Chapter 33: Past and Secrets

Disclaimer: Don't own One Piece.

"Status report!"

"Lord Azala, all Special Commanders have been defeated!"

The large man looked at the Den Den Mushi in his hand, "Is that so?" he asked slowly.

"Yes sir! Exile's had his neck broken, and I'm not sure about Katt, but she's out of comission! Doku was slain and Gosler had his head blown off!

"Is the other situation taken care of?"

"No sir! We've tried assault and infiltration, but this girl...she...she fights like nothing I've seen. It's like she knows what we're going to do!"

"What are you talking about, grunt?"

"We've tried shooting and close range combat, but she's managed to deflect everything we throw at her!"

"What about the boy and Nikka?"

"Nikka stays with the boy, who fights like something out of this world. He just presses his gloves against our men, and they get blown away or they burn to a crisp!"

"Trouble with your little plan, Azala-kun?"

He looked over his shoulder to see the woman from the shadows and frowned, "Why won't you ever show yourself?" he asked. The woman shrugged and chuckled, "I like to keep a mysterious part amongst myself,". The woman from the shadows wore a heavy coat over herself, complete with a hood that covered most of her face, save her mouth.

"These newbies are strong. Strong enough to take care of the four commanders of the Rabite Pirate crew...very interesting group Axe has put together,"

Azala snorted, "Of all this time you've been here, you seem to know this man. How? Old enemy?" he demanded. The woman shook her head, "No...but my captain knows him and she ordered me to keep tabs on him until the time is right,".

As everyone exited the four rooms of the Commanders, Axe slowly walked down a long hallway, his stone axe on his back.

"La dee da dee di...let's begin the genocide...,"

Axe stopped in his tracks and immediately his hand went to his weapon, eyes darting back and forth.

"La dee da dee dud...an ocean of blood...,"

"Who's there!" he called out. His voice echoed throughout the building, followed only by silence. He began to quicken his steps, "It is her...that's the song she sang on that day...,"

-Flashback-

One night, as a full moon hung high in the air, Axe held out his weapon as a large crowd of men and women gathered in front of him. He glared at them all, "You're all making a huge mistake...come to your senses about what you're thinking of doing!" he cried.

"Oh, they've already come to their senses, my dear...Captain,"

Axe growled as a woman with ebony hair parted away from the group and walked a little closer towards him.

"Kairi...,"

The woman smiled, "It seems, that after all this time on the seas, your faithful crew has abandoned you...to follow me. What say you, crew? Shall we rid ourselves of this waste of space and go after what our hearts desire?" she yelled out to the group behind her.

"AYE!" they shouted in unison.

The large group of crewmembers ran full speed at Axe and soon the deck became a battlefield. For every man or woman that rushed him, Axe swung his mighty weapon around, knocking them away as best as he could.

Kairi slowly walked away from the raging battle, and began to sing a song loudly.

"La dee da dee di, let's begin the genocide...la dee da dee dud, an ocean of blood...,"

-End Flashback-

So she's still around, huh? Axe pondered as he finally reached a large door at the end of the hall She must still be after the Cross...

He placed his hands on the door and slowly pushed it open, Time to get some answers...

Azala sat on his throne, and watched as the door to his room opened up. In the doorway, a young man in black stood, a solemn look on his face.

The large man chuckled, "So you're Axe. I am Azala, Lord of Phlan," he greeted. Axe snorted, "I know who you are, you pain the ass. What I wanna know is why you have this!" he reached into his jacket and grabbed the map that was tucked into his pocket.

He unfolded it and held it out for Azala to see. The Lord of Phlan stared at it, and smirked at his luck, "I see you've retrieved some lost property of mine. Thank you, I was having a tough time looking for it," he said holding out his hand.

Axe shook his head and put it back in his jacket, "I really don't care about this place, but I care about two things right now. One of them is that a little girl is filled with sorrow because her home is being misused...the second one is that you've come into contact with an old aquaintence of mine,".

Azala let out a roar of a laugh and slapped his knee, "Misusing a girl's home? Please, I've made it better! It's prospering, and people thank me for it. How is that misusing?". The younger man scowled, "I passed by some of your help on the way to your room. They've told me everything. You're not really a Lord here. You're just some, second-rate pirate who took this place over. I don't know what lies you've told the people of Phlan, but Nikka wants her home back...and I plan to give it back,".

The large man rose from his throne and raised a hidden pistol from his side, aiming straight at Axe's face, "Dead men can't keep promises...,".

BANG!

Axe fell to the floor as the pistol in Azala's hand was smoking. The pirate shook his head and holstered his weapon, "Weakling...,".

"God, I hate it when people do that. Don't you know how much that stings?" Axe grumbled as he climbed to his feet. Azala just stood there in shock...the man he had shot in the head was alive and standing once more.

Hidden in a corner of the ceiling, the woman in black smiled as she crouched down on a rafter, "Well well well...this is a surprise,"

Kilnorc: well there's that one. Figured some past of Axe should show up. And I'm sorry if this was in any confusing, I didn't mean for it to be. Hope ya'll enjoyed, ja ne!