Ch.37 Rei's Gift

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　Earlier...

　Koby was mopping the floor on the upper deck as he saw the three pirates coming out from the lower deck's stairway. Seeing their panicky behaviors, Koby was concerned about Rei, so he went to check up on him only to see a new stranger there!

　Luffy stood up to greet Koby who looks agitated, he waves his hand towards the later in innocent manner, "Hi, I'm Luffy."

　Koby stood rooted on the floor as his head darted between Luffy and Rei, then he opened his mouth, "I'm Koby, NO! thats not it!"

　He finaly locked his sight towards Rei and asked in panic, "Rei! Rei! WHO IS HE? WHAT IS HE DOING HERE?"

　Luffy folded his arm feeling dissatisfied and said, "Hey! I told you i'm Luffy!"

　However, Koby keep staring towards Rei demanding an explanation, Rei sighed and said, "You heard him, he's Luffy, Monkey D. Luffy."

　Luffy smiled hearing that, then he saw Koby turned his head towards him.

　"No! I, i mean. Why is he here? How can you get inside?"

　Luffy rubbed his head while laughing out loud, "Hahahaha. When i set sails, i caught in a storm. So i went inside wooden barrel. But it seems i fell asleep in it. And when i open my eyes i was already here! hahaha."

　Koby's jaw opened wide after hearing that kind of explanation, as Rei shook his head and smiled in amusement, Luffy doesn't seems embarassed by that fact and brushed it off by laughing.

　"Wait! Wait, wooden barrel?"

　"I think it was the barrel you just brought here, Koby." explained Rei.

　Koby's mouth opened ever so widely now, but soon Koby shook his head and paled in panic.

　"A, Anyway! You're not supposed to be here! You must go!"

　"Why?" Luffy tilted his head.

　"This is pirate ship! And the owner is scary! Like, super scary!"

　"Realy?" Luffy turned towards Rei and saw the later shrugged his shoulders.

　"Hahahaha! Don't worry too much! I'm quite strong you know?" Said Luffy back while laughing.

　Koby walked behind Luffy and said, "Nononono! No way! You have to go now!"

　Koby's prespirated heavily as he pushed Luffy away trying to make him move. However, Rei knew it was all futile. The future Pirate King was known as fearless and stubborn as rock!

　Seeing Luffy didn't intend to move, Koby finaly couldn't help but said, "Hey! I don't care about you! But how about us? You being here could be dangerous for us!"

　Luffy frowned and finaly Koby managed to push him. before leaving, Koby turned towards Rei and said, "Sorry Rei, but please wait a little bit longer. After dealing with him, i'll help you out."

　"I can help him out you know?" Said Luffy spontaneously.

　Koby shook his head as he keeps pushing Luffy, "Nonono! Please, don't make this complicated for us!"

　Seeing both of them leaving, Rei couldn't help it anymore as his interest surging wildly!

　Using Nawanuke no Jutsu, Rei manipulate his muscle and dislocate several of his joints, his binding immediately became loose and made it easier for him to escape.

　After slithering away, Rei reconnect his joint and grab the brig's iron bar. Reinforcing his hands with chakra, Rei gritted his teeth and pulled the iron bars apart!

　'SQUEAAAK'

　Rei pushed his head over the iron bars, after it cleanly passed, he then proceed to pulls the rest of his body outside, cracking his neck Rei strectched for quite a bit.

　That was what he had actualy done several times back then when he was still in Hardy's Warship!

　Rei looking towards the stairs and strode along the lower deck, he wanted to chase after Koby and Luffy. However, along the way he remembered the 'debt' Alvida has to pay after what she had done to him.

　Smirking, Rei thought, "Isn't this interesting?"

〜〜〜〜〜

　After parting with Rei, Koby looks as nervous as he get, he sneaked around carefuly to check the upper deck. Luffy behind follows along without worries on his sunny countenance.

　Seeing the upper deck seemingly clear and only a few pirates crew busying away without noticing, Koby pulled Luffy's hand and ran!

　The ship's gangway which bridge the ship and the pier was within their reach! Until finaly both of them crossed it only to heard a loud shrill scream right behind them!

　"KOBY....!!!"

　Koby jolted as he paused under the gangway! He turned his head slowly only to sees Alvida with her iron mace stood on top of the gangway!

　Hearing Alvida scream, the rest of the pirates gathered behind her, wanted to know about what happens.

　Koby's face turned pale with cold sweat all over his back. When he finaly face Alvida, Koby couldn't help but lower his head in fright!

　"Huuh? Who's that fatty old hag, Koby?"

　Everyone on the scene jumped in fright as they heard someone's insolent remarks!

　Alvida face couldn't help but turned uglier, her face darkened and veins protruding out from besides her forehead. Alvida saw who it was saying those unsightly remarks, the young man with red vest who stood besides Koby!

　"Lu! Luffy! What are you talking about!" Koby suddenly covered Luffy's mouth. However, Luffy shrugged his attempt as he said,

　"What? I only asked who's that old hag?"

　"You....!" it was all Koby could says as he saw Luffy seems doesn't understand the situations they were currently in!

　"Good~ Very good Koby! is this how you repaid my kindness to you? By insulting me?" Said Alvida under her gritted teeth.

　"Luffy! Quick apolo....." However, Koby's speech were cut short as Luffy pulled the former down to duck away!

　'Whooooosh.....'

　'WHAAAAAAM....!'

　'Cruuuumbllee....!'

　Without saying anything more, Alvida threw her Spiked Iron Mace towards the duo! However thanks to Luffy, the Huge Iron Mace missed its intended target by a hairbreadth!

　The iron mace flew and destroyed fishing house behind Koby and Luffy!

　"KOBIIIIII....!!!" Seeing her assault failed, Alvida anger grew even more!

　"Lu! Luffy! Apologize!!" Said Koby in panic, he was still under impression if apologizing was enough to salvage the situation!

　But! To Koby dismay, he saw Luffy was getting ready to fight!

　"Bad old hag! You want to fight? I'll kick your ass!" said Luffy.

　"S, STOP! DO, DO YOU NOT KNOW WHO SHE IS?!" Suddenly Koby pulled Luffy's vest from the back while he shouted!

　Luffy turned his head and asked in confusion, "Who? Someone who's ass i'll kick later?"

　"She, she is Alvida! the notorious pirate with 5 Million Bellies bounty! You won't stand a chance against her!"

　"Bah! I don't care! She attack us first! then i'll fight back!" Claimed Luffy fearlessly.

　'tap, tap, tap...'

　Seeing Alvida began to descends the gangway towards the pier, Koby finaly couldn't hold on anymore. He suddenly pulled Luffy's hand with a strength he himself didn't knew he had!

　"Ah!" even Luffy couldn't help but stunned slightly as the timid boy besides him could pulled him away!

　"LETS RUUUUN!" Shouted Koby while running with confused Luffy in tow!

　Alvida and the rest of her crew were astonished as the duo ran with incredible speed.

　"BOYS!" Alvida shouted.

　"My Lady!"

　Alvida's pirate crews began to gathers in trepidation as they saw their captain contenance were so dark!

　Seeing her crews already gathered on the pier, Alvida gave her command menacingly,

　"Catch them! I want you to find them quickly! CATCH THEM NOW!"

　"AYE! AYE! MY LADY!"

　Just when Alvida and her crews wanted to moves, suddenly there was a chuckle came from the top of gangway.

　"Who do you want to catch? My lady...?"

　Hearing the unfamiliar voice, Alvida and her crews turned peevedly towards the source of the voice. Then as they saw whose voice was it, everyone couldn't help but stood rooted on the spot!

　Rei was resting his chin on his hands at the ship's railing, watching everyone below with amused expression.

　Alvida and her crews couldn't help but broke into cold sweat. One of her crew began to stammers as he pointed towards the horned man who calmly observed everyone presents.

　"Whi....White Ghost!" shrieked one of the pirates as he staggered back and fell on his butt.

　Rei smiled faintly and spoke, "Nice to meet you everyone. So~ who was it again you guys wants to capture?"

　For a while no one presents wanted to answers him. however, Alvida gulped and said, "This has nothing to do with you, White Ghost."

　Even her tone mellowed a bit as she was feeling apprehanded seeing a 45 Million Bellies man stood on her ship.

　Raising his eyebrow, Rei smirked towards the fat lady, "5 Million Bellies, Alvida?"

　Alvida kept her silent when Rei turned his focus towards her, soon she heard Rei voice trailed once again.

　"....I think theres a debt between us that need to be settled."

　The pirates couldn't help but slowly moved away from their captain after hearing Rei's remark, seemingly didn't wants to take parts in this feud.

　Noticing her crews behavior, Alvida felt helpless as she too didn't wants to test Rei's patient if she could. After all, the man notorious deed were known to all! Destroying a marine base famous for its Naval Power and killing more than 350 trained marines along with their Commodore singlehandedly!

　Witnessing Rei just stood there in relaxed manner, Alvida finaly opened her mouth, "Wa, Wait! White Ghost, we didn't have any deep grudges between us! So, how about if we talk this through?"

　However, Alvida noticed Rei kept his silence as his smile began to fade, she then spoke once more tried to bargains,

　"White Ghost! Lets just take our own leave. We, i mean, I saved you from your predicament after all, right?" Nervously, Alvida showed her ugly smile towards Rei.

　Rei still didn't says anything, he only squinted his eyes towards Alvida who grew even more nervous as the former still kept silent.

　"WE, WE BOTH ARE WANTED BY MARINES! I think its wise if we forget about what happens between us, I saved you and you let us go now? okay?"

　Finaly, Rei chuckled and asked, "You saved me?"

　Alvida nodded her head right away, seeing Rei finaly responded to her. She began to calmed down and yet.

　"How? As far as i know, I was kept inside the ship's brig while my body were tied, was that what you mean by saving me?" Rei smile grew larger.

　"Tha...Thats"

　"Huhuhu...thankfully someone gave me water to drink."

　The fat lady turned her head towards the crews whose shaking their head as hard as they could. Then she turned her focus back to Rei as the later spoke once more,

　"But you're actualy right my Lady. You saved my life and i appreciate that gesture, so i will give you a gift..."

　"Realy?" Alvida's eyes gleamed with relief, however.

　"...Dead or Alive, i understand that sentence clearly. I also understand your intention when you caught me. So, it was no surprise what was your subsequent action afterwards."

　Alvida witnessed in confusion when Rei weaved his hands into patterns she had no idea off, then she saw Rei smirked as he slammed the ship's wooden deck with his palm.

　"Chōkajugan no Jutsu." Rei faintly said.

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