12. The Battle of Orange Town

The group stumbled into the quiet ruins of Orange Town, their breath heavy from the relentless escape. Noir, Zoro, Ihwa, and Luffy had narrowly avoided Buggy's wrath, the chaos of the exploding Buggy Ball still ringing in their ears. Noir's shoulder wound throbbed, but he ignored the pain, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.

"Let's stop here," Noir said, his tone calm yet firm.

Before them stood a modest building with a worn wooden sign hanging above the entrance, the words Pet Food Shop barely legible through the grime and soot. The structure had miraculously survived the destruction that surrounded it, its humble presence a stark contrast to the desolation.

Zoro set Luffy's cage down with a grunt, cracking his neck. "About time. Carrying that thing's starting to piss me off."

"Oi, it's not like I asked to be in here!" Luffy retorted, his face pressed against the bars of the cage.

Ihwa ignored their bickering, her attention drawn to a peculiar sight. A small dog sat solemnly in front of the shop, its body rigid and its gaze unwavering. It didn't flinch as the group approached, its stance resolute as though guarding the building was a sacred duty.

"What's with that dog?" Zoro asked, narrowing his eyes at the unexpected sentinel.

"Doggy!" Luffy exclaimed with a grin, shaking his cage as if trying to get closer to the animal.

The dog remained unmoving, its sharp eyes fixed on the group.

"Looks like it's frozen or something," Luffy muttered, his curiosity piqued.

"I don't give a damn," Zoro said, his voice flat. "It can sit there forever for all I care."

"We should leave it alone," Ihwa advised, her gaze flicking between the dog and the shop it seemed to guard.

Luffy, of course, ignored her warning. He crouched down, poking the dog with his finger. "I wonder if it's dead."

As his hand drew closer, the dog suddenly snapped, its teeth clamping down on Luffy's nose.

"OW! OW OW OW!" Luffy yelped, flailing as he tried to pry the dog off.

Noir sighed, leaning against the wall as he watched the spectacle with mild annoyance. "Maybe it's trying to teach you a lesson."

Ihwa shook her head, hiding a smirk. "Warned you."

The dog finally released its grip, leaving Luffy rubbing his sore nose while glaring at the animal. "Stupid dog!"

The dog merely sat back down, resuming its vigilant watch over the shop.

Before anyone could say more, the sound of footsteps drew their attention. From the shadows of the ruined street emerged an elderly man, his wiry frame clad in simple, worn clothes. He adjusted his glasses as he approached, his gaze landing on the dog.

"Shu Shu!" the man called out, his voice carrying a note of relief.

The dog's ears perked up at the familiar voice, but it didn't move from its spot.

"And who are you?" Noir asked, his tone sharp but not unfriendly.

The old man stopped a few paces away, his eyes narrowing as he examined the group. "I could ask you the same thing. But considering you don't look like Buggy's men, I suppose I owe you an introduction. My name is Boodle, and I'm the mayor of this town. Or what's left of it, anyway."

Luffy tilted his head, his curiosity shifting to the mayor. "Mayor? Then why's the dog guarding this shop?"

Boodle sighed, his gaze softening as he looked at Shu Shu. "This shop belonged to Shu Shu's owner, a kind man who passed away from illness. Shu Shu's been guarding it ever since, protecting it from pirates, looters, and anyone else who dares approach. It's his way of keeping his owner's memory alive."

The group fell silent, the weight of Boodle's words hanging in the air.

"What a loyal dog," Ihwa said quietly, her usual stoicism giving way to a trace of admiration.

Luffy's irritation melted into a grin. "That's so cool! You're amazing, Shu Shu!"

Shu Shu barked once, as if acknowledging the compliment, before resuming its stoic vigil.

Boodle turned his attention to Noir, his gaze sharpening as he noticed the blood seeping through the bandages on his shoulder. "You're hurt. That wound needs proper treatment."

"It's fine," Noir said dismissively, though his grimace betrayed the pain he was trying to ignore.

Boodle frowned. "No, it's not. You're coming with me to my house. I can't let someone who's fighting against those pirates bleed out in my town."

Before Noir could protest, Ihwa stepped forward. "He's right. You need proper care, Noir. I'll go with you."

Noir sighed, realizing he was outnumbered. "Fine. Lead the way, old man."

As Boodle guided Noir and Ihwa toward his home, Zoro and Luffy stayed behind with Shu Shu. The swordsman leaned against the wall, his arms crossed as he watched Luffy interact with the dog.

"Why do you think Noir looked so pissed earlier?" Zoro asked, glancing at Ihwa before she walked out of earshot.

Ihwa paused, her expression thoughtful. "Noir doesn't like running from a fight. He only did it because Luffy was in that cage."

Zoro grunted in acknowledgment, a hint of respect flashing in his eyes.

Just then, Nami appeared, tossing a small object toward Luffy's cage.

"Here," she said curtly. "The key to the cage."

"Awesome! Thanks, Navigator!" Luffy exclaimed, his grin widening.

But before he could grab the key, Shu Shu darted forward, swallowing it in one swift motion.

Everyone froze, their shock mirrored in their wide eyes.

"Oi, did that dog just eat the key?!" Zoro shouted, his voice incredulous.

Luffy immediately lunged at Shu Shu, wrapping his hands around the dog's neck. "Give it back, you stupid dog!"

"Hey! Stop hurting Shu Shu!" Boodle's voice rang out as he returned with Ihwa, his glare stopping Luffy in his tracks.

Luffy released the dog with a sheepish grin. "Sorry, sorry!"

The group settled outside the shop as Noir's wounds were tended to at Boodle's home. When Boodle returned, the conversation shifted to Buggy's hold over the town.

"Buggy and his crew have turned this place into a nightmare," Boodle said, his voice heavy with anger and sorrow. "But I'll be damned if I let them destroy what little we have left."

His words resonated with the group, their resolve strengthening as they prepared for the battles ahead.

Their strategy discussions were interrupted by the arrival of Yuki, Maki, and Fubuki. The trio looked worse for wear, their injuries evident.

"What happened to you three?" Ihwa asked, her brow furrowing.

"Buggy's men," Fubuki said tersely. "We ran into a group of them while searching for you."

Nami's eyes narrowed as she assessed the newcomers. "And who are they supposed to be?"

"They're with us," Ihwa said simply, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Despite her skepticism, Nami said nothing, her focus shifting back to the task at hand.

****************

'Haaa, this wound is seriously annoying,' Noir thought, lying back on the mayor's bed. His shoulder throbbed from the strain of pushing the cannon earlier, the reopened wound now worse than before.

Although his pain tolerance had noticeably improved, thanks to his increasing strength, it still nagged at him in moments like this. During battle, the adrenaline dulled his sense of pain, but now, without the rush of combat, it was a constant bother.

"I guess I'll have to leave the next fight to them," Noir muttered, taking off his sunglasses and placing them on the bedside table. He pulled a lighter and cigarette from his pocket, lighting it with a practiced flick.

As he exhaled a cloud of smoke, Noir's thoughts wandered. He began mentally mapping out training plans for his companions. Once they had a proper ship, he planned to teach them martial arts and how to fight against groups of enemies. Every brawl, every chaotic skirmish would serve as a valuable lesson.

'Haaa, this feels like kindergarten all over again,' Noir mused, chuckling softly as he exhaled another plume of smoke. Strangely enough, he had started to enjoy living in this world. Luffy and Zoro reminded him of his childhood friends, making him feel less alone. As for the women following him, Noir saw them as his students, a responsibility he didn't mind bearing.

"After all, combat is the best teacher," Noir murmured, a faint smile playing on his lips. His strength had grown significantly since leaving the island, as had his skills. Each fight, especially the ones where he went all out, had pushed him to new heights. His Reverse Eyes technique, designed to keep him restrained, also doubled as a way to test his limits. Deep down, though, Noir still relished the thrill of a true fight.

'And then there's Nami…' he thought, glancing out the window. From his vantage point, he could see everyone gathered outside. The team that had split off earlier had returned, battered but not severely injured.

[Name: Nami]

[Age: 18]

[Title: -]

[Race: Human]

[Devil Fruit: -]

[Potential: D]

[Strength: D]

[Endurance: C]

[Durability: D]

[Speed: C]

[intelligent: A]

[Luck: S-]

'Hmm, her physical potential isn't great, but she's sharp as a whip,' Noir thought, analyzing her stats. Compared to most adults, Nami wasn't much different physically. However, her intellect was exceptional, and her natural talent for navigation, particularly her ability to predict the weather with pinpoint accuracy, stood out.

Finishing his cigarette, Noir extinguished it and stretched, feeling the weight of exhaustion pull at him. His body was drained, and he was keenly aware of his limits. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to relax, hoping the battle would resolve itself by the time he woke up.

That hope was shattered within the hour.

A deafening explosion rocked the house, the shockwave from a Buggy Ball tearing through the building. Noir, jolted awake, found himself buried under a pile of rubble. Groaning, he pushed a massive chunk of debris off his chest, his annoyance clear as he sat up.

"What the hell… That's not how you wake up an injured man, you damn clowns," Noir muttered irritably, shaking off dust and debris as he stood. His gaze lifted to the clear blue sky, his expression sour.

****************

"Oh, he's fine," Luffy said with a grin, pointing at Noir as he emerged from the wreckage.

"You've got to be kidding me. How is he still alive?!" Nami exclaimed, her voice tinged with disbelief. She stared wide-eyed at Noir, who seemed completely unfazed despite the building collapsing on him and his injured shoulder.

"Yeah, he's been abnormal from the start," Maki replied nonchalantly, her tone suggesting she was already used to Noir's impossible resilience. "Whether it was fighting the Gary Pirates or Morgan, Noir has always taken more hits than anyone else. He doesn't dodge—he tanks."

"Just get used to it," Yuki added, giving Nami a faint smile. "I know it's shocking now, but after seeing him fight once, you'll realize it's just… normal for him."

Nami blinked, trying to process their words. "Normal?!" she muttered, still struggling to comprehend how anyone could survive what Noir just did.

Fubuki, who had been observing silently, crossed her arms. "That's right. You'll learn soon enough—this is just who Noir is."

Noir leaned against a wall, wiping the dust from his clothes and watching as Boodle, the mayor of Orange Town, clumsily donned his old leather armor. The sight was both inspiring and troubling. The mayor, shaking from a mix of rage and determination, adjusted his gauntlets before grabbing a rusted sword that looked barely functional.

"I can't stand this anymore!" Boodle yelled, gripping his chest as though his heart was about to burst. "They've destroyed this town twice now! This is my home—my life's work! Forty years I've spent building this place, and I won't let them take it from me!"

"Mayor, stop," Nami said, grabbing his arm. "You'll die if you go alone!"

Boodle shook her off, his eyes blazing with conviction. "I'd rather die fighting for my home than stand here doing nothing!" His voice cracked with emotion, tears streaming down his face as he turned and ran toward the pirates' hideout.

Nami sighed, frustration evident in her expression. "That old man is insane!"

Zoro smirked, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Looks like things are about to get interesting."

"Hehehe!" Luffy chuckled, his grin widening.

"Why are you laughing?!" Nami snapped, glaring at Luffy.

"Don't worry," Luffy said, his tone light but confident. "I won't let him die. I like that old man."

"Why do you always laugh in situations like this?" Nami demanded, her voice rising.

Luffy's grin didn't falter. "Because I'm going to the Grand Line! No matter what happens, nothing's gonna stop me from getting there."

"Then we'll fight too," Zoro said, stepping forward.

"If that's the case," Noir added, straightening his posture despite his injury, "Let's finish quickly, I want to continue my sleep"

"You're still injured!" Nami protested, glaring at Noir. "Your body won't survive another fight!"

Noir smirked, his tone casual. "And if I don't fight, there's still them. You'll see—this isn't their first rodeo."

The four women exchanged sly smiles, their confidence radiating.

Luffy suddenly extended his hand toward Nami. "Oi, Nami. Be my Nakama!"

The suddenness of the request made everyone pause.

Yuki leaned over to Ihwa and whispered, "Oi, do you think he'll force her like he did us if she refuses? Or will he just give up?"

Ihwa shrugged. "No idea."

Nami slapped Luffy's hand away, her expression exasperated. "I don't want to be a pirate! Let's just say we're working together for now. You want the Grand Line map, right? You get the map, but everything else is mine."

Luffy grinned, clapping her hand in agreement. "Deal!"

******************

As the group made their way toward Buggy's base, the scene before them was chaotic. Buggy stood atop a large platform, surrounded by his crew. The mayor was charging forward, brandishing his sword with a clumsy determination.

"Buggy!" Boodle roared, his voice echoing through the ruined streets.

Buggy, spotting the elderly man, let out a maniacal laugh. "Look who it is! The mayor of this pathetic little town. What's the plan, old man? Gonna bore me to death with your speeches?"

The clown pirate raised his hand, and one of his detached arms flew toward Boodle, wrapping tightly around his neck. The mayor gasped, clawing at the hand choking him.

"You're a fool to challenge Captain Buggy!" the pirate declared, tightening his grip.

Before Buggy could crush the mayor's windpipe, Luffy intervened. He stretched out his arm and grabbed Buggy's detached hand, crushing it in his grip.

"Let go of him," Luffy said, his tone uncharacteristically serious.

Buggy winced slightly, his severed hand twitching before retreating to his body. "You little brat! You dare to challenge me again?"

"Of course," Luffy said, his grin returning. "But first, let the old man take a nap."

Noir glanced at Maki, who was standing near Boodle. "Maki."

"Got it," Maki replied, stepping forward. She placed a hand on Boodle's head and swiftly knocked him out by slamming it against a nearby wall.

"Was that really necessary?!" Nami exclaimed, horrified.

"He would've died if he kept fighting," Ihwa said matter-of-factly.

"But did you have to knock him out like that?!" Nami protested.

Buggy's laughter cut through the argument. "You're all going to regret coming here!" He pointed at his crew. "Prepare the Buggy Ball!"

Zoro and the others immediately ran to avoid the Buggy Ball, Noir and Fubuki, however, remained where he was, watching calmly as Buggy's crew prepared to fire.

"Hey, idiot, move!" Nami hissed, grabbing his arm.

Noir glanced at her, a cigarette dangling from his lips. "Relax."

Fubuki then intended to use her power before Noir grabbed her shoulder and Fubuki knew what that meant, let that stupid rubber take care of it, besides since he was rubber, he should be able to handle it.

Sure enough, Luffy stepped forward, his body inflating like a balloon.

"Gomu Gomu no… Fusen!" Luffy shouted, the Buggy Ball bouncing off his rubbery body and flying back toward Buggy's crew.

The resulting explosion sent pirates flying in all directions.

The explosion caused by the rebounding Buggy Ball had left the battlefield in chaos. Dust and smoke filled the air, shrouding the wreckage of Buggy's hideout. Broken beams and rubble were scattered everywhere, and for a moment, silence reigned.

As the smoke began to clear, Buggy's silhouette emerged. Though visibly shaken, the clown captain stood tall, his sinister grin still intact. Floating beside him were his severed hands, each gripping the collars of two unfortunate crewmates. The pirates trembled in fear as Buggy used them as human shields, holding them in front of him.

"Pathetic," Noir muttered under his breath, his sharp eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation.

Beside Buggy stood another of his crewmates, holding a massive lion as a shield. The lion, Richie, let out a low growl, its green fur bristling as it struggled against the pirate's grip. Buggy's man, he positioned Richie in front of himself like an oversized barrier.

With a theatrical flourish, Buggy released his shields, tossing the two crewmates and the lion forward. They landed with dull thuds, groaning in pain as they scrambled to recover.

From behind a crumbling wall, Mohji, Buggy's Beast Tamer, appeared. He is a man with muscular torso and thick lips. his hair was shaped like a teddy bear. He wears a white fur vest that covers the area of his chest, blue pants held up by a yellow sash, and shoes in the shape of animal white fur feet.

Rubbing his head, he glanced around the wreckage in confusion before spotting Richie sprawled on the ground. His expression twisted in anger.

"Ah! It's you again!" Mohji yelled, pointing an accusatory finger at Luffy.

"Hi!" Luffy replied cheerfully, waving.

"That's the Straw Hat kid I told you about, Captain Buggy!" Mohji shouted. "Be careful! He's a Devil Fruit user—he's made of rubber!"

Buggy raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh, so he's a rubber man? That explains how his stomach stretched like that earlier. Another Devil Fruit user, huh? Interesting."

Buggy then turned to Mohji, his expression souring. "But, Why didn't you tell me this earlier, idiot?"

Before Mohji could respond, Buggy grabbed him by the collar and hurled him toward Noir.

Noir didn't flinch as Mohji flew toward him, but before the Beast Tamer could get close, Ihwa stepped in. With a swift and precise kick, she struck Mohji in the head, sending him crashing into a wall where he slumped over, unconscious.

"Nice kick," Noir commented casually, glancing at Ihwa.

Ihwa shrugged. "He was annoying."

Buggy's frustration grew, but before he could lash out, one of his more composed subordinates stepped forward.

"Captain Buggy," the man said in a calm, almost formal tone.

"What is it, Cabaji?" Buggy snapped.

"Allow me to handle this," Cabaji replied, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

Buggy's scowl twisted into a grin. "Fine, then. Show them your acrobatic brilliance! And make sure you take care of that glasses-wearing bastard first. He's the one who fired that cannon at me!"

Cabaji nodded. "As you command, Captain."

The acrobat leaped from his position, landing with a flourish atop a unicycle. With perfect balance, he began pedaling toward the group, his sword drawn. His movements were fluid and theatrical, each rotation of the wheel accompanied by an air of confidence.

"Captain Buggy's right hand man, Cabaji the Acrobat!" Cabaji shouted, announcing his arrival.

Cabaji is a tall slender man with a unique hairstyle that covers half of his face. his hair is light green where it is shaved and dark green where it is longer. He is wearing a large blue and white checkered scarf that covers the lower portion of his face, a sleeveless purple coat reaching down to his knees, white pants larger near the end and held up by a Light blue sash, and white shoes. His hair is particularly interesting in its design, long on one side and a parallel shaved design on the other.

"I will avenge the suffering inflicted upon the Buggy Pirates!" Cabaji declared, pointing his sword at Noir as he approached.

Noir, though still recovering from his injuries, stepped forward, his expression calm but determined. He adjusted his sunglasses and prepared to fight, despite the strain on his body.

"You're still injured!" Nami hissed, grabbing Noir's arm. "You can't fight like this!"

Noir smirked. "Watch me."

But before Noir could engage, Zoro stepped in front of him, drawing his swords with a confident grin.

"If you're using a sword," Zoro said, "then I'm your opponent."

Cabaji's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Roronoa Zoro… An honor. As a fellow swordsman, I will take great pleasure in killing you."

***************

Meanwhile, Ihwa, Yuki, Fubuki, and Maki turned their attention to two other pirates who had emerged from the shadows. These men were new recruits, having joined Buggy's crew only three months prior, but their menacing auras revealed their experience as former bandits.

One of the bandits pointed at Noir, his grin wicked. "Captain Buggy, let me handle that guy."

"Hoo? You two are back? Alright, make sure to bring that bastard's head to me," Buggy said while pointing at Noir who just grinned faintly.

But before Noir could respond, the four women stepped forward, blocking the bandits' path.

"You're not touching him," Yuki said, her voice cold.

"We'll deal with you," Ihwa added, cracking her knuckles.

The bandits exchanged glances before laughing. "You four think you can take us on? Don't make us laugh, But you are so beautiful and sexy, how about giving up? That way you will stay alive even though the others will definitely die, how about that?"

The women didn't respond, their resolve evident in their calm expressions.