Ch 3. Zoro's suspicions

"WHOA!" Usopp exclaimed pulling on his rod.

"HE HAS A BIG ONE!" Chopper yelled with leaning over the railing with stars in his eyes. Arlong gave them a strange look as Usopp continued to tug and pull. Why are they so excited? It's just a fish? "I got him!" Usopp said straining against the pull of the fishing rod. He pulled one last time with all his strength and got it on deck. Chopper blinked, "You need a magnifying glass to see that little thing" the reindeer said looking closely at the small fish stifling a laugh. Arlong blinked a couple of times and began laughingso hard he fell off the edge of the railing he was sitting on. This naturally made Usopp and Chopper laugh hard as well. Sanji came around the corner to see what the uproar was about. "Ummm…." He bent down to pick up the fish which was no bigger than his thumb. "How the hell did you manage to catch this!?" Usopp stood proudly; one foot on a barrel. "I, Captain Usopp, used my powers to make it smaller, otherwise, if I were to pull it on deck as was it would have crushed this entire ship!!" and he let out an I'm-so-great laugh. Chopper grew all sparkly eyed marveling Usopp "REALLY!?" "Of course he can't!" Sanji quickly answered the gullible little deer.

Nami watched the entire thing from under her milkan tree. She laughed at them all and rolled her eyes good naturedly.I knew he was ok. Must've had some bad meat. She continued to inspect the condition of her milkans. Brook was playing a song on his violin, Zoro was of course sleeping and Robin was reading as always. She assumed Franky was in his workshop working on his weapons. Suddenly she felt like someone was behind her. She spun around to look, but no one was there. She shrugged it off, and continued to check her precious fruit. Suddenly she heard Usopp call out from below "WATCH OUT!" and she turned around just in time to duck as a discus came flying toward her right into her tree. Flames sprouted in her eyes. Her milkans were more precious to her than money. Usopp and Chopper immediately pointed to Arlong, who had no idea what was coming. She stomped over to him and without hesitating hit him in the back of the head. His neck stretched out from the impact and snapped back into place. "HEY!" Arlong snapped. "How dare you hit your captain!!"

Nami's eyes grew wide as Arlong lifted a hand to slap her. Zoro caught his hand in mid-air "Don't even think about it Luffy!" Arlong spun around to face Zoro's piercing stare. Arlong pulled his hand out of his grip "You expect me to let that winch disrespe-" He was cut short by a slap across the face from Nami. She turned and stomped to her room, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the cabin.

Franky came out of the workshop curious about all the ruckus going on"Oi what's with all the yelling?" He had come out just in time to see Zoro catch Arlong's wrist. Mugiwara…Hit Nee-chan…..?? What's going on here? Something is definitely not normal.

Nami sat on her bed tryingto cool down. "What the hell is his problem!!" She yelled throwing a pillow down. "He usually never gets mad when I hit him" She said to the air as she grabed another pillow and hugged it with her knees drawn to her chest. "Well maybe…NO! the aho deserved it!" She said bolting up on her bed. She lost her balance from the bounce and fell off. "OOF" She exclaimed as she landed on her ass with a crash. Luffy was there watching his Navigator and knowing that she felt his presence earlier he figured he could get to her somehow. He was angry that Arlong dare threaten Nami but was happy Zoro had been there to stop him. He chuckled as Nami fell; She's so clumsy sometimes. Nami stood rubbing her ass, "That hurt more than I thought it would." She walked out of her room; lunch was almost ready and Sanji hadn't seen what happened, thank god. He would have beaten Luffy to death. Sanji came out right on cue in Love-Love mode. "Robi-chwan, Nami -swan!! I have prepared a delicious lunch for you!!"

"Thank you Sanji-kun" Nami said sweetly.

"What about us?" Chopper inquired with tears in his eyes.

"I'll make an exception for Chopper" Sanji said.

"YAY!" The little reindeer exclaimed running to the dining area. Luffy sat on the roof of the kitchen drooling at the thought of Sanji's food. I could really go for some meat!! He hadn't, or rather Couldn't, eat since Arlong had forced him out of body.

Everyone was soon gathered in the dining area to eat some lunch. Sanji as always served the women and Chopper first, then the boys. "I'm so hungry I can feel my stomach growling!" Brook yelled. He lifted his shirt showing nothing but ribs and spine, "But I have no stomach! Yohohohoho skull joke!!!" All waited for Luffy's laugh but when nothing came out they got concerned. Arlong was confused but he quickly forced a laugh. That wasn't funny! Why should I laugh?? Zoro's suspicions continued to grow more and more with each hour. This isn't Luffy. I know it. He suddenly got up dragging Arlong out with him. "Hey Let me go!" Arlong protested. Ignoring his protestations, Zoro came to the main mast and held Arlong against it. "What is going on with you?" Zoro asked.

"N-nothing"

"Liar! You've been weird since last night. You don't eat like a pig anymore, you don't willing join Usopp and Chopper, You're not being loud and obnoxious screaming for meat, YOU NEARLY HIT NAMI, and now you don't laugh at the stupid skull joke! You're not Luffy."

"Yes I am see." Arlong stretched his arm out and Zoro followed it with his eyes. Suddenly, Arlong's fist went straight for Zoro's head and Zoro leaped back drawing his sword as he did. Arlong rushed for him and threw another fist which hit his mouth. Zoro flew back on the deck quicklyscramblingup to his feet with sword ready. Who are you? He thought, dodging another punch from Arlong. Arlong jumped on Zoro knocking them both over. Arlong pulled out what looked like a fish egg and forced Zoro's mouth open. No!! ZORO!! Luffy cried helplessly watching from above. Zoro struggled as Arlong shoved the fish egg down Zoro's throat. Arlong jumped off him with a big grin on his face. Zoro slowly stood up eyes blank, showing no emotion.

"Zoro?" Arlong said still smirking.

"Yes Captain?"