Rooftops -Open-

[ad3]

"No problem," Kiphon replied, grinning and tipping his Marine hat. He could make out the smile on Shiori's face, knowing his small gamble had paid off in his favor. It puts a smile on my face to have done something good and accomplished what I came here to do. Guess it's time to find a ride back. Turning slightly to the side, he was about to wave goodbye and head off.

Just then, he placed his arm on his abdomen as his stomach growled. Of course, I completely forgot to eat the last meal they served on the boat since I was entranced while reading the manual. It must be at least 5 hours since I ate. Kiphon was so hungry that he had to sit down as he sulked in defeat at realizing his folly. Now, he would have to find a place to eat and would probably waste so much time that he'd have to wait until the next day to leave. "So...hungry. Can't...move....since I have....no energy."

Kiphon fell down flat on his back from his seated position, hungry as a sea king and poor as a Marine.

[nizzie]

Shiori took a few to skin through the manual. It seemed forever since she had read a book, and a manual at that. She spent most of her young teenage days in her guardian's garden, or the small farm behind the house. The other days were spent sleeping, or playing with the other kids near the docks. 'Wow.... so this is how much that Mr. Kiphon and the other marines have to read....', She told herself in her mind as she continued to flip through the pages when she heard a slight thud. It was only Kiphon, who had fallen on his back from hunger. 'I should help him', she wondered. Her guardian, Callan, probably wouldn't mind having a Marine stay a while so he could recollect the energy he needed.

Shiori tucked the book under her arm, to make sure it wouldn't fall when she jumped. Then, she positioned herself as if she was climbing up the roof, not jumping off of it. "Careful, Shiori... you don't want to break your foot like last time....", She reminded herself as inched herself down the roof, planting her foot on the sill of the window below her. Then, she clamped her eyes shut, and let her body fall to the ground, feet first. Only a slight pain shot up her body, but nothing to serious. She checked to see if the book was still secure under her arm, which it was. Shiori walked over to Kiphon, kneeling down next to him to get a better look at his current condition. "Hey, are you alright, Mr. Kiphon?"

[ad3]

Blurred vision, epic pain in his abdomen and seemingly total amnesia: these were the effects of hunger on Kiphon. Is this the end? All those years in Alabasta and I finish life here.....What a way to go. Kiphon hadn't felt this much pain since the early days of training at Marineford. And we all know that training at Marineford is basically hell on earth meaning that this pain was devastating. Probably enough to knock out several Sea Kings and maybe some big time pirates. But of course not Garp; Garp was too good to succumb to this.

Suddenly, a female looking figure came into view and looked down on him. Kiphon was a bit scared thinking it really was up. So the reaper comes to get me.....hope they have lots of grills up there in the Vast Ocean Of Heaven. Maybe some weird looking creatures with angelic tastes to it. Kiphon was just about to cry from joy and sorrow....until the figure spoke. Once realizing it was Shiori, he grew very much relieved and tried his best to speak. "Food....Need any food........barbecue preferred..." He asked, practically begging her for anything to feed him with.

[nizzie]

Once she saw that he needed a specific kind of food, Shiori know just the right person. That person lived a house right next to where she and her guardian lived. In other words, not that far. Now that knew who could help, she just needed to know how to get him to that kind of help. He was already weakened by hunger, and walking would probably make Kiphon even weaker. "I'll be right back...", She said as sat the book down next to him and stood up, running to her next door neighbor, whose house surprisingly smelled of barbecue. Once she explained to her neighbor that she had recently met someone and now that person was on the ground starving, and that neighbor agreed to help.

It was almost while before Shiori came out with a plate of food that Kiphon requested. She knelt down next to him with the plate in her hands. "Here you go, Mr. Kiphon", She said smiling. Then she thought it would be a bit out of place for a Marine to eat outside, or any place where a bird could swoop in and snatch something and fly away. Maybe the porch was a good place to sit.

[ad3]

It didn't seem like an eternity; it WAS an eternity. So long without food, Kiphon could see the end. But a very faint smell carried over from somewhere. Slowly, it grew stronger and stronger. It was powerful, rich and....burning?!?! No, that can't be..... BARBECUE?!?!?!?!?!

Just like that, Kiphon sat up as if he had been reanimated from the dead. "Barbecue! My favorite!," he exclaimed as he stuffed himself with beef, shrimp and all different kinds of vegetables that were barbecued over an open flame with charcoal and some special sauce of the island, which was a bit of lime with pepper, tomato and spice. And yes: Kiphon could tell all that just by tasting the food.

Once he had enough to give him some energy, he stopped and looked over at Shiori. "Thank you. Barbecue's exactly what I needed right now." He examined the surroundings and remembered they were still in the small open field beside Shiori's house, a place not befitting of a meal. So, he grabbed the plate, stood up and spoke. "Do you think we can find a more...appropriate place to eat?," stuffing his mouth with another piece of meat.