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Colored lights burst and flowed around Buggy; all of it changing and erratically tangible. Other previously incomprehensible visions, shapes and sounds, writhed and hummed just beyond his senses; morphing constantly and distorting reality. Like a nightmare. Like a dream. Imagination unleashed.
Recently, he’d passed by an accordion cat and bipedal platypus with a kazoo for a head, farming shockingly normal looking carrots. That is until they were dug up and immediately started fizzing like bottles of cola.
He very deliberately did not think about it.
Now, swathes of bubbles were floating around him, each filled with snow and moving languidly before bumping into each other. The bursts bloomed into shoots of roses that wilted instantly; falling to the ground and turning into swarms of unsettlingly tittering ants that vibrated into nothing.
Delicately avoiding touching any of it, he pressed on, hunched over; stubbornly keeping himself together. Not letting his mind unravel in the manic delirium.
Focusing on his feet helped. A step; then another. Five hundred and sixty-three paces straight ahead so far; just keep counting. Keep going.
"Buggy."
Infinite echoes of a familiar voice softly whispered his name, tickling up his spine. Improbably, the bubbles cleared and, as if compelled, he jerkily raised his head; eyes widening as they took in the figure in front of him. He felt his form shiver; threatening to fall apart.
There he was, his past crewmate, his former friend... his better half.
Shanks.
Of course, he'd be here.
Cape blowing in a nonexistent breeze, the silhouette of the other man was haloed by an indescribable color.
~Cemurlarine~ A reedy voice, like a child's, supplied from nowhere.
Buggy mentally brushed it away.
In the distance, gleefully exuberant laughter sounded; underscored by a raucously booming guffaw. Straw Hat, Blackbeard and God knows who, or what, else. He needed to keep moving.
Just ahead, the One Piece was just ahead.
He didn't bother questioning how he knew this in all the madness; he just did. It was the one fixed thing in this place.
"Get out of my way, Red-Hair."
"It's been awhile again, huh?" The man said, smoothly ignoring the command.
"Not long enough." Buggy bit back peevishly.
Shanks gave a dry chuckle. "Maybe not."
The other captain looked up, face catching in fantastic light; a soft smile playing across his lips.
"But it's still good to see you."
Buggy scoffed.
Warm eyes met his; genuine affection shining through. He hated it.
"Feeling ain't mutual."
Several eerily silent minutes passed, but when the other man still gave no sign of moving, Buggy started to walk around, always pointedly keeping several yards between them.
He could feel Shanks’ eyes following him
“Guess we both finally got here, huh?"
"No thanks to you." Buggy snorted. "Got tired of waiting and just did it myself."
"Heard Crocodile and Mihawk helped; joined your crew." Eyes were still watching him, rough on his skin.
"And what of it?! I'm naturally, flashily charming. Who hasn't succumbed to Buggy the Star Clown's wiles. They're assholes, just like you, but at least they get shit done."
Shanks huffed out a breath that wasn't quite a laugh. He moved to face Buggy again; his only arm coming up to sheepishly run through his hair.
"Can't argue with that..."
"Then don't, idiot. I always had a flashier way with words anyways, so cut your losses."
An honest laugh slipped out. "Yeah…”
Shanks' face finally broke into a grin. “Captain would be proud of you, Bugs."
Buggy stopped short. His jaw went slack, gaping, before he violently seized up as the words fully hit him. Something heavy plummeted in his chest and he felt himself start to shake.
Shanks shifted uneasily, hand starting to reach out apologetically, but he abruptly stopped, as if burned; arm stiffly falling back to his side.
"You..." Buggy's voice seethed, dripping venom. "You don't get to say that."
He took an unsteady step directly towards the other man. Shanks' eyes had fallen into shadow again, smile gone. A tight frown now pulled his mouth taut. Their brief, tenuous affability shriveling up instantly.
"You don't get to FUCKING SAY THAT!!!"
His voice was raw.
Any remnants of his regular bluster and bombast had completely drained away; ice and bile taking their place.
He stomped forward.
"And it's Captain Buggy to you, bastard!" Lunging, he shoved against a muscled shoulder.
Shanks sidestepped slightly but moved effortlessly to be back in front of him again.
"Please, Buggy."
There was an edge of desperation running through the words, an undercurrent, dark and deep. One that Buggy could not, would not, put a name to. He didn’t owe this man anything, not since that day in the rain. So, he clutched his anger tighter, decade’s worth of hurt and resentment, and wrapped it around his heart.
"You never listen to me, do you?" His fists shook; fingers aching from clenching so hard. He was not going to cry.
"I said, when we met again, we'd be enemies."
He bared his teeth in a parody of a smile. "And I SAID, get out of my fucking way."
A soft sigh puffed out as the cloaked figure spread their feet, shoulders firmly set and now fully blocking Buggy's path.
"I can't do that, Buggy."
He barked out a cold, joyless laugh. "What else is new? Useless, Red-Hair."
A moment passed, silent again except for the renewed distant sounds of laughter. It didn’t matter. It was just the two of them together as the world fell down.
In a flash, Buggy dropped into a crouch. He shifted quickly, detaching his left leg and triggering his boot blade, sweeping it at Shanks' neck. Simultaneously, he drew his knives; flinging them as he spun around.
Deftly dodging his slash, Shanks easily knocked aside the blades with just his bare hand.
Buggy leapt back. He couldn't allow himself to stop and think about what he was doing; against whom. Not now.
Straight ahead. Keep going. The One Piece was waiting for him. He was going to be King of the Pirates.
He jumped into a double roundhouse followed by a back kick. One, two, three Muggy Balls fired in quick succession.
Shanks didn't even bother to dodge this time.
The bombs hit, head on, blowing Buggy back. Dust swirled up in a giant plume, solidifying and raining back down as blueberries of all things.
Frantically Buggy looked for Shanks, but he’d disappeared. Scrambling, he turned to scan behind him, trying to keep any blind spots as small and brief as possible while navigating the smoke and falling fruit.
He whipped back around at the sound of squishy pops.
“Turn back, Buggy. You can’t get past me.” Shanks said flatly, materializing in front of Buggy again.
“Like hell I can’t!”
Snarling, he hurled himself forward.
"MOVE!!!" He threw all his weight into a punch and, surprisingly, it connected.
It wasn't by much, but Shanks' head actually turned.
Before he could even register that small accomplishment, the force of the impact screamed up his arm. He cried out in pain; cradling his hand as he tried to steady himself.
Grim resignation had further hardened Shanks' face as he turned to level his gaze back at Buggy.
"G-get outta my way..." His voice was so small.
The sharp snap of Haki was the only warning he had before the redhaired man's open palm slammed into Buggy's chest.
Spit and phlegm hacked out of his mouth as he was flung back, managing, somehow, to not collapse completely by curling over onto his hands and knees. Coughs wracking his body, he dug his fingers into the dirt, wheezing and trying desperately to suck in air.
Despite now having ribs that were definitely shattered, his breath still managed to hitch at the hush of a sword being drawn from its sheath. Gryphon.
He willed himself to his feet. Managing exactly one shambling step before the redhaired man stood before him.
Shanks looked at him, face gaunt, scarred eye twitching, but the sword drew back anyways, into a sweeping arch Buggy would recognize anywhere. Its blade now black as the void Teach wielded.
"Divine departure."
Scarlet lightning flashed as an overwhelming pressure crashed against him. He couldn't chop apart as he felt the cruel cut of the attack hurl him back.
He hit the ground, hard, back burning as he finally skidded to a halt. All five hundred plus paces wasted. The front of his chest stung hot and wet before numbing over; going prickly like a limb falling asleep. Trying to move, he found he couldn't even get up onto his elbows. Everything felt so heavy and he wasn't strong enough.
Just pathetic. How disappointing.
Tiny whorls of cloud-like creatures rose from the ground, materializing around him. Delicate limbs unfurled to gently brush his face. Each touch sounded like a chime rustling in a sea breeze; the smell of funnel cake filled his senses.
A smell from a sound from a touch.
Ridiculous.
Paralyzed, he let himself ease into the inevitable. Unresisting to the ministrations being showered upon him.
A rustling cape and the soft slap of sandals approached and he managed to lift his head just enough to confirm his suspicions before letting it fall back down onto the earth that had gone soft as sand. The cloud wisps tinkled soothingly.
"You always steal my dreams." He painfully gasped, swallowing thickly around the blood in his mouth, when the form came to a stop by his side.
"Why? Why can't I have one?"
Something was gumming up his chest. Hah! Gum. Gummy gum gum.
"Just one..." Fluff had begun to fill his mind, swirling and warm like the sun. The sound of chimes twinkled on. He could smell the sea now.
"You're no good..."
There was the low roar of waves.
Wait, who was he talking to, again?
"Yeah." A shaky voice responded hoarsely, surprising him.
But it was muffled, like being underwater.
He remembered, suddenly, that he'd liked that. The ocean; floating in the softened sound.
He missed swimming.
"You're no good, Shanks."
Oh, right... that was the voice's name. What a funny thing to call a person. Just plain silly really. Everything was so silly.
A cackle gurgled up his throat; he grinned.
"…no good…"