Ninth Chapter:

Luffy is running to the hospital. He runs past Yasopp's branch. The supermarket opened two days after the incident because Yasopp just couldn't wait any longer and wanted to work again. Usopp is outside cleaning the windows. ''Oi Luffy! Heard about Shanks-san? I'm so glad!'' The investigation was already over and the reporters finally gave up. Ben gave an interview the day after the incident and that was more than enough to satisfy the country.

''Usopp! Yeah, I'm on my way to the hospital. Wanna come too?'' Luffy is really excited and is really glad he can finally talk to Shanks again.

''Sorry, I really have to help out. We have a lot of customers today. Someone between us has to earn some money, since it all goes to feeding you!''

Luffy chuckles. ''My bad. I'll see you tonight at the bar then, okay?''

''Definitely! I'll be there!'' He waves with his hand and continues his job.

Luffy starts running again. His stomach is growling. ''I hope they have some food But Ace always says that the food in the hospital tastes horrible.'' Once arrived, the front door of the hospital opens automatically and Luffy runs inside. He goes with the lift up and walks to Shanks' room. Shanks has his laptop on his lap and looks serious. ''Shanks! You're awake!''

Shanks still looks ill, but Luffy is just glad that Shanks woke up.

''Ah! Luffy! Here take a seat! How is it going?'' Shanks smiles brightly and takes away a bag that was on the chair. Luffy sits down. ''Great! Well.. They canceled the picnic.''

''Makino told me about it. Well, now we can hold the picnic in the summer vacation right? We could even go to a river and swim there! How does that sound?'' He turns off his laptop and puts it in its bag.

''Sounds great! We can catch some fish too!'' Luffy's stomach is growling again. ''I'm hungry.'' He looks at Shanks. ''Do you have..?''

Makino walks into the room with several plastic bags in her arms. ''Luffy! You're already here. Good thing I brought some extra's. Here you go Captain. I brought you some dinner.''

''Enough for the three of us?''

''I'll eat it all!'' Luffy is drooling because a delicious smell fills the room.

''No you won't! How is that little stomach of yours going to hold all that in? I bet I can eat twice as much as you!'' Shansk is smirking while having a daring look in his eyes.

''Ah! Forget it! I can eat way more than you Shanks!'' He looks angry and Makino spreads out all the food on the table next to them.

''I brought three portions in case Captain wanted some more, but guess that third portion will go to you Luffy. Here you go.'' She gives both of them a dish with meat, rice and some vegetables from the Baratie. They eat it all and Shanks keeps making jokes about Luffy. Luffy tries to insult Shanks too, but that makes Shanks laugh even more. He stops joking around when Makino looks angry at him.

''Shanks..'' They finished dinner and Luffy wants to talk to him about what happened last week.

''Yes?'' He just finished sending an email. After dinner the captain turned on his laptop again. He looks up at Luffy and knows what exactly what Luffy wants to talk about.

''Yasopp-san opened his branch again.'' Luffy is hesitating and almost doesn't want to look at Shanks.

''Yes, I know about that.''

''Uhm.. How is your arm?'' Luffy doesn't know what he should say to start this conversation.

''Well, it's not really there anymore, is it?'' He wants to laugh because he meant it as a joke, but Luffy looks worried. ''C'mon Luffy, do you really think I care about this? It's just an arm.''

But Luffy isn't satisfied with that answer. ''That Teach-guy..He gave you that scar on your face too right?''

Shanks suddenly looks serious. ''Who told you about that Luffy?''

Luffy gulps and takes a deep breath. ''I.. Ace and Marco were talking about it once.. when I was in the kitchen and they were in the living room playing on the Xbox 360…It's supposed to be a secret right?'' Luffy is ashamed and looks down.

''And you accidently heard them. Don't worry Luffy, I'm not angry. And I don't care about Teach.'' He's half smiling, but his eyes still look worried and maybe a little sad?

''But what did he do then? How did you get that scar from him?'' He really wants to know about it. Luffy has a feeling everyone knows what happened in the past. He knows Ace and Sabo aren't telling him everything and he never asked them about it. ''Where are Sabo and Ace by the way? Dadan said that they were here.'' Luffy looks around in the room as if they'd jump from behind a curtain or from under a bed at any moment.

''They already left. Didn't you see them?'' Shanks is trying to avoid Luffy's questions about Teach and it works. Luffy totally forgot Teach and says that he didn't see them onthe way here.

''hhmm.. Well, you'll see them at the bar eventually.'' Luffy still isn't satisfied.

''Luffy, you don't have to worry ok? I'm fine. What happened, happened. Everything is in the past now. Besides, you really need to graduate this year! Without getting busted while cheating!'' Shanks gets closer to Luffy and whispers: ''Try a blouse with a breast pocket. You can stick a paper with answers on the inside. There is no teacher who will notice it! That's how I passed my exams.'' He smirks at Luffy and the boy finally managed to let out a laugh.

''Captain!'' But Makino is laughing too. ''Believe it or not, but she cheated too on her tests.'' Shanks bursts out in laughter after he said that. Luffy can't help but laugh too. Makino blushes a bit and they keep on making jokes like these for an hour or so.

Luffy and Makino get ready to leave. ''Don't drink any alcohol ok? You need to recover, and alcohol is bad for you!'' Makino looks serious and he gives her a kiss on her cheek. ''Says the one who runs a bar. I'll do my best.''

They leave and are on their way to the bar. They're almost there when Makino says: ''Maybe you can ask Sabo to help you with your homework Luffy.''

''That would be great! Though, I really don't like studying.'' They walk into the bar while chatting about how boring school can be but notice right away that Ace and Sabo aren't there. Luffy takes out his phone and calls Ace. He wants to know where they are. They are always here at Friday night. It's like a weekly routine to close another week of school. Ace isn't picking up. Luffy tries calling Sabo, but he isn't picking up either.

''I'm sure they're fine Luffy, don't worry about them.'' She rests her left hand on his shoulder and gets ready to work.

''They're at that age.'' She shakes her head and looks serious at Ben. He's on his tablet in a corner of the bar. He looks stressed and he's trying to do something on it. Luffy walks towards him but Ben turns it off before Luffy could get a chance to look at the device. ''What is it Luffy?'' He's smoking and drinking a coffee.

''You never drink coffee at Friday night!'' Luffy looks surprised by this mircale happening right before his eyes.

''Sake, Sake! Where is it? Japanese alcohol is always the best!'' A green haired guy walks in. This man has a different style in clothes than what you would consider 'normal' in this western country. This man, called Zoro, is obsessed with the Japanese culture. He has a Japanese background and has always been curious to know more about it. He's wearing a black bandana and a golden earring with three golden sticks attached to it. He has three wooden swords hanging on his belt around his waist. He's been practicing kendo ever since he's little and collects real samurai swords, also called: Katana in Japanese. He takes a seat at the bar and Sanji passes a bottle of Sake. ''Mosshead in sight. Preparing a canon in three..two..one..''

''Shut up Nosebleed.'' The bar is crowded, so he didn't notice Luffy yet. His cheeks are a bit red which means he was already drinking before he came here. ''Did you hear about that criminal? What's he called again? Teachy? Yeah him. Quite the bastard for being able to escape right?''

''Shut up you idiot! I can't believe what you just did!'' Luffy stands up and walks towards Zoro and Sanji. But Zoro doesn't care what he just did. ''Ready for revenge?'' Zoro grins at Luffy and brings the bottle to his mouth.

Sanji takes a deep breath. ''Don't think we'll let you do this alone Luffy.'' He lights up his cigarette and looks at Luffy, already knowing the answer.