Love Cascading.
A one piece Fanfiction
Drake Strike*
(Authors Note: Follows the events from Zoro and Luffy's meeting in rather good detail, and then mainly detailed behind the scene romance and encounters that leads to the pairing and love of Luffy and Zoro. The meeting between the other crew mates will mostly be quick and summarised, as it is expected to be known to you through the manga and anime. Other pairings included. Rated M for BL. R&R.
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or any of the character.)
_Chapter 1:_
"LETS GO COBY" The raven haired boy, arms raised in the air, standing on the tip of the prow of a small sail boat. He wore a red vest with baggy blue shorts and bare feet. A semi-circle scare under his eye was the only imperfection on his youthful brightly smiling innocent face. A gust of wind from behind almost knocked him off and into the water, the young man quickly reacting, light skinned hand stretching out and grabbing a firm hold of the mast while his other reached up to stop a straw hat with the red ribbon placed upon his head from being blown over board. The boy let out a chuckle as he stepped back into the boat and sat next to his friend Coby.
"That was a close one Luffy. Be more careful, what if you drowned and then I was sailing alone and other pirates came and I was forced to work again and…and…" The pink haired boy next to Luffy began to tear up thinking of his past few years spent on the Alvida pirate ship.
"Hahahha Calm down Coby, you're too negative, relax and have some fun." Luffy said, leaning back and looking up at the clouds.
"Yeah, your right. How far until we reach an island?" Coby asked, also leaning back.
"I don't know, but I hope soon. You said that the Marine base island that Roronoa Zoro was around here, I hope we find it, gahhh, so hungry Coby. I need food, meat, I want meat Coby." Luffy complained, his stomach growling and mouth salivating.
"Is that all you ever think of. We are basically lost in the middle of the ocean, no idea if we are heading for the Marine base, and all you can think of is meat. We could die out here Luffy!"
"Nuuuhhh, I am not going to die here Coby, I am going to be pirate king. I told you, be more positive." Luffy slapped the back of Coby, sending a wave of pain up the pink haired boys spine.
"Gahhh! Don't do that Luffy, it hurts normal people like m-" Coby started but was interrupted when Luffy jumped up unexpectedly and began shouting and waving excitedly.
"Coby! Coby look! Land, Shihihihi, Land Coby."
"Thank goodness." Coby forced himself up and looked in the direction Luffy was pointing. In the distance he could see clearly the dark silhouette of an island. Already as they drew nearer the dark greens and browns of the islands landscape became clearer, contrasting the light blue sky horizon. But another large feature of the land soon invaded their eye sights. They large structure of a marine outpost, its two blue towers, the largest had the clean white marine logo painted on its sides. A town surrounded it along the cliff tops, taking up most of the small island.
"Ohhhhh, The marine base Coby. We found it, your lucky day. You can join them here."
"I can't believe it; this is Axe-hand Morgan's base, a hero in the east blue, we're here. This is unbelieveable…But Luffy… he's killed countless pirates. Oh no, if he finds out I was part of Aldiva's crew I will be executed, I will never be able to join the marines. Impossible, Impossible, impossible…"
"Ahhhhh Coby. Relax. How can he find out?"
"Oh, I guess you're right. But what about you?" Coby began to worry about his pirate friends safety.
"Don't worry about me, I can take care of myself remember. Common, let's go find some food, and look for Zoro."
The two made port and made their way into town. The bustling marketplace was full with traders and citizens buying and selling goods. Luffy ran towards the nearest fruit salesman and began to devour a pear.
"Mmmmmm, Tasty." Luffy said, flicking the trader a coin. "I wonder if that Zoro guy is inside the base?"
The shopkeeper, who was smiling at the little coin in his hand, instantly held an expression of shock and fear, as did the surrounding townsfolk.
"It seems that Zoro's name is Taboo here Luffy." Coby said to his straw hat companion.
"Really? I wonder why?"
"Are you really going to invite Zoro, the infamous pirate hunter, to be on your crew? Asked Coby, still in disbelief.
"Yosh, He will be my Nakama."
"But I hear he is really evil Luffy."
"Just rumours I am sure. Besides, I don't care if he is a good or bad person; I have already made up my mind. Anyway, lets head to the base. You still wanna join the Marines right?"
"Y-yes, but I don't know if I am ready yet. And Captain Morgan is the head of this base." Coby said, again sending the villagers into panic and shock. Their fearful expressions frozen in place.
"Hahahhaha, what a funny town!" Exclaimed Luffy, not giving their behaviour a second thought.
"That's strange. I can understand being scared of Zoro, but why would they be scared of captain Morgan?" Coby questioned. "I really am worried now."
"Perhaps they just acting like that for fun."
"Baka, don't be silly."
They made it to the front of the Marine base gate, Coby feeling excitement as well as concern. "I'm finally here."
"You can fulfil your dream now Coby."
"Yosh, this is it. You can fulfil your dream now Coby."
"So we are to part ways here Luffy-san?" Coby said, tears welling up in his eyes. "You've helped me out so much, and we've only known each other a short while but…Eh! What are you doing!?"
Luffy, who was not trying to climb over the Marine fence, obviously had o intention of saying goodbye just yet.
"Looking for the Demonic beast Coby.
"He wouldn't be out there, Baka!" Coby shouted, wondering how thick headed could his friend be.
"I think that's him!"
"WHAAHHHH!"
Coby climbed to look over the wall, struggling to hold himself up with the little upper body strength that he had. He set his four eyed gaze upon a large courtyard, walled off completely, mostly brick, but near the far back, metal mesh fencing and gates. As for the land itself, completely barren and empty, just dry soil and a single wooden cross in the centre.
Coby's eyes almost popped out of their sockets as he caught sight of the man tied to it. Wailing, Coby fell off the wall and landed heavily upon the ground. Breaking out into a cold sweat, he gawked as he tried to say stammered something incomprehensible.
"What Coby, ' wrong? Is that him?" Luffy asked his panicking friend.
"The black Bandanna…The green Haramaki around his waist. And that intimidating aura. That's him Luffy, that's…that's…that's the Demon Roronoa Zoro!"
"Cool, so it is him, wow." Luffy looked back at the man, his arms and abdomen secured to the cross-pole by simple rope, that didn't look too hard to break from Luffy's point of view. "He should be able to escape easily if he is as strong as you said." Luffy concluded, resting his chin on his hands and observing the older male. He seemed like a nice guy, he didn't know why he thought that, but he just knew.
"Stop saying such things, if he got loose he could make a mess of the town and even kill us!" Coby shouted, trying to make Luffy see sense, this mad was as bad as they came.
"Hey! You, could you come over here and untie me? I've been here for nine days and I am exhausted." Said a rough and deep voice from over the fence, Coby almost died when he heard it. Luffy looked at Zoro, his face now smiling at him, eyes darkened under the shadow of his head wear, three gold earrings swayed at his movement. Luffy couldn't help but smile back, captivated by the other.
"He's smiling." Luffy said to Coby who was now trying to climb the wall once more.
"That's not good."
"I'll repay you, I can hunt down a fugitive and give you the bounty, I swear. I always keep my promises." Zoro said, still smiling at his new audience.
"Don't Fall for it Luffy, he will kill you."
He can't kill me silly, I am strong too." Luffy reassured. Zoro heard this and looked a little confused, this skinny kid really thought he was strong enough to beat him?
A ladder suddenly smacked against the wall next to Coby and a small girl popped her head up, surveying the area and shushing the noisy pair. She jumped over the wall and ran towards Zoro. As Luffy watched the interaction, the little girl pulling out two rice balls and offering them to the older man, he thought Zoro was being very rude, but before he could scold Zoro, the gates to the east opened and a pompous looking blond haired teen entered the yard, two marine soldiers following. The Blond was laughing, and speaking very loudly.
"How is the prisoner today, hehehe?" The man said, making his way to Zoro and the girl.
"If it isn't the lieutenants bastard son?" Zoro calmly said.
"Don't be so disrespectful, I am the only son of the great Marine Lieutenant, Axe Hand Morgan. Helmeppo!"
"You're an idiot is what you are."
The little girl laughed at Zoro's insult, no one in town liked Helmeppo.
"What do we have here? Delicious rice balls, don't mind if I do." Helmeppo grabbed one of the two rice balls and shoved if into his mouth, quickly spitting it back out in disgust.
"Blugh! What's wrong with you, too much sugar in these, you're meant to make it with salt you idiot!"
"I thought it would be better if it was sweet." The girl defended herself. Helmeppo just threw the rice ball and wacked the one in her hand onto the ground, stomping on them. The little girl began to cry, asking him to stop it and that it was so Zoro could eat. Helmeppo ignored her and ordered his men to throw her out. Neither of the men wanted to hurt the girl but Helmeppo quickly threatened them with telling his father. After apologising to the girl, threw her over the wall, Luffy jumping and catching her before she landed. Helmeppo turned to Zoro and after saying something about a promise of Zoro staying alive a whole month, and Zoro's release is he did, they left. Luffy scrambled over the wall.
Zoro was surprised to see Luffy standing infront of him, even more surprising, seemingly not afraid in the slightest by him.
"You haven't left yet?" Zoro asked. "Leave now of that baka will go tell his daddy about it."
"Oh, really?" Luffy said. "I am looking for someone to join my pirate crew."
"Gave up on life to become a crook huh, Pirate, huh." Zoro scorned.
"It's my dream, nothing wrong with being a pirate."
"So what, you're going to set me free and force me to join you as a pirate?"
"I don't know, everyone thinks you're a bad guy."
"Bad guy? Whatever, like I would join you, I have things I have to take care of." Zoro said. "I just have to survive a month and I will be let go. I will do everything I can to survive so then I will fulfil my dreams."
"A whole month, I think I would starve to death in a week, Shihihhihi." Luffy admitted.
"Go find someone else to join you."
Luffy turned to go.
"Wait! Can you pick that up and bring it here." Zoro asked indicating towards the food on the dirt.
"This, it's not really edible now."
"Shut up, and give it, I will eat it all."
Luffy picked it up and placed it into Zoro's mouth for him. Zoro crewed and swallowed quickly, cringing at the foul taste.
"Tell that girl...cough…that it was very good and thank you very much." Zoro said, closing his eyes and looking back at the ground as he was doing earlier.
"Hahaha. Will do." And with that Luffy left.