A Million Miles From Home
A/N: The beginning might not be much, but I promise the story gets better. Just have some patience with it ok? Also, this is not a self-insertion. I don't want anyone getting confused in the later chapters. The first person POV is the characters thinking to themselves from their POV, it's not me. Thank you and enjoy the story.
Prologue
"Sanji! Tie those ropes tight!" Nami ordered is as loud of a voice as she could muster. "I want my trees in top shape and I don't want them blowing away!"
"Yes Nami-san!" Sanji told her with a smile, and then he turned to his side and looked at Zoro... the smile fading immediately with a look of pure annoyance, "Tie the other side! I'll handle it here!" he informed, immediately going from ladies man to drill sargent.
"Hey! If I let go of this side, you'll get pulled over!" He yelled back, "Stupid Love Cook!"
"Moron!" Sanji hissed back, "Just go! I can handle this!"
The Merry Go was in the heart of a typhoon, Zoro and Sanji were trying to tie the orange trees with ropes so they wouldn't get blown away by the wind. Nami had pampered these trees and treated them like treasure, if they lost them, or if anything bad happened, she'd never forgive them. The funny thing was, the storm had come out of nowhere. Well, of course things like that happened all the time on the Grand Line... but this was different. Nami couldn't even sense this one.
Upon looking over, Sanji noticed that Usopp was stupidly running around, scared to death or just being retarted he didn't know. The cook then checked up on Zoro, who released the ropes and helped Luffy hoist the anchor. Sanji nodded, if the ship took in any more water they could all drown, and Sanji didn't know if Nami could swim or not. He could see Vivi passing them by in a hurry.
As soon as Sanji moved his foot, he noticed Usopp rolling around while trying to hold a barrel down, "That idiot!" Sanji hissed to himself.
That's when lightning struck. In a brown and red blur, the little reindeer clung to Zoro's waist screaming and crying. "Chopper! There's no time for this! Get off!" The first mate irritatibly hollared as he tried to wiggle free of the little doctor's strong grasp. Sanji finally managed to pull down the ropes that fastened the trees and tied it to a few poles that were readied from earlier. Noting Zoro's distressing situation, the cook made a mental note to blackmail him later.
That's when it started. A roaring worse than any thunder heard along the Grand Line. It took a mere moment for one of the crew members to note, or in this case skriekingly identify, where this roaring was comming from.
"Tidal Wave!!" Nami cried as every one of the crew members turned to stare in horror. They all knew that there was no way the Merry Go was going to dodge this one.
"Grab on to something!!" Zoro roared over the thundering arrival of the wave.
The wave slammed the Merry Go with such force, the entire ship submerged for a split second before bursting out of the sea, into the air, and with a 'smack' landing back into the water.
"We've got to get out of this storm!" Sanji cried over the wind and needle like rain.
And as if God had heard him, the wind calmed and it just... stopped.
Zoro raised an eyebrow and glared suspiciously at Sanji. "Do you believe in a higher force?" he asked.
Sanji turned to the glaring swordsman and snorted. "Don't be rediculious Cabbage-Head." he stated lighting a slightly soggy cigarette. "It was just a coincidence that it was nearing the end of the storm."
"Whatever you say Princess." Zoro stated simply as he turned and walked off.
"I'm off to make dinner. I'd suggest being nicer unless you want a severe case of food poisoning..." Sanji threatened.
Then it was quiet. Too quiet... like something was missing.
"Hey guys..." Usopp started, hesitasting to make sure neither Sanji nor Zoro were going to attack him. "Isn't Luffy usually excited about dinner?"
Zoro paused. "It is a bit quiet." he muttered.
"Hey Luffy!" Sanji shouted. "I'm going to make dinner!" and then as an afterthought sure to get the captain's attention "With lots of meat!"
Yet the silence lingered.
"Luffy?!" Zoro shouted.
No answer.
Instantly the crew scattered and searched the Merry Go from deck to store room.
"Has anybody found him?" Usopp asked once he rearrived on deck panting.
"No." All the others stated simutaniously.
"Ok, lets think." Nami stated logically. "When did we last see him?"
Zoro rubbed his chin. "He was helping me to hoist the anchor up... then he left to see if anyone needed him to do anything..." His eyes widened considerably.
"Then..?" Nami slightly urged Zoro to continue.
"That's when you yelled Tidal Wave." Zoro said.
Nami quickly caught on. "He must not have heard the warning..."
"And was washed overboard." Finished Sanji.
Then there was more silence before Zoro panicked. "Luffy can't swim! He'll drown!" he cried as he ran to the side of the ship and without hesitation dove into the water. Sanji and Usopp glanced eachother before following suit. Nami was the only one left standing there, calculating how long Luffy could have floated. But it was no use, she couldn't concentrate.
Their captain was gone.
ooooooooooo
I was walking home from theatre rehersal. The director, Mrs. Kelly, my god she could be a slave driver. All I wanted to do was get home and get a good nights sleep for once.
Liar! My conscience seethed.
I sighed as a light breeze played with my hair. I knew that already, I guess convincing myself wasn't going to work either. I then switched to plan B and desided to kick the voice in the groin the next time it brought up a smart ass comment. Stopping at a overpass, I looked out over the bay. The sun had turned the sea orange with a golden tint. It was breath taking. But... something wasn't right. There was a spot of red that kept obscuring the perfect image... it was forcing me to look at it!
As it drifted closer, I noticed with alarm and horror, that it was a body! I threw my bag on the ground and stood on the railing. I remember a random thought drifting into my mind that went. "Yes, you stupid drivers, I'm commiting suicide!" before I dove off.
Not only did I cut my leg on a rock, I had a nice migrane comming fourth from the drop off the overpass. I quickly searched for the body. 'Oh God!' I thought. 'What if it died? What if I'm not on time?!'
I thankfully ended up finding it and dragging it to shore. Leaning over it, I figured out the body was a guy. Red vest and blue jean shorts... torn up pretty bad. Black hair and for being thin, he had muscles. 'I wonder what happened to him...' I checked for a pulse. His heart was beating and he was breathing. I did a silent cheer that he was alive... but suddenly, the seriousness of the situation dawned on me. It was getting dark. Not only was I bound to get eaten up my mosquitos', my mom was gonna flip out when she seen the blood staining my clothing and a new hospital bill. The guy I had just saved had no form of ID what so ever - no wallet or anything! I didn't know where he lived, his age, if he had any medical problems, a phone number, not even a name... nothing!
But he looked familiar...
I sat there long after dark before he finally came around. He sat up... he had amazing eyes. I mentally smacked myself! Here I was, sore, bleeding, cold, hungry, tired... and drooling over a guy I knew nothing about...
He looked around with a confused look and sniffed the air. I was confused for the most part and was about to make myself known when he looked right at me. I froze under the intensity of his gaze and said the first thing that came to mind:
"Good... you're alive."
The guy observed me for a moment and raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't I be?" he asked grinning.
I could feel my eyes widen in confusion. "You were face down in the water! I dove in and pulled you out!" I cried. 'Are you that dumb?' my conscience screamed. How big of a ditz was this guy? I then realised that light did travel faster than sound... they look bright untill they speak...
"Well, I'm alive now." He said grinning. "So, what's your name?" he asked me standing up.
The sooner I was out of his intense gaze- "I'm Sarah. Where do you live? I can call you a cab and-"
"What's a cab?" He asked as he scratched his head. "Is it one of those shinny moving magick things? Like the ones over there?" He asked, pointing toward the overpass going across charlotte harbor. It was very small in the distance but you could still see the cars. Then... what he'd said sunk in. I couldn't hold the urge back anymore and smacked my forehead... hard. "What planet are you from? You don't know what a cab is?"
He shook his head. "Nope!"
I seriously couldn't get the nagging feeling away from me that I'd seen him somewhere before.
My eyebrows narrowed in confusion. He extended a hand to me and I accepted it. After I was standing, I realised how much pain I was actually in. I bit my tounge as my leg almost gave out. He looked up at the overpass I dove off of and whistled. "That's one huge bridge! And it's all shinny too!" He looked at me again and I could feel myself shying away. 'C'mon damn you! Stop being such a wuss!'
"Are you hurt? Because that's a pretty long drop." he said, then he noticed the concentrated look I had on my face and the blood staining the sand. He lifted me up off the ground. My cheeks suddenly burned and I cursed them.
"I'll find you some help." He said as he began walking. I had no choice, oviously, but to stick with him. "What school do you go to?" I asked, trying to strike up a good conversation.
He frowned. "School? I'm a pirate!"
I started laughing at this point. At least he had a good sense of humor. "No, seriously what school do you go to? Or are you new in town?"
"I am serious." He said innocently. The innocense in his voice caused me to freeze and stop giggling. Reality sunk in and my brain froze. "You're a pirate... for real?"
"Yep! Which reminds me - what island is this? I was seperated from my crew during a storm on the Grand Line."
Everything clicked at that point. I knew why I had the feeling I'd seen him before. One Piece... the manga I had recently started reading... I was being carried home by Monkey D. Luffy. My eyes widened considerably. It wasn't possible... it couldn't be! How? Why? When? So many questions flew through my brain... I didn't even realise it when he stopped walking.
Noticing this, I knew I had to explain it to him. There was no simple way to do it... so I shut my eyes, bit my bottom lip (Like I always did when I was nervous or thinking... well at least trying too), and took a deep breath... "What?" he asked, the grin slowly fading from his face.
"I don't know how you got here..." I whispered. I knew right then that if he wasn't holding me, I would have collapsed and possibly popped my knee out of place. "What? What's the matter?" he asked.
I looked up at him. "You won't find your crew here, Luffy." I said.
Ok, that was a start. Keep going... c'mon, you can do it...
He grinned. "Hey! You know my name!" then he frowned. "Wait... what do you mean I won't find my crew here? Did something happen to them? Am I on the wrong island?"
I could tell he was starting to panic... so now I had to finish it.
"Luffy." I sighed. "You're in the wrong world."
There. I said it.
He was silent for a moment. I was wondering if he'd even understood what I was saying or what it meant when all of a sudden...
"WHAAAAAAT?!" he cried as he fell butt first to the ground, me landing ungracefully on him.
I sighed again, messaging the bridge of my nose while laying flat on my back. "The bad part about all of this is first off, you have no money, no place to stay... and the fact that I have no idea how you got here or how I can send you back." I looked at him, tightening my lips in pity. "I can however, help you blend in untill we find some answers." I offered. Hey, it was the least I could do. "C'mon stretchy, lets get you cleaned up. We've got alot of work to do." I urged.
Luffy then laughed. "I guess I have no choice." he felt for his hat... which was gone also. He paniked. "WHERE'S MY HAT?!"
"I don't know. Perhaps your crew has it?" I suggested as my stomach rumbled. I realised I haden't eaten anything since about 10 in the morning. School lunch wasn't exactly what I'd call a meal. "I'm starving. What do you say we go find something to eat?"
"MEAT!" The pirate cried as he picked me up again and started running.
"Slow down!" I cried when suddenly we came to a sudden hault. "Where too... Lu-ffy?" my smile faded.
Luffy had a look of anger apon his face and was staring straight ahead. I gulped, his eyes were very eerie... they demanded respect yet showed utter kindness and loyalty. However, the look of anger apon his face made me shutter. I then looked to the problem and gasped. 3 jerks were abusing a puppy. The poor thing was whimpering and crying...
I tried... in vain mind you, to stop myself from crying. I couldn't do it. I started crying right infront of Luffy. Memories flashed through my mind of a very bad christmas when I was little and I shuddered.
"No, not those memories..." I muttered, quickly wiping my tears away.
Luffy suddenly set me down. "Stay here." he said, glaring across the street. I sighed, like I could go anywhere anyways...
"Hey! You!" Luffy yelled over to them, they stopped.
"Hey, stay out of this you little shit!" said the first one. He was wearing a yellow and black checkered bandana and black ripped up jeans with a yellow tank top.
My mind screamed warning when the second one pulled out a pistol. The only thing he had on were some blue jean shorts. His bright blonde hair mesmorized me and for a split second I thought Gage was standing there... but then I realized that Gage would never do that and that Gage lived in Cape Coral. I gulped as the third one made eye contact with me. I squinted, I could have sworn I'd seen him before. He was really tall with black hair and a pentagram burned into his arm. He was dressed like a goth.
"Say your prayers. I'm comming over!" Luffy growled.
And the light turned red. He cracked his knuckles and the rest was a blur of movement. The next thing I saw were the three men laying in a heap on the ground... and Luffy walking over holding a small golden retirever puppy, happily laughing as it licked his face.
ooooooooooo
Sarah sat in class and sighed as she rested her head in her hand. 'Yep,' She thought. 'That's when he first arrived. It's been almost 4 months and still, we're no closer to figuring anything out than we were before.'
She glanced at the time. 10 minutes to go. Geometery was so annoying. All the teacher was talking about was find the area of this, the perimeter of that, A1/2Base times the Height...
'When the hell are we going to use any of this? 64 thousand dollar answer - never! Unless you're a brain surgeon or a scientist, which I'm not going to be any so I don't need any of it.' she thought in annoyance.
Sarah looked out the window at the blue sky and chirping birds. Lots of sun and a gentle breeze... the perfect breeze... such a good day for the beach. 'Perhaps I'll take Luffy to the BBQ later on, he'll like all the free meat. And speak of the devil... there he is.'
There was Luffy alright... with his own fan club of cheerleaders following him. Sarah's eyes narrowed, Luffy had no clue what they wanted. She chuckled lightly, admitting to herself that the clothes she'd helped him choose made him look good. They'd chosen a variety of colors for him, but today he wore a white tank top with a black button up shirt (currently unbuttoned) and black shorts with his sandals. Around his neck was a shell necklace. She smiled at the memory of him complaining about not having his hat to wear with it. She considered that perhaps his crew did have it.
Suddenly, the bell rang. The class let out a cheer as thirty something students piled out the door. Sarah never did figure out how they did it, and she was one of them! She slouched in relief, that happened to be the second from last period of the day. The last was team sports. She smirked evilly, 'Today we're playing dodgeball!'
She jogged over to meet Luffy, who waved in return. She held up a steaming hot package of meat and was about to yell out what it was... but a big lanky form blocked her path, causing her to let out a dangerously low gorwl. 'Mark!'
"Sarah, we need to talk." he said.
"No, we don't." Sarah stated in a stern voice and tried to move around him, he grabbed her arm. "Let go."
"Not untill you hear me out." he said.
'I also know now how annoying his voice is...' her conscience stated.
"And why should I listen to an obsessed coward who lies about everything, hm?" She asked.
Mark leaned down to her height. "Because I have the hunters on my side." he growled in her ear. That made her freeze and tense up. She gritted her teeth together in annoyance and anger. Mark sighed. "I'm sorry. I was an ass and I was wrong. There, happy?"
"Bullshit you are." She growled. "You lie about everything, Mark. Quite frankly, you still are an ass and you still try to be like Gage. News flash stalker-boy, you're not and never will be! I have nothing to say to you and neither does anyone else now fuck off and leave me alone!"
She winced. His grip had tightened to a bruising force. She smirked through her teeth, her pain tolerance was very high. "Listen up." he said, she glared at him. "You have everything. A mother who loves you, friends who care about you... and the looks to kill."
"Oh, please-" Sarah started
"I wanted to take you more than anyone... yet, somehow you managed to foil my plans." he growled, his grip tightened to emphasize his point. Sarah looked around to see if he was causing a scene. If he was, she could use that to her advantange...
Luffy was walking to where they were standing. 'Luffy?' she wondered. 'Why is he comming over here? Is he comming to me or someone else behind me?'
Mark looked in the direction Sarah was looking, but paid no heed to Luffy. After all, the 'new kid' was scrawny anyways right? Mark leaned forward and Sarah leaned back as far as she could. "I'll have you one way or another. I always get what I want." His other hand stroked her lips. Sarah growled and bit at his fingers. He jerked them back quickly.
"That's your problem. Number one, nobody really agrees with the term RAPE. Number two, at the party, you tried to spike my drink and force me to have sex with you. I have the scars to prove it, all I have to do is show the police my back and you will be put away and become someone's girlfriend for a long time, Mark." She had nothing against gays but this was an exception... Sarah took full advantage of it and hit him... hard. "Wait, you'd enjoy that wouldn't you? Because the first thing you and your little boyfriend did when you were dating is butt fuck in the shower!"
Mark raised his hand up and Sarah tensed, preparing for a stinging slap. She closed her eyes and waited.
The hit never came.
ooooooooooooo
I was waiting all day for the bell to ring! School sucks, I really don't see how Sarah can stand this untill she's 17. They don't let you get all the food you want... AND there's always a group of girls following me around. They're annoying, but they're friendly so I can't tell them to go away. I was walking back to class with all those annoying girls following me when the bell rang. It was a perfect timing, I could meet Sarah in the courtyard and she would bring me meat from her second period - a cooking class. My stomach growled loudly and I began drooling in anticipation of the food. She's good enough to become Sanji's assistant... I think...
"I'm so hungry!" I cried out to nobody specifically when Sarah came into view. I smiled and waved when she held up the package. I began to drool again and was about to run over untill this big guy stepped infront of her! At first I thought it was her friend, but then she tried to walk around him and he grabbed her arm. Pretty hard too because he was starting to leave a bruise. He had no right to do that! Sarah's a nice girl and this guy's busy being a jerk to her!
I started walking over to see if she needed any help, when I hear the guy talk about taking her. I'd heard the term before, a while back, but acted like I didn't know what it was so nobody would suspect anything. You know enemies let their guard down if they think you're a ditz and that's when you can read them the best and spot their weakness technique? I use it alot. Anyways, to hear him say that to her made me angry. Then he began feeling her lips... it was making me angry to see this. Now, I was close enough to where I could hear it all as well.
"That's your problem. Number one, nobody really agrees with the term RAPE. Number two, at the party, you tried to spike my drink and force me to have sex with you. I have the scars to prove it, all I have to do is show the police my back and you will be put away and become someone's girlfriend for a long time, Mark." I watched as she grinned evilly. "Wait, you'd enjoy that wouldn't you? Because the first thing you and your little boyfriend did when you were dating is butt fuck in the shower!"
My mind did a back flip as I heard that. Ok, the thing she said was mean... but he tried to do that to her? This guy had gone far enough! He was already bigger than her and now he was trying to... no.
I wasn't gonna let that happen.
Which is why I'm the one who's holding his wrist in a grip hard enough to break it. He is going to die. If not now... later. "Let. Her. Go." I commanded, twisting his wrist around to get my point across. People like him pissed me off, he reminded me of Don Krieg.
You can't just force people to bow down to you, no matter how strong you are. It's just not right.
"Who the fuck are you?" he asked. Yep, I tend to get that alot.
"The name's Luffy, Monkey D., let her go or die."
Mark growled and leaned down so we could both hear him... well, so she could. I can look him in the eye. "Believe me, this isn't over." he threatened as he let her arm go. I released his wrist and he walked away massaging it. I looked over, grinning at Sarah, who stared.
oooooooooooo
Sarah stared. She had never fully realised how intimidating Luffy could be. Then it kicked in. 'He protected me...' Sarah watched as Luffy turned and looked at her.
He was grinning.
'Grinned... HE GRINNED!' Her conscience screamed.
"Leave it to you to grin after something like that..." Sarah stated, releasing the breath she suddenly realised she's been holding. The bell rang, but they didn't care. He gently, Sarah noticed in a suprised sort of way, lifted her arm where Mark had grabbed her. She whimpered as a sharp pain flew up the rest of her shoulder, up her neck, and down her left shoulder blade.
"You're hurt." he said as he stared at the damage done by her ex. Sarah watched as his smile temporarily faded. He glanced her and, knowing he'd been caught, grinned again... bigger the second time. "But don't worry! We'll get you fixed up in no time at all and then we'll kick his butt!" he declared with a fire in his eyes Sarah couldn't help but laugh at.
"It's fine. I'll wrap it up at home." She said. She really didn't want the nurse to call her mom. Seriously, she didn't. Her mom flipped out over the smallest things... kinda like all parents.
"Are you sure? I'm sure there's a doctor around here somewhere..." he whined looking in every direction.
"I just don't want the nurse to call my mom." Sarah said wincing as she put her arm back at her side. "You'll just have to help me during dodgeball."
"Not only that. I'll send him flying and find my way home and you can come see my world! You can meet Zoro, Nami, Sanji, Vivi, Chopper, Usopp... and the rest of my crew. Zoro might scare you at first, but's a really nice guy once you get to know him." he stated in a child like way.
Sarah smiled at that. "That sounds... like a plan!" she said grinning. "Race you to class!" she cried and took off running, books in hand.
"Hey! No fair! You started before me!" he cried running behind her.