Thin Red Path [Historical]

It seemed that Fumi was taking everything a bit better after the calming embrace from Ruby. She would even break into action to check on their new friend Suzume, who wasn't looking so good. Ruby on the other hand was paying attention to the strange man that had come to their rescue. He didn't seem to enjoy the mention of slavery being possible on this ship. As Fumi continued to comfort Suzume, Kanna would smile down at the young dog... girl? "So, are you like.. a girl with dog ears? Or are you a dog that turned human? These fruits do miraculous things," Kanna would ask as she reached over to poke at Fumi's ears before turning her attention back to Arthur.

He had suggested that they didn't warm her or else she may melt. When he lifted her hand, Kanna was shocked that she could see through it. She was transparent? So, she was the ice? How did that work? Would she melt in the sun? Did she need to stay cold? Or did she just turn into ice when she needed to? Kanna was sure that nobody knew the answer to that and Suzume certainly didn't know more than they did. Kanna would keep her arms out in case Suzume suddenly couldn't stand on her own again, but she would stubbornly do whatever it was she wanted anyway. When she exclaimed that she stole the fruit, Kanna would tilt her head. She wanted to hear the story and know why Suzume stole a devil fruit. Who did she steal it from? Why did she want it? Why did she eat it? Well, that would have to wait for another day as Arthur would take off to prepare the ship and Suzume would run to the bottom of the vessel they were currently on.

Fumi had hesitated, but would take off with Arthur, who Ruby trusted amongst the group of them. He didn't appear to be as combat inclined and gave off a wholesome aura that she couldn't contest. He was what Ruby would consider to be the supportive type of the crew, which was a good thing. Ruby would nod to Fumi as she took off to the new ship waving her hand a few times. She wouldn't be too far behind, but her work was here. Kanna would make her way to stand before Jinno as he asked if anyone else was going to go. "Nope. I'm good here. Go on," Kanna would encourage Jinno to continue speaking his plan. Ruby would listen and nod as she turned to walk toward the door they came from originally. "S'ppose yur right. I can take ya to the others. Some are in pretty dire conditions. Weren' fed regularly...or bathed.." Ruby would speak with a deep sigh beckoning for Kanna and Jinno to follow until they found the cell filled with people. Nobody had moved since the door had opened. Some were scared and some were filled with shock that Ruby had come back. "Any y'all seen ice girl? I think.. she could be that way..." Ruby would ask not sticking around for an answer.

Ruby would follow the frozen hull until she reached an area far slicker than the rest of the ship, "Suzume! You here?!" As Ruby looked for the ice queen, Kanna would gasp holding her hands up to her face to cover her mouth and nose in shock. "W-who would do this? These are... people." Kanna would ask noticing that it was obvious which ones had been here longer than the others. How would they treat these people like this? Dirty rags and not nearly enough room for all of these individuals. Kanna would take a few breaths as she felt her stomach churn at the sight. It was despicable and sickening. "Where do we start?"

Fumi blinked at the question, her pointed canine ear flicking at the touch. “Uh, first one?” She wasn’t aware it was possible for an animal to become a human, though she figured it only made sense. It wasn’t the whole truth really, but it wasn’t what Kanna had asked. Regardless, she was soon ushered back to the ship. “Lets get you outta the cold.” The old pirate ruffled the girls hair as he lead her away to safety.

Meanwhile, Jinno and the others followed along the trail of frost, through the blood soaked battlefield that had been left in the stowaway’s wake. “Looks like you didn’t need help.” The prince avoided the bloodslick floors, only to accidentally step on the frozen remains of a hand that shattered under his boot. “… Little concerning actually.” He frowned, but found himself falling behind, catching only the end of Kanna’s cloak moving around the corner. Down the two flights of stairs to the slave deck, and the recently opened prison cell.

It was disheartening of course, to see so many people treated like this. Though he kept his anger in check for now, knowing another angry man with a sword isn’t what these people needed right now. “We need to get them back to the ship.”

The few who were talking said they hadn’t seen the girl return, likely on another floor. It was harder to tell now the area had started to thaw out. There wasn’t a response from Ruby’s call either, so she was out of earshot at least. As stubborn as she was, it wasn’t like she was going to run away now. If anything, she might have already found what she was looking for and headed back.

Jinno had taken a moment to plan, deciding to introduce himself before they moved on. After catching the people’s attention, he started to speak. “My name is Jinnosuke Moriyama, Captain of the Red Cloak pirates. We’ve got room on our ship for all of you, food, medicine and showers.” Some of those present recognized the name, or his family name at least. Perhaps more residents from Wano. “Kanna here will escort you upstairs, there isn’t anything to worry about.” He smiled, calling his second in command to take the lead. “Take them up the other side of the ship… Try and avoid the bodies.” He suggested, letting her move on while he and Ruby waited.

When the weakest amongst the lot had been assisted up from their bunks, the group were set to leave and before long Jinno and Ruby were alone. “Maybe we should check cargo?” The ship did sell more than slaves after all, and Suzume might have thought to rummage through to see if there was anything worth taking. An odd choice considering her condition, but it wasn’t a bad idea…

Jinno, thankfully, was on board with the plan of saving all of these poor, sickly looking people. They had become more of a rescue crew than they had probably anticipated. They always seemed to find themselves supporting mass groups of runaways and serfs that the government always managed to avoid finding. As the group quietly answered Ruby's question and avoided looking them in the eye, Kanna would slowly make her way into the cell concealing her weapons under her cloak. Her steps were small, soft, and nearly silent aside from the creaking floorboards. She would kneel before those closer to the door looking them over for injuries that would keep them from standing.

Of course, Jinno would address them telling them exactly who they were and what their goal was. Some of the enslaved individuals would lift their eyes to take sight of Jinnosuke Moriyama, which would have Kanna tilting her head. Did they know his name? Were they also from Wano? She would take note of the individuals that reacted to his words and begin to help them to their feet. There were few that were laying in cots, but there was one in particular that was unable to move as freely as the rest. A rather frail looking woman that was maybe a decade or so older than Kanna was currently. In her sickly state, she seemed to strike an attachment to Kanna's heart, so she didn't mind when she offered to carry her to the ship. As much as she wanted to scream about the inhumane treatment, Kanna knew that she had to be strong and kind for these people. Jinno was leaving their well being to her for the time being.

"Right. Try not to take too long, kay?" Kanna would respond to Jinno's orders with the flash of a grin before taking the newly freed people toward the top of the ship. It was going to be a bit of a longer route, but Kanna didn't mind taking all the time they needed to make it to Arthur. Surely, he would be waiting to help transfer them from one side to the other.

Ruby would frown not hearing a response from Suzume upon calling to her. However, she knew that the ship was much larger than what she had seen, but the problem would be not getting twisted up in the layout. A sigh would escape her mouth before she would return to where Jinno and Kanna were gathering the people and sending them on their way. "Fumi's already waitin' on ya." Ruby would say as she gave a sturdy pat to one of the healthier boys on the back. Fumi had been soft spoken and nervous, but she had managed to make a few acquaintances through whispered reassurances. As the group would leave her eyes, Ruby would find herself turning to Jinno, who suggested they search cargo. "I s'pose. Bit of treasure there no doubt."

Ruby hadn't known Suzume long, but she did know that she seemed to be more inclined to swipe objects. Whether she enjoyed the thrill of the steal or was just trying to survive, Ruby couldn't say that she had been any better in her youth. Her other half had sailed them around the seas comfortably in their time as pirates, but they had never made much of a name for themselves. Suzume wasn't much different than she had been, but she hoped that she wouldn't have to suffer the same, lonely fate. The closer they came to cargo, the more vocal Ruby would become. "'Zume! Where'd ya go? Wer' waitin' on ya!"