ONE PIECE: Dawn of a New Era

"Hey! When your done, our ships the one with the Jolly Roger and the palm at the bow!" Leroy smiled at the group, he hadn't wanted to interrupt their moment. But seeing them slow down and just chat. He wanted to make sure Noir knew where to go.

"Wait, what?" Ducasse suddenly did a double take, a confused look on his face.

Noir almost seemed to realize what was wrong too after they pulled away, mirroring Ducasse as he looked to Leroy in total confusion, back atthe chef, and then slowly back to his new captain.

"You mean.. the one that just left earlier?"

A sudden look came over the captains face. "Heh-Haha-Wai-Wait what do you mean?" He stood to his feet, shaking his head quickly in a confusion

His head whipped around as he suddenly ran off! Running through the Restaurant, bobbing and weaving through tables, seeing that people had already left during the ruckus of the fighting.

There must've been another ship right? He stopped in the middle of the Restaurant and looked around frantically before hopping around on his feet as he called out. "Kirk! Yo Kirk you around? Jeanne have you seen kirk?!"

He wanted to see if his navigator had spotted anyone suspicious.

He whipped around to the worried face of the Markswoman who now stood in the door way. "N-no. I thought he was in the crowd with us! I-I saw him for a second."

But before the Sniper could get another word out he burst through the doors and back into the heat of the mid day. Sudden heat washing back over him.

Seeing that in fact...There was nothing left. The docks were empty save a small fishing vessel that was used by the Rose Arbor to catch fresh fish. "Fuck! Fuck!"

"FUCK! Kirk! Wheres...Kirk..." Leroys breath began to breath harshly, head beginning to become light headed. A mix of fury and worry on his face.

He only stopped as he saw something on the ground...a note. Fluttering and attempting to fly away, if not for the nail pinning it.

Rip! Leroy pulled it from the ground and clasped it in his hands

The note was roughly ripped out of a journal. There was hurried yet legible writing on it. It read:

'I'm sorry, but I have to go. I have to go before I let even more people down. I know it's shitty timing, but this is the only chance I got.

If I leave you guys, I only hurt myself. If I run away from him, I betray my entire race.

I have to do this for her. I am so sorry.

I left most of your stuff and some money under one of the tables in the restaurant.

Use it to buy yourself a new ship.

Forget about me as your navigator.

Find someone else.

Don't come after me

. -Kirk'

The Fishman had truly run off, taking the whole ship and all of the treasure excusing some that he genuinely had hidden under the table for no one else to find in case someone wanted to steal it.

He made sure there was enough for at least a tiny ship. Noir started to follow after Leroy, looking concerned as the pirate's voice trailed off when he found the note. "..What does it say?"

"It says enough..." He spoke simply and plainly. Leroy had this fire in his eyes. One that was familiar. It was full of conviction and will.

Leroy balled the paper and threw it behind him before walking back into he restaurant and searching under the tables before finding the left behind supplies Underneath the table was a small stack of berries and Jeannes rifle. He looked around and even found that his personal trophies had still been left on the ship

"Oh god...he took the ship didn't he?" Jeanne said in a worried fearful voice having looked out to the balled note and to the Captain searching under the table.

Picking up the rifle he tossed it to Jeanne saying "Heads up."

She clumsily caught it in a hug.

"Noir help the others bring Kále onto that fishing vessel" The Chef nodded as he ran back out to the other docks. "

Quickly following orders, Noir responded with a quick nod as he was ordered, hurrying over to the doctors and the chefs to help carefully lift Kále. Even if he thought the swordsman should stay still and rest somewhere, he knew there was a good reason for Leroy to be bringing him along.

"Mr. Ducasse!" Leroy called out, and Upon hearing his name the chef rounded the corner and strode over to the scene looking noir on the deck then to Leroy "Yes what is it?"

"Here"

Leroy placed the stack of money in his hands and spoke "I'm going to buy that fishing vessel out there. And sail out of here, we've got to go save our navigator"

Ducasse looked at him and his brow pinched "Nonsense, take the boat. Noir!" He yelled as the chef reentered the building, Carrying the unconscious swordsman over his shoulder.

"I'll have some of the others bring the rest of your stuff down"

The cook gave a nod to his father. "Thank you. Don't tell them to bring much, it won't fit. I'll be alright." Noir smiled softly at Ducasse

"Thank you as well" Leroy nodded to Ducasse for the Boat as he handed him back the money ".. Everyone. Let's get going. With a small boat Like that, it'll take hours to catch up to him. And I have a feeling I know where he's going"

It took only a few minutes for Ducasse and some of the Chefs to pack Noirs things. Important suits, Accessories, and immediately needed toiletries. Stuffing them into a few bags. It'd take double the storage to pack everything, but as Noir wanted. Only the closest, and most important things were necessary.

Noir steeled himself for the ride ahead, along with getting ready to handle whatever may be the first challenge he would face with his new crew.

'This must be a close-knit team if the captain was about to go this far just to get one of his crewmates back.' Even more respect and appreciation for the captain came to Noir's mind, completely beating the first impressions he gave him.

"We are ready when you are, Leroy."