Written for the onepiecehalloweenfanfiction project.
"When are we getting there? I'm so hungry~."
"You're the one who picked this place," Nami scolds as she hits Luffy over the head for the umpteenth time, "So it's your fault if you're hungry. You shouldn't have picked a place so far away!"
"Wasn't that the point of this trip, Nami-San?" Robin interjects with a small smirk on her face, as she gives Luffy a packet of sweets to keep him quiet for a bit. Nami grumbles and slumps back in her seat.
"Nami-Swan's so wonderful when she's angry,"
Zoro snorts as he watches the idiot blonde wiggle in his seat, unsurprised when the man stops to glare at him, "got a problem, marimo?"
"Yeah, with your curly eyebrows."
"You shit-head!" Sanji screeches as he reaches over the frightened Chopper, the poor reindeer who's buckled up between them, and attempts to fight with the green haired man.
"Everyone stop messing around! I'm trying to drive!" Usopp shouts over the commotion and glances to the map that Robin is holding then looks to Zoro and Sanji through the rear view mirror, "We're not that far away now anyway, so if you two want to fight, wait until we get out of this van!"
Sanji and Zoro turn their deadly glares from each other towards him and he gulps, turning back to concentrate at the road.
"Usopp's right. And if you break anything, you'll be paying for it, with interest."
"Hai~ Nami-swan~."
Zoro grumbles in reply as he looks out the window. He reckons that's fair, besides the added interest of course, as this van is Usopp's pride and joy after all, which it is to all of them really. They call the van Merry, and though it may be small, it's still big enough for them all to travel in and solve mysteries together.
He doubts they would all be friends right now if it wasn't for Luffy. The energetic boy just turned up out of nowhere and recruited them all one by one to go on adventures with him, and that's how it all started. The real intention was to travel and explore the world, the solving mysteries part of the whole thing just happened randomly. More often than not, they'd end up somewhere which was haunted, or where people were being chased away by 'monsters', and got rid of the pests. In the end they came up with a name and started solving mysteries officially. Their gang became known as Strawhat Incorporated - though people just call them the Strawhats', for short.
"I'm hungry~", Luffy whines, now finished with the pack of sweets. Zoro rolls his eye at their captain's behaviour and the rest ignore the whining for the remainder of the trip.
A quiet rumble of thunder can be heard as the Merry slowly comes to a stop, and a flash of lightning has them jumping in their seats. The hotel they are supposed to staying in is a large building which looks old and creepy, the thunder and lightning not helping the appearance one bit.
"L-Luffy," Usopp says, frightened, as he grips the steering wheel with his hands, and his knees knock together, "We can't go in there."
"Eh~? Why not?"
"What do you mean why not?!" Usopp shrieks, "This place looks haunted!"
"Shishishishi! It looks fun~!"
Before anyone can try and stop him, Luffy has jumped out of the van and made his way over to the hotel door, "Come on mina~! Let's have an adventure~!"
One by one, they give in and get out of the van, carrying their luggage, as they follow after their captain. The place is dark when they step inside, and Usopp and Chopper cling to each other as they try to follow after their nakama. Another strike of lightning, and they scream as it reveals the face of a skeleton, right in front of them.
"Yohohohoho~!"
The lights turn on and the gang stare eyes-wide as a skeleton mask is removed. In front of them stands, not a skeleton, but a tall, skinny man, with a large, black afro. The man is wearing a black coat with orange inner linings, and a black top hat and trousers, as well as a blue cravat.
He grins and laughs, spinning his purple cane, "Yohohohoho, My name is Brook and I own this hotel. This place is one of the most haunted hotels in the world," he brags.
"Haunted?!" Chopper, Usopp, and Nami shriek."
"Don't worry," Brook chuckles, "It's just a ploy to bring people in. You'd be surprised at how many people travel around looking to stay in places like this. Though, then again, a few people have died here so who knows, there may be ghosts floating around after all, Yohohohoho!"
"Right, that's it, we're leaving," Nami says as she turns around, Chopper and Usopp agreeing straight away and following after her towards the door.
"I'm just kidding," Brook calls out, "Please stay. You've already paid online for the rooms, right? We don't give refunds."
Usopp and Chopper sigh, knowing that they'd definitely have to stay here now that Nami can't get her refund.
The orange-haired woman turns back around and frowns as she ponders, "So, what you're basically saying is that this hotel isn't haunted, it's just made to seem like it to get people to stay here?"
"Yohohohoho, that is correct."
"So, it's like Halloween all year round?"
"Yes, in a way, I suppose it is. Now young Miss, may I see your panties?"
Nami fumes with rage and whacks him on the head before giving Luffy the same treatment, "You knew about this didn't you?! We all agreed that we'd take this trip to get away from all the Halloween celebrations this year!"
"Shishishishi! I did, but isn't this much more fun than going to a normal, boring hotel?"
"Of course it isn't!" Nami, Chopper, and Usopp shout.
Brook laughs at their antics before he starts heading off, "I have to get back to work, please check in then head to your rooms, I'm sure you're all exhausted from the journey. Breakfast is served between 8-11am. I'll see you in the morning."
Once the hotel owner had disappeared through the large double doors to their right, the gang head across the hall and over to the reception desk.
Sanji swoons when he sees the beautiful pink-haired lady sitting behind the desk, hair in two high pigtails, with flower shaped black and white hairpins and wearing a red crown with a cross on top, "Sweet mellorine~, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance~."
Sanji grins with hearts in his eyes and gently takes a hold of her hand to place a gently kiss. Before his lips even touch the smooth skin, the woman pulls her hand away and rolls her eyes at his behaviour.
She pops her chewing gum and blows another bubble as she glances to them briefly, popping it once more as she hands Nami their room keys after checking them in on the computer, "Third floor, rooms' are up those stairs. If you need anything call the desk and ask for Moriah."
"But your name is Perona." Zoro says as he notices the name tag. He reckons that she isn't wearing a uniform, as she is dressed in a long sleeved white top with a black skull on the front, a short red mini-skirt with matching red buckled boots to match, and black and white striped tights.
"So?" Perona replies as she pops another bubble with her chewing gum, "I don't want to deal with you lot while you're here. You're not cute."
Zoro glares at the woman, who glares back, and he growls when he is pushed towards the staircase by Sanji, "Don't be rude to a lady, and hurry up. We wouldn't want you to get lost."
"Didn't know you cared so much," he replies sarcastically.
"Like I'd care about a shit-head like you."
They continue bickering as the gang make their way up the staircase, the wooden steps creaking under their feet. Several minutes later, after taking three or four turns in the corridor, they finally reach their rooms.
Nami stops them and hands out the room keys, "Ok, Robin and I will take one room, Zoro and Sanji in another, and Luffy, Usopp and Chopper in the third."
"I'm not sharing a room with him!" Both Zoro and Sanji complain as they glare at each other.
Nami sighs in annoyance and places her hand on her hip, "Stop whining and get some sleep. It's late and I don't want to deal with you two right now. Come on Robin, let's go to bed. And you Luffy, if you don't go to sleep you will be getting no breakfast in the morning."
Luffy whines before quickly going into his room with Usopp and Chopper, as Sanji huffs and fumbles to open the door to his room. Once it is open he steps inside, and out of instinct he glares at Zoro as the swordsman follows in behind him and the blonde sighs as he places his luggage on the floor beside the bed, "I can't believe I have to sleep in the same room as you for a week."
"In a double bed too."
"And in a double be- What?!" Sanji screeches and his eyes widen when he notices that there is indeed only a double bed in the room.
"I'm not happy about it either shit-cook, but there's nothing we can do about it now. Let's just get some sleep. Maybe we can get someone to swap with one of us in the morning." Zoro says as he places his swords against the wall near the window, and strips down to his boxers before climbing under the bed covers.
"Fine," Sanji huffs, "Just stay on your side and I'll stay on my side."
"Yeah, yeah," the green haired-man grumbles.
Sanji follows suit and gets into bed in just his boxers, both of them facing away from each other as they lay and slowly fall asleep.
Not long after they've fallen asleep, a loud crash along with several screams, jolt them out from their slumber. Sanji quickly pulls on his trousers and rushes out into the hallway, Zoro following after him in just his boxers. Nami and Robin, as well as a few other guests, who are staying at the hotel, join them with worried expressions.
"What's all this screaming about? I'm trying to sleep," a tall man with red hair growls.
"They seem to be coming from our captain's room," Robin muses out loud.
More screams and crashes can be heard before Usopp and Chopper rush out of their room, clinging onto each other and wailing.
"Oi, what's going on you two?" Sanji asks, "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"T-there is a ghost!" Usopp screeches, eyes-wide.
A booming laugh sends shivers down their spines and Sanji doesn't have a chance to dodge before their energetic captain comes running out of his room with a wide grin on his face, and collides into him, sending them both crashing to the floor.
"Zehahahaha!"
Usopp and Chopper quickly hide behind Zoro, and the Strawhats' can't believe their eyes when the ghost of a large man towers over them. "Leave, and stay away from my treasure! Or you will regret the day you stepped foot in this building!"
In a blink of an eye the ghost vanishes in a cloud of smoke, leaving them staring, some in shock, others in fright, as the smoke clears.
"What's going on up here? I heard screaming." Brook asks worriedly as he comes into view from around the corner.
"There was a ghost!" Usopp screeches, still cowering behind Zoro."
"A ghost?! Where?!"
"It's gone now, Brook-San, though it's possible that the ghost has possessed someone and is going to make us murder each other in our sleep."
"Robin?! Don't say things like that!"
"Don't worry Usopp that probably wouldn't happen. Not yet anyway."
"Robin-Chwan's~ so wonderful when she's being morbid~"
"Idiot cook," Zoro mumbles, earning him a swift kick to the shin and a deadly glare.
The other guests who had joined them out in the hallway have already gone back to their rooms, seemingly undisturbed by the revelation of a ghost threatening them to leave. Before the cook and the marimo start fighting, Brook interrupts and assures them that it is safe to stay and go back to their rooms, leaving them with the promise of a breakfast fit for a king in the morning as an apology for the disturbance.
With a few sleepy mumbles of goodnight to each other, the Strawhats' make their way back into their rooms.
Sanji takes his trousers back off as he gets to the bed, and out of the corner of his eye he catches Zoro gazing at him, "what the hell are you looking at, shit-head?"
Zoro quickly looks away from him and gets into bed, "Nothing", he says as he lies on his side, facing away from the blonde.
Sanji glances to the green-haired man in confusion then neatly folds his trousers and places them with the rest of his clothes before getting into bed. He turns towards Zoro's back and bites his lip as he glances over the man. What was with that weird look he gave me earlier…? I'll ask him. Is he still awake?
"Oi, Marimo..."
"What?" Zoro turns in the bed to face Sanji and his one remaining eye widens slightly when he realises how close they are. He didn't expect the cook to looking directly at him when he turned around. He can tell he's gone red at the proximity and hopes that it's too dark for Sanji to notice.
"...What do you think about that ghost?"
"...why are you asking?"
"Just wondering...Do you think it's real?"
"When have they ever been real, shit-cook?"
"Well, you never know. Maybe ghosts are real, it's just we always end up finding the fakes' instead…"
Zoro is slightly confused. What is with this sudden conversation? When Sanji first spoke to him just now, he expected a completely different question, mainly to do with being caught staring at him earlier.
Instead of replying, he stays silent, and Zoro finds himself intently gazing at the blonde's face; the way his bangs have fallen to one side, letting him see both of those curly eyebrows, and those amazing deep, ocean blue eyes which he loves so much. He can't help but to turn his gaze to the cook's lips. He's imagined kissing those lips so many times; he reckons the cook's would be soft, unlike his.
As he looks back to the blonde's eyes he blushes, noticing Sanji staring just as attentively at him. He quickly turns back around to face away from the other and grumbles, "Just go to sleep. We'll find out soon if that stupid ghost is real or not."
What the hell am I doing? I can't let him find out I like him. Things would just get awkward... Zoro closes his eye and tries to go back to sleep and forget about how close he was to the cook just now, and that if he tried, he could have easily just kissed the man then and there. He frowns and reminds himself that the cook would never feel the same way, and that he'd only ruin the warped friendship they seem to have. He couldn't bare it if Sanji stopped talking to him - well fighting with him. It's the only thing they have. If it wasn't for the bickering and the arguing, he reckons that they would hardly ever speak to each other. As he drifts off to sleep he vaguely feels the mattress dip as the cook turns in the bed.
After staring at the marimo for a little longer, Sanji finally turns around and faces away from the other man. The blonde feels so confused. He's never looked at Zoro for so long before and when their eyes met he felt strange. He felt like he couldn't breathe, that he was caught doing something he shouldn't be. And the look in Zoro's eye, it was soft and attentive. There was also something else that Sanji couldn't place, and he knows that something strange is going on here. This wasn't the first time he'd caught the man staring at him this way.
Eyes slowly drifting shut, Sanji glances to the doorway, his mind vaguely registering a man standing there and staring at him. Thinking that it's just his sleep deprived mind making it all up, he lets himself fall asleep, the strange man forgotten when he wakes early morning.