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Mr. 9’s not sure how he got here. Flat on his back, ears ringing, and staring up at a cloudless sky. He knew that bounty on the Strawhats was big, but they were so strange! He didn’t think the bounty was even real, or let alone justified. They saw through their ruse so quickly, it nearly floored him.
They were drunk, most of that crew out cold. Even Zoro had wandered off, shit-faced and should have been easily overpowered.
Instead Mr. 9 was lying on his back after flying off of a building. His theatrics had paid off at least, doing a backflip off the edge after the little taunt had gotten him away from the pirate hunter. That and he no longer saw him as a threat. For that, Mr. 9 was grateful.
First he had to check on Miss Monday, she was still lying there after taking a nasty hit to the head. Mr. 9 was honestly surprised to see her breathing. He hadn’t expected her to be alive, or for the injury to be as minor as it actually was. Enough to stun, not enough to maim.
Was this Roronoa Zoro somehow… going soft?
Last time he heard, the pirate hunter would gut any pirate who would look him in the eye. Now though? Mr. 9 didn’t know what to think.
Still, a hundred men and Miss Monday, all defeated. Just who were these pirates anyway? This wasn’t supposed to be the deal! Mr. 9 could already feel his eyes misting over, trying hard not to sniffle as he got to his feet.
If he was still out there… then Miss Wednesday was in trouble. If he got to her…. Mr. 9 knew she was strong but against that kind of force? His stomach fell and he could feel his mouth water from the nausea.
His eyes narrowed, he took a breath, and put one of the bats on his hip. He couldn’t afford to play games anymore, Miss Wednesday could get killed, and it would be all his fault.
The thought made him even sicker, her corpse sprawled out across these god awful streets by a pirate killer.
And if she did lose and Zoro spared her? Then they were both as good as dead in the case of Mr. 0, at least… maybe he could buy her some time.
Her scream had him running, though thankfully it seemed as though she’d fallen for the same ploy he had. Tumbling down off of a roof with her bird Karoo, they both seemed mostly unharmed except for some bruises and scrapes. Mr. 8 was still dealing with Zoro, the sound of his bullets echoing loud off of the buildings.
“Are you alright?” The words come a little too fast, but the worry gnaws hard in his stomach.
“Yeah, I’m okay.” Miss Wednesday hisses as she stands up, rubbing a scrape on her knee.
Karoo squawks. Gunshots echo, and Mr. 9 turns to see Mr. 8 flying towards them.
Mr. 9 can’t stop himself, he tackles Miss Wednesday to the ground, leaving poor Karoo to carry the brunt of Mr. 8’s weight.
The dust settles around them, Mr. 9 can feel Miss Wednesday’s heartbeat against his own. He gets to his feet, and offers her a hand and an apology. All three of them look worse for wear, and the pirate is nowhere to be seen. Little do they realize they aren’t alone, in more ways than one.
But the laughter makes all three of them freeze.
“Well don’t you three look pathetic. I thought small towns were supposed to be peaceful.” Miss Valentine stands in front of them, and twirls her umbrella.
Mr. 9 feels both fear and a hint of hope rise up in his chest.
“Thank goodness you two are here, with your help we can finally-”
Mr. 5 cuts him off.
“You three can’t even do your jobs, now that’s just sad.” Mr. 5 wrinkles his nose at them.
Miss Valentine laughs and Mr. 9 feels his heart drop.
“Do you really think we’d come all the way out here just to clean up your stupid mess?” She rolls her eyes, the grin on her face looks painful. “We have our own mission to attend to.”
“What mission?” Mr. 9 can’t help but ask.
Miss Valentine and Mr. 5 share a glance to each other.
“Seems like someone found out something they shouldn't have.” Mr. 5 says, his voice flat. “And that is punishable by death.”
Mr. 9 feels the way Mr. 8 and Miss Wednesday freeze next to him, a shiver runs down his back.
“Seems like a royal has snuck into Baroque Works and decided to go poking their nose where it doesn't belong.” Miss Valentine adds.
Mr. 9 wants to throw up, he starts talking before his brain has a chance to catch up.
“Wait! Wait! Wait! The crown thing is just an outfit thing. I'm not really-” He's cut off again, this time by Miss Valentine.
“No you idiot! Not you.” She points to Miss Wednesday. “You.”
Mr. 5 holds out a picture that shows a young woman in what looks to be a silk dress.
“Our Miss Wednesday is actually the Princess to the Kingdom of Alabasta.” He puts the picture away.
“And our Mr. 8 is actually Igaram, captain of Alabasta's guard!” Miss Valentine chirps with glee.
Mr. 9 can barely believe what he's hearing. He worked with Miss Wednesday for two years now… and she was…
Igaram stands, and before Mr. 9 or anyone else can process what’s happening-
Bullets start to fly.
The noise has Mr. 9 covering his ears, he’s sure he hears Miss Wednesday shriek. Miss Valentine is nowhere to be seen and Mr. 5 is pinned behind a building for cover. Igaram yells.
“Take her and go! Now!” The sound of the guns Igaram uses makes Mr. 9’s ears ring.
It takes him a second, but he realizes the orders are for him.
“Go! Both of you!” Igaram sounds desperate, and Mr. 9 moves without thinking.
Miss Wednesday’s hand is in his and he starts to sprint. She can barely keep up, his stride too long compared to hers. It isn’t until the sounds of combat are far enough away for him to slow down. They’re both heaving and he stares at her wide-eyed and shocked.
“You’re a princess?” He blurts out stupidly, more like desperately, and realizes just a second too late. “I mean, wait. Who? Who are you Miss Wednesday?”
“I can’t tell you that right now. I just need to get off of this island.” Her voice is trembling and Mr. 9 can’t help but feel sick again.
“Then… at least tell me your name?” His eyes are trained on the floor, he doesn't expect an answer.
“It’s Vivi.”
Mr. 9’s head snaps up, his eyes wide and looking at her like he’s seeing her for the first time. His eyes flicker around them, trying to find anything but her to focus on as he rolls the name around in his head. It’s a cute name, and he realizes he likes it.
“Toru.” He says softly, and this time he catches the way Vivi’s head snaps to look at him.
“What?” Her voice sounds almost… surprised.
“My name. It’s Toru.” Mr. 9 shrugs. “It’s only fair.”
This time, he sees her lips quirk up. She lets out a heavier breath, almost a laugh. He grins, slowly, but wide.
Karoo’s squawks catch both of their attention, the girl pirate… Nami? Was it? Was holding onto his reins.
“Karoo!” Vivi shrieks, reaching out but stops when Nami tugs on the reins. “Let him go!”
“I will, when you tell me what’s going on?” She looks far too cocky, and Toru can feel the grimace on his face.
“Fine. I will. But first I need to leave.” Vivi sounds desperate, her eyes are welling up. “I’m Princess Nefertari Vivi of the Kingdom of Alabasta, and I am hiring you pirates to take me home!”
“Hire?” Nami sounds incredulous, and Toru can’t help but stare at Vivi.
“Yes. Name your price. I’ll pay it, but I must return home at once!” He can hear the wobble in her voice.
“300 million Berry.”
She says it so casually, like fire and gunshots aren’t slowly getting closer. Like Toru’s ears aren’t ringing so loud he can barely think.
“I’ll do you one better. There’s a treasure trove hidden here that belongs to Baroque Works. I’ll show you where it is and everything in there is yours.” Vivi’s hands are curled into fists, she’s shaking.
“Deal.” Nami lets go of Karoo, and the large bird sprints over to Vivi.
She coddles it for a moment, and Toru is stuck there staring at her. She looks so scared, he knows she’s trying to be brave, but she’s still shaking. Her eyes are closed and he can tell that she’s trying not to cry by the flow of her brow and the way her eyes glimmer.
He hates this. He hates what’s going on, how he doesn’t really know the woman in front of him. He swallows, trying to think of what to say or do.
A large explosion rips through the air, and he can see a gun from Igaram’s hair fly off into the distance.
Vivi flinches, and he doesn’t blame her when she doesn’t turn around.
“We don’t have much time then, let’s go.” Nami gestures for Vivi to follow, she turns, and looks at Toru.
His eyes meet hers. Miss Wednesday, Princess, Traitor, Partner.
“Go. I’ll buy you time.” He doesn’t know why he says it, but he knows she’ll be safer with these pirates then with him.
“What?” Her voice cracks, her eyes are wide. “Why would you do that?”
Toru realizes her eyes are warm like the earth under the sun, gentle still in all of this. It makes his heart stutter, and now he’s more sure than ever.
He can’t help himself, his voice catches in his throat so he switches to the only thing he can do. Action. He squeezes his eyes shut and he can feel her lips on his own. His hands are shaking, barely touching her shoulders and he knows this is a dumb idea.
It’s over in an instant.
“That’s why, you’re more important than me right now.” He nudges her towards Nami, and makes his way towards the sudden quiet. “So go!”
He takes off at a sprint, ignoring the way her voice calls out to him. It hurts, his heart aches with relief and pain. He can’t bring himself to look back. Toru just hopes for the first time since he was young, that he’ll finally be enough.
Toru sees Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine standing in a courtyard, both looking more than upset and barely scratched from Mr. 8’s attacks. It’s Miss Valentine that notices him first, she smiles and lets out a mean laugh.
“And just what are you going to do?” She grins and Toru grips the bat in his hand harder.
“Maximum effort.” He mumbles to himself, a grin spreading over his face as he sprints forward.
The wind is in his ears and he throws himself forward, the ground slides beneath him and he grits his teeth against the sensation. He knows the skin on his knees is probably gone. Valentine is already up in the air, he can see her feet just above them as she floats higher. 5 decides to flick a nasty bit of mucus at him.
Toru twists and gets his feet underneath him and turns so he’s back to back with 5, dodging the blood slung his way and suddenly flames and smoke fly up in 5's face from his own explosive blood. He doesn’t scream but he does cough from the smoke, bringing his arm up to brace against the blackened air.
Toru can hear his heartbeat in his ears and slams the bat behind him like a horse kick- straight into the ribs of Mr. 5. He doubles over and Toru slams the bat down against the flat of his back and Mr. 5 crumples to the floor. Toru coughs and steps back, trying to catch his breath.
“KILOGRAM SMASH!” Valentine’s voice comes from above and Toru rolls to the side, too much distance!
He finds his feet again, wildly looking around but she’s already back in the air.
Mr. 5 is getting back on his feet, the man’s explosive blood leaking from his nose and covering his hands.
Toru can feel his own hands starting to shake, but he moves anyway.
He closes the distance fast and swings the bat towards Mr. 5’s head. 5 catches it in his hand and goes in for a punch but Toru’s leg finds his chest faster. They slide back from each other, and Mr. 5’s head twists just enough for Toru’s eyes to follow what he’s looking at.
Blood. On his bat. From his hands.
Toru realizes just in time, and screams as he throws it in a panic, hearing a hissing loud POP and the crunch of metal as it slams against a brick wall leaving a dent. It looks like a soda can that exploded from the side, but otherwise intact.
Valentine doesn’t bother with warning him this time, all he gets is the fluttering of fabric in the wind. All Toru can do is throw his body forward and listen to the rubble forming behind him.
This time the bat is back in his hand and his feet are under him faster than she can pull herself free from the rubble.
Toru swings using the torn metal side, it catches Valentine’s thigh as she tries to take off. Fabric shreds and blood sprays with her shriek.
She doesn’t stop and continues to climb upwards, so he turns to see Mr. 5 ready to sling more blood his way.
Toru rushes forward, closing the distance, twisting out of the way of blood flung his way and instead throwing the bat at Mr. 5’s face. It connects, and he’s sure he hears his nose pop twice outside of the metallic CLANG but Toru feels something solid connect with his ribs and the wind flies out through his mouth. Rubble flies up around them, Miss Valentine grinning at them from where she’d slammed into the ground, using the rubble to her advantage.
All Toru can do is follow the momentum, diving behind the rubble and crawling behind a collapsed building. He leans against it, hidden from view, and not wanting to look down to see whatever beating he’d taken.
He’s breathing hard, and not sure what else to do. Had they left yet?
——————
“So where’s this treasure anyway?” Nami asks, and Vivi grits her teeth before whirling towards her.
“You have to help him! He’ll die!” She screams, grabbing the front of Nami’s shirt in desperation.
“You hired us to take you to Alabasta, I’m not about to get tangled up in this Baroque Works business.” She waves Vivi off, pulling her hands off of her shirt. “Now, the treasure?”
“That’s not very nice Nami.” The sound of Usopp’s voice has everyone staring at him from atop the Going Merry.
“Usopp?” Nami asks, raising a brow.
“He’s her partner, right?” Usopp looks to Vivi.
She steels her face.
“Yes, please… help him.” Her eyes water and her voice cracks, and Usopp nods.
“Then we help them. You helped me and Kaya.”
“Help who?” Luffy chirps up from behind him, causing Usopp to jump.
“Jeez Luffy! Try not to kill me, will yeah?” Usopp stares at him playfully annoyed.
Luffy giggles at him and looks at Vivi, only for his face to drop at her expression. He smiles, big and warm, jumping down from the Going Merry’s Figurehead.
“Me and Zoro will go deal with those guys and bring him back!” He chirps, holding a thumbs up to Vivi who stares at it with pure disbelief.
“What about the treasure Luffy!?” Nami cries out, clearly upset at the chance of them getting paid lessening by the second.
“You, Sanji, and Usopp can go with… uh, what’s your name again?”
“It’s Vivi.”
“Cool, you guys can go with Vivi to go get the treasure and then we can all meet up back here.” Luffy is already walking by the time Nami finds her voice, screaming after him.
“Ugh! Fine! You’ve got ten minutes Luffy! DO YOU HEAR ME!?” Nami’s voice carried over the area, and was met only with Luffy’s gentle laughter.
——————
The explosions were getting closer, all Toru could do was continue moving, climbing through sections of rubble and trying to keep tabs on where the destruction was coming from. The subtle sound of fabric or the dripping of blood being the only warnings before Valentine came smashing down.
Thankfully Mr. 5 didn’t feel like losing anymore blood, that or the damage to his nose was enough to slow him down.
“Come out here you stupid little traitor!” Valentine screamed, and Toru was thinking about doing something stupid when-
“GUM GUM PISTOL!”
There was a loud shriek as Miss Valentine went crashing out of the sky. Toru managed to crawl to an open area, only to come face to face with the pirate hunter.
Roronoa Zoro.
“Hey. You’re friends with that Princess right?” He asked, far too casually for the situation.
“Please don’t hurt her. You can kill me if you want… just leave her be, please.” It was all he could do, he could barely keep himself moving let alone try and fight the guy who beat 100 of their men.
“Nah, she asked us to bring you back. Not leaving without you apparently.” He started to close the distance.
“What?” It was all Toru could spit out before he was hauled up onto Zoro’s shoulder.
It took everything he had not to scream, and both of them noticed the blood leaking through his shirt. Whatever rubble had caught him in the ribs had split open his skin in some way, the bloodied clothes making it too difficult to make anything out.
Zoro moved him from over his shoulder, to just keeping Toru’s legs under him.
“Come on!” Was all Zoro said before walking away from the noise of the fight. “We’re leaving Luffy!”
“‘Kay!” Echoed back.
——————
The sound of a shovel clanking against wood was exactly the sound Nami had wanted to hear when Vivi led them up one of the hills on Whiskey Peak.
Sanji and Usopp hauled it out of the ground, and Vivi kicked it open to reveal a hoard of treasure. Gold, Berry, jewels, all of it glittering under the moonlight.
“There, you have your treasure, now let’s go back. Mr. 9 is still out there.” Vivi was already turning to head back down the hill.
“Wait!” Came from a short distance away, making them all freeze.
It was Miss Monday, her bellbottoms were torn and she was missing her brass knuckles. She didn’t look ready for a fight, but she did look desperate.
“Please! Without that treasure everyone on Whisky Peak will starve. Baroque Works wants the money but we actually need it.” Miss Monday fell to her knees, and bowed her head.
Vivi couldn’t help the way her throat closed up. She looked to Nami who seemed to be considering it.
“300 Million Berry.” Came from Vivi’s mouth before she could stop herself. “I’ll give it to you the moment we land in Alabasta. You have my word as a Princess.”
Nami turned to look at her, her eyes wide in shock. Soon it turned into a grin and she held out her hand.
“Shake on it?” She asked cheekily.
“Shake on it.” Vivi grabbed her hand solidly.
They shook.
“Now, let's go get your Mr. 9 and be on our way.” Nami turned away from Miss Monday, but paused. “Feel free to take that treasure then, make Whisky Peak a place worth returning to, eh?”
Nami turned to flash Miss Monday a smile.
“Yua! My name… it’s Yua, please, return to us one day so we can actually host you.” She smiled, tears in her eyes at the small mercy.
“Alright then! Let’s drink again sometime!” Nami waves, and Usopp and Sanji laugh as they make way for the Going Merry.
Vivi followed slowly behind, sick to her stomach with worry. What was she going to do? Her Kingdom was nearly bankrupt from Baroque Works funneling funds away from her citizens. She could deal with that later—
“Mr. 9!” She screamed out, he was currently hanging off of both Zoro and Luffy’s shoulders.
She couldn’t help herself; she ran to see him, he was injured and beaten, but alive.
“You’re alive!” She grinned, her eyes watering in relief.
“I’m sorry…” Came softly from Toru, and Vivi stuttered.
“What?”
“I should have asked… before I kissed you.” Toru laughed weakly, flashing her a small smile. “I didn’t think I’d come back. It’s okay if you’re mad at me.”
“You’re an idiot.” Vivi laughed.
She put his face in her hands and kissed him. She could feel how tense he was, but he quickly leaned into it. Neither of them could pull away for a moment, but reality pushes the distance anyways. Her eyes are locked onto his, and for a moment everything is quiet.
“Uh?”
“Guys?”
Came from both Zoro and Luffy simultaneously. Vivi pulled away, her dark skin tinted red with a blush. Toru looked no better, bright red from his neck to his ears.
“Sorry. Let’s get you patched up.” She turned towards the Going Merry, the Strawhats following close behind.
It was time they made a getaway, since the sounds of a fuming Miss Valentine and Mr. 5 were getting closer and closer. Karoo squawks as he sprints up the Going Merry, and Luffy laughs as he chases the bird around, much to Nami’s dismay.