Chapter 4.2 "Family Ties"
The same day,
Some miles of distance from Wano.
---
Money, fame, and strength are from all what pirates hunt the most. To rise to this world's top and to have those in their hands, they will employ whichever means to their end.
And no different were those in the New World. Differently was the fact these pirates boasted much strength already. Battle scars had hardened their skin beyond what steel could do to them.
And even more resilient were the pirates lodged on a certain island. Miniscule it was, but they waited for one simple thing while in there.
A man finally arrived, claiming to be the messenger sent to call for them. All pompous and gaze belittling the scummy bunch at first, but he was now like a pup surrounded by a pride of lions.
"I-I'm sorry I took so long! Please believe me! I'm the one sent by the Kurozumi!" he spoke, face all swollen from the beating he was given.
"After how long you've made us wait on this island?" One of the highest positioned members of the crew scoffed, all the while he grabbed the messenger by the hair. "Why should we believe you at all? I'd rather kill you and wait for another."
The messenger shrunk in the man's grip, eyes widening. "I-I swear! It's hard leaving Wano because of the guardposts the Ashikagas and Kozukis have on all beaches! We tried for a breach for a long period of time and have only now found one! I'll show you, I promise! And the day of the ceremony is coming... there's no better time than now to go there!"
"Be quiet. You dare to demand anything while in this situation?" The man holding the messenger, red-eyed like the devil, pulled him by the hair for a second to close in their eye contact and the poor messenger felt his soul leave his body.
"I-I promise I'm telling the truth!" the messenger begged, voice cracking, and grasped the man's arm by reflex.
The red-eyed man's disgusted gaze shone through his mask and he threw the messenger to the side. The fragile man cracked at some rock, gasping, and fell stunned for the moment.
"Kaido," the red-eyed man called. His body was clad in a black, spiky uniform, not a feature shown. But his tone and body language still gave away his reverence toward the buff man sitting on a rock like it was a throne.
Kaido supported his head with a hand while he overlooked all. His gaze was austere in a way, which was very much unlike him. Boredom could kill from the inside after all. He had been waiting for far too long.
Nose finally huffing, Kaido grinned. "I'm tired of this scenery! Same clouds and the same sea every day! Same food too!" He bit on some dragon meat he had caught. "Let's go now! Let the weak thing guide us!" The enormous hunk of a man got up and struck his bagua at the ground to make it a cane. His joyful self was overpowering.
His three main crew members looked at each other. They exchanged conflicted glances.
A chubby fiend in round glasses was the one to speak from the three. "But, Kaido, we still don't know if this will be a waste of time... How do we know he's not taking us elsewhere just so he can stall for time? Wano's location is well kept off pirates' hands after all! Just remember how astute that fox-like guy was when we met him!"
"I don't care!" Kaido interjected strongly, teeth in full view from the grin he had on. "If those Kurozumi guys are really trying to trick us, then I'll personally go there to take their lives with my bagua! Worororo!"
...
..
.
..
...
On the Land of Wano,
Some manor at the Flower Capital.
---
An unmistakable head, as big as seven, zapped from place to place within the quarters they were in. The man owner of it stepped some steps of unquiet—not to anyone's delight who found themselves in his company.
The man's body came in an uncanny, stocky format, and his purple hair fitted a crown—which pertained to no man his type. Only the Heavens could change one this far gone.
"Gah!" he heaved a table away and it fell, the vases above it breaking as water and dirt splashed and slumped around. "Huff... puff..."
Many watched as their lord threw a fit, yet could do nothing to interfere in his affairs. That was because he was the remnant of what the Kurozumi Clan once was, their liege, Kurozumi Orochi.
"That Oden guy... that Oden guy... he played us!" Orochi bit his nails. "He surely knows of our plans now that he saw it! And he is even staying at the Ashikaga Manor too! He will definitely tell it all to that Sakamoto!" he yelled, slamming table after table, kicking flower pots and chairs like all cost nothing. "He thinks he can crash our party whenever just because we were demoted from Clan to Family in the nobility rankings..." His eyes turned red. He huffed and turned to his subordinates, causing a mutual flinch in them. "How come we haven't received any response after we sent our messenger a week before?! Those vermin of whatever they are called should've come long ago!"
"P-Please, calm down, my lord!" One of his servants stepped up, hands haggling when he spoke as he asked of his lord his cooperation. "We've only now found a way to leave Wano without being noticed! He's been gone for a day only!"
"Too long! How come you've taken this long for something so simple?!" Orochi yelled, and finally, he was out of breath. He had to sit down for the moment. "Huff... you ask me to calm down but we have two days left until the ceremony happens! Everything needs to have been scrubbed, tabulated, organized, and done by the end of the next day! If we don't carry on with this plan on the day of the ceremony, our chances of successfully copping Wano's reign will be slimmer than ever on later tries... maybe impossible even! And now that Oden knows of our plans, how will we proceed with it anyway?!"
None of his subordinates could answer him. Faces went down, almost recumbent, and ashamed they couldn't quench their lord's worries.
But Higurashi, they all thought, turning to look at the old woman in the corner. If anyone, it had to be her to calm their lord at this moment.
She stepped up smirking—several of her teeth were missing. "He is right, Lord Orochi. You should calm down. Oden definitely doesn't know about the plan as no one spilled a single detail away I heard. He only stopped us because we were illegally trading with the Sagasumos."
The old woman was circling the room, hands behind her back as she spoke. Her steps were loud in Orochi's ears. A good sound, he thought. A calming one. Of safe haven.
Higurashi continued, "And even if we don't receive the support we asked for from those pirates, if we follow along the plan perfectly and use the troops and weaponry we have gathered throughout the years, we'll be able to deal a huge blow to the Ashikagas and there won't be a single piece of evidence for them to try and condemn us for! Do not fret about if or if we'll not be able to conclude it... Your brother and I are personally overlooking all!"
The next moment, the strings of a biwa sounded to attune to Higurashi's speech. Orochi spun around and saw Semimaru's long hair and beard sway as he gave him an approving nod.
Sniffling, Orochi began, "Higurashi... Semimaru... after my grandfather died, I don't know what I would've done without having you two to support me!" He cried, and his voice was a loud, awful shriek.
...
..
.
..
...
At the Kozuki's residence.
---
"Lord Sukiyaki, shouldn't we've already begun preparing some gifts for the Ashikaga's Young Master?"
Jibuemon—Sukiyaki's most trusted retainer—was worried about appearing rude towards the Ashikagas and gaining their hostility if they didn't gift them anything on such an important date. His lord seemed not to care after all, lazing around almost every day as if his responsibilities as the Shogun were none.
Sukiyaki hummed for some time, eating off the plate on his side some grapes his servants had brought. He was sitting peacefully on his chair—throne—sideways even. But he looked bored. Incredibly so.
Sukiyaki finally sighed and said, "Don't worry about it. I have a gift prepared for the boy. Should be arriving there sometime now." He ate another grape and closed his eyes. So bored... and tired. Hands were trembling until now even. It was harsh but fun, he thought while smiling. But he almost couldn't do it because of his obligations. Oh, how boring these obligations were.
Jibuemon looked at the Shogun smirking in his lone and remained confused. He hadn't received a word about this present from him. What could it be that he wanted it kept a surprise?
Maybe it's a very personal thing he plans on giving them? Jibuemon thought, still uneasy with the situation. If so, then I don't have permission to question this matter any further... And so he sighed at his inability.
---
[1560 Words]