Hey, everyone!
This is finally the story I've been talking about since 'Boundaries'... plot stands now, I've got chapter outlines for 24 chapters (and I think it's going to end up well over 30...) and after about two dozens read-throughs, I'm finally confident enough to post the first chapter :)
A few things first: the story plays in a world that's like a mix of the One Piece world and our own... well, it's actually more the One Piece world with a few changes (island locations, new continent) and modern technology.
The Strawhats are like they were at their first appearance in the manga/anime, same age, same look and there are Devil Fruit powers. In other words: Chopper looks like Chopper, Brook looks like Brook and so on... everything about the world is gonna be explained in the story, though. Just wanted to give you the heads up :)
Another thing is that even though I'm calling it a university, East Blue U is more like a mixture of school, college and uni. All ages are accepted, though, and it has a rather high standard.
I also try to keep the humour in the One Piece style, so you can expect LOTS of crack. Unbelievable, ridiculous crack as well as normal, not so cracky... crack. *cough*
Pairings will be Zoro/Sanji (obviously), Law/Kidd, Usopp/Kaya and Ace/mystery man (that one is gonna be a surprise :3)
There might be others mentioned but those will be the main pairings.
And thanks to everyone who has told me his/her favourite couple! You guys helped me a lot to decide! :)
Alright, enough of my babbling.
Hope you'll enjoy the first (rather long) chapter! :)
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece.
Roommate
Chapter 1: The New Boy with the great Bod'
The sun burned down mercilessly at the small harbour.
Several fisherman made their boats ready to catch their fish for the day as a green-haired man stood near the shore and watched a bunch of seagulls swaying in the sky. His eyes followed as one of them dived down, caught an unsuspecting crab and crushed it between its beak. Tearing his gaze away from the bird, the young man turned to look at the small fisher boats instead, frowning as he spotted a big, rundown sign.
'Clockwork Harbour'... that couldn't be right, could it?
Frown still in place, the young man took another look at his map, his eyes becoming slits as he turned the paper inside his hands.
He scowled as he remembered his sensei's words from right before he had taken off.
"Zoro, are you sure you don't want me to take you to school? I don't mind, you know... the kids can do without me for a while."
"I'm sure, sensei. Don't worry about it... I know exactly where I have to go."
"Well, if you say so... Still, better take this map with you. It contains all of East Blue. Oh, and I've got you this compass as well. Or maybe we should get one of these new portable GPS things? The newest product from Snail... I hear it's impossible to get lost with it."
"There is no need for that, sensei. I've got it covered, so stop worrying. I've got to go now. Thanks for all you've done for me."
"There is no need to bow, Zoro. You are like family to me."
"Still, I don't know what I would've done without you. And after Kuina's-... I will make sure to make you proud, sensei."
"Zoro, you're my best student and have managed to get enrolled in one of the best schools in the world... I couldn't be more proud of you."
"... I... I have to go now. Goodbye, sensei."
"I'm sure you'll fulfil your dream... and Zoro?"
"Hm?"
"The exit is the other way."
"... I knew that."
Zoro sighed. Maybe that GPS thing would have been handy, after all.
He looked around until he spotted a small, grey-haired man readying his boat.
"Excuse me?" Zoro said as he approached the startled fisherman. "I'm searching for East Blue U..."
The man stared at him as if Zoro had grown another head. "East Blue U?" he bellowed out and then roared with laughter. "You drunk or somethin'? 'Tis is Goat Island! East Blue U is in All Blue Central... you're on the wrong island, son."
Eyebrows raised, Zoro looked back at his map and groaned after he had spotted the name.
"Not again..."
A blond-haired girl leaned against a wall, her hands shaking as she looked at her rescuer with teary eyes.
"You alright?" the blond-haired man asked her before he lit up a cigarette, his foot pressing the bloodied face of her attacker flat to the ground.
"Y-Yes," she answered. "Thank you, Sanji-kun!"
"No need to thank me, Conis-chwaaaan!" he chanted, his serious attitude doing a 180 when hearts appeared inside his eyes. Then he shook his head to clear it. There was a time and a place... "Want me to walk you back?" he offered instead.
"No... no, it's alright. The girls' dorm isn't far from here," Conis said and Sanji noticed happily that her voice had gained a steadier tone.
"Alright. See you tomorrow then."
Conis thanked him again and waved goodbye before she walked through the gates of East Blue U.
Sanji watched her until she had safely entered the main building and then he turned his attention back to the man under his foot. "Now to us... let's have a little chat, shall we?"
He removed his foot from the thug's face (the bloodied man sighed in relief) and sat down on the man's back instead (the thug groaned in pain).
"You have a lot of nerve, you know?" Sanji said in a rather conversational tone. He didn't really expect a reply... his last kick to the man's face had knocked out several of his teeth and he reckoned the thug needed all of his concentration not to choke on the blood inside his mouth.
"Well, not that I'm surprised... You're one of Krieg's men, aren't you?" Sanji went on, taking a deep drag from his cigarette. "Probably new... otherwise you would know that the university is off limits for petty little thugs like you. This is the Strawhat's turf, bastard!" He accentuated his words with another kick to man's head. "And no one attacks one of our fellow students, least of all a woman!" He kicked him again just to make sure the guy had gotten the point.
"Now, now, Sanji... don't kill him. You know how much work it is to get rid of the evidence," a voice said and Sanji turned around to see a black-haired man stepping out of the shadows.
"Yo, Ace! The old man let you go already?" the blond man asked, holding up a hand in greeting and grinning around his cigarette at the older man.
Ace grinned back as he approached the blond. He was the brother of Sanji's captain and Whitebeard's second in command as well as Sanji's best friend. Having a body, most people would kill to either have or touch, Ace knew how attractive he was and used every chance he got to show it.
Walking around bare-chested whenever he had the chance, Ace made the entire college drool on sight. Be it men or women, no one could resist to stare when he passed by and even Sanji had a tough time despite devoting his whole life to beautiful women. Not that he really tried... he might be straight as they come but the blond did enjoy his friend's flirtations... especially after he had realised what an effect they had on women.
For some reason gay men seemed to be considered 'sexy' these days.
"Yeah, he just wanted to discuss my lessons and have a drink," Ace answered Sanji's question, his grin still in place. "But speaking of the old man... aren't you getting a bit ahead of yourself, calling East Blue U your turf?"
"Well, I can only speak for my crew, can't I? Besides, it's not like anyone doesn't know this place is protected by Whitebeard..." Sanji leaned down to look into the thug's face and grinned. "Right?"
If the man's wide eyes were of any indication then no, the guy hadn't known about that.
Ace looked unimpressed at the bloody mess on the ground and shook his head. "Paulie will have a fit if he sees this... make sure you dispose of the trash, yeah?"
Sanji gave a mock salute. "Of course, dormhead-san!"
Grinning, Ace walked on only to stop right before passing the gate. "And come to our room later. Luffy wanted to talk to you."
When Sanji nodded, Ace walked on and vanished inside the building.
"Now, let's get rid of you, yeah?"
The man on the ground looked up at him in fear.
"Don't look like that, idiot. Didn't you listen? I won't kill you... But after you have regained consciousness, it would be nice of you to tell your boss that the Strawhats and Whitebeards won't tolerate this bullshit any longer, yeah?"
A well placed kick sent the unlucky thug out onto the street and far away from East Blue U. Sanji looked after him and took one last drag from his cigarette before he let the butt fall to the ground and stepped on it.
With one last look at the moon, he walked through the big, heavy gates and let them close behind him with a loud creak.
Zoro looked first at the sign, then at his map, back at the sign and then at the map again.
Well, Drum Island sure wasn't on it.
Rubbing his cold hands and occasionally blowing at them (why the hell was it suddenly this cold?), he turned around and then approached a chubby, friendly looking lady.
Already dreading the answer, Zoro asked where he was.
"This is Cocoa Weed... are you lost, boy?" the woman asked him kindly.
"No, but the islands keep moving," Zoro mumbled under his breath.
"What?"
"Nothing... but just for the record: this... isn't East Blue any more, is it?"
The woman laughed for a whole of five minutes before she was finally able to answer his question. The few pressed out words caused Zoro's face to twitch.
Cursing, he turned around and made to search for another ship that could take him along.
How the hell had he managed to enter the Grand Line without knowing, anyway?
"Sanji, did you take care of business?" Ace asked as the blond stepped into their room and closed the door behind him.
Ace sat at the desk while Luffy was on the upper bed, his feet dangling over the edge. Sanji grinned at his captain who returned it no less brightly. No one who didn't know Luffy could even begin to understand that he was one of the strongest people in the east part of town.
"Sure, I did..." Sanji answered Ace's question, then turned to his captain. "You wanted to talk to me?"
There were a lot of things going on right now and Sanji reckoned, whatever Luffy wanted to talk about had to do with the attacks on the students... it was either that or-
"What's for dinner tomorrow?"
Sanji nearly fell over. "That's what you wanted? I should've known..."
"Shishishishishi! You know how much I like your food!"
Ace hit his brother with the flat hand on the back of his head. "Quit thinking with your stomach, Luffy. You're a captain now! Show a bit of responsibility!"
Luffy pouted. "Meals are important to stay healthy!"
"Yeah, yeah..." Ace said, brushing his brother off. "That aside, it might be good to discuss what we're going to do. About Krieg and the other rogue pirates, I mean."
"Yeah, it does seem strange... It's like they especially target our students, lately. Maybe Krieg is planning something?" Sanji asked.
"But it's not just him. Buggy and Alvida's activities have acted up as well... you can't even enter the city without getting ambushed! And the government seems to be up to something, too. They've been sending out ships to search for something in South Blue. Pops told me about it."
"You don't think they want to break the alliance, do you?" Sanji asked, frowning.
Ace shook his head. "Honestly, I've no idea... but I think something big is going to happen soon. The old man said so as well."
"We'll take care of that when the time comes," Luffy said. His gaze was unusual serious as he looked at his friend and brother. "If Buggy, Alvida and Krieg want to cause trouble, we'll just beat them up. As for the government... I'm sure Whitebeard and Shanks won't let them do anything."
"You sure are optimistic, Luffy. What if the government finds a way of beating the emperors? If they gain power over the world again..." Sanji shook his head. "The shitty old geezer has told me how the world had been twenty years ago... a corrupt government killing everyone who dares to stand against them and justifying everything with their sick opinion of true justice."
"I won't let it come to that," Luffy said.
"Well, I'm with you there, but... even the marines are on the side of the government again ever since Sengoku has been replaced with Akainu," Ace said. "And Akainu has the exact same values as the government from twenty years ago! If the government now finds a way to fight the emperors... The old man says he isn't worried, but he has gone drinking with Shanks a lot lately."
Sanji frowned. "Hm, there isn't anything we can do until one of them moves... we just have to trust the big four for now."
"Oh, you know me: there isn't anyone I trust more than Whitebeard, but... I can't help thinking, the Great Age of Pirates is coming to an end."
"Shishishishishi, doesn't matter, does it? If it does, then we just make a new one!"
"So, that's your big plan, pirate king? Just beginning a new age?" Sanji asked grinning.
"Of course! The Great Age of Meat!"
Sanji and Ace just groaned.
Sanji felt his charming smile wavering slightly when the receptionist and secretary had finished explaining the change in his sleeping arrangements. He was a pro at everything he did and as unfortunate as it was, he wouldn't allow anything to change his charming attitude towards a lady... not even when said lady had just boldly explained to him, he would have to share his already cramped space with a roommate.
"I chose you because you are the only boy with a single room," Kalifa said. He didn't like the emphasis she had put on 'boy' at all but still kept on his smile. "The space might be small but it will fit a futon. Any objections, Sanji-san?"
"No, of course not, Kalifa-san," he answered and forcibly pushed back on the flirtatious tone.
Three accusations of sexual harassment before breakfast were enough for the day.
"Good. Then you can go to class now."
"Wait! What's with my roommate? Shouldn't I... show him around or something?" Sanji asked. He might hate the thought of having to share his space with another man but it still couldn't hurt to befriend the guy.
"Unfortunately, he still hasn't arrived yet. I called his home but was told not to worry. Apparently Roronoa Zoro has-" She shuffled around in her papers and pulled out a small note. "-'the worst sense of direction in all of East Blue'."
Sanji's eyes widened. "What? You mean he got lost or something?"
"That seems to be the case, yes," Kalifa said, pushing up her glasses.
"Great..." Sanji muttered under his breath, then turned his attention back to the blond beauty. "If he can't even find the school, how the hell did he enrol in the first place?"
"I think he won a sword-fighting tournament and was recommended by one of the judges. He is supposed to be quite the genius at fighting..."
"Another muscle-head then..." Sanji mumbled. "Well, whatever. See you later, Kalifa-san!"
"That's se-"
"Sexual harassment, I know, I know," Sanji said, already walking down the hall and holding up his hand without looking back.
Kalifa cocked one carefully formed eyebrow and took out a small, black book.
"Blackleg Sanji..." she whispered, writing down the name directly under 'Portgas D. Ace'.
Zoro barely managed to resist the urge of dropping to the ground and kissing the soil under his feet when he finally read the sign of 'All Blue Central'.
After somehow arriving on a small island where he had found a giant, closed chest with the words 'Roger was here' scribbled on the wall behind it, he had managed to reach another island with a raft and had grabbed his next ride on a marine ship.
His old reputation of a pirate hunter had done him some good and he had done well not to tell the marines that he actually wanted to go to All Blue Central to enter East Blue U... the school didn't exactly have a good reputation with the marines.
Hearing his stomach grumble, Zoro made his way to a nearby restaurant to grab a bite to eat. He was already weeks (or was it months?) late... what were a few more hours?
"You're getting a roommate, Sanji-kun?" an orange-haired girl asked him later when they had lunch in the canteen.
"Yes, Nami-swan. Some sword-fighting guy... but I think he is an idiot. Apparently, he can't even find the damn school!"
"Shishishishishi, bet he's funny," Luffy said who sat opposite Sanji. "I can't wait to meet him!"
Sanji sighed as he looked at his grinning captain who was no doubt already planning to get that lost kid to join their crew.
Their crew... it was one of the most unusual things in their school that the students were allowed to form 'pirate crews'. It was similar to clubs in other schools but... normal clubs didn't plan to travel the Grand Line after graduating and neither were they able to take part in special tournaments to fight the other crews.
In this day and age where wanting to become a pirate was as normal as being a fisherman, establishments like East Blue U had been founded to teach all there was to roam the seas: there were subjects like Combat Class, Devil Fruit Theory, Navigation as well as all the normal ones like Maths, Art or Home Economics.
Everyone took special positions in those crews and after graduating, it wasn't unusual for the crewmembers to stay together and become real pirates.
Sanji was the cook of the Strawhat Pirates, Luffy, their captain and Nami, beautiful, money loving Nami, their navigator. They also had a sharpshooter and a doctor who had eaten a Devil's Fruit and looked like a reindeer-tanuki but those two were off doing... something. Probably causing trouble and coming running in three... two... one...
"Waaah!"
All eyes in the canteen turned to the entrance as a crying Usopp and Chopper came running in, followed by a furious looking Eustass Kidd, another pirate captain.
"Now you've done it you two! I'm going to fucking kill you!" he screamed, his slightly singed, red hair still smoking.
Usopp and Chopper ran to the Strawhats' table and hid behind Luffy and Sanji who both stood up as the furious captain approached.
"Out of the way, Strawhat! Those guys are mine..." Kidd said as he came to a stop before Luffy, his eyes flashing dangerously.
"Nah, they aren't," Luffy said simply. "What did they do?"
"What did they... What did they do? Look at my fucking hair!" Kidd said and pointed at his burned locks. "That long-nose has hit me with some flame ball!"
Luffy looked at Usopp with a big grin. "Oh, your new ammunition worked?"
"Yeah and it looked really cool and-" Usopp began excitedly but stopped abruptly when Kidd stared deadly at him and his legs began to tremble.
"Did you really think, I would just forget about this? No one who made fun of me had ever lived..."
Chopper whimpered next to Sanji's leg and the cook lay his hand on the scared reindeer's head. "It's just some hair and you don't look any less like a punk to me..." he said, ignoring Usopp's squeaks to be quiet.
"You little-" Kidd began but stopped when a hand appeared on his shoulder.
"Calm down, Eustass. You know the rules... anything goes but you kill and get expelled."
Trafalgar Law, yet another captain and Kidd's roommate (a fact neither of them had appreciated so far) had come to their table. While Law seemed to be quite a decent guy compared to a few of the other students, his reputation far exceeded anyone's expectation.
The 'Surgeon of Death' was just like Kidd and Luffy a Devil's Fruit user and known for stealing hearts... quite literally.
"Shut up, Trafalgar! I'm a pirate, I don't care about rules! I just want to make them bleed..."
"And because of a bit of singed hair, you want to forget about your dream? You've to relax, Eustass. If you want to get back at them, do so in a tournament or in Combat Class."
Kidd grinned evilly. "Combat class, eh? That's tomorrow, isn't it?" he said, looking at his cowering prey like a predator. "Maybe you're right... tomorrow then."
Chopper and Usopp swallowed as he went of, cackling like crazy and leaving a thinning trail of smoke behind him.
"I think you guys should start writing your wills," Sanji said while Luffy laughed.
Later that day, Sanji went back to his room after he had listened to Usopp's pleas for hours and hours. The long-nose wanted Sanji to protect him from Kidd. Naturally, the cook had answered he should grow some boobs first and then...
Sanji shook his head. And then Chopper and Usopp had discussed if the reindeer was ready for a surgery like that. In the end, the cook had agreed just to escape having to look at a big-breasted Usopp every day.
Sighing, Sanji opened the door to room 108 and entered but stopped in his track once he had gotten a good look at the inside.
The rooms in EBU's dorms were simple but practical. Every one of them had at least one desk, two beds and a big cupboard to store their stuff. Sanji's room as the only single one in the boy's dorm had only one bed and his room was a bit smaller than the other ones. As Sanji looked at the inside of room 108, however, he suddenly realised that his days of blessed solitude were finally coming to an end.
Sanji stared, his eyes wandering over the sleeping stranger in his bed.
"Dear God, it's the green Hulk himself..." the blond muttered, as he took in the man's green hair and bulky form. A small puddle of drool had gathered on Sanji's pillow, leaving a dark patch on the fabric.
Sanji's eyes darkened. "Get the hell up, asshole!" he yelled, raising his leg to kick the sleeping man. He had neither expected him to move nor a sword being suddenly pressed against his neck.
"Who the hell are you and what do you want?" the man asked with deadly eyes, his voice raspy from sleep.
"What I want? I want you to get the hell out of my bed!"
Raising an eyebrow, the man looked down at the mattress he was kneeling on and then back at Sanji. "Your bed? You're my roommate?"
"Unfortunately," Sanji said, stepping away from the blade when he realised the man didn't want to slit his throat any more. "I'm Sanji... and judging by those knives and your obvious stupidity, you must be Zoro. Found your way finally here, huh?"
Zoro growled, his eyes darkening. "Who told you about that?"
"A beautiful bird, shithead. Damn, I can't believe I'm gonna be stuck with such an idiot," Sanji muttered. "Look, I've had this room for myself this whole time, so I'm not exactly pleased with the arrangement... Just mind your own business and I won't plant my foot in your face, got it?"
The green-haired man sneered. "As if you could do that, curly brow!"
"Curly..." Sanji splattered. "Alright, that's it, you damn-" he looked at Zoro's hair, first frowning and then grinning widely. "Moss-head!"
"Moss-head?" Zoro asked angrily.
"Oh, no... wait! Marimo! Marimo is even better!"
"What? You starting with pet names now?" Zoro smirked. "I don't think think I know you that well yet..."
"You little... that was an insult, you idiot!" Sanji yelled and raised his leg.
Zoro parried the kick with his swords and slashed at him but was stopped by Sanji's foot. "Not bad," Zoro said and grinned as they continued to fight.
They went on like that for half an hour, their skills so evenly matched that neither of them managed to get the upper hand. After they had slowed down, exhausted from the unusual fierce battle, they simultaneously dropped to the floor in front of Sanji's bed, panting to catch their breath.
"Damn, Kalifa didn't lie... you really are a good fighter," Sanji said.
"I wouldn't have gotten in, otherwise... I neither know any pirates, nor do I have the money."
"Yeah, you don't really look like you do," Sanji said, taking in his ragged, white shirt and dirty, black pants. "What's with the haramaki?"
Zoro shrugged. "It's warm and gives me a place to keep my swords."
"If you say so... why do you have three of them, anyway? Compensating for something?"
"Shut up, idiot! Three are just better than one, got it? And what about you, anyway? You're only using your legs to fight..." Zoro said and to Sanji's surprise, he grabbed one of his wrists to pull it in front of his eyes, looking with obvious scrutiny at his hand. "Doesn't seem like there is anything wrong with it..."
"There isn't, idiot!" Sanji barked out and pulled his wrist out of Zoro's grip. "I'm a chef and have to protect my hands. They're the most precious part of my body."
"I see... It gives you a disadvantage in a fight, though," Zoro said.
Sanji gritted his teeth. "My legs are more than capable of dealing with any idiot who decides to challenges me, thanks."
After a moment of rather uncomfortable silence, Zoro said, "Hey, blondie."
"It's Sanji."
"Whatever, curly brow. Where is my bed? We aren't supposed to share, are we?"
Sanji flushed. "Of course not! There is a futon in the cupboard... the room doesn't fit two beds, so you'll have to deal with that."
"Well, it's better than nothing..." Zoro said. "I wouldn't mind the sharing, though. I always did that at the orphanage."
The first comment had thrown Sanji off a bit (he was alright with sharing a bed?) but the last admission had distracted him from that. "You're an orphan?" Sanji asked.
"Yeah, my parents died when I was three. Can't even remember them."
"Me too..." Sanji said. "I was adopted by a shitty old geezer, though. You?"
"I wasn't adopted, but my sensei took care of me..." Zoro said and with wonder, Sanji watched as a gentle look appeared on his face. "He... was always good to me. In the end, I was only sleeping at that place."
"Your sensei... that's the guy who taught you how to fight, right?"
"Yeah. He couldn't adopt me but he is still like a father to me."
"I see..." Sanji said slowly. Seemed like even such a brute had people who were important to him... "You should get your futon now. Curfew is eleven here..."
Zoro stood up from the ground and Sanji shook his head. He wasn't usually this fast to exchange personal information but something about this guy gave him an initial sense of trust... Maybe it was because of their fight before? For a born fighter like Sanji, it was an easy thing to get a good understanding of his opponent's personality.
Zoro's fighting style was honest and honourable... he seemed to have studied with a true swordsman, an impression that only intensified when Zoro had spoken that fondly of his sensei.
The guy was an idiot but all in all, he seemed to be alright...
"Can't I just sleep with you?"
Alright but damn annoying!
"Of course you can't!" Sanji exclaimed. He had stopped reaching for a cigarette mid-movement and eyes wide, Sanji stared at the swordsman.
"But I hate sleeping on futons... come on, I don't bite," Zoro said. His words would've had more effect if he hadn't put a blade on Sanji's throat before, though.
"Shut up and make your damn bed! I'm only sharing mine with beautiful women..."
Zoro rolled his eyes. "It's not as if I would attack you in your sleep or try to get a grope, blondie. Come on... just for today. I'm dead tired from my journey."
"No chance. I don't even know you! What makes you think I would sleep wi-... I would share a bed with you?" When Zoro just smirked, Sanji went on. "Y-You might be okay to do that with guys you've known since childhood but why would I want to... to sleep with you?"
"Dunno... just seemed like the right thing to do," Zoro said, shrugging.
Sanji blushed... he actually fucking blushed at that damn bastard's words! What the hell was this conversation?
"W-Whatever. I won't share! Go and get your futon now... I want to sleep."
To Sanji's relief, the swordsman shrugged again and went to do as he was told.
Sanji watched as Zoro took the futon out of the cupboard and spread it out in their limited space, his gaze stopping at Zoro's green hair.
He had been flirting with Ace for ages... it was pure fun and Sanji had never thought anything of it. So, why the hell were innocent remarks like these making him feel that... that uneasy? Was it because he had to share a room with this guy from now on?
Whatever it was, Sanji planned to stay the hell away from the bastard as good as he could.
The next day, Zoro was in for a few surprises as Sanji announced, he had to get up early to cook breakfast.
"You're cooking here?"
"Yeah. My father owns a restaurant and he taught me to cook since I was a child. That was also the reason why I got a single room but thanks to you... I can forget about that now." Sanji shrugged. "Doesn't really matter, though. I'm rather cooking than having to eat the crap, they would've served here, otherwise. There was this cook here when I just enrolled... you should've seen the noodles he made..." Sanji shook his head. "They were disgusting enough that even Luffy refused to eat them. A total waste of food."
Zoro blinked. "Luffy?"
"My captain... a black hole for food. You'll meet him later. You haven't joined a crew yet, have you?" Sanji asked.
"No, and I'm not planning to, either. You're a pirate?"
"More or less... I was pretty much forced into it. Luffy doesn't look like much but it's hard to refuse him anything."
"Che, you're just too damn weak. Something like that would never happen to me!" Zoro claimed and Sanji laughed.
"Wanna bet?"
"FOOOOOOD!" Luffy screamed as he entered the canteen. "Sanji, I want meat! Lot's of meat!"
"Luffy, it's still morning. You'll get meat at lunchtime," Sanji said before he expertly turned the eggs in his pan with a throw.
Luffy made a face but obediently sat down at the table. Cocking his head, he looked at the snoring guy in front of him. "Sanji, who is that? I don't think I've seen him before..."
"Marimo, my new roommate."
"Marimo?" Luffy asked and then laughed. "Shishishishishi, what a funny name!"
"It's Zoro, you damn cook," a sleepy voice said and Sanji turned around to see Zoro glaring tiredly at him.
"Oh, you're awake... for someone who was dead set against sleeping in a bed, you sure can sleep anywhere."
"Shut up, I had to get up early because of you..." Zoro said grumpily and then turned to Luffy. "So, you're that guy's captain?"
"Yep! I'm Monkey D. Luffy and I'll be the pirate ki-"
A hand suddenly pressed Luffy's head down, pushing his big strawhat over his eyes. "Saying that again, kiddo? You like pissing people off, eh?" Law grinned down at him.
Slapping Law's hand away, Luffy turned around and glared at him. "Nah, I'm just saying the truth! You wait and see, Trafal-guy!"
"It's TrafalGAR, Strawhat!" Law said and then looked at Zoro with a frown. "You're new here, aren't you? I'm Trafalgar Law, a pirate captain." He looked Zoro up and down and Sanji had to grin inwardly at the scrutinising look. Law was a lot like Ace, liked men and women alike and it seemed as if he was already taking a fancy to the new swordsman. The guy would have it tough in the future...
After he had finished his once-over, Law grinned at Zoro. "You look... strong. Wanna join my crew?"
"Oi! I just wanted to ask him that!" Luffy said, pushing Law away and staring at Zoro. "Join my crew, marimo!"
"It's Zoro!" Zoro said to Luffy, a vein beginning to pop on his forehead. "And I don't want to join any crew."
"Well, that's too bad... Still, if you ever change your mind..." Law said, letting the unspoken words hang in the room before he turned to Sanji. "Oi, blondie! What's gonna be for breakfast?"
"Fried eggs, rice balls and bacon. And how many times do I have to tell you? It's Sanji. S-A-N-J-I!"
"If you join my crew, I'll call you anything you want, babe!"
Luffy glared at Law again. "Stop trying to steal my crewmates, dammit! Sanji is mine!"
"Yeah, yeah..."
"Morning, everyone..." Nami said, yawning widely as she entered the room.
"Nami-swaaaaan!" Sanji exclaimed and with a tablet with snacks in his hand, he did a weird, twirling dance until he came to a stop in front of her.
"Is he sick or something?" Zoro asked as he watched the cook's strange behaviour with raised eyebrows.
"Naaah, Sanji is always like that when he sees a woman..." Luffy said with a look at his cook. "Ace says he is lovesick, though."
"Ace? Wait a minute... you don't mean Portgas D. Ace, do you?" Zoro asked.
"Shishishishishi! Of course! Ace is my big brother..."
"Your brother is... Whitebeard's second in command? And he is going to this school?"
"Yep! But he is eating later. Ace always sleeps in."
"And he isn't the only famous guy, we have here... Marco the phoenix is one of our combat teachers," Nami said as she sat down next to Luffy. Sanji was already back at the stove, his smoke forming a chain of hearts. "I'm Nami, the Strawhats' navigator." She extended her hand and Zoro shook it.
"So, everyone of you wants to set sail after school?"
"Yep! But there are a few who are studying here to become something else, too... like Kaya, Conis, Vivi and Coby. Coby even wants to become a marine!" Luffy said.
"But most people end up becoming pirates, anyway... it's the best way to make money, after all," Nami said.
"And the marines? I've heard pirates who studied here are getting something like a pass..."
"Yeah. Whitebeard and Shanks are sort of patrons of East Blue U and because of their alliance with the government, you're standing outside the law once you've graduated," Nami explained. "But there are exceptions... if you're going too wild and begin slaughtering innocent people for example, your title will be revoked. But marines can still apprehend you while you're at school. They can challenge you to a duel"
"A duel?"
Nami nodded. "Yes, but nearly no one ever does... they are too afraid of Whitebeard's influence and not many people get bounties before going to school. Well, Luffy did."
"You have a bounty?" Zoro asked Luffy.
"Yep! Thirty million beli!"
Zoro stared. "Thirty million?"
"Yeah, this idiot pissed off a marine and got the bounty for that. But we got enrolled here soon after," Nami said just as Sanji came twirling to her, a tablet in one of his hands.
"Nami-swaaaaan! Your breakfast is ready~!" he said in a sing-sang voice as he set down Nami's plate in front of her. Then Sanji turned to the boys, "Oi, bastards! Come and get your food!"
"FOOOOD!"
Luffy was the first at the counter and the others hurried after him before he could gulf down all of the food.
All poor, oblivious Zoro got, though, were a few left-over rice balls.
Sanji laughed. "You have to be faster, marimo. Every meal is like a small war here..."
Zoro shrugged. "I don't care... I like rice balls best, anyway. "
"Favourite food?"
Zoro nodded and took a bite. As the flavour exploded on his tongue, his eyes widened in shock.
"That good, eh?" Sanji asked grinning but Zoro shook his head.
"Nah, but... I know this taste."
Sanji frowned. "Can't be. It's the first receipt I've ever learned... my mother taught me, just before she-" Sanji shook his head. "Not even my old man knows it."
Zoro shrugged. "If you say so..." he said and slowly continued to eat. He wasn't quite able to shake this feeling of familiarity off.
Nami, who had gone to get a fresh glass of orange juice (Sanji had been off fawning over other girls who were entering the canteen and thus was unable to serve her), looked at Zoro's plate with raised eyebrows. "Weren't fast enough, eh?" she asked, pointing at his two lonely rice balls. "Wanna have some of mine?"
Frowning, Zoro looked first at her, then at his plate. The combination of bacon, eggs and rice sure looked delicious. "You're sharing?" he asked. Nami didn't really seem like that much of a nice girl... did he get the wrong impression?
"Sure. Here, have some eggs," Nami said, putting some of her eggs on his plate.
"Thanks!" Zoro grinned as he dived in. Just after he had taken the first bite, however...
"That's two thousand beli per egg," Nami said and Zoro spit the food all over the table.
"Don't waste food, asshole!" Sanji screamed as his foot collided with Zoro's head.
All in all, the beginning of a normal day at East Blue U...
As tradition was having it, Sanji as Zoro's roommate was stuck showing him around after breakfast. He didn't really get the point, though. It wasn't as if the swordsman would later remember where everything was, anyway.
"And this is the shitty library," Sanji said, his voice bored as he pointed at the big, wooden door with his thumb. "Not that you would ever go in there, of course. There are only books... Can you even read?"
"Shut up, shitcook! What the hell is up with you? I didn't ask you to show me around, did I?"
Sanji shrugged. "But you had to choose this fucking school... that's why it's your fault, anyway," he said and made to go on but Zoro's voice stopped him.
"I really don't get your attitude. The first time we met, you tried to kick my head in!"
"You were drooling on my pillow, asshole."
"And that's probably the most action, it has ever seen..."
"You wanna fight?"
"Bring it on, curly-brow!"
They started to run towards each other, Sanji's leg ready to kick while Zoro was reaching for his swords. Just as they were about to clash, however...
"Room... Shambles!"
Sanji felt a weird force before he saw a flash of a blade that wasn't Zoro's. He cried out as he flew into the air and the ground went further and further away... well, the ground and his legs, apparently.
"Law, you damn bastard! Put my body back together, you asshole!" Sanji screamed.
"Law? What the hell?" the cook heard Zoro exclaim and looked down to see him in the exact same situation... the only difference was that his upper-body was now attached to one of the Roman sockets that lined the hallway.
"I just wanted to cool you guys a bit off," Law said, leaning against a wall with crossed arms as he watched them with a grin.
Sanji felt his eyebrow twitch. He hated it when Law did this... he was rather attached to his lower half!
… normally he was, anyway.
"Get me the fuck down! Now!"
"No chance, honey. Paulie is in a bad mood today... if he sees you guys destroying the hallway because of a stupid fight, we all have to feel for it. I still have rope burn from last time, you know?" Law said and with a last smirk, the bastard went off.
"Come back here, you idiot! Get me back down, damn it!" Sanji screamed after him but was completely ignored.
"Well, this sure is weird..." Zoro said as he watched his legs walking around aimlessly. "So he is a Devil's Fruit user?"
"Of the most annoying kind, yes..."
"Are you one, too?"
Sanji frowned. "Why are you asking?"
"Because your curly eyebrow can't be normal... Did you eat the Curly Curly No Mi?"
Ten seconds later, the hallway was destroyed by kicking legs and a swordsman-socket.
Zoro rubbed his hurting wrists as he tried to follow his very first lesson. Law hadn't been kidding about that Paulie guy... apparently, their janitor was a rather strange man who liked to punish the students with ropes that practically came out of nowhere. He had also claimed that Zoro's appearance was inappropriate because he had two buttons on his shirt undone... Sanji insisted Paulie was a closet pervert despite his remarks, though.
Sanji... there was a thought.
Zoro didn't get that guy... not at all. First he had used every chance he had gotten to insult Zoro, then they had fought and afterwards, the cook had been all buddy-buddy again, bad-mouthed Law and other guys as if Zoro and him had been best friends for years!
Exactly like the night before, they had fallen into this strange mood. A sense of trust had developed after their fight as if it was completely normal for them to hang out and discuss the personality problems of others.
Did they just need a vent for their frustration and anger to act hospitable around each other?
And not only that... the cook seemed to have a talent to rile Zoro up as well. He wasn't usually this easily insulted but something about the cook made him lose his temper in a heartbeat...
Was it because of that ridiculous eyebrow, maybe?
When a pair of piercing eyes fixed on Zoro, he automatically straightened inside his seat.
Sanji had also told him everything about the teachers and he had especially emphasized that Nico Robin was not a person you could mess with.
As a beautiful raven-haired woman (as Sanji loved to point out in a high, screechy voice that made Zoro's hair stand up on the neck) who also was a student at the school, the history teacher was a person who loved her subject more than anything and anyone who didn't pay proper attention, would be feeling her wrath.
She wasn't the only one who was teacher and student alike, though. There were several people at EBU who excelled in certain subject and were qualified to teach them despite studying others.
Sanji was one of them as well... he was their teacher for Home Economics and Chopper (a strange tanuki that claimed to be a reindeer and who Zoro had met right before class) sometimes replaced the school's nurse.
"I think all of you have already heard about the 'War of the Best', the very event that began the 'Great Age of Pirates'," Nico Robin began her lecture and Zoro willed himself to listen. "Twenty years ago, the world was ruled by a government that did all means necessary to ensure their continued power. Before the war, not less than ten islands had been destroyed by the Buster Call, a vicious attack meant to kill whoever dared to threaten the government's power.
Thousands of innocent people were killed by the government's thirst for power and might. The situation was dire enough that even the emperors, the four strongest pirates of the Grand Line, couldn't turn their eyes away any more.
Gol D. Roger, the one man who had claimed the title of 'Pirate King' and one of the former emperors, formed an alliance with the other great pirates and together, they defeated the marines in the 'War of the Best'.
But not without loss... when Gol D. Roger was dying of his battle wounds, when comrades and enemies alike had asked him where his legendary treasure was hidden, he had smiled widely and said the very words that would begin a new age:
'My treasure? If you want it, you can have it. Go look for it! I left everything at that place!'
These words caused many people to dream and the 'Great Age of Pirates' was born.
Whitebeard, the strongest emperor after Roger, was sick of the endless battles and extended his hand to the marines who shared his dream of peace and together, they managed to build a new world... a world ruled by an alliance of outlaws and a new government."
"Our city, All Blue Central, built on the world's biggest continent and divided in four sections, is the world's centre and its place of decisions. Each section is ruled by one of the current emperor and stands for one of the four seas: Whitebeard for the East, Shanks for the South, Kaido for the West and Big Mom for the North. The government rules the upper city section, Mariejois, and consists of the Gorosei, five wise men who represent the world's 'normal' population."
Zoro only half listened to Nico-sensei's explanations but made sure to appear interested.
Even though he came from a rather small village, Zoro had heard all of that before... 'the War of the Best' was common knowledge and his sensei had made sure to gather every newspaper article available about All Blue Central. Still, when Zoro had finally entered the giant city, he had been quite surprised by its bad state.
As it usually was with cities like these, the richer people lived higher up while the poor had to stay in lower sections. East Blue U was in one of the poorest sections and even though Zoro had known about that, it had still shocked him how dirty and rundown the lower town had looked. While the university itself was kept in rather good shape, the buildings around it looked as if they could crash down at any moment. The alleys were filthy and on his way to EBU, some unlucky thugs had tried to rob Zoro no less than five times.
He had heard how rogue pirates ruled the back alleys but Zoro had never expected it to be this bad... it seemed like you had to be at least a decent fighter to get into town unharmed. It wasn't a problem for him, of course, but weaker people who had managed to enter the school because of other abilities, connections or money would need an escort just to go shopping for groceries...
Maybe that was the reason why most of the students seemed to have entered a pirate crew at some point. Zoro had only met four other persons so far who didn't join a crew yet: Conis and Kaya who both studied medicine, Coby who wanted to be a marine and thus couldn't join one (he would have it tough enough after graduating, anyway) and his history teacher, Nico Robin.
She was Nami's roommate from what Zoro had heard and kept mostly to herself. Everyone, even Sanji, described her as a mysterious woman and no one knew exactly what had brought her to EBU. It was widely known that the government was keeping an eye on her, though.
Apparently, a secret organisation was mixed among the students and teachers (not really that secret any more, though, as everyone seemed to know about them) to keep an eye on Nico Robin and the other students.
Their principal hadn't liked it from what Zoro had heard but it was one of the conditions to keep the school running and when both Whitebeard and Shanks had agreed to the terms, the principal had no choice but to accept their decision.
Zoro yawned and looked at the clock. Because of the damn cook, he hadn't gotten much sleep the night before and he couldn't wait to sneak back to his room and secretly catch a few 'Zs' in the blond's bed.
As he kept staring at the clock, Zoro felt a weird sensation on both of his shoulders. Turning his head, his eyes widened as he saw a pair of additional arms grow out of his body.
The hands suddenly covered Zoro's mouth and eyes still wide, he looked at Nico Robin who glared back, her arms crossed over her chest.
"Clutch!"
He cried out at the piercing pain in his back as the foreign hands pressed his head back and with tears in his eyes, Roronoa Zoro decided to hate History from that day on.
Combat Class, favourite subject of ninety percent of male students at EBU.
Sanji watched as Zoro stepped out of the dressing room, his upper-body bare and two swords already inside his hands while the white one still remained in his haramaki. The teachers and students were dying to see the new guy in action and Sanji as the only one who had already seen what the swordsman could do, was looking forward to see the others' reaction.
They seemed to be interested in something completely different, though.
"Damn, that's one nice ass!" Law said.
"The abs aren't that bad as well..." Ace added and then turned to Sanji. "You're sooo lucky to room with him, blondie! All I have is a hyperactive brother..."
"Don't be stupid... I'm not like that," Sanji said.
"And isn't that a shame?" Ace said and lay an arm around the chef's shoulder. "Well, maybe the male population will be lucky and Zoro manages to turn our favourite cook. Right, Law?"
Law nodded. "If that's the case, I'll definitely steal him from Luffy."
"I told you, Sanji is mine!" Luffy exclaimed from his place next to Ace.
Sanji rubbed his temples. If only they had mixed classes and a few beautiful flowers were between all of these brutes...
He got why they were giving Zoro the eye, though. That morning, he hadn't seen him getting dressed (Sanji made sure, he was in the bath at that time... for some reason, he had thought being alone in a small room with a half-naked Hulk would not end up well for him) and so, this was the first time for him to see just how bulky that guy really was.
The firm muscles on the swordsman's torso and arms looked intimidating as they rippled with every move and even in the dark, Zoro's six-pack would put Sanji's own to shame easily.
The man wore a dark green bandana around his head and with his eyes covered in shadows, it gave him a near demonic look.
He was like a force of nature... his aura buzzing with power as his dark gaze wandered over the students and stopped at Sanji. A smirk appeared on the bastard's face and Sanji shuddered as their eyes met, his stomach doing weird somersaults at those piercing eyes.
All of a sudden, Sanji was glad their classes were not mixed... that guy was a blow to any man's ego.
"Will all of you stop it now?" Sanji said irritatedly as Ace and Law gave a vivid description of what they wanted to do to that body... or rather what they wanted Zoro to do to them. Sanji's imagination had started to go rather weird ways at the words and his stomach had said goodbye at some point. "You guys are getting on my nerves and Zoro is going to fight Kabaji next..."
"See? Blondie is already enraptured by that green head."
"Shut up, Ace! I just wanna watch... the guy is good, I tell you."
Ace and Law grinned at each other. "Sure he is," they said in unison and Sanji growled.
"I hope he won't take too long. I'm looking forward to my turn..." Kidd threw in with a bloodthirsty look at Usopp and Chopper who shuddered at the attention.
Zoro didn't take long. He had defeated Kabaji in a matter of seconds and the rest of the class applauded in awe.
"Zoro will join my crew! You just watch!" Luffy said excitedly.
Law grinned. "In your dreams, Strawhat. I want him, too."
"No way in hell will I give that guy to you! He's mine!" Kidd said and all three glared at each other.
Sanji shook his head as the name calling began and Law showed Kidd his middle finger. Seriously, what would be next? Would they start pulling each other's hair?
Tearing his gaze from the strong but rather idiotic trio, Sanji watched as Marco said something to Zoro that made a brilliant grin appear on the swordsman's face . He was apparently being praised which was no real surprise. Zoro was strong... annoyingly strong and he had definitely the talent to become one of the school's Supernovas, a title many of the students desired.
The cook cocked his head as he watched on how Zoro spoke to Marco, his eyes shining with obvious excitement about whatever they were talking about. The fearsome look had been replaced by glee and nothing reminded of the demon they had just witnessed.
Strange what a smile could do to change someone's appearance...
Until then, Sanji had only seen Zoro as a stupid oaf... someone you could talk to and fight with every now and then, someone who had a good sense of honour and was rather irritating at times but not exactly bright or special in any way.
Now that he saw him looking like that, however, Sanji thought that Zoro seemed a bit like a child in a candy shop. What made him look like that? Was it the mere thought that his skills were getting acknowledged?
As Sanji pondered on and thought that maybe there was more to the swordsman than met the eye, his resolve to stay the hell away from the bastard began to crumble around the edges as his curiosity rose.
"Seems like our top Supernovas are fighting over you, Zoro," Usopp said as Zoro joined them and Marco tried to break up the three captains.
"Supernova? What's that?"
"Just a nickname for the top pirates at our school. There are ten right now and nine of them are captains," Usopp explained. His eyes kept glancing over at Kidd who had now begun a shouting match with Luffy and Law while Marco tried to appease the captains. The long-nosed guy seemed to be glad Kidd's attention was somewhere else for the moment...
"It's nothing more than a stupid title... Nothing special at all," Sanji said.
"Sanji is just angry that he wasn't made a Supernova yet..."
"I heard that, Usopp!"
"But you're really strong! Where did you learn to fight with three swords?" Chopper asked with sparkling eyes and Zoro had to grin down at him.
Talking to the tanuki had been weird before but the little guy had a way of pulling people in... not to mention that he was damn cute! Not that Zoro was weak for cute things or anything...
"I've learned to fight in a dojo and developed the Santoryu on my own," he said kindly to Chopper as he lay a hand on his hat.
"Well, it sure is impressive how you can even talk with that sword in your mouth," a voice said behind him and Zoro nearly jumped as an arm slung itself around his shoulders. Ace grinned at him as he invaded his personal space. "Say, handsome... why don't you join the Whitebeards instead?"
"Ace! Zoro is mine! Get your damn hands off him!" Luffy cried. Law and Kidd followed and Ace soon joined in on the shouting match... but apart from the others, he had a big grin on his face and was quite obviously enjoying the quarrel.
"Well, you sure are popular..." Sanji mentioned just as Marco had finally snapped, transformed into his phoenix form and gave all four of them a good beating. Ace enjoyed even that, though.
"Shut up, cook!"
TBC
And that's the first chapter... it grew longer and longer but I just had to give you the basic information. Hope it wasn't too much to take in ^^°°. A lot of things will be revealed in later chapters, like the pasts of the other Strawhats, how Luffy, Nami and Usopp landed in EBU and so on... the story will be very plotty but I'll make sure to give the information to you in doses and to serve it with lots of sexy ZoSan.
Thank you for reading and please take the time to review! :D