Some are asking for longer chapters, sorry about that; I'm working on it, I promise. They will progressively get longer now. Let me know if there's anything else that bothers you. Sorry this one toke a little longer to publish than the others; I was busy. Don't hate me. Things are going to get a little more 'ut-oh!' now and I might be putting Luffy into more dangerous situations. Oops.

Without further ado:

Luffy left the men's quarters wearing his hat and Zoro raised a brow at his bulky and awkward denim shorts.

"Luffy, it's really obvious, y'know."

"What is?"

Zoro frowned. "Your tail's not gonna' fit in there."

Luffy's eyebrows furrowed and then his face lit up.

"What about now?"

Zoro saw movement and the bulkiness disappeared, however the tail hidden under the back of his shirt only made it more noticable. Especially with his shirt so loose.

Zoro sighed, closing the space between them and tugging at Luffy's red vest.

"You can still see it through the gaps." he muttered, doing up the small buttons on the front.

When he reached the top button and looked up Luffy was smiling up at him warmly. Zoro stepped back in surprise and embarrassment, quickly observing the vest.

The stuffiness of Luffy's multiple tails pressed against his back made the vest appear extremely tight, showing every bump and curve of Luffy's toned frame. Heat flushed Zoro's cheeks and he shook his head violently, quickly undoing the buttons again.

"Just leave it as it is." he said, gently pulling Luffy's tail out. Luffy made a surprised noise in response, which Zoro ignored. "Why hide it anyway?"

Luffy shrugged. "It's not normal."

Zoro's eyes widened at Luffy's response. "Since when did that matter?"

"Heh... I don't know." Luffy scratched the top of his hat, smiling sheepishly. "I just figured what isn't normal should be put away, and stuff."

"I don't hear you saying that when you're shooting around town with your rubber rockets and bazooka." Zoro said, turning to the edge if the ship. "Oi, crappy cook!"

Sanji's irritated voice sounded from the kitchen. "What, Marimo?!"

"What time do we have to be back?"

He vaguely heard him mutter that he shouldn't come back, but then Sanji shouted, "6:00 at the latest. That's when dinner will be served... Don't keep the ladies waiting like you normally do, stupid Marimo."

Zoro smiled at Luffy, a smile that was returned. He stepped onto land, stretching his arms above his head. He remembered the last time he had rushed here, Luffy bleeding in his arms. He vaguely wondered where all the blood trails had gone and wondered if Chopper and Usopp had gone to the lengths of sorting that too.

Luffy hopped the gap behind Zoro, holding his hat against his head. The sun had come back out and the heat seemed to have come with it.

"Alright. Let's get going." Zoro said, starting to walk, "Where do you wanna' go first. It's not a very big town so-"

"Zoro?" Luffy said, staring blankly at him and not following, "Where are you going?"

Zoro paused, a foot hanging in mid-air.

"The town is that way -" Luffy was pointing, "We should be following where Nami's orange hair just disappeared."

Zoro cleared his throat, turning on his heels, signaling Luffy to continue walking. Luffy gave him an awkward glance, then began to lead the way into town.

It was a short treck to town, and Zoro wondered why it had seemed so long when Luffy's life was in danger. They climbed some steps and, when passing people, Zoro was aware of the glances Luffy was getting with his tail swaying behind him. Zoro met their glances with angry glares that made them quickly turn away. Luffy didn't need to feel self-conscious.

Luffy stopped leading at the foot of the town, staring at the buildings. He looked over his shoulder to Zoro and asked where he'd like to go first.

Zoro hummed. "Let's get you to a decent restaurant." he said, knowing Luffy wouldn't have a problem fitting in more food just after Sanji's breakfast.

Zoro looked at signs, walked by tacky restaurants until eventually he could only seem to pick the seafood restaurant they had spotted at the start. Luffy seemed pleased with the decision, and trotted along happily beside him.

In the restaurant, Zoro ordered the first alcoholic beverage he could find whilst Luffy got a seafood dish. So long as fish was meat, Luffy would be happy enough.

They sat at a table and Zoro sipped his drink, his foot resting on the table. He watched Luffy eat hungrily at his plate. Where does he put it all?

Zoro smiled. He was glad Luffy survived. He wasn't quite sure what happened, but he was happy.

He watched as Luffy paused eating, swallowing the remains in his mouth. "Ne, Zoro?"

"Hmm?"

There was a a silence, as if he was thinking of what to say, then Luffy continued, "Last night..."

Zoro felt his body tense up but he quickly collected himself.

"Thank you," Luffy said, a sincere smile on his face, "for taking good care of me."

Zoro relaxed. He was worried Luffy would bring up something else; and in such a public place too; but was relieved.

Zoro smiled too. "No problem."

Luffy began eating again, finishing what was left on his plate. When he finished, he leaned back sighing happily. Then his face squeezed into a confused frown as though he was having an inward debate with himself.

Zoro gulped more of his drink, watching Luffy carefully.

"Zoro, when you kissed me-"

Zoro froze, then his eyes scanned quickly around them. No one was sitting around them, infact the restaurant was fairly empty.

"Luffy, you probably shouldn't bring that up here."

Luffy raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

Zoro averted his eyes. Why not?

"Are you embarrassed?" Luffy asked, "Or are you just trying to stop me from talking about it to you."

Zoro stammered, unsure how to explain it to someone as carefree as Luffy. "It... It's not normal. A lot of people frown upon things like that."

Luffy's head tilted to the side. "Not normal? Since when did you care what was normal? Weren't you just telling me 'since when did being normal matter'?"

Zoro lowered his head at the accusion, realizing his unfairness. "Yeah, you're right. Sorry. Go ahead, what were you gonna' say?"

Luffy sank back into his seat, pulling up his feet and hugging his knees against his chest.

"Did-... Did the kiss and everything that followed mean anything to you?"

The words hit Zoro hard and his face seemed almost angry.

Luffy hesitated, then explained, "I mean, was it just a spur of the moment thing? D-did you just feel sorry for me because I had confessed all of a sudden?"

Zoro brought his foot off the table and sat up properly, putting his cup down, "Luffy, did you really think I'd do that for no reason? Is that the kind of person you think I am!?"

Luffy cowered more into his chair, distancing himself from Zoro's anger. "I-It's just you didn't say anything and with me on you like that; m-maybe it pushed you-"

"What, so I'd just take advantage of you? Of how weak you were?" Zoro clenched his fists, angry that Luffy was even thinking such a thing. "Do you think I'd stop? If I were just doing it because I felt like it - would I stop after hurting you?"

Luffy shrugged, looking elsewhere in the room. "It's just you never said anything, as if you couldn't because there was nothing to say."

Zoro exhaled, leaning back into his seat. He closed his eyes, clearing his thoughts.

He sighed deeply. "Luffy..."

Luffy watched Zoro cautiously from where he sat, worried he had angered him.

Zoro sighed again, rubbing his eyes with his fingers. Then he sat up and met Luffy's gaze.

"Luffy, when you asked how much you can care for a nakama, I thought you were talking about me."

Luffy's voice was quiet; "But I was talking about you."

"No, Luffy, I mean; I thought that you were..." Zoro let out a small breath, "basically telling me that you had noticed that I cared for you more than a nakama should."

Luffy was silent, still hugging his legs.

"Then you told me that it was you who was doing that to me and-" Zoro averted his eyes, "I hadn't felt happier."

Luffy was looking at his feet, still silent. After a moment of taking in what Zoro had told him, he said; "Why didn't you say something. When you kissed me; if anything, it hurt. After what I had told you and you go and do that..."

Zoro lifted his cup from the table. "Sorry, I thought that I could show you. Show you that I felt the same, if not; stronger."

"Oh." Luffy mumbled.

Zoro was angry with himself that he had let Luffy think such a thing. He sipped at his cup and was surprised when it was empty.

Luffy put his feet back on the floor and Zoro saw the beaming smile on his face.

"W-what?"

"I'm so happy! It all makes sense now." Luffy giggled.

Zoro scratched his head sheepishly, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Baka."

"C'mon Zoro. Let's keep exploring."

Zoro put his cup down, raising from his seat. When he stood up, Luffy was smiling at him. Zoro felt regretful that he hadn't told Luffy sooner.

And then Luffy threw himself at Zoro, squeezing him in a strong embrace. Zoro wasn't sure whether it was the suddenness of the hug or the tightness of it that stopped his breathing. He felt more than heard Luffy giggling against his chest. Zoro sighed and wrapped his arms around Luffy too, returning the hug.

They stayed like that for what seemed like a long time, but then Luffy pulled away, still giggling.

"Come, Zoro!" he said, tugging at his arm eagerly.

Zoro abliged and together they left the restaurant to explore the town some more. Luffy looked up and down the street and decided they walk upwards.

It didn't take long of walking for Luffy to begin bantering again.

"Ne, Zoro."

"Hmm?" Zoro was interested in the unusual mischievousness of his voice.

"I'm not sick anymore."

Zoro raised an eyebrow at Luffy. "Yeah, well perhaps you've finished changing."

"Yeah." Luffy said, the same mischievous glint in his eyes.

Zoro watched Luffy with interest. "What?" he asked, blatantly.

"Well, the reason we didn't have fun last night was because I was hurting; and I'm not anymore."

Zoro laughed. " 'Fun' ?" He wondered if Luffy was quite as innocent as everyone made him out to be.

"Ne?"

Zoro laughed harder, clutching his stomach.

"Don't laugh, I'm serious!" Luffy scowled.

"I know you are." Zoro said, "but you'll have to wait if you mean now."

Luffy quickly looked away and Zoro was surprised he had let up so easily.

"Well, there's inns."

Ah, so that's what he was looking for. "You're eager."

"Well, it felt good. Holding you."

Zoro hummed. "You too."

Luffy walked in silence for a moment and then said in a very small voice; "Does this mean you love me, too? That we love each other?"

Zoro slowed the pace of his walk and, without even realizing it, his hand had reached out in search of Luffy's. The warmth of Luffy's hand meeting his own, fingers entwining together unthinkingly, reminded him of the night before and he smiled as they wondered the streets hand in hand.

"Oi, Zoro, it's a sword trader."

Zoro couldn't peel his eyes off of a certain sword in the window. It looked very much like one he had been searching for, but he couldn't be sure unless he inspected it properly.

Luffy caught Zoro admiring the sword on display and nudged him with his elbow. "Let's go in."

"I only need to look a little closer. It won't take long." Zoro said, "Just wait here."

Luffy nodded. He was never really interested in swords anyway; except the time when he wanted a swordsman in his crew.

Zoro entered the shop and Luffy watched him through the window. Zoro was asking the store clerk something, who was nodding and pointing. Luffy giggled. Zoro looked so serious.

"Meow."

"Hn?" Luffy looked at the small ginger feline rubbing itself against his calfs. For a moment he just watched it, blankly, as it purred loudly. It's fur reminded him of Nami's hair, brightly coloured and soft-looking. He reached down to stroke it.

The cat played coy and instantly ran from his reach. Luffy frowned. He stepped towards it and the cat scooted further away. Determined, Luffy hurried towards it and the cat cowered into an alleyway.

"Let me pet you, damnit!" Luffy muttered, following behind it. The alleyway was littered with bins and newspapers. He discovered the cat under a dustbin and he crouched to it's height, ushering it toward him.

The cat looked indecisive but hesitantly stepped out and let Luffy rub behind it's ears. It purred and stepped closer, nuzzling into his hand.

As he stroked the ears, Luffy unconsciously reached up and touched his own, noticing the similarity. He stroked downwards, petting the fur on it's tail. He moved his own tail to his side, inspecting it in comparison to his new friend's. The cat seemed to be looking in interest at the similarities too.

"I think I did something bad, kitty," Luffy said, scratching under the cat's chin, "If I ate a devil fruit, it must be a fruit similar to you."

The cat rubbed against his knees as if trying to reassure him.

"But if that's true, what fruit was it?"

"Neko Neko No Mi, Model: Nekomata."

The cat hissed and quickly ran into a small opening in a wall. Luffy jumped up quickly in response to the new figure that stood behind him, threateningly close.

"Good to see you alive, Mugiwara-ya."