Okay...I went and done it again. I'm supposed to be working on certain other stories, but my mind decided it wanted to start on a new fic. I'm so sorry, I hate leaving things half-done (though I suppose I'm prone to doing so) but I don't really choose which fics my brain decides to focus on. It's just the way I work, I guess. I'll get writer's block on some things while ideas flow on other things; it just happens. Again, my apologies. Now, moving on, I'm still in (love with) Anime, and this is for the One Piece fandom (my #1 Anime). And, of course, it's a ZoLu one, since those two are both my OTP and BROTP. I love Luffy and Zoro to death. How could you not? Now, with saying that, this fic will be Yaoi, so if you don't like boyXboy love, then hit the back button right now 'cuz you won't like this fic. Trust me. Okay, now that half the readers have left, I'd like to say this fic is an AU. Kind of hard to explain, but I'll try.
It mostly revolves around Luffy and Zoro, though Luffy is a Demon while Zoro is just a human, though has what I'm calling the "Sight", which is basically the ability to see all the supernatural creatures around him, even if they're using their "Human Façades" (if you watch the TV show Grimm, it's kind of like what Grimms can do). The others will make their appearances as well—everyone but Franky being supernatural and Franky being, well, what he actually is: a Cyborg. I'm also including Perona and Mihawk ('cuz I love the Zoro/Perona/Mihawk family dynamic so much), and Ace and Shanks will appear as well. It'll explain who is what in the fic. Oh, and in this story, I'm writing with the notion that humans and supernatural live together, the humans knowing they exist, but some could go their whole lifetime without actually meeting one. While in the Human Realm (one of the many Realms that will exist), they like to blend in, employing "Human Façades" to do so. Along the way, through the chapters, I'll add author notes to the bottoms to explain concepts I'm using in the fic if it already isn't obvious, and, of course, you can always ask me if you want (through comment or PM).
Now, I actually got this idea by reading another fic a few days ago, called Beneath the Milky Twilight on AO3, but I think its also on FF to, but not absolutely sure. You should check it out, BTW, its pretty good. Definitely well-written. Oh, and there will be more pairings than just ZoLu in this fic. You'll see who's with who along the way ;). Well, if I have anything more to add, I'll do so along the way. Now, sit back and enjoy the show!
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or any of One Piece's characters mentioned in this fic.
Warning: This is AU. Basically, all that remains are their names, faces, and a few personality traits, but other than that, the characters in this story are mostly OOC.
**PLEASE READ**
Okay, I'm changing some things around with my story now. I've learned a lot of new things from watching the Anime, new characters and new details and different viewpoints and such, so I did a quick rewrite of some parts that match up with what I've seen or read. I could babble on about this, but it'd just be easier for y'all to read through it to know what I'm talking about. My mind works in mysterious ways, latching onto something before moving on to something completely different, so that's what has been happening. I know where I want this fic to go, but getting there and typing it up is always the hurdle I have to surpass. Okay, enough of my babbling, please enjoy my story!
Re-uploaded: June 4, 2015
Zoro had been able to see strange things since he was a baby.
At the age of four, his grandfather told him that, like his own mother, Zoro had what's called the "Sight", which allowed him to see the Supernatural—even when they're hiding behind their Human façades—that were living in the Human Realm. The Roronoa Family had always had this unique gift, being passed down through the generations, but with no guarantee on who would actually possess it. His parents, of course, did not like that Zoro had this disturbing talent, calling it a curse more than anything, and would try everything they could to suppress this ability and keep Zoro from using it. However, what they didn't know was that, behind their backs, Zoro's grandfather was teaching him everything he knew, everything his mother had told him or left to him in books. At age six, Zoro's grandfather passed away, leaving to him, on his deathbed, the family sword—a white katana by the name of Wadō Ichimonji that had been passed through the generations, but only owned by the ones with Sight.
Three months had passed since his grandfather had died and Zoro's relationship with his parents continued to grow worse, until Zoro finally got fed up, packed his belongings, and ran away from home. He drifted from town to town, city to city, living off of the kindness of strangers who would feed him or shelter him, as well as the Supernatural he could see that would point out safe places to stay or warn him away from untrustworthy people. A year had passed by when Zoro finally stumbled upon a remote town by the name of Ohara. He instantly got a good feeling from the town and decided to explore, maybe grab a place to sleep or something to eat. He didn't realize this was where his life would actually begin, and where, in the near future, it would also change forever.
Zoro made his way to the entrance of the town, stomach growling as he glanced around. His gut, which had become pretty reliable over the year he'd been alone, told him this was a good place, so he decided to give it a go. After entering through an elaborate stone archway, he glanced around and could automatically tell it was a very decent, tidy town at a fairly large size, and the streets were well-populated with people milling and shopping around while the salespeople did their jobs, all the citizens conversing and laughing with one another in comfortable familiarity. Zoro continued walking down what he thought was the main street, looking around every so often, but so far, nothing spectacular stuck out to him…well, not until his roving eyes swept past a fruit vendor cart before suddenly landing on the man standing in front of it. He wandered a little closer, wanting to confirm what his Sight was showing him.
The man was really tall, probably a little over nine-feet, and had a curly black afro, dark brown eyes covered by round, tinted spectacles, an abnormally curved scar on the right side of his forehead, a scruffy goatee, dark brown lips, pale skin, and a thin, wiry frame; he's wearing an orange long-sleeved polo shirt with flared cuffs underneath a black vest decorated with white flowers, flared pants with the left leg white and the right black/orange-striped, black heeled boots, and dangling from his arm was a purple cane. Nothing noteworthy nor out of the ordinary, except, to Zoro, he could see much more…see how his features were sharper, more defined, that the skin was translucent and shimmery, his eyes were actually an emerald green and took a more slanted appearance, coming out of his back were a pair of large, translucent, glimmering butterfly-like wings, and sticking out from his afro, on the sides, were ears that were slightly curved and pointed at the tips.
A Fae, Zoro thought, watching as he conversed with the cart's owner about the weather or something. After a few moments of silent watching, Zoro didn't get any bad vibes from the man, so he made his way a little closer, which caused the Fae to finally notice him as well.
Looking down, he gave the young child a bemused, but friendly, smile. "Yohohoho. Why, hello there, young one. What are you doing out here all alone?" He then noticed how the child was covered in cuts and bruises, some healed over scars, and it looked like he hadn't seen a shower in days. "And where are your parents?"
"Don't have any." Zoro answered with a shrug; he found using that response garnered less questions from people.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," the Fae answered before seeing the child's eyes flicker over to the fruit cart. "Would you like one?"
Zoro moved his startled glance back to the man. "I—"
The Fae had already reached behind him and grabbed an apple, giving the seller a silver coin, before handing the fruit to Zoro. "There you go."
"Thanks." Zoro murmured, grabbing the apple before scarfing it down; as he ate, he looked back up at the man and, since he was curious, asked, "Are there more of you in this town?"
"Of me?" he asked, confused.
Zoro, since he was chewing, motioned to his ears before just saying around a mouthful of apple when the man continued to look confused, "Fae." He then swallowed. "Supernatural."
The Fae blinked in surprise. "What are you…"
Zoro took another bite of his apple as he looked at him. "I can see it."
The man was rendered speechless before placing a hand on the child's shoulder and steering him away from the other people; Zoro, though confused, allowed himself to be led away, finishing up the last bit of his fruit before chucking the core away. They finally reached a corner that was mostly empty a few streets over from the main one before the Fae let Zoro go.
"What do you mean you can see it?" he asked carefully.
Zoro blinked. "I can see it. What the hell else could that mean?"
"See what?" the Fae asked, ignoring Zoro's language.
"Your ears, features and skin." Zoro answered, looking around the town once more—always good to scout out possible escape routes, just in case.
"Oh my word." He whispered, staring down at the child. "You have the Sight, don't you?"
"Yeah." Zoro answered with a shrug.
The Fae just blinked before realizing he'd been rude. "My apologies!" Zoro looked at him with an eyebrow raised. "I never even introduced myself. My name is Brook, and I am of the Seelie Faerie."
"Zoro." The child simply said, taking Brook's offered hand to shake.
"How did—"
"Brook." The two froze when they heard that hard voice—Zoro from confusion and Brook from, well, fright. "What are you doing with this child?"
"I—um, it's not…" Brook trailed off, shrinking under that golden, piercing glare.
"Who the hell are you?" Zoro asked, looking up at the man now standing in front of them.
He was probably six-foot-something and had short, spiked-back black hair with sharp sideburns that pointed upwards at the ends, bright yellow eyes ringed by gold, the colors separated by a thin black line (looking like something you'd find on an eagle or hawk, maybe), alabaster skin, a black mustache, a thin black beard connected to the sideburns, and a lean, athletic build; around his neck was a gold cross necklace and strapped to his back looked to be a huge sword that resembled a large cross. He's dressed casually in a dark red polo, black jeans, and plain black leather boots.
"And who might you be?" the man asked Zoro instead of answering him, looking the child over.
Zoro didn't answer either, instead was staring right back at the man, his Sight still Active from talking with Brook. He seemed to be Human, but there was something…something almost shimmering around the man that Zoro thought he'd seen before, but couldn't recall from where. His head tilted as he continued to stare, not noticing how annoyed the man was becoming from this silent scrutiny.
"What are you doing?" the man finally asked, glaring down the child—though said child didn't seem to be intimidated by his piercing glare like others usually were.
Zoro's head tilted to the other side as he muttered, "What are you? You aren't completely Human, but you aren't Supernatural either…"
The man looked about ready to draw his sword, so Brook stepped in, putting himself in front of Zoro. "Now, Mihawk, please calm yourself. The child means no harm, I assure you. I just don't think he's seen a Hunter before."
Mihawk's gaze snapped up to Brook. "Careful about what you say aloud."
Brook just shook his head. "It's alright. This child, he has—" He was interrupted.
"Well, well, what is happening over here?" a smooth, silky voice asked as it came upon the trio.
The men swung their eyes up to the approaching female, though only Zoro looked confused as to her identity. The woman seemed to be just over six-feet and had straight, hip-length light black hair with two shoulder-length strands framing her face, sky blue eyes, light tan skin, a slender, well-endowed, hourglass figure with long legs and arms, and her upper-canines looked slightly sharper than normal; she's wearing a reddish-purple flowing camisole with gold rivets over the bust, dark brown capris, dark purple pumps, and pushed up on top of her head were silver amber-tinted aviators.
"Miss Nico." Brook said with a slight bow. "You are looking beautiful this fine afternoon."
"Robin." Mihawk said, giving her a polite nod in greeting, before turning his gaze back to the child, who was now staring at Robin with curiosity.
Though at first glance, like Brook, this woman looked completely normal, but to Zoro's Active Sight, he could see what's hiding behind her Human façade. To Zoro, her eyes were a blood red, she had long, sharp fangs poking out from under her top lip, her skin tone was a lot lighter, and her nails were more talon-like.
Zoro finally blinked before pointing at the lady and simply stating, "Vampire."
The woman looked slightly shocked at the proclamation before a sly smile tilted her lips. "What are you talking about, little one?"
Brook placed a hand on Zoro's shoulder before glancing between the other two. "Like I was just about to tell Mihawk, this child…he has the Sight."
The two looked down at the child in some shock and fascination.
"Does he now." Mihawk said, now gazing at the child more closely, and with less annoyance.
"How interesting." Robin said, cheek resting in her palm as she gazed at Zoro. "What is your name, little one?"
"Zoro." He answered, moving out from behind Brook before turning to look at the Fae. "Are these friends of yours?"
A gasp from Robin caused the three men to face the Vampire again, eyebrows raised in question. Robin, however, was staring at something strapped on Zoro's back.
"Is that…" she trailed off before looking at Zoro again. "You are a Roronoa, aren't you?"
Zoro blinked, a little surprised, but nodded. "I am. How'd you know that?"
Robin pointed at the sword on his back. "Only the Roronoa Family have been known to own that particular katana you are carrying around. Coupled with you having the Sight, it was an easy assumption."
Mihawk's gaze followed Robin's hand and even he looked a little shocked. "Wadō Ichimonji. I have not seen that sacred blade for decades."
"My grandpa gave it to me when he died." Zoro said, pulling the katana off his back to show the group. "He told me I was the new owner, but I don't even know how to use a sword."
"Hmm…" Mihawk hummed out, now studying Zoro with interest.
Robin hid a giggle behind her palm as she watched Mihawk watch Zoro; she could see the gears whirling in his head. It seemed Mihawk finally found his reason for setting down roots in her little town.
"Would you like to learn how to use a sword?" Mihawk asked the child.
Zoro looked back up at the Hunter, head tilted, before shrugging.
"I could teach you." Mihawk said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Teach you how to use that sword, how to protect yourself, because not all Supernatural are as accepting as these two to ones with the Sight. Some like remaining in the dark, and having one who could oust them…"
"It would make one rather upset." Robin said with a nod. "Learning a way to protect yourself would be the intelligent thing to do."
"And what do you want in return?" Zoro asked, liking the idea but cautious of things that sounded too good to be true.
"Come and stay with me." Mihawk said, tilting his head, like a bird watching prey. "Stay while I train you, and if you wish to leave after, you may."
"Stay with you?" Zoro asked, head cocked.
"I live in a house at the edge of this town—"
"My old house, actually." Robin interrupted with a smile.
Mihawk rolled his eyes. "Yes, your old house, my current one." He shook his head. "In any case, I live there alone and the house is quite large, so it'd be no inconvenience if you were to come stay with me."
"So you can train me." Zoro clarified, already getting excited, but playing it cool.
"Yes." Mihawk said with a nod.
"Sounds like a splendid idea." Robin said, looking down at Zoro.
"Yes, indeed. It'd be nice to have a new face around town." Brook added, leaning on his cane.
Zoro feigned thinking it over before shrugging. "Why not. I don't have anywhere else to go."
Mihawk nodded. "Excellent. Now, follow me and I will lead you to what will be your new home."
Zoro looked back at the other two.
"We'll see each other around, Zoro." Robin said with a slight giggle; she'd make sure of it.
"Yohohoho. Robin is correct. I'd love to talk more with you." Brook said with a flourished bow.
Zoro scoffed, but couldn't hide the pleased gleam in his eye. He looked back up at Mihawk. "Let's go."
Even after Zoro's training was done, he stayed in the small town of Ohara. The place quickly became his home, something he'd never felt when in his actual home, and when Mihawk realized Zoro had no intentions to leave, he adopted the boy. Three years after that, another newcomer arrived in the town, a young girl—about a year younger than Zoro—by the name of Perona wandered in, much in the same fashion Zoro did. After running into her in town, and seeing how hungry she looked, Zoro brought her back to the house for something to eat and then discovered that the girl was Clairvoyant, a Medium who could see and talk to spirits; the only reason Zoro figured this out was because, with his Sight, he could see vague outlines of those spirits around her and put two-and-two together. A few months after that, Mihawk had another adopted child.
The two grew up together as brother and sister, very close with one another, though you probably wouldn't be able to tell by looking at them, and were trained well by Mihawk. This weird little family worked because all three had one big thing in common: they dwelled in between the world of Human and Supernatural, not quite belonging to either one thanks to their special abilities. Nothing interesting ever happened to them over the years, but that all changed about a decade-and-a-half after Zoro arrived in Ohara. Their lives all changed majorly during one stormy night.
So, any good? This is supposed to be a prologue more than anything, giving some background on Zoro and such. Oh, and let me explain on what I meant when I said "Active Sight": his Sight has two "settings" (so to speak)—Active and Passive; with Active, he can see what kind of supernatural creature he's seeing and identify them, while Passive lets him acknowledge that that person is supernatural but not what kind. Passive is like the "resting" setting, I guess. That's it for now. I'll post the actual first chapter in a little while, depending on how well this one does. We'll see. Anyways, thanks for reading!