Emo Piece

Chapter Two

---Luffy POV---

As soon as we all got on stage, we knew we were ready. We practiced for hours every single day just waiting for this moment. Well, not exactly THIS moment. This was just practice. But, we only had about 30 minutes to practice before the other bands came and the contest started. As we rehearsed about one million times, Ace counted off:

"One, two, three, four, LET'S GOOOOOO" He screamed the last part into the microphone while we started playing. If there is one thing Ace can do really well (except make out with his girlfriend) is scream really well.

All I can say is, practice went really smoothly. We took months just jellying together and getting ready for this day. We already won the Town Competition, now we had to win this competition, the District Competition, the County Competition, and then the State Competition. After the States is the National. And once we win the Nationals, we win the Emo Piece!

After we got off the stage, we hung around and listened to the band that was after us play. They were good. All of us made a silent agreement to do our best just to beat this band. What was their name again? Oh yeah, The Hyenas. Well, the name fit, since their singer was screaming like a hyena. But musically, they were great. Their bassist, Sarquiss, had a name for himself already in the area. I've heard of him. He really lives up to his reputation. Well, I bet our band could do better. We're beginners so were not really known, but I think we'll do a good job. After all, we're going to be the best in America. And having anything else in our band will just make us look bad.

The Hyenas finished their practice. They were the last one on the practice list, so we had another hour 'till the people started coming and we preformed. Wow, the Districts. I'm so nervous. I ran off after the others, who already left. Heh, I'm nothing without the others. They're all so awesome.

---Sanji POV---

Hmph. I inhaled the intoxicating fumes of the cancer stick and let it stay inside for a few moments. I exhaled and only had smoke disappear into the cool winter air. Smoking usually got the tension out too, but today my usual stress tactics weren't working. It's not that I wasn't nervous about winning or losing, it was about how THAT girl is going to be there and how THAT girl was going to rub it in my face if I lost. I'm usually a gentleman, always putting the ladies before myself. But THAT girl is not a lady, and never will be.

"Shitty cigarette isn't working if I'm still thinking like this." I grumbled.

Hmph. I took another drag and the latest exhale actually let out some of the tension. I guess I also didn't want to lose because I wanted to prove myself to Luffy. No one really says this because it is true, but Luffy's a great guy. The best actually. You really can't find anyone else like him anywhere. He's someone who has the ability to take out the best in you with just one kooky grin. And, he saved my life. I pulled up my sweater sleeve a little and ran my fingers over the deep scars in my wrist. Yeah, he really saved my life.

---Usopp POV---

I tapped a light rhythm on using my signature sticks, but not without my hands trembling. Where all this mind-racking nervousness was coming from, I do not know. Well, I guess impressing Luffy tonight. Luffy is one of, no, my BEST friend. He's one of those people who when you make mad, are still really nice to you and it makes you feel like total crap.

He's taught me a lot about life, indirectly of course. He well, let's just said never had the attention span to teach anything directly. But, I used to be the little scrawny boy who used to run away every chance I had. And after meeting Luffy, I learned to stand up for people dear to me and not to run away (well, most of the time). I guess that's what will give me the courage to sit behind that drum set and play my soul out. Thanks Luffy.

---Ace's POV---

I sipped a little out of the water bottle I bought. I didn't practice anything like the others probably would, because I needed to save my voice. I wondered what Luffy was doing. He was probably raiding the vending machines or attacking the fast food stands. Knowing him, he would probably have blown off all his money on food by now. I usually worried about what Luffy was doing, and this time I was especially edgy. I called him several times on his cell phone to the point where it was annoying him. After a few minutes he stopped answering my calls.

I don't know what it was. Was I just nervous? I guess it was that feeling bothering me again. I made a promise to make my brother the best he possibly can. I have to look after him until we can find mother. I have to look after him until we win the Emo Piece. So we can find mother. Stupid Luffy and his crazy ideas.

---Zoro's POV---

Che. Luffy. Pshhh. Ever since I agreed to partner up with him and become part of the "World's Greatest Band". It's been one crazy hell of a ride for me. Well, not just me, I bet for all of us. I have this strange feeling that I'm the only one who doesn't feel nervous about this whole thing. Everyone else is probably doing some crazy stress tactic to try and clear themselves up.

All for Luffy. Yeah. Without him, there would be no band, no us. He's a good guy. A pretty damn dumb guy, but a nice guy. I can understand why everyone is getting all worked up. But geez, we all just have to do our best. If we get our asses kicked, Luffy will probably just come back up with some crazy plan and we'll live happily ever after. He just has a knack of doing that.

---Luffy's POV---

I met up with the others behind the stage as planned. Ten minutes till we go on stage. This is IT. Yeahh.

"YOSHA!!!!!! IKE!!!" I ran forward on stage, the guys following behind me. Ike means go in Japanese as far as I can translate. English is a pain to speak sometimes since we only speak Japanese at home. Ace also makes me watch sappy Korean dramas. I prefer anime. But I still hate English.

Oh yeah, so when I was running forward, I kinda tripped over an amp and fell. I heard Ace shout my name and help me up. Zoro came up too and started laughing his head off. I couldn't help but laugh with him.

"Um, would you guys like an extra minute to set up?" the stage manager asked.

"No thanks, we're fine." Zoro replied through chuckles. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Usopp snickering as he sat down in front of the drum set. Sanji was smirking and shaking his head while setting up a microphone.

"YOSHA!!! IKE!!!" I exclaimed again as I started running. Looks like I tripped again. Turns out my foot was stuck under the amp and I ran so hard into it my foot was lodged underneath.

"Ah, nii-chan? Ehhh tetsudatte kudasai?"

"Nani? Aa i-yo." He smiled at my situation and lifted up the amp.

"YOSHA!!! IKE!!!" I yelled as I ran to my bass.

"Third time's the charm." I heard Sanji mutter.

I looked at the judges. It was kinda scary looking at them. Except this one guy kept sniggering like crazy. He should have just laughed. Usopp said it's never good to hold in a laugh because it makes the brain fairies go crazy and makes hot sauce come out of your ears. But that crowd kept staring at us. They were freaky.

The announcer guy came up and said, "And now, the winners of the Slight Throat town competition, Shame 'Till Death!"

No one cheered. Not fair. The Hyenas got a lot of cheering. Maybe it's our name? Hahaha there's a funny story behind that name…

-Flashback-

"Okay, we have ten songs, not including the covers. We can do this guys!" Ace smiled and Usopp and Sanji cheered. "Now all we need is a name."

Usopp and Sanji stopped cheering.

"Hmmnn…How about the Red-Hair Jam?" I asked Ace.

"NO! THAT'S SHANKS BAND!"

"Oh Yeah…How about the Mugiwara no Kaizoku?"

"…No…"

"Why not?"

"The Straw Hat Pirates is a stupid name, even in Japanese…think Emo Luffy, think."

"Awwww…fine. How about Shame 'Till Death?"

"Shame 'Till Death, huh? So when people abbreviate the name we'll be STD…" Usopp realized.

"Then I'm changing my stage name to herpes." Zoro declared with a straight face which sent Sanji into a laughing fit.

"So does everyone agree with it?!" I yelled.

Everyone shook their heads yes.

"YOSHA! NOW WE'RE THE STD'S!" I exclaimed.

"NO!!" Everyone else exclaimed.

"Nani? But everyone agreed…" I wondered.

"Luffy, do you even know what abbreviate means?" Usopp asked me.

"No." I answered bluntly.

Then Usopp went on to explain what abbreviate means but I didn't really pay attention so long as we had a band name. So we ended up being "Shame 'Till Death".

-End of Flashback-

The first song started out with my riff. Then Usopp came in with crash cymbal action that fit in perfectly with Zoro's Dm chord entrance. Then Sanji went all crazy with that weird sweeping stuff. And then Ace screamed into the microphone.

It all went uphill from there. Shishishishishi!

END OF CHAPTER

OMG. FINALLY DONE WITH THIS CHAPTER. OMG. Yes…now I can start writing the next chapter.

Few Translation notes-

Nani-As most of you probably know means "What?"

I-yo-If I'm correct (if not please correct me) means "Okay".

Aa-From my limited knowledge of Japanese means "Oh".

Tetsudatte kudasai-"Please help me (with this task)". Not 100% sure whether I should have used Tasukete kudasai ("Please help me I'm in danger") but again if I'm wrong, correct me.

Yosha! Ike!-Practically Luffy's catchphrase in the anime. Means "Yeah! Let's Go!!"

Shishishishi-Luffy's signature laugh from the manga.

Over n' Out—

Lt. Aldo Raine (aka Kurry)