A/N: Christ, has it been over a year? I'm so sorry people. I know you were looking forward to regular installments. Anyways, with life how it is, I'm getting chapter seven up soon. And possible eight? Anyways, sorry for the delay!

Disclaimer: Is this really needed? We all know I'm not as awesome as the person who owns these characters. Hurts the pride, but, I love the guy. o3o'


A stumbling, bumbling, nerdy guy. That's all he was. Well, except that he wanted to be a great doctor! All the books that cluttered the one bedroom apartment, or.. More rather, a studio apartment said as much. Opened books, books that had yet to be read, spine-wrinkled editions; they were everywhere, on the table, the counters, in the bed, on the couch, the stove even. To say that the young owner of said apartment had been aspiring to be the best doctor was an understatement. With the exception of practice and experience, Toni Toni Chopper was the best young doctor out there.

And to make that dream become a reality, he'd need money to pay for the last semester he'd completed at his university. They'd granted him his doctorate, but he'd have to pay them back in full to receive the actual credentials. Crazy, right? He sure thought so; Toni thought that the school would let him have some kind of time to use the credentials and license to make the money he owed them. Catch-22, if he ever saw one.

That was, until one of his classmates had told him about an organization back in Jersey; a mob that could help him with his fees. It seemed like the wrong thing to get into. After all.. It was the mob! He'd owe them a favor, a rather large favor at that. His livelihood in fact would be determined by the answer of the Don, and the courtesy of them not to beat him if he couldn't just spit out the request.

Useless!

He couldn't do this! The Don was sure to take a large bite of him, chew him up and spit his dead carcass out on the street for the coppers to find. Or worse yet, he'd send him to live with the fishes, as not to be even suspected by the coppers. Alas, his choice was made for him already. He had no other options. That license, those credentials.. They were what he'd struggled his whole life to get. And get them he would!


Luffy had been sitting in boredom through another meeting. His eyes threatened to fall as the second in command raised a brow to his Don. "Luffy. Wake up, this is an important meeting. The coppers are close on our tails at the docking investments." Portgas D. Ace, brother by affiliation and childhood-rights, scolded Luffy. He let out a sigh and shook his head, waving for Usopp and the other higher-ups to continue on with the meeting; he'd just have to be vigilant and explain to the lump-head with the hang over later.

That would be the last time he let Usopp take Luffy anywhere. He was supposed to take the Don for dinner and one drink. ONE. Not to the flapper bar that the boy had been going to since he could drink. God rest Gol D. Roger's soul if he saw the one he left to be Don acting as such a party boy still. Even though Roger was Ace's father, Ace hadn't wanted the position. He'd asked his father to let Luffy do it, he would do him proud. Well, he thought the boy would do his father proud.. And he had, up until last night when he let the pressure get to him and got plastered.

Though.. Now that he thought about it.. Luffy was one of the youngest mob bosses out there, by all means, he should have been a party boy still. Mentally shaking his head, Ace pushed the thoughts away and tuned back into the meeting. "As it stands now.. If we don't move the merchandise.. The coppers will be sniffing it out sooner or later. Franky and his men can't keep it under lock and key in the docks, so close to that up and coming Galley La docking company."

Damn that Rob Lucci and his squad of goons.

This was the second time someone had squealed about knowing a possible location of the mob's loot. What was he going to do? No, not him.. What was Luffy going to do? There was only so many people willing to hold such hot loot, even laundring the loot was a precarious act in itself. Zoro had done as much as he could for them. He'd opened up the bar to help them. Yes, Luffy's favorite flapper bar was one in the same with the cover for the mob.

The moss-head had originally been in the mob, more of an assassin of sorts. He'd do the hits that no one else wanted to do for risk of being tailed, or figured out by the coppers. That Zoro used to be so fearless, but even as he was now, Ace was sure he was still that same fearless man; just over worked with running the bar and doing what he could to launder the goods given to him by his old employers.


"I'm here. Grandville, New Jersey.."

The young doctor, no more than 20 said to himself. He was clearly a genius to have completed a doctorate at such a young age; and yet.. 'I have to resort to them.' Shaking his head he looked around the streets as he began to walk. The same classmate who'd told him about the mob had given him an address to a great male's boarding house. It was cheap, close to where he needed to go, and close to a store for supplies.

After checking into the boarding house, the old owner walked him to the vacant room that would be Toni's room. He gave the man a nod of his head and stepped into the small room. It was smaller than his studio back in the city.. But, it would do for now. Settling his stuff on the bed, he pulled out a second piece of paper with a number and address. "I.. I really am going to do this.." He told himself as his dark brown hues looked at the paper.

And he did. He soon left the room with his coat and hat, giving word that he would be back soon.


"Sir, there's someone here to see you?" Came the questioning voice of Luffy's assistant. The still slightly hungover Don had gotten back from his meeting only an hour before and wasn't expecting anyone. So, it was a surprise to both of them. "Let 'em in." Was Luffy's grumbled reply as he took his seat behind his desk. As if it couldn't get any weirder, the unexpected guest.. Was hiding?

No. That wasn't hiding. That was.. The reverse of hiding! His body was in the doorway, while his hands held onto the frame and his face was against the wall just beside the door. "D-Don Luffy.. Sir. I-I wanted to ask a favor of you." If he hadn't had the worst of his hang-over yet, Luffy would have dismissed the oddball. But, since that wasn't the case, a smile came to Luffy's face as he pushed himself up from the chair and made his way to stand in front of the desk.

"Well.. Come in then. I can't rightfully make a promise with someone who's face I can't see. Can I?" With a shake of his head that Luffy couldn't see, Toni came out from his 'hiding' and showed his young face to Luffy. The boy was slightly dark, more rather.. He was of a darker complexion than Usopp. Most likely a mixed young man, of black and white, surely. His hair was a deep brown and his eyes were even darker; almost black. He seemed to be put together well, Luffy noticed.

"Don Luffy," Toni tried again, this time not so stuttered. "I'd like to discuss something with you, sir." Luffy gave a nod of his head and waved his hand to the pristine red leather seat in front of him. "Please, have a seat then. Wouldn't want you to be standing for such a discussion." This Luffy was another side that rarely was seen, even by his brother Ace. But, it was a necessary side in the business of favors.

"I recently completed my doctorate.. And to get my credentials.. The university wants me to pay them in full." The boy began, Luffy nodding his head as he paid attention. "But, until I have those credentials, I can't make the money they want." And therein laid the problem. "So.. You want me to pay them off for you?" Guessed the dark haired male as he pushed off the desk and began to walk around the chair and eventually around the room. "But, where would this work out for me...?"

"Ah- I'm Toni Toni Chopper, sir." The young man announced, feeling embarrassed that he'd not even given his name before asking a favor. His step-father would be so upset, he was sure; rolling in his grave more like it. Hadn't his foster mother taught him better? Turning to look at Luffy as he examined one of the boats in a bottle left behind by his predecessor. "I-I would work to repay you, Sir. Whatever the cost."

That piqued the mob-boss's interest. "You'll work for me, eh?" Leaving the boat alone, he came back to take his seat behind the desk. "In that case.. I want you to become the doctor to my syndicate." Toni gulped, the decision a split thought away.. He could only nod his head. Those credentials were his bread and butter after all.

The deal was struck.


What's this!? Luffy's a mob boss?! Zoro used to be in the Mob, and still launders for them!? Chopper's a pre-med student with mixed heritage, who can't pay for the last semester? And what's with this deal? Tsk, he always loved Luffy anyways. Anyways.. RXR, you know the drill!