Chapter 7

The Den Den Mushi on Kurumi's wrist screamed.

"Lieutenant Commander Kurumi! The Rocket Man has breached the perimeter! They are charging the Main Gate! Intercept immediately! Do not let them reach the Courthouse!"

Kurumi sighed, snapping the receiver shut. She stood atop the massive stone archway of the First Gate of Enies Lobby. Below her, the chaotic roar of the Franky Family and the Galley-La shipwrights clashing with Marines echoed like thunder.

"Orders are orders," she whispered, adjusting her crimson gloves. "If I let them pass too easily, Spandam will be suspicious. If I capture them, Moria keeps my fruit. What a dilemma."

She drew her rapier with her right hand and a flintlock with her left.

"I suppose I'll just have to beat them until they're desperate enough to evolve."

The Clash

As the two massive King Bulls, Sodom and Gomorrah, smashed through the Marine lines carrying the Straw Hats, a figure dropped from the sky.

Boom.

Kurumi landed directly in the path of the charging bulls. She didn't move. She didn't flinch. She simply raised her leg.

Rankyaku (Tempest Kick): Crescent Moon.

A sharp, blue blade of compressed air tore through the ground, slicing the pavement and creating a massive trench right in front of the bulls. The beasts skidded to a halt, terrified.

The Straw Hats, riding on the bulls' backs, were thrown forward by the sudden stop. Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Chopper landed in a combat crouch.

"A Marine!" Sanji yelled, his eyes widening. "Wait… a lady?"

"Passage denied," Kurumi said, her voice cold and professional. She leveled her flintlock at Luffy. "Surrender, Straw Hat Luffy. The Government has declared your end."

"Move!" Luffy shouted, steam already rising from his skin. Gear Second was simmering, but he wasn't using it yet. He threw a Gomu Gomu no Pistol.

Kurumi didn't dodge. She sidestepped with minimal movement-Kami-e (Paper Art)-letting the rubber fist brush past her ear.

"Too slow," she taunted.

She vanished (Soru), reappearing instantly between Zoro and Sanji.

Clang!

Her rapier locked with Zoro's Sandai Kitetsu. Her flintlock barrel pressed against Sanji's shoe.

"You," she looked at Zoro, her mismatched eyes boring into his. "Your swings are heavy with hesitation. Are you worried about your captain?"

"Shut up!" Zoro grunted, forcing her back with raw strength.

"And you," she glanced at Sanji. "Still refusing to kick a woman? That chivalry will kill your friends."

She spun, a whirlwind of red and black fabric. She fired a shot-bang-that grazed Sanji's cheek, then flowed into a low sweep that forced Zoro to jump.

She was fighting two of the Monster Trio simultaneously. And she was winning.

The Lesson

"Is this it?" Kurumi asked, her voice echoing over the battlefield. She wasn't using Haki-she didn't need to yet. Her technique was simply superior. She was dissecting them. "You came to save a comrade from CP9? From Rob Lucci? If you can't even bypass a mere Lieutenant Commander, you might as well go home!"

She kicked Zoro in the chest, sending him skidding back. She pistol-whipped Sanji, knocking him into a pile of rubble.

Luffy roared, "I SAID MOVE!"

He charged, entering Gear Second. His skin turned pink. He vanished.

Jet Pistol.

Kurumi's eyes widened. Fast. Finally.

She barely crossed her arms in time. Tekkai (Iron Body).

CRACK.

The impact was like a cannonball. Kurumi was launched backward, smashing through a stone pillar. She hit the wall of the gatehouse, coughing up a little blood.

Perfect, she thought, wiping her lip. That's the power I needed to see.

She pulled herself out of the rubble, feigning a stagger. She could keep fighting. She could use her own Haki. She could use the knowledge of his cooldowns to cripple him.

But that wasn't the plan.

Luffy stood there, panting, steam pouring off him. "I'm going to save Robin! Even if I have to beat you all!"

Kurumi straightened up, holstering her pistol. She picked up her rapier but didn't raise it.

"You have potential, Pirate," she said loudly, ensuring the nearby Marines heard her "defeat." "But you struck me when my guard was down. A lucky shot."

She stumbled to the side, "collapsing" to one knee, leaving the path to the Courthouse open.

"Go," she whispered, low enough that only Luffy could hear. "Don't disappoint me. Or I'll come for your head myself."

Luffy didn't hesitate. "Thanks! Let's go, guys!"

The Straw Hats scrambled past her, riding the bulls again as they charged toward the Tower of Justice.

The Report

As the dust settled, a Marine Sergeant ran up to her. "Lieutenant Commander! Are you alright? They got past you!"

Kurumi stood up slowly, dusting off her dress. The "injury" was already fading thanks to her controlled breathing, but she played the part.

"The Straw Hat… possesses an unknown ability," she reported, her voice trembling with fake exhaustion. "His speed increased exponentially. I was… caught off guard. I failed to contain them."

"We need a medic!" the Sergeant yelled.

"No," Kurumi said, staring at the back of the retreating pirates. A small, genuine smile played on her lips. "I just need to reload. Secure the perimeter. Leave the CP9 to their fate."

Run, Luffy, she thought. Get strong. Beat Lucci. Because the real nightmare is waiting for you in the fog, and I need you to be ready to wake it up for me.