Isle of Ewe

Disclaimer: Do not own One Piece. A pity.

It's chilly and windy in the crows nest. I have just climbed up the mast to take my sentry duty, and I am already covered with goose bumps. It's cold, but it doesn't matter: I'll do the exercises to warm me up, so it's fine.

Oh, isn't it Luffy in there? I believe it is surprising that he has remained here till the end of his duty. He usually runs off to take food or have fun, and I have to defray his hours... Well, I have nothing to do anyway. Sometimes I suspect - I'm almost sure, actually - that Nami insists on this 'watch' only to keep me busy.

But now Luffy is here. He is leaning on the edge of the nest and looking onto the sea. It seems he doesn't feel the cold wind - well, being as slowpoke as he is, he probably won't notice it until I ask him.

"Oi, Luffy. Aren't you cold?"

No answer. It's weird, he is not the tight-lipped guy.

"Luffy," I've touched his shoulder and... Holy hell, the boy is sleeping! "Luffy, wake up!"

"Huh?" he opened his eyes, stood up straight and smiled. "Ah, Zoro, you've come to bring me some food."

"No! It's not the reason! Besides, how can you sleep staying like this?"

"Mm..." he looked at the sky. "Dunno. Is it the dinner time already?"

I sighed.

"You must not to sleep on duty. Nami has told you to be wide awake, hasn't she?"

"Oh yes, she has! But how can I be a wide-awake? I'm a human, and the Boshi is not a fedora, it's a straw hat! I've been thinking very hard, but I don't understand... I've been thinking so hard that my head hurts!"

He can not be that stupid, can he?

"Never mind. Just go eat something; it's my sentry time now."

"Oh, fine!" He laughed, but instead of vanishing immediately, he suddenly raised his hand and pointed out into the distance. "Zoro, look, an island!" he exclaimed in exitement.

An island? Oh, yeah, right. Nami said we'll get to an isle by the morning.

"I see."

"It's so interesting! I wonder what its name is!"

The name of it? Something about the shi- sheet... No, sheep... Ah!

"Isle of Ewe," I stated.

Luffy froze in his place and lowered his hand.

"Oh. Why?" He said in a strange tone.

I shrugged.

"Who knows? The form, may be."

"Ah." He was silent for a moment. "Is that all?"

I felt the growing anger. The boy asks stupid questions. How am I supposed to know why the isle got the stupid name? I've never heard of it before Nami showed me the map. It was not so ewe-formed, by the way.

"I don't know, I say! It is the most obvious reason, but I swear I have no idea why. May be it's just... duuno, ewe? Special somehow... living in the place. How do I know?"

He hesitated, then smiled widely.

"All right. I love you too." He paused. "So, anything about the island?"

Whoa, whoa, wait a minute... Has he just said he...

"You WHAT!"

"What?" He blinked innocently.

Damn, it must be my imagination, my mind playing tricks on me.

"N-never mind. I, uh... don't know, ask Nami about this island."

"Ah, right! Thanks, Zoro!"

Before I realized what was happening, he planted a kiss on my cheek and jumped down to the deck, leaving me stunned and... lonely.

And THEN I got it. Isle of Ewe. I love you.

Holy cra-

"OI, LUFFY! IT WAS ISLE OF EWE I SAID! IT'S NOT A CONFESSION!"

Ah, it's no use, he's gone already. Drat.

Wait a minute, have I just shouted "Luffy, Isle of Ewe" all over the ship? Oh, man. I have a feeling I'm going to regret this.