Ch 2: The Hound in the Storm

Percy sighed deeply. "Who the hell's gonna pay for this?" He turned to Nami who shuddered.

"Oh no…I'm not paying another cent to you."

"I don't think you want to be talking like that to the person who's given' yea a place to stay. Besides, it was your little friend who did this." He looked back at the destroyed tables and wall.

"Robin," Chopper tugged on her pant leg. "Shouldn't we be out looking for Zoro?"

"You'd be insane to go out in this weather." A man at the bar commented. His back was turned but he had on a long, black coat with dark jeans and shoes.

"Luffy," Chopper turned to him. Luffy was stuffing his face full of food at the moment. "Luffy, aren't you worried?" He finished his plate and swallowed.

"I honestly have no idea what's going on, but I do know that I'm hungry." He pulled over another plate. Chopper pouted.

"Listen, why don't you guys go up to your rooms; I'm sure your friend is fine. He didn't look like someone who could be taken care of too easily." Percy said smiling.

"And the damage costs?" Nami asked hopeful. Percy sighed again. He whipped his face with his giant hands.

"Well…we'll split or something…" Nami cheered. The man at the bar stood up and walked towards the door. He kept his face hidden the whole time. He put his hand on the door knob.

"Didn't you just say that it 'would be insane to go out in this weather'?" Usopp questioned. The man grinned.

"Well then, maybe I am insane." He opened the door. A strong gust of rain and wind shot into the bar. He quickly closed the door behind him.

Zoro walked down the streets; the rain felt like icy needles against the skin. Gusts of wind blew the rain sideways and almost knocked him over. Meandering through the deserted streets he stumbled over the sidewalk but caught himself with the streetlamp. A man walked up behind him. He wore a long, black coat with dark jeans and shoes.

"What do you want?" Zoro asked coldly, staring at the ground. Small water droplets dripped down his face almost like tears.

"Don't be so mean. It's been forever since we've seen each other." The man smiled. Zoro's eyes widened and he turned around.

"Akio?"

"Yo, what've you been up to?" Akio waved. He didn't know what t say. Akio slid his hands into his pockets. "Why don't we come back to my place and talk there?"

"That's fine." Zoro followed him down the street, shocked to see him. Akio walked quickly through the storm moving from street to street. The visibility was low so Zoro had to stay right behind him or else he would've lost him. Akio suddenly stopped at an average building and opened the door. Zoro followed him in and closed it behind them. The two were in an empty lobby; the rain outside sounded muffled. Puddles formed at their feet. The lobby was dimly lit and there was hardly any furniture or decorations in it.

"Over here." Akio lead him over to a flight of stairs. The two walked up to the third floor. The stairs were even darker than the lobby. The third floor, much like all the others had old, wooden flooring that creaked under any weight. Akio opened the door to his room and allowed Zoro to enter first. He silently closed the door and turned on the light. The apartment was small. It had one bedroom, a tiny bathroom, a slightly larger kitchen next to it, and a living room in the middle. There was a couch in the living room and a small table with a few chairs.

There were two windows in the living room and you could see the rain tapping against the glass. Akio took off his coat and hung it up on a coat rack by the door. Zoro turned around to look at him in the light. He had Luffy's black hair and it was slightly longer than Zoro's. His eyes were a navy blue. He wore a grey t-shirt that was tight against his brawny muscles; a built much like Zoro's.

"You haven't changed at all." Zoro chuckled. Akio smiled.

"Neither have you." The two sat down on the couch. "So, I hear you're a pirate."

"Yeah,"

"Your friends seemed pretty lively."

"You were at the bar?"

"Yeah,"

"Then you saw…"

"Yeah, but it doesn't matter." Akio smiled and turned to Zoro but saw his eyes gazing into the distance. His shoulders were slumped. Over all he looked quite morose. "Don't let what those people said get to you." Zoro ignored him. Akio put his hand on his shoulder forcing them to look eye-to-eye. "I said don't worry about it."

"How can we not?" Zoro said emotionally. "We can't keep running, Akio."

"We're not running." He said sternly trying to drill the words into Zoro's thick head. "We're not running from anything." He said again.

"How can you ignore what happened?" Zoro pulled himself away.

"I don't ignore it!" Akio snapped back, his eyes flashed the crimson red. He flinched and quickly calmed himself down. "Zoro…don't—just don't worry about it." He shook his head. Zoro turned his back to him and stared out the window, crossing his arms. "Is it them? Your nakama?" Akio asked.

"What makes you think that?" He growled after a pause. Akio jolted up from the couch.

"I thought we promised to not get attached to anyone to make this easier on ourselves." He yelled.

"What makes you think I'm attached to them? Huh?"

"Well, they're your nakama—"

"They know nothing about me; I might as well be a stranger to them."

"Then…they don't know?" Akio said gingerly.

"Of course not!" Zoro spun around. "Why the hell would I tell them?" He took a deep breath. "How can you tell someone…" There was a moment of silence. Akio broke out in a warm smile. He walked over and patted Zoro on the back.

"Come on, how long as it been? Four, five years?"

"Longer." Zoro grinned.

"LONGER?" He gasped sarcastically. "Then, this reunion calls for a celebration!" He exclaimed spinning in circles with his arms flailing. Zoro laughed at his childishness.

"You haven't changed at all." He said regaining his breath. Akio smiled at the statement.

"Does that mean you'll stay awhile?"

"Of course!" Zoro hollered, slumping back down onto the couch.

"Well then, excuse me while I go retrieve the drinks." Akio ran off into the kitchen. He returned with some sake. Zoro accepted it happily and immediately took a long drink. "So," Akio sighed, sitting down next to him. "What's life like a pirate?" Zoro took another long gulp.

"Not bad; you get to see a lot of places; do a lot of things. Sailing's a pain though…" He sighed.

"Not meant for the sea?" Akio wondered.

"I remember that the only thing I wanted to see in that god forsaken desert was water, but the ocean…now that's way too much water." Akio grinned.

"I'm happy just looking at it from the island." He said.

"So, your turn, how'd you get here?"

"At first I was just wandering around—bounty hunting; I heard that's what you were doing for awhile before turning to the dark side and becoming a pirate."

"Compared to there, a pirate is a saint!"

"Eventually I just ended up here and decided to stay." He finished.

"What was it really?" Zoro said suspicious.

"That's the truth!" Akio gasped, shocked by his lack of trust. Zoro just stared at him. "Uh—fine…Rose is here too." Akio blushed at the thought of her.

"Oh hell no!" Zoro slapped his forehead. "Just promise me that you didn't stalk her here."

"It was fate…I promise." He raised his hand.

"You're still in love with that crazy woman?" Zoro laughed.

"Shut up…" He grew even redder. "I-I'm sorry." He said after a while.

"About what?" They both heard footsteps outside. Zoro turned to Akio worryingly. "No…don't tell me." Akio sheepishly sunk into the couch.

"I invited her here…I'm sorry, I didn't know you were coming…" He apologized sincerely. The footsteps grew louder and stopped at the door. Suddenly the door was violently kicked open and a girl around the age of 18 stood in the doorway. Her dark green hair fell down to her waist. She wore a black mini skirt, with a purple tank top. She blinked her black eyes a few times and stared blankly into the room. Zoro desperately tried to hide behind Akio's back.

"He-he, hey Rose." Akio waved half-heartedly. She threw her hands into the air and smiled.

"Zoro! Whatcha doin' here!"