Pirate Turned Shinobi - Hyouzou Law

[TrafalgarHyozo]

"I'm gonna be the King of the Pirates!"

Gold Roger grinned at his son's bold statement. To become the next Captain of the Heart Pirates....that was a dream Roger, the current captain, had imagined everyday for his son. The child, Hyouzou, was only 5 years old, too young to know the dangers that accompanied piracy. But already the young boy matched his father's ambition, if not topping it and putting it to shame. The Heart Pirates were nothing like other pirates, killing, raping, and pillaging not in their vocabulary. However, although they did not hold the same view of piracy as their counterparts, they never failed to appear on the top wanted list. It was a bittersweet thing. True, they were famous and received respect from others, pirates and common folk alike. But, they were famous due to their notoriety, and although they received respect, it was more out of fear than anything, the common people showing them courtesy for the safety of their own lives. It was something that gnawed at Gold Roger's conscious everyday, and as time passed, he began to wonder if piracy was the right path for not only him, but for his son as well.

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Gold Roger, full name Shanks Le Roux, Captain of the Heart Pirates, was publicly executed at the Marine Headquarters in front of a crowd reaching more than 1000. The news of his death has spread all over the Western World, receiving cheers of joy and shouts of grief alike. He was charged for the murders of numerous political figures, including the Fleet Admiral of the Navy and 3 aristocratic World Nobles. Along with these murders, he was also charged with counts of thievery, bribery, and most important, piracy. With these crimes to his name, his total bounty reached 200,000,000 Ryo, making him the most wanted person in the Western World. He was 30 years old.

This is the story of his son, Hyouzou Law.  

[TrafalgarHyozo]

To understand the life of Hyouzou Law, we must first journey into the lives of his parents, Shanks Le Roux and Kurenai Law, two star-crossed lovers who came from two opposite sides of the globe. Their journeys brought them to a place, and it was at this place, the group of islands known as the Sabaody Archipelago, that they met and changed both of their lives forever.







Shanks looked on solemnly as the fires raged all over the islands. The sky was painted orange as the flame touched the sky. The heat sent sweat down Shanks' brow, but he made no move to wipe it off. He was mesmerized in the destruction he had caused. This was his home, the only place he knew. What was he going to do now? No doubt the Navy would come looking for the one responsible, and already people were shouting out the name "Shanks Le Roux", either praising him as a deliverer or cursing him as a murderer. Sooner or later, he would be chased. It would be best to leave while he still could. His eyes scanned the island. Was this really how it should have ended? Were the murders justifiable?

"Shanks! Shanks!"

Shanks looked to his left upon hearing his name shouted, both fearful and hopeful that a stray slave owner had come after his head. It was a fellow slave, one who had been on Shanks' own plantation working a few feet away from him. Disappointment crossed his face for a second, but he quickly put up a mask of indifference on. Yes, he wanted to die, more than anything. But right now, especially after the massacre, the people needed a leader, and without wanting to, Shanks' gave them the illusion that he was able to lead.

"Shanks.....there you are." The slave let out of breath, as expected. Sabaody Archipelago was no small place, the total land of the islands about the same size as a large city. The man, no older than 40, took a minute to catch his breath before addressing Shanks again. The man was not exactly brave or courageous, allowing his master, which was incidentally the same as Shanks' master, to beat and belittle him repeatedly, all for a guaranteed day in his already miserable life. Still, Shanks couldn't blame him. Living in slavery was better than dying free to many people. Shanks just wasn't one of them. "Shanks....there are 600 men awaiting your order. What would you have me tell them?" The young man widened his eyes at this statement. 600? My orders? He knew that the archipelago held over 1000 slaves, but he never imagined that over half would stick with him. Why didn't they leave? Go on? Leave this place forever and start a new life? Before Shanks could open his mouth to reply, the slave lifted up a hand. "Shanks....you led these people out of slavery. You've single-handedly caused a rebellion to free these people.....they view you as their savior. Their messiah. They need you. They have nowhere else to go."

Shanks thought a moment. What could he do with 600 men? What would he do with 600 men? The Navy would come first thing in the morning, and without anything to there name, the slaves would either die or be arrested, then die publicly. Could he really do it? Could he be the leader these people were looking for? He was doubtful, yes, but if he was able to cause a rebellion, maybe he would be able to take these people further. Shanks looked at the slave. He had a hopeful look in his eyes, one that instantly decided Shanks' decision. He nodded. "OK, i want all the ships to be ready to sail in 2 hours. Put every able bodied men to work moving food and supplies onto the ships, while those able to navigate the seas should be gathered up for my inspection. If we're gonna sail tomorrow, we need to move fast." The slave smiled brightly, his eyes tingling in admiration. He turned to leave, but Shanks stopped him with a hand. "Oh, and from now on, i want to be referred to as......as Blackbeard."

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Shanks Le Roux was born into slavery. He worked on a plantation in the Sabaody Archipelago, his fate already decided by his owners, who were of Nobility Class. One night, after planning for almost 2 years, Shanks, along with his fellow 200 slaves, ignited a rebellion against their owners. It ended in success, reaching all over the islands and resulting in 1000 slaves being freed. 13 slave owners, including both the World Nobles that owned Shanks, died during the incident, the two World Nobles being murder by Le Roux himself. This incident, which Shanks was credited for leading, made the now free slave a wanted man, and without any other option, Shanks Le Roux took to the sea. He was 15 years old when the "Archipelago Massacre" took place.

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Kurenai took a deep, yet silent, breath. There was no way that she was going to make it out. Guards were positioned all throughout the palace, and even if she managed to bypass all of them, where was she going to go? True, she had money. True, she had her genjutsu. But where was she going to go first? Hell, she didn't even know how to work a compass! It sounded like a good idea during her daily reveries, but "exploring the world"? That just wasn't practical.

No. Don't think like that. You have to leave. You have to.... Her thoughts slowly brought reassurance to Kurenai's mind. If she took things one at a time, she would figure it out eventually. She had her Ranmaru Kekkai Genkai to defend her against enemies, and with her cunning, she would be able to protect herself. She had money to pay for food and supplies. As she remembered all of her resources, she slowly calmed down. Just don't do anything stupid. With another breath, this one for easing out the nerves, Kurenai leapt. If she were to leave, she would have to take out all the guards first.

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Kurenai Law was born into luxury. Her father being a village elder, Kurenai never had to worry about a thing in her life. Being expected to take her father's place, Kurenai went to the ninja academy at a younger age than most, and surprisingly, she graduated several years prior to her peers. It was to be expected, after all, for she had the best teachers, the most valuable scrolls, and even received lessons from the Kage himself. However, in spite of having everything she could ask for in life, Kurenai was still not happy. There was more to be discovered in the world, more places than any shinobi had ever dreamed of. So, in the middle of the night, Kurenai left her village, leaving a note behind of her absence. She was going to journey to the West. She was 17 when she fled from home.  

[TrafalgarHyozo]

Name: Shanks Le Roux
Alias: Blackbeard
Age: 18
Location: Somewhere Out at Sea

Shanks Le Roux, now under the alias Blackbeard, traveled the seas for a total of three years before reaching Louguetown. During this time as Blackbeard, directly after the "Archipelago Massacre", Le Roux became one of the most infamous figures in the Western World, killing and pillaging as he pleased.

During the course of his 3 years out at sea, "Blackbeard" received a total bounty of 120,000 Ryo, a fairly high amount for only three years of piracy. Still, every ryo was well earned, for Blackbeard was the cause of countless deaths and impossible amounts of money being stolen. Although Blackbeard seemed to be well enough on the outside, this was truly not the case. Every night, before he went to sleep, the pirate captain held a gun to his head, believing deep down in his heart that killing himself would be a great favor to the world. Every night he held a pistol to his head, and every night he put it away, too afraid to pull the trigger. The fact that he considered himself a coward added greatly to the burden held on his back, the burden that deep down, he was nothing but a lowly pirate.

As Blackbeard continued his journey throughout the sea, striking fear into the hearts and minds of many, he happened upon the harbor town of Louguetown. It was here that he would meet Kurenai Law, the woman who would be the cause of his love, his greatest suffering, and his death. It had been three years since anyone had called him anything else than Blackbeard.

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~



Name: Kurenai Law
Alias: Red Eye Mistress
Age: 20
Location: Nowhere in Particular

Kurenai Law was the definition of a vagabond. Drifting from town to town, Kurenai never stayed in a location longer than a few days, and although she went to great lengths to keep her identity a secret, her vibrant red eyes were the spark of conversation everywhere she went. Without her consent, she was beginning to be identified as the "Red Eye Mistress". Becoming a legend in numerous towns, Kurenai had to resort to covering up her face with a hood, something she loathed very much. Still, it was during one uneventful day that she happened upon the harbor town of Louguetown. It was here that she would meet Shanks Le Roux, the man who would be the cause of her love, her greatest suffering, and her death.  

[TrafalgarHyozo]

Name: Shanks Le Roux
Alias: Blackbeard
Age: 18
Location: LogueTown

LogueTown

Name: Kurenai Law
Alias: Red Eye Mistress
Age: 20
Location: LogueTown

Shanks Le Roux, better known as Blackbaerd, entered the pub. As soon as he stepped foot onto LogueTown, along with his crew, conversation broke out. There were silent murmurs, glances of fear, followers who were not so inconspicuous. The Pirate Captain let out a sigh. The Marines will be storming this place in an instant. But it didn't really matter. Tonight was going to be the night he would die. Tonight. He had ordered one of his most trusted mates to dose all of the food with poison. Poison strong enough to kill the whole crew of the Blackbeard Pirates. Then, after the mate had rigged the chef's supply, he was killed. Killed, by Blackbeard, to ensure that nothing would interfere with tonight. He was doing the world a favor. The Blackbeard pirates didn't deserve to live. Not anymore, at least. Maybe, when they were slaves, but that was a past long forgotten and long gone.

As he took a seat at the bar, his drink already ordered, he looked around the tavern. Not much, mostly just drinkers, either too drunk or stupid to be afraid of Blackbeard. As his eyes continued their inspection, they stopped. There was this woman. A woman who, incidentally, was sitting right next to him. There was nothing much special about the woman, save for her eyes. They were red. Bright red. Blackbeard couldn't help but to stare. There was something mesmorizing about them. They were deep, filled with the faintest hint of "ripples" that moved. The ripples moved, like water tides. Flowing slowly throughout the small ovals that were here eyes. They kept going, not showing any pattern, any repetition, any instruction as to how fast they should move, how strong. It was the best thing the pirate captain had seen in years....no, his entire life. His eyesight just kept going deeper and deeper into her irises, the vibrant red becoming some sort of metaphor to blood. Blood from the "Archipelago Massacre". Without realizing it, Blackbeard began reliving that night, began reliving the deaths that he, personally, had caused. Bodies lined the woman's eyes, slim black lines in an otherwise unscathed image. They were.....they were....

"Excuse me." Kurenai scowled. This creep, whoever he was, had been staring at her for the last minute or so. And not at her breasts, like she was used to. This man kept his gaze fixed on her eyes, and although she didn't care all that much at first, it was beginning to become unsettling. Bad enough that she had lost her coat which she used to cover her face. But now, with this guy staring like an idiot, her alias of the "Red Eye Mistress" would start spreading throughout Loguetown. Half around the globe, and she couldn't escape that name! "Whats your problem anyway?"

Blackbeard caught himself. What had he been doing? Why were those eyes so mesmerizing. Shaking his head abruptly, the man took on a somber expression. "Sorry. I....er....sorry." He looked back at the bartender, a man who had probably seen what had happened, but chose not to speak of it. After all, Blackbeard was huge. As he took a drink out of his cup - some kind of ale - his eyes wandered to hers once more. Not to stare, not to become hypnotized like before. But to see her expression. What the hell am I doing? Why do i even care? Although the notion was completely alien to the pirate captain - a pirate captain without fear, one who took what he wanted, when he wanted - he couldn't stop his eyes from straining his peripheral. Blackbeard turned his head a slight degree to get a better look. To his surprise, the woman with the red eyes was looking back at him! He opened his mouth to apologize - something he rarely never did - but was cut off by the mysterious mistress. "I'm.....I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scold you for earlier. I'm just a little on edge."

There was something about this woman. Something about her eyes. Something about the way she looked. Something.....something that Blackbeard found oddly fascinating. It was like a drug, much stronger than any opium he had scourged on the sea. More addicting to him than alcohol to an alcoholic. He wanted....no, he needed more. The woman, whoever she was, had a strange effect on him, for just then, during that one moment of vulnerability, that one moment of addiction, that one moment of him not being in control, Blackbeard did something he hadn't done in his lifetime, and something he would never do again in his lifetime. Eh, why not? I'm gonna die tonight anyway. Might as well do this once. "I'm Shanks Le Roux. And you?"