Dudes, I'm not back, I'm just updating this as a christmas present for someone. I'm sorry. No harm meant, I promise! ..... *kicks peoplez* Stop whinging! B|

Anyway. I hereby forever and ever more, name this story as being Magnet's. She knows who she is. It is her's, she may do with it what she will. I'll even sign a copyright stating I've given it to her. *shot* ... NO GUNS! .... barstools...

Merry Christmas, Magnet! :D

Tango

"Learn how to dance!" a red haired woman demanded. Zolo glowered at her. Sitting in the Baratie, the restaurant where Sanji worked, was calm and nice, until Nami spoke that was.

He was in no way going to learn how to dance. Hell could keep burning and birds could keep singing and this meant that Zolo would go on being a bored, grouchy but muscly swordsman. He crossed his arms and leaned back his chair, resting his head against the stone wall.

Now, the reason Nami was bossing him into learning how to dance was only because every time they went past the dancing academy, Zolo would peer through the glass window and watch them. Nami thought it was because he wanted to see the dancers and had a secret ambition to dance.

But, the real reason was, he was looking at the dance instructor. A young man with black hair and a lithe body. Zolo, in truth, fancied the boy and made it a habit to walk past the academyon thatone day of the week,at 10 when the class started and then pass by it as much as possible throughout the day. Zolo snorted as Nami once again demanded that he went there and stopped moping around like a lazy layabout. Sanji stomped over.

"You must do what a lady requests, it is only polite. Besides, if you don't I'll kick you so hard you wont be able to sit for a week." he said. The blonde chef was a royal pain in the arse when it came to Nami. Zolo sighed and frowned.

"Fine! If it'll get you off my back!" Zolo shouted. Sanji smiled around his cigarette.

"You have an hour, go and sign up." Nami said. Zolo's glare deepened but at Sanji's raised foot, he walked out.

Bastard. Zolo walked to the dance academy and walked through the door, the bell above it making an odd tingle as he entered. Zolo raised an eyebrow and walked up to the receptionist's desk. He looked around as he walked forward and then his eyes came to rest on a dark haired woman behind the counter.

"Hello, may I help you?" she asked in a sweet voice. Zolo gave a half smile.

"I'm, uh, here to take dance lessons." he muttered clearing his throat. The lady smiled and her long, lacquered nails made clicking sounds on the keyboard of her computer as she typed.

"Would you like private or group lessons?" she asked casually.

Zolo's face split into a grin. "Private." he said. That would make the smirk on Sanji's face drop into the floor.

"That'll be…$72 for the month. Your instructor will be…Monkey D Luffy. First lesson is tomorrow at twelve." she said and then smiled.

"You can stay and watch today's group lesson if you like. It's Luffy teaching them. He's really funny." Zolo shrugged and nodded.

"Okay, just take a seat. They should be coming in soon." Zolo thanked the woman and then sat down, winding his coat around his arm and resting it on his lap. He didn't have to wait long before the boy he had been so obsessed with, burst into the room.

"Nancy, I can't find the patterns for the dance I'm supposed to be teaching today!" he cried, raking his hand nervously through his black hair. Zolo raised an eyebrow.

"Relax Luffy, it's free dance today remember? You're only teaching them some movement today." The woman said. Luffy slumped against the desk.

"Thank you. I thought I'd lost the paper. I know the dance, but I hate being in front of that group. Anyway." he said and turned, spotting Zolo who was watching him intently. Luffy smiled.

"Hi." he said and then walked over. Zolo stood, his heart doing a tap dance against his ribs.

"Hey." Zolo replied.

"You here to watch?" Luffy asked as he ran a hand through his hair again. The black locks moved in a hypnotising manner.
He looks so cute. Wonder how old he actually is? Hnh, still cute. Zolo thought as Luffy reached out a hand for him to shake. His skin feels so soft and almost like rubber. Weird, but nice.

There was the tingle of the bell and Luffy turned to see his class come in. There were mostly girls but there were three boys as well. One was short with a large pink hat and vaguely resembled a reindeer and there was also a curly haired boy with a long nose. These were the only two that approached Luffy. They walked over, smiling and laughing. The group was wearing loose fitting jeans and long shirts.

"Hey Luffy!" The long nosed one called as he reached the instructor. Luffy turned away from Zolo, who felt a slight pang of jealousy at the lost attention, and smiled at his student.

"Hey Usopp, Chopper. You guys won't believe this. I forgot what dance I was supposed to be doing, thought I had the wrong sheet for the wrong class, and came flying in here like a bat outta hell, only to realise I was teaching you guys movement today." Luffy said laughing. Usopp and the little boy called Chopper chuckled.

"Again Luffy?" Chopper asked.

Luffy blushed and shrugged. "Ok, you guys go and stretch. I'll be there in a minute." Luffy said and Usopp and Chopper walked away with smiles. Luffy turned back to Zolo.

"So, are you going to be joining us?" Luffy asked. Zolo shook his head and Luffy's expression seemed to fall a little. Zolo decided he would let Luffy be surprised tomorrow.

"C'mon teach'!" the third guy called. Luffy smiled.

"Well, I'll guess I'll see ya later." Luffy said and then bounded off. Zolo nodded and sat down again. Okay, he had liked this kid before, now, he really liked him. As it turned out, Luffy was a fantastic dancer. Even though he was only teaching them movement to music, he was so fluid and easy with the way he stepped, or kicked, or flung his hands into the air. His hair swayed with the movement and he curved and moved in ways that Zolo hadn't thought were possible. Even though he was a swordsman, and therefore rather flexible, even he couldn't bend that far backwards. Zolo was entranced, watching the young man like a hawk with his mouth slightly open. Stray thoughts floated across his mind such as,

'That bending would make him great in bed'and 'how can his spine take that?' The class finished with a little freestyle dancing and then it was over and Zolo was a little disappointed. Zolo had been a swordsman all his life, had travelled around a lot, but he had never seen someone like that.

Luffy seemed to still have energy to spare though, for he bounded around, placing the CD player back in the cupboard and then spinning back to the class. They watched with interest, wiping their sweaty faces and laughing when their teacher did a funny little jump as he passed. Finally he came to rest after whipping away the ribbons and pillows and things they had been using and putting them in the cupboard as well.

"Alright. Well, I'll see you same time next week. Usopp, you did really well today and Katie, you need to work on picking up your feet a little more. Bye." Luffy called. The group forwarded out, leaving Luffy all alone with Zolo. Luffy turned and smiled as he saw Zolo was still there.

"So, what did you think?" Luffy asked as he walked up. Zolo shrugged.

"You're flexible." Zolo said. Luffy shrugged.

"Comes with dancing a lot." and then his stomach gave a loud growl, causing Luffy to place his hand over his stomach. "Oh man. I'm so hungry." he said. Nancy giggled from behind her desk.

"Go on Luffy. Jango will be here soon and your other private lesson with…Josh was cancelled. He called in sick." she said. Luffy nodded and was about to walk out when Zolo cleared his throat and caught up to the young man.

"May I join you?" Zolo asked. Luffy shrugged.

"Sure. What's ya name?" he asked as they stepped out onto the sidewalk.

"Uh, Zolo. Roronoa Zolo." the green haired man replied.

"Nice name. I'm Monkey D Luffy." Luffy introduced himself not knowing that Zolo already knew his name. Zolo smiled.

"So, how long have you been teaching there?" Zolo asked. Luffy thought a moment.

"About, two years now." he replied. Zolo thought on this.

"How old are you?" he asked. Luffy chuckled.

"20. You?"

"22." Zolo replied. "You've been teaching there since you were- "

"17, well, I started the day before I turned 18, so I guess technically I was 18." Luffy said sticking his hands into his pockets. "What do you do?"

"Ah, I don't really work but I am a Santoryu artist." Zolo replied. His dark blue hawaiian shirt flapped against him in the breeze, revealing the white tank top he wore underneath. Luffy's eyes brightened.

"Santoryu, what's that?" he asked interested.

"I can wield three swords all at once."

"Cool!" Luffy cried. Zolo jumped at the outburst. Luffy had an apparent knack for bursting out with things and Zolo learnt this more as they walk towards…where were they going? This road was familiar.

"So, where are we going?" Zolo asked. Luffy grinned.

"To a place called the Baratie." Luffy replied. Zolo paused. He knew that name, but why? Then it struck him and he stopped. Luffy turned to look at him.

"Something wrong?"

"No. I just know the guy that works there."

"Cool, can you get us free food?" Luffy asked, practically drooling. Zolo raised an eyebrow.

"Please, the asshole wouldn't even let me through the door if he had a choice." the older man replied. Luffy shrugged.

"It was just a thought. I'm soooo hungry. Let's hurry." Luffy said and then lengthened his stride. Zolo was tempted to say see ya later, but the prospect of possibly getting this boy to go out with him was just to alluring, so he followed. They entered the fancy looking restaurant and Luffy sat down at a table by the wall.

A young girl with blonde hair hurried over and held out a menu. Luffy waved it away.

"I'll have a steak, 4 lamb chops and 5 kebabs, and a bottle of lemonade." he asked. Zolo raised an eyebrow.

"Is that all?" Zolo asked. Luffy looked at him with a large smile.

"For starters."

"What will you have?" the lady asked Zolo.

"Ah, just a cup of coffee." Zolo replied. The lady nodded and hurried off.

"You're not going to eat?" Luffy asked. Zolo shook his head.

"I ate before I came to the academy."

"Ohhhh. But, I can't go for more than an hour without eating."

"I believe that." Zolo muttered. Luffy cocked his head, looking so irresistibly cute.

"What were you doing at the academy anyway?" he asked. Zolo paused a moment. This kid wasn't just going to let it drop.

"Well, hey, your food's coming." Zolo said. Luffy looked up and saw the girl coming back with two plates balanced precariously on her arm and the cup of coffee and the bottle on a drinks tray on the other hand. She was a well balanced person and managed to let the plates slide easily onto the table in front of the hungry dance instructor.

"Thanks." Luffy said and the woman smiled. Zolo accepted his cup with a smile of gratitude and took a sip, wincing at the heat but drinking it nonetheless. Luffy attacked his food with a ferocity only seen at a shark feeding frenzy. Zolo watched with a raised eyebrow. Luffy paused and swallowed.

"Are you sure you don't want any?" Luffy asked. Zolo shook his head.

"I'm good." Luffy finished his dinner, glanced at his watch, dropped some money on the table and almost ran out of the restaurant. He was at the door when he turned and smiled at a stunned Zolo.

"I'll see ya 'round, k?" Luffy asked. Zolo nodded and raised a hand to wave Luffy off.

"Sooner than you think." he muttered and then escaped before the shitty chef Sanji could come and kick him through a wall, as was the preferred greeting from the blonde bastard.

bites nails anxiously what did you think?