12 Strawberry

Shalria: NO! You are here to serve me and protect me.

???: Very well miss. "What was that aura i felt a second ago?"

Boom

Turning to look at the source of the sound. Three shadows were came out of the smoke to the street.

Larch: Kuina you and Nojiko go to the ship i will go there. Nojiko take good care of it. Kuina you are in charge of protecting Nojiko.

Kuina/Nojiko: Yes Larch-kun.

Both of them went away towards their ship direction.

Shalria: Hey you stop right there. Stop them.

???: Yes miss.

Larch: Where do you think you are going?

As the Vice-Admiral was about to intercept the two girls running a boy appeared in front of him slashing towards him.

Boom

Dodging the slash backing up he turned to look at the one that slash him. It was a young boy about 17-18 years old holding a sword.

Larch: Strawberry stay out of this. Or else i swear to you that you will regret it.

Hearing the boy speaking like that to him a Vice-Admiral made Strawberry furious.

Strawberry: Oh yeah try to make me regret it then.

Whoosh

Whoosh

Bang

Crash

Both vanished from their positions meeting in the middle with their swords clashing. The moment both swords clashed Strawberry broke in half, as he thought that he was dealing with a small time pirate and didn't coated his weapon with Haki, furthermore he didn't thought that this boy would have a sword of higher quality than his or else what other reason would there be for it to break so easily.

When he looked at the boy sword it was completely black as if covered by something.

Strawberry: "He can use Haki.... how can this be we aren't in the New World and he is so young."

Civilian: What Vice-Admiral Strawberry just lost against someone.

Civilian: Don't kid yourself Vice-Admiral Strawberry must have made mistake, after all how can he lose here, furthermore with someone so young.

Strawberry: You were lucky boy that i didn't knew that you could use Haki and that your weapon was a good one, but this time i won't be so unprepared.

Larch didn't even respond him as he dashed towards him again.

Strawberry seeing this shook his head thinking that the young must had that small 'victory' reach his head. Using Soru he appeared behind and punched the boy in the back.

As it was about to strike something pushed him away sending him flying in the air, that opportunity lead to Larch being alone with Shalria who didn't had anymore bodyguards because it wasn't necessary for her to have no one else has this was in the East Blue.

As Larch was standing near her. He yelled.

Larch: Strawberry stay where you are! Right now!

Strawberry was about to use Soru again to come to the rescue, but he didn't want to risk it. Seeing Strawberry where he stood Larch turned to the littler girl on top of the slave with a smile.

Larch: Hi. I am sorry about this commotion, but it wasn't my fault. So i would like to ask you if you could let me go?

As he said that the girl was about to yell at him that she was a noble, but it was as if magic she felt comfortable and good near him it was a feeling so good that she wanted to stay that way forever.

Shalria: I will let your companions go, but that is in the condition that you become my slave.

Hearing her, Larch smile disappeared and the comfortable and good feeling that she was feeling also went away.

Larch: It seems i was wrong about you. What a disappointment.

Everyone that was nearby heard their conversation and were shocked. That boy just said that he was disappointed with her that had only one end and that was death, but the next moment shocked them even more as the Shalria began crying.

Strawberry seeing this couldn't hold himself anymore and used Soru to rush to the boy, until...

Shalria: STOP! I DIDN'T TOLD YOU TO DO THIS! STOP RIGHT NOW!

Shalria was in front of Larch as if protecting him from Strawberry.

Strawberry: Miss...

She didn't even respond him as she went near Larch again holding his hand and looking up at Larch with affection in her eyes.

Shalria: I am sorry.

Larch seeing this bent down as he put his hand on the top of her head as if caressing her hair.

Larch: There is no problem, but you have to be more compassionate, or else i will be disappointed again.

Shalria: Sure. Would you like to come with me.

Larch: I am sorry but i can't. I have to go as i have important matters to attend, but if you behave well i am going to visit you again.

Shalria: Alright i will behave well. Bye.

Larch: Bye.

As they said goodbye both of them hold bright smiles, Shalria was also waving her hand at him while he was walking away. No one stopped him as everyone was in shock including Strawberry.

Arriving at his ship, both Kuina and Nojiko went to him as they gave him Bloodthirst.

Kuina: Are you alright Larch-kun?

Nojiko: How did it go?

Larch: It went well, but there is something weird that happened there, that i am not sure. "How did that worked? It can't be that i also have mage powers do i? Bloodthirst, Higure what do you think?."

When establishing the connection Larch had access to the swords memories and could talk with them for guidance. A ancient voice rang out in his mind.

Higure: "From the connection we also feel that some power was at work when you were dealing with that kid, but if it is magic powers or not we are not certain."

Larch: Either way set sail. We need to get away while you do that i will repair BloodThirst.

Nojiko: Larch-kun where are we to set sail to?

Larch: Set to Loguetown. We still need to resupply and while we do that we might as well visit the home town of my father.