Ch-14: Getting the Bounty

The battle was over. The ten or so pirates Kazuki and Hideo commanded lay lifeless on the deck, their blood pooling around them. Only Kazuki remained, unconscious and blood still leaking from the bone spear embedded in his chest.

Kosuke got up from the railing, his movements precise and deliberate, as he moved toward the unconscious Kazuki, his dagger glinting in his hand. "We should finish the job," he said, his voice cold and resolute.

I stepped forward, placing a hand on his arm to stop him. "Wait, Kosuke. Killing him will lower the amount of bounty we get from the marines."

Kosuke's eyes narrowed, his expression serious. "And what happens if he escapes and comes back for revenge? It's better to end it here."

I met his gaze steadily. "Once we hand him over to the World Government, he'll be executed. His bounty isn't big enough for him to be sent to a prison like Impel Down."

After a moment's hesitation, Kosuke nodded, conceding the point. I carefully tied up the unconscious Kazuki, making sure the bindings were secure. Then, lifting his limp form onto my shoulder, I jumped back onto our ship.

"Captain," I called out, addressing the old man who had emerged from his hiding spot, "get Lucy. We need to make sure this pirate doesn't die."

The captain nodded and quickly went below deck, returning with Lucy. She approached us, her medical bag in hand, her face a mix of concern and determination.

Lucy quickly examined Kazuki, her hands deftly working to stabilize him. "He's in bad shape, but I can keep him alive," she said, glancing up at me. "He won't be waking up anytime soon, though."

"Good," I replied, watching her work. "We need him alive to get the full bounty, but we can't risk him waking up before we hand him over."

I leapt back to the pirate ship, landing softly on the blood-soaked deck where Kosuke was methodically cutting the head off Hideo's lifeless body. "I'm going to rummage through the captain's quarters," I told him, wiping sweat from my brow. "See if there's anything of value."

Kosuke didn't look up, his focus entirely on sawing through Hideo's neck. He just nodded. "Alright," he muttered, his voice devoid of emotion.

As I watched him for a moment, a thought nagged at the back of my mind. Kosuke was getting too grim, too absorbed in the violence. I'd need to get him some kind of therapy before something changed him completely. I decided to speak with Sensei Tetsuro about it once we returned to Karate Island.

Turning away, I made my way to the captain's quarters. The room was lavish, a stark contrast to the chaos outside. Despite Kazuki 'Tigerclaw' Arashi being a newly-turned pirate, the opulence hinted at a life once steeped in the luxuries of the Marine base he must have looted before his defection. Gold trinkets, ornate furnishings, and expensive-looking maps were scattered about.

I gathered everything I thought might be valuable, stuffing trinkets and documents into a bag. But nothing caught my eye until I saw a katana hanging on the wall. Its sheath was intricate, the hilt wrapped in fine silk. I took it down, feeling its weight. Even without knowing its history, it felt special.

Returning to the deck, I saw Kosuke dump Hideo's headless body overboard. The head remained on the deck, its jaw slack, eyes half-open.

Kosuke glanced back at me, nodded, picked up the head, and jumped back to our ship.

I followed, the bag of treasure slung over my shoulder and the katana hanging from my hip. On our ship, Lucy was stitching up Kazuki, but she hadn't removed the bone spear.

"Why not take it out?" I asked, curiosity piqued.

She didn't look up from her work. "If I take out the spear, it'll kill him. But if we could cut it short, it wouldn't aggravate the wound any further with its weight."

I grinned, stepping forward. "Your wish is my command." I grasped the bone spear, using my Devil Fruit powers to snap off the large chunk without moving it. The spear shortened, relieving the strain on Kazuki's wound.

Lucy looked up, giving me an appreciative nod. Then, her eyes shifted behind me, and she smiled. Kosuke was there, unharmed, though still holding Hideo's severed head. Despite his serious demeanor, a small smile cracked on his face in response to her.

I chuckled softly, watching the interaction. Maybe Kosuke wasn't so far gone after all. His gaze was still fixed on Kazuki, but the tension in his posture had eased slightly.

Kosuke glanced at me, his expression serious again. "Let's just hope this bounty is worth all the trouble," he muttered, wiping his blade clean before sheathing it.

"It will be," I assured him, a grin spreading across my face. "And hey, we got to stretch our legs a bit. Consider it a warm-up for whatever comes next."

Kosuke shook his head, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth despite his usual seriousness. "You always manage to find the silver lining, don't you?"

"Someone has to," I replied with a chuckle.

Slowly, the rest of the crew emerged from below deck, eyes wide and steps hesitant. Among them was Taro, his eyes wide with a mix of awe and fear as he took in the sight of us, covered in blood, and Kosuke, holding Hideo's severed head.

Taro shivered, then gathered enough courage to speak. "I heard the fighting from below deck," he began, his voice trembling. "It sounded like... like a storm had hit the ship. The clashing, the shouting, it was terrifying!"

Kosuke, usually so serious, managed a small smile at Taro's description. "A storm, huh? That's one way to put it," he said, his tone almost amused.

I laughed, wiping some blood from my cheek. "Well, Taro, if you think that was a storm, you should see us when we're really trying. This was just a warm-up."

The old captain approached, a large bag filled with ice in his hands. "Here," he offered, nodding towards Kosuke. "Put the head in this. It'll keep it fresh until we get to the Marines."

Kosuke nodded, carefully placing Hideo's head into the bag. As he sealed it, the captain barked orders to the crew, and soon we were sailing away from the pirate ship, its once threatening presence now a mere dot on the horizon.

After a while, the captain pulled out a bottle of rum, holding it up with a grin. "You two need this after that fight. Especially you, Kosuke. A toast to a job well done."

I grinned, taking the bottle from him. "Don't mind if I do," I said, taking a swig. The liquid burned as it went down, but it was a welcome sensation after the battle. I handed the bottle to Kosuke, who took a swig as well, the fiery liquid giving a brief respite from the chaos.

As the bottle emptied, the warmth of the rum settled in, a stark contrast to the cold blood still on our clothes. I turned to the captain. "We need to head to the nearest Marine base," I said, the weight of our bounty starting to sink in. "Let's get these bounties cashed in and put this behind us."

The captain nodded, his face serious now. "Aye, the nearest Marine base it is. We'll get there as fast as the wind allows." With that, he gave the crew their orders, and our ship changed course, the sails catching the wind as we sped towards the promise of reward.

—

When we reached the Marine base, I summoned a bone mask with my Devil Fruit powers, the ivory-white creation molding itself over my face to conceal my identity.

The mask had an intricate design, with sharp, angular lines and two horns jutting out from the forehead that gave it a fearsome appearance. I crafted another mask, handing it to Kosuke, but he shook his head and chose a simple cloth mask instead, tying it securely around his face.

As we walked through the bustling port town, the townsfolk couldn't help but gawk. Their eyes widened in fear and curiosity as they saw me carrying the unconscious Kazuki over my shoulders, the grotesque bone mask adding to the intimidating sight.

Whispers and gasps rippled through the crowd, their unease palpable. Kosuke followed closely behind, his serious demeanor unchanged, holding the bag that contained Hideo's severed head. The heavy sack swung slightly with each step, the macabre cargo adding to the spectacle we created.

Children peered from behind their mothers' skirts, and merchants paused in their haggling to watch us pass. Some people crossed themselves or muttered prayers, their eyes fixed on the menacing masks and our bloodstained clothes.

It was clear we had become the center of attention, our presence a chilling reminder of the dangers lurking beyond their peaceful harbor.

—

At the Marine base, we approached the clerk. He looked up, startled by our appearance, and quickly excused himself to fetch someone. Moments later, he returned with the base captain.

The captain extended his hand in greeting. "Welcome. I'm Captain Hiroshi."

Kosuke glanced at the offered hand and ignored it. I stepped forward, shaking the captain's hand firmly. "Good to meet you, Captain."

He nodded, impressed. "That's quite a power you have."

He led us inside, his eyes narrowing with curiosity. Although skeptical, we used our Observation Haki to ensure no ambush awaited us. The scattered presences we sensed suggested the Marines were simply busy with their duties.

We followed him into a corridor where he gestured to the clerk. "Give the head to him for identification and paperwork. As for Kazuki, hand him over to the soldiers inside so they can imprison him."

I added, "Make sure to cuff him with seastone cuffs. He's a Devil Fruit user."

Captain Hiroshi nodded, and the soldiers took Kazuki. He then led us to his office and offered us some liquor. Probably hoping we'd take off our masks, he watched as I manipulated mine to open a hole near my mouth to drink. Kosuke, however, left his glass untouched.

The captain's eyes widened slightly as he watched me manipulate my mask. He nodded, acknowledging my display. "I see you're a Devil Fruit user too," he said, his tone measured.

Leaning back in his chair, Hiroshi folded his hands in front of him, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Gentlemen," he began, "thank you for ridding the South Blue of these criminals. Your actions have not gone unnoticed."

He paused, his gaze shifting between Kosuke and me, assessing our reactions. "Have you ever considered joining the Marines? We could offer you more than just bounty money."

Hiroshi leaned forward slightly, emphasizing his point. "With your skills, you wouldn't start at the lowest rank. Respect, resources, the authority to hunt down pirates—these could all be yours."

He took a sip of his drink, his eyes never leaving us. "I can vouch for you at headquarters," he added, his voice carrying a note of sincerity. "Especially after defeating a former Marine Lieutenant Commander and Lieutenant. Your capabilities are impressive, and we could use men like you."

The captain leaned back once more, waiting for our response, his expression a mix of hope and strategic calculation.

Kosuke and I exchanged glances, our disapproval clear in our eyes. The idea of joining the Marines didn't sit well with either of us. I turned back to Captain Hiroshi, shaking my head. "We'd like to get paid for our catch. We're not interested in joining the Marines, at least not now."

The captain nodded, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "Very well," he said, maintaining his composure. "Did you find anything valuable on the pirate ship?"

I raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to his question. "Why do you ask?" I replied, my tone cautious.

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. "I can help you pawn it," he offered, attempting to sound helpful.

"We didn't find anything," I lied smoothly, using my Observation Haki to gauge his true intent. My senses picked up on his subtle agitation and deceit. "By the time the fight was over, the ship was already half-sunk."

Captain Hiroshi didn't seem convinced. "Are you sure?" he pressed, his voice tinged with urgency. "Did you come across a katana, perhaps? It's... it's a family heirloom, passed down through generations. It would mean a great deal to me to have it back."

I sensed his deceit with my Haki, feeling the insincerity behind his words. He wasn't telling the truth. The katana was likely something he coveted for himself.

I shook my head firmly. "We didn't find any katana," I said, my voice steady. "Just a lot of wreckage and water."

He sighed, clearly disappointed, and leaned back in his chair. "Alright," he conceded, waving a hand towards the door. "The clerk will handle your payment. Just sign the paperwork."

Kosuke and I stood up, ready to leave. The captain remained seated, a resigned look on his face. "If you ever change your mind about joining the Marines," he said, his tone softening slightly, "let me know."

I nodded curtly. "We'll keep it in mind," I replied, though I had no intention of doing so. We stepped out of his office, leaving the captain to his thoughts.

Kosuke glanced at me as we walked down the corridor. "Think he bought it?" he asked quietly.

I smirked, shaking my head. "He didn't have a choice. Let's just get our bounty and get out of here."

Kosuke and I left the captain's office, making our way back to the clerk's desk. The clerk, a young man with glasses perched on his nose and an air of meticulousness, greeted us with a polite nod.

"Please, sign here and here," he said, pointing to the various spots on the paperwork. His tone was professional, but there was a hint of curiosity in his eyes as he glanced at us over the rim of his glasses.

Kosuke and I took the offered pens, quickly signing our names where indicated. The clerk watched closely, ensuring everything was in order. "Thank you," he said, collecting the papers. "I'll just need a moment to process this."

He disappeared behind the desk, rummaging through some drawers before returning with two suitcases. He placed them on the counter with a slight grunt, the weight of the money evident. "Your bounty," he said, pushing the suitcases towards us. "Everything should be in order. If you could just confirm the amount?"

I snapped open one of the suitcases, my eyes widening slightly at the stacks of beri inside. Kosuke did the same with the other, giving a low whistle. "Looks good to me," he said, snapping his suitcase shut.

The clerk smiled, a bit of relief in his expression. "Excellent. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to ask."

I gave him a nod, lifting the suitcase off the counter. "Thanks. We'll be on our way now."

As we walked towards the exit, Kosuke glanced at me, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Think we'll ever get used to walking around with this much money?"

I chuckled, adjusting my grip on the suitcase. "Probably not, but it's a nice problem to have."

We stepped out of the Marine base, the weight of the suitcases grounding us as we made our way back.