Smoke and noise… that is what calls the red-head back to the waking world. Haru's eyes slowly open, and he finds himself staring up at the face of his long time friend. "Yo, Haru," offers Luffy in greeting, smiling down at him from atop a small crate. "This is kind of a weird spot to take a nap, don't you think? What happened?"
"... Cheap shot," mutters Haru, slowly beginning to sit up.
"Huh?"
"That lion hit me with a cheap shot."
"Hm, is that right? Well, you look like you're fine… did you see which way it went?" Haru responds with a shake of his head, and slowly begins to stand, bracing himself against the wall as he does so. He notices the flames leaping wildly from the remains of the pet-shop that Chouchou was guarding, and immediately surmises that the lion and his tamer were the cause of it. "Well, I guess I'll go look for him then. Wait here until I come back, huh?"
"Huh… where am I gonna go, Cap'n?" Luffy turns, drops down from the box and begins walking down the street calmly. It takes a bit longer than Haru would like to admit for his strength to return, and when it finally does it's around the same time that Nami and the Mayor are returning. The red-head tosses aside a few boxes, pointedly ignoring Nami's ranting as he approaches Chouchou. Without a word he sits at the dog's side, and reaches down to place a hand on its head.
"Sorry, Chouchou," mutters Haru, rubbing the dogs head. "I just..." He trails off, ashamed of the current state of things. The dog had become involved in this battle simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and because of it he'd lost something dear to him. It isn't long before Luffy returns, and Nami's ranting begins again. She curses them for being pirates, even threatening to kill Luffy, but it falls on deaf ears as he approaches the dog and his long time friend.
"Here," Luffy says to Chouchou. "It's all I could get back. The lion ate everything else." Luffy sits down on the opposite side of Chouchou. The three are silent for several long minutes before Chouchou finally picks the box up in his mouth, and begins walking away. Hearing his barking seconds later both look over at the dog, smiling broadly as they do. "Yeah! Good luck to you, too!" Chouchou gathers his food, and disappears into the two without another sound.
"Luffy?"
"Huh?"
"Sorry for losing."
"Don't worry about something like that, you've won plenty of other fights in the past." Haru chuckles a bit in response.
"Even so… I really wanna kick this guy's ass now, Luffy." The two stand moments later, a grin on both of their faces.
"Damn it," exclaims the Mayor, attracting their attention. "These young'un's and even Chouchou are fighting so hard, and yet I'm just standing idly by… I need to fight as well! I can't just continue to be idle! This town was built by us, after all, we can't just let them domineer over it anymore!" The Mayor told them a story, the story of the town and how it was built up only by the hard work of all the people who lived here.
"Easy, old timer," Haru tells him, earning his attention. "Maybe it isn't my place to boast after being beaten so easily but… we'll take care of this."
"Just leave it to us!" yells Luffy, grinning like a fool. No sooner has he finished his sentence than a loud explosion cracks through the air, and a Buggy Ball annihilates another string of houses right in front of them. "Whoa!" When the smoke clears all three stare at the destruction in silence for several long moments before realizing exactly which building was destroyed. "Oh, crap! Zoro was sleeping in there!"
"There's no way," Boodle mutters. "That young'un is..."
"Still alive in there, Zoro?" calls Haru.
"Aaah, yeah," groans a familiar voice from the rubble. "I'm still here. But what a shitty way to wake a guy up!" Zoro leans up slowly, looking tired but otherwise unharmed and earning a laugh from his two crew-mates.
"H… How are you still alive?" Nami asks, more to herself than anyone else. Haru approaches the swordsman, offering a hand to help him to his feet.
"Things must have been pretty interesting while I was out, huh?" The red-head offers a shrug of his shoulders in response. Hearing shouting, the two look back in time to see the Mayor disappearing into the distance, spear in hand as he runs towards the direction of the cannon fire. "Looks like things are only going to get more exciting from here on."
"Looks like," agrees Haru, as the two approach Luffy.
"Don't you three think you should take this more seriously?!" shouts Nami.
"Relax," Luffy tells her. "We're not gonna let anything else happen to this town or the old man. I promise." He looks at Zoro and Haru with a grin. "Right?"
"If it's the Captain's orders," agree the two in unison. Luffy turns towards Nami, adopting a somewhat serious look on his face.
"Listen, our destination is the Grand Line… so we're going to steal back that map from Buggy, Nami. We'll be counting on your help when we've got it back. So, join our crew, huh?" He holds his hand out in offer, only for her to knock it away casually.
"I'll never be a pirate," Nami says simply. "But… I don't mind a partnership so long as it's beneficial for us both..."
They follow after the mayor, Boodle, in the direction that the cannon fire had come from. It wasn't exceptionally difficult to do considering all that they really needed to do was follow the path of destruction. The closer the louder things become and when they've finally caught up to the mayor it's to find him held aloft by the disconnected hand of Buggy. "Oi, Cap'n," speaks Haru calmly. "You don't mind if I fight Buggy, do you? I know that you already claimed him but..."
"Hm? Aah, sure, go ahead," Luffy tells his friend, watching him move quickly. He frees the mayor from Buggy's grasp easily, squeezing the disembodied hand painfully tight if the look on the man's face is any indication. He glares down at the red-head regardless of his pain, though.
"You again, Red-hair," growls Buggy.
"Yeah, me again," agrees Haru, supporting the mayor by the front of his armor with a single arm. "You ok, old man?" He casually tosses Buggy's hand back to him.
"You young'un's again," mutters the Mayor, reaching up to grip Haru's arm. "Why can't you just stay out of this? This is my fight for the future of the town! It doesn't concern you!" A low growl escapes the red-head who turns and throws him into the wall much to the amazement of everyone present. Boodle strikes the wall hard, losing consciousness immediately, and then drops to the ground.
"W-What are you doing?!" demands Nami, staring at the limp body of the mayor. "Why did you attack him?!"
"He'd have gotten in the way, and then he would have ended up dead," Haru tells her simply. "I know you hate pirates, Miss Navigator. Even if you hadn't been so vocal about it earlier it was pretty easy to tell that from your body language. I suspect that you have your reasons but..." He glances back at her and grins a bit. "... not all pirates are completely bad, ya know." He turns back to look pointedly at Buggy. "Big nose here on the other hand..."
"B-Big Nose?!" echos Buggy, eye twitching in anger. "You bastard! I'll turn you into dust! Fire! Fire the Buggy Ball!" Everyone but Luffy and Haru scatters quickly, trying to find a place to hide from the Buggy Ball that is going to be coming their way.
"That's not gonna work on us," Luffy tells them, grinning. " Gum-Gum… Balloon!" The cannon fires, and the ball strikes the rapidly swelling Luffy in the stomach only to be launched back seconds later. The building is destroyed and the pirates scattered by the explosion. Nami is beside herself with confusion, questioning Luffy again and again about how he did it and whether or not he's a Human… his only reply is to stretch his cheeks out with a grin. "I'm a Rubber Person, see?"
"How dare you," calls Buggy, attracting the attention of everyone present as he steps free of the rubble, clutching two of his crew in front of him as a shield.
"That's awfully cold," remarks Nami, watching him drop the two to the earth. The beast tamer Mohji pops up from the rubble next, quickly recognizing Luffy and informing his Captain of the man's Devil Fruit powers. A third man, identified as Cabiji by Buggy, emerges from the rubble, having used Richie as a shield from the blast… which instantly pisses his master off. Mohji makes an attempt to attack the man, only to be launched at the four gathered like a human missile.
"Coming through!" exclaims Mohji, sailing towards Haru. "MOVE! L" Haru turns his shoulder and the man is sure that he's going to pass by harmlessly… only to have his hopes dashed when the red-head drives an elbow into the middle of his back and makes him strike the pavement hard enough to bounce. A casual kick to the side sends him crashing through the wall of a nearby building.
"Th-That strength," Nami mutters.
"He's not the fastest there is," remarks Luffy, grinning broadly. "And he can be a little too serious at times but… ya know, I haven't fought someone who's physically stronger than Haru, yet. Still, I've always won our fights, right, Haru?"
"Right, Cap'n," agrees Haru, seeing no shame in admitting his previous defeats at the hands of Luffy in their many sparring sessions. The man Cabaji streaks towards the group on his unicycle, intent on skewering Luffy it seems. Zoro intercepts the man before he can, however. "Zoro!"
"Zoro, you really should take it easy."
"Shut-up," Zoro tells him simply. "If this guy wants to cross blades that badly, then I'll take him on myself." Zoro glances briefly at Haru, grinning wildly. "I don't know why you're looking at me, Red. Didn't you tell our Captain that you were going to take on Buggy? Don't tell me ya got cold feet." The red-head smirks and turns to face Buggy who is positively pissed.
"You damned red-head," growls Buggy. "Every time I look at you… I'm reminded of that other red-haired bastard from all those years ago."
"I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that you're referring to my father, Shanks." Buggy's eyes go wide as saucers at the mention of that name.
"So, you are related to him. No wonder you remind me of that bastard, then."
"I'm also gonna guess that you and my old man didn't get along well," Haru remarks off-handedly. "That's… actually a little odd, honestly. I thought dad could get along with anyone." Buggy's face is split from ear to ear by a huge grin which makes Haru arch a brow in response. "Somethin' on your mind?"
"This… This is absolutely perfect. I fully intended to kill Shanks when next we met, but first I'm going to start by killing you, his son. I am going to wipe that man and his family off of the face of this earth!"
"I welcome you to try." Hearing yelling behind him, Haru briefly glances back to see the prone body of Cabaji, and Zoro standing over the man. Another thing he noticed was that Nami was no longer anywhere to be found. "Looks like you're all that's left." Haru cracks his knuckles loudly as he stares at the man. "Let's go, Buggy." The man produces a number of knives, held between the fingers of his hands and even one from the toe of either shoe. He barely has time to consider this before he separates his torso from his legs and launches them at him.
Haru dodges with ease, and takes the opportunity to close the distance between them. Being bare-handed he is at a severe disadvantage if he cannot get within striking distance. "Charging in? You're awfully eager to die, aren't you?!" He covers the distance quicker than expected, left arm cocked back to deal a powerful blow as he launches himself up into the air. "Chop-Chop Quick Escape!" His head detaches from his body, and Haru passes by, sliding to a stop behind the pirate captain.
"Don't tell me you thought that I was gonna punch you, Buggy?" His eyes widen as the red-head turns on his heel, steps in and jams his elbow, shoulder and palm into the middle of his back. "Gryphon's Roar!" The impact hits the unprepared Buggy like a ton of bricks, and sends him skidding across the pavement several meters away before he finally stops and begins slowly standing. "The old man told me plenty of stories about you, and even if he hadn't after watching Zoro fight you I know that I can't cut you… but I sure can beat you to a pulp, can't I?"
"You're just as cocky as that bastard, too."
"Thank you very much." Buggy wheels around, pointing his fist at the red-head and growling loudly.
"Chop-Chop Cannon!" He fires off his hand at Haru, blades intended to skewer the man who reaches out and catches his fist. "Separate!" It broke apart in his hand, nearly taking his face off before he was able to dodge. Several thin cuts appear on his face, including a tiny one over his right eye which begins to bleed profusely and forces him to shut his eye. Buggy bursts into laughter as his hand returns to his wrist. "That was close!"
"Hmm… ya know, I've been wondering something."
"What's that?"
"My father… why do you want to kill him so badly? He's told me stories about you but never mentioned that he wanted to kill you." He pauses to reach up and wipe some blood from his face. "I'm starting to get the feeling that maybe this rivalry is kinda one-sided on your part."
"That man… I'll never forgive that man! He took everything from me!" Buggy tells Haru the whole story of how exactly his father "stole" everything from him. From time as pirates on the same crew, to the treasure map and Shanks making him accidentally eat the Devil Fruit to saving his life when he fell into the sea. When he's finished Haru is staring at him blankly. "So now you know why I have to kill him..."
"... Because he saved your life?" asks Luffy, confused.
"It kinda sounds like you owe him one," agrees Haru, reaching up to scratch the back of his neck.
"That's not what I'm saying!" Buggy bellows. "That bastard stripped everything from me and then just disappeared like nothing happened!"
"I don't see how. You're still alive, aren't you? You're captain of your own ship, even." Haru crosses his arms as he stares at the man. "My father never did a thing to you, Buggy. After hearing your side of the story it sounds to me like you're just looking for someone to blame. You ate the Chop-Chop Fruit because you were being greedy, and trying to hide it from the rest of the crew."
"I never would have eaten it if not for that man! So, I won't forgive him! That man delayed everything I was planning to do! But… I've decided that if I can't pursue the treasure underwater then I'll just collect everything this world has of value on land!" His torso slowly rises from his legs. "So that's why… I won't forgive anyone who touches my treasure!" He sails over-head, and Haru follows him in the direction of Nami who is carrying a large sack. "Let go of my treasure, Nami!"
He raises his blades, drawing closer and closer to Nami only to be stuck in the cheek by Haru's knee. " Gryphon's Rush! "He slams into the wall of a nearby building hard enough to crack it. "Oi, oi… don't go turning your back on me, Buggy. This fight is between us, after all." The red-head looks over briefly at Nami. "You alright?"
"I'll live. Thanks for that, Haru," Nami tells him, receiving a nod in return.
"You think I'll give my treasure to YOU? Who do you think you are, stealing my treasure?!" Buggy bellows loudly. Nami immediately tells him that she isn't in the mood to be lectured by a pirate for stealing from a pirate. "You think I'll let you steal from me? No… No, I'll kill you first, Nami!" He splits his body into even more pieces, all of which seemed intent on getting to Nami. Haru watches the pieces, somewhat impressed with his persistence… and also thoroughly pissed that his opponent is ignoring him. Noticing Buggy's feet walking towards the parts, the red-head grins evilly before stomping rather violently on the toes of either foot.
This pain immediately makes him open for Nami, who strikes him with the treasure bag. "Heheh… thanks for my treasure back, Nami!" Seeing that Nami hasn't let go he growls loudly, aiming two of his knives at the girl. "I said, 'thanks' now let go!"
"Gryphon's Rush!" exclaims Haru, striking Buggy in the back of the head with his knee and tossing him through the treasure bag. "I said, this fight is between us, Buggy! Stop looking away!"
"Damn you… damn you, Red! I'm gonna kill you first!" His parts begin to float, and then reassemble… only to reassemble into nothing but a head on arms and legs. "What the...?"
"Looking for these?" Nami questions him, tightening the knot on the rope holding his parts together.
"Looks like this is the end, Buggy," mutters Haru, looking at the small captain with a grin. "Now...s ee ya round!" He surges forward, and kicks the tiny captain like a kick ball, sending him sailing into the distance…