Flamey's Logs

[Flame]

Story Name: Log From a Crate
Character: Kano Toro
Word Count: 4467

---

Day X

Darkness, it enveloped the area and for a second there was no difference between eyes open and eyes closed. In fact for the time being there absolutely was none. The fear that brought was all consuming, was he dead? Why could he see nothing? Where was he? What were those sounds? Why were there sounds if he was dead? Wait, why was he even thinking if he was dead. Okay obviously not exactly dead yet, so then he was alive. So why the darkness? Naturally his arms began to move and he felt them press against his temples, another sign that he was alive, but again why the darkness? Shifting he suddenly realized he was pressing his back against something, his feet would not move as far as he wished they would and there was a certain soreness to all of his body parts. Slowly but surely it came back to him, what he was doing here. Why he was here and what exactly was happening to him.

Memories of Ciudadela Queendom and a man named Daisy swirled in his head. Thoughts of returning to his homeland in the North Blue, and then finally locking himself inside a crate and then shipping himself there. That was where he was, in a crate. Based on the vague movements he felt he was likely already over water swaying back and forth with the rocking of the boat. It explained both his lack of an ability to see anything and the reason his legs would not stretch as far as he liked. Obviously these were issues he had not exactly foreseen when doing this. His leg twitched slightly and bumped into something hard, it was not the wall of the boat. Ahh yes, the bentos he had stolen from Daisy. Kano smiled, at least he had that much foresight. Certainly between these two bentos he would be able to last a while longer than he would have otherwise.

Wiggling a little to try and get a little more comfortable he decided something. This darkness was a little too much for him at the moment. He could probably afford to have a little light. Something to brighten his day, his hand moved forward. A finger popped up from it and Kano could feel himself smiling at his 'brilliant idea'. The finger if he could see it would have disappeared from his eyes and instead a small sparkler would have grown out of the finger as if it had always been there. With that, there was light, the insight of the crate's walls greeted him.

His gleaming red eyes looked around its overly comfortable abode staring at its hardened wooden walls. They would not be so hard to break if he wanted to, though he was a little curious whether he had enough room in here to harness the necessary strength to do so. The real question then being if he got out of the crate what would he do from there. Stuck on a boat hopefully heading for the North Blue, maybe they would make him pay fees or something, that would not do. So it was in the end his only option to stay in the crate and wait. How long could a trip like this take anyways? They only had to go from South to North right? Kano did not particularly remember how he got to the South Blue, it was such a long time ago and he was never prone to trying to remember such events.

His stomach grumbled slightly and he looked hungrily at the bentos piled as neatly as they could be in the corner. No, if this was a long journey he would have to hold out a little longer. He needed to truly be starving when he began to access his food reserves. Looking at the wall of the crate for a moment he took a moment to think. Yeah, seemed like a good idea in his head. With his finger still a sparkler he placed it against the wood, it seared the wood immediately. Swinging the finger in a cross he wrote a small X upon the wall. Quickly patting it down so that it would not cinder and light a-fire he smiled to himself before dispelling his sparkler finger. So it begins, day X. The thoughts passed through his head as he drifted harmlessly back to sleep.

Day X+1

Eyes opened again, this time there was a distinct difference from the day before. The sound of voices, footsteps, the like passed around outside. Apparently something was happening, Kano yawned while he was sleeping long he was not sleeping well. He could tell from the soreness which bothered his whole body, the little less tenacity he had for hearing the people outside step and walk around. Hear them talk, he was jealous they were able to feel the openness of the sea breeze. They had much to be thankful for that Kano could not.

Nope, instead he remained as he had been for now who knows how long. And has he once again lit a sparkler finger to hold it in front of his face he stared bored at it. Waving it in front of his face he found that if he moved it fast enough it would make a cool lines in the air. His boredom getting the best of him he did this for a little while. His finger made circles in the air, then figure eights, letters, numbers, anything he could think of to keep him interested. Finally he tried something even more complicated, drawing actual pictures. It required such complex movements that sparks actually ended up flying around the crate. Which forced Kano to stop and then hurriedly try and pat down the cinders before they accidentally set something alight. He was not particularly averse to fire but even Kano saw the reasons not to let that happen.

He sighed, he would not be able to amuse himself with spinning his finger around apparently. Now what would he do, his eyes once again rested on the bento boxes at his feet. Scratching his stomach he felt it grumble slightly, hunger rose from within it burning at his insides. It can't hurt right ... For a moment Kano fought himself in his head before finally giving in. Kano almost laughed to himself as he grabbed the first bento box with one hand, pulling it up he propped it up between his thighs and his chest. Pulling the top off he revealed an assortment of different things. All of which only made his mouth water and his stomach grumble more calling for the food that was now right in front of it.

Only a third ... ok maybe half, yeah half. It only took seconds for him to convince himself he needed to eat a little more. His stomach called upon him to do so and he did. With one hand holding the sparkler to light up the crate and the other hand carefully picking up two rice balls and shoveling them directly into his mouth. Gratefully Kano chewed saying thanks to Daisy in his head for such a wonderful little meal. Whether or not it was due to hunger that it tasted so good did not matter. It was food. He picked up a rolled egg, lifting it above his head he added it to the mush of rice that he had been chewing.

"Mmmmm" Kano could not help but make such a sound. The mixture was so excellent. After wolfing down a few tako sausages as well and what must've been some pickled vegetables he looked at the bento box. It was a little less than half full now. A little greed on his part but that was okay ... probably. Ruefully looking at the bento box now that he had taken what little he could possibly call his fill, Kano sighed grabbing at the bento box's lid before replacing it back upon the box. Placing it gently on the ground he scooted it over to the corner with his foot. He was not about to overturn what was a ... fourth? No, ... third! of his leftover food supply.

Sitting there for a few more seconds he decided there was nothing else to do. So bringing his finger up to the X that he had left he drew a single line next to it. This was one day after day X, however many days day X was. Well at least supposedly this was day one after it, then again what did Kano know he couldn't see outside. His eyes drooped together and after a little trying he pulled himself to sleep once again.

Day X+2

"Uggghhhhhhh" the particularly bad rocking of the boat woke Kano up this time. The sound of other things moving across what he assumed was probably a cargo hold or the deck told him that it was likely a storm. That and of course the pattering of rain that he could hear everywhere around him. Patter, patter, patter, patter .. it was kind of rhythmic. Almost kind of nice Kano's feet began to beat rapidly against the wooden floor of his crate.

Boom-ba-dum Boom-ba-dum, that sound joined the pitter patter of rain. And with an invisible smile Kano rocked back and forth to the beat he was creating. This was a momentary recompense to the fact that he was slowly getting soaked. His clothes slowly gathering the dripping water became heavy and stuck to his body in uncomfortable ways. His thin shirt latched itself to his skin illuminating Kano's more toned figure beneath it. Thankfully he was wearing shorts as it kept his whole leg from being uncomfortable. Only his upper leg and his buttox, which in particular had a piece of cloth which was now soaked riding up it in a way he really wished it wouldn't.

But these thoughts with the sound of music were for the moment forgotten. Keeping his eyes closed he tried to focus solely on the music. Solely on the beats he was making and then he began to hum. Starting softly the sound grew louder and louder. At first in his head and then out loud he drowned out his own body's need to yell exactly how uncomfortable it was. It would surely make him insane if he thought about it all too much. So instead the music in his head distracted him, even thoughts of hunger momentarily disappeared from his head. Everything was perfect, if he could do this he would make ... "Are you sure you heard something?" a voice from outside the box suddenly rang through his little home.

"Yeah, it was definitely coming from in here." Came a second voice, and then now Kano having stopped his stomping and humming listened. Two pairs of footsteps echoed throughout the room. Tense, that explained how Kano was feeling and likewise how the two seamen were feeling as well. Or at least one of the seamen was feeling.

"What are you talking about? There isn't anything here. You are going crazy man." The first voice came out once again. Laughing now and Kano's tensed shoulders relaxed a little. Nothing crazy was going to happen. "You don't know what I heard man ..." it was the second voice much more nervous. "Whatever you say man," there was an odd tone to the first voice this time. Kano did not recognize it as he pressed his ear against the wood. A pair of footsteps could be heard walking away from his position. This could be fun! A great idea popped into Kano's head.

Pulling together the most ghostly voice he could manage Kano began to speak or actually just make sounds "Woooooooo" Then he stopped. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!?!" Kano stifling his laughter made his own sound once again and it was quickly following by screaming and the sound of quickly moving footsteps.

Kano instead broke down into laughter for a few moments quite amused by what he had just done. As time passed his laughter died down and deciding there was nothing better to do, he lit his finger once again and added yet another slash to his wall of slashes. I'll have to remember that for tomorrow ... laughing to himself Kano passed out again.

Day X+3

"-come on now, there is no ..." The sound of a voice in whatever room he was in woke Kano up from his slumber. Kano rising out of his sleeping state suddenly stopped the incessant snoring that had caused the owner of the voice to pause. With no sound filling the void there seemed an obvious absence. But Kano not completely aware of what was going on flickered his eyes open and closed. Though that did nothing to deal with the lack of light in his crate it did in a fashion make him more alert.

"See! What did I tell you. There's a ghost in here." The last part was said in a hushed voice such that Kano could not actually hear it. Instead it came as some garble of sound which Kano of course had no ability to understand. But now vaguely aware that there was likely someone in the room he stopped moving. His breathing slowed as he tried to make the silence convincing enough that they would leave. Hopefully.

The voice seemed nervous this time but it nonetheless returned "There are no such things as ghosts, you're still not right in the head." There was a light thunk which echoed through the room followed by a distinct ow, Kano could only imagine what happened and needed to then stifle a laugh. Pictured in his head was a man whacking the back of the head of another with his hand causing him to stumble forward and declare his pain to the world. Moving his hand he stuck it to his own mouth. "But ... ok then, lets check out these boxes to make sure." It was an uneasy voice, "Go on do it." sounded the second voice clearly unwilling to do the task himself.

Then came the sound of moving boxes, thrown around left and right or just being re-stacked Kano could tell they were coming closer to his own box. With no idea of how close he could only guess by the intensity of the sounds, but dampened by the crate he was in even then he had little to no idea. Suddenly light flooded his crate as the crate beside it was moved away and light came in through his little spy holes. Luckily no face appeared in front of it to see him but Kano's heart was beating fast. His hand pressed against his mouth to keep it from blurting out any sounds that might get him in trouble.

"See? Nothing here." That first voice came again as something once again blocked his light source. "But... but I know what I heard! And you heard it too!" "Bug off, it must've just been some creaking wood don't worry so much about it." Once again the sounds of stuff moving filled the room. It was only then that Kano began to take into account his own needs. His clothing was still wet, even if it had stopped raining it was still wet. The crate he was in apparently wasn't letting out water all too well. An idea came to mind but first he'd have to wait till they left.

Grrrrrr the sound echoed throughout the room. Kano's eyes widening clutched his belly. "WHAT WAS THAT!!?!?" Kano grabbed his belly pleading for it to be quiet when the savior of a voice came once again. "That was my belly, bit louder than I expected. Time to head for the mess." The voice said nonchalantly. Kano held back from letting out a sigh of relief until the two pairs of feet could no longer be heard walking away from his position.

It was then that he took one longing look at the half eaten bento box in the corner and decided that instead he'd deal with his soggy situation. His fingers drier than his clothing all disappeared and where they had been appeared sparklers. He would definitely have to be careful not to set his clothing on fire but this he thought was his best bet for drying off. Holding each hand near to some of his clothing he allowed its massive heat to do the work. Evaporating the water from the clothes he was careful to stop and smother any cinders that might have started to light themselves. Until once again he found himself dry-ish still hungry but then again it would be a state he would likely be in all trip.

Placing the next mark on his day counter he closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep. To sate his hunger he stole a single rice ball out of the bento and chugged it down. It would sate his stomach's whinings for a moment so he could hopefully return to sleeping. That was his plan, he wasn't hungry when he slept so his best bet was just to try and sleep the trip through. As much sleeping as possible, nothing else would suffice.

Day X+3+N

It had been a few days, Kano's ways to keep himself from getting overly jittery from his situation were slowly winding away. His first bento box was now cleaned, empty, and taking up valuable space in his crate. It was extremely lucky that he apparently was using every resource in his body and did not actually need to excrete any liquids and solids at the moment. Perhaps lucky was not a good enough statement, it was entirely too helpful for a numerous number of reasons that he did not have to relieve himself, that he did not hear nature's calling.

Some innumerable, or more likely a number of slashes that Kano did not care to count were placed on the wall of the crate he was in. While the first few were rather clean there was an obvious progression as the lines became a little more distorted each and every time. It was a function of his now deteriorating state of mind. The amusements of terrifying the paranoid sailor had worn off as he decided to avoid wherever Kano was to no end. None of the other sailors particularly walked around wherever he was so that had quickly disappeared.

While making beats and sounds would work on occasion it really was only when there was a heavy enough rain such that his crate would be getting pattered upon. And while that was nice it was not as often as he might have wished, or might not have wished as being wet was a duly annoying position. The amusements of using his new found firework abilities had also reduced quite a bit. For the sake of staying a stealthy box he could not do anything too crazy though he had been playing with a few things. The major thing he worked on was trying to manipulate the size of his fireworks. Which he could really only do with his sparkler creations for the moment due to them not being explosive in a way that would not destroy his crate.

He had other ideas but they were not for testing in this crate. Which meant his boredom was rising. Ever the temptation of food was something he dealt with, slowly but surely it meant his food stores were starting to disappear. Already on his second bento box he could only afford to eat one piece every other day or so. Even his sleeping was starting to suffer from his discomfort about the situation. Where he used to sleep up to twenty some hours a day to deal with his boredom, that had lately been falling. He soon had to be awake for longer and longer. And from there his true misgivings were starting to occur.

The inability to see the stars, the crampedness of the crate often caused him some level of stress. Made him worry about unhealthy things made him a little paranoid of everything as well. Now and then he had moments of lots of hugging himself and deep breathing, things so unlike him that it in itself felt very odd to do. Today was one of those days, without anything to keep himself afloat the day he instead shook in the crate. His body shivered, he rotated back and forth in his box his mind winding around. The darkness, the everything, it was all starting to poke at his latent claustrophobia issues.

His hands moved forward to grasp his head, It'll be ok ... it'll be ok ... Kano told himself in his head trying his best to keep his cool. Pulling his hood over his head he tightened its grasp around his body. The increased pressure helped, he thought, it felt that way. His heart was beating in his head, loud and constant and fast at that. He pressed his eyelids shut and tried to blur out the thoughts, it did nothing for him. The thoughts blared in his head, he wanted out.

OUT!

Losing to the will his arm flung itself outwards in a punch at the crate. But without the space to make a proper punch it simply bounced off of the crate leaving him with scratches across his knuckles. The pain of it thankfully distracting him from the larger issues pushing through his head. It was not the best reason for distraction but it worked, it kept his mind on something else. Kept his thoughts off of the claustrophobic tendencies that were starting to break him. Carefully blowing on his hand he rocked back and forth. It was not too painful, he had felt worse but the knuckles were a little tender so he had to be careful. Especially with all the festering that could happen stuck in this little box.

Removing his hand he replaced it with a sparkler, while it was disappeared hopefully it would do nothing more. Pulling his shirt up as to not burn it he placed the sparkler on his belly. The heat of the sparkler was nothing to him anyways. And like that he closed his eyes once again and tried to sleep. Forgetting to mark his crate for the next day, though its not like it mattered. He had no idea how many days had passed anyways.

Day ... MAKE IT STOP!

It was, was ... how many days had it been? Kano had been stuck in this unforgiving crate, this damnable crate for what could only be called countless day. Beside him, along the right wall of the crate were innumerable strikes upon it. They were his reckoning of sorts, the last grips of his supposed sanity which stated how long he had been at sea. There was basically one mark for whenever he woke up, so in his mind one strike for each day he had been at sea. Likely, probably, if he wanted to count he'd have likely found at least thirty strikes along the wall, a decidedly large number in is mind.

But this was not why he was going crazy. It was not why right now in the crate for which he had barely enough space to even try to be comfortable Kano was gripping his head and rocking back and forth. It was not why he had resorted to screaming, crying, eating the last of his resources and then eating fireworks which he made from his hand. They did not fulfill his any more than they could as they were both exiting and entering him at the same time. It was the everlasting silence, with nothing but his only voice to control him. The lack of human contact whether it be face to face or even just being able to hear the crewmembers of the ship he was being transported on. None of those seemed to exist anymore, the crew spooked by the odd sounds that came from the storage room at night had decided to just not enter it anymore. It was that darkness, that darkness which he could only avert by creating a sparkler from his finger.

There, that, then and only then would he find some solace as his body was huddled up around the single sparkler creating its own miniature light within his self-confinement. His eyes would stare at it for ages as if it were his last salvation. In this box it was a miracle that Kano had not forced his breakout using his fireworks powers. Perhaps it was that last bit of sanity which kept him from it. Or the thought of doing so was so forgone from his mind as he instead fell deeper into his insanity.

It was around these times that he would scream out. His voice breaking through the crate's walls and ringing about the room he was in. Slowly breaking up more and becoming impossible to understand to those on the ship it would end up be like the wailing of some harpy or something. But for him it was simply a yell from deep within himself LET ME OUT!!!!! SOMEONE SAVE ME!!!!!! It would not be a sole occurrence on any given day. No he would do it multiple times a day, giving the room he was in a rather haunted feeling at times. It was at times like this that he was in fact his worse enemy. For it was exactly was him who was keeping people away, it was him who had put himself in this position. Not that he could figure that out now in his advanced state of distress.

This would go on for hours until, finally relenting from a crackingly dry throat and exhaustion from lack of food Kano would stop. His body giving out on him, he would place his hand in his mouth create a bottle rocket and fire it into his mouth. Of course immune to his own explosions he would do nothing but feed himself the materials once again. Then moments later his consciousness would black out. For a few freeing moments he would not be in this crate. For a few freeing moments he would be somewhere else, experiencing something that he could literally only dream of. For those few freeing moments happiness, enjoyment, everything would be his. It was only an irony that it was those few moments which would make him waking up go so much worse. Perhaps this was his punishment for everything he did. He did not know, he did not care, he only wanted it to be over. If there was one for Kano, this was definitely his darkest hour.

[Flame]

Story Name: A Girl and the Steel
Character: Syphalia Minalion
Word Count: 7571

---

Two red orbs floated listlessly their aim focused on one boring, shining, cubical block of steel. This very block in its rigid unharmed state taunted her, the bonds that made it steel virtually unaltered by any attempt the girl before it had made to change that. This was her challenge, the first of many which she thought to set before herself. This challenge, this block, she had made herself, using her skills in smithing and some extra materials she had gathered she had fashioned this block of steel. Tempered and refined it was a testament to her own ability as a blacksmith that she was capable of creating such a block. This was her challenge to herself, the next step she needed to take to increase her own strength.

Sitting there across from it, it stared at her a sign of her own incompetence, its unmarred shape was the problem. Eyes turning down she looked upon the blade in her hand. Burikka Tourou she had named it, it was a strong blade, reminiscent of her old blade, Kitasha. Ever since she had gained it in that odd excursion on Saint Poplar it had done her well, defeated the enemies she had needed it too but here at this juncture it was incapable of doing what she wanted of it. Frowning she knew she was unfairly placing blame upon her blade, it could not be expected to cut steel on its own. Surely it could not even cut wood if it did not have a competent swordsman behind it. Placing her right hand upon the blade she carefully slid it along being careful not to slice her finger on the razor sharp edge of the blade. After running her hand along the blade's edge once up and then once down Syphalia nodded to herself and no one else.

Uncrossing her legs she placed both feet firmly upon the ground, standing up she rose to her full height. Though not a tall height it was enough as she looked down upon her proclaimed enemy, that block of steel. There was no more to it than this, that piece of steel and herself, calmly her fingers opened and closed their grip upon the Burikka's hilt. This first one will be a test, a control variable. Her arm lifted itself into the air and with it her sword until it was nearly straight above her head. This was no secret technique, no special art, it was simply a sword slash. Unaltered by anything else her arm suddenly swung down. Her own blade along with it, cutting through the air until suddenly it came in contact with her steel foe. As steel met steel the two clanged together, clashing as the sharpened edge of one tried to divide the other. All that was for naught, as instead the blade glanced off of the weapon leaving an odd ringing force which resonated in her blade and thus up her arm.

Unfortunate, but expected, Syphalia grabbed her vibrating arm with one hand commanding it to stop. Frowning she sort of expected more, sighing the black haired swordswoman eyed the block of metal. Except for perhaps a small notch it was basically untouched. She was going for something more, something amazing. Perhaps for example like it would be sliced in half not unlike a knife going through butter. Syphalia smiled at that image, that was the goal and for a moment she pictured it in her head. Her, sword in one hand, swinging down upon a piece of steel. From there it would hit the steel and not stopping for a moment the blade would continue on its original trajectory as if the steel had not been there in the first place. Slicing through there would be a clean cut, the block would be divided in two. Then perhaps again by a second slice then into quarters. That was the image in her head which she was trying to replicate. The goal she thought for the time being was reasonable for her to achieve. Turning her head left and right she cracked her neck. It was a very un-ladylike thing to do, not that it mattered to her. She had this steel block to deal with.

Syphalia had heard a few times that a good first step in doing something was to visualize how she would do it. That was a very small help given the goal she had appointed to herself. Imagining herself doing it gave her no clues on how to get to that point. Instead it allowed her the unfortunate picture of her doing it which meant nothing as reality did not follow the picture. A hopeless picture that was for sure, the other notion that she had heard multiple times was to set forth steps. Smaller goals that achievable would lead to this one. Which might have been nice if not for the fact that she had in her time completed every step she could imagine that might be between herself and cutting steel. Wood was the easiest step, something she managed ages ago, stone had taken her longer but eventually it too had fallen. One might be able to count iron, the lesser metals which did not have the same durability as steel. That had been the most recent of her accomplishments, going along with the defeat of a marine commander, she had broken his blade with her own. It had not been a clean cut, but she accepted it.

Which had left her here, standing before the block of steel she had forged. She was capable of putting nicks in it but no more. Breathing in and breathing out she stared at it. That was a test run, a control variable to see how far I can go. The words echoed in her head, as she placed both hands upon the blade. For someone who usually wielded her blade with a single hand this felt odd. Imbalanced even, like it might mess something up, but this was the only way that she could figure that would increase the brute strength of the blow. And that was what she needed right? More strength, how else would she break the bonds she forged and split them. Closing her eyes she raised her blade above her head, with both hands upon the blade it felt a little odd but she ignored it. Hotaru Waza - Tachikiru The name of her strongest two-handed attack were spoken in her head as both arms threw all their force behind the blade. Together they strung together a powerful blow, from top down, her strength, gravity, everything to aid her the blade struck against its counterpart. And ...

Nothing. The blade wedged itself into another nick. Larger than the last one she had cut maybe an inch into the foot deep block of steel. Syphalia's eyes were set alight with annoyance as she withdrew the blade from the block. Why didn't it work She lamented her own inability, then enraged decided to do it again. For the second time her blade was raised, perhaps that was just a fluke, perhaps this time ... with two hands upon the hilt she swung down. The blade cresting through the air it slammed into the block, once again another nick formed, but it was no larger than the last one. Anger rose in her as she removed the blade again. Another three times, her blade slammed into the brick, another three times it was brought to a stop by the steel it tried to divide. Her fury rising Syphalia burnt out, her impatience with herself becoming an issue when she removed her blade the fifth time she simply threw it to the ground. "ARRRGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH" She vented her frustration to the empty room she stood in.

He could do it a small voice in the back of her head made itself known. Shut up, her mind responded back to it, this was not the place for it to begin bringing back memories of him. He was gone, he might as well be dead for all she cared. If it were him, it would be in ten different pieces at the least. Frustration blew through her as Syphalia's hand grabbed onto her head. DO NOT BRING HIM UP! Her mind yelled back at that secondary voice. Hands ran through her hair as her mind was choked by its own misgivings. She had thought herself over him, he was gone, for all that he had done he was nothing anymore. She would surpass him. No she had surpassed him, he had disappeared the second he had entered the Grand Line. And she? She had fought monks on St. Poplar, monsters at Night Beast, she had rescued Pierce from the marines at Port West. What could he claim? Nothing, so why could he do it. Why did she believe he could do it. In terms of swordsmanship she had never thought him her better, in fact in terms of pure swordsmanship she was quite sure she was the greater of the pair. Was it his strength? That pure brutish strength that she had trained to match, no. Maybe? Stop thinking about him. She told herself, he chained her to the past in ways that she had been trying to get over.

Annoyed with her lack of progress, Syphalia decided that it was best for her to take a break from it. Picking up her sword she walked out of the room and towards her own quarters upon the ship. She would sleep, think on it, and come back to her challenge when she felt ready.

Passing through the hallways of the Shoguns ship she made it to her room. It was thankful that she had not run into any of her own crew mates. She was not in the mood to talk with them, especially Pierce. Not that it was his fault, but he was a more direct reminder of that guy. She did not name him for her own purposes. It made him seem less important, less of the constant thorn in her side. Less of the consistent person in her memory that made her feel like less than what she was. Her stomp to her room whether heard or not had elicited no responses which she was vaguely thankful for. Placing her hand on the door she pushed it open stepping into it. The room was dimly lit, three lanterns placed at different points in the room kept it bright enough to see in. They were also strategically placed in their own right. The first was by the door, it was the dimmest light necessary only to make sure that she could find the exit. The second was beside a desk, a few pieces of paper sat upon the wooden desk that she had claimed for herself. The final one above her bed, while the other two were usually brighter for the time she had dimmed them.

Entering the room her frustration was shown through how she moved. Rough brash movements that were usually unlike her were easily visible. Stepping past the door she slammed it back into place. As it crashed into its frame the door gave a solid 'thud' telling everyone upon the ship that it was closed. It was unnecessary and harmful to the door, likely it was something that she would be given grief about later by Garuda, the resident shipwright. Not that she had any thoughts about that, continuing on she brushed alongside her bed until she came up beside a rack. This rack was not for clothing as most racks might be, instead it held a group of sheathes, only one of which was empty. The rest had swords in them, no she was not a collector. She was a swordsmith by trade, these were just some of her creations, placing Burikka back into its own sheath she swiveled and fell onto her bed.

Its soft cushions caught her as she fell and bounced her up slightly as the spring decompressed. Normally this was something she found fun, but now, at least right now she found it tedious and troublesome. Rolling the sheets over her Syphalia pressed shut her eyes. A little rest will do me some good ... Hopefully. Her body compromising with her annoyed attitude relented in allowing her to fall asleep. She was not sleepy, but she needed to forget, to restart. It took a few moments but eventually her closed eyes, the darkness got to her. She did not even have to turn off the lamps as she thought she might have had to. The darkness took her.

~~

Eyes flickered open, she was ... standing. The feeling of something in her hand made her look down. Her hand grasped a katana, a familiar katana, one she had not used in ages. Mainly because it was broken, she had never recovered the blade's shards so she was unable to reforge it. It was Kitasha, her first blade, gifted to her by her mentor it was, or had been one of the Wazamono Blades. Not of particular worth, she particularly had held it dear, with it she had done so much, accomplished so much. It was her first partner and had it not shattered at St. Poplar she would have likely remained wielding it for the rest of her days. Why are you here ... She spoke to her blade in her head as if expecting it to answer her. It of course did not, looking around she was suddenly made aware of her surroundings.

She stood upon the deck of a ship, this was also a familiar item. The ship was many times larger than the Shoguns ship but she knew it all the same. What was it called again? The name danced upon the tip of her tongue poking fun at the fact she could not remember it. For good reason to, she had spent many years upon this ship it was in fact a little sad that she had so easily forgotten its name. Perhaps because she did not wish to remember it, many times larger than the ship she now lived on this ship had been the flagship of that crew. The first crew she joined with him. The Dancing Blade Pirates, forming in the West Blue it was an upstart crew that had quickly and to her own pride risen to prominence among the rookie crews of the blues. It was an unfortunate fate that befell them upon the Reverse Mountain. The memories of those few moments upon this ship where they ran directly into contact with another crew as they rushed up the mountain. The coming insanity as the two crews had battled it out had led to Jack's disappearance. He, the captain of the crew had lost faith and left them, doing something so crazy as dropping off the ship. It was a move she could only think resulted in his own death, he a DF user would have been useless the second he hit water.

Looking around the deck was empty, she stood alone here. The memories flooded in her, Bella, Pierce, Tomas, Xun, Jack she maintained memories of them all whether she wanted to. In her reminiscence she walked along the ship to the edge where she had last seen that man. That man she named only so very rarely, clambering up to the edge she looked over it and suddenly the scenery grew. The ship began to buck slightly as running water was suddenly beneath the ship. Giant rock walls on either side of the ship guided it forward along its singular path. Peering into the water she frowned, all the memories, both good and bad, she did not want them here. Not now, definitely not now, not while she felt herself so incapable of overcoming her current obstacle. "Now then, what are you looking over there for Syph." The sound of a voice caused her to whirl around her eyes coming across a second person upon the ship. Now she knew she was dreaming, if everything else had not been enough to convince her of the fact then this figure was here to do so.

Nostalgia and anger combined to overcome her emotions, no longer did it matter that she was dreaming. That seemed such a minimal issue compared to what her mind had spawned before her. The nostalgic figure standing before her was exactly as she remembered him. Her eyes blazed as they scanned over him, his black hair as usual was a mess, flinging left and right and all over in multiple locks. His face was as defined as always crossed with his usual angry eyes and thin mouth. Long limbs which defined much of his look were covered in clothing she had remembered him wearing in the past. Everything was the same, all the way down to the geta upon his feet, even their steel bottoms were there. In hindsight it seemed laughable how well she remembered his figure. It was a remembrance worthy of one who might have fallen in love with him or was obsessed with him in some way or another. The second she did not wish to admit, the second she would vehemently deny and knew fairly well was not true either. Upon his back was a sword, this too she remembered well, back in the day when she owned Kitasha, he had wielded a Meitou. One of the 21 great blades that surpassed even her own weapon. It was something she as a swordsman had decided to ignore despite the indecency of such an odd swordsman wielding it. He was as she remembered him, exactly.

Gritting her teeth together Syphalia hardened her grip upon Kitasha. Trying to reign in her fury she managed to tensely state the name of the man standing before her. "Jack." There was no follow-up to that one word because as soon as she said it she felt a new wave of emotion overcome her inhibitions.

"Now then, as your captain I think I've earned a better greetings than that." His face had a cheeky grin on it which caused her only to close her grip around her weapon even harder. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at him not responding to him at all. Anger surging within her she gave no warning, her arm flicked outwards and then suddenly she whipped it back and forth. Three times at extreme speed, "Kitsuneso" From Kitasha three air slashes flew out into the air winding their way towards the form standing still before her. He made no sound and just looked at her, "I'm disappointed ... is that all?" Suddenly before her eyes his figure disappeared, she had forgotten this ability of his, it had been something he had first learned fighting her. As she spun suddenly his form came into vision, it was too late. The feeling of his steel geta slamming into her side pulsed through her whole body as she was sent flying to the side. Crashing against the deck of the DBP ship she rolled for some time before finally slowing enough to jump back onto her feet. "Come now, you were not this weak last we fought." A voice from behind her spoke once more.

She reacted immediately, her feet pressing against the ground she disappeared from where she had once stood. Her eyes were now on the steel geta that were sitting in the air where she had been moments ago. "That's better." Jack's head tilted upwards so that he could better look down upon her. He still had not touched his weapon, that was the first step. She had never been so weak that he was able to fight her without his weapon. With all her growth she thought herself capable of beating him once and for all. Taking a deep breath she looked up at his grinning face, it caused her anger but she did not act on it, immediately at the least. He placed his hands together and looked at her with a crooked grin. She recognized this as well, she knew what it meant, she had to dodge. Both feet pressed onto the deck and suddenly Syphalia was launched into the air, in her place a deafening tunnel of noise pressed along the deck of the ship cracking it where it could and blowing away part of the top of the cabin. Falling down towards where Jack was standing she slashed down with her blade.

A geta rose up to meet her catching her sword in place, not even a nick was placed upon his steel geta. But Syphalia was not done there, her anger running her to action her sword slipped out of the geta's grasp. Bending low she spun in place her sword sliding for the leg he had that was now solely holding him up. Her opponent answering her in turn jumped up and out of her sword's arcing path. At the same time the raised geta fell down towards her shoulder slamming her upon it. "You'll have to do better than that Syph. Wheres your fire?" Syphalia growled in response which caused her dream-Jack to laugh amused at her. Jumping away from her Jack shrugged his shoulders, it was obvious that he was unimpressed by what she had shown him thus far.

"ARRGGHHHHHHHH" the black haired swordswoman vented her aggression in a scream as she charged towards Jack. His eyes watched her as disappointed as she had ever seen them. In a fury she pressed her feet against the ground and in a moment was standing right before him. Her sword swung out in a wide arc towards his gut. Once again the geta got in her way, he seemed to grasp her movements perfectly. Using her sword as a lever Jack's body twisted and his second foot raised into the air such that he had no connection to the ground save for Syphalia. The second foot slammed into her side once more sending her flying. "You are better than this Syph. Whats with all the anger?" As she flew through the air his question hit hard within her. The anger was a given, she was still angry at him, but for what. It had been nearly two and a half years since he had left her upon the Reverse Mountain. How petty could she be, her body crashed into a wooden structure. Blowing straight through it she was finally stopped by the second wooden wall. Landing against it she fell to the floor, her eyes dimmed slightly no longer alight with fire. Pushing herself up off the floor she stared out at where Jack stood.

Two and a half years, a long time for sure for her to carry a grudge. Perhaps it was time to let it go, let his sins be forgotten and remember him for who he was, not what he had done to her. Syphalia's eyes closed for a moment as she grasped Kitasha's black hilt once again. The vague rush of wind and sound of a foot landing caused her to swing Kitasha into the air at moment's notice. The glad ringing of steel on steel told her that she had in fact blocked the attack. Looking up she opened her eyes and stared straight into Jack's face. Her grimace, her annoyed face was gone and Jack smiled at her for that. Instead she returned his smile, it was rare that she fought swordsmen on par with herself. Jack was one of the few, she could not squander this fight, no matter if it was a dream or not on her overwhelming anger. A new fire lit in her eyes, it glimmered and glistened, blazing with light Syphalia's eyes seemed to even glow in the darkness of this wooden room. "Now that's the look I was looking for."

Shoving her arm out she pushed Jack and his foot away. A grin crossed Syphalia's face as she stared onward at the reconstruction of her first captain before her. Jumping backwards Jack seemed to want to make space, something she would not allow him to do. Syphalia flickered forward, her feet pressing against the ground so hard that she momentarily would disappear from view before reappearing right before Jack. For a few moments this chase continued as Jack would land and then simultaneously disappear again reappearing somewhere else. Not a matter for Syphalia who had mastered a technique with a similar affect. The pair of bodies flickered in and out of view appearing at multiple places atop the deck of the ship. "The Jack I knew was not such a coward." Syphalia stated her eyes sparkling with delight at this chase. It was then that the imagined-Jack stopped and as she landed before him she brought her sword forward to block the geta kick that he aimed straight at her. Calling on her own brutish strength she threw the geta aside.

"Hotaru Waza ..." She spoke out loud again as her sword switched directions. Jack's eyes widened before her and in turn she gave a cheeky grin back at him. "Ruharou!" Swinging towards his chest her sword built up an air slash before it which followed it in. It was then that she noted that Jack was not moving to try and dodge nor move his foot in the way. Instead his hand was reaching back behind him and then.

CLANG!

Her air slash dissipated and before her eyes she noted exactly what she had wanted to see. The slick thin blade of Kitasha was held back against a larger blade, it was Jack's Meitou. The clash of two Wazamono blades left a deep resonance within both the blades and their users. Jack fierce grin was matched only by Syphalia's own. "There's the Syphalia that I remember." Jack's voice was a mix of happy and his usual rudeness. Syphalia could only smile back as the full force of Jack's strength was now put against her. Gritting her teeth Syphalia fought against it, the pair standing there for a little while just putting their weight into the sword presses. Both swords gritted against each other for multiple moments, but Syphalia knew this could not hold up long. Jack's was the better blade, it was the heavier blade, he being taller than her had gravity aiding in his push. The odds of this one were against her so she was the one who jumped backwards releasing her grip on the fight allowing Jack's weight to push her away from it all.

"Since its a real sword fight now, lets get serious." Jack assumed a position she had seen him assume many times, it had been used against her for one many a time. What I need right now is strength. The thought rolled through her head as she placed her second hand upon her blade. "Kosen." The words came out of Jack's mouth as he disappeared and reappeared neatly approximately two arms lengths away from her. His sword pointed straight forward he lunged with it, his entire body weight behind the blow. With both her hands she swung Kitasha up to challenge Jack's attack in the realm of strength. Kitasha flew upwards slamming into Jack's blade which was knocked slightly off target. That along with Syphalia's ducking meant the blade flew straight past her head, it had only been so little off. "Hotaru Waza - Sakeru" Syphalia stated in response.

Pulling Kitasha back she drove into Jack's guard, with both hands on her blade she swung it straight across Jack's chest. Or that was the plan at the least, Jack was as always rather cunning at least when it came to combat was already prepared. Jumping back his odd fighting style aided him as it always did against Syphalia. Kitasha swung straight through the air as Jack's backwards jump had put his chest the farthest away from her blade. Stepping lightly upon the ground her opponent bounced upon his steel geta. It had been a long time since she had fought him, she would once again have to get used to his weird style of movement. It had bothered her when she had first fought him, the worst part still being that it worked rather well. Charging towards her Jack swung his sword out in one of the techniques she had remembered well. "Hibashira" His own eyes widened as Syphalia turned to a similar technique, her own homage technique to the man that she had been working on. "Danshira" The two blades swung together as each user's elbows flicked outwards to place all the strength on the tips of the respective blades. The two weapons clashed, but Syphalia was outclassed in this contest. Kitasha was knocked aside by the Meitou and Syph sent reeling backwards.

"I'm flattered. But I'm looking for more Syph." Jack's eyes narrowed as he watched her carefully. Syphalia matched his eyes with her own slightly annoyed look. Looking for more? What more did he want? The thought distracted her for a moment and Jack took advantage in that very second. Jumping above her his sword whipped down towards her, with both hands on the hilt she swung Kitasha up in response. The two blades slammed against each other their edge's clashing and gritting against each other. As eyes met again Syph noticed a glint in Jack's eye, "Not enough." the words echoed in Syph's ears as suddenly the force behind Jack's blade seemed to double. Kitasha gave way, its dull side was suddenly pressed against Syphalia himself. When did he get this strong!? Her mind was frantic as the pressure built up, her heels already digging in she was losing ground fast.

"Fly." Jack's voice was unnaturally calm. Another burst of strength slammed into her and suddenly she felt her feet lift from the ground. Wind rushed against her back as for what seemed the hundredth time she was sent flying. The ship's deck flew by her as she went foot upon foot, yard upon yard away from where Jack now stood. Finally she was caught, this time it was a rope net which hung oddly low. As the ropes pressed against her back she was thankful that it had been this rather than another wooden wall. The ropes has slightly cushioned the blow, they even had it in them to fling her back a little. With her arms in the air to catch her balance her eyes zipped around looking for the figure of her enemy. The Jack she knew would not give her much time to recover from this, his style was fast and powerful and generally an unending reel of blows. Unexpectedly she noted him standing where she had left him. He was standing out there watching her, his dark eyes ever vigilant upon her. His shoulders had gone a little lax, was he underestimating her?

She couldn't have that, still quiet, she charged back towards him. With both hands upon Kitasha she raised it above her head. "Hotaru Waza - Daihibi!" Her voice challenged Jack to respond. He did, as she stopped early and swung her sword down. The force of her swing started to compress the air, but Jack was there. Intercepting her, "Gurensen" as he swung around his sword slammed into her own. The air being compressed dispersed as the thing pushing it forward was stopped in its tracks. For a moment the two swords were held still against each other. Neither moving, the screech of steel against steel was gone and for the thousandth time Syphalia's glittering red eyes met Jack's. "There is a saying," Jack suddenly broke character and began talking oddly philosophically. "Insanity is doing something over and over and expecting different results." His voice again was unnervingly calm. The quote was very un-Jack. But she had only milliseconds to think about that as Jack once again put on the pressure. The overwhelming power of his herculean strength pressed into her and Syphalia was forced to jump back allowing his swing to carry her farther back then she would have liked.

As she landed and regained her balance she thought for a moment. Jack had said such an odd thing, it was very unlike him to do so. In fact it was rather like herself to make comments that might throw off the enemy. It was never something she needed to do, it was just nice, making small talk, poking fun at enemies. Her eyes flicked over towards Jack who was standing still once again. While his eyes were on her, he made no motion to try and attack her. Watching him for a few seconds she confirmed he seemed to be doing nothing. Just for a second, I'll think on this The quote meant something, it was actually one she had heard before, but not from Jack. But how did it relate to her, all she was doing was fighting Jack. Placing one hand in her hair she tried to remind herself of her previous fights with this monster. What was the difference, what was she doing now that was different from back then.

Vague memories of those fights flew threw her mind, no difference, no difference. None at all, she couldn't think at all. Okay then, regroup what is going wrong here? I'm too strong The second voice echoed oddly in her head. It sounded a lot like Jack's, her eyes came alive again and she looked over, his figure stood in the shadows, in the same place it had before. Yes, he's too strong. Her mind agreed with itself, she had been trying to fight strength with strength. Again and again with her two hands upon the hilt she had fought brute strength with brute strength and lost. There it was, the repeating action that she had chosen, the insanity that she had chosen. That placing her strength against his that she would somehow overcome him, she had not done it previously, how could she expect to do it now. This was our insanity ... Her mind told her. Ok then, if not strength, how would she win. What was her advantage over his, she was the better swordsman. In principle she believed that to be true, instead of meeting strength with strength. She would meet strength with skill. Was it possible? It would have to be, she could not beat him without it.

Drawing her hand through her hair Syphalia took a second to remember her training. It had been so long ago, it was a little blurry but it came back to her. "Hold your weapon in your dominant hand." The words echoed in her ears as memories came back. "It's the extension of your body, finesse and strength will come naturally." The memorable voice of her first master ran through her ears. Syphalia dropped her right hand away, her left hand gripping her sword naturally it felt much better. There was no uneasiness as both hands fought for control of the blade, now her left had it. Bending it to its will Syphalia's grip loosened and then tightened. "Alright then Jack." Her voice echoed across the deck towards Jack who was looking expectantly at her. "No more playing games." Her confidence returned as she ran towards him. Burikka A voice in her head spoke and she disappeared from Jack's view. Appearing by his side she spun swinging her sword out towards Jack, as his weapon came to block it, Syphalia side-stepped.

"Payback time." Syph's eyes gleamed and blazed red as her sword slid around Jack's thicker blade and its sharpened edge slid across Jack's chest. It was a small victory but a victory none the less. Jack's face once calm was now alight with energy of its own. As he pushed her blade away Syphalia disengaged jumping a few feet back away from Jack before he could push her away with his own strength. "There we go!" Jack's voice rang out as his own body disappeared appearing before her whipping his sword down towards her. But Syphalia was ready, with her sword already in position, her eyes were narrowed slits staring at Jack intently. Suddenly her sword disappeared from Jack's vision, "Huh?" His confusion was made known but Syphalia did not worry about it. "Hiken - Yami no Sansekai". Her body moved past his blade as it came down, unscratched as she was she came out upon the other side. Jack on the other hand was not so lucky. Three large slashes slid across his body like lines from a centroid. Jack looked down for a moment and then back towards her, nodding slightly he disappeared again, but not towards her, away it seemed.

She followed, flashing across the deck she jumped into the air, her sword disappeared again. Her movements were fast,"Hiken - Tsuki no Usagi" Swinging down so quickly from the blurred motions of her arm it seemed that she was swinging her sword down upon both of his shoulders. Jack threw his sword up to block the right shoulder, a long red slash grew down his left. It would not matter too much as he was right-handed but even that should hamper him slightly. Now Jack's eyes were inflamed as he stared back at her. He jumped back slightly before landing on his heel and "Kosen!" His sword flung forward again. But this time unexpectedly it pushed compressed air with it. Syphalia jumping back put her sword to work to counter it. "Hotaru Waza - Senpuuki!" Her sword thrust forward and twisted as it did. The compressed air swirled around the blade and shot forward to match Jack's own. Jack's bullet pressed into the mini horizontal tornado Syphalia had made and suddenly both broke off and dispersed. Syphalia smiled, it shouldn't be that easy. There was a reason she could not win against his brute strength.

As Syphalia broke distance again it was Jack who made the first move. He rushing to the side got in front of one of the many cabins that rose above the deck to allow access to the insides. This one seemed to be reinforced, wood and stone seemed to be its make up. Jack obscured behind it seemed to be doing something as she noted an arc of air slash through it like it was no more than paper. The more surprising thing was when said cabin began to float. Rising into the air slightly as if it had been kicked there. Then suddenly everything went quiet and it flew forward. Straight towards her as if it had been directed. Who was she kidding, it had been directed by him. Her eyes widened as the cabin many times the size of either Jack or her now flew towards her at some speed. But fear was not about her, instead after judging it for moments she closed her eyes. You can do this. The voice echoed in her head. Syphalia smiled, Kitasha deftly swung to its rightful place by her side.

Placing it at her waist where the blade would be if sheathed it seemed magically a sheath formed around it. The white cover which would protect the blade from wear covered it now. Syphalia took no notice, there were other things on her mind. She had completely forgotten exactly what that was, caught up in the heat of battle. Nothing seemed odd to her, not yet. It is as any other object is, divisible. That voice spoke to her again and Syphalia's smile grew wider. As the cabin came upon her, red orbs blazing in their glory became visible once more. Like a whisper words came from Syphalia's mouth. "Hotaru Waza - I Sekai" Like a flash of light Kitasha sprung from its sheath, and in a blink it returned. Before her the cabin, its wood and stone were divided like they were nothing. The sound of the cabin crashing into the deck behind her was like music to Syphalia's ears. Now there was only one thing left to do. "Jack Dancer" she named him by his full name. Smiling at the shadowy figure as it stood in the distance she let go of the last of her grudges towards him.

"It's time for it to end" Vaguely she referred to 'it'. As if he could hear her the figure nodded and placed his blade in his right hand. This time the pair both ran at each other, Syphalia with blade still sheathed and Jack with his weapon holding back behind him. As the distance closed it seemed that time slowed to Syphalia. Reminiscence about this fight had brought her in her own mind to knew heights. She was thankful to him, that man, who had chained her to her past now opened the path for her it seemed. Jack began to say something but her own voice drowned his out as everything disappeared. The mountains beside them, the sounds of the rushing water beneath, the cabin, the deck, everything went to white. And soon there was only Syphalia and Jack. Her voice echoed in the emptiness "Hotaru Waza - I Seimei"

Everything happened suddenly and in the blink of an eye she was standing behind Jack. No blood drew down her chest where there might have been from a sword attack. Kitasha had returned to her sheath, it and its' sheath also disappeared. As she turned around and was confronted by the lone figure before her all else was white. Her clothes were not tattered, her body was not bruised, there were no injuries that marred her body. Though not the same could be said for the body before her. Jack's blade had been sundered in two, half of it lay upon the ground, the other half loosely in Jack's hand. If she could call it Jack's. The figure had grown loose again, "I knew you could do it." The one clear vision of Jack seemed to dissipate and the form before her took on a new shape. Mirroring her own she was suddenly standing before herself. "You are ready." The voice which she now connected to being that second voice in her head spoke. The Syphalia before her smiled and gave her a V-sign for victory.

"Thanks." She responded with a smile to herself. Deep within her, it had come back to remind her of what she had forgotten. In her bloodthirsty strive for strength to surpass the person who had wronged her she had forgotten many of her teachings. All those returned to her, that dream, that she dreamed had brought her back to her roots. As the Syphalia before her blurred away and dissipated before her, she closed her eyes.

~~

And they opened, the dim lights of her room greeted her. Her anger was gone, instead she felt a sense of calm. Sitting up in her bed the calm rocking of the boat reminded her of exactly where she was. For a moment she recalled her dream and smiled, a soft smile unlike any she had given in a long time. Throwing her legs over the side of the bed she placed them neatly upon the ground. For a moment she paused as she did not feel the wooden ground beneath her feet. Bemused she bent over and looked to notice that she had sandals upon her feet. Apparently she had worn them to sleep in her rush to leave this world the last time. "Heeheee" She giggled slightly at her earlier stupidity. The issues of what was only a few hours ago seemed very little to her now.

She stood up, gracefully she walked over to her rack of swords. For a moment she paused as she looked upon a white sheath that stood empty upon the rack. Placing her hand over the sheath she whispered "I'll have to find you a new owner." The smile continued as she walked over and pulled her current sword, Burikka Tourou, with its sheath off the rack. Quietly she walked out of her room. drawing her sword a rush of wind followed into the room and all three lanterns like that blew out. Nothing else happened except perhaps the rustling of said lanterns. No slashes grew upon the walls, everything stayed basically the same. The pad of her feet light against the ground she made her way back through the corridor. Standing before that door she had slammed shut not too long ago she opened it, walking it she found herself where she was not more than a few hours ago.

Alone in a room with that steel block. It stood across the room from her, it stood upon a wooden frame she had put together so that it might be closer to sword-height. She looked at it as she might an old friend, its nicked surface watched her carefully. Grinning back at it Syphalia placed her left hand upon the hilt of her sword. Her voice was happy and yet calm as it spoke in little more than a whisper "Hotaru Waza - I Seimei." As it had before her sword swung out at the steel block. Syphalia's smile continued as she turned away from the room resheathing her blade. As if nothing had happened she walked away content with herself. For a moment she thought of him once again. Hopefully we'll meet again, Jack Dancer ...

[Flame]

Story Name: Why Not To Use a Rowboat.
Character: Kano Toro
Word Count: 4637

---

Inhale ... exhale ... inhale ... exhale the pattern repeated, on and on, day after day, and still he smiled. His yellow hair hung in bunches around his head, beads of sweat ran down his face and still he did it. His arms shot forward, pulling wooden staves with them. Following his arms was his body, tilting forward once again as it always did, every time, in unity with the limbs before them. Then it slowed, having reached as far forward as it had thousands of times since it did once again. Arms, hands, and chest all lurched back into place. They fought a momentary force but quickly gathered momentum and broke free returning to that position which it would leave and come back to for a thousand times to come.

But for the moment it stopped, hands dropped their grip of the wooden staves allowing them to sit idly where they were. Allowing them to slide for a moment until they found themselves locked in place. The golden haired boy who had been working them day in day out only took some breaks. This was one of them, the aches that ran through his arm were annoying him to no end and he needed a moment. The wide smile that crossed his face changed now, moving from said grin to a wide hole in which a yawn emerged. Arching his back both limbs shot into the air, stretching as far back as possible they reached out. At least until that comforting crack could be heard, then they stopped. Relaxing and falling back to his side once again. The young man tilted his back back, until he stared upwards.

He looked out at the sky, wisps of pure white dotting the clear blue expanse above his head. An arm stretched out and as if to make its own tried to grasp at it, capture it for a moment. It of course was a useless gesture and even he knew it. But that was who was Kano was. He was a dreamer, a golden haired dreamer and though he knew the gesture meant nothing, it also meant everything. The motion was tantamount to his dream, he was reaching for the sky, for the stars, and this. This was just another symbol of that. In the silence of it all, without the sound of the waves being troubled Kano could hear it all. Even the soft breathing sounds of his partner in this trip. Tilting his head back a little further he glanced at him and then turned back. Last he had seen of his partner, Oliver had been in a terrible mood. For the life of him he didn't know why Oliver had been so upset.

They had wanted to go to the Grand Line. Why had Oliver been so upset that Kano had taken the initiative and gotten them on their way. Kano shook his head, such thoughts were not for him, he had no need of them. Besides it was a beautiful, beautiful day by any standard. Nothing like that day previous to this one when Oliver had woken up. Kano smiled and thought back to it.

A Day Ago

Dark clouds roared above, rain in torrents fell upon the small boat and its two occupants. Air swirled around them in a tempest. It buffeted the ship, throwing it against wave after wave. The wooden structure which 'protected' them from a quick watery demise creaked and croaked under the constant pressure but as of yet had not broken to pieces. Something for which Kano's partner was everlastingly grateful. To Oliver who had woken up not moments ago to the feeling of rain washing over his body constantly, complete shock was the only possible response to what was happening.

That paired with an overwhelming need to kill his newly chosen partner made for a very stressful first day abroad. "Wha-wha why the hell are we out here!?!" He had exasperatedly screamed at Kano as Kano swung back and forth rowing their small boat deeper and deeper into the storm. Kano looked dreadful. He was soaked to the bone with water, his hair matted down upon his head streamed water off it delivering it to the 'hull' of the boat. His clothes stuck to him clearly illuminating every twist and turn, nook and cranny of his body, and were getting kind of see through.

"TURN BACK NOW!"

The cat exclaimed his high voice piercing through all other sounds. Kano glanced up at him and simply smiled. "Why? We're going to the Grand Line!" His voice was excited apparently completely unperturbed by the dismal situation Oliver found them in. His eyes among all the dampness that was Kano shined brightly, spirit unbroken. But he did stop rowing the boat for a moment. He pulled the oars in so they would not be torn away from the boat and stood up. Beneath them a swell rose carrying their rowboat into the air as if scheduled with Kano's maneuver. Stepping sideways slightly he gave his companion a view of what stood behind him. It had taken a lot of rowing, thankfully without Oliver's knowledge. Kano had the feeling Oliver might not have had approved, but this was the fastest way to get there.

Kano gestured, wind and rain buffeting the both of them he gestured emphatically towards the great range before them. A giant cliff, extending as far left and as far right as the eye could see. To Kano it was a majestic piece, the perfect entrance way, to that which was called the Grand Line. To Oliver it was a cold, dark wall. It surely spelled his doom and it was not even his choosing. Yes he wanted to go to the Grand Line, he had 'wishes' to fulfill that required going there, but this? This was not the way to do it. "ITS THE REDLINE! And REVERSE MOUNTAIN!" Kano shouted emphatically. Oliver glanced across it once more, straining to see the excitement Kano was getting. It was no use, he glanced deadpan at Kano.

It was at that moment that the swell beneath their boat dropped away. Boat, human, and cat fell for moments, crashing once again into the ocean which threatened to consume them. Not this time thankfully but as a wave crashed upon them soaking both Kano and Oliver once again, Oliver looked up glaring daggers into Kano. His eyes sharpened and he raised a paw extending claws towards the blond-haired idiot. "Turn the d*mn boat around." Oliver's enunciation was precise. Hitting the right keys with an icy fury, something in the voice caught Kano. He stopped and simply looked down at Oliver for a moment.

He paused, the pause was momentary, but it was there. Kano was measuring Oliver's rage, deciding how serious this was. While he was not a good judge of emotions even he wasn't that blind. His bright red eyes looked past the rain and scanned the black cat before him. He stared at the hair standing up upon Oliver's back despite the rain and the water fighting to weigh it down. He means it The thought slid through Kano's mind. He turned, faced the great stone wall before him. It was not like Kano to run from such a challenge, but he wasn't alone anymore. Normally he wouldn't care, even if Oliver disagreed because that wasn't such a big deal. But the tone, Oliver's tone gave him pause. And at that moment Kano decided, if it was that important to Oliver, he would allow his partner's wishes. Besides travel wasn't as boring because of Oliver so maybe he earned this.

Kano looked up into the sky, closed his eyes and for a moment just allowed the rain to splash 'quietly' on his face. He breathed in, slowly, he felt the air fill his chest. It rose and for a moment he just let the air sit there. And after that he exhaled, turning around and smiled lightly at Oliver. He opened his mouth and spoke, his voice was unenthusiastic but certain "Alright then."

Current Time

Sitting back up Kano glanced around at the calm seas around him and smiled. The weather was nice, the water wasn't raucous at all, there was only a slight breeze, Kano nodded to himself happily. Oliver would definitely be happy with this weather. This was definitely the better way to get to the Grand Line. Not as fun perhaps, but it was safer. Definitely not as fun. Kano smiled comfortably to himself and began to row once again. The water was so relaxed the oars pushed through like hot knives through butter.

It was bliss, though his arms ached slightly from the hours upon hours of churning oars the lack of resistance when he pulled on them, it was simple. Kano's arms slid easily into place again and again.

"Meoooooooooooww"

Came Oliver from behind him so Kano stopped rowing once again. Leaving them floating there undisturbed upon the water. He pulled the oars in and allowed the boat to come to a boring halt. Without the wind and with the very minimal waves, the world came to its peace. A peace rarely experienced when Kano was around. Turning around he faced the black cat. "Wakey wakey sleepy head." Kano said in his usual merry voice. Cheerfully he ran his hand over Oliver's head giving it a a quick scratch behind the ear. Oliver who had laid peacefully upon the ground curled up with the scratch. His body flexed upwards, back arching toward the sky as all cats do. Kano laughed a little and scratched it a little more behind the ear.

Oliver's whiskers twitched, his nose scrunched and he threw his arms out in front of him bending down towards the ground as if trying to get away from the ear scratching. Kano giggled a little louder, and went in for it further. It was then that Oliver stopped, his body stiffened and in two swift sharp motions he shook his head away from Kano's scuffing hands. When Kano's hand went in a little further once more Oliver's paw came up and swatted it away. "That's enough idiot." He said sharply. Kano's hand backed off and for a moment Oliver glanced around. His eyes and ears suddenly aware of everything that was around him, his head swiveled back and forth hurriedly. Kano watched him as he gathered all the information he could from the surrounding area. The calm seas, the blue skies, the soft winds, he took it all in then turning to Kano he looked puzzled.

"This is rather calm for you isn't it?" Oliver said plainly. Kano paused glancing around and then shrugged his arms in response. He didn't really care, yes he thought Reverse Mountain would have been exciting and fun, but this was ... fine as well. Kano lazily turned back around and went back to rowing. The calm unending pattern was mindless and they continued to progress as such. They occasionally conversed and it always began with Kano stating something. Or actually anything that came into his mind, like a reflex such things popped up to stave off the boredom. Then Oliver would respond, he would wittily avoid actually answering the question. Sometimes because he enjoyed the challenge, other times simply because he did not know the answer and had no clue how else to pacify Kano's curiosity. It was his thought that if curiosity killed the cat, then Kano would be the death of him. Or so the phrase went and would mean in terms of them. So he filled Kano's curiosity the best he could. But here out in the sun all he really wanted to do was lay down, curl up, and sleep.

But after a while Oliver chose to sleep once again. He curled up and Kano went back to his lackadaisically and rhythmic rowing. It was hypnotic and it put Kano into a trance of sorts, he continued to row, but his mind drifted. The world around him disappeared and his every movement became muscle memory rather than conscious decision. Like when one ran for hours on end, it became more normal for him to go through those motions than not to. So he continued in that endless cycle of rowing ...

Pop!

Pop!

A pair of sharp sounds awoke the pair from their respective dazes. Kano's eyes now almost completely covered by the lid shot open into the light of day. He shook his head from side to side, breathed in the salty air and his mind woke from its rest. Beside him Oliver's ears perked upwards, his tail uncurled from its position surrounding his body and he rose upon his four legs. His head barely perked over the hull of the rowboat. The pair of them glanced around, each on their own trying to figure out where the sounds had come from.

On such a quiet day, one with so little wind, with such calm waters, and everything, where could that sound have come from? The question rattled through their heads, though for different reasons, for Kano it was the interest, for Oliver it was fear. Either way they both scanned the calm waters, until finally within the wake of the boat another bubble popped. Rattled Oliver scampered towards the edge of the boat, two paws stood upon the the edge of the hull and his head peaked out over the edge. They peered into the clear blue waters below the boat. "SH*TTT" Oliver yelped scampering away from the edge. "What?" Kano asked curiously, stopping rowing to try and take a look.

"KEEP ROWING!" Oliver screamed at hard as his cat lungs could manage. Kano frowned before going back to it, to the best of his ability he continued to row. His eyes ever aimed over the edge of the boat waiting to see a sign of what had given Oliver such a fright. Before him Oliver paced back and forth across the ship. He was muttering something continuing to glance at Kano with angry eyes. Kano rowed more, his eyes switching between Oliver and the ocean around them.

"That's it! You .... you idiot! You took us into the Calm Belt didn't you???" Oliver asked in a rush. His voice was ladened with concern, but it didn't affect Kano. Kano just stared back and shrugged, "What's the Calm Belt?" Kano's ignorance answered Oliver's question in the worst way possible. "We were going to the Grand Line, you didn't want to take that mountain pass, so this seemed the other way. It's boring, but it's what you wanted to right?" Kano's voice was innocently naive, which brought only more concern to Oliver. This would either be the last thing they did, or it would not be the last situation like this Kano put him through, that he was now completely sure of. What a wrong decision to make.

Oliver looked at Kano once again. Watching him for a moment before looking away and shaking his head. "This cat is not being eaten by a fish. That's just wrong." He said outloud. Kano tilted his head to the side, "Eaten by a fish? How would th-" Kano's voice froze as he suddenly became aware of something rising from the depths behind the ship. First a large fin, then from below it a head, massive, easily twice the size of the boat the pair was in. Large and imposing it rose up, casting its shadow upon the pair. Kano stopped rowing, somewhat in awe of what had appeared before him.

As frightened as ever, Oliver's tail rose up, "Keep rowing!" He hollered to Kano, who to his horror dropped the paddles completely. Frantically Oliver launched himself at the paddle, he landed on one pushing it slightly but to no avail. Kano on the other hand stood up, stepping over the rowboat's planks he closed the distance between him and the giant fish before him. The giant sea monster before him opened its jaw, the great darkness of its maw expanded before Kano and he smiled in the face of it.

Kano turned slightly, his body twisted and his right arm hung back beside him. His hand disappeared in its wake a hole. From within it a large metal shell came out, "Shell PUNCH!" Kano said with exhilaration, as his body twisted back into normal position. His arm, in the mean while extended outwards, the metal shell flew out from it. The shell slammed into the sea king's mouth and exploded. A myriad of sparks in beautiful red colors burst in it. It roared in painful rage and convulsed in the water. The waves of water pressed into the back of the rowboat pushing it forward slightly. And then the sea king itself slammed down into the water. As it landed it created an even greater wave of water which crashed into the back of the rowboat causing it to jerk onward.

The sudden jerk knocked Kano's grasp of his balance off. So Oliver struggled to try and row the paddles to no avail, Kano's arms swung wildly trying to maintain his balance. It was no use, Kano tumbled forward, his legs crashing into the base of the boat and his upper body almost going over the edge. His eyes bore straight down into the water watching the sea king beneath them as it turned in the water and then aimed its mouth straight back up at the puny rowboat. It zoomed upwards towards them spurting forward. Kano's eyes widened in disbelief, instinct took over and Kano's mouth opened wide.

From within him Kano felt his body at work constructing his fireworks and they flew from his mouth in a cacophony of sound. As they left they exploded in force, with no care about the structural safety of the boat, the shockwaves from them caused the boat to accelerate away. The sea king's mouth flew into the air, its jaws closing shut on nothing but air. Its prey and dinghy skipped away upon the water like a rock thrown spinning across a lake.

Kano, pressing his hands against the edge of the hull lifted up. Moving away from the edge he turned to face Oliver who had given up on his futile efforts. Instead he sat there seeming to contemplate something. "Well that was close." The blond haired boy's arms and legs relaxed as he flopped onto one of the crosswise benches. Oliver's head swung towards Kano and he snarled. His back legs tensed for only a moment before he sprung at Kano with claws outstretched. But before he could make contact and show Kano his fear a hand caught him beneath his armpits and held him away at arm's length.

"Thi-this would never happen if we had just taken a regular ship across." His voice was hysteric, he yowled in fear until suddenly he began to cough. Cough and cough, until suddenly a small black ball flew out of his mouth and stuck itself on Kano's cheek. In shock with his free hand Kano wiped it off, then glanced at the hand. Disgust slid across the usually happy boy's face, "Why yo-" "KANO!"

Oliver waved maniacally behind the pair. Upper body swiveling Kano turned around to see that dark shape in the water moving towards them at speed. Their boat had unfortunately stopped progressing through the water. Kano noting the sudden danger dropped Oliver allowing the cat to take shelter in the hull. The great sea monster before him didn't hold back, gathering speed it launched itself out of the water. Hurtling through the air it charged down its quarry with mouth wide open.

Like a reflex Kano cracked his neck to one side and then the other. Jumping into the air he rose to confront his opponent. Twisting in the air Kano swung his foot above him and then slammed it downwards catching the sea king in the nostril. Its jaws slammed together, and its head started to fall. The recoil from the hit sent Kano floating up and away from the sea king. "Blast!" Kano yelped as hit foot was replaced by a rocket which exploded shooting him back towards the falling sea king.

His dazed enemy before him Kano careened forward. Raising both hands above his head as he did he morphed both of his hands into fireworks shells. With all the momentum and strength he could muster he slammed down on the monster's skull once again. On impact both shells erupted, blossoming lines of red and blue flew out in arcs. Like a rock the monster's head dropped back towards the sea below. It crashed into the sea throwing up gallons of seawater into the air. The shockwave from the explosions slammed into Kano throwing him backwards once again. Instinctively Kano twisted in the air looking for the rowboat below him. Easily visible the brown ship with black cat inside was a little off center from where Kano was falling through the sky.

Worse even, the ship was moving, pushed by waves of water from the sea king that floated completely still in the water. Air pressed into Kano as gravity pulled him down, quick thinking was the key now. And instinct took over for him immediately. his hand changed into a bottle rocket and exploded immediately. Once again Kano tumbled through the air, pushed now by it he was pushed now too far in the opposite direction. Waving his arms rapidly through the air Kano did it once again another bottle rocket, once again the force of it slamming Kano back in the other direction. He was now hurtling downwards in vaguely the right direction towards the boat.

In reaction to the explosions his body spun and twirled, giving him only moments to capture his current heading. There were only moments left, as Kano did yet another bottle rocket repositioning. His body flipped legs over head as he did, his hands reached down and his eyes made contact with Oliver's who was watching him intently. Oliver's eyes were wide with surprise at what he was seeing, his blond-haired companion bouncing through the air as he fell towards their rickety boat. Finding himself momentarily above the boat a plan hatched in Kano's plan. Without enough time to plan he decided to hit it immediately. Hands and feet disappeared simultaneously, fireworks exploded from his feet sending him face first towards the hull of the boat. Too quickly for certain and Oliver yowled, "YOOUUUU IDIOOTTTT!!!"

He screamed as Kano plunged towards the boat only now feet away from crashing straight through the hull. It was then that a second pair of explosions went off, the hands which Kano placed against his chest exploded pushing his body back upwards fighting gravity. But he was moving too fast already, G's of force slammed into Kano's body. He bit into his lip as his body embraced the pain and then slammed into the hull. Crashing straight through a bench he hit the hull with a thud. The wood beneath him creaked but held, the boat on the other hand was not as happy. As he slammed into it it tilted downwards, shifting the other half of the boat up into the air. For a few moments as Oliver clawed at the wooden boards of the dinghy their fate was uncertain. Then finally the boat found its balance once again. The part of the boat that had swung skyward fell back down evening out upon the water.

A combined sigh of relief came out of the pair of them and they exchanged glances. Kano gave a wide smile and began to laugh. A hearty chuckle that changed into an uncontrollable giggle that might only befit a child much younger than Kano himself. "That was so much fun!" Kano chortled out from his hurting chest. Oliver padded his way over and then slapped Kano across the face with his paw. "When we get to land you're a dead man." He said with a rage. Kano eyes widened slightly upon hearing it and then began to laugh even harder yet. The cat's small threat was so minimal to the boy after what he had just done that he had nothing left to do but laugh at it.

Sitting up he glanced at Oliver and continued his cheeky grin. "You know I'd always heard Sea Kings were these massive creatures, destructive and savage." Oliver paused, glancing away from Kano. "Sort of doesn't live up to the legend."

"Well you know I'm just that strong!" He boasted to Oliver pounding his fist against his chest. Oliver gave him a quick look and chortled. "Say that again once we're in the Grand Line, you fool."

"Guess I'll go back to rowing eh." He shifted back to the free bench and reached for the oars. Grabbing one in each hand he pressed back into the movement once again. Breathing the fresh air of the Calm Belt in he smiled. It had been really nice to stretch his legs, use his abilities, and put in a little exercise. The blood pumped through his veins, energy coursed through his body and he rowed with a new vigor. Oliver watched him and laughed, amused at Kano's almost resigned voice at the prospect of rowing more yet. He laughed highly amused at the misfortune of Kano being the only one who could actually row this boat. "Bet you wish we took a ship right about no-" The cat's snarky comment stopped immediately.

His eyes widened into massive yellow orbs staring out behind Kano. Every inch of Oliver's body tensed up, his tail flung straight into the air like an antenna as he glanced mouth gaping at something behind Kano. "What's wrong?" Came the curious question causing the rower to tilt his head. There was no response, only continued gaping wonder, or bewilderment or something. Kano undeniably curious turned his body around as he made another row. And then suddenly he stopped. Like his feline partner Kano did not move, not an inch, he simply stared. Color drained out of Kano's skin, and the red light of his eyes faded if only a little. His body shot into action reversing his rowing as fast as he could.

Behind them like an island rising out of the sea came a true sea monster. Outscaling the last one they had seen by at least a factor of three or more it came out of the depths. Large and orange with scales and spines and spikes it dwarfed the little rowboat. Its maw opened wide, water swirled into it. The mouth itself was multiple times the size of the dinghy. "Oh youu!!!" The bombay cat was the first to speak. Kano too busy frantically swinging the oars in the opposite direction fighting the flat back of the rowboat cursed. If only it had been a kayak, or a canoe or something they would've been much faster moving backwards. Why did it have to be a rowboat? The thought swung through Kano's head.

In a quick spurt the sea king burst forward towards them and within seconds all of Kano's progress was made into nothing. Rows of white teeth, the fish's jaw closed in around the pair and their dinghy. And in seconds all the light disappeared, darkness engulfed the vision of both as tongue pressed them boat and all into the roof of the mouth. Sea water washed over Kano sapping his strength in moments. The constant yowling of Oliver was quickly drowned out and in a moment the pair and the remnants of their ship swirled down into the fish's esophagus.

Sliding through Kano only heard one thing. One last yell from his partner "YOU GOT ME EATEN BY A FISH!!!!!"

[Flame]

Story Name: Spiritual Games: Haki Training (Part 1)
Character: Syphalia
Word Count: 8464

---

"The game is one hit, nice and clean. If you're using that sword you better spill some blood. That's all and you're in." A simple game, her red orbs glanced over him wondering if he was serious. That's all? That has got to be the easiest test ever. Hefting her sword in one hand she clenched her hand around it with a simple ease. Fingers slid around the grip, it was easy, natural to her as breathing was. Frowning she glanced back over the person before her. "You're serious? One hit?" She asked him again feeling as if she was being underestimated.

"Completely." He said flatly shrugging his shoulders. Syphalia raised an eyebrow as she eyed down the fishman who stood before her once again. "Just one solid hit, bouncing off me when I block you does not count." Drawing two fingers up she rubbed them against her temple, this was getting excessive, of course she knew that. She was not one to play unfair, but this 'game' this 'test' of his was seeming easier and easier.

"Alright then, one hit, don't complain if I get you right off the bat." The fishman before her was at least twice her size, he was lean yes, but when standing next to her she was at his like groin or something. Even with his knees bent and he took up his position she was fairly certain with blade extended upwards she was probably about as tall as he was. There was no chance in hell he would be able to protect himself from her being able to get in one hit. Her legs bent as she prepared to charge in and close the distance between her and her opponent. But paused as she noticed him relax his pose slightly and raise a hand.

"Oh one thing." His left hand slid into the pocket of the loose pants he wore. They dug into them as if looking for something. He pulled out what looked to be bandanna of sorts. "Don't tell me I have to wear that?" A little outrage mixed into her voice but at the same time there was some satisfaction. That was more like it, now that would actually be a challenge. A way to force herself to grow, to learn, this was what learning about this thing called Haki was.

Tracking down the former pirate, "the Sea Whisperer" had not been an easy job. In fact she had not tracked him down at all. Once she had realized what she had awakened, once she had connected the dots she knew she wanted a trainer. Perhaps she could have figured it out on her own, Syph knew vaguely what it was but had no clue how it worked. So she had decided it would be better to learn from someone who knew. Which had seemed the more impossible task, because it wasn't something that was just talked of. It had actually been a stroke of luck that Shah had come upon her during her travels.

But with it on her side she had met him. He had saved her from a peril which had befallen her swiftly, one beyond her capability which was rare for her. And as he wiped the floor with her enemy he had shown off an ability which she could only assume was Haki. That or some devil fruit power that she knew naught about, but she bet on the former. All this had led her here.

Upon the wooden deck of her boat, standing across from what she presumed was a haki adept or even a master. The latter seemed more likely, she had a feeling about this fishman and it told her he was good. So she eyed him, filled with a mixture of indignation and pride that he thought she needed the blindfold. But the latter fell away as he chuckled slightly and then began to fold it over his own eyes. Her jaw dropped as she looked at him with an incredulous look, "You can't be serious." affront slid out from between her teeth. The fishman with covered-eyes nodded to her, he was serious.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you" Shah said nonchalantly. Then pausing for a moment continued with an offhand comment "Fishman Karate isn't really the best for this sort of stuff."

Her teeth gritted together at that, this man was way too overconfident. Laxly she swung her head left and right cracking her neck back then forth again. In a breath she drew her sword from its sheath, her eyes pinned themselves upon her opponent watching his every movement with an expectant eye. Her first step turned immediately into an extreme dash. If Shah was watching his eyes would've seen her disappear and reappear before him her weapon immediately slashing forward right at the chest of the gray skinned goby. To her somewhat surprise he reacted in turn.

His response was effortlessly clean, with his left foot he stepped backwards and he leaned back. For one so tall he managed a fairly good angle. At the same time his right hand swung upwards in perfect time. The open palm pressed lightly against the metal of her blade lifting its course over and away from Shah. Without a scratch he had, blindfolded, blocked her initial attack. If she hadn't an idea of what Haki could do she would've been speechless and unable to understand what was going on. Not to say she was not awed she was definitely in awe.

Not to be discouraged she reversed her grip on her sword. Stepping left out of the fulfilled swing of the fishman's palm she brought the blade back down in an arc once again aimed to leave a great gash across his chest. But he was faster, his voice echoed softly before her "Gohyakumaigawara Seiken". And his left fist shot forward like a rocket slamming into her chest blowing her off her feet and throwing her backwards. Pain blossomed out from her chest and air poured out of her. It took a moment but she recovered from the 'light' hit. Hitting the deck rolling feet quickly gained their balance once more and she refocused upon her opponent. His words had obviously not been for show, regarding him with more respect than before she growled slightly.

"Growling, how unladylike of you." The fishman said softly. "I never claimed to be a lady." Syphalia responded in turn. Fire sparked in her eyes as she thought up new plans on how to land her victorious hit upon the Sea Whisperer.

Kitsuneso she thought to herself, her hand moved swiftly. A trio of air slashes flew from Burikaa Tourou, her weapon of choice. Crossing the ship's hull they sped toward her opponent. Not waiting to see how it turned out she began her charge. Following in the shadow of her attack, she twisted to the right of the fishman happy to see that he was not turning to meet her as he solemnly side-stepped around her projectiles. Unconcerned she came in right after, the attack was only supposed to be a diversion in the end.

In a flurry of blows she pressed into the fishman before her. For every dodge he gave or deflection he made she stepped further in closing the distance every time he stepped momentarily out of range. Like a dance she pushed him backwards but he met her for every step. For one so large she was amazed at how light on his feet he was. Her motions flowed from one to the next not giving him a moment's rest. The punch she had eaten from him was more than enough, she did not want another. Not that I can't take many more She reminded herself for only a moment.

That moment was enough, the singular millisecond of hesitation gave the opening necessary and Shah made his counterattack. His fist much the same as before swung forward aiming for her center of mass. But she was ready, her feet twisted and turned spinning her out of the way. Not given a second to rest as she had him she immediately ducked down, her legs bending as she did as his other fist swung out as the first recoiled. That was just the beginning as she found herself dodging about as a stream of open palm strikes threatened to knock her about once again. She felt as if she were knocked off her balance as he drove into her. Solid stances and heavy strikes sent her wheeling about. "Where's that fire I felt before." Shah asked cockily as a punch flew by the side of her head. Smiling at herself for dodging the attack that came with his hit. It was of course a short lasting one as suddenly a great force slammed into her side. The goby fishman had in a blindingly fast movement crashed into her with the muscled side of his shoulder.

Whether it be superior weight or strength he had both and the thwack sent her reeling backwards. Arms swung about in a quick maneuver to regain balance. Staggering backwards she found her center after a pair of steps in reverse. "Come now you should be capable of more than this." He said confidently. An annoying statement but certainly one she could hardly argue with at the moment. Blood ran in a trickle from her lip as she bit into it.

Common then, this should not be so hard. Breath. The voice stated in her head. Taking a few steps back she flicked her wrist out drawing the blade away. Hopping onto the balls of her feet she charged down the fishman once again. A plan she once had, but this time she did not. Perhaps on instinct, she considered the possibility. With all her experience and practice it was perhaps a worthy cause to try out. If anything he had not mentioned that there was a time limit or a case in which she could actually lose this challenge.

Running in without the excessive speed of her technique but instead at her 'normal' pace. Her eyes watched the gray warrior before her as she closed in. As the distance between them dropped Shah took up a readied stance. Instinctively she ducked down spinning as she did she swept at his footing with her left leg. Shah jumped into the air, the opening she was looking for. Twisting upwards she stabbed her blade forward, it was an unusual use for a katana but for the purposes of this challenge it would do just fine. It was aimed straight at the center of his body, there would be no dodging. Without a blade there would be no blocking, victory was hers. A thick grin cracked across her face. But it was met by an equally ambivalent smile. The back of his hand rose, catching the tip of her weapon upon its center she found her blade stymied. Pushing into it she moved to draw blood upon his hand. Shah was pushed back slightly though he did not show the slightest sign of surprise.

If unbalanced it was only momentary and he landed softly and without trouble. Still Syphalia smiled, "My victory!" She proclaimed. Standing with pride she almost thumped her chest. But Shah shook his head, "Not yet." Bringing his hand forward he showed it to her. It was to her amazement unscathed. Unbelieving of what she saw she took a single step forward. Her eyes scanned the unblemished gray skin, it was without any blood nor even a scratch.

"Impossible" she whispered. But it was only a whisper, disbelief in the face of fact. Her eyes were wide, "By now you have seen too much to say that. I have." Shah's response was straight forward and a little blunt. With proof undeniable before her she found herself in awe of the capabilities of this Haki ability. "You will teach me this." She stated as if it were fact, there was a certainty about her voice.

Shah laughed, deep throated and powerful it rang out from his belly. It cracked at her certainty but she watched him still holding true to her belief. "I've seen nothing to convince me that you are worthy. Like a babe you are, perhaps you are a decent fighter, but you know nothing." His voice slashed like daggers upon her pride. The fishman's eyes narrowed from beneath the bandanna. Even with it there she could feel the knotting upon his brow. She stood there defiant before him even still. Syphalia would not give in to such empty words, if she was not worthy, then she would become. Before this challenge was out, of this she would give no ground on. She would grow to meet him, even if it took her to last steps.

The fishman before her stood unbending. "Fine." Shah grunted. "If you don't believe then I will prove your worthlessness." Bending his legs the Sea Whisperer took up a stance, sturdy and strong. Gathering water upon his hand he spoke again, "Be prepared, this will hurt." Shah said his voice was dark and annoyed now.

Instantly he closed the distance between the pair of them. His fist shot out like a bullet. Throwing herself to the left, the fist slammed into the air just beside her head. Shah's head turned looking straight at her, she wanted to say something, accuse him of being able to see through the bandanna. His left foot swept beneath her. Just like that she fell, the thud of skin crashing into to wood resounded and everything went black. Air swooped back through in through her nose and mouth. Red eyes sprung open to see the open palmed gray hand dropping to her with speed. On reaction she rolled away, the palm slammed into the wooden deck spraying splinters into the air. Continuing to roll she spun her way back onto her feet, twisting her legs about until she held a wide stance. "Can you se-" she started.

But she wasn't given a chance. "You don't have time to speak." Came the dry response as the rageful fishman advanced upon her again. Twisting and turning to avoid his river of attacks she was given no quarter. No chance to respond, ever did her eyes scatter about to keep an eye on each of the four limbs as they made to wound and break her. She was outmatched in these close quarters, her blade was small but not small enough to make a counter as the fishman held such a close distance to her. It gave her very little time to react and no time to mount any sort of response. A fair few punches nearly grazed her side and his overmuscled feet and legs crashed into her but for the most part Syph was able to keep from getting beat up. The rage of the fishman felt fake though. Killing intent she felt, but there was no rage. The rage reflected in his face she felt none of it, it was an odd feeling which she didn't understand.

"Well at least you can dodge, its not as good as being able to fight. But at least you dodge ... okay-ish." The fishman offered breaking her momentary thought. He had stepped back in pause. Why she did not know but he had. Retaining his stance he seemed to be looking right at her with his head tilted slightly.

"You should dodge this next one. Or try to unless you want to get hurt." Came her opponent's cool voice. His fist twisted backwards and suddenly she felt danger. Momentary fear overtook her and from somewhere within a new feeling roared out. From deep inside her, a feeling reminiscent of the one she had felt back on Port West called out to her. NOW! NOW! NOW! it yelled at her. She listened, swinging her sword forward to try and get in her strike before him.

Her blade swung up with as much speed as she could gather to slash across his stomach. He's going to block with the right the voice in her head spoke. It was a momentary decision, it was a voice but it was also a feeling. Without anytime to decide whether she should listen, she needed to choose. Yes or no, in the end it was her gut. She had always trusted it, it hadn't helped her in this fight yet but, in the moment she had no other choice. Impulse took over and she heard it. A blackened palm rose to block the slash of her sword just as predicted. But she reacted faster, she has guessed, or known that this was going to happen.

In a moment the blade changed course, stepping into him, she twisted her arm. Her sword which instants before was slashing now pierced forward like a stiletto. A sheen slid across her blade, something that she glossed over in the moment. As the knife's edge slid upon the fishman's skin in cut. Finally a small line of red, blood spilled from a wound upon Shah's breast. At the same time his fist swung in, a smile upon his face was unnervingly unemotional. The hand she had dodged with her blade now held it between its fingers. His fist crashed into her side blowing the breath out of her. "Well what do you know, you do have it in you." Shah spoke with a certain level of surprise. With the two fingers he pulled her blade aside. Her chest stung as she panted heavily. Her hand lost strength and her weapon to her uncertain horror clattered upon the floor.

"Breath, come now that was only a few thousand tiles worth of force. You'll be fine." Shah said completely unconcerned. Syphalia glanced up at him with disbelief. "You must have broken at least four of my ribs!" The girl wheezed, with her hands on her knees to hold herself together.

"You'll survive, if its any consolation you passed. I'll teach you. Though if this was any example my teaching methods are rough." Shah gave her a crude grin. Falling back upon her butt she looked back up at the what she now considered sadistic fishman. Raising a finger she gave him a hating smile. "How bad can it be?" Her newly proclaimed teacher showed pearly white canines and slapped her across the back causing her to yowl in pain. "That's the spirit!" He laughed and walked off "Take the next two days off, I'll expect you up early and ready for whatever I've got for you." Waving his hand he disappeared below deck.

Laying back Syphalia glanced at the sky, the wounds on her chest were excessively painful. But she smiled none the less, it was happening.

-2 Days Later Approximately-

Slightly troubled Syphalia scratched at the large bandage wrapping her chest. In layer upon layer it swung from below her armpit to over her neck and then down to the bottom of her sternum. Tightly bound it was mostly there to help with the bruises that were still layered across her skin. It held tight salves which were aiding in subduing the pain. How bad could it be ...

Concern layered itself in among her many thoughts of what was to come. She paused as she sat upon the bed wondering if she was ready for what was coming to her when she went upstairs. A frown graced her face as she found herself laughably hesitant of the prospect of the training. Amused by her uncommon mood she raised a hand to her temple and flicked herself. Shaking her head she seemed to attempt to throw off whatever burdens held her back. In one sweeping move she pressed down with her hands pushing herself off the bed. Shooting her feet she strode out of her room and onto the deck. Syphalia was stronger than her misgivings. As often it was this was to prove this to herself. To prove the confidence in herself was not unfounded.

Sitting atop the wooden railing of her ship's upperdeck Shah glanced down at her. "Finally awake girl? Well that's good, I've set us on a new heading." Syphalia looked up at him with a bent eyebrow. "There's some training best done where we're going. Don't worry too much the specifics of it, suffice to say its where I call home." Shah waved his hands dismissively to hold back any questions Syph may have come upon.

With her log pose still set Syphalia shrugged, for the training she was about to get. It should be worth the while. Hopping from his perch he landed with a solid thump upon the wood before her. "Anyways I guess we should get started." Stretching his arms out ahead of him he gave a great yawn. Grasping at his chin Shah looked quite thoughtful in the moment. Then scratching at his cheek he started. "Haki is. I could try to explain it better, but suffice to say its like another sense." He paused as if considering his words. Then pressing his finger into the center of her chest "It comes from here, and here." He pointed at her head next. "And that'll be where you'll find it again."

Stepping away he strode a few steps from her before turning to face her again. "And we'll find it in the most simple of places." A crooked grin spread across his face giving her a disconcerting feeling. "The need for survival." He said plainly, twisting his hand in the air as he did water coalesced to it forming a blob in his palm. His eyes turned to it for a moment watching the blob of water carefully. "Haki takes two forms, both of equal value and difficulty to learn ..." He paused as if remembering something "There is a third form as well, but I've only cursory knowledge of it. I'll tell you about it later." Shah dismissed the third topic as if unworthy.

"I've got a ques-" Syphalia started, the information being told to her was coming quickly but she was silenced by a hand. Shah looked down at her with a frown. "There are a few rules here. I do not teach often and I'm too tired to deal with those who cannot learn on their own. You will follow what I say without question or I will leave you. Now then rule 1." He held up a single finger. "You will believe whatever I say. If it is an order you will carry it out. There is no questioning this. Clear?" Syphalia nodded her head, becoming slightly worried exactly what she was getting herself into here. "Rule 2. You won't complain. If you want to complain you can leave. The strong became strong by overcoming their weakness. If you cannot do so, you're no use to me. Okay?" She nodded again firmly and strongly. "Rule 3 ... Ahh wait, there is no rule 3, well okay, lets make it ... Don't Die." He grinned cruelly and nodded to her expecting one back.

"Anyways, of the two types I'll teach you, they are known as Kenbunshoku and Busoshoku. They're awkwardly long names so I'll simply call them Kenbun and Buso." Syph tucked away both the shortened versions and long versions of the names in her head for later. "I showed off both to you though perhaps Buso was the only one you noticed. You also if I noticed correctly used both yourself during our trial. Whether you were aware of it ..." He paused looking at Syph. "There was a feeling, that I knew what you were going to do. Like a voice in my head, but not really. A voice in my gut?" Syph spoke uncertainly.

Shah nodded back to her "If you are understanding it that is a good thing. It is likely that you are predisposed towards it. That is good we'll start there." Frowning Shah went quiet for a moment. Gathering words together he started again with a fair amount of certainty. "That type is known as Kenbun, it is an ability to sense others. Sense their intentions, their numbers, and many other things."

"It is what allowed you to fight me blindfolded and counter me so easily." She blurted out excitedly drawing an annoyed glance from Shah. He nodded to her, she was correct. "The best users of Kenbun can identify exactly whether his or her attacker is going to kick or punch, and at what. They can see how many enemies are around them, their relative strength and how far away they are. ... It won't tell you how to dodge, or allow you to dodge that which is too fast, but at some level it will give you an advantage in combat." Syph watched him carefully but Shah had gone silent. Syphalia considered this, it seemed highly useful. Definitely in combat, but also in general being able to stay on top of what was happening and not getting caught off guard.

Cracking her neck she pressed him because of Shah's continued silence. "Right so, how are you going to teach me Kenbunshoku." The fishman looked at her, frowning slightly.

"Teach you? No, you already know how to use it. As I said you know it in your heart and in your head. You might not know it, but subconsciously you are capable of it. I'm just here to remind your mind of the feeling. You must grasp it and learn to use it on your own." The Sea Whisperer scratched his head, "Go stand over there, and get rid of your blade. You won't need it for this exercise." Pointing to the one side of the ship's long deck Syph went off on her way dropping her blade on a bench as she passed over to it. Opposite of her the gray fishman walked to the opposite edge. Some forty meters now separated the pair.

Those forty meters once seemed much more full of life. As a sea breeze strode over the deck pulling her hair along with it. She turned away from it. A free hand cordoned off her hair behind an ear and for a moment she felt oddly reminiscent. She was alone again, it had not been long for her, or much less long than the last time. But she was alone, wherever those two had gone after the escapades at Inlet Grove she knew not. For what it was worth she sort of missed them, their life upon the ship had made it feel more lived in. And while three was not a great number, it was easily more than the single person now left upon this ship. "Are you done?"

Shah's voice pulled her away from her thoughtful moment. Turning back into the breeze slightly she eyed the fishman from across the wooden wasteland. "This game like the last one is simple, you will cross the deck. You should not run, you can try trust me when I say you will not succeed doing so. You'll pass if you can touch me." He pressed a finger into his sternum, "You pass. If you get hit. You restart. Back from the beginning right where you are now standing." Raising an eyebrow, she looked down at her bandaged chest. Scratching at her wounds she began to say "Hit?" Her voice was questioning. And was soundly answered, with a flick of Shah's wrist she then noted a ball of water flying past the side of her head. With a crash it broke upon the wooden wall behind her.

Ahh, that ... she was vaguely aware of the existence of this water bullet technique. She had never witnessed her own former fishman ally use it but it was a technique so often associated with the aquatic race that she still knew of it. Seeing it up close was quite the treat, it was exhilarating. Though the prospect of getting hit by one was not quite as exciting. "I'll start firing when you take your first step from that position."

Clasping her hands behind her, Syphalia closed her eyes and breathed in. Air rose through her nostril invading her system, and her heart beat slowed for a moment. For a moment she simply pictured the field before her, the steps, how she would move. Could she react fast enough in the end seemed the real question. If she could this might be an easy challenge, if she couldn't? Then what, what feeling was she looking for. So he thought somewhere inside her she knew how to use it, how would she grasp that. Endlessly trying was an option, but was there a better one? Unfortunately incapable of thinking of one at the moment she figured she might as well just try his out. Opening her eyes she simultaneously let free all the air in her system. Pouring out of her nose and mouth it flooded back into the world reducing the puff of her chest.

Releasing the clasps of her hand she stared eyes forward at the fishman across from her. Raising her foot she began her first step. Leg floating up it hovered above where she stood. She bit her lip, Alright lets go. She said to herself determined. Placing the first step down she was greeted by a stream of water bullets. Her feet like a slow dance waltzed about. Constantly taking steps but getting nowhere. One step forward was met by a pair of water bullets which required her to step sideways reversing the progress she had made before. As she slowly gained position the stream thickened. Her steps needed to be excessively small and deliberate. On top of that her upper body had to move constantly. Swinging from one strange position to the next in an effort to keep from getting slapped by a great wad of water.

Another deliberate step placed her stomach inches away from getting a great welt upon it. She had needed to suck in to get it by with a safe enough margin. One slight misstep was all the difference as she misplaced her foot. Needing to take faster action to dodge the next trio of bullets, she twisted her upper body. It bent low throwing a single foot in the air, as the leg with it arced up the trio of bullets sliced by, a single one past the ear another under an armpit and the final one cruising under her upper thigh. She breathed out hard at the realization of how close it had been. But now unsteadied she looked forward to see another set of throws coming her way.

As her limb dived back down toward a standing position, she could hear it. The fear of being hit, screaming at her. Her mind responded in kind, unwilling to take the damage it decided the time was to throw her out of the way. Dropping her control of her supporting leg, it dropped her to the ground. More water bullets flew overhead and she breathed a momentary sigh of relief. But to do this she had averted her eyes. In the desperate move her eyes had fallen to the ground. Another wave of uchimizu sprung out at her once again.

But she knew, the pride welling out in her had sparked something, and once again she heard, she felt the voices in her head. Seething bullets of intention told her their trajectories through feeling alone. Even then, knowing what it was, it was only just enough time. With two hands on the ground she leveraged herself upwards. Both her feet kicked out lifting her lower body above her upper. Arms along with them rose as she moved into a handstand barely allowing the uchimizu to pass between her extended arms. Twisting she dropped her feet to the ground and came to a stand once more. That's the feeling, I need to hold it ... Desperately she grasped at the feeling. Unable to hold it in strands it slipped through her body's fingers. And in that moment of undeserved distraction another water bullet flew out.

The bullet crashed into the forearm of her non-sword wielding arm. Pain radiated out from it and immediate a large reddening welt formed. Grasping at her arm she wondered if she had become so weak or were all of these so strong. "Start again." Shah called out from across the deck, he was perhaps thirty meters away at the least. Progress for the first try but not enough not by far. Sighing she turned, grasping her bruised arm walking back to vaguely around she remembered herself standing before. "That was good. You used it once. That's a good sign, perhaps you are more capable at Kenbun." Syph stopped as she walking smiling slightly to herself. It was a nice compliment. That was at least until a pair of cracks told her that Shah had thrown a pair at the sides of her feet. The wood was cracked near them which was an uncomfortable sign. "Don't get cocky, it was good, but nowhere close to consistent enough to be viable. Try again." His finger pointed at where she should start.

Walking back to that point she stopped . A stillness over took her as she stood there. In her mind she went through every step she had made. The whole exercise had only taken some multitude of seconds to pass. Thinking over them she thought of what had went right. What had gone wrong. Beyond her ability to use haki, there had been some slight issues in her balance. Steps she had missed, taken incorrectly, or over stepped. Each a problem in its own right, together they seemed like things that would hamper her progress. Drawing her hands across the sides of her face, through her hair she pulled it all back. Shaking head and hair out, a deep breath was called for if not necessary. With a single about-step she faced down the fishman again. There were many issues that likely needed solving for her to complete this test.

So she tried again, it would become one of multiple tries she made that day. Progress was slow but visible. At some points it felt so very slow that she was almost ashamed of herself. Each time she fought more a battle against herself than Shah. Some times unfortunately she found herself unable to pull forth the sense, hear its voice. Those times she made less progress. Reliant on reflexes and eyesight she was left at the mercy of Shah's torrential attacks. Her struggle continued for much of the day, the pair only stopping to take dinner and sleep.

Continuing into the next day she faced her problems head on. Each time before starting again she paused to think of what issues plagued her the last time. Comparing both those that had reappeared and those that were new she tried to learn. With each try she compounded experience and critical thought, and with each try she made progress. At first short, it measured in a step or two closer. But as her own faults began to disappear as she grew accustomed to Shah's attacks and the rhythm of the game they began to grow quickly. Alongside such growths in understanding she began to grasp at that incomprehensible feeling. Even slower in growth than her progression towards Shah, but equally important she began to remember that feeling. Where it came from, how to understand it, like muscle memory for her brain she began to find it more often.

"It feels like I'm blindfolded. Put in a room without light and trying to grab a stationary ball, the size of a coin hanging in the same place each time." She responded when Shah asked how she felt it was going. "It's very annoying, but I'm starting to remember where to go, the right steps, the right positions, et cetera." Syph explained on, frustrated and yet somewhat happy with herself. Shah looked at her with a discerning eye, her wounds for the most part were healed, though she was now covered in red welts scattered about her limbs, and a few upon her belly and chest. Raising an eyebrow at her explanation he frowned slightly. "Strange explanation, but I suppose. It's not terrible." Biting into an apple he chewed it about in one side of the mouth. His eyes remained on the black-haired swordsman who watched her teacher with a certain level of awed concern. "Well you're making progress, which is good. You're not my fastest student, but you aren't my slowest." The comment was completely offhand, bringing her to pause.

"Anyone I would know?" She asked curiously. Taking another bite Shah for half a second seemed to consider her question. His answer was expectedly unexpected as he proceeded to make a face and blow a trio of apple seeds out at Syph's face. Even when she rested when she was awake she tested herself trying to reach for then Kenbunshoku Haki. She had found it in the moments before and had been holding to together just for moments. Deftly she had twisted her body around one and with a free hand knocked the last off course. The feeling of the fishman's saliva on the palm however was not so enticing as she proceeded to wipe it on the floor. Giving a deep throaty chuckle in response Shah smiled at her cheekily. Disgusted she frowned at Shah's crude disposition, which made him only laugh harder. "Right back to it then."

Throwing the whole apple into his mouth he crunched down upon it with vigor. Rapidly spitting the remaining seeds onto the ground he began to lick his fingers clean. Across the deck Syphalia stopped as the usual position. Turning about she raised a brow at Shah's self-grooming habit. Taking a slow breath, with the memory of the haki still in her she grasped at it freely. She stepped forward, immediately the attacks intended for her rained into her head. As they came in she stopped stilled by the confusing signals in her head. In sets of two or three the water bullets flew past her. Slipping just beneath fingers, or beside hair, or skin. The difference from being hit and not being hit was such an insignificant distance that Syphalia was incapable of noting it with her eyes alone. Pairing awe and begrudging his cheekiness she took another step forward.

It was the same, as she stopped another set of attacks swung in. Hidden beneath the outer killer intent was a laughable reality that he wasn't trying to hit her. She was dodging into many of the attacks. Is this a fluke? Or is it real ... She asked herself though she already knew the answer. Or she thought she knew it, it seemed only more true with every step she took closer.

One foot at a time she closed the distance, all the time water bullets crossed right before her eyes. Steeling herself and trusting the haki she moved on. While her eyes yelled at her to dodge, she didn't, she just continued on. Across from her Shah was smiling, it was such a cheeky grin she felt a need to slap it off his face. As she finally found herself standing before the overly large fishman she outstretched a finger and touched him in the chest. Withdrawing it just as quickly. "You're a cocky ass."

Jumping up she made to swing the backside of her hand into his face. Instead she found herself hanging, her outstretched hand caught at the wrist. "Not wrong, but you would not have felt it otherwise. Seen the nuance." Dropping her to the ground she faced him down with angered brows.

"Right then, now that you can use it, and hold it together for a while. Go back, we're doing this again." Syphalia looked at him like he was crazy, she had hoped to be done with this game. Yes she was able to do it, but now the trick was gone and it was losing its flavor to her. Taking in annoyed eyes at her displeasure she sighed and turned about. "Wait." Pausing in step she turned her head glancing back at the fishman. "Take this." He was holding out a bandanna, grasping it in hand she turned back to her target.

Walking over she looked down to the bandanna, it was a different one from the one that he had been using before. She smiled a little, had he predicted she would complete it soon and thus had it. Perhaps, in any case it was what she decided to believe. The confidence in herself was heartening. Arriving at her now well known spot she grasped the bandanna at either end and tied it about her face. The heavy material of the bandanna weighed little on her head, but it completely impaired her vision and to some extent her smell. The scent of the ocean overwhelmed it clogging her nose to other smell. "I won't miss this time. So you'll have to dodge. And I'm not waiting for you this time. So good luck."

Before she had even turned around her head yelled at her with information. Four water bullets, like arrows from somewhere behind her. These had no pretense of only pretending to try and hit her, they actually were. Calmly she slinked to the side allowing the three bullets to pass easily beside her. The last she had to tilt her arm upwards to get it out of the trajectory. Coolly during that whole motion she turned about so that she was supposedly facing Shah. Reaching out with one arm she pointed vaguely in the direction that the water bullets had come from. "Are you ready?" She asked cockily. There was a silence, "You're pointing in very much the wrong direction." Came Shah's returning voice to the far right of her.

Twisting she homed in on the voice, to the best of her ability trying to focus her haki in said direction. It was an odd feeling and was mostly unsuccessful. Three more blips on her 'radar' so to speak appeared and unsure of how to dodge she dipped down stepping forward again in the new direction. Her body tilted low to the ground. Her legs going wide and bending far to accommodate the lower center of mass she required to hold her balance well. And again the blips came and she dodged them stepping forward once more.

Surely as she took a step the water bullets flew at her. They registered in her mind and she took certain precaution to dodge them each time. They were only vague clues of where they might land but having practiced many times with her eyes open she was vaguely aware of how Shah might try to catch her off. And so the 'hunt' began as she walked precariously around trying to map the deck in her head, to keep an idea of where she stood at any given time and where Shah might be standing in comparison. She was yet unable to really feel his presence, she was only given a blur of it at times. And it was often changing direction, which was actually the product of Shah carefully moving about between volleys.

To an onlooker it might've seemed the stupidest game of cat and mouse ever. But for Syphalia it was impossibly confusing. Between dodging things were making less sense to her until she came to the obvious conclusion, "You're moving." She accused out loud. "Well of course I am." He said plainly, "While Kenbun is useful for your ability to predict attacks, it has many other uses. Not to mention right now I'm shoving an excess of intent into these attacks so that you might notice them. You're good at this, for certain but not that good. With not half as much skill as you will need in the future." He had begun to rant, which brought Syph to pause as she listened to him.

Now it made much more sense why this had come so easy to her. She felt the feeling, and while he had approved that she was able to dodge these attacks blindfolded he confirmed he was definitely helping with that. "But this has other use as well, the ability to feel the presence and locate those around you, even when out of view. It is just as important." Shah stated with concern. "If you can't find me, how can you hope to find them?" He then said out right. Syph if a little annoyed walked toward the voice. Quickly now as a trio of bullets told her to dodge once more. She did so with some level of ease, but this game was frustrating.

Biting her lip she paused where she stood, grasping at the now somewhat familiar feeling once more. She pushed the feeling outwardly, uncertain of what to expect it sang out to her. For a moment in her mind blurs of color dropped onto her map of where she stood. Multiple colors which made no sense. They washed out in seconds, all too unhelpfully. Stranded she threw herself to the ground as another three uchimizu were shot her way. The trio passed cleanly over her, and she tried again.

Once more the ability washed out of her, a headache began to throb in her head. As untranslated information slid into her head. Marring her understanding of the layout of everything with the colors once more. This time slightly more clear but giving her a feeling in a broad range of area of where Shah might be. She took a step following that advice, and once again stopped and tried it. This continued for a while all the while she dodged and did her best to keep from getting hit. The dodging for her was somewhat second nature. The three days she had spent practicing this had been built into her. Specifically understanding how Shah attacked, it had been like a crash course in it. With the haki to help she found it more easy than not. Oerhaps he wasn't trying as hard, she couldn't tell in the moment with most of her mind focused on tracking him down.

With each try she moved with a little more certainty, the vagueness grew less. And what was once a massive shadow became smaller and smaller as the certainty of his position continued to grow. It took some time, frustrating long actually until she found herself capable of narrowing down his position to a an area not too great. Sensing his presence in said direction she stepped forth in an effort to find him. It was quite interesting like a shadow moving across a board she chased it. Here, then there, then disappearing for a time. "You've gotten quite good at this." Shah's voice gave her more obvious indication of where he was when he did prod at her a little.

With each step she became more certain, and perhaps due to proximity she had a stronger picture of where he stood in relation to her. Then, it stopped, the hail of water bullets stopped, and his obvious position disappeared from her head. And it all went blank, the sound of soft foot steps echoing told her that he was moving again. But where? "Reach deep, your body knows how to feel it." Shah's voice was a whisper. It spread like a wave heard everywhere but emanating from nowhere in particular. It was solely unhelpful, she stopped and breathed.

For one more time she touched toward that power. Reaching deep within herself to call upon it. Catching it for a moment it spread out of her like a wave returning just as quickly as she had sent it. Now only faintly, like a dot on a map so unseemly that it might seem like a blotch or some accidental marking she noted it in her minds eye. Behind her, trusting in it as she was learning to do she turned. And her mind yelped out, a burst of intent to attack saddled up to her. A punch? It felt like, she was uncertain, the feel of it was much less solid than it had been before. He wasn't joking, he had been overdoing the feelings, making it easier on her to first find it.

This was more masked, on instinct her body shifted into a fighting pose. The slight bend in the legs and the arms, she was no martial artist but sword fighting also requires such strong yet flexible positions. Trusting her momentarily haki-infused instincts her arms swung out, with force one arm swung away from her, her upper arm crashed into something soft yet hard like bone. Intercepting the incoming punch it shifted it away from her chest and then with her free hand she lunged forward. Open palmed she slammed it into what must have been Shah's belly given the height difference. "Well it seems you're not blind at the least. You'll need to practice much more before you can feel these properly. Most people will not make it as easy as I did to feel their presence."

Came his voice from in front of her, something tugged at her head as Shah removed the bandanna from her head. Eyeing her trainer for a moment she simply nodded. As with all things she expected this. More training would always be necessary, especially for a skill such as this. "So what now?" She asked the fishman.

He looked at her, "Now we go again. We will do this exercise a few more times, every time I shall give you less help in finding me. And slowly you will grasp it more firmly. But now that you have a start. I won't stick to this subject much longer." Shah walked away, reaching the edge of the ship he looked out over the waters. The expanse of the Grand Line spread out about them, unsure of what to do Syphalia walked over to him. "But soon we will come to one of my encampments. There you will learn to harness Buso, as you have Kenbun. If you're lucky you won't get killed in the process." Shah said crudely with a laugh.

If she was lucky, she wouldn't get killed? If only slightly alarming that sentence was at the least off-putting to her. But in the moment it could do little to quell her happiness. Grasping at her new found power she threw it out about her. It reached out to the world and she was disappointed to find nothing came back to her. In her minds eye she felt no presences. Biting her lip she smiled, Plenty more to grow then.

[Flame]

Story Name: Underwater Dangers: Haki Training (Part 2)
Character: Syphalia
Word Count: 9125

---

"So what's this other type?" Syphalia asked curiously. She was sitting at the table in the kitchen, drumming her fingers and rubbing her temples. Standing before the stove was Shah, tall and lanky, was shoveling something out of a pan and onto a plate. Pulling it around he came up to the opposite end of the table dropped his plate of eggs upon the ground and sat down. Eyeing it momentarily he poked it with his finger, Shah made no indication that he had heard a word she'd said. Then grumpily he grabbed the plate lifted it into the air opening his mouth wide he upended the contents into his mouth. Syphalia watched in disbelief as he proceeded to chew in massive bites and then swallow what looked to be a giant wad of egg from what she saw of his neck down. "That's probably a choking hazard." She commented as the fishman brought a hand to his mouth and proceeded to muffle a pair of burps welling up from his stomach.

Shah glanced at her before letting out a giant belch. "The other type is Buso." The fishman then said before Syphalia got a word in. Drawing her head in between her hands she began to massage both temples now. Shah at times was an annoying prick to deal with. She waited for him to continue for a moment before deciding that perhaps she needed to prompt him more and then he would start talking right before she said anything. "It is like armor from your spirit. It strengthens attacks and protects against them as well." He said as he began to stand up again. Glancing about the cabin he walked over to a bamboo broomstick in the corner reaching over and grabbed it with a single hand.

Lifting it up in the air he glanced at it for a moment. His brows furrowed as he eyed it. Then relaxed as a sheen rolled over it oddly. "I'm not particularly good at it, but many users are capable of imbuing this power into their weapons. Come attack me, a good sword swing." He held out the bamboo stick as if it were a weapon. She believed him, nothing he had said thus far had been too far off, but just to be sure. Unsheathing her sword she exercised her wrist a little giving the sword a circular flourish. Stepping forward she slashed down at Shah. The stick held strong, her sword stood atop, blade striking directly perpendicular to the hollow bamboo structure. "Impressive." She eyed the bamboo shaft, it was unmarred. Sheathing her weapon she stepped closer to Shah's 'staff'. Bringing a hand to it she scanned it over, it looked no different from any other bamboo staff. Felt no different, "Apart from strengthening, and protecting does it have any other use?" She asked as Shah dropped the staff into her grip. Tightening her grip on it, she frowned slightly at the soft sounds of cracking coming from it.

"There is some advanced things you can do with it." He paused as he made a fist glancing at it for a moment. Then released it twisting his hand about. "I'll tell you about it later. I suppose its best ability is to hit devil fruit users like Logias." Syph raised an eyebrow, a healthy level of skepticism filled her. Not that he had reneged or been proven false on any claim that he made, but the last one was perhaps the hardest yet to believe. "Ok then, so whats the plan?" She asked in a curiously dreading way. Given the nature of this power she had the feeling that what she'd be facing was less safe than the previous task. "That's my concern, not yours. Don't let it bother you. I'll tell you when its time." The fishman responded laxly flipping a hand back dismissively at her. A common practice from her tutor which she was beginning to find more and more annoying.

Then suddenly he perked upwards, his head rising up from its hanging slant. "Oh ... we're here." Momentarily still he suddenly jumped into action, care lines crossed his face as Shah bolted out of the room much to Syph's curiosity. Standing up from her seat she walked to the door. "Hey what's going-"

Suddenly a grinding sound roared from beneath her, the ship lurched to a halt throwing her from lazy footing. Staggering about for a moment concern immediately grew in her mind. As her ship now found itself beached or something, she dashed her way onto the deck. From it she scanned about for Shah, she found him readying up the anchor to throw overboard.

"WHAT THE HELL??!" Syph exclaimed, as she looked to Shah. The fishman turned his head back to look at her as he simultaneously threw the anchor overboard. Behind him water splashed up everywhere as the anchor slammed into the water and began to fall. "Like I said we're here." The fishman responded nonchalantly shrugging off her sudden outburst.

Looking about for a second, she seemed to look for someone to retort to this fishman. There was of course no one, so she stopped, her breathing slowed and she calmed down. Drawing a hand across her face, she pulled it down her face. Defeat strung across her face she decided to ask "So what now?" Shah looked to her and then reached a hand down into his own pocket. Digging about he grasped for an object bringing out a small familiar-looking piece of coral. Recognizing the look on her face he smiled. "So you've used this before, that's good. One less thing for you to learn on the fly. Put it on."

Casually he flung the small item towards her. Reaching out with her left hand she plucked the item out of the air and looked again. She'd last used it at Inlet Grove Stop. Closing her eyes together she thought back to it. Picturing how it had happened she re-did the steps to the best of her ability. A few moments again and once again she was coated in the flutterkick coating. "Right then." Shah marched up to her, Syphalia eyeing him with wearied caution. Grabbing her by the arm he proceeded to jump off the side of the boat pulling her along with him. Her first instinct was to struggle, but it was useless. The fishman's greater strength and the moment of surprise caught her off guard. Weaponless and stuck in a bubble she crashed into the water alongside her 'sadistic' teacher.

"Follow me." Her trainer called to her as she adjusted to the water once again. He was cruising through the water at speed. Sighing she kicked through the water in a futile attempt to keep up with him. As she dived down the expanse beneath her expanded in her vision. Growing out of the sea floor was a great underwater mound of rock and stone. Atop it was lined the makings of a coral reef. Beautiful colors of coral and fish made a rainbow of life. Her ship she could see now had crashed into an outcrop of stone where there likely had been a greater forum worn away more assuredly by the sea than the rest of the sea mount. Life fluttered about her as she looked about.

If she had more time she might've made an interest in looking about but Shah was still moving quickly into the distance. Throwing in more exertion she kicked hard in an effort to chase down the fishman. Driving through the water as best she did her best to look out for incoming danger. It was quite odd in fact, that she had not seen any of the sea beasts she was used to finding in the Grand Line. Frowning slightly she pushed the thought into the back of her mind and continued to swim further on. Going deeper into the depths she found Shah again floating before what seemed a hole in the sea mount.

Fluttering feet brought her over to Shah and she stopped before him. He was carefully eyeing into what now seemed to be a cove hollowed into the mountain. "Well?" She asked implying her question. His head turned to face her glancing down with concerned eyes. His brow furrowed as he looked inside and then back towards her once again. Then shrugging his shoulders together he opened his mouth to speak. "Well go in, I suppose. If you can defeat them it'll be fine. If not ..." He paused, "Then run I guess." Shrugging his shoulders again he swam off slightly.

"Wait, what about my sword?" She asked with growing concern on what she was about to float into. He paused as he swam off looking back at her. "It's not a challenge if you have your sword. Learn!" He said with a smile before continuing onward.

Watching him swim off for a moment she turned back towards the cove. Stretching awkwardly the black-haired swordswoman looked swordlessly into it. Swimming into it she found it the large open space she had guessed it to be. Closing her eyes she touched out with her growing skill at Kenbunshoku Haki. Like a radar she pushed her haki outwards waiting for it to respond. And it did almost instantly, the killing intent surrounding her caused her eyes to shoot open as she looked about the sunlit area. It was something like an underwater arena, with the sun shining in overhead she noted the black shapes now moving about along the stony edges of her set battleground.

Twisting in the water she brought her hands up in a hurry. Without a sword she definitely felt quite defenseless it was a humbling feeling for certain. As the first of the shadows gained the confidence to make a charge at her. She noted that it was a medium-sized black fish, about her size, with a small pair of bull-like horns facing her down. Rushing her down as it did she didn't panic. If he brought her here, he must've thought her capable. This was something to learn from, first what she needed to do was stop this. It seemed not much different from the charge of the klarion that she had experienced at Inlet Grove. In a rush of force she kicked up with her foot slamming it into the underbelly of the fish.

Surprise crossed her face as she found what she had thought would be a soft underbelly was actually rock hard. As foot and belly impacted both attacker and attackee felt the repercussions. Syphalia was pushed down by the force and the fish forced upwards slightly. Its black body barreled past her as she hurried to regain her orientation in the water. The hell ... its so hard. Biting her lip she turned about as she was suddenly aware of another one of the fishes charging down at her. The information pushing through her mind told her now that this wasn't a game. Not that she shouldn't have expected this already. Taking in a calming breath she pulled in a fist. Throwing it out with all the strength she could managed her fist slammed into the face of the black-scaled fish.

She bit her lip as the repercussions vibrated through her body. Her arm stung like hell and while the fish before her seemed dazed for a moment it regained its initiative faster than she did. Its mouth wide open it tried to bite down on her stomach. In a rush both her arms swung about grasping the edges of the fishes' mouth. There's no other way is there ... she thought hurriedly of any other way out. The fish were likely faster than her in the water as well so running was not an option. Both arms strained as she fought to keep her body out of the grasps of the fishes' maw. Twisting in the water she brought in her foot crashing it into the side of her current enemy. It twisted in reaction to the kick but she knocked it away for the moment.

Breathing a sigh of relief she was suddenly slammed in the back with what must've been the hardened scales of yet another one of the fish. The pointed tips of its horns screeched painfully as they bit into her back. Her breath knocked from her she strove quickly to regain it. Twisting through the water with all the skill she had gained from her experience at Inlet Grove she slammed the point of her foot into the head of the fish blowing it back in the water as well as pushing herself away from it. Pain streaked across across her back and vaguely she could smell blood in her bubble. Biting her lip she swam towards an edge of the cove. She needed to guard her back as best she could, in the center of the cove it was now obvious she was way too exposed. Without a good way to knock these fish out she would be helpless out there.

On the double she kicked herself toward the far edge of the cove. Her eyes were ever looking backwards to the at least trio of combative fish behind her. These it seemed were the reason for the lack of predators out there on the coral environment. Identifying the first to return in its second strike. She turned about in the water. Uncertain of how to unlock the ability she looked to the same feeling she had with Kenbun. Grasping at it she kicked out at the same time towards the incoming predator. Her heel crashed into the fish once again to little more effect than before. If only it was that easy ... She thought to herself as both the fish and herself seemed a bit dazed from the exchange. Regathering herself slightly before the fish did, she twisted about butting the fish away from her with the heel of her other foot.

The kick sent her floating backwards until she found herself nearly held against the edge of the cove. Treading water before it she looked out across the expanse of water towards the gathering trio of attackers before her. They circled a fair distance from before her there pointed horns and feral teeth bared and at the ready.

Deliberately she pressed her mind toward the solution to her issue. There seemed only one, but how might she do it. Was there a hint in something he had said perhaps, her brows furrowed. The three fish not allowing her the time to try and comprehend this charged in at once. A hint ... he said it was like armor from the spirit ... Her mind dug into such a thought as the trio advanced on her at speed. Armor from the spirit the words rang through her head as she grasped once more for the feeling she used for Kenbunshoku haki.

Rather than turning it out she turned it inwards. Radiating within her she kicked out at the foremost fish. Foot slamming into the forehead of the fish she found the same pain vibrating down her leg as before and the fish similarly ensconced. With no fruit to show the other pair slammed into her. Only barely able to place her hands before her the pair shoved her into the wall. The spiky edge of the wall poked needles into her back. Her lip bled as her front most tooth bit down upon it. Both arms were straining against the force of her opponents as they tried to squash her upon the wall. The third whom she had dazed was now recovering with her still locked against the underwater rock.

She paled as her strength was diverted into her struggling arms. All the time her eyes glanced at the small fighting fish at it circled back around the cave as if to make space for the charge. Her guess was right, as it came to a fair distance away it began its rush upon her. Grimacing she found herself somewhat disheartened by what was at hand. Unwelcome acceptance of her coming fate gradually overcame her. Or it might have, if that prying voice had not spoke up. I guess you were nothing anyways huh. It was in that terribly annoying voice, and it imbued her with a sudden defiant rage. Fire blazed in her eye as her distracted attention turned back to the incoming assault. In a moment it welled up inside her, jumping forth like a stallion it burst to life.

Her arms straining against the pressure seemed now relieved to find new strength about them. Dropping their contact for one second they pulled back and slammed back outwards at their foes. Perhaps surprise, or perhaps something else but the two were knocked aside for the moment. Which gave her a moment to turn her attention back to the incoming fish. "AHH!!" She screamed incoherently uncertain of what to say as she felt the power wash over her leg. And she kicked out, meeting the fish head on with her foot. She slammed it down between the horns. It crashed shut the fish's maw and the pain she had become so accustomed to seemed dulled in the impact. The fish taking it square on dropped into the depths at once. And she breathed still uncertain of what exactly had happened but feeling a new sense of victory.

"YEAH!" She cheered herself on at the momentary victory even though the other two fish were regrouping fast. Thrilled from her first solid hit she pumped a fist happily. What did I do ... As the cheering died down she suddenly questioned herself uncertain of the answer. It was the haki again, of this she was sure, but how she had no clue.

Such time to understand was not hers however. Regrouping her devil(f)ish opponents went back on the offensive in no time. Barreling in at her with horns bared they drove in towards her. Lost in thoughts she jolted back almost immediately, purpose overflowing she swam towards the left one for a moment. Eyes narrowed and wrinkles crossed her face as she concentrated to a look of almost constipation. Breathing in her previous energy she moved the aim of her concentration to the heel of her right foot. Burning with her furor she twisted in the water to get as much momentum as possible.

With a wicked smile she slammed that heel into the side of the first fish. Filled with her own energy and enthusiasm the heel hit home knocking the fish aside. But Syphalia herself bit her lip as well as echoing reverberations pained her leg once again. Wincing at the pain she was more disappointed at her inability to reproduce it again. Again! I'll prove him wrong! She thought urgently. The first one being dazed she swam towards the next one and launched a fist forward. Impelled onward she punched down onto the head of the fish right between the horns. Impacting upon the fish's layered scales she felt it vibrate back down through her bones. The force of the collision dazed both. Though the fish longer than herself given the strike directly to the temple.

Happily now she felt herself in the groove of traversing these waters. Quickly fluttering her feet she dipped around the dazed fish. The defiant rage she had felt was doing the trick, energy and adrenaline coursed through her continuing to raise her spirit and supply her with power. Closing in towards the fish she decided now to go on the offensive. Roaring to life against the nearer of the two she sent a flurry of blows its way each one crashing skin against scale. Though largely ineffective she built momentum as well as a solid reddening color across her knuckles.

Aching pain thrown aside she filled herself with coursing energy. Her eyes were ablaze with a red now flashing brighter yet. Finishing off the flurry with a greater blow yet the fish slammed face first into her. Luckily for her flatness the horns barely poked very far upon her chest. Quickly recovering from the landing she held the fish in place as best she could with one hand. Then with the other she shouted with all her might. Once again feeling the power welling up inside her it followed her own energy concentrating itself around her fist. Finally dropping her other hand from holding the fish back any further she slammed her mini-maul head on into it.

Again as with the last time the pain was dulled mightily and the power of the attack seemed excessively more effective. The force of the punch sent her sliding back through the water. But she smiled, grinning madly as she watched her enemy get sent back like a rocket. In her imagination a line of bubbles shot through the water behind its path as if to signify the vast power of it. Alright one more. If perhaps she was getting the hang of it, she now vaguely felt the power welling within her. It was dimmer than her 'easily' accessible Kenbunshoku abilities but now she could sense it almost. Turning she faced down the final of her horned opponents. With a crack of the neck and the knuckles she beamed broadly.

With her two feet kicking together she pressed in towards the fish which motioned towards her with similar furor. She smiled, a willing opponent was all the more empowering for a good fight. Gathering within her she could feel it, softer and perhaps weaker than before but nonetheless there. Making contact with her opponent she pulled it into her fist and punched forward. The pair impacted at the same with her fist coming out only slightly the victor. Pain shot up her arm, Not really there yet, she figured slightly disappointed. The fish was knocked back a bit but seemed to be recovering quickly.

Syph gave it no time, chasing after it, she grasped at the power again. This time was stronger yet, coalescing at the point of her knee this time she came in close. Slamming both open palms in she held the fish in place as best she could. Her two arms exerted themselves to provide the necessary friction as it wriggled and struggled against her. Its maw bit forward trying to draw blood from his exposed belly. "TAKE THIS!" She yelled excitedly slamming her knee upwards right under its jaw. Snapping it shut at once x's seemed to cross its eyes as the fish was suddenly motionless in place.

Cautiously she let it go providing a free kick to it so that it dropped out of view into the depths of the waters. Smiling to herself she brought her hands together wringing them about each other. Guess I did it ... looking for the feeling again she could touch it if only barely. It gathered uncertainly inside her but she was yet sure that she could use it at will. Looking at her fist she tried to well it up there.

Frowning she swam off somewhat unconvinced. Reaching the opening into the cove she found herself immediately confronted. Like a swarm incoming the three devilish fish seemed to have multiplied. Her eyes widened, this was definitely not part of the deal. They were coming with a furor greater than she had witnessed in ages. Their mouths were opened and canine teeth bared and ready for the attack. "Dorirunami" Echoing in from above Shah's voice caught her attention. From within the water she witnessed a current form out of nowhere. Moving like a bullet it drilled down straight into the formation of the incoming fighting fish. Hitting them like a train the fish were thrown apart, all of them, their killing intent which exuded through the waters disappearing in an instant. Instead they hung in the water unmoving.

"Yo, looks like you did it." Shah's voiced fell down upon her from before. Descending from the waters above he smiled at her clearly amused at the events that had just unfolded. Breathing a wearied sigh of relief she nodded, before kicking her way towards the surface. She wanted dearly to get back on board her ship, testing this out herself, trying to apply it to her sword. These were her next goals for certain. "You look energetic ..." Shah spoke from behind, Syph could almost feel the grin forming on his face without even looking back. "If you liked this you'll surely love the next task." He said, Syphalia sighed once again, of course.

Stepping back aboard the ship she was happy, it was definitely nice having 'solid' ground beneath her feet once more. Syph was somewhat annoyed how used to being in the sea she was becoming. It was highly irregular for her, and stepping back onto land felt a little odd. The lack of the third dimension of movement was a distracting issue.

Behind her Shah scaled his way back on-board. His slick form raising itself over the edge of the hull proceeded to splash itself upon the deck. He rubbed his hand lazily against the back of his head, before walking over to the chain holding the anchor. Placing two hands upon the chain he pulled it up with relative ease. "So where to next?" She asked curiously wondering where the next challenge would be. Shah didn't respond and simply looked boredly into the sky. With the anchor safely out of the water he started to tend to the ship as well. Pressing him again for an answer he responded with a single word, "Home."

Home? Did he have someone for her to fight at his place? But then why would he have been out here to run into her in the first place. All these questions she asked him, none of them he answered. It was unsettling but she knew better than to inquire further. Instead deciding to practice she spent the next few days afloat trying to grasp the Busoshoku Haki which she had started to learn. Unfortunately practice was of limited use, she found herself less accustomed to its use than Kenbun. Assuming that it was due to the lack of danger she struggled none the less. The pooling strength she had found seemed excessively far away. Her energies slowing she found the next few days taxing and unrewarding. And while she was able to call on it at times it didn't seem to have the same level of strength or precision it had before. Not even mentioning her inability to figure out how to transfer it onward to her blade. Disappointment surrounded her but she were loath to give up so she continued to try.

After a few days at sea, the unsuccessful trying was annoying her. She had made little progress, and though she had manifested the power before Shah a few times he had seemed unimpressed, which further troubled her. It was upon one of these days that Shah had suddenly announced, "We're here." Completely ignoring Syphalia as she stood upon the deck he had immediately gone to the anchor and released it into the water. And then without saying a word he followed it in diving into the depths with it. His sudden departure had left her confused standing upon the deck looking out over the oddly calm waters of the Grand Line. Where were they? The obvious questioned rolled through her head and she walked over to the anchor to see if she could see anything.

However unlike what she might've originally expected, the chain attaching to the anchor simply seemed to go down into the depths without an end in sight, the anchor was out of sight. Uncertain of what to do next Syphalia suddenly had a hunch. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath. Like a radio signal she allowed her Kenbunshoku Haki out. Expanding quickly outwards it was imprecise but useful. Unlike humans who could be very obtuse about their feelings she was lucky that animals held them invariably loudly upon their shoulders. From somewhere beneath her she felt it, like a dim roar, a mass of killing intent beneath her. I figured as much ... Her mind droned on wearily.

But what was the plan, what was likely was this was a simple extension of the previous task. Just as the second test had been an extension of the first when it came to her Kenbunshoku training. Either way she would need to be in the water for this upcoming fight, so gripping the hilt at her waste firmly in one hand she ruffled about her person with the other. The object of her desire was the same one that she had used in her last task. Shah had not taken it from her so she assumed she was to use it again. Invariably she found it, pulling it out of a pants pocket she held the piece of coral before her.

CRASH!

The ship beneath her lurched, though prepared for a fight she taken at unawares by this. The sudden acceleration caused her to stumble, fumbling hands dropping the piece of coral that she had just been holding. As the boat rocked from the impact the coral rolled away across the deck. Finally it was caught at the far end by the rising hull wall. A lucky break, had it fallen into the water she would've been much worse off. It was then that a roar and a burst of water slammed into her back. The water was oddly warm and caused her clothes to mat down and stick in uncomfortable ways.

Her eyes narrowed as she turned about to face her opponent. It seemed a great serpent rising out of the water. Silvery blue scales lined its elongated body or what at least she could see of it. Like ridges more turquoise blue what seemed to be fins rose like a mane upon its body. Its face like a snake was curved forward to a point it seemed. All in all it formed a hook, or at least the section that was above water. Rising easily above the sides of the hull of her ship its body came upwards and then curved back down slightly towards the head. Its great maw hung loosely open revealing rows upon rows of pearly white pointed teeth.

Just to be sure ... She had a guess but she wanted to be for certain on this, this could in the end just be some random sea monster come to face her. "Hotaru Waza - Senpuuki" She said as her sword swung forth spinning as it did. From it spewed a whirlwind of cutting area. Moving in a twisting column it charged straight into the face of the beast. Crashing into it the slicing winds seemed to batter the scaled head for a moment. But then with a quick flick of its head the cutting cyclone of air was dispersed, leaving a basically unmarred face as far as Syphalia could tell. This seemed to be what was expected. It wouldn't cut, would it. This wouldn't be a challenge if I could do so with just that ... Still she was if a little disappointed that it had made no visible affect.

Taking another step forward it seemed this time it was the serpent's turn. Its coiled head now burst forward, teeth at the fore front it aimed apparently to bite into her torso and taste her juicy flesh. Expecting the attack as Syphalia was she lunged forward. Danshira pulling her sword back behind her she swung it out before her. The tip of the blade crashing heavily against the pearly white incisors. Neither budged, hardened enamel made of cutting through the scales of other great sea monsters held up excessively well against her metal blade. With the initial impacts absorbed and neither giving way, suddenly this became the territory of weight and momentum. Here Syphalia was at complete disadvantage, the force of the serpent behind it pressed her blade back and catching the back of the blade with a hand she fought to contain the impact. Bracing against the deck itself the push set her ship rocking once again.

Its attack unsuccessful yet victorious, the serpent began to pull back to ready its next forceful headlong charge. It was in that moment Syphalia smiled wickedly, the opening was simply made for her. Burikka she told herself as her legs bent and immediately her form disappeared from where she stood. Reappearing immediately at the edge of the hull directly beneath the serpent's outstretched body Syphalia grinned almost maniacally. Then without a moment she launched herself upwards into the air. All of this was done with such agility that the serpent had yet to even react and find her once again.

Gathering her pooling energy and enthusiasm, she knew what she had to do. Observation would not get her anywhere here, she needed to apply busoshoku haki to her attack. Grabbing at the welling up power she willed it towards her blade. Hotaru Waza - I Sekai! Her mind roared as she swung upwards into the scaled body of her enemy. Swinging in an arc like that of a scythe the blade cut through the air to come crashing into the metallic silver-ish looking scale of her enemy.

Colliding together the two entities battled it out in an unending millisecond. And then she fell, her blade failing to do more than scratch the surface of the scaly skin now forced her backwards from her enemy. Caught in the middle of the air she was momentarily helpless. And now knowing her position the great serpent had her caught. Swinging its large head across it slammed into Syphalia like a bat into a ball. The impact was immediate, the hardened shell of this monster sent shockwaves across her body and threw her through the air seaward.

Even with the aching pain as she crashed into the water Syphalia was immediately recovering her position. She had been knocked quite a whiles away from the opponent. In the process her soaked clothes got even more wet. Her short black hair draped over her head and she was at once thankful for the clear skies and thin clothing she was wearing. Had they been heavier the extra weight of the water sucked into the clothing would have been excessively encumbering. Even now with one hand gripping her blade she began to tread water with the others.

Not good, not good She thought immediately, out in the water she was a sitting duck versus such a monster. Without the protection of the bubble her clothes were weighted by water intake. Worse yet she would be hampered even worse beneath the water. Without air to breath she would not last long in an underwater battle, let alone enough time to properly defeat such a monster. The monster!

Her eyes which had been momentarily distracted by the sudden stream of problems turned back to her ship. It had disappeared, such a large serpent? It must've dived beneath the water and was almost definitely on its way toward her. She had no choice, the ship was too far away. Sucking down lungs full of air she held tight her mouth. Then she dunked her head and body beneath the water's surface. Opening her eyes she looked down, immediately stinging sea water rushed atop them. Despite the biting and the blurriness she looked on, noting a silver form barely against the blue background of the deeps.

Without much time to plan she left only her feet to tread water and transferred her extra hand to her sword's hilt as well. Then with both timing it as best she could she swung down, her blade crashed into the scaled mass holding back the biting teeth of the serpent. But this time without a ship to leverage against she was at the complete mercy of the serpent's greater mass. The impact of the hit sent her flying out of the water and into the air.

The cold sea breeze whipped by her body, its cool embrace stung given she was still soaked to the bone in sea water and rapidly letting some out as she flew through the air. However it was not long until gravity claimed her and she crashed back into the water. Not expecting her enemy to give her any courtesy of time she gasped in two quick breaths and shoved herself below water again. Though not used to it her eyes opened wide once more and she noted the same silver shadow rising out of the water beneath her heading straight at her. Pulling above water she gasped for air, she had not the time to worry about this though. As both her hands caught her hilt once more and swung it down to meet the enemy. But where she swung she found no scaly opponent. Swinging through open water she was at once confused.

And then immediately her questions were answered as the great serpent's body exited the water in front of her. Many times longer than she had first noted its body arced like a rainbow over her. It was beautiful but she was given only moments to notice this as the serpent's exit had then caused a great wave to roll over Syphalia. Without time to draw breath she had only what she could immediately carry as she was suddenly swept beneath the waves. Eyes widened in panic as she swirled her arms and kicked her legs moving towards the surface once again. Her lips upon breaking the surface sucked down as much air as it could.

Stressing lungs were once more filled with air and she began to calm. But only for moments, as the serpent had reentered the water yet another wave of water had been formed. This time crashing into the first wave it broke splashing over Syphalia's extended mouth. Sea water welled into her mouth cutting off her breathing in. And once again she was dropped beneath the waves. Panic set in as she fought for breath and kicked further towards the surface. She had underestimated the issue, the bubble was much more important than she had first guessed. Which was saying something.

As her head broke the surface once water she was gasping for breath. She panted heavily treading water with a vigor. Its coming again She knew it, as she dived beneath once more to look around. Yes it was coming once again, the serpent's head cutting through the water like an arrow rose up slightly into the air its teeth bared and charged down Syphalia. With nothing to do but fight it she swung her sword forward. Meeting the face head on she grasped the blunt end of her blade to provide further support. It was then that the plan was obvious and the trap set and sprung.

With its head above her as the momentum of the serpent was forced upon her she was pushed down beneath the waters. Its endlessly pushing sunk her. With her blade entangled in defending her from the teeth directly before her body she could do nothing to fight this force. The serpent pushed her deeper underwater and immediately she could see the problem. SHIT!

Her mind raced, options, ideas, anything she needed to get out of this situation fast. There seemed hundreds of ideas but they were all useless I could ... no. That would result in my torso being bit off ... Still she thought, something, anything would be better than what was about to happen. But would it be any different? The best case scenario in her head was now the loss of a limb, but without a limb she was dead meat. There was barely a chance of her outrunning this monster with all her limbs, missing one would be nigh impossible.

It's over a chorus of voices from the back of her head sprung up. Was this it? The troubled voices seemed to think so as they repeated the sentiment once again. She could not believe it, her eyes were drawn to bubbles of air as they escaped through cracks in her lips' seal. Was this how she would end? The last of her legacy? As more bubbles floated upwards before her she despaired even further. That this would be her end was even more to be sad about.

No A small measly voice from the back of her mind broke the cacophony of negative voices. It was quickly overwhelmed, yes this was it. No! This time louder and more confident it spoke again, it was momentarily heard. But she had already resigned to her fate, as more air was released from her lips the voice once again disappeared beneath the chorus of despair. Her body becoming oxygen deprived was weakening quickly the air in her lungs was suddenly feeling desperately little.

FIGHT! This time it rang louder, this end, this end was unworthy. Could this be her end, perhaps? Would this be her end? No. Not if she had anything to say about it. There was so much more to accomplish so much more to do. Defiant fury within her welled up. Combined with a sudden rush of adrenaline as her body went into emergency mode her reserves were immediately called upon. New strength rejuvenated her body momentarily, the problem of air was still not solved but she had something left. Then from within her it welled up, the feeling like that of when she fought the fighting fish. It coursed through her like blood, she had not time to direct it, it simply knew where to go. From her center it coursed down her arm. And then as if an extension of her hand they swarmed down and along the blade of her weapon. It was in the end a simple extension of herself.

But she had not the time to think about it, nor remember how it felt. The pressing clock of her air reserves was quickly closing out. Immediately with energy flowing, her eyes radiantly brightly red bringing what strength she had to bear she swung the arm holding the blade in toward the hilt. Then the pair of hands wielding her blade which seemed to have a new shine from the haki imbuing fought back. Though the weight of the serpent pushed the now unsupported blade's blunt end into her shoulder as she swung out her blade she forced aside the serpent's head in a lucky feat of strength. Carried by its own momentum it careened by her.

But she was not one to waste a good chance, though short on breath she took it none the less. With blade still in hand she raised it above her head. The sheen of haki still visible, Hotaru Waza - Tachikiru swinging down she brought her blade down in a wonderful arc almost like an ax to split a piece of wood. The newly empowered blade slammed into the solid scales with improved vigor and energy. Shearing through them the blade cut straight down, it split them asunder drawing a long bloody cut along the side of the serpent's body. In response the sea resonated with the sound of its pained scream.

But she could give it no thought, immediately her feet went to work. She had been dragged into the depths now she rushed to the surface. More and more air bubbles were escaping her mouth and she had little time remaining before she was completely out. In a stroke of luck she broke to the surface with bare minimums of time to spare. Her mouth opened wide taking in some sea water as it did. Spluttering as the sea water washed over the guard of her lips she hacked and coughed. At the same time she gasped for air, in a rush she sucked it in in small quick gulps. Inefficient for certain but panting as she was and with her lungs so hungry for air she had no time for the slow long breaths she might usually use. A few moments later and her lungs were recovering, her rapid breathing slowed in time with it and she calmed down.

Having calmed down a bit she was then reminded of what she had done. Given the results the first time she had tried, she was convinced, I did it! ... but how The question to herself went somewhat unanswered. In the rush to gain air she had forgotten it basically as soon as it happened. The feeling and everything. With mixed happiness she raised her blade into the air and cheered, the single hoorah was all it was worth.

She watched with curious eyes as she let her blade down back to her side. Now then ... She thought curious of what to do next. Wait, where's the ... her eyes widened suddenly realizign in her fervor she had forgotten about her chief opponent this time. Diving beneath water she looked about once again, the faint trail of red blood stained a path through the depths. Her eyes rolled over it following it from its start onwards. Chasing it down she quickly found the source, the serpentine body was moving with speed. And once again heading straight for her.

Smiling she came up once more for air. Taking in a deep gulp she dived beneath grasping her sword in both hands. Her blood pulsed as it closed in on her at speed. Adrenaline and strength imbued her body easily, but that was not what she was after. Instead it was the other strength bubbling up from within. She breathed it in, letting it course through her body. Concerned with getting it where it should be she directed it towards her sword once again. Once again it pulsed through her body, gathering and spreading throughout it towards her blade. Sweeping her blade down she sent it colliding straight into the frontal scales of the serpent. Hotaru Waza - Tachikiru!

Crashing head on the blade cracked scale before it but found itself stopped there. However the serpent was not stopped, momentum carried it through the hit. In the end she was still far out of its weight class, not that she particularly planned to get into it. Not quite right, but getting there.

Pushed by momentum both she and the serpent rose out of the water. The heavier snake stopped accelerating first and began to fall back down to the surface. Syphalia on the otherhand luckily with her blade detached from the scales floated up even higher before she stalled in the air. Starting back down she fumbled through the air a little until she gained her balance as she streaked back towards the water. Below her the serpent was holding itself slightly out of water, its head turned upwards and gaping maw facing her once again. Alright! Syphalia was up for this challenge. As the serrated rows of teeth were drawn closer and closer.

"Hotaru Waza - Senpuuki" Her voice was loud, and in the clear waters and air it resounded effortlessly. Her arm swung downward and twisted. From the motion as with before a great whirlwind of air formed galloping forward it slammed headfirst into the serpent's open jaws. In response it shut them immediately, then throwing its head to the side it let the bladed air tunnel disperse as it crashed against the scaled exterior of itself.

Its head and jaws are really its main weapon, its scales its armor. She thought to herself as she twisted in the air, this would be her chance. They were both the serpent's weapon and part of it, as was ... Of course, it seemed so obvious, as always it was in the basics.

It was as the saying always seemed to go 'the sword is the continuation of one's body'. She breathed in a bit of air as she fell through it. The basics were always where to start. As with before the power gathered in her chest. Exhaling it pushed outwards, heading for the extremes she sent it towards the hands. Like blood it pulsed down her veins, when stuck there it streamed into her fingers and then imbibed itself into her blade. It's there, I can feel it. She grinned to herself as the final moment came.

Swirling in the air she found herself falling by the scaled side of the serpent. "Hotaru Waza - I Sekai" It seemed appropriate, this attack, the hilt of her sword firmly sitting with her hands she swung her blade upon her enemy. In a great arc, the silvery sword seemed to blur through the sky. Unhindered by water, full of energy, and now with a sheen of empowering haki it passed through the air like lightning.

The clash of blade and scale that she expected was shorter than she expected. Her eyes widened as the force repelling her seemed to disappear immediately allowing her to finish her through swing unhindered. So unhindered that the force of the swing kept her moving through the air sending her spinning about unreasonably. So it was only a glance at a time that she got to see the results of her slash.

Arcing through the air it had sliced cleanly through the scales and detached the head of the serpent from its body. Both head and body were now separately falling back to the water as she was. Crashing slightly sooner than them she hit the water spinning sideways. Letting up a splash she slid underneath the water and was still falling deeper for a moment before she reoriented herself. From beneath she could see the results of her work. The sea monsters great body fell limply into the depths, blood clouded the water as it spewed endlessly from the lower half of its body. Glancing at her weapon and then back at the scene she wasn't sure how to feel, Was that okay? She queried herself looking for reassurance though she could find none.

Her spirit though happy to have so cleanly been able to use the ability found the destruction she caused a little disheartening. A frown spawned upon her lips and she surfaced once more to sigh. From her position in the water she turn and spun until she found her ship floating seemingly at random in the middle of the ocean. With sword in hand she swam lazily back to her ship. Grasping the anchor's chain she used it as a handhold and climbed her way back up to the ship's deck.

Hauling herself over the edge of the hull she planted herself with a splash onto deck. Her thin clothing matted to her body everywhere, the cool sea breeze which she normally felt nice now stung against her soaked skin. Pain which she had thus ignored now ached at her across her body. Quietly she breathed in and out, So where did Shah go ... she wondered curiously as she sat upon a bench on the deck. Her head turned and twisted lazily looking for her teacher.

"Behind you. You did it huh." His voice came out of nowhere. But unwilling to use the energy to react quickly to his response she simply leaned back and tilted her head with it until Shah emerged into her view upside down. He like her looked wet, though he less so than her. "That was overkill that, did you really have to do that?" He asked, it was a brutally honest question. Syphalia bit her lip.

"Maybe" it was the best answer she could give at the moment and still she was unsure. "Well at the very least it worked." He said shrugging his shoulders once again. "Could you do it now?" He offered a second question, Syphalia turned her head looking to her blade as if it had the answers. "Same answer." She responded heavily.

He looked at her and then laughed, apparently amused by this. "Well better than nothin' I suppose. Congratulations!" He gave a single clap. "I've nothing more to teach you." Her eyes widened at that, and she found the energy to turn hurriedly to face him. "That? THAT's IT!?!?!?" She questioned. "What did you expect girl? You know it where it matters, thats all that needs be." He said simply waving a hand as if brushing away her concerns.

Hanging her head she let out an annoyed sigh. Of course it was, besides he had said he was home. And she, had ... had places to go she supposed. Then a thought popped into her head, "You said there was a third kind?" She said tentatively, it was a bit of a statement and a question mixed into one.

"Ah!" He paused, "I suppose I should tell you about that as well." He seemed to be speaking more to himself than her. "The last type is known as Haoshoku. It's different from the others. If you don't have it ya don't have it." He said bluntly, Syphalia frowned, he hadn't trained her in it so ... did she not have it?

"Haoshoku ..." she murmured to herself. "Yeah thats what I said, now listen up." He clapped his hands before her to disturb her from her brooding. Scowling she faced him once again. "It's not really common anywhere but the New World, so I'll give you a basic idea. Its the power to dominate others, I suppose is the best way to say it." He asserted, "Just don't falter, if you don't falter it'll have no control over you." He stopped there as if his words had meant something.

Dropping her head into cupped hands she milled over the words searching for secret meaning. "Anyways thanks for the ride. You can stay moored here as long as you like. I'm not certain, but your log pose might change because of it if you stay too long though." He commented offhandedly to her. Then stepping away he jumped over the edge and vanished into the water.

Syphalia with much to think about sat there for a while. To some extent she was content with this use of her time. Not one but two excessively useful skills were now at her grasp. Though her training in them seemed far from complete. With them came a strength she was unsure she wished for, but now she had. Where would she go now? What would she do? Don't falter ... that pair of words stuck with her more than any other from what Shah had said. His abrupt leave was so like him, scratching her head she was unsure of what to make of everything.

Sighing at her own jumbled thoughts she simply decided Guess I'll keep going. Her eyes stared out over the waters, curious where she was headed next.

[Flame]

Story Name: The Monkey's Treasure
Character: Syphalia Minalion
Word Count: 10234

---

"Are you ready?" That question was perhaps a bit much to ask the sordid group of swordsmen surrounding her. Robed in their customary hakama, the majority of these swordsman wielded long katana of decent make. One of them a blade of better make, of course, it was hers so such a judgement really wasn't for her to make. The last one wore instead a suit, he was different because he wasn't part of the first group. The first group of swordsmen were ones who had joined them at the Crescent Moon Isle, as had their other guest who had since left. But he, he, was with her, not in the relationship sense of the way, but as partners in crime so to speak. They did in fact both have bounties, but what was really meant was they had a solid working relationship.

All together they were a troubled lot of seven and her. While they stood glancing among each other and then back to the dark forest and tall castle rising up in the distance, she sat. Butt placed softly upon a wooden box sitting out on deck with a wonderful blade rested carefully on her shoulder. What a motley group this is ... she said glancing at the others. The trip had worn them a bit thin, these short-term residents of her ship, the Dancing Red, were not as welcome upon the ship as they once had been. The nerves had been getting to them, but now it really was something else.

She looked past the group out to the dark forest rising up across the island before them. In the distance a tall white castle-like building stood like a tower looking down on all. The girl frowned slightly as her attention was pulled toward it for a moment. The faintest tickle of power reaching out seemed to breathe upon her mind and her senses tingled. Little invisible hairs rose up as if greeting the sensation and after that it was over. Brow furrowing she did her best to put the thought out of her mind.

It's a long dead country, seven years if I remember correctly ... why would anyone be here. The thought slid through her mind doing its best to convince her it was just a figment of her imagination. Unconvinced, but interested in the task at hand she put the thought out of her mind and looked to the group.

"So? Are you all ready?" She put to them the question again that they had left unanswered the first time. In her hand she firmly grasped her own weapon tilting it upwards off her shoulder as if to threaten them. The first to nod was of course Arlen, her own companion in this trip. With his trusty rifle slung over his shoulder and a thin willowy blade sheathed at his side he seemed the most ready. And though the others could not read his blank expression Syphalia almost felt as if she could feel the excitement coursing through his own blood.

The rest were slower to respond, the first who stepped forth was Gyato. Wielding the blade she'd lent him he was perhaps the bravest of those who she'd convinced to lead her to their quarry. With that and another blade tied to his waist he was probably the best fighter of his group of sword aficionados. "Yeah I'm ready ..." he sounded a little uncertain but that couldn't be helped. Kuraigana was quite the menacing isle, it even gave Syph a little bit of the creeps though that didn't particularly bother her. Syph nodded to him in response before glancing at the rest of his group. They still stood hesitantly back fidgeting with blades at their sides as if unconvinced.

In the end it took another few minutes till the rest made their decision. Of that group of six that had joined Syph and Arlen, three of them stayed behind deciding they preferred to 'watch the ship'. Syph had shook her head at this cowardice and stupidity but it was there choice. She wasn't going to force them into going in the end.

Thus did it spin down to just five, with Syph at the fore, Arlen, Gyato and two of his comrades turned down the gangplank of the Dancing Red and onto the earth of Kuraigana Island. Standing there the quintet loitered about on the beach for a moment double checking their supplies and the like. Nervousness setting in among her guides annoyed her slightly. "So? Whats the heading?" Syph put the question straight to Gyato as he had learned from a friend of this. Glancing at her the brown-haired swordsman blinked twice tilting his head to the side. "It's somewhere in the forest ... apparently guarded by giant apes is what I heard." He responded blandly.

A quick hand rose to Syph's face dragging it along the front for a bit. That was all he knew? "That's it?" She asked incredulity spewing through her voice. Gyato nodded and for a moment Syph reminded herself that he was an idiot. Sharing a wary look with Arlen she sighed looking forward to the expanse of woodland sprawled out before them. Pinching the bridge of her nose she sighed to herself. Then placing a hand upon the hilt of her blade she flicked her head back and forth quickly. "Alright then, let's go ... I'll lead."

Walking up the beach she stared forward into the looming forest of evergreens. Behind her came Arlen rifle out scanning the treeline for movement, and finally the trio waving goodbye to their friends on the ship. Climbing the sand dunes she made her way uphill group in tow until they stood before the dark forest. Giant trees rising into the sky sparsely populated the edge, though it was clear that as it got deeper the trunks grew and grew in density.

"Watch the flanks ..." She said quietly "Yeah." came Arlen's near silent response. Glancing up to the woods and the dark skies above she smiled amused. Her eyes ran a quick scan of the forest's edge where shadows beneath trees hid behind every trunk.

Within her she reached about with her haki, it spilled out into the surrounding area washing over it like a wave before it was pulled back to her. Nothing of import ... whether that was good or bad she wasn't certain. Her range unfortunately was not very long and definitely required some work before she could really make use of it to scan wide areas. Taking a peek behind her she noticed Arlen, his eyes pierced through the darkness looking for shadows in the trees much the same as she did. Behind him the trio of swordsman looked their usual half-terrified selves in the face of the ominous woods.

The trek in was troubling in its own way. While Syph's soft tramp of foot did little to make a sound or crack of branch those behind her were less lightly set. The beat of four sets of feet behind her cracking twigs and leaves beneath them made their approach anything but secretive. At least twice she stared back through the dark of the forest her red eyes piercing through the night to shower those behind her with annoyed stares.

Only the barest of light from an a moon dancing away from the clouds managed to bring a soft ambiance through the spiny evergreens above. Whatever is out there, isn't straying very close to the forest's edge. I wonder where ... She paused stopping for a moment before she strayed into a small clearing in the forest. Light fell clearer here revealing a small pond reflecting a half-covered moon above. Dancing about it the half-crescent brought her pause. Holding up a hand she brought stop to the footsteps behind her. Allowing once more for silence to reign over the group she looked about, her eyes more adjusted to the darkness than they had been a moment ago.

Save for the sounds of small animals scurrying about in the darkness and the occasional brush of what was likely a bird in the trees the area seemed empty. Closing her eyes for a moment she breathed and tried once again with her haki spreading it like a web from her. Nothing worth notice was caught once again and she breathed a sigh of disappointed relief. Then her ears perked, the trickle of the stream that was likely feeding this pond felt apparent for a moment.

Turning her head back she raised a hand to signal for them to follow her. Careful foot after careful foot led them momentarily into the clearing. As there appearance became apparent a small gathering of fauna on the opposite side of the pool scrambled for the tree cover. Their sounds rustled up birds above and twigs and leaves below for a moment filling the dark forest with noise. Syphalia froze and her companions behind her. As they stood their beneath the tired moon they waited for peace to return to the forest and the life to fade back into the shadows of night. Guess we're not going to be unannounced visitors to whatever guards this blade ...

Shaking her head she continued forward till she found the stream trickling over rock and through a small gullet to the pond. Her eyes tracking the slight glint of light upon the water she watched it slide into the forest once more tilting slightly towards that fotress in the distance. "Gyato? Is there anything else you can tell me?" She said at a whisper to her companion. "Sorry ... nothing." Syph frowned, glancing to Arlen for any help. He shrugged, she knew he had nothing to add she was just as blind in this as she was. Well, the stream was likely to lead to something, in a forest like this water sources would gather creatures, perhaps if she could find what hurt Gyato's friend then she could find the blade that way. Yes, that'd have to do at this point.

The brook grew as the group trekked their way deeper into the evergreen forest. What was once easily stepped over was soon wider and wider. The soft sound of water rushing downstream mixed with the tramp of feet carried them on through the night masking their approach. Soon it grew deep enough that they were forced to choose a side as it grew from a brook to a creek. Guided by moonlight and water the group of five pushed deeper and deeper into the shadows. Ominously the sounds of wildlife seemed to fade away as they pushed further and further on.

I guess we're getting close ... she thought to herself glancing back once more at the troupe of swordsmen behind her. Walking in the dark for so long seemed to have given them some courage. Their pupils had grown taking in more and more light allowing them find some definition in the dark of night. Turning her head back to the fore she eyed the rising castle still in the distance. The looming man-made feature of the island was still visible. Her eyes narrowed as they lay upon it once again. As it had before it was still giving her a worrying feeling. Shaking her head once more to splay the thought she trooped onwards.

As their hike went further Syphalia grew lax. Nothing seemed to be about, perhaps the story was a lie she wondered to herself. While her eyes remained peeled her head was elsewhere in thought. The future flitted into her mind, what to do and where to go next. Thoughts of the New World flitted into her mind, being able to test herself against the greatest swordsmen in the world. To do that she'd definitely need to head there. Biting her lip she wondered whether she'd be able to do it with Arlen alone. Could she make that journey safely? Did she need more help? How far ahead was the top from where she was. Her hand twisted about the hilt at her waist grip tightening about it. For a moment her blade turned black in its sheath before returning to normal. Shah had been so much stronger than her and he wasn't even so important. How far ahead was Mihawk? Shanks? Even Vista or a rookie like Roronoa Zoro. Her hand drew up to her forehead massaging her temples for a moment. Alone didn't seem like an option. Syphalia sighed, there was much to think about.

Returning her focus to what was directly ahead of her she turned her ears to the world again. The soft tramp of feet behind her rhythmically tapped out behind her. One, two, three, four, five pairs of feet crunched upon the forest floor again and again. She nodded to herself letting her eyes pierce into the darkness before her ...

Wait ... five sets of feet? There were five people in their group but ... Syph's feet made no sound when they stepped. Red eyes widened as Syph's hand flew to her hilt as she whirled around in place. Haki flew from her body it reported to her Arlen, the three sword collectors, and a fifth. Arlen stopped abruptly glancing at Syph curiously for half a second confused by her stop. He was quick to realize however why she might do so and the rifle was almost immediately at his eyesights.

The trio behind them led by Gyato were not so fast to react, bumbling into each other when Gyato stepped into Arlen bumping him forward slightly. As the trio crashed into each other in the night Syph stared past them at the shadowy figure moving forward behind them. Nearly one and a half times their size it had stopped a few paces behind the others. Top heavy with what looked to be a longsword across his back the figure seemed a burly warrior from his outline. A large hand reached back for the blade, fingers wrapping around the hilt to pull it forth. It seemed ready immediately to make it's attack as the large sword began to swing forward. Syph went to action at once, her feet crashed into the ground crushing twigs and leaves beneath them at once as she sped forward.

Katana in hand, her blade Burikka Tourou swung forth through the night catching the longsword as it fell towards the backs of her companions. Steel met steel ringing into the night. The sword which met hers was ornately designed, a very different style of blade than she preferred. Syph's eyes widened further as she finally glimpsed who, or what exactly she was fighting.

Moonlight shriveled away the dark shadows of trees as clouds lost all ability to obscure it for a moment. Towering over her was a hairy, bulky, monkey easily double her size in either dimension. Fur swelled about it, thick limbs grasped a blade massive in size compared to her twig of a katana. The weight of the two blades crashed into each other sent wind past her flushing out her hair. Teeth gritted against each other as the brunt of the anthropomorphic ape fell upon her blade. With a surge of force aided by her free hand she pushed the monkey back sending it back to the relative darkness feet away. Don't let it escape ... She told herself quickly.

At once her feet moved once more, following into the darkness Syph showed her prowess at speed. In took seconds for her to be upon her enemy again. Kenbunshoku Haki flowed out of her to track its position in the dark, there was no escaping her. Hikouzume The flick of her arm sent forth a blade of air through the night crashing into the ape's back cutting a thin wound across its back nearly invisible in the dark. The ape twisted about snarling at her before grasping the blade with both arms once again and raising it above his head.

"Dodge." The faint echo of Arlen's voice alerted her and she shifted left slightly. The wind whizzed and a bullet twirled by her ear. With a solid thunk it rammed into the animal's upper chest sending it tilting back slightly. Syphalia was on it in moments. Rising into the air Burikka Tourou twisted back down with the flick of her elbow crashing into a rapidly moving blade that came to watch it. The two weapons clattered together once again rebounding off of each other. But Syph wasn't done.

Back-stepping for a moment she created space. For half a moment blackness swirled upon her blade as she applied haki to it. I Seimei Syph disappeared from where she stood. Her blade silent as the dark of night ripped forward as she came to a stop carefully a few steps away from the beast. It's blade sliced in two fell to the ground as an equally large cut blew open upon its chest bleeding profusely. Calmly she probed the night finding the creature unconscious and none others about.

The tramp of quickened feet reminded her of her help as Arlen, Gyato, and the other companions approached. Swords and rifle were out with Arlen in the lead. Sharp eyes helped him even in the slight moonlight to track them to here. "What was that?!?" Gyato exclaimed as he slowed to a stop before her, his companions coming up behind him.

Syphalia pinched her nose sorta annoyed by the question and gestured with a free-hand to the fallen ape not a few feet away. "I assume it is whatever hurt your friend. Though giant apes wielding human weapons is ... new for me." She muttered the last part to herself. Catching a glance from Arlen she nodded to him to congratulate his shot. It was very good, in the dark, at range, in a forest, she knew it but he really was an excellent shot. Trudging in the dark to the ape she took a moment to inspect the weapon it wielded. For most part it seemed human-made, unless these apes could forge weapons that seemed likely in the end.

Reaching down she grasped the cloven hilt, it was of terrible make, of the quality that was given to your average soldier. She would've been humiliated to make a sword like this. Dropping it to the floor she prodded the knocked out beast beside her carefully. It brought out not even a stir bringing a sigh to her lips. It's not like I could talk to it anyways ... She thought to herself as a mild mollification.

With a fair bit of caution she prodded the beast as it lay on the ground before the group. "Arlen do you have a lighter?" She asked at no more than a whisper, the quartermaster wasn't a big smoker but she smelled it on him from time to time. A moment later a soft light filled the nearby brush illuminating more clearly that which lay before them. Brown and tan-ish with fur matted with blood. Upon closer look it seemed a bit baboon-like. "Thanks that's good for now." She commented. A soft grunt responded to her thanks and like that the light disappeared returning the environment to their moonlit ambiance.

Right then, lets keep going ... she noted to herself. Starting to trek back towards the stream. In a twisted line the rest of the group followed, hiking over the rough terrain beside the stream Syph kept her eyes peeled forward now. The last surprise was enough for her, a glance back brought a smile. Her companions were doing the same their eyes looking with serious vigor at the darkness and shadows surrounding them.

"So we're just leaving it there?" Came a voice from behind her. It seemed cautiously curious, "Should be down for a while. Besides that ruckus, especially the gunshot likely called unwanted attention ..." Her quartermaster didn't make a sound at that silent jibe at him. She was grateful for his help nonetheless and he knew that.

With her added caution came a need to test. As she pushed further along the stream and closer to the tall castle in the closing distance Syphalia pulsed her Kenbunshoku Haki. Once every number of steps her web stretched out to identify anything dangerous in the near vicinity. It was times like this where she wished she'd put more work into improving this. Glancing across the widening stream she saw the ground starting to rise. An ever so slight upturn continued onward gaining distance from the ground that she stood upon.

Perhaps they should've been on the other side. The thought bothered her for a second before she tossed it out of her mind and continued on. It took some time but they eventually began to leave the stream as it dug into a ravine created by their side beginning to rise upwards as well.

It was a long while then before she finally a raised a hand to call the column to a halt. The sound of moving underbrush combined with her haki alerted her to the presence of danger. In a moment Arlen's rifle rose pointed into the dark before them. It was aimed carefully in the direction she felt the coming from. "hide" the word came as little more than a whisper as the group darted towards the nearest trees.

In an almost patrol-like manner a group of the anthropomorphic apes strolled onto the scene. They were armed with a strange menagerie of weapons and this time had scraps of armor upon them. Armor ... how oddly human of them ... There were four of them, they walked in an uneven formation keeping little lookout. The actions seemed uninformed and strange, and still quite human. She tilted her head to it as she carefully peaked out from behind the trunk she hid using. Swiftly her red eyes shifted to identify the rest of her group, stuck between shrubbery or tree they all for the moment held something between them and the incoming apes.

Making eye contact with the others as best she could a single finger moved to cover her mouth. Calmly she controlled her breathing as the quartet of armored primates sauntered their way past them. The barest flow of air slid in and out of her mouth as they passed by her and then Arlen. Her eyes tracked their path, ears listening to the soft crunch of feet upon the forest floor, as they moved straight towards a bush hiding two of her katana wielding compatriots. There was a chance that they'd be passed by without notice. There was still time for the path to alter, swerve away from the pair.

Action? The moment's hesitation perturbed her. Her hand slipped to the hilt of her blade and she decided. Better to take no chances. Grabbing fate by the throat she threw a quick glance at Arlen before pulling in breath. His head tilted slightly, confused as to what it was for. But she was already preparing for what came next.

Shifting weight more onto the balls of her feet she pushed off. Like an arrow Syph shot through the night, flickering through the darkness she appeared behind the apes moments after she had left. Akakaze! Her blade slid out of its sheath like a flash of steel moonlight glancing off of it. The crescent of air produced raced through the air crashing into the exposed back of the rearmost ape. Blood splattered upon the giant monkeys beside it as a large red wound opened across the monkey's back.

At once all four started to turn, their amber eyes heading backwards toward Syphalia. Or would have been but she was already on the move once again. Her feet crashed into the ground speeding her quickly along the forest floor. Twisting to the left of them she flanked the formation of four, driving into them alone with her blade.

Danshira! Dipping low beneath the first one she flicked her elbow up she whipped her blade up. The tip of the sword sliced up across the belly-side of it rending open a flesh wound on it. It scrambled backwards touching the wound with confusion. Backstepping for a moment her free hand met her sword one bringing Burikka Tourou above her head.

Two arms swung in unison bringing the blade down upon the foremost ape as it charged her in confused fury. Daihibi!! Slashing down the blade generated a large blade of air following it down. Biting through armor and fur-toughened skin both blade and flying slash bit home. Laying out the foremost ape the flying slash cleaved a rift into the ground itself as it cut its way down crashing into yet another one of the apes.

A calm breath left Syph's mouth as she took half a second to glance about. Where she had left him she could see Arlen shifting a rifle carefully to take aim. About her Gyato and his companions were approaching with caution toward the apes hoping to not pull their attention. Her eyes turned forward once again before widening. Like some dumb man, the hammer wielding one was in the motion of slamming a fist into its own chest. Once, then twice it beat its own chest. The calm breath slid away as she cursed under it. The thud of the beats rang into the darkness travelling out like an ominous chime.

At the third time the fist tried to fell it stopped, halted by the ring of Arlen's rifle made it clear to anyone else in the area of what happened. The target stared at its own hand for a moment as if dazed before two more ringing shots slammed into it.

He'll have this ... Syphalia had to stop herself from being distracted as she turned her eye toward the approaching armored ape. In the corner of her vision she could see the three sword wielders slowly surrounding the final one.
This last one wielded some sort of polearm, a large blade that looked almost ax-like adorned it. A wide swing far beyond Syph's own reach sent her flitting backwards. Blade in hand she smiled feeling the rush of battle starting to take her. She looked to this new challenger with amused interest.

The night of silence was broken, gun shots, metal clanging and the like sent a ruckus about the forest. Sounds scattered about a breadth of woods made clear to Syph how protracted the battle was starting to become. Driving the polearm wielding humandrill back she finally dropped it from the battle under a rain of flying slashes. At the very least she thought it was easier to track them down now. Her faith in Arlen superior, she headed at once to the aid of the others. Ensconced in battle with what seemed to be the one she had first wounded they seemed to be having trouble with the burly strength of the massive ape. One could hardly blame them.

Joining the fight and with the help of the three as distractions she brought down the next one. Finally now with Gyato and co. in tow she headed for Arlen, her trusty quartermaster she found panting above the body of the final ape. His blade was drawn and a few darker patches on his normally pristine clothing made her ask if he was okay. The quartermaster nodded taking a moment to catch his breath.

Glancing up to the sky for a moment she thought she saw the soft glow of orange tinting the otherwise black sky. "Come on lets hurry." She said quickly clapping her hands softly together twice for effect.

She cared little for a sense of stealth anymore. With that fight it was clear that they were revealed to the apes. Gripping Burikka Tourou in her hand she led her party forward. Following the stream upward she tilted away every time she heard the furious beat of apes on the move. One by one she took the initiative confronting them singular or in small groups as they clashed into each other.

With each fight she could feel her own endurance waning. A glance behind to the rest of the party she could tell they were growing weary as well. The soft hue of the sun starting to tint the sky comfortably. She didn't know about the others but she could feel it granting her strength in a sense, warmth comforting her body. It also granted her a little more vision in the forest, which became more and more important as the forest was filled the waking sounds of creatures all about. Eyes peeled she looked furiously forward into the uncertain maze of trunks.

As they moved she took a moment to glance at her blade. The katana was coated in the blood of enemies, causing her to frown slightly. Pulling a cloth from a back pocket she carefully cleaned it in the passing peace. The action of it relaxed her, calmed her beating heart and she smiled.

In the soft morning light the brightening forest. The lush green of the foliage they'd been pushing through now became visible where it had once just been a monochrome. Her mind trailed to the anthropomorphic apes. I wonder why they're like this ... copying humans? Syph wondered to herself trying to see what she remembered of Kuraigana island. There wasn't much, save for a few islands this deep into the grand line was new territory for her. More and more islands are going to be like this aren't they ... She thought to herself frowning slightly. Each island a new adventure with new dangers and obstacles in her path. Her eye glanced behind her, would she be able to protect those she brought with her? Preferably they could protect themselves but ... she frowned more.

Everyone has their limits ... she thought to herself.

Then she stopped, suddenly and without warning her feet stuck to the ground. The rest of her caravan clogged up behind her as she stared forward. Before her a large clearing laid itself out. Overgrown ruins dotted the edge, what used to be buildings of polished stone it seemed scattered themselves about the area. At the center of it lay a fountain with what looked to be a black object impaling itself through it.A courtyard? Syphalia's eyes narrowed and she pulsed her Kenbunshoku Haki throwing it out into the area.

Enemies nearby, she felt them this time, her eyes peeled as carefully she stepped forward to the edge of the clearing. As she came clear so too did the enemies, a group of three of the apes emerged from the edge of the clearing. Foremost among them was a large one probably at least twice her height by her own guess. It wielded not one, not two, but three blades, the third gripped in the mouth. That's strange ... three katanas? And in that formation? Her mind flickered to a swordsman of some renown in the world. It couldn't be, he wasn't an ape for one. She shook her head a coincidence surely, the world was such a wide place, there had to be other santoryu swordsmen.

Haki flowed out of her once again, it reached out to touch those about her as she walked forward. Her fingers tightened an already steadfast grip on her hilt. If there was anything to say from the call was that there was one that felt stronger than the rest. Of course it had to be the three-sword wielding ape. There was no question in this case of which one it was going to be. "I'll take the one wielding three-" Her voice stopped as that very same primate began to move, its' arms twisted about itself in a strange way.

In an instant it untwisted, Syphalia's eyes immediately zeroed in on a trio of flying slashes heading toward them. Red eyes widened in surprise she still reacted speedily. At once her arm swung a thrice, each time it launched forth a crescent of air. Three and three they met in the space between them blades of air crashing into each other and dispersing themselves. He can use flying slashes ... Syphalia remarked to herself bewildered by that idea. This was a surprise she reminded herself that she'd have to get used to going forward. The Grand Line only got more confusing from here on out.

Her foot smashed into the ground and Syphalia shot forward. Flickering forward her form sped across the clearing towards the santoryu ape facing across from her. As if called to the challenge it stepped forth without its following. Red eyes zeroed in on her opponent sizing him up immediately. Her mind turned from all else about the scenery just focusing on her and her enemy. It let forth a holler beating on its chest with one of the blades. The first of three blades. All of which were excessively large cutlasses, especially for humans as she presumed made them.

Diving in she ducked lowed, Burikka Tourou nearly touched the ground as she whipped the blade up trying to get a slash in under her enemy's guard. But this one was prepared, a pair of crossed blades met her, her own monstrous strength found itself stymied by the weight of two burly arms. The ape leaned back slightly and threw a kick at the crossed blades. Impressive power slammed through their crossed blades sending Syphalia tumbling backwards.

Crashing upon the ground she rolled a short while before recovering her way into a controlled stop. Eyes turning up she reacted to his quick advance. The ape launched itself into the air driving down upon her with all three blades. Rolling to the side it crashed into the ground beside her kicking up dust. The three blades implanted themselves into the rock floor surrounding this central area. The ape looked at them confusion spreading across its face.

Bemused Syphalia paused almost cracking a smile as she got herself fully to her feet and grasped her blade turning it behind her. The ape tugged at the blades annoying at how well they had wedged themselves in. She took a short intake of breath her eyes closing for a moment. "Hikari no Sansekai!" Her blade made three extremely fast slashes invisible to all who tried to view them. The air slashes created cut through the light itself disappearing from view as they twisted forward.

As the ape managed to pull one, then two of the blades free the attacks struck. A single blade of the attack bounced luckily off one of the freed blades but the other two struck home. They cut slashes in the apes side. But Syph wasn't done with a twist of her bade she sent forth another slash. "Senpuuki" A whirling of cutting air spun like a mini tornado from her blade crashing into the ape's chest. Soon a hundred small cuts licked upon its chest countered by two larger ones opening wounds across the side.

The ape glancing at them brought a hand to its mouth. Syph's head tilted obviously confused. As it licked its finger and then began to apply the saliva to the wounds she stared on dumbfounded. What kind of idiot had they learned this from, it had been seeming obvious that they learned from mimicking humans at one point. But then why the hell did they do this ... Syph was so confused she stood there simply watching fro a moment. There's an idiot who licks his wounds somewhere, the Grand Line really gets all kinds huh ...

Charging in she held the blade far to one side. It noticed her faster this time turning with the two blades it had dislodged to meet her. At once the two cutlasses turned to meet her katana, the thin blade sliced low in an effort to cut out the knees from under it but the reaction was on point. Something she had to give the ape credit for as two blades met her sweep leaving both of them ringing but relatively unharmed. Pulling back slightly she watched as the ape flexed its muscles.

Like some stupid muscle-possessed idiot it flexed them as if it made them any stronger. With each flex a grunt accompanied it, and then after the two finding Syph still dumbfounded the creature attacked. Blades paired swung at her along parallel horizontal planes. On reaction she pulled Burikka Tourou inbetween her and them. The pair of cutlasses hit like a truck, her grip forced to harden she threw forth another hand to brace the blade but once more she was knocked backwards.

The brutish force of the ape sent her light body floating through the air. She skidded her way to a stop upon the pavement once more. Feet grinding against the earth they kicked up dirt, turning her eyes back upon the ape as it began to charge forward. Her eyes narrowed twisting her blade in her hand for a moment. The pair of blades running parallel swung down upon her, within moments. But this time she was prepared, much more so, she didn't even think to block as she cleanly sidestepped the pair of slashes.

Unfortunately her opponent didn't stick the blades in the ground this time and instead out of the corner of her eye she watched as the blades changed direction and began to swing out at her. Angling Burikka Tourou she turned the cutlasses so they swung over her head. Her feet twisted about as she quickly stepped about the ape causing it to turn. Fast steps kept her just out of range of the swings as she made circles about it. Gaining enough angle on it she stopped her orbit about the primate taking a miniature step back instead.

Burikka Tourou her trusty partner slid into darkness as she firmed her grip upon it. "Yami no Sansekai!" Her blade swung forth in three invisible slashes coming in at nearly the same time. Precise aim didn't go for the swords this time and instead went for the sword-wielding arm. Once, twice, her invisible katana licked across the arm severing strength and then finally it crashed into the wielded blade. The setup worked exactly as she had expected it to as her blade crashed into the turning weapon dislodging it from the ape's grip. The cutlass clattered away leaving her opponent with only the one.

Right one left ... She thought to herself as her foot kicked the ground instantly opening distance between her and the formerly santoryu-ape. Seemingly unconcerned it chased her retreat. With now a single sword it came at her with an animalistic fervor. She met it with her own skill and strength. Footwork had her and it squaring off, her blade working riddles of swordplay. To meet it came powerful slashes from the creature opposing her. As she whittled small victories away at its tough coat of fur, each block she made sent its strength ringing through her arm. Dancing away from it she disengaged momentarily feeling the soreness that was building in her arm.

Placing a second hand on her hilt she bit her lip before charging back in. Her foot crashed into the ground sending her flying forward with Burikka Tourou behind her. She flickered out of vision as she accelerated past eye's visibility. Appearing only moments later a bare step before the ape who was still raising his blade in preparation. "Ruharou!" With both hands she swung her katana crosswise from beneath her to over the opposing shoulder. Delayed, the sword created an air slash following it in on the attacks, thus did both sword and airslash cut open the same wound upon its chest spraying its own red blood into the air.

The monkey roared its discomfort but didn't fall. SHIT! She had expected to knock it out here and yet here it stood. She was now firmly within its guard, normally this wouldn't be an issue, but given the strength and size she had no chance of dodging here. Immediately her weight moved backwards as she tried to backpedal out. But it was too late a free leg of its rammed forward slamming into her chest. Haki quickly manifested bore the brunt of the hit but she was not so strong with it yet. The thunderous strength of the hit wracked her chest blowing the air from her lungs as she flew back slamming and rolling across the ground multiple meters away.

Pain ached through her body as she grasped her chest with a single hand. The busoshoku had not been enough, she needed practice, much more to use it more practically in combat it seemed. Dirt and dust sullied her clothing as she got to her knees and put one foot to the ground. Furious eyes danced with lighter reds, they were accented by furrowed brows as she stared down her opponent. She might've gotten the better of that exchange but for Syph, getting hit was defeat enough, this was a creature, even if it was one who copied humans and was obviously a danger creature of the Grand Line. It was unacceptable all the same.

Taking a breath she allowed herself to calm down a bit. Better, I need to be better than this. Wielding Burikka Tourou in one hand she took another breath. Across from her the ape marched forward stopping every now and then to feel the wound upon its chest. Easily she could tell it was unhappy, she could feel it in the air and see it on its face.

Stepping forth she breathed once again and closed her eyes. Across from her the ape seemed to do something similar. Differently grasped yet the same, she held her blade at her side point facing backwards like it was sheathed. The ape held it over its shoulder with one hand and with the other reached over his shoulder for the hilt. Easy does it ... just try to ... she put forth her haki once more. In that second she moved, her opponent as well came forward. The distance closed, ten meters, five meters, and then both seemed to disappear. A flash of light shining of moving blades momentarily flickered in the air and then like that both figures appeared on opposing sides of themselves blades in completely opposing positions to where they began.

I Seimei

Softly Syph exhaled, a thin cut worked its way down form just beside her right boob before cutting slightly away from her body. Haki had once again protected her slightly, the attack was blunted though it had hit. She on the other hand her head turned around to the sound of two knees crashing to the ground. The ape tilted downwards and crashed into the ground front first. Tentatively Syph touched her wound wincing slightly at the pressure. Guess I'll need more clothes she lightheartedly joked to herself in the aftermath of this wound unfortunately obtained. Turning about she winced slightly as she glanced at her enemy laying upon the ground.

From Santoryu she had brought it to Ittoryu, whomever it had been, this was a sword style that only had well known practitioners from what she knew. If she got through this so unscathed then perhaps ... she smiled shakily to herself. The others ... the thought finally poked into her mind as she turned around to find her companions.

The four of them stood over a trio of apes, all of them panted bruises, dirt, and wounds marred their forms. Not one of them had come out the other side unscathed from the combat. "You okay?" She asked mildly concerned for them as a whole. Two of the joining members collapsed, their butts hitting the dirt as they hung their heads back trying to relax a bit. Gyato slowly dropped himself to the ground as well laying out his legs and rubbing his arms generously. Finally Arlen was leaning heavily on his rifle the butt firmly stuck into the ground beneath him, a giant wound rolled across his chest cutting open his usual suit of clothes.

"It'll be fine ..." Arlen spoke quietly his voice a little hoarse. Her eyes grew soft for a moment as she could feel the exhaustion exuding from him and the others. "By the way do you think thats it?" Arlen asked. Syph's head tilted at the question ...

"That's what?" Confusion reigned as she looked about completely uncertain about what Arlen could be referring to. Her constant companion raised a tired arm and pointed to the ruined fountain at the middle of the opening. Staring over toward it she eyes the thin black object impaled in the fountain. From this range it definitely had a katana-like shape to it. Hesitantly Syphalia eyed it, stepping forth she made her heading for that fountain.

Pavement of stone rung its way about the fountain, dug into them were the scratches of hundreds of sword slashes. She eyed them with concern wondering curiously about the past. Walking them up to the center her red irises looked upon the decaying fountain. What might've once been the headpiece now lay in the pool. Its stone structure was cracked, a long one bisected the entire fountain jagged edges and all racing from one side to the other. At the center of it all, above the trunk of the second tier of it was sheathed what was in fact a katana. Now from close up she could tell it wasn't sheathed, instead the weapon itself was black, from tip to hilt it was a dark unfaded black color. The whole of the blade was pushed deep into the fountain's centerpiece such that the blade was coming out the other side.

Syphalia stepped forth and placed foot upon the rim of the basin. With one swift push she found herself neatly balancing upon it the blade an arm's reach away. Then outstretching her hand she reached forward and placed a hand upon the hilt. Fingers curled about it and for a moment she grasped the hilt.

Holding it only for a second she released it pulling her hand back as if bitten. What the ... facing palm up she down at it. It was unmarred, forming a fist she tested it tentatively. There was definitely something ... her brows furrowed as she stared intensely at her own hand. Uncertainty arose in her for a moment, she wasn't certain why or what for.

Then suddenly as if feeling a change in the air she paused. Her head tilted upwards and took a quick look about. In the rising rays of light that were gracing the island she now saw them all. Illuminated against the forest were the forms of what must have been twenty or thirty of them coming out of the woodwork on all sides. Immediately her sword hand reached for Burikka Tourou grasping the blade firmly as she whirled around to look at the enemies arrayed about them. Her eyes turned to Arlen and the others who seemed already aware of it and were scooching their way towards her.

But as she turned her eyes back to their enemies she noticed that they weren't moving. Instead in turn they began to beat their chests with fists. A rhythmic beat which grew faster and louder, a new sound being mixed in. Drawing her blade she threw took a sense of the world around her for a moment. Her eyes flickered into the sun's direction as an immense presence walked into her zone. This cannot be good ... She thought to herself as the sound grew louder.

Then from beneath the sun the dark figure appeared. The source of the added thunderous feet explained in a moment as it appeared pushing aside trees at its side. If the apes she had fought had been big, this one was humongous. "Sh*t" she audibly exclaimed her jaw dropping slightly. Standing probably six times her height was an ape of massive proportion. In its hand a blade to match its size, she bit her lip, could she escape?

She placed a hand against her chest feeling her injuries out. I definitely can ... but the others she glanced over at Arlen, Gyato, and the rest as they stared horrified at the monster that appeared before them. The consideration was definitely there, she could feel the pain and the exhaustion that had begun coursing through her and sapping her strength. And now this?

Syphalia looked on, her red eyes blazed, as she stared past even the monster into the distance. The top of the castle lay ahead, her eyes flickered to it for a moment. An odd sensation overwhelming her and she turned to face this largest of monkeys. Her trusty weapon in hand she stepped forth to face it down. Thoughts and calculations ran through her mind as her blade turned black. No holding back would happen here, she doubted she could afford to.

Then the creature moved, raising its weapon above its head "DODGE!" she exclaimed as in one clean slash it forced it down. A massive blade of air slashed forward splitting the very surface they stood on. Jumping aside she placed both hands upon her own weapon and returned the favor.

Her feet crashed into the ground as she charged forward closing the distance to a more reasonable range. Daihibi In one fell slash she brought it downwards, the katana sending forth a large crescent of air rended earth. The monster and his weapon moved surprisingly fast as her air slash was met by its opposite sword dispersing itself upon that. Unfazed Syphalia pushed forward accelerating at the giant ape. Dashing forward she flickered out of vision for a moment appearing immediately behind her enemy.

Whirling about she launched herself skyward, her body cut through the air coming to a stop nearly on level to its shoulders. Puling her blade across her chest she whipped it out with a flick of the wrist. The blackened blade scored its way across the ape's back not once but twice in that moment. Unfortunately it also gave the ape exact knowledge of where she was. And once again faster than she expected it turned. Twisting about an arm larger than her impacted into her side slamming her away from it and spiraling through the air.

With a great thud she smashed into the ground calling out hoots of laughter from the surrounding apes. Or at least what seemed like hoots of laughters to Syph. Not that she could do much about it, her whole body ached, screamed at her as she lay upon the stone floor trying to catch her blown breath. This was embarrassing to say the least. I'm better than this ... thing she told herself. Placing two hands on the ground she forced herself up, I'll over- her thoughts were stopped by what she saw.

Ignoring her the giant ape was now advancing upon her companions. Her eyes narrowed and fury blazed alive in her eyes. Exhaustion slipped aside from her and she ran. Foot to the floor in a blur of speed she chased the distance between them. The giant sword rose into the air and she pushed herself more, faster, ... faster Syphalia flew across the ground her eyes hard pressed on the progress of her enemies house-sized sword.

It fell, and she made it. Starting her turn her feet skid along the ground, the surface of her shoes ground against pavement beneath as she spun around and swung Burikka Tourou up. The blades crashed together, the gigantic blade against her haki-covered katana. Steel met steel and Syph held her ground. The weight of the blade combined with her enemies strength strained her body as she was forced downward towards the ground. Gritting her teeth she put forth her second hand to reinforce her blade. At this seconds felt like hours as she held back the weight of the behemoth.

She thought to tilt her blade to the side and divert the attack but before she could the weight disappeared. Syphalia watched as the raised blade returned to exactly where it had last attacked. Black haki twisted about her blade again to reinforce it as she gripped the blade now in both hands and swung it up to meet her opponent's. The crackle of sword on sword smashing into each other once again rang through the area. "Arlen move them from here!" She yelled in her frustration as she once again held back the weight of the monstrosity before her.

For the second time the giant blade rose, Syph took barely a glance behind her as she watched Arlen grabbing them by their scruff to get them out of the way. Once more then. She told herself as once again she rebuffed that black haki across her blade. Her muscles strained as she swung forth with her blade once more. The impact of the two weapons sent screams through her body as she fought against the immense weight. She grit her teeth and held on.

-CRACK-

The sound of a sword's metal breaking apart resounded in her ears. Her eyes glanced to the enemy's blade, the sound was not that loud, with worry they switched to Burikka Tourou. Across the blackened sword she could see a small crack growing. Through haki too ... Biting her lip as she held the sword, she tilted it slightly, I hope they're out .... As her enemy's blade sheared through her own she managed to redirect it slightly and the blade slashed down crashing into the ground right next to her. The force of it knocked her aside and was quickly followed up by the flat of the blade batting her away.

The weight of the hit sent her tumbling, rolling across the ground obtaining a million miniature scratches all over her body. Finally she came to a stop as her back slammed into a rounded stone structure. The force of the impact knocked the wind out of her. Soreness across her body and the panting to catch breath weighed greatly on her, but even more so was the shattered hilt in her hand. Burikka Tourou had been her second long time partner after the loss of Kitasha. They'd fought through many a crazy battle together through basically all of the Grand Line she'd seen so far.

Syphalia looked down at her blade feeling the water on her eyes. Weakly she pushed herself off the ground once again. For a moment she took in the surroundings, the monstrous ape was heading for her once more. In the corner of her vision she could see Arlen and co. safely scrambling away from the heart of the action. For a moment she felt as she met eyes with Arlen. Giving him the slightest nod she began to look for something to fight back. She'd hold it here at the very least.

Turning about she stopped, before her was the fountain, impaled within it still the black blade. It's nearly upon me ... She gripped her fists together tightly, Alright then. Even for a skeptic like her, this was a sign. Her sword arm reached forward. Fingers curling about the hilt she ignored the queasy feeling she got upon grasping it. In one slick movement she pulled it out, the blade was heavy, much heavier than her last one for sure. Holding it out before it definitely felt odd.

Whats with the balance on this thing ... Gripping it uncomfortably she didn't really have time to fix it. Her eyes turned forward to the ape barreling toward her. Let's see what you're made of huh ...

Black haki blended in perfectly with the blades form simply giving it a sheen that it hadn't once had. Pulling the blade back behind her she eyed the creature. "Danshira!" She flicked her elbow out whipping the blade forward. It felt lighter in that moment confusing her but she went with it. Black blade met the giant blade and this time the change came. When the blades clashed, the black blade knocked back its opponent. The power coming with its weight matched her enemy, sending him reeling backwards perhaps more out of surprise than anything else.

Ignoring some prickling feeling in her hand Syphalia's eyes blazed with renewed energy. Strength flowed into her body once again buoyed by the victory she had won with the blade. Syphalia roared with energy as she jumped forward launching herself at the opponent with almost reckless abandon. Twisting in the air she spun herself sideways once before lashing down the black blade upon her enemy once again. Two weapons met once again and they met as equals now. Slamming into each other with a thunderous clap she pushed it down but not away.

Breaking off before more could happen she landed back on the ground recovering nicely. Alright then, lets try it out! Akakaze!! Jumping backwards safely out of range of the returning attack. She whipped forth her blade sending a flying slash careening into her opponent. The blade of air cracked into its opponent before being dissipated like the others.

Syphalia smiled, yes this would definitely work. Breathing in and then out she calmed herself for a moment. Launching herself into the air with her blade behind her she was met by her opponent once more. The Firefly smiled, exactly as expected, I Sekai! The words slipped through her mind as she slashed forward with the O Wazamono blade. Her concentration rose as she aimed her blade precisely. Despite the seeming unwieldiness of the blade she felt as if she was closer to the sweet spot than moments before. As she swung the weight of it seemed to fall away as momentum gained carried it through. Power, speed, it felt as if they were both here in the moment.

The two blades met and she succeeded, like a hot knife through butter her blade met the cracked portion and cleaved its opponent in two. A blade tip nearly twice as tall as Syphalia followed her back down to the ground. It landed with a great thud beside the Firefly and she grinned knowingly. Victory was hers, now all she needed to do was secure it. For the third time she launched herself skyward. Stabilizing in the air, she raised her blade above her head both hands now gripping it.

She beamed happily, "Daihibi!" The black blade slashed down toward her foe. Her foe who was still staring at its cloven weapon blankly. An air slash of great proportion swung down like a crescent upon the colossal creature. Slashing first upon the shoulder and then rolling out down the torso until it finally lost contact near the hip it sliced a large slash across its front. The remainder of the blade of air crashed into the ground ripping a small rift into it. As she fell she toppled onto the ape's chest.

The ape itself had fell with her, forming a land place for her. It was alive, she could feel the soft motions of its torso rising and falling with breath. But it was knocked out, otherwise she wouldn't have felt safe standing here. Glancing down at the ape more carefully she now saw a multitude of old wounds. Not just any wounds, these were sword wounds as well, I wonder who made these ... She thought quietly to herself as the sun rising in the sky illuminated the scene of her victory.

Breathing in and then out she let a calm take hold of her. Turning her attention elsewhere she looked about, with the defeat of the greatest of them it seemed the other monkeys had left. Her eyes slid over Arlen, Gyato, and the others as they walked up towards her. Before turning up to the castle once more. That dark stone feature which had seemed imposing before was now illuminated in the daylight a lone white tower in the gloom of the island. Syph's smile soothed itself into a relaxed place. In the midst of this morning light she relaxed, she had fought and overcome. The loss of Burikka Tourou was heart rending, but in it she had been reborn a new with this blade. She stared at that white tower with intensity and confidence now.

"Good job." The soft clap of Arlen's hands as he walked up the rest in tow was heartening. Easily she jumped off of the monkey and returned to ground level. Her exhaustion finally released her shoulders sagged slightly and she let out a sigh of relief. Gyato watched her carefully his eyes on the blade in her hand. "Thanks Arlen. So ... what's it called." She lifted the weighty blade into the air, the sun gleaning off its black form.

"Kurohime, the Black Lady."

Came the response, Syph laughed amused by the name. "Fitting I suppose." Arlen exhausted as he was caught her by the shoulder as she nearly lost her balance as laughter sent her grasping at her chest. Beside her Arlen began to laugh, a strange thing for him for certain. She hadn't heard his laugh in a while, save for the soft chuckle he gave at times. And then Gyato began to laugh, though he perhaps didn't understand why. I missed this ... she thought to herself remembering all her other crew mates through her long history. With this victory upon her and this laughter about her she smiled, she should go for more of this.

Glancing at Gyato she weakly extended a hand. "Would you like to join us on further adventures Gyato?"