Vampire's Family
By: Sissy
Chapter 7: Visitor from the past
"Are you planning on breaking your word Shanks?" Robin asked with a glare. She wanted this man dead on the floor. She never got along well with him.
"Nice to see you again Robin." The red-haired man with one arm smiled at her as he rubbed his head from the blow he received from the man in the Speedo behind him.
"Hi Franky!" Luffy, oblivious to what had almost happened, waved to the man. "But what are you doing here?"
"I'm here to chaperone the doctor, boss." Franky said, fixing his sunglasses as he did so.
"Chopper is here already?" Luffy asked, looking behind the big man to see no one. "Where is he?"
"He already went to the patient's house. I accompanied him there. Seemed like he could smell that vampire from the moment he entered the town. They let us in once we mentioned your name. You haven't done anything bad, right boss?" Franky asked Luffy, who shook his head.
"I haven't gotten into trouble once!" Luffy said proudly, though his definition of trouble didn't seem to account for the trouble he caused others.
"Anyways, boss, what should I do with this guy? Is he safe?" Franky pointed to Shanks, worried a bit over his boss.
"Don't worry! Shanks is a good vampire! I've know him since I was small!" Luffy said with a smile and Shanks tried to hug Luffy, but Robin's glare stopped him in his tracks.
"Luffy, you're not doing anything right now, right? Why don't you come with me for breakfast? I'll pay." Shanks offered with a smile.
"But I was already eating breakfast with the others here." Luffy told him with a frown, but the other three lit up at his offer.
"Go with him! You haven't seen each other in a long time, right?" All three tried to get him to leave for a while, but Robin started glaring at them as well.
"Is it okay, nee-san?" Luffy asked her with a child-like stare.
"Ugh." Robin was caught off guard and started thinking. "Fine. But! I'd like Kenshi-san to go with you."
"What?! Why me?!" Zoro protested quickly.
"Because it is your job as his host." Robin explained to him, more trying not to let those two alone again than making Zoro do his job properly.
"You still need a host Luffy? It seems you're still not grown up." Shanks bothered the boy as he ruffled Luffy's hair.
"I am so growing up! I slept last night without drinking blood!" Luffy protested in his own way.
"Oh, really?" Shanks eyed Robin, who wouldn't look at him because she was still angry, but also because she didn't want Luffy to remember last night.
"Anyways, why don't you guys leave if you're going to eat breakfast? Zoro, go with them." Nami ordered the male, who didn't stand much of a chance against her sometimes so he didn't protest again and followed the two out the house.
"Franky-san, thank you for your cooperation this time. I really appreciate it." Robin thanked the man who was still there.
"Don't worry about it nee-san. But is it alright that you didn't go instead of that guy?" Franky asked with a worried look. Even he could tell how much this woman hated Shanks.
"Luffy prefers being alone with that man. But I'm not giving him a second chance, which is why I sent the Kenshi-san." Robin turned to the two left. "I'll be leaving for the moment. I'd like to take this chance to do some research. Franky-san, would you help me out?"
"Of course. And besides, I already decided. It's okay for me to call him captain too." Franky told her with a grin and Robin smiled. She knew what calling Luffy that meant.
As they turned to leave the house, Nami couldn't help herself and asked. "Please, wait. Who exactly was that man?"
Robin gazed over to them, hatred in her eyes as she spat out the words. "He is the one who created those accursed laws." Then left the house, followed by Franky, who saluted them good-bye.
"Wait, now I'm confused." Nami thought to herself, though outloud.
"Tell me about it. Nothing makes sense since that kid came here." Sanji sighed and went back to the kitchen. At least he didn't have to cook breakfasts for everyone today.
… …
Zoro walked behind the two happy vampires who were discussing different things, although it was mostly Luffy talking about the places he had been to.
"It's nice to know that you're doing your best to get more family. Though you can't really compete with mine." Shanks boasted to Luffy on purpose to get him angry, Zoro noted.
"Nee-san says it's not the quantity that matters, but the quality!" Luffy stuck out his tongue to Shanks, but the man just laughed.
As they entered a family restaurant, the two headed to the back, Zoro still trailing behind. They sat in a big table for six people, Luffy facing Shanks while Zoro sat next to Luffy. They made a quick order since Luffy usually ate anything, Shanks didn't mind eating weird things and Zoro already knew what he wanted.
"So, Zoro, was it?" Shanks smiled at Zoro, wanting to get to know the person who was hosting Luffy.
"What is it?" Zoro glared at Shanks. He didn't want to be here.
"How is your temp job with Luffy? It is a temp job, right? I don't think anyone would want to do a formal permanent job with this kid." Shanks joked around to bother Luffy, but Zoro could tell the man was serious about what he had said.
But why? Did Shanks have some grudge with Luffy? They seemed to get along well enough. And despite Luffy's naiveté, which made him oblivious to most things, Shanks was hiding something behind his eyes. He tried to hide a glint of lust that was in his eyes but Zoro could see it.
"How do you two know each other?" Zoro was now getting interested in the relationship between these two.
"I serve the King and his sons as a part of his family. That means my family will serve the King. So I know this kid since he was born." Shanks smiled wickedly but Luffy did not notice.
"So you've been changing his diapers all your life? Must have been a hell of a life for you." Zoro smirked at Shanks, hoping to bring some real emotion out of him.
"Just until he was old enough to look for family on his own. And that turned out pretty horrible. At least the first time." Shanks looked over to Luffy and so did Zoro, who noticed the young vampire turn pale.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" Luffy repeated to no one in particular.
"Hey, are you alright?" Zoro looked a bit worried about the boy. This was unusual behavior for someone who smiled all the time.
"…I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" Luffy kept repeating.
"What the hell did you do?!" Zoro yelled at Shanks with a glare.
"Just a little reminder to him. I know how he's been feeling lately. He's trying too hard to forget his sin. I'm not letting him have his way. I want him as well, just like everyone else." Shanks smiled, grabbing a knife and slashing his hand. Zoro saw how Shanks started extending his hand to Luffy, who smelled the blood and had gotten quiet, but Zoro slapped his hand away from the boy. Taking the knife himself and slashing his right middle finger, Zoro pushed the injured finger into Luffy's mouth. Slowly, the young vampire began to stop shaking until he was breathing normally under Zoro's arms.
"Kanshasteru, Zoro." Luffy murmured to the man, who nodded before glaring at Shanks.
"What's the meaning of this?" Zoro quickly asked.
"I like Luffy. And I want his family to be mine." Shanks declared with a smile.
As the two men glared at each other, on the other side of town, inside Kaya's mansion, a small reindeer put away his tools into his bag. Smiling at Kaya, he spoke, "Just rest. I won't be able to give you anything conclusive until I do some lab tests."
"Alright. Thank you, sensei." Kaya smiled at the reindeer, who looked awkwardly happy.
The reindeer left the mansion and was greeted by Franky.
"How's the patient, doctor?" Franky asked the small reindeer, who looked serious as he kept on walking down the street, followed closely by Franky.
"It's strange. Her system is exactly like a Half's, but it's definitely different. It's been getting better, but I don't understand exactly how it started to degrade. I can only assume that it had to do with the fact that she never received an ability." The reindeer told the big man.
"A vampire without an ability? I've never heard of something like that, except in Halfs." Franky was surprised.
"That's the problem. No vampire can live without an ability. That's why they're vampires. Maybe that's why Halfs don't live as long. Since they have vampire blood, they need an ability to control their blood-drinking habits. And vampires need to drink blood to keep their system running. If I follow that logic…then… It might just be possible…that…host jobs…" The reindeer muttered to himself as he stopped walking.
"What about host jobs?" Franky asked curiously.
"It might be possible that the reason that Half vampires keep dying is because they need to drink blood. And every new generation vampire can only drink blood through hosting jobs. So, even though she's dying, she's still getting better. It's possible that host jobs can save the Halfs from dying." The reindeer told him with a frown.
"Isn't this a good thing, Chopper?" Franky wasn't sure why the small reindeer felt worried.
"But if Kaya-san is part of a hosting job, then it could explain why she's getting better. The problem is that it doesn't explain why she's still getting worse." He explained to him.
"Then maybe she needs something else than blood." Franky offered his opinion.
"Well…there is something I want to try. And I believe he will help." Chopper smiled.
"Who will?" Franky asked curiously.
"Our captain." Chopper grinned at Franky, who grinned back happily.
To Be Continued…
Sissy: I live!!!!
Kody: The main reason you're alive is because you finally got some muse to continue writing this one.
Sissy: I can't help it. This fic doesn't really have a plot. Well, it kinda does, kinda doesn't. That's why it takes me so long to figure out the next step for the charas.
Aoi: But at least you're continuing with it.
Sissy: True. I just hope people aren't too angry with me. (ducks just in case)
Kody: Anyways…
Kody picks up dusted board that says: Replies to reviews!
Organization 13 Members 0: Actually, that chapter was finished by summer, so it's a bit behind in my life. -_-;;; And, uh, nice to meet you? Maybe? You seem like a new face. Edit: Holy cow! How long have I've been away from this fic?? (counts two summers for some reason)
Dramastarelf: No, thank you for reading. I love hearing what people have to say about this. But yeah, it's a bit rough, since this began from a picture from one of the ending songs of OP. The one where Robin is there with bats around her and stuff.
Daisuke Kazamatsuri: Well, now you know. Though O13M0 up there had already figured it out. Hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
