I had this story done for a while, but never bothered with uploading it. Now I wanted to share it with you.
Warning: Some characters are OOC.
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or its character. I only own the plot and my OC.
For once they had a quiet day on Sunny. Robin sat with a cup of tea, reading, while Brook stood nearby and played his violin. Nami sunbathed near her beloved Orange trees, which Sanji was nursing. Chopper made medicine on the grass, while Luffy was swinging. Usopp tended his Green Pop and Zoro was training as usual. Franky was gazing over the calm sea.
Suddenly he spotted wreckage and he called for Usopp, knowing he had better eyes. Franky thought he saw a person between the wreckage, but he wasn't sure, since it was far away from Sunny. It could be just wreckage from a smaller ship, which got caught in the storm a few days ago.
"It's a person," Usopp said.
"Mini Merry should do," Franky said.
"Oi Chopper, Sanji," Usopp called.
All looked at him.
"What is it Usopp?" Chopper asked.
"There is a person lying on some wreckage a few miles away. Let's take Mini Merry," Usopp said, already on his way down.
The two others were already on their way, followed by Luffy.
"Luffy you can't go. We need a free spot for the person. Sanji is the better swimmer and Chopper the doctor," Usopp said.
"But why do you have to go?" Luffy asked.
"Because I can better steer the Mini Merry and if the person is badly wounded, we need to come back quickly," Usopp said.
Luffy sighed and knew he had lost. Robin then called and asked if Luffy would help her with something only he could help with. Luffy hurried to her. Sending Robin a thanks in their thoughts, the three left to rescue the person.
As they came closer, they saw it had been a Marine ship, but the person on the planks had shackles on her wrists. It was a young woman with shoulder long red hair. She was lying with her face towards the opposite side as them. Sanji hurried over and pulled her of the wreckage and brought her to the Mini Merry. Chopper took a quick look at her and saw she needed treatment right away and he started, while Usopp quickly got them back.
Sanji swooned over her as he brought her to the infirmary. As they were on the grass, Zoro was walking towards them with a towel around his bare shoulder. He stopped, as he saw the woman in the arms of Sanji and he followed them with his eyes. He frowned, not liking this at all.
"What's wrong Zoro-san?" Brook asked.
"Nothing," Zoro said and left to take the bath he had intended to take.
Chopper shooed Sanji out, but asked Usopp to help him. Without hesitation, Usopp helped Chopper. Normally he would brag about being a great doctor himself or so, but he had learned when to brag/lie and when not to. Right now, Chopper needed to focus on saving the young woman's life.
An hour later, Chopper and Usopp came out, both looked tired. The crew gathered around them. Well, Zoro just sat against the main mast, listening to what Chopper said.
"She'll be fine, but I have to keep her unconscious for at least three days," he said.
"Why?" Luffy asked in a rare serious tone.
"She's badly wounded, but …" Chopper didn't know if he could tell them what he had found out.
"Okay, you can't explain it to me. Make sure she gets the best treatment. When she wakes up, tell me," Luffy said and walked away, towards his spot.
Chopper and the others looked baffled after him. Luffy acted like he knew the woman. But from where? And who was she? Zoro looked after his captain with a slight frown. He had an idea why Luffy knew this woman, but he wasn't sure. But if his instincts were right, soon hell would break out on Sunny.
Zoro trained harder and more intensive as before over the next few days. Luffy kept sitting at his spot, when he wasn't sleeping or eating. Well, he barely ate anything, which worried his crew. And he had a sad look in his eyes. On the second day, Luffy did something he had never done before. He was in the kitchen, where Sanji was preparing dinner. Sanji was aware of Luffy's presence, but Luffy didn't pry for food, nor did he talk to Sanji.
Luffy just sat there on a chair, his head slight red. He looked down on the table as if he was going to have it disappear in front of him. This was so not Luffy. Who the hell was this woman? And what was it with her? Even though Robin had tried to talk to Luffy about her, his mouth had been shut and they knew it was a secret Luffy held dear. And trying to get a word from Zoro was meaningless. He would never talk.
But hey both knew this woman and both had changed their ways of being as soon as they had laid eyes on her. It was frustrating to watch this and neither of them was talking. Sanji let out a sigh and turned to Luffy. Sooner or later he had to talk.
"She was fighting in the war and saved Ace. I know they said he died from his injuries, but I highly doubt that. He's somewhere out there and she might know where," Luffysaid, before Sanji even could ask.
"So her being here reminds you of the war?" Sanji sat next to him.
"I almost died several of times, freed Ace, but my strength failed me in a critical moment. If she hadn't been there … Ace would have died," Luffy said toneless, but Sanji saw all the feelings in his eyes and face.
So this was why Luffy was so sad and hurt. The woman protected Ace, when Ace was protecting Luffy. It could have cost Ace's life. And her being here reminded Luffy about that.
"Sanji … Don't tell the others. Zoro knows too, but I don't want anyone else to know," Luffy said and then sent Sanji his brightest smile.
"Sure," Sanji said, knowing it had been an order.
He didn't fail to see the ear or that it disappeared. Even now, Robin had a habit of listening to everything with her ability. But it told Sanji that she also was concerned about Luffy. Hell, all was.
Zoro was on watch the third morning and he saw what he had feared. He had seen that ship many times over the past two years and so he knew the Jolly Roger. Before he could go down and warn the others, Luffy stood next him, looking at the ship, which didn't come closer.
"So he arrived," Luffy said dryly.
Zoro nodded.
"How is she?"
"Waking up," Luffy said.
"What is your order, captain?"
"He can't come on board. All, but him," Luffy said and left.
Zoro nodded. It was expected. The time was not right and that was also why the ship had anchored some miles away. Now they waited for the day to begin and for the approached ship to make the first move. Zoro looked at the ship and the Jolly Roger again. As he said, things were going to be hard for them now. Maybe a battle would break out, but hopefully they could avoid it.
Guess who arrived.