Chapter 15: Pirate Poker

Disclaimer: Don't own One Piece!

Niri stared Rose down and her opponent did the same. They both had two cards in their hands, and the dealer placed five cards down between them. Niri looked down at her cards. She had a King of Hearts, and an Ace of Spades.

"Axe, go get me a drink, this could be a while!" she said over her shoulder, her eyes never leaving the cards.

No answer.

"Axe?" she looked over her shoulder to see Axe sweet-talking one of the scantily-clad attendants. "AXE YOU BAKA! GO GET ME A DRINK!" she roared, steam coming out of her ears. The black clad captain dropped his head and shuffled away from the attendant.

"My my my...you certainly have him on a short leash," Rose commented, smiling at the sight. Niri sighed and went back to her cards, "Sometimes he just needs to concentrate...he's been like that for as long as I have known him,".

The dealer flipped over three of cards to reveal a Queen of Hearts, an Ace of Hearts, and a Jack of Hearts. Niri began to sweat while Rose pushed a large pile of her betting money towards the center. She bluffing...or does she really have something good? Niri asked herself, looking down at her cards, Meanwhile, I ain't got squat...

"Trouble, my dear?" Rose asked sweetly. Niri glared up at her, "Nah, just wondering what I was gonna buy with your money," she shot back. Rose smiled, "Well you're going to have to beat me first...and I never lose,".

"As if." Niri looked at the cards before knocking on the table. "Check."

"Check? I thought that you were here for money."

"Fine, I bet." She set down a few Belis.

"And I'll raise. That means that you have to pay as much as me."

"Yeah yeah, I know the game, baka."

Niri set down some more belis and the dealer laid down another card, an Eight of Hearts. "I'll bet." Niri set some more Belis down and Rose laughed. "Tell you what, let's raise the stakes. I'll bet my money and my possessions for whatever your willing to bet.".

"My father's gun and all of my money as well."

The dealer set down a final card, an Ace of Hearts. "Seems like your little game is over, I win." Rose threw down her cards and showed three Aces. "Whatever, you lost, I have all suit." Niri threw down her cards as well.

Rose's jaw rested on the card table while Niri squealed and put her winnings in a large sack. "Never lose, eh? Looks like there's a first time for everything," she gloated. Rose glared at her as she raked in the winnings.

Niri held out her hand, "Now...if you would please?". Rose crossed her arms, "I beg your pardon?" she asked. Niri leaned forward, hand still out, "You said this is all or nothing...that means money and possessions. Right now, I just wanted the money and ONE of your possessions,".

"And what pray tell is that?"

"Your ship,"

Rose shot up and slammed her hands on the table, "Like hell I'm gonna give you my ship! That's my flagship and the only way you're getting it is over my cold, dead body!" she snapped. Niri stood up and grabbed Rose by the collar and pulled her close, "Now you listen to me, you little snooty bitch. I had to sit in the same damn room for a few years for something I didn't do, and then I had to look for some annoying kids, then I had to sit through your bragging and poor cardplaying just to get this far! Now...you give us your ship," she hissed.

Axe wandered around, a formerly cold drink in his hand. He had gotten the drink Niri wanted, but had gotten lost on his way back. "This place is bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside...," he noted, looking around the casino.

"AXE! RUN FOR IT!"

"Eh?" he looked around to see Niri running towards him...with about twent people running after her. Axe sighed and shook his head, "I was hoping to solve this without much problems...but thanks alot, Niri!".

As she passed, Niri glared at him and he followed suit. "What the hell did you do, Niri!" he asked, looking back at the mob behind them. "I dunno! I just collected the cash, and she gaveme the boat!" Niri shouted, weaving in and out of other patrons. Axe glanced at her, "You called her a bitch, didn't you?"

Niri made no answer to that question.

"Hehe...figures...,"

Kirsty walked out of the infirmary to see Devon, Austin and Dusty unfurling the sails and raising the anchor. "What are you guys doing?" she asked, running up to them. Devon jerked his thumb to Dusty, "She heard trouble heading this way...and Niri and Axe are leading the mob. We gotta get ready to go now!".

"How did she hear anything, I can't hear anything?" Kirsty asked. Dusty pointed to her fox ears and Kirsty nodded, remembering, "Ooooh...right...,". She leaned over the railing to see Axe and Niri turn the corner at the end of the street, followed by a large number of people.

"Oh boy...,".

"Niri, get on the ship! Tell them to get to ready!" Axe ordered the ex-Marine. Niri looked over her shoulder and saw Axe stop in his tracks. "What the hell are you doing?" she shrieked. Axe unwrapped the bundle and tossed the wrapping to Niri, "Get that on board too...I'll take care of these idiots,".

Devon, Dusty and Kirsty stared in shock at the object that was wrapped on Axe's back. It was a huge double-headed axe that was almost twice the size of him. "Holy shit...that's what he was carrying around?" Devon asked, astounded. Kirsty and Dusty just watched as Axe pulled the weapon from his back and hold it firmly in his hands.

"QUAKE STOMP!"

Axe lifted his weapon and then brought it down hard on the pavement. A low rumbling was heard and the ground shook fiercely as large cracks appeared, knocking their pursuers off their feet. He smirked and hefted his weapon, then turned back to the ship's ramp.

"SET SAIL YOU GUYS! WE'RE LEAVING!" he yelled, the smirk still on his face.

Rose and her personal security force ran up to the docks shortly after the incident and saw the mess of disoriented men. She cursed loudly and kicked the nearest man, "IDIOTS!".

"OY! ROSE!"

The pink haired card player looked up to see her ship begin to sail farther and farther away. "THANKS FOR THE LOOT AND FOR THE SHIP! SEE YA LATER!" Niri yelled at the top of her lungs.

Axe looked at his crew as they watched the gambling town disappear from sight. "Well, we got ourselves a ship, some loot, and a few members. We're off to a good start," he said calmly, the smirk still on his face.

Dusty wrapped her arms around Niri and Kirsty, smiling widely, "THIS ROCKS!" she yelped. Niri and Kirsty winced but couldn't help but smile with her. The Axe-Head Pirates had their own ship now. They had a captain and a crew to go with it. But as the sun began to rise, and the wind began to blow, Devon glanced at Axe.

"So...who's who here?"

"Hm?" Axe looked at him, "Waddya mean?" he asked.

Devon rolled his eyes, "We know you're the captain, and it's obvious that Kirsty is the ship's doctor...what does that make me, Niri, and Austin?" he elaborated. Axe looked up, a thoughtful look on his face.

"Niri is the Sniper...,"

"Why sniper?" she asked him, raising an eyebrow.

"Would you prefer marksman?"

"Sniper it is,"

"Axe...c'mon," Devon sighed irritably.

"Dusty is the Scout, Austin is the cabin boy, and Devon, you're the First Mate,"

Niri glared at him, "Why does he get to be the First Mate? I'm your friend!" she demanded. Axe shrugged, "I dunno...it just feels right,". His old friend cursed under her breath and walked into one of the cabins, slamming the door behind her.

"We need a cook too. I mean, I can cook, but I can't do it all the time," Devon told him. Axe nodded, "Yeah, and a Navigator. I dunno where to get a Navigator, but I have an idea of where to get a cook...,"

Kilnorc: there's that chapter. Hope it's good and if it didn't end right, I'm terribly sorry. I thought it was good! This chapter is dedicated to Dragon's-Maiden for her help in this. ja ne.