Chapter 2
Nami and Luffy continued their walk through the little town.
"The people in this town are boring," Luffy pouted.
Nami found herself slightly giggle at his childish outlook of the town.
"It's because they have things they need to get done Luffy."
"Yeah, but they can still have fun!"
Nami giggled again. You're such a child, she thought. She had never noticed how entertaining Luffy's childish naïve outlook could be till today. Then again, she never was alone with him so she'd never really gotten the chance.
"Hey Nami?" He asked suddenly ruining Namis' train of thought.
"What?" She replied looking up into his eyes.
"What's for dinner?"
She felt herself grow agitated at Luffy for ruining her train of thought with such a stupid question.
"You-just-ate," she growled glaring up at him.
"Yeah, but I'm still hungry," he whined patting his stomach.
Nami sighed, "Ask Sanji when we get back to the ship."
"I will!!" He exclaimed as he laughed and put on a signature smile.
They finally reached the ship about an hour later and Sanji was just starting dinner. Luffy decided it was better tonot tell Sanji he had eaten and was still hungry so he kept his mouth shut about the restaurant, but still asked what was for dinner.
"SANJI!!" Luffy exclaimed so Sanji could hear him in the kitchen from on deck.
"What!" Sanji said kicking the door open. He had a knife in both hands and was cutting up some leeks. "What's for dinner?" Luffy asked a bit quieter this time.
"You'll have to wait," snorted Sanji kicking the door closed.
"Oi! Gentle with the ship Cook-san!" Franky exclaimed from the mast. He had built the Thousand Sunny and was very protective over it. Sanji didn't answer. Usopp ran up behind Luffy and smacked him with a fish he had just retrieved from the aquarium. Chopper, having watched Usopp sneak up behind Luffy, began rolling around laughing as Luffy looked at Usopp with a big revenge grin on his face. Usopp began to shake from holding back the laughter and suddenly turned and ran away. Luffy instantaneously jumped up off the deck and chased after him as he ran in circles around the mast. Zoro, who was sleeping against the mast in his usual place, got his leg stepped on by Luffy.
"AYE!" he said jumping in surprise, instantly awake.
"Sorry Zoro!!" Luffy called over his shoulder as he ran across the ship to follow Usopp.
A little ways away the guy was watching the ship with binoculars. That's the crew all right - the Mugiwara Pirate crew, he thought chuckling. He was part of the biggest assassin group in the village called Midnight whose cruel reputation spawned from them going around and entrapping those who have done them wrong or apposed them in any way. His name was Kaito and he served as the assistant to their main leader. The little girl he'd tried to steal was selected because her mother had a bad history with him and he wished to punish her by taking her daughter away. She would have made a fine toy to if it hadn't have been for that damn pirate – but that's ok…because I found a better prize, he thought with another menacing chuckle before disappearing into the bushes.
Back on the ship, dinner was finally ready and the strawhats sat gathered in the dining roomchatting.
"I'm glad that fish didn't die," Luffy remarked to nobody in particular.
"I agree," Usopp consented.
"Only because I had to take the poor thing away from you two!!" Sanji exclaimed and
Luffy grinned. "Shishishishi," he laughed. Luffy and Usopp had accidentally killed two fish because they wanted to play with them outside the tank and they had forgotten to put it back in the water.
Sanji let out an irritated sigh and handed out seconds – fourths for Luffy. The crew continued to talk and laugh at one another's antics and jokes until all the food was gone and Luffy had eaten the pot clean. He sat back in his chair and patted his over blown belly before burping loudly.
"Oh great not again," Nami said exasperated, slapping her forehead. Zoro chuckled,
"Weak!" he said burping even louder than Luffy. Usopp joined in the burping contest and soon Chopper did to. This contest went on for another 5 minutes before Luffy won. They had had the same contest last night but Zoro had ended up winning that one. Luffy let out a victory burp and it was so loud the windows cracked. Chopper laughed so hard he had fallen out of his chair, Zoro chuckled and Usopp was amazed. Franky hung his head…this poor ship, he thought before getting up slowly and beginning to take measurements in order to repair the damaged windows. Nami slapped her forehead again and walked outside while Robin followed. Sanji made all the boys stay and gave them a lecture on how it was improper and how they had no manners. Zoro was tuning out the lecture and Luffy, Usopp and Chopper were making faces at Sanji whenever he had his back turned and then held back laughter when he looked at them again.
When the lecture was finally over, Zoro left to take his after dinner nap and the boys left laughing at the faces they had made. They went over to the side of the ship and laughed as Luffy did impersonations of Sanji and the lecture he had given them. Nami looked over and giggled slightly at how well Luffy did his impersonations. While she had found them funny, she never really laughed at them. Luffy looked over at her and saw her giggling; he smiled his signature grin and she smiled back.
"Idiot," she said quietly shaking her head and standing.
"Alright guys," Robin said standing as well, "Let's get to bed. Who's taking watch?" She was the oldest member aboard and acted like the mother of the crew, looking out for everyone.
"I will," Zoro said half awake – he always slept lightly and heard what needed to be heard.
"Alright, you heard Robin-chan. Bed," Sanji said. Luffy stuck his tongue out like a 5 year old but listened anyway.
Around 5 AM while everyone was fast asleep, Kaito snuck aboard to snoop around. He would not rush taking the girl and he was planning to get familiar with the crew first before attempting anything. If he rushed it he knew he would be killed in an instant by the captain. The whole town always talked about pirate bounties and his was high; especially for a rookie. He had heard stories about him defeating Crocodile and declared war on the world Government at Enies Lobby, talk about scary. He crept forward and spotted Zoro sleeping against the mast. Never trust a sleeping swordsman, he recalled. The last time he had made that mistake he had nearly died. He snuck past trying to be as quiet as possible and as soon as he was past Zoro and he was sure he hadn't of woken him, he let out a silent sigh of relief and continued to look around the deck. However, despite his cautiousness Zoro had heard him and opened one eye slightly, just enough to watch Kaito roam the deck, trying to find something about them.
"Can I help you?" Zoro asked standing up and putting his hand on the hilt of one of his swords.
Oh shit! "Umm…I'm sorry, I happen to stumble upon your ship and I was looking for someone and didn't see you here. I'm in desperate need of a place to stay -- my house was burned down last night and all my stuff went with it. Please sir, have mercy." Kaito said, quickly forming an alibi hoping Zoro would believe him. Zoro simply looked at him suspiciously, not sure whether he believed him or not. Zoro let out a gruff, "Wait here," before turning and going down to the men's barracks. "Luffy wake up," he called out to) his sleeping captain shaking him lightly. Luffy continued to snore. He repeated Luffy's name a little louder this time and shook him harder and still Luffy continued to snore. Zoro let out an agitated sigh. He shoved Luffy hard out of his hammock, and Luffy woke up when he hit the floor.
"Huh? What's going on?" Luffy said half asleep rubbing his eyes. Zoro, already irritated with Luffy, didn't even explain anything; he just grabbed his arm and led him on deck, half dragging him.
"Talk to him if you want to stay," Zoro huffed out nodding towards Luffy.
"Who are you??" Luffy said half asleep pointing at Kaito.
Kaito introduced himself and began his story again.
"And so you see sir I-...sir??" Kaito said poking Luffy. Luffy crashed to the floor snoring again.
"HE FELL ASLEEP!?!" Kaito said half angry, half amazed that anyone could fall asleep standing. Zoro's eye-brow twitched and he kick his captain in the side.
"OW! Damn it!" Luffy said jumping up, "What the hell Zoro!?!" he added rubbing his side where Zoro had kicked.
"Your rubber, that couldn't have hurt!" Zoro snapped irritated.
"Maybe not, but it still startled me! I was sleeping!" Luffy yelled back. Zoro growled silently and rubbed his forehead with two fingers.
"And who is that?!" Luffy asked again pointing towards Kaito who was currently torn between puzzlement and surprise. If we ever talked to our master that way he'd kill us in 2 seconds flat!
"This guy Kaito needs a place to stay because his house was burnt dow-"
"Then let him stay," Luffy said, cutting Zoro off and yawning. His little burst of energy had diminished in no time. "We have an extra bunk because you're on watch...he can sleep there." Luffy added. Zoro sighed and nodded. "Come on follow me," Luffy waved Kaito over and led him down to the barracks. He sleepily pointed out the open hammock and continued on to his own before falling asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Perfect! Their captain is an idiot – there's no way he has a high of a bounty as the towns men say, Kaito thought with glee and let out a silent chuckle before he rolled over and fell asleep in the barrack.