Chapter 26: The Corps

Disclaimer: Don't own One Piece.

"Lord Azala...troubling news,"

A large man lifted his head from his light nap and looked square at the man in front of him. "What do you want, peon?" he growled. The man gulped, "We have pirates docked, milord...,".

"So?"

"Well...they've entered the village already,"

"I still don't see why you haven't taken care of it, already. Just get the Corps to deal with it,".

The man bowed, "Of course...forgive my disturbance, milord," he pleaded as he backed out of the room. The one called Azala let out a long yawn and scratched the side of his head, "I'm missing my map and he's worried about pirates...idiot...,".

"Something wrong, Azala-kun?"

He glanced to the side to a woman in black, "No...just some idiots messing with simple pirates instead of tracking down the meddler,". The woman smirked as she leaned against a shadowy wall, "Well, what can you do? You picked some shitty underlings...,".

"Shut up...,"

Dusty and Kirsty looked around the tavern while the rest of the crew ate their meals. While Chizuru and Niri ate their meals normally, Devon and Axe crammed their food into their mouths like vacuums. Kirsty stopped looking around and stared at her captain and First Mate. Even though they had been together for quite some time now, she still couldn't get over how they ate.

"Shouldn't we save some for Austin?" she asked slowly. Devon shook his head before stuffing some noodles in his mouth, "He's got food on the ship, and he can cook some stuff. As long as he doesn't burn down the ship, we're ok,". Axe let out a loud belch and leaned back in his chair, "Man...we have got to get our own cook, otherwise, I'm gonna go nuts...,".

Niri rolled her eyes, "If you're not thinking about one thing, you're thinking about food," she muttered. Axe eyed her and grinned, "Like when you think about money when you're not thinking about nailing someone in the head with your dad's gun?" he shot back. Niri grinned at him, "No...I think about doing this!".

A muffled sound was heard and Axe's eyes went wide. "N-N-Niri...not in public," he wheezed as he fell forward and hit the table with his head. Devon stared at Axe while the other girls stared at Niri. "What the hell did you do?" Chizuru asked slowly. Niri shrugged lightly and went back to her meal.

A loud creaking filled the tavern, making the customers stop what they were doing and look back while Axe's group went on with their food. Standing in the doorway were a large group of people in white clothes. People whispered to each other as the group walked to the table where Axe and the others were having lunch.

"Come with us...,".

Devon looked up at the voice, hand on the hilt of the Water Moon. Axe lifted his head from his pasta and wiped away the noodles as the others turned around. They counted at least ten people in the group and they didn't look very friendly.

Axe spat out the piece of chicken that was stuck in his mouth and leaned back in his chair, "May I ask why? We eating here...," he asked, waving to his nakama and their food. The men in white stared them down and pulled out numerous pistols. Devon growled and was about to unsheath his blade when Axe grabbed his wrist, "No...,".

The captain looked back to the men in white and wiped his face, "Ok then...let's go. Everyone, I'm sorry, but I think we'll have to cut our meal short," he said quietly. The girls looked at each other quizzically, but followed their captain and the men in white outside.

The Axe-Heads stood across from the men in white, a little anxious. Axe crossed his arms, "You want to say something to us?" he asked quietly.

"Get back on your ship, and leave this island...pirates,"

Axe tilted his head, a confused look on his face, "Pirates...? Pirates?" he turned to his nakama, "Ok, who forgot to tell me that we're no longer treasure hunters but pirates?" he asked loudly. Devon shrugged and the girls shook their heads. Axe turned back to the men in white, "I'm afraid there's been a mistake. See, we're just but humble treasure hunters on our way to the Grand Line. We're peaceful and we don't want any trouble here,".

He tipped his hat politely, turned around and started to make his way back to the diner when...

Ka-click

Axe stopped and sighed, "Niri, how many?" he asked loudly.

"Oh...I'd say five or six,"

The captian rolled his eyes and slowly turned to see that he had six pistols aimed at him. He shook his head, "Why are you doing this? We haven't done anything wrong, we just came for a meal, supplies, and a look at the culture here. Surely there's no law against that!".

"But there's a law against knowing the truth!"

Axe looked at his nakama, "Ok...how'd you guys know that?" he asked. They all looked at each other, then back at Axe, "We didn't say anything," they said in unison. "Well then who the hell said what was just said?" Axe wondered aloud.

"I DID!"

Both groups watched as a small figure in green robes jumped out of a nearby tree. The rest of the white clothed men pulled out their pistols and aimed it at the newcomer. It was a little girl with white hair and green eyes.

"Aw, how cute. What's your name?" Kirsty asked the girl with a smile. The girl glanced at her, then glared hard at the men in white. "You have no reason to arrest and send these people off, Corps. slugs!" she spat. One of the "Corps Slugs"broke from the group and grabbed the girl by the arm, "We have as much reason to arrest them as we do you, you little thief!".

"Step away from the girl...,".

The man holding the little girl looked up to see Niri's pistol aimed directly at his head. "I said...," she paused and pulled back the hammer, "Step away,". The man holding the girl smirked, "Oh, I'm so scared. One little girl with a pop gun is gonna help this runt?" he taunted. Axe and Devon gulped and backed away slowly.

That did it...

Must have a death wish or something...

"No...,"

"These women,"

"Are gonna help this young girl,"

"From you assholes!"

Before the Corps members could do anything, Dusty, Kirsty, and Chizuru darted towards them while Niri ducked behind a nearby tree. Chizuru whipped out a small dagger and a cutlass from behind her and rushed at the nearest soldier. With a flick of her arms and wrist, she slashed him across the legs with her cutlass and stabbed him in the chest with her dagger.

Kirsty leapt into the air and performed a roundhouse kick, knocking three of the remaining men on the airs. As soon as they landed, she punched and kicked them in certain places, making them immobile and gagging.

Dusty muttered something under her breath and an instant later, she multiplied into three different people! Each person was an exact replica of the men she was rushing towards. Needless to say, the Corps members were so stunned, they couldn't defend themselves as Dusty dropped down behind them. She grinned as she bangs their heads together with the help of her scythes.

The remaining three screamed and began to run away. Niri smirked and raised her pistol to eye level, "I don't think so...,". Before they disappeared from sight, three gunshots were heard and they dropped to the dirt. Niri laughed and holstered her smoking weapon, then looked at the ones at her and her nakama's feet.

"Next time...don't call us girls, alright?".

Devon shook his head while Axe came out from behind him, "They done?" he asked meekly. Devon stared at him and whopped him over the head, "Baka! Why'd you hide behind me?" he roared. Axe rubbed the top of his head, "I know how girls can get when they're pushed...trust me," he murmured.

Dusty nudged Kirsty's victims with her foot as her illusions disappeared in smoke, "What exactly did you do to them?" she asked the doctor. Kirsty shrugged, "Just hit some pressure points. They'll be out of it for a few hours, but no major damage done...,". The two of them looked at Chizuru who was cleaning her weapons with her victim's shirt.

"Well, at least one of us got a kill," the red haired navigator said brightly. Axe slapped his forehead, "I didn't want you to kill them...just get them out of our hair...,". Devon nudged him, "You didn't order them to attack so shaddup,". The captain rubbed his ribs and looked around, "Well, we can't just leave these guys out here...people will panic and they'll have more and more people coming after us. We gotta hide 'em,".

After quickly stashing the injured and the one dead body, the Axe-Heads began to make their way back to the beach. Sooner or later, someone would find out and they didn't want to risk it. But they didn't get past the first two buildings because the little girl with white hair stepped in front of them with outstretched arms.

"Look, kid, if you wanna thank us, it was no biggy, ok? Just move," Devon muttered, crossing his arms. The girl looked up at them with her green eyes. Those eyes were filled with tears and they were leaking down her cheeks.

With a muffled squeal, she ran to Axe and hugged him around the legs. He looked down at her, then at his friends, "Um...did I miss something?".

Kilnorc: wow, long one. HAHAHAHAHA! Ok, sorry if the ending is off a bit, but hey, writers block! But before i officially end this, I'd like to say a few words. To some reviewers, I did use more of Dusty's illusions and attacks, so yay! Also, because of his tremendous help in this and aiding me with information about One Piece, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to the one, the only...O-O-O-O-O-OMEGADRAMON2! Catch ya later, everyone! JA NE!