From Blood to Ashes

Chapter 6: Operation: Save Caimie Plan B

Trigger warning: Cussing. That is all.

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Luffy clenches his fists as he starts walking towards the Dragon, intentions clear as day. However, a hand wraps around his ankle, stopping him dead. "Wait...Straw-hat..." The injured fishman groans out hoarsely, his breath shuddering from the deep burning sensation roaring throughout his stomach. Blood slowly pools under the fishman's frame as his shaky grip loosens slightly.

"Don't do this...I-It's my fault. I'm the one who screwed up, ok?" He groans out, not wanting any more trouble. Luffy shifts his burning gaze from the Celestial Dragon to the injured octopus beside him. "Please don't forget your promise. Like I said, you can't get by the Celestial Dragons even if they kill someone!" Luffy grunts in acknowledgement, though his mind is full of rage. Hachi trembles as he speaks, "There was a time when I was a pirate. A criminal. This is the punishment I deserve for doing all of those horrible things." A tear slowly slips down his cheek as he looks up at the rubber man, confessing his grievances of the past.

Luffy, as well as everyone else, remain silent and still as the fishman speaks. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for everything to turn out like this." He pants, "I just wanted to make amends with Nami however I could." He groans out. Nami clasps her hand over her mouth, scared for Hachi despite her own dark past with him. The octo-man's shaky grip loosens even more as he coughs up some blood and continues, "Even if it wasn't much, I wanted to be as much help as I could to you and your crew." He coughs once more, "I screwed that up, I guess. Just like every other time." He coughs out as Luffy kneels next to him. "I-I just wanted to do...something right for once! And show Nami how sorry I really am." Nami gasps, "H-Hachi..." she says as she silently sobs along with the fishman. "All of my life all I've ever done is cause trouble!" The octo-man sobs, "I'm sorry! Forgive me!" He sobs.

Suddenly, Saint Charlos growls, "That's enough! Stop all of that annoying babbling, fish before I shut you up for good!" The Celestial Dragon snaps at them and points his gun at them once more, springing Luffy back into action. The rubber man stands up and glares daggers at the Celestial Dragon, causing him to gasp. "How dare you! Don't look at me like that!" He yells as Luffy starts walking towards the Celestial Dragon once more. Tessa smiles under her mask as she senses what is about to happen, licking her chapped lips at the thought of a Celestial Dragon getting taken down.

Saint Charlos takes a step back, pointing his gun at Luffy, "Now you're annoying me too!" The Dragon yells as he puts his finger on the trigger and shoots the pistol twice. However, the bullets flies straight towards Tessa's hand, confirming that the bullets were made by her blood. She grits her teeth as anger fills her senses, her clenched fist shaking as she barely keeps her composure. Then Luffy's fist reels back as far as it can go before punching the Dragon as hard as possible, sending him flying into the stands. Gasps and screams of pure terror scatter through the crowd after Luffy hits the Dragon, his face bloody and nose broken. "Cha-Charlos!" Saint Roswald gasps as he takes in the sight of his beaten son. Luffy turns around and chuckles nervously, "Sorry, everybody. Now that I punched this guy, theres gonna be a Navy Admiral comin' here with a warship."

Zoro chuckles, "I'm just pissed that I didn't get to cut him down." He says as he sheathed his Kitetsu, "You beat me to it." Tessa chuckles darkly and takes a step forward, "Yeah, don't worry about it, Luffy. Besides, I would've done much worse." She says with a dark undertone before lighting up, "And I can take care of the admiral, no problem." She says almost happily as she leans stands up from her position, ignoring the shocked looks in her direction. She takes her mask off as Nami runs down to the injured fishman and kneels beside of him, "Hachi, hang in there!" The octoman shakes his head, "Do you guys know how much trouble your in?" He asks in a frightened tone.