I know, I've been getting really off-subject with writing the sequel for 'What Would Happen If', but I stumbled across this old piece of garbage on my computer and decided I wanted to try to finish it. I don't usually do AU stories, and I'm no expert at anything involving romance, so this is a little out of my comfort range. All the more reason to give it a try, I suppose. I'll still work on the others as well. And Modokai Syla is my OC that will be appearing in WWHI at some point. And for the life of me I can't remember if Tashigi has a last name, what it might be or if Tashigi is her last name. I apologize if I got it wrong.

The joke with my OC and her place of work is that she's from a dragon clan in the One Piece universe, hence the obsession with scaly things.

Hope that isn't too confusing for anyone. And hope you like this filler story!

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece. Syla is mine, though.

Warnings: Language for now. Possible M later.

I tapped my fingers on the edge of the counter and looked down into the small glass tank in front of me. "Really," I mumbled. "Can't you two just get along? I don't have another tank yet, you know."

The two uromastyx lizards looked up at me blankly. The one on the left, Colby, tilted his head. The other one, which my co-worker had for some reason dubbed Helmeppo, flicked his tongue out at me.

"Don't get cocky," I warned him. I heard a light snort from behind me and turned to see Tashigi Kimura watching with amusement. She had her red-framed glasses resting on the top of her head, and had probably just come from the back room. She was holding a deposit bag in one hand and a bottle of iguana nutrition pellets in the other.

The reptile pet and supply store where we both worked was nearly empty by this time of day, the remaining few customers making quick last-minute decisions before they would come to the front counter. The business had been steadily declining recently, as the demand for snakes and lizards as house pets just wasn't as popular an idea as it had been years before. I myself doubted I would ever lose my interest in the little critters. They were just too adorable.

"Such a way with animals," Tashigi grinned. "Just take one of them out for awhile. I'd bet we have a box somewhere, we can attach a heat lamp for him."

"That's probably the best we can do until tomorrow," I agreed. "Little bastards are being more feisty than usual today. I wonder what's gotten into them?" They had been together since day one, and had never acted like this.

"I'm sure it's just a lover's quarrel," Tashigi waved a hand dismissively, almost knocking over a display of reptile care pamphlets. "Whoops."

"Glasses," I reminded her. "I'll go find a box." I moved out from behind the counter and walked past the numerous tanks and cages holding my favorite animals in the world. Sweet little things.

I was very aware that not many people shared my love and enthusiasm for the cold-blooded beasts, but I supposed my fascination with scaly things ran in the family. My uncle, who owned the store, was incredibly outspoken on how the reptilian world was suffering greatly due to human habitation, and had even gotten in the way of the local council on one or two issues involving the destruction of natural grasslands surrounding Grand Line City.

Uncle Dragon was the reason I had wanted to have a pet snake at the tender age of six, and after about a month of begging and pleading, my older brother had finally let me have one of my own. As long as I took full responsibility for it, he really didn't seem to mind very much.

I frowned and picked up an empty box from one of the back shelves. Thinking about my brother still hurt most times. It had been unfair, the way he was taken from me, and I had a lingering rage toward the one who had so mercilessly killed him, all for a few hundred dollars worth of electronics. It hadn't been difficult for the authorities to catch the shitty bastard and give him a life sentence. Still, I doubted I could ever find it in myself to forgive the guy for tearing my already fragile family even further apart.

"Hey Syla," Tashigi called from the front counter. "Where'd you go? Did you get lost? Geez, you're getting to be as bad as Zoro."

I walked back into the main store and set the box on the counter. "Hey," I protested. "It's hardly fair to compare me with that moss-brained idiot."

While I had been lost in thought in the back room, the last customers had already paid and left. The front lights were dimmed and the sign was turned to announce we were now closed.

Tashigi laughed and finished counting through the money in the till. She plucked Colby gently from the glass tank, holding him carefully in both hands. "I still don't get what you have against Zoro," she shook her head. "He's really not that bad, you know."

"You didn't like him at first, either," I pointed out. "In fact, I specifically remember you saying that you had tried to fight him for the first few years after you two met."

"That's because he wasn't my friend," Tashigi shrugged. "He was Kuina's."

Kuina had been Tashigi's older sister and Zoro Roronoa's best friend. The three of them were involved in after-school kendo classes from the time they could properly hold a stick, and spent every free second they could at the only dojo in town. After Kuina had been killed in an accident when they were all young teenagers, Tashigi and Zoro had continued their training in her honor.

I figured that might have been one of the reasons Tashigi and I got along so well when she had started working for my uncle a few years back; we had both lost a very close older sibling, and understood that kind of loss wasn't something someone could get over so easily. For her it had been longer, close to ten years now. For me, only four.

"Speaking of the Green Monster," I started as I pulled a spare heat lamp from behind the counter, "you guys still on for that match next Saturday?"

"Yep," Tashigi beamed proudly. "I'm going to kick his ass this time, too."

"In that case I'll be there," I grinned back at her. "The old auditorium, right?"

"Right." Tashigi clipped the lamp to the side of the wooden box and adjusted the height to keep the heat away from the edge. "You don't think he'll get out of it, do you?" she asked, frowning.

I hadn't been paying attention, still thinking about the upcoming fight. "Who, Roronoa?"

"Colby," she pointed at the lizard before reaching in and running her finger along his bumpy head. Having been born and raised in the store, both Colby and Helmeppo were incredibly tolerant of our affections for them.

"Him? Probably not," I shrugged. I scribbled a note for Ussop and stuck it to the box. "He's afraid of his own shadow, so it's unlikely he'll try to get out of his safe zone."

"In that case, we're done. Finally Friday, too," the other girl sighed and closed the till drawer and started toward the back door. "Any big plans tonight?"

"Not really," I flipped the switch for the timer on the other tanks and followed her. "I'll probably go have dinner at Dragon's place, then maybe a drink with Robin at the usual. You?"

"I have practice with Zoro at seven but after that I'm not sure," Tashigi shrugged as I locked the door behind us. "I think Smoker's home tonight, so I'll probably try to stay out of the house until he goes to bed. Don't want to get caught in another inquisition."

Smoker was Tashigi's older and over-protective cousin, I had never caught the man's real name. He absolutely hated Zoro, although no one knew exactly why. I figured it must have something to do with the moss head hanging around Tashigi so much, but didn't really see where the problem was with that. The two had been friends since grade school.

"Well, come on down if you feel like it," I said as we walked across the back parking lot to our respective cars. I loved Robin like a sister, but she had a habit of getting too wrapped up in her work and wound up chatting my ear off about a piece of two hundred year old pottery she was currently documenting for her lab. Not that I didn't appreciate how much she loved it, but dirt-encrusted clay wasn't really on my lists of interests.

"I'll probably take you up on that," Tashigi's grin turned mischievous, "as long as I can bring a friend."

"If you must bring the cave man, I suppose-"

"Not Zoro," Tashigi cut in, still smiling. "A new friend, if you know what I mean."

I felt my eyebrows disappear into my side-swept bangs. "Really?" I smirked. "Landed someone special? Who is it?"

"You'll just have to wait," Tashigi waved and opened her driver's door. "See you tonight."

"Alright," I waved back. I got into my car and drove off, headed for my uncle's house. Tashigi had a date? Well, this was certainly something new.

It wasn't that the other girl was bad looking or had a rotten personality, it really had more to do with the fact that she went nearly everywhere with Zoro. After awhile, most people had just started to think of the two as a couple and left it at that. I knew that wasn't the case, but this new situation was still a little surprising.

I suddenly felt a bit more excited about my night.

I walked into my uncle's house through the sliding back door, stepping into the dining area next to the kitchen. The living room looked empty and I couldn't hear any sounds coming from down the hall, either. "Hey Dragon," I called. "You home yet?"

"Syla!"

I sidestepped with much practice as a black and red blur whipped past me and into the wall beside the door. "Luffy," I greeted. "How are you?"

My energetic cousin detached his face from the wall and grinned widely. "Starving! Guess what?"

"What?"

"Ace is in town from college, and Sanji's coming over in a minute to make dinner for us! Isn't that awesome?"

"Ace is in town?" I repeated. "When did he get here?" I hadn't heard anything about my older cousin visiting for the weekend, and was pleasantly surprised.

"About an hour ago," a deep, cheerful voice answered from the doorway. Ace was leaning against the frame, arms folded and grinning. "Just drove up to say hi."

"Ace!" I walked over and hugged him quickly, letting go and stepping back. "Did you get taller?"

"Nah, you're just shrinking," he ruffled my dark hair affectionately. "And since when do you wear your hair like that? Makes you look older." He looked like he was trying to be stern but failing miserably.

I smiled back at him. Ever since I lost my own brother, Ace had seen it as a personal duty to fill in the role of unnecessary protector. He wasn't quite strict enough to pull it off, though. "Just recently," I shrugged.

Luffy bounded over to us like he had springs on his feet, yet apparently had forgotten to include breaks. He ran right into me and bounced us both off the living room wall. I, doing what any mature young lady in her early twenties would do, grabbed Luffy by the back of his shirt and threw him to the floor, jumping on top of him.

"Dog pile!" Ace shouted right before he landed on both of us.

The next few minutes were spent with each of us trying to get the upper hand on the others, with no one getting very far. I had grown up with these clowns and knew their moves all too well. Over our shouts and giggling no one heard the back door slide open again.

"Hey kids," a rumbling voice cut into our impromptu wrestling match. "The cook's here."

I stopped in the act of putting Ace in a headlock, with Luffy under my legs trying to pin them down while Ace twisted his arm, and looked up to see Dragon and Sanji standing in the kitchen. Dragon appeared to be completely indifferent to the scene but the blonde man was trying very hard not to laugh.

"Hi guys," I panted. We all three let go and stood up, straightening our clothing. "How goes it?"

"It's a pleasure, Syla," Sanji smiled at me politely. "It isn't often I am given the opportunity to cook for such a rare beauty such as yourself."

I snorted in a very un-lady like way. "I'll be sure to let Nami know next time I see her."

"Well," Sanji looked a little panicky. "What I mean is-"

"Yes, yes," Dragon waved one broad hand. "We got it, son. Kitchen's all ready for you. Thanks, by the way."

"No trouble at all," Sanji assured him. "There aren't many things I love more than cooking for friends."

I knew he really meant it, too. That was one of the things I liked best about Sanji; the guy took his cooking very seriously, and he was damn good at it to boot. In fact, I didn't think I had ever had better food than his.

Ace leaned down to whisper in my ear as Luffy and Dragon sat themselves at the dining table to wait for dinner. "You're staring," he noted. "The cook catch your eye?"

"No," I answered truthfully. "I just really like food." That was true, too. The ability to eat like an elephant and not gain a pound seemed to be a family trait, so having a slight food obsession was fairly safe. "He's not my type, anyway." I sat down on the sofa behind us and my cousin settled himself next to me.

"So what is your type?" he asked conversationally. "You still with that guy from East Road? What was his name…Jimmy?"

"Johnny?" I looked at him, surprised. "That was over two years ago, Ace. You haven't been gone that long." I shook my head. "No, Johnny was nice but a little too into himself. It didn't last long. What about you? Anybody from school you're interested in?"

"Not really," Ace shrugged. "Just kind of playing by ear right now. Besides, with my internship starting in a couple of weeks I'm not going to have much time anyway."

"Ah," I nodded. Ace had applied for an internship with a firm in New City, under a well-known CEO nicknamed 'White Beard'. No one could figure out why, though. The guy didn't even have a beard. Still, an opportunity like that was rare and Ace had agreed immediately.

"You still at the snake store?" Ace asked after a moment. He sat back and set one ankle on the other knee, arms folded behind his head.

"Yeah," I answered. "Still there. Still love snakes. And lizards. And turtles."

"Weirdo," Ace smiled. "No wonder you don't have a boyfriend."

"I'm not as bad as Ms. Hancock yet, so I think I'm doing pretty good," I sat back and chuckled. Ms. Hancock was one of the karate instructors from down the street, and was completely obsessed with snakes and Luffy. I thought it was a little disturbing honestly, as she had to be at least ten years older than him.

Ace tipped his head back and laughed loudly. He was also aware of the sensei's 'secret' crush and of course thought it was absolutely hilarious. "If we can get Luffy to marry her, that would be great!" he cackled.

"Marry who?" Luffy had jumped from the end of the couch to land between us and tipped over onto Ace.

"Hancock," I grinned.

"Oh, I like her," my younger cousin nodded enthusiastically. "She always brings candy to class."

"Why do you still go there, anyway?" I wondered out loud. "You're a black belt already."

Luffy shrugged his shoulders carelessly. "It's fun. Come on," he grabbed Ace and me by our wrists and tugged us off the couch. "Sanji says dinner's almost done."

Efficient and fast, I thought as I joined Dragon and my cousins at the table. It had definitely been a good idea to come here today.

Sanji served us himself before sitting down. The meal was curry stew and rice on top of a large steak, with dishes of sweet sauce beside each plate. The guy certainly knew how to impress this family.

We all thanked the blonde cook again and for several minutes no one said anything, too busy stuffing our faces with the impossibly delicious food. I smacked Luffy's hand when he tried to steal Ace's half-eaten steak and kicked Ace under the table when he dozed off over his rice. Dragon, completely immune to his sons and their bizarre eating habits, didn't even glance up the entire time.

When our plates were empty Sanji went back to the kitchen and returned with a serving platter stacked with caramel and fudge brownies. I could have kissed him, they looked so good.

"Sweet!" Luffy crowed. "Did you make these earlier?"

"I brought them from home," Sanji nodded. "They're a new recipe. Tell me what you think of them."

I doubted Luffy would even pause to taste the dessert bars and I was right. They were ridiculously good though, and Sanji beamed when we told him this. After the feeding frenzy had died down I turned to Ace and Sanji. "I'm going down to The Little Garden in a while if you guys are interested. Robin Nico will be there later and Tashigi is bringing a friend as well."

"Count me in," Sanji agreed. "It's been too long since I've seen Robin's beautiful face. Tashigi isn't too bad, herself."

"Why can't I come?" Luffy pouted. "I haven't seen Robin in forever, either."

"It's a bar," I reminded him. "You're not twenty-one for another few months. Don't worry," I added when Luffy looked down sadly. "We'll take you with us somewhere tomorrow instead. Sound good?"

Luffy perked up immediately. "Can I choose the place?"

"Sure," I agreed, knowing I would probably regret that later. "Anywhere you want to go in the city."

Satisfied for the moment, Luffy stood up and stretched. "Kay Dad, I'm going next door for awhile." He left through the sliding door, Dragon grunting in acknowledgement with his nose stuck in the daily paper.

"Makino says hi, by the way," I directed at Ace. "She and Shanks bought a house down by the Water 7 district last month."

"Nice," Ace leaned back and picked at his teeth. "Those two get hitched yet?"

"Not yet," I shrugged. "But I doubt it'll be long now." I stood and stretched. "Anyway, I'd better get going so I can shower before we go out. See you guys in a bit. Bye, Dragon. Thanks." I patted my uncle on the shoulder as I walked by and he grunted again.

My own little apartment always seemed so much emptier after coming from my uncle's house, and I ignored the feeling as I set my keys and cell phone on the coffee table. I walked across the main living area, which also doubled as a kitchen, down the three foot long hallway to my bedroom. I dug through my dresser, then my closet and finally my hamper as a last resort, but couldn't decide on what I should wear. Eventually coming to the conclusion that it didn't really matter anyway I grabbed a grey button down shirt and white tank and a clean pair of dark jeans.

As I was headed to the bathroom to shower, my phone rang from the coffee table. I didn't usually get calls unless it was Luffy, Dragon or Robin, so I was surprised at the name that came across the screen: Roronoa. What a ridiculous last name. Not that my own family was known for spectacular and awe-inspiring surnames, either. Monkey, Portgas and Modokai were unfortunately not very far up on the 'impressive' scale.

Monkey was, of course, my uncle's last name, as well as Luffy's. Ace Portgas was actually Dragon's adopted son and had been so since the time he was a toddler. As a last request of Dragon's friend and Ace's biological father, Dragon had kept Ace's last name as it was on his birth certificate. My brother and I were Dragon's older sister's children, and had inherited our own father's last name, Modokai.

An odd assembly of names, and confusing for anyone who didn't know the family. Still, I grinned, mine was the best.

Hitting the answer button I raised the phone to my ear. "Yes?" I answered a little impatiently.

"Modokai," Zoro sounded out of breath, his baritone voice pitched low. "I need a favor."

"Oh?" I said, suspicious. It was a well known fact that the muscle freak and myself were not on the best of terms, despite having several friends in common, and I couldn't quite figure out why he would call me, of all people.

"Ya gotta come get me," Zoro's words were slightly mashed together. I heard a crash, and a muffled 'shit'. "I'm not really sure…"

"You're lost, aren't you?" I said bluntly. "Call Tashigi."

"No!" the reply was sharp and immediate. There was a pause, then more quietly. "Please."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Don't you have any friends?" I gritted out. "Luffy or Johnny? Even Nami?"

"…I don't want anyone to know," Zoro mumbled. "Please."

For the sake of my cousin and co-worker, I reluctantly agreed. "Fine. Where are you?"

"Don't know. By a building that looks like a warehouse. Has a big number one on it." Zoro's words were still a bit slurred and I was beginning to wonder if he was drunk. It didn't seem possible. The amount of alcohol it would take to get that Neanderthal intoxicated would be enough to kill a regular person.

"Galley L.A.?" I asked. "What the hell are you doing by the docks? Never mind, just stay there." I hung up irritably and grabbed my keys. If I ended up being more than twenty minutes late meeting Robin, this guy was going to be in a world of hurt.