OH MY GOSH!!

Robin: What's the matter, Cupid-san?

I forgot to put the beginning and ending lyrics for the songs in the last chapter!

Robin: Don't stress so much Cupid-san, I'm sure they didn't mind.

You're right… Let's start the 'Reviewer's Reply'!

Robin: (giggles and picks up review) From XcrazyXookamiX…

(blushes) Please don't worship me! (being bashful)

Robin: You're almost acting like Chopper. (grabs another) From kamiam714…

Aw! I'm gonna miss Kyubi. (pouts)

Robin: (giggles and grabs another) From hanabi857…

Thank you! And the past thing would be mentioned later on in the chapters, so be patient!

Robin: (grabs another) From mimifoxlove…

I did, just a tad, but it's still a far cry as far as Luffy is trying to do.

Robin: (grabs last one) From Pirateking1…

Yes! You are correct!

Robin: That's about it for now.

If I haven't gotten your review here, I'll mention it in the next chapter! Until then, enjoy!


Follow the sun

Follow the sun

We're leaving the rain behind

Together we'll be in harmony

Taking the time

We will find our way

Sunshine

I feel the energy

I need sunshine

Pouring down on me now

Sunshine

Don't you hide away

I want sunshine

Each and every day

Sunshine

I feel the energy

I need sunshine

Pouring down on me now

Sunshine

Don't you hide away

I want sunshine

Each and every day

Sunshine

I feel the energy

I need sunshine

Pouring down on me now

Sunshine

Don't you hide away

I want sunshine

Each and every day – by Triple J


Chapter 4: Teacher/Student Quarrel

The next morning at school, Luffy sported some bruises and bandages.

"Shit!" Usopp said. "You got in a fight last night or something?"

"Yeah, bunch of punks was trying to mug a guy, no biggie." He slightly lied, since he couldn't really tell them about vampires living among them.

"It is if they had weapons on them!" Koby said. "You could've been killed!"

He sighed. "Do we have to go through this again?"

Before either of the boys would answer, the bell rang and Zoro walked in through the door.

"Nice to see you here earlier, Roroanoa-san." Franky said, who also had his share of a couple band-aids, and was met with silence from the green-haired man.

"Morning Zoro!" Luffy said happily as the two quickly went to their seats.

Zoro looked at the teen, and stood there for a moment.

"I got into a small fight last night. Just a bunch of punks who hurt people for no good reason."

Zoro still looked emotionless as he moved to his seat.

Luffy smiled at this very small accomplishment, while some of the guys, including the two, noticed the strange exchange.


Lunch

Luffy found and followed Zoro outside and chatted lively about this and that, until the other gave him a glare, to which he returned with a pout. "Well sorry!" He said as he took a bite out of his onigiri (the rice ball) .

"H-Hey…"

The teen looked back to see Usopp and Koby.

"M-Mind if we sit here?" Usopp asked.

Luffy smiled. "We don't mind!"

The two looked at Zoro, who rolled his eyes and rolled to his side, so his back is facing them. They hesitantly sat down before becoming slightly relaxed.

"So…" Usopp started. "How do you like the school so far?"

"It's okay, but then I've been homeschooled, so…"

"Wait! You mean you never actually went to a school-school?"

"Nope, but we still have bully issues there as well, that's why we have arranged fights. Though Kaya was sick a lot so I rarely see her."

"Kaya?" Koby asked.

"One of my friends back home, but I really don't talk to her too often."

"How come?"

"Cause she takes her schooling at night, and I take mine during the day."

"So she sleeps during the day and goes to school at night?" Usopp said.

"Yep."

"Isn't dangerous?"

"I live in a fairly large town, but it's small enough to hear anyone screaming from miles away."

"How many people are in your town?" Koby asked.

"Last I checked it was a hundred. It probably lowered a bit since then…"

"Huh?"

"People either move away or die."

"Oh…"

"It's not a well-known town, but its home." He said with a proud smile on his face.

"Speaking of moving…" Koby continued. "I'm gonna be transferred to a marines school soon."

"Huh?" Usopp said. "Marines school? Why?"

"Because my folks couldn't pay for my schooling here anymore, so I'm going to a marines school until they come to terms with their debts."

"Do you want to go to a marine's school?" Luffy asked. "You don't sound too bummed about it."

"Well… I want to be a marine when I grow up… but…"

"Then this is your chance."

"Huh?"

He smiled. "If you're passionate about your goal in life, then you should do the best of your ability, hold your breath, and dive in."

The two were in awed silence.

"Though that's what Shanks always says, and it works when you do your best."

Koby was moved to tears. "You're really a great guy Luffy!"

Usopp was reduced to sniffling.

Luffy smiled awkwardly as the bell rang. "You guys should head to the bathrooms to wash your face or something, your eyes are getting red."

"Yeah! Thanks Luffy!" Koby said.

"See ya tomorrow!" Usopp said.

"See ya!" He said as he looked at Zoro's back. "Zoro? You awake?" He poked the man's back with his foot, only to have a glare as a response. "Bell rang!" He sang with a smile. "Don't wanna be late now, right?"

Zoro rolled his eyes and grabbed his bag, before getting up and walking up towards the school, with the teen following him until they had to go separate ways.


Gym

Luffy liked going to the gym. It was his last class of the day and it makes him move around.

"Okay you sorry excuses!" Yelled out his teacher, Don Krieg-sensei.

He didn't like this teacher, who was bigger than Zoro and much muscular with pale violet hair, but he knew it wasn't enough a good reason to get a different teacher. He looked around, as the man talked about something unimportant, to see Zoro, the aid for the period.

Seeing Zoro in his gym period was enough for him to deal with the teacher.

"You got that girls!?"

Luffy was brought back to attention as everyone started to run. He spotted Koby and ran in time with the guy, who was slower than the rest of the class. "What were we suppose to do?" He asked.

"We run a lap first…" Koby said as he was panting. "Then we have to jump over a horse…"

"We have a horse?"

"Not that horse! It's what we call the equipment."

"Why they call it that?"

"… You know, I don't know why they call it that…"

"Then don't call it that. Just say we have to jump over this big piece of equipment."

"You're really strange when you start thinking logically."

"How rude! I'm always thinking logically!"

"Oi! Pick it up you snails!" Called the teacher.

"Jeez… what's his problem?"

"He used to be a coach for the Olympic team until he got kicked out for abusing his athletes."

"Still no reason to be an asshole with everyone."

"I know… but…"

They both stopped and Koby was panting like a dog on a hot day.

"You okay?"

"I… I'm fine… just need… to catch… my breath…" He panted as Krieg went up to them.

"You two! You're the only ones who have the worse time than your usual!"

"Sorry Krieg-sensei." Luffy said.

"Sorry isn't going to solve your problem or let you off your punishment!"

"Huh? Just for not getting above our time? That's stupid."

"You think you're the boss here?"

"I didn't say that!"

"Detention!"

"You can't do that!"

"I'm the teacher and you're a student that's disrupting class! Now sit at the benches!"

"I'm not going anywhere! I came to this class and I'm going to participate with my other classmates!"

Krieg glared at the teen and grinned evilly. "You want to say with your peers, eh?" He looked at the other guys in the group. "Would all of you raise your hands to do more work, and for those who don't can join this idiot in detention!"

All but Koby raised their hands.

"Well, well… You rather go to detention than work with your fellow classmen?"

Koby was trembling, but he put on a face to make himself look brave. "Hell yeah! Because you're not being fair!"

"Say that again and you're going to get suspended, along with this moron!"

"You're the moron!" Luffy said.

"What did you say?"

"You heard me! Just because you used to be a coach, doesn't give you the right to be an ass to everyone!"

"You better shut that trap of yours or you'll get that suspension I mentioned, along with your friend."

"That's not fair! He's got nothing to do here!"

"Oh yes he does! By not raising his hand, he's automatically at fault of your crimes!"

"Krieg-san!"

Everyone looked at an old, yet active man with a dog next to him.

"Chief-san…" Krieg said.

"Who's he?" Luffy asked Koby.

"You mean you haven't met the principal?" Koby said.

"He's the principal?"

Koby nodded.

Chief had white hair that was pulled back into a ponytail and was small compared to the gym teacher.

"And the dog?"

"That's Shushu, it belonged to a friend of his before he died of cancer."

Chief sighed. "You've gone too far this time, Krieg-san…"

"You can't blame me for it!" Krieg looked at the teen. "It was this guy who started it!"

"Young man, is that true?"

"I did start arguing with him." Luffy said honestly.

"And why?"

"Because Krieg-sensei had an issue with mine and Koby's time not being better. I told him it was stupid and he blew up at me. I didn't mind if I was the only one he was yelling at, but when he brought my classmates in, I made it a bit personal."

"Is that true, Krieg-san?"

"Of course not!" He said. "I didn't do a thing to the kid, isn't that right boys?"

The other guys were silent and looked shameful for not standing up.

Koby was going to complain, but was stopped by Luffy.

"It's okay." He said in a calm, but serious tone.

"B-But…" Koby was about say when the principal looked at Zoro.

"Roroanoa-san, was it? Is what this young man said, true?"

Krieg looked like he won the battle. 'Heh! That old fool doesn't realize that he can't speak! Why else did I get an aid that likes gym and can't speak?'

Koby looked helpless, while Luffy didn't make eye contact with the green-haired man.

Zoro didn't like being put on the spot light, but he didn't agree how Krieg was treating everyone, and he knew that he was used in some way. He nodded.

"You're aid has agreed on the young man's behalf."

"Do you have the proof?" Krieg said with a daring grin. "How do we know they're not in it together? You can't pick a promising guy like me without some proof of abuse."

Zoro took out a tape recorder and pressed the play button, which replayed the whole argument from start to finish.

Everyone was shocked to hear this.

"That settles is." Chief said.

"Wait just one damn minute here!"

"Don Krieg! From this point on, you're fired from teaching and coaching at this school! I would start cleaning if I were you!"

Krieg was beyond pissed as he took one last glare at Luffy before heading out of the gym.

"As for you Roroanoa-san, I'm afraid that, although your intent is good, recording a teacher in secret serves for suspension for a month… But since you did do this for a fellow classmate against teacher abuse, you will only serve three days suspension. Starting today."

Zoro handed his recorder and the bell rang for the end of class.

"Report to the library after you have changed." Chief said. "Come one Shushu." The dog followed as the boys went to the locker rooms.

"Go ahead Koby." Luffy said as he went up to Zoro, who was putting away the equipment. "Thank you Zoro." He said. "You didn't have to do that, you know. I've would've been fine with the detention or a suspension and-" He stopped when some of the equipment was shoved into his arms.

Zoro mentioned him to follow and both went to a storage room right beside the locker room.


After putting the stuff back together and changed, all the guys started to head out of the building.

Luffy was sitting on the stone steps as he planned to wait for Zoro. 'Nami is gonna kill me if I stay here, but then she will hit me and tell me to forget Zoro and he'll think that no one cares!' He sighed. 'I need a really good excuse to wait for Zoro…'

"Oi! Luffy!"

He looked to see Usopp and Koby coming up to him.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Well… We were wondering if you could join us for pizza, you know, for Koby's going away/good luck party."

"Cool!" He said as he thought up one little detail. "Can Zoro come too?"

The two looked at each other and Koby nodded.

"He did help Luffy today, so maybe he isn't as bad as rumors say he is."

"I guess so…" Usopp said. "Okay! He'll come too if he wants."

"Cool!" He cheered as he looked like he remembered something. "I gotta tell my cousin that I'll be back sometime after the party. Don't go anywhere!" He ran until he saw Nami, arms crossed and her foot tapping on the ground.

"This had better be good Luffy!"

"I got invited to a pizza party with these guys I know at school. Can I go? I said I would, and I promise I won't get into trouble!"

Nami sighed. "That's the problem, you're like a magnet for trouble."

"Please! Nami!" He brought on the puppy eyes.

Nami sighed as she fell for the look. "Fine! Just be back home at a decent time, okay?"

He smiled, feeling so happy, and hugged his cousin. "Thank you Nami!"

Nami hugged back as he released her and ran back to the two. "What am I going to do with that guy?" She said as she walked into the bus.

By the time he met up with the two, Zoro came out. "Hey Zoro! Want to go to a party!"

Zoro was a bit dumbfounded to say the least.


Few Hours Later: Luffy's Room

He ran into his room excitedly and grabbed his journal and pen.

"Welcome back Luffy." Nami said with a yawn.

"Hey Nami!" He said.

"Had a good time?"

"Not good, great!"

Nami smiled. "Glad to hear that. Don't forget to sleep, okay?"

"Okay! Goodnight Nami!"

"Night Luffy!"

He looked for the page and started to write.

'Dear Journal,

You won't believe what happened to me! Okay, first I had an okay morning. You see, last night I fought some low level Nighthunters and went to school with bruises. Usopp and Koby were worried about me and thought I was crazy, but I'm used to hearing that by now. But when Zoro saw me, he actually stood there for a couple seconds before passing me to get to his seat behind me. I think it's something, but I can't let that get to me. Well… I guess I kinda did today, but I did decide to talk to him more. But at lunch, Usopp and Koby decided to join in. I think they're over the fact that there's nothing on this planet that would change my mind about getting Zoro to open up a little. Koby is moving to a different school, but it's not bad.. In fact he wanted to be a marine, so the school is a good thing. Well… Zoro was asleep the whole time, but I guess he's not ready for big groups. I wouldn't blame him, he could barely stand me!'

He stopped and put a line on that sentence and continued.

'Anyway… When I was in the gym, Krieg-sensei was being a major pain in the ass, and we had an argument. Koby actually stood up for me. Then the principal came in and tried to figure out if I deserved detention or for Krieg-sensei to be fired. To be honest, I really thought I was going to get detention or suspended, but Zoro had this recorder and gets three days worth of detention, but he helped me out! And after school, I decided to wait for him and Usopp and Koby came up and invited me to a pizza party! I asked if Zoro would come too and they said it was okay, since he helped out. I guess they're not too afraid of Zoro anymore, and I think that's good. I asked Nami if I could go and she said yes! When I come back to the other guys and saw Zoro just coming out. So we went to this pizza place and had a great time! Though Zoro didn't seem all that happy about it, but he didn't move away or glare the whole time, so that has to be good, right?'

He stopped writing and yawned. He placed his journal on his desk, turned off the light, and went to sleep, dreaming of what tomorrow would hold.


Don't ever stop, don't ever quit

Don't ever

Don't ever

Don't ever

Don't

Don't

Don't ever, ever, ever, ever

Yes, if I win

Then you are my friend

You are the best thing that ever happened to me

Don't ever

Don't ever

Don't

Don't

Don't ever, ever, ever

Yes, if I win

Win, win

Win, win

Win, win

Don't ever stop, don't ever quit

Don't ever quit your love for me

Yes, if I win

Then you are my friend

You are the best thing that ever happened to me

No one could ever come between you and me, baby

Because we know what friends should be

Don't ever stop, don't ever quit

Don't ever quit your love on me

Yes, if I win

Then you are my friend

You are the best thing that ever happened to me – Dr. Vibe feat. JP Miles


I hoped you enjoyed that!

Robin: See you next chapter!