August vs Crocodile(1)

(3rd person pov)

For the remainder of the day August stayed at the casino, spending as minimal amounts of token's as possible while keeping both his ears and eyes out for any information. Sadly his information gathering bore no fruits and sent him back to the drawing board for ways to find her.

Should he search the city himself? Gather information more aggressively? Or maybe he should carry on with his current approach and gather information covertly in different areas? He honestly wasn't sure which choice to take, but he would hopefully have an answer after a good nights rest...

"Puru Puru Puru"

He woke to the sound of his den den mushi. He tiredly rubbed his eyes and removed the crust from them before picking up the receiver.

"Hello?" He tiredly asked in his Hades voice.

"Hades, we found her."

August's eyes immediately shot open, and he shot off the bed and began to get dressed while he asked Cobra for her whereabouts.

"Hydro Hotel. Room 304. She was spotted there yesterday." Cobra answered.

"Got it! Thank you!" August said quickly before hanging up the receiver. After getting dressed and packing some supplies, he arrived at Hydro Hotel and immediately took the elevator to the third floor.

August was aware of Robin's untrusting nature after being on the run for 16 years, so he was prepared for a confrontation, and even to take her back by force if necessary. It was something he was reluctant to do, but something Robin would eventually thank him for. Right now he didn't have time to slowly gain her trust while Crocodile was on her tail as well.

*knock* *knock* *knock*

He knocked on the door, putting his ear up to the door to listen for any noise…

Nothing.

*knock* *knock* *knock*

He repeated the action, taking into account that she could still be asleep. He put his ear up to the door to listen for anything…Nothing.

He grumbled in annoyance as he took out his small toolkit and brought out a lockpick.

"This is about the right size." He inserted his lockpick into the door lock and began twisting it, and a second later there was an audible *click*.

"There!" He felt the door unlock and he smiled in satisfaction. He will have to thank Inazuma later.

He inspected the hotel room. Checking for any signs of life. With an untidy bed, it was clear that someone was here recently, but the question was how recent. His hands touched an empty mug on the side…hot, which means she was here recently.

Looking for more clues, his eyes couldn't help but pick up on a crumpled piece of paper at the top of the bin. Grabbing the note and uncrumpling it, he inspected it.

"North of Raintown.10 miles, 9am." As soon as August read the note, his eyes widened in realisation.

"She's meeting Crocodile!" August shouted, proceeding to jump out of the hotel window and rush towards the location. He needed to get there fast, and stop Robin from joining Crocodile before it was too late.

=====

"...So join me Nico Robin, and you will be safe." Crocodile held his hand out, gesturing for Robin to take it with a slight nod. He smiled internally, with Robin's help he would get her to read the Poneglyph below Alabasta that told the location of the ancient weapon, Pluton.

With that weapon of mass destruction, he would be able to get revenge on everyone, Whitebeard, Ivankov, the World Government…He would become King of the world.

His plans were slowly coming into fruition, and with the help of the Baroque Works operation Utopia would succeed. If he played his cards right, both Alabasta and Pluton would be under his control. It almost seems too good to be true! All it would take was a bit of patience…

If there was one thing he didn't like about his plan, it was the woman by the name of Nico Robin. Standing in front of her, Crocodile realised she wasn't the enigma he thought her out to be. Right now she was just a scared, weak woman who would take any offer as long as it proved to benefit her, it was something he could respect.

However, despite the fact his plan had no weaknesses or holes in them, some would say having to rely on Nico Robin to read the Poneglyphs could be counted as an oversight, and he was inclined to agree.

He would get her loyalty over the years by protecting her and helping her get stronger, and the anonymity that came with the deal would keep her in line. After getting control of Pluton, he could just kill her if her loyalty wasn't 100% guaranteed.

On the opposite side of the current warlord stood Nico Robin, both August's and Crocodile's current target. She stood motionless in her own world, staring blankly at Crocodile's hand.

'Is this what Saul would have wanted?' She thought before shaking her head in denial. It didn't matter what she and Saul wanted, she didn't have that luxury. As long as she was safe from the World Government and Aokiji, then she would do anything to survive. If this was the option to help her survive, then she would take it with her head held high.

She raised her hand, inching it closer and closer to Crocodiles…

*clap* *clap* *clap*

"A wonderful speech Crocodile." Both of them turned their heads to the source of the noise, and found themselves looking at a boy with a wry grin on his face.

Crocodile narrowed his eyes, recognising the man from a recent newspaper. "Hollow D August, a member of the–"

"Revolutionary Army." August finished with a smile, then proceeded to do a mock bow, "A pleasure to meet you."

"What are you doing here?" Crocodile growled as his hand began to turn to sand.

"I'm here to recruit you." He pointed towards Robin, "And kill you." He moved his finger to Crocodile.

"Recruit?" "Kill?"

He turned his attention to Robin, 'Let's hope my talk no jutsu works'

"I'm a member of the Revolutionary Army. Our goal is to overthrow the current World Government and kill the Celestial Dragons."

"The World Government…" She muttered in fear, "Impossible."

"Impossible or not, we have to try. The world is waiting for our answer." He paused for a moment as Robin slightly calmed down, "You are a prime example of why we are fighting them Robin. You were forced to live your whole life on the run, moving from place to place and trusting no one because of their lies.Your life was ruined by them, and more people will continue to suffer as long as they are in power. Robin, your home is with the Revolutionary Army, you will be safe. I promise."

"Home…"

"Enough of this! Do you think you can just take away the women I need for my plans?" Crocodile growled, turning to Robin with an enraged look in his eyes. "You're mine Robin, you're the most important piece in my plans."

August shook his head, "I know all about your plans, and it's for that reason I have to stop you. I will stop you and bring Robin back to the Revolutionary Army where she belongs." August looked towards Robin and sent a reassuring smile her way, "It will be over soon, after that you will be safe."

Robin nodded as she backed away, still reluctant but with a tiny amount of hope hidden in her eyes.

"So you know about my plans?" Crocodile said in a deep voice. His right hand reached towards his left one which contained his hook. He ripped off the golden hook, revealing a silver hook filled with patches of holes.

'If I'm touched by that hook once I'm done for.' August narrowed his eyes.

"If you know about my plans, then you know how much this woman means to me." His hand changed form, forming a loose blade of sand which wisped into the air, "Once my plans are complete, no one would be able to stand in my way, not the Yonko, not the Revolutionary Army, nor the World Government!"

"Desert Spada!" Fueled by his rage, Crocodile slammed his hands into the ground. The ground abruptly exploded as the rapid moving blade of sand completely destroyed everything in its path.

August narrowed his eyes, barely managing to dodge the sharp stream of sand that had a consistency less like sand and more similar to a blade.

Seeing his unharmed enemy, Crocodile snarled in annoyance as he pulled his hand out of the ground.

August shattered the air, creating dozens of sharp pieces of glass as he sent them towards Crocodile. Crocodile raised his eyebrows in interest at the attack, but let the glass effortlessly pass through them in his elemental form.

From the anime August was well aware of how Crocodile's power worked, but seeing it happen in real life was truly terrifying.

The power to control sand was already bad enough, he saw what Gaara from Naruto could do with it. However, the power to truly become sand and nullify attacks that don't meet certain conditions was a nightmare.

'I really need to learn Haki.' Thought August, disappearing from his spot and appearing in front of him.

"It's useless…" Crocodile followed him with his eyes, but August remained undeterred as he clenched his fist and sent a punch towards Crocodile's face.

The force from the blow scattered all of the sand that made up his head, but it almost instantly reformed, showing Crocodile who had a mocking smile on his face.

August still carried on, sending another punch to his stomach which blew his chest out and left a hole surrounded by sand.

Crocodile smiled at his opponent's pathetic attempt to hurt him, but he decided to end this farce for once and for all. He raised his left arm in the air and thrust his hook towards the side of August's arm, just one milligram of poison and it would be over.

August's senses flared and managed to narrowly dodge the overhead swipe from Crocodile. Adding a thick layer of shatter energy to his foot, he thrust his foot into the golden hook, breaking the hook instantly.

August backed away now that the hook was destroyed and his plan was complete. Due to Crocodile's intangibility, he knew the only way he would be able to beat Crocodile was at close range using blood. He would only use water to attack as a last resort, as he was saving it in case his body was decayed.

Now that the hook was gone, August had a much larger chance surviving in close quarters combat!