[CENTER][h1][color=EB054D][b]RICO[/b][/color][/h1][/center][hr]Keys clattering to the ground as they were dropped, Rico’s red eyes flashed as he charged right for Ensign Torrent. “Just because you’re a kid doesn’t mean we’re gonna keep going easy on you!” Sticking two fingers in the corners of his mouth, he let out a shrill whistle that echoed down the halls of the boat. Within moments, voices and boots against wood could be heard throughout the ship. [COLOR=EB054D]“Call for help all you want, I’ll take you all on!”[/color] Rico called, reaching out his hand, red fur trim rustling in the air. A fist flung out, only to stop in midair, Torrent flinching. Rico stuck the fingers out, the tips catching alight in flames of green and red. [COLOR=EB054D]“[b]Panicked Fuzanglong![/b]”[/color] In a burst of smoke and light, five rockets fired off, whizzing about in scatter shot directions, bounding off of the planks of the deck and leaving singe marks and smoke trails in their wake, the senses quickly overloading in the cramped quarters. Torrent took a step back, disoriented, while Rico shot his other fist out, catching the taller man in the face, blood spurting from his nose as he fell to the ground. As the fireworks fizzled out, Andou waved away the smoke as he approached, coughing, [COLOR=8C8E6E]“Why the heck didn’t you just punch him in the first place?”[/color] Readjusting his black coat, Rico insisted, [COLOR=EB054D]“It worked, didn’t it?”[/color] Andou just shook his head. Storming off, the two worked their way through the halls, path rather aimless. [COLOR=8C8E6E]“If we could grab my stuff, that’d help,”[/color] Andou suggested, taking over the course. One turn later, they ran face first into a squad of Marines, cutlasses brandished. [COLOR=8C8E6E]“Well shit.”[/color] Rico laughed, [COLOR=EB054D]“Man, you weren’t kidding about your luck, old man!”[/color] Before Andou could retort, he felt a pressure on the back of his neck, Rico vaulting over him driving his knee into the lead Marine, knocking him into the wall. Bringing his foot down, as it fell, a number of firework rockets launched from the heel of his dark boot. [COLOR=EB054D]“[b]Raging Hong![/b]”[/color] Whistling through the air, the fireworks exploded with a bang, cracking wood and blasting Marine soldiers in all directions, light in blues and yellows filling the air with the smokey residue. As the air cleared, so did the path. Andou let out a low whistle. [COLOR=8C8E6E]“You may be the second dumbest human being I’ve ever met, but you sure can throw down. Try not to torch the boat, fighting fires on the sea is a bitch.”[/color] [COLOR=EB054D]“Well now I gotta know who the dumbest human you’ve ever met is. And the dumbest non-human for that matter.”[/color] At Andou’s guide, the pair found the Marine’s storage area, a number of cubbies and shelves arranged for the personal effects of prisoners, kept temporarily to be returned, or snatched up by soldiers and passed off as misplaced. Andou started sifting through while Rico stood by, leaning his hand against one of the shelves, only for it to snap under his weight, sending the young man stumbling, where he bashed his head against the wall. Andou glanced back, [COLOR=8C8E6E]“You good?”[/color] Getting up, Rico rubbed his head, noticing that the spot he’d grabbed was already cracked, the other shelves being completely fine. [COLOR=EB054D]“I think your bad luck is starting to rub off on me man.”[/color] Andou shrugged. [COLOR=8C8E6E]“Just how it is. Get used to it. A ha!”[/color] Pilfering one of the cubbies, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes, sticking a metal piece over his right index finger, wrapping a leather strap around his wrist to keep it in place, the nail of the finger guard sharp and ridged like a screw. [COLOR=EB054D]“Ready to go?”[/color] Andou turned about at Rico’s question, knees buckled, eyes narrowed. Rico barely had time to react as Andou blitzed right at him faster than he could perceive. The sharp implement went right through Rico’s body, the sizzle of ignition following Andou’s strike. There was an intake of breath from behind Rico, the boy turning his head to see Andou’s finger lodged in the chest of a Marine solider with a rifle, the firearm clattering to the ground as the man did once Andou twisted his wrist to pull his weapon out. Arm free, Andou brushed at his singed sleeve, bits of smoke wafting off. [COLOR=EB054D]“Man, you’re fast. Also could you warn a guy?”[/color] [COLOR=8C8E6E]“Eh, didn’t feel like it,”[/color] Andou said, pulling away. Slipping out a cigarette, he propped it into his mouth. [COLOR=8C8E6E]“Got a light?”[/color] There was a whistle as the small red flame of a rocket whizzed by, Andou’s face marred by a trail of soot, the end of the cigarette glowing orange. Taking in a puff, he met Rico’s gaze, pride evident in the lad's cocksure smile. [COLOR=8C8E6E]“Thanks pal.”[/color] [hr]Door to the deck slamming open, Rico and Andou spilled out into the open. [COLOR=EB054D]“Dang it’s bright out here! How can we find a rowboat if we can’t even see? Oh wait, it’s getting better.”[/color] “Took your time, didn’t you?” came the voice of Commander Lindsay, stiff mustache still bristling like it had something to prove. [COLOR=EB054D]“Hmm? Yeah, we kept getting lost, I guess. Oh and we ran into some of your guys but that didn’t slow us down too much.”[/color] Lindsay’s brow lowered into a glare, the man dropping from the forecastle deck, facing off with Rico and Andou on the main, casting his justice coat aside. “Sorry for going easy on you. This time my discipline isn’t going to be so casual. You’re not just a shitty brat, you’re a menace, and it’s about time you learned the difference between right and wrong on these oceans.” [COLOR=EB054D]“Oh, don’t you worry, I know plenty of right and wrong, I just don’t mind being [i]wrong[/i].”[/color] Rico put one leg out, his neon green slacks catching the sunlight, the boy ready to rush forwards. Plip. There was a light flash of white. The two older men had their eyes drawn to Rico’s shoulder. Rico spotted a small white bit of sludge on his coat, partly streaked over the raised collar, smearing the black and green skull shaped decal. The cry of seagulls above was like a mocking howl of laughter. Jabbing his finger at the offending mess, Rico cried, [COLOR=EB054D]“You see, [i]that[/i] is [b]wrong[/b].”[/color] Andou started to chuckle. [COLOR=8C8E6E]“Hey Commander, you might wanna grab that bird and give it a medal. It just shat on the man who’s going to become future King of the Pirates, apparently.”[/color] Jaw agape, Rico’s eyes bore into Andou. [COLOR=EB054D]“God dammit, that was so good I can’t even be mad.”[/color]