God. I'm just so glad preliminary examination is over. Anyway, I don't know but when I do multi-chaps, I prefer doing it in AU while when I do one shots, it is still in the One Piece world. I just posted my oneshot earlier. Anyway, off to the next chapter but before that, I'd like to thank the following for their reviews and the thanks extend to those who read as well as added this to their alert list or faved it. To the following reviewers, thanks: AquaGekko23, yuMeNami, thormac, fmdevil, Jamian the Professor, Kyleen Ayanami, missDluvsIchigo0493 and Echo Uchiha.
Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Oda owns One Piece.
Just a few days ago, Vivi came home, finally. And now, she had been taking care of her wedding preparations though most of the job is Caimie's, what with her being an established wedding coordinator across the nation. Many had always availed of her services, making sure that their weddings are perfectly executed. And it's Caimie's job to make sure it goes out well.
That's what she's doing now, helping Vivi with every bit of a detail, giving her some suggestions and listening to Vivi's suggestion too. The two worked in harmony. Nami sighed and glanced at Robin who was busy reading a book. "How's it going with your family?" she asked. Robin had arrived yesterday and Nami would be expecting some of her friends to arrive later. After all, the wedding is in about two weeks from now. Too soon for preparations but Caimie can pull it off. She can work wonders if she wanted to.
"Well and good…the Galley-La workers are now preparing everything necessary for our next dig next month. It was fortunate that Vivi set her wedding before we take off, so I can be able to attend," Robin answered with her usual calm and closed the book in front of her before crossing her legs and stared at Nami. "Aren't you feeling afraid being the only one left?"
Nami chuckled. "Why would I be?"
With her all-knowing smile, Robin shrugged carelessly. "It's lonely being all by yourself you know."
The orange-haired leaned on her chair and shook her head only once. "You've managed to be by yourself for most of your life, if you were able to do that, don't you think I can too?"
At the witty remark, Robin once again only smiled. "You seriously need to find someone to share your life with. I mean come on, you've prioritized "getting rich" as your primary goal. You've gone and achieved that. You managed to escape the life you have hated so much. It's time you give yourself a break. It's not all about careers and promotions."
Nami does not know if what Robin said had somehow affected her in some way. Maybe she did. After all, she really did want to get rich when she was younger. And because of that desire, she was able to save her and Nojiko from a sorry life and made a name for herself in the process. But by doing so, she had trampled on some people – something which she only regretted now.
Not bothering to glance at her, knowing what she already expect to see, Robin continued. "You've dated a lot of guys but it never worked out. Maybe because they could not catch up with your pace."
Nami sighed and only listened, knowing all Robin said were true and nowhere near lies. And that's why she loved Robin for always being so frank and direct.
"Luffy called and said they'd be arriving this anytime," Vivi came and announced Luffy's arrival. Robin frowned a little.
"Luffy?" she asked. "Is that his name?"
Vivi pulled a seat and sat down while waving at Caimie to join them. "Yes."
"Are we referring to the same Luffy? I happen to know one interesting guy, Monkey D. Luffy," she said with amusement while Vivi smiled even more.
"You know him?" Nami asked.
"In passing. I've met him once or twice," she had an odd smile before shaking her head. "He's really a funny man, managing to make your day as lively as possible."
Vivi nodded. "Yep. That's what makes him Luffy I supposed."
Nami's mobile rang so she excused herself after seeing it was her client calling. Robin suddenly smiled broadly and grinned at Vivi. "Say, Vivi, he has a best friend right? And still single."
"You mean Zoro or Usopp?" Vivi asked though she could already read what's running through Robin's mind.
"I was thinking more of Zoro-san," she mused. "But Long-Nose-kun would also make a good match."
Before Vivi answered, she turned to Robin. "You know them?" she asked.
Her friend nodded. "Six to seven years ago, I met the three of them and enjoyed their company. They're quite interesting fellows. I worry about Nami so I am thinking of hooking her up with one of those."
Vivi grinned. "Well, that's a wonderful idea. Though we have yet to confirm about Zoro's relationship first. He's too secretive about his private life, Luffy mentioned it once. He doesn't seem to trust so easily."
Robin nodded and reached for her book once more when she saw Nami returning to them. "In the meantime, let us keep it to ourselves first."
"Guys, I'd be back later this afternoon. I need to meet with my client today," she said while rolling her eyes. "I told the man I'm busy but he's been demanding too much and threatened to cancel the contract if I don't give in to his demands."
"Which are?"
"Change of design, change of this and that…he's like a woman, honestly, unable to decide on something definite," she grabbed her bag and kissed their cheeks before she went towards Caimie and kissed her as well.
Vivi watched her go then turned to Robin. "I certainly agree. I worry too about her."
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"Yohohoho, I finally got the chance to step foot here," Brook said heartily as they stood at the airport. Luffy was busy munching on some hamburger he grabbed the moment they were out. Zoro yawned and scratched his head.
"Zoro…" Usopp started in a sleepy voice, his eyes still dazed.
"Hmm…"
"Don't tell me we are going to stay where Luffy stays," he groused, still half-asleep. Zoro stretched and managed to give the long-nose a rap in the head to wake him up. "Ouch! What was that for!" he cried out, suddenly wide awake while holding his head.
"Wake up already, oh great captain Usopp-sama," Zoro said in mock tone before turning to his other companions whom Luffy managed to drag with him.
"Aren't we forgetting someone?" Brook suddenly reminded them and Zoro immediately sought for them amidst the crowd before he slapped his forehead and yanked Usopp's collar.
"Hey! That's no way to treat a captain. I'm going to call for my lawyer," Usopp cried out while Zoro literally dragged him back to the airport where they left two of their companions. "What's the deal?" Usopp asked.
"You idiot! You were sitting beside Chopper and you forgot to even wake him up!" Zoro chided and Usopp's eyes widened.
"W-What? Chopper is still in there?"
They both stopped. Or rather, Zoro stopped as he saw two figures coming towards them, one obviously glowering in anger right now.
"Just how could the four of you even manage to get out without bothering rousing your companions?" Perona hissed, her face red in anger.
Zoro winced. It's rare to see his secretary mad and when she is real angry, her superior breeding comes out. Not bothering to listen to their explanation, she turned to Usopp and pointed at some of the bags they have not retrieved.
"Usopp, you carry those things," she ordered and turned to Chopper. "Let's go Chopper."
Said young intern who was working as a forensic expert nodded, glad not to be at the receiving end of Perona's wrath. Usopp however, complained.
"Hey, how come you're ordering me around? Why not let Zoro carry your things seeing as he too forgot to wake you up," he said and smirked at his pal who simply raised his brow.
"I'm her boss and she can't order me around."
Usopp blinked. "Then she can't be doing this to me either," he complained though he started pulling the trolley anyway. "I'm also a boss at the company."
"Tell that to her and not me," Zoro grunted as they followed both Perona and Chopper who totally ignored them.
"She seriously is pissed off and we have to deal with her superior breeding for the next few days to pacify her," Usopp grumbled and glared at Zoro. "Why'd you have to bring her anyway? You two always fought like cats and dogs."
Zoro glanced at him. "She needed it. Besides, she had been working her ass off for the past few days to hasten up my case. She never planned to come here in the first place though," he admitted and continued walking on. "I forced her to come."
"Eh?"
"Perona is dealing with her own problems by herself even though she is not telling. I ought to give her a break so I dragged her along," he answered as they saw the group finally waiting for them. Usopp stopped for a moment and studied his usually quiet friend.
"Oi, Zoro, is she your girlfriend?" he asked loudly for the moss head to hear.
But the long-nosed never got a definite answer because Zoro only smirked at him and he seriously does not know what that smirk meant. He saw a car parking in front of Luffy and Vivi stepped down.
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Zoro tried to keep his eyes open as he saw Vivi stepping down from the car and heard Luffy calling her name out as if the one he is calling for is a very, very distant away.
"Vivi!" Luffy cried out her name happily like a child who had found his lost toy. Thankfully, Perona had the sense to hit Luffy's head as they are now starting to attract too much attention with Luffy's yelling.
He stood a distance away for a full minute, giving room for Vivi and Luffy to say their hellos before he finally approached them again. This time, Usopp caught up with him. Vivi turned to them and smiled widely.
"Zoron-san, Usopp-san," she greeted warmly.
"Vivi, you are such a savior," Usopp cried as her driver took their baggage and locked it up at the van.
The blue-haired chuckled at the usual antics from the small group. Leading them towards the van, she turned to them. "Oh by the way, I'd like you to meet some friends. We were busy preparing the house when you called that you've landed," she said as a girl with green hair waved at them.
Luffy immediately turned to Zoro and Zoro had to groan, knowing what was coming. "Zoro, is she a relative?"
"Can't you just get off my back for a minute Luffy and leave me in peace, I want to continue my sleep," he grumbled and stopped when he saw another woman shifting from her seat to give room for them. "Oh? It's Robin," he said in casual tone.
Usopp's and Luffy's heads perked up and threw themselves at the raven-haired woman who was chuckling. "Robin!"
Palming his face, Zoro shook his head as he stood beside Perona and Chopper and Brook. "Seriously, when do you two grow up," he asked and yawned once more. He turned to his companions and shoved them in. "Get in. I'll follow ahead."
"Eh? Where are you going, Zoro?" Luffy asked and tilted his head to glance at him. Before he could even speak, Zoro gave him a stern glance.
"No you are not coming," he declared. "I just need you to send me the address then I'll follow as soon as I finish something," he said seriously. He raised his hand and turned on his heel. Luffy was making faces while watching his friend leave just like that. But then again, that's Zoro. He grinned and finally started chatting with them, telling them of some good stories while the ladies could not help but enjoy themselves.
Usopp looked around and his eyes widened. "Eh? Where is Perona?" he asked as the van already drove away.
"Perona?" Caimie asked. "Oh, that pretty girl? I thought I saw her follow the guy."
Robin turned to Luffy. "Are they dating?"
"Who?"
"Zoro and Perona?" she asked. Luffy shrugged.
"Nah. As far as I know, Perona is just a close friend to Zoro. She understood him at a level no other female was able to," he said and gave Robin a regretful smile.
Robin blinked and nodded. She made a mental note to talk to Zoro about it.
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"I thought I told you to follow them?" Zoro asked when he sensed her following him around, not bothering to talk to him and simply just being there. He stopped to let her catch up to him and when she did, they started walking once more.
"Is your place near here?" she asked, knowing what he wanted to do.
"No. It takes a train ride."
She nodded and fell silent and that's one of the things he appreciated about her. Though they always argue about trivial things, Perona knew when to ask and when to remain silent. But what's constant about her is her presence, always there as a friend. He told no one about his past except her and Luffy. Usopp only managed to catch up through bits and pieces he was able to deduce and Chopper does not know yet. In exchange, Zoro also knew Perona's secret, her troubles and her desires. While most in the company took them as a couple, the two never denied nor confirmed it, leaving the people to assume what they always wanted to assume. For Zoro, Perona is the only one who he trusted among the female species. Not that he is cynical towards women in general. He just didn't interact well with them, his distrust always coming first before he could even get to know one better.
She broke the silence after ten minutes of walking without talking at all. "How long have you been gone here?" she asked with curiosity.
"I moved to France when I was fifteen after he came to take me with him," he said. "I'd like to go to the dojo and see if things are still the same."
She cast him a glance. "Sorry if I tagged along even though you never wanted a company," she said casually and looked ahead.
"Nah."
He watched as she suddenly ran ahead of him and went towards the train station with so much glee, like a child. A small grin broke his lips as he saw her wave at him excitedly, calling it out his name. He met her when he was still starting on his career as a lawyer, a troubled woman who seemed so lost. It was one rainy night when he went home late, after he finished digesting a case with his mentor, Rayleigh, a good friend of Mihawk. He knew when one is sane enough to keep herself alive or when one lost her mind and decided to jump down. That was what Perona was about to do – about to commit suicide and had he been a little late, that girl who could have so many different personas would have died.
It was two years later when he saw her again, this time, she was about to leave from the social gathering he and Luffy were forced to attend to. That was where he learned her name is Perona, the daughter of a shipping magnate and the owner of a big-time fashion company. To his surprise and to Luffy's as well, she suddenly volunteered to work under him, wanting to get away so very much from the life she had always led. And at the same time, wanting to get away from the people who were always after her life.
Even until now, Perona is yet to find out who had tried attempting to kidnap her many times. And that's one reason he had dragged her with him, to lead her away, swearing to protect her. Well, he only swore that to himself anyway. She does not need to know.
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Vivi's friends were clearly amused as they listen to Luffy telling the more and more stories as they all gathered at the wide living room of the Nefertari. It was decided that it is an opportune moment for everyone else to meet each other, seeing as Vivi's friends have finally arrived.
Nami stared with a sweat drop. She definitely had nothing to say…except that she's speechless. When Vivi told her about him, she was expecting to see a rather mature guy. But this one…he is…weird to put it simply. But she will admit how he had the knack to make everyone else laugh.
"Ah, so you're Nami," Luffy said to her when she stepped into the room.
"Uh…yes."
He grinned and extended his hands. "I'm Luffy. Vivi said so much about you," he said heartily as the others grinned.
She glanced at Vivi who was winking at her. Perhaps she really might like this guy for her friend. "I'm sure she did," she said and finally joined the others as the servants were still preparing for their dinner.
"Ah, Nami-swan!" a cheerful voice came from the man who just emerged from the kitchen and Kaya giggled at her seat while Nami looked up with a squeal and she ran to him with a bone-crushing hug.
"Sanji-kun!" she said in delight as Sanji returned the hug affectionately. Even though he was married to Kaya and even though he loves Kaya, he wouldn't deny and his wife knew it, that Nami holds a special spot in his heart.
"My lovely Nami-swan has been blooming yearly," he said comically while the ladies giggled at their seats. Name gave the blond guy a kiss on the cheek before they both joined the others. Nami looked around and frowned.
"Eh? You did not bring my godchild with you?" she asked, hoping to see the cute little girl who was named after her, courtesy of Sanji and Kaya.
Sanji wrapped his arms around her shoulder in a good-natured way while Kaya chuckled. "Sorry but young Nami is quite a handful. Merry volunteered to look after him until we get back tomorrow," she said.
Nami made a face. Then to everyone's surprise, Luffy jumped up from his seat and cried out. "Zoro!" he said and went towards the newly arrived people. Zoro sidestepped and Luffy hit the door while Perona sniggered at him.
Slowly, Nami tilted her head when she heard that one name – a name she never forgot and remained buried in her memories. She wasn't aware how she trembled and stiffened until Sanji grasped her shoulder gently, his eyes questioning her when she looked at him.
When she finally shifted her gaze back, she had to swallow hard. There he stood in all his glory – Roronoa Zoro. He wasn't paying attention to her or to the others except to Vivi's fiancé whom he is now hitting in the head, chiding him to act like his age. Beside him stood a beautiful pink-haired woman who was quite enjoying giving Luffy a smirk.
"Yohoho, you sure took your time going around," Brook said with a good laugh. "Why, Perona, you've forgotten your cute umbrella," he said, raising her umbrella for Perona to see.
Said woman scratched her forehead. "Yeah. I did," she said before turning to Luffy and Zoro who started throwing words back at each other, not one wanting to yield and no one even has any idea what they were suddenly talking about.
Rapping their heads, she placed her hands on her hips. "Will you two shut the hell up and be aware of your surroundings?" she growled. "This isn't your office where the two of you can keep arguing about every trivial thing that came to mind."
Zoro tilted his head towards the amused audience then shrugged while Luffy scratched his head before scrunching his nose. "Shishishi…"
Vivi walked towards Perona and smiled warmly. "Really, you have to teach me how you do that. I'd certainly like to use it against them at other times," she said. "Come, I'll introduce you to the rest," she pulled Perona while Zoro stood where he was left, his eyes finally boring on the orange-haired woman who looked like she had seen a ghost. Then again, he couldn't blame her.
He patted Luffy's shoulder and walked towards the group. He stopped in front of Nami, not once showing a hint of surprise for seeing her there unlike Nami who was suddenly feeling cold. She isn't expecting her meeting with him to be this way…
That he would still grin at her like he is doing now, raising his hand a fraction. "Yo Nami. Been a long time," he greeted sincerely while Nami only gaped at him. Robin shared a look with Vivi, confused at how the two knew each other.
Feeling a gentle tug on her shoulder, she glanced at Sanji and smiled thankfully, for bringing her back from her momentary stupor. She cleared her throat, thankful that the others are not paying attention to them but to Perona who was now suddenly arguing against Luffy. How the hell did he get there so fast?
When she did not even attempt to reply, Zoro shook his head once and ruffled her orange locks. "Good to see you're doing fine," he said in that genuinely casual voice again, if that's even possible, before he finally joined the others. She watched, her mind still muddled to process what just happened.
"So…are you just going to stand there?" Vivi asked Nami and Sanji. It would seem that the awkwardness just came from Nami's part while Zoro acted just like himself. At that moment, Nami wanted to suddenly bring back the old times as she watched how Zoro seemed to enjoy himself around the pink-haired.
Because by all the gods, when they were fifteen, she dumped him, trampled over his love for her. And after seeing him now, perhaps the gods had hated her enough to never give her a good man to settle down with.
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