I am a piece of grass {open}

[Laharl Krichevskoy]

The boy crouched in the middle of the grassy field, his brilliant red scarf fluttering behind him in the breeze. Actually, it sort of seemed to just be.. fluttering, but that really didn't matter much in the grand scheme of things. Besides, if you were paying attention to the scarf, that meant you were ignoring the fact that the boy currently wasn't wearing a shirt, which was likely the thing most getting your attention. Or the fact that the boy kept looking around nervously, as though he fully expected someone to attack him at any moment.

"They think I don't know a plot when I see one," muttered Laharl. He shifted uneasily, frowning down at the ground. He'd been dragged here, against his will, mind, and then there had been suits and talks of dorms. Of sharing a room. Overlords didn't share rooms! It was just... unthinkable! So, as soon as he'd been able, Laharl had sneaked off. He was determined to hide from the suits and figure out a plan of attack. Perhaps he could gather vassals, big, strong, dumb ones that could do his fighting while he slowly regained his powers. Then, when they least expected it, he could STAB THEM IN THE BACK!

"MUHAHAHAHAHA!" the boy laughed in a fairly decent maniacal manner. This did mean leaning back slightly and throwing his hands to the sky, his mouth opened wide, but it was totally worth it. He hadn't practiced laughing or nothing. As he lowered his gaze, however, Laharl saw that several people appeared to be looking his way. Knowing he was dangerously close to having his cover blown, Laharl lay flat, his mind going through the best of demon techniques. Finally, he came up with a lie that simply must work:

"Do not worry, humans! For I am nothing more than a piece of grass! Just a harmless little piece of grass! Go about your day!"

[Deleted]

Luffy didn't exactly take kindly to listening. These people kept coming up to him and trying to inform about being shifted or something like that. Then they started telling him where he was going to live and it was all very annoying until they offered him some more food. Man, they really do have great food here. He almost payed attention to what they were saying when he was allowed to much on some meat, almost. All there words just seemed like fuzz in his mind, nothing seemed to stick out that interested him. They just kept repeating how he would be comfortable and that they would look into getting him home, but that was just it...He couldn't remember where home was.

The more Luffy thought about it, the more he realized he didn't remember much of anything besides his name and age. He kept feeling like he was looking for something, or he needed to do something. There was this deep urge churning his stomach that kept trying to remind him of a goal he once had. Or maybe he was just still hungry. It really could be either one.

Luffy just kept walking while the staff hovered like annoying bees until eventually they trickled off. He was looking around, wondering if something might trigger his mind. Nothing here looked familiar and he was starting to feel tired again. Luffy liked naps, he remembered that, but this time was different. The adrenaline and hunger had given him a burst of energy when he had first arrived, but now it was wearing off and he felt...heavy. He stopped and looked at his hand for a long moment, his brow intensely furrowed and his flexed his fingers.

Gum gum... he said quietly, recalling his devil fruit powers that had turned him into a rubber man. Guuuum guuuum...PISTOL! He shouted, gaining the attention of several people around. He thrust his fist into the air grandly. His arm managed to stretch about a half of a foot before wobbling and falling like a limp noodle. He recalled his arm back to it's original length and stared at it even more intently than before. He was concentrating so hard that beads of sweat began o form and one might think he could explode at any moment. Instead, however, Luffy suddenly relaxed and shrugged. It'll probably work itself out eventually. He shook out his arm and used it to protect his straw hat from catching the breeze and deserting him. It was then that he heard someone laughing in the field to his right. Laughing was good. Laughing meant fun and he could use some of that!

HEY! Luffy shouted, as the guy finished up his something or other about grass. He began a hurried pursuit toward the figure and attempted to stretch his arm up to a tree limb so he could slingshot himself closer. This didn't exactly go as plained since he'd already forgotten his powers weren't up to par. He managed to grab the branch, but his arm went limp just as he began to rise into the air. So instead of heading in the direction of the grass kid, Luffy shot straight up into the tree and ended up a tangled mess of tree and human limbs.

...Oh man....ouch he complained, then became extremely aware that his head felt empty.
MY HAT WHERESMYHAT he panicked, his treasure lying near the truck of the tree

[Laharl Krichevskoy]

Somehow, it didn't surprise Laharl that someone else was doing the shouting. He shifted to look at the lanky young man started charging. Every muscle in Laharl's body tensed and he mentally ran through his many impressive powers. One good blast of fire should lay this pathetic human being low. Well, that was assuming that this guy was worth Laharl's time. Most people weren't. Most people...

Wait, was his arm stretching? Laharl's head rose slightly at the sight. It didn't seem to stretch far, but it certainly seemed to stretch. The idiot doing it obviously had very little control, but there was most certain an ability there. In fact, it was the first ability that Laharl had seen used since his arrival in this demon-forsaken place... which meant that this guy knew something.

And now he was shouting about his hat. Laharl sighed, looking about for it. Sure enough, there it was. Who cared about that though? "Who cares about your stupid hat?" demanded Laharl, yelling up at the tree. He crossed his arms, shifting so that his brilliant red scarf flew out behind him. The determined ex-Overlord (or current Overlord, depending on who you asked), looked up at the ex-pirate (or current pirate; this is a pattern).

"You there! Up in the tree!" Laharl continued as if the first comment hadn't been heard. "Tell me how you managed to do that stretching thing! Do you still have powers of some kind?"

Because Laharl didn't seem to have any of his many, many abilities... His eyes narrowed. What kind of cruel Fate would deny him his earth-shattering abilities and grant this simpering fool any kind of talent? Well, Laharl would have his secrets!

[Deleted]

He could have said anything. He could have made fun of his stupid hair, or his stupid voice. He could have threatened to hurt him by some mean, at least then Luffy would have smiled while he accepted the offer to fight. Still, none of these things occurred and the little snot chose to insult his hat instead. His hat, his treasure. How dare he?! Wasn't it obvious that the hat was important to him? What kind of decent person sees the panic in his eyes having lost the hat then proceeds to talk terribly about it? Not a friend, thats for sure. Friends didn't insult other friends treasures, they helped fight for them. Friends kept friend's treasures safe. This lead Luffy to only one conclusion. This was a bad guy. A shirtless fiend with a stupid red scarf. Now, there was a tiny chance that this guy may redeem himself still, but for the moment, he had found himself on Luffy's bad guy list. Only moderately safer in this world given his current weakened state.

WHAT DID YOU CALL MY HAT YOU SHIRTLESS JERK I'LL KICK YOUR-OUCH!! his cursing was only interrupted when he struggle to break free from the tree lead to a branch smacking him in the face . That shouldn't have hurt as much as it did. This momentary lapse in speech did allow time for the boy below him to call up a few more words.

WHAT?! Luffy spat after he was addressed. His words were lined with such a fire that, had his strength matched them in intensity, the tree would have promptly snapped in half and freed him. Alas his arms and legs felt like worn out elastic and worked against his every attempt. By the time the rude guy below had finished his question, Luffy's anger had given into exhaustion and he fell backward awkwardly like a defeated child.

I'm a rubber man. He offered, utterly annoyed. Give me my hat.

[Laharl Krichevskoy]

"I called your hat stupid!" Laharl called back up, grinning wide and showing nearly all his teeth with the motion. The idiot in the tree squirmed and wiggled and was rewarded with a smack to the face with a tree branch. Laharl barked a laugh, raising a finger to point at the foolish human, just in case he didn't quite understand who or what the laughter was directed at. "Foolish human!? Do you think I care about you or your silly hat?"

He looked over to the hat, thrusting his hand out. His smile spread even further as he focused all his energy and focus, determined to blast the stupid thing away with a mere burst of a fireball... and if Laharl actually had any of his powers, that is precisely what would happen. As it was, the kid just stood there with his palm directed to the hat, the scarf fluttering behind him.

As he lowered his hand, frowning, Laharl heard the comment. He looked up at the idiot in the tree, his eyes narrowing to try and get a decent look at him. "I thought you were made of rubber," he gestured, "so why don't you just stretch and get the hat? Or are your powers so pathetic that you can't manage that? Here, let me help you," by help, he meant walking over, grabbing the hat, and waving it in front of Luffy with the most taunting expression possible on his face.

[Deleted]

Luffy crossed his arms and stared at the sky intently, a childish frown curving his lips. Maybe if he lay there and thought hard enough, his rubber powers would stop being wonky and he could gum gum bazooka this chatty turd right in the face. How dare he insult his hat. He had no idea how important that hat was. He had to return that hat to someone one day and without a scratch. If that guy so much as bends it, Luffy wouldn't feel the slightest bit of remorse for killing him. That kind of evil needed to be ripped from the world anyway, for the greater good. How many other great treasures had this guy call stupid? IT's actually a wonder he has lived this long. Luffy's treasure isn't stupid, his scarf was stupid!

Yeah. Luffy said plainly, his eyes still fixed on the sky as the stupid scarf guy continued on with his speech. His anger flared up again once he was called pathetic, but he didn't really feel the rage until his hat was swinging near his face. Luffy could take his strength getting insulting, at least then he could prove them wrong. Even if he wasn't up to full power at the moment, he was still fairly certain he could beat this jerk down. Whatever you do, though, don't insult his hat. Hadn't he made that clear?

HEY GIMMIE THAT He barked viciously. He reeled back a fist and let it fly in Laharal's direction. He might not be able to stretch very far, but he might have been able to stretch far enough to make the jerk's face pretty sorry.

[Laharl Krichevskoy]

While Laharl didn't possess his innate combat reflexes, his super speed, his near-invincibility, his flying powers, or, well, anything remotely demonic, he could still react well enough to a nearly telegraphed attack. Some small remembrance of how to fight still existed in the back of his egotistical brain. Enough that he took a small step back and to the side, dodging the attack. Still, Laharl frowned. That wasn't nearly as quick or effortless as he'd like.

"Is this how you get your powers?" he demanded, eying the hat. "Or is it worth a lot? Could I sell this on the Internet and make a fortune?"

He placed the hat on his head, letting it settle down. The wide-brimmed thing nearly fell down entirely over Laharl's face, and he looked even more ridiculous than he had moments before. That only increased as he crinkled his face in concentration. Odd, but he didn't feel any increase in powers. What had the idiot done? Stretched? Laharl punched out a few times, just to see.

[Deleted]

He put on the hat. He put on his hat. He put on the hat that had been given to him. It had been given to him by someone very important that he can't remember right now, but thats nto the point!!

That jerk was wearing HIS STRAW HAT!

AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGG

Luffy screeched in a hot, white rage. If he hadn't been angry enough to break free before, he was now. The venom of his wrath coursed through his viens, giving him a burst of energy and enough power to snap the branches that held his feet captive. He tumbled to the ground and, after a moment of pain, he jumped to his feet and grabbed for the little jerk's big red scarf. Now that he was on his feet it was a great deal taller than the kid who liked to run his mouth and wear things that didn't belong to him. Luffy proceeded to try and lift the overlord by said scarf in order to see him eye to eye. Regardless of weather it all worked out, with wide eyes and a deep scowl Luffy managed to growl out a few words.

Give me my hat back.

[Laharl Krichevskoy]

Laharl heard the shout and he tensed, moving into a more combative position. His grin widened, his fists tightening further at the thought of getting into a fight. A stretchy guy versus an Overlord? Laharl could beat this guy in his sleep... well, he could, before the whole power draining thingy. Laharl shoved that thought aside for the moment while Luffy jumped down, instead simply taking a slight step back, his scarf fluttering yet again.

Hands grabbed the scarf and Laharl felt his feet leaving the ground. The Overlord didn't fight or make a noise, he merely kept smiling. The hat shifted slightly, falling a little over his eyes. Yes, this other guy was taller and likely stronger than Laharl, but Laharl had been fighting beings bigger than him for ages. There was even that one Overlord who hadn't even fit on the screen...

"I dunno," Laharl mused. "I kind of like it. So why don't you just take this!

And with that, Laharl let loose with one of the first moves a demon learned from early childhood, a move guaranteed to lay at least 50% of your opponents low with one swift, sudden move, a move that was nearly unbeatable if you didn't see it coming, a move so simple, so devilishly clever, that only demons would think of imparting it upon their children:

Laharl rack-jacked Luffy.
Hard.

[Deleted]

Sweet mother of Gold Rodgers. was one of the less curse riddled parts of speech that ran through his spinning head. Only a bit confusing given that Luffy wasn't quite sure who Gold Rogers was at the moment, but that's another story, anyway. Luffy released the scarf imminently to cover the most recently injured part of his body. Laharl might as well have stabbed his crotch with a hot knife and then continued to use it to tear an igneous gash through the rest of his body. His stomach contracted and rebelled from the pain and Luffy thought he might throw up. Even his vison blurred thanks the the tears welling up in his eyes. His already weak knees didn't stand a chance and he crumpled to the ground with a barely audible squeal. Who knew the stupid brat could kick so hard?

After a moment or two of staggered breathing, Luffy got up enough stamina to growl. What a dirty fighter! What a coward! If he were a real man he'd have taken the punch and thrown one back. This only further proved Luffy's decision to deem him a bad guy and good one. That dirty, rotten, no good, hat stealing, little TWIRP. Blood boiling, Luffy heaved a few more breathes then fought past the pain enough to shout:

YOU'RE GONNA PAAAAAAAAYYY

Then, as though it were a battle cry, the rubber man jumped to his feet and charged the scarf-wearing fiend with the intent of knocking him to the ground. If he was fast enough, it was likely Laharl would be caught just as unaware as Luffy was when he got kicked. Luffy then, in his addled brain, decided to not punch, not kick, but to bite Laharl as hard as he could.

[Laharl Krichevskoy]

Naturally, Laharl did the most mature thing possible upon hearing Luffy cry out in pain:

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That's what you get for daring to assault the great Laharl!" he insisted, taking several steps back, his hands remaining crossed over his chest the entire time. He smiled up at Luffy, using the hat in a manner not unlike various Japanese samurai. In fact, Laharl could dimly recall actually seeing various swordsmen wearing hats of a similar manner. Clearly this kid wasn't one.

More laughing at misfortune: "AHAHAHA---AAAH?" only to have it cut off as Luffy somehow managed to find himself. Laharl had not seen that coming as even a remote possibility. The Great Demon Fighting Technique should have laid him low with just that one touch. Yet here this idiot was, launching himself hard at Laharl. Perhaps... perhaps something else was made of rubber? It really didn't matter; they were both tumbling to the ground, the hat flying from Laharl's head and drifting some distance away. Distracted and surprised, Laharl was slightly slower in fighting back.

Then he felt teeth connect. "Aaahaaha! Foolish mortal! Demon blood is---hey that hurts!" and then Laharl licked his fingers before sticking them into Luffy's ears, wiggling around with such fervor and ferocity as to make the strongest man quake in terror and pain.

[Deleted]

His stomach still churned uncomfortably, but Luffy had no time for vomiting, no time for pain, his treasure was on the line! He didn't have time for this guy's whiny complaints either, of course it hurt! He should just give in and give him his hat back already! To be honest, it was a little more than that now, Luffy just straight up wanted to kick his ass. This little jerk needed to be taught a lesson! Or maybe he'd just kill him if he didn't stop. Luffy was pretty sure he had killed a fair amount of villains in his past, he seemed to think they were a lot grander than Laharl, however, this probably shouldn't have even been a contest. If wasn't so worn feeling and if his darn powers would just start working all the way again, he couldn't gotten his hat and beat this kid with one swing. This was not the case, however, and there was now something wet in his ear.

AHH GROSS Luffy complained, swatting away Laharl's hands and then shooting and hand down to grab at his nose. Take that you shirtless jerk! Luffy spat, grabbing the villain's scarf with his free hand for good measure. He tried to look up for a moment to see where his hat had gone and if it was going to fly away anytime soon. Hopefully not or he'd have to give up on this guy for a while to save it since his stupid powers weren't of very much use at the moment.

[Laharl Krichevskoy]

The ass-kicking feeling was well and truly a mutual one. Laharl spat and growled with all the fervor of a kitten whose tail had recently been stepped upon. his arms and legs flailed, but he kept getting tangled in this guy's stupid limbs. The patented ear attack hadn't done much either, besides apparently irritated Luffy. oh, how Laharl would give to be able to produce just one attack. One attack and he'd totally lay this guy completely flat on his back. See how cocky he was then.

Laharl intended to give this guy a piece of his mind, but Luffy yanked Laharl's scarf, and all the Overlord could manage was a nice, authoritative "hrk" as his body left the ground. His face turned bright red as he struggled to breath, flailing for a moment. Not seeing any other option available, Laharl aimed for the dreaded purple-nurple. After all, it was quite apparent that this fight would be of the dirty kind that Laharl had cut his teeth on...

literally.

"You're lucky I don't have my full strength, human! Else I would flay your skin from your bones and whip you with it!" insisted Laharl during his attack. He as tempted to let out another maniacal laugh, but he was still having that whole breathing issue.

As for the hat, it had settled only a few feet away, stirring gently in the soft breeze. A few people had gathered about, mostly to watch the fight, and one or two was pointing at the hat in question, wondering if that was what this was all about or what.   

[Deleted]

Luffy's irritated growl grew louder with each exhale as he watched the little twerp struggle for breath. Thats what he got for insulting his hat and being a generally awful person. Normally Luffy might have thought twice about beating up a child, but he didn't really have a solid concept of age and maturity. I mean, he had done some pretty crazy things in his life for being so young. Right? Wait, what was he doing before he got here? Something about the ocean...maybe he was a swimmer. Or a dolphin. Probably a swimming. WhhHAAAT is happening to his chest!?

Luffy tensed and his face twisted up into a one of confusion and discomfort. He stopped his growling to look down and asess the situation for a second and found that the scarf villain and latched himself onto his nipples. Never in his life had Luffy experienced anything like it. Was this some kind of special move? It couldn't have been or else this kid would have announced it beforehand, obviously, so what was he doing?! And then came the twist and Luffy's eyes began to water again. There was a flickering moment where the crowds gathered may have thought he was going to cry out in pain after inhaling a huge amount of air. Much to everyone's certain surprise, however, Luffy disolved into laughter.

As it turns out, Luffy's body was still rubber enough at the moment that the skin on his chest turned, for the most part, with Laharl's shifting wrists. That did not mean, however, the attack was inaffective, however. It may not have hurt like the demon had intended, but it had tickled like no one's business. Somehow, Luffy hated it more.

He began to shake the little nipple twister in hopes that he'd let up on his attack as tears began to stream down his face. h-h-HEY! Luffy sputtered through laughter LETGO! He pushed through clenched teeth. His stomach began to complain again and he eventually attempted to throw the kid away with enough force to get him to let go. Please, dear God, let him let go.

[Laharl Krichevskoy]

"Ha ha!" cried Laharl, gripping on with a tenacity usually reserved to small insects. Laharl kept clinging even as Luffy attempted to push him away. The ex-demon was vaguely aware of the fact that Luffy didn't seem to really be in pain so much as to be giggling or something, but quite frankly, Laharl was willing to take whatever victory he could get. He kept twisting, and nearly marveled at just how rubbery this guy's skin actually was. No way that was natural.

"Why do you have these weird powers!?" insisted Laharl. He tried pinching tighter, though the flesh seemed to be slipping from his fingers. "This is the kind of ability that we demons pride ourselves in! So why do you still have powers, when I, the great Laharl, am left powerless!?"

Because Fate wanted to torment Laharl, obviously. But that knowledge didn't make Laharl cling any less hard. He was seriously considering resorting to biting at this point. Luffy might have done it, but that didn't mean that Laharl couldn't sink his teeth in. It was that or attempt to fart on him or something, and Laharl just hadn't had a gassy enough lunch to produce more then a slightly unpleasant toot.