2.
RUFY, THE GUY WITH THE STRAW HAT
When Roronoa Zoro had been taken away and the calm came back in the inn, Jane Camille finished her bottle of rum, cast some coins on the counter and headed to the exit. The innkeepr told her "You gave me more money than you should have."
"I'm paying for the Pirate Hunter too." The young woman was astonished: usually pirates scrounged their meals and drinks, she had paid even for an enemy! The 22-year-old opened the door and was about to get out on the road, when once again the innkeeper stopped her "Wait, hadn't you said you wanted to spend the night here?"
"Yes, but I doubt you want a criminal under your same roof."
"I am the only one who heard who you are. I won't tell anybody. You saved my daughter too."
This time was Jane Camille the one surprised "Well thank you then. How much I owe you?"
"You will pay when you get away, like any normal customer. Here's the key to your room, the third on the right, first floor. Rica will bring a bottle of rum: it's on the house."
Five days later Jane Camille stopped in front of the local Marine Headquarter's gate, wrapped in a yellow cloak. It was midday, the hottest hour of the day. In the middle of the courtyard, the Pirate Hunter was tied to a pole, unconscious. She thought "That baka was thinking to be able to stand for a month!" That thought had troubled her for days: why had he been so stupid to make such an agreement? How can you possibly endure for a month without eating and drinking? She smiled "I can't really say I've never met someone like him before..." Unfortunately that someone was a million miles away now. The grin on her face vanished and she ran away from the gate in the same silent way she had come.
It was late night when Roronoa Zoro was woken by a noise in front of him. Exhausted from the weariness, the hunger and the thirst, he glimpsed somebody in front of him, but he couldn't understand who they were in the darkness. It was a cloaked figure, completely still. He thought "Perfect, I'm having mirages in the middle of the night!" But the person was real, because the figure moved and approached him. They put something on the ground, Zoro heard a slight water slosh and then felt cold water streaming down his neck and back. He asked, with hoarse voice "Who are you? Why are you helping me? I can do it even without nobody's help!"
"Yes, of course and I'm more saint than a nun!" That voice...It couldn't be! He dared asking "Young Bride?"
"Could you stop calling me like that? I told you I preder my name, Pirate Hunter!"
"I like my epithet. Anyway, what the hell are you doing? Are you out of your mind? Why are you helping me? Do you know that, as soon as I get out of here, I'll hand you over to the Marine?"
"The same Marine that arrested you?"
"I made a deal, an exchange, that's why I've been arrested."
"And you're truly convinced that that spoiled dupe will keep his word?"
"I trust more his word than a pirate's word."
"Not all pirates are the same. I thought you had learned it, considering your occupation."
"Oh right, some of them go help their enemies in the middle of the night for pure masochism."
"It's not for masochism. I just want you to get out alive from here to fight with me."
"That's exactly what I mean to do!"
"I appreciate the fact that you're full of good will, bit don't think that will satisfy your hunger or thirst. Open your mouth, I'll squeeze some fresh water in it."
"Go away!"
"Don't make me get tough with you..."
"You're ridiculous!" He closed his mouth on the rebound. Jane Camille sighed, punched him softly on his stomach and forced him to open his mouth, squeezing the water as she has said "Was it that hard? I've brought some rice croquette too."
"I'm not hungry." But smelling their delicious scent his stomach mumbled loud.
Camille raised an eyebrow "Do I have to do as I did for the water?"
"What a nagging girl!"
"What a pigheaded guy!" Zoro opened his mouth, vexed, Camille raised gently his chin and brought the rice to his lips. Feeling her touch on his face, the Pirate Hunter froze and she noticed "Am I hurting your neck?"
"No, it's nothing. I'm just a bit stiff." It was an excuse: he had been surprised by the light touch of his 'enemy'. In a few seconds he devoured all the rice. The girl made him drink a bit more, then picked up the bucket she had put down on the ground and turned around, heading to the gate "Don't worry, I'm not expecting a thank you from you. I'll see you tomorrow, I won't accept any objection." Zoro watched her leaving, climbing gracefully up the gate, casting a glance towards him, jumping down the gate and disappearing, running in the darkness. She moved like a cat. Half subconsciously he murmured "Thanks..."
Jane Camille went to Zoro every night. He complained everytime, but she came back anyway and in the end he was thankful to her, for keeping him alive and quite in strenght for when they would have finally freed him.
A month went by, then other two weeks, but nobody intended to release him. One night Camille told him "What had I told you? They won't let you go. And then people speak evil of us pirates!"
"I'm strong, I could endure here other 3 months."
"Thanks to me, even if you'll never admit it. But I can't stay here forever for you."
"Then go! I'm not the one who holds you here!" The girl didn't answer and stayed silent for the rest of the time she spent by him. When she left, she didn't even wish him goodbye. She didn't come to him the day after, nor the following. Perhaps she was really gone...
One afternoon two guys peeped out the courtyard's wall: one was pink-haired and the other was wearing a straw hat. Zoro addressed them, annoyed "Oi you two! What are you staring at? Go away!" A ladder appeared next to them: it was the innkeeper's daughter, who climbed over the wall and approached, even if the pink-haired guy was telling her it would have been too dangerous. The girl had brought him two rice croquettes: probably she had come to know that Jane Camille had gone away and had decided to help him herself. Zoro tried to tell her in the kindest way possible "Do you know that you're risking your life? Go away before someone notices you!"
"But you haven't eaten for days, poor thing! It's the first time I cook, but I made them with love, I hope you like them!"
"I'm not hungry, go away! I don't need your help!" The inner gate opened up and a group of marines approached them. Helmeppo was with them. After boasting like he always used to do, he ordered to throw the girl over the wall, as punishment for entering there without permission. A marine, even if reluctantly, obeyed and Rica was thrown over the wall. She closed her eyes, scared, to avoid seeing the impact with the ground, but she fell on something soft. She opened her eyes and found herself in the arms of the guy with the straw hat "Thank you very much, you saved me!"
"Oh no problem, little one!"
A female voice exclaimed "Rica! My goodness, are you ok?"
The girl looked in the voice's direction and her mouth dropped open "Milly!" She knew she wouldn't have gone without saying goodbye! "I'm great, he grabbed me!"
Jane Camille looked at the guy "Thanks for catching her in time. If you follow me at the inn, I'll stand you a drink!"
He shook his head "Oh never mind! I wanted something to eat anyway."
"I'll invite you to lunch then! Anyway, my name is Camille."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Rufy." The girl winced: had she got it right? Rufy? "How many people in the world will have the same name? It can't be that Rufy! But that straw hat..." Buried in her thoughts, she hadn't noticed that Rufy had climbed over the wall and was now talking with the Pirate Hunter. He stayed there for a while, then came back to them and with Kobi, the pink-haired guy who had introduced himself in the meantime, they all went to the inn for lunch.
While eating, Kobi asked "Is Zoro really that cruel as they say?"
Rufy, with his mouth full of meat, answered "He begged me to make him eat the rice croquettes the blonde had stepped onto."
Rica was enthusiastic "Really? Aww he is so good! He sacrificed himself for my mum and me..." And she told them all the story. Half an hour later, Helmeppo entered the inn with his bodyguards "You know what, people? I was bored, so I've decided to have Roronoa Zoro shot tomorrow." He burst in an evil laughter. Camille stood up, furious, but Rufy was faster than her and punched Helmeppo in the face. He would have continued, if Camille hadn't told him to calm down. He obeyed, but declared "I have no more doubts: I want Zoro to join my crew!"
The girl laughed "Rufy, he is a Pirate Hunter, I don't think he's interested in becoming an outlaw."
"I'll convince him at any cost!"
Zoro was keeping his eyes closed, under the burning sun, remembering his childhood, when he noticed he wasn't alone anymore. He opened his eyes and saw Jane Camille and the guy with the straw hat standing in front of him "Oh no, please, not you two again! What the hell do you want now?"
Rufy answered "I came here to save you, so you'll be able to become one of my men!"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm looking for smart people to form a pirate crew."
"And you think I'll become a pirate? Forget it!"
Camille shrugged, grinning "What had I told you, Rufy? He hates pirates!"
Rufy asked him "Why is that so?"
"They're human waste, worse than animals, the most despicable people in the world!"
"You don't seem much better: I've heard you're a merciless pirate hunter, is it true?
"I don't care what people think of me, I've never done something I regret. I will pass this test and fulfil my dream at any cost!"
"I see. But I've already decided: you'll enter my crew!" Jane Camille burst into laughter, while Zoro screamed, angry "YOU CANNOT DECIDE FOR ME!"
"You're a good swordsman, right?"
"I am, but Morgan's son confiscated my sword."
"I'll fetch it if you accept my offer."
"BLACKMAILER!"
Rufy ran away, smiling "Gomu gomu no...Rocket!" His arms stretched out in front of their wide eyes. Camille was appalled "My goodness, it's that Rufy! Devil's Fruits are unique, only he can have eaten the one that turns your body into rubber."
