The Jungle Part 5

The Jungle Part 5

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"Taira Carl, sir." I more rasped than said.

"Lord Taira!" Ami said quickly, giving an almost frantic curtsey.

"Ami, dear, none of that," the tall man said with an amused, if subdued smile as he walked into the room, his cane tapping against the floor as he did, "And please, do call me Father."

In spite of myself, my lips twitched unhappily at that even as Ami bashfully nodded. The tall man walked over, his smile becoming a bit more subdued as he looked at where my admittedly small form lay in the bed, "Jacob, I must thank you for saving the life of my future daughter in law," he bowed at the waist, nearly all the way, though still leaning on his cane as he did, "Your quick reactions and those of your mother quite possibly saved Ami's life."

He… he actually sounded genuine. In spite of myself, I blushed a bit and croaked out, "Ah… to be fair, I was saving her because she's my friend…"

The tall man gave me a bemused smile, "But still, you and your mother both saved her. And I am grateful." He approached the bed, stopping beside it, the top of his head nearly brushing the ceiling, "Consider your stay in the hospital paid for in full, as well as the docking fees of your ship."

"Ah… thank you…" I said softly, a little thrown off my game, especially so soon after Makoto running out like that…

His black fu-man-chu mustache twitched a bit as he smiled, "I do not have the power to grant your family and crew sanctuary on this island, but know the Patch will not pay docking fees while I am here."

"Ah..." I blinked, once… twice, "You're aware of my momma's profession."

"She did not try to hide it," he said with a bemused smile as he leaned in a bit as if to confide, "And your friend wasn't exactly quiet."

"Of course she wasn't," I said with the smallest grumble, slumping into the thankfully comfortable bed. I was happy I didn't need to try and manage some volume right now, there was damage to the base of my throat to go along with the wound on my chest, stomach, and even down to my hips, made talking hard.

Taira Carl's smile became more amused and he reached out to gently place a hand on my head, ruffling my short, spiky brown hair, "If you are half as good of a friend to her as you've been to Ami, she'll forgive you."

I sighed, cringing just a bit at the little shocks of pain that sent through the line in my chest, softly saying, "I know… but that doesn't mean it doesn't suck right now…"

"It will pass," the nobleman said with a smile, giving my head a gentle pat before he pulled back, "But for now, you only need to focus on recovering."

"Thank you, sir–"

"Where's my baby?! Where's my little prince?!"

My eyes closed, "Oh boy…" 'When did everyone find out I was awake dangit?!'

Taira Carl just gave that somewhat patronizing smile that adults give when a kid is being a kid, "Your mother was quite worried."

"I know, but this is going to be embarrassing," I croaked out, hoping I could get a chance to ask some proper questions and figure out what all had been happening soon... and get some water dangit, but apparently that'd have to wait until after everyone checking on me, "And probably not in the way you're thinking…"

My momma burst into the room, the empty sleeve of her Ao Dai fluttering as she literally skidded to a halt, her red hair bouncing a bit as she saw me, "Jacob!" True to her nature, she basically ignored the nobleman as she rushed up to my side, the taller man moving aside as she grabbed the edge of the bed, "Baby, you're awake!"

"Hi momma." I smiled up at her, bending my arm at the elbow to touch her arm lightly.

Rather suddenly, I was enveloped in a one-armed hug, making me hiss at the pressure applied on what had to be a cast on my torso, "Oh my little prince!"

"Still hurting momma-!" I wheezed out and she immediately backed off, her hand cupping my cheek with her hand.

"Are you okay baby?" she asked softly.

"Aside from the huge wound in my chest…?" I said quietly with a small smile, "Peachy."

A relieved smile appeared on her face, "That's good…"

'And three… two… one…' I preemptively cringed–

"And what were you thinking taking on those three mountain bandits like you did?!" my ear twisted hard and I turned my head to go with it.

"Sorry momma!"

"Ah… Miss Florida…" Ami stepped up, almost hesitantly, "He… well, he was saving me…"

My momma's face relaxed some as she smiled at my friend, "It's Missus Florida dear, I am a married woman. And I know he was saving you, protecting a comrade is a great thing to do and I'm quite proud of how well he did in those circumstances. My problem," she said, turning back to me with an unhappy frown, "Is with how he left his pistol on the ship!"

"Ack-!" my ear was twisted even harder, "I was going to go see my friends! I didn't need a pistol!"

"You quite clearly did!"

"I didn't want to get stopped by any of the guards and get in trouble for having a gun as a kid!"

"While my power is limited," the tall nobleman said with a small smile, "Ensuring that does not happen is more than within my power."

The pressure on my ear eased up and for the first time since entering the room, my momma acknowledged the nobleman, "Thank you, I rather appreciate that. If I could have a minute to yell at my son for making a mistake he should have known better about please?"

"Of course," he said with a small nod of his head before turning to Ami, "Come along child, let's let them be for now." The blue haired ten year old pouted, but didn't argue as the middle aged man walked her out of the room. She shot me small look of concern, and I did my best to give her a thumbs up. I'd be fine, though this wasn't going to be fun–

"And you could have avoided this wound if you'd gone for killing blows like I've taught you to!" she continued to berate me.

"I don't kill any more!" I rasped as loudly as I could.

"You are being silly about that and you know full well!"

I sighed, looking away for a moment before looking back up at my momma's green eyes, the ones that I shared, "... momma…?"

"What is it sweetie?" she asked, her hand on her hip as she looked down at me unhappily.

"I love you."

Her face softened, "… now that's just unfair. I'm still very mad at you."

"You never taught me to play fair," I said with a small grin, "And I know."

A small smile crossed her face and she leaned in to place a small kiss on my forehead, "I love you too my little prince. But you are still in trouble after you get out of here. You know better."

"Yes momma."

-oOo-​

"Nnnnrrryah!" Wallace made some sort of grunting sound as he chucked the anchor out onto the dirt. Gotta give him credit where it's due. If I was as hungover as he is I would not be so gung ho.

I give a small sniffle and wipe my nose on my sleeve. I'd fallen asleep in the damn rain and apparently being a metal-man meant a whole load of jack shit when it came to the common cold. At least with any luck I'd be over it pretty soon. Not that I minded sleeping on the top of the cabin of the Cake, though Bonney hadn't been there when I'd woken up. I continued in my personal pat down.

We were docking at an empty place on the island not too far from the backup town that Bonney had picked out. Bonney would be leaving a skeleton crew of sorts on the Cake with Tom in charge and Akira here in case anyone from the expeditions needed treatment. I'd be taking Claude and Wallace with me deep into the jungle, we were going to be searching around this big, isolated lake.

I did a mental checklist. Boots: Flintlock in the left, knife in the right. Long sleeved shirt: Had my knives hidden up my sleeves, I'll add some armor inserts into it eventually. Vest: shells and bullets, lockbreaker kit, sawed off shotgun at the small of my back beneath my coat. Scarf: In the vest, never leave home without your towel folks. Bandolier: bullets, bullets, shells, more bullets, some smokebombs and flashbangs… I missed having Dials… bullets. Saber at my hip, backup saber across my back. Revolvers one and two and three, all fully loaded, one on each side of my hips and another in the back, just below my shotgun. Hat: Backup lockpick... though I wonder if I could get some bubble coral or such and automate it in my hat now that I'm a Devil Fruit user... later. 'Utility Belt': Length of rope, length of string, needles, sewing and otherwise, nails, hypodermics, syringes, vials of a couple basic first aid medicines… I miss having a poison vial… chalk, extendable ruler, magnifying glass, monoscope, glue, pencil, lighter, flare, screwdriver, wrench.

The crew was all working to get the ship ready for us to leave, most of the boarding party out on the main deck already and checking their equipment. Myself included. Bonney was missing at the moment though.

Was it a bit paranoid? I think it was a bit paranoid.

…

I glanced at the arsenal that I was accustomed to and now rarely went without.

…

Yeah, it was a bit paranoid.

I basically never removed my 'Utility Belt' as I thought of it, and if anything, had upgraded it to ensure that nothing could fall out. But seriously, after getting stranded on an island like that I was a bit twitchy about being prepared. Even though there hadn't really been anything I could have done… that night, the night when the Patch was jumped in the middle of that storm by the Marines… it still rankled.

I stepped out of the way of Lucca, who was rushing about to ensure he had all of the ammo he might need for the lever action rifle we'd made for him as well as his revolvers.

Now, my coat had backup lockpicks hidden in the collar, six knives hidden on the inside of the front, and some spots where I'd meant to include armor inserts in the back… I'd want to replace a few of the knives with dials when I get access to them again.

Problem is…"Bonney! Where the hell is my coat?!"

The activity on the deck paused. A shout came from the cabin behind me, "Why the hell do you think I've got it?!"

"I lent it to you last night and it wasn't there when I woke up!"

A beat, "Why do you want it?!"

"It's got some stuff I need!" I shouted back with an eyeroll. My hands stopped patting my bandolier down, 'Wait, where's my- ah, there's the flashbangs, how'd they get into that pouch…?'

To my surprise, I heard the door to the cabin open up, and I realized that the deck had gone silent. Lifting my head, I turned around to face the cabin and found…

'… huh.'

Bonney had ditched her usual outfit of a white tank top, fancy socks, boots, short shorts with suspenders, a russian-style hat and a leather high cut jacket. While she'd kept her usual black boots, she instead wore a black, spaghetti strap top that, which exposed a large amount of her well-toned stomach when combined with the low riding blue jeans she wore… and my coat.

"Like fucking what? I couldn't find any pockets on this shit," she turned back and forth slightly, the long coattails of the duster flaring out slightly as she did.

She'd turned down the cuffs since she had an inch or two on me with reach, but that was my coat she had on.

"That's because it doesn't have pockets," I said, fully turning and walking over to her, "It has hidden compartments for knives and such."

Bonney snorted, "That's fucking stupid, why wouldn't you have pockets on a coat?"

I couldn't help but smirk, putting my hands on my hips as I looked up the few inches up at her, "Because it was designed to be worn with guy pants, which actually have pockets, so the coat doesn't need any."

"It's comfier than leather should be, the fuck is this on the inside? Silk?" she'd let her pink hair fall over the outside of the coat in a pink curtain, and combined with her cheek piercing and light make-up, it was honestly a pretty good look for her.

"Yes, and it's my jacket." I pointed out with an arched eyebrow.

A smirk danced across her lips, "What, Ironhide? You really want a jacket while on an island this hot?"

"I want my heavy leather duster while in a terrifying jungle of unknowable nastiness, yes. Same way you went with jeans instead of your usual shorts… and my jacket, which you already have one of that works just as fine instead of my custom tailored one."

Bonney rolled her eyes, "Seriously?"

"Yes, seriously. If you want one I can make one for you, just, y'know, not now. Since, y'know, it takes more than thirty minutes to make one."

"What, you can't take mine?" she smirked.

"No. The high cut would look terrible with my vest beneath it and it's not tailored for me in the first place, woman." I reached out and poked her in the forehead, "Now give me back my jacket."

With a snort and an eyeroll, Bonney swatted at me with a *thwap*, getting a snort from me in return. But the pink haired woman shrugged my jacket off and that has no right to be that sexy damnit before letting it slide down off her arms and threw it at me with a *fwump*.

Bonney flicked me off as she spun on her heel and headed back into the cabin.

I rolled my eyes as I shook the coat out before sliding it on. Sure, it'd be really hot in the jungle, but it was better that the exceedingly poisonous thorns hit the thick leather instead of me.

… though I could turn into metal now to avoid that… hm…

… huh, my jacket smells like pizza now.

… not a bad result.

Turning around, I found the crew on the deck all staring at me agape.

"… what?"

The word made them all jerk and glance about as a cry went up and they hurried back to their tasks, "Nothing!"

I rolled my eyes, not believing it for an instant, "Riiiiight. Claude, Wallace, ready to go?""

"Yes!"

"Ach… sure."

"Good, let's get moving."

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The Jungle Part 5 End