Great Wind
Osumare, the Bear Lord, sat on the couch in the great palace that Baihin had built years and years ago. A breeze blew through the large open window, disturbing the thin curtain of silk that held a white pattern with a black trim.
Days like this were peaceful, where he could just lounge about without a care. Of course, word was coming up soon he knew that. These relaxing days were just a brief reprise for all the members of the Great Wind Pirates. Soon Baihin would make another request of his Lords, getting them one step closer to their goals.
“Osumare” a gruff voice said. Osumare turned to face Priamos, the Rabbit Lord. he was the smallest of the lords, only because Haruka didn't count as a lord. The man's hair was a deep maroon color that framed his head in a very handsome manner, with eyes of a blood red. His face was very rigid, Osumare was only slightly jealous of his jaw line, considering that Osumare got Dimples instead, how unlucky. Priamos wore his button up long sleeve, decorated in the symbol of rabbits, with a set of silver cufflinks that he fidgeted with often. Osumare knew that below the sleeves were his hidden blades that he fought with.
Not like Priamos needed them, his nails were enough to kill a man, or his devil fruit power. Osumare needed his weapons and devil fruit to fight, how unlucky that he wasn't like Priamos in that regard. What would it be like to fight with just your bare hands? Eh what did it matter.
That thought sent Osumare back to that beach on the little island, that fishman, Keibe? He had thrown Osumare into the sea, leaving him to drown. Luckily he was rescued but still, he was out of the fight for so long because of it. Osumare felt his grip dig into the armrest of the couch. If he ever saw that fishman again, he would take his head and offer it to his lover.
“Osumare are you even listening?” Priamos said, waving a hand in front of Osumare.
“Not really no.” Osumare said nonchalantly. “You're terribly boring.”
Priamos glared at Osumare. “I said, do you know why the Captain called a meeting?”
“He did?” Osumare asked, genuinely confused.
“You didn't know! Why are you here then!”
“It is a nice day, and this room gets the best sea breeze.” Osumare said, stretching his limbs out. He missed this breeze, it reminded him of Osayo, the smell of the ships being built in that port matched the ones Baihin was having built in his shipyards. Yaichi Island was very busy, preparing for what can only be described as war. Though war was still a ways off that was for sure.
Priamos sat in a chair, his feet not reaching the floor from how deep the chair was. Servants entered and set out food for them, as well as tea. Osumare grabbed some cookies and began to munch.
The door of the conference room opened, revealing Haruka. He was strange. Osumare had been apart of the Great Wind crew for over thirty years now, he had even fought against the Helmsman of the Roger pirates. Those were the days, pirates were different then. When Roark died things got so boring. When was Ylva or Edoaurt going to come for revenge? Come on its not hard!
Haruka joined after Roarks death, and rose in the ranks quickly, becoming Second Claw swiftly. He almost lost that title two years ago, after what he did at Marineford, Osumare just laughed. It was so ballsy for a lady looking dude. He almost declared war on the marines just to give his dad the finger, legend.
“Cap still mad?” Osumare asked as Haruka sat down at a table opposite Priamos.
“He holds grudges for a while.” Haruka said, removing his quiver and bow from his shoulder, he was rarely without them. “He says hes mad, but he is just putting up a front.”
That ‘Front’ had led to Baihin destroying a ship just two days ago, so Osumare was not so sure. Then again with Baihin anything was possible, he was just the type of person who would tell death no because he thought it would be an inconvenience.
The door opened again, revealing the feathered man, Quixatli, the Badger lord. Apparently he had descendents from an island of bird people known as Tenzlians. Osumare was curious about them, could they fly or were they like the mythical dodo? Osumare had to ask some time, but today was not the day, only because he wasn't feeling it.
Quixatli had deep purple feathers on his dark ebony skin. He was a very large man to put it simply, how tall? Well at least two and a half Harukas. He wore his warrior armor that was traditional of his people, which included a feathered headdress and vest. Osumare wondered if the headdress was made from bird feathers or his own descendants? Some questions shall never be answered.
“You see this?” Quixatli said, his voice a deep yet silky smooth tone that was a pleasure on the ears. He held out a newspaper to Haruka. “Your sister has appeared on Tianti.”
“That so?” Haruka said, sitting on a chair with his feet on the cushion and knees to his chin. He ate a cookie in small bites. “Good for her, been what, two years since she vanished?”
Quixatli stepped over to Osumare. “You going to make room?”
Osumare thought about it. “Not a lot of room, but I'm willing to cuddle.”
Quixatli did not acknowledge him, he just moved Osumare’s legs and sat on the other end of the couch.
The door was not closed by Quixatli, as another followed behind him. The handsome Falcon Lord, Erlang ‘Third Eye’ strolled in, brushing his styled silvery hair back as he walked, pulling a cushioned seat from a corner of the room and bringing it into the mix around the table.
“Neat how that happens huh.” Erlang said, grabbing a cup of tea and doing a single blow from his lungs to cool it. “Siblings coming to the new world left and right huh.”
“Right yours have been around for a while huh.” Priamos said, pointing at Erlang.
“Yep, they both have been here for a bit now. Quite proud of them, as a true older sibling should be.” Erland said, sipping at the tea. “Perfect.”
The door opened a final time, letting in two of the most important members of the crew. At the head was Baihin, the towering mink stood with two scars across his left eye, recent acquisitions. They had healed nicely, but still they reminded everyone of that day. Beside him was the First Claw, Cristoff ‘Opulent’ Lanky. He stood with that mane of glorious golden hair on his tan skin from sun exposure. He was handsome in some respects, but not like Erlang was that was for sure. He had a different charm, Erlang was like a model, while Cristoff was like a brave soldier who would lead troops into battle.
“Hey Cristoff, do you read trashy rom coms?” Osumare said, putting his feet onto Quixatli’s legs. The bird man simply glared at Osumare.
Cristoff sighed. “What idiocy are you spewing now?”
“Later.” Baihin said, his voice enough to silence the lot of them. From what Osumare knew Cristoff had been Baihin’s First Claw since he became a pirate, and even though Cristoff was starting to gain that old general look he still appeared mighty. Osumare wondered if he should try to grow a bushy mustache like Cristoff?
“We are moving to the next stage.” Baihin said, his presence enough to send a shockwave across them all. If not for the fact they were used to Baihin’s Conquerors Haki they would probably be unconscious. This was why they had the servants bring the drinks and snacks before his arrival, they would collapse from his sheer presence. “The Marine’s believe that because they have claimed the north western part of the New World that gives them the right to start encroaching on my territory.”
“Have they made a move yet?” Haruka asked, not watching as Baihin shot him a glare. Haruka turned to catch the look, and suddenly the room erupted in pressure. The two forms of conqueror's haki colliding was so thick that Osumare struggled to even stay conscious.
“Haruka, you know they are just looking for an excuse.” Baihin said through gritted teeth. “After your little stunt two years ago they have been raring to go.”
“Yet they haven't, odd huh.” Haruka said, not giving an inch.
“Then there was the ship you sank. You knew marines were on that ship.” Baihin said, not showing any signs of exhaustion from the pressure. In a contest of endurance Baihin would win no problem.
The table began to shake from the pressure, spilling tea everywhere. Erlang had already picked up another cup and was smiling and enjoying the show. Cristoff looked annoyed and was rubbing his brow. Quixatli watched, preparing to separate the two if they went at it. Priamos just yawned.
“Weird, I didn't see any navy flags, did anyone else?” Haruka asked.
The pressure let up suddenly. “Correct, they should know what to expect if they enter our territory.” Baihin said, returning to look over his Lords. “We must shore up our claims of territory. If we do not then we will lose them.”
“And you can get them right back.” Priamos said, waving at Baihin without a care. “What's the problem?”
“Priamos!” Cristoff said, his voice raspy from the years. “How do you expect Baihin to complete anything if he has to keep reclaiming land?”
“We haven't lost a single piece of land in decades.” Quixatli said, rubbing at the tail of a beard he sported. “Why the concern now?”
“We are in a delicate time.” Baihin said. “For what I have planned we will need all the influence we can get, as well as the resources that they offer.”
“So, what you want us to do?” Osumare said, laying his head back on the couch now that the battle of wills was over. “You want us to kill someone just say so.”
“I wouldn't ask that of any of you.” Baihin said. “Some of you will be playing defense, others will be recruiting.”
Osumare laughed. “Oh who we recruiting now huh?”
Baihin smiled wickedly at his lords.
An hour later Osumare stood out in a hall, staring out into the sea. Erlang approached from behind, he could feel him with his observation. He was nowhere near as good at is as Haruka but he was still proficient. Seriously, that kid was better at him, and he even had Conquerors while Osumare didn't, so unlucky.
“What you think?” Erlang said, matching Osumare’s gaze.
“I think you are lucky, you get to stick close to the Captain.” Osumare said, annoyed. “I gotta shore up defenses, ugh.”
The two shared a long silence.
“Its a good plan.” Osumare said, gripping the edge of the window. “If this works, then we actually will be able to take over the world huh.”
“Yes it is possible.” Erlang said.
“I look forward to that day so much.” Osumare said with a laugh. “Its a new era huh, the Great Pirate era is coming to an end, and a Great Wind is going to blow it in!”
With that he set off, and like the other Lords he would complete his task, or else they would face Baihin’s wrath. What was that mink thinking, he had to be crazy right? Would he find the rest of the red poniglyphs? They had translated one already, they were one step closer then the other Yonkos, except one that is. Oh well, they would deal with them in time, he was sure of it.
