West Blue: Rise of the Village

"Cat..." Iken said looking over at his firstmate. Desais had already ran over to his side, but Iken hadn't he was just standing there in shock. The man he considered a brother was dying, and it was all Iken's fault. He wasn't strong enough to protect him. It was likely the same fate would befall the other two, the two Iken said he would protect. Iken ran towards Razz and Desais, he covered the deck in the time it would have taken him if he wasn't injured. For a moment it was like all of the pain and wounds in Iken's body had disappeared.

Razz was able to step away and dodge each and every one of Desais' attacks and countered them with a jab to a joint that would disable Desais if they hit. After Desais was finished the marines went in for a blow that would leave him near death. He was going to try to run him through the chest. However at the moment Iken appeared. "Lumber Jack" Iken used his strongest, and slowest attack to try and attack his foe. That was the biggest mistake of his life. Razz side stepped it, revealing Cat behind him. It was too late for Iken to stop his attack. His only reaction was widened eyes.

Desais didn't expect to be hit in the joints. There was no possible way for him to dodge all of the attacks to his joints. Desais ended up dodging some here and there but eventually all the attacks that Razz had wanted to do had been done. Shit, well this sucks. At least I tried. Desais thought as his body went limp and he landed right next to Cat. "Sorry dude, I didn't mean to fail you..." Desais said as he laid there all limp. "Also sorry about the whole asking that rat man to join the crew. I just thought it'd be great to have a pet along on the journey." Desais laughed slightly.

Noticing Iken jump in front of where Cat and himself laid gave Desais hope. Hope for survival, but also shame that he was barely able to do anything. He swore that if he survived this day, that he would grow stronger and stronger. Never letting his friends down, and protecting those that don't have anyone to protect them. If only I wasn't a sucker for the interesting and the amazing in life. Desais thought to himself as he looked into the pouring heavens.

15/15

Ada noticed Iken standing up and proceeding to help fighting the marines that kept coming and trying to attack his friends, their friends. Ada didn't want to be a bother so she stood up and backed away a meter or two, letting everyone fight their battle. Her heart broke as she noticed Cat been severely injured, him falling to the ground and the marine that once had talked to her and threatened her, was continued to direct blows at him, which would possibly lead Cat to death. Ada wanted to help, she wanted to grab her knife, charge at the man and kill him, she wanted to make him feel all of what he had made Cat feel. All of the pain and agony. She noticed Desais, the other man, running towards Cat and trying to protect him, but his efforts been futile, and the marine continuing to attack her friend, the guy she had taken care of just some hours ago. I just met him, and I'll be loosing him so fast?, Ada thought while tears fell from her eyes.

She was frozen watching everything happen in front of her very eyes in slow motion. Iken turned to help Desais and Cat, the marine cut Cat's shoulders. Cat was crying. She heard his last words. Ada's eyes widened even more as she noticed the marine dodging Iken's attack and by then Iken accidentally hurting Cat. It was then that Ada snapped out of the trance she waas in and fell to the ground on her knees. Tears were falling freely as her lips trembled and her cheeks were tinged a deep red. Her hands shook by her sides as she started to crawl towards Cat. She couldn't do anything, she wasn't good at all... "No..." she whispered softly, not quite believing how someone could have just pinched her cheek randomly some hours ago and now was facing death in a cruel way. Ada glanced at Iken and found him staring wide eyed at Cat, not knowing what to do. "Why... Why so fast... Why now?" she cried while crawling next to Cat. She sobbed and grabbed his hand. She kissed it softly, seeing a pool of blood under his body. Her whole being hurt. Both physically and emotionally. She was heartbroken.

Ada was never the one to make friends easily, and even less socialize with anyone but customers, and those came and went, not really becoming personal with any of them. Yet this silly boy, Cat, came and with Iken turned her world upside down. She had been waiting for any kind of adventure. Ada had been bored of her eventless life, but she had never thought that a world like theirs would be so full of danger, and someone like her didn't fit in it. She had to become stronger, and be worthy of belonging to their world. She had to do it for Cat, and Iken, and even Desais, whom she hadn't dealt with yet. Ada couldn't even begin to imagine the pain Iken was going through, doing that to his own friend. It hadn't been on purpose, of course, but Ada knew that he would blame himself for it. Ada continued holding Cat's hand as she whispered sweet nothings to him, trying to make him feel better, knowing the pain must be unbearable. "It's okay... you'll be okay" she mumbled against his hand, trying at the same time to stop crying. She had to be strong.

For the first time in her life, Ada felt true hatred, and it was towards the marine that had been the cause of all of this.

Cat suddenly saw the other man, the one that joined the crew this day, try to defend Cat. In that instant he was stabbed several times and forced to drop to the ground. he was next to Cat. He knew the man was behind him because Cat had observation haki. He could feel the body behind him even without his eyes. What happened next even Cat didn't think was possible. Iken tried to hit the opponent, but he suddenly dodged and had the blade continue moving towards Cat. The blade connected, and Cat's eyes widened in pain and shock. Iken had just struck his chest with the sword; he had a large slash moving through his chest and blood pooling out.
 
Cat looked up at Iken with an apologetic manner. He was trying to apologize to Iken without talking. He wanted to apologize for being in the way of his attack. He wanted to say more.. but he couldn't say anything; he had to save his energy. Cat's tears didn't stop falling, and the mixture of blood from his cheek made the tears from his left eye stained with blood. Cat felt his hand get grabbed by a gentle touch.. and that's when Cat remembered it. He remembered an angel helping him early in that day. Cat pieced it together and remembered her face in his earlier stage. Cat smirked, thinking the angels were sending their own angel to escort him away.
 
"I'm not ready to go yet." Cat whispered under his tone. Blood was already staining his clothes by this point. His once white shirt was red in the front. "I need you.. to find my brother.." Before Cat could say more he spit blood on the floor. He was coughing the blood that was in his lungs. Iken had accidentally penetrated his lungs, causing blood to pool in. Cat breathed in as much as he could. He knew he wasn't going to make it, but he also knew he had to stay here for a little while longer. He had to tell them his messages.. no matter how slim the odds that they'll survive this encounter.

10/15

The sky opened up when Iken's Cursed Crusade sliced into Cat, opening up his chest. Cat's fate was sealed by Iken's blade, by Iken. The rain came down hard, it was as if the gods themselves were crying at what had just happened; the coming death of the person Iken was the closest to in the whole world. Iken just fell to his knees hitting the wooden deck bellow him with a loud thud. He looked up into the sky as the rain poured down on his face causing streams of water to run down his cheeks from his eyes. His hair sagged back as the rained soaked it as he just sat there. His legs spread on the slippery deck as he slumped down even more.

Iken looked down to see Ada holding Cat's hand, she telling him it would be alright. She was comforting Cat, when Iken could not. Iken gritted his teeth while closing his eyes tightly, raising his right hand to cover them for a moment. Once again, Iken looked at Cat; he was laying there. Cat gave Iken and apologetic look, like this all had somehow been his fault. It wasn't Cat's fault at all if anything it was Iken's. Iken looked to the side, squinting his eyes as the rain water caused liquid to flow from his eyes. "Don't give me that look. It's not your fault, it's mine all mine." Iken said before he began to shake. Iken was convulsing and he felt sick to his stomach like he was going to throw up all over the soaked deck.

Iken fell forward on to his hands from the shaking; he could see the tears in Cat's eyes. Seeing Cat up close in so much pain caused Iken only more anguish, tear drops fell from Iken's face onto Cat's as his wet saggy hair fell forward. It was entirely his fault; Iken had done this to Jack. Regardless of if Cat was dying before Iken had struck didn't matter to Iken; to him he'd always be the one that killed his best friend with that damned cursed sword. Cat was the second person Iken cared for deeply that the sword took away from him. Rather that wasn't exactly true. It was the reason behind his village being thrown into war, and then utterly destroyed. Cat was yet another casualty of the Cursed Crusade. A crusade for a cursed weapon, one that caused Iken's village to be destroyed; and his entire family to be killed, his mother, father, brother, and Derge. Even his master and best friend, someone he considered a bother to die in front of him.

Iken then realized just how ridiculous it was that he was blaming an inanimate object for creating havoc and such utter hell. There was also one other common factor when he thought about it. Iken himself was the one at fault. He was the one behind the blade all that time. If he hadn't been in the crowd at the execution the marine wouldn't have attacked and been killed. Then Iken's village wouldn't have been wiped out in revenge of the marine officer. Iken's teacher would not have suffered a fatal wound saving Iken's life. Finally Cat would have never met Iken and came to the cursed island. Ivan would have never recognized the sword and caused the commotion that caused the marines to be called in the first place.

He came to sudden realization; if he hadn't existed no one would have been hurt. Ada, Cat, and Desais would be all fine living their lives happily if Iken didn't exist. His village and master would still be alive along with everyone Iken had killed up to this point. Iken realized his existence was worthless. It had to be some kind of joke, a test of the gods to see if someone would trade their lives for the ones they loved. Iken thought if he ceased to exist, the maybe; just maybe everything could go back to the way it was before he came around. Everything would be good in the world again. Iken lifted his sword above his head and flipped it so it was pointing at his stomach. It was just that simple, one life for the lives of many. If Iken ceased to exist then that evil and cruel reality would cease to exist as well. In hindsight, Iken could see how he deserved to have all of this happen. It happened because of all of the sins he committed.

"Baaaahahaha! How are you guys this pathetic?" Razz said mocking them as their friend died. "Did you really expect to go around and ruin people’s lives without consequence? With how weak you were? Really?" he questioned them, his tone becoming more and more mocking. "Hehehe, you should all follow your "great" captain's example and finish yourselves so we don't have to wasted resources doing it for you." he mocked.

Iken turned his head towards the marine captain, glaring at him as a lightning flashed in the background causing deep shadows to form on Iken's face. The shadows hid the hate in his eyes. His sorrow turned into something else, it turned into hate and rage that burned in Iken like an inferno. The rage boiled inside Iken like magma inside of a volcano that was about to erupt with a sudden violent explosion. It was the marine captain's fault that Cat was dying. He was the one that beat Cat down in their fight, he ordered the marines to attack Ada and Desais; he was the person that outright tortured Cat in their fight. Razz toyed with Jack like he wasn't worth anything.

"You” Iken said standing up. It was as if moments ago he hadn't been just flopping on the deck. Iken was on his feet like he wasn't in the same kind of condition Cat was. He was bleeding and exhausted beyond the point of survival for any average human. "If it wasn't for you, Cat wouldn't be like this." Iken said, he couldn't bring himself to say that Cat was dying. Saying something like that would confirm and cement it into reality. "I'm going to erase you and your kinds form this world." Iken said looking at the marines behind Razz. The first marine Iken glanced at fell back foaming at the mouth. It was the first tremor before the eruption. Iken held his sword at his side taking at step forward. "I will not...cannot allow such as system to exits." Iken said as wave of will erupted from him. The blast of presence ripped through the weaker marines causing them to foam at the mouth and pass out.

Razz for the first time that say, had fear in his eyes as he turned to look at the men on his ship fell down. He had no idea if they were dead or alive or what was happening. Razz had seen many powers in his day, but nothing like what Iken was showing. The unknown ability caused fear to run rampant in the powerful marine. Razz leaped backwards using soru to put distance between Iken and himself. However it was too late for him to avoid Iken and his new power. A wave of condensed will power was unleashed just as lightning struck the mast of the enemy. The wave caused everything Iken perceived as an enemy to foam at the mouth and pass out. That condition fell upon even the powerful marine captain; he passed out midair before crashing to the deck of his ship with a thud. Fish and sharks attracted to the blood from the marines Iken had thrown overboard floated on the water belly up as the two ships bobbed on the waves.

There was a creak before the railed that the hooks were connected to fell off finally releasing the ship from the clutches of the marines. The wind blew causing the sail to form the shape of a U. Slowly the ship picked up speed, taking the crew away from the cursed island and the marines that had hurt them so badly. It was way from Ivan and the people that called the marines in the first place. They were going away from the area where Iken had sliced down his own best-friend. Iken just stood there in the rain looking down at the maimed man he had considered family for nearly two years now. "Don't worry. I'll find your brother my nakama. If it's the last thing I do, even if it kills me. I will meet that man." Iken said firmly with confidence.

2/15

The sudden slash down into Cat surprised Desais. He couldn't help but open his eyes wide at the site. The man he had just begun to know this very day, and his life was depleting. Desais wanted to get to know the character. He felt the first time they met was an unlikeable one. He hoped to one day become very good friends with him. But now it seemed that, that option has disappeared. Why?!?! Why is this happening?!?! This shouldn't be happening!! Desais thought as rage and sorrow erupted within him. Not being able to move and get rid of this pent up rage upon Razz made him even angrier.

It seemed to Desais that his rage had been given to Iken and multiplied. The amount of anger that erupted within him was off the charts. If there was a number that it was to go by it was definitely over 9000. The amount of destruction Iken caused to the insides of the crew was amazing! He didn't even need to touch the enemies. They all just seemed to explode from the inside out. Like I've said before, this guy is amazing! Desais thought as he just laid motionless on the ground. The ship began to move and the rain began to downpour. To Desais it seemed the sky was crying for their fallen comrade.

Ada whimpered softly as she kissed Cat's hand again. She was suffering so much, seeing him all covered in blood, in pain and dying... Somehow, unlike typical Ada, she couldn't see a positive outcome of this circumstance. Tears continued to fall, however less frequent. I have to be strong for him, I have to be strong for one of us, Ada thought. At that moment she had been in her own little world that revolved around Cat. Only Cat and her. She didn't notice Desais or even Iken. She just wanted to make sure Cat was fine. She grabbed a handkerchief and cleaned Cat's mouth, he had been throwing up blood as well. The blade had pierced through his chest, and quite possibly damaged his lungs, which would explain the blood that he had been throwing up.

It was only when she heard Iken say "You" that she snapped out of the little bubble she had created, surrounding only Cat and her. Another shiver ran down her spine and she looked up. Iken's eyes were full with rage, deep hatred and an enormous amount of pain and grief. He was losing a really good friend of his. And just like that hell set loose and all of the marines started dropping to the floor, fainting or maybe dead, Ada wasn't sure. She could have been absolutely terrified about whatever was happening, but she wasn't. Ada knew she was safe, she was one of them now. And just like the other marines, the man who had tortured Cat so much dropped unconscious. They all had fallen overboard, eaten by sharks and what not.

Cat mentioned wanting to meet a brother of his and Iken was the first to respond to his plea, saying he would meeting his brother someday and that they were nakama. The word stirred unknown feelings inside of Ada, however she was still feeling heartbroken. However Ada nodded softly at Iken's words, her face pressed against Cat's hand. "We will Cat, we will.." she didn't seem to muster the enough courage to say 'but you will come with us'. She wanted to believe that, but she couldn't, she just couldn't. As the rain continued to poor down Ada enveloped Cat, softly and carefully, trying to not cause any more pain to him. "We're here for you Cat, we're here" she mumbled softly.

Cat felt the warm handkerchief wipe away some of the blood from under his lip. Cat smiled thanking Ada without words for trying to make him more presentable. His right hand was being held by her own, and gently. Cat felt the warmness of his blood pooling around his body and lightness around his head only increasing. He wanted to sleep. But just like any child on his bedtime he wanted to stay up as much as possible. He wanted to wait. The marines around Cat then started to drop. Iken's anger had manifested into something strong. The marines dropped one after another around Iken, and before Cat could shed another tear the marines were thrown off board.
 
Cat smiled, trying his best to hold on to Ada's hands. She mentioned earlier that they'd find his brother which made another tear move down his right eye; however, the tear went through the cut and didn't stain with blood. It glistened in the sun like the purest of crystals. Cat breathed in; even non-doctors could hear the difference between his deep breaths and another man's. His halted suddenly and without warning. Cat had to breath twice as much to make up for the lack of expansion in his lungs (since they are getting filled with blood).

"I never got.. your name." Cat said this with breaks between his words to breath in. He was looking at the man that joined their group that day. Cat made sure to exclude the other people for now, but his hand was still trying desperately to cling onto Ada's. To Cat it was the Angel's hand that always connected this world to the next. He wasn't ready to go yet.

Desais began to cry as the life slowly drifted away from Cat's body. He knew he wasn't gonna survive much long. The tears on his face seemed so heavy, and he wasn't certain if it was the rain or the tears. The wind blew strong as the ship was sailing. No one seemed to be manning it though. The only thing keeping the ship from sinking was the strong winds seemingly keeping the ship aloft. It had seemed that the ship was taking Cat to a better place.

Desais couldn't hold in a slight chuckle at what Cat said. "It's Desais Mizuki, sorry I didn't introduce myself to you at the beginning." chocked up Desais. Desais felt lots of pain, but it wasn't from the wounds on his body. It was from the loss of a friend he barely even knew. He didn't really even notice the blood that had been running down his face and body. Desais could neither perceive between being cold or being warm. All he could focus on was Cat fading.

Cat nodded. The man's name was Desais. Cat had to learn the name of a comrade, even if it was briefly that he needed it. Cat tried to smile and spoke to the newly named man. "Thank you Desais, for helping us as much as you could." Cat coughed for a good ten seconds before suddenly halting; he continued to speak to Desais, "Make sure that you help Iken achieve what I couldn't.. please." Cat inhaled deeply towards the pause in the end; a small crackling sound and gush could be heard from his chest. Cat tried not to show it, but pain was starting to settle in. His ribs were shattered from the slice through his chest.

Cat then looked at the sky and left his eyes gazing at the clouds. It seemed to dull the pain somewhat, and it helped him relax. Cat's body refused to move from that position; the strength Cat had earlier was almost completely diminished. His hand tried to squeeze onto Ada's whenever a surge of pain ran through his body. He talked to her, knowing his time was almost up. He tried not to show it; the last thing he needed her to see was an ugly face on a new friend. "Ada, please take care of Iken. He's a handful when he is drunk, so don't let him drink too much.. and he likes meat, so make him a lot of it. Make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble for me, I couldn't prevent it this time." Cat's eyes started to tear up again; this time the tears didn't glow as much and fell to the ground like the rain. It was sadness that he felt. He knew he was the cause of most of the troubles they encountered, but he knew Ada would be different.

"Please Ada, take care of these two.. and any future friends they make." Cat smiled slightly, even with the tears that fell from his eyes. His eyelids were closed to emphasize the smiles hopes.

Ada didn't have to say it out loud, neither did she want to truly acknowledge it, but she knew that they all knew anyway. Cat's time was almost up, he would be leaving them soon. She felt his grip on her hand grow tighter every couple of seconds showing her how much he was in pain. It hurt her, both physically and mentally, but she didn't want to tell him that he was hurting her hand, it wouldn't matter. She could handle that pain. However the pain that she was feeling on the inside? She was feeling overwhelmed by it. She knew that Cat was trying to be strong, not show how much this truly affected him and he didn't want it to be worse for them than it already was. But Ada couldn't even start to imagine how painful it was for Iken. He had known Cat for much longer, and he had delivered the finishing blow. He was the one that had stabbed Cat through the chest, and left him dying. Ada knew that Iken had not meant to do that, and she had despised the marine captain for hurting Cat the way he did. Ada was sure that even if Iken hadn't done that, Cat would have eventually died due to blood loss. Maybe it would have taken slightly more, but he would have. And it hurt everyone's heart.

As Cat pleaded her to take care of Iken Ada smiled softly and nodded. She knew he couldn't see her, he was staring at the sky, waiting for his time to end, for his pain to end. "Cat, I promise you I will take care of Iken. I will take care of him and any other friends we make, and I will tell them about you, and I will protect them just like I protected and took care of you when you came in stumbling into my family's café, dehydrated, crazy and incredibly sick from digesting seawater. I will stand by them and never leave. I promise that to you Cat, I won't leave Iken's side, even if that means facing my own death. I will do it all for you Cat, and him, and everyone that you have met, lost and loved. I will never forget you Cat, and I will make sure neither does the world" she whispered against his hand, kissing it softly. "You're amazing Cat, know that, and I'm sure Iken knows that too, and he doesn't regret ever meeting you or having adventures with you. No trouble would have made him regret it, and whether it was caused by you or him, I'm sure it was one heck of an adventure" she had a small smile on her face and she truly adored Cat, she felt it in her chest. There was no need to deny it, this boy had charmed Ada's socks off.

Cat couldn't help but giggle from happiness. Ada was going to talk about him to others. She told him she's take care of Iken for him while he was gone, so he had no regrets. Desais was going to make them stronger, and Ada was going to make sure they stayed out of unnecessary trouble. Cat only giggled for a moment before his chest cracked again and he felt his breathing turn heavier. Blood was moving into his lungs again. Whatever wasn't bleeding out was going inside the lungs by this point. Cat didn't have much longer.

Cat tried to speak but his voice seemed much weaker then it was supposed to be. His energy from a few seconds ago was draining and his body was growing limp. He could feel his grip naturally lessen from Ada's gentle hands. "Thank you.. Ada.. I'm sure Iken will tell you all about our adventures.." Cat suddenly closed his eyes but then opened them again. He pictured the three people around him as a replacement for the family he lost. Cat smiled again and talked to Iken this time, "You made a great team.. too bad I won't be in it. Iken, I don't want you thinking that anything was your fault. You saved everyone.." Cat coughed up some blood that spewed on his chest. This time it was thick and his body was growing pale.

"Thank you, Iken, for giving me a second reason to sleep happy."

Iken stood there beside Cat, he listened to him speak to the others. He told them that he wanted to more time with them and that they should stick together and protect each other. For someone like Cat it was a fairly good speech, it was obvious he was putting his all in it. He was hanging on defying death just to talk to the people he loved. Cat will power could possibly be stronger than even his captain's. Iken couldn't help but feel emotions that he hadn't felt in such a long time. He had blocked himself off to most everyone he had met since his village was destroyed to protect his heart from being broken once again. However Cat was able to get in, past his defenses. Iken couldn't help but wish he's never feel this way again even if t meant he'd never love anyone.

Taking a look at Ada and Desais, Iken quickly realized that, that feeling was wrong and even if he did try to block them out they'd get in eventually. As strange as it sounds, Cat was Iken's teacher at that point. Iken had forgotten how to feel, and all along Cat was slowly changing that. In the time they'd been together, Iken had changed for the better. Even for all the belli in the world, Iken would never give up a single second with Cat.

"No matter what happens, you'll always be with us. You'll be a part of the group, in spirit if not in body." Iken said as rain poured down his face. "Jack. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have been here little lone awakened the power to save everyone. If anyone deserves the credit for saving us, it's you. You saved us Cat." he said kneeling down to Cat. "Thank you for everything, for following someone as undeserving as I."

3/15

Cat looked at Iken, with tears of joy moving down his eyes. He'll be a part of the group, even in death? Cat thought about it and couldn't help but feel overjoyed. His heartbeat slowed down, by a lot, and the blood pooling out of him made a small puddle underneath his body. "Iken, my captain, thank you." Cat then let go of Ada's hand and placed it upwards in the air. He put his hand in a position for everyone to grab onto the hand, like a 4 way handshake. He used all of his strength to put it in the air; it was noticeable by the slowness of his hand and the shaking his entire left arm (the one raised).

His face was fading, and his eyes closing, but he kept going. "Iken, become strong" Cat paused, then looked at Desais, but barely, "Desais, help Iken become that strong," Cat then looked at Ada, "and Ada, take care of them." Cat looked at the air hoping to see his hand connect to everyone else. The rain continued to drop against his face. It was like the rain was kissing him goodbye. But, it didn't feel like the end to Cat. It felt like it was the beginning. He thought it was the beginning of a small part of him; he thought it was the beginning of a very powerful crew. They will keep his dream alive, his dream of becoming a legend.

Ada had blocked everything out as Iken and Cat spoke, she couldn't hear it. She just couldn't. It hurt a lot to even hear what he had been telling her. Instead of listening, she heard her pounding heart, and she felt Cat's pulse lower (she could feel it from his hand), and his grip lessen in its strength, until he removed his hand entirely and held it upwards, towards the sky. Ada held his elbow with one hand, so that it wouldn't shake so much, and it wouldn't take so much effort for Cat to keep it up, and with her other hand, she held his, waiting for the rest to do the same. She looked at him, he looked so happy, even in his last moments, he was facing death with a smile on his face. Ada couldn't help but think, what a brave man.

Then he said something to each of them, to Iken and Desais first, telling them to become strong, and then to Ada, telling her to take care of them. Ada felt her heart break into millions of pieces. Tears fell faster as the sky roared, as if extremely sad and angry because of Cat's passing away. Ada herself let out a small moan of pain. "I will Cat, I swear I will. I'll take care of both of them and whoever comes after, I will take care of them like I should have taken care of you. Cat I swear you'll live forever in our hearts" she sobbed and looked at Cat. She leaned in and kissed his cheek. It was all she could do. She would break down later, but for now, she would be strong for Cat. As strong as she could manage, that is.

Iken smiled and took Cat's hand, placing his hand next to Ada's. When comparing the, it'd be obvious that Iken's hand was as cold as and nearly as pale as Cat's. He held his arm out; he was steady and strong while holding onto Cat and Ada. For a time, Iken's breathing had slowed. However just from holding his arm out he began to wheeze, although he tried to hide it from Cat. Making Cat worry before he was about to die was unacceptable to Iken, he wouldn't allow his body to do something like that. He'd quite frankly rather die himself than give in to his own weaknesses. It was a good thing that Iken was already on his knees.

"I don't care what I have to do. I'll become so strong that no one we care about will die ever again. I won't allow anyone we ever have or ever will care about to be harmed, I'll obliterate anything or anyone that tries to do harm onto them. Don't worry Cat, when I find your brother I'll protect him too. I don't care who I have to go through, the marines, pirates or even the fucking Yonkou. I'll kill them where they stand if they try anything. Nothing will keep me from making you a legendary hero like you are supposed to be. Like you are right now. I'll make sure everyone knows." Iken said with a halfhearted smile on his face.

4/15

Desais couldn't help but over hear what the others were saying. He was practically a vegetable on the ground. Not truly able to move because of his injuries that the marine captain had done to him. These guys shall be the crew I will forever belong to. They are the ones I have been looking for. Its too bad Cat can't stay with us... Desais had thought after what Cat and the others were talking about.

"Of course I shall do whatever it takes to help Iken become the most powerful, and the pirate king." Desais promised Cat. As he gave it his all and forced his will into making his arm move up towards the warm embrace of everyone elses promise circle. Desais was able to slowly move his hand into the circle as tears rolled down his face. Although there was sadness Desais tried to see the bright side of everything. "Man this rain, it certainly is heavy falling down from my eyes. If only the rain would stop, then this pain would go away." Deais laughed slightly. This was him referring to the fact that he wasn't truly crying but blaming the fact of his face being wet on the rain. Although he knew his emotions showed on the outside, he tried to make someone laugh somewhere in the depressing time.

3/15

Cat's hand then suddenly grew limp and the blood,sweat, and rain combined would make it very slippery to hold on too. Just like his life. Cat's face slowly grew into a smile seconds before losing all grip. The heartbeat that Ada felt would stop almost as quickly as his grip left the circle of people he trusts. The blood that left his body swam with the water and found their way out of the ship. Cat's face showed nothing more then joy, and his life seemed like nothing more then a joyous adventure that he'd never forget. Before dying Cat felt like he was going to sleep, and his mind raced with memories.

He remember Iken and him meeting the first day. Cat remembered their adventure fighting a man with a sea stone sword. He remembered Gale, Ikari (even if it was for a day) and the adventures when Cat finally found Iken again. Cat was able to fight and defeat a logia with Iken's help, and even gain some fame with that large number in the bottom of the poster. Cat thought about how good Ada's soup was, and how nice Desais seemed to be. Cat let out one last exhalation and pictured the group of people that now accompanied Iken. Cat's eyes closed, and the world grew silent. His last dream had begun.

Iken grabbed Cat's body after Cat died, he picked him up into his arms.  With all of his remaining might, Iken walked Cat over to his old boat.  Iken wrapped his body up in some cloth before placing him down into the boat.  With his free arm, Iken grabbed Cat's sheath from his belt.  The kitty on the end was stained red with blood.  He then covered the top of the boat with a trap to keep out the water for the time being.  Iken knew what he had to do, he knew where he had to take Cat before he could send him off once and for all.  

With Cat's sheath in hand, Iken walked over to the seastone sword laying on the deck.  It was still laying there where he had dropped it right before he had died.  Iken grabbed the sword and placed it in its sheath.  Placing it next to his other blade, Iken fastened it to his belt.  In this way, Cat would always live on, he would always protect Iken and be at his side.  Iken would use Cat's blade to protect his nakama all in the spirit of the brother in arms he had just lost.  Iken started into the sky before releasing a roar.  It sounded like a wounded beast was crying in pain.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

5/15

Belli Earnings Breakdown: