Arc Type: Standard
Arc Name: Sworn Brothers
Arc Tier: 2
Sea: East Blue
Island: Orange Town
Arc Description:

Beginning:

Ling Kutsu, a forty year old female whose appearance had seen better days thanks to constant stress, as evidenced from her graying hairs and the winkles appearing upon her face, would hear a few strong knocks on the door to her home. Quickly, she would place the dishes she was currently washing back in her sink, where she would dry off her hands and hurry to the door, where she would open it only to be taken by surprise at what her gray eyes had seen. Her son, Arata Kutsu, would be standing in front of a marine soldier that had a light bruise upon his face. His strong left hand would be gripped around the back of the boy's neck, restraining him from any chance of escaping. "Mam, is this your son?" The Marine would ask as Arata began to try to pull the hand off of his neck, only for the grip to tighten slightly more. Arata would look up at his mother with a defiant expression on his face, showing no clear regrets for whatever it is he had done. His mother did notice that his right knuckles were a red color, almost as it they had collided with something.

"Yes, sadly, he is. I'm sorry for any trouble he caused you, sir. I'll make sure he'll learn his lesson." She quickly said as she, with haste, rushed Arata into her home after the Marine released his tight grip for her. "Mam, wai-" The door would already be closed, however, and Arata's mother, whom of which hid her growing anger beforehand, let out her fury on him. "You always get into trouble, time and time again! What?! Do you want to be like those... those criminals out on the sea? Do you want to be arrested or even worse? Do you want to be like you fath-" Quickly the stressed, aged female would smack Arata across the face before continuing on as a means to change the subject without him taking notice. "Doing... this, this is what brings dishonor to our family as a whole, Arata. This dishonor is exactly why we had to leave our previous home in the first place. Please, you have been causing all this trouble and have been acting out for long enough. Just please... Snap out of it!" She finished, saving the rest of her scolding of him for later. She would turn him around and direct him to his room, where he would silently go, a light red, hand-shaped mark upon his left cheek from where she slapped him.

Arata was more than used to this sort of thing, however. He had a past of causing trouble, which expanded from pranks to full out attacking someone like he did this Marine, and it would all always end with him returning to his constantly angry mother, where he would take some kind of punishment and move on. Generally he would serve his punishment, though he felt like he had to go out today, for some sort of reason. It was a feeling that, if he didn't, he would miss something important. The eight-year old knew how to lock and unlock windows at this point in age and, by doing just that, he would climb out, landing on the stone within an alleyway outside. He didn't care much for his mother, as every time he had gotten himself into trouble she would always mention dishonoring his family. If one does one thing, they dishonor their family, if they do another, they dishonor their family. While Arata held no grudges against his family as a whole, which is evident from the rather large, weighted pendant around his neck, though his own mother was a different story.

Arata knew that he was an accident and his mother did little to show any true love she had for him. Sure, she took care of him and faked it, but that was all it was; a farce. Whenever he would get into trouble, her true colors would show that she was only concerned for her family's standing in society itself, while he was just another means of helping honor it. Now, having left his home, where his mother most likely wouldn't notice until it was too late, the gray t-shirt wearing young male with tan shorts on would make his way out of the alley and back onto the streets, where he would quickly run away from his home, heading across and down the street until he would slow down and begin walking around. Most of the time the other kids didn't wish to be around him due to what usually ends up happening, so Arata wouldn't have a lot of people that was really on friendly terms with him, though it also worked out in his favor that he wasn't nearly as picked on as the average child, either. They knew he could fight, so generally, after reminding them a few times, they knew to generally just stay away from Arata completely, not wishing to get hurt.

He would think about what his father may be like, since his mother hated the bastard so much. He always figured the man had abandoned his family to go do whatever it is he wished at sea, or to find a family he actually liked. Either way no matter what, to the young, pale skinned, gray haired kid, his father was a worthless bastard and nothing more. Arata hated many things in this world, but his dad was near the top of the list and he would almost always decide on killing him if they ever met as payback for all the times he wasn't there.

The young male continued down the street, his head down and hands in his pockets. He would hear small whispers around him coming from the few people that noticed him. "It that who I think it is...?" "Yeah, that's the delinquent." "Why doesn't he just stay home, where he can't ruin anyone's day?" These voices would say to one another quietly, though the boy can pick up on them. He wasn't surprised that some of the townspeople most likely thought of him as some kind of bad luck charm at this point, as seemingly whenever he goes outside, he always ends up making something worse, either by accident or on purpose. These quiets voices annoyed him, however, almost to the point where he was fuming. Soon enough, he heard someone say "He should just be locked up forever already. He's a waste." which made him snap. Looking at the adult male that said that with grey eyes full of hatred, Arata would yell at him "Say that to my face so I can kick your ass, idiot!", taking the man off guard, which was all Arata needed to bring his knee upwards, hitting the older male in the groin before running off.

Running away from the scene, Arata would take various twists and turns through the alleyways until he ended up closer to the docks, where he would see patrolling Marines. He always hated Marines himself. These people that think they're what's best for everyone. Arata couldn't stand the self righteous act these uniformed people would put on as a means to push their authority on others. It was disgusting. He already knew that when he grew up he would most likely fight against the Marines. Whether as a Pirate or as one of the rumored Revolutionaries that have been popping up lately, he didn't know, but one day, he would be their worst nightmare, he knew that much already. Glaring at them before one of them saw him, which caused him to turn his head away in order to avoid eye contact, Arata would continue on past them, moving on so he can find something to do.

Soon enough, the boy would reach the docks, where he would spot another boy, a younger one, seemingly, that would just stand there, looking at the sea though not moving. "What in the heck is that kid doing?" He would say to himself as the boy then seemingly nodded to himself before running off to the end of the street, past a group of kids Arata already had known were delinquents, just like him. He would see them go from talking to one another to being focused on the younger boy like a group of sharks that detected a bleeding prey. After they placed their focus on him, they would soon afterwards follow him down the street and towards the forest. Arata, knowing exactly what was going to happen, would tail from far behind, hoping to not be seen.

Arata would watch from a distance as the three confronted the kid that seemingly stood barely at three feet tall, obviously using their larger sizes and numbers in order to intimidate him. Although he was far enough away to not be directly seen he could hear the three as they mocked the kid for being the son a pirate, along with mocking him when the kid ended up getting pissed off as well. To Arata's surprise, the kid could hold his own, as he charged and began punching out one of the three kids, wailing on him as he was on the ground after knocking him down and straddling him. The chubby one of the group would quickly restrain the kid, however, as the extremely slim one of the three began punching the kid over and over again. The one that the boy had beaten up had gotten back up, and Arata knew he would have to intervene, as he can't stand by while these bastards would team up on a little kid.

Taking off his green pendant, which was heavier than a normal one due to the fact it was made of metal, Arata would hold it in both of his hands as he ran forward towards the four, coming up from behind the first, where he held the pendant above his head and brought it crashing down, aiming for the injured kid's skull. The other two kids would tell him to look behind him, though it would be too late, as right when he did, Arata's pendant collided with his forehead, breaking the skin for sure and knocking the already injured boy down again. He would quickly put the lightly-bloodied necklace back on, glaring at the other two bullies with his fists up. "Go ahead, call the Marines, I'll kick all of your asses!" He yelled as he ran towards the chubby one, attempting to land his right fist hard into his face.

Arata felt the bony fist of his connect with the facial bones of the chubby one. Bones and skin colliding with bones and skin would create a feeling that's hard to describe, though Arata can always describe the soreness afterwards, afterwards when the adrenaline has worn off and left him feeling worse than before, though the high he gets during a fight nearly makes it all worth it. He feels invincible when he fights, and at this moment, he may be an invincible hero, coming in to stop the villains from picking on those they deemed weaker or defenseless. Arata in a way never liked heroes all that much, but he would like to make a change in some way, to at least have his defiant personality be helpful to someone. He watched as the fat one toppled over with his captive, both falling towards the ground, though the smaller kid, one that only seemed six years of age at the most, wriggled his way out before he could fall entirely back, where he would deliver a blow to the slim boy's face next. Arata would watch as the kid then brought his right fist to the boy's chest next, forcing him to loosen his grip where he would then free himself.

Arata could hear the boy he bludgeoned earlier cry nonstop, almost like a baby, whining about how they're psychos and that he's telling his mom. Arata was tempted to chase him down and strike his arms and legs with the pendant too just so he will remember who not to mess with later, though he decided against it, knowing for a fact that he and the young kid still had two more bullies to fight. Arata was impressed by the fact a little kid like this could hold his own. He must have had someone to teach him some things, which makes him useful in making sure they both don't get their asses kicked. A few moments later both of the remaining boys would stand up, the chubby one, which Arata punched in the face, would have a busted lip and a small cut on his cheek. He would question who the hell Arata is, making him scoff in response as he continued to say how they're not cowards like Chisoki and that they can kick both of their asses.

"Your friend got off easy. I'm going to beat the blubber out of you though, whale." Arata said as a comeback as he could hear the slim one speaking to Naroshi, challenging him. While the kid would handle the thin one, Arata would directly charge towards the fat one, where he delivered two right hooks to his right arm and gut before ducking just in time to avoid a punch the fat one tried to deliver to his skull. Now ducked, Arata would immediately weave his upper body to the right, bringing his left knee up into the boy's stomach as he would once more, this time ripping it off, breaking the chat that held it, hold his pendant in his right hand tightly. He would take a punch to the gut, forcing Arata to bend over in pain, where he would feel himself get grabbed by the shirt and shorts, getting tossed a meter away from the chubby kid where he would tumble a little until he would lay on his stomach, curled up nearly, though not entirely as his ripped off pendant was hidden underneath his body. He could feel a stomachache coming to him from the blow, which only served to make him all the more pissed.

The chubby one would move towards Arata, standing over him with a pleased smile on his face. He would grab him by his gray hair, yanking his head up until he can see his face, where he would then bring his other hand back to hit it, though as he did, Arata would, with haste, bring his pendant down on the boy's ankle with a sickening crack, causing him to fall over in pain. Then, straddling the chubby boy, he would hit him once in the face with the pendent before hitting both of his arms multiple times, holding little to nothing back when thrashing him about with the weighted metallic item. Finally, he would hit the fat kid once more in the face, this time swinging it from the left, with it before getting off of him, satisfied with the beating. He was sure he damaged the ankle enough that it would need a cast, and the arms enough that he would hate to move them for the next few days, while he was positive from the bloodied face that the chubby kid will remember, just like his cowardly friend, who not to mess with.

Having stood up, Arata would look at the kid he aided, whom of which also left his opponent a bloodied mess, though he offered a spark of kindness to the skinny one by offering his hand, which was refused at first though soon he would be forced to take it and be pulled up, pushing him towards the exit in an aggressive manner, telling him to leave, where the skinny bully would leave his fat, unconscious friend behind. "What the heck are you doing?" Arata asked the boy as they were now the only two conscious ones left. "If you show these kids any kind of kindness, they will just forget who they were messing with beforehand. Besides, they threatened the Marines on you, and as much as the Marines probably don't like me, they like kids of Pirates even less." Arata said, almost scolding the boy in a way someone concerned with them would. He must admit, he had a soft spot for outcasts, cripples, and broken things, though as much as he's trying to teach this kid a lesson, he still views the entire ordeal as quite an annoyance, especially since he knew that he will have to take the fall in order to make sure this kid doesn't get in trouble for this.

Arata was taken aback from the kids' agreeing with him, explaining that he felt like it was a good idea at first, to fight them, but he ended up feeling bad about them afterwards. "Scaredy Cat." Arata said silently under his breath as the kid finished speaking. It really did take him off guard though, as he obviously knows how to fight, and yet it affects him in a pretty negative manner when he does just that. Is this kid just going to grow up into a pushover or what? It's the first time Arata ever heard of the son of a Pirate being such a peaceful weirdo. Arata would notice the kid kicking at the ground before walking towards him slowly until he thanked him for saving him, that he owed him one.

'Geez.. He really is a pushover..' Arata thought to himself as he rubbed the back of his neck and head in embarrassment, not wishing to be thanked for something that should have happened if someone else was in his position. He couldn't let a group of jackasses just act like they're big and tough just because they pick and beat up kids, of course. Then, the kid help a short arm in front of them, the hand in a lightly gripped fist, confusing Arata even more as he introduced himself as Naroshi, or Naro for short, stating that it's a pleasure to meet Arata before asking for his name. Arata stared at the fist for a moment, wondering what in the hell to do with that. "What's this? Offering a fight or something?" He'd ask as he took a finger and attempted to lightly push it away, not recognizing the sign of greeting as a fist bump. "I'm Arata. What were you doing out here, anyways?" He would ask Naro, genuinely curious about why he suddenly ran tot he woods in the first place.

Arata would cock his head to the left side in confusion as Naroshi would proudly and passionately respond that he came here to train and that his dad taught him a fighting style called Rokushiki for a year so far, and that this is the last place he took him before he.... Naroshi didn't finish his answer, however. It seemed this kid had a close relationship with his pirate, and that chances are he's most likely dead, as now the previous attitude this kid had almost instantly changed. Chances are his father must have died at sea, which would explain why Naro was staring at the sea earlier on the docks, where Arata originally spotted him. Arata himself didn't have much experience with having a loving father himself, or even a father he knew, for that matter nor does his mother really match a loving parent Arata has usually seen and envied from other children. Overall he couldn't tell what Naro is going through at this moment in the slightest.

He does, however, know what pain is, what it feels like to be alone. The cold, isolated feeling of being the only one that is stuck with himself as everyone else either dislikes, doesn't care for, or doesn't know him. Arata knows what it feels like to be alone, and it hurts very much, every single day. He hates the fact that, right at this moment, with the smile becoming a frown, his eyes becoming slightly red as they swelled with tears, a single stream of snot coming from his nose, Arata could see himself in Naroshi, and for once in a long time, he felt sympathy towards another person.

He wanted to appear tough, to take his anger at the world out on everyone else, to shove everyone away and fight whoever once tried to show authority over him. It was a way to express his selfish self-pity in himself, though now that he's seeing himself in this kid before him, he doesn't know if he can quite keep the emotional barrier he has been using to push everyone away up for someone he resonated with. Clearly troubled with the fact that now he has a kid that is about to begin bawling on him, Arata would raise his left fist and bring it crashing down towards the top of Naro's head, aiming to knock some sense into him as a look of annoyance washed over any signs of sympathy over his face. "Shut up with your crying, already!" He would yell at Naro. After the attempted strike he would look away from the boy, arms crossed as he looked at the trees. "It's obvious you can hold your own, though.." He told him, his voice carrying away towards the end as the tone lowered to something like mumbling, stubborn pride taking over as for the first time in a long time, he would make an attempt to reach out towards another. "You could, y'know, train with me or whatever.." He would say in his mumbling tone, continuously looking away from Naro.

Arata would turn his head back towards Naro after he called towards him, almost as a command for him to turn around, which Arata had done just that, wishing to see if the kid would accept his offer or not. He would be told about how it was a deal and that they can train together, a promise, really. The grey-haired boy was already beginning to regret making the offer, though more because of the fact he now had someone to be with rather than just doing his own thing, not to mention he wasn't exactly the best either at hand-to-hand, which may bite him in the ass if he embarrassingly gets his ass kicked by the six year old before him.

He would see the small fist held forward again towards him, something Arata suspected was a sign of respect and comradely, where he would bump it or something of the sort as an acceptance to this. Raising his right hand, whose knuckles are cracked and bruised from hitting the fat kid from earlier, he would bump Naro's fist lightly, ensuring that the deal made between the two would remain. "Come on then, we should get started." He would tell the one he could only assume was now something along the lines of a friend as he would go a bit deeper into the forest, hoping to get away from where they had assaulted those kids in case they really did run to the marines.

[Arc Portion Ended]

Arata had spent the night in the forest before, trying for once to not sleep in and keep Naroshi waiting. It had been years since they met, and as much as he didn't wish to admit it, the younger male grew on him like a infection would on an untreated wound. He would be snoring softly from up above, resting atop a branch around eight to ten feet above the ground in the forest. Arata would already have on a generic short-sleeved, blue shirt and some tan shorts, with two sandals resting upon his feet and his feet crossed over one another. His arms would be behind his grey-hair-covered head, with his head resting upon them like a makeshift pillow of sorts. Over the years he had known Naro he was overall impressed with how skill the boy was after just a year's worth of training. Even with Arata's constant fighting over the course of his life which had trained him, Naro, after but a year's worth of training, was able to contend with the older boy for the most part, with Arata himself only remaining slightly ahead. Outwardly, while he acted like it was annoying sometimes to have that friend of his around, on the inside he liked having a friend, a fellow outcast to hang around him and train with him. He didn't care at all if Naro was the child of a pirate, in fact that was perhaps one of the things he liked about him. All these kids of regular civilians and Marines tend to act as though they have any sort of appeal at all, as if it is cool for their dads to be out at sea, exerting authority over others and acting as if they rule everything. No, Naro was a different kid than these other ones, he had a free spirit, and Arata himself liked free spirits.

Arata's peaceful slumber would be soon interrupted, however, and he himself would wake up with a start, causing him, whom of which was resting comfortably before, to fall off of the branch, plummeting to the ground below. Landing upon the ground with a hard thud, effectively hitting his head upon the tree and causing a couple pieces of leaves and fruit to fall from above thanks to his flailing before he fell, Arata would sit up, rubbing his head. "Ow... I'm up, I'm up, you bastard." He would growl at Naro, whom of which would be but a few meters nearby. "What the hell do you want, it's too early for any of this." He would continue, glaring at the other boy with a tired look, awaiting an answer. 

"I'm fine." He responded to his concerned friend, whom of which continued questioning him. Generally people don't start interrogating others if they have a headache, but Naroshi wasn't much of the average person now, was he? Typically, at least from what Arata has seen, the younger male wasn't the brightest around sometimes, and other times he is, which an odd mentality to have. Being asked why he was sleeping up there, the older male couldn't explain, as he just felt like doing so. Generally it was to help him not be late for once but he actually liked sleeping up there in the forest more than he did at home. It was more peaceful, and a lot quieter. Overall Arata would ignore the question, instead responding to Naro's telling him that this is the time they agreed on and that they've been doing this for a few years. Sarcastically, the grey-haired male would look at him. "Who are you? I think I hit my head too hard." He would respond, in a way acknowledging that they did agree on this time. It still didn't change the fact that it was still too early, though. Noon sounds like a better time to train.

Grabbing a nearby, strange looking fruit, which had a purplish-pink hue to it and also had strange marking etching all over it, Arata would eat the fruit, struggling to work down the terrible taste at first, though since it was his breakfast he couldn't discard it at all, so he would continue eating until he devoured it all, leaving the stem behind, which he would toss to the side. Looking back at Naro, whom of which, after stretching, informed him that he would like to get started, he would take notice that the boy took some kind of fighting stance, obviously ready to fight once away. "Are you kiddin-" A strong pulse would hit his skull, making his eyes widen for a moment as the throbbing quickly intensified, ceasing just moments later. Holding his head, Arata would lurch over, coughing and dry heaving, until he felt normal again. He knew that this would have most likely worried Naro, and, not wishing for the boy to do something stupid like go get an adult or the like, Arata would speak up. "Before you ask, I'm fine. Let's just get started, Naro." He said as he stood up, staring at his friend as he put two fists up, his body turned to the side.