AN: CHAPTER TIIIIIIIIIIIME! Was not expecting to get one up so soonish. Anyway, I'm not very happy with this chapter, but then again, I never am. Baha :D Now I'm out of words...
Just fyi, I still own nothing. It makes me a very sad lady.


Everyone, pirate and Marine alike, turned towards the new voice, each with their own motif. On all seven of the Strawhat's faces was etched a look of curiosity, while the Marines simply seemed to regard it with a hateful respect.

"I said 'What the hell is going on', now someone better answer me." The owner of the voice was hiding in the shadows of an alley way, so he could not be seen clearly, but by the silhouette, one could tell that it was a young man, either in his late teens or early twenties.

His voice was light, yet it sounded bored and angry all at the same time.

"Captain!" one of the Marines said, "We weren't expecting you this soon! Weren't you patrolling on the other side of town?"

"That doesn't answer my question, sailor."

"Right, sorry sir. Well, you see, we caught sight of these fugitives here, we gave chase…"

"And?"

As the two officials continued their conversation, the pirate crew watched, commenting quietly amongst themselves.

"Is anyone else getting a way too familiar vibe here?"

"Aye, Usopp, I am. I don't like this." Zoro said absentmindedly.

A groan brought them all back to the argument in front of them.

"Alright. I get it. You were doing your job and blah blah now I'm here. Let's see what we got."

They could see the outline of his head shift to the crew's direction, then, he paused.

"This is what you guys called me down here for?"

The Marines looked a little worried now; if they're superior wasn't angry before, he definitely was now.

"You're all in so much trouble! I believe your orders were to let these specific pirates go."

"B-but…"

"Tell me, Lieutenant, what part of that was so hard to understand?"

The Marine deflated, "Nothing, sir. Forgive me for disobeying."

Ignoring the apology, the officer turned his attention to Zoro, "You, why are you here?"

The swordsman hesitated.

"Fine, don't answer me. Be a bastard."

Something in the other fellow's pouting tone made something inside Zoro ease, like he could tell him without getting them into too much trouble, "If you must know, we're looking for our own captain. He's run off."

"I see…," he seemed to falter, "All of you, go away."

Zoro knew that this man knew something, but not wanting to push their good luck further, ordered his crew to retreat.

They'd have another chance, he was sure of it.

As everyone scattered, the Marine Captain had one more thing to say.

"Oi! Strawhats!"

The pirates in question stared at the figure, refusing to say another word.

The young man sighed, "Just know that a deal has been struck in your favor. You've all been pardoned. Don't screw it up."

Then, he retreated into the shadows.

"How odd," Robin said airily.

"You're telling me, sis."

Cautiously, they made their way back to the ship. It was a long journey, with the town being far inland, and it was near dusk when they reached the Thousand Sunny.

It was obvious that everyone was unraveled by the day, but still Sanji offered dinner, and never being a group to pass on a meal, the others obliged.

They followed the chef to the galley lazily. As they sat down to eat, Nami couldn't help but let out a cry of anguish.

"I really thought we could get him this time!" she slammed her head into the table, "What if we never find Luffy?"

"Melorine~! Don't worry about that idiot! Here, have some more stew~!"

Though she accepted the food, the red head did nothing to acknowledge her friend's advances.

Thus, the Mugiwara No Kaizuko had yet another uneventful meal. It was odd how something as simple as having to protect your food from rubbery fingers made something so mundane seem so special.

Sometime later, with even less grace then when they had gotten there, the crew filed from the galley to retire to bed. They stopped however, when a familiar shadow greeted them on deck.

"You're not going to find him, you know."

It was the young Marine Captain from earlier.

Usopp put on his bravest face and stared the officer down, "What are you doing here?"

A sigh, "Calm down."

Zoro stepped forward, remembering that he was technically captain and Luffy, wherever he was, would have his hide if this man got to his nakama.

"Why should we? Just because you let us go one time? And what do you mean 'you're not going to find him'? What do you know?"

The Marine groaned, "You ask too many questions. I already told you that you were pardoned, baka. Why would I come here just to arrest you?"

"Answer me! What. Do. You. Know?"

"I know you aren't going to find your captain."

The entire crew was livid by this point. How dare some upstart Marine brat talk to them like that!

Sanji fell in line beside Zoro, glaring.

"What have you done to Luffy?"

The boy shifted, "What makes you think I did anything?"

"Because you've given us every reason too."

The rest of the Strawhat's nodded in the dark, but the Marine wasn't deterred; instead, he laughed.

"Might I ask what's so funny?" Robin asked. She did not like the sound of their opponent's laugh.

It was too familiar, but it was also sad. Almost like a dear, heartbroken, friend.

Finally, the Marine calmed down enough to answer without choking, "He and I had a…talk, of course. But I didn't doanything to Mugiwara."

"Spit it out already!" someone yelled.

"Know why your captain won't be found? He doesn't want to be found."

Silence engulfed the deck.

Was this stranger speaking the truth? Why would their captain say that? Did he not want them anymore?

After a moment, Zoro broke the pause; his teeth were clenched so tight Chopper feared they would crack under the pressure.

"Shut up and get off our ship."

The other didn't move.

"Dammit! I told you to leave!" the green haired youth hollered, unsheathing his sword.

Before the Marine could answer, another voice interrupted from below.

"Captain! Just got orders in from headquarters. We gotta go!"

The young man looked down, still hidden by the shadows.

"Right. Give me a second," he turned back to the crew before him, "I told you, the Government doesn't want you anymore. Take the opportunity and run. Be free. Your captain would want that." As he made to leap over the side, a brief ray of moonlight hit the Marine, giving a more detailed outline of him. The pirates felt their breath hitch.

Then, just as quietly as he came, the boy was gone.

Zoro couldn't help but notice how sad those onyx eyes were.


AN: Zoro knows something ;D Do you know something? I hope you at least think you know something. Let me know what you think you know! I wanna hear! It might just give me ideas o3o

Anyway, in case you can't tell, I tried to make things a little more obvious this time around, because I don't have the heart to be very conspicuous here. All shall be reveled soon, dearies. I have plans, man. PLANS I SAY!

...note to self: no more caffiene before an end note. Or any notes. Ever.