https://strawhats.rpg-board.net/t2467-prodigies-to-virtuoso#15841


It was noon, the suns scorching rays heated the ground and all that was on Jordsand felt the heat and tried to find a way to avoid its intolerable hotness. It was not the time for a stroll or for sightseeing, it was the time of the day to kick back under a shade and relax with a cold drink.
It wasn't the case for Kouse and his captain Mashyuu, who both stood with their weapons drawn, in the middle of a circle comprised of a dozen marines.

They had both left the ship to take a quick look around Jordsand, to have a general idea of how large the island was and where the sea stone mines we're. It was more of a covert mission, move out, gather information, then return and make a plan; all the while remaining undetected.

Unfortunately, they had been found out when they mistakenly stumbled upon a marine camp, guarding a small sea stone mine. They had immediately tried to escape without fighting, but the marines were irritatingly persistent.
The chase went on for an hour, until Kouse and Mashyuu decided to give up on escaping and simply take the marines down. 

It seemed like a good idea then, but now, as they both fought beneath the hot sun, sweating profusely and panting heavily, it didn't seem like a good choice after all.

It was now four hours since they left the sky cleaver to scout around Jordsand.

"Captain! Is it just me or are you craving a cup of iced tea?" Kouse called out as he parried a sword slash from a marine with one of his own. "The heat is starting to really get to me." 
Kouse would then use his superior strength to push back the marine, making him stumble, and without giving him time to steady himself, slash him across the neck with his sword.

"I think we should stop holding back and get rid of them quickly, what do you say?"
Kouse would ask as he faced off with another marine who calmly replaced the one Kouse had just taken down.
The marines were very well trained and were using battle tactics meant to tire out any opponent and buy some time.
They didn't rush the two pirates, but sent one marine at a time to face either of them. 

Their tactics were good, and would have worked. Unfortunately for them, both he and Mashyuu could step the level of the battle up and end it quickly. 
They had both previously agreed to keep their devil fruit abilities a secret and fight it out using just their weapons, but on understanding the marines plans, Kouse would raise his left hand, awaiting Mashyuu's confirmation to use his devil fruit abilities to end the fight quickly.

Mashyuu stood at Kosue's back, wings flapping not to fly or anything but to keep the Captain somewhat cool. His eyes narrowed on the marine group surrounding them as one stepped up at a time to fight the duo. "Yeah I think we need to work on our stealth skills. Last time I wore a marine uniform and just walked into a marine base for a bit." Mashyuu muttered. He lifted his cane sword and started to twist it at the hilt. Mashyuu stabbed the blade out into the thigh of a marine, dropping him in one shot.

"No.. tea really isn't my thing. I actually really hate it. It makes my mouth dry and I always get sleepy after it. But some real shade and a cool glass of water would be nice." Mashyuu agreed and started to chuckle. Then sighed as he realized that hiding who he was and his Devil Fruit powers wasn't the best idea when surrounded by men with metal weapons. "I don't know why I let you talk me into not using my powers. I embrace who I am and everyone should know it. So... When I deal with the weapons, take these guys down. Maybe leave one alive." Mashyuu reached back, grabbed the good Doctor's sword and held it close to him. "Just for a second." Mashyuu assured just as a massive blast of silver energy jolted out from Mashyuu's body, washing over the marines and Kouse.

"Attract!" Mashyuu shouted, causing the weapons in the area to follow the wave of energy that began to draw back in on Mashyuu. As the field vanished and thew weapons clattered, Mashyuu let Kouse's sword go so he could act on the unarmed Marines. Once the battle was over Mashyuu fell to his rear and took a few deep breaths, using his wings to shield both him and Kouse from the hot sun. "I'm starting to think having some more ranged fighters in our group wouldn't be a bad thing... Lets face it, Elias is our only one and that's not good." Mashyuu muttered under his breath. The Pirate Captain stood up and dusted himself off, happily ready to get the hell out of the area and back to the ship. "Well, that's both near by islands cleared. You ready to get back home?" Mashyuu flew up a few feet off the ground and reached down to Kouse to offer him a means of getting to the ship fast.

When the pair arrived back at the Skycleaver, Mashyuu set Kouse down and landed at his side. "So you want a ranged and melee weapon that can be used at the same time? I think I have an idea, come to my smithy at the bottom of the ship and explain what exactly you want."

"Alright, will do." Kouse replied to Mashyuu's request to take down the marines once he uses his devil fruit ability to disarm them all. 
Kouse was somewhat relieved that Mashyuu was open to using his fruits abilities, it would surely make the fight an easy one, and would mean they would finally get to have a cold drink sooner than later.

Mashyuu suddenly grabbing Kouse's sword took him by surprise, but only for a moment, as Kouse had seen Mashyuu's ability in action before and knew that he released an extremely powerful magnetic pulse that enabled him be able to manipulate all metallic equipments around. Holding Kouse's equipment, ensured that it wouldn't be affected. 

'Attract!'
Kouse heard Mashyuu shout as all the marines weapons flew towards him.

Kouse didn't hesitate for a second, the moment the marines were disarmed by Mashyuu. With a flick of his fingers on his left arm he instantly activated his 'ROOM' ability, pushing the range to its limits, it engulfed the 8 remaining marines.
Using his right hand which also held his sword, Kouse sent a wide horizontal slash, cutting in half the 8 marines from the waist. Without pausing for a second he would send another wide slash, cutting their heads off. 
They weren't dead, not even injured. But they we're all completely incapacitated, with their body parts in different places. Decapitated legs,arms,heads all lay in random places under the hot sun. The fight was over.

"Yeah, I've also thought about that." Kouse replied to Mashyuu's statement. "I've even given it some serious thought, and I'm thinking of becoming a ranged fighter, and I've got an idea of a weapon that'll let me both be a close ranged fighter and a long ranged one."

After waiting a moment to see Mashyuu's reaction to what he said, Kouse would agree to go back to the ship, accepting the offered hand and letting Mashyuu carry him through the skies to the ship.

Once they landed, Kouse would follow Mashyuu to his workshop below deck and begin explaining in detail what kind of weapon he wanted.

"Well, let's see. Using a sword is extremely important in conjunction with my devil fruit abilities. Also I can't just go with a melee weapon and a ranged weapon on each hand, as I also need a free hand to help activate my devil fruit abilities." Kouse adjusted his glasses. "Taking all that into consideration, I've decided to go for a mixed weapon. A sword that also has a gun attached to it, one I can swing, cut and also shoot opponents that are far away."

Kouse would take a seat after listing all this out. To him it felt like a difficult request, but he didn't know how an actual blacksmith would look at the request. He only hoped Mashyuu could make the weapon he just explained, as it would really help him during fights."

Kouse nodded whilst adjusting his glasses and studying the sketch Mashyuu drew. 

"Yes, I really like the idea of the gun and sword merged together." Kouse said. "It'll make me able to both shoot and cut with it. A double weapon that only needs one hand to control."

Kouse would watch as Mashyuu made more alterations to the sketch.

"Yeah. you're right. My current sword isn't the most comfortable to use, and it uses up a lot of stamina to wield. I'll leave the shape of the sword to you. Just make one that is well balanced and best suitable for combat." Kouse would watch what Mashyuu did.

After a few minutes of watching Mashyuu work, Kouse would stand and walk towards the door.

"I've got something I would like to show you at the make shift lab." Kouse said as he adjusted his glasses. "I've finally gotten a breakthrough in making my healing potion."
Kouse would wait for Mashyuu's response before nodding once.

 "Come anytime you're done, and you can also show me the finished weapon when you do."

With that, Kouse would exit the room and head over to the lab a few rooms down the corridor.

The medical lab was newly set up, per Kouse's request. It was just a room away from the larger sick bay, where the ill stayed and where Kouse performed surgeries and other things.

The medical lab contained various kinds of items like plants, herbs, bottles and the likes. It was here Kouse spent most of his time ever since they had arrived on Jordsand. He'd been trying to successfully mix up different items to create a potion that could speed up the healing process. After several trials and errors, he finally got it right.

Kouse adjusted his glasses as he picked up one of the vials containing his cherished healing potion and looked closely at it, admiring its bright reddish colour.
This wasn't simply a project he began working on, on their current voyage.
It was something he'd planned on trying go do for years now.
The idea was there, the herbs to mix were although difficult to find, available. Kouse had read of doctors in books from even different era's, who claimed they had successfully created a potion that could miraculously cure injuries.

Kouse had been intrigued by this, and had decided to try to make one himself.
It didn't take long for him to realise just how fake those news were. There was no creating any miraculous potion that could heal any injury no matter the severity. No sooner did he realise that, that he finally started making progress.

Progress in simply making a potion that simply enhances ones healing.

Kouse smiled a bit, he could still remember just what plants he mixed to make his potion. Although there we're countless other combinations he had tried that failed, he could only remember the one that worked.


Firstly, you get a pot of hot water, and you immediately begin to mix your herbs. Kouse had discovered that using hot water enhanced the plants he mixed effectiveness.
He could remember mixing them like it was yesterday.

Flashback
"Alright, trial number 53." Kouse said to himself whilst adjusting his glasses. "Let's give it another try today."

Firstly he added the roots of the plant called the Aswagandha, it was used to create restorative tonics and treat nerves disorder.
Quickly, as the brew had to be mixed quickly once started, he added the Chirata plant, the entire plant was dumped into the pot as its entire body was used to make treatment for fever.

Then he added the Kalmeigh plant, used to create treatments to reduce weakness.
The Vai vidanka plants leaves got tossed in next, used to create the antidotes for snakebites.
The whole Sada Bahar plant was quickly added, used to make antidotes.

Kouse paused for a moment to look at the contents already mixing and boiling together inside the pot, silently willing this time to be a success, before adding the Harida plants seed, used for creating medicines for curing skin disease.

The Bahada plants bark went in next, used to make cough syrup.
Then the vasa plant, Benachar, Kalincha, Kurai and finally the Nageswar plants all also got added into the pot, completing Kouse's 53rd trials list of herbs.

The concoction simmered for about 30minutes within the pot before it began to turn red. Another 30 minutes of further simmering, it became bright red.

Kouse was hopeful, like he was in the previous 52 tries. He had gotten a red coloured brew a couple of times, also a blue and green one, and colourless ones the most.
He took out a tiny syringe and filled it with the red potion, before injecting it into one of the rats he kept in a cage. Said rat was really Ill and would die by tomorrow.

Rubbing his eyes tiredly, Kouse would walk to his bed and fall on it, exhausted. He would check on the rat in the morning, if it was still alive, then he was finally successful.

He tagged the rat with a no 1. It went on to live for two more months, completing its life span, before finally dying. 

present
The amount of hardwork Kouse had put in was high, he had both been patient and unrelenting whilst trying to make his potion.
Now that he had finally made it though, it was time to make use of it to its fullest.

Kouse took a seat and began writing his first book, also including all the details of making the potion in it, whilst he waited for Mashyuu to join him.

After a couple of hours of writing in his room still without Mashyuu showing up, Kouse decided to go back to his workshop, taking along with him his potion, to show Mashyuu.

It seemed like the making of the mixed weapon Kouse had requested for, was more difficult than expected, seeing as Mashyuu was still hard at work when Kouse walked into his workshop.
Kouse, not wanting to distract Mashyuu, simply sat down quietly in a small chair inside the workshop.

After a few minutes of waiting and watching idle, Kouse finally decided to bring out and continue the book on the seemingly countless outcomes and its never ending herb mixing possibilities.
Kouse always spent his spare time acquiring and accumulating knowledge and information about certain things.

Doctors and scientists all over the world, often times working together, come up with some of the most ingenious medical breakthroughs, over the years; and reading about them all was a source of pleasure for Kouse. He also read them knowing that one day, once his very own book was published, thousands of doctors and scientists around the world would also read his, in their never insatiable thirst for knowledge.

"I didn't expect making such weapon would take so much effort Mashyuu." Kouse would finally speak up after several minutes of watching him hammer red hot steel into shape. 

"You can take a little break in between jobs right?." Kouse would add as he noticed the sweat covered face of Mashyuu.

'Being a blacksmith had its own difficulties and also its own advantages. I guess any profession had its upsides and its downsides.' Kouse thought to himself as he continued sitting whilst holding a book.

Watching Mashyuu work so hard on making the sword Kouse wanted was amazing. Although, he didn't understand most of what Mashyuu did, he knew when someone skilled worked, and Mashyuu was indeed talented.
It reminded Kouse of his now late uncle, who was also a doctor. 
Kouse was always amazed at his ability to do things he couldn't do then, the way he cut through bones to get to the damaged tissues, the way he took out organs without causing any damage, he was incredibly skilled.

Mashyuu finally finished making the sword and decided began explaining how to use the weapon he had just made.
It was an unorthodox weapon, so the explanation was a bit lengthy. 
Kouse however paid full attention to all what Mashyuu said to him on how the sword wasn't perfectly weighted, how to reload the weapon and where the trigger was, warning on the range limitations and the possibility of an explosion if not handled carefully.

Once Mashyuu was done talking, Kouse would lightly touch the gleaming blade, then the handle, then the attached gun.
Once he had felt the weapon up, Kouse would firmly grip the handle with his preferred right hand, raising it up and down then sideways, testing its weight and balance.
It was much easier to use than his former sword.

"Of course I want to." Kouse would reply to Mashyuu's request to go shoot the gun on deck, following him outside.

Once they arrived on deck, they would turn to the side facing the sea and Kouse would point the part sword, part gun towards it and fire.
The vibration that coursed through Kouse's arm as the bullet left the gun was both unexpected and pleasant.
This was the first time Kouse had fired a gun, and he found himself enjoying it.

With a smile on his lips now, Kouse fired another shot into the sea. 

"Thanks a lot for this weapon Mashyuu, it's a beauty." Kouse would say as he carefully withdrew the remaining bullets from the gun and put the weapon down.

Kouse dug into his pocket and withdrew a small glass vial that contained his bright red potion. 
"I've got something to show you myself." Kouse would say to Mashyuu before handing it to him.

"It's what I've been working on secretly in my lab all this time. I've finally managed in making a potion that speeds up the recovery of injuries." Kouse would say as he adjusted his glasses. "With further testing, I've found that it can be administered into a patient orally or through a syringe. I've been working on it ever since the death of Koneko."

The potion Mashyuu held was a ground breaking accomplishment in the medical world, and Kouse hoped he could soon be able to produce it in a larger scale.

The impressed reaction of Mashyuu to his potion was music to Kouse's ears. He was indeed the first person he'd shown his potion to, and was really looking forward to a positive response, which he got.

"Yeah, I'm planning on getting a ship of my own Mashyuu, it'll be a hospital ship. It's going to have a surgery room, sick bay and of course a state of the art lab." Kouse would finish.

Then the mood quickly changed from jovial to serious, as Mashyuu began speaking about Yuurei and the other crew members that were not currently with the crew on Jordsand.

Kouse listened to Mashyuu quietly until he finished speaking.

Several things had happened to most of the crew recently and despite Mashyuu's best efforts to solve each of those problems, some had gone terribly. This was the first time Mashyuu had spoken up about how things were going with the rest of the crew and it hit Kouse how he felt it was all due to him not being a good enough captain.

"Well, Mashyuu.... I don't know much about the others in the crew, but to me you haven't failed as a captain. A large crew comes with its numerous problems, no one expects everything to be perfect. We'll find ourselves in unfavourable situations, and we'll have to stand together to get through them. That's what being in a crew is all about." Kouse would also turn to look at the sea, marvelling at its beauty. "I have not regretted once being in the same crew as you Mashyuu, more so having you as a captain." 

Pausing for a moment to lightly touch Mashyuu's shoulder. "I'm with you all the way.......captain."


Kouse would nod as he handed Mashyuu his new sword to sharpen it.

"I like innovative inventions, and this is one. Anyone who sees this weapon would know just how brilliant it's creator is."

Mashyuu and Kouse, a blacksmith and a doctor....once branded as possessing prodigious talents in their respective occupations were now quickly sprinting towards becoming the best. Through hard work and perseverance, the raw talent they possessed since childhood was slowly but surely turning into actual ability. Being the best at what they do was something now very possible.
Hence, being known as virtuoso's was finally within their grasp, and though numerous stumbling blocks might arise to stop them from achieving that status, 'hardworking all ones life' would be enough to surmount them all.

'Prodigies to Virtuoso,' indeed Mashyuu Ishi and Kouse Arima were both prime examples of that.



(Exit.)