Ch 3: The Hound's Collar

Luffy sat down in his bed. He stared out the window and watched the rain drip down the glass. Everyone else was sitting in their beds but no one was sleeping. Robin continued to flip through one of her books but what she was looking for she could not find.

"Is it in there, Robin?" Usopp asked curious.

"No, I can't find anything about a Hound in here."

"You sure those guys just weren't drunk?" Nami wondered.

"If they were then why would Zoro storm out like he did?" Sanji stated. There was a knock on the door.

"Come in." Luffy said turning around to face everyone. The door opened a crack and Percy stuck his head inside.

"Do you mind a minute?" He asked.

"What's up?" Sanji asked wrapping his arms around his knees. Percy came into the room and closed the door after making sure no one else was around. He pulled a small stool over from the corner and sat where everyone could see him.

"I couldn't help but over hear what you guys were talking about." He said with his hands on his knees.

"Do you know anything about the Hounds?" Robin asked closing her book.

"I know exactly what they are." He began. "They're beings from Hell."

"What are you talking about?" Chopper was confused. Luffy tilted his hat down and glared at Percy from under the rim.

"You should be careful about what you say; you better not be saying that Zoro's some kind of demon." He said coldly. Percy continued but with more caution.

"Almost like ghosts they're someone that died, went to Hell, and came back to life." Luffy's glare intensified. Percy tried to ignore him, but sweet began to run down the side of his face. "Hell himself sends them back to this world to do his deeds. They wear a collar which a small chain attached." Percy used his hands to help describe the collar and chain.

"Whoa, Zoro doesn't wear any collar." Sanji said halting his explanation.

"It can't be seen by people who don't know of the Hounds."

"What do you mean?" Nami asked.

"If you don't know what a Hound is then you won't be able to see the collar or chain." He said. Nami leaned back in her bed and crossed her arms.

"This is all sounding pretty fishy. How do we know if you're telling the truth?" She questioned. Percy sighed deeply, whipping the sweet off his face.

"What kind of things do the Hounds do?" Robin asked.

"Anything Hell wants. The collar symbolizes their loyalty to Hell." Percy replied.

"Like dogs." Luffy said disgusted. Percy nodded.

"However," He added. "When they die they also go back to Hell. That's what the chain symbolizes, the fact that they are bound to Hell."

"I don't like where this is going. Sanji said irritated.

"Me neither. Are you saying that Zoro died, went to Hell, became a Hound, and when he dies again he'll just go back to Hell?" Nami said counting the events on her hand.

"I told you," Luffy got out of his bed and began to walk up to him. "I told you to watch what you said." He scowled. Percy jumped off the stool and put his hands above his head.

"Hey, I'm just speakn' the truth. It's not my fault your friend's a Hound." He quickly ran out of the room, slamming the door.

"Can you believe that guy?" Usopp gasped lying down on the bed.

"Do you think it's true, Robin?" Chopper asked looking at her with wide eyes.

"Until we have some proof I don't know…" She said.

"I don't believe one word of it." Luffy said coldly.

"Come on, you have to admit that Zoro's no saint." Nami said leaning on her elbow.

"Let's just forget about it, how's that?" Sanji said calming everyone down. He plopped back onto his pillow. "I'm going to sleep." He announced closing his eyes. Everyone followed and quickly fell asleep in their beds. However, Luffy could not for he was haunted by the idea of Zoro being a Hound. He listened to the sound of the rain and the storm outside. Slowly this symphony caused him to grow tired and later drift into slumber.

Zoro slumped farther into the couch in a desperate attempt to get away from Rose. She was sitting on one of the chairs in the room blabbering on about something Zoro had no interest in. Akio, however, listened intensely. He even made sure that he nodded at the right times or said 'yes you're right'. The whole time he was entranced by Rose's beauty and couldn't help but blush.

He's lucky that Rose isn't the brightest person in the world, or she would catch onto his little romance/stalker act… Zoro thought trying to block Rose's voice from his head. Akio glanced over at Zoro and noticed the look on his face.

He probably thinks this is torture but fear not Zoro Rose wasn't planning on staying long. However….I wished she was… He blushed even more.

"Akio, are you all right; you're not sick are you?" Rose said worryingly, noticing his red face.

"What, no; of course not!" He assured. She smiled.

"So, how are things going with you, Zoro? Kill anyone lately?" She asked smiling.

"What's that supposed to mean?" He said annoyed.

"Nothing, I'd just hate to miss out on it." She replied. Here we go; the crazy starts leaking out… Zoro thought, shivering.

"So anyway," She began again. "Huh?" She stopped and leaned in closer.

"What's wrong?" Zoro asked coldly as if she was malfunctioning. She gasped.

"Akio you—you…."

"What's wrong?" He asked worried.

"You grew your hair out longer and Zoro…you cut yours shorter!" She exclaimed.

"So?" He raised an eyebrow and leaned on the arm of the couch.

"You guys looked so cute with the same haircut!" She whined. Akio rubbed the back of his head.

"But didn't you get confused between us when we had the same haircut?" He asked gingerly.

"How can you, we have different hair colors…idiot." Zoro mumbled into the couch cushion.

"I'll have to fix that right now—" She glanced down at her watch and gasped again. "Look how late it is." She stood up and waved. "Sorry, I got to go guys." She walked over to the door and picked it up from the ground, placing it back onto its hinges. "We'll have to catch up on things another time, Zoro." She personally waved to him.

"Goodbye Rose!" Akio waved both of his hands in the air. She smiled and walked out.

"Finally…" Zoro sighed. Akio patted Zoro on the back.

"Where were we?" He asked. "Oh, yes the sake!" He pulled his out and prepared to take a sip when the door was kicked down again.

"I KNEW IT!" Rose yelled barging in.

"Eh—Rose didn't you just leave?" Akio asked confused. Zoro looked over his shoulder at her.

"GET OUT OF HERE YOU CRAZY WOMEN!" He screamed.

"You guys planned on drinking without me." She said wagging her finger at them. She stormed up to Akio and snatched the sake bottle from his hands. Without hesitation she gulped down the whole bottle in one go. Whipping her mouth with the back of her arm she broke out into laughter.

"Tonight's gonna be fun boys!" She hollered, still laughing. Akio's heart fluttered and his hands clapped together. A whole night with Rose! He thought happily. Zoro's heart grew cold. And I thought I was done with this crazy. He sighed. Someone must really hate me… Stuffing his face into the couch's arm and began sulking.