Another Nakama Omakes

Disclaimer: The following is a fan made work of fiction. One Piece is owned by Funimation, Toei Animation, Fuji TV, Shueisha, Shonnan Jump Manga, and Eiichiro Oda. I do not own One Piece or any of its characters, I'm writing this omake for my own amusement.

Summary:This isn't really a story, rather a collection of scenes from my Another Nakama series that for one reason or another never made it into the story itself.

Rating: T

Shell Town Omake:

Zoro Meets Ricky:

-x-

In the Marine holding yard outside the Shell Town Marine Base, Roronoa Zoro was tied to a wooden cross. Grumble! Zoro had been out here for three days and he was already getting hungry. It was hard not to think about food. But what he really craved at the moment was a nice cold mug of grog or rum. Zoro hadn't gotten to finish his last decent drink. In fact, that was how he wound up in this situation in the first place.

-Zoro's Flashback-

Zoro was sitting at the bar in a tavern in some town with a marine base. The one-eyed bartender placed a mug of rum down on the counter in front of him and Zoro quickly picked it up and started drinking.

KREK! RAWR! The door to the tavern opened and vicious wolf came barging into the tavern. Some weird-looking blond guy in a suit was holding the wolf by a leash. The wolf went over to a table and devoured the food on and the suit guy just laughed, "Ahaahaha!"

"You can't bring pets in here," the one-eyed bartender called out.

"Shut up you!" the funny looking suit guy ordered, he had an escort of two marines so Zoro assumed he was some obnoxious marine. "Let my doggy do what he wants or I'll have you executed."

"Stop it, you mean old thing!" a little girl shrieked as she ran over to the wolf and swung at its tail with a mop, SWISH!SWISH!SWISH!

"Rika, get away from that thing," the one-eyed waiter warned her.

"You, little girl," Helme – whatever the hell his name was – addressed the girl. "Is there some kind of problem with how my precious dog is behaving?"

"Rika put it down," a brown haired woman – probably the girl's mother – ordered as she rushed out from the back room. "You don't want to get us in trouble!"

GRRRAAWWWRRRR! The wolf growled as it turned to the little girl then let out a howl as it pounced.

Zoro would've done something if the bartender hadn't suddenly vaulted over the bar and tackled the girl to the ground. WHUMP! The wolf clawed at the bartender's back as he held the girl to his chest to protect her. CHUNK! SLASH! RIP!

Zoro wasn't about to let some stupid mutt kill off a one-eyed civilian and a little girl, he hooked his foot on the barstool next to him and kicked it at the wolf. WHAM! The stool slammed into the wolf and knocked it out.

The girl ran to her mother while the bartender stood up. He completely ignored the claw marks on his back. This peaked Zoro's interest more than the loud mouth with the wolf. No civilian could get up after being mauled by a wolf and act like nothing happened. There was blood dripping onto the floor and bartender didn't even seem to notice.

"You shouldn't have done that," the bartender warned him. He appeared to me more concerned with Zoro's safety than his own.

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?" the blond marine guy yelled as he drew a sword and swung it around. Zoro didn't move and the idiot recognized him. "Wait a minute… it's you! You're the Pirate Hunter Zoro!"

"And if I am?" Zoro challenged him. The fool had no stance and a bad grip. He definitely wasn't a swordsman. Judging from his build he wasn't even a fighter. The one-eyed bartender on the other hand was wearing noticeably loose clothing.

"What's a pirate hunter doing defying the marines, huh?" the annoying guy demanded.

"Can it and let me finish my meal in peace."

"RAAAH!" The weird guy screamed and charged at Zoro while swinging his sword. Zoro didn't even bother using one of his own swords. This guy wasn't worth the effort. THWAK! Zoro lashed out his leg and kicked the sword out of the fool's hands and it went flying and embedded in the ceiling. SHUNK!

"HAAA!" The weird marine screamed in terror as Zoro turned and punched him in the face, POW! The idiot went flying and smashed into a wall. WHAM!

Zoro finally drew one of his swords and pointed it at the annoying guy's face. "You're getting on my nerves, pal," Zoro told him, "You and that precious mutt of yours."

"Aha-haha," The suit guy chuckled, "You do realize if my dad finds out about this he'll surely execute the girl and her mother."

Judging from the gasp from the crowd 'dad' was apparently a big deal around here. And it wasn't uncommon for him to execute civilians for pointless reasons.

"So what do you say to a little deal between men?"

If this guy was relying on marine escorts and his 'dad' to help him with everything he wasn't much of a man in Zoro's eyes. But still, he let him speak.

"In place of those three… how about we string you up instead? For… say one month. You survive that one month and I'll be so nice as to let you live too. What do you say? Sound fair?"

Zoro didn't want civilian deaths on his conscience. And while he wasn't exactly sure what being 'strung up' for a month would be like he was a survivor and was sure he could handle it.

"No," the bartender interrupted. "I'll do the month. If you promise that the girl and her mother are spared… you can even execute me."

"Why would I want you?" the pompous blond guy asked. "I could kill you any time I want and then have the other two executed once you're dead."

Zoro was sure he could last a month. He didn't know much about this one-eyed bartender guy but he wasn't going to allow one of the few people who were actually standing up to this spoiled brat and his corrupt father to get executed. He spoke up before the bartender could say anything. "He made the offer to me, I'll do it. One month it is." KLAK! Zoro dropped his sword and allowed himself to get arrested.

-End Zoro's Flashback-

"Are you done flashbacking yet?" came a somewhat familiar voice.

Zoro opened his eyes in surprise and saw the one-eyed bartender. He was wearing all black and had a black hat over his red hair. Zoro had been so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice the guy. "You're that bartender," Zoro realized, "How'd those wolf wounds heal up?"

"My back's a little scratched up but I'm fine," the one-eyed bartender told him. "I'll be completely healed in a few days. I'm Ricky by the way."

"Roronoa Zoro," Zoro introduced himself. "You'd better get out of here. You don't want the Marines to catch you."

"Yeah right," Ricky scoffed, "those guys couldn't catch a cold. They still haven't noticed that I've been sneaking into the base and stealing back a portion of that outrageous tribute they're forcing on the people here."

"What are you… some kind of thief?" Zoro questioned. "I'm not a fan of these Marines but that still makes you a criminal."

"It's the Marines here that are the criminals," Ricky replied. "At least Captain Morgan and his spoiled son are. Like I said, everyone has to pay an outrageous tribute every month... just to stay alive. You're not the first person to be strung up here just because that brat had a temper tantrum."

"I brought you a present," Ricky announced. He pulled a round package out from the small sack he'd been carrying and unwrapped it to reveal a rice ball. "The girl and her mother wanted to thank you."

"Take it away!" Zoro ordered, "I'm not hungry!"

GRUMBLE! Ricky raised his eyebrow skeptically. Zoro scowled at his stomach's betrayal. Zoro was hungry. Very hungry. But he wanted to do this himself. There was no honor in surviving because of someone else.

"You know… Rika would be really upset if you refused our help," Ricky told him. Zoro's scowl hardened, he knew what Ricky was trying to do. He was trying to guilt him into accepting their help. It was partially because of that girl that he was here in the first place. But Zoro wouldn't allow himself to be baited. His honor wouldn't allow him to accept a handout.

"Then throw it away and tell her I ate it anyway," Zoro snapped.

"You want me to lie to a little girl who only wants to help you?" Ricky asked incredulously. "Where's the honor in that?" Zoro's scowl became a full-on glare. When guilt-tripping him didn't work the crafty bastard changed tactics and was now playing on Zoro's sense of honor while still guilting him.

"You're a survivor," Ricky noted. "I know your type when I see them. You've got a big dream and you won't let anything stop you from achieving it."

Zoro couldn't help thinking of his and Kuina's dream of becoming the World's Greatest Swordsman. He'd promised her and he wasn't going to let anything stop him.

"I'm sure you could survive this challenge," Ricky said, "I can sense that you've got incredible fighting spirit. But why put your dream in jeopardy? You already have to face so many other obstacles. Why make this any harder than it is?"

"I have my honor," Zoro stated.

"Well the guy who put you here sure as hell doesn't," Ricky pointed out. "He's a lying, spoiled little bastard who hides behind his daddy's power. What do you have to prove to him? Eat the rice ball. No one would know."

"I'd know," Zoro insisted.

"You've got a choice," Ricky told him, "You can either willingly accept this rice ball or you can lose whatever dignity you have left when I force-feed it to you. You're tied up so you won't be able to stop me." Zoro glared at him again. "You're bound to do great things. Why waste your time and effort here of all places? Let me help you. Then once you're free you can focus on what really matters. You'll really stick it to the spoiled brat when you survive this thing no problem and at the same time you'll make a cute little girl very happy."

Zoro knew when he was beaten. And if nothing else, if he accepted the one-eyed son of the devil would at least leave him alone. "Alright…" Zoro conceded, "Give it to me…" Zoro opened his mouth but was saved the humiliation of being fed when Ricky tossed the rice ball to him. CHOMP! With the limited movement he had left Zoro caught the ball in his mouth and wolfed it down. MUNCH! MUNCH! GULP! He hadn't eaten in three days, anything would've tasted good at this point but that rice ball tasted REALLY good.

"One good turn deserves another," Ricky commented as he held up a second rice ball.

Zoro closed his eyes in resignation. He'd already accepted the first rice ball. What harm would eating a second one do? Zoro opened his mouth and Ricky tossed him other rice ball. CHOMP! MUNCH! MUNCH! GULP! The second rice ball was just as good as the first one.

"Thirsty?" Ricky offered as he held up a bottle of rum.

Zoro's eyes locked on the bottle. That was what he really wanted. The rice balls had actually made him even thirstier. But Ricky was really starting to push it.

"No," Zoro refused. "I already ate your damn rice balls. Leave me alone."

"Nah, I think I'll stay here," Ricky replied, he held the rum bottle and eyed it for a moment, "It's nice and cold. And it's the good stuff. Bet it tastes really good too. You know what? Since you don't want it… I guess I'll drink it." Ricky snapped the cap off of the bottle and stuffed it in his pocket then slowly started to raise the bottle of cool, refreshing, delicious rum to his mouth.

SON OF A WHORE! HE WAS ABOUT TO DRINK ZORO'S RUM!

"Don't you dare!" Zoro exclaimed. "Give it!"

"I thought you didn't want it?" Ricky teased him.

"I changed my mind!" Zoro snapped.

"Well… if you insist," Ricky agreed. He held out the bottle and Zoro leaned in and bit down on the neck then tilted his head and the bottle up into the air and proceeded to chug the entire contents of it. GULP! CHUG! GULP!

The rum was just what he needed… even better than the rice balls. But Zoro probably would've enjoyed it more if it wasn't for the sly, fox-like grin Ricky was sporting. Damn grin would probably haunt his dreams for years to come.

Ricky took the empty bottle and stuffed it in his pocket then headed for the wall. "I'll be back in a few days with some more food," Ricky informed him.

"Wait!" Zoro called out, "Just who the hell are you?"

"Me?" Ricky questioned. "I'm just a simple bartender."

"Bullshit," Zoro objected.

Ricky flashed him that damn fox-grin before he turned and jumped clear over the wall and out of the holding yard. SKISH!

Normal bartenders didn't jump eight-foot tall walls, rob Marine Bases, and shake off getting mauled by a wolf like it was nothing.

At the very least this gave Zoro something to think about and investigate during his sentence:

WHO THE HELL WAS THAT GUY?

-x-

There you go. Ricky and Zoro's first meeting. If you look closely at chapters one and two you'll see mentions of Ricky sneaking Zoro food. This is how it happened.

'Till Next Time…

Peace!