piratejournal | First Contract ¤ Audio [Forward dated to after agreeing to join with Motochika]

[The silence is broken by the sound of three gunshots fired in quick succession, far quicker than should be possible with beginning of the 17th century technology, at least with only one gun. After a moment, a woman speaks.]

Hear us now! We are the Saika Faction! The red bell rings. The pact we have made shall be known to all! Let it toll! Let the bell call out across the land!

[Some time between her arrival and this entry, Saika must have somehow managed to get her hands on an appropriate bell, because it rings for a few moments before she addresses the journal again.]

I am the Magoichi Saika, leader of the glorious Saika Faction. For those of you that have not heard of us, we are the finest mercenaries of our land and time, one that we share with the likes of Ieyasu Tokugawa and Mitsunari Ishida. We are here to announce our alliance with Motochika Chōsokabe and the crew of the Katabami until such a time as our contract has been broken or expires. Should there be any other members of the Saika out there, resolve the matter of your own contracts and come here when you are able. That is all.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It'll be great. [munches more of the apple] Whut is it you du?

Eat or speak. Do not do both unless you want to choke. [Really, how old are you?] I am a mercenary. Should someone give me the proper respect and prove their strength to me, I fight with them in exchange for coin.

It's okay I'm rubber. [munches more]

Are you really strong? You should fight with Zoro! He's pretty strong, too, and he's always looking for a challenge.

Rubber? [She's technically from 1600, they don't have that.]

Where I am from, the Saika Faction is the strongest mercenary organization in the land. I would be happy to fight this Zoro, provided he doesn't complain that guns are my weapon of choice.

Yeah! I stretch! [and he pulls on his cheek to show, not that she can see it. But she also can't see the half chewed apple bits falling out of his mouth so that's probably a good thing]

That sounds pretty cool! I dunno how he'd feel about it. He's a swordsman, but he also likes to fight things so I guess it depends...

That... doesn't really explain anything to me. [Stretching is a basic human action and something anyone should do before exercising. She's not sure how you doing it makes you incapable of choking on apple.]

You should ask him before we commit to anything. I've had my fair share of close-quarters combat against swordsmen, so I would be fine with it, should he still want to fight.

Ehh it means I can stretch. [he's never really had to explain it before so...he thinks]

I can sit on the deck and grab the crow's nest. [which he does and since he's holding onto it anyway, shoots his way up there. He lands easily, crouched on the edge of the Crow's Nest and holds the journal on his knees]

I'll forget by then but if you're strong you'll meet him and you guys to decide then. Maybe sooner when we sail with Moto-chan.

Ah. That makes a bit more sense. [Though how that would prevent food from being lodged in his windpipe, she has no idea.]

You'll... forget. That isn't reassuring to hear if we're to be allied. But I will remember when we meet.

Yeah. I only choke if I accidentally eat a plate. [which happens more than you might think]

It's okay. Even if I forget my nakama will remember for me. [that's how it always happens anyway. They keep track of the important stuff]

... [Magoichi really doesn't have anything to say to that.]

It is a blessing to be able to rely on your comrades, but you should take care, lest you are no longer able to take them for granted. [She knew she did when it came to her mentor. Now, there were only regrets.]

[his voice suddenly becomes serious. Because these things are always serious to him.]

My nakama are my treasure. I don't take them for granted. [the only thing he had done was thought they would always be there, but after the bear guy and everything else he was starting to realize he had to become strong a little on his own, too, for their sakes]

I see. [Such a serious voice makes her wonder...] Have you lost something, too? [Was he like Ieyasu, smiling to mask the pain?]

[...he wants to say no, because they're back. But he thinks he may have only he doesn't want to believe it] I dunno... [he rests his chin on his knees]

I'm lucky here because most of them followed me, but back home we got separated because we weren't strong enough.

[Losing people due to a lack of strength is a situation that Magoichi is way to familiar with. But it seems that Luffy is fortunate enough that they are not lost forever.]

You must have formed quite the bond, if you've found each other across space-time. When you return home, I believe you will be able to find them again, sooner or later.

I will.

[he kind of knows he will because Zoro is from ahead of him and said as much.

But he also wonders if he's going to lose anyone along the way]

I hope you can find your nakama, too. [since she did say she was part of an alliance, right?]

I... appreciate the sentiment. [The separation from her faction has been troubling her, but she already knew that they would be with as soon as she returned home, and she would have Motochika in the meantime. Her true loss is something that can never be returned, and she has long since accepted it.]

In the meantime, I look forward to when we can meet face-to-face. You're an interesting man.

[he wonders a bit... But he doesn't push any questions because some things people just liked to keep to themselves]

You're pretty interesting, too. Good luck and see you later!

[That's probably for the best. Motochika might be able to get it out of her on her worst day. As far as she's concerned, her mourning process is over.]

Thank you. Safe travels.