A tense air hung between Kuro and Silk, their gazes locked in a deadly standoff.
She had undeniably reacted to Kuro's speed. Whether it was skill or fluke remained unclear—one instance could be luck. He needed to test her again.
Yet, Silk radiated confidence, her eyes never straying from Kuro, as if determined not to let him escape.
Not just some girl, Kuro thought, shedding excess tension from his body. His senses sharpened, reminiscent of his pirate days. Three years away hadn't dulled his honed skills. Exhaling deeply, he felt reborn—eyes piercing, arms limp, deceptively relaxed but far from careless.
Suddenly, Kuro vanished.
His speed was staggering, movements too fast to track, as if he'd truly disappeared.
Silk, however, reacted instantly.
She spun right, slashing her sword, unleashing a blade of wind.
Kuro reappeared, halting mid-step. Sensing the attack, he crossed his arms before his face. The timing was perfect for a block, but the wind sliced through, grazing his cheek despite weakening against his claws.
Three small cuts marked his face.
Lowering his hands, Kuro bled slightly but stared at Silk, unfazed by pain.
"That should've been blocked," he said.
"It's no ordinary sword. You can't stop wind," Silk replied.
"A wind blade, then. Useless to parry with steel," Kuro mused, adjusting his skewed glasses.
It was clear now—Silk could track his movements. Not with her eyes, but by preempting his attacks, forcing him to stop. Such a feat wasn't possible with mere sharp vision.
Among ability users, she was a formidable foe. Even for Kuro, who'd once taken down an ability user alone, she demanded absolute focus.
"You stopped me," Kuro said. "Reacting to my speed?"
"Not sight. I feel the wind," Silk answered.
"Wind?" Kuro asked.
"The faster you move, the stronger the wind, telling me where you're going," she explained, smiling, sword raised.
She reveled in her power, a Paramecia ability distinct from Logia but potent. It wasn't just about projecting wind—she sensed it, too. Her confidence grew; this could challenge even the strongest.
"I'm glad you're my opponent," Silk said. "I've learned more about my power. Now, I can beat you."
"Underestimating me?" Kuro sneered. "Think knowing my position and throwing wind means victory?"
He hadn't revealed all his tricks. His fame as a pirate stemmed from his silent movement technique, "Stealth Foot." Silk sensed wind, but his soundless steps evaded detection. She couldn't match his speed, giving him an edge. Declaring defeat was premature.
"If you think that's enough, fine," Kuro said. "My Stealth Foot isn't so simple."
He vanished again.
No sound. Despite his blistering speed, not a whisper.
Silk tracked him through wind alone. She grasped his trajectory but knew she couldn't see him. Her reactions, barely adequate before, lacked leeway. Kuro noticed.
Sensing wind was one thing; reacting was another. If he outpaced her, victory was his. With Stealth Foot, he aimed to end her coldly.
(So fast. I can't see him…) Silk thought.
The wind circled her at a constant distance, weaving unpredictably to foil her predictions. She stood still, staring ahead, knowing her chance would be fleeting—a counter at the moment of attack.
She braced, ready to intercept from any angle, her focus spanning 360 degrees. But it wasn't enough.
Feeling him close, she swung, but it was a feint. Her wind blade carved the ground, hitting nothing, crashing into a cliff.
Kuro seized her back.
She sensed him but couldn't turn in time.
"Got you!" Kuro declared, claws poised.
Silk, defenseless, couldn't even raise her sword. Kiri moved to intervene but froze, eyes wide.
At the critical moment, a whirlwind erupted around Silk.
Powerful enough to slice, it spared her but repelled intruders. Kuro, caught in his momentum, couldn't stop. His arm plunged into the storm, shredded, blood spraying.
Shocked, he leaped back. The whirlwind vanished.
Silk, panting, checked her arm—unscathed. She'd unleashed it instinctively, rattled by her own power.
Kuro, nursing his torn arm, glared. Both paused, battle halted.
"Such a trick!" Kuro growled.
"That… worked," Silk gasped. "Close call…"
"Impressive, Silk," Kiri said lightly. "Mastering it so fast."
Silk nodded, dazed. She'd trained her ability but never used it in combat. The life-or-death moment had triggered it, but it drained her. Both were battered, and time was short.
Silk faced Kuro again. He glared, furious.
"Cocky. A true ability user," Kuro spat.
"Your arm's done. Surrender. Leave with your crew, and no one dies," Silk urged.
"Hmph… no choice," Kuro muttered.
Kiri and Silk tensed as Kuro relaxed further, arms dangling, body swaying—an eerie stance.
The watching pirates' expressions shifted.
As Kuro swayed, a voice rang out.
"Klahadore!"
Kuro froze, glancing uphill. Five figures stood there: Kaya and Merry, horrified; Carrot, Pepper, and Onion, mouths agape, staring at the bloodied butler armed with claws, facing Silk.
He wasn't just a butler. Kaya, Merry, and the kids realized it.
Spotting Kaya, Kuro straightened, voice calm but chilling, like the butler they knew who cared for her.
"Miss Kaya, why are you out so early? It's bad for your health. I told you to avoid long outings," he said.
"Klahadore, what are you doing?" Kaya demanded.
"Eliminating pests," he replied.
Kaya gasped, trembling. She'd hoped to forgive lies, but this was worse.
Merry, stunned, couldn't console her. The Usopp Pirates, however, shouted.
"See! Captain wasn't lying!" Carrot yelled.
"He told the truth!" Pepper added.
"He's protecting the village! A real pirate!" Onion cried.
Kuro adjusted his glasses, smirking. "Indeed. You ignored his truth and helped bring pirates here. Thanks for aiding Miss Kaya's assassination."
The group fell silent. Merry stepped forward, furious.
"Klahadore! Master took you in, and you betray him!? Kaya trusted you!" he roared.
"I forgot to mention," Kuro said. "I caused Master and Mistress's deaths."
Silence struck again. Words failed them.
Kuro laughed, devoid of remorse, uncaring after three years together.
"It was all planned. Kaya had to inherit. These three years ensured I'd plausibly claim the estate. If pirates killed you, my name in the will would seem natural," he explained.
"You planned this from the start!?" Merry gasped.
"Why else would I babysit a girl?" Kuro sneered.
Kaya felt loss, not anger. She'd trusted him, thought it mutual, but he'd schemed her death. Tears welled, but she bit her lip, refusing to cry.
Kuro continued. "Remember, Miss Kaya? I was always by your side—carrying bags, joining ship rides, carrying you to town when sick."
"Stop…" Kaya whispered.
"All for today. To kill you and gain peace," he said.
Tears fell. Merry and the kids bristled, ready to charge despite the odds.
Silk, sensing danger, swung her sword, launching a wind blade. "Enough!"
Kuro vanished, dodging. Silk froze, realizing he was behind the five.
"I've got a theory," Kuro said.
"Everyone, run!" Silk shouted.
"Your ability's linear. With obstacles—like people I can't harm—in the way, you're useless," Kuro taunted.
The five turned, frozen by his claws.
"Since you know, you all die. Without your meddling, only Kaya would've," Kuro said coldly.
"Stop, Klahadore! Take the money, but don't kill!" Kaya begged.
"Money's not enough. I want peace—quiet days without fools," Kuro replied.
"How!?" Kaya cried.
"Simple. Kill you all, take the estate, and return to my life. No other way," he said.
"Not even the kids!?" Merry pleaded.
"They came here. No resolve, no standing before pirates," Kuro snarled, glaring.
The kids trembled, silenced. They'd underestimated pirates, now regretting their curiosity.
Kaya and the others became hostages.
Silk adjusted her position, but Kuro's shout stopped her and Kiri. "Move, and they die!"
Silk gritted her teeth, and Kiri lowered his arms. The situation was dire. They couldn't let anyone die, but Kuro intended to kill all witnesses. Protecting the five was priority.
Kiri glanced around, spotting a hand waving from bushes nearby, signaling. He grinned.
"Idiot. You don't get it," Kiri said.
"What?" Kuro snapped.
"Hostages are shields. Kill them, and you're exposed. Can't beat Silk, yet you'd risk it?" Kiri taunted.
"Who can't beat her!?" Kuro roared.
"Silk's got you," Kiri said, smiling.
"Cheap provocation," Kuro scoffed.
"Think what you want. We'll win without losses," Kiri boasted.
"How?" Kuro demanded.
"Secret," Kiri teased.
"Bluff," Kuro sneered.
"Nope. Our captain's the future Pirate King. His crew won't lose to a quitter like you," Kiri said.
Kuro's face twisted in rage. A bullet shot from the forest, exploding on his face—a fierce blow nearly knocking him out. He collapsed, dazed.
Usopp burst from the trees, slightly injured but lively, checking for threats before shouting, "Kiri, now! Get them to safety!"
"Oh, right, I was quitting too… Whatever, I didn't want to quit," Kiri mumbled.
"Listen! It's our chance!" Usopp yelled.
"Usopp-san!?" Kaya gasped.
"Captain!" the kids cheered.
Kiri sprang, grabbing the sleeping Luffy en route, tossing him among the five. He scattered papers, forming a domed fortress around them—impenetrable when hardened.
Perched atop, Kiri called, "Stay put. It's dangerous. I'll get you out soon."
"Is Usopp okay?" Kaya asked.
"Bit hurt, but fine," Kiri assured.
Usopp, confident, eyed the fallen Kuro. "That's most of it. Now for the guys on the slope—"
"Not yet," Kiri interrupted.
Kuro rose, glasses broken, hair disheveled, but steady. His gaze sharpened, unyielding despite the blast.
"What!? My Gunpowder Star hit him!" Usopp yelped.
"Tough guy. Doesn't look that trained," Kiri noted.
"Not the time for calm!" Usopp snapped.
Silk joined, spotting Kuro. "Silk, finish him. He's fast," Kiri said.
"Got it!" Silk nodded, gripping her sword.
Kuro assumed his eerie stance—arms limp, body swaying, muttering darkly. "My plan won't fail. I'll finish it here…"
"Do it quick, Silk!" Usopp urged.
Kuro raised his head, eyes bloodshot, driven by instinct, not reason. The bullet had unhinged him. Now, he'd erase everything to fulfill his plan, reckless of his wounds.
His claw-like blades clinked ominously as he swayed.
"Shakushi," he whispered.
Afterword
Is this Mash too un-Mash-like? Hard to define "Mash-like." Next up: a shopping "date" with the Abydos Countermeasures Committee! Rin's my fave, so sorry for any character slip-ups. Got sweet, but it's just friends helping a tired pal—really! Rin's implementation? Still waiting. Comments, ratings, and ideas fuel me—please share! Pavane and Eden are tough; planning to have Mash deflect that bombardment with his staff to mock Beaoba's confidence. Enjoy!
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