Heyyy Guys! ;-)
The second chapter is here! Well, I'm updating this chapter pretty early (I just finish my first chapter yesterday...although that does mean I'm on time...) -Anyway- cause I'm a fellow Fanfic reader, and I hate when someone never finishes their story, or stops it all together.
Author's Note: That aside, like always, I really hope you like this chapter(s). And again, suggestions would really help. Enjoy!
Summary: A strange girl, mystery dreams, and… someone's still alive? And what does this have to do with Luffy's past?
Disclaimer: Of course, I don't own One Piece or any of the characters in this story, save for mine. Also, this still is my first fanfic.
The Girl With The Crimson Eyes;Chapter 2:Why?
-Yesterday Night...-
It was far from silent upon the Thousand Sunny that night. Soft waves slapped sloppily against the ship's hull followed by the faint hiss of sea foam evaporating at the contact. The wood's creak lilted out its own unique lullaby as it rocked atop the ocean in a gentle sway. Peaceful, but far from silent.
Luffy enjoyed nights like this the most. The moon illuminated a devilish grin upon his circular face. He crept barefoot across the galley floor, shoes forsaken beside his bed in favor of preserving his stealth.
Yes, on nights like these the ship masked any sound that might mistakenly escape him as he ventured further into the hallowed ground that was the galley.(Sound sort of familiar?)
Sanji's traps lay discarded, vanquished behind him. And as Luffy stood before the Sunny's fridge in all its glory, his fingers twitched in anticipation. His stomach gave a low growl, its rumbling persuasion urged him on and he closed the gap as his hand took a firm grip around the handle.
A soft squeak of the floorboards froze Luffy in place. His grin sobered to frown mixed with disappointment and the dangerous, silent anger reserved for his enemies.
"Who's there?" he question. He didn't raise his voice, though he half turned to face the darkness that shrouded throughout the galley. Another time, if he wasn't steeling food from Sanji, he may have been curiously, playful with the stranger on his ship, but in the dead of night with his crew at rest (or so he thought) Luffy's instinct cried protect. He received no answer, and for a moment wondered if maybe he'd imagined it. Robin was on watch after all, and his archaeologist had eyes everywhere. He waited a moment more before the tension in his body visibly drained and he relaxed once more, lips curling in an anticipating smile.
And time ceased to exist; screeching to halt when fear, pain and desperation permeated the atmosphere with thick unforgiving tension. Hopelessness stained the heart of an innocent in a deep crimson red; not even able to cry out the immense pain he felt because of a tight gripped hand that was stained with blood.
His blood.
It left Luffy reeling with the potency of the metallic smell. It was overwhelmingly dark and cold; not a single whisper of life to be heard by his strained ears. Fear - desperate and painful, it rushed through his veins; making his heart threaten to burst in his chest.
Everything was dark now; not even the slightest ray of sun touched his skin. And he didn't remember closing the door...
Luffy was really afraid for the first time in his life. Nothing mattered except that he could see nothing - only feel the cold touch of the floor seep through his dark shorts and the freezing wall press against his back uncomfortably.
He wished that he had enough time to alert everyone; anyone. When would he learn to trust his instincts?
They had only grown stronger, and more accurate over the past two years, and with his haki unlocked, it was to be expected to heighten his skills; the cold air, which he could only assume emitted from the slightly opened window, beyond the shadows of the night, now rushing through his thin red shirt, making him shudder with both cold and the predicament he found himself in.
A mysterious smirk and a piercing, calculating gaze, of blazing yet soft set of almost scarlet eyes;immediately flinching from the devious manner of its stare...almost like it could see his very soul...
His heart rate spiked as his breathing became ragged, and the way his captor seemed...pleased with this? Dare he say satisfied, it was honestly unnerving. All he knew was that he was afraid, all alone and in pain; the only sound that could be heard was his own ragged breaths as he desperately tried to fill his lungs with enough air to gain oxygen to satisfy his air deprived body, no doubt cause by his stress filled pants.
He could smell it in the air; and he could swear he could taste it on the tip of his tongue as he bit down whimpers that would never sound, trying desperately to block out the pain he was feeling. Maybe it was a good thing he couldn't see anything - it may make this much worse than it was.
Yet, it was not the pain, nor the situation he faced that truly shock him. It was the fear and sheer terror that had affected him, as much as he didn't want to admit it, he was... scared? No, no he was terrified.
However...
-Minutes Ago...-
Zoro eyes, or rather eye -despite being alert- narrowed lazily in concentration. He suppose it was his troublesome captain was raiding the fridge again, he'd heard noises earlier;that rubber idiot!
And he chuckled fondly as he reminded himself, that idiot was his caption, and it was his job as first mate to protect...No matter how idiotic... And that aside, he could have sworn he'd heard some sort of sound a second ago, and there was only one person it could be...
Luffy.
There he was, seemingly...staring at...What was he looking at anyway? And why was he drenched in sweat and...Wait...? What?
"Luffy...?Oi, Luffy!"
"..."
Luffy's hat -he apparently had been wearing it for some time now- was covering his face, shadowing his eyes, as he just...stood there...
Two minutes and an awkward silent later, Zoro had long since become uncomfortable, and with a small grunt he hefted himself to his feet. (And if you're wondering when he sat down, he did during the two minutes.)
He nudged the boy softly, but got no response.
Great.
Zoro sighed and ran his hands through his hair, already figuring ordinary means would not snap him out of it.
He finally had to resort to...unconventional means.
Thwack! And like magic, he awoke.
"Ow..." Luffy mumbled, his rubber powers thankfully numbing to blow, and his vision slightly dazed, he managed to make a irritated expression.
Zoro smirked. "Welcome back captain." He said jokingly.
"Zoro...?" Luffy rasped, wincing somewhat as he rubbed his...wound?
"What...? But..." He mumbled shocked, chocolate brown orbs winding upon the realization that...
It...was gone...or maybe...maybe it was never there...?
Whatever the explanation, his bruises had disappeared along with his attacker...
The only evidence remained was the leftover anxiety.
"Luffy...Luffy? Earth to captain!" Zoro shouted, finally getting his attention.
"You okay?" He question, eyebrows raised, arms folded, and gaze met. Zoro detected a sense of nervousness, confusion and...
He was scared...?
But...why?
"Oi, Zoro..." Luffy began suddenly, dark bangs shading his eyes."You should get some rest...Sorry I woke you..." He paused before forcing a smile, a grimace to Zoro.
"I'm fine." He assured walking of, leaving Zoro to his thoughts.
No, of course he knew he wasn't as he claimed.
It was so obvious he could feel it.
And just this once, he decided to let it go...for now...
-Present...-
"That's what happened." Luffy summarized, gazing upon the mixed emotions among the crew.
"Well," Nami started. "Even if we wanted to find her, witch we don't..." She angrily side eyed her captain, as it wasn't hard to image what he was thinking;the stars in his eyes easily gave it away.
"She never gave this moron her location." She reasoned knocking Luffy's head a little.
The Straw hats took time to ponder this. She was right.
Just what was this girl up to?
"I think I can help with that..." A voice emerged from behind, gaining a instant reaction from the crew.
Let it be Marines, pirate's; Heck, even monsters! They were ready for it all.
However, nothing could prepare them for this...
"...A-Ace...?!"
And...Done! Confused? You should be. Sorry if it seems a little rushed, suggestions are extremely helpful, and I apologize from and spelling/random errors.
See ya!