he rolled away. The next time she made him do that, she could strike again mid-roll. However, as she made her way to him again, slowed due to the constant stomping, he’d raise his hand again, he couldn’t push her away, so she continued to soldier on through to him.
 
However, her left arm moved on its own accord, driving upwards past her neck and holding herself in a hold. She’d struggle a fair amount for a couple of moments until he tightened it to very uncomfortable levels.
 
She’d then relax, closing her eyes and letting out a breath, pretending to be unconscious. Should someone come toward her, she’d layer her arms and legs with blades and spin around, hoping to chop anyone or anything near her should she so be released.

[Roku-Sama]

The man's energy resonated through the young vagabond after his response to Sid's warning was acknowledged. Sid plopped onto the ground, watching the man and the woman fight. The pressure that emitted off the two, it was a kind of bond of sorts that had yet to be truly defined and explained. Sid pulled out his flute from the pipe blade and began to fiddle with a few notes. After a few utterances, Sid began to play a chipper melody to match the mood of the conflict. As the tension rose, the notes began to ripple and burst to the conflict at hand. Much like most of Sid's pieces, it had an underlying tone of melancholy but this piece in particular began to pick up in pace. "I remember the first time I played this song... It was almost a month after Rook and his men left Orange Town. I learned it as a tribute to our time together and my pledge to go out and see the world." Sid thought to himself as he played.

[Guest]

As Coyote saw Zelda fade slowly out of consciousness as he retained the pressure on the headlock he proceeded towards Zelda cautiously not fully aware if she was legitimately unconscious or planning an elaborate rouse to lull Coyote into a false sense of security, proceeding cautiously as the rubber soled boots that Coyote wore smacked against the cobbles of the street. Suddenly in the distance Coyote heard the faint sounds of music that were coming from the unorthodox looking instrument that Sid carried which appeared to double as some kind of weapon.

“I said move along boy" said the bounty hunter coldy as he turned towards Sid and loosened his grip on the throat of Zelda’s arm.

[Vaetric]

Zelda wondered how the prisoner was able to move her body like he could. She was more than a little curious, was he like her? What she did know, however, was she never felt.. Helpless like that in a long, long time. He could push her away, he could move her arms like a ragdoll.
 
As soon as she was able to move her arm again, it looked like he was distracted by some music. She looked up, she hated the sun. It annoyed her, she would attempt to leap up and rush the man, attempting to push him to the floor and put her legs on both sides on him, trying to restrain his arms with her own and stare down at him, trying to find rhyme or reason to his abilities.

[Roku-Sama]

As Sid finished his song, the words of the man calling him a boy began to irritate him slightly. "Oi. You think I want to be here. It's thanks to you two that I couldn't loot the prison properly." Sid said. Screwing his pipe back into his blade, Sid saw the fight ultimately coming to a conclusion. "I figured if I followed you, I might be able to loot some top class merchants here. However, all I've been stuck doing is getting in fights for my life." Sid exclaimed letting his childish nature get a hold of him than his rational mind but if he was truly in tune with his senses, he would've known that it was not his place to harass the two. Breaking away from where the fight was taking place, Sid walked over to a nearby tea store, where he traded in his pocket of beli for some dango and a pot of tea. "I have no interest in fighting either of them. That man's eyes are just as crazed as hers. They deserve each other." Sid thought sipping his tea.

[Guest]

Listening to the complaints of the child Coyote nodded before disregarding near enough everything he had said.
“I’m not responsible for your own shortcomings. If you-“ Coyote was cut off with a loud thud as he was sent racing to the floor on his back as Zelda was soon upon him with legs either side of him in a mounted seated position which had become somewhat of a routine activity for the two of them. Rather than fear or panic Coyote felt a great deal of agitation as he already knew what the outcome would be but he pondered if Zelda had came to the same conclusion he had.

With a loud huff he looked up to the pale skinned lady who had now gripped his wrists and pinned them to the ground with her own, the floor was cold and damp from the rain during the night.

“Is that it? It’s not just my hands by the way it’s my whole body look” said Coyote as the same purplish hue that had coated his arms when he had utilized his devil fruit abilities before on Zelda.

Repel

Yanking on the back of her hair with his abilities Coyote pulled backwards so that Zelda’s head would lean back and look up to the sky he applied just enough pressure to cause discomfort without attempting to cause her any pain.

[Vaetric]

She managed to straddle the prisoner, staring balefully into his eyes. However, he didn’t seem all that impressed. He looked more irritated than confused and/or scared. She continued to stare at him as he huffed, as he spoke she was confused for a moment before realising what he meant. She raised her hand and before she could strike his head, her hair yanked backwards, causing her to look up toward the sky.
 
Her eyes ached as she looked into the sky, the sun blaring down at her as she writhed uncomfortably, her eyes squinting. She would attempt to place her hands in front of her face, trying to block out the rays of sunlight beating down on her. Uncomfortable was in fact an understatement, and she would try to scoot away from Coyote at the same time with her legs.

[Roku-Sama]

"Another order of Dango please." Sid exclaimed. "That goes pass your initial tab Sid... Speaking of which your master still owes me around 100-" the shop owner complained. "See the two over there scuffling, the tabs on them. Though, I wouldn't approach them for the beli. Jishishi...." Sid responded with his slight Orange town accent. "Fine. I'll just put them on your masters tab. For a lady, she's pretty good for nothing." the shop owner said. "I won't argue about that point." Sid said. Gobbling down the dango and finishing off the pot of tea, Sid heard the man's response about not being responsible for his shortcomings, at which he did agree. However, in his teachings, Sid learned that everything occurs for a reason in the Human Realm, cause and effect. "Fair Enough!" Sid shouted towards the two. "Hey, could you get me another pot of tea and some more dango's for those two. They'll be fairly exhausted once they're done." Sid stated. "OI! There's tea and dango here on the table, if you care to join me. They're some of the best in town." Sid shouted.

[Guest]

Eyeing his opportunity as Zelda released her vice like grip on the hands of Coyote she began to scoot bag leaving herself open for an attack, it was the right time and the right opportunity. As Zelda scooted backwards whilst using her hands to block out the piercing rays of sunlight from her eyes the bounty hunter would swing his arm back from his current position which was laying prone on the floor in a hooking motion which if successful would hit Zelda square in the jaw and send her hurtling off of Coyote and onto the hard stoned floor.

The boy was beginning to aggravate Coyote slightly as he repeated himself once more with a hint of aggression in his tone of voice as he spoke whilst aiming his fist at the Jaw of Zelda and gritting his teeth.

“I SAID…MOVE ALONG BOY”

[Vaetric]

Zelda felt a punch to her jaw, causing her to fall backwards, just barely missing the two of Coyote’s legs as her hair slammed into the ground, causing a bit of dust to.. Whoosh up due to her sharp hair embedding into it.
 
She would attempt to yank her hair out of the ground, but unfortunately it seemed to be a little harder than the walls in the prison, not to mention the added stress of the sunlight beating down on her face and her jaw ached. She was practically blind in this position, and she didn’t like it. Not one bit. Her eyes were completely covered by one hand while she slashed around with her fingernails on the other.
 
She felt another punch to her jaw, digging herself further into the ground, she would temporarily forget about her power, and simply aim to try to knee Coyote in the crotch.

[Roku-Sama]

The kid's tolerance with the older gentleman was growing fairly thin, he had actually tried to be friendly, which was mostly against his nature, unless it was in means to suit his cause.

"Call me boy one more time." Sid said beginning to charge electrical currents around his body, mostly his feet. The light in Sid's eyes began to fade slightly, he was the sorts who didn't care much about if his opponents eyes seemed deadly, they were many times in his training where he had experienced 'death'.


Stepping out from underneath the shade of the outside seating arrangement, cracking his knuckles, the kid began to hop up and down using his right foot balance the rhythm. "I hate adults who think they can order me around. I came on these seas to be free. The time for orders... and the people who were in the authority to tell me what do... are all passed." Sid exclaimed.

[Guest]

The initial knee strike that collided with the crotch did not register immediately as Coyote simply mounted Zelda who was now on the defensive as it appeared she was stuck to the ground literally and was using her free hand to cover her eyes from the scorching sunlight. Resting his right knee along the trachea of Zelda in a horizontal position Coyote cocked his fist back ready to strike the face of Zelda if she was to to attempt another flurry of offence. Just as he had established a form of control over the pale skinned woman the tingle in his crotch began to intensify and run all the way down his thigh and up his stomach as he cursed under his breath and held his crotch with his free hand.

Hearing the squeaky voice of Sid once more Coyote simply shot him a look of pure menace whilst still having established a base against Zelda. He could see that Sid was getting just about as amped as he was which reminded him that he indeed needed to calm down to avoid even more unneeded conflict which was the last thing that he wanted.



“When you insert yourself into my affairs, you answer to me. This one here tried to insert herself into my affairs and look how she ended up” said Coyote as he motioned towards Zelda before repositioning himself to achieve a better balance of control over her.

“I really have no quarrel with you, but I do strongly advise that you do not involve yourself in any of my affairs like you are. I say that for both of our sakes.”

[Vaetric]

Zelda was in a tight spot, she felt that her knee had hit something, but the prisoner didn’t let up. He straddled her and placed his knee upon her neck, to which she replied by stiffening her body, making it harder for both her to move and to be hurt. She chafed to have to use it like a turtle would use its shell, but she had no choice. He was able to influence her moves, and she couldn’t do a thing about it. She couldn’t see either, due to the irritable sun forcing her to cuff the eyes.
 
She heard the man curse as she guessed he finally realised she had a knee in his crotch, and he spoke to someone, probably the white-haired child, however there wasn’t much he could do against her while she was in this state, even influencing her moves would be difficult due to the stiffness, moving her entire body would be just as so due to her hair being stuck in the ground. However, she couldn’t’ say the same for the beli she.. “Pocketed” in the holes of her dress. Not that she cared much about it, but that was her ‘payment’ for the job.

[Roku-Sama]

Sid understood where the man was coming from, his rage subsided. Calming surge of electrical pulses, he threw the pouch of beli he collected from the prison on the table of the dango store and tilted his hat towards the man, exiting the scene of the two in conflict. "Fine... Fine... I understand. It's not my business whatever you do with the woman. I'm just a passing bystander anyhow. However, if Budah really had a purpose for our encounter, it'd probably would've happened by now." Sid exclaimed. Walking away from the scene, the loud exclamation left the kid frozen in his tracks once more. "Hey Kid. Stop right there... I got some questions to get to ask you!" Maokin exclaimed. "I could run here... or I could fight... I'm still banged up from that stupid giant, alright, escape!" Sid thought to himself. "Regifugim" Sid said. The silver haired brat dashed upwards onto the roof top and slid down the side of the ceiling into the adjacent alley. "What in the world..." Maokin exclaimed. "A Devil Fruit User?" Maokin whispered to himself. Dashing pass the fighting pair, the marine closed the distance from where he was once standing to where Sid was standing in a matter of seconds. Making a right pivot, he dashed into the nearby alleyway in pursuit of the brat. Shortly after, the two other marine grunts followed after, each carrying muskets in their hand. "I'm sure that kids responsible for what happened at the jail house... He probably knows the ring leaders." James said. "Probably... We'll see once we rough' em up a bit. Warrant Officer Maokin likes toying with those weaker than him anyhow." Franco said.

[Guest]

Sucking in air quickly and deeply to help alleviate the painful sensations that were running down the lower portion of his body, Coyote was soon interrupted as he felt the body  of Zelda get harder and rigid she was most likely using some form of advanced powers for her devil fruit thought Coyote to himself. Knowing that the impact of his knee laid over her windpipe would be minimal to say the least. To counteract this Coyote would transition himself up from the floor and to a vertical base before resting the sole of his foot right on the nose and eyes of Zelda which she would be unlikely to see due to the sun blaring in her eyes blinding her somewhat



“Just give it up, I win I am stronger than you.”

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